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Ivan Delgado is a decade-long Forex Trader. Feel free to follow Ivan on Youtube. Join thousands of traders who follow Ivan's insights to increase their profitability rate by learning the ins and outs of how to read and trade financial markets. Ivan has you covered with in-depth technical market analysis to help you turn the corner.
The psyche of the market has been severely damaged after an intense sell-off in risk assets on Tuesday. The synchronized Monday's run-ups in the S&P 500 and US bonds were a rare occurrence poised to not to last. It was just a matter of which one would give in. Ultimately, US bond vigilantes kept a steady hand and equity holders caved in, letting sellers take full control and play the needed catch up with bonds. Can we blame the full-blown crisis in risk sentiment to what is perceived to be a vague and non-committal US-China trade truce? I'd say partially as the market is not buying into both superpowers finding sufficient common ground to arrest conces over more punitive actions next year. Trump's latest tweet storm, calling himself 'tariffs man' or the lack of follow up details can't possibly be helping the case near term.
Can we attribute the sea of red to the sudden change in the Fed's communication? Judging by the dramatic flattening of the US yield curve, you bet. As the lay of the land stands, if the Fed has any intentions to raise rates in 2019, the market is unambiguously telling us 'better press the brakes and re-consider the normalization path'. By the end of business at 5pm New York time, the textbook risk-off aversion climate led to the usual suspects (Gold, Yen, bonds) being bid to the boots while risk-on linked currencies and stocks suffered badly.
Quite a painful way to start one's day if you've been stuck with a risk-seeking mentality on the aftermath of the temporary truce reached by US President Trump and China's President Xi. The market has called the meeting bluff and with it, a sea of red has taken over. Judge by yourself…
Our prop risk-weighted index (RWI), by hitting the lowest reading since mid-August this year, embodies the dismal picture in risk conditions. Find an illustration below.
Ever since the peak on the RWI reached at the open of markets on Monday, risk-seekers have certainly been hit by a reality check, as it reflects the sharp fall of nearly 9% in the index. The immediate thought that comes to investors' and traders' mind is to stay much more defensive in equities plays, consider currencies the likes of the Japanese Yen, to a lesser extent the USD, while being extremely vigilant if you are looking to endorse commodity-linked currencies.
The flows have clearly reverted back into unambiguous extreme 'risk-off' conditions and the velocity of the sell-offs must not be ignored. No conjuncture can be drawn between the intense sell-side flows and market cycles (structures) just yet, with the S&P 500 still in an hourly upcycle off the Nov 26 low even if the technical outlook is now severely damaged due to the extreme velocity of the move down.
The deterioration behind the RWI can be mainly explained via the implosion suffered by long-dated US rates, with the 30-year risk sensitive US Treasury exhibiting a dramatic fall. However, with the price now leaning against a macro weekly support at 3.14%, I can't help but think those bottom pickers will show up aiming to capitalize on the over-extension of the US rates rout.
What I personally find most perturbing for the interest of the US Dollar and risk conditions in general, is the outperformance in gold prices. The metal has, once again, decoupled from its 2018 relationship as a function of US Dollar performance, and is trading much higher. The notion of acting temporarily as a safe harbor amid the reduction in diversification options out there is back in vogue.
In times of financial stress, US bonds, Yen and gold are the ultimate shelters to find refuge, and that's precisely what we saw on Tuesday. Be on high alert!
I remain of the view that the EURUSD is setting the stage for higher valuations in December based on various factors, such as the completion of 3 legs down (each weaker in magnitude) , a major divergence vs German-US yield spread/Italian premium, and a bullish outside day at decision level 1.13. Capitalizing on weakness does make sense sub 1.13. In the last 24h, the bearish reversal does suggest that another attempt down towards the round number is on the cards. Any test of liquidity areas at 1.1285 and beyond do represent genuine long opportunities based on valuations. From an hourly perspective, the impulsive move from levels above 1.14 has set into motion a potential downward extension to retest 1.1319 liquidity area ahead of the critical 1.13.
The increase in sell-side volume on the way down backs the case for lower levels. The sharp pullback has also invalidated the hourly upcycle as the price discovery matures into a potential intraday downcycle. However, I am still expecting plenty of buying interest, especially if risk off can ease. A major demand area (highlighted in green), the deteriorating outlook for US rate hikes heading into 2019, higher valuations, all support the notion that sub 1.13 should represent genuine value to engage in buy-side campaigns if risk permits.
The bearish price action ahead of the key support at 1.27 enhances the prospects of a potential breakout. While Tuesday's candle close held the level, the full reversal candle (V-shape type) tends to be a sign that increased downward pressure is likely. If it serves of any consolation, the UK vs US 5-year yield spread does not justify a breakout, but with risk off at full steam and the lay of the Brexit land is still very muddy, one can certainly find enough triggers that would lead to an eventual resolution south-bound. The hourly chart shows a clear range with 1.27-1.2840 the lines in the sand drawn by market participants.
The second attempt at 1.27 on Dec 4th, which followed the tepid one the prior day, has been greeted by a huge absorption candle, which makes a retest of 1.27 a potential exit for those trapped shorts on the breakout. This means we may see intraday upward pressure into Dec 4 POC at 1.2740. Only a break and acceptance above would then increase the prospects of a range extension. When trading ranges, pay attention to the side in control of the mid-point of the range at 1.2770.
The daily chart communicates more trouble ahead. The close near the day lows after an outlier move of nearly 2x the average range in increasing volume ticks all the boxes. The price action is a reminder of the current disconnect that has existed and still does between the pair pricing and hammered risk-off conditions / US vs JP yield spread. A break through 112.50 daily liquidity would expose the next key decision point at 112.00 round number ahead of 111.70.
The hourly chart has confirmed a fresh downcycle, with an amplitude of extension exceeding the previous leg down, which bodes well for the interest of shorts. The selling volume has been very steady throughout the move down, which reinforces the sell-side outlook. The key areas to engage as a seller for the most attractive prices include 113.20 ahead of 113.39.
The Aussie is on a 3rd leg upcycle. Whenever a 3-sequence interval completes, it makes the prospects of further headways challenging. For now, the daily liquidity at 0.7330 has been chewed up by increased interest to sell risk and a dismal Aus GDP in Q3, placing the focus back into 0.73. If that level gives in, it'd be most likely the tu to test the next cluster of bids at 0.7270 ahead of an ascending trendline circa 0.7245/55. Also, be aware that both the Aus vs US yield spreads and the Hang Seng index as a proxy for the Aussie, are both rolling over.
By analyzing the pair's anatomy in the hourly chart, the Aus GDP print secured an additional 50+ pips to the downside as the pricing adjusts to the fundamentals. The breach of the ascending trendline is one technical bastillon out of the way, as it's the fact that the structure has now reverted into a downcycle, confirming a double top in the process. Overall, it makes propositions to be a seller on strength near term a more appealing concept to consider.
We've seen Gold futures (GC1!) bought with impetus since last week. Ahead of the Trump-Xi G20 summit, the market was aggressively buying 'Out of the Money' (OTM) Puts as cheap insurances in what appears to have been an anticipation of a bullish price action in the front month (Dec) contract. The latest activity saw participants trailing up OTM Puts purchases up to $1,200. What's more, the latest leg saw over 8k new contacts added on Monday, which supports the notion of buying into weakness, especially as the US10Y-US2Y curve makes fresh lows.
Last Friday's options activity in Oil (WTI) saw aggressive buyers of IM Call ~1.5k contracts, backed up by nearly 2/1 ratio of OTM Puts/Calls. Accounts buying options for a ST buy-side move also made sure to protect the downside via $50 strike OTM Puts
Did you notice Monday's campaign to pile into long US bond contracts? Check this out. We had aggressive 'In the money' Call buyers circa 119,50, which was backed up by a surge in 'out of the money' puts to the tune of over 20k contracts. There were certainly some players betting for a short-term directional move in US rates. And gosh, did they get it right this time.
This week's Aussie tuaround in fortunes makes the perfect example on why monitoring implied volatilities can be an important extra consideration. On Monday, the 1-week implied volatility in the Aussie open of 0.7313 stood at just over 81 pips. Guess where the market found the double top? Precisely after an 81 pips run-up. Will it always be this accurate? Absolutely not. Nonetheless, implied volatility is definitely a dynamic blueprint to anticipate measured moves. When combined with other confluent factors, it adds another layer to account for.
Remember, if implied vol is below historical vol, the market tends to seek equilibrium by being long vega (volatility) via the buying of options, which is when gamma scalping is most present to keep positions delta neutral by covering one's risk. On the contrary, if implied vol is above historical vol, we are faced with a market with unlimited risks given the increased activity to sell options. Other than GBP, which runs a far greater implied vol than any other currency, one should not be oblivious to the downside risks in EUR/JPY based on the current ratio above 2%, which means a market significantly short vega (volatility), as such, a follow through acceleration move through 127.70/80 may be on the cards amid the absence of gamma scalping.
Today, I want to bring to your attention a tweet by Otavio Costa, Crescat Capital global macro analyst. He ruminates on the recent anomaly of the synchronized rise in both the S&P 500 & US bonds. Since stats & history should serve as a means to measure probability in outcomes, Mr. Costa's tweet should definitely provide some food for thought as an early waing signal. So far, judging by the moves in equities on Tuesday, he is definitely 'on the money'.
Courtesy of Holger Zschaepitz, market analyst, comes another chart, one that has been doing the rounds to become the market's central focus. I am talking about the first shoe to drop in the US yield curve. The inversion of the 5y-3y is now a reality as illustrated in the chart below.
What about the Yuan? USDCNY has found equilibrium sub 6.87. The breakout below its previous daily swing low represents the very first transition into a bearish structure since Jan'18. Combine this price action w/ a hammered US yield curve. I stand by the vision of risks for a lower USD.
Oil technicals show the price bouncing off May'16-Nov'17 POC & 100% proj target. In terms of fundamentals, Dec 6 OPEC meeting looks to address the oversupply issues with expectations for cuts on the agenda. Interestingly, "Managed Money," which is the group that most correlates with the price covered more shorts than they decreased longs + longs as % of OI at extremes.
Morgan Stanley stands by its perma USD bear calls. In its latest research report, the bank reveals that it has added a new long play in EUR/USD for an ultimate target of 1.18. As I argued above, Morgan Stanley sees the downside resolution in USD/CNY as a potential catalyst to unravel further weakness in the US Dollar. EUR shorts in money markets may soon run to the exits, the bank believes. Find an extract of Morgan Stanley's research below:
Sacha Tihanyi, Deputy Head of Emerging Markets Strategy at TD Securities, put together his thought on what could go wrong for China in 2019. Risks of China under-delivering on growth expectations? The massive 40%+ decline in its stock market this year is a reminiscence of a country in trouble, hard to argue against that bit of evidence. The analyst argues that next year's underperformance may lead to greater monetary and fiscal support for the economy, exacerbating China's debt burden and as a result, may see the Chinese Yuan under downside pressure as capital exits. Read TD Securities research extract below:
"I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." – Warren Buffett
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Melbourne midfielder Angus Brayshaw will play his first AFL game since round five on Sunday after overcoming lingering concussion symptoms.
The Demons have taken a conservative approach with the No.3 pick at the 2014 draft, but he has been given the green light to come into the side to face St Kilda at Etihad Stadium at the expense of Billy Stretch.
The Saints, who are looking to extend a 13-game winning streak against Melbourne, brought in Jack Billings and Jack Sinclair, with Luke Delaney (omitted) and Shane Savage (concussion) departing the side that squeezed past Essendon last week.
In Sunday's early game at the MCG, Carlton made four changes ahead of their clash against West Coast.
Andrejs Everitt (omitted), Levi Casboult (suspension), Andrew Walker (knee) and Dale Thomas (calf) are all out, replaced by Kristian Jaksch, Nick Graham, Dylan Buckley and Charlie Curnow.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson made one change, dropping high-profile recruit Lewis Jetta for the third time this season. Another off-season recruit, former Lion Jack Redden, has earned a recall.
In the last game of round 17 at the Gabba, Brisbane brought in Tom Cutler for an ill Daniel Merrett, while Greater Western Sydney handed an AFL debut to Harrison Himmelberg and recalled Sam Reid.
Lachie Whitfield (illness) and Rhys Palmer (dropped) depart the side upset by Collingwood.
Emotional Grimes discusses 2020 triumph
Tigers' celebrations continue after GF triumph
Dangerfield avoids ban for elbow


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text: luna65 Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Behind those heavy ornate doors there is much decadence to be witnessed, from the sire for whom everyone bows down to the lowliest chambermaid, scrubbing that very same floor which foreheads have touched in reverence. And she observes a multitude of beauty as the women move to and fro, in the daily routines of their pampered lives. The seraglio standing stern as a fortress but inside is perfumed delight and soft surfaces. She delights in the glamour and glitter but even as the shadows lengthen and the music slithers like the hips of dancers for the sultan's pleasure she wonders if one day she might be found as coveted a treasure as those who scarcely blink a kohl-rimmed eye to observe her careful labors. VANILLA ~ Aphrodisiac, inspires happiness, playfulness, sexual arousal, lust, vitalizing. BUTTER/CREAM ~ Nurturing, soothing, eases troubled relationships. Goddess energy. COCOA BUTTER ~ Lightens emotions, evokes feelings of love. HONEY ~ Enticing, seductive; use to bewitch a straying or hesitant lover. Happiness, fulfillment. AMBER ~ Fertility, creativity, love, luck, riches. MUSK TONQUIN ~ Self confidence and strength, sexual attractant, heightens passions and arousal. Created by: Mara & Heather Description: Sean (The Naughty Jester) & Julie (luna65) Label art: Pheromas collection, November 2012 Link to post Share on other sites


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Introduction to Virto Commerce - Virto Commerce 2 User Guide
Virto Commerce is a flexible eCommerce framework with customized services and a wide-range feature set. Virto Commerce provides full access to source code in order to design custom features, integrate with any third party system, and maintain internal control. This open approach gives companies the easiest and most cost-effective way to implement their unique custom eCommerce solution.
Virto Commerce includes the Commerce Manager (server and management website) and Storefronts (the website and mobile app where customers do the shopping).
With the help of the Commerce Manager client, administrative users adjust system settings, such as search engine optimization, user accounts, payment gateways and system configuration parameters. Customer Service Representatives (CSR) use Commerce Manager client to manage customer orders and requests.
The web Storefront is a website where customers shop for the products that are offered through the Commerce Manager.
The mobile Storefront app duplicates web Storefront and gives better user experience for mobile users. Check more on Mobile Starter app page.
For the detailed descriptions of the platform components please refer to the Developer Guide and Installation Deployment Guide.


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OKLAHOMA CITY - The family of a man who was gunned down while sitting in his truck is now speaking out about their loved one's murder.
Syrease McCullough, the victim's daughter, said, "He had this smile that everyone talked about. We're not getting to have him in our life and that's not fair."
McCullough's father, Charles Jasper, died last October in the parking lot outside the Liberty Station Apartments on N. Lindsey.
Police found Jasper shot to death in his truck.
So far, investigators have been unable to make an arrest in the case.
Jasper's family says they are frustrated the investigation has hit a dead-end.
McCullough said, "It is very frustrating because he has been taken from us and the person responsible is still living their life."
The victim had a criminal history, including several arrests on drug related charges, but Jasper's family says they still deserve justice.
"For me, I feel there must be someone who knows what happened but haven't come forward yet," she said. "Anything could be the thing that cracks the case."
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact police.
There is a reward for information that leads to an arrest.


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This information is for both full and part-time applicants applying to join Northumbria University in the academic year 2019/20. It is expected that the below information will be the same for 2020/21, however this is subject to approval from the UK Government.
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Please note that your tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI)*.
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You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study, and be aware that fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index*.
Current Government policy advises any increase will not exceed the rise in inflation by reference to RPI*.
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A North Sea industry veteran was chosen for the top prize at an inaugural awards ceremony for the oil and gas decommissioning sector last night.
Mark Bayman won the Contribution To Decommissioning accolade, but was unable to attend the 2018 Decom North Sea (DNS) Awards to collect the prize.
He recently retired from the position of decommissioning manager (technical) at the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (Opred).
Sitting within the UK energy department, Opred regulates the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas installations and pipelines.
Mr Bayman spent 35 years in the oil and gas industry, having cut his teeth as a process engineer working on various UK projects in the 1980s, including the Brent field redevelopment.
He had a number of international roles in the 1990s with Kerr-McGee and Hess before returning to the UK to work on the Quad 204 and Clair Ridge projects.
His track record also includes late life asset management for EnQuest in the North Sea.
More than 180 people attended the prestigious new awards at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. Warrington-headquartered oil service firm BiSN triumphed in the outstanding innovation category for its Wel-Lok M2M well sealant technology.
The excellence in collaboration award was presented jointly to Shell, Boskalis and Veolia-Peterson.
DNS interim chief executive Tom Leeson said: "As Mark steps down from his role at Opred, it is wholly appropriate to recognise his significant contribution to both the decommissioning sector, the wider industry and Decom North Sea.
"Constantly acting as a pragmatic and approachable conduit between industry and the regulator, he has been inspirational in his role as technical adviser within Opred, bringing many practical approaches to the attention of his colleagues with the aim of cost-effective, achievable decommissioning."
DNS chairman Nigel Lees added: "Tonight's award ceremony showcased the impressive work undertaken by some extremely talented and dedicated people and highlighted the importance of celebrating achievement in the decommissioning sector. Our judging panel had a considerable challenge when it came to selecting our winners."
The evening also saw the announcement of Decom North Sea's new decommissioning leadership group, whose members will drive industry body's objectives.


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The best thing about not being weaned on the food of Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela -- or any other Spanish-speaking locale -- is that I come to a restaurant that describes itself as "nuevo Latino" without any culinary prejudice.
I'm not looking for grandmother's hand in the picadillo (Cuba), my mother's mofongo (Puerto Rico) or the ceviche (Peru) that the little place down the street served. Instead, I'm only interested in good food.
The mostly good food at Cabana Las Palmas is actually prepared by a Mexican chef, who moved to South Florida for the opening last March of the first Cabana location outside of New York. He opened the original in Forest Hills nine years ago. Midtown and downtown Manhattan locations followed.
There's something very big-city about this location, situated as it is at the top of Clematis Street overlooking Centennial Square. On a Saturday night, the whole world seems to pass by, some of them in horse-drawn carriages, trams or rickshaws.
Inside, Cabana makes efficient use of its sophisticatedly decorated space with seating for 60 on the main floor and 40 more upstairs.
When Latino is your only guide, the flavor and preparation possibilities are endless. At Cabana, there's an emphasis on Cuban dishes, and servings are big and presented beautifully. This kind of presentation isn't common at a restaurant where most entrees hover around $15.
Price is no excuse for service that seems more disorganized than poor. Early in our meal, we couldn't figure out which of three servers had been assigned to us. I'm hoping it was an off night for Cabana.
We start with a mixed sampler platter ($10) of conch fritters, vegetable fritters, pork tamale and beef empanadas. The conch fritters contain too little conch, the tamale is a little under-seasoned, but the empanadas are just spicy enough and the vegetable fritters are perfect to dip in the pickapeppa dipping sauce.
Salads are huge, easily shareable for two. The aguacate ($9) -- avocados, plum tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and greens -- is tossed with lime cilantro vinaigrette.
Entrees shine here, and servings are so generous that even big eaters will be satisfied. All entrees are served with rice and beans. Consider chicharrones de pollo ($12): chunks of dark meat chicken marinated in garlic and oregano and fried until crispy. I must admit I've learned to love the pork cracklings found in many Hispanic grocery stores. This unself-consciously fried dish has the same crunchy quality.
Churrasco ($17), skirt steak marinated in garlic and fresh herbs, is tender and flavorful and served with chimichurri and onions. Also from the grill comes a mixed meat platter ($16): chicken breast, skirt steak, spicy longaniza sausage, morcilla or blood sausage and chorizo. It's a meat lovers' dream come true.
The menu also includes paella ($16), arroz con pollo ($14) and several intriguing daily seafood specials.
While it's difficult to generalize about what constitutes savory Latin dishes, sweets are another story. It doesn't seem to matter where the dessert originated, it will taste sweeter than you thought a dessert could be. A coconut brownie ($5.95), for instance, is a cupcake-shaped confection covered in sweet coconut. The brownie has a cakelike consistency, but the coconut moves it into candy territory. And I'm sold on the banana fritters ($5.95); puffy orbs of banana with fudge and ice cream.
Please phone in advance to confirm information on hours, prices, menu items and facilities. For review consideration, please fax a current menu that includes name and address of restaurant to 954-356-4386 or send to Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293.
John Tanasychuk can be reached at jtanasychuk@ sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4632 or by writing to him at the Sun-Sentinel.


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Mercy Lytton, a scout with keen eyesight raised among the Mohawks, and Elias Dubois, a condemned traitor working both sides of the conflict, must join together to get a shipment of gold safely into British hands.
A brand new series for fans of all things related to history, romance, adventure, faith, and family trees.
A War-Torn Countryside Is No Place for a Lady
Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause. . .to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart. Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he is offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he is the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought. Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?
Join the adventure as the Daughters of the Mayflower series continues with The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep.
One of my favorites sports commentators has a quote he says when a player from my favorite team gets a home run. He says, "Mercer, Mercer me." Well in this book I found myself saying that, except about Mercy. This latest novel in the Daughters of the Mayflower series was so unique, adventurous and fun to read. Mercy is one of those characters I wish I could get to know even more of. Her heritage, gifts, and persona made her such an interesting character. I could picture myself next to her, trying to see things the way she could, and watching Elias with a careful eye.
Elias was also an interesting character. Dubbed a traitor, you can't help but wonder what he is all about. You learn about him little by little throughout the story, and I found that the more I learned, the more I liked him. He even shocked me a time or two, totally negating my preconceived ideas about him. I enjoy reading about characters that can do that. Hats all to Michelle Griep for writing such an intriguing character.
In this book you will find strength, honor, God fearing characters, adventure, and yes maybe even a little romance. Okay, a lot of romance. This was a welcome addition to the Daughters of the Mayflower series. And for those of you who haven't read the series, while I encourage you to do so, this could also be read as a stand alone. Historic and romance fans will enjoy it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write–except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.


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For those of us who are frequent travelers, we've heard in-flight announcements dozens of times. And let's be honest, they're usually pretty boring, and they can be easy to tune out.
One Southwest Airlines flight attendant came up with a creative way to encourage passengers to listen up.
Zach Haumesser is a professional puppeteer, and he's very talented. So on one flight, he decided to give the landing announcement a "Looney Tunes" spin.
He did the voices for Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, and Daffy Duck. And the passengers loved it!
Jordy Elizabeth works with Haumesser, and she recorded his goofy announcement. She posted the video on YouTube and in less than three days it has nearly three million views.
"This is just one of the million reasons why I LOVE my job… Zach is such a great guy to work with!" she wrote.


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Joshua Weiner
Joshua Weiner enjoys his day job as biology professor at a Big Ten University, but wishes it left more time (and money) for music.
About Me
I was raised in Milwaukee, went to college at Northwestern, got a Ph.D.
in Neurobiology at
UC-San Diego, worked as a postdoctoral scientist at the Washington
University School of
Medicine in St. Louis, and am now Associate Professor in the Dept. of
Biology at
the University of Iowa. Which, they tell me, is a real job, finally.
I am a proud alumnus of ~15 garage rock bands and now write, perform (drums, guitars, bass, keys, vocals), and record my own Beatlesque indie rock in my basement studio with my (long-distance) collaborator Rob L. We released our first album as The Poor Richards in 2006, and a 5- song EP (When I Can) in 2007. Both are available via iTunes or CD Baby, if you're interested, and you can sample on SoundCloud. I also play drums in Winterland, a Grateful Dead tribute band. I have too many guitars, drum sets, and records and a very lovely and understanding wife, along with 3 beautiful young children.


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Groundwater Remediation: Optimize Pump and Treat Systems with HRSCOct 27th, 2010 | By Joe Fiacco
Groundwater pump and treat systems often provide a false sense of security to both responsible parties and their consultants. These systems have historically been installed to mitigate potential future risks associated with off-site contaminant migration and are considered by many to be an effective groundwater containment system. Environmental Resources Management (ERM) conducted high resolution site
[continue reading…]


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I'm not sure how the idea came to be of constructing "Libraries" in honor of various "statesmen" or presidents, or for that matter which of those that exist was the first.
But when you take into consideration such libraries bear the names of Richard
Nixon and George "dubya" Bush the concept loses some of it's cachet.
All such libraries to my understanding are funded by private donations, that being
the case you or I could possibly have a library constructed and named in our honor
if we could secure the necessary funding.
Such an attempt is being made related to the late Russell Means, an attempt to
convince the public that iron pyrite (fool's gold) is actually the real thing – sort
of a salting of the mine.
There is a grand arrogance in such an attempt and I would suspect a hope or belief
that decades of fairy tales and propaganda will suffice to dilute reality.
A reality that fittingly could only lead to such a library being one of those vacant
forlorn abandoned houses on Pine Ridge being the location – or perhaps reduced to
a mobile bookmobile cobbled together with duct tape and baling wire known as a
rez car coughing and wheezing it's way along dripping oil and spewing fumes with a
cardboard box containing a few tattered copies of Means literary efforts rescued from the
local landfill.
Such is the legacy Means leaves, a man who lived in a bloated and self infatuated
arrogance capitalizing on the poverty of those he claimed to represent.


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Happy National Health IT Week: An Appian BPM in Healthcare Series
Today begins the 10th annual National Health IT (HIT) Week.
Across the United States, hundreds of organizations come together to raise awareness of the importance of information technology in healthcare: how IT can improve the quality of healthcare and patient safety, as well as foster meaningful interaction between patients and providers.
National HIT Week (#NHITweek on Twitter) is a national phenomenon, and Washington DC is the epicenter. Throughout the year, DC helps shape the healthcare industry through leadership, policy, and money. This week in particular—Monday, October 5 through Friday, October 9—there are specific DC events in honor of National HIT Week.
At Appian, we very much look forward to this incredible week of conversation and inspiration. We are partnering with a growing list of organizations making a real difference in healthcare by using our award-winning business process management (BPM) software. With more customers and partners comes more conversation…more collaboration…more impact. This 10th annual National Health IT week is sure to be more exciting than ever before.
Watch for our series this week on how modern, process-aware BPM can solve many of health IT's thorniest workflow, process, coordination, collaboration, and interoperability problems:
- Happy National Health IT Week: An Appian BPM in Healthcare Series (this post)
- The Power of Healthcare BPM: National Health IT Week Series
- The Power of BPM-driven Health Data Management: National Health IT Week Series
- The Power of BPM-driven Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud in Healthcare: National Health IT Week Series
- National Health IT Week in Review: An Appian BPM in Healthcare Series
Christina Fisher, Healthcare Solutions


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Curcumin vs Cumin
Curcumin and Cumin are two compounds that have been in the talk a lot as far as dietary intake is concerned. The reason is the alarming rate at which the incidence of cancer is increasing in the population. For the last so many centuries' people have been making use of spices for the treatment of various ailments. It is only now, after scientific analysis of the ingredients of spices that we know about the wonderful effects of the ingredients found in turmeric and cumin on various cancers. What are Curcumin and Cumin and just how do they compare with each other?
People often confuse between a herb and a spice using them interchangeably. But they are different as a herb is a plant that does not produce woody and persistent tissues and the plant dies at the end of the growing season. The examples of herbs are coriander, mint and parsley. A spice on other hand is that part of the plant that is used to add flavor to recipes such as the seed or the root of the plant. Examples of spices are ginger, turmeric and cumin.
Cumin is the seed of a small plant found in hot climates. These seeds are boat shaped, resemble caraway seeds, but are lighter in color. They need to be roasted before ground, and then they can be added to a lot of recipes such as curries, grills and stews. Cumin seeds are very commonly used in India, Mexico, and The Middle East. It is believed that cumin has many health benefits such as providing relief in heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea as it produces pancreatic enzymes. Today scientists have proved cumin to have anti cancer properties as it has the ability to kill free radicals that are considered to be responsible for the formation of cancers. It also fights cancerous cells by enhancing lever's detoxification enzymes.
Turmeric is a spice that contains Curcumin, a chemical compound that has been found to have anti cancer properties. For centuries, turmeric has been used as an antibiotic in India to provide relief in wounds and cuts. It has great healing power and the ability to suck pain when taken orally mixing it with milk. Turmeric is also very effecting in sprains. It has been used in heaps since time immemorial in Indian kitchen and the low incidence of the cancer of the esophagus among Indians has been attributed to the use of turmeric containing Curcumin.
Curcumin has a chemical formula of C21H20O6 and has a bright yellow orange appearance. A lot of research has gone into curative properties of Curcumin and it has been found to be anti tumor, antioxidant, anti arthritic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ischemic. It is also anti depressant and is effective in Alzheimer's disease. It is a wonderful compound that has been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. It inhibits tumor cell proliferation and has been effective in containing the spread of breast cancer.
• Curcumin and cumin are spices that have traditionally been used to cure various ailments
• Curcumin is a chemical compound found in turmeric while cumin is a seed.
• Both Curcumin and cumin have been shown to have anti cancer properties


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Quotes from photographers
- Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. Ansel Adams
- With a short lens I can reveal the hidden things near at hand, with a long lens the hidden things far away. The telephoto lens provides a new visual sensation for people: it widens their horizons. And, conversely, the things under our nose invariably look good when blown up really big Andreas Feininger


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Cédric Scherer
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)
in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
Evolutionary Ecology
Room 2.4.04
Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17
10315 Berlin, Germany
+ 49 (0) 30 - 51 68 342
scherer [at] izw-berlin.de
Supervisor team: Dr. Kramer-Schadt, PD Dr. Blaum, Prof. Dr. Grimm
I am a modeller in ecological research mainly focusing on spatially explicit and individual-based approaches. I personally aspire towards research that incorporates environmental factors influencing animals with a focus on causes and consequences of animal movement. Furthermore, I prefer spatially-explicit approaches to simulate and evaluate these effects. In addition, I have empirical experiences in tracking mammals (e.g. European brown hares, raccoons) and handling of GPS and acceleration data. I consider movement ecology an important avenue for predicting effects of environmental change and landscape fragmentation on animals and thus for biodiversity conservation.
Understanding the pattern of complex disease dynamics and host-pathogen coexistence requires unravelling the mechanisms behind the variation in host behavior and contact processes acting at different spatial and temporal scales (Tompkins et al. 2010 J Animal Ecology). Many wildlife species are distributed in distinct spatial clusters, be it depending on social groups or due to habitat fragmentation. Thus, host movement plays an important role in driving on-going disease dynamics by transmitting pathogens to distant hosts, thereby connecting infected host patches with new areas that would otherwise be isolated. In concert with heterogeneous environments, variability in host movements will change contact and transmission processes by bridging between locally unstable host-virus interactions (Hagenaars et al. 2004 J Theo Biol) with consequences for the speed of the epidemic front (McCallum 2008 in: "Infectious Disease Ecology") Since a major issue for controlling diseases is to understand how pathogens can persist within their host's population, it is of paramount importance to understand the role of movement and dispersal on the transmission process. This is particularly challenging in dynamic landscapes with high levels of human disturbance.
Spatially-explicit individual-based models provide a suitable experimental system in which individual variability in movement patterns of the host can be combined with a quantitative description of the infection process. Recently, Riley et al. (2015 Epidemics) proposed the incorporation of more flexible and accurate movement assumptions as a current challenge for spatially-explicit disease models.
My PhD project deals with the interplay of movement decisions, landscape heterogeneity and disease dynamics. The project aims to understand how spatio-temporal host-pathogen coexistence patterns (e.g. rabies in foxes, classical swine fever in wild boars) are affected by combined effects of (1) spatial and temporal land-use change, and (2) host individual's movement decisions and life-history traits.
By combining existing spatially explicit epidemiological approaches with more accurate habitat-dependent movement models we hope to gain new insights on landscape effects on movement patterns and disease persistence. We will assess whether stabilizing mechanisms play a role in host-pathogen systems when both pathogen (upon its arrival) and host (after being suppressed to low numbers by a pathogen) are at low densities.
Leibniz Institute for Zoo- and Wildlife Research (IZW)
Young Modellers in Ecology (YoMos)


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To discuss your skin care needs, please call 330-668-4065.
Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeon's Skin Care Specialist Ellie Skidmore, RN, is highly trained in both the medical/surgical and cosmetology side of skin care. She is a member of the Society of Plastic Surgeons Skin Care Specialists and has 14 years experience as an RN and 19 years experience in cosmetology.
Nursing Experience
Cosmetology License
Personal Information
Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeon's Skin Care Specialist Christi Van Scoy, RN, and Managing Esthetician is highly trained in both cosmetic surgery and skin care. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Nurses. She has 17 years experience as a cosmetic surgical nurse.
Managing Esthetician License


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Unionville Complete Main Floor Renovation
LOCATION: Unionville
OVERVIEW: Featured here is the third renovation completed in this home with the first being the complete second floor, second being the new steel roof with new soffit, facia and eavestrough. We worked with the client to provide the new layout which incorporated a larger kitchen and an open-concept living space. Load-bearing walls were removed and replaced with steel beams. Uneven subfloor was also removed and new floor joists were added to make it level. The original stone on the fireplace was maintained and the carpeting on the staircase was removed and refinished with new white oak treads, a handrail and pickets.
FEATURES: Live edge counter top in the all-white kitchen, coffered ceiling, site finished hardwood flooring, pocket door separating the kitchen to home office, wainscoting throughout – including circular staircase, new front door with glass inserts to brighten the entrance way.


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Product 89/102
A card is chosen and after it's lost back into the deck, the cards are spread face down on a table. The performer is blindfolded yet manages to find the card by impaling it on the tip of a knife. A classic card revelation taught by a master!


text: ddrum is an innovator in electronic drum kits, as well as a leading manufacturer of drum sets, hybrid drums, drum triggers, drum hardware, electronic drum pads, junior drum sets, bass drum pedals, electronic drum amps and much more. Founded in 1983, we are the pioneers of digital percussion and have expanded our product line making us a full line drum company. We design acoustic drum sets, electronic drum kits, industry standard drum triggers and high quality drum hardware that deliver the performance & innovation desired by today's drummer. ddrum - Everything for Today's Drummer.


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Demographic developments are radically changing the future requirements for HR development and deployment: the ability of industry to perform effectively increasingly depends on older staff.
Nonetheless, many companies are still planning their HR policy based on the so-called deficit hypothesis, which assumes that the physical and mental capabilities of more elderly employees are inferior. The latest research findings show, however, that this assumption does not stand up to scrutiny.
Together with selected companies in the metal and electrical/electronics industries we are therefore devising and testing new methods of staff management, customized learning strategies and the design of production systems that promote learning. All of these solutions essentially aim to tap into the underutilized potential of older staff. The project conducted by the Arbeitgeberverbände der Metall- und Elektroindustrie (the regional employers' associations in the German metal and electrical (M+E) industry) is being conducted on the initiative of Südwestmetall, with scientific management being provided by the IAO and the Center for Neuroscience and Learning in Ulm.


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By Chris Emma-
CHICAGO (CBS) — When the Bears last walked off the turf at Soldier Field, a sour taste was in their mouths. It was the final Sunday of December, and Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had just hit Randall Cobb for a miraculous game-winning touchdown pass on fourth down. Playoff hopes in Chicago were crushed.
On Saturday night, a renewed sense of optimism filled the stadium as the Bears hosted family night, with thousands filling the seats. The Bears responded well in practice with the home crowd cheering them on.
"It just changes the energy level, coming out here to Soldier Field," Bears coach Marc Trestman said afterward.
Each Bears player was introduced to the fans filling the stadium, with each receiving a loud ovation. Practice took to form of any ordinary workout in Bourbonnais, a productive, fast-paced showing. Trestman remained constantly on the move between drills, offering high-fives and encouragement after each play.
There's no time to waste in the limited time of training camp, something Trestman has emphasized throughout. The players remained zoned in to their duties on the practice field, even in a game-like atmosphere.
"We did a really good job of focusing on what tonight is — another training camp practice," Allen said.
Before long, Soldier Field will be filled to capacity, and a new season will have arrived. Then, the Bears can truly begin the process of eliminated that sour taste left from last December.
Long returns to action
The wait for Kyle Long's return to the practice field was anything but brief. The second-year guard was anxious to suit up for training camp, that following a week on the sidelines while recovering from a bout with a viral infection.
While Long was thrilled to rejoin his Bears teammates Saturday evening, there was someone even more excited that him.
"(Long) just wants to hit someone, and I'm tired of him hitting me," Bears guard Matt Slauson joked.
"That guy was built to hit."
Long participated in individual drills but was held out of team scrimmaging. Bears personnel even went as far as removing his helmet, taking away any temptation to push a gradual process.
The first days of camp saw Long recovering from the illness — acquired a week before arrival in Bourbonnais — then the first full week at Olivet Nazarene brought continued conditioning workouts. Saturday was the first Long had strapped on a helmet, even in just a limited capacity. Still, some football was better than no football for Long.
"It's really nice to be out there with the guys," Long said. "They've worked so hard during training camp. I still have a lot of reps to get back. We'll keep the ball rolling."
Progress will come in time, but getting back on the field was an important step in Long's return. He's happy to be back in action, and his teammates are too.
Lynch soaks up Soldier Field
For any Chicagoan, the sight of Soldier Field is unavoidable. The columns lining the stadium along the city's lakefront are unmistakable. It's something Jordan Lynch knows too well.
Saturday brought a milestone for the local product. Lynch suited up in Bears blue and orange in the city's famous stadium. It's something he'll cherish forever.
"To be a Chicago Bear, I'm living a dream," Lynch said with a big grin.
Lynch provided tickets for dozens of family members and friends, allowing them to take in his opportunity with the Bears. The former Northern Illinois standout is working toward earning a roster spot, even as an undrafted free agent.
A former quarterback in DeKalb, Lynch is aiming to succeed now as a running back. His improvements are evident in practice, something he credits to the assistance of veteran teammate Matt Forte.
"Night and day difference," Lynch said.
The affection Lynch has toward this opportunity was shown a half hour after practice, when most Bears had cleared the stadium, showered and began their drive home. Lynch was still on the field in full uniform and signing autographs. He was the last player off the field, enjoying every moment.
"I know Chicago has my back, and Chicago is rooting for me," he said. "I have to put in the work and do my part."
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.


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Author(s): Roy Thomas
New compilation of comic books from the early years of Batman detailing his involvement in WW2. First time ever look at Batman in this view of war. Batman, created in 1939, the caped crusader, lone mysterious vigilante, brooding anti hero. He was a great detective and solved crime in Gotham City. Here we see him battling Hitler and fighting the war.
Having co-founded the super-hero comics fanzine Alter Ego in 1961, ROY THOMAS (b. 1940) became writer/assistant editor for Stan Lee at Marvel Comics in 1965 after a very brief stint as assistant editor of DC's Superman titles. From 1965-1980 and/or during the 1990s he wrote for Marvel The Avengers, The X-Men, Fantastic Four, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Dr. Strange, Daredevil, Sub-Mariner, Avengers West Coast, The Amazing Spider-Man, et al.--including The Invaders, a comic which spun near WWII-period adventures of Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner. In the '70s he was the first writer and editor of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian, The Savage Sword of Conan, and Red Sonja, whom he again authored in the 1990s. At DC Comics in the 1980s he wrote All-Star Squadron (a super-hero comic set in 1941-42), Shazam!, Secret Origins (retelling WWII-era origins of DC's heroes), Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and other top series. He served as a Marvel editor from 1965-80, as Marvel's editor-in-chief from 1972-74, and as a DC editor from 1980-86. At Marvel he co-created Ultron and the Vision (both of whom will be prominently featured in the 2015 film The Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Iron Fist, the kung-fu super-hero who will be featured later this year by Netflix in both his own series and in The Defenders. He has written a number of graphic novels starring Conan, Spider-Man, Dracula, et al. Also in the '80s, he co-scripted the films Fire and Ice (for director Ralph Bakshi and 20th Century Fox) and Conan the Destroyer (for Universal), starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. He also provided scripts for the 1980s TV science-fiction series Super Force, for the 1990s TV series Xena - Warrior Princess, and for a bit of TV animation. Since 1999 he has edited a professional Alter Ego magazine (130 issues so far and counting) and has worked with Stan Lee on the scripting of the Spider-Man newspaper comic strip. He currently also writes online strips of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars for Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. For the German publisher Taschen he has written the humongous book 75 Years of Marvel: From Golden Age to Silver Screen, (released in late 2014) and is also writing an equally huge book about Marvel's Stan Lee. Besides winning numerous other fan and pro awards in the comics field over the years, he was elected to comics' Eisner Hall of Fame at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con.


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How to Love Yourself MORE in the Roller Coaster of Love
Every living being is searching for love, that profound emotion known to all of us.
But do we get trapped in the roller coaster of love once we think we have found our soul mate?
We tend to forget to love ourselves and give all our love to our significant other.
In order for a person to find true happiness and fulfillment, they need to love and respect themselves.
Our main goal is to attract a specific person we can share our lives with and without loving ourselves that would be impossible.
You might be surprised to hear this, but it is possible to neglect yourself once you get trapped in the roller coaster of love.
I am not saying that love is bad, it is not, but do not forget that you need to have a relationship with yourself as well.
Find your soul mate and experience a roller coaster of love
Once you reach that state of peace and happiness within you will find the right person for you.
Even if you are aware of the fact that you do not love yourself then the first step is to admit it.
There are people who do not know what love even means, and they will be surprise that love is actually something so natural and easy.
It does not have to be about anything in particular.
Just think of what makes you feel ecstatic, what brings fulfillment in your life.
If you want my personal advice, I would suggest you to love yourself enough and chase your dreams even if they scare you.
Do not stay entrapped in a place or a situation just because other people expect you to.
Heal your past wounds
Most of us cannot carry on with their lives just because of bad past experiences.
We are filled with negative emotions and fears and I know that it is hard to let things go, but at some point you must.
Not because of someone else but because of yourself.
Learn to love yourself exactly as you are and where you are at this point.
You cannot wait for things to be right, because, let`s be honest they might never be the way you expected them to be.
Life is not perfect, and if you wait to meet certain standards, I hate to bring this to you, you might never will.
But do not see that as a bad thing.
Even though at times you might feel bad or disappointed do not be.
People are capable to adapt more than they think they do.
Once you learn to treat yourself with the loving care you would like to receive from your soul mate you are ready to be taken away by the roller coaster of love.
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Author: Elena
Freelancer, blogger and a world citizen.
17 Comments
KristinaApril 28, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Self-love is so important!! ? Great post.
KateApril 28, 2017 at 3:59 pm
Agree, such an important hurdle to overcome. Need to love yourself or you can't be capable of loving others. Great post. X
Neely MoldovanApril 28, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Self love is so important. I always try to remember that I have to lvoe myself first.
LautenApril 28, 2017 at 7:23 pm
Always be yourself! Love this post! ☺ Xo
Liz MaysApril 28, 2017 at 7:34 pm
I definitely think that a lot of people become trapped in situations that may not be best for themselves. It's good to remember to love yourself without relying too much on external things.
BrandyApril 28, 2017 at 9:11 pm
This is well written, I do agree that we lose our own self in love. It's not something that is bad or that we mean to do. I think that we simply fall in love so deeply and care for someone for the long haul that we then put their needs and desires before our own then we wake up going what did we do?! And if you are in the right relationship, you will be able to recover yourself, love yourself again and not harm the relationship!
TrishApril 28, 2017 at 9:51 pm
This is a very thoughtful post. I agree that loving yourself is important in any loving relationship.
ScottApril 29, 2017 at 4:24 am
You have to really love who you are first. Only then will others love you as you are.
Yeu DoiApril 29, 2017 at 5:34 am
Great perspective on love. Indeed we have to love ourselves to love others more.
TamiApril 29, 2017 at 11:37 pm
You have really said something worthwhile here. I haven't always loved myself.
DivyaApril 30, 2017 at 9:37 pm
So true. This took me many, many years to realize. But once I did start loving myself, that's when I found my now-husband 🙂 Funny how that works out!
Annemarie LeBlancMay 1, 2017 at 5:02 am
Everything is so true. My mom always told me that – love yourself first so you can love others more. She always said, "Before you take home your paycheck, take a side trip to the mall. Pick a new blouse, a new shade of lipstick. Anything to make you feel good about yourself. This is not being selfish. This is all about loving yourself and rewarding yourself for a job well done."
SarahMay 19, 2017 at 7:35 pm
I agree wih you, past wounds hold people back. Loving yourself is so important and it can help to just have some alone time once in a while. Reaching for your dreams is key or you will always feel resentment. Great post!
SarahMay 19, 2017 at 7:35 pm
I agree wih you, past wounds hold people back. Loving yourself is so important and it can help to just have some alone time once in a while. Reaching for your dreams is key or you will always feel resentment. Great post!
KatherineMay 19, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Not just self-love, but I also believe you have to remind yourself sometimes to treat other people like you want to be treated. It's easy when you've been married ten years to be bossy and rude when having a bad day, but no-one likes to be treated like that!
katrina gehmanMay 23, 2017 at 1:32 am
love is def a roller coaster. forgiving is key as we all have bad days.
Angela MilnesMay 24, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Healing from the past is so important. I took years to do this before my next marriage but the time was needed!


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What's the best bus lines/airlines & tips for rapid transit out of Manila to Laoag in northern Luzon & to Surigao Is. in south?
Only have 17 days to travel to the northwest coast from Laoag to Claveria area, and then down to the southern Visayas/Surigao Is. Was going to bring a surfboard, but don't know how much of a hassle it will be, or $ cost to transport on bus or plane. Might not worth it. Going to probably be flat, anyway. Thinking of express/premier bus or fly from Manila to Laoag, then after a week, bus or fly back down to Manila. Then on to Surigao Island for another week. Bus or fly, don't know. Want to keep it cheap, but don't want to waste a lot of time on buses...especially, since it will be the rainy season and those "scenic views" are blocked out by rain. Last time I was there was in 1972-75. Did lots of hard-core exploring back then, but it looks way easier now. Any suggestions, fellow nomads?


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The Governing Body have approved the following policies and documents for Evendons Primary School.
These documents are stored and managed by the school and the Governing Body using our cloud-storage solution. If you have any problems accessing or opening any of the policies or documents, please contact us by email at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will send you a PDF version. Alternatively, all policies are available to view in the school office on request.
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text: Are you struggling to find custom Nerf Bars for your old work truck? Just because your truck may be showing some age doesn't mean that it can't still be your work horse for the job site or when heading out for a fishing trip. Dee Zee can add an instant face-lift to your classic truck and provide an unmatched stepping surface to easily access the cab. Consider Our Universal Nerf Bars Dee Zee always recommends using a custom fitting Nerf Bar if available, but sometimes the universal bars are the only option for an older model year. These sturdy tubes are available in 3" round and 4" oval designs, with material options of stainless steel or black powder coated steel. Heavy-duty powder coated steel braces attach directly to the frame or rocker body for superior strength. Drilling is required for installation, so review the instructions for necessary tools and drill bit sizes needed during the install. Allow your truck to age gracefully with the addition of Universal Nerf Bars and give yourself a convenient step.


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Dudley Printing
The Economic Background to the Dudley Printing Area
Direct2Print is an online print shop that serves Dudley printing customers.
Dudley is currently going through a major business regeneration scheme as outlined in the strategic plan.
We have recently provided printing to companies in Smethwick, Netherton, Gornal, Oldbury, Sedgley, Rowley Regis, Blackheath and Tipton.
The Dudley print area has a number of new developments that are boosting the demand for fast, high quality printing services – all detailed in our Blog.
Dudley Printing Customer Benefits
Dudley printing customers that are located within 20 miles of our business centre in the West Midlands and include organisations of all sizes in the Black Country, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
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MARATHON SCHOOL For Marathoners and Half Marathoners
Course Description
Learn how to run a marathon or half marathon so you can finish feeling strong and say "That was a great experience!"
Training for a marathon and half marathon is easier than you think with the right strategies, training plan and support
"We help runners to train for a Marathon, Half Marathon by teaching pacing strategies through a structured training program, tips, strategies, seminars and a supportive community of friendly and like-minded runners and coaches"
Steve & Margot Manning, intraining Running Centre directors , Founders of intraining"s training groups , intraining Running & Triathlon Club, and Runners School
We Have 5 Key Strategies to help you:
- A TRAINING Plan with long runs, speed sessions and other runs that will progress weekly to your goal race day.
- ONLINE LESSONS on all the different aspects of training and racing you want to know.
- PACING STRATEGIES to run smarter, faster and stronger more easily.
- A RACE STRATEGY to run at your best on your BIG day.
- CONNECTING with a community of supportive coaches and runners.
"The intraining Marathon School is a summary of all this great information that's been put together over the years by dedicated, wonderful, passionate coaches. The structure of the training program is awesome, so you're not having to make all those mistakes and having to learn on your own." Matty Horston, Marathon Schooler, Marathoner, Intraining Coach
To hear more about Matty and other runner stories, click here.
Pricing details:
SEMESTER 1 - 20 WEEK PROGRAM $279/non club members
$225 intraining club members
SEMESTER 2 - 20 WEEK PROGRAM $279/non club members
$225 intraining club members
SEMESTER 1 & 2 $450/non club members
PAY UPFRONT for the FULL YEAR of MARATHON SCHOOL
$350/intraining club members


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Interviews by Jason Weigandt, Steve Matthes and Chase Stallo
Justin Barcia, Team Honda Muscle Milk, 4-2 for second in 450 Class
You wanted to be on the podium here today. Are you happy? I know you wanted to win it, too.
Obviously I always want to win but the Ryans are killing it. Learning as the year goes, and getting better and just learning the 450. I did get to race it a few years back a little bit and that was good. But definitely can't wait to get better and better. Definitely want to keep on the podium; that's the biggest thing. Just keep going for it.
How much fun were you having on Thursday at press day?
Honestly I think that was the most fun I've had riding a dirt bike in a while. At Washougal I hurt my wrist and my fingers so I didn't really get to ride that much at home. Starting to get better now. Thursday was kind of the first day I got to ride a lot. They steepened the lips on the jumps so much and I was able to do huge whips. Obviously my track at home has big jumps. I like to do whips so that was fun. Eventually I hope I get to do X Games. But I don't know if I can whip it or not off a freestyle ramp!
This is the home race but it's not like you've got to ride here a lot, because they only really use this track for the pro Nationals. So explain your history here.
I say it's a home race and I feel like it's a home race, but there's the amateur track back there I got to race. It's not comparable to this track. I haven't really gotten to ride here until I was pro. I did grow up around here; only three hours away. This is definitely by far one of my favorite tracks. I really enjoy it. It was a man's track today. There were a lot of ruts, bumps. My bike was working good and I was really happy about that. It was a good day overall. – Jason Weigandt
Jeremy Martin, MyPlash/Star Racing Yamaha, 2-3 for second in 250 Class
Not only are you blossoming into the rider that the folks at Yamaha thought you were going to be, but you have to be a favorite with the fans and in the pits heading into 2014.
Yeah, for sure. One thing I noticed today was out on the track … I'm always going to have some fans, I think, but today was the first time I've noticed that I've gone to a race and more people were cheering me on. I could hear air horns when I was riding! I think it's pretty cool. I think I'm starting to grow a bigger fan base. It's awesome.
Take us through your motos.
Yeah, running up front the first moto was good. I learned a lot. I finally figured out why I was struggling at the beginning of the season. I wasn't breathing and my technique was just off. With the help of the whole Star team and the Carmichael farm I was able to turn it around mid-season. Now we're able to see the results. Riding with Ryan [Dungey] everyday at the farm, it's a big help. I've learned a lot from him. We both push each other big time.
Is it good to get a result like this at this track? I'm sure it's cool to lead in front of the home folks at Millville, but people are going to say, "Well, he just did good because he knows that track." What does this mean to back it up?
Honestly Millville helped me out quite a bit. I got the lead for a while and things started to kind of click a little bit and I came here. I felt more confident for sure. My starts have been good. Getting to lead was awesome. A lot of people think, "He was winning because it was Millville" or "He had a second in that first moto because it was Millville." So to be able to back it up here is a good feeling for sure. – Jason Weigandt
"I finally figured out why I was struggling at the beginning of the season. I wasn't breathing and my technique was just off." - Jeremy Martin
Simon Cudby photo
Ken Roczen, Red Bull KTM, 5-2 for third in 250 Class
Your afternoon, it didn't go traditional Ken Roczen style today. Tell us a little bit about it.
I don't know honestly. It's a good question of what happened. But we're trying to work on a few things. It's not where I want to be. It's not how I want to ride. I don't really know what I did wrong. It's just the way it is. Today was just an off day.
Second moto Eli [Tomac] caught you but you did everything you could to hold him back. It was a pretty good battle for three or four laps there.
I started off riding a totally different suspension that we tried last week, different than how I used to ride before. I just felt off. Coming into the first moto I went back to the stuff that I used to ride with. Totally struggled. Then for the second moto went back to the other stuff … it was crazy. But at this point after the first moto we had nothing to lose. I needed to learn what the difference was. I just feel like we still have a little bit of a ways to go. I'm happy though to have all the support that KTM and the whole team gives me. Trying to make things better. I'm for sure working on myself all the time too. Just got a little bit of stuff to do.
How about that battle though? It was pretty good.
I tried everything I can to hold him off a little bit. As soon as he passed me I tried to go after him and then I see what he did different but it took half a lap and he was gone. It was a tough one. But I didn't even feel that tired or anything. I feel like the track didn't really allow me to go any faster. I need to deal with it. I'm not putting my head down. I was more happy with the second moto than with the first one. I felt pretty strong, so no worries on my side. I think from weekend to weekend, from now there's only two races to go, but I think we will learn from it.
What about the first moto?
The first moto the start was not that good. The roost hurts. It's crazy. I had so much arm pump. I don't know why. I haven't had it this bad this year. Little bit of a bummer—especially with a track like that, when it's that rutty and that bumpy it's so hard to keep your groove. When I got off the track, I felt like I didn't even ride, I wasn't tired but I couldn't go faster because my arms just pumped up. I don't want to throw the bike away [and crash]. So, not too happy about it. – Jason Weigandt
Zach Osborne, GEICO Honda, 3-6 for fourth in 250 Class
Now the second motos are the problems.
No, just played it a little safe there in the second moto. Got kind of stuck in a little bit of a rut in the beginning and never really came out of it, but still it was a good day. I feel like a huge monkey's been lifted. I'll have her together for Utah.
It was a good day for you. A real dramatic race for you where you would move up, you would move back…
Yeah, for sure, but it was good to be able to battle like that. It got to about 15 minutes and I was still feeling good and decided to just drop the hammer. I started right up there and I was back to about seventh at one point and then went forward. It was really good. Huge positive from this weekend. Fourth overall today. I'm pretty pumped. – Steve Matthes
Trey Canard, Honda Muscle Milk 39-26 for twenty-ninth in 450 Class
That did not go well today. You okay?
Control, Alt, Delete.
You want to talk about a day … so first of all, you go down in the first turn. Your front wheel is busted. Just jacked up.
That was moto 2. Moto 1 I lost a motor.
So you break in moto 1. Fourth, fifth.
I was in fourth.
And then second moto, awesome gate pick of course.
Yeah, 40th. I was just way outside. Actually timed the gate perfect and was looking to get a decent start, but someone must have got together. It was a straight-line for my front wheel. I don't know what went in my front wheel but I was straight over the bars, flying through the air.
I had two different riders tell me, "Wow, lucky I'm not Canard. That was ugly."
It was really bad. I was grateful to get up. I had to push my bike to the mechanics area because the spokes were busted out. I had to just kind of use some strength, or try to anyway, and it took them forever to get it going. I was actually a lap down. It was kind of a confusing race for me because I didn't want to mess anyone's race up but I still wanted to try to learn the track. I know, Lord willing, I'll be back here next year and hopefully in a good position. I wanted to take as much as I could with the bike setup and the lines and everything like that to try to take it into next year. – Steve Matthes
"I don't really know what I did wrong. It's just the way it is. Today was just an off day." - Ken Roczen
Simon Cudby photo
Cooper Webb, MyPlash/Star Racing Yamaha, 12-11 for twelfth in 250 Class
I saw your bad crash on TV. We heard you were out for the day, and then there you were, superheroing it. You raced both motos and did okay.
It was a pretty rough day. I crashed in practice. I'm not sure exactly what I did but I messed up one of my nerves I guess when I crashed. My whole arm went numb. I thought I broke my wrist or something. My hand's still pretty numb so I'm going to get it checked out as soon as I can. Rough day I guess. First moto I got a real bad start. Second moto I had a good start and I hit a barrel in the first turn and came out pretty far back again. I think I went 12-11.
Did it bug you out there, not feeling the grip or whatever?
I was having to ride kind of different. I was just going out there and trying to get some points. Try to do something with it.
What did you think of this track? A lot of guys don't like it. What did you think?
It's gnarly, that's for sure. I like the layout. It's got some pretty fun jumps. It's brutal. This is definitely one of the gnarliest tracks for sure. – Steve Matthes
Brett Metcalfe, Kawasaki (his own deal!), 10-6 for seventh in 450 Class
Not as good as Southwick. Good second moto. First moto crash at one point while you were up higher. You've still got to be happy. I think you ended up seventh overall.
It was okay. I'm a little disappointed the way it turned out today. But I think seventh overall is still okay. All day I just didn't really have it. It's kind of the first time all year I think I've had these kind of conditions where it was super deep. So it kind of caught me off guard chasing it, trying to get things dialed in, feeling comfortable on the track. I just couldn't quite get there. Second moto was better. I kind of hit some points that were really good on the bike and I felt a lot better. But both motos I was kind of up, a little bit closer to the front first moto and threw it away, bent everything. Clutch was hanging down. After that it was whatever.
Still picked some guys off though from where you were after the fall.
I lost a lot of positions. Still came through. Me and Jake [Weimer] were actually kind of coming through together. It was still good. Just a bummer about that mistake, but it happens.
Phil Nicoletti, N-Fab TiLUBE Yamaha, 13-9 for tenth in 450 Class
Talk about coming back home. Obviously it's good to be back but it comes with a lot of other distractions that you typically don't have.
No, it's true but it's still good. These guys get one race a year now. Used to be two with Broome, but it's been like that for a few years. It's been cool. My whole family, friends, cousins … it's been awesome. I try to stay in the truck most of the day but I have to come out and say hi to them once in a while. But it was good. They were all wearing Filthy Phil t-shirts and they were spread all throughout the track. It was cool. I was pumped.
And two pretty solid motos today.
One solid moto. First moto was absolutely dog crap. I just rode terrible. I was in eighth and three guys got me on one lap. I was just mind-blown at what I was doing, the lines I was taking. Just slamming all the ruts. The track was gnarly. You had to be really smart with your line choices and I wasn't like that. But second moto was a lot better. I had a better flow, got a decent start, and tried to figure out some lines quicker in the moto. That part was good.
You've been around this track quite some time. Talk about what the rain on Friday did, if anything, to the track.
I've been coming here since '08 just for Nationals. I came here press day and the track was ripped really deep which I was pumped about, but it was dry because they were waiting on the rain. Obviously Thursday night into Friday morning it just dumped down. It ended up shaping up really well. Practice was a little bit muddy, not as bad as I thought, but it turned out good, rutty and really technical.
I don't know if you heard it, but as you'd come around air horns and stuff were blaring. Is that something you feed off of?
It helps a lot more. Since we're a small team, I've only got two, three guys spread throughout the track, so it works out good when you come to your local race and you've got fans out there. I still see people I know on the sidelines. It's awesome. Waving towels, blowing their air horns, and wearing those t-shirts. I was excited. – Chase Stallo
"I still see people I know on the sidelines. It's awesome. Waving towels, blowing their air horns, and wearing those t-shirts. I was excited." - Phil Nicoletti
Simon Cudby photo
Bobby Kiniry, N-Fab TiLUBE Yamaha, 22-16 for twenty-second in 450 Class
Your home track. Started off good first moto. Bad luck with that. Second moto of course with your awesome gate pick you did a typical meathead thing, you just persevered and got like sixteenth or something.
Yeah, first moto I was a little bummed. Got a really good start. I got a hole in my radiator first lap, and what are you going to do? So DNF there. I felt good. Qualified well in the morning. I felt like it was going to be a good day. Second moto, obviously started all the way outside. I was 40th gate pick. Watched Trey and those guys get into a massive pileup. I'm glad I missed that. That looked like it hurt. Hope those guys are all right. Went around that, so obviously started probably 35th. Got myself up with Malcolm Stewart, and got up to probably about 20th. Passed him, got together with him, went down, picked myself back up, bike was pretzeled. Got going and salvaged myself. I don't really know what my official result was; 16th, 17th, something like that. – Steve Matthes
Alex Martin, Rock River Racing Yamaha, 14-15 for 14th in 250 Class
Second race back from a pretty big crash. Feel a lot better this weekend?
Yeah, definitely. My head was definitely feeling a little bit clearer than it was at Millville. The weekend off really helped me regroup. Just charge and attack these last few races.
It seemed like today a little more aggressive than you were at Millville. Was it due to the injury?
Yeah, I think so. And also I've been in Oklahoma. Usually I'm in Club MX, but I went over to Oklahoma to do some suspension testing with the Merge guys and I think we were getting my setup dialed in a little more.
Talk about that. You've been down at Club for so long. What's the adjustment like to go somewhere else and train, even if it's just for a few weeks?
I love Club MX and those guys have done a ton for me. I can't thank them enough. I just really needed to do some suspension testing. That was my weakest area so I'm trying to get that figured out so I can have a good result these last couple races.
Going forward what are your expectations?
The way the season's been going I think it'd be really good for me to just be in the top ten. This year it's been tough. I've been around 15th and stuff but I'm battling with guys like [Darryn] Durham or [Martin] Davalos. It's so stacked this year. It's going to be a tough feat but I'd really like to be in the top ten. – Chase Stallo


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After a long off-season with some insane storylines: (*Author's note: Bron-Bron goes back to Cleveland, Phil takes the helm in NYC, Kobe and Derrick Rose prepare for their returns, and the Cavaliers prove that they are the NBA equivalent to Meatloaf and will do anything for Love.) the NBA season has finally arrived. I'm sure, if you're a hoophead like me, you've already pored over a 20 or more previews and watched as dozens of talking heads asked "The Important Questions" about this upcoming NBA season.
So I decided I'd take a little more outside the box approach. I'd take a look at five storylines that may or may not be flying underneath the radar and investigate them. Here are 5 questions that simply must be asked before the NBA season goes into day 2.
1. Whose hair will get talked about the most in Cleveland: LeBron James or Anderson Varejao?
Anderson Varejao has come strong with his token-black-guy-in-High-School-Musical hair for the past few seasons. Does it kind of look like the Brazilian hair version of the confetti that comes out of those toy champagne-poppers that people bust out for New Year's Eve? Yeah. Does it flop oh-so-gloriously, like Pau Gasol trying to draw a charge in the low block? Definitely. Varejao's stat line usually includes a triple double when he's playing: points, rebounds, and times spent tossing his hair like model doing a "wind-blown" look in front of a power fan.
LeBron's hair, like everything else about LeBron James, was highly scrutinized this offseason. If you think about LeBron's hair like a Civil War battlefield (*Author's note: you know, like a normal person) it seemed like the front lines of LeBron's hair were gradually ceding precious ground to the inevitable reverse Kareem-ing that seemed to be happening. The head band on his dome kept moving back, gradually sliding towards making him look like he was wearing an NBA yarmulke that came with the sun roof option. But for a brief moment this year, Bron-Bron called for reinforcements.
He got hair plugs. His hairline made a dramatic, suicide charge, that had Twitter imploding in on itself like a dying supernova as LeBron suddenly looked like a new man. But then? Just like that: poof. The new hair was gone again. It had Nightcrawler'd (*Author's note: the character from X-Men, not Jake Gyllenhall) out of the picture, teleporting off of LeBron's dome. Did he unplug like a rapper doing an acoustic set on MTV? Had the Twitter backlash driven his new follicles to a full-on retreat? We may never know. But it'll be something that's totally worth watching.
2. Where will Kobe hide the body of Swaggy P after he inevitably murders him?
That the situation in LA is a mess is hardly a secret. I'm not sure if they've already copyrighted the term, "Blunderbuss" to describe how great Jerry's son Jimmy has done running the franchise, but if they haven't I'm going to send off a quick e-mail to the US Patent Office. What will make a disgustingly unwatchable Lakers team infinitely more watchable this year? The fact that Kobe Bryant is back.
And not only is Kobe back, but he's in full on crotchety old man, I-don't-give-a-fuck-because-I'm-a-veterans-veteran and make Rip van Winkle look like a rookie, mode. So what happens when Kobe, and all his mamba-venom, run into Swaggy P and all his long-two-point-jacking bravado? It could get ugly. Since Swaggy P is essentially a 3rd-world-poor man's Kobe and he has become a pseudo-celeb based on the fact that he's dating Iggy Azalea, it could lead to a fascinating power struggle.
But let's be honest: the struggle won't last long. We all know that Kobe's competitiveness borders on homicidal. So when he ends up drowning Swaggy P in the training room cold tub, after the Swagster goes 4-19 from the field at some point this year, the question will be this: where will Kobe stash his body?
4 Potential hiding places:
- Wherever Jim Buss hides all of his "mistakes."
- A dude like Jimmy Buss isn't going to live a completely clean life. That much we can rightly assume. So what do his "handlers" do when the Blunderbuss fires off an errant round and they need to dispose of the evidence? I'm sure they have a secret passageway underneath the Staples center to spirit out bodies. And we know Kobe would have access to these.
- Smush Parker's house.
- Kobe and Smush have had a simmering, sometimes boiling, feud. And what better way for psycho-Kobe to exact his revenge (*Author's note: other than, you know, just having no one else on the planet give a damn about Smush Parker – which has already happened.) than by a classic Hollywood Noir frame-job.
- The Medieval German Castle Dungeon Laboratory where Kobe gets his strange knee injections.
- We know there's something fishy going on there. 'Roids? HGH? Is A-Rod just hanging out in there, in between fratting it up at college campuses around the nation? Simply put, we'll never know. But, it sure seems like an ideal hiding place.
- Donald Sterling's basement.
- Because everyone would just assume Sterling did it. I know I would.
3. Will the 76ers play so bad that we retro-actively are declared the losers of the Revolutionary War and we have to give back thirteen states to Great Britain?
There's a legitimate chance. Have you seen their lineup? It's a crew so Motley that Tommy Lee should be playing the drums. They've got guys you've never heard of. Young dudes who have names you can't pronounce. Michael Carter-Williams is their best player and he has a name like a serial killer and shoots 40% from the field. While the team has a few young pieces with some upside, they appear to be doomed to another season so far at the bottom of the standings that they're somewhere below the Earth's crust. The one bonus? Nerlens Noel, rocking a flat top the size of a small mountain peak on his dome. (*Author's note: and that's trying really hard for a silver lining.)
4. Will Chris Bosh continue his slow metamorphosis into a Velociraptor before our very eyes?
Because: the NBA is back, baby! https://t.co/6d4BoxBp1k
— Chris Hatch (@NoCoastHatch) October 29, 2014
(*Author's note: It's time for you to start lining up your Jurassic World jokes, Twitter. The season is back, the next installment of the Jurassic Park franchise is off and running, and Chris Bosh is probably going to continue Chris Boshing his way around the court. Personally, I don't know if the Heat will let Bosh have enough time off from the team to finish shooting his scenes as a stunt double for the velociraptors, and that could lead to some conflict. Get. Your. Popcorn. Ready.)
5. Will reigning technical foul king Boogie Cousins get out-teched by Larry Sanders?
Boogie seems to have troubles with the refs. I'm not sure if this stems from the fact that he's a post player who consistently thinks he's getting hacked (*Author's note: a hallmark of good NBA post players is their insistence that they're being fouled and their willingness to get T-ed up for it. Hell, even not-good NBA post players get a lot of techs. See: Perkins, Kendrick.) or if he's just got a lousy attitude, but whatever the reason, Boogs has led the league in techs for 2 straight seasons and finished second 3 years ago to the aforementioned king of posturing/scowling, Perkins.
But someone is coming for Boogie's belt. Someone equally tatted and equally trialed-and-tribulated by the officiating community. Someone who once racked up a whopping 14 T's of his own 2 seasons ago in a mere 71 games and who will be an what appears to be a super frustrating scenario buried in the frozen tundra of Milwaukee. That's right, baby! I'm talking about none other than Larry F-ing Sanders! If you doubt Mr. Sander's ref-taunting technique, or don't think anyone can hang with Boogie's panache in the ref-flouting business: ladies and gentleman of the jury, please let me submit to you my favorite ejection of all time not involving an NBA fist fight.


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I'm an old Hoosier, born on Oct. 19, 1947, in Fort Wayne, IN—a good place, as a friend once said, to be from. Indeed, I was so eager to be From Fort Wayne that I joined the Army in my youth, when I was a nursing student in a Catholic hospital school. I was anti-war, a coffee-house singer of protest songs, so the move was incongruous, perhaps even idiotic. But I loved irony, and I was really naive; I believed the recruiting sergeant, who told me there was a "waiting list a mile long" for nurses who actually wanted to go to Viet Nam. No, I would spend my two-year hitch far from harm, lying in the Hawaiian surf or riding the Arizona desert on a horse with no name.
My first book is a fiction riff on the year-and-a-month I spent as a combat operating room nurse in Viet Nam. It's titled "Don't Mean Nothing."
My second book, at left, is Calling New Delhi for Free [and other ephemeral truths of the 21st Century]. It's published by Peace Corps Writers, and is a collection of previously published essays, most of them humorous, loosely based on the theme of technology. For a more in-depth explanation, and for a sample essay from the book, please click on the cover graphic.
I've lived in South America, Maine, spent a brief sojourn in Chicago, lived 24 years in Eastern Massachusetts—where I fell in love with the Red Sox—and currently reside in Brooklyn, where I must keep my love under wraps. I spend my days writing, bicycling, traveling, co-editing a lovely little magazine (Vestal Review), making beaded jewelry, taking long walks and pushing my pacifist agenda.
Visit me on Facebook.