text: Editorial Editorial Creative (RM) Creative (RF) NFL Content NFL AP Content Advanced search Advanced Search X Advanced Search Back to search results 1 of 100 results NHL 2019: Coyotes vs Blackhawks MAR 11 Overview Get price March 11, 2019: Blackhawk #19 Jonathan Toews in action during the National Hockey League game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Arizona Coyotes at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Mike Wulf/CSM(Credit Image: © Mike Wulf/CSM via ZUMA Wire) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images) Use Information This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. Contributor: Cal Sports Media ID: 19072262903563 Creation Date: March 11, 2019 02:45:24 PM Submission Date: March 13, 2019 07:18:18 AM Photographer: Mike Wulf Source: CALSP Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS Special Instructions: Please contact your sales representative with questions. Resolution: 2500 x 2500 3.09 MB Event: Arizona Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks 3/11/2019 Subject: Sports, Professional hockey, Hockey, Men's sports, NHL hockey, NHL hockey, Men's hockey, Men's hockey Keywords: ZHKN, znhl, nhl, NHL, Hockey, National, League, Chicago, Blackhawks, Arizona, Coyotes, United, Center, zselect, wulf_blackhawks8_coyotes_20.jpg, zcsm, zagency, zsports, Mike, Wulf, zcsmnhl, 20190311_zaf_c04_546.jpg Location: Chicago, ILLINOIS Transmission Reference: CSMAP Byline Title: CTR Caption Writer: ZEUS Usage Notes: This content is intended for editorial use only. For other uses, additional clearances may be required. X Message Box Cancel Ok No Yes


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Charlotte Simmons
This character is a naive eighteen-year-old girl. She comes from a poor family: her father is a well-meaning unemployed caretaker and her mother is a person who holds strict moral boundaries.
Hoyt Thorpe
This character is a popular senior at Dupont. From Greenwich, Connecticut, this character has thick, light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a muscular build.
Joseph J. Johanssen (Jojo)
This character is a senior at Dupont. This character has blond hair; he's 6 feet 10 inches and weighs 250 pounds.
Adam Gellin
This character is a senior at Dupont, a member of the Millennial Mutants, and a virgin.
This character is deeply religious and a pillar of moral standards.
Miss Pennington
This unique character is a high school English teacher.
Laurie McDowell
This twelfth grader is a fellow graduate and a member of the honors society.
Buster Roth
This character is the basketball coach at Dupont...
(read more Character Descriptions)
This section contains 202 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)

subset: commoncrawl


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Fire Tornadoes, twirling 30 foot sparklers and BIG things that go kaboom! Just a normal day in Nate's world. What Lights Nate is an inspirational film that documents the personal journey of fire artist Nate Smith and the creative process by which he comes to grips with his own fear and anger, culminating in art forms that bring joy and happiness to Nate and others.
The film contains startling images of Nate's art and of the environment of which he creates it including the renowned arts festival, Burning Man. This documentary teaches us that beauty can be found in everything around us.
This a story about experiencing life underseas with 140 crew members on-board the USS Benjamin Franklin, a nuclear ballistic submarine during the cold war. Our mission was simple - be ready to launch 16 nuclear missiles, which had the capability of destroying more than 200 cities. Crazy, you bet ya!, and we had 41 of these subs during the entertaining years with the Russians. Interviews with former shipmates across the U.S., stock footage and animation provide a good dose of insight, humor and politics. Feature-length, High-Definition.
This award winning documentary tells the compelling stories of Vietnamese women who were soldiers, activists and prisoners of war during the American war in Vietnam.
These women universally express the conviction that their stories can provide a common thread of compassion to bind the wounds that divide people in the U.S. and Vietnam. They feel a particular bond with American wives and mothers who have shared their pain and fought similar battles to preserve the values of home, family, and tradition against the corrosive influences of war, greed, and 'progress.'
Film Length – 60 minutes
Filmed in Vietnam between 1991-1997
Mastered from16mm film and video
DVD is Standard Definition
This heartfelt documentary chronicles a Renaissance woman whose diverse career spanned over fifty years including – a WWII aviator in the WASPS (Women Air Service Pilots), a builder of a Frank Lloyd Wright home, a mother of five, a peace activist, a counselor for the Veterans Administration and a book author.
These six short films, produced over a span of twenty years, are as unique as the subjects that inspired them. Touching on subjects of social and political consciousness, world culture or the mundanity of day to day life all are imbued with the wry eye of a playful storyteller.


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Medicinal Herbs – teachers, healers and guides
In this experiential session (Incl. a rose meditation) Nathaniel explores the potential of plants to catalyse deep healing, both physiologically and psychologically. His latest book "Weeds of the Heart" will be on sale.
Thursday 23rd February 19.30
St. Luke's Therapy Centre Cainscross Road, Stroud. GL5 4EX
Everyone Welcome
Donations to Therapy Fund


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Outsourcing products and services at New York. See Outsourcing specialized companies at New York
Commercial Collection Agency member of Commercial Law League -Agency Section
GuruSEO Services company has over 7 years¡¯ experience in Google SEO. We have made thousands of keywords in top 10 Ranking ! Guru SEO offers golden SEO packages, affordable backlinks, Social Media packages and other great services. These packages and links have been tested again and again! That is why we are so excited to provide you these premium solutions, which will not only boost your ranking, but also help to increase your domain authority, page authority and even Page Rank. Finally we boost your business into a new level.
380Global are one of Europes premier outsourcing suppliers of multilingual contact center services offering customer service excellence.
At ABC-Amega Inc., quality is our priority: Collection Agencies - NY.
Searching for Risk Management, Full Service, Auditing, Staff Leasing & Retirement Plans in New York? Staff-Line, Inc. is leader in Employment products. Located at Poughkeepsie, NY.
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Snowmobile insurance: Top company in New York for Outsourcing services.
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If you visit New York looking for Outsourcing products, dont miss RSVP Call Center Service at New York, NY.
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Find your Document Preparation Services products at the best price in KimKo Administrative Services from New York.
Find the Document Preparation Services service you need at KimKo Administrative Services from New York.


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Top 5 Myths Of Early Out Self-Pay
There is a lot of information floating around about Early Out Self-Pay, an emerging healthcare service necessity, but as with many things, not all of it is based in fact.
As Vice President of HRG's OutPartnering™ Center and Executive Director of HRG's Early Out Self-Pay department prior to that, I can help you gain some clarity by debunking the Top 5 Myths Of Early Out Self-Pay that just don't hold up in practice.
Myth #1: Propensity-To-Pay Account Scoring Is Good
Fact: Propensity-to-pay has a place in a business office that is understaffed and has little time to perform true self-pay functions. However, when hiring an Early Out Self-Pay vendor account scoring decreases the number of accounts a vendor will bother to work. At HRG we believe in working all accounts, because each account represents an opportunity to provide cash results for our clients. The scores do not adequately capture all of the life changes that occur and the motivating factors for a patient to make a medical payment. As life circumstances change, a person with a low scoring could be willing and able to work toward account resolution and increased collections.
Account Scoring is Good – Debunked!
Myth #2: Hard Collections Work
Fact: Typically, patients will have decided within 30 seconds of a call whether they can or are willing to pay on an account. If an effective listening strategy is utilized, a self-pay representative may be able to identify alternative solutions such as charity care or an extended payment plan, based on the customer's needs and circumstances. By listening effectively and offering solutions the reputation of facility is reinforced, thus leading to higher levels of perceived customer service and satisfaction.
Hard Collections Work – Debunked!
Myth #3: AR Days Are More Important Than Cash In Bank
Fact: Is it better to have $25,000 more in revenue or 5 less AR days? The line between what are considered 'acceptable AR days' and 'acceptable cash collections' gets somewhat sticky in this age-old debate. There is indeed a need for these metrics in healthcare but at times it can be pushed to the extreme. Liberalizing payment policies allow more patients to be on payment plans but also increases AR days. Loose adjustment policies may reduce AR but do not result in earned cash. It's a delicate balance and there should be give and take in either direction.
AR Days are More Important than Cash in the Bank – Debunked!
Myth #4: Bad Debt Is Better Than Charity
Fact: Bad debt is an unavoidable facet of healthcare revenue. It is true that there are advantages of bad debt on the cost report, but there are also tax exemption advantages for charity care. The current economic climate, including factors such as 501®, has caused what might be perceived as a tightening of the regulations of charity care. Rather than trying to collect the uncollectible, offering expanded charity assistance can be an excellent community marketing tool. Putting in a good solid process that screens and offers charity care earlier in the process helps to decrease overall collection costs on the back-end.
Bad Debt is Better than Charity – Debunked!
Myth #5: My Patients Would Never Use That Technology
Fact: Self-pay is an area of healthcare that is growing rapidly on the technology front. Text-to-pay, patient portal, recurring ACH payments and paperless bills are all emerging technology to assist patients with payments. Some facilities are wary of the new methods, much as the banking industry was unsure about ATM and debit cards initially. However, as is demonstrated by the astounding ATM and debit growth in banking: the future is new technology. There is an expectation by most patients that an option such as a web portal or an automated phone system be available for patients to make payments. Some patients will even avoid making a payment if the only option is to talk to a live person.
My Patients Would Never Use That Technology – Debunked!
Jason Coffin
Client care is the top priority for Jason Coffin, a Certified Revenue Cycle Expert (CRCE-1), CHFP. Jason oversees all operations of HRG's OutPartnering™ Center located in Spokane Valley, Washington and is responsible for Central Business Office (CBO), Extended Business Office (EBO), self-pay and quality assurance services. He is focused on continuous improvement initiatives to ensure HRG remains the best choice for healthcare providers. Jason and his team provide outsourced revenue cycle services and support to hospitals and clinics throughout the country.


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The best, and rarest kind of film is the kind that you watch, sit and think about when it's over, try to figure out if you loved it or hated it, then find that three days later you're still thinking about it, which means, ipso facto, that you loved it.
Take the splatter B-film SIMON SAYS, 2006, starring Crispin Glover, available on the Netflix streamy-thingie, and added to my queue blindly, because I was in a horror film mood, and Crispin's my dream man.
Twenty minutes into the film, I thought, Christ, this film is awful!, and I walked away from it for a bit.
The nature of its awfulness drew me back, since it was so terrible, I thought it might fall into that wonderful rare category mentioned above.
What we've got at the opening is the standard 80s slasher flick setup: mismatched high school kids in their 30s headed for the woods for a debauch; creepy gas station attendant and small town folks being creepy, creepily; flashbacks that should serve as exposition but are so garbled and affected it's really just the director's moment to shine as an art film dropout. Oh, and fog machines.
This is so cliché, I thought, groaning at the motivation and lines from the "teens," all suspiciously beautiful and half undressed even in the van. But maybe it's supposed to be cliché! I dared to hope. It is, after all, a Crispin Glover film, and his strength is that you can never really tell if he's kidding or not. Just ask David Letterman.
When watched through those rose-tinted glasses, the film suddenly became a sparkling gem.
To call the characters two-dimensional is an insult to a square. As we meet the kids driving to the woods to "pan for gold," (not joking) in the stoner's VW van so plastered with hippie stickers it can only be farce, they pontificate, "What if we do strike it rich?" which leads to informative glimpses into each personality.
They pull over to an abandoned gas station, meet Crispin who Crispins it up for them, freaking the kids out, meet some local gravediggers who warn them about the murders and urge them to turn around…
…does this sound familiar? Not in a general way, but in a specific way? Ever seen CABIN IN THE WOODS, that brilliant love letter to the 80s slasher flick genre, which blatantly names each of the five archetype "teens" like this?
Well, Act I of CABIN is a direct homage to Act I of SIMON, which is an homage to the classic genre of non-camp films in the 80s.
The kills in SIMON really are imaginative. Pickaxe catapults, death by Fattie, poodle-stomping, and believe it or not, the human CD player. To up the body count, we stumble nonsensically upon some paintball warriors in the woods who serve as gore material, and there's lots of it.
I kept pausing the film to read "reviews" (mostly by trolls screaming, "THIS MOUIE IS AWEFULL!") I wondered if anyone else was seeing what I was seeing — a well done, thinly-veiled spoof. A few people got it; the unwashed masses missed the point, in their usual unwashed way. Crispin's tarted-up, over the top redneck accent is so unbelievably bad that it just has to be on purpose. There's no other credible explanation.
In fact the whole film is so unbelievably bad (yet shot so gorgeously) that, after some deliberation, I've decided I love it — perhaps because I initially hated it. And that is the rarest, most delightful kind of film.
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On December 9th, 2012 02:30 pm (UTC), scottynola commented:
Oh, I MUST see this!


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Current Location:New ZealandChange Location
New Zealand
Home > News > Seven key appointments announced to further bolster our Australia & New Zealand business
Cushman & Wakefield, a global leader in commercial real estate services, today announced seven key appointments to the Australia and New Zealand operations in a recent recruitment blitz, further confirming its strategy to employ the best people in the industry, as it aggressively grows its platform in the region.
Managing Director NSW CRE
In an unprecedented coup, Cushman & Wakefield has secured four of NSW's best Office Leasing Agents from CBRE.
Cushman & Wakefield's Chief Executive for Australia and New Zealand, James Patterson said investing in our business and attracting top talent from across the industry will ensure the company's continued success in the local market.
"This is a game changer for Cushman & Wakefield's Australia and New Zealand platform as we continue to evolve and create a unique and exciting culture. I am thrilled that people of this quality have chosen to join the Cushman & Wakefield team, and they will be instrumental to our growth as we continue to drive the best results for our clients. Attracting leaders and future leaders is a testament to the current success we have seen across our business and the exciting opportunities ahead for everyone." Mr Patterson said.
All key hires will join Cushman & Wakefield in the first quarter 2016.
View all our current real estate career opportunities


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San Leandro, California (EastBayDaily) — Greg Ryan, co-founder and CEO of Pasteurization Technology Group (PTG), is a featured speaker at the upcoming AlwaysOn GoingGreen Silicon Valley 2012, a conference that showcases innovative greentech companies. Mr. Ryan will share his vision for "The Future of Water" on a panel that convenes some of the industry's top water-technology innovators for a lively discussion, moderated by recognized water expert Laura Shankar.
PTG is experiencing heightened interest and customer momentum, and its eco-friendly technology has received expert recognition. 2012 has been a year of intense customer growth for the PTG, which recently moved to larger headquarters space in order to accommodate accelerating sales. The company has also established channel partnerships, which are accelerating the velocity of customer opportunities across multiple industries.
PTG recently received validation at the highest technical level through its inclusion by the EPA in the agency's influential "Guidelines for Water Reuse." The EPA noted that PTG's technology is a proven process for effective wastewater disinfection, and one that has undergone rigorous testing and offers significant cost savings over other approaches by reducing energy consumption and eliminating the use of chemicals.
Where to meet Greg Ryan and PTG at GoingGreen Silicon Valley 2012 â Greg Ryan, CEO, Pasteurization Technology Group â Golden Gate Club – 135 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, California 94129 â November 27, 2012, 4:00 – 4:30 pm â To set up an interview with Mr. Ryan, contact Tim Cox at 650-369-7784
Attend the panel: "The Future of Water" Host: Laura Shenkar, Principal, The Artemis Project Panelists: Greg Ryan, Co-Founder & CEO, Pasteurization Technology Group; Deane Little, CEO, CSO, New Sky Energy; Rick VanSant, President and CEO, UV Pure Technologies; Shahram Javey, Ph.D., Founder, CEO, Aquacue; Peter Fiske, CEO, Pax Water; Peter Yolles, Founder & CEO, WaterSmart Software
The PTG eco-friendly system for wastewater disinfection and renewable energy
PTG is the first and only company in the world to combine wastewater disinfection with renewable-energy generation. PTG's patented technology can use either the digester gas (often referred to as biogas, a natural by-product of wastewater treatment) or natural gas as fuel to drive a turbine or engine that generates renewable electricity. The hot exhaust air from the turbine or engine—energy that is typically wasted—is then passed through a series of customized heat exchangers that increase the temperature of the wastewater to a level that disinfects the wastewater stream. PTG's technology is significantly more cost-effective and more energy-efficient than other methods. And, unlike other wastewater disinfection approaches, PTG's systems do not require toxic chemicals (such as chlorine) or costly electrical power and expensive UV lamps.
About Pasteurization Technology Group California-based Pasteurization Technology Group (PTG) is a fast-growing, venture-capital backed company that is revolutionizing the disinfection of wastewater. PTG's systems feature its patented "two-for-one" technology that combines eco-friendly wastewater disinfection with the generation of renewable energy. PTG's process is one of only a handful of technologies to pass the stringent standards of Title 22 in the state of California for the disinfection of water for reuse. By channeling the typically wasted exhaust heat from a turbine or engine to disinfect wastewater, PTG's process is able to deliver the most energy-efficient and lowest-cost solution on the market. PTG has won numerous awards including the 2012 Artemis Top 50 Water Tech award and the Popular Science 2011 "Best of What's New" award. For more information, see http://www.pastechgroup.com, and follow @pastechgroup on Twitter and Facebook facebook.com/PasteurizationTechnologyGroup.
Tim Cox
Pasteurization Technology Group


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EA Contact Information
Enrolled Agents' Helpline
- EA enrollment questions
- Renewal status (Form 8554)
- Application status (Form 23)
Phone: Toll free (855) 472-5540 (Detroit, MI-Central Standard Time)
Website: https://irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-agents
Calling to check on the status of your renewal application? The IRS asks you to allow 60 days for processing of a renewal before calling to check on the status.
PTIN Helpline
- Obtaining a new PTIN
- Renewing an existing PTIN
- Checking the exact name on your PTIN account
- Verifying your exact PTIN
Phone: (877)-613-7846 (toll free)
International callers: (915) 342-5655 (not toll free)
Hours of operation: 8 AM to 5 PM CST (Central Standard Time)
Days of operation: Open Monday - Friday
Website: www.irs.gov/ptin
Enrolled Agent Change of Address
If your contact information has changed since the time of your last renewal, notify the IRS by fax or mail your address change to:
Office of Practitioner Enrollment
P.O. Box 33968
Detroit, MI, 48232
Fax: (855)-889-7959
Include your name, prior contact information, new contact information, social security number or tax identification number, and the date.
NOTE: This contact information was last updated in October 2018. If you find that this information is no longer current, please write back so we may update the contact information.


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Wow! We've topped $71,000 — less then four thousand to go on our third day and we're there!
Neil, Justin, David and I had a long lunch meeting today with Doug there via email to plan the next few wonderful steps and how best to include all of you.
We're shooting interviews tomorrow with our cast — Armin Shimerman and I will also reminisce on-camera about making our DEEP SPACE NINE episode "Far Beyond the Stars." You'll be seeing that soon.
Continue reading


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MOOC's (Massive Open Online Courses) are still a word that not many people know and if you say you're enrolled in one, they won't know exactly about what you're talking about. This surprise me as I think is an excellent way of learning that should be seriously taken into consideration.
So lately I've been really into the MOOC world, and I've seen that the search for that term has been increasing since approximately the beginning of 2013 as we can see in the next picture:
So what exactly are they?
For whoever doesn't know yet what is this exactly, a MOOC is a free 100% online course in which there is usually no limits of students. There are a lot of them and in a lot of fields, like design, programming, architecture, marketing and so on. Actually right now I'm taken three marketing courses and one about business in Asia.
Halfway of my courses (They're one month-long – this varies depending on the course) I can already say that I'm really enjoying them. I almost finished my university degree and only have one subject left to pass, and whilst I'm looking for an internship I have found myself with many time in my hands.
I really enjoy learning (Not usually from classes at university though – but my opinion about universities and their method is another story) and I'm really lucky I've found these kind of tools to keep developing my skills.
How it works?
The ones I joined are all from the same organization so they are all the same but I heard there's other ways MOOC's are done. For instance in my courses you will see 8-10 videos with the teacher explaining the lesson, with one quick quiz between each video. And at the end of that module (1 module per week, 4 modules in total) there is an assignment that's usually a 10-question test. At the end of the course, you'll need at least a 60% to receive a certification showing you took part of that course and passed it.
Is it all sunshine and rainbows?
Not really. The downside? Despite being "massive" I found that there is not much interaction between students. And I'm sure teachers and MOOC organizers will realize that this is an are they should improve somehow. Sure, there are forums in each course where to chat with your peers, but… Maybe I've been unlucky, but in the 4 courses I'm taken there's no sign of real activity.
You can see a comment here and there but there is one big problem – Most of people just focus on tell their story, and nobody listens. That's extremely surprising for me as I said three of my courses are in marketing (mostly Social Media related) and one huge attitude you need to have is to listen to other people! (Let it be customers, sells team, production manager and so on). And I truly think that's something some people have more than other people, though of course it can be learn. I truly think "listening" is something that comes from your very soul, and it usually comes when you are interested or curious about something.
Maybe I'm too "romantic", but I love to listen to other people's stories. I love to learn from them and I love to see the way they communicate. Maybe it's just me.
Should I try it?
If you want to keep developing your skills, have some time (But not enough to go to academies, classes, etc) and want to try something new, then you totally need to try it. There's a web where most of MOOC's are collected and it will redirect you to the actual web of the course.
I think MOOC's are quite useful, is a really good way to learn wherever you can as you can watch the videos and do assignments whenever you want (during the course period obviously). But it's gonna be hard to find a way so the students engage with each other and make the courses even more useful as sharing ideas and discuss with other people (in a good way of course) is one of the best ways to learn something.
Please share your ideas about MOOC's, your experience on them, if you would be willing to take one and so on in the comments section!


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21st September 2019
Devils Gorge, Mold, North Wales
In this section
We can give you a thrill you won't forget - abseiling into the 120ft Devil's Gorge. What we do: Your instructor will introduce you to the equipment and give you a short training lecture, then you abseil down the 75° slope - The Slide. You now have an option.... you can wimp out and repeat the Slide or go the full test and abseil the 120ft Overhang. This is real nerve racking stuff. A free hang (no body contact with the rock!!) abseil. Of course, you will have the full support and back-up of our experienced instructors and will be using a safety rope at all times.
Get a charity place for £35 and raise what you can!
We only have a limited number of places and are offering them on a first come first serve basis.
Sign up now!
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to fighting for a life unlimited by cystic fibrosis for everyone living with the condition. We are investing in cutting-edge research, supporting clinical care, and campaigning tirelessly on the issues that matter, but we need your help. Together we will beat cystic fibrosis for good.
If you have any other questions about the event, please get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!
Tips on how you can maximise your fundraising for an upcoming event
Challenge yourself with events on foot, two wheels and even in the air.
Discover the important work you are supporting with each and every pound you raise.


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Brooklyn Dog Walking Services
Premium dog walking Services
City Dog Strut offers a premium dog walking service. Our care givers and dog walkers are trained in dog behavior and as dog lovers themselves they are willing to got the extra mile for your pup. We serve Williamsburg, Park Slope, Prospect Heights and Fort Green.
At CDS we believe a walk is not just a potty break, it's an opportunity for your dog to exercise and socialize with other dogs on a daily basis. If necessary we will work in-depth with your dog to ensure they can walk without pulling and to address any specific needs. A well-behaved, balanced pooch is our priority. If additional help is needed, Gabriel our expert dog trainer will come to rescue. We are proud to say that we have rescued and socialized a large number of dogs that were isolated because of lack of socialization and proper training.. We believe in every dog!
Dog´s hapinness and safety are our top priorities.
All Walks include:
1. Proffesional dog walkers trained by City Dog Strut. Basic dog training provided
2. We provide a back up safety collar and leash.
3. Gps tracking
4. Online booking
5. Pet first Aid/CPR certified for dogs and cats
6. Email notifications with detailed notes when walks/visits and ends.
7. Dog Trainer and behaviorist on staff
8. Fully insured member on pet sitters international
9. Food water and treats
10. Lots of love!!
Contact us to get started with a City Dog Strut. Oh, and don't forget to check us out on Yelp. Be sure to check out our dog training services too.
"★★★★★" Rating on Yelp


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An engaging Thailand tour that explores the country's fascinating former capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, with visits to the northern borders connecting Laos and Burma and a night in the cultural capital of Chiang Mai. This tour of Thailand is great value for money and unveils the Kingdom's most revered and charming cities as it ventures from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Day 1
Bangkok Arrival
Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, our representative will meet to assist you for your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 2
Bangkok (B)
Free at leisure.
Why not take the opportunity to add on one of our Bangkok experiences to your itinerary. Ask your Travel Consultant today.
Day 3
Bangkok – Ayutthaya (B,L)
Day 4
Ayutthaya – Lopburi – Phitsanulok – Sukhothai (B,L)
Continue your journey north on the way to Lopburi, then Phitsanulok before to visit the Wat Mahathat. Follow up with an incredible insects tasting experience in a traditional Thai market, then drive to the kingdom's first capital Sukhothai. Overnight in Sukhothai.
Day 5
Sukhothai – Lampang – Chiang Mai (B)
Morning visit at Sukhothai Historical Park which was once a walled city surrounded by a moat, the park contains almost 200 ruined chedis in remarkable conditions.
Continue up to the north to Chiang Mai via a stop in Lampang. Visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the most spectacular temples in Thailand. Next visit is "FAE", Friends of the Asian Elephant, where you will learn more about the living conditions of the elephants in their natural surroundings. Visit the World's First Elephant Hospital to observe the way the elephants being treated.
Arrive Chiang Mai later in the afternoon. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Day 6
Chiang Mai (B,L)
Have an early start in Chiang Mai
Depart your hotel in the morning and arrive at the foot hill of Doi Suthep mountain, in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. Continue up the mountain to Wat Doi Suthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga stair case to reach its golden pagodas. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels you reach the Viharn of the temple to experience your own private blessing ceremony.
In the afternoon, head towards the Mae Ping River banks and Waroros market for a stroll among the colorful stalls. Continue by rickshaw along Tapae Road, Chiang Mai's main street. From the eastern gate, explore ancient Chiang Mai on foot, including the Three Kings Monument, the city's most important temples Wat Chedi Luang, where the famous Emerald Buddha was once enshrined, and Wat Phra Singh, home to a very old and sacred Buddha image.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Day 7
Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai (B,L)
After breakfast at the hotel, depart from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, and en route visit is Wat Rong Khun with its unique "kanok" architecture. Continue your visits with some of the temples of the town, Wat Phra Kaew with its beautiful brass and copper Buddha image.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Drive to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the Myanmar border. Walk around the local market, and continue to visit Chiang Saen on the steep banks of Mekong River, opposite of Laos where you will see some magnificent ancient ruins and temples. Take a boat ride along the Mekong River to get a closer look at Laos and Myanmar. Stop at the Golden Triangle viewpoint for a panoramic photography of the triangle.
Overnight in Chiang Rai.
Day 8
Chiang Rai – Bangkok (B)
After breakfast transfer to Chiang Rai Airport to catch your flight back to Bangkok. Arrival in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. Evening free at leisure.
Day 9
Departure (B)
After breakfast transfer to airport for your onward flight.
|Bangkok Accommodation
|Ayutthaya Accommodation
|Sukhothai Accommodation
|Chiang Mai Accommodation
|Chiang Rai Accommodation
All Pricing subject to availability & per person sharing.
Currency: Thai Baht (THB)
Vaccinations: No compulsory. Please check with your GP.
Visa: Not required for Irish Nationals.
Best time to Travel: The best time to visit most of Thailand is between November and February, because it rains the least and it is not too hot. This period is also Thailand's main season for festivals, like Loi Krathong.
1 Frankfort Centre, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14.See more Thailand Tours


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sharing in governance of extractive industries
For so many years, the people of the mineral endowed Republic of Congo have demanded reforms in the country's mining code. Similar to existent laws in a number of mineral rich countries in Africa, the 2002 Congo code offered laxities for purposes of attracting investors at a time when the country was faced with high levels of insecurity.
A decade and six years down the road, the 2002 Congo code remains to the benefit of mining companies in a country that holds some of the world's largest deposits of copper and cobalt with potential to sprout to development through its mineral sector. The country is home to the world's largest known cobalt deposit (Katanga copper belt). However, despite the high levels of production, government revenue from mining and the benefits to the locals have for long been on the low.
It is against this background that the government after holding several consultative meetings since 2012 when the code was first revisited, revised the 2002 Congo code to enable the country and the people earn more from the country's natural resources. In December 2017, the parliament of Congo, without opposition passed the new mining code which currently awaits the President's signature to progress into law.
Among the revisions to the code are; the increase in royalties on base minerals like copper and cobalt from 2% to 3.5% and 5% royalty on strategic metals. The revised Congo code will also impose a 50% tax on super profits made by companies. These adjustments to the 2002 Congo code will see the government and the local communities earning more from the country's natural resources.
However, these adjustments have not downed well on the international mining companies in the country. Many of whom have organized themselves to challenge the reduced generosity of the government towards companies as penned in the new mining code.
Companies React
With combined effort, the international companies currently operating in Democratic Republic of Congo are campaigning against the new mining code which according to them will make investment almost impossible because of higher royalties.
Randgold, China Molybdeum Co. Glencore and Ivanhoe are among the companies working in Congo and worried about the new mining Code. The country is signatory to the OHADA Treaty. OHADA stands for Organization for Harmonization of Business Law in Africa. The purpose of the treaty is to improve the business climate of the countries that have implemented it. The Treaty also provides companies doing business in DRC with a single, modern, flexible and more reliable business law framework.
It is because of such laws that the international mining companies are considering it illegal for the government to ignore previous laws in revision of the 2002 Congo code. Some companies are simply uncertain of whether the increased royalties will actually benefit the people of Congo or simply be to the benefit of a few.
Randgold which gets 45 percent of its gold from DRC has risen up against the new mining code which is alleged to take everything from the investors and leave them with minimal returns on investment which will drive investors out of the country.
The old mining laws
In many African countries, outdated mining laws are still being used to govern the mineral sector. It is because of this that despite being endowed with natural resources, many African countries are not making the most out of their mineral wealth. Investors tend to take the lions share.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, despite having the largest known deposits of copper and cobalt which is used to make rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, remains underdeveloped with the government earning very little from this mineral wealth basically because of the country's old mining laws.
This is not any different with some of her neighbors. Uganda still operates under the 2001 mineral policy with the amendments to it remaining a shelved draft awaiting the president's signature.
At the peak of natural resource exploitation in Africa, countries ought to revise mining laws to ensure that the government and citizens benefit from the country's natural resources with emphasis on local content.
Acomai Isabella
The Author is the Communications Officer ,
Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy (ACEMP)
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Moreover, the core of problem in the issue dwelt on here has also been addressed in very simple clear language here:
as well as here;
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We all have things as need to do to keep an even keel — blogging, exercising, reading, cooking. What's yours?
It's my blog, anime and my books! I recently shifted into a new house, so my books aren't as neatly stacked as i would like them to be…nevertheless! Life can't be all about work all the time. Give me a book to read and I'm the happiest person alive.


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Using Windows Management Interface (WMI) to Make Your Life Easy.
when relevant content is
added and updated.
In this blog entry I want to setup the next few blog entries that will deal with a technology that is quite possibly one of the most powerful tools in a Network Administrators tool chest… the Windows Management Interface or WMI.
WMI is a powerful tool when combined with scripting, you can use it to gather a vast array of information very quickly from a system or a number of systems. It is pretty easy to use once you have a basic script to setup the objects to make the calls, you know the Win32 class you want to call to query the information, and when you know what properties and/or methods to use. (no, this isn't exactly the same as the C win32 classes or the windows foundation classes)
Think of Methods as subroutines or functions to accomplish a specific task, like starting a service. Think of properties as variables that you can check the value of to do something.
WMI can be used to also make configuration changes as well– imagine the company you work for just bought another company and you need to add their DNS suffix to all your servers and client machine's TCP/IP properties' search order and there are several hundred machines. Would you touch them all over a weekend? No! Be Lazy, and gain the respect of your new bosses if you were on the other side of the buy out! 😉 Do it with WMI in under an hour while you sip a Mountain Dew.
Another possibility is, say you have a Production SQL server that needs a RAM upgrade but no one can recall exactly what the memory configuration is that makes up the 4Gb of RAM in it. Was it 4 1Gb sticks, or 8 512Mb sticks? Were there any free slots? Guess you'll have to come in during the 3am maintenance window (for 5 minutes) to figure it out so you can order the right parts. No! Be Lazy, WMI can tell you EXACTLY what the memory configuration is to make up the total and how many slots are available/free!
Here is a good introduction article on WMI for you to look over and read. After reading that article you might want to poke around the Microsoft Documentation for the Win32 Classes for WMI. Be sure and bookmark the win32 classes page– it will be invaluable to you.
To make a call from a script to WMI you have to "create the WMI object" you want to work with. This is done in just a few lines of code. Then you actually create the object with a SQL like call like any of the following (These are examples to get the juices flowing… I haven't tested them):
- Select * from Win32_PrinterDriver
- Select Caption from Win32_BIOS where Releasedate < '07/01/07′
- Select * from Win32_Service where Started = True
After that you treat the object you created just like any other object, you just have to know what the properties and methods are, here is a highlight of some of the properties and methods for Win32_Service.
The properties are:
Example Methods are:
There are others, but I think you'll get the general idea. Next time, I'll be sharing a quick script to display Device Drivers that are in use by printers on a server or workstation. Until then… Be Lazy!


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Saturday, September 06, 2008
A helpful handful - 5 necessary judo books
4 comments:
My darling wife, who's long been a big Dick Cavett fan, sent me this link to something he wrote about how, when a child, he'd almost killed another kid with a judo move he'd learned--you guessed it--from a book.ReplyDelete
Thought you might find it interesting.
Wow, Dan. That's a great story...ReplyDelete
As a beginner, I'll take your recommendations. I have the Canon by Mifune and Kodokan throwing Methods already. Both are superb. I was shocked at how much like Mifune's book. I figured it would be out of date. But his ideas about creating throws from the principles of judo was fascinating. Some of those throws didn't make it into the official curriculum, bu they look brilliant anyway.ReplyDelete
The two that I would add are Dave Camarillo's Guerilla JJ and Passing the Guard. Dave's book is a great blend of judo and BJJ and is the only I know that covers the transitions from the throws to ne-waza.
Passing the Guard is one of the best MA books I've ever seen. The picture layout makes it even clearer than video. It has all the pluses of a book and a video at the same time. You have to see it. I rely on it for my ne-waza since no one in judo is interested in putting out materials for those techniques. It also has two sequels that cover other ne-waza positions.
Highly recommended.
Here is a good example of one phenomenon that I talked about at the seminar this past weekend. In these film clips, the point of view...
Someone asked me a while back to post what I consider to be pros and cons of aikido and judo – sort of what I like and dislike about aiki...
People often ask me at what age should they start their kids in martial arts. I will occasionally take kids as young as 3-4 as long as the p...
Another thing that Chad asked for the other day in his comment to my post about teaching kids judo was some description of our favorite ...
So many readers have enjoyed my aikido vs. judo article from last year that I figured I'd try my hand at doing a comparison between ...


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Lucas Frost is at home with his Mistress Daizy Cooper, When his wife Aaliyah Love walks in, she gets pisses and wants to see what all the fuss is about. Daizy has to tuck her way out of an awkward situation.
I Kissed a Girl and I Liked it #09Posted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on I Kissed a Girl and I Liked it #09
Kenzie Reeves just happened to see her neighbor Aaliyah Love taking a shower. She was so turned on by her sexy fit body, she wanted to join her in the shower for some steamy girl on girl action.
Hot Blonde Professor Aaliyah Love has student stuff her pussyPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on Hot Blonde Professor Aaliyah Love has student stuff her pussy
Aaliyah Love is one of the hottest professors on campus, so it's no surprise that her student, Tyler, would take a pic of that ass for later. There's a problem though, Tyler gets caught! Lucky for him, Aaliyah hasn't been laid in a while and is flattered that he would include her in his spank bank material, so she has him strip down and rides his cock like no one else can. (Video duration: 42 min)
HR Mgr Aaliyah Love Investigates Penisgate With Her PussyPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on HR Mgr Aaliyah Love Investigates Penisgate With Her Pussy
Penisgate! Who's been using the office photocopy machine to make copies of their dick and balls, and leaving them around the workplace? Human resources manager Aaliyah Love doesn't know yet, but she's going to get to the bottom of it! She's interviewed everyone in the office thus far, except for Tyler, and now it's his turn to get grilled. and the only way for Ms. Love to truly know whether Tyler is the cock culprit is by pulling down his trousers and examining what could be the delinquent dick. But to be 100% accurate, she needs to see it in all of its forms – hard, throbbing and ready to cum. Therefore a good sucking and fucking is necessary for the investigation! Will Aaliyah crack the case after the cum's on her face??? Find out! (Video duration: 44 min)
Hot secretaries and horny co-workers in naughty Office Sex Videos!
Aaliyah Love de-virginizes your big black dick in VR pornPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on Aaliyah Love de-virginizes your big black dick in VR porn
What does Aaliyah Love, well, love? More than anything else, she loves virgins. And she's super excited to be the first woman to break your maiden. Yes, your cock is finally ripe for the suckin' and the fuckin' and blonde bubbly Aaliyah is the one who's going to give you the action you've been waiting for for so long. But don't think it's all take and no give. No, sir. Aaliyah's going to put you to work with that big dick of yours. She wants it thrusting and pumping inside of her, hard and fast, slow and long, any and every which way she can get it. You won't be able to prepare yourself for this first-time fuck, but prepare yourself! (Video duration: 49 min)
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I went to the gym with my buddy Ramon Nomar for our weekly training and we simply couldn't keep our eyes off of Aaliyah Love's perfect ass as she was striding away on the elliptical machine! Throughout his workout, Ramon kept checking out the hot blonde MILF and offered her some posture advice for lifting weights. Of course, this was all just a ploy to get his hands all over her ass! But Ms. Love was grateful for the attention and confessed to us her husband has been ignoring her despite her efforts to get fit! As she continued working out, Ramon offered to spot her while she bench-pressed. The horny MILF couldn't keep her eyes off his big dick, which was sticking out of his shorts! As a "thank you" for his help, Aaliyah wrapped her luscious lips around Ramon's cock as she showcased her deepthroating skills. That's when Ramon tore open her tight blue shorts to get a taste of her tight ass and dripping wet pussy. Then, they both got a full-body cardio workout when they fucked all over the gym!
Homemade Porn With StepmomPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on Homemade Porn With Stepmom
Scarlett Mae and her new boyfriend, Jmac, love making their own homemade porn videos. They get a thrill from streaming their sex life out over the internet, having all sorts of strangers from all walks of life watching them fuck on camera. But with Scarlett's new stepmom Aaliyah Love at home, the young couple are worried that she'll ruin all their fun… Overhearing the moaning, this sneaky step-mom walks in to catch the web stars in a compromising position, not only were they fucking right under her nose, but their show is bland! It's time for Aaliyah to teach these teens a lesson in how to make their internet sexcapades a real success, bringing in more viewers than they could have ever hoped for!
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When Aaliyah Love visits from out of town, she wants to make the most of her stay. Boarding at her good friend's house, she wants to stay a few extra days to see some of the sights. It turns out that her friend's husband Ryan wants to do some sightseeing of his own… seeing the beautiful sight of Aaliyah's big white ass in the shower, that is! But Aaliyah's too horny to not notice him spying on her and jerking his dick to her glistening apple bottom, which inspires her to get a close look at the sight she's been dying to see while Ryan's sleeping, the monument in his pants! Ryan doesn't exactly want to cheat on his wife, but you can't put a guest out, right?
Holiday StuffingPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on Holiday Stuffing
Hot blonde MILF Aaliyah Love asks her stepdaughter Kristen Scott and her boyfriend Codey for help getting Thanksgiving dinner ready, but the teens have no idea how to stuff the turkey. The more Aaliyah tries to explain, the more puzzled the young couple get, until the exasperated cougar realizes she needs to find another way to demonstrate the proper way to stuff a hole! Taking both Kristen and Codey by surprise, Aaliyah peels off her stepdaughter's panties and sets her on the counter! The sexy stepmom begins slowly slipping her fingers inside Kristen's wet, freshly shaved pussy until she's stuffed all four inside and the brunette cutie is moaning with pleasure. Once Kristen is familiar with the technique, it's time to teach Codey how to stuff their pussies with his cock before the babes feast on his dick. It all adds up to a holiday threesome they're all truly thankful for!
Shut the DoorPosted on Categories VideosLeave a Reply on Shut the Door
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- Danfoss runs a bi-annual employee survey to measure employee satisfaction at a high level.
- In 2016, senior managers wanted to add a new style of survey to identify and address specific employee issues faster and more effectively.
- The new survey needed to be engaging, easy and fast to complete, and provide transparent and highly actionable results.


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At Central Tube & Bar, we believe in offering a quality product and quality service at the lowest cost possible. Our prices are competitive with offshore manufacturers, and our clients typically come out way ahead when you compare the differences in scrap losses, delivery timetables, and response time to their concerns.
When clients come out ahead, they come back. Americans want to buy American but they have to have good reasons. Here are just a few of the reasons why we enjoy so much repeat business:
1.Precision Metal Cutting–Precision parts have to be cut, and if they aren't cut the same way every single time, they aren't precision parts. We deploy CNC Band Saws and CNC Cold Saws to cut all materials in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and to a level of precision other vendors can only dream about. We also use CNC Tube Lasers for 3D cutting, beveling/chamfering and etching with pinpoint accuracy on a wide variety of tube shapes, sizes and materials.
2.Precision Bending Parts Processing-Our Tube Benders provide reliable, repeatable multi-axis precision bending of oval, rectangular and extruded shapes from a 0.250″ aluminum tube to a 1.5″ solid steel bar. With advanced features like weld seam and etch mark detection for perfect part orientation, we can can take the guesswork out of setup and produce intricate, multi-bend geometries faster.
3.Repeatable, Reliable, and Immediate Service–With scrap rates approaching 20%, delivery windows of weeks, and sometimes months, and uneven response to client concerns, a "bargain" offshore vendor can erode your path to market in any number of ways. Unplanned scrap costs can pull your profit margin into the red in no time.
Face it, the cost savings on the front end when partnering with an offshore vendor can look attractive, but hidden costs on the back end can quickly take the bloom off of the rose. Profit margins are razor thin anyway, and it doesn't take much to put an OEM's back to the wall. The reality is that there are some "savings" that you just can't afford.
Central Tube & Bar knows what you're up against and we know that we can save you money by offering parts that are truly precision crafted through some of the most efficient, and accurate, processes ever developed. Think you can't operate in the black using American-made precision parts? Think again! For a free estimate, or if you have any questions, Contact CTB online, or give us a call at (501) 450-7750.


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If cooking is your passion then visiting Bocuse d'Or - the revolutionary gastronomy contest - should definitely be on your bucket list.
24 young chefs from all over the world, among the most promising talents of their generation, and superb dishes within 5 hours 35 minutes, live before an enthusiastic audience - a foodie's dream?
We will send one foodie to experience this delightful tradeshow with team Estonia!
Meet world's most inspiring young chefs in Lyon, France 24-26 January 2017.
How to win?
- cook a dish inspired by Estonian food
- take an irresistibly delicious photo/video of your dish and upload it to Instagram
- write the name of your dish to the picture/video description
- use hashtags #bocusest and #visitestonia (make sure your account is public so we see the post)
The competition is open until 10.01.2017, the winner will be chosen and announced on Visit Estonia Instagram on 13.01.2017.
Inspiration for your dish
Estonian superfoods - blueberry
Estonian superfoods - blackcurrant
Estonian superfoods - buckwheat
TOP10 unique Estonian foods by Kerli
Introduction to Estonian cuisine
Terms & Conditions
1. The promoter is: Enterprise Estonia Ltd (company no 90006006)] whose registered office is at Lasnamäe 2, 11412 Tallinn, Estonia.
2. The competition is open to residents of the European Union aged 18 years or over except employees of Enterprise Estonia and their close relatives.
3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
4. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
5. The platform used in this competition is Instagram.
6. To participate one has to have public account on Instagram and take a photo/video of a dish inspired by Estonian food. There must be two hashtags under the photo/video participating: #bocusest and #visitestonia
7. By entering the competition the participant agrees that their image or video can be used on Visit Estonia channels (website and social media)
8. Closing date for entry will be 10.01.2017. After this date the no further entries to the competition will be permitted.
9. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
10. The winner will be chosen on 13.01.2017 by independent jury of Visit Estonia.
11. Winner and his/hers photo/video will be reposted on Visit Estonia's Instagram account.
12. The winner has to respond and contact Visit Estonia within three days after winner announcement. If he/she doesn't do that, Visit Estonia can give the prize to the second best in the competition.
13. The prize is three day trip to Bocuse d'Or finaal in Lyon, France.
14. The trip takes place between 24.01-26.01.2017
15. Enterprise Estonia covers the cost of return flight from winner's chosen airport in the EU to Lyon, 3 night accommodation in twin/double room, tickets to Bocuse d'Or finaal event on 24.01 and 25.01 and tickets to Europe's largest food fair Sirha.
16. The prize can not be taken out in money or be given to some third person.
17. The winner has to participate at the Bocuse d'Or event and post photos with team Estonia on the event with #bocusest
18. The winner has to be ready to give interviews to media.


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|Just a girl and her Guy the Giraffe
We went snowboarding today. Guy the Giraffe went with us, here he is having a conversation with his most favorite person in the whole wide world about what to have for breakfast. Apparently he adamantly refused to share Roo's cheese omelet and he did not want pancakes. No matter, Roo was able to order her own meal and Daddy was nice enough to share his French Toast with Guy. Whew! Crisis averted! Thanks, Daddy-O!
The drive was beautiful, especially because I was a passenger for once. I got to sit in the backseat with Roo and hold her hand as we watched the world go by. She kept asking me when we would be there, and I told her "As soon as we start seeing snow on the hills, you'll know that we're getting close." Little did I know that there was snow to be seen almost immediately.
|Mt. Si, just outside of North Bend, WA.
She was so excited when we finally got there! We went to the lodge to buy our tickets and then headed back to the car to get dressed.
We gave her the snowboard for Christmas last year, when she was a month shy of being three years old, but this was the first time she had been up to the mountain with it. She rode it last year in the neighborhood when it snowed eight inches, so she had an idea of what she was in for.
|Magic Carpet!
She did really well riding the Magic Carpet for the very first time, she giggled and laughed all the way up. There were a lot of little kids on skis, but she was by far the littlest and youngest on a snowboard. Isn't she cute?
After a few hours of learning, we decided that it was time to get some hot chocolate and head home.
Spending the day with my little family was a perfect way to start the new year. I hope to make this year even better than last year (holy cow, I can't even believe I'm saying last year in reference to 2012!!) I have made my resolutions, but would prefer to call them goals. There are the usual goals: lose weight, get in shape, eat better, quit drinking soda and drink more water... But then there are my personal goals: be more patient, stop swearing, complete the tasks in my "One Good Deed A Day" journal (and then blog about it on a daily basis) complete two patterns a month, learn a new quilt block every day-although this might become a weekly challenge, add more designer fabric to my stash and create more.
Most of these things are goals to drive me to be a better person, which I feel will in turn make me a better mother, wife, friend and business owner. I realize that my daughter is my biggest fan, she looks up to me and I want to be the right example for her. I see my flaws and I can accept the ones I cannot change. I cannot accept the ones that I can and WILL change.
So, I leave you for now with this challenge: what will YOU change?
Here's to a very blessed New Year to all of you.
Here's to a very blessed New Year to all of you.


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The Fear of Death and the Pursuit of Joy: Why the Resurrection Is Good News
This is Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday. And on this Resurrection Sunday, we're going to talk about death: what is death? What happens when you die? Which you might think is odd. "It's Easter. This is Resurrection Sunday. Christ is risen from the dead? Why are you going to spend your time talking about death?" Like earlier, when we focused on sin because we want to experience the joy of forgiveness, we want to talk about death because we want to experience the power and wonder of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection will stand out more if we have a deeper understanding of death.
And today we're mindful especially of our guests. So let me just say something to you here. As a church, we've been working our way through the book of Acts, which is the story of the early church. And the central message of the early church is the resurrection of Jesus. They talk about it all the time. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central claim of Christianity. Now, one time, the apostle Paul preached the good news of Jesus to a group of people who had never heard about Jesus before. So he talked about the Creator God and how we've all turned away from God, and he talked about the death of Jesus for sin and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. And there were three basic responses to what he said. Some believed in the good news and followed Jesus. Others mocked it and dismissed the message. And others were curious and wanted to hear more about it. So as you listen, I'd just ask you to think about which one of those is you. Because you're going to respond somehow. You're either going to say, "That's it. This is what I've been missing. This is what I've been waiting for," or you're going to say, "That's not for me. That's really a bit ridiculous," or you're going to say, "Interesting. Not sure I buy it, but I have some questions and I want to hear more." With that, let's read a section from the Bible.
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
"'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 2:27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing." (Acts 2:22–33)
I want to begin this Easter message with two basic claims that, I think, are true of all people. Not just Christians, not just Americans, not just men or women. These statements I think are true for all people at all times in all places.
All Men Seek Happiness
In everything we do, no matter what it is that we do, we seek happiness. We want to be happy. You wake up in the morning and you want to have a good day. You drive to work and you clap along because you feel like happiness is the truth. You may not always be happy. But you want to be happy all the time. Even things that don't make you happy in the moment, like your job, you do because you think that it's a means to your happiness. A famous philosopher once said, the pursuit of happiness is the motive of every action of every man, even those who hang themselves. Even the person who commits suicide believes in that moment that death will make them happier than the pain and anguish of their life. So my first assumption about everyone here is that you want to be happy, that deep down, what animates you and motivates you is the desire to be happy, and, for that happiness to last. You want happiness and you want it to stick around.
All Men Fear Death
Second claim: All men fear death. Every human being will die. We will all be cut off from the land of the living. And when we contemplate this looming reality, our natural response is fear. We don't want to die. Death is ugly, and we recoil from its presence. We don't like to think about death. In fact, some of the ways that we seek happiness are merely designed to help distract us from thinking about death. Death is real, and it confronts us on the news and in our families and in our future. And because we fear death, we try to distract ourselves with television or social media or sex or alcohol or drugs or fill-in-the-blank.
All men seek happiness. All men fear death. The passage that we just read addresses both of these: both the desire for happiness and the fear of death. But before we can look specifically at how Acts 2 speaks to us today, we need to take a step back and reflect on what the Bible says about death. I have three questions:
- What is death?
- What happens after we die?
- What happened after Jesus died? (Where did he go on Saturday, between his death on the cross and his resurrection?)
What Is Death?
First of all, what exactly is Death? Death is separation, a dividing of things that ought to be united. Let's think of three separations. Fundamentally, Death is separation from God. Paul suggests as much in Ephesians 2:1–3:
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Parts of this passage don't sound like what we mean by death. Mankind, by nature, walk in trespasses and sins. We follow the course of this world; we follow Satan, who is at work in our disobedience. In one sense, we're alive, but we live in sinful passions, carrying out sinful desires, seeking ultimate happiness in created things. So we're walking, following, living, working, carrying out desires, and yet, Paul says, we are "dead in sin." So death in this passage is separation from God. It's to be enslaved to dark powers and under God's wrath. This type of separation is an estrangement, a hostility, an alienation from the life and hope of the living God. We were made to know and enjoy God, to be in fellowship with him, and our rebellion against God, our willful disobedience, separates us from our Creator, and we are cut off from life and joy and peace.
But death is not just separation from God; it's separation from each other. One of the deepest pains of death is that we lose the ones we love. 18 months ago, my dad died after a seven-year fight with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. And in dying, he was separated from me, torn from me, and my mom and my brothers and my wife and his grandsons. And this separation hurts; it's not supposed to be this way. I want my dad to play catch with my sons. I want him to teach them how to swing a bat. I want him to sit in the stands and cheer as Sam rounds third base. I want to hear his voice say, "You gotta go!" And I want him to give him a high five as he comes running back to the dug out. And it's not going to happen. We're supposed to be together, united as a family, enjoying one another's company. It's horrible to lose those that you love. When it happens, a part of our heart is torn to pieces, ripped from our chest, and everything in us screams, "No! It's not supposed to be this way."
Death is separation from God. It's separation from each other. And finally, death is the separation of the soul from the body. James tells us, "the body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26). At death, our very nature as human beings is torn in two. God made human beings to be embodied souls and ensouled bodies, for the soul and body to be united together, and death rips this them apart.
In this way, death is more than just a separation; it's a scattering. We're meant to be with God, and we're meant to be together with each other, and we're meant to be whole. And death takes this union and unity and rips it apart and scatters the pieces. I remember as dementia took my dad's mind, seeing his scattered thoughts and his jumbled words, and thinking, "That's death." That fragmenting, splintering, crumbling of my dad's mental life: that's death.
What Happens When We Die?
So then, what happens when we die? If we're separated from God, and from each other, and our soul is separated from our body, what happens to all the pieces? Where do they go? In the Bible, we have to bring a lot of different passages together to try and get a picture. It's not always the clearest, but I'm going to try and offer a picture of the afterlife from the Scriptures. Let's think about the two parts of the human person (body and soul). Psalm 16, which Peter quotes in Acts 2, gives us a window into what happens to them.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol / Hades, or let your holy one see corruption.
This passage directs us to the normal account of what happened when a human being died prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The soul was abandoned to Sheol, and the body saw corruption or decayed. In Acts 2:29-31, Peter tells us that David, in writing this psalm, foresaw the resurrection of Christ, "that he was not abandoned to Sheol (that is, his soul wasn't), nor did his flesh see corruption (notice that Peter reads the second line as a reference to Jesus's body or flesh). Thus, before Jesus, at death, souls normally went to Sheol, and bodies, flesh, decayed. We're all familiar with the latter, but the former is more opaque. A quick Bible study will show us why Peter thinks that David's prophecy in Psalm 16 is such good news.
What Is Sheol?
In the Old Testament, Sheol is the place of the souls of the dead, both the forgiven followers of God (like Jacob, Gen. 37:35, and Samuel, 1 Sam. 28:13-14) and the wicked (Psa. 31:17). In the New Testament, the Hebrew word Sheol is translated as hades, and the description of Sheol in the Old and New Testament bears some resemblance to the Hades of Greek mythology. It is under the earth (Num. 16:30-33), and it is like a city with gates (Isa. 38:10) and bars (Job 17:16). It is a land of darkness, a place where shades, the shadowy souls of men, dwell (Isa. 14:9, 26:14). It is the land of forgetfulness (Psa. 88:12), where no work is done and no wisdom exists (Eccl. 9:10). Most significantly, Sheol is a place where no one praises God (Psa. 6:5; 88:10-11; 115:17; Isa. 38:18).
In the New Testament, the most extended depiction of the afterlife is found in Luke 16:19-31. In the story, there is a selfish, greedy, rich man, who never took thought for others, and he dies without seeking God's forgiveness. And there's a poor man named Lazarus who is ignored by the rich man, but apparently was a worshiper of the true God and sought mercy from him.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'
Here we learn that, like the Hades of Greek mythology, the biblical Sheol has two compartments: Hades proper (where the rich man is sent, Luke 16:23, like Tartarus) and Abraham's bosom (where the angels carry Lazarus, Luke 16:22, like Elysium). Hades proper is a place of torment, where fire causes anguish to the souls imprisoned there. It's a place where those who have rebelled against God and refused to turn from their sin are punished. Abraham's bosom, on the other hand, while within shouting distance of Hades, is separated from it by a great chasm (Luke 16:26), and is, like the Greek Elysium, a place of comfort and rest. While much mystery remains, the picture does begin to take shape. All dead souls went down to Sheol / Hades, but Sheol is divided into two distinct sides, one for those who turned from their sins and believed God's promises and one for those who clung to their sins and refused to turn back to God. Those who sought forgiveness from God prior to Christ dwelt in Sheol with Abraham, and though they were cut off from the land of the living (and therefore from the worship of Yahweh on earth), they were not tormented as the unrepentant wicked were.
What Happened After Jesus Died?
What then does this tell us about where Jesus was on Holy Saturday? Based on Jesus's words to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43 ("Today you will be with me in Paradise"), some Christians believe that after his death, Jesus's soul went to heaven to be in the presence of the Father. But Luke 23:43 doesn't say that Jesus would be in the presence of God; it says he would be in the presence of the thief, and based on the Old Testament and Luke 16, it seems very likely that the now-repentant thief would be at Abraham's side, a place of comfort and rest for the forgiven souls of the dead, which Jesus here calls "Paradise."
So, on Good Friday, when he died on the cross, Jesus endured our first death, the separation from God. When the Savior cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", he expressed the inexhaustible horror of a sinless man separated from a holy God because of our sin. But this separation, this death, was completed before he died. That's why Jesus said, "It is finished!" Wrath absorbed. Penalty paid. Sin conquered.
Following his death for sin, then, Jesus journeys to Hades, to the City of Death, and rips its gates of the hinges. He liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful, ransoming them from the power of Sheol (Psa. 49:15; 86:13; 89:48). They had waited there for so long, in comfort, but cut off from the land of the living. They had not received what was promised, so that they would be made perfect along with the saints of the New Covenant (Heb. 11:39-40).
After his resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven and brings the ransomed dead with him, so that Paradise is no longer down near the place of torment, but is in the third heaven, the highest heaven, where God dwells (2 Cor. 12:2-4). Now, when those who trust in Jesus die, they aren't merely carried by angels to Abraham's bosom; they depart to be with Christ, which is far better (Phil. 1:23). Those who reject God and Christ and his mercy, however, remain in Hades in torment, until the final judgment, when Hades gives up the dead who dwell there, and they are judged according to their deeds, and then Death and Hades are thrown into Hell, into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:13-15).
What Does This Mean for Us and For Our Joy?
What does this mean for us? What does it mean for our fear of death and our desire for happiness. The first thing to say is that Peter recognizes that Jesus is like us, but different. He's like us, because he endures death for us. All of the separations: enduring the wrath of God, being separated from his mother and his friends, the separation of the soul from the body. His body was in a tomb (Luke 23:50–53), and his soul was three days in Sheol, in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).
But, as Peter makes clear in Acts 2, Jesus is also different. Jesus's body was buried, like ours, but it did not decay. Jesus's soul went to Hades, like the saints in the Old Testament, but he wasn't abandoned there. God raised him from the dead. What death scattered, God gathered back up. Reunited in soul and body. Reunited with his mother and his disciples. And ultimately, reunited to God, as he ascends to the presence of his Father, forever to dwell.
And so, because of what Jesus is done, we don't have to fear death. Death is still an enemy. It's still horrible, but because Jesus has triumphed over sin and over death, he can deliver us from our deepest fear. We can stare death in the face, as I did for years as I watched my dad wither away, and we can know in our bones that Christ has defeated death, and that in God's world faithful death always leads to resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus means that when I came face to face with death, I knew in my bones "This is not the end." My dad trusted in Jesus, and he's with him now. And someday God is going to put my dad back together. When my dad died, Alzheimer's had taken his mind and scattered his thoughts. God is going to gather them back up. His words will not be jumbled. He's going to tell the old jokes again. Not only that, God's going to bring us back together. We're going to embrace. We're going to rejoice. He will get to play catch with his grandsons. We're going to laugh, laugh. The mountains will ring with it.
Which brings us to the last question about seeking happiness. Psalm 16 doesn't just deliver us from the fear of death; it also points us to where full and lasting happiness can be found. "You will make me full of gladness with your presence." "In your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Full joy, everlasting pleasures. This is the answer to that ache for happiness that you feel. That longing for joy that haunts you, this is the answer. And Jesus says, "It's a gift."
Remember, Peter says that Psalm 16 is first and foremost about Jesus. When Jesus ascends to his Father, the Father gives to his Son the joy of his presence. "You are my Beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased. You did it. You finished your mission. You showed them the way back. You are the Way back. There is no other name by which men can be saved from sin and from death. Now receive the fullness of my joy." And then, after receiving the gladness of God's presence, Jesus turns and gives it to us.
This is why we Christians love Easter so much. On this Resurrection Sunday, we can say to God, "We receive the gift." Christ is risen from the dead. He has triumphed over sin and death. He has turned us from our sin and delivered us from the fear of death in this life, and the torment of Hades in the next life. God has invited us in. In him, we've found what we've been looking for. We've found full and lasting joy at God's right hand, and he offers it to all of us.
The fullness of joy now in the forgiveness of your sins. You don't have to live in guilt and shame.
The fullness of joy now in the fellowship of the saints, the family of God. The friendships of the people in this church are bought with blood and built on the conquest of death. That's an amazing foundation for friendships.
The fullness of joy in the future in the reunion of your soul and body at the resurrection. The bad back, the poor eyesight, the sore throat: God is going to do away with all of that.
The fullness of joy in the future in your reunion with friends and family in Christ. Heaven is the greatest family reunion you could ever imagine. The barbecue will be fantastic. It'll be a party for the ages. And the party never ends.
The fullness of joy in the future in a beautiful inheritance, a new world, with no pain or sorrow or sin or death. You won't be able to feel fear if you wanted to.
The fullness of joy in your reunion with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus who is the source of our every happiness and the Joy of our every Joy.
The Lord's Table
It's a wonderful thing to take the Lord's Supper on Easter Sunday. The body of Jesus was broken on Good Friday. On Sunday, God put it back together. The Bible tells us that God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. We've been talking about Death, which is a Great Enemy. Paul calls it the Last Enemy. So this Table is set to remind us of Christ's Death while the reality of our own eventual Death looms over us. We don't know when we're going to die, so every time we come to the Table, it's in the presence of our Great Enemy Death. But we don't fear, our cup overflows. Because Death isn't the only one pursuing us. This table reminds us that goodness and mercy pursue us all the days of our lives. This table assures us that Death is Defeated. Death is Dethroned. Death has no Sting.
This Table is fundamentally for the covenant members of this church. It's one of the ways that we fellowship together and experience our union in the Holy Spirit. But, if you're a follower of Jesus, if you've turned from your sin, we invite you to be a guest at our family meal. If you're not a follower of Jesus, we're glad you're here, but we ask that you let the bread and the wine pass by. Eating the meal says "Jesus is mine. I trust him. He's Savior. He's Lord."


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Diane Dreher, PhD, ACC, CMC
Professional Writing, Academic, and Positive Psychology Coach
Diane Dreher Coaching & Consulting, LLC
North Star Personal Coaching
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