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Episodes of Evolution: Slow-burn Drama, High Speed Connection
Cable News spoke with Josh Sapan, President and CEO of AMC Networks, the company largely credited for changing modern television with groundbreaking slow-burning original scripted drama. An early adopter of VOD and a believer in working with OTT, Josh gives us an exclusive on TV's second golden age. Josh gives us an exclusive on TV's second golden age. Josh will join us this year at Cable Congress to give a keynote presentation. Check the event programme here.
1. It's great to catch up with you, Josh. You're considered a true cable pioneer on your side of the Atlantic. And on our side of the Atlantic, Europeans are rather familiar with your pioneering programming whether it is Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, the hipster-mocking comedy Portlandia, The Killing and most recently Rectify which we premiered this year in London at Cable Congress. Let's start with what might be a tough question because it's so obvious but, why cable? Why is cable such a good home to the new wave of must-see television in what you have termed TV's second golden age?
Josh Sapan:
I think that probably the best answer that I might provide is that cable has been able to pursue quality craft storytelling, writing, directing and casting without the compromise or the ambiguity of early on in the process being seized with a focus on how big the audience will be in week three. And that may sound like a smallish thing, and indeed some of our shows have got big audiences, but if they're developed with anxiety about week three or week two and how big the audience is, it leads to what one sees in American broadcast television: There is very little that is seriously distinct. That's not accidental because if you want a big, big audience it is riskier to follow the "great creative" and it is statistically more likely and better to follow degrees of formula. So I think that's "why cable."
2. Innovative ways of reaching audiences are not new to you as we know that you ran a mobile cinema project literally driving 16mm projectors around the Midwest in your younger days before you got into the cable business. Fast forward to today and your award-winning content is available on-air, online, on demand and mobile. As an early mover with VOD, can you tell us a bit about the strategy behind such wide availability for your content over so many platforms?
Thanks for flattering me with information about my past. I actually think that the technology and the manner in which consumers are engaging with our content has a fairly substantial influence not only on the degrees of success that we've had but with a sort of wave of a second golden age or the consumption and appreciation of drama that is more nuanced and takes greater attention. To say it in a pithy way, one might say that TV is the new cinema meaning that some of the TV shows – ours and others – are being talked about and characterized the way that movies, or to use the fancy word, cinema, were decades ago. And what is interesting – and I'll try and make the answer cogent and not drone on – when you go to a movie theater and watch a movie and if it's a good film, you're sitting in a dark theatre, you're paying attention and you're not distracted. So certain films require that sort of attention. Before television was available in on-demand format and it was only available on Thursday night at 9, it was pretty challenging if you live at home and you have kids to pay enough attention to appreciate and stay with, let's say Mad Men, Girls on HBO or Homeland on Showtime. You might miss it and you might not stay with it because it really does require that much attention. Now once you're in and once you've been introduced to it and you can catch up then you're maybe happy to watch on linear because you know that you have to stay with it. The changes in technology are actually fairly central to what has created the appetite for this more nuanced material.
3. In Europe we are bringing the fight to telco incumbents with super fast broadband speeds which happen to also be a big item on the European political agenda. Could you tell us a bit about the role of technology – and embracing it – at AMC?
I think on the platform the near ubiquity of on demand and cable on demand and the expanding channel capacity have been a great aid for the reasons that I mentioned. If you ask people "Do you watch that show?" you will frequently hear them say, "No, I don't watch on a schedule, I watch on demand – that's what I do." So I think technology is central to that. Perhaps less directly central to it is that on certain of those shows, the participation on a second screen is now something that we are making, doing, developing and putting forward. The technological plant enhances that with very high broadband speeds and makes it comfortable and highly functional without a hiccup. And that makes the experience all the more desirable. We see millions and millions of people doing that and accessing additional content not second screen live while – but also additional content via the broadband connection. So it is be coming for those reasons a central part of what we have to offer. When you're a fan you want to engage people and the technology allows you to engage people. In Europe as well? Yes.
4. One thing that unites both the US and European cable markets is a nervous eye on Over-the-Top providers. How does AMC view the OTT threat? Or is this an opportunity?
Since you're an appreciator of comedy, I don't know if you go back long enough to remember when Saturday Night Live said that "it's a floor wax and a mouth-wash." But it does seem to be a potential threat prospectively. But today, to date in the United States it has been really quite compatible. Netflix in the US is in 30 million homes, that's close to 30% of the US television households. During that period of time the cable universe, which is fairly mature, has been pretty stable so one certainly can't, to date, point to that availability and say that it has been incurring or denting the subscriber count. In terms of us specifically, we make our material in the US generally available on Netflix a couple of weeks before the next season so if you want to see last season's Mad Men, it's available a couple of weeks before the new season begins. And really what's happening, we hope, is that we are protecting the propriety and integrity of the cable ecosystem by making it the place where everything is current and the only place where everything is current. Number two, we're inviting people to use both cable on demand and OTT as VOD services to catch up before the new linear season begins and that has enhanced the ratings of our shows on linear which are carried on a cable platform. So it has been for us, to date, quite harmonious.
5. How do you tap into viewers in Europe? Or do you make programming for a US audience and simply hope that some of it is palatable for a European viewership?
We distribute multiple feeds of Sundance Channel across Europe. Sundance Channel offers a diverse selection of first run original dramas, including series from AMC Networks, and other iconic programming. This includes award-winning and locally-appealing independent films and documentaries. We showcase films fresh from the world's biggest festivals and classics from around the world. Each feed is programmed to appeal to audiences in local markets. In addition, our marketing activities are designed to customize for local audiences across the region.
6. One of the big factors for cable's success is regulation. Streamlined and predictable regulation is best for business. How does European regulation impact your content distribution in Europe and what could be improved?
All of our channels across Europe adhere to all local broadcast regulations. Our business is relatively new in the region, so we're looking for opportunities to rapidly expand Sundance Channel on all pay-TV platforms. Ultimately, we'd like for Sundance Channel to be as widely available in Europe as our domestic channels are available to audiences in the U.S., and we think we have the content mix to make that a very positive development for viewers.
7. Europe is one continent but packed with different cultures and customs. How does a company like AMC pitch its content to such a varied audience where language barriers are not insignificant?
Part of the appeal of Sundance Channel is that it offers a window to the rest of the world. The network celebrates the diverse creativity from emerging and established filmmakers and talent worldwide. This includes some of the most bold and imaginative dramas on television, along with an outstanding line-up of independent films and documentaries from across the globe. The network is customized for each country it serves. Depending on local tastes, viewers can watch our programming in either subtitled or dubbed formats. In some cases, we offer programming in both formats. It really depends on the needs of audiences in each country.
8. What is your favorite piece of personal technology? It can be a device, a service, a channel or a platform.
I think it's probably a smart phone although I do cherish my DVRs and I won't confess to how many I have because it will either make me look nuts or like an excessive spender – but that's good for the cable community. I will say that something that I just have enormous affection for– no kidding – is my cable company's app on my smart phone. I use it like crazy. I'm a heavy DVR user and so for professional and personal reasons, whenever I encounter a TV show that I want to check out I pull out my iPhone and I go to the app. Even an idiot like me cannot mess up, you move around the content – you can't miss it, it's that simple. I just press the button and say "Oh, new TV show I want, here it is, I'm going to go put it in the kitchen, or the bedroom or the living room and boom, it's done." It really is exquisite. I did actually write to the guy who runs the company and thought, you know the app has made me love cable TV once again. It really has. I'm not kidding. It's flawless, it never fails and it feels a little miraculous. It's pretty cool.
9. Are you able to tell us who your cable provider is?
Time Warner Cable! I have my Time Warner app and I use it like mad. My iPhone's in the room and I'm burning up my DVRs and it's pretty lovely to, really without any navigational issues, go press buttons and decide which TV I want. Just press the button!


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Purple prom party dresses are 1 of the latest trends of these days. Purple has always been a color of passion for girls and lovely purple prom dresses would be the perfect match for any person who wish to look like a charming princess on that massive evening. Whenever you browse the internet for purple prom dresses, you will come across an endless collection of them accessible in distinctive sizes, shapes, styles, designs and prices. Purple prom dresses also are available in various shades of purple that start from deep purple to lighter shades and lilac. You'll be able to suit the unique shade that suit your skin color. You can also hunt for the smoky and pale purple prom dresses that are being demanded as a fresh selection. In the event you have a bit tan skin color, then some smokier and darker shades of purple could be best. As far as the shades of purple are concerned, classic purple is often a color that are suited for each dark and light skins. They also enhance your dark hair and eyes. Make a distinction from those usual white and bright colors and switch on to a purple choice that may definitely aid in turning a number of a lot more heads to you.Purple prom dresses are available in distinctive patterns and styles to choose from, according to your body shape. Halterneck purple prom dresses are highly preferred now owing towards the awesome appeal it provides. You can also prick out the ruffling and layering styles that will offer you a sexy and elegant appearance. If you wish to style your personal short purple prom dress according to your creativity and unique wants, you can get a fine excellent purple fabric and generate it in your own style. You'll be able to style your dress with an emerald cut or frills and folding at the waistline. Wearing your dress with the most complementing hairstyle and makeup is also crucial to enhance the beauty of your dress. It is possible to try and elegant updo should you have a lower back cut. In case you have an hourglass shaped body, it is possible to choose out a dress that can perfectly enhance the beauty of one's body. But in case you have not-so-perfect body shape or a poor lower body, then attempt out a flattering style that can conceal the flaws of one's body. Purple is a color of royalty, in 2009, purple is a hot color for 2009 prom dress season, and many ladies prefer purple prom dresses. Red and black are the common colors for prom dresses which ladies will choose. While purple one will make you special and set you apart from those red and black dresses that surely be worn at a party. No matter what your skin tone will be, brown, black, yellow or white, there will be a kind of purple prom dress suits you. Short and dark purple prom dresses are cute and lovely. Light purple cocktail dresses are sexy. Purple evening gowns are elegant. Different styles and colors will make you different. And I believe that it will make you be the focus on your important night. If you want to be special at the party, it is a good idea to wear a purple dress. Here are some suggestions. If you have darker skin, I suggest light purple dress for you. And dark purple may be better for people with lighter skin. Take Asian ladies for example, dark purple cocktail dresses may suit them better. However, it is still a personal interest and preference.
Purple mermaid prom dress. Halter neck purple prom dress with ruffle mermaid.
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Purple One Shoulder Prom Party Dress Formal Gown
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Pretty Purple Prom Party Dress with Korean mode

subset: commoncrawl


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I was taught to have self-respect when it came to men,
They were, after all, the enemy,
Even to a liberal egalitarian mother like mine.
None of us can escape the rumour mill
Of a myriad of anti-feminist home-makers
in conjunction with a million more feminists,
Men are the enemy.
Never more so than when it comes to S-E-X.
That moment when a man will steal
What a woman owns
And it's the same message
From the stay-at-homes
To the bra-burners
Men will come to your bed,
Have come to it through the ages
As the enemy, the pillager, the rapist,
And really it's all about theft.
For a woman's worth is defined
In purely capitalist terms.
I have self-respect when it comes to men,
Because the back of my mind knows,
They are the enemy.
I would never let a man get away with half
Of what women do to me.
Of what I have let women do to me.
They are not the enemy
And there is no book
saying that she's simply not that into me.
If a man, joked about being gay,
In response to sleeping with me.
I'd never let him touch me again.
I'd walk away,
After all,
Men are the enemy.
If a man, told me he loved me only after a drink or three,
I'd walk away,
And in fairness I did,
But nevertheless –
women are not the enemy,
Therefore I cannot respect myself
Enough to have me leave
Before the morning after,
And I can hear the laughter
Of a thousand lesbians
Who worked out what Sappho
(the barking dog)
never did.
Nor I,
who model myself on the poet
no one knows anything of.
These lesbians,
These twentieth century lovers,
These, my Sapphic sisters
What the bra-burners, the home-makers and I
Have never learnt
That self-respect does not come
Defined externally
Assuming my assets and my soul
Are housed only within
This casing,
This body,
This hymen.
And sex is not, the act of piercing
It is not the act of tearing
It is not
Defined in any such physical terms.
If only I had paid attention
When I was in bed
With all these women
Who have hurt me
These women who desert me
Without a second glance,
No thought for I cannot matter
Not compared to
The enormous prick so obvious
And erect
Who stands in the kitchen making demands.
If I had paid attention between the sheets
I would not be Sappho
Still barking in the streets.
I was taught that self-respect
Did not come from within
But was defined without,
In opposition to
The man who would come,
The men who have come
Through the ages.
But my sisters,
they had no need to but they thought,
what is it that the men have been taught?
They thought,
Where is the self-respect that stands
Not erect but proud,
And on it's own,
Where is the sex that makes itself at home,
In the finger, in the fist, right up to the wrist,
And tight up against us all.
This is not about what we are worth,
This is not a mercantile matter,
If it were then we would all be spread
As whores upon the platter
(And I was taught by the bra-burners
that men would look on us as if
that was all that we were worth
but they did not explain
what to replace it with).
What did they gain?
What have I gained?
A knowledge,
That between the sheets
It is not about price,
Or about cost,
But about a heart that beats
In communication, communion, at one
With another.
This is not about theft
But about that more subtle of crimes
Which has had women confined
To the back row.
This is about the silence
This is not theft
This is far worse.
And I do not have self-respect,
Never have had
Which is why
Upset with a woman
I will believe the lie
Or exchange the sadness
For utter bliss,
And ignore all the worry
At the price of a kiss.
Let me go back to the start,
Or, if not the start,
then to driving in your car with the radio on.
Let me go back to the first night
you asked me to lay beside you
and I,
I lay there and loved you
and kept my mouth shut.
Let me go back to the start,
Or, if not the start,
then to the conversations.
Let me go back to the first night
with the candles, before you
and I wished that I had lay there
and kept my mouth shut.
Let me go back to the start,
Or, if not the start,
then to any moment when you and I were friends.
Let me go back to a time
before that conversation with your best friend
and I,
I sat there and my heart broke
I kept my mouth shut.
I was going in as you were going out
and I dread what you said to me.
I was coming in as you were coming out
and we nearly made it, but,
we still believed.


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Looking for the ultimate Summer musthaves when it comes to shoes? We'll hook you up! Whether you're in for a sexy Summer full of heels, a casual one with basically flat sandals, espadrilles and sneakers or you want the best of both worlds! Excited to find out the latest shoe trends for the Summer of 2017? Continue reading! Warning: be prepared to want them all!
Summer sneakers and special slip ons
If there's one shoe we can't get enough off these couple of years it's the sneaker! And of course during Summer times these casual babies are still going strong! Coming in different shapes, heights, colours and fabrics we can't be bored with sneakers! Our favourite Summer sneakers for 2017 are slip ons. You'll slip right into these casual comfy sneakers and they look great with every type of outfit! This Summer you can go the casual way and shoes a pair of simplistic, clean suede slip ons, or you can take your slip-on game to the next level. We're going to see a lot of embellished slip-ons, slip ons made of fancy luxurious fabrics and printed slip-ons.
If you're a real cool girl you should definitely buy a pair of slip-ons with studded details. With studded slip ons you can give every Summer outfit a rock-chic hipster update within no time! Not affraid to show your romantic, softer side? Than our satin slip-ons, velvet slip-ons and slip-ons with plushe details are a real go. Our slip-ons with beading and pearls are super chic as well! Definitely a true match for our luxury lovers out there.
Mighty mules and loafers
An other big upcoming trend are mules! These cute slides and heeled slides are definitely something else. Mules and loafers are super chic and a great classy summer alternative for sandals and heels. Mules let your heels breath, but cover your toes. So if you're not a big fan of your cute little toes, mules might be a great summer solution for you!
Our INIFNITY, INSTANT AND SKYLLAR are mules with a heel, or mid high heel. Perfect to wear to work with a classy jumpsuit, midi/ maxi skirt or a flowy pants. Want to wear mules in your free time, to hit the beach, go on a day date or wear to the beach? Then our JOEJOE mules/espadrilles are your kind of summer shoe!
Besides that we can't forget the slipper-like mule trend we spotted at the runways! Loafers are on fire! We spotted a lot of leather loafers, loafers with embroidery, loafers with fur details and loafers with buckle details on it. You can find one in any colour you like! Mules and loafers are definitely shoe trends we're going to see for a while.
Sky high with platforms and lace-ups
This summer you can definitely show off those legs! Presented in platform heels or embellished with laces your legs will draw a lot of attention this summer! We're a huge fan of platform heels, because they give us the height we're looking for without torturing our feet! Our new arrivals GONZO is a pretty example of a classy platform heel you can wear to every club night this summer.
Our wedge sandals are perfect for romantic summer dinners, summer weddings and beach party's! They look super great with summer dresses, playsuits and shorts. Our HALIFAXX, LEIGHTON and ELICIT are definitely must have summer wedges!
Are you really proud of those great legs of yours? Show them off with our lace-up sandals! Our CHRISTEY lace-ups are the perfect classy, playful shoes you're looking for this summer! Looking for flat sandals with lace-up details? We'll have your back too! Our KAPRI and ORVA are examples of these cute flat lace-up sandals. So with lace-ups you're definitely in the win for this summer!
See through satisfaction
We're pretty sure you spotted the see through shoe trend al ready. These cool 'plastic' shoes are a trend we can't ignore! And to be honest, we kind off love this trend actually! You can create a super cool look within seconds with our CLEARER sandals. The see through shoes are suprisingly wearable, since you can style them with several outfits. Pair the transparant shoes with a cool pair of jeans or a dress and you're ready to party! How do you feel about the see through shoe trend?
Chic spa slides
Slides for president! We're absolutely mad about this cool summer shoe style! We mean, how comfy are slippers? And now they're considered to be cool as well! With embroidered slides, fluffy slides and pretty suède slides you can't go wrong this season. Wear your cool slippers to the beach, during a shopping trip or .. whenever you like! Don't be ashamed to embrace your comfort-loving self! This summer you'll be both comfortable and chic in our Steve Madden slides!
Luxury fabrics: satin and velvet for the win!
Satin seems to be a big winner for upcoming seasons. We're bringing you satin slip-ons, satin sneakers, satin sandals and satin heels. The luxury vibe of satin, together with it's sleek bold look makes it the perfect fashion combo! We love to pair our satin shoes with a cool rocky outfit, to create a suprisingly cool contrast.
Whites, pretty pastels and rusty colours
Of course we need to talk about the colour palette of the upcoming season as well. We''ll be seeing a lot of whites, alternated with pretty pastels and cool rusty colours. Think pink this season and rock those blue coloured shoes! White is definitely a colour we'll be seeing a lot of during the fall and winter as well. So be prepared and embrace your whites this summer! Besides that we're still voting for black during the summer as well. Because, let's face it: black is always a great idea.
So you're hooked up on for the summer! If you treat yourself on a pair of cool Steve Madden's, you can't go wrong this season! Which trend do you love the most? We can't decide whether to go for flats or heels. Oh well, let's go for both of them ;). What about you?


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The restaurant industry is a fast paced non stop industry that is always changing. It never stops. Not even for holidays or weekends, but we all know this. It is those of us who work in the restaurant industry any where from 40 to 80 hours a week who know all to well how easy it is to get burn't out. The long hours in front of hot stoves or on the floor dealing with customers can sometimes be grueling, but we love it. It is very hard to get weekends off or holidays for that matter unless u work in contract foodservice. Sometimes the daily grind in this business can beat us down to the point where we want to just throw our hands up. Thats when you have to take that extra day off when u can to get a breather and take some of that pressure off. Exspecially for restaurant managers. Sometimes we wait to long to get that breather in trying to make it to our vaccation time when we can get refreshed. It never stops and new problems arise everyday in the restaurant industry so we have to get those extra days off when we can so we can keep doing what we love.
Monday, May 11, 2009
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text: Adrienne Kennedy, M.A. President West Lake Hills, TX Adrienne Kennedy is a member on the NAMI Board of Directors. Prior to devoting herself as an active volunteer with NAMI Austin, Adrienne was a research associate and doctoral candidate at The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education. Adrienne found NAMI through NAMI Family-to-Family which provided education, insight, healing, and resilience. She is currently a state-level trainer in three programs (Family-to-Family, Family Support Group, and Parents and Teachers as Allies). She is a teacher for NAMI Basics and Provider Education, Education Chair of NAMI Austin, and Advisor to NAMI Texas. Active in advocacy, community outreach and signature programs, Adrienne was the president of NAMI Austin, when it was awarded the 2013 Affiliate of the Year. Adrienne hopes to continue NAMI's growth in national visibility and leadership recognition; to increase donor development and private philanthropy; to advocate for 1) widespread education regarding early onset, along with early identification and intervention; 2) information campaigns addressing young adults; 3) increased NAMI leadership at all levels of criminal justice system; 4) parity in education, employment and housing equal to that of other medical disabilities; 5) education, support and advocacy for veterans and their families. Adrienne is a member of NAMI's Family Support Group Advisory; NAMI's Child and Youth Advisory; and Austin/Travis County Behavioral Health Advisory. She is a recipient of NAMI's 2013 Education Leadership Award for Parents and Teachers As Allies. Adrienne earned her B.A. (Journalism and Social Sciences) at San Jose State College and M.A. (Education Administration and Supervision) at San Jose State University. She is a member of NAMI Austin in Austin, Texas. During the 2018-2019 Board term, Adrienne will serve as chair of the Executive Committee and as an ex officio (non-voting) member of all other standing committees.


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2Shotz meets his daughter
A long wait finally ended for rapper 2Shotz as he finally saw his daughter.
The child, the first which is the first for 2Shotz and wife Precious Jones, came way back in March.
READ: Rapper 2shotz Finally Settles With Police Over Maltreatment
The baby was born in an hospital in Ireland, and wife and daughter have only just returned to Nigeria.
2Shotz shared a picture of himself and his daughter, captioning it: "This feeling is unimaginable…. After waiting for 6 months..I finally see my bae…."
Check them out below!


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I know I say this a lot but, I cannot believe January is over this week! Where does time go? I swear you turn 20 and time flies :(. It makes me very sad. I know once our little girl is here it will go by even faster.
I'm already 20 weeks today! WOW! Half way there, which also makes me sad. I feel like I am going to be so excited once she is here of course, but also I will be a bit sad. It's not just me and her anymore (this is me being selfish, but I will own up to it haha) I will have to share her. She won't come to work with me every day as I'm talking to every single one of my clients about how excited and happy I am as I am carrying her, as she's kicking and squirming around inside of me. It is by far the most awesome experience I will probably ever go through. I have been lucky and haven't been sick. So I have loved being pregnant. I also thought the other day that if we only have two kids I'm already 1/4 of the way done with my pregnancies :(. That is sad too! Ha I'm probably just super emotional right now! ……duh, yes I am!
This past weekend I got some kind of allergy/sinus crap that has been kicking my booty so that is not fun. You cannot take anything pregnant or at least I choose not to because I'm scared she's going to come out with three eyes or something and it will be all my fault. So Tylenol it is! Monday I slept ALL DAY long so surely that rest will help and we'll be up and going again.
I'm trying to become more organized this year and before she comes. So I made myself a cleaning schedule, I want to start and stick to, so once this babe is here I can stay on track and somewhat organized. I haven't been able to keep up with January so hopefully February will be better!
I started feeling baby girl move at 16 weeks and she is getting stronger and stronger! Monday I told Jake I saw my stomach move. He says I was seeing things. Every night we lay in bed and he tries to feel her. I can't wait until he can 🙂 so he can feel a portion of how I feel every day!
I bought two books for her so far, well for me. They are for her sleeping and nursing schedule. One of my sweet mommy clients told me about them.
1. 12 hours of sleep by 12 weeks
2. The baby sleep solution
I like to read how to books, self help, directional books, whatever you want to call them. I am not much of a winger haha! I think I would get way too stressed out if I just went with the flow of everything. I know I will have to with some stuff, but there is so much that at least I can feel better with filling my brain up with as much as possible.
We had two family birthdays last week Kortney, my now 22 year old sister, and Daniel, my now 27 year old brother-in-law.
Also today we get to do our 20 week sonogram, this should be fun! Sonograms are my favorite! I love watching her (now that I know she is a her) move around and seeing her arms and legs. So neat! I bet she is going to look huge at this sonogram. Last time she was only 13 weeks so there should be a significant change!
I'll catch up with you next week on my Midweek Update!
Have a great week!!


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For generations of Americans, it was a given that children would live longer than their parents. But there is now mounting evidence that this enduring trend has reversed itself for the country's least-educated whites, an increasingly troubled group whose life expectancy has fallen by four years since 1990.
Researchers have long documented that the most educated Americans were making the biggest gains in life expectancy, but now they say mortality data show that life spans for some of the least educated Americans are actually contracting. Four studies in recent years identified modest declines, but a new one that looks separately at Americans lacking a high school diploma found disturbingly sharp drops in life expectancy for whites in this group. Experts not involved in the new research said its findings were persuasive.
The reasons for the decline remain unclear, but researchers offered possible explanations, including a spike in prescription drug overdoses among young whites, higher rates of
The steepest declines were for white women without a high school diploma, who lost five years of life between 1990 and 2008, said S. Jay Olshansky, a public health professor at the
White men lacking a high school diploma lost three years of life. Life expectancy for both blacks and Hispanics of the same education level rose, the data showed. But blacks over all do not live as long as whites, while Hispanics live longer than both whites and blacks.Continue reading the main story
"We're used to looking at groups and complaining that their mortality rates haven't improved fast enough, but to actually go backward is deeply troubling," said John G. Haaga, head of the Population and Social Processes Branch of the National Institute on Aging, who was not involved in the new study.
The five-year decline for white women rivals the catastrophic seven-year drop for Russian men in the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, said Michael Marmot, director of the Institute of Health Equity in
The decline among the least educated non-Hispanic whites, who make up a shrinking share of the population, widened an already troubling gap. The latest estimate shows life expectancy for white women without a high school diploma was 73.5 years, compared with 83.9 years for white women with a college degree or more. For white men, the gap was even bigger: 67.5 years for the least educated white men compared with 80.4 for those with a college degree or better.
The dropping life expectancies have helped weigh down the
The slump is so vexing that it became the subject of an inquiry by the
"There's this enormous issue of why," said David Cutler, an economics professor at Harvard who was an author of a 2008 paper that found modest declines in life expectancy for less educated white women from 1981 to 2000. "It's very puzzling and we don't have a great explanation."
And it is yet another sign of distress in one of the country's most vulnerable groups during a period when major social changes are transforming life for less educated whites. Childbirth outside marriage has soared, increasing pressures on women who are more likely to be single parents. Those who do marry tend to choose mates with similar education levels, concentrating the disadvantage.
Inklings of this decline have been accumulating since 2008. Professor Cutler's paper, published in Health Affairs, found a decline in life expectancy of about a year for less educated white women from 1990 to 2000. Three other studies, by Ahmedin Jemal, a researcher at the
Professor Olshansky's study, financed by the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on an Aging Society, found by far the biggest decline in life expectancy for the least educated non-Hispanic whites, in large part because he isolated those without a high school diploma, a group usually combined with high school graduates. Non-Hispanic whites currently make up 63 percent of the population of the United States.
Researchers said they were baffled by the magnitude of the drop. Some cautioned that the results could be overstated because Americans without a high school diploma — about 12 percent of the population, down from about 22 percent in 1990, according to the
Professor Olshansky agreed that the group was now smaller, but said the magnitude of the drop in life expectancy was still a measure of deterioration. "The good news is that there are fewer people in this group," he said. "The bad news is that those who are in it are dying more quickly."
Researchers, including some involved in the earlier studies that found more modest declines in life expectancy, said that Professor Olshansky's methodology was sound and that the findings reinforced evidence of a troubling pattern that has emerged for those at the bottom of the education ladder, particularly white women.
"Something is going on in the lives of disadvantaged white women that is leading to some really alarming trends in life expectancy," said Ms. Montez of Harvard.
Researchers offered theories for the drop in life expectancy, but cautioned that none could fully explain it.
James Jackson, director of the Institute of Social Research at the
Overdoses from prescription drugs have spiked since 1990, disproportionately affecting whites, particularly women. Professor Miech, of the University of Colorado, noted the rise in a 2011 paper in the American Sociological Review, arguing that it was among the biggest changes for whites in recent decades and that it appeared to have offset gains for less educated people in the rate of heart attacks.
Ms. Montez, who studies women's health, said that smoking was a big part of declines in life expectancy for less educated women. Smoking rates have increased among women without a high school diploma, both white and black, she said. But for men of the same education level, they have declined.
This group also has less access to health care than before. The share of working-age adults with less than a high school diploma who did not have health insurance rose to 43 percent in 2006, up from 35 percent in 1993, according to Mr. Jemal at the American Cancer Society. Just 10 percent of those with a college degree were uninsured last year, the Census Bureau reported.
The shift should be seen against the backdrop of sweeping changes in the American economy and in women's lives, said Lisa Berkman, director of the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies. The overwhelming majority of women now work, while fertility has remained higher than in European countries. For women in low-wage jobs, which are often less flexible, this could take a toll on health, a topic that Professor Berkman has a grant from the National Institute on Aging to study.Continue reading the main story


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We theoretically investigate the above-threshold ionization of hydrogen atoms driven by few-cycle phase jump laser pulses. By numerically solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation, we demonstrate that the phase jump plays an important role in the ionization process. The cutoff of the photoelectron energy spectrum can extend to a range of very high energy, and the yield of the photoelectrons can be dramatically enhanced by choosing proper phase jump times. Both the classical simulations and Fourier transform method are used to understand the spectra features found in our investigation.
© 2013 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
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Shrek is probably one of the most successful animated motion picture series. Each of the movies are supported by stellar cast and none of them is replaced since the original movie. The formula works because Shrek incorporates many fairy-tale characters that are dear to us, young and old. Compare to Walt Disney Pictures, where sequels of the animated movies are generally not shown on movie theatres. Do you know that Disney actually has sequels for The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, to mention a few here?
Someone actually wrote in to the newspaper forum section to complain about the adult content of Shrek, and how they portray the bad side of the fairy-tale characters. All I can say is that Shrek is a movie for grown-ups. Even Spider-Man 3 is not a kids movie. I'd say only 10% of the screen time is catered for kids – mostly on the action and the silly comedic scenes. The rest, is revenge, hatred, evil, romance.


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Photography Classes in Milligan FL
Looking for photography classes in Milligan FL? Whether you are a professional, beginner, or hobbyist, the best approach to improving your photography abilities is through hands-on classes with professional instructors.
There are many accredited photography schools in Florida. Photography classes cover techniques such as portrait capture, exposure and composition, lighting, posing and unposing, and other photography fundamentals. Maturing into an experienced photographer can pave the road to a booming professional career or lifelong hobby.
There are numerous Photography Classes in Milligan FL:
- Milligan Studio Photography Classes
- Milligan Photography 101
- Milligan Digital Photography Classes
- Milligan Nature Photography Classes
- Milligan Editorial Photography Classes
Milligan FL Photography Classes
Pensacola State College
1000 College Blvd
Pensacola, Florida 32504-8998
Phone: (850) 484-1000
37.28 miles away


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Dog owners importing rare breeds from abroad could find themselves paying expensive quarantine costs or even having their dog put down unless if it has not been properly vaccinated.
One Nottinghamshire resident who purchased a rare breed dog from eastern Europe discovered the animal was vaccinated earlier than the required 12 weeks as set out by law, and as a result, twill have to pay quarantine costs of up to £1,000 to protect the public.
Coun Gordon Wheeler, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council's communities and place committee, added: "Where possible it's always best to buy a dog in the UK where you can visit the breeder and check out the animal before buying.
"However, if you're buying from abroad you need to check with the breeder or importer and the paperwork that the dog has received the vaccinations at the right time along with the other requirements to avoid the heartache of the animal going into quarantine."
The council's trading standards team has the powers to place an illegally imported dog, cat or other mammal into quarantine for a minimum 21 days if it has not been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and parasites, or does not have a valid pet passport under current UK and European legislation.
A council spokesman said: "People who refuse to pay the costs in this situation could face the prospect of the animal being exported back to the country of origin or being euthanised."
People can report concerns about an illegal imported animal by contacting the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.


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How to Apply Applications to join the Girls Choir should be made in writing. Copies of the latest application forms can be downloaded in Word or Adobe PDF format. Click on the relevant links below to download.
Download Girls' Application form (PDF file)
Completed application forms for the Girls' choir should be posted to: Rosemary Pennington Cultural Development Officer P.O Box 6 Civic Centre Southend on Sea Essex SS2 6ER. email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website Designed and Created by Phil Wells and Enigma Enterprises


text: Mickael Faivre-Macon wrote: > Hi, > > I can't find any in depth online article on Drb, presenting anything > else than a simple server and client. I'd like to learn more on the > idea behind it, when it can be used and for what type of application > (for a client/server game?), how to manage clients (identifying them, > disconnecting them), comparison with TCP (if relevent), etc... > > Could anyone point me a good article, or maybe just reply to my simple > subjects given above? > > Many thanks, > Mickael. > > I'm not sure anyone uses just drb ... it's more common to use drb via the Rinda layer on top of drb. Try a search for Rinda ... there was a talk about Rinda at RubyConf 2006.


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144,17 €
-10,00 €
154,17 €
The Universal Saddle Pad Sheep Wool is suitable for all saddles including English saddles with advanced quarters
Guaranteed delivery before Christmas. In the limit of the available stock.
Based on 25 years of experience of long distance rides and top level endurance races, Gaston Mercier designs his saddle pads and numnahs using two basic principles:
The outer material of our range of saddle pads is breathable, tear-proof, UV-ray resistant and able to withstand extreme temperatures.


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Our next StarNow crew member may seem familiar to some of you, due to her presence on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. She is a capsule wardrobe champion with an an eye for everything aesthetically pleasing, and fortunately for us, she is in charge of all things social media here at StarNow. Read on to receive some advice about how to make the most of StarNow and learn a bit more about the grooviest Digital Marketing Executive in the land, Kalista!
What's your role at StarNow, and what does a typical day at work involve for you? My job title is 'Digital Marketing Executive' – basically I look after our social media channels, newsletters and a bunch of other stuff. A large part of my time is spent replying to messages on social media, and planning and scheduling content.
What's your favourite part of your job? I really love chatting to and helping our members.
If you could give our members one piece of advice, what would it be? Be professional. Regularly check your messages, reply to emails, show up on time and generally just be courteous. Talent will only take you so far. You'll build a great reputation for yourself and get more castings with the right attitude.
What would you be doing if you weren't at your current job? I'd love to be a makeup and hair stylist for film and TV.
Who do you most admire and why? David Bowie. Nuff said.
What's your life motto? Be picky with your clothes, friends and time.
What's something you can't live without? Sleep. If there was a gold medal for napping, it'd have it in the bag.
If your house was burning and you could only save 3 things, what would you save? My collection of polaroid photos, a book I have signed by Kevin McCloud (Presenter of Grand Designs), and a book I have signed by Taika Waititi (New Zealand filmmaker).
Celebrating with some of the StarNow crew.
Kalista with her partner, Nic.
What movie or novel character do you most identify with? I used to think I was Peggy from Mad Men, but then I realized I'm probably more like Don. Make of that what you will.
Take us to a place in Wellington that means something to you and tell us why you chose it! I chose the David Bowie wall, because he's pretty much my favourite person ever!
Also, the wall is opposite from my fave café in Wellington – Customs Brew Bar –- so it's a view I enjoy regularly!
In front of the David Bowie mural.
What are you best known for in the office? Having a tidy desk and being a 'crazy plant lady'.
Random Kalista facts:
Kalista with her pen pal, Jess.
Some of Kalista's plant collection.
Meet the rest of the StarNow team here.
About the author
Maddison Baker is StarNow's Office Coordinator. She's multi-talented and multi-faceted - between answering your questions on social media and keeping the StarNow HQ running smoothly, she manages to pack a lot into her day (think lunchtime gym sessions to after-work netball games). She always knows where the newest, coolest café is, the lyrics to Drake's latest song, and – most importantly for us – where the office supply of coffee is kept.


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Last week, I got involved with the good folk at Campus Diaries in their content development program. To kick things off, they got all their interns and young writers to send me a list of questions. I answered them all, of course. Then I thought it will be nice to feature some of the longer questions and answers as posts here on the blog. We'll start with the following question.
What, according to you, brings out a budding writer's talent? Experience, or inspiration?
Three things help a budding writer the most.
1. A willingness to write as a habit
That means to sit down at the desk and write SOMETHING every day. It could be an email, a memoir, a journal entry, a poem, an essay, a short story – anything, as long as you're wrestling with the written word. There will be times when you will feel that it's all futile, that you're not 'getting anything' from it. But that's the point of a habit. You do it even when you feel you're wasting your time.
You're not wasting your time, of course, even when it feels that way. Sometimes words don't come. But the way in which you struggle and make things work on bad days will keep you in good stead. In sport, there is a common saying that it is when you're out of form that you learn the most about yourself. The same applies to writing.
2. A willingness to fail
Writers, like practitioners in all professions, should be willing to be wrong, to fail, to not be good enough. You need to accept that when you begin, when you're still 'budding', you're most probably not that good. Most people react with despondency when told they're not good enough. But it's natural. We all start off being crap. In fact, all of us sit somewhere on the 'crap ladder'. We're all above some people and below some other people. What's the big deal?
The idea is to find out where you sit on the ladder and aim to move up a rung or two day after day, week after week, year after year.
For what it's worth, my story of publication began with not one or two, but three failures. The first three books I wrote have not yet found a publisher, and I doubt they ever will. But that's okay. If I had not written those three books, I would not have written Murder in Amaravati (my first published book) either.
3. A drive to improve
Third, you need to examine your work, find areas to improve, and design exercises for yourself that will achieve that goal. For example, if dialogue is your weak point, pick out dialogue scenes from your favourite book and study how the author has created the effect he had on you. And then implement those same things into your dialogue. You will fail to reach the mark at the first attempt, but you will improve.
In this sense, writing is the most convenient form of art because you can learn from many masters. The work of authors from Homer down to Dan Brown are all available to you, in black and white, as printed letters on paper. There are no hidden props. What you see is what you get. All you need to get started on your self-improvement is desire. What words does the author use to create atmosphere? What is his paragraph structure like? How do his scenes begin and how do they end? How is he handling plot? How is he building his characters?
No matter what question you ask, you will find an answer if you open your favourite book.
What about inspiration?
Inspiration is too airy-fairy. I don't rely on it. I don't know many professional authors who do either. I often find references to 'inspiration' and 'writer's block' among beginning authors who are just feeling their way around. Professionals can't afford to wait for inspiration. They have to go after it.
So fine, if you're writing for fun or as a hobby, feel free to rely on times when you're inspired to write. But if you have dreams of one day becoming a professional author, you will be served well by assuming that inspiration has no effect on the quality of your writing.
Does this apply only to writing?
This was not in the original answer, but in the course of constructing this post, it struck me that these three things that I listed apply to all fields of human endeavour, for anyone who wants to achieve proficiency or excellence. We must make a habit out of doing it. We must be prepared – or even expect – to fail. And we must consciously, deliberately practice.
I just realized that I slipped out of 'writing advice' to 'life advice'. Oh, well. Advice is cheap anyway, isn't it?
Now, over to you.
How do you approach a new task or hobby or activity? How do you react when you fail to make the grade? Do you have any tips to share on how we can tackle something that we're not good at? How do you deal with fear of failure? Please make yourself heard in the comments section below.
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This is a potpourri of information, recipes and chemical experiments involving sugar. Georg Schwedt, one of the most experienced authors of practical experiment books, clearly explains the topic, yet in an unusual way - a treasure trove of stories, tips and experiments.
Suitable for chemistry, biology and biochemistry courses in all types of schools as well as at universities.


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What is a Custom Table?
A custom table is another way of grouping data, under accounts. When data is in a custom table, it gets organized by account, and then by another attribute. As an example, you might have a custom table called "Sales Reps". In this custom table, you could create metrics that show data by sales rep. For instance, you could look at Calls by sales rep, Opportunities Created by sales rep, Bookings by sales rep, Close Rate by sales rep, etc.
So for a given account, the account might have $10,000 in Bookings when looking at the Bookings metric on the Account level. But when looking at the account on the sales rep custom table level, the Account might have Bookings by Steve of $2,000; bookings by Emily of $5,000 and bookings by Lauren of $3,000.
What does a Custom Table look like?
A custom table has rows, which are the items in the table. And a custom table has columns, which are metrics. So, in our example table of sales reps, we have one row representing each sales rep, and then we create metrics that show up as columns. Here is an example of a custom table of sales reps. Unlike the typical Accounts table in Rekener, this data is grouped by sales rep.
Where do Custom Tables display?
Custom table data can be seen on any level in the Rekener platform: they can be see inside of accounts, rolled up to groups, and also rolled up to the business overall. When you are on an Account Details, Group Details, or Business Dashboard screen, if you have any custom tables that have been created, you will see a button called "Add Table" or "Add / Remove Table". Clicking this button will bring up a menu of all the custom tables that you have created. Clicking on a custom table on the left side of that menu will allow you to bring that table into your layout.
Viewing Metrics for Custom Tables
For custom tables that have already been created, you can bring metrics onto the screen for that table by clicking the Options button and selecting the Edit Metrics option. This will give you a list of all the metrics for a given table, and will allow you to click on a metric on the left side of the screen, to bring it into your layout.
For information about creating custom tables, and creating metrics on custom tables, check out this article.


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- ITV Report
Bereavement charity funding cut
Charity Sue's Place in Newark had its lottery grant turned down earlier this year and staff are now using cash reserves which will soon run out to continue their services for children who have lost a parent.
Six year old Jonathan never knew his dad Mark who died when he was just a few months old, but his mum Lorraine from Nottingham has made sure he knows all about him.
The charity runs a play centre where youngsters and their parents can talk to support workers about their bereavement and get help to deal with any emotional problems. Last year it helped almost 300 families.
It was when he started school and was talking to classmates about their fathers that Jonathan started showing signs he might need help. His mother brought him to Sue's Place in Newark.
After eight weeks of play therapy, Jonathan's mother says that he has calmed down and started to concentrate at school and enjoy life.
Staff are now looking for other funding sources to help a future generation of children.


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Follow the Sun to Puerto Vallarta Culture Festivals
Do you feel it? There's a chill starting in the air… it's time to start planning a winter getaway to Puerto Vallarta! You know that Puerto Vallarta has beaches, sunshine and great resorts, but this Mexican vacay hotspot is much more than just a beach getaway. This popular sun destination offers a multitude of cultural experiences that will enrich your family holiday time in the sun. Here's just a sample of the many opportunities to enjoy Puerto Vallarta culture. Many Ways to Enjoy Puerto…Read More


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1. On personal style, p397:
By Tuesday we are at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland, where I can't relax because my hair is far too long.
2. On Austria, p399:
Austria gives off a seductive smell.
3. On the Ramones, p112:
Now I could accept all the suffering that came my way as long as the Ramones were in the world. Singer Joey looked as if he had been murdered in a hospital bed. I've found my twin.
4. On meeting David Bowie, p66:
At midday he emerges from a black Mercedes, every inch the eighth dimension, teetering on high heels, with all the wisdom of our ancestors. Smiling keenly, he accepts the note of a dull schoolboy whose overblown soul is more ablaze than the school blazer he wears, and thus I touch the hand of this inexplicably liberating reformer; he, a Wildean visionary about to re-mold England, and I, a spectacle of suffering in a blue school uniform.
5. On shopping, p71:
The morning after the Whistle Test, I present 50 pence at Rumbelows in Stretford Precinct and I ask for the New York Dolls single.
"See," said one fat assistant to another, "I told you someone would buy it."
At last I am someone!
6. On George Best, p27-8:
Arbitrarily illiterate, football players remained in the stuckness of their own dull social units until George Best spoke and teased and joked and made sense... My father takes me to see George Best play at Old Trafford, and as I see the apocalyptic disturber of the peace swirl across the pitch, I faint.
7. On Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Patti Smith, p114:
Their contribution to thought marks them out as our very own Goethe, Gide and Gertrude Stein, and it tells us that we all might come to whatever it is we seek – with flickering irony.
8. On becoming a singer, p139-40:
Could I now tell reality what to do? Should versus could? Would I continue to take no responsibility for my own life? Is the safe way the only way?
... Merging forces meet, and I, too deep to be rescued, sing. Against the command of everyone I had ever known, I sing! My mouth meets the microphone and the tremolo quaver eats the room with acceptable pitch and ... I am removed from the lifelong definition of others, and their opinions matter no more. I am singing the truth by myself, which might also be the truth of others ... and give me a whole life ... let the voice speak up for once and for all ...
"Make a joyful noise until the Lord..."
It works! A chest voice of light baritone, and all is ours.
9. On legal battles, p323:
Now, in this sunless and seditious High Court I had endured enough insults from people who had only ever profited from knowing me.
10. On being prescribed medication, p220:
I clamber back to Harley Street to complain to the doctor who prescribed me this hideous mood pill, but I am told he is dead, and I am hardly surprised.


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Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd. (SAMREF).
Our address is:
Post Office Box: 30078,
Madinat Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah, Saudi Arabia.
Telephone Number: (+966) (4) 396-4000
Fax Number: (+966) 4-396-0942
Commercial Registration No.: 4700001240.
SAMREF is an equally owned joint venture between Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) and Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation).
Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) is the worlds largest oil producing and exporting company and was established by Royal Decree in 1988 to assume the responsibilities of its predecessor, Aramco that has a history dating back more than 70 years.
Exxon Mobil Corporation is a global energy company with a history dating back more than 132 years and which conducts business in 140 countries on every continent throughout the world.
SAMREF is a complex refinery which was formed in 1981 for the development, construction, ownership and operation of crude oil refining facilities in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Following the construction and start-up of the facilities, it commenced operations on November 15, 1984. The design capacity was 263,000 barrels per day of Arab Light Crude, but through a continuous improvement of its facilities, it now processes about 402,000 barrels per day.
In 1395 (H) and within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Second Five Year Plan, the General Petroleum and Mineral Organization (Petromin) discussed with Mobil Oil Corporation the possibility of constructing a refinery on the West coast of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this refinery is to export finished products to Europe, North America and Far East within the framework of broad-based strategy for an integrated petroleum industry. After thorough studies, the city of Yanbu was chosen as the best location for the new refinery.
Thus, approval was given to form a joint venture under the name of Petromin Mobil Yanbu Refinery Company Ltd. (PEMREF) as a state of the art refinery. The refinery construction was completed in 1984 and operations began smoothly.
On 11/1/1414 (H) (July 01 1993G) the Royal Decree #M/1 was issued whereby all oil refineries, petroleum products, distribution facilities and Petromin shares in the joint venture refineries were merged into the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco). Accordingly, Saudi Aramco Company took over all Petromin rights and obligations for these refineries and facilities. As a result of this Royal Decree, the name of the Company was changed to Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd. (SAMREF).
All the Company's refined products are marketed through the Shareholders.
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April 22, 2016 – Cara Horowitz, executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, was interviewed by KPCC's "Take Two" about the historic signing of the Paris Climate Accord, which aims at cutting global greenhouse gas emissions and slowing the warming of the planet. World leaders from a 150 countries gathered at the United Nations in New York to sign the landmark climate agreement on Earth Day.
"This agreement, and the signing of this agreement, isn't success by itself, but lots of people think it's what the beginning of success probably looks like," said Horowitz. "If we're going to change global energy economies and transition to low carbon economies, this is how you start to do it."
Listen to the Interview.


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Flavored and Menthol nicotine cartridges are now available for sale again thanks to a preliminary injunction granted on 10/15/19 in the State of Michigan. Here is a link to our GoFundMe campaign to maintain the injunction that our company won against the emergency rules issued by the State of Michigan banning flavored nicotine vapor products. It is not over yet...Please consider donating to help us fund this tremendous legal battle! Your support makes a huge difference in this fight!
Hey guys, I just wanted to let everyone know that Saturday July 23rd I will be at our Bay City location letting you guys try some new products! A Clean Cigarette wants your opinion, so I will have some new filters for everyone who stops in to try out. We will be hanging out in the parking cooking out grilling some hot dogs and shooting the shit. Be careful pulling in the parking lot I might be walking around with my head down staring at my phone trying to catch some Pokemon!
While we are out there talking with you guys we will also be asking you guys for your opinions. What do you think A Clean Cigarette can improve on? What are we doing well? What was your nickname when you were little? So pleases come voice your opinion!
I will be there from 12-6 and I would love to meet you guys. I want to take a moment to thank everyone for all the support you give to A Clean Cigarette, without your strength to switch off burning tobacco your friends, your loved ones, and on lookers may not have the strength to follow you. Keep up the good fight and remember any time you refer someone to A Clean Cigarette please let us know so you can receive a five pack with your next purchase.
Also happening on the 23rd if any of you are closer to our Alma location, they will be having a cook out as well. There will be free food, 50/50 drawings, give-a-ways, door prizes and live entertainment. This is a customer appreciation day and Dawn will be on site there with the test taste for you to try and I know she would love to meet and thank you herself.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer with the family, sitting at the beach soaking up the sun, going up north because it won't be long until were complaining about the snow!! One last thing… Where would we be without the option to choose A Clean Cigarette?


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100+ Wholehearted Books for all ages! Get Free Printable Guide
Deep Roots at Home
Enriching the Soil of Your Life
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We all want to stay happy and healthy this winter! Receive this important freebie: "Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup — with Easy Recipes!" printable PDF for you and your family. You'll also get a coupon code for 15% off Sweet's Elderberry Syrup if you don't want to make it!
Praying for newlyweds is perhaps the best gift we can give them! Receive this printable PDF: "31 Days of Praying Scripture for Newlyweds."
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We're only 18 days into 2016, and Channing Tatum has already made a strong play for Husband of the Year. The actor posted a just-because Instagram tribute to his dancing queen of a wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum, that's almost grossly adorable. "It's not hard to take a beautiful picture of this magical creature, but I thought this one was special," he captioned the first photo.
Now excuse us, so we can go passive aggressively @ our boyfriends on these super cute Insta love letters.


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Create dramatic eyes or subtle lines with this complementary eyeliner gift from PURE.
When you treat yourself to two PURE items at Boots, you'll receive a complementary Kajal eye liner in black, worth £11.75.
This liner will define your peepers and effortlessly add glamour to your look.
Daisy Lowe is a fan of the PURE brand and if that wasn't enough evidence to prove its superstar quality, it was also used backstage at London Fashion Week.
Offer runs until 19 May


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18 in. Hi-Bar™ Plastic Wi-Fi Access Point Lock Box with Opaque Door
Buy It Now at Accu-Tech: Buy It Now at Anixter:
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Replay: Ten ways to self-promote your novel
It's tough to get people to notice you these days. The bookshelves are ever more crowded with new offerings. At the same time self-promotion is more important than ever. So in that spirit, I thought I would share my ideas on Ten Ways To Self-Promote Your Novel. You're welcome.
1: Make T-shirts…
This technology is becoming surprisingly affordable, so everyone's doing it, which is why nobody, and I mean nobody, notices personalized T-shirts anymore, unless your book is called NAKED GIRLS DIPPED IN OIL.
2: Start a website or blog…
Because no one's doing that, right?
3: Go into an Apple store and put your book's website up on all their computers…
Confession: I've actually, no kidding, done this.
4: Go across the street to Best Buy and do the same thing…
You might want to hurry up, however.
5: Reveal on your website that JK Rowling really wrote your book…
After all, no one can prove she didn't.
6: When you're out with people, state repeatedly that you wish someone would write a book about…whatever your book is about…
You're in a bar with seven other people. They're talking about whatever when you say, loudly, "You know, I wish someone would write a book about mutants who take over the world and make it Christmas every day!" When everyone ignores you, wait ten minutes and say it again.
8: Start a fragrance, perfume or clothing line.
Other ideas: wacky bookmarks, interactive apps, coloring books, a CD featuring the music mentioned in your novel.
9: "Accidentally" leave a pre-release copy of your book on a bar stool…
Worked for Apple. More recently, it might have worked for the producers of Showtime's Homeland too.
10: Sex tape!
Nuff said!
2 responses
Hmm . . . maybe opt for choice #7. No need to be subtle about it. Plus, the importance of the baseball-fan market for novelists cannot be overstated :-)
October 4, 2013 at 7:43 am


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Latest news
Brighton & Hove Albion fans are being given another chance to bid on signed memorabilia from the club's historic 2016/17 campaign.
Albion in the Community (AITC) is auctioning a number of signs items to raise money to help fund its inclusive football sessions and other award-winning work across Sussex.
AITC is the largest provider of football opportunities for people with a disability in the area and runs more than 25 regular sessions throughout the county.
A fortnightly...


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Okay, so there is this book that everyone is saying is great, so what do I do? I go out and buy it. It really is a problem. Well this one worked out, I really enjoyed Crank by Ellen Hopkins. It was written in verse and had some weird sentence structure so I was a little iffy on picking it up. I mean I want to read for fun, I don't want to have to decipher poetic meaning in my downtime. I was really scared this book was going to do that. Well it didn't, Ellen Hopkins has a way of making it work. I still got the story without having to go all English major on it. I also was intrigued how the story was loosely about her daughter's experiences with addiction to drugs and her life.
The basic rundown of the story is a girl named Kristina goes to spend 3weeks with her father. Her dad has been a no show for many years. He has a past and also a present with drugs. Kristina ends up meeting a guy named Buddy. He gets her addicted to the monster or meth whichever you prefer to call it. This book definitely has some mature content. She slowly gets addicted and it changes her life forever. The highs are great but coming down off of them and reaping her mistakes make the book what it is. When she goes home to her mother she finds herself in a worse place going through withdrawl and getting addicted even further. This book somehow made me go back and forth with Kristina. I wanted her to be happy but not being doing drugs and ruining her life at 16 with such a serious drug. The book really makes you think twice about your life and also others. I mean all it took for her to change her world was the simple word "Yes". This book is truly amazing, though it was hard to get through at times by the rawness I definitely would recommend, 5/5 stars.


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Nadia Bolz-Weber is a tattooed, non-conformist, cutting-edge kind of person. She's also a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, two strikes against her for us Missouri-Synod Lutherans. But she has the ear of "progressive Christians." And the thing is, she preaches the Gospel.
For all of her ministry to gays, the poor, and other outcasts, she does not approve of the leftwing social gospel that dominates most mainline liberal churches. She is supernaturalist. She proclaims Jesus. She focuses on the theology of the Cross, not theologies of glory. She teaches salvation by grace through faith. She quotes Martin Luther. She is having an impact.
Can we bracket all of the ELCA things we disapprove of? Can we refrain from simply attacking her? How can you account for the Nadia Bolz-Weber phenomenon? Her audience is mainly "progressive Christians" who haven't heard this sort of thing in a long time. Does she illustrate my thesis that Lutheranism is the true emergent Christianity? That is, that the way to reach postmoderns is not to water down faith (which was the tactic, mostly unsuccessful, to reach modernists), but to emphasize faith as Lutheranism does, in a way that is different from much of contemporary Christianity?
From Bolz-Weber's liberal, foulmouthed articulation of Christianity speaks to fed-up believers – The Washington Post:
Her message: . . . .God doesn't love you more if you do good things, or if you believe certain things. God, she argues, offers you grace regardless of who you are or what you do.
Christianity, Bolz-Weber preaches, has nothing to do with rules; it is the process of things constantly dying and then being made new. Those things, she says, might be the alcoholic who emerges into sobriety, some false narrative we have about ourselves, religious institutions that no longer inspire.
"I think God is wanting to be known. And my experience of God wanting to be known is much more in the person who is annoying me at the moment rather than in the sunset," she says. God is present in these challenging interactions, she says."I never experience God in camping or trees or nature. I hate nature," she told the Austin crowd as she paced the stage. "God invented takeout and duvets for a reason."
This emphasis on experience over rules challenges conservatives, but it also bothers progressives who have turned church into what she views as essentially a nonprofit organization.
"This isn't supposed to be the Elks Club with the Eucharist," Bolz-Weber said in a taxi ride before her Austin talk. Religion should be "something that's so devastatingly beautiful it can break your heart. Instead it's been: 'Recycle.' And 'Don't sleep with your girlfriend.' "
Bolz-Weber says she abhors "spirituality," which she sees as a limp kind of self-improvement plan. She prefers a cranky, troublemaking and real God who at times of loss and pain doesn't have the answers either.
"God isn't feeling smug about the whole thing," she writes about Jesus's resurrection and the idea that the story is used as fodder for judgment. "God is not distant at the cross. . . . God is there in the messy mascara-streaked middle of it, feeling as [bad] as the rest of us."
This very physical way of talking about God is thrilling to a lot of people who grew up in liberal Christianity.
"Here's Nadia — boom!" said Jeff Krehbiel, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastor in the District who leads a national group on revitalizing U.S. congregations. "For her, this isn't some metaphor, this is something real that changed the world and changed my life. How do we talk about this as people who want to use their heads? . . . I think people like her are resonating with a growing group of Christians who are asking the same kinds of questions."
To Carmen Retzlaff, a newly ordained Lutheran pastor who came with her husband to the Austin talk, Bolz-Weber is liberating — partly because she's "unapologetic" about her faith. "She talks a lot about JEE-sus" — Retzlaff giggles here — "which hasn't always been a place of comfort in an increasingly secular world. I really love that."
As far as I know, she and I are the only Lutherans on Patheos. Read her blog, Sarcastic Lutheran.
She also has a book out, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint


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What to Expect After a Loved One Dies: Forms of Grief
The Main Categories of Grief
- Avoidance. "I felt numb. I was in a daze. People were leading me around. I could not speak," recalls Dan of the day his son died. Feelings of shock and disbelief are typical of the early days after death; usually, they give way to a cascade of other reactions — anger, sadness, fear, worry and despair.
- Confrontation. This is the most acute, emotionally charged phase of grief, writes Rando. The shock has worn off, but you repeatedly review the fact that your loved one is dead. You have a painful yearning for the person who died and the unique relationship you two shared. You may feel an aching emptiness and be fearful that your suffering will never subside.
- Accommodation. Acute grief has declined and you start to pick up your routine. You are still mourning what you have lost, not just the person's physical presence but all of the hopes, dreams, wishes, goals, fantasies and feelings you had for and with that person. But you know you will survive.
Physical Symptoms of Grief
During the phases of grief, people often have physical reactions, including insomnia, weight gain or weight loss, fatigue, poor digestion, irritability and inability to concentrate.
Linda reports being unable to sleep during the first six months after her husband died, and she found herself taking half-hour baths each night, though she had always preferred showers before her husband's death. Her therapist told her the baths symbolized her need for physical comfort.
Disrupted sleep is common, says Golden. "Before sleep, your body and mind are relaxed, which is precisely the state you need to be in for deep emotions to surface," he explains. Working through grief during the day can help take the edge off sleep problems.
Learning to Live With Loss
To adapt to living without your loved one, Rando says the following tasks must be accomplished.
- The reality and reasons for death must be acknowledged, put in context and accepted. This is why humans spend so much time, effort and money to recover bodies after catastrophes, she points out. We need evidence of death before we can grieve it.
- The pain of separation must be felt over and over again for the emotional charge to be diffused. It is often said that the only way to heal from pain is to lean into it. Many people find that writing, music and art help them to process the pain, especially if they can't talk about it.
- New roles and skills must be assumed to compensate for what you have lost. For Linda, this meant becoming a hockey mom and familiar with just about everything involved in maintaining a home.
- Finally, the emotional energy you invested in the relationship with the deceased needs to be channeled elsewhere so it can once again bring you satisfaction. Rando notes that the energy does not need to be reinvested in a person; it can be placed in objects, activities, hopes or causes.
Four years after the sudden death of her husband, Linda is working, mothering and even dating. There is little evidence of her tragedy on her face, in her talk or behavior. She will never stop grieving for her "best friend," but she has learned that grieving can coexist with a normal life.