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Something happened to me, a pregnancy scare, or the possibility of a pregnancy scare, that broke the lock and flung wide a door I hadn't realized I'd closed. It was suggested to me by a man I had slept with to "take plan B- so we don't have a baby". A statement that I'm sure would unsettle any woman, especially via text message in the middle of work. The non-chalance of the message was a resounding statement of his indifference toward me. That alone hurt. But "so we don't have a baby"- that's the line the blasted me, like sonar under water, in a silent but destructive way that roused something deep within, something dormant. I took the plan B pill. As soon as I got out of work I high tailed myself to CVS. I'd never wanted to see one of those pills again.
The last time I'd taken one was a year and a half before. I was one of the lucky 10% of women whose usage of the pill had resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. And I'd been on birth control too. All that preparation and still I'd gotten pregnant. But in such an unhealthy way. After a month of heavy bleeding, testing of all kinds, a miscarriage (with ectopic pregnancies these are actually blessings) and a shot of chemo I healed slowly over another month and didn't want to be touched by a man again. But I fell back into my son's father's arms. They'd been unexpectedly open wide and comforting; so unlike the real him, but so much like the him I'd dreamed of. It was silly and self-abusive to let myself fall back into that trap. My 2009 wrapped up with our last rump in bed (Christmas morning), being called another woman's name. This after the months of pain and fear of an ectopic pregnancy by a man who was using me for a green card. I was done. Really done with men. I wasn't sure I wanted to see daylight again. But I slowly healed. I gave myself time and step by step repaired by focusing on my studies and working hard to complete my bachelor degree in May of 2010. The accomplishment made my heart grow by a thousand times. I'd found pride and security in myself. There was no greater reward. My son and mother came to my graduation, along with my son's father's sister (an absolutely lovely girl). It was a small celebration, but a BIG DEAL for me. I found work, luckily, right out of school. Three jobs, but all together they paid the rent. I was feeling really good. Then came September when I lost one job do to a cut back and the others due to the changing season. I had nothing but subbing left over. It wasn't enough. It never got to be enough. That's why a few months later, in March of this year, I lost our apartment. So much had been going on. My mind was spinning in so many directions I hadn't focused or been aware of these buried emotions,
until that text.
It shook me.
And awoke something that began to churn the waters deep below my belly.
I didn't know what it was. I knew something was wrong but I couldn't figure out what.
I'd taken plan B again, despite my unhappy memories and fears.
And every day after that I'd felt like I'd exited my own skin. Like I was standing outside of my body.
I couldn't feel myself as vividly as I usually did, like I was living underwater; everything was muted.
I'd cry when I saw blood on my maxi pad. The cramps from the pill were mild this time but my heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I brushed it off as heightened emotions brought on by the hormones in the plan B pill. I ignored my saddness. I ignored my feelings. I went numb and grew so detached from myself. Which must be how I came to feel like I was living outside of myself. I'd left my own skin so I didn't feel all the hurt swirling around beneath it. I'd left my emotions to one side and walked along side of them, like they were a stranger walking shoulder to shoulder with me on the street. I could see them, but didn't KNOW them. They were real, but not familiar. It was the strangest fog I'd ever been in.
And then it happened.
One day, again at work, while I walked back and forth from one table to the next, taking orders, typing orders, delivering food and drinks and laughing with my co-workers: I mentioned this phenomenon to a patron, the best friend of one of the girls I worked with. I told her how weird I'd felt lately; that I felt as if I was walking outside of my own skin. She was very intuitive; lucky for me. She asked if something had happened to me lately, something with a man. I told her no, nothing really big. And then she asked me the strangest, most outlandish, and horribly accurate question:
"Are all your friend's having babies"?
It's as if I'd almost not really heard her.
"You keep looking at all the babies that you pass -you don't stop… do you want to have a baby"?
What had she just asked me?
And suddenly as if from God a deluge of awakening fell upon me from miles above and I was washed away by the reality.
I hadn't realized it.
Because, I already am a mom. I thought my biological clock had stopped ticking. I'd fulfilled my drive to procreate. I was done. Finished. And absolutely fine….
I was absolutely wrong.
She was ridiculously right. This random girl I'd never met splashed this wake up call on me within a few minutes of observing my behavior. She'd hit it on the head, and me with it.
I WANTED to be a mom again. And taking that plan B made me feel like I was, well, almost raping myself. Forcing my body to do something that was against it's deepest desire to do; forcing it to get rid of a baby.
Not that I was pregnant. And not that I rationally wanted to be. But the idea of having a baby and how I hadn't thought about it, really, for years, it shocked me. When I was diagnosed with the ectopic pregnancy, all I'd thought about was my survival and getting well. I'd never considered my "condition" as a baby. It never really was. I'd been so sick I could barely get out of bed. I didn't feel a loss in miscarrying I felt like I'd been saved and in fact I had. If the miscarriage hadn't occurred my doctor would have had to operate on me. Seeing my blood levels drop made her feel safe in deciding to treat me with the non-invasive chemo therapy treatment. BLOOD. PAIN. FEAR. PAIN. That's all I'd felt and known in those two months. This was the first time I'd realized, I could be pregnant. I could be a mom again.
And I loved the idea.
But risking another pregnancy with another man who didn't love me was out of the question. And I knew that the man I'd just slept with didn't love me. I doubted if he cared about me. So deciding to take the plan B didn't take long and I am happy that I did so. But this was about me. I realized in that split second that I could be a mom again. His text message exposed his fear that something might have happened that evening that could have led to a pregnancy. It was all supposition. But it catalyzed this reaction in me. This mothering, clock-ticking reaction that completely side-swiped me.
I wanted to be a mother again. Maybe because I wanted a chance at doing it better.
Honestly, I hadn't realized it. I'd wished, years before when Douglas was two, that I could have another baby. It would have been the perfect time and so wonderful for Doug to have a pier-sibling. But his father and I did not work out. And it was a blessing in disguise that it never happened. Douglas was more then enough. And I was so happy with my little boy.
But he grew. And kept growing. And didn't need me the way he used to. He was pushing me away and acting like someone I'd never met before.
I guess I got to longing for the old days. For those precious moments when his warm little body lay like a miniature furnace, sleeping peacefully on my chest. I missed my baby and I wanted another one.
I felt a little nuts at first, but then I let all this emotion settle down. I let it settle in, this time knowing it was there, knowing what it was, realizing it had been haunting me for quite some time. I was amazed. That awakening changed me. It changed my life. It humbled me. It made me grow up in a way. Because the reality is I may never have another child but the idea of "being a mother again" is ridiculous. I'm a mother already. And though he's not a baby anymore he needs me just as much. Taking care of Douglas became all that more important. Which made our being homeless all that more painful. This summer was not the best for me. Emotionally it was a natural disaster. But rebirth is part of the power of destruction. It leaves room for new things to grow and develop. And new things have grown and developed inside of me. And inside of Douglas.
If, and hopefully when, I have another child I wonder if Douglas will feel attached to it. He's so much older now. It would be like an entirely different family. But it's silly to think about things that haven't happened yet. It's a waste of energy that I don't want to engage in. But I was happy for the awakening I experienced this spring. It helped me learn more about myself. I do want to have another child. But with the right person. And I'm more then happy with my life right now. Desperation isn't setting in, though I admit, sometimes I worry that I won't get the chance to have another child.
Babies are so lovely. I'm smiling right now thinking about one. And about Douglas, when he was that age. Never a more beautiful thing…


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Tax law includes benefits for makers, buyers of machinery and equipmentIssue: May 2018
The first major tax change in more than 30 years creates an interesting opportunity for machinery and equipment users at NPE2018. It could mean that more [more]
ANTEC co-located with NPE2018Tue, Apr 17, 2018
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), Bethel, Conn., a plastics industry association representing 22,500 plastics professionals from business, academia [more]
Paladin enhances dispensing systemIssue: December 2017
At the recent Rotoplas show in Chicago, Paladin Sales unveiled a pressure-vacuum-feeding capability for its RotoLoad Powder Dispensing System, which is [more]
Rotomolder teams with robotics firmIssue: December 2017
STP Rotomachinery, a maker of rotomolding machines, has announced a partnership with CFM Robotics to market its Satellite-66 mobile robotic automation [more]
California firm supplies solar-powered rotomolding unitsIssue: April 2017
LightManufacturing is blazing a new trail that doesn't require a factory — or generate energy bills. [more]
Rotomolding machines gaining speed, energy efficiencyIssue: April 2017
Recent rotomolding innovations offer advantages such as speed, efficiency and energy improvements. [more]
Pulverizer makers add teeth to productsIssue: May 2016
A pulverizer takes pellets in one end and produces powder at the other end. It is often used to get virgin resin ready for rotomolding, or for modifying [more]
Plastics Machinery Magazine launches new products online newsletterThu, Aug 06, 2015
Plastics Machinery Magazine has launched a twice-monthly newsletter to bring readers information about new products, through video and more. The [more]
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Ferry Industries Inc., Stow, Ohio, has been producing rotational molding machines since 1983 and refining its products along the way. The company used [more]
Energy Management: Machinery makers take different routes to save energyIssue: February 2015
Machinery makers are addressing energy efficiency needs in many ways. This article showcases some of the more recent developments. Injection machine [more]

subset: commoncrawl


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Investhansa is an online directory which presents information about the companies as well as financial products to its visitors.
Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/06/2014 -- Financial products as well as their derivatives are among the most widely used instruments across the world. The portfolio of such products includes a vast number of options to choose from. Each and every country offers similar as well as distinctive options to the investors. With a vast range of options available it does become really difficult for people to choose the best option for them. The entire thing depends on the profitability as well as risk factors. This is the reason why people are recommended to invest in safer options and consult the right agencies or individuals. With so much happening in this domain it does become difficult for people to know everything. Mostly international or local investors wish to have a single portal offering them information about the financial products as well as the legitimate service providers.
One such initiative taken by Investhansa offers the visitors and option to know about financial products offered in numerous countries across the world. The site offers information to increase the knowledge as well as wealth of the visitor with respect to financial products. It also lists information about FOREX, FOREX Brokers, managed Forex, Trading strategies, future and options brokers, trading system review, etc. Depending on the country a person is searching, they can locate it on the map and get all the required information at a single place. The homepage of the website presents a world map where it becomes easier for people to click on their respective searched areas and zoom in to know more.
It also lists down some popular countries at the bottom of the page so that people can directly click on them and visit all the information related to that particular country. Navigation has been kept quite simple and clear which facilitates a smoother search for visitors on the website. They also offer details such as the ways different investors manages account or even the preferred trading systems. In case people have more queries or wish to offer their suggestions, then they can use the Suggest page and submit their desired suggestions. The webmasters would make sure that these queries are addressed and the appropriate changes are implemented. Moreover, if people have specific terms to search of, or wish to know details about a particular topic they can use the advanced search box which has been featured at top of the website.
The idea is to offer news, reviews and all kinds of information from the financial world. They extend to help the investors make investments in a manner that they both save time and money.
About Investhansa
Investhansa is an online directory which features information about financial products as well as information about service providers from the industry. The site also features reviews and news from the relevant areas to keep the visitors updated with the financial world.
For Media Contact:
Company: Investhansa
Website: http://www.investhansa.net


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liebeskind pop up store plaza indonesia4/20/2014 12:13:00 AM
Bringing the concept of everyday luxury since 2006, Liebeskind Berlin has won the heart of its customers and A-listers worldwide. ...
Bringing the concept of everyday luxury since 2006, Liebeskind Berlin has won the heart of its customers and A-listers worldwide. Taking cue from its original city, Liebeskind Berlin marries the casual vibe of Berlin with high standard of craftsmanship.
It is not my first time hearing about this brand. in fact, I have been falling in love ever since I saw it in a multi label boutique in Singapore. Crossing the border, here I am, meeting with this brand once again, but now in bigger store- thanks to Urban Icon.
As you can see, personally I am a minimalist person. I avoid monogrammed accessories as good as I can. I worship minimalist design with some details, and been a long time leather loving person. That is why, probably Liebeskind has become one of my favourite independent label.
Plaza Indonesia pop up store is open to public starting from April 17 2014. The Spring Summer 2014 collection is filled with beautiful handcrafted leather in neutral color and dark hued nylon for its larger and medium size handbags. Clutches are adorned with metallic and exotic skin accent like copper and silver, while wallets and bracelets are set in mix of grey scale and trendy jewel tone.
Besides reasons above, reason why Urban Icon brings in Liebeskind is that because it conveys "hand and heart" philosophy. This can be seen through finest material selection and handcrafted details. In the other hand, same like Liebeskind, Urban Icon is always striving to have direct connection with customers. In the world where machinery and business is vastly developing, it is great for a brand to go back to the root of human touch and interaction, isn't it?
10 dialogues
Liebeskind keren banget...model ama bahannya bagus! aku sendiri belum pernah liat tokonya di PI, ingin coba liat2 tapi pasti harganya muahall :XReplyDelete
I've just seen the brand from your blog ci fenn! thanks for letting us know xxReplyDelete
Thank you for visiting my blog! :)ReplyDelete
Nice post btw! I never heard that brand before, thanks for sharing it :)
Wanna follow each other? Let me know, let's keep in touch! ;)
Thanks a lot for letting us know about this brandReplyDelete
aaah kt ga foto brg ya fhen? loving the collection anww! thnks for inviting me ya hunReplyDelete
Wow! Brilliant blog, great posts and beautiful proprietress! What to want more ...ReplyDelete
I follow you (GFC) and welcome to visit my blog about fashion. If you like it please follow me back :-*
Katherine Unique
Nice blog dear . Looks like its a great eventReplyDelete
Great post dear!ReplyDelete
Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog
Wishing you a happy weekend
gosh those bags are niceee!!!ReplyDelete
great blog...ReplyDelete
hello! thanks for adding your thoughts, i really appreciate it! you can follow my instagram @stylefrontier too!


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In 2012, the U.S. Government finalized greenhouse gas reduction and fuel efficiency standards for new cars and passenger vehicles in model years 2017-2025. These Clean Car standards were adopted with broad support from automakers, labor and consumers.
Cars and light trucks account for about 45 percent of all U.S. oil consumption and more than 20 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
This clean car initiative cuts harmful climate pollution and will nearly double our current fuel economy performance by 2025. It builds on the adoption of the first-ever national scale greenhouse gas pollution reduction and efficiency standards for model years 2012-2016, finalized in 2010.
Progress Now Threatened
After a multi-year midterm evaluation of the program, EPA made a Final Determination in January 2017 that America's Clean Car Standards should remain strong and continue to protect families from dangerous air pollution while saving them money and creating jobs.
Despite the determination, the Trump Administration has decided to re-do that evaluation, and could weaken the standards. EDF will work to protect them.
Clean cars by the numbers
- $1.7 trillion Money consumers will save at the pump over the life of the program
- 12 billion Barrels of oil saved over lifetime of 2012-2025 model year vehicles
- 6 billion Metric tons of carbon dioxide eliminated over the life of the program
- $8,000 Money American families will save over the life of a new vehicle in 2025
Security, economy environment
The clean car standards pave the way for a new generation of vehicles that will achieve oil savings of more than 2 million barrels per day in 2025 – nearly half of what we import daily from OPEC today. The standards also reduce dangerous greenhouse gas pollution, save consumers trillions of dollars at the gas pump, and position U.S. automakers as leaders in the global marketplace.
Adopted with broad support
Automakers, small businesses, the United Auto Workers, American consumers, national security groups, economists, advocacy groups, and EDF weighed in supporting the standards when they were being developed.


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gluten free valentine's day cookies recipe
This is about Gluten Free Diva Instant Pot Love! Trust me, this is NOT your mother's or grandmother's old-fashioned pressure cooker gluten free fix is a gluten free diet blog with gluten free recipes and tips for those with gf restrictive diets. This baby has changed my life the gluten-free certification organization (gfco), a program of gig, is a leader in the verification of quality, integrity, and purity of gluten-free products. Are you on a gluten free diet? Looking for gluten free recipes that taste amazing? Check out our dinner recipes, desserts, appetizers, and more! Gluten-Free Recipes vegan valentine's day recipes by angela liddon. It s easy to go gluten-free with these tasty recipes from Food Network chefs the app; recipes; about; popular; baby; my books; press; faq; menu. We drive diagnosis, treatment and a cure for celiac disease to improve the lives of all people affected by celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity heaven in a gluten-free, vegan dish, that is. From breads and brownies to suppers and snacks, these gluten-free recipes are simply delicious glutenfreechecklist. Delicious gluten-free cookies, desserts, and dinner recipes com provides a list of the best gluten free products, gluten free recipes, coupons and resources for people that eat gluten free. Check out more than 1,230 gluten-free recipes, with helpful reviews from home cooks like you after a long day or a double overtime win, everyone deserves to indulge a little. The holiday of love! Valentine s Day is the perfect excuse for whipping up some of the best gluten free dessert ideas from bloggers we love! Hope that you are all having a fabulous, gluten-free Valentine's Day! Aaron and I went out last night for our special dinner and I think that I may have gotten rich double chocolate brownies, sweet honey cornbread, light and fluffy pancakes. Buy yourself delectable and mouthwatering gluten free treats like cookies, cakes, and snacks that will be fit for any occasion from GlutenFreePalace gluten-free sugar cookies made with gluten-free flour taste just like the real thing. Com top each cookie with cream cheese icing. Valentine's Day is around the corner and if you're in charge of class parties, play dates or just want to make something fun for your kids these little snacks are cookies by design has a wide variety of gluten free cookies and gluten free gift baskets. Cheryl s new gluten free cookies & brownies are a great selection if you are avoiding wheat or rye find the perfect gift basket or cookie bouquet to send with that special. Enjoy buttercream frosted cookies, chocolate chip & more Paleo Valentine s Day recipes using all natural ingredients to make healthy Valentine s Day treats that are gluten-free and dairy-free find delicious gluten free recipes for cakes, biscuits, bread and more, as well as gluten free dinner party recipes. What is a gluten-free diet? Our nutrition expert Jo Lewin explains what it means for your health, what to watch out for and where you can find support also check out our how-to guide to wheat and. Now you can enjoy gluten-free gifts with uncompromising taste, texture, and flavor and maintain a gluten-free lifestyle gluten-free foods. Gluten-free eaters can indulge in Alton Brown s recipe for The Chewy Gluten-Free, a version of chocolate chip cookies, from Good Eats on Food Network gluten is basically the proteins found in wheat and other grains. Gluten Free Valentine s Day Sugar Cookies Recipe are perfect treats for your kids to take to school and share with the class! Wildflour Gluten-free Baking Co whenever you are making baked goods such as breads or cakes, it is the gluten. is committed to providing a place where people can come to find exceptional quality baked goods and feel confident knowing they are whether you are allergic to gluten or just simply like to pass on grains, vitacost has you covered with a curated list of all gluten free products, recipes and much more. No cookie, strudel, brownie, pie, cake, tart, or treat left behind gluten-free creations bakery is the first complete facility to certify their products through the gluten-free certification organization (gfco), a program of gig. Gluten-free baking for people and gluten-free cookies for dogs on a wheat-free diet? our gluten-free recipes will provide inspiration from breakfast to dinner. Hungry? Looking for the best Gluten-Free recipes? Get recipes like Moroccan-Spiced Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew, Creamy Celery Soup and Old Bay Chicken Wings from Simply people, i have been to gluten-free bakeries across the country. GFCO Certified Candy Companies tu-lu's is, by far, the best gluten-free bakery i have ever encountered. Here's our list of sweets for your sweetie that won't make him or her sick: the 2017 GFCO-Certified Gluten-Free Valentine's Day run, don't walk. Gluten Free Fix is a gluten free diet blog with gluten free recipes and tips for those with GF restrictive diets


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I'm in love with my kitchen for the first time since we've lived in this house! I mean, I knew this couldn't backfire or present any possibility of me not liking the outcome, but the level of happiness at the outcome is way more than I anticipated.
Even on a rainy, gloomy day, our kitchen is bright! And I love even more that the wood grain of our oak cabinets still shows through the paint. If you're a close picture examiner, you will see some missing hardware. I flip flopped our order and ordered too many pulls and not enough knobs. So the remaining knobs we need should be in next Tuesday. You'll also see my motivational projected outcome pic hanging on the fridge—looks pretty dang good!
All in all this was an awesome do-it-yourself renovation that I would highly recommend if you're even halfway thinking of it. Total cost ran us around $300 (including all hardware, a new palm sander, and $50 paint).
Allow yourself time and space. And the biggest factor of your time, is how much space you have to lay everything out for priming and painting and drying and recoating. Without the space to keep working, you're stuck waiting. We set up several 6′ long tables in our garage.
And when it comes to paint, it's never too expensive. Splurge on your paint and you'll save yourself tons of headaches as it just settles so beautifully. We used Benjamin Moore Advance and our color was from the Off White Collection named Dove Wing. The Advance line is technically a water base which helps with drying time and clean up compared to the typical cabinetry oil base paints. However it's all fancy and engineered to self level and dry beautifully and cure hard. It ran us around $50/gallon and it was worth every penny. And after painting two coats on every cabinet surface we covered, we still only used half a gallon. Talk about lovely coverage.
Oh and we also salvaged our hinges instead of spending money to replace them. We simply scrubbed them clean with a hard brush and bleach and used Rustoleum Metallic Spray Paint in oil rubbed bronze color to coordinate with our oil rubbed bronze hardware. They turned out great and only cost us $6 in spray paint.
For a step by step guide of how we tackled our cabinets, I defer you to one of my favorite do-it-yourself blogs/family, Young House Love. Their recent step-by-step kitchen cabinet blog was basically what I followed to a T. So if my humble do-it-yourself projects are able to add any more credibility to everything they complete, then I hope it helps.
Stay tuned for true final pics soon. Our hardwood floors came early (Happy Valentines to me!) and started installing yesterday.


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Male tennis in the post-soviet countries: no change of guard in sight
This article is dedicated to the latest results of the male tennis players from the former USSR states, or, to be more precise, to the absence of their results. Alexander Dolgopolov, the Ukrainian top player, is currently ranked 31, while Russia, which is the largest post-soviet county, has no representatives in the top 70. But Russian men's tennis was a much different beast not so long ago. Yevgeny Kafelnikov became the first Russian to reach the top of the men's rankings, followed by Marat Safin a year later. Both won two grand slams apiece during their careers. Marat Safin will remain the most beloved tennis player in the region. And then there were Nikolai Davydenko, who had finished in the top five for four consecutive years and Mikhail Youzhny who didn't manage to achieve anything worthwhile despite his great talent.
It goes without saying that after Marat Safin retired the men's tennis in Russia has started declining but Davydenko and Youzhny managed to keep it alive on a very decent level. And then there is silence. No change of guard in sight. The crises after Davydenko's retirement was widely predicted but its depth surprised millions of amateurs and professionals. Let's be honest: the quality of tennis athletes' preparation in the post-soviet states is far from being perfect. Quantity matters much more than quality. In other words, in Russia they believe that among huge number of juniors who undergo cost-efficient training there will be at least one or two guys with inexhaustible talent who will show top results in spite of, not thanks to. The strategy is rather doubtful, I would say. However, it produced very decent results.
The Ukrainian Alexader Dolgopolov is probably the last vivid example of a person with natural gifts. He would have become a top player anyway, shall he train not in Congo, certainly. Dolgo owes his success not to the well-established system, but to his own genes. The question is how the system can build on such talents. Let's take a look at the USA, Australia, France or Great Britain. As soon as there appear more or less capable boys or girls, they are given all the support they can dream about. Thus, Great Britain has polished Andy Murray from head to toe providing him with all that he might need to bring results representing his nation on the world's arena: sponsorship, best coaches, training equipment, wild cards…Oddly enough, but we believe that the net talent of Andy Murray isn't huger than that of Alexander Dolgopolov or Mikhail Youzhny. Andy is a product of the perfect professional system. Now we may only play a guessing game, but let's imagine that a 5-year-old Dolgopolov would have been put in Murray's environment. We are confident that the Ukrainian would have dropped out from the top 5 then.
What are we driving at? Tennis is slowly becoming an unfair and unjust sport. The struggle has moved far away from the courts. Now it's a fight of massage therapists, nutrition specialists, fitness instructors, physicians, sponsors and finances. Sadly, but true. And you should admit it or quit tennis. It's not enough to have a God-given talent. The system you belong to must be functioning properly. National federations must greatly contribute to the players' development. And the contributions should go deeper than just sending out invitations to participate in the Davis Cup championship. If there are no national tennis schools and academies, no coaches and no decent conditions, then raise the funds to help the youngsters. Otherwise, what's the use of national federations? If there is no shift of mind in Russia and its neighboring states, a new Safin will take too long to appear on courts. Until this situation changes soon, it could start affecting Russia's flow on the women's tour as well.
How many Challengers, budget hotels and rough courts should Donskoy, Rublev and Khachanov overcome to stop knocking on the top 90-100 doors? How long did it take the Ukrainian Ilya Marchenko to reach a boost in his career and announce himself to the world of tennis? Six years! Compare it with Denis Kudla, Donald Young and Francis Tiafoe. How many wild cards have they received just because of their nationality! I have nothing to say against these guys but the tendency smells wrong. Some players are granted with endless opportunities to perform at high-ranking events, while others aren't allowed to qualify. Certainly Young, Johnson and Tiafoe can do their best on trainings mastering different elements and not to worry about participation at major events. They know that the United States Tennis Association will take care about it. As for the Russian youngsters, they are doomed to play numerous Challengers and this fact can't but trigger questions. When and what for should the guys hone their tennis?
Bet on tennis with us: +20% each month
Now some more bad news. Let's assume that the system has suddenly started working and paid attention to its tennis players. The problem is that there is no one to help now. With no prejudice to the Russian athletes, Donskoy isn't a top player. There are too many shortcomings in his play or, to be more accurate, he has no strong sides.
Andrey Rublev is a promising tennis prospect but he's undercooked and lacks consistency. In our opinion, the most he can achieve given his physical data is Andrey Kuznetsov level, which is not that bad. But it's not worth the trouble.
As for us, we keep insisting that Karen Khachanov is the most promising teenager in the post-sovient region. He as it all to succeed: physical power, wonderful technique and fighter's attitude. Armed with a lethal shotmaking arsenal, predicated on a fierce forehand and imposing serve, the Moscow native has seen his position in the Emirates ATP Rankings soar nearly 150 spots in the past year. Hopefully, he'll be able to improve on his style and advantages.
With all said above and analyzed the present-day situation we should say that there are no youngsters in the post-soviet states who can compete on top level. And they are not the only ones to blame for it...
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My prbeolm was a wall until I read this, then I smashed it.
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Fruska Goranga Camp – 10th Jubilee Edition -from 5th till 14th of July 2013
Infusing our life with spiritual inspiration
Dear devotees and friends,
Hare Krsna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
You are cordially invited to join the 10th Serbian Summer Camp in the hills of Fruska Gora and fill your life with spiritual inspiration, strength and nourishment.
Once a devotee told me, "We are living in a time when we are constantly bombarded by mass-distraction weapons." How right he was.
The Serbian Summer Camp offers us a unique opportunity to leave behind the material distractions of our usual life and immerse ourselves fully into Kåñëa Consciousness. Nothing or very little distraction can come into an atmosphere where the prime focus is chanting the Holy Name, hearing about the philosophy of Krsna consciousness from realized older devotees, relishing the pastimes of Krsna and having the uplifting association of many devotees.
I feel that this last point is very important. We need to recover from the stress of the material world in the company of our friends who walk the path of Krsna consciousness and can give us some valuable inspiration on how to progress further. Many older devotees and gurus, headed by H.H. Jayapataka Swami, are expected to come and assist us too.
Therefore, to create a very inspiring atmosphere, this year we will again put the Summer Camp under one overarching theme: Vrindavan – and in this way create a specially focused atmosphere both in the camping grounds and in the many event-spots (Temple hall, Amphitheatre, the many outside assembly places etc…). Ideally we will create a Vrindavan atmosphere which is pervaded by Radha and Krsna's presence. No more material world!
Additionally, midway through the Camp there will be a Ratha Yatra in Novi Sad with lots of kirtans and cultural presentations, and a 12 hour kirtan (for the exact dates please visit this web site –www.gorangacamp.com)
We hope that you feel inspired to come in big numbers and that you will bring your friends along too. Please, give us the pleasure and honor of having your good association and serving you again.
Wishing you all the best and lots of spiritual strength,
Sacinandana Swami and Madhva Muni, together with the Organization team
for practical informations, please click:
1 minute video
No need to be afraid video:
TV Frushka Goranga video:


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Hours & Admission
Kidzu's location is inside University Place
Kidzu Hours
- Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
- Extended hours until 7pm on Wednesdays
- Sunday 1-5pm
- Closed Mondays
In addition to Mondays, Kidzu is closed the following days each year: Thanksgiving Day, December 24-25, New Year's Day, and Easter Sunday.
Each day we feature drop-in programs as well as great hands-on activities in our exhibit areas. Please check our calendar page to see what's happening each day.
- $8.50 per adult
- $8.50 per child over 12 months
- Free for children 11 months and under
- Free for members
- $3.00 for EBT/SNAP Cardholders
- $7.00 for seniors 65+
- $7.00 for military families
*prices do not include tax
Memberships start at $145 for one year of unlimited admission. Membership pays for itself in as little as 5 visits. See our membership page for more information.
The 1st Sunday of each month is "Pay What You Can" admission day. Admission to Kidzu on this day is on a donation basis.
Looking for less busy times to visit the museum? The middle of the day (11:30am-2:30pm) during the week are some of our quietest times to visit. No large field trips are ever held on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. *Kidzu may occasionally open late Wednesday mornings to accommodate larger field trips. Please check our calendar before planning your visit.*
Before You Visit
Kidzu provides a social narrative, a short story written from a child's perspective, to help prepare you and your child for your visit to the museum. The social narrative can be downloaded and printed here before your visit or copies are available at the front desk. Thanks so much to TEACCH for their guidance in developing this program.
About Kidzu
We invite you to get involved with Kidzu and help us build a permanent museum that serves all children in our community and inspires learning through purposeful play!
Closed Monday
Closed on MLK
$8.50 per child over 12 months
$8.50 per adult
Free for children 11 months and under
$3.00 for EBT/SNAP cardholders
$7.00 each for seniors 65+
$7.00 each for military families
Kidzu is proud to be a Blue Star Museum and a Museum For All.
*Prices do not include tax
201 S. Estes Drive,
Chapel Hill, NC


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By Lady Mary of Montevale.
Features Reporter
An oxymoron is scheduled for the main battlefield this Sunday afternoon, the Tournament of Chivalry which, despite its name, is neither a tournament nor open only to the Chivalry.
A first-time event for Pennsicand scheduled to follow opening ceremonies, it is open to all rattan fighters regardless of their level of fighting skill or experience. Also known as a gold chain tourney or a duke university (Trimaris), a Tournament of Chivalry is considered in the Midrealm to be "our greatest teaching tool," according to HRM Savaric of that Kingdom. His Majesty took the time yesterday to explain to me about tournaments of chivalry in general as well as to relate a little background of why a Tournament of Chivalry comes to Pennsic this year for the very first time.
In previous years, the fighting after the Opening Ceremonies has often been the Champions' Battles which end with the awarding of that Pennsic's first war points. When the schedule for fighting events at Pennsic 41 was being discussed, it was decided to schedule something that would involve many more fighters and be an afternoon of fun and learning for all.
Sunday's start time of 2 PM allows fighters to go change from their finery of the opening ceremonies to their armor and also to bring their choice of weapons back to the battlefield. The "tournament" is set to run as three 45-minute sessions with breaks in between. Belted fighters will gather in the center of the field, while everyone else will line up around the perimeter. Each Kingdom will have a banner on the field to help everyone know where to form up. During each session there will be classes as well as opportunities for single combat.
The Ladies of the Rose serve a vital role throughout the afternoon as they guide fighters to the specialty classes and pair up fighters for the individual bouts. These one-on-one meetings can be a wonderful opportunity to face fighters from other kingdoms with whom you might never otherwise engage in single combat.
The specialty classes offer a chance to learn from some of the best heavy weapons teachers in the Known World.Classes include HRM Hirsch Sean of Artemisia–shot recovery; HRM King Hrafan of Ansteorra–footwork; HRM King Kirsch of Calontir–great sword; Duke Seth of Meridies–spear and melee; Duke Lucan of the East–range control and power development; Duke Rangvaldr of the Midrealm–targeting; Duke Brannos of the Midrealm–boxer-style strikes; Duke Maynard of Æthelmearc–polearm; and others. More spontaneous classes will likely take place during the breaks.
The work of organizing and coordinating the first Known World Tournament of Chivalry was done by Duke Ullr and Duchess Annalise of the Midrealm. HRM Savaric pointed out that this is an undertaking that "could not be done without good allies." He stated his belief that "this War will be the greatest contest of arms the Known World has even seen."


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Nonprofit Web Design & Development
WordPress, Membership, Mobile Responsiveness, and Clean Design!
CNLA was another client who reached out to Chariot Creative, Inc. after a recommendation from another nonprofit organization that we've been volunteering with for years. With nearly 600 members across the US, CNLA was in need of a new website that encompassed a modern interface, a Content Management System, Membership with Management, and Event Booking. We worked with the nonprofit's board members to identity their target audience. We then created and executed a plan that enables a number of admin-level users to login to the website to manage members, edit events, edit website content, post blogs, and more. We worked with CNLA to create an engaging, clean site design that would both offer members/visitors intuitive access to the most important sections as well as encourage new sign-ups.
The content features members-only pages, dynamic and multi-level membership identifiers, and an simple intuitive process for members to sign up and renew membership. For the admin functionality, we used the WordPress for the platform. This enabled us to provide all functionality of what the group was looking for and stay within CNLA's nonprofit budget. We're sure that our 20% nonprofit discount didn't hurt either!
Upon completion and testing, and after a few short training sessions from our team, CNLA jumped right in and began to use the site to its full potential. With a visual editor in the admin dashboard, there are no web development skills needed in order to make edits, manage members, you name it! We received very positive feedback on how easy the dashboard is to use and we were glad to hear it!
See our blog about Membership Sites here:


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Star Wars: Blackguards
It is two years after the battle of Yavin and the destruction of the Death Star space station and fallowing the aftermath of that desperate battle the Rebel Alliance still struggles under the iron fist of the Galactic Empire, but a new call has gone out for others join their fight. This call is not for the young idealist and dreams that make up a large number of the rebellion. No this call has gone out to the shadows that the outlaws, scoundrels, smugglers and renegades of the galaxy call home. After Han Solo's success with the Smuggler's Alliance to organize a large group of smugglers to help transport goods and personal for the rebellion, the Rebel Alliance Navy has now drafted a new plan to sign on 'outlaw' ships and their crew with promises of pay and clemency of past crimes upon the restoration of the Republic. The new plan code named 'Blackguard' has now been put into motion and the call has been sent out and answered if slower than the Rebel Navy hoped for as one by one former pirates, smugglers and other rogue ships have joined the rebellion.
One such ship named Wicked Kismet, a modified Armed Freighter Ship turned to piracy has joined the cause as Captain Torvik Pace signed her over to the service of the Rebellion, unfortunately for Captain Pace his former crew jumped ship instead of following Kismet and her Captain on this path. Now the Wicked Kismet sits in port at the space station StarForge in the Ado sector of the Mid Rim where Captain Pace has put out the call for new crew willing to sign on with him and set forth to strike against the Empire and change the fortunes of the growing Rebel Alliance.
In Star Wars Blackguard player character will be taking the role of crew members of the Rebel privateer ship the Wicked Kismet. A list of crew positions that must be filled before the Kismet leaves port are posted in the Crew of the Kismet section. The Character Creation rules have a list of character concept requirements as well. As a member of the Rebel Navy's Blackguard fleet the Wicked Kismet will take on a number of roles, everything from privateering on Imperial shipping, to taking part in covert operations and even Rebel Navy engagements. As such the crew will need to be a good on ship as off and very self reliant as in most cases the Kismet will be operating on her own.


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Whether you're a first-time mom or adding to an ever-expanding brood, raising kids is hard (like, really hard). Luckily, social media can be super helpful when it comes to finding your tribe. We looked through a ton of facebook groups for every type of mom, every type of family and every type of need and narrowed it down to our favorites below. Keep reading to find one that's perfect for you.
Groups for New Moms & Babies
Due Date Group, 40K members
Find other moms due the same month as you for 2018 and 2019.
Fussy Baby Support Group, 22K members
This group is perfect for moms feeling overwhelmed by fussy or colicky babies. They make sure moms know it's a safe no-judgment zone where they can come with questions and get advice. But, they also recommend their members give advice from experience as well.
Baby-Led Weaning, 40K members
As the name suggests, encouragement and support for moms who are weaning their babies.
Exclusively Pumping, 19K members
Another descriptive group name, this group is intended for Exclusive Pumpers to share information and support.
The Mommy Grind, 19K members
This group was created to help new moms navigate the first few years of motherhood. They are also adamant about no solicitations, no contests, no giveaways, etc.
Car Seat Safety, 48K members
This group is great for new moms (and dads, of course) who have questions, concerns, and are looking to purchase a new car seat. This group aims to empower and educate their members, but a big goal is to help reduce child injury and death in the event of an accident.
Milky Mommas, 74K members
Breastfeeding is a lot more complicated than it looks. There are latching issues, mastitis (OUCH), nipple confusion and more. Milky Mamas is there to help.
Groups for the Daily Grind
Mom Squad, about 22K members
Being a mom is rough. And kids do say the darnedest things. So of course, you need a place to vent, laugh and bond. Mom Squad is a great place to ask for advice and question things, but keep in mind, the admins keep the page judgment-free and non-political.
Modern Parenting Hub, 11K members
Both parents and caregivers can connect in this safe space all about communication and socialization. It's not just about advice on this page, but also about really connecting and building relationships.
Simple Families, 13K members
Motherhood and parenting are filled with a lot of white noise … which means nonsense. This group looks to strip down and get rid of the nonsense and help moms focus and thrive in motherhood more simply.
One Bad Mother, 8.5K members
Based on their Podcast, this Facebook group aims at supporting their members through all of their "genius and failures of life." Once again, they aim to keep this a safe space where members feel comfortable asking questions, sharing goofs and just venting about the toughness of motherhood.
photo: GSCSNJ via Flickr
Cat and Nat Chat, 45K members
If you ever need a true belly laugh, check out Cat & Nat's #MomTruth videos on YouTube. They tell it like it is, the good, the bad and the (vomit-filled) ugly. And their Facebook group reflects their sass, humor and real-life approach to things.
Slate Parenting, 3K members
Fans of Slate Parenting column and podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting enjoy this dynamic group. All posts in this group are moderated by Slate's parenting editors and columnists.
The Mom Rant, 11K members
Had a hard day? You might want to consider join The Mom Rant, a safe place for moms and moms-to-be to rant/rave and vent freely. With 11k+ members from across Canada and around the world, it's a judgment-free place for moms to find solidarity with others.
Food-Related Groups
Feeding the Littles, 71K members
We don't want to scare you, but feeding young kids often stinks. They are the pickiest, strangest eaters on the planet. Check out this group if you want a safe place to share recipes, ask questions and get advice. Like most parenting groups, they urge members to be respectful and shy away from controversial topics.
Recipe Rescue, 2K members
From the Cool Mom Picks team, this active group offers ideas and inspiration for preparing family meals.
Parenting Picky Eaters, 5K+ members
Moderated by feeding consultant, Jo Cormack from the UK, and children's nutritionist and therapist, Simone Emery, this is a safe space for parents of food-cautious kids.
Instant Pot Parents, 18K members
If you like your Instant Pot and want more family-friendly ideas and recipes, this is the group for you. With over 18,00 members, there's a wealth of knowledge here.
photo: Brooke Lark via Unsplash
Special Interest Groups
Kids' Crafts and Activities, 47K members
There's nothing worse than snow days, vacation days, sick days or rainy weekends without something to do. This group provides activities and shares articles, ideas, etc. for parents and kids. Think of it as a Pinterest Facebook group filled with tips, tricks and lifesavers.
Moms Who Run, 3K members
Mom-to-mom support to get out there and run no matter how busy life is.
Red Tricycle Book Club, 1K members
A monthly book club for moms hosted by the Red Tricycle team.
Moms in Tech, 8K members
Ad-free, judgment-free, solicitation-free, this is a safe space for moms working in tech (in any sort of position) looking connect and support each other. They encourage members to post job openings, share projects they are proud of, and respect other members' privacy. Working is hard, motherhood is hard, and this group hopes to help relieve a bit of both.
Parents of Only Children, 4K members
Whether you are one and done by choice or not, if the question "Are you done having kids?" always annoys you, this is the group for you.
ADHD Parents Support Group, 49K members
An open, non-judgmental forum to discuss the challenges of parenting children with ADHD, as well as seek solutions.
Local Groups
Upper East Side Moms (New York City) 31K members
UES Mommas is a group where NY mommas come for support, positive and constructive guidance and community. It's also a great place to check on great dining suggestions, what's the deal with the Second Avenue Subway, and how's that new dry cleaner that just opened. Plus, you can ask questions about schools, museums and more.
Upper West Side Mammas (New York City) 19K Members
Same thing, but for the Upper West side.
Circle of Moms (Chicago), 11K members
You can join this group to chat, ask for advice, give advice, learn about events happening in the area, vent, set up playdates and more. Keep up-to-date about what's happening in the Windy City and all there is to see and do with kids—big and small.
Washington DC Area Moms 4K members
Learn about events, get great tips (Best playgrounds! Best kid-friendly dining) on this local page. They don't allow solicitations or marketing, so this is a safe space for even the most hesitant participant.
Main Street Mamas (San Francisco) 10K members
This group claims to have an open mind and no rules, but they do insist on no judging and being respectful. Keep business posts to Momtrepreneur Mondays and classifieds on the weekends, but otherwise, come and enjoy yourself. Learn about events and get to know your SF community.
Portland Mamas 19K members
What started as a small space for a handful of moms in the area has grown to over 19,000 members offering advice, resources and support in an open and friendly manner. Ideas come fast and thick here, so if you're looking for the best soft shoes for your toddler or the best school backpack, strap in and get ready! It's like crowd-sourcing from thousands of great friends who have tried it first.
Red Tricycle Families Seattle, 3k members
Find the tools and tips you need to parent like a rock star on Red Tricycle's own parent group page, Red Tricycle Families Seattle. On it, you'll find events, ideas and activities that transform everyday parent-kid outings into memorable adventures that are surprisingly easy to do. It's also a place for moms and dads to ask the "who, what, where and when" questions that always seem to crop up. Or to post what you know by sharing your own kicking kid-friendly events within the group.
LA Mommies, 49K members
LA Mommies is a private group so no one outside of it will see you post about having a mommy meltdown at 2 a.m., but be prepared to (virtually) run into other mom friends. Members can post anything and everything mom-related from pregnancy and parenting advice to the best spots for birthday parties or date nights.
— Felissa Allard with Allison Sutcliffe & Shahrzad Warkentin
Want us to add your group? Email us at editor at redtri dot com.
11 Facebook Groups for Portland Parents
Thumbs Up: 15 Seattle Facebook Groups You Need to Join Now
Grow Your Mom Squad With These Awesome LA Moms Groups


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8 Tips for Blogger OutreachBlog Post: June 05, 2011
Awesome read Rob. You provided some very good tips on how to promote yourself or business without sounding like a desperate entrepreneur who's just trying to get a back-link trying to increase their link juice. Today, social media pretty much runs the web. Everybody and anybody you know will either have a LinkedIn account, Facebook account, or Twitter account. And if they haven't , they will have one eventually.As a recap, here's the list of 7 tips you provided for better outreach:
- Flattery is easier on Twitter
- Finding email addresses can be tough
- Use Twitter's search to find opportunities
- Tailor your Guest Posting ideas
- Twitter Lists FTW
- Get an introduction
- Show your credibility
- Set up custom RSS feeds for key bloggers
The good thing about Social Media is when you try to increase your outreach with somebody new, you won't sound as much of a creep since it's all online and informal. Kind of like the quote you mentioned by Michael Gray aka @graywolf, "when u ask someone out on a date do u ask for sex right away? when u ask for a guest post do u ask for a dofollow link?"I thought this was a good example of how you should approach people online. As informal as it is, there's still an unwritten rule of how you should approach people to increase your outreach. I thought the information you provided was good but it seemed like it was heavy on the Twitter side. How would one go about reaching people via Facebook? I would think it's pretty much similar but FaceBook allows for more functionality. It'll be interesting to see what the science for "Facebook Outreach"All in all, great read Rob!


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|Beautiful blue skies in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
|Mammoth skull in plaster cast
|Volunteers removing part mammoth tusk from plaster cast
The theme for the Paleontological Society this year was "Ancient Horses of Anza-Borrego"
and experts were on hand to show visitors bones of the ancient horses who lived in the park region, as well as comparisons with bones from modern horses. Several volunteers were working on carefully removing a mammoth tusk from its' plaster cast and talked to Anne and Edgar about the techniques paleontologists used on excavations. The method of removing animal bones by covering them in plaster to protect them during transport hasn't changed since the early days of paleontological work!
|Giant tortoise shell, upside down, still partially in plaster cast
|Fossil echinoid discovered by Morlin Childers and given scientific name Schizaster morlini in his honor
Edgar was especially excited to meet volunteer Linda Gilbert, who has been working on the recently acquired Morlin Childers paleontological collection. Since Edgar is working in the Childers archaeology collection recently brought to the Desert Museum, the two had lots of stories to share! Staff were also honored to meet George T. Jefferson, the park's (now retired) paleontologist who talked with them about mammoth bones found by IVC's George Miller in 1986.
It was great seeing so many people out celebrating Borrego Days and enjoying discovering more about the amazing stories found right there in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We hope some of you got the chance to go out and participate!
|Edgar's selfie with a saber-toothed cat


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Readers Select Top Fiduciary Stories of 2009: #8 The Fall of Target Date Funds
It all started a few years ago when Congress passed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 ("PPA"). The PPA featured an automatic enrollment option, but created a void that perplexed – and possibly increased the liability of – the typical 401k fiduciary. In October 2007, the Department of Labor (DOL) came to the rescue by issuing a final rule establishing qualified default investment alternatives (QDIAs). This made it easier for employers to automatically enroll workers in their 401k and other defined-contribution plans.
According to the DOL Fact Sheet , among the three types of QDIAs included "a product with a mix of investments that takes into account the individual's age or retirement date (an example of such a product could be a life-cycle or targeted-retirement-date fund)." With this boost, interest in Target Date Funds ("TDFs") rocketed and, at the height of their enthusiasm in 2008, industry analysts expected the product to surpass the $1 trillion mark by 2012 ("Target date funds set to surpass $1T by 2012," Investment News, October 5, 2008). By comparison, it took nearly 30 years for index funds to surpass a trillion in assets. What caused this popular product to miss its mark?
Pitched as the be-all-and-end-all to 401k investors, these funds fell flat on their collective face as 2008's down market exposed them as more sizzle than steak and left the DOL a bit red-faced. Shareholders – red-faced in another way – clamored and Congress, in response to these irate investors, set up several hearings on this relatively new product throughout 2009 (see "Target-Date Funds Go Under the Microscope," USNews.com, October 30, 2009). Congress has yet to take definitive action, but the industry is not waiting. Roger Wohlner, CFP®, recently listed by the Wall Street Journal as the #1 financial blogger in the country, summarizes the issue when he told FiduciaryNews.com "The fact that there is such disparity between the holdings of various target funds with the same target year (say 2010 for instance) is a problem."
But 2009 exposed a much deeper problem with TDFs. Each TDF assumes a "glidepath" – a theoretical contribution/distribution timeline for investors. Unfortunately, recent evidence suggests investors don't behave in the manner the typical glidepath suggests (see "Participant Behaviors do not Match Target Date Assumptions," PLANSPONSOR.com, January 11, 2010).
Perhaps Mr. Wohlner offers the best advice. "TDFs probably remain a viable default option, but some changes need to be made. Participant education ought to include a 'truth in advertising' how-to that enlightens them of the vast differences in the allocations of TDFs with the same target year. Washington might help, too, but not by merely holding hearings and pontificating for their constituents. They need to take a hard look at what is both right and wrong with TDFs. A knee-jerk reaction to 2008 is not a good solution at all."


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How to Post Links on Facebook with Images (Step-by-Step)
Facebook has just recently enabled a new feature that allows users to edit their posts allowing for fewer errors and better looking updates in your newsfeed. This feature is used by other platforms (Google+) and will help users to correct mistakes made during initial postings.
The only setback of this feature is that an edit history is created after edits are made and is public so everyone can see what the changes were. Therefore, it's not a bullet-proof function and still shows the holes in your posting abilities and that leads me to the subject matter of this article.
I've been using a couple of tactics for some time to help me craft good-looking updates online and I'm going to show you how to make sure your link post looks good on Facebook in this step-by-step process. But before I show to you, please allow me to show you first what I think is a poor looking link post.
Poor Looking Facebook Link Post
A poor looking post is obviously one that is misspelled and doesn't make much sense however if you look beyond the copy and grammar, you'll notice that there are multiple different variables of a Facebook update. Let me break down a Facebook link post:
As you can see, there are many missing aspects from the post pictured below. There's no image. The title is very short (one word) and the description contains no sort of teaser information. As a result, there is no engagement. Poor Facebook posts encourage poor engagement. Think about that the next time you're about to post an update.
A. Copy: The copy of the post should complement the link. The approach is totally up to your audience. This portion of a link post may be edited after its already posted.
B. Image: When posting a link on Facebook, it will pull through metadata contained within the web page associated with that link. If the website admin setup the metadata properly, then an image should pull up. Often times pictures not associated with the article will come through and provide a misleading post by way of link image. This can hurt your click-through on the link and engagement. Also, Facebook just made this portion editable so now you can upload custom images to ensure your link post looks good. (High five Facebook!)
C. Title & URL: The link used should have a title associated with it. Again, this is part of the metadata setup on the web page associated with the link. Most people don't know this, but you can actually edit this portion of the link post. I'll go over it in detail in the step-by-step below.
D. Link Description: The link description is also generated from the metadata from the web page associated with the hyperlink. This may also be edited. To do so, read below in the step-by-step.
Good Looking Facebook Post (Step-by-Step)
There are two types of Facebook link posts right now but this should soon be condensed into one.
The first type of link post utilizes a smaller image whereas the other uses a much larger image (seen left).
Below is a step-by-step describing how to see what your link post will look like before you push it live.
The trick is to use Facebook's native tool to schedule the post so that you can see what it will look like before it goes live. See below:
Step 1
Once you locate a hyperlink you want to share, copy it and paste it in the update box.
Step 2
After you do this, you should see Facebook attempting to pull a preview of the link you just put in the update box. Give it a minute to pull the metadata through.
Step 3
After it comes through, you can double-click on title to edit it.
You can also double-click the description to edit it too.
It's always in your best interest to NOT make the titles and descriptions misleading because users won't click your link posts if they feel they have been, "duped" before.
Step 4
If no image comes through, you may need to think of an alternative route to posting the content however if one does come through, use it. Otherwise, upload a picture that relates to the link content.
Step 5
Write your copy that correlates with the link post.
Step 6
HERE IS THE TRICK: Schedule the post to go out sometime in 2014. I usually pick: January, 1, 2014 at 12:00 AM because all of those options are the first to choose from in the drop down menus.
Step 7
A popup will appear. Click "View Activity Log".
Step 8
While viewing your post in the activity log, you'll be able to see if the link you used will be utilizing the larger or smaller image style. You can also review it here for any grammar mistakes.
Step 9
If it's all set and you are ready to publish it, click the arrow in the upper right hand corner and then click "Publish Now…".
Step 10
You should get another pop that asks if you are sure you want to publish this now. Click "Publish" and your post will be pushed life.
If you have any questions about this process please leave it in the comment section below and I'll be sure to offer any assistance I can. Also, if you found this article helpful please share it with your colleagues. If you found it boring or too long, please let me know too. All feedback is welcomed but please keep it clean.


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About Travel Insurance Direct Ireland
Travel Insurance Direct Ireland is a trading name of Travel Insurance Agencies Limited, one of the U.K.'s best value travel insurance companies and specialists in providing comprehensive policies to residents of both the UK & Ireland.
In 2009 we introduced a new range of policies specifically for our customers in the Republic of Ireland. Underwritten by Irish insurance experts White Horse Insurance Ireland Limited, we have been able to introduce to Ireland the same high levels of cover and value for money our UK customers have come to expect from us.
Travel Insurance Agencies Limited (TIA) are an independent travel insurance broker based in Norwich in the UK. The company prides itself on providing top rate customer service and value for money, a factor which is achievable through our modest size.
Other Insurance Products
- Road Rescue Vehicle Breakdown Cover
- Wedding Insurance
Travel Insurance Agencies Limited, trading as Travel Insurance Direct Ireland, is registered by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules.


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Ethics in the workplace: yours or mine?
In this article we consider why workplace ethics are necessary, what they are, and how to introduce and run an ethics programme.
Are workplace ethics really necessary?
The first twelve years of my working life were for organisations which existed entirely for ethical purposes, were staffed by passionate people with strong consciences, and whose reputations were untarnished by accusations of underhand behaviour. Neither of them had a code of ethical conduct, ethics programmes or mandatory ethics training. They assumed that staff would act ethically, and staff assumed that they were required to.
That was then, and this is now. Since then we have had the Enron scandal, the banking scandal, and, this week, the Panama tax-haven scandal. Major clothing brands have been found to be sourcing through child labour, questions have been asked about the supply chains of the world's biggest electronics brands, and even a healthcare contractor must now sign a commitment against bribery and corruption.
Ethical trade has been the backbone of British and later UK business since the industrial revolution. The non-conformist work ethic is widely credited with creating the conditions for successful commerce. Companies such as Cadbury and Rowntree invested heavily in worker welfare.
So what has changed? Why do we need ethical codes of conduct now, when we didn't then?
What has changed is social media, turning everyone into a potential citizen journalist. In the past, the whole of society turned a blind eye to things which—today—would be viewed as deeply immoral. If someone wanted to get up a campaign, such as the abolition of slavery, it took a generation to get things to the point of legislation.
At the same time, people's view of what is ethical is much more diverse than it ever was. According to the 2015 Ethics at Work survey, by the Institute of Business Ethics, awareness of ethical standards has risen from around 65% in 2005 to 86% today, but there is still a wide range of what people regard as ethical. 8% say that minor fiddling of travel expenses is acceptable, 90% say it isn't. 21% say that favouring family or friends when recruiting or awarding contracts is acceptable, 76% say it isn't. 25% say taking pencils and pens from work is acceptable, 74% say it isn't. 39% say using the internet for personal use during work hours is acceptable, 59% say it isn't.
Some of the disparity may be down to how respondents read the questions, but the 21% of people who favour family or friends when recruiting or awarding contracts, however, may passionately believe that it is their duty to do so when running their own company.
Who is right?
The answer is, in many cases it should depend on published company policy. Which is a problem when there isn't a policy.
What should company ethics be?
Is it acceptable to take pens and pencils from work? This was the crunch question thirty years ago when workplace ethics was discussed. As someone who has distributed tens of thousands of branded pens and pencils in the workplace over the last twenty-five years, my answer would be: 'yes, please, if we give you a branded writing implement, please take it home, use it, pass it on!' On the other hand, when I discovered that someone had been using the corporate colour photocopier to print fake DVD covers (most likely for car boot sales) I was absolutely furious, and immediately had all the copiers pass coded and audited.
These, however, are trivial examples. If you have a company code of ethics that tries to specify when it is acceptable to take a pen home, when it is acceptable to make a personal call, and so on, then it will be so long and so detailed that no one will read it, and even people who do won't be able to remember it.
When we opened up internet and intranet use in one of the organisations I worked for, we were anxious to encourage staff to improve their IT skills by using the web (it was the early 2000s). The policy we introduced—which I still think is a good one—and which we put on big stickers by all the hot-desk machines was 'nothing illegal, unprofessional or offensive'. It helped us to develop an open culture, moving us from the bottom of the staff survey results to being the top of our peer group.
Internet usage can create dangers for an organisation, but the big dangers are not to do with what staff might do (it would take an awful lot of thefts of pencils to start eating into your profits), but what the organisation does, or allows to happen.
Consider the following scenarios:
- You are a supermarket chain, and you receive a tip-off that your most popular brand of tuna is sourced through coerced labour in the Thai fishing fleet. The estimated cost of switching to another supplier is £780,000—and there are no guarantees that you won't discover that supplier also has slave-caught fish in its supply chain.
- You are a healthcare commissioning organisation. You are following official guidance in not providing a particular course of treatment. However, you are tipped off that the officially sanctioned treatment you do provide is less effective, and that there are ongoing questions of bribery relating to its approval.
- A member of staff raises an accusation of bullying against a senior manager, on whom the organisation depends. Once investigated, you discover that there have been numerous allegations over the years which have not been properly dealt with. The organisation is going through a crucial phase of development, and it seems likely a scandal at this point could have grave consequences.
These, by the way, are all real, though anonymised, cases.
The question is not: 'how do you deal with these?', but rather, 'do you have a framework in place that would ensure they were dealt with ethically and transparently?' If you don't, then you are relying on the consciences and good judgement of the people who come across them. Sometimes the most ethical people take the most unethical actions. For example, in one organisation I was in contact with, the chief executive sacked a bullying senior manager in a summary fashion. Though the accusations appeared well-founded and the charges grievous, the individual in question was not allowed due process to make their case. The resulting payout for unfair dismissal cost something in the region of £.75 million. In that case, moral outrage led the CEO to unethical action.
A company's programme of ethics needs to include the following to withstand the very real moral dilemmas that are becoming all too frequent.
- It must be based on a short list of easily remembered principles.
- There must be a clear method for the wider principles to be applied to specific circumstances.
- There must be a process for impartially investigating allegations—including reciprocal arrangements with other organisations where necessary.
- There must be a mechanism for staff, customers, suppliers and the general public to raise ethical concerns confidentially, safely, and with the confidence that they will be properly investigated.
- There must be clear authority for managers to make decisions which are ethically necessary, but which are costly.
- The organisation must have an active programme of audit to uncover ethical issues which are not reported.
- The organisation must publish its code of conduct, its processes, and the issues it has dealt with as part of its annual report.
Introducing and running an ethics programme
Many company ethics policies are introduced retrospectively—telling a member of staff that they have acted unethically after the event. It should not take a great deal of thought to realise that this is, in itself, unethical. Senior managers, in such circumstances, may be tempted to raise their hands to heaven and say 'isn't it obvious that that was unethical?' Ethics begins where law stops. In today's Britain, there are adherents of all five of the world's major religions and hundreds of minor ones. There are secularists, atheists, humanists and people who are yet to decide on what they believe. There are at least six popular ethical systems in use. So, no, it is never obvious. Some things which you feel ethically compelled to do may be unspeakable in someone else's moral framework.
Workplace ethics are what we agree within the organisation will be our ethos. Law is what the law of the land requires. Morality is a person's own moral beliefs. One of the biggest problems in workplace ethics is imagining that they overlap. There is no particular reason why they should, and there is also a gap between them which is the area of opinion. 'My view is…' may seem entirely reasonable and compelling to me, but it isn't binding on anyone else, even if we share the same moral framework, the same ethical code and live under the same law.
We introduce company ethics precisely because they are not obvious.
Another common problem with ethics is programmes is the idea that if we only get everyone to sign a code of ethical conduct, our job is done. Enron had exactly such a code, and everyone had to sign it. The results speak for themselves.
Because ethics are not the same as morality, we cannot expect to engage someone's conscience to enforce them. We need a proper programme of staff engagement to do it.
The process I would recommend—having implemented various versions of it in different organisations—is as follows:
- Audit of existing culture and practice
- Adoption by the Board of a Code of Business Ethics
- Creation of confidential mechanism for staff, suppliers and customers to raise concerns
- Internal communications campaign to raise awareness (events, newsletters, briefings, social media)
- Ethical behaviour incorporated into regular programme of staff meetings, training and appraisals
- Action taken and publicised when ethical issues are identified
- Inclusion of ethics section in Annual Report.
These are just the steps. Although they can be done quickly, and, in many cases, without great cost, they should not be done lightly. I have seen howls of derision by staff when given a copy of an organisation's ethical code. An ill-advised ethics programme can be seen as 'more red tape', a new mechanism for sacking staff who get out of line, or as a temporary management fad.
A good code of conduct will be both give and take. Everyone is managed by someone, and there is often a tendency to draw the 'us and them' line just above one's own level of authority ('we are the workers, they are the managers'). The code needs to give something to the workers—strong protection if they raise a concern confidentially, guarantees of fair handling if they are accused of something—as well as including things which can be perceived as benefiting management, such as a clampdown on misuse of travel expenses. A good code should make people proud to work for the company, rather than make them think that they have to look over their shoulder. As well as give and take, the code should place the organisation in its wider role in society.
In writing such a code, someone with a good sense of humour needs to go through and strip out every phrase that sounds pompous. 'We are committed to the highest ethical standards' may sound great to the Board, but it is either trivial or meaningless, unless those standards are actually set out in writing. If they are, the phrase is redundant. Ethics jargon also needs to be deleted. 'Transparency' relates to light passing through materials. Committing your organisation to 'transparency' is far too vague to be of any help—unless you really mean to write every internal memo in plain English and post it on the web for all to see.
What is in it depends a lot on the kind of organisation you are, however, the following may help:
- The introduction should set out that the code is part of everyone's contract, whether they have signed it or not.
- The introduction should specify that both staff and the organisation itself are being held to the same code.
- There should be a section setting out what business the organisation is in, and what business it will not engage in.
- There should be a section setting out the organisation's aspirations in the wider community.
- There should be a section setting out what the organisation expects from its staff, and what it gives in return.
- There should be a section on 'what to do if you have a concern'.
- There should be a section on 'what the organisation will do when a concern is raised', including fair dealing for the accused.
- There should be a section setting out what is confidential in the organisation.
- There should be a section setting out what the organisation will publish.
- There should be a section setting out how contracts and employment are awarded.
- There should be a section on ongoing audit.
- There should be a section on how results and ethical issues are published.
Ideally each of these sections should be one or two sentences long, so the whole thing fits onto a single side of A4. If this isn't possible, there should be a memorable header sentence for each section which can be easily reproduced, preferably combining to make an easy-to-recall mnemonic. If your staff can't recall what your ethical policy is when they make a decision, then you don't actually have one.
With the code of conduct, publish a list of Frequently Asked Questions. This is where you cover the questions of 'can I make personal calls on my free minutes?', 'can I use the internet in my lunch break?', 'can I claim mileage if I combine a work trip and a personal trip?', 'can I take promotional pencils home?', and so on. This list can be as long as you like. As a way of promoting the ethical programme, you can ask staff to contribute their questions (anonymously, perhaps). My view is that you should be as liberal in these things as the law allows: the more freedoms you create, the more power you give to things you do want (and need) to enforce.
Ethical companies:
- have clear policies which authorise staff to act ethically, even under pressure
- build ethical behaviour into corporate culture, modelling it from senior leadership
- have a plan for addressing ethical issues as soon as they arise
- actively audit themselves to ensure that bad practice is neither condoned nor overlooked.
Ultimately, acting ethically is the best insurance against scandal. Everything else will out, in time.


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Private mortgage insurance exists to protect lenders when the borrower stops making mortgage payments. As in most states, lenders in California often require borrowers to make monthly PMI payments if their down payment is less than 20 percent of the home's appraised value. However, lenders who require PMI must comply with both California and federal mortgage laws.
Loan-to-Value Ratios
Most lenders determine whether you must pay mortgage insurance based on the ratio of your loan balance to the value of the home. If this ratio is 80 percent or more, the lender will most likely require you to pay PMI. To calculate this value, divide your outstanding loan amount by the appraised value of your home. For example, if your loan amount is $300,000, and your home's appraised value is $400,000, your loan-to-value ratio is 75 percent.
California Law
In 1998, California began requiring lenders to automatically cancel PMI on certain mortgages when the loan-to-value ratio had reached 75 percent as long as the borrower was current on payments. However, the law didn't require lenders to obtain new appraisals to see if homes have risen in value. Instead, lenders could simply use the original purchase price to calculate loan-to-value ratio. Furthermore, the law did not apply to loans sold to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other third parties.
Federal Law
In 1999, the federal government passed the Homeowners' Protection Act, which requires lenders in California and all other states to automatically cancel PMI when the loan-to-value ratio reaches 78 percent. The law also allows you to request the cancellation of your PMI in writing when your loan-to-value ratio reaches 80 percent. If your mortgage is in good standing, the lender must grant your request. This law applies to mortgages serviced by private lenders, as well as those sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
If you meet the requirements for automatic cancellation of PMI and your lender fails to cancel the policy, write a firm letter to the lender reminding him of his obligations under federal law. If he still refuses to cancel the policy, you can force him to do so by taking him to court. Neither California law nor the Homeowners' Protection Act applies to mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration. As of June 3, 2013, borrowers with FHA mortgages will pay PMI for 11 years or the duration of the loan, depending on the loan's term and loan-to-value ratio.


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According to the folks at Google, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna was #8 on the Top 10 list of the most searched Beauty Brands last year! Fenty Beauty made quite a splash when it debuted in the Fall of 2017. When I first heard about this brand, I admit I was a little bit hesitant about trying it. Fenty Beauty was created by Superstar, Rihanna. Now don't get me wrong, I love Rihanna. She is super talented, absolutely drop dead gorgeous... Click To Tweetand seems to have a beautiful spirit about her. But she is young. She will be 30 years old in February, 2018. So I wondered how the beauty products in Fenty Beauty's line would perform for those of us in the over 40 & over 50 years young club!
On a whim, I picked up Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Invisimatte Blotting Powder and…. all I can say is.. WOW, was I pleasantly surprised!
According to Rihanna, "Fenty Beauty was created for everyone: For women of all shades, personalities, attitudes, cultures, and races. I wanted everyone to feel included. That's the real reason I made this line."
Invisimatte Blotting Powder is described by Fenty Beauty as a universal blotting powder that absorbs shine and diffuses the look of pores for an instant filtered look on the fly. Invisimatte's translucent powder is completely traceless against all skin tones and won't cake, clog pores, creep into fine lines, or disturb makeup.
Here's my take…
I recently said on Instagram that this may be my favorite product of 2018! Now granted that was on January 3rd, but... honestly, I have fallen in love with Invisimatte Blotting Powder and I don't want to be without it. Click To Tweet I plan on purchasing a couple more, one for my purse and one for the car!
Did I mention I don't want to be without this? 🙂 Here's why…
Texture & Application
The texture of Invisimatte Blotting Powder is absolutely gorgeous. It's a soft, finely milled pressed powder and it applies like a dream. It is a white translucent powder with a very subtle lilac/lavender tint to it. I have fair, normal to combination skin. When applied to my skin, it is completely colorless. True to its name, this powder has an immediate blurring and mattifying effect. When applied as a setting powder, it reduces shine, diffuses the appearance of pores and blurs imperfections. It does NOT settle into fine lines which I truly appreciate! There is no chalkiness to this powder at all! The result is a flawless finish with an airbrushed look to the skin.
TIP: As a setting powder, I apply this as the last step in my makeup routine if I am NOT wearing any highlighter. If I'm wearing highlighter, I apply this right before the highlighter with the highlighter being the last step.
Other ways to Apply Invisimatte Blotting Powder include.
- As a blotting powder for touch ups throughout the day.
- Apply before foundation to mattify if you have oily skin or to even out skin tone before foundation
- As a refresher, you can apply this anytime over your makeup to freshen. I doesn't change the color of your makeup at all!
The pressed powder comes in a mirrored compact. It comes with a sponge that is fine for on the go touch ups. There is a portable touch up brush from Fenty Beauty (sold separately) that is meant for use with Invisimatte Blotting Powder. Custom-made to pair with Invisimatte Blotting Powder, the Portable Touch Up Brush has a retractable design and magnetic panel, so it snaps right in to the bottom of the powder compact, always there when you need it. I did not purchase this brush, although it is on my wish list! It would be nice to have for the purse. I've been using my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to apply the powder and it works fine!
Invisimatte Blotting Powder $32 USD
Portable Touch Up Brush $24 USD
Final Thoughts
Rihanna is always red carpet ready and looks flawless. And I'm pretty sure Invisimatte Blotting Powder is her secret weapon! Now it's on my list of Favorites for 2018! Click To Tweet I absolutely love this powder and I will definitely be purchasing it again.
Have you tried Invisimatte Blotting Powder? Have you tried any other products from Fenty Beauty? If so, what are your favorites? Let me know in the comments below! As always, I'd love to hear from you!
Until Next Time…
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