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Exit Laughing: How Humor Takes the Sting Out of Death is a collection of 24 personal stories edited by San Francisco author and educator Victoria Zackheim. One of the pieces, "A Cold Awakening," was written by Toronto Star book and visual arts editor Dianne Rinehart . An excerpt:
I'm looking down on him now. His face has just a trace of a smile, somehow. How do they do that? I wonder.
Now I'm looking at his jacket collar. It bears the Royal Canadian Air Force pin he's always been so proud to wear.
At this first sighting of my father in his coffin, I'm filled with grief, not judgment. That will come later, in arguments with my siblings about who was to blame for what we endured.
But for now, my heart is breaking, and the tears are flowing.
How could he have been out dancing Saturday night with his girlfriend — the love of his life, he has told me — and then gone home to prepare a birthday party for my mother the next day and, instead, be found dead in his bed that morning by my very frightened younger brother, Mikey?
"How could you leave without saying goodbye?" I choke out to him in the funeral parlour, where my siblings have left me for a private moment with him.
He was so vibrant, so engaged by life, books, people, humour.
He was so alive — so much more so than my mother, who has been dying from a million paper cuts her entire life and now resides in a nursing home — that when my brother-in-law calls me the day before to tell me my father is dead, I respond, "You mean my mother."
"No, your father."
"No, you mean my mother."
It's unbelievable.
We always thought she of frail health, she of bitterness instead of joy — a woman you could find in her nightclothes any time of day, she'd so given up on living, never mind going out — would die first.
It was our belief that when she died, my father could truly come alive, live without her hitting him over the head with guilt because she, a war bride, was only in Canada to please him, as if he'd kidnapped her, rather than married her.
I'm 13, boyish, and small for my age, and somehow — though I do hours of chores each week, complete my homework without being asked, and am irrepressibly cheery — I've done something to upset my mother . . . again. The constant hammering of her outbursts that morning makes me react as I've never done before. "You're a witch!" I protest childishly, not in defiance, but frustration. "Get her, Norm!" she commands.
Over the decades, those words will stick. It's like my dad is an attack dog, and she is siccing him on me, as she will many times throughout my teenage years.
And he leaps to her command. His face erupts in fury. He chases me down the hall to my bedroom, where I try to shut him out — then run to . . . where?
The bed. There's nowhere else to go.
His fists pummel me until he's sated. Punched senseless. I stagger to school, reeling not from the wounds that will be repeated time and again — the ones that will turn into visible bruises so often that my guidance counsellor offers to have me taken from my home and placed in a shelter for young girls — but from those no one will see.
This first beating is different. This isn't the spanking we all got as kids, whacks delivered by him with brushes and belts almost always at her command, or her own beatings, when we were very small, when she'd snatch us by our hair, force us to the ground, then kick us in the stomach. I didn't need combat training to learn the importance of the fetal position. Or him forcing us awake on a Saturday to do hours of chores, driving us from the warmth of our beds by soaking a washcloth under freezing water, then pulling down our covers and sloshing it over us. This is him losing it and punching out all his frustrations in life on all 90 pounds of me.
But I'm too young to understand; I think it's me, as I always do when she lashes out.
Once, when she comes home from a dance with my father, she takes off her stilettos at the doorway and belts one, totally without warning, clear across the room at me. I go from standing up from the sofa in a slumber to survival mode, ducking just in time to see the shoe embed itself for an endless second in the plaster wall behind me.
Another time, I'm watching TV in the same room with her, and like a stealth bomber she attacks from nowhere. One minute she's lying on the sofa, the next she's throwing a heavy glass ashtray at me. It sails a good 15 feet and connects cleanly with the glass of Coke I'm raising to my lips at that moment. I didn't see this one coming. I only hear the glass shattering and feel the pieces flying into my face, a thousand tiny pieces cutting into my skin.
Decades later, I am haunted not so much anymore by my own pain but hers. What frustration, heartbreak, and fears could have caused her to lash out like that?
But right then, right there, I think only, as all beaten children do: it's me. It must be something that I'm doing.
So I keep trying.
One year I rent a cottage with my then-husband on a gorgeous lake, and I want my parents to experience the beauty of it. They never get out, never mind vacation. I'm determined that if I can just give them this, everything will change.
I've also bought, though I have little money, tickets to the local town play, but something I say on the way to the theatre makes my mother angry. She goes silent, and her face forms that familiar terrorizing mask that warns of so much more to come, and fills us with dread.
After the play, we drive home in silence, and she storms wordlessly into the bedroom I've given them — the one with the comfortable bed — and I can't bear it anymore. I've tried so hard. I leave the cottage sobbing so hard I'm choking. My husband, helplessly (who can blame him, since I've barely hinted at my family secrets?) retires, but my father, surprisingly, comes out.
"It's not her fault, it's mine," he says, as I stand . . . absolutely stunned.
It's the first time he's even hinted, never mind acknowledged, that something isn't right in her responses.
On this night of pain, my father is giving me the first tools I need to heal. Later, I'll recognize this as his biggest gift: the whisper of a beginning to understand that it wasn't me, it was her. And the things about her were not my fault; I could not have prevented them.
The words spill out of him that night, and only that night, and only with me. My other siblings hear none of this. He's had affairs. Not one. Many. And he begins to tell me about some of the women. At that moment, I want to hold my hands over my ears. He's always been blameless in our eyes: not hitting us because he wanted to, but because she made him.
I don't put it together then, but I do later: all the nights when he came home late "from work" and she screamed at him. We thought he was working hard for us and hated her for it. He looked so defeated, so beaten up. Who knew his silence was that of the culpable?
And much later I remember, through more mature eyes, when I am 9 and she is angry at my father and tells me she is leaving him and taking her children back to "her home" in England. He's outside gardening, and I run from the house. I'm sobbing, grabbing at his waist, hugging him hard, and he assures me she won't take us away.
He knows then what we do not: that she is completely dependent upon him. She has no education, no job skills, and she is worn out from raising four children. She has nowhere to go.
Unlike us, he knows what she's angry about: another woman. We think she's being unreasonable. Crazy! How can she want to leave, after everything he has given her?
For weeks, I'm terrified to fall asleep, in case she somehow takes us from our beds and we wake up in England, wherever that is.
In later years, she makes him retire from his job early to tend to her, despite the considerable financial strain it puts on them. She's become agoraphobic. He is her sole support, her sole contact in the world outside of television and gossip magazines.
Before she is incapacitated in a care facility, she fends off our visits to their home by having him call us whenever we plan to come by. "Your mother isn't feeling well today. Better not come."
We think she is his jailor. We don't know that he considers it easier to give in, rather than deal with something, anything, and that this weakness has motivated his actions his entire life.
Then, one day, she has a stroke. She loses her ability to walk, and after a year in hospital, where she refuses even to try the exercises assigned by the physiotherapist, she ends up in a nursing home, where her mind withers away faster than her limbs, as does something she spent her whole life keeping up: appearances.
For all her lack of education, this is a horror. She is street-smart, funny, proud, empathetic to others and, if not in a fury, to her children, too.
She had a sense of humour. She laughed. She was a drop-dead beauty. She could kick her leg up over her head when she danced the tango. She'd put on an Al Jolson or a Broadway musical LP and dance across the living room floor.
How hard it is to marry those images with others of anger and aggression, never mind the "thing" she has now become.
My dad visits her every day for up to 10 hours. We think he's a saint. I'm in another city, and I beg him to visit her for an hour, but not live in this nursing home that smells of piss..
He insists he is doing what is right. He wants to be the loyal husband.
A tad late, I think, many years later.
Then he meets his lady.
He still visits my mother every day — this wonderful woman he's seeing makes sure of that. She is respectful of my mother, his wife.
And best of all, he has her, he has a life, and his friend is full of life and love for him.
But my sister, Elainethinks my dad is betraying my mother and his marriage. So she calls a meeting with the staff psychiatrist at the nursing home.
The psychiatrist puts an end to this notion with a brush stroke: our mother is so mentally incapacitated at this point, she has no idea whether my father is even visiting her. There is no reason he can't enjoy life.
Then the psychiatrist does something astonishing: he turns on my father — the same man to whom he's just given this support for a richer life and asks him a question so simple that we are stunned. He asks, "Why?" Why did he do the bidding of a woman who was so clearly troubled? Why did he beat his children at her command?
With one word, I realize my father wasn't a man obliged to follow her bidding, but chose to hurt his children so that he could live in peace. He sacrificed us to stop her from arguing with him.
I'm thunderstruck. The man we thought of as our saviour is actually the guard at the concentration camp, the guy who pulls the trigger because he is told to, the guy who has no responsibility for the scars his children will bear, scars that insecure and abused children bear throughout their lives.
My father doesn't answer. We all wait. We sit silently. The psychiatrist presses him again. No answer.
Over the next few years, I try to figure out how to approach my father with this question. I can't believe I haven't thought about it from this perspective.
My father, I realize, is one of those guys everyone in the office likes. He's funny, social, bright. But he doesn't have that core of inner strength that says: stand up and fight for what you believe in.
Stand up and fight for your children.
So I'm standing beside his coffin, and I lean over, hug him, and cry. He's not the invincible guy wielding a belt. He's a man with weaknesses, flaws, and a sense of preservation that, sadly, outweighed his obligation to his children.
He's human.
And he loved us. Of that much I'm sure, all these decades later.
I straighten up and look down to see that I've left a blotch of mascara on his white shirt.
My sweet older brother comes into the room and puts his arm around me. We look down at our father, who looks like he is having a good Saturday sleep-in and could be awakened any moment, and Brent says, "Should I get the ice-cold face cloth, or should you?"
We scream with laughter, and our siblings come in, completely bewildered. And we are, for that moment, one happy family.
From Exit Laughing: How Humour Takes the Sting Out of Death, edited by Victoria Zackheim, published by North Atlantic Books, copyright © 2012 by Victoria Zackheim. Reprinted by permission of publisher.


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Rockbox mail archiveSubject: Re: Hard drive size limit?
Re: Hard drive size limit?
From: Ronald Teune <rtwolf_at_gmx.net>
Date: 2005-10-12
IIRC the limit is 128 GiB, or 131 "hard drive manufacturer GB's"
On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 21:13:53 +0200, Neon John <email@example.com> wrote:
> My 80 gig JBR is full and I don't want to delete anything. I'm
Page was last modified "Jan 10 2012" The Rockbox Crew

subset: commoncrawl


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Once you have made the decision to invest your hard-earned money in a property for your business or a home for your family, you deserve to know that your contractor is going to put his or her total effort into the project. No matter how many jobs he or she is currently doing, your project should be treated as important as the rest. Unfortunately, not all contractors hold themselves to high standards, and there are red flags you should watch for when choosing one to build for you.
Posts tagged "Construction Litigation"
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Columbus, OH 43206
Toll Free: 800-819-9958
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Topic : Twin bed headboards metal.
Author : .
Published : Thu, Nov 28th 2019 05:15 AM.
Format : jpg/jpeg.
Which one do you like best? Choosing the best bed will bring several different benefits to you. The first is the good night sleep. You should remember that there are many factors which make people get the good sleep, and the suitable bed becomes the main important factor to consider. Anyway, what things you must consider very well in dealing with the best bed? You need to make sure that you can get the worthy item, thus the money you would have spent will be used in the most appropriate way.
First of all you need to know why you want a new bed to begin with. Is it for a health issue? Are you looking to replace the entire bed or just the mattress? Whatever your reasons are, remember that it is best to consider your purchase as a whole and not as individual components since the mattress and the base work together. When choosing a bed due to issues with back pain, it is all the most important that you prioritize support as the bed you buy must be able to adjust to your body shape and support your correct posture. Depending on the severity of your back problem, you may need to use those memory foam mattresses that are so popular nowadays because they actually conform to your body shape and give you the proper support you need.
The first thing about choosing the best bed is that you should choose the most suitable one with your need. It can be about the material, shape, size, design, color, finishing, and so on. You can find several different kinds of beds out there in the market, such as the leather beds, wooden beds and also mattresses. Are they the only examples? No, they are not, since you can find headboards, metal beds and kid beds as well. The various beds come to the existence for nothing but fulfilling the various needs of many customers out there.


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What is Risk Management?
The phrase "risk management" is thrown around quite a bit in business circles, usually by members of upper management. It's an important part of the long-term business strategy. This is why it's usually not very well-known to people who focus more on day-to-day operations.
The process of risk management involves identifying risks and assessing the level of threat associated with each risk. In response to that analysis, the business takes proactive steps to limit risk exposure, monitor any ongoing threats, and create a plan to respond to adverse circumstances.
Remember, some risks are totally unforeseen. These can be geopolitical crises, unusually strong weather patterns, natural disasters, or other events that negatively impact the operations of the business. Good risk management accounts for not only the obvious risks, but the potential for an unexpected disaster.
Risk management is so popular within the business community that multiple standards have been developed to properly define it. The Project Management Institute has its own standard. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has a standard as well. Unsurprisingly, the International Standards Organization (ISO) has also developed a standard, identified as the ISO 31000 standard.
These standards, as defined, aren't simple. There is a lot that goes into risk assessment, and it varies based on the business process to which it's being applied. For example, risk management for a security firm will be different than risk management for a company that manages people's financial investments. In a similar vein, risk assessment for an industrial warehouse environment will be distinct from risk assessment for a shipping company.
There are several principles associated with risk management, but the underlying foundation is a constant. Any good risk management program must create value for the business. In other words, the business should realize a positive return on investment from its risk management activities.
There are several other components to excellent risk management. It should be a formal, documented part of ongoing operations. Risk management should always be a factor when evaluating strategic and tactical alternatives for the business. It should also be flexible so that it can adapt to the dynamics of business processes. Finally, risk management should be reassessed from time-to-time to ensure that all risk factors are accounted for and current contingency plans are realistic.
If you own a business, regardless of its size, then you are exposed to some level of risk. The question you should ask yourself is: Is it worth it to go on without any formal risk management plan in place? Here at Poms & Associates, we can assist you in achieving your goals with a comprehensive risk management strategy that is in line with your mission statement. Feel free to reach out to us today for more information.


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Birth Mother Connection
Birth Mother Connection is a group to connect, strengthen, and support birth mothers. Adoption is a courageous and beautiful choice but it can also be an emotional journey, especially for birth mothers. Please join us and connect with other women who have placed their child for adoption. We want to encourage and support you.


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This medication is typically used to relieve a runny nose or for a runny nose due to allergies (allergic rhinitis). Its effects can be felt within 1 hour.
This product is to be sprayed into the nostrils. To use:
Following its use, wipe the nozzle tip with a clean tissue or a smooth cloth.
This medication is typically used 4 times a day. However, your doctor or pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Use it regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects.
Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. It must be used regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Be sure to keep an adequate supply on hand.
If you forget a dose, use it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed one. Do not use more to try to catch up.
In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some side effects, notably:
Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing side effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your doctor or pharmacist. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.
As with most medications, this product should be stored at room temperature. Store it in a secure location where it will not be exposed to excessive heat, moisture or direct sunlight. Keep it out of reach of young children. Make sure that any leftover portion is disposed of safely.
It is important to tell the health professionals you consult:


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The Cardio Club & Delhi Dance Studio, located in Delhi, NY found a new home after over 20 years of operation. This 24-hour full service gym and dance center relocated to a brand new facility at 17 Elm Street in 2013. Owner, Raegan Reed and her husband Travis Reed purchased this building located on 17 Elm Street in September 2012, and began making their dreams come true. The building, formerly known as the Powerhouse, has been fully renovated and had the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on May 4th, 2013.
With the help of Bray Engineering, Meres Electric, Beveridge Plumbing & Heating, Constable Sheetrock , Travis Reed Construction was hard at work to get the building in working order. This included raising the roof eight feet to allow for two fitness studios upstairs, new floors, four bathrooms, locker rooms with showers and more! The NEW Cardio Club & Delhi Dance Studio nearly doubled its size and is roughly 6000 square feet!
The Cardio Club is a full-service, 24-hour facility with many offerings including a Kids Zone for potty-trained kids to hang while parents exercise, locker rooms with showers, a stretching room, "The Cardio Club Closet" where we sell Cardio Club apparel and accessories.
In the gym we have a machine to work each part of your body! We have ellipticals, a Concept 2 Row Machine, a strider, recumbent bike, spin bikes and several treadmills for cardio.
We have the hamstring curl, leg press, quad machine, squat racks, ab benches , tricep dip machine, a bicep curl, shoulder press, the cross cable machine with cables to work every body part, including rows; free weights in every size, calf raise, fly machine, bench for back, a punching bag, a pull up machine & pull up bar too.
Upstairs in the fitness studios we also have bosus, trampolines, free-weights, body bars, barbells, bands, bigs balls, little balls, kettlebells, ropes and more. There are two suspension trainers and a hanging silk for body work too.
The Reed's selected May 4th, 2013, for the grand reopening because it was Raegan's Father's birthday. "I owe much of who I am to my father, Bruce Koenig, and I wish he could have been there to see it all unfold. That day was dedicated to him", says Raegan. "The Cardio Club is a community hub and meeting place for all of Delhi and the Greater Delhi area to enjoy. We hope to make many memories here!"
"Raegan Reed is THE most motivating and dedicated instructor I have ever met! "
Over the past 25+ years I have participated in many gyms and been to dozens of fitness classes with dozens of instructors. I can say with complete assurance that Raegan Reed is THE most motivating and dedicated instructor I have ever met. Your health, wellbeing, and fitness are her #1 priority and motivator. She "takes you in" and cares for your fitness life and for you and without a doubt, does everything she is able to champion you to a life of health and wellness! She truly is dedicated to the people of her community."
-Mitzi Sackett
There are many classes at The Cardio Club. Everything from Yoga, BalletFit, Pound and DanceFit to Chisel, Yoga, Tabata, Cardio Kickboxing, Spin, Hip Hop Abs and more! We also offer dance classes for ALL ages, Tumble for ages 3-7, Jiu Jitsu for teens and Adults and Karate for kids age 5 & up! The facility offers a great backyard that is used for outdoor workouts, community events, fundraisers and more!
In addition to the Cardio Club and Delhi Dance Studio, there is Viafore Family Chiropractic, a massage therapist and a wellness coach!


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Use the Sales and Marketing Workbook to do better planning for your business. It's perfect for ideas and organization as you define your business goals.
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Tri Talk Tuesday–Triathlon. The Swim and 3 Essential Swimming Drills.
Triathlon. The Swim. I have to admit even though I have been having ongoing troubles with my back my body is welcoming the forced break from the pounding of running. Swimming has been my saving grace this winter. Being in the pool I am pain free as my body is supported by the water. Being … Read More »


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In the 17th and 18th centuries the main source of local news in many Scottish towns was the town crier.
In small towns this was often an elderly woman such as Dalkeith woman Beetty Dick.
She would announce local news or items lost. Townspeople paid Beetty to advertise their businesses – "tripe, piping hot, ready for supper the nicht at 8 o'clock" to advertise Jeanie McMillan's in North Wynd.
This etching, by John Kay, shows Beetty Dick carrying her 'clap'. This was a wooden plate and spoon used to draw attention to her proclamation.
Beetty lived from 1693 to 1773. She was a spinster living in the West Wynd (now Eskdaill Street) and later in Tolbooth Close. She charged a penny for an announcement.
John Kay was born near Dalkeith in 1742. He was a prosperous barber and also an artist in Midlothian and Edinburgh.
His portraits became famous, and 900 caricatures of local characters and celebrities have left a record of their appearance. Beetty Dick was engraved in 1809.
Photo: Midlothian Council Local Studies/Scran
We'd love to feature your favourite Midlothian object.
You can email a photo and details to email@example.com


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Professionals, Business Owners and Wealthy Couples
Well-to-do couples that are not considered "high profile" to the general public may still be high profile in their own discrete business niche or network. Such couples may co-own a prosperous business, or one or both spouses are professionals such as doctors, lawyers, architects, or involved in a prosperous endeavor that impacts the lives of their important employees and customers. This high net worth demographic is just as passionate to keep their personal lives and finances private from curious employees, customers, partners, investors and the hungry financial media trolling for stories.
Sarah T. Schaffer counsels and represents clients in matters
pertaining to high net worth divorce including:
• Business ownership by one or both parties
• Business valuation & division of business assets
• Real estate matters
• Pension and retirement valuations
• Division of pension and retirement accounts
• Division of stock options, restricted stock units, deferred compensation
• Discovering hidden assets
• Uncovering intentionally inflated liabilities
• Exploring and presenting tax consequences & tax saving options
• Prenuptial agreements
Should I Hire a Divorce Attorney if We Are in Basic Agreement?
If Considering Divorce and Your Situation Includes Any of the Following:
• A self-employed spouse making significant income
• Stock options or executive pay packages
• Multiple homes or real estate holdings
• A significant inheritance at some time by one or both spouses
• Assets such as art, coin / stamp collections, race cars, collectibles, memorabilia, etc.
• A prenuptial agreement
IF YES TO ANY – Contact an experienced high net worth Divorce Attorney.
Why? – Because you have a lot to lose if your divorce settlement is improperly drafted. Often just the tax consequences of a poorly thought-out and drafted settlement agreement will often more than pay for attorney fees from your annual income tax, property tax, and capital gains tax savings that can –if not properly anticipated and addressed– can significantly drain away your take home income and diminish your overall net worth.
No "Do Overs" – It is virtually impossible to get the Family Law Courts, the State of California and the IRS to provide you an opportunity for a settlement agreement "do over"! Get it right the first time…
Sarah's LL.M. in Taxation Often Benefit Her Clients
Ms. Schaffer's clients are the beneficiaries of Sarah's LL.M. in taxation as every financial aspect that is considered is carefully weighed for its current and long term tax consequences. In fact, the tax consequences (tax savings) can be structured to benefit the spouse with the greater income and simultaneously benefit the other spouse as well — such that both parties end up with an exceptional agreement that addresses the unique needs of each party going forward.
Problems With the Division of Marital Assets
Situations often arise wherein the actual value of an asset or the amount of assets is unknown. The owners and operators of businesses have the ability to divert money away from the business into private personal accounts, to friends, relatives or to use business funds to purchase high value items that can be liquidated later for cash. Executives often receive or have an agreement to receive future compensation, assets, or perks that are not evidenced on their past or current W-2 forms.
At the Law Offices of Sarah T. Schaffer, APC, we work with discrete investigators: Forensic Certified Public Accountants, Forensic Analysts, Appraisers, Business Valuation Experts, and Licensed Investigators to get an accurate picture of the assets of the couple to ensure that our client receives a fair and equitable division of the marital property.
High Net Worth Divorce Solutions
Property division involving high net worth marital estates are ripe with challenges in matters of property division, business ownership, and asset/liability division as a divorce settlement is hammered out. Certified Family Law Specialist, Sarah T. Schaffer, has extensive experience in working with complex property division, hidden asset discovery, and asset protection techniques that her clients appreciate. Ms. Schaffer's clients include high income professionals, corporate executives, business owners, business managers, and stay-at-home parents.
Consider Mediation or Collaboration
Keep Your Private Details & Finances Private – Depending on your unique circumstances, our law firm may be able help you resolve complex issues of property division, spousal support, and child support without involving the court where your lives become part of the searchable public record. We can take advantage of mediation or collaboration where, if both spouses are willing to come to certain agreements in a private setting, the details can REMAIN private. This does not preclude litigating specific isolated issues in court if the parties are absolutely deadlocked.
Privacy of Intimate Personal Details & Confidential Financial Issues
Sarah T. Schaffer has the ability to promote and negotiate one or all of the various property division issues that will come together as a single overall settlement agreement that will be necessary to complete a lawful divorce. Many of the intimate personal details and confidential financial issues can be kept out of court (and the public record) if both parties are agreeable except for any singular issues that, because of impasse or deadlock, might be litigated in a court setting.
Must Our Property Division be Exactly 50:50 of Each Asset?
High net worth marital estates generally involve complex financial assets that must be divided. But must each and every asset be divided exactly in half? In the spirit of California law, yes, but in practicality, no. In most cases, with lots of assets, the various properties and assets that make up the entirety of the marital estate can be divided subjectively based on the desires of each spouse; divided in a manner that is "accepted and agreed" by each spouse to be a fair split taking into consideration each parties' personal desires and circumstances.
Simple Example
Simple Example – The spouse who has been running the family business wants to continue doing so and wants the business operation to be his or her separate interest post divorce, while the other spouse is agreeable about the business because he or she is rewarded by taking, in exchange, sole possession of the primary marital residence and vacation home as equitable division of those specific assets.
The actual process of dividing complex and diverse assets requires properly evaluating each spouses' assets (determining whether the property is marital or non-marital), all common assets, all liabilities, any spouses' employee benefit and retirement plans, and uncovering any hidden assets or inflated liabilities (should one party be attempting to place his or her thumb on the scales of fairness) before drafting a workable settlement agreement that can be a win-win for each spouse.
Actual Agreements Are More Complex to Take Advantage of Significant Tax Savings
When dividing assets, unlike the simple example above, your settlement agreement will likely be structured to address the tax consequences that can make a significant monthly and annual difference resulting in a better, more abundant, financial picture for both spouses. Tax consequences might mean that the spouse earning the most money going forward will be allowed to take advantage of mortgage interest or avoid punitive capital gains. Similarly, while the lesser earning spouse, who will likely be receiving some spousal support, will have options they can choose in the design of the structure of the settlement agreement to take advantage of tax law for their circumstance and new life.
Negotiation or Litigation?
Whenever possible, the Law Offices of Sarah T. Schaffer, APC and its attorneys prefer to negotiate a fair and acceptable divorce settlement. Negotiating instead of litigating will better preserve the assets that are to be divided and awarded to each party. We encourage our clients to "pick their battles" if battles must be pursued at all. Litigating small, inconsequential issues can unnecessarily dilute the estate harming both parties. That said, we are experienced and skilled litigators who will stand up in court to protect our clients' interests when necessary.
At the Law Offices of Sarah T. Schaffer, APC, we provide our clients expert legal services tailored to your individual needs. Call us to see if we are a fit for you or to schedule an appointment. Call (858) 509-7907.


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Friday, April 24, 2009
April 24
So early this morning, before Daddy went to work, we (the children and I) headed out to a park we love that has several acres of wetlands and is a lovely natural habitat for our area.
Mama was thinking "caterpillars".
I was hoping to find some on some young milkweed plants, we discovered milkweed here with our friends last year.
I wanted to bring some home for a study.
It wasn't to be.But we did spy lots of butterflies, and had a lovely morning exploring our world.
Back at home...
there was trampoline play with Daddy
and Maddie picked flowers for her Mama.Always a favorite.
Even when she's encouraged by a beaming smile and swipes more from her Mama's garden.
Morph play.Dinosaur pc games.
Bike riding
and Experimenting with Sound.
Sound waves are cool.
And we made glass out of sugar.
We also tested out the idea that if you look through a heavy piece of paper with a pinhole in it, things appear larger. This theory conforms to the suggestion that the pinhole cuts down the amount of light that enters your eye, therefore the concentrated light waves make things (ants and such) look clearer and bigger than they really are.
When we have clear skies again, we'll definitely try this theory out using long tubes while viewing stars!
Lots of computer play for Maddie with Sid the Science Kid.
Sandbox play.
Of course. :)
Johnny Appleseed ("Outstanding!" said Trev.)while making (painting) Pick-Up Sticks
and cooking dinner.
Now one is in the bathtub,
and the other and his Mama are about to lie about and read the second Dinosaur Cove book.
And then we'll get some Peanut Butter Cookies in the oven.
Mmmmm. A delicious ending.
We'll see you tomorrow.
15 comments:
- Anonymous4/24/2009 7:38 PM
Were you a science teacher before becoming your kiddo's science unschooling facilitator? Really awesome stuff!ReplyDelete
I'm learning with them!!
Sid the Science kid is great, and so are pb cookies mmm love all the science going on!!ReplyDelete
how do you do it all? :)ReplyDelete
Painting pick up sticks - love it!ReplyDelete
Ending a full day with peanut butter cookies is a yummy/good idea :0)
Another day full of exploring.ReplyDelete
We've read the first two or three Dinosaur Cove books as well. Now we are going through the Dinotopis chapter books (currently reading "The Maze").
looks like y'all have a great timr! I can't wait to come back to read more about your adventures!ReplyDelete
My ears piqued when I read dinosaurs. I have one that loves dinosaurs. I'll have to check out those books.ReplyDelete
Just popping into your comment section here to say how much I've been loving following your days full of fun and learning and leisure and time. Soooo many good ideas!ReplyDelete
Thanks, Lynnie!ReplyDelete
I loved Johnnie Appleseed as a kid {well actually, I still do}.ReplyDelete
Such interesting goings on!
mmmmm, peanut butter cookies! Maddie reminds me of Araina, she picks flowers for me all the time(Fauna doesn't though, she just isn't a flower picker, she feels sorry for the flowers after they are picked).ReplyDelete
Lots of lovely explorings! That pin hole idea looks interesting. I'll suggest that here.ReplyDelete
Happy days!
Busy bees!ReplyDelete
That sugar into glass thing is a perfect thing to do with LO as a continuation of our volcano study. She is SO interested in how lava becomes rock/sand into glass. Thanks for posting this!
I think my little ones would love the idea of painting pickup sticks! Thanks for the idea!ReplyDelete
I love how your days just flow... no caterpillars to be found, but still just a lovely, creative day. Thanks for always being so inspiring :)


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Going Places: South Chilcotins
A look inside Emily Slaco's ladies-only rides with Tyax Adventures.
Emily Slaco is the nicest badass you'll ever meet, so much so that you might not even recognize how badass she really is at first. She guides for Tyax Adventures: ski trips in the winter and bike trips in the summer, has raced the Megavalanche and Trans-Provence, and is currently in Chile at Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico. On top of all of that, she's a genuine backcountry outdoorswoman who has been operating in the South Chilcotins, BC for many years. For the last couple Emily's been organizing a few women only multi-day guided rides in the South Chilcotins (and in 2017 she'll be leading a very special Juliana event in the area).
Britt Phelan is also one of the nicest badasses you'll ever meet—and she's an Olympic skicross competitor. Based in Whistler, BC for half of her year, and traveling the world for the other half the year, she skis (of course), skateboards, rides bikes, and spends an awful lot of time in the gym doing some of the silliest/craziest workouts you've seen. Really, check out her Instagram!
We teamed these two amazing women up together to give you a look at what a ladies-only South Chilcotins trip with Tyax Adventures looks like. Read on for Britt's take on the experience and a taste of what to expect when you roll with Emily and a group of lady-rippers into the deep woods of Canada.
Boarding the Floatplane
The Beginning
Going on a trip to the Chilcotins was an amazing experience. I didn't know too much about that zone prior to going there; I had only seen amazing landscape and bike photos from some like-minded adventure enthusiasts that I followed on Instagram.
It was an odd feeling, but a good one, to leave Whistler during one the busiest summer days of the year (right before Crankworx Slopestyle). The craziness of Crankworx is always thrilling and exhausting, so leaving to the wilderness in such a peak busy time in Whistler felt like the perfect escape. Also, getting to go with such an amazing people made this an experience that I cherish.
To start, we drove two hours outside of Whistler on bumpy dirt roads and arrived at Tyax Lodge. There's a paved route to Tyax too, but the remoteness of Hurley pass offers the best route with the most incredible views—just be sure that you're prepared with four-wheel drive and good clearance because things get rough! Our float plane out to Lorna Lake was at 9am the following morning, so we camped out and awaited the start of our trip with excitement and anticipation.
Britt Ripping Through the Trees
Day One: Finding the Wild
26kms / 5-7hrs (575m climbing, 750m descending)
The next morning after a casual breakfast, Katie, Seb, Gary, and I loaded the bikes into the tiny float plane and took off on our three-day, hut-to-hut trip. The flight didn't take long, and we went straight over the mountains and terrain we'd be riding. It's not often you get a bird's eye view of the trails you'll be riding for three days!
After we arrived at our first camp, Seb said something that really stuck with me (and even 6 months later, I still think about it almost daily); he said, "all we have to do today is eat enough to bike all day". In a world so fast paced, internet and data reliant, with a million things to get done everyday, you inevitably become disconnected with yourself, and nature. It was the perfect reminder to slow down, enjoy the company you're with and your surroundings, and be super stoked that you are riding your bike in the wild on some unreal trails!
From Lorna Lake the trail was somewhat technical and required crossings of Big Creek. You're bound to get wet riding in the Chilcotins, so deciding whether to wade or take your socks off becomes less of a problem the further you ride. Eventually we made our way through the Graveyard Valley (with awesome views), up the big climb/hike-a-bike that was Elbow Pass, and then down a long, flowing singletrack descent surrounded by peaks and scree slopes straight to the open meadows of Bear Paw camp.
The long day on our bikes went by way too quickly. We saw all kinds of weather, and vegetation. Every mountain pass we went over was a completely different zone and style of trail. The unknown of what was over the next mountain kept things really exciting. The climbs were long and involved lots of hike a bike, but the descents were also long and very rewarding.
Route Finding
Day Two: From Bear Paw to Spruce Lake
30kms / 7-8 hrs (1055m climbing, 1250m descending)
The sun greeted us through the cracks in our canvas wall tent and it was time to start riding. Our second day started off a little like the first but before long we had climbed over 700m and reached an altitude where the weather can be really unpredictable. It's not unusual to get snowed on, even in the middle of summer, so you have to be sure to pack a waterproof layer at all time. We stopped at Trigger Camp a quick lunch and coffee (it's prepared for you on the Tyax trips!) and, if we had been feeling really ambitious, we could have jumped into the cold glacier water for a chilly swim. It wasn't long before we hit on the trail again and made our way through the rolling hills and the next few climbs on the way to our final camp.
Arriving at the huts at Spruce Lake after the long day on the trails was a good feeling. It's an awesome feeling to have a plan to go from point A to point B, accomplish that plan, and then get greet with hot beverages, snacks, and the chance to kick back and talk about how amazing the riding was and all the funny things that happened along the way.
The wall tents provided some of the best sleeps I've ever had. So good in fact, that Katie and I didn't even wake up when a float plane did a fly-by to drop off a bike part for a different group at our camp!
The next morning we'd wake up with the sun—no alarm, no emails to check, no worries or apprehensions—get our bike gear on and enjoy a few casual cups of coffee and hot breakfast, and then ride bikes all day to the next destination.
Hut Lunch on the Run
Day Three: Rolling Home
27kms / 7-8hrs (1091 climbing, 1656 descending)
The last day of riding was another incredible experience. Upon arriving back to Tyax, it felt like our mission had been a massive success. Everyone was happy and had thoroughly enjoyed our adventure into the wild. Dirty, smelly, and completely content.
After a great restaurant cooked meal at Tyax, we hit the road back to Whistler, and civilization.
As soon as we had cell service we were all back on our smartphones. I immediately looked up who had won the Slopestyle event at Crankworx, and then started digging through the small mountain of missed messages and emails.
I try to remind myself of how I felt riding my bike from camp to camp in the Chilcotins, to keep it simple, enjoy it. Being out in the vastness of the mountains in the Chilcotins gave me a sense of belonging to the great whole of which we are a part of.
Getting to explore the place gave me a taste of what I want to pursue in the future, and what I try to do every day. Be happy and love what I'm doing. I think this is why mountain biking is the fastest growing sport right now. It's pure enjoyment, and a means of transportation to escape and explore new breathtaking ground. Being out in the wilderness with no cell service, riding bikes all day, and all worries and pressures left behind.
If you're doing a guided, multiday trip with Tyax Adventures then a lot of the logistics are organized for you, all you'll really need, besides some basics, is a good attitude, a sense of adventure and the willingness to push through. It's worth the effort, trust me!


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Everybody will experience a tragic moment at one point in his or her lives.
That moment doesn't have to define you!
When you are out and about in public, and you see that kid or adult who looks different, or speaks different, or behaves differently, don't stare. Did they ask God to make them who they are? No. Did they do something wrong to be considered different? No. These unique and exceptional people have the right to live their lives just as you and I do. They just have to work harder for things that might come easy to you and me. However, I can guarantee you they have a gift that you'll find fascinating and possibly, envy. See, God created everyone with their own personality, quirks and interests. You and I are different. So why discriminate against someone? You are just as different as anyone else is. It might be tucked away and hidden, but you are different, too. Let's accept everyone. Let's be tolerant of each other's differences and not judge. You aren't hurting just that person by your lack of tolerance. You're hurting the individual's parents, friends, family, and even yourself.
I included a number of these resources in the back of Destructive Silence and Destructive Choices. I have provided these once again because so many women and men face domestic violence every day. It is hard for those who have not walked in the shoes of the victim to understand how difficult it is to gather the courage to finally leave. I applaud everyone who has taken that step, and I pray that someone who is reading this and going through a similar situation will take a leap of faith. You are not alone, and you do not deserve to be treated with anything but the utmost respect!
Alcoholism and codependency were thought to go hand in hand until recently. This addiction affects every race, religion, and social class. It is serious and can lead to immoral activity such as child abuse, domestic violence, assault, and more. Persons afflicted with the disease usually isolate themselves from their loved ones as well as the world around. Many people turn to alcohol to cope with grief and stress. When a spouse or parent drinks to cope, they are unknowingly putting a wedge between alcohol and the ones they love. This person becomes dependent on something innate to feed their need for comfort. People with codependency often form one-sided relationships, and it can be a learned behavior often from a dysfunctional family member. A dysfunctional family member can be deemed as chemically dependent, by either alcohol or drugs, victim of physical or sexual assault or untreated mental health. Most people who fall into these categories come from families who didn't deal with the issue they faced in a healthy way. These individuals are at risk of adapting by disengaging themselves from healthy relationships.
You are NOT alone!
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1.800.273.8255
Please learn the risk factors and warning signs so that you can help someone. When there are multiple risk factors, the risk of an attempt is much greater.
· Suicide.org's mission is to prevent suicides, support suicide survivors, and educate the public about suicide.
· http://www.suicide.org/index.html
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
· AFSP is the nation's leading organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes.
· http://www.afsp.org
You are NOT crazy and you cannot change your genetic material!
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder. Those who suffer from the disorder and are left untreated can have poor school and/or job performance, damaged relationships, unproductive lives that can all lead to suicide. The normal ups and downs that everyone experiences are much stronger, even severe.
International Bipolar Foundation
· International Bipolar Foundation's mission is to eliminate Bipolar Disorder through the advancement of research; to promote and enhance care and support services; and to erase associated stigma through public education.
· http://www.internationalbipolarfoundation.org
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
· NIMH's mission is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illness through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
· http://www.nimh.nih.gov
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
· NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of American affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for home for all of those in need.
Because it is NOT okay to hurt a child - they may hurt MORE than you realize!
· Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse
· Their mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused, neglected, and at-risk children. We focus our efforts on advocacy, prevention, treatment, and community outreach.
· National Child Abuse Hotline: 1800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Calls are taken 24/7.
It is NOT okay-There are NO excuses!
U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) and TTY 1-800-787-3224.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
· Providing advocacy, safety planning, resources and hope.
· http://www.thehotline.org/
· Domesticviolence.org offers information for those who have lived with abuse and those who are currently being abused.
· http://www.domesticviolence.org
Many abusers are so controlling their victims are not allowed to use the phone or internet. If you are in need to use the internet to report abuse and cannot get to a safe computer, both of the links above have quick access to the information you need. But remember, there is always a trail.
BE safe, but most of all, BE smart!
You do NOT need someone else to make you happy!
Co-dependency is an emotional and behavioral condition that affects an individual's ability to have a healthy relationship. It is also known as "relationship addiction" because people with codependency often form or maintain relationships that are one-sided, emotionally destructive and/or abusive.
Mental Health America
· 1-800-273-TALK http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/codependency
You do NOT have to use it to cope!
The main symptom that defines an alcoholic is if the person continues to drink once it's caused problems with work, relationships, drinking and driving occurring on a continued basis. If you have concerns, there are a number of resources out there that can help.
· Alcoholics Anonymous - www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
· Al-Anon/Alateen - www.al-anon.org
· National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health
· Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - www.samhsa.gov
You have options. You have support. You are NOT alone!
Centers for Disease Control offers resources for parents and teens from prevention to parenthood. CDC advocates a national campaign to prevent teen and unwanted pregnancies. You can find more information on the link below.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services can help you find a family planning clinic. Use the link below.
Report crimes against children!
24-Hour HOTLINE 1.800.THE.LOST (1.800.843.5678)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
· NCMEC is the leading nonprofit organization in the U.S. providing assistance to law enforcement and families to find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization.
· http://www.missingkids.com/home
Being unique is a beautiful blessing!
If you or someone you know has a disability or learning difference, I cannot stress enough about the importance to learn the law and their rights. Do not expect information to fall into your lap.
Americans with Disabilities Act
· The U.S. Department of Justice provides information about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) online and through a toll-free
· ADA Information Line. 1-800-514-0301 (voice) 1-800-514-0383 (TTY)
· http://www.ada.gov
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
· For more than 2 decades, NICHCY has been the center providing information to the nation on: disabilities in children and youth; programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities; IDEA, the nation's special education law; and research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.
· http://nichcy.org after September 2014 visit http://www.parentcenterhub.org
Wrights Law
· For legal advice regarding Special Education, please speak to an attorney. Valuable facts regarding the law can be found http://www.wrightslaw.com


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Recording of the month
I Fagiolini / Robert Hollingworth
From such an inventive ensemble, we'd have expected something both imaginative and impressive to mark Monteverdi's 450th anniversary: I Fagiolini do not disappoint!
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Vadim Gluzman vn Angela Yoffe pf Lucerne SO / James Gaffigan
Whether in concerto or sonata, Vadim Gluzman proves himself a violinist of fine tone, calm control and virtuosity.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Göttingen Festival Orchestra / Laurence Cummings
Delightful playing from the Göttingen Festival Orchestra under Laurence Cummings, full of vitality and embodying a truly joyful sense of rapport.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Europa Galante / Fabio Biondi vn
There's an air of refinement and graceful confidence in these recordings of concertos by French Baroque composer Jean-Marie Leclair that just feels completely appropriate.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Alberto Reyes pf
It 'may be his best yet', says Jed Distler in praising the latest recording from Uruguayan pianist Alberto Reyes, a musician who evidently should be much better known to us all.
Soloists; Malcolm Martineau pf
Volume 2 in Malcolm Martineau's survey of Fauré's songs pairs some whole cycles with rarities, and follows the first in offering listeners some superb singing.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
The Orlando Consort
This wonderful disc – the latest in The Orlando Consort's exploration of Machaut – unites a programme of well-chosen works with performances (and a recording) of great eloquence and clarity.
The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge / Stephen Layton
A celebration of Stanford's link with Trinity – many of his works were written for the chapel – and of this impressive choir under Stephen Layton's leadership.
Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset
Leading Lully interpreter Christophe Rousset has assembled an excellent cast for a performance rich in exquisite singing, drama and dancelike momentum.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Véronique Gens sop Munich Radio Orchestra / Hervé Niquet
Admirers of Véronique Gens will know what to expect: namely powerful characterisation, emotional commitment and singing of deeply moving beauty.
Read the review | Download from Qobuz
Andrew Everard, Gramophone Audio Editor, writes: 'This is an almost ridiculously lush-sounding recording, as rich in instrumental tone as it is in the view of the soloist's voice, but it shines even more spectacularly in the hi-res Qobuz download, the 96kHz/24bit resolution letting it sparkle to thrilling effect. An indulgence? Maybe – but a captivating one in sonic terms as well as in the performances.'
Sols incl Ricciarelli & Domingo; Royal Opera, Covent Garden / Claudio Abbado
Opus Arte
An archive release from Covent Garden, 1975, featuring music-making from such greats as Plácido Domingo and, in the pit, Claudio Abbado.
Sergey Rachmaninov pf
A valuable glimpse into the sound world and artistry of one of history's greatest pianists.
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.


text: Who We Are Company History Contact Us News & Events Consultants Travis J. Grulkowski, FCAS, MAAAPrincipal, Consulting ActuaryBrookfield, WI, USTel: +1 262 7842250E-Mail | Download bio | VCardBiographyPublicationsProfessional DesignationsFellow, Casualty Actuarial SocietyMember, American Academy of ActuariesEducationBachelor of Business Administration (1993)Double Major - Actuarial Science Risk Management and Insurance University of Wisconsin, MadisonCurrent ResponsibilityTravis is a principal and consulting actuary with the Milwaukee office of Milliman. He joined the firm in 1996.ExperienceTravis's area of expertise is ratemaking and loss reserving analyses for property and casualty insurance. He has experience in many lines of insurance, with a special emphasis on professional liability and commercial lines, including workers' compensation, general liability, and auto liability. He has also supported actuarial appraisals for mergers and acquisitions. Work at Milliman "I was offered a chance to come in, shake things up, create something." Work at Milliman


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If you are a subscriber to the JCSM (including members of the AASM), please login to access the journal.
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Subscribers can download and print full articles from current and past issues of the JCSM
Login to JCSM
Join the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and receive a subscription to JCSM with your membership
In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Apnea Definitions (SAD) task force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) redefines many of the respiratory rules found in the 2007 AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events. This task force labored over a two-year period, analyzing the recent literature pertaining to respiratory events and sensor technology, and striving to reach consensus on a new set of respiratory rules. The paper details some significant changes including a single definition of a hypopnea. In addition, there is now the option to score hypopneas as central or obstructive. There is also greater concordance between adult and pediatric scoring rules for various respiratory events. (Please refer to the forthcoming new version of the scoring manual for the final version of the rules for scoring respiratory events.) As the AASM Board of Directors worked through adopting these changes, significant consternation was raised about adopting a singular hypopnea definition using 3% oxygen desaturation with or without arousals since the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) still uses only a 4% desaturation definition. The AASM sent a letter to CMS in July asking them to consider changing their criteria based on this new document. As of the writing of this editorial, we have not received a response from CMS. We realize that for the time being, this will create some problems for labs that have not been using the 3% rule; however, we are hopeful that soon enough, there will be one agreed upon rule for both clinical, CMS, and research studies. Congratulations to the SAD task force for all their hard work on this project.
With the development of new respiratory rules by the SAD task force underway, the AASM Board of Directors began to grapple with how to update the scoring manual. Because of the need to be flexible for future changes, a decision was made to convert the printed scoring manual to an online product. An online version has several advantages: it can be easily updated in response to new evidence and member inquiries; it is accessible from a variety of locations using smartphones, tablets, and computers. The online version allows for more detailed and colorful graphics, and the timely inclusion of answers to frequently asked questions. The board approved a Scoring Manual Committee with members chosen for their expertise applicable to the different sections of the scoring manual. The 2012-2013 members include: Richard Berry, chair; Charlene Gamaldo (legs); Bradley Vaughn (EEG); Carole Marcus (pediatrics); Rita Brooks (AAST representative); and Susan Harding (breathing). In addition to moving the manual online, the mandate of the task force is to, on a regular basis, review and update the AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events to ensure it is current with AASM practice parameters, clinical guidelines, and policy, and addresses the evolution of clinical literature and technology.
In order to make timely and appropriate changes, the Scoring Manual Committee will, at minimum on a quarterly basis, review inquiries from Manual users including but not limited to: individuals, sleep centers, industry representatives, and government agencies. The new scoring manual e-mail (firstname.lastname@example.com) will provide a conduit for stakeholders to submit their questions and comments. The Scoring Manual Committee will hold a face-to-face meeting at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, and when deemed appropriate by either the committee or the Board of Directors, a member forum will be held at the annual meeting. On an annual basis, the Scoring Manual Committee will be tasked with providing a critique of the rules by individual section. Such a review will include requests from users for revisions of the text. Some years, the Scoring Manual Committee may simply indicate that the rules remain valid and supported. Other years, the critique will include suggestions for clarification, minor modifications and/or major revisions of scoring rules.
In the case of major revisions, AASM staff will evaluate the proposed rules in need of change and institute a formal literature search for relevant materials. The results of the search will be analyzed by the Scoring Manual Committee and presented to the board as evidence along with a new set of rules. All additions, deletions, changes, corrections and explanations will require board approval prior to implementation. Acceptable evidence to make changes may include published research in peer-reviewed journals. Such research may have been financially supported by government, industry and/or public or private foundations. Anecdotal evidence such as testimonials from users of novel technology may be considered as well. The Scoring Manual Committee may request supportive information from users advocating major revisions. It is hoped that this process will allow flexibility in updating rules as new technologies, studies, and information become available.
The AASM Board of Directors has decided to charge an annual subscription fee of $25.00 for electronic access to the scoring manual. The easiest way to subscribe will be with the membership dues renewal and could be either an individual subscription or a center subscription, meaning all who work in a center would be permitted access. Subscriptions will run on a calendar year and will be formatted for regular monitor as well as tablet/mobile-device viewing. Each time the journal is updated, it will receive a new version number which should be used for referencing. Older versions of the manual will continue to be accessible with the annual subscription.
We hope that you will find all these changes advancements in the AASM's desire to remain relevant and on point with emerging technologies and research.
The authors have indicated no financial conflicts of interest.
Collop NA; Tangredi MM; Berry RB. Not SAD at all: new scoring rules and an online scoring manual. J Clin Sleep Med 2012;8(5):621-622.


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Our CEBA programme has been developed to meet the demands of today's current and aspiring global business leaders. It has been developed by Salford Business School (SBS), who have just recently won Business School of the Year Award 2014, to give professionals a strong understanding of the core business principles and the skills required to be successful in business and beyond. The CEBA is a blend of academic principles and practical insights to provide a rounded and deep insight in to the business environment. It has been designed specifically to engender the key skills that employers look for in their senior management.
Executives and Managers of all levels often use the CEBA as a springboard since it focuses on the key four pillars of today's business; strategy, marketing, finance and human resources. It has been designed to foster a broad range of business skills that are in high demand across all areas of industry. Delegates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and tools to operate effectively in today's rapidly changing global business environment. This course will leave delegates with the confidence to implement key business skills helping to excel in their professional life and adding significant value to their current employers/businesses and themselves.
This programme is highly participative, focusing on real business and industry issues. The programme is designed to give you a critical understanding of the key competency areas required for success within business– enabling you to make more informed and commercially viable strategic decisions. The business simulation is the vehicle through which we maximise the competency development and ensure ideas on strategic implementation can be tested and appraised.
The course has two main themes – 'Managing the competitive environment' and 'Managing organisational resource' – you will study these two options in depth:
This module aims to develop knowledge of the major areas of business external to organisations and to develop an understanding of how such aspects can influence senior management strategic decision making. As such, the relationships and interdependencies of strategic management, marketing and economics, and how these are key to managing a successful organisation are considered and analysed.
This module aims to develop knowledge of the major areas of business which underpin the internal configuration and management of organisations. As such, the relationships and interdependencies between the keys areas of Human Resource Management, Organisation Theory, Finance and Operations Management are analysed in order to develop a holistic understanding of general management within the contemporary organisation.
The CEBA is an ideal option for executives who are seeking to improve their knowledge across a wide spread of advanced skill sets. It offers delegates a challenging and rewarding experience that will equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in business in 2014 and beyond, including:
To view more information & to register your space, please click here.


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Hello everyone! It's Sunday, and I'm mid-way through a book so no reviews, but I still wanted to post! Thus, I decided to talk about 10 popular books I have not read and why. A lot of people have done this tag, but I got this idea from ABookUtopia, and you can click here to watch her video.
First up is the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin. Frankly, I find this book series intimidating – 800 pages per book? 5 books so far? I honestly don't think I can commit to a series for that long! I have some friends that have read all of the series so far and they adore it, so – as bad and anti-book as it sounds – I have resorted to watching the TV show (which, might I add, I am really enjoying so far.) I feel bad for not giving them a go, but maybe I will in the future. There's also the fact that there's so much I want to read, and in 800 pages, I could knock 3 other books of my to-read list. I guess I'm simply just not motivated enough to read them.
Next up is the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. Last time I said that I was too old for a book, I was told otherwise, so instead I'll say this book series is aimed at those a little younger than myself. I still hear a lot of people talking about this though, and how much they loved it, but again – I find no reason to pick it up and read it. I actually heard about the film franchise before the books, and wasn't attracted to it then, and so wasn't attracted to the book series either. Generally, I feel as though I should have read this book at a younger age if I wanted to read it at all.
Last time I spoke about this book series, your comments encouraged me to want to read it. The Harry Potter series is probably the most popular book series in the world, and I was mistaken in thinking it was only for children. Thus, I have actually decided to read this series via Amazon's Lending Library, for the books are available there for me to read (I am a Prime member). I am actually quite excited to read this series, and I feel bad for not reading it yet! It's next on my to-read list, and I'll hopefully start on it tomorrow or the day after. I won't be marathon-ing this series, though, mainly because I don't want to get bored of it, but also because the Lending Library dictates you can only borrow one book a month. Thus, one HP book a month it is for me, and I should be finished by February 2016!
I see this book series floating around BookTube and the blogsphere quite a lot, and frankly, it doesn't interest me at all. What I've heard about The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead actually reminds me of the Gossip Girl book a lot, and so saying I don't want to read them is slightly hypocritical since I've been reading Gossip Girl. However, Gossip Girl + vampires? It doesn't appeal to me. I'm not completely ruling this series out, though, so leave me a comment if you read it, and what you thought! Should I give this series a chance?
The Lunar Chronicals by Marissa Meyer has been on my radar and to-read shelf for far too long! I am absolutely dying to read this series, however I promised myself to not buy any more books until I've read everything I own – that's 18 more books until I'm allowed to purchase anything else (by my own ruling, yes, but I need to stick to it). Everyone who has read this book loves it, and I love the synopsis of Cinder, and the fact that the books are re-tellings. Everything about this book appeals to me, yet I can't read it yet! I'm dying here!
I adore The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, so you'd assume I'd read To All The Boys I've Loved Before straight after, right? Wrong! I actually don't know why I didn't pick this book up straight after finishing the TSITP trilogy, yet I simply didn't. And with the sequel being released recently, I'm more and more eager to read it! It's on my to-read shelf, and hopefully I'll get to it one day! Jenny Han's writing is so fun, and her books are a nice, easy read, so maybe I'll get around to it next time I go on holiday, or something. My birthday's coming up soon, too – anyone? 😉
Primarily, I was quite shocked when I read the synopsis for The Selection by Kiera Kass, because I'd had an idea for a novel exactly like it a week before! This is on my to-read shelf, but the more I look at it, the more I want to take it off, because the synopsis no longer appeals to me as it did when I first read it. However, it has very good ratings, and the majority of readers loved it. Thus, it's still on my to-read shelf, but this is probably a series I'll never get to. Leave me a comment if you've read it, and tell me what you thought!
As soon as I heard about Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, it had my attention. If you've read some of my past posts, you'll know I've recently been trying to wean myself into scary/thriller/dark books, and I feel as though this novel would be perfect for doing that. Plenty of the people who read it said was great and loved the incorporation of pictures, and so this is high up on my to read shelf. Getting around to reading it is the next obstacle!
Uglies by Scott Westerfield has been on my to-read shelf for as long as I can remember. The premise for this novel really interests me, and I definitely want to read it at some point, but it is again finding the time that is my problem. This book is definitely one like the books I used to be obsessed with – The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner – but I'd definitely like to get into dystopian novels more, because I really enjoyed going back to dystopia to read Shatter Me, and I feel as though this will be equally as entertaining.
Finally, last on my list is a very popular YA novel as of this year. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is supposed to be amazing, and so I jumped on the bandwagon at the start of the year by reading a sample. However, I got bored straight away, and didn't really give it a chance because I was reading a sample, and so I didn't pay anything or feel obliged to read it. Around a month later was when this book really got big, and I felt silly for not reading it beforehand. Nevertheless, I still go on having not read this book, with mixed feeling as to whether I want to or not. Have you read this novel? Tell me in the comments whether you think it's worth me reading it and if you enjoyed it as much as everyone says!
So, there was 10 popular books I haven't read. Have you read all of these books? Which of these if your favourite? What is a popular book you haven't read? Tell me in the comments! Until next time!


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Growing Your Social Media Audience and Community
Attract the right followers to grow your online community
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Video Transcript
When you're formulating strategies for how to grow your online community, it's important to ask yourself the right questions. "How do I engage followers that might derive value from my online community" instead of "How do I engage as many people as possible" is a good place to start. We've all seen Facebook and Twitter accounts with high follower numbers and low engagement rates. That's because not all followers are created equal, and it's better to have a small but dedicated community than a large one who's not interested in what you offer and doesn't align with your company's mission and values.
So how do you find the right audience? First, reach out to your offline community and encourage them to join your brand online. This could be your customers, people who've attended your events, as well as your partners and vendors. You can offer incentives to your existing customers to begin following you on Twitter, like a freebie or a discount on their next purchase. If your community is active on Instagram, encourage them to share photos of their new purchases with a branded hashtag, which can be easily searched by anyone who's interested in your products. And of course, always include links to your social properties in your emails, website, and any print materials you create - make it as easy as possible for people to connect with you where they hang out most.
Connecting with the right influencers can also help you attract the right following. Take the time to research influencers in your niche and analyze the conversations that are happening in their communities. If you see potential for alignment in values and interests, dedicate the time to build a relationship. Hosting and sponsoring events is a great way to make meaningful connections with the right people. For example, as an organic grocer, you may invite local vegetarian chefs for an open forum discussion on how to prepare nutritious vegetarian meals. As they announce this event to their networks, your shop can get on the radar of those who may not have known about it yet. And because you offer a product their followers are already interested in, this connection becomes more meaningful and memorable. The same principles apply when you're looking to partner with complementary businesses. For example, a healthy grocer would have a more fruitful partnership with a local gym than a local tire shop.
Lastly, find people who are advocating on the behalf of your brand already and make a point to reach out to develop a closer relationship. It may take some time to dig through social feeds and comb blogs for mentions of your company name, but it's time well spent since these fans are typically more than happy to amplify your messages and recommend you to their network.


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New guidelines about cholesterol levels and treatment were supposed to clear things up, but I'm just more confused.
Should I be taking statin drugs every day just because my LDL cholesterol number is high, which is "bad," and even though my HDL cholesterol is also high, which is "good."
Under these new guidelines, nearly half the U.S. population would be using statins to stave off heart attacks and strokes, according to Dr. Nortin Hadler, a UNC Chapel Hill professor of medicine and microbiology/immunology.
In a recent article for Scientific American, Hadler and his co-author remind us that these drugs are not without potential side effects and will offer no substantive benefits to many.
The article, entitled "How Clinical Guidelines Can Fail Both Doctors and Patients," says the authors of the new guidelines "were faced with robust data that demonstrates a correlation between cholesterol level and clinical outcomes over time. But despite the substantive science behind the connection, the correlation is weak. The guideline neglects to emphasize this fact."
Hadler, widely known for writing books such as "Worried Well" and "Citizen Patient," is skeptical about much of the treatment that medical doctors recommend today, including such broad prescribing of cholesterol-fighting drugs.
Here's is a link to the piece co-authored by Hadler and Dr. Robert McNutt, a former editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Journal of General Internal Medicine. McNutt is a professor of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin and Rush University Medical Center.
Happy New You in 2012
7 years ago


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"There's a way of playing safe, there's a way of using tricks and there's the way I like to play which is dangerously where you're going to take a chance on making mistakes in order to create something you haven't created before."
He was a musical legend who never lost his human touch. He was a groundbreaking musician whose innovation dazzled the world, but whose dedication to social justice and human rights forever changed it. He was a first in many ways, but always the last to draw attention to his own achievements. From a childhood spent on the ranches of the Central Valley, to his student days wandering the halls of University of the Pacific, to the extraordinary career that spanned decades and continents with equal audacity, Dave Brubeck led a life that took chances and created a sound and a legacy that the world had never seen before.
Explore this section to learn more about Dave's remarkable life and accomplishments.
Dave and Iola Brubeck
Dave and his wife Iola made for a formidable duo, both professionally and personally. Married from 1942 until Dave's death in 2012, Iola was Dave's partner in every way. Iola passed away in March of 2014; take a look at photos from their remarkable life together >>


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How to Make Summer Citrus Soap
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wikiHow is a "wiki," similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has also been viewed 21,812 times. Learn more...
A wonderfully refreshing soap that brings the scent of citrus into your bathroom routine.
- 2 ounces beeswax
- 15 drops orange essential oil
- 10 drops lime or lemon essential oil
- 1/4 cup finely grated lime peel
- 1/2 cup finely grated lemon or orange peel
1Follow the recipe for natural vegetable soap.
2At the point where the olive, coconut oils and vegetable shortening are being heated, add the beeswax.
3Add the remaining essential oils and peels to the melted mixture after the lye mixture is added, when the consistency is like thick gravy.
4Continue stirring while making additions, then pour the soap into the mold of choice. The simplest mold is a wax-coated, cardboard milk container.
5To make bars, pour the solution into a rectangular flat pan large enough to make the soap 1/2" to 2" thick.
6When the soap has had 24 hours or more to cure, use a hot knife to cut it into squares and remove it from the pan.
7After molding and shaping the soap, let it sit for 2-3 days in a dry place to cure. Once cured, it does better if wrapped.
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Things You'll Need
- Saucepan
- Wooden spoon
- Rubber gloves
- Soap mold
- Hot knife
- Wire cooling rack
- Wrapping
Article Info
Categories: Citrus Cosmetics | Soap Making
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,812 times.
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