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First you need to do is press the t button in your keyboard and add a new mono track. Choose mono in format and click OK.
Now click on record enable icon located at the left side and then click on input 1 an choose eureka - s/pdif r. Now add tuner to the track by pressing the f5 button in your keyboard which open up the browser. Now click on effects tab and drag the tuner on top of the audio track in arrangement. Now add some ampire by dragging it to the arrangement. Now add some of the loops which came
with the studio one like drums. So click on sound tabs and choose any loop you like. You can preview any loop right from the browser just by double clicking on that loop. And now drag it to the arrangement. You can press the d button in your keyboard to locate it and to build in arrangement. Now click on the record button to start recording, you can press the space key in your keyboard to stop it and you are done.


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Deadline Approaching for Not-For-Profit Corporations to Update By-Laws, Policies and Governance Procedures
Not-for-profit organizations have until July 1, 2014 to comply with many of the provisions of the New York Non-Profit Revitalization Act of 2013 (the "Act"). The Act affects all not-for-profit organizations incorporated in or doing business in New York State. The Act requires the revision of corporate by-laws, and the adoption or revision of policies relating to conflicts of interests and retaliation against whistleblowers. This Alert provides an overview of the new requirements. Unless otherwise noted, these requirements take effect on July 1, 2014.
- Rules Relating to Compensation: The organization should amend its by-laws to prohibit any person who could benefit from a compensation arrangement from being present at or otherwise participating in any Board or committee deliberations concerning that arrangement. Also, effective July 1, 2015, no employee of the organization may serve as chairman of the board or a similar position.
- Mandatory Conflict of Interest Policy: All not-for-profit corporations must adopt a conflict of interest policy that includes:
- a definition of what constitutes a conflict of interest;
- procedures for disclosing conflicts of interest to the Board's Audit Committee (or the full Board if there is no Audit Committee);
- a requirement that the person with the conflict not be present or otherwise participate in any Board or committee deliberations concerning the transaction involving the conflict;
- a prohibition against any attempt by the person with the conflict of interest to improperly influence the deliberations or voting on the matter;
- a requirement that the existence and resolution of the conflict be documented in the organization's records, including minutes of any meeting in which the conflict is discussed or acted on; and
- procedures for disclosing, addressing and documenting related party transactions.
- Basic Related Party Transaction Rules: The organization's conflict of interest policy (or alternatively, its by-laws) must include the following basic related party transaction rules. If the organization is "charitable" (discussed below), the conflict of interest policy (or by-laws) should also include the enhanced related party transaction rules described in paragraph 4 below.
Under the basic related party transaction rules, the organization may not enter into a "related party transaction" unless the Board affirmatively determines that the transaction is fair, reasonable and in the organization's best interest. For this purpose, a "related party transaction" means any transaction, agreement or arrangement to which the organization is a party in which a related party to the organization (such as a director, officer or key employee) has a financial interest.
A director, officer or key employee who has an interest in a related party transaction must disclose to the Board or committee considering the transaction the material facts concerning such interest. No person with an interest in a related party transaction may be present or otherwise participate in any Board or committee deliberations concerning the transaction.
- Enhanced Related Party Requirements: The conflict of interest policy (or by-laws) of a "charitable organization" should also include the following enhanced related party rules:
- prior to entering into a related party transaction, the Board or committee must consider alternatives that would not be a related party transaction;
- the Board or committee must approve the transaction by not less than a majority vote of those present at the meeting; and
- the Board or committee must contemporaneously document the basis for its approval of the transaction, including its consideration of alternatives to the related party transaction.
Note: The Revitalization Act replaces "Type A, B, C and D" corporations with two classes of corporation – "charitable" and "non-charitable". Organizations previously classified as Type B or C are "charitable" corporations. Organizations previously classified as Type A are "non-charitable", and organizations previously classified as Type D may be either charitable or non-charitable, depending on the organization's stated purpose.
- Basic Audit Committee Responsibilities: Any corporation that is required to register with the Charities Bureau of the New York Department of Law, and has annual revenues in excess of $500,000, should amend its by-laws to charge its "Audit Committee" with certain duties under the Act. The Audit Committee of the Board must consist solely of independent directors of the Board. If the organization does not have an "Audit Committee", the organization should amend its by-laws to assign these duties to the entire board.
Organizations that reasonably expect to have annual gross revenues in excess of $1 million, should also incorporate into its by-laws the "enhanced" Audit Committee responsibilities described in paragraph 6 below. Organizations with annual revenues of less than $10 million in the last fiscal year ending prior to January 1, 2014 need not comply with the basic or enhanced Audit Committee requirements until January 1, 2015.
The basic duties of the Audit Committee consist of:
- overseeing the annual audit process;
- annually retaining or renewing the retention of the corporation's independent auditor;
- reviewing with the independent auditor the results of the audit, including the management letter; and
- overseeing the adoption and implementation of the corporation's conflict of interest policy.
- Enhanced Audit Committee Responsibilities: If the corporation is required to register with the Charities Bureau and has annual revenues in excess of $1 million, it should amend its by-laws to include the following enhanced Audit Committee responsibilities:
- review with the independent auditor the scope and planning of the audit prior to its commencement;
- review and discuss with the independent auditor any material risks and weaknesses in internal controls identified by the auditor, any restrictions on the scope of the auditors' activities or access to requested information, any significant disagreements between the auditor and management and the adequacy of the organization's accounting and financial reporting practices;
- annually consider the performance and independence of the auditor; and
- if the duties are performed by the Audit Committee (and not by the Board), report its activities to the Board.
- Whistleblower Policy: If the organization has 20 or more employees and annual revenue in excess of $1 million, the organization must have a whistleblower policy that provides that no director, officer, employee, or volunteer who reports in good faith any action or suspected action taken by the organization or within the organization that is illegal, fraudulent, or in violation of any policy of the organization shall suffer intimidation, harassment, discrimination or retaliation or, in the case of employees, adverse employment consequences. The policy must include:
- procedures (including confidentiality provisions) for reporting violations or suspected violations of laws or organization policies;
- a requirement that an employee, officer or director be designated to administer the policy; and
- a requirement that a copy of the policy be distributed to all directors, officers, employees and volunteers that provide substantial services to the organization.
- Modernizing Corporate Governance: The Act includes provisions modernizing certain aspects of corporate governance. Organizations that wish to take advantage of these provisions should amend their by-laws to provide for them. These modernization provisions include: permitting directors to participate in board meetings by video conference; permitting email and fax notices and waivers of member meetings; permitting email waivers of board meetings; permitting email proxies and unanimous written consents for board, member and committee actions; and permitting notice of member meetings of large organizations (those with more than 500 members) by posting on the organization's website.
If you require further information or assistance regarding the information presented in this Legal Alert and its impact on your organization, please contact Raymond N. McCabe at (716) 566-1408 or email@example.com.
p: 716.566.1408
f: 716.566.4013
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subset: commoncrawl


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The perfect group or family retreat to the heart of North Yorkshire. Sleeping up to 8 people, High Swinton Cottage allows guests to experience Swinton Estate in a unique and personal way. Situated adjacent to Swinton Park Hotel and Swinton Country Club & Spa, it's an excellent way to enjoy the Estate's amazing facilities from a cosy and homely environment.
3 x double / twin rooms (largest bedroom has capacity for one cot)
1 x sofa bed for 2 additional guests
1 x bathroom upstairs (bath, shower over bath, toilet, sink)
1 x bathroom downstairs (shower, toilet, sink)
Sitting Room – with tv and wood burner
Kitchen – fridge with freezer compartment, dishwasher, cooker, table/chairs
Dining room – with 6/8 seater dining table
Utility room with washing machine and storage
Large garden with seating
Capacity is 8 plus a cot (6 in bedrooms / 2 on sofa bed)
4.00 pm check in
10.00 am check out


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Pacific Hills Treatment Centers is Now Doing Business as Covenant Hills Treatment Centers - Learn More >
Free Helpline. Call us Today. (800) 662-2873
Female clients who have completed our Residential Inpatient Treatment program become candidates for the Covenant Hills Drug and Alcohol Rehab For Women Transitional Care program. While in the residential program, the individual and their case manager begin planning a comprehensive strategy for a long-term recovery.
In the Transitional Care Program, clients continue their treatment and training in a semi-structured, sobriety-valued environment. With the stresses of outside life pushed aside for these weeks, healing continues, recovery plans are refined, and deeper issues are explored. Half-day courses provide a more comprehensive understanding of their diseases and a deeper working relationship to the principles and spirituality found in the 12-Steps. We continue to offer a Women's Christian Drug and Alcohol Rehab track for those who seek a Christian focus in their transitional care.
Understanding that the recovering addict must essentially re-shape much of their former lifestyle, healthy goals are set, "tools" for living a sober life are provided, and new patterns for relapse prevention are set into place. For more information on the Covenant Hills Women's Drug and Alcohol Rehab Transitional Care, and the Women's Christian Drug and Alcohol Rehab Transitional Care program, please call (800) 662-2873.


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505 N. Grant St.
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 310-2722
M-F: 8 am to 5 pm
Weekends : by appointment
Afterhours and emergency : 219.310.2722
Weekends : by appointment
Afterhours and emergency : 219.310.2722
Glass Doctor is the only national all-in-one glass company for repairing and replacing glass in your home, auto and business. Glass Doctor has been around for more than 60 years.
Locally, we have glass service centers in Crown Point, Valparaiso and Michigan City. Our service professionals are ready to serve you!
When glass breaks, call the Glass Doctor. We'll fix your panes!
3 blocks east of Main Street, 3 blocks north of North Street on Grant Street. Next to Fricke's.


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Contact Rachel at 301-655-8462
Rachel Dack is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Dating/Relationship Coach, Nationally Certified Counselor and writer who is passionate about helping others achieve positive wellbeing and partake in healthy, satisfying relationships with others. Rachel offers psychotherapy for individuals and couples in her downtown Bethesda, Maryland office. Rachel also serves as a relationship and dating coach for adults who are looking for love and would like support with dating, intimacy and relationship building.
Tag Archives: unhealthy relationships
11 Bad Relationship Habits (Plus How to Break Them)
It's important to be aware of the obvious and not-so-obvious habits that can cause distance, annoyance or frustration between partners, and damage and destruction to relationships. As well as cultivating an awareness about these behaviors, it's essential to develop strategies … Continue reading
Posted in Anxiety, Dating, Love and Intimacy, Mindfulness, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-care Tagged bad habits, bad relationship habits, cohabit, dating, dating advice, healthy relationships, how to have a healthy relationship, improve your marriage, improve your relationship, marriage, personal growth, relationship advice, relationships, unhealthy relationships Leave a comment
Tips for Teens About Healthy Relationships
I hope you will check out my article on tips for teens about healthy relationships, which features guidelines for healthy relationships and healthy expectations. It also discusses how to identify red flags and warning signs of unhealthy, toxic or abusive … Continue reading
Posted in Dating, Emotional Well being, Love and Intimacy, Parenting, Personal Growth, Relationships, Self-care Tagged abusive relationships, adolescents, breaking up, dating, dating advice, dating as a teenager, datingadvice.com, healthy relationships, how to handle a breakup, is my relationship healthy?, parenting, relationship abuse, relationship expectations, self-care, self-esteem, teens, toxic relationships, unhealthy relationships, what is a healthy relationship? Leave a comment
Why Do We Stay with Partners Who Are Not Good for Us?- eHarmony Guest Blog
Unfortunately, it is all too common to stay in an unhealthy or toxic relationship. In fact, most people can relate to over-staying in a relationship with a partner who was not right for them, who displayed major red flags, or treated … Continue reading
Posted in Anxiety, Dating, Emotional Well being, Happiness, Love and Intimacy, Reflection, Relationships, Self-care Tagged anxiety, bad partners, breakup, couples, degrading, divorce, eharmony, finances, insecurities, intuition, kids, marriage, relationship advice, toxic relationships, unhealthy relationships, why we stay in bad relationships Leave a comment


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Howell: Frisco barbecue festival is no 'pig-eating orgy'
Bring on the BBQ
The Frisco barbecue festival is next weekend, and a good time will be had by thousands of locals and visitors. That seems to displease Seth Ridgeway of Frisco. I don't know for sure, but maybe one of the side dishes will be tough cookies.
It's hard to know where to start with Ridgeway's misconceptions. Let's begin with pig flesh being filthy food. It's not, and hasn't been since the advent of modern food safety technology. It was unsafe until then, and may be a logical reason it was banned in the Old Testament dietary laws. I know of no such prohibition in the New Testament. As for the "pig-eating orgy" referenced by Ridgeway, I am unaware of it. Maybe Telluride has one?
Ridgeway refers to over 3 billion people starving. Certainly the world has a hunger problem, but is the problem supply of food or something else? Show me a country that has a high degree of civil rights and political liberties that has a starvation problem, and I'll buy you a four-rib plate next weekend. Want to end starvation? End authoritarian governments, by whatever means necessary.
Ridgeway demands that those who want to eat "filthy" pig flesh do it in the privacy of their own homes. I suggest to Ridgeway that if he doesn't like the Frisco barbecue festival that he should stay in the privacy of his own home during it, or maybe go take a long walk in the lovely countryside that Summit County has to offer. I hope everyone enjoys the festival. I wish I could make it this year.
John Howell
Cedar City, Utah
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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LinkedIn Course
Success on Linked In and in fact in all Social Media channels relies on the principle of leveraging and building your reputation with your existing professional (and personal) connections as well as building new connections that will also hold you in high regard. Yet many LinkedIn users fail to do this effectively and damage their reputations because they forget the simple rules of engagement when it comes to interacting with their existing and prospective audience online.
In this highly interactive workshop you will leave ready to go and use the best platform for business there is.
What others said about this course : "Just attended a eye opener of a workshop run by Mark Northall about LinkedIn. He made the small cogs in LinkedIn understandable and clearly demonstrated how to engage them to connect with the people and businesses that would help my company move forward. Looking forward to his next social media event. If you want to understand social media and how to use it in business then Mark has the answers. Miss his next event at your peril!" – Terry Lowrie-Herz – This Insures
'This short course has helped me to develop my LinkedIn profile and learn strategies for using this in business' – Michele Ibbs I'm your PA
After this Course you will be able to:
- Use groups to grow your business and to contact 1,000′s of other businesses
- Keep in touch in order to build business relationships
- Grow your Social Proof through recommendations
- Supercharge your personal profile
At Roman Way Hotel, Watling Street, Hatherton, Cannock WS11 1SH
On Wednesday 20th July 2016
Course times will be between 10.30 and 13.00 and will be limited to ensure everyone gets the best possible experience.
The Course cost includes a Headshot taken by renowned Staffordshire Photographer David Rees – smart business attire from at least the waist up is recommended!
The Cost is £39.00 price include Coffee and Tea.
To register your interest and Click to book a place
This is sure to be a popular course and will sell out quickly – Please book early to avoid disappointment


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A new video by The Lincoln Project, a newly formed Republican organization against Donald Trump, mocks Trump supporters for worshiping "The MAGA Church." The ad intertwines clips of Trump talking about faith with videos of him speaking crudely. It also features Bible verses, such as Matthew 7:15 which states "Beware of false prophets, which come […]
Thousands of Texans, including the state attorney general and the governor, presidential hopeful Rick Perry, have sent a clear message to Wisconsin atheists who enjoy intimidating small towns into removing nativity scenes.
The message is the same from an American Legion post in Montana, a city council in Pennsylvania and a federal judge in Arizona: Go home!
At least 5,000 Texans showed up at a pre-Christmas rally supporting Henderson County officials who have refused to comply with the group's demand that they remove a nativity scene from the Athens, Texas, courthouse lawn.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said that if the Wisconsin atheists sue as threatened, his office would come to the county's defense. Texas' governor, Rick Perry, also said he would intervene to support the county, reported the San Antonio Express-News.
The governor's office "strongly supports the right of Henderson County to display a Christmas Nativity scene on public property," said Lucy Nashed, deputy press secretary for Perry's office. "We have fought the Freedom from Religion Foundation before and won. Our founding principles give citizens freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Faith and freedom helped build this nation, and faith cannot and should not be removed from public life."
Last summer, the Wisconsin atheists attempted to block Perry from organizing a prayer rally at Reliant Stadium in Houston. That complaint filed in July alleging that Perry's "initiation, organization, promotion and participation as governor in a prayer rally" violated the Continued on page 2


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Kalynn has owned her salon for over 20 years. She loves spending her free time with her family and friends. Kalynn is an avid beach goer who enjoys the outdoors, walking on the beach and paddle boarding. She is a gym enthusiast and treats her pet dog, Zoey, to frequent romps at the dog park. Kalynn finds great pleasure in operating her nail salon and it shows in the way she interacts with all of her clients. She considers her nail and massage customers as extended family, while at the same time, maintaining a professional nail salon business.
In Fashion Nails and Massage staff includes:
Amanda Zuzek
Amanda specializes in all natural services. Attention to detail and exceptional customer service is her specialty! She also performs an amazing facial to revive your skin to a natural glow and will makeover your eyebrows for the perfect finishing touch!
Adam Cox LMT Passion, dedication and experience equals Adam. Graduated from Cortiva Massage Institute with over 750 hours of special training. Special technique training in deep tissue to grind out the "knots" and relaxation techniques that will melt your stress filled days away. Book your appointment today with Adam and you thank yourself tomorrow! 1 hr $40.00
Taresa Ware is a caring therapist that strives to give every client personalized service and tends to their specific needs.
Stephanie Bonanno is a full specialist that specializes in natural and acrylic nails. She is a graduate of American Institute of Beauty, She prides herself in giving personalized service and enjoys doing what she loves!
We, at In Fashion Nails and Massage offer IMAGE SKINCARE for sale. We also provide free consultations with Amanda. Image Skincare is an evidence-based clinical skin care company, providing professional skincare products and effective skincare solutions. The most innovative brand in the industry, Image Skincare consistently produces the latest anti-aging, balancing, hydrating, and illuminating technologies to further its mission of helping the world to Age Later.
Our nail, skin and massage service salon is open for your convenience Mondays through Saturdays by appointment.
Appointments are strongly recommended but walk-ins are welcome when available.
Our In Fashion Nails and Massage salon is a proud and patriotic American business. English is our primary choice of communication, which avoids the language barrier sometimes encountered in the nail and skincare industry.
The service personnel of "In Fashion Nails and Massage" work with each individual client to help enhance the day of beauty and relaxation that each person deserves. We want all nail, skincare and massage patrons to leave our friendly nail salon with a smile on their faces!
While concentrating on making certain that the customers of "In Fashion Nails and Massage" feel refreshed and relaxed after a day of pampering, our professional salon is also licensed and cognizant of our clients' safety and health issues. We use only the highest quality products, sterilization methods and safety required disinfectants.
If you are looking for that extra "glam" appearance for a wedding or any special occasion, "In Fashion Nails and Massage" salon is where you can make it happen with the skill and artistry of our dedicated professionals. Just need a one time touch up? No problem. Or, why not schedule regular visits just to keep your ego and your spirits up? Whatever your needs, you can count on Kalynn and her team to welcome you with open arms!


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Plumbing Service & Repair In Cochrane
High Mark Plumbing is a trendsetter when it comes to reliable, world-class repair work. We are a dedicated team with years of certified training and continue to reach new heights with our work. Our passion for plumbing is second to none ensuring plumbing service & repair in Cochrane is done with attention to detail.
Our Services Include:
- New Installations
- General Repairs (Boilers/Pipes/Faucets/Sewer Lines)
- General Maintenance
Our services are safe, efficient, and in line with modern plumbing standards. We take the time to analyze each component before moving forward with a strategy. This guarantees top-tier results right from the word go. Our company stresses quality, consistency, and performance every step of the way. Our vision is to be trustworthy, quick, and seamless with all plumbing projects.
Each client has specific requirements when it comes to their plumbing. This can include deadlines, materials, costs, and more, which is why we are the best in the business. We take pride in offering exceptional results and remaining among the top options in the region.
To offer superior results and continue to manage plumbing projects, we offer access to the finest plumbers in town. We have rigorous testing processes and training regimens in place to train our plumbers. These training methods include assessment techniques, customer service, and overall efficiency. We continue to push forward with modern-age techniques and robust equipment to optimize the experience our client has. Whether it is a small or large job, we will always do our best.
To begin your assessment with a trained plumber, please call in and book an appointment at (604)945-6060. One of our representatives will be more than happy to set up the appointment and ensure all needs are met. This is a chance to maximize our team's resources while enjoying world-class plumbing service & repair in Cochrane.


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Are you ready to start your career?
If you have already left education and are ready for the world of work, then you can apply directly for our current vacancies by emailing your CV to email@example.com. You will then be invited in for an interview.
Still Studying?
If you're still at school or college and thinking of applying for an Apprenticeship for when you finish school or college, then you can apply online by completing our Application Form. Click to apply.
You will then be invited in for an interview and be given support to help find employment.


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[ Sabah ] Sandakan Sepilok - Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre
after that, we bring my uncle to Sepilok to see Orang Utan, it's consider one of the Sandakan tourist spot.
and here we are in the SEPILOK
lets head into the forest for Orang Utan,
hmph.. we spotted some monkey along the way..
here we are in the watching stage.
everyone is waiting for the orang utan feeding session.
This is the Orang Utan.
it's Feeding time.. here come all the Orang Utan.
Banana~~~~ here i come~
monkey vs orang utan.. for food and banana's
can you pose like this?
omg.. i'm late... no more banana for me?
nom nom nom~ fooood
this orang utan like to enjoy his food this way.
The ORANGUTAN rehabilitation centre
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There are those who threaten,
and those who scorn – to them give no credit.
The storm is fierce but I see through
the harsh wind to eternity.
To there I walk with open arms to
greet you and they as I go along.
We see much more than we must know
and feel the way, as we go.
I laughed once more but not for pain,
I laughed as grace and of my gain.
I know that happiness now is slight,
but through our journey
is ours to light.
Things have been much good to us.
I was here when all the stars were
made and remember the joy they bade.
I am here now that the evening sun
is gone and remember well the early dawn.
©Kevin S. Freeman


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Chris Diorio
CTO, Impinj
In addition to his duties at Impinj, Dr. Chris Diorio serves as an associate professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Washington, and as a co-chair of EPCglobal's Hardware Action Group. Dr. Diorio has more than 20 years' experience in semiconductor and radio engineering. Previously, he was a senior staff engineer at TRW Inc., and a senior staff scientist at American Systems Corp.


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July 11, 2013 report
The brain is alive, will new MRI diffusion techniques let us see it move and shake?
(Medical Xpress)—Pioneering experiments back in 1982 by Tasaki and Iwasa at the NIH revealed that action potentials in neurons are more than just the electrical blips that physiologists readily amplify and record. These so-called "spikes" are in fact multi-modal signalling packages that include mechanical and thermal disturbances propagating down the axon at their own rates. Nobel Laureate Francis Crick published a paper that same year, in which he postulated potential mechanisms that would explain twitching in dendritic spines, adding to an emerging picture of a brain more vibrant and motile than had been previously imagined. More recently, researchers have developed diffusion-based MRI methods, like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to trace the trajectories of axons, and perhaps more intriguingly, determine their directional polarity. Working at the EPFL in Switzerland, Denis Le Bihan and his co-workers have been using diffusional MRI in slightly different way. They now appear to be able to directly measure neuronal activity from the subtle movements of membranes, the water within them, and in the extracellular space around them. Their work, just published in PNAS, provides a much needed conceptual shift away from currently established, but typically nebulous, ideas regarding neurovascular coupling of brain activity to blood flow.
Present-day imaging methods, like blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI, are only indirectly and remotely related to the cortical activity they often claim to measure. In 2006, Le Bihan reported a water "phase transition" response that preceded the neurovascular response normally detected by functional MRI. He attributed the changes in water diffusion to previously established effects involving membrane expansion and cell swelling secondary to activity. At the biophysical level, interpreting action potentials as phase transitions is a little off the beaten path from traditional neurobiology, but it can be an informative approach when to trying to understand what might be going on when cells fire.
As biophysicist Gerald Pollack has previously pointed out, spikes may involve the propagation of the line of transition of water from the ordered phase, (as patterned by hydrophic interactions nucleated at the surfaces of membranes and proteins) to a disordered phase.
Traditionally, the so-called bound surface water only extends out a only a couple of molecules from the surface of nondiffusable features. That idea may need to be revisited in light of more recent understanding when attempting to account for the diffusion of water in axons. A decrease in water diffusion as measured by MRI may be in part explained by a decrease in extracellular space, and that has been suggested from experiments measuring intrinsic optical effects. The larger picture of water diffusion, however, is likely a bit more complicated than this.
In his new study, Le Bihan stimulated the forepaw of a rat and looked at responses in the somatosensory cortex. The key experiment was to infuse nitroprusside in attempt to inhibit neurovascular coupling. It is a tricky alteration because nitroprusside apparently has many diffuse effects. It can induce potent vasodilation, particularly on the vascular end (mainly the smaller venules), after it breaks down to produce nitric oxide. It is also a diamagnetic molecule, and each molecule releases five cyanide ions, which are presumably detoxified by the mitochondrial enzyme rhodanese. The experiments were done under isoflurane anesthesia, which also introduces a few uncertainties, particularly with regard to responses to different frequencies of forepaw stimulation.
If nitroprusside is indeed a realistic experimental proxy for neurovascular uncoupling, then the results of Le Bihan appear to show that the diffusion response is not of vascular origin, and that it is closely linked to neural activation. He found that the standard BOLD MRI responses were completely quenched under nitroprusside, whereas the diffusion MRI responses were only slightly suppressed. Local field potentials were also simultaneously measured and suggested at least, that the neuronal responses were also intact.
The work of Le Bihan indicates that diffusion-based MRI can be used to infer neural activity directly from the structural changes that affect the molecular displacements of water. The ability to use shape changes in neurons, astrocytes, or even spines, raises the question of whether these kinds of techniques might eventually be of use in creating larger scale, and more detailed, Brain Activity Maps (BAMs). I asked Konrad Kording, author on the recent theoretical paper which discussed the theoretical limits to MRI and other activity recording methods, whether methods that probe water movements might be applied to this end.
Kording observed that the spatial resolution of standard MRI is ultimately limited by the diffusion of water, but more importantly perhaps, the temporal resolution of all known MRI methods is nowhere near that required to create spike maps. None-the-less, detecting mechanical responses in the brain could provide many unique insights into function. For example, experiments using agents that dissolve the extracellular matrix, like the clot-busting drug TPA, result in more twitching, or vibration if you will, in dendritic spines. Other studies have shown that the greater the electrical drive on a spine, the less it tends to twitch or change size, particularly during periods of rapid development.
Similarly, sensory deprivations appear to increase these kinds of movements as neurons grow and reorganize connections. While these effects are far below that which could be detected by any large external method of MRI, new tools may permit us to access these newly-revealed activities. Diffusional MRI in particular, can be done with a little modification of the standard MRI procedure. For example, to determine directional diffusion parameters, or diffusion tensors, typically six gradients are used to measure three directional vectors. As these capabilities become more common, hopefully the results of Le Bihan can be further explored and verified.
Neuronal activity results in a local increase in blood flow. This concept serves as the basis for functional MRI. Still, this approach remains indirect and may fail in situations interfering with the neurovascular coupling mechanisms (drugs, anesthesia). Here we establish that water molecular diffusion is directly modulated by underlying neuronal activity using a rat forepaw stimulation model under different conditions of neuronal stimulation and neurovascular coupling. Under nitroprusside infusion, a neurovascular-coupling inhibitor, the diffusion response and local field potentials were maintained, whereas the hemodynamic response was abolished. As diffusion MRI reflects interactions of water molecules with obstacles (e.g., cell membranes), the observed changes point to a dynamic modulation of the neural tissue structure upon activation, which remains to be investigated. These findings represent a significant shift in concept from the current electrochemical and neurovascular coupling principles used for brain imaging, and open unique avenues to investigate mechanisms underlying brain function.
© 2013 Phys.org


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UnitsSemester 1
Semester 2
Eligibility Requirement
A candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Physical Education d.) must have passed a Bachelor's degree examination of this University in any faculty or a corresponding degree examination of any other University recognized as equivalent thereto and in addition must have subsequent to his/her passing the Bachelor's degree examination:-Kept-two consecutive terms for the full time B.P.Ed. course separated over a maximum period of two consecutive years in a College of Physical Education.Completed practicum extending over two terms to the satisfaction of the Principal of the Institution in which the candidate is studying consisting of:- Attendance at Demonstration lessons.Teaching practice of not less than 20 lessons distributed over different standards from 5th to 9th of recognized Secondary schools selected by the Principal as practicing schools. In addition to these 20 lessons there will be :-5 micro teaching lessons in Physical Education and 5 micro teaching lessons in academic subject.5 other simulated lessons in Physical Education and 5 simulated lessons in academic subject.Observations of Lessons.The practical and project work conducted related to ICT and other Physical Education activity. Internship of at least one weeks duration in second One essay per section in each theory paper.Participation of Social/Community work of not less than 15 hours.term.


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Contact: Dr Damien Thompson
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel. +353-61-237734
We model advanced materials for applications in health and electronics.
L-R: Dr Raghvendra Singh, Dr Pierre Cazade, Sarah Guerin, Shayon Bhattacharya, Dr Damien Thompson, Oguzhan Maraba, Geoffrey Howe, Matteo Peluso, Dr Liang Xu, and Melissa Gunno.
We design novel architectures and assemblies based on the directed self-assembly of nanoscale building blocks (molecules, monolayers, nanoparticles, and proteins) in collaboration with leading experimental and industry partners in European Framework, Science Foundation Ireland and Enterprise Ireland funded projects. Atomic-resolution modelling of assemblies containing up to a few million atoms is performed using high performance computing facilities at the Bernal Institute UL, the Irish Centre for High End Computing and supercomputing centres throughout mainland Europe. We use modelling techniques including molecular and periodic density functional theory, replica exchange, metadynamics, and steered molecular dynamics to compute properties such as binding free energies, diffusion coefficients, and electron transport, and use more coarse-grained models where necessary to approximate larger length (micron+) and time (millisecond+) scales.
Selected recent publications include (for full updated list, see Google Scholar Damien Thompson or Researcher ID: G-6138-2015):
Selected recent publications include:
A full listing of publications for PI Damien Thompson can be viewed using Google Scholar Damien Thompson or Researcher ID: G-6138-2015.


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Quad Cities Campus
QC Testing Center
The Testing Center offers proctoring for online course exams, class make-up exams, disability support exam accommodations, and exams for classes from other colleges and universities. An appointment is required. Please schedule your appointment a minimum of 48 business hours in advance. If you require accommodations, please schedule your exam one week in advance. For exams from other colleges and universities, please allow one week in advance.
The Testing Center is located in the Quad Cities Complex Building A, room 2215.
- Testing is by appointment only
- Student schedules appointment with testing center staff
- Make appointments at least 48 hour (2 business days) in advance
- Paper tests need to be received at testing center before scheduling to take exam
- Proctor exam forms should be filled out by instructor when submitting the paper test
- Please contact the Center as soon as possible if you cannot keep your appointment
Appointments for Independent Study or Online Courses
Students taking Independent Study Courses and/or Online Courses may schedule an exam proctor at the QC Testing Center. There is a minimum 48-hour notice required for appointments. When you call to schedule your appointment, you are automatically placing an order for your Online and Independent Study Course exams.
Make-up Exams or Disability Support Appointments
The center also provides proctoring for disability support and faculty arranged make-up exams. The Center must have the test submitted by your instructor prior to scheduling your appointment.
Contact Information: Audrey Adamson, firstname.lastname@example.com or (309)762-9481.
Contact Information
To schedule an exam, please contact:
Leslie Mose
Quad Cities Complex, Building A, room 2215
Appointment Line: (309)743-0985
*note: Please schedule appointment at least 48 hours (2 business days) before exam time.
Testing Center Hours
Quad Cities Complex
Building A, room 2215
Testing Center Hours
Monday - Friday:
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
1:30 pm - 4:15 pm


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There are schools offering journalism degrees in Wisconsin!
Schools Offering Journalism Programs in Wisconsin
Nearby States
Approximately 0.3% of graduates in of Wisconsin receive journalism degrees every year. Thus, Wisconsin's 6 journalism schools put out approximately 424 journalists each year.
Top Schools
The top-ranked school in Wisconsin with a journalism program is University of Wisconsin-Madison, which is located in Madison. In 2010, it was ranked 12th nationwide. 215 students graduated with a degree in journalism from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2010. Students at University of Wisconsin-Madison paid $8,983 per year in tuition fees.
Marquette University, which was ranked 25th nationwide in 2010, is the second-ranked school in Wisconsin that has a journalism program. It is located in Milwaukee. In 2010, Marquette University graduated 35 students from its journalism program. The tuition rate at Marquette University was $30,462 per year.
The third-ranked school in Wisconsin that has a journalism program is University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, which was ranked 35th in the country in 2010, is located in Whitewater. In 2010, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduated 73 students from its journalism programs. Students at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater paid $6,836 per year in tuition fees.
If you choose to attend a Wisconsin journalism school, average tuition will be $11,203 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $6,680 per year to $30,462 per year. In 2010, the journalism schools that charged the highest tuition rates in Wisconsin were:
- Marquette University - located in Milwaukee, students are charged $30,462 per year
- University of Wisconsin-Madison - located in Madison, students are charged $8,983 per year
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire - located in Eau Claire, students are charged $7,360 per year
The following Wisconsin journalism schools had the lowest tuition rates:
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh - located in Oshkosh, students are charged $6,680 per year
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - located in Whitewater, students are charged $6,836 per year
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls - located in River Falls, students are charged $6,894 per year
A journalism degree from a Wisconsin school... what next?
Most people who graduate from journalism school in Wisconsin go on to work as a journalist. 860 journalists were working in Wisconsin in 2010. The following counties have the largest number of Wisconsin journalists:
- Milwaukee County - 270 journalists
- Columbia County - 170 journalists
- Barron County - 70 journalists
Projected Growth
The government projects that the number of journalists in Wisconsin will shrink by -6%. By 2018, there will be an estimated 1,260 journalists working in Wisconsin.
A journalist in Wisconsin earns $32,520 per year on average. In 2010, however, some Wisconsin journalists earned as little as less than $15,960 per year or as much as more than $68,650 per year. The counties in Wisconsin with the highest average salary for a journalist are:
- Milwaukee County - $40,120 per year
- Brown County - $38,040 per year
- Dodge County - $29,060 per year
The following counties in Wisconsin have the lowest average salaries for journalists:
- Barron County - $25,020 per year
- Columbia County - $28,210 per year
- Adams County - $28,470 per year
More Information
Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Wisconsin statistics regarding a career in journalism and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as communications or journalism.
Here are the different levels of study available for you to explore.
- Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in Wisconsin
- Master's Degree in Journalism in Wisconsin
Want to study at your own time and pace?
Consider Online Schools as a great alternative flexible option to earn a degree!View Online Schools
Featured Online Schools
Kaplan University
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Curious what studying Journalism gets you?
Check out the different options and how they're looking in Wisconsin
|Employment Number
|Avg Salary
|Job Growth (past 5 yrs)
|Reporters and Correspondents
|Broadcast News Analysts
Got your degree? Time to find a job!
Below are journalism related jobs in Wisconsin


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Better Than Ezra Releases New Lyric Video for 'Crazy Lucky'
Better Than Ezra, known for their hits "Good," "Desperately Wanting," and "Juicy," have premiered the lyric video for their first single "Crazy Lucky" off their upcoming album on PopCrush.
The catchy first single "Crazy Lucky" which charted #13 on iTunes Rock Charts, was produced by Grammy nominated mixer/producer Tony Hoffer (Fitz and the Tantrums, M83, Beck, Silversun Pickups). The single is now available on iTunes.
When it comes to inspiration behind the song, lead singer Kevin Griffin says "It's about that serendipitous moment when you meet the person you are meant to be with and it was luck / fate / destiny that made it happen…it's kismet."
Early supporters of the single "Crazy Lucky" include HOT AC stations KMXB/Las Vegas, SIRIUSXM The Pulse, WCDA/Lexington,KCIX/Boise to name a few!
"Crazy Lucky is clever, romantic, and hooky! The perfect spring time love song." - Charese Fruge, Program Director KMXB – Las Vegas, NV
Better Than Ezra recently signed to The End Records, marking their first release since 2009's Paper Empire. The band has already announced a US tour and will be hitting major markets in support of their full-length album due later this year.
2014 Spring Tour Dates
4/23 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
4/24 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
4/27 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
4/28 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
4/30 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
5/3 New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
6/7 Biloxi, MS @ Golden Nugget
7/25 Westbury NY @ The Space at Westbury
In related news, Better Than Ezra and the Better Than Ezra Foundation will host their 12th Annual Ezra Open charity at House of Blues New Orleans on Saturday, April 12th sponsored by Ochsner Health System and Play It Forward! The 12th Annual Ezra Open will feature a VIP Casino Night Patron Party followed by a live auction and benefit concert featuring JT Hodges, Matt Nathanson and Better Than Ezra. The Benefit Concert will also be streamed LIVE on Stage It.
Now known as much for their charity work as they are for their music, the Better Than Ezra Foundation has raised over $1,055,000 for various causes in and around New Orleans. Most recently the foundation has adopted Bethune Elementary in the Holly Grove neighborhood of New Orleans where they have built an educational playground, donated school supplies and created and after-school arts and education program. www.btefoundation.org.


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The state of Washington is shuttering its tourism marketing office tomorrow, making it the only state not spending money on promoting itself to visitors. "When you're taking kids off health care and raising tuition, you have to make some tough decisions," Senate Republican leader Mike Hewitt told the Associated Press. Individual city programs are not affected, and other state organizations have joined together to form the Washington Tourism alliance, a nongovernmental group whose mission is to sustain destination marketing for the state. Among the members are the Washington Lodging Association, the Puget Sound Attractions Council, the Washington Destination Marketing Organizations Association, the Port of Seattle and others.
Ad unit code goes here
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I love Charlie LeDuff man. His reports are both funny and realistic. In this segment, he takes a trip to Washington, D.C. to check out all of the luxuries US Senators get on Capitol Hill.
Tag: country
Part one is here.
Advertising agency WHYBIN/TBWA, Sydney, Australia created these images of national flags created using stereotypical/common foods from that region. Since I love America, I really am only concerned with how great the US flag turned out. But if you're curious, you can see the rest of the flags here.
Saxum put together this infographic that shows the make up of how energy is harnessed and distributed around the United States. It's worth noting that the Southwest does a good job of making use of all of that sun (solar energy) and that the middle of the country (and Texas) is a filthy place of coal. […]


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Double wall sconce with cut glass shades
This elegant wall sconce features cut glass shades, either clear or etched and distressed brass metalwork for that vintage look
UK Delivery
For all lighting ordered, UK mainland delivery cost: £18.00
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Beautiful and elegant cut glass shades and crystals give a feeling of opulence with this wall sconce. Matching chandeliers available.
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Seriously, can wireless audio achieve audiophile sound quality?
This is the eighth in a series of blog posts on the subject of wireless audio. Our objective is to simplify what to the average music lover is a complicated and confusing subject. We will publish the next installment in about two weeks, so please check back again. As always, we welcome your comments and participation.
–Mike Giffin
Some people distrust wireless audio systems. They believe that the sound quality is compromised, and that the convenience of wireless systems must somehow carry a price of lower fidelity. Their fears are understandable; we are all familiar with the low-fi sound quality of cellphone calls. Sometimes the voice on the other end is barely intelligible; surely music over a wireless system must have similar problems.
However, those fears are not justified by the facts, at least not in the case of wireless technologies like Apple's AirPlay, DTS's Play-Fi, and CSR's aptX for Bluetooth. The technology used by cellphones is very different from that used in these wireless audio systems. Whereas audio transmitted by over cellular networks can be shaky, wireless audio is quite robust. A wireless audio system can provide the same outstanding fidelity as a wired system. In fact, the wireless part of a wireless audio system can be completely transparent, and absolutely will not affect the sound quality of the audio signal. This is because of lossless coding.
When a digital audio signal is conveyed from one point to another, it must be coded, that is, placed in a format that can be transmitted and received. Many wireless audio systems use lossless coding to convey the data signal. With lossless coding, the data signal arriving at the receiver is identical to that leaving the transmitter. This is in contrast to technologies such as MP3 where the audio signal, to a greater or lesser degree, is audibly degraded by the non-lossless coding.
With lossless coding, the bits of the audio signal are "packed" in a way that allows them to be efficiently transmitted, then they are "unpacked" at the receiver. In this way, the bits at the wireless speaker are identical to those at the source. Lossless coding uses an algorithm to analyze digital audio data "words" and remove redundancy; this can make the words shorter (for more efficient transmission) but the exact bits can be restored later.
For example, consider the twelve 20-bit data "words" below, taken from an actual audio file:
Sample number Binary value
1 00000000010000110000
2 00000000011000010000
3 00000000011001100000
4 00000000010011110000
5 00000000001000110000
6 11111111111011100000
7 11111111101111010000
8 11111111100111110000
9 11111111100110100000
10 11111111101100010000
11 11111111110111010000
12 00000000000100100000
The lossless coding algorithm observes that in each sample the four least-significant bits (rightmost) are all zeros. At the transmitter, this can be coded more efficiently (by right-shifting the data). In addition, the nine most-significant bits (leftmost) are all 1s or 0s; this can be coded more efficiently (by coding one bit and using it to code the others). With techniques such as these, the file size in this example can be reduced by 60% for efficient transmission. Because the amount of data is reduced, the transmission is more robust. More important, at the receiver, these mathematical changes are exactly reversed, and the original data restored, bit for bit. The fidelity of the audio signal is absolutely not affected by the coding.
Lossless coding enables fidelity, but but other factors must also be present to assure true high fidelity. For starters, as we've noted, the WiFi network must be reliable. If a whole-house wireless audio system is envisioned, then the WiFi signal must be strong throughout the house. If necessary, a WiFi range extender (also known as a wireless repeater) can be added to increase coverage. While that does entail some effort, the wireless benefit goes far beyond audio. Installing special audio cables through a house only lets you convey audio, but a good WiFi network can give you the audio, video, internet, and much more.
Once you have a robust WiFi wireless network setup that can reliably transmit lossless audio throughout your house, what other factors must you consider to obtain top-quality audio fidelity? We'll address those factors in the next post and introduce you to the new world of Hi-Res audio.
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[…] Seriously, can wireless audio achieve audiophile sound quality? […]
[…] have been keeping a blog, with the latest series of posts being on the topic of wireless audio. The most recent entry starts the discussion about how wireless audio quality is perceived. Many people still distrust […]


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Interview: Alan Ewins, Special Counsel – Asia, Allen & Overy
This week, we had the opportunity to sit down with Alan Ewins, Special Counsel – Asia at Allen & Overy and Ethical Alliance Advisory Council Member, to hear his thoughts on anti-corruption issues and the future of enforcement.
Tell us more about your background and how you started your career.
I have been in private practice for coming up to 30 years, over 20 of them with Allen & Overy, in Hong Kong and London. My area of practice is financial services regulatory, and I am the Special Counsel for Asia. I was attracted to this area of work early on as an important blend of technical and real world issues. The Asian Financial Crisis in the late nineties, the Global Financial Crisis and now the uncertainties ahead, their impact on everyday life, and how my work as a lawyer has been driven by those events and more, have given me no regrets in taking this path. In particular, how financial institutions behave and operate are cornerstones of orderly markets and the creation of a level playing field for consumers and counterparties to enable those markets to run as smoothly as possible.
What makes you passionate about ethics and compliance issues?
Appropriate ethical behaviour is critical to the stability of domestic and international markets. This is both at a high level (whether jurisdictions have in place appropriate controls and enforcement activity on market structures and participants) or at a more granular level i.e. can listed companies be trusted to operate in a transparent manner to allow investors to assess their stability and performance; is market abuse and insider trading rife or restricted in practice; how strong is the relevant anti-money laundering regime in practice? These types of issues matter a great deal, and it is important not to treat them as "just compliance" or box-ticking exercises. How regimes function helps to mark out their place in the international community (highly relevant at this time) and "reputation risk" cannot be underestimated. In any event, at a fundamental level, corruption and market abuse unfairly benefit a relatively small number at the expense of not only swindled investors but the wider economy – including its wellbeing – as a whole.
What about the Ethical Alliance excites you?
It is an honour to be part of the Ethical Alliance Advisory Council. I have sensed a high degree of enthusiasm, experience and engagement among the other members of the Council. That has created a relevant platform to allow a range of views and experience, from a multiplicity of backgrounds, to be pooled in a forum that can be used to distil those views and plug them into the wider debate. The relative diversity of members enables a broad perspective to be brought to bear on major issues. The Council also has the interesting side-effect of bringing different disciplines to focus on sometimes seemingly unrelated issues on their face, but which ultimately have at their foundations the same message of the damage wrought by unchallenged corruption, abuse or unfairness.
If you had to describe in one word, 'what's next' for anti-corruption, what would it be? Why?
Consistency. There needs to be a consistent intolerance of corrupt behaviour at a policy and operational level – governmental/regulatory, corporate and individual – which is consistently enforced against across the board: there is no room for "gaming" the rules or indeed permitting political expediency to dictate levels of anti-corruption activity. Hence the relevance of and need for bodies such as the Council to spotlight issues as they stand now or as they are perceived to be evolving.
In your view, what is the future of enforcement?
Continuing intensive international cooperation, including data sharing among regulators, tightening of policies and standards, and increasing penalties. I see no reason to believe there will be turning back in that regard, whether in relation to terrorist financing, money laundering, insider dealing, sanctions or the like.
That is only sustainable where strong enforcement goes (and is seen to go) hand-in-hand with the rule of law, and with certainty and consistency of regimes and approaches. That is clearly a work in progress in the current markets, particularly when seen in the light of technological developments that often – usually – outstrip regulators' ability to regulate, leading to potential gaps in the law, and its application to new product and services.
Which sector(s) do you think are the most vulnerable to bribery and corruption?
All sectors are potentially vulnerable, so constant vigilance is required, whether it be in relation to old school insider trading by tipping off or cyber-security breaches by hackers buying their way into corporate systems, inappropriate behaviour in relation to appointing managers of major infrastructure projects, or otherwise. Corruption and bribery can occur at all levels and be a constant (but potentially significant) irritant within a market or a more systemic and pervasive threat.
If you had one message for our Ethical Alliance members, what would it be?
In my view, one thing to consider is that it is important for Ethical Alliance members to continue to be vigilant in not just your own sphere of activity but in other areas – geographies or markets or otherwise – to see how guiding principles can be teased out of seemingly un-connected stories, which can then be re-worked into the overall system to fuel the fight against bribery, corruption and other unacceptable behaviour.
For more information on the Ethical Alliance Advisory Council or to read Alan's biography, click here.
If you have questions for any of our Advisory Council members, contact us at email@example.com


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NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Negotiations to produce a new NHL collective bargaining agreement resumed Saturday with a meeting in New York involving League Commissioner Gary Bettman.
NHL Players' Association chief Donald Fehr said he and Bettman met to discuss ways to overcome the differences between team owners and locked-out players as the possible cancellation of regular-season games looms.
"I spent a few minutes with Gary talking about the overall situation, and we agreed to keep in touch," Fehr said. "I am sure we will talk again tomorrow. I don't know whether we will meet again tomorrow. That remains to be seen."
Fehr said the core issue of reducing the players' absolute share of hockey-related revenues wasn't discussed Saturday. Instead, the talks were about how to define such revenues.
"I am not going to talk about the specifics, but in general we're trying to discuss how do we find a way to make an agreement," he said. "How do we bridge the gap on the major issues that are between us?"
After already wiping out the entire pre-season schedule, the lockout could next derail the scheduled Oct. 11 start of the regular season.


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The youth of Spirit Alive and their friends always have a lot going on. All of the youth activities are an open invitation to all youth — members and non-members alike. The youth are ALWAYS bringing friends.
The goal for all ministry, including Youth Ministry, is faith formation. Part of nurturing faith to grow is accomplished by making youth activities safe for kids — safe to be themselves, safe to share their trials and struggles, safe to vent about life.
Most youth today have so much going on — school, activities, family. Youth activities shouldn't be just "one more thing" that they feel like they have to do. So every effort is made to create a safe environment for kids that is filled with faith, trust, and a sense of belonging.
It's that sense of belonging that helps kids to live what they learn during youth activities. Sure, we talk about Jesus, use the Bible to teach, but to live what they learn, that sense of community and belonging is key. Feel free to have your kids (and you!) join in for any one…or all…of these activities!
Contact us today and we'll send back any information you'll need and answer any questions you may have.


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One of the leading drowning deaths in the United States is due to entrapment. It is for this reason that the Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Act was put into effect on December 17, 2007. This act is enforced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC is responsible for making sure that public and private pools are in compliance as well as recalls regarding pool products. The hazards of drain entrapment and dangers relating to fixtures within the pools that can trap individuals making it possible for them to drown are directly addressed within the act.
Performance Standard
There is a performance standard within the act that must be met by manufacturers of drain covers. All drain covers that are manufactured, starting one year after the enactment of the title, must meet the entrapment protection standards listed in the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard. The essentials of this requirement include:
All public pools and spas in the United States are required to be equipped with anti-entrapment devices or other such systems that comply with the standards.
Each public pool or spa that has a single main, not including an unblockable drain, must have one or more of the required safety items. A safety vacuum release system, a suction limiting vent system, automatic pump shut-off system, gravity drainage system, or other system that has been determined by the Commission to be as effective as those described.
Violators of the requirements of the Act are subject to fines and closure of the public pools or spas until such time as compliance has been established.
Pool Safety in General
The need for safety near pools and spas is clear when you consider that accidental drowning is rated as the second leading cause of death in the United States for children ages 1 to 14 years. In fact, in the year 2004, shortly before the enactment of the VGB Act, 761 children under the age of 14 died due to accidental drowning. The many layers of protection that have been suggested are intended to ensure that there are fewer accidental deaths by swimming pool and spa accidents.
The rules and regulations are intended to prompt the manufacturing of products that will prevent individuals in a pool or spa from being sucked into the filter systems and held under the water with no way of getting out. Even a small amount of water can be a danger to young children making it important that these guidelines are followed and adhered to. Covers over drains that prevent hair, arms, legs and swimsuits from becoming caught are an essential part of helping to protect children from dangerous drowning situations.
Contradictions in Rules
All states and towns must comply with federal safety requirements. If you are in a state or a town that does not allow you to disable suction outlets or utilize specific suction outlet covers, you will want to contact the CPSC or help. They can work with the state or town to make sure that they fall into compliance with the rules set up. It is important that you hire a professional that has the experience and certifications to properly design a pool that fits the federal safety requirements.
If there is a single main drain or suction outlet, other than the unblockable suction outlet, the operator is required to install another anti-entrapment device. This can be an automatic pump shut-off system, a gravity drainage system, a suction-limiting vent system or a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS). The pool can have multiple suction devices, but only one is a requirement of the law. It is important that the definition of an unblockable suction outlet be understood. This is any size drain that is of any shape that cannot be sufficiently blocked by a human body to create a suction entrapment hazard.
Most Likely Dangers
While all pools and spas can be hazardous as an entrapment danger, there are some areas that are more likely to cause problems than others. Any pool that is intended for children such as a kiddie pool or wading pool that also has accessible suction outlets can be a major hazard for young children. In ground spas with outlet grates that are flat and used for suction and any pool or spa with a single suction outlet system. These should be very carefully checked for adherence to the laws relating to the matter.
When installing a pool or spa on the property, particularly in public areas, it is vital that you hire someone that understands the laws and requirements as they are set out. Finding a professional can best be accomplished by contacting local officials such as your town office or the state department. They can often supply you with a list of individuals that are experts in the field such as professional engineers or registered design professionals. Make sure that the company you choose is licensed, certified and insured before you hire them for the work. This will likely mean that they have the most current information regarding safety options and regulations, both on local and federal footings.
Markings of Compliant Drain Covers
All drain covers manufactured in the United States should include the type of intended use (multiple suction or single suction outlet), gallons per minute (GPM), type of fitting, life of fitting, model name and number and whether it is floor or wall mount intended. If you find no mark on the outlet you will want to contact the manufacturer to confirm that the outlet is truly within regulation. You can obtain a Certificate of Compliance from the manufacturer. This is a good way to be positive that the cover is going to be compliant with federal regulations before you get started.
Maintenance Drains and Outlets
It is important to understand that even those drains and outlets that are used for maintenance only purposes must also be compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. They require coverage by a proper outlet cover, but a secondary anti-entrapment backup system is not required. In addition, these drains and outlets are not to be utilized when there are swimmers in the spa or pool.
Multiple Suction Outlets
You will need to know if your pool has multiple suction outlets or not. A pool is considered to have multiple suction outlets if it has at least two suction outlets per pump and per pool that are fully submerged. The suction covers or grates should be at least three feet apart, measuring from center to center of them, or must be located on different levels. The best way to be sure that your pool has multiple suction outlets is to call in a certified inspector to take a look. They will want to be sure that the spacing is correct and that the suction is doing the job it is supposed to.
Equalizer Lines and Skimmers
Skimmers with equalizer lines are subject to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act as they are considered to be suction outlets and must be covered with suction outlet covers or plugs that are compliant. These lines are not considered to be a main drain line. The equalizer line of a skimmer only becomes effective if the skimmer is clogged and not working properly. Therefore, the equalizer line is not a part of the multiple suction outlet system.
Gravity Drain Outlet Systems
If the pool has a gravity drain outlet system in place, the pool is still required to have a Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act compliant outlet cover. This said, the pool is not requires to have a second anti-entrapment system in place. It is only required that the current outlet covers are compliant with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 standard or the ANSI/APSP-16 2011 standard. It may be advisable to replace them with complaint suction outlet covers.
Field Fabricated Covers
In some circumstances, particularly where the pool or spa has been custom designed and has already been built, a field fabricated cover may be necessary. A field fabricated cover is a cover that is custom designed for a specific pool or spa to meet the regulations of the ANSI/ASME A112.19.8 (2007) or the newer standards of ANSI/APSP-16 2011. When built this field fabricated cover should be certified and include flow rates, durability and UV exposure. The engineer should provide documentation that the outlet cover meets the requirements of the standard and they should provide you with a certificate of compliance copy for your record.
The News on Sumps
It is not required to replace your current pool or spa sump with a new one. It is required that the current sump be made compliant with ANSI/APSP-16 2011. This means that a new suction outlet cover must be attached to the pump. The best course of action for a current sump is to get the advice of a professional engineer. They can tell you what, if anything, needs to be done to the sump in order for it to be in compliance with the rules and regulations. If there is no way for the current sump to be fitted properly with a suction outlet cover, the old pump will need to be removed and replaced with a compliant sump as according to regulations.
Flow Rates for Suction Outlets
The suction outlet flow rates are not controlled by the federal rules and regulations, but are instead regimented by the suction outlet cover manufactures. This said, there are some minimum standards that are set by the local agencies of the states. Many of them require that the water velocity of the covers does not exceed 1.5 feet per second (fps) with a single suction outlet blocked completely. A professional in your area will understand the local requirements and will be able to help you find the right suction outlet cover for the situation. If the cover is being fabricated specifically for the pool or spa in question, you will need to be sure that the professional or manufacturer fully understands the local requirements before they begin.
Not Subjected to VGB
Spray or splash pad and recreational fountains are not necessarily subject to the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. If there is no submerged suction outlet, then there is no need for a compliant cover. Whirlpool bathtubs are not required to follow the guidelines, unless the whirlpool description is included in the definition of swimming pool or spa within the act. They would be subjected to rules and regulations regarding appliances and equipment for plumbing. In some cases, physical therapy pools may be considered as public pools depending on the access that the general public has to the pool. This will greatly depend on how the pool is regulated and what type of access is given to general public individuals. If the pool is located in a hospital or private facility it may be considered private and therefore note under the rules and regulations of the VGB.


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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: fathers (06/06/05)
- TITLE: Father of the Century
By Christine Rhee
I think you should choose my father to be Father of the Year, because, well, because he¡¯s THE BEST!! He has given me the richest heritage ever.
My dad gave me my smile. He always called me Sunshine while I was growing up and encouraged me to share my smile with others. Just the other day, Sabrina Mahoney told me that one of the reasons she accepted Jesus was that when I smiled at her, she felt totally and completely loved by God.
Dad also gave me my laughter. He was always goofy and cracking jokes, and that overflowed into my personality. That¡¯s what helps people feel comfortable around me, and eventually, we seem to end up talking about Jesus.
Dad gave me my sense of fun. He just expected to have good times, and he took us along. We were always off to a hiking or camping trip, or on a picnic. So, I have grown up, expecting to enjoy life, and to find ways to do that. My own kids will tell you that I am a fun mom, and this has helped us to have a close relationship. I am so thankful that Dad taught me by his example to keep on being a kid, even when I grew up.
Dad gave me my sense of adventure. He called each of my endeavors ¡°Flo-ey¡¯s Big Adventure.¡± He also told me that if I really wanted to do something, I¡¯d be able to, as long as I set my mind to it. This is what has given me the courage to do mission work in many different foreign countries and lead people from all over the world (including a couple of girls from Iraq!) to the Lord.
Dad gave me my gift of writing. While I was growing up, he always told me this was the most important skill to develop. I have been able to use this talent in many different ways, and especially as we work to spread the Gospel.
Finally, my Dad taught me, by his example to be an overcomer. Dad has had some awfully terrible things happen to him, and he could have let those mishaps make him hard and bitter, like a grotty old cup of coffee. But instead, Dad has always been willing to forgive, and to work to make even the situations which were most painful for him better, like the freshest, most aromatic cup of French Roast you can imagine.
So, events that could have torn our family apart have actually brought us closer together, and built character in us, as well. I am so thankful to my dad for this, because I can give the same gift and legacy to my own family throughout the years to come.
This is why I hope you will give my Dad the honor of naming him Father of the Year. For surely, in my book, he is the Father of a Lifetime.
Sincerely with all my heart,
Mrs. Flo Hopewell
Dear Mrs. Hopewell,
Thank you for your letter recommending that we name your dad Father of the Year. Unfortunately, we must deny your request , as we find your father far too overqualified.
As an alternative, we have named him Father of the Century.
May God bless you and your family, as you live out his legacy.
The Father of the Century Committee.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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I am officially done sewing for the SWAP. Photos tomorrow…
Archive for April, 2012
SWAP accomplishedApril 30, 2012
Progress is madeApril 10, 2012
Although I have not been able to sew as much as I wanted to for my SWAP, I have made some progress and I am not yet prepared to throw in the towel.
I have changed the plan slightly as I knew there was no way I'd be able to do two tailored coats by the end of April. I have removed the second coat: Vogue 8543 and replaced it with a second skirt. Since I really want a high waisted pencil skirt, I'm now making Burda 8155 out of a grey tweed.
A couple of the projects have taken much longer than I expected and I had to take a break and sew a costume for a friend so I'm definitely behind. In the meantime, I've also made another t-shirt which I think I will use to replace the second pair of trousers as I probably won't have time to get to them.
I'll have to see how much I get done this week. If I can finish one of the dresses, the pencil skirt, and cut out the trousers, I might still have a shot at it all.


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Check out who he is donating to. These organizations have been called out for suppressing freedom of speech. Isn't that lovely, the co-founder of Facebook supports suppressing free speech. Does this really surprise you?
Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz announced late Thursday that he will be donating $20 million to far-left groups as part of an effort to defeat Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in the November election.
Recipients include organizations directly tied to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but also to radical left groups such as MoveOn.org and Color of Change, meaning that Moskovitz's money will fund anti-conservative attacks beyond the election itself.
Trending: The Only Gun Store in Thousand Oaks Sees Spike in Sales, Residences Say It's Time to Buy a Gun
MoveOn.org and Color of Change were both listed as organizations devoted to suppressing freedom speech in a recent book by Wall Street Journal columnist Kimberly Strassel, The Intimidation Game: How the Left is Silencing Free Speech.
Strassel notes that MoveOn.org spread false information during the 2010 midterm elections about foreign donations to Republicans through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and that it has organized boycotts of companies, like Target, that dare to speak out about politics.
Likewise, Strassel documents Color of Change's involvement in pressing ABC News to drop Andrew Breitbart from election night coverage in 2010, and boycotting advertisers on Fox News until Glenn Beck left the channel.
Moskovitz's money will, no doubt, fund similar efforts in future. He still owns a significant stake in Facebook itself, which was recently accused of suppressing news from conservative outlets.


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Choose the smallest and most fragrant berries for this delicious classic tart. Slideshow: Beautiful Desserts
How to Make It
In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, sugar and egg; pulse just until the dough begins to come together. Turn the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface and pat it into a 6-inch disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry into a 12-inch round. Fit the dough without stretching it into a 9-by-3/4-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim the overhang to 3/4 inch; fold in the overhang and press it against the sides to reinforce them. Prick the bottom several times with a fork and refrigerate until firm.
Bake the shell for 25 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Let cool completely on a wire rack before filling.
In a medium saucepan, combine the egg yolks with 3 tablespoons of the milk, the sugar, flour, vanilla and a pinch of salt; whisk until smooth. In a small saucepan, bring the remaining milk to a simmer.
Gradually whisk the hot milk into the egg yolk mixture. Cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until the pastry cream boils and thickens like pudding, about 4 minutes. Strain the pastry cream through a fine sieve set over a bowl. Whisk in the heavy cream. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours.
Vigorously beat the cold pastry cream until smooth and spread it evenly in the pastry shell. Arrange the strawberries in the tart, tips up, in tight concentric circles. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Unmold the tart and transfer it to a cake stand or platter before serving.


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Clash royale deck building guide comes from MWolverine63. Thanks for making this! It's a great guide!
In this deck building guide, I'm going to outline how I approach deck building, tweaking, and evaluating. I'm not a master, so feel free to let me know in the comments what I've missed! It's general enough that almost all decks should fit under the guide, but some decks may not.
With that being said, let's get to it!
If you would like me to analyze your deck in the comments, feel free to write it out!
1. Slot Definitions
Slot [1]: Win Condition
Slot [2]: Win Condition #2
Slot [3]: Win Condition Support
Slot [4]: Main Defense
Slot [5]: Defensive Support
Slot [6]: The Runner
Slot [7]: Versatile Response Card
Slot [8]: Spell
2. Deck Examples:
Hog Trifecta
Giant/Sparky Beatdown
Giant/Guards Beatdown
Golem Beatdown
Miner/Furnace Cycle
PEKKA Double Prince Beatdown
Royal Giant Beatdown
Siege Beatdown
See more about Deck Archetype
3. Testing Decks:
1. Test in Friendlies with people near your trophy level
2. Test in a tourney
3. Test in the ladder after you are comfortable with the deck
4. Look back and see which decks you regularly lost to. If it was the same person, take it with a grain of salt as that person might just have an edge on you in skill.
Slot 1: Win Condition Card & Dynamic Push-Maker
When you read about decks, they're called "Hog Cycle", "Miner Cycle", "RG Beatdown", "Golem Breakdown", "PEKKA Double Prince", "Giant beatdown", "Mortar Siege", etc. Each deck has 1 singular card that characterizes how the deck is played and what its win condition is.
That's the card in this slot. The play maker. The tower taker. The rage-quit inducer. This is the center of your deck, and it determines which archetype your deck fits into.
|Balloon (in early arenas)
|Barbarian Hut
|Prince (in early arenas)
|Giant Skeleton
|Lava Hound
Slot 2: Win Condition Card # 2
This slot is the secondary win condition card. This card supports the main pusher in such a way that the win condition is enabled.
When you think about the main push of your deck, this is the card that you'll put down with your main dynamic card.
For example, this could be Musketeer with Hog or Giant; Dark Prince with Prince; Sparky with Giant; Mini Pekka with Miner; Goblin Hut with Barbarian Hut; or 3 Musketeers with Giant.
|Balloon (with Giant)
|Dark Prince
|3 musketeers
|Hog (with RG)
|Goblin Hut
Slot 3: Win Condition Support
This slot is win-condition push support. When you are going on full offense, you'll drop down this card to get your push to the tower. It doesn't always have to be a troop—sometimes it is a spell (poison, zap, arrows).
You'll see a lot of splash damage in this slot, as it clears out cheap units that can take out tanks quickly. Bomber, Wizard, Fire Spirits, and Princess all fit in here.
You'll also see high DPS troops who's goal is to get damage on the tower, like Mini Pekka and Musketeer.
|Fire Spirits
|Mini Pekka
Slot 4: Main Defensive Card
This is the first of 2 defensive slots. You'll use this card to handle enemy pushes and minimize damage on your tower. This is the main "wall" that enemy pushes will run into.
Cards that fit in this slot are defensive buildings, Minion Horde, Valkyrie, and Mini Pekka.
|Mini Pekka
|Defensive buildings
|Minion Horde
|Skeleton Army
Slot 5: Defensive Card Support
This is the second defensive slot. These cards will support the action of your main defensive card to stop pushes faster.
Cards that fit into this slot are Ice Wizard, Ice Spirit, and Baby Dragon. Your options aren't just limited to these cards; most decks also pick from the list above for this second defensive slot.
This slot can also be used for an Elixir Collector. It doesn't help on defense, per say, other than providing extra elixir to stop pushes with.
|Ice Wizard
|Baby Dragon
|Ice Spirit
|Elixir Collector
Slot 6: The Runner
This is The Runner. This slot is both offense and defense: you can start this card on defense to stop a push and transition it easily into an offensive push. They're efficient, and you can use them solely for offense or defense if necessary.
Cards that fit into this slot are Musketeer, Mini Pekka, Princess, Bowler, Guards, Witch, Valkyrie, Lumberjack, and Spawner Huts.
|Ice Wizard
|Mini Pekka
|Spawner Huts
Slot 7: Versatile Response Card
This is the versatile response card slot. These cards are there for when you are caught off guard and don't have a good defensive card to play. You can drop any of these cards to distract/counter big pushes while you cycle to a good defensive card.
On the other hand, you can also drop these guys behind a big push. If you have the extra elixir, they can support your main push and make it even more powerful.
You want to pick these guys carefully because you want to be able to play them anytime and get maximum value from them. If they don't target air, you may be caught off guard during an air attack—so you'll want air-targeting defensive cards or an air-targeting Runner.
|Spear Goblins
|Goblin Barrel
Slot 8: Spell Slot
This last slot is the spell slot. Not all decks carry a spell, but almost all do. This is the slot where you can put your spell.
I know Goblin Barrel is a spell, but I listed it in Slot 7 because it functions more as a versatile response than a true spell.
Let's start by discussing HOG TRIFECTA:
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Hog
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Musketeer
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Poison
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Cannon
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Elixir Collector
Slot 6 (The Runner): Valkyrie
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Skeletons
Slot 8 (Spell): Zap
As you can see, it doesn't perfectly follow the guide above—but it generally does. The main exceptions are in Slots 3 and 5.
Strictly speaking, Slot 3 is normally a troop, but it can also be a spell. If there are more than 1 spells in a deck, that's why. One or both are mainly used to support offensive pushes.
This deck doesn't run a true "defense only" second card, but an Elixir Collector in Slot 5. The reason the deck can get away with that is because Valkyrie is a classic Runner: it can be used on defense and then transition well into offense.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Giant
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Sparky
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Fire Spirits
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Mini Pekka
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Ice Wizard
Slot 6 (The Runner): Fireball
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Goblin Barrel
Slot 8 (Spell): Zap
This deck (from Chief Pat) fits the guide really well, except for Slot 6. There isn't a true "Runner" in this deck, but you could argue that Mini Pekka and Ice Wizard both fit that role, since they will eliminate enemy pushes so well.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Giant
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Musketeer (if this was 3 MUSKETEER BEATDOWN, 3 Musketeers would be here)
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Poison
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Mini Pekka
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Elixir Collector
Slot 6 (The Runner): Princess
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Guards
Slot 8 (Spell): Zap
This deck fits the guide really well. The only exceptions are for Slot 3 and Slot 5, which I already discussed in HOG TRIFECTA.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Golem
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Minions
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Spear Goblins
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Minion Horde
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Elixir Collector
Slot 6 (The Runner): Valkyrie
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Goblins
Slot 8 (Spell): Arrows
This deck (from Galadon) has a solid core, filling the main slots. However, Slot 2, Slot 3, and Slot 7 can be interchanged.
This deck is basically arrow-bait, with support cards that can be interchanged with each other. It doesn't fit within the slots as well because of how versatile it is: no card is fixed in one role.
This type of deck is powerful because you aren't forced to play half of your deck in any one particular way. You have room to be flexible and adapt to your opponent.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Miner
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Guards
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Zap
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Mini Pekka
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Spear Goblins
Slot 6 (The Runner): Furnace
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Princess
Slot 8 (Spell): Poison
This deck (from /u/Bellator_Gaius 's post) is flexible, like the GOLEM BEATDOWN deck above. You could argue to interchange Slot 2, Slot 3, Slot 5, and Slot 7 with each other.
As said above, this flexibility is why it is so popular in tournaments, where you have no idea what you are going to face.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): PEKKA
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Prince
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Freeze
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Minion Horde
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Elixir Collector
Slot 6 (The Runner): Dark Prince
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Princess
Slot 8 (Spell): Arrows
This deck (from Chief Pat) fits the slot guide really well.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Royal Giant
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Minions
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Archers
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Cannon
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Elixir Collector
Slot 6 (The Runner): Barbarians
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Goblins
Slot 8 (Spell): Zap
This deck (from Molt) fits the guide well, except for the supporting cards. Slot 2, Slot 3, and Slot 7 can be interchanged.
This deck is an example of one with a strong core and flexible support cards.
Slot 1 (Win Condition): Mortar
Slot 2 (Win Condition #2): Miner
Slot 3 (Win Condition Support): Princess
Slot 4 (Main Defense): Minion Horde
Slot 5 (Defensive Support): Tombstone
Slot 6 (The Runner): Mini Pekka
Slot 7 (Versatile Response Card): Ice Wizard
Slot 8 (Spell): Zap
This deck (from /u/Wwoody123) is a great example of a flexible deck. Slot 2, Slot 3, Slot 6, and Slot 7 can arguably be interchanged.
These examples show that the very best decks are those that don't stick rigidly to this guide. Use it as an example of how to build a deck, but don't be afraid to mix things in so you are able to adapt to anything and be flexible.
Ok, so you've made it this far and want to know how to test decks. First things first, don't rush building a deck. Think carefully about what cards you want, and start in order of slots. You'll pick out your win condition and offensive support cards first, then pick defensive cards.
Once you have a deck, find someone in your clan around your trophy level. Play them a few times in friendlies and get a sense of how your deck performs. Ask them to play different archetypes, so you see if your deck is strong against, say Giant/Guards, but weak against Trifecta. Play more than one person, if possible.
After your friendly battles, tweak your deck. You can swap out cards for different things and see what works best. I tend to swap out supporting cards most often (Slots 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7), and I don't generally swap out more than 3 cards once I've built a deck.
Once you have gotten your deck tweaked, play with it in a tourney. Don't focus on changing your deck while you're in the tourney, just play and try to win.
After the tourney is over, then look back at your battle log and see what you've won and lost against. This gives you valuable feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your deck.
Once you've done all this, your deck is ready for the ladder! Play with it and continue to tweak as necessary, but don't tweak continually. If you like your deck, don't change it because of a string of losses. Take a break and come back later, and then see if you still need to change it.
That's all I've got, thanks for reading!