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The median time to relapse among subjects in clinical remission at baseline. Relapse is defined as increase in CDAI of >100 points from the baseline and an absolute CDAI score of >220 points. [ Time Frame: WEEK 48 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
CDAI scores over time and change from baseline in CDAI scores. [ Time Frame: WEEK 48 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
The proportion of subjects achieving a steroid-free clinical remission at Week 48 among subjects on steroids at baseline. [ Time Frame: WEEK 48 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications
identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
Recruitment Information
Recruitment Status ICMJE
Recruiting
Estimated Enrollment ICMJE
85
Estimated Completion Date
August 2016
Estimated Primary Completion Date
July 2016 (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Eligibility Criteria ICMJE
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects who complete 26-week maintenance treatment of the A3921084 study or subjects who withdraw early due to A3921084 study treatment failure (see Appendix 5).
Women of childbearing potential must test negative for pregnancy prior to study enrolment.
Sexually active females of childbearing potential are required to use adequate contraceptive methods during the study period and until completion of the follow-up procedures. No specific contraceptive measures are required in male subjects during study participation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects who have been discontinued due to protocol violation(s) (as determined by the Sponsor) in the A3921084 study.
Subjects who were discontinued from the A3921084 study due to an adverse event.
Subjects likely to require any non-elective surgery or surgery requiring overnight stay (with the exception of minor same day outpatient procedures that will not interfere with study drug dosing). | {
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fatal pedestrian
TEMPE, Ariz. /March 20, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — A fatal pedestrian crash involving a self-driving Uber SUV in a Phoenix suburb could have far-reaching consequences for the new technology as automakers and other companies race to be the first with cars that operate on their own. The crash Sunday night in Tempe was the first death … Continue reading Crash marks 1st death involving fully autonomous vehicle→ | {
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* Cleveland meets Tim the Bear for the first time on the pilot episode: "Ahhh! A bear!" "Ahhh! A black man!"* "Oooooooooooooooooooooo-bama!"* Identifying a rapist at a ''Franchise/StarTrek'' convention.-->'''Cop:''' Who here is not a virgin?-->'''Man raises hand'''-->'''Cop:''' You're under arrest.* Cleveland trying to resuscitate Rallo after he nearly drowns. --> '''Cleveland''': Oh my God! [[CrossesTheLineTwice If you die]], [[LysistrataGambit I am never getting laid again]]! * Cleveland obsessing over Justin Bieber's "Baby" on the episode "The Men in Me", just as Peter did with "Surfin' Bird" on the episode "I Dream of Jesus."* Cleveland Jr's in-memory-of tribute in "Our Gang"-->'''Cleveland:''' He's not dead, yet!** Cleveland's DelayedReaction to being told he's stolen and destroyed a drugs stash from a dangerous street gang, with which he is eventually running around the room frantically squealing like a pig.-->'''Cleveland:''' YEEEE!!! YEEEE!!! YEEEE!!! I'M GONNA DIE!! I'M GONNA DIE !!! YEEEE!!! I accused them of fornicating their own mothers!!! Gotta dump the coke (''picks up a bag of coke and runs frantically up the stairs'') WHY!! IS!! THIS!! HAP!!! EN!!! ING!!! TO!!! ME-E-E!!!** "They got Junior. YEEEE!!! OHGODOHGODOHGODOHGODOHGOD!!!"* "A Brown Thanksgiving". [[spoiler:Cleveland's dad and Auntie Mama had sex. Cleveland happens to know the latter is a man. So while they keep doing suggestive things involving the turkey, Cleveland keeps puking, eventually covering the whole table in it.]]-->'''Cleveland Jr.:''' Happy Thanksgiving everybody!** Made even funnier after [[spoiler:Auntie Momma leaves and Cleveland tells his dad about her. They are outside the house, and their dialogue is completley inaudible, but after his dad finally realizes, he pukes against the window. Made even more funnier by the dialogue after]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland:''' Says her real name's Kevin.]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland's dad:''' * pukes* ]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland:''' Been hiding the candy for 36 years.]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland's dad:''' * pukes* ]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland:''' You...]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland's dad:''' * pukes* ]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland:''' Had sex...]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland's dad:''' * pukes* ]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland:''' With a man!]]-->[[spoiler:'''Cleveland's dad:''' * pukes* ]]* The episode "The Curious Case of Jr. Working at The Stool" has a scene near the end with Cleveland and his friends at the bar. Not knowing that [[spoiler: their beers have been replaced with non-alcoholic beer as part of Cleveland Jr.'s revenge scheme]], they seem to be slightly intolerant of each other and their attitudes, which results in a fight breaking out between the four of them. The fight gets triggered by Cleveland punching Lester in the head and Holt starts fighting with Cleveland as a result. Tim, almost unprovoked, hits Lester in the back of the head, to which we get this exchange:-->'''Lester:''' What the hell was that for?!-->'''Tim:''' This is what's happening. Deal with it! *punches Lester again* ** The fight gets broken up when [[spoiler:Cleveland Jr. shows up and explains what he had done]], but not before Tim has grievously harmed Lester in an attempt to eat him.-->'''Lester:''' ''(shakily)'' I'm glad you're all made up and everything...but can SOMEONE GET ME TO A HOSPITAL?!?** Cleveland, Lester, Tim the Bear, and Holt being forced to drink at the children's section of a public library after Cleveland Jr. and Gus begin changing the bar to cater to pretentious hipsters.* "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?": Raymond (Tim and Arianna's stoner son) getting hit by one of the racecars (which [[MadeOfIron does more damage to the car than to himself]]) and blurting, "[[NonSequiturThud I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat]]," before passing out (from being stoned, not getting hit by the car).** Roberta's boyfriend getting busted for crashing his car and sentenced to the Deportation Catapult. Seriously, that whole scene was priceless.** Kendra and Donna getting thrown out of the spa after Kendra mistook a Jacuzzi for a toilet.** As soon as Donna leaves with Kendra, Cleveland is left with the task of trying to bring Roberta under control:-->'''Cleveland *Calmly*''': Roberta, go to your room.-->'''Roberta''': Fuuuuuck you! '''*Walks away*'''-->'''Cleveland''': '''*Almost immediately bursts into tears*'''* From "Field of Streams": ** Terry and Cleveland fighting the old ladies at the mall and the BrickJoke of the old ladies coming back to finish the job.** The show dedicating the cutaway of [[TransparentCloset Mr. Waterman]] having an [[TheImmodestOrgasm orgasm]][[note]]which, according to the DVD commentary, the episode director had to personally research to see if it was physically possible, and was originally played up as being longer and more orgasmic[[/note]] after Terry rummages in Waterman's pockets for his check and Tim the Bear quipping, "[[WhenHarryMetSally I'll have what he's having]]!" to Meg Ryan's original face (born 1961, died 2003). According to the DVD commentary, the writer of this episode actually hated the "Dedicated to Meg Ryan's Original Face" memorial screen sight gag, as he felt it was too much like a ''FamilyGuy'' joke ([[HypocriticalHumor never mind that "American Dad" and another episode of "The Cleveland Show" also had burns against Meg Ryan's looks]]).** Miley Cyrus' BadBadActing in the cutaway of her starring as Faye Dunaway's character on ''Film/{{Chinatown}}''.* "From Bed to Worse": Rallo crying after he threw himself down the stairs and accusing Cleveland of making him fall down the stairs, eating his fish sticks and tater tots, sitting in his chair, and calling him the n-word, with Cleveland replying, "What? I'm allowed to, right?"* [[KingOfTheHill Hank Hill]] as one of the rehab patients on "Das Shrimp Boot." Also a minor Awesome Moment as the producers actually got Creator/MikeJudge to not only voice Hank Hill, but draw him in his style (though the Hank Hill there is shorter than he was on ''King of the Hill'').* The episode 'Y Tu Junior Tambien' has Cleveland's wide-eyed reaction to Junior's description of what a man and women do together which consists of various actions and a very long censor bleep and ending with Junior saying "But that's only if you have one of those swings" and laughing.** Near the beginning of the episode Junior tries to talk to a girl and Cleveland suggests he envision himself as [[Franchise/StarWars Mace Windu]], so when he talks to her he keeps mentioning the Force and it sounds like he's talking about rape, she runs into the woman's restroom and maces Junior when he follows her in, prompting Cleveland to comment on it with "[[{{Pun}} She maced Windu!]]".* After accidnetally running over and killing Rallo's dog, Cleveland brings home a replacement. Rallo's response:-->'''Rallo:''' "You want me to replace my dog? Like BradPitt replaced Creator/JenniferAniston, or John Mayer replaced Jennifer Aniston, or Vince Vaughn replaced Jennifer Aniston, or that munch from the Counting Crows repla...the point is, my dog is not Jennifer Aniston!"** And not 10 seconds later, said dog is killed by a wolf. Who is then shot by Lester.-->'''Cleveland:''' [To a squirrel] RUN!* When Cleveland is in a plane that's about to run out of fuel, he remarks "This isn't funny like ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', it's a disaster like ''[[Film/AirplaneIITheSequel Airplane II]]''!"* The "I'm Paying a Young Boy for Sex" duet with Holt and Rallo on "A General Thanksgiving Episode"* Cleveland saying that he'll be "like WesternAnimation/BobTheBuilder before his morning coffee." Cutaway to a video of Bob bludgeoning his client to death, then him having to pave and build over the client so no one finds him.* Cleveland has a flashback, where he see's his younger self and his father in a garage while his father works on a car. Young Cleveland and his father acknowledge present Cleveland, and Present Cleveland attempts to tell his younger self to buy stocks in Apple. Young Cleveland mishears him and thinks he said "applesauce" causing Cleveland to find himself in a garage full of applesauce upon returning to the present. He's fine with it, as "I do like applesauce".* From "Like a Boss": Everyone (except for Mr. Waterman) breaking into Tom's office after he dies and stealing his stuff, which leads to a riot with two people passed out, someone getting stabbed in the back with scissors, and Tim the Bear being set on fire.* From "Ain't Nothin' But Mutton Bustin'": Junior hitting a switch on the cable station control panel, which turns a bear-themed soap opera (or medical drama) with a female bear and her son crying over a male bear in a coma into a bear-themed "Horny Housewife Hits on the Hunky Poolboy"-style porno.** Junior thinking he's gone back in time after passing out in a Port-O-Potty.** When Jeffrey says that the sheep arent part of a petting zoo, but for mutton busting (basically a rodeo for kids), Cleveland misunderstands him.--> '''Cleveland''': Come on Rollo, lets leave this gentleman to [[BeastialityIsDepraved rape his livestock in peace]]* From ''Skip Day'', we have a Stoobend School Tradition that all kids skip school for a day. Guess who the only kid in the history of Stoolbend not to skip attendance on that day? --> '''Cleveland''': *notices Jr is waving at him* [[OhCrap Oh god.]]** Cleveland getting stunned by by the cops twice.* From the final episode, where Donna has an insane FreakOut when she learns that her mother and ex-husband are dating.* In 'Wide World Of Cleveland Show', there is a shot-for-shot remake of the famous [[WebVideo/HitlerRants bunker scene]].* "Escape From Goochland" gives us Donna wearing the ultra-revealing "tramp" Halloween costume Roberta wasn't allowed to wear, while Roberta dresses up as Donna, complete with one of her wigs. When the two come face to face, they look at each other and both exclaim "Is that what I look like!?" before walking away in opposite directions, looking depressed and ashamed. | {
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The National Law Journal reports, according to a forthcoming study conducted by Lawrence D. Finder, Ryan D. McConnell, and Scott L. Mitchell, that the number of deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) and non-prosecution agreements (NPAs) between the Department of Justice and corporations has declined by 60% in 2008. This is a sharp drop from a historic high of 40 DPAs and NPAs in 2007 to only 16 DPAs and NPAs in 2008. The study also reports a significant decline in the inclusion of privilege-waiver provisions in DPA/NPAs.
The study sets out some significant findings including, but not limited to, the following:
FCPA violations were the subject 7 of the 16 DPA/NPAs entered into in 2008
Immigration work-site enforcement investigations had their DPA/NPA debut in 2008 | {
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Created by Alex Hirsch, Gravity Falls airs on Disney Channel and Disney XD. The series stars Hirsch, Jason Ritter (Kevin (Probably) Saves the World), Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers, TheLast Man on Earth) and Linda Cardellini (Bloodline, Freaks and Geeks), along with a plethora of celebrity guest stars, including Mark Hamill, J.K Simmons, Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Chelsea Peretti, and Nathan Fillion. Adored by critics and fans alike, Gravity Falls has developed a passionate fan base for its quirky yet endearing portrayal of the wonder and magic of childhood adventures.
Available on Blu-ray and DVD, the complete series will be available in two editions. The Collector’s Edition will be a seven-disc box set that includes an entire disc of bonus features, including brand-new bonus content created specifically for this release. There will also be a six-disc retail edition that includes all 40 episodes of the series, but does not include the bonus feature disc. Bonus features are in progress and will be announced at a future date. Fans of the series can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com
Inspired by Hirsch’s real-life adventures with his twin sister, “Gravity Falls” follows twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel Pines on an adventure of a lifetime when they spend the summer with their great uncle, Grunkle Stan, in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon.
But there may be more to Gravity Falls than meets the eye as Dipper and Mabel encounter strange occurrences and weird creatures. When Dipper stumbles upon a mysterious book, he discovers it is the answer to uncovering the town’s mysterious happenings. Soon, Dipper and Mabel realize they must rely on each other to navigate this unfamiliar place. Meanwhile, Grunkle Stan guards a secret of his own—one that just might hold the key to unlocking the deeper mystery that is Gravity Falls. | {
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Share this
OK, you misread the mandate and it's led you and the party to the brink of disaster. Well, these things happen. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going and you have always been tough. So now what?
I have two words for you today: jobs and Clinton.
While some of your base voted for overwhelming change, your guy is in the White House because the people hungered for rational competence -- they like the American system pretty well but want to see it more competently managed. McCain seemed hot, bothered and erratic in the fall of 08; your guy looked unflappable and collected. He seemed like a better captain for the coming storm.
The recession has been much, much more devastating than you guys predicted (OK, OK, it could have been an absolute disaster without quick action, but you guys made some injudicious predictions about the unemployment rate that still haunt you today). That undermines faith in the president's competence; more, as the public uneasiness has grown, the president has seemed to focus more and more on a health care bill the public likes less and less.
People want jobs; feel their pain and move heaven and earth to give them what they want. Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. Get on the right side of that one and the whole outlook begins to turn brighter.
Your second word for the day is Clinton: Bill Clinton. Your guy isn't the second coming of Lincoln or Roosevelt -- at least not yet and not now. He's the second coming of Bill Clinton -- if he's lucky. That is, he's a Democratic president in a center right country. He's not going to change the game; not enough of the voters want that to happen. The terrain of American politics isn't on your side; you've got to learn to tack and shift with the wind.
Now you guys are right that the Clinton/Blair 'third way' stuff hasn't and probably can't deliver the kind of leadership countries like the US and the UK require at this time in our history. But just because Tony Blair's third way has passed its sell-by date doesn't mean you have a lot of viable alternatives -- and unfortunately none of you in the White House has time for the kind of deep re-think that progressives generally need. For now at least you are going to have to manage opportunistically: goose the economy, manage the wars, triangulate your way through the social and ideological issues that divide the country. This probably means a horrifyingly Clintonian focus on doing lots of little things rather than a few big ones.
Things can change; a second term may open up some new opportunities. And if the president recaptures the political high ground as the economy picks up (and, hopefully, the deficit goes down), you can take another look at where you stand. But for now, get used to it: your guy has turned from an aspiring Lincoln to an aspiring Clinton. (Or Grover Cleveland, if you prefer: another Democrat who managed to run the country during a Republican era.)
Finally, don't telegraph your strategy. Don't tell people you are doing this; just do it.
More POLITICO Arena
About the Arena
The Arena is a cross-party, cross-discipline forum for intelligent and lively conversation about political and policy issues. Contributors have been selected by POLITICO staff and editors. David Mark, Arena's moderator, is a Senior Editor at POLITICO. Each morning, POLITICO sends a question based on that day's news to all contributors. | {
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Friday, May 05, 2017
Refusal to the Delusive News about Hizb ut Tahrir in the Media
Press Release
Dogan News Agency
published a news on Friday, March 24, on Hizb ut Tahrir, which is based on slanderous
and untruthful offenses, "a person who went to Syria to get weapon training,
and then returned to his hometown Rize, was arrested by an operation carried
out by the Rize Security Office and was arrested by the court". The agency
said that the one who was arrested was a member of Hizb ut Tahrir in its news.
Medias like Sozcu Newspaper and Russia’s funded Sputnik News have also
published the delusive news of Dogan News Agency.
As Hizb ut Tahrir / Wilayah Turkey, we are revealing the truth
about this issue to the general public, especially to those who have made and
have been part in making the news and to everyone who have published it:
1- We first of all
remind the Dogan News Agency, Sozcu Newspaper and the Sputnik News who told
that Hizb ut Tahrir is a "terrorist organization" in their news as
following; Hizb ut Tahrir is an Islamic political party that refuses using
force and violence, and does not accept armed struggle in its method, but only
works intellectual and political methods. Even though you are trying to
terrorize the party with all your efforts, you will never change the fact that Hizb
ut Tahrir is a political party. You will never be able to make people believe
the lie about that Hizb ut Tahrir is a "terrorist organization".
2- The person who
is said to have been taken into police custody by the security forces is not a
member of Hizb ut Tahrir and has no any relations with Hizb ut Tahrir. Since Hizb
ut Tahrir is an Islamic party that is working on ideas and politics, it will be
never the case that any person will be sent to Syria for military training. So
this information is a lie and a delusive information. Your task as a media
organ who made the news and published it is to publish a contradiction and to
correct this issue.
3- And we say to
the ones who asked you to do this delusive news as following: You consider pleasing
Russia and America who have killed Muslims in Syria by making these kinds of
slander news. You are acting as if every Muslim who goes to Syria as if he is a
terrorist simply because to make them satisfied with you. In order to say that
you are fighting against terrorism, you arrest innocent and oppressed Muslims
and create statistical data to please the West. By this way you are openly
supporting the war against Islam of the unbelievers; America, the West and
Russia. In that case fear Allah and stop the relations with the crusader
Alliance immediately which reminds you that they are always hostile against
Muslims.
Once again we
declare to the Turkish public and we say; Hizb ut Tahrir is a leader who does
not lie to you. Hizb ut Tahrir is a good party which is protecting your Islamic
values and affairs. Know those who want to dishonor it, do not bend towards the
ones who want to scandalize it, do not believe in the slanders that have been
made against him. Hizb ut Tahrir continues to work with all his might for a
rightly guided Khalifah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood, as a
pioneer who leads you, as your guide on your side and the support behind you.
Then do not get deceived from the news of liars and slanderers.
Followers
Subscribe To
Please note that not all posts are based on the views of the administrators of this site. Please feel free to publish or circulate any material from this site, we would appreciate that you mention it's source. We endeavour to reply to questions posted through the comments on this site however we are not able to respond to all. Although we may reply to the questions asked based on the limited information given, for legislative questions in particular we advise all brothers and sisters to go to a trusted faqih (jurist) knowledgeable in the subject and to ask the question to them explaining the reality of it in a proper manner. This is especially important for complex issues. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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AFTER FOUR YEARS, WEISER LOCK DROPS COPPER BOWL SPONSORSHIP
Tucson-based Weiser Lock announced it will drop its
sponsorship of the Copper Bowl after four years of sponsoring the
event. Sara Hammond reports in this morning's ARIZONA DAILY STAR
that company officials cited a desire to reposition and refocus
"resources to support the introduction of unique and proprietary
new products." Copper Bowl Foundation Chair Billy Joe Varney
said the search is on for a new title sponsor, a $1M commitment
annually. Varney said the bowl hopes to secure a new sponsor by
June and that while they could continue without a major sponsor,
"it would take many more smaller corporate commitments" for that
to happen (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 1/18). | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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The Tragically Hip announces that their lead singer received the diagnosis of an incurable brain cancer in December
TORONTO – Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie is determined to “blow people’s minds” with a raucous Canadian tour in the wake of learning he has an incurable brain cancer, his managers said Tuesday as fans tried to digest the shocking announcement about the singer’s illness.
Band managers Patrick Sambrook and Bernie Breen said doctors have cleared the 52-year-old father of four to hit the road following surgery and treatment for glioblastoma — the most common and aggressive type of tumour to start in the brain.
The details of the tour are set to be announced Wednesday.
“The will to do the tour, that was easy,” Sambrook said at a press conference also attended by Downie’s neuro-oncologist, Dr. James Perry.
“The (question was): ‘Can we do this?’ and ‘Can we do it to the level that (we want)?’ It’s a pro band, Gord absolutely doesn’t want to go out there unless he can really do his thing and so I mean, their head space, his head space is: ‘We want to blow people’s minds.'”
Perry, head of neurology at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, said it was “too early” to offer a prognosis but added Downie’s case is especially receptive to treatment, suggesting “a significantly higher chance of longer-term survival.”
But the physician also said Downie’s tumour, found in his front left temporal lobe, is impossible to completely remove by surgery and frequently recurs.
“Unfortunately, one day it will come back,” said Perry, dismissing the possibility of a complete recovery.
Downie was diagnosed in December after suffering a seizure. Surgery removed the bulk of the tumour, while six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy — completed about a month and a half ago — have reduced it even further.
“He has returned to his physical, emotional, mental strength well enough now to be able to get back doing what he loves doing,” Perry said of the charismatic frontman, known for powerful live performances and poetic lyrics.
Perry didn’t anticipate any medical issues in the short term, but said “medical contingencies” will be in place throughout the tour. He emphasized that Downie will need to avoid fatigue while on stage.
“We all know he doesn’t sit down in a rocking chair and play banjo, so I think we have to be cautious about things like hydration,” Perry said.
Neither Downie nor his bandmates attended the press conference. The Kingston, Ont., band broke the news online and by press release Tuesday morning.
“This feels like the right thing to do now, for Gord, and for all of us,” said the Hip, whose cerebral smashes include “Blow at High Dough” and “New Orleans Is Sinking,” in announcing the tour.
“What we in the Hip receive, each time we play together, is a connection; with each other; with music and its magic; and during the shows, a special connection with all of you, our incredible fans. So, we’re going to dig deep, and try to make this our best tour yet.”
The Tragically Hip’s 14th studio album, “Man Machine Poem,” is set for release June 17. The album was largely completed prior to Downie learning about the tumour, his manager said.
Breen said playing music together is what “they feel best doing as a group.”
“I think it’s appropriate and honestly awesome for everybody involved, to give and receive what happens when this band plays live and what they mean to people and the people to them,” said Breen.
“The hope is that this particular run is like most, which’ll be great and awesome and exciting and everyone will be happy at the end.”
Glioblastoma affects about two to three people per 100,000 in Canada, the United States and Europe, according to information supplied by Sunnybrook. It’s the same type of brain tumour discovered in Ted Kennedy, actress Ethel Merman and former Montreal Expos player Gary Carter.
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip. (Paul Chiasson, CP)
The Tragically Hip announced the news on its website and social media early Tuesday morning and reaction has been swift.
Justin Trudeau tweeted: “Gord Downie is a true original who has been writing Canada’s soundtrack for more than 30 years. #Courage”
Musicians also turned to Twitter to acknowledge Downie’s influence on the Canadian arts scene.
Indie rock band Stars tweeted: “Gord Downie is the poet laureate of the Canadian soul.”
Newfoundland band Hey Rosetta added: “Slapped awake by news radio this morning — we love you Gord Downie, and we owe you magnificently. Steady on skipper.”
Musician Ron Sexsmith tweeted: “Thoughts are of Gord Downie today family & road family Thx for having me on roadside & 4 letting me tag along with U to Madison Square XO RS.”
And actor Jonathan Torrens wrote: “No band in our history has embraced/defined #Canadianity more than The Hip. Gutted by this news. Gord IS Canada.”
Here are five things to know about the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumour:
WHAT IS GLIOBLASTOMA? It’s the most common and most aggressive cancerous primary brain tumour (a tumour that starts in the brain). Glioblastomas are made up of different cell types and are usually highly cancerous because the cells reproduce quickly and have a large network of blood vessels supporting them. Most of these tumours occur in the cerebral hemispheres but can develop in other parts of the brain such as the corpus callosum, brain stem or spinal cord. Like many brain tumour types, the exact cause is not known, but increasingly research is pointing toward genetic mutations.
PREVALENCE OF GLIOBLASTOMA: The rate of glioblastoma is about two to three per 100,000 people in Canada, the United States and Europe. Sunnybrook says it treats around 250 patients with glioblastoma each year. This type of tumour is more common in older individuals and more common in men than women. Each case is unique, but average survival, even with aggressive treatment, is less than one year.
SYMPTOMS: A patient’s symptoms depend on the location of his/her tumour. Some common symptoms include headache, weakness, nausea, seizure, memory difficulties, personality changes and vomiting. Sometimes the tumour starts producing symptoms quickly, but on occasion there are no symptoms until it reaches a larger size.
TYPES OF GLIOBLASTOMA: The American Brain Tumor Association cites two types of glioblastomas. These include primary, or “de novo,” and secondary. Primary tumours tend to form and make their presence known quickly. This is the most common form of glioblastoma; it is very aggressive. Secondary tumours have a longer, somewhat slower growth history, but still are very aggressive. They may begin as lower-grade tumours, which eventually become higher grade. They tend to be found in people 45 and younger, and represent about 10 per cent of glioblastomas.
TREATMENT: The first treatment step is surgery to remove as much tumour as possible. Surgery is almost always followed by radiation. Glioblastoma’s capacity to wildly invade and infiltrate normal surrounding brain tissue makes complete resection impossible. After surgery, radiation therapy is used to kill leftover tumour cells and in attempts to prevent recurrence. Chemotherapy is often given at the same time as radiation and may be used to delay radiation in young children.
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Monday, January 21, 2013
BFF M introduced me to a show called Shark Tank last year. It's a reality show where people come in and pitch their business idea to a panel of successful entrepreneurs (like FUBU's Daymond John and, in later seasons, Mark Cuban)--the "sharks." After asking their questions and determining the worth of the business, the entreps may or may not offer to invest.
I honestly don't have dreams of owning a business empire, just one that gives me an extra source of income or, if I'm lucky (and smart), allows me to be financially independent. I'm way behind on the Shark Tank episodes, but the ones I have seen have taught me a few things about business.
Know your worth. Some people come in asking for an unrealistic amount and miss out on an opportunity because they base their valuation on potential (a number that is yet to be proven) or need (how much is necessary to start something), and not on the actual worth of a business.
You need something proprietary. Best if you own the rights to a great idea/start-up business already. Otherwise, you leave yourself vulnerable to copycats and, consequently, lower the value of your business.
Best if you have something that can sell any time, anywhere, as opposed to something that is seasonal (e.g., a great Christmas gift) or regional.
Take criticism gracefully. Listen to what the pros have to say--it may hurt, but you can always learn something. If you were to pitch something to these sharks and you bomb, take what they said to heart. They're all loaded for a reason!
Know your stuff. It's tough watching people who go in there unprepared. You can tell that they're going to get an F on this oral exam. If you're going to start a business, do your research--numbers, cost projections, competition, market interest, and all that jazz.
A "no" can still be a "maybe." There's something to be said about perseverance. | {
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The Bitcoin Capital fund headed by an early bitcoin enthusiast and Russia Today’s host Max Keiser raised more than $1 million on the crowd investment platform “BNK to the future”. The fund will finish investment pitch in two days.
A European bitcoin marketplace, Cubits has announced a partnership with Wikando that will make donations in bitcoin more accessible for a larger number of non-profit organisations, according to the press release.
In response to the questions from the UPyD Parliamentary Group, the Spanish government said it wished to avoid an arbitrary regulation and would wait for an “all-comprehensive” bitcoin regulation on the EU level.
Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services Benjamin Lawsky disclosed some details of BitLicense 3.0 development on Twitter. When representatives of the regulator worked with the document, they used comments from Briand Forde, Jeremy Allaire and other leaders of the industry.
An event planning company, Smile Expo will organise a bitcoin conference in the capital of Ukraine in September 2015. Amid the ongoing crisis, the financial community of Ukraine actively discusses bitcoin. | {
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Photo
FILE - In this April 29, 2010 file photo, Indian naval officers gather on the deck of the newly inaugurated naval ship INS Shivalik, classed as "stealth" by Indian military officials and the first of its kind in the nation's fleet, at a ceremony in Mumbai, India. India is beefing up its defenses with new infantry mountain divisions and plans to raise a strike corps, created expressly to counter any aggression by China, defense analysts say. India and China have a long history of tension, dating back to a 1962 war over their disputed border. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, File)
/ AP | {
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Here’s the Japanese concept that will help you wake up in morning
It turns out that adopting the Japanese concept of ‘ikigai’ could be the key to waking up feeling refreshed and geared up to start the day.
Ikigai is defined as one’s “reason for which you wake up in the morning”, which can be interpreted as your purpose in life.
Getting up early in the morning is a task. Studies show that eight out of ten people hit the snooze button everyday.
It turns out that adopting the Japanese concept of ‘ikigai’ could be the key to waking up feeling refreshed and geared up to start the day.
Ikigai is defined as one’s “reason for which you wake up in the morning”, which can be interpreted as your purpose in life.
The Japanese island of Okinawa, they don’t have a word for retirement, opting to use the word “ikigai” instead.
Talking to The Independent, Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and author, has explained how having a reason to wake up in the morning has allowed the multiple centenarians on Okinawa to live long and fulfilling lives.
The principal aspects of ikigai, as stated by neuroscientist and author of Awakening Your Ikigai Ken Mogi, are starting small and accepting yourself, connecting with others and the planet, finding joy in little things and being present.
Here are some simple things that you could try to increase your energy, feel more content and kick-start your day.
Exercise: It’s all about figuring out what form of physical activity that you personally enjoy and that will help push you to get out of bed. This could be going for a walk, doing some yoga in your living room, dancing while you eat your breakfast, anything!
Breakfast: They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you should also try and make it one of the most enjoyable. Indulging in a flavoursome breakfast can give your spirits an incredible lift.
Just like with choosing what kind of physical activity to do in the morning, what you eat for your morning meal is completely at your discretion.
Social start: The idea of meeting up with a pal for a coffee and a chin wag first thing in the morning may sound like a very strange notion, but that early social interaction could benefit you greatly.
According to a 2008 Gallop poll, Americans were recorded as being most happy when they spent approximately six to seven hours socialising a day.
However, when you head straight to work after waking up, spend eight or nine hours at your desk and then typically return back home in the evening exhausted from the day’s events, that leaves very little time to tend to your social life.
One of the pillars of ikigai is connecting with others and as such social interactions are pertinent.
Finding the time to have a small catch-up with someone who you care about could do wonders for your mood.
Even if you don’t have the time to actually sit down and partake in an in-depth conversation, sending someone a quick text to brighten their day could have the same effect. | {
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There is already a thread for requesting bots. This wouldn't be hard to make, but the one on Le Bot is actually decent. Don't be too greedy on the time it takes. At least you don't have to actually have to do it yourself. | {
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Rising Stars Preview / Prelude Synopsis
"Visitations & Midnight Thoughts"
Dr. Bill Welles enjoys a pleasant evening on his front porch with Corinne. Their second date is going well, and
Corinne is glad that she went out with him instead of listening to "the stories they tell in town" about Bill. She
sees what she thinks is a falling star. Bill asks her to go inside for more ice, complaining that he would do it
if it wasn't for his back. After she leaves, the falling star comes to a stop in front of the house. It is Jerry
Montrose. His naked body levitates above the ground engulfed in flame.
Bill invites Jerry into the house. Corinne is startled when she sees him and drops a glass. Jerry instinctively
shoots fire from his eyes to vaporize the glass before it can hit the floor and make a mess. This rattles Corinne
even more. She calls Jerry by the name given to him by the newspapers: Pyre. Jerry is a wanted criminal who has
killed people, but Bill believes the deaths were in self defense. He tells Corinne how he was appointed by the
government to monitor the Specials when they were children. He told the children that they could always come to him
no matter how old they got and he would never judge them. When Corinne asks about three burning victims in Texas,
Jerry says that he did not kill them and implies that he may have been framed. However, he adds that his story is
"to the best of my recollection". Corinne storms out of the house.
Jerry offers some small talk when Bill interrupts him and asks him to turn off his flame. Jerry reveals that
he has not turned it off in two or three years. It is a strain, but he feels it is necessary to protect himself
from his enemies. In the end he gives in to Bill and turns off his power. Bill gets him a robe to wear.
Jerry asks about the news that Jason Miller had a child. Bill confirms that Robert Daniel Miller was born
three weeks earlier and named after Jason's father. Jerry wants to know if the child is a Special. Bill says
they can't be sure this soon but that the child appears normal. Jerry is pleased that the child will at least have
a chance. Bill takes issue with Jerry's belief that he never had a chance. Jerry maintains that he didn't because
everyone became scared of him when his pyro power manifested itself. Bill reminds Jerry that the only previous
pyro was Lee Jackson, who gave people a reason to be scared. Jerry maintains that he isn't Lee.
Jerry remembers his childhood conversation with Dr. Welles after his power manifested itself. He complained that
the freaks think he is a freak. Dr. Welles explained that Lee hurt people because he couldn't control his power and
that in time Jerry will be able to control his power so that people will accept him.
Jerry is brought back to the present by Bill's suggestion that he call Jason. Jerry thinks it is a crazy idea
since he and Jason have tried to kill each other several times in the past. Bill thinks Jerry doesn't give himself
or Jason enough credit.
Jerry reminisces about his childhood. He felt unclean when his power manifested itself and decided to become what
people thought he was. He got in trouble with the law and was placed on probation. During this time he had his falling
out with Jason. Jason collected superhero comics. He dreamed of the Specials forming a crime fighting group when they
got older. Jason made his own costume patterned after the MegaMan costume. He still wears a similar costume as the
corporate superhero Flagg. Jason accused Jerry of stealing his MegaMan #1 comic book. This was the last straw that
sealed Jerry's fate as an outcast.
Bill asks if Jerry stole the comic book. Jerry denies it.
Jerry bided his time until he was 18 years old. He left his home and went to Las Vegas where he worked for the
casinos as both an attraction and a loan collector. He had money, respect, and women. Then his bosses tricked him
into extorting money from an innocent man. Since the local cops were afraid of him, they called in Flagg. He
apparently volunteered for the job. Over the years, Flagg tracked Jerry down every time he tried to start over.
Jerry says he could have killed Jason but didn't.
Jerry tells Bill that he wanted to explain to Jason that it wasn't his fault. When he adds that
it wasn't his fault that he has the power, Bill reminds him that the power is symbiotic. The person shapes
the power as much as the power shapes the person. Bill says Jerry became what everyone thought he was because
it was easier than proving what he really was. The problem is that Jerry doesn't know what he really is.
Jerry says that it is time for him to leave. Bill reveals that Jason has asked about Jerry several times. He
encourages Jerry to contact Jason before it is too late. Bill tells Jerry that Joey Drake, a Special who didn't
have an enemy in the world, died the previous Thursday. He may have been the victim of murder. Jerry asks Bill to
say hello to Paula Rodriquez for him as he drops the robe and rises in a blaze.
Andrea Miller finds her husband, Jason, looking over their new baby. She tells him that the office just called.
The want him to fight revolutionaries in South America. Jerry is having second thoughts about the morality of
his job.
There is a knock at the door. Jason warns Andrea to say put, fearing for her safety. He goes to the front door.
No one is there. On the doorstep, he finds a copy of MegaMan #1. | {
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Tag: la serra
I’ve recently tasted a dozen examples of Barolo from the 2008 vintage and while only 12 wines is hardly overwhelming evidence, it’s enough for me to offer my first thoughts on wines from this year. I’d say right now, this should shape up as an excellent Barolo vintage – not powerful, but beautifully balanced, with … Continue reading 2008 Barolo – First Thoughts | {
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Bakery products
Not only bakers know well: the air and surface hygiene just after the baking process is a decisive factor, if it concerns to avoid bacteria, yeasts and mould. STERILSYSTEMS has the solutions for the production of pastries. So the UV disinfection overall solutions are synonymous with quality assurance and the improvement of durability.
All the production chain, starting with the cooling process up to the sales thus is subject to a "UV control" - as a matter of course completely without any chemistry or ozone production. Thus in their hygiene and air management they meet all requirements of the consumer protection and the VDI 6022 with minimal effort and at that achieve a positive effect on an IFS certification. | {
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It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that in the British Theatre Blogosphere (yes, you may shoot me for using that word) Such Tweet Sorrow, the RSC’s twitter adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has been as wellreceivedas a proverbialleadballoon. Or a Montague at a Capulet cabinet meeting if you want a more story-appropriate simile.
I confess – my problems with Such Tweet started quite early on. I’m going to quote Such Tweet‘s Director Roxanna Silbert from an interview that appeared on the Guardian site and see if you can spot where my problems started:
“I think [Shakespeare] would’ve loved it. All you’ve got on Twitter is the actor, the story and the audience. I’ve directed at the Globe where there aren’t lights, sound effects or much staging so in fact there’s something rather pure about this.”
Yep, that would be my highlighting (the academic in me almost put a ‘my emphasis’ note in there). Now twitter might be lots of things, but an actors medium? Really? The elephant in the room would be the word ‘writer’. I could (and will) continue on this point but since I’m here and Silbert has expended words that are so blatantly questionable I can’t help but look a little closer at the comparison between the Globe and twitter (not a sentence I would ever have thought I’d type). Not only is Silbert wrong in her perception of what does or doesn’t make a production at the Globe (need I go any further than Lucy Bailey’s current production of Macbeth to prove her assertion at best outdated, at worst lazy?) but twitter being ‘pure’? One of the joys of the medium is everything you can throw at it – all the twitpics, the audioboos, the YouTube links, the spotify playlists, the blog links, the RTs, the memes…and on and on until you get to doing that quiz to work out which member of NKOTB you should marry. Twitter is about the words – those 140 characters – but it’s also about the noise that goes with it. Coming in unaware – or in denial – of this is to fundamentally misunderstand your tools.
I think many of my problems with Such Tweet stem from this starting point. The failure to address the fact that twitter is a writer’s medium became immediately apparent. Anyone can use twitter. As with anything, some use it better than others. Some people give information, some make me think, some make me smile. Some people use it brilliantly to create – or ape – character (I follow a Malcolm Tucker who is pretty much pitch perfect). Such Tweet, however, requires more than all that. It needs not only character but also story. Whether you’re writing, devising or improvising dialogue (for twitter is dialogue, in all the ways that something can be dialogue) it’s often not about what you say but what you don’t say. It’s the wants the characters feel they must hide or – and this is where it gets more difficult – the wants they don’t know that they have. It’s the much uttered show don’t tell. Don’t write on the nose. All the things that writers get told or learn or ignore and end up writing Days of Our Lives. The “I” form of twitter encourages on the nose writing. We all do it. The best tweeters just do it a lot less than the rest of us. But to be dramatically interesting – to build the connections and the interest that a play demands – Such Tweet should have created some warning system whereby if more than 10% of tweets were of the on the nose variety the actor typing them got a small electric shock.
I can only conclude that even a less cruel-to-actors system wasn’t in place. Had there been discussions about language? About cliché? About reversing audience expectation? About what you can do with the unsaid? In the same interview that Silbert suggested the Globe/Twitter parallel Charlotte Wakefield (Juliet) also said something that made my warning alarms go off:
“I’m nearly 20 so I would normally type in quite a sophisticated way, but a 15-year-old today will use a lot of text speak.”
If that statement were a bucket then it would have a lot of holes in it. Again I lay my prejudices down: if the Goldsmiths teaches you anything it is that a generalised statement in the place of accurate research is, quite frankly, not good enough. Maybe some teenagers do use lots of text speak. Maybe some don’t. But what about the specific teenager you’re portraying? The chances are that when a writer is praised for how accurate their language is they’re being anything but literal. Listen to how a conversation actually goes. Listen to how people communicate. Not only would it make pretty much no sense if it were directly copied down, it would also be incredibly dull (look at verbatim theatre, for every play of that genre that works and is pleasurable to watch/ read there’s at least ten which will make you fall asleep). You need the lexicon but beyond that you need imagination not reality. We’re adapting from Shakespeare – if that doesn’t give you a license to engage your imagination then I don’t know what does. The blunt truth, however realistic or not, is that I (and I imagine others) do not want to read text speak.
It wasn’t until the list of credits that @SuchTweet tweeted today that I became aware that there were writers (plural) involved in the project. Their role (as far as has been declared) was to create the overall narrative and then the mission sheets which the actors were given each day. And here we have another problem. Such Tweet didn’t need a writer (if we take it that the actors are going to devise/ improvise the actual text) – Such Tweet needed a Dramaturg. It needed someone who not only planned the narrative but who dealt with the structural problems that twitter brings with it. Someone who sat down and before a single tweet went live decided what the conventions of the piece should be. Depending on conventions we might accept that people burst into song (and know all the dance steps), that there is a narrator, or direct address, or Pinter pauses. Audiences will go places with you if you set your conventions – and then stick to them. How should the public/private oxymoron of twitter be addressed? Would characters respond (or not) to those outside the narrative? Would they respond to criticism within the play or ignore it? It seemed that no one had sat down and found an answer to these (hugely important) questions. Equally the huge change in tone – and lexicon – midway through from Romeo pointed to the distinct possibility that there hadn’t ever been a character tone (and how a tone might be created) meeting somewhere down the line.
I know I’ve chosen to analyse Such Tweet on its artistic rather than social or marketing merits. I think there is much to be said for how it has clearly engaged an audience (and proven that a twitter full length play might be a feasible prospect). I’m also aware that the project marks a significant experiment in form (of which no one, least of all me sat pontificating here, could have seen the ways it would develop or the problems which would arise). I do know though: I stopped properly following the story one week in. I dipped in and out of the @SuchTweet list for the rest of the project but with something approaching duty rather than real interest (Shakespeare. Twitter. New writing. I couldn’t ever abandon it entirely).
I wanted more. I wanted everything that a play can be. I wanted the RSC to have taken it seriously enough to have thought of all the stylistic/ narrative problems that it would inevitably encounter. I wanted it to not just be a gimmick.
I wanted the writing to be as innovative – and as exciting – as the concept itself was.
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Write By Numbers is a new-writing theatre company. This is where we blog.
If you've got something to say we'd love to hear about it - leave a comment on here, tweet or email us: writebynumbers at gmail dot com | {
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37% of PC Users Migrate Activities to Mobile Devices, According to The NPD Group
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 6, 2013 – Content that was once primarily accessed by consumers on their PCs, is shifting to mobile devices. According to the Connected IntelligenceApplication and Convergence Report from global information company, The NPD Group, 37 percent of consumers who used to access content on their PCs switched to their tablets and smartphones.
The top two activities that consumers are shifting from their PCs to their tablets and smartphones are web browsing and Facebook. Among tablet owners, 27 percent say they are using their PC less frequently for accessing the Internet and 20 percent say they are using their PC less frequently for accessing Facebook. Twenty-seven percent of smartphone owners have decreased both their Internet and Facebook usage on their PCs because they now use their smartphone for these activities.
Consumers are still using their computers for many of the core PC-centric activities, but the tablet and smartphone are gaining traction. Internet browsing is still highest among PC owners at 75 percent, smartphones at 61 percent, and tablets at 53 percent. Facebook interaction follows the same rank with PC owners at 63 percent, 55 percent for smartphone owners and 39 percent among tablet owners.
Top Activities Where Mobile Devices Mitigate Computer Usage
And, it’s not just mobile devices that are drawing attention from the computer; 21 percent of consumers that have a TV connected to the Internet are now switching from their computer to using their TV to watch video from streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Instant Video.
“Despite these shifts in behavior, computers will remain the fundamental content creation device in consumer’s tool box for many years to come,” said John Buffone, director of devices, Connected Intelligence. “Consumers, however, are switching their entertainment-centric behaviors to tablets, smartphones, and connected TVs at warp speed. During 2013 this trend will be further perpetuated as more mobile devices become enabled with screen sharing technologies such as AllShare and Miracast that allow users to bridge their mobile devices to their TV screens.”
To learn more about the Application and Convergence Report and our Connected Home Report, join us for a Webinar on February 20, 2013 at 2pm Eastern.
About Connected Intelligence
Connected Intelligence provides competitive intelligence and insight on the rapidly evolving consumer’s connected environment. The service focuses on the three core components of the connected market: the device, the broadband access that provides the connectivity and the content that drives consumer behavior. These three pillars of the connected ecosystem are analyzed through a comprehensive review of what is available, adopted, and consumed by the customer, as well as reviewing how the market will evolve over time and what the various vendors can do to best position themselves in this evolving market. For more information: http://www.connected-intelligence.com. Follow Connected Intelligence on Twitter: @npdci. | {
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"The Tawashi Bus Hat" wrote:.....is it okay that I don't much care for Jetter Mars?
I mean, the show is...okay...watched a few in Japanese. But, I can't get past the concept of "I've seen this before..." (I know JM is basically and almost intentionally an Astro clone. But even some of the stories are too similar.)
There are lots of things to love about Jetter Mars. The bright cheerful colors are a joy to look at, characters have great designs (I love Kenichi), they're younger than usual so Jetter Mars will often do the cutest babyish things that even Astro doesn't do, the animation is better than the 80's Astro Boy, I find most stories to be original, sometimes very violent (the vampire episode anyone?), and the voices are better, particularly Mari Shimizu probably from being younger at the time. Her voice can be quite ear-grating in the 80's Astro Boy.
Last edited by F-Man on Sat Jan 15, 2011 12:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Episode 13 is one of the best episodes of Jetter Mars from my point of view. The episode is so emotional and makes you feel really sad for Honey.
This episode was one of my favourites too; I really love the emotional dilemma.
I like how the situation wasn’t a typical good vs. evil story.
The bees were causing havoc but the purpose of the robot bees was to give Honey energy. It’s was also understandable that Honey’s Grandfather wasn’t too happy at first when he heard about Honey making friends with Mars.
I love the last scene with Mars, Honey and her Grandfather. That scene was pretty touching.
Last edited by Crazy_Red on Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Crazy_Red" wrote:[QUOTE=amado;207903]Thanks a lot, jeffbert, for the topic!
Episode 13 is one of the best episodes of Jetter Mars from my point of view. The episode is so emotional and makes you feel really sad for Honey.
This episode was one of my favourites too; I really love the emotional dilemma.I like how the situation wasnt a typical good vs. evil story.
The bees were causing havoc but the purpose of the robot bees was to give Honey energy. Its was also understandable that Honeys Grandfather wasnt too happy at first when he heard about Honey making friends with Mars.
I love the last scene with Mars, Honey and her Grandfather. That scene was pretty touching.[/QUOTE]
I had no clue about the bees refueling Honey; thanks, Crazy_Red. | {
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A Cup of Afghan Tea with the Editors of The New York Times
So what do yesterday’s nationwide tea parties and a protest march in Afghanistan have in common? They’re both highlights of conservative victories, successes (unsurprisingly) mostly ignored in the pages of The New York Times.
Tens of thousands of Americans rallied at tea parties on Wednesday to protest out-of-control federal spending. That’s probably news to the remaining handful of Americans who get their information solely from the “newspaper of record.”
The print edition of the Times provided a tepid write up of the parties on page A-16. “Although organizers insisted they had created a nonpartisan grass-roots movement, others argued that these parties were more of the Astroturf variety,” sniffed Liz Robbins.
Her piece was heavily reported — six people contributed in addition to the author — but seems to have missed a forest of protesters right in the newspaper’s front yard. While the Times provides a detailed count of the turnout in some cities (200 in Philadelphia, 500 in Pensacola, 2,000 in Houston) it glosses over the fact that 5,000 or so gathered near New York’s City Hall.
So what story lights up the Times’ front page, with two (below the fold) color photos? A march in Afghanistan, where some 300 women braved a crowd “three times larger than their own,” to protest a recently passed law that severely limits the rights of women.
“It was an extraordinary scene,” the Times reports. “Women are mostly illiterate in this impoverished country, and they do not, generally speaking, enjoy anything near the freedom accorded to men. But there they were, most of them young, many in jeans, [George Will cannot be happy] defying a threatening crowd and calling out slogans heavy with meaning.”
There’s a reason Afghan women are “mostly illiterate” and do not enjoy the freedoms men do. It’s because the country was run for years by the regressive Taliban. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan provides a handy list of some of the freedoms denied to women by the Taliban. See the bestseller A Thousand Splendid Suns for further examples.
Women in Afghanistan today have the ability to protest because the United States led a coalition to remove the Taliban in 2001 and allow an elected government to run the country. That’s the sort of fact that never seems to make The New York Times’ front page. Maybe that’s why the paper is waddling toward bankruptcy, while the anti-tax tea party movement will only grow stronger.
Join The Discussion
I attended the tea party rally with my wife. It was a great turnout, great speeches, and great enthusiasm.
It was invigorating to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Americans concerned about their future, but more importantly concerned about the future of the children and grandchildren.
With continued involvement, the fire that was set last night will spread throughout the nation into a full blown blazing bon-fire of hope, inspiration, and a knock out punch at the ballot box to remove those policitians who have been intoxicated with the power and have forgotten that they work for the people and not the other way around.
We had 5,000 excited people turn out in Olympia, Washington! They believe that goverment should be of the people, by the people and For the People! Not the other way around…Tea and testimonies of Pork and uncontrolled spending were displayed on signs and banners!!
Those who came to the capital were wanting elected officials to hear their concerns, such as: Don't mortgage our children's future by printing money we don't have..
This was a grassroots movement of people who feel they are not being heard… Can you hear us now??
Grassroot activities such as the successful teaparties need to continue regardless of the coverage, mocking, or ridicule coming from the drive-by media. Even with liberals running amuck in Washington, we are not powerless or without a voice.
We can not tune into MSNBC, CNN, etc. We do not need to give them any sort of ratings boost.
We can, and we will, remember this. We vote again in 2010. Our votes are our voice. We need to keep speaking and revealing the truth. Many, many people who voted for Obama are now disillusioned. These folks will listen to common sense.
Obama stated the other day that Government needs to increase spending during this recession. Families all across the US are cutting back to keep ahead of the economy. What we need to is a Government which understands that to get us out of this mess, they need to help Americans make more money. This happens by lowering taxes and not introducing ignorant taxes to "save our environment." More money in Americans' pockets will stimulate the economy.
Americans want:
1. To make more money – lowering taxes lets us keep more of our hard-earned money. We will spend it and save it – thus improving our lives.
2. To be respected in the world – we do not care if we are not liked. World relations is not a popularity contest. We gain respect by being strong – financially and via our military.
3. To be protected – we understand that the radicals of this world (Al Quaida, Taliban, Iran, etc) do not have our best interests in mind. They seek our destruction. We need leaders that put us first and understand who our real enemies are.
4. To be successful – we want Government out of ou way so that we can grow through innovation, creativity, and hard work. We will pay of our fair share. If others choice not to work and only seek a hand-out, they can receive proportionately what they contribute. We do not despise the poor. We believe the road to improvement is through hard work, dignity, and freedom – not through entitlements.
I attended two tea parties, one at noon in front of the NH State House at Concord to protest the spending and taxes in New Hampshire and the other at Portsmouth to protest the out of control federal government, spending and debt in trillions and trillions. It was great and was just the beginning. Although there are a lot of plans for the July 4th, I am hoping that we would invade peacefully Washington DC in millions with one petition to repeal all bailouts, spending beyond revenue, debt accumulation, and mindless printing of money and trashing of the dollar.
At Concord, there were about 1000 people and at Portsmouth, over 500 people. Excellent speakers with the uniform message of reduced government and spending that transcended party lines. There were many Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians at those rallies. It crossed color lines, ethnic lines and any other demographic divisions that the left is always trumpeting under their tent.
Don’t have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the day’s most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.
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Ever feel like the only difference between the New York Times and Washington Post is the name? We do. Try the Morning Bell and get the day’s most important news and commentary from a team committed to the truth in formats that respect your time…and your intelligence. | {
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Online Only!
$10 Off $75+
With Code TRUE10
VALID ONLY ON TRUEVALUE.COM. Not valid in True Value stores or their websites. Limit 1 coupon per household. Not valid on Weber®, Carhartt®, Yeti®, Ring, or Makita products. Purchase price of $75 excludes tax & shipping. Not valid on the purchase of gift cards or with any other coupons, offers, or certificates. Not refundable or transferable. Void if sold, exchanged, transferred, or reproduced. Void where prohibited. Coupon valid through 11:59 pm on 8/18/18. TrueValue.com reserves the right to withdraw this promotion and issue no additional coupons at any time prior to 11:59 pm on 8/18/18. In that event, notice will be immediately posted on TrueValue.com and all coupons issued prior to the notice will be honored.
True Value Rewards is available at participating stores. With True Value Rewards, you can earn points for every purchase toward future savings. Want to join? Learn more, find a participating store, and enroll at TrueValueRewards.com. | {
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Dita Von Teese for Wonderbra
Wonderbra chose the luxury stripper
Dita will create three lines of underwear
Luxury stripper and collector of fine lingerie, the mysterious ex-partner of Marilyn Manson was chosen by Wonderbra to create three lines of underwear.
Even if the partnerships are frequent in the prêt-a-porter world, it will be a premiere for Wonderbra, who until now had never delegated the creation of its models to someone.
But Dita Von Teese who is known for her retro tastes and her vamp look obtained authorization to debauch a little bit the sexy - but finally rather wise – mark that is Wonderbra.
We’ll have to wait until next September to be able to admire the Dita creations… However, the publicity campaign which will begin in August should give us a first impression of the content of this stylistic experiment.
The collection of Dita Von Teese, with its image, will be inspired by the 1940 years, vintage .The young woman will be also the ambassadress of this line that will be launched in the French and English markets. | {
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Perspectives on History – May 2009
Elisabeth Grant |May 12, 2009
The theme of the May 2009 issue of Perspectives on History centers on how new media (web sites, wikis, Google, and more) intersect with history. AHA president Laurel Thatcher Ulrich begins this exploration with her article “Erasing History.” In it she explains how the “digital revolution not only offers new ways of researching and disseminating history… [i]t is also creating new topics for historical inquiry.”
Intersections: History and New Media
Robert B. Townsend introduces the broad array of new media articles in this issue in “Viewing History at the Intersection of Past and Future,” and comments that these “essays consider how the new media of the internet are changing the practice of history in our capacities as scholars, teachers, and general disseminators of knowledge of the past to the general public.”
The essays in this issue take up the theme from different angles. Some ask broad questions and look at how new media affects general concepts (narratives, data) and whole disciplines (public history), while other articles concentrate on specific new media projects and programs.
New Media – Broad Looks
Essays with a broad take on new media include:
Roy Rosenzweig and the Future of the Past
We couldn’t talk about history and new media without talking about the late Roy Rosenzweig. Steven Mintz revisits Rosenzweig’s work and labels him a “torchbearer.”
New Media – Projects and Programs
Sometimes the best way to discuss a topic is to point to concrete examples. The authors of the following articles deconstruct new media projects they’ve been a part of.
The History Engine
A number of articles in this issue address the History Engine, a web site (that we’ve covered on AHA Today in the past) that allows students to create articles in a way that teaches them how to do the work of a historian. | {
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Testimonials
We are a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, and multi-disciplined community. Our members come from a wide array of professions and backgrounds; business executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, national athletes, students, retirees, housewives; all are one at PushMore.
The encouragement from the coaches and the camaraderie amongst the members keep the community motivated and inspired to achieve their best in health and fitness. At PushMore, regardless of who you are, you’re an athlete. We are certainly proud of what they have achieved. Here are their stories. | {
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Why drink water on a VLCD ?
Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.
Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.
Here's why: the kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has todo some of the kidneys’ work, it can't operate at full throttle, so it metabolizes less fat. As a result, more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss comes to a stop.
Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention.When the body gets less - water, it perceives it as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cells) and shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.
Diuretics offer a temporary solution, at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a threat and will replace the lost water at the first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.
The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs - plenty of water! Only then will stored water be released.
The overweight person needs more water than the thin one.
Larger individuals have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the overweight person needs more water.
Water helps maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration.
It also helps to prevent the sagging of skin that usually follows weight loss. Shrinking cells are buoyed by water, which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient.
Water helps the body get rid of waste.
During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of - all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.
Water can help relieve constipation.
When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one of these primary sources. Result - constipation. But, when an individual drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.
So far, we’ve discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:
· The body will not function properly and can’t metabolize stored fat efficiently without enough water.· Retained water shows up as excess weight.· To get rid of water, you must drink more water.· Drinking water is essential to weight loss.
How much water is enough?
On average, a person should drink eight 8-oz. glasses every day.
However, the overweight individual needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight.
The amount you drink should also be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.
It is preferable to drink cold water, which is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water.
Some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn more calories.
My recommendation to clients is 4 litres for ladies and 6 litres for bigger guys.
When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced and:· Endocrine-gland function improves· Fluid retention is alleviated· More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat· Natural thirst returns· There is a loss of hunger, almost overnight
When I did the diet I put my quick and large losses down to the water, I also put the fact I have NEVER been hungry since Day 7 on the water I am drinking. Don't underestimate how much it helps you!!!
If it means finishing the diet earlier and with less pain then get glugging!!
Don't think of it as water!! Think of it as a fat attacking liquid!!!!
Cambridge Diet New Counsellor Of The Year 2006
Cambridge Diet Maintainer Of The Year 2009
Lost Just Under 12 Stone On LighterLife/Cambridge Diet back in 2005 and have now been slim since. I haven't dieted at all since March 2006 !! WOOHOOO!!! Check out my blog at www.thedietguy.co.uk
Excellent thread! my god so much fab info. One question
I started this diet at 20st 6 and have been drinking 6ltrs a day is that too much? i did plan on dropping that down the more weight i lose? i have been on this for 2 and a bit weeks( tuesday is three weeks) i've lost 1st 7lbs and put that down to the water, should i drink less?
Hi - one question Mike - I've always been told that it is better for your body to take on tepid water - do you know where the 'cold = better' info comes from cos I've always preferred cold water - and I'd like some backup
Wow Mike, how thoughtful of you to post this thread. (deffo needs to be a sticky)
Thanks for the info, I sometimes don't manage my 4 (not far off though) but deffo will make sure I do 4 minimum.
cheers Mike x
Used to be super slim, stopped smoking, ate too much junk food, piled on 6 stone, lost 4 stone on Cambridge Diet, then fell off the wagon and stuffed myself silly, gained back the 4 stone lost and 2 more for good measure!
Hoping to at least start calorie counting soooonish, before getting back onto ww
Hi - one question Mike - I've always been told that it is better for your body to take on tepid water - do you know where the 'cold = better' info comes from cos I've always preferred cold water - and I'd like some backup
Click to expand...
Hiya
This is taken from HowStuffWorks.Com
For anyone trying to lose weight, this question is an exciting one! If you simply want to know if your body burns calories warming up the water, the answer is yes. But if you want to know if drinking a lot of ice water can help you lose weight, or keep weight off, this "yes" needs to be qualified with some calculations.
First of all, calories are case-sensitive. There are calories and then there are Calories. Calories with a big "c" are the ones used to describe the amount of energy contained in foods. A calorie with a little "c" is defined as the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius.
What most people think of as a Calorie is actually a kilo-calorie: It takes one Calorie to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius. So when you drink a 140-Calorie can of cola, you are ingesting 140,000 calories. There is no cause for alarm, because the conversion applies across the board. When you burn 100 Calories jogging a mile, you are burning 100,000 calories.
So, considering that the definition of a calorie is based on raising the temperature of water, it is safe to say that your body burns calories when it has to raise the temperature of ice water to your body temperature. And unless your urine is coming out ice cold, your body must be raising the temperature of the water. So calories are being burned.
Let's figure out exactly what you're burning when you drink a 16-ounce (0.5 liter) glass of ice water:
The temperature of ice water can be estimated at zero degrees Celsius.
Body temperature can be estimated at 37 degrees Celsius.
It takes 1 calorie to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius.
There are 473.18 grams in 16 fluid ounces of water.
So in the case of a 16-ounce glass of ice water, your body must raise the temperature of 473.18 grams of water from zero to 37 degrees C. In doing so, your body burns 17,508 calories. But that's calories with a little "c." Your body only burns 17.5 Calories, and in the grand scheme of a 2,000-Calorie diet, that 17.5 isn't very significant.
But let's say you adhere to the "eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day" nutritional recommendation. In 64 ounces of water, there are 1,892.72 grams. So to warm up all that water in the course of a day, your body burns 70,030 calories, or 70 Calories. And over time, that 70 Calories a day adds up. So, while you definitely shouldn't depend on ice water consumption to replace exercise or a healthy diet, drinking cold water instead of warm water does, in fact, burn some extra Calories!
And over a year if you were to drink your normal 8 glasses of cold water then the calories needed are the equivalent to half a stone of fat a year you would burn to raise the temperature!!
Last edited: 27 July 2007
Cambridge Diet New Counsellor Of The Year 2006
Cambridge Diet Maintainer Of The Year 2009
Lost Just Under 12 Stone On LighterLife/Cambridge Diet back in 2005 and have now been slim since. I haven't dieted at all since March 2006 !! WOOHOOO!!! Check out my blog at www.thedietguy.co.uk
Well into my second week of Lighter Life and managed today to have all my shakes and drink approx 6 litres of water.
I'm a little concerned about this water issue so would appreciate anymore help? Icemoose maybe - on the general VLCD side of things?
I've been drinking 5 litres evryday since I started but my LLC is telling me to up it as my Ketostix are very very dark.
I've been reading Icemoose' advice on not to go more than 6 litres for women. Does this apply to all women - no matter what size? What are the biological reasons for this?
Should my LLC have told me not to drink anymore? Some help would be appreciated. I have my reservations about my LLC which are best not gone into here but I see her more as an access point for me to LL and don't really use her as 'font of knowledge'.
On another point which may or may not be related I went swimming tonight and got a leg cramp. I have never had one of these in my life and gosh was it scary. My leg felt like it weighed 3 tonnes. Luckily I'm a very strong swimmer (I used to swim for my county in competion when I was younger) and I made it to the side - stretched a little but then swam through it. It did make me worry though a little because I have read threads on here about leg cramps being linked to too much water being drunk.
MiniMins.com is a weight loss support community helping each other on their weight loss journey. We have a multitude of forums, from Slimming World and Exante, to Success Stories. Click the logo at the top right to return to the forum home page at any time. | {
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Yeah, doesn't seem like a good idea. This isn't like Little Shop of Horrors, where the plant is central locational wise but peripheral to most of the action. Kong is front and center for huge parts of the storyline, and I just don't think it would work unless they REALLY drastically alter the story - and if they did, will it still even be Kong anymore? | {
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Carol singers at Croke Park for the Stars Choirs and Carols concert in an attempt to break the world record for the most carol singers singing together in aid of Clionas Foundation and The Sanctuary charities. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
X Factor judge Louis Walsh joins joins carol singers at Croke Park for the Stars Choirs and Carols concert in an attempt to break the world record for the most carol singers singing together in aid of Clionas Foundation and The Sanctuary charities. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire | {
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How One Design Duo Went From Kickstarter Campaigns to a Successful Pop-Up Shop
A pair of designers based out of Charleston, S.C., is determined to solve life’s most common frustrations with modern design.
Nate Justiss and Lindsay Windham founded Distil Union in 2011 with Justiss managing industrial design and Windham as art director. The two met while working at a big-box store in Charleston, designing hundreds of mainly Apple accessories. When the business closed, both took on contract work before eventually deciding to form the design collective that is now Distil Union.
The new business had a firm goal in mind: to create products that improve experiences in people’s everyday lives.
The first such product solved the problem of knocking your iPhone off of the nightstand as your alarm blares early in the morning, leaving you to stumble out of bed to find it and hit snooze. Inspired by their own personal experiences and conversations with friends, they sought out a solution.
“When we start to question those little annoyances, a lot of the times there are interesting product solutions there,” says Justiss, with Windham adding, “A lot of the time, you’re thinking why does this always happen? Or there’s got to be a better way! That’s a really good opportunity to create something and bring it to the market.”
The first problem-solving design was a minimalist wood iPhone dock with a big rubber bar on the top. When the user would hit the bar, the product would snooze the iPhone.
The sleek and simple design was welcomed by the Kickstarter community, who were eager for a new product to replace the big, boxy iPhone docks that were the norm at the time. Seven more Kickstarter campaigns and resulting products followed, and the duo is continuing to produce modern design solutions.
Transitioning from Big-Box Store to Business Owners
When Justiss and Windham left the big-box company, they spent about a year doing contract work while thinking up their business. Even after Distil Union was formed, they continued to supplement the business with contract work for the first two to three years after. During this time, Justiss was helping inventors launch their products while Windham was working with artists and musicians doing freelance marketing, copywriting, and web content creation.
This additional work helped feed the pair and got them to a point where they could focus just on their business.
Once we moved over to the business full time, we weren’t making a whole lot of money. Things sort of accelerated after we were able to focus,” says Justiss.
He advises learning to “live lean” while in this transition period. Windham describes this flex period as a little like their time in university — complete with ramen noodles, sandwiches, and a tight budget.
“When you have just the constant adrenaline of having your own company and trying to make it work, it felt a little bit like college,” she says. “The best advice that I can give is to learn to live off of very little. It really does free you up to be able to make that leap,” says Justiss, whose apartment served as their studio for the first few yearsof the business.
While doing contract work, Windham also turned to technology to simplify her new responsibilities as a freelancer. She recommends using tools such as FreshBooks, the cloud-based accounting software. Now Windham turns to tools such as StitchLabs for inventory and ShipStation for fulfillment, making good use of the automation features.
“I wasn’t particularly great with the business side of being a freelancer, invoicing, and giving quotes and things like that. If you can make it easy on yourself, you can still get sleep,” says Windham.
The Kickstarter Model
Justiss and Windham launched their first product on Kickstarter in 2012 at a time when the concept of crowdfunding was just catching on. The launch enabled the duo to get the cash flow they needed to operate their business and gave them a direct line to their customer base.
We were able to pay for manufacturing — we could manufacture enough to fulfill the Kickstarter pledges, and have inventory remaining so we could sell it on our website.
"That was sort of how we built momentum. That really worked for us and we still do that,” says Windham.
It was important to the co-founders that they not take outside investor money which could influence the product design, as had been the case in their previous employment. Both had supported other Kickstarter campaigns and felt comfortable giving it a shot. At the time, they needed $50,000 to design their first product and had only invested $9,000. The shortfall was the deciding factor in launching a Kickstarter campaign, and it paid off.
“That platform has really enabled us to keep launching products that the world needs. Simplifying your daily life a little bit, that’s what we get a kick out of doing. We are going to keep doing it as long as we can,” says Justiss.
Their second Kickstarter campaign surpassed even their highest expectations, overachieving its goal by 827%. The product was an iPhone accessory which solved the problem of carrying your cards on the back of an iPhone in plain sight. With the goal of reinventing bulky card wallet cases, the duo launched the Wally Stick On.
While they had sworn they would never do another phone case after designing hundreds of them for stores like Best Buy and Target, this accessory had a different personality.
“So, we made this really slim, sleek, leather pocket and a pull tab and a micro-suction back that you can stick directly onto your phone. That’s one reason Kickstarter worked for us,” Justiss says.
“We were doing something that we couldn’t find in stores because it was a little weird, a little niche, a little different. That’s what people a lot of people who are drawn to Kickstarter are these early adopters and they are people who want something a little different.”
While the accessory was their most successful product on Kickstarter to date, raising $90,000, Kickstarter is not always indicative of mainstream success, says Justiss. A second variation of the iPhone accessory was a classic case/card combo and raised just $20,000 but performed better than the original on Distill Union’s website.
“The Kickstarter early adopter niche is a little more accepting of ideas that are very different, whereas the larger consumer group, those who aren’t early adopters, are going to go after standards like a case,” explains Justiss.
Justiss and Windham urge entrepreneurs who are using the Kickstarter model to have a thorough understanding of their costs before launching. Measures such as having a more robust cost of goods spreadsheet and considering costs such as shipping and taxes are important considerations.
“Bulk up what you think you need. If you think you need $10,000, then try to have 20 or 30% more than that to help with the surprises that usually pop-up along the way with product development,” says Windham, who also advises to keep things simple and not let pledge levels get too complicated.
Building Manufacturer Relationships
One area of the business which did not come with unexpected surprises was with manufacturing relationships. Justiss knew the supply chain processes from his previous position and used his manufacturing relationships to help get Distil Union up and running.
“The manufacturing relationships that we had coming out of that [job] really allowed us to go back to some of those folks and work with them. They gave us a chance when we were a new brand with some wacky ideas. We could trust them, we worked with them before, and they trusted us. It was a huge boost. That was really our value starting the company together,” says Justiss.
Justiss and Windham know how to develop a product via email or Skype conversations with their manufacturers, but prefer good old-fashioned face-to-face communication. They say that visiting the factories speeds up development and improves the quality of the final product with the ability to review the product as it comes off the production line.
“There’s just a lot of nuance when you are both sitting there with a sample and are able to point out things and sit down with say the pattern maker and explain these things that either need to be improved or expedited. There is no substitute. It's a fairly small investment for what you can get out of it,” says Justiss.
The effort of flying across the ocean is also not lost on their business partners, says Windham. While on these trips, the pair, eat, drink, and spend a significant amount of time with their partners, strengthening the relationships.
“These guys we have known now for years and they have become friends. Being able to visit in person is great on the personal level, but also, like Nate said, going to the factory, seeing the process, it’s just priceless,” says Windham.
Pop-Up Shop Intel
Human interaction also proved to be the most valuable takeaway when launching their pop-up shop, called the Objective Design Shop. With a goal of bringing modern design to Charleston, Distil Union opened shop in their new studio on King Street in November 2015.
One of their team members had interior design experience, so they set about designing a retail space that was originally intended to offer four brands. Due to the minimum ordering requirements from certain brands, the pop-up quickly grew to offer 400 different products in-store.
With a “pop-up” being a relatively new concept at the time, it was even more unusual for it to last two holiday shopping seasons over the course of its 15-month lifespan.
“The initial dream for our business was to have an open workspace so we could have a dialogue with people who are curious about industrial design. We wanted to have sort of a workshop — a mixed-use space so we can bring modern design to Charleston, which is a very historical town, and have a dialogue with people,” says Windham.
While Windham describes the pop-up shop as a dream come true, it was also a major distraction from their business, which was operating in the same space. They ended up hiring a shopkeeper to help maintain some balance, but also took the opportunity to get valuable feedback from clients.
“One of the most valuable things to me was seeing how people interacted with our products in a store. Here, we are selling mostly online. It was apparent that maybe some changes needed to be made for success in wholesale,” says Justiss. “It was more of an education than it was a revenue generator.”
The duo gained a lot of insight into how to make it easier for wholesale clients to order by having to go through the same process with other brands. Windham stresses the importance of free shipping, making the ordering process easy, and ordering with a code rather than an email.
She also used Shopify articles as resources when initially researching the pop-up concept and used Shopify POS. They kept all vendor information in a Google spreadsheet and then would upload to Shopify to sell additional inventory.
TRY SHOPIFY POS: For a robust point-of-sale system to power your own pop-up shop or storefront, check out Shopify POS.
Windham’s advice to other entrepreneurs is to consider all possible costs associated with a pop-up, keeping in mind shelving and displays, staff, and hosting events.
“Be super clear with yourself on your budget and what your goals are,” she says.
Getting Your Message Across
The pop-up shop also fed back into product messaging, with Windham and Justiss available to answer people’s questions and then relate that experience to messaging on their packaging and website. Over the years, Windham’s methods as a marketer have changed to mirror the ways in which consumers are experiencing products.
“Sadly, I have learned people don’t really read packaging. Keep the message super simple. Now it is so much easier, we have social media to tell stories and do video and to have a lot more interaction. It’s a much different experience now,” says Windham.
YouTube videos with influencers have been a big referral for Distil Union. They’ve worked with influencers like Excessorize Me, a YouTube channel dedicated to iPhone case reviews that boasts more than 114,000 subscribers.
“When other people are talking about our products, whether it is a blog post or a review on a YouTube channel, those are the best traffic for us. We can do Facebook ads all day, but you don’t get better at targeting a certain market,” says Windham.
Windham has worked with PR teams previously in an effort to replicate positive results, but found that ROI was increasingly difficult to measure. Distil Union’s best publicity has happened organically, as was the case with a Slate article that brought the brand major attention.
“Having a good product out there ultimately is how you get good PR. Our wallet was on Amazon with hundreds of other men’s wallets and somebody who bought it loved it and emailed us for an interview and it was Slate.com. He wrote the most amazing review,” says Windham. “Usually when I email someone cold, I’m not going to hear back. But because of his experience with the product was so good, it was such a genuine interest that I think that really came across.”
Now Distil Union maintains its relationships with a small group of bloggers and YouTubers who tap into their audience. Rather than trying to reach out to each and every influencer, Windham maintains organic relationships with influencers who have proven to be a good match for her customers and for reaching new people. The team has focused their PR outreach to hone their efforts on what they do best: product design.
“We spent a lot of dollars trying to advertise and recreate that buzz. We are sort of pulling back and focusing on launching good products. That’s what we know we do best: designing and launching products. We have got a few in the pipeline that we are going to launch on Kickstarter again and try to get the word out and put good product in front of people,” says Justiss.
Whether it’s knocking your iPhone off the nightstand, or a mode of transportation for credit cards, Distil Union proves that modern design can be injected into mundane everyday moments.
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About the Author
Nicole Clark is a writer currently based in London, England. When she isn't working with brands to develop strategic marketing communications plans, you can find her exploring her local food scene and traveling to bustling cities. | {
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Yes, a Stock Market Hack Can Happen – Here's How
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four + = eight
Cyberattacks and online hacks are becoming all too common. And a stock market hack could be on the horizon.
Just last week, a wave of powerful cyberattacks spread across Europe, Asia, and even North America. Hundreds of businesses found their online systems corrupted and unusable. Grocery store checkout machines broke down, the turnstile system in the Kiev metro reportedly stopped working, and ATMs demanded ransom payments.
Here's a scary thought: The onslaught of ransomware attacks may be the "new normal," according Mark Graff, the chief executive of cybersecurity firm Tellagraff LLC, in an interview with The Washington Post on June 27.
And no person or institution is safe from a cyberattack. Not even the U.S. stock market.
"Everything is electronic. If you could hack that, you could bring an economy to its knees," said Money Morning Capital Wave Strategist Shah Gilani, a market expert who has long been warning of a stock market hack. "I can't imagine that all of the players who want money and who want power aren't trying to do this already."
Indeed, cyber criminals could launch a stock market hack at any moment. Here's how they could do it – and what an attack could mean for investors…
How Vulnerable Are U.S. Markets to a Hack?
Shah has a suspicion that cyberattacks on U.S. markets have already happened more than the American public realizes.
A major U.S. bank suffers an attack every 34 seconds
"So-called 'glitches' may not always be glitches," said Shah. "We'll never know. There's no way the authorities would tell us about every event – they don't want us to panic. They [the authorities] will always do what they have to do to streamline things, to make people feel okay. We won't know until we know. And when we do know… it'll be very bad."
You see, the infrastructure of the U.S. markets, meaning the machines that run the market, are extremely susceptible to breaches.
More than half of the 46 exchanges surveyed by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and the World Federation of Exchanges reported suffering a cyberattack in 2012, according to a 2013 report. Exchanges in the United States were 67% more likely to report experiencing an attack than other countries' exchanges.
Indeed, about 88% of brokerages and 74% of advisers in the United States have faced cyberattacks, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) report released in 2015.
Even more frightening, a major U.S. bank suffers an attack every 34 seconds, according to testimony from a Congressional hearing in June of the same year.
"The greatest threat to our markets right now is the cyber threat," Steven Peikin, co-director of enforcement at the SEC, said to Reuters on June 9.
Now the nightmare scenario of hackers shutting down an exchange entirely or destroying market trust with tampered data could become a reality. "Cybercrime appears to be increasing in terms of sophistication and complexity, widening the potential for infiltration and large-scale damage," according to Reuters.
"There's a high percentage probability that a deliberate, devastating attack on the U.S. markets will happen," said Shah. "We need to be cognizant of it."
How Would a Stock Market Hack Impact Investors?
A stock market hack will affect investors in three ways, according to Shah.
First, the downtime could cause panic selling, possibly leading to a crash. "The longer the markets are down, the more people will panic," said Shah.
If the markets were forced to close for long enough, the authorities wouldn't be able to pass it off as a glitch.
"The stock market cannot be closed for four days in a row according to regulation," said Shah. "People need to have access to their money and their shares."
"As long as people know the fifth day will be okay, nobody will panic too much… but after a week, people will know there was an attack – that something is definitely wrong." And once that panic sets in, all bets are off.
Second, a large-scale stock market hack could interfere with the transferability of shares, according to Shah.
"A lot of the markets can interact with other markets, so if the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) stops it's not as big of a deal because you can trade those stocks elsewhere," he said.
It's the possibility of multiple exchanges being targeted at once that scares Shah. If all exchanges are compromised, investors will have nowhere to go.
Video
Prepare for the Next Stock Market Correction with This 1-Minute Guide
Third, the aftermath of an attack will set the precedent for how investors interact with the markets in the future.
Investors will be forced to ask these crucial questions after an attack, according to Shah:
How safe is it to have my money in the market?
What if it happens again?
What will happen when the market reopens — will I still have my money?
And if investors don't receive the answers they're looking for, the markets will ultimately suffer.
"The longer and more frequently this happens, the more people will pull out of the market," said Shah. "It will be a national issue of monumental importance – the highest risk."
However, investors can take steps to protect themselves from a stock market hack – and profit along the way…
How to Protect Your Investments Against a Cyberattack
The best thing you can do before a stock market hack is to maintain physical copies of all of your holdings, according to Shah.
"I can't emphasize this enough – keep physical records!" said Shah. "It's very important that you maintain a trail."
Beyond that, it's what investors do after an attack that's most important.
"No one will see it coming," said Shah. "The only way to be 100% safe is to not be in the markets – but that's the worst possible plan."
"Whenever an attack happens, you should short whichever companies the attack made a fool out of," said Shah. In other words, if a cybersecurity company's program failed to stop an attack, investors would be wise to short that firm.
Then, "at the same time," said Shah, "buy the cybersecurity companies that aren't showing their weaknesses."
"Buy the companies with large contracts and great sales. More and more of these stocks will do well because more people will employ their services and software when others fail."
Heed these words well, because the only thing scarier than a stock market hack is not being prepared for one.
An $80 Billion Cover-Up?Under the watchful eye of Congress, the government will soon be implementing a controversial plan that threatens the retirement of millions of Americans. And they're using an obscure loophole buried in Title 29 of the U.S. Labor Code to do it. If you have a 401(k), IRA, or any type of retirement account, this could cause you to miss out on $68,870 or more. Learn more…
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Acupuncture is a very old method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. There are multiple ways of learning and practicing acupuncture. One of the key features of acupuncture includes inserting needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points. While acupuncture is often associated with pain control, an acupuncturist can give it a much broader meaning. A well-trained acupuncturist can take care of multiple health conditions like digestive disorders such as gastritis, hyperacidity, constipation respiratory disorders such as sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, recurrent chest infections neurological and muscular disorders such as headaches, facial tics, neck pain, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow and so on. Acupuncture is specifically useful in treating stress, depression and other psychological conditions. However, number of treatments differs from person to person. Plus, there are no side effects. | {
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In 2010 for urban women the trend would be over-the-knee boots or thigh high boots or as a substitute laddered stocking is clearly the “in thing”.
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These boots and stockings would only go well with short skirts, so mini skirts are also in trend.wedding gowns Capes and leather clothing also add on to the chique look in women. They had been out of fashion for a long time now.
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They are back in the scene. wedding dresses And by leather we aren’t just talking about leather jackets but about leather dresses, leather shorts and leather leggings.
wedding dresses
The female dandy is also another surprise entry in trendsetting clothing of 2010 which includes high collars, wedding dresses ruffles and bow blouses, cropped slim-cut jackets in both a double or single breast, waist coats and tailored vests, fob chains, frock coats and tail coats and high-waisted Jodhpurs. These outfits that are supposed to be more masculine are manipulated and clinched at the waist to give it a feminine touch with a belt.
wedding gowns
2010 fashion trends for men would be dominated this season by denim. wedding gowns By denim we don’t need to just stick to jeans but also sport denim jackets and casual pants as well. Jerseys and sneakers are never out of fashion. It is very urban and very hip hop.
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5 Reasons to Avail Reputable Car Shipping Services
For most people, owning a car is more about convenience rather than luxury. In the absence of a personal means of transportation, it can become difficult to manage your professional and personal life. If you are planning to move to another city, finding a reputable car shipping company helps you relocate your means of conveyance in a hassle-free and affordable manner. Continuing the discussion, this blog covers five common scenarios wherein people can benefit from car shipping services. Let’s check them out.
1. Convenience
If you are purchasing a used or salvage car or motorcycle, one of the most important considerations is its transportation to your desired destination. Not only is it illegal to drive such cars before they have been registered, it is also a good idea as the vehicles often feature issues that need to be attended by a mechanic first. Even when relocating to a new city or state, driving the car yourself may require foregoing other more important engagements. Shipping a car with the help of an auto transport company such as EasyHaul, frees you from the hassles associated with a long drive.
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Driving long distances can be extremely tiresome, stressful, and even dangerous in some cases. There is always the possibility of various undesirable events such as accidents and bad weather. If you are relocating to a new city or across state lines, the best route is to go for professional car transportation services such as EasyHaul. Professionals that provide car transportation in US have experienced drivers and all the right equipment to get it safely to your desired destination.
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Flexibility, better views, and monetary savings are some of the major benefits of using your own car when you go on a long vacation out of town. If you are on a long vacation away from home and would love to use a personal car to explore, hiring a reputable car shipping company to get it transported is the best approach.
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If you are relocating a dealership, it is best to hire a car shipping company to transport all the vehicles safely. Whether you are transporting motorcycles, cars, vans, or trucks, a car shipping company helps make sure that all your vehicles are transported safely and hassle-free. A car shipping company also gives you several benefits, which include insurance cover, availability of different transportation vehicle designs to cater to the different cars in your dealership, a pool of highly skilled and experienced drivers, and affordable rates. EasyHaul has a wide range of closed and flatbed vehicles, and highly experienced drivers, allowing us to take care of your requirement, big or small.
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Error: (#10) To use 'Page Public Content Access', your use of this endpoint must be reviewed and approved by Facebook. To submit this 'Page Public Content Access' feature for review please read our documentation on reviewable features: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/apps/review.Type: OAuthExceptionCode: 10Please refer to our Error Message Reference. | {
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Words can’t describe how horrid this film is… but I wrote about it anyway!
(Throughout this week, our critics are sharing their thoughts on the movie year. Here’s Shawn Kotzen with his worst films of the year:)
Now, I’m not saying I saw EVERY film that came out in 2013, but I did see a fair number of them and I must make a confession… it was much easier to find ten films that I absolutely hated more than it was to find ten that I loved.
That being said, these are the “Ten Absolute Worst Pieces of Cinematic Trash I Watched in 2013.”
Or to put it another way…
“THE BOTTOM TEN MOVIES OF 2013″
We’ll start with the tenth worst movie and go up (or should I say down) from there.
This was supposed to be Arnie’s big comeback movie. You know, his return from governing Cah-lee-for-nya for all those years. Well, I’m here to tell you that after watching this movie about a small town, desert sheriff (Schwarzenegger) who foils a bad guy escaping across the border, it’s like he never left. And that’s not a complement, either.
As we wait with curious anticipation for rocker-turned-auteur Rob Zombie (“The Devil’s Rejects,” “Halloween”) to tackle his upcoming biopic regarding the Stanley Cup-winning Philadelphia Flyers hockey teams from the 1970s (aka: my beloved hometown Broad Street Bullies), we had to let him to get one more horror film out of his system. I’m just sayin’… I wish he would’ve stopped at “Halloween 2.”
Maybe if we bury the only print in the sand nobody will ever see this film. Whaddya mean by “digital copy”?
Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel star in this typical Hollywood schlockfest about two lost souls who find each other in a small out-of-the-way fisherman’s village. She’s running away from an abusive relationship. He’s getting over the death of his wife. I’m still recovering from sitting through 90-minutes only to experience one of the CHEESIEST endings I’ve ever seen on film.
Don’t worry,Justin. They won’t dare pan this movie. I made “Argo,” dammit!
You’d figure that a post-“Argo” Ben Affleck and a pre-“Inside Llewyn Davis” Justin Timberlake would make this movie worth watching simply through osmosis. Well, you’d be wrong. Loosely based on a true story about some rich kid (Timberlake), that gets swindled on an internet gambling site, who proceeds to break-up some rich dude’s (Affleck) Ponzi scheme. Slow-moving, pointless and a criminal waste of talent.
Sometimes an actor’s career is like a roller coaster… it all hits bottom eventually. Oh, it’s TOO easy.
You know a movie is bad when the main character has a deer urinate in his face and the audience cheers for the deer. Starring a washed-up group of comic actors (Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade, while Rob Schneider was too busy to reprise his role from the first film — that is not a typo), who I can’t help but think are trying desperately to hold on to their careers from the 1990’s. Give it up guys, before it gets any worse than this.
Worst movie of 2013, huh? We’ll give you the count of 3 to take it back. 1…. 2….
Severely ripping-off the “Men in Black” concept, this film features Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges (who simultaneously channels both The Dude and the Sam Elliott cowboy-drifter character from “The Big Lebowski”) as otherworldly police officers from the “Rest in Peace Department” who chase after Kevin Bacon and a bunch of shockingly bad computer-generated demons/ghosts. Based on a comic book that should’ve remained on the page, I’m seriously embarrassed for Bridges and Bacon. I would think that Reynolds is used to this kind of failure by now.
This is what happens after you make a movie like this: no more limousines and stretch Hummers. It’s the subway for you.
They should’ve called this “Dead Movie Down.” Colin Farrell continues his downward spiral into acting obscurity, while Noomi Rapace severely slows HER momentum after parts in moneymakers “Sherlock Holmes 2″ and “Prometheus.” Rapace reunites with Danish director Niels Arden Oplev (after they collaborated on the original “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” trilogy) with not-so-fabulous results. This tepid thriller also underutilizes the talents of Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper in the acting department.
You know your film doesn’t have a chance when the words “Written by Sylvester Stallone” flash across the screen during the opening credits.
Originally set to be another entry in the saga of John Rambo, it was repackaged into a vehicle for British karate-chop king Jason Statham instead. Another indication that your film will flop: James Franco is your villain. While I didn’t see “Spring Breakers,” I also DIDN’T SEE IT on any critic’s “Top Ten Films of 2013″ lists either. So, I’m putting two and two together and figuring out that if Franco is the bad guy in your film… recast it.
Like I stated before in my review, I’d LOVE to see Franco’s “Homefront” character, Gator Bodine, engaged in a man-to-man conversation on Skype with Alien, his “Spring Breakers” role. It would be epic.
You better get used to this P.O.V., cuz this is all you’re gettin’ in this flick.
Screeching tires.
Blistering explosions.
The rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns.
Ethan Hawke.
Which one of these things DOESN’T belong?
I’ll give you a hint. It’s the one that co-starred in this film, “The Purge” AND “Before Midnight”… ALL IN THE SAME YEAR — two of the worst films of 2013 (“The Purge” would’ve checked in at number 11 on this list, if my this list had 11 entries, that is) and one of the best (I still have yet to see it, but I’m just going by the critical trends). Like I asked in an earlier review, will the real Ethan Hawke please stand up?
However, he can’t stand up while he’s in this particular film… since the whole movie takes place in a car. I’m not kidding, THE WHOLE MOVIE IS ONE, BIG CAR CHASE. Also along for the ride is pop star icon and Disney Channel mainstay Selena Gomez as a plucky, rich girl (what a stretch) and Jon Voight’s voice as… well… Jon Voight’s voice with a foreign accent. Never before has a movie been so aptly named, yet no one heeded the advice.
Words can’t describe how horrid this film is… but I wrote about it anyway!
Wow.
You know, I could review this film and simply end this paragraph with this single, solitary word. Then I could ask YOU to watch the film for yourself and wait the 89 minutes for YOU to return and ask YOU what YOU thought and I’m pretty sure YOU would turn to me, with that same, blank, drained look on your face, uttering that familiar, sarcastic remark, “Wow.”
It’s difficult to imagine such a talented group of actors, with SO many years of experience under their belts, getting together to create such a horridly unfunny, mind-numbingly monotonous pile of cinematic doo-doo… but they did-did.
I guess it’s appropriate that in addition to Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Topher Grace and Katherine Heigl, this film also stars Robert De Niro. No actor in La-La Land had a worse 2013 than De Niro. Not counting his blink-and-you’ll-miss-him cameo in “American Hustle,” De Niro also starred in this film, the absolutely awful “Killing Season” (opposite John Travolta with an atrocious Eastern European accent), the tolerable-at-best, old fogey flick “Last Vegas” (with Kevin Kline, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas), as well as Luc Besson’s comedic letdown “The Family” (co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer). His other film, “Grudge Match” isn’t as bad as you think it is and if you’re curious check out my review tomorrow.
DeNiro’s 2013 was not at all what we’ve come expect from a guy with “Raging Bull,” “Casino,” “Goodfellas,” “Taxi Driver,” “The Deer Hunter” and “The Godfather: Part II” on his resume. It looks like Leonardo DiCaprio has now officially now Bobby D’s place as Martin Scorsese’s go-to-guy and DeNiro is relegated to his role in the unavoidably apparent “Re-Meet the Fockers.”
At least he didn’t follow Al Pacino, his co-star from “Heat,” into the worst movie from TWO years ago, “Jack and Jill.”
“After Earth,” (soooo close to being in the Top Ten), “The Lone Ranger,” “A Good Day to Die Hard,” “The Purge,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” “The Last Exorcism Part II,” “Red 2,” “Movie 43″ and “Free Birds.”
Disclaimer:If it sucked and it’s not on the list, it means I haven’t seen it. So, that doesn’t mean that I LIKED films such as “The Host,” “The Internship,” “Baggage Claim,” “We’re the Millers,” “Beautiful Creatures,” both “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas, Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor AND Peeples,” “A Haunted House,” “Scary Movie 5,” “Snitch,” “Pain and Gain,” “Girl Most Likely,” Stand Up Guys,” and “The Family”… or any other film released in 2013 that was universally panned by critics and audiences alike. | {
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Article by
Barbados Today
Published on
August 5, 2013
ROSEAU — The Ministry of Health in Dominica has issued an alert concerning an outbreak of dengue fever.
So far seven cases of the disease have been confirmed while the authorities are awaiting confirmation on eighteen suspected cases.
There have been no deaths reported.
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More Bindlegrim Sites:
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Free Spooky Stuff via Microsoft Office Online
This past weekend was all about touching up the www.bindlegrim.com website... decorating the framework with spooky Halloween imagery from "The Pumpkin Dream" illustrations:
And... installing a new section for FREE! Halloween and Christmas templates that can be used with Word or Powerpoint. (These are templates I worked on during my contract employment with Microsoft Office Online)... and, if I do say so myself, include really fun countdown calendars, coloring books, and stationery sets that are now part of their free download template library. I thought it was worth including these links on the website to direct you there.
NOTE - I should state right off that in this case the art for the templates below was sourced from the Microsoft template library. They have a ton of holiday oriented clip art. (Sadly I can't remember the name of the art contributor - but she has some of my favorite collections) -- see MS Clip Art - Style 1450 in the Office Online Art Library.
Basically, I downloaded the vector art, broke them down in the respective program (that's right - Word can manipulate some vector images now!), re-arranged them, colored them, etc., and turned them into the brand new templates you see below. Microsoft encourages you to do the same, (as well as join and share your creations with their online template community). So here were my contributions to the template library:
Halloween Stationery Set (Nine Items) - Word
Eight Page Halloween Coloring Book - Word
Animated Halloween Countdown Calendar - PowerPoint
Sumer Santa Stationery Set (Nine Items) - Word
Eight Page Christmas Coloring Book - Word
Animated Advent Calendar - Powerpoint
As with all templates - these are offered to use as is - or better yet - customize with your own images and content before printing and/or sharing. | {
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} |
Tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge have already been ruled out of Sunday's game with the Jaguars as have quarterback Peyton Manning and offensive lineman Joe Reitz.
There were two new additions on Thursday's injury report as defensive end Jamaal Anderson was limited in practice with a hip problem and defensive back Stevie Brown was limited with a hamstring injury. | {
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imperfect
It's the strangest thing sometimes, blogging. Because we tend to macro focus on the marvellous and edit out the imperfect. This isn't because I'm pretending my life is perfect, for heavens sake, my sisters both read this blog! How long d'ya reckon I'd get away with that?
It's more about what I feel like writing about at the end of the day and what I want to remember. And also what you want to read.
So rather than write about the rushed day of a meeting I was late for and then had to breastfeed in, about taking Henry out of school early to go to his weekly speech therapy appointment, the lovely cauliflower soup I cooked for dinner that the kids didn't like; well I'd much rather tell you the story of dropping one of Ivy's wee shoes in the rush to get to the meeting and the lovely, lovely woman who passed me in one direction, found it right down the street and bought it all the way back to me. Or about the whispered "I love you guys, I love you" video message Henry left on my iPhone.
All of it happened today. But only some of it would tend to appear here.
Am I guilty of presenting the perfect and burying the imperfect? Of course I am. I only blog a fraction of the story, I'm sure you know that! And I want to to spend that precious hour after the kids are in bed before I start doing something else, cherishing the nice bits.
For example the old dude in the lift on the way up to speech therapy today who asked Henry how old he was then proceeded to recite this poem to him: (speech therapy is on level 7!)
When I was one I had just begun
When I was two I was nearly new
When I was three I was hardly me
When I was four I was not much more
When I was five I was just alive
But now I am six I'm as clever as clever
So I think I'll be six now forever and ever.
(A.A.Milne)
That was a cool moment.
So, the view from here.
I might be guilty of posting a photo like this. Making some joke about the imperfection of the activity as only three jars does not make a chromatic scale. Or even a pentatonic one. Haha.
Oh look. There's not a small amount of washing on the end of that dining table. If you look closely, there's a bathmat halfway down the left hand pile that used to be a nice grey, now mottled pink. Not even sure what the offending red item in the load was.
Oh and look…
She hasn't even finished folding the washing. And if she adds that to the piles on the table they'll probably topple over. That wall's pretty grubby.
Oh, and look…
The baby's crying.
And..
Something's gone horribly wrong with the wholesome musical activity.
Oops.
But you know what?
It's all about choice.
Choose how you react. Choose how you remember.
Henry told me tonight that in his workbook at school, where they wrote today what they did on the weekend, of all the fun, family-oriented, thought-out activities he did, he wrote "On the weekend I went to MacDonalds and had an icecream."
Right. Perfect.
xxx
20 Comments on “imperfect”
What a great post! I love your perspective on things and I totally agree about how things can appear so perfect when we show a 6×4 snapshot of one event that maybe went okay for 4 minutes but was surrounded by a days worth of near-misses and woopsies. I’m a big fan of what DOESN’T make it onto mine or anyone else’s blog, that’s where real life happens! Rock on girl!!
sarah
September 21, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Hey Fi! As great as it is to always read your wonderful stories – it is so nice to read about the not always perfect times. Makes me feel so much more normal!! By the way, I am envious of your tiny washing pile on the table…mine is a whole queen size bed full of folded clothes that never seem to make their way into the cupboards!!
Sue
sweet! life is a little of this and a little of that. after spreading myself thin this morning to my toddler daughter (who’s not so keen on sharing btw) and 9 other preschoolers, I feel like my world is full of imperfections. alas, moments come and moments go. tomorrow will be better, right?
the aa milne poem is one of my faves. cool to be a little boy in an elevator having it recited to you.
Sal
bennoss
September 22, 2010 at 9:40 am
well said fi.
i have to admit, when i read your blogs i sometimes feel a small sting of jelousy. seeing all those delicious meals and fantastic crafts i want you to be MY mum!
good to know you are are human too 😉
Thanks for that link Nichole, that was a lovely read. I know, I have always loved AA Milne too. At the first line I knew where the old dude was going, his wife was with him and corrected him once, Henry was fascinated. It was very cool.
Hi, I’ve popped across for the imperfection. I loved reading this, so beautifully said. I can’t wait for my oldest to turn 6 in October so I can teach him that poem. I learnt it when I was 6… so long ago. | {
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Rapper Iggy Azalea Teases Collaboration With Miss Vanjie
Australian rapper Iggy Azalea has taken to social media to tease an upcoming collaboration with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and Mayhem Miller.
The rapper has been teasing her upcoming single “Sally Walker” – the first release from her second studio album In My Defense – on her Twitter account, and last weekend she posted two photos of herself and the two Season 10 queens from what looks to be the set of the song’s music video.
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The song will drop on March 15, with the album to follow later this year.
After competing in the previous season of Drag Race, Miss Vanjie returned to the show for season 11, currently streaming in Australia on Stan.
Iggy told her Twitter followers she was a fan of drag performers in January.
“I have so much respect & love for drag queens,” she tweeted at the time.
“They make me feel like such a boring bitch.
“The amount of sheer personality alone put into the looks and performances really is something we could all take notes on.” | {
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Pages
Saturday, 31 August 2013
This seems to be the summer of love, I'm once again heading for a wedding reception! I'm in a hurry but just wanted to post a few pictures. I hope I can bribe someone to take a few at the party, so I could show you my cute little hat, too ;D
The eyeshadows are all by Sugarpill, and the lips are done with two shades of Manhattan Lips2Last liquid lipstick. The lips look a bit drag queen like IRL, but I like over-the-top things! Plus I'm DJ'ing at the event, so I'm allowed to look weird. Right? ;)
Friday, 30 August 2013
This is what I wore to go out to eat with my other half! Autumn is clearly coming since I'm already planning a costume for Samhain and picked up a new hobby. I booked a few pole dancing lessons since I was so excited about it at the bachelorette party and it felt like an intense workout. I did gymnastics when I was a child and it all came back, I (mostly) remembered to extent my ankles and keep legs and arms straight when doing the moves, and remembered what I liked about that sort of exercise :) As an added bonus the dance studio is right my office, so even if I'm tired it's not a long way to go. I know from experience that I'm rubbish when it comes to getting off my ass and dragging myself somewhere far to exercise! I'm not very sporty, but I'd like to stay in shape, so here's hoping pole dancing will keep me interested!
Dress - H&M
Boots - New Rock
You might notice I also cut my bangs. The slanted cut was hard to keep looking nice since I'm a cheapskate when it comes to going to the hairdressers. I like a cut that I can keep looking nice by doing the maintenance myself. Maybe I'll go for the slanted bangs again next summer, but right now the straight bang feels like me :)
Monday, 26 August 2013
Here's my day of the dead look from the bachelorette party. I curled my hair with a curling wand, put some clip-in flowers on top of my head and a bone hairpin. The white base on my face is by Grimas (I actually had some bb-cream underneath it, the base was lent) , teeth on my lips are done with an eyeliner and the nose markings are black eyeshadow pen. The colours are Sugarpill pressed shadows which I put on using my fingers because I forgot to pack brushes ;D Except for the eyelids, those are done with brushes.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Yesterday I was at a bachelorette party, what a fun night it was! We had a Day of the Dead theme, and had a picnic, a pole dancing lesson, a piñata, went on the zombie walk, decorated sugar skulls and had very delicious tortillas and some tequila. Now I'm sore from the dancing and sorting through over 300 photos, but happy.
Friday, 23 August 2013
This is me looking stupidly happy with a piece of cake. Raspberry cheese cake, that is, that I ate yesterday when my other half and I decided to go out for something sweet. There's a a new-ish cafe nearby that I visited once before and drooled over the lovely cakes, and finally I got to taste one!
It's been a long and busy week, and it's to be followed with a busy weekend, can't wait :)
Thursday, 22 August 2013
This time I was on the other side of the camera! My other half and a friend have been working on a podcast called We Are Not Here To Please You, and I promised to take them some pictures. They have a great dynamic, and what I've heard of the show (I was playing Diablo in the study while they recorded things in the living room) sounded really interesting. The first episode is being edited, so it's going to be out soon and I'll be sure to post a link then so you can try it out :) So here they are (not to please you), Arttu and Rafael! The pictures are basically unedited (I just adjusted the colours a bit) because they will be worked on later.
Nana the cat was keeping us company all the time by running around and wrestling with a tiny catnip toy. She sure knew how to keep the mood high! Could be that the Southern Comfort helped too, otherwise we might not have achieved these wacky pictures ;P
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
I had been dreaming of a nice way to store my shoes, and finally got around to making it true. I'd seen a lot of these DYI shoe racks made with crown moulding (kattolista for Finnish readers, I spent ages looking for the right term to google with!) around the net and they looked really neat. I thought about hanging it above my vanity, but the bedroom felt already too crowded. hen it dawned on me that I actually had an excellent spot for one! We have a built in closet that's really a weird shape, it's actually a lot higher that the doors, so there's space left on top that can't be used for shelves. The perfect place for a shoe rack!
So off I went to get some nice crown moulding, cut it to size (after realizing that I had actually returned both of the saws I had lent from my Dad, luckily I had a jigsaw I had purchased for cutting laminate floors for the previous apartment), drilled holes for the screws and then my other half put the on the wall. He's really particular about everything being straight and neat, where I'm more of a person who wants to get stuff finished fast with less than perfect results. That's why he doesn't let me do the drilling, and I'm not so fond of it anyway, so it's a good deal ;D
The silly closet. The space is way higher than the doors, making it hard to use.
One shoe rack in place! There's actually another one higher up, it's the same size, from wall to wall.
All of my shoes didn't fit the rack, because I have wedges, heelless shoes and boots too, but it has room for all of mysmall high heel shoes and the top rack is still empty. That means I can buy more shoes, right? ;)
Another tip on stuffing the closets full: I hammereda few nails on the inside of the doorsand hung my bags there. That way it's always easy to pick the one you want to use,unlike with my previous storage solution which was mainly a pile of bags.
The finished shoe rack with the (bent) clothes rack and my clothes back in place.
The rack was pretty easy to make in the end. The hardest part was drilling holes in the moulding so that it wouldn't break and the holes would be straight(ish, when I'm drilling). I still didn't break anything, just used a short piece for practice. Now the shoes are much easier to browse and are all in one place, I used to have small Ikea shoe boxes stashed around the apartment and it was a nightmare to try and find the right pair of shoes! Now it's just these, then two shoe boxes for wedges and heelless shoes, and a shelf in the foyer for boots. Plus maybe a few pairs stashed in my other half's own closet ;P
Monday, 19 August 2013
This one is from last week, I dug up my Sugarpill Heartbreaker palette. It has such great colours, they look a bit boring when alone, but when combined they come to life! The shades always remind me of exotic birds, they are so fresh and vibrant.
The bright acid green on the lower lash line and inner part of the lid is Acidberry, the aqua on the lid is Mochi, the blue is Velocity and the dark pink is called 2AM. I used primer and a Nyx Jumbo Eye pencil in Milk to make to colours come it very bright.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Last night my other half's band had a gig, and it was super packed and the place was hot and sweaty, what a tiring night! Today we finally headed out the the Chili Fest that already started on Friday, but we've both been so busy that visiting the fest was left for Sunday. I'm not a big fan of spicy food, but my other half loves it, so naturally I have got to taste a lot of hot stuff.
Tampere is so pretty.
Just look at those colours!
My other half got lots of different sauces, and I picked one that was mildly hot and had plum in it. I'm cooking pork with it, it's in the oven right now and I'm hoping it will come out nice! I also couldn't resist the cute little chili bushes, I bought one (that I first checked was a kind that my other half likes, since I'm not eating the chilies he better be ;P) to just sit on the window sill with my other plants. Currently all of my orchids are in bloom, so I'm feeling super confident about houseplants!
Saturday, 17 August 2013
I like make-up, so I have quite a collection of brushes to apply it with. I want to take good care of my brushes so they will last a long time, and I still wash them quite often. I never use the same eyeshadow brush twice if I can avoid it, so the loose shadows won't mix and get dirty. And since I don't want to be washing brushes every day, this means I have around 10-15 eyeshadow brushes in use. My foundation brush gets washed whenever I wash the other brushes, blush and powder brushes less often. So far my brushes have held up fine, the oldest one is a blush brush that must be around nine years old, but of the more often used and washed brushes the Gosh eyeshadow brushes must be oldest, they are three years old.
I think quality brushes help apply make-up easier, but it's all down to your own preferences. Some people like to use large, fluffy brushes for the whole eye make-up, other prefer small, stiff, precise brushes. The main thing is that a brush should never feel uncomfortable. If it scratches your skin, it's not for you!
Here's how I wash my brushes, I learned my technique from Luna at Toxid Lotus a long time ago :)
You need:
A clean hand towel
Soap (some people like to use baby shampoo, and it's a good option if you have brushes with non-synthetic bristles. I use leftover hand and body soaps and the tiny soaps you get from hotels.)
1. Prepare the towel
Fold the towel in half and roll half of it. You will lay your wet, clean brushes to dry on it later. If you have many brushes, use a larger towel. Brushes usually need at least 10 hours to dry thoroughly, so pick a spot where they are not in the way during that time.
2. Get ready
Grab your soap (mine is tiny, it's the last piece of a bar from Dreaming Tree, I wanted to use every bit!) and let the tap run. Place the soap on your fingers so you have room to swish the brushes on your palm.
3. Wash!
Wet the brush in the running water, the swipe it on your soap. Swish the soapy brush on your palm to get the soap to penetrate the bristles. Rinse lightly and repeat until the brush doesn't let any more colour.
Wet...
Swipe...
Swish!
4. Rinse
Swish the brush in the running water for a while, make sure to bend the bristles so the water gets everywhere. If you can avoid it, don't let water get anywhere but the bristles and the ferrule, if it goes on the shaft, you might end up with the ferrule coming loose or the shaft swelling because of the moisture (only if it's wood). If the handle looks dirty, wash it quickly and dry immediately with a paper towel, or just wipe with alcohol (hand sanitizer works).
Rinse thoroughly!
5. Dry
Squish the bristles between your fingers to force out most of the water, but be careful not to pull them! Set your brush on the half rolled towel to that it's leaning down with the bristles at the lowest point. This prevents the moisture from the bristles from corroding the ferrule or the glue inside it that keep the bristles in place. Never dry your brushes bristles up, the moisture will only seep down into the ferrule and can even cause the glue to grow mold over time!
Squish gently.
And place to dry. My eyeshadow brushes take around 10 hours to dry, but the time depends on what material the bristles are (EcoTools dry the fastest, they have synthetic but very soft bristles) and how thick the brushes are. Large face brushes take a lot longer!
How to position brushes on the half rolled towel.
If you want the brushes to dry faster, you can try putting paper towel on top of the regular towel and changing it a few times over the drying time. For a quick help, I have Elf brush cleaning liquid that's basically alcohol. You spray some on the bristles, swipe the brush on a paper towel, repeat until no more colour sticks on the towel, and let it dry. Alcohol evaporates a lot faster than water, so your eyeshadow brush will be ready to use in about 15 minutes.
I personally think using quick alcohol cleanser often might affect the glue and dry out the bristles, so I prefer to just wash my brushes regularly and have many of the same brush. I don't use quick cleanser for face brushes at all, because they would still take ages to dry, and the alcohol would have a lot more time to dissolve the glue keeping the bristles in place. | {
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A Streak of Lightning
We carry with us the invisible presence and power of God. But sometimes God reveals Himself suddenly, for a brief time, in the form of an Imaginative Vision. Teresa gives an analogy to help us understand these visions:
“It is as though we had in a gold vessel a precious stone having the highest value and curative powers. We know very certainly that it is there although we have never seen it. But the powers of the stone do not cease to benefit us provided that we carry it with us. Although we have never seen this stone, we do not on that account cease to prize it, because through experience we have seen that it has cured us of some illnesses for which it is suited. But we do not dare look at it or open the reliquary, nor can we, because the manner of opening this reliquary is known solely by the one to whom the jewel belongs. Even though he lent us the jewel for our own benefit, he has kept the key to the reliquary and will open it, as something belonging to him, when he desires to show us the contents, and he will take the jewel back when he wants to, as he does.
Well, let us say now that sometimes hewants to open the reliquary suddenly in order to do good to the one to whom he has lent it. Clearly, a person will afterward be much happier when he remembers the admirable splendor of the stone, and hence it will remain more deeply ingrained in his memory. So it happens here: when our Lord is pleased to give more delight to this soul, he shows it clearly his most sacred humanity in the way he desires, either as he was when he went about in the world or as he is after his resurrection. And even though the vision happens so quickly that we could compare it to a streak of lightning, this most glorious image remains so engraved on the imagination that I think it would be impossible to erase it until it is seen by the soul in that place where it will be enjoyed without end.”
You’ve seen inside the reliquary. God revealed His presence and power. While a vision doesn’t make you more spiritual or virtuous than anyone else, God communicated to you this way for a purpose. Are you waiting around for another vision or moment of ecstasy? Don’t wait for that! Act on the vision He’s already given you. | {
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Chefwear's Three Star Tall Cloth Knot Button Chef Jacket provides a professional look at an unbeatable value. This coat, which is 3" longer in the trunk and sleeves compared to our regular size, is made with poly rich fabric that breathes exceptionally well and designed with a boxy fit which helps keeps you cool while working all day in a hot kitchen.
Chefwear accepts returns or exchanges within 30 days of the receipt of the order. Please note that custom orders such as embroidered jackets are non-returnable. For more information about returns please see the FAQ. | {
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Monday, July 31, 2017
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Much Abrew: Saproling-a-Monium (Legacy)
Hello, everyone! Welcome to another episode of Much Abrew About Nothing. After missing last week's episode for Pro Tour coverage, we're back! During our last batch of Instant Deck Techs, we had a virtual tie for first between Samut Humans for Standard and Saproling-a-Monium for Legacy. In the end, it was the Legacy combo deck that pushed ahead for the win, which means today we are heading to one of Magic's most powerful format to try to win the game with one of the jankiest reanimator decks I've ever seen!
Short history lesson: apparently, the combo of Saproling Burst and Pandemonium was a real deck in Standard back in the day because after I posted the deck tech, a ton of people commented that they use to play with it. Of course, Standard from 15 years ago was a much different format than Legacy is today. Is it really possible that the synergy can port over? We're about to find out! Let's get to the videos, and then we'll have some short thoughts on the deck.
Saproling-a-Monium vs. BUG Delver (Match 1)
Saproling-a-Monium vs. Four-Color Control (Match 2)
Saproling-a-Monium vs. RUG Delver (Match 3)
Saproling-a-Monium vs. Jeskai Control (Match 4)
Saproling-a-Monium vs. RB Reanimator (Match 5)
Saproling-a-Monium (Wrap-Up)
Discussion
First off, that was pretty rough. We finished 0-5 in our matches, which is about as bad as it gets, but at least we managed to steal a couple of games to show off how the combo works.
The good news is that the combo is game ending. If we can get a Pandemonium and Saproling Burst on the battlefield at the same time, we win the game on the spot in a way that's super hard for the opponent to interact with.
Beyond the combo itself, the deck has a ton of problems. Most importantly, it has very little redundancy. Maybe the best example of this was our last match against RB Reanimator, which has 12 redundant reanimation targets and 12 redundant reanimation spells. Our deck, on the other hand, is basically playing a three-card reanimation combo—we need at least one copy of Pandemonium, at least one Saproling Burst, and at least one Replenish, and we don't really have backup copies of any of those cards. This means that, even though we are overloaded with cantrips, it isn't all that easy to actually assemble the combo.
Once we get the combo assembled, we have the same problem as all-in combo decks in Modern: things suddenly fall apart if our opponent has a Force of Will, Flusterstorm, or Daze, and all of our hard work to get the combo together goes to nothing.
Third, we are super slow for the Legacy format. The RB Reanimation deck was getting Griselbrand on Turn 1. We are extremely lucky if we can reanimate our combo on Turn 3 or 4.
As for individual cards, Intuition is actually pretty awkward because it doesn't get our entire combo in the graveyard. No matter what we search for, we almost always end up with one of our two reanimation targets in hand, which means we need one of our four Careful Study (our only way to discard from hand) to be able to get the Replenish reanimation win.
It's also a little bit weird that we can't cast Pandemonium or Saproling Burst from hand. The mana is so good in Legacy that it seems wrong to not play an extra dual land or two to fetch out to cast our combo pieces when the situation calls for it.
Finally, while the transformational sideboard plan seemed cool on paper, it wasn't actually all that effective. We basically turn into a bad Stoneblade deck, and even with the upside of our opponent bringing in some useless sideboard cards, we still weren't good enough to get many wins. Oddly, we still get wrecked by Surgical Extraction as well thanks to all of our Careful Study, Thought Scours, and Mental Notes, which stock the graveyard with Stoneforge Mystics, True-Name Nemesises, and Batterskulls for our opponent to exile, and since we only have a limited number of finishers, getting one exiled is devastating.
The other issue with the sideboard is the opportunity cost. There were some matchups where, instead of sideboarding out the combo, we wanted to bring in cards like Flusterstorm or Pyroblast to try to force our combo through disruption. Since so many sideboard slots are devoted to the transformation plan, we simply don't have many ways to improve our main deck. We either transform or essentially just run it back.
So, should you play Saproling-a-Monium? The answer is generally no—it's very much a bad Against the Odds-style deck fighting through an extremely hostile format, since most people have Force of Will in the main deck and many have graveyard hate in the sideboard. While I can't imagine anyone winning much with this deck—and I don't even think that the problems with the deck are fixable, since there simply isn't a good way to make it more redundant, faster, or better against Force of Will—the one exception is if you want to play it for fun. Despite all of its issues, it is one of the most unique reanimation decks you can play in Legacy, so there are certainly cool points to be won for taking it to a tournament—you'll turn a lot of heads and get a lot of comments (as you lose).
Conclusion
Anyway, that's all for today. Don't forget to vote for next week's deck by liking, commenting on, and subscribing to Instant Deck Techs! As always, leave your thoughts, ideas, opinions, and suggestions in the comments, and you can reach me on Twitter @SaffronOlive or at SaffronOlive @MTGGoldfish.com.
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Main Features:Qi Wireless Charger- Wireless charging starts from the moment you place down any Qi-enabled device or device equipped with a Qi-compatible cover. No cables or USB interface required- LED indicator to notify user when device is in charging position- Non-slip rubber mat on surface, do not worry your phone will fall down when putting it on the pad - Input: DC 5V / 2A- Output: DC 5V / 1A
Charging Receiver- Match with the metal contacts at the back of the phone and you can have your phone charged by the wireless charger, simple and convenient- Copper coil boosts the electromagnetic field, helps your device charge better- Receiving voltage: DC 5V / 1A- Charging voltage: DC 5V / 0.8A | {
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Stung! The Problem with Jellyfish is…
If you’ve ever been to the ocean before, you have most likely encountered a jellyfish. On the surface, these creatures don’t look like much. In fact, they resemble the lowest common denominator of an animal that still qualifies as living.
Jellyfish do not have brains or blood. They simply float along, or move through pulsating the bell portion, in the ocean current going wherever they go. They look so peaceful, but don’t be fooled. Many species of jellyfish are capable of killing a full-grown human. A bad box jellyfish sting can stop the heart of an adult in less than three minutes.
One woman described the feeling of getting stung like the “sensation of thousands of burning needles.”
Jellyfish actually are one of the few creatures who gains from our mistakes. We have contributed to climate change. Other animals are not able to adapt. Jellyfish are. We have overfished the oceans leaving plenty of room for the jellyfish to proliferate. They don’t only eat fish, so the lack of fish is not a big problem. It is estimated that jellyfish have been on the planet for 700 million years! They are not going anywhere.
All jellyfish are poisonous, but some are not able to pierce human skin to sting them. As a rule, clear jellyfish are not a threat to humans unless you are in Australia where the irukandji live. That species is clear and delicate looking, but very venomous.
If you’re going on vacation to a place where jellyfish may be present, please seek expert advice about whether it is really safe to swim, and avoid a trip to the emergency room. | {
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Better than expected
Posted Sep 7, 2016
The pictures do not do justice to the accommodation. We were pleasantly surprised by how nice this place is. Very clean and comfortable, with charming people to look after your every need. The best b and b we have stayed in.
5 out of 5
by Patrick from Glasgow
Wonderful B&B with great views
Posted Aug 9, 2016 on Hotels
Great place to stay with a lovely couple that own the B&B also very clean with awesome breakfast lovely place
Outstanding in everyway
Location: We originally booked this location because of its proximity to Fort William and the Jacobite train, but found much to see nearby.
Everything was perfect. Thank you Dorothy and Camilla for everything. We loved our stay with you. Breakfast was delicious, and the room was lovely. We would have loved to stay longer. We felt right at home and our baby loved visiting with you. Rowena, Bob Julia and Atlas. | {
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KW Industries and Origin Share a Light Bulb Moment
Jim White spent 40 years with KW Industries, helping the Houston manufacturer of outdoor light poles and lighting systems become a global leader with a reputation for innovation and performance. And then he was given the opportunity to become the owner of the company.
While he knew this would be a great opportunity, he had financial questions he needed the answers to before accepting the offer. And he trusted Origin banker Joe Cox to help him come up with a plan.
“Joe was right there to help me go through the whole process, and that means a lot,” says White, who now serves as KW Industries president. “You’ve got to have good people behind you in order to run your business.”
Cox saw the potential in KW Industries, and had the knowledge and expertise to assist White in finding solutions to the challenges of ownership and guiding the future of the company.
Cox recalled White’s passion for the business from their very first meeting. “But it goes beyond that. He knew every one of his employees by name,” Cox says of White. “I could see that this is a company that pays attention to detail and treats people well, and there’s more to it than just making a light pole.”
“There are thousands of banks in this town,” said White. “What makes them stand out are the employees that work for the bank. | {
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Grace A. Tanner Lecture in Human Values
Obert C. Tanner was an educator (Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah), industrialist and philanthropist. Of all the gifts he has left to universities, the one he was proudest of is the Lectures on Human Values. The Tanner Lecture on Human Values was formally established at the University of Cambridge, England on July 1, 1978. In writing about the purpose of these lectures, Professor Tanner said, “I see them simply as a search for a better understanding of human behavior and human values." To this end, the lecture provides a forum in which to promote scholarly and scientific learning in the field of human values while embracing moral, artistic, intellectual, and spiritual values—both individual and social—and advancing the full register of values pertinent to the human condition, interest, behavior, and aspiration. Accordingly, the lecture may involve the cultivation of ethical, aesthetic, and political theory and such matters as scientific research into the foundations of value behavior, whether in social, psychological, or natural sciences. The Tanner lecturers, therefore, may be drawn from philosophy, the sciences, the creative arts, and the various areas of statesmanship and leadership.
Distinguished Guest Speaker
How do images tie us to a sense of place? How do they operate as a catalyst of memory? And how do they reflect and inform our values? A bestselling author, curator, and Assistant Professor at Harvard University, Sarah Lewis examined how images have shaped culture and history in her lecture titled “Images, Place, and Restorative Justice.” In this new talk, drawing from examples throughout history, Dr. Lewis explored the power of visual artifacts to activate cultural memory, to reflect our surroundings, to shift perceptions, and to affect profound change. The Tanner Lecture took place on Thursday, September 20th, 2018 at 11:30 am in the Gilbert Great Hall of the Hunter Conference Center. An extended Q&A session was held at 2:30 pm at the Southern Utah Museum of Art.
Dr. Lewis’ book The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery has been reviewed widely and translated into seven languages. Dr. Lewis was also the guest editor of the “Vision & Justice” issue of Aperture which received the 2017 Infinity Award for Critical Writing and Research from the International Center of Photography. Through her groundbreaking scholarship merging visual literacy with social justice, Dr. Lewis uses art and photography to reveal America’s cultural memory. Dr. Lewis’ articles on race, contemporary art, and culture have been published in many academic journals including the Smithsonian and The Museum of Modern Art. She has held positions at Yale’s School of Art, the Tate Modern, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Dr. Sarah Lewis is currently in the Department of History of Art and Architecture and the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University. | {
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Murphey Candler Little League
I photographed a couple of little league baseball games at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta for a Three of a Kind photo feature for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, March 24, 2012. These are some of my favorite images.
Murphey Candler Cubs catcher Cole Pickering (right) tries to tag out Padres' Shelby Edwards (8) as the ball pops out of his glove at home plate during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012
Padres' Sean O'Grady (right) runs towards third base as Cubs' Alex Compton chases after the ball during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
The Cubs' coach gives a pep talk in between innings during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Padres' Shelby Edwards watches the game from the dugout at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Cubs' Michael Makowski takes his at bat while his team watches from the dugout during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Padres' Benjamin Lang warms up to pitch during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Ethan Haas beats the throw to Davis Wynn as he tags second base during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
A base runner stands poised on third to head to home plate during a game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Ethan Haas rounds third base on his way to home plate during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
The Yankees watch their game from the dugout at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Murphey Candler's Brady Westmoreland chases after a pop fly during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Jason Maurer hurls the ball towards home plate during their game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012.
Jacob Pajer runs towards third base during their 12 & Under game at Murphey Candler Park in Atlanta on Saturday, March 24, 2012. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Now, her teachers and I had a good laugh about it, mostly because we were shocked that girls this age have issues already. Apparently there is a “triangle” of girls who tend to pair up and leave another one out. And it switches from minute to minute. So, basically there’s three little girls arguing about who gets to wear the dress and who gets to be the daddy. Or, who gets to be the boss in the sandbox. Or, gets to sit on the teacher’s lap.
Math skills – check
Writing skills – check
Speaking/Listening skills – check
Little a-hole skills – check
Promise me you’ll keep letting your kids come over to play. Blair CLEARLY needs to learn how to play nicely with others. Either that, or she’s well on her way to a one-way ticket to military school. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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To promote stable, constructive labor-management relations through the resolution and prevention of labor disputes in a manner that gives full effect to the collective-bargaining rights of employees, unions, and agencies.
I. Statement of the Case
This case is before the Authority on a negotiability appeal filed by the Union under section 7105(a)(2)(E) of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute). The appeal involves the negotiability of one proposal concerning assignment of overtime. The Agency filed a Statement of Position. The Union did not file a Response.
For the reasons that follow, we find the proposal is outside the duty to bargain because it is inconsistent with management's right to assign work under section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute. Accordingly, we dismiss the petition for review, pursuant to section 2424.10 of the Authority's Regulations. [n2]
II. The Proposal
Except in emergency situations, over-time procedures will be utilized prior to vacating any post.
III. Positions of the Parties
A. Agency
The Agency claims that "by directing the manning of posts and the payment of overtime for that duty," the proposal conflicts with its right to assign work under section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute "because it limits the right of management to determine when work assignments will occur and when overtime work will be performed." Statement of Position at 5. The Agency also claims that the proposal is inconsistent with its right to determine its security practices under section 7106(a)(1) because it "limits [the Agency's] judgment regarding the degree of staffing necessary to carry out its security function[.]" Id. at 7.
The Agency argues that, because the proposal affects its rights under section 7106(a), it does not constitute a procedure under section 7106(b)(2). In addition, the Agency claims that the proposal is not an appropriate arrangement under section 7106(b)(3) because it is not sufficiently tailored and because it excessively interferes with its management rights. The Agency argues that the Union makes only a "bare assertion that the proposal addresses its safety and security concerns," and that the Union has made "no specific arguments and cites no specific authority" regarding whether the proposal constitutes an appropriate arrangement. Id. at 9, 10.
B. Union
In its Petition for Review, the Union asserts that the proposal "deals with the utilization of overtime procedures prior to vacating posts[,]" and that the language of the proposal is "clear." Petition at 1. The Union claims that "the vacating of posts causes an unnecessary health and safety risk to bargaining unit employees." Id. The Union states that "[t]he United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum (ADX) houses the most dangerous and violent Federal inmates in the system[, and that t]he mission of the ADX is to be the most secure Federal prison in the country." Id. The Union makes no other claims with respect to the negotiability of the proposal and, as noted above, the Union did not file a Response to the Agency's Statement of Position. [ v55 p1079 ]
IV. Meaning of the Proposal
The proposal states that, absent an emergency, overtime "procedures" will be used prior to "vacating a post." Consistent with its wording, the proposal would require the Agency -- in circumstances that do not constitute an emergency -- to maintain employee coverage at all posts by using overtime procedures. That is, the proposal would require the Agency to assign overtime to employees in order to ensure that all posts remain staffed at all times except emergencies.
V. The Proposal Is Outside the Duty to Bargain Because It Affects Management's Right to Assign Work Under Section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute
The right to assign work under section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute encompasses the right to determine the particular duties to be assigned, when work assignments will occur, and to whom or what positions the duties will be assigned. See National Education Association, Overseas Education Association, Laurel Bay Teachers Association and U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Defense Domestic Schools, Laurel Bay Dependents Schools, Elementary and Secondary Schools, Laurel Bay, South Carolina, 51 FLRA 733, 739 (1996). Management's right to assign work includes the right to assign overtime and "to determine when the overtime will be performed."American Federation of Government Employees, Local 3157 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Grain Inspection Service, 44 FLRA 1570, 1596 (1992) (Federal Grain Inspection Service) (citing National Association of Government Employees, SEIU, AFL-CIO and Veterans Administration, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Department of Memorial Affairs, 40 FLRA 657, 670-71 (1991)).
As the proposal in this case requires the Agency -- in all circumstances except emergencies -- to assign employees to maintain coverage at staffed posts on an overtime basis prior to leaving such posts unstaffed, it prevents the agency from determining when work assignments will occur, as well as when overtime will be assigned. Accordingly, consistent with Federal Grain Inspection Service, 44 FLRA at 1596, we find that the proposal affects management's right to assign work under section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute.
The Union does not assert that the proposal constitutes a procedure or an appropriate arrangement. The Union makes only a general statement that the proposal "deals with the utilization of overtime procedures prior to vacating posts[,]" and that "the vacating of posts causes an unnecessary health and safety risk to bargaining unit employees." Petition at 1. Moreover, as noted above, the Agency specifically claims in its Statement of Position that the proposal does not constitute a procedure or an appropriate arrangement, and the Union did not file a Response to the Agency's claims in its Statement of Position.
Where a union does not assert that a proposal constitutes a procedure or appropriate arrangement and fails to respond to an agency's statement of position claiming that a proposal does not constitute a procedure or appropriate arrangement, the Authority will not address the issue. SeeAmerican Federation of Government Employees, Council of Prison Locals, Local 171 and U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, El Reno, Oklahoma, 52 FLRA 1484, 1497 (1997). Even in circumstances where a union makes such an assertion, but offers no arguments or authority to support the bare assertion that a particular proposal is within the duty to bargain on either or both of these grounds, the Authority will not address the assertion, and will conclude that the proposal is not within the duty to bargain under section 7106(b)(2) or (3). SeeNational Association of Government Employees, Local R1-109 and Department of Veterans Affairs, Medical Center, Newington, Connecticut, 53 FLRA 403, 411 (1997) (Veterans Affairs); American Federation of Government Employees, Council of Locals No. 163 and U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Contract Audit Agency, 51 FLRA 1504, 1513-14 (1996).
Based on the foregoing, we do not address whether the proposal is an appropriate arrangement or a procedure, and conclude that the proposal is not within the duty to bargain on either ground. SeeVeterans Affairs, 53 FLRA at 411. Accordingly, we conclude that the proposal is outside the duty to bargain because it is inconsistent with management's right to assign work under section 7106(a)(2)(B) of the Statute. [n3]
VI. Order
The petition for review is dismissed. [ v55 p1080 ]
Concurring Opinion of Member Wasserman
While agreeing that the proposal is outside the duty to bargain, I write separately because I believe that a claim that the proposal is negotiable as an appropriate arrangement has been raised.
In my view, a common sense reading of the proposal, which requires that posts not go vacant in a maximum security prison is that such a proposal is designed to protect employees. It's apparent by the circumstances. It also matches the Union's description of the proposal as geared to avoiding risks to the "health and safety" of the bargaining unit. Such a reading is also consistent with Authority precedent, in which proposals designed to address security concerns of an agency's personnel were assessed in terms of whether they were negotiable as appropriate arrangements. See, e.g., American Federation of Government Employees, Local 3302 and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Social Security Administration, Dunbar Branch Office, Baltimore, Maryland, 37 FLRA 350, 358-61 (1990) (proposal describing location or circumstances for interviewing irate or potentially dangerous claimants); National Federation of Federal Employees, Local 2050 and Environmental Protection Agency, 36 FLRA 618, 627-29 (1990) (proposal requiring agency to provide same level of protection for employees at two separate facilities).
However, because there is no further explanation or evidence in the record that would allow me to assess whether the proposal meets the appropriate arrangement test set out in National Association of Government Employees, Local R14-87 and Kansas Army National Guard, 21 FLRA 24 (1986), and applied in the cited cases, I join in the finding that the proposal is outside the duty to bargain.
Footnote # 1 for
55 FLRA No. 175 -
Member Wasserman's opinion, concurring in part, is set forth at the end of this decision.
Footnote # 2 for
55 FLRA No. 175 -
The Authority's Regulations governing negotiability appeals were revised effective April 1, 1999. See 63 Fed. Reg. 66,413
(1998). The revised regulations apply to petitions filed after April 1, 1999. As this petition was filed before that date, we apply the
prior regulations.
Footnote # 3 for
55 FLRA No. 175 -
In view of this conclusion, we do not address the Agency's additional claim that the proposal is inconsistent with management's
right to determine its internal security practices under section 7106(a)(1) of the Statute. | {
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} |
Post navigation
It’s been a new Holocaust for Jews in New Jersey this last week. A sheet that said, “Heebs will not divide us” was draped over Holocaust memorial. Fliers were set out. And social media was abuzz with negative comments about the wealthy Jews who allegedly stole $2 million by scamming the welfare system.
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — The social media comments on Facebook and other sites were raw, hateful.
The outpouring of invectives was sparked by the arrest last week of 14 residents of Lakewood, N.J., including the rabbi of a congregation, on public assistance fraud charges. The early morning raids ignited a firestorm of anti-Semitism against a municipality of 100,000 that has a majority of Orthodox Jewish residents.
“The allegations and the charges levied against (the defendants) have nothing to do with their religion,” said Joshua Cohen, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, New Jersey Region. “That’s why we’re deeply concerned when we see comments online, whether it’s on newspaper websites or social media, that are anti-Semitic.”
The hate speech moved off the Internet and into the streets. Hate fliers spread around the township over the weekend, said residents, who provided photos of the fliers. A white sheet hung over a Holocaust memorial at the Congregation Sons of Israel. Covering the stone memorial, the cloth banner used an anti-Semitic slur and promoted a website for a white supremacy group, authorities said.
Lakewood Police Detective Lt. Gregory Staffordsmith said the incidents were being investigated.
“We do believe that this recent rash of anti-Semitic incidents is directly related to the recent arrests in our town. We have not had any other incidents before,” said Lakewood Police Chief Gregory Meyer. “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior and we are working with (the) state and the Ocean County (N.J.) Prosecutor’s Office in an attempt to make arrests. We will look to prosecute all incidents of bias crimes that take place against our citizens.”
Many of the online comments zeroed in on the religion of the accused and made sweeping, disparaging, even dehumanizing statements about all Jewish people.
Although the primary vehicle for these hateful comments has been social media platforms such as Facebook, some Lakewood residents have experienced it in person.
THE JEWS ARRESTED FOR WELFARE FRAUD.
A driver in Lakewood cut in front of an ambulance and purposely slowed down, giving the ambulance driver — who was Jewish — the finger, said Moshe Zev Weisberg, a member of the Vaad, Lakewood’s voluntary council of Orthodox Jewish leaders and business members.
“Every community has their bad apples,” said Weisberg. “Without prejudging individuals, there are people who cross the line. But to paint over with a broad brush the entire community — it’s unacceptable.”
Weisberg said there’s this idea that members of the Orthodox community are millionaires conspiring to rip off the government, but it’s just not true.
“It’s very painful and hurtful, both personally as someone who has been living in Lakewood for 40 years and as a community leader,” he said. “It tears our hearts out to see people say such things. It reminds us of an era not so long ago in Europe.”
Understanding Orthodox Judaism
The ways of life of various Orthodox groups aren’t necessarily looked upon favorably by modern society, said Jeffrey Alexander, a sociology professor at Yale University and a member of the Yale Program for the Study of Anti-Semitism’s advisory group.
“People have every right to criticize a group who lives in a way that isn’t open and Democratic and tolerant. Those are things we have to defend,” Alexander said. “At the same time, we have to be tolerant of minorities who are different, even if they’re different in ways we don’t approve of.”
The Orthodox subscribe to the idea that they are a separate society, said Samuel Heilman, a sociology professor at the City University of New York whose area of expertise is Orthodox Judaism.
More: 14 arrested in New Jersey welfare fraud investigation
The Orthodox members dress differently, act differently and separate themselves from American laws and societal norms, Heilman said. Orthodox identity is forged in a world where the outside community is seen as hostile, he said.
“It’s hard to persuade them that they’re no longer living in a world where they want all the Jews dead,” he said.
Heilman said 50% to 65% of the Orthodox in Lakewood live below the poverty level. In many ways, the Orthodox are impoverished by choice — many are not college educated, most marry early, have large families and don’t see public assistance as an embarrassment.
“It’s not a matter of political corruption,” Heilman said. “It’s a matter of moral blindness.”
Americans, with all their claims of multiculturalism, don’t like people who are different, Heilman said.
“They don’t like people who don’t speak English. They don’t like people who don’t fit in,” he said. “Many Orthodox Jews recognize this hostility.”
The “cliquishness” of the Orthodox and the fact that they speak Yiddish in America creates xenophobia and prejudice, Heilman said.
“It’s perceived as anti-Semitism by the Semites,” Heilman said. “By outsiders, it’s perceived as a legitimate gripe against people who they see as taking advantage of the system.”
Weisberg said most people don’t understand the lifestyle of observant couples. He said there are thousands of hardworking families juggling multiple jobs, studying and taking care of four to six children.
“It’s not an easy life,” Weisberg said. “It’s not a community of freeloaders. It’s a community that’s trying to make ends meet.”
He said some families do cross the line when it comes to applying for public assistance, but it’s also common for families to get caught in the “gray area” — the process varies from agency to agency and the programs can be overly complicated.
“Overall, the real tragedy here is families get caught up in this and the hate mongers go loose,” he said.
‘Uptick’ in anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism and negative attitudes toward the Orthodox are nothing new in the communities surrounding Lakewood. As the Orthodox community continues to grow, clashes over changing culture and community identity continue to affect the region.
In 2016, the Anti-Defamation League in New Jersey received 157 anti-Semitic incident reports, a 14% increase from 2015, Cohen said.
According to the organization, there was an 86% increase in total incidents — 541—nationally in the first three months of 2017, compared with 291 in the same period of 2016.
The league’s most recent national poll shows a 14% increase in anti-Semitic attitudes, up from 11% in 2014, Cohen said.
“There are a number of anti-Semites and racists who feel empowered and emboldened by the current political climate to say and do things that they wouldn’t have ordinarily thought to do or say,” Cohen said.
Sorry jews, but you set up yourselves to fail within traditional American society. Want to be different, separate, speak a different language, observe your own laws/rules/norms/customs/courtesiesculture in opposition to tradcon American norms? Fine. There is an entire country, called Israel, where you can do that. They will welcome you with open arms. We do not want you here. This is my country. Not the US of Israel.
““The allegations and the charges levied against (the defendants) have nothing to do with their religion,” said Joshua Cohen,”
Right. It has everything to do with criminal Jews getting caught at doing what they do best, cheating and swindling. So why bring religion into this? Besides, Jewish religion is nothing more than the total worship of the Jewish race and teaches them that their kike god loves it when they swindle the goyim, so again, why bring it up? That only makes them look worse.
““That’s why we’re deeply concerned when we see comments online, whether it’s on newspaper websites or social media, that are anti-Semitic.””
I can certainly understand the concern. Things start to get a little hot when the goyim begin to notice. Sorta like ‘Oy vey not again, the goyim know!’
I get the feeling that Mr Cohen is trying to hide behind a favorite shield of the Jews – ‘freedom of religion’, and it seems to be losing it’s luster.
But I would like to remind Mr. Cohen what a very intelligent man once said:
“The Jew is immunized against all dangers: one may call him a scoundrel, parasite, swindler, profiteer, it all runs off him like water off a raincoat. But call him a Jew and you will be astonished at how he recoils, how injured he is, how he suddenly shrinks back: “I’ve been found out.”” ~ Joseph Goebbels | {
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Machampion
Very unfortunate that Metro didn't make it past Round 1 this year, I'm sure all of us feel a little bit guilty for not performing better (I know I do), but let me just say that Pokemon is absolutely unpredictable and every single person did a fantastic job both getting their matches done and helping to support the rest of the team. I'm very glad to have made a temporary return to Smogon to play with such a well-rounded team, having had the opportunity to chat with every one of you, and despite the fact that the US Metro area is the smallest of all areas competing (seriously, how is New York/New Jersey even close to comparable to the entirety of Asia?), we proved that we are still a great team despite users like ToF and Limitless defecting in years past (good thing Asia will never win a WCoP again... Unless ballabrown24 can lead them to victory). 12-12 is not bad at all considering these circumstances.
Special shoutout to Funkasaurus who went 3-0 despite being a complete no-name, I'm sure you'll be much more respected as a battler from here on out. August also kicked ass going 3-1 despite not being a huge tournament player. Also shoutouts to everyone else on the team, especially Locopoke who is a much better user than he used to be and should be treated as such by the community (he still should've tested with me more though >_<). Also shoutout to my nigga GigaPunch who squats erryday and didn't defect to East because he's not a bitch (I hope not anyway).
Congratulations the France on going 18-6, that is an absolutely incredible accomplishment and should be unbroken as a record for years to come. Also shoutouts to Central players who were really close to making it, and Canada/Oceania who both came back from horrific starts.
Congratulations to whichever team ends up with the temporary blue trophies, in case I'm not around when congratulations are due (depends if I stick around for frontier or not). Once again I had a good time participating this year, and I know we will all be stronger next year, if not in Pokemon then in other ways. I'm not sure what that means other than stay classy Metros. | {
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President Signs Bill On Campaign Gifts; Begins Money Tour
By ELISABETH BUMILLER with PHILIP SHENON
Published: March 28, 2002
ATLANTA, March 27—
President Bush signed a major overhaul of the nation's campaign finance system into law without ceremony today, then almost immediately left Washington on Air Force One for a two-day, three-state trip to raise nearly $4 million for Republican candidates and his party.
''I'm not going to lay down my arms,'' Mr. Bush said this morning at his first stop, in Greenville, S.C., when asked if he thought it incongruous to be raising money after signing a bill that will ban some of the activities he engaged in today.
Mr. Bush added that he would not have signed the bill, which takes effect after the November elections, had he been ''really unhappy'' with it. But he also issued a statement critical of major provisions.
The quiet, no-cameras signing, with the fund-raising tour as a follow-up, underscored how little enthusiasm the president has for the legislation, which had a Senate Republican champion in John McCain of Arizona, Mr. Bush's rival for the presidential nomination two years ago. (The absence of a signing ceremony also meant no White House photo opportunity for Mr. McCain.)
The bill was staunchly opposed by the Republican Congressional leadership, and some Republicans are still fuming at Mr. Bush for standing aloof from their efforts to kill the politically popular measure, which remains under attack: within hours of the signing today, Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, and the National Rifle Association had filed separate suits in federal court in Washington challenging it on constitutional grounds.
Throughout the day, in an aggressive Southern swing that seemed intended to reassure Republicans that the White House would help them collect as much money as possible before the law takes effect, Mr. Bush helped raised $1.1 million for Representative Lindsey Graham's Senate campaign in South Carolina and more than $1.4 million for Representative Saxby Chambliss's Senate campaign here in Georgia. The president is to travel to Dallas on Thursday for a $1 million fund-raiser for the Senate campaign of John Cornyn, the Texas attorney general.
Of the total of $2.5 million raised at the two events today, the White House said, $500,000 was in unlimited soft-money donations to the state Republican parties, contributions that are restricted by the new law.
The $25,000 that each donor paid the Georgia Republican Party to meet with the president tonight, for example, would have been forbidden under the new law, which not only bars soft money to the national parties but also limits such donations to state and local parties to $10,000 a year per individual.
On the other hand, the legislation also increases, to $2,000 an election, the amount that a person may contribute directly to a candidate, twice the amount that Mr. Bush helped raise in such hard-money contributions today.
As he began his trip, Democrats criticized Mr. Bush for using Air Force One for political-fund-raising travel. They noted that both Mr. Graham and Mr. Chambliss supported legislation during the Clinton administration that would have required Congressional candidates to reimburse the government fully when the plane was used for such purposes.
The White House replied that the Graham and Chambliss campaign committees would reimburse the government, but for only part of the costs, since, the administration said, Mr. Bush will also be promoting his domestic security program during the trip. The president made two 20-minute speeches about domestic security amid his fund-raising activities today.
The costs, the White House said, will be allocated using a formula that dates from the Reagan administration, if not earlier. The formula divides the president's time between political activity, for which the campaigns pay related travel costs, and official White House activity. ''There is no additional cost to the taxpayers,'' said Anne Womack, a White House spokeswoman.
Still, Democrats argued that the reimbursement would ultimately cover only a small fraction of the trip's expense, since, they said, it reflects neither the additional security costs for the president on the road nor the true costs of operating Air Force One. In the past, the Republican National Committee has estimated the costs of operating the presidential jet at $35,000 an hour.
''Any member of Congress who voted to do away with this unseemly behavior and now actively engages in it,'' said David Sirota, a spokesman for Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee, ''should either reimburse the taxpayers the hundreds of thousands of dollars the trips cost or explain why taxpayers should have to pick up the tab of their partisan political activities.''
Kevin Bishop, a spokesman for Representative Graham, said that ''there's a well-established formula for dividing expenses between the campaign and the administration, and we are following that formula.'' Mr. Bishop said it was ''not surprising that partisan Democrats are lashing out: President Bush's endorsement of Lindsey Graham is a bitter pill for them to swallow.''
A spokeswoman for the Chambliss campaign had no immediate comment and referred questions to the Republican Party.
The campaign finance bill's four major House and Senate sponsors were informed of the president's signature on it only after the fact today, while he was on his way to South Carolina, where he engaged in his harshest campaigning of the 2000 primaries and ultimately trounced Mr. McCain. Mr. Graham, a recipient of the president's political largess today, was a major supporter of Mr. McCain during the primary campaign there, and also of the campaign finance bill.
Mr. McCain said in a brief statement issued by his office today that ''I'm pleased that President Bush has signed campaign finance reform legislation into law.'' Of the lack of ceremony, Mr. McCain later joked that the president never promised him a Rose Garden.
In his statement on the legislation, Mr. Bush said he thought parts of it flawed. He said he did not agree with provisions barring individuals, rather than just unions and corporations, from making soft-money donations to the national parties.
Though his Justice Department will be obliged to defend the new law against the suits filed today, Mr. Bush also said he had concerns about the constitutionality of a provision that restricts advocacy groups' campaign advertisements naming specific candidates in the periods immediately before primary and general elections. He said the provision ''restrains the speech of a wide variety of groups on issues of public import in the months closest to an election.''
He added that as the culmination of more than six years of debate among legislators, citizens and groups, the measure did not reflect ''the full ideals of any one point of view.'' But he signed it, he said, because ''it does represent progress in this often-contentious area of public policy debate.''
Photo: On a visit to Atlanta, President Bush was briefed yesterday by Kevin Kamperman, director of a hazardous-materials program at Georgia Tech, while emergency personnel tended to mock victims. The president's Southern tour combines fund-raising and domestic-security promotion. (Reuters)(pg. A22) | {
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Kenneth Faried's New Role on the Bench
Kenneth Faried has yet to start in a single game this year after starting 64 of 67 games last season. At first, this sounds strange. Did he get injured or is he upset with the front office? That's a hard no to both of those.
Faried hasn't suffered a major injury and he actually stayed on the team despite the nightmare he suffered that we all call the Brian Shaw era. 'The Manimal' is actually assuming his new role from the bench. Malone's experiment with using Faried's energy and rebounding skills on the Nuggets secondary squad is working, and it's working well.
As of now, Faried is scoring 7.4 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and 1 block per game. All of these numbers are among the lowest of Faried's 6-year career in Denver, but this can be explained with his new role coming off the bench and the reduction of minutes he is getting. The Manimal is playing only 23.9 minutes per game, the lowest since he received only 22.5 MPG his rookie year. Not to mention he is only making 5.6 shots per game while shooting at 42.2%, both the lowest of his career. Faried hasn't dropped in all categories, though, he's shooting 70% from the free-throw line and is averaging a steal per game, both the highest of his career so far. These stats only come from 8 games, there is still plenty of regular season basketball to play. In addition, Faried doesn't necessarily need immaculate numbers for the team to be doing well, his energy is doing enough to help The Nuggets win games.
All statistics aside, Faried has had some big games so far this season to help boost the Nuggets to a few W's. The Nuggets blew the Boston Celtics out of the water on November 6th, winning 123-107; Faried shot 8-12 from the free throw line and grabbed a 12 points/11 rebounds double-double. Again, in the season opener in New Orleans, Faried grabbed an impressive 14 rebounds and put up 9 points. On the other hand, Kenneth managed a measly 4 points and 5 rebounds in one of his shortest games of the year against Detroit; Denver lost the game 103-86. It seems the success of the Nuggets parallels the efficient production of Kenneth Faried. If this trend remains, it's wise for the Nuggets to get the most out of Faried the rest of the regular season.
The Manimal's new role has been an obvious improvement for the Nuggets as a whole. With Gallinari, Nikola Jokic, and Jusuf Nurkic starting the 3-5 spots for the Nugs, there doesn't seem to be any room for Faried on the starting squad. Malone and the staff have moved him to the bench, bringing with him the energy and aggressive behavior you would expect from someone named The Manimal. He isn't the only one who brings fire to the game coming off of the sideline. The team still has the likes of Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, Darrell Arthur, and others to combat the secondaries of the Nuggets opponents. The Nuggets may not have an obvious single star, but damn do they have depth on their roster. The depth helps wear the opponents first and secondary squads down allowing for the Nuggets to be a second half team in theory.
Faried has brought his skills and abilities to the Nuggets bench and it seems to be a well-fit piece on this roster. The Nuggets are looking great despite their early 3-5 record. Most of the Nuggets Wins and losses have been within 5 points, meaning the team is fighting hard every game. The talent is there and the Nuggets seem to still be looking for a way to make it all mesh well together. Faried is an excellent addition to the bench and late in the 4th quarter during games. He is not the face of the franchise by any means, but having him on the bench improves Denver's chances of finishing games with a win.
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Bereavement
Finding a way to live with the loss of one whom we have loved is among the very greatest of life’s challenges — as one’s life is irrevocably changed by so profound a wound. The road to a renewed sense of life and reason for living comes from many sources: through the strengthening of relationships with family and friends, by engaging with others you may not yet have met who are also grieving, and through the relationship we will co-create in your therapy.
Together, we will remember and validate all that bond was — and continues to mean — on every level of your existence, while simultaneously seeking healthier ways to grieve, find peace and open new unexplored areas of your life. | {
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"The Great Locomotive Chase has been the stuff of legend and the darling of Hollywood. Now we have a solid history of the Andrews Raid. Russell S. Bonds' stirring account makes clear why the raid failed and what happened to the raiders."
James M. McPhersonAuthor of Battle Cry of Freedom, winner of the Pulitzer Prize | {
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Supreme Court Math and Concealed Carry in Peruta v. California
Having lost its concealed carry appeal in the 9th circuit court of appeals, the National Rifle Association through its official state organization (the California Rifle and Pistol Association) has filed a cert petition with the United States Supreme Court asking for the court to decide its case and to reverse the decision of the 9th circuit en banc decision. That case is Peruta v. California (formerly Peruta v. San Diego).
Supreme Court rules require the vote of four justices to grant a cert petition and require a majority of justices to decide a case. Barring recusal or a vacancy, it currently takes five justices to win a case.
Inside the US Supreme Court (public domain photo)
Nearly two years ago I wrote an article in which I examined the decisions of the eleven judges assigned to the en banc panel in Peruta v. San Diego. Based on their past decisions I concluded that at least six of the judges would vote against Peruta. It turned out that seven judges voted against Peruta and, in the interest of full disclosure, I was wrong about two of the judges.
In my defense, Judge Silverman voting for Peruta was a surprise given his voting history before the Peruta decision and is still a surprise given his opposition to the Second Amendment after the Peruta decision.
But given that the four judges in the minority of the Peruta decision (including Judge Silverman) voted to destroy the Second Amendment Open Carry right which has always existed in favor of the non-existent right to concealed carry which has never existed, it shouldn’t be surprising after all.
I hope that the Peruta cert petition is granted. I don’t think that it will be but let’s assume that it is. Let us further assume that the justices will decide whether or not there is a right to carry a handgun in public and, if there is, whether or not states can ban Open Carry in favor of concealed carry.
In 2008, the US Supreme Court published its first in-depth decision regarding the Second Amendment, District of Columbia v. Heller. The Heller decision, written by the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said that Open Carry is the right guaranteed by the Constitution. The decision also said that concealed carry is not a right.
Justices Breyer and Ginsburg will Vote against Peruta
The four justices in the minority wholeheartedly agreed with the majority that concealed carry is not a right. Given that they were in favor of upholding the ban on the mere possession of handguns in the home, this should come as no surprise.
Two of the Justices in the Heller decision minority who would have upheld the handgun ban in Heller, Breyer and Ginsburg, are still on the bench. If you think they have changed their minds I have a bridge to sell you.
Two years later, in another 5-4 decision (the McDonald decision), the court voted to apply the Second Amendment against all state and local governments. This time there was a new Justice Sotomayor voting with Justices Breyer and Ginsburg against applying the Second Amendment against the states. According to Justice Sotomayor, the right of the individual to keep and bear arms is something the Supreme Court invented in the Heller decision.
Justice Sotomayor will Vote against Peruta
I am fairly confident that Justice Sotomayor is going to join Justices Breyer and Ginsburg in holding that there is no right to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, in public. I am just as confident that, given the opportunity, Justices Sotomayor, Breyer and Ginsburg would vote to overturn the Heller and McDonald decisions.
For some unknown reason, Justice Kennedy is often bashed by the concealed carry proponents as the one keeping SCOTUS from granting a concealed carry cert petition.
Justices Thomas and Alito will Vote against Peruta
In other cases, Justices Alito and Thomas filed dissents which left no doubt that they do not think that concealed carry is a right. Justice Alito filed a lone dissent in a case involving sawed off shotguns in which he argued that their possession by a convicted felon was a violent crime because they could be concealed.
In another case, Justice Thomas had this to say in his dissent:
“The protections enumerated in the Second Amendment, no less than those enumerated in the First, are not absolute prohibitions against government regulation. Heller, 554 U. S., at 595, 626-627. Traditionally, States have imposed narrow limitations on an individual’s exercise of his right to keep and bear arms, such as prohibiting the carrying of weapons in a concealed manner or in sensitive locations, such as government buildings. Id., at 626-627; see, e.g., State v. Kerner, 181 N. C. 574, 578-579, 107 S. E. 222, 225 (1921). But these narrow restrictions neither prohibit nor broadly frustrate any individual from generally exercising his right to bear arms.”
Here is an excerpt from Justice Thomas’ citation to State v. Kerner:
“It is also but a reasonable regulation, and one which has been adopted in some of the states, to require that a pistol shall not be under a certain length, which, if reasonable, will prevent the use of pistols of small size, which are not borne as arms, but which are easily and ordinarily carried concealed. To exclude all pistols, however, is not a regulation, but a prohibition, of arms, which come under the designation of “arms” which the people are entitled to bear.”
State v. Kerner, 181 N.C. 574, 578 (N.C. 1921).
Justice Thomas clearly does not think that banning concealed carry violates the Second Amendment. Justice Alito’s dissent strongly suggests that he would go farther and uphold a ban on carrying concealable handguns, even if they were carried openly.
Justice Kagan, despite her newfound love of hunting, is likely to side with Justices Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor in opposition to the Second Amendment. After all, hunters, as a group, are notorious for being in favor of anti-gun laws so long as the laws do not prevent them from hunting.
Justice Gorsuch has nothing in his record which hints which way he will vote.
This leaves Justice Kennedy and Chief Justice Roberts. Both of them were in the majority in the Heller and McDonald decisions but there is nothing in their record as Justices which would lead one to believe that after having signed off on the Heller and McDonald decisions that they would suddenly change their mind and discover a concealed carry right which they both said doesn’t exist, at least not under the Second Amendment.
And that is the fatal problem with the Peruta case. Peruta does not argue that there is a right to carry concealed under the 9th or 14th Amendments. Peruta claims that when all nine justices in the Heller decision said that there is not a concealed carry right under the Second Amendment, what they really said is that there is a right to carry concealed under the Second Amendment.
The Peruta lawyers have the hubris to cite this passage from the Heller decision and claim, in their cert petition, that the Supreme Court has already said that Open Carry can be banned in favor of concealed carry when SCOTUS said this:
“”Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited. From Blackstone through the 19th-century cases, commentators and courts routinely explained that the right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose. See, e.g., Sheldon, in 5 Blume 346; Rawle 123; Pomeroy 152-153; Abbott 333. For example, the majority of the 19th-century courts to consider the question held that prohibitions on carrying concealed weapons were lawful under the Second Amendment or state analogues. See, e.g., State v. Chandler, 5 La. Ann., at 489-490; Nunn v. State, 1 Ga., at 251…” District of Columbia v. Heller, 128 S. Ct. 2783 (2008) at 2816
The Peruta lawyers have slapped the Supreme Court in the face, spit on Justice Scalia’s seminal decision on the Second Amendment, and now expect the Justices to grant their cert petition.
It takes the vote of four justices to grant a cert petition and five justices to prevail. A cert petition which involves only handguns faces an uphill battle. A cert petition which seeks concealed carry is DOA.
The Next Cert Petition Granted is Likely to be from an Open Carry Case
There are only two Open Carry cases which have any chance of landing in the Supreme Court’s inbox before this decade is over. The first is Dale Norman v. State of Florida. That case recently lost before the Florida Supreme Court leaving SCOTUS as its last chance. Mr. Norman’s lawyer still has not said whether or not he will be filing a cert petition. If you don’t file a cert petition then SCOTUS can’t grant the cert petition.
By the way, my California Open Carry lawsuit is not limited to handguns. My lawsuit challenges California’s Open Carry bans as well.
Long guns have always been counted as arms protected by the Second Amendment, even where the state courts have held that the Second Amendment is limited to defending against would be tyrants.
As my lawsuit does not seek to overturn a ban on a particular type of long gun or seek only to carry handguns, but seeks to carry handguns and long guns for the purpose of self-defense where others (notably hunters) can carry them in public, the court of appeals can’t tap dance its way around the Second Amendment Open Carry questions put before it.
And unlike the 9th circuit court of appeals en banc decision in Peruta which did not create a circuit split, were I to lose my appeal then my loss would create multiple circuit splits and splits with state high courts of last resort.
According to the Supreme Court justices, they rarely grant cert petitions to correct errors made by the lower courts, their primary purpose is to resolve circuit splits.
Charles Nichols is a proponent of open carry. In 2011, he filed a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit seeking to overturn California’s 1967 ban on openly carrying loaded firearms in public for the purpose of lawful self-defense. Oral argument in his case took place on February 15, 2018, before a three-judge panel of the 9th circuit court of appeals. Charles follows court cases relating to The Second Amendment and tells us what they really mean instead of what reporters, who have never read the decisions in the cases, say they mean. | {
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Sat, Jan 15, 2005 page3
Compromise reached over direct flight talks
By Wang Hsiao-wen / STAFF REPORTER
Taiwan's aviation delegation, led by Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) director-general Billy Chang (張國政), is slated to meet with its Chinese counterpart in Macau today to discuss issues regarding cross-strait charter flights during the Lunar New Year holidays.
\nThe Chinese delegation is led by Pu Zhaozhou (蒲照洲), the head of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Department of the Civil Aviation Adminstration of China (CAAC). The negotiations are seen as following the model established by the Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation talks that were conducted by the private sector, but directed by official representatives of both sides.
\nIn addition to Chang, the Taiwan delegation consists of CAA official Fang Chi-wen (方志文) and Taipei Airlines Association (TAA) chairman Lo Ta-hsin (樂大信) and Secretary-General Solo Su (蘇賢榮).
\nLed by Pu, China's delegation also includes three more CAAC officials.
\nPraising China's practical attitude toward the charter flights, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) yesterday described the Macau talks as "suspending the disputes without precondition."
\n"We still follow the formula of the Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation. We will put off the dispute, presume no preconditions and respect each other. The government will lead and the private sector will assist," Chiu said yesterday.
\nMeanwhile, Taiwan will allow Chinese flag-carriers to fly to the country for the first time since 1949 if both sides of the Strait reach an agreement on direct charter flights for next month's Lunar New Year holiday, an official said yesterday.
\nAir China is the only Chinese airline which carries the national flag.
\nMinister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) said if an agreement is reached on direct charter flights, the country will accept planes carrying the Chinese flag.
\n"The national flag will not be a problem, and we don't mind it," Lin told reporters.
Comments will be moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Remarks containing abusive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or promotion will be removed and the user banned. Final decision will be at the discretion of the Taipei Times. | {
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I'm fine
Trust me.
I see a friend from across the room. Our eyes meet, and she waves. We walk, nine steps, to meet in the middle.
"Hey! How are you?" she asks.
"I'm fine, you?" I reply.
An empty feeling overcomes my soul. I'm not fine. I feel alone. I feel like I walk alone on my path of life. The path is covered with shattered fragments of long-forgotten dreams. Plans and dreams, all replaced by an all-encompassing nothing. I've become a floater, reacting to life without doing anything on my own. My shattered heart is the only thing that's moving, and even that should stop soon. Sometimes, I forget that I'm alive. This friend is my final anchor that tethers me to reality. I'm afraid to lose her, in case I drift so far I'm lost forever. I don't tell her any of this. I'd probably just scare her away, sealing my isolated fate.
Author's Note
Feel free to say whatever you like on this. I just thought I should throw something out there. I planned to write this as a poem, but I couldn't get it to work. If you can relate to this, I'm open for conversation.
Posted 9 Months Ago
1 of 1 people found this review constructive.
9 Months Ago
Ah, the beauty of the phrase "I'm fine". One of those mechanical responses we often make without much of a thought, but one that can also serve to avoid further questions on what may be uncomfortable or risky subjects.
The sort of hollow listlessness you touch upon here is never an enjoyable thing. The inopportune times when we find ourselves dwelling on it don't help, and just make the feeling that much more draining on our sense of power over our own lives. That we tend to set into rhythms doesn't help in this respect. Plans falling through, with replacements following suite, is terribly dispiriting.
As for the wondering if others are being truthful or if they too are engaged in the same protective silence is one that can always rear its head. Family or close friends are, unfortunately, not always exempt.
Posted 10 Months Ago
10 Months Ago
You are tackling such an important issue that I personally relate to, this would be so powerful through a poem! I reckon with a wise choice of strong words it could be an incredible poem. let me know how it goes xx
Posted 10 Months Ago
Rating /100
10 Months Ago
Oh the lies laced through the words "I'm Fine." I love reading something so honest. You have a beautiful way of presenting inner thoughts between something as simple as an everyday greeting. This was a great use of words! I loved the subject.
Posted 10 Months Ago
Rating /100
10 Months Ago
Thank you, Brittany! I guess I'm the opposite of a painter, because I write what I don't see. | {
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LOL its going to be a long while before it is that low. It just got a price drop the other day. Why don't you just save up some money and buy it if you want it? It is an excellent value when you consider everything that it has. Just a Blu-ray player costs the same amount.
If you are under...well I'm not sure if it is 18 or 16, but if you are under a certain age and what you steal totals to under $20 it is Walmart's policy to let you go. So you could just go steal things $20 at a time.
If you are under...well I'm not sure if it is 18 or 16, but if you are under a certain age and what you steal totals to under $20 it is Walmart's policy to let you go. So you could just go steal things $20 at a time.
Just make sure you get things you can sell. You should have PS3 in no time then.
If you are under...well I'm not sure if it is 18 or 16, but if you are under a certain age and what you steal totals to under $20 it is Walmart's policy to let you go. So you could just go steal things $20 at a time. | {
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Okay, so I finally got tagged (twice in two days) so I should probably just fill this out and send it on. I don't have anything better to do, so here goes:
1. What time is it? 10:47 pm, a.k.a. past my bedtime2. What's your full name? Jennifer Lee Geek3. What are you most afraid of? Something bad happening to the people I care about. That and tripping in my Barbie Heels.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
I just filled six garbage bags full of crap that I thought I wanted to keep from my closet. Why I thought I needed to keep it, I'll never know. It would be in the dumpster already, except it's nearly midnight, and it's raining.
Truth be told, there are two rubbermaid totes that I should just dump into the garbage without even looking through. Honestly, if I haven't needed the stuff in there by now, I don't need it.
And about this raining business...
For crying out loud, it's December, and it has barely snowed. It snowed once, and it melted right away. I have the window open a bit, because it is hot in here, even with the heat turned down to 68°F. I found my rollerblades in the closet, and was thinking about going out tomorrow if the rain stopped. That's how nice it is. In IOWA. In WINTER.
Okay, my back is killing me, because I really overdid it on the whole closet thing. But, I feel like I really accomplished something tonight.
I've done the menus for the week, did the grocery shopping, and have started the laundry. Part of the laundry is the cotton drill that I bought yesterday, for my new corset. It's a very heavy fabric, almost like canvas, but not as thick and stiff. This should hold up much, much better than the old blue corset (which was nearly in pieces by the end of this faire season, with the plastic bones ripping through the fabric). It also wasn't terribly comfortable around the hips. This new corset will have tabs at the bottom, and straps, and should be loads more comfortable.
I could not sleep again last night. There shouldn't have been any problem with that, as I got up early yesterday, and we spent the morning shopping, and the afternoon with friends. I was still up past midnight, though. I forgot to set the alarm this morning, so I overslept. Not happy about that.
Oh well, I have to go throw stuff in the dryer. I am anxious to get started on this project. Once I finish this, I can take new sets of measurements while wearing the corset, and I can start planning my new gown. Yippee!!! I have some practice fabric that I will be using (um... three brocade tablecloths that I got on clearance at Target for $5 each. 20 yards of fabric, for $15 is not bad). I also found fabric for at least one new set of sleeves and a forepart (another brocade tablecloth, that I actually really, really like).
Friday, December 29, 2006
We went to Hancock Fabrics in Ankeny today, to order my dressform. I ended up having to get a different one than I really wanted, as the one I really wanted has been DISCONTINUED. :( This one should be okay, but I am going to have to pad it to get the squishibility that I need. I ended up getting a 10% discount, because i bought a specific magazine, too. So, I saved over $13, and did not have to pay any shipping. The only bad news is that it is going to take two weeks to get to the store, as it is a warehouse item.
Before we went to Hancock, though, we hit the Walmart and Target, in Ankeny, in search of the Wii. No luck. When we got back to Ames, we went to Best Buy, Target, Walmart and finally... GameStop.
GameStop. Sigh.
The GameStop didn't have any in stock, but they had received two shipments of the Wii this week.
!!!
We were looking in the wrong place! We had considered going to the mall, Wednesday and yesterday, to the GameStop, but were so worn out after our early morning vigils that by the time the mall opened, the last thing we wanted to do was go there.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Back in August, when I was frantically getting my noble garb sewn, I had to make a hat. I was in such a hurry, that I cut using the actual pattern pieces, rather than just tracing off the size that I needed. I kept the cut-off parts, so I could splice them back together. Then, I got even busier, with performing, and other things, that the pieces stayed in their envelope, not quite forgotten, but definitely neglected.
What's worse is that this pattern was from my Margo Anderson patterns. In other words, it was more expensive than your average patterns. Eeek.
Anyway, I have been thinking about making a new dress, sleeves, forepart and smock, and my thoughts turned to that poor, butchered pattern. It needed to be fixed before I could move on... (this was the hat that the owner of our faire liked a lot!) So, tonight, I got out my tracing paper, my tape, and colored pencils, and I spliced, traced, and labeled until they are back together again.
Whew.
In any case, tomorrow I am going to go order my dressmaker's form. I have done a bit of research, found out the strengths and weaknesses of the three major types, and did a 180 on my original choice (after finding out that the numbers on the knobs tended to not be accurate, that the adjustements sometimes slipped, and that the stands were flimsy. If I am going to spend that type of money, it has to last, and has to be able to hold up 40 pounds or more of gown). I am still trying to decide between the Singer 150, and the Dressmakers Fit models. The Singer model adjusts for the neck to waist measurements, as well as the usual measurements. I can't tell if the Dressmakers Fit form does that, but it looks like it is corsetable (which is necessary). It's also cheaper by about $30. I guess I will find out tomorrow which one I will be buying. The Hancock Fabrics' website did not have the size I needed in the Dressmakers Fit form, so hopefully the store will, or can order it for me.
I really don't want to start this new project without a dressform, mainly due to the difficulties of trying to hem a skirt that has to go over a farthingale. Last time, I had to build something in my living room, and it still didn't end up right.
I hope they have it in stock, as my fingers are itching to sew. I would have done this already, except for our pre-dawn excursions the last couple of days. They just wiped me out...
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Hey, we're doing the thing again in the morning where we get up early and go wait in line for something that will probably not arrive.
Seriously, though. What a bonding moment... When the cop car showed up, and I was thinking how I was going to explain what we were doing sitting in front of a closed store that early without laughing... when the cop jumped out of the car with a shopping bag and something with a tag still attached, then realized that the store was still closed... the crow invasion... Good times, good times...
"Mom, we have to go earlier tomorrow!" Pleading, begging, those big, green, puppy eyes. How could I say no? I'm on vacation for crying out loud. It's not like we have anything else to do, or anyplace to be.
Forget the fact that I have walked around in a daze all day, due to the lack of sleep, and inability to nap. Hey, I also forgot to go to the grocery store, so I guess we're having soup or cereal for supper. I knew I had forgotten something important...
1. Rib cook off= three way tie. Good eats!2. Christmas Eve mass - gorgeous!3. Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma P's - great until my niece got sick with the stomach flu.4. Christmas morning = Santa won as far as my son was concerned.5. My niece was still sick. :(6. Christmas dinner at Granny's - very good! And I won my pretty red throw blanket in the gift exchange.7. My niece was still sick, but is in pretty good spirits as she and her parents leave for her other grandma's house. :(8. Christmas night - fell asleep on the couch watching Cars. Movie Star called. She's sick. But still wants me to go to some frat party with her in a week... wth?? No!9. This morning, my niece goes to the ER, and is then admitted to the hospital for dehydration. :( She'll be there a couple of days, but she should be fine. Ug.
Early this morning, Dad and Scott fired up the grills. In a few short hours, we will be sitting down to judge two different styles of ribs, and shortly after, we'll be moaning about our overstuffed stomachs. It's okay, though, since we are not eating dinner, just snacks at my grandma's house later. And yes, T, there may be cheese sauce there. :)
The only bad note to this day so far, is that I seem to have developed a case of the sneezes. Yuck. At least I slept well! The new futon is extremely comfortable. And it's a good thing I did, because I'll be sleeping on the floor of the living room tonight, waiting for Santa to show up and bring me my Official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
So last night, I couldn't keep my eyes open past 7:30, and I slept in until 8:15 this morning. Tonight, I am still awake, and can't sleep.
My legs ache, and I have a headache, and my arms ache, mostly from sitting on the floor during a rather strenuous game of Monopoly (during which I spent an inordinant amount of time in jail, go figure!).
I can't sleep. I have to be awake in 5 hours. No later, as I have a bunch of things that have to be done tomorrow. Too much buzzing around in my head. Too much sleep last night.
Okay, time to stop babeling and take a tylenol PM. I swear I never used to have problems like this. I could go to bed at 10, get up at 6, and think nothing of it.
Friday, December 22, 2006
I am amazed at the amount of stuff I have accomplished this morning. My kitchen is clean. The living room is clean, the dining room is clean, my room is clean.
My son attempted to clean his room, but whoa, do we have a lot of work to do in there (shoving things to the edges of the room is not cleaning!). I went in to tell him so, and found him curled up under his loft, sleeping. So maybe it can wait a bit.
We are going to go shopping this afternoon, for our stocking stuffers. This is a tradition we started a couple of years ago. Each of us has $10 to spend on ourselves, to fill our stocking. We can also buy things that we both want, to share. We shop at Goodwill, Target, and Walmart (if we have to, ug). Usually we can find brand new books at Goodwill for $.59, and last year I found a ton of jewelry in Target that was in the dollar bins (and ended up being used on my noble dress for the ren faire). It is amazing how far $10 will go if you are really careful. Both of us look forward to our stockings on Christmas Day.
Best of all, it is a time for us to talk, and have fun, without being in a rush. While everyone else is fighting over the last "Tickle me Elmo" doll, we are goofing off, and finding weird things to fill our stockings. Lots of fun!
I just have to remember to actually get them into the car this year. Last year, I let them at home. Whoops!
Last night, I fell asleep on the couch at around 7:30. I woke up at around 9, then went into my room to get something. I sat down on my bed for a minute, then curled up on top of the quilt, and promptly fell asleep again. When I woke up at 10:30, I went to the living room, discovered a huge paper mess and my son asleep on the couch. I woke him up, and made him go to bed.
I slept until nearly 8:15 this morning. I feel like I had way too much sleep. I need to get busy and get my stuff done around the house, so I can be ready for Christmas. But, Day 1 motivation is pretty low at this moment. I think I'm going to have to get out my iPod shuffle and let music help out today. Lots to do, and I want to have time left to have fun today.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Sugar cookies have joined the finished list. Whew. I had the cut-out cookies last on the list, because if I had done them first, I would have thrown in the towel, and nothing else would have come out of my kitchen for the next three weeks. I love to eat them, hate to make them.
It isn't that the dough is hard to put together. It isn't even the rolling and the cutting.
It's the damn frosting and decorating that takes way too long. This is the type of thing that you really need another person working with you, so you have someone to talk to, and a way to make it fun. Otherwise, it just sucks.
I think I may just not make them this year.
So, I am going to wait a few minutes, throw the beer bread together, and get it in the oven before it's time to make dinner.
Yesterday ended up being a day where almost nothing got done. I did the grocery shopping. I wandered around the Antique Mall. I had a headache, went home, and went to sleep for a couple hours. I made dinner, and stayed up way too late watching Battlestar Galactica episodes, while crying my way through half a box of kleenex.
So, today I had to get my a$$ in gear, as it is one week until Christmas Eve. I did laundry until the laundry soap ran out. Then, I got to work on the holiday baking.
I cleaned the ceiling fan in the dining area this morning. Since three of the light bulbs burnt out in the course of a few weeks (um... maybe months, but I just noticed it a couple of weeks ago), I decided to change them. It uses normal sized bulbs.
The problem is, the actual sockets that the bulbs screw into actually rotate.
As in, when you try to unscrew the bulb, the socket twists the same way. Meaning, the bulbs are not actually coming out of the sockets.
This is a problem, for obvious reasons.
I don't remember this being an issue last time a bulb burnt out. Maybe my dad was here and replaced them for me... Anyway, I did manage to get one out by carefully grasping the socket with my fingers, and then had a similar problem trying to get the new one in. I still don't think I got the new one in all of the way, but it turns on, so I am not going to worry about it. The other two seem to be closer to the top of the shade, and I can't get my fingers in well enough to hold the socket while I remove the bulbs.
It is obvious now that one should use small bulbs rather than normal sized ones. However, there were normal sized bulbs in it when I moved in, so I assumed that it needed normal bulbs. I am going to make it a goal to get these bulbs replaced with smaller ones during vacation. No idea how to do it, other than turning off the circuit that the fan uses, so I don't have to be so paranoid about accidentally touching the metal.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
We got home late last night, and I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up at around 2:30, because some of my neighbors were having a party, and decided to see how fast their car could go in Park. Five times.
"Jesus, look at the smoke coming outta dat thing!!!!"
Yeah. Nice.
I started thinking about what to save when the apartment building started on fire due to a car fire in the parking lot.
After dragging myself to bed, I fell asleep pretty quickly, and didn't even move until about 9 this morning. I woke up with a terrible headache (and no, I didn't have even a glass of wine with dinner last night, but I did laugh a lot!). I don't know if I need more sleep, or got too much sleep. All I know is that my head hurts really badly, and I have a lot of stuff to do today, to make up for the last two weeks of craziness at work. All I want to do is take a bubble bath, and rest on the couch.
But, there is work to be done, so I will press on, and at least get the living room clean (I've kept up with the kitchen, but my son tends to destroy the living room on an hourly basis sometimes.).
Monday, December 11, 2006
I am hoping to remedy that tonight, after dealing with the laundry that did not get done on Saturday. I spent most of yesterday in my hometown (and had an absolutely incredible dinner with my parents and son!), after a very sleepless night. So, when I got home around 8:30, the last thing I wanted to do was laundry.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
I am back from my marathon shopping expedition. I had a late start, due to needing to head into work for awhile, then deciding to make pancakes for breakfast when I got home. So, it was 10:00 before I could bundle into the front-wheel drive sleigh and head off to do my Christmas shopping.
I went downtown to see what I could find, and ended up buying one thing. I had a great time in the shops, though. Cooks Emporium was great, as it smelled wonderful (they had given cooking demonstrations earlier). I left without buying anything, however.
Then, on to Target, where I got the inside scoop on when the next shipment of Nintendo Wii's are coming in. However, I am not in the mood to sit in the cold waiting. I did manage to get the game that my son really, really wanted. He knows that he probably won't be able to get the Wii until after Christmas, but he still wanted to get the game before they were out.
So, my son is pretty much finished, as far as gifts. The only thing I couldn't find was a reasonably priced Star Wars Lego set. In fact, all they had were the big sets. And non-Star Wars sets. I may go back and get him another tank from the Forces of Valor sets. I bought a WWII Jeep Willys set, which he'll like, but Target was low on the tank sets this year. I also went to Game Stop and found two games that he's been wanting for ages. He doesn't care if he gets used games.
As far as the rest of my list...
Well, the grab bag is taken care of, as are the lab monitors. The rest will have to wait until next weekend. :)
Folks, Christmas is just over two short weeks away. I have exactly ONE present bought for my son. ONE. I have presents for three of the 14 other people on my list bought and under the tree.
I am going to get up early, take care of the house, then put on my shopping shoes and go do some serious damage to the bank account. No clue what to get my co-workers. More fattening holiday goodies, just like every year, I think. They're guys, so they appreciate it. And I think my special sugar cookies for the main office (melt-in-your-mouth, and made with real butter). That helps a bit with the money budget, but is hard on the time budget.
Whoops. I forgot that I have 20 additional people on that list... My student employees! Okay, they're getting food goodies, too. I'll have to get some to them tomorrow night, so I catch everyone as they work during the week. They've been great this semester, and need a treat. Hmm... I'll have to think about it...
Still haven't quite decided on the grab-bag gift for my granny's house. José Cuervo Margarita mix? Or something more sedate...
But the hardest person to buy for is going to be Movie Star. I ended up with her name this year for the first time in years and years. And she doesn't want a Target gift card, since she works there. She wants something fun. No clue. Zip. Zilch. Nada. If you are reading this, Movie Star, please give me a hint? Somehow I don't think giving you a Barbie is going to cut it this year... (yes, it has probably been that long since I had her name).
Mom and Dad... no clue. I carefully looked at all of the pottery and woodcrafts that the students were selling this week, to see if there was something that would go well in the kitchen, but all of the colors were wrong, or the style was not right. I may hit the downtown stores to see if I can find something special for Mom. Dad is always a tough one to buy for.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
We went Christmas shooping tonight, and got three names crossed off of our list. I looked for something for our gift exchange at my granny's, but didn't really see anything that jumped out and said, "Buy me!"
This gift exchange... well. Legendary in our family. Somehow I usually end up with the socks and extension cords, or the hot sauce. The last couple of years, though, I've ended up with something nice. The goal is to buy a present that you would like to receive. That way, if you end up with your own, as you sometimes do, you won't regret it.
This year, I thought I would buy another throw blanket, as the beautiful red one that I bought for this last year was a highly sought after object. The way the game works is that everyone draws a number. The person who has the number 1 picks a present from the pile and unwraps it. The next person can choose to take the gift from the person, or open another. The third person can take a gift from either of the first two people, or open a different package. And so on. It can be really fun, and drawn out. We try to not make it boring.
As for what I am buying this year...
Well, it has lime in it, is from Mexico, and may end up being the most sought after gift in the history of our tradition of the game.
Top that, suckas!!!!
Note: You may all be thinking that I drink entirely too much. The truth of the matter is, I rarely ever drink, unless I am with my family, and then limit myself to no more than two. Usually, one is enough to make me drowsy, and who wants to miss time with family?
Monday, December 04, 2006
I had this craving earlier this evening (right about the time I was eating pancakes, because I hadn't had time to do the grocery shopping). I wanted biscuits and gravy, in the worst way.
I had this brainwave. I would make a batch tonight, then I would have plenty left over for breakfasts for the next couple of days.
After our meeting, we went to the store to get food for the week, and I bought sausage and pillsbury homestyle buttermilk biscuits. When we got home, I started the laundry, and then started frying the sausage, and baking the biscuits.
When I finished making the gravy, I decided that I was hungry enough to have some.
What I had forgotten to take into account, is the fact that I have eaten almost no meat in the last week, and that I certainly had not had anything with so much... to put this delicately... fat/grease/etc.
Needless to say, I don't feel very well right now... I should have just stopped at McDonald's tomorrow morning on the way into work...
Everything has been off today. Part of the reason is that, during this time of year, we have the labs open 24 hours a day. This means that I have to call the lab at 2:00 am, to make sure that the graveyard shift person arrived for work. It's always hard to get back to sleep afterwards.
Work was crazy busy, and I ended up staying an hour late, due to the various problems that had to be fixed before I left. I ended up asking one of the lab monitors to start the movies, as I did not leave work until the time I would normally get to back to work to start getting things set up. This meant I could go home and actually get dinner before having to be at my other meeting. I even took the time to wash and blow-dry my hair, as I had all kinds of dust and yuck in it from all of the stuff I had to deal with today. Sheer luxury!
In any case, I am waiting for laundry to dry, so I can fold it and put it away. Then, I am going to set the alarm for 2am, and read for about 5 minutes before I zonk out.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Any bets on how long it takes before I have a nervous breakdown? Because I am close.
I had to forgo shopping with my mom and sister today, because I was exhausted from this weekend, and had too many things to do before going in to work this evening. I have ZERO Christmas shopping down.
Zip. Zilch. Zero. Nada.
Busiest time of the semester. I will have almost no time to myself for the next week. I am attempting to hold on to my sanity in the face of everything going wrong lately. My formerly charmed life is fast becoming difficult, and I am just sticking my chin up, taking deep breaths, and focusing on the long term rather than the immediate disasters.
I was never very lucky in big things, you know, like money, love, success. It was the little things, like finding a good parking spot, having things work, and not break on me, being able to walk into a room and having broken computers just suddenly decide to start cooperating, being good with kids... This semester, I have been joking all too often that I am just not having good luck, that I am a jinx now.
So if you know me in real life, and were wondering where that happy, carefree girl went. You know, the one who laughed and talked a lot, she's still here. She's just having a hard and stressful time right now. Give her a couple of weeks, and she'll relax.
All I know, is that I'd be a lot happier right now if I had at least a couple of presents wrapped and under the tree... | {
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Hey guys! I've recently opened a restaurant (grandma's kitchen ) so when I was searching for templates for the website...it was so hard to chose the proper one!!!! Anyway, I would like to recommend the website builder I've used (https://www.ucraft.com/) since it has templates included, but what was helpful, they are custom made for each type of business (photography, restaurants etc.). Not a huge choice, but very relevant one! That was important (and helpful) for me... | {
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Using Keyboard Commands While Screen Sharing
In Snow Leopard, screen sharing now properly transfers all keyboard commands to the remote server. For example, the Command-Tab application switcher switches applications only on the remote system's screen.
Mailplane 3.2.1
Uncomplex has released Mailplane 3.2.1, a small update that amends the previous release’s inline image feature addition (see “Mailplane 3.2,” 5 May 2014). Version 3.2.1 adds an option to enable or disable the inline image insertion via Preferences > Attachments. The release also automatically reduces inline images if they are wider than 500 pixels, ensures the cursor won’t disappear while composing a message, and fixes a bug that caused Mailplane to crash when opening a document with no set default app. ($24.95 new, free update, 17.3 MB, release notes, 10.7+)
Mapbox: fast, beautiful maps for your app and Web site.
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Choose a map design that suits your app and wows your users.
Start developing today for free! <https://www.mapbox.com/mobile/> | {
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Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has called on his old club and Kangaroos teammate and current Australia coach Mal Meninga to work with the NRL side in 2018.
As Stuart sifts through ideas on how to get Canberra back into the top-eight after a disappointing 2017, he particularly wanted someone to help mentor club captain Jarrod Croker.
"One of the greatest captains we've had at this club is Mal," Stuart told NRL.com. "So I asked Mal how he was placed next year and if he'd be interested in doing something with Jarrod, and the other players.
"Mal told me he has a lighter year next year and offered to be involved with the club in any program we wanted him to be.
"I said that would be great, and he said 'Well, I am a Raider'," Stuart said, adding that Meninga was now back living in Canberra, where he helped win premierships in 1989, 1990 and 1994.
"So, it's another opportunity for him to stay in touch with the game because there's not a lot of international football on."
Meninga winds up Australia's World Cup campaign when the Kangaroos take on England in Saturday night's final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The next Test match for Australia after that is not until October 2018.
Stuart and Meninga have remained close after more than 150 first grade games together at the ''Green Machine'' as well as their Kangaroos duties. They opposed each other as Origin coaches in 2011-12.
"I often ring Mal to discuss football talk. I was talking to him about our leadership group here at the club and how I've got a very good, but a very young captain," Stuart said Thursday.
"Jarrod has all the integrity and respect of his fellow players. He's a local boy achieving all the goals he wants, in regards to playing. He's a wonderful club man with an outstanding character as a person. So that's why he's our captain. But I need some help in making Jarrod a great captain."
Stuart said the arrangement with Meninga was on a "where and when needed" basis.
"I will use Mal wherever I can. But it has the added advantage of helping senior players in my team," he said.
"I can't think of a better person to mentor members of the NRL group, and especially Jarrod. He deserves that because he'll not only grow into a bigger and better captain, but grow as a player too.
"I'm very fortunate to have that link with Mal. We're pretty similar blokes that we both love the club and would do anything to help it. Mal is going to be a great asset."
Although the Raiders have a healthy dose of internationals in their squad – Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead (England); Jordan Rapana, Joe Tapine (New Zealand); Josh Papalii, Junior Paulo, Joey Leilua (Samoa) – the fact Canberra has no current Australian players means Meninga could not be accused of favouritism.
"We haven't got any current Australian players in this team so it's not a bias type of thing. I'm not treading on anyone's toes," Stuart said.
"What I've got is a great resource that can come and mentor my captain. Being an ex-Raiders captain and long-standing player he can take an overview of some our plays, our defensive and attacking work. | {
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Pixels & Bits: Picking a proper viewing distance for your TV
Welcome to Pixels & Bits, where the staff at GamingNexus will take a weekly look at the impact of audio and video products (as well as related gear) that enhances the gaming experience. In this serialized article, we will discuss audio and video products, accessories and opinions on how these work within the confines of the gaming experience. In this week’s article, we look at one of the biggest issues when picking a new HDTV: Viewing distance.
Television size and viewing distance used to never be an issue. In the days of analog cable, VCRs, and Super Nintendos, a person generally just had to find something that they liked and pick it up. Most tube televisions were capped at about 32 inches in size unless there was a specialized order by a customer or a high end retailer received top of the line models. Once widescreen televisions hit the market, the process of buying a television became very complicated for consumers. Plasmas, LCDs, LEDs, DLPs, a consumer can make that choice on their own simply by reading about what works best in what situation. What they can't choose on their own without truly seeing the product is the size of the television.
Going into an electronics retailer can be very intimidating, especially since organizations, companies, and consumers can't even agree on the proper way to decide what's best. Wikipedia has three of the most popular formulas (Yes, formulas) that have been suggested, along with what is known as Fixed Distance, Retail Recommendations, and Manufacturer Recommendations. The formulas are used in coorespondance with the degree of the viewing angle. Without getting into a very confusing breakdown of what each is, let's focus more on the formulas themselves before simplifying everything into numbers that anyone can go with.
Formula #1: Diagonal Measurement x 2.5 (20-degree viewing angle)
Formula #2: Diagonal Measurement x 1.6 (30-degree viewing angle)
Formula #3: Diagonal Measurement x 1.2 (40-degree viewing angle)
When dealing with these formulas, people often get confused on the viewing angle and get far too locked into the numbers. In my personal experience, the second formula is the one that works out to be the most accurate. However, if you are regularly using sources that support 1080p, such as a Blu-Ray or true 1080p PS3 games, then the third formula is usually the one to go with, which is the recommendation of THX. I can't truly argue with THX that the formula works, but one thing that consumers need to worry about is picking something that ends up being too big for their viewing distance, which really gets into the meat of this article: Pixelation.
For those who do not know the term, Pixelation isn't a term that was supposed to be a negative, but ended up being one of those magic terms that no one wants to hear. The actual term, of course, is when a bitmap image is zoomed in or blown up and the individual pixels can be viewed. All images have pixels in it when dealing with electronic media, but when someone says that their TV is pixelating, it's usually due to a poor signal from the source that is plugged into the television. When dealing with our topic at hand, it's quite simple: Sit too close to a big HDTV and every individual pixel will be able to be seen, thus resulting in a bad picture.
The simple question to all of this information, of course, is how to avoid pixelation and get the best picture quality and size for your money? The short answer is to follow a guideline that a person can trust. Of those formulas above, the second formula works quite well for most situations. For example, I personally own a 55" Panasonic ST30 Plasma. My viewing distance is 86". The formula on the 55" models comes out to a suggested distance of 88", which is about perfect for what I have. I can tell anyone that my picture quality is fantastic, no matter if I'm watching cable TV, streaming Netflix, or playing games on any of the consoles I own. Now, this is not to say that a 55" television is going to only be right at that distance. Retail suggestions say anything from six and a half feet all the way up to close to thirteen feet, and those suggestions aren't terrible at all.
The bottom line is this: Take a look at all of the guidelines and try not to get intimidated by the major formulas. Manufacturer and retail recommendations are very good when dealing with purchasing a new television. They are set in place so a person doesn't go into a retailer and buy a 73" television when they are sitting all of six feet away. Simple preparation is what saves a person time and trouble. Taking a tape measure and measuring out the distance to the various seats in the room in which the new television will be sitting at is the best information a person can bring with them when asking for professional help.
***Part of this article used information from Wikipedia and is not intended to infringe upon any information that belongs to a specific person, company, or organization.
* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company for review.
About Author
I've been writing about games and entertainment since 2006 after starting out at Xbox Ohio. Since then, I have made the jump to Gaming Nexus and have enjoyed my time here. I am an avid gamer that has a solid old school game collection that includes the likes of Final Fantasy games, Earthbound, Gitaroo-Man, MvC2, and a whole slew of others. I have a primary focus on Xbox/PC games and PC peripherals and accessories. If you ever want to game against me, you can look me up on XBL with the gamertag GN Punk. View Profile | {
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Events Calendar
Gents & Seniors June Medal - Fox & Hounds No 6, Championship Qualifier No 3. Preferred method of entry is online. Generally Fox & Hounds Medals offer start times from 08:00 to 10:30 and 12:30 to 15:00 but clashes with other events sometimes require adjustments to be made. The online entry form will detail the available start times for each Medal | {
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Morristown Men & Morristown Guys
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hello.... - I am a very ambitious and independent, open-minded. I am easy to talk to.. I am a people person and easily mix with everybody. I enjoy the simple things in life. In my spare time I prefer to go for a night out just around town A good coffee shop convo, being around people who can make me laugh, an more
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what it is what it is.. - hey whats up my name is sean.. from the great county of morris in new jersey. not to far west from nyc. just thought id come back on here and hope to atleast find someone that i could connect with. doesent matter what type of connection it may be. im open for anything from a friendship to a long ter more
While Morristown men and women in Morristown might find dating to be more annoying than nice, it'simportant to get past this by breaking the ice. Write an introductory email that's worthy of a response, you probably find that it's easier than delivering a tired line in a darkened bar. After taking a good look at a number of local Morristown guys, you'll know that the person you are attempting to get to know will have plenty in common with you. | {
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Accountability and Liability
The following section contains detailed information and many terms you may be unfamiliar with. Do not let this overwhelm you! What you should take away at this point is a sense for learning process you are about to embark on, professionally and personally. In due time and with board experience, you will gain a good understanding of your legal, ethical, and financial responsibilities. You should be proud that your NSO has put its confidence and trust in your ability to safeguard its interests. | {
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} |
Mother-Daughter Workshops: An Interactive Encounter
Mother-Daughter Workshops: An Interactive Encounter
Usually there is great emotionality as mothers and daughter hear from each other what the other considers her strengths. Many mothers mention their daughters’ loyalty, compassion, humor, thoughtfulness, sensitivity, generosity, intelligence, perseverance, and creativity. What is strikingly common is the mothers’ admiration for the daughters’ independence, lack of conformity, ability to hold her own with others (particularly with her husband if married) and her career accomplishments. Daughters tell their mothers that they respect their creativity, enthusiasm, energy, loyalty, intelligence, vitality, and care taking ability. The predominant themes, although not universal among daughters, are mother’s selflessness, availability, concrete and emotional support, her role as peacemaker, and her holding the family together. Daughters frequently ask mothers how they made it through their hardships in life, which inevitably brings mothers to tears.
In relation to the second question – what would you like to understand about the other – mothers want to know more about their daughters’ desires, anxieties, dreams, pain, reasons for lacking self-esteem, and “the real core.” Many mothers feel hurt by their daughters not confiding in them, experiencing this as a lack of trust. In that vein, the questions arise. “Why does she perceive things so differently from me?” “Why does she need ‘space’?” “Why does she take every statement I make as critical or controlling?”
Daughters want to know why their mothers are so controlling, critical, protective of them, and not more open with their own feelings. Some want to know why mother only sees the nice things and never the problems; others want to know why mother only sees the problems and never the nice things. Many express a desire to know more about their mothers’ past, desires, fears, and guilt. Daughters perceive their mothers as not having pursued their dreams: “Why didn’t you become who you could have been?” “Why are you allowing yourself to be bullied?” “Why are you so unassertive despite your strengths?” They have anger and disappointment at mothers who have devoted their years to caretaking while suppressing their own strivings. Daughters feel betrayed or let down by mothers’ sacrifices and submissiveness, since this hampers their own self-esteem and self-assertiveness.
Perhaps the most poignant question involves the things that mothers and daughters want the other to know about them. The mothers’ answers include: “How my life has been unfulfilled because of so much caring for others;” “Who I am and my needs, needs and feeling that I would like you to consider;” “My own struggle with becoming independent and the adversities I’ve lived through;” “That I am more than your mother, a complex human and courageous.” Mothers want their daughters to understand their humanity, their past, their fears (of aging), and their need for love, compassion, and their stage of life (menopause). One mother summarized her request in this way: “To understand that there is really another me, with very different needs and desires that what is obvious – I’m not as strong as I appear.”
One of the most pervasive and powerful themes among the daughters is their urgent need for their mothers to understand their desire for separation. I want my mother to understand: “My need for separateness,” “my need for boundaries,” “my values regarding money and success,” “understand my change, growth, needs, wants.” Daughters also want their mothers to understand “that our purpose in life is not to take care of you or please you.” One daughter writes: “I am happy and like myself even if I don’t meet your expectations.” Another writes: “I am not you, I will not be you, I am not your image of me, you exhaust me.”
Related to the separation theme, daughters want their mothers to know that they feel burdened by their mothers’ guilt when they are feeling unhappy and resent having to comfort them at such a time. Daughters express: “It’s OK for me not to be happy all the time – it’s not a reflection on you!” In addition, daughters want mother to know they are concerned that they will be rejected or unloved if they don’t fulfill their mothers’ expectations of them.
Our dialogue ends with a summary of what mothers and daughters would like to start, stop and continue doing to improve their relationship. Mothers and daughters generate these responses. Mothers would like to start: Communicating better and more deeply, being totally honest, being more nurturing, being less nurturing, feeling less angry and more loving, being more of a mother and less of a friend, being more of a friend and less of a mother, really accepting their daughters. When there are contradictions they tend to evoke laughter and confirm the complexity of the relationship. Daughter would like to start: Being more honest with how things really are, being nicer to their mothers, being who they are when they want to be, being more confident despite mothers’ anxieties, spending more time with mothers when they want to. Mothers would like to stop: Worrying, feeling guilty, directing, walking on eggshells, being ‘wishy-washy’ and feeling so powerless in relation to their daughters. Daughters would like to stop: Being protective of mother, stop feeling anxious that they are not perfect in mother’s eyes, stop feeling guilty that they are not spending enough time, or giving enough. Mothers would like to continue: Being loving, honest, available, understanding, accepting what daughters cannot change even if they don’t approve, learning the 90’s style of discussion, (which to mothers feels like confrontation). Daughters would like to continue: To feel OK about being separate and different, to spend quality time together as person to person instead of mother to daughter, grow together.
The rationale for this exercise is to enable mothers and daughters to become conscious of their negative behavior, take responsibility as a group for common dynamics, and to think creatively as a group, taking charge of what they would like to change. Asking participants to articulate behaviors reinforces positive actions that are appreciated and valued. It also allows them to recognize that there are no totally right or wrong behaviors and that the behavior that brought them to this point in time is by not means all negative.
These dialogues are at the heart of the workshops. Mothers and daughters publicly negotiate emotional realities of the relationship, communicate powerful thoughts, feelings, and ideas that have not been shared before, and agree to some tangible behavioral changes. This intimate negotiation, conducted with the group’s support and involvement, enhances their knowledge of each other as individuals, reinforcing their differences and similarities. This exercise leads to greater self-definition and restructuring of boundaries. Explicitly defining boundaries increases safety within the relationship and paves the way for greater intimacy.
The leaders intervene if the predominant mode of communication is not productive. We offer ideas so that the couple can learn to process conflict and communicate about their relationship. Although we stress that there is not a normative model of the mother-daughter relationship, we make suggestions to improve communication. For example, we suggest that group members take responsibility for individual responses, and not assume that they know what the other is thinking or feeling. We encourage participants to wait for anger to diminish before speaking, and to arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss issues.
We also encourage mothers and daughters in the group to make observations and/or suggestions when witnessing a negotiation between another mother-daughter dyad. Some of the most powerful interventions arise when a mother-daughter pair discuss an issue that resonates with another group member. The following is an example:
Vignette IV
Mother: “Why don’t you tell me anything? You are so closed – all I want to know is, are you happy? Why don’t you want to marry your boyfriend? What did I do so wrong that you never want to marry? I won’t be so intrusive, I just need to know that you are OK.”
Daughter: “That is intrusive, I told you many, many times that I am happy Bill
(boyfriend), and no, I don’t’ know if I’ll ever marry, and neither do my sisters, and yes, maybe that has something to do with your marriage to Daddy, but don’t keep asking me, I’m not going to give you a new answer.” Mother falls silent, she looks to the other mothers as if to say “See? What did I tell you?” seeking their support. Another mother leans forward, her eyes filled with tears, she gently asks, “May I share something with you?” (addressing the mother and the group). She continues, “Now I know why my daughter doesn’t talk to me, and she would not even come today, she says I’m intrusive, that I don’t listen when she tells me something if I don’t want to hear the answer. It’s painful to observe, but I see my daughter in you (addressing the daughter who just spoke), and I recognize myself in you” (to the mother). She continues and says to the daughter, “May I pretend you’re my daughter?” The daughter said yes as her own mother observed intently. She continues, “I love you so much and I care about you, I know I was in an unhappy marriage and that might have something to do with why you don’t want to marry. I want to share my experiences with you if you want to hear them; I want to be closer to you if you’ll allow it. How can I approach you so that you don’t hurt me out?” The daughter starts to cry and responds, “I want you to ask about my relationship, don’t just harp on the topic of marriage, ask questions and listen to the answer. Do you know that this is the first time you ever asked me what I need instead of telling me?”
This exchange highlights the significance of the group in this process.
At the conclusion of the workshop, we ask the participants to evaluate their experience in writing. For the most part, both mothers and daughters find it relevant, are surprised and gratified by the commonality of issues, and appreciate the openness of the participants. One woman wrote, “I was grateful to have been able to participate. It was an experience more gentle and helpful than I had imagined. The participants were supportive and insightful. My favorite aspect was sitting close to my daughter and being able to hear her.”
The co-leadership of the mother-daughter team adds an additional dimension to the group in that women can see in-vivo how we negotiate and sometimes struggle in our effort to maximize the experience. Inevitably, we differ on issues regarding timing, pacing or breaks. We are both aware of how keenly we are observed. Daughters frequently address their remarks to Ilana, and mothers to Leah.
Although the group may not be aware that we have different theoretical orientations, it is clear that we have different personalities and approaches. Ilana generally teaches new communication strategies and modifies current behavior using a cognitive model, while Leah focuses on the internal subjective experience. Participants have commented on our differences and have praised our cooperation and mutual respect. | {
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Business valuations have been an integral part of business for many years, and will stay an important part of business, as valuations are required for multiple reasons. The majority of businesses in South Africa (and the rest of the world) consist of privately-owned companies. A business valuation in general is a complex exercise that can be described as an inexact science. When the business valuation of a privately-owned company is added to the equation, the level of uncertainty is increased with another notch. The valuations of privately-owned companies are therefore a relevant topic.
As unsystematic risk in privately-owned companies is difficult to eliminate or mitigate by diversification, this study sets the goal to determine if the advisory departments of the big four audit, tax and advisory firms in South Africa (Ernst & Young, PwC, KPMG and Deloitte & Touch) consider and incorporate unsystematic risk into valuations of privately-owned companies and if it is taken into account, whether it is done objectively.
This study firstly focussed on the literature of privately-owned company valuations. The most frequently used approaches are found to be the market approach and the income approach. The asset approach is used to determine the minimum value of a company (the liquidation value). The topic of unsystematic risk is perceived as very much subjective and therefore receptive of manipulation. The second part of the study uses the mixed method approach to collect empirical data, using survey questionnaires and follow-up interviews (which are based on the literature review).
It was found that the preferred valuation approaches used by the participants are indeed the income approach followed by the market approach. It seems that these two approaches are used in conjunction with one another. Incorporating unsystematic risk is done in line with what the literature proposes, but as professional judgement is needed, the process is never entirely objective. Participants tend to agree that the identification and quantification of unsystematic risk are not entirely objective and that it is possible to use unsystematic risk as a device to bring the final results of a valuation in line with the clients‟ objective.
This study recommends that a professional valuation body should be formed to regulate valuations in South Africa. This body should set valuation standards. It is furthermore recommended that the asset approach is used as a reasonableness test when going concern companies are valued, and to consider the use of CAPM variants (e.g. modified CAPM, the local CAPM, the Build-up method etc.) and non-CAPM variants (Estrada model and the EHV model) to determine the cost of equity when the income approach is followed, as is suggested by the literature.
The practical implication of the study is that the research can be used as starting point by role-players in the valuations sector to open the discussion on the topic formally so that valuation practitioners can engage with one another and work towards a professional valuation body and valuation standards.
The limitations of the study are that only top-level employees were used as the representatives of firms and the population only includes the big four audit, advisory and taxation firms. Areas for further research include extending the population to three strata, viz. big four firms, medium-sized firms and small-sized firms. Comparative valuations on a case study can be performed by the different approaches of each stratum using unsystematic risk as the only variable (if themes are identified in strata). Conclusions can be made based on the outcomes of the valuations to determine the impact when different approaches are followed. | {
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Name and Surname: Simone IanelliBorn in: NovaraOn: 25 September 2000Star sign: LibraNationality: ItalianAddress: via Sabbioncelli 10, Cameri, NovaraFavourite country: USA fave city: New YorkFavourite movie: Tre uomini e una gamba (Three Men and a Leg)Favourite TV series: The Big Bang TheoryFavourite food: PizzaSchool – Course attended: Hospitality and Catering Services SchoolFavourite school subject(s): Catering ServicesHobbies/Interests: football, listening musicLanguages you speak: Italian, English, GermanLanguages you would like to speak: very good English and PortugueseVisited places: Croatia, Egypt, MoroccoA place you would like to visit: Barcellona, Athens, Costa Rica, USAFuture projects: Visit the 5 Terre (an area in the North West of Italy)Best friend’s name: LorenzoFamily: my mum’s Alessandra, my dad’s AndreaFavourite quote: /My secret dream: to become a football playerWhy I have joined the Geocaching National Team: Because I want to go Geocaching around Europe | {
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Let Your Light Shine-SC220
Well I am a week late on this as I should be getting the email notice anytime that the new sketch has been posted over at SCS, but I liked this one so I wanted to finish it up anyway. I used my new My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow paper and I love it. This is one of the new High Hopes images, Jenny's Glow Bugs as well as the sentiment and I love them too. Jenny is so cute! I colored everything in with my Copics, added liquid glass to the jar, used my Build-A-Brads for the flower center and the two up at the top and used SU Pastels to sponge in the sky and ground. Both flowers are Primas and the brad centers are just from coordinating Bloom & Grow papers. I really love the colors in the Bloom & Grow papers, love those and think I will definitely be needing more...
Off I scoot to bed. Kirsten has school tomorrow and then is off Friday so we are going to my parents for a visit and to look at flower girl dresses for Kirsten. Both her an Landon will be in my sister's wedding in August, so we are going to try and find her a flower girl dress. She has picked out tons online and is so excited to go, so it should be a great time...just the girls, my sister Kristy, my Mom, Kirsten and myself! Landon is going to hang out with my Dad and go in the hot tub, so I'm sure they'll have just as much fun!!
17 comments:
Your card is beautiful Kelly, I just love the papers and matching brads, gorgeous colouring and love the touch of liquid glass, Have fun looking for flower girl dresses and I hope Kirsten finds one she loves, Big Hugs, Nikki x
About Me
I have a wonderful husband, 2 great children and am fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home-Mom!! In my spare time I love to make all things crafty! Cards, scrapbook pages as well as lotsa fun altered items!! | {
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Hanns Heinz Ewers (0 books)
Hanns Heinz Ewers (3 November 1871 in Düsseldorf – 12 June 1943 in Berlin) was a German actor, poet, philosopher, and writer of short stories and novels. While he wrote on a wide range of subjects, he is now known mainly for his works of horror, particularly his trilogy of novels about the adventures of Frank Braun, a character modeled on himself. The best known of these is Alraune (1911).
Hanns Heinz Ewers (3 November 1871 in Düsseldorf – 12 June 1943 in Berlin) was a German actor, poet, philosopher, and writer of short stories and novels. While he wrote on a wide range of subjects, he is now known mainly for his works of horror, particularly his trilogy of novels about the adventures of Frank Braun, a character modeled on himself. The best known of these is Alraune (1911).
Ewers also published several plays, poems, fairy tales, opera librettos, and critical essays. These included Die Ameisen, translated into English as The Ant People; Indien und ich, a travelogue of his time in India, and a 1916 critical essay on Edgar Allan Poe, to whom he has often been compared. Indeed, Ewers is still considered by some as a major author in the evolution of the horror literary genre, cited as an influence by American horror writers such as H. P. Lovecraft and Guy Endore. Students of the occult are also attracted to his works, due to his longtime friendship and correspondence with Aleister Crowley.
During the last years of the Weimar Republic, Ewers became involved with the burgeoning Nazi Party, attracted to its Nationalism, its alleged Nietzschean moral philosophy, and its cult worship of Teutonic culture, and he joined the NSDAP in 1931. He did not agree with the party's anti-Semitism (his character Frank Braun has a Jewish mistress, Lotte Levi, who is also a patriotic German) and this plus his homosexual tendencies soon ended his popularity with the party management. In 1934 most of his works were banned in Germany, and his assets and property seized. Despite his great influence on 20th century fantasy and horror literature, Ewers remains out of favor in many literary circles (especially in the English-speaking world and Germany) because of his association with the Nazis. As a result, post-World War II editions of his works are often difficult to find, and earlier editions can command a premium price from collectors. | {
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Friday, August 21, 2015
Prag. Day 2. Tea house owners workshop
This is the third and last workshop I performed in Europe this summer. It was also the most difficult one, because the participants were all tea professionals: tea house owners with a staff or partner! For them, tea is more than just pleasure, it's also a business. And it's very tough, because they are facing a broad range of consumers: people who know next to nothing or only cheap, scented tea bags, people who come for the special atmosphere of the tea house, the health benefits obsessed, those who want to learn more about tea... They need to have a tea for each guest and it must be cheap enough to let them earn a living. It's really a challenging job, because their tea drinking population extends much beyond the audience of a specialized tea blog like mine. Everybody might take a break in a tea house one day.
The market for premium teas is so small that it would be easy to overlook it. Most tea houses (and stores) in Europe and America actually prefer not to take the risk of purchasing leaves that cost more than 10 cents per gram according to my experience. But even if there's only a small demand for a high mountain Oolong or a high grade concubine, I feel that it's important for a tea house to have them on its menu. It shows a certain level of understanding and tea passion that can set it apart from other houses. It's like for a restaurant to have fine grands crus classés Bordeaux on their wine list. It shows they are serious and committed to excellence.
With tea, though, it's not enough to have good teas on
your list, you also must know know how to prepare them properly. That's
why I gave these tea house owners/managers a very similar training than
to the tea aficionado in the other 2 workshops. There are lots of principles and techniques that
also apply to lower grade teas. Using good (filtered) water, for
example.
I taught them to pour with a gaiwan without spilling water around the cups (without a pitcher). I also showed that with great tea, you don't need to use so many leaves. A layer on the bottom of the gaiwan is sufficient. This is how a tea house can make premium tea more affordable for its customers. And the skilled pour also demonstrates the fact that tea brewing takes skill and calm.
We had some burned fingers, but also lots of happy faces and many questions. One of the recurring question is why I don't rinse my Oolong leaves. The fast answer is that I love my teas so much that I don't want to waste a drop, especially not the very first flavors that come out, since these are also the lightest!
Rinsing Oolong is done for of different reasons. Let's examine these reasons one by one and see why none stands.
1. "To clean the dry leaves like you would clean a vegetable or fruit before consumption."
The difference is that dry Oolong tea isn't a raw product, because it has been subject to a very high temperature (around 180 degrees Celcius or 350 degrees Fahrenheit) during the kill green process for 8-10 minutes. A lower heat is also later applied to dry (or even roast) the leaves thorougly. This is why most teas, even the most humble tea bag is free of germs and bacterias (and nobody rinses a tea bag, because you'd loose the best flavors after 2 seconds in hot water!)
And for the same reason, nobody is rinsing Japanese green tea. Because the first flavors are the nicest. And why should Taiwan Oolong be less clean than Japanese (or Chinese) green tea?
And how about those Oolongs that have been treated with lots of pesticides and fertilizers? Isn't it better to rinse them? For such leaves, the problems are not limited to the surface of the leaves. The best solution is probably not to drink them at all!
2. "Rinsing is done to prepare the leaves to open up. The quickly rinsed leaves are easier to brew."
The answer is to do a thorough preheating of the tea vessel. A gaiwan or teapot that is preheated with boiling water will enable the proper opening of the Oolong leaves during the first brew. (It's because many people use the rinse to preheat the vessel that they feel it's necessary).
The other problem with the quick rinse is that it pushes all the leaves
to the side from which you make the pour. This puts the leaves in a
skewed position. Since our goal is to let the leaves open up and fill
the gaiwan evenly, it's easier to do so if we start with leaves that lie
evenly at the bottom the gaiwan or the teapot. You may shake
your teapot or gaiwan to move the leaves back in the middle, after a rinse. But this
movement feels unnatural and not harmonious compared with the
alternative of starting to brew with the leaves the way you let them
glide into the vessel.
I demonstrated that it's possible to open even rolled Oolong leaves with just one brew. (This seems a good place to remind you of my Oolong Brewing guide, which summarizes all aspects of my technique. By the way, you get this guide for free with a free 25 gr sample of SiJiChun Oolong if you place a tea order of 60 USD or more on the Tea-Masters.com boutique! )
I feel a distance, a suspicion between us and the tea if we discard the first brew. There need not be any distance with something so extraordinary as good Oolong!
Thanks to all of you to help your customers gain a first access to the world of real teas! I was happy to share my point of view, my technique and my passion for tea with you!
Hi Elisabeth,This kettle is originally for coffee making, but I chose to use it in Prag because, as you rightly noticed, it gives the best control for pouring: speed and also place where the water hits the leaves.I'm glad you find my guide so useful!Have a great weekend, | {
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CREATE YOUR OWN BAT OR BALL
We can create a custom bat or ball for you. If you have an idea, we can probably do it when it comes to wood bats or custom engraved baseballs. Bats are available in a few sizes and can be engraved with almost anything (logos and words). You supply the idea and the budget and we will work out a way to get it done. Due to the nature of the project, you will have to contact us to start the project. Send us an email with any and all photos or phrases you may be interested in using. We look forward to hearing from you. Custom Engraved bats make great to celebrate corporate functions, birthdays, weddings, bachelor parties, bar mitzvahs, births and almost any other occasion. | {
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Hidden Kamakura and Enoshima 1-Day Tour
Details
Hidden Kamakura & Enoshima 1-Day Tour
from$170AUD
Cruise along the beloved ancient cities of Kamakura to visit the famous Great Buddha towering at approximately 13 meters, as well as the historically significant Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Sip on some powdered green tea in a 400-year-old tea house while enjoying the refined, quiet environment with a view of a Japanese Garden. See the symbolic Yokohama Bay Bridge and Tokyo Bay, all from the comfort of a tour bus providing site to site transportation.
REMARKS1, Lunch may be changed to a Japanese-style set meal, but this will not be used as a reason to cancel the tour, and refunds will not be given for this reason. Vegetarian meals are available and must be requested at the time of booking. Requests made on the day of the tour will not be accepted. 2, Buddhist vegetarian cuisine is vegetarian food prepared with ingredients such as vegetables, beans, etc. Therefore, other vegetarian menus are not available on this tour. However, in the case that lunch is changed to a Japanese-style set meal, customers who made a vegetarian meal request when booking will be provided with a vegetarian meal. 3,Allergy-friendly meals, etc. are not available.4,Locations indicated on the itinerary may be changed due to traffic and operation hours. However, the tour will not be cancelled or refunded even in such cases. The following are possible substitutes: Hase Temple, Engaku-ji Temple, Kencho-ji Temple, or Kamakuragu Treasure Hall.5, The order of the itinerary is subject to change depending on operation circumstances of locations to be visited, road conditions, and weather conditions.6. Earphone devices may be provided to make it easier to hear the tour guide if there are over 15 participants.7. A fine of JPY10,000 may be charged if earphones are lost or damaged.8. No pick up service available, disband at Ginza not available.
B: Breakfast | L: Lunch | D: Dinner
Day 1
Tokyo - Kamakura - Tokyo
9:00 a.m.
Depart Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal to visit the following by bus and on foot. *Report at least 10 minutes prior to departure.
Mathca green tea experience at Jomyo-ji TempleHokoku-ji Temple
Lunch
After lunch visiting,Kotoku-in Temple & Great Buddha,View the 13.35 m (44 ft) tall, 121 ton symbol of Kamakura. Unlike the Great Buddha of Nara, this Buddha is placed directly outdoors, and the inside of the actual statue can be accessed from a passage on his back for a small additional fee.Enoshima sightseeing
5:00 - 6:40 p.m.
Arrive at Ginza. Participants may depart the tour here.
5:40 - 6:40 p.m.
Arrive at Shinjuku. Tour concludes upon arrival.
* 2018 departure: no pick up service available, disband at Ginza not available. | {
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Returns and Refunds
We very much hope that you won’t be disappointed with your purchase, but sometimes things just don’t work out. In the rare event that you’re not absolutely in love with your new watch, please complete the following returns checklist in order to qualify for free returns. Please note that we will only refund items that qualify against the terms set out below.
Returns Periods
Any items purchased at our normal full retail price from our website may be returned to us for refund or exchange within 7 days of receipt. Please return faulty goods as soon you become aware of the fault. Please note that we cannot refund returned items unless all elements on the Returns Checklist are confirmed. Please note this refund policy only applies to watches sold via the website, for individual store policies please contact the store directly.
*Any purchases returned after the allocated period will be left to the management's discretion.
Criterion For Refund/Returns Check List
Please see below for details necessary for a refund to be effected – watches, much like jewellery, are personal items & as such, the following must be adhered to for a refund to be applicable:
The watch(es) must be returned in their original packaging
If we have resized the bracelet, please return all links – please note we cannot accept any item resized or adjusted by a third party
Unless explicitly specified, all items are new & without any scratches or marks – an item returned with any visible marks that were not present on dispatch may affect the refund procedure
we take great care over our products & a picture is taken of every item before dispatch to ensure you receive the best possible service.
Please return the item via Royal Mail insured Special Delivery or another suitably secure courier – charge for this return is the responsibility of the buyer.
Prior to return, please let us know as soon as possible that you wish to return an item & we will email you with a Returns Authorisation Number – Kindly contact us via phone on 020 7487 5628 or email at [email protected] to arrange this number. No returns would be accepted without Returns Authorisation Number.
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About Us
Established in 1982, New Cavendish Jewellers is an independent business & now one of Marylebone's oldest and most exclusive retailers. | {
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Catalonia has historically been a place with a flair for business and this has given it a solid and varied economy. In fact, Catalonia can boast more economic diversification than many other areas in Europe, combining traditional industrial sectors with new emerging business areas.
Setting up business in Catalonia is straightforward but it gets even easier if you receive first-hand details on the local steps and procedures. Our success lies in offering a pro-business approach and tailor-made solutions.
Catalonia at TechCrunch 2017
Disrupt SF 2017
Ten select startup companies from Catalonia will be showcased at TechCrunch's Disrupt SF 2017. These companies span across several verticals, including Health, Gaming, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Music Technology, IoT and EdTech. Each one will be represented by their founders at the Catalonia Pavilion at Disrupt SF from September 18th through 20th.
On Tuesday September 19th, we will be hosting our networking private event/ competition Demoday. This will provide a more direct and intimate setting with the ten founders. Additionally, it will be an excellent opportunity to engage the leaders and representatives of Catalonia’s innovation and startup ecosystem amid food and drinks.
Adan medical is a Health startup with the mission to improve the quality of life of patients that suffer from severe allergic reactions that require epinephrine. We have created the first integrated solution for epinephrine and anaphylaxis management with our smart case and connected mobile app.
DefyU is a disruptive social-gaming app that enables sports fans to connect and compete against millions of people globally. Being a `Defier´ takes you on a fully immersive journey through continuous skill challenges and the opportunity to ascend to the different stages of DefyU’s world. Defiers create a virtual team by selecting their favorite professional athletes. Depending on the real statistical performance of the professional athletes, Defiers have a chance at winning awesome prizes and experiences.
Epinium predicts the future of retail by understanding what drives consumers today. Epinium analytics isolate meaningful signals from big data and transforms them into specific actions that drive commercial decision-making. This creates a higher probability of success, quickly, with minimal risk. Our technology based on Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing is offered in SaaS platform.
We are a creative startup that is passionate about music and technology, and finding ways to combine the two. The Oval is our first product; a new electronic instrument designed from the ground-up to revolutionize music creation, learning and live performance. The uniqueness of the Oval is the combination of cutting edge sensor technology, state of the art surface material and a sophisticated easy to use mobile app.
Playmoss is the home of music playlists: A platform and community of music lovers where you can create, discover and listen to dozens of thousands of playlists with music from your favorite sources: YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Vimeo and Bandcamp.
PocketPiano is a real key-sized touch piano mat with the capacity to differentiate touch sensitivity and pressure. The mat is based on a patented modular system that can be folded up and fit into your pocket. The piano connects to smartphones and tablets via cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Roomonitor is an innovative Internet of Things Startup which offers B2B solutions for the Tourism Industry. Roomonitor monitors vacation lodgings through intelligent IoT devices and smart algorithms, all of which are connected on the cloud. We sell Property Manager Services based on these IoT devices to help owners manage operations, reduce costs, ensure a better stay for guests and cross sell to these guests. Through IoT innovation, Roomonitor is changing the relationship between Managers, Properties and Guests.
Submer has created an easy to operate, highly efficient, and eco-friendly computing immersion cooling system for data centers. We have proven to save customers over 90% on cooling costs; our easy to deploy turnkey solution diminishes electricity bills by 45% and reduces the required IT space by 75%.
Telanto is a tech startup that develops and commercializes a cloud solution that matches company challenges to students anywhere in the world. We enable and facilitate digital interactions between academia and businesses with our robust international Academic Business Network. Our Challenge-based education focus offers student a richer learning experience that equips them with skills that are in demand by the industry, while inversely providing corporations with a more practical challenge-based recruiting practice.
Unlimited develops a smart and modular powertrain platform for light vehicles. Our first product, EON, is a modular electric powertrain for skateboards; it can convert any skateboard into a powerful electric commuting machine.
Feel free to contact us for further information
Catalonia Trade & Investment office in Silicon Valley
Are you a US West Coast-based company considering a new investment? Are you interested in investing in Catalonia? Does your business need connections with the Catalan industrial and economic ecosystem?
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia and home of the Mobile World Congress, has a strong and active multidisciplinary startup ecosystem. | {
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Climate change is the most widespread & complex problem humanity has ever faced! There is no time to waste and we need to turn green talk into profound green action. This is the intention of the GREEN TIMES.
Cape Flats home to 22 million birds
The Cape Flats, covered by about 2.7 million hectares of invasive species, including Australian acacias, is also home to about 22 million birds, an MSc student from Stellenbosch University found recently.
Andrew Rogers, a postgraduate student in the Department of Botany and Zoology at SU, endured six months of fieldwork (often starting at sunrise) and a case of tick bite fever to observe, identify and record 5Â 954 individual birds from 76 different species in eight study areas.
Australian acacias are aggressive invasive plants which have taken over nearly 50% of the low-lying areas in the southwestern Cape. Previously, these areas were covered with species typical of the Cape Floristic Region, such as Renosterveld, Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Coastal Strandveld.
Millions of rands are spent every year to contain and control invasive plants in order to protect this region’s unique biodiversity.
Rogers’ study showed, however, that these invasive acacias can indeed form what ecologists call a ‘novel’ ecosystem which supports nearly the same number and diversity of birds as natural indigenous systems in the same area.
On average, Roger found that a typical patch of acacia thickets were used by about 20 different bird species. Further analysis showed that these thickets were dominated by five species: the Karoo Prinia, Cape Robin Chat, Cape White-eye, Cape Canary and Cape Bulbul – all mixed feeders – constituted 63.5% of all observations.
Conspicuously absent, though, were nectar-feeding species usually associated with the Cape Floral Region, such as the Cape Sugarbird, Orange-Breasted Sunbird, Cape Grassbird and Grey-Backed Cisticola.
The results of the study were recently published in the journal Diversity and Distributions.
According to the journal article acacias alter the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and surrounding environment to such an extent that they then outcompete indigenous plant species:
“Indeed, these thickets form habitats with no contemporary indigenous analogue, thus meeting the requirements of a novel ecosystem,” Rogers wrote together with his study leader, Prof Steven Chown at Monash University in Australia.
Conservation value shouldn’t be dismissed
From a cost-benefit perspective novel ecosystems and their significance to biodiversity should be assessed, they argue. These transformed landscapes should not be easily dismissed as having no conservation value because of their non-native status:
“From a bird’s point of view, acacia thickets may provide an important habitat for some species, although not for some key species,” Rogers concludes.
Andrew Rogers, an MSc-graduate from the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University, is currently in the United States doing research on the impact of power lines on migratory birds in the Desert Southwest. | {
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2 Day Uganda Adventure Vacation Lake Mburo Wildlife safari
2 Day Uganda Adventure Vacation Lake Mburo Wildlife safari
Overview:
Lake Mburo located in the traditional range lands of the Bahima pastoralists is known for its rolling savannah combretum dotted with range of acacia tree species that supports the highest populations of Impala in Uganda. Additionally, it is one of the few places (protected areas) in Uganda where Burchell’s Zebra can be spotted. The protected area is characterized by five lakes of which Lake Mburo where the park derives its name is fully enclosed with in the park boundaries. Located in the south west of Uganda, the drive to Lake Mburo exposes you to lush country side shaped by the livelihood activities particularly farming that has supported the lives of the local people for centuries past. The safari tour will take you 2 days starting and ending in Kampala but with the opportunity to see zebras, wart hogs, topi, Impala, waterbuck, eland and a range of birds including the grey crowned crane.
Safari Highlight:
Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & do boat cruise
Day 2: Do morning game drive & transfer to Kampala.
Description:
Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & do boat cruise
Transfer from Kampala after breakfast from your place of stay as early as 6am heading to the south west of Uganda. You will drive 240km about 3 – 4 hours to Lake Mburo National Park. The sights of the farmed landscapes and small towns along the route will give you a taste of the country side before getting mesmerized by the rangelands of Ankole that surround Lake Mburo National Park where Ankole Long-horned cattle are seen grazing alongside wildlife particularly the Impala and the zebra. On this journey, you will stop at equator crossing Kayabwe for photo shooting and amazing water experiments to justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres. You will proceed to arrive in Lake Mburo National Park early for lunch after which you will embark on the 2 hour afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo. The boat cruise on the calm waters of the Lake Mburo exposes you to an extensive wetland system that eventually adjoins the greater Lake Victoria basin. The sights of Hippos and lake shore birds like African fish eagle will give you a taste of eco-system harmony that still thrive in Africa. Retire to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Mihingo Safari lodge (Upmarket/luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).
Day 2: Do morning game drive & transfer to Kampala.
Wake up for a morning game drive departing at 6am where you will drive through the park tracks in search of zebras, topis, Impala, buffaloes, eland, waterbuck, and warthog, among other species. The savannah landscapes with acacia woodland dotted with ancient Precambrian rocks offers you great scenic encounters. You will settle down for relaxation and lunch after which you embark on the return journey to Kampala arriving in the evening.
Drive distance: 240km Drive time: 3 – 4 hours. | {
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21 Gluten-free Dairy-free Healthy Snack Ideas From The Store
After a couple weeks where my toddler barely wanted to leave the house due to the cold weather, we finally got out for our first hike with friends in a couple weeks. I was so jazzed to meet up with some other mom friends and get some good socializing in. As I was pulling into the parking lot (a whole 10 minutes early!), I saw the whole hiking group taking off. Apparently I had read the meetup time wrong in our Facebook group and showed up almost 30 minutes late! Womp womp.
Luckily, I had been to this trail a few times and it was a short and sweet walk. I hiked in with my son on my back (I love our current carrier – but have my eyes on this toddler-sized one next) and met up with everyone almost right before we decided to turn back. We had a great time, but once we got to back to the trailhead, my son wasn’t ready to go home. So we turned around and did the whole thing again on our own!
(Here’s a sweet candid photo a friend took of us at this same trail a few months ago when I carried him on my front!)
I’ve been hiking with my son now since he was about 10 months old. I love the time we have together out on the trails. But one of the big things I noticed was that our time outside started shrinking and shrinking as he got older and snacking more. That toddler hunger is no joke.
It wasn’t until another mom friend recommended that I start carrying snacks to get a little more time in that I was able to relax more and enjoy our hikes together. I could stretch our half-hour walks into over an hour by handing him back snacks when he asks for them (… and of course letting him down to explore when he wants to stretch his legs).
Being prepared with snacks has proven to be the easiest way to keep him up on my back – so I actually get some mileage and exercise in instead of just following him around (which is fun too – but not always what I’m after). Not only does it keep him occupied, but it keeps him from melting down from hunger before we get back to the car.
I’ve learned that keeping snacks around – not just for my son – but also for myself is the difference between keeping up with my GFDF diet and lifestyle, finding something that won’t make me feel great later, or going hungry until I can get home.
I’ve also heard from a lot of you that you are looking for some easy and quick-fix snacks that are gluten-free and dairy-free too. So I wanted to round up a few healthy and super easy snack ideas that you can integrate into your life right away.
When I started working on this post, I had a full list of snack ideas – but then I realized that while some are quick and homemade, others are straight from the grocery store – and even easier if you have busy lives and hectic schedules. I know I rely on the store quite a bit for snacks around our house.
With that in mind, here is a handy list of 21 snack ideas that are not only gluten-free and dairy-free, but are healthy AND store-bought.
3. Raw or roasted nuts or seeds
I love these, because they’re so convenient. No need for a knife or a giant jar to get your peanut butter fix. You can enjoy the pouch plain, spread the nut better on some crackers or eat with some fruit for a healthy snack in between meals. Here’s another chocolate option (yum!!).
These are great, because they’re individually wrapped so they keep in your purse or car forever. You don’t have to worry about a big mess, plus the variety pack is nice when you get sick of eating the same old snacks.
This isn’t exactly an “on the go” snack, but if you plan ahead, you could pop some and keep it handy for going to the movies. Or to keep in your desk for popping during a quick work break. This is my favorite brand.
7. Olives or pickles
You can easily find olives or pickles in just about any grocery store. They’re a good healthy and salty bite when you’re in the mood for something crunchy.
These are some of my favorite snack mixes. Fruit, nuts and spices all mixed into one tasty snack. I love the convenient size to stash away in your bag or take on the go wherever you are. You can even find these at Costco sometimes!
These apple chips are divine. I consider them a bit of a splurge since they aren’t exactly inexpensive, but they’re really yummy to take on the go. And when I get a sweet craving, they’re a good option.
16. Sugar snap peas
Simple and easy to find – sugar snap peas can be found in pre-washed bags or fresh from the produce department. Eat them on their own or with a little hummus.
I’ve tried a number of Purely Elizabeth granola flavors and I have loved every single one. This is a great snack idea to stash in your car or divide into smaller portions and throw in your bag to snack while out and about.
Larabars are one of my go-to snacks for carrying around in my purse and car. My favorites are the peanut butter chocolate and blueberry muffin varieties. Give this variety pack a try and find your favorite flavors!
KIND Bars are my go-to granola bar. With super yummy flavor options, these are a huge upgrade from my old-school Chewy bars that I used to eat. Not all KIND Bars are dairy-free so be sure to choose a flavor without chocolate or yogurt ingredients!
Not exactly sexy, rice cakes are a great healthy snack option – especially when combined with peanut butter or almond butter. When you have a craving for something crunchy, it’s a much healthier choice than chips or something from a vending machine.
I consider these one of my son’s snacks, as I usually buy them for him… but I’ve been known to enjoy these once in a while too. Applesauce in a pouch seems ludicrous – but it’s beyond convenient for snacking on the go. I always keep a stash of these in my house and in a bag in the trunk of my car for those desperate moments when we need to eat something before we make it home.
You can see that some of these snack ideas are great for packing in a car or in your purse, while others are better to keep in your fridge for right before you want to eat them. Either way – there’s more than enough healthy snack options that you can get straight from the grocery store without having to do any extra work.
We try to keep Larabars, KIND bars, and applesauce pouches in the trunk of our car for anytime snacks if we’re out of the house. Bonus points for these three since they easily fit in my pockets while hiking! Honestly, it makes the world of difference just simply being prepared for healthy snacking than having nothing ready for you when you need it.
>> GFDF Buying Tip: I buy all three of these: Larabars, KIND bars, and applesauce pouches through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save service every month so I never have to check if we need any at the store – they show up automatically on our doorstep!
I hope if you’ve been on the hunt for some healthy gluten-free and dairy-free store bought snack ideas, that this list has been useful for you!
1 Comment
Great ideas! It is so hard to make sure there are enough snacks on hand for both my daughter and I. It is great to read about another person who has similar food needs as I do. It really can get so complicated sometimes. | {
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When all is said and done, the sale of the Canadian forward’s contract could be worth well north of $20 million, according to a league source. The initial transfer fee of $13.4 million smashes MLS’s previous transfer record of $10 million set when Jozy Altidore moved from the New York Red Bulls to Spanish club Villarreal a decade ago. It could increase to almost $22 million depending on Davies’ performance in the Bundesliga. A sell-on clause in the agreement could push the final return even higher, the source said.
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Davies, 17, will remain with the Whitecaps until the end of the MLS season. He’ll formally join Bayern when the transfer window for European teams opens on Jan. 1, about two months after his 18th birthday, meaning Davies will be eligible to play for the German champions upon his arrival.
Bayern beat out several other top-end clubs to Davies’ signature. But the deal is an even bigger coup for Vancouver and MLS.
The Whitecaps began scouting Davies in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta more than four years ago. Their persistence finally convinced the player’s family – refugees from war-torn Liberia who moved to Canada when Davies was 5 – to enroll Davies in the club’s residency academy. Head coach Carl Robinson promoted him to the first team at 15.
Playing for Canada’s senior national team last year, his first as a full-time professional, he led the CONCACAF Gold Cup in scoring. This year he’s been the Whitecaps’ best player, and one of the most electrifying talents in MLS.
“When he broke into the team, people said he wasn’t ready, he wasn’t good enough, what are you doing, he’s only 15,” Robinson told Yahoo in a recent interview. “The reason he’s played such a big role this year is because of the development he’s had over 18 months, because of the way we’ve nurtured him.”
The result is the biggest development success story in MLS’s 22-year history. It comes at an important time for a number of reasons.
MLS has invested heavily in youth development over the last decade. Each of the league’s 23 teams is required to offer a no-cost academy program for aspiring professionals, like most European and South American clubs do, and these talent mills have slowly begun to graduate young players who can be difference-makers in MLS and elsewhere. Vancouver’s setup is one of the league’s best.
Davies is now the program’s poster child, an example of how the system is supposed to work. He started out as an academy player, then signed a professional contract with Vancouver’s lower-division United Soccer League side the following year. He soon played his way into the Whitecaps first team. Once he got there, he was painstakingly brought along by Robinson, who toggled Davies back and forth between the senior and USL team, even sending him back to his peers in the academy when he sensed the youngster needed a break from the grind of being a full-time athlete. All the while he lived with the same billet family in Vancouver, providing the youngster with another layer of stability.
Now he’s off to one of the best teams in the world for a king’s ransom. And thanks to a rule change introduced last winter that’s designed to incentivize even more investment into youth development, the Whitecaps will keep every cent of the record haul rather than having to share a portion of it with the league office. A significant chunk of that cash figures to funnel back into the academy program that helped produce Davies in the first place. The hope is that this virtuous cycle continues in Vancouver, and that other MLS teams take notice of the profit potential that exists when the proper steps are taken.
The impact of Davies’ move can’t be overstated after FC Dallas watched Weston McKennie, who spent seven years in FCD’s academy, turn down a contract offer in 2016 and sign with Germany’s Schalke instead, denying them any compensation for his training. MLS commissioner Don Garber rued the trend in a recent interview.
“Many young players are leaving the United States from our academy programs because they think it’s more competitive over there,” Garber told Yahoo last month. “We need to create the most competitive environment possible to ensure that every player earns his spot in the first team.”
Davies was forced to earn everything he got in Vancouver, and it was no accident. Those lessons will serve him well in Munich, where he’s hoping to make an impact right away. Any success he has there will reflect well on the league, while Vancouver, which has never won a playoff game in seven MLS seasons, gets rewarded handsomely for having the discipline not to exploit their young starlet and bring Davies along at exactly the right pace.
They even get to keep him for a farewell tour, selling a few extra tickets along the way, and creating a roadmap for every other MLS team in the process. | {
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Cut AnalysisThe news about Billy Cundiff came out yesterday and has already been discussed. After the game against the Jaguars this seemed like a strong reality. Newton is known as the older brother of Cam Newton but nothing else. The only other player on this list that had a real shot at making the roster was TE Davon Drew who was drafted in the 5th round in 2009. With Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta out he had a chance but the Ravens instead signed Billy Bajema and gave him all the opportunities.
Injured Reserve AnalysisBaggs was only signed a few weeks ago and never really played for the Ravens. His injury is an unknown so he will be a strong candidate for an injury settlement. Blackstock was also signed a few weeks and never played either due to his ankle injury. Blackstock is also a injury settlement option as he won’t be in the long term plans of the Ravens and probably isn’t injured to seriously. It is no surprise that Cook and McBean are on injured reserve as Cook broke his leg and McBean broke his ankle. These are two injuries that take a while to recover from. Both players were expected to make the roster, Cook as a special teamer and McBean as depth on the defensive line.
Physically Unable to Preform List AnalysisBeing placed on the PUP list means the player can start practicing starting in week 6. After this they have 3 weeks to be placed on the active roster, injured reserve or be waived. No surprises here as the earliest Suggs will come back is November which is well after week 6. The Ravens will likely place Suggs on the active roster after the 3 weeks and he will just be listed as out on the injury report until he is ready to play. David Reed tore his ACL in December of last year and due to this he hasn’t been able to practice yet. If Reed was healthy I don’t think he would make the roster over Deonte Thompson and Tommy Streeter. Therefor, Reed will probably be placed on IR or just released after week 6.
Fanspeak.com was created by Steve and Megan Shoup, a brother and sister who are fanatical sports fans. They decided to take fate into their own hands and start a business venture revolving around their passion. They partnered with Digital Ink and developer Jason Unger, and the rest is history. | {
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Groups Predict Disastrous Merger Effects
Consumer advocacy groups tell the FCC that the proposed telecom mergers could slow broadband, among other things.
A coalition of consumer groups says the proposed mergers between Verizon and
MCI and SBC and AT&T will widen the digital divide and slow the rollout of
broadband.
In an opposition filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
today, the groups said the two mergers represent a "double dose of
anti-competitive chutzpah that spells disaster for consumers."
"The culprit for the digital divide is not population density or spendthrift
government subsidies; rather it is the lack of competition and the abuse of
vertical market power," the groups wrote in their FCC filing opposing the
mergers.
Last week, the Ashburn-Va.-based MCI accepted
an $8.4 billion merger offer with Verizon just months after
SBC announced a $16 billion takeover
of AT&T . With stockholder approval for both deals, the
transactions now move to Washington for antitrust review.
The filing notes that Verizon is the dominant local exchange carrier in its
home territory in addition to being the No. 1 long-distance carrier and
wireless service provider in most of its markets. MCI is the No. 1 or
No. 2 competitive local exchange carrier in most of Verizon's service
territory.
"The proposed Verizon-MCI merger pending before the FCC will have profoundly
anti-competitive effects across the full range of product and geographic
markets touched by the merging parties," Mark Cooper, the Consumer Federation of America's (CFA) director of research, said in a statement.
Gene Kimmelman, the Consumers Union's senior director of public policy,
added, "If not rejected or dramatically altered, these mergers could set
the marketplace back to a world more akin to deregulated monopoly than
competition."
According to the filing, SBC and Verizon currently control 80 percent of the
market in their regions.
"By buying up their largest competitors and eliminating the last vestige of
competition, the market shares of these two behemoths in their regions
will likely exceed 90 percent in the residential sector," the filing states.
Ed Mierzwinski, program director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group
(U.S. PIRG), noted the irony of MCI, a pioneer competitor to the Baby Bells,
being swallowed up by Verizon.
"MCI played a key 'maverick' role in the industry for decades. Not only did
it break open the long-distance monopoly for residential customers, but it
also pioneered local competition," Mierzwinski said. "Because of MCI's
competitive leadership, incumbents and competitors are now able to offer a
uniform package across a large number of markets. Should it merge with
Verizon, these competition-enhancing, price-lowering elements will
disappear."
Two of the elements likely to disappear with a merger, the group claims, are
Internet and interstate IP backbone traffic.
"Specifically, AT&T and MCI are large providers of Internet and interstate
transport. As independent companies, their interest is in maximizing
traffic," the filing states. "SBC and Verizon are large purchasers of
Internet and interstate backbone services. As unaffiliated buyers, they make
up a large portion of the market."
From a competition standpoint, the groups claim, "It is important to keep
SBC and Verizon, which need the Internet and interstate backbone services as
inputs, separate from AT&T and MCI, which provide this critical input."
With a merger, "SBC's and Verizon's competitors will have difficulty gaining
this input and are more likely to go out of business." | {
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“The Will-O’-the-Wisp is in the Town,” Says the Moor Woman
“The Will-O’-the-Wisp is in the Town,” Says the Moor Woman
A man had once known many stories, but he couldn’t quite remember them now. The man knew that the story never died, but he hadn’t seen it in a while. It came in various forms, very unexpected at times.
The man decided to go out and search for story. He went to a manor house out in the country. There were things to see there, but the man had yet to find story. An old moor woman was there at her brewing. She knew what he was after and she knew he had four-leaf clovers in his pocket. The woman was strange and told him she would be back, for she always kept her word to someone who had a six leaf clover in his pocket; the man had one of those as well. She disappeared and so did the moor she had been on and the man found himself out in the yard.
She had asked him, “Didn’t he have stories enough?” Children weren’t interested in stories these days. Give a little boy a cigar and he would be much happier with that. The old woman had told him to come to the moor.
The man did and the woman chided him for being so slow about it. Witches move faster than men. She told him stories and poetry were cut from the same clothe. She had poetry in bottles, more than the man could ever wish for. She told him she had an entire chest full of poetry in bottles. It looked like an alder stump out on the moor.
The woman said poetry in bottles was all very well, but she had something important to tell him, “The Will-O’-the-Wisps were in the town.” Each year they were born, this year there had been twelve. She had seen them and even held them in her lap. Will-O’-the-Wisps grew quickly. At a particular hour, as they had been born in a favorable hour, they were allowed to go out amongst the people and have them do as they would please. They could control a person. They could cause physical effects to happen. In return, the wisps must lead astray three-hundred and sixty-five people in some manner by the year’s end.
Some wisps tried to tell the new wisps to stay at home and be safe, but others encouraged the new wisps to go out into the world and play with the people. It was decided the wisps would go out into the world. There was a ball a minute long and the wisps were given presents to help them along their way. They could move through keyholes and imitate the sound of a crow, among others.
The man asked the woman how he might know a wisp out in town–a wisp could take many forms, a politician that spoke of parliament not for the good of the people, but for himself or someone who goes to church, but not for the sake of the service.
The woman said that by telling the man the story would get out in town and people could be aware, but the man said no one would believe him if he said, “The Will-O’-the-Wisps are in the town, says the Moor woman. Take care of yourselves!”
Observations
Will-O’the-Wisps are around in many cultures and no one has a concrete explanation for them, even after all these years. Basically, they’re explainable lights you see out in nature, usually over moorland or swampland. One explanation is that wisps are ignited swamp gases. Not as many people claim to see them today.
Here’s the thing about this–my great-grandmother, as a little girl in Georgia/Arizona saw something like this. Balls of light that rolled along beside the wagon wheels. They didn’t stay in one place, as swamp gas would, they rolled around. How in the world do you explain that? Balls of light don’t just go roaming the Earth. That whole gas explanation just isn’t going to cut it, unless someone can come up with a way that gas would seemingly develop sentience and move around by itself.
The idea is that people were drawn to these lights, almost always in dangerous places, and they met their deaths. If you see a light in the middle of the night and you’re out in nature, you’re going to want to investigate; you’re just too curious not to.
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien writes about a similar thing; I’m speaking of the dead marshes in the books. The dead who were in the water would light their flames and draw others to their deaths.
Themes
There are multiple ideas in this story–stories never die, old ladies are mysterious, and so on, but the one we should talk about is how the wisps disguise themselves among people. They’re the politicians who say they’re for the people, but they’re not. They’re the people who go to church just for show. He’s the person who brags about their abilities but never delivers. Essentially, the woman is saying that wisps are hypocrites. Although it would be comforting to write hypocritical people off as wisps instead of people, we know they really are just hypocrites.
A wisps purpose is to deceive people and to lead them astray. If a wisp could go into a person and cause them to be hypocritical, they could lead away that person, but maybe also more. Let’s say we’re talking about the politician–the politician could advise the people, in his hypocritical way, to do things that would lead them astray, just as the wisp intended, but a politician could reach a wide audience. The wisp could lead away its yearly quota and then some by disguising themselves as a politician. It would likewise be the same if the wisp became a preacher.
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I always said my dream job would be to get paid for sitting in a corner and drawing all day long. Now, I have to ammend that idea of my dream job. I think I would like to sit in a corner and be able to get paid for drawing and writing.
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McCarthy reveals magic of title bid
Mick McCarthy has revealed the bizarre lengths Sunderland fans have gone to in an attempt to aid the club's Premiership passage and vowed to do his utmost to ease the tension gripping Wearside this afternoon.
Mick McCarthy has revealed the bizarre lengths Sunderland fans have gone to in an attempt to aid the club's Premiership passage and vowed to do his utmost to ease the tension gripping Wearside this afternoon.
The Black Cats will be promoted should they beat Leicester and Ipswich fail to take three points at Leeds but, with so much at stake, McCarthy expects an anxious occasion at the Stadium of Light.
With more than 30,000 tickets having been sold by yesterday lunchtime - and thousands more expected to be snapped up in the approach to one of the most-important fixtures in the club's recent history - McCarthy has told supporters they will have a key role to play in helping the Coca-Cola Championship leaders achieve the result they require.
And having experienced at first hand one of the more unusual good luck rituals designed to help the Wearside cause, the Sunderland boss is keen not to prolong the suffering of the red-and-white ranks.
"I played golf for the SAFC Foundation (the club's charity arm) this week with a lovely old chap," explained McCarthy, of a touching afternoon spent at Ramside Hall with life-long Black Cats supporter George Wheatley at the start of this week.
"He was a really nice chap. We had not been talking about football but, at the end of the round, he said `Good luck' and told me that he will be getting his bones out and putting them in circles and squares and chanting and all sorts of stuff like that.
"I thought it was really nice. I know all that the fans have their rituals, and I find it interesting. I just hope we can do it for George and stop him from having to get his worry beads and his bones out again."
Voodoo-style rituals are hardly commonplace on Wearside but McCarthy knows that all with the club close to their hearts will be praying for a decisive result which will spare them another two weeks of uncertainty. "I hope for all our sakes that we can do it," he said. "There's anxiety and there's excitement around the place and we are having to try and temper everyone's feelings.
"It's going to be tense and the players need the supporters behind them, not getting too anxious, because we are a lot better with their support.
"It will be a real test because the anticipation of the crowd at the Stadium of Light is massive and it adds to the pressure. The nerves aren't as great away from home but we just have to handle it."
McCarthy's efforts should be aided by the presence of George McCartney and Gary Breen, both of whom are expected to shake off their respective hamstring problems, while Thomas Myhre will undergo a late fitness test on the back problem which prevented him from playing at Ipswich last weekend.
With just two games remaining after this weekend, Sunderland are keen to clinch promotion ahead of next week's difficult trip to West Ham. And, although events at Elland Road could determine whether or not that is possible this afternoon, the Black Cats manager has told his players to retain full focus on the job in hand.
"There's no point worrying about anyone else, we have just got to take care of our own business," he said. | {
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However, I do remember Obama saying on live national television in a debate with John McCain that he would in fact sit down and talk to
Mahmoud.
I remember. He said that and then McCain went on a rant as to how it was a bad idea and how could anyone want a president that would do such dangerous
things.
Obama said he would talk to Amadinejad. So basically if he were to refuse he would not only be proving his cowardice but also breaking yet another
promise to the American people. (albeit a dumb promise, but a promise nonetheless)
If this does in fact take place then you will find me on my couch with a massive mountain of popcorn.
Sorry to burst everyone's bubbles. I have been holding out on commenting too much in this thread, but a public debate is a bad idea.
As much as we would love to know exactly what is being said, the second something goes public it is turned into a PR event. Obama would have to
tailor his words to fit in with the November elections. Ahmadinejad would have to pick his words to appease the hardliner crowd in Iran.
I think that we could all agree that in any real talks we would like to see some actual progress being made. Furthermore, the US simply has much more
to lose than to gain from public debates. The US is a superpower as far as the modern world is concerned. With that being said, the US inevitably
has more issues that are going to be up for discussion. It would be impossible for Obama to prepare a defense for everything that could be brought
up. That's just the simple truth.
Another truth is that this challenge to a debate hardly made it to the front page of US news sites. Nobody cares. You guys are free to say that if
Obama dose not accept this debate than you will think hes is a "(insert negative comment)." Think what you want, everybody including Ahmadinejad
knew that this debate was never going to happen. As far as I am concerned, Ahmadinejad made this challenge as a PR event to get into a few headlines.
but during a live debate between 2 peoples ...
no answers can be arranged/scripted
only the questions
while in a sense this is true, they would spend hours coming up with answers for any hypothetical questions that would be asked, and a team of people
would be there to ensure that they had the answers they wanted to use, on hand, when they were needed
Originally posted by Yagerbombs
I hate Obama, but this numb # from Iran is a douche bag!
Iran is the problem.. (srs)
Their theocratic government is the problem.
fortunately, the youth of that crappy nation are starting to rise up. hopefully they can take it back from the religious ideologists!
they both are douchbag
but Amhadinejad is a better leader for his country interests
Obama is a pussy ..
i had hope in the guy ... now he only disgust me
but he did approve the mosque in NYC
a little glimpse of hope ??? nah he need to prove it more
Originally posted by Ben81
Obama is a pussy ..
i had hope in the guy ... now he only disgust me but he did approve the mosque in NYC
a little glimpse of hope ??? nah he need to prove it more
I've just posted information about the mosque on another thread but I think it's important enough to repeat it here as you've brought it up.
Tony Cartalucci's article The "Ground Zero Mosque:" Why you
should really be angry provides an in-depth report on the funding sources for the mosque that will be known officially as Cordoba House. He
makes it clear that the mosque is being funded and built by the very people who profited from the destruction of the WTC. The clear conclusion based
on the supporters and the timing is that this project will serve the elite's agenda to refocus Americans on the "shock and awe" of 9/11 and the
"threat" of Islam in the runup to the elections, as well as the buildup to new wars in Iran, North Korea, Yemen, Somalia, etc.
Feisal Abdul Rauf's membership in the CFR along with the various globalist foundations funding the ASMA and Cordoba Initiative point to the
building of the Cordoba House as a deliberate and provocative move by the globalist elite to create more fear, anger, and hatred towards Muslims while
expanding the manufactured "clash of civilizations."
Angry Americans will continue viewing Islam as an irrational, omnipresent enemy constantly menacing them. They will continue to believe that
war and the erosion of their own natural rights are the only answers to this manufactured crisis. In reality the global elite that compose the CFR are
consolidating their control over humanity. They realize the effect of 9/11 on America's psyche is fading and they sincerely hope that by building the
provocative Cordoba House, emotions and ignorance will rule the day and their wars and crimes will carry on in earnest, completely justified in the
minds of the witless masses.
Many of these corporations have made trillions of dollars from the Iraq and Afghan wars, some even played integral parts in calling for the
wars. Two of which, Veritas' DynCorp and KBR are in the top ten list of corporations profiting from the war in Iraq.
If the public can be played right, they all stand to make trillions more with an invasion of Iran, the subsequent rebuilding of its shattered
infrastructure and the seizure of their southern oil fields. The Bill of Rights being repealed in the wake of this "war on terror" and justified
with this continued "clash of civilizations" has enabled the various bankers on the above list to loot America and Europe with impunity and
neutralize those who rise up in protest as "domestic terrorists."
Tony's message needs to be widely distributed. As one commentator mentioned on another forum, the public need to welcome this mosque with open arms.
Recognise who's funding it and why and defeat them in this particular battle.
i had a feeling something was fishy about this mosque ...
i approve it but dont approve the dark reasons behind it
did they allow this mosque to be build so it can be destroyed by the same people who brought down the WTC towers ...
it will be accused on Iran and there you have it
another new illegal wars on their way
9/11 was just the start to make bases around the main enemy ..--> Iran
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Why Are My Photos So Dull?
When making the transition from film to digital photography, you may miss the vibrance and color depth that film was known for. Here's how to get it in your digital photos!
I first became interested in photography as a hobby during the years when the industry was making the slow and awkward transition from film to digital. Like many serious hobbyists, I at first resisted switching from film to digital cameras, even though digital was clearly a more efficient solution. I wanted to like digital. However, I found it to be missing something that film often delivered in spades: personality!
Film had personality. Each film brand and type had its own way of rendering color. Digital cameras strive for measurably accurate colors. Film, on the other hand, was anything but accurate. Film emulsions would emphasize certain colors, it would darken shadows dramatically, boost warmth and in other ways alter the look of what you photographed. When the eye becomes used to the way that film alters the look of photographs, digital can seem so dull by comparison.
Kodachrome Film Image, Steve Curry, National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Magazine owed much of its visual appeal for decades to the legendary color virtues of Kodachrome film. Starting in 1937, its photographers first began using Kodachrome. Kodachrome film became synonymous with the National Geographic ‘look’. The “iridescence” of (Kodachrome) color was “just something that color photographers had never dreamed of,” stated lab technician B. Anthony Stewart in the book The National Geographic Society: 100 Years of Adventure and Discovery.
Tulips, Kodak UltraColor 400 35mm Negative Film scan
As a film photographer, you did not need to think much about the look of your images. The film you choose determined that. Here’s an example: The photo of tulips shown above was shot on Kodak UltraColor 400, a negative film that had a short lifespan in the final days before the takeover by digital cameras. The colors are punchy, dramatic, larger than life and pleasing to the eye. I did not have to process the photo in any way to achieve those colors. That is how my film interpreted the scene.
Why Your Digital Camera Photos Are So Dull
With digital cameras, it’s much like ordering broiled fish in a restaurant. An unprocessed digital photo is like the broiled fish before you add any seasoning or condiments. Once you add a bit of lemon juice, pepper, salt or other seasonings, it becomes a tasty meal. Digital images straight from the camera have little or no visual ‘seasoning’. Film images always came pre-seasoned. To transform your digital images you need to add some digital “seasoning” to make it suit your visual tastes.
Before & After Digital Image Processing
The image shown above shows a digital photo straight from the camera (before) and the same image after my personal blend of ‘digital seasoning’ was applied. The processed image looks warmer and more vibrant and reflects the emotional impact this scene had one me when I photographed it. Which looks more appealing to you?
So, how do you make your digital images go from dull to wow?
For a beginner, there are some software solutions that can prove invaluable for this. If you are serious about photography, chances are that you have a Photoshop/Lightroom Creative Cloud subscription. That is the best single investment ($10 per month) you can make as a new photographer. These tools provide a solid basis for learning digital post-processing (processing your images after they are shot). However, they do provide a somewhat daunting learning curve to master.
But let me give you a delicious shortcut! The Google Nik collection is a set of Photoshop/Lightroom plugins that are optimized to give your images an artistic look. In fact, I use the Google Nik Viveza plugin to adjust the contrast, saturation, and brightness of nearly every image I create. It is simple to use and produces color enhancements that are more pleasing than a beginner could ever achieve using Photoshop and Lightroom without advanced skills. Many people have asked how I have achieved the beautiful color in my photos. The Google Nik plugins are my secret. And, best of all, they are free!
The download and installation process for Google Nik plugins is straightforward and simple. They are easy to use and give you a wide range of professional looking digital ‘seasonings’ that will allow you to tweak and adjust the mood and color of your images, injecting the emotion and drama that digital images leave out. You will get the best results by choosing to shoot digital raw files (not jpg) with your camera to preserve the greatest amount of detail before processing. All DSLR and mirrorless camera will shoot in raw mode.
Update: DxO has purchased Nik Collection from Google and will be incorporating the plugin technology into its image editing softaware products. For the time being they are still offering the plugins as a free download, but that can change at anytime. Here is the download page for DxO Nik Collection plugins.
Update II: DxO now charges $69.00 for the Nik Collection plugins and will be updating them to be compatible with future versions of Photoshop.
Like learning to cook, learning how to digitally season your images improves with time and experience. With a bit of time and practice, you will soon be creating tasty digital images that pop with color and drama! | {
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Messages - Considering_Law
**Note: Most of this is either out of my ass or just from what I've read on the board, so what do I know?
This is hard to figure out because you're a non-trad: having been out of school for a few years and now being a parent. As well, law schools are very concerned about their numbers, but since you'd be applying to PT programs, your numbers don't go into calculating their numbers, so they can be a little more forgiving of a lower GPA or a lower LSAT score.
That said, Fordham is still the middle of Tier 1, so I think you're still going to need to pull out a strong LSAT score to compensate for your GPA, 160+ (I imagine), to convince them that you can do the work. But, again, who can say what your non-trad "soft factors" will do for you? Re: Rutgers Newark and Seton Hall, a 160 seems to be almost a lock for the first and a definite lock for the second with your GPA, but, again you have these other factors as well as your scores not affecting their numbers, so maybe even being below their 25th %iles (155 and 153, respectively) wouldn't hurt too badly, either.
So, I say, if you put together a solid application with a good PS and strong, supporting LORs, then a 158 is probably the lowest you can score and stand a good shot at getting into Rutgers and Seton. I would argue that slightly lower than 158 might not get in your way, but then you really can't be certain of anything (but when can you ever be certain, really?).
I recommend asking this question on the non-trad board here and see if anyone there has similar GPA and LSAT potential or circumstances. They would definitely know better.
Thanks a lot for the advice, I'm gonna post this on the non-trad board in hopes of getting some more replies
Hi everyone, I'm new to the board and was wondering if you all could give me some suggestions. I'm currently considering law school and had some questions.
1) I've been out of school for 4 years, I've spent that time 2 years being a stay at home mom and the past 2 years working. I could use my current supervisor for one LOR but don't know who else to use. I'm not sure if my teachers will remember me at this point.
2) MY UGPA is 3.25, I started off great (honor's society), went through a rough time toward the middle and ended up slowly picking it up. What would I need to get on the LSAT to get into either Rutger's-Newark (could literally walk there from my job), Seton Hall (would have to take the bus but is still doable), or Fordham (not near enough for me but would afford me a greater chance of employment upon graduation)Now, I only have an interest in working in NJ and would probably go into being a Law Guardian, would either Rutger's Newark or Seton Hall afford me the same probability of working in this field in NJ as Fordham (which is more into corporate law)
3)I would need to work full-time and go to school part-time since I have a young (kindergarten age child). All of the above schools have part time programs. | {
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Shetland Crofthouse Holiday
Welcome!
Our pics
South House sleeps a maximum of six people
Welcome to Southhouse, and we hope you enjoy your time in Shetland . We're here to help in any way we can.
Southhouse is a quirky Shetland Croft house which sits on the southern shores of Ronas Voe, 50 yards from a beach and ruins. There are fabulous views over Ronas Hill
Previously Scottish Tourist Board 3 stars.
Getting there
The nearest airport is at Sumburgh, about 65 miles away. Planes come in here from Orkney/Edinburgh/Glasgow and Aberdeen. British Airways from London and Flybe from Scottish Airports and a summer service from Norway.Hire car is fairly essential. Bolts and Star rentacar locally.There are buses form the airport to Lerwick where there are two buses a day to Northmavine stopping about 2 miles from the house.There is also a ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick daily ,13- 14 hours provided by Northlink Ferries
Prices for South House and the Seabarn in 2017:
£70 per night for up to four guests. Each additional guest is £10
We have a new property which has been completely renovated to a high standard in a 18th century barn in Hillswick..The Old Sea Barn | {
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Affordable Home Electronics:
Shipping to Manhattan, the Bronx, NY & International Areas
When it comes to technology you can trust, you’ll get them all here at Affordable Home Electronics. We are your leading source for the best in home electronics and devices at unbeatable online prices. From high resolution dome security cameras to tablets and small appliances, you can buy them here at terrific rates and packages. With over 22,000 high quality products from dozens of the world’s trusted manufacturers, we certainly offer the finest selection for all your electronic needs.
We ship retail and wholesale items locally in Manhattan, The Bronx, anywhere in New York and the US, as well as several countries overseas. Our digital shelves feature an expansive variety of devices and hardware like high resolution digital cameras, dome security cameras, accessories, plasma screen TVs, DVD DVRs, cordless telephones, audio mp3/mp4/mp5 players, and other electronic supplies. Looking for what you need has never been so easy as Affordable Home Electronics brings together innovative items from key makers like Audio Source, Beltronics, Canon, Casio, Clover Electronics, Wisecomm, Mace, Q-See (Digital Peripheral Solution Inc.), and Lorex, Speco Technology. We also carry products by i-Link Professionals, SuperCircuits, SVAT Electronics, Luxor Direct, Califone, Amplivox, Power-Save (Solar Panels), Coby, JVC, Fender, Funai, Jabra, JBL and so much more.
Upgrading your electronic devices and appliances doesn’t have to be so expensive. When you buy online at Affordable Home Electronics, you’re getting the gadgets you need at much lower costs and in the most convenient way. Whether you want to improve your home entertainment system in Manhattan or add security devices in your home in The Bronx, our store has the products to match those needs and prices that suit your every budget. Check out our amazing online deals today!
This NVR system records 720p resolution video for a high definition image with added detail and recognition. The eight included cameras are encased in sturdy all-metal housings, making them ideal for use indoors and outdoors. | {
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Best Web Hosting Company
Our Criteria
What is the criteria used by Getbestwebhosting.com to define the best hosting company
Here at Getbestwebhosting.com our goal is to bring you the best web hosting choices for the needs of small businesses, established businesses, businesses with unique needs, and of course, even the average Joe wanting to place a personal or blog site on the ‘net.’
But how do we choose and evaluate the hosting sites here at Getbestwebhosting.com? We are proud to say that we use a multi-level evaluation system that leaves no question unanswered. We utilize a wide variety of strategies to find the web hosts that matter, and boil down the main features of each to find out which ones work the best for your type of need.
Research
Of course the web hosts found on this review site are all thoroughly researched. If a web hosting company crosses our radar, we take the time and effort to find out the details of that company including:
History – How long has the company been in business? Is it experienced or a newbie to the industry?
Management and staff – Who founded the company? Who directs it now? How experienced and trained are the technical staff?
Technology – Does the web host own and operate their own data center? What equipment does it use? Does it operate efficiently and with power backup?
Hosting features – What kind of hosting plans does the company offer? What features are included, and is it worth the price?
Extras – Does the web host offer extra services and products to help a growing business website?
Reputation Assessments
We also take a close look at how the web hosting company relates within the industry. We look at how frequently the company gets reviewed on other evaluation websites. And we take a look at awards and ratings received and earned from other reputable firms such as CNET and the Better Business Bureau.
Personal Experience
Of course, our evaluators take into account their own personal experience within the industry, and with a specific web host being evaluated if it applies. Personal experience provides insight into the workings of how a web host should operate.
Forums
Public forums provide a wealth of additional insight as to how the web host stands with current and past clients. While we know not every comment has merit, we can spot trends such as the effectiveness of customer support, the value of guarantees, and more through online forums.
User Opinions and Feedback
Not only do our evaluators give their opinion, but we take the opinion of the average web host client into consideration as well. We welcome feedback and opinions on our website. Tell us what you think of a web host, their features, people, and overall value.
We think it is important to give you a well-rounded view of a web hosting company. And we take every effort we fell is necessary to give you the big picture and the little details within it. | {
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Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Summer Heat
Posted on July 07, 2014
by administrator
When you’re on the move, whether it’s to bike, hike, walk or run, it’s of the utmost importance, especially in the hot and humid July and August temperatures, to stay hydrated. Keeping water on-hand and drinking often is necessary to your health (your heart will thank you!), but also a requirement to perform at your peak. We often hear about the important of staying hydrated and drinking 8 glasses of water per day, but it’s easy to forget how much you’ve consumed when you’re on the go, which is why we’re sharing with you some tricks to staying hydrated this summer.
Forget the 8 glass rule – Sixty-four ounces may be too much for inactive people or far too little for those who exercise or work outdoors. Hydration needs can change daily and are highly individual.
Drink more above 70/70 – When the temperature and humidity are both above 70, you enter the dehydration danger zone. Sip frequently from a water bottle, and drink before, during, and after vigorous activity.
Hydrate first – Begin exercise well-hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids the day before and within the hour before, during and after your exercise session.
Stay away from energy drinks – They contain large amounts of sugar and stimulants that can be counterproductive and dangerous.
Turn to fruit – Many fruits are a great source of both electrolytes and fluids. Bananas and dates are known for having high levels of the electrolyte potassium, making them a great option for refueling during an intense workout.
Muscle fatigue – Pay attention to your body. Lean muscle tissue contains more than 75 percent water, so when the body is short on H2O, muscles are more easily fatigued.
Heart happy – Your blood is 80% water; if you don’t replace what’s lost every day, blood thickens, forcing your heart to work harder and raising your risk of a heart attack.
No matter what kind of workout you participate in, one thing remains the same: hydration. At HRM, we make it easy to stay hydrated while exercising. Camelbak water bottles are made to be your perfect workout companion. Camelbak Podium water bottles and Vapur water bottles are just two options that every athlete will love. For bikers and hikers, hydration packs from Camelbak, Geigerrig and Deuter allow for continuous, easy, comfortable hydration while you’re on the move. | {
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Gingham Pattern Merchandise Bags in white kraft and recycled kraft are a great country look! USA made.
Gingham Paper Merchandise Bags are perfect for a "country" look. Bags are case packed not bundled. Recycled content varies by color and size. Assortments are also available. All bags are printed with water based inks. These bags are great for Christmas and year-round packaging. Made in the USA.
We also have gingham shopping bags, sacks, tissue paper, gift wrap, and more. | {
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OneWireless Solutions
Honeywell complements OneWireless Solutions with OneWireless Services that help keep wireless systems up and running at the highest level of performance. These services combine Honeywell's global experience with strong local support to maintain and enhance wireless networks.
OneWireless video solution provides an integrated view of the video surveillance on distributed control systems stations such as Experion Station and security consoles such as EBI Stations to operators, and safety and security personnel. | {
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