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$150 (All payments should be made below)
Dates: Saturday, October 1st 2016 and Sunday, October 2nd 2016
Day One (Saturday, October 1st, 2016)
Start time: 2:30pm
End Time: 8:00pm
Location: 3415 8th St NE Washington, DC 20017
Day Two (Sunday, October 2nd, 2016)
Start time: 9:30am
End Time: 4:30pm
Location: 3415 8th St NE Washington, DC 20017
Registration is required: Ages 10 & up
Parallel Magazine Discipline Models Boot Camp
Do you have the passion, drive, and determination to make in the modeling industry? Then Parallel Magazine Discipline Models Boot Camp is for you! Whether you are an aspiring model or trying to break into the competitive world of modeling, it's never a bad idea to perfect your skills. Parallel Magazine Discipline Models Boot Camp is designed to give each and every model the necessary skills and knowledge to guide them into navigating the world of professional modeling.
The mission of Parallel Magazine Discipline Models Boot Camp is to teach models the fundamentals on how the modeling industry operates and give hands-on training from industry professionals. It takes more than just good looks to be successful in the competitive world of modeling.
Parallel Magazine Discipline Models boot camp will give you practical training to look, walk, and photograph like a professional model. Aspirating models will have the remarkable opportunity to gain a perception into the modeling industry and learn the tricks and techniques to succeed in the competitive modeling world. Models will get a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of Parallel Magazine.
Requirements: Parallel Magazine Discipline Models Boot Camp enrolls
-Enrolls men, women, and kids from age 10 and up.
-Size: All sizes are welcome
Parallel Magazine Discipline Models boot camp is a two-day course that will consist of:
Day 1: October 1st 2:30pm – 8:00pm
An introduction to the fundamentals of the modeling industry. Models will learn how to pose, walk, and convey emotion with a look, strengthen self-esteem to fully articulate the best version of themselves.
-Model portfolio consultation (how to set up a professional portfolio)
-How to book professional modeling jobs (guidelines & techniques on how to attend interviews and castings).
-Meet real industry professionals (models, PR, coaches, photographers)
-How to prepare for auditions/ go-sees
-How to successfully book gigs
-Be in the presence of casting directors & professional models.
-Etiquette, Presence, Do's and Don'ts, Health/ Fitness, Confidence buildup, Q/A
Runway Coaching:
Models will be taught by an acclaimed runway coach who will teach them how to strut down a runway like a supermodel with your own signature walk.
-Posture, Walk / Demeanor, Body language/movements, Facial expression, Q/A
Wardrobe and Styling tips from industry professionals.
Day 2: October 2nd 9:30am – 4:30pm
Models will take everything learned on day one from our team of industry experts and put into practice and execution.
Photo Session: your time to shine on set with professional photographers with years of experience in the industries.
-Print Development, Proper Posing, Emoting, Angles, Model comp card set-up & design
-Hair and Makeup Session (tips on how to apply make-up professionally, beauty & skin beauty tips).
-Runway Walk critique by industry professionals
-Wardrobe and Styling
-Photo Session (polaroid/beauty and commercial)
-Deliberation to win a spot on the next Parallel Magazine issue
What you will receive:
-Models essential start-up kit
-Services from celebrity hair and makeup artists
-Styling tips from celebrity stylists
-Professional quality headshot & full body photo from photographer
-Free digital Comp Card
-Healthy Lunch spread and smoothie bar
Don't miss out! Your inquiries about how the modeling industry really works will be answered. You will be equipped for fashion shows, networking tools, and portfolio constructions.
Learn more: visit www.parallelmagz.com
Get involved: email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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This is a slight variation on the original Heaven in a Bar Recipe. Equally easy to prepare, ingredients are available, etc. So if your idea of Heaven has raspberry in it, here you go. Enjoy!!! They are magical!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter or margarine (1/2 cup)
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 – 1 1/2 jars seedless raspberry preserves , small jars they are probably 12 oz. each. I have found, if I use too much jam it's super gooey, and doesn't really hold together as well
1 cup coconut flaked ,sweetened (if it looks light on coconut, you can always sprinkle a little more) 1 – 1 1/2 cups, especially if you like a lot of coconut.
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (whichever you prefer)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees
In a small bowl combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter or margarine. Toss till well combined. Press onto bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan. (I spray lightly first) I use my clean hands to flatten out and even it out.
Evenly drizzle condensed milk over graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes. Take out of fridge and spoon preserves over crumbs and milk mixture. I loosen up the preserves a bit in microwave in a little bowl. (about 2 minutes) I try to spread as evenly as possible without disturbing milk too much, it's no big deal if you do. Sprinkle with coconut and nuts. Bake at 325 degrees for app. 25 minutes (maybe 30) until light brown on top. I set timer for 25 minutes, and look at it, if it's lightly browned I cook it another 5 minutes or so till whole thing looks browned. 30 – 35 minutes should do it. This time out I cooked it for 35 minutes.
Cool completely. I like to cool overnight in the fridge before I cut into bars. Store, loosely covered at room temp. when you're ready to eat them. I always freeze them because they defrost so quickly and are a great treat to have in the house.

subset: commoncrawl


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How To Hire A Carpet Cleaner: Advice Is At Your Fingertips Thanks To This Article
Are your carpets severely stained? Are you unable to get rid of them yourself? If you answered yes to these question, you may need the help of an expert carpet hyperlink cleaner. However, there are things to take into consideration when shopping for a service. Keep reading to discover the tips you can't afford to miss.
You should vacuum your carpets prior to having them professionally cleaned. This will let you see where you have vacuumed so you don't waste time. Vacuuming your carpet regularly will help you keep it clean and fresh and you will not have to call a professional carpet cleaner as often.
Be cautious of companies that contact you by telephone or advertise a price per room. The reality is that room sizes can differ dramaticially. Square footage needs to be the main factor when determining price.
Consider using a professional carpet cleaning service front page if you have tough stains. Home cleaning solutions cannot remove everything, but professionals (in most cases) can remove tough stains like red wine, blood and melted wax. Their methods are much gentler to your carpet, while giving you results that you can be happy with.
For creating lists of local companies, talk to the local chamber of commerce. You should also check which companies have a certification and ask about complaints filed by customers. Take these steps to ensure you hire a reputable company.
If you have a pet, you will probably be cleaning more often. Depending on the type of carpet you have, you may need to restrict your pet's movement. Carpets should be vacuumed twice weekly and cleaning solvents are handy to keep on hand.
Ask companies before signing contracts what precleaning processes they use. You want to look for a company that vacuums thoroughly before starting the deep clean. Your carpet will look cleaner if the professionals you hire vacuum before using chemical products or a steam cleaner, which is why you need to find a professional who always vacuum first.
A stain remover should be kept handy in case you spill something like sauces or red wine and can't immediately call in a professional cleaner. This solution is important to apply to a stain to get it out immediately. To get the best result, spray it clockwise.
Make your carpet cleaner has enough room to park. That sounds kind of silly, but it really is important. The companies use materials that are large and heavy, so they need to be close to your home.
Thoroughly investigate any cleaning company that will be entering your home. Be certain the business screens employees for drug abuse and criminal backgrounds before letting them into your home. You want to feel comfortable with the people you allow into your home, even when they are just there to work.
You'll find great advice in this article regarding hiring a professional carpet cleaning service. Failing to observe these standards could ultimately cost you a ton of money! Think about what you're looking for, and take your time. Your efforts will be well worth it when you see how clean your carpets are.


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Resignation of police and crime commissioner 'leaves the ship rudderless' says the Lib Dem former councillor who twice fought for top police role
PUBLISHED: 17:01 12 November 2019
©2014 Terry Harris Photography
A former Ely councillor – who twice fought unsuccessfully to become the county's police and crime commissioner – says Cambridgeshire has "a major problem" over the resignation of Jason Ablewhite.
Rupert Moss-Ecardt of Queen Adelaide described the departure of Mr Ablewhite as once again "exposing the weakness in the Conservative approach to local government.
"They clearly prefer one strong man (and it is usually a man) in charge, as with elected mayors and police and crime commissioners. But when the supposedly strong man breaks for some reason, there is a major problem."
Mr Moss-Ecardt, the Liberal Democrat choice to fight NE Cambs at next month's general election, said: "Having one person at the helm leaves the ship rudderless when they are forced to resign".
"The police and crime panel will appoint an interim replacement. The appointee won't have any electoral legitimacy yet will be making decisions that affect us all."
He said the date of Mr Ablewhite's resignation means that a by-election will not be held. If he had resigned just five days earlier then there would have been a by-election.
"I do wonder about the timing of the resignation," said Mr Moss Ecardt. "It seems that members of the Conservative Party were told ahead of the announcement.
"If the announcement has been delayed to avoid a by-election then that raises a serious question."
You may also want to watch:
A letter from the chief executive of the office of the police and crime commissioner revealed allegations against Mr Ablewhite are of a 'criminal nature'.
According to a letter sent by the chief executive of the office of the police and crime commissioner, Dorothy Gregson, to members of the Cambridgeshire police and crime panel the allegation had been assessed as being potentially criminal.
Part of the letter by panel chairman Edward Leigh read: "On the 6th November 2019, [Dorothy Gregson, chief executive of the OPCC] received communication from Cambridgeshire Constabulary in relation to an allegation regarding the commissioner which they had assessed to be of a criminal nature.
"It is on that basis that later the same day I formally notified the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) of a referral in respect of the commissioner.
"In accordance with the panel's complaint procedure, I am referring this matter to the panel to record as a complaint under the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Complaints and Misconduct) Regulations 2012 in respect of the commissioner.
"As set out in the panel's complaint procedure, as I am satisfied that the subject matter of the complaint is being dealt with by means of criminal proceedings I have not enclosed details of the referral."
Mr Leigh said the potential for the allegation to be of a criminal nature is the reason the complaint has been passed straight to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Mr Leigh said the police and crime panel is making plans to meet on November 27, or a similar date, to appoint an acting police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The role does not automatically fall to the current deputy chief commissioner, Ray Bisby.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Ely Standard. Click the link in the orange box above for details.


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Two survivors and 97 fatalities after passenger aircraft crashes in Pakistan23/05/2020|3min
At least two people have survived and 97 people have died after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crashed in Karachi with 107 people on board. Flight PK 8303 went down in a residential area of the city on Friday as the Airbus A320 plane, carrying 91 passengers and seven crew, was approaching Jinnah International Airport. The airline said the pilot had reported technical issues and called in saying both engines had lost power. Witnesses said the aircraft, flying from Lahore, attempted to land two or three times before hitting a mobile tower and crashing into houses in the Model Colony area. Smoke billowed from the scene where caved-in roofs could be seen as debris lay scattered in the streets while ambulances hurried through chaotic crowds, with fears residents were injured or dead.


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Purchase 2 for a pair. Victorian charm gets a gothic twist with this skelton plug. This stainless steel plug is sold individually and is available in a 5mm to 20mm diameter size.
To purchase, select your size from the drop down above and enter the quantity. Prices may vary based on ear plug gauge size.
Do you want to add customized text?


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Export 16 results:
Filters: Keyword is Female and Author is Pascale Tremblay [Clear All Filters]
Movement sequencing in normal aging: speech, oro-facial, and finger movements. Age (Dordr). 2015;37(4):9813.
The neurobiology of speech perception decline in aging. Brain Struct Funct. 2015;220(2):979-97.
Functional and structural aging of the speech sensorimotor neural system: functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence. Neurobiol Aging. 2013;34(8):1935-51.
A mediating role of the auditory dorsal pathway in selective adaptation to speech: a state-dependent transcranial magnetic stimulation study. Brain Res. 2013;1515:55-65.
The neostriatum and response selection in overt sentence production: an fMRI study. Neuroimage. 2013;82:53-60.
Processing of speech and non-speech sounds in the supratemporal plane: auditory input preference does not predict sensitivity to statistical structure. Neuroimage. 2013;66:318-32.
Regional heterogeneity in the processing and the production of speech in the human planum temporale. Cortex. 2013;49(1):143-57.
TMS-induced modulation of action sentence priming in the ventral premotor cortex. Neuropsychologia. 2012;50(2):319-26.
On the context-dependent nature of the contribution of the ventral premotor cortex to speech perception. Neuroimage. 2011;57(4):1561-71.
From language comprehension to action understanding and back again. Cereb Cortex. 2011;21(5):1166-77.
Contribution of the pre-SMA to the production of words and non-speech oral motor gestures, as revealed by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Brain Res. 2009;1268:112-24.
A mediating role of the premotor cortex in phoneme segmentation. Brain Lang. 2009;111(1):1-7.
Contribution of the frontal lobe to externally and internally specified verbal responses: fMRI evidence. Neuroimage. 2006;33(3):947-57.
Imaging speech production using fMRI. Neuroimage. 2005;26(1):294-301.


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Jessica Roiz Wed, 06/20/2018 - 09:30
Let's be real...being constipated sucks.
As Medline Plus puts it: "Constipation means that a person has three or fewer bowel movements in a week. The stool can be hard and dry. Sometimes it is painful to pass. At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it lasts a short time and is not serious." In other words, this is the feeling you get when you need to go to the bathroom to do #2 but can't. Even though it's not deadly, it is, in fact, annoying and worrisome.
Luckily, there are many foods, in addition to the prunes, that can quicken the process and help you poop! Check them out:
Legumes include everything from beans, lentils, and peas. One of their biggest health benefits is that it helps with constipation. Men's Health suggests including them in your diet every day, one-half cup cooked, because [they're a] rich source of fiber, as well as protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Like many other leafy green veggies, broccoli is high in fiber and can add bulk to your poo and help induce bowel movements. Eating them raw increases the amount of fiber consumed and improves regularity.
Oatmeal is not only a popular breakfast food but also an aid for digestion. According to Health, "insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool and helps food pass more quickly through the stomach and intestines, while soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel-like material. Together, the two types of fiber work together to bulk up the stool, soften it, and make it easier to pass."
Next time you cook a bowl of pasta, consider adding spinach to it. Dr. Sam. Magnesium told Men's Health that "one cup of spinach has four grams of fiber, and contains magnesium, a mineral that can aid in moving stool."
Nuts are not only a good source of protein and healthy fats but they also help you poop! Some nuts that are good to help you with constipation include walnuts and almonds.
Chia seeds
Chia seeds and flax seeds are an easy way to add extra fiber to your diet. These also serve as an aid for your pooping situation!
Bet you didn't know that berries were a sweet way to help with your constipation! You can try raspberries, blackberries, and even strawberries!
Pears are a good source of water and fiber. The best way to eat not only pears but also other fruits such as apples and plums is raw!
WebMD explains that "this sweet fruit is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, and it has a lot of fiber and water, which can help with constipation."
Dried fruits
Have you ever thought of eating dried fruits for a constipation relief? These can be anything from figs to raisins to apricots and more!
But the most popular dried fruit is the prune! Everyday Health reports that prunes are a great source because "tare great because they not only are high in fiber but also contain sorbitol, which is a natural laxative."
Here's a real shocker: popcorn! Not many people are aware that this delicious low-calorie snack is filled with fiber!
Also rich in fiber, lentils are a good option to help you poop. They can be eater as a side dish, as a soup, or added to your salad!
Potato salad
WebMD notes that "cooled potatoes have fiber and a lot of something called 'resistant starch.' This 'resists' digestion and some of it ends up in your large intestine, where it helps good bacteria grow." We believe it.
Watermelon is just as refreshing as its a good aid for constipation. WebMD explains that the fruit "doesn't have a lot of fiber but it's 92 percent water, and that can encourage a bowel movement."
If you love coffee you're probably constantly hearing the negative effects that drinking too much of it can have on you. Well, here's a positive that you can throw back at anyone opposing your love of coffee.
Don't get caught up thinking that all yogurt can help relieve constipation. Some of them can actually make things worse. You'd want to refrain from ones that contain large amounts of sugar, and stick to plain organic yogurt. They may not taste as sweet, but at least you'll be regular.
If you're having trouble going, kiwi isn't going to cure your constipation, but this fruit is nutritious and can help offer some relief. They also can assist with preventative care.
Eating an orange has many benefits! Health reports: "citrus fruits contain a flavanol called naringenin, which Chinese researchers in an animal study found could work like a laxative to help treat constipation."
Pretty much everyone knows that beans are notorious for making people gassy. What you may not know is how much they help with constipation. The resistant starch found in beans helps push everything else you're digesting along and prevents that backed up feeling.
Whole wheat bread
Because they're high in complex carbs and fiber, whole-grain bread is a way to avoid future blocages and help with your poop, according to Everyday Health.
Many people react to a compound called fructans that are found in pistachios. For people with an intolerance for this compound, it can cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal effects like gas and diarrhea. For people with tolerance, pistachios can help the number two come easier.
If you're looking to stimulate the healthy function of your digestive organs, avocado is considered one of the best foods at helping that happen. Just one avocado has loads of beta carotene, which is a compound packed with vitamin A, which is essential for your digestive tract health.
While peppermint is good for treating an upset stomach, indigestion, and gas, it can have some adverse effects on other areas of digestion. So you may want to use sparingly.
Sweet potatoes
In general, potatoes help relieve your constipation, but why not go with the sweet potato. They are delicious and can be prepared in a number of ways. Just one large sweet potato contains nearly a third of the recommended daily fiber intake.
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not your average press: unique micro-filter separates grounds from finished coffee and traps them at the bottom to stop brewing immediately when pressed. no bitterness, no grounds in your teeth.
hot for a really long time: 3 layers of insulation means your coffee stays hot for your commute and into your day. best part? the outside stays cool – hot coffee, cool fingers.
press & go (for a great cup of Joe): In just 3 minutes, you can have your favorite coffee made exactly how you want it. once pressed, just add the lid and your coffee is ready to roll.
good clean fun: super easy to clean. no flimsy screen that gets clogged with coffee grounds, no worries about breaking the glass part of your press. soap & warm water, and it's ready to brew the next cup.


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Attempts to resolve the Quandary:
'Call it the Micawber in me, but if I conceive the least velleity towards forthcoming good fortune, something generally does turn up - and not a merely supposititious event or some footling serendipity, but the real McCoy' . . . and at this point he hawed and glazed over, as if the delightfulness of the prospect were for the moment too overwhelming for him to continue.(by Et Seqq)
The television show MicAwber follows the supposititious adventures of Vance MicAwber, an action hero so clever and inventive, he can build a spaceship out of a piece of twine, two raisins and a bottlecap (he is also an eternal optimist--hence the name micawber); the only problem is that Vance functions at the level of velleity, with very little ambition or desire to make anything happen; and therefore he is as likely to hem and haw over a given problem as he is to contrive some means of solving it (plus he has a glue-sniffing addiction, which to me is one of the more fascinating sub-plots).(by saintdufus)


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CF Bed Linen by Fischbacher
The young line CF by Fischbacher presents an easy-care bed linen collection made with the well-proven care of the renowned Fischbacher's quality. A fresh breeze is blowing here.
Casual, pre-washed bed linen in subtle, contemporary designs - fabrics that make your life easier and express a carefree joie de vivre.
Free shipping in Germany and Austria with orders from € 79,-
VAT-free delivery to Switzerland and other non EU-Countries
For prepayment we grant 5% discount
No results were found for the filter!
Top seller


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The number one instinct for alcoholics and addicts is to rebel. It's no surprise that this is the typical quality for those who struggle with substance abuse.
The initial reaction that you may have when you learn about free drug rehab rules is to roll your eyes and maybe even think about how you can break them.
Addiction is dangerous and these rules are put in place for your good. Here are some rules that may be enforced at centers that will help in the recovery process.
1. No Romance In Rehab
Rehab centers do not allow romantic relationships. Couples who want to be admitted can't enter the same program. One of the goals in rehab is to make connections and friendships with those who are also on the same path as you are. Romance can make things complicated. There is a certain appeal for romance in a rehab setting, but this is not practical. Being in rehab is a time you focus on recovery from substance abuse. Love is not a priority right now.
2. No mobile phones and computers
Almost all rehab centers do not allow you to bring your mobile phones and laptops. Some centers may allow limited use and restricted access. The reason for this is that you won't have access to people who have drug or alcohol connections. Respect for a patient's privacy should also be implemented for those who have entered the program. Taking photos inside the rehab centers and sharing them on social media is strictly prohibited. These gadgets can also be a distraction to your rehab program. You need to focus on the task at hand and recovery from substance abuse is your priority.
3. No Movies, Music, And TV
These seem to be an unfair rule for most patients, but there is a good reason behind this rule. The good news is there are rehab centers who may have more lenient standards and may allow some types of shows and music which may help in your rehab program. The important thing is avoiding triggers, exposure to media can become a distraction while you are in a sensitive phase in your program.
4. You Need To Attend All Sessions
It is vital to attend all sessions and participate in them. Even if you don't feel like being there at all, you have to make an effort to be present. For your rehab program to be successful, you need to be willing and motivated to do the work and attending sessions is a part of it.
5. Total Abstinence From Drugs And Alcohol
The goal of a rehab program is to teach patients how to live a drug and alcohol-free life. This rule is easy to understand and is expected at any rehab center. There may be exceptions when it comes to prescribed medications, but analysis will still be made. These meds may be given to you when you need them. Find out workers compensation claim.
6. Restrictions On Going Out
When you enter a drug rehab program, you can't just come and go as you please. This needs some adjustment on your part, but it's all part of the program. Centers won't allow you to leave the facility unless it's with an employee of the center or to attend an event connected with your rehab program. These rules are implemented for you to focus on your rehab and be able to participate in all sessions.
7. Schedules Will Be Strictly Implemented
Rehab centers have strict and structured programs. There will be group therapy sessions, activities, one on one therapy meetings and other required sessions.


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Wedding dress Porto 12
Classic and elegance or features of a wedding dress without decorations
Wedding is undoubtedly one of the most important events in the life of the bride and groom. In order to provide comfort and great emotions to their loved ones, future spouses have to face a number of obligations regarding the organization of such an undertaking. It is very important that the whole event is consistent. The theme is a good advisor because it will give direction to preparations and determine the style and nature of the event. Such arrangements can significantly facilitate not only the choice of the wedding hall but also make the most difficult decision for the bride which is choosing a wedding dress without decorations.
Do wedding dresses without decorations look boring?
Wedding fashion is constantly changing, because you want to match the expectations and needs of women. Recent trends clearly lead to classic and elegant proposals that go hand in hand with the nature of the ceremony. Women can feel sensual and confident throughout the event. For many people, the lack of decorative accessories may be associated with boredom and monotony, but nothing could be more wrong. Wedding dresses without decorations are varied with interesting combinations of fabrics, expressive neckline and bare back.
What affects the popularity of wedding dresses without decorations?
Projects by Marta Trojanowska are created to emphasize the extraordinary individuality of each bride. These unusual creations are dedicated to women who are not afraid to follow their dreams and hidden desires. Bold combinations of exposed body parts with gentle romanticism mean that all emotions and sensuality of female nature are emphasized. The designer has a modern look at wedding fashion while maintaining perfect aesthetics. As a result, it perfectly combines styles that match the given Bride's character. The beauty shown on the wedding rug has a unique meaning that will not go unnoticed by the participants of the wedding.
Each creation is individually tailored to the female body, as well as requirements and criteria. The sketches are based on traditional tailoring art, so brides can be sure of getting an unforgettable wedding dress without decorations. Designs often have interesting decorations, but not everyone is aware that they are sewn by hand, which allows you to maintain the highest quality and perfect effect.
How to highlight the final effect of a wedding creation?
Choosing the perfect wedding dress without decorations requires a lot of time. Brides must take into account the period designated not only for making decisions but also for sewing and introducing any corrections to the creation. Women must also take care of the jewelry, which in the wedding dress without decorations can be bold and expressive. This combination will give the bride a unique look that everyone will surely pay attention to.


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The Spatial Reference Code for NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_15N is 26915.
Does anyone know if a Spatial Reference Code exists for NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_15N with units as US Feet?
If not, does someone know how to use python to set the Reference Frame of an mxd so it could be used in lieu of having a Spatial Reference Code defined as above.
I'm hoping to loop thru a layer list and calculate geometry to X_coord and Y_coord fields with UTM Zone 15N values in US Feet.


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MM: What is the biggest misconception about you?
JA: Oh, boy, there are so many. Let's see. I'll just Google myself and find out. [starts typing] Oh, look, I'm having a $100,000 revenge makeover!
MM: I didn't want to say anything, but you really need one. But wow, the tabloids are relentless.
JA: It's pretty crazy. The misconceptions are "Jen can't keep a man," and "Jen refuses to have a baby because she's selfish and committed to her career." Or that I'm sad and heartbroken. First, with all due respect, I'm not heartbroken. And second, those are reckless assumptions. No one knows what's going on behind closed doors. No one considers how sensitive that might be for my partner and me. They don't know what I've been through medically or emotionally. There is a pressure on women to be mothers, and if they are not, then they're deemed damaged goods. Maybe my purpose on this planet isn't to procreate. Maybe I have other things I'm supposed to do.
MM: Yes! For starters you have this new movie coming up, Dumplin'. You play an ex–pageant queen, and you do it beautifully. Did you ever want to be in a beauty pageant when you were younger?
JA: That's hysterical. No. Do you know what I looked like as a kid? The truth is, that's all changing now. That's what this movie is all about. It's about redefining beauty and how we as a society interpret what beauty is. I love that the Miss America pageant is going to get rid of the swimsuit competition altogether.
MM: Me too. I'm sure my daughter will be shocked when I tell her that was actually a quantifiable form of judging women in my lifetime.
JA: Definitely! You know, a swimsuit body is a body in a swimsuit, no matter what that body is. It's time to just stop thinking beauty is in the shape of a size 4 and the right butt size and the right waist size and the right measurements. It's just old. We've done it. We've been there. Let's move on.
For more with cover star Jennifer Aniston pick-up the October issue of InStyle Australia available from September 20th.


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South African currency hits record lows
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The prospects of rising interest rates in the United States, coupled with a downturn in the Chinese economy contributed to the South African currency's record drop on Monday, said economists.
The South African rand plunged to 14 rand to the dollar before recovering slightly to 13 rand as trade closed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
The rand was the worst affected among 25 other emerging market currencies, buckling under China's currency devaluation, reported Business Day, a financial newspaper. In the United States, the Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 1,000 points as trade began on Wall Street.
Since the beginning of the year, the rand has lost 15 percent against the dollar and is further weakened by a number of domestic factors, said economist Richard Downing. A rudderless economic policy, labor strikes, frequent electricity blackouts and a neglected manufacturing sector make the South African rand vulnerable to international currency fluctuations, he said.
"We need clarity on a fiscal policy," said Downing, adding that South African policy makers must do more to regain the faith of international investors. "It's not promoting confidence in the South African economy."
As some investors turned to more solid stocks, the price of gold increased but it was not enough to rally the currency, said Downing.
Known for its gold and other precious metals, South Africa is particularly susceptible to currency swings as a commodities exporter, said economist Mike Schussler.
Last week, the rand weakened to 13 rand to $1 — reaching lows last seen in 2001 — recovering slightly as the week ended, only to fall again on Monday.
For decades, the rand was on par with the dollar, beginning to weaken as political transition in the country sparked investor fears in the late 1980s, according to Federal Reserve records.


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I shared the following websites and resources with an Oklahoma City suburban school administrator recently who is helping start a STEM program at one of their elementary schools next fall. If you're a STEM educator or involved with a K-12 STEM program these might be helpful. Both Chris Simon and Amy Luffelhotz are grade 4-5 STEM teachers in Yukon Public Schools.
- Chris Simon's STEM curriculum site
- Amy Luffelhotz' STEM class blog
- Independence Elementary School's Scratch Club site
- January 2013 Yukon Review article about kids learning Scratch
Info on the Spring Break 2013 Scratch Camp Chris Simon and I led:
I have more STEM and Scratch related resources on:
- Deepening our Learning Through Storytelling: creativity, STEM and stories
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On this day..
- More Than Bandwidth: FCC Should Address Content Filtering in Schools - 2013
- Encouraging 5th Grade Writing with Benny the Mastiff & KidBlog in Piedmont, Oklahoma - 2013
- iPad Quick Edit Videography (free video PD) - 2012
- Waiting for a Cator Tweet - 2011
- Do your school administrators REALLY understand CIPA? - 2011
- eBooks and ePub Format Digital Books: A #tltechforum Roundable - 2011
- eBook function: Quick dictionary lookups - 2010
- Simplifying Copyright Guidance for Educators - 2009
- Using Yahoo Pipes to Create a Single-User Contribution Feed from a Team Blog - 2009
- A group TO DO list webapp? - 2008


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Finding useful health information on the Internet can be difficult, but we're here to help. This page gathers quality information from trusted sources. You can learn more about the disease, visit handpicked websites, and find resources to help you in your daily life. Need more information? Click the menu on the left to find more!
Medical Disclaimer
The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Factor I Deficiency
Factor I deficiency is a blood-clotting disorder that results in excessive or prolonged bleeding after an injury or surgery. Factor I is one of 13 proteins involved in proper formation of blood clots. Blood clots are needed to heal wounds, form scabs, and stop bleeding. When factor I levels are low or absent, the blood does not clot correctly, leading to excessive bleeding. Factor I deficiency runs in families and affect both males and females equally. The main symptom of factor I deficiency is excessive and abnormal bleeding. This may occur after childbirth, surgery, trauma, and with menstruation (periods). Bleeding can also occur in the muscles, joints, the mouth, the gut, or, infrequently, the brain. Easy bruising and nosebleeds are also common. Factor I deficiency can be diagnosed by a physician using blood tests. Treatment for factor I deficiency is largely based on controlling bleeding and treating any underlying conditions that contribute to excessive bleeding. When necessary, excessive bleeding can be stopped with infusions of clotting factors into the blood.
Trusted Medical Sites
Genetic & Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) GARD provides the public with access to current, reliable, and easy-to-understand information about rare or genetic diseases in English or Spanish.
Support Organizations
Support organizations can provide help and guidance in areas such as peer matching, education and training, and therapy and counseling.


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Bantry Sprint Regatta has made a fantastic comeback. The level of Reendonegan Lake has been finally restored to its normal level and is now safe and suitable for rowing. Events at this Regatta are confined to sculling boats, singles, doubles and quads. The majority of the competitors were juniors.
Clubs from Cork and Kerry were well represented. There were over 30 races with 270 participating on the day. There were races every 8 minutes, with 6 and 7 boats in each race. Sprint Regattas are characterised by exciting, close finishes and this event supplied many of those. A majority of the races were in the junior category, but senior and open rowers were catered for. For many of the contestants, it was their first experience of actual regatta racing and the calm conditions were very kind to them.
All ran smoothly on the water for chair of the umpire's committee TJ Ryan who has been a great support to Bantry together with the Get Going…Get Rowing programme and Cork Sports partnership. Ryan was assisted by Liam Young. Bantry Lifeboat had a safety presence which was not used. M Wickham provided an excellent commentary, aided by Regatta Secretary, Claire Tan.
Lee RC from Cork was the top club of the day with wins in many categories for male and female. Other clubs with wins were Lee Valley, Skibbereen, Muckross, Workmens and Waterville. Bantry had a win in the open sculls event. The local senior crews won the double and quad events for senior rowers. Between these ladies they have 9 children and one had a son rowing in the men's j14 single sculls, this is testament to talents not forgotten.
The course and boat management was a credit to D Murphy and his band of helpers. The club is grateful to all sponsors and especially to long suffering neighbours who tolerated a day of traffic and road congestion.
Next on the agenda, the club hopes to run a Regatta for Offshore racing boats in the Harbour later in the year.


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For many consumers, smartphones aren't only a way to catch up on emails or news: They are also a way to discover and shop for products and services. The technology also paves the way for payments with credit cards, debit cards, PayPal and mobile wallets.
Shoppers also like the experience of paying with their phones: More than eight in 10 – or 81.1 percent – of respondents who paid electronically via smartphones were either "extremely" or "somewhat" satisfied with their payments, according to the PYMNTS Remote Payments Study. The study also noted that "ultimately, consumers' preference for paying with smartphones comes down to their need for both speed and convenience."
From grocers such as Kroger to mobile dining apps like 2ndKitchen, companies are enabling consumers to pay with their phones for products and services. These are just some of the ways that merchants and service providers are bringing smartphone payment experiences to shoppers:
Approximately six in 10 – 60.5 percent – of customers were extremely satisfied paying with a smartphone. And retailers are rolling out new ways for consumers to make payments with their mobile phones. Kroger, for instance, is introducing a mobile payment option dubbed Kroger Pay, available for iOS and Android. Shoppers can make payments at the terminal by using a custom code, a quick response (QR) code or biometrics. The app also allows customers to use personalized offers and coupons. Kroger Group VP of Operations Mary Ellen Adcock said, according to reports, "Kroger Pay is one of the few mobile wallets that pairs loyalty and payment." She added that "the application of this exciting technology is another step in our front-end experience transformation."
About the same share – or 57.9 percent – of customers were extremely satisfied paying with an employee or kiosk. 2ndKitchen, for instance, offers ordering technology and customized menus that let diners order from kiosks (or their phones) at bars, breweries or other businesses that might not have a kitchen. After making their selections at a kiosk, diners can swipe their credit card (EMV/chip or contactless). Restaurants then enlist kitchens to deliver the order under the service's standard model. The service provides the restaurant with the customer's table number to facilitate the delivery. The company also offers an application programming interface (API) that integrates with local couriers.
More than half – or 52.3 percent – of customers were extremely satisfied paying with a mobile device (not a smartphone). And financial firms, along with device makers, are making these payments possible. In January, Discover and Garmin International announced that card members can use a contactless payment solution called Garmin Pay. The offering is available on the vívoactive 3 series smartwatch from Garmin, as well as Forerunner GPS running watches. Discover Vice President of e-Business Shaida Lynch said in a press release, "Consumers are constantly on the go, and our goal is to make it as simple and seamless as possible for our cardmembers to pay with their Discover card, including on IoT and wearable devices."
And about half – or 55.6 percent – of customers were extremely satisfied with other payment methods. Western Union, for instance, launched a payment option to enable Amazon shoppers to make payments through the currencies of their own countries. The offering works along with the Amazon PayCode cross-border payment option. Customers are sent a code as well as information on how to make a payment at a Western Union location. Amazon Director of Payment Acceptance and Experience Ben Volk said in an announcement, "Amazon PayCode leverages the reach of Western Union to make cross-border online shopping a reliable and convenient experience for customers who do not have access to international credit cards, or prefer to pay in cash."
Just over 47 percent – or 47.2 percent – of customers were extremely satisfied by paying with a voice assistant device. Dunkin', in one example, announced support for ordering through Amazon Alexa in August. Consumers can place an order through an Alexa-enabled device and ditch the line to pick up their orders. All the ordering and payments happen within the company's mobile platform. Dunkin' U.S. Vice President of Digital and Loyalty Marketing Stephanie Meltzer-Paul said, according to an August announcement, "Our integration with Amazon Alexa is our latest innovation to better serve members of our DD Perks program, which remains one of the fastest-growing loyalty programs in the quick service restaurant industry, with nearly eight million members."
From Dunkin' to Kroger, merchants and service providers are enabling mobile payments for their customers. But turning on smartphone payments isn't enough to provide the service customers need: Merchants also must learn how to streamline the processes to make the checkout experience faster and more convenient.
The How We Shop Report, a PYMNTS collaboration with PayPal, aims to understand how consumers of all ages and incomes are shifting to shopping and paying online in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research builds on a series of studies conducted since March, surveying more than 16,000 consumers on how their shopping habits and payments preferences are changing as the crisis continues. This report focuses on our latest survey of 2,163 respondents and examines how their increased appetite for online commerce and digital touchless methods, such as QR codes, contactless cards and digital wallets, is poised to shape the post-pandemic economy.


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Graduate returns as Basic High School's principal
Below a painted sign reading "Entering Wolf Pack Territory," Basic High School graduates mill about the heated pavement in their shining blue caps and gowns. Their principal, Gerald Bustamante, knows how they feel.
June 20, 2017 - 3:20 pm
Below a painted sign reading "Entering Wolf Pack Territory," Basic High School graduates mill about the heated pavement in their shining blue caps and gowns. Their principal, Gerald Bustamante, knows how they feel.
A 1994 Basic graduate, Bustamante, 41, came full circle this spring when he accepted his alma mater's top position. Bustamante was previously the principal of Global Community High School. He now walks the grounds of his past in a daily survey of the school's future. Those who know him say there's no one better equipped to do so.
"We've always been a part of the community, so to see Gerald go back and give back like that is amazing," said Bustamante's sister, Maria Bustamante Szydelko.
Basic, 400 Palo Verde Drive, was the first high school in Henderson when it opened in 1942 across from Henderson City Hall before moving to its current location in 1973. Bustamante recalled its friendly environment when he began his freshman year in 1990.
"Being a part of this community growing up and coming into the high school, being a minority also, I had to learn to navigate," Bustamante said. "I think some people are able to on their own, but then others may not have learned how to do that. That's where school comes in."
Bustamante grew up the youngest of three children to Henderson parents Juan and Yolanda Bustamante who emigrated from Mexico. While Bustamante's father worked 15 hours a day at the Nevada Test Site, Bustamante's sister, Maria, attended parent-teacher conferences as a translator for their mother.
To honor his sister's dedication to their family, Bustamante established a college scholarship in her name for Henderson students in 2014. The Maria Bustamante Szydelko Inspiration Scholarship awards $500 to current Hispanic seniors of Basic and Global Community High School. Applicants must submit a 200-300 word essay on how they have or intend to inspire others, as well as a resume and unofficial transcript, and must be planning on attending college or trade school. Students can apply at thepef.academicworks.com/opportunities.
"Gerald cares about the students," Szydelko said. "He cares about the community. I saw him moving up, and I told him, 'This is you. This is meant for you.'"
Not everyone pictured Bustamante becoming a principal, he said. Although he excelled on the Basic baseball team, he was an average student. He teases his former Spanish teacher, Anita Medina Wong, whom he affectionately calls "Señora Wong," about giving him a C his senior year. Wong, who is in her 34th year at Basic and teaches Advanced Placement Spanish, recalls Bustamante as a native Spanish speaker.
"I said, 'No, Mr. Bustamante, I do not give students grades. They earn them,'" Wong said, chuckling.
Wong was contemplating retirement when Bustamante was hired, especially since school started the year with no principal. Assistant principals ran the show until Bustamante arrived, Wong said.
"The funny thing is that once everybody found out I was his teacher, they all came after me, saying, 'What's he like? What's he like?' and I remembered a 15-year-old," Wong said. "I had these recollections of seeing him in a letterman jacket … but I've had so many students, it gets hard to remember.
"When I first saw him, it was very surreal because he was an adult, but for a minute I still saw the boy," Wong said. "It was like I got to experience firsthand the accomplishments of one of my students."
The first action Bustamante took was to implement a new mantra for students: "Be You. Be Strong. Be Great."
"A part of me was like 'If I have to go, which I will, I'd like him to give me my walking papers,'" Wong said, wiping away a few stray tears.
During the last week of school for the spring 2017 graduates, a slideshow documenting students' achievements was projected in the hallway opposite Basic's entrance — another one of Bustamante's creative implementations. Bustamante glides past it in a Basic blue polo as he embarks on his midday march through the hallways.
After playing college baseball, Bustamante grappled with the idea of becoming a firefighter, but his eyesight was a concern. Ultimately his desire to help others encouraged Bustamante to pursue education. His first job with the Clark County School District was a library aid, "the lowest-paying job" in the field, but Bustamante was determined.
Since returning to Basic, he has remembered the importance of tradition and letting students discover who they are with a support system around them.
"My philosophy is to remove obstacles from my teachers so they can become successful," Bustamante said. "For me, it's 'How can I allow everyone — my teachers, my students, the community — to feel empowered?"
Contact Alex Meyer at firstname.lastname@example.com or 702-383-0496. Follow @alxmey on Twitter.


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Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Only a few patients who experience AML relapse derive lasting benefit from re-induction therapy. The utility of reassessing the disease karyotype at relapse is unclear. The main goals of this study were to identify prognostic factors for AML relapse and to determine the prognostic utility of karyotypic change between diagnosis and relapse as a variable for predicting response to salvage therapy for relapsed AML.
This retrospective study included 58 patients with relapsed AML treated at the Yonsei University College of Medicine between 2005 and 2010. Karyotypes at both diagnosis and relapse were available for 45 patients (77%). A change in karyotype at relapse was observed in 17 of 45 cases (37%), and no change was noted in 28 of 45 cases (62%).
Karyotypic changes between diagnosis and relapse were associated with the response rate (RR) to salvage therapy (
Karyotypic changes between the diagnosis and relapse of AML could be used to predict outcomes and tailor clinical and biological therapeutic strategies for relapsed AML patients.
Most AML patients who achieve a complete remission (CR) experience relapse within 3 years of the primary diagnosis. The prognosis of patients after relapse is generally poor [1], and there is no widely approved salvage regimen for AML relapse [2]. Prediction of prognosis at the time of relapse would therefore be useful. Important predictors of response to re-induction chemotherapy include duration of first remission; age at relapse; prior stem cell transplantation; and cytogenetic findings, especially chromosomal changes, at initial diagnosis [1]. Among patients who relapse, up to 90% with a favorable karyotype at diagnosis achieve secondary complete remission (CR2), whereas the CR2 rate can be as low as 36% among patients with adverse karyotypes at diagnosis [3]. Information regarding karyotype and remission rates is used to modify both the intensity and nature of salvage therapy.
Genomic instability may play a role in the development of resistance to anti-leukemic therapy. After relapse, leukemic cells are often refractory to standard chemotherapeutic agents, and consequently, more aggressive therapies are needed to treat this resistant disease [2]. Resistance to therapy in ALL patients may be affected by acquired additional karyotypic abnormalities in the leukemic cells during relapse [4]. Although some studies have shown that karyotypic progression at AML relapse predicts a poor prognosis after salvage chemotherapy [5], the utility of reassessing the karyotype at relapse is unclear.
In this study, we reviewed the data of 58 patients with relapsed AML who received salvage therapy. The main goals of this study were to identify prognostic factors for relapsed AML and to provide evidence for the prognostic utility of karyotypic changes between diagnosis and relapse as a variable for predicting response to salvage therapy for relapsed AML.
Fifty-eight adult patients with relapsed AML treated at the Division of Hematology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, between January 2005 and December 2010 were included in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Diagnosis of AML was established on the basis of bone marrow (BM) aspiration findings. AML was classified according to the morphological French-American-British (FAB) criteria, and the diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of cytochemical and immunological analyses findings [6]. At diagnosis and relapse, samples of BM or blood were examined for cytogenetic abnormalities using standard banding techniques and were classified according to the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature [7]. Cytogenetic analysis was successfully performed for 54 of 58 patients (93%) at diagnosis and for 48 of 58 patients (82%) at relapse. Karyotypes were classified as favorable (t(8;21), chromosome 16 abnormalities), adverse (complex karyotype, -7, 3q abnormality, del(5q), -5, 11q23), or intermediate (no abnormality, +8, +21, del(7q), del(9q), +22, with other numerical and structural abnormalities) according to the MRC AML 10 study [8]. Induction therapy with idarubicin (IDA) (12 mg/m2/d intravenous [IV] over 30 min on days 1.3) in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) (100 mg/m2/d IV continuous infusion on days 1.7) was administered to all patients, except for 1, who received mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (MEC)-based chemotherapy (mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2/day on days 1.4; etoposide, 100 mg/m2/day on days 1.3; and Ara-C, 1,000 mg/m2/12 hr on days 1.3). As salvage therapy, 40 patients received MEC-based chemotherapy with or without gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) (90 mg/m2 on day 4), 13 patients received other intensive combination chemotherapy (Ara-C, topotecan, and IDA, N=5; fludarabine, IDA, and Ara-C: N=4; IDA and Ara-C: N=2; and GO: N=1), and the remaining 5 patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). To determine the impact of salvage therapy on relapsed AML, patients were classified into prognosis subsets according to the new European Leukemic Net (ELN) recommendations, recently proposed by an expert panel [1].
CR was defined as normal cellular BM with normal erythroid and myeloid elements and less than 5% myeloblasts and normalization of peripheral blood counts (neutrophils >1×109/L and platelets >100×109/L). CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp) was defined according to the same criteria for CR but with additional platelet transfusion independence and platelet counts of <100×109/L. CR and CRp cases were considered in the computation of the overall response (OR). All other types of responses were considered as treatment failure. Relapse was defined as the detection of at least 5% leukemic blasts in BM aspirates or new extramedullary (EM) leukemia in patients with previously documented CR [9].
Descriptive statistics are reported as frequencies or medians and ranges. OR, overall survival (OS), and event-free survival (EFS) were the primary endpoints. The χ2 test was used to test for factors associated with OR. Survival was calculated from the date of the documentation of relapse until death or last follow-up for OS or until failure, relapse, death, or last follow-up for EFS. OS and EFS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method. The following factors were analyzed for their association with OR, OS, and EFS: age at relapse, type of AML (de novo vs. secondary), EM involvement at diagnosis, cytogenetic findings at diagnosis and relapse, number of induction cycles of chemotherapy required to achieve the first CR, previous HCT, relapse-free interval (RFI), type of salvage regimen, and karyotypic changes between diagnosis and relapse. The relationships between patient and disease characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated using multivariate analysis. OR was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis, and OS and EFS were analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model.
Karyotype records at both diagnosis and relapse were available for 45 patients (77%). A change in karyotype was observed in 17 out of 45 cases (37%, group 1) and no change was noted in 28 out of 45 cases (62%, group 2). Karyotypic changes between diagnosis and relapse in group 1 are shown in Table 1. An intermediate karyotype at diagnosis changed to a complex karyotype at relapse in 8 cases (47%). Favorable karyotypes (2 cases of t(8;21) and 1 of inv(16)) at diagnosis changed to normal karyotypes at relapse in 2 cases and were the same aberrant karyotypes as at initial diagnosis but with additional aberrations at relapse in 1 case. Adverse karyotypes at diagnosis changed to complex karyotypes in 3 cases, and a translocation involving 11q23 changed to a normal karyotype in 1 case.
We enrolled 31 male and 27 female patients, with a median age at diagnosis of 49 years (range, 17.76 years) and a median follow-up duration from relapse of 14.3 months (range, 0.2-149.0 months). Patient characteristics of groups 1 and 2 are summarized in Table 2. In group 1, all patients had de novo AML, and AML was significantly more prevalent in group 1 than in group 2 (71.4%,
Clinical, biological, and treatment-related data were analyzed to establish whether they had prognostic value with respect to OR, OS, and EFS. The OR (CR and mCR) rate was significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (23% vs. 38%;
Fig. 1 shows Kaplan-Meier curves for OS and EFS. Patients in group 1 had a shorter median OS (14.2 vs. 21.1 months,
In ALL, karyotypic changes at relapse are considered to have poor prognostic implications, such as a poor therapeutic response and shorter OS [10, 11]. However, only a few studies have investigated the implications of karyotypic changes in AML [5]. According to the new ELN prognosis subsets recently proposed by an expert panel [1], patients with early relapse (i.e., duration of first CR, <6 months), adverse cytogenetic findings at diagnosis, older age, or previous HCT are more likely to have a poor outcome, and, at present, the prognostic impact of karyotypic changes at relapse compared with the impact of the karyotype at diagnosis is not clear. In this study, we observed karyotypic changes in 17 of 45 (38%) patients, although karyotypic changes have been reported to occur in approximately 60% of AML patients [12]. No significant association was found between karyotypic change and RFI in this study, in contrast to the other findings [11]. In the present study, adverse karyotypes at relapse were more frequent in group 1 than in group 2, because the most common pattern of karyotypic change at relapse was the complex type that involved additional aberrations to those present at diagnosis. This finding is consistent with previous reports on AML [5]. In our study, HCT before relapse was more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (52.9% vs. 82.1%,
In this study, we identified potential prognostic factors for relapsed AML patients using clinically relevant parameters. The karyotype is universally recognized as the best prognostic factor for AML [8, 14, 15]. This was confirmed by univariate analysis in our patients, for whom karyotypic grouping at relapse was the main prognostic factor in terms of OR and EFS rather than in terms of OS. However, multivariate analysis showed that karyotypic grouping at relapse was not associated with OR or EFS. Previously, RFI has been considered as the major prognostic determinant after relapse [16, 17]. We divided patients who showed first relapse into 3 groups according to length of RFI (<7.5 vs. ≥7.5 months) and compared OR, OS, and EFS. These results were similar to those of other studies. Other important clinically prognostic factors for relapsed AML are patient age at relapse and prior HCT history [1]. In our study, patients who were older at relapse (≥49 years) had a lower OS, but this trend did not prove to be significant in multivariate analysis. Karyotypic change between diagnosis and relapse was noted in 23% of cases, no change was noted in 48% of cases, and the remaining cases could not be evaluated. Karyotypic change between diagnosis and relapse significantly influenced OR (
In conclusion, despite its retrospective nature and the small number of patients, our study indicates that karyotypic change between diagnosis and relapse can be adapted to predict CR outcomes and tailor routine clinical and biological therapeutic strategies for relapsed AML patients.


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More than half of companies have or are considering subsidies or discounts for fitness wearables, according to a new survey of 141 companies done by National Business Group on Health and Fidelity Investments.
That share includes 30% of companies that will have a program in place this year and 23% that are considering it.
A discount wearables policy is still relatively rare compared with other corporate wellness initiatives. Programs to stop smoking, improve physical activity and manage weight are far more common, according to the survey.
But its relative prevalence is significant because though wearables — produced by Fitbit Inc.
Read: Fitbit may have stumbled, but the wearable craze isn't dead yet
Companies hope that wellness programs will make their employees healthier, decreasing the cost of health insurance.
But research has largely countered those expectations: One study found use of a Fitbit prevented some drop off in physical activity in participants, but there is no evidence of health outcomes improving. Another study found no evidence that wearables help with weight loss.
Fitbit contests that research, and says it is "confident in the positive results our millions of users have seen from using Fitbit products."
"Numerous published studies, along with internal Fitbit data, continue to demonstrate the health benefits of using a fitness tracker combined with a mobile app to support health and fitness goals, both for individual consumers and within corporate wellness programs," said Amy McDonough, vice president and general manager of Fitbit Group Health.
Related: How should companies handle data from employees' wearable devices?
This is the first year the NBGH/Fidelity annual survey has asked about wearables, so it's difficult to know if wearables policies are on the rise.
But sales of wearables, and fitness wearables specifically, have been increasing for years and the trend is expected to continue. Research firm International Data Corporation expects the sale of 57 million fitness trackers this year, up from last year's 49.5 million, with wearable sales overall expected to increase from 97.4 million units last year to 124.4 million this year.
See: People want a smart watch that doesn't make them feel dumb
Corporate wellness programs more generally have similar problems as fitness wearables. Experts say outcomes hinge on the designs of these programs, especially since it's so difficult to change behavior.
"Do they actually do what you want them to do? I think there are mixed results on that," said Amy Monahan, a law professor at University of Minnesota Law School. "The research tends to show that who benefits from that are people who already go to the gym... I don't know that anyone has a solution to that yet."
Companies included in the Tuesday survey included NBGH members and Fidelity clients. The companies were surveyed at the end of 2016 and come from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, banking or financial services, technology, retail and more.
Fitbit shares are down 23% in 2017, while the S&P 500


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Whether it's for a midday cup of joe or a shiny new gadget, monetary decisions are made on a daily basis. Accepting a new job or leaving one impacts your future. Weighing wants with needs as you pay the bills is a major key to your financial success.
It's nearly impossible to predict how certain choices will affect your life in the long term. When you look back, you can learn from the past and measure your success. However, you can get ahead now by taking care of some basics to establish a financial foundation for your future.
Start Paying Down Debt
It's important to begin paying down debt as soon as possible. Debts that go to collection and end up on your credit report will stay there for seven years, but some debt, such as loans, may affect your credit score positively. Some revolving credit is beneficial to your credit score, especially when you make timely payments on credit cards or a car loan.
If you attended college and are facing scary loan debt, it's time to get in touch with your lender and discuss repayment programs that best fit your income and career. For example, some payment plans are based on your income and may be as low as $5 a month. Don't let that interest raise your loans by thousands in the next decade. Take a forbearance when you need it and avoid letting interest build when you suffer a hardship.
It's important to stay on top of your debt. Most companies and lenders will work with you to create small payment plans for credit cards and hospital bills. If you are currently enduring a hardship and lacking income, check with local nonprofits and charitable agencies that may help you with bill payments to not fall behind.
Manage Your Means
Elders advise to live within your means, but most often that equals living paycheck to paycheck and not getting far ahead, but not falling in a hole. If you do trip, though, it's hard to pick yourself back up financially, especially if you get behind on rent or have to go to the emergency room.
When you're younger, you typically have fewer commitments than when you are older. You have a better chance to save a bigger chunk of change. Start a savings account and do your best to set a little aside every paycheck. Apps such as Qaptial or Digit help you create spending rules to save money, such as rounding up a coffee purchase to the nearest dollar and applying that difference to your savings. These apps also help you achieve goals, such as saving to take a vacation or buy a new home.
Instead of making do on whatever is left over, create a budget to manage your means, and ideally live under them to optimize savings and pay down debt. Other things you can do achieve financial balance and get ahead include:
- Automate bills that are consistent every month to avoid missed payments.
- Cut your cable and other utilities you don't need. Shop for cheaper options.
- Only use credit cards to build your credit, and pick one or two things to regularly purchase. Always pay your bill by the due date. Using your credit card to manage your coffee or grocery budget is an idea.
Spend on Experience
When you do spend, choose experience. With a passion for travel, most millennials are doing this anyway, choosing to spend their money on experience over possessions. You don't have to spend thousands, but no matter how much money you have, put it toward what you truly value.
Don't choose gadgets that depreciate in value over the next five years, leaving you in debt or going out to buy something bigger and better. Spend your money on refurbished computers and travel to China instead. If you love books, build a small library, because books open up entire worlds, or you could donate to a literacy program and volunteer at the same time.
It's OK to buy something like a new statement jacket that makes you feel amazing once in a while. Seek balance, but when it comes to spending, choose experience over stuff. You'll have amazing stories to tell and live a more fulfilling life.
Take the opportunity now to experience the world, while building your savings at the same time. When you manage your means appropriately, your savings will grow and enable you to accomplish your dreams, rather than wasting money on possessions you don't need. Live a rich life you will look back on and see your values reflected within.


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Aadil Ghauri
Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
I am a talented youth who is ready to take challenges head on. I am a thorough artistic individual and loves art in all its forms. Writing inspires me, it gives me courage to stand up against the odds in life. I have been involved in various writing projects at school level and have taken part in many inter school writing competition as well. I love music too and country and electronica are my favourites. In addition I am a commerce graduate and is also actively involved in office work as well. I am a freelance writer and data entry operator and can meet deadlines straight on time. I a
How can I help you today?


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Lab Manual for Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 9th edition
9th edition
Published by Pearson (July 19th 2005) - Copyright © 2006
What's included
You'll get a bound printed text.
This laboratory manual contains 42 experiments for the standard sequence of topics in general, organic, and biological chemistry.
General Chemistry:
Measurement and Significant Figures; Conversion Factors in Calculations; Density and Specific Gravity; Atomic Structure; Electronic Configuration and Periodic Properties; Nuclear Radiation; Compounds and Their Formulas; Energy and Specific Heat; Energy and States of Matter; Chemical Reactions and Equations; Reaction Rates and Equilibrium; Moles and Chemical Formulas; Gas Laws; Partial Pressures of Gas Mixtures; Solutions, Electrolytes, and Concentration; Soluble and Insoluble Salts; Testing for Cations and Anions; Solutions, Colloids, and Suspensions; Acids, Bases, pH and Buffers; Acid-Base Titration.
Organic and Biological Chemistry:
Properties of Organic Compounds; Structures of Alkanes; Reactions of Hydrocarbons; Alcohols and Phenols; Aldehydes and Ketones; Types of Carbohydrates; Tests for Carbohydrates; Carboxylic Acids and Esters; Aspirin and Other Analgesics; Lipids; Glycerophospholipids and Steroids; Saponification and Soaps; Amines and Amides; Synthesis of Acetaminophen; Plastics and Polymerization; Amino Acids; Peptides and Proteins; Enzymes; Vitamins; DNA Components and Extraction; Digestion of Foodstuffs; Analysis of Urine.
A comprehensive lab manual for anyone who wants to learn more about general, organic, and biological chemistry.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
PART 1: General Chemistry
1 Measurement and Significant Figures 7
A. Measuring Length 8
B. Measuring Volume 9
C. Measuring Mass 9
2 Conversion Factors in Calculations 17
A. Rounding Off 17
B. Significant Figures in Calculations 19
C. Conversion Factors for Length 20
D. Conversion Factors for Volume 21
E. Conversion Factors for Mass 22
F. Percent by Mass 23
G. Converting Temperature 24
3 Density and Specific Gravity 29
A. Density of a Solid 29
B. Density of a Liquid 30
C. Specific Gravity 30
D. Graphing Mass and Volume 31
4 Atomic Structure 35
A. Physical Properties of Elements 36
B. Periodic Table 37
C. Subatomic Particles 38
D. Isotopes 39
5 Electronic Configuration and Periodic Properties 45
A. Flame Tests 46
B. Electron Configuration 47
C. Graphing A Periodic Property: Atomic Radius 49
6 Nuclear Radiation 55
A. Background Count56
B. Radiation from Radioactive Sources 57
C. Effect of Shielding, Time, and Distance 58
7Compounds and Their Formulas 67
A. Electron-Dot Structures 68
B. Ionic Compounds and Formulas 69
C. Ionic Compounds with Transition Metals 70
D. Ionic Compounds with Polyatomic Ions 70
E. Covalent (Molecular) Compounds 71
F. Electron Dot Structure and Molecular Shape 73
8 Energy and Specific Heat 81
A. Specific Heat of A Metal 81
B. Measuring the Caloric Value of a Food 83
C. Food Calories 84
9 Energy and States of Matter 91
A. A Heating Curve for Water 91
B. Graphing a Cooling Curve 93
C. Energy in Changes of State 94
10 Chemical Reactions and Equations 101
A. Magnesium and Oxygen 101
B. Zinc and Copper (II) Sulfate 102
C. Metals and HCl 102
D. Reactions of Ionic Compounds 103
E. Sodium Carbonate and HCl 103
11 Reaction Rates and Equilibrium 113
A. Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions 114
B. Rates of Reactions 114
C. Reversible Reactions 115
D. Iron (III)-thiocyanate Equilibrium 117
12 Moles and Chemical Formulas 125
A. Finding the Simplest Formula 125
B. Formula of a Hydrate 128
13 Gas Laws 133
A. Boyle's Law 133
B. Charles' Law 135
14 Partial Pressures of Gas Mixtures 145
A. Partial Pressures of Oxygen and Nitrogen in Air 145
B. Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere 146
C. Carbon Dioxide in Expired Air 146
15 Solutions, Electrolytes, and Concentration 153
A. Polarity of Solutes and Solvents 153
B. Electrolytes and Conductivity 154
C. Electrolytes in Body Fluids 155
D. Concentration of a Sodium Chloride Solution 155
16 Soluble and Insoluble Salts 163
A. Soluble and Insoluble Salts 163
B. Solubility of KNO3 164
C. Testing the hardness of Water 165
D. Purification of Water 166
17Testing for Cations and Anions 173
A. Tests for Positive Ions (Cations) 174
B. Tests for Negative Ions (Anions) 174
C. Writing the Formulas of Your Unknown Salt 174
D. Testing Consumer Products for Some Cations and Anions 175
18 Solutions, Colloids, and Suspensions 181
A. Identification Tests 181
B. Osmosis and Dialysis 182
C. Filtration 182
19 Acids, Bases, pH and Buffers 189
A. pH Color Using Red Cabbage Indicator 189
B. Measuring pH 190
C. Effect of Buffers on pH 192
20 Acid-Base Titration 199
A. Acetic Acid in Vinegar 200
B. Titration of an Antacid 201
PART II: Organic and Biological Chemistry
21 Properties of Organic Compounds 207
A. Color, Odor, and Physical State 207
B. Solubility 207
C. Combustion 208
D. Functional Groups 209
22 Structures of Alkanes 215
A. Structures of Alkanes 215
B. Constitutional Isomers 216
C. Cycloalkanes 219
D. Haloalkanes 220
23 Reactions of Hydrocarbons 227
A. Types of Hydrocarbons 227
B. Combustion 229
C. Bromine Test 229
D. Potassium Permanganate Test 229
E. Identification of Unknown 230
24 Alcohols and Phenols 235
A. Structures of Alcohols and Phenol 236
B. Properties of Alcohols and Phenol 236
C. Oxidation of Alcohols 237
D. Ferric Chloride Test 238
E. Identification of Unknown 238
25 Aldehydes and Ketones 243
A. Structures of Some Aldehydes and Ketones 243
B. Properties of Aldehydes and Ketones 244, 245
C. Iodoform Test for Methyl Ketones 245
D. Oxidation of Aldehydes and Ketones 245
E. Identification of an Unknown 247
26 Types of Carbohydrates 253
A. Monosaccharides 253
B. Disaccharides 254
C. Polysaccharides 255
27Tests for Carbohydrates 263
A. Benedict's Test for Reducing Sugars 263
B. Seliwanoff's Test for Ketoses 263
C. Fermentation Test 263
D. Iodine Test for Polysaccharides 263
E. Hydrolysis of Disaccharides and Polysaccharides 265
F. Testing Foods for Carbohydrates 266
28 Carboxylic Acids and Esters 271
A. Carboxylic Acids and Their Salts 271
B. Preparation of Esters 272
C. Hydrolysis of Esters 274
29 Aspirin and Other Analgesics 283
A. Preparation of Aspirin 284
B. Testing Aspirin Products 285
C. Analysis of Analgesics 286
30 Lipids 293
A. Triacylglycerols 293
B. Physical Properties of Lipids and Fatty Acids 294
C. Bromine Test for Unsaturation 203
D. Preparation of Hand Lotion 296
31 Glycerophospholipids and Steroids 301
A. Isolating Cholesterol in Egg Yolk 301
B. Isolating Lecithin in Egg Yolk 302
32 Saponification and Soaps 307
A. Saponification: Preparation of Soap 307
B. Properties of Soap and Detergents 307
33 Amines and Amides 313
A. Structure and Classification of Amines 313
B. Solubility of Amines in Water 314
C. Neutralization of Amines with Acids 315
D. Amides 316
34 Synthesis of Acetaminophen 321
A. Synthesis of Acetaminophen 321
B. Isolating Acetanilide from an Impure Sample 322
35 Plastics and Polymerization 331
A. Classification of Plastics 331
B. Gluep and Slime 332
C. Polystyrene 333
D. Nylon 333
36 Amino Acids 341
A. Structures of Amino Acids 341
B. Chromatography of Amino Acids 342
37Peptides and Proteins 347
A. Peptide Bonds 347
B. Structure of Proteins 348
C. Denaturation of Proteins 349
D. Isolation of Casein (Milk Protein)350
E. Color Tests for Proteins 351
38 Enzymes 359
A. Effect of Enzyme Concentration 360
B. Effect of Temperature 361
C. Effect of pH 362
D. Inhibition of Enzyme Activity 363
39 Vitamins 371
A. Solubility of Vitamins 372
B. Standardization of Vitamin C 373
C. Analysis of Vitamin C in Fruit Juices and Fruit Drinks 373
D. Heat Destruction of Vitamin C 374
40 DNA Components and Extraction 370
A. Components of DNA 380
B. Extraction of DNA 381
41 Digestion of Foodstuffs 387
A. Digestion of Carbohydrates 387
B. Digestion of Fats 388
C. Protein Digestion 389
42 Analysis of Urine
A. Color, pH and Specific Gravity 395
B. Electrolytes 396
C. Glucose 396
D. Ketone Bodies 396
E. Protein 396
F. Urobilinogen 396
Materials and Solutions 397
Standard Laboratory Materials 397
Additional Materials Needed for Individual Experiments 397
Preparation of Solutions Used in the Laboratory 410
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When we were in Ecuador and had a crazy adventure we'd laugh because it meant we were on real journey, not a tourist get away. When we got stranded in China we weren't super happy, but we appreciated that we'd laugh about it one day. In India when we had unexpected adventures we rolled our eyes and sighed. If ever there was the time I didn't want an adventure, it was the already incredibly long journey home. Here is the story of our crazy couple days on the way home. Our last hotel was about 7 hours away from the airport, and our guide recommended arriving at the airport at least 4 hours early. Plus, the roads are so unpredictable in India that we gave ourselves 3 extra hours just in case. The trip felt like it took forever. Finally, we stopped at a little Indian fast food restaurant near the airport. I got a sandwich that was incredibly greasy. I knew my stomach would regret that decision later, but I was so hungry that I ate it anyways. Liza already wasn't feeling good so she spent the whole time I was eating in the bathroom throwing up. Then she was so dehydrated, hungry, and tired that she looked really pale and had really bad headaches. Finally, we made it to the airport at 3:30 PM, 7 hours before or flight was supposed to depart. They told us we couldn't even print our tickets until 3 hours before our flight. We couldn't get the wifi at the airport to work so we played cards for 4 hours. At 7:30 we went to get our ticket and they told us our flight was delayed until 1 AM. That meant we'd miss our flight from Newark, NJ to Minneapolis so they moved us from the 6:45 AM flight to a noon flight. So we sat around waiting and suddenly I broke out in hives. I think it was from how tired and stressed I was. I was so itchy that I hardly slept on our incredibly hot, 15 hour, overnight flight to Newark. When we finally landed we went through immigration and customs, which was good because it meant we wouldn't have to do that in Minneapolis. We could just pick up our bags and go home. When we finished with that, at about 7:45 AM, we went to find our gate. We looked at one of the information screens and saw that the 6:45 flight that we were supposed to be on got delayed until 9:45 AM. That was a much shorter wait so we asked if we could be put back on that flight. Fortunately (unfortunately, actually) we got put on that flight. Then for the next several hours it got delayed by half an hour, every half hour. A flight from Baltimore got delayed, and they weren't sure when it was coming so they kept pushing the departure time back. Finally, 40 minutes after the flight we were supposed to be on initially left, we took off for Minneapolis. It was the longest 3 hours ever. When we finally landed we got vouchers for a free alcoholic beverage on our next flight. That does me a lot of good since I'm 19. When I finally got home everything was perfect! Everyone loved their presents, I took a real shower, flushed toilet paper down the toilet, and ate a 20 oz t-bone steak. My mom also bought a bunch of fruit roll ups and salt and vinegar chips, my favorite junk food. Now I have to start figuring out what to do with myself this summer. I think I want to try a triathlon.
Archive for March, 2013
16 Mar
Our Last Adventure
16 Mar
Rajasthan Tour
I believe that in an earlier blog post I mentioned that our tax refund money came so we could afford to take a two week tour of Rajasthan. It was great! We saw a lot of forts, temples, and royal palaces. We also took a camel safari where we rode camels out into the sand dunes and watched the sun set. Our guide was really friendly, and he knew all of the best restaurants. They weren't the tourist restaurants with only Westerners drinking Coke and eating french fries talking about how much they prefer Indian culture to Western culture. They were restaurants filled with locals, and they were delicious! Plus they were about half of the price of the tourist places. The one thing that bothered me was the fort to temple ratio. For every nice temple there was at least two giant forts. Apparently, before the British took over, every city had a king, and, apparently, they preferred war to prayer. The other little disappointment came from the fact that a lot of the monuments in India aren't more than a couple hundred years old. I thought everything was ancient, and I know at least one fort was 900 years old, but for some reason I thought everything would be at least that old. The only other minor inconvenience was the roads in India. We had 4-8 hour car rides every day, and we never went over 35 mph. The roads are so crowded and disorganized that we never were able to go too fast. Plus, every 30 seconds we almost died because we had to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting a cow. I only slept for about 15 minutes in one car ride. Liza slept through the entirety of every single ride. I was so bored. All in all, though, we had a blast. It was the bang that we wanted the trip to end with!
4 Mar
How's This for a Sunrise?
4 Mar
Finally, Some Decent One Stop Shopping!
3 Mar
The Beginning of the End
We are a couple days into our tour now, and we are having a lot of fun. First we did a tour of Delhi. It was great! We saw the Red Fort, Jama Masjid which is an old mosque, a lot of Ghandi memorials, the India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, and much more. Two of my favorites were the Lotus Temple and Lodi Park. Lodi Park was a beautiful park with a lot of old mosques and tombs. It was so cool because they looked like something on a fictional movie. They were they big, grey, run down buildings with vines and palm trees around them.
After Delhi we headed to Agra. The first night we saw some sights including the Agra Fort. The Red Fort is more famous, but I thought the Agra Fort was more impressive. The Mughals, who built the fort, were so big on symmetry in their architecture that we almost got lost. Everything looks the same from every side and if there's a big square plaza, all of the gates surrounding it are the same. The next morning we woke up at sunrise to see the Taj Mahal. The way the light hits it in the morning makes it look the most beautiful shade of orange. I ran over to the side to get a picture of the sun coming up behind it. I was surprised because I thought everyone would want that picture, but I was the only one. Again, they were so big on symmetry that a picture from the front of the Taj Mahal looks exactly the same as a picture from the side.
Now we're staying near Ranthambore National Park. We did a safari this morning. We didn't see any tigers, but we saw a lot of other animals. It's amazing how many animals there are when there aren't crazy red necks running around shooting them all with military grade assault weapons. We saw a ton of deer, a ton of peacocks, a ton of monkeys, a jackal, wild boar, crocodiles, and a ton of beautiful birds. We have one more safari tonight so hopefully we'll see a tiger!
In other news, we've booked our tickets home! I'll be some the morning of March 15th! I've had a ton of fun, and I'll continue to have fun, but I'm still really excited to be home. I thought travelling would be relaxing, but there's so little margin for error so we've constantly been planning, stressing, worrying about money, unpacking, and packing. I can't wait to take a breather and watch some crappy American TV.
We haven't had a reliable Internet connection in a while, but I'll keep trying to post pictures whenever I get the chance. I promise that in two weeks I'll post my India slide show which will have all the pictures of everything we've seen!


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From Housing Wire 8/15/14
When Lobbying Hurts the Industry More than It Helps
This analysis would not be complete without addressing the many frustrations we heard from people wishing the good old days would come back. We believe those who share these complaints are hurting the mortgage recovery because they provide ammunition for the interest groups that do not want to see large levels of default ever again. Here are a few common complaints that we believe need to stop, at least until we fix the major problems. In reality, most regulators and decision makers do not agree that federally insured institutions should:
- Help tax cheats. Affluent people who report low incomes to the IRS are not going to get a lot of sympathy in today's regulatory or political environment. They will need to make large down payments.
- Lower FHA limits. FHA dramatically increased their loan limits in 2008 to help stem the housing crisis and then dropped them to more normal limits this year. While that has hit a few home builders in a few markets particularly hard (and it has slowed economic growth in those markets), FHA is now back to historical normal limits. Given all the assistance FHA is already providing and the housing recovery that is taking place, it is unlikely Congress will decide to revert to another loan limit increase.
- Stop or reverse FHA fee increases. FHA has increased their insurance costs, particularly on high LTV / low FICO loans. All in, a borrower with poor credit and low savings is still paying the equivalent of less than a 5.5% interest rate, so there is little sympathy here as well. If fees were 75 basis points lower, and rates were 75 basis points higher, the borrower would be in the same place. While underwriters may not like it, many folks in DC believe that now is the time in the recovery for the FHA to shore up their reserves.
- Bring back seller-funded down payment assistance and closing costs. The government determined these programs resulted in risky loans that may have even been above 100% LTV on day one. Now is not the time to lobby for these programs.
- Loosen documentation. Several industry veterans said that today's documentation is not too much more difficult than it was in the 1980s before automated underwriting took place. While costly and perhaps a bit overboard for many, less than full documentation is not going to garner a lot of sympathy today either.
- Have sympathy for those who sold short. Short sellers include very honorable people who did everything they could to help the bank recover as much as possible, as well as less honorable people who strategically forced the banks to take huge losses even though they could have kept their mortgage current. At this point in the recovery, asking short sellers to wait four years to get a federally insured or guaranteed mortgage is not viewed as unreasonable.
- Offer FHA terms on homes above the FHA limit. There are borrowers who cannot qualify for a FHA loan but want to buy a home above the FHA limit and do not qualify for a conforming loan. They are not going to get a lot of sympathy right now either, as homes above the FHA limit are more expensive than half of the homes being sold in the market.
To the extent that any of these scenarios above can produce good loans, banks or non-banks will start making them and charging the appropriate risk-based return.
We could go on and on with respect to loans that industry executives think banks should be making, but instead we hope to focus people's attention on the paradox in today's lending environment and the current reality that could help buoy sales.
In conclusion, let's:
- Get the word out that loans below the FHA limit are readily accessible, with monthly payments that are a great historical value in comparison to gross incomes.
- Let the bankers use manual underwriting in instances where they can document that the loan has a very low likelihood of losses.


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Maintenance of a website are the basics that keep it safe and running fast. WordPress by itself is cheap: The cost of a domain name and hosting. But WordPress done properly needs maintenance.
If your real estate website is not on a real estate hosted platform like myRealPage or RealtyNinja, etc., then chances are you have a WordPress website. And, who maintains your real estate WordPress website? You do. WordPress websites need to be maintained – all websites do.
Your Real Estate WordPress Maintenance Primer
The goal is to avoid a huge pain in the derriere by leaving things unchecked for too long. Things like malicious hacks, breaking or going offline. Keeping your real estate website and hosting abreast with the latest updates is key.
WordPress Updates
Since the beginning of December 2018 there have been 4 releases in the WordPress platform, including the release of version 5.0 called Bebo.
- January 9, 2019 WordPress 5.0.3 – Maintenance Release
- December 19, 2018 WordPress 5.0.2 – Maintenance Release
- December 13, 2018 WordPress 5.0.1 – Security Release
- December 6, 2018 WordPress 5.0 – "Bebo"
- See them all here wordpress.org/news/category/releases/
WordPress can be set to auto update the maintenance releases but will need help on version releases. It will not auto update plugins or the theme. Here are the steps you need to take to update your site.
- Please back-up your website before doing anything
- Investigate compatibility with the theme, plugins and hosting
- Update the theme if required and hard refresh the site to test
- Update plugins if required and hard refresh the site to test
- Update WordPress and hard refresh the site to test
Here is the WordPress Manual for details: codex.wordpress.org/Upgrading_WordPress
That's not all…
Other things to consider is your hosting. Security updates for PHP 5.6 have ended and will become a security liability.
When updating to WordPress 5.0 (Bebo), decide whether to use Classic Editor or Gutenberg Editor.
We're here to help if you need it.


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Anne Sophie Lorange Answers 5 Questions
This is 5 Questions. Each week, we send five questions to an artist featured in Under the Radar, our weekly email highlighting the best art on the ArtSlant network. This week we seek answers from Anne Sophie Lorange.
What are you trying to communicate?
I communicate the importance of human openness, which I find closely linked to the beauty of existence, through exploring the aesthetics of emptiness, silence and in-between spaces. A painting is not an absolute answer. Rather, it reaches out to viewers and invites them to take part. The traces are a silent world of one's own existence, and meaning lies beyond the visible, beyond observation. We have to reach into ourselves, into the unseen where both absence and presence reside. The process of creating leads me into an opening, where I can identify with the sense of being in-between. It is a questioning, more than an answering, revealing light on one's own existence, of the in-between nature of human identity as both present and fragile, but also timeless and sublime. Uncertainty—what's unseen—creates a sense of wonder and being in the moment.
Untitled (intermittences of being), 2018, Acrylic on linen
My artwork is therefore a result of an existential meandering. I question regularity and chaos through compositional structures, patterns and forms combined with intuitive line drawings. I can feel the essence of fragility and vulnerability in the line itself, a visual sign of the transiency of life. A space implies time, but through these spaces, I am able to see and understand something further than the visible aspects of humanity. Time becomes irrelevant, and the emptiness of the space itself becomes a connection to the beauty of the moment and a connection to others' identities.
Painting a form, and placing it "on the edge" of the canvas, makes it exist as a structure. I use elements of color to soften the form or to some degree hide it, suggesting an empty space within the form itself, in between presence and absence. The vulnerability of emptiness transports us into a meditative state beyond language and time, into a borderless intangible existence of belonging to something, like an expansion beyond ourselves. Susan Sontag has said "silence remains, inescapably, a form of speech." The artwork becomes a visible language within the invisible, untranslatable, a pattern of an incomprehensible language encompassing the presence of the moment.
Untitled (lost without you), Acrylic & ink on wood panel
What is an artist's responsibility?
I believe the artist's primary responsibility is to connect. Everyone's uniqueness shines through inevitably and perpetually—like a baby learning to speak a language from within, where the alphabet doesn't start with the letter A. Every artist has something to tell, something that is entirely unique for them as an individual, and this uniqueness connects us to one another.
Therefore one can also say an artist's responsibility is to connect with others, but this is almost unnecessary to say—it's a natural consequence of being an artist. I love that about art, like the feeling of confetti in the air—it's intense. Self identity is the ultimate connection to others, floating in ones' own space, forming new realities, like an unstable, labyrinthine constellation. Exploding stars rearrange, and we can emotionally unite.
Believing it's true, 2018, Acrylic on linen
Show us the greatest thing you ever made (art or not)?
My kids which are by far the greatest work of art.
Tell us about a work you want to make but never will.
Painting the sea, the totality of it, beyond dimensions. The challenges are obviously too immense. I might actually drown in the process.
Who are three artists we should know but probably don't?
Cookie Mueller, Ewa Partum and AK Dolven
—The ArtSlant Team
ArtSlant is an open Arts community with over 200,000 free, user-generated artist profiles. The support of our community is an essential part of our mission. Follow your favorite artists to see new work and exhibitions by adding them to your watchlist.
(Image at top: Everywhere and nowhere I, 2015, Acrylic, pencil on wood panel. Photo of painting by: Ansgar Valbø)
Tags: 5 Questions Under the Radar artist profiles, painting, abstract, mixed-media
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