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English | Espańol
All Issues > Volume 15, Issue 2
In our present golden age of martyrdom and in our culture of death, we relate to today's Scripture readings better than ever before. Currently in Communist China, many Muslim countries, and the secular humanistic Western world, Christians are more than ever mocked, scourged, chained, imprisoned, beaten, "put to death at sword's point" (Heb 11:36-37), and executed in many other ways.
Although Christians are not tolerated, all manner of perversions are protected by law in the Western world. Law has become lawless. For example, if the Gerasene demoniac marched naked, screaming, and bleeding in a "gay-rights" parade, he would probably not be arrested (see Mk 5:2ff).
How do we replace this culture of death with a civilization of love and life? We do so by suffering martyrdom, or at least by suffering redemptively for God's kingdom. Persecution and martyrdom are not only caused by the culture of death but will be the death of the culture of death. Pope John Paul II has taught: "It is suffering, more than anything else, which clears the way for the grace which transforms human souls" (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, 27). As Jesus, by His death, robbed "the devil, the prince of death, of his power" (Heb 2:14), so we, by suffering in the pattern of Jesus' death (Phil 3:10), will bring down the culture of death. Rejoice "in the measure that you share Christ's sufferings" (1 Pt 4:13).


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Adi Sapir
Architect and Software Engineer in Seattle, Washington
I have a vast experience in SQL Server and database architecture in generalThis includes serving as a Principal Database Engineer (PE), Data Architect, SQL Team Lead, SQL Developer, DBA and (last but not least) - creator of database-related products.(doccolabs.com)
In addition to SQL Server, I have gained experience with other data platforms (both relational and "NoSQL's") such as MongoDb, Redis, DynamoDb, RedShift, Hive, PostgreSQL, MySQL and more.
+ Complex data/schema architecture design
+ Advanced coding & scripting capabilities
+ Building various applications for custom solutions
+ Data optimization & tuning
+ Database refactoring
+ Simplifying complex procedures
See more at the links below...

subset: commoncrawl


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SPC/E model of water
|This article is a 'stub' about water and/or ice. It has no, or next to no, content. It is here at the moment to help form part of the structure of SklogWiki. If you add material to this article, remove the {{Stub-water}} template from this page.
The SPC/E (extended simple point charge model) [1] [2] is a slight reparameterisation of the SPC model of water, with a modified value for . The molecule is modelled as a rigid isosceles triangle, having charges situated on each of the three atoms. Apart from Coulombic interactions, the molecules interact via long-range Lennard-Jones sites, situated on the oxygen atoms. The parameters are as follows:
|kJ mol-1
|(charge neutrality)
The SPC/E model has a dipole moment of 2.351 D. (Ref. 1 Table I).
Surface tension
The surface tension has been studied for the SPC/E model by Vega and Miguel [3]
Phase diagram
Plastic crystal phases
Recent simulations have demonstrated the existence of plastic crystal phases for the SPC/E model. [4]
Shear viscosity
The shear viscosity for the SPC/E model is 0.729 mPa.s at 298 K and 1 bar [5] (experimental value 0.896 mPa.s [6]).
- ↑ H. J. C. Berendsen, J. R. Grigera, and T. P. Straatsma "The missing term in effective pair potentials", Journal of Physical Chemistry 91 pp. 6269 - 6271 (1987)
- ↑ Swaroop Chatterjee, Pablo G. Debenedetti, Frank H. Stillinger, and Ruth M. Lynden-Bell "A computational investigation of thermodynamics, structure, dynamics and solvation behavior in modified water models", Journal of Chemical Physics 128 124511 (2008)
- ↑ C. Vega and E. de Miguel "Surface tension of the most popular models of water by using the test-area simulation method", Journal of Chemical Physics 126 154707 (2007)
- ↑ J. L. Aragones and C. Vega "Plastic crystal phases of simple water models", Journal of Chemical Physics 130 244504 (2009)
- ↑ Miguel Angel González and José L. F. Abascal "The shear viscosity of rigid water models", Journal of Chemical Physics 132 096101 (2010)
- ↑ Kenneth R. Harris and Lawrence A. Woolf "Temperature and Volume Dependence of the Viscosity of Water and Heavy Water at Low Temperatures", Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data 49 pp. 1064-1069 (2004)
- Related reading


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Apple has released a fix for the iOS 9.3 bug that prevented some people with older iPhones and iPads from installing the update correctly. See, the mobile platform's latest update bricked older devices if users forgot or mistyped their Apple ID passwords. Trying again didn't work -- their devices were locked in an activation loop. Cupertino admitted to iMore that the bug could affect the iPhone 5s, the iPad Air and anything older than the two. As a result, the company temporarily pulled back version 9.3 for those devices and promised to issue a new build that doesn't require users to key in their passwords. Thankfully, Apple addressed the issue quickly.
Sponsored Links
The patched-up version of iOS 9.3 is now out and available for download. Users can plug their affected iPads or iPhones to a computer to update them via iTunes -- just make sure the build is called 13E236 -- or download version 9.3 over the air if they haven't yet. We hope that unlocks any device affected... and that those who preordered the new iPad Pro or iPhone SE thinking that the bug was a sign to upgrade don't regret it too much.


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5 IoT Trends to Watch in 2017
While some might argue that 2016 has been the year of the IoT, it's possible that the same argument will be able to apply to 2017. If this year was the infancy of the IoT, expect the technology to make a great leap to becoming a teenager or young adult next year. Not convinced? Consider these five trends that will most likely dominate the IoT landscape in 2017.
Increased Acceptance of IoT
Perhaps the greatest trend that will define the IoT in 2017 is the growing acceptance —and in fact, the expectation — of virtually everything being connected. Research shows that the home automation market is likely to reach $78 billion by 2022, which represents about a third of the predicted $300 billion IoT market. What was once seen as something from science fiction, or only for the wealthy, has now become a part of the average home thanks to products like Amazon's Echo and Google Home.
Consumers are investing in smart devices that they can control from their smartphones — and companies are rushing to develop products that provide a useful and meaningful IoT experience, using new and better microcontrollers with an advanced PIC map included, and more. One danger of this explosive growth is the potential for manufacturers to connect devices simply because they can or because it's trendy, without considering the larger implications or needs of their IoT devices. Still, now that the IoT is a fact of life, expect to see more, and better, connected products.
Industrial IoT
Consumer IoT isn't the only segment that will see exponential growth in 2017. The industrial IoT market is also poised for expansion, with a potential for $151 billion in value by 2020. Not only are technologies like 3-D printing, robotics, and condition monitoring becoming commonplace, but companies are also looking to IoT solutions to solve other problems. For example, many companies are making IoT building asset management a significant part of their business operations. Much like in the consumer lifestyle market, IoT in business is no longer limited to early adopters, but has become a common and expected technology.
Security Concerns
As with any connected technology, security is a concern with the IoT on both the industrial and consumer levels. The simple fact that virtually everything is now connected to the internet creates risk. Hackers don't care if the machine they've accessed is a toaster or a child's toy — all they are concerned with is having access to a machine that can send out spam or DDoS packets. Given that many IoT devices store and transfer sensitive data in addition to allowing access to networks, the need to secure them has become a greater priority. Expect to see new protocols and products to provide software and endpoint security for IoT devices, as well as more education and tools for securing consumer devices, to take shape in 2017.
Smart Cities
While much of the discussion surrounding the IoT has been on how individuals can use the technology, it actually has the potential to transform life on a larger scale as well. One example is the idea of a smart city, in which technologies like sensor and data-driven traffic management and smart lighting are improving the daily lives of residents. By implementing smart lights, for example, cities can not only save money but make neighborhoods safer.
Data-driven traffic management can help reduce commute times and pollution as traffic managers can use sensor data to calibrate traffic lights. Several European cities have already embraced the technology, and expect to see IoT-driven initiatives to pop up in more cities around the world. Of course, it's not as simple as just installing sensors and collecting data. Cities must balance the value of the data against the costs, as well as maintaining security and the privacy of residents. That being said, the potential of a smart city far outweighs those challenges, and the future will see more smart cities.
IoT and Artificial Intelligence
Finally, no discussion of the IoT is complete without at least addressing artificial intelligence. The IoT is producing immense amounts of data that can be used for everything from real-time insights into a heart patient's current condition to monitoring electricity usage on weekends to telling engineers what is wrong with an industrial machine. In order for the IoT to really deliver on its promise of a better, more efficient world, there needs to be a way to quickly and accurately analyze all of this data, and that's where AI comes in. Expect for AI to continue to advance in 2017, with better, faster algorithms designed to make our devices work better, faster, and more accurately.
No one knows for sure what 2017 will bring, but when it comes to the IoT, it will certainly be exciting — and will set the stage for even more advancements in the years to come.
About the Author
Amy Barton works for SeekVisibility and has studied Sociology and Human development in Arizona. With her vast knowledge in these areas, she has been able to create a number of informational pieces focusing on technology and education. When she is not writing Amy enjoys reading, singing and spending time with family.
Are you an expert in IoT, Big Data, Virtualization, Cloud, Mobile, Artificial Intelligence and/or IT technologies?Do you want to feature yourself or your content on VcloudNews.com? Do you have products you would like to showcase to our visitors? Or simply do you want to share your comments with our readers? We want to hear from you and have both free and sponsorship opportunities for you and your products. E-mail us at email@example.com to join the fun.


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Standing Out by Over Delivering27-Feb-2014
Are you struggling to get your kids to do their household jobs well?
One of the keys to being successful in your career is asking yourself what excellence in your job looks like.
It's the same with our kids and their chores. When they are asked to mow the lawn or rake the leaves, they should have an idea of what a great job of doing those things looks like, and aim at doing it well.
In fact, they should strive to go above and beyond expectations.
If they approach life with this philosophy, they can't help but succeed. But how do we teach them that?
The why of chores is this: children need responsibility at home to reach their full potential. Requiring our kids to complete their chores doesn't just ease the burden for us; it releases the best in them.
It's never too young to start.
In our family:
At 2 you make your bed. (Just get them to pull up the duvet.)
At 3 you set the table.
At 4 you unload the dishwasher.
At 5 you load the dishwasher.
At 6 you learn how to use the Mum's powerful power tool the vacuum cleaner.
Teenagers should cook a family's meal once a week.
Set high standard so they have a sense of I did a great job!


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South Dakota Union
Phone: (605) 677-5353
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
My interests can be best described as integrative and developmental-contextual-resiliency in emphasis. I am particularly intrigued by the ways in which development unfolds within the family and community contexts where transitions, risk, and resiliency can serve as catalysts for latter adjustments and/or maladjustments/psychopathology. A foundational aspect to these developmental processes rests upon a commitment to and an understanding of the expression of cultural variables and contributions to health and well-being from an indigenous-community and cross-cultural psychology perspective.
My teaching interests include the following: Undergraduate: Psyc 258 Children & Trauma Psyc 321 Human Development: Lifesspan Psyc 492/592 Special Topics: Infant, Childhood, & Adolescent Mental Health Graduate: Psyc 751 Psychological Assessment I Psyc 752 Psychological Assessment II Psyc 722 Developmental Seminar Psyc 779 Child Psychopathology
Accordingly, the Skillman Research Team focuses upon topics such as: the pathways of help-seeking in families and young adults; exploring cultural protective factors in the adjustment and well-being of Native American/Alaskan Native community members; and the development and/or use of culturally appropriate assessment tools with diverse populations. The research team uses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies in addressing these areas of inquiry. While my primary research interests continue to be in the above areas, a central point of emphasis has shifted to wellness, resiliency, and an integrative view of health and mental health within a developmental-positive psychology framework. I am particularly fascinated by the socialization and contextualization of wellness of emerging adults.
Citations listed below are presented in a standardized, modified format for display purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the preferred style and conventions of the faculty member or discipline.


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Just thinking about how easily we can get distracted and misread our circumstances, and how Jesus is always the gate to the right perspective, and how he says not to worry, because aren't the flowers and the grass beautiful, and they don't even care. And if they are like that, how much bigger is our … Continue reading
Sometimes we ask God to speak and then we hear something and we're like "no, God, I need you to speak." And again, He does, but it's not what we want to hear, or it's off topic, or seemingly inconsequential. We want him to play by our rules, stick to the subject, answer the question, … Continue reading


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Know IT All Question
Know IT All Question #4 .Net
d) load balancing
Load balancing can be implemented with hardware, software, or a combination of both. For load balancing Web traffic, there are several approaches. For Web serving, one approach is to route each request in turn to a different server host address in a domain name system (DNS) table, round-robin fashion. Usually, if two servers are used to balance a work load, a third server is needed to determine which server to assign the work to. Since load balancing requires multiple servers, it is usually combined with failover and backup services. In some approaches, the servers are distributed over different geographic locations.
Learn more about this week's feature topic and get ready
for the next Know IT All question!
Preparing for .Net
Unless you've been living in a cave, you've probaby heard about Microsoft's much-hyped .Net initiative. If you are like most people, you're probably wondering what it all means. These resources should help.
LINKS: General Information
ADVICE: The emerging influence of .Net on Microsoft Certification
ADVICE: Preparing for the brave new world of .Net
ADVICE: Sample .Net code free


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Lady Gaga announces release of surprise holiday EP: Hear a new track here
If you aren't in the holiday spirit already, Lady Gaga is determined to get you there by this weekend.
First there was the barrage of ads for her A Very Gaga Thanksgiving special, airing tomorrow night; then, she launched her window bonanza at Barneys.
And now, making your traveling this weekend a little easier, she has also just announced on Twitter she is putting out a surprise mini-holiday release, A Very Gaga Holiday. I guess Lady Gaga: Total Holiday Domination was taken.
The four-track EP, all culled live from her Thanksgiving special and available now on iTunes, includes "White Christmas," "Orange Colored Sky," "You and I," and "Edge of Glory."
For a long time, many fans have been clamoring for some kind of EP or acoustic CD to really showcase her voice, as oppose to the fashion, flash, and onstage "decapitations." After her well-received duet with Tony Bennett, this seems to be another step in that direction. The songs show how much her voice really is well-suited for the big-band and jazz-era stylings on these tunes — much like her slowed-down, showstopping performance of "Edge of Glory" on Howard Stern.
Listen to "White Christmas" — complete with an added verse, courtesy of Gaga — below:
Readers: Do these previews make you excited for A Very Gaga Thanksgiving tomorrow, or will you be taking a pass? Do you like this new trend of her doing her best retro boogie woogie?
Read more:
Lady Gaga Thanksgiving Special: Treat or turkey?
On the Scene: Go inside Gaga's Workshop at Barneys New York
Lady Gaga releases two-minute preview of 'Marry The Night': watch here!


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|Get the study here
|This study requires a DVD available here.
|Adam Hamilton
|Abingdon Press, 2013
|$14.24 Check for Sale
About this Bible Study:
In this book, Adam Hamilton explores how, with God's help, we can make love last. Drawing upon a survey of thousands of couples and singles, interviews with relationship and marriage therapists, the latest research in the field, and wisdom from the Bible, Hamilton looks at what it takes to create and sustain healthy, meaningful romantic relationships across the course of a lifetime.
Contents include:
• More Than a Piece of Paper
• What She Wants; What He Wants
• The Significance of Sexual Intimacy
• Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal
• Clothe, Bear With, and Forgive
• A Love That Lasts a Lifetime


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Vacon wanted to renew and re-create the Vacon vision, so that their entire staff would embrace it as their own. The regeneration of the vision was part of Vacon's 20 years celebration. This year of celebration also included the redefining and outlining of Vacon's strategy, and their strategic plan to action.
The project had two main goals:
1. Effectiveness
2. The recognition of the main elements of the Vacon vision.
Both goals were realized, and Vacon continued the definition of its vision in a group task force model.
The regenerated vision was then launched in conjunction with the renewed strategy.
"With Fountain Park's help we were able to include our entire staff to innovate and create our new vision in a very agile manner. Virtual Brainstorming is an easy and quite a cost effective way to enable conversation over the web."
Sebastian Linko, Chief Information Officer
At its best, a vision that is shared by the entire staff guides everyone towards achieving the common goal. A shared vision inspires and motivates the whole staff, as daily work becomes more significant to each individual member of the staff.
The vision was brought to the extended executive board for further development. The methods used were group workshops and Virtual Brainstorming.
The information harvested was utilized in Virtual Brainstorming sessions for the staff. The effect was enhanced by active sharing of the information in the company intra, blogs, posters and various other avenues of communication.
At the end of 2013 Vacon communicated its new vision and strategy, and of its staff's active role in the regeneration of the vision.
Further information: Janne Jauhiainen


text: Almost €24,000 has been allocated to music groups and musicians in Galway and Mayo under the Music Capital Scheme. The scheme comprises of two distinct awards that provide funding for the purchase of musical instruments to both non-professional performing groups and to professional musicians. Almost €200,000 in funding will be distributed amongst 22 performing groups and… Continue Reading


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Lets write clean, high standard and secure codes.
We are looking for a PHP Developer responsible for managing back-end services and the interchange of data between the server and the users. Your primary focus will be the development of all server-side logic, definition and maintenance of the central database, and ensuring high performance and responsiveness to requests from the front-end. You will also be responsible for integrating the front-end elements built by your co-workers into the application. Therefore, a basic understanding of front-end technologies is necessary as well.ResponsibilitiesIntegration of user-facing elements developed by front-end developersBuild efficient, testable, and reusable PHP modulesSolve complex performance problems and architectural challengesIntegration of data storage solutions(may include databases, key-value stores, blob stores, etc.)Build efficient websites with customization using CMS based platforms.Skills And QualificationsStrong knowledge of PHP web frameworks(such as Core PHP, IC, Laravel, Yii, etc. depending on the technology stack demanded by client).Understanding the fully synchronous behaviour of PHP.Understanding of MVC design patterns.Basic understanding of front-end technologies, such as JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3.Knowledge of object oriented PHP programming.Understanding accessibility and security compliance.Strong knowledge of the common PHP or web server exploits and their solutions.Understanding fundamental design principles behind a scalable application.User authentication and authorization between multiple systems, servers, and environments.Integration of multiple data sources and databases into one system.Familiarity with limitations of PHP as a platform and its workarounds.Creating database schemas that represent and support business processes.Familiarity with SQL/NoSQL databases and their declarative query languages.Proficient understanding of code versioning tools, such as Git.
Full Time
1 - 5
#11, Gyandeep CHS, Sector 4, Vashi, Navi Mumbai


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Unlocking DOORS wishes to thank each and every supporter of our mission to reduce crime in our Texas communities. Without your support our work would not be possible.
Hover over names for organization descriptions.
Privacy Policy | Sitemap | © Unlocking DOORS 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Call 214.296.9258 to speak with us today!


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Find the Best Accommodation Deals
Many travellers are searching for Excursions To Do In Koh Samui, Traveling is full of many opportunities to go on all kinds of adventures where you can experience new people and cultures. One popular country that many people like to flock to is the Southeastern country of Thailand. While there are many spots to go to in this affordable island paradise, but the island of Koh Samui is where many people like to go to because it has so many activities and natural and manmade structures to view. You can find Excursions To Do In Koh Samui travel information.
Apply for Excursions To Do In Koh Samui. suwannabhumi airport Golden Pearl Beach Resort Gilda's Guest House ekamai bus terminal Ruen Karlae Column Bangkok
Excursions To Do In Koh Samui, Koh Samui may be the second largest island in Thailand. It provides many beaches filled with coconut groves and rain forests. In addition there are many spots for relaxation, exciting nightlife and tourist culture, and religious architecture.
Allow me to share the top 7 things that you need to do during Koh Samui.
Wat Phra Yai
This is certainly located on a rocky island that is in the northern end of Koh Samui. It houses a 15-meter high Buddha Statue of the modern Buddha in Mara posture with the beautiful island sky surrounding him. Before visitors can enter into the area with all the statue, they must don the proper traditional clothing for your area.
Na Muang Waterfalls
While Koh Samui has lots of waterfalls, the Na Muang waterfalls located inland are the most breathtaking because great for doing such things as swimming, exploring, climbing, or going on a picnic. The lower first waterfall may be reached using the "staircases" made by the tree roots and rocks, as well as the base can be a large natural pool where the water is cool and refreshing. Another waterfall is around half an hour away and is called Namtok Na Muang or "purple waterfalls" since the rocks contain shades of purple. Involving the two is the Na Muang Safari Park where you may see monkey shows and go on elephant rides.
Chaweng Beach
There is lots of exciting activity in this particular popular spot. It is possible to go swimming or simply relax on its beautiful sandy beaches in the middle of clear and cool waters. One more thing that this area is renowned for is its cabaret shows, or higher specifically its kathoey cabaret implies that feature transgender women or effeminate males who dress and perform in classic cabaret or Thai dancing garb. The shows usually feature the dancers lip syncing to popular music and sometimes performing detailed choreography, making to have an enjoyable experience that is loaded with glitz and glam.
Hin Ta and Hin Yai
These are also referred to as "Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks." These rocks are extremely named as their natural formations look just like female and male genitalia. The website will surely give someone with a sense of humor a giggle, and also the local legend that you simply will hear from locals of methods they happened can also make for an interesting trip.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Show
It becomes an aquarium where one can see the vast majority of local wildlife in the area. A lot of the marine life is through the Gulf of Thailand like tiger sharks, manta rays, nurse sharks, various tropical fish, and others. The zoo inside features many animals like monkeys, otters along with other birds, together with the main attractions being the leopards and tigers taking the stage in a live show. You can also pay a little extra to get your picture taken using them.
Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts
For those that tire of heavily physical activities or individuals who only want to experience all of that local fare offers can attend some classes around this popular cooking school. SITCA offers courses that are some hours long to generate a multicourse meal. Some of the items covered inside the class include studying local ingredients and the ways to create intricate floral designs using various carving techniques on local fruit and veggies. Students also can get a complementary instructional DVD so that they can practice the strategies both at home and elsewhere.
Secret Buddha Garden
From the interior hills of your island, you will find these beautiful religious structures placed in a luscious jungle. Originally produced by a fruit farmer named Khun Nim on his very own land, the garden features many large statues of Thai deities, animals, and humans in dynamic poses. The farmer also launched a statue of himself inside a relaxed pose on a rock. The garden is actually a serene and quiet place having a waterfall and stream running through the jungle areas.
There are many more places to discover in Koh Samui, Thailand than merely those 7 stated earlier. However, they are great places to start to get a feel for many that can be done and discover throughout this beautiful, bustling island. Gonna a few of these could even cause other exciting places. Excursions To Do In Koh Samui
| Things Not To Miss In Koh Samui | Electronic Shop In Koh Samui | What To Do In Koh Samui In Night | Do I Need Vaccinations To Go To Koh Samui | What Do You Do In Koh Samui | google.com | plus | alexa.com | nasa.gov | jcprd.com | doleta.gov | bts.gov | hawaii edu | Youtube


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Features July 2017 Issue
Train Your Dog Positively
You can help your dog become more cooperative by bearing in mind that he's not trying to lord it over
As a Your Dog reader, you're already well aware that you should never punish your dog. The first reason is that it's cruel, plain and simple, and will only fray the bond between you. Second, punishment won't teach a dog the behaviors you do want him to engage in. In fact, it could serve to make him behave inappropriately whenever he gets the chance. As world-renowned trainer Victoria Stilwell puts it in Train Your Dog Positively, the aim is to reward a behavior you like to insure that it gets repeated, and to ignore or redirect a behavior you don't like so its incidence will decrease.


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At the group leaders meeting later in the day, the BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta is known to have assured the political party leaders in the BMC that a raw draft of the DP 2034 would be informally brought before them before it is published as well.
In February this year, BMC published the draft DP 2034 which was criticized by all quarters of the society. However the state government in April 2015 asked the BMC to revise and rework upon it and bring out a new DP within four months. The BMC now has further sought an extension of six months for revising the plan. MNS party leader in the BMC Sandeep Deshpande said that it's unlikely that the BMC would bring out a revised DP 2034 in the next six months as well.
"We had demanded clarity from the BMC over the plan. However we have been assured that informally the plan would be brought before the party leaders phase wise. However looking at the magnitude of work involved in revising the DP it appears that the civic body might not be able to complete the revision in the next 6 months as well," said Deshpande adding that they have been informed that the Development Control Regulations (DCR) is also being revised.
Rais Shaikh Samajwadi Party leader in the BMC said that micro level issues need to be looked into by the BMC while revising the plan. "We have been demanding a briefing into the DP 2034 in order to understand the basic issues since a very long time," said Shaikh.
Congress corporator Asif Zakaria however pointed out that while the BMC may be seeking a six months extension into revising the plan, it is important that they make it clear about the kind of work they plan to do in the next six months as well. "They need to assure that they would complete the work within six months. There is a possibility that they might once again seek an extension after six months are completed," said Zakaria.


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After holding an executive session Tuesday morning, the Sheridan Economic and Education Development Authority has come to the conclusion that a meeting with representatives from the Sheridan Quality Child Care Initiative needs to take place. SQCCI was the board that was in charge of running the Hand in Hand Childcare Center in Sheridan prior to its closure this June. SEEDA Chairman Dr. Paul Young said that he along with possibly a SEEDA Board member or two will meet with a representative of SQCCI and their accountant to have a discussion about their financials.
Young explains that the meeting will not be open to the public.
Young stated that the findings from the meeting with the SQCCI representatives will be discussed at the SEEDA Board's next regularly scheduled meeting August 9th.
The deadline for the RFP for a future tenant of the Hand in Hand Building is August 12th. Following the regular SEEDA Board meeting Tuesday, the board met with three separate groups that have expressed interest in the facility. Young said that it's still too early to tell if there'll be a recommendation on the RFP at a special meeting August 23rd.


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This is what happens when you have taken the time to clear out the clutter, organize your space, and then a week later it seems like you are right back at square one. The clutter has returned and you wonder what happened!
I thought this time it would be different!
I got rid of so much extra stuff!
Why can't I keep things tidy???
It feels like all that hard work was for nothing and I can understand the frustration. But there is a way to clear the clutter, reclaim you space and keep it that way. It has to do with habits.
I have been thinking about this a lot lately as it seems that clearing, sorting, and organizing is just one stop on the journey to a tidy, clutter-free space. The next stop involves changing habits.
Here's what I mean
You had a long day, running from place to place, picking up and dropping kids, managing meetings. All you want to do as you walk in the door is set down that pile of mail, papers, bags, and head to the couch.
If you set all of that stuff in the doorway or on the kitchen counter, it will be there waiting when you wake up the next day; staring at you to take care of it, but you will already have a list of things that needs your attention, so the pile will have to wait.
And then it will get added to, and then, and then… until you are buried in clutter again.
That sounds defeating, so let's quickly clear that sad story from our minds and imagine a different way. What if you were able to gather just a bit more energy as you walked in the door and took 2 mins. to walk from room to room and deliver those items that followed you in the door to the areas where they belong? The mail to the "action items" box on your desk, the papers to the recycling, the books to the coffee table, and the grocery bags back to the car to be used on the next trip.
Ahhh… It took a little extra push, but the pile is gone and you are ready to shift your focus to decompressing.
It takes a little work to create new habits. Thought and diligence are needed to get those habits to become automatic & easy, but it is worth it. Eventually, those little shifts will make a BIG difference.
your turn…
Challenge yourself this wk. to think of one area in your home that continues to become stuck under piles and rethink the situation. What could you tweak in your routine to make that pile disappear? What are the little shifts in habits that might create big changes in the long run?
next steps…
A tidy house isn't about perfection. Things can get messy, spread out, and used, but the key is that when you are ready to clear the spaces it won't take long, because everything has a home. Tidying can be quick and pain-free when you create habits that keep the clutter from growing again.
If you need more inspiration and ideas on what habits to tweak in your favor & inspiration to get started then read on …
5 Things People With Tidy Homes Don't Do
Gretchen Rubin has a new book out "Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of our Everyday Lives," all about tendencies & habit creation. I have read her other books on happiness and I am in the process of reading this one now. I always appreciate her insight on setting yourself up for success!
Christine Carter's book "The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work" is full of stories & practical tips that you can begin to implement right away. She is an expert on habit formation and even teaches a FREE 12-wk. course called 90 Days to a New Habit (that Sticks!). I took a version of this course a few years ago & it was motivating!
Let me know what you try & how it goes. Sharing creates even more ideas & might inspire someone else to try what is working for you!


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Marga Fripp, the Founder of Empowered Women International, is an award-winning social entrepreneur and international consultant in women's leadership and empowerment. With over 20 years of experience in solving social problems through the arts, innovation and entrepreneurship, Marga is passionate about empowering women to pursue their dreams. She has worked with thousands of women in the US and internationally to start or grow their micro-businesses. A former journalist and a native of Romania, Marga produced programs that focused on women's equality, human rights and integration solutions for orphans and street children during the difficult first years of Romania's transition from communism. She was banned from broadcasting in Romania in 1996 due to her critical portrayal of social policy of the post-communist Iliescu government.
In 1998, at the age of 23, Marga founded and developed a successful women's service and advocacy organization – The Association for the Promotion of Women in Romania (APoWeR) – to counteract violence against women and provide economic opportunities for women in Romania. As part of her strategy of development, Marga formed and led a multidisciplinary team of lawyers, judges and prosecutors to draft a domestic violence bill (2001). She then mobilized citizens, politicians and non-profit activists to advocate for it. In 2000, Marga also produced and hosted a TV talk show to address women's human rights in Romania. The talk show's popular debate format for discussions of discriminatory practices towards women, combined with APoWeR's three years of legislative advocacy efforts, led to a national Domestic Violence Bill signed into law by the Romanian Parliament in May 2003.
With her American husband, Marga left her life in Romania behind in 2001 to bring their newborn son to the US for treatment after suffering a brain stroke two days after he was born. It was during this most stressful time in her life, as she struggled to find her own way in the US, learn the language, care for her baby and eight year old daughter, and with a husband whose work frequently took him out of the country, that Marga began to find other immigrant women with the same struggles with belonging and integration. Hearing their stories and similar plight, Marga began to envision a community of women for women, who could help one another succeed and support each other; where others can hear and see their culturally rich and vibrant stories.
In May 2002, Marga created Empowered Women International (EWI) to give voice and create entrepreneurial opportunities for immigrant, refugee and other marginalized women. Over the past decade, Marga's effective and passionate leadership turned EWI from a volunteer-run program to an award-winning organization with more than 3,500 supporters, over 3,000 women beneficiaries, and more than 1 million dollars generated in donated services. Marga has completed a graduate certification in Business Administration at the Open University, U.K., and holds a BA in Communication/Journalism from the University of Maryland University College. She is married to Jesse Fripp, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Romania and currently an executive with ShoreBank International Ltd. They have two children and live in Bowie, Maryland. Get inspired by Marga's passionate talk on what sparked her imagination and vision for Empowered Women International and what drives her purpose for social change. This TEDx talk says it all: Finding Purpose.
You can contact Marga through email at firstname.lastname@example.com
"My vision was to create a community of women for women, who can help one another succeed; a place where women support each other, and others can hear the stories these women tell."
In 2001 nine days after September 11th, I immigrated to the US after a medical emergency with my newborn son, who suffered a brain stroke two days after he was born. My husband, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Romania and I had no plans to come to the US, but this medical situation changed everything for us. We were told that our son might never speak, hear, see or be able to walk. We came to America like many immigrants, with hope and faith that what we would find here would save our son's life.
We arrived in the US in a very difficult time for all in this country, myself and our family included. I didn't speak English at that time, and I can't express how challenging everything was. My son needed my full attention and care, as did my eight year-old daughter. We went for one year, every week, once a week to Children's Hospital for Physical Therapy. Day by day I prayed that my son would get better and stronger. During my first months in the US struggling to understand the culture, learn English, find a job, while taking care of my son, I realized how difficult it was for immigrants, especially for women who left a professional career behind, to integrate, to retain their sense of worth, to have a sense of belonging and provide for their families. Prior to immigrating to the US, I had already worked my way up the journalism ladder to be an award winning broadcast journalist. At the age of 22, I was banned from journalism for speaking up my mind and standing up for the poor and orphans in my country. Undeterred, I started a nonprofit organization, which initiated, advocated for and helped pass Romania's first Domestic Violence law in 2003. I had accomplished much at a young age, yet without English language skills and a network of support, these experiences seemed worthless in this country.
After enrolling in an English language class, things began to change for me. I met a large community of highly talented and educated women, many of them artists, writers, anthropologists, published authors – all in one ESL class at Montgomery College. I started to talk to the women. Despite their education, talents and skills, many of these women were paid $5 an hour doing menial jobs. I was shocked! I couldn't believe it. When I heard their stories and what brought them to the US, I realized I was not the only one feeling lost and disempowered. And I was not going to give up on re-becoming myself. With my identity shattered to pieces and no sense of belonging, I went on to seek the meaning in my new life. My vision was to create a community of women for women, who can help one another succeed; a place where women support each other, and others can hear the stories these women tell.
A place where the American Dream lives on, and everyone feels welcome and at home. My realization was that when women told their stories, people listened. There was empathy. There was compassion. There was understanding. Many of the women I've met did not speak English well or at all, but they used paintings and music to tell stories. People responded to this media and I believed there was a viable business opportunity for these women to sell their artwork, products and crafts if they could obtain the right skills. Empowered Women International (EWI) came to life in May 2002 with a clear mission to help immigrant, refugee and low-income women inte- grate in the community, rebuild their lives, families and livelihoods, and pursue the American Dream using the power of the arts as means for communication, cultural understanding and entrepreneurship. Twelve years later, what started out as a network of immigrants, women artists and a few business classes has blossomed into an organization that trains more than 200 immigrants, refugee and low-income women in business and leadership skills every year, and launches socially responsible micro-businesses that support women and their families, and our local economy. Marga's son is a healthy and talented 12 years old. Her daughter is a Posse Scholar and a sophomore at Sewanee, the University of the South in Tennessee, and her husband pursued a career in micro-finance after Peace Corps, and works for ShoreBank International in Washington, DC.
A journey of struggle, hope, passion and determination, the story of Marga Fripp, EWI's Founder, is a quintessentially American story. It started with wishing to find ways to integrate, then showing other women how to pursue their creative talents, to founding an organization that gave voice to immigrant, refugee, low-income and at-risk women. Marga Fripp's determination and passion has enabled hundreds of women to become savvy business women and community leaders over the years. Now in its fifteenth year, EWI continues to transform the lives and livelihoods of high-potential yet struggling women.
- Marga Fripp honored with the Living Legends of Alexandria Award featured in The Gazette Packet and AlexandriaNews.org
- Marga Fripp honored with the Montgomery College Milton F. Clogg Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
- Marga Fripp and Kate Campell Stevenson speak at TEDX Bethesda Women
- US State Department invited Marga Fripp to give women's economic empowerment training in Papua New Guinea
- Walker's Legacy Business & Community Leadership Awards honors Marga Fripp
- Marga Fripp is interviewed for WAMU 88.5 Community Minute PSA featuring Empowered Women International
- Listed in City Paper's 2012 Give It Up, DC, the charitable donation guide for top-rated list of non profits worth giving.
- Marga Fripp named Daily Record's 2012 List of Maryland's Leading Women
- EWI selected for the 2012-2013 Catalogue for Philanthropy and designated as "one of the best small nonprofits in the Washington DC region"
- Arts Build Communities Award: Rising Star Finalist – Virginians for the Arts
- Alex Arts Awards – City of Alexandria's Commission for the Arts
- Bruce Oliver Business Leadership Award Finalist for partnership with West Potomac Academy High School – Fairfax County Public Schools
- Enterprise Award – Catalogue for Philanthropy
- EWI selected for the 2007-2008 Catalogue for Philanthropy and designated as "one of the best small nonprofits in the Washington DC region"
- Virginia House and Senate Commendation for outstanding achievements in the community and for promoting the arts and cultures of immigrant and refugee women artists – The Commonwealth of Virginia House and Senate
- Making a Difference for Women Award – Soroptimist International
- Cultural Affairs Award – Alexandria Commission on Women
- New Century Scholar Award granted to Marga Fripp – Coca-Cola Foundation Award, USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa
- Governor of Maryland's Award for Service and Volunteerism granted to Marga Frip – The Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism


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All Articles: EctHR
When voluntary return is not voluntary at all
In recent years the United Kingdom government has resorted to indirect measures like the hostile environment to force people to leave the UK, alongside directly removing people. The government can then claim that the person left the UK voluntarily, an ...20th December 2019
Split human rights court suggests lower threshold for resisting removal on medical grounds
In Savran v Denmark (application no. 57467/15) the European Court of Human Rights has reinforced the importance, in Article 3 medical treatment cases, of the obligation on governments to obtain assurances where there is any doubt as to the impact of r ...15th October 2019
European Court of Human Rights awards substantive damages for breach of detention policy
The European Court of Human Rights has developed Article 5 ECHR beyond domestic law and potentially created a dramatic increase in the amount of damages payable for unlawful detention caused by a breach of detention policy. VM v United Kingdom (No. 2) ...1st May 2019
Strasbourg gets strict with non-exhaustion of domestic remedies
The European Court of Human Rights took a strict approach to non-exhaustion of domestic remedies in the case of Khaksar v United Kingdom (application no. 2654/18), decided last month. The message to potential applicants is clear: all domestic remedie ...29th May 2018
Déjà vu as Strasbourg approves deportation of Nigerian drug trafficker
The judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Ejimson v Germany (application no. 58681/12) has a whiff of Groundhog Day. For the second time in just over six months the court found that a Nigerian national convicted of drug-related c ...3rd April 2018
Strasbourg continues orthodox approach to Iranian Christian converts
In A v Switzerland (application no. 60342/16), the European Court of Human Rights considered the risk of ill treatment on return to Iran for Christian converts. In this case the applicant had converted to Christianity whilst seeking asylum in Swi ...23rd January 2018
Strasbourg dismisses compensation claim for not allowing asylum seeker to work
Daniel Negassi v the United Kingdom (application no. 64337/14) was an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights with a complaint that the Home Office's failure to grant Mr Negassi permission to work, while waiting for a decision on his asylum cla ...23rd November 2017
Strasbourg approves deportation of Nigerian drug dealer
Ndidi v the United Kingdom (Application no. 41215/14) had the beginnings of a tabloid splash. A Nigerian national convicted of drug dealing, who had lived in the UK since the age of two, sought to block his deportation by recourse to foreign judges. ...31st October 2017
European Court of Human Rights condemns Spain for collectively deporting migrants
In ND & NT v Spain, the European Court of Human Rights decided that the expulsion of two sub-Saharan migrants from a set of barriers surrounding the Spanish territory of Melilla breached their rights under Article 4 of Protocol 4 ECHR (prohibition ...10th October 2017
European Court of Human Rights finds vulnerable Zimbabwean national unlawfully detained by Home Office
In a recent decision from Strasbourg, the European Court of Human Rights has found the UK Home Office unlawfully detained a Zimbabwean national. The Court found that the UK authorities had failed to act with sufficient "due diligence" in progressi ...3rd July 2017
Indefinite detention does not breach ECHR says European Court of Human Rights
Arben Draga v United Kingdom (Application no. 33341/13) Unlike most other European countries, there is no time limit on immigration detention in the UK. In addition, the law does not provide for an automatic judicial review of the lawfulness of det ...30th May 2017
Strasbourg rules on state obligations towards trafficked persons
Chowdury and Others v Greece (Application number 21884/15 – the judgment is only available in French. An English-language press summary is available.) The European Court of Human Rights has found that strawberry-pickers in Greece were subjected to f ...2nd May 2017
K2: right to a private and family life no bar to deprivation of citizenship
K2 v the United Kingdom (Application No 42387/13) The use of the Home Secretary's power to strip a British citizen of their citizenship is on the rise. It has been the subject of debate where its use has rendered a person stateless following a s ...20th March 2017
Strasbourg revisits approach to serious illness, medical treatment and Article 3
On 13 December 2016, the Grand Chamber handed down its much-awaited decision in Paposhvili v Belgium (Applcn No. 41738/10). The decision: (1) clarifies, widens and provides guidance on the circumstances in which an alien suffering from a serious illne ...27th December 2016
Tarakhel: another blow to the Dublin system
In Tarakhel v Switzerland [2014] ECHR 1185 (04 November 2014) the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") has issued its long-awaited decision as to the lawfulness of returning asylum seekers to It ...13th November 2014
Strasbourg decides important case on respect for family life
In the case of Jeunesse v. The Netherlands (Application no. 12738/10) the European Court of Human Rights has considered a refusal to allow a woman to settle in the Netherlands with her husband and three children. The case is particularly interesting ...14th October 2014
Italy and Dublin – the Grand Chamber Decides
As noted in last week's lengthy missive, the challenges to removals to Greece continued after the decision of the ECtHR in KRS v United Kingdom [2008] ECHR 1781 culminating in the decision that such removals were unlawful in MSS v Belgium and Greece ...23rd October 2013
Eweida, religion, sexuality, politics, Kylie and asylum
In the case of Eweida v UK [2013] ECHR 37 the European Court of Human Rights famously dismissed three out of four religious discrimination applications while managing to appear sympathetic to the cause of religious freedom. The case concerned the ...19th March 2013
Translation of Singh v Belgium
After seeing the Strasbourg case of Singh v Belgium (33210/11) highlighted here on Free Movement, Balkrishna Gurung of Howe + Co Solicitors (with assistance from David Saldanha) has commissioned a translation and offered to share it with blog readers ...14th November 2012
Asylum credibility: timely new case from Strasbourg
In a case that in some ways exceptional but in many ways entirely ordinary, the UK Border Agency this week rejected an asylum claim by a young Afghan man. The reason the case was exceptional is that he had previously worked with the British armed forc ...4th October 2012
Strasbourg allows Somali test case
The cases of Sufi and Elmi v UK (Applications nos. 8319/07 and 11449/07) have been allowed by the European Court of Human Rights. This is a major judgment on return to Somalia and the conditions there. The press release can be found here and the ...28th June 2011


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Ulrike Rulicke is a mainstream school and special teacher who has focused on children with hearing loss throughout her career spanning more than three decades.
She received her first qualifications from the Pedagogical Academy in Graz, where she received her degree as secondary school teacher in German, Physical Education and Religion. She further expanded her qualifications in 1987-1990 by receiving a diploma in special pedagogy with a focus on teaching children with physical impairments. In the 1990s, this specialization was further deepened by U. Ruelicke into speech language pathology and counseling with a special focus on children and families with hearing loss.
Ms. Ruelicke's career began in 1984 in Austria, where she taught in various special schools until 1992. Between 1992 and 2005 she worked with hearing-impaired children and adolescents in primary schools and early therapy centers in Switzerland. The partial integration class and audio-pedagogical early therapy office in Uster (Switzerland) operated under her leadership.
Since 2006 Ulrike has been at the head of the 'dazugehoeren' (to belong and to hear) counseling center in Klosterneuburg near Vienna in northern Austria, where the emphasis is on hearing-impaired children, adolescents and adults.
In October 2008 her work was awarded with the Schmid-Giovannini Award.


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There have always been confidence tricksters, scammers, cheats, liars, fraudsters. Whatever you call them, these are the people who trick others out of their money or goods, in return for nothing or something essentially worthless.
The rise of the Internet and more recently social media gives lots of new opportunities for these people to steal from others over long distance.
What is it that makes some people potentially susceptible to such fraud and others to avoid it?
Research at the University of Bath and University of West of England sheds new light on this complex and very important issue.
The Anonymity of Online Influence
The Internet allows for anonymity for the scammer and this can lead to less engagement emotionally with their victims. In other words it's easier not to care about the financial loss and psychological pain being caused when you don't see the person.
Social media networks allow the targeting of individuals interests, location, occupation and so on which can make the scam more efficient. E.g. a scam business proposal aimed at women reputedly by women thus giving a false sense of security to women targeted.
Young people who do not appear to be vulnerable offline can become vulnerable in online settings due to the familiarity of offering more information about themselves and lower inhibition levels online.
Primary Mechanisms of Online Influence
Influence Technique
Application in Online Scams
Posing as authority figures or institutions, such as Police, Banks or senior personnel.
Creating profiles that portray trusted traits or appear friendly
Suggesting that other people have benefited from responding
Commitment and Consistency
Requesting a small upfront fee e.g. advance fee fraud
Providing a free gift or favour
Instigating a time–limit in responding
The promise of rewards, whether monetary or psychological
Claiming that a failure to respond will lead to a loss of some kind, such as account closure
Self Deception and Trust
The ability to deceive ourselves is in everyone and the repetition of false information can lead to a belief that something is true when it isn't . This applies to beliefs both about ourselves and anything else.
In the process of remembering, false information can be created and then strengthened by repeating remembering.
So, over time memories seem to change.
This may be linked to how some people respond to a scam they would normally ignore when their circumstances make it more relevant e.g. someone in financial difficulties responds to an advance fee scam in the hope of resolving their problems.
Generally we have a bias in favour of truth i.e. we tend to believe unless there is reason to disbelieve.
This makes life a little easier as questioning everything we ever see, hear or read would be very tiring and time-consuming.
However, the perceived anonymity of online situations may lead people to be more trusting than face-to-face situations and this can lead people to believe fraudsters when they should stop and re-evaluate instead.
Approach to Risk
Everyone has a different approach to determining what level of risk they will accept in a given circumstance but personality traits such as low self-control, sensation seeking and impulsivity have all been associated with risky behaviours.
People who are outgoing, confident and extraverted along with those who have low self-esteem and self confidence may be more likely to become online victims.
It is acknowledged that emotion plays an important role in the persuasion process.
Some scams describe a threat then provide a solution to that threat. Some offer rewards and encourage the victim to take a risk to get that reward. There are many ways the scammer can attempt to induce an emotional response then play on that to get the victim to act as desired.
People who feel socially isolated may be more inclined to take part in risky behaviour online such as chatting openly in chat rooms.
The research has led to the following equation.
SIND= (TIND) + (StIND) + (CIND) + (InMECH )
Where SIND is susceptibility to influence,
TIND is propensity to trust,
StIND is need for finance
CIND is level of power
InMECH is reciprocity
For further information go to https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217301504?via%3Dihub
Do you have an opinion on this matter? Please comment in the box below.


text: Coming to America: Commercial and Legal Aspects of Foreign Investment in U.S. Oil and Gas Projects W. James McAnelly III, Proceedings of 60th Annual Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute (2014) Tremendous recent advancements in oil and natural gas extraction technology have created an unprecedented rise in energy production in the United States, and this increased opportunity for development has caught the attention of investors from around the world. Production of U.S. domestic crude tight oil, also known as shale oil, averaged 3.22 million barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2013 and elevated overall crude oil production in the United States to an average of 7.84 million barrels per day, more than 10% of worldwide crude production.1 Domestic natural gas production from resource formations such as the Eagle Ford, Haynesville, and Marcellus Shale plays has also skyrocketed in the past decade, and the latest Annual Energy Outlook forecasts that overall U.S. natural gas production will increase by 56% through 2040.2 Foreign investors have taken particular interest in participating in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing projects in these U.S. shale formations, hoping not only to make a dollar, but also to learn cutting edge technology from the pioneers of the process along the way. From 2008 through 2013, foreign investment in U.S. oil and gas projects topped $112 billion,3 and in the first quarter of 2014 alone, foreign buyers announced 12 deals with a cumulative deal value of $8.3 billion, representing 42% of overall oil and gas industry deal value during


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The Arts Underground "The Bad Pony Club" (July 15, 2017)
Some ponies are badder than others, and all horses are pretty badass. On the show today will be Spirit Horses by James DeMars, a Thai classical dancing horse, Bronze Horses and Horsemen by Auber and Gliere, some of The Red Pony suite by Copland, and a peek into the Bad Pony Club with the Out Loud Poets. Oh, and also a dragon.


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Scoping out the latest in everything related to the fascinating world of images, our goal is to offer educational information, titillating tidbits, and glimpses of some of the best clipart and photos to be found online.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Beautiful Photos of Beautiful Mothers
From the minute that happens everything else in life is second. Like most moms I would do anything to protect or help my kids.
Tenneva Jordan, a woman known for little except some great quotes, summed up motherhood perfectly, without flowery prose or ploddy erudition: "A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
It's not all about sacrifice and love, however. It's about establishing a new relationship, leading and guiding that little stranger throughout life. It requires ingenuity, patience and trust. Those elements aren't always that easy.
Things my mother said and did I may not have understood well as a youngster or a teen. She was entering her 50s as I was coming of age in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was going "through the change" and I was testing everything in those changing times. Suffice it to say, our relationship was disconnected at best, volatile at worst.
Then I joined the ranks of motherhood and began to see my own mom a different way. I am the parent I am because of the way she raised me. Even her mistakes taught me because I learned they were actions I didn't want to take as a parent.
In the decades since Mom and I have forgiven much on both sides and enjoy an affectionate and patient relationship. That is something that I am grateful for every day. Especially now as Mom is in her 93rd year and in failing health. We both must now accept that the blissful life she has enjoyed isn't going to last forever. It is not a time to be at odds or have regrets.
So it is, with sentimentality and love, I celebrate and enjoy Mother's Day. I salute all moms who sacrifice, guide and yes, occasionally mess up. It's a wonderful role we accept, a true labour of love. And the joy of that experience is beautifully captured in these photo collections:
iCLIPART.com Mothers Photos
iPHOTOS.com Photos of Mothers
Posted by Unknown at 7:31 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: collection, collections, day, microstock, mother, mother's, Mother's Day, mothers, mothers day, photo, photography, photos
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Interested in Macro Photography?
Though not seeking the attention the crazed actress was, there are many things that command close-up attention when being photographed. The command isn't issued through words or action, but simply exists because profound beauty is worthy of the scrutiny.
Think of the kaleidescopic design of a resting butterfly on a dewy soft petal, the veins of an emerald-green leaf, the delicate beauty of a baby's foot. In all of these cases, there's no debate that the closer the picture the better.
With limited knowledge of exactly how a camera works, I've enjoyed the macro feature on the new Canon that was a gift from our children a few years ago. I took a picture of a freakishly large beetle on my deck without getting too close. I've moved in on fauna with flora, and on my beautiful children, all with varied levels of success.
So, how difficult is it to achieve good macro photography? If you're interested in getting crisp, clear and near pictures, these links offer some helpful hints to take great pictures that are up close and personal:
National Geographic How to Take Macro Pictures
Photo Technique 12 Macro Photography Tips
Underwater Photography Guide Macro Photography
Digital Photograph School Near-Macro Photography With a Telephoto Lens
Photo. tutsplus Fast Facts for Shooting Macro
Posted by Unknown at 7:58 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: closeup, closeups, information, macro, photo, photography, photos, techniques, tips
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Who Else Thinks It's Great to Take a Hike?
If I'm to be honest, I probably wouldn't be given top marks for some of my lifestyle choices. Blessed with some great genes, I have been able to pretty much eat what I like without any serious weight gain or negative health effects. On the fitness level, while not exactly a total klutz, I am, at best, an adequate athlete when it comes to sports. I don't ski, am a mediocre swimmer, have a wretched golf swing and think bowling's a drinking game.
What I do love to do is walk and dance — the former a lot, the latter less so as my partner isn't that into it. So today we will take to the trails and streets, parks and woods, beaches and mountaintops, with photo collections of hikers, walkers and strollers.
iCLIPART.com Hiking and Walking Photos
iPHOTOS.com Hiking and Walking Photos
National Geographic Hiking Photos
Posted by Unknown at 7:53 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: exercise, family, Family Wellness Month, fit, fitness, hike, hikers, hiking, lifestyle choice, Month, photography, photos, walk, walkers, walking, wellness
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Three Great Sites for International Jazz Day Images
It's a good fit really — both involve artistry, creativity and an obsession for the craft. To paraphrase American psychologist Abraham Maslow, musicians, artists and poets must create their particular art to be at peace.
I am acquainted with the creative mind. My youngest child is a musician who studied jazz in post-secondary education. Through him we have met a number of other talented people and have had the pleasure of hearing some wonderful music. What we have noted is that unlike the sheet metal worker, the mechanic, the hairstylist, or essentially any other professional, musicians are happiest when working.
For that matter, they rarely stop. They will cheerfully step up to jam with friends when out relaxing. Or, while out for drinks, will gladly take the stage if invited. When our son isn't playing music, he's writing it or listening to it.
So to celebrate the world of jazz on this special day, and honour the artists who bring us pleasure through their music and art here are three sites with images inspired by the genre and created by some talented illustrators:
iCLIPART.com Jazz Illustrations
iPHOTOS.com Jazz Illustrations
Acclaim Images Jazz Photos and Illustrations
Posted by Unknown at 8:12 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: arts, clipart, collections, illustrations, images, international, International Jazz Day, jazz day, music, photographs, photos, pictures
Monday, April 29, 2013
Backgrounds for Your Mother's Day Projects
French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac said, 'The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness."
In just a few short weeks we celebrate Mother's Day. Heartfelt wishes are sent to the women who, with all of their heart, have loved and nurtured us, whose heart's desire is for their child's happiness and success, and yes, who've forgiven us — time and time again. Mother's Day is the perfect time to let them know you know all they've done for you.
Not surprisingly either, considering they give so much and expect so little in return, it is often the simplest of gifts that will make them the happiest. Young Moms love receiving those cute little hand-made cards and crafts adorned with tissue paper flower and stick figures, created by little Lily or Lucas in primary school.
So, why would it be any different as their children get older? No gift is more personal than the one you make yourself. With the lovely backgrounds in these collections you can get started on a variety of projects, such as cards or scrapbooks, designed specifically with Mom's tastes in mind.
iCLIPART.com Mother's Day backgrounds
iPHOTOS.com Backgrounds for Mother's Day
Posted by Unknown at 9:17 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: background, backgrounds, card, clipart, collections, day, illustration, illustrations, mother, mother's, Mother's Day, mothers
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I Never Thought I'd Go Back…
December 27th, 2009
When we went to the Bahamas for Nick's Make A Wish trip (thank you MSU's Chi Omegas for raising the funds!) , I soaked in every minute knowing that this trip was special for so many different reasons. Seeing Nick have such a great time on the water slides at Atlantis, hearing him laugh as we made our way through the lazy river that ended up being anything but lazy, swimming with the dolphins, and so much more….it was the vacation of a lifetime! This is a family photo from June 2008.
I really didn't get much of a chance to reflect on this wonderful trip because within just two weeks of coming home Nick began to show symptoms that worried us greatly. He was tired. His back was hurting. His legs were even hurting.
From that moment on life was never the same.
Now here I sit at 3:09 a.m. just two days after Christmas determined to take a minute to ask you to lift our family in prayer as we venture back to this very spot where we enjoyed our last family vacation with Nick.
See, my aunt and uncle are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, and their four daughters decided that it would be fun for the whole family to go on a cruise! So Dad bought our cruise tickets (for which I am forever thankful), and we head out in less than an hour for a week-long family reunion at sea.
My husband, kids, and I have never been on a cruise, so I'm really not sure what to expect. The last time we just flew to the Bahamas and stayed in one place for a week.
I'm just praying for a safe trip to Florida (our van has been in the shop several times in the past couple weeks so a 15 hour trip makes me a little anxious) and special memories with our family.
And if I have to have some tears (which I probably will), I'm just praying I can find a good place to have them alone.
I'll miss this guy that's for sure.
Thank you for praying us through this family reunion and for sharing a few memories of Nick's trip to the Bahamas with me.
Thankful to forever be Nick's mom,
Twas the Night Before Christmas….
December 25th, 2009
Twas the night before Christmas and all through our home-
People were sleeping! I was finally alone!
I've wrapped and I've cooked and I've tried to be sweet,
I've had to "let go" of the house looking neat.
Turkey's in the oven and breakfast's in a big pot,
But Betty Crocker is someone I'm definitely NOT!
So, I'll be relieved when the meal is all done,
And pray from the table my kids do not run.
Then off to the hospital to deliver baskets we'll go.
We want the kids who are sick (and their parents) to know-
That Christmas is all about sharing God's love.
The only true Hope comes from looking above.
Above all our problems. Above all our fears.
There's a Father Who sees and Who counts all our tears.
Above all our worries. Above all our pain.
There's a Savior Who promises to come back again!
So, good night my dear friends! The sleep I can't fight.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Loving all of you!
Merry Christmas Eve……
December 24th, 2009
Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas Eve……
Much love from my family to yours.
May your day be filled with laughter and special memories.
If there are some tears along the way, remember God's Word promises this…..
Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Clinging to this promise,
December 23rd, 2009
Psalm 46:10-11
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
It's almost here.
Christmas Eve.
The birth of our Savior.
The birth of our King.
Help me, Lord, to refocus.
Help me, Lord, to shhhhhhhhhhhh.
I don't want to miss it, like I have so many years before.
I slip so often, though, when I look at my long list of things to do.
I slip into a stressful spirit and disappoint myself.
Oh, Lord, I long to be still and simply KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD.
I love you, Lord.
Without You my life has no purpose.
Without You Christmas has no meaning.
Without You my grief has no hope.
Without You being still would frighten me, because it would awaken me to the reality that something is missing.
But with You, Lord, I can "be still" and feel peace. Perfect, wonderful peace.
Because You are my Father, my Lord, my Savior, my King, my Comforter, my Provider, my Redeemer, my Everything.
So, Lord, I close my eyes and softly whisper,
And in this blissful moment of total awareness of You I ask that You keep my heart right here in this state of peace even when the world calls me to wrap gifts, attend parties, cook meals, clean bathrooms, run errands, pack suitcases, and much, much more.
I want to hear You, Lord.
Christmas in Heaven
December 20th, 2009
Christmas just doesn't get easier. But Heaven does get closer!!
Thankful that Nick has precious friends to share Heaven with like Zach, Andrew, Natalie, Tyler, Mallory, Adrienne, Colby, and so, so many more…….)
Christmas in Heaven. I simply can't imagine the beauty they are beholding!
We Will Have a Time of Rest…..
December 18th, 2009
Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this
rest, God would not have spoken about another
day of rest still to come. So there is a special
reststill waiting for the people of God.
As I was reading this morning in the book of Hebrews, this passage jumped out at me and gave me the biggest smile.
See, I think the devil loves to distract us from our final destination as often as he can. I think he tries to wear us out, get us stressed, preoccupy us with "earthly things," and use any other possible scheme to cause us to feel tired and weary.
Especially around Christmastime.
What a perfect plan he thinks he has devised- turning the simple birth of Jesus into a commercialized holiday.
I just love how God slips in, though, and offers a peaceful manger scene to pull us back to what's important.
Maybe that's why He chose this kind of entry for His Son.
A huge hospital would have distracted from the beauty of the Savior's birth.
No, God knew exactly what He was doing when He sent Jesus to us in the way He did.
And the devil has tried ever since to glamorize the Nativity experience to a point that can easily pull us way from everything God longs for us to have.
A quiet heart.
Open arms to give rather than to receive.
Maybe that's why people love snow so much at Christmastime.
It's God's way of getting our attention and slowing down our pace.
I think we all want to rest, but it's almost as if we have to be forced to or we feel guilty.
I'm thankful that God promises that a day of rest will come for all of His people!
Until that day, I want to have a heart that is able to rest in Him in the midst of the life that surrounds me.
My prayer for you today is that you can take a minute and simply,
"Be still and know that He is God."
Loving you all.
Praying especially today for the family of sweet Andrew who went home to be with the Lord yesterday after a fight with brain cancer. He was 12. Please keep praying for Brandon too.
Thankful for all of you,
Simply Christmas
December 18th, 2009
I was a little late (of course), but I added our house to The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes.
After looking at many of the homes, I have learned a couple of things.
First, I have a very simple home.
Second, I am NOT an interior decorator.
The beauty of the homes on the tour literally took my breath away at times! WOW! was about all I could say as I saw picture after picture of beautiful spiral staircases and gorgeous Christmas trees!
And yet God somehow gently reminded me of the children in India who sleep on the street and the women in India who walk miles for water with large bowls on their precious heads and I realized how blessed I am in my simple home with my simple Christmas.
And I discovered that when I took pictures at just the right angle, I could create somewhat beautiful displays of the blessings God has given my family, and I could whisper, "Thank you, Lord."
Isn't life like this?????
If we look at life from a different angle, we are often more likely to see God's view of things. And His view is always a better one! So, with a thankful heart and a spirit of humility I share with you the Nischan's House…..Simply Christmas.
Olivia LOVES pigs, so she made sure I took a photo of her favorite ornament!!
Hanging stockings was difficult for me this year. Thinking that there was no stocking for Nick was more than my heart could bear, so I decided to hang stockings to fill the entire mantle…….There's ten hanging all together..the last hook is holding two!! The more the merrier, right????
Nick would grin, I just know it!
We weren't going to do outside lights this year….I'm so thankful that we did!
My Willow Tree Nativity Set is all I really need to help get me in the Christmas spirit!
Notice the "thumbs up" sign below the lamp? This was part of the gingerbread village tour that Olivia and her friends did in memory of Nick!!! My friend Ginger brought me this perfect sign last Christmas! I just love it!
Olivia's little tree has ornaments….unlike our living room one which I decided to just do in lights this year!
My friend Susan from Forever His sent me this precious Nativity Set last Christmas not long before Nick passed away. I just love it!!!!!!!!!! HOPE…it's how I keep on keeping on!!!! Thank you, Susan!! This is floral display that we received last year at Nick's funeral. I have it in our living room on the coffee table, and it makes me smile.
I had to include Nick's picture that is sitting in our bathroom since it's near a Christmas decoration! 🙂
Ok, so our living tree does have three ornaments on it! Two of these little white ornaments Olivia decorated at a sleepover and a pair of mittens from a dear friend! This pillow below was from her too!!!! Thank you, Cindy!
And finally a couple pictures of our kitchen!
Merry Christmas!!
The Blog Post I'll Never Write……………….
December 17th, 2009
About two weeks ago just before church on Wednesday evening, Todd came upstairs and said, "Mom, look at the sky." I immediately noticed a yellowish glow through all of our windows and ran to the door to look. As we stepped out on the porch, we noticed that the sun was trying to shine through a strange combination of clouds and was literally making everything look yellow.
I told Todd, "Maybe Jesus is coming back. If He is, we'll all be on our knees."
I ran to get my camera (I'll add the pictures later), and Tim grinned when he heard that I was thinking I might get pictures of Jesus coming through the clouds on His white horse. He said, "What were you going to do with those???"
This question really got me thinking.
When Jesus comes back, there will be no time to report the news. There'll be no time to call friends. There'll be no time to post a message on Facebook or even share how it made me feel right here on my blog.
When Jesus comes back, that's it.
The end.
The end of pain, suffering, sadness, disappointment, anger, grief, loneliness, depression……and all the other negative parts of this world.
And then the beginning!!!!
The beginning of perfect joy, happiness, peace, fellowship, healing……..and all the other wonderful aspects of Heaven.
So, as I sat here this morning during my planning period having my quiet time, I thought,
"Jesus could come back today and if He did what have I done on my blog to help someone who might not be ready???"
We just never know!
So, I wanted to write this post just to let you know that I love you all so much and I want you all in Heaven. But I won't be able to write to you on the day He returns.
I'll be busy!!!
Worshipping, praising, and thanking Him for His faithfulness, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and on and on and on………….
It was amazing on that Wednesday when the sky was yellow. As I stood on the porch, I have to admit that I wasn't thinking, "Where's Olivia? Is my family all ready for Jesus? Do my friends all know Him?" No. On that day when I thought maybe, just maybe, I was going to meet My Savior, all I could think of was this: Am I ready????????? I think that's how it will be for all of us on that day.
It will just be "little us" facing "amazing Him." And all that will matter from that moment on is what we did with Him while we were here.
Take a minute to think about what you'll be doing on that day.
A friend told me recently that people will either be rejoicing on that day or trembling in fear……
My prayer is that your hearts are ready to rejoice when you see Him come.
If you still aren't sure where you stand with Him, please talk to a minister or friend or email me at firstname.lastname@example.com. I'd love to visit with you about this most important aspect of your life……………..eternity.
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
Caught! Thankfully, found innocent!
December 17th, 2009
My 16-year old son Todd (in blue jacket with red stripes on sleeves) has been sick for about a week.
I took him to the doctor yesterday and then back again today to find out the results of his x-rays. He's doing breathing treatments at home and taking a couple of medicines until he goes back to the doctor AGAIN on Friday. Shew! His Christmas break started a little early. 🙁
As we sat in the waiting room today, his friend Nolan walked in (on far right) for an appointment. Just a few minutes later, in walked the principal (in center) from their high school. He was bringing his son for an appointment as well!!!
Nolan's mom and I both had our cameras, so we had to take a picture! It was so funny to have that many people from Grayson in an Ashland doctor's office at the same time!
Moral of this story: If you miss school, be careful where you go…….you never know when you might run into your principal! And if you're going to run into him, it's always great to be sitting in a doctor's office!
Makes me think about all of the places we go and all the things we do in a normal day and how we'd feel if Jesus walked in.
If we could simply remember, He's already wherever we are. He already knows what we're saying, where we're going, how we're acting, and what we're doing…………..
Matthew 28:20b
…..And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 15th, 2009
When Jennifer Burch from Lovell Fairchild Communications contacted me about reviewing DaySpring's new family Christmas product called "The Happy Birthday, Jesus Kit," I thought it sounded very interesting and fun!
After receiving my sample kit and reading through the little program booklet, I decided that rather than simply writing a little about how wonderful the party idea sounded I would throw a little birthday party for a few kids from the neighborhood and experience the
"Really Woolly Birthday Bash for Jesus" firsthand!
Thank you, Lela, for making our birthday cake!!! It was perfect!
And I just loved the candles that came in the supply kit, too!
This is Lela!! I love you!!
This is me with Lela's mom, Martha, and also with sweet little Ian….my friend Brooke's little brown-eyed boy!! Ian has been like a little gift to me since having to give Nick back to Heaven.
Nick was my only brown-eyed little baby. It's amazing how God gives us children to love when our arms are aching for a hug. And it's amazing how He gave me something as simple as a birthday party for His Son to free my mind temporarily from thoughts of the parties my son is missing.
The "Happy Birthday, Jesus" supply kit included some cute decorations and balloons that I hung up around the house!
I ran to our church choir room and borrowed some shepherd costumes for the kids to wear! It was so fun to welcome each child into our home and then watch each of them transform into a little Bible character!!
One of the craft ideas was a little tambourine to play while singing along with the Christmas music online at the interactive website.
Many of the supplies needed for this party can be found around your home or easily borrowed from a friend. We also made musical shakers! This little guy, Grady, wanted to sing,
"Have a happy birthday, Jesus,
Fa la la la la..la la la la"
over and over again!I loved watching the kids faces as they interacted with each other and worked on their crafts!
We watched the Really Woolly video online during the party so that the kids could learn a little about what it means to give gifts to The Shepherd. I was amazed at all of the games and fun activity sheets that are available online! Kids can spend hours learning about Jesus from a sweet little cartoon lamb named Really Woolly!
Several moms stayed to help which made the party much, much easier and more fun for me!
I bought an eight-pack set of play-doh for one dollar at The Dollar Tree, so each child was able to go home with a little gift and I wasn't out a lot of money!!!!
I love how even a simple coloring sheet of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus can have such meaning! Only God could take an ordinary carpenter, a teenage girl, a stable, some farm animals,and a little baby lying in a manger filled with hay and create the greatest story ever told!
The faces of the kids made this little party so worthwhile!
I highly recommend this birthday supply kit to anyone who wants to create a special Christmas memory with their children or with their Sunday school class or neighborhood!
What a great tradition to start on your street!!!
If you'd like to know more about DaySpring's "Happy Birthday, Jesus Kit" simply click on this link.
Thank you, Jennifer, for giving me the opportunity to create a special memory in my home. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and a period of extremely painful grief in my personal life, it blessed my heart greatly to focus on some of God's very special little children and on His One and Only Son…..Our Savior!
He is the Reason for the Season!
Happy Birthday, Jesus!


text:
1151 Valley Mall Parkway, East Wenatchee, WA 98802
509-884-7191 / 1-800-503-7990
Douglas PUD saw the crypto-currency miner situation developing long ago. In March of 2014 commissioners instituted a moratorium on large connections. At that time the customer service polices were altered to do the following:
In addition to these safeguards the Douglas PUD put into place a long range plan so that normal growth and development would not be threatened by large power users. Rest assured, polices are in place to protect the customers of Douglas PUD.


text:
This program (targeting third-graders) was modeled on Have Art, Will Travel – China.
The Africa module includes related, age-appropriate reading (Anansi the Spider: A Tale of the Ashanti), thematic discussions, and art activities such as mask making and geometric textile design. The tour component highlights the LCVA's extensive collection of African Art, which includes objects representing 59 cultures from 17 countries.
Learn more about participating contact: Mindy Pierson, School Programs Educator 434 395 2941
Geared toward second graders and their SOL learning objectives for the study of China, this program consists of three components: our School Programs Educator's in-class presentation, a resource trunk on temporary classroom loan (complete with interdisciplinary lesson plans, art supplies, visual aids, books, and maps), and a tour of the LCVA's Rowe Collection of Chinese Art with follow-up hands-on activities at the LCVA. The LCVA provides funding for buses as needed for the trip to Farmville to view the collection. This past year over 550 children participated in this program.
Learn... More
Contact email@example.com
Reservations are required. Please click on tour reservations and complete the form. Please indicate any special needs your students may have. Reservations must be sent no less than 2 weeks in advance.
Tours are available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special exceptions may be made. Please inquire.
Tours are not available on State, Federal, and Longwood University holidays.
These dates include:
- New Year's Eve and... More
Each spring the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts sponsors the Annual Area Youth Art Exhibition, a show mounted on the LCVA's Lower Level. This year's exhibition included works by over 2,000 Pre-K to Grade 12 students from 44 public, private, and home schools in 12 counties with the efforts of 50 art teachers. Participating counties include Albemarle, Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Goochland, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Powhatan, and Prince Edward.
In 2018, the 17th annual youth art exhibition will run from March 11 – April 8, with a free... More


text:
Finding highly technical and niche roles in the oil and gas sector
A global international oil field service company who are one of the world's largest suppliers to the upstream oil and gas industry. Safety is critically important for an organization such as this. However, Health and Safety can be extremely specialized in a large organization. On this occasion, the company was looking to find an experienced HSE manager with particular knowledge in explosive manufacturing.
Solution – Permanently improving the caliber of key talent in an ambitious business
This role had remained open for a number of months due to the 'hard to find' nature of the job skills. Petroplan's team undertook a detailed market mapping exercise to locate the right individual who would need to be based in the Houston area of the USA in this permanent role.
Furthermore, not only was the experience of explosive manufacturing a distinct skill but the ideal candidate needed to possess knowledge of the oil field service and well intervention disciplines.
For a role of this kind in-depth and current regulatory experience of the oil and gas US market is absolutely essential, as the ideal person will unlikely be an active job seeker rather already in post. The approach requires often networking through the professional community to gain recommendations and referrals in order to reach out to the appropriately skilled people.
Petroplan was able to secure an ideal fit candidate for the employer within a month's timescale. This was a great career move for the successful person.
Contact Petroplan
Recruitment built just for you
We are not an ordinary recruitment business. We are a people business.
Your well being is central to our ethos.
Visit our Contact page to find your local Petroplan office.


text:
Also, I guess the adage from Clint Smith: "Two is one and one is none" applies to cameras as well. I was getting all prepared this morning and charging batteries, then failed to put the battery back in the fancy camera. Luckily, I brought the back up for video in front of the muzzle so it took place as primary.
Ammo specs:
Blazer 95 gr TMJ (total metal jacket), aluminum case. The cheap stuff.
Independence 95 gr FMJ (full metal jacket), brass case (still Blazer). Medium quality stuff.
Hornady Critical Defense 90 gr FTX (bullet trademarked name, Flex Tip)
Gun stats (as weighed on digital scale):
gun unloaded, no mag - 7.90 oz
gun unloaded with empy 6 round mag - 9.10 oz
gun with loaded 6 round mag + 1 in chamber - 11.35 oz
gun with unloaded 9 round mag - 9.55 oz
gun with loaded 9 round mag + 1 in chamber - 13.00 oz
For comparison to some things we recognize:
12 oz can of soda - 13.55 oz
standard bottle of tobasco sauce (2oz) - 5.00 oz
So, on to the good stuff:
|Just a little handful
|In the DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster
I'm not going to make this post as wordy as some of my other diatribes that I've submitted you to because I have a TON of pictures and a video that I think tell the story. Above is me taking the first shots using the 9 round extended mag. I really like the grip extension. If I'm not pocket carrying, that will be in the gun. Speaking of pocket carry, the DeSantis holster did great. I've drawn both fast and slow and it hasn't pulled from my pocket in loose shorts, dress pants or blue jeans.
|Front sight focus, if you can find it.
Yeah, the sights aren't huge. However...
|Do ya feel lucky, punk?
|Well, do ya?
So, here are some specifics. I was using two types of plinking ammunition. One (Blazer) is bottom of the barrel. I probably won't buy it again, but thought testing with the cheapest would give me an idea of the worst that could happen. I had 3 jams in about 25 rounds with the cheapest ammo and an unfired gun. For now, that's fine. I'll keep an eye on that if it doesn't improve.
The Blazer aluminum case ammunition is gone and isn't coming back. The Independence did just fine (about 25 rounds fired). The Hornady did fantastic. The FTX bullet design has more of a rubber insert, the "Flex Tip" as opposed to the normal polymer insert you're used to seeing. The bullet performance was pretty impressive.
I really liked the hydrostatic performance. Yes, it didn't blow the thing in half like a 230 grain Hydrashok from a .45 ACP, but this is what I was hoping to see from good defense ammunition in a .380. Now, the aftermath.
|Nice form, sir.
So, the final analysis is that I'm really happy with the gun. I'm also satisfied with the performance of the Critical Defense. This is what I want to see a defense round look like when it does its job. The Hornady was flawless in function in the gun as well. I'll be happy to carry this for defense.
For my initial thoughts when we first got the P3AT and more pics, you can see them here.
EDIT: I wanted to add a video of the gun so you could judge recoil and a picture of the extended magazine with the new paint job.


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U2C1 housekeeping droids were manufactured by Publictechnic. The model had a bare humanoid frame cast from a blue hardened plastic, and had a vacuum arm made from black flexi-hose. One was equipped with a stiff wire brush to remove persistent stains and the other had an attachment for cleaning upholstery. Both arms connect to the storage bin located in its middle; this was emptied via a hinged panel at the back. The droids were usually employed as robotic janitors or night maids.
It lacked a personality matrix, though it had a photoreceptor slot and a vocabulator capable of speaking Basic, because Publictechnic chose to eschew a streamlined frame personality matrix to achieve a more cost effective line. The droid's external parts snapped off easily, but replacement units were dirt cheap, and consumer complaints were rare.
In recent years, thieves found the droid's household keeping software easy to infiltrate and alter. Being a common sight in most establishments meant it was hardly noticed. In one hotel, a unit was programmed to go into the rooms of customers, and vacuum up jewelry and credit vouchers. Another other one sucked up a time bomb into its belly and exploded outside of the office of the executive as it passed on its way to buff the lobby floor.
- Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale (First appearance)
- The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
- The New Jedi Order: Balance Point


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Won an Ohio Tool Co. No.0-7 last weekend. Waited all week for it to get here. This is what came out of the box today..
Like anything that is 100 years old, it had a few "issues" going on. Sole had plenty of rust craters, they were a bit larger than just pits. Mouth opening had been filed, by someone who had no clue. At least the wood was intact.
First step in the rehab process….tear the plane down, as far as I can. Had to dump out a few things…
Got all the parts sitting out..
Then packed everything downstairs to the shop, along with the camera, and a $3 pack of sandpaper ( that I only used a single square piece of. Got the iron and chipbreaker apart, somehow. Chipbreaker was bent, the iron was worse. hammer wouldn't get all the bend out, tried to use my hands and a vise…..snap!
Bummer…I think I have a spare Stanley one. Sanded the chip breaker, or tried..
Nice and shiny along the edges? Hmm, got out the hammer, again. Seems the chipbreaker was also "cupped" Pounded the high side down, kept checking along the edge as it was also curved. Finally got it flat.
As for all the bolts and other small stuff, I used a wire wheel to clean them off.
Along with the frog. I used a pair of small Visegrips to hold onto the smaller parts. They have a way of flying off into the sunset, otherwise.
the before…
And the after. I also clean all the threads. Lever cap was cleaned up, and ready to polish. Lateral lever was done as well. Time to get the big guns out..
I use this for the frog's face and seat. Lever cap was sanded a bit better. Then the base castings's turn
This is not so much as to "lap" the sole as to clean all the rust and burrs off. Sole and both sides. The Mouth opening?
The front of it was at an angle. I scribed a line with the square, grabbed a big file, and filed back to the line. I also removed any burrs there as well. I used a cup brush to clean the insides of the base. Then a rag to wipe it down. rattle can of Rustoleum Black to recoat the insides. More to prevent any MORe rust from coming back.
Before I spray paint these sorts of things, I fill all threaded holes with 3in1 oil. I also sprayed the frog where black was before. Other items are now polished up.
Bottom of the frog is down
Oiled the threads, painted the frog, polished the lever cap, tuned the chipbreaker and polished it up, The Stanley iron was honed up…
The wood parts were wiped down with an oily rag. Didn't need to refinish them. All parts back together. A tad bit of oil on all the threads. Sides look good..
The sole? Meh…i got rid of any and all burrs. Sole is smooth. The craters will not hurt anything
besides, I always rub a candle across the soles of the planes I use. Just a place to store a bit of wax. Not worth the time or effort to "lap" them all out, anyway. Soo, I guess I will be on the lookout for a replacement Ohio Tool Co. iron. Seems to be a 2-3/8" or so wide.
Process doesn't take all that long. Plane wasn't too bad. part of the "polishing" is done with a 1/4 sheet sander and fine sandpaper….I used one square.
Thanks for looking in..
-- A Planer? I'M the planer, this is what I use