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These terms of use ("Terms of Use")are provided on behalf of Operation Broken Silence (also referred to as "we," "us" and "our"). They form an agreement between us and you that governs your use of and access to our website, www.operationbrokensilence.org (the "Website") and our products and services (each, a "Service,"and collectively referred to as the "Services"). You must be an individual aged 18 or older to use this Website. By using the Website or the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use.
These Terms of Use also document our data protection policy and the rights of individuals that we engage with ("Data Subjects") with respect to personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"). If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms of Use, you must not access or use the Website or the Services. If these Terms of Use conflict with another agreement you have entered into that also applies to the Services offered on the Website, the other agreement will take precedence as it applies to the Services, unless it specifically states otherwise.
Website Use and Restrictions
You may use the Website only for lawful, personal, informational, and non-commercial purposes. You agree to abide by all applicable laws and regulations in your use of the Website and the Services and not to use the Website to do any of the following:
- Disseminate any unlawful, harassing, abusive, libelous, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, indecent, or otherwise objectionable material.
- Violate any applicable law or instruct another to do so.
- Disrupt, Interfere, or restrict any other user's use and enjoyment of the Website.
- Register for an account on behalf of an individual other than yourself or misrepresent your age or identity, including by impersonating us or any member institution or staff thereof.
- Transmit or enable the sending of any advertising or promotional material, including any "junk mail", "chain letter" or "spam" or any other similar solicitation.
- Provide any investment advice or otherwise violate applicable securities laws, or undertake or promote other commercial activities or sales, such as contests, sweepstakes and other sales promotions, or advertising.
- Upload, distribute, or attach files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer or network.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any portion of the Website or the Services, the servers on which the Website or Services are stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Website or the Services.
- Attack the Website or Services via any type of denial-of-service attack.
Privacy and GDPR
Our Privacy Policy and applicable online security and privacy practices apply to your use of the Website and the Services, and their terms are incorporated by reference and made part of these Terms of Use. To view our Privacy Policy, click here.
Your privacy is important to us and we take comprehensive and legally-required measures to protect all processing of personal data. We gather and process your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and in accordance with the relevant data protection laws and regulations.
Within the EU/EEA, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to such data. In accordance with applicable data protection regulations, we, or a company otherwise specified, are the data controller and are responsible for the processing of your personal data as set out below. If you have any questions about this information, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights as set out below, please contact us via the contact details listed below.
Collection and Processing of Personal Data
The GDPR defines "personal data" as any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (a 'Data Subject'). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, image, personal identification number, contact details, location data, an online identifier, or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person. Personal data processing refers to any action that we or a third party that we have engaged take with the personal data, such as collection, registration, and storage.
Personal data may only be processed for specified and explicitly stated purposes and may not be subsequently processed for any purpose that goes beyond these purposes. If you have any questions about how we process your personal data or want information about and contact details for the designated data protection officer/role responsible for our personal data matters, please contact us by e-mail or telephone via the contact details below.
Legal Basis for Processing and Storage Period
We process your personal data when necessary for the performance of an agreement with you and when we have another legitimate and justifiable interest in processing your personal data, such as an interest in developing our website or our products and/or services. If we process your personal data for any purpose which, according to applicable law, requires your consent, we will obtain your consent before commencing with such processing.
The data we collect in accordance with the above is deleted when the purposes of the processing have been completed.
Restrictions on the disclosure of personal data
We may appoint external partners to perform tasks on our behalf, such as providing technology services or helping with marketing. The performance of these services may mean that our partners, whether located within and outside of the EU/EEA, are able to gain access to your personal data. Companies that process personal data on our behalf must always sign an agreement with us obligating them to use lawful and adequate levels of protection of your personal data. For partners located outside the EU/EEA, as applicable and required by law, these measures include executing agreements with our partners that include the standardized model clauses for data transfers adopted by the EU Commission and which are available on the EU Commission's website.
We also may disclose your personal data to third parties, for example the police or other public authorities, if it concerns criminal investigations or if we are otherwise required to disclose such data by law or public authority decision. We will not disclose your personal data to any extent other than described in this section.
Your rights and the right to lodge a complaint
Under the applicable data protection legislation you are entitled, at any time, to request access to the personal data that is processed about you, to have erroneous personal data corrected, to request that we shall stop processing and delete your personal data, to request that the processing of your personal data is restricted, to exercise your right to data portability, to withdraw consent to particular processing (where such consent has been obtained) and to object to the processing of the personal data. In such event, please contact us via the contact details listed below. You are also entitled, at any time, to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority if you consider that your personal data has been processed in contravention of applicable data protection legislation.
Third-Party Links
By clicking on certain links on the Website, you may be transferred to another website owned by a third party. Please be aware that their data privacy practices may differ from ours and our Terms of Use do not apply. We are not responsible for or have any control over any information that is submitted to or collected by other companies or their websites. We recommend that you review the policies and terms of use associated with third party websites and online services prior to providing them with any personal information. We hereby disclaim any liability of any nature whatsoever for any information or products offered by third parties, their websites, or online services.
Your Account
You will be required to create an account to access certain parts of the Website and use the Services. When you create an account, you will be required to pick a username and a password. You agree to (i) maintain the confidentiality and security of your username and password, (ii) promptly update any information you provide to us in connection with your account and to keep it accurate, current and complete, and (iii) be fully responsible for all use of your account and for any actions that take place using your account. If there has been any disclosure or unauthorized use of your account, you agree to notify us promptly of such disclosure so we can take appropriate security measures.
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, for any reason, at any time, with or without notice to you, to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Website (or any part thereof) or to terminate your username and account and/or your access to the Website (or any part thereof). Under no circumstances shall we be liable for any loss, damage, liability, or expense incurred or suffered which is claimed to result from your use of the Website or Services made available on the Website, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption, or delay with respect thereto.
Intellectual Property
All information incorporated within the Company's Website including all logos, text, graphics, images, video clips, scripts, page headers, programs, and content associated with our products and Services, are owned by us, licensed by us, or subject to any copyright, patent, trademarks, registered trademarks, or other intellectual property rights. We reserve our rights in all of the foregoing to the extent that they are protected by intellectual property rights and treaties worldwide.
You may not copy, imitate, transmit, reproduce, publish, license, transfer, sell, or use any of our or our licensors' intellectual property, including the Website and its content, without prior written consent. We and our licensors' retain exclusive right, title and interest in and to the Website, any content thereon, our products and Services, the technology related to our products and Services, any and all technology and any content created or derived from any of the foregoing.
General Disclaimer
Your access and use of the Website, the Service, and their contents is at your own risk. We make no representations or warranties, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy and timeliness of the contents of the Website or the Services and assume no responsibility for the consequences of their use. If we are informed of any inaccuracies in the material on this Website, we will attempt to correct the inaccuracies as soon as reasonably possible.
We also shall not be liable for and give no warranties to you or any third party as to the suitability of the Website or Services for a particular purpose. The Website, Services, and all of their contents therein are provided "as is" and "as available" without any warranty or guarantee that the Website will always be available, fault-free, or completely secure. We do not warranty or guarantee that the Website is free of viruses or other harmful components and we will not be liable to you if our Website is unavailable for any reason at any time or for any period. Your access to this Website may be restricted occasionally to allow for repairs, maintenance, or the introduction of new facilities or services.
Limitation on Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we and our affiliates, contractors, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, or representatives exclude all liability and responsibility whether in contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or other claim for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages resulting, directly or indirectly, from any use or inability to use the Website or Services. This includes any damages caused by or resulting from any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, effect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, loss of data, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alteration or use of records related to the Website or the Services or any website operated by any third party. No action arising out of or pertaining to these Terms of Use may be brought more than one (1) year after the cause of action has arisen.
As a condition of your use of this Website, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Operation Broken Silence and our affiliates, partners, officers, employees, agents, representatives, suppliers, licensors, and content and service providers from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of these Terms of Use or any activity, including negligent or wrongful conduct, by you in connection with your use of this Website or the Services. You will cooperate as fully as reasonably required in the defense of any such claim or demand. We and any third party involved in creating, producing, or delivering the Website or Services reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, at your expense, and you will not in any event settle any such matter without our prior written consent and any such third party.
Material From Users
All material and communications transmitted to or posted on the Website in connection with your use of features on the Website will be considered non-confidential. We have the right to use such material for commercial or non-commercial purposes except as specifically agreed or required by law. All information submitted to us via this Website shall be deemed and remain our property and we shall be free to use, for any purpose, any idea, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained in information you provide through this Website. When using the Website, you may not provide any material or information that is illegal, may be perceived as offensive, constitutes marketing, or may otherwise be perceived as inappropriate. Such content will be removed from the Website and we also reserve the right to terminate services on the Website that you may have joined.
In the event that material and communications set to us through the Website contain personal data, the details set forth in our Privacy Notice and below shall apply.
International Users
The availability of products and services described on this Website, as well as associated fees, charges, interest rates, and balance requirements may differ among geographic locations. We make no representation that the Website or the Services are appropriate or available for use in all locations or by all users and, whenever possible, has prohibited use of certain Website features and Services by anyone located outside the U.S. The information provided on this Website is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation or which would subject us or our affiliates, employees, directors, officers or agents to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country.
By using the Services, you consent to the collection, storage, processing, and transfer of your information in and to the United States, pursuant to applicable law and according to our Privacy Policy. Note that not every country offers the same level of privacy protection as you may have in your home country. We commit to uphold the privacy protections explained in this Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, and any data protection laws that apply to our Services.
The Website and the Services are controlled and operated by Operation Broken Silence from our offices within Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America. These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Tennessee, without giving effect to any choice of law principles.
California Rights
If you are a California resident, California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits you to request information regarding the disclosure of your PII by us to a third party for the third party's direct marketing purposes. We do not share, sell, rent, or trade your PII with any third parties for promotional purposes. To make such a request, please refer to the "Contact Us" section below.
Children's Privacy
The Services do not target or knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of 13 without prior parental consent, except as permitted by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"). If we learn that we have collected personal information from a user under 13, we will promptly delete personal information collected from that user.
We reserve the right for any reason to update these Terms of Use at any time without notice to you. Any updates or modifications to these Terms of Use will become effective immediately upon the posting thereof on this Website. Please review these Terms of Use from time to time as your continued use of the Website following any updates will constitute your acceptance to any such changes to the Terms of Use. If you do not wish to accept the new Terms of Use, you should not continue to use the Website.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns regarding the Website, the Services, or these Terms of Use, please contact us at:
By Mail: Operation Broken Silence, PO Box 770900, Memphis, TN 38177–0900
Or you may submit questions, comments, and requests to our web form located at: https://www.operationbrokensilence.org/contact/
We reserve all rights not expressly granted under these Terms and Conditions, and no other rights are granted by implication or estoppel or otherwise. The headings in these Terms and Conditions are for convenience only and have no legal or contractual effect.
Effective May 24, 2018.


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When I first read about the exercise, I knew I wanted to try it.
All you do is to pick a word that embodies something you want more of in your life, like courage or confidence, joy or lightness. Then, for three days, you keep that word in your mind. (The exercise recommends writing it on your hand or attaching it to your clothing.)
I chose "lightness." If there's something I want more of, it's to be more relaxed, to treat the little things as little things, and to surf uncertainty with a smile instead of intense determination.
I was going to an amusement park with three of my children, so that seemed liked a good time to practice. I wanted it to be fun, and yet I could sense I was tense just getting out the door. So, throughout each day, I just kept asking myself, "What would it mean to be light in this situation?"
When there was traffic that made a three-hour drive much longer, I thought of lightness, looked at the beautiful surroundings, and talked with the kids.
When my plans to be at a certain place at a certain time fell through, I reminded myself that such things happen all the time. Instead of getting upset, I just made new plans.
When my youngest was complaining about something that seemed trivial to me but important to him, we came up with ways to make things better.
On the second day, I put my phone in a locker, and didn't think about checking it.
We rode all the rides, with the kids taking turns choosing the next one. When it was a water ride and I didn't particularly want to get wet, or a roller coaster I wasn't fond of, I thought What would it mean to be light in this situation? Then I smiled and got on the ride. It felt liberating.
On the last night, we stayed until the park closed. My pedometer said we walked for 12 miles, which must have been forty thousand steps for my little boy. We got ice cream afterwards to celebrate.
Of course, there were times when I forgot about lightness, and my habits took over. When it happened, I shook my head and committed to doing better next time.
I first discovered the exercise in a lovely, helpful book titled Pathways to Possibility and learned how apt the title was. Just keeping a word in my mind changed my perspective. Lightness was a choice, and it was a choice I made much more often throughout the three days.
I hope I remember that word. I hope you try the exercise too.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Ground Floor Concierge Club is the very first of it's kind in North America. Tailored for tenants who find their home in a Ground Floor Managed Rental Property the Concierge Club is designed to reward our tenants for their trust and continued loyalty the moment they move in.
Each year the rewards grow, as does your status in the Club.
Book an apartment viewing and we'll provide you with a welcome package and review your Concierge Club benefits from day one, and each year thereafter - as well as all the other ways we work to go above and beyond.


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BC: I love you guys soo much!
FC: Best Friends Forever and Always
1: Just Me!!
2: Forever and Always
3: "You're Stuck with me" | You've Been with me practically all my life | Dillon
4: New Friends can be just as Amazing as Old Friends | Brodi
6: Mck
7: We know each other so well, and speak each others minds | Just like Sisters
8: Megan
9: You always can make me smile Milly! | We've have some pretty Amazing memories!!
10: No matter what your still my best friend and I love yah!
11: Tiffany | Tiffany we may share the same name and at times thats the only thing we share, but we have had some pretty amazing times and I will never forget them!
12: Memories Last Forever
15: Love like Crazy
16: Don't Forget
19: Bloom And Grow


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26 Emerson Ave, PO Box 339, Hampstead, NH 03841
Phone: 603-329-5886
Fax: 603-329-4468
Everyone here at St Anne Parish extends our warmest greetings and
welcome to you
We hope that you will find our website informative, our parish
celebrations inspiring and our community welcoming. Hopeful you will be
fed in Word and Sacrament during our weekend liturgies in such a way
that you will want to be a part of our community, whether for a weekend or a
lifetime, and share the many spiritual, social and service outreach
experiences. Please explore these possibilities both in person and through
our website.
We are a vibrant community, first and foremost because of the many people like you who give of themselves and make the lives of others richer. We hope you will join us in sharing this experience through the gift of your time, your talents and your treasure.
We have many visitors at St Anne Parish, but we are hopeful you will take that next step and become a full and active member of our parish family.


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Once you have added the "Publish it" bookmarklet to your bookmark bar, you can use it to add content to the current online edition ( or offline draft) of your paper.li paper from anywhere on the web.Publishers of Pro papers can use the bookmarklet to add content to a Content Draft edition of their paper offline and publish when they're ready.
Adding images and videos to your current edition
See a video or an image you would like to add to your current online or offline draft ( Pro) paper? Click the "Publish it!" bookmarklet in your bookmark bar to select the image(s) or video(s) to the current online edition or offline draft ( Pro) of your paper.
Adding an RSS feed
If you have found a website that regularly publishes new articles that you would like to include in your paper, click the "Publish it!" bookmarklet to view whether the page offers an RSS feed. If you select the RSS feed to add to your paper, it is added as a permanent content source. Any time the webpage publishes a new article, it will be added to your paper.
How does it work?
Once you have found a page with content that you would like to add, click the bookmarklet. A pop up will appear, and depending what the bookmarklet detects on the page, we will provide options.
By default, the bookmarklet appears on the right side of your page. If you would like to move the screen to the left, click on the arrow in the title bar of the screen. Arrow will appear when you mouse over the title bar.
If we detect an article:
(1) tick the box next to the article title
(2) Select the Paper.li paper to which you would like to add the article in the drop down menu. If you have one paper only, the paper will already be selected. Remember that if you have enabled Manual Publishing ( Pro), you can add the article to your offline Draft paper, otherwise all found content is added to the current online paper.
(3) We assign a topic to the article based on our analysis of the article content. However, you may reassign the article to another topic based on the drop down menu, including the custom topic ( Pro) label you created.
(4) Click "add to paper". The article will be placed on your front page, in the headline articles section. You can reposition it from there.
If we detect images
(1) Click button on the bookmarklet.
(2) Going back to webpage itself, select the images you would like to add. For each image we detect, you will see a small blue rectangle on the top left corner of the image which says .
(3) Once the image(s) are selected, the photo(s) are marked: .
(4) In the drop down menu, click the paper to which you wish to add the image. If you have only one paper, the paper is already selected.
(5) Click green "add to paper" button on the bottom of the bookmarklet window.
If we detect an RSS feed
(1) Tick the box next to the RSS feed option on the bookmarklet
(2) Select the Paper.li paper to which you would like to add the article in the dropdown menu. If you have only one paper, the paper is already selected.
(3) Click "add to paper". The RSS feed will be placed in your content sources for the current edition and future editions. We will monitor this source for any updates and include them automatically to your Paper.li.
If we detect a video
If we detect a video, the bookmarklet gives you the option to add the video to your paper. (See below for example of a video detected on a page.) Note that depending on the share settings of the video, not all embedded videos on a page can be picked up by the bookmarklet.
The video will be found in the Videos section of your paper.
Find out more information about using the bookmarklet with a Content Draft!
Haven't taken the Pro plunge yet? Go PRO!
Updated: August 2 2017 Julia


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Shiitake Mushroom Croque Monsieur
- 4Servings
4 1/2 Tbs. butter, divided, plus additional soft butter for spreading
1 1/4 pounds shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1 1/2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups 1% milk
1/3 cup plus 8 tsp. finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
2 pinches ground nutmeg
8 slices country white bread
1 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese (3 ounces)
1 Melt 3 Tbs. butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and shallots, and sauté 10 to 12 minutes, or until mushrooms are deep brown. Season generously with salt and pepper, if desired. Transfer to plate to cool.
2 Melt remaining 1 ½ Tbs. butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir until mixture bubbles. Whisk in milk. Boil 1 minute, or until thickened, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 1⁄3 cup Parmesan and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside.
3 Butter 1 side of each of 8 bread slices. Place 4 slices buttered-side down on large baking sheet. Top each with ¼ mushroom mixture, then sprinkle each with ¼ cup Swiss cheese. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered-side up.
4 Preheat broiler. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 sandwiches, and cook 3 minutes per side, or until browned. Repeat with remaining sandwiches, and return sandwiches to baking sheet.
5 Spoon sauce over sandwiches, spreading to edges. Sprinkle each with 2 tsp. Parmesan. Broil 3 to 5 minutes, until bubbling and brown in spots, monitoring carefully. Transfer sandwiches to plates with spatula.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: per sandwich
- Calories: 622
- Carbohydrate Content: 61 g
- Cholesterol Content: 85 mg
- Fat Content: 33 g
- Fiber Content: 5 g
- Protein Content: 21 g
- Saturated Fat Content: 19 g
- Sodium Content: 823 mg
- Sugar Content: 10 g


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Like many small Texas county seats, Granbury's downtown is centered around a historic courthouse square. The Hood County courthouse was built in 1891, and today is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and small businesses. In many ways it is similar to downtown McKinney.
Located southwest of Fort Worth, Granbury is a comfortable two-hour, 100-mile, drive from Collin County, perfect for an easy-to-reach weekend getaway.
There are several dozen Bed and Breakfast Inns to pick from, most within walking distance of the downtown square. Most require a Friday-Saturday two-night stay. We opted for one night at the Hilton on Lake Granbury. It was very comfortable, had a great breakfast, and was only a short drive to downtown.
A walk around courthouse square takes you to any number of small restaurants. We had lunch at Christina's, a combination boutique and bistro. The food was great and the staff was friendly, offering ideas on where to go and things to do.
Based on a tip from Christina's owner, we walked around the square to find the 119-year-old Granbury Opera House, and bought tickets for a Saturday evening musical-comedy performance by the Granbury Theater Company. The show was a smashing success, highly professional, far exceeding expectations for a small town theater performance.
During your stroll around the square, make sure you stop at the Visitor's Information Center on Bridge Street. There are brochures, maps and plenty of free advice from the friendly folks behind the counter. When we stopped in Tony Procaccino was manning the desk and was a great guide to attractions in the area.
Just east of downtown on Pearl Street, adjacent to the Hilton, is the sandy Granbury City Beach Park on Lake Granbury. You can swim and rent kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards. There are thatched roof picnic pavilions.
If you have kids, or still have some kid in you, a short half-hour drive from Granbury is the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose. You stay in your car and drive around a single-lane 9-mile road to view wild critters in their natural element. Buy a bag of animal food at the admission center. Most animals are quite accustomed to the free handouts from tourists, and will come right up to your car.
We only stayed one night, but packed a lot into our trip. We definitely recommend Granbury as a not-so-far getaway. The only drawback was parking downtown around the courthouse. You may have to cruise around the square a few times before a space opens up. All the parking is free. We opted for an off-square lot that was only as short walking distance to the center of town. On weekends there is a free tram for those parking in remote lots on Houston Street.
NorthTexasActiveLife rating for Granbury: 10. There's a lot of fun in this small town.
Posted August 14, 2015


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Welcome to EXACT Equine Inc.
Mobile equine veterinary services providing care to the horses of San Diego County.
We take pride in providing exceptional veterinary care to the horses of San Diego County. EXACT Equine Inc. maintains two vehicles fully equipped to handle routine and emergency veterinary care needs for our patients. This allows us to bring the expertise of our veterinarians directly to your horse. Everything from annual vaccinations to lameness evaluation, breeding exams to prepurchase exams, emergency colic treatment to laceration repair, as veterinarians we take satisfaction in knowing that the quality of the services we are able to provide is top of the line.
EXACT Equine, Inc. is owned and operated by Dr Max Wilcox and Dr Jessica Stokes. We are both California natives and long time horse owners. As horse owners we have been in your shoes. We understand that a veterinarian needs to be willing to take the time to answer questions, be flexible in approaching diagnoses and understand that you know your horse. We are the veterinarians that we would want to have treat our own horses. Please call us with any inquires regarding your individual needs.
Our Doctors are Members of the:
American Association of Equine Practitioners
American Veterinary Medical Association


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Welcome to the home of JKMood Design + Construction
RecognitionJKmood Design been featured in over 5 issues of 'Kitchen's by Professionals' magazine and has been featured on HGTV's show 'Kitchen Trends'.
Learn More»
Kitchens and BathsJKmood Design + Construction specializes in custom kitchens and bathrooms. Consider us for new construction and renovations.
Learn More»
Free ConsulationsJKmood Design offers free consultations. We would love the chance to review your project scope. Contact us today.
Learn More»


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Ratings update: Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) is pursuing plans to partially privatise national oil company Saudi Aramco as part of a broader plan to modernise Saudi Arabia. However, investors will need to get comfortable with growing political risks.
Key Developments
- The Saudi government aims to list around 5% of state-owned oil company Aramco by the end of 2018 in an IPO. It plans to list the company – which provides up to 90% of government revenues – on both the Riyadh stock exchange and one or more international markets, with London, New York and Hong Kong reportedly in the running. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, colloquially known as MBS, has claimed Aramco is worth a minimum of $2 trillion, though some commentators have cast doubt on that valuation.
- The IPO is the centrepiece of Vision 2030, an ambitious economic and social reform programme promoted by MBS. The programme is aimed at diversifying the Saudi economy beyond oil, implementing market-friendly reforms and opening up the conservative kingdom to new social freedoms. Proceeds from the Aramco sale would go to a sovereign wealth fund aimed at economic diversification, a goal that has gained urgency since the fall of crude prices.
- Aramco is, in theory, an attractive investment. It has large, low-cost reserves and a reputation for professionalism and in-house expertise. The low cost of Aramco's production and its sizeable market share mean the company is unlikely to be significantly affected (for some years at least) by shifts in the global energy matrix driven by climate change concerns and will likely remain the world's major oil supplier.
- However, investors in the proposed IPO will need to get comfortable with a complex set of potential political and other 'above-ground' issues. Hence our provisional rating of a potential investment in the IPO sits squarely in the 'Vigilance grade' of the LicenseSecure scale, rather than higher (see above).
- For a start, Saudi Arabia is seemingly on the brink of a political transition. MBS's recent corruption purge, which led to the arrest of a significant number of princes and officials, has further disrupted the kingdom's staid internal politics. The purge has been viewed as an attempt by MBS to constrain influential political figures and consolidate his power to pursue a reform agenda unopposed.
- The implications of the purge – and the trajectory of MBS's reform agenda more broadly – remain unclear. Some argue it is a corollary of political and economic reform that will improve accountability and transparency and boost the kingdom's attractiveness to foreign investors. Others, however, caution that MBS's unilateral, top-down reforms may not prove sustainable, and have questioned his ability to maintain stability if an internal challenge to his authority were to emerge, which could throw the country into political chaos.
- Broader geopolitical uncertainty also poses a threat to Saudi stability – and in a very worse-case scenario could interrupt oil production if tension between Riyadh and Tehran were to escalate into open conflict. While unlikely, this could happen if the situation in Lebanon were to develop into a full-blown proxy conflict against Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces, or if the ongoing conflict in Yemen between Saudi-backed President Hadi and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels were to intensify. Such conflict would expose Aramco's oil fields and installations to attack and constrain the company's ability to invest in new production. Moreover, given Aramco's use of expatriate labour from other parts of the Middle East, the US, and Europe, if a serious geopolitical crisis were to spark a foreign exodus from Saudi Arabia it could impede – at least to a degree – the company's ability to operate.
- It is also currently difficult to access reliable information about Aramco, and this lack of transparency, if it continues, may dampen investor interest. The government has formalised a 50% tax rate on the company in advance of the IPO, on top of a 20% royalty on production. However, there is so far relatively little information about the company's finances and reserves or its investments in potentially a myriad of other sectors. The government is anticipated to release financial information ahead of any IPO, but has yet to do so. Its reluctance so far to release information about Aramco may make it better suited to a private placement with a strategic investor, as opposed to an IPO.
- Shifts in Saudi oil policy could also negatively impact shareholders. Last year, the government lobbied fellow oil producers to reduce production in a bid to push up oil prices, which in turn effectively drove up the valuation of Aramco – a sudden departure from its previous strategy of maintaining high levels of production to maximise market share. Aramco has often been used as a tool in the country's OPEC policies to reduce or increase production, and Saudi officials have maintained that production decisions are a sovereign matter that will remain with the government.
- Notwithstanding political risk and any transparency concerns, an investment in Aramco does stand to offer potentially attractive returns in the long term. Despite the determination of MBS to diversify the economy, the government remains committed to defending its share of the global crude oil market.
This article uses Critical Resource's LicenseSecure™ model to assess the likely level of political and stakeholder risk. Our updates provide a rapid overview of new or updated ratings in our database, with a focus on projects in the news. Please note that these ratings updates are provisional, based in part on open source analysis and are not from client projects. Full LicenseSecure analyses are in-depth, involve extensive intelligence gathering and are confidential.


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Photo by David Sampson
In view of last year's celebrity nude photo scandal, the endless leaking of U.S. government documents, and the infamous Sony hacks, 2015 arrives at a time when the leaking of unauthorized content is neither surprising nor uncommon. If 2014 proved anything, it's that the kind of piracy that has plagued the music industry for decades is a de facto part of wider culture—making the issue of how we protect our creative materials more political than ever.
While music piracy is decades old, the sense of entitlement that's often coupled with hacking culture has seemingly reached new depths. Leaks are happening further upstream in the creative process; unmastered demos are making it into the public sphere not just before they are authorized, but before they are finished—so that whatever leaks is a rougher and rougher edit of whatever it will ultimately be—a song, a demo, an album. The insidiousness of this process is what recently inspired Madonna's comments that the leak of six songs from her Rebel Heart LP amounted to "artistic rape" and "a form of terrorism", and the same reason why websites like HasItLeaked.com attract over 1 million unique visitors a month. People in the spotlight are often betrayed by their private files; "privacy" is now more of a theoretical concept than reality.
All of this is even more confounding considering that leaking an unfinished song doesn't really serve a practical purpose—no one is making money off rips, artists and labels are barely making any money off the finished songs. There's no money in a hack. So why do it?
One reason might be because artists are trained to cater to leaks, which results in a positive feedback loop. In the fall of 2013, shortly after news hit that Arcade Fire's Reflektor had leaked following an early physical release in Ireland, the band tweeted out a link to a full stream of the entire thing. Arcade Fire had been planning a slow rollout, replete with cryptic public graffiti and brand partnership with Google, along with other album teasers that dropped slowly over the course of several weeks. This kind of extended PR campaign wasn't the first of its kind, rather it mirrored the leak qua rollout of two other Grammy-nominated releases—Daft Punk's Random Access Memories and Kanye West's Yeezus.
In May of 2013, Daft Punk's "top secret album" leaked when Twitter and Reddit users shared a WeTransfer link of Random Access Memories shortly before it was available on iTunes. The album had been teased at Coachella and on "SNL", with little information about how and when it would drop. Hours later, Chris Martins, who reported the leak for Spin, was apt to point out Daft Punk and iTunes' swift hustle: "Neither the label nor the band has confirmed that [the leak] is the actual album, of course," wrote Martins, "But it so is. How do we know? Because the whole thing is streaming at iTunes right now." Two months later, Kanye West's Yeezus leaked on file-sharing sites four days ahead of schedule, and Lady Gaga issued a "Pop Music Emergency" following the hack of her ARTPOP single "Applause", which was rush-released to radio stations and Apple's iTunes Store within the hour.
It's possible that an album's slow rollout makes artists more vulnerable to a hack—there are more eyes watching, more anticipation, greater hype, and more time for it to happen—but that's not always true. Reflektor leaked on October 24, 2013. Exactly one year later, on October 24, 2014, Run the Jewels 2—which was named Album of the Year by this and countless other publications—dropped at 1:30 AM in response to an unauthorized leak. Unlike the aforementioned marquee pop acts, or Nicki Minaj (whose album The Pinkprint would leak in two months' time) there were no multimedia partnerships or street art expositions for RTJ2. In response to the unauthorized leak, both El-P and Killer Mike tweeted links to the entire album three days before its release. "#RunTheJewels 2 is here fuck that other leak!" Killer Mike wrote. A fan then asked about their free, early distribution: "Were you the original leak or was yours a middle finger to some asshole who did it immediately before you?" El-P confirmed swiftly: "We were not the original leak."
The immediacy of our reaction to file sharing of leaked information in the "Entertainment" world presents an interesting, inverse corollary to the role of file sharing of leaked information in the "Political" world. The Sony hacks of 2014 presented a rare occasion when the realms of art and politics collide—but there's a critical difference between hacking in the name of "justice" and hacking in the name of "trolling". Wikileaks documents, video of Eric Garner's killing, and other sensitive materials with real repercussions for humanity—content that actually matters—rarely had the power to instantaneously change the status quo when they leaked in 2014. These materials inspired outrage and initiated important dialogues (and rightly so), but owing to the bureaucratic realities of America's political system, they did little by way of convicting a police officer that most of America deemed guilty, nor did they lead to swift policy reform.
And yet, a single act of file sharing in the "Entertainment" world can catalyze sweeping industry changes and renew efforts to protect entertainers from an increasingly hostile web environment—or at least that's what happened in 2014. When a cache of nude celebrity photos leaked last year, lawsuits were brought against those who propagated the material, state legislators finally addressed the problem of non-consensual nude photo-sharing, and "revenge porn" was criminalized. When Donald Sterling betrayed himself as a racist, the NBA banned him for life. As news of Sony's hack-related injuries spread, New Regency and Fox scrapped their own North Korea–themed project Pyongyang (which would have featured Steve Carell and Gore Verbinkski), and Paramount barred theaters from screening the Kim Jong-il satire Team America in place of The Interview, whose distribution was initially canceled.
Meanwhile, leaked documents about the CIA's targeting killing program, images of Mike Brown's slain body, and countless other web-surfacing horrors of the last year made the general populace feel even more helpless to change "the system" that this material failed to indict. The irony here is that content that entertains often has greater quantifiable repercussions in its respective field than political material does in its respective realm. When a Daft Punk, Arcade Fire, or Kanye West album leaks, an entire industry moves to protect it, with a machinery of agents working to terminate illegal streams and promote authorized content all over the Internet. In the entertainment world, a single act of file sharing initiates a swift course of action; in the political world, it often makes reality seem hopelessly stuck.
Maybe this is why hackers approach artistic content with such entitlement: leaked information in the entertainment world has greater potential to provoke an instantaneous change than does leaked information in the political world, yet the risk of legal reprimand is significantly lower. If hacking is an act of vanity and exploitation, then entertainers like musicians are the most vulnerable prey. The turn from analog to digital recording and the widespread availability of mixing programs like Pro Tools means more artists are concentrating their creative materials in one place (on a computer), which ultimately makes them more vulnerable to hacks that target a single source. Labels have little control over the issue, as leaked demos often come directly from the artists' own archives. The result is a bit different from bootlegging that's historically plagued the music industry, because people are bystepping the creative process with hacks—music used to leak; now it gets hacked before its finished. The latter gives civilians access to music that's not just unauthorized, but incomplete. This is why Madonna claimed her recent Rebel Heart hack was so disturbing—not because what leaked was unauthorized, but that it came from an archive of unfinished, 6-month old demos that must've been "stolen long ago" without her knowing.
A bigger problem for music is that we've come to expect hacked content. Legislators have tried and failed to pass initiatives that would require search engines to strip out links to piracy sites, but SOPA—the Stop Online Piracy Act—was famously squashed by Google, Reddit, and countless other Internet titans who opposed it in the name of keeping the Internet censor-free. That was three years ago, and as 2014 turns the corner our rapacious consumption of these materials "in the name of keeping the Internet censor free" continues to make artists more vulnerable, as leaks are compounded by the media cycle and everyone's "fear of missing out". One used to have to know where to look to find a leak on peer-to-peer file-sharing programs like Limewire or BitTorrent. Now, bloggers and social media propagate music leaks, and we consume them only to realize later that we've wasted our time on poor-quality cuts that gain a lot of traction in our wake while dissipating hype from the official release. Do we care enough about music quality to think that leaks are annoying, and at most, wrong? Its not really a "moral" question so much as a philosophical one: "Why do people want to destroy artistic process?", Madonna wrote in response to her recent hack. This is the crux of the issue, in the form of a question that 2015 has yet to answer.
Another terrifying aspect of hack culture is that no one really knows how to protect artists from this problem. The dozens of publicists I speak with over this issue all suggest that premature leaked demos are the new normal. As Claire Suddath summed up in a Time Magazine post five years ago: "These days, record labels don't worry if an album will leak; they worry about when and how." There are countless stories recounting the lengths that artists have gone to protect their creative materials, from Radiohead sending copies of Hail to the Thief to journalists in locked CD cases to Taylor Swift sending "Shake It Off" to its music video director on a locked iPod.
Privacy, moreover, might be the single most advantageous marketing strategy in this era of overexposure. Some of the most warmly-received albums of the last two years—Beyoncé's surprise self-titled album, My Bloody Valentine's mbv, Aphex Twin's Syro, and D'Angelo's Black Messiah—all came out of nowhere, seemingly delivered unto the masses as whole, finished albums. The press advantages to these albums were huge and obvious—surprise albums make headlines and spur innovation. They also demand attention with an immediacy often lost in the course of a slow-reveal.
Secrecy, in these cases, gives artists space to create and the ordinance to time their album releases in accordance with cultural events that make them more powerful. Meanwhile, the public is gifted a singular, complete work—an increasingly rare and mythologized concept—that has more leverage against the detritus that seeps into a newsfeed over the course of several days. Beyoncé's last album alone reinforced the idea of the album as a unit, setting the standard for "surprise" releases going forward while shattering a host of Billboard records and just generally "raising the bar". One year later, D'Angelo released a record with such a welcome, timely mission statement that it seemed preordained to succeed. A powerful ingenuity lies in the myths that artists keep secret. When hackers rob them of this opportunity, everyone misses out.


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Tag Archives: Special Diets
Gluten Free Diet…And Other MS Cures.
Gluten is a protein found in some grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. There is some controversy pertaining to whether oats should also be added to this group because of possible cross-contamination occurring at some milling facilities. Gluten is … Continue reading
Posted in alternative therapy, chronic disease, Diet, Disease, Health, ms, multiple sclerosis, RRMS, Therapy Tagged Gluten, Gluten-free diet, Health, Multiple sclerosis, Special Diets, Symptom 7 Comments


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In the photo: TOP ROW (left to right): Green Daffodil grapefruit mangosteen tea lights, Jenna Kator Collection Lexington Handbag, Fustinis Holiday gift set; MIDDLE ROW (left to right): Himalayan Salt Lamps, Dirty Girl Farm logo; Ugandan Paper Beads; BOTTOM ROW (left to right): Rouge eyeshadow selection from Eve Organics; Ida Does It book cover; Vegan necklace by Solstice LTD.
I know the blogosphere has no shortage of holiday gift guides this time of year, so I certainly wouldn't be publishing my own guide if I didn't think I could provide something new and different to this realm. Why different? Well, mostly because some (not all) of my favorite places to buy organic, vegan and unique products are from local shops and artists. I love repping Michigan-made products when buying gifts for out-of-state family and friends, and I think we have some pretty amazing stuff here in "the Mitten". The list below represents a lot of the gifts I will personally be giving this holiday season, along with several favorite local and non-local places that have become my go-to spots for gifts, and not just for the holidays (all of which have online shopping and shipping for those not in the area).
I hope this list will provide some last-minute inspiration and perhaps some unique gift ideas for my readers. Whether you're vegan or just want to purchase more holistic, organic, natural and sustainable products, I've got some ideas here for everyone. And if you're in the metro Detroit area, be sure to visit some of these local shops in person! There's nothing like personally trying some of the many amazing flavor infusions at Fustini's oils and vinegars in Ann Arbor, sniffing tons of amazing scents at Green Daffodil in Ferndale, or getting your makeup matched to your skin with the wonderful ladies at Rouge.
This gift guide is geared toward food, health, wellness, a vegan lifestyle and eco-sustainability. Many of these items are being included in my own holiday gifts to family and friends!
1. Green Daffodil Soy Candleworks: Anyone who knows me knows that THIS place, over any other, is my ultimate go-to for gifts. These are also the candles I exclusively use in my home, as I tend to have a problem with strong or artificial scents. Their products are sold throughout stores in metro Detroit, but their flagship store is located near my office in Ferndale, MI, making them the perfect place for me to do any last-minute shopping. My favorite candle scents are probably Blackberry Sage and Patchouli Lavender. I also use their Patchouli Lavender lotion and body spray and always get compliments on how I smell (even from people who "hate patchouli") without overpowering everyone! They sell candles, lotions, room sprays, chapstick and soaps through their Etsy store — all of which would make perfect stocking stuffers or wonderful additions to any gift basket. All candles are soy-based, vegan, and made with Phthalate-free fragrance oils.
2. Jenna Kator Collection: These reasonably priced, classy and all vegan handbags are my favorite! I own four bags (one for every occasion) and get compliments on them all the time. Jenna Kator is a Michigan-based company and yes, Jenna is the designer. All of the handbags are named after Michigan cities or places. I love and appreciate a hometown girl! Jenna's bags can be found in a few stores in the metro Detroit area, but if you're not from around here, online ordering is a breeze. I've purchased these handbags for several friends and family members as gifts. My personal favorite is my Greektown shoulder bag, which is a Farmer's Market must-have! I HIGHLY recommend these bags for any fashionistas in your life. In fact, Jenna has a huge following of fans from across the country who probably don't even realize that they're also helping the planet by purchasing vegan bags (you'd never know they're not leather).
3. Fustini's Oils and Vinegars: Not just for foodies! This gift is for anyone who loves cooking or eating good food (and who doesn't?). I've gifted friends and family with Fustini's ever since I discovered them a few years ago (oddly enough, it wasn't when I was actually living and going to school in Ann Arbor). They have two locations in Michigan, and sell delicious oils and vinegars that are infused with flavor and NOT artificially flavored. Their Holiday Sampler is only $49 and comes in three sampler varieties. They also have a monthly oil and vinegar club for any true foodie out there. They ship across the country. My personal favorite flavor combination is the blood orange oil and chocolate balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Heaven!
4. Himalayan Salt Lamps: My mom got these for me for my birthday this year. I have one on my office desk and one at home. Said to be a natural air purifier, Himalayan salt lamps may prevent stuffiness and combat common allergens such as pet dander, smoke and common air pollutants. I personally just love the sense of peace and calm it brings to me when I'm working. Recommended as a gift for anyone into natural health, healing or meditation.
5. Dirty Girl Farm: I love Dirty Girl Farm for natural skin care and gift options! While I get my lotions and bar soaps from Green Daffodil, I love Dirty Girl Farm kitchen soaps (the Pumpkin Ale smells magnificent), shampoos, conditioners, scrubs and body washes. Being the hippie that I am, my favorite shampoo is their Patchouli. But since we're talking gifts here, I'm guessing you're not wondering about shampoos. As far as online gifts go, they have a couple of gift wrapping options for only $2 extra. They also have holiday soap designs, including these super cool Frosty The Snowman soaps. They also sell some men's products, including this "Dirty Guy" body spray and body wash. If you're in the area, check them out at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market on weekends.
6. Ugandan Paper Beads: I learned about the "Army of Six" when visiting a local craft fair with my mom recently. Their story is touching! Through their website, this family sells jewelry made by women in Uganda made from recycled magazine paper. It's the coolest thing! Each purchase helps provide these Ugandan women with income for food, medical care, housing and school fees. I bought a recycled paper bead bracelet for myself recently, as well as a necklace that can be wrapped around and makes a great statement piece as a gift. These are really inexpensive, fashionable, sustainable (hello, recycled paper!), and a gift you can feel good about giving (and receiving).
7. Eve Organic Makeup, also sold at Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio: I use Eve Organic Makeup exclusively ever since I discovered them at Rouge, a very cool makeup and nail studio in Ferndale, Michigan. I buy my makeup in-person at Rouge, and it struck me while there that their makeup and skincare products would make wonderful gifts for all the girly girls in your life. Their makeup is all vegan, made from minerals and has no fillers. They have a cool selection of colors for all occasions. Their products are made from mostly organic ingredients. You can purchase their makeups directly from their website, or from the Rouge site (I gave both options). But if you're in the Michigan area, I highly recommend Rouge if you're looking for a gift certificate for manis or pedis that are organic and healthy. The ladies at Rouge are THE BEST and will make you (or your gift recipient) feel totally welcome and at home.
8. Isa Does It: Given that I did an entire post on how much I love this book, does it really need any explaining? This is a beautiful cookbook that is definitely money well spent for any foodie in your life. I love gifting vegan cookbooks to non-vegans as well — especially those who are looking for new recipe ideas or who are just looking to find ways to get more vegetables (and less meat or dairy) into their diets.
9. "Vegan" Necklaces: My cousin gave me a "vegan" cursive necklace a few years ago for my birthday and I love it. For those proud vegans who want to wear their heart on their sleeve (or neck, rather). I can't remember the name of the place my cousin bought mine (pictured below), but a quick Etsy search brought me to the pretty necklace pictured above from Solstice LTD. For those true last-minute shoppers, Amazon has a number of options as well, including this one which has the letters etched on a sterling silver heart.


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Hover over image to zoom
Solid 925 sterling silver Stefana embellished with top quality Swarovski crystals supplied with its guarantee in a decorative Stefana box. To complement these stunning Stefana and complete the look are the Tray, Crystal Decanter and wine glass for the Church, and the Champagne flutes for the Toast. All the items are decorated with solid silver 925 and Swarovski crystals to match the Stefana.
Product Code: 470
Treasured Favours of London Ltd. | Telephone: 07855 756948
Mobile-Friendly Version of Catalogue


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Like Bennett shared earlier, we've had a pretty big year. It's interesting though because I feel like every year of my life gets more and more eventful and exciting. We've been engaged for an entire year now and it's still like new….Bennett and I have the most fun ever together and I'm blessed to have found such a great person to share my life with.
He's been doing AMAZING in school so far and I couldn't be prouder. Seriously, Bennett is one of the smartest people I know…it just took him going back to school on his own account to actually be able to show his potential. I'm still working on figuring out what I want to "be when I get older", but I feel like the gap of possibilities is narrowing a little bit for me. I've been looking into Graphic Design at one of the local colleges here and I think that might be the direction I'll be heading. With a little more research and some communication with the councilors here, I'm sure I'll be in school in no time.
Other than that, Bennett and I are starting to buckle down on some wedding plans. Basically, right before the holidays hit us, we made a plan not to worry about the wedding stuff until after the new year. Back then, the new year seemed like a long time away….and now it's here. J I am working with a girl at McKinley that has secret aspirations to become a wedding planner…and she probably shouldn't have shared that with me because now I'm going to test out her skills.
Haha, not that I have a lot to do really…but she can at least help me so I don't go crazy (or start to drive David, Mary and Bennett crazy!). We've been looking at our wedding day as a big party that we get to throw all of our friends and family, so I promise you won't be seeing a bridezilla coming out of me. (Or at least I hope not!!)


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With Eyes Wide Open
It is absolutely eye-opening when you realize that you are never going to get there. Never. You have spent your entire life trying to reach that point of acceptance when, finally, you realize that it just isn't going to happen. The people you want it from the most are never going to give it to you. So why is it that you keep trying?
Why is it that you keep running headlong into the same briar patch knowing that the pain is going to be the same in the end? When push comes to shove, you will be the one shoved. If someone is going to be given the benefit of the doubt, it will not be you. You are dispensable, expendable, not necessary, inconsequential, unimportant, insignificant…and now you know it without any hesitation or uncertainty. It has been blatantly proven too many times to be ignored any longer.
What is most mind-boggling is the fact that the self-same people who will not grant you the approval you so desperately long for actually fought this very battle themselves…also to no avail. One would think they would understand the misery and unhappiness such a station in life produces and not be willing to pass it along. Then again, you live what you learn and you learn what you live. The lesson was well taught.


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hey guys & gals... well... my friend is wanting me to make her a cd. & she wants a song, but i have no clue what it is. either does she. all she knows is, its a rap song & some of the words. like @ the begin it goes "she gots me doing the dishes" & then it says something bout "you do do do do do" or something. its kinda slow. but not really. w/ a kinda awsome beat to it. so yeah.. if any of yal can help me w/ that..i would be very thankful! later dayz!
Just A Lil Bit Of Help!
Started by ronnies_punk15, Oct 09 2005 03:12 AM
1 reply to this topic
Posted 09 October 2005 - 03:12 AM
Posted 03 December 2005 - 04:10 AM
Ummm yes u made this topic already, it's T-Pain-I'm Sprung
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17 November 2016
Call for Submissions for the May 16-19, 2017 CHLA/ABSC Annual Conference
The 2017 CHLA/ABSC Planning Committee invites submissions for the Annual Conference of the Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada (CHLA/ABSC), to be held in Edmonton. The theme of the conference is "Northern Illumination/Lumières du Nord."
The online abstract submission site is now available via the CHLA/ABSC conference website. To be considered, submissions must be received by December 1, 2016, 9:59 pm MST.
Authors are asked to rank how they would prefer to present their work: as a paper, poster, or lightning talk. Abstracts not accepted to a first choice will be considered for second and third choices.
When submitting structured abstracts, authors will note whether their abstract is a research abstract or program description abstract:
- Research abstracts report on designing, conducting, and analyzing a research project.
- Program Description abstracts describe the creation and improvement of products, programs, technologies, administrative practices, or services conducted by librarians and information professionals.
Refer to the FAQ page for additional information.
For more information, contact:
Janice Kung email@example.com
Sandy Campbell email@example.com
2 August 2016
UBC iSchool (SLAIS) Co-op Students Available for Fall or Winter Work Terms
Students from the UBC iSchool (School of Library, Archival and Information Studies) are still available for Fall co-op work terms (September-December). We're also starting to post positions for the Winter term (January-April), and some of our students are available for full-time or part-time 8 month work terms spanning September-April.
Educated in one of Canada's leading schools for information professionals, UBC iSchool students are equipped with the latest knowledge for obtaining and managing information in an increasingly complex world. Students learning the latest in library, information management, and archival fields can be an ideal fit for that special project or short-term vacancy you've been looking to fill.
Types of Work UBC iSchool Students Perform:
- Archives & Preservation of Information
- Records Management
- Library & Information Services
- Data Discovery & Wrangling
- Information Systems Management
- Information Policy
- Information Analysis & Retrieval
- Research
To assist you throughout the hiring process, the UBC Arts Co-op Program can help with drafting job descriptions, determining salary, coordinating interview scheduling, making offers, and monitoring student success during the co-op term.
For more information, contact the UBC Arts Co-op Program Graduate Programs Coordinator, Anna Jubilo at 604-822-4223 or email@example.com, or visit www.artscoop.ubc.ca/employers.
29 June 2016
New HLABC Executive
At yesterday's annual general meeting, in-coming President Kristina McDavid announced the new members of the HLABC Executive for 2016 to 2017.
Your Executive is now comprised of the following members:
- President: Kristina McDavid
- Past-President: Leigh Anne Palmer
- Vice-President/President-elect: Fiona Chiu
- Secretary: Chantalle Jack
- Treasurer/Membership: Antje Helmuth
- Continuing Education & Programming Director: Helen Brown
- Communications Director: Jennifer Bancroft
Please feel free to contact the Executive at any time. We'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas for the year ahead!
24 May 2016
HLABC Summer 2016 CE Session & AGM
Join us this summer to hone your searching skills in a hands-on session with 3 expert searchers; learn about new health library innovations from the findings of one of the latest research initiatives; and participate in our HLABC Annual General Meeting over a delicious lunch!
Event: HLABC's Summer Continuing Education & AGM
Date: Tue, June 28, 2016
Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm
Venue: UBC Woodward Library (2198 Health Sciences Mall V6T 1Z3)
Cost: $15 (includes lunch)
Registration is now CLOSED
Deadline: Registration closes on June 7th, seats are limited!
Don't forget, you must be an HLABC member to register! To become an HLABC member or to renew your membership, simply go to http://hlabc.chla-absc.ca/membership/join-hlabc/
1. Session #1 – Expert Searching (10am – 12pm, Woodward Library Computer Lab Room B25)
- How do you choose a platform for searching? Refine searches? Eliminate red herrings?
- What do you tell your users about Google Scholar?
- What part of your lit search process may be valuable to save as documentation?
- Do you know what pitfalls to avoid when searching a single topic on multiple indexes?
- How do you get the results to your users?
If you would like to explore one or more of these questions, we encourage you to attend this hands-on session with 3 expert searchers to discuss tips & tricks to being efficient in searching.
This session takes place in a computer lab. Participants are welcome to bring their own laptop. Wifi will be provided.
Mimi Doyle-Waters, is the librarian for the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute's Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Evaluation (C2E2). She has extensive experience working on systematic reviews. She is one of the instructors for the UBC School of Population and Public Health course SPPH 516 – Systematic Reviews.
Charlotte Beck is a reference librarian at the Woodward Library at the University of British Columbia and is the liaison librarian for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology speech sciences. In this position she provides workshops on database searching, research tools and Systematic Reviews. Charlotte's previous experience includes being a hospital librarian providing reference services in a clinical setting.
Krista Clement is a Medical Librarian with the BC Cancer Agency library, based in Kelowna. Since graduating from UBC, she has been devoted to bringing evidence and knowledge to the point of care for both patients and healthcare providers. Creating and maintaining hundreds of permanent searches (AutoAlerts) in various platforms has focused her searching techniques.
- HLABC AGM & Lunch (12:15pm – 1:15pm, Sherrington Room)
- Session #2 – Innovations, challenges and opportunities within regional health libraries in British Columbia (1:15pm-2:15pm, Sherrington Room)
Faced with continual change, regional health libraries must innovate in order to succeed. To understand how these libraries are evolving to deliver innovative services to geographically spread users, a study was conducted. This session will discuss the preliminary findings, which: 1) describes and compares the libraries, 2) analyzes how they are evolving and innovating in order to deliver value, and 3) identifies gaps and opportunities in the current landscape.
Elisheba Muturi has worked in different settings as a policy analyst and as a health librarian supporting the dissemination of health information to both clinicians and patients. She obtained her MSc in International Development from University of Bristol in UK and her MLIS/MAS from in UBC.
Chantalle Jack has been a Librarian with Vancouver Coastal Health since 2013. Over the past 10 years, Chantalle has worked as an academic, public, and special librarian, with professional Librarian experience at the North Vancouver City Library, as the Director of Library Services at the Art Institute of Vancouver, and as an Information Specialist with the BC Securities Commission.
Shannon Long, Librarian for Vancouver Coastal Health, has worked at the Richmond Hospital site since 1999. Over the years she has served on provincial and national library association boards and conference planning committees. Shannon obtained her BA in Psychology from Simon Fraser University (SFU) and her MLIS from University of British Columbia (UBC).
4 February 2016
Winter HLABC Meeting and CE
HLABC is happy to announce that award-winning journalist Chad Skelton will be joining us to discus best practices in data visualization.
This presentation will cover best practices of data visualization, how to find datasets through open-data portals, and an introduction to how you can incorporate some of the most popular data visualization tools in your daily work (including Tableau Public, Datawrapper, Google Fusion Tables). A 30 min Q&A will follow. See the full description for the session below my signature.
Prior to Chad's exciting session, we will have our annual "Speed Dating" session with interested SLAIS students, as well as an HLABC meeting with a catered lunch. This CE session and lunch will be supported by CHLA funds shared with our Chapter for its work organizing last Summer's conference.
The schedule for the day follows:
Day: February 5, 2016
Time: 10:45am – 3:00pm
10:45am – 12:45pm – HLABC Meeting, Speed Dating Session, & Catered Lunch
1:00pm – 3:00pm – Chad Skelton CE Session
12 May 2015
CHLA/ABSC 2015: Call for Conference Volunteers
Volunteer to help us host Canada's national health library conference in Vancouver this year! Welcome your peers from across the country, reunite with far-flung colleagues, and exchange ideas with new friends.
Whatever your interests, we have glamourous library-conference volunteering opportunities at Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada 2015. Help us set up posters, facilitate sessions, or direct arriving delegates. Love early mornings? Guide a seawall walk or Robson Street saunter! More of an evening person? Help us set up for a reception, then mingle, chat, and troubleshoot. Just like to hang out? Take responsibility for a conference session room, and assist with whatever comes up.
To thank you for your help, we invite you to attend a half-day of conference sessions for free, on the same day as your volunteer shift(s). This excludes ticketed events like continuing education and the banquet. The conference planning committee will do our best to accommodate preferences, but cannot guarantee that all requested shifts will be assigned.
Friday, June 19
Registration desk (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Continuing education: Guide delegates to workshop locales, and convene sessions (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Receptions: Help us set up the rooms, or greet and direct delegates (evening shifts)
Posters: Assist with poster setup (late afternoon shifts)
Saturday, June 20
Morning seawall walk guide (Early morning shift)
Registration desk (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Conference sessions: Direct delegates, facilitate, and assist (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Posters (late afternoon shifts)
Hospitality: Coordinate and accompany delegates to local restaurants (evening shifts)
Saturday volunteers are welcome to attend conference sessions when not volunteering.
Sunday, June 21
Morning seawall walk guide (Early morning shift)
Registration desk (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Conference sessions: Direct delegates, facilitate, and assist (Morning or afternoon shifts)
Posters (early evening shift)
Hospitality: Help us set up the rooms, or greet and direct delegates (evening shifts)
Sunday volunteers are welcome to attend conference sessions when not volunteering.
Monday, June 22
Morning seawall walk guide (Morning shift)
Registration desk (Morning shifts)
Conference sessions: Direct delegates, facilitate, and assist (Morning shift)
Please let me know when you're available, and your preferred volunteer activity. If you wish to facilitate or convene a session, please indicate your experience or comfort with public speaking. We will do our best to accomodate. We unfortunately cannot refund registration fees to volunteers who have already registered.
3 February 2015
CHLA/ABSC Conference: Riding the Wave of Change
Contact: CHLA/ABSC Conference Committee
Contact Email: email@example.com
Join us in Vancouver for innovative programs, educational opportunities, and networking events. Hang ten with Canadian and international librarians discussing new initiatives, cool tools, and personal bests.
Opening Keynote speaker: Julie Angus (MSc Molecular Biology), the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean, knows more than most about succeeding in a changing environment.
Closing Keynote speaker: Jesse Hirsch's address will focus on the challenges we face to protect personal information while sharing knowledge via eHealth.
Included in CHLA/ABSC's Annual Conference are continuing education courses. The conference provides a forum for participants from across the country to share ideas and address issues of relevance to the health sciences information field. In addition to a varied program of panel discussions, lectures and informal meetings, CHLA/ABSC hosts an exhibit of products and services of particular interest to health science librarians.
For more information and registration, stay tuned here: http://www.chla-absc.ca/conference/
3 February 2015
Sandra Wong on "Ebooks and the SFU Library"


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Holland: WIN the DVD's of Remember Me, Twilight, the Robert Pattinson photobook and 2 tickets to Bel Ami
To celebrate the release of Bel Ami on April 5th in the Netherlands, Veronica Magazine is hosting a kool contest on their site.
Answer a question and get a chance to win 5 x DVD's of Twilight, Remember Me, the photobook and 2 free tickets to Bel Ami! SAHWEET!
CLICK HERE to enter!


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We're heading into vacation season and for me that means extra time to lounge around and dive into some great reads. What is better than a beautiful view, a cup of coffee, a good book, and no strict schedule to keep? Nothing!
Even if you don't have a vacation coming up, but you find yourself with a little extra time on your hands, why not fill the space with something that will actually enrich your life and expand your mind?
If you buy into the 16 Myers Briggs personality types, the people who have "N" (stands for Intuitive) and "F" (stands for Feeling) tend to be more open to personal development, self-reflection, and just overall life improvement. A.K.A. Self Help! As an "ENFP" gal (Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving) I am a self-help junkie through and through.
But, I truly believe EVERYONE can benefit from personal development.
If you're feeling a little stagnant or you're seeking an ah-ha moment, keep reading to learn more about 7 books that changed my life!
1. "Daring Greatly" – Brene Brown
This book helped me find the courage to step into the arena, to lean into vulnerability, and to engage life with my whole heart. Every day we experience the uncertainty, risks, and emotional exposure that define what it means to be vulnerable. Thought leader (and Texan!) Dr. Brené Brown offers a new vision that encourages us to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives. One of my favorite books of ALL TIME!
2. "Start With Why" – Simon Sinek
This book completely changed the way I think and communicate…at both home and at work. If you lead a team, read this one ASAP! Start With Why shows us that the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way…and it's actually the opposite of what everyone else does. Author Simon Sinek calls this concept The Golden Circle. This powerful idea provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired…and it all starts with WHY.
3. "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" – Elizabeth Gilbert
It was this book, in fact…this quote…that woke me up and inspired me to change career paths and embrace my creative gifts: "So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges: Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?"
This is truly a must read for ANYONE who wants to live a full, creative life! Author Elizabeth Gilbert shares her wisdom and perspective about creativity…offering insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She encourages us to embrace our curiosity and shows us how to tackle what we love the most while facing what we fear the most.
4. "Emotional Agility" – Susan David
Author Susan David teaches readers to embrace their feelings and wrestle with them…instead of fearing them, suppressing them, or acting on them immediately. She taught me how to sit with my negative feelings and accept them without judgment…because the more I resist, the more powerful those negative emotions become. It's all about EQ these days (at work and at home!), and I believe this book is just one of the many resources that can help us strengthen our emotional intelligence.
5. "FIERCE Conversations" – Susan Scott
"Our work, our relationships, and our lives succeed or fail one conversation at a time. While no single conversation is guaranteed to transform a company, a relationship, or a life, any single conversation can. Speak and listen as if this is the most important conversation you will ever have with this person. It could be. Participate as if it matters. It does."
As a certified FIERCE facilitator/trainer, I have witnessed FIERCE Conversations help people overcome barriers, expand and enrich relationships, increase clarity, handle strong emotions, deepen understanding……the list goes on and on. This book has positively impacted my life and my marriage in so many ways. I can't sing Susan Scott's praises enough!
6. "The Secret" – Rhonda Byrne
This book was introduced to me when I was 21 years old by my dear friend Nicole, and I can't thank her enough for giving me this gift…a way of thinking that has shaped my entire life. By now, I am sure you know what The Secret is all about. In short…thoughts become things. Choose your thoughts wisely and design the life you want to live! You're in the driver's seat.
7. "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman" – Nora Ephron
I laughed out loud several times as I read Nora Ephron's stories about her life as an obsessed cook, passionate city dweller, and messy parent. I appreciate how she speaks frankly about life as a woman, proving hindsight really is 20/20. This book is unexpectedly moving in its truth-telling and gets right to heart of several things I know women of all ages experience. Definitely a thought-proving read about life and aging that has stuck with me long after I finished it.
Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?
Btw…if you're not a big reader, consider giving an audio book a try. My favorite way to listen to audio books is via Audible. They have a vast selection and great reading samples so you can try out the book before you buy. Check it out here!
I'm super curious to hear about the books that have had a lasting impact on you. I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!


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Item # OAK00MZItem # OAK00MZ
Street-inspired style, sport-tuned performance.
The Oakley Valve Sunglasses blend street-savvy looks with performance optics found on sport-specific shades, making them ideal for high-octane activities and casual outings alike. These sunglasses feature a lightweight, durable O Matter frame for hours of comfortable wear. The integrated Unobtanium ear and nose pads cling to your face, even under wet and sweaty conditions.
Filtering out damaging solar radiation, the Plutonium lens blocks 100% of UV rays and high-energy blue light that causes eye strain. In addition, the lens' Iridium coating (all models except black/dark bronze) balances light transmission for crystal-clear vision.
Proposition 65 Warning for California Consumers: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm.
- Lightweight, stress-resistant O Matter Frame
- Meets ANSI Z80.3 standards for impact protection
- Plutonite lens filters out 100% of UV light and high-energy visible light
- Iridium coating (all models except black/dark bronze)
- Unobtanium ear and nose pads
California Proposition 65
View more Sport Sunglasses
Reviews & Community
Epic Glasses
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
- Fit: True to size
I tried these puppies on for the first time back in Dec and picked them up 8 months later. I'm really disappointed I waited so long. I like them so much, I'm going to get a second pair. I didn't get the polarized lenses because I have options there but I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing polarized.
They fit great if you are looking to chill or be active. The nose and ear pads work fantastic for those wanting to sit on the beach with a margarita AND for those adrenaline goers who want eye protection and no helmet (I don't recommend this). I know Oakley like my backyard. I grew up 9 miles from the HQ so safe to say it was in my backyard.
Some other pairs I would recommend, with similar fits are: Fives Squared Prizms & Half Jackets
I am thee biggest Oakley supporter you will meet so if you have any questions on gear or recommendations please reach out to me directly!
The Nose Knows
They are built well. I would say they would fit a person with a wider face and nose. If you have a skinny face and nose, they will not fit well. It would be nice if Oakley made interchangeable nose-pieces to fit a wider range of faces.
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
- Fit: True to size
These are the sunglasses I had been waiting for. Oakley always makes awesome gear but these are the perfect fusion of two styles I love. I wish they came with an option for the black iridium polarized lenses.


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Aladdin Kids Lunch Review
9 comments:
Those are awesome! I love how everything is compact with seperate compartments.ReplyDelete
These are really nice lunch kits and I can see why you love them. They are so cute and the colors are so vibrant. This would be a great lunch box for my nephew. I would love to get him one!ReplyDelete
I love the Flip-to-Sip Kids Water bottle! It looks easy to hold and drink from!ReplyDelete
I like the flip side containers as well. It makes it so much easier to get the containers together versus hunting for the lids.ReplyDelete
Those do look like fun. They'd be perfect for making Bento Box lunches too!ReplyDelete
Awww.... Your children are soooo adorable!ReplyDelete
I wish they would have had Aladdin Kids lunch boxes when my children were younger. It looks like it really keeps everything fresh and I love the compartments to keep the food separate!
My kids pack lunch almost every day. My daughter usually packs for both of them. This set would make it easier for her!ReplyDelete
Love the fun colors and separate compartments!ReplyDelete
- alona yOctober 21, 2014 at 6:42 PM
The 4 little compartments are the perfect size for lunch foods, very cute.ReplyDelete