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We produce this news digest every weekday. You canto receive these updates as an email newsletter each morning.
Neil Gorsuch confirmation hearings begin –> Starting today at 11 a.m., President Trump's Supreme Court nominee will face Congress for what are expected to be four days of hearings. C-SPAN will stream the proceedings and SCOTUSBlog will live blog the entire hearing.
Over at Slate, court watcher Dahlia Lithwick says that Democrats, by virtue of just showing up for the hearing, have already given up on their best argument against Gorsuch: "that the nomination is wholly illegitimate." "Gorsuch may or may not be a good judge," she writes, "but there is no principled reason for him to have a hearing when Merrick Garland did not."
At The New York Times, Linda Greenhouse offers her thoughts on the line of questioning senators should follow. To avoid the usual response wherein nominees say they can't comment on cases that might come before the court, she recommends that "Senators should ask how he would have decided Supreme Court cases from the past." She includes a list of settled cases that she would like to hear Gorsuch's thoughts on.
At Mother Jones, Rebecca Leber writes that Gorsuch is not a fan of Chevron deference, a Supreme Court precedent that holds that courts should give agencies some leeway in interpreting the laws Congress makes. That's particularly important for the EPA, which under Obama used that leeway to create regulations addressing climate change. (We have more on the GOP's efforts to toss out Chevron deference at our site.)
Clarity from Comey? –> The director of the FBI will testify before Congress this morning, and will face questions about Trump's claims that he was wiretapped and questions about the relationship between Russia and Trump's campaign. Comey's hearing is streaming over at C-SPAN3.
Collision course –> The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are looking for the best way to kill the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a consumer watchdog agency championed by Elizabeth Warren and put in place after the financial crisis. The Justice Department, for instance, has declared that the agency's structure, with a single director instead of a board making decisions, is unconstitutional. That puts Trump and Warren on a collision course for a public dispute, Alexander Zaitchik writes for The New Republic.
What a terror attack would mean under Trump –> The courts have struck down Trump's travel bans twice now, and even suggested they are unconstitutional, but Peter Maas writes for The Intercept that "a terror attack on US soil will be used by the White House as an excuse for implementing an extra-legal agenda that could only be pushed through in a time of crisis." There is historical precedent for this; Maas looks at a few.
DNC diversifies –> In response to criticism from progressives, the Democratic National Committee added six new members on Saturday, including supporters of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and Keith Ellison's bid to run the DNC.
Some facts on the Fed –> You may have heard that the Federal Reserve raised interest rates last week. At The Nation, William Greider provides some background on what that means — and argues that we rely so heavily on the Fed to grow the economy and create jobs only because politicians have dropped the ball.
The deconstruction continues –> Steve Horn reports for DeSmogBlog that the Trump administration is considering a fracking lobbyist to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Bill Cooper is best known among industry insiders as the man who successfully pushed the "Halliburton loophole," a provision that exempted fracking from EPA oversight under the Safe Drinking Water Act, making it more complicated for regulators to crack down on gas drillers who polluted water supplies.
New Koch? –> The New Yorker's tireless muckraker Jane Mayer has a profile of Robert Mercer and his daughters, whose money seems to be showing up everywhere. A hedge-fund tycoon who helped build the investment firm Renaissance Technologies, Mercer is the Koch brother of the Trump era. A reclusive mathematician who doesn't believe in climate change, prefers the company of cats to people and believes that humans' worth is directly proportional to the amount of money they earn, Mercer has poured millions into various right-wing causes, including Breitbart, the Trump campaign and Cambridge Analytica, a data mining company that worked for both the Trump and Brexit campaigns.
Softballs only –> Trump and his administration are keeping the press at arm's length. But not all press, Margaret Sullivan observes at The Washington Post. One conservative opinion writer for Glenn Beck's website The Blaze received a personal call from the president to thank her for her coverage. When Rex Tillerson took his first trip to Asia at a critical time, he brought along only one reporter, a recent hire for the conservative web publication Independent Journal Review.
Trump sends hate group leader to UN conference –> "Members of the president's delegation to the United Nations' annual summit on women are opposed to the UN as a whole and the fundamental rights of women in particular," Christina Cauterucci writes for Slate. In fact, the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Center for Family & Human Rights, members of which are representing the US at the UN, as a hate group.
R.I.P. –>Newspaper columnist Jimmy Breslin died yesterday at the age of 86. Anyone who has taken a journalism class might be familiar with Breslin for his famous 1963 reporting on John F. Kennedy's funeral; while other reporters were covering the spectacle of the funeral, Breslin sought out and interviewed Clifton Pollard, the man who dug the president's grave. "It's an honor for me to be here," Pollard said. The Long Island newspaper Newsday, one of Breslin's employers, also republished some of Breslin's writing on Donald Trump. Trump survived, Breslin wrote, through "Corum's law," named after sportswriter Bill Corum: "A sucker has to get screwed." In Trump's case, Breslin observed in 1990, the suckers were the press and the financiers taken in by the "razzle dazzle" Trump was proffering.
Daily Reads was compiled by John Light and edited by Theresa Riley.
We produce this news digest every weekday. You canto receive these updates as an email.


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With the DiO wireless wall switch, you can easily play your life scenarios but also control your lightings and/or rolling shutters one by one or all together.
For example, with one single clic on the switch next the entry door, I launch my "Leave home" scenario and my house automatically moves into "ECO" mode: lights turn off, shutters close down and heating moves into ECO mode.
I pair my wall switch with my DiO HomeBox to control my scenarios and all my DiO accessoires (1.0 or 2.0).
I directly pair my wall switch with my DiO 2.0 accessories to control them locally, one by one or all together.Pack Details:

subset: commoncrawl


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'Anti-Social' Gorilla Gets a Fresh Start in a New Home
A silverback gorilla at the Dallas Zoo who got a reputation for being "anti-social" is getting a chance to start with a clean slate, thanks to some caring zookeepers who scouted a new home for him.
Patrick, a 23-year-old gorilla who spent the last 18 years of his mostly solitary life in Dallas, is moving this October to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C., officials said.
Patrick, who was born at the Bronx Zoo in 1990 and was abandoned by his mother, has had a difficult time developing solid relationships with other gorillas, though he gets along well with his handlers, zoo officials said.
While the 430-pound gorilla is not a threat, he behaves with indifference towards other gorillas, especially females, according to Dallas Zoo supervisor Keith Zdrojewski. Patrick interacts better with humans and maintains great relationships with them, he said.
"He tries to get the keepers to chase him around," Zdrojewski said. "He's one of the best trained gorillas we've ever seen. He enjoys the interaction, he enjoys it very much."
When Patrick observes other gorillas from behind a screen, he responds positively since it reduces his stress, Zdrojewski said. "There's something about being with gorillas in the same room that's a problem," he said.
John Davis, curator of mammals at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, said that Patrick's transition to a new environment should not be problematic for the gorilla.
"Gorillas, like people, are all different," Davis said. "We put them in what is evaluated as the best social context and facilities for them. The process of accepting Patrick is not uncommon [in] moving gorillas."
Staff members from the Dallas Zoo will accompany Patrick during the transfer so that he is comforted by familiar faces, Davis said. Once Patrick arrives at his new habitat, he will be tested and evaluated to ensure that he adapts positively.
"We will only expose Patrick to new changes in his environment based on the rate at what he can handle and what he's comfortable with," David said. "Staff members will expose him to the other gorillas in a controlled dose."
Kristen Lukas, chair of the Gorillas Species Survival Plan for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said that determining gorilla psychology is more difficult than assessing human psychology. Patrick's behavior issues are believed to be a result of his early experiences.
"Gorillas who have experienced long periods of hand-rearing or time spent with humans in the past can have more difficult time socializing with other gorillas as adults," she said.
Several zoos worked together during the last few years to help plan Patrick's move, Lukas said. The decision to move Patrick to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden was made in the interest of improving his ability for success.
"We try very hard not to label a gorilla as difficult," she said. "I would never label him as difficult, just a gorilla that needs a different opportunity to be his best self."
The Dallas Zoo will host a "We'll Miss Ya, Patrick" celebration for Patrick on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29.


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Brand: Anderson Kilts
Product Code:
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As specialists in Scottish Highland dress, we will ensure that you are properly dressed, whatever the occasion.
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Czech JBoss User Group gladly invites you to a JBUG session in Brno, taking place on Wednesday April 8th, 2015 in premises of Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University room A318 (new building) at 18:00.
Czech JBoss User Group Vás srdečně zve na setkání JBUG v Brně, které se koná ve středu 8. dubna 2015 v prostorách Fakulty Informatiky Masarykovy Univerzity v místnosti A318 (nová část budovy) od 18:00.
Infinispan a is scalable, highly available key/value NoSQL data store and data grid solution. That description might seem a bit long but still it's not complete. We would like to introduce Infinispan as a hybrid NoSQL solution that supports also document store querying capabilities using new Infinispan Query API. We will demonstrate how to query data both locally and remotely, without knowing any keys.
We said data grid solution, yes. Have you ever considered watching over hundreds of servers? We did. No one wants to find himself ssh-ing to every single machine and doing stuff here and there. Let us introduce you brand new Infinispan Management Console -- monitoring, web UI solution for Infinispan clusters. Community started with development just a few months ago; tell us what you think about the current state and our future plans.


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The Sherlock Fan Orchestra have posted their second piece "Pursuit" and it's excellent. Unfortunately I wasn't able to submit a recording this time around, as I was down in London.
Bear in mind that the musicians, regardless of their ability, can't hear each other nor do they have a single conductor. Piecing it all together must be a labour of love!
Congratulations to all. Can't wait to record the next piece.
ICYMI, here is the first piece by the SFO.


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Happy Book Release!
The Gladiator's Bride by Nhys Glover
Release Date: November 1st 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Crippled by shyness, shunned for being not-right-in-the-head, gifted artist and Roman noblewoman, Marcia Mica, has only two people in the world who truly love her – her teacher, Daedalus, and her childhood friend, Asterion, both slaves in her father's household. But when forbidden love blooms between the unlikely friends, only disaster can come of it. That disaster leaves Marcia horribly scarred and Asterion sold into the arena as a gladiator.
Years later, Daedalus brings a broken Marcia to Britannia, and Sabrina, the healer who saved his life when he was a boy, works miracles on the scarred girl. However, not all scars are physical and those Sabrina has no ability to heal.
When Sabrina and Marcia are kidnapped by a Celtic leader bent on revenge, Asterion must depend on the dreams of a Celtic Seer to find the love of his life and help
foil a revolt that threatens the fragile peace in Roman Britannia. But even if he and his friends succeed, can scars that are more than just physical ever really be healed and can those whose lives are owned by others ever truly be free to follow their hearts?


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MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA/USA – AUGUST, 2016 – Westover Arms Hotel, an all studio and suite hotel, today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence. Now in its sixth year, the achievement celebrates hospitality businesses that have earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. Certificate of Excellence recipients include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a quality customer experience.
"Everyone at Westover Arms Hotel is extremely proud of this major achievement. We work very hard to insure our guests have a great experience and leave Miami Beach with fantastic memories of their stay"
"With the Certificate of Excellence, TripAdvisor honors hospitality businesses that have consistently received strong praise and ratings from travelers," said Heather Leisman, Vice President of Industry Marketing, TripAdvisor. "This recognition helps travelers identify and book properties that regularly deliver great service. TripAdvisor is proud to play this integral role in helping travelers feel more confident in their booking decisions."
The Certificate of Excellence accounts for the quality, quantity and recency of reviews submitted by travelers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.


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kindagot: I've had install done today and still not working :/ got the text to say good to go only it's not. Tech depth say will try to sort out for tomorrow . Whatncould have gone wrong? Anyone else had this with VDSL " better network" ?
VDSL is only run on Standard Network/WSA. Have you input a username and password in your modem? The modem is preconfigured apart from that, and in some cases, it is required to have any authentication attempts.
And also is the DSL light solid?


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Longer hospital stays for patients can hurt your hospital's bottom line. They also make it more likely that patients will leave dissatisfied. Spending more than a few days in the hospital usually causes patients to be cranky and upset, regardless of the quality of the care they receive, and it can sap your facility's resources.
A new study from Premier Inc., a healthcare improvement company, looked at patient discharges from intensive care units (ICUs) over the past five years and found the top diagnoses that have the most care variation, resulting in longer hospital stays.
No. 1 on the list? Complications and comorbidities from sepsis, where the most opportunity to reduce care variation exists, according to Premier.
Other conditions include:
- infectious and parasitic diseases associated with surgeries, with major complications and comorbidities
- cardiac procedures without cardiac catheterization, with major complications and comorbidities
- respiratory system issues with ventilator support, and
- heart failure, with major complications and comorbidities.
Knowing which diagnoses cause the most variation in ICU care and lead to longer visits allows you to work on improving your hospital's results and its patient care. Getting patients in and out of your hospital faster means being able to treat more patients, which increases revenue.
Plus, patients are happier when they don't have prolonged hospital stays, and improving patient satisfaction scores can draw more people and resources to your organization.
The report also found that patients treated at top-performing hospitals spent 24% less time in the ICU than at other hospitals.
Best practices
In the same study, Premier laid out four best practices to help decrease the amount of time patients spent in the ICU. Those practices are:
- collectively using evidence-based practices to reduce hospital-acquired infections and delirium
- creating intermediate care settings for patients who don't need ICU-level care anymore
- using checklists to keep track of patient progress and goals, and
- collaborating with doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other multidisciplinary members of the ICU staff.
In addition to these best practices, patients tend to have shorter hospital stays and avoid readmissions when they're actively engaged in their treatments.
Using electronic devices like tablets to let patients review their medical notes and communicate with their providers can help patients feel like they have more control, empowering them to get out of the hospital quicker and improve their health.
When it comes to avoiding readmissions, care coordination is essential, especially post-discharge. Helping patients schedule follow-up appointments with their primary care doctors and making sure every provider has the necessary information about their health keeps them from returning to the hospital.
Sometimes, readmissions and long hospital stays are unavoidable. But when possible, cutting down on the length of hospital stays is key for any facility looking to improve patient satisfaction and boost value.


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BRADENTON, Fla. — Another first is in the books for Nashville Soccer Club: The team has earned its first clean sheet.
Nashville SC drew 0-0 with Chicago Fire Wednesday at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, denying a pair of dangerous chances by the MLS team and squandering a few of their own.
Gary Smith's side controlled possession for much of the match, especially early in both halves. Forward Robin Shroot led the way for Nashville, tallying a pair of shots [one on target] and feeding a smooth pass to Michael Cox, who headed the ball softly into the keeper's arms.
The second half featured more dangerous opportunities for both teams. Backup keeper C.J. Cochran denied the Fire twice late in the contest, including a desperate lunge to his left to keep a Diego Campos shot out of the net in the 78th minute.
Meanwhile, Nashville was unable to capitalize on a pair of mouthwatering chances. In the 71st minute Ropapa Mensah was denied on a rebound effort following a blocked Tucker Hume shot. Then Alan Winn missed an empty net in the 75th, clanging a shot 10 feet high with the Fire keeper out of position.
The Boys in Gold made only one change from the starting XI they employed against Atlanta United, inserting Liam Doyle at center back in place of Bradley Bourgeois. The Fire, who finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference last season, sat some of their most dangerous starters to begin the match, including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Nemanja Nikolic.
Then the teams switched approaches. Nikolic and Schweinsteiger entered the match after halftime, while Nashville had fully rotated its roster by the 60th minute. But Nashville's reserves were up to the task of holding off the MLS starters, keeping them off the scoreboard and controlling possession for much of the second half until a late-but-futile push by Chicago.
We will have full match analysis tomorrow, including our Man of the Match and key observations from the contest.


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Daniel's sacred and mysticus Requiem heart!
[Remember, the show is in favor of "Ein Herz für Kinder", Strychnin Gallery and The New English launched the project in in cooperation with Gallery Geuer&Breckner, UF6 Projects and me. Artists were given a bone china heart to customize. These one of a kind artworks will be displayed in a traveling exhibition, which will kick off at Strychnin Gallery Berlin on March 16th.]


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How to Communicate from the Heart
by Kim Michaels
... is a book that addresses all the main areas in communication and relationships.
In all human relationships communication is the biggest block to peace and cooperation. Unfortunately, most communication happens at a level where superficial human perceptions create conflict and disharmony.
The mystical teachings revealed in this book by the ascended masters help you develop a higher form of communication.
You will learn how create peace and harmony within our own soul and mind, connect to your higher self and use the seven spiritual energies. The connection with your higher self opens the gates for communication from the heart, and this will help you heal both your own psyche and your relationships.
Through its unique combination of teachings and practical exercises, this book will help you boost your communication skills beyond the perceptions of the ego. You will learn:
-How to respect the free will of others and yourself
-How to give with wisdom
-How to let unconditional love flow through you
-How to purify your intentions
-How to avoid control games and manipulations
-How to serve others from a state of peace
Available as printed book and Kindle book
How to find true freedom in your relationships


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The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good- so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to email@example.com. Nosaprise, who has established himself as a perennial threat to win the HPMAs' Best Underground Hip-Hop category, frontlines the annual Trills The Season toy drive for the kiddos. The concert portion will be 9 p.m. Sunday at Boondocks with H.I.S.D., Lower Life Form and DJs Dayta and Squincy Jones. Bring a toy worth at least $7 to get in. Bring a toy worth at least $10 if you happen to not be a cheapskate. This Week's Rapper: Nosaprise This Week's Subject(s): Building a rapper brand Ask A Rapper: Out of all of the underground Houston rappers, we think yours is one of the most distinguishable voices. Now, we figure that the structure of your voice has developed organically, but the function of it is has been honed. Is that something that you've consciously tried to do - make your voice a little more nasally than it might be naturally - as a means to help you stand? Nosaprise: Nah, I come from a long line of high-toned rappers. Big L, Ghostface, Pimp C; some of my favorites got that tone. My voice has always been different, but it's uniquely me. You gotta embrace that shit. Too many rappers nowadays sound the same. AAR: How important is it to have that quality, that trademark voice? We can't think of one rapper of consequence who sounds like anyone else. Like Weezy, for example. It's like, as soon as he croaks out two or three words you already know who he is.
N: Yeah, before a rapper has punch lines and his flow down he has to master his voice; it's the most important thing to a rapper. If you have an instantly recognizable voice, that's half the battle fought. AAR: Is it easier to build a career around a really unique voice but no lyrical sense, or around a really mundane voice but phenomenal writing talents? We're inclined to go with the former. We mean, we don't think we ever actually heard Lil' Jon rap more than four bars, but he ran shit in the early '00s. Whereas Talib Kweli... N: If you can write and your voice sucks, you can always be a ghostwriter. A lot of these major rappers are just voices anyways; they have people writing their rhymes for 'em. For the radio, your voice is everything. Lil' Jon made his career outta saying nothing, but he sounded tight.
Whereas a lot of these deep-thinking rappers forget your shit gotta sound good too. For me, you gotta have that balance of style and substance. Style will get people's attention, substance will keep people's attention. AAR: Who has the easiest to identify voice in the Houston rap ecosystem? Why? We have a feeling you might want to say 'Face since we saw you hobnobbing it up with him at the HPMAs and you might think this is as good a time as any to score some points with him, so let's nullify him from the list of viable candidates. N: Face's voice is definitely a Houston trademark, but I think it's Pimp and Bun hands down. You hear their voices on anything, you know it's them. Maybe 'cause it's so ingrained in us as Houstonians. Either way, R.I.P Pimp C. Hear more Nosaprise music at www.myspace.com/nosaprise and follow him on Twitter at @nosaprise.
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Engaging with our readers is essential to the mission of the Houston Press. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Houston's stories with no paywalls.


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How to Love and Care for Your Aging Heart
It can be easy to feel upset when you notice signs of aging on your physical appearance, such as wrinkles and brown or liver spots on your face. But while it's only natural to feel somewhat down because of these changes, keep in mind that it's also perfectly natural for these physical changes to take place. When you reach an advanced age, it's important to own and be happy with these changes. It is also crucial to pay closer attention and take better care of your health and well-being — specifically, your aging heart.
Aging and Cardiovascular Health
According to the American Health Association, 70.2% of men between the ages of 60 and 79 have cardiovascular disease. The percentage is higher for men 80 years of age and older, with the number pegged at 83%.
On the other end of the spectrum, 70.9% of women between 60 and 79 suffer from different forms of cardiovascular disease. This percentage increases as well for those 80 years old and above, with the number estimated at 87.1%.
These numbers show that as you age, you will be more prone to developing cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. But it doesn't mean that you should simply accept this fact. Even if you've reached your senior years, you can still have a healthy heart.
Tips to Ensure a Healthy Heart
Be more physically active
Working out regularly is a good start to loving and caring for your aging heart. This is because as you get older, your body's ability to effectively pump oxygen to your heart declines. Exercising frequently will correct this issue.
But before you start hitting the gym or taking on a new sport, consult your physician first. You have to be sure your heart and body can take on the fitness routine you want to start.
Also, keep in mind that being physically active doesn't mean just lifting weights or running. There are other fun and usually healthier ways for older people to work out such as taking walks in the park, swimming and even gardening.
Follow a heart-healthy diet
If pizza, fried chicken, French fries, chocolates, and ice cream are still part of your daily diet, you need to rethink your eating habits. These unhealthy foods increase your risk for various types of cardiovascular diseases.
To have a healthy heart at your age, you have to:
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Choose whole grains over processed bread and other foods
- Consume more lean meat
- Cut down on fatty foods
Before going on a diet or changing your eating habits, it would be best to consult your doctor as well. You still need to have a well-balanced diet to suit your particular condition and your medical practitioner or nutritionist can help ensure you have this.
Quit your bad habits
Smoking is the leading cause of atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque or fatty deposits can build up in the arteries. These fatty deposits restrict blood flow to the heart and other organs which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
You can start protecting your heart by quitting smoking if you have this bad habit. There are methods for quitting which you can read online. Your doctor can also help come up with a good plan.
Regular and heavy drinking also has negative effects on your heart. Consuming too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and cause you to gain weight. These are factors that can increase your risk of stroke and heart attack.
If possible, quit drinking immediately or, at the very least, limit your intake and drink only occasionally.
Get more sleep
As you get older, you will find yourself having problems falling asleep. However, you need to find ways to improve and maintain good sleeping habits. This is because having irregular sleep patterns has been associated with different cardiovascular risks including high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
To get seven to eight hours of sleep (which is just the right amount) every night, you have to:
- Keep a regular sleep schedule of going to bed and waking up daily
- Reduce your caffeine intake and stop consuming it before two in the afternoon
- Take a nap if you feel tired. However, just limit it 20 minutes at a time
- Work out early or in the middle of the day in the fresh air to improve nighttime sleep
Bask in happy emotions
Chronic stress, fear, anxiety, and depression are bad for the heart and can compound your risk for cardiovascular diseases. To keep your heart healthy, focus on avoiding stress and being happier. Laugh when you see something funny on TV. You will also start laughing more if you spend time with people who also laugh a lot and have a good sense of humor.
Spending time with your family, friends, and other people you like will also do wonders for your aging heart. Schedule regular dinners with them. You can also arrange to meet them at a restaurant or café or even watch a movie with them. The important thing is to always find time to be around people that you like.
With an improved diet, lifestyle and the companionship and support of your family and friends, you can still have a healthy heart even in your golden years. Remember to care for your aging heart.
Ibrahim Khader founded Angels of Medical Care in 2010. The name "Angels" was chosen because of his belief that nurses are angels of healing and care with the blessings of the creator. The company has flourished and is now one of the best, most renowned home care companies in Dubai.


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Grey's Anatomy Review: "Superfreak"at .
If there ever were an episode of Grey's Anatomy that would make you realize that importance of practicing safe sex, "Superfreak" would be it, introducing viewers to a very rare condition that happens to some unfortunate people who catch HPV.
This disease is known as Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) and pretty much causes your limbs to turn into tree like branches and tumors all over your body.
I really sympathized with Lexie's initial reaction to when she first saw the patient. What's even more scary is the fact that HPV happens to be one of the most commonly sexually transmitted diseases these days and EV can happen to anyone from any race. Yikes!
Okay, back to my review.
I couldn't agree with Meredith more when she told April that she's growing on her at the end of the episode. There's something endearing about the fact that she's a 28-year-old virgin, especially in our Jersey Shore day and age.
I really can't wait to see April not only lose her virginity, but find a man! Maybe she and Alex can hit it off? How would you feel about that?!Poor Cristina. After a traumatic episode last week, she's still not really ready to be back inside the OR. Since Andrew is leaving, I think that only way she's going to get over her fear is to have another traumatic experience happen to her to jolt her back into the reason she fell in love with it in the first place.
I did have warm, fuzzy feelings when Derek told Cristina that she's family and her talent is too amazing to throw away. Since she was the one person who saved his life, maybe he will be the one person to save her life as a surgeon.
For those of you that don't follow her character on Private Practice, we were finally introduced to one of Derek's sisters, Amelia, and by the looks of her steamy scene with Mark at the end, we definitely are in for some major drama!
Sometimes, I wonder why Lexie can be so dense. Even April could see that Mark is totally in love with her and when she finally goes to see him, what else would she expect from the once playboy of his time? I still have hope for these two, do you?
Callie and Arizona were pretty funny trying to figure out a way to get Cristina out of their love nest and as it turned out, the only thing they needed to do is show her that three really can be a crowd. This scene is very reminiscent of the time when Cristina was trying to get George out of her place with Burke.
From the looks of it, Meredith is definitely ready to get back into surgery. She got the pass from the doc, so what's the deal? Why wasn't Meredith and her talents used this week?
Another one of our favorite doctors, Karev, showed that, he too, is still dealing with PTSD. Finally, with the chief's help, he was able to ride the elevator again. Think he's over it?
Probably the most hilarious part from last night's episode was watching Bailey freak out when a spider crawled out of the man's hands during surgery. Everyone has a fear of something and Miranda's happens to be spiders. Who knew?
Overall, I enjoyed last night's episode, but I did feel a bit unsatisfied. Maybe it had something to do with the whole Lexie and Mark situation. Ugh! Can't these two just get back together already?!
Until next week, here are a few of my favorite Grey's Anatomy quotes from last night:
April: I'm a virgin. That doesn't make it drinks conversation. We all have stuff we don't talk about.
Meredith: Oh April. I'm liking you more and more.
April: Thank you. | permalink
Meredith: Nobody chooses to be a freak. Most people don't realize they're a freak until it's way to late to change it. No matter how much of a freak you end up being, chances are there's still someone out there for you. Unless of course, they've already moved on. Because when it comes to love, even freaks can't wait forever. | permalink
Bailey: Give me back my bottle.
Callie: Teddy needs it she's pathetic. | permalink
Derek: You're flaming out. And as someone who cares about you, it's not okay. I've seen a lot of residents come and go and very very few with your potential. It's not okay.
Cristina: I can barely remember it. You're whole procedure. I took a bullet out of your chest and all I can remember is bits and pieces. Bits and pieces that come back at very inconvenient times, so end of story. | permalink
Lexie: What?
Mark: Nothing. | permalink
Cristina: Would you love me if I wasn't a surgeon?
Owen: I would love you if you were a plumber, but would you love you if you weren't a surgeon?
Cristina: I don't know, maybe? | permalink
Callie: Look away. Stop staring at her.
Mark: I can't. | permalink
Meredith: April, don't talk about Cristina. Just mind your own business.
April: I'm sorry. I was just concerned. I'll try not to be. | permalink
Teddy: I'm not GI Jane, I'm attachment Barbie. | permalink
Meredith: I think they're talking about you. It's going to be okay. They can't kick you out of the program for being traumatized.
Cristina: I don't care what they do.
Derek: Dr. Yang you're with me.
Meredith: What, no, I'm with you?
Derek: You have someone else. We're walking Dr. Yang. | permalink
Derek: (regarding Cristina) She goes I go. | permalink
What did you think of the episode? Share your comments with us below!


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Three Palestinians and one Israeli soldier are dead after an exchange of gunfire in the West Bank.
A fierce gun battle between Israeli soldiers and armed Palestinians broke out near the West Bank town of Nablus, close to the Palestinian village of Tell. There is an Israeli army post in the area.
Israeli military sources say a group of Palestinian gunmen ambushed the soldiers who were on patrol in a jeep. Ambulances and medical personnel had difficulty reaching the area because of the heavy exchange of gunfire.
Sources say the Palestinians were killed during the clash and the Israeli soldier died on the way to the hospital.
The fighting came shortly after a senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Raanan Gissin, said Israel is planning to withdraw its troops from another Palestinian-ruled area in the West Bank within the next few days. Mr. Gissin says the two sides are negotiating an agreement that could lead to troops withdrawing from either the West Bank city of Ramallah or Tulkarem by the end of this week.
"In places where the Palestinian Authority, local commanders, and local security forces assume responsibility for that given area where we were deployed, in those areas we will re-deploy our forces. We will move out of those areas and allow the Palestinians Authority to take control and to institute the cease-fire which they have accepted," he said.
Israeli forces pulled back from Qalqilya on Monday, and from Bethlehem and the adjacent town of Beit Jala last week. Israeli troops and tanks raided six Palestinian-controlled areas last month, after Palestinian gunmen assassinated an Israeli Cabinet minister.
Mr. Gissin says 15 Palestinian militants have been killed and 85 arrested since the incursions began.
The spokesman says that in the future, Israel will rely more on what he called "guerrilla" tactics than on large-scale military operations into Palestinian territory.
"In those cases, we will focus more on, I would say on a small-scale operation, what we call guerrilla warfare against terrorism. With more reliance on intelligence than on tanks, if you want, but still reserving the right of self-defense," he said.
Palestinian Information Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo says the Israeli withdrawals were "orchestrated for public relations purposes," and, in his words, "to score media points." Mr. Abed Rabbo says the cause of the current conflict is "Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory" and what he calls "its belligerence towards the Palestinian people."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres are scheduled to meet later this week to discuss the draft of an Israeli peace plan to present to the Palestinians.
Peace talks have been frozen because of the violence, but the two sides are under intense pressure from the international community to end more than 13 months of fighting.


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Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.
Sammy Brown Goodrich
My first yoga class was about 17 years ago in a trailer classroom at our local public school. I was recovering from a herniated disk that left me barely able to walk. I was the grateful student of a kind and supportive teacher who guided me back to health through breath and posture. Through yoga practice, I discovered a way to approach both physical and spiritual life that could sustain me. Inspired to share this practice with others, I earned my 200 hour teaching certificate in 2008 with Rolf Gates and an additional 300 hour teaching certificate with Metrowest Yoga & Training Center in May 2019.
Additionally, I am a Reiki 2 Practitioner and offer sessions in my home treatment space. Reiki treatments can be effective in reducing the effects of stress and anxiety while assisting the body in its natural ability to heal itself through this gentle hands on technique.
I enjoy teaching an informed Vinyasa/Hatha style of yoga with emphasis on breath, alignment, and joy in movement. My teaching is continually inspired by the teachers who teach me, whether weekly in person or in on-line training. It is my hope that students experience a practice which becomes an expression for how they want to live, that what feels good in practice manifests in their lives.
Through patience and compassion students will find, for themselves, all that is required for practice is their basic human ability to pay attention and to care.
Thank you for visiting my website.
I have been a full time yoga teacher since 2007. The foundation of my teaching practice comes from attention to alignment, breath and the incorporation of intelligent, strong movements. With an understanding that every body is different, each class intends to offer postures and sequences that are sustainable, in the sense that they help students continually reconsider yoga for themselves. It is my hope that the practice of yoga can be a supportive and reflective companion as we age, mature, and evolve towards the best versions of ourselves.
My teaching is also inspired by my formal studies with senior Buddhist teacher and meditation instructor David Nichtern, as well as the writings of Pema Chodron and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. I am grateful for my tribe of near and dear teachers who continue to support me and my growth as both a student and fellow teacher.
I feel fortunate to teach what I hold most dear and am grateful for the communities that continually invite me in to share what I believe in.
Trainings and certifications
May 2019
300 hour yoga teacher training
MetroWest Yoga & Training Center, MA
April 2018
Sequencing 101
Natasha Rizopoulos (online study)
November 2017
Restorative 101
Jillain Pransky (online study)
October 2016
Path of Freedom Coursework Completion for co-teaching MBEI program at Concord Medium Security Prison, Concord, MA
July 2016
Meditation Teacher Certification
David Nichtern
September 2015
Balanced Athlete Certification
Johnny Gillespie
June 2014
Usui Reiki Level II Certification
Pam Pomeroy
May 2013
Usui Reiki Level I Certification
Pam Pomeroy
April 2009
200 hour yoga teacher training
Rolf Gates


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CHVRCHES today announce the release of their new single 'Get Away' on 8 December via Virgin Records / Goodbye Records. 'Get Away' is the band's first new song since 2013's critically acclaimed gold-selling debut album 'The Bones Of What You Believe'. It was written for Radio 1 Rescores: Drive – DJ Zane Lowe's reimagining of Nicholas Winding Refn's soundtrack for the cult movie Drive, starring Ryan Gosling. The re-scored film will be shown on BBC Three tonight, 30 October. SBTRKT, Banks and the 1975 also feature.
Another new song, 'Dead Air', features on the Lorde-curated OST for Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, which will be released on 17 November.
CHVRCHES tonight begin the final UK tour in support of 'The Bones Of What You Believe', with their biggest headline show to date at London's O2 Brixton Academy.
30 October 02 Brixton Academy, London – SOLD OUT
1 November Camp and Furnace, Liverpool – SOLD OUT
3 November Barrowland, Glasgow – SOLD OUT
4 November Barrowland, Glasgow – SOLD OUT
5 November Corn Exchange, Edinburgh
6 November Academy, Manchester – SOLD OUT
Tickets for the shows are on sale now, see http://www.chvrch.es for the full list of international dates.
Brand new video for 'Under The Tide'


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beginning web design
Everybody comes and asks me how to build a website. They have no idea where to begin. Either did I at first. Truth is, there are a million ways to build a website, but what's the best way to build a great website?
First, learn about content management systems or CMS's. The term sounds technical, but in truth they take most of the technical out of website design.
When choosing a CMS I recommend either a WordPress Website or a Joomla! Website. These are both great content management systems that allow you to easily add and manage text, images and video on the web.
On the other hand you could build a website with Dream Weaver and HTML, but I do not recommend this at all. A CMS will make your life much simpler.
Next you will need a domain name. Choose a domain name that is short and descriptive of what your website is about. For example if you own a pet store in Orange County California, OCPetStore.com would be excellent. Tip: Always try to get the dot-com version of the domain name. People usually remember these best and Google seems to like them better than .net .info etc..
Next get yourself a hosting plan. You will want an inexpensive hosting plan. I prefer GoDaddy.com. Their service is fantastic and they will help you with anything you need. Hosting generally costs about $5.00 per month. Make sure to get the LINUX Hosting Package not Windows. WordPress and Joomla! run on LINUX Servers.
To install your CMS software (which is always free) check with your hosting provider. There will be a one-button-install process which makes things simple.
Now go to your domain and there will be small setup process where you input some information from your host. Now you are all set to start adding content.
Visit the admin URL for your domain and login. You will want to select a nice template. There are very many free templates available for download, but I prefer Rocketthemes from Rockettheme.com.
WordPress and joomla differ as far as the layout of the Admin Panel, but the object is the same. You will want to create some good articles and then create menu links to display them as pages of your website.
Trust me when I say a CMS is the way to go when learning to build websites. There is a very large community of developers online that will be glad to answer any questions you may have. Before long you will be a skilled web designer.
To make things even easier on yourself and skip the hosting and setup process you can build a hosted-website. Your options for expansion become a little limited, but it's still a good way to begin. Take a look at WordPress.com and also Blogger.com. For these types of websites.


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So, you have heard of North Cyprus and now planning to visit? Let us guide you through a number of facts about this beautiful island and suggest the best ways to get about. Once you first set the foot of the plane, it is advised to order a taxi to take you to your hotel, whether you land in Ercan, Larnaca or Paphos airport. You can also rent a car in the airport if you are a holder of a valid driving license.
Here are a few things for you to know about Cyprus and North Cyprus in general:
- Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean after Sardinia and Sicily. Cyprus lies on the frontier between Europe and Asia, only 65Km from Turkey's southern coast, 97Km from Syria, 108 Km from Lebanon, and 370 Km from Egypt.
- The total area of the island is approximately 9,252 sq km, but North Cyprus covers a total area of 3,515 sq km or nearly one third of the whole island. It is 242 km wide and 64 km deep approximately at its extreme points.
- North Cyprus as well as the whole island enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with long, warm and dry summers from mid-May to mid-October, and mild and wet winters from December to February. The short autumn and spring periods complete the seasons of the year.
- North Cyprus is a unique holiday destination because it offers you everything you could ever want from a nature holiday. Whether you are a lover of nature, an archaeologist, a keen walker, a water sportsman or simply a sun-worshipper this little island is the ideal spot for you.
- North Cyprus offers the perfect combination of relaxation, water sports and exciting exploration along its beautiful coastline. It enjoys over 300 days of uninterrupted sunshine with its peaceful clear blue unpolluted seas. Every corner of North Cyprus is blessed with natural beauty, from its tall green mountains, to its forest buzzing with wildlife and its glistening beaches where the turtles flock.
There are so many wonderful sights to see when you holiday in North Cyprus – make sure you check out the following:
Top 5 Must-See Sights in North Cyprus:
- St. Hillarion Castle – not for the faint hearted and those afraid of heights!
- Kyrenia Castle – stunning 12th century architecture.
- Bellapais Abbey – the place for a romantic dinner and admiration of Mountains and sea views.
- Kyrenia Harbour – a tourist-favoured must-see place, have a nice fresh-fish meal.
- Karpaz – virgin area with white sand and baby-blue aqua. You won't feel the time passing!
So, don't just sit by the pool in the glorious sunshine, get out there and explore all the unique treasures of our island either by ordering a taxi ( like this company ). Obvious benefits of getting about in a taxi are such that it simply is a convenient service, you get out whenever you want, you don't wait and you pay as you go yet making your trip a memorable experience.
You can also try renting a car/ a bike/ or just walking with your own two around discovering the lovely areas and sights. Renting a car can be pricey but does good if you stay longer than usual vacation – but you do pay for your petrol and daily fee whether you use it or not.
On the day of departure, order a taxi transfer to the airport or simply drop your rented car in the rent-a-car buro on the spot. The choice of transportation is yours! Just make sure you enjoy the vacation and make it a great one enough to come back and bring friends!


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Latest News
'God will never leave or forsake us' - Kevin Downswell says Jamaica will be stronger after COVID-19
Everyone's journey is unique, and no matter how long and hard that journey is, Jamaicans show resilience every step of the way. This is what makes them special as a people. Though the journey might be long and hard, as a nation of tallawah people, Jamaica has always risen above challenges, even in the midst of COVID-19.
The same can be said for locally grown, now international gospel artiste Kevin Downswell who, in light of the pandemic, has a message for Jamaica as it approaches 58 years of emancipendence.
"We will be stronger, we'll get through this together!" is the anthem Downswell chants in the remix of his popular song Stronger, in which he joined with quick-service restaurant giants KFC Jamaica and some of the island's biggest artistes, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Tessanne Chin, Chris Martin, and Wayne Marshall, to create a message of positivity.
"The song has found a way to connect with many people, and I think it was important to remix and reintroduce it as a song of unity and togetherness - something that will help us get through this season and provide hope," said Downswell of the remixed Stronger.
Emphasising the need for togetherness and unity as Jamaica approaches Independence Day, Downswell said that he wanted to remind the people of Jamaica that this situation is temporary and will soon pass. "We will find a way to make this better. We need to recognise that God is with us no matter what, and He promises to never leave or forsake us."
Reflecting on what gives him strength, Downswell goes back to the days of his childhood in Westmoreland when he first started singing and developing his passion for music. As he got older, he made it his mission to inspire others through his music. Since then, his life has been a reflection of patience, strength, and persistence.
"We had to use kerosene oil with our Home Sweet Home lamps and had to go across the bushes to get dasheen, ackee, and mangoes for food. That is how I grew up. Ferris is very dear to me." While that way of living may not seem ideal to many, it's a reality many Jamaicans share, something that ties into their strength as a people and one that he is very fond of. Despite being raised by both of his parents in separate homes, he acknowledges his mother for shaping him into the man he is today. "I have gained over 90 per cent of who I am from my mother. I do thank God for my father because he has contributed in many ways, but it's my mother who I celebrate as my hero."


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First: Is there a specific part of the ministry you wish to support or do you wish to support the entire organization? The different areas of support are:
1. Non-designated - Non-designated support is added to the Triple R Annual fund and subsequently used to keep the Ranch operating. These funds are managed by the Executive Director, under advisement of the Board of Directors. They work diligently to keep Triple R affordable to all who desire to come here, even when it means fees do not cover operating costs. Your gifts toward meeting day to day operating costs have a powerful impact our ministry.
2. Designated - Designated gifts are specifically identified by the donor as to where they want their money to go. Some folks have an overwhelming love of horses and designate their gifts to our Horsemanship programs. Others express their passion by giving to camper scholarships, or summer staff, or vehicle maintenance, or any other issue they desire. For unique designations we suggest you first contact our Director, just to make sure we understand your desire and to help you clearly understand the current needs.
A. Camperships- Donations to our Campership Fund are set aside and used exclusively to assist those who want to attend Triple R but are experiencing financial difficulty. Families in need are required to complete an application for Campership funds and grants are awarded based on need and a variety of other criteria. This is a wonderful opportunity to help a needy kid experience the joys of Camp.
B. Others- You can designate your gift to the Triple R Ranch to any specific purpose you deisire however we suggest you clarify first, with the Director, where the greatest needs are and make your decision accordingly. Some common areas of gifting are:
- Horse health care, vehicle maintenance, building upkeep
Second: How would you like to give?
- Donate ONLINE safely and securly. Our procedures use the best technology available to allow you to authorize transactions directly from your credit card or bank account. Your online donation is safe and secure. It goes to work right away, making a difference in our day to day operations.
- Donate by phone, mail or fax. You can also donate to Triple R Ranch by calling us between 9-5, Tuesday through Saturday, or by mailing or faxing details of your gift.
- Donate in person. Of course you are always welcome to drop by the Ranch any time if you prefer to donate in person.
Third: Consider if you would like to set up a RECURRING MONTHLY donation or if this will be a one time gift. Establishing a regular monthly donation via direct online debit is becoming increasingly popular with friends of Triple R and is a seamless way to budget a significant contribution to our ministry.
All gifting can be accomplished here through safe and secure connections.
Please feel free to call with any questions.
Welcome to our online donation center. From here you can set up or access an existing account and give online, manage your recurring giving or update your account information.
If you don't have an account you can sign up for one or choose to just give a gift without setting up an account. Thank you for your support!
*Don't forget to check the box to send us your mailing info so we can thank you!
© 2019 Triple R Ranch Inc.
OFFICE HOURS: Tue-Sat, 9am-5pm EST
3531 Bunch Walnuts Road
Chesapeake, VA 23322
about TRIPLE R RANCH


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Dark Chocolate Health BenefitsPosted on February 7th, 2008 filed in Nutrition | Send to a friend:
Dark chocolate, unlike milk or white chocolate has been proved to have a myriad of health benefits.
1) Many dark chocolate bars are sugar free and offer excellent alternatives for anyone on low glycemic diet. As a matter of fact, dark chocolate is a perfect dessert for those that love chocolate but are at risk for metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance.
2) Dark chocolate has been shown to actually lower blood pressure in a recent German study. The study showed that 100 grams of dark chocolate daily lead to a decrease of 5 points in systolic and 2 points in diastolic blood pressure. Credit here goes to plant phenols found in cocoa. These are known to decrease blood pressure and found in higher concentration in european chocolate.
3) Dark chocolate unlike other types of chocolates is rich with antioxidants which eliminate free radicals, the harmful molecules thought to cause heart disease. This benefit disappears however once milk comes to the equation. Milk seems to prevent the absorption of the antioxidants and thus eliminating their health benefit.
It is worth remembering that dark chocolate remains high in calories accordingly moderation is key. 100 grams per day would translate into 400 calories so either work these off in the gym or eat less. Make sure however not to replace any of the required healthy foods like fruits and vegetables instead opt to phase out desert and other sugary food in favor of dark chocolate.
2 Responses to "Dark Chocolate Health Benefits"
Danielle Says:
February 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
This article is of special interest to me, specially since I have gained some weight recently and my latest blood tests showed a high resistance to insulin…naturally, I was told to cut on carbohydrates and sugar in order to lose the weight and not enter the epidemic of type 2 diabetes….however, I crave chocolate, I really cannot not have at least this bite of chocolate after a big meal. So, as advised, I started buying dark chocolate. The bitter taste of dark chocolate is an acquired taste, and take it from a milk chocolate, caramel, sweet lover, the dark chocolate taste will beat them all once you give it a chance…However, much to my dismay, most dark chocolate bars have added sugar to them which….humm..sort of defeat the entire purpose…so I had to do some digging and label reading and I found out that there are some bars without added sugar or sweetened with Splenda, etc…. I have to admit that they are more expensive, but definitely worth the investment!
Other than the benefits of great taste and low in sugar, I am surprised and pleased to find out that it helps in blood pressure and is rich in antioxidant! That is just fantastic! It is delicious and good for you…I guess, the calorie intake has to remain under control though ;) !!!!
Elizabeth Says:
February 27th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Dark chocolate still is cooked and contains active caffiene (which occurs when it's cooked).
You should check out raw cacao, if you want real health benefits. It's more bitter than dark chocolate if you're just eating the beans, but with agave nectar, which doesn't change your blood sugar lever and is way sweet, it's really good.
Check out raw cacao, it's chocolate as it's MEANT to be. And way WAY better, and not at all bad for you in the slightest!
Might wanna check out the other superfoods like maca and mesquite, etc and be prepared to enter a way of looking at food you might've not thought about before.
Or maybe you did, because you're special.
I'd be interested in what you think.


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IT'S a Stourbridge day out next weekend as the club decamps to Cornwall en masse for an end of season jamboree.
The colts take on Newquay in the morning then, as a lunchtime curtain raiser, Stour seconds take on Redruth seconds at The Recreation Ground before the first teams clash at 3pm.
The game will round off a season which showed promise for Stourbridge, who have ended seventh in the league after their last gasp 29-24 win over sixth-placed Wharfedale last weekend.
Club spokesman Ian Cole said: "It was quite an exciting end to the game and probably the best finish we have had all season.
"We had the game won but then we let them back into it and they scored two tries for a two point lead.
"Then we went up the other end and our forwards did it for once, which has not happened too many times this season.
"We opted for a catch and drive rather than try to pick a penalty Adam Sturdy went over and we got the win we deserved in terms of the full pattern of the play for the game.
"We were the better side but we should have closed it out better than we did. But it was a bit of an end of season affair and both sides gave it a go.
"Traditionally we have had high scoring and close games against Wharfedale so it followed a pattern we've seen before."


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Ever wonder who comes up with marketing strategies?
OK, i don't claim to know EVERYTHING there is to know about marketing, but I can tell you who's wasting big bucks on useless crap.
I've seen more than a dozen marketing campaigns from various sized solar companies.. multi billion dollar solar panel manufacturers, regional solar distributors with multi million dollar marketing budget, and small mom/pop solar installation companies who's primary marketing channel is word of mouth.
And to be frank, I've seen better marketing executions that blow my mind from smaller innovative guys than I have from bigger corporate types.
But no matter how big the size, they almost aways seem to make the same mistakes when it comes to online marketing.
So without pointing any fingers, here's the top 3 that I see that makes NO ROI sense..
3) Pay to be Listed in Trade Organizations
I'm sure you've heard the sales pitch…
"We're XYZ Solar Group. Our readers include top 50 solar companies in the world, including John Doe from ABC Solar, Peter Smith from DEF PV Inc, etc. If you buy a placement for your company in our directory, your company is GUARANTEED to get exposure to the top industry players."
Umm.. right.
Ask yourself this question: when was the LAST time you ever picked up a directory and ask yourself "hmm, I need something.. let me look up through a thick 2inch book and look through THOUSANDS of people that do the same thing, and maybe I'll buy from a guy in page 27, column 3, row 48 in the most boring 10 point font that I can BARELY read".
No, that never happens.
People go to this thing called.. the 'in-ter-net'.
Blogs, social networks, search engines, mobile apps…heck.. TV!
NOW you get the idea.
But I don't want to totally poo poo on trade organizations.
If the solar trade organization's website has tons of traffic, maybe it is worth it.
What would I do? Test to see if being placed in a solar trade directory for 2-3 months and see if it brings any business.
2) "Free XYZ with Your Home solar Analysis"
Ever walk down home & garden show or farmer's market and see this?
(By the way, if you're targeting these 2 event categories.. kudos to you. This is where potential solar buyers hang out. Men, 40+, $50k+ income. SHAZAM! Ninja marketing 101!)
Ok, I see where the marketing ploy comes from.. but there's something wrong with this.
If you offer them a physical product that costs you money and people really want it, they will just take advantage of it.
For example, a solar company out of San Jose used $50 gift cards to Starbucks with a free home solar analysis.
Did they get a lot of leads? Yes.
Did they get a lot of customers? No.
Does it ALWAYS not work? Probably not 100% failure rate, but im guessing a pretty dismal success rate.
This is the problem with INCENTIVIZED lead generation is that sometimes people are more focused on the incentive than they are on the offer.
It CAN work (i.e. cost of incentive exceeds the net revenue to the company).. but like with anything in marketing, you MUST test.
What makes a better sense is to offer a GIFT with purchase of a solar system.
That way, you ONLY spend if your company makes a sale.
1) Buying Co-Reg, Incentivized, and Over Shared Leads
Ah yes..
If I got a quarter every time someone asked me if buying co-registered/incentivized/over-shared leads is a good idea, I wonder if I can be Bill Gate's neighbor.
But since, no one will pay me a quarter to say "no" to his/her face, I might as well give you something just as comparable:
The answer is NOOOOOOOOOOOO….
Incentivized => Read point #2
Co-registered leads => This is a complicated topic, so instead, read this blog entry about what lead providers do.
Over-Shared Leads => Would you want to talk to a potential customer who's been called by 10-15 of your competitors already? No, they're gonna be cranky. And even if they are open to your sales pitch, now they are gonna scrutinize every part of your offer. This is what's known as "sales pitch fatigue" and your ROI on these paid leads can suffer drammatically.
If possible, go for exclusive leads.. if not, shared leads sent to 2 or 3 companies MAX.
TaeWoo Kim is the founder of Solar One Media, a solar lead generation company specializing in solar (PV) leads. You can follow him on Twitter @taewookim


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Manchester City : Goodbye Champions League
Manchester City beat a weakened Bayern Munich side 2-0 on Wednesday but it was not enough to stop the Champions League debutants making a group-stage exit.
City, needing a win as well as Napoli to drop points at Villarreal in order to progress, went on the offensive from the start against the Group A winners but had to wait until the 36th minute for their opener.
It came with David Silva's low shot from 20 metres out after a neat flick by Edin Dzeko, who was the provider for their second, seven minutes after the restart, as his pass found a charging Yaya Toure who finished calmly.
City achieved their part of the equation that would take them through alongside Bayern but with Napoli winning 2-0 at Villarreal it was not enough for the English side, who now go through to the Europa League round of 32.
City manager Roberto Mancini showed his intention to attack by naming Samir Nasri, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko in the starting lineup and the quartet were involved in nearly every move forward.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net in the 15th minute when Silva's free kick was headed in by Joleon Lescott but it was disallowed for a foul by the defender on Bayern keeper Joerg Butt.
Unperturbed, City continued to push forward with Dzeko heading wide a few minutes before he set up Silva nine minutes before the break.
They started the second half as they ended the first, doubling the score when Aguero played the ball through to Dzeko who had spotted Toure's perfectly timed run and the Ivorian slotted it past Butt.
Bayern, who named a team containing just three survivors from the one that started against City in their 2-0 win over the English club in Germany in September, lacked a cutting edge and aside from a couple of long-range shots offered little in reply.
Knowing that no matter how many goals their side scored, qualification was not in their hands, one of the most uttered questions among home fans throughout the game was "what's the score in the Napoli game".
The groans grew as news of the goals in Spain filtered through as City fans resigned themselves to watching the Premier League leaders compete in the second tier of European competition.
Bayern finish with 13 points from their six group games, with Napoli on 11, City on 10 and Villarreal on 0.
( Source : theglobeandmail.com )
Read Also :
Manchester United Crash Out Of Champions League
Unbelievable, Two Top English Premier League Teams Crashed Out
CSKA Moskow Advance To Next Phase


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This week, #SundaySupper has a breakfast for dinner theme – one of my favorites so far – but since I posted a waffle recipe a few weeks ago, I wanted to make something more on the savory side. These tarts, with their tangle of roasted red peppers and onions and sunny-looking egg, caught my eye as I was flipping through my copy of Jerusalem: The Cookbook and I knew they'd be perfect!
I cooked my eggs for 13 minutes – a little longer than the original recipe called for – and they came out just how I like them, with thickened jelly-like yolks that aren't too runny. The tarts were unlike anything I'd ever eaten, yet they still seemed homey and vaguely familiar.
Paired with a simple salad of baby lettuce tossed with olive oil and my favorite blackberry-ginger balsamic vinegar, they made a great light meal that we both really enjoyed.
Don't miss any of the other great "Breakfast for Dinner" recipes from the Sunday Supper group!
Tres Leches Pancakes from La Cocina de Leslie
French Toast Casserole with Sautéed Apples from The Foodie Army Wife
Gluten Free Breakfast Pizza from Blueberries And Blessings
Basic Vegan Waffles from Killer Bunnies, Inc
Kale, Bacon, Brown Rice Crustless Quiche from Shockingly Delicious
Bacon Egg and Potato Breakfast Tacos from Cookin' Mimi
Steak and Egg Tostadas from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
Breakfast Bowls from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
Bacon and Egg Waffles from The Urban Mrs
Homemade Lox from Growing Up Gabel
Seattle Sandwiches (Lox, Shmear, & A Fried Egg) from Juanita's Cocina
Bacon & Brie Potato Bread Strata with Roasted Pears from Eat, Move, Shine
Saucy Ham and Cheese Breakfast Sliders from Daily Dish Recipes
Greek Frittata from Casa de Crews
Elderberry Flower Pancakes from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Prosciutto, Gorgonzola and Rosemary Strata from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Italian Turkey Meatballs (With a Secret) from What Smells So Good?
Bacon, Spinach and Tomato Breakfast Pizza from Runner's Tales
Red Pepper and Egg Galette from Healthy. Delicious.
Waffles – One Plate, Two Ways: Sweet & Savory from Foxes Love Lemons
Steak & Egg Bagel Sandwich from girlichef
Florentine Benedict from Supper for a Steal
Oatmeal Ice Cream from Treats & Trinkets
Banana Waffles with Peanut Butter Syrup from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Baked Berry French Toast from Table For Seven
But wait, there's more!
Open Faced BTC Sandwich from Peanut Butter and Peppers
Crustless Spinach Quiche from The Hand That Rocks The Ladle
Bacon 'n Eggs Bread Pudding from gotta get baked
Denver Breakfast Ring from Curious Cuisiniere
Copycat Japanese McDonald's from Ninja Baking
One Pan Full English Fry-up from Food Lust People Love
Crumpets with Whipped Orange Honey from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Leek, Mushroom and Gruyère Quiche from Hip Foodie Mom
Joe's Special, the Original San Francisco Treat from Webicurean
Dark Chocolate, Orange & Pistachio Greek Yogurt Cups from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Gluten Free Tomato Basil Crepes form No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
Sour Cherry Crisp from Pies and Plots
Cream Dried Beef and Waffles from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
Sausage breakfast casserole from My cute bride
Almond Rice Crepes Stuffed With Sweet Potatoes & Peas from Sue's Nutrition Buzz
Zucchini Pancakes with Sautéed Tomatoes and Feta from Ruffles & Truffles
Apple, Bacon, and Dubliner Cheese Stuffed French Toast from Neighborfood
Dulce de Leche Stuffed French Toast from Basic N Delicious
Normally it would be very socially unacceptable to have wine with your breakfast, but seeing as this is closer to sunset than sunrise, we say go for it!!!
Hangtown Fry and Wine Pairings with Breakfast for Dinner from ENOFYLZ Wine Blog


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Tell Me a Narrative…
This isn't the typical 'your should roleplay more' or 'how to get your players involved in the world' type stuff that you see around the internet. This is using in-game storytelling as a narrative framing device within an established campaign in order to facilitate a deviation from the usual pace or style of play.
Beginning at the End
Why do this? I had this idea while looking at the nascent D&D Beyond forums . Someone was having difficulty getting their PCs to a particular adventure. I suggested that the adventure had already happened. You tell the story in 'flashback' – the adventures are in the pub/adventurer base/quest hub after having succeeded at the previously inaccessible quest, and new hopefuls come along looking for tales of adventure. The PCs dispense their wisdom with the DM as the 'narrator' or the story.
I suggested this for players who were looking to play a Tales from the Yawning Portal (Dungeons & Dragons) quest that seemed a bit off piste compared to the tone of the rest of their campaign.
I think the flashback/storytelling is a good storytelling device because we've already established that the characters are (still) alive so even if they die in the 'story' we 'know' that they didn't/got ressurected. This adds a layer of security which means that the players might take risks that they otherwise wouldn't. Players might not want to risk their precious PCs on a tangential one-shot so by framing it as an in-universe story you can overcome some of those hurdles.
If you're looking to shake up your campaign and shake up your players you could do worse than get the Tales from the Yawning Portal. (If you buy via Amazon from the link I get a little kickback at no additional cost to you!)
What i'm trying to get at is that RPGs are about telling stories and, just like stories from books, TV or other media, they do not need to be linearly narrated. You can exploit novel narrative techniques that we see in film or theatre. Although, while these techniques can keep things fresh and are good now and again, you would rapidly get annoyed if your favourite TV serial was always relying on such tricks to make stories work. So use sparingly – when the narrative calls for it!


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The hope theatre [sic], a new production company, makes its inauguration with a Mint Space staging of one of William Shakespeare's so-called "lost plays," Edward III on March 28. Formed by the siblings McAllister — Kelly, Jerry and Heather Anne — Edward III will run at the Mint through April 14.
As reported earlier, Edward III is described in production notes as the first staging of the play in New York City. Edward III involves itself with the beginning of the Hundred Years' War and is said to be less the story of the "man who would be King, but rather the King who would be a man." While the origin and authorship of the work have been questioned for generations, historians have recently come to accept the piece as part of the Bard's canon.
All three McAllisters act. Two of them, Heather and Kelly, do double duty in the hope theatre production. They serve as co-directors and co producers, but also onstage as Lady Lorraine and Edward III respectively. Also featured in the cast are Jessica Colley (Countess Salisbury), Jamison Driskill (Prince Edward), John Margliano (King David of Scotland), John P.F. Moore (Prince Charles), Stacey Plaskett (Queen Phillippa), Matthew Rankin ((Prince Philip), Emory Rose (King John of France) and Sara Thigpen (Lady Derby).
"We chose this play our first hope theatre production because it represents our mission for the company on many levels," explained Heather Anne McAllister. "We are striving to present innovative, fresh approaches to the classics and [we] also want to develop new works. Edward is certainly a bit of both—a classic that is new."
Tickets for Edward III are $15. The Mint Space is located at 311 W. 43 St., Fifth Floor. The box office number is (212) 971-4739. —By Murdoch McBride