text:
Each year, there are more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the U.S. Many of these were caused by household substances that may seem perfectly harmless to you. But just because something is safe for people doesn't mean it won’t hurt beloved pets. Some of the most dangerous dog poisons are foods and medications we take on a daily basis.
Depending on how a particular substance affects your dog’s body and how much was ingested or inhaled, pet poisoning symptoms can include gastrointestinal and neurological problems, cardiac and respiratory distress, coma, and even death.
Dog poison No. 1: Prescription medications for people. Drugs that might be beneficial or even lifesaving for people can have the opposite effect in pets. And it doesn’t always take a large dose to do major damage.
Prescription anti-inflammatory and pain medications can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers or kidney failure.
Antidepressants can cause vomiting and, in more serious instances, serotonin syndrome -- a dangerous condition that raises temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and may cause seizures.
Dog poison No. 2: Insecticides.
Flea and tick products. You may think you’re doing your dog a favor when you apply products marketed to fight fleas and ticks, but thousands of animals are unintentionally poisoned by these products every year. Problems can occur if dogs accidentally ingest these products or if small dogs receive excessive amounts. Talk to your vet about safe OTC products.
Dog poison No. 3: Over-the-counter medications. This group contains acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen and naproxen (Advil, Alleve), as well as herbal and nutraceutical products (fish oil, joint supplements).
Dog poison No. 4: Pet medications. Just as we can be sickened or killed by medications intended to help us, cases of pet poisoning by veterinary drugs are not uncommon. Some of the more commonly reported problem medications include painkillers and de-wormers.
Dog poison No. 5: Household products, from cleaners to fire logs. Just as cleaners like bleach can poison people, they are also a leading cause of pet poisoning, resulting in stomach and respiratory tract problems. Not surprisingly, chemicals contained in antifreeze, paint thinner, and chemicals for pools also can act as dog poison. The pet poisoning symptoms they may produce include stomach upset, depression, chemical burns, renal failure and death.
Dog poison No. 6: People food. Your canine companion may look so cute as he sits there begging for a bite of your chocolate cake or a chip covered in guacamole, but not giving him what he wants could save his life. Animals have different metabolisms than people. Some foods, such as onions and garlic, as well as beverages that are perfectly safe for people can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for dogs.
Chocolate . Though not harmful to people, chocolate products contain substances called methylxanthines that can cause vomiting in small doses, and death if ingested in larger quantities. Darker chocolate contains more of these dangerous substances than do white or milk chocolate. The amount of chocolate that could result in death depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. For smaller breeds, just half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal, while a larger dog might survive eating 4 ounces to 8 ounces, though 8 ounces would be extremely dagerous. Coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals.
Alcohol. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals are similar to those in people, and may include vomiting, breathing problems, coma and, in severe cases, death.
Avocado. You might think of them as healthy, but avocados have a substance called persin that can act as a dog poison, causing vomiting and diarrhea or worse.
Macadamia nuts. Dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, overheating, and vomiting, after consumption of macadamia nuts.
Grapes and raisins. Experts aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. Even a small number may cause problems in some dogs.
Xylitol. This sweetener is found in many products, including sugar-free gum and candy. It causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness and seizures. Liver failure also has been reported in some dogs.
Dog poison No. 7: Chocolate. See above.
Azaleas and rhododendrons. These pretty flowering plants contain toxins that may cause vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and potentially even death.
Tulips and daffodils. The bulbs of these plants may cause serious stomach problems, difficulty breathing, and increased heart rate.
Sago palms. Eating just a few seeds may be enough to cause vomiting, seizures, and liver failure.
Dog poison No. 9: Rodenticides, if ingested by dogs, can cause severe problems. The symptoms depend on the nature of the poison, and signs may not start for several days after consumption. In some instances, the dog may have eaten the poisoned rodent, and not been directly exposed to the toxin.
Dog poison No. 10: Lawn and garden products. Products for your lawn and garden may be poisonous to pets that ingest them.
If you think your dog has been poisoned, try to stay calm. It is important to act quickly, but rationally.
First, gather up any of the potential poison that remains -- this may be helpful to your veterinarian and any outside experts who assist with the case. If your dog has vomited, collect the sample in case your veterinarian needs to see it.
Then, try to keep your pet calm and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at (888) 426-4435. Experts at the APCC are available to answer questions and provide guidance 24 hours a day for a $60 consultation fee. Another option is the Pet Poison Hotline with a fee of $59 per incident.
Keep all medications, even those in child-proof bottles, in cabinets that are inaccessible to your dog. If you inadvertently drop a pill on the floor, be sure to look for it immediately. Supervise anyone, such as the elderly, who may need help taking medications.
Always follow guidelines on flea or tick products.
Although you can safely give some ''people foods'' to your pet as a treat, others are toxic. If you have any questions about what is safe, ask your veterinarian. Or, err on the safe side and give treats made specifically for animals.
Be sure any rodenticides you use are kept in metal cabinets or high on shelves where your pets can't find them. Remember that dogs can be fatally poisoned by eating an exposed rodent, so always be very cautious about using these products. Tell your neighbors if you put out rat bait, so they can protect their pets from exposure, and ask them to do the same for you.
When buying plants for your home, opt for those that won’t cause problems if your dog happens to nibble on them. The ASPCA has an online list of toxic and nontoxic plants by species. If you choose to have toxic plants, be sure they are kept in a place where your animals can't reach them.
Store all chemicals and cleaners in pet-inaccessible areas of your home.

lowercased:
each year, there are more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the u.s. many of these were caused by household substances that may seem perfectly harmless to you. but just because something is safe for people doesn't mean it won’t hurt beloved pets. some of the most dangerous dog poisons are foods and medications we take on a daily basis.
depending on how a particular substance affects your dog’s body and how much was ingested or inhaled, pet poisoning symptoms can include gastrointestinal and neurological problems, cardiac and respiratory distress, coma, and even death.
dog poison no. 1: prescription medications for people. drugs that might be beneficial or even lifesaving for people can have the opposite effect in pets. and it doesn’t always take a large dose to do major damage.
prescription anti-inflammatory and pain medications can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers or kidney failure.
antidepressants can cause vomiting and, in more serious instances, serotonin syndrome -- a dangerous condition that raises temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure, and may cause seizures.
dog poison no. 2: insecticides.
flea and tick products. you may think you’re doing your dog a favor when you apply products marketed to fight fleas and ticks, but thousands of animals are unintentionally poisoned by these products every year. problems can occur if dogs accidentally ingest these products or if small dogs receive excessive amounts. talk to your vet about safe otc products.
dog poison no. 3: over-the-counter medications. this group contains acetaminophen (tylenol), ibuprofen and naproxen (advil, alleve), as well as herbal and nutraceutical products (fish oil, joint supplements).
dog poison no. 4: pet medications. just as we can be sickened or killed by medications intended to help us, cases of pet poisoning by veterinary drugs are not uncommon. some of the more commonly reported problem medications include painkillers and de-wormers.
dog poison no. 5: household products, from cleaners to fire logs. just as cleaners like bleach can poison people, they are also a leading cause of pet poisoning, resulting in stomach and respiratory tract problems. not surprisingly, chemicals contained in antifreeze, paint thinner, and chemicals for pools also can act as dog poison. the pet poisoning symptoms they may produce include stomach upset, depression, chemical burns, renal failure and death.
dog poison no. 6: people food. your canine companion may look so cute as he sits there begging for a bite of your chocolate cake or a chip covered in guacamole, but not giving him what he wants could save his life. animals have different metabolisms than people. some foods, such as onions and garlic, as well as beverages that are perfectly safe for people can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal, for dogs.
chocolate . though not harmful to people, chocolate products contain substances called methylxanthines that can cause vomiting in small doses, and death if ingested in larger quantities. darker chocolate contains more of these dangerous substances than do white or milk chocolate. the amount of chocolate that could result in death depends on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. for smaller breeds, just half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal, while a larger dog might survive eating 4 ounces to 8 ounces, though 8 ounces would be extremely dagerous. coffee and caffeine have similarly dangerous chemicals.
alcohol. symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals are similar to those in people, and may include vomiting, breathing problems, coma and, in severe cases, death.
avocado. you might think of them as healthy, but avocados have a substance called persin that can act as a dog poison, causing vomiting and diarrhea or worse.
macadamia nuts. dogs may suffer from a series of symptoms, including weakness, overheating, and vomiting, after consumption of macadamia nuts.
grapes and raisins. experts aren’t sure why, but these fruits can induce kidney failure in dogs. even a small number may cause problems in some dogs.
xylitol. this sweetener is found in many products, including sugar-free gum and candy. it causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness and seizures. liver failure also has been reported in some dogs.
dog poison no. 7: chocolate. see above.
azaleas and rhododendrons. these pretty flowering plants contain toxins that may cause vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and potentially even death.
tulips and daffodils. the bulbs of these plants may cause serious stomach problems, difficulty breathing, and increased heart rate.
sago palms. eating just a few seeds may be enough to cause vomiting, seizures, and liver failure.
dog poison no. 9: rodenticides, if ingested by dogs, can cause severe problems. the symptoms depend on the nature of the poison, and signs may not start for several days after consumption. in some instances, the dog may have eaten the poisoned rodent, and not been directly exposed to the toxin.
dog poison no. 10: lawn and garden products. products for your lawn and garden may be poisonous to pets that ingest them.
if you think your dog has been poisoned, try to stay calm. it is important to act quickly, but rationally.
first, gather up any of the potential poison that remains -- this may be helpful to your veterinarian and any outside experts who assist with the case. if your dog has vomited, collect the sample in case your veterinarian needs to see it.
then, try to keep your pet calm and call your veterinarian or the aspca animal poison control center (apcc) at (888) 426-4435. experts at the apcc are available to answer questions and provide guidance 24 hours a day for a $60 consultation fee. another option is the pet poison hotline with a fee of $59 per incident.
keep all medications, even those in child-proof bottles, in cabinets that are inaccessible to your dog. if you inadvertently drop a pill on the floor, be sure to look for it immediately. supervise anyone, such as the elderly, who may need help taking medications.
always follow guidelines on flea or tick products.
although you can safely give some ''people foods'' to your pet as a treat, others are toxic. if you have any questions about what is safe, ask your veterinarian. or, err on the safe side and give treats made specifically for animals.
be sure any rodenticides you use are kept in metal cabinets or high on shelves where your pets can't find them. remember that dogs can be fatally poisoned by eating an exposed rodent, so always be very cautious about using these products. tell your neighbors if you put out rat bait, so they can protect their pets from exposure, and ask them to do the same for you.
when buying plants for your home, opt for those that won’t cause problems if your dog happens to nibble on them. the aspca has an online list of toxic and nontoxic plants by species. if you choose to have toxic plants, be sure they are kept in a place where your animals can't reach them.
store all chemicals and cleaners in pet-inaccessible areas of your home.


text:
A new update of Microsoft Office 2016 (Build 7369.2017) for Slow ring Office Insiders on Windows has been released by Microsoft. The new September update with the version number of 16.0.7369.2017 or Version 1609 (Build 7369.2017) contains bug fixes and improvement as well as “Ink Replay” feature that allow Office user rewind and replay ink strokes on a PowerPoint slide and enhance PowerPoint recordings.
Microsoft Office 2016 September update was initially released for Office Insiders on 13th September 2016. According to Microsoft, the update has 34 security updates (1 bulletin) and 35 non-security updates in it including desktop operating systems, servers, browsers, Exchange server, Silverlight, SMBv1 and several others. In addition, it also rate 7 updates as critical and another 7 updates as important.
Update Office version 1609 (Build 7369.2017) brings better recordings in PowerPoint. Now Office user can add a Recording tab to the ribbon, create a presentation made up of recorded slides, screen recordings, and inserted video, and then share that recorded content to be viewed remotely on Docs.com. Besides that, user also can embed quizzes to assist with remote learning and make presentation more interactive, as well as change the ink color right from the palette in the recording pane.
For Outlook, Microsoft improved keyboard and assistive technology experiences for reading email, scheduling meetings, and adding a signature by build accessibility in Office 2016.
To get the update immediately, open any Office 2016 app and choose File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. For Office Insider Slow ring, you should be able to pull the update down now.

lowercased:
a new update of microsoft office 2016 (build 7369.2017) for slow ring office insiders on windows has been released by microsoft. the new september update with the version number of 16.0.7369.2017 or version 1609 (build 7369.2017) contains bug fixes and improvement as well as “ink replay” feature that allow office user rewind and replay ink strokes on a powerpoint slide and enhance powerpoint recordings.
microsoft office 2016 september update was initially released for office insiders on 13th september 2016. according to microsoft, the update has 34 security updates (1 bulletin) and 35 non-security updates in it including desktop operating systems, servers, browsers, exchange server, silverlight, smbv1 and several others. in addition, it also rate 7 updates as critical and another 7 updates as important.
update office version 1609 (build 7369.2017) brings better recordings in powerpoint. now office user can add a recording tab to the ribbon, create a presentation made up of recorded slides, screen recordings, and inserted video, and then share that recorded content to be viewed remotely on docs.com. besides that, user also can embed quizzes to assist with remote learning and make presentation more interactive, as well as change the ink color right from the palette in the recording pane.
for outlook, microsoft improved keyboard and assistive technology experiences for reading email, scheduling meetings, and adding a signature by build accessibility in office 2016.
to get the update immediately, open any office 2016 app and choose file > account > update options > update now. for office insider slow ring, you should be able to pull the update down now.


text:
Delete or alter any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from this site. You must not access or use for any commercial purposes any part of the Website or any services or materials available through the Website.
In any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the US or other countries). In any way that violates any rights of any third party.
To submit material that are defamatory, abusive or obscene.
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage or disrupt any parts of the Website, the server on which the Website is stored, or any server, computer or database connected to the Website. Otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Website.
All prices displayed on the Website are in U.S. Dollars for restaurants located in the United States of America and are valid and effective only at the restaurant location specified. The Company reserves the right, without prior notice and without incurring any obligations, to discontinue or change the specifications of any products or services offered on this Website.
You may link to our homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it, but you must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval or endorsement on our part. You agree to cooperate with us in causing any unauthorized framing or linking immediately to cease. We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice. We may disable all or any social media features and any links at any time without notice in our discretion.
You understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that the Website and any functions available through the Website will be uninterrupted or error free or that the Website will be free of viruses or other harmful components or other destructive code, and defects may not be corrected even if we are aware of them. You are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to our site for any reconstruction of any lost data. WE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY A DISTRIBUTED DENIAL-OF-SERVICE ATTACK, VIRUSES OR OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY HARMFUL MATERIAL THAT MAY INFECT YOUR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DATA OR OTHER PROPRIETARY MATERIAL DUE TO YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY SERVICES OR ITEMS OBTAINED THROUGH THE WEBSITE OR TO YOUR DOWNLOADING OF ANY MATERIAL POSTED ON IT, OR ON ANY WEBSITE LINKED TO IT.
THE COMPANY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW.

lowercased:
delete or alter any copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights notices from copies of materials from this site. you must not access or use for any commercial purposes any part of the website or any services or materials available through the website.
in any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local or international law or regulation (including, without limitation, any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the us or other countries). in any way that violates any rights of any third party.
to submit material that are defamatory, abusive or obscene.
attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage or disrupt any parts of the website, the server on which the website is stored, or any server, computer or database connected to the website. otherwise attempt to interfere with the proper working of the website.
all prices displayed on the website are in u.s. dollars for restaurants located in the united states of america and are valid and effective only at the restaurant location specified. the company reserves the right, without prior notice and without incurring any obligations, to discontinue or change the specifications of any products or services offered on this website.
you may link to our homepage, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it, but you must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval or endorsement on our part. you agree to cooperate with us in causing any unauthorized framing or linking immediately to cease. we reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice. we may disable all or any social media features and any links at any time without notice in our discretion.
you understand that we cannot and do not guarantee or warrant that the website and any functions available through the website will be uninterrupted or error free or that the website will be free of viruses or other harmful components or other destructive code, and defects may not be corrected even if we are aware of them. you are responsible for implementing sufficient procedures and checkpoints to satisfy your particular requirements for anti-virus protection and accuracy of data input and output, and for maintaining a means external to our site for any reconstruction of any lost data. we will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a distributed denial-of-service attack, viruses or other technologically harmful material that may infect your computer equipment, computer programs, data or other proprietary material due to your use of the website or any services or items obtained through the website or to your downloading of any material posted on it, or on any website linked to it.
the company hereby disclaims all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, statutory or otherwise, including but not limited to any warranties of merchantability, non-infringement and fitness for particular purpose. the foregoing does not affect any warranties which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.


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Custom Ribbon | Ribbon And Bows Oh My!
Welcome to the world of custom ribbon. Let us turn your idea into ribbon reality!
Our custom ribbon can be used in any application from cheer and sports team hair bows to birthday party and corporate branding. The opportunities are boundless. Examples of past work include national cheer teams, bow makers, high school sports teams, non-profit fundraisers, birthday parties, and branding (Frito-Lay, Doritos, Aloha Island Coffee, etc).
Is there a minimum or maximum number of colors I must use?
There are no minimums or maximums of colors. Our process is 100% digital, so there are no screens, plates or hidden fees. Your imagination can run free!
One what type of ribbon can I print?
Grosgrain. Double Ruffle. Double Faced Satin. Satin Edge Sheer. Twill Tape. Lanyard Material. Fold Over Elastic.
Contact us for pricing but there are never any additional or hidden fees within our custom program. Everything from design consultation with our graphic designers to ribbon production is all included in the one cost.

lowercased:
custom ribbon | ribbon and bows oh my!
welcome to the world of custom ribbon. let us turn your idea into ribbon reality!
our custom ribbon can be used in any application from cheer and sports team hair bows to birthday party and corporate branding. the opportunities are boundless. examples of past work include national cheer teams, bow makers, high school sports teams, non-profit fundraisers, birthday parties, and branding (frito-lay, doritos, aloha island coffee, etc).
is there a minimum or maximum number of colors i must use?
there are no minimums or maximums of colors. our process is 100% digital, so there are no screens, plates or hidden fees. your imagination can run free!
one what type of ribbon can i print?
grosgrain. double ruffle. double faced satin. satin edge sheer. twill tape. lanyard material. fold over elastic.
contact us for pricing but there are never any additional or hidden fees within our custom program. everything from design consultation with our graphic designers to ribbon production is all included in the one cost.


text:
I was brimming with excitement all of Thursday. I couldn’t stop thinking about my date with Seabiscuit. I was very excited about his joining me at the theater plus the night adventures that would follow.
I hurried home after work, took a quick shower, and headed out. It had been a warm day, and I was doubtful that I needed my jacket; however, then I remembered being cold at a previous performance in the evening. Even though I had checked the weather and saw Orinda was only predicted to be in the low 60s in the evening, I knew that up in the hills, where the theater is actually located, it can get much colder. I felt foolish carrying such a large jacket on BART and felt too warm to need it, but better safe than sorry.
It was good I did. By the time I arrived at the theater, it was significantly cooler. I was happy without a jacket but realized that once the sun finished setting, I would need to put it on. I waited for Seabiscuit to arrive, and was excited to see him clean-shaven–as I had ordered as his Mistress. How good that he should obey so well! And he finally looked like one of his own photographs.
I told him previously that he appeared to be a servant of the Many-Faced God because his face never seemed to match from one photograph to another. The angles were off or something seemed so strange about it. He didn’t look like his photographs. I knew it was him, but how strange and different they all seemed.
There was a crowd, and I could tell he felt a bit shy. We hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks, then held hands as we walked up the hill from Will Call to the theater.
He bought dinner for us at the café, and we continued holding hands. The line was long, and we really only had 10 minutes to eat before needing to be seated. He was impressed by my tickets and how close we were to the stage. The temperature had dropped significantly, so I put on my jacket when we were seated but he was astounded that I didn’t close it until after intermission. I held his hand in his lap during the first half.
During intermission, he rented a blanket while I used the restroom and got my free bag of Peet’s coffee for renewing my subscription for the theater. We shared the blanket, and for the second half, he held my hand on my lap.
The performance was amazing, as all the shows I have seen there have been. CalShakes has done very well at selecting and directing plays that resonate with race issues going on currently, and this play was exceptionally well done in that regard. Seabiscuit enjoyed it greatly, and I told him he should return with me for all of next season. He said he would love to. It was his first time going to the theater in a very long time, and he said the final scenes with the bed on stage would linger in his memory for a long time.

lowercased:
i was brimming with excitement all of thursday. i couldn’t stop thinking about my date with seabiscuit. i was very excited about his joining me at the theater plus the night adventures that would follow.
i hurried home after work, took a quick shower, and headed out. it had been a warm day, and i was doubtful that i needed my jacket; however, then i remembered being cold at a previous performance in the evening. even though i had checked the weather and saw orinda was only predicted to be in the low 60s in the evening, i knew that up in the hills, where the theater is actually located, it can get much colder. i felt foolish carrying such a large jacket on bart and felt too warm to need it, but better safe than sorry.
it was good i did. by the time i arrived at the theater, it was significantly cooler. i was happy without a jacket but realized that once the sun finished setting, i would need to put it on. i waited for seabiscuit to arrive, and was excited to see him clean-shaven–as i had ordered as his mistress. how good that he should obey so well! and he finally looked like one of his own photographs.
i told him previously that he appeared to be a servant of the many-faced god because his face never seemed to match from one photograph to another. the angles were off or something seemed so strange about it. he didn’t look like his photographs. i knew it was him, but how strange and different they all seemed.
there was a crowd, and i could tell he felt a bit shy. we hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks, then held hands as we walked up the hill from will call to the theater.
he bought dinner for us at the café, and we continued holding hands. the line was long, and we really only had 10 minutes to eat before needing to be seated. he was impressed by my tickets and how close we were to the stage. the temperature had dropped significantly, so i put on my jacket when we were seated but he was astounded that i didn’t close it until after intermission. i held his hand in his lap during the first half.
during intermission, he rented a blanket while i used the restroom and got my free bag of peet’s coffee for renewing my subscription for the theater. we shared the blanket, and for the second half, he held my hand on my lap.
the performance was amazing, as all the shows i have seen there have been. calshakes has done very well at selecting and directing plays that resonate with race issues going on currently, and this play was exceptionally well done in that regard. seabiscuit enjoyed it greatly, and i told him he should return with me for all of next season. he said he would love to. it was his first time going to the theater in a very long time, and he said the final scenes with the bed on stage would linger in his memory for a long time.


text:
As part of Living in Thailand, the Rice Field Project follows our journey of buying land, preparing it for building our house and finally building our house. This is part 34, to read the other parts click The Rice Field Project. If you are following this project then you might remember that we had an water well made at our land. Well as we will later build a guest bungalow on an other part of our land we had the idea to have a second water well made. The new one closer to our house and use the old one for the garden and guest-bungalow. But that did not go as easy as we thought.
The first try was about 5 meter from our house, they found water at 6 meter but not enough to pump it up. Second try was about 10 meter from the first water well. But no water at all was found. So a third try was done about 5 meter next to the first water well. And bingo .... water. And a lot of water.
So the location of the first water well was just sheer luck? Anyway we will see how it works out with 2 water wells near to each other. The job was done by the same 3 people of the first water well. And although they had to try 3 times, we only paid for 1 water well, 3.500 Thai baht + some tip for the hard work. Because yes it is hard work, especially at 30℃!
Update : And we did just paid the final payment for the house construction. The last 5% will be paid 10 days after 100% completion and delivery of the house.

lowercased:
as part of living in thailand, the rice field project follows our journey of buying land, preparing it for building our house and finally building our house. this is part 34, to read the other parts click the rice field project. if you are following this project then you might remember that we had an water well made at our land. well as we will later build a guest bungalow on an other part of our land we had the idea to have a second water well made. the new one closer to our house and use the old one for the garden and guest-bungalow. but that did not go as easy as we thought.
the first try was about 5 meter from our house, they found water at 6 meter but not enough to pump it up. second try was about 10 meter from the first water well. but no water at all was found. so a third try was done about 5 meter next to the first water well. and bingo .... water. and a lot of water.
so the location of the first water well was just sheer luck? anyway we will see how it works out with 2 water wells near to each other. the job was done by the same 3 people of the first water well. and although they had to try 3 times, we only paid for 1 water well, 3.500 thai baht + some tip for the hard work. because yes it is hard work, especially at 30℃!
update : and we did just paid the final payment for the house construction. the last 5% will be paid 10 days after 100% completion and delivery of the house.


text:
There are few moments in life this fast paced, that take you this much by surprise. Where after the adrenaline high, you can’t believe it just happened to you. This is their story. Be sure to watch the video as well as browse through the photos as mom tells what happened from her perspective.
Ben’s parents were already at the hospital for an induction. Last checked, she was 2 cm dilated and not in active labour at all. The induction medication hadn’t even begun. I normally come when a client is in active labour as this early period could be slowed down by my presence. I texted with dad who told me we would touch base in an hour. I texted to see how things were going. Heard nothing for about 10 minutes and just had this gut feeling. I threw on my scrubs. My gear was already at the house and my childcare had been called in. I knew it would be today just not sure when.
Utter disbelief. What was he talking about? She wasn’t even in labour. This was a first baby. Complete as in completely dilated and at a 10? Maybe dad wasn’t familiar with the terms.
I put my keys in my pocket.
I screamed at my childcare “I gotta go, bye, I’m walking out, you are on duty, bye” and walked right to the car. I was driving away a minute later.
The drive had my heart pumping like never before. I knew this could go either way, some first time moms push for one to two hours so I might have time. Some deliver with in a couple pushes. I parked in exactly 20 minutes from when I walked out my door (went back and checked all my text time stamps).
I ran up to maternity and heard a baby crying from a delivery room. My heart sank. I knew.
He was laying on her chest and it was the first natural birth that ever beat me to it!
This was a precipitous labor, which is defined as a labor that lasts no more than three hours from onset of regular contractions to delivery. Maybe you could call hers ultra-precipitous?
The room no less, was full of peace, and with in the first minute of being there I began shooting. The looks of disbelief and utter joy were plastered all over their faces.
Ben’s parents have graciously allowed me to share their birth in part to glorify God publicly for his miraculous life. The images chosen, many that are not in the video, I selected almost all black and white because in this case, its just so visually stunning when laid together. In case you are wondering, my clients receive all of their images in colour and black & white for every session.
To Ben’s parents, the joy and graciousness you carry exudes from a deep place of knowing truth. What a gift your son has in having you both to raise him. Thank you for hiring me. I’m slightly terrified if you hire me again that I might just camp outside your house for a week.
To the hospital staff and Dr. Brandt at Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, my sincerest thank you’s for letting me run in all out of breath and document their day.

lowercased:
there are few moments in life this fast paced, that take you this much by surprise. where after the adrenaline high, you can’t believe it just happened to you. this is their story. be sure to watch the video as well as browse through the photos as mom tells what happened from her perspective.
ben’s parents were already at the hospital for an induction. last checked, she was 2 cm dilated and not in active labour at all. the induction medication hadn’t even begun. i normally come when a client is in active labour as this early period could be slowed down by my presence. i texted with dad who told me we would touch base in an hour. i texted to see how things were going. heard nothing for about 10 minutes and just had this gut feeling. i threw on my scrubs. my gear was already at the house and my childcare had been called in. i knew it would be today just not sure when.
utter disbelief. what was he talking about? she wasn’t even in labour. this was a first baby. complete as in completely dilated and at a 10? maybe dad wasn’t familiar with the terms.
i put my keys in my pocket.
i screamed at my childcare “i gotta go, bye, i’m walking out, you are on duty, bye” and walked right to the car. i was driving away a minute later.
the drive had my heart pumping like never before. i knew this could go either way, some first time moms push for one to two hours so i might have time. some deliver with in a couple pushes. i parked in exactly 20 minutes from when i walked out my door (went back and checked all my text time stamps).
i ran up to maternity and heard a baby crying from a delivery room. my heart sank. i knew.
he was laying on her chest and it was the first natural birth that ever beat me to it!
this was a precipitous labor, which is defined as a labor that lasts no more than three hours from onset of regular contractions to delivery. maybe you could call hers ultra-precipitous?
the room no less, was full of peace, and with in the first minute of being there i began shooting. the looks of disbelief and utter joy were plastered all over their faces.
ben’s parents have graciously allowed me to share their birth in part to glorify god publicly for his miraculous life. the images chosen, many that are not in the video, i selected almost all black and white because in this case, its just so visually stunning when laid together. in case you are wondering, my clients receive all of their images in colour and black & white for every session.
to ben’s parents, the joy and graciousness you carry exudes from a deep place of knowing truth. what a gift your son has in having you both to raise him. thank you for hiring me. i’m slightly terrified if you hire me again that i might just camp outside your house for a week.
to the hospital staff and dr. brandt at netcare blaauwberg hospital, my sincerest thank you’s for letting me run in all out of breath and document their day.


text:
Have you hired Star Drywall Ltd? Write a review and earn our First to Review badge.
Star Drywall Ltd has not added any photos.
Looking for Insulation pros in Estevan?

lowercased:
have you hired star drywall ltd? write a review and earn our first to review badge.
star drywall ltd has not added any photos.
looking for insulation pros in estevan?


text:
We have a fantastic new senior business development opportunity with a leading digital agency.
This agency produces outstanding digital collateral for pharmaceutical clients. They are leaders in this niche and have won many awards for their highly impressive work.
This opportunity will report to their CEO and involve overseeing a junior business development team. You will identify opportunities to sell the agencies digital services and be regularly travelling internationally to meet clients. The role will have a strong emphasis on consultative selling as you get a close understanding of clients’ needs in pharmaceutical companies in order to sell the agency’s services.
To be considered you’ll need to have experience of working in a healthcare communications agency and have played a big part in new business development and pitching. You’ll need a good understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and digital. A life science degree is preferred but not essential.
There are superb rewards on offer including a generous salary and very good commission package.

lowercased:
we have a fantastic new senior business development opportunity with a leading digital agency.
this agency produces outstanding digital collateral for pharmaceutical clients. they are leaders in this niche and have won many awards for their highly impressive work.
this opportunity will report to their ceo and involve overseeing a junior business development team. you will identify opportunities to sell the agencies digital services and be regularly travelling internationally to meet clients. the role will have a strong emphasis on consultative selling as you get a close understanding of clients’ needs in pharmaceutical companies in order to sell the agency’s services.
to be considered you’ll need to have experience of working in a healthcare communications agency and have played a big part in new business development and pitching. you’ll need a good understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and digital. a life science degree is preferred but not essential.
there are superb rewards on offer including a generous salary and very good commission package.


text:
This very well presented Pool View apartment is located in the heart of the very popular Cabo Roig strip, in the Playamarina 1 complex building, with lobby, reception, with communal pool, pool bar, and underground garage.
The Health Center is just 100 m away, and pharmacy nearby.
Fully tiled bathroom with bath and shower attachment. Wash basin with vanity unit under, and WC.
Undergroung garage, with lift with access to all floors.

lowercased:
this very well presented pool view apartment is located in the heart of the very popular cabo roig strip, in the playamarina 1 complex building, with lobby, reception, with communal pool, pool bar, and underground garage.
the health center is just 100 m away, and pharmacy nearby.
fully tiled bathroom with bath and shower attachment. wash basin with vanity unit under, and wc.
undergroung garage, with lift with access to all floors.


text:
I’ve never understood the whole points thing, scholarships, etc. for open comps. I don’t do enough open comps for it to matter – but I’d love to understand it. I’ve tried to look it up and other than the official rules which are like reading a law-book ( in other words make no sense to me!) I can’t find a simple explanation of it all. If anyone can give a layperson’s explanation it would be cool!
I had to clarify. What to which “points” was she referring, exactly?
Maybe you are referring to being top student or top teacher in a competition or a district or in a competition series? If that is the case, what happens is you get a certain amount of points for each entry you are in (or your instructor dances), and then more points for placing higher. Like when I got top student in San Diego it was like 8 points (or something, I don’t exactly remember the point value) for 1st place, 6 for 2nd, down through 6th and then 1 point for participating. You get more points for participating more and for placing higher. Your instructor gets points for the same things, but obviously if they bring more students and dance more often, they earn more points.
So I checked it out, not being familiar with proficiency points. No one had ever mentioned them to me before.
Ellen, I’ve looked at the proficiency point guide and I’m intrigued. Seems to be a complicated system to determine which category you should dance in…what age, what level, as an attempt in making sure people are competing at an appropriate level – not too high or too low. It says in the guide that USA dance will make a database online of the points so I’m now trying to find that. I’m curious to see where I might rank. I’ve always been told that the instructor decides which category you dance at. It seems like the points might be more important for high level amateur competitors or professional couples. I’ll ask Ivan about it, but who knows if he knows anything about it. It does say that you can be disciplined for dancing below your level! Thanks for asking this question. I love learning more about my favorite sport! I’ll keep you updated.
The topic sparked my interest in a number of facets of ballroom dancing that involve points and I had a big ‘ole conversation with Ivan about it after my lesson today.
Sadly, he didn’t know about proficiency points, but he did comment on another type of points used by ballroom studios which I found intriguing. Also, I did a little more research and found on http://DanceForums.com some old comments about the proficiency points. You can see the comments I found here.
First, the database is not current. I don’t even know if you can find it. Someone who is on the USA Dance board must have been in the conversation because he or she commented that they needed someone to volunteer to keep up with the points. I guess you are supposed to keep track of them yourself! Well, I for one, haven’t been doing that.
Second, the link Ellen sent me on the USA Dance page that directs you to the rules about the Proficiency points is outdated. I guess there have been changes (that a couple must now only accrue 200 points instead of the 300 mentioned in the pdf file) that aren’t reflected in that edition of the rules.
But the plot thickens. These mystery proficiency points are only applicable to USA Dance sanctioned events.
USA Dance isn’t the only governing body of ballroom dance.
There are different proficiency points and rules for the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) and the Youth College Network (YCN).
So there are points you accrue in competition. But after my conversation with Ivan, I have learned there are also points you can accrue at a studio. Now, I don’t purport to have expertise in this area because I’ve never danced in a ballroom dance franchise studio. I’m going on what Ivan told me. If things are different, feel free to comment below and fill us all in. At least this is what I gather went on at Ivan’s studio when he was employed by a franchised studio.
Students accrue points and have proficiency tests to determine what level they are at: pre-bronze, bronze, silver, etc. Then packages are sold around getting to the next level. Like for every lesson you take or every figure you learn it’s recorded and there are charts of points and where you are. There are also charts proclaiming which student is which level, so you can compare yourself to other students and follow your and their progress.
To me, this seems a bit weird. I guess it is great for goal setting and is some form of monitoring progress, but just knowing the steps in the gold syllabus doesn’t necessarily, I think, mean you are a gold level dancer – meaning that you might be dancing a gold step with bronze level technique.
What it does do is give a person a sense of being able to put a feather in their cap. I’ve had people ask me what level dancer I am, but since I have no points or proficiency tests to go on, I honestly don’t know. I have no idea what level the steps I know are considered nor my level in terms of technique.
Seems like another VCR manual to me, but at least this one only applies to amateurs. I still don’t know what this means if I’m dancing Pro/Am since my proficiency in Pro/Am shall not be used in determining my amateur proficiency level….though I don’t dance Am/Am, myself!
Sheesh! I think it’s an interesting topic, but still kind of a mystery even after all this writing and after all the various research!
So, now the ball is in your court. Do you know anything about points tracked in ballroom? What do you think of these point systems? Does your studio use them? How? Have you heard of them in the context of NDCA or USA Dance? Have you kept track of yours? What do they mean….really? I’m curious to know.
Ooohhh, I’m a bit nervous writing this post, but I think it is a very important subject that is not often talked about. It kind of relates to my previous post about when learning to dance that you make sure you find an instructor that can teach in a way that you can understand and process. And if it’s not working out, to feel free to move on to a different instructor who can suit your needs. Sometimes that can be a little tricky. One of those situations where it is easier said, than done.
The topic I’m talking about is whether or not as a dance student we are free agents, at liberty to dance with whichever instructor we desire and the sometimes-weird possessiveness that the instructor or studio may exhibit for his/her/its students.
When it all boils down, I personally believe that I am the customer, I am the one paying to learn, and I should be able to go wherever I want to do that.
However, it actually isn’t as black and white as that. It isn’t as easy to navigate as one might think.
Hopefully you can avoid some of the difficulties I’ll mention by doing “dancer-views” before settling on a particular instructor. I plan to write a post later on about how to go about the process of finding and selecting an instructor, so I’ll leave that for another time. However, even if you do your due diligence, it may not always be possible to stay with your current instructor indefinitely. Life happens. I’m with my third instructor, and in both previous cases, there were life events that pushed that change along.
But for now (and for what I hope is a long, long time to come) as you know from the blog, my primary instructor is Ivan, who is an independent dance instructor. He is my #1. Any place I go to take group classes or whatever (unless it is just social dancing or I’m not there enough for it to matter and it’s none of their business) is aware of my instructor. Conversely, Ivan is aware that I take group classes at Inna’s studio, and I often inform him if I go social dancing as well, out of courtesy.
With Ivan, he has made it clear that if I want to dance with other instructors for ballroom, then I need to not dance with him. Coaching would be a different situation, or a lesson with Marietta or Nona as a one time deal for styling or something would be fine too, and he’d know about it.
But if I want to learn something that he doesn’t have expertise in, like West Coast Swing, or Argentine Tango, then I just have to tell him my desire and he’d be cool with that. That is the arrangement we have set up. But the point is, we had a conversation about it. At no point did I go behind his back and do things. I wouldn’t want to risk losing him as an instructor. We have this agreement set up and I respect it.
Somehow, however, I’ve managed to be dancing at like three different places (sometimes more), but this is not, from what I’ve heard, the “norm” when it comes to ballroom dancing. And if you are going to go that road, it is extremely, extremely important to be respectful of the professionals at each location, as well as their students, and the relationships between them. It is extremely, extremely important to be upfront and clear on what relationship you have to each place you dance. Otherwise, things can get very messy, very quickly!
From my past personal experience, and from that of others who have shared with me, some teachers and studios can become almost possessive of their students. I can even understand it, to a point. They want to protect their business and that only makes sense. However, I feel like it comes from a scarcity mindset – the idea that the instructor or studio has to keep the student away from any other dance influences for fear that the new or different dance instructor or class may “steal” the student away is focused on a fear of losing something. From my perspective, it isn’t possible to steal a student. If you are providing the value a student is looking for, they won’t go anywhere, no matter how many “other” group classes they take, or instructors they are exposed to. This would be an abundant mindset.
But the fact is, some of the studios just don’t offer everything a person might be looking for. Not everyone offers Lindy Hop, or ballet. If I can’t get those at my primary studio, and I want them, I should be at liberty to go elsewhere to find them. My primary studio can always take that as feedback and grow such areas if they so desire. But to prevent me, threaten me, or guilt me into not doing more dancing if I have that desire, I feel is poor behavior. To allow myself to let any threat, or guilt deter me from what I really want is not okay either.
However, there is really something to be said for sticking with one instructor or studio when its good for you, even if it is tough. Sometimes there are issues to work through, even if you adore your instructor. I’ve had a lesson or two with Ivan where we had to get clear on a few things and it wasn’t necessarily comfortable. But I’d choose being uncomfortable and having open, honest communication, than to lose a fab instructor any day of the week. That is just me.
Again, as mentioned in a previous post, there isn’t necessarily one “right” way, the be-all and end-all way of dancing. That means that each instructor you learn from will give you some similar information, and some very different information than others. This can be very confusing and muddle the clarity of your dancing. A person has to be careful of not always thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. It might be very green right where you are. Sticking it out with your instructor may be the best choice you ever make. Also, if you do decide to receive instruction from multiple sources, be aware that you may need to filter some of the information and make sure that you apply those things that will best serve you while leaving the rest behind. This will take discernment on your part.
If the time does come when you feel the need to change instructors, I’d encourage you to do it in as clean, clear, and honest manner as possible. Although some people just stop taking lessons, not only can this strain your relationship with the instructor and the studio, but it steals the opportunity for the instructor or studio to respond to your issue, and even if the issue can’t be amended, it robs them of the feedback you could provide so they don’t recreate the same pitfall with another student.
So, to answer the primary question of this post, am I a free agent? Yes…and no. Yes, because I take classes at a variety of places that I feel will enhance and enrich my dancing. But no, because I am very clear that Ivan is my primary ballroom instructor and I’m not going anywhere else for that. I mean, the entire relationship is built on trust. You can’t have trust if you are not engaging in open, honest communication or going behind someone’s back. I guarantee it will show up in your dancing.
What about you? Do you only dance with one instructor at one location? Why? How does that work for you? Or do you dance a lot of places? What positive or negative experiences can you share around that? What advice would you give someone who was considering dancing more than one place or changing instructors? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

lowercased:
i’ve never understood the whole points thing, scholarships, etc. for open comps. i don’t do enough open comps for it to matter – but i’d love to understand it. i’ve tried to look it up and other than the official rules which are like reading a law-book ( in other words make no sense to me!) i can’t find a simple explanation of it all. if anyone can give a layperson’s explanation it would be cool!
i had to clarify. what to which “points” was she referring, exactly?
maybe you are referring to being top student or top teacher in a competition or a district or in a competition series? if that is the case, what happens is you get a certain amount of points for each entry you are in (or your instructor dances), and then more points for placing higher. like when i got top student in san diego it was like 8 points (or something, i don’t exactly remember the point value) for 1st place, 6 for 2nd, down through 6th and then 1 point for participating. you get more points for participating more and for placing higher. your instructor gets points for the same things, but obviously if they bring more students and dance more often, they earn more points.
so i checked it out, not being familiar with proficiency points. no one had ever mentioned them to me before.
ellen, i’ve looked at the proficiency point guide and i’m intrigued. seems to be a complicated system to determine which category you should dance in…what age, what level, as an attempt in making sure people are competing at an appropriate level – not too high or too low. it says in the guide that usa dance will make a database online of the points so i’m now trying to find that. i’m curious to see where i might rank. i’ve always been told that the instructor decides which category you dance at. it seems like the points might be more important for high level amateur competitors or professional couples. i’ll ask ivan about it, but who knows if he knows anything about it. it does say that you can be disciplined for dancing below your level! thanks for asking this question. i love learning more about my favorite sport! i’ll keep you updated.
the topic sparked my interest in a number of facets of ballroom dancing that involve points and i had a big ‘ole conversation with ivan about it after my lesson today.
sadly, he didn’t know about proficiency points, but he did comment on another type of points used by ballroom studios which i found intriguing. also, i did a little more research and found on http://danceforums.com some old comments about the proficiency points. you can see the comments i found here.
first, the database is not current. i don’t even know if you can find it. someone who is on the usa dance board must have been in the conversation because he or she commented that they needed someone to volunteer to keep up with the points. i guess you are supposed to keep track of them yourself! well, i for one, haven’t been doing that.
second, the link ellen sent me on the usa dance page that directs you to the rules about the proficiency points is outdated. i guess there have been changes (that a couple must now only accrue 200 points instead of the 300 mentioned in the pdf file) that aren’t reflected in that edition of the rules.
but the plot thickens. these mystery proficiency points are only applicable to usa dance sanctioned events.
usa dance isn’t the only governing body of ballroom dance.
there are different proficiency points and rules for the national dance council of america (ndca) and the youth college network (ycn).
so there are points you accrue in competition. but after my conversation with ivan, i have learned there are also points you can accrue at a studio. now, i don’t purport to have expertise in this area because i’ve never danced in a ballroom dance franchise studio. i’m going on what ivan told me. if things are different, feel free to comment below and fill us all in. at least this is what i gather went on at ivan’s studio when he was employed by a franchised studio.
students accrue points and have proficiency tests to determine what level they are at: pre-bronze, bronze, silver, etc. then packages are sold around getting to the next level. like for every lesson you take or every figure you learn it’s recorded and there are charts of points and where you are. there are also charts proclaiming which student is which level, so you can compare yourself to other students and follow your and their progress.
to me, this seems a bit weird. i guess it is great for goal setting and is some form of monitoring progress, but just knowing the steps in the gold syllabus doesn’t necessarily, i think, mean you are a gold level dancer – meaning that you might be dancing a gold step with bronze level technique.
what it does do is give a person a sense of being able to put a feather in their cap. i’ve had people ask me what level dancer i am, but since i have no points or proficiency tests to go on, i honestly don’t know. i have no idea what level the steps i know are considered nor my level in terms of technique.
seems like another vcr manual to me, but at least this one only applies to amateurs. i still don’t know what this means if i’m dancing pro/am since my proficiency in pro/am shall not be used in determining my amateur proficiency level….though i don’t dance am/am, myself!
sheesh! i think it’s an interesting topic, but still kind of a mystery even after all this writing and after all the various research!
so, now the ball is in your court. do you know anything about points tracked in ballroom? what do you think of these point systems? does your studio use them? how? have you heard of them in the context of ndca or usa dance? have you kept track of yours? what do they mean….really? i’m curious to know.
ooohhh, i’m a bit nervous writing this post, but i think it is a very important subject that is not often talked about. it kind of relates to my previous post about when learning to dance that you make sure you find an instructor that can teach in a way that you can understand and process. and if it’s not working out, to feel free to move on to a different instructor who can suit your needs. sometimes that can be a little tricky. one of those situations where it is easier said, than done.
the topic i’m talking about is whether or not as a dance student we are free agents, at liberty to dance with whichever instructor we desire and the sometimes-weird possessiveness that the instructor or studio may exhibit for his/her/its students.
when it all boils down, i personally believe that i am the customer, i am the one paying to learn, and i should be able to go wherever i want to do that.
however, it actually isn’t as black and white as that. it isn’t as easy to navigate as one might think.
hopefully you can avoid some of the difficulties i’ll mention by doing “dancer-views” before settling on a particular instructor. i plan to write a post later on about how to go about the process of finding and selecting an instructor, so i’ll leave that for another time. however, even if you do your due diligence, it may not always be possible to stay with your current instructor indefinitely. life happens. i’m with my third instructor, and in both previous cases, there were life events that pushed that change along.
but for now (and for what i hope is a long, long time to come) as you know from the blog, my primary instructor is ivan, who is an independent dance instructor. he is my #1. any place i go to take group classes or whatever (unless it is just social dancing or i’m not there enough for it to matter and it’s none of their business) is aware of my instructor. conversely, ivan is aware that i take group classes at inna’s studio, and i often inform him if i go social dancing as well, out of courtesy.
with ivan, he has made it clear that if i want to dance with other instructors for ballroom, then i need to not dance with him. coaching would be a different situation, or a lesson with marietta or nona as a one time deal for styling or something would be fine too, and he’d know about it.
but if i want to learn something that he doesn’t have expertise in, like west coast swing, or argentine tango, then i just have to tell him my desire and he’d be cool with that. that is the arrangement we have set up. but the point is, we had a conversation about it. at no point did i go behind his back and do things. i wouldn’t want to risk losing him as an instructor. we have this agreement set up and i respect it.
somehow, however, i’ve managed to be dancing at like three different places (sometimes more), but this is not, from what i’ve heard, the “norm” when it comes to ballroom dancing. and if you are going to go that road, it is extremely, extremely important to be respectful of the professionals at each location, as well as their students, and the relationships between them. it is extremely, extremely important to be upfront and clear on what relationship you have to each place you dance. otherwise, things can get very messy, very quickly!
from my past personal experience, and from that of others who have shared with me, some teachers and studios can become almost possessive of their students. i can even understand it, to a point. they want to protect their business and that only makes sense. however, i feel like it comes from a scarcity mindset – the idea that the instructor or studio has to keep the student away from any other dance influences for fear that the new or different dance instructor or class may “steal” the student away is focused on a fear of losing something. from my perspective, it isn’t possible to steal a student. if you are providing the value a student is looking for, they won’t go anywhere, no matter how many “other” group classes they take, or instructors they are exposed to. this would be an abundant mindset.
but the fact is, some of the studios just don’t offer everything a person might be looking for. not everyone offers lindy hop, or ballet. if i can’t get those at my primary studio, and i want them, i should be at liberty to go elsewhere to find them. my primary studio can always take that as feedback and grow such areas if they so desire. but to prevent me, threaten me, or guilt me into not doing more dancing if i have that desire, i feel is poor behavior. to allow myself to let any threat, or guilt deter me from what i really want is not okay either.
however, there is really something to be said for sticking with one instructor or studio when its good for you, even if it is tough. sometimes there are issues to work through, even if you adore your instructor. i’ve had a lesson or two with ivan where we had to get clear on a few things and it wasn’t necessarily comfortable. but i’d choose being uncomfortable and having open, honest communication, than to lose a fab instructor any day of the week. that is just me.
again, as mentioned in a previous post, there isn’t necessarily one “right” way, the be-all and end-all way of dancing. that means that each instructor you learn from will give you some similar information, and some very different information than others. this can be very confusing and muddle the clarity of your dancing. a person has to be careful of not always thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. it might be very green right where you are. sticking it out with your instructor may be the best choice you ever make. also, if you do decide to receive instruction from multiple sources, be aware that you may need to filter some of the information and make sure that you apply those things that will best serve you while leaving the rest behind. this will take discernment on your part.
if the time does come when you feel the need to change instructors, i’d encourage you to do it in as clean, clear, and honest manner as possible. although some people just stop taking lessons, not only can this strain your relationship with the instructor and the studio, but it steals the opportunity for the instructor or studio to respond to your issue, and even if the issue can’t be amended, it robs them of the feedback you could provide so they don’t recreate the same pitfall with another student.
so, to answer the primary question of this post, am i a free agent? yes…and no. yes, because i take classes at a variety of places that i feel will enhance and enrich my dancing. but no, because i am very clear that ivan is my primary ballroom instructor and i’m not going anywhere else for that. i mean, the entire relationship is built on trust. you can’t have trust if you are not engaging in open, honest communication or going behind someone’s back. i guarantee it will show up in your dancing.
what about you? do you only dance with one instructor at one location? why? how does that work for you? or do you dance a lot of places? what positive or negative experiences can you share around that? what advice would you give someone who was considering dancing more than one place or changing instructors? i’d love to hear your thoughts!


text:
A deposit will hold the animal of your choice. If that animal is not born, your deposit can be transferred to another breeding. Due to differences in animal husbandry practices, we can not guarantee the health once they leave our care. We do guarantee they are free from congenital defects and will replace any animal that has one.
DOB 4/2018 Super dairy little doe from some excellent milking lines. Retained her full sister.
DOB 1/09/2018 Priss is a super friendly doe who exhibits some very nice dairy character and has genetics behind her to be a great milker. She has been shown and placed in the middle of some extremely large classes.
DOB 10/08/2018 Long level doe kid with great spring of rib. Comes from some excellent genetics.
DOB 3/18/2017 This is a very dairy buck. Long, great angulation, and lots of width between the hocks. He already has 2 Reserve Champion wins.

lowercased:
a deposit will hold the animal of your choice. if that animal is not born, your deposit can be transferred to another breeding. due to differences in animal husbandry practices, we can not guarantee the health once they leave our care. we do guarantee they are free from congenital defects and will replace any animal that has one.
dob 4/2018 super dairy little doe from some excellent milking lines. retained her full sister.
dob 1/09/2018 priss is a super friendly doe who exhibits some very nice dairy character and has genetics behind her to be a great milker. she has been shown and placed in the middle of some extremely large classes.
dob 10/08/2018 long level doe kid with great spring of rib. comes from some excellent genetics.
dob 3/18/2017 this is a very dairy buck. long, great angulation, and lots of width between the hocks. he already has 2 reserve champion wins.


text:
According to many studies, it is revealed that the number of crimes can be reduced by almost 50%, if there is better street illumination thus demotivating criminals to commence any kind of crime due to the fear of getting caught. If you are also considering some better lighting alternative to reduce crime from your area then you can install LED pole lights that will never make streets dark or dull. Install Outoor LED Pole Light 300w that have photocell option as well which will give you added savings in addition to maximum safety.
These lights are electrician friendly and can be installed easily, also with the lifespan of more than 50,000 hours; you can completely rely on these lights to provide maximum visibility.
These lights produce 39982 lumens by using just 300watts of power and you can replace them with 1000w of MH lights.
Also the color temperature of these lights is 5700K and these lights offer eco-friendly lighting results without emitting any harmful UV/IV rays as well.
These lights are photocell sensor enabled lights that reduces the wastage of lights as well, enjoy even and uniform lighting that can cater to the bigger and larger areas.
The Pre-built LED Shoebox fixture delivers energy-efficient illumination for boulevards, parking lots, parkways & pathways among many other places.
So install LED pole light 300w that are more powerful than the traditional lights and can give maximum energy savings and can keep the city safe from the criminal activities.

lowercased:
according to many studies, it is revealed that the number of crimes can be reduced by almost 50%, if there is better street illumination thus demotivating criminals to commence any kind of crime due to the fear of getting caught. if you are also considering some better lighting alternative to reduce crime from your area then you can install led pole lights that will never make streets dark or dull. install outoor led pole light 300w that have photocell option as well which will give you added savings in addition to maximum safety.
these lights are electrician friendly and can be installed easily, also with the lifespan of more than 50,000 hours; you can completely rely on these lights to provide maximum visibility.
these lights produce 39982 lumens by using just 300watts of power and you can replace them with 1000w of mh lights.
also the color temperature of these lights is 5700k and these lights offer eco-friendly lighting results without emitting any harmful uv/iv rays as well.
these lights are photocell sensor enabled lights that reduces the wastage of lights as well, enjoy even and uniform lighting that can cater to the bigger and larger areas.
the pre-built led shoebox fixture delivers energy-efficient illumination for boulevards, parking lots, parkways & pathways among many other places.
so install led pole light 300w that are more powerful than the traditional lights and can give maximum energy savings and can keep the city safe from the criminal activities.


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Tripp Lite's NetController 8-port USB/PS2 KVM Switch is an affordable, highly flexible enterprise class KVM Switch. This unit gives the user a choice of PS2 or USB inputs for the keyboard and mouse, as well as USB or PS2 attachment to the computer. A dedicated daisy-chain port offers expandability up to 128 computers. On- Screen Display (OSD) menu functionality allows for easy switch management and port selection. Other features include: password protection, auto-scanning, auto-logout, firmware upgradeable and video support up to 2048 x 1536 (QXGA) . Mounts easily in a standard 19" rack cabinet, and includes all necessary mounting hardware. Use only Tripp Lite P780 series USB/PS2 KVM cable kits with this unit. Tripp Lite 1-year limited warranty.
It has great value for 319.42.You should definitely buy one, i definitely recommend buying this Tripp Lite Tripp Lite B042-008 8-port USB/PS2 KVM Switch.

lowercased:
tripp lite's netcontroller 8-port usb/ps2 kvm switch is an affordable, highly flexible enterprise class kvm switch. this unit gives the user a choice of ps2 or usb inputs for the keyboard and mouse, as well as usb or ps2 attachment to the computer. a dedicated daisy-chain port offers expandability up to 128 computers. on- screen display (osd) menu functionality allows for easy switch management and port selection. other features include: password protection, auto-scanning, auto-logout, firmware upgradeable and video support up to 2048 x 1536 (qxga) . mounts easily in a standard 19" rack cabinet, and includes all necessary mounting hardware. use only tripp lite p780 series usb/ps2 kvm cable kits with this unit. tripp lite 1-year limited warranty.
it has great value for 319.42.you should definitely buy one, i definitely recommend buying this tripp lite tripp lite b042-008 8-port usb/ps2 kvm switch.


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The trial will be run by biotech company Bioquark, which is primarily focused on developing "combinatorial biologics" that get to the heart of disease reversal rather than just treating the symptoms. They believe that stem cells can be used as a kind of "reset button" for the body, erasing cell damage and stimulating tissue regeneration. They claim that their research could potentially lead to "complex tissue and organ regeneration, disease reversion, and even biological age reversal."
"This represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual reversal of death in our lifetime," Dr Ira Pastor, the CEO of Bioquark, told The Telegraph. "To undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders of consciousness.
We hope to see results within the first two to three months."
"It is a long term vision of ours that a full recovery in such patients is a possibility, although that is not the focus of this first study – but it is a bridge to that eventuality."
Some scientists are already expressing doubt that this could lead to anything resembling a genuine recovery for braindead patients, as studies have shown that humans' capacity for regeneration is somewhat limited. However, even if the regeneration aspect of the project isn't quite successful, the study will still shed light on the process of brain death, and possibly spur innovation in the treatment of debilitating neurological diseases.
"Through our study, we will gain unique insights into the state of human brain death, which will have important connections to future therapeutic development for other severe disorders of consciousness, such as coma, and the vegetative and minimally conscious states, as well as a range of degenerative CNS conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease," said Dr Sergei Paylian, Founder, President, and Chief Science Officer of Bioquark.

lowercased:
the trial will be run by biotech company bioquark, which is primarily focused on developing "combinatorial biologics" that get to the heart of disease reversal rather than just treating the symptoms. they believe that stem cells can be used as a kind of "reset button" for the body, erasing cell damage and stimulating tissue regeneration. they claim that their research could potentially lead to "complex tissue and organ regeneration, disease reversion, and even biological age reversal."
"this represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual reversal of death in our lifetime," dr ira pastor, the ceo of bioquark, told the telegraph. "to undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders of consciousness.
we hope to see results within the first two to three months."
"it is a long term vision of ours that a full recovery in such patients is a possibility, although that is not the focus of this first study – but it is a bridge to that eventuality."
some scientists are already expressing doubt that this could lead to anything resembling a genuine recovery for braindead patients, as studies have shown that humans' capacity for regeneration is somewhat limited. however, even if the regeneration aspect of the project isn't quite successful, the study will still shed light on the process of brain death, and possibly spur innovation in the treatment of debilitating neurological diseases.
"through our study, we will gain unique insights into the state of human brain death, which will have important connections to future therapeutic development for other severe disorders of consciousness, such as coma, and the vegetative and minimally conscious states, as well as a range of degenerative cns conditions, including alzheimer's and parkinson's disease," said dr sergei paylian, founder, president, and chief science officer of bioquark.


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Our last competition for the Summertime Reading Competition is the funnest! Just leave a comment on this post, or submit a video or picture telling (or showing) us ‘Your favourite place to read’. Make sure you put your name and your email address or phone number so that we can contact you if you win. We’ll draw one lucky kid who will win a $40 PaperPlus voucher. So get commenting and you’ll be in to win. If you’d like to send us a picture or video, you can email it to competition@christchurchcitylibraries.com Competition closes Thursday 23 January 2014.
Join the Great Summer Reading Adventure!
Our annual Summertime Reading programme is about to get underway again for kids between 5 and 12 years old. Pick up your Summertime Reading Club map from your local library or Paper Plus store from December and be in to win some great prizes!
Read six books of your choice between 20th December 2013 and 24th January 2014, then take your map back into the library to receive your sticker and a $5 Paper Plus voucher. The librarian will also enter you online for the prize draw and the major prize this year is an iPad mini.
For a further challenge, you can complete the Science Alive Reading Adventure by reading four different books and spotting the science feature in each of those books. Take the map back into the library and the librarian will enter you into the draw for some more great prizes.
We’ll also have a weekly Summertime Reading Challenge here on the Kids Blog that you can enter to win PaperPlus vouchers.

lowercased:
our last competition for the summertime reading competition is the funnest! just leave a comment on this post, or submit a video or picture telling (or showing) us ‘your favourite place to read’. make sure you put your name and your email address or phone number so that we can contact you if you win. we’ll draw one lucky kid who will win a $40 paperplus voucher. so get commenting and you’ll be in to win. if you’d like to send us a picture or video, you can email it to competition@christchurchcitylibraries.com competition closes thursday 23 january 2014.
join the great summer reading adventure!
our annual summertime reading programme is about to get underway again for kids between 5 and 12 years old. pick up your summertime reading club map from your local library or paper plus store from december and be in to win some great prizes!
read six books of your choice between 20th december 2013 and 24th january 2014, then take your map back into the library to receive your sticker and a $5 paper plus voucher. the librarian will also enter you online for the prize draw and the major prize this year is an ipad mini.
for a further challenge, you can complete the science alive reading adventure by reading four different books and spotting the science feature in each of those books. take the map back into the library and the librarian will enter you into the draw for some more great prizes.
we’ll also have a weekly summertime reading challenge here on the kids blog that you can enter to win paperplus vouchers.


text: Breathtaking 24th Floor Direct Ocean Front Corner. 2,020 sq. ft. Was a 3 bdrm. Now Large 2 Bedroom 2 1/2 bath - with Marble Floors, New Kitchen appliances. Price includes cabana #8 5 Bldg. Resort Fully Renovated with private Restaurant, fitness center, beach service, full service spa, tennis courts, Marina, & concierge service. Great opportunity! Easy to Show!

lowercased: breathtaking 24th floor direct ocean front corner. 2,020 sq. ft. was a 3 bdrm. now large 2 bedroom 2 1/2 bath - with marble floors, new kitchen appliances. price includes cabana #8 5 bldg. resort fully renovated with private restaurant, fitness center, beach service, full service spa, tennis courts, marina, & concierge service. great opportunity! easy to show!


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Come rain or shine, it seems everyone relishes our relish. Perfect with a ploughman's, even better with a buttie.
Sloe Chutney - A traditional plummy fruit chutney uniquely combined with sloes from our Sloe Gin and finished with a slight chilli bite. 220g.
Sloe Jelly - A fruit jelly made with Bramley apples and ginny sloes. It has a rich plum and apple fruit taste. Sloe Jelly is great as an accompaniment to roast lamb, as an addition to gravy or simply on toast with butter. 220g.
Damson Chutney - A traditional plummy fruit chutney uniquely combined with damsons from our Damson Gin and finished with cloves, all spice and cinnamon to give a flavour of Christmas. 220g.
Blackberry Ketchup - We have taken the Blackberries from our popular Bramble Whisky & blended them with a unique selection of spices to create this savoury fruity sauce with a punch. 180g.

lowercased:
come rain or shine, it seems everyone relishes our relish. perfect with a ploughman's, even better with a buttie.
sloe chutney - a traditional plummy fruit chutney uniquely combined with sloes from our sloe gin and finished with a slight chilli bite. 220g.
sloe jelly - a fruit jelly made with bramley apples and ginny sloes. it has a rich plum and apple fruit taste. sloe jelly is great as an accompaniment to roast lamb, as an addition to gravy or simply on toast with butter. 220g.
damson chutney - a traditional plummy fruit chutney uniquely combined with damsons from our damson gin and finished with cloves, all spice and cinnamon to give a flavour of christmas. 220g.
blackberry ketchup - we have taken the blackberries from our popular bramble whisky & blended them with a unique selection of spices to create this savoury fruity sauce with a punch. 180g.


text: Apple has announced a host of services from Apple TV+ for video streaming to a credit card offering to disrupt the space. Also a new offering in the news and gaming space... With iPhones sales dwindling, will this bet on services pay off? Also, Rahul Dayama decided to go to Zomato's Hyperpure warehouse to understand their new business bet. It's third innings for the founders of Fabmart and Fabmall as they launch their venture in the FMCG space.

lowercased: apple has announced a host of services from apple tv+ for video streaming to a credit card offering to disrupt the space. also a new offering in the news and gaming space... with iphones sales dwindling, will this bet on services pay off? also, rahul dayama decided to go to zomato's hyperpure warehouse to understand their new business bet. it's third innings for the founders of fabmart and fabmall as they launch their venture in the fmcg space.


text:
Creative Directors are the driving force that keeps the creative side of Huge at the top of its game—they make sure no talent goes to waste and the work stays sharp. These are crazy-talented people who develop original design concepts, oversee multiple projects through execution, and directly managing a team of creatives under them. Team leadership and motivation skills are absolutely essential for the role. Our Creative Directors have a big job, and we need people who aren’t afraid to see such massive undertakings in front of them and still say, “We can do more here.” This is a leadership position in every sense of the phrase, and we need someone who can represent Huge culture and standards to all levels and disciplines within the department and company-wide. Creative Directors are also responsible for managing the client relationship for all things related to creative.
6-8+ years experience in a creative leadership role (at least 3+ years digital agency environment).
A robust background with experience in a creative leadership role. Recognized expertise in interactive or physical design a must.
A strong working knowledge of the fundamentals—interaction design, user-centered experience design, brand development and the creative process—as well as new platforms and technologies.

lowercased:
creative directors are the driving force that keeps the creative side of huge at the top of its game—they make sure no talent goes to waste and the work stays sharp. these are crazy-talented people who develop original design concepts, oversee multiple projects through execution, and directly managing a team of creatives under them. team leadership and motivation skills are absolutely essential for the role. our creative directors have a big job, and we need people who aren’t afraid to see such massive undertakings in front of them and still say, “we can do more here.” this is a leadership position in every sense of the phrase, and we need someone who can represent huge culture and standards to all levels and disciplines within the department and company-wide. creative directors are also responsible for managing the client relationship for all things related to creative.
6-8+ years experience in a creative leadership role (at least 3+ years digital agency environment).
a robust background with experience in a creative leadership role. recognized expertise in interactive or physical design a must.
a strong working knowledge of the fundamentals—interaction design, user-centered experience design, brand development and the creative process—as well as new platforms and technologies.