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Posted on April 9, 2014 at 7:42 PM
by Dr. Patricia Mayer, Bioethics Program Alumna (2009)
Late last month, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. The Supreme Court is currently considering whether Hobby Lobby, a privately owned chain of 640 arts and crafts stores, may deny its employees insurance coverage for things like birth control pills, emergency contraceptives and IUDs. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), employers are required to provide health care that covers all forms of contraception at no cost. However, the evangelical owners of Hobby Lobby argue that the company should not be required to provide contraceptive choices that violate the owner's religious beliefs, particularly birth control methods that they believe "induce abortions", such as the morning-after pill or the IUD.
Hobby Lobby's owners are appealing to the Supreme Court for an exemption to the ACA contraceptive requirements on the basis of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. That act stipulates the government "shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability".
Now Hobby Lobby's owners are not asking for exemption from the obligation to provide insurance. In fact, they believe that providing heath insurance to their 14,000+ employees a moral obligation, but they do not want to pay for an insurance plan that covers certain types of contraceptives. They've even stated publicly that this obligation to provide their employees with health insurance is so strong it precludes them from discontinuing insurance coverage (instead of paying a new tax under the employer obligations of the ACA) even though this would then allow their employees to obtain insurance through the new health exchanges. Insurance plans available through the exchanges all provide complete contraceptive coverage in accordance with the ACA.
But should for-profit businesses be exempt from the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate? Do these companies have the same rights of religious freedom as individuals under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act?
I believe it would be wrong for the Supreme Court to grant Hobby Lobby's request for an exemption. A private for-profit company, even one with religiously devout owners, should not dictate which legal, available, medical treatments an employee may receive by contradicting a federal law that represents a national decision – though not a consensus. While the Supreme Court has allowed exemptions to the contraceptive mandate of the ACA, they are few and highly specific, such as church employers. Even religiously-owned health care institutions (such as Catholic hospitals) have not been granted this exemption.
To grant such an exemption would represent unjust discrimination against a group of employees based on morally irrelevant factors such as youth, gender, and reproductive capability. The ACA clearly stipulates particular health care services must be provided. So it is not for a group of individuals (such as the family that owns Hobby Lobby), by way of a for-profit nationwide corporate employer, to deny its employees those services.
It is also not for the Supreme Court to damage the integrity of the ACA by granting such exemptions.
The owners of Hobby Lobby are free to make business decisions in accordance with their faith (such as closing on Sundays). But they are not free to impose their beliefs on their employees by seeking to control their personal health care choices.
Hobby Lobby has a viable option for avoiding involvement with contraceptive choices: by getting out of the health insurance business. Hobby Lobby could drop its employee insurance coverage altogether and pay the modest $2,000 per person yearly tax incurred by doing so. Employees could then obtain their own insurance through the exchanges. Hobby Lobby's attorney points out this would cost the corporation the current tax breaks it receives from providing insurance and might also force the company to pay higher wages to attract employees willing to buy their own insurance. These statements may be true, but they are also irrelevant.
In a pluralistic society, we tolerate a variety of beliefs without allowing persons to impose those beliefs on others. If the Supreme Court agrees with Hobby Lobby, why would other for-profit corporations not follow suit with other objections? What would prevent corporations from declining coverage for other services based on "religious objections"? What if corporations want exemptions from covering HIV treatment based on religious objections to homosexuality or exemptions from treating Trichinosis on the basis that it is immoral to eat pork?
No corporation should make health care decisions for its employees. Hobby Lobby should abide by the provisions of the ACA, or get out of the way of its employees by paying the "penalty" tax, increasing wages if it must, and allowing employees to select their own plans from the insurance exchanges.
[The contents of this blog are solely the responsibility of the author and do not represent the views of the Bioethics Program or Union Graduate College.]


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1997 Ford F350 Headlights Accessories
Ford's trademark design is maintained in its this version likewise. Added interest has actually been offered to its appearances. The Ford F-350 gives you fog lights that are the most effective on the planet as asserted by its makers. This moment there will be no complains regarding any type of concern. The size of this cars and truck is likewise great. The basic structure is one-of-a-kind and the style has been wrapped up after a great deal of research.
The front fascia sports a broad 2 bar structure with the firm logo design set in the center. Fronts lights will possibly obtain a redesign and also will certainly have LED fittings. The front bumper is additionally set to be widened and also will certainly sporting activity a muscular look.

subset: commoncrawl


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Self-drilling Screw Is 5/16 Inch in Diameter
December 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Triangle Fastener Corp. has added the BLAZER 3 to its BLAZER Drill Screw line. The 5/16-inch-diameter BLAZER 3 self-drilling screw is available in six lengths, ranging from 1 to 8 inches. The screw will drill and tap metal thicknesses up to 0.210 inch and has a 3/8-inch HWH that allows workers to use existing tools and equipment for installation. All parts are TRISEAL coated and offer 1,000-hour salt-spray protection when tested according to ASTM B117. The screw is available with or without a galvanized bonded EPDM sealing washer.


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Planning Services is responsible for the processing of the following types of development applications.
The Town requires "pre-consultation" through a formal meeting with proponents and Planning Staff on all applications for:
The purpose of the pre-consultation meeting is to identify all required information to be submitted to the Town as part of a complete application file. Proponents should have a detailed understanding of their project and be able to provide a project overview, site plan and any completed studies in support of the application. Pre-consultation does not imply support of Town Staff or The Blue Mountains of any application.
To arrange a formal Pre-consultation, please complete the Pre-Consultation Application Form.
At a very early stage of a proposal, Planning Staff are also available for an "Information Meeting". This is a less formal meeting, usually one-on-one with a Town Planner on your development concept or idea. This meeting does not take the place of the required pre-consultation meeting for some applications. The Planner can provide high level feedback on the general concept or idea. Detailed comments, including complete application requirements, will NOT be provided.
Please make a request for an Information Meeting by completing the Information Meeting Form.
Applications can be picked up at the Town Office, by contacting Planning Services, or by visiting Applications & Forms Webpage.
The Town requires Site Plan Approval for multiple residential (including condominiums), commercial and industrial development. Site Plan deal with the impact of the plan on surrounding land uses including the specific location of buildings, structures, services, access, parking and landscaping on a particular property. If Site Plan approval is required, the applicant must complete and submit a Site Plan application to the Town for review. Under the Planning Act, the public is not involved in the site plan approval process.
Grey County is the approval authority for Subdivisions and Condominiums within the Town. The Town requests that all applicants who pre-consult with Grey County on a proposed plan of subdivision or condominium involve Town Staff.
Site plan control is a form of development control provided to municipalities under Section 41 of the Planning Act. No one can undertake any development which is subject to site plan control unless the Town has reviewed and approved certain plans. Once the plans are approved, a site plan agreement is generally executed. This agreement contractually binds the owner to develop and maintain a site in accordance with the approved plans and the terms of the agreement.
The construction of a single detached dwelling, duplex, semi-detached dwelling or converted dwelling unit, some agricultural buildings and other classes of development may be exempt from site plan control. Please contact Planning Services for more information.
The purpose of site plan control is:
Good design is essential to building a community to be proud of. The Town of The Blue Mountains Community Design Guidelines provides direction on how to design various types of development and consideration that should be incorporated to meet the Town's objectives. The Community Design Guidelines are supported by Section D5.2 of the Town of The Blue Mountains Official Plan. Furthermore, By-law 2012-47 requires all Planning Act decisions by the Town to be consistent with the guidelines. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants reference the Guidelines prior to finalizing development concepts and/or applications(s) for submission to the Town.
For detailed information about the Town's application process, please visit our Development Application Process page.
For information about the Town's Official Plan or to obtain zoning information, please visit our Official Plan page and our Zoning Information page.
Planning Services
519-599-3131 x263


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Stay on Top of Enterprise Technology Trends
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Since news came out that Microsoft would be deploying a "Microsoft Gurus" program as part of their $300 million effort to improve their image, they have been consistently compared to ripping off Apple's "Genius Bar" program.
Microsoft Gurus is program Microsoft is starting up where they will deploy customer-service reps to various electronics retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City. The purpose of these representatives will be to help potential customers learn how Microsoft's products "work together" by giving demos and answering questions.
While Microsoft Gurus have indeed drawn comparisons to Apple's Genius Bar, they aren't really the same thing.
Microsoft Gurus are pre-sales customer-service reps. They offer no help with your existing products or any sort of real technical support. Their main purpose is to show potential customers "the interconnectedness of Microsoft's Windows products," according to Microsoft's general manager of corporate communications, Tom Pilla.
My first thought on this was that there would be a real conflict of interest having a Microsoft employee floating around an electronics store but Pillas says that Gurus are not paid on commission. Instead, performance is measured by the Guru's "ability to translate the technology to a language consumers feel comfortable with." Whatever that means.
I don't feel comfortable with Microsoft translating anything for me…especially if their standard for good communication is anything remotely close to how they translate their technology with their most recent commercial.
Microsoft has been piloting about 25 of these Gurus for the past 10 months with apparently enough success to expand to 155 Gurus by the end of the year.
What do you think? Is this just Microsoft blatantly copying Apple again? Is there a conflict of interest having a Microsoft employee in an electronics store? Let me know your thoughts.


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Austria: Elton John, Tina Turner and Robbie Williams play at ski resort
GUESS what Elton John, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and The Beach Boys have in common.
The beautiful slopes at Ischgl
No, it's not Glastonbury, Wembley or the O2. It's somewhere so far out of their comfort zones it's very unlikely you'll know the answer.
So to put you out of your misery it is Ischgl. You're probably none the wiser, unless you are a skier or snowboarder.
For Ischgl is a brilliant ski resort in the next valley to better known St Anton in Austria. No one has ever seen the stars hurtling down the slopes but thousands have seen them rocking on-stage high up in the mountains to celebrate the end of the ski seasons. The Top of the Mountain concerts started in 1995 and every year they have helped Ischgl attract more and more British skiers.
We spent a week in the marvellous, easy-to-get-to resort and discovered why everyone seems to go home with a smile on their face.
The 150 miles of slopes are first class. The snow from November to May is usually excellent, the town is fun and the hotels are top notch.
Everywhere we went, whether up on the mountain or strolling through the interesting streets with their inviting shops and bars, young and old were having a great time.
We stayed at the excellent 4-star Seiblishof Hotel where owners Dagmar and Christoph guarantee an "unforgettable time". And it was.
The reception area has a big inviting bar which was always full of laughter. The rooms were very unusual but extremely comfortable. Our suite had a bath and shower which were curiously positioned in the centre of the room and the loo was hidden away in a wardrobe-type cupboard. Once we got used to it, everything seemed extremely well designed and practical. Breakfast and the four-course dinners, including a splendid salad bar, never disappointed.
All the facilities at the hotel were well thought out and the swimming pool, spa and childcare were excellent.
The hotel is situated just a short walk up the main street to the best lift which whisks you over the tree-topped valley to a ski bowl where there are wonderful pistes for skiers of all abilities, from first-timers to the most experienced.
The Kuhstall Bar, Ischgl, Austria
While we were there, we were bathed in all-day sunshine, while snow fell on most nights. On one occasion we watched as about 12 inches came down, leaving the pistes in magnificent shape.
That's when we decided to take up the challenge of the "smugglers' run". These are pistes over the top of the mountain taking you into Switzerland. From the early 1900s smugglers used them during tough times.
Locals tell how their ancestors skied over the mountains carrying butter, cheese and fur in exchange for coffee, rice, flour and tobacco.
All over the slopes we found brilliant restaurants. At The Berg, we had the finest pizzas we have tasted and down in the town, the steaks at the Trofana Royal hotel were also excellent.
As in most Austrian resorts, the après-ski was outstanding.
The Hotel Seiblishof in Ischgl
The Elisabeth Arthotel was raucous but tremendous fun. And when the Trofana Royal stopped cooking steaks, it went wild.
Best of all was the Kuhstall near the Silvrettabahn lift which was warm, welcoming and very friendly.
But no matter how raucous the partying got, at 8pm it all calmed down – in the streets, anyway. A local by-law forbids anyone wearing ski boots from walking around the town.
The law is rigorously enforced and anyone flouting it faces a £2,000 fine. It was introduced to ensure that those who wanted to go to bed early could get a good night's sleep.
Ischgl is great for all ages, all skiing abilities and can be as noisy or as quiet as you like. You won't regret visiting.
Crystal Ski Holidays (0208 610 3123/crystalski.co.uk) offers seven nights at the Family Resort Seiblishof in Ischgl, Austria from £1,085 (two sharing), half board. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and transfers. Book by October 2 and save over £200 including buy-one-get-one-half-price lift pass and €100 hotel credit. Ischgl tourism: ischgl.com


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Move over, Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. An all-new Brennan and Booth are in town.
Ashley Jones and Jordan Belfi have been cast as the big-screen versions of Bones' crime-solving duo, TVLine reports.
Fox schedule upheaveal: Bones moves to Mondays, Touch takes over Thursdays
Don't worry, Bones fans. It's not a real-life silver-screen adaptation. In an upcoming spring episode, titled "The Suit on the Set," Brennan (Deschanel) has written a movie featuring the counterparts to herself, "Dr. Kathy Reichs," and Agent Seely Booth (Boreanaz), "Special Agent Andy Lister."
The real-life Dr. Reichs is a forensic anthropologist whose crime novels are the basis for the Bones TV series. She also serves as a producer.
Jones is best known for playing Bridget Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful and guest-starred on the second season of True Blood as a Merlotte waitress with a secret. Belfi played an agent on Entourage and has guest-starred on Castle and Hawaii Five-0.
Bones will move to Mondays at 8/7c on Fox beginning April 2.
What do you think of the Bizarro world versions of Booth and Brennan?


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Our Oasis Spa is OPEN!
Hours are as follows:
Monday - Friday
9AM to 5PM
Tuesday and Wednesday
- Manicures, Pedicures and Skincare will be offered
- Massage to follow as we work through guidelines just published
Enjoy a day of pampering…
Treat yourself to a day of luxury, unwind and retreat from your busy life. Ease into a fresh, warm robe and melt into the caring hands of our professional staff.
The Oasis Spa, located inside the Baptist Health/Milestone Wellness Center, is open to members and non-members, men and women.
Services include:
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Made with 100% natural plant-based emollients and a blend of oils including soy, jojoba, organic coconut as well as shea butter, vitamin E and essential oils for aromatherapy. This treatment can be done for the hands or feet using deep heat as well as massage.
Triad Peel
This peel combines Vitamin C, Salicylic, Lactic and Citric acids. It benefits skin that has significant sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, acne and hyper-pigmentation. It also promotes collagen and elastin formation and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a more even skin tone.
Poly-Organic Brightening Peel
This safe, poly-organic peel brightens skin tone, repairs damage, and firms skin. You'll notice a difference after one treatment and cumulative results with series.
Brightening Facial
Designed for all skin types to lighten hyper-pigmentation and treat sun damage. Reveal a brighter complexion with this corrective treatment created specifically to reverse the effects of premature aging. Minimize fine surface lines and smooth and refine rough skin texture.


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Talbot tossed, Indians fall to Yanks 4-0
Mitch Talbot was almost keeping up with Bartolo Colon, holding the Yankees to two runs in the sixth inning when he slipped while delivering a pitch and everything came apart.
His two-seam fastball went right into Alex Rodriguez's backside, and Talbot was sent to the showers almost as quickly in Cleveland's 4-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.
A day after the teams' benches cleared when Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch, Talbot was tossed immediately by plate umpire Dan Iassogna after hitting Rodriguez.
"I mean this guy was throwing a great game. A 2-0 ballgame," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "It was baffling to me that he made that decision."
Talbot and Acta protested that Talbot didn't do it intentionally - even though it was shortly after Granderson homered, and Rodriguez's first at-bat since he went deep himself.
"After the situation we had last night, and Alex hit a big home run last night and hit another home run today, and Curtis Granderson hit a home run last night and another one today, he threw the pitch directly at him," Iassogna told a pool reporter.
Talbot said he told Iassogna that he slipped on the wet mound. A fine mist fell all afternoon.
I told him it's wet. There's a big hole in there," Talbot said "I kind of landed on the side, slid in. It was a two-seam. If you're going to hit somebody, you hit them with a four-seamer. You try to get it in there. It's a tough break."
Added Talbot: "He said 'You slipped at the wrong time.'"
It was the sixth time a Yankees batter has been hit this homestand. Both Girardi and Rodriguez described the plunking as "fishy."
"When is the right time to slip? With anybody else at the plate?" Acta said. "I mean so anybody else would have gotten it and no problem. I felt that that was uncalled for."
Injustice or not, the Indians have bigger problems. They have lost 13 of 17, still clinging to first place in the AL Central for one more day, at least.
They got the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the eighth, but David Robertson struck out Michael Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore to end the threat.
"It's disappointing," Acta said. "We had a couple of guys on. We had the right people up, guys that are swinging the bat good. We weren't able to push one across. That's the way things been going for us offensively."
Colon (5-3) kept that from happening on Saturday. Famously traded in 2002 by the Indians for three minor leaguers who went on to become All-Stars, was working on a gem against his first big league team. He limped off in the top of the seventh after retiring Shin-Soo Choo covering first base.
The Yankees said Colon strained his left hamstring. He struck out six over 6 2-3 innings to win for the third straight start after two losses in his previous five. He lowered his ERA to 3.10, best among the Yankees' starters.
After the game, he went to a hospital for an MRI.
"It's not what you want, that's for sure," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's pitched extremely well, and we'll kind of keep our fingers crossed."
The Yankees made it 3-0 in the seventh when Jorge Posada singled into the right field corner. Choo had trouble coming up with the ball and Nick Swisher came home.
Teixeira homered off Vinnie Pestano in the eighth to make it 4-0.
A-Rod opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a line-drive shot into a strong wind blowing in from left field for only the second hit off Talbot (2-3). Granderson then hit his 20th homer of the season deep to right in the sixth.
The Indians have been shut out three times in their last seven games. Their slide began May 24 with a 4-2 loss to Boston that ended a four-game winning streak. They began that day with a seven-game lead in the division. Now it's all but gone.
"Hopefully one of these days the offense will come alive again," Acta said.
Notes: In the second inning, the Yankees' Robinson Cano hit a liner foul and it hit a police officer stationed in the photo well. He disappeared from view briefly, then reappeared to applause, and his fellow officer smacked him on the back as he triumphantly showed the ball. ... The Indians received Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Brandon Phillips from Montreal in the 2002 deadline trade for Colon. ... Girardi promised on run of hit batters, "We'll protect our own." The teams play Sunday afternoon and Monday night to finish the four-game series.


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Maruki Japanese Style Wooden Bamboo Skewers, 90 g
Offer handy helpings of everyone's favourite combination of foods.
From yakitori, to oden, to even sweet dango, wooden skewers bring together the best and most unique flavours of Japan, so why not have more fun serving up finger-food Japanese favourites with the aid of these finely crafted bamboo skewers? Sharp enough to pierce and hold a variety of textured meats & vegetables, you can securely grill, boil or fry your picked ingredients from holdable ease of these sturdy medium-length skewers. Ideal for street-food and especially food to be enjoyed fast & hot, help yourself to the cooking convenience of these popular Japanese tools.
Approx. 120 skewers, 15cm in length.


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The Canon NB-2LH Battery is a small and powerful power source for the Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi or the Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT with or without the Canon Battery Grip BG-E3 installed.
Bringing you this site is my full-time job (typically 60-80 hours per week). Thus, I depend solely on the commissions received from you using the links on this site to make any purchase. I am grateful for your support! - Bryan
Where you buy your gear matters. You expect to get what you ordered, and you want to pay a low price for it. The retailers I recommend below are the ones I trust for my purchases. Get your Canon NB-2LH Battery now from:B&H Photo


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The consequences of driving under the influence can cost someone their life. Over the years, more and more people have become aware of the seriousness of the crime, and this fact was very evident on Saturday when an 11-year-old called the police to report that his mother was driving drunk with him in the car.
Nicole Norris is a 30-year-old Oregon mother. She has many reasons to be proud of her son after he placed a 911 call that may have saved both of their lives. Norris was driving with a BAC level twice the legal limit in Oregon, putting both herself and her son in grave danger. Thanks to the phone call, Norris was arrested and removed from the car and Oregon roads.
The Hillsboro, Oregon Sheriff's office reported the story on Tuesday. Washington County officials were very grateful that the young boy had the common sense and initiative to make sure his mother didn't put herself, him, and others in grave danger with her drunk driving. While authorities are no doubt grateful to the boy, as are others who drive on those roads, a defense attorney will need to review the information to ensure that a DUI actually took place. As in a lot of DUI cases, not everything is as it at first seems.
This particular case has additional circumstances as well. The woman isn't just facing a DUI charge but a child endangerment charge as well. Deputy Shannon Wilde commented on the case saying, "He was able to tell us how much he saw her drinking and told us he thought she hit the curb." He added that "her driving was so bad he realized this was not normal."
The alert child phoned 911 and from GPS coordinates, officers were able to track and finally locate the vehicle as it was driving on the road. Officers were very complimentary of the boy's actions, calling him "a very brave courageous young man." He added that sometimes "doing the right thing is not easy," as is evident in this case where he had to call authorities on the woman he calls his mother. Not every young man would have been so brave in this instance.
As for the mother, she would do well to investigate information on sites like DUIwise that help defendants get the best legal help that's available out in the world. After all, despite the shocking nature of this case and the fact that she endangered her child, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow in every DUI case. No one has to repeat their mistakes. Since her young son was alert and brave enough to call authorities, now a good lawyer might be able to take over the case and manage to get help for the young mother.
Oregon defendants will find plenty of information on DUIwise.com, including information about how to beat a DUI case in court with the help of good legal representation. It's a complete fairy tale that you can't beat a DUI with a breathalyzer readout showing how intoxicated you were. In fact, many people who take breathalyzers get false positives on their readouts. A good defense attorney will examine the breathalyzer used in the woman's case and ensure that it gave an accurate readout.
Children always have everyone's best interests at heart and the boy in this case certainly was trying to do the right thing. His actions likely saved his mother and himself from suffering far graver consequences for the DUI. However, all of the facts of the case might not be accurate, and a good defense attorney is going to analyze the events before the DUI, during the DUI arrest, and after to make sure that all of the proper procedures were followed.
Often times DUI defendants have trouble with drugs and/or alcohol. They can benefit from punishments that fall short of prison. The woman might be able to take a plea bargain and plead guilty in exchange for seeking treatment for alcoholism. She will likely lose her license for a period of time if she's found guilty or if she pleads guilty. A good defense attorney in a DUI case will undoubtedly go over all the facts of the case with the defendant, witnesses, and police officers in the case so that they can determine what the recommended punishment should be.
Many DUI defendants do take plea bargains which can reduce the charges to something other than a DUI. As we all know, DUIs have serious impacts on car insurance. If the woman were to face this, she might be put in a financial situation that would make a life for herself and her son harder. If she's able to seek treatment instead of getting a DUI and then have a lesser charge, this can definitely give her a head start on a recovery that is worthwhile.
Police are still sorting out the facts of the case. For now, Oregon police know that one intelligent young man did what he felt was right and called 911 to take a drunk driver off the road. This decision could have saved his own life, his mothers, and countless other lives. Police could not compliment the young man enough for his brave actions.
The fate of Nicole Norris will likely play out in a courtroom later this month or next month. As of now, the DUI charge and child endangerment charges have stuck and that is what she will be facing when she first enters her plea. Hopefully, she will discuss her case with a good defense attorney so that she can truly get the best possible outcome for herself and her son. More circumstances about the case are pending, as reporters piece together what has been reported by police and investigators so far. For now, Norris hasn't issued a public statement about her arrest or about the young man that she calls son and how she feels about the 911 phone call he made. We can only hope she would be proud.


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« How Educators Directly Influence Ed-Tech Investment | Main | Accelerator for Ed-Tech Startups Launches in New York City »
Education Business Plan Competitions: Crafting the Perfect Pitch
Congratulations to all the semi-finalists and finalists of the various education business plan competitions this spring. I thought I would do a follow-up to my previous post: Five Tips for Ed-Tech Startups Entering Business Plan Competitions.
When you reach the finals of a business plan competition, you'll probably have to pitch your startup in front of a panel of judges. And you may be wondering, "How the heck am I supposed to give an eight-minute (or less) presentation that will convey everything there is to know about my startup?"
The answer? You're not.
There's no way you'll be able to cover everything you want to say. And if you try, you'll probably run out of time and get cut off mid-sentence, before you even get to the heart of your pitch. That's not good.
An advisor once told us: "Your pitch is your movie trailer. Keep it punchy and short. The goal of a trailer is to get people to watch the movie. The goal of your pitch is to get people interested in learning more about your startup. Cramming too much into a pitch is like cramming too many scenes into a movie trailer. People get overwhelmed and they tune out."
I think that's great advice. Remember, in most cases there will be a Q&A following your presentation. Use the presentation to get the judges thinking, tee up the Q&A, and get the conversation going.
Our advisor also gave us the following outline for crafting a solid pitch. I'm sharing it, because this presentation flow has worked really well for us in the past, especially when there's a tight time limit. Following this outline helps us make sure that we're getting the essentials across about ProfessorWord in the time that we have.
For an eight-minute pitch, here are the eight points you need to get across:
First, start by convincing the judges of the value being provided by your startup.
1. What's the problem that you're trying to solve? It's important that the listener understands and agrees that there's a problem. If they don't, it will ll be hard to convince them that your solution is worthwhile.
2. What's your solution to the problem? Explain (briefly!) how your product/service will address the problem.
3. What's your value proposition? Explain why you are better/faster/cheaper/more effective, etc. than current solutions. You need the listener to buy in to the value of your product/service.
Then, sell them on the business opportunity of your startup.
4. What's the market opportunity? How big of an opportunity is this? How much growth? Is the market big enough to be worth pursuing?
5. What's your go-to-market strategy? How will you act on this great opportunity? What's your plan for marketing/sales? How will you find/retain customers? How do you compare to existing competitors? What type of competitive advantages do you have?
6. What's your current status and what's your timeline? What have you done to date? What successes have you achieved? What are the major milestones that you're working towards?
Finally, sell them on you! Why are you the perfect person/team to run this startup?
7. Who is the team? Who are you? What past experiences have you had that will help you with your startup?
8. What are your financial projections? How do you plan to grow? And if appropriate, how do you plan to use the prize money and/or what's your fundraising plan?
Of course, you can have more than one slide per point. In fact, I personally prefer having more slides, so that I can keep each slide simple: just one idea per slide. But the flip side is that you have to be extremely disciplined about timing and practicing your pitch to make sure you don't exceed the time limit.
Best of luck to everyone this awards season! Let me know if you have questions @professorword.
Until next time,
See also:
- Five Tips for Ed-Tech Startups Entering Business Plan Competitions
- The Best Presentation Advice We've Ever Received
- Luck Matters When You're an Ed-Tech Entrepreneur
- How to Begin Your Ed-Tech Startup Journey Today
- Rejection Therapy for Ed-Tech Entrepreneurs and Startups
Have questions or feedback? Comment below or let me know on Twitter @professorword!
Photo Credit: Flickr user Official Leweb Photos and Sarchi


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National Railway Museum is the national railway museum of Sri Lanka, located in Kadugannawa. The railway museum is owned by Sri Lanka Railways.
The museum was opened on 27 December 2014 in order to commemorate the 150th anniversary of railway service in Sri Lanka. Previously, the museum was located in Colombo.[2] The old museum has been opened in May 2009.
The museum has old engines, locomotives, rail cars, trolleys, carriages, machineries, and equipment's that used since the beginning of Sri Lanka Railway.
9,260 total views, 10 views today


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About This Project
This model was released as part of "X-Wave" a set of older forgotten projects that were cleaned up and redesigned to work as free downloads.
This model was originally a proof of concept for a line of minimal and tiny paper toys that was never produced. The line eventually went in a different direction when illustrator Neiper Stout became involved in the project and created Fold Friends in a traditional print style.
How To Build
1 – Download
Click the download button above to receive a .zip folder, inside this you will find the flat template of the paper toy along with a reference photo. Selected Fold Up Toys also include blank versions of the template. Open the flat template in your image viewer/editor of choice and print.
2- Print
Print the model onto paper or card, Fold Up Toys recommends a 250gsm card stock for best results, however all models on the Fold Up Toys website should work perfectly well on standard A4 printer paper. On the bottom of the flat template you will see a recommended card stock weight (e.g. 2050gsm) for this models specific design.
3 – Cut
Cut the model out along the solid outline, some models will have sections that need to be cut with a craft knife, younger builders are recommended to get help from an adult.
4 – Fold
Follow the key on the models flat template, folding up or down along the dotted lines as instructed. Some model builders like to score along the fold lines (go over the lines in advance) with a craft knife or empty ball point pen to get a more precise fold.
5 – Glue
Most models have numbered tabs, glue the tabs in order to complete the model. If you get stuck, feel free to message the designer using the contact page with a photo of what you're working on and they'll be happy to help you.
Share your creation on social media, it's always fun to see Fold Up Toys out in the wild.
Change Log
21/11/2018 Model released onto FUT website.


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Coriander- 1/2 Ounce
(Coriandrum sativum) Doshic Influence: VPK- Coriander, also known as cilantro, reduces heat in the body, and is also an aphrodisiac. The scent is pleasant, sweet and woodsy. It blends well with lemon, tea tree, cajaput. lavender, peppermint, cardamon, bergamot, clove, clary sage, petitgrain, sandalwood and cypress.
- Item #: E123A


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Capt. Henry Downs
b.abt. 1694 England
Family tree▼
m. abt. 1715
Facts and Events
Henry Downs was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
Early Land Acquisition in Virginia
Acquisition of Land from Virginia Records:
Disposition of Land from Virginia Records:
Acquisition of Land in North Carolina
Processioning List of 1747/8
Records of Henry Downs in Virginia
Records of Henry Downs in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's Augusta County Records:
Information on Henry Downs, Sr.
Henry Downs, Sr. of England and his wife Lady Jane Douglas of Scotland emigrated to America early in the eighteenth century. In 1728, he received a land grant of 1000 acres in Virginia, signed by Robert Carter. He eventually received approximately 57,000 acres in Virginia and the Carolinas. He served as vestryman and Church Recorder of St. Thomas Church, Orange County, Virginia. In 1728, his son Henry Downs, Jr., was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. In 1750, Henry Downs, Jr. married Frances Chew, daughter of Thomas Chew and his wife, Martha Taylor. Henry Downs, Jr. and his wife moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, where they raised a large family. He was Captain of Colonial Militia and fought against the Cherokee Indians in 1763. He served as Justice of the Peace in his district and was a signer of the famous Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence on May 20, 1775. He was also a member of the Committee of Safety. He had four brothers who fought in the American Revolution. One of them, William, was Adjutant Colonel in the Revolutionary Army, serving under General Gates, and he was also one of the officers who founded the Order of the Cincinnati.
Henry Downs, Jr. died in 1798, and he and his wife are buried in the Providence Presbyterian Churchyard, twelve miles from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Source: http://www.texasdar.org/chapters/HenryDowns/henrydowns.html
Additional Sources


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How To Look For A Good Web Designer Las Vegas
There's no shortcut on how to look for a good web designer Las Vegas. In fact, it can be a tricky ordeal to go through for small businesses who don't know a thing about web design. If you're one of these people, don't stress – even the biggest brands get it wrong sometimes.
At Krends, we know how crucial a web design Las Vegas is to your digital marketing. That's why we highly recommend that you make a list of things to consider before you start hiring people. To help you out, we have compiled below some of the basic things to look for in a web designer Las Vegas.
Look For A Portfolio
While it's okay to hire a novice web designer, it's also a costly risk. Beginners can either help your company sell or leave you stranded on step one. When a prospective web designer shows you a portfolio, it means he/she has ample experience to build a strong foundation for your business. It also means they are familiar with the work and are able to fulfill your needs.
Check For Client Reviews
An expansive portfolio may show you the finished products, but checking for client reviews is the best way in determining how the job was done. Aside from knowing they can deliver, you also need to have an idea how they treat their clients. You can look for reviews online or get in touch with the company's past clients to get feedback. This is one of the most basic things to consider on how to look for a good web designer Las Vegas.
Determine Your Budget
Once you've made sure that the person you're hiring for web design Las Vegas has good credentials, you have to prepare your budget. Web design companies have web design packages – all of which have different pricing. They all vary depending on the work that you need for your website. At Krends, we offer a Web Design Starter Package and a High-End & Custom Package – both of which are affordable for small and big business owners.
For more tips on how to look for a good web designer Las Vegas, get in touch with one of our digital marketing experts today!


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Mountbatten's James Bond-style pen gun now on auction
Published: 18th January 2013 09:04 PM | Last Updated: 18th January 2013 09:04 PM | A+A A-
A James Bond-style gold-plated pen concealing a secret pistol that was
gifted to India's last viceroy Lord Mountbatten by the then maharaja of
Jodhpur is now being put up for auction.
The pen was given to Mountbatten in case he ever got into trouble, the Daily Mail reported.
It remained with his family until recently when it was bought by a collector.
The handmade pen is due to be auctioned in March and is estimated to fetch between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds.
"The maharaja of Jodhpur built it for his friend in case he got himself in a position where he had to sign something which he did not wish to sign - either to kill himself or the enemy," said Nicholas Holt of Holt's Auctioneers which is selling the pen.
Holt said the pen pistol would have been specially built for Mountbatten in 1948 and features a smooth-bore barrel containing a removable propelling pencil mechanism with a concealed trigger.
The outer body is inscribed with the words "Gun Shop Jodphur, 1948".
Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India, and a British naval officer. He was an uncle of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.


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Way back when we found Bobby, he was a small guy, and when we rescued him, we took him to the Vet, who told us he was somebody escaped pet Mynah Bird. Mynah Bird? My grandmother had a Mynah Bird when I was young, and although Bobby did kind of look like my grandmothers bird, we were pretty certain he was a crow.
We took him to another Vet, who also said he was a Mynah Bird, due to some funny sounds he was making that were decidedly un-crow like. I still did not quite believe it, so we took him home after they tried to patch up his wing, and we decided, well fine, if he was a Mynah Bird, he was going to talk.
We put up signs in the neighborhood where we found him, advertising a "Found Mynah Bird", along with his description, a picture and our phone number.
Nobody ever called, and to this day, Bobby has never spoken. When people ask, I tell them that the "Professionals" told us with absolute certainty that he was a Mynah Bird, but to me, he is a crow.
But sometimes he makes a little sound that sounds like a "hi!"…….or a little grumble that sounds like "quit it, leave me alone…."
Is it possible that a Mynah Bird can mate with a Crow? I ask Bob, but the Bird is not talking.


text: The Drama Club will have their first meeting for Disney's Frozen Thursday, December 5th from 3:30 - 4:15pm in the Chorus Room. Students will need to be picked up promptly at 4:00 pm on the side of the building by the security office. The attached flyer has more information regarding auditions.


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Home > NRC Library > Document Collections > Generic Communications > Bulletins > 1974 > BL-74-016
Bulletin 74-016: Improper Machining of Pistons in Colt Industries (Fairbanks-morse) Diesel-Generators
BL74016 Directorate of Regulatory Operations RO Bulletin 74-16 12/13/74 IMPROPER MACHINING OF PISTONS IN COLT INDUSTRIES (FAIRBANKS-MORSE) DIESEL- GENERATORS We recently received information from Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BG&E), and Colt Industries describing a deficiency in the machining of pistons in a Fairbanks-Morse emergency diesel generator, type H7B. DESCRIPTION OF CIRCUMSTANCES: NNECO reported that the four capscrews retaining a piston insert in an upper piston of the diesel engine had broken away and were found lying in the engine crankcase. The capscrews were found during a routine field inspection prior to operating the equipment. NNECO's and Colt Industries' investigations indicated that the cause of the failure was improper machining of the underside of the piston crown. The improper machining left an elevated, ring-shaped surface inside the piston. This prevented the piston and piston insert from mating properly. As a result, during the compression cycle, the resultant space between the surfaces of the two parts allowed the piston crown to flex and be forced down on the insert surface. This subjected the capscrews to an alternating stress, causing their eventual failure. During the inspection of the remaining pistons, two other pistons were found with the same machining error. However, the capscrews in these pistons had not failed. BG&E reported that they had found two incorrectly machined pistons. In addition, they found that several locking strips, which are attached to each pair of capscrews, had cracked at the bolt-hole locations. Colt Industries stated that the probable cause of the failure of the locking strips was an improper torque sequencing of the capscrews during installation. Colt Industries indicated that they have initiated a program, directed by their service representatives, to inspect all diesel generators in the field that could have these conditions. . Directorate of Regulatory Operations RO Bulletin 74-16 12/13/74 ACTION REQUESTED OF LICENSEES: 1. Notify this office in writing within 20 days whether engines of the make and type described above are used at your nuclear power facilities with operating license or construction permit. 2. If engines of this make and type are used, your written reply to item 1. above should include your schedule for examination of the potentially affected engines. 3. Upon completion of any required examinations, provide to this office, in writing within 30 days, the results of the examinations and a description of any repairs found to be necessary.
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, July 08, 2020


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How to use the Personal Chef Approach™ to feed your family and theirs!
Photo Credit: Colin Crowley/Save the Children
The emaciated little bodies with skin hanging from their bones, the tears in their eyes, and the living-dead look in their eyes are all seared onto my heart. The easy thing to do is say "how sad", then turn away and try to forget. I can't, those little faces haunt me. Maybe you tweeted the story on to assuage that nagging voice of humanity within you (raising awareness is very important too), or maybe you've been moved into action, and want to help FEED these starving, malnourished children and their families like I do? As a mother, and as someone who earns her living cooking, I can't turn my back on these hungry people, but I do need your help.
Some of us will simply donate which is fantabulous! However, I know this economy is putting a pinch on how much many of us can afford to give. What if I told you that you could make a real difference and it wouldn't cost you a cent, just your time doing something you already do anyway?
Why not use our new found Personal Chef Approach™ skills to help feed the hungry? It is not much more effort to cook 8 servings of a meal than it is to cook 4 servings (you just double the ingredients). You'll be cooking for your own family anyway, so why not offer to cook for a friend, colleague, or family member willing to donate in exchange for making them a few meals for the week ahead at the same time? Let's put the Personal Chef Approach™ into action, because it is a TRIPLE WIN!
WIN #1 You help a friend get dinner from fridge to table in a snap.
WIN #2 You feed your own family at the same time without much extra effort.
WIN# 3 You share the knowledge you both helped feed people in desperate need in the process.
Click here for more details, or sign-up to participate, and instructions will be emailed directly to you.
Please do not tell me, "but I can't cook." If you can read, you can cook! All of the logistics are already taken care of for you – I've planned a menu with three quick and easy meals, supplied the recipes, written the grocery list you will need, and even the "heat to eat" instructions for you to print out and leave with the food for your donor family. All you have to do is shop and follow the directions.
I'm putting my actions where my mouth is, and I have offered to cook for any personal friends willing to donate a minimum of $500.00. I will also be available on Facebook most of the day on Sunday September 18th, 2011 to give you timely advice in case you need it. You set the price you think your time is worth (plus what your friends might pop for), however I feel $100.00 donation ought to be the minimum (preferably $200.00). Lets face it – this requires a lot of effort, and it will cost $100.00 to see one child safely through this drought.
Sesame-Garlic Grill-Ready Flank Steak
Asian-Style Roasted Broccoli
Baked Eggplant Parmesan
Balsamic Marinated Green Beans & Carrots
Goats Cheese & Herb Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Orzo with Spinach, Feta & Toasted Pine Nuts
*Please be sure to always follow safe food handling practices.
** We recommend cooking in the donor's home to comply with local health codes.
Photo Credit: Colin Crowley/Save the Children
When you donate to Julie Anne Rhodes: Supporting the Children's Hunger Crisis Fund you will be sending funds directly to Save The Children, who have launched an emergency appeal to get life-saving help to thousands of Ethiopian, Kenyan and Somali children facing starvation in what the UN has called the Horn of Africa's worst drought in 60 years. I support them because they have been on the ground helping, with a well established relationship of trust in this troubled region for many years. Save The Children provide clean water, food and medicine as well as education on how to adapt to the increasing droughts in the area. At least 90% of all money donated goes directly where it is needed most, with only 4% going towards costs and 6% towards fundraising.
Sign-up here to PARTICIPATE
Please click here for DONATIONS
PS. For those of you entering the Party Accomplished Competition – do not forget to ask your guests to donate!
PPS. Do you have any ideas you would like to add for this or future fundraising efforts?


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We are overjoyed at the positive response to our first letter that we sent out after a major research project helped us to find our Catholic elementary schools alumni. You can read about this project here.
We are truly a family with vivid memories of our Catholic education. It was heartwarming to read the hundreds of emails and letters we received! The Catholic Alumni Partnership (CAP) initiative is off to a great start. We were happy to reach many of our graduates, but we know there are others, despite best efforts, that we did not find.
Our alumni have recounted stories of their time at our Catholic elementary schools, and many even sent photos and visited during Catholic Schools Week. We are excited to reestablish relationships with you and other former students. If you know of a graduate we've missed, please let us know. We want to strengthen our school community. Our alumni have so much they can offer our schools as advisory board members, living history speakers, career day mentors, prayer partners, donors, and more. The possibilities are endless.
As a Catholic School graduate, you know the value and enduring benefits of a Catholic education: academic high standards, personal motivation, and a strong spiritual foundation. By embracing modern technology and retaining our core values, our schools continue to thrive. Imagine what we can accomplish if you and other alumni are involved.
Today you may be a student, a parent, or a grandparent. You may be married, single, raising children, or retired. No matter what stage of life you are in, you have taken your experiences and the lessons learned at your catholic elementary with you. Please join us as we grow our community. We want to hear how you're doing, and about your time at school. We would love our students to see our alums, and to learn what they are doing in the world today. Is your contact information correct? Would you like to share some memories, or arrange a tour of your old school? Please email us today at email@example.com or fill out the form below.
You are our past, and we want you to be a part of our present and future. We thank you in advance for your selfless giving and prayerful support.


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Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.
~Henri Cartier-Bresson
Photography is an unbounded pursuit in all of its aspects. One can spend an entire lifetime engaged in photography and there will still remain room to explore, learn, experiment, and create. Genres that I enjoy are nature, infrared, intentional camera movement, travel, and black and white photography.
Landscape photography has developed my ability to see and to capture the essence of a scene. Expanding into the world of infrared photography has taken this even further by allowing the world to be viewed in a way that is not possible with the human eye. Seeing in this way is magical and a true joy.
I find Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) to be a fascinating technique. It always holds an element of surprise as you never know exactly what you will get. Various kinds of movement can be used together with shape, form, and light to accentuate a subject or scene. Depending on subject and technique, results of ICM can range from the abstract to serene impressionism.
Photography is all about painting with light. Quality of painted light is dependent on a number of factors including the light itself, subject or scene, camera settings, and selection of lens. There is such an array of characteristics to various lenses and this has led me to explore both modern and vintage lenses. Because of the different rendering properties, specific lenses can be selected to give an image a particular kind of feel. Lenses are powerful tools and I love playing with the possibilities that they provide.
My interest in photography began in high school with the purchase of a Minolta XG7 SLR camera and a couple of lenses. Back then, I photographed almost exclusively with black and white film. Developing prints in the darkroom was a magical experience – watching the image come to life on paper for the first time is something that I will never forget.
Photography has been an essential part of my life for the last several years. I continue to practice and learn. As part of my training, I have studied with professionals such as Lee Varis, Bobbi Lane, Les Imgrund, David Nightingale, and currently, Robin Griggs Wood. Each of these talented and skilled individuals has helped to bring my photography to a new level. I find inspiration and true joy in learning from professionals who convey their knowledge and vision so well.
Presently, I am based out of beautiful Wallowa County, Oregon, which provides ample opportunities for photography. Viewing the Wallowa Mountains daily provides constant inspiration and motivation for my work. I hope that you enjoy my images and return to my website often to see what is new.
All the best,


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Adaptive control in this example means when the line is stopped, the tension regulator output is multiplied by zero (no effect). As the line speed increases, the gain increases until it is at its maximum at design speed. The units of the adapted regulator output (Control Variable or CV) are in FPM or MPM.
This makes sense in that the % difference in speeds between traction points creates a tension. At low speed, less FPM or MPM speed difference is required to obtain the same % speed difference.
Results were very good using this adaptive tension regulator gain.
This was not done decades ago for two reasons. One was that analog multipliers and dividers were very expensive and prone to drift over time. The other was that if a line runs near design speed all the time, adaptive gain is not needed.


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In Britain has banned yoga in the Church.
British priest has banned yoga clases in the Church
In the UK the Catholic Church refused to rent space to practice yoga, as yoga is a spiritual practice in Hinduism, writes The Daily Telegraph.
As told by a yoga instructor and Pilates Cory Witell, which was rented in St Edmund's Church hall, a ban on yoga for ten days before the opening of the sports school made the priest of the Church of John Chandler.
The priest explained that rooms can only be used for activities related to Continue reading
The benefits of swimming, important points
Always wanting to stay in top shape may be advisable to start with a visit to the pool. However, despite many advantages, and here not to do without the recommendations of experienced profesionals: trainers and clinicians that will help you choose the best rhythm and frequency of training, learn to breathe correctly during exercise in water.
The benefits of swimming
Intensive swimming in the pool develops endurance, improves circulation, increases efficiency.
The main positive impact is the improvement of the cardiovascular and Continue reading
Bodyflex Complex exercises breathing exercises), supporting in excellent condition all
In our online shop you can buy the best training video tutorials and video-tutorials, DVD's, educational films and documentaries. Good luck with your shopping!
Please note!
Price are excluding shipping cost.
The cost of delivery by courier in Moscow = 200 rubles .
Continue reading


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Allahabad UP Gramin Bank Office Asst. Result 2012 : Allahabad UP Gramin bank has declared the result for Office Assistant. The exam / test for the same was conducted on October 23, 2011. The next stage in recruitment of Office Assistants in Allahabad UP Gramin bank is conducting of interview. Candidates who have successfully cleared the test shall be called for interview before final recruitment / appointment. The date for interview has not yet been declared. Candidates can check their result here. The result file attached herewith contains name of the candidate, registration No., roll no. and category.
download result : http://www.allahabadgraminbank.in
Allahabad UP GB Officer Scale I /Office Assistant Interview Result/Date @allahabadgraminbank.in : Allahabad UP Gramin Bank has conducted the interview for Officer Scale I/1, Result for the Office Assistant has already been declared and available as above. Dates of interview and subsequent result for office Assistant shall be declared soon. Candidates can check the interview date and interview result at www.allahabadgraminbank.in


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Here at He Spoke Style, we care just as much about performance as we do style and design and, simply put, Master & Dynamic's MH40 Over-Ear Headphones are about as solid a package you can get from a pair of headphones. A favorite here at HSS Studios, they're made from the highest quality materials and deliver a warm, rich, inviting and authentic sound in an impeccable and attractive vintage-inspired design.
These headphones arrive in a fitted box accompanied by a 3.5/6.3mm gold-plated adapter, 1.25m cable with remote and mic (iPod, iPad & iPhone), 2.00m standard cable (for sharing your tunes), canvas headphone case and leather cable box.
Available in brown leather with silver metal accents.
SUGGESTED: Master & Dynamic MP1000 Headphone Stand
The remote and mic are supported only by iPhone 3GS or later, iPad, iPod touch (2nd generation or later), iPod classic (120GB, 160GB), and iPod nano (4th generation or later). The remote is supported by iPod shuffle (3rd generation or later). Audio is supported by all iPad and iPod models.
Materials: Cowhide x lambskin leather, stainless steel, aluminum, detachable woven cable
Dual 3.5mm standard jack
Weight: 360 grams


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(Auszug aus der Pressemitteilung)
OXI was developed for Android to provide a new desktop-like experience, using a smartphone or a tablet.
Besides, you can cast the multi-window environment to an external display while staying in full-screen mode on your mobile device.
This lets you keep using your phone as a phone… while also using your phone to power a desktop-like experience on a second screen. It is like Microsoft's Continuum for phone… except for Android
In fact, apart from Microsoft, Samsung and Moto are also in the midst of developing their own office software for their smartphones.
With increasingly powerful hardware on smartphones which can compete with PCs now, dealing with work on your phone will become a trend soon.
Besides above renowned brands, we surprisingly notice that a just one-year-old smartphone brand, Vernee, also puts efforts into this new possibility.
It is reported that Vernee has formed deep cooperation with auxens, OXI developers, and they are planning to integrate the OXI app into Vernee's high-end models.
Because it requires high performances for smartphones to deliver the best PC-like working experience, a strong hardware configuration is a requirement.
Vernee's upcoming model, Apollo X, is said to become the first to embed OXI. The software adaptation work is now on Vernee's schedule.


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GURHAN Dew Diamond Gold Necklace, twelve Charm with Black Diamond
12 delicate dangling GURHAN Gold Charm Necklace, from the Dew Diamond Collection, Black Drop briolette Black Diamond 4.94ct 16-18 inches
The Dew Diamond Collections resemble sparkling dew drops with exquisite diamond briolettes hanging from high-karat gold in earrings and necklaces. Delicate and fine, the items in this collection are wearable from morning to night. The styles feature faceted white, champagne and black diamonds - whatever the color they catch the light and glow like only diamonds can.
The first Dew Diamond earring was worn by Gurhan himself and he wears it to this day! Yes, it really is one of our absolute favorite earrings. Make your everyday a dew diamond jewelry day
Main Details
- 24k Gold
- Dew Diamond Collection
- Charm Necklace
- Primary Stone: Diamond-black
Lovingly handcrafted in our workshop in Istanbul by artisans personally trained by Gurhan
Stone Details
Primary Stone: Diamond-black
- Weight: 4.74ct
- Shape: Briolette
- Cut: Briolette
- Color: Black
- Country of Origin: India
Stone 2: Diamond-black
- Weight: 0.20ct
All of our stones are ethically sourced in accordance with the standards set by the Kimberly Process
Metal Details
- Chain: 24k Gold
- Clasp: 18k Gold
As dedicated advocates of responsible sourcing, we strive to use recycled gold whenever we can. Our supplier certifies its sources so you can share our confidence in purchasing sustainable, responsible gold.
Feature Details
- Chain: Bead
- Clasp: Small Lobster clasp
- Length: 16-18"
- Pendant: 8x3mm
Other Details
- Construction: Hollow
Pure gold is a soft, malleable metal and so Just like the ancient goldsmiths who used grains, sand and wood to provide structural integrity to their pieces, Gurhan uses today's versions of these substances to enable the hollow forms, like balls and lentils, ring shanks and large links, to retain their intended shapes. If a piece is made with either air or an organic filler inside, we denote it as 'hollow' so that you always know what you are buying. See our Quality Standards.


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The Premium Oil for a Stately Beard
Oil – the gold of the ancient world. Affordable only for members of the aristocracy and a small group of chosen ones who placed great importance on their facial hair care. With our beard oil you can continue the millennia-old traditions of the Assyrian nobility – enjoy the smoothness and the soothingly pleasant and subtle scent of Flower of Babylon, softly surrounding you like a fresh breeze on a summer's day.
Our premium Flower of Babylon oil is a high-quality, nurturing beard oil that can be spread into your beard and onto your skin smoothly, is well absorbed and leaves a gentle feeling on your skin. The fresh and pleasant yet subtle scent of rose, lime, grapefruit and orange is reminiscent of an oriental garden.
The special combination of high-quality and 100% pure natural oils and the balanced ratio of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids makes Flower of Babylon an ideal beard oil with a revitalizing effect on your skin and hair, providing you with an all-over sense of velvety well-being. Particularly in men with a longer beard, natural sebum often is not enough to provide the skin with these necessary, protective oils. Oftentimes, the consequences are brittle hair and itching.
Flower of Babylon supplies you and your beard with essential vitamins and minerals and strengthens your hair from the inside out, giving your beard a smooth structure, sleek shine and majestic volume.
- Oils the skin
- Moisturizes
- Supplies vitamins and minerals
- Calms the skin
- Prevents itching
- Adds volume and shine
- Has an antibacterial effect
Apply the beard oil on your towel-dried beard and spread it equally into your beard and the surrounding skin. To give your beard the desired shape, we recommend our beard balm.
Take a look at our shop for more products for optimal beard care. Perhaps you need companions, like the ones used by the kings and noblemen in ancient Babylon: Our handcrafted Ario brush and Tigris comb are the perfect complements to your beard grooming routine.
Macadamia oil, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, rose oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, orange and mandarin oil


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"Doctor Who" Contest – Rebel Among The Stars
Today we feature the third of our entries for the Who North America Doctor Who Cosplay Contest from Rebel Among The Stars (aka Laura Ducros) of Collinston, LA.
Rebel Among The Stars (her cosplay name) cleverly presents the Fourth Doctor's iconic scarf, but made into a dress!
I kept seeing all these beautiful TARDIS dresses but not a single one about a very iconic accessory… Tom Baker's scarf. I made the entire thing. It took about a week to crochet the dress, put the liner, and tie off all the loose ends. I also made the skinny version of the scarf around my neck. Later on I added matching socks and the TARDIS key to the costume.
The deadline for entries is midnight (EST) on September 9th, 2014. Voting runs from September 10th to September 16th, and the results of the Popular Vote and the Judge's Choice will be revealed on September 17th.


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We recently installed a concrete slab in the ground. Why?
So we can anchor 3 tanks to equalize our brewery wastewater before it goes into our pretreatment system.
Our process waste, though all organic material, could pose many problems to a small village's wastewater treatment plant if untreated. We are now installing our own treatment system onsite at the new brewery that will bring our waste load down to residential levels. This not only frees up space at the Village's wastewater treatment plant, and allows room for more businesses to move to the area, but it also reduces our overall water consumption by allowing us to use the water twice before it goes down the drain!
Stay tuned for more progress!


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Updated-July 2020
*Added a video
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. Just west of the city of La Speza. "The Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterresso al Mare, Venezza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
During WWII, many young men from the Cinque Terre fought for the resistance against the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, and the subsequent Nazi German occupation of Italy.
Manarola is a town filled with boats, at least on the lower part of it. Covered boats of all kinds line the main street, but it is hard to say when they had last been out.
It is the calmest of the Cinque Terre. It is possible to enjoy the nature with relaxing walks, above all the ?Via dell' Amore? that leads to Riomaggiore.
The trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore ("Love Walk")
Vernazza was founded around the year Thousand. Its name comes from "Gens Vulnetia", a Roman old family.
The church of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia was constructed in 1318 in Ligurian gothic style by the Maestri Antelami.
"Land¨ ... Getting off the boat as the waves toss it around.
Monterosso al mare


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Good to know:
Many areas of Dresden are examples of successful restorations and are therefore listed buildings.
Fascination Dresden
Spend a nice time in the cultural city of Dresden and experience the many highlights in the city on the Elbe.
Services included for you ...
- 3 overnight stays
- 3 breakfast buffets
- 1 dinner on the day of arrival (not possible on sunday)
- guided city tour² in the evening or boat trip² on the Elbe
Additional Sevices included ...
free use of WIFI
from € 199* per person
Book now
² Please note that the city tour and the boat tour is an external service. Responsible for the organization and performance of all services is the designated organizer.
Organizer city tour: Stadtrundfahrt Dresden GmbH | Diana Maatz | Postfach 160241 | 01288 Dresden Organizer boat tour: Sächsische Dampfschiffahrts- GmbH & Co. Conti Elbschiffahrts KG | Nancy Kranke | Georg-Treu-Platz 3 | 01067 Dresden


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In a world of dismay and uncertainty, our mothers are our backbone and strength. They are able to bring us laughter and joy and direction when needed.
From the day we are born they've nurtured and protected us. Their daily prayers as we've traveled to school, with friends, and even as adults have placed permanent halos around us.
Sure, there are times when you may clash or disagree, because in all honesty, a momma is never afraid to give it to you straight, with no chaser. At the end of the day, this is why we love our mothers no matter what. Tough love is often necessary. Besides, they only want the best for their child.
Today, I'd like to wish all the mothers a Happy Mother's Day. No matter how young or old your children may be, your work as a mother is never done and can never be undone.
Our mothers have taught us how to be mothers to our very own children. That in itself is a blessing!
Be sure to show love today to your mother, no matter how near or far. Pick up the phone and give her a call.
Video provided courtesy of YouTube
Be blessed,


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"Just stop, Sheldon." Bryce and Corrigan were right next to each other. They were looking at me with the same determined expressions, and they had decided. I had no decision in the matter. The lump got a shot of testosterone and grew to a goliath size in my throat.
They were right. No matter what, I would lose one of them.
I jerked my head in a nod. "Okay." I took a shuddering breath in. "Okay." Then I let it out.
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Last August, both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Standard & Poor's 500 soared almost 5% in a single day. General Motors was up 4 1/4, IBM 3 1/8, American Telephone 2 3/8, Eastman Kodak 5 1/8, and so on down the blue-chip roster. The next day the market gained around 18 DJl points but lost it by afternoon. On the third day, the Dow jumped 16 points, then gave it back, then rebounded. By week's close the Dow had gained over 80 points. Through all this hectic record-shattering, a person not in constant touch with the market, as anyone in ordinary business is apt to have been, existed in blissful ignorance of extraordinary happenings until the evening TV news. No doubt such insulation helps prevent stupid spur-of-the-moment decisions. On the other hand, those who are knowledgeable about a day's events often gain investment advantage.
Now, with computers casting their green glows into offices and homes, no investor need remain in the dark. Many terminals, including some of the simplest, can be hooked into news-dispensing databases through such interactive telecommunication technologies as videotex and teletext. Even an investor with rarefied interests -- say, bonds of the Estonia Republic (recently quoted at $14) -- can, with only a modicum of keyboard dexterity, coax a video display into providing useful and surprisingly current information.
The leading purveyor of such business and financial information is Dow Jones News/Retrieval, a service of Dow Jones & Co. of Princeton, N.J. For comparatively modest fees (there are several price options), Dow Jones can summon current stock and bond prices, option quotes, and various other market statistics; financial and general news items; company profiles, earnings, and business developments; and a wealth of other material, much of it highly refined.
The problem is that the contents of this vast library are sitting at the other end of the wire in a pool of bits and bytes and, unlike information in the morning newspaper, must be actively hunted down. Sometimes this demands rigorous pursuit, but the effort can be more rewarding than waiting for a phone call from a broker who not only has dozens of other customers to look out for, but doesn't share an intense personal concern for the enhancement of one client's portfolio.
When the stock market exploded that afternoon last August, for example, a desk-bound investor could have been informed by monitoring the Dow Jones averages. These are on-line immediately after they are compiled -- about five minutes past the half hour. Seeing the averages start to soar, a market player would have called up stock-news headlines. There he would have noted, among other items, that Salomon Bros.'s influential economist Henry Kaufman, an authoritative commentator, had changed his mind about interest rates. Similarly, news of the prime rate cuts later in the week that further inspired the whopping advance could have been received within minutes of its going out on news tickers. Thus enlightened, the investor might have keyed in his own holdings to find out how they were faring, and, if necessary, taken corrective steps (any short position, for instance, would have had to be covered as soon as possible). This could have been accomplished within a few minutes with far more efficiency than trying to get through to a busy broker.
As handy as the service is, however, it suffers some drawbacks. A major one, as far as market traders are concerned, is the time lag in market quotations. Dow Jones processes a 15-minute-delay variety supplied by the Associated Press. As a result, prices are stale by at least a quarter of an hour, and often much more. The worst area in this respect is the over-the-counter prices taken from NASDAQ, which often run more than an hour behind the floor. Even so, a more or less current sense or the market can be obtained through other maneuvers. One is to punch up stock market summaries. These highlight some of the most dramatic price moves and frequently refer to prices that are only about five minutes old. The investor can then compare the prices with those stocks' older prices as quoted on the delayed basis to see if they have moved up or down in the interval.
Another tactic that might gain market edification over the laggard prices carried in the quotation system -- particularly if the tape is running late -- is to call up the newest list of most active stocks. NYSE and ASE most actives usually are available within five minutes of their release (OTC most actives are not available intraday). These, too, can be compared with prices in the quotation system. The most actives also suggest where the day's market play is. For example, they may be dominated by oil stocks, or high-tech issues. Or the most active stocks may be down on balance with the averages up -- a sign of general weakness that might hint at the imminent end of a rally.
Other parts of the service can turn every investor into a one-person research operation. For example, with News/Retrieval, a public company's latest 10-K car be screened or its address and phone number obtained so you can quiz the president directly. Additional databases contain historic stock prices, latest earnings, analysts' consensus of future earnings, The Wall Street Journal and Barron's articles, "Wall Street Week" television commentary, industry news, Media General market and stock statistics, and an on-line encyclopedia. A dedicated market student can take the AP closing statistics after 6 p.m. when the rates go way down (from 90 cents to 15 cents per minute), and pump the open, close, and volume numbers directly into a microcomputer with graphics capability. The investor could thus essentially keep his or her own up-to-the-minute chart book in a computer file.
Dow Jones now has added a $50-a-month fillip to this body of information: a personalized radio attention-getter called DowAlert, marketed through subsidiary Dow Jones Radio 2. It is broadcast on FM subcarriers in selected markets. Each receiver, says editorial vice-president John Prestbo, is capable of handling up to 10,000 codes. The codes can be for individual companies, "broad tape" selections, government news, industry notes, and similar categories.
If the price of a subscriber's selected stock changes by more than a point, for example, it will be reported. DowAlert's news items -- they are more than headlines, says Prestbo, but are not lengthy stories -- are voice broadcasts lasting an average of 30 seconds (although in last August's hectic trading they stretched closer to 90). The Dow Jones averages are intoned like mantras every half hour. And if the subscriber happens to be away from his desk, the information can be automatically recorded on a built-in cassette for later reference. So far, however, the subscriber cannot interactively call up data, and the definition of what constitutes important information is being expanded by Radio 2. "I haven't yet made the full transition to electronics," admits ex -- Wall Street Journal writer Prestbo.
A company that is in the process of making such a transition, at least as far as keeping abreast of financial information goes, is Dataspeed Inc. of Burlingame, Calif. Dataspeed is about to introduce a radio that works through FM sideband transmission and has a four-line liquid crystal readout. Within a range of about 40 miles, the company promises, a subscriber can address questions to the market much as brokers can with brokerage house interrogation machines such as Quotron. Dataspeed can be asked for the real-time price of stocks, bonds, or options, current bid and ask, the number of issues advancing versus the number declining, and so on. Thus no investor need be more than a millisecond away from controlling his own destiny, even in the midst of a game of tennis.
With the combination of these three marvelous investment tools available to subscribers, the brokerage house boardroom with its comfortable chairs and somnolent chatter of the ticker tape may, alas, soon be as antiquated as the fixed-rate mortgage.


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Scovill — 90th
The family of Bob Scovill invites friends and family to join in celebrating his 90th birthday on Dec. 9 at the Church of Christ, 1402 S. Center St., Marshalltown. A luncheon will be provided. Cards can be mailed to Bob Scovill, c/o Debbie Peck, 1417 Franklin St., Iowa City, Iowa, 52240.


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1. Inspection: Clients are responsible to inspect and inventory the equipment and find it suitable for the client's needs and in good condition. Should there be any identified problems with equipment or missing items, client shall contact Diamond Event Rentals immediately so that replacement can be made prior to the event.
2. Rental Periods: Rental period is based on a 3 day rental period. This time period allows clients to examine and inspect equipment before the event and to return it in proper containers. Should you wish to rent items over an extended period of time, or more than a 3 day period, additional charges and fees may be charged.
3. Delivery & Pickup: Delivery and pickups are available but arrangements must be made prior for this extra service. Normal Delivery/Pickup hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be an additional fee for Delivery/Pickup outside of normal hours.
Our normal delivery standard is to deliver and drop off items to the door. Any deliveries made that require climbing stairs, or carrying long distances will have additional charges and must be made in advance. If set up or take down of rental items is desired, it is an option available to our customers for an additional charge. ORDERS WILL NOT BE PICKED UP BY CLIENTS OR DELIVERED BY DIAMOND EVENT RENTALS WITHOUT COMPLETE PAYMENT/ OR PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS MADE.
4. Deposit: We require a 50% non-refundable deposit of the initial order and signed contract. The remaining balance is due 48 hours prior to delivery, or the client picking up. If changes on the order are incurred after payment has taken place, a new invoice will be written up for charges and new balances. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CLIENT TO ENSURE THAT ITEMS ORDERED AND CHANGES MADE ARE CORRECT. CLIENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CHECK THEIR PRINTED ORDER and contact Diamond Event Rentals with any discrepancies or changes.
5. Cancellation: Orders may be reduced, changed or cancelled two weeks prior to the event date, in the event of a cancellation, the non-refundable deposit will be applied as an in-house credit only. ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS.
6. Restocking Fee: A restocking fee of 10% of the order will be applied to all orders to clean and return items to stock.
7. Return of Equipment: Linens will be dry and free of debris. The client is responsible for the replacement cost of any damaged linens caused by lipstick, gum or wax on linens, lost or unusable linens. Additional charges will be incurred if extraordinary cleaning is required upon rental items.
Dishes, glassware and utensils, etc. should be free of food, debris, and lipstick and replaced in the delivery containers. Rinsed glassware should be turned upside down. A fee will be assessed on items broken or not properly rinsed.


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Beaverstate Dental 3 Hp Automatic Over The Patient System S-3600
Post Not Included, if needed, length must be specified.
- 3 handpiece automatic control
- 3-way air/water syringe
- Master on/off toggle with indicator
- Pressure adjustment for each handpiece
- Easy read pressure gauge
- Non-retracting water coolant, adjustment & purge
- Air coolant adjustment
- Asepsis handpiece tubing
- Asepsis flex-arm with pneumatic brake
- Standard disc foot control
- Utility center assembly with master valves & regulators
- 7' umbilical tubing
- 107-145 - Unit mounted touch pad control
The Manufacturer offer a 5 years warranty on defects in workmanship or materials, under normal use, with the purchase of this product. Contact Your Medical Dental Equipment for additional warranty information. The Manufacturer reserves the right to repair or replace warranted products at discretion.
Payment & Security
Payment methods
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.


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Aetna Inc, which is in the process of buying rival Humana Inc, reported first-quarter operating earnings that topped analysts' estimates as the health insurer added more members to its government plans. (Reuters)
Aetna has one of the largest numbers of members in the new marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. (Bloomberg)
Medicaid membership jumped 11% to 2.3 million, while Medicare Advantage membership grew 8.5% to 1.3 million. (Wall Street Journal)
Health insurance companies and their contracts with the government are benefitting largely due to an increasing number of states that have opted to expand Medicaid under the health law. (Forbes)
What is the Affordable Care Act?


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And yet again time has passed since I last blogged. This time there isn't work or university to blame for it but fear. Fear of what you might have though of me. But as I've been meaning to be downright honest on my blog I'll be.
Truth is, I felt a bit stuck and let the nasty of the two voices in my head take over during the past days. Making them unsuccessful in terms of recovery and me feel uncomfortable. Why I didn't feel comfortable telling you? Having just posted about how to be happy and then finding myself stuck and unhappy: Not exactly following my own words, right?
Today didn't start out in the best way possible, either. But the difference was that I was determined not to let yet another day pass in that grumpy way. So when the nasty voice in my head told me to skip breakfast I didn't. I was determined not to let this happen – because I wanted to. Breakfast happened and it was a good as well as new-to-me one.
As I considered going to my favourite fitness class in the late afternoon, I needed to have lunch shortly afterwards. Uh oh, not easy and especially since I had planned on not letting myself repeat meals often anymore.
But guess what? I did have lunch, used the full amount of grains used in the recipe – decreasing them is a bad habit of mine – and didn't bulk the dish up with more veggies. Success!
Actually going to the class proved to be another challenge. I really like it because it's intense, the trainer plays great music – doesn't hurt he's a cutie, too – and the atmosphere is good. Due to having spent my last semester in another city, though, I hadn't been there for quite a while. The bad voice in my head tried to convince me I'd embarrass myself not being fit enough. In the end however, the good, brave voice won and I went there.
And now I'm sitting here truly happy – because I did what I really wanted. Turns out being brave is rewarded in multiple ways: Not only did the class give me a rush of endorphins but I also met a girl I had gotten to know there earlier again. We exchanged phone numbers and plan on meeting for a cup of coffee sometime soon. I love making new friends! Seeing that she remembered me right away and was apparently happy to see me made my day.
Being daring is something I need to practice more often. And I will – because I want to!
To brighten my mood even further I'm going to listen to a few more songs of one of my current favourite singers whom I recently saw live:
And last but not least I might be late but …
Are you a daring person or have a hard time trying new things?
When was the last time you challenged yourself and what was it?
Do you prefer taking fitness classes or working out on your own?


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It was cold up north, far colder than my village was. The Sun was hidden behind the thickest clouds I had ever experienced, thankfully no rain or snow though. It was surprising how quickly I arrived – it was as if I climbed onto my donkey, fell asleep and woke up at my destination. The mountain was close enough to touch, I would be at the base shortly.
As I ascended the mountain a snake poked his head from his cave and hissed and yelled at me. This snake had to have been a 'Python Of The North.' I read about these and thought them only a myth, it was huge! Easily 20 feet long and as wide as a beach ball they grew this size to keep warm. A snake any smaller would certainly freeze to death or be breakfast for the Phoenix's that flew above.
I instinctively unleashed the daisy chain of my rope dart and came within inches of his slithering tongue. I didn't want to hit him, mind you, the mountain was in fact his home and I was the intruder. The snake backed up a bit but coiled ready to pounce. I relaxed and raised my hands in a 'I don't want to fight you' posture. The snake didn't advance any further but he did hold his ground. The snake began to speak to me and it sounded as a mixture of snake hisses and… French?
I assumed he was asking me my business and continued a long slow hiss at me. Because I do not speak snake or French, I gestured, pantomimed and flailed my arms in an attempt to demonstrate that I was both a friend and also not someone to trifle with. The snake continued hissing as he slowly backed into his cave.
I continued climbing and when at the top noticed a door with calligraphy written over the entrance way. This must be it. Peeking through a window it was evident the monk wasn't home.
Locked. The door to the monks cave was locked. Now what? Do I break into the home of the most venerable monk of the north? Yes. But how?
Looking around the ground there were some rocks and branches. Smash a window? Nah. Use a twig to pick the lock? Eh. The twig would certainly break in the lock I supposed. Lying under some rock and rubble was a dull dagger. "Perhaps, I can slide this under the window and 'jimmy' it up," I thought. I frantically started to try and lift the window.
As I began to do this a cat (it had to be the monks cat) stared at me through the window. Like most cats, she didn't help me. We caught eyes for a moment and a calmness fell over me. I stopped the frantic nature of my approach, closed my eyes, took a breath and in one gingerly movement lifted the window. I stuck my hand in and around to unlock the door.
Once inside, I dropped my bags and noticed a waterfall inside his cave off to the right with a raging fire next to it. I figured a warm hot shower was in order and promptly decided to take one. The monk had the finest soaps of the northern land, many items I had never seen before with aromas that made my nose happy.
Finishing up in the waterfall, it had been a whole day since I had eaten anything and my stomach was letting me know this.
Hungry, I scurried around for any morsel of food and located a large chest. Inside the chest was ice, plenty of beer and no food. This must be why the monk is not overweight, excellent at Kung Fu and always jovial, however, dammit.
The monk arrived home at about this time. He hurried himself into his cave, smile as wide as the mountain he lived on and greeted me most graciously bowing and shaking my hand, bowing and shaking my hand, bowing and shaking my hand…and a hug.
"Come in, come in," he said, northern accent in tow, as he invited me into his kitchen. The monk prided himself on being a great host, knew I had a long journey and quickly and expertly made me some green tea. As we drank the tea the monk began talking, "I used to live on another mountain, but my cave was much closer to the ground. There was a Dragon that lived above me and kept me awake all night!" He continued, " Whether it was the sound of footsteps, his flames or the screams of a village princess he stole… the Dragon never shut up! I don't think he ever slept so neither did I!" I stared at him blankly.
The monk continued, "I decided that the next cave I lived in would be high atop the mountain. This way if a Dragon lives on the mountain too they won't keep me awake at night with all of their thunderous footsteps." Thinking back of the snake that greeted me I understood the monks plithe. It must be hard living with these creatures. Personally, the only thing I have to deal with back home are muggles and they are relatively harmless and extremely easy to ignore.
We finished our bowl of tea and the monk, smile on his face, looked at me, stood up and gestured that I follow him. We walked through his cave and into what was the monks study and lab. It was the typical lab of a genius: papers everywhere, machines I was unfamiliar with and odds and ends parts that made no sense.
"I use this to make the gold," the monk stated. Excited to watch, I smiled but said nothing.
To Be Continued…