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MMmm Interesting
Reader comment on item: [The Issue of Compulsion in Religion:] Islam is What Its Followers Make of It
Submitted by Hindu4Life (United Kingdom), Aug 5, 2010 at 19:52
Firstly whilst your comment is i assume a direct reference to why many Hindu's worship Pictures/Idols of God. If as your quote says it cannot protect itself.
Well this is quite simple, Hinduism itself does not exist, the real name is Sanatana Dharma, that is what Lord Vishnu, Rama, Krishna and many other gods are part of. For whats its worth Sanatana Dharma (literally translated as - way of life) is not a religion, its a way of life.
To however answer the comment on Idol worship, the Sanatana Dharma is so complex and beautiful that it is impossible for a Human (at least in the 21st Century) to attempt to worship god without having something to focus on.
This is why Idols of Gods are created, it is designed to bring man closer to god in a way mankind can manage. Its worth noting that the Sanatana Dharma or as many call it Hinduism has not always Idol worshipped. We believe in the 4 Yuga (4 stages of the world). We are currently in the final stage the Kaliyuga. In the Satyayuga (the first stage), Idol worship does not exist as mans average life span is 100,000 years and at that point man is one with god and in many cases worships god (Vishnu/Kalki during the first 1000 years of the Satyayuga) face to face.
On the note of the Idol not being able to protect itself, this is kind of the point, if something is to relate to mankind it has to be built in a way mankind can relate to. If the Idol could defend themselves, you would go into shock. Can you imagine an idol of Lord Rama firing an arrow at you cause you did something. An example of something that is so devine and yet is idolless is the Atma (human soul). Man will never understand it. Do you see how hard trying to sincerly pray to god is.
An for Muslims who ridicule Idol worship, what the heck you doing going to Mecca to see the Kabba, its effectively an Idol. For one it cannot defend itself, if i was to "for arguments sack" nuke it, the Kabba would not all of a sudden move or do anything.
I for one whislt finding some aspect of Islam beautiful, such as the masjids and some traditions, find alot of islam is backwards and totally contradictory of everything that is claimed to be preached and written. How can a religion that claims to be peaceful kill so many people in the name of god. No man has the right to kill another, if Allah felt so strongly against other religions he would come to earth himself and kill everyone (but sadly he hasn't come).
On a slightly personal level, for anyone wondering whether i have the right to say anything about the Sanatana Dharma or Islam.
I am a praticing disciple of the Sanatana Dharma, and whilst i openly Idol worship, for me it goes beyond worshiping God, for me i embody the Dharma in everything i do. I pray before i get out of bed, i pray before eating or drinking anything, i pray before bed and pray before commencing any form of work (personal or business), i also observe 26 fasting days per year. These are not just days of no food between certain times, they are no food or drink from when i wake up to when i go to bed (and for your info, i wake up about 6am and go to bed about 10pm).
For anyone wondering why i believe in the way of Sanatana Dharma yet Idol worship, this is simple. For me god is so great and powerful that i could never in my right mind imagine his eternal glory and so i use idol worshipping to bridge the very gap my human nature has created.
With regards to Islam, a number of my closest friends are muslim, and i have had the pleasure of attending talks on islam and even read extracts of the Qur'an. So i am not entirely without any islamic knowledge.
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"In a forest of a hundred thousand trees, no two leaves are alike. And no two journeys along the same path are alike" – Paulo Coelho
Kindly enjoy some varieties of tree that I have seen around the globe.
This post is my contribution for Lens-Artists Photo Challenge for this week.

subset: commoncrawl


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DC TEST aims to establish a common RECOGNITION PROCESS AND A COMMON CERTIFICATION MODEL of the Basic Digital Competences in Europe.
Nowadays, there are only two regions in Spain (Region of Galicia and Catalonia) which have developed a local standard model of recognition and an official certification model for Digital Competences but, there is not a national common certification and common recognition process regarding Digital Competences. Most of the EU Countries face the same problem as there is not a common approved European Certification model.
The project aims to analyse the situation of the Basic Digital recognition process and certification models in the EU (mainly in the Partner Countries) and to develop a common basic digital competences recognition process and to create an EU Certification Model in this field.
The project will establish a long-term Training Network based on ICT, which will also promote trainers and teachers mobility from network members.
- To create a Process of Revision of the existing Framework for Developing and understanding Digital Competences in Europe and an analysis, adaptation and updating of the required digital competence (DC) for the following profiles: Teachers/trainers and users/learners in Communication and social marketing, Digital Touristic management and Digital Tour Guide. That is, to create a specific Digital Competence Grid and a Self-Assessment grid for all these profiles as the prior step to create useful training materials for teachers in these areas and users/learners in order to be a master in these competences. (Validation and recognition).
- To create a specific framework identifying, for each profile, all the required digital competences, and provide for each competence a description, descriptors, examples of levels, attitudes, skills and examples of applicability in different contexts and different purposes.
- - To design an innovative educational portal, a e-Learning Training Web Centre to organise and to test the training materials of the two on-line expected Digital Competences courses (one for trainers/teachers [O3] and another to learners [O5], On-line courses would be attended by 48 trainers/teachers and 120 learners.
- - To create a Methodological guide Handbook stating the on-line training courses methodology, content, style, achieved results (Digital Competences improvements and learners outputs) and mode.
- - To create a Digital Competence Certification for the following profiles: experts in communication and social marketing, Digital Touristic management and Digital Tour Guide experts. The Certificate will represent the competences and learning outcomes and will serve as the basic document for recognition and transparency.
On one hand:
- Teachers/Trainers in Communication and social marketing.
- Teachers/Trainers in Digital Touristic management.
- Digital Tour Guide teachers/trainers.
On the other hand:
- Learners/Technicians in Communication and social marketing. This segment of stakeholders is comprised of learners and Technicians that want to work in the following areas: communication, social and digital marketing experts, community managers, Link building (SEO and SEM) or Web 2.0/3.0 experts.
- Learners/Technicians in Digital Touristic management. Learners and Technicians that want to work in the following areas: on-line booking management, touristic contents developers and management, touristic social media (Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter for tourism), touristic blogs, webs and wikis managers, etc
- Learners/Technicians to be Digital Tour Guide. Learners and Technicians that want to work as future Digital Travel Guide, touristic on-line books, Touristic App guides developers and App guides management, Internet city guides data management.
Project activities will include:
1. Analysis of the European Context. Analysis of the EU starting point regarding the Basic Digital Competences recognition process and Certification models, mainly in the partner countries. Study / Survey.
2. Analysis and definition of those Basic Digital Key Skills (especially in the participating countries). Identification of Basic Needs.
a. Selection of those transversal key skills in the Basic Digital Competences in Europe.
3. Elaboration of Training Materials to foster those identified EU transversal Basic Digital key skills. Workshops and discussion meetings in each participating country to analyse these key skills. Workshops addressed to trainers and teachers of Basic Digital courses.
4. Testing of Training Materials: Blended Mobility of some students for testing the created training materials. Students will attend a 3 weeks Basic Digital training Course.
5. Analysis of Workshops and the Blended Mobility. Final recognition process and Model of Certification. ECVET System.
The envisaged project period is October 2015 – September 2017.
Intelectual Outputs mind map
INTEGRA CONSULTORIA (Spain, coordinator)
Integra Consultoría Coruña SL was founded in 2004 in the city of A Coruña as an initiative of young people interested in the field of integration and European cooperation and support with the ultimate goal of operating and working with young people through a structure help and support to work experience, learning various languages, training of new professional figures that make innovations in the Galician region and improving knowledge of European labour system promoting multilingualism and multicultural dialogue.
Integra Consultoría Coruña SL promotes international mobility intended for young people and adults - usually for employed persons, apprentices, unemployed persons and union members - in order to help individuals and organizations become more successful in global markets through the acquisition of foreign language proficiency, intercultural awareness and improvement of vocational qualifications.
IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH is a service provider for Vocational Education and Training (VET) at regional, national and international level. We have already completed 32 national and international projects in all kinds of different EU-funded programs.
Our team consists of 60 highly qualified specialists. We provide services for companies, enterprises, institutions as well as individuals. IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH has established and applies a quality management system for planning, conception and management of educational programmes, projects and other services. We are regularly subject of audits. They proof that the requirements according to ISO 9001:2008 are fulfilled.
The Bildungswerk der Niedersächsischen Wirtschaft (BNW) has been the leading partner for educational and training development processes for more than 40 years. Every year, we assist more than 50,000 people in becoming aware of their opportunities and enhancing their skills. For more than 1,000 Lower Saxony companies every year, we offer holistic and future-oriented educational solutions to develop and advance their employees. This is our reliable contribution to the economy, politics and society. With more than 1,000 employees in more than 60 locations, we are always ready to lend a hand to our customers all over Lower Saxony.
Gazi University is one of the few universities whose history dates back to 1920s. Gazi University carries out its educational and research activities with its 22 faculties, 13 colleges, 9 Vocational High Schools, 35 research centers and 7 institutes and it still claims it is a higher education institution which is worthy to Atatürk. The university has faculties of Education, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering and Architecture, Economics and Administrative, Communcation, Science and Arts, Law, Fine Arts. Being the leader of the country with its education faculties, Gazi University has faculties of Industrial Arts, Gazi Education, Vocational Education, Technical Education, Commerce and Tourism In addition to the students from all around the country Gazi has also more than 1500 foreign students from Turkic states. It also meets the needs of academic staff of other universities with more than 5 thousand students in master and PhD programmes. Gazi University carries out its education in different campuses. Having three campus called Besevler, Emek and Maltepe in Ankara. With its 70 thousand students and more than 4000 academic staff the university is close to the world average in terms of the number of students per instructor. Gazi is one of the big universities with its faculties from education to communication, from fine arts to engineering, sports to forestry, medicine to pharmacy, dentistry to science and arts, economics to technology.
Academia Postal 3 is an entity of the Group Academia Postal member of AGAEMP and FEDEMP, partner of the bussines confederation of regional area. Postal 3 is a referent of the current formative map in the Iberian peninsula, with centres in Galicia, Valladolid, Madrid and Barcelona. A strong presence in the sector of labor training makes to Postal 3 a solid partner in the development of project with aims focused on supported training and employment operators.
Postal 3 employs 50 permanent staff like technicians, managers, and support personnel in our regional offices, further trainers and teachers, until 300 work and collaborate with us in a year. With a turnover of 2.3 million we formed around 10.000 students in more than 500 courses per year. Postal 3 works in different scopes, local, regional, national and international, depending on the project, in several areas, adapting the characteristic and development of the courses to the needs of every target group.
Training and consulting are the main areas of expertise of Postal 3 with a powerful team of technicians who meet a extensive experience in these fields.
the specific social context is the result of the current economic crisis, in 2013, the spanish labour market was still being determined by the economic crisis. Key figures for the Spain did not improve: they either continued to show negative trends (unemployment) or remained relatively stable in relation to the year before (employment). In addition, developments in the labour market did not affect regions in the same way or to the same extent. As a result, the differences between regions increased.
Arezzo Innovazione is a public organization founded in 2003 by local entities with the aim to support the development of local economy through research and innovation transfer activities.
The organization was born with particular attention to the fashion and jewellery sector, today it has enlarged its competence in order to give answers to the entire manufacturing sector.
The actual configuration includes an informatic laboratory with specific softwares dedicated to 3d modellisation and planning, a digital fabrication laboratory with laser cutter, 3D printing, scanner laser and other instruments and accessories for the electronic and mechanical laboratory. Moreover Arezzo Innovazione is a structure recognized from Tuscany Region as structure able to give support to startups.
ΑΚΤΟ is the largest educational group, in Art, Design and Media, in Greece. Applied Arts are taught at AKTO in a global, multidisciplinary spirit, combining scientific theory and artistic practice in a unique way. Our mission is to encoura gestudents, assist them in highlighting their talents and skills and discover their own creativity. AKTO family includes AKTO College, AKTO IVT and AKTO Training LLC.
AKTO College offers postgraduate and undergraduate programmes of studies, at a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree and a Master of Arts in Design level, validated by Middlesex University.
AKTO Institute of Vocational Training offers two year vocational training programmes, regulated by the Greek state, offering greater flexibility in attendance requirements and student fees, with the status and reliability of the mosts pecialized educational institution in Art &Design.
AKTO Training Lifelong Learning Centre offers flexible Open Learning and DistanceLearning programmes of studies, together with specialised seminarcycles, aiming at further developing Art and Design, providing education as well as possibilities of life-long learning.


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Cyclosporin A in cadaveric organ transplantation.Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981; 282 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.282.6268.934 (Published 21 March 1981) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981;282:934
- R Y Calne,
- D J White,
- D B Evans,
- S Thiru,
- R G Henderson,
- D V Hamilton,
- K Rolles,
- P McMaster,
- T J Duffy,
- B R MacDougall,
- R Williams
The use of cyclosporin A (CyA) with a protocol designed to avoid the effects of nephrotoxicity resulted in a one-year survival of 86% in recipients of renal allografts from unmatched cadaveric donors. The drug also controlled rejection of liver and pancreatic allografts. It was possible to change patients initially treated with CyA to azathioprine and corticosteroids and vice versa, thus enlarging the potential value of CyA in organ allografting. Of 34 recipients of renal allografts, 29 were currently receiving only CyA as immunosuppressive treatment. Twelve patients never required any adjuvant steroid treatment. These results suggest that CyA is an effective immunosuppressant, and if used with care side effects need not be severe.


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Alternatives: Catalog


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A 17-year-old has been charged with trafficking prescription opioids and another man charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle after officers arrested them on Friday.
Damian Mikal Williams, 20, of 2801 Burgandy St., Winston-Salem, was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, driving with a revoked license, possession of a fictitious registration plate, misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Jaden Rayne Fishel, 17, of 170 James Harper Trail, was charged with felony possession with intent to sell and distribute a schedule VI controlled substance, felony trafficking opium or heroin and two counts of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to information provided by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office, on Friday deputies conducted a traffic stop on a black Mercedes Benz in reference to suspicious activity in the 500 block of Enterprise Road.
Officers discovered the vehicle displaying a fictitious registration and the driver, later identified as Williams, was found to have a revoked license and was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
The front seat passenger, later identified as Fishel, was found in possession of a large amount of prescription narcotics and marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia.
After further investigation, officers discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Greensboro.
Both Williams and Fishel were arrested and taken before the magistrate. Williams was given a $10,000 secured bond and Fishel was given a $50,000 secured bond. Both are scheduled to appear in Lexington District Court on April 3.
Sharon Myers can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 228, or at email@example.com. Follow Sharon on Twitter: @LexDispatchSM


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Beginning with our newest pinball machines:
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Star Wars Pinball (Premium Edition from Stern Pinball)
Deadpool Pinball (Pro edition from Stern Pinball)
Austin's own Multimorphic P3 pinball platform featuring Lexy Lightspeed Escape From Earth (check out all the cool stuff this machine can do here)
Our upstairs arcade and gaming lounge, the Rec Room, added some traditional board games to accompany our console and arcade games:
Giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, giant Uno and ping pong! Relive your best basement memories every Friday and Saturday night beginning at 9 pm.
When we say "Get your Game On!" we really mean it…


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Every change begins with a single step. The most monumental paradigm shift in human reality might begin with a single smile, a single word, a single friend. Everything starts somewhere. If you want to enact positive change in the world, start with a smile then go from there. It can't hurt, and it will almost certainly help, even if it only helps the person who received the smile.
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Letterman's scandal is over, but can he beat Leno?
Dave Letterman can heave a huge sigh of relief after the guilty plea Tuesday of a TV producer charged with trying to extort him.
No time-consuming legal mumbo-jumbo will be dogging Letterman. No more messy, embarrassing public revelations of his sexual affairs - real and alleged. No more probing into the private life of a man who famously cherishes his privacy, despite how masterfully he managed, and even exploited, the world's invasions into it, when his crisis demanded.
Now it's over. Robert "Joe" Halderman now faces six months' jail time for trying to shake down Letterman to the tune of $2 million, closing a squalid, shocking and titillating chapter in the late-night saga.
But it was a chapter that had frankly overstayed its welcome. The public, forever seeking the next new thing, has already moved on.
And that goes double for fans in the late-night arena, where in recent weeks the spotlight had shifted from CBS (home of "Late Show with David Letterman" and, by coincidence, Halderman's former employer, CBS News) to bumbling, bedeviled NBC.
NBC was the site of the latest round of late-night follies, which had nothing to do with Letterman.
Instead, Conan O'Brien lost his footing as the host of "The Tonight Show," then his job, and took his leave in January. Jay Leno, after flopping in prime time, scrambled back to "Tonight" after just nine months' absence.
Of course, the weak competition Conan posed against Dave was a lucky twist in the Letterman drama. It certainly didn't hurt Letterman that last fall, when he was weathering the scandal of his career, his nightly rival wasn't Leno, who had beat him in the ratings for years, but instead O'Brien, whom he beat handily, despite (or even thanks to) his troubles.
Now, with Leno freshly reinstalled at "Tonight," Letterman is spared concerns about lawsuits to concentrate on resuming a faceoff with Leno for viewers that began in 1993.
That's where Letterman's attention is focused.
And that's where the audience's attention is focused, too.
The operative late-night narrative has reverted, at least for the time being, to the horse race of old. Now, observers can wait for Leno's welcome-back surge to subside so they can see if he maintains his lead in the ratings over Letterman, as he did for so long before handing off "Tonight" to O'Brien last May.
Or has Leno's popularity been damaged in the meantime, by his failure with the prime-time "Jay Leno Show" or by seemingly evicting O'Brien from "Tonight"?
Time will tell.
In any case, the irrelevance of the Letterman affair was vividly displayed in an article in the latest issue of Vanity Fair that desperately tries, and dismally fails, to breathe new life into it.
Mostly through unnamed sources, the article retraces the "collision course" of "the cash-strapped veteran newsman and the multimillionaire entertainment star."
It quotes Madeleine Smithberg, a one-time segment producer for his show, who equates Letterman's magnetism to none other than Bill Clinton's.
"I would be in my office with my back to the door," she is quoted as saying. "Suddenly, I would notice that the hair on my arms and neck would be standing on end. I'd turn around and there would be Dave, standing in my doorway. The man is electric!"
And on and on it goes. But the effect of the article: Who cares anymore?
The viewing public is so over what the article salaciously titled "Big Trouble at 11:35." It's on to the next thing.
The next thing: Who will win the ratings war, Dave or Jay? And - oh, yeah - what will Conan do next?


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One day while reporting to her job as an elevator constructor, Christina Herzog discovered something near her workbench that had clearly been left for her--a long penis made of pipe caulk.
That was back in 1989 when she was 28 years old and new on the job. She now understands the statue was left as a challenge by one of her male coworkers who resented her presence on the job. She now realizes it was a challenge she failed.
"I picked it up and started running around going, 'Whoever did this, I'm gonna get you.' In retrospect I can see it must have looked pretty funny, and all those guys must have had quite a laugh. I shouldn't have let it get to me. I should have turned the joke around on them. I should have gone up to them and said, 'Excuse me, is this yours?' Or I should have put a sign on it saying, 'Take me home, I'm in love.' But that was then, and I didn't know much."
It's the little things, like knowing when to respond with a joke and when to fight back, that make the difference between a bearable and an unbearable work environment for women construction workers. Their dilemmas and struggles have become the central cause of a campaign led by Chicago Women in Trades, a not-for-profit support and advocacy group that includes carpenters, plumbers, electricians, ironworkers, and asbestos workers.
The group recently launched a program called Worksite 2000 in an attempt to increase the number of women construction workers and to improve their working conditions. They're now working with contractors at four work sites: the Cook County Jail expansion, the McCormick Place expansion, the renovation of the Juvenile Detention Center, and the construction of the new downtown post office.
"Without intervention of someone in authority, like the general contractors, women don't work. And if they do work they get treated very poorly," says Laurie LeBreton, coordinator for Worksite 2000. "Basically, all we're asking is that women be hired and then allowed to do their work in peace."
Women in Trades was formed in 1980 by several tradeswomen, including Lauren Sugerman, now its director. In the beginning most of their energy was spent trying to pressure unions to open their ranks. Since then Women in Trades has become more prominent, but many of the old problems persist.
Even on model sites such as the post office only about 5 or 6 percent of the trades jobs are held by women. And many tradeswomen still complain of harassment. A recent survey of 228 tradeswomen by Women in Trades reveals that 83 percent have heard unwelcome sexual remarks on the job and 57 percent have been touched or asked for sex.
Some observers counter that these statistics are beside the point. Their argument runs: Construction sites are known for their tough, swaggering workers. If women don't like the atmosphere, they shouldn't apply for the jobs.
"It's true that some of our complaints have to do with general working conditions that affect all workers, men as well as women," says Herzog. "For instance, on a lot of sites the toilets are absolutely disgusting. That's not just a women's issue, that's an issue that affects men too."
Other women minimize the problems they've faced. "I've had all kinds of jobs, and this is the best--or at least it pays the best," says Shirley Williams, an electrician. "When I first started I heard some words. There were only 3 women out of 50 workers, and some of the men would tell me, 'This is a man's job.' I didn't let it get to me. When they saw they couldn't get rid of me they accepted me."
Still other women say they would rather work around men. "To me, men are usually more direct," says Laura Nunemaker, a pipe insulator. "If a man doesn't like you he'll usually tell you to your face."
Most women construction workers say they were drawn to the jobs by the pay. Some trades pay as high as $35 an hour, and most apprentices make at least $15 an hour. "That's a lot more than you can make as a waitress," says Williams. "I like the challenge. I like being able to look at some building and say, 'I had a hand in building that.'"
The hardest part of the job can be getting it in the first place. Construction unions are notoriously tough to crack. "You pretty much have to know somebody," says Herzog. She got her break when she was working at a low-paying, nonunion maintenance job. "I was in between things in my life," she says. "I had been in college, but I dropped out 'cause I was burnt out. I wanted to be a writer, but I was sick of being a starving artist. I was tired of being overworked and underpaid and exhausted. I figured, I don't mind doing gofer work if I'm getting a decent wage. I was always doing odd jobs around the place, and one of the union guys said, 'We could use a hard-working girl like you.' They told me where the union headquarters was and who I should talk to when I got there. That was my in."
Herzog began as an apprentice making half the pay of full-fledged union mechanics. "It's a tough apprenticeship," she says. "We're all green when we come off the street. You have to start somewhere and someone has to teach you. And they're tough on you. You're basically an ignoramus, and that's how they treat you. They'll say stuff like, 'What are you, stupid?' Or 'How many times do I have to tell you this, dummy?' We all go through it. That's part of the learning experience."
But gender rivalries are not part of the learning experience for men. "I try to see things as these guys do," says Herzog. "They have been coming to work for a long time grousing about their wives. It's the one safe place they have to talk about their homes. It's their haven. And then a woman comes in, and they feel threatened. They're scared they'll get written up for sexual harassment. They're apologizing to me for cursing. This happens with every job I'm on. I show up and they say, 'Oh God, a woman. Hey guys, better watch what you say or she'll write you up.' At first it bothered me. But now I joke with them. I let most of the stuff roll off.
"It's like being back in high school. We're dealing with something like a teenage mentality. They're usually making stupid jokes, but there's a purpose behind it. They're trying to lighten the stress. It's such a high-stress level. We're always under the gun. We're working way above the ground tearing out the old elevators and installing new ones. A hoist-way can be a very dangerous place. An open hoist-way is the coldest place to be in the winter, because the air's moving through it. But it's the hottest place to be in the summer when the roof is on, because there's no ventilation. I have learned to have a healthy respect for heights. I pray to God I don't get hurt. Some guys are petrified of heights. You see them hyperventilating and profusely sweating. They're called two-story Joes 'cause they can't work above two stories. The old-timers have this attitude that, 'Oh, this is nothing like the old days--in the old days of wooden rails and iron men . . . ' But inside, a lot of these old-timers were cracking. You should see the drinking that went on as guys tried to balance the intense fears and the machismo."
Herzog rises at 4:30 in the morning to be at work by 6:30. She usually punches out at 3:30. "When you see me off the job you wouldn't know what I do. Nine times out of ten I'll be wearing high heels or dresses. I go for manicures. I have my hair done. It gets beaten down by wind, rain, snow, and concrete dust. I go to my hairdresser once every three months.
"I call myself a torchbearer. I'm not a pioneer. There were women who came before me who really had to face a tough situation. I never had a guy drop tools on me to get me out of the business. The women who put up with that are the true pioneers."
A few weeks ago Herzog and about 12 other women construction workers gathered for an after-work rap session sponsored by Women in Trades. Over pizza and pop they began the meeting sounding as impervious to on-the-job pressures as any of their macho male colleagues.
But eventually they let down their defenses. One woman nearly broke down as she described continual sexual harassment by some of her male coworkers.
"You've got to show them that you won't take any of that bull," said Lisa Lopez, a veteran construction laborer.
The woman said she'd tried, but it hadn't worked. Other workers made other suggestions, including taking the matter to court. But the woman said she couldn't do that without facing prolonged litigation, which would make her the butt of even more abuse. After a while it became apparent to many in the room that she might eventually have to quit.
"That was very rough, hearing what she's going through," says Herzog. "I really feel for her. We've come far, but we still have a ways to go."
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Charles Eshelman.


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FIRST - The first choice for your home office!
Secure first place with the stylish executive chair FIRST in a racing look. The modern design is modeled after a real sports seat, as known from racing cars. In addition to the ergonomic shape, elaborately quilted backrest and seat also offer the highest level of comfort. The sturdy faux leather not only looks elegant but is also very easy to clean. Another highlight: The comfortable armrests with soft pad supports can be folded upwards.
- Height-adjustable seat (Toplift mechanism)
- Reclining mechanism to lean back and relax
- Thick upholstered seat and backrest, decorative stitching
- Sturdy curved armrests with soft pads for support can be lifted up
- Synthetic designer base
- Fitted with weight-activated castors for carpet floors. The user has complete freedom of movement while seated. Upon standing up, the safety braking mechanism hinders unwanted movement of the office chair. The castors are unlocked when pressure is placed back onto the chair.
This item is supplied unassembled.
For assembly by the customer in just a few simple steps.
Of course, for gas springs, chair castors, footrests, etc., no construction is required.
Castors information
The factory-supplied castors are only suitable for carpeted floors. For hard floors, such as parquet, laminate or tile floors, special hard floor castors are needed and are available from our accessory assortment. Please note that it is not possible to exchange the castors prior to shipment for logistical reasons (unless otherwise stated in the product description).


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It has been an honour to work with amazing clients from all of the world. Thank you so much to leave such kind words about our service to motivate us always to do the best and professional for all of our clients. Rudy Lin Photography - Bali Wedding Photographer
BALI WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BY RUDYLIN PHOTOGRAPHY|ProPhoto Photographer Template|Dawn Alderman Design


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She's showed us her "P-P-Poker Face," and now Lady Gaga's ready to share something a lot more intimate and avant-garde with her biggest fans: her real-life p-p-pregnancy! Acclaimed tribute artist Athena Reich stars as an expecting Lady Gaga in #ARTBIRTH, a hilarious evening of art, pop and comedy that combines vaudevillian comedy with ARTPOP outrageousness. The show features a very preggers Lady Gaga who's decided to give birth in front of her most devoted fans as "the ultimate performance art piece." Star Athena Reich is an award-winning comic actress who's received acclaim from Lady Gaga's "Little Monsters" — and even Gaga herself. Come see Gaga's baby being "Born This Way" in this show full of dancing, singing and afterbirth.
See more New York City deals on Nifty NYC.
We use affiliate links to fund upkeep of the site and connect New Yorkers to even more awesome experiences. Thanks for supporting Nifty NYC with your purchase. Some events may have ticketing fees.


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Incomprehensible Scares: The 4th Wall
If you ask me, we're in a new golden age for horror games. Between heavy hitters like Dead Space and less costly efforts like Lone Survivor, Amnesia, Slender, and Asylum, we've got enough things going bump in the night that I'm surprised they haven't stepped on each others' toes and ended up in some cringe-worthy slapstick shenanigans yet. But that's sort of the problem, as well: it's just the same thematic beats, time and time again. Haunted houses, dark rooms, spooky forests, the undead, etc. But as human beings, we fear the unknown. We fear difference. Weird shit. So then, who better to design a truly bizarre take on horror than the folks who brought us the equally-bizarre-but-for-entirely-different reasons Vidiot Game? And thus, The 4th Wall was born. This game is basically brilliant. After the break, I will tell you why.
The 4th Wall is, in short, completely abstract. It takes place in some sort of computer grid television fuzz dimension, and as you walk around, things just sort of… happen. I don't want to spoil too much, but ethereal lights dance about – sometimes spiriting you away to unsettling new locales – and oddly threatening electronic sounds litter the sonic landscape. 4th Wall's excellent, too, at introducing you to some gut-wrenching new sight (say, an infinite expanse of blackness where eyeballs appear and just kind of blink at you) and then – just as you begin to get comfortable – pulling the rug right out from under your feet again. And sure, it has a few "OOOOGHAABOOOGHA" leap-out-of-your-chair moments, but it largely opts to focus on the extremely unsettling alien-ness of its world.
The whole thing runs on this strange, almost dream-like logic. Occasionally, that caused me to lose track of what to do next, but by and large, it only drove home 4th Wall's otherworldly nature. For instance, at one point, my movement slowed and it was like my character was fighting against his/her/its own limbs to trudge ever forward. There was definitely a certain sleep-paralysis-like feeling to it. But, taken in conjunction with the sights all around me, it just kind of made sense.
To be honest, this one's incredibly tough to explain. Fortunately, there are three ways you can experience it, and two of them are completely free. First up, there's an old version that was made for 7DFPS, and – while not quite as polished or lengthy – it won't cost you a cent. Then there's the new version, which will run you a measly $1, or – if you're still on the fence because your frugality knows no limits – there's also a free demo of that version.
So then, get to it. Also, without spoiling it, I must inform you that there's a truly wild "twist" ending. You won't see it coming, but believe me: you'll know it when you see it. I'd recommend going in free of foreknowledge, but if you need more enticing, here's a trailer.


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Friday, November 14, 2014
My feet are cold
If I am at work and I'm not in a dress or a skirt, I am wearing some variation of these pants.
They are flattering on me. And they're comfortable. And they're washable. (I can get quite dirty at work.) And I don't have to get them tailored.
I wear my pants with heels or with flats, depending on what I'm doing or who I'm meeting with or what else I'm wearing or the current status of whatever soccer injury I'm nursing.
But now it's November. I live in Michigan. My feet are cold.
Buying a pair of booties makes the most sense. They're trendy but not ridiculous and my feet could be cozy and warm this winter.
Except this is how I look in booties.
Like a dumbbell.
Okay, so pretend that I don't have a top half for a minute. Because we're just talking waist down.
I have a booty. And, wearing a pair of booties, makes me really big at the top and really big at the bottom.
Trust me when I say it isn't cute. I tried. I honestly tried. I tried hard to make the booties work because my feet are cold. Booties look ridiculous on me.
I don't know what to wear on my feet. (Do I just go with boots? I feel like every outfit with boots looks so similar because it's An Outfit With Boots.)
My feet are cold. It's only November.
Maybe I just need to give up and buy different pants.
3 comments:
For me there are three keys to making booties wearable.
1. Slim Fit (nothing slouchy)
2. Same color as pants (requires trouser socks of the same color as well)
3. Wedge Heel
- ALYS said...
I have a similar problem, but I find laced ankle books work well (because I can tighten them at the ankle, so they don't look too big). I also find an almond toe shape helps.
I don't know if they have a similar store where you are but I bought these recently...
http://www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,10/1183000078 (I have these in black and brown)
And these, which I love with skinny jeans (plus they're really comfy)
- Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...
Burr! It's cold here, too. Those kind of pants are most flattering on me, too, but it's just too dang cold to wear them right now, unless I can pair them with boots which doesn't work with every outfit.


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Something for all of you cooking up something good for somebody!
Red-To-Orange Chakra Express
1 ounce allspice
1/4 ounce whole cloves
1 ounce cinnamon sticks
2 ounces astragalus
1 ounce nutmeg
2 ounces ginger root
1 ounce of fennel seeds
1 ounce star anise
1 ounce bay leaves
1/4 guarana (optional)
2 bottles good red wine (Beaujolais or Burgundy)
Place all herbs and spices in a large see-through container that has a tight lid. Cover with wine and refrigerate for two weeks. Strain off a wineglassful and bring the wine to room temperature or warm it over a gentle heat before drinking.
This is a 'pre-sex enlivener' the book describes. It suggests that you not strain the herbs and roots out, but leave them soaking and drink it as you need it. It keeps for about three years and you can replace the herbs, top up the wine–kinda like a Caribbean pepperpot. Leave out the guarana if you're not into caffeine, use it if you really wanna be up all night, baby. Rock it….. rock it!!!!!
Find a link to the book below.


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The women were staying in a safe house run by the group after a police raid on the hotel where they worked.
An armed gang took most of them away from the shelter on Wednesday.
It is not clear what has happened to them since and the biggest raid of the year by anti-human trafficking police has turned into an embarrassing mess.
On Saturday a group of women who claim to have been at the safe house protested outside the US embassy.
They said they had been taken away from the hotel against their will.
Protest letter
Female staff at the Chhay Hour II hotel in Phnom Penh have denied they are sex workers.
The management at the hotel say the women were not abducted from the safe house, but escaped from the facility to return to work.
The organisation which ran the safe house, Afesip, is not convinced by the claims.
They say a two-month long investigation by the anti-trafficking police confirmed that the hotel was being run as a brothel.
Afesip believe their operations and the work of the police are being undermined by high-level officials.
Their spokesperson said that if these people are confident and powerful enough to break into our centre and take these girls then they feel confident enough to take all these girls back to work.
On Monday Afesip will send a letter of protest to Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The following day they will hold a news conference in Bangkok.
They say they no longer feel comfortable operating in Cambodia.


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The reference laboratories are staffed, 24 hrs/ 7 days a week, with experienced Specialist in Blood Banking (SBBs) and other specially trained medical technologists/technicians.
- Hospital Relations (817-412-5365)
- Business Development (817-412-5158)
- Immunohematology Reference Laboratory Orders (817-412-5740)
- Routine Blood Product Orders (817-412-5700)
*Please note that the contact form below is not intended for time sensitive inquiries.
To inquire about a contract, reference services (IRL, ADRP, special products, special testing) and transfusion services, please complete the form below and the appropriate team member will be in touch:


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How to Make a Room Feel Wider
Colors, textures, furnishings and room arrangements can have a significant impact on the perceived space in a room. Whether you're living in a condo, apartment or detached home, a small, narrow room often feels crowded and "boxed in." You can make a room feel wider without undertaking pricey remodeling projects that increase the actual square footage.
Clutter and Organization
Clearing the clutter can make a room feel wider. Remove toys, stacks of reading materials, knickknacks, plants and other unnecessary items from the room. A room that's crammed full of "stuff" takes up space, making it feel disorderly, busy and small. In addition, walls that are covered with pictures and other wall hangings tend to make a room feel closed in and narrow. Hang one or two large pieces of artwork on your walls to make the room feel wider and more spacious. Organizing your current reading materials on a bookshelf and stashing toys inside a cabinet or storage bench helps to keep clutter off the floor. Accessorize your room with only a few potted plants or other decorative items.
Colors and Depth
You can visually widen a rectangular-shaped room by painting the two end walls a darker color than the other two walls. For example, paint the end walls a dark brown color and the other two walls in a sandy beige tone. Light paint colors -- such as soft yellow, creamy white, icy blue or light gray -- help to brighten a room, making it appear larger and wider. Satin paint finishes tend to reflect more light, making your room appear more spacious. You can also paint horizontal stripes on a wall to make a room feel wider. Use two alternating colors to paint each stripe about 12 inches wide.
Natural and Artificial Light
Light helps to brighten up a room to make it feel more expansive. Allow natural light to stream indoors by taking down heavy, dark window coverings. Install white wooden blinds with wide 2-inch slats over your windows to permit tons of natural light to come into your room during the day, while providing nighttime privacy. The wide horizontal slats help to magnify the illusion of a wider room. Hang a large mirror on a wall opposite a window to reflect the outdoors, broadening the feel of your room. Dark corners can make a room appear small and cramped. Position a floor lamp in a bare corner to visually expand the area. Recessed ceiling lights can illuminate an entire room without taking up much space.
Furniture and Room Arrangements
Furnish your room with furniture that allows light to filter under it, providing a more spacious feel. Tables with glass tops and sofas and chairs with exposed legs and open arms are ideal. Also, select furniture pieces that are in proportion to the size of your room. Oversize cabinets, sectionals, sofas and chairs can make a small room feel narrow. Furniture that is the same color as your walls tends to blend into the wall, making it look wider. Arrange your furniture at an angle to create a sense of depth and a broader room. This room layout also avoids a narrow "bowling alley" look where all of the furniture is placed against the walls.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images


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VPN refers to Virtual Private Network that secures your online activity, giving you complete anonymity about your activities and presence on the internet.
User friendly and with minimum complexity, VPN works by imitating your IP to get to the restricted access without revealing your information to prohibited censors.
PureVPN offers you some of the great features which are most attractive to high end users.
Flooded with VPN services, the market offers ample options. The working of the VPN remains unchanged as it uses an IP different to the one assigned by your ISP.
This makes it difficult to track the online events. The computer is connected to a particular server in a region routing all the activity to the web in encrypted mode.
Account & Subscription
Like other VPN services, PureVPN account also needs a paid subscription; however you can opt for a monthly subscription,half yearly and annual plans. The number of simultaneous logins increased to 5 is a welcome move by PureVPN.
Enterprises can go for Business edition based on the number of accounts. Large organizations prefer to have a devoted server for non-shared connectivity.
To talk about installation, PureVPN is a little time consuming as compared to others. The installation works differently depending upon the location you enter.
The executable is downloaded after you append your location. i.e. 'rest of the world'. After installation, you are presented with the 'Get Started' guide.
When you choose 'China', the executable is different and the software takes care of server selection. Given how other services work, the process takes substantial time.
PureVPN interface is clean, simple and nice. The drop down list for servers, provides selection for 21 countries which is quite imposing. You can simply get started after putting in your login details.
Upon connection, the information is comprehensively shown displaying your new IP, Traffic and Session details along with duration and timings. Strikingly, PureVPN doesn't put a bar on bandwidth which is much expected but absent here.
Intelligence Selection
With PureVPN, you play smart in terms of server selection for countries that have multiple servers.
A personalized selection menu easily lets you to do it. To be able to select the servers manually or the system doing it for you is something that you would appreciate by using 'Intelligence' selection.
Adding the precise reason for using the services is used by the service to ascertain the most suitable server for you.
Split Tunnel
Another feature which is presently in testing phase, called 'Split Tunneling', gives you the benefit of selecting applications that should use VPN.
This is especially advantageous when you are sure about your content. Relatively cumbersome downloads can be set to do away with VPN mode which may take longer streaming time.
Encryption Levels
Different security levels and auto connectivity is another add-on in PureVPN. Although it may take extra time but a good encryption level ensures better security.
Lower encryption or no security options can also be chosen, offering better rate of streaming.
PureVPN performance is as good as you can get, without any hiccups. Be it high resolution videos, graphical content or huge transfers, the speed is pretty good without any lags and disruptions.
The performance doesn't drop even while servers at overseas locations are in access.
A competitive evaluation of PureVPN makes it a worthwhile option in comparison to the other services. A nice interface, promising Split Tunnel feature, though only in beta for now and a strong performance gives it a good cumulative rating in VPN space.
— Why you should trust me/us?
The sanctity of this review comes from my experience into reading and working on VPN services for years. A close look and feel of varied VPN services is what enabled me to correctly analyse on PureVPN efficacy.
Interviewing subject matter experts and inputs from old timers have also helped to my assessment.
— Who should buy this?
Both individuals and Enterprises can go for PureVPN with its different plans. Customizable options, reasonable pricing, compatibility along with all important factors of robust performance and security control makes it a deal for all.
— What makes a good VPN?
A great performance merged with optimum security, dynamic nature and reasonable costing makes it for a complete package.
— How We Tested?
I connected internet by browsing significant security accounts, using wireless networks in public space and also in private networks. I used Wireshark to keep a track of my inbound and outbound network activity.
SpeedTest.net was deployed to measure the network rates. Speeds were tracked while connecting to different servers. Nearby servers were also tried for any difference. Speed measurements with VPN services ON and OFF were analysed as well.
— Best for Whom?
PureVPN qualification is unrestricted. Go for a free trial to decide.
— Also 2nd Best Alternative?
HideMyAss comes closest.
— Who Else likes them?
First timers and the ones who want stable services.
— Competition (hidemyass, ipvarnish, purevpn)
PureVPN, HMA and Ipvarnish are equally competitive and score neck to neck in terms of performance, compatibility, security features and simplicity.
— Wrapping it up?
Some notable offerings from PureVPN as specified in my review, certainly makes it tough for others in the list.
Amit is a software engineer, writer, speaker and a tech geek who loves to write technology.


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Mark Grant is a speech communication instructor in the General Education curriculum. He began teaching at DCTC as an adjunct instructor in 2000. The college hired him as a full-time instructor in spring semester 2001.
Mark has a Master of Arts degree with a focus on rhetorical theory and popular culture from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He also earned his bachelor's degree in creative writing from MSU.
His industry experience includes several years as a freelance communication consultant/project manager in the marketing field. During his tenure in the private sector, Mark worked for clients in Minneapolis, California, Connecticut, Texas, Arizona and Toronto. He also worked for a time in Portugal, Madrid and London.
"Since I teach communication and everyone comes to the class with a lifetime of experience, I have found the most meaningful learning happens on a student-to-student level. I can honestly say that if I do my job well, everyone walks away from the class wiser--including me."
"I really enjoy the interactions I have with the students at DCTC," says Mark, regarding the best part of his job as an instructor. "They are smart, motivated and really open to the importance that communication plays in their personal and professional lives."
Mark's currently resides in near Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his children, playing golf (weather permitting), exercising, reading, and hanging out with friends.


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Shooting In New Orleans Leaves 11 People Injured
By Bill Galluccio
December 1, 2019
Eleven people were injured during a shooting in New Orleans early Sunday (December 1) morning. Police received a call of shots fired around 3:20 a.m. and found multiple victims when they arrived at the scene.
Ten people were transported to a local hospital, and one person managed to check themselves into a nearby medical center. Two of the victims are in critical condition.
Nobody has been arrested, but authorities did detain a person near the scene. They did not provide any details about their identity or possible involvement in the shooting.
The shooting occurred on Canal Street, which sits on the edge of the French Quarter and is a short walk from Bourbon Street.


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Most Popular in the Last...
See the following -
Accidental Scientist Hawks 'Online Marketplace for Brains'
Kaggle bills itself as an online marketplace for brains. Over 23,000 data scientists are registered with the site, including Ph.D.s spanning 100 countries, 200 universities, and every discipline from computer science, math, and econometrics to physics and biomedical engineering.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Bias has Dangerous Implications
Algorithms are everywhere in our world, and so is bias. From social media news feeds to streaming service recommendations to online shopping, computer algorithms—specifically, machine learning algorithms—have permeated our day-to-day world. As for bias, we need only examine the 2016 American election to understand how deeply—both implicitly and explicitly—it permeates our society as well. What's often overlooked, however, is the intersection between these two: bias in computer algorithms themselves. Contrary to what many of us might think, technology is not objective...
The Lonely Universe Of Autoimmune Diseases
How would you feel if, after years of searching for a diagnosis you finally found out you have an autoimmune disease, and then you realize that your doctors will have to experiment on you to find the right treatment? That's the state of the art today in autoimmune diseases like Crohn's, lupus, and MS.


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Established in 2006, Volunteering Solutions has come a long way, with more than 11,000 volunteers contributing over 72, 000 hours to 126 diverse projects all across the world.
VolSol believes in ethical volunteering and provides all necessary support to volunteers who contribute directly towards sustainable development of the concerned host communities.
As a volunteer travel organization, VolSol abides by the rules of responsible travel policies and ensures that all the volunteers have authentic documents to support their statements and are eligible for being a part of their chosen program. A detailed verification is done from both ends before confirming the placement to any interested volunteer.
Volunteering Solutions aims to:
All staff members as well as volunteers associated with the organization believe in these, and therefore, VolSol has strengthened itself over the years, creating a much larger impact on the society.
Looks like you're from United Kingdom. Visit our UK/Ireland Website for a better viewing experience and to view prices in GBP.


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It was cold but the sun was shining and that was enough to convince Celia that it was a good day for a walk. She didn't want to do an easy walk on the bike trails behind our house; she wanted to hike in the state forest down the road from us. I had my doubts since we had gotten a ton of rain 48 hours before but Celia was determined and who am I to stand in the way of a child who wants to exercise in the dead of winter?
There is a stream at the very beginning of the trail and usually, we can just hop across. However, the torrential rain had swollen the stream and the cold weather made all the rocks very slick. We had to wander a little way upstream before we found a place we could cross using some rocks as stepping stones. Immediately after that, we came across a large tree that had blown down across the path. Celia didn't mind at all. It gave her the perfect opportunity to clamber around. I think she deliberately took the hardest way through. I, however, skirted around the tree and walked down by the stream again.
The state park was deserted. I don't think many people felt like hiking on such a cold day. It was lovely though since we felt like we got it to ourselves. We only ran into a handful of people the whole time we were there. Celia kept hoping we would see a bear but I am pretty sure any animals heard us coming long before we actually arrived. Celia is a bit of a chatterbox!
The path leads to the top of some cliffs with a lovely view. Unfortunately, some people feel the need to deface the cliffs with ugly spray painting. Someone had obviously just been there because we could still smell the spray paint. I am not crazy about heights and wouldn't let Celia go too near the edge. Someone died falling off these cliffs last year so I think I have justification for my worry. Celia would have been happy to sit on the edge and dangle her legs over the edge if I hadn't been there. The idea makes me shiver in horror.
It was a lovely walk and I enjoyed spending time with my lovely daughter. She even has given me permission to add photos of her to this post so it must have been a good day. Here is my favorite.
We finally arrived home an hour or so after we expected and more than a little cold. Several cups of tea, a couple of big blankets, and a heating pad soon put that to rights. Celia is already planning our next excursion.
This is a hike we take semi-regularly and I have written at least one other post about it. You can read that post here.


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Cancellation Policy
By booking accommodation or workshops at Amamoor Lodge you are acknowledging that you have read, understood and agree to these terms and conditions.
Whilst we understand unexpected things can happen, to avoid unforeseen circumstances, we recommend travel insurance. Cancellation must be in writing, with a reply from us to confirm receipt of cancellation.
Where possible we will rearrange bookings (sur-charges may apply for different room rates).
- Cancellations received more than 30 days prior to arrival date will be entitled to a refund less cancellation fee of $25 per room / workshop booking.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 7 days prior to arrival date will incur a cancellation fee of $50 per room or 25% of .the package or workshop cost if this is higher.
- Cancellations within 7 days but before 2pm on day preceding first nights stay will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations after 2pm on day preceding first nights stay will be charged the greater of one nights stay at full rate or 50% of the total agreed accommodation or package price.
Should cancellation be due to bad weather, the above policy stands, natural weather occurrences are sadly beyond our control. We highly recommend travel insurance.
For workshop date changes or cancellations by Amamoor Lodge, amounts paid can be transferred to another date or a full refund can be made.


text: Featuring classic LEGO humor and characters from the entire Star Wars saga, "Escape from the Jedi Temple" is filled with the Force and brick-tastic fun. As seen in the trailer, the Emperor debuts his new theme -- "The Imperial March" -- and doesn't react well at its lukewarm reception. Han, Chewie, Luke, Leia, Yoda, and the entire gang (including a blaster-toting C-3PO) are back, ready to take on Darth Vader and the Empire.


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Im sorry, but you cant have swear words in your avatar or profile picture, please choose something more appropriate. Thanks
I'd say Lu Xun for now
What do you mean mate?
Hi so you are a strikeforce can you help me with i have lots of problem T_T
Junior Member
Senior Member
Mercenary General - Admin


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What is Gum Disease
To understand gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease, it helps to understand the relationship between your teeth and your gums. Your gums, the pink area above your teeth are known as the gingiva. The gingiva is the support structure for your teeth. Within your gums is the socket for your teeth. The roots of your teeth are embedded in the socket and are anchored by periodontal ligaments. Between your teeth and your gums is a V-shaped gap called the sulcus.
When you get an infection in the gums, the sulcus can shrink. This causes your teeth and your gums to separate. This separation invites infection to the tissue and the result is gum disease. Gum infections are referred to as gingivitis if they only infect the gums. As the infection worsens it spreads. When it spreads, it can also infect the connecting tissue and the bones. This spread of infection is called period.
Periodontitis, left untreated, causes complications that can affect not only your teeth and gums, but can lead to bone loss in the jaw, and can spread further into the body from there. Usually it is painless, so you won't notice it.
The cause of this infection is plaque. Plaque is a bacterial film that is on your teeth left by the food you eat and the liquids you drink. When you brush your teeth, this plaque is removed, which is why it's important to brush after every meal.
Warning Signs
Even though you don't feel pain, there are signs that you will notice that could indicate gum disease. Your gums may bleed easily; when you brush your teeth or eat. The gums may be red and swollen or very tender to the touch. You could have persistent bad breath or you may have a bad taste in your mouth that you can't identify. You could notice that your bite is different, for example, your teeth may not seem to fit together correctly. You may notice that your teeth have pulled away from your gums or that you feel your teeth are loose or shifting around in their place. If you have partial dentures, you may notice that the partials no longer feel comfortable or don't fit correctly.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by any number of factors, but smoking, pregnancy, diabetes, certain prescription drugs and long illnesses are some of the more common causes. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is best to see your dentist sooner rather than later. When caught early, gum disease is easily treated with a minimum of damage or discomfort.
If you have gingivitis, you are in the early stage of gum disease and this is good for you. Getting treatment at this stage means that you will avoid the more serious consequences of gum disease and it is easily reversible. The symptoms of gingivitis are red, swollen gums that easily bleed. A professional cleaning and strict attention by to you brushing and flossing can reverse this early warning sign.
If you ignore the early warning signs and wait until you have full-blown periodontitis, you have now reached the advanced stages of gum disease. If at this point you do nothing, you risk bone and tissue loss which only gets worse over time. Your teeth could start to deteriorate, decay or even break. You may even notice that your teeth are loose in your mouth. Once advanced, your teeth may even start to fall out.
Advanced, or aggressive periodontal disease, is extremely destructive. Though you may appear healthy, your teeth and gums and their underlying structures are not. You may rapidly lose tissue and bone in some areas or all areas of your mouth may lose density, which is what causes your teeth to loosen.
As this disease advances, your appearance may change due to changes in the structure of your jaw. You may appear older than your years and the shape of your face may change as well. The ultimate end result is that you will most certainly lose some, if not all your teeth depending on how far the disease has progressed.
Periodontal Disease Prevention
The good news is this is one disease you can easily prevent. Having regular dental checkups with your dentist is a good way to start. Your dentist may recommend that you have periodic periodontal exams as well, particularly if you are an at-risk patient, such as a smoker or diabetic. If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist can create a treatment plan for you that will help arrest the disease. Most important is a good dental routine of brushing and flossing that you follow daily.


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STRASBOURG, October 11. /TASS/. French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday he is ready to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "at any time."
"France has important relations with Russia on Syria," Hollande said in his speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Russia's veto on the French resolution at the UN Security Council "prevented the cessation of bombings and enablement of a truce," he claimed.
The French leader stressed that the dialogue with Russia is necessary but it must be fair and open. "I'm ready to meet with Putin at any moment if this helps to stop bombings and encourage the truce," he said.
Hollande confirmed that the Russian president "has preferred to delay the visit." "But this will not prevent us from continuing the dialogue," he said.
France submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council on October 8 calling for a ban on flights over Aleppo. However, Russia vetoed it. Then the US, the UK and France came out against the Russian draft resolution, which envisaged the withdrawal of Jabhat al-Nusra forces from eastern Aleppo.
Earlier in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin decided to cancel his visit to Paris scheduled for October 19 to wait for a date that would suit his French counterpart. "The case is that certain events linked to the opening of a Russian cultural center and holding exhibitions had been scheduled. Unfortunately, these events fell out of the program and that's why the president decided that now the visit to the French Republic will be cancelled."


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BJP top brass leaves Chouhan in the cold
He may have led the BJP to a resounding victory in the last assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh in November 2008 but chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has enough reasons to worry about his political future. Ranjan Srivastava reports.bhopal Updated: Apr 05, 2013, 09:54 IST
He may have led the BJP to a resounding victory in the last assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh in November 2008 but chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has enough reasons to worry about his political future.
With assembly elections due in the state around October this year and the Lok Sabha polls about a year away, Chouhan has not only been glossed over by his party's central leadership for a national role but also has to contend with rivals in the state.
On March 31, when BJP president Rajnath Singh announced his team for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party's "second-most favourite" chief minister, Chouhan, Rajnath, failed to make it to the BJP's parliamentary board while Gujarat strongman Narendra Modi was in and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti became a national vice-president.
And though Rajnath later said the only vacant seat in the BJP's highest decision-making body went to the "senior" chief minister, Modi, a party leader told HT, "There is no hard and fast rule that the parliamentary board's size cannot be expanded."
"If in the coming days Modi dominates the party apparatus — considering his style of functioning — then it might be even more difficult for Chouhan to find a national role. That is our chief minister's bigger worry," the leader pointed out.
Said another party leader, "Why would the central BJP leaders like to see Chouhan as prime ministerial material when they themselves are in the race? If they are giving space to Modi, it's not by choice but by compulsion."
If that is Chouhan's fate at the national level, the prospects are not particularly encouraging for him at the state level either. Several BJP leaders — including ministerial colleagues such as Kailash Vijayvargiya, Gopal Bhargava, Vijay Shah, Narottam Mishra and Anoop Mishra — are eyeing the CM's post eagerly. They will never come out in the open against Chouhan but may try to embarrass him in a crucial election year. And there are strong possibilities that these leaders will forge links with the anti-Chouhan brigade in Delhi.
Against all these odds, the biggest thing going for Chouhan is his economic report card. Under him, Madhya Pradesh leads all other states in the agricultural growth rate of 18% and gross state domestic product growth rate at 10% in 2012-13, according to the Central Statistics Office report.
Besides, there is no open challenge to his leadership for now and he's the party mascot for the upcoming assembly polls. As Chouhan told HT recently, "My soul and being is in this state. MP is now like a plane that's taking off and I can't leave it mid-flight." But the flight, it seems, might face some turbulence now.


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OKC pharmaceutical firm acquired in $665 million deal
By Don Mecoy
Copyright © 2016, The Oklahoma Publishing Company
A global pharmaceutical company will pay up to $665 million for an Oklahoma City research firm that recently completed a large trial of a drug that treats pain among those with sickle cell disease.
Novartis on Monday announced it has acquired Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corp., a Oklahoma City company specializing in development of therapeutics in certain hematologic and inflammatory disorders.
In 2012, Novartis obtained the exclusive right to acquire Selexys and the drug SelG1. Novartis said it exercised rights to buy the company after seeing results from a large trial into a drug to treat pain among those with sickle cell disease.
Terms of the deal could total up to $665 million in upfront, acquisition and milestone payments.
Dr. Scott Rollins, former CEO of Selexys Pharmaceuticals, said, "the acquisition of Selexys by Novartis represents an important step in the continued development of SelG1, a novel, potential first-in-class therapy for patients with this underserved life-threatening disease."


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We're always stoked when the older riders extend a helping hand to the next generation, and a guy like Jean-Charles Périat is a great example of that. His involvement at the local level around Lac Leman is helping to grow skiing in a way that's both progressive and creative, while keeping the emphasis on fun. We caught up with him to hear more of his story, but first let's check out the latest edit from his crew…
Hey JC, we're stoked on your videos so far this season! Before we talk more about those, can you start out by introducing yourself?
I am from Geneva and have pretty much been skiing since I was able to walk. From the start, I was obsessed with freestyle, but when you live in Geneva and you don't have your drivers license, it's hard to go ski in good parks. That's what gave me the idea of the ALSF (Association Lémanique des Skieurs Freestyle).
So at 24 years old I decided to set up my own freestyle ski and snowboard club. I've been the president for the past 4 years and also worked to organize the Geneva championships. We are now about thirty members and we make about 40 days of training a year. The club is oriented on two levels – videos and the competitions. For me, the roots of our sport is a practice that you live through videos. That's why we decided to set up a web series in 4 episodes (Shred The Perf). In parallel, we set up a structure dedicated to competition. My dream would be to bring together all the clubs in the Lake Leman region and to offer a training facility in each of the major cities (Lausanne, Montreux, Evian and Thonon) around the lake. Outside of that, I'm a sport and biology teacher in high school.
Sounds busy! How's your season been?
The season went well. It started in Anzère on an airbag and then in Zermatt and the Deux Alpes in autumn. Then we trained at Glacier 3000 until the first snow of December. The competitions then began. Our youngsters have made some podiums and we are really proud of them. We have a very dynamic and motivated team. It is a pleasure to train them.
In addition to that, we are very happy with the first episode of STP. It's always funny to see our filmer Mathieu Poncet on skis. Mountain living is hard for a skateboarder. He's always cold, it's always too early to wake up, the weather always changes. But he likes the spirit of the club and the kids love him with his old Dynastar setup. But yes, the season has been a real success. Now I collaborate with a team of 8 coaches, which allows us to train every weekend. On the other hand, the season could have been snowier. We will finish our season on April 22nd after a one-week trip to Serfaus in Austria.
Can you tell us a bit more what the ALSF all about?
The main goals of the ALSF are to bring together riders and provide them a good training structure. It is a club open to all skiers or snowboarders of any age and any origin. Sometimes, you ride with a 13-year-olds riders and you are 28. Mixing the generations is inspiring. As I said, our goal is not only to train competitors but also to introduce riders to filming. This is what make us different from the other structures.
Starting this season, Yann Dauby has been working with me to manage the various tasks of the club. For example, we set up a crowdfunding system which brought together 36 contributors. We reached or goal and collected 3500 CHF. We have also organized two events. An event in partnership with the store Tranzport which offers Geneva riders the chance to skate in the streets of the city (L'Annuelle). And the Geneva championships, which brought together 36 participants this year. Let's just say that the ALSF is riders aged between 23 and 29 years old who try to develop these disciplines in the region. We still have a lot of goals and lots of ideas in mind. We are a family connected by skiing or snowboarding. For that I thank them all! We also have the chance to work with super brands like Faction, Ryft Optics, the shop Tranzport and of course Twin magazine.
Haha… it's a pleasure to be backing it! We've been digging your episodes so far. Can you tell us a little about the idea behind them?
The idea was to promote ski and snowboard in our region. We wanted to show that we have good riders and good snowparks because I think we don't hear enough about our region. We have incredible snowparks in neighboring France like Châtel or Avoriaz. In French-speaking Switzerland, we have Leysin, Crans Montana, Grimentz and Thyon. We wanted to highlight the people who help to grow the freestyle scene.
The Geneva scene is getting bigger and bigger and we also wanted to put it forward. So I decided to call an old friend and ask him what he thought about it. He liked the idea so we started the project. The kids were really exiting about that. How many 13 year old amateurs can say that he's invited on a shooting day with a professional filmer? This kind of thing is only possible in the ALSF 🙂
Good point! And Mathieu has always been an important part of the freestyle scene in Geneva thanks to his skate videos and his brand Thanks. How did you manage to link up him?
I studied with Mathieu in High school and always loved his work with Thanks. Besides being a good friend, he is also a reliable person who loves his job. A few years ago he hated freestyle skiers because of our Tall-Tees and reggae music. But it seems the thirties is the age of reason, aha.
Haha… maybe we need more 30 year old politicians?
So do you guys have some more episodes planned?
Yes. One for the Spring camp (15-22 April in Serfaus) and one Best Of. We will be presenting the Best Of at some film festivals next year. A nice challenge for our team. But if you want to see it before, you will have to come on May 28th for the annual meal of the club.
Sounds like a good time!
I guess in Geneva, you're right on the boarder. Do you prefer riding the Swiss resorts or the French resorts more?
I like both. The prices in France are more interesting and we have one of the best parks in the region in Châtel. The shaper crew is very nice and very motivated. They are always looking for original features and that's what makes the park crazy. Close to Geneva we have Les Crosets. It's a really nice park with good jibs. For the competitions, we go to in Valais, but it's a bit far for us. For example, with our old bus, it takes us 2.45 hours to go in Grimentz.
In the end, the quality of snowparks is only a matter of resources. The recipe is a good team of shapers and a resort that gives you the means to do something good.
True, so what's your favorite park that you got to ride this season?
Châtel so far! And of course, Orgiride! Orgiride is for me the perfect example of what ski should be. Good jibbing, good friends and a BBQ.
How about a favorite feature?
I don't have one in particular, but the jumps in Thyon are really good!
Who are some of the new riders to stand out at your events?
We have Valentine Deloche, she's been skiing for two years with us now. She's 15 years old and has a crazy level on the trampoline. She can do almost all the doubles. In ski, she's learned flatspins and 360. It's a pleasure to see her riding. In snowboarding, we also have the Aidlin brothers. These kids are 18 and 19 years old. They missing no trainings. Every weekend they are here with the smile and the motivation. We love them. Nat got some good podiums on the TFR but unfortunately Nyt hurt himself.
Bummer… so what's the freestyle scene like in Geneva these days?
We have two kinds of riders: Those ones who love to ride in the club because of the advantages (transport, coaching, meeting people, etc.) and the ones who already have a place to stay in the mountains because of their parents. If you consider all of this world you have a strong group. With the ALSF we try to recruit every year to introduce this sport to the youngest. That is why we are open to all.
Would you say that skiing is more or less popular there than five years ago?
I can see that skiing is more popular than snowboarding. Most of our members are skiers. And it's the same with our coaches. It is difficult to recruit snowboard coaches, there are few in Geneva. Snowboarders are now older and want to do less freestyle. But I think it's just a matter of fashion. In a few years snowboarding will come back stronger.
Do you think we're gonna find the next Candide anytime soon?
What's good with skiing is that everyone has a different style. We'll meet someone as strong as Candide with another style of skiing. We'll see in few years, but a guy like Jesper has more than one trick in his pocket. In Switzerland we have guys like Andri or Mathilde in the woman's world. But for me Candide will remain the legend, even though I know that each generation has his legend. For us it will always be Candide! And I hope that soon we'll have a female legend too! I believe Kelly is on the right path.
Nice. Stoked to see what all of the kids in your crew get up to now that you're providing such a good system of support.
So thanks for your time JC! Is there anything else you'd like to say before we wrap this up?
Thanks to you! Thanks to anyone who supports the club and stay tuned…. I hope you will like our third épisode and keep in touch on alsfreestyle.ch!


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Our Statement of Faith:
1. We believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe there is only one God who is eternal and exists in three persons, The
Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, who are each co-equal in power and glory.
3. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. We believe He was born of a virgin, lived
a sinless life, was crucified for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, ascended
into heaven and will return to earth again.
4. We believe that the salvation of sinful man occurs by the regenerating work of the
Holy Spirit. We further believe that salvation is achieved solely by the grace of God
and not by any works of man.
5. We believe that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer enables
them to live a godly life.
6. We believe that those who find salvation in Christ will spend eternity in heaven and
those who do not will spend eternity in hell.
(Reference: National Association of Evangelicals)


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Turkey Leg
Some Disney fans love the turkey leg. Some hate it. But it's impossible to deny its ubiquitous presence. These 1.5-pound mammoths come smoking hot, wrapped in paper, and they taste like a cross between turkey and ham. Prepare to look like a cave person as you gnaw on your meat. Instagram, look out.


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My paper for this year's Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference, coming up next month in Boston, will focus on the two films that got a lot of side-by-side attention at last year's Cannes festival, Lars von Trier's Melancholia and Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. Since a few of my favorite bloggers have […]
Posts Tagged 'von Trier'
Toward an ecophilosophical cinema
Posted in EcoCulture, ImageNation, MediaSpace, tagged cinema, ecophilosophy, film, Malick, Peirce, von Trier on February 17, 2012 | 13 Comments »
Malick vs. von Trier @ Cannes
Posted in ImageNation, tagged cinema, film, Malick, von Trier on May 18, 2011 | 1 Comment »
The artist of sublime faith (of the pantheistic, immanent kind) versus the artist of sublime cynicism. "Earth is heaven (and purgatory)" versus "Earth is evil." With catastrophe and Kubrick's 2001 lurking in the background of both…


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So you have taken several amazing screenshots on your Nintendo Switch, but you've thought to yourself, "Now what do I do? I don't want to share all of them one by one on Facebook or Twitter! That would really annoy my friends!" Maybe you're thinking about setting up an album on Facebook or sharing several together in one post on Twitter or Instagram. Or perhaps you want to keep an archive on your computer.
There are a few ways of getting your photos from your Switch onto your computer or mobile device, and we're here to help!
Publish to Facebook
The main idea here is to share the images privately to your account. You will still have to this one by one, but you won't be overwhelming all of your Facebook friends' newsfeed this way.
- Pull up the photo album on your Nintendo Switch and choose the photo you want to share.
- Hit the A button to activate the "Editing and Posting" menu.
- Connect to your Facebook account and make sure to choose the option for "only me" when choosing who will see the shared photo.
- Share your photo to Facebook.
- Log onto Facebook with your computer or mobile device, head to your profile, and download your screenshot.
Note: If you have already set your share settings to share with friends or public, you can head to your Facebook settings on a computer and change it to "only me."
Publish to Twitter
Unlike Facebook, you cannot change settings to share some things private on Twitter. So, unless you want to share publicly and then download the images, you will need to first setup a new private Twitter account you will use just for this purpose.
- Follow the same basic steps for Facebook, except login to Twitter, instead.
- Log onto Twitter with your computer or mobile device, head to your feed, and download your screenshot.
Use an microSD Card Reader
If you want to copy over several screenshots at once, this is the best way. However, it does require a microSD card. If you do not have one, we have several we recommend.
- Turn off your Nintendo Switch. (This can be surprisingly tricky, so here's a quick guide.)
- Install your microSD card (behind the kickstand on the back side of the Nintendo Switch), and turn the system back on.
- Make sure all your your images are saved to the microSD card. If you have screenshots previously saved to the system memory, head to the system settings and copy them over to the microSD card before continuing.
- Turn off your Nintendo Switch – very important to not damage any data!
- Raise the kickstand in the back and remove your microSD card.
- Connect the microSD card to an adapter or reader, and then connect it to your computer or mobile device.
- Open the album folder on the microSD card and save them to your device.
If Nintendo eventually updates the Nintendo Switch to include other ways to get your screenshots off the system, we will update this post accordingly.
What are some of your favorite screenshots? Feel free to share them with us in the comments!
Steve is the Senior Editor of NintendoFuse and co-host of the NintendoFuse Podcast. He's been a Nintendo gamer since age 6 and has been on staff with NintendoFuse since 2008.


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The Hard Truth About Sunshine by Sawyer Bennett
Published by Indie on March 28, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 348
Buy on Amazon
New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.
Despite having narrowly escaped death's clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It's only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.
What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again... can he learn to love again?
He's about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can't decide whether she wants to live or die.
Four people with nothing in common but their destination. They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss and love. And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.
The hard truth about sunshine...
Warning: This book deals with some tough issues including suicide and sexual abuse.
Buy Links:
Amazon | Paperback | B&N | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo
Jillian holds my gaze for a moment, her eyes drilling into mine before she gently tugs on the material of my jeans near the shin rod of my prosthetic. "What happened to you?"
She doesn't look away. Not down at the fire, not down to my legs. She stares right at me. Although my gut is turning slightly at the thought of telling her what she asked, I forge straight ahead. For the first time, I tell someone who is not medical personnel or a shrink my story.
"I was driving a military Humvee and the right front tire ran over a roadside bomb," I say, and Jillian makes a sound of distress low her in throat as her eyes turn sad. "It completely obliterated my buddy sitting in the passenger seat."
To my surprise, Jillian scoots over closer to me and lays her head on my shoulder. She pushes her hand in between my ribs and my arm, curling her fingers over my bicep. It's a show of support. Solidarity. That she's settled in for the long haul of this story, and she wants to hear it all.
"It didn't blow my leg off," I tell her, and I can feel her body jerk slightly in surprise. Her fingers squeeze my bicep. "The fingers yes, the leg no. It just shattered and shredded it badly, but the doctors tried hard to save it."
"Obviously, they couldn't," she whispers the obvious.
"They tried for three months," I tell her, reaching down to grab my phone laying near my left hip. Jillian lifts her head up, watching as I pull up my pictures. I scroll backward, but it doesn't take long to find what I'm looking for because I don't take a lot of photos. I hold the phone out so she can see. "This was taken about a month after my injury."
Jillian makes a strangled sound as she looks at the photo of me in bed. My eyes are half open because I was bombed out on so many heavy-duty pain medications, and I have a grimace on my face. I vaguely remember this picture being taken, and I think it may have been by my brother, Hank, when he came to visit once during that first month. He came a few more times after that, and then he didn't.
Jillian's eyes roam over the photo. My leg is encased in the external fixator with several rods leading from the outside of the cage right into my skin, where it's drilled through and into the bone to hold the pieces together. The wounds on my leg are all open to the air, red and some of them dripping with puss and lined with blisters. I've got IVs in both arms and a PICC line in the right side of my neck to deliver the hordes of antibiotics and pain meds I needed to keep me alive and functioning. I took the maximum dosages they allowed me, preferring to try to be oblivious to what was happening. Yet, the pain was so great it just couldn't be fully erased.
Jillian turns her head to look at me, and I lay the phone back down. "How long were you like that?"
"Three months. But they couldn't get ahead of the infections, which were delaying the bones from knitting. I was in so much pain that I wanted them to amputate."
"You had to make that decision?" she whispers.
I nod. "Yup. I mean… the doctors were at the point they felt it was the right way to go, although they were willing to keep trying if I wanted. But I wanted it gone. I was tired of being in the hospital and being in so much pain. I just wanted it gone."
"Do you regret that decision?" she asks me bluntly, but with that still-sweet melody her voice makes. The question doesn't bother me, because even her hard questions sound lovely.
"Yes," I tell her without any shame. "I wonder what would have happened if I held on just a little bit longer. Not long after the leg came off, the pain receded and I became more lucid. Once I'd forgotten how bad the infections smelled, I regretted it."
"Three months is an awful long time to be in pain like that," she points out the obvious.
I shrug. "And the rest of my life is a long time to wonder 'what if.'"
"Now I have to question my own strength and whether I can actually accept the truth about sunshine."
Let's get this out of the way first. If you are an avid Sawyer Bennett fan like I am, then you'll know just based off the blurb that this is completely different than what she normally writes. All I can tell you is that you need to go into this with an open mind and just fully experience it. Yes, it's different. Push that out of you head and just feel. I will be honest and tell you that it took me a while to fully connect to the characters. I'm talking full investment. I was struggling with that at first but I was determined to move forward and it was absolutely the best decision I could have made.
The Hard Truth About Sunshine is raw, honest and heartbreaking. It's also inspirational and provides hope. In this book, four extremely different people that suffer from some tragic situation in their life, end up in a 12 week therapy session. The one thing that they have in common is pain and heartbreak. Each person's story is dramatically different but these guys are bonded together in an attempt to not only heal themselves but each other.
This is told in Christopher's POV and he's a complete asshole but once you know his story, just like the rest, you understand why. Each person deals with situations that are very real and unfortunately very common in our world. You are forced to face situations and emotions that most people try to avoid. Those of us that have some sort of connection to any of their situations, will be shattered. Some will be uplifted afterwards. Some won't.
What I enjoyed the most about this is that Sawyer didn't try to deliver what she thought a reader would want. She kept true to the situations and put it all out there. The good, the bad and the ugly. While it did take me a really long time to connect, once it did, I was gone. Emotional overload and a balling mess. And after reading her acknowledgement, I'm even more impressed by how true Sawyer stayed to the inspiration that start this. Well done.