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How Can You Tell If Your Horse Is Happy?
©2018 Saddlefit 4 Life® All Rights Reserved
You know your horse better than anyone—instinctively, you know immediately when something is amiss, even if you can't immediately diagnose where the problem lies or what is causing it. We can put words to what you already know—how do you tell when your horse is happy? You may realize that there is lot of truth in what I am about to share.
A horse is not able to lie; to act like he's feeling comfortable, happy, or relaxed, when he's not. Watch for the feedback your horse gives you and it's easy to see what his state of mind is. We all know the usual signs; the eyes, the ears, the tail. In nature, the horse, a 'flight' animal, can run full out at a moment's notice. There is no necessity for the thought process, "Okay, I'm being chased by a wolf, I'm going to have to run fast in about three seconds, so perhaps I should warm up a bit so that I can go full tilt." By that time, the horse would be lunch.
While this question may almost range into the field of anthropomorphization (ascribing human characteristics to an animal), your horse's "happiness" or being comfortable is probably of critical interest to you as his owner and rider. There have been many articles written about various aspects of horse behavior that have been ascribed to human behaviors—stubbornness, resisting work, etc.—that are the result of poorly fitting tack that acts on reflex points, which then causes instinctive reactions that may seem like "being bad." But the fact remains that it is pretty easy to tell if the horse is willing to work, feeling supple, and eager to learn. If he is not—well, then you need to dig a little deeper and find out what's going on. Horses are incredibly stoic and really do put up with a lot of things that riders consciously or unconsciously subject them to, but let's hope that you are a rider who prefers that your horse is actually comfortable and pain free.
This is what has been paradoxical on occasion—in a saddle fit evaluation when riders are asked to show their horses under saddle, sometimes they have to warm up (sometimes for 30 minutes or more!) before they feel their horses are ready to perform and before they feel they're ready to show the fitter how they move at all gaits. After seeing around 2,000 horses every year for the past 25 years or so, we have come to realize that this warm up is to be considered pretty much a "numbing" up. Only after having been ridden to the point that what's happening on his back doesn't bother him anymore can the horse actually be asked to work the basic steps. What is wrong with this picture? (This is not really a rhetorical question; please do ask yourself what is going on here if you find yourself guilty of this).
The current trend in riding, as in most other things, seems to be "going back to nature." Riders everywhere are interested in current discussions about whether or not to shoe, whether or not to ride bareback, treeless or with a "normal" saddle, and whether or not to "chemically" supplement your horse's diet. And whether or not it makes sense to deal with symptomatic lameness possibly arising from poor saddle fit with injections. According to documented statistics, the following life expectancies show the following to be true:
- Life expectancy of the wild horse (for example Mustang) is 5-7 years.
- Life expectancy of a horse ridden by an inexperienced rider, never exercised to the point of cardiovascular exertion is 7-10 years.
- Life expectancy of a horse under professional training and supervision, ridden in competitive sports or in active training is 20-25 years.
Doesn't that tell you something? Nature may be good, but professional advice and proper equipment to do "what's right" prove to be better for your horse.
The whole "circle of influence" philosophy should be considered when determining what is best for your horse. The complementary and cooperative efforts of professionals such as your veterinarian, farrier, chiropractor, and saddler will exert their influences positively, to enable you and your horse to achieve maximum life expectancy, health, and performance.
What does a professional look for and consider when called in to address a problem or concern? Clearly, there are many external factors and influences acting upon a horse at any given time. For example, consider that there are 15 points which can influence saddle fit (or saddle fit perception) alone:
The key principle is to be aware that everything needs to work together properly. No matter how well a saddle fits at the time of purchase, one saddle will not fit a horse over the course of its life (unless the saddle can be adjusted and re-fit). Every horse goes through at least seven major conformational changes as it matures. Keep in mind that not every saddle on the market is adjustable, nor can be easily adjusted to accommodate your horse's changing three-dimensional back shape. But your horse's "happiness" (i.e., well-being and comfort) depends on you to make the right choices for him and do what is in your power to ensure that he stays willing to work with you to the best of his ability.


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Mouse Hunt: "Don't Breathe" plays like an overwhelmingly tense death grip
Don't Breathe (2016)
88 min., rated R.
This is how you do it. Showing up nearly every other home-invasion suspenser, "Don't Breathe" is the kind of lean, mean thriller that takes a shrewdly simple premise with a minimalistic setting and knows how to milk it for maximum tension and stark intensity that never ebb. Uruguayan director Fede Alvarez, who made one of the more respectable horror remakes of yesteryear with 2013's gleefully gore-soaked "Evil Dead," has gone and formidably crafted one of 2016's most memorable nerve-shredders that plays like a relentlessly and overwhelmingly tense death grip. With blessedly airtight plotting and a consistent sense of "what-would-you-do?" panic, "Don't Breathe" is proof that viewers can still be thrilled.
Tired of her abusive home life, Rocky (Jane Levy) needs to get out of the slummy wasteland that is Detroit and escape to California to start a better life for her and her younger sister. In the meantime, she breaks into expensive homes and steals with thug boyfriend Money (Daniel Zovatto) and nice friend Alex (Dylan Minnette), whose father happens to the owner of a security system company with a key to homes in the area. For their final score, they get wind of a Gulf War vet allegedly sitting on $300,000, which he received as a settlement after his daughter was hit and killed by a car. When getting sight of the man (Stephen Lang), they realize he is blind—only one of them initially questions the morality of stealing from a blind person—and figure it will be "a piece of cake." Rocky, Money and Alex get way more than they bargained for when they have vastly underestimated their target whose other senses are extremely heightened. Getting in wasn't so much a problem as it will be getting out alive.
Narrative simplicity is a film's best friend. It worked for 1967's "Wait Until Dark" and 2002's "Panic Room," and it works again with a like-minded successor like "Don't Breathe," a wiry, resourceful chamber thriller that keeps churning out surprises in 88 minutes. From a no-fuss screenplay with efficiently drawn characters, writer-director Fede Alvarez and co-writer Rodo Sayagues shift sympathies, asking the viewer to align him or herself with the lesser of two evils, as the burglars become the victims and the one being burglarized turns out to be the victimizer. Every plot point seems set up for a reason and not just as a throwaway; a story Rocky tells about finding comfort in a ladybug when locked in her mother's trunk as a child is not only painted with a lingering poignancy but will be recalled for the climax. As this cat-and-mice game plays out (most of it in real time), the film is cleverly constructed with ruthless efficiency like a Rube Goldberg contraption. It's all very edge-of-your-seat stuff.
For every move the characters make that doesn't correspond to the viewer's instructions, director Fede Alvarez keeps upping the ante and finding more reasons for audiences to dig their fingernails into their armrest and bite them all off. He knows exactly what he's doing, leaving one off balance when we expect genre standbys to be detonated. With his use of pin-drop silence and close calls, it is hard not to hold one's breath or to keep quiet along with Rocky and Alex. His expert control on pacing and verve behind the camera is mightily impressive, too, even technically dazzling. As the trio of home invaders break in and case the joint for the loot, the camera fluidly moves through the floor and every which way in a seemingly unbroken shot, informing us where certain weapons are before the sleeping giant awakens. Tightly shot and edited like everything else, a basement-set sequence where The Blind Man forces a total blackout is ingeniously conceived in particular, lending immersion to the way its actors are actually stumbling around in the darkness and how the scene was shot in black-and-white film stock. The floor plan of the house also makes geographical sense, transforming every space into a nightmarish maze not unlike Wes Craven's unfairly forgotten "The People Under the Stairs."
Though what Rocky is doing is criminal—and she still makes it her goal to not leave without the money they came for—Jane Levy (2013's "Evil Dead") somehow makes her worth rooting for, and the character's sincere yearning to get away with her sister is certainly identifiable. Up to being placed through the physical and emotional wringer yet again under the tutelage of Alvarez, Levy is sensational, riding the line of hard-edged delinquent and root-worthy survivor, and she has an ideal face for a horror movie. (Without getting deep into spoiler territory with the events of the third act, there is one sloppy discrepancy involving Rocky's jeans being magically sewn up after they have been sliced open; it's a surprise the filmmakers didn't catch this continuity gaffe during the editing process.) Of the other two burglars, Daniel Zovatto (2015's "It Follows") is convincingly sleazy as a cornrowed punk named Money, who's obviously a goner, and Dylan Minnette (2015's "Goosebumps") imbues decency and intelligence as Alex, who pines for Rocky. And then there's Stephen Lang, a character actor who makes for an imposing human monster without saying much when his muscular frame and ready-to-kill instincts can do all the talking.
Set in a desolate Detroit neighborhood where nothing can be heard or seen, "Don't Breathe" doesn't require much suspension of disbelief and terrifyingly so. If there are any reservations that could potentially break the film's otherwise dread-filled spell but still do not, it is in how far director Alvarez is willing to go to make his audience gasp and squirm. Nevertheless, the secret revealed about The Blind Man is unthinkably icky, sick and shocking in a way that will certainly make one's jaw drop. Cut down to the essentials, "Don't Breathe" is a fierce, breathlessly harrowing masterclass in terror and suspense. Be prepared to get stressed out and leave the theater exhausted.
Grade: A -

subset: commoncrawl


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Starbucks is considered one of the world's most ethical companies (Smith, 2012). Starbucks makes conscious efforts to be a responsible company and conduct business in an ethical manner. It prides itself in the ethical way it does business, through community, sourcing, environment, diversity and wellness. It strives to live out its mission statement and values everyday. Starbucks openly displays its commitment to being socially responsible and wants its customers to know exactly how Starbucks is doing so. It plasters its mission statement and values on the walls of many of the stores, it prints facts onto its coffee cups, it dedicates countless pages on the company website to its responsibility, and Starbucks even compiles an annual report dedicated to its corporate social responsibility. By examining Starbucks and its commitment to social responsibility, I am going to argue that a company can achieve profitable growth and enhanced shareholder value by conducting business in an ethical manner. Customers are more willing to pay a higher price and utilize a company's products if they know that they are supporting a company that is socially responsible. I use the theories of ethicists Thomas Donaldson and Edwin Hartman to help determine whether a company is acting ethically.
Starbucks Corporation is an American global coffee company and Italian-styled coffeehouse chain, based in Seattle, Washington. It is the world's largest coffeehouse chain, and is considered one of the world's best-liked and best-known consumer brands- with 19,972 stores in 60 countries. There are 12,937 stores in the United States, 1,273 in Canada, 971 in Japan, 790 in Great Britain, 657 in China, 453 in South Korea, 356 in Mexico, 276 in Taiwan, 200 in the Philippines, 158 in Thailand and 1 in India. Twenty five million people patronize Starbucks everyday, and customers who consider themselves "loyal customers" visit an average of 18 times a month. Over the past 10 years, Starbucks stock (SBUX) has increased in price by 2,200%. Starbucks has made the list of Most Admired Companies in the U.S., the list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, the list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens, the list of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies, and the list of the World's Most Ethical Companies. According to CEO Howard Schultz, Starbucks' commitment to social responsibility has played a significant role in producing this phenomenal growth.
Business analysts agree that Starbucks is a widely respected company because of its commitment to social responsibility. Starbucks has earned this reputation through its actions in all phases of its business and live out this commitment through both its mission statement and values. The Starbucks website states that, "Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time". Starbucks even has a separate mission statement dedicated to the environment, which states, "Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business." Starbucks makes conscious efforts to fulfill its company's missions. The Starbucks website lists the following as ways it is fulfilling its social responsibility:
- Coffee-
- " It has always been, and will always be, about quality. We're passionate about ethically sourcing the finest coffee beans, roasting them with great care and improving the lives of people who grow them. We care deeply about all of this; our work is never done."
- Partners-
- "We're called partners, because it's not just a job, it's our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard."
- Customers-
- "When we are fully engaged, we connect with, laugh with and uplift the lives of our customers – even if just for a few moments. Sure, it starts with the promise of a perfectly made beverage, but our work goes far beyond that. It's really about human connection."
- Stores-
- When our customers feel this sense of belonging, our stores become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It's about enjoyment at the speed of life – sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity."
- Neighborhood-
- "Every store is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously. We want to be invited in wherever we do business. We can be a force for positive action – bringing together our partners, customers and the community to contribute every day. Now we see that our responsibility – and our potential for good – is even larger. The world is looking to Starbucks to set the new standard, yet again. We will lead."
- Shareholders-
- "We know that as we deliver in each of these areas, we enjoy the kind of success that rewards our shareholders. We are fully accountable to get each of these elements right so that Starbucks – and everyone it touches – can endure and thrive."
On its website, Starbucks professes to fulfill its environmental mission statement as well by understanding environmental issues and sharing information with its partners; developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change; striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products; recognizing that financial responsibility is essential to the environmental future; instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value; measuring and monitoring progress for each project; and encouraging all partners to share in the mission. This is a very ambitious mission, which in large part, Starbucks appears to be achieving. In addition, the company's values are highly publicized, and adorn the walls of stores across the globe, as well as in press releases and annual reports. Below are the company values:
- Community
- Ethical Sourcing
- Environment
- Diversity
- Customer Wellness
Starbucks demonstrates its values in a number of ways. For example, Starbucks is the only major food and beverage chain to provide health benefits for both full-time and part-time employees. Many employers in the fast food industry do not provide health benefits to part-time employees. Also, each store's employees are allowed to select which local charities they wish to promote through volunteer hours, products, and cash contributions. For example, in April of 2012, Starbucks contributed 230,000 hours of community service. The company also supports literacy programs and international relief efforts. "Partners" are even eligible for company stock options. Concerned about rising unemployment in the United States, Starbucks opened up a factory in Georgia, which created 200 manufacturing jobs. Starbucks helps sustain coffee communities around the globe through its loan program. In 2011, Starbucks loaned a total of $14 million to 45,000 farmers in seven countries around the globe. On a larger scale, Starbucks not only helps the communities where the stores are located, but also helps to improve the lives of its suppliers. Starbucks Supplier Diversity Program actively seeks out and contracts with suppliers that are either female or minority-owned. Starbucks contributes to the health of the environment in a number of ways, including using recycled paper and plastic, and in 2011 Starbucks achieved a 50% reduction of wastewater in 1000 of its stores by installing a new filtration system. Also, Starbucks provides wellness for its customers through quality products that contain no more than 500 calories and are free from unnecessary ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, dyes, and artificial trans fats.
Starbucks is unique in that it produces an annual Global Responsibility Goals and Progress Report. The report tracts the company's progress towards achieving its social responsibility goals. According to the 2011 report, Starbucks is doing an excellent job at achieving its goals (See reports below).
All large global corporations face a whirlwind of criticisms from many directions. Although I believe Starbucks to be an ethical company, I know there are others who have a contrary view. During my research I came across blogs and articles critical of Starbucks because it is so dominant in the market place and because of its adverse impact on smaller competitors. While Starbucks' phenomenal growth may pose an economic threat to its competitors, it doesn't make Starbucks unethical. According to business ethicist Thomas Donaldson, a corporation has the following corporate duties:
1. The duty to avoid depriving people of their rights
2. The duty to help protect people from such deprivation
3. The duty to aid those who are deprived
Business ethicist Edwin Hartman also adds one more category to Donaldson's, which states that a corporation has a duty to avoid helping to deprive. If a corporation can afford to fulfill these duties and can fairly accept responsibility of these duties, than these duties are in fact obligations. Now the question is, does Starbucks fulfill these duties? It certainly seems to fulfill these duties with regards to Starbucks' employees and customers. Starbucks provides its employees generous benefits and an environment that respects their rights as individuals, regardless of their race, sex, color, or sexual orientation. As for its customers, Starbucks provides quality products and healthy choices. Its community outreach programs and loans to farmers are ways in which Starbucks strives to protect the community from economic hardship. Starbucks works with its vendors to ensure that the rights of people are being protected, and in cases where those rights are not being protected, Starbucks seizes to do business with them. For example, in 2011 Starbucks assessed 129 factories and found 38 factories failed their zero-tolerance standards. As a result they discontinued 26 factories as Starbucks suppliers for standards issues. Starbucks was later able to begin business with 14 of those previously dropped factories due to improved performance and thus was able to fulfill its duty to aid those who were being deprived.
By all accounts Starbucks certainly is an ethical company that meets its stated social responsibilities. A case can be made that this enhances the value of its "brand" in the market place and ultimately enhances shareholder value. As a public company, its brand image in the market place is in the same league as premier public companies such as Ford, Microsoft, and PepsiCo. These are companies that people want to be associated with, whether as a customer or a supplier, everyone wants to work with these companies. To the extent that this was an accident or a marketing ploy to justify higher prices is unclear. In its early years, Starbucks did not appear to promote itself as a company with defined goals of social responsibility as it does today. Starbucks marketed itself as a fun, funky place to get a great cup of coffee served to you from friendly employees. A cynic could allege that Starbucks developed its social conscious as a clever way to justify higher prices for its products. Customers won't feel bad about paying more for a cup of coffee if they feel they are serving just causes at the same time. But I would argue their point is irrelevant. At the end of the day, Starbucks has demonstrated that a company can grow profitably while acting ethically and serving social responsibilities at the same time. What does it matter whether the awareness of the social conscious occurred early or later in the business cycle? The point is that the goals are not mutually exclusive and in fact may produce a symbiotic relationship from which everyone benefits.
Works Cited:
CSRNYC. (2007). Starbucks store, oxford, uk. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.csrnyc.com/home/currentnews.html
Gertner, J. For infusing a steady stream of new ideas to revive its business. Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2012/starbucks http://www.starbucks.com/
Hartman, E. (1991). Donaldson on rights and corporate obligations. (pp. ages 163-172). Retrieved from http://secure.pdcnet.org/ruffinoup/content/ruffinoup_1991_0003_0000_0163_01 2?file_type=pdf
Johnson, C. (2006). Ethics in the workplace: Tools and tactics for organizational transformation. SAGE. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=oJN5MTcrh6IC&pg=PT300&dq=starbucks ethics&hl=en&sa=X&ei=V_aaUPvWGujV0gHauYGgDw&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBA
Schultz, H. (2012, 6 30). Interview by J Nocera [Web Based Recording]. Can corporate values drive shareholder value? (with starbucks ceo howard schultz) Aspen Ideas Festival, Retrieved from http://www.aspenideas.org/session/can-corporate-values-drive-shareholder-value-starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz
Smith, J. (2012, 3 12). The world's most ethical companies. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
Starbucks Corporation. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com/


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Filed under: Iran, Iraq | Tags: Iraq, ISIS, Wanton Destruction, World Heritage Sites
The Assyrians rose around 2,500 B.C. and at one time their realm stretched from the Mediterranean coast to present day Iran. They left behind palaces and temples decorated with huge reliefs depicting their king's military campaigns and conquests and his great hunting prowess, killing lions and other dangerous animals. The city of Nimrud was founded in the 13th century B.C.during the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II, and served as the second capital of the Assyrian empire. Another capital was Ninevah. These colossal winged man-headed lions or bulls were protective deities put at the entrances of palaces and temples weighing about 10–30 tons each.
ISIS is raging throughout Iraq and Syria, attempting to obliterate history..The ancient city of Nimrud is across the Euphrates from Mosul —or was. After looting anything movable for sale, they attacked the city with sledgehammers, drills, saws, barrel bombs and bulldozers to destroy the 4,000 year-old treasures. Now it is just rubble.K.T. MacFarland, national security adviser for Fox said "it's like brainwashing. They want to eliminate the past, remove all signs of idolatry and spread monotheism." "There is no past, there is only us." "God has honored us in the Islamic State to remove all of these idols and statutes worshiped instead of Allah in the past days."
They destroy museums, and break up priceless artifacts. They destroyed the Mosul Library and burned thousands of its rare books and manuscripts. UNESCO called the burning of books and manuscripts "one of the most devastating acts of destruction of library collections in human history."
the Washington Examiner lists the destruction, with an ISIS video bragging of their destruction and listing the other historical sites lost to the world because of ISIS wanton destruction, which seems remarkably pointless. The Crac des Chevaliers, an 11th Century Crusader castle, the Saint Simeon Church in Aleppo and the Aleppo Citadel. Jonah's tomb, 173 priceless artifacts with statues from Hasra in the Mosul Museum. The Mosul Library, The ancient city of Nimrud, the Khorsabad Palace built between 717 and 706 B.C. and Hasra, a circular fortified city with double walls that became the capital of an early Arab kingdom.
It was reported that ISIS had taken Palmyra, in Syria (above) but a later post says they have been forced out and Palmyra is safe.
Some of the finest artifacts reside in Western museums. Everybody has criticized the British archeologists who snapped up so many treasures for depriving other nations of their heritage. Nobody really expected barbarians.
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|some of my painted work
I am feeling a glimpse of what it must feel like to be happy because of the 222 afterglow. I would like very much to feel this way naturally. I have compulsive thoughts quite frequently. those longings for comfort that lead me to choose to scour my cupboard and consume whatever is there, that in the past made me choose to drink a lot, shop a lot, and other worse riskier things.
Glad my crisis has passed, these are quite horrible. A kind of unrelenting, bleak despair permeates deep into my skin, into my organs, my bones. It's not chemotherapy it's a wave death infusing then eventually passing through til next time. Blah.


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Top 10 Kid Friendly Activities in Gulfport, MS
Mike Fisher
Trying to find something that's a great choice for the whole gang can be tough. Luckily, there are a ton of great kid friendly activities in Gulfport, Mississippi, that will make your next trip extra memorable and a lot more relaxed. From exciting amenities like waterparks and ziplines to educational experiences at museums and wildlife exhibits, Gulfport is sure to have something that you and the kiddos will both enjoy!
So get down to the beach today and check out our Top 10 Kid Friendly Activities in Gulfport, MS, for an awesome family experience!
Top 10 Kid Friendly Activities in Gulfport, MS...
Gulf Islands Waterpark
Summer fun is what Gulf Islands Waterpark is all about. Wild rides, relaxing cabanas, and miles of cool slides means sweet fun for the whole group! Check out the Horn Island Blaster slide, the Gulf Coast's first and only water roller coaster, as it takes you through 500 feet of twists and drops! Gulf Islands also hosts special events like celebrity Meet & Greets with stars from Nickelodeon and Disney. Even more, the park has great Live Music, Sea Lion Shows, and Frisbee Dog Shows! Get Gulf Islands Waterpark Discount Admission Tickets here online and save today!
Zip N Fun Adventure Park
Gather the crew and zip on over to Gulfport Zip N Fun Adventure Park for the biggest and best ropes course in all of Gulfport! Take in spectacular views of the beautiful woods and wetlands from the top of the forest. This activity is a great way to get your blood pumping, and have some fun with the whole family. There are courses for both adults and kids of varying difficulties. There is no better way to get active and have some fun at the same time!
Zippidy Doo-Dah! SAVE 10% when you book Gulfport Zip N Fun Adventure tickets online using promo code ZIP10!
Beauvoir - Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library
Visit Beauvoir – Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential library and take a trip into the past! Each visit is guided by a delightful docent dressed in mid-19th century attire for a super authentic lesson. Follow the guide through the museum for a crash-course in the history and culture of the late 1800's and Mississippi. The docent will also help you and the kiddos make the most out of the presidential library and tell stories of Jefferson Davis and Confederate soldiers. Visit the gift shop for great souvenirs, gifts, and toys! Get the BEST PRICE on Beauvoir – Jefferson Davis Home & Presidential Library here online!
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
School has never been so cool as it is at the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center! One of our absolute favorite kid friendly activities in Gulfport, check out this 1915 schoolhouse and its 15,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits. Discover different cultures at Celebrate the World We Share, board the train at Dolan Avenue Depot, and create a mini masterpiece at the art studio! Venture outside and play a tune in the outdoor musical garden, and explore the tiny town of Kids Street for great photos and fun. With so many exhibits, options, and space, it's a great opportunity for the whole family to relax, enjoy, and learn! Get Lynn Meadows Discovery Center admission tickets here online.
Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
Image by Ishtaure Dawn via Flickr
A terrific place to learn, play, and explore, the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies offers family-friendly marine fun for the entire gang. Check out the dolphins and sea lions live and in person or even schedule a meet and greet with the dolphins where kids can feed and touch! Another great option is the family tour, which allows guests to explore the interactive museum and encounter a variety of marine wildlife from sharks to crabs and fish. Visitors will also find a shark tooth in the fossil dig to keep as a souvenir!
Jones Park
Jones Park in Gulfport is a great place to take the kids to play and relax. With a variety of great amenities, Jones Park is a favorite for locals and tourists alike. Check out the replica Lighthouse or head on over to the beautiful playground for some serious fun and physical activity. Head down to the water to fish or have a picnic under the shade and comfort of the pavilion. Finally, the kiddos will love the Splash Pad, which is a fountain of with a tropical theme. A great way to beat the heat and have some good old fashion family fun!
Busted Wrench Garage Museum
The Busted Wrench Garage Museum is a hot rod of a good time for kids and adults alike. Founded in 2008, the museum is a great chance to see super rare rides of all shapes, styles, and eras. Admission to this 6,000 square foot facility is always free, and in addition to the cars there are also boats, motorcycles, and even bicycles! Also, don't forget to check out the gift shop for one-of-a-kind hardware, clothing, and toys that the kiddos will love!
Check out the endless list of great deals on activities in Gulfport, MS, here!
Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum
All aboard the midnight train to Gulfport, Mississippi! Hop on into the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum and bring the spirit of the American railroad back to life. the museum features huge model railroad scales including the largest LEGO Railroad display in the state. The Club has a variety of trains for the kiddies to ride on, including a few themed outdoor rides like "Jurassic Park" and "Futurama," as well as a "Thomas the Train" ride for the little ones! 200 years of railroad history means a lot of learning and a lot of fun for all!
World's "Largest Rocker"
Image from waymarking.com
The World's "Largest Rocker" in Gulfport is a fun roadside attraction fit for the whole family. This 35-foot beast of a porch rocker will rock-er your world (get it? rock-er your world?) when you see it in person. It's a great place to stop and take fun and silly pictures with the gang. So come on out and see this world-class piece of craftsmanship with the kids so they can tell all the other kids at school that they've seen the giant chair way out there!
Gulfport Little Theatre
Image from Wikimedia
The Gulfport Little Theatre has been showcasing awesome plays and musicals for 71 years. An extremely diverse variety of shows means there is something for everyone, including your children! In fact, many of the actors and performers are young folks and children. Stop in for a show, enjoy some popcorn, and meet the actors after the play!
Be sure to check out our Gulfport Visitor's Guide to make the most out of your next trip!
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The management of the church buildings relies on the assistance of parishioners and the work of the parish administrator. if you see an issue that needs to be dealt with at any one of the sites please contact the parish office.
Key Contacts
Nigel Saddington
& Nick Dorrington
Parish Administrator
St Tarcisius Hall Manager


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The Ledbury's Sous Chef Greg Austin, with a bespoke size Kaymet Original Tray.
As well as our extensive standard range we often make bespoke trolleys and trays.
The sturdy Kaymet Original Tray, for example, with a simple diamond pattern embossed surface, or with non-slip rubber grips, is perfect for kitchen to restaurant use. Small batches can be produced in giant sizes, as long as 1m and as wide as 60cm, with strengthening slide-bars beneath.
Ribbed Trays and Trolleys can be produced in over 60 standard material, pattern and colour combinations, but if they do not suit your requirements then we can produce batches with other anodised and powder-coated colours, and we can organise bespoke printed images in melamine / birch-ply laminate, all to special order.
Pressed trays are generally available in 6 standard anodised colours, but should you want something else then we can make quantities in other anodised colours, and we can laser etch graphics (see below the image of a tray we have made hundreds of for IT restaurants).
Trolley variants can be produced to order, with non-standard dimensions, tier combinations, surface materials, and finishes.
Contact us if you want to discuss what's possible. Go direct to email here. We are keen to help.


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Inning accordance with the Sun Times, Miles has been arrested almost 400 times in her 51 years in the world. Dating back to the day she was born, that averages out to 7.7 arrests per year.
Camp Dix KY 41127 Alcohol Counselors That You Will Have Confidence In
Gratitude Home, a nonprofit founded in 1968, provides alcohol abuse counselor and recovery programs developed simply for ladies. Their help doesn't just concentrate on the drugs and alcohol, but likewise deals with the attendant issues: AIDS/HIV, pregnancy, domestic violence, financial concerns, homelessness, joblessness and psychological and medical health issues. The objective of Appreciation Home is to use day and residential rehab and assistance services to assist women end up being productive and drug-free individuals.
How We Can Certainly Help
Making A Way Real estate, Inc. earns the bulk of its revenues through the leasing of genuine estate. The organization's core activity is supplying inexpensive real estate for homeless persons and those going through treatment for alcohol addiction counseling. The homeowners pay rent that is supported by grants. Rental charges are not market rate, however they're not free either. They have 70 two-bedroom systems. Each unit is occupied by two residents who might pay in between $100-350 monthly. At these tenancy rates, they can generate in between $14,000 and $49,000 monthly.
Another earned revenue choice is the sale of tangible products. The American Cancer Society has actually mastered the art of selling items. On their website you can buy precious jewelry, shirts, coats, watches, and a myriad of other wares. They have a crystal beads bracelet that offers for $18.99. If they offer 1,000 of these in one month, they've produced $19,000.00. Their tote product costs $12.99. Again, offering 1,000 of these will create $13,000.00. At the time I composed this short article they reported on their site that they raised $58 million dollars through their different charity events and sale of products.
In 2007, Matthew Shafer was arrested in North Carolina on a felony charge of second degree forcible sex offense. He plead guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault, and was fined $1,500, a year's probation, and ordered to go through alcohol counseling.
Alcohol Counseling Near Camp Dix Kentucky 41127: Our Dependency Solutions
A. Belonging- Sam's Dad wished to get his BELONGING requirement satisfied by having his spouse still be around, his brand-new task be safe, and by having his son Sam living with him full-time.
Nick Willhite, a local of Denver who played high school ball there, passed away on December 14, 2008 in Alpine, Utah, after a 5 year battle with cancer, at the hole of his oldest son, Monty.
Independent Providers
I like to utilize the illustration of the pie chart. A pie has multiple slices. For the nonprofit, each slice represents a profits source. I propose that the most important and the biggest slice of any nonprofit's earnings pie need to be made earnings. The sensible person is the one who establishes their nonprofit business design with made profits as the cornerstone.
Discover more: Germantown KY 41044 Alcohol Addiction Counseling


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Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal Invites Residents to the State of the Second District
2015-03-20 · By Editor
District 2 residents and businesses are invited to join Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal at the State of the Second District event on Tuesday, March 31, 2015. This year the event is being held at the beautifully restored Loft on Pine. The evening will begin with live music from local musicians courtesy of the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), and refreshments crafted by District 2 businesses. Immediately following the address, the celebration will continue at one of our host restaurants on Pine Ave and the Promenade (list of restaurants and details to follow). Free parking is available in the city lot directly behind The Loft on Pine.
This is the 7th year that Lowenthal has brought neighborhoods, business districts and our schools together for a report on challenges and accomplishments in the community at large. For those who've never been, this a great opportunity to find out what's happening in District 2 and be inspired by all the good work and care being poured into the community.
The State of the Second District event is Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 6:30 pm. at The Loft on Pine 230 Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802.
The event is free, but an RSVP is required for entry, so please call the District 2 office at (562) 570-6684 or email email@example.com.


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Antibiotic & Vaccine Pushing Doctors Create "Superbugs"
by Barbara Loe Fisher
In the post-World War II days of the 1950's, I remember our family doctor came to our house when I had strep throat and gave me a penicillan shot. By the early 1960's, doctors weren't making house calls anymore but every time my Mom took me to the doctor - whether it was for the stomach flu or a bad cold - the doctor wrote a prescription for a bottle of antibiotics. It didn't matter whether it was a viral or bacterial infection, at the end of the office visit he wrote a prescription for antibiotics.
Today, doctors who listened to drug company salesmen in the 1950's and 1960's and recklessly prescribed antibiotics for every sore throat or sniffle, are trying to blame the deadly increase in antibiotic- resistant superbugs cropping up around the world on the people they told to take the antibiotics in the first place. A quick Google search on the subject took me to a website operated by the Medical College of Wisconsin, which warns that "Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of the medicines designed to cure or prevent infections. Over time, some bacteria have developed ways to dodge the effects of antibiotics. Widespread use of antibiotics is thought to have spurred evolutionary changes in bacteria that allow them to survive these powerful drugs. The bacteria continue to multiply, causing more harm..... "Our first step toward correcting the problem is to build public knowledge and awareness of when antibiotics work -- and when they don't," said Richard Besser, MD, CDC's medical director of the campaign. "We want Americans to keep their families and communities healthy by getting smart about the proper use of antibiotics."
Hello, Dr. Besser! Antibiotics are prescribed by DOCTORS. People do not "use" antibiotics without a doctor's prescription. They don't wake up and say to themselves "I think I will take an antibiotic today and help bacteria evolve into superbugs that will kill thousands." No, that iatrogenic problem has been caused by a medical profession too narrow-minded, lazy and self-serving to look beyond drugs and vaccines to a more natural, less toxic and less expensive way to help people maintain wellness and heal from illness.
Antibiotics like penicillan should always have been reserved for the most life threatening bacterial infections. The rest of the time, doctors should have told us to get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluids, eat nutritious food high in vitamin C and D and seek out non-pharmaceutical therapies so we could get well the old fashioned way and strengthen the natural healing ability of our immune systems.
It is too late for doctors to turn the clock back and refrain from pushing pricey antibiotics on patients for everything from an ear infection to a hangnail. The damage has been done.
However, doctors have an opportunity right now to stop making the same mistake with vaccines. The warning signs have been around for a long time but doctors have a habit of closing their eyes and putting their hands over their ears when they don't want to see the obvious: microorganisms which drug companies and government health officials have targeted for eradication by mandatory vaccine use are evolving into vaccine-resistant strains that may well end up killing and destroying the health of more people than would have been killed or made sick if the vaccines had never been used at all.
Case in point: Wyeth's pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar.
Prevnar vaccine contains seven of the most antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains, although there are more than 80 strains of the organism, which live harmlessly in the noses and throats of most people and rarely cause disease. Why some people go on to develop serious pneumococcal disease is unknown but those with dysfunctional immune systems are thought to be at highest risk. In 2001, the CDC told America that pneumococcal infections cause approximately 700 cases of meningitis, 17,000 cases of blood stream infections and 200 deaths in American children under age five every year, with 35 of these deaths being caused by pneumococcal meningitis (Centers for Disease Control. Dec. 10,2001 press release: ACIP Votes to Temporarily Revise Recommendations for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine).
Even before Prevnar was licensed by the FDA in February 2000 and the CDC immediately recommended all babies under two get four doses, drug company officials heavily promoted it as an "ear infection" vaccine. They did this even though their own clinical studies demonstrated a less than 7 percent efficacy for preventing ear infections (Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. Sept. 25, 1998 press release: New Investigational Vaccine Demonstrates High Efficacy Against Pneumococcal Disease in Children; Kaiser Permanente. May 4, 1999 press release: Investigational Vaccine Is First To Show Effectiveness Against Childhood Ear Infections).
Prevnar's safety was not scientifically well established, either. In the clinical trials that Wyeth conducted with the help of Kaiser Permanente, the experimental pneumococcal vaccine was compared against an experimental meningococcal vaccine. This meant the trial had no true placebo as the reaction profile was unknown for both experimental vaccines, fundamentally compromising the scientific validity of the safety trial. Children in the Prevnar group suffered more seizures, irritability, high fevers and other reactions. There were 12 deaths in the Prevnar group but they were dismissed by trial investigators as "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." (Wyeth- Lederle Product Manufacturer Insert Pneumococcal 7- Valent Conjugate Vaccine (PREVNAR). Issued February 2000).
Wyeth remains the sole source for pneumococcal vaccine for American children today. Because company officials deliberately targeted the lucrative ear infection market, Prevnar became the best selling new pharmaceutical in 2000 and generated $461M for Wyeth that year. This spring, a Wall Street report entitled "Wyeth profit rises 12%, helped by vaccine sales" reported "First-quarter revenue for Prevnar, Wyeth's vaccine to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease in infants and young children, rose 43% to $617 million. U.S. net revenue increased 16% due to improvement in compliance rates, the addition of 250,000 doses to the CDC vaccine stockpile, as well as price increases."
Bottom line: The pneumococcal vaccine was developed because doctors had over-prescribed antibiotics for four decades and the most serious cases of pneumoccocal disease were no longer responding to antibiotics.
There is always a big price to pay when doctors fool around with Mother Nature. The Prevnar vaccine that was developed by doctors to solve a problem with antibiotic resistance created by doctors has now created another monster: a vaccine-resistant virulent strain of strep that is causing ear infections in children that cannot be treated with any known antibiotic safe for use in children. This week doctors in Rochester, NY report Prevnar vaccine is becoming "less effective" as vaccinated children are coming down with a new and really nasty type of pneumococcal disease.
An Associated Press article reporting on the new vaccine-induced and vaccine resistant pneumococcal strain of strep said "Because these bacteria easily swap gene components to become even more hardy, "new types may emerge that can both escape containment by vaccine and spread throughout the world," Dr. Daniel Musher of Baylor College of Medicine wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine last year."
Currently, 13 states mandate Prevnar vaccine for daycare entry: Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. How many of the politicians who listened to doctors and voted for vaccine mandates in those states, knew that their action would contribute to creation of a "superbug" that may end up killing many more than the 200 children under five the CDC said died from pneumococcal infection every year when Prevnar was licensed?
The most sickening part of this story is that, according to the AP article "Wyeth anticipated this and is testing a second-generation vaccine. But it is at least two years from reaching the market, and the new strains could become a public health problem in the meantime if they spread hard-to-treat infections through day care centers and schools."
WYETH ANTICIPATED THIS WOULD HAPPEN? In 2000, when Wyeth was hyping Prenvar as an "ear infection" vaccine, why weren't parents told this would happen? Doctors at Wyeth must have been at work on "second and third generation" vaccines since 2000. Because, after all, there are more than 80 pneumococcal strains which presents scores of opportunities for lots of them to mutate into killer antibiotic and vaccine resistant "superbugs." That should keep pneumococcal vaccine creators and marketeers in the money for at least a century.
Ah, Brave New World. And when will the majority of Americans wake up, stand up, and "just say no" to laws forcing them to serve up their children as guinea pigs while vaccine-obsessed doctors and drug companies ignorantly destroy what remains of the earth's ecological balance and the biological integrity of the human race?
4 comments:
- Anne said...
Superbugs are the result of several different behaviors:
Doctors prescribing antibiotics for many illnesses, regardless of cause.
Doctors stopping running cultures (likely due to insurance companies) to determine the actual cause and give the appropriate cure.
Patients who do not take entire antibiotic prescriptions because they "feel better".
Patients who hang onto the unused antibiotics and use the leftovers when they get sick later.
Anti-bacterial cleaning supplies being mass marketed, instead of being kept just for medical use.
Antibiotics being used to keep farm animals healthy in modern farming methods that rely on overcrowding to raise profits.
Unless all of these practices are stopped, the problem will continue to get worse!
- ear infection symptoms said...
Olive oil can help with ear infection
- Anonymous said...
You are being pretty nasty towards doctors. Doctors have tried to save lives by giving antibiotics and MANY doctors have cut back on prescribing antibiotics unless they are REALLY needed.
As a pediatrician myself, I find I only prescribe them once a week (or less) these days. Many young doctors are much better about this than older doctors. We are doing our best to prevent serious infections (like mastoiditis) when we give antibiotics for ear infections.
It's quite obvious that you think that: 1. all doctors are evil, 2. all drug companies are evil, 3. all vaccines are evil. These are some of the things that have made our quality of life so good these days. We've eradicated small pox and there is so much less morbidity and mortality due to prenvar and Hib being around, it's unbelievable. Perhaps you should consider looking fully at both sides of an issue. Look at the numbers of Hib epiglottitis and Hib Meningitis before and after Hib vaccination came around. Many kids who would have gotten neurologically devastating illnesses or respiratory distress leading to death have been saved from this with the HiB vaccine. Many kids who would have had severe strep pneumo pneumonia, ear infections or meningitis have also been saved.
I agree with anne. There are many reasons for superbugs. She didn't mention natural change and flux in the world, either. Some bacterias increase in prevelance naturally as well. The vaccine Prevnar didn't create the 19A strain of strep pnuemo. It just made it more obvious because now kids are getting as sick with the other strains.
And the reason that the doctor mentions that Americans have to understand this as well is because we have to convince 10 parents / patients a day that antibiotics are NOT necessary. Patients often feel a doctor is keeping something from them that will make them get better faster. Many of us are doing our best, so don't assume we are all horrible!
- A Pediatrician in California
- Anonymous said...
Let's be real and be responsible, here. If doctors did not push antibiotics for every sniff and tickled throat parents would not be under the impression that antibiotics are a cure-all. I have many tomes refused antibiotics for myself (for a virus,no less!!) and for my children. I finally quit taking them to the pediatricians and found a more balanced practitioner.


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In Sylvia Ann Hewlett's book, Forget A Mentor, Find A Sponsor, she poses the following questions:
Whom do you want to meet with? Who intrigues you or excites you? What sort of conversation do you wish you could have with them?
What transformation do you most want to drive? What sort of large-scale change do you wish you could be part of?


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TOLL charges on the Itchen Bridge could be scrapped as early as next year – but only for electrical vehicles.
Environmental chiefs plan to introduce a new toll category for eco-friendly motorists, allowing them to cross the pay-per-use bridge for free.
The move could save the average daily commuter around £250 per year.
It is also forecast to cost the authority around £32,000 each year in lost revenue.
But civic chiefs say the scheme could save the council millions of pounds in fines, which it faces if it does not slash the city's dangerously high pollution levels.
Councillor Chris Hammond, cabinet member for sustainable living, said: "If the city does not reduce its pollution levels then the government could be fined and those fines will be passed down to us.
"What we are trying to do with this is to encourage people to take on electrical vehicle."
Last year, there were around seven million crossings made on the Itchen Bridge, bringing in an estimated £3.2million per year for the council.
Civic chiefs say around one per cent of cars across the country are electric – meaning just a fraction of Southampton residents stand to benefit from the scheme.
However, transport bosses predict electric car usage will increase to three per cent by 2020.
And if electric cars do take-off, councillor Hammond says the scheme could be revoked.
He added: "If 80 per cent of people are driving electric cars then maybe we will have to look at it again."
The scheme, to introduce a new toll category, will be discussed by the council's cabinet next week.
It will then be put to a public consultation in the new year.
If accepted, civic chiefs hope to introduce the free crossing for electrical vehicles by March 2018.
The scheme is part of a wider package by the council.
The authority already offers 90 per cent discount on season ticket parking for electric vehicles, bringing the cost down from £1,200 per year to just £120.
Civic chiefs also hope to install 25 new electric charge points across the city's multi-story car-parks by next March.


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All posts tagged B&W
So, I have somewhat of a dilemma… I bought this Model A a couple months ago and have been made an offer by someone to buy it from me for a profit. I'm torn, because I think she's really cool, but she needs a ton of work. It's not that I don't want to do the work, but it's the fact that we don't have a real garage. There isn't a system on her that doesn't need attention in one fashion or another… I Would love to have her as a project, but I feel I just don't have the space to work in. Not to mention all the tools I'm going to find myself needing… Torches, welder, sand blaster… etc. My girl friend say's I shouldn't sell her… She really likes it, and I agree.. Hence my dilemma. My reasoning is this… Sell her for a quick profit… put that money towards another "better" (for more money) one that just needs "maintenance"… I don't know… Thoughts?


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Mercedes gets winged-nose and intricate bargeboards for Spain
Mercedes is throwing everything at title rival Ferrari with its Spanish Grand Prix upgrade package, which features several major changes, including a new rear-wing, a winged-nose and intricate bargeboards, as it seeks to overhaul the Italian outfit.
The two teams have been locked in a fierce battle for the championship in the opening four rounds, having taken two wins apiece.
Spain traditionally marks the first race of the season where teams introduce large-scale upgrades and Mercedes are living up to that with their latest package.
As our images show, Mercedes has a new winged-nose (above) unlike anything on the grid. The aim of this is to channel air, which falls off the flat section of the nose, toward the bargeboard area. Whilst this airflow wouldn't necessarily be lost without the 'wings', it should arrive at the mid-section of the car in a neater and therefore more efficient flow.
This update works with the new intricate bargeboards (below) which feature several rows of teeth, again these help to condition and direct the flow to where it's needed, specifically the rear and underside (diffuser) of the car.
Mercedes is also said to be introducing its latest engine spec in Spain which will be exclusively for factory drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, with customer teams having to wait until later in the season for the more powerful engine.


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|Head Coach, Men's and Women's Swimming; Assistant Director of Recreation and Facilities
Brad Brooks was named the head coach of Penn State Altoona's men's and women's swimming program in July 2018. He is the fifth head coach in the NCAA Division III era of the swimming program. In addition to his coaching duties, Brooks is also Penn State Altoona's Assistant Director of Recreation and Facilities.
Brooks' resume is highlighted by a standout collegiate swimming career at Division III McDaniel College, as well as coaching experience at both the club and college levels.
In his collegiate swimming career at McDaniel that ranged from 2012-16, Brooks was a highly decorated star and two-year captain for the Green Terror men's team. Specializing in the freestyle and individual medley swims, Brooks was a four-time NCAA Division III All-American and claimed 10 Centennial Conference individual championships.
Brooks' career as a student-athlete at McDaniel was also littered with high profile academic honors. In 2016, he was an NCAA Elite 90 Academic Recognition Award recipient for having the highest cumulative grade-point average among all of the participants at that season's Division III men's swimming championships. Brooks was also a three-time NCAA Academic All-American and three-time Capital One Academic All-America Division III At-Large third team selection. He was the Centennial Conference's 2015-16 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and he graduated as the valedictorian of McDaniel's class of 2016.
Brooks' previous coaching experience consists of stints with several club programs, as well as time spent as an assistant at his alma mater of McDaniel. From parts of 2011-18, he spent time as a head coach for the Persimmon Creek Swim Club (Newark, Del.), the Green Terror Aquatic Club (Westminster, Md.), Cardinal and Gold Aquatics (Towson, Md.), and the Westminster Stingrays Swim Club (Westminster, Md.). From June 2016 through July 2017, Brooks served as an assistant coach for McDaniel's men's and women's swim teams. There, he handled duties such as the development and implementation of workouts and the recruiting of prospective student-athletes from the Mid-Atlantic region.


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Here comes the sun…..well not today, but soon. With the sun comes swimsuit season!! I am planning on spending as much of June through September relaxing by the pool as I possibly can. First I need to take a careful look at my current bathing suit inventory. If you are wearing the same two-piece you have had since that family beach trip 10 years ago, you might want to consider an upgrade. And whether there is an upcoming getaway on your calendar or your just looking for some quality lounge chair time, the approaching warm weather months are reason enough to give those suits a refresh. Here is a breakdown of the swimsuit trends you can expect to see in summer 2018. There is a little something for everyone, from revamps on classic silhouettes to on-trend items that will have you standing out from the crowd. Dive in ~
Inspiration from Pinterest.