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I was reminded, accidentally, that I hadn't been here for a while. I didn't want to feel like I was ignoring this blog because it's helped so much but also hindered a bit which is my fault… I'll explain.
First, for a brief synopsis of whats gone on while I've been gone. There's been lots of shopping, dates, music, entertainment and some major breakthroughs. There's been a few set backs, some new people and some new discoveries. The biggest of all is the transformation from being angry and bitter to something new, someone better.
As always I believe, truly, that all things happen for a reason. After my last angry blog rant I needed to get away and sort out my feelings once and for all. I needed to get back to me and to let go of other things. I had no idea where to start. Then, by fate, an old friend came back into my life. We'd lost touch a few years back and in the interim of us not talking she'd been diagnosed with Lupus. I knew her as this vibrant, energetic, sparkling amazing person but she fallen off the face of the planet.
One day, out of no where I got a message on social media from her. It had just happened to be a day after my last rant on here. She'd asked how I was and I wasn't in the mood for the usual, "I'm ok. How are you?" So I was honest and said I was doing pretty shitty. She then gave me some amazing advice. She'd told me about her illness and that she was in a deep depression and that she felt her life needed to change as she was having a horrible time in her marriage and a lot of other things. One thing that resonated with me about my situation was her number one rule. She said she started feeling better when she stopped trying to make everyone else feel better. When she stopped worrying what others thought of her and when she just stopped "trying".
It sounded so simple. After another fight THE friend and I had gotten into, the realization that I felt he would always be the first guy on my list while I would always be the last girl on his. Finally the point that I realized he would always have another woman to spend his time with made this so necessary. I had to just stop trying, stop worrying and just stop feeling.
I was going to bed and dreaming about him. After every single gift I got for music, sports, or some sort of entertainment he was always the first person I thought of taking. I'd go to the grocery store and think "what would he want" or I'd see something randomly while shopping and pick it up to purchase… I was acting as though he WAS my other half. I was putting him first and that was no ones fault but mine.
I finally realized that while I don't care about social media, that he did and that I'd never be a feature in that to him. I realized that if he had an extra ticket to something I'd never be the one he'd offer it to. Lastly, I finally realized that I didn't want to argue about anything anymore with him because people who are only friends shouldn't fight as much as we did. So I needed to change.
I wasn't planning on this being easy but I started to look at things differently. I started spending time with men who treated me the way that I should be treated. Like my ex, he knows that I don't have feelings for him and he knows that I was 'going through something' but he was more than happy to be right there with me. We started hanging out a lot, going to do things that I'd always reserved for THE friend and at first I felt strange but soon it felt amazing. He was hugging me all the time, holding my hand and kissing me and giving me the seven hugs, kisses or compliments a day to help me be emotionally healthy AND it was all platonic.
After that, during Thanksgiving, I was at my family's. My family has always had an open door policy for anyone who didn't have anywhere to go. A few friends had all asked if they could come and I said "Absolutely". It made me think of the time when I'd asked THE friend to come but instead he stayed at my home alone. I'd always been resentful about that because it always seemed like he was saying no because he didn't want people to get the wrong idea about us, which would have never been the case and yet there I was over the Thanksgiving break with ex's, friends new and old and family and no one had the wrong idea about anyone there.
There was a new guy there that I'd met the night before at my brothers poker night and we were outside right before the meal and he was thanking me for my family being so open to him being there. I didn't know his story until later but he'd been married for over 20 years and suddenly came home and his wife had moved out with no explanation. This would have been the first Thanksgiving in over 20 years he'd have been alone but my parents weren't having it. He'd thanked me for being so friendly and said that he was just happy he wasn't alone this year. That melted my heart a bit and he gave me a welcoming huge hug before he left. I'm a lot more open to human touch now apparently.
It was about then that I was focusing so much on the things that I would never have from THE friend when all I should have been doing is focusing on all the things in my life that I did have and all the people that NEVER put me last. I still stumble a lot and I have a long way to go with this but that's where stopping this blog for a while came in. I realized that focusing on THE friend all the time and how upset he made me only amplified my emotions instead of just giving me an outlet.
Even as soon as this weekend when we saw each other he was complaining why he's single and my first thought was, "Fuck you. Even with everything I know about you I'd still love you till the end of time and you couldn't care less." My second thought was, "and this is why you still have women around all the time. Always a new one. Never even care. It's not that you can't find a woman, it's that the one who loves you is invisible to you." But right when I started feeling those thoughts I'd gotten a text from someone who said that they missed my face and that they couldn't wait to stand under the mistletoe with me and I stopped my negative thoughts and focused on the men and friends that are amazing to me.
As I said, it's a process and I'm still working on things. My first priority is to stop thinking of him as my other half. I stopped making him a priority. I stopped assuming the world would end if I stopped being in love with him… Guess what? I stopped trying. It never mattered to me that there were other girls in his life, new ones all the time or old ones reappearing. It only mattered that all the other girls came first, and that they got his smiles. That part was hard to get passed. I tried so hard to make him happy but every other girl got his happy except me.
One of the guys in my life right now wrote something on a dry erase board in my bedroom that says, "Peace, love and don't give a shit". Strangely it's some of the best advice I've gotten second to "stop trying". Whenever he or someone does something that pisses me off, upsets me or makes me feel like shit I think of that. I realize that there are amazing men out there that would drop anything for me, to be with me. I also know that I'm fucking awesome and someone who can't see me that way isn't worth the time I was more than willing to give. I got his "grumpy, I hate my life, sleepy bad moods". I didn't deserve those.
All that being said, I'm not sad, bitter or angry anymore. I know you can't change anyone. I know that you can't make someone feel or do something. If that means that THE friend's relationship with me fades into a dark night then I've come to understand that that is ok and that is how things were meant to happen. I've said it before that I never wanted to be a day of the week to anyone. I never wanted to be a secret for someone to keep. That's not who I am but that's what I let happen which is strange because it happened at the hand of someone that I cared more deeply for than anyone in my life. How insane is that? Fuck being a secret. Fuck being just a day of the week. Fuck being the one that only gets to see him in his most unhappiest state. I'm not that person anymore and never should have been. The assumption that THE friend and I could even go back to what we had in the beginning is gone. A friendship with benefits was a happier time but it's obvious that that went off the table long ago to him. That part stings a bit even now but I'll get over that too soon.
The quicksand that I thought I was drowning in earlier this year is depleting and my self worth is back. No one will ever take that away again. I no longer dream of things that I can't have. I no longer focus on the negative. I still have my bad days but they are far, far less. There's things that I have planned for the new year that I'm focusing on. It's going to be a lot more ME and much less anyone else. I'm not focusing on a romantic relationship with anyone but it's comforting to know that there are options there if I feel the need. I'm going to make the next year a very selfish year. It's been three years of thinking of someone else first. I'm done with that.
This was the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I wasn't looking forward to coming home more than I was looking forward to staying with family. It was a great time. Now, I'm looking forward to Christmas. Spending time with my niece, new friends and maybe some surprises too. I'm not sure how much I'll be on here till the new year because I don't want to focus on the negative. It's always an option that this will become some sunny, motivating blog which is what it was intended for in the beginning.
I'm off to clean the kitchen, wrap some presents and paint my nails. It's a beautiful night to spend doing some much needed things without pants. I have no last words of wisdom for any of you. Okay, maybe a few… Just follow your heart, stop trying to make everyone else happy and remember that YOU ARE AWESOME and don't let anyone else dim your light. Yep, I just said that shit. Everything that happens, happens for a reason. Happy holidays and tell someone that you love them because, just maybe it's what they need to hear.


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Previously I wrote an article called "3 strippers turned rappers not named Cardi B" that has gotten a steady stream of views daily since I posted it. Since the writing of that article I have come across a handful of other strippers and Instagram models who are attempting to turn an online following into a music fanbase, with varying degrees of success. Below you can find four of the more successful, interesting, or entertaining, ones that I think need to be showcased.
Curly Redd is an exotic dancer from Florida who has been making a name for herself on Instagram posting some of the craziest twerk videos and videos of herself at different events. She has grown her following to 219K followers and has branched out into other categories such as appearing in videos with instagram comedians like @tpindell and into the music category with her first official video release "Only Up From Here".
MikeilaJ is an instagram model / twerker who I have posted before on my IG account DopeDealerTV and she has a healthy following of 88.9k on IG currently. One thing that I have noticed she is doing is creating a little buzz for herself by posting videos like this;
Now you might be saying, "aight so what, whats different from her doing that" well her song is playing in the background and if you look at the comments you will see people asking, "what song is that?" and how she responds saying she hasn't actually released it yet. It comes out, October 21st actually.
Update: Mikeilaj's first official video is out now.
Baby Doll Forbes is an instagram model and brand ambassador with a following of over 463K on instagram. I have followed her for awhile on multiple accounts I run and have never seen anything that would have led me to believe she was trying to be a rapper BUT lo and behold a couple of days ago, I am scrolling and I see this freestyle video from her;
Ty.ni is an exotic dancer and "published urban model" who has over 227k+ followers on Instagram where she mainly posts videos of herself twerking or dancing at the club. She currently has only one song out that I know of.


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Pharmacology & Mechanism of Action
SCENESSE® (afamelanotide 16mg) is a selective agonist of the MC1R (melanocortin 1 receptor). It has been developed with the aim of delivering medicinal photoprotection for therapeutic benefit. As an analogue of the naturally occurring melanocortin alpha-MSH, its mechanism of action is biomimicry (in part) of the natural human tanning response.
SCENESSE® delivers its photoprotective response through a 'signaling cascade' following from its selective binding and activation of the MC1 receptor in melanocytes.
When SCENESSE® binds with MC1R on the surface of melanocyte cells in the epidermis of the skin, it begins a series of actions and reactions that result in the melanocyte favouring the production of eumelanin (black/brown) over pheomelanin (red/yellow).
The initial binding stimulates the MC1R leading to the activation of adenylate cyclase (AC) and stimulation of production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). cAMP in turn activates the protein kinase A (PKA) leading to the phosphorylation of the cAMP-responsive element (CREB). Phosphorylated CREB will bind to the cAMP-responsive element on the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) gene leading to the MITF protein synthesis. MITF has the ability to activate several genes by binding on them; including the MC1R genes, and the genes involved in melanogenesis (tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 genes).This results in heightened levels of the melanogenic enzymes (tyrosinase,TRP1 and TRP2) within the melanocyte. It is the level of these enzymes within a melanocyte that dictates whether the cell will create eumelanin (photoprotective black/brown pigment) rather than pheomelanin (red/yellow pigment).
Melanocytes creating eumelanin, thereby increasing pigmentation of the skin and thus providing photoprotection is the therapeutic benefit intended from the administration of afamelanotide.


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Information and discussion on all aspects of British photographic history
For the last year or so a group of volunteers have been doing a stock-take of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science (PSNS) library held in Perth Museum. This is prior to the closure of the museum and removal of its contents to a new collection store to be built as part of Perth and Kinross Council's proposed cultural programme with the redevelopment of the City Hall.
Among the library's collections volunteer David Perry has discovered a copy of Ackermann's Photogenic Drawing Apparatus: Directions for Use. This 8-page pamphlet was published in April 1839 and it was the first photographic instruction book to be printed. It accompanied a box of paper, a printing frame and chemicals for making 'photogenic drawings'. The pamphlet explained how to use the apparatus to produce photographs according to Henry Talbot's pioneering paper negative process. Talbot had been experimenting since 1834 and publicised his experiments in January 1839 to the Royal Society in London after hearing about Louis Daguerre's parallel experiments in photography in France.
The discovery of the pamphlet in the library doubles the number of known copies in existence from one to two. The only other known copy is in the library of the Royal Photographic Society, now held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, from which a reprint was produced by the Society's Historical Group in 1977.
The pamphlet was unknown because it was bound together with another photographic pamphlet Photographic Printing, in Carbon and other Pigments, by Perth photographer, William Blair, published in 1869. The title in the binding referring only to Blair's pamphlet. Both pamphlets and the bound book were presented by Thomas Bourke, a Perth photographer, to the Photographic Section of the PSNS shortly after its formation in 1889, although Ackermann's pamphlet has the inscription that it was presented to the Photographic Section by James Jackson, presumably a relative of Magnus Jackson, the Perth photographer who was a member of the PSNS and its Vice-President.
A report of the discovery was in the PSNS newsletter for June 2018 which can be read here which is panning to exhibit the find in the near future.
With thanks to Paul Adair, Collections Officer, Culture Perth and Kinross, Perth Museum & Art Gallery for alerting BPH to this find and for the images.
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June Recap5:14 PM
Whoaaaa. I can't believe it's the end of June already. The time's passed by so quickly...too quickly for me *sigh* But hey, I've done some pretty awesome things (and awesome things are coming) and that's more than I manage to make my lazy (antisocial) butt do some summers.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. ✪✪✪✪✪ You know, I can understand people not liking this. But even though there were cliche elements (Hi, popular Hunger Game themes) and it was kind of slow in the beginning, I loved the characters and their development and the powers and the revolutionary movement.
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige. ✪✪ I didn't see what all the hype was about for this one. Which is really sad, because I totally wanted to love it...I just couldn't. The world building was great...the characters weren't (to me anyways).
The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. ✪✪✪✪✪ HOW CAN I EXPRESS MY LOVE. Okay, this series is brilliance. I am in love. At this point, I'm so far in that I'm not even sure if it's the world or plot (yes) or the fact that the characters have made me fall in love with them to the point of not return (also yes).
Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas. ✪✪✪✪ This was a really fun, quick read. I loved the lists and mystery. Most of all the characters were hilarious. When you put that many personalities in one room for any length of time, you know it's going to be epic. Plus, the cover, guys. It's beautiful.
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han. ✪✪✪ I was really disappointed by this one. After To All the Boys I've Loved Before (✪✪✪✪) being so nice, I completely expected the same but I felt like there was so much relationship-turmoil and who-do-I-love. It also ended to abruptly for me.
Um...so, yes, they're all k-dramas.
Yep. I have no excuses.
The Bookshelf Tag @PaperFury showcases Cait's beautiful books and bookcase. Cue the jealousy. ;) Her book pictures are, as always, on point.
And it was really fun reading about Sophia's adventures in her post May // The Month of Adventure. There are a lot of gorgeous pictures there too.
2 comments
I appreciate the fact that you mentioned EXID. They're my new favourite female group--knocked Girl's Day and Sistar out of their tie. Seriously--I could listen to Ah Yeah and Every Night all day.ReplyDelete
I love all three of those dramas! Faith is one I watched ages ago, and am slowly rewatching with my sister. And of course you know I love love love Marriage Note Dating. I get the love/hate...there are at least three characters in that show that I'd like to personally toss a glass of water at, all ajumma style.
mmmm...I like this recap idea. Might have to steal... ;)Replies
I love EXID :D I don't listen to a lot of girl kpop groups but they're awesome. Ah Yeah is the best. I want to learn the dance SO bad but it might be a lil hard considering I have two left feet lol.Delete
Oh yeah, I totally agree with the water-tossing thing. Some people just need to have their faces drenched with water.
I'm glad you like it :) You should definitely steal it ;) I'll read yours for sure.
I love hearing from you guys! Tell me all the things. Talk to me. Except not in real life. I don't do that ish. #introvertlife


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Gas Station Mania
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Gas Station Mania game information:
You have to find your way through the gas station area and collect all the money in order to unlock your parking space. After you have successfully parked, you have to fill up your oil tank and then go and pay. You have to finish everything without crashing and before the time runs out. This is a really exciting game with eight intense levels that will become more and more challenging. Have a blast!
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Use your arrow keys to drive, your space bar to brake, your Z key to fill up the tank.
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text: Working with people is great and in particular with students who have great enthusiasm. A prospectus has to show what the college or Uni has to offer in the way of courses and show facilities but it's also about the people. Quite often we have a free reign with the style of photography and how we set each shot up. At the end of the day it's about interacting with people to get the best result and the camera follows.


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02/2006 - February 2006 Digital Edition
A few of the features: top agility handlers talk about strategies for working with a dog that goes at one speed in training and a much faster one at trials, in the second article of a multiple-part series Linda Mecklenburg explains how to build a foundation for jumping, tips on establishing a reliable pre-run routine, Nancy Gyes shares her quick and easy way to design courses and sequences for training, the premier of our new "City Dogs" exercises for small spaces, a review of Susan Garrett's book Shaping Success, Deb Jones explains what shaping is and how you do it, teaching your dog to lie on a mat while waiting his turn, creating flow for your dog, Lanny Bassham discusses how not to compound our mistakes when competing, Debbie Saunders talks about stretching and strengthening the midback, and much more. 108 pages.
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She stood by her car in the wind in the parking lot of the movie theater. We had met there last time, and she suggested we meet there again, worried that we'd miss each other.
I parked beside her and took the job bag from the seat. As I got out, she approached.
"How are you?" I said.
She said, "Very good." We had a little small talk, then I set the job bag on my trunk, and pointed out the printed instructions that showed through the clear plastic. The same as last time. One-hundred sixty pages. Front matter, guts, TOC, index, glossary.
"When do you need it? Friday? Monday?"
"Monday," I said. "Take your time."
She shifted some items to free a hand for receiving the work, and I saw a recognizable face on the cover of a book in her hand.
"A little James Joyce?" I asked.
"Oh," she said, showing me the book. It was a glossy hardcover.
She had 25 years on me. She was easygoing and a little flippant, as one gets with age. She was shrunken but vivacious in her way, sometimes complaining, long in the tooth but smiley. There was a shy girl within her who had never aged. Now she smiled and sheepishly spoke.
"It's a blank book—a journal." She opened the book and held it out to my view. And I saw now that it had no title, no byline, no spine text. It was not a Joyce book, but a lined blank notebook bearing his image.
The pages were filled with her penmanship, a solid old-school hand.
"I have all these journals that I wrote in," she said mournfully.
She explained that she wanted to throw them out before she died. She didn't want anyone else reading them. "And now that I have this shredder," she said, "I'm shredding them. But I have to read them first!" She laughed and looked away. The shy girl.
"Wow, you're going to shred them all?"
"Well, now that I have this shredder…." She looked down and to the side, as if looking at an imaginary companion. There was nothing there, and I looked around at what was there: a movie theater front, an empty lot. Places I don't go, empty places.
The sight of my shelved journals flashed before my eyes. I thought of the time I spent in them across the years. All the key events in all their gruesome clarity. All my reactions chained one to the other. How many did she have? Wasn't there someone who would want them? How has she felt reading her own life back, not able to edit a word, no deadline, no pub date encroaching, no audience anticipating?
But I didn't ask that. That was not the nature of our meeting.
The wind blew. In this year of plucking more and more gray rogues from my brown hair, I looked at hers and saw the depth of its whiteness.


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Seven years of happiness
Today me and my hubby celebrated our 7th year wedding anniversary! I am so happy that he is the person i wake up beside each morning and kiss goodnight every night. Each year gets better and better and i have no regrets in life because i know how much we love each other.
Happy Anniversary Hun!
Today we went to Tagaytay for a date, left the kids with my mother-in-law (thanks mom!) and headed to Taal Vista Hotel for a lunch buffet at Cafe on the Ridge. This place is really beautiful. The moment you walk through their doors makes you feel like a celebrity with everyone greeting you while walking down the middle of the reception area. We got there alittle past 11am and got seated right away since my hunny made prior reservations. The cafe of the Ridge was top quality, great service and great food. We didn't get to try everything out since there was was too many dishes they had to offer. We just tried out what we usually don't eat at home or some other restaurants.
Here's some of what they had prepared for us and other customers that day.
Awesome watermelon carving
Ice Box fruit cake (so yummy!!!)
bread rolls
Stuffed litson
Salad bar
Ube short cakes
Buko Pandan Salad
yet another cool watermelon carving
Fresh Lumpia rolls
Every dish they had looked delicious, the one's we ate were fullfilling and yummy.
The best part about dining here was the live performances they have, cultural dances complete with a live band. Makes you want to stay longer and grab another plate just to finish the whole show!
Maria Clara dance
Igorot Dance
Chicken Dance
Lumagen/Tachok Kalinga Tribe Dance - imitates a bird dancing in the air
Banga (Kalinga Tribe Dance)
It was starting to rain and we still wanted to walk along the ridge to get a view of the Taal Volcano so we left before the next show.
Let me squeeze in an OOTD post :)
Shirt:Romwe Skirt:Artsy Fartsy Blog Accessories:SM Accessories Sandals: FitFlop Bag: Coach
Back part of the Hotel
The amazing Taal Volcano
Skyranch in the background
I love being the subject
Mandatory inside the hotel shot
This was an awesome, fun and fullfilling day. Fine dining, wonderful view, friendly staff and a day spent with the love of my life, the apple of my eyes, my hubby!
We actually want to go back there again, soon, I forgot to get some fresh lumpia and my hubby wants another slice of their icebox fruit cake.
Taal Vista Hotel. Thank you!
For inquiries or reservations, you can reach them at +63 2 917-8225 or +63 46 413 1000 or mobile 0917 8091254.
Have a nice day!


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What's next for Runamuk?
It's taken me a while to come to terms with the idea of walking away from Jim's farm, and I fully admit that some days it's still a struggle to accept defeat. As a beginning farmer, it's already been a long journey with many twists and turns in the road, obstacles overcome and fears faced along the way, and this… Read more »


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Nikkel and slimed: Fractivist compares civil-unions hero Rep. B.J. Nikkel to a Nazi
Only two years ago, the left hailed Republican Rep. B.J. Nikkel as a hero for her support for a civil-unions measure but now a "fractivist" has described the former lawmaker as "trained talking dog" and compared her to a Nazi.
Phillip Doe, a Colorado activist involved in the Loveland anti-fracking fight, hurled insults at Nikkel in an article posted Friday in Counterpunch, a left-wing website, after hearing her speak at a rally.
"For some reason after Nikkel and her folks got done speaking, I kept thinking of Hitler's Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and how big lies gain acceptance," said Doe in his article, "Lies, Damned Lies and Fracking Lies."
Doe also referred to the "many whoppers dutifully trotted out like a trained talking dog" by Nikkel, whose remarks came at an event sponsored by opponents of Question 1, an initiative that would place a two-year moratorium on fracking in Loveland.
The story helps illustrate the war being waged in Colorado over oil-and-gas exploration.
Nikkel two years ago outraged social conservatives when she supported a civil-unions measure during a committee vote. The bill made it all the way to the House floor, only to die during one of the most dramatic legislative showdowns in recent years. The right targeted her for her efforts.
Nikkel now serves as campaign manager for the Loveland Energy Action Project, which is fighting the Loveland moratorium fracking measure.
"It's sad for a man to call a woman he disagrees with 'a dog" or a 'Nazi,'" Nikkel said.
"It tells you a lot about Phil Doe and Protect Our Loveland who cannot use facts and reason but instead resort to personal attacks, scare tactics and fear-based misinformation in this campaign because they have no real facts of their own, so they sling mud in a desperate, last ditch effort."
Doe's mailbox was full and he could not immediately be reached for comment.


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Devilles Pad
created for Randall Lynton Studios
Head back in time with a 1960's retro vegas inspired design featuring neon lights, razzle-dazzle and 30KG of glitter.
Marvel at the wonder that is Devilles Pad, a Las Vegas style hell themed nightspot where caged dancers gogo to retro rock'n'roll and the dance-floor comes alive with a smoking volcano.
Randall Lynton Studios pulled out all stops on this wondrous project. From the razzle-dazzle retro Vegas inspired design to the latest programming wizardry ... it's all in the fine details.
Each page features a custom and intricately designed content area which provides a unique browsing experience. Dig the animated suave Dean-Martin devil logo downing a fiery cocktail. The Diary, Past Events and Gallery pages use our custom-built content management system so the client can update information in a flash.
Using our newly established email marketing software, we also designed and developed a newsletter campaign sent to the email in-box of their customers on a monthly basis.


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Dear Friends,
We hope this letter finds you in good health and spirit for the New Year. We wish to again thank all of you who participated and otherwise helped in preserving a traditional Jewish presence in Bethel during our 92nd year of continuous operation.
2015 was another successful year for our congregation. It was marked by a well attended 5th Annual Shabbat Dinner, minyan level attendance for most Friday and Saturday services, and another full house for High Holiday services. The congregation bid a heartfelt farewell and best wishes to our talented and personable Rabbi Susan Elkodsi, as she accepted a full time position in Long Island. We welcomed Rabbi Neal Loevinger to take the pulpit for labor day weekend and the high holidays. Once again, our resident Cantor, Dr. Lenny Zimmerman volunteered his services throughout the summer, and provided the melodious backdrop for the High Holidays. (We missed our shofar blower Harvey Rosenberg and his family, but look forward to their return in 2016). Our thanks also to Cindy Shechter and Gerry Solomon for their help throughout the summer. Especially notable this past summer, congregants stepped up to sponsor delicious 'kiddushim', enhancing the warmth and charm that make our synagogue so special! Thank you all for your generosity.
On a sad note, this past year, the Congregation and community suffered the loss of three wonderful long time friends, Richard Korn, Barry Kula, and Milton Schiffman, all of the White Lake Homes; may their memories be a blessing.
Of course, a New Year brings new challenges, and we need to continue maintaining, upgrading, and building upon that which came before. With that in mind, we hope you will again find it in your hearts to renew your membership for 2016, and find the time next summer to attend a few Shabbat services, keeping the tradition alive. If you feel really motivated, please e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com, Mary-Ellen at email@example.com, or call (518) 371-1104), to find out how you can volunteer for one or more of our activities this year. The schedules for services, activities, and holiday services will be circulated when available, and posted on our web site www.congregationtemplebethel.com
**DUES REMAIN AT A VERY REASONABLE 125.00/ FAMILY. It is your dues and donations which sustain our historic synagogue. We would very much like to add handicap access, replace broken windows and worn seat cushions, as well as other necessary restorations. Your dues and additional contributions will make that possible. Please call Mary-Ellen (518) 371-1104, or e-mail meseitel (at) aol.com with any questions.
** Includes cemetery privileges as specified in the bylaws.
Please return your $125.00 check to:
Congregation Temple Beth-El
c/o Mary-Ellen Seitelman
10 Sandalwood Drive
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Very sincerely,
Larry Seitelman, President
P.S. Please let us know of any changes to your address(es), phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.


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News From the Field
Small, Portable Sensors Allow Users to Monitor Exposure to Pollution on Their Smartphones
December 18, 2012
This material is available primarily for archival purposes. Telephone numbers or other contact information may be out of date; please see current contact information at media contacts.Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have built a small fleet of portable pollution sensors that allow users to monitor air quality in real time on their smartphones. The sensors could be particularly useful to people suffering from chronic conditions, such as asthma, who need to avoid exposure to pollutants. CitiSense is the only air quality monitoring system that delivers real-time data to users' cellphones and home computers--at any time.Full Story
University of California, San Diego
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2020, its budget is $8.3 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 50,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards.
Useful NSF Web Sites:
NSF Home Page: https://www.nsf.gov
NSF News: https://www.nsf.gov/news/
For the News Media: https://www.nsf.gov/news/newsroom.jsp
Science and Engineering Statistics: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/
Awards Searches: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/


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The Central India Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state. The Central India Agency was made up entirely of princely states, which were under native rulers. The agency was bordered by the Central Provinces and Berar to the south; the Chota Nagpur princely states to the east, which were transferred from Bengal to the Central Provinces and Berar in 1905; the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh to the north; Rajputana to the northwest; and Bombay Presidency to the west and southwest. Lalitpur District, part of the United Provinces, split the Central India Agency into eastern and western portions.
The Central India Agency was created in 1854, by amalgamating the Western Malwa Agency with other smaller political offices which formerly reported to the Governor-General of India. The agency was overseen by a political agent who maintained British relations with the princely states and influence over them on behalf of the Governor-General. The headquarters of the agent were at Indore.
British hegemony over the states of Central India began in 1802, when several states in the Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand regions came under British control at the conclusion of the Treaty of Bassein between the British and the Maratha - Peshwa Bajirao II. British control of Bundelkhand expanded at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1805. The remaining states, including Gwalior, Indore, Bhopal and a number of smaller states in the regions of Malwa, Nimar, and Bundelkhand, came under British control with the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818. The estate of Chanderi was ceded to the Sindhia ruler of Gwalior in 1844 by the British, and Jhansi State was seized by the British in 1853 under the doctrine of lapse was added to the United Provinces. In 1921 Gwalior Residency was separated from the Central India Agency, and in 1933 the state of Makrai transferred to Central India from the Central Provinces and Berar.
The princely states in the area of the Agency, 148 in all, varied greatly in size. Eleven states held treaty relations with the British Government, and were known as the treaty states: Gwalior state, Indore, Bhopal, Dhar State, the two Dewas States, Jaora, Orchha, Datia, Samthar, and Rewa. The 31 sanad states had direct relations with the British Government, but not by treaty. These states, in Bundelkhand and Bagelkhand, were granted deeds (sanads) confirming rulers in possession of their states, in return for the rulers signing a written bond of allegiance (ikrarnama) to the British. The remaining smaller states and estates were known as mediatized or guaranteed states. Mediatized states were under the authority of a larger state, with the relationship between the states arranged through British mediation. Guaranteed states, found only in Malwa, were states under the authority of larger states, in which the British guaranteed whatever rights existed at the time of British occupation of the region at the conclusion of the Pindari War.
The princely states were closely related to one of several political officers, which were rearranged a number of times in the history of the Agency. Upon the British withdrawal from India in 1947, the political offices consisted of Indore Residency and the Bundelkhand, Bhopal, and Malwa Agencies.
Bundelkhand Agency was bounded by Bagelkhand to the east, the United Provinces to the north, Lalitpur District to the west, and the Central Provinces to the south. Bagelkhand Agency was separated from Bundelkhand in 1871. In 1900 it included 9 states, 13 estates, and the pargana of Alampur belonging to Indore state.
In 1931, all of the states under the Baghelkhand Agency apart from Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand.
Bagelkhand Agency, the easternmost charge, was established in March 1871, when it was separated from Bundelkhand agency. In 1900, it covered the area of twelve states, including Orchha State.
In 1931, all of the states but Rewa were transferred back to Bundelkhand, and in 1933 Rewa was transferred to the Indore Residency.
Gwalior Residency was placed under the Central India Agency in 1854, and separated from Central India Agency in 1921. It included the following:
Bhopal Agency, 11,653 sq mi (30,180 km2), which included the following:
Indore Residency included most of Indore state and after 1933 also Rewa State.
Malwa Agency, 8,919 sq mi (23,100 km2), which included parts of Gwalior, Indore and Tonk states and the states of:
In 1925, the Malwa Agency was amalgamated with Bhopawar Agency.
Bhopawar Agency included the princely states of:
It also included territories of Gwalior and Indore States. In 1927 the agency was renamed the Southern States Agency, later the Southern States and Malwa Agency, and after 1934 Malwa Agency.
Upon the British withdrawal from India in 1947, the rulers of the princely states in this area all chose to accede to the new Union of India. The eastern portion of Central India Agency, including Bagelkhand and Bundelkhand agencies, became the new state Vindhya Pradesh. The western portion, including Bhopal, Malwa, and Bhopawar agencies and the Gwalior and Indore residencies, became the new state of Madhya Bharat. Bhopal became a separate state. Makrai was transferred to Madhya Pradesh, which had been created from the former Central Provinces and Berar in 1950. In 1956, the states of Vindhya Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh. Later another state, Chhattisgarh, was formed from the area that was formerly Madhya Pradesh.
Holkar, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, India, Ahmedabad
Indore, Maharashtra, Bhopal, Gujarat, India
Madhya Pradesh, India, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Indian National Congress
India, Jaipur, Maratha Empire, Madhya Pradesh, Princely state
India, Gangtok, Hinduism, Buddhism, Tibet
India, Agencies of British India, Bundelkhand, Pune, Jalaun District
Indore, Maharashtra, Pune, Padma Shri, Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, India, Afghanistan, Mughal Empire, Princely state
Colonial India, Dutch India, Danish India, French India, Portuguese India
India, Government of India, Princely State, Public domain, Malwa Agency


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"Good Faith" Insurance Law Tenets & Prompt Payment of UM and UIM Claims
When consumers accept the contractual terms of auto insurance policies, they reasonably expect their insurers to pay them all that's owed promptly. This is the very essence of "good faith" that's broadly set forth in our California Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations. Sections 2695.4 ("Representation of Policy Provisions and Benefits") and 2695.7 ("Standards for Prompt, Fair and Equitable Settlements") were enacted to make sure that all consumers receive prompt explanations of their settlement benefits and rapid processing of their claims.
California Insurance Law Standards and Basic Contract Law Support Prompt Payments
The specific regulations set forth above do not exempt insurers – nor any other contracting parties -- from promptly paying specific types of claims like those involving uninsured motorists (UM) and underinsured motorists (UIM). In fact, the legislative intent behind the California Unfair Claims Settlement Practice Regulations is to promote efficient handling of all aspects of contractual parties' transactions. Once a property damage claim is filed, the other contracting party must make a "good faith" attempt to promptly make the other party "whole" again.
Our state's "unfair claims" regulations must be relied upon for establishing "good faith" practices since our case law has not yet been properly expanded to expressly require the timely handling of all UM and UIM claims. However, once any part of a claim has been established and remains undisputed, basic contract law requires an insurer to promptly pay the insured the undisputed amount – even if other aspects of the case are still being investigated and evaluated.
Added Support for Prompt Payments Set Forth in IRMI Writings & Insurance Treatise
The useful guidance materials published by the International Risk Management Institute ("IRMI") provide further support for making timely payments of undisputed amounts to insureds in UM and UIM cases. In materials addressing "loss payments," the IRMI specifically urges insurers to pay undisputed amounts without delay.
Furthermore, legal insurance expert Alan Windt, Esq., has noted in his insurance law treatise Insurance Claims and Disputes that undisputed amounts must be promptly paid, regardless of the exact nature of the first-party insurance coverage that's tied to the issue.
How Should Counsel Move Forward in Securing Undisputed Amounts in These Cases?
- First, thoroughly review your client's case file and make sure all appropriate medical records and billings have been forwarded to the insurance company. Insurers require comprehensive medical records to determine all aspects of each case. In some situations, you'll also have to use your discretion when deciding whether to produce documents revealing all the medical conditions your client was battling prior to the accident;
- Next (if you haven't already done so), serve a timely demand letter on the insurer requesting payment of the undisputed amount. It's best to wait and send this letter after you've already provided all the medical records and billings to the insurer and given the company time to respond (and to determine the initial, undisputed value of the UM or UIM claim). Be sure to include a statement that your submissions of this specific demand does not prevent your client from later seeking additional amounts that exceed the undisputed amount;
- The next step you should take -- if the insurer has already sent a settlement offer to you before you've sent a demand letter). You must now preserve all the client's rights and accept what you believe is the correct, undisputed amount (after discussing it with your client). You must also carefully note that if your client accepts this amount, that does not prevent your client from later demanding even more money.
Of course, before sending out demand letters or responding to any settlement offers, plaintiffs' lawyers should carefully review the precise language in their clients' insurance policies. These often include multiple sections that clearly guarantee prompt payments of all undisputed sums. Be sure to reference and quote these sections in your correspondence.Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I'm Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. For over 30 years I have been working with people injured in car accidents to help them recover damages and get back on their feet. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident by an under insured or uninsured motorist, please call me at 916.921.6400 for free and friendly advice with no obligation. I can also be reached online at AutoAccident.com.
I am proud to be a member of the California Chapter of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Injury lawyers belonging to this group have obtained verdicts and settlements worth over $1 Million Dollars for their clients.
I am an Accident Lawyer in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel – Nation's Top One Percent.
Take a moment to look up some of my past verdicts & settlements.
My valued clients' comments and reviews can be found online by following these links: Avvo, Yelp, and Google.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Frustrated by Raysonho. CC0
:eBs rey eas bw [cs 817] 9.25.17 L@T


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Industrial Designer - Senior, Copenhagen office.
SteelSeries is looking for Industrial Designers to help create the next generation of gaming accessories. We're looking for someone that can help bring new ideas to life through top-notch analysis, design exploration, visualization and communication skills. You will contribute a superb sense of aesthetics, surfacing, ergonomics, and usability as you collaborate with skilled experts to create incredible, first-of-their-kind products.
You are:
You will:
You have:
About us
SteelSeries makes high performance gaming gear used by the most demanding, top professional gamers worldwide and peripherals that provide superior quality and a competitive edge to gamers of all skill levels.
What originally began with two people who recognized the need for superior, high-quality/performance gaming gear that would give gamers a competitive edge, has grown into a global leader in gaming and entertainment gear sought after for their high performance capabilities.
Fast-forward to today, and we've come a long way since our first glass mouse pad. We have global offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, providing an integrated portfolio of products designed specifically for gaming.
Apply if:
This position is located in our office in Frederiksberg.


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The Code of Ethics is the central guiding document for safe and ethical practice in addiction treatment and intervention in Aotearoa. It was developed in partnership with key people in the addiction treatment sector, including those from diverse ethnic, cultural, employment, and practice backgrounds.
All dapaanz members agree to abide by the Code of Ethics and will be held responsible for a breach of these ethics. This accountability provides practitioners, services and clients with a high level of assurance of the commitment to professionalism of dapaanz members.


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Problems With the Anti-Reflective Coating on Glasses
Anti-reflective coatings are applied to eyewear lenses to block or reduce external and internal reflective light 2. This coating reduces glare so your eyes are are more visible behind your lenses. Coated lenses improve night vision and increase user comfort when viewing a computer screen. An anti-reflective coating adds to the value of your eyewear; however, this coating can present some problems for the wearer.
The anti-reflective coating consists of layers of metal oxides applied to the front and back of glass, plastic or polycarbonate lenses. These micro-thin layers consist of zirconium-dioxide, titanium-dioxide, aluminum-oxide or silica dioxide. Anti-reflective coatings can be applied to the back of sunglass lenses 2. This eliminates sunlight reflections that occur when the sun is behind the wearer. Some anti-reflective coatings include a "hydrophobic" surface layer used to eliminate water spotting and make it easier to clean the lenses 2. Your AR coating may have an "oleophobic" surface layer designed to keep skin oils from accumulating on the lenses.
Lens Crazing
Lens crazing can occur during the lens finishing process at the optical laboratory. This damage can be caused by heat or stress caused from assembling the eyewear. The lens' AR coating should be stripped by the lens personnel and reapplied. If the lens material has been damaged, the coating process must begin anew with another lens. A lens affected by crazing may have cracking or dimpling. Most anti-reflective coating manufacturers offer a one- or two-year warranty on their products, according to certified optician Renee Bentley, ABOC. She advises her clients to avoid leaving their glasses in an hot environment, such as in the car, during sunny weather.
Lens Scratching
Dirt and grit around the optical equipment can transfer to AR coated lenses during the finishing process. Personnel must handle the processed lenses carefully to avoid scratching or dirtying the lenses. AR coated lens need more frequent cleanings since smudges and dirt are more apparent. The lenses should be cleaned at least once a day. Clean the lenses with a mild nonlotion based detergent and lukewarm water. There are cleansing agents specifically designed for anti-reflective coatings 2. Dry the lenses with a clean, soft, lint-free towel or an AR cleaning cloth. Bentley advises her clients to avoid using paper products on their lenses. "Any wood-based product can damage the coating and scratch the lens," she explains.
Decreased Impact Resistance
Optical professionals recommend using a good hard-coat underneath an AR coating. The hard-coat improves the adhesion of the AR coating and makes the coating less likely to scratch. However, hard-coatings and AR coatings may make a lens more brittle and undermine the lens' impact resistance. The optical lab can use a soft primer to cushion the lens and mitigate the shortcomings of the hard-coat. The energy of impact is absorbed through the primer on the back surface, where cracks are most often initiated preventing cracks from continuing through the lens.
- Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images


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Every day is another day. Another day closer to my yard at home closing down. Another day closer to knowing that my safe haven, my home, my family will no longer be. Its weird to think that I will be going somewhere else and going back to square one. A place I know only too well.
5 or so years ago we went away for new years and had booked us to have a riding lesson. The horses were a bit excited as it had snowed. We did some jumping and were told not to jumping position. I fell off and since then I became a very nervous rider. What scared me most was that I would fall off and break something to not ride for weeks on end. Riding for me was not just about being around horses and learning a new skill it was also about the people. The people I knew would be there week in, week out to tell me everything was okay and to help me when I got nervous or got on a pony I hadn't ridden before. Everyone felt like a sister to me and I really enjoyed spending sunny days at the yard. Every year I would go to pony club camp and always had so much fun and I saw a definite improvement in my riding.
The one thing I have learnt about myself as I have got older is that I do not cope well with change, so knowing that the next time I ride at Brawlings will be my last is certainly hitting a nerve as I know I will have to find a new riding school and build up a rapport with new instructors and new people. I don't like change and I struggle to cope with change and it is going to be very weird at first not driving to Brawlings every Saturday with the biggest smile on my face and just the happiness I cannot explain. The thing is- nothing will be Brawlings and this is something I have had to come to accept over the past weeks. Nothing is comparable to the place I loved and made so many great memories over the years.
The one person who has completely taken me under their wing is Carolyn and I know when the day comes I wont be able to say what I want to say as I will probably be crying my eyes out but I am so thankful to Carolyn and all the instructors at Brawlings for always looking after me. Carolyn, you nurtured me after that fall and made sure I was never harsh on my self. You pushed me on difficult horses who I soon came to love and I honestly would not be where I am today without you. I have so much more confidence now and although I get frustrated easily when I have to jump but I am getting there and it is all about increasing my confidence and just having fun.
I want to say thank you to every instructor at Brawlings who has helped improve my riding and have always made me feel so welcome. The friends I have made I will cherish forever and I hope to be able to keep in contact with them for many years to come. I feel although I will never been Ben Maher I have achieved some personal goals whilst riding at Brawlings and I will never forget the laughs we had (when girths were too loose or words were said in funny ways). Thank you especially to Judy for making Brawlings the best days of my life.


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Employee Benefits
We offer Section 125 plans including dental, vision, accident, critical illness, cancer, FSA's and more. We also help our clients develop wellness strategies and incentives to keep their employees healthy and reduce premiums.
Medical Plan Consulting
Mark III has worked in the Healthcare industry since 1986. These years of experience have allowed us to understand what works and what does not work in public sector health care administration.
Enrollment Services
We offer an exceptional online system, a call center, and salaried benefits representatives who provide value to our clients for the employees to elect for coverage and for staff to administer benefits.
is the value of working with Mark III.
We have strong bargaining power due to the volume of our business.
For example we have over $70,000,000 of dental plan assets and cover over 250,000 public sector employees across the Southeast.
They've already trusted us
Let's Talk
Have questions about our plans or services? Ready to start a conversation?
Fill out the form or call us at +1 (800) 532-1044!


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Established in 1997, we are a multi award-winning sound design and audio facility based in London. Our highly skilled team specialises in the art of sound design and has created some of the most revered commercial work of recent years. With four Pro Tools HD studios and a Dolby licensed surround suite, we offer a comprehensive audio production and sound design service in a creative and friendly environment. As part of the factory family, we are partners with SIREN for bespoke music composition and Texture, our creative production agency.
Our Services Include:
Sound Design for Advertising, Film, TV, Radio and Digital
Dolby Licensed Surround Sound Studio
Voice Records & ADR
Location Records
ISDN Sessions (CDQ & APT)
Source Connect Sessions
Music Editing & Mixing
Musical Sound Design & Mashups - in conjunction with SIREN
Binaural Sound Design & Mixing
Sound Design Consultancy Service
Audio Production Service
Please see our website for more.
Cannes Cyber Lion
Gold - Sound Design - Save The Children 'Most Shocking Second A Day'
Cannes Lion
Silver - Sound Design - Honda 'Hands'
MAS International
Best Sound Design in TV Advertising - Honda 'Hands'
Best Sound Design in Cinema Advertising - British Airways 'Today. Tomorrow'
Best Sound Design in Short Film Score - Any Other Sense
Best Sound Design in Viral Advertising - Save The Children 'Most Shocking Second A Day'
British Arrows Silver - Sound Design - Honda 'Hands'
Best Sound Design - Honda 'Hands'
Best Mix In A Commercial - Honda 'Hands'


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Uri Friedman at The Atlantic with the round-up.
John C. Dvorak at PC Magazine:
There was a big brouhaha over the weekend as the Apple iPhone alarm clock failed to work on both News Years day and January 2nd. Then the problem self-corrected on the third for some reason nobody bothered to explain.
I first found out about it on the 2nd when my podcasting partner, Adam Curry, was moaning about how the alarms didn't work on his iPhone, and he didn't get up on time to prep for the show we do on Sunday morning. I thought it was peculiar. Peculiar that people use the iPhone as an alarm clock!
Apparently, a lot of people use the iPhone as an alarm clock, adding more dubious usefulness to the device. I know that over the years, the mobile phone has essentially replaced the wrist watch. When people want to know the time they pull out their mobile phone and look at it. This has the added advantage of giving you the opportunity to check for important messages.
After all, we will die on the spot and be humiliated by the throngs of passersby if we are not up to the second with our messaging obligations. It's gotten so bad that the evil phones are now at our bedsides to wake us up. Then when this questionable function fails, the world goes into a tizzy.
Ron Hogan at Popular Fidelity:
Weirdly enough, the glitch only affected one-time alarm settings, not recurring alarms. Recurring alarms worked just fine. Apple says that "customers can set recurring alarms for those dates and all alarms will work properly beginning January 3." Too little, too late.
Even worse, the glitch affected the newest version of the iPhone, the iPhone 4G, and the most recent versions of iPhone software. If you updated your iPhone and needed to get up this weekend for something, then you probably overslept. Then again, if you have to get up for something, I recommend multiple alarm clocks, not just technological ones.
Charlie Sorrel and Brian X. Chen at Wired:
Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison told Macworld that the the bug had been officially recognized, and would fix itself on Jan. 3.
"We're aware of an issue related to non-repeating alarms set for Jan. 1 or 2," Harrison said. "Customers can set recurring alarms for those dates and all alarms will work properly beginning Jan. 3."
However, some iPhone customers in Asia and Europe said they were still experiencing alarm malfunctions as of Jan. 3, according to Reuters. Also, some U.S. customers said on Twitter this morning that their alarms weren't working.
"This is why I missed the gym this morning," tweeted Rik Nemanick, a Saint Louis resident.
Apple claims the alarm issue has only affected non-repeating alarms — meaning if your alarm is set to go off at the same time "every Monday," for example, it should have worked today. However, for those who set a one-time alarm for this morning, some may have experienced the malfunction.
If you're paranoid about sleeping in late, the quick fix for the issue is to set recurring alarms. To set repeating alarms, launch the Clock app, hit the + sign to create an alarm, then tap Repeat and choose the day(s) you want this alarm to go off regularly.
The alarm code in iOS seems to be pretty buggy. This latest problem follows a bug that caused alarms to sound an hour late when both Europe and the United States flipped over from daylight saving time at the end of the summer.
An unreliable alarm clock is a frivolous bug, but it's particularly embarrassing for Apple, a company that prides itself for fine details of its products. Here's hoping that Apple issues a complete rewrite of its clock app whenever it releases the next iPad or iPhone.
Ben Popken at The Consumerist:
On Jan 1 and 2 of 2011, tons of people overslept, not due to hangovers, but because of an iPhone glitch that made their alarms go off. For most people this was just an inconvenience, but for one couple it was disastrous. They missed a fertility treatment deadline.
Jodi writes:"
My husband and I set the alarms on both of our iPhones to go off at 6:45am on January 1. We had a very important deadline to make that morning in regards to our scheduled fertility treatment. But we missed it. The alarms didn't go off. Apparently (according to Google) they don't work on January 1 or 2 of 2011. Wish we would've known this ahead of time. Thousands of dollars and a month of injections wasted. And no one to turn to for recourse.Jodi
Sent from my iPhone"
My heart goes out to you and your husband, Jodi. That is devastating. I only hope that you have the resources and fortitude to be able to pick up the pieces and try again.You might say that they should have set multiple, non-iPhone alarms, but hindsight is 20/20 and that doesn't remove the pain of their loss.
Nicholas Jackson at The Atlantic:
Unwilling to wait for another day and hope that your alarm wakes you tomorrow morning as it once used to? There's a quick fix. Download one of hundreds of free applications from the Apple Store and use that instead. Maybe you'll even find that you like it better than the built-in alarm.
A couple of our favorites: Nightstand Central Free is ad-supported and only gives you a few options for the sound of your alarm, but it includes a weather report and works even when you leave the phone locked and in sleeping mode. iClock Free is another ad-supported application that includes a weather report next to the time display. Once you set an alarm using this application, it will go off on your iPhone or iPod even when you don't have the application open. In addition, you can set the app so that a puzzle must be solved before the alarm will stop ringing; a smart bonus that will help to rouse even the deepest of sleepers


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By now you've heard that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is the one YA novel you absolutely cannot miss. What you might not know is that The Hate U Give was not only inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, but also largely by Tupac, his THUG LIFE tattoo, and his activism. Author Angie Thomas often refers to Tupac not only in her writing, but in her conversation surround The Hate U Give. Since Tupac was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the first solo rap artist in its history to receive this recognition, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate his life, art, and activism. And of course thank him for inspiring what came to be one of our favorite YA novels of all time.
What Is THUG LIFE?
"Pac said Thug Life stood for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody. T-H-U-G-L-I-F-E. Meaning what society gives us as youth, it bites them in the ass when we wild out. Get it?" –The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
In an interview with Cosmo, Angie Thomas said "When we were trying to figure out a title for the book, I came across a YouTube clip of him discussing THUG LIFE. […] When I when I saw him explain what it means, it hit me that that's not just in my book, but that's what we see in society. When these unarmed black people lose their lives, the hate they've been given screws us all. We see it in the form of anger and we see it in the form of riots. So when I saw that in the video, it was like a sign."
Tupac and The Hate U Give
Though It's obvious that that title The Hate U Give came from Tupac, there are many other hidden places in the book that Tupac inspired!
Starr Carter
When deciding on a name for her main character, Angie drew inspiration from The Greatest himself. Though Tupac never had a daughter, he always claimed that he would name his daughter Starr. In a way, Starr is a tribute to the life of Tupac, and the daughter he never had. And in case you missed it- Starr sports a bandana on the cover of THUG, which can only be attributed to 'Pac's signature look.
Big Mav
If you read closely enough, you'll notice that Big Mav is described to look exactly like the greatest- Tupac Shakur.
While writing the book, Angie claims to have listened to Tupac's words of wisdom for inspiration. She says that in a way, Tupac and hip-hop showed her who she was- and aims to do the same for black youth with The Hate U Give. Tupac helped Angie to realize that her story mattered. That black stories matter. His revolutionary spirit and Activism allowed for Angie's new perspective.
The Rose That Grew From Concrete
Tupac penned a poem called "The Rose That Grew From Concrete." It's a metaphor for young people who grow up in bad situations but are still something to be in awe of. Angie attempted to make Starr, Seven, and all the characters in The Hate U Give roses in their own ways.
About Tupac
Tupac Amaru Shakur was a legendary rapper who combined hip- hop with activism. Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur was a Black Panther, and shaped Pac to be the outspoken revolutionary that he is know to be. Despite his controversial lifestyle, Tupac quickly became one of the most respected rappers of all time. His album All Eyez On Me peaked charts all across the USA and in many ways began the intersection of rap and activism. Tupac was fatally shot on September 7th 1996, while he was leaving a prizefight featuring Mike Tyson. His death left a deep wound in the hip hop and activist community, which is still felt to this day. On April 7th, 2017, Tupac became the first solo rap artist in history to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Revolutionary Lines From 2Pac
"The seed must grow regardless of the fact that it's planted in stone." –Tupac Shakur
"Follow your heart, but take your brain with you." – Tupac Shakur
"You got make a change. It's time for us as a people to start making some changes, let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live, and let's change the way we treat each other. You see the old way wasn't working so it's on us, to do what we gotta do to survive." – Tupac Shakur
"Cause I think we can make it, in fact, I'm sure
And if you fall, stand tall and come back for more" – Tupac Shakur
Are you as inspired by Tupac and The Hate U Give as we are? Tell us what you think in the comments below!


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Vetco Gray paying millions to settle bribery charges in Nigeria
Nigeria bribery charges settled
Vetco Gray will pay a record $26 million under plea agreements
For the second time in less than three years, companies tied to Houston oil-field-services firm Vetco Gray are paying millions to settle charges of illegally bribing Nigerian officials.
On Tuesday the companies — Vetco Gray Controls Inc., Vetco Gray Controls Ltd. and Vetco Gray UK Ltd. — agreed to pay a combined $26 million under criminal plea agreements, a record fine under the federal law that prohibits bribing foreign officials.
The parent company, London-based Vetco International, reported the violations to the Department of Justice, but the relatively large fine was assessed because one of the companies had been part of another bribery settlement in 2004.
In that instance, more than $16 million in fines were assessed, and promises were made the company would closely monitor its operations.
While the $26 million in fines is the largest to date, Lucinda Low, a partner with law firm Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, D.C., who specializes in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, said it probably won't hold the record for long.
"The fines are continuing to go up, and the Justice Department is making it clear it's going after these cases aggressively," Low said.
According to court documents, from September 2002 through April 2005 the Vetco companies used an unnamed international freight forwarding and customs clearing company to make at least 378 payments totaling $2.1 million to Nigerian customs officials.
The payments were aimed at getting officials to give Vetco preferential treatment during the customs process, letting them move equipment into the country without paying customs fees or allowing them to move equipment through the process more quickly, the documents say.
Employees not identifiedCourt papers don't identify Vetco employees involved in the schemes by name, but three of them, known as employees A, B and C, were based in Houston. Employees A and B were citizens of Norway, but Employee C was a U.S. citizen.
Court records say they worked for the company until April 2005. It's not clear what happened after that, but a statement from Vetco indicates it took "significant remedial action" after a thorough investigation of the incidents.
The parent company confirmed the settlement in a statement released Tuesday but did not provide further details.
Vetco supplies drilling and production equipment for on and offshore oil and gas projects through a web of related companies. Both of its bribery cases were related to the Bonga offshore oil and gas exploration and production project.
In the first case, when Vetco was owned by Swiss firm ABB, officials with subsidiaries Vetco Gray Inc. and Vetco Gray U.K. bribed Nigerian officials involved in approving bids for the project, according to government filings. Many of the bribes were paid to officials overseas, but in some cases a Houston-based executive used his corporate credit card to give cash and other gifts to Nigerian officials when they were in the U.S., the filings indicate.
In addition to the $16 million the two companies and their parent paid in 2004, in 2006 four former company officials paid nearly $235,000 to the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle the cases without admitting or denying guilt.
Vetco landed the Bonga contract, worth as much as $180 million. The bribes outlined in Tuesday's case were for moving equipment related to the project quickly through customs.
The illegal payments were usually made by the international freight company's Nigerian offices, which sent invoices to Vetco's offices in Houston describing the items as "express courier payments," "interventions" and "evacuations," according to court documents.
E-mail described paymentsA February 2004 e-mail from one Vetco overseas employee to Vetco employees in Houston described the courier payments as " a movement into the country when customs are paid to 'close their eyes' and movements at the airport when it is dark."
Many of Vetco Gray's assets are being purchased by GE Oil and Gas for $1.9 billion. GE required the case be settled before the purchase is closed and fines to be paid by the current owners, GE spokesman Peter O'Toole said. The purchase is expected to close by month's end.
The most recent Vetco case involves many smaller payments, which shows prosecutors are not just looking for cases involving massive lump sums, Low said.
"Nigeria is one of the more difficult places to do business in the world," Low said.
Local officials regularly demand small payments, he said.
"Once a company establishes a pattern of how to do business, it can be hard to break," he said.


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Photo-a-day 326: Advent calendar
This Christmas will be the tenth for which Wendy and I have been together. For six of the past nine Christmases, I've made Wendy an advent calendar: I didn't for our first two Christmases, and a couple of years ago – much to her disappointment – I just bought one from Hotel Chocolat.
I've done all sorts over the years, from a hamper of small gifts, to small gifts hanging on the tree, to stuffed "mini stockings" (aka trainer socks), to customised crackers. Oddly, I've noticed that several of those ideas are available in commercial packages this year… perhaps that's been going on for a while, and I just haven't noticed.
This year, I've prepared 24 mini gift-bags, all assembled on our mantelpiece. Frustratingly, 24 wouldn't quite fit side-by-side, hence the two odd ones at the front… but I guess that problem will be solved by 2nd December anyway! I'd normally keep it all hidden until 30th November, but couldn't find anywhere big enough to secrete it this year! And fear not – the rest of our decorations are most certainly not up yet!
This 1,899th post was filed under: Photo-a-day 2012, Christmas.


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501(c)3 non profit corporation We are a mentoring program for children of incarcerated and deported parents. We use basketball as way to start the process.
Our Coaches
Why we give back
The Mission
Birthday Parties
The Team
Youth Basketball Development
Each week, we will offer special clinics that focus on a single aspect of the game. We will take players through a detailed progression of each skill and give them a take-home plan to keep working on this skill. Clinics include "Ballhandling 101", "Pick and Roll Clinic", "Finishing in the Paint", "Shooting on the Move", and more!
These weekly classes take players through a 5-week progression. We will start with core fundamentals and build up to high-level skills. The workouts will be specific to age/ability, with a heavy emphasis on ball-handling, footwork, and scoring. Players will improve through a mix of individual drills and competitive gameplay.
All Grade 2-8
If you want to get your child started click below
Crossover Sports is a newly formed 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we volunteer our affords and accept charitable contributions. That is how you can help us take it a step further. Let us help your child and I turn we will help a child from a less fortunate situation.
For every 2 members that join we sponsor a child for a membership
Our give back program seeks to help disadvantaged, shelter, bullied, children of incarcerated parents ages 6-18 to improve their basketball skills, life skills, make friends and gain a mentor. The way we do this is with every 2 players that become paid in full members we sponsor a child in needs membership.
We have a long term goal to provide yearly scholarship to child from those same unfortate backgrounds. We use all of our resources to help all children find their path in life or simple make a donation
The Mission
Become a coach
We have taken on the motto of
"Reach one Teach one".
You can help us with our mission as we help your child improve their skills.
All they have to do is want to get better and we will do the rest.
Click here
to register and check out our upcoming clinics.
Email us if you would like to take advantage of our discount
Coach JT Thompson
10 yrs of youth coaching experience and USA Certified Licensed Coach Coach in various youth leagues in NY, NJ & Altanta Former NY All State for Mt. Vernon High school Former Junior College player Well known NY Streetballer
Coach Lloyd
Former 4 year College starter All Conference Former NY Street ball player
Coach BJ
Former college player Former International Professional Player
Youth basketball skills development program


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Using Jung's theory of personality and particularly focusing on the aspect of Inter-personal relationships allows us to get closer to women and understand their complexities. It helps us to improve our awareness and increase our understanding of their feelings towards situations, and how to best communicate with them on a level they'll understand.
Grouping women using Jung's theory helps us to make marketing to them more manageable
Need Convincing?
Let's start by finding out which personality group you belong to you.
All you need to do is click on the personality profiling analysis and answer the questionnaire.
Once completed, we will analyse it for you and send you a profile of your personality and the group you fall into.
If you think it's accurate then perhaps we could meet with you and tell you more about our process.