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Alcohol abuse is a previous psychiatric diagnosis in which there is recurring harmful use of ethanol despite its negative consequences.[1] In 2013 it was reclassified as alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) along with alcohol dependence.[2] There are two types of alcohol abuse, those who have anti-social and pleasure-seeking tendencies, and those who are anxiety-ridden people who are able to go without drinking for long periods of time but are unable to control themselves once they start.[3] Binge drinking is another form of alcohol abuse. According to surveys, the heaviest drinkers are the United Kingdom's adolescents.[4] In 2013, 139,000 deaths globally were directly due to alcohol abuse[5] and an additional 384,000 to cirrhosis from excess alcohol consumption.[5]
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one's health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. According to Gelder, Mayou & Geddes (2005) alcohol abuse is linked with suicide. They state the risk of suicide is high in older men who have a history of drinking, as well as those suffering from depression. Certain manifestations of alcohol abuse include failure to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home; drinking in dangerous situations, including the operation of a motor vehicle; legal concerns associated with alcohol use; and continued drinking despite problems that are caused or worsened by drinking. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence.[6] In the diagnosis manual DSM-5 alcohol abuse is combined with alcohol dependence to create one unified disorder, alcohol use disorder (AUD),[7] that includes a graded clinical severity from moderate to severe with at least 2 criteria to make diagnoses. For adolescents, the DSM-5 proposes that diagnoses meeting 2 or 3 criteria would be similar to alcohol abuse while meeting over 4 criteria would be equivalent to alcohol dependence when compared to the DSM-IV.
Alcohol abuse has both short-term and long-term risks. If a person drives while drunk or regularly consuming binge drink (more than five standard drinks in one drinking session), they are considered to have been involved in alcohol abuse. Short-term abuses of alcohol include, but are not limited to, violence, injuries, unprotected sexual activities and, additionally, social and financial problems.[8]
The older adult population (over 65 years) is frequently overlooked when discussing alcohol abuse. A smaller volume of consumed alcohol has a greater impact on the older adult than it does on a younger individual. As a result the American Geriatrics Society recommends for an older adult with no known risk factors less than one drink a day or fewer than two drinks per occasion regardless of gender,[9][10][11] this is less than current recommendations of maximum alcohol consumption per week, for adults noted to be nine drinks for a male and seven for a female.[12]
In the USA, binge drinking is defined as consuming more than five units in men and four units in women. It increases chances for vandalism, fights, violent behaviours, injuries, drunk driving, trouble with police, negative health, social, economic, or legal consequences to occur.[13] Binge drinking is also associated with neurocognitive deficits of frontal lobe processing and impaired working memory as well as delayed auditory and verbal memory deficits.[13]
Binge drinking combined with the stress of returning to work is a contributing factor to Monday deaths from heart attacks.[14] The chances of becoming dependent are increased greatly in men who have 15 or more drinks each week or women who have 12 or more drinks each week. This is known as alcohol dependency.[15]
It is believed that one way to prevent binge drinking is to raise the legal drinking age.[16]
Individuals with an alcohol use disorder will often complain of difficulty with interpersonal relationships, problems at work or school, and legal problems. Additionally, people may complain of irritability and insomnia. Alcohol abuse is also an important cause of chronic fatigue.[17]
Signs of alcohol abuse are related to alcohol's effects on organ systems. However, while these findings are often present, they are not necessary to make a diagnosis of alcohol abuse. Signs of alcohol abuse show its drastic effects on the central nervous system, including inebriation and poor judgment; chronic anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Alcohol's effects on the liver include elevated liver function tests (classically AST is at least twice as high as ALT). Prolonged use leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. With cirrhosis, patients develop an inability to process hormones and toxins. The skin of a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis can feature cherry angiomas, palmar erythema and — in acute liver failure — jaundice and ascites. The derangements of the endocrine system lead to the enlargement of the male breasts. The inability to process toxins leads to liver disease, such as hepatic encephalopathy.
Alcohol abuse can result in brain damage which causes impairments in executive functioning such as impairments to working memory, visuospatial skills, and can cause an abnormal personality as well as affective disorders to develop.[18][19] Binge drinking is associated with individuals reporting fair to poor health compared to non-binge drinking individuals and which may progressively worsen over time. Alcohol also causes impairment in a person's critical thinking. A person's ability to reason in stressful situations is compromised, and they seem very inattentive to what is going on around them.[13] Social skills are significantly impaired in people suffering from alcoholism due to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol on the brain, especially the prefrontal cortex area of the brain. The social skills that are impaired by alcohol abuse include impairments in perceiving facial emotions, difficulty with perceiving vocal emotions and theory of mind deficits; the ability to understand humour is also impaired in alcohol abusers.[20] Adolescent binge drinkers are most sensitive to damaging neurocognitive functions especially executive functions and memory.[21] People who abuse alcohol are less likely to survive critical illness with a higher risk for having sepsis and were more likely to die during hospitalization.[22]
Alcohol abuse is significantly associated with suicide and violence. Alcohol is the most significant health concern in Native American communities because of very high rates of alcohol dependence and abuse; up to 80 percent of suicides and 60 percent of violent acts are a result of alcohol abuse in Native American communities.[23]
Alcohol abuse among pregnant women causes their fetus to develop
Alcohol misuse costs the United Kingdom's National Health Service £3 billion per year. The cost to employers is 6.4 billion pounds sterling per year. These figures do not include the crime and social problems associated with alcohol misuse. The number of women regularly drinking alcohol has almost caught up with men.[66]
Also, according to studies of present and former alcoholic drinkers in Canada, 20% of them are aware that their drinking has negatively impacted their lives in various vital areas including finances, work and relationships.[65]
In the United States, many people are arrested for drinking and driving. Also, people under the influence of alcohol commit a large portion of various violent crimes, including child abuse, homicide and suicide. In addition, people of minority groups are affected by alcohol-related problems disproportionately, with the exception of Asian Americans.[64]
Alcohol abuse is associated with many accidents, fights, driving offenses and unprotected sex. Alcohol is responsible in the world for 1.8 million deaths and results in disability in approximately 58.3 million people. Approximately 40 percent of the 58.3 million people disabled through alcohol abuse are disabled due to alcohol-related neuropsychiatric disorders.[31] In South Africa, where HIV infection is epidemic, alcohol abusers exposed themselves to double the risk of this infection. Moreover, problems caused by alcohol abuse in Ireland cost about 3.7 billion euro in 2007.[63] Additionally, alcohol abuse increases the risk of individuals either experiencing or perpetrating sexual violence.[43]
The introduction of alcopops, sweet and pleasantly flavoured alcoholic drinks, was responsible for half of the increase in alcohol abuse in 15-16-year-olds, according to one survey in Sweden. In the case of girls, the alcopops, which disguise the taste of alcohol, were responsible for two thirds of the increase. The introduction of alcopops to Sweden was a result of Sweden joining the European Union and adopting the entire European Union law.[61] Alcohol abuse is highly associated with adolescent suicide. Adolescents who abuse alcohol are 17 times more likely to commit suicide than adolescents who don't drink.[62]
College/university students who are heavy binge drinkers (three or more times in the past two weeks) are 19 times more likely to be diagnosed with alcohol dependence, and 13 times more likely to be diagnosed with alcohol abuse compared to non-heavy episodic drinkers, though the direction of causality remains unclear. Occasional binge drinkers (one or two times in past two weeks), were found to be four times more likely to be diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence compared to non-heavy episodic drinkers.[13]
Alcohol use disorders often cause a wide range of cognitive impairments that result in significant impairment of the effected individual. If alcohol-induced neurotoxicity has occurred a period of abstinence for on average a year is required for the cognitive deficits of alcohol abuse to reverse.[60]
Alcohol abuse during adolescence, especially early adolescence (i.e. before age 15), may lead to long-term changes in the brain which leaves them at increased risk of alcoholism in later years; genetic factors also influence age of onset of alcohol abuse and risk of alcoholism.[57] For example, about 40 percent of those who begin drinking alcohol before age 15 develop alcohol dependence in later life, whereas only 10 percent of those who did not begin drinking until 20 years or older developed an alcohol problem in later life.[58] It is not entirely clear whether this association is causal, and some researchers have been known to disagree with this view.[59]
Causes of alcohol abuse are complex and are likely the combination of many factors, from coping with stress to childhood development. The US Department of Health & Human Services identifies several factors influencing adolescent alcohol use, such as risk-taking, expectancies, sensitivity and tolerance, personality and psychiatric comorbidity, hereditary factors, and environmental aspects.[52] Studies show that child maltreatment such as neglect, physical, and/or sexual abuse,[47] as well as having parents with alcohol abuse problems,[53] increases the likelihood of that child developing alcohol use disorders later in life. According to Shin, Edwards, Heeren, & Amodeo (2009), underage drinking is more prevalent among teens that experienced multiple types of childhood maltreatment regardless of parental alcohol abuse, putting them at a greater risk for alcohol use disorders.[54] Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of alcohol use disorders, depending on age. The influence of genetic risk factors in developing alcohol use disorders increase with age[55] ranging from 28% in adolescence and 58% in adults.[56]
Alcohol abuse is said to be most common in people aged between 15 and 24 years, according to Moreira 2009.[31] However, this particular study of 7275 college students in England collected no comparative data from other age groups or countries.
Mindfulness-based intervention programs (that encourage people to be aware of their own experiences in the present moment and of emotions that arise from thoughts) can reduce the consumption of alcohol.[50][51]
Some people who abuse alcohol may be able to reduce the amount they drink, also called "drinking in moderation." If this method does not work, the person may need to try abstinence.
Youth treatment and intervention should focus on eliminating or reducing the effects of adverse childhood experiences, like childhood maltreatment, since these are common risk factors contributing to the early development of alcohol abuse.[47] Approaches like contingency management and motivational interviewing have shown to be effective means of treating substance abuse in impulsive adolescents by focusing on positive rewards and redirecting them towards healthier goals.[48] Educating youth about what is considered heavy drinking along with helping them focus on their own drinking behaviors has been shown to effectively change their perceptions of drinking and could potentially help them to avoid alcohol abuse.[49] Completely stopping the use of alcohol, or "abstinence," is the ideal goal of treatment. A strong social network and family support maybe important in achieving this goal.
An individual's need for alcohol can depend on their family's alcohol use history. For instance, if it is discovered that their family history with alcohol has a strong pattern, there might be a need for education to be set in place to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence (Powers, 2007).[46] However, studies have established that those with alcohol abuse tend to have family members who try to provide help. In many of these occasions the family members would try to help the individual to change or to help improve the individual's lifestyle.
Withdrawal of alcohol leads to over-activity of neural function because the use of alcohol leads to the depression of the central nervous system. This results in hallucinations and seizures (Schreiber, 2001).[45]
According to European law, individuals who are suffering from alcohol abuse or other related problems cannot be given a license, or if in possession of a license cannot get it renewed. This is a way to prevent individuals driving under the influence of alcohol, but does not prevent alcohol abuse per se.[44]
Preventing or reducing the harm has been called for via increased taxation of alcohol, stricter regulation of alcohol advertising and the provision of brief Interventions. Brief Interventions for alcohol abuse reduce the incidence of unsafe sex, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancy and, likely, STD transmission.[43] Information and education on social norms and the harms associated with alcohol abuse delivered via the internet or face-to-face has been found to result in a decrease in harmful drinking behaviours in young people.[31]
The CAGE questionnaire may be used to screen for alcohol misuse. The CAGE questionnaire consists of four questions: "Have you ever felt the need to cut down on drinking?", "Have you ever felt annoyed by criticism of drinking?", "Have you ever felt guilty about drinking?", and "Have you ever taken a drink first thing in the morning as an eye opener?".[42] If two or more of the questions are positive, alcohol abuse is considered.
The brain goes through dynamic changes during adolescence as a result of advancing pubertal maturation, and alcohol can damage long- and short-term growth processes in teenagers.[41] The rapid effect of drugs releases the neurotransmitter dopamine which acts as reinforcement for the behavior.[3]
Until recently, the underlying mechanisms mediating the link between pubertal maturation and increased alcohol use in adolescence was poorly understood. Now research has suggested that sex steroid hormone levels may play a role in this interaction. When controlling for age, it was demonstrated that elevated estradiol and testosterone levels in male teenagers undergoing pubertal development was linked to increased alcohol consumption.[39] It has been suggested that sex hormones promote alcohol consumption behaviors in teens by stimulating areas in the male adolescent brain associated with reward processing. The same associations with hormone levels were not demonstrated in females undergoing pubertal development. It is hypothesized that sex steroid hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol, are stimulating areas in the male brain that function to promote sensation-seeking and status-seeking behaviors and result in increased alcohol usage.[39] Additionally, the enzyme TTTan aromatase, which functions in the male brain to convert testosterone to estradiols, has been linked to addictive and reward-seeking behaviors. Therefore, the increased activity of the enzyme may be influencing male adolescent alcohol-usage behaviors during pubertal development.[40] The underlying mechanisms for female alcohol consumption and abuse is still under examination, but is believed to be largely influenced by morphological, rather than hormonal, changes during puberty as well as the presence of deviant peer groups.[36]
Excessive alcohol use causes neuroinflammation and leads to myelin disruptions and white matter loss. The developing adolescent brain is at increased risk of brain damage and other long-lasting alterations to the brain.[38] Adolescents with an alcohol use disorder damage the hippocampal, prefrontal cortex, and temporal lobes.[29]
Gender differences may affect drinking patterns and the risk for developing alcohol use disorders.[35] Sensation-seeking behaviors have been previously shown to be associated with advanced pubertal maturation, as well as the company of deviant peers.[28] Early pubertal maturation, as indicated by advanced morphological and hormonal development, has been linked to increased alcohol usage in both male and female individuals.[36] Additionally, when controlling for age, this association between advanced development and alcohol use still held true.[37]
The numbing effects of alcohol and narcotics can become a coping strategy for traumatized people who are unable to dissociate themselves from the trauma. However, the altered or intoxicated state of the abuser prevents the full consciousness necessary for healing.[34]
A person misusing alcohol maybe doing so because they find alcohol's effects provide relief from a psychological problem, such as anxiety or depression. Often both the alcohol misuse and psychological problems need to be treated at the same time.
The cause of alcohol abuse is complex. Alcohol abuse is related to economic and biological origins and is associated with adverse health consequences.[4] Peer pressure influences individuals to abuse alcohol; however, most of the influence of peers is due to inaccurate perceptions of the risks of alcohol abuse.[31] According to Gelder, Mayou and Geddes (2005) easy accessibility of alcohol is one of the reasons people engage in alcohol abuse as this substance is easily obtained in shops. Another influencing factor among adolescents and college students are the perceptions of social norms for drinking; people will often drink more to keep up with their peers, as they believe their peers drink more than they actually do. They might also expect to drink more given the context (e.g. sporting event, fraternity party, etc.).[32] This perception of norms results in higher alcohol consumption than is normal. Alcohol abuse is also associated with acculturation, because social and cultural factors such as an ethnic group's norms and attitudes can influence alcohol abuse.[33]
Alcohol abuse during adolescence greatly increases the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in adulthood due to changes to neurocircuitry that alcohol abuse causes in the vulnerable adolescent brain.[29] Younger ages of initial consumption among males in recent studies has shown to be associated with increased rates of alcohol abuse within the general population.[30]
Adolescence and the onset of puberty have both a physiological and social impact on a developing person. About half of grade 12 students have been drunk, and a third binge drink. About 3% drink every day.[27] One of these social impacts is the increase in risk-taking behaviors, such as the emergence of alcohol use.[28] Children aged 16 and under who consume alcohol heavily display symptoms of conduct disorder. Its symptoms include troublesome behaviour in school, constantly lying, learning disabilities and social impairments.[4]
Alcoholics Anonymous, Psychiatry, Domestic violence, Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Alcohol abuse
Swedish language, European Union, Finland, Denmark, Lithuania
Sociology, Social psychology, Memory, Experimental psychology, Psychology
Medicine, Schizophrenia, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Neuroimaging
Isle of Man, India, Canada, European Union, British Overseas Territories
Substance dependence, Psychology, Psychiatry, Cocaine, Drug overdose
Psychiatry, Alcohol abuse, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Binge drinking
Psychology, Medicine, Education, Psychiatry, Alcohol abuse
Psychology, Wernicke's encephalopathy, Psychiatry, EMedicine, Alcohol abuse


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Suzanne Brockmann is a best selling author, well-known for her military romances and romantic suspense, and now, she has branched into the young adult genre with her upcoming debut paranormal novel, Night Sky, co-authored with her daughter, Melanie Brockmann. Night Sky isn't set for release until October, but she has a FREE prequel to the series, Dangerous Destiny, available now to whet your appetite. I had a chance to download the prequel and have included my reaction below.
Night Sky (Night Sky # 1) by Suzanne Brockmann and Melanie Brockmann
Release Date: October 7, 2014/ Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann and her daughter Melanie Brockmann have written a pulse-pounding novel of paranormal suspense set in a near future both fantastic and frightening.
Sixteen-year-old Skylar Reid is thrown into a strange world when she discovers that she has unique telekinetic and telepathic powers. After Sasha, the child she babysits, is kidnapped and believed to be murdered, Sky and her best friend Calvin are approached by Dana, a mysterious girl who has super-abilities similar to Sky's. With the help of Dana and her sidekick Milo, the four teens embark on a quest to discover who killed Sasha, and to bring the killers to justice.
With Dana as Skylar's surly and life-toughened mentor, Sky attempts to harness her powers to aid them in their quest. Complicating an already complex relationship with the older girl, Sky starts to fall for the dangerously handsome and enigmatic Milo – and begins to suspect that the attraction is mutual. But then Sky realizes that Sasha might still be alive, and the unlikely foursome's mission becomes one of search and rescue, pitting the heroic teens against a very deadly enemy.
What Others are Saying about Night Sky
"Original and exciting, NIGHT SKY propels readers into a dangerous future. Loved it."—Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Made For You and the Wicked Lovely series
"Action-packed, mysterious, charming and witty. I'm ready for more!" — Gena Showalter, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Alice in Zombieland
"Full of adventure, humor, and just the right amount of Brockmann wit…I love this book!" –P.C. Cast, New York Times bestselling co-author of the House of Night series.
Pre-order from Amazon: Night Sky
Dangerous Destiny, the prequel to Night Sky is available for free now!
Dangerous Destiny (Night Sky #0.5)
Release Date: August 26, 2014 / 121 pgs.
See how it all begins…
In this pulse-pounding prequel to the Night Sky series, Skylar has her brist brush with Destiny. She's about to meet a boy who will change her life-and a girl who wants to end it.
I know her.
Know her from inside the dreams. Inside those terrible, murderous, bloody dreams. I've heard her-screaming, her voice mixing in an awful chorus with all those other girls. Little girls.
Please, God.
That's what one of the little girls keeps saying, in the dream that is not just a dream. Please, God.
But I know better. There's no escaping this fate. This is destiny.
I must kill Skylar.
Skylar Reid is the new girl at school. Her mom just moved them to Florida—aka The Land of the Living Dead where the average age of her new neighbors was seventy-five—to start over. Skylar is not a fan of the change or her total lack of friends. Until she meets Calvin, a funny, sarcastic boy who doesn't let being in a wheelchair stop him from verbally shredding their preppy classmates. Skylar's just about to decide her new school's not a total loss when an odd girl wearing an oversized trench coat in the murderous Southern heat declares, "You're one of us." And then tries to kill her.
Get it from Amazon: Dangerous Destiny: A Night Sky novella
Reaction to the prequel and series in general:
When I started Dangerous Destiny, I thought I would be reading a novella; instead, I consider it to be a compendium of writings to familiarize readers with this series. The prequel begins with a short story that introduces readers to high school junior, Skylar Reid and describes how her friendship with Calvin is forged after they face down a gun-toting fellow student who appears to be delusional, thinking the only way to save Skylar is to kill her. I connected right away with Skylar, especially her struggle to adjust to a new school and the intense scrutiny of her peers:
"I felt like a rat tossed into a tropical snake tank-completely out of my element, confused, and trapped. But unlike most rats, I was well aware that I was in danger of being devoured, my bones spit out and left to bleach in the relentless southern sun, by any one of this school's well-established cliques."
The story is narrated in first person from Skyler's POV, and, so far, I like her attitude, her dry sense of humor, and her insightfulness as she maneuvers her way through all the teenage drama and angst headed her way. I initially wondered whether Skylar would be a timid, passive teen whose character slowly becomes stronger as she learns to use her special powers; however, it didn't take long for me to realize that Skylar is no pushover, and she seems to be able to handle whatever life throws at her. The authors have done a great job in creating characters that think, speak, and behave like the teenagers they are. For example, Skylar worries that she's in the "loser" category because she has to ride the bus, and she's annoyed by her mom's over-protectiveness.
Following the resolution of this short story, readers can preview Night Sky by reading the first five chapters of the book. Just like in the prequel, the authors pulled me quickly into a scene where Skylar and her friend Calvin get caught up in a bizarre crisis that continues to evolve and escalate as the story unfolds. I can already tell the book is going to be full of adventure, mystery, and suspense. From what I've read, I think this is a book teens and adult lovers of YA literature can really enjoy.
The final section of the prequel is a Q&A with both Suzanne and Melanie about the series. I really enjoyed getting greater insight into how mother and daughter were able to work together to create the plot and the engaging characters I've met so far..
After reading the prequel, I'm definitely interested in reading Night Sky. The series is described as "being set in a darkly futuristic paranormal world" (Q&A with authors), but I really didn't see many "dark" and "futuristic" elements. Perhaps these aspects will become more prominent as the book progresses. From what I read so far, I am impressed with the cohesiveness of the story, especially since it was born from the collaborative labors of more than one author. It can be a challenge to co-author a book because it involves both writers being able to mesh their differences in writing style into one consistent written product. However, the mother-daughter Brockmann team is successful in this endeavor.
I'm glad I read the prequel, and I did so because it was available for free. Otherwise, I would not have purchased it. Although the content was interesting to read, and it amped up my motivation to read Night Sky, I don't see it as a prerequisite for jumping into the book.
Suzanne Brockman, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author, has won 2 RITA awards, numerous RT Reviewers' Choice, and RWA's #1 Favorite Book of the Year three years running. She has written over 50 books, and is widely recognized as a "superstar of romantic suspense" (USA Today). Suzanne and her daughter, Melanie Brockmann, have been creative partners, on and off, for many years. Their first project was an impromptu musical duet, when then-six-month-old Melanie surprised and delighted Suz by matching her pitch and singing back to her. Suzanne splits her time between Florida and Massachusetts while Mel lives in Sarasota, Florida. NIGHT SKY is Mel's debut and Suzanne's 55th book. Visit Suzanne at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Maria Hughes, CCS-P, CPMB, has been an invaluable asset to the Chuback Medical Group since August 2010. While she has over 20 years of experience in medical billing, coding and healthcare administration, this does not speak to the amount of knowledge she brings to the office. Maria is the heart and soul of the Chuback Medical group and we are extremely fortunate to have her as an employee. Maria is an incredible resource of information for patients regarding their insurance and understanding their particular policies. She is also a liaison to IT management of system operations and the Electronic Medical Records system (EMR). Although multitasking comes naturally to Maria, she is dedicated to patient education through her own tireless efforts to stay "in the know" of the ever-changing requirements and regulations in health care. Her devotion to the practice is one that most employers wish to have from their staff.
Maria's professional affiliations include the American Academy of Professional Coders and the Professional Medical Billers Association. She is a certified coding and billing specialist as well as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer MCSE. Maria is continuously working on her certifications and recently completed a seminar which gives her the credentials to educate health professionals on ICD-10 medical coding/billing. In addition, Maria is pursuing a bachelor's degree at her local community college.
When not at work, Maria enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending her daughter's sporting events, and listening to Bon Jovi!


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Carin Tights
Product out of stock
One of THE Tattoo Artists in Paris, Carin has studied at the School of Fine Arts and has started her career four years ago as an apprenticeship in a tattoo studio in Barcelona. She has then come back to Paris and now she is the proud co-founder of Les Maux Bleus, a tattoo studio located in Le Marais, in the heart of Paris. Her tattoo style is mainly dominated by floral designs, but also fine line illustrations. Most of it is black & white, but she is also using more and more colors in order to create a watercolor effect.


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TV commercials for certain life insurance policies promise that you "can't be turned down for any reason."
But they aren't telling you the whole story. Companies that won't turn you down generally charge much more when you're buying life insurance. Other life insurance companies make coverage decisions based on the likelihood that they can profit on your premiums and, sometimes, your situation doesn't look profitable.
Several factors could land your application in the "rejected" pile.
Your health
Life insurance exists to protect your loved ones against the risk you might die, and companies make money because, well, most of the time you don't die during the duration of a term life insurance policy. Or, if you have permanent life insurance, the insurer has calculated that it has enough time to make investment returns on your premiums. If you have a serious health condition, the math changes dramatically.
"For example, someone who has cancer or has had a heart attack recently might get declined for a traditional life insurance policy," the industry nonprofit Life Happens notes.
If you've ever applied for life insurance, you know that companies ask about obesity, kidney disease, heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, depression and many more conditions. These all factor into your life expectancy and therefore affect whether a company will offer you coverage and, if so, at what price.
Of course, failing health or a grim diagnosis may make you realize you need to get serious about life insurance, Life Happens adds. "Most consumers with health issues admit that getting life insurance while they were young and healthy was always a thought, but nothing ever pushed them to pursue it until now."
Your lifestyle
Even if you're in perfect health, certain lifestyle choices have a big impact on life insurance. Smokers, for instance, will always pay more. Some other activities could even get you turned down.
This can include activities with health implications, such as drug use and drinking, or ones with high potential for fatal accidents, such as mountain climbing, flying ultralight aircraft, hang gliding, cave diving, international travel to certain dangerous places and military deployment, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and Life Happens.
Your age
No matter how healthy you are now, you're going to die at some point. And the older you get, the higher the probability that your time will come soon. After a certain age you might not be able to buy life insurance.
State Farm Life, for instance, stops issuing 30-year term life insurance policies at age 45, 20-year policies at 65 and 10-year policies at 75. New York Life stops issuing 20-year term policies at age 60 and five-year policies at age 75.
Your finances
There's a good chance you won't be able to get a life insurance policy while going through bankruptcy, according to Life Happens.
Also, while most of us are worried about having enough life insurance, there is such a thing as too much. Insurance companies typically won't sell you policies covering more than 30 times your annual income, Life Happens advises.
Illegal activity
Life insurers also may decline to cover you because of DUIs and other criminal convictions, according to Life Happens.
What can you do?
The first thing to keep in mind is that not every company has the same rules. So, if one insurer turns you down, try another. An independent insurance agent can get you multiple quotes. Some agents specialize in high-risk policies.
Prudential's website, for example, notes: "While it may surprise some people, many insurance companies will provide life insurance to people who suffer from hypertension, Alzheimer's, and even cancer. Naturally, coverage will cost more than it would for a person without such conditions."
If you can show that your chronic medical condition is under control, that should help you get insurance, according to Life Happens.
For more severe conditions like Alzheimer's, however, you'll likely need to find an agent who works with an impaired-risk specialist. These agents know which companies are most likely to accept you.
Finally, a note about those companies that promise not to turn you down for any reason: They're selling "guaranteed issue" life insurance policies that cost significantly more than policies that take health and other factors into account. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners warns that the premiums you pay into these policies could end up being more than the death benefit.
So it's best to try the conventional path first.
Aubrey Cohen is a staff writer covering insurance for NerdWallet. Follow him on Twitter @aubreycohen and on Google+.
Image via iStock.


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Module 2: Planning with Young Mathematicians in Mind
Provocation 2e: Variety of Contexts
Context for your inquiry: Investigate, construct, create, compose, measure, represent, organize – all are verbs describing mathematics learning in the Ontario curriculum. They can be found in many contexts of children's exploration, play and inquiry. For example, games and block play, and using pedagogical documentation to make the thinking in the play visible, are being recommended today by many math educators.


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Video Encoder Selection Guide
Get the streaming, video capture, and production solution to fit your needs
Quality in = quality out.
This wide array of versatile video encoders will help ensure a high quality of your digital media stream, capture, and delivery.
Streamsie /
OBS Plugin
Streamsie, Streamsie iOS, and the Open Broadcaster Software (OB) are easy to use, fully automatic, live streaming and recording software encoders.
The Mantis appliance fits in your coat pocket, with multiple video and audio inputs, perfect for live streaming and recording events.
Spider is "video production in a box." This compact appliance combines audio/video switching and processing with multiple high definition H264 streaming encoders.
The Scorpion live IPTV encoder system is a dedicated multichannel streaming appliance for your 24/7 channel. Available as single channel appliance or rack unit.
Spirit works with Streamsie to give you all the features and flexibility of a high quality encoder with a dedicated PC desktop production station.
Compare Encoders from DiscoverVideo
- Use the Scorpion IPTV encoders for TV Distribution and similar uses. Recording of the live stream is supported by the DEVOS, DVExpress, Stinger, and similar DiscoverVideo systems.
- Streamsie PC, Streamsie Mac, Streamsie iOS, and OBS Plugin for PC and Mac may be freely downloaded and used, however each may require a streaming account. Accounts for DiscoverVideo servers (e.g. DEVOS) may be purchased at any time. Streamsie and OBS may be remotely controlled and scheduled from DEVOS.
- Spider is ideal for Lecture Capture and for multiple video source (e.g. camera, PC screens, etc.) production. Spider supports four inputs and each input has its own independent stream, plus Spider supports a combined (PiP) or switched output stream.
- Mantis is perfect for simple live and/or recording of events, announcements, lectures, or where a multiple video source production switcher is already employed. Mantis may be remotely controlled and scheduled from DEVOS.
- Most 3rd party live streaming encoders may be used with DEVOS and Arcus if they support H264/AAC-LC and rtmp or rtsp.
- "Netcams" may be used with DEVOS using rtsp pull. Arcus does not currently support pulling audio/video via rtsp.
- Spider supports rtsp input stream from most 3rd party NetCams or other sources.
- Use the lowest bit rate, resolution, and frame rate that produces an acceptable result to avoid wasting bandwidth.
NOTE: All specifications subject to change without notice. Please contact Discover Video for latest information.


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If water could be cleansed using only sunlight and a reusable substance, then we could solve two problems in one go: Our water would be free of pollutants and the environment protected from the influence of harmful chemicals. How could this work?
To find this out, we will pollute some water with formic acid or a dye and add a catalyst. Together, the catalyst and the solar radiation activate a photochemical reaction that produces astonishing effects. Solar water purification can also be employed on an industrial scale. The solar reactor that you will be working with is being developed for industrial use. But why are we interested in developing a different way of cleansing water?
Clean water can no longer be taken for granted
Water is vital – but clean water can no longer be taken for granted! The amount of harmful substances has increased greatly and with them the challenges science faces in upholding our environment. Solar water purification is a new, environmentally-friendly method that enables us to systematically reduce pollutants.
How does solar water purification work?
How badly does our test pollutant actually pollute the water? And could we not just use the sewage works? Microorganisms eat "dirt". But what happens if the "dirt" is toxic to the microorganisms and they are killed?
Apparatus for solar water purification
Solar water purification could be a method with which a wide range of pollutants could be removed. Perhaps Grandmother's method of bleaching the washing in the sunlight was not such a bad idea ...


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Category: DAILY LIFE
Sleep On The Floor
I have a new Blog for my Louder Now Podcast. This is from that.
8/7 to 8/21- I was getting some help at the hospital for my mental health.
I am looking for a moment
I am looking for me to own it,
This illness is a mistress
Cause I hid myself from you,
Is there a new view
I am looking for a moment
When all you have are moments
To give away..
Are you defined,
Or are you definition.
Are you repeating,
Or are you repetition
Is this old,
Or is this a rendition
How many times have you called
Me out into the hallway,
To call me out of my medicines,
To calm me down with medicines
To bring down all the sympathy,
Cause this here is no symphony,
I feel the sounds,
And the louds,
And the ears that ring.
But I am asking for a revision,
A revision of my decisions.
Are you any kind of collection,
Or any kind of selection
Are you my friend,
Or my companion.
Is everyone gonna stay,
Or is everyone gonna leave.
Is this a 51/ 50,
Or are you never gonna leave me.
Cause in the end all I have is the hallway..
Is the long stay,
A break like this called Hell,
You call getting well.
Did I give it all to you,
Did I surrender fully..
You press
You pressure
You sift
You shift
You ask for the gears
You take all the tears,
You speed this thing in
The fast lane.
I am well cause
I am in Hell,
And getting well
Is the next swell,
Give me waves,
Give me freedom.
Give me a reason
To escape,
To conquer,
To win.
Making a comeback. A lot on my mind. A lot going on in life.
To feel again,
To find you again,
I knew just hallways,
And corner spaces,
And scared places,
If these halls had hills
They would be alive to..
If I live open then you can see me,
You can see all of me,
And there is no going back,
Going back to living in the the black,
Rich and slightly famous,
How many people asked about me
When I was gone?
How many texts and tweets did I get,
Even more so when I was steady
And hungry,
Only in poverty did you come
Running after me,
To feel again,
To steal again,
The moments made by sunsets,
Now I can stay up and see them,
Now I can stay up and receive them.
If these halls had hills,
They would be alive to,
They would be high too,
They would be all about you.
Stop this cycle
and this roundabout,
Show me what mercy is about,
Cause that is all I need from You
Interlude- Body
Body of yours,
This life of poise,
This world of noise.
This place I cover,
This place I hover,
Anger you stored up,
Wrath for the hungry,
Treasures for the lonely,
Are you telling me to stop,
Or are you telling me to stay?
Body of yours,
White and pale,
Snow and hail,
Rain and reign,
Are you still king?
Are you still the rearrange?
Cause we never had furniture,
Cause we worried about future,
Cause we needed new furniture,
Cause we can't change future.
Seated on us,
Seated within us,
This life is poise,
This world of noise,
I am crying out and loud,
Time is going by,
Time is flying by,
Are you still as loud as you used to be?
Is noise what we need,
Or are you louder than you should be,
Is noise what you reign on in the rain,
Is this the last time I talk about things
I don't do.
Tell me,
Body expand,
Body of land,
Don't let this body fall apart.
Day #5 – Red Car
The theme of 60 days of poetry this year is cars and my dad. The deeper meaning behind all the ways we were raised. In the past decade plus of having this blog reflections on my upbringing come up all over the place. I am more than grateful for the person that I am because of my family. We all have painful memories and things we would have not changed at all. My dad sacrificed a lot of himself for me to play ice hockey from 10 to 16. We traveled all over Colorado playing games every weekend 8 months out of the year plus early morning practices + all the training on the off season + everything else that is involved with being addicted to the love of the game 🙂 I honor my dad for that time that we had. I also remember his dark side. His anger. His grief. His chemical imbalances. His depression. I am his son. Jared means inheritor. I got it all. I got his green eyes. I got his intelligence. I got his depression.
April 20th.
"We hated that red car,
We still knew, deep down,
We would get far."
I dreamed of this last night,
How you used to drag me around, and drag me down.
How you used to fill us with your dreams of celebrity,
And were we the number one priority?
I knew your name as much as you let me,
I always wanted more,
I needed your mystery.
" I hated that red car,
it took us far, but isn't red just
A big fat stop sign?"
I have this dialogue now that I
Have to be a man,
Now that I have to do more than
Survive, now that I have to take all
The things you gave me,
And all the things you took away.
Bright red like sports,
Like fast, like fast girls, and
Sex in the city,
Red like lipstick,
For all the first kisses that
Never happened in that time,
Red for anger, for rage, for
Turning pale,
For all the red faced moments,
In that red paced car,
For that red and later
Blackened heart you gave us.
I dreamed of this last night,
How you used to drag me around, and drag me down.
How you used to fill us with your dreams of celebrity,
And were we the number one priority?
I have different dreams now,
Dreams that have nothing to do with you,
And the things I lived under,
And the blame for all the red hot moments
That were hard to erase,
That creep up in fast pace,
In the fast cars I still drive,
And the lips I still try to kiss,
And the endless bliss I can
Get from living a life of redemption,
For living a life of driving away,
Driving away,
Driving away,
Driving away,
Driving fast,
Driving faster,
Driving as long as I can,
Not away from the things that got me
This far,
That red car,
That red look on your face,
That red car,
The wrist scars I
Still carry,
Driving away,
Driving fast,
Driving again,
Driving into something
Different. After all,
Tomorrow is Easter?
Tomorrow is about resurrection.
Day #4 – Drive Away
April 9th
Keys, You gave?
Were you mighty to Save?
Did you walk, and talk and build this up from
The beginning?
Was this a heated room, and a burning groom?
Are you the next in line,
Are you the next of kin,
Is this all about me in the end.
Gave me something different,
It was still a whole lot of effort,
Picking up the papers of old,
And the journals we had before the fold,
Picking up the papers of old,
Moving those boxes,
Catching foxes,
And getting out of your driveway,
No, I was waiting Dad, waiting for the
Drive Away,
Like when we were younger,
We hated a lot of things about the
Cars, the scars, the bars we could have
Been in, the world we could have been
Keys, you gave,
Keys, and houses to be built upon,
A church is only as good as the
And that seemed to be all you were
Dreaming about,
Waiting for the Drive Away,
On the driveway,
On the edge of the getaway,
We hated that red car,
We still knew, deep down,
We would get far.
Day #3: Something Different
60 Days of Poetry Continues. Cars. My dad. Life. Reflections.
April 8th, 2019
I know it has been some gone days,
Some map and some waze,
Some lost and some haze,
I saw you dad, walk away, walk
In the sway, walk out of the path of
Least resistance.
I know it has been some days,
Some maps and some ways,
I learned them all from you,
From all you used to do.
This was one of those how much time do we
Have left kind of situations,
This was one of those second chance kind
Of conversations.
I know you wanted fast, and you wanted to last,
You wanted to last longer than all of us put together,
You had some strange control over the weather,
Is this sunnier? Is this place better? Is this the paradise
We came for?
I know you have love buried deep down inside of you,
I know you have love for me,
I know yesterday feels like a tragedy,
I know there is still more to the story,
Give me the keys to your car,
Make this go far,
Make this go as fast as you once were,
Make this go away,
Cause this place isn't your getaway,
This Corvette is unfit for your future,
I need you dad, I need you to last longer than
So give me the keys,
Let's do something different.
Day #2 Where are You?
Every year in Spring time I write 60 days of Poetry. Here is part #2: