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Catholic Committee of Appalachia is a faith-based network raising a prophetic voice for Appalachia and her people. One way we raise that voice is by publishing statements and resolutions on social and environmental matters that are of concern to our members and the region. By clearly and unmistakably proclaiming God's justice, CCA fills the void of speaking truth to power, which is a voice we have often found to be lacking in other arenas within the Catholic Church.
Read our latest statement: Statement on Strike of West Virginia State Employees March 2018
Statement on Child Abuse in the Roman Catholic Church November 2017
WV Chapter Statement on Pleasants Power Plant 2017 September 2017
Statement on the Trump Administration's Cancellation of DACA September 2017
Statement on White Supremacy in Charlottesville August 2017
Statement on American Health Care Act June 2017
Statement-on-Reversal-of-Stream-Protection-Rule February 2017
CCA-NC-Statement-on-Clericalism November 2016
WV Chapter Statement on Archdiocese for the Military Services Collection
Statement slip for placement in collection basket
November 2016
Statement on Orlando Massacre June 2016
WV Chapter's Statement on the Verdict & Sentencing of Don Blankenship, April 2016
WV Chapter Statement on HB4012
Statement on Protecting Water, Sept. 2015
Statement on the Implementation of Laudato Si' in Appalachia, July 2015
Statement on Racism and Police Violence December 2014
Statement of Integrity December 2009
Jubilee Statement
CCA Statement Against Bias, Prejudice and Racism
Resolution on Mountain Top Removal
Resolution on Universal Health Care
If you would like to propose a statement or resolution for the board and membership to consider, please see instructions and guidelines and review our policy found here:
CCA Policy on Position Statements, Resolutions & Endorsements – 2014 Revision


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You've learned that amino acids such as Tryptophan and 5-HTP can help improve emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression. But how do you know which amino acid supplement is right for you? And how much should you take? Great questions! The answer is an amino acid trial. … [Read more...] about Amino Acid Trial tells you which Supplement and How Much
Free Stress Test determines your type of Depression and Anxiety
Feeling depressed or anxious and you don't really know why? Unless you have had a specific trauma or life event that is underlying your emotions, it's very likely that your depression and anxiety are rooted in a physiological cause. Meaning, there is a physical reason why you feel this … [Read more...] about Free Stress Test determines your type of Depression and Anxiety
The GABA Challenge: Do you have a Leaky Blood Brain Barrier?
Got brain fog? That's one of the most common signs of a leaky blood brain barrier. Reduced brain function (cognitive decline) is also a common sign. The GABA Challenge, as discussed by Dr. Datis Kharrazian in his book "Why Isn't My Brain Working?", provides us with a simple tool to assess the … [Read more...] about The GABA Challenge: Do you have a Leaky Blood Brain Barrier?
The Dangers of Hidden Food Sensitivities
Food ALLERGIES can cause hives, rashes, digestive upset and even anaphylactic shock. We know about those dangers. But what about food SENSITIVITIES? Many times food sensitivities have no outward symptoms. They can quietly wreak havoc on our bodies with nary a sign. … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Hidden Food Sensitivities
DIY Test for the Liver–The Third Rib test
http://youtu.be/WDkuGu5cUtY&rel=0 In this video, I demonstrate the functional evaluation test that assesses the liver as it relates to blood sugar handling. A functional evaluation involves a series of non-invasive tests that uses three different types of reflexes to determine the health of a … [Read more...] about DIY Test for the Liver–The Third Rib test

subset: commoncrawl


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As someone who grew up on the banks of the Ganaraska River, these coat hooks invoke a surprising amount of nostalgia for me. See the grating on the concrete floor? Many a winter, I stood crammed in with my fellow classmates, peeling off 200 layers of snow gear, trying (and failing) to avoid getting my socks thoroughly soaked. We would proceed to cover ourselves in hot glue as we made pinecone Christmas trees and wreaths. We would walk steadily around a long table, dipping strings into a vat of melted beeswax to make tapered candles.
Fellow Port Hopians know exactly what I am writing about. The Ganaraska Forest stands tall in our childhoods. So I wasn't sure what to expect when my co-worker Katie Sandwell and I travelled down last weekend to check it out. Would it stand up to the test of time, or would the trip shatter my illusions?
I can honestly say that I was blown away. Located on the Oak Ridges Moraine and in Ontario's Greenbelt, the Ganaraska Forest is HUGE at 11,000 acres. And there is so much going on. In fact, it is the largest multi-use forest in all of Southern Ontario. What does multi-use mean? Well…
Do you love hiking? Hunting? Horseback riding? ATVing?
Mushroom foraging, cross-country skiing, dirt biking, snowmobiling, tree-top climbing? Perhaps you need a picturesque wedding locale, weekend retreat or conference centre?
There is literally something for everyone. And the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority wants to keep it that way.
There is a real community around the Ganaraska Forest. It seems their whole operation is built on partnerships. The snowmobile club maintains their trails. The horseback riders built their own paddock. Treetop Trekking has leased a few acres to run their courses. As the Forest Centre is primarily an educational facility, school groups get first dibs on day trips and weekend sleepovers at discounted rates.
A gorgeous still of a milkweed pod adorns the teachers lounge/wedding suite.
Hand hewn bunks from Ganaraska Forest pine for the youngsters
This forest is also a working forest. Pine plantations make up 50% of the 11,000 acres. The first European settlers cleared the old growth to eek out a farm-living. Unfortunately for them, the soil proved too sandy for any sort of farming, and so they proceeded to plant pine trees which are well-suited to the sandy, gravelly soils of the Oak Ridges Moraine.
These trees became masts for tall ships, and to this day the forest is one of the largest sources of utility poles for Ontario. While maintaining a high-functioning forestry sector, the plantations are being converted back to natural forests through the process of selective thinning and harvesting. There is no replanting, as the GRCA allows new tree growth to occur naturally.
As an avid hunter, Shayne doesn't have to go far to find his community.
Of course, when you have so many different people utilizing the forest in a hundred different ways, there is bound to be conflict (think a biker coming up a bit too fast on a horse.) But Shayne Pilgrim, our intrepid tour guide and Forest Centre Technician, said that this is what he loves most. He meets and works with people from so many backgrounds and perspectives, that there is never a boring day. These users have a stake in the forest – ATVer's, hikers and hunters alike would do anything to keep it pristine.
The GRCA is proving that the Greenbelt is meant to be experienced, not just looked at, and it can be done in a sustainable way. You can have forestry, a very active mountain biking group (Paul's Dirty Enduro is one of the biggest events of the year with proceeds going to CMHA), as well as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and an aquifer that supports salmon and native brook trout.
Check out these photos of some of the GFC's stuffed animals used for children's education programs. They have one of almost every type of waterfowl in Ontario.
Do you recognize this plant? I remember walking along this same creek with those same classmates. Our guide, who seemed ten feet tall, leaned over, picked a few bright leaves of watercress and gave them to me. 'Spicy,' I thought. It was the first time I had eaten anything off the ground that wasn't candy.
Katie likes it, too!
These memories are all very tactile, very sensory. The smells of pine and beeswax, the sound of crunching snow and stamping boots on grates, the taste of weird and wonderful things, the joy and challenge of doing something new. This is part of the magic they have created. If the Ganaraska Forest is so vivid in my imagination, how must it be for thousands of other kids?
As cliché as it may sound, I can't wait to get back to the Ganny to create new memories for myself and my family. I suggest you do, too.
- Emma "Moe" Berrigan, Communications Assistant


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Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Tea Review 64 - Anteadote Pure White Tea
Anteadote Pure White Tea
Adagio Teas
Now this is the way bottled tea was meant to taste. If you ask me, that is. Not that you did. But I'll inflict my opinion on you anyway. Toss those sickly sweet tea-like beverages in the bin and give Anteadote a whirl.
Adagio Teas makes four different flavors of Anteadote bottle tea, including black - which I reviewed here - jasmine, green and white. Each contains nothing more than purified water, tea and vitamin C, which works for me just fine. What else do you need?
What surprised me the most about Anteadote White was just how strong the flavor was. I admit to not having a real wide experience with white tea, but those that I have sampled - both hot and bottled - have always been very subtle. Anteadote White has quite a bite, kind of a like a robust green without quite so much of the greenish flavor, if that makes even the least bit of sense.
Highly recommended. Down with sugar.
Shop For Adagio Teas
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Back to Meet the Staff
Brian Chander does psychological testing for all residents of GRIP. He has worked in the field for over 20 years. His first training was in Marriage and Family Therapy and he subsequently gained a Master's Degree in MFT. He completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Chander received additional training with individual psychopathology and assessment, working in settings including prisons, hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, and residential treatment facilities.
He has experience with child, adolescent, and adult psychopathology in both chronic and acute phases of treatment. Also, has expertise with psychological assessment having conducted over 4,000 full psychological batteries utilizing various intellectual, achievement and personality (objective and projective) measures.
Brian is currently in private practice in Springfield, Missouri, and provides consultation for a number of facilities, including a children and adolescent's psychiatric hospital and GRIP.


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Roy, S and Nath, G (1994) Non-uniform slot injection (suction) or wall enthalpy into a steady nonsimilar compressible laminar boundary layer. In: Acta Mechanica, 103 (1-4). 45-61 .
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Steady two-dimensional and axisymmetric compressible nonsimilar laminar boundary-layer flows with non-uniform slot injection (or suction) and non-uniform wall enthalpy have been studied from the starting point of the streamwise co-ordinate to the exact point of separation. The effect of different free stream Mach number has also been considered. The finite discontinuities arising at the leading and trailing edges of the slot for the uniform slot injection (suction) or wall enthalpy are removed by choosing appropriate non-uniform slot injection (suction) or wall enthalpy. The difficulties arising at the starting point of the streamwise co-ordinate, at the edges of the slot and at the point of separation are overcome by applying the method of quasilinear implicit finite difference scheme with an appropriate selection of finer step size along the streamwise direction. It is observed that the non-uniform slot injection moves the point of separation downstream but the non-uniform slot suction has the reverse effect. The increase of Mach number shifts the point of separation upstream due to the adverse pressure gradient. The increase of total enthalpy at the wall causes the separation to occur earlier while cooling delays it. The non-uniform total enthalpy at the wall (i.e., the cooling or heating of the wall in a slot) along the streamwise co-ordinate has very little effect on the skin friction and thus on the point of separation.
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Governor Kate Brown's Public Employee Retirement Systems task force has still not come up with a viable solution for closing a $22 billion state deficit. She is leaning toward an employer-incentive program. Employees from Lane Community College, as well as other public employees, have entered into a legal agreement with the state. Jennifer Salzman, an instructor here at Lane Community College, feels "It is important that the state uphold their part of this agreement."
PERS is the primary pension program for public employees in the state of Oregon. Members include state and local employees, which includes college and university instructors. PERS works much like a mutual fund where funds are spread across many investments, both high and low risk.
Lane's faculty are members of this fund and are very concerned about the impact this will have on their pension once they reach retirement. They are afraid the money will not be there as promised when it comes time for them to receive it. This has caused one instructor, Lee Imonen, the Union Representative for Lane Community College's faculty, to lose faith in the security of the very system that gave him reason to become a teacher.
"When we were hired, some of the assurances of the position was a good health plan, and a reasonable retirement. Like many others in today's workforce, I feel less certain about the future and my ability to rely on retirement benefits when the time comes," Lee said.
PERS was originally set up so that, at retirement, the state would match employee non-capped contributions at 100 percent. This meant that pension payments many times equaled or exceed 100 percent of salary. The fund went into debt in the 1980s. By 2003 the deficit became too great and reform began.
Now, it is the current employees who will bear the brunt of this deficit upon their retirement. One city employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, when asked how she felt this would affect her retirement, commented, "My plan is to get vested then leave and take my money with me."
The governor's task force was charged with finding options that would bring down the deficit by $5 billion within five years. In the report, submitted on Nov. 1, 2017, the task force submitted over a dozen proposals, each with their own pros and cons.
Governor Brown showed great concern over proposals to privatize public universities and sell off the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation.
She instructed the task force to continue searching for more viable options. The focus to be on an employer-incentivized state match program of .25 on the dollar to be funneled into the PERS fund. She suggested possibly pooling outside excess funds to use for this and intends to avoid a rise in liquor taxes or initiating new taxes on Oregonians.
As of the writing of this article, there have been no decisions made as to a resolution. The focus will continue to be on the state match program when the governor and PERS task force convene at the next legislative session on Feb. 5.


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To establish your relationship to a relative who wishes to immigrate to the United States.Who May File or Receive Service:
U.S. citizens residing in this office's jurisdiction filing on behalf of their spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21 or parent (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years of age or older).
U.S. citizens residing in this field office's jurisdiction but outside of Haiti may file with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction over the U.S. citizen's place of residence if the USCIS Port-au-Prince field office director determines that there are exceptional circumstances.
Active Duty Military: Active duty U.S. military service members stationed permanently at a military base in USCIS Port-au-Prince's jurisdiction but outside of Haiti may file this form directly with the Department of State without needing to establish exceptional circumstances.
Filing and Other Special Instructions:Residents of Haiti filing with USCIS Port-au-Prince may submit the petition and supporting evidence in person.Evidence of residency must be submitted with the petition. The evidence you submit must support a determination that you are a resident in Haiti.Please Note: Certain pieces of evidence may more strongly support a finding of residency than others. For petitions filed at this field office, you must submit one or more of the following:Passport entry stamp(s)Residency permit or cardWork permitHousing leaseWork contractIn addition, other evidence of residency may include, but is no limited to:Utility billsProof of local registrationMilitary ordersBank statementsProof of school enrollmentVehicle registrationValid local driver's licenseTax documentsForeign property deeds or registration (although proof of property ownership in itself, may be insufficient if there is no evidence that the petitioner resides at that property)Any document issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by a full English translation and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English. The original documents, with one copy of the originals, and the English translation should be submitted with the petition. Any original documents submitted upon USCIS' request will be returned.If you live outside of Haiti, but believe that exceptional circumstances justify filing your petition overseas, please go to the nearest U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate to make your request to file. You must provide evidence of exceptional circumstances. The consular section will contact the field office director to request permission to accept your petition overseas. If your request is denied, you will need to file with the Chicago Lockbox.Petitions from lawful permanent residents and petitions for relatives of U.S. citizens other than those mentioned in the "Who May File or Receive Service" section must be filed with the Chicago Lockbox..
I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
- Form I-130 (638 KB PDF)
- Instructions for Form I-130 (78 KB PDF)
- Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance (240 KB PDF)
Purpose of Form
For citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States.
Note: A separate form must be filed for each eligible relative. USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.
Number of Pages
Form 2; Instructions 7.
Edition Date
03/23/15. Previous editions accepted.
Where to File
File at the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on where you live and whether you are also filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The addresses are listed here: Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-130 web page.
If you reside outside of the United States where USCIS has an international office, you may file at the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility or at the USCIS international office in the country in which you reside. If you reside outside of the United States where USCIS does not have an international office, you may file at the U.S. Embassy or consulate having jurisdiction over the area where you live only if exceptional circumstances exist and the USCIS Field Office Director with jurisdiction over that location determines that the Embassy or consulate may accept and adjudicate the case. For a list of USCIS international offices and filing instructions please visit www.uscis.gov/international.
Filing Fee
Special Instructions
- Please read our Lockbox Filing Tips.
- To receive an email or text message when we accept your form, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to the front of the petition.
- If you are filing for your spouse, your petition must be accompanied by a Biographical Form G-325A for you and one for your spouse (not form G-325).
- For your petition to be accepted, you must:
- Properly sign the form. As the petitioner, you must sign Part E.
- Submit the correct filing fee of $420.
- Complete the entire form. You must complete Part A. You must provide your name, complete address, marital status, and country of birth in Part B; and the beneficiary's name, complete address, marital status, and country of birth in Part C.


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Champs Sports
Nike 3 Pack Moisture MGT Cushion Low Cut Socks - Mens - Black/White
Please check the latest pricing and stock availability directly with the retailer before traveling to the center.
Nike's Moisture-Management Cushion Socks will keep your feet cool, dry, and comfortable. A wide, supportive area under the arch provides a better fit that won't slip. Along with a half-cushioned foot,…
these premium cotton socks are built to absorb shock through the toughest play. A reinforced toe and heel enhance durability in high-wear areas. Comes in a three-pack to keep you playing longer. 70% cotton/28% nylon/2% spandex. Imported.
Available In: Black/White
to see this product at your centre
Please select a Center to check this product's availability at your Center.


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Activities to Improve Balance and Coordination in Children 2 Years Old
Balance and coordination skills help toddlers interact with the world around them and perform more complex physical activities. Running, jumping, kicking, throwing, drawing pictures or constructing block towers are all examples of activities that develop a 2-year-old's balance and coordination. Balance and coordination skills develop over time as children play and experiment with their worlds, so it's important that you provide a safe, supportive environment as your toddler learns to develop these skills.
Play Simon Says to help improve your 2-year-old's balance and coordination. For example, when Simon says, "Stand on one foot and touch your nose," your toddler has to balance on one foot while attempting to touch his nose, which requires hand-eye coordination. Play Red Light, Green Light to teach your toddler body control, which is essential for good balance. Have your 2-year-old alternate between running, skipping, galloping and hopping. Play Follow the Leader and have your toddler shadow your movements 4. Model a variety of physical activities, such as balancing on one foot, skipping or hopping. These movements teach your 2-year-old to use her muscles in different ways, improving her balance and coordination.
Play Ball
Learning to throw, roll, kick and catch a ball is a great way for your two-year-old to work on her balance and coordination skills. Use a large, light ball, such as a beach ball or a balloon, as these are easier for toddlers to use. Roll a ball back and forth to your 2-year-old or have her throw a balloon into the air and catch it. Both of these are great activities for developing and improving your 2-year-old's hand-eye coordination. Have her practice kicking the ball to you. Kicking the ball requires balance and coordination as she shifts her weight to one leg, while attempting to strike the ball with her opposite leg.
Obstacle Course
Stairs, hills, crawl spaces and stepping stones all challenge a two-year-old's balance and coordination. Create an obstacle course that allows your toddler to work on his balance and coordination in a safe environment. Set up pillows and boxes and have your toddler crawl around and through the boxes and step on the pillows, going from one to the next without touching the ground. Design an obstacle course at a toddler-friendly park using the available equipment, such as climbing the stairs to go down the slide, walking on the balance beam or crawling through tunnels and forts.
Drawing and Painting
Coordination requires the ability to use your hands and eyes simultaneously. Activities, such as tracing lines, building with Legos, painting pictures or sculpting with Play-Doh all develop hand-eye coordination. Have your toddler paint a picture, encouraging him to use lots of lateral strokes. This side-to-side motion will improve his left-to-right tracking, which is important for hand-eye coordination, but is also a vital skill in learning to read as well. Have your 2-year-old trace the outline of simple shapes. Tracing will help your toddler coordinate the movements of his hands with what he sees with his eyes.
- KidsHealth from Nemours: Toddlers: Learning by Playing
- Sensory-Processing-Disorder.com: Gross Motor Activities
- North Dakota State University Extension; Supporting Physical Growth and Development in Young Children; Sean Brotherson; April 2006
- "What to Expect the Toddler Years"; Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway; 2006
- Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images


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International Café
Mon 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Tue 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Wed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Thu 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Fri 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Sat Closed
Sun Closed
Contact information:
Call in your order: (313) 377-2555
Phone: (313) 377-2555 or (313) 874-2103
E-Mail: email@example.com
Catering is available on-site in rental meeting rooms of the International Institute Building or
off-site throughout Metro Detroit
The award-winning International Café is located in the lower level of the International Institute Building, at 111 East Kirby, Detroit, Michigan. It specializes in Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Italian, and American cuisine, at moderate prices. Favorite dishes include curry chicken, pesto pizza, daily pasta specials, baked white fish, lamb, baklava, and many others. You may dine-in or carry out. Catering is also available.
Metro Times magazine awarded the International Cafe FOUR STARS. The South End newspaper featured the International Cafe in an article praising the restaurant's food, service, and decor. The International Cafe was honored by the Wayne State University Office of International Students and Scholars with a Certificate of Appreciation.


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Product Additional Information
Product Details
Concealed hook closures in front. Side pockets. Satin lining.
- Fabric: 80% acrylic, 20% polyester
- Lining: 100% polyester
- Dry clean only
- Imported
- 26" from shoulder to hem
- Model is 5'10" and wearing size S
Please note: This item was pre-shot and written from a sample. Details including fabric, construction, and measurement are subject to slight variations from the pictured item.
Shipping & Returns
Enjoy free shipping and easy returns on eligible products online or in any of our stores. Read our FAQs for our shipping details and return information.
Styling Suggestions
Iman Asymmetrical Leather BootiesAmina Muaddi Iman Asymmetrical Leather Booties$1,020 $619


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For days I've started and stopped a post about my current read, The Casual Vacancy…J.K. Rowling's new novel. I bought the book on my Kindle last week and like this post, have started and stopped reading it several times.
I've read all the articles about the people who are surprised the book isn't like Harry Potter (did someone really have to tell them that?); I've seen the stories about the bookstore owners who are upset that all their copies aren't flying off the shelves.
But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I find both of those situations silly – my expectations weren't like those others. Of course I loved the Potter series, and I was in awe of Rowling's personal story, and her imagination! But I understood that this was a new avenue for her and I never bought into the premise that Potter fans who started reading the series are now in their mid to late 20's and would be a captive audience…
My quandary is this – I wanted to like the book, and maybe I still will…but honestly, I've tried three times to start it, and cannot get past 20 pages or so. There's a myriad of characters, none of which are given more than a few paragraphs, and which are introduced so quickly that I found myself having to go back and try to remember who is who. This is not something I usually have a problem with, so I'm disheartened to say the least.
I've heard the ending is good…but I'm not going to force myself to get there because of who the author is. I mean, some books just don't grab me – no matter who wrote them. There are books by Updike and Fitzgerald that I've passed on too.
Is there anyone out there who has read the book, or is reading it now? I'd love to hear from you and hoping I can find some inspiration to pick it up again – but for now, I'm moving on to something else on my list!


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You can't say that Edmund Mcmillen is resting on his laurels. After designing the brutally difficulty throw back to old school plat forming with Super Meat Boy, his latest game, The Binding of Isaac, is a mash up of Smash TV and the rogue-like genre. Beneath the twisted visuals and story there is some excellent game design present and an example of one of the best uses of achievements I've seen in some time.
The story will no doubt turn some heads: Isaac has been locked up in his room by his overly Christian mother who is hearing the voice of God telling her what to do. One day his mother is told by God to sacrifice Isaac in its name and she obeys but before she can kill him, Isaac escapes into the basement to try and find a way out. Once inside the basement, he'll have to fight monsters and lost relatives who stand in his way to freedom.
There is definitely a discussion here, but I am by no means the one who is going to delve into it, so we're going to leave it at that and move on.
Isaac controls using a combination of WSAD keys and the arrow keys, the former controls movement while the latter attacks in that direction. The rogue-like elements come into play with how the levels are built. Bosses, the map and what items are found are all randomized at the start. The randomized levels are the main attraction and combined with the items are what make Isaac special.
While the maps are randomized, there are a few staples that will be on every floor. One of those is a treasure room that requires a key to get in. Each treasure room holds one item; some will be special items that can be used with the space key while the rest will modify Isaac and change his appearance. There are too many items to list here and each one has a different effect, from increasing damage, to changing his attack to a charge up move.
By the time you are several floors in, Isaac will not only look radically different, but play differently each time. Some games will find your attacks are weak, but you have increased range or multi-shot, while others may find you doing massive damage, but with slow attacks. Scattered around each level, you'll also find consumable items that like in all good rogue-likes could help or hinder your game. Boss battles are challenging, made even more so due to the random items. You start the game with only one life and a set of hearts, and running out of hearts means game-over, but this is where the achievements come into play.
As you play the game, you'll unlock achievements, some for beating bosses, while others are for finding specific items. Each achievement unlocks something new in the game, from new characters, items, enemies and even bosses, are added in to the randomization. What this means is that the more you replay the game, the more content becomes available.
This is a brilliant design decision and works perfectly with the rogue-like nature of the game. Most rogue-likes are replay-able by how difficult the game is, forcing the player to keep playing. While Isaac is also a difficult game, it also rewards people who keep playing the game. Even if someone gets lucky and beats the game on their first try, there are still plenty of things to discover in the game. For once, we have a game that not only has those extra difficult "experts only" achievements, but actively rewards the player for being crazy enough to attempt them. This is one of those games that scream for DLC and it has been announced that there should be more content coming for Halloween.
It's hard to find any real problems with the game that aren't inherent with the genre. Obviously the randomization is going to affect how easy or hard the game is and like other rogue-likes it is possible to be stuck in an unlucky streak. The control scheme is a point of argument, using the keys for movement and attacking only allows you to use the cardinal directions. As it stands, for people who prefer to aim with the mouse, they will have to adjust to the different control scheme. The only nitpick I have is that there isn't even a soft save system, allowing players to take a break, but not abuse the system, such as in Dungeons of Dredmor.
The Binding of Isaac joins Dungeons of Dredmor as an excellent five dollar game and easily a huge bang for your buck. I really hope that the use of achievements in the game will inspire other designers to better implement them into their design.
Josh Bycer
For the longest time, I've never been a fan of stealth mechanics in games and to shock everyone, I've yet to play Thief 1 and 2. Recently however, games like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Assassin's Creed 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum has made me enjoy the act of sneaking around. As I thought about these titles and why I enjoyed them, I started to think about what goes into making a good stealth game.
Avoiding Detection: The mainstay of stealth games is giving the player ways to avoid being detected, with line of sight as the first mechanic, from there each game usually introduces another mechanic that acts as the unique hook. Both Thief and Splinter Cell had lighting and Metal Gear Solid 3 and 4 had camouflage.
To me, only having a few ways limits the design. The more options open to the player, the better. Batman had the following mechanics:
Hiding in vents or grates
Grappling up to gargoyles
Batarang distraction
Explosive gel distraction
Assassin's Creed 2 has:
Smoke bombs
Hiding in objects
Hiding in crowds
Using groups of people as a distraction
Going across rooftops.
Lastly Deus Ex has:
Stealth generator
Throwing objects to create distractions
Rooftops or using elevation
Going through vents
Breaking through walls
Looking at games I didn't like, Hitman, besides line of sight had disguises and the last game added in throwing a coin to create a distraction. To me, it never feels realistic to only have a few options of avoiding detection. I can't wait to see a stealth game combine the unique mechanics of multiple stealth games into one experience.
Having an "out": The other problem I have with a lot of stealth games is that stealth is the only option, as being detected spells doom and one of my first painful memories of this kind of stealth design , was with the game Syphon Filter for the PS1. Near the end of the game, the player is required to sneak through a level with no gear, if they are detected the mission ends.
Not having some kind of offensive ability goes back to a thought I had about the horror genre regarding "fight or flight". If the player's only option is to run away or hide, it makes the game more predictable as the player knows that if they get caught, the game is over.
What was amazing to me, from playing Assassin's Creed and Batman, was how powerful the player was and that they could deal with groups of enemies. With that said though, there has to be a limit, or you just have an action game with minor stealth elements.
That was the problem with Assassin's Creed 2, due to sword counter attacks; it really trivialized the need to be stealthy, unless it was for a mission. Batman had two main types of enemies: unarmed and armed, unarmed enemies could be dealt with without having to sneak, but enemies with guns would kill Batman quickly if they catch him. That set up the dynamic of having sections of the game that were pure action, while still providing areas that required stealth.
The issue with AC2 was that they set up the main character to become a complete bad-ass, both as a fighter and sneaking around. Because of that, no enemy could really stand toe-to-toe with the player. Deus Ex HR: had security drones and turrets, which conventional weapons would not work on them. Only EMP grenades, rocket launchers, or hacking them would work. Now, even though these enemies are best handled by stealth, the designers still gave the option of just fighting them.
Failing Stealth: Building on the last point, one mechanic that has annoyed me about stealth games is that being detected instantly destroys being stealthy.
Chances are if you've played a stealth game then you ran into the following situation: The second someone sees you, every guard on the map instantly knows where you are and comes running. While I like having a way to fight back, I still prefer having a way of becoming hidden again. What I liked about Assassin's Creed 2 was that guards had a few seconds questioning the player's appearance before sounding the alarm, allowing the player to either hide or try to take the guard down.
Personally I prefer to see guards becoming alarmed more realistically, such as: if a guard sees you who don't have a way of alerting their friends, they'll either try to take you out or run to alert everyone. The farther stealth design moves away from guards with mental links to each other the better.
Less Segregation in Design: This section essentially sums up everything mentioned. One of the main ways that has improved stealth design in my opinion is moving away from having "action levels" and "stealth levels" by combining both elements into the same design. In Deus Ex: HR, with exception to one side mission, the game never forces you to be stealthy. Of course, getting into a fire fight outnumbered is going to be tough to get through, but it's not an instant failure.
Having said that, I know that Batman: AA breaks this point, but in a sense it does work. Giving the player a limit to being aggressive can be beneficial, allowing players to decide how long they should remain hidden before the crap hits the fan. Level design moving from pure linear set pieces to a more open setting has also helped here. Before, getting detected meant that you're only option is to go straight through the enemies to your objective, now you can try to run and hide and get around them another way.
Thinking even further back, The Mark of Kri for PS2 while predominately an action title, did combine stealth elements into play. On each level there are alarms set up that will trigger guards to attack the player if they are detected. The player is more than capable of handling themselves in a fight, but it is easy to be overwhelmed. That way, levels are set up for both stealth and fighting without being separated into specific sections.
One of the main areas that game design has evolved is designing games around more than just one main mechanic. Some of the best games developed have combined elements from different genres to create something new. Batman: Arkham Asylum, succeeded because it wasn't just an action game, or just a stealth game, but a Batman game. With successes like the Assassin's Creed series and Deus Ex, it will be interesting to see how they affect future stealth titles, like the upcoming Hitman game.
Josh Bycer
Times seem to be changing for the MMO market. With the recent announcements of Star Trek Online and DC Universe Online moving to a F2P formula, along with World of Warcraft which has changed their up to level 10 trial, to a 20 level F2P model. The time of the $15 a month subscription model appears to be fading away and looking at the genre, it seems like MMOs are facing pressure from within and outside to make this change.
Let's start by looking inward at the genre. MMO design is different from other genres, due to the size and cost of development. Most singleplayer games are aimed at 8 to 10 hours of play, MMOs want gamers to play for months and that requires a lot of time developing content. Putting out a MMO that flops can be the death of a company due to the enormous cost of development. Because of the investment, the gameplay in MMOs has not evolved as much as other genres.
When you look at the action genre for instance, we've gone from the days of Double Dragon, to God of War and Devil May Cry. With the MMO genre however, the majority of MMOs aim to be like WoW, which was aimed to be like EverQuest. WoW's success was not at inventing the wheel, but building a better mousetrap. Blizzard streamlined the design and made it more accessible to everyone, along with being at the right place at the right time. Because of those factors, WoW became the 800 pound gorilla it is today. This is why many MMOs are trying to be like WoW instead of doing something different, why fix something that wasn't broken? The times that we do see original game design, like Star Trek Online or DC Universe, it doesn't make the same money as WoW.
MMOs have been trying to mix things up by providing more content for the subscription fee and many promise content every month to players to keep them paying. Let's be frank here, when a developer says that they can put out expansion quality content once per month and continue to do that for the length of the game's life-cycle, THEY ARE LYING. Unless they have been working on all that content while developing the base game, or have their entire development staff working round the clock, it just won't happen.
DC Universe fell into that trap, they did have content for the first two months, and then after that it started to dip. Star Trek Online played it smart and instead of promising huge content, they instead put out new story arcs for players to do every month, which is far easier to develop then brand new content.
Arena.net at the time, were perhaps the most forward thinkers on the market. Instead of trying to take on WoW with Guild Wars, they instead went the expansion model route. Meaning, there was no subscription, instead gamers who wanted content could buy expansions at $40 a pop. That way, people could choose what to buy and didn't have to worry about spending money without having new content.
From within the genre, we have a case where everyone was trying to do the same thing, and when that happens, only one or two MMOS came out on top. With other genres, there is diversity within the genre giving players reasons to play multiple games. With the MMO genre however, how many people actually subscribe to 2 or more MMOS at the exact same time?
Moving on let's look outside of the genre and how MMOs have fallen behind. Going back to the late 90s when EverQuest came out, there weren't games that allowed people to socialize while playing. Multiplayer games like shooters didn't give players the options to hang out, just frag your friends. Because of this, MMOs fit into the community niche and people were willing to pay a premium to be a part of that. Another side of this was the continued support by the developers, with rare exception, once a game was released it was done and no more would be added to it with exception at the time to MMOs.
However, times have changed and MMOs existing in the bubble of social interaction has popped. Developers have seen how fostering a community can prolong the life of the game and how worthwhile it was to continue supporting it. Valve with Team Fortress 2, is still going strong with an influx of new content. It's no longer about making a multiplayer game that will only last a short while. Activision is banking on Call of Duty: Elite to keep people playing COD all year long. As developers are adding value to their games, it is taking value away from MMOs.
The standard subscription to an MMO is $15 a month, with a yearlong cost coming out to $180. With Call of Duty: Elite coming in at $50 a year you can see the difference in price. When you can have your social interaction, with new content at more than half the cost of a subscription based game, it's hard to justify spending the fee each month. What has been even worse for MMOs would have to be the rise of the F2P market.
F2P games have been coming into their own, with mass successes like League of Legends. More and more developers are embracing this model, with F2P games both standalone and on social networking sites. The biggest advantage to F2P games is that it allows gamers to play what they want, spend what they want and not be pressured to keep paying. The success of this market has really forced a lot of developers to look at design differently, such as with Age of Empires Online, or with Valve working on DOTA 2.
F2P games have honestly knocked the wind out of the MMO genre's sails. With a very low barrier of entry (0 dollars,) along with the social features one would have found in an MMO, there are fewer reasons to be playing a typical MMO today then 5 or 10 years ago. Perhaps the biggest evidence of the F2P model working is how it has been used to revive the same MMOs that have had trouble in the market.
Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online, have both found success once they switched off of the subscription model. With STO and DCUO making the switch soon, I predict that they'll find success after the change. The reason is that a well designed F2P model works better for someone like me. I've always hated having to pay a subscription for a game, as with my constant switching between titles, I never felt that I was getting my money's worth. With F2P games, I can drop in whenever I want and if I'm enjoying myself, I can spend money for more things to do.
A long time ago I joked about WoW dropping their subscription as a snowball's chance in hell, today, I'm not joking. WoW's numbers have been slowly slipping (still high but slipping,) and I think there will come a time where WoW will become F2P. As one of the few remaining MMOs with a subscription based model, in a sea of games offering content at a lower cost, it will be interesting to see what Blizzard will do to keep people playing WoW.
The MMO market is undergoing a shakeup, much like the transition we're seeing of the move from retail to a digital format of buying games. As other genres continue to support their games and offer players reasons to stick around, traditional MMOs are finding themselves no longer standing out from other genres. With Star Wars: The Old Republic looking to be the next fighter in the arena and perhaps more importantly, one of the few properties that could take on WoW, it's going to be interesting to watch these two duke it out for subscribers.
Josh Bycer.
It's time for another design debate. The last one regarding regenerating health brought some interesting discussions and hopefully we can have a similar discourse here. RPG systems for the longest time were designed around the world being a static progression, meaning that players will find little rats outside the starting town, and dragons halfway around the world. However as RPGs became more open-ended and other genres adopted their mechanics, there has been a push for persistent world design. This is when the world is built around the player's level, at the start, the player will find nothing but weaklings, but once they level up, those weak enemies will be replaced by stronger ones.
Perhaps the most recognizable example of a persistent world was The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion. Since then, this debate has grown and it's time to talk about it here.
To begin with let's look at the pros and cons of each, starting with persistent. As a way of providing a balanced experience, persistent works by keeping enemy levels either equal to, or close to the player's level. You don't need to worry about wandering around and running into an enemy who can kill you in a few hits. On the flip side, it also means that you don't have to worry about grinding weak enemies for experience to level up, as every fight will be against an enemy of average strength against the player. This also has the side effect of making it easier to play with friends, if the world scales to the group, then you don't have to worry about bringing in a lower level friend and having them useless for the game.
(As a quick side note regarding: allowing friends to play together. City of Heroes' utilized the "side-kick "system. Here, if you are playing with a friend who is a lower level then you, they can become your side-kick for the mission, raising their level up to yours, but not learning any new skills. This allowed them to be a part of your group without weighting it down.)
There are a few disadvantages to persistent world design. First is that the balance has to be just right or it's very easy to break the system. In Oblivion, the enemy scaling worked off of the player's experience level. However, the game determines that level differently from other RPGs, at character creation, the player assigns primary and secondary character attributes. Leveling up primary attributes will go towards raising the character's level, while secondary attributes will not.
What that means, is if the player chooses non combat related attributes for their primary skills, there is a good chance that they will level those up before leveling up their combat skills. In other words, they'll be facing higher level enemies before they have the combat skills needed to win. On the other side, crafty players could do this on purpose and spend all their time honing their combat skills, thereby keeping the enemies weaker and just walk all over the game.
Another part of balancing the game is that to provide challenge, there needs to be a lot of enemy variety. The reason is that if the world is scaling to the player there needs to be variety to keep things from becoming stale. In Dead Island, there are 7 types of zombies (2 common, 5 uncommon,) that scale with the player. The problem is that once you fought one, you then know how to fight every other enemy of that type, since the only things that change with leveling up, are the amount of health the enemies have and how much damage they do.
One solution to this is if you're going to only have a few core enemy types, throw in unique modifiers that start to show up when the player gets to a high level. Going back to Dead Island, there could have been zombies that can jump and tackle the player, or zombies that can't be stunned with electricity or kicked.
The second issue is that it kills that thrill of exploring for unique challenges or the feeling of wanderlust .Because every enemy and piece of gear are tailored to the player's level, it means that they won't be able to find tougher challenges or powerful gear. Also this gives the world an artificial feel to it as new enemies magically appear where weaker enemies once were. Going back to hard challenges with the power to now beat them easy, shows players just how much they've gotten stronger since getting stuck there, which is a feeling that doesn't work in a persistent world.
Moving on, static progression has the following advantages. First, it gives players an easy to understand progression. The further you go from the start, the more dangerous things are going to get. It's easy to understand if your character is level 10 and an enemy is level 20, who has the advantage.
This also makes sense from a world building point of view, dragons and other powerful monsters aren't going to move right next to the starting city, likewise it also helps motivate people to explore the world, as you never know what you'll find in a dungeon somewhere.
In terms of enemy variety, while the more enemy types the better (as with all games,) it's not as vital compared to a persistent world. The reason is that even basic enemy types, when pumped up to a higher level can still be a threat to a player.
Now the problems with static progression, game balance is still important, but it is a different type of balance compared to a persistent world. The key detail is: what exactly does leveling affect? Different games will have the level of the player mean different things, for instance, in most JRPGs, leveling up will improve the base attributes of your character, while in other games it could only affect your health. In RPGs with turn based combat, this is ok, as the attributes of both sides will affect the outcome. However, when you have real time or skill based combat, this can present a problem.
Borderlands had this issue, the game was all about twitch base shooting as in a normal FPS, but it also had RPG leveling. Whenever there was a level disparity between the player and enemies, the lower level character will do less damage to the higher one. When the level difference is one or two, it's not a big deal, but when the player is three or more levels below an enemy, they'll find that their bullets do negligible damage. At that point it doesn't matter how good the player is when their best shots are only doing one or two points of damage.
This also feels like an artificial way of challenging the player, and it removes the need for skill. While having enemies grow stronger along with the player breaks the immersion, so does having your bullets from the same gun magically do five to ten times more damage to an enemy because you are now only two levels below it instead of three.
An interesting solution is to downplay leveling, the Disgaea series from Nis America is an example of this. While characters have levels, their attributes however are the key factor in combat. Giving a low level character, powerful items can overcome being a lower level then the enemy. Power leveling comes into play when characters can restart at level one, but with enhanced stats. What that means, is after enough restarts, a level one character could have the stats of a level 50 character.
Demon's Souls also downplayed the priority to level. Every time the player levels up, they will gain a little more max health (more if they increase their vitality attribute.) However, the actual stats and damage that affect combat come from the weapons themselves. Being a high level in Demon's Souls won't help you kill bosses quicker, if you're still using the weapon you started the game with. While the player's attributes do dictate what they can or cannot use, it's the actual equipment that does the work.
With everything said so far it's time for me to share where my preference lies. I prefer static progression to persistent for several reasons. First, is that I like to explore and see what dangers and surprises I can find and knowing that every encounter out there is going to be even to my level kills that thrill. Second is that I've always been a numbers man, as I like getting into the details to see how much power I can squeeze out of my characters, which is also the reason why I love the Disgaea series. If I spend the time power leveling, then I want to see my characters utterly dominate lower level enemies, while still having ultimate challenges to face.
RPG elements have been finding their way to other genres and as such, are forcing designers to find the best ways to implement them and progression is a big part of that. Defining how a player becomes more powerful in a turn based game with attributes is easy, but when you are dealing with real time combat and the player's skill level has to be factor in, that causes complications. With the line between RPG and action titles blurring, we are going to be seeing more games that will bring this discussion back up.
Josh Bycer


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Hello, and welcome to Industrial Commons: The Hagerstown Makerspace!
What is a Makerspace?
A makerspace, or hackerspace, is a community workspace that houses equipment and supplies suited for a variety of interests. It can consist of anything and everything, from 3D printers to carpentry tools! The principle behind it is the concept of "open-source hardware," the idea being to provide the community with collective access to tools and equipment they would not typically be able to afford individually. It attracts amateur inventors, professional developers, and hobbyists alike: By doing so, the makerspace serves as a kind of technology incubator.
About Industrial Commons
Our mission is simple: to foster local Makers by providing them with the space, tools, and training they need to do what they do best.
Interested? Contact us, or visit the space during one of our events!
The Industrial Commons makerspace is housed at the Technical Innovation Center of Hagerstown Community College.
Address: 20140 Scholar Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21742


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Beating Up on Israel
Dan Henninger discusses international reaction to the flotilla incident.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... BT speed and in intensity with which the world's governments condemned Israel or the flotilla incident has been something to be holed ... I cannot think of any other nation no matter how Scully or un civilized its practices that would produce this response ... or any other event for that matter for example defying the world by testing a nuclear bomb ... French President Nicolas Sarkozy criticized what he called the disproportionate use of force ... but only Israel seems to elicit the disproportionate use of language ... Turkish Prime Minister retro ... girl on called the incident state terrorism ... as foreign minister said it was barbarism and so does Saudi Arabia Syria Iraq and Morocco ... Italy's Foreign undersecretary Stuart Bonnie a proxy call that the massacre of Gaza ... UN Secretary-General Bomb Ki moon was shocked ... Denmark Spain Greece and Sweden cylinder Israeli ambassadors for an explanation ... British Foreign Minister William Hague extended his sympathy to the families of the victims and the Vatican voiced concern ... anti Israeli demonstrations sprouted like mushrooms fields in New York Paris ... Washington London Rome Cypress Oslo Stockholm in Athens ... well the world's people may pay a price for such a disproportionate double standard by the leaders ... the conclusion is inescapable ... the smaller the problem the larger the world powers output of high there ... but if a problem as large or very difficult ... especially if the problem is nuclear they deflate ... in any of those places were many truly discuss dangerous and terrible plans such as North Korea or Iran ... watching this hyper ventilated criticism is of Israel for a shootout on a boat ... must strike them as laughable ... if one's opponents reserve using their collective authority for something like this ... then the world is ultimately not serious about who must comply with its rules of behavior ... that in turn will increase the odds that genuinely irresponsible regime will miss calculate ... Israel should not be immune from criticism ... but if indeed the keepers of the world order find it easier to be blowhards rather than a statesman ... than we have a problem ... for The Wall Street Journal ... time Dan Henninger ...


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An informative sampling focused on herbs and tea with an occasional sprinkling of fairy dust and a glimpse into family activities too. The contributions to this blog are the combined efforts of the sisters of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Be Good at something,
Be good at something,
it makes you valuable..
have something to bring to the table,
because that will
make you more welcome.
~Randy Pausch
1 comment:
- Marilyn Miller said...
Thanks for the words of inspiration!
- Thursday, March 19, 2009
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Super food or little grass pet?
As I began hearing more and more about the chia seed, I was sure we were not talking about the same chia from the Chia Pet of the 80's and 90's. You know the one with the earworm commercials…ch-ch-ch-chia! If by chance you are too young (or too old)to remember, Chia Pets are terra cotta pots in the shapes of animals that you spread chia seeds on, and then they spout a grassy "fur" within a couple of weeks.
And…yes, the grass pet is made from the same chia seeds that we eat. In fact chia seeds have quite the history. They are grown in Mexico and South America and date as far back as the Mayan and Aztec times. They were a staple in the diet, and historians have suggested it was a very important food crop in the day. Currently Australia is the leading producer of chia seeds.
You can eat chia seeds whole or ground, and when they are combined with liquid they swell and form a gel. Apparently it is also the primary ingredient in a very popular Mexican and South American drink called chia fresco which combines the seeds with fresh lemon or lime juice and added sweetener.
This truly all sounded rather disgusting to me (I'm sure the aversion is connected to the grass pet), but I did step out and make a lemon chia pudding, and I am very excited to report that it was really delicious! I mean, very refreshing and tasty, and with a good texture (I was worried about that part as I don't go for flan or custard), and an all around pleasant surprise. I can totally understand the chia fresco craze!
Now, why would we eat these little seeds?
They actually have some great nutritional benefits.
Chia Seeds
Serving size: 2 Tablespoons (1 ounce)
138 calories
9 grams of fat (4,500mg of ALA Omega 3's)
10 grams of fiber
5 grams of protein
18% of the Recommended Daily Value of Calcium
They add a bit of texture to a dish while the flavor is very mild, so it can be added to a variety of dishes…sweet or savory. Add whole to granola, cereal, yogurt, or salad, and ground mixed in with flour for muffins, pancakes, and cookies.
They can also be used as a food substitute for eggs and pectins (this would come in handy for someone following a vegan diet). You can mix 1 part chia seeds to six parts water to form a gel, and about 1 tablespoon of this gel is equivalent to a large egg.
I will save flax seeds for another post, as they are also a great healthy addition to our diets, but for comparison purposes here is their nutrient breakdown. I used 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed as the comparable since that is the easier way to consume flax on a daily basis.
Serving size: 2 Tablespoons, ground
74 calories
6 grams of fat (3200mg ALA from Omega 3's)
4 grams of fiber
2 grams of protein
Thanks for reading and have a great week!


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There are few things I feel more strongly about than feeding my children "real" food (reading to them being the other).
Bare with me as I tie a few thoughts together here …..
If you have been around these parts a while or you know me, you'll know I have a reputation for being organised. I have in no way been that way my whole life. I taught myself to do that. Some people like a bit of chaos but me, I like making "room" for chaos by taking a whole heap of guess work out of things by way of planning our meals and our shopping, thinking about when I can fit chores in around work, play dates, coffee with friends and you know, sleep! It just helps me feel better to be that way.
I truly feel that in being a teeny bit organised there is no reason anyone can't make their own bread, curry paste, pastry or anything that they want. My kitchen skills when I moved out of home were limited to rice-a-riso (remember that stuff?) and kantong cooking sauces, seriously! Trust me, if I can teach myself to cook, anyone can! Isn't that right Mum? Truly, I had no interest in food until I was well in to my 20s in any real way.
On my way to work the other morning a family boarded the train….a baby in a pram…mum, dad and a little boy of about 3. The little boy was drinking a 2 litre bottle of Lift soft drink directly from the bottle….at 8am. He proceeded to drink most of it. I've said before that I'm far less judgemental of other parents now I am one (the only perfect parent is a non-parent in my opinion) but that kind of thing makes me SO sad.
For me, it boils down to this…..you make time for what is important to you. And for me, food is important.
When both my boys started on their journey of eating solid foods, it was the first time I really thought about what kind of relationship I wanted them to have with food. I want them to know that things grow, we pick them, we cook them, we work hard to provide the food that is presented on the table. That food is FUN! That it's great to have cake but that cake should be enjoyed only sometimes and that it's more fun because it's not something we eat all the time. For the first 18 months of both their lives neither of my boys ate any sugar that didn't naturally occur in the fruit and other natural foods they were given or a small amount in their weetbix. I'm not lauding myself as some kind of saint….it was just what we felt was important. To keep their diet (and ours!) as close to the source from which it was provided as possible. That they try a variety of food was equally important…..establishing a "healthy" relationship with food that will help them as they grow older. Don't get me wrong we still partake in the fish and chips style outings but it's not often and these are treats.
Going to children's parties was the first time my boys have ever encountered any kind of food in a real way beyond what they're used to having at home….I am one of those parents who lingers and assists with food choices in the beginning. Now, my 4 year old self directs , telling me, "I'll have 2 sometimes foods and a lot more all the time food ok Mama?" I'm one of those parents who will politely smile and decline offers when visiting other people's homes (as an aside, my friend Amy sent me this awesome post earlier in the week about this very issue) and I have had all manner of judgey as a result of these decisions. Frankly, I don't care though!
And not only do I think that it's important from a sustainability perspective that my kids have a healthy attitude and understanding about food but it's important for their health too. Obesity is an issue in our family and I want to give them the best possible start – for their bodies and minds (Pip from Just.b wrote a fabulous post about The Biggest Loser and much more about body image here).
Also, food, and cooking it, is an extra form of meditation for me….my friend Belinda wrote this post earlier in the week and I quote….
For me, reality-cooking shows overlook the loveliest part of cooking. The silence. The lovely, meditative silence of preparation. The silences of children eating with total focus something that can't be bought from the shops. The chance to linger over a recipe, to focus on getting all the elements ready, the anticipation and hope of cooking something you've never cooked before. The satisfaction of creating something familiar in an unfamiliar place.
YES! The silence….even when I'm surrounded by my darling, noisy souls, the silence…the opportunity to think….process…..be. Food, it nourishes the body and soul. It's unique in that way I think.
And so….baking bread will always be an important part of what happens in our home. Ruth has started a bread revolution and is urging everyone to try just one loaf.


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The addition of the export rail service in May 2017 to our portfolio enables our clients to access established services with transit time savings of up to 14 days door to door between the UK and China, compared to sea freight, at a cost of 50-60% lower than air freight, with both LCL and FCL options available.
Our LCL export service provides UK wide collection coverage for consolidation of freight at our Dartford depot. Freight is loaded into trailers bound for our partner's warehouse in Hamburg, from where we can also effect a Europe wide collection/consolidation service. Freight will be loaded into sealed containers at the secure warehouse in Hamburg for shipment by rail to Wuhan and the CFS managed by our partner, for customs clearance and delivery to the customer's door.
Davies Turner's rail services are provided in conjunction with our long term partners in China, Air Sea Transport, who have years of experience in the FCL & LCL China rail sector and offer China wide delivery of LCL consolidation cargo.
Rail can assist clients supply chain needs and is proving a popular choice when orders are running behind schedule, at times of peak ocean demand, when an ocean sailing has been missed, for larger shipments or dense cargo that makes air freight prohibitive. Combined with the benefit of stable competitive rates and secure market conditions, rail freight offers a viable alternative service which is faster than ocean and cheaper than air.
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- For patients and visitors
- Visitor information
Visitor information
We warmly welcome visitors to our hospital.
Thank you for keeping to our visiting hours – they give our patients time to rest and have the medical appointments they need.
Please note that visiting times do vary between different wards.
Visiting Hours
General ward
11.00am to 1.00pm and 3.00pm to 8.00pm
Maternity ward
3.00pm to 8.00pm
Critical care unit
3.00pm to 8.00pm
(Only two visitors at a time please).
Rest time
1.00pm to 3.00pm is reserved for rest time.
Contact us for more information on our visiting hours:
Tel: (03) 5434 3434
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Smoke free
St John of God Bendigo Hospital is a smoke free hospital. Our buildings and grounds are smoke free to create a healthier, cleaner and safer environment for patients, visitors and caregivers.
Smoking is not permitted in any building, outdoor area or vehicle within our boundaries.
Information for visitors
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Having kids is unfathomable to me.
I'm thinking about relinquishing my "Childfree and Fabulous" membership. The thought occurred to me about a few months ago that maybe it'd be nice to have kids, and as I've been obsessing about it since, I'm guessing it's more than just a passing fancy.
Generally, during the day I'm all gung-ho about expanding our little family and ready to start shopping for maternity clothes. During the night my anxiety closest swings open its doors and I start to worry about everything from Weird Uncle Bill's traits popping up to the chance of spending the next 18 years pining away for the lost life of impromptu vacations and quiet evenings sipping wine and watching shows with adult themes.
When asked, parents almost always say that they have no regrets about having children. I'm wondering if this is just something they feel they have to say because if they said otherwise they'd feel guilty that perhaps they didn't love their children enough, or if it's a genuine sentiment due to the beautiful, natural bond that's created.
As I'm neurotic and still obsessing and overthinking the matter, I'd love to hear any thoughts you guys have on the subject.
Having kids is unfathomable to me.
The following is pre coffee ramblings, but the gist is I don't know. I feel like I should have kid(s?) in a way. I know my own parents won't care, as they have two grand kids already, but my partner has a brother who is going to be perpetually single and I'm slightly older then my partner to begin with by six years, and whoops it's that time for women to decide to have babies since it's coming up to years where it's only possible biologically....
I just want to get a dog and maybe a couple of cats right now. Babies are cute and all but my head sort of ellipses out at the thought... of caring for a little human.. I just feel I should as it's the time where I can't dither about it, and in 20 years I'll regret it? See how I feel when we move into another place and are alone by ourselves for a bit.
NUNH and Damion: care to elaborate?
No siblings or cousins on either my side or my husband's have had or are having children. As stupid as it might sound, it kills me to think of all of our family photographs going into the dump when we die. Our parents have been very careful to not pressure us to have kids, but I know they'd love it if we did. My husband's five years younger than me and was quite vocal about not wanting to be a parent when we first got together, but at 27 years old he's done a complete 180.
I'll be honest, having kids is not easy. I only have one, and I love him to bits and he's all kinds of awesome (he's 7), so for that reason I don't regret it. He has enriched my life in so many ways and I can't imagine my life without him. But there are plenty of moments when I do regret it. Moments when I question everything. When I miss being childfree. When I'm sick of having to do so much for someone else. When I just want to be alone.
Soooo, no in general no regrets. I would not change it for anything. But it's hard and frustrating much more than you think it will be. And the first 2 years are so hard as they really need you for E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.
Take that as you will since everyone is different.
A couple of years ago, I had a friend. We were lucky enough to work together and study together. Our boss even thought we were dating (she was totally clueless about my homosexuality -our boss, I mean). We were very, very close. She even dated a couple of idiots I helped her to get rid off; she became friend of one of my exes. We were lucky enough to change our jobs: in October '12 we both started working at the National Library of Argentina, and by the end of 2013 we were suppossed to graduate.
In February '13 she started dating this very cool guy who lived in another city. Not too far away, only 50 km, so they could meet once or twice a week. Funny fact: they both were born in the same town in the country.
In April she got pregnant.
In June/July she dropped the University, she quitted her job, and she moved to her home town in the country with her boyfriend (who also left his job; he was a personal trainer or something like that).
In the meantime, one girl from our group of friends moved to Chile to work there for a couple of months, and I started planning my trip to Scandinavia.
My friend, the soon-to-be-mother, once said "I envy you, guys, because I could do what you're going to do, but now I can't".
Now she has a beautiful child, she lives with her boyfriend in the country. I think she works at a pet store; we don't talk anymore, I just know about her because of her facebook status.
My point is: you should consider the thing you will win and the things you will lose. That will tell what's more important in your life right now.
I know I will never ever ever ever ever ever have a child. I'm too selfish for that. I want to sleep all night with no interruptions, I want to have the posibility to go to a record store and buy a CD without thinking if my child needs new clothes, I want to have the chance to stay all day in bed in complete silence.
But that's my choice.
There are lots of people who think different (and thank Superman for that, 'cause otherwise we would've extinguished centuries ago).
When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.
I'm in a stage of my life where i'm learning more and more about taking care of myself let alone someone else. Like Stephanie said above, kids really really need constant attention or love for the first 2 to 3 years of their life and i'd rather spend my time doing things that are more self-fulfilling then adding another body for the planet to support. Just not for me.
Join the Unf Discord (any device)! 60+ folks have already joined. https://discord.gg/6ek5qzz
So it's a radical change. I don't see it as "ok, three years and then I return to my previous life". HA.
When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.
^I don't see where what I said counters what you're saying.
I never thought much about having kids. I teach them and love it. I also love my nieces a lot, but having my own kids? I never felt the need really. Then I got diagnosed with breast cancer and the question was asked whether or not I wanted kids in the near future (36 now). And all of a sudden you HAVE to decide and I still don't think I ever want them. I enjoy my freedom too much, having my nieces around on occasion is wonderful, but I'm not responsible for them 24/7 and I don't think I ever could be.
My best friend got her first child a few months ago and while she loves the kid, she misses her freedom and her own life so much.
When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there.


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The Central Bank of Ireland has officially begun its participation in the country's new centennial program highlighting the anniversary of the Easter Rising, which took place on Easter Monday, 1916, and led to the creation of the Irish Free State, known today as the Republic of Ireland.
The launch was especially significant as the event was hosted by the Central Bank's new Governor Philip Lane, who took the opportunity to highlight the Bank's first stand-alone commemorative €2 coin. He also noted that the Central Bank of Ireland's participation in the centennial program was organized by a joint government, private initiative. For 2016, the program will promote events and those personalities who played an important role in the eventual emergence of the Free State in 1921.
The launch took place at the Bank's Central headquarters on Dame Street, Dublin, from the Building's Liffey Room, so named for its view of the River Liffey. The proceedings commenced with the Governor Lane taking his place at the podium, greeting invited guests who assembled to take part in the launch of Ireland's first-ever commemorative €2 coin and see the new issue for the first time as a finished product.
This was Mr. Lane's first collector coin launch himself since being appointed Governor late last year. He praised the Bank's collector coin department for their work to bring the product to markets, especially noting the design competition launched early early 2015. The winning design was chosen from a submission by veteran CBI artist Emmet Mullins, whose earlier designs included the re-issued and updated "Barnyard" series of silver crowns.
Mr. Lane also thanked the Bank's coin advisory committee, whose task it is to recommend suitable and historically relevant designs for the Bank's collector coin program. Aside from highlighting the country's new centennial anniversary program initiative, the occasion was also taken to present the first strike of the Proof examples to Emmet as the designer.
With the proceedings concluded, invited guests were given the opportunity to purchase both the Proof and BU quality €2 piece a day before the official sale date.
Ireland's first own €2 commemorative coin pays tribute to the centennial anniversary of the Easter Rising. The event occurred when Padriag Pearse (1879 – 1916), one of the founding fathers of Ireland's independence movement, read out a proclamation on the steps of the General Post office on Easter Monday in 1916. The proclamation called for an immediate end to British rule of Ireland and for recognition of the hastily formed provisional government. Pearse was executed less than one month after reading the independence proclamation along with fourteen other signatories and followers of the movement. He was honored by the Irish government in 1966 on the 50th anniversary of the event, when his likeness was included on a ten shilling silver coin.
The new coin has a total mintage of 4.5 million pieces and is expected to be seen in circulation within a matter of weeks of its official January 20 issue date. Its design includes a depiction of the allegorical figure "Hibernia," whose statue can be seen on the very top point of the General Post Office.
The line of commemorative products includes the Proof version of the €2 coin, a BU version packaged in both a coin-card folder and a practical bookmark, and the annual Mint set. The Proof €2 is also included in the 2016 Irish Proof set, which includes all eight coin denominations. The €2 single Proof coin is packaged in a green presentation box and the collector coins division has confirmed that with 20,000 examples, it has been over-subscribed. Interested collectors can enquire by visiting the Bank's Web site or by visiting the cashier's office in the lobby of the Central Bank's headquarters during office hours.


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My leash is one of the best tools for training my dog – and you can do the same, as long as you get the right leash. I know, this can be difficult, because there are so many options out there.Continue reading
One of the most important aspects of being a dog owner is the fact that you'll have to walk your dog. Even if you have a backyard that is fenced in and allowed Fido to run around and play, you'll stillContinue reading
One of the things that you may want to consider if you are teaching obedience or potty training is crate training. Although there are pros and cons of crate training a dog, the former far outweighs theContinue reading
The dog clicker is a really useful training tool. When I first started training, I figured that tools like the whistle and the clicker were unnecessary and even avoided them because I figured they wereContinue reading
Do you have a new puppy in the house that you want to start training or are you trying to teach your current dog some new things. Contrary to popular belief, you can teach old dogs new tricks if you workContinue reading
When I first started training dogs, I swore that I would never get a shock collar to train them with. But after I stumbled across some research on them I actually changed my mind. Shock collars – orContinue reading
When I started researching dog crates, I was shocked by the sheer number of crates on the market. It is quite easy to get lost when shopping and to give up entirely unless you know what to look for. ThereContinue reading
When it comes to dog training tools, there are a lot of things to consider because there are a lot of tools out there that are great – or even essential – for dog training. Dog training supplies likeContinue reading
People have been using vocal commands to train dogs for thousands of years. By comparison, the clicker or dog training is a relatively new training tool that was invented to give trainers a new sound toContinue reading
The dog training vest has become a symbol of the service animal. Rarely do you see a non-service dog wearing one and that's unfortunate because they can be an effective way to train your dog and haveContinue reading
My leash is one of the best tools for training my dog – and you can do the same, as long as you get the right leash. I know, this can be difficult, because there are so many options out there. This articleContinue reading


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A well designed training room will help encourage collaboration while simultaneously improving productivity. If you're ready to give your corporate training environments a facelift in 2018, you're in the right place. Today on the blog we'll showcase the sit to stand workstations, charging carts, and unique accessories needed to revamp your interiors and streamline the delivery of information provided to your valued employees. Enjoy!
1.) Sit To Stand Workstations
First things first, it's time to make the switch to sit to stand workstations. A training room outfitted with sit to stand stations will create clean sight lines while helping your guests fight back against productivity killers like poor blood flow and bad posture. Brands like Mayline, OFM, and Global offer electronic sit to stand workstations that raise and lower quickly with the push of a button. If you don't want to purchase all new tables for your space, consider retrofitting your existing stations with the addition of surface convertors like the 5100 model from OFM.
2.) Charging Carts
These days tablets, laptops, and devices are as common as the tables they sit on in the training room. If you're looking to revamp your space in 2018, you'll no doubt need a heavy duty (and secure) charging cart to house your electronic tools. Brands like MooreCo offer some of the absolute best options on the market. A locking cart for charging tablets like the 27689 from MooreCo is a must consider. With a 16 tablet capacity, locking doors, and 3" casters, this charging cart provides exceptional benefits that should not be overlooked.
3.) Portable Power Modules
Power outlets are in high demand in just about every workplace setting imaginable. It's for this reason that portable power towers and surface modules have become incredibly popular. A device like the FlexCharge9 will increase the number of usable USB and AC inputs for just $175.00. The FlexCharge9 and similar modules available in 2018 should be highly considered by any business looking to improve collaborative efforts and overall productivity on a budget.
4.) Nesting Chairs
Visitor comfort should be another top priority when revamping your training room. Lucky for you, there's stackable nesting chairs available in 2018 that make it easy to maximize space and operational versatility without sacrificing comfort. We recommend the Roma model 1899 flip seat nesting chair from Global. It's outfitted with a ventilated mesh back and well padded seat that's ideal for extended training sessions. Lot's of cool color combinations are also available to distinguish your interior.
5.) Mobile Presentation Boards
Last but certainly not least, revamp your training environments with a mobile presentation board that can be taken where you need it, when you need it. A dry erase board on wheels will simplify note taking sessions while encouraging guest interaction. The best part is, mobile presentation boards are widely available from just about any reputable furniture manufacturer on the planet. We absolutely love the popular options from MooreCo and Global.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
5 Ways To Revamp Your Training Environments In 2018
Posted by Office Furniture Deals at 7:06 AM
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Workers pay £12.6bn in unnecessary tax every year, with the taxman taking nearly five months' salary, according to figures from unbiased.co.uk.
The financial adviser network's latest Tax Action report details how Brits waste £421 each on unnecessary tax payments by being tax inefficient. The biggest area of tax wastage is tax credits, with £7.26bn child tax credits remaining unclaimed every year.
Failure to utilise tax relief on pension contributions is the second biggest area of tax wastage equating to more than £2.45bn, followed by failure to make charitable donations tax efficient at more £997m.
Only a sixth of taxpayers have made their tax bill more efficient in the last year, despite half those questioned admitting they knew they could reduce their tax bill.
Karen Barrett, chief executive of unbiased.co.uk said that the counting from January, next week would mark the first day workers would be "tax free".
"Although it's nice to be able to think that you have stopped paying the taxman and started paying yourself, five months is still a significant amount of the year and our research reveals the top areas where we could be drastically reducing the amount we waste through unnecessary or unclaimed tax," she said.
"Those looking to tackle their tax properly and ensure the right structures are set in place for their future should speak to an independent financial adviser who can offer guidance, advice and, more importantly, help you take action."


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Step 2
Browse to the U.S. Copyright Office website and obtain a copyright registration form; alternately, you can file online. One advantage of filing online is that you'll pay a reduced filing fee; another benefit is that you can upload your blog directly to the Copyright Office rather than having to copy the pages to a CD and mail the disc to the Copyright Office.
Step 3
Fill in the copyright application with your background information, the title of your blog, the year of completion, the date of publication and a statement indicating whether you have previously applied for copyright registration for your blog. You should register your blog as a literary work unless you intend to protect the visual aspects of your blog, in which case you should register the blog as a visual work.
Step 4
Provide the Copyright Office with a copy of every page associated with your blog and all other material you wish to copyright. If you file online, you may upload the pages from your blog as HTML files. If you file a paper form, copy your entire blog to a CD and mail it to the Copyright Office with your application form.
Step 5
Submit your completed form to the Copyright Office and pay the required filing fee. For online applications, as of 2012, the reduced filing fee is $35.


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Looking to get more involved in the church justice movement? Look no further.
Here are three ways you can share your talents:
- Connect with your local chapter. Call To Action has more than 50 chapters or chapter affiliates across the country that work for both local and national causes and they love to welcome new members. Look here for a chapter near you.
- Volunteer at the national office. Our national office is located in Chicago, IL and welcomes those with an interest in long-term volunteer opportunities. Contact the office here.
- Take action online. Sign up for Call To Action's email list and receive information about action opportunities and news in the movement! Get started today.