text:
Interested in attending Siena Heights University? Fill out this brief form, and you'll receive an email with log-in information to your very own User Portal with additional information about Siena Heights University and the application process.
Are you a high school student looking for the traditional college experience?
Do you have some credit from previous college experience and need to complete your bachelor's degree?
Do you have your bachelor's degree and looking for an advanced degree?
Explore to read more information about our programs or schedule a personal visit.
Oops, looks like you have previously requested more information. Please contact the Admissions Team if you have any questions!
Siena Heights University's Office of Accessibility is committed to providing appropriate auxiliary aids and services to afford qualified students with disabilities equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of University services, programs, and activities. A qualified student with a disability is a student with a disability who meets the academic and technical standards requisite for admission or participation in the institution's educational program or activities.
The process for providing auxiliary aids and services is student-driven. The student contacts the Office of Accessibility and provides information and documentation regarding his/her disability in a confidential setting. A medical diagnosis of an illness/disability does not automatically mean a student can receive services under Section 504. The illness/disability must cause a substantial limitation on the student's ability to learn or another major life activity including walking, standing, breathing, thinking, concentrating, speaking, communicating, seeing, hearing, working and caring for oneself.
Once it is determined that there is an eligibility under Section 504 or the ADA, then appropriate accommodations (based on the disability and course requirements) are communicated through letters delivered by the student to the student's instructors. Siena Heights is not required to make adjustments or provide aids or services that would result in a fundamental alteration of a program or impose an undue burden.
As early in the semester as possible, or before the start of the school year, the student should initiate contact with the Office of Accessibility to register and request accommodations. At this time, the student should provide the office with the most current documentation regarding a disability. The documentation must meet the guidelines established by the university and must explain how the disability substantially limits the student.
The student should plan on meeting with the Coordinator of the Office of Accessibility to review how the disability substantially limits the student and determine what reasonable accommodations would be appropriate. Recommendations from the documentation and consultation with the student are both used to determine the accommodations. Final determination of accommodations rests with the Office of Accessibility.
If a student is determined to be eligible for accommodations the Confidential Notification of Accommodations letter is processed for each course in which the student may need accommodations. The process for the student to self-disclose the information to the faculty is then reviewed.
It is the student's responsibility to request a meeting during office hours with the appropriate professors, and meet with them privately. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the student's strengths and disability, and to work out the logistics of providing the approved accommodations. This self-disclosure should be done with the rights of the student and faculty member kept in mind. The process for determining eligibility and appropriate accommodations can take 2 weeks (or more if additional documentation is needed). It is strongly recommended that students initiate the process as early in the semester as possible, before they experience difficulty or failure. ACCOMMODATIONS ARE NOT RETROACTIVE. Accommodations are meant to give students with disabilities equal access /opportunity in academics and activities. They are not meant to ensure that a student receives a passing grade. The student is responsible for advocating for himself/herself, participating in classes, fulfilling course requirements and earning grades.
The following accommodations are available to students who have provided documentation of their disability:
All information submitted to the Office will be handled in a confidential manner. Student records that are presented to the Office will be kept in a locked file in the coordinator's office. Information contained in the students' files are considered part of their educational records and are protected by The Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA-1974). Information from these record may be released under the following circumstances:
The Office of Accessibility Release of Information form completed and signed by the student will be the vehicle used to determine the information to be released to the designated individuals and organizations. The Office will adhere to all state and federal laws governing release of student information. The guiding principles in the release of confidential student information will be both protection from discrimination and for the purpose of respecting personal dignity and privacy.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was enacted to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in several critical areas including education. Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting the Office of Accessibility if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in a timely and effective manner. The Office will work with university personnel to resolve the issue. If no effective resolution to the complaint can be reached, the student then has the option to file a formal complaint with the ADA compliance officer. The student will secure and complete the "Formal Grievance" form that is available from the coordinator of the Office or from the university compliance officer. The form should be completed, signed, dated and delivered to the university ADA compliance officer: the director of Human Resources.
If the student believes the grievance has not yet been resolved to his or her satisfaction, he/she may appeal the decision to the office of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Phone: 517-264-7630
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Mailing Address:
Sacred Heart Hall, Room 303
Where would you like to apply?


text:
I have never really had a strong desire to one fine day receive an engagement ring.
The idea of one has never really existed in my mind until friends and Facebook friends started getting engaged and posting pictures of their rings.
While other women my age already have their bridesmaid dresses and showpieces planned in their minds, I haven't really given a thought to anything wedding-related.
To me, it mostly seems like a huge waste of money. I've never thought about the difference between a mermaid cut and a ball gown, or silk versus lace. It all seems pretty benign and old-fashioned, honestly.
But, since I've been seeing all of these rings pop up on my feeds, I've begun to wonder if I ever do want to get married. It's brought on a little bit, but not too much, pressure to maybe start taking potential relationships with at least a grain of seriousness, and to be more honest with myself about what I want.
Would I like to, someday, in what will probably be the distant future when I'm in my late 30s or even later, receive an engagement ring?
I decided, out of sheer curiosity, to wear a fake one for seven days.
Photo: littlethings

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lotus Yoga Off The Mat Challenge
Day Six: Yoga and Nature
Hello Yogis!
Day six of the Lotus Yoga Off The Mat Challenge theme is yoga and nature. How does your yoga practice connect you with nature? How does nature connect you deeper in your yoga practice? What connection do you find between yoga and nature?
In response to these questions, these are my thoughts.
Yoga is about inner peace and calm:
The sound of waves lapping at the seashore
Watching blooms of clouds float by in a bright blue sky
A gentle breeze moving your hair across your neck
Yoga is about self-awareness and self-love:
>> The first morning frost, crisp and fresh on your skin
>> Crunching autumn leaves underfoot while hiking in the woods
>> Watching the sunset over a summer lake
Yoga is about strength:
The grandeur of mountains
The fury of winds
Yoga is about joy:
Inhaling the scents of new spring: salty sea; fresh-cut grass; a lilac bush
Dancing in the rain; jumping in puddles
A snowball fight
Yoga is about life:
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences with yoga and nature! Remember to leave a comment on the Lotus FaceBook page or other social media with the hash tag: #lotusyogaoffthemat.


text:
Spam has climbed back up the priority list for IT managers. But this isn't 2002 when spam first began clogging inboxes. Today, IT managers are cynical about product offerings and the vendors providing the so-called solutions.
It's no longer just about spam. For vendors it's a global, $US5 billion-plus secure content management market (SCM), covering spyware, phishing and other malicious code.
As Clayton Utz CIO Garry Clarke explains, the IT security landscape is very "vendor driven".
"There is a lot of hype and some vendors are almost unethical in trying to generate a need for their service or solution," Clarke said. "I get 10 cold calls a day; but what's worse is vendors that go to the CEO or board members to say 'your IT person isn't speaking to me and I have a solution you need'. CIOs know when the business needs a particular product."
Clarke referred to a large, global infrastructure company that sends him five different marketing blurbs but in each his name and title are totally different.
"Security is obscure because it's not just locks on doors; it is far more intangible," he said.
According to an IDC report into the SCM market from 2005-2009, financial gain is the number one driving force behind the spam epidemic, with spyware and phishing attacks becoming incredibly sophisticated.
E-mail pipelines will continue to be a favourite target for malicious attacks at a time when IT departments are tasked with preventing information leakage, meeting compliance standards and ensuring networks, servers and inboxes are not clogged with spam. As much as 80 percent of e-mail is spam and IDC believes that more than three-quarters of all corporate machines are infected with various forms of spyware.
Rather than continue to exhaust internal resources, enterprises are now looking to managed service offerings.
Clayton Utz CIO Garry Clarke turned to MessageLabs even though techies were initially reluctant to hand the job over to a provider.
Previously, Clarke had two and a half people managing the spam problem and there were still plenty of complaints from users.
"The perception from the techies is that a managed service provider can't do as well as we can, but now the techies are doing more high-value tasks such as e-mail and bandwidth management. They are fine-tuning instead of just keeping the lid on a problem," Clarke said.
Frost & Sullivan security analyst James Turner said increased adoption of managed services is likely in the next three years as one way to overcome the spam problem.
"Spam is most definitely an issue for business and it's a long way from being fixed," he said adding that one of the major banks manages 4TB of e-mail a day of which 60 percent is spam.
"We're talking big numbers here. A complete revision of e-mail architecture is required to help restore faith in an area of communication that could be so much better than it is."
Another MessageLabs customer is Bank of Queensland IT security manager Grant Slender, who says spam is like unclean water going through your infrastructure.
Slender is currently planning for greater scalability and didn't want to put infrastructure in place to cope with increased bandwidth.
"Using a managed service isn't simply about cost savings, the goal was to simplify infrastructure," he said.
With IT security, Slender said there is always a fear that there aren't enough hands on deck.
"I'd prefer to hand it over to a specialist that has access to resources across the globe," he added.
But for those managing the problem in-house, it's about having the right tools, according to former Packateer founder Robert Jones, who is the new ANZ regional manager at CipherTrust.
The company provides a combined software and hardware offering that covers the SCM spectrum.
"It's not just about spam anymore the problem is much wider than that," Jones said.
"Not all messaging security threats are inbound. Solutions need to cover outbound threats also to cover compliance, intellectual property and theft of confidential information."
Jones estimates 80 percent of corporate IP leakage is through e-mail and points out that e-mail is involved in 85 percent of corporate litigation. So who are the players in this market? The top five SCM software providers are Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, Sophos and Websense while the top appliance providers include CipherTrust, IronPort and SonicWall. For hosted services, the biggest players include MessageLabs, Postini and FrontBridge.
Then there are the Web filtering providers such as SurfControl, Clearswift and Computer Associates. It is a highly competitive market.
Nuisance timeline
Spam moved from being a nuisance for IT managers in 2002 to a full blown nightmare in 2003, according to IDC. As many organizations implemented spam technologies during 2003 and 2004 spam started to slide down the priority list. But IDC believes the enterprise threat returned in 2005 with several factors driving this resurgence.
These include increased phishing attacks, the use of bot networks and zombie machines and new spamming technologies to distribute e-mails and viruses with greater speed.
Propogation times for malicious e-mail viruses have dropped from hours to minutes. From the start of the Spam Act, on April 10 2004, until 31 March 2006, the Australian Communications and Media Authority( ACMA ) received 4274 formal complaints, issued formal warning letters to 10 companies or individuals, entered into enforceable undertakings with five companies, issued 13 fines collectively to five companies or individuals; and successfully prosecuted a company and its managing director in the Federal Court in Perth.
Join the newsletter!
Follow our new social and we'll keep you in the loop for exclusive events and all things security!
Have an opinion on security? Want to have your articles published on CSO? Please contact CSO Content Manager for our guidelines.


text:
I found an old diary I kept when I was fourteen. To my horror it was entitled Being Overweight. Dated the 7th January 2004, the first page is a lamentation on how much I hated my body. I was fat and I was going to lose weight. I had cut out pictures of bodies I found acceptable, stuck them neatly to pages with captions and detailed what aspects of their bodies I needed to achieve.
At fourteen, I had a distorted self-image. I had learned I wasn't good enough. While I sit here at my big age on the cusp of an exciting new chapter in my life I know I haven't truly unlearned the toxicity that lead me to believe that 1) I was fat and 2) that being fat was bad. I am a huge fan of hypervisible, self-proclaimed fat women. I seek out their affirmation of their size, their magazine covers, their beautiful wedding pictures, their shared sense of pride in who they are- but it's theirs. My self-hate around my weight and size is so deeply rooted because before I was exposed to magazines and the wider media, I was taught at home everyday that fat was bad.
I wish when I was fourteen I had access to Jameela Jamil's campaign "I Weigh." Jamil aims to redress women and young girls' focus on their weight by highlighting their personal achievements instead. So, I want to cape for her and support her in everything she's doing because this positive aspect of her work is so personal to me. The problem is Jamil's wider messaging is so exclusionary, so toxic I cannot in good faith ignore the damage her rhetoric does because one thread of her work is empowering. Take my hand, friend. Let me lead you on a tour of Jameela Jamil's special brand of toxic feminism.
A segment of the latest episode of Krishnan Guru-Murphy's podcast was posted to twitter with a video of Jameela Jamil rallying against "double agents of feminism" who are "still putting the patriarchal narrative out into the world." This is a valiant cause until you scrutinise who it's coming from and what this message is wrapped in. Jamil is correct, the Kardashian's endorsement of Flat Tummy Tea is disgraceful especially because their bodies are not a result of anything other than a skilled surgeon but I question her consistent policing of women in her fight against the patriarchy. Jamil's argument is that women are taught to trust women because we all share a gender and through that kinship patriarchy is able to Trojan horse the violent misogyny of body dysmorphia and eating disorders. Twitter maven Kirby identified her language as that of SWERFs (sex worker exclusionary radical feminists) and TERFs (trans exclusionary radical feminists). HANA says outright that Jamil's arguments are a repackaging of radical feminism. Many of us cannot forget this is the same actor and activist who upon watching Beyoncé's Self-Titled penned a blog post entitled "Booty and the Beast"- a piece of writing so patronising a film on misogynoir forms over your eyes as you read.
Jameela Jamil deleted the post but the internet, or rather Natalie, never forgets.
"...thanks to the volume of images of Beyonce behaving like a (Bloody amazingly beautiful) stripper… and the lengths she goes to to push the boundary… I don't know where else everyone can go now? She's done it all pretty much." Jamil is simultaneously condescending and shames sex work. "What stimulates YOU beyonce? What do YOU like to see? What do you think women will find arousing to watch while they listen to your songs? What turns YOU on beyonce? Because so far it's only your underboob I am marvelling at. It's your buttocks spread apart by a pole, it's you airhumping a piano… for a man who is sitting in a chair silently watching you." Like, who tf were you even talking to? Is Beyoncé your mate? Beyond my reverence for the Queen, Jamil assumes so much about Beyoncé and her motivations. She views Knowles-Carter through a singular lens of antiquated, racist tropes. She denies the singers she names in this post- Nicki, Rihanna, Miley, Iggy- autonomy and agency over their decisions. The policing of women whose sex and sexualities are part of their business is a mainstay of radical feminism and implies that if these women would simply close their legs and do their work with their clothes on men will give up patriarchy. There has been no attempt at reconciliation, no atonement for the anti-woman diatribe she shared. It's trash. Her views are trash and they haven't change.
The same way she came for Beyoncé, she's coming for the Kardashians. I don't like them either but we must challenge half-baked pseudo feminism that targets women we don't like- our faves will be next or have been targeted before in deleted posts. Jameela Jamil's feminism is toxic because she is content to pick at women, low hanging fruit when the real work would be to challenge the socio-political systems and corporations whose work started long before the stars of today and will continue long after. And of course it is different now. Young girls are bombarded with a constant barrage of self hate but berating women for this is like being angry at the sun but shouting at your light bulb. This movement prunes the leaves of the patriarchal tree. When I was fourteen, it wasn't pictures of Beyoncé or videos of Paris Hilton that led me to try to starve myself- it was the all-encompassing white supremacist patriarchy my mum had been infected by that she in turn infected me with. This interwoven system of prejudices had infiltrated my mind and is infiltrating the minds of the young girls she claims to be fighting for. If Jameela Jamil wants to be as revolutionary as she thinks she is, she would target those institutions. She would use her privilege and platform to lead a charge against those whose raison d'etre is the permanent subjugation of women. If Jameela Jamil was really about this activism life she would up lift the women who are equipped for this work and share her platform with them.
Jameela Jamil must recognise that if Kim Kardashian is a "double agent for the patriarchy" then so is she. If your feminist activism cannot exist without denigrating other women did you really wash and season your chicken before putting it on the grill? If your feminism is exclusionary, start again and come correct. This ain't it.
Click the heart below.
Money is nice. Click here to give me some.
Follow me on Twitter.


text:
Info Center
What credit cards do you accept?
American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover
When I call for 24 hour service, is it a recording?
There are no recordings with Reliable Electric; your call will be answered by a live representative who will connect you directly to our electrical technicians.
Is your staff background checked?
For the safety and comfort of knowing who is in your home, Reliable Electric requires a complete background check on all employees. Our electricians are equipped to provide you with the service you need.
How can I save money on my next electric bill?
We suggest first determining where possible issues/hazards are in your home or office. Thermal imaging is a great start! The imaging technology allows our licensed electricians to see through the walls and identify hot spots or potential hazards. Early detection and repair of potential issues will save you time and money.
What is your service area?
From Wilmington, North Carolina to Georgetown, South Carolina
I have an electrical emergency, who do I call?
Call Reliable Electric for an emergency electrician. Our 24 hour service stamp means We'll "BEE" There! to handle your home or office emergency when you call.


text:
What's not to like ... Isabel Marant wood bracelet20:40
I just love this wood bracelet from one of my favourite designer Isabel Marant.
It looks ethnic and heavy and I love the contrast of the polished wood with the black stone in the middle.
Available at the YouHeShe website on request for 171 euros .


text:
Vision Overview | Blackbushe Past & Present | Phase 1 & 2 | Managing Change | Conclusion
Blackbushe needs investment to allow it to compete but, more importantly, there is clear demand in the small private aircraft market for improved maintenance and hangarage facilities. Providing these would assist in rationalising and upgrading Blackbushe, and offer additional job opportunities.
The scale of change is modest and would not create environmental harm.
The intention is to implement Phase 1 over the next 4-5 years and Phase 2 over the following 5 years. The new administrative and passenger facility and café is a key priority along with the start of a gradual process of providing additional hangar accommodation.


text:
Team ' 76 : The Intro/
A big part of why I am in business is because I believe in marriage. I believe the covenantal relationship between man and woman is something that should really be celebrated and I have some big dreams and goals for some fun ways to do that in the future.
I wanted to start that celebration with a personal story. When I wrote a few weeks ago about our 4 year wedding anniversary, I mentioned a new series that I was starting detailing how Paul and I met, and our courtship and wedding/honeymoon. This is the Intro to that story.
I remember the day vividly. Funny how that happens. I had been getting messages from potential suitors on various online dating websites for a few months now but I don't remember any of those days. But I do remember the day I first received a message from a guy named Paul.
I was with my friend Monique and we were driving on Hwy 405 through Bellevue, WA. I don't know if we were on our way TO or on our way HOME from some fun summer Seafair activities, but I do know we were in Moniques Toyota Camry whisking down the highway with the beautiful green trees surrounding us on all sides.
It was August 7th, 2010 and the message was a canned response that Christian Mingle supplied for its members. "I'm looking for some friends, are you interested?" This was one of their funnier canned responses, in close competition with "you are an inspiration to our community" and "I'm praying for you". I have been on quite a few online dating websites and CM's canned responses were by FAR the best.
I clicked on his profile on my phone and was greeted with a big gap toothed grin, some very bushy eyebrows and some gorgeous blue eyes. He had about four selfies (mostly taken in a car) and one photo of him and a friend, covered head to toe in mud, obviously just finishing some sort of grueling mountain bike race. Now I always joke that this ONE photo of him and his friend and the muddy bike was the reason we got married. More on that later.
I read his profile and a few things stood out. First being that he had two children but only one lived at home. I always swore that kids would be a deal breaker for me, but this one piece of information intrigued me. He also told a few jokes in his general question answer section which told me he at least had a sense of humor. That was always a plus when I could get a genuine sense of this from a profile alone.
For some strange reason a sense of enormity washed over me. I don't really know how to describe it any other way. Something big was happening. I think that is why I remember the day so clearly. I didn't want to admit it to myself because I had such disappointing experiences already with online dating, but something about this guy was different. I could feel it in my bones.
I decided to send this guy a message. I wasn't really into the canned responses so I wrote him a little note and signed my name Cinnamon, since you know, that's my name.
He wrote back and one of the first things he asked was if I had grown up in Corvalis, OR. Then he proceeded to tell me that the first girl he ever 'kissed', when he was like, you know, five...was named Cinnamon.
Wait. What?
I did not grow up nor have I ever even been to Corvalis, OR, but apparently there was a little gal who did live there whose name was Cinnamon and made quite the impression on my future hubby.
Turns out the first and last girl he would ever kiss would be named Cinnamon.
Stay tuned for next week when I talk about about our first date which may or may not include getting in trouble at REI and eating at the worst restaurant ever. =)
Since I so rudely left you hanging about the photo, let me finish that story:
In all my past adventures with online dating I noticed some very interesting trends among the vast majority of never ending profiles. The one which bothered me the most was guys who had only ONE selfie photo or a million photos but they were ALL selfies (mostly taken in front of their computer.) This communicated massive amounts of information to me.
- These guys didn't care enough about the process to take the time to put some photos that represented who they were
- They have ZERO friends or social life.
Now maybe I was wrong about a lot of these guys but I was instantly drawn more to profiles where there were some variety of photos where the guy obviously had people in his life who actually enjoyed being around him. The photo of Paul and his buddy and his muddy bike solidified that for me. If that photo would not have been there I honestly don't know if I would have messaged him. So there you go....we are married today because of this photo.
Other posts in this series:
The Meeting | The Dating | The Question | The Engagement | The Day | The Honeymoon


text:
- Home
- Products
- Research
- People
- Media
- Fund Updates
- Contact Us
- Investor Login
Realm believes there is a role for a High Yield allocation in your portfolio, but there are good times to invest and not so good times to invest in this sector. We do not believe High Yield investing should be done in an isolated, open ended managed fund. During times of market volatility, investors tend to want liquidity at the very time a high yield manager should be allocating to the market. We believe High Yield investing is better achieved by a series of investments in credit opportunities, with the client agreeing to commit funds for a pre-determined period. This gives the manager certainty of time to manage the opportunities they identify with the potential to increase returns and reduce volatility. The Realm Capital Series Fund (RCSF) is a vehicle to provide high conviction investment opportunities in the Australasian credit markets for non-institutional investors. These investment opportunities exist due to certain market conditions which are driven by either changing regulation or market dislocation.
Investors can benefit from a concentrated portfolio of opportunistic domestic fixed income investments providing exposure to high yielding securities, whilst focusing on capital preservation and the potential for a target return of 4.75% over cash.
Realm Capital Series 2018-1 Units, the first investment available via the Realm Capital Series Fund will focus on a structured credit opportunity, with the strategy taking advantage of a new regulatory environment driven by APRA's Policy Statement 120. APRA's new policy impacts the capital requirements around Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) as well as the introduction of an Australian Bank Levy. Realm Investment House (RIH) believe that APRA's policy statement will increase general capital requirements for the non-bank sector and smaller credit unions. Banks are the current senior funders for mortgage and corporate debt facilities and an estimated additional $3bn of new capital is required for the mortgage market under the new regime. RIH also anticipates that the bank levy introduction will drive an increase in major bank RMBS issuance and increase the proportion of lower rated corporate debt in the market.
The Realm Capital Series 2018-1 Units investment strategy focuses on balance sheet funding and bank warehousing contracts. RIH will partner with the four major banks and best of breed non-bank corporate lenders, to acquire exposures in these newly capitalised facilities. RIH's assessment of the opportunities will generate good risk adjusted income returns, particularly when compared to the 'public term out market' for the same level of risk. Diversification within the fund will be achieved by diversity of banking partners, facility sponsors and the number of individual facilities. RIH's risk management and assessment overlay are used in assessing eligible exposures. This process is described by researchers as superior to RIH's competitors. RIH will actively manage & monitor the risk of each funding facility exposure during the term of the fund.
For further information please refer to the flyer, located on the right under DOWNLOADS. Additional adviser information can be obtained by contacting Realm on firstname.lastname@example.com or +61 9008 7290.


text:
Quick Reference
The son of Myrrha (Mirra). His beauty captivated Venus. When, in spite of her warnings, he went hunting and was killed by a boar, she caused the anemone to spring ...
From: Adoon in The Oxford Companion to Chaucer »
Subjects: Literature — Literary studies (early and medieval)
Related content in Oxford Reference
Reference entries
Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Please, /page/subscribe/how-to-subscribe or login to access all content.


text:
Why all govs will opt into 'Obamacare'
Southern govs to secede from health care?
Right. Just like they have from Medicaid expansion. Good luck with that.
Story Continued Below
If you can hear yourself think over the sound of Texas Gov. Rick Perry's chest-thumping, here's something to consider: All this talk about governors opting out of Medicaid expansion in "Obamacare" is startlingly similar to what happened when Medicaid was launched in 1966.
Back then, the states could choose to opt in, just as today under "Obamacare." At first, only six states signed up for Medicaid — with a lot of fear of putting state money into a new program. But within a few years, every single state had opted in — and under Medicaid, the reimbursement rate to the states is only about 50 percent. For the next three years under "Obamacare," it's 100 percent.
My prediction: All these states will opt in. Every one. Maybe not before the election, but very soon — notwithstanding the nonsense being spewed today by Perry and the other Republican governors who feel compelled to dance for the tea party. Regardless of Wednesday's utterly meaningless vote in the House. (Thirty-three times? Really? As though the first 32 times weren't enough.)
Why will these governors opt in when their rhetoric is so hot? Because the campaign against them will rest on three arguments that would detonate their reelection chances.
Let's use Perry as an example since he's threatening to mess with Texas.
Here's the usual argument about why Texas — or other secessionist states — should opt in, and it's a good one: Texas has 6 million uninsured citizens — nearly one in four people does not have health care, the highest in the nation. An estimated 2 million would be covered by the exchanges Perry refuses to implement, and another 2 million would qualify for expanded Medicaid. Texas would see the biggest drop in the nation of nonelderly uninsured people.
Instead, Perry would rather be able to chant, "We're No. 1!" for citizens without health care. How proud y'all must be.
For the tea party crowd, instead of this being a huge missed opportunity to provide health care to struggling people, turning down the federal money has become a badge of honor. So, weirdly, this argument, while appealing to most rational people, has no sway with tea partiers.
By the way, those uninsured citizens are every Texan's problem. Uninsured people get sick, too, and their care has to be paid for by someone. And you can be sure it will be. It will add an estimated $1,800 a year to family premiums in Texas through the "hidden tax" of uncompensated care. So employers and those with insurance will just pick up the tab for Perry's itch to drink tea and play politics.
But the ultimate price tag to Texans is far higher: Turning down the Medicaid expansion would mean rejecting $76.3 billion in federal help for 2014-2019. But Texans will still be paying billions in federal taxes to pay for the rest of the country's Medicaid costs — payroll deductions don't go away if a state opts out of "Obamacare."


text:
This was such a fun shoot! Aja and Tai and their respective broods all share a big house in Seattle and are the best of friends. Aja is moving back to the East Coast soon with her littles, Lola and Jett, and they wanted a photo shoot to capture them all together while they still can. Tai's two littles Atlas and Aria are just obsessed with their little housemate "babehs!!" as Atlas says. Shooting friends is so fun and unique. It makes me want to have a photo shoot with my closest friends! Thanks Aja and Tai! I loved taking your photos!!
Thank you for allowing me to be your photographer in Snohomish, WA.
If you're interested in Seattle Area Family or Portrait Photography, please contact me as soon as you can. I'm currently booking through February 2014 for portrait sessions of all kinds. "Like" me on Facebook leave a comment below if you enjoyed the photos!!
Keywords: Seattle Family Photographer, Seattle friend photography, Seattle Lifestyle Photography, Seattle Family Photography, Family Photography, Seattle Kids Photography, Snohomish Family Photography


text:
- Update on Bren
- Bren's skin has been particularly bad recently. We have taken to putting his T-shirt on each night to at least protect some parts of hid body from the damage his paws and teeth can cause. Unfortunately this does not include his paws, his hips and the skin round his eyes. Today we took him to the vet - not to the usual (and senior) vet (who is on holiday for another week) but to another member of the practice we know well. Not being as used to how Bren is he was shocked at his condition, and put him on trial to see if a new medication will help. (He's still on both the old medications.) Cross your fingers for my lovely boy...
( 1 comment )
Poor guy, that really is horrible. I hope you find something that works for him.


text:
Nearly a year ago, SmackDown Live sought to find its identity in the brand split when the show announced it would be the land of opportunity. A place for otherwise B-level talent to showcase dropkicks and suplexes and become something of a recognizable name.
And while the direction has elevated stars who might not get a chance to shine on SmackDown's more celebrated brethren, Monday Night Raw, there is a downside.
SmackDown, in many ways, has turned into a sea of sameness in recent months. Ever since AJ Styles lost the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble in January, not one performer has stood out. Not Randy Orton, not Kevin Owens, not Jinder Mahal -- and you might note the latter two are current champions on SmackDown. For that matter, Styles himself has done little to garner consistent attention since dropping his belt.
The reality in sports is that as much as we like to the zero-to-hero narrative, we love perennial champs as well. That's why Styles' character worked so well in 2016. That's why Brock Lesnar currently works so well on Raw, even if he's hardly a regular. That's why we can't get enough of the New England Patriots or Golden State Warriors, even if we loathe the very idea of those teams winning. We still watch.
We still watch Roman Reigns, and we do so fully reconciling his polarizing effect. The operative word here is "effect," because he has one. Reigns does something to our blood to make it boil. Now we fully recognize that Reigns is unique, perhaps the most interesting character outside John Cena in the love-hate barometer the WWE has ever had. But outside Reigns, Raw has done a tremendous job in building Braun Stowman (who's currently injured), while keeping Seth Rollins and Finn Balor not just relevant in the main-event spotlight, but as engaging characters.
The question lately with SmackDown is: Who are we geeked up to watch? It's not Mahal, not yet. Is it Owens? Shinsuke Nakamura? Styles?
The past few weeks are a perfect example of character flaws in the blue brand. Styles is losing to Dolph Ziggler one week, beating him the next, all without any real ramifications. If the goal is to have these performers mix it up with mixed results in these micro-feuds all for the sake of ratcheting hype for Money in the Bank (which is weeks away), that's flawed, because parity is a misguided path to greatness.
What SmackDown needs is a leading character. Just one.
He doesn't need to be a perennial winner, but he needs to be the perennial face that, well, runs the place. Can Styles return to that place, where as soon as his music hit, we knew we were watching the highlight of the show?
You can make the same argument for the women. Naomi is a deserving champ, but not a standout champ. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with her run to the pinnacle of the SmackDown mountain, what has happened to her top rivals?
Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch have been thrown together for quite some time with Naomi, while the heel faction of Natalya, Tamina and Carmella are also a threesome whose sum is greater than its parts. But it's the parts alone that don't stand out. That's a long-term issue.
Charlotte was arguably the best thing that ever happened to the women's revolution. But not only is she not a champ at the moment, she hasn't really been a relevant solo character.
Hopefully, Money in the Bank will not only be a worthy pay-per-view, but the beginning of a new direction in which someone can snare the attention crown, because as it stands, that title is vacant.
Hits and misses
Welcome, The New Day, who made their SmackDown in-ring debut. True, it was a predictably fun win against The Colons, but would it be a mistake to hand over the titles to the New Day so soon, when they meet the Usos at Money in the Bank? What does this say about Breezeango? More than any other team, Fandango and Tyler Breeze deserve a run as champs.
Speaking of Breezango, their "Fashion Files" spoof was another hilarious segment with The New Day looking for intel on The Colons. "I took a bottle of cologne to the boys in the lab, only to find out there are no boys and no lab." I have no idea what Fandango was talking about, but it was funny nonetheless.
Lana made her debut as well, albeit a bit of an awkward one. She walked down the ramp during the opening segment and demanded she be part of the debut of a women's Money in the Bank match as the five other participants looked on. Ultimately, Lana was denied her chance. Commissioner Shane McMahon said she had to earn her opportunity, and Lana walked away in anger. Then she gets a title opportunity against Naomi at Money in the Bank? What? How did this happen?
Oh, and no Rusev again? Just sayin'.
The pitfalls of being SmackDown champ. First, Randy Orton had arguably his worst reign ever as champ during his latest run, and Tuesday, Jinder Mahal found himself entangled with Mojo Rawley, who, as he said himself, has been a nonfactor since winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in early April. Mahal won, thanks to some nefarious interruption by the Singh brothers, but it was hardly a memorable encounter. And it hardly did anything to build Mahal's credibility.
A worthy main event between Owens and Nakamura, but felt like there was no real heat between the two. Perhaps this feud will grow and turn into something truly dynamic with the two squaring off for the United States Championship at SummerSlam.


text:
Offer a tip to Cathagomez
I've added a new picture!
Hi baby, I'd love you to get the milk out of my tits!!! you want to do it??
I want a man who fucks me so hard and gets the milk out of my tits!!!1, can you?
Welcome to my room guys, yould like to come to play with me? i can give milk from my tits!!!


text:
Amanda Todd: The anguish continues
Exceptional publicity surrounding the death of Amanda Todd has produced a surge in suicidal thoughts by vulnerable young people across the country, according to two trauma experts.
"Provincially and nationally, we have faced a significant increase in suicide ideation," said Theresa Campbell, president of Safer Schools Together and a trainer for the province's Erase Bullying strategy.
Kevin Cameron of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment & Trauma Response, who is also involved with Erase Bullying, agreed. "Of all the high-profile suicides that I've dealt with, we have never seen before this level of symptom development across the country."
Amanda's suicide in October was not only covered extensively by traditional media but it received unprecedented attention via social media, partly because of her disturbing YouTube video, which went viral.
Campbell, who is also safe schools manager in Surrey, said she's never seen anything like it. In addition to regular reporting by the mainstream media, there was the "viral messaging through kids – and some not-so-nice messaging, which has also been difficult to deal with," she added.
That's not to suggest that all kids are more likely to consider suicide now than before the 15-year-old's death, they said. But her online message about the way she was harassed and bullied before she died is sending a signal to other at-risk kids that suicide might be their only option.
"High-profile trauma does not cause individuals to go from zero – where life is OK – to 60, where all of a sudden they're thinking of harming themselves or duplicating a violent incident," Cameron said. "High-profile trauma intensifies already existing symptoms in troubled individuals."
Cameron and Campbell offered the comments during an interview about why Amanda's mother, Carol Todd, was not invited to Premier Christy Clark's anti-bullying forum Tuesday in Vancouver.
They said they advised government against inviting her because they were worried her presence at the forum would capture even more media attention and extend the "impact zone" for vulnerable youth. (As it turned out, the case likely received as much attention or more, due to her exclusion.)
There were other concerns as well, including the potential impact for Carol Todd of hearing from conference presenters about other suicides due to bullying and the effect her presence might have on families who had also lost children but had struggled alone without any public outpouring of sympathy.
Also, there was a desire to have the conference focus on the future and possible solutions rather than be gripped by grief and trauma, Cameron said.
But both insisted they would never have stood in the way if Todd had insisted on attending the one-day forum. They also noted there will be other such events because Erase Bullying is being developed over five years.
A celebration of Amanda's life will be held Sunday, starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Red Robinson Theatre in Coquitlam. The Sun's Gillian Shaw and Mark Yuen will be providing print and video reports here.


text: The wireless age has introduced countless devices that many of us can't live without, like cell phones, laptop computers and wifi routers. Like all electronics they communicate using electromagnetic frequencies – or EMFs. Some people worry that EMFs are making them sick – and say that technology should slow down, as Amy Standen reports.


text:
Eye Contact – and the Latino Culture.
Have you noticed differences between the Latino Culture and ours?
Here in the United States, we value eye contact – but it's different in the Latino Culture.
Look at me. I'm talking to you.
What many North Americans don't understand is that many other cultures are just the opposite.
When I was growing up and my Mom or Dad wanted my attention, they would say, "Look at me, I'm talking to you." They wanted me to focus on them.
When a child from Mexico, or Colombia, (or many Asian or African countries) is growing up, and especially when they are in trouble, their mother or father may say, "Don't look at me! I'm talking to you."
The child is to look at the floor, or their hands, or anywhere but eye-to-eye.
If they were to look at their parents eye-to-eye, it would be taken as defiance.
"Bring it on! Give me your best shot!"
Now—what happens when the two cultural differences collide in the form of a job interview?
An immigrant is interviewing with an American manager.
The manager is asking questions: "What's your name? Where have you worked?"
Where does the immigrant look?
At the desk. At the floor. At their hands. Anywhere but directly, eye-to-eye, at the manager.
What does the American manager think?
"This person won't even look me in the eye.
They must be dishonest. They must be lying."
By painting someone else with our own cultural norms, we introduce our own bias into the mix. We may not even know this is happening.
Addressing a cultural difference like this requires education.
- We can let the manager know that looking down is an immigrant's sign of respect.
- We can let the job applicant know that eye contact, in our culture, is very important.
Even better, we can let the two of them explain it to each other. Then it really sinks in.[The text above is an excerpt from my book Beyond Words – A Radically Simple Solution to Unify Communities, Strengthen Businesses, and Connect Cultures Through Language.]


text:
"Slash Your Advertising Costs And
Boost Your Commissions By Discovering
Exactly Which Keywords And Ads Are
Generating Real Affiliate Sales"
Dear Friend
Do you promote affiliate programs using
pay-per-click ads or any other types of ads?
Do you know which keywords and ads are
actually profitable?
If you're like most affiliates, you'll
just buy lots of related keywords or lots of ads - and
hope for the best.
You'll probably know how many
clicks each keyword or ad is generating - but have no idea how
many of those clicks actually turn into sales.
Without this information, you're almost
certainly pouring a lot of money down the drain
-paying for visitors that have no interest in
buying the product you're promoting.
If you knew exactly where
your sales were coming from, you could stop paying for
keywords and ads that never generated sales - slashing your
advertising costs.
You could also spend
more on the keywords and ads that were making good money
- or maybe buy the same keywords on other pay-per-click
services - boosting your profits.
However, the problem is
that it's not so easy to discover how many sales result from
each individual keyword or ad.
Affiliate sales just
appear in your affiliate account, with little or no
associated information, leaving you with no idea where
the sales came from.
But now, with our brand
new Affiliate Keyword Tracker software, you
can have an easy, low cost way to track all your
affiliate links and discover exactly how many clicks and sales
are generated by each keyword and ad...
Track Pay-Per-Click Campaigns On
If you use pay-per-click ads to promote affiliate
links, Affiliate Keyword Tracker will track the
number of clicks and sales for each keyword.
In the pay-per-click service (such as Google.com), just
enter an Affiliate Keyword Tracker link as
the URL to send traffic to. That's all you need to do.
The script will then automatically track keywords
from the search engine and forward visitors to the appropriate
affiliate link.
Simply go to the Affiliate Keyword Tracker
admin feature at any time and it will show you a detailed
summary of what keywords were used to find your site,
which search engines they came from (in case you are using
more than one Pay-Per-Click search engine) and how many
visitors there were for each keyword/search engine
Here's an example screenshot:
This is a very easy way to track pay-per-click campaigns to
find out exactly what keywords are being used by your
Track All Other Ads On
If you're promoting using other types of
ads (such as ads on web
pages or in ezines), you can use the
Affiliate Keyword Tracker "sub-campaign feature" to
tell how many clicks and sales come from each ad.
Don't worry about the techie-sounding name.
A "sub-campaign" is just a name chosen by you, for
each ad. You can use any names you want - it's just a
way for you to identify the ads.
Setting up a sub-campaign is a trivial process and takes
about 2 seconds.
Affiliate Keyword Tracker will automatically
track all your sub-campaigns.
Here's an example screenshot of the sub-campaign stats
for an affiliate link:
This feature makes it really easy to discover
exactly which ads are generating a response.
Automatically Track The Source Of Every Affiliate
Affiliate Keyword Tracker will automatically track
your sales for most affiliate programs.
Most affiliate programs, including those
from Clickbank and Commission Junction, offer a sales
tracking facility which allows you to include a "tracking ID"
in your affiliate link.
Few people normally bother to use these tracking IDs as
they are a bit "techie" - but Affiliate Keyword
Tracker will manage them for you automatically.
Affiliate Keyword Tracker will track sales
through the following affiliate services...
Commission Junction
Direct Track system (includes Clickbooth,
CPA Empire and many more)
Any other service or affiliate program which
allows affiliate sales tracking
Commission Junction
Direct Track system (includes Clickbooth,
CPA Empire and many more)
Any other service or affiliate program which
allows affiliate sales tracking
When you use Affiliate Keyword Tracker to
track your keywords or ads, it will automatically insert a
tracking ID into the affiliate links.
When you login to your affiliate account on Clickbank or
Commission Junction (or whatever affiliate site you are
promoting) and view any sales you have made, you will see
a sales tracking ID number next to each sale.
Use the "Lookup sale tracking ID"
option on Affiliate Keyword Tracker and enter
this number - Affiliate Keyword Tracker
will then show you the details of exactly where the
sale came from.
Affiliate Keyword Tracker will show you the link
ID of the affiliate link that was clicked on by the
If the link was from a pay-per-click ad, Affiliate
Keyword Tracker will tell you the search engine that
sent the visitor - and the keyword that they searched for.
Here's an example:
Tracking Report
Affiliate Link:
This is a pay-per-click
Keyword: fishing
Referrer domain:
Total sales from this source:
If the link was from a
sub-campaign ad, Affiliate Keyword
Tracker will show the name of the
sub-campaign - so you can see which ad generated the
sale. Here's an example:
Affiliate link:
This is a sub-campaign record
Sub-campaign name:
Total sales from this source:
Affiliate Keyword Tracker automatically keeps
track of the number of affiliate sales coming from each
source. When you view the detailed sub-campaign or
pay-per-click stats for any affiliate link, you'll see
the number of affiliate sales for each sub-campaign or
Get Your
Instant Tracking Solution
Promoting affiliate programs through pay-per-click and
other types of ad is one of the best
solutions for generating an income online.
There's no customer support, no hassle and no risks. Just
pay for the ads and then collect the commissions.
BUT with so many affiliates all competing for the same easy
source of income, you need an edge over the competition.
You can't afford to waste valuable advertising dollars on
unprofitable keywords and ads.
To discover which keywords and ads are actually profitable,
you need tracking software like our superb Affiliate
Keyword Tracker.
In view of the huge difference this software could make to
your income, you might be expecting to pay hundreds of dollars
for this great software.
BUT before you
Please Check Out Our Superb Ultramaxed GOLD
The GOLD version of our UltraMaxed software offers ALL the features of Affiliate Keyword Tracker -
plus lots of additional features to boost affiliate commissions, as well.
Click Here For Details Of
UltraMaxed(opens in a new browser
Order Affiliate
Keyword Tracker For $67
If you've decided NOT to order UltraMaxed Gold instead, you can order
Affiliate Keyword Tracker now for just $67 using the button below.
That's why the software comes with my
cast iron 30-day, no risk, 100%
money-back guarantee...
software is for use only on PCs running Microsoft Windows. The
script requires a web host which supports PHP and SQL (most
quality web hosts support these as
Please note that this software
is for your personal use only and does
not carry any form of resale
Get Our Entire Collection Of Quality Software


text:
How to Apply the Fuck Yes or No Rule to Your Awesomesauce Life
I'm a fan of Mark Manson's "Fuck Yes or No" rule. This rule states that if you don't say "Fuck Yes!" to a proposition, then it is a no. This means that if you aren't totally enthusiastic about someone or something, then don't go for it.
If you meet someone and you don't feel that "fuck yes" positivity towards being their friend/date/business partner, then don't go for it. Of course, this requires an open mind and a quiet ego and a developed intuition to really work. An open mind, quiet ego, and developed intuition are essential to a good life, regardless of whether one adopts the Fuck Yes or No rule, so definitely work on those aspects first before trying to make the rule work and having it fail because all the mental/emotional/ego clutter gets in the way.
The Fuck Yes or No rule begs for further examination and alignment. To really apply this rule to all aspects of your life, you really need to take it to the next level: expectations.
If you don't say Fuck Yes to someone/something, but your expectations and emotional reactions align more with a fuck yes, you have a problem. You can't say NO to something and still have the FUCK YES expectations. For example, if you say no to being someone's partner but you say fuck yes to being their friend, then you can't hold the expectations of a fuck yes partnership. Test this out- think of them dating someone else, does it make you angry? Think of them failing to do anything romantic, does it bother you? If so, then you are in a grey area and you need to make some inner shifts.
If you say no to being someone's partner because they don't have the whole package/special qualities/natural je ne sais quoi that would make you say fuck yes, then you have to let go of any expectations of a romantic partnership. You have to be very clear about your intentions with any social interactions with this person. If you say fuck yes to friendship, then align your expectations and responses towards friendship. Don't put yourself in a cycle of grey areas.
An example of a cycle of grey areas would be: 1. feeling fulfilled because of something romantic you two shared 2. feeling annoyed/confused/claustrophobic when someone tries to establish a committed relationship/anything close to or towards a committed relationship 3. pull back/close off/shut down 4. miss them 5. do friendship things that make you remember you really like them 6. dip your toes in the romantic waters again 7. repeat.
This happens a lot because lots of the time, people aren't clear on what they want. You can only test the waters so much before indecision leads to illusion. This is how you lead people on/get lead on, even if it isn't intentional. This is a huge time/energy waster. The only way that you can enjoy the grey areas between romance and friendship is by being black and white clear that you don't want to be purely platonic and that you don't want to be purely romantic. So it can be a fuck yes to special friends, but that's still a fuck yes and still requires alignment of expectations and intention with that fuck yes.
This works for any hobby/diet/exercise regime. It is the new year, people try to get healthier. Many people overbook themselves by saying fuck yes to one diet and one plan and holding expectations and attitudes that align with a "no." People also have conflicting fuck yes answer. Conflicting fuck yes answers can't co-exist. If you say fuck yes to a rock climbing regime that requires lots of body weight strength and is enhanced by a lighter, leaner physique but that the same time you say fuck yes to an Olympic weight training regime because you want to look like the hulk and squat 450, then you have conflicting fuck yes answers. Choose one for now, the only way you can really enjoy the expansion of a fuck yes choice is through focused commitment.
Conflicting fuck yes answers also apply to relationships as well, so be aware. If you say fuck yes to welcoming a relationship that involves superior compatibility in communication styles but you keep saying fuck yes to someone who you have to constantly explain yourself to, then you have conflicting fuck yes answers. Make a decision. Practice conviction.
Another important factor in the successful application of the Fuck Yes or No rule is the realization that life is sequential and ever changing. The tides are constantly shifting and you need to embrace that. Apply the Fuck Yes or No rule in as little bites as necessary- let it guide your decisions that influence the development of a relationship/project/goal. Maybe someone or something isn't a fuck yes now, under these circumstances, so take the fuck yes action that applies. Just don't fall under the trap of thinking that if something is a fuck yes now, it will always be a fuck yes. If something is a no now, that doesn't mean it will always be a no. The beauty lies in embracing that uncertainty while still gearing your actions/intentions towards what you know you certainly want.
For example, if someone is a fuck yes for romance for you, but they only behave in a way that says you're a fuck yes for friendship and a no for romance to them, then don't fight it. Don't try to convince them that you're a fuck yes. Just do fuck yes things with them, since you obviously share a mutual like for each other, albeit the difference in extent. Maybe its a fuck yes you want to watch a movie with them. Maybe its a fuck yes you want to share a beer. Don't shut people out of your life because you're not a fuck yes dating partner- everyone needs friends. Let the fuck yes dating feelings you have lose momentum and just enjoy your fuck-yes-enjoying-the-presence-of-someone-I-really-mesh-with feelings/actions. It may seem like a grey area, but grey areas are only grey areas if you're intentions and expectations remain unexamined.
Set the intention to make 2015 a fuck yes year. No wishy washy actions. If you want to fool around, say fuck yes to a time and a place and a way to fool around. Make sure your resources and expectations align with that decision. Practice conviction, practice honesty, practice streamlined logic, and practice intuition. Be aware, be vigilant, be thoughtful, be reflective. Feel the balance.


text:
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb idiomatic To
die; to divest oneself of one's mortal body.
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Sorry, no example sentences found.
From 'Green Eggs And Hamlet':
" I ask to be, or not to be.
That is the question, I ask of me.
This sullied life, it makes me shudder.
My uncle's boffing dear, sweet mother.
Would I, could I, take my life?
Could I, should I, end this strife?
Should I jump out of a plane?
Or throw myself before a train?
Should I from a cliff just leap?
Could I put myself to sleep?
Shoot myself, or take some poison?
Maybe try self immolation?
To shudder of this mortal coil,
I could stab myself with a fencing foil."
Excellent! Who wrote this?
Listed as author unknown here, also unattributed on another site.
The original is from Hamlet.
See here for some interesting notes: Phrase explanation


text:
COD to vote on $750,000 buyout of President contract.
For Immediate
For More Information Contact
Frank Napolitano
COD Board Candidate Frank Napolitano Opposes $750,000 Buyout for
COD Board President
January 22, 2015 - Bloomingdale, Illinois - The College of DuPage board of trustees is scheduled to vote Thursday night on a buyout package for its president that would give him more than $750,000 in severance payments and bring his controversial tenure at the publicly funded community college to a close, according to a breaking news story in the Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glen-ellyn/ct-college-of-dupage-board-of-trustees-20150122-story.html
A draft copy of the proposed buyout agreement, obtained by the Tribune, shows college President Robert Breuder would be paid more than twice his base salary when he retires March 31, 2016. His contract is set to end in 2019, according to a college spokesman.
Even as their leader exits, those on the board continue to perpetrate the same underhanded scheming that has besmirched the reputation of the College of DuPage and the taxpayers of this county. I strongly oppose this action by the board of directors and am running for a seat on the COD Board to restore principled leadership in this fine community institution.
For more information, please contact me at www.franknapolitano.com or email@example.com


text:
What would you like to know?
Mortgage Calculator
For new mortgages, if the downpayment or equity is less then 20% of the purchase price, the amortization cannot exceed 25 years and the maximum purchase price must be less than $1,000,000.
Mortgage rates are estimates of current rates. No fees are included.
What is your availability for a viewing?
1150 Duchess Avenue, West Vancouver
$2,998,800Calculate Mortgage Calculate Mortgage
2789 Sq.Ft. 3 Baths 3 Beds 4,026 Lot SqFt 2001 Built
Google Maps Map WalkScore Email Us Request a Viewing
Virtual Tour
Live in the heart of Ambleside with walking distance to all restaurants, Park Royal, shops and the Beach. A spectacular ocean view from main and master bedroom floors, with new porcelain bathrooms and outdoor kitchen for entertaining as the cruise ships pass by. A flat street near the bus stops of Marine drive so you can easily ride to the airport on vacation. Easy care perennial landscaping and hedging. Underground parking for two cars. Close to beach, tennis courts, bocce courts,and seawall walk. 3 or 4 bedrooms, three bathrooms, and lots of storage. Ambleside by the Sea!! Viewings by appt only.
Taxes (2018): $6,895.85


text:
Our Mothers and our daughters bear the third eye. Invisible - kept concealed under the drop of vermillion. They are born with the spirit of the demon slayer. By chanting the invocation to Durga on the day of the Mah...
Home Following Previous Reads Read Later Saved Authors About Madcue Invite Friends Get in Touch Report an IssueCreate Account
Sign In
Sign in now to see your interests and suggestions!
4 Stories
Stories From evil
Powerful Slytherin Vs. Righteous Gryffindor
by The Sith Lord - 10 Jul 2015 , 0 Likes
If Hogwarts were The States, then Slytherin would closely resemble the Harvard University. It's a respected house filled with students, majority of them belonging to the heritage society. Along with that comes their...
It Feels Good To Be Bad
by Solid - 17 Jan 2016 , 0 Likes
While our world frees from the dreams of super heroes, and relatable feelings seem to reduce with them, villains and antiheroes are now taking the spotlight. People finally say it out loud that it feels good to be b...


text:
Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
When you dye clothing, it is common to use commercial fabric dye to dye the fabric. However, if you do not have any fabric dye on hand, you can still dye your clothes by using regular food colouring. Although food colouring is typically used to colour baked goods and frosting, it can have the same effect on fibres. You can even make tie-dyed T-shirts using food colouring, which can be an exciting project for children as well.
Fill a large stock pot with water. If you are only dying a small amount of clothing, fill the pot halfway full. If you are going to dye a larger amount of clothing, fill the stock three-fourths full.
Squeeze in 4 Tbsp of food colouring per quart of water that you have added into the stock pot. For example, if you fill the stock pot with 3 quarts of water, you will need to add in 12 Tbsp of food colouring. Select the colour of food colouring that you prefer.
Pour in 1 cup of table salt per gallon of water. Using table salt will help the colouring adhere to the fibres in the clothing and will produce a more vibrant finished product. Stir the water well with a spoon to help the salt dissolve in the water.
Heat the stock pot over medium-high heat until the water begins to boil. Decrease the heat to medium-low. The mixture should be simmering.
Insert your clothing into the dye bath, and submerge it completely. Stir the clothing in the dye bath for 20 minutes while the dye bath simmers.
Rinse out the dyed clothing in warm water until the water runs clear, then rinse it with cold water. Wash the clothing as usual, keeping like colours together.
Most recent
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images


text:
This is a developing story that will be updated as events unfold. To contribute, please go to the TALK page.
Polls closed 5pm local time in the controversial rerun of Kenya's presidential election, which went ahead despite violent protests that left one protester dead and others injured.
Reuters reported that police fired tear gas and water cannons at opposition supporters who set up barricades to block access to polling stations. The news agency said that at least one person was killed and several others injured after police fired bullets at protesters in the western city of Kisumu, a stronghold of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Presidential incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta is almost certain to win this latest attempt at an election. Odinga withdrew from standing in the second vote because he claimed it would not be free and fair, and had called on Kenyans to boycott the vote.
The majority of the violence has been in Odinga strongholds in the west of the country. Four western counties, out of Kenya's 47, had to close voting stations early. The electoral commission said that the polls there will reopen on Saturday, October 28.
Postponing the polls until the weekend may be unnecessary. BBC reports that constituents in western districts have boycotted the election at a rate near-100 percent, as requested by Odinga.
Odinga today tweeted that his party is "transforming … into a resistance movement."
Amnesty International said in a statement that security forces have been heavily deployed in opposition strongholds and have urged the police to exercise restraint.
The second vote was ordered after Kenya's Supreme Court last month nullified the result of presidential elections. The initial vote, on August 8, was announced in favor of incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. However, the court found that the electoral commission had erred in announcing the result before the count had been verified.
The recent unrest has stoked fears of a repeat of the violence that followed Kenya's 2007 election and claimed an estimated 1,300 lives.


text:
Russ Canzler
Russell Michael Canzler
- Bats Right, Throws Roght
- Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.
- High School Hazleton Area High School
- Debut September 15, 2011
- Final Game October 3, 2012
- Born April 11, 1986 in Berwick, PA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Russ Canzler has played the infield and the outfield in the minor leagues and reached the majors with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011.
Canzler was selected out of high school in Hazleton, Pennsylvania by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round of the 2004 amateur draft. He had also played American Legion ball in Hazleton. Canzler was signed by scout Billy Blitzer and made his pro debut that summer. As befits a late-round draft choice, he made his way slowly up the Cubs' organizational ladder. He spent his first two season with the AZL Cubs, playing third base the first year and first base in 2005, hitting .299 in 49 games in his second go-round. He was promoted to Boise of the Northwest League in 2006 and had a bit of a break-out season, hitting 22 doubles and 16 homers in 73 games, and made the league's post-season All-Star team. In 2007, he was with Peoria of the Midwest League, hitting .270/.321/.376 in 125 games in his first taste of full-season ball. He began spending some time in left field that year, in his addition to his starting job at 1B.
In 2008 Canzler spent the entire season with the Class A Daytona Cubs in the Florida State League. His numbers were very similar to the previous season, although he did raise his home run total from 7 to 12 in fewer at-bats, thus improving his slugging average considerably. In 2009, he reached AA for the first time after going back to Daytona to start the season. After 28 games of his usual production - .270 with middling power - he was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League and hit .258 in 90 games. He was back at Tennessee in 2010, but was no longer the starter at first base. His most frequent position was third base, and he also played first, the outfield, and DH. He hit .287/.372/.566 in 112 games, his best batting line until then.
Canzler moved to the Tampa Bay Rays organization as a free agent in 2011 and started the year in AAA. He was hitting .290 with 23 doubles and 10 homers in 84 games for the Durham Bulls and earned a spot to play in the AAA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, UT on July 13th, although he was still moving around between the various positions he can handle. He was the hero of the contest, hitting a 3-run homer that accounted for all the scoring in the International League's 3-0 victory over the Pacific Coast League. He ended the year with a .314 average, a league-leading 40 doubles, 18 home runs, and 83 RBI for the Bulls and was named the 2011 IL MVP, earning a September call-up with Tampa Bay. He made his big league debut against the Boston Red Sox on September 15th. Entering the game as a pinch hitter for DH Johnny Damon, he was walked by Michael Bowden in the ninth inning in his only plate appearance.
Notable Achievements[edit]
- 2011 MVP International League Durham Bulls


text:
Investors around the world are putting their trust in the only Labour government in the UK, according to new figures released yesterday.
Investors around the world are putting their trust in the only Labour government in the UK, according to new figures released yesterday.
UK Trade and Investment's Inward Investment Report for 2012/13 has confirmed assertions previously made by Welsh first minister that inward investment is on the increase.
According to the report, in the last year Wales saw a 191 per cent increase in the amount of investment made by foreign companies. The equivalent figures for the rest of the country were 41 per cent for Northern Ireland, 16 per cent for Scotland, 10 per cent for England and 2 per cent for London.
In June, Mark Gregory, chief economist at Ernst & Young, declared Wales performance in this area as "sparkling".
According to the Welsh government, the investment has safeguarded 4,442 jobs in the 2012/13 financial year and created an additional 2,605 jobs.
Declaring that the Welsh government's efforts are now "reaping rewards", first minister Carwyn Jones said:
"These latest UKTI inward investment figures for Wales are extremely encouraging and indicate a significant improvement in the share of the UK's inward investment coming to Wales in 2012-13.
"The report shows the number of inward investment projects for Wales rose by almost 200 per cent on the previous year, while the number of jobs created and safeguarded in Wales increased by more than 100 per cent…
"Over the last few months, the economy minister has promoted Welsh interests in Los Angeles, Norway, Japan and Russia. Next month she is due to visit Germany, while multi-sector trade missions to Qatar, Istanbul and Shanghai are planned for later this year.
"Our efforts are reaping rewards. Trade deals done as a result of our intervention during the whole of 2012-13 amounted to £3.9m, and for the first three months of 2013-14 alone, total deals done as a result of Welsh Government intervention stood at £3.4m."
The finds will be a further boost for Welsh Labour following encouraging polling results published earlier in the week showing considerably increased support for the party in Wales. The survey, conducted by YouGov for the 'Elections in Wales' blog, found that on voting intentions for Wales, Labour's support has increased by 12 per cent since the last election to 48 per cent.
The only other party to register an increase was UKIP, which has increased by 6 per cent to 8 per cent – equal with the Lib Dems.
On the Assembly Constituency vote meanwhile, Labour's support has increased since the last elections by 4 per cent to 46 per cent. Interestingly, on this vote as the Conservatives have fallen by 6 per cent, UKIP have picked up 6 per cent of the vote at the same time.
Commenting on the poll's findings, professor Roger Scully of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre who runs the Elections in Wales blog said:
"As parliament and the National Assembly begin their summer recess, this YouGov poll provides a valuable end-of-term assessment of where the parties stand in Wales. It shows that the resurgence in Labour support in Wales since the 2010 general election continues unabated. And Labour is taking support from all the other parties. Conservative support is now coming under pressure, threatening many of the eight parliamentary seats the Party now holds in Wales and the Tories' status as the official opposition in the National Assembly.
"The poll does reveal some limited good news for Plaid Cymru. Their strong showing on the regional list vote means that they are currently on course to regain their status as the second largest party in the National Assembly. But the poll offers little comfort to the Liberal Democrats. It also suggests that UKIP's English breakthrough is having some resonance in Wales – although, ironically, this is more likely to result in seat wins for the National Assembly than in the UK parliament."
According to the blog, if these figures were replicated at a Westminster Election the following seats would change hands:
- Aberconwy (LAB gain from CON)
- Arfon (LAB gain from PC)
- Brecon and Radnor (CON gain from LD)
- Cardiff Central (LAB gain from LD)
- Cardiff North (LAB gain from CON)
- Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (LAB gain from PC)
- Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (LAB gain from CON)
- Preseli Pembrokeshire (Lab gain from CON)
- Vale of Glamorgan (LAB gain from CON)
Such a scenario would see Conservative representation in Westminster from Wales cut in half to four seats, just at the moment that David Cameron would need to increase the number of seats he holds if he is to entertain any possibility of forming a majority government of his own.
Like this article? Left Foot Forward relies on support from readers to sustain our progressive journalism. Can you become a supporter for £5 a month?
Leave a Reply


text:
Why do Psychometric Testing
Use psychometric tests to improve your recruitment process!
Psychometric tests is a scientific approach utilized to determine people' psychological abilities and behavioral abilities. Psychometric tests are created to determine a prospects' appropriateness for a function based upon the needed character qualities and ability (or cognitive capabilities). They recognize the level to which a candidates' character and cognitive capabilities are aligned with those needed to carry out the function. Companies utilize the info gathered from the psychometric test to recognize the hidden elements of candidate that would be difficult to draw out from an in person interview.
Psychometric Tests Benefits
Psychometric Tests:
- suggests you are not relying exclusively on interviews
- conserves companies money and time
- can be utilized at any phase of the application procedure
- has to do with determining abilities and capabilities, not simply education
- offers a real photo of prospects
- motivates consistency in recruitment
- helps eliminates bias from your recruitment technique.
- is fair to your prospects along with for you
- secures and establish the culture of your office
Psychometric Tests Offered
|General Assessments
|Price (including VAT)
|Occupation-based Personality Profile Assessment
|1 436
|Universal Personality Based Competency Assessment
|4 150
|Numeric, Verbal, Inductive, Deductive, Technical and Mechanical Reasoning Ability Assessment
|1 037
|Career Guidance Assessment
|3 990
|Leadership and Managerial Styles Assessment
|9 257
|Team Types and Leadership Style Assessment
|3 000
|General Reasoning, Critical Reasoning, Clerical Reasoning
|1 277
|Work Related Integrity and Risk Assessment
|2 506
|Four Factor Personality Preference Assessment (Development & Succession Planning)
|5 107
|Personal Profile Analysis (Selection & Recruitment)
|4 628
|Learning Potential Assessments
|2 394
|Emotional Intelligence Assessments
|4 628
|Integrity Assessments
|2 953
|Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word Competence Tests
|1 357
|Cognitive Potential Assessment
|4 469
|Standard Assessment Batteries (Selection & Recruitment), includes a number of assessments to provide a comprehensive profile of each candidate:
|Graduate Level and Entry Level
|5 905
|Administrative or Clerical
|5 905
|Mid-Level / Supervisory
|9 576
|Management/ Senior Management
|11 332
|Executive Level
|13 566
|Standard Personal Development Assessment Battery:
|Personal Development
|5 985
If you interest in any of these tests please click on contact form
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011-882-8853
Tel: 082-040-0987 (Amanda)
Tel: 063-767-5736 (Odette)
Oops! We could not locate your form.
Oops! We could not locate your form.
Please Phone Us Now To Speak to One of Our Friendly Consultants
Please Fill in the Form – We Will Get Back to You Within 15 minutes
Please Email Us Now – We Will Get Back to You Within 15 minutes
[email protected]
Don't delay. Skill up at BOTi Today.
BOTi – Get On Course


text:
America's #1 Mover®
Movers Near Me
How Can I Find Movers Near Me?
With a network of more than 300 movers all across the United States, United Van Lines is America's #1 Mover. To find movers near me, select your state and then select your city using the links at the bottom of this page. If you are moving within Dallas, St. Louis, Orlando or Phoenix, we have partnered with Handled to take care of your local moving and home services needs, from start to finish.
How Do I Get a Quote for Movers Near Me?
Complete the form above or call the number at the top of this page to speak to a United Van Lines customer service specialist and begin your moving quote today. To help in formulating an accurate quote, we will schedule an appointment to have an estimator take inventory of your home. Learn more about the factors that affect your moving quote.
Video Chat Moving Quote Option
When you contact United Van Lines, ask about our video chat moving quote option. This easy quote option allows customers to walk one of our estimators through their homes, using their smartphones.
If you're looking for a moving company to take everything off of your hands, you have landed in the right place. In addition to moving your belongings mostly anywhere in the world, United Van Lines provides packing, storage, auto transport, cleaning, debris pick-up and technology set-up/break-down services for our customers.
How Far Can These Movers Go?
Whether customers are moving to a new neighborhood, city, state or country, United Van Lines strives to service them. We offer local, long-distance and international moving services and have the experience help customers from moving quote to move-in day. We also provide customers with moving checklists, packing tips and more!
Why United Van Lines?
United Van Lines is one of America's largest moving companies and takes pride in its professional, white glove moving services. Many of our customers prefer that we handle everything from start to finish. We are humbled to be given the opportunity to manage customer moves, so that our customers can focus on what matters most to them.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Get started right away by filling out your information on the quote form. You'll be contacted promptly by a United Van Lines representative who will assist in setting up a no-obligation estimate.


text:
By Mary, The Naturalist Contributor & Body Care Buyer
Reading the label of a skincare product is like reading a nutrition label, except worse. There's an ingredient list, common allergies, there are chemicals I know I want to avoid, chemicals that sound like I should avoid them but are really just a fancy name for Vitamin E which I don't want to avoid, and there are ingredients I covet. There are oils we all know and love (Jojoba! Rosehip!) and oils we didn't know about before we saw them bottled and prepared on the shelf (Moringa!). Then there are 4 different kinds of the same oil and 3 different moisturizers claiming to target sensitive skin. It reminds me of the first time I moved out of my parents house and had a panic attack, standing in the middle of the bread aisle at a supermarket in West Hollywood, overwhelmed at 18 years old by the sheer amount of options I had and wondering whether I should even be eating bread anyway.
Julia Teren, founder of Thesis Beauty and self proclaimed Beauty Purist, has created a line of incredibly pure and effective skin care while making sure labels are easy for consumers to digest. I discovered Thesis like many of you probably did: while longingly searching for non toxic skin care that actually worked. Thesis also became my first realization that skincare could be the next local food movement. By choosing Thesis I'm supporting a local family owned business that uses premium organic ingredients without charging me a premium price. By supporting Thesis, I'm helping grow the rich community of makers, artists, and healers that call New England their home.
Below, Julia shares her own experience with discovering pure beauty and how Thesis came to be.
Thesis is a local favorite among Cambridge Naturalists, what was the first product you created as a brand that led to the growth of the company?
First of all, we are so proud to be part of the awesome Camberville community and Cambridge Naturals and grateful for all the unbelievable support we are getting! Thank you so much!
The first product I came up with after months and months of extensive research was the serum Lullaby for Dry Skin. At the time I was struggling with skin dryness exacerbated by living in an urban area such as Los Angeles. The weirdest thing was that my skin was dry, but still breaking out. At times it would actually swing in the opposite direction and produce crazy amounts of sebum while still feeling awfully dehydrated, flaking, and just looked embarrassing. Nothing I got in stores (and at the time I was dead set on going organic and natural) could fix this, no matter the price. So it was my priority to make something soothing and moisturizing for the face first to alleviate dryness, clear flaking, and stop breakouts. Countless hours were spent to come up with this truly balanced, nutritious formula that was light, moisturizing, and smelling great.
They say you have to spend at least 10,000 hours to master a skill, I think I paid my dues beyond that. In the meantime I was also trying to formulate a good cream because my shins were so dry and itchy I was scratching myself to tears. Dozens of failed experiments later, a silky Lavender cream was born. Those two were my saviors and the formulas have experienced minimal changes since their debut because they were so successful.
How has Thesis changed since those beginnings?
Well, it's been a journey. We started back in 2009. We had a different name and very much homemade packaging, and the bottles and jars were blue. I had to master Photoshop and photography skills from scratch in order to come up with professional-looking labels. In fact, I had to re-design them at least 3 times. But from the very beginning, and to this day, we have been focusing on eco-friendly packaging, mostly glass with sun-protective qualities. So on the surface, the design has changed, but our organic-vegan-eco ethos is firmly rooted in all we do.
I love the term "beauty purist." It sums up those of us searching for nontoxic and sustainable skincare products perfectly. When/how did you first become a self proclaimed "beauty purist?"
I think I have this perfectionist mentality where everything has to be done to the highest standards or it's not worth doing at all. So I can relate to how frustrating it can be to read skincare label. Say, as a beauty purist, you want to find a product that would be organic, vegan, and simple. What you find instead: asterisks on the labels with exceptions, or in-brackets explanations with the "derived from" theme, or with free-from list of ingredients while the ingredient panel would be plagued with a lot of other chemicals. So when I started Thesis I decided it must be the best or what's the point in wasting ingredients.
What's your daily skincare routine? Does this change with the seasons or while traveling?
That is a very good question. My friend just asked me yesterday: "Which products in your line do you use?" and I replied "All of them!" - that's because I developed them originally to tackle my own skin issues. In summer, when it's hot and steamy my dry skin behaves more like combo type, so I use products intended for oily/combo skin to curb excessive sebum production and control pores. As heat subsides and we step into cooler, dryer months my skin swings back to its normal, dry self, so I begin to swap one product after another to gradually revert back to the dry skin routine. But regardless of the season, I am trying to be good about following simple steps: #1 Removing makeup, if necessary. I really only wear mineral mascara and occasionally mineral eye shadows. Lately I got obsessed with super bright lipsticks, so those may require makeup remover for sure. #2 Cleansing. I love Tender as Petals for its mildness, and it's also just very slightly scrubby and gives me a gentle massage. #3 Moisturizing - it's everything for me. The one thing that I can't forget while traveling or under any other circumstances is a moisturizer. #4 Scrubs and masks - whenever the life of a busy mom permits. I sometimes apply a mask even just for 5-10 minutes before little hands start knocking on the bathroom door, but it already makes me feel better, taken care of, and the skin is certainly very happy even with this effort. I am grateful that this routine liberated me from camouflaging my skin with foundations because there is usually nothing to camouflage anymore.
What has inspired or continues to inspire your beauty uniform?
The raw movement. Several years ago I got inspired by bloggers and recipe books describing raw, living foods - the dishes on those photographs looked better than what they were called to substitute! To that end, I feel like organizing my kitchen better played a very important role in improving cooking habits and transitioning to raw.
I try to apply raw principles to my skincare formulas as well - most ingredients are raw, unprocessed and food grade. It also made me look deeper into supplements and vitamins, so now I only use raw, organic vitamins, live probiotics, unprocessed proteins, etc. Raw and organic ingredients provide maximum benefit to the skin and the body which has been confirmed by a number of studies. I can attest to that with my own experience. I also used to get enough sleep, but with when our son came I haven't slept in probably 2 years. I attribute my energy and complexion to the beauty uniform that I am trying to uphold as best I can.
If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring beauty purists, what would it be?
Reading labels and understanding ingredients is essential, so it pretty much boils down to educating yourself about what should and shouldn't be on your plate, in your lotion, in your laundry, etc. Another aspect of it is the perceived beauty standard touted explicitly or subliminally by media, movies etc - they are forced upon us. Also at play are our inner unresolved issues, complexes that prevent us from loving and accepting ourselves as we deserve. I strongly believe that healthy is beautiful - the rest is passing trend.
Do you have a favorite Thesis product or one that is particularly special to you?
Serum for Dry Skin is my favorite moisturizer. It helped me normalize my skin, transition to a purist routine, and eventually drop camouflaging with everyday makeup.
Thank you so much for sharing your Beauty Uniform with us, Julia! For updates from Thesis follow them on instagram @thesisbeauty


text:
6/11/2017 (Extra)Ordinary : The tools people use to keep you stuck at "ordinary" - Art Greco/
Here are some follow up questions for further reflection:
- What was something you learned?
- What was something you heard that impacted your heart?
- What is something Jesus might be inviting you into in your walk with Him?
- How might you apply this so as to be a blessing to our church or your community?
- Who is someone you can share this with as you put this into practice?


text:
536 Kingsview Way S.E., Airdrie, Alberta, T4A 0B3 1-800-661-2441
Fraserway RV is Canada's favourite RV dealer & premiere RV renter. They're there to help base camp your outdoor adventures; from Tent Trailers to Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels to Toy Haulers, Class C motor-homes to Class A motor coaches, we've got you covered. They are a first-rate customer value experience, and proud to be a part of the pleasant surprise Canada holds for you. So come explore Canada; from the east coast to the west coast, from the south to the north, and everywhere in between. Fraserway RV, the place for everything RV since 1969.


text:
By Bryan Bergeron View In Digital Edition
As a young ham radio enthusiast, I assembled my first operating station by tearing down and reassembling broken TVs and radios. After months of saving from several odd jobs, I was able to step up to a 'real' rig — a DIY crystal-controlled CW transmitter from the now defunct Heathkit Corporation.
Over the years, I eventually acquired an amplifier, digital multimeter, SWR meter, PLL-based transceiver, and other test and operating equipment kits from the company. The equivalent of paint-by-numbers, the various kits were not only affordable, but easy to repair and modify. Given the well-written documentation and large user community, I was virtually guaranteed of success, and there was no scrounging for hard-to-find, expensive parts.
Heathkit eventually lost the niche for low-end communications and test equipment to less expensive, more compact, and more functional fully-assembled equipment from overseas. Today, it's still the case that pre-assembled, imported equipment is often the most affordable option.
However, for electronics enthusiasts, it's not only the final product, but the process of designing and/or building circuits that counts. Economics still matter, but most of us are willing to pay a reasonable premium for the opportunity to assemble a circuit ourselves. In fact, what makes a kit so attractive these days is the relative cost savings over assembling a circuit piecemeal; $5 for a blank perf-board; $2 for a battery clip; $1.50 for a voltage regulator chip. Pretty soon, the cost of even the most modest circuit can get out of hand. Hence, the renewed popularity of kits.
My latest kit project is a hybrid preamp, the K-270 from Oatley Electronics (www.oatleyelectronics.com). At $20, the kit (see photo above) makes an affordable, high-quality guitar amplifier that provides real 'tube sound' that even the best all solid-state preamps can only approximate.
As points of comparison, I could have bought a self-contained, solid-state preamp with a nice enclosure for about $35, or copied the K-270's circuit design and ordered the parts from Mouser for about $50. I went with the kit, and used a guitar body for the main enclosure. Go ahead and make your own comparison — the parts list and schematic are available on the Oatley Electronics website.
As you can see in the photo, the hybrid preamp features two JAN6418 sub-miniature pentodes. The pentodes are cascaded in common cathode configuration, each with 1.2V @ 5 mA filaments, followed by a MOSFET buffer. A 5V regular accepts 9 VDC battery input. In addition, an input high-pass and low-pass filter composed of switched capacitors enables you to modify the basic 20 Hz - 30 kHz response. Maximum gain is about 100, with a maximum draw of about 11 mA at 9V. The diminutive preamp is just a little larger than a magnetic guitar pickup.
Instead of designing an amplifier from scratch, I invested my time in integrating the amplifier into my electric guitar. After routing my solid-body traveler guitar body with two cavities — one for the amplifier and one for the 9V battery holder — I coated each cavity with conductive paint. Next, I mounted the board and battery holder, and added an on-off switch in series with the 9V supply.
As with most well-designed and documented kits, the preamp lends itself to modification. I couldn't resist modifying the input high- and low-pass filter circuits and adjusting the tube plate voltage to get more of a vintage sound from the preamp.
The take-away is that kits are an affordable, low-risk, fun way to learn about and experience electronics. If you're new to kits or simply haven't put one together in a while, this is a great time to try your hand at one. NV


text:
Select a membership
Create your account
Complete your payment
Helping you select great wine.
Full Individual
Ideal for all wine lovers who want complete access to trusted advice on wines to drink and cellar.
*Prices in AUD.
NEW! Complimentary access to The Real Review
Now includes unlimited access to all 90,000 tasting notes and cellaring guidelines by Huon Hooke, Bob Campbell MW and Toni Paterson MW at The Real Review
45,000 trusted wine reviews
HuonHooke.com access to wine ratings and reviews by Huon Hooke only.
Recommended Top Drops
Keep up to date with new and interesting wines with Huon Hooke's monthly Top Drops.
The Wine 360 perspective
Get smart with The Real Review Rankings, Top Value awards, Price Benchmarks, and price-rating maps.
Never forget a wine again
Keep track of the wines you like and dislike.
Wine loving community
Share your tasting notes with thousands of other wine enthusiasts.
iPhone app
Take the world of wine in your pocket with Huon's iPhone app.
Website access
Full access to Huon's entire website.
For the TradeLooking for membership plans for wineries, distributors or retailers?
Trade memberships include republication rights, compelling marketing materials and more.
Convenient renewals
All membership plans are automatically renewing subscriptions with email invoices upon each renewal.