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My wife and I had a bit of a whirlwind romance. Both of us were in our mid-30's and we were starting to feel our age. Neither of us wanted to do the bar scene since we don't drink and we both hated blind dates (horror stories, anyone??). So, in December 2008 we both joined eHarmony. I joined first. I went on several dates before I was matched with Erin. I met some nice folks. No crazies or bizzaros. But I didn't click with anybody. By the time I reached the end of January, I was burned out (and nearly broke from paying for all those dates!), so I decided to turn off my notifications for a little bit and try again later. I purchased a year's membership and was in no rush.
Meanwhile, Erin joined in late February during a free sign-up period with a goal of meeting new people and being more social. Her first match was with a dude who wanted to rush the conversation and meet quickly because his free trial was about to expire. She got the heebee-jeebees from him and decided to take a pass. Besides, he was clearly cheap.
I restarted my notifications in mid-March. The very morning I restarted, Erin was the third option on my list of matches. She had such a sweet face and her profile seemed a perfect match. I hit the "Initiate Contact" button to see if she were interested in talking.
What I didn't know was that thirty miles away I was her first option on her list the same morning and she thought the same of me. She also clicked the "Initiate Contact" button. We wrote through eHarmony for a week, talked on the phone for a week, and then met for our first date on April 4, 2009. We were married on October 31. 2009.
Pardon the lack of details and the time jumps, but I will post more of our story in a later post. In 2011 we learned that we would not be able to have children due to infertility issues. We spent thousands of dollars on procedures that were not covered by our insurance. But most severely, Erin's body had to undergo the extreme stress of the hormones and medications that threw her body into emotional turmoil. With each passing month, when the pregnancy test came back negative, it was like mourning the death of a child. I tread lightly at first, but I finally had to confront Erin with the possibility that we would never have a child of our own. After many tears and restless nights comforting each other, we decided to foster-to-adopt.
Here we are in 2017 with four beautiful children, all of whom we adopted. Phillip and Carl we fostered first beginning April, 2013. Phillip was 6 and Carl was 5. Rosie came to us in 2013. We picked her up from the hospital when she was three weeks old. Her first weeks of life were spent in the neonatal intensive care unit. Jon, the biological brother of Phillip and Carl, came to live with us in April, 2014 when he was 5. We officially adopted Phillip, Carl, and Jon in November, 2016. Rosie's adoption has just been finalized in early 2017. Again, full adoptions will be in later posts!
When we hear of couples who struggle having children we often ask them to consider fostering. Usually we hear the same excuses: "I can't take the emotional toil of having children move around; I can't deal with the issues foster children have; I have to have my own children; etc." We politely smile and tell them if they want to reconsider they can call us.
Fostering has been a huge blessing to our family. We could easily have lived our lives in peace and quiet without ever having had children. The problem was we knew we were born to be parents. That was our mission, our purpose in life.
I decided to write this post to help any perspective foster parents as they try to decide if this life-changing experience is worth it to them. So, I present to you the Top 5 Reasons You Need to be a Foster Parent:
1) Every child deserves a stable, loving home.
On any given day, and average 428,000 children are in foster care. The number fluctuates because children come into care or leave the system for a variety of reasons. While the primary goal of foster care is to reunite the children with their birth families, some children are not able to return home. These children will be available for adoption once their parents' rights are terminated by the court. This process can take years. When tragedy strikes a family and social services feels a child must be removed from a home, a qualified relative is sought after first. If no immediate and acceptable relation can be found, the child is placed in a foster home.
Foster children have experienced the trauma of being pulled away from the only family they have ever known. This will be a time of healing. Whether the child stays with a foster family for a couple of nights or a couple of years, the child will need the love and support of a family during this difficult time.
Our first two placements came to us on the same day in July, 2012. One was a three year-old girl who had been in eight different foster homes due to her biological mother moving around so much. The other was an 18 month old boy. Neither was related to the other. Our initial hope was to adopt the children, but we lost the boy after a month when relatives were found in another state and the little girl left us six months later when the birth mother relinquished her rights to a couple she knew. I've had so many people tell me they couldn't bear the thought of having a foster child taken away from them. The emotional stress would be too much. Yet I pose this question: "Is it better for an adult to suffer the sense of loss due to the removal of a foster child or for a child not the experience the love and care of a family during their desperate hour of need?" The needs of the children must always come first.
2) Foster care costs are covered by the state and federal government.
Foster families receive stipends each month to cover the cost of care for each child. The total available varies by state and by the age of the child. Foster children who are considered therapeutic (the care for these children can be intense due to being medically fragile or the need for intense therapy) receive a much larger supplement. Therapeutic foster parents must undertake much more extensive training than regular foster parents. Foster children are covered by Medicaid and they qualify for free breakfast and lunch through the public school food service program. For infants, WIC benefits are provided to cover the cost of formula for infants and basic food items for the child until the age of 5. Erin and I used the WIC program for formula, but once our kids moved to solid foods we stopped using this benefit.
In North Carolina, children who are in foster care past the age of 13 are eligible for free tuition at any UNC system school should the child meet the qualifications of enrollment. Foster children may remain in the system and continue to receive benefits up the age of 21.
3) Fostering is a great path to adoption.
For many prospective parents, private adoption is out of reach. Costs can quickly sore into tens of thousands of dollars. I have heard of the drama of surrogates who decide at the last minute to keep their babies, even though the court fights could drag on for years.
If you wish to adopt children, fostering can be a godsend. First, if you just wish to adopt a child without fostering, you can let the social workers know that you are interested only in adopting. There are thousands of children currently awaiting adoption. However, your chance of adopting an infant without fostering is slim to none. Keep this in mind: The primary goal of foster care is to reunite children with their birth families. If that reunification is not possible, the court will release the child for adoption. Infants come into care frequently. If you hope to have the full parenting experience from birth though adulthood you are going to have to foster first, work toward reunification with the birth family, and then adopt if the reunification doesn't work out. I realize this may scare you to pieces. But this is how we came to adopt our daughter. We know of many other foster families in the same situation. They took in an infant, worked with the system, and then adopted when the court allowed it. I'll be upfront: You may lose the child. It is very well possible that the child you raise from infancy eventually returns to the birth family. You can not work to sabotage the effort at reunification. Instead, you must work with the social workers and see where the cards fall. Despite the risks, I still believe foster-to-adopt is the best way to adopt an infant.
Adopting a child with special needs, a sibling group, a child past the age of 8, or a child from a minority ethnic group entitles the adoptive family to continue to receive Medicaid as well as the monthly stipend until the child's eighteenth birthday. Funds are also provided in the event unexpected costs arise such as the need for braces or support services for medical or educational needs.
4) Foster children have done nothing to influence their placement in foster care.
A popular misconception is that foster children exhibit behaviors that forced their placement in the foster care system. This simply is not true. Kids come into foster care because the adults in their lives made bad decisions or had difficult circumstances come their way that put the safety of their children at risk. The kids get caught up in that whirlwind and need a calm and peaceful place to stay so they can begin to heal.
My honest piece of advice: Stop watching Lifetime Movie Network! You'll see all kinds of over-the-top situations embellished for dramatic purposes. On the whole, fostering is not like that. Kids who exhibit extreme behaviors are placed in therapeutic foster homes where the families have undertaken extensive training. Your foster child will need love and attention to overcome the trauma that they have endured, but you need not expect a holy terror or psychopath will be dropped off on your front porch. Those stories you can see on CSI-SVU, not in your home.
5) Fostering will enrich your life.
If you are even considering foster care, you have a special place in your heart for kids. I work with kids every day of my life, but when I went home to an empty house I didn't get the feeling of joy and contentment I desperately wanted. After I became a father, my outlook totally changed. I had four munchkins running around the house laughing, playing, and getting on my nerves. I loved it! They crawl in my lap, give me hugs, and break my things. They tell me they love me, fuss with each constantly, and whisper what they dream of doing one day. How can you not love that?
My children breathed life into our home. Those feelings of loss over not having our own children dissipated into nothingness. Our babies love us and we love them as much as if they were born from our bodies. You can't buy an experience like that. Share your heart with a child and you'll reap the joys until your time on this earth is over.
Final Thoughts
I am a fortunate man. Just when I feared facing middle age and the dread of continuing to come home to an empty house, I met the woman who would become my wife. Now we have a beautiful family than no one can tear apart. It's a blessed life and we are grateful for it each and every day.
If children are your dream, your destiny, your greatest desire, give fostering a chance. I totally understand the desire to have biological children. I felt that draw as well. We have an instinctual desire to create children who will carry on our names and our family traditions. If life throws you a curve ball by not allowing you to have children of your own, just remember that there are thousands of kids right this second who would love to call you Mom or Dad. All you have to do is open your heart to the possibility that someone could offer you unconditional love in return. Make it happen. Become a foster parent. It will be the greatest experience of your life.


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Folks in and around the greater Lawrenceville, Norcross area understand the benefits of tile flooring. It's a very popular flooring choice, and that's why we have a huge selection of tile to choose from at Floor Coverings International Lawrenceville. One of our favorite options is slate tile.
What is slate?
Slate has an interesting lineage. It is actually a metamorphic rock that is formed from other shale-type sedimentary rock due to a combination of pressure, heat, and time. The way in which slate is formed results in a particularly hard stone that works well for many applications including chalkboards, roof tile, and flooring tiles.
Slate is usually gray in color, but comes in shades of gray ranging from light gray to much darker charcoal colors. Slate may also exhibit natural color variations that might include green, orange, brown, and even purple hues.
Why is slate a good flooring choice?
- Durability: Like other examples of ceramic and natural stone tile, slate is tough. Few other flooring options will match its durability. Whether you install it in a high-traffic area or you have kids or pets that will be rough on your floor, slate can handle it.
- Moisture Resistance: Slate is also highly resistant to moisture, which makes it a great flooring choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and mudrooms.
- Style & Versatility: Slate is one of those unique flooring materials that looks elegant, sophisticated, and refined, but can also be incorporated very nicely into a more rustic look. It is a smart flooring option for almost any room, and it will be a welcome complement to almost any décor.
- Value: Slate tile flooring requires some up front investment, but it is a highly desirable type of flooring that retains its value well. Should you ever decide to move out of your home, your slate flooring will help bolster your home's market value.
- Low Maintenance: Slate is a set-it-and-forget it type of flooring. Once it's installed it should require very little maintenance to stay looking its best.
- Non-Allergenic: Slate does not give off any scents or chemicals that might irritate those who are sensitive to allergens. It is also non-porous. It won't trap dust, dirt, and other irritants, but instead leaves them to clump together on the surface for easy cleaning.
Slate is truly a premier flooring option and one that we take great pride in providing at Floor Coverings International Lawrenceville. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you are considering installing slate in your home or office. Our flooring experts are here to make sure you get the right flooring at the right price!
Photo Credit: stocksolutions, Kues

subset: commoncrawl


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It all started when....
Wild Terra started like most ideas, over drinks; well honestly it was over many, many drinks.
Founders Ethan and Breezee Hennings had been brewing in their tiny kitchen just beer and kombucha with the occasional cider. But after going back to visit family in Washington, they fell in love with cider's deep history and rich diversity. Ethan and Breezee felt frustrated with a lack of cider options in Fargo and wanted to bring cider back to the forefront of the craft movement where it belongs.
Being the first cider bar was a tough fight initially, laws and ordinances had to be changed and of course over a year of planning just to begin on the remodeling of the beautiful stable building. Although the design and most of the work to restore and rebuild the stable building was done by the Wild Terra team, lots of heart, soul and good vibes came from the community and helpings hands, to which we at Wild Terra will always be indebted.
When naming our endeavor we wanted to capture an adventurous spirit and also touch on where we get our amazing ingredients from for our fermentations, so Wild Terra Cider and Brewing Company came to be.


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Logo Design - Branding
Your Direct and effective Brand!
We create amazingly strong logo designs and branding identities for businesses, companies, and organizations. We have an appreciation to design and create logos and it shows with our creative logo design concepts and finished branding designs. We begin with a strong representation of your business that displays the appropriate message with the highest impact.
Your First Impression & Theirs
Branding With Confidence!
Marketing Services
Professional logo & branding designs customized for each business. Creatives files and logo formats will be delivered to the client.
Crisp, clean and powerful graphic designs for magazine ads, newspapers, flyers, posters and other important business collateral.
Responsive website design and development customized to suit any business or industry.
Client manageable websites.
Get your business in the digital age. Target and capitalize on your digital marketing with a clear and concise message.
Market to specific demographics that are right for your business. Be in front of your customers with impacting graphics and message.
The use of video to amp up business and use throughout the digital world is becoming common place. Start Today with your message.


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We are pleased to announce that Merchant Advance Capital's founder and CEO, David Gens, has been recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of their "Top 40 Under 40."
"After 24 years, Business in Vancouver continues to highlight the achievements of BC's young entrepreneurs, executives and professionals by finding 40 outstanding professionals worthy of the Forty under 40 distinction.Winners are under 40 and have demonstrated excellence in business, judgement, leadership and community contribution."
You can find the full list of winners here. The city of Vancouver is home to a great many entrepreneurs, business leaders, and creative minds: we are honoured to be included in a group of forward-thinking organizations and the people that have made them.
The winners will be celebrated at BIV's annual gala Forty Under 40 awards dinner at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel on January 28, 2015. We are looking forward to it!


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GuessBox began from an idea to create a simple, yet effective B2B lead generation app. GuessBox v 1.0 came to life within a Google Spreadsheet. It wasn't fast, it wasn't flashy but it got the job done!
Read more about this story here.
Almost a year later the GuessBox of today looks like a far removed cousin of the spreadsheet app from back then.
But, I digress..
In this guide you will learn how to create your first automated B2B email campaign using GuessBox.
Step 1: Setup SendGrid
Right now GuessBox integrates with SendGrid.com for sending. It makes the entire process super easy, and provides you the user with a set of nice analytics.
Visit http://sendgrid.com and create an account. You can start with the free one, though if you want higher inbox rates it is encouraged to get a paid account.
Once you have created an account, click on settings > API keys within SendGrid. From this page you will now need to create an API key and then copy it into the respective field on the GuessBox settings page.
Please refer to this guide for the rest of the information involving this step.
Step 2: Configuring Your IMAP Settings
As per the guide in the link above, please proceed to setup your IMAP settings. These are important as they ensure that GuessBox will correctly reply to emails that have yet to receive a reply.
Note: A few things have changed (mainly design elements) from the guide above, but they should be pretty self explanatory.
The picture below is of your settings page, note where it allows you to toggle on/off the auto follow up settings, and specify how many follow ups the application should send (and when).
Step 3: Domain Authentication (optional)
This step is technically optional though I wouldn't suggest skipping it unless you want your emails to go straight into the junk folder of your prospective client.
For more information on how to authenticate your domains so that mail servers will be able to distinguish your email from spam, read this guide.
Step 4: Uploading Contacts
Let's assume in this case you already have your contacts, and won't be emailing them directly from the GuessBox search results.
Click on the 'Contacts List (Beta)' link that is located on the left hand side of your screen, in the navigation menu.
And then all you need to do is press 'Upload CSV' in the top right corner, and select your .csv file with the leads / people you would like to add into an email campaign.
Note: As you can see in the demonstration below, there are a few guidelines that your file must abide by in order to be accepted by the website.
Step 5: Configuring Automatic Follow Ups
In the case that a person you email does not reply to your email, you can set GuessBox to automatically send him/her a reminder email of your choice after a certain period of time.
Go back to your settings page, and scroll down to IMAP settings. Select how many follow ups you would like to send, and the after how long they should be sent out. Once you have done that, press 'Add More' to create different follow up messages.
Toggle the IMAP / Auto Follow Up switch to On and then press 'Save' down the bottom.
Example below:
Step 6: Using Personalization & Spintax when Sending Emails
When writing your first touch emails, and follow ups remember to make use of the personalization tags available, and spintax.
Here are some examples of the tags you can use:
More will be available very soon
By putting words, phrases or links in curly brackets and dividing them with a line as per the image below, GuessBox will automatically rotate through those options with every email it sends. This can be used in both the subject, and body of your email.
To send an email to your uploaded contacts, press 'Send Email' next to the group you uploaded on the Contacts List page.
Write your email, then press 'Preview' to view your email, and send a test email to an address of your choosing.
If you have already set up auto follow ups from your settings page then you don't need to press the 'Auto Follow Up' button.
Once you are ready, press 'Send' and your campaign will be sent out. Check Google Analytics & SendGrid.com for analytics regarding your campaign.
Step 7: Miscellaneous
Want higher response rates? Remember to use a professional email signature and add it automatically to every email sent by visiting 'Mail Settings' on SendGrid.com and clicking on 'Footer'
Note: Don't forget to add an option for users to unsubscribe at the bottom of your emails. If you fail to do this, you will be technically breaking the law, and we will have to launch an investigation into the type of email you are sending.
To automatically append an unsubscribe link / message at the bottom of each email, visit 'Tracking' on SendGrid and click on 'Subscription' to activate it.
Note: When writing your emails try to keep them to five sentences or less in length. Don't ramble too long about your product, and establish objective early on.
- Always remember to follow up (because people are typically busy) and keep an eye on your sender reputation.
- Configuring your DNS settings for domain authentication is easier done using CloudFlare.com
- GuessBox can be used for sending out newsletters and general communication emails as well. You don't only need to use it for B2B cold email outreach.
- If you can't find a specific data set on the website, don't hesitate to contact us using the live chat form on our homepage or email us here.
And that's it! This was an introductory guide on getting started with GuessBox and its email functionality for your B2B marketing campaigns. Stay tuned for our upcoming eBook and remember if you found this post valuable - share it with your friends!


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Hospital Energy Authors National Energy Best Practices for AHA/ASHE
In cooperation with Mazzetti, Hospital Energy has authored best practices for energy procurement specific to healthcare. This market-leading approach can help organizations lower costs and lower market risk, gain control over energy spend, and develop a multi-year strategy that is customized to the organization's needs.
From the Founder
Hear from Mark Mininberg, our founder, about what drives our passion to serve healthcare.
Hospital Energy: The Power to Heal
Hospital Energy was founded in 1995 and has grown to be a leading energy procurement organization with more than $1 billion in contracts under management.
Why Hospital Energy?
Hospital Energy, with more than $1 billion in energy contracts under management, helps organizations to reduce their electric and natural gas supply cost by an average of 10%. If you spend more than $100,000 annually on energy, contact us for a risk-free analysis to see if we can help to reduce your costs.


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- Winner to be announced at the HANNOVER MESSE Opening Ceremony
Hannover, Germany. Effective immediately, companies and institutions are invited to compete for the HERMES AWARD 2017 - one of the world's leading distinctions for industrial achievement. The award goes to products which represent a technological innovation and which are scheduled for unveiling at HANNOVER MESSE 2017. The competing products must have already undergone industrial trials and/or enjoy industrial application, and must also be highly innovative in terms of their concrete technical and economic features. The submission deadline is 22 February 2017.
The HERMES AWARD is staged annually by Deutsche Messe during the run-up to HANNOVER MESSE. It comes with a PR package worth around 100,000 euros. "The HERMES AWARD not only generates maximum impact for the winner, but for the companies who were nominated as well: Anyone who passes the nominating procedure is considered one of the most innovative firms at HANNOVER MESSE", declared Dr. Jochen Köckler, member of the Deutsche Messe Managing Board.
The winner of the HERMES AWARD will be selected by an independent jury headed by Dr. Wolfgang Wahlster, Managing Director of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). The companies nominated for the award will be profiled at the HANNOVER MESSE 2017 Opening Ceremony on 23 April.
All products which were nominated for the HERMES AWARD 2017 will be showcased from 24 to 28 April at a special display within the Research & Technology show (Hall 2) at HANNOVER MESSE.
At HANNOVER MESSE 2016, the HERMES AWARD winner was the Harting Company, which captured the prize for its MICA product - an open and modular platform consisting of embedded hardware and software which serves as a central component in the Industry 4.0 environment. Thanks to its innovative combination of established Linux technologies, MICA allows users to virtualize field devices. It also makes it possible to add intelligence to existing machines and equipment.


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Come, now child! all of this is temporary:
i am merely a vessel bearing this curse.
and i can only run for so long.
come now lord, your dwelling place is now with men.
send your rain, then open up the sky!
they say you're coming soon, but lord, its been so long and i'm starting to lose sight (the solace of licking my wounds has led me to compromise my faith in all you stood to create)!
there's no sun or moon
you will burn so bright
we will become
shadows in the warmth of your light
i'm tired of being so thin, so in need of constant reassurance to fill the holes in my chest, and i'm cracking, i'm finally breaking. oh let me crumble 'till i'm nothing more than dust and remake me to withstand myself and this separation. they say all we have is ourselves, but it is so obviously not enough. so many times i've felt like giving up and i'm holding on by my fingertips and i feel like screaming, i feel so alone. and though i've heard your voice before, (come now child!) for my feeble mind, i fear it is not enough!
catch glimpse of a falling star illuminating the depths of our world and burning away the pestilence of mankind. oh my god! send your rain! there will be no more death or mourning, no more crying or pain. the order has passed away. write this down:
all of this has passed away! it is done!


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HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - A plucky local upstart can take on Macau's moguls. Licenses in the world's largest gambling hub start to expire in 2020, forcing all players to pitch for a spot on the casino floor. With frayed U.S.-China relations dealing American giants Sands China, Wynn Macau and MGM China a weaker hand, homegrown names will try their luck.
For the Macanese government, this is a chance to push for change. Officials could shake up a strip highly concentrated in American hands, and may even allow an extra, seventh operator. Today, three U.S.-owned names control more than 60 percent of industry EBITDA, according to JPMorgan. Galaxy Entertainment, Melco and SJM Holdings, set up in Macau, account for the rest. In private, lawyers and financiers say the government would prefer locals to get a bigger slice of those earnings, worth some $7 billion in 2017. They point to modest table allowances for newer U.S.-owned properties as evidence of a tougher attitude.
U.S. operators' position is certainly more vulnerable since President Donald Trump's trade fight with the People's Republic began: their stocks have tracked diplomatic highs and lows. This is especially true for the $35 billion Sands China, whose boss, Sheldon Adelson, has close ties to the U.S. leader. Mainland tourists and money are the resorts' lifeblood, after all, and the special administrative region answers to Beijing.
Meanwhile, entrepreneurs in Asia's own Las Vegas are readying their bets. Suncity controls about half of all VIP gaming in the territory through its junket business, which organises glitzy escapades. It is expanding into casinos overseas and Andrew Lo, executive director of its Hong Kong-listed unit, says the company would pursue a licence in Macau if given the chance.
Other homegrown aspirants include Golden Dragon and Macau Legend. The former owns so-called "satellite" casinos, which strike deals with permit-holders to set up shop. Hong Kong-listed Legend - whose directors include Laurinda Ho, granddaughter of casino kingpin Stanley Ho - owns the Macau Fisherman's Wharf, a sprawl of other satellite venues, hotels – and a replica of Rome's Colosseum. Full licenses would mean they are not at the mercy of more powerful partners, and can more easily raise funds too.
On the Cotai strip, expect local punters to raise the stakes.
- This is a Breakingviews prediction for 2019. To see more of our predictions, click reut.rs/2R6H5pG
Reuters Breakingviews is the world's leading source of agenda-setting financial insight. As the Reuters brand for financial commentary, we dissect the big business and economic stories as they break around the world every day. A global team of about 30 correspondents in New York, London, Hong Kong and other major cities provides expert analysis in real time.
Sign up for a free trial of our full service at https://www.breakingviews.com/trial and follow us on Twitter @Breakingviews and at www.breakingviews.com. All opinions expressed are those of the authors.


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main(713) 222-2273
Schedule an appointment online with ScheduleNow
Specializes in knee and hip replacement.
Specializes in knee replacement.
Specializes in general orthopedics.
As he transitions into retirement, Dr. Jones has selected Dr. Steven Schroder to take on his patients. Please make an appointment with Dr. Schroder or call (713) 272-1888.


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The Hunt & Spring Accessories
"La chasse au lièvre" by Armand Charnay, French, 1868.
I came across this painting while doing some research and found it to be particularly haunting. This French impressionist managed to capture the anonymity, the pensive mood, and the ambiguous darkness in moment when a group of men are about to bludgeon a rabbit. It's clear that the artist has an opinion about this act - but also the complexity of such actions. For example, what are the circumstances? Is this about survival? Is for amusement? Does the rabbit get away? Unlike other paintings where the hunt is glorified, or baroque still-life images showcasing dead animals draped like decorations among flowers and fruits - this painting does not glorify the men or beautify the hunt.
Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States
In a startlingly similar image of the seal hunt, which is about to commence once again, a man stands over a baby seal about to bludgeon it with a club. But, unlike the painting above, we know the circumstances of this action. The seal does not get away. The body is left to rot, a bloody mess, on the ice. It is unnecessary and done for fashion garments that are banned in many parts of the world, yet the Canadian government allows this cruel and unnecessary mass killing - the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet - to continue year after year. Click here to send a letter to Canada's politicians.
• Italian-made, light brown vegan boat shoes and woven-belts for spring! Get on it.


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One of the most difficult problems we face as dementia caregivers is when and how to convince a person living with dementia that it is no longer safe for them to drive an automobile.
As dementia progresses, a time will come when your loved one will no longer be able to drive safely. In most cases it is very difficult to get a person living with dementia to stop driving. Many of us have faced this problem.
In the article below Carole Larkin describes a new paper test that can help determine whether it is safe for you loved one to continue to drive; and, the likelihood that they could pass a standard driving test.
Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
By Carole Larkin
Alzheimer's Reading Room
FINALLY, there are tests to help doctors determine whether a person with dementia can continue to drive. These test are actually screening tests to predict whether a person with dementia will fail a road driving test.
I found an article about the screening tests in the September/October edition of the magazine Today's Geriatric Medicine. These tests are meant for a doctor or his trained assistant to administer in the office when a family member or another person expresses concern about the person with dementia's driving ability.
It appears to me that it will take about a half hour to administer, grade and interpret the outcome of the tests.
If the person "fails" or has less than a 50% score, (meaning that they have less than a 50-50 chance of passing a real driving test), then this indicates that they should have a thorough driving test given by specialized occupational therapists.
The 50% cut off is just my opinion, you might think that under a 70% (or other percentage) score means that they need further evaluation. That's up to you.
Learn More - How to live with someone who has Alzheimer's
Where do you find a specialized occupational therapists? Usually in fairly large cities with large hospitals (teaching hospitals or regular hospitals). You'd probably have to call the hospitals to see if they have one in their occupational therapy department. You probably would have to talk to the occupational therapy department itself; I doubt anyone else in the hospital would even know about the specialized occupational therapists.
With this specialized evaluation, if the person with dementia fails those tests, you have proof in writing that they can no longer drive. It's very hard for the person with dementia to argue that they can still drive when you show them in writing the proof that they can't.
If it was me, I'd make a number of copies of the findings, in case the person gets mad and rips them up every time they see them. (I believe in being prepared for the worst.)
You might also send a copy of the tests to your state's driving licensing authority, the insurance company that insures their car/truck, and the local police, just to be sure everybody involved in taking away the keys knows that the person can no longer drive.
Do I believe that primary care doctors have time to administer these tests on a regular basis? Heck no!
Nowadays office visits average 7-10 minutes. Maybe some doctors will appoint someone in their office to train to administer the tests, and have them do it. That is, if they even have extra staff available to do it, along with their regular jobs. When have you seen extra staff at your doctor's office?
Learn More - a href="https://goo.gl/EPZKd0" target="_blank">Tips for Dealing with Dementia
Aha - that's what I thought. Instead the doctor could set aside a day a week/month when there somebody at the office to administer the tests, like maybe on a Saturday? We can hope!
I am attaching the links to the two tests used in this screening and how to score them, so you can print them out and take them to your doctor.
The first test is the MMSE the most common screening test used by doctors to discover cognitive deficits. The researchers used this test in developing their tool (the Fit2Drive app) to help decide whether to refer the patient for more thorough testing, so I'm including its link here. MMSE.
The second test is the Trail-Making Test Part B. There is a Trail-Making Test Part A that is used to give the person being tested a little practice in doing that type of test before actually attempting the real test, Part B.
I've included the Link to both Part A and Part B and how to score them. Trail-Making Test Part A. Trail-Making Test Part B.
After the two tests are taken and scored, the person testing takes the total score, adding the Score on the MMSE and the Trails B time it took to complete it correctly and enters them into the slots for each on the calculator at this website, Fit2Drive. You can also download the APP to your cellphone (both Apple and Android are available) from that same website.
The result will indicate the probability that the person could pass the road part of the driving test given by the special occupational therapists.
Remember, these two tests and the Fit2Drive tool are made for doctors or their trained assistants to administer, not the general public.
If you wish to administer the tests and use the tool yourself, you are doing so at your own risk. You would have to read the instructions to train yourself how to do it 100% correctly, and most importantly, when you grade it you must do so with absolute impartiality.
These screening tests can always be repeated after time passes to see if the person's abilities have deteriorated more.
Hopefully this will help get some dangerous drivers off the road, and lower your stress level about your loved one driving with dementia.
The Best Way to Find Solutions to the Problems that Caregivers Face Each Day
Carole Larkin MA,CMC,CAEd,QDCS,EICS,
is a Geriatric Care Manager who specializes in helping families with Alzheimer's and related dementias issues. She also trains caregivers in home care companies, assisted livings, memory care communities, and nursing homes in dementia specific techniques for best care of dementia sufferers. ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.
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Finding Out We Were Pregnant [Letter To My Daughter]
6 comments
Such a lovely post :) It's so scary when things like this happen and a massive relief when you find out that everything is fine. Good luck in your pregnancy, how far along are you now? xReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you, yeah it was a huge relief, it made the pregnancy harder though because until my scan at 17 weeks i was still denying the fact i was pregnant because i was so scared. I'm 25 weeks now :) 26 on sunday! xxDelete
Sorry about your previous miscarriage. Pregnancy is such an anxious time, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. I will look forward to your updates xxReplyDeleteReplies
I wasn't prepared for how difficult pregnancy actually is emotionally. Thank you for your lovely comment. xxDelete
- Anonymous31 May 2014 at 08:30
Your post really touched me. When I was pregnant, I can remember I used to worry every single day until my baby was born. Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy. xxReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you, you sound like me, the whole pregnancy I haven't stopped worrying. This is a series, there's 3 more letters that I've wrote during pregnancy so far that I decided to share, be sure to keep a look out next week! xxxDelete


text: Thank you, Ray, for helping us again! sorry that not all areas of the house was ready for inspection s. We really appreciate your help again!! Thank you, Ray!! Really appreciate it! - L.X., August 2019 Mr. Foster is thorough, professional and knowledgeable. He explained things to us verbally in addition to the written report. We are grateful for the information about our home. - P.&., August 2019 Ray was thorough and explained things during the inspection, provided an informative report and answered my follow-up questions via email after the inspection. - K.T., July 2019 Very thorough and professional and took the time to explain everything. - L.R., May 2019 I have bought and sold over 12 homes in the last 50 years and Ray was the most pleasant person I have worked with. He was very competent and thorough with his inspection. I feel confident about the condition of the condo I am purchasing. I would highly recommend him to others. - C.W., May 2019 Ray was friendly, professional, and thorough. I would recommend him to anyone. - N.C., May 2019 Very thorough. Took the time to explain everything and made sure we understood what he was doing and looking for. He went out of his way to point out things we should know about the house, and why various things were constructed the way they were. - G.H., April 2019 Extremely thorough and a very kind person. - E.C., April 2019 This is the 2nd time we have worked with Ray. He is very experienced, explains things well throughout the process and very thorough. Thank you, Ray. - Garrett Kinsley - S.K., March 2019 Hi Ray! We appreciate you being very thorough with the inspection of our new home. It is very important for us get the feedback we did from you! We also appreciated your promptness in sending the report to us and the receipt I requested. Thank you! - L.S., February 2019 We so appreciate Ray's very thorough and professional inspection, along with the easy to read, organized report that also provides a road map for prioritizing repairs for the problems that were discovered. We have used Ray Foster's services previously and will happily do so again in the future. - S.K., February 2019 We so appreciate Ray's very thorough and professional inspection, along with the easy to read, organized report that also provides a road map for prioritizing repairs for the problems that were discovered. We have used Ray Foster's services previously and will happily do so again in the future. - S.K., February 2019 Ray was awesome! He was very thorough and answered all of our questions and we received his report the same day. I would absolutely recommend him. - K.K., September 2018 Ray was prompt and thorough. We are purchasing our home from across the country and felt good knowing Ray was on the job to find any potential issues with the house. His report was really detailed and now we know exactly what needs to be fixed. Thanks, Ray! - M.S., July 2018 Ray was very personable, very detailed. He really seemed like he had passion for the trade and made sure we understood everything he was going over. It is a lot of info and Ray makes it easy and fun for everyone. Thank you, Ray. Pleasure working with you! - G.K., July 2018 Very detailed and thorough report. We are pleased with Ray's service and attention to detail. - T.C., Woodinville WA, June 2018 Ray did an excellent and thorough job. He was pleasant, informative, engaging, and performed the inspection faster than expected. - D.J., May 2018 Ray is the best. I wouldn't want anyone else to do my home inspection. - G.B., April 2018 Ray was great. He was thorough and likable. Absolutely would recommend to others. - R.S., March 2018 Ray was very thorough and he did a great job with making the paperwork easy to read and understand. - T.P., March 2018 Ray was recommended to us by our realtor. He was quick and efficient and we would certainly use his services again. - P.H., February 2018 Ray was extremely thorough and helpful. We really felt like he had our best needs in mind and didn't spare any effort in making sure we were aware of every little bit of our new home. This whole process was a new one for us, but having Ray was extremely comforting. Wouldn't go with anyone else. - T.B., January 2018 Very thorough, professional and friendly. - J.B., November 2017 Saved us from purchasing a lemon and the details provided helped us with the one we purchased. Thanks Ray - R.S., November 2017 Ray was very thorough and even explained to us some ways to keep the house maintained to prevent future problems. - H.D., October 2017 Ray is very knowledgeable and thorough but just a little too expensive. I chose him primarily because of his stated specialties on HomeInspector.org - exterior systems and structural - and because he was available on very short notice, when my usual home inspector wasn't. I would recommend him to my friends - but as a more expensive alternative to the inspector I've used in previous home purchases. - J.M., October 2017 We found Ray thanks to a pre-inspection he had done previously on another house we were interested in. His thorough report with photos, arrows, and explanations immediately convinced us he'd be our go-to guy when we needed an inspection. Ray didn't disappoint; in fact, he exceeded expectations with his attention to detail, expertise, and experience. He also gave us very clear tips and advice that made the whole process less stressful. We are happy we stumbled across him and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a home inspector. Absolutely worth every penny. - K.C., September 2017 Very thorough and great job explaining things that need to be fixed - M.P., September 2017 Ray did a great job. Very impressed with the level of detail around each item and grateful for the pictures and videos provided. - C.M., Everett WA, September 2017 Ray did a great job and was a wealth of information. I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking for a house inspection. - N.G., June 2017 Ray thank you for the great work with attention to detail. Your knowledge and experience certainly have helped me address the key parts of what's important with a purchase of a subject property I was targeting. Your pictures and recommendations tied to the subjects in question have also help me create a budget of what I feel i need to a lot for potential negotiations from Seller prior to close. Great reporting completed and no doubt I'll be recommending your services. - H.N., June 2017 Thankx Ray. I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone I know. - C.P., May 2017 Easily the most thorough, competent person we worked with in the process of buying and selling a home. I'd give him my highest possible recommendation. - G.B., May 2017 I really appreciate the thorough and detailed report you provide, and the time you take to explain and show things that a homeowner can do themselves. Also when and why you should get a professional to do the job. - S.B., April 2017 Thank you Ray! I really appreciated all the input you gave and the detailed photos and explanations in your report. I also liked the tour of the buildings you gave me once you had collected all your data. You took the time to answer all my questions!!! Thanks again, Sandy - S.B., March 2017 Ray you were absolutely fabulous! I can't tell you how much we appreciate how incredibly detailed oriented, thorough and knowledge you were. We ended up making an offer on the house and got it :) Thank you again for everything, Adrienne and Jesse - A.S., March 2017 Super helpful and able to answer all of our questions. Will absolutely recommend to friends. - J.R., March 2017 Terrific service from a very knowledgeable and professional inspector. - R.H., February 2017 Ray did a very thorough job and offered a lot of great pointers. Very knowledgeable on all aspects of the home and I would definitely recommend him! - C.W., December 2016 Fantastic service!! Very happy with the way Ray was realistic in explaining all of the problems with the property, helping us to understand the real costs involved. I'll ask him to help again next time I buy. - M.F., November 2016 Ray is a true expert and professional. He is personable, reasonable cost and customer service focused. The report was above and beyond what we expected, and sets a bar that others new to the field should try to achieve. I would recommend him to everyone! I also "yelp"-ed a review to give him 5 stars (out of 5) . We hope he is still available when we purchase our next home...even if we have to fly him to Arizona or California! Top Notch! - V.E., Bothell WA, October 2016 Ray, you did a very good job with the inspection. You went over the whole house inch by inch, taking pictures and videos. I really appreciate your suggestions about how to maintain and keep the house in a good shape in the future. I have been in the construction business for more than 40 years and seen many "punch lists " over the years, but never seen a more detailed, extensive and easy to read report with pictures before. You did a very good job, Ray! - K.K., October 2016 Ray is extremely thorough. Everything is looked into in great detail. We have been very appreciative of his work for us! - J.K., October 2016 Ray did an excellent job. He was very professional and thorough. I walked through the entire inspection with him and he took the time to discuss in detail each issue. He even let me use an extra protective suit that he had when I went into the crawl space. I would highly recommend him as a home inspector. David Ballard - D.B., October 2016 Ray was very friendly and courteous while we did the inspection, I chose to shadow him for the full inspection so that I could get an idea of what the condition of the house was. His inspection is very clearly outlined and thorough. He uses the methodology that he is inspecting a house as if it was for his own family and is not afraid to show you the houses secrets no matter how minor they are. I enjoyed going through the inspection with him and learning more about the house. I highly recommend him if you are looking for an honest inspector for your prospective house. - S.H., October 2016 Mr. Foster is the absolutely best in class. His reports are the most thorough, and he explains in detail every aspect of the property. His report is even more in depth than his explanations, and even included video of hard to see areas, as well as helpful tips (such as how to replace air filters, etc.). I could not recommend Mr. Foster any more highly. - J.P., September 2016 Ray was great and very thorough! - M.W., September 2016 I don't think I can think of any suggestions when it comes improving your inspection. Your inspection report was excellent. Easy to read, lots of pictures, easy to understand and tips what to look for , to solve the eventuell problem! I have been in the construction business for 40+ years, as a HVAC mechanic and I have not seen a "punch list" this easy to work with as far as correcting existing issues. I love it! Good job Ray! - K.K., August 2016 We wholeheartedly recommend Ray and will use him again for any inspections in the future. He blends a perfect mix of completing a thorough inspection whilst taking the time to speak and engage with clients regarding what he's doing, offering advice and specific explanations for findings. His final report arrived promptly and was very comprehensive. Ray's professionalism coupled with his humor will put you at ease for what can be a daunting process for anyone. - A.K., August 2016 Ray was thorough, helpful, knowledgeable and a genuine joy to deal with. Home buying can be a stressful process and Ray's insights were helpful in educating me on the condition of the home, how it compares to others of the same era and setting me at ease by clearly outlining the type of things that could be done to repair them for all types of budgets. - K.W., July 2016 Thank you so much for your knowledge and expertise! You did an exceptional job and we are very happy with what you were able to teach us about our new home! - C.K., July 2016 Ray, you are an absolute gem! Thank you for being so thorough and especially for walking us through potential remediation scenarios. Your expertise and patience made an otherwise stressful situation much more manageable. We will always recommend you to anyone else needing an inspector! - , July 2016 Ray was very helpful and provided us with a great deal of information. He helped us see areas that may have been overlooked otherwise! Thank you Ray! LeRoy & Sandy - L.M., July 2016 Ray, Home buying being an exciting but scary endeavor, the inspection is the scariest part hoping there is nothing wrong with the house. You made this experience an excellent one for me. You are so professional and amazingly thorough it was fun to watch you work. You missed absolutely nothing even down to opening and closing every drawer. I really appreciated the time you took after each stage of the inspection to FULLY explain every detail and answer EVERY question big or small. I sit here now knowing every part of my house from top to bottom has been inspected and explained to me so I will have no big surprises after closing. The report summary and website is awesome. Thank you for your excellent service. - D.C., June 2016 Ray was incredibly thorough and very knowledgeable. He did not hesitate to explain his notes, inspection process and any flaws that he encountered. Furthermore, he was more than willing to answer any additional questions I had. I would absolutely rely on him and recommend his services in the future. - L.Y., June 2016 Thank you so much for your expertise! Extremely knowledgeable and trustworthy. I appreciate it greatly! - A.R., June 2016 Incredibly helpful and honest opinions about the condition of the house. Clear explanations of all issues without being an alarmist. Ray will be my first call for any upcoming inspections! - N.M., June 2016 Thanks Ray for explaining your discoveries and the consequences of fixing or putting off. As a first time condo buyer, your inspection was very helpful. I would certainly recommend your services to another buyer. - B.R., June 2016 We were lucky enough to have Ray do a pre-inspection for us and I could tell he was very thorough and professional. When we found a new home to purchase, I was thrilled to have him do our inspection again. Again he was very thorough during his inspection, but then he did a great job of explaining everything he found, including the small stuff not just the big stuff. We are hoping we won't need an inspection for another home anytime soon, but I would absolutely recommend Ray to all of my friends and family and if we did need some sort of inspection he would be the first choice! - S.M., June 2016 Ray was very detailed and thorough. He took the time to make sure I understood the report and answered all questions I had. - E.L., June 2016 Ray was wonderful! Very thorough report with pictures and additional information given on maintenance and upkeep. He was available for questions and was incredibly knowledgeable. Due to scheduling mishaps, he did our inspection on Memorial Day with no complaints. Thanks Ray! - S.W., June 2016 Very happy with Ray's attention to details. - R.K., May 2016 Thorough, detailed and professional... Just what you want in a home inspector. Thank you Ray! - T.T., May 2016 Very professional, kind, thorough, and extremely helpful. I would highly recommend Ray and would use him again in a heart beat! - M.W., April 2016 I didn't know what to expect from Ray. He is completely different from what I expected after watching the video clip on his website. I was worried about hiring an inspector that was only good at one aspect of this type of work. My worries were quickly gone after spending 3 hours with him onsite during the inspection. After tagging along with him into the attic, into the crawlspace, on the roof, and into the garage to inspect the utilities I was impressed with his professional and thourogh review of the systems that are at the heart of the home. Ray is a professional that takes his work seriously. It was clear he stays updated on current and new trends in the field and he has decades of experience. Ray's knowledge of and interest in building science was obvious. I would not hesitate to hire him for another inspection. - T.H., March 2016 Ray is very professional and knowledgable. He was easy to contact and very prompt with followup questions. He really wanted to ensure that we understood each point and the potential ramifications. He also took the time to educate us on general home maintenance and things to watch out for in the future. I could not recommend him more highly. - H.J., March 2016 Appreciate the offer to answer questions down the road. That is the type of service that makes me recommend to others. - R.A., February 2016 Very good report. It was convenient to have the report prioritized by level of severity to help us decide which items need to be taken care of right away and which may not be quite as urgent. We also appreciated the thoroughness and detail and the kind of tradesman needed for each task. I will definitely recommend Ray Foster to anyone I know who needs an inspection. - C.K., February 2016 I've purchased a number of homes over the years and dealt with numerous inspectors along the way. Ray Foster is a breath of fresh air in this time of degrading customer relationships. He is very knowledgeable yet takes the time to answer any questions and explain things in a no nonsense manner. I highly recommend Mr. Foster and his quite capable home inspection talents. - P.B., February 2016 Ray was strait forward and took the time to let me know what was wrong, how it got wrong, and an estimate on how to fix it on my own because we had talked about me wanting to do the work myself. I kinda want to go on home inspections with Ray on the weekends, it was fun and informative. - S.N., February 2016 Ray's reports are thorough, well documented, and professional. His reports were key in preventing unnecessary liability to me, the future homeowner. I appreciate his use of PPE (safety equipment) and his high regard for cleanliness in preventing cross-contamination between the various locations in the home. - C.D., February 2016 Seems very thorough and quick, even for a large house! - B.W., January 2016 I really appreciated the pictures, videos, and the summary. Ray seemed very thorough as he inspected the house. Thank you! - L.W., January 2016 I highly recommend Ray Foster for your home inspections! My husband and I are out-of-state investors who were thus not able to attend the actual inspection. He met with our real estate agent to conduct the walk-through and provided us with the most thorough inspection we've ever had! He even phoned me after the inspection and took his time to discuss his findings and recommendations in layman's terms. In the report he sent us, he categorized his findings as "minor", "major", and "future work", which I found very useful in terms of determining what items we felt we should ask the current owner to perform or provide credit for. Anyway, keep up the great work, Ray! You're clearly an expert in your field. - A.B., January 2016 Ray was a patient, thorough, knowledgeable, and altogether superb inspector and guide to our new home. His balanced, practical advice gave us a lot of confidence about our purchase and the punch list items we decided to request. - S.S., January 2016 Ray was very detailed with the home inspection and offered to assist us with any questions with all of the items that was listed on the report. We enjoyed meeting with him and surely would recommend him to others and will work with him again in the future if we ever have any inspection needs! - S.M., December 2015 Professional and thorough, just as a home inspector should be! - H.S., December 2015 The inspection was very thorough and detailed. We will be referring him to all. We are so grateful to Ray for giving us such a great blueprint to ensure that our new home will be brought up to the standard we so desire. - B.B., November 2015 I found Ray's competency to be readily apparent form the first moment. HIs down-to-earth demeanor made it easy to listen and work with him. - E.M., November 2015 He seemed to be very thorough and explained things clearly. Very pleasant and courteous - R.C., October 2015 Ray did a great job explaining in layman's terms areas that needed to be fixed and how to fix them. He took his time while I asked questioned and encouraged me to follow up with future questions. I will recommend him to friends! - M.C., September 2015 Very thorough inspection, with detailed documentation on what was found during the inspection. Highly recommended. - S.W., August 2015 Ray was prompt and thorough. - G.H., August 2015 I especially appreciated Ray's taking the time to explain why each of the small problems matters - it provides me with a maintenance list for the future. - M.S., August 2015 Ray was great and very knowledgeable. His thorough inspection and the following report ended up saving us a couple thousand dollars off the seller's asking price. - A.Y., August 2015 Best home inspector I have ever worked with. Very thorough and knowledgeable. Will always refer and recommend. - R.G., July 2015 Professional, well organized and very helpful. Report was excellent and very prompt. - R.S., July 2015 Ray was right on time and did a thorough inspection. He was very helpful in helping me to understand his report and how to best address any problem areas. He also reassured me that I could call on him anytime to explain his findings to my insurance company. - V.S., July 2015 -Remarkably organized and meticulous. -knowledgeable way beyond basic building code -approachable, honest and professional Ray provided the information and awareness I needed to make my home buying decision with confidence. - F.P., July 2015 Very thorough, professional and personable - R.L., July 2015 Thank you, Ray for your thorough job! This was very educational for me and I learned a lot. I will definitely recommend you to my friends and co-workers who are looking for an inspector! - M.N., June 2015 It was nice that you talked about what you saw as you found it and were able to give suggestions for how to fix problem areas. Overall I thought you did good work, were thorough, and pleasant to work with. - D.R., June 2015 Thank you Ray for the detailed report. My wife and I know exactly what we are getting into and what will be required over the next year to keep our home clean and safe for our daughter. Your knowledge of the home building, electrical and mechanical reassure us that we have been given a realistic understanding of where our new home is today. Thanks again Ray - S.R., June 2015 Ray did a thorough job inspecting in, out, and around our new home. His pictures and report helped us learn about our home and property. Nice guy and does a great job too. - R.H., June 2015 Ray is very personable and professional. He was thorough in his inspection and allowed me to follow him through each step. Ray also took the time to explain things to me throughout the inspection. Ray is also very detailed in his inspection and this is reflected in his inspection report. As a new homeowner, I received an education on my home as well as an inspection on my home from Ray Foster. - D.O., May 2015 Answered all questions with professional knowledge during inspection. Provided valuable information about the property that would have been unknown to me and advised on lots of preventative maintenance to avoid costly repairs. Very professional, very thorough, very friendly, nice person. Thanks Ray. - J.M., May 2015 Ray, I truly appreciate your honesty and direct approach to performing our inspection. As someone who does not consider himself very handy around the house, you truly made this a very easy process to understand and has allowed me to prepare for upcoming repairs. Thank you again for everything. Mike and Fatima - M.F., May 2015 Thanks, again, Ray, for another home inspection. I am fortunate that we were able to set this up on the desired day to accommodate a tight closing deadline with just a few days notice. I still have one of your older reports from 5 years ago and my first home purchase (when you printed it out in a bound, spiral notebook), but the newer digital format incl. photos is nice! - J.K., April 2015 Exceptional job at the inspection. Very professional, thorough and detailed. If we have the occasion to need an inspector in the future or can recommend one, Ray will be the inspector. Thank you! - J.D., March 2015 found the report to be informative Harold Kent - H.K., Kirkland WA, March 2015


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Well, last week saw us heading up to CT for the holiday. We left on Tuesday, because of the projected snow for Wednesday. Apparently, everyone else on the East coast had the same idea as our drive North took a few hours longer than expected. Still it proved a smart choice as they got about 6" of snow. Luckily for us, my cousin had everything we needed there. She even had the table pretty much set up and it looked very nice against the snowy background.
I pushed the Exposure Compensation up +2/3 EV to ensure the background brightness didn't overly darken the table.
I love using my 105mm macro during the holidays. Zooming in on the details, can help recall how much effort goes in to making the holidays memorable.
By cropping in while composing your image, you can use large color block elements, like the pumpkin as a framing device for the other vibrant colors in your image.
One of our joys in visiting my cousin is the opportunity to see Cara, the wonder dog, their Great Pyrenees. She is the sweetest, most laid back creature anywhere. With her long hair and Basque sheepherding tradition, she loves this time of year.
Finally as I wrote about last blog, here is our perfectly cooked boneless turkey.
While we were toasting to friends and family I was thinking nice thoughts about all my photographic family as well. Thanks everyone for sharing this passion for creating images.


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Q. 1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?A. That I belong—body and soul, in life and in death—not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Heidelberg Catechism
My great-Grandma died on Easter Sunday when I was in sixth grade.
We were on a mini-vacation visiting my godfather and his wife. We were about ready to head home, but did so in a hurry. I don't remember, but I assume we went home first since Grandma Ha-Ha (her name was Helen, but my aunt pronounced it Ha-Ha) only lived an hour from us. She had been at church that morning and then with family for lunch. She died driving the seven miles home that afternoon.
Since these were the closest extended family members, we often spent Easter afternoon at my great-aunt and uncle's house. Unexpectedly we found ourselves there a few days after this particular Easter.
Doctors thought she had a massive heart attack, crossed the centerline and hit a semi-trailer head on. She died instantly. The other driver was not hurt physically, but was very shaken. I remember our family praying for the other driver, that he wouldn't feel guilty. Even when there is nothing we could have done differently, we still feel guilt. We are convinced that there was some other choice we could have made, some other chain of events that would have made a difference. Something.
But really, most of the time, there is nothing we could have done differently.
As an 11-year old pragmatist, I had some comfort that death was instantaneous. As an 11-year old theologian (because we are all theologians, trying to understand God and ourselves), I actually thought it was kind of neat that she died on Easter. I had this image of her going to heaven with Jesus. Maybe we since we memorialized the Last Supper, the death / darkness of Good Friday, and the resurrection every year, I had some idea that Jesus also "relived" the resurrection every year. This is what I remember the most: the image of Jesus taking Grandma Ha-Ha's hand and bringing her to heaven.
This week, Jesus took the hand of another beautiful, faithful woman and brought her to heaven.
There are two Greek words usually used for "life" in the New Testament. ζωη connotes our biological life and is the most commonly used. ψυκη, on the other hand, is also often translated "soul." It is the essence of who we are, encompassing the physical, emotional and spiritual.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Paul writes,
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. (NIV)
Surely Paul and Timothy did share their lives living among the Thessalonians. They didn't just pass time with the Thessalonians but shared the very essence of who they were. But this is not just ζωη but ψυκη.
These words were true for Paul – and they are also true for Candace. Those who have spent time with Candace know her for the overflowing grace of her life. She has been a tireless and faithful servant in big ways – but even more so in quiet ways that reflected the humility and love that were her ψυκη. Candace's service to the homeless was more than a desire to serve the least of these. For her, they were not the least but beloved brothers and sisters. With those she spent time with, especially at Repairers of the Breach, she surely shared the love of Christ and her ψυκη.
Candace may have taken her own life, but she only took what is housed in these perishable bodies of ours – her ζωη. Her ψυκη continues to belong to Christ in death just as she did in life. Our grief and loss are significant but the hope – and truth – of Easter is that just like my Grandma Ha-Ha, Jesus has already taken her hand and brought her to heaven.
I'm convinced that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created. – Romans 8:38-39 (CEB)


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ANKARA, Turkey, July 11 (UPI) -- Ankara needs to focus on protecting energy infrastructure if it aims to emerge as a more powerful figure in the regional energy sector, an analyst said.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline stretches some 1,100 miles from Azerbaijan to Turkish ports on the Black Sea. It is the second-longest oil pipeline in the world after the Druzhba pipeline in Russia.
BTC hasn't operated at full capacity since at least 2007, costing Turkey around $165 million in potential oil-transit revenue. The pipeline was shut down briefly in 2008 because of a conflict between Russian and Georgia over breakaway republics.
Ankara last year said it would deploy national and private security forces to protect oil and natural gas pipelines after militants with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party were blamed for an explosion that shut down a pipeline from Iran.
Hasan Ozertem, an analyst at the International Strategic Research Organization, told Turkey's daily newspaper Today's Zaman that the pipeline infrastructure in Turkey was a frequent target of saboteurs.
While energy companies and security forces are responsible for protecting the energy networks, there is little central coordination, he said.
"Located between the main global energy suppliers and consumers, Turkey's place within the global energy system attracts attention from the international community," he told the newspaper. "However, it should give priority to creating a legal framework for critical energy infrastructure protection."


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The New Development Paradigm: Prospects and Perspectives for CARICOM./
With global policy discussion calling for a shift in ideologies and thoughts that shape development—a New Development Paradigm—what are the doctrines that will guide Caribbean trade and development in the future?
Confucius highlighted that one must study the past if s/he would define the future. An ideology employed to date within a wide range of models and methods such as economics, sociology, physics and technology, this concept has become sine qua non—essential to any development. Considering this, as the Caribbean region enters a new age, it is important to not only cite our successes and seized opportunities (for example diaspora networking and achievements in music, athletics and education), but also recognize and learn from previous threats and setbacks such as economic shocks, information and technology challenges, and issues of dependency.
Referred to as 'a new pattern of thoughts, beliefs and practices' by Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, information revolutions not only create new industries but also shape a new logic or paradigm form, each paradigm form transforming the entire world economy through their increasing global influence. Throughout previous decades, this influence has been fortified by globalization, technological advances, the proliferation of trade agreements and multilateral conventions.
International transformation, according to Carlota Perez, occurs because paradigm shifts encompass a set of new generic technologies and infrastructures such as energy, transport and governance, and organizational principles such as networks, and empowerment, which are capable of modernising the existing industries and governments. As a result, paradigm shifts result in a quantum leap in innovation and productivity potential for every single industry, activity and organization across society. As stated by Perez, "Ultimately, these paradigm shifts result in the appearance of an enormous new wealth creating potential, enabling and requiring a change in the direction of change across all industries and gradually across society… bringing a new way of producing, a new way of working, a new way of transportation and communication, and eventually a new way of living".
This catalytic period of change is now. Old conceptual tenets and previous development recommendations are breaking down (or rather have broken down). With the debt burden of the third world growing increasingly more insufferable and the continuity of net financial flows from the South to the North due to economic crises spawning a black hole of debt, economic and social hardship and general malaise; it can certainly be agreed that the Old Development Paradigm (ODP) has not reached the expectations of either the 'rich' or the 'poor'. Thus, a new "dogma" for development must emerge. It is now crucial for the Caribbean society to rethink, reshape, restructure and redefine the future, if sustainable development and progress are to be achieved.
Previously referred to by development activists such as Dr. Claudio Schuftan as lacking 'true turning points' and definitive actions; initiatives of the international development community (for example the United Nations (UN) Conference on the Environment and Development, the Vienna Human Rights Conference and the Rome World Food Summit) must now commit to embarking on a process to define a new development agenda.
"The old model is broken. We need to create a new one…. In this time of global challenge, even crisis, business as usual will not do…. It is time to invest in people…. Clearly we must unite around a shared vision for the future ― a vision for equitable human development, a healthy planet, an enduring economic dynamism." (UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, New York, 17 May 2012)
As expected with any effort to bring global change, varying perspectives on the concepts and elements to guide the New Development Paradigm (NDP) have ensued. On the one hand, former Chief Economist of the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz, has specified that the NDP must encompass a broader view of development than those charted in the Washington Consensus. This means that the new agenda must encompass "less of a focus on gross domestic product (GDP) as an end in itself, instead of as a means to improved living standards and a better society, with less poverty, better health, and improved education". Stiglitz highlights that "previous development strategies saw development as a technical problem requiring technical solutions, better planning algorithms, better trade and pricing policies and better macroeconomic frameworks, ignoring the necessity of a participatory approach that requires reaching deep down into society."
Though Schuftan (2003) has emphasized the importance of poverty alleviation in the NDP, he goes further than Stiglitz by propositioning economic objectives be measured instead as economic-development objectives. In his work, Schuftan argues that contrary to previous thought, the central issues of equity and poverty alleviation are not social but rather economic objectives. Hence, he calls for the exploration of a strategy combining capacity building, social mobilization and empowerment. This strategy, according to Schuftan, must encompass 'a built-in poverty redressal objective that involves working with the poor as protagonists rather than passive recipients of development hand-outs'.
In addition, he expresses the high importance of an on-going shift towards decreasing the skewedness in the income and wealth distribution, maintaining linkages between political, economic, and social factors of development, and 'developing concrete transition strategies that fit local realities'; i.e. no one size fits all prescriptions. Schuftan's research pars closely to the prescriptions of Caribbean economists, the Honourable Lloyd Best and Dr. Eric St Cyr, whose contribution recommended paradigm shifts on: 1) the methodology to be used and 2) the desirable destination to be sought.
Based on Schuftan's proposition, the NDP should view social policies as a prerequisite for achieving economic development objectives. As such, the vertical axis of the diagram should be renamed economic development objectives.
Like Best, St. Cyr and Schuftan, Undersecretary General of the International Federation of the Red Cross, Dr. Mukesh Kapila, has encouraged the importance of strategies that focus on overall sustainability. Dr. Kapila holds that the NDP should therefore primarily emphasize "the responsible use of resources to create and share wealth fairly so that everyone's reasonable current needs are met without compromising the needs of future generations… therefore overcoming borderless challenges to sustain a common humanity". Simultaneously, philosopher and economist, Amartya Sen, has identified "striking the proper balance between growth-mediated and support-led security" as the key for this new paradigm's sustainability. Sen argues that economic growth (mediated security) alone does not guarantee trickle down; while direct (support-led security) interventions leading to the provision of public health/nutrition/environmental services, even if targeted, promote equity but only very indirectly and weakly.
Governments have also weighed in. Within the past two years, newly democratised Bhutan has been one of the most vocal states on the elements of the NDP. The country has called for "a genuine change from our current materialist obsession, narrow self-interest and resource exploitation to a much broader and deeper view, which recognizes the goal of development as human happiness contingent on the wellbeing of all life forms" (UNDP Bhutan). As such, Bhutan has developed a new nine-factor indicator – the Gross National Happiness (GNH). The GNH stresses collective happiness to be addressed directly through public policies in which happiness becomes an explicit criterion in development projects and programmes. As highlighted by Bhutan Prime Minister H.E. Jigmi Y. Thinley, 'since the present GDP-based system was devised prior to any knowledge of climate change or the finite limits of the earth's resources, there is truly need for this change'.
the slight variations in perspectives for the NDP previously referenced, a
cohesive emotion endures: i.e. a paradigm of empowerment, thought provocation,
poverty reduction, sustainability, 'happiness', prosperity and individuality.
However, achieving these elements require not only the development of the
Caribbean region's human capital, but also restructure of trade and development
*This restructuring of mechanisms will form the basis of part two of this article.


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Summer Program
Hench Autism Studies Program
Housed on the Defiance College campus, the Hench Summer Program is a day camp designed to provide social opportunities for local teens/young adults with ASD (ages 13-18).
Daily programming occurs from 9am-3pm and includes 50 minute periods of Art, Video Making, Recreation, Group Teamwork Challenge, and Leisure, with lunch provided in the DC cafeteria and field trip opportunities to things like Putt-Putt, Go Karts, Laser Tag, or the movies. Each year culminates in the annual Art Show and Film Fest in which families and friends can join their student in celebrating their hard work and achievements while at camp.
Our teaching staff consists of licensed intervention specialists who provide a structured, bully-free environment for students to practice basic social skills and friendship-building. College students make up our staff of counselors who provide peer mentoring and added structure for our participants.
Camp is not a social skills training program, nor does it target specific behaviors. Its mission is simply to provide an environment and the supports necessary for campers to get outside of their comfort zone and connect with others. As such, the program is unable to accept students with aggressive or maladaptive behaviors. An application, copy of current IEP or ETR, and an on-campus interview are required for all new applicants.
The Hench Summer Program is provided at no cost to families. The Hench Family has recognized a need within Northwest Ohio for ASD awareness and programming. Due to their generous support, Defiance College is able to provide high-quality programming and a professional staff to ensure a positive summer experience.
For more information about camp or to request an application, please contact email@example.com or visit the Facebook page:


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College life, leisure reading not compatible
Published: Tue Jan 15, 2013
Reading is a hobby I very much enjoy. It's a simple pleasure that not only broadens my mind, but also cultures me in ways that reality television can't. A few of my favorite authors are J.D. Salinger ("Franny and Zooey" is a must-read) and Joseph Heller ("Catch-22," a classic) — those who have taught me countless lessons about life, society and corruption. But since I began college, the tragic truth is that leisure reading has become nonexistent in my life. From the time classes begin to the minute they end, I'm always busy doing homework and studying. On weekends I catch up on sleep and socializing. Yes, I have books on my bedside table, and yes, I look at them every time I wake up, but never do I get the chance to sit down and immerse myself in a novel. I'm always worrying about wasting time or procrastinating on homework. Sometime before winter break, a friend and I were discussing our shared frustrations for having not read any type of literature for about the past four months. Textbooks were read, along with scholarly articles, but I had a book where I was 100 pages in and haven't picked up since the summer. We both agreed that reading doesn't take that much effort but it takes time that during our first semester of college we just didn't have enough of. How many students actually go to the library to borrow a newly released book to read for fun? From my experience the library is a place to buy coffee, study with friends and print out homework. Occasionally, borrowing a book is required for a class, but I'm not even sure the library would have newly released books like the newest novel by J.K. Rowling, "The Casual Vacancy." I know there's a bookstore downtown, but as a college student I can't really spend 20 plus dollars on the books I want to read and not feel guilty about it. Technology has created interesting ways to read books. My smart phone has several different applications that come with books already available to read. I guess I could read a little if I get to class early, but that doesn't happen very often. I could ask for an E-reader for my birthday, but then I'd still have to pay to download books and also charge the device. I could get books on CD and listen to them in the car, but I'm usually in the car with friends and I don't want to bother them with that. Reading, like any other hobby, obviously requires effort. Maybe skipping on a night out with friends to get through a few chapters, or saving up to buy a book I know I'll enjoy. Although, college is, after all, an educational institution where students attend classes to inform them of different subjects and build their intelligence. But then why is my reading only limited to textbooks? I want to read about dragons that lay eggs and then start revolutions, teenage girls who have a crush that they constantly think about, and vampires that fall in love with werewolves! Books are fun and sometimes I miss picking one up and laughing or crying at the words I read. In this spring semester, I will try to take the initiative to read a few pages before bed. When I have a rare spare moment, I'll dust off a book and read as much as possible. But as a full-time college student, I cannot make any promises. Life after high school has taken quick pace, like I imagine it has for many others, and I just don't have as much free time as I used to. Reading is a hobby I am determined to not give up on, although I might just put it off until summer break.


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Architectural highlights
Upon closer inspection, the structure turns out to be the lower station of the Hungerburgbahn, planned by Zaha Hadid, the architect who had made a name for herself in Innsbruck as early as 2002 with her elegant redesign of the Bergisel Ski Jump. Two years later Hadid again set international standards in architecture with the Hungerburgbahn. Enjoying the spectacular views while travelling up the mountain on this hybrid funicular railway, one can scarcely imagine the technical challenges faced by its builders with the constantly changing inclination of the ground and the rough terrain.
From the bottom station of the railway it is only a few steps to the lovely historic downtown area. While the picturesque city of Innsbruck, nestled against the spectacular Tirolean Alps, is small, the magnitude of its architecture is enormous. Some of the country's most stunning Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings are to be found here, including the Helblinghaus with its splendid Baroque stucco façade. And any discussion of Innsbruck architecture would, of course, be incomplete without a reference to the famous Golden Roof – a royal box constructed for Emperor Maximilian I and decorated with exactly 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles. But as stimulating as the city centre is, the people of Innsbruck are no less animated and lively, and the visitor senses that the inhabitants enjoy life to the fullest. Surrounded by the breathtaking Alps, this is a city that offers relaxation as well as many opportunities for making new cultural discoveries.
The Habsburgs appreciated the beauty of Tirol as well and established a residence here. The Hofburg Innsbruck with its superbly restored imperial apartments, offers interesting insights into the lifestyle and daily routine of Empress Maria Theresa and Empress Sisi. Elaborately glazed porcelain heating stoves that were fired from concealed passages, silk wall coverings, laid banquet tables – all of this brings the history of the royal dwellers of the Hofburg to life.
The Bergisel attracts a great number of visitors not only with the previously mentioned ski jump, designed by Zaha Hadid, but also with the "Tirol Panorama", an historic panoramic painting that was transferred to the newly built "Museum am Bergisel" in 2010. This work, measuring 1,000 square metres and curved 360 degrees, depicts Tirolean freedom fighters at the 1809 Battle of Bergisel.
The mountains! In Tirol you are simply surrounded by them, and they have left an inevitable mark on the land and its people. It is thus no wonder that modern design in Tirol has even taken hold in the Alps. Alongside the traditional, rustic mountain huts, an increasing number of innovative and eco-friendly Alpine shelters are offering refuge to hikers and mountaineers. One of the best examples of this is the Stüdlhütte, perched at 2,800 metres on Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner. This structure, with its partly elliptical design, boasts a 240° view to the southwest. This provides the hut with a maximum amount of sunlight, which is extremely beneficial in terms of energy use. A towering architectural achievement, so to speak.
The architecture of the Festspielhaus Erl accords an equal degree of respect to the surrounding Tirolean mountain landscape. In summer, when the performances are held "next door" in the white Passionsspielhaus, the Festspielhaus with its dark façade blends in with the surrounding dark forest, thus effectively receding into the background. In winter, however, it makes its grand entrance. The dark Festspielhaus stands out against the snowy white landscape, and its impressive architecture becomes the focal point. By the way, the new Festspielhaus has the world's largest orchestra pit. The highest of mountains, the hugest of pits – Tirol is a province of superlatives.
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B Collection Girls Floral Tiered Dress - Navy
B Collection Girls Floral Tiered Dress - Navy
These stock levels are constantly changing and the information shown is accurate as at 2 hours ago.
Product Features:
- Floral print
- Ruffle detailing
- Long sleeves
- Viscose construction
- Machine washable
Wash before wear
Cold gentle machine wash
Do not bleach
Do not tumble dry
Warm iron
Do not dryclean
B Collection
FREE Same Day Pick up
Pick up allows you to buy online and Pick up in any BIG W store 7 days per week.
If your order is placed by 12 noon, it will be ready for Pick up from 4 pm same day. If your order is placed after 12 noon, then it will be ready for collection from 12 noon the following day.
See here for more information on Pick up.
Home Delivery
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with Natalie Evans
This one day, 3 hour class is designed for pregnant women and their labor support partner. Through both discussion and experiential learning, couples will learn a variety of tools to help them through the birth process. The topics covered are: the stages of labor, what the laboring woman is feeling both physically and emotionally through each stage, when to go to the hospital, hands on ways to help woman through her contractions, ways to manage back labor, how to be a good support person to the laboring woman, massage, breathing, positions for labor and birth, visualization, aromatherapy, the use of heat and cold, and positions and comfort measures for the pushing stage.
$75 per couple in advance/$85 day of
Natalie Evans is a certified Childbirth Educator through ALACE (Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators) and birth doula. She has enjoyed the rewarding work of teaching and being a doula for almost 12 years. Along with her birth work she also enjoys the exciting and difficult job of being the mother of two children, one born at Evanston Northwestern hospital and one a home water birth. She is currently studying to become a Wild Foods Instructor and is a natural movement enthusiast.
**Refund Policy- In order to retain class credit, please cancel within 24 hours of workshop by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Refunds will not be issued for no call/no shows
** Studio Cancellation Policy- Special events and workshops require a minimum number of students to attend in order to take place. If you are interested in a workshop, we encourage you to register early. We will notify you and issue a full refund 24-48 hours in advance if a workshop is canceled due to low registration. Thank you!


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Downer mounts $A1.2b takeover for Spotless
Downer EDI has launched a $A1.26 billion takeover bid for ASX-listed outsourced laundry and cleaning services firm Spotless Group as the Australian-based infrastructure and mining firm looks to expand its operations as a vertically integrated services provider.
Sydney-based Downer is offering $A1.15 a share to Spotless shareholders, a 59% premium to the 72.5Ac price the stock traded at before the announcement. Downer bought a 15% stake at an average price of $A1.146 yesterday, adding to its near-5% holding. Spotless shares have since jumped 46% to $A1.06.
Spotless returned to the public markets in 2014 in an initial public offering valuing the firm at $A1.2 billion, just two years after private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners took it private for $A723 million. The outsourcing firm has been languishing on the ASX after lowering its dividend payout ratio in the face of reduced earnings.
Downer said it sees an opportunity to broaden its services and open new income streams to create the largest diversified and integrated services manager in Australia and New Zealand with annual revenue of $A10.5 billion.
"It is aligned with our strategy and strengthens Downer's position as a leading integrated services provider to not only the resources, transport and utilities sectors, but also in health, education, corrections, defence and other areas of government," Downer chief executive Grant Fenn said in a statement. "Importantly, the Downer management team has what it takes to turn the Spotless business around and to create a highly competitive, customer-focused and successful service organisation."
Downer is raising $A1.01 billion in an underwritten rights issue at $A5.95 a share, a discount to yesterday's closing price of $A7.42, to help fund the acquisition, with the balance from existing debt facilities.
When PEP took Spotless private in 2012 it paid $A2.71 a share, valuing the company at $A723 million, ending 11 months of takeover talk swirling around the firm. Last month a class suit was filed against Spotless over the representation of its 2015 accounts.
This month Downer agreed to buy New Zealand construction firm Hawkins from the McConnell family, giving the firm exposure to building construction on top of its traditional civil building work in roads and drainage infrastructure.
Spotless advised shareholders to wait until they get a formal recommendation before accepting the offer, and chairman Garry Hounsell said the board "continues to believe in the fundamental strengths of our business."