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"Oh, and, fidel? Kiss my ass."
One hundred percent literacy rate!!!! One hundred percent!!! That's the first thing one hears when the subject of Cuba comes up in any debate. (Followed, of course, by the free health care myth.)Hmm, sounds familiar. The first thing one hears when the subject of Finland (or Canada) comes up is Free healthcare!!! Social safety net!!! Blech.
Why don't we ever hear about that from our American Fidel-butt-kissing socialistas?
One hundred percent of the people in Cuba are literate. They can all read Granma, fidel's speeches, the Little Red Book and their ration cards.
You won't find any New York Times or Washington Posts or Le Mondes in any Cuban households. You wont find many books other than those approved by the government. No Mark Twains or Isabel Allendes or Cabrera Infantes. There certainly wont be a copy of Valladares out on the coffee table. Sorry, not allowed.
But some Cubans, who thirst for knowledge and information on what's going on in the world outside their island prison, started independent libraries - lending libraries - to allow their fellow countrymen access to what little books and media are available that are not part of the govenrment's you-can-only-read-this list. Of course, castro cannot allow his people the freedom of using their 100% literacy rate to see just what a dismal failure his revolution is. So he cracked down on them.
Books confiscated and burned, because they are "subversive" to the regime. Independent librarians thrown in jails with the comon prison population for "disrespect" or "promoting unrest" or whatever term castro chose for his kangaroo courts.Meanwhile, we have these results from a recent poll of American high school students
Seems American leftucators have taken their cue from Fidel.
One in three U.S. high school students say the press ought to be more restricted, and even more say the government should approve newspaper stories before readers see them, according to a survey being released today.
The survey of 112,003 students finds that 36% believe newspapers should get "government approval" of stories before publishing; 51% say they should be able to publish freely; 13% have no opinion.
Asked whether the press enjoys "too much freedom," not enough or about the right amount, 32% say "too much," and 37% say it has the right amount. Ten percent say it has too little.
[Hat tip: Kim du Toit for the poll results.]


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I Should Probably be in Therapy
But why, when I can awkwardly blog about my issues to the internet?
I'm off to Nashville, but I've left you all this real gem of mental health specimen.
TRIGGER WARNING: PTSD and emotional abuse
But why, when I can awkwardly blog about my issues to the internet?
I'm off to Nashville, but I've left you all this real gem of mental health specimen.
TRIGGER WARNING: PTSD and emotional abuse
1. I went camping a couple of weeks ago, and we went fishing, and I caught my first bass!! It was so much fun. I can't wait to go camping/fishing again. I cooked the bass, and some crappie, for dinner, and it was so good.
2. My mom is getting here tonight! She's going to be here almost two weeks, and I've got a lot of fun planned. We're leaving for Nashville (#NashVegas) first thing in the morning, and going to see Eric Church two nights in a row. There will Loveless Cafe biscuits. There will be Biscuit Love biscuits. There will be craft beer. And a brazilian steakhouse. There will questionable WW food logging. It will be worth it.
3. I went to Washington, D.C. last week for some industry volunteering that I'm involved with, and the trip was awesome. We spent basically two days in teambuilding and training exercises, followed by a day of lobbying on Capitol Hill. I actually did some lobbying while I was in college, so it wasn't totally new to me, but having a chance to speak on behalf of the aftermarket at the federal level was an honor.
While I was there, I went out for an "oops it was supposed to be 3" 5 mile run, all the way down the mall, from the capitol to the Lincoln monument. Beautiful – especially in the quiet of sunrise. I'm sure that the people who live there take it for granted, but it's amazing. I'm a pretty patriotic person, but I think I hit new levels last week.
Here's some shots from that run, and our Tennessee aftermarket representatives, ready to hit the Hill. If you're into cars, make sure you check out the SEMA RPM Act site to super easily send letters to your legislators, and them know how important it is to their voter base.
These are the devil shoes that did me in….guess they should've been broken in…oops
Shout to the department of Agriculture for my mortgage!
WW is one thing I've definitely not slacked on in my blog absence. Gone every week, lost pretty much every week. Picked up a couple new charms along the way – most notably my 10% charm, and my 25 pound charm. I'll run through all of them in another post, but working the plan is totally working for me. I'm down nearly 30 pounds, and I'm completely happy with my progress.
So here's some weight watchers brain work, chosen at random from the stack of weekly handouts that's grown much faster than I've blogged here…oops.
These questions are from the weekly dated April 30-May 6, "Get in the Groove to Move."
Choose one new activity to try….
I'm going to be giving the stationary bike a go. My go to cardio is running in the wee hours of the morning, and actively competing with my office mates for miles logges, but when I went to D.C. last week, I got a little too run sightseeing happy and gave myself horrendous blisters (pictures – of the run, not the blisters – coming tomorrow). Running isn't in the cards for a least the next week, maybe longer. I'm going to put in 30 minutes 3 times this week on the bike whilst trying not to die of boredom.
And if I know me, I should probably invest in a helmet…
Not every post name can be a winner, okay?
Since I really got into the posts on here, I've been through a serious real estate roller coaster (and there's the alliteration I was looking for…..dammit).
I made an offer on a house that was accepted, and so I was under contract. The NEXT day, another newer house on more land, closer to work, with a shop came available, but I was already under contract with the first one, and so I decided that the house with the shop just wasn't meant for me. I shelled out a few hundred of the best dollars I have literally ever spent (second only to the dollars I spent on gas to leave my ex, probably…) for inspection, and found out that the house was a disaster in a million invisble-to-the-naked-eye-but-probably-going-to-burn-or-fall-down-anyday ways.
And so I was no longer under contract, because there was NO way I was signing on for that mess. Immediately regrouped with my agent, and got an appointment to go see the house with the shop. Got a call on the way there, and it was under contract to someone else. Went to see the neighborhood, and fell in love. Big mistake. Big. Huge.
Anyone? Anyway….
Put a backup offer in, but was already like seventeenth in line. BUT! There was another one in the same subdivision – FOR SALE! More land! Bigger shop! We made an appointment, and like clockwork, it went under contract before I could get in to see it…again. Seriously started to feel like I was cursed.
And so I basically took a month off from house hunting. It's such a fun process the first few days, but it starts to suck the life out of you. I started considering houses I didn't even like in the name of…I don't know….winning? It was dumb how my ego got caught up in it all.
So then one morning, I'm casually browsing Zillow with my morning cup, as we do in our office (3 out of 4 are house hunting now. I'm such a trendsetter). Anyway, came across the cutest brick ranch in Tennessee, where I'd been intentionally NOT looking because of property taxes. Sent it to my lender to get a quick idea of my monthly payment, and was pleasantly surprised to see it well within my budget. Got an appointment, saw it, made offer, offer accepted, and now, I'm under contract again. I'm carefully NOT celebrating until I close this time – I feel like I learned my lesson.
Here's my two favorite parts though – beautiful yard with lots of room for my new shop, and this kitchen (which I'm already making plans to upgrade).
Stay tuned, more updates to follow!
It's amazing how fast my blog became a meme repository. But this week's the week that changes…I know for sure, because I already scheduled posts.
Look out world, I'm back in the game! Yeah, that's one of my favorite movie quotes of all time.

subset: commoncrawl


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Seismic Stratigraphy And Structure Offshore Cide-Sinop, Southern Black Sea
Y. Işcan Alp, N. Ocakoğlu, F. Kılıç and O. Özel
Event name: 9th Congress of the Balkan Geophysical Society
Session: 1.02 Marine Geophysics
Publication date: 05 November 2017
Organisations: BGS, EAGE
Language: English
Info: Extended abstract, PDF ( 7.46Mb )
Price: € 20
The multi-channel seismic reflection data of about 700 km length were collected offshore Cide-Sinop in the southern Black Sea shelf in 1990 by Turkish Petroleum Company (TP) and studied under the research project of Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project no. TUBİTAK-ÇAYDAG-114Y057). The data have been processed by applying conventional data processing steps under 'Echos' seismic data processing software in 'ITU Nezihi Canıtez Data Processing Laboratory'and interpreted as stratigraphical and structural. Stratigraphically, four main seismic units from shallow to deep have been interpreted in the seismic sections. The stratigraphic elements in the region indicate the existence of Paleocene-Upper Cretasous and younger units. Erosional surfaces of the top of the seismic units are widely cropped out at the seafloor and these units constitute the flat shelf plain. Structurally, strike-slip faults with generally compression components and reverse/thrust faults are mapped which generally deform all seismic units and reach the seafloor. Thus, they are interpreted as active faults.
Back to the article list


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Trading in Microsoft shares on Monday will reflect a 2-for-1 split, which the company (MSFT) MSFT, +1.50% announced January 25. The stock is currently just under an all-time high, ending Friday off 1 13/16 to 178 1/8. Shares in the software giant have more than doubled since the government said it was investigating Microsoft's alleged bullying of customers and rivals.
Microsoft officials are expected to meet with government antitrust prosecutors next Tuesday to discuss the company's preliminary proposal to settle the federal-state antitrust case. The company's offer already has gotten a cool reception from the federal government, with one state official describing it as a ``minimalist opening offer.'' See full story
Best Software doesn't have best day
Best Software shares fell after the company said it has acquired OmniVista Software. It also said it will have to redo its financial statements from last year to reflect an acquisition made last March. In that deal, the company (BEST) BEST, -0.81% acquired privately held HR Management Software. It's lowered its write-off stemming from that acquisition to $3.9 million from $9.4 million. See press release. Best Software stock dropped 7/8 to 13 3/4.
The Learning Co. tops estimates
The Learning Co. (TLC) TLC, +1.26% said it earned 58 cents a share, a nickel more than analysts expected. The company also said it will vote on its proposed merger with Mattel on May 7. See press release. The Learning Co. stock added 3/8 to 28 7/8.
Citrix splits its shares
Citrix Systems (CTXS) CTXS, +1.56% split its stock 2-for-1 on Friday. The company trades at more than 50 times last year's earnings. The stock rose 3 3/32 to 40 1/8.


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In the literacy sessions and English lessons in my setting, we regularly work on reading comprehension with fiction texts. I wanted an appealing and engaging pack, that suited the targets I had set and was suitable for a range of students (higher and lower ability). I couldn't quite find what I wanted, so I got my "creativity thinking hat" on and voilà- here is the Reading Comprehension Pack! It's available now in my TPT store.
This pack is aligned to the English Language Arts Common Core Standards, for Kindergarten and Grade 1. This isn't necessary for me (as I work in the UK*!) but it's an added bonus!
The pack includes 12 worksheets that come in both colour and black and white. I wanted the pack to be as useful as possible, so there is no preparation required; you can just print and go- an incredibly useful feature when giving out to a class full of students (including those perfectionists, who want to start again because they made a mistake!) Also, to increase it's functionality, it's not season-themed, so is suitable to use throughout the year! (That was really important to me, as my students work better with familiar layouts and a changing layout doesn't always help!)
Here are some example of what's included:
(* Don't worry, the pack on TPT does have English (US) Spellings! The version I've used at work has English (UK) Spellings)
I hope you like this pack, I've found it really useful at work; the students love it! For those working in schools- The worksheets look lovely on displays too!


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Sycamore Valley Academy Making a Difference in the Facility Resources Struggle in the Central Valley
This is members-only content. For full access, sign in or become a member.
Content Summary
For that reason, schools participating in Prop 39 facilities applications and SB 740 facilities private lease reimbursements should be applauded in their efforts to formally communicate the need for facility resources for charter schools.


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These pieces of fabric were discharged with bleach, in some parts using freezer paper masks, and then the action of the bleach was stopped using sodium metabisulphate, having discussed how to stop the bleach with one of the artists in the working studio at the Festival of Quilts last summer. It was something I used to use when it was the fashion to brew one's own beer and used it to sterilize the bottles. I wore a mask and gloves when using it.
Patching and piecing.
Choosing threads.
Over on the Sketchbook Challenge blog the theme is collage in the sketchbook.
There are some changes this year, a set of new themes and a Flickr slideshow of participants work at the end of each month.


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A decade of drug policies: where does the world go from here?
30 April 2018
By Bangyuan Wang, the Alliance's senior technical advisor on HIV and harm reduction
Next year, it will be time to take stock of where the world stands on drug control, a decade after the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action on illicit drugs was made. At the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) 'Ministerial Segment' meeting, countries will come together to assess the past ten years and shape the next decade of targets.
The impact of these discussions on the lives of people most affected by HIV should not be underestimated. With people who inject drugs 28 times more at risk of HIV than the general global population – a risk that arises from sharing needles and injection equipment but is reinforced through criminalisation, marginalisation and poverty – there is much at stake.
Along with the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), Alliance Linking Organisations and partners involved in our PITCH programme are now working to bring four key advocacy asks to the attention of the officials who will attend the CND meeting. So what is it, exactly, that we are asking for?
Move away from 'drug-free world' targets
Since the 2009 Declaration much has happened. In 2016, the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) led to a set of commitments that moved away from punishing drug use to focus on protecting the health and human rights of people who use drugs. The UNGASS 2016 outcome document containing these commitments is very progressive. Although it doesn't specifically use the phrase 'harm reduction', it contains a comprehensive list of harm reduction interventions, such as needle and syringe exchanges, education on safe injecting practices, and opioid substitution therapy.
Yet a number of countries, including some with great power and influence such as China, Russia and Pakistan, want to push back the agenda and refer to older conventions that use 'a world free of drugs' as their final target. The greater number of countries that work to 2016 targets, the more likely we are to create an open dialogue about what progress should be defined as, and what the point of drug policies should be.
End punitive approaches to drug use: put people and communities first
We are currently preparing contributions to a review by the UN's Human Rights Office of the High Commission (ONCHR) to show how the target of a drug free world has been used as an excuse for countries to crack down on drug use and violate human rights, including extrajudicial killings.
In countries where PITCH operates we are implementing REAct, a tool for documenting and responding to individual human rights violations among key populations. We hope this will provide a rich source of evidence for the review.
For example, in Zimbabwe, Indonesia and Vietnam, if a person who uses drugs seeks health services, and a nurse or doctor realises they use drugs, not only will they not provide assistance, they will call the police. The police will then force that person to do a urine test and they will end up in prison or a compulsory rehabilitation centre. If they are living with HIV this means they are more likely to become ill and more likely to pass HIV on to others. This situation helps no one, but unless we end punitive approaches to drug use, it will continue.
Reflect the UN goals of health, human rights, development, peace and security
Drug policies that focus on health and human rights are possible. Although the majority of countries that have progressive approaches to drug use are in the global North, some countries in the global South are starting to reflect UNGASS 2016 commitments in their drug policies, such as Myanmar and Ghana.
The 61st CND, which took place last month, provided an opportunity for these countries to show others that changes are possible. A packed side-event, which the Alliance held with IDPC and Harm Reduction International, saw the director of Myanmar's Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control describe the process that led the country to decriminalise drug possession and use in February. Officials from Kenya, Malaysia and Nigeria were all in the room and, we hope, were listening.
The next step is to work, not only within side events, but at the main CND and ministerial segement. We want countries like Myanmar to publically state that they are in the process of changing, or have already changed, the law, or at least started a national debate for more scientific, evidence-based drug policies that prioritise the human rights and health of people who use drugs, rather than policies based on ideology that continue to chase the notion of a drug free world.
Reflect the positive and negative realities of drug policies on the ground
In 2017, UNODC's World Drug Report described the drug market as 'thriving'. When countries gather next year to evaluate the progress made on drug control in the past decade, we need to present evidence generated through a transparent, scientific, and inclusive evaluation process; one that honestly reflects the reality of what has, and what hasn't, worked.
To this end, Alliance Linking Organisations and PITCH partners are working with IDPC to write a shadow report that evaluates both the negative and positive realities of current drug policies and identifies possible new ways to measure success over the next decade.
Looking beyond 2019 to the next decade
There is much to be done, but these four key areas show the way forward. As preparations continue for 2019 and beyond, I am hopeful civil society will continue to increase its influence on policy makers so the changes needed in so many countries can happen, and the lives of millions of people who use drugs will improve as a result.


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With my previous (not correct) understanding, gnuplot can only handle data files separated by spaces. Therefore, whenever I wanted to visualize the csv files with gnuplot, I had to use awk or sed to remove the commas and then save the results into new files. It made my folders contain redundant data files which were just for using gnuplot. It's a little stupid, I always thought.
Today I encountered several csv files again, but this time I made up my mind to find the solution out. From the searching results with Google, I found there have been some people asking the same question but without easy solutions given. Then I found a document of old version gnuplot. It gives the right approach: to set datafile separator.
So, next time when you need to handle the csv files with gnuplot, remember to add the following line in the gnuplot script:
set datafile separator ","


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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
For Abby, and anyone else who loves stinking-adorable children
Labels: Movie Stars, Our Caleb, Our Christian
4 friends had a thing or two to say...:
- ashleykimble said...
oh my goodness...that was the cutest thing!! I'm ready to climb into bed after that sweet bedtime story!!
- February 18, 2009 at 1:45 AM
- He And Me + 3 said...
This is such a great idea. I love it! He is precious!
- February 18, 2009 at 7:39 AM
- Blessed Mom of 8 said...
Ok, that is the most precious video ever! What is the book??? I have to get it for the children. Your voice is beautiful! I loved hearing it! Can't wait to meet in person! You have to share your singing with us :) Lexi and you can sing together!
Love you and big HUGS to those precious sons of yours!
- February 18, 2009 at 9:06 AM
- Room to Think said...
that's just gorgeous, Darlene! Your sons are really adorable, and so sweet to make Abby a video, how did you send it to her family?
- February 19, 2009 at 6:23 PM
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I recently got asked by Barbour to write a guest blog post for them. With all the very wintery weather we've been having recently I thought this 4 hour slow cooked pig cheek ragu was just the thing.
Every year, when the first of September comes around, I get filled with what I like to term 'Autumn Joy' and look forward to months of being able to cocoon myself in knits, scarves and knee high socks. The days might be brisk but everything looks prettier; when the piles of crisp brown leaves have long blown away there is the silver tipped icy coating to look forward to.


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28 Feb.
Clever marketing and strategic media planning have shot Giovanni Allevi into international fame, defined him as the "Italian genius of piano," and appointed him as international spokesperson for Italian creativity. All this publicity has also placed him in the eye of the storm and he has received much criticism from fellow musicians and critics who accuse him of lacking in depth.
Born in 1969, Allevi is a composer and pianist who re-elaborates the European classical tradition, opening it to new pop and contemporary trends. He professes to be at ease both in theatres and in front of rock audiences.
Since his first solo album in 1997, Allevi has released six other albums, the most recent, Sunrise, in 2012. He regularly performs live on stage, but is also committed to music education and holds seminars for students.
Auditorium Conciliazione, Via della Conciliazione 4, www.auditoriumconciliazione.


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Trailer Breakdown - We go over the details from the latest Logan trailer
The latest trailer for James Mangold's LOGAN hit last week, delivering on the promise of its synopsis: A not-too-distant future where a weary Logan (Hugh Jackman) cares for an ailing Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and a young mutant who's pursued by dark forces. The extended red-band trailer was gritty and unforgiving in its portrayal of the life Logan lives, and full of all sorts of interesting moments and characters to examine. Join us in our video breakdown as we sift through content and tell you everything you need to know about the latest trailer for LOGAN!
LOGAN opens in theaters on March 3, 2017


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So, I'd been looking forward to Cowboys & Aliens since I saw the first trailers months ago. I was excited for a number of reasons, primarily:
1. cowboys
2. aliens.
3. Harrison Ford
When I went to see the movie last Tuesday, I felt like I was determined to not be disappointed. Every time disappointment threatened it was like a voice in my head would pipe up "but there's cowboys AND aliens" to repel disappointment. There's no doubt that this is the ultimate high concept film. And although overall I still didn't mind the film, looking back now I'm starting to wonder whether cowboys and aliens was all that Cowboys & Aliens had to offer.
The story itself was just that little bit too predictable. The characters were a little shallow and their personal journeys within the film were pretty easy to plot out. Few of the characters showed any development by the end, and those that did seemed to develop as a spontaneous phenomenon rather than in response to the conflict they'd faced. What's more, despite my excitement for Harrison Ford he failed to wow me. I spent the whole film thinking "Harrison Ford got really old and has made enough money that he no longer has to put effort into his acting". Massive disappointment for this fan.
I could forgive the predictability of the story if the film had been a little cleverer in terms of structure. The first hour of the film is structurally your standard western. Replace the word "aliens" with "Indians" in the story outline and the film could easily have been The Searchers, the film that convinced this cinephile to love westerns in the first place. But the latter half of the film dragged, with action sequences clearly intended to draw in the lowest common denominator clouding what could have been an interesting modern interpretation of the western.
Though I loved picking up on the references to Alien and Star Wars (amongst many others), I feel the use of such intertextuality was a bit heavy handed, paying homage to such films without really adding much to the subtext of the film.
Maybe this blog is a bit harsher than I intended it, but it seems as though Cowboys & Aliens is one of those movies that disappoints me a lot more when I think about it in retrospect than it did at the time.


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Well it is a bit of a long story so I'll try to keep it as concise as possible. For anyone out there who personally knows me this will be a feat in itself. In October 2010 our friend Paul went to volunteer at New Day Foster home in Beijing. He returned home with many beautiful pictures of little orphans with medical needs. Our hearts were touched in a big way and we began praying about whether we should adopt a special needs orphan from China. We had looked into this a few years earlier but decided that it was not God's plan for us. We decided then and there that if God wanted us to do this at a later date He would have to make His will very obvious to us. Fast forward back to November 2010 and after many situations, biblical affirmations, and prayer times with God, we both felt that God wanted us to adopt. His answer to us a few years earlier was not the "no" we thought it was, it was "not now".
We started the biggest single paper chase of our lives. Here is a little rundown for those of you who are in the process or are contemplating adopting from the Waiting Child Progam in China.
- December 2010- started homestudy
- February 2011 - homestudy completed including PRIDE training
- August 1, 2011- DTC (Dossier to China)
- August 15, 2011 - LID (Logged in date to China's system)
- December 21, 2011- date of our referral for Li Lin
- December 23, 2011 - LOI (letter of intent to adopt Li Lin sent to China)
- December 30, 2011 -PA (provisional approval)
- March 8, 2012- received LSC/LOA ( letter from China asking us to confirm we are going to adopt her.. also known as the letter of approval to adopt
- March 13, 2012- booked tickets for departure May 2nd, 2012!!
We are all super excited! Li Lin is a beautiful little girl that after December 21, 2011 became a permanent part of our life. She is an adorable girl who turned three two days ago. We were able to send her a birthday package which seemed to make her day... and totally made ours! The pictures we were sent from Ann at Red Thread are, in a word, precious! We are all looking forward to May 7, 2012 when we see her face to face for the very first time. The kids are having a hard time waiting as are their parents :)
If you are wondering, as I was, what the pink lipstick on the forehead is for, apparently it is a good luck gesture for her birthday. Her messy face photo is because she dug into this awesome cake that was delivered.


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People make mistakes. Strategies therefore can be imperfect. If you have ever crafted one that is not working or likely to fail then it is your responsibility to change course. Staying the course is for idiots who play with other peoples money and lives. In an excellent example of changing course when needed, New York Times today dropped TimesSelect their paid subscription service for online content. They, correctly, assessed that the online world had changed and so should their business model. Online content is designed to be free. Unfettered access to content then increases its use and propagation through the most effective mechanism word of mouth. Except word of mouth or viral marketing as some have called it - in the online world is done through emails, linking and blogs. Locked content prevents these mechanisms to operate. If you lock up content you lose readers and the advertising revenue . This revenue is not only greater than the subscription revenue but also is self perpetuating. Readers come back and bring their friends and family. Subscribers do not or cannot. Read the NYtimes article>>
Documents are in common file formats such as Microsoft Word (doc), Powerpoint (ppt), Excel (xls,csv,xlsx), and Adobe pdf.


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Labour is now the party of the big cities, but it's shrivelling in its heartlandsby Jonathan Derbyshire / May 8, 2015 / Leave a comment
Shortly before Christmas, I attended a conference on the future of the European left in Budapest. The British participants were particularly exercised by the fate of what David Goodhart, former editor of Prospect, called the "Hampstead-Humberside alliance"—the political union of the metropolitan liberal intelligentsia and industrial working class on which the Labour Party's electoral fortunes had long been built.
Two numbers isolated from the blizzard of data disgorged by last night's general election suggest that this alliance has unravelled—and they have serious implications for Labour. They are 45 and 7,951. The first is the number of seats won by Labour in London (an increase of seven on its haul in the 2010 election); the second is the number of votes cast for Ukip's David Dews in the West Yorkshire constituency of Morley and Outwood, which helped to deprive Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, of a seat he'd held, in one form or another, for the past ten years. (In Humberside itself, Ukip showed up pretty well, even if they didn't contribute to any Labour losses—it finished second to Labour in Hull East, and a close third behind Labour and the Conservatives in Great Grimsby, a seat Nigel Farage's party had long coveted. In any case, for Goodhart's purposes Humberside is as much a sociological category as a geographical one. In Bury North, for example, Ukip increased its share of the vote by 9.5 per cent, ensuring…


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"Shopaholic & Sister" by Sophie Kinsella is the fourth book in the Shopaholic series. This book once again follows Becky Brandon (neé Bloomwood) on her many adventures. The book picks up with Luke and Becky on the tenth month of their yearlong honeymoon. After ten months they are starting to feel a bit homesick and so they change their plans and come home earlier than planned. They make one more stop before returning home – Milan.
Once in the fashion capital of the world, Becky gets a little irritated at Luke for his comment to control herself while they are in Milan. In an effort to show her dedication to soak up the culture rather than go shopping, Becky tells Luke to take her purse to prove that she doesn't need to go shopping. He actually takes it and leaves her in a rather challenging situation. "As the door closes I feel a tad disgruntled. Little does Luke know. Little does Luke know I was actually planning to buy him a present today. Years ago, when I first met him, Luke had this belt which he really loved, made of gorgeous Italian leather. But he left it in the bathroom one day and it got hot leg-wax on it.
Which was not entirely my fault. Like I told him, when you're in total agony, you don't think "What would be the most suitable implement to scrape burning wax off my shins?" You just grab the nearest thing." (Shopaholic & Sister, pg 29). I thought this was pretty funny. Having dealt with hot wax before, I can completely understand her reaction. After Luke left, Becky decides to venture out with the small amount of cash she had on her. Of course she also had her emergency credit card glued to the inside of a compact mirror. She stops at a leather goods store to find the belt for Luke and meets a man that helps her out: Nathan Temple. He helps Becky acquire an angel bag – the must-have item that is impossible to get. Elated at her new bag, she doesn't even consider the ramifications of owing a debt to someone she had never met before.
Luke and Becky head back to London after she gets her fabulous bag completely unaware that her exchange in Milan was the beginning of a bigger issue. Once they get back they happily head over to her parents' house with big plans of a tearful reunion. Instead, Becky finds that her world has changed quite a bit. In her absence, a woman has surfaced and made contact with her parents – a sister. Becky also finds that things have changed with her best friend, Suze. Everything seems to have turned upside down in her world. Becky tries to cope with all of this and at the same time survive on a budget enforced by Luke and deal with the many, many purchases made during their honeymoon.
I really enjoyed reading about all these extra challenges that Becky has thrown at her. It's interesting how much has changed in her life. She doesn't have a full time job at this point, so Becky has to amuse herself (on a budget) while Luke is at work all the time. Then there is the issue of her family and friends becoming alienated from her when she was gone for such a long time. Becky is also coping with having a long-lost sister and is pretty ridiculous about the whole situation. Jess is the complete opposite of Becky. This becomes perfectly clear when she spells out that she hates shopping. Part of what I really enjoyed about the addition of Jess's character in the Shopaholic series is that Becky is thrust into a situation that she cannot exactly talk herself out of. She has to work through her own selfish ways in order to make room for a relationship with a sister that she never knew she had. It's nothing short of entertaining. Throughout all this mess, Becky also has the interaction in Milan come back and bite her in the ass. You can certainly count on Becky to bury her head in the sand and hide from all her problems.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think it was yet another fun read in the Shopaholic series. It brings a lot of interesting issues to light, the challenges that you would face coming back from almost a year long hiatus: trying to find where you fit in other people's lives now, how you would react and deal with a newly discovered family member, and also the additional challenges of meeting a new relative and having nothing in common with them. Not to mention coming back to reality after being on honeymoon for so long. It was really fun reading about Becky and how she dealt with these new challenges. As hilarious as ever, the fourth book in the Shopaholic series is well worth reading. Look below for a funny excerpt.
"But that's so…narrow-minded! Most people have probably got a criminal record these days!" I gesture widely with my arms. "I mean, who sitting round this table does not have some kind of criminal record?"
There's a short silence.
"Well," says Luke. "I don't. Gary doesn't. You don't."
I look at him, taken aback. I suppose he's right. I don't.
That's quite a surprise, actually. I'd always thought of myself as living on the edge." (Shopaholic & Sister, pg 166)


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Today was a crazy day of running around and of course celebrating!
C was patiently waiting for cake and presents at the end of the day when we could all be together. Patiently perhaps a bit tongue in cheek as this is definitely not a word this little guy comprehends! A typical day starts with whining and demanding and ends with arguments of NOT sleeping! It may sound ridiculous but when I have survived the day of multiple behavioural challenges I am actually extremely thankful for this test of sanity. All medical reports pointed towards autism, FASD, and many other developmental delays at 13 months of age and we were truly unsure what his future held.
When we first became aware that C even existed we had just completed our sixth adoption and closed our file at the agency believing at least briefly that our family was complete. News of one of our existing sons having a biological brother that was in need of an adoptive family was needless to say "unexpected"! We determined quite quickly that we would apply to be considered this adoptive family. I prepared a lengthy letter describing our family and the importance of preserving biological bonds between siblings, our parenting philosophy and all that we felt important as we raised our seven children with a holistic approach encouraging them to meet their individual potential. We had no idea what was in store but knew that we could be this forever family of security and love for this little boy!
The agency responsible for finding C a forever home did not respond to our letter and sent instead a letter to our local agency advising they would be pursuing another family. We could not understand the lack of communication or the decision to refuse our invitation to come to our home and meet us, talk with the other children and at least consider our application. We soon came to realize that the reason we were not to be considered was that we had seven children and C would present with many risk factors that would require "better attention than we could provide". All this without even speaking to us on the phone!
The heartbreak we felt for our son and the grieving over the loss of a significant biological bond between these two brothers was overwhelming for us and we felt they both deserved our best efforts to ensure that we had at least made every attempt to ensure this significant bond could be nurtured. We understood all too well how biological bonds between siblings was a very important part of their identity especially as they grew and the questions about their "beginnings" surfaced. We had at the time five other children from two sibling groups that had each in their own way drawn on these significant relationships as we were watching them grow and mature. We appealed this decision to a provincial board and a trial was set for October of 2009.
Very little time was allowed for preparation but I spent the next several weeks researching documents at the university library on attachment, large families and special needs, subpoenaing witnesses and preparing several binders with questions for my witnesses and cross examination questions....all for a child we hadn't even seen a picture of!!! I am not a lawyer nor had I any experience on this end of a trial! I had taken the stand at several custody trials for our existing adopted children but nothing had prepared me for this journey.
I received a package in the mail from their lawyer and it suddenly became too real! Day one of the trial arrived and although overwhelmed and plagued with little sleep I was sure I couldn't have prepared any more than I had. Day one .... the most stressful day of my life I'm sure! The agency had brought a court stenographer and their lawyer, microphones, tape recorders and I was intimidated! I think in retrospect that was likely the point! The three panel members that would ultimately determine our future sat stone faced at one end of the room and my husband and I sat facing the opposing agency and their lawyer. I introduced and questioned my witnesses and then listened as they were cross examined and every aspect of our lives, private and otherwise debated! The next two days were full of "objections" and questions about whether information should or shouldn't be admissible......finally and I mean FINALLY the panel advised the other lawyer he was being unreasonable and that I was not a lawyer. The icing on the cake came as I prepared for my closing arguments. I opened my binder to my three page closing and took a deep cleansing breath to begin......three words came out of my mouth and the lawyer objected citing that I had not provided them a copy of this information and I could not therefore "read" from it......good grief......the panel discussed quietly and advised me that unfortunately to stay to the letter of the law I had to deliver my close without reading it. I understand now they were being so diligent in order to prevent any kind of appeal that would further delay C's placement. I prayed, breathed and started what turned out to be better, clearer closing arguments than I had prepared....Thank you God! We left the room at the end unsure of the results and were told we would receive their ruling via courier within 10 days. Never before had I been required to leave something so totally and completely in God's hands....a true test....
A 23 page ruling arrived in our favour....not only did it stipulate we were to be considered an adoptive applicant but that C was to be placed in our home! They stipulated this was to be done in a timely fashion in order to prevent further unnecessary delay in providing him the loving home he so deserved! We were floored and fully believe this process was part of what was necessary to continue to prepare us for our future with C and the ongoing uncertainty with many of the other children. Strength is drawn continually from God!!!
Almost three years later we celebrate him! He is NOT autistic and communicates continually! (any translating is done in house!) His joints were once floppy but now he's just extremely flexible! :) There are a whole host of things we will continue to deal with behaviourally and medically probably forever but none of these impact more than the blessing he is to us!!!
Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.


text: SALE $72 EASY PAY CIA milled receiver !... EASY PAY $63 DOWN LAYAWAY 12 MONTHLY PAY... CENTURY ARMS CETME SPORTER .308 WIN w/4 ... EASY PAY $59 DOWN CI Century Arms Red Ar... EASY PAY $84 Down Layaway Century Arms C... Guns Rifles Century International Arms Rifles Rifles Century C | 179 | 24 | Lc | 250.029ms View Category Century C308 For Sale from Legendary Guns | Positive feedback: 98% View | Verified Seller | 4267 Completed Sales View Sellers Items /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973426.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973427.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973428.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973429.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973430.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973431.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973432.jpg /UserImages/3220/930569462 11973433.jpg Description: Century C308 in .308 with 18" barrel, UTG rail. Rifle is used in very good condition, comes with 1 mag, no box. *No extra fees, You only pay for the cost of the item & $35 for shipping{AK&HI Extra} Arizona Residents Must Pay Sales Tax. *Legendary Guns in Phoenix AZ Hours of operation M-F 10-6 Sat 10-5 Closed Sundays. *All items online are also for sale at our Phoenix location *Please call the shop for any questions and to confirm availability before buying. We are happy to answer all questions. *We offer a 3 day inspection period with a full refund if item was misrepresented. We accept returns for any reason within the 3 day inspection period with NO refund for shipping coming or going and a 15% restocking fee. *We Only accept/consider trades that can be brought to our Store in Phoenix. *Your State Laws are your Responsibility to know. *Items ship once your Dealers FFL is received Read More Condition: Used, Minor Wear Caliber: .308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) Location: AZ Trades Accepted: No Read More Legendary Guns Inc., an FFL dealer, was founded in 1988 in Phoenix Arizona to meet a growing demand for quality new, used & antique firearms and accessories. Since then we have consistently grown to become one of the largest stocked gunshops in Arizona. We also have a large inventory of Cowboy Action Shooting guns and accessories and we also support SASS. Our policies are: We don't engage in internet trades. We take all major credit cards or Bank Checks.We DO NOT charge extra for credit card payments. We Try to ship the same day your FFL arrives assuming payment has been secured. We do not ship outside of the USA. We charge $35.00 shipping. In the Continental USA, Alaska and Hawaii are extra. We allow a 3 day inspection period starting from delivery date. We do not reimburse for shipping charges either ship to or ship back fees. A 15% restocking fee may apply on all returns. Please call 602-242-1195, ask for Internet sales, for details and questions before purchasing. We aim to please and are happy to answer any and all questions to avoid returns and disputes. Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sunday closed. Shipping Notes: We send Long guns via UPS Ground and Hand gun's ground USPS, unless We are instructed otherwise.extra cost are part of the Sale. All Sales that require a FFL go to a FFL dealer Read More Share Item Item #: 930569462 Stock No.: 30790 Legendary Guns Seller Since: Jun. 2001 Seller Level: Trusted + Local Connect This seller is an FFL City: Phoenix State: AZ Price: SOLD Shipping: $35.00 (or FREE in-store pick up!) Accepted Payment Methods: Returns: See Description Your Recently Viewed Items


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B401/34-38 McEvoy Street
Luxuriously large sub-penthouse designed for entertaining (enter via Pitt St)
A prestigious sub-penthouse in the ultra-contemporary Wellington on the Park' development, this near-new apartment presents as a luxurious urban oasis. Spanning a vast 162sqm, a streamlined indoor/outdoor layout and multiple wraparound terraces offer exciting prospects for the buyer seeking both low maintenance living and impressive alfresco entertaining.
Directly overlooking the green expanse of Waterloo Oval, it promises the ultimate city fringe lifestyle of absolute convenience, with the Sydney CBD only 3.7kms away, it is also only 900m walk to Danks Street cafes and alfresco eateries, Coles and Aldi supermarkets. A short 850m walk to Green Square Station, or 550m to the future metro station at Waterloo. Parks, schools, gyms and shopping are all within 500m and 150m to CBD buses.
- Grand, light filled open plan enclosed by walls of floor-to-ceiling glass
- Spectacular park view entertainers' terrace with solid timber decking
- Master and second bedrooms flow on to a second huge timber deck
- Opulent island eat-in kitchen with high calibre Bosch gas appliances
- Elegant marble embellished bathroom and ensuite, internal laundry
- Ultra-wide timber floors, ducted A/C, in and outdoor gas bayonets
- A/V intercom security, lift access to secure parking, lock-up storage
- Quiet Pitt Street entrance, stroll to bus, boutique shops, supermarket
Water rates: $228.20 p/q
Council rates: $255.26 p/q
Strata rates: $1,303.25 p/q
Disclaimer: Mint360property have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the property information provided. We request that at all times you inspect the property and make & rely upon your own enquiries.
Contact Agent
Adrian Fiorenza
m 0423 333 333
p (02) 8383 7933


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Uncategorized | March 8, 2018
St. Patrick's Day is only days away! So where did this corned beef eating, green drink drinking, shamrock wearing holiday come from? And where can I find St. Patrick's Day plans in Washington, DC? Well, if you want to find the answer to these questions, keep reading lads!
Saint Patrick lived in the fifth century. He was born of a wealthy family in Roman Britain but was later kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. After a few years, Saint Patrick escaped, but later returned to Ireland tell them about God. Saint Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. It wasn't until the ninth or tenth century when people started celebrating St. Patrick's Day on the anniversary of his death, March 17th.
Westland Distillery St. Patrick's Day Tasting Dinner
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year at the R. House! This event will feature a four-course dinner and cocktails by the Westland Distillery Whiskeys.
The St. Patrick's Day Comedy Show
Spend St. Patrick's Day enjoying a few laughs with friends at a St. Patrick's Day comedy show! This event runs from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM.
St. Patrick's Day Irish Whiskey, Craft Beer and Oyster Festival
This St. Patrick's Day, spend the day at the 2nd Annual St Patrick's Day Irish Whiskey, Craft Beer and Oyster Festival at the BoatHouse Canton! This event will last from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Mick O'Sheas– Baltimore, MD
The James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant– Baltimore, MD
From 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM on St. Patrick's Day, head to the Rosenteel Hall for a St. Patrick's Day celebration you won't soon forget! This event will feature a three-course meal, a full Irish bar, live music, whiskey tasting, a silent auction, and a step dancing performance! This is a family friendly event.
Mark your calendars to attend the ShamrockFest at the RFK Stadium in DC on Saturday March 17th from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM! This event includes food, drinks, entertainment, vendors, carnival rides and games! Sum 41, Shaggy, Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish will be headlining this event.
On Saturday March 17th starting at 8:00 AM, the Reston Town Center is hosting a Leprechaun 5k! The course of the 5k loops around the Reston Town Center and ends on Market Street. After the race the party moves to Crafthouse for awards and a celebration!
If you're looking to enjoy some Irish music on St. Patrick's Day, spend your evening at the Dumbarton United Methodist Church listening to the Celtic Tenors! There will be two shows taking place on St. Patrick's Day, one at 4:00 PM and one at 8:00 PM.
The Celtic House– Arlington, VA
The Dubliner– Washington, DC
Fado– Washington, DC
ezStorage is happy to support the events surrounding our local storage facilities. ezStorage has storage facilities in Maryland, Virginia and the DC and Baltimore region. Our storage unit sizes range the smaller 5×5 sized storage unit, to the 10×30 sized storage unit. Contact us to rent a self storage unit today!


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Pink Lehenga Saree
- $149.00
- Product Code: BGSA 27327
- Availability: In Stock
Astonishing 3-Piece Lehenga Saree
Pink Astonishing 3-Piece Lehenga Saree
Skirt: Handloom Silk Fabric
Pallu: Mono Net
As shown blouse can be made available and also can be customized as per your style or pattern subject to fabric limitation.
Slight variation in actual color vs image color is possible.
|3- Piece Lehenga Saree
|Sequins, Stones, Embroidery Work, Border Patch Work
|Wedding, Party, Festival
|2 Kg
|Fabric Care
|Dry Clean Only
|Time to Deliver
|2 to 3 Weeks


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For as long as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the world of science and technology. The willingness to understand the world around me, the philosophical significance of science that gave somewhat of a meaning to life, and just a general appreciation and fascination of the universe in all of its intricacy and beauty all fueled my attraction towards the scientific world.
I grew up hearing the words "Go big or go home" from my father. I think it instilled the pressure to always dream big. The sky was not even the limit; I had dreams of becoming a pilot, a neurosurgeon, an astronaut too. And on days I could not decide, I dreamed of being the first woman to clip an aneurysm in space!
Whilst I don't share the very same enthusiasm and ambitions as I once did, becoming an astronaut is still a dream of mine. One that, with little doubt, I can say will never fade.
I know now that my interest was more than just some obsession. I would do a Solar System Mobile for almost every Show-and-Tell during my primary school years (just a simple shoe-box frame with colored cardboard circle cutouts for planets hanging by a thread). It helped that I changed cities and attended three different schools – giving me an excuse to make as many as I wanted!
When Show-and-Tell's ceased I would incorporate some element of science into my orals and creative writing pieces (where Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot speech featured in some form almost every time). And then I was old enough to discover and experience the Discovery channel in all its glory. Mature enough to engage with scientific literature from Stephen Hawking to Carl Sagan. And after months of whining and nagging my father bought me my first telescope .
I can still remember the first time I viewed the moon from the lens of my telescope.
After 3 nights of failed attempts at locating it and figuring out how to focus the telescope, I was in complete awe of the stunning detail I could see of our moon for the first time. In awe of the fact that beings of my species had once ventured to this piece of rock, and amazed with the knowledge that the moon is just one of the many beautiful stellar objects out there in our universe.
On that specific night, under the majestic stars that lit up my view above, I felt truly aware of my place in the universe; knowing that there's so much out there to discover, waiting to be uncovered, admired and appreciated. What started off as a hobby grew into somewhat of an obsession.
In all that time I still did not see myself taking up a career in Astronomy or anything related to it – mostly because I was not aware of the study and job prospects available in South Africa. It was only in my Matric year that I stumbled upon the Astronomy degree.
It's a funny tale in hindsight: The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) were among the first universities to open up their undergraduate applications. I had the option of choosing three possible degrees to study at Wits. To my surprise there was a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics degree, and I selected it as my third option, more as a joke (to myself) initially as I had very little faith of even getting accepted. I ended up applying for it at two other universities as well.
And before long, my first conditional letter of acceptance arrived. I had originally applied to every university I could think of and tried my hand at every possible degree (mainly health sciences such as Pharmacy and Medicine), but this letter was for acceptance to study Astronomy and Astrophysics at Wits. It was at that point I started doing my homework on the field, speaking to other Astrophysics students and professors.
Two years later, I'm a 2nd year Astrophysics student & Witsie living the dream with no whiff of regret. I probably should add that it is also my second year living away from home (Durban) and the comforts of my awesome family and friends, in a city that more than makes up for it – Johannesburg!
That brings me to the next part of the story. My life as an Astro student and more importantly how I met the talented creator of AstroSisters and best friend Emily.
It was only a week since I moved to Johannesburg and my second day ever at Wits (the first day being Open Day). Not a familiar face in sight and I had to conquer my first day (!) at orientation week. I remember waiting outside the computer labs in anticipation of my very first task as a student – a computer literacy assessment.
Whilst waiting for my session, I met Emily and within the first minute of our very first conversation we discovered that we were both in Astrophysics, and the next minute began the first of many Carl Sagan fangirling sessions – which could very well be the best way to initiate a friendship that has grown stronger ever since. This friendship was and still is nurtured and strengthened by our love for science, and more importantly our willingness to share its magnificence with the rest of the world.
It is for the very same reason we wanted to start this blog. We think it is the ideal platform to share our experiences as Astro students and Executive Members of the Wits Astronomy Club (an awesome club founded by Astronomy students in 2015 at Wits which focuses on public education and outreach, stargazing, and other Astronomy-centred activities).
This blog will feature our thoughts, be a means of scientific outreach, offer advice, start our careers as science communicators and, most of all, be a place to have fun. We are looking forward to seeing where AstroSisters takes us to next!


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Beginner Agility Class ~ 4 Weeks ~ Weds.
April 29 – May 20
WHO: For Teams New to Agility
Dogs MUST be dog friendly and people friendly
Previous manners/obedience class preferred
All work will be on leash
WHAT: Beginner Agility (1 hour class)
Each team will become familiar with:
agility obstacles
handling & teamwork basics
positive training methods
Classes taught by Val Reiner
WHEN: Weds. April 29 – May 20, 2015 ~ 5:30 – 7:00 p.m
Arrive 5:30 pm to help with course set-up – instruction begins at 6:00 Dogs to safely remain in your car during equipment set up before class
WHERE: Roaring Brook Barn, see directions above in "getting there" tab.
(do not follow GPS or you will get lost)
HOW: 4 week session – $80.00
In order to reserve your spot, make check payable to Hilltown Hounds Agility Club and mail to Sandra Leiser.
PLEASE CONTACT: Sandra Leiser at… email@example.com or by phone at (413) 527-0704, to check class availability. Then get your check in promptly to reserve your spot. Make check payable to Hilltown Hounds Agility Club and mail to Sandra Leiser.


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AP World Photos is re-running the photo of Rachel Corrie with a new, updated caption
BIASED BASTARDS!See for yourself.
"This is a February 15, 2003 file picture of Rachel Corrie, 23, from Olympia, Washington, a member of the 'International Solidarity Movement' burning a handmade U.S. flag during a rally in the southern Gaza Strip (news - web sites) town of Rafah. Corrie was run over and crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer Sunday, March 16, 2003 while she was trying to stop it from tearing down a building in the Rafah refugee camp, witnesses said. Israel's military prosecutor has exonerated Israeli soldiers in the death of Corrie, the army said Thursday, refuting eyewitness testimony that the woman was in the line of sight of the bulldozer driver who ran her down." ( AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Call AP Photos at 212-621-1900. Tell 'em Yael sent you.
I guess the driver wasn't an "eyewitness" after all. But doesn't that just go to prove the IDF is right? See story below.


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Alexandra Grundy - Medicine & Healthcare in Sri Lanka
Life at Nagoda General Hospital
As I scrambled my way through hundreds of Sri Lankan out-patients in my shiny new white coat, stethoscope around my neck, I was seriously dreading some poor mother thrusting her child into my arms and screaming "help my child, you're a doctor!" Sadly, I'm not and luckily this didn't happen!
Instead my paediatric experiences have been somewhat more pleasant. I was kindly taken under the wing of Dr. Weeraman, the consultant, and his friendly team of doctors. They were very skilled at treating the patients quickly and efficiently while explaining in English, over the noise of the fans and crying babies, the symptoms, tests, possible diagnoses and treatments.
A vast number of patients (and their extended families) turn up to the clinics and each is given a numbered ticket to wait their turn. Most cases are follow-up appointments after being on the wards and I've seen some fascinating cases of Dengue fever, meningitis, glomerular nephritis.. The list is endless!
The ward pace, however, is somewhat slower (unless an impromptu clinic springs up on the ward, which quite often happens) while the volunteers have free access to browse the English medical records at their leisure. I was also invited to a lecture on 'The Management of UTI Infections' last Thursday and only in Sri Lanka could a stray dog have walked into the clinic with no-one batting an eyelid!
I'm learning new things all the time here, but occasionally get frustrated at both my lack of medical knowledge and the limited facilities, such as there being only five beds in the I.C.U department or there being no nebulisers or oxygen masks on the paediatric wards.
I've already covered the chest unit, paediatrics, neurology and maternity, and look forward to General Medicine next week. In the afternoons at the tsunami camp I teach English and play games and have met some truly wonderful people.
Alexandra Grundy
Dit verhaal is een persoonlijke ervaring van een vrijwilliger op dit project en dus een momentopname. Houd er rekening mee dat jouw ervaring hiervan af kan wijken. Onze projecten veranderen constant, omdat we inspelen op de lokale behoefte en we voortborduren op de behaalde resultaten. Ook verschillende weersomstandigheden kunnen de ervaring beïnvloeden. Lees meer over wat je kunt verwachten van dit project of neem contact met ons op voor meer informatie.


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- Contents
the Curtain:
By Matt "Thraka" Gilbert
nce again, welcome back, and, as usual, thanks for the comments. I am guilty of not replying to a few letters this time, not because I didn't want to, but due to some problems with my machine. Now I have a new hard drive, but some of my mail seems to have been lost in the transition; I had read it, but hadn't gotten around to responding. So, if you sent mail, and you were expecting a reply, send again.
One question that comes up again and again in the mail I get from readers is this: "How do I break into the field?" Usually, I dash off a few lines of suggestions, but the truth is that the topic deserves an entire article of its own, so that's what we're doing this week. I know, I know, you current developers are thinking, "Jeez, Thrak, lay off the newbie shit and do something for us, huh?" Yeh, yeh, shaddup, E3 is coming, and you have enough work to keep you busy for the next couple of weeks. After E3, we'll move into some of the heavy issues. They'll be fresh in our minds after the death march for stable demos, after all.
So You Wanna Make Games?
You know, before we go any further, there's something you need to ask yourself. Well a couple of somethings, actually. First, are you sure you want to do this? And second, what makes you think you can?
Look, we've been through this before, way back in the pilot for this column, but for the sake of completeness, let's put it all together in one spot. The hours suck. This is not a nine to five job: it's a lifestyle. Nothing you ever do is good enough. You never have enough time to do everything you need to do, and things never come out the way you really wanted them to be. The money can be decent once you pay your dues, but in the beginning, you might well be a monkey working for peanuts and T1 access to feed your Quake habit.
This is all fine and good for young people just beginning their careers, but for people who want to make a career change, these are serious issues. Every few months, there is a crisis, a major deadline, or some other push that demands a huge chunk of your time. How will your significant other and/or children react to the occasional week of your dragging in at 3am and collapsing, or, worse, your not coming home at all? Who will feed your dog (or cat, or goldfish)?
More importantly, how will you hold up? The pressure can be crushing, at times. Do you have the confidence to persevere in the face of seemingly hopeless situations? Quite often, more will be asked of you than you might imagine is reasonable. Can you step up, roll up your sleeves, and do it anyway? Or are you strictly a nine-to-five, leave the work at the office kind of guy? If it's the ladder, you're making a mistake.
Still want to be part of this? Okay, let's get you some shoes.
Step One: Show Me What You Can Do
Before you even bother with anything else, make something. Programmers have demo material and code; artists have portfolios; designers have designs; writers have samples. If you don't have them, then you are not ready, and you're wasting your time to go further. Only when you have something in hand that you feel is at least representative of your skills can you even think of approaching a potential employer
Step Two: Make a Resume
This is discussed in great depth in any number of places, but generally, the things you hear are expert bullshit. Here are some very simple dos and don'ts, so listen up.
First, foremost, and above all, do not lie! You wouldn't believe the number of posers I have run into in interviews. I mean, I understand that a lot of people regard lying as a sport, rather than the filthy, repulsive behavior that it is, and a lot of losers think that lying on a resume, or anywhere else they can get away with it, is a good idea. (If you buy into the lying thing, by the way, don't bother crying to me about it, because I'm just going to tell you to go fuck yourself. Liars and whiners suck. Period.)
But even allowing for the large number of lying scumbags in the world, it's a shock to run into one in an interview. I mean, it's one thing to tell Bubba and Al's Roofing that you know how to shingle, banking on the fact that you can pick it up on the job. But what moron thinks he can just 'pick up' art or programming? It's ludicrous, but believe it or not, you get a number of people who seem to think they can do just that.
Here is a clue: this business is small. Development houses change direction and some people change horses. Some houses go out of business. And some people just bounce around looking for more and more money. It all boils down to this: people know each other. Lie to me and get caught, and the next place you go may have already heard of you. It's not as if I even have to deliberately 'put the word out'. I might just be talking at a poker game and mention this moron I interviewed who tried to scam me.
Second, get to the damned point. I don't want to read your life history. Tell me pretty damned quick that you're looking to break into the biz, and you're willing to work hard. If you start out with your curriculum vitae, my eyes glaze over. Go with your name, a brief pitch, and then get into the details. Don't make me wade through tons of meaningless dates and coursework, only to find out that you really think I am a pizza delivery service in need of database programmers.
Finally, and boy I expect to catch shit about this, but I really think this is worth doing. If you have a long and hard to pronounce name, chop it to something shorter for first contact. Why? Well, imagine yourself in the shoes of a resume reader. You're tired as hell, you have a deadline, and you're wading through a stack of two hundred resumes, trying to find someone who might be your man (or woman). You're on your tenth cup of coffee, and, fuck, you wish you didn't have to deal with this, but you do. You make a pile of possibles. Now, somebody has to get called first. If you see a name like Jeheramawhari, and Bob, you may well think, "Oh, man, I'm going to botch this guy's name for sure and I am going to look stupid, and what if he doesn't speak English, and even if he does, what if whoever answers the phone doesn't, oh man, lemme call Bob first. If he sucks, I can always call J later."
See my point? If you really feel strongly about not using a shorter name, by all means, when you arrive for an interview, make that clear. But get the interview first. Of course, then you'll find out someone named Jeheramawhari already works there, and you'll use your middle name anyway.
Step 3: Send It To The Right People
A great place to find ads for the industry is in Game Developer Magazine, which can be found at most decent sized bookstores like Barnes and Noble or Borders. An online resource you might try is http://www.gamasutra.com. This is sort of a no-brainer, so there isn't a lot to say here. Find adds for positions that you think you qualify for, and send out your resume.
Step 4: The Interview
This is where it begins to get beyond the scope of how-to, and more into the realm of ballpark suggestions. The big one is, as with the resume, don't lie. Don't embellish either. The logic is simple: you will get caught, either in the interview, or, failing that, in the first week that you start any job you manage to scam. And getting caught lying about what you can do is, as I noted earlier, really bad. If you're in doubt as to whether you can do such and such thing that you're asked about, say so, but note that you're confident that you can learn to do it, and that you're willing to put in the effort necessary. Especially for an entry level position, being willing to put in the extra effort far outweighs any knowledge you bring with you, anyway.
Now, for the minor stuff. Be cool. Have a sense of humor. If you're stiff and geeky, then you will put people off, no matter how great your credentials may be. Remember, you're trying to get into a position where you will wind up spending long, often stressful periods of time with these people, and being cool under pressure is a real issue.
The interview may last a long time. Deal with it. You'll work some long days, too. Don't schedule a morning and evening interview on the same day, or you may find yourself cutting one short, and being late for the other.
Don't whine about how you already answered these questions when you talked to somebody else. Whining is bad, remember? Besides, if you can't deal with answering the same question over and over again in an interview, you can't deal with answering the same question over and over again when asked by different producers.
Dress casual. You don't have to go in rags, but skip the tie and button up shirt. The games business doesn't work that way. Jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers are the norm, and while you're not trying to convince anyone that you're a pro, it certainly doesn't hurt to dress the part. At the least, it gives the impression that you have some idea about what you're getting into.
That's all I can think of. So get started.
Next Time: why you are not 'Da Man'
- Matt 'Thraka' Gilbert is a console programmer, currently working at StormFront Studios. These are his own ravings, and have nothing whatsoever to do with his employer.
|Credits: Beaker's Bent logo illustrated by and is © 1999 Dan Zalkus. Behind the Curatain is © 1999 Matt Gilbert. All other content is © 1999 loonyboi productions. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited, so don't do it. And ignore the man behind the curtain. He's just got a shotgun aimed at your head...nothing to get alarmed about.


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show time
I am heading to toronto tomorrow to hang some new work at bookhou - it has been wonderful to return to some of the ideas I was working on in my last year at NSCAD. it runs from june 1 - 26, please stop by if you're in the area.
3 comments:
- Marshall Arts said...
Fantastic Roisin!! It must feel so good to be showing some work that is not production....I wish I could pop in for a look-see :)
xox r.
- 1/6/10 4:05 p.m.
- roisin said...
Rilla - it is great! sometimes I feel like a one woman machine.
- 2/6/10 10:06 p.m.
- Tara Bursey said...
Roisin-- this sounds and looks amazing! Can't wait to check it out!
- 9/6/10 10:20 p.m.
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The Nana Konadu For 2012 President Campaign Team have suggested the inclusion of some experienced persons on the various committees of congress for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to help in the organisation and planning of the July 8 -10 delegates conference.
This proposal was intended to bring the expertise of some experienced personalities to bear on the Congress planning to reduce the suffering our delegates went through in our last Congress.
The Campaign team wants to inform NDC faithful's about the rejection of this suggestion. The Campaign Team would however continue to observe and raise concerns so that our party delegates do not have to go through any dehumanising treatment in the July 8-10 Congress as happened in Tamale.
Signed: Berrick Namburr (Campaign Coordinator)


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NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Photo Plus Expo 2017 - Booth #845 -- Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced a new generation of high-performance Star-series lenses optimized for super high-resolution photography and high megapixel digital single-lens reflex (D-SLR) cameras. The first two lenses developed for the new-generation of Star-series quality—the HD PENTAX-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW and the HD PENTAX-DA* 11-18mm F2.8—will be on display as reference products at Photo Plus Expo 2017 at the Javits Convention Center in New York (October 26-28) and SALON de la PHOTO 2017 in Paris (November 9-13).
Premium-quality Star-series lenses deliver the highest performance among the PENTAX K-mount interchangeable lens series, and have been highly regarded by PENTAX K-Mount users since the days of film. In addition to the initial design concepts of optimum image quality and large apertures for maximum light transmission, the series has embraced the additional concepts of exceptional toughness and outstanding operability, achieved through the development of a dustproof, weather-resistant construction. The resulting lenses provide superior dependability in a wide range of shooting conditions, and are the perfect companion to PENTAX SLR camera bodies.
Although final names, specs and pricing will not be released until 2018, here are preliminary key features of the two lenses:
| About Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation |
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation is a subsidiary of Ricoh Company Ltd., a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions.
The company now known as Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation was originally founded in 1919, under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. and launched its first SLR camera in the 1950s under the PENTAX name. Today, Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation continues to produce the heritage-rich, award-winning line of PENTAX DSLR cameras, lenses and sport optics equipment as well as Ricoh's offering of stylish and compact digital cameras, known for their wide-ranging, rich set of features.
For further information, please visit www.us.ricoh-imaging.com
© 2017 Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation. All rights reserved. All referenced product names are the trademarks of their respective companies.
For More Information, Contact:
Barbara Hagin
Breakaway Communications for Ricoh
(408) 832-7626 - mobile
SOURCE Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation


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War on Disinformation
American "democratic" bombs bring destruction and chaos. Just look at the pictures – the web is full of them – to realize the destructive mission conducted by the US: Iraq, Libya, Yemen (where the Saudis are using weapons made in the US and its UK puppet to bomb civilians) and Syria. We will focus in particular on this nation to expose the lies of the American establishment, supported and conveyed by the Western mainstream media, real accomplices to the humanitarian catastrophe afflicting the Middle Eastern country.
"Syria is in a civil war"
False! Tens of thousands of fighters of different nationalities – more than ninety at the last count – have invaded Syria and are fighting to overthrow the legitimate government of Assad, who enjoys the support of the vast majority of the Syrian people.
The Damascus metropolitan area is now populated by about nine million people – a staggering increase since 2009, when its population was less than two million. The increase are displaced people who have sought refuge in the capital to escape the violence of the conflict. If Assad, then, was so hated by the population – as per the lies by the Western media – he would be easily deposed by such a mass of humanity that today lives in Damascus. What is happening in Syria is not a "civil war" (a war that is internal between the same people), but rather a conflict between foreign rebel groups (Islamists) supported by foreign powers (Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the USA among many others) and the Syrian army.
"The Russians are butchering civilians"
Military intervention by Russia against the Islamists is legitimate, despite claims by the Western media. It's legitimate because it has been explicitly requested by the Damascus government, the only real authority in accordance with the standards of international law. The Russians, along with the other allies of the Syrian state (Hezbollah, the SSNP militias etc …), are contributing effectively to the liberation of eastern Aleppo – the economic capital of the country – which for years has been under the (destructive) control of the Islamists.
The battle of Aleppo, as in every armed conflict from the twentieth century onward, unfortunately causes losses in the civilian population, exacerbated by the rebels using civilians as shields and refusing to let them leave along the corridors the Syrian government has opened to allow them to escape the final battle for the city
The picture, then, is clear: the Syrian State wants to legitimately regain the parts of the city occupied by the rebels (foreigners and funded by foreigners) with the help of its allies (Russia and others), trying to limit as much as possible civilian deaths.
US crimes ignored
Having bankrolled the "rebels", armed and funded groups of Al Nusra Front (Al Qaeda), triggered the embargo (other culpable omission of the Western media!) against Syria and carried out illegal military actions without any authorisation from Damascus Government, the US-led coalition bombed Syrian army positions in Dayr ar Zor, causing a massacre of soldiers, last September 17th. The bombing continued even after the Russians repeatedly told the Americans that they were hitting the wrong targets.
This act must be ascribed to the crime category because it was made by a foreign power (USA) against the legitimate forces of a country (Syria) engaged in fighting terrorist groups.
Moreover the bombing destroyed the truce, of which the United States itself had been a guarantor, which began on September 9th. Certainly the "ceasefire" was already fragile, given that other military actions, of lesser intensity, by the rebels had been recorded in the days before September 17th, but the US action helped to eliminate any residual hope of an even momentary peace.
And, coincidentally, the same Syrian positions were attacked by Islamist terrorists immediately after the end of bombings, with a speed and intensity that points to actual coordination between the US forces and the Jihadists. The doubt is more than justified.
At the last the UN Security Council meeting, held on September 25th , the American and British representatives labeled the Russian actions as "barbaric" and "war crimes" during the battle for the liberation of Aleppo. US and UK are trying to divert the attention, with the complicity (again!) of the Western media, from the real crimes committed by themselves.
Even the United Nations has pointed the finger – finally after five years – against another crime: the embargo by the US and EU on Syria. Those economic sanctions, indeed, hinder the already difficult supply of basic necessities and the work of aid to the civilian population, struck down by the war. Since similar international sanctions on Iraq caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children, why should anyone expect sanctions on Syria to have any less devastating humanitarian consequences?
But the Western media ignore this slow mass murder, preferring instead to focus on the propaganda claims of the 'White Helmets', despite the documented involvement of this (George Soros-funded) propaganda wing of Al Nusra/Al Qaeda in the murder of defenceless prisoners and the manufacture of bogus 'atrocities'.
The Information War
The responsibility of the US and its partners are therefore clear. As is the dirty game of the controlled Western media in the daily spreading of falsehoods against those who are actually fighting a fair war: the Russians and Syrians, who are undoubtedly on the road to victory, hence the increasing hysteria directed against them.
All these elements provide the clues as to the origin of the current tragic situation in Syria and the will of the Western actors (governments, institutions and mass medias): to escalate the tension aiming at a bigger scale conflict- many analysts speak about risk of an imminent World War III – by provoking Russia with all the military, economic (the well-known US and EU sanctions on Russia) and diplomatic means available.
Another war, in addition to the armed one, is therefore necessary: the Information War. Everyone who cares about peace and truth should get involved on this battlefield. If Russians, Syrians and their allies are fighting very well, counting among their ranks many martyrs, we Europeans have to do our part so that the sacrifice of those fighters is not in vain. So we have to continue with greater commitment to inform and spread the truth, acting as loudhailers of news coming from "the other side of the front" on websites including Russia Today, Sputnik, SANA, South Front and the Vineyard of the Saker. Because only by spreading the truth can we hinder the plans of the warmongers (US and NATO) the real champions of falsehood and chaos


text: "Rats are more likely to move indoors and invade your property during winter" says the British Pest Control Association. As we start to see a drop in temperatures and reduced daylight, rodents start to look for areas that offer warmth, food and shelter. These areas often include properties – both homes, factories, and offices. Continue reading


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We love what we do here and helping our patients is what drives us to keep getting better. We always take care to ensure our patients are happy, confident and satisfied – that's why it's always great when we receive positive feedback.
We wanted to share the following testimonials we received earlier this month. Feedback, both positive and negative, is vital for us to continue providing the best care possible.
Here are our most recent testimonials:
I would just like to share a big thank you with all the staff at Hartley Dental. I'm such a nervous patient, yet you all reassure me and I feel the most comfortable I ever have in a dentist's surgery with you!
I still have my knee-knocking days but somehow you always manage to turn that around…last week I was even laughing during treatment. I never thought that was possible. So once again, many, many thanks!
Gemma, October 4th 2015
Professional, pleasant and painless experience with Katie, the dental hygienist. As a new patient I was very pleased with the information given during the treatment; procedure was explained step by step which made me feel at ease.
I would highly recommend Hartley Dental, in fact, I was so impressed that I made appointments for my husband and our children. Thanks again for a great service.
Jana, October 10th 2015
It all started as I'm getting married in November and I was concerned my wedding photos wouldn't show in my face how happy I am.
From the minute I plucked up the courage to make that phone call and take the first step to put a smile back on my face, i was made to feel at ease, every member of the team was so professional and friendly that it gave me the confidence to go ahead with the treatment I so longed for.
If you're considering dental treatment I would highly recommend to just go for it; the dentist, in my eyes, is no longer a dreaded place. Dr Charles made me feel relaxed at all times and it was worth every penny.
My experience has certainly put a smile on my face and I can put behind me my awful experiences as a child growing up. It's hard to put into words how I feel right now; I'm so happy now looking forward to our wedding!
Wendy, October 13th 2015
We pride ourselves on the quality of the service we offer and helping our patients achieve what can be life-changing results.
Please do get in touch to see how we can help you or to book an appointment.


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Trump's picks for top posts leaves rest of the world guessing
US president-elect's cabinet line-up including the inexperienced Rex Tillerson as secretary of state has deepened uncertainty about America's policies
Related topics
If a vote for Donald Trump was a vote for real change, he has delivered it with controversial cabinet nominations even before his inauguration. Secretary of state was the last to be announced in his top team. A cabinet line-up including bankers, dealmakers and generals with little government experience has already deepened uncertainty about his policies. Secretary of state remained the most anticipated pick at home and abroad. The choice of a global oil chief, Exxon Mobil's Rex Tillerson, has done nothing to ease world concern over the naming of climate-change sceptic Scott Pruitt for the Environmental Protection Agency – quite the opposite, given Exxon's funding of attempts to undermine climate science.
But reaction has focused on Tillerson's Russian connections, including personally negotiating an oil deal with Vladimir Putin in the past and vocal opposition to American sanctions placed on Russia. Such concern is only to be expected after the CIA concluded that Russian hackers had tried to influence the US presidential election, and given Trump's expressions of admiration for Putin and his own Russian business interests. Tillerson does bring to the office extensive experience working with foreign leaders. It would be unusual if it did not include close contacts with Russia. He remains entitled to be judged on his performance in office. Politically the nomination invites trouble from anti-Russian hawks among leading Republicans during the Senate confirmation process. That said, if energy and oil go to the heart of Trump's economic plan to create jobs for Americans and bringing back those that have been lost overseas, his supporters would argue that the choice of the head of a global oil group with Russian connections makes sense. Trump has enlisted former secretaries of state and defence secretaries to endorse his choice.
Trump and US Senate may clash over secretary of state nominee Tillerson's close ties with Russia
Trump has assembled his top team as if he were running a company, choosing key people with little if any background as a government official, adviser or representative, and inexperienced in the country's foreign policy philosophy. Count among them, as well as Tillerson, retired generals to run defence and homeland security, and a general to be national security adviser. We know what to expect domestically in core Republican agendas like corporate regulatory and tax reform, and the fears for international cooperation on climate change.
A month before Trump takes office, allies and adversaries alike still ponder the future direction of foreign and defence policy. That may reflect his style but it is unsettling, and should not remain the new normal for the world's No 1 power.
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Tips & Tricks of choosing the right Medical Malpractice Insurance policy
Tips & Tricks of choosing the right Medical Malpractice Insurance policy
Medical Malpractice Insurance is a desirable package for students, doctors and physicians since it covers claims that may arise while treating patients. "Claims made" policy covers incidents occurring during the policy period while the policy is still in force. This is contrary to "occurrence policy" that caters for events which happened during the policy period irrespective of whether they were reported or not. The former is the most common. However, since there are many firms offering the same, here are some tips for choosing the best package.
The rating of an Insurance companyInsurance companies work under different government regulating bodies. Some even rate the insurance companies depending on their financial strength. A company like AM Best (www.ambest.com) is well known for evaluating medical professional insurances. So, to start with, you can go for the "A" rated companies and see whether they offer Medical Professional Insurance packages.
A policy that works on your interestSometimes, an insurance company's goals may not be the same as your own interests. For instance, the premium costs per month may be discouraging at first. So, it is good to do price analysis for all the "A" rated companies that you found in step 1. Also, the policy requirements must be in line with your tastes and preferences. For instance, if the company is in a far off distance, ask if they allow electronic transmission of the policy documents. Of course, I know you don't want to travel or queue in offices to buy an insurance package.
Beware of small printsSome rogue insurance companies may take advantage of consumer ignorance and put some hidden limits and exclusions on the policy document. To be on the safe side, read all information before signing any document. Most small prints appear on the footer or at the back of the documents in small fonts. Also, if you are paying with a debit or a credit card, make sure that you have read and understood all the terms and conditions before you are charged. Some insurance companies may charge a low entry fee but surprise you with costly recurring policy charges.
Definition of claimsInsurance companies may define Medical Malpractice Insurance claims in different ways. So, it is up to you to read about the coverage and exclusions of each policy. For instance, most companies will cover court costs and other expenses that you may undergo in the event of a claim while others may not. So, make sure that such clauses are clear before you purchase your policy.
Shopping for the Medical Malpractice policyAlthough shopping for the policy is possible without any assistance, I would advise you to get assistance. Such professionals understand the insurance jargon used better and are not too busy to make the comparison for you. So, just let them survey the options that may work for you. For instance, our team will get you the best insurance company that has served many physicians. It will just take minutes to get a quote. Also, our experience staff can give you the A.M. Ratings for each firm in real-time and appoint a professional to address all your needs. Talk to us today and get the most affordable Medical Malpractice Insurance with maximum benefits.
Your other insurance questionsIf you have questions or need get our comments regarding the following question. Please contact us @(888) 959-9456
Use your Mobile
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CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit lashed out at the Iranian government on Sunday, accusing the Islamist regime of trying to dominate the Middle East.
Aboul Gheit s statement signaled an escalation in a simmering diplomatic dispute between the two countries, which have both vied for a dominant role in the region.
The Iranians are trying to spread and impose their specific ideology on the region, and they are using some of the Palestinians … for Iranian purposes, he said, in an apparent reference to the Palestinian group Hamas.
Earlier on Sunday, the foreign ministry rebuked former Iranian president Hashemi Rafsanjani for criticizing Egypt s refusal to permanently open its Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip.
Rafah is the only crossing into Gaza not controlled by Israel, which imposed a blockade on the impoverished Palestinian coastal strip after Hamas seized power there last year.
Egypt s foreign policy will not play into the hands of Iran or the interests of some groups that have lost sight of the true objectives of the Palestinians, Aboul Gheit said.
Iran, together with Syria and Indonesia, will form an Islamic troika to help remove existing obstacles to the shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the official Iranian news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted first vice speaker of the Iranian parliament, Muhammad Hassan Abu Turabi Fard, as saying.
A delegation for the group will be formed in the near future and will visit the countries that have joint borders with Gaza, Fard said. Egypt and Israel are the two countries bordering the Gaza Strip.
Egypt summoned an Iranian diplomat last week to protest demonstrations in front of the Egyptian interests section in Tehran and an ongoing campaign in the Iranian press which partly blames Egypt for the blockade.
The two countries broke off diplomatic relations a year after Islamist revolutionaries overthrew the pro-Western Shah of Iran in 1979.
Iran opposed Egypt s 1979 peace treaty with Israel and named a street in Tehran after the assassin of then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.-Agencies


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If you're ever in London, make sure you visit one of my favourite places, the Tooting Tram and Social. The pub has a huge open plan, with 75 foot ceilings and a mezzanine balcony. The decor is like nothing else - giant chandeliers, reams of velvet curtains, bird cages, huge mismatched leather sofas, rocking chairs, old vinyl decks and all manner of kitsch adorning the walls.
It was - and I'm sure still is, for Lucky Londonders - the perfect venue for a wintry Sunday afternoon drink. Channel your Great Grandma whilst getting silly in your rocking chair under the light of a frilly lamp.
In case you're wondering, the photo at the very top of this page is the interior of the girls' bathroom.


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Happy Friday Darlings! I styled this vintage inspired look with comfort and chicness in mind. The look above is perfect for weekend fun outdoors with your loved ones, but also works for running errands or whatever adventures you have planned for this weekend. Have a lovely weekend, lovelies!
Shop the look:
1. Wool sweater
2. White blouse
3. Skinny jeans
4. Vintage crossbody bag
5. Suede ankle booties
6. Glasses
7. Vintage Opaque Ring
8. Gold Vintage Disc Earrings
The Zinn Beauty Giveaway Winner is…
The winner of the Zinn Beauty Collection giveaway is…Derry! I will be emailing you shortly.