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Other people call their beloved 'dear', 'darling', or other mushy terms. We call each other 'mode'. There isn't any real meaning to it, even the story behind the creation of this term is too lame to be worthy of mention. But just know that we call each other 'mode' coz you'll see a lot of it in this post.
You know, I never have problems with writing beauty product reviews or makeup tutorials. I could go on and on and on, and more often than not, have to edit/shorten it for easier reading. It's only when it comes to sharing about my life that I often hit a wall. Why would people be interested to read about my life?! O.O
This time though, I am so glad that I have the Bun Bun Makeup Tips blog platform and all my beloved readers to share this blissful piece of news with.
First of all, a very Merry Christmas to you.
And then,
Can you believe it? The Bun got proposed to! *breaks into a happy dance
Omg, how do I start with the story? I've been sitting here for ages with memories of that night whooshing in and zipping out of my mind, while I smile dreamily at nothing, looking out of the window facing the orange sun sinking down on the horizon completely blocked by HDB flats. Hahaha, realistically bland end to sentence.
Okie. Ahem.
*feeling very excited by myself and keep having to backspace coz of typing errors*
This is our story.
We've been together for more than 10 years, since secondary school. *GASPS!*. I know right. Too long. So ancient until we can't remember having an anniversary so every year passed just like any other.
Any woman who has been with a person she's given her youth to for more than 10% of a century will want that person to marry her. Provided they love each other, of course. But The Boyfriend had been procrastinating for the loooooooongest time ever! In fact, we'd quarelled over this countless times before. Hints were no longer sufficient, instead I made it explicitly known I WANTED HIM TO MARRY ME. Pathetic. =(
I guess a lot of it had to be attributed to the fact that in recent years I've been receiving plenty of wedding invites and seeing couples who got hitched after only getting together for a short few years really got my blood boiling and heart aching.
Why did I have to wait for so long? How long more? Does he really love me at all?? 🙁
Unfortunately, or probably fortunately, The Boyfriend and I once again quarelled the day before – 23 December 2012. Wait, do I still call him The Boyfriend, or The Fiance? A person is considered to be engaged once a ring is put on the girl, right?
*cue Beyonce's Single Ladies: "If you like it then you should have put a ring on it…"*
Trivia!: Did you know fiance (male) and fiancee (female) are both prounounced the same way? Sources offer different pronounciations, like fee-YAWN-say and ee-ahn-SAY, but whichever intonation you choose, use it for both fiance and fiancee. In French, adding an "e" changes the gender of the word, but in this case does not affect the pronunciation.
It wasn't his intention to have us quarrel the day before, but it definitely helped in putting me on a total emotional rollercoaster ride. Going from a low to a high made the experience significantly more memorable.
On Christmas Eve, I attended a party at a friend's. He asked if I could meet him at 2330 to pass me my Christmas present. Upset as I still was with him, I wanted us to spend countdown together. So I suggested we could meet earlier, at 2130.
He came to fetch me at Pasir Ris Interchange and seeing his empty hands, I asked "Where is my present?", and he said "I forgot to bring". He uses this line very often, which annoys me until I can roll my eyes to the back of my head every single time. But yes, I am willing to be annoyed for the rest of my life. Lol.
Hardly any words were exchanged during the bus ride; I was reluctant to engage in our usual banter. And then he had us alight at a bus stop that was crazily far from his house. I was lugging my heavy bag, with the cold wind beating against my poorly clothed skin and with this person who talked incessantly about our childhood memories. Annoyed Level x 100,000.
OMG, do I sound like a princessy brat? I'm not!! Girls have all the right in the world to want to be cajoled. We quarelled the day before, remember? Don't judge me!! LOL!!
Then he said, "It's nice to take a seat back, slow down the pace of life, and soak ourselves in gratitude for what we already have, isn't it?"
(Erm, he doesn't speak so fluently. Haha. I had to translate his meanings into proper sentences. Also, we converse in Mandarin.)
"We've been together for so long… Do you sometimes think back on our childhood memories? Like the time when you were working at ____ and I went to fetch you every day…"
Stubbornly, "I don't think of such things when we quarrel"
"There are many other things to be happy about, other than me delaying the proposal, right?"
"No", denying with everything in my heart.
OF COURSE there are plenty of things to be grateful for – Bun Bun Makeup Tips, Doll To Doll Cosmetics, family, friends, love, and I always feel grateful for every little thing in my life. Did you know that for every new 'like' on Bun Bun Makeup Tips and Doll To Doll facebook pages I will say 'thank you'? HAHA, now I sound really weird.
In the heat of the moment though, I said no.
"My tortoise, the biggest one, is dying. He cannot open his eyes anymore"
"Why? What happened?"
"I don't know, every time this happens, they're gone"
I felt sad too. I never want to have pets.
As we neared his void deck, he asked me to go upstairs.
"You have to go upstairs and take the present yourself"
"Tsk, I'll just wait downstairs. Bring it down. You would have taken it to Pasir Ris in the first place, right?" (Pissed that he always breaks his promises)
= Pulled me into the lift anyway =
When we reached his house, he walked from room to room, flustered. Made a call to his mum, asking where was his room key.
Then he came to me and said he locked his keys in his room, and the present was in his room. I was like ~wadeva~ and prepared to take my leave. Then he stopped me and asked me to go see his tortoise for the last time while he went to change his clothes to send me home. He likes to change clothes for no reason, so I didn't suspect anything. (Hello mode, next time you wash your own clothes okie?)
So I went over to his tortoise house and sayang-ed it. I stroked its beautiful shell and whispered to it "Please get better okie? So that Justin will not be sad. Please get well soon…" I saw that the tortoise was very much alive, very active and its eyes were open. Sick, what? But you see, I trust very easily, so I didn't think much of it.
After a few minutes, the then-Boyfriend-now-Fiance came to me and said "Eh, Mode is stoopid leh. This thing in front of you for so long already still cannot see??"
The note read:
Dear beautiful Juli,
Justin is always forgetful and careless. It's Christmas, so please don't be angry. I've got his duplicate keys. Quickly enter his room and look out for Checkpoint 1. Juli, do not remove anything besides the gift at Checkpoint 1.
Your beloved,
4 x Tortoise
The moment I read the note, tears dropped. Like uncontrollably.
"Checkpoint 1 is in the room"
Upon entering the room, I was greeted with walls plastered with mahjong paper. Perfect ambiance. The kind I love.
Look at his childish bolster case. Bahaha!
Up till now, I still had not suspected a single thing. I just thought he wanted to give me a very romantic Christmas.
At Checkpoint 1 was a hand-drawn Christmas card. I've always loved his hand-drawn stuff. It's obviously not the artsy-fartsy painted nor modern computer graphics kind of work, in fact I always say it's very primary school kind of drawing (LOL), but I love them. So sincere and heartfelt.
He said the Christmas tree was the hardest to make. XD
Then he told me, "In every corner of my room, there's you."
Everybody now, 'Awwwww…..!!!'
And he added, "You can check. No dust". He later said he felt like he was back at camp doing stand-by-bed. XD
It was really fun looking at the memories we share.
I painted this colorful house for him! I've always loved happy colors. The insides were painted too, and I drew clouds on the underside of the roof. I think I made this when I was in university.
Also made him this tissue box. Not very well taken care of, this gift. Poor sun. 🙁 The gingerbread man on the left would be him, and the right, me. This was made when I was in poly.
On the side of the tissue box. I love the bar code! Sewed black thread onto white felt cloth.
Had all the time in the world when I was younger to paint this side of the box.
Look at my badly rebonded hair. LOL!!
And another side of the box, meant to be a magnetic board. Please excuse me while I admire my own work. HAHAHA! This handmade stuff era seems so long ago. It's been ages since I made anything so complex for him.
Photo frames I made for him. The one in the middle has our finger prints. =)
The one at the extreme right is a collage of our trip to the beach when we were like, 17?
Paraphernalia from 10 years of dating.
Then he brought me to Checkpoint 2, which was just a wall away. Lol.
Revealed beneath the blue-tacked mahjong paper on the wall was a heart shape outlining photos from our yesteryears.
The Fiance said, "I felt regretful when I pasted these on the wall. We don't have much photos together despite all these years. Next time I will take more".
He hates taking photos, that's why I made this for him a couple of years back.
This short comic I made out of magazines and felt cloth for him narrates a situation we always encounter. We'd go to some place nice and I would be happily clicking away and when I want more pictures with him, he gets irritated and issues me a quota for the day, like MAX 5 photos per day. I get more if we are on holiday. 🙁
Oh, you might have noticed we use orange and apple to represent ourselves. He's the Orange and I'm the Apple. We had these two super cute plush toys many years back but he accidentally THREW THEM AWAY. I still feel sad whenever I think of them coz I can't even find a replacement. They were so cute!!! And they mean a lot to us coz we always use them in our 'art work' for one another.
I don't even have a good photo of them. 🙁 This was taken with a lousy camera. Orange is of a brighter orange and Apple is of a softer red, not so harsh. Please let me know if you do see them around, okie? They would look so cute in our wedding photos.
While I went around the 'museum' taking photos, The Fiance said, "There's supposed to be one more Checkpoint, but I couldn't complete it in time. Sorry"
"It's okie, you can show it to me when you've completed it =) "
I think he was taken aback by my cool. Lol. He was expecting me to want to take a peek at least or ask for some hints, I guess. But I love surprises and don't like to spoil them. Besides, the surprises I had been given in the past half an hour was enough to last me for a long time.
Then he went on saying, "Okie la, I'll just show you. Stand on the chair. Don't turn around. If you turn around, I'll fight you. I'm serious". LOL!
So he made me do this.
"Okie, you can turn around now"
When I turned around, I saw this:
And him getting on bent knee, holding a box with a bling-bling diamond ring.
Actually I didn't even look at the ring. I can't even remember what he said! HAHAHA! Sorry mode! I was so overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events that I couldn't register.
He said something like… omg, I cannot remember! @[email protected]
But I knew when to nod my head when he asked if I would marry him.
I kept repeating "Am I dreaming? Am I dreaming??" HAHA!
Upon closer inspection I realized there was a picture of myself in the ring. SO UGLY! He said he chose it coz I look like I'm thinking whether to accept the ring, with a smirk. LOL! I must have been 18 or 19 in this picture.
The Fiance said triumphantly, "Now all the guys who want to chase you have no chance already. I WIN".
This would be the picture you saw on my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
I was in his arms, giggling uncontrollably like a teenager when I posted it, and he couldn't stop laughing at me giggling. Ahhh, what a sweet moment! Cannot stop smiling now. =D
So now that everything has come to light…
he didn't actually forget to bring my present,
he made me walk the long distance from the bus stop to set the mood,
his tortoises are all alive and healthy,
he did not make the phone call to his mum,
he did not lock his key in his room,
he did not want to change his clothes before sending me home,
he didn't not complete the last Checkpoint,
he did it all because he wanted to make me Mrs Mode.
Well, at least he tried to include one eye, one ear, nose and mouth in this picture with me. It's a good start.
I told him before that I would like my friends and loved ones to witness the proposal, I
would love to have wouldn't mind a flashmob with fireworks in the sky and a band playing fanfare when he pops the question. But he said he'd rather bungee jump to profess his love than do a 1-minute flashmob routine. LOL. He's very shy, especially in front of strangers. So it's a tall order for him to do that. I like it this way too, simple, sweet and very heartwarming. Very mode's style.
So what happens now? It's so scary to think! We've bought the wedding photography package. The photos will be taken in Taiwan, but I don't know when we are going. We've also got our house, which will be ready in 2014. And then we've other grown-up stuff to do like plan for the wedding, search for interior designers, get furniture, choose toilet bowl designs, go shopping for laundry detergent… @[email protected]
How do people actually plan to do such things?? Do they go like 'Alright, let's go shop for bathroom tiles today' and 'We need a fridge, let's go shop for it' and 'This brand of peanut butter should exist in our house'?? HOW??? :O
Thank you every one of you for your blessings! 😀 Feels so awesome to receive blessings in real life and online! Love you all!!!


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Monday, 17 August 2015
BREAKING NEWS-Bomb Blast In Bangkok
Four foreigners are reportedly among the victims of an explosion near a shrine that is popular with tourists.
Nigerian man Who Beheaded a Pastor Says He Will Do it Again
A 27-year-old man, Cyril Ojar, who beheaded James Eni, a pastor of an Evangelical church at Old Netim in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, has remained defiant, stating that he would do it again if the same circumstance arose.
Cyril, who is in detention at the Cross River State Police Command headquarters at Diamond Hill, told Vanguard that he was on a stroll around the Pastor's house, when the man got angry and chased him with a machete.
New York man pretended to be doctor, prescribed medication
Catholic priest assassinated in Imo State Nigeria
The priest, whose full identity could not be ascertained at press time, was an academic staff of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, he said the priest was murdered by assassins on a bush path.
Enwerem said:
Newborn baby found abandoned inside a box
Brad Pitt transformed the lives of 109 New Orleans families who lost their homes
Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans with furious and deadly force this month ten years ago - and no celebrity is more attuned to the anniversary than Brad Pitt.
Pitt, who recently listed his and Angelina Jolie's five-bedroom French Quarter home for $6.5 million, has been working to rebuild destroyed houses in the hard-hit Lower Ninth Ward since the monster hurricane left its path of destruction.
Bride-to-be, 22 prepares to walk down the aisle with her 58-year-old fiance
Carly King, 22, is preparing to tie the knot with her fiance 58-year-old Billy Potts in Woodbridge, near Ipswich despite the pair being criticised for the 36 year age gap between them.
Morgan Freeman's granddaughter stabbed to death on New York street'
Lamar Davenport, 30, (left) allegedly killed E'Dena Hines, 33, (pictured centre with Morgan Freeman and right) near her home in Washington Heights (inset) on Sunday.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Yvette Backs Local Residents in Opposition to Rudd Quarry Extension
The proposed extension to Rudd Quarry in Altofts should be stopped. It is far too close to Altofts primary school and the objections in terms of dust, noise, flooding and safety far outweigh any potential benefits for the company. You can read more details on my objections here.
The proposed extension to Rudd Quarry in Altofts should be stopped. It is far too close to Altofts primary school and the objections in terms of dust, noise, flooding and safety far outweigh any potential benefits for the company. You can read more details on my objections here:
I am writing to oppose the application to extend Rudd Quarry on a series of grounds. I have received very many letters and emails from residents of Altofts who have put forward strong arguments against this application. I have also seen the letter that Silkstone Environmental LTD submitted to the planning committee on 9 May. Overall, this quarry extension would run far too close to a school and residential area, and judged against all the planning guidance, the harm to the community in terms of noise, dust, visual impact, traffic and flood risk substantially outweigh the claimed economic benefit to the applicant.
The application allows excavation to come extremely close to Altofts Junior School. Silkstone Environmental LTD accepts that it will mean excavation as close as 120m from the playground and 145m from the school building. The application itself appears to suggest that excavation could even run closer than that. Even 120m is extremely close given the noise and dust that I have seen for myself from the existing quarry when standing over 300m away.
Silkstone Environmental LTD claim that the application includes the worst case scenario and that some of the closest excavations would not occur for another ten years do not provide any reassurance, as the point is that the worst case scenario would be permitted under the application even though it is unacceptable. And we have an obligation to consider children in ten years time as well as children today.
Many residents are also concerned that existing planning conditions are not being adhered to.
I have seen for myself the level of noise even on a quiet day at the quarry from further away than 300m. I believe this would increase problems for the school in a way that cannot be justified. Residents are already facing difficult levels of noise pollution as lorries and trucks are frustrating residents due to a 'constant beeping sound', the water pump causing excess amounts of noise and the general noise of the use of heavy machinery. This noise pollution would only increase if the Quarry extension is approved.
Heavy machinery would be operated at the same time as the schools opening times and in a much closer proximity than at present, making it harder for pupils and teachers to concentrate in school during such a vital stage in their development. Given the potential impact on ability to learn, this significant increase in noise from daily excavations so close to the school and local residents is not justified by any benefits from the application.
Flood risk/ surface and ground water issues
Residents of Altofts have already experienced flooding to their homes due to the quarry pumping waste water into the fields, it has also made open green spaces and public footpaths unusable during this period of flooding. The current planning permission stipulates that 'All surface water from the site shall pass through approved drainage facilities', however residents have reported that surface water is already being passed down Greenfield Road rather than into Ashfield Beck as stipulated. I have seen multiple pictures of gardens and roads being completely destroyed by this flooding.
Dust/ Air Quality
There are real concerns about the significant amount of dust that will be generated by the additional clay extraction and the affect that this will have on the air quality for Altofts and Normanton residents and particularly on any sufferers of lung conditions including Asthma which many residents have already told me that they suffer from.
Silkstone Environmental LTD says the risk posed by the dust is 'not significant' however a Government Report in 2004 found that dust from quarry sites can carry '0.5km from the source' meaning the dust from this quarry would affect the air quality of thousands of Altofts and Normanton Residents. The report also states that there is a 'severe case for worry' for the air quality within 100m of a site. Given the proximity to Altofts Primary School this is a serious cause for concern.
Reports have shown that exposure to such dust can heighten the symptoms of asthma, and can cause lung and heart problems in later life. Asthma UK has found that 2/3 people who suffer from asthma feel that poor air quality (including dust) makes their asthma worse.
I have been told that over 15 children who attend Altofts Primary School suffer with asthma, and one child who has a life-limiting respiratory illness which would be exacerbated by the additional dust created by the extension of Rudd Quarry.
The lack of wheel wash at the site also means that mud and dust is distributed throughout the town, not just in areas close to the quarry such as the primary school.
It is also clear that the roads in their current state are not adequately equipped to deal with the heavy traffic that will be created by extending the quarry. In addition residents are reporting that the site is not adhering to current planning rules as HGVs are using Greenfield Road as an access point, whereas the planning stipulates that 'All HGV vehicular access and egress to the site shall be via existing access onto Newlands Lane" and "Except in emergencies or with prior written agreement from Local Planning Authority there shall be no HGV access/ egress to the site via existing access onto Greenfield Road".
The entrance to the site is currently on Newlands Lane, however as Silkstone Environmental LTD have recognised, this entrance does pose an issue. Newlands road is far too narrow to accommodate HGVs, and certainly not suitable to accommodate up to 150 HGV movements per day. The road has already significantly deteriorated. In addition Newlands Lane is a used by many pedestrians who attend the doctor's surgery, the church, the children's play area in Smirthwaite Park and the bowling green, however the use of HGVs down this road more frequently will make the area much more dangerous.
I am concerned about the accuracy of the noise report. It appears the applicants have completed the noise report based on only 4 HGV movements per hour. The applicant is applying for a maximum of 150 movements per day, which when the opening hours of the quarry is taken into consideration means that there would be an average of of 16 movements per hour during the working day and during the school day.
Nor is Silkstone Environmental LTDs claim that this will only apply to peak periods reassuring. If the maximum movements are during the summer months this is the time that children are much more likely to be walking home, playing outside and sitting exams, making the higher traffic, air and noise pollution an issue for the school which is so close.
It is clear that the site has not been properly secured as I have had multiple constituents write to me about break ins which has included individuals riding motorbikes within the site which is incredibly dangerous and a public health hazard. These reports also include recent incidents which have been reported to the police in the last few weeks.
Concerns have also been raised about people bathing in the water given the failure to secure it and the proximity of the school increases the concerns for children. In addition the quarry is next to a landfill site from the 1980s raising concerns of contamination
I hope that based on this evidence the planning committee will reject this application.


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I'm always amazed at how data visualizations of social media can tell us so many unexpected things! In this case, Twitter Feeds tell us that there are 66 languages in London, and where they are.
By analysing tweets published in London between March and August this year and plotting them on a map the researchers were able to show the capital's language clusters based on Twitter use. The research shows a total of 66 different languages used in the capital.


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This week's Findmypast Friday marks the release of Church of Ireland baptism, marriage and burial records, Baptisms and a popular family almanac from Suffolk, millions of historic British newspapers and new additions to our collection of New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Records.
The Dublin Registers & Records consists of eight publications of parish records from the Church of Ireland dating from the early 1600s up to 1800. The records are comprised of over 2,500 PDF images that allow you to discover the baptism, marriage, and burial dates of your Dublin ancestors as well as the names of their parents and spouse. Occasionally, other details are recorded, such as father's occupation or how a couple was married (either by banns or by licence). The eight indexed publications included in this set are searchable by name, year, title, publisher, image number and keyword.
The Suffolk Baptism Index covers over 350 Suffolk parishes and contains over 747,000 records from across the East Anglian County. The Index was created by the Suffolk Family History Society and is comprised of transcripts of original parish registers. The amount of information found in each transcript may vary depending on the age of the record and how much information was recorded although most will include your ancestors name, baptism date, baptism place, the names of their parents, father's occupation and any additional notes.
Lambert's Family Almanac 1858-1917 consists of over 3,000 pages recording local events in the market town Framlingham. The Almanac was started in 1856 by Robert J P Lambert as a record of life in his home town. The title page describes the book as, 'containing general and interesting information, including the rising and setting of the sun and moon, a copious calendar, law and university terms, eclipses, etc. with plenty of fire-side reading'. For a family historian, it contains so much more: births, marriages, obituaries, descriptions of the town and noteworthy events, trade directories and lists of officials. At its height of popularity, the almanac had become a household name with a circulation of up to 10,000.
Over 3.4 million fully searchable new articles 8 brand new titles have been added to our collection of historic British Newspapers. The lasts titles to be added to the collection include The Kentish Mercury, The People, West Somerset Free Press, Illustrated Berwick Journal and the Glasgow Constitutional. Substantial updates have also been made to 47 existing titles including over a million new articles added to Sheffield Independent and over 240,000 to both London Daily News and Manchester Evening News.
The American Bible Society's collection of family Bibles contains family records that are unavailable anywhere else. The collection is an index over 630 microfiched inscriptions left in family bibles that recorded details pertaining to life events such as births, marriages, and deaths. The Index was created by volunteers from the New York Biographical and Genealogical Society volunteers and contains over 8,000 names. The collection is available to search and browse.
Each Bible contains a digitized a set of pages containing the ABS library record, the publisher and year of the Bible, the printed title page, and the handwritten pages where inscriptions and life events, including births, marriage and deaths, were recorded.
Three new issues have been added to the NYG&B Record, the second oldest genealogical journal in the United States. Search or browse to find valuable documentation to aid you in your family history research. Since 1870, the researcher has published compiled genealogies documented to the highest standards, transcriptions of original records and other source material from throughout New York State, works that solve genealogical problems, and reviews of important scholarship in the field.
Three new issues have been added to the NYG&B Record, the second oldest genealogical journal in the United States. Search or browse to find valuable documentation to aid you in your family history research. Published quarterly since 1870 by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, the Record is one of the most distinguished genealogical journals in the United States.
About Findmypast
Findmypast (previously DC Thomson Family History) is a British-owned world leader in online genealogy. It has an unrivalled record of online innovation in the field of family history and 18 million registered users across its family of online brands, which includes Mocavo, Genes Reunited, The British Newspaper Archive amongst others.
Its lead brand, also called Findmypast, is a searchable online archive of over two billion family history records, from parish records and censuses to migration records, military collections, historical newspapers and lots more. For members around the world, the site is a crucial resource for building family trees and doing detailed historical research.


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Big case design with a curved strap gives this G-Shock a comfortable fit.
Introducing the X-Large G. While following through with G-Shocks trademark big case design, with a 55 x 51.2 x 16.9 mm size and it's Ani-Digi three dial face, the large Anti-Skid buttons provide an easy way to adjust local and world time. The curves on the inside of the strap provide a comfortable fit for any sized wrist, making it not only a functional watch, but a fashionable one too.
LED light, 200m water resistant, world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, multi alarm
2 year warranty
Men's everyday wear


text: The Royal Oak Stockton is a traditional pub where you can come for a relaxing drink or bite to eat with friends serving food till 7pm all week with a number of food and drink offers. We have Sky and BT Sport as well as Racing UK. We are the place to be for all the major sporting events in the area with the best quality and most screens in Stockton.


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Fall 2019
Spring 2020
Summer 2020
Santa Ana College Commencement: June 4, 2020
Commencement exercises are held once a year at the end of the spring semester for those students who complete the requirements for graduation during the year or the summer session.
Unit Requirements: Students must complete at least 60 degree units with a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Courses designated with the letter "N" preceding the course number are not degree applicable courses.
Residency requirements: A minimum of 12 units must be taken at Santa Ana College. At least six of these units must be in courses required for the major.
Major requirements: Each degree and certificate program specifies courses required for the major (please see college catalog). Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or better.
Note: Transcripts from all colleges attended must be on file in the Admissions Office.


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"The funny thing about the questions of life is that the ones we ask at the end are the ones we should begin with." – David Green
How much time do you spend thinking about what a perfect life would look like? I never used to but now I do; in fact I'm as focused on it as any goal I've ever had. Let me clarify. I'm not suggesting that I, or my life, could possibly be found without fault. None of us can make that claim.
Still, wouldn't aiming for a perfect life be a well-intentioned goal? Assuming you think this a good idea, here are some questions you may have: What does that look like? Where do I start? How do I measure it? What should I focus on?
I'm glad you asked. Start with the end in mind. In his new book, Giving It All Away … And Getting It All Back Again: The Way Of Living Generously, David Green comments on asking questions such as this:
"The funny thing about the questions of life is that the ones we ask at the end are the ones we should begin with. It is tough to craft a meaningful life without considering our end: What do we hope for, what do we dream for, relative to our lives, our family, our children? … I hope that some of the questions we put off – about our mortality, about our sense of meaning and success – we can begin to address right now."
Sounds right doesn't it? We seem to wait until it's almost too late to consider what's most important to us, leaving little time or hope of achieving our goals. That works about as successfully as waiting until we're 75 to start saving for retirement.
This is why in our Halftime Institute Fellows Program we initiate thinking around Perfect Life Scenarios early on. You can't move forward if you don't know where you're headed. But if you define who you are and what you most want your one life to count for, you can put goals, strategies, and guardrails in place to make sure you are moving from where you are to where you want your life to be.
Even with the best of plans life can still have a way of taking us off track. We've all been there. That's why sometimes it simply boils down to doing the best we can, when we can, with what we have. The key word there is "best." Let me know what comments or questions you have. I'd love to help.
Blessings on your continuing journey,
Bob Karcher
Author | Speaker | Coach


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GuildQuality customer satisfaction surveys enable homeowners to rate their contractor on a scale of zero to four (with zero being the worst and four being the best) in all sorts of categories. Our members can publish a summary of those answers here on their profile page, displaying a bar for as many or as few questions as they like. The score for each category indicates the percentage of survey respondents who answered a three or four to that particular question.Learn more about the feedback published on this page.
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text:
Pes Planus?
Fallen arches shouldn?t (if possible) be confused with feet that are
normally flat. Arch height varies a lot from individual to individual. If you have fairly flat feet, but notice that an arch appears when you stand on your tiptoes (flexible flatfoot), and if you don?t experience any pain with your flat feet, you?re more likely to be okay. However, if your feet still fail to arch when up on your toes, if your feet lose an arch you used to have, or if you experience any painful symptoms, you probably ought to see a podiatrist.
Some people develop fallen arches because they tend to pronate, or roll inwards on the ankles, says the Instep Foot Clinic. Other people may simply have under-developed muscles in their arches. Your arches help your feet bear weight and are supported in this job by muscles and tendons in your feet and ankles. So, while fallen arches aren?t usually serious, they can cause pain in your feet, ankles, knees and/or hips due to your reduced weight-bearing ability. In these cases, treatment may be required. Orthotics that sit in your shoes and support your arches are a common solution, as are exercises to strengthen and stretch your feet and leg muscles.
Arches can be seen as ?rolling downward? or collapsing when walking. Pain may present in lower back, hips or knees. Pain may be present on the bottom of the heels, within the arch, within the ankles or even the forefoot. Swelling can occur. Pain may occur in the anterior leg muscles.
If your child has flatfeet, his or her doctor will ask about any family history of flatfeet or inherited foot problems. In a person of any age, the doctor will ask about occupational and recreational activities, previous foot trauma or foot surgery and the type of shoes worn. The doctor will examine your shoes to check for signs of excessive wear. Worn shoes often provide valuable clues to gait problems and poor bone alignment. The doctor will ask you to walk barefoot to evaluate the arches of the feet, to check for out-toeing and to look for other signs of poor foot mechanics. The doctor will examine your feet for foot flexibility and range of motion and feel for any tenderness or bony abnormalities. Depending on the results of this physical examination, foot X-rays may be recommended. X-rays are always performed in a young child with rigid flatfeet and in an adult with acquired flatfeet due to trauma.
Can you fix a fallen arch?
Non Surgical Treatment
If the condition is not bothering you or preventing you from being mobile, you may not need treatment (depending on your doctor?s diagnosis). Generally, treatment is reserved for those who have additional problems. Still, your doctor will probably recommend a simple treatment plan for your condition. This treatment may include rest and icing the arch, changing footwear, anti-inflammatory medication, using orthotics, over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, physical therapy. Corticosteroid injection (usually used in cases of severe pain). If these methods do not relieve symptoms of flat feet, your doctor may recommend surgery to reduce pain and improve the alignment of your bones.
Surgical Treatment
This is rare and usually only offered if patients have significant abnormalities in their bones or muscles. Treatments include joint fusion, reshaping the bones in the foot, and occasionally moving around tendons in the foot to help balance out the stresses (called tendon transfer). Flat feet and fallen arches are common conditions that are in most cases asymptomatic. However, in patients who do have symptoms, treatments are available that can help reduce pain and promote efficient movement. Orthotic devices are well recognised as an excellent treatment and podiatrists can offer these different treatment modalities as individualised treatments for patients.
Strap the arches into the anatomically correct positions with athletic tape and leave them like this for some time. If the fallen arches are an issue with the muscular structure, this may give the muscles an opportunity to strengthen. This is definitely not a fallen arches cure all the time but it can help prevent it more times than not. Ask a doctor or physical therapists to show you how to do this taping. Find shoes that fit. This may require that you get your foot measured and molded to ensure that the shoe will fit. Shoes that are too big, too tight or too short, may not directly cause the fallen arches, but they can assist with the damage to the area. These shoes should have thick cushioning inside and have plenty of room for your toes. Walk without shoes as much as possible. Shoes directly assist with weakening and distorting the arches of the feet so going without shoes can actually help strengthen your arches and prevent fallen arches. Walking on hard and bumpy surfaces barefooted makes the muscles in your feet strengthen in order to prevent injury. It is a coping mechanism by your body. Insert heel cups or insoles into the shoes that you wear the most. Many people wear uncomfortable shoes to work and these are the same shoes that cause their arches the most problems. Inserting the heel cups and insoles into these shoes can prevent fallen arches from occurring. Many people place these inserts into all their shoes to ensure support. Ask a medical professional, either your doctor or a physical therapist, about daily foot exercises that may keep the arches stronger than normal. Many times, you can find exercises and stretches on the Internet on various websites. Curling your toes tightly and rotating your feet will help strengthen your longitudinal arches. Relax your feet and shake them for a minute or so before you do any arch exercises. This will loosen the muscles in your feet that stay tight due to normal daily activities. Wear rigid soled sandals whenever possible to provide a strong support for your arches. Wooden soled sandals are the best ones if available. Walk or jog on concrete as much as you can. This will create a sturdy support for your arches. Running or walking in sandy areas or even on a treadmill, does not give rigid support. Instead, these surfaces absorb the step, offering no support for arches.
If one scans the literature it readily becomes obvious that leg length discrepancy/asymmetry is a common finding. This fact has been a very controversial topic within chiropractic, and diagnostic rationales have been built around this very common finding.
The object of this column is to consider some of the causes of this discrepancy that the profession may have ignored or not been aware of.
Some causes of leg length discrepancy (other than anatomical). Dysfunction of the hip joint itself leading to compensatory alterations by the joint and muscles that impact on the joint. Muscle mass itself, i.e., the vastus lateralis muscle, pushes the iliotibial band laterally, causing femoral compensations to maintain a line of progression during the gait cycle. This is often misdiagnosed as I-T band syndrome and subsequently treated incorrectly. The internal rotators of the lower limb are being chronically short or in a state of contracture. According to Cunningham's Manual of Practical Anatomy these are muscles whose insertion is lateral to the long axis of the femur. The external rotators of the hip joint are evidenced in the hip rotation test. The iliosacral joint displays joint fixations on the superior or inferior transverse, or the sagittal axes. This may result from many causes including joint, muscle, osseous or compensatory considerations. Short hamstring muscles, i.e., the long head of the biceps femoris muscle. In the closed kinetic chain an inability of the fibula to drop inferior will result in sacrotuberous ligament loading failure. The sacroiliac joint dysfunctions along its right or left oblique axis. Failure or incorrect loading of the Back Force Transmission System (the longitudinal-muscle-tendon-fascia sling and the oblique dorsal muscle-fascia-tendon sling). See the proceedings of the first and second Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back Pain. Sacral dysfunction (nutation or counternutation) on the respiratory axis. When we consider the above mentioned, and other causes, it should be obvious that unless we look at all of the causes of leg length discrepancy/asymmetry then we will most assuredly reach a diagnosis based on historical dogma or ritual rather than applying the rules of current differential diagnosis.
Often there are few or no symptoms prior to the age of 25-35. The most common symptom is chronic lower back pain, but also is frequently middle and upper back pain. Same-sided and repeated injury or pain to the hip, knee and/or ankle is also a hallmark of a long-standing untreated LLD. It is not uncommon to have buttock or radiating hip pain that is non-dermatomal (not from a disc) and tends to go away when lying down.
Infants, children or adolescents suspected of having a limb-length condition should receive an evaluation at the first sign of difficulty in using their arms or legs. In many cases, signs are subtle and only noticeable in certain situations, such as when buying clothing or playing sports. Proper initial assessments by qualified pediatric orthopedic providers can reduce the likelihood of long-term complications and increase the likelihood that less invasive management will be effective. In most cases, very mild limb length discrepancies require no formal treatment at all.
Non Surgical Treatment
Treatment depends on what limb has the deformity and the amount of deformity present. For example, there may be loss of function of the leg or arm. Cosmetic issues may also be a concern for the patient and their family. If there are problems with the arms, the goal is to improve the appearance and function of the arm. Treatment of leg problems try to correct the deformity that may cause arthritis as the child gets older. If the problem is leg length, where the legs are not "equal," the goal is equalization (making the legs the same length). Treatment may include the use of adaptive devices, prosthesis, orthotics or shoe lifts. If the problem is more severe and not treatable with these methods, then surgery may be necessary.
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Surgical Treatment
Differences of an inch-and-a-half to two inches may require epiphysiodesis (adjusting the growth of the longer side) or acute shortening of the other side. Differences greater than 2.5 inches usually require a lengthening procedure. The short bone is cut and an external device is applied. Gradual lengthening is done over months to allow the muscles and nerves accommodate the new length.
The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis which is commonly referred to as a heel spur. Plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue which runs along the bottom surface of the foot, from the heel to the toes. Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia is inflamed. This condition can be very painful and cause a considerable amount of suffering.
Heel pain has many causes. Heel pain is generally the result of faulty biomechanics (walking gait abnormalities) that place too much stress on the heel bone and the soft tissues that attach to it. The stress may also result from injury, or a bruise incurred while walking, running, or jumping on hard surfaces; wearing poorly constructed footwear (such as flimsy flip-flops); or being overweight.
Initially, this pain may only be present when first standing up after sleeping or sitting. As you walk around, the muscle and tendon loosen and the pain goes away. As this problem progresses, the pain can be present with all standing and walking. You may notice a knot or bump on the back of the heel. Swelling may develop. In some cases, pressure from the back of the shoe causes pain.
A biomechanical exam by your podiatrist will help reveal these abnormalities and in turn resolve the cause of plantar fasciitis. By addressing this cause, the patient can be offered a podiatric long-term solution to his problem.
Non Surgical Treatment
Once diagnosed, treatment for plantar fasciitis may include one or more of the following: advice on footwear, in particular use of arch-supportive footwear; avoid walking barefoot; stretching exercises, shoe modifications such as heel pads, taping and strapping, anti-inflammatories and orthotic devices to correct abnormal foot mechanics. Injection therapy with corticosteroids is only advisable if all the conservative treatment methods mentioned above have been exhausted due to undesired effects implicated with steroid infusion in the heels.
Surgical Treatment
If treatment hasn't worked and you still have painful symptoms after a year, your GP may refer you to either an orthopaedic surgeon, a surgeon who specialises in surgery that involves bones, muscles and joints or a podiatric surgeon, a podiatrist who specialises in foot surgery. Surgery is sometimes recommended for professional athletes and other sportspeople whose heel pain is adversely affecting their career. Plantar release surgery is the most widely used type of surgery for heel pain. The surgeon will cut the fascia to release it from your heel bone and reduce the tension in your plantar fascia. This should reduce any inflammation and relieve your painful symptoms. Surgery can be performed either as open surgery, where the section of the plantar fascia is released by making a cut into your heel or endoscopic or minimal incision surgery - where a smaller incision is made and special instruments are inserted through the incision to gain access to the plantar fascia. Endoscopic or minimal incision surgery has a quicker recovery time, so you will be able to walk normally much sooner (almost immediately), compared with two to three weeks for open surgery. A disadvantage of endoscopic surgery is that it requires both a specially trained surgical team and specialised equipment, so you may have to wait longer for treatment than if you were to choose open surgery. Endoscopic surgery also carries a higher risk of damaging nearby nerves, which could result in symptoms such as numbness, tingling or some loss of movement in your foot. As with all surgery, plantar release carries the risk of causing complications such as infection, nerve damage and a worsening of your symptoms after surgery (although this is rare). You should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both techniques with your surgical team.
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Heel pain is commonly caused from shoes that do not fit properly. In addition, shoes need to have ample cushioning and support, particularly through the heel, ball of the foot, and arch. Shoes should also be replaced if they become too worn. One sure sign of wear and tear is overly worn areas of a shoe's insoles. If the heel or ball of the foot is particularly worn, damage could easily occur since the bottom of the foot is not getting the cushioning it needs.
Leg Length Discrepancy Running Symptoms
Have you noticed that your pants always fit a little weird or that you are always leaning to one leg when standing for awhile? If so, one of your legs may be longer than the other. This is known as a leg length discrepancy. There are two main reasons for a leg length discrepancy. One reason is that one of your leg bones (tibia or femur) is longer on one side. This is referred to as a true leg length discrepancy because the actual length of your bones is different. A second reason is that your pelvic bone may be rotated on one side making it appear that one leg is longer than the other. This is referred to as an apparent leg length discrepancy because the actual length of your leg bones is not different. In order to figure out if you have a true or apparent leg length discrepancy, your doctor may take an x-ray to measure the length of your leg bones or a simple measurement from your belly button to your ankle can help determine the reason. Over time, the leg length difference can cause stress on your low back, hips and knees, which may cause pain or discomfort.
There are many causes of leg length discrepancy. Structural inequality is due to interference of normal bone growth of the lower extremity, which can occur from trauma or infection in a child. Functional inequality has many causes, including Poliomyelitis or other paralytic deformities can retard bone growth in children. Contracture of the Iliotibial band. Scoliosis or curvature of the spine. Fixed pelvic obliquity. Abduction or flexion contraction of the hip. Flexion contractures or other deformities of the knee. Foot deformities.
The patient/athlete may present with an altered gait (such as limping) and/or scoliosis and/or low back pain. Lower extremity disorders are possibly associated with LLD, some of these are increased hip pain and degeneration (especially involving the long leg). Increased risk of: knee injury, ITB syndrome, pronation and plantar fascitis, asymmetrical strength in lower extremity. Increased disc or vertebral degeneration. Symptoms vary between patients, some patients may complain of just headaches.
The most accurate method to identify leg (limb) length inequality (discrepancy) is through radiography. It?s also the best way to differentiate an anatomical from a functional limb length inequality. Radiography, A single exposure of the standing subject, imaging the entire lower extremity. Limitations are an inherent inaccuracy in patients with hip or knee flexion contracture and the technique is subject to a magnification error. Computed Tomography (CT-scan), It has no greater accuracy compared to the standard radiography. The increased cost for CT-scan may not be justified, unless a contracture of the knee or hip has been identified or radiation exposure must be minimized. However, radiography has to be performed by a specialist, takes more time and is costly. It should only be used when accuracy is critical. Therefore two general clinical methods were developed for assessing LLI. Direct methods involve measuring limb length with a tape measure between 2 defined points, in stand. Two common points are the anterior iliac spine and the medial malleolus or the anterior inferior iliac spine and lateral malleolus. Be careful, however, because there is a great deal of criticism and debate surrounds the accuracy of tape measure methods. If you choose for this method, keep following topics and possible errors in mind. Always use the mean of at least 2 or 3 measures. If possible, compare measures between 2 or more clinicians. Iliac asymmetries may mask or accentuate a limb length inequality. Unilateral deviations in the long axis of the lower limb (eg. Genu varum,?) may mask or accentuate a limb length inequality. Asymmetrical position of the umbilicus. Joint contractures. Indirect methods. Palpation of bony landmarks, most commonly the iliac crests or anterior iliac spines, in stand. These methods consist in detecting if bony landmarks are at (horizontal) level or if limb length inequality is present. Palpation and visual estimation of the iliac crest (or SIAS) in combination with the use of blocks or book pages of known thickness under the shorter limb to adjust the level of the iliac crests (or SIAS) appears to be the best (most accurate and precise) clinical method to asses limb inequality. You should keep in mind that asymmetric pelvic rotations in planes other than the frontal plane may be associated with limb length inequality. A review of the literature suggest, therefore, that the greater trochanter major and as many pelvic landmarks should be palpated and compared (left trochanter with right trochanter) when the block correction method is used.
Non Surgical Treatment
The non-surgical intervention is mainly usedfor the functional and environmental types of leg length discrepancies. It is also applied to the mild category of limb length inequality. Non-surgical intervention consists of stretching the muscles of the lower extremity. This is individually different, whereby the M. Tensor Fascia latae, the adductors, the hamstring muscles, M. piriformis and M. Iliopsoas are stretched. In this non-surgical intervention belongs also the use of shoe lifts. These shoe lifts consists of either a shoe insert (up to 10-20mm of correction), or building up the sole of the shoe on the shorter leg (up to 30-60mm of correction). This lift therapy should be implemented gradually in small increments. Several studies have examined the treatment of low back pain patients with LLD with shoe lifts. Gofton obtained good results: the patients experienced major or complete pain relief that lasted upon follow-up ranging from 3 to 11 years. Helliwell also observed patients whereby 44% experienced complete pain relief, and 45% had moderate or substantial pain relief. Friberg found that 157 (of 211) patients with LBP, treated with shoe lifts, were symprom-free after a mean follow-up of 18 months.
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Surgical Treatment
The bone is lengthened by surgically applying an external fixation device to the leg. The external fixator, a scaffold-like frame, is connected to the bone with wires, pins, or both. A small crack is made in the bone and the frame creates tension when the patient or family member turns its dial. This is done several times each day. The lengthening process begins approximately five to 10 days after surgery. The bone may lengthen 1 millimeter per day, or approximately 1 inch per month. Lengthening may be slower in a bone that was previously injured. It may also be slower if the leg was operated on before. Bones in patients with potential blood vessel abnormalities, such as cigarette smokers, may also need to be lengthened more slowly. The external fixator is worn until the bone is strong enough to support the patient safely. This usually takes about three months for each inch. Factors such as age, health, smoking and participation in rehabilitation can affect the amount of time needed.
Mortons Neuroma Solutions
Morton?s Neuroma is a common foot condition characterized by pain and swelling in the ball of the foot, between the third and fourth toes. It?s caused by bones in your feet squeezing a nerve. Symptoms include a sharp, burning pain and possibly separation between the affected toes.
There are orthoses and corrective shoes that can effectively alleviate disturbances to foot mechanics. A podiatric physician can prescribe the best corrective footwear and shoe inserts for all activities, work, exercise, play, walking, shopping and more, based on an analysis of the patient?s foot and his or her lifestyle. Improper footwear. Podiatric physicians have long believed that constricting, narrow, poor-fitting shoes with a tight or pointed toe box tend to compress the end of the foot, leading to abnormal motion of the foot and to excessive pressure in the area of the nerve. High-heeled shoes are a particular culprit here, since they put pressure on the area around wearer?s toes and the ball of the foot.
Many patients describe the sensation as a burning pain in the ball of the foot that often radiates to the toes. Initially, the pain may become much more apparent when the person wears tight, narrow or high-heeled shoes, or engages in activities which place pressure on the foot. Eventually, symptoms may be continuous and last for days, and even weeks. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans have revealed Morton's neuroma lesions in patients who had no symptoms at all. Symptoms can become so disrupting that many affected individuals become anxious about walking, or even placing their foot on the ground.
Plain x-rays of the foot may demonstrate that one or more of the metatarsals are long (Figure #5). Not uncommonly, the second and/or third metatarsal may be long relative to the third or fourth. This can create a situation where excessive load is occurring in and around the vicinity of the interdigital nerve.
Non Surgical Treatment
Common treatments involve wearing different shoes or using arch supports. Resting the foot, massaging the toes and using an ice pack may work for some people. A GP or a podiatrist (foot specialist) may also recommend anti-inflammatory painkillers or a course of steroid injections. Numbing injections, in which alcohol and a local anaesthetic are injected into the affected area of the foot, may also be effective. In extreme cases, when the condition does not respond to treatment, day case surgery may be needed.
Surgical Treatment
If conservative treatments haven't helped, your doctor might suggest injections. Some people are helped by the injection of steroids into the painful area. In some cases, surgeons can relieve the pressure on the nerve by cutting nearby structures, such as the ligament that binds together some of the bones in the front of the foot. Surgical removal of the growth may be necessary if other treatments fail to provide pain relief. Although surgery is usually successful, the procedure can result in permanent numbness in the affected toes.
Women, particularly those who wear tight shoes, are at greatest risk for Morton?s neuroma. The best way to prevent the condition is to wear shoes with wide toe boxes. Tight, pointed shoes squeeze bones, ligaments, muscles and nerves. High heels may worsen the problem by shifting your weight forward. Over time, this combination can cause the nerves to swell and become painful.
Hammertoe Pain Relief
A Hammertoes or contracted toe is a deformity of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second, third, or fourth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer. Mallet toe is a similar condition affecting the distal interphalangeal joint.
Hammertoes are more commonly seen in women than men, due to the shoe styles women frequently wear: shoes with tight toe boxes and high heels. Genetics plays a role in some cases of hammertoes, as does trauma, infection, arthritis, and certain neurological and muscle disorders. But most cases of contracted toes are associated with various biomechanical abnormalities of the feet, such as flat feet and feet with abnormally high arches. These biomechanical abnormalities cause the muscles and tendons to be used excessively or improperly, which deforms the toes over time.
The most obvious sign of hammertoes are bent toes, other symptoms may include pain and stiffness during movement of the toe. Painful corns on the tops of the toe or toes from rubbing against the top of the shoe's toe box. Painful calluses on the bottoms of the toe or toes. Pain on the bottom of the ball of the foot. Redness and swelling at the joints.
Although hammertoes are readily apparent, to arrive at a diagnosis the foot and ankle surgeon will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and examine your foot. During the physical examination, the doctor may attempt to reproduce your symptoms by manipulating your foot and will study the contractures of the toes. In addition, the foot and ankle surgeon may take x-rays to determine the degree of the deformities and assess any changes that may have occurred.
Non Surgical Treatment
Mild hammer toe in children can be treated by manipulating and splinting the affected toe. The following changes in footwear may help relieve symptoms. Wear the right size shoes or shoes with wide toe boxes for comfort, and to avoid making hammer toe worse. Avoid high heels as much as possible. Wear soft insoles to relieve pressure on the toe. Protect the joint that is sticking out with corn pads or felt pads. A foot doctor can make foot devices called hammer toe regulators or straighteners for you, or you can buy them at the store. Exercises may be helpful. You can try gentle stretching exercises if the toe is not already in a fixed position. PIcking up a towel with your toes can help stretch and straighten the small muscles in the foot.
Surgical Treatment
If these treatments are not sufficient at correcting the hammer toe, an operation to straighten the toe may be necessary. This is often performed in conjunction with surgery for a bunion deformity. The surgical treatment of a hammer toe can consist of either cutting the tendons to relieve the pressure that causes the deformity, or fusing the toe so that it points straight permanently.
The best ways to prevent a hammertoe are. Wear shoes that fit well. Shoes should be one-half inch longer than your longest toe. Shoes should be wide enough and the toe box should be high enough to give the foot room to move. Don?t wear shoes with heels over 2 inches high. If a toe starts to look like a hammertoe, buy shoes that have an extra high toe box. Wear corn pad removers or cushion pads on top of the affected toe. See your healthcare provider any time you have foot pain that does not go away quickly or is more than mild pain. Foot pain is not normal.
Is Hammer Toe Debilitating
Hammertoe is a condition in which the toes of your feet become contracted into an upside-down "V" shape, causing pain, pressure and, often, corns and calluses. Hammer Toe can develop on any of the toes, but generally affects the middle three toes, most often the second toe. The bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons of your feet normally are well-balanced to distribute your body's weight while standing, walking and running. When the first and second joints of your toes experience the prolonged stress that develops when the muscles that control them fail to work together properly, the pressure on the tendons that support them can lead to the curling or contraction known as hammertoe.
Hammertoe and mallet toe have been linked to certain shoes. High-heeled shoes or footwear that's too tight in the toe box can crowd your toes into a space that's not large enough for them to lie flat. This curled toe position may eventually persist even when you're barefoot. Trauma. An injury in which you stub, jam or break a toe may make it more likely for that digit to develop hammertoe or mallet toe. Nerve injuries or disorders. Hammertoe and mallet toe are more common in people who have nerve damage in their feet, which often occurs with such medical problems as a stroke or diabetes.
Common reasons patients seek treatment for toe problems are toe pain on the knuckle. Thick toe calluses. Interference with walking/activities. Difficulty fitting shoes. Worsening toe deformity. Pain at the ball of the foot. Unsightly appearance. Toe deformities (contractures) come in varying degrees of severity, from slight to severe. The can be present in conjunction with a bunion, and develop onto a severe disfiguring foot deformity. Advanced cases, the toe can dislocate on top of the foot. Depending on your overall health, symptoms and severity of the hammer toe, the condition may be treated conservatively and/or with surgery.
Most health care professionals can diagnose hammertoe simply by examining your toes and feet. X-rays of the feet are not needed to diagnose hammertoe, but they may be useful to look for signs of some types of arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis) or other disorders that can cause hammertoe.
Non Surgical Treatment
Conservative treatment is the first choice, often starting with a change of shoes to ones that have soft, larger toe spaces. Toe exercises may be prescribed to stretch and strengthen the toe muscles. Over-the-counter straps, cushions or non-medicated corn pads may be recommended to help relieve your symptoms.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be the treatment of choice if conservative approaches prove unsuccessful. Usually performed as an outpatient procedure, the specific surgery will depend on the type and extent of injury to the toe. Recovery my take several days or weeks and you may experience some redness, stiffness and swelling of the affected toe. Your physician will recommend taking it easy and to keep your foot elevated while you recover.
These tips may help you buy the right shoes. Buy shoes at the end of the day. Your feet are smaller in the morning and swell throughout the day. Don't assume your shoe size hasn't changed. As you age, your shoe size may change, especially the width. Measure both feet and buy for the larger foot. Ask for just the right fit. A shoe repair store can stretch shoes in tight spots.
How To Treat Hammertoes
Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are toes that do not have the right shape. They may look odd or may hurt, or both. Tight shoes are the most common cause of these toe problems. A hammertoe is a toe that bends down toward the floor at the middle toe joint. It usually happens in the second toe. This causes the middle toe joint to rise up. Hammer toes often occur with bunions. Claw toe often happens in the four smaller toes at the same time. The toes bend up at the joints where the toes and the foot meet. They bend down at both the middle joints and at the joints nearest the tip of the toes. This causes the toes to curl down toward the floor. A mallet toe often happens to the second toe, but it may happen in the other toes as well. The toe bends down at the joint closest to the tip of the toe.
People who are born with long bones in their toes are more likely to develop hammer toe. Children who wear shoes they have outgrown may develop this condition. People who wear very narrow shoes or high-heeled shoes are also more likely to develop a hammer toe. Sometimes, pressure from a bunion can cause hammer toe. Rheumatoid arthritis is another a risk factor.
The most obvious symptom of hammer, claw or mallet toe is the abnormal toe position. This is usually combined with pain: the abnormal foot position leads to excessive friction on the toe as it rubs against any footwear which can be extremely painful. Corns & Calluses: repeated friction can result in the formation of a foot corn or callus on top of the toes. Stiffness, the joints become increasingly stiff. In the early stages, the toes can usually be straightened out passively using your hands, but if allowed to progress, the stiffness may be permanent.
Some questions your doctor may ask of you include, when did you first begin having foot problems? How much pain are your feet or toes causing you? Where is the pain located? What, if anything, seems Hammer toes to improve your symptoms? What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms? What kind of shoes do you normally wear? Your doctor can diagnose hammertoe or mallet toe by examining your foot. Your doctor may also order X-rays to further evaluate the bones and joints of your feet and toes.
Non Surgical Treatment
If your hammertoe problem is diagnosed as flexible hammertoe, there are a number of nonsurgical treatments that may be able to straighten out your toe or toes and return them to their proper alignment. Padding and Taping. Your physician may pad the boney top-part of your hammertoe as a means of relieving pain, and may tape your toes as a way to change their position, correct the muscle imbalance and relieve the pressure that led to the hammertoe's development. Medication. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can help deal with inflammation, swelling and pain caused by your hammertoe. Cortisone injections may be prescribed for the same purpose. If your hammertoe is a consequence of arthritis, your physician may prescribe medications for that.
Surgical Treatment
If these treatments are not sufficient at correcting the hammer toe, an operation to straighten the toe may be necessary. This is often performed in conjunction with surgery for a bunion deformity. The surgical treatment of a hammer toe can consist of either cutting the tendons to relieve the pressure that causes the deformity, or fusing the toe so that it points straight permanently.
Over Pronation (Flat Feet) refers to the biomechanical shock-absorbing motion of the ankle, foot and lower leg. It is the natural inward flexing motion of the lower leg and ankle. Standing, walking, and running cause the ankle joint to pronate which in turn helps the body to absorb shock and allows it to control balance. An ankle joint that is too flexible causes more pronation than desired. This common condition is called Over- Pronation (sometimes referred to as "Flat Feet"). This foot condition places an extreme degree of strain on various connective tissues of the ankle, foot, and knee. If this condition is not addressed foot pain and toe deformities such as bunions and hammer toes (just to name a couple) may develop. Hip and lower back pain may also be residual results from this condition.
There are many possible causes for overpronation, but researchers have not yet determined one underlying cause. Hintermann states, Compensatory overpronation may occur for anatomical reasons, such as a tibia vara of 10 degrees or more, forefoot varus, leg length discrepancy, ligamentous laxity, or because of muscular weakness or tightness in the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Pronation can be influenced by sources outside of the body as well. Shoes have been shown to significantly influence pronation. Hintermann states that the same person can have different amounts of pronation just by using different running shoes. It is easily possible that the maximal ankle joint eversion movement is 31 degrees for one and 12 degrees for another running shoe.
With over pronation, sufferers are most likely to experience pain through the arch of the foot. A lack of stability is also a common complaint. Over pronation also causes the foot to turn outward during movement at the ankle, causing sufferers to walk along the inner portion of the foot. This not only can deliver serious pain through the heel and ankle, but it can also be the cause of pain in the knees or lower back as well. This condition also causes the arch to sink which places stress on the bones, ligaments, and tendons throughout the foot. This may yield other common conditions of foot pain such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.
People who overpronate have flat feet or collapsed arches. You can tell whether you overpronate by wetting your feet and standing on a dry, flat surface. If your footprint looks complete, you probably overpronate. Another way to determine whether you have this condition is to simply look at your feet when you stand. If there is no arch on the innermost part of your sole, and it touches the floor, you likely overpronate. The only way to truly know for sure, however, is to be properly diagnosed by a foot and ankle specialist.
Non Surgical Treatment
Although there is no actual cure for over-pronation it is possible to correct or at least reduce this problem. In order to restore our normal foot function an 'orthotic' or orthotic insole device is placed inside the shoes. Orthotics are designed to realign the foot and ankle bones to their natural position. This in turn restores our normal foot function and it helps alleviate not only foot problems but also ailments in other parts of the body i.e. the legs, knees and lower back. In addition to wearing an orthotic, it is recommended to wear supportive shoes, like good quality athletic footwear with a firm heel counter and sufficient flexibility in the forefoot area.
Many of the prevention methods for overpronation orthotics, for example, can be used interchangeably with treatment methods. If the overpronation is severe, you should seek medical attention from a podiatrist who can cast you for custom-made orthotics. Custom-made orthotics are more expensive, but they last longer and provide support, stability, and balance for the entire foot. You can also talk with a shoe specialist about running shoes that offer extra medial support and firm heel counters. Proper shoes can improve symptoms quickly and prevent them from recurring. Surgery can sometimes help cure and prevent this problem if you suffer from inherited or acquired pes planus deformity. Surgery typically involves stabilizing the bones to improve the foot?s support and function.
What Would Cause Severs Disease?
Sever's disease is the most common cause of heel pain in the growing child. It is due to overuse and repetitive stress of the Achilles tendon where it attaches to the heel bone.
This condition most commonly occurs due to repetitive or prolonged activities placing strain on the heel's growth plate, typically during a period of rapid growth. These activities (or sports) usually involve excessive walking, running, jumping or hopping. Severs disease may also be more likely to occur following a poorly rehabilitated sprained ankle, in patients with poor foot biomechanics or those who use inappropriate footwear. In young athletes, this condition is commonly seen in running and jumping sports, such as football, basketball, netball and athletics.
The most prominent symptom of Sever's disease is heel pain which is usually aggravated by physical activity such as walking, running or jumping. The pain is localized to the posterior and plantar side of the heel over the calcaneal apophysis. Sometimes, the pain may be so severe that it may cause limping and interfere with physical performance in sports. External appearance of the heel is almost always normal, and signs of local disease such as edema, erythema (redness) is absent. The main diagnostic tool is pain on medial- lateral compression of the calcaneus in the area of growth plate, so called squeeze test. Foot radiographs are usually normal. Therefore the diagnosis of Sever's disease is primarily clinical.
You may have pain when your doctor squeezes your heel bone. You may have pain when asked to stand or walk on your toes or on your heels. You may have pain in your heel when your doctor stretches your calf muscles. Your doctor may order x-rays of the injured foot to show an active growth plate.
Non Surgical Treatment
Sever?s disease is believed to be the byproduct of repepitive stress and trauma to the growth plate in the calcaneous, or heel bone. The stress is from the pull of the Achilles tendon on the growth plate where the tendon attaches.
Surgical Treatment
The surgeon may select one or more of the following options to treat calcaneal apophysitis. Reduce activity. The child needs to reduce or stop any activity that causes pain. Support the heel. Temporary shoe inserts or custom orthotic devices may provide support for the heel. Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, help reduce the pain and inflammation. Physical therapy. Stretching or physical therapy modalities are sometimes used to promote healing of the inflamed issue. Immobilization. In some severe cases of pediatric heel pain, a cast may be used to promote healing while keeping the foot and ankle totally immobile. Often heel pain in children returns after it has been treated because the heel bone is still growing. Recurrence of heel pain may be a sign of calcaneal apophysitis, or it may indicate a different problem. If your child has a repeat bout of heel pain, be sure to make an appointment with your foot and ankle surgeon.
Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.
July 2017


text:
Photo: Illustration
In 2010, Google bought a Web-based photo-editing startup called Picnik for $50 million. Picnik's three cofounders made $16 million each.Privco, "the private company financial data authority," (subscribe here) has obtained a copy of the email thread that launched Picnik in 2005.
Everyone in the startup space likes to say that ideas are cheap, but clearly, these guys had a pretty fleshed out set that put them on their way toward huge riches.
From: Massena, Darrin
Sent: Sat 12/10/2005 8:47 AM
To: Harrington, Mike S
Subject: Picnik
What do you think of Picnik as a code name? I really like it. Maybe even as a product name? Picnik.com is for sale. After sleeping on it I think it is really important to get and use the product's domain name. Flickr.com is just so much a better handle than somecompany.com/flickr. Especially for a first product, why confuse things by emphasising your company over your product?
From: Harrington, Mike
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 9:42 AM
To: Massena, Darrin Subject:
RE: Picnik
awesome. get it!
From: Darrin Massena
Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 10:56 PM
To: Harrington, Mike; Massena, Darrin
Subject: Internet Photo Editing
OK, OK, this is it man. Our long term business goal: OWN THE INTERNET PHOTO
EDITING MARKET. I think we can do this.
THE MARKET What is the internet photo editing market? Any site/service that people upload images to. Any site that hosts photos. Photo storage/sharing/management sites (Flickr et al), social networks, blogs, personal web sites, personal gallery sites, forums and groups for starters. More and more people are uploading unedited photos from their camera phones directly to the internet. Wifi-enabled cameras also allow direct-to-service uploads. New sites and services that make use of photos are popping up all over the place. Photos are becoming an internet data type as common as text.
THE PROBLEM There is no ability to manipulate photos once they are online. People have to download them, bring them into a photo editor (which they must buy/maintain/upgrade), and somehow upload them again. That sucks. Especially for little tweaks like to sharpen an image, or crop it, or to zoom in on part of it. The overhead is so high that most people just don"t bother even though they know the photos they"re printing/sharing could look better and wish they did. To some degree this must be hindering photo sharing sites, amongst others, because their user satisfaction levels aren"t as high as they could be.
OUR SOLUTION A wholly-online photo editor, provided in (at least) two forms. Standalone, as an online application we provide direct to end-users. And integrated, as a seamless part of any site whose users benefit from being able to manipulate images. Our standalone photo editing service is so complete and powerful that people will pay to use it. They"ll prefer it over the offline tools they have today. The integrated service will work so seamlessly and be integrated so easily that any photo-using site/service will be happy to pay for the value it adds to their site/service; they"ll attract additional users who will spend more time on the site and be happier with their results.
THE COMPETITION Established companies with photo editing products. Established companies have to overcome two major hurdles to address this market (in addition to realising it is a market!). First they must write an online photo editing application. There will be no quick ports of existing applications; most code will have to be from scratch. Second, they must implement their code to work as a seamlessly integrated service in a 3rd party site. Not only is this more work, but it is a new mindset for the established players. Their present mindset is more about how they can create a vertically integrated application and service of their own, not how can they add value to a 3rd party.
Upstarts like ourselves, possibly as outgrowths of photo sharing sites. Competition against an independent startup comes down to our ability to execute on our standalone and integrated services as well as our marketing of them. As far as I can see nobody has any kind of lead on us so it is a good bet we will be first and even if we are not first we will be best!
Each photo sharing site that develops an adequate photo editing solution in-house might mean one less customer for our integrated service but a) our standalone service might still make customers out of some of their customers due to its superior interface and capabilities, and b) if even one major photo sharing site adds significant editing capability (presumably proprietary) they"ll fuel their competitor"s desire for our integrated service.
GETTING THERE There are many avenues we can take. Here"s one possibility that appeals to me.
1. create v1 of the standalone service w/ a minimal devil-horn level of features (i.e. not a serious photo editing tool) 2. launch it using the viral marketing strategy ("Make funny pictures of your friends!"). Build an audience, build credibility.
3. start implementing more serious photo editing features and the ability for the photo editor to be seamlessly integrated into 3rd party sites 4. send our biz-dev folks out to make deals with sites that can be satisfied with basic set of photo editing features
5. launch our v2 standalone service when we have a credible set of photo editing features 6. add features and customers forever and rake in the dough
THOUGHTS This could be really BIG ($-wise). Our timing is right. We"re at the intersection of demand (mass use of online photos) and capability (Flash 8 supports the first level of functionality we need). Flash 8.5/9 will take us to the next level. If Canvas becomes widespread and is hardware accelerated we can move to that. If WPF becomes widespread we can move to that and boost our functionality/performance even further.
One thing I like about this is the RAD Games Tools-like approach of providing a service for other sites. This is an angle not every Flash bitmap-editing tool author will consider or be able to execute on. In addition to the revenue stream we will be building relationships that will make us harder to displace.
Another service we can provide to 3rd parties: photo processing (both user-directed and automated). Shaula mentioned a service she"s used that provides photos of race participants after a race like the Seattle Marathon. They take pictures of everyone during the race. You pick your photo from their site then they send you prints in the sizes you"ve chosen. They also allow you to choose whether the race"s logo will be printed on the photo. Problem is, they don"t preview what the result will look like with the logo overlaid nor do they let you choose its positioning or which race logo to use. Such a site could insert our service after the photos have been selected and pass us the various logo options. We"d take over and let the user choose/place/size the logo, maybe add a caption, crop the photo, zoom in on a particular group of runners, draw an arrow pointing themselves out in a crowd, etc. We"d pass the composited result back to the host site and they"d take it from there. This is one small usage but I suspect if we look we can find a lot of opportunities like this.
I specifically didn"t mention above the potential inherent in allowing people to "upgrade" their images to include animation, sound, and interactive elements (e.g. hover your mouse over each person in a photo to see their name) because I don"t think it is necessary to add these abilities to make serious headway toward owning this market. They would be really cool though and might break us through into something completely new.
Cool, right? Go get more insights from PrivCo here >
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text:
Our Mission
To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Our Vision
We will grow in our love of God and neighbor,
reach new people and heal a broken world.
Our Strategy
We are committed to radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith
development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.
Loving God. Loving our neighbors.
Our Beliefs
We are a reconciling congregation and are proud to welcome all persons.
We envision a place that is exciting, providing opportunities to share an encounter with the Spirit that we find in Jesus Christ, in humanity, in all of creation, and in the mysterious ways that God appears to us.
Our Clergy
Rev. Judy Zabel
Senior Pastor
Rev. Frenchye Magee
Associate Pastor of Discipleship & Congregational Care


text:
The words to this song by Steven Curtis Chapman have always spoken to my heart in a deeply profound way.
What about the change
What about the difference
What about the grace
What about forgiveness
When I hear it it, is a reminder to be sure that my life is not just an exhibit for the ornaments of the Christian life but there is a profound and ongoing change in my heart.
That I live what I say I believe
And as I struggle with relationships and everyday life I have to ask myself, what about the change?
Is there evidence of the new life 2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks about?
Is there change, a difference in my life that God desires for me, the change that produces grace and forgiveness that rules over my selfishness and pride.
I have to die to who I once was every single day.
But God is faithful to finish the work He started.
Help me Lord to live a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change.
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Anointed One, that person is a new creation. The old life is gone—and see—a new life has begun!
– 2 Corinthians 5:17
Preview YouTube video Steven Curtis Chapman – The change
*The Change
Steven Curtis Chapman
Image by Faithlife


text:
The Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association of Priest River (PORPA) is excited to
announce the offering of a Masters (age 18 and over) Learn To Row program. This learn
to row program is for beginning and novice rowers. The program will cover the
fundamentals of rowing and rowing safety.
Coach: Dan Gehn, Gonzaga University Men's Rowing Coach:
About Coach Gehn: Dan Gehn begins his 26th year as Director of Rowing and head men's rowing coach at Gonzaga University in 2019. Under his guidance Gonzaga crew has become a recognized team on the West Coast and in recent years the Bulldogs have started to appear on the national rowing scene. This was noted with first place finishes in two events in the April 2019 UCSD Invitational.
Location: Priest River Recreation Area aka The Mudhole
Program description:
This is a two-week instruction (four sessions) to be held on each Saturday and Sunday 10:30am-1pm. Each day will consist of a 2.5-hour session both off the water and on the water.
Adult Beginning: Learn to Row: June 15,16,22 &23 and July 6,7,13&14
Sign up deadline for these sessions are June 1, 2019 and June 26, 2019 respectively.
Adult Beginning Level II Learn to Row: July 6,7,13 &14
Sign up deadline for this session is June 26, 2019
Cost: $200 per session. Payment must be in advance. Payment can be made on porpa.org via Paypal; or by check payable to PORPA sent to PO Box 842, Priest River, ID 83856.
**A minimum of eight (8) participants will be needed or it will be cancelled and money will be returned.
If there is interest, mid-week sessions may be possible. Individual coaching sessions can be arranged with Coach Gehn. PORPA equipment is available for a $25 user fee.
Individuals who complete the course are invited to join PORPA. They can row free until the end of July and have a fifty percent discount on a rowing membership in 2019. The $50 initiation fee will still be required. PORPA has a fleet of 6 rowing shells to include 2 -8s. a 4, a double and 2 singles and thus can provide a rowing experience at any interest level.
For PORPA members: 1-hour sessions are offered on Sunday 9-10am. $25 two-week session. Deadline to sign up for these sessions is June 1 and June 26.
To participate, fill out and mail the registration and waiver forms available in the links below or contact us here if you have questions.
Learn to Row registration Form 2019
Waiver Form (Required)