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No, this has nothing to do with the mob. Being organized is crucial to safe and successful downloading from the Internet. Before downloading, you should open Windows Explorer and think about where you want to save the file(s). A great way to keep track of things is by creating a folder called Downloads (duh!) somewhere on your hard drive. Then create subfolders, e.g. Utilities, Games, Drivers, etc. Inside those folders, create appropriate subfolders such as the name of the program, the vendor or the device the driver is for. Then be sure to save each downloaded file in the appropriate folder.
If you don't do this, you'll run into several problems. First, if you don't make a note of where you put the file when beginning the download, chances are you have forgotten the location by the time the download is finished and have a heck of a time finding the file. Don't laugh, it happens.
Even if you remember the location but don't keep it organized and save all your downloads in the same folder, you'll have a hard time identifying all the different files in there. Usually a downloaded file has a pretty cryptic default name, such as majc408.exe, wd_298_inst_2859_upd.zip, setup.exe or similar useless stuff. I'll guarantee you that a few days later you will not be able to identify what each file is for. But if you keep them organized, you don't have to download that driver for a third time the next time you need to re-install and can easily find it on your hard drive.
The next problem you'll run into is that most downloaded files are zip files, compressed archive files containing multiple other files. These files need to be uncompressed before you can do anything with it. The uncompressed version will consist of multiple files, maybe two or three, or 20 or 30, or 257. You certainly don't want to have all those files suddenly appearing in your root directory or your Windows directory, it would be a huge mess. Especially since those files are usually just temporary installation files which can be deleted after successful installation. By having a separate folder, you can unzip the files into that folder and easily delete them when done.
Don't go crazy
When you download and install software from the Internet, you often have no idea what you're getting and whether the program is any good. So be careful. Not only scan for viruses, but also back up your data and system files before installing new software. If the software is buggy and screws up your registry or contains a virus that wipes out your hard drive, you'll be pretty upset. Also, only install one program at a time. If you install 5 new programs and then suddenly find out that you get a certain error message when booting and your PC freezes when clicking a certain button and this didn't start happening until after installing that downloaded software, you'll have a hard time tracking the culprit down. Doing one at a time makes it a lot easier to trace your steps back. The number one rule of troubleshooting is to change only one thing at a time.
You'll see that there is tons of stuff out there to download. Do yourself and your PC a favor and think for a second before you download and install something whether you really need it. Don't clutter your system up with unnecessary eye candy such as screen savers, custom icons, skins, memory resident programs and other junk that will bog down your PC by hogging resources and increasing the risk of software conflicts.
That said, enjoy yourself! There is a lot of good software out there that might save you time or money. Download it!


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Ever since gingham has made its resurgence into the fashion community, I can't get enough. I literally want to look like I dressed up as a picnic blanket at all times. No shame in the game. But what IS IT about gingham that makes it so irresistible? Hear my theories below.
1. It Embodies the Leisure Life We All Desire
Call me crazy, but I feel like one of the biggest reasons we all love gingham is because it embodies the feeling and joy that comes with leisure. We're all walking around with these checks on us, serving as a reminder that we must find joy in the little things, like picnics. ;) THINK ABOUT IT - picnics embody literally everything I want out of life - good food, great friends, instagram-worthy moments…ya know, doesn't everyone think that way?
2. It's Totes Classic
One thing I remember most about my Nana is her impeccable style. And what was she always wearing? Gingham. One of the outfits I remember her wearing was a pair of gingham cropped trousers and a white sweater, and I thought, I want to dress like that when I grow up. And here we are - gingham blouse and black skirt. I think she'd be proud.
3. It Goes with Literally Everything
Okay, maybe not literally everything but it goes with a lot. Since buying this MLM Label Gingham Top, I've worn it with black denim, underneath a denim overalls dress, with white shorts, the list goes on. I've been thinking of getting a cute gingham accessory like this bag, because then I can wear gingham all the time.
Are you swooning over gingham this season? Share links to your looks below - I'd love to see them!
Wearing MLM Label Off-the-Shoulder Maison top (dress version is on MAJOR sale), Take 5 Boutique skirt, Cuyana belt and bag, Maumero sandals, Sophie Blake earrings

subset: commoncrawl


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Harvard, Yale, Stanford and other elite universities may help shape some of the brightest minds in the country, but some of their endowment investment returns can look something less than brilliant.
Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Stanford and Yale all under-performed a classic allocation of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds and even benchmark returns for hundreds of other colleges and universities, according to a new ranking of five-year returns compiled by recruitment firm Charles A. Skorina & Co.
Of course, such an analysis isn't perfect. Comparing complex, multi-billion dollar portfolios that attempt to balance risk management with strong performance is inherently difficult and much of the underlying structure of the endowment investments are kept private.
That doesn't mean the relatively crude analysis isn't interesting.


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Just Visiting (2001)
Hunter: Your French relatives are bathing in the toilet.
[after eating dog food]
André le Pate: I am eating this very good meats and vegetables in a very fine sauce... I will shit easy tomorrow.
Hunter: Do you realize the bath you just took cost over two thousand dollars? That's American dollars!
Count Thibault: Is that a lot?
Hunter: Yes, yes it is.
Count Thibault: Then I will repay you with one of my swans.
André le Pate: [as the Count is bathing, Andre takes a bottle of Chanel and drinks some, handing it to the count] Ah! Very good flavour!
Count Thibault: [he drinks some, then promptly spits it out] Blah! This is not wine, ignorant peasant! It is oil for the bath!
Julia: But Hunter doesn't have a sister.
Count Thibault: Excuse me, I will kill him for you.
Count Thibault: You are more than a rose. You are love's own flower.
André le Pate: Master! You're worried. What is wrong?
Count Thibault: The wizard - - he exploded.
Count Thibault: He belongs to me. I decide his fate.
André le Pate: No master! I mean, no way Jose!
[after the wizard's apartment explodes]
Count Thibault: Damn English Wizards. Can't do anything right.
[Telephone conversation]
Amber: Who is this?
Andre: I am Andre le Pate. I have big balls! And my ass breathes fire!
Count Thibault: I am already wealthy. I own hundreds of horses and bags of pepper, four hundred backs of wool, and fifty barrels of Spanish olives.
Andre: And you own me, Sire.
Count Thibault: Yes. But you have no value.
Andre: [pause] That is true.
Count Thibault: Run behind the chariot, peasant!
Hunter: Yes, master!
André le Pate: He can't run behind the car!
Count Thibault: He cannot ride with us; he is not noble.
Julia: Yes, but he has to ride in the car.
Count Thibault: He is very fast!
Hunter: We-we're taking the freeway; you can run seventy miles an hour, can you?
André le Pate: I have good boots!
Hunter: [to the Count and Andre as they are in the bathroom] Don't be bashful with the soap.
André le Pate: [as they are dining, he whispers] Sire?
Count Thibault: What?
André le Pate: [whispers] I have to make pee-pee.
Count Thibault: [aloud] Ah, you have to pee! *Outside*!
André le Pate: But sire... the wolves! I could be eaten!
Count Thibault: Find a torch! Idiot.
Maitre D': [he is brandishing a raw chicken which Andre has stolen from the kitchens, skewered with an umbrella and tried to roast in the fireplace] I'm afraid I'm going to have add an order of "Chicken à la Umbrella" to your bill.
Julia: [her family motto] Courage is my creed.
Count Thibault: [explaining his perplexion with the light-switch] I do not have this invention in my castle.
Julia: You don't have power?
Count Thibault: I have the power to judge and condemn to death any villain on my land.
Julia: [nonplussed] Oh, really? Hunter will be so jealous.
Count Thibault: You are lionhearted, Julia, like the women of your lineage. You have courage.
Julia: Honey, did you know that the women of my lineage are all lionhearted?
Andre: You want some dog?
Hunter: [indicating the Wizard experimenting in their kitchen] What's this?
Julia: A twelfth-century English wizard.
[the Wizard bows to Hunter]
Narrator: You could tell from the petulant arch on his furrowed brow that he was not in route to a good deed.
Maitre D': [at a fancy restaurant, Thibault throws bones from his plate to Andre, who is eating from the floor] Excuse me, but the gentleman can't eat off the floor.
Count Thibault: He's not a gentleman! He is my servant
[throws another bone]
Count Thibault: and he is not worthy of our company.
Hunter: [he notices André's table manners] Actually, the floor wasn't such a bad place for him. Easier to hose down.
Julia: I am strong, and I am smart, and I don't need you to take care of me.
Hunter: Oh really?
Julia: [grabs Thibault's sword and thrusts it toward Hunter] Courage is my creed.


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Ariana Madix had a different relationship with her costars this season on Vanderpump Rules and she is dishing about her confrontation with her former BFF Scheana in a new interview with Bravo. Ariana reveals if she has forgiven Scheana and whether or not she thinks their friendship will go back to the same, and explains her comment about the group being toxic.
Bravotv.com: You called this group the most toxic environment you've ever witnessed. What makes this group so toxic?
Ariana Madix: The poisonous gossip that occurs regularly within this group of people will suck your soul dry if you let it. Gossip and feeding off of other people's shortcomings is an addictive thing, but it makes me feel horrible about the life I'm living. I've been a witness to it, a participant in it, and a victim of it. It feels like an endless cycle of hurting and forgiving each other. It's been so hard for me to see people I care about being mistreated and feeling as though I'm the only person who cares that those things happened to them. It's every man for himself. I'm learning to only care about my own well-being because of that and I'm wondering if that's a good thing. I don't want to be that person. I love all of my friends and making a habit of talking about them when they aren't around is not something I want in my life. You can easily get caught in the spiral and it feels like shit in there.
I think setting boundaries for yourself is a good thing and I'm sticking to those because I don't want to lose myself, regardless of whether or not it makes other people happy. If I'm happy and Tom and my family are happy, then I'm good.
Bravotv.com: Do you forgive Scheana for texting your mom about Tom?
AM: Yes, I do. I had to make sure that everything was clear and out in the open. I didn't plan on busting out my phone in that moment, but I had been reading through everything knowing it would be brought up soon (and I had been sitting on my phone the entire day to play on it during breaks). Impulsively, I whipped it out when I felt the truth wasn't being told. Now that it has, it's a dead issue.
Bravotv.com: Do you think your friendship with Scheana can ever go back to the way it was?
AM: Probably not, but that's ok. The future is always better than the past. When Scheana and I were at our closest, I was at a personal low. I'd rather everything be on a higher level.
Bravotv.com: How do you think Lala and Brittany handled their first reunion?
AM: I think they were both wonderful. They are so different from each other, but both are very strong women who know how to speak their minds.
Bravotv.com: Do you think Stassi's motives this season were genuine or do you think she was using everyone to get back into the group?
AM: I think she did miss having Katie in her life. Katie is an amazing friend and person and Stassi would be a robot not to miss her. However, I think everything else about it made it clear that she wanted to be on the show. If there wasn't a show, it's a hard maybe that she would have eventually reached out to Katie, but I don't think she would have made any effort to speak to anyone else.
Photo Credit: Bravo


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Archive for April, 2018
You are currently browsing the The NFL Sportsbook blog archives for April, 2018.
You are currently browsing the The NFL Sportsbook blog archives for April, 2018.
Whether you have been playing casino slots for a while now, or whether you are new to the game, you need to know what Return to Player (RTP) rates are. RTP rates are a crucial part of casino slots and understanding them is probably the only thing that can improve your game and help you spend your money in the best possible way.
Basically, RTP rates show the potential winnings for each player on a slot if he spends a long period of time playing. It is important to grasp that this average is not a short-term probability, but rather a long-term average. So, if a slot's RTP rate is 99% and you spend €100, theoretically, over a long period of time, you will see €99 returned to you. You always have to take these figures with a pinch of salt, because it is highly unlikely that you will spend enough time playing one particular slot to match the RTP rate. However, when you are picking which casino slot to play, it will always pay you to choose a slot with a high RTP rate, because, statistically, your chances of winning are much higher. If you want more detailed information about RTP rates, check out this article.
Gaming developers are required by law to publish their RTP rates, and to get you started we've picked out a few examples of popular slots with high RTP averages:
Blood Suckers (NetEnt) – 98%
Hot Ink (Microgaming) – 97.5%
Jack Hammer 2 (NetEnt) – 97.1%
High Society (Microgaming) – 96.8%
Dr. Watts Up (Microgaming) – 96.45%
We hope we have shown you how important RTP rates can be to your gaming strategy, and we wish you the best of luck playing the slots!


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Google Partners on Energy-Management Device
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Google Inc is partnering with privately held Energy Inc to provide households with free energy management software, bypassing utilities' smart meters and potentially boosting energy efficiency, the company said on its blog on Monday.
Google launched in February a Web tool called PowerMeter, which lets consumers monitor how much electricity they use at home. The catch was that they had to have a smart meter installed by their utility. For the past few months, a few hundred customers have tested the software.
Now, consumers can buy Energy Inc's power-usage measuring device, called TED 5000, costing about $200, and use Google's software on top of it, without ever needing a smart meter.
The partnership between Energy Inc and Google's philanthropic arm is intended to expand the consumer market. While more and more utilities are moving to install smart meters, they still account for a small percentage of all U.S. electricity meters.
The partnership is nonexclusive and does not include financial terms, the company said. Google will continue working with its partner utilities, which include Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric and Germany's Yello Strom.
Internet behemoth Google is widely known for its online advertising and search engine, but it is also making forays into clean technology.
Its projects include ways to write software to connect plug-in hybrid vehicles to the power grid and a mirror technology that could reduce the cost of building solar thermal plants by a quarter or more.
Technology companies like Google and IBM Corp are shifting into the world of building a smart grid, envisioning a more efficient electricity grid that uses more renewable energy and powers up 'smart' appliances.
(Reporting by Laura Isensee; Editing by Bernard Orr)
© Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.


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Enjoy Smooth Transport, Driven By Autonomous & Shared Mobility Solutions
In our daily lives, we tend to physically move around quite often and change locations. We commute to work, or visit various places in our city daily for social and work related interactions.
Hence, mobility and its ease plays a big role in our daily lives. Cities as dense and physically compact places may constrain this free and fast movement of individuals. It is important to maintain free movement in cities as opposed to traffic congestions.
We want to embrace autonomous cars as a transportation alternative in Dubai to ensure our residents reach their destinations safer, faster and happier.
We in Dubai want to be at the cutting edge when it comes to mobility. We will capitalize on latest technologies to provide our residents a unique city experience when it comes to mobility. We want to embrace autonomous cars as a transportation alternative in Dubai to ensure our residents reach their destinations safer, faster and happier. We will continue provision of shared transportation as a viable alternative for city mobility. Services such as Careem and Uber along with Dubai Taxi have already been popular in Dubai.
We will also increase the ratio for usage of public transportation to help ease traffic concerns in our city. Sea, air, land transportation alternatives will be available to city residents along with timely information for seamless connections among them. Smart parking, smart tolls and smart traffic lights among others will all contribute to enhancing mobility experience in the city and to ensure fast flow of people. We are well aware that time is one of the most precious resources for people and we will leverage on leading edge technologies to ease people's lives for moving around the city.
We also expect digital adoption of city services will circumvent the need for conducting physical visits to various entities within the city to get things done. Online services and videoconferencing instead of face to face meetings will help reduce city traffic while saving time for our city residents.
Reducing traffic and avoiding unnecessary trips will also reduce the stress on our city transportation infrastructure and will allow cost savings in terms of provisioning and maintaining such infrastructure.


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Corp Mail Testing
The Yahoo product feedback forum now requires a valid Yahoo ID and password to participate.
You are now required to sign-in using your Yahoo email account in order to provide us with feedback and to submit votes and comments to existing ideas. If you do not have a Yahoo ID or the password to your Yahoo ID, please sign-up for a new account.
If you have a valid Yahoo ID and password, follow these steps if you would like to remove your posts, comments, votes, and/or profile from the Yahoo product feedback forum.
Can we please have calendar reminders pop up?
We need the calendar to have a reminder that pops up in your window or somewhere on your computer - it is too easy to miss meetings without this reminder, given everything we all have to do to multi-task all day. Thanks!204 votes
Thank you for the feedback. We are aware of this ask. As Yahoo Mail is web application running in a browser desktop application, and not a desktop application running separately, it does not have desktop notifications currently. We are investigating options to handle this use case in the browser. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
headless accounts
In sales we send mass communications via various "headless" email address so our personal addresses aren't exposed to large recipient lists. Currently this is accomplished by changing the "from" field in outlook to one of several pre-approved addresses. Currently Y! Mail doesn't support this (as far as I can tell). Can we please roll this out ASAP?166 votes
Thank you for the feedback. We are aware of this ask and are tracking it for Corp Mail. Regard, Sumeet
Working offline?
I think this is a pretty big use-case for most users outside the US, who don't have easy access to wifi when out of office139 votes
Thank you for the feedback. At this time Internet connectivity is required for accessing Yahoo Mail on a desktop/laptop. The team is considering options in future. One option is for users to use the email on their mobile phone for offline access in the meantime.
Calendar notifications
I'm missing calls and meetings because of the lack of Calendar notifications. Please create some way to do that.129 votes
Out of Office Functionality
Can you add "out of office" functionality in corp email.122 votes
Thank you for the feedback. This functionality is available on Yahoo.com site. It is not available in corporate mail yet. We plan to enable it in future. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
Desktop notifications
Hi Outlook has notifications on desktop and calendar alerts that advice you for new email or meetings. It will be very useful to have the option in Yahoo Mail or at least on the corporate mail.119 votes
Support for rules
Is there plan to provide rule feature for Yahoo mail just like in outlook? Its very convenient feature even for personal emails115 votes
We have filters in Yahoo Mail. Since Corpmail runs on exchange, filters was turned off. Once we move away from exchange, it will be automatically turned back on. Appreciate the feedback – mayukh
Attaching an email to another email
An ability to collect several emails and forward them in one cover email is essential for any corporate email system. Dragging emails to attach them to another email is a convenient way to do that. Is this feature going to be implemented before the switch to Yahoo Corpmail?115 votes
Thank you for the feedback. It seems you are asking ability to attach multiple emails in a single email. We are aware of this ask and tracking it for prioritization. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
Feature request: Enable easy switch between accounts
We need an easy way to switch between multiple user accounts including custom YUIDs that we use for internal testing.
Can we have a similar feature to Google where we can assign multiple accounts to one main account and we can switch between them easily?
This would prevent forcing us to:
-- use 2 different browsers: 1 for mail and one for testing
-- use an incognito / private session
-- sign in and out all the time when we need to use a different account
Thanks99 votes
Need to be able to move folder around
Hello - we need to be able to move folders around - you can create them but you can't reorganize them. Thanks!94 votes
Hi there. Thanks for the feedback. If I have to ask you to choose – subfolders or ability to move folders around, which one would you prefer? This usecase though makes sense is not a deal breaker in my humble opinion. Why? Because you can create a new folder and move messages there easily. Does the workaround help? Email me: firstname.lastname@example.com
Vacation Response and Filters - not on corpmail?
It appears that out-of-office messages and message filters are both offered on regular Yahoo email but not on corpmail, through the Settings window. Is there any way to access these features on corpmail that is perhaps less apparent? Am trying very hard to 100% make the switch but find myself opening Outlook every few hours to sweep my inbox with filters, and then also when I will be away to set my out-of-office. Wanted to ask in case this is a common issue or has an easy fix I'm missing.91 votes
Corp vs personal email usage very different
I check my personal email several times a day, for a few minutes at a time. I don't mind ads in this scenario, they are the price to pay for a great free service.
I leave my corp mail open all day so I notice new messages as they come in.
The ads we display are very distracting. Can we either change the ads to something less flashy, or setup corp mail to stop displaying ads after 5 to 10 minutes. If left the way they are my mail client will likely stay minimized or closed most of the time.90 votes
Thank you for the feedback. We have added it to our list of items to evaluate. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
Pasting images into Body of Email
Please add a feature that allows us to paste images in the body of emails. Most Search Account Managers send screenshots to clients on a daily basis so this is a must.77 votes
This is definitely on our radar based on large number of requests. Once we have some of the pressing issues out of the way, we will address this asap. Thanks for the feedback. – mayukh
Forwarding a Calendar Invite
I don't see an option to forward invites to others; to reply all to an invite, or to suggest a new time.
Those all seem important for scheduling meetings effectively.
Thanks much.74 votes
Thank you for the feedback. You can do this by forwarding the email with the invitation from you inbox. The team is aware of ask to forward directly from Calendar event and is working on that for future. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
New mail notfications
Is there a way I can get desktop notifications on new email? I am using the corporate account.74 votes
Mail all attendees
It would be nice to have better integration between calendar and mail with an option to email all attendees of a calendar event (like OS X Calendar). Also, each attendee's name in the event detail modal should be linked to his/her contact card.73 votes
Thank you for the feedback. It seems the ask is for reply all to attendees of a meeting invite. This is something we are tracking for a future release. Regards, Sumeet Solanki
Integrate Conf Room Availability as part of Calendar
Please add the ability to select conf rooms when we setup a meeting in Yahoo calendar. This means we need to be able to (1) select conf rooms from all offices globally and (2) see the free/busy time for the conf rooms for the meeting time72 votes
This functionality seems to be there today. You can search for a conference room in the "location" field and see availability in "add more details" section. Ofcourse it can be easier. We are actively working on this. But did you have something different in mind? Feel free to ping me at firstname.lastname@example.com
Yahoo Mail only allows me to create folders (one level) in my inbox and no sub-folders or sub-sub-folders, etc. Outlook allows unlimited levels. When working with numerous partners, projects, products, etc., one level of filing is totally insufficient to be able to store emails and find them quickly at a later date.71 votes
Want to Choose to Always Compose in Plain Text
I hate HTML mail. I want to compose every email in plain text, but I have to click a button to do so. Even worse, when I am replying to an email, I have to confirm that I really want to switch to plain text.67 votes
Plain Text Replies Don't Indicate Lines to Which I'm Replying
In most mail clients, when I reply in plain text, the new message will quote the original with a '>' character. Corp webmail doesn't do that, but it should. It should at least give me the option (as Mail.app does) whether to "quote the text of the original message."66 votes


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Culture and history are woven into the landscape of Briar Chapel. Local artists crafted original artwork and sculptures -- a collection of whimsical treasures that dot our parks and line our trails at every bend.
Take a stroll and enjoy more than 10 pieces of outdoor art along the way.View >>
The art.
Ramble Bramble at Main Entrance
by Jim Gallucci
A stainless steel sculpture of Carolina smilax stretches up and over the native stone wall.
Glass Gate Trailhead
by Leslie Fesperman and Luke Barrow
The gate of rustic wood posts and suspended artisan glass brings light and reflection into the forest canopy.
Stone Bench
This large boulder provides a natural respite for hikers along the trail.
Picnic Glade
Nestled along the Pokeberry Creek Trail, an artful collection of native boulders offer a natural a picnic table and benches.
Historic Bench in Founders Park
A historic fence was relocated to Founders Park, sharing a delightfully rustic glimpse into the past.
Birdhouses in the Dell
by Luke Barrow
Handcrafted wildlife habitat boxes beckon a colorful array of bird species to the butterfly habitat.
Bike Shelter
by Jeff Mateer
The heavy timber structure displays the community trail map, providing a hallmark rendezvous point along the mountain bike trail.
Earth Castings
by Thomas Sayre
Large earth casts made from tree spades provide a dramatic focal point for each road as it converges with the traffic circle.
by Grace Cathey
Large Metal sculpture featuring a caterpillar changing into a butterfly is located in the community garden.
Wildlife Mosaics
by Erick Davis
Created with recycled materials, hand-tiled mosaics depicting scenes of local wildlife and birds wrap a cluster of large boulders in Founders Park.
Bennett Mountain Wall
Native stone was used to create the terraced wall skirting the rocky slopes of Bennett Mountain.
Pokeberry Creek Bridge
The large wooden bridge in the preserved forest leads hikers along a ravine to Pokeberry Creek.


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So go check out my post Living With MS and check out Carly's blog while you are at it.
I don't live with a husband, or a friend, or even a dog - I live with MS. Most days MS makes a TERRIBLE roommate! I really never know what to expect. . .
Will I sleep okay or have insomnia?
Will I have numbness and tingling today?
Will I be so fatigued today that I won't be able to make it through the day?
Will I be in pain?
Will I feel depressed?
Will I have bladder and/or bowel issues?
Will I lose my balance today?
Will I experience dizziness today?
Will I have vision issues today?
These are the questions people living with MS have running through their heads each day. Personally I have experienced many of these symptoms in the almost two years since I was diagnosed with MS. I think the worst part of living with MS is the unknown. Most of us like some control in our lives and some of us even like a lot of control in our lives. Well when you have MS you don't have much control. New symptoms can come out of nowhere. You can literally be feeling fine one minute and not so fine the next. All you can do is control the way you react to the symptoms which is sometimes easier said than done.
But let me back up and introduce myself. My name is Jodi and I am a 33 year old woman living in Boston with MS since September 26, 2008. My diagnosis came out of nowhere and life has been filled with changes and surprises ever since.
This past April I decided to start my blog for a few reasons:
1. I want to connect to other people living with MS.
2. I want to educate and inform others about MS.
3. I hope to help others living with MS, especially newly diagnosed.
So far blogging has been a really positive experience. The hardest part is finding the time to blog. I work full time as a medical social worker and as earlier mentioned I often experience fatigue which makes blogging after work somewhat difficult. I'm really looking to grow my blog with more readers - both with MS and without. I enjoy reading other people's blog and I find this community very supportive. I've learned a lot from other MSers and I get a lot of good laughs reading some of my favorite blogs. I also think when you read my blog which is about a lot more than just life with MS you will see how good life can be. I have plenty of hard days but I make the most of the good days and cherish the healthy times!
Now that I've told you a little about me and why I blog, here are some basics about MS from The National MS Society website.
Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease. MS is an auto immune disease.
MS is not contagious.
MS affects all people different.
There is now treatments (injections) that have proven to be extremely effective in treating the symptoms and preventing the progression of the disease. At this time there are no oral medications for the treatment of MS.
MS can typically be diagnosed with a neurological exam and brain MRI.
So now that you've learned a little about MS the next time you meet someone with MS ask them how they are feeling! I think there are more MSers out there living in your neighborhood or working in your office that you don't even know about.
If you would like to read more about my life living with MS (and a lot of other things) stop by my blog. Leave a comment and let me know you found me through Carly's blog.
Carly, thanks so much for letting me be a guest poster!


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Anastasia Northrop
Anastasia is founder and director of the TOB-based National Catholic Singles Conference and has been particularly involved in applying John Paul II's message to the single life since 2004. She studied at the International Theological Institute in Austria, she recently completed her Masters in Catholic Applied Theology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family through Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England. She organizes other events, writes articles related to the Theology of the Body, and networks internationally with those disseminating John Paul II's work. She has given talks and promoted study groups in the United States and around the world.


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Microsoft vs. Google: A Privacy Battle in Massachusetts
April 19, 2013
Privacy issues now receive significant attention in legislatures around the world. In Massachusetts, legislators are considering a privacy bill directed toward protection of information collected from children using computers in school. This Massachusetts legislation is distinctive because the driving force behind it is reportedly Microsoft Corporation.
The Massachusetts legislation would place constraints on the ability of cloud-computing service providers to collect data from students using computers provided by schools. The bill prohibits use of the data collected from students for commercial purposes, including advertising.
Google currently offers schools and students e-mail and other Web applications through its Google Apps for Education products. Microsoft offers students e-mail through its Outlook service integrated into its Microsoft Office product.
Microsoft reportedly takes the position that it will not mine data it collects from students for advertising purposes. Google has not clearly indicated its commercial plans for student data.
Microsoft's involvement in the Massachusetts legislation was apparently on its own initiative, not part of a coordinated effort with privacy advocacy groups. The Microsoft effort has reportedly led some privacy groups to question Microsoft's motives.
Some Microsoft critics suggest that the legislation may simply be a competitive effort against its rival, Google. The Massachusetts bill can be seen, at least in part, as an attack against a significant component of the Google business model, which makes active commercial use of data collected from users of the diverse Google apps.
The Massachusetts legislation appears to be part of a broader Microsoft strategy to foster consumer questions and concerns regarding Google's information privacy policies and practices. Microsoft is apparently using privacy as a method to distinguish its products from those offered by Google.
It seems that Microsoft has concluded that consumer concern regarding information privacy is widespread enough that it is a potential source of competitive advantage. Legislators and regulators should take note of that assessment. If Microsoft has determined that consumers care enough about privacy to make that issue a source of commercial advantage, it is time for government to implement a more comprehensive and effective information privacy regulatory framework.
Privacy advocates should welcome support for more effective safeguards from all sources, including major companies such as Microsoft. Good ideas to facilitate sensible privacy protection can come from a wide range of organizations. It is, however, important to understand the motives behind all privacy proposals. Proposals motivated by pursuit of commercial competitive advantage should not be ignored, however, those motives should be considered carefully as privacy initiatives are pursued.


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A place where I can show my creative side. I love to be artsy and crafty... Things I enjoy: scrapbooking, making cards, stamping, painting, sewing, playing the piano and singing. I've posted photos of some of my past creations and will continue to post more as I make them. Put your feet up and stay awhile.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Here is what is posted as the challenge by Theresa: "My challenge is to make Something Sweet! Make a card, scrapbook page or other stamping item using the theme "Sweet." It can be something with the word "sweet", some kind of edible "sweet", something for a "sweetheart" or something that makes you say, "ahhh, that is so sweet."
Hopefully my card will not only make you drool for the "sweet" chocolate it holds but that you will also oooooh and awwww and say, "Oh how sweet!".
I used a template that I found on Ellen Hutson's "The Classroom". I printed it up, cut it out, traced it onto doublesided designer print cardstock, scored the two places the template said to score and embellished. What a fun project! I have to thank Ellen for the template and the inspiration she provided.
Thanks for stopping by! I have more cards to show you so please come back. :-)
4 comments:
- Valerie said...
you are so great at these things! This card is amazing! Thanks for sharing! :)
- January 25, 2009 at 8:09 PM
- eviledna said...
Oh WOW, that is so lovely. You've cut the heart out perfectly and I really like the way you've made the pocket. The choice of papers are perfect and the embellishment is fabulous. You've really excelled on this challenge, and I'll keep my fingers and toeses crossed that you win :)
Take care & keep smiling
Ann x
- January 26, 2009 at 1:56 PM
- lisa808 said...
Absolutely gorgeous.
- January 26, 2009 at 5:40 PM
- falwyn said...
This is an awesome card, and you should definitely win! I love it - may have to steal the idea sometime. :) Way to go!
- January 29, 2009 at 1:32 PM


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We are calling you now to better understand your needs.
Sunrise at Countryside - Sterling, VA
|Room Type
|Monthly Range* (USD)
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* Published prices are provided by the providers themselves, not by reviewers. Actual quotes may differ from what is presented based on timing and services required.
- Minimum Age of Accepted Residents
- Activities Onsite
- Devotional Services Available
- Indoor Common Areas
- Meals Provided
- Aging in Place
- Nurses on Staff
- Podiatrist Available
- Physical Therapy Available
- Occupational Therapy Available
- Speech Therapy Available
- Complimentary Transportation
- Activities Offsite
- Outdoor Common Areas
- Beauty & Barber Services
- Pets Allowed
- No Smoking Allowed in Private Areas Indoors
- No Smoking Allowed in Public Areas Indoors
- Wheelchair Accessible Showers
- Hospice Available
- Respite Available
- Resident Parking Available
- Male Residents Accepted
- Female Residents Only
- Doctor on Call
- Nurse on Call
- Homecare Onsite
- Dentist Available
Good Value for the money
I liked Sunrise very much unfortunately my mom had a stroke and she can't go back as they don't offer skilled nursing which she needs. They were very friendly and helpful. They took great care of my mom. The only complaint I have is that they were very slow in getting the paperwork I needed to submit the claim for my mom's long term care insurance.
Very friendly staff - willing to work with both independent and assisted living residents (they have a separate building if a resident needs to go from independent to assisted living - one stop shopping). Clean. Apartments are decent-sized, including kitchens that are bigger than mine! Small community, so everyone knows each other. Serves beer and wine with lunch and dinner upon request! :) Had lots of information about financing opportunities.
They gave us a great tour. The community looked very welcoming. It felt like all the staff know the residents by name. As we left we got to see some of the art work/craft from the residents.
My Mother and I were both impressed with this community the first time we visited. And our feelings were reinforced each subsequent visit. Clean, comfortable. Every person we met knowledgeable, friendly, caring.
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Nice facility, very homey and cozy, well maintained. Location is near Dulles Town Center but it's not pedestrian-friendly - we didn't see any sidewalks and Sunrise is on a major, high-speed road. Tour was great - very informative and staff was professional and friendly. Sunrise stood out because they were prepared for our visit. Only one other facility - The Fairmont - was prepared for our scheduled visit. This made a big impression on us because Sunrise and Fairmont seemed to want our business, whereas with the others, they had to scramble to cobble together a tour for us.
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Nice facility- we only were in the common areas- they only offer assisted living and memory care.
Far from daughter, far from current friends
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Nice Tour of This Facility
This is a nice community, and our tour of it went well. Everyone was very friendly to my family, and I. From what we saw everything looked neat, and tidy. The staff we came across was kind, and helpful. Our tour guide was informative, and answered all our questions. The experience went well overall.
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Cozy, homelike atmosphere
So far everything is going really well for my dad since recently moving into Sunrise at Countryside. It is a beautiful and clean community. We chose here because of the cozy, homelike atmosphere. The staff is very courteous and friendly. I have dined here with my dad and we enjoyed the food provided, it is quite good. They try and encourage all of the residents to participate in the activities offered. Although it is too warm to go outside right now, there are benches to sit and relax and enjoy the fresh air. I would definitely recommend Sunrise at Countryside to others.
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Nice facility!
My loved one's stay is going fine so far at Sunrise. The staff have been attentive and the facility is fine. My loved one gets plenty opportunities to socialize and participate in activities. The location and price point was good for our family. I am a bit worried, however, because the staff claim that my loved one can handle independent living and I am not so sure, but I'd like to see what happens. I'm sure she's in good hands!
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My mom's comfort
We are happy with this nice community. The staff are very caring and attentive to the needs of the residents. The community is clean and has a nice feeling of being with the other residents. The menu is appealing and she likes the variety. They offer her activiites to keep active. We would recommend this nice community for a good value and care for other families.
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Our family's experience was very positive at Sunrise. As with everything in life you need to interact with everyone...From the doctors, nurses, caregivers and dining services...Yes, they all worked with my husband to make him comfortable and happy...which in turn made our family very happy that he was getting great care. We were previously at a "buy in" in Winchester, VA. There they didn't bath my husband, didn't help him change clothes and sometimes pills were left on his table...and they even changed his medications without informing anyone - POA - Nothing is ever perfect, but everyone at Sunrise in Countryside was very helpful. If there was any concern, they worked with our family to make our lives so much easier - all we had to do was just ask! We are so grateful to all the dedicated people at Sunrise in Countryside!!!
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Don't do it
I'm not sure why someone would write a review based on a "visit" and the a dog and pony show. This place promises staff qualified to provide care. They are not. Just because the head nurse is doesn't mean that they others hired have background and knowledge to care for those in Assisted Living. Residents fall, don't get medications on time, nothing is provided in writing, passing along of information to next shift or weekend shift is non-existent. Oh and AL showers are non-ADA compliant...so forget these poor elderly people being safe...can't even fit a small stool in the shower for safety. Guess being grandfathered in is a good excuse rather than taking in a lot of money and actually fixing the issue.
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My father's care
I am very happy with the staff here. The community is clean and the care from the staff is great. The food is good and my dad seems to like everything that is offered. I found everything to be what was needed for my father. I would recommend the care and the value here and other families would be please here.
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A Visit On The Independent Side
I liked the independent side of this community. I saw enough interaction and activities for the residents. The facility was clean and appears nice. The tour guide was on time and had the answers to my questions.
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Horrible Place
The care at Sunrise for my wheelchair-bound 81 year-old mother was horrible. The staff lacked careful attention to her needs-like keeping her oxygen on, toileting needs and cleaning her properly. Almost every day, my mother had a new cut or bruise on her legs which she had difficulty recovering from. As a result, a wound nurse had to look over the care of all her cuts and bruises which no one from Sunrise could explain. The caregiver assigned to her was rude and intimidating. My mother was scared of her and eventually we asked for another caregiver. Every day, I left there feeling very insecure about leaving my mother there since my mother really could not do anything on her own. When my mother needed to go the bathroom, she would push her alert button and no one would come. Please do NOT send your loved one to this place. It was HORRIBLE!!
My mother was only there for 1 month and then we took her out to come live with me. I knew I could take better care of her!
Sunrise Senior Living
Local Representative
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A Really Great Experience
The staff workers at the Sunrise at Countryside facility have just been excellent. They have all been very attentive and flexible and honestly it has just been a really great experience working with them.
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Sunrise at Countryside
Sunrise at Countryside is a welcoming Asst Living and IL community. Everyone was attentive and genuinely concerned about being flexible and making the move as smooth and convenient as possible for my 90 year-old-mother. It is an intimate clean safe setting with a home-like feel. The residents were friendly. The intake manager, Natalie was knowledgeable and helped coordinate obtaining the health documents we needed to clear Mom for entry into IL. I feel the monthly rates are reasonable given all the onsite services they offer. Bottom line is-I have peace of mind that Mom has 24 hour care and support she needs. So far so good. She likes living there.
It also helps that the SR community is close to me and my family and we can visit Mom anytime.
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Nice place
We are happy with Sunrise at Countryside. It is a nice looking, clean place, and they are doing a good job taking care of my loved one. We are satisfied with our choice.
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Rooms seemed cramped
I toured this community while looking into care options for a loved one. The facility was well kept and clean for the most part, and all of the staff I met seemed friendly. However I didn't like the layout of the community, the assisted living portion where my loved one would have been living just felt cramped and depressing. The rooms were small and seemed like they might be difficult to navigate with a walker or a wheelchair.
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Seemed like a nice place
I toured this community while looking into care options for a loved one. The facility was well kept and clean, and all of the staff I met seemed friendly and professional, although it was one of the more expensive options we looked at. We ended up selecting another community, but this is somewhere I would have considered as an option for my loved one.
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Nursing staff poor communication
We chose Sunrise Countryside for our loved one due to 1. immediate placement 2. proximity to family 3. Said they could provide service all the way through hospice 4. Staff seemed very friendly and residents appeared active, mingling in common areas, resident room doors were open and there was a sense of vitality.
What we didn't know was that this particular location does not have Director or Head of Nursing; both positions are being covered by other staff until filled. This has contributed to poor communication between all parties...family, nursing staff, aides, etc.
Our loved one has Kaiser insurance. We were told there would be no problem. our loved one gets prescriptions through Kaiser or free from the VA. We signed up for rhe medication management plan at Sunrise and handed over all the prescriptions at check in. The acting head of nursing told us that they would not handle any of the refills since we would not be using Sunrise's pharmacy. She said family is responsible for knowing when refills are required, we have to deliver them in person to Sunrise, they would not accept any RX delivered from the VA or Kaiser by mail, and all prescriptions have to be "repackaged" by Sunrise pharmacy at the resident's expense. None of this was explained to us beforehand, and we learned that medication management only means they will give the medicine to the resident as prescribed.
Our loved one said the food is ok, not great. The buildings and grounds are nice. The aides seem attentive but I was disappointed when our loved one developed a skin problem and no staff reported it.
Sunrise Senior Living
Local Representative
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Independent Living
My Mother has lived here in Independent Living for over 3 years. There have been 3 Directors and a considerable amount of time without a full time Director. There are some very dedicated employees there who care but I don't think the Management is connected to what makes a difference to residents. New wallpaper and a bistro are not high on residents lists. The furniture is nice, but it is obvious the decorator isn't connected to what Seniors need. The chairs are large and overstuffed and many residents do no want to sit on them for fear they can't get up. The food preparation is generally poor and does not get good reviews by residents. This facility needs a pro-active Director who will get to the know the residents and make sure the dedicated caregivers are appreciated. There also need to be quality control of the food served to ensure that preparation and presentation are improved. Examples: onion soup should have onions, banana pudding should have bananas, chicken & dumplings should have dumplings, food should be tasted to ensure preparation and taste are as should be expected. The activities room at this facility is small and inadequate to have a larger range of activities for more diversity. This location is an anomaly in the Sunrise facilities in that the Independent Living side allows for assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) which allows residents to remain in an apartment and receive help versus transitioning to Assisted Living too soon. This is the main advantage of this facility.
Sunrise Senior Living
Local Representative
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Friendly, welcoming staff
I think they do a great job overall at Sunrise at Countryside. They really put a lot of effort into making sure my loved one felt comfortable and at home when she moved in. The staff are all very friendly, and the facility itself is well kept and clean.
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Nice place, overall
I think they do a good job at Sunrise of Countryside. The caregivers are friendly and professional, and the quality of care that they offer the residents is very good. The facility itself is well kept and clean, and they have a lot to offer their residents.
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Sunrise at Countryside: One of the Best in No. Va.
I have visited several Assisted Living places and have found this Sunrise at Countryside to be absolutely the best. The few concerns that I've had have all been addressed and resolved to my satisfaction. My father has resided at Sunrise for a year and a half and I am so happy with everything about the place.
The new Executive Director has set high standards for the entire facility; consequently, services and morale have improved. The caregivers and med techs are outstanding and treat my dad with dignity and love! And I visit almost every day, so I observe everything!!!
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It's small, but intimate,
It's small, but intimate, really good for people with memory problems so they don't get lost. Almost all the staff knows all the residents. She eats the food and she's very picky, so that's a good thing. It's a perfect choice for persons with early Parkinson's or dementia.
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Nice place, overall
Overall our experience here was good. The staff were all very friendly and caring, and the location of the facility was very convenient for us. It was, however, very expensive, and for as much as it cost I think the quality of the rooms could have been much nicer. The carpet when we moved in was not in a good state of repair, and we had it replaced at our own expense.
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Very nice independent livin...
Very nice independent living. This is the first place I visited. Major deal breaker is that internet would be dial-up in living quarters and that is unacceptable. Major plus was balcony off living room of apartment.
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Toured Sunrise 4/24/14. The...
Toured Sunrise 4/24/14. The common areas are beautiful. Staff checks in with residents who have not appeared by 11 am. The monthly rates are very steep, and only 1 meal per day is included. There is a $25 surcharge per trip for travel (to doctor's appointments, etc). While the decorating is lovely, the apartments have very angular kitchen areas with a narrow passage into the living/dining area. One (aging) laundry room on second floor, and other on third floor with restricted hours. No laundry on first floor. Dining is all fresh not frozen, menu each day, dinner served at 5 pm or 6pm, but only 1 meal included (either lunch or dinner). 3 meal plan available but I didn't ask how much more that costs.
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Countryside - Be wary of a split personality
The Independent Living side is the focus here. My mother was a resident in Independent Living for a while and enjoyed it a lot. The staff is generally pleasant.
The Assisted Living side seems dreadful. They just seem to be sitting around there without much to do. There is not enough space for them to plan many activities, and they pack the place, so it's a full money making house. The residents on the Independent side live in fear that they might end up there. Overhearing comments from the residents on the Independent side, such as, "I hope I don't end up over there" was quite common. They would be best as a fully Independent Living facility, which is what they do best.
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I really like it!
I really like it! She says the food is awful. They were just bought out by another company, so there is a lot of transitioning going on. Independent living seems to be much nicer and there is much more to do, than the assited living side. I like the nurse, and she likes the nurse too.
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Assisted living ok, but not...
Assisted living ok, but not great. Staff very friendly.
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Dining was better, but lots of staff turnover
My dad was in independent living and at meal times, everyone sat at a table, they each had their own menus and servers would ask them what they wanted to eat, it seemed more people oriented and I would eat here. My father would sometimes need to get redirected and this facility was smaller so when he would go down the elevator the people at the front desk could redirect him.
The administrators were the main reason we moved him, that, and the fact they didn't have a handicapped shower. I'm about 5'7, people would call me thin, and I would stand in the shower my father would use and I felt the walls were too close. It's about 20 years old and they're bene renovating lots of that building, so it's just old. I would describe the director that left there as a sourpuss, the women at the front desk, except for one of them, were in the same shoes, just sour. There were 3 interim directors and the time my dad was there, not that they were bad, but when we left there, nobody said goodbye, nobody told me where to turn in the keys or what would happen with billing, I had to go and ask, the residents were not told my dad left and many of them were upset. They replaced nurses on the assisted and independent living side, they replaced one of the activities directors, and when I left there they didn't have a chef; so there was all this change in personel which made the whole running of the place inconsistent. What they should have done is change out the concierge first thing.
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They did what they could
Value? I wouldn't know if i'd go there if I were you, it's a lot of money per month, 5,500 dollars per month, so a lot of money but the care was pretty good, I'm not disatisfied. We chose it because it was the least expensive, it was convinient and that was that. He would sit by himself in his room and had issues, he didn't want to be there, it wasn't a pleasant experience for him. The problem was he was the only blind patient there and I don't think they had a lot of experience dealing with that but they did the best they could.
Sunrise Senior Living
Local Representative
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Don't let outward appearances fool you!
The building is gorgeous, the staff is warm and friendly when you visit, but don't let that fool you. The rooms on the AL side are very small, the floors are dirty, the staff ignores you, and the food is monotonous and awful. The case managers are disorganized. Expect at least a 30 min response time when you call for a care giver. The carpet is stained and rarely gets vacuumed let alone cleaned of stains. If your loved one falls out of bed, expect a phone call and that's it!! No bed rails are allowed but you have to fight to get any other safety options such as a pad on the floor to break a fall or a bed alarm. Then it will have to be ordered and your expense.
Sunrise Senior Living
Local Representative
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Studio is really small. One bedroom t...
Studio is really small. One bedroom to expensive.
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Building a bit older. Rooms smaller....
Building a bit older. Rooms smaller. Less light. Dinner area nice. Asst. living next door is nice. Some church services on site. have doctor who does weekly visits.
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Director was fantastic!
Director was fantastic!
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It is convient to the house. Liked b...
It is convient to the house. Liked both the studio and the one bedroom options. Would want to convert the tub to a walk in shower with a stool in it. Liked the dining room and the staff was friendly.
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Went back on Nov. 19th and had lunch ...
Went back on Nov. 19th and had lunch and met again with director who takes a genuine interest in people. We have decided on Sunrise cause it is far superior to the other places we visited.
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Very nice. Prices were a bit lower bu...
Very nice. Prices were a bit lower but not much.
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nice location and having the choice t...
nice location and having the choice to be independant or not was a good thing as with age this could be necessary and they wouldnt have to move. Rooms were clean and staff were very friendly this was more assisted then any other location. Meals, housekeeping and all utilities are included which is great. A definate second choice depending on how independant they want to be.
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In elegant, residential environments, we deliver the finest in senior care, and are recognized internationally for both quality and innovation. Guided by our Principles of Service, Sunrise affords families peace-of-mind by providing today's seniors with a range of personalized assisted living services. From assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing to medication monitoring, Sunrise provides residents with the help they need. Residents maintain the same privacy in their new home as they enjoyed in their own home. At Sunrise, we encourage residents to challenge themselves while offering the assistance they need. We encourage family and friends to be involved, to visit frequently, and to invite residents on outings to community events. This innovative approach to senior care is designed to maintain independence and dignity, yet is balanced with the comfort and security that comes from knowing experienced help is close at hand.


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It's fireworks time again, and this year the day when it's all supposed to happen – November 5 – falls conveniently on a Saturday, when most folk have the opportunity to attend a display.
But does anybody remember, remember what it's all supposed to be about?
Pictures of Guy Fawkes (a 17th century terrorist) used to be everywhere at this time of year, and kids with crude effigies of the man, constructed from old clothes and maybe a Hallowe'en mask, would hang about on street corners soliciting "penny for the Guy" so that they could buy their own fireworks.
Of course these days it's illegal to sell children gunpowder products, along with many other things, although – as with cigarettes and booze – a determined minority always seem to manage to get hold of them.
However in the last few years Guido Fawkes himself – burned in effigy on countless bonfires in years gone by – has been quietly edged out of the script.
These days it's "Bonfire Night" or "Fireworks Spectacular", and no explanation is ever offered for why such an event should be taking place at all.
There are still a few exceptions, as in Lewes, down south, where they still loyally honour tradition by incinerating Mr Fawkes and, off-season, Alex Salmond and possibly other people they don't approve of.
But the mantra "Remember, remember the 5th of November" now carries the implicit answer: "Why?"
We've done Hallowe'en, and nobody has had a royal baby for months – so what's it all about?
American Hallowe'en (and its preposterous pumpkins) has usurped Scottish tradition, and we've now got a still highly popular annual fireworks fixture which doesn't seem to be for anything.
Pop-up shops sell panzerschreck-style rockets big enough to take out a bus, and the police and fire brigade – who have to pick up the pieces when amateur efforts go wrong – issue seasonal warnings and advice.
But if the actual Guy Fawkes appeared at one of these do's, complete with big hat (see picture) and pointy beard, nobody much under 60 would have a clue who he was.
Sadly, perhaps, very few people are hell bent on recalling events which happened more than four centuries ago.
That's when Guy, or Guido, and some other folk, came up with a Cunning Plan to demolish England's Parliament and with it Britain's reigning monarch – James VI or Scotland and I of England (or "Slabbering Jamie" as he was known, somewhat unkindly, by his enemies).
The conspirators managed to smuggle barrels of gunpowder into the basement of Parliament and were looking forward to a colossal bang which would wipe out the Stuart King and a building full of politicians at one fell swoop.
To cut a long story short, they were found out. Guido was put to death in the most gruesome manner the 16th century authorities could devise, and everyone was ordered to celebrate James VI's salvation ... or else.
James died eventually, and the fellow Stuart who succeeded him, Charles I, was beheaded by upstart Oliver Cromwell.
Civil war raged across the land and James I and VI was more or less forgotten in all the excitement – but the fireworks display (and the bonfire, and burning an effigy) remained as popular as ever.
It helped that Chinese goods had become all the rage, courtesy of enterprising merchants, and along with the fine bone china, novelty dogs and opium came high quality fireworks – a Chinese speciality.
Toffs vied with one another to put on bigger and better firework displays (for all sorts of things, such as royal marriages or successful battles overseas), and Guy Fawkes Night (which probably finally petered out some time in the 80's), was the one everyone who was anyone had to get right.
These days burning people in effigy is frowned on, and nobody much cares that James VI and I survived to continue his favourite pursuit – torturing "confessions" out of alleged witches.
It could be argued that a seasonal firework display has become, by default, the official start of the festive season, and that no longer wanting to burn imaginary people on bonfires in celebration of obscure historic events is a positive development.
But the festive season ... what's all that about again?


text:
Many people, children and adults alike, hate and fear going to the dentist. Unfortunately, one bad experience can create fear for life. Fearing the dentist and skipping appointments can cause you to miss out on important dental care that could prevent painful and expensive dental problems. We want to give you a few tips to help your child (and you!) look forward to dental visits.
1. Choose carefully.
Picking the right dentist can be a make or break in your relationship with dental visits. Pick a dentist you connect with and enjoy talking to. Going to someone you like and trust will help ease the anxiety that comes along with dental visits.
2. Atmosphere.
In addition to liking the person who will be caring for your teeth, you also need to like the atmosphere of the dental office. Go to a place that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. Many people enjoy dental offices that play music and have a calming atmosphere.
3. Dentists Are Helping You.
Although going to the dentist might not be the most enjoyable activity, you have to remember that the dentist is helping you. Knowing that the dentist is helping keep you healthy will make your thoughts about it more positive.
4. Dentists Are People Too
Remember that dentists are people who genuinely care about your well-being. The dentists are trying to keep you healthy and make your smile beautiful.
5. You Get Free Stuff
Who doesn't love free stuff? You always go home with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss when you visit the dentist.
These were just a few reasons to love the dentist. The key is picking the dentist that's right for you.


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For a PC gamer, no game is ever complete without a keyboard and mouse. It is second nature for us PC gamers and we simply can't think of using a gamepad, especially for FPS games. With gaming consoles though this debate has largely stayed muted simply because of the incompatibility of the conventional keyboard/mouse combination. Thanks to third-party accessory makers though the debate is once more back on in full swing.
It really does not matter which side of the spectrum you fall on. Whether you love analog stick controls or keyboard/mouse dual combination. The fact remains that almost everyone on a particular platform sticks to the same control schemes. It is only because of the third party adapters that gaming consoles now are starting to take keyboards as dedicated controllers. But then why is this is an issue?
Overwatch director, Jeff Kaplan believes there is a major problem with this development. Before getting to the specific issue that Kaplan speaks on, let's first investigate the pros and cons of keyboard/mouse controls with console gaming.
The pros are numerous especially for those who game on PCs. One major reason why so many PC gamers are anti-console is because of the lack of keyboard and mouse usage. Let's be honest, first person shooter games are way more enjoyable when you use a mouse. There is no way an analog stick can be as accurate as a mouse pointer that you move in a split second to target someone or something. Then there's the advantage of multiple keys of a keyboard to configure specific skill moves, which you simply cannot do with a gaming console.
The cons however are all restricted to gaming consoles. Firstly, gaming consoles historically were more interested in peddling their own brand and design of controller that cannot be used with anything else. Thankfully, Xbox controllers are plug and play with a PC but a PlayStation controller isn't. However, PlayStation does allow USB and Bluetooth connectivity of the keyboard and mouse but unless game developers explicitly provide support for these input devices, you are out of luck. Games that migrate from a PC environment over to PlayStation tend to retain keyboard/mouse functionality but games exclusively developed for the Playstation tends to miss out on such features.
Okay so, now that we have highlighted the pros and cons of keyboard/mouse combination as opposed to a game controller, let's get back to why Overwatch director Kaplan has an issue with it.
Kaplan left a comment on Battle.net forums stating that the Overwatch team officially objects to the combination of keyboard and mouse for its games. They have even gone ahead and contacted console makers, expressing their concerns over the input conversion devices and the duo of keyboard and mouse.
The Overwatch team isn't explicitly against keyboard and mouse. What they have an issue with is that these devices are not inherently compatible with the gaming consoles and players need to purchase expensive third-party adapters in order to use them. This means that only some of the users can use a keyboard and mouse and because of the inherent advantages of this kind of input, it puts the rest of the conventional console gamers with analogue sticks at a severe disadvantage.
Their request is to either outright ban any such conversion device or to provide complete and open support for mouse and keyboard. This ways, the entire community is benefited. With open and free support, the issue of cheating no longer arises as anyone can use a keyboard and mouse. And with complete ban on this kind of input adapter, gamers have to revert back to the conventional controllers.
The products questioned by Kaplan and his team include the XIM4 or the IoGear Keymander. The former costs about $125 but it lets you use specific keyboard and mice combinations intuitively with a few PS4 and Xbox One games. They even work on older Xbox 360 and PS3 titles too. The Keymander costs about $100 and does a similar thing though it is cross-platform for all console games.
What these devices to is to emulate a general controller using software settings and hardware. The mouse and keyboard input are then disguised as controller input thus developers really can't detect their presence. This is a huge issue in competitive games such as Overwatch where a mouse is too quick and precise for anyone left on an Analogue stick. Controllers will always be bulky, leggy and clunky but a mouse is too precise and it shows in the game. Those terrible at such games will end up having a better chance of registering more points over seasoned pros who use controllers.
In fact, Overwatch forums are filled with complaints of "blatant cheating" in the console edition as players are starting to use the mouse and keyboard instead of the controller. It is this particular issue that Kaplan and his team are sympathetic to.
In fact, the question isn't about allowing or disallowing control options. Remember Gears of War 4. They actually held a competition between PC gamers and console gamers to find out whether the debate of keyboard/mouse versus controller does hold up to be true. At the end of this trial run in December, it was observed that while certain figures were slightly higher, average score, kills, KD and a lot more all were relatively the same depending on skill ratings. Or in other words, the competitive advantage is limited between controller and a mouse aiming mechanism.
Nevertheless, Kaplan simply wants the option to use mouse and keyboard on consoles available to all his customers and not just those who invest into expensive third-party adapters. This would definitely help even things out. As it stands, Microsoft is currently working on an official support but it is still "months away" as reported by their own technical team. In fact, there is no official release date for the support.
As for PS4, they already provide support for Bluetooth and USB devices but developers do not usually utilize this support for their proprietary PS titles. Only games that have come from the PC platform have this kind of support and that too mostly MMO titles. Nevertheless, the idea of having cross-platform keyboard and mouse support is enticing, at least for us PC gamers who simply cannot imagine playing a first person shooter on a gamepad! Oh, yes we exist!


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Monday, 30 January 2017
Keiser Report (E1025): US Hgemony Facing New Challenges
In this episode of the Keiser Report from Miami, Max and Stacy discuss Jack Ma's statements at Davos about the U.S. wasting trillions on wars and asking where all the money went that U.S. multinationals made from outsourcing manufacturing. In the second half Max continues his interview with crypto entrepreneur Charlie Shrem about bitcoin, blockchain and crypto.
[Posted at the SpookyWeather blog, January 30th, 2017.]
Posted by SpookyOne at 00:00
Labels: China, Corporations, Corruption, ECONOMY, Internet, Max Keiser, Trump, USA, War
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Ginger Drysdale lives in Rowayton Connecticut with her husband Josh and two year old Daughter, Piper. Ginger has worked in the Women's apparel industry in New York City for 10 years and is very excited to be venturing into the world of Children's clothing. She is looking forward to taking on the next generation of CPC Kids and carrying on the tradition of beautiful and timeless Children's clothing that founders Gaby, Carrie and Caroline started!
Information from: www.cpcchildrenswear.com


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Prime Timers Worldwide offers free web hosting and website design services for any chapter that would like a dedicated presence on the web. Having a dedicated website for your chapter not only attracts new members, but benefits existing members as well.
Each chapter is entitled to one free website designed by PTWW, regardless of chapter age/size. Chapter websites created by us offer free support and shared editing so that completed websites can be updated by multiple chapter members who have access to a web browser. Even if you are new to website design, you receive the support necessary to maintain your own site once we create it for you. Need references? Contact the Miami Valley Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Oklahoma City chapters to talk about their experiences with websites provided by PTWW. For an example of what your website would look like, look here and here.
Website design services by PTWW offer attractive designs that include your chapter's regular activities, a calendar, and contact information. Sophisticated website design allows chapters to implement features such as e-mail reminder systems, promotional slideshows & photo galleries, integrated mapping systems, games, videos, recipes, weather, movie listings, and much more. Please review the above websites for examples of sophisticated website designs offered by PTWW.
Building a website to promote your chapter to potential members and support existing members is one of the best things that you can do to ensure continued growth. Contact the Prime Timers Worldwide webmaster if interested!


text: Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the slight delay. There were a couple of exciting new classes we wanted to make sure we had in our brochure. Now that we've got that done, it's ready for your viewing pleasure! You can tap on the photo on the photo to bring up a PDF. Call or email us with any questions you may have. See you at the Y!


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FALL 2015 RUNWAY TRENDS: BEAUTYThursday, February 25, 2016
A bit of a throwback post since Dave Lackie & Nina Westbury will be coming back to Vancouver next Wednesday ! Last September, they came ...
A bit of a throwback post since Dave Lackie & Nina Westbury will be coming back to Vancouver next Wednesday! Last September, they came for yet another fall trends presentation and luckily enough, I was able to attend again. This was my third time seeing them, including a little Shiseido Ultimune presentation that they hosted in the summer. In case I hadn't made it clear in 2014, any event with these two is a total party- full of laughs, goodie bags, and just a whole lot of fun! (And of course, you always learn so many little tips and tricks from Nina, not to mention the many entertaining stories Dave tells.)
This time, Dave showcased three fall trends:
1) "Bollywood Kohl"
Dave noted that kohl lined eyes popped up at shows everywhere (with varied degrees of thickness). On lighter eyes, this definitely helps to make them pop- I have dark brown pupils and my eyes aren't that big, so I tend to avoid completely lining my lower lashline, but there are, of course, more wearable looks that should work on all eye shapes!
I definitely noticed that Pat McGrath was very much into the heavy liner/smokey eyes last fall, and of course, what Pat does, everyone copies...which might explain why this was such a huge trend, haha. Here I've listed examples from three of the shows Pat did- Lanvin FW15, Versace FW15, and Diane Von Furstenberg FW15.
|Hedvig Palm @ Lanvin FW15
|Maartje Verhoef @ Versace FW15
|Ondria Hardin @ Diane Von Furstenberg FW15
In contrast, at Cavalli, Petros Petrohilos used black & silver liner on the lower lashline but applied a neutral gloss on top, which I think makes a really nice balance so that the liner isn't too heavy.
|Dylan Xue @ Roberto Cavalli FW15
|I don't have any gloss, but I used a Marc Jacobs Twinkle Pop stick in 'Honey Boney' for the eyelid shade, and Marc Jacobs' Feather Noir mascara for a very very natural, ~barely there~ lash look.
2) "Eclectic Eyes"
I really liked the single blocks of colour on the eyes from the Au Jour Le Jour fall 2015 RTW show- the look in the middle is actually comprised of two different looks, but I liked it so much I decided to do it exactly like that. These reminded me slightly of a Mondrian painting, and if you look at the actual pieces from the collection, you'll see they're definitely bright and abstract, with many of the eyeshadow shades being drawn from the clothes themselves.
|Yuan Bo Chao @ Rochas FW15
3) "Blackened Rouge"
|Aya Jones & Iesha Hodges @ Giles FW15
|Of course, I had to give it a try as well! Black lipstick isn't something I'd ever think I would be able to pull off, but I actually kinda like this, haha. As I don't actually own black lipstick, I packed on some glittery black eyeshadow over Burberry's 'Oxblood' lipstick, and topped it off with Clinique's 'Black Honey' superbalm gloss.


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Here's everything you need to know for today's NLDS Game 1 matchups between the Cubs and Cardinals and the Mets and Dodgers.
How important is winning the first game of a best-of-five series? Teams that have done so have gone on to win the series 72% of the time, but that rate isn't important just because it's Game 1. It's also significant because winning even one game in a series this short matters so much (Game 2 victors have won the series 73% of the time, and Game 3's winning team takes the series 72% of the time). The second half of Friday's Division Series slate finds the four remaining National League teams jockeying for that all-important first win.
Series: NLDS Game 1
Start Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Starting Pitchers: Jon Lester (11–12, 3.34 ERA) vs. John Lackey (13–10, 2.77 ERA)
• Despite a four-year gap in age and the fact that they throw with opposite hands, the 31-year-old Lester and 36-year-old Lackey have a great deal in common. The two were teammates for 3 1/2 years with the Red Sox, becoming good friends and forming half of Boston's championship rotation in 2013. Both were traded by the Sox at last year's non-waiver deadline. Both are big, strong, veteran horses who throw in the low-to-mid 90s and spent most of their careers prior to this year in the American League. Both made World Series-clinching starts before qualifying for a regular-season ERA title (Lackey in Game 7 of the 2002 Series with the Angels, Lester in Game 4 of the '04 Series for Boston).
Most importantly, both have excelled in the postseason ever since. Lackey has posted a 3.08 ERA in 18 postseason starts and three relief appearances. Lester has a 2.57 ERA in 12 playoff starts and two relief appearances, including a pair of dominant wins over the Cardinals in the 2013 World Series.
• Lester has a 2.59 ERA in five starts against St. Louis this season, including a 1.29 mark in two starts at Busch Stadium. Yet, even with those two outings in the 2013 World Series included, the non-pitchers on the Cardinals roster have hit a combined .269/.339/.463 against the southpaw in their careers. Surprisingly, lefty Jason Heyward has the best career line against him, going 10-for-24 (.417) and slugging .708. Jhonny Peralta, a former American Leaguer who has faced Lester a team-high 53 times, has hit .292/.358/.542 with three home runs in his career against him.
• Lackey has posted a 1.93 ERA in 17 home starts this season. He is also 2–0 with a 1.25 ERA in three starts against the Cubs this year and has never given up a home run to player on Chicago's Division Series roster. Lackey hasn't faced the Cubs since July 6, however, and has thus never faced rookie lefthanded slugger Kyle Schwarber, who led his team in at-bats per home run. He also hasn't taken on Starlin Castro since he turned around his season.
• Chris Coghlan gets the start in leftfield in this game: He is 8-for-17 (.471) career against Lackey, with all of those at-bats coming since Lackey was traded to St. Louis last July. That's by far the best batting line in the most plate appearances by any active Cub against Lackey. With Coghlan in left, Kris Bryant returns to his usual spot at third base, with Schwarber staying in right.
• The Cubs' hitting stars in their 4–0 wild-card game victory over Pittsburgh were lefties Dexter Fowler and Schwarber, the top two hitters in their order; they went a combined 5-for-7 with two home runs (one each), three runs scored and four RBIs. Both had been in long slumps prior to that game: Fowler had gone 105 plate appearances without a home run coming into Wednesday, hitting .226/.314/.280 over that span, and Schwarber had gone 69 PA without a home run, hitting .179/.333/.196 during that time. That makes it very encouraging for Chicago to see both come up big in that game.
• Postseason schedule, TV listings, recaps | SI's Division Series picks
Series: NLDS Game 1
Start Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom (14–8, 2.54 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw (16–7, 2.13 ERA)
• Kershaw is 1–5 with a 5.12 ERA in the postseason, but those figures overstate his struggles in October. Starting with his first of three Cy Young-winning seasons in 2011, Kershaw has made six postseason starts, four of which have been quality (including both of his starts on three days' rest), and a fifth saw him work six scoreless innings before things fell apart.
If there's a concern about Kershaw in the postseason, it's his uncharacteristic lack of endurance. He has completed seven innings in just one of those six starts—Game 1 of the 2013 NLDS against the Braves—and it took him 124 pitches to do so. By way of comparison, he pitched seven or more innings 22 times during the 2015 regular season and topped that pitch count just once, throwing 132 pitches in a 15-strikeout–complete-game win over the Giants on Sept. 2. The seventh inning was his downfall in both of his starts in last year's Division Series against the Cardinals: Through the first six innings of those starts, he allowed a total of two runs and struck out 18, but he allowed a combined nine runs while recording just two outs in the seventh innings.
• Another source of Kershaw's postseason misfortune has been a lack of run support due to him always matching up against a front-end starter from the other team. Among the four postseason losses he has suffered over the last two seasons, two came by scores of 1–0 and 3–2. In deGrom, he has a mound opponent who ranked fourth in the NL in ERA this season (Kershaw was third), posting a 0.98 WHIP and striking out 205 batters in 191 innings. In his only start against the Dodgers this season, deGrom held Los Angeles scoreless on two hits over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight.
• The Dodgers will likely load up their lineup with lefties against the righthanded deGrom, who has a sizeable platoon split, with lefties compiling an OPS 188 points higher than that of righties against him this season. It's entirely possible that Kershaw's personal catcher, A.J. Ellis, could be the only righthanded hitter in the Dodgers' order, which is just as well given that the team's regular backstop, switch-hitting Yasmani Grandal, is 3-for-82 since developing soreness in his left shoulder in mid-August. One Dodgers lefty deGrom has never faced is hot-hitting rookie shortstop Corey Seager. Adrian Gonzalez, meanwhile, is 3-for-8 with two home runs in his career against deGrom, though all three of those hits came last year.
• The Mets are expected to go with Ruben Tejada at shortstop over fan favorite Wilmer Flores in this series, largely because of Tejada's superior play in the field. As an added bonus, Tejada has the best career numbers against Kershaw of any hitter on New York's NLDS roster, going 5-for-14 (.357) with three walks (.471 OBP) against the Dodgers' ace.
In addition, expect the Mets to find room for righty Michael Cuddyer in their lineup against the lefty Kershaw. Cuddyer has started New York's last five games against an opposing lefthanded starter, primarily by pushing rightfielder Curtis Granderson (1-for-10 career against Kershaw and .183/.273/.286 against lefties this year) to the bench. Righty-hitting catcher Travis d'Arnaud and rookie lefty Michael Conforto have never faced Kershaw before.
• David Wright is the only Met remaining from the team's last postseason appearance in 2006. Kershaw was drafted that June; deGrom was just starting his senior year of high school; Seager was 12.


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Holiday House au fil de l'eau Douce (CHS100)
up to 8 guests
4 rooms
3 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
Distance to centre 1 km
Pets allowed
Washing machine
Balcony / Terrace
Baby cot
Single garage
Accommodation alert
detached house, 6 - 8 people, 4 room/s, 3 bedroom/s, 2 bathroom/s, approx. 120 m², 2 floor/s, renovated 2016. Furnishing: holiday standard, friendly, bright, tiled floor, laminate floor. Equipment: satellite TV; stereo; internet access Wi-Fi (included); washing machine, iron/ironing board; oil central heating. Room layout: Living room(ground floor): furniture suite, fireplace (insert), exit to terrace. From the living room stairs to upper levels. Dining area: in the living room. Kitchen: open to the living room, exit to terrace. Kitchen/ cooking equipment: 4 gas rings, oven, dish-washer, combination fridge-freezer, coffee machine, water boiler, toaster. Bedroom 1(ground floor): queen-size bed, single bed. Additional information: fly screen, direct access to sanitary no 1. Bedroom 2(floor 1): queen-size bed. Additional information: fly screen. Bedroom 3(floor 1): queen-size bed, single bed, exit to balcony. Additional information: fly screen. Sanitary 1(ground floor, access from one bedroom only): shower. Sanitary 2(ground floor): separate WC. Sanitary 3(floor 1): bath. Sanitary 4(floor 1): separate WC.
Local service charges
Electricity according to consumption approx. € 0,18/kWh. Heating if required, € 60/week. Final cleaning by tenants or against payment, € 60. Holiday resort tax. Linen/towels Bed linen available (beds are ready-made upon arrival). Towels must be brought along. Towels available on loan, € 4 per person/change (on order). Deposit € 350 (in cash). Extra deposit € 100 (pet). Cot/High chair free of charge (on order). Pet 1 pet allowed, € 20 per week (please advise prior to arrival; additional animals on request only).House/Residence
Situation: suburbian area, dead-end street, rural. Access/parking: cart track, approx. 100 m. garage; parking on the estate. Estate (private use): approx. 1500 m², closed plot (fence, entrance gate), trees, natural surroundings, meadow. Outdoor facilities(private use): terrace (partially roofed), balcony, furnishing provided, 8 deck chairs, flattop barbecue. ● Distances: Center Chirols in approx. 1 km. Pont de Labeaume in approx. 2 km. Aubenas in approx. 18 km. Next shopping possibility (Pont de Veyrières) in approx. 500 m. Next supermarket (Lalevade) in approx. 8 km. River (without crossing the street) in approx. 100 m (La Fontaulière). River (bathing possibility) in approx. 3 km (Pont de Labeaume).
Prior to your departure, you will receive the key collection information for your stay, along with your travel documents.
You can see the location of your accommodation here.
Check availability and book
Click on your desired arrival date in the calendar and select the duration of your stay using the drop down menu. It takes less than two minutes to make your reservation online.
Select arrival date Select departure date
Cost overview
Customer reviews - Holiday House au fil de l'eau Douce (CHS100)
- Excellent
- Overall rating 4.8/5
- Overall condition of the property
- Cleanliness overall
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overall result based on 4 reviews
additional costs (if required)


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Bon Secours Mercy Health's Mission and values come to us from the compassionate ministries established more than 150 years ago by congregations of women religious. It is our commitment to continuing their legacies that fuels our passion to be of service to all who need our care and help, especially the poor, underserved and dying. Their dedication to excellence and service drives us to continually enhance the way that health care is delivered, promoting new levels of health care safety, quality and cost effectiveness. Our physicians, nurses and health care givers embrace the calling entrusted to them, providing compassionate healing and service as modeled by our foundresses.
+Read the Fact Sheet
Today Bon Secours Hospital has 69 acute care beds and our approach to community health reaches beyond the traditional model of health care. Patients and communities are cared for with traditional acute-care services along with an array of ambulatory and community services.
Tele-Heart, a state-of-the-art home health monitoring program for patients with congestive heart disease, Renal Dialysis, Behavioral Health, Physical Therapy and Drug Treatment are among the comprehensive programs available to patients.
Partnering with many organizations, Bon Secours has over 500 affordable housing for seniors and has renovated close to 200 attractive apartments for families. The community also enjoys an array of youth and adult empowerment services. Bon Secours, with its reputation of providing compassionate quality care, is on the "front line" of helping patients and communities achieve wellness.


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Aditya Repeats as the Novi Meadows' Geography Bee School Champion!
Aditya Ravi, a 6th grade student, has again won the school - level competition of the National Geographic Bee on December 1. He now has a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship! The school-level Bee, at which students answer written and oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 24th annual competition.
The start of this year's Bee was the week of November 14, with thousands of schools around the United States and in five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Aditya, will now take a written test. Up to 100 of these top scorers in each state and U.S. territories will be eligible to compete in their state Bee on March 30, 2012.
Aditya's winning answer came as he correctly answered this question:
Cologne Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in northern Europe, is located in the Rhineland region of what country? Answer: Germany
Competing alongside him were: Ian Mascarenhas, Steven Zhang, Carolyn Zhang, Jennifer Guo, Danielle Gardon, Abby O'Meara, Prateek Bhola, Alex Yuan and Sanidhya Singh. They demonstrated an outstanding knowledge of geography as well.
The National Geographic Society will provide an all-expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. for each state champion and their teacher escort to participate in the National Geographic Bee National Championship on May 24, 2012.
"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek will moderate the national finals program which will air on the National Geographic channel and again afterward on PBS stations that are produced by Maryland Public Television.


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Getting a Mortgage Post-Bankruptcy
Looking to purchase a home after being discharged from bankruptcy or clearing a consumer proposal? Have you been turned away by the big banks and other traditional lenders because you don't fit their guidelines? You're not alone — and we're here to help.
Many Canadians struggle to get approved for a mortgage after bankruptcy, due to bruised credit ratings. Most people don't realize that a variety of mortgage options exist through Alt-A and B lenders, providing a competitive and flexible alternative to mainstream financing.
At Main Street Mortgage, our team helps homeowners, who have gone through a personal bankruptcy or a consumer proposal, secure a mortgage. We understand that your credit score doesn't always fairly reflect you.
Find out how we can help with a mortgage post-bankruptcy.
Dealing with Debt, Bankruptcy, & Mortgages
At Main Street Mortgage, all of our team members are mortgage experts with an in-depth understanding of the various programs available to individuals who are either facing a personal bankruptcy or recently discharged from bankruptcy.
Consumer Proposal
A consumer proposal is an alternative way to deal with your debt that allows you to avoid declaring bankruptcy in Canada. To file a consumer proposal, you have to make a formal offer to your creditors to pay back your outstanding debt at a predetermined monthly amount over a specific time period.
In order for your creditors to accept your consumer proposal, you must offer more than they would receive if you simply declared bankruptcy. We recommend connecting with an expert to determine this payment amount in advance.
Once you clear the obligations of your consumer proposal and pay back your debt, your credit score will clear. Overall, a consumer proposal will have less severe impact on your credit ratings than a bankruptcy, which is why we recommend it as your first option.
Mortgages for Discharged Bankrupts
Do you want to buy a home after completing the terms of your bankruptcy? Are you anticipating that you will be discharged from bankruptcy soon?
Certain programs will allow you to apply for a mortgage the day after being discharged, so you do not lose any time in getting your life back on track.
Our specialists can help you create a plan, in advance, that will assist you in securing a mortgage after discharge and rebuilding your credit going forward. Learn more about mortgages for discharged bankrupts in this article.
Tips for Post-Bankruptcy Mortgages
After bankruptcy, re-establishing your credit should be your biggest priority. If you have recently been discharged from bankruptcy, or cleared a consumer proposal, here are a few quick tips that will help you begin to rebuild your credit:
- Get a new credit card. Be careful to not max out this card or go over the limit. Make every payment on time, and pay in full to improve your credit rating and demonstrate to potential lenders that you can be trusted.
- Secure two types of credit for yourself. Most lenders will want to see at least two forms of credit on your record. These can include two major credit cards (e.g. VISA or MasterCard), a line of credit, or a car loan.
- Keep your credit cards for at least 24 months. Make sure that you are not switching credit cards or getting rid of them immediately. Keep your credit cards for a minimum of 24 months to properly build up your credit.
- Pay your bills on time. A missed cell phone or utilities bill can be a warning sign to lenders. Make sure you are paying all your bills on time or ahead of time.
Get access to a mortgage post-bankruptcy.