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What Did That Westwood Home Sell For At 1443 Pandora
Posted by Scott McIntosh Labels: 90024, Fairburn Elementary, fixer, Scott McIntosh, Sold, South Of Wilshire, Spanish, Westwood Agent, Westwood Real Estate, Westwood Realtor
The Westwood home at 1443 Pandora Ave., LA CA 90024 lasted about a week on the market before accepting an offer. This 1927 Spanish home is situated on a corner lot raised up on a hill. Which means there are several stairs up to the front door and a multi-tiered yard. This home needed to be upgraded throughout and is considered a fixer. Just a few weeks after acceptance, the house closed on December 31st, 2012, for $1,270,000 |$601 $/sf|.
According to the MLS, the home is a 3 bedroom / 2 bath, 2,113 sf of living space on a 9,416 sf lot.
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What Did That Westwood Home Sell For At 1443 Pandora
Scott McIntosh
90024|Fairburn Elementary|fixer|Scott McIntosh|Sold|South Of Wilshire|Spanish|Westwood Agent|Westwood Real Estate|Westwood Realtor|
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2015 snuck up like a sneaky thing with sneaky bits, didn't it?
All things told, 2014 was a pretty good year for my bookshelves. My first novel, White Lies, was published by Legend Press, my story, Bing Bong, won the Fiction Desk flash fiction competition, another story, Someone Else, was a finalist in the Aesthetica Creative Writing competition, and yet another, Vitamaxima, featured in the beautiful third issue of Vector Press. Online, the wonderful editors at Sundog Lit and FlashFlood published a couple more of my stories online.
And if that wasn't enough, I ended 2014 with two very exciting pieces of news... which I can't yet shout about, because they're highly covert and, well, I love a good dramatic pause.
So, as the first day of 2015 settles its cold, cloudy arse down upon the land, I will start the year as I mean to go on: by making a cushion fort with my kids and reading comics by torchlight.
Thanks to everyone who made 2014 an excellent year of books and writing - to the generous and supportive publishers and editors who decided my work was worth the paper; to the readers who picked up a book with my name on it, left a review, or listened to a live reading; to the many wonderful writers who have held my hand, kicked me up the bum, raised a glass, and helped me be a better writer; to friends and family, my tirelessly encouraging husband and my ever-inspiring boys.
Cheers for a great year, and here's to a brand spanking new one.

subset: commoncrawl


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The week of October 12, 2015 will be one that I remember for a while, because it was a time when the Primary Care and Family Medicine community came together during a crisis in medical education. Initially, it was announced that the Family Medicine residency program would be closing at New York Presbyterian hospital. This program is affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Many of us on the outside made our speculations, especially at this blog post. However, no one really knew was going on in the inside - until now. Thanks so much to Ariel Franks for being a guest on Mike Sevilla Radio Program Episode 344. Ariel is a senior medical student and she shared her first person perspective on the podcast.
"It was Monday, and I remember receiving a text message along the lines of 'I just heard something weird, did you hear this?" (beginning 13:03 in the podcast) "My initial reaction was shock," she continued, "All of us were thinking, "what does this really mean?'" Over the next few minutes during the podcast, you can hear the anguish and confusion in her voice as she and hear colleagues are trying to gain meaning from the announcement.
As outlined in this article from the Columbia Spectator, there was a town hall meeting that was called and the medical students themselves exhibited leadership in making their voice be heard. "It was really inspiring to be in the room with these like 300 people in this lecture hall. There were so many people there supporting Family Medicine and questioning the decision." (around 25:45 in the podcast) "I think hopefully this shows that there is increasing interest in Primary Care. We need more Primary Care. There is huge support for it, even if people are not going into it."
I also point you to this Op-Ed piece from AAFP.org that was written by the Residents of Columbia University/New York Presbyterian's Family Medicine Residency Program. The article is entitled, "Trial By Firings: Lessons in Organizing at New York Presbyterian." At the end of this piece, the residents are advocating the twitter hashtag #GrowFamilyMedicine and to follow them on twitter at @NYP_FamMed (by the way, there is an open invitation for any resident in the program to be a guest on the program to share additional comments aside from the essay)
Here are some closing thoughts from this student (around 34:22 in the podcast) "I think that one thing this has brought attention to is that there is a myth that Family Medicine is irrelevant on the east coast... And, I just adamantly have to fight that thought and say that is not the case. There is clearly a role for Family Medicine in urban underserved areas and urban areas in general. I think our student body is saying that very clearly... Family Medicine needs to show that there's a role in medical education, and in being medical providers in the future. I think that lack of understanding is part of the reason why someone thought that they could do away with this an no one would care. We will continue to fight and try to make a Department of Family Medicine. That would be vital at this point."
I am so impressed by the poise and the courage of this student in speaking out like this. I know that when I was a senior medical student, I was no way this articulate in presenting my point of view, especially in a crisis situation like this. I applaud her and all of the medical students at Columbia. I thought that it was social media that helped turned the tide on this issue. As I am learning more, I'm finding out that the student voice is strong on this campus, and I'm inspired by these future leaders in our profession. I hope to share with you more stories from Columbia and NY Presbyterian in future podcasts. We, as a Primary Care and Family Medicine community, cannot let this story fade away. We must keep talking and tweeting about it, because if we do not, then we will let someone else tell our story...


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Contact Us
Contemplative Walks Registration Information
Prepared for Spiritual Direction Colorado Conference
February 1-3, 2019
"Joy Unspeakable
is not silent,
it moans, hums, and bends
to the rhythm of a dancing universe.
It is a fractal of transcendent hope,
a hologram of God's heart,
a black hole of unknowing."
-Dr. Barbara Holmes
About Walk2Connect:
All spiritual traditions hold walking as a sacred practice through which we experience a deeper connection with the Sacred around us. Walk2Connect is happy to facilitate contemplative walking experiences at this year's SDCO Conference as we share and reflect on the wisdom of Dr. Barbara Holmes. Walk2Connect is an innovative worker-owned cooperative working to create whole-health walking programs focused on connection to others, to the places we live, and to ourselves. Maria Rosa Galter, your contemplative walk facilitator at this conference, is a graduate of the Benedictine Spiritual Formation Progra, a Core-Owner of Walk2Connect, and the creator of Walking Inspiritus.
Meeting Point: We will meet at the west entrance of the Arvada Center, just outside the doors to the lower level. Look for the Walk2Connect sign and a group of people gathering.
Venue Notes: All walks will take place just outside the conference venue, the Arvada Center.
Cancellation Policy: We will walk rain or shine, so please be prepared for the weather. In the event that you are unable to join us, please cancel as soon as possible by contacting the conference registrar at firstname.lastname@example.com. For last minute cancellations please email email@example.com.
Walking Experience Descriptions:
Contemplative Walking Experiences (Friday, Feb 1, Evening Walk) | 45 Minutes: This contemplative walking experience moves at a gentle, conversational walking pace and offers an opportunity to center, listen more deeply, and set personal intentions based on the themes of the conference. Drawing upon the wisdom of Dr. Barbara Holmes, the walk will include guided invitations for deeper conversation and an opportunity to walk with each other observing sacred silence while our steps bless the Earth and all its creatures as an embodied prayer. We will walk on sidewalks and gravel paths around the Arvada Center.
Contemplative Walking Experience (Saturday Morning and Saturday Lunchtime Walks) | 30 Minutes: This will be a gently paced contemplative walk to set aside time for reflection on the wisdom of Dr. Barbara Holmes and conference themes, personal centering, and walking in sacred silence in community as a presence of compassion and peace. This walk will invite us into a deeper awareness and connection within ourselves, each other, and the Sacred all around, allowing the teachings of the conference to integrate and expand within us as we walk. We will walk on sidewalks and gravel paths around the Arvada Center.
Other information and details:
Cost: The registration cost for each walk is $10 and space is limited. Click on the links below to register.
What to bring: Plan to dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and bring water.
Please note: This contemplative walking experience is a part of the 2019 SDCO Spirituality Conference and is solely open to those who are attending the conference. For more information and to register for the conference (if you haven't done so already), visit the Conference Event Page.
Waivers and Confirmation:
Once you are confirmed, you will be asked to sign a Walk2Connect waiver in your confirmation email.
Schedule Walk #1:
Friday, February 1st 6:00-6:45 PM Walk2Connect Contemplative Walking Experience--45 minutes
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel
SupportSpiritual Direction Colorado


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Nina M. (Stairs) Pickles, 68, of Laconia, NH, formerly of Chelmsford, MA died Thursday, April 2, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at her home.
She was married to William "Bill" Pickles with whom she celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary on September 20, 2014.
Born in Lowell, MA, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Madeline Stairs.
Nina worked as a material controller for Raytheon of Andover, MA, retiring in 2005.
She was a communicant of St. Andre Bessette Parish in Laconia, NH.
Nina enjoyed gardening and traveling. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children. Her labradoodle, Madeline, was a great comfort to her.
Besides her husband, she is survived by one son, Ryan Clark of N. Chelmsford, MA; one daughter, Kelly Clark of St. Augustine, FL; two stepsons, William and his wife, Diane Pickles of Bradford, MA and Michael Pickles of Pelham, NH; one sister-in-law, Mary Stairs of Chelmsford, MA and many nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Raymond Stairs of Lowell, David Stairs of CA and Anthony Stairs of Chelmsford and the half-sister of Robert Weeks-Brill of VT.
Visiting hours Mon. 4 to 8 P.M. Funeral Tues. at 8A.M. from the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, with a funeral Mass at 9A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Church, Chelmsford. Cremation at the Merrimack Crematory. Memorials may be made in her name to the Central NH VNA and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041.


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I have always loved Chicken Salad sandwiches but, have never made them myself. I finally decided it was time. I don't know what made me think it would be hard to make these, but they're not at all! They are actually very, very easy! I found 2 different recipes, reduced fat and a regular chicken salad. I decided to use the non-fat yogurt idea and add it to the regular chicken salad recipe. Oh and fyi, the Costco croissants are just enough for the amount of chicken salad made. I rate this a 4.5.
Shred chicken and add in chopped veggies.
Chop grapes in half. I would recommend using green grapes over others (unlike I did).
Mix everything together, including mayo and yogurt.
Serve in Croissants, yummy!
Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich
4 shredded chicken breasts
1-2 cups mayonnaise
1-2 cups plain yogurt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup green onions chopped
1/2 cup celery chopped
1/2 cup chopped slivered almonds
green grapes (halved)
salt and pepper
Mix everything together. Let sit in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving. Serve on croissants. Enjoy!!


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Microsoft Word 2
Mail Merge & Table of Contents
Mail Merge is a useful tool that will allow you to easily produce multiple letters, labels, envelopes, nametags, and more using information stored in a list, database, or spreadsheet. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the Mail Merge Wizard to create a data source and a form letter with mailing labels or envelopes.
Attendees will create a table of contents from a pre-formatted document and as a new document is created.
Dates: December 4 & 6, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Price: $150
Business & Industry Training
31 College Drive
Concord, NH 03301-7412
(603) 230-4022
Fax: (603) 230-9304
Office of Workforce Development


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Silver Full Moon Disc Necklace
Silver Full Moon Disc Necklace
from 155.00
Brand New!!! The Full Moon Disc pendant features a double sided design. Hammered on the front, polished on the back which is perfect for engraving with and initial, name or date. Available in Silver, 9ct Yellow Gold, 9ct Rose Gold.
Lets make this personal/ we can engrave your handwriting or personal doodle onto your disc.
- Material/ Silver
- Pendant/ diameter 16 mm x d 1.2mm.
- Chain/ 45cm fine belcher chain.
- Reversible design/ hammered / polished.
- Handmade in London.
- All designs are delivered in a KIND ECO Friendly jewellery box, making them a great gift!
- Delivery time 2-5 days. (Doodle Engraving can take approximately 14 days)


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Interior Designer, Principal, Allied Member ASID
Cathleen is the only designer in Southern Maine focused on interiors that reflect the brand and image of local companies. Stewart Design Group is one of the only firms offering total real estate staging services- including project management of complete home renovations prior to market.
Since starting her business in 1992, she has provided a full range of design services for hundreds of clients. Throughout her company's 25+ years in business, Cathleen has even operated a design studio and retail store. Her unique combination of design and staging expertise makes her one of New England's most versatile and multi-talented design professionals.
An award-winning full service designer, Cathleen is known for designing commercial interiors that enable banks, law firms, and small businesses to communicate their brand identity. She combines color, lighting, flooring, textiles, accessories, and custom design features showcasing local craftspeople and artists to further portray company branding.
"Every project has its own personality because every company has its own personality, " she says. "By creating spaces that reflect their brand, I help companies generate more customers, enhance the customer experience, and attract better, more productive employees."
The Boston Globe named one of her clients, Enterprise Bank, as one of the "top places to work in 2017," citing as a reason the "employee-friendly designs" that Cathleen created. Another client, a country club, increased its appeal to new members and special event bookings dramatically after a custom renovation.
In her staging business, Cathleen works with high-end realtors, helping them sell more homes, more quickly, and for more money. Her staging business is considered among realtors as a "one stop shop," including everything from home improvements and repairs, to rental options for fine art, area rugs, and furniture.
Cathleen, who has traveled worldwide, had a career in corporate sales before launching her interior design and staging career. She speaks on and presents classes on design topics locally, and has participated in an art acquisition fundraiser for a local community health center.


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Branding by The Hybrid Creative, booth design by CannaCraft, booth construction by Russell Sherman.
Being an exhibitor at an industry trade show is a huge commitment. The cost, transportation, booth staffing, and additional hours all add to the pressure for a trade show appearance to be successful. Follow our tips below to help make sure your next trade show presence will return on your investment.
Your Booth Is Your First Impression. Take It Seriously!
According to Handshake, a study in 2015 by Exhibit Surveys "... found that 64% of trade show attendees were not existing customers of the trade show exhibitors they visited, and 38% stated that their visit influenced their purchase intent."
This means that over half of the people who visit your booth are likely not existing clients. If you want to change that, then you need to be sure that the design and layout of your trade show booth is eye catching and inviting, so that it piques an attendee's curiosity from several yards away. Like it or not, having a trade show booth design that does not look polished and well planned may cause attendees to walk right past you.
If you include a lounge seating area and device charging station, you'll find that attendees are referring others to your booth. All it takes is planning and thinking about what your audience might need in that moment. A high-quality, beautiful, and functional trade show booth is an investment your company needs to make if you're going to be a success at industry trade shows.
Examples of Our Trade Show Booth Design Work
Focus on Brand Exposure
Everyone knows that trade shows are synonymous with "free stuff" and while you want to be careful not to give away cheap-looking shwag, providing some free promotional items to booth visitors will go a long way toward keeping your brand front-and-center wherever they go.
According to a study by Promotional Product Association International, as reported by Corporate Specialties, "... 73% [of attendees] use promotional product gifts at least once a week, and 45% use them at least once per day. No other advertising medium puts your brand in your customers' hands—literally—more often."
This makes sense because and I bet if you look around the kitchen cabinets in your office or walk past the desks of your colleagues, you'll see several pieces of promotional freebies from other companies, prominently displaying their branding.
The next time you go grocery shopping, take a look around during check out and you'll be surprised how many reusable tote bags are branded with the intention of being an on-the-go advertisement.
Promotional Item Design Examples
Have Plenty of Marketing Collateral on Hand
While you're going to want to greet and talk with booth visitors, remember that not everyone will want to talk with you. It's nothing personal; some people just don't enjoy the small talk. Having plenty of informational marketing materials will ensure that these attendees won't leave your booth empty handed.
By placing eye-catching brochures, postcard flyers, and product information sheets out in the open, you'll make it easy for those walking by to make the decision to bring information about your company's products or service offerings home with them.
Marketing Collateral Design Examples
BONUS TIP: Follow up with New Contacts Quickly
This one should go without saying, but the entire point of being a trade show exhibitor is to generate leads and harvest new professional contacts, so make sure you follow up with your contacts as soon as possible!
Gather the stacks of business cards that your team collected during the show and organize them. Whether you use a Google Drive spreadsheet or a CRM such as Nutshell like we do, make sure you store those contacts somewhere safe. One spilled cup of coffee over a stack of business cards could result in a total loss of new contacts!
You'll likely want to follow up with them within a week after the trade show to capitalize on your prospect's fresh memories of your conversations and interactions. To further increase the chances of converting those contacts into clients, be sure to keep the correspondence personable and not looking like a copy-and-paste form letter.


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"Ho-Hum" Employment
All eyes were on the employment report this morning. This morning's report is the last employment report before the next Federal Reserve meeting on September 17 and 18, and of all the economic statistics, the Fed leans most heavily on the employment report to gauge how well the economy is doing.
Today's report showed that nonfarm payrolls increased by 169,000 in August and the unemployment rate dropped from 7.4 to 7.3 percent. Although a solid report, it only keeps pace with current "ho-hum" trends. The payrolls report underachieved what the market expected, but the unemployment rate was better than expected. Unfortunately, the good news of unemployment rate was clouded by a lower rate of workforce participation.
The "ho-hum" report does not remove the uncertainty over what the Fed will do at its meeting this month. The report was not conclusively strong enough to make a tapering of Fed stimulus a foregone conclusion. If we were a fly on the meeting room wall, we would certainly expect to witness a vigorous debate over whether to taper or not.
Currently, the Fed is adding $85 billion into the financial system each month through the purchase of securities. In June, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke laid out a timetable for reducing the rate of these purchases, leading the market to expect the reductions to start after this September meeting. While a reduction in the size of the purchases is not a tightening of monetary policy, it is a reduction in the rate of stimulus and a new direction for the Fed.
We, along with many investors, expect a "taper-lite" to be announced. A light tapering would be a reduction in monthly purchases by $10 billion, moving from $85 billion to $75 billion per month. With Bernanke's June timetable and the economy continuing on its trend, it seems appropriate to reduce stimulus by a relatively minor amount.
The markets seem to have already moved in anticipation of a "taper-lite," so we would expect fairly limited market movement on the announcement: stocks have little reaction and bonds experience a minor sell-off.
The Fed Speaks
On Wednesday, three members of the Ferguson Wellman investment team had the opportunity to hear John Williams, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, speak in Portland. Fed governor speeches tend to be well-scripted and are usually intended to clarify and explain current Fed policy, not to break new ground on policy and trends. Here are a few of President Williams' major points regarding the Fed:
- They consider "forward guidance" a very important policy tool. "Forward guidance" is communication of what the Fed thinks policy is likely to be in the future
- They expect to keep the federal funds rate near zero until (1) unemployment drops to 6.5 percent or below, (2) they forecast near-term inflation to 2.5 percent or above, or (3) investor inflation expectations move measurably higher. His expectation was that the Fed would maintain its zero percent interest rate policy into 2015
- They expect to halt their monthly purchases (complete tapering) sometime in the middle half of next year, when they expect the unemployment rate to be about seven percent
- Tapering is not tightening. It is still adding stimulus but at a slower rate
- He emphasized on multiple occasions that Fed actions are very dependent on how well the economy performs in the future. All actions are data dependent
Our Takeaways from the Week
- The economy continues to deliver "ho-hum" performance
- Expect the Fed to announce a "taper-lite" on September 18, reducing monthly purchases by $10 billion
- Having largely discounted the event, markets should not have a large reaction to this announcement


text: NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Verizon VZ, -0.78% is setting itself up to become the largest solar-power producer among U.S. communication companies. The New York-based wireless giant said Monday it will invest $40 million to expand its investment in the alternative energy source. This will increase Verizon's on-site green energy capacity to 25 megawatts, enough to power more than 8,500 homes annually. Of that, 10.2 megawatts will be installed at eight of its network facilities this year. Verizon contracted SunPower Corp. SPWR, +2.22% to design and install the solar systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Shares of SunPower were up 0.51% to $37.80 in pre-market trade.


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Trenches and excavation happen on nearly every new construction site and in many cases, not much is thought about them; it's just a hole in the ground, right? Not quite. Trenches can be extremely dangerous, especially for those working in them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 35 workers die from trench and excavation cave-ins EVERY YEAR.
The OSHA guidelines for trench sloping are generally pretty simple: for trenches less than 20 feet in depth, the slope needs to be cut back to 1.5 times wider than the depth of the trench. However, it can get much more complicated from there. Trenches over 20 feet in depth, require a licensed engineer.
To make it easier, the folks over at trenchsafety.com have created an easy online and mobile tool to answer all your trench sloping questions for free! The app, titled Trench Safety 1.0, can be downloaded on both Android and Apple or simply used on their website. The calculator takes into account soil type, depth, width, and length of the trench to determine exactly how much cut back you'll need and creates a drawing of your trench as a visual aid.
As a bonus, the app even calculates how much soil you need to remove and the amount you'll need to put back.
Trench Safety 1.0 | trenchsafety.com


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Book 3 in Now Series
Brenda Rothert
Now that Emma and Layla Carson have landed the men of their dreams, it's time for happily ever after. Or is it?
Emma's with childhood crush Cole Marlowe, and Layla finally found Mr. Right in alpha cop Ben Montrose. But both couples face unexpected obstacles that will test their relationships. Layla and Emma find solace in each other as battle lines are drawn, and they rediscover the close friendship they lost over Cole.
It's all on the line as the sisters struggle to find the answer to the most difficult question they've ever faced: is the love they have now meant to last forever?
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/authorbrendarothert
Twitter: @BrendaRothert
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7010859.Brenda_Rothert?from_search=true


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Sailing: Comeback crew Artemis have New Zealand in America's Cup sights
The Swedish crew skippered by Australian sailing star Nathan Outteridge and managed by British Olympian Iain Percy must win three races in a row to overhaul Peter Burling's New Zealand and clinch the right to challenge defenders Oracle Team USA.
"We have come back from worse before," Percy told BT Sports in a televised interview after going 4-2 down on Sunday in their first-to-five series with New Zealand.
Widely seen as the crew showing the best form in practise in the lead up to the 35th America's Cup, Artemis overcame a bigger deficit against SoftBank Team Japan last week to earn a place in the challenger play-off final against New Zealand.
Their 50-foot (15-metre) catamaran 'Big Blue' has shown it is capable of beating all comers on Bermuda's Great Sound, claiming notable wins against Oracle Team USA during qualifying.
While Outteridge has managed to get the team off to some stunning sling-shot starts, the team have struggled with consistency.
They lost one race against New Zealand on Saturday when Outteridge, darting from one side of his boat to the other during a high-speed manoeuvre, skidded and plunged overboard.
The Olympic gold medallist in the demanding 49er skiff class was plucked from the water but not before coming within a boat's length of being run down by the New Zealand "cat".
Outteridge, 31, and Burling, 26, know each other's strengths and weaknesses well but they are more accustomed to head-to-head battles in relatively tiny two-man 49er skiffs than in the giant America's Cup Class boats.
While Outteridge won Olympic gold in 2012, Burling got his revenge in 2016 in Rio, relegating his rival to silver.
Both men are now sailing with their 49er partners in the America's Cup competition, with Burling's crew Blair Tuke joining him in the New Zealand boat and Outteridge's team mate Iain Jensen aboard the Artemis catamaran as a "grinder".
If Artemis do manage to turn the tide against New Zealand on Monday when racing is scheduled to start at just after 1700 GMT, they will open the possibility to Sweden becoming only the fifth country to win the "Auld Mug".
So far only the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland have won it since the schooner "America" first claimed the coveted trophy in British waters in 1851.
Artemis was founded in 2006 by Swedish oil trading magnate and sailor Torbjorn Tornqvist, co-founder of the world's largest independent commodities trading house Gunvor, and is one of the best financed of the America's Cup challengers. –Reuters


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Prayer Frequently Asked Questions
I haven't prayed in years. Where do I start?
What do you want to say to God? God longs to hear from you, and as in any good relationship, your communication with God should be as open and honest as possible. God is waiting to listen to you, whether your words are anguished or full of joy, trivial or momentous, eloquent or stammering. You can pray in words, without words, with your emotions, with your intentions, or in images. You can pray silently, aloud, or in writing. The most critical aspect of prayer is that it come from your heart as an authentic, felt communication.
Start with where you are. What are your most pressing concerns and questions for God? Many of us have a sense that we need to pray to God in a formal, established kind of speech. However, it's possible to use your own spontaneous language to speak to God about your real feelings. If you don't have any idea of what you would like to say, just sit quietly for a while and talk to God about whatever comes up. Or you can dedicate your prayer time to God and just sit in silence, trusting that God will be with you. Our longing for God is a prayer.
For those who find themselves unable to pray spontaneously, a set prayer such as the Lord's Prayer, the Serenity Prayer, or the Jesus Prayer can be very helpful:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
A prayer that we know by heart can feel like a lifeline when we are in danger or distress and need something to hold onto.
I'm uncomfortable with the idea of God as a personal being. Why should I address God in that way?
You don't have to address God in that way. If you're uncomfortable praying to God as if God has a personal aspect, then you can engage in some kind of silent prayer or meditation instead. See the Centering Prayer section of this website for instructions on one way to do this.
However, it can sometimes be helpful to try praying to God as a personal being even if you feel some resistance to it. If you would like to have a closer relationship with God, it requires some work, which involves breaking down the obstacles within ourselves that separate us from God. Our culture encourages us to be as independent and self-reliant as possible, but in order to become closer to God we must recognize the ways in which we need God. This is very difficult for almost all of us. We are frightened of intimacy and frightened of needing others, especially an other as mysterious as God. If you try praying to God in a personal way, you may find it a very emotional experience. Be gentle with yourself and God will help you.
I was brought up as a Christian, but I'm very uncomfortable with Christianity because of the intolerance and bigotry I see in some Christians in the world today and throughout history. How do I pray?
Many deeply prayerful Christian people are embarrassed to be Christians today. Christianity sometimes seems to be a code word in our culture for everything we consider un-Christian. Yet there are as many different Christianities as there are Christians. The teachings of Jesus maintain their power and continue to attract followers in spite of the wrongs that have been done in their name.
Many of us who were brought up in the Christian tradition may feel so distressed by certain aspects of Christianity that we feel forced to leave and explore other options. This exploration can be deeply healing. The teachings of different faith traditions may help us to understand our own tradition more deeply and to find new ways to interpret our tradition and live by our beliefs. The Exploring Different Faiths section of this website looks at this subject in more detail.
It is possible to pray to God even when we're not sure what religion we belong to. We can ask that God guide and help us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We can pray that God will guide us towards communities in which we can love and serve God, remaining open to what those communities might look like.
The word God makes me think of an old man with a beard. I like to think I'm a little more sophisticated than that. Can I pray without using images?
There are many, many ways to think about God. We can think about God in images, of which there are many in scripture and art. The idea that God is revealed in words and images is known as kataphatic theology. However, there is another theological tradition, the apophatic, in which God can never be reduced to words and concepts and always remains other than our words and concepts. In the apophatic realm, we attempt to experience God without images.
Zen Buddhists experience this lack of images and thoughts as emptiness, and Buddhist meditation techniques have much to teach us. As we sit in meditation and follow our breath, letting go of thoughts and emotions and all our usual ways of interacting with the world, we may experience spacious emptiness. Zen Buddhists are non-theistic, meaning that they do not believe in God. They experience the ultimate in spacious emptiness.
There is a tradition of wordless, imageless experience within Christianity as well. In the fourteenth century, the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart described how we must make ourselves empty and innocent, like a desert. Then God will come flooding into the empty place inside us. The anonymous fourteenth century author of The Cloud of Unknowing described a method of wordless prayer in which we learn to relate to God in silence. According to the Cloud author, we remain attached to God through our "leash of longing," our ceaseless and ardent desire to be with God that transforms our silence into a form of prayer.
There may be points in our spiritual life when we are deeply drawn to wordless prayer or meditation. For some of us this is the most natural form of spiritual activity.
Nevertheless, although images of God have obvious limitations and can never truly express God, they can sometimes help us to understand God's nature. Images of God can also help to free us from false images that may confuse and oppress us. The very strangeness and discomfort we experience when we encounter certain images of God in scripture, art, and spiritual writings can challenge us to examine our thoughts and feelings about God in a way that can lead us deeper into relationship with God.
Even if we don't believe in a visual image of God as an old man with a gray beard sitting on a throne, some of our attitudes towards God in our prayer may suggest that we are intimidated as if God were a tyrannical ruler. God may seem so perfect, so high above us, that we cannot always approach God honestly and just be ourselves. Some of us are uncomfortable asking God for anything; that would be too selfish. Some of us who are angry or in pain are waiting to pray to God until we feel better; after all, how could we share our furious feelings of hurt with someone as great as God? If our lives have become so overwhelmingly difficult that we are ready to give up all hope and just sink into despair, why would God want to hear from someone as pathetic as us? How could we possibly bring our complaints to God when we have been taught not to say anything if we can't think of anything nice to say? Wouldn't God just tell us to stop whining?
God created us and saw that we were good. God is love itself, a more perfect expression of love than we can imagine. So why can't we trust God to love us even though we have needs and are in pain, or even because we have needs and are in pain? After all, God knows that we are human beings. We need to have the courage to pray to God bringing all of ourselves, trusting that God cares about us as we are.
I'm uncomfortable praying to God because traditions and scripture make God sound like a man. Can I pray to a female God?
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, God has usually been referred to as a "he" and a father. Within this tradition God has a personal aspect. Even though God is not a human being, we pray to God as a person and not as a thing. God is an other with whom we hope to develop an intimate relationship, and personal pronouns such as "he" and "she" may help us to feel this intimacy.
In Hebrew scripture a number of metaphors are used to compare God to a mother, suggesting that we can think of God as a female force. Deuteronomy refers to "the God that gave you birth" and Isaiah describes God bringing creation into being like a woman in labor.
In keeping with this biblical tradition, a number of great saints and teachers have seen God as a mother. The fourteenth century anchoress Saint Julian of Norwich writes of the motherhood of God. The seventeenth century Carmelite lay brother, Brother Lawrence, writes of resting his "loving gaze upon God" as if he were a baby at its mother's breast, and calls this state "the breasts of God."
In the Hindu tradition, God appears in many different manifestations, including female goddesses. There are many Hindu people who pray primarily to the goddess because they feel most connected to this female face of God, and for women in particular it can be deeply healing to pray to a female God image and to believe that we are made in this image.
Images of God help us to come closer to God in different ways, and if we see God as a loving mother, perhaps it will be easier for us to believe that we are held by God and seen by God with the greatest tenderness, patience, and love and that God will nourish and comfort us.
I'm uncomfortable with the whole idea of sin. Do I need to talk about sin when I pray?
Many of us resist the idea of sin because it makes us feel like we are being judged and someone is trying to make us feel bad about ourselves. But sin can be seen not so much as badness but as the aspect of ourselves that separates us from God and causes us to turn away from what is most valuable and sacred in our lives and get distracted by other, less valuable things. All of us have a tendency to addictive or obsessive behavior, losing ourselves in things we later realize were not important. When we pray, we review our lives and examine ourselves in order to understand ourselves better. We don't need to use the word sin, but it's important to be honest with ourselves about our limitations in order to grow and become closer to God.
I'm uncomfortable asking God for anything. Doesn't God know what I need better than I do?
Many of us feel guilty about asking for our own needs to be met. It's sometimes hard for us to admit that we need anything. We may feel that it would be selfish to ask for anything for ourselves. But God longs for us to express ourselves in prayer. As we articulate our thoughts and feelings in prayer, whether silently or aloud, we enter into a deeper relationship with God. In a conversation with a friend, as we talk about a decision we need to make, we may sometimes make that decision without our friend needing to say a word; our friend's presence and caring help us to focus. Similarly, addressing ourselves to God may help us to clarify our thoughts and develop a sense of what God wants for us. We place our thoughts in a larger perspective by imagining how God sees them and we offer ourselves up to be transformed by a force greater than ourselves. As we acknowledge the power and presence of that which is other than ourselves, we become connected to a world of meaning that is greater than the meaning of our own individual lives.
When we ask, we do not always get what we want, but by asking we open ourselves to receive. In this state of openness, whatever we receive may feel like the answer to our prayer.
What do I do with my doubt?
Doubt is a very important, even essential aspect of spiritual life. If we are to grow spiritually we must eventually confront all the doubts and fears that trouble us. This is part of the honesty that's required for a deep relationship with God. The great spiritual writer and Trappist monk Thomas Merton wrote, "Faith means doubt. Faith is not the suppression of doubt. It is the overcoming of doubt, and you overcome doubt by going through it. The man of faith who has never experienced doubt is not a man of faith."
In the Gospel of John, the disciple Thomas is not with the other disciples when they see the risen Christ. When they tell him what they have seen, he says, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." When Jesus reappears, he says to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas's doubt leads him into a more intimate relationship with Jesus; he is the only one who places his hand inside Jesus's wound. As long as we do not allow feelings of shame about our doubt to turn us away altogether from matters of belief, our doubt can be a measure of our serious concern. Active doubt is very different from apathy or complacency. If we follow our doubts and questions, they can lead us deeper and deeper into our exploration of who God really is and what we really believe.
Sometimes it is difficult for us to believe anything at all, much less that God would be listening to our voices in prayer. Yet doubt does not disqualify us from praying. We can lift up our feelings of doubt in prayer even when we're not sure what we're lifting them up to, or we can pray wordlessly, accepting that our doubt is part of our prayer. Rather than trying to hide our feelings of doubt from God as if they were shameful, we can bring our doubts to God and ask God to be our partner in our exploration and quest for faith.
I have felt doubt that God existed, wondering if I am creating God for my own comfort, and I have felt so attracted to Zen Buddhism, a non-theistic faith, that I have wondered if I should let go of God and become a Buddhist. Ultimately, I was not able to let go of God, but by trying I learned that God's presence in my life is not optional.
Why should I listen to anything you have to say about prayer?
I certainly don't have all the answers about prayer. Prayer is a very personal process and will be different for everyone. I work as a spiritual director and am trained to help people to listen to God and to their own inner voice. Finding the next step on the spiritual path is a deeply intuitive process. I don't want to tell you to pray in any particular way. I would like to help you to find the way to pray that is right for you. I'm kind of like a doctor. I've seen a lot of the symptoms and I have experience about what often helps, but I still get sick myself. None of us prays perfectly. Prayer is a process, sometimes a messy one. One of the hardest things is to remember that God is always there, longing for us to turn towards God. If we can remember to keep pointing ourselves towards God, that is the main thing. How we actually do it is secondary.


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Focus Areas
Graphene Based nanomaterials
Field Expert: Dr. Kefayat Ullah
The Carbon Based Nano-Materials research group intends to work on carbon related materials at bulk and nano-structures for their application in renewable energy and storage. The Nano-carbon group focuses on the investigation of production of nano graphene using various techniques. These methods include CVD grown graphene and its composite with various transition metal chalcogenides and oxide materials for catalytic, energy and other sensing aplication.
Field Expert: Dr. Amin Ur Rashid
The Nano-Biomagnetism research group is interested to work on Magnetic Nanostructures for their biomedical applications, especially for the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Magnetic Nanoparticles are particularly promising in this context for several biomedical applications, such as: (a) cellular therapy involving cell labeling and targeting (b) tissue repair (c) targeted drug delivery (d) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (e) hyperthermia treatment of cancer.
Theoritical Plasma Physics
Field Expert: Dr. Fazli Hadi
Dr. Hadi's research interest is to investigate the free energy associated with non-Maxwellian plasmas that can be converted into turbulent plasma motion or radiations via instabilities. The kinetic theory approach, which is based on Vlasov Maxwell's equations, can be used as a tool of exploration. http://www.plasmas.org/space-plasmas.htm


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Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions joins Eric in conversation. We talk about his earliest years of playing guitar, growing up in Germany, forming Scorpions, and connecting with Klaus Meine. Rudolf shares what he learned when the Scorpions were invited to support KISS on their 1976 German tour. We cover his writing process and some specific songs including Wind of Change and the fan favorite Hey You. And also lots of talk about 50 years in the business and their latest record, Return To Forever.
Dripping with Herman. Bursts of Matthias. Milking that German cow. It's not what you think – or maybe it is! The boys from Shabby Road Record Show join forces with Pods & Sods for a discussion about Scorpions and a track by track of one of the best concept albums ever: 1984's Love At First Steeeeeeeeeng. Also touched upon: their unfortunate string of offensive album covers, Klausisms and rock and roll fashion faux pas.


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This programme offers a tailored approach to personal development and employability training including one to one support and activities over an approximate three-six month period through a range of activities including incentive activities, soft skills and work skills training, pre vocational training in numeracy, literacy and computing, employability workshops, Next Step courses, mentoring and one to one support, and regional employer educational and liaison programmes are.
The project will address barriers to participation by offering support on childcare and transport. Initially the project uses incentive activities, offering skills in journalism and publishing, film, television and stage and music production and event management based on participant request to introduce personal development, develop communication skills and increase confidence.
By developing these softer skills and having a sense of achievement young women will be encouraged to consider moving on to a training programme based on individual goals and including accredited training at level one.
The eventual aim for the young women is to have developed a strong network of support and be able to identify a progression route and be signposted to further education or employment.
Additionally, young women who have participated will become mentors for other young women starting.
Project highlights
TWN certified CREATE Personal Development training
Soft skills and works skills training including confidence building and motivation.
Pre-vocational Skills Training covering pre-GCSE numeracy, literacy and computing skills.
Employability workshops in activities such as job search, networking and CV writing.
Mentoring and Guidance support
Regional Employer Liaison Programme
Regional College Liaison Programme
Make-up and spray tan skills incentive activity
TWN, Ground Floor, Suite 2, Elizabeth House, 116-118 Holywood Rd, Belfast BT4 1NY United Kingdom | Tel: 028 9031 9888 | Email: | Registered charity No. NIC102189
TWN Training for Women Network is registered as a Company limited by guarantee in Northern Ireland No. NI 30477


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Chamberlain ships HomeKit-enabled MyQ Home Bridge, sells out immediately
After promises and several delays, Chamberlain became the first company to ship a HomeKit-compatible garage door opener system, er, add-on "bridge" device: The MyQ Home Bridge.
Covering this home technology space is sometimes pretty funny, since there's always some kind of adapter or bridge or extra "thinggy" that you have to add to your setup to make it compatible with some new platform. And many consumers are growing tired of buying dongles, adapters and extra "bridge" devices, but that's a discussion for another article.
The MyQ Home Bridge will upgrade an existing MyQ-connected garage door opener to work with HomeKit and Siri, if it fits one of these configurations:
- A Chamberlain MyQ garage door opener.
- A non-Chamberlain brand garage door opener connected with a MyQ Garage.
- A Chamberlain MyQ®-enabled garage door opener connected with a MyQ Internet Gateway.
And that's true, if you can get one.
Evidently, the unbelievable amount of pent-up demand for this product caused it to sell-out nearly immediately. Chamberlain? Hello? Perhaps you should have made just a few more?
Now, to be fair, the MyQ technology doesn't yet work with Alexa or the Google Assistant, either. It's understandable for Chamberlain (who owns LiftMaster, by the way) to be careful, as accidental activation of a garage door could cause more damage or injury than most other smart devices when connected to a home automation system.
What will you be able to do with your garage door opener once it's connected to HomeKit? Open and close it (obviously), get its current status, turn on and off the lights attached to the opener, and receive notifications when the garage door is opened or closed (by someone else)…all done thru HomeKit apps like Apple's own Home app, third-party HomeKit apps or Siri voice commands. For control of the MyQ away from home, you'll need a 4th-generation Apple TV, an iPad plugged into power, or the upcoming HomePod smart speaker.
For right now, the best thing you can do is to get on the list to be notified when they have more in stock. Just head over to the Chamberlain website to sign-up. The introductory price is listed as $49.99. If you have a LiftMaster opener, check out their site for their own HomeKit MyQ version...listed as coming soon, of course.


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Here is a list of my favorite materials to work into knife handles. These are woods and composites that I stock and use regularly in my shop. I can also order just about any material you would like to use.. so please message me if you don't see what you're looking for.
Gemstone Composites..
I often create handles of just singular species of wood, or in combinations with other woods and composites to create truly unique visual styles. Message me if you have a specific look in mind.


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- Ph.D. Programs
- Master's Programs
- Quantitative Finance and Risk Management
- Graduate Courses by Area
- 500+ Level Course Descriptions by Term
- Resources for Current Students
- Student Awards
- Preview Weekend - Fall 2019
This program has a minimum requirement of 24 graduate credit hours of course work, including two cognate courses. Elementary courses taken to fill gaps in undergraduate preparation (e.g., Math 424 and 425) are not counted toward the 24 credit hour degree requirement.
The curriculum will be individually designed to complement a student's past educational experiences and to reflect future actuarial plans, particularly as they relate to the professional actuarial examinations and other professional credentialing requirements. For example, a student with a strong Economics background might be advised to elect specialized courses in Statistics while a student with a strong Statistics background might be advised to elect Economics courses in addition to classes in Mathematics.
In all cases, the program must be planned in consultation with and approved by the Actuarial Master's Program Advisor.
- The following courses must be included in the program unless equivalent courses have already been completed:
- Math 520-521 (Life Contingencies I-II)
- MATH 523-524 (Loss Models I-II)
- Math 520-521 (Life Contingencies I-II)
- In addition to the courses in Item (1), the program must include
- Two advanced Mathematics courses, such as Math 525-526 or Math 542-543
- Two advanced Statistics courses, such as Stats 500 and Stats 531
- Two advanced Mathematics courses, such as Math 525-526 or Math 542-543
- In addition to the courses in Items (1) and (2), the program must include two cognate courses at the graduate level. These may be elected from other special areas of mathematics or from other fields. The courses chosen must be related to the student's mathematics program. These courses may include the following:
- Math 423, 472, 506, 525, 526, 542, 543, 561, 562, 623
- Stats 415, 426, 500, 503, 509, 531
- Other courses in Business Economics, Computer Science, Economics, Finance, Industrial and Operations Engineering, Mathematics, and Statistics may be appropriate, depending on the student's background and goals.


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In 1999, the television show, Big Brother began airing in the Netherlands. Within a year it had spread to ten other countries and within five years to seventy countries. The title of the show comes from George Orwell's novel, 1984. This article however is neither about Big Brother nor about Survivor, which began a year later although both are fascinating phenomena and worthy of discussion, but rather is about Boston Med a documentary television show with a difference.
Is it a coincidence that so-called reality television gained notoriety at the same time as the Internet and Social Media became more and more ubiquitous? And, to what degree have the combination of reality TV and traditional documentary practices become interdependent? The Internet has also expanded the ground and breadth of narrative television by creating an interface between "real" life and storytelling particularly through the use of social media. Let me explore these points a bit further.
Clearly, the nomenclature is contradictory here. From the start, reality television has been a sophisticated cover for a carefully planned process built on the foundations of the documentary, fictional cinema and TV. The editing is as intense as conventional narratives, and the shooting is never as spontaneous as it looks. The brilliance of reality television is that it has managed to create an aura of truth about what happens to its characters. From marriage to food to fashion design, using contests and conflict, reality TV has become the cheapest way to tell stories about people, their lives and their aspirations. It also exploits both the audiences and the characters that are central to its success.
The word reality refers to what appears to be spontaneous activities and events that even in real life are never as spontaneous as the shows make them appear. Reality TV is a combination of candid camera, news type editing and gossip. Think of Entourage as reality TV, and if you resist that, ask yourself why?
The confusion here between artifice and real life is the same as the artificial distinction between online and offline life. There is as much storytelling to everyday life as there is reality, tragedy and happiness. Fiction and truth are bedfellows. The relationships are fuzzy and sometimes infuriating, but always mixed. In other words, there is no such thing as truth without fiction. This is a broader argument; suffice to say that a show like Boston Med takes the medical drama of ER or Grey's Anatomy to another and far more important level, blatantly using the devices, locales and narrative structure of those shows to far greater effect.
A crucial distinguishing feature of Boston Med is its use of music both during and after very serious medical events: this is combined with first person narratives sometimes by doctors and other times by nurses and patients and family. All the characters talk to the camera and thus to the audience. Their spontaneity has been carefully constructed both through editing and some terrific camera work. This is all done in a present tense sort of way to make it feel as if events are unfolding in real time, even if the histories we witness have been compressed into a few minutes.
The brilliance of the show is the seamless manner in which the stories link together over the length of the series and the interconnected sets of relations that we witness between all the characters irrespective of their status. The camera work, sometimes handheld and sometimes not, is carefully paced between close-ups and traveling shots but never to the point of distraction.
Every hour of this eight-hour series was punctuated by helicopter shots of patients arriving for treatment. These were combined with exterior shots of Boston both from the ground and from the air. Metaphors of urgency were built into the fabric of every sequence. Everything is normal in this world, but nothing can ever really be normal in medicine.
The template for each show is similar: bring doctors and patients into the foreground through interviews that appear to be spontaneous and frame their experiences of medical care from crisis to cure, or in some instances to failure; cover cases of great complexity where the doctors become natural heroes as they struggle with what seem to be overwhelming odds; intercut some carefully constructed operating room footage to give the experiences an air of reality, and add the drama of personal conflict, as well as the human elements necessary to identify with the characters.
If all of this seems mechanical, Boston Med for the most part pulls it off largely because so many of the characters are really interesting and also because it is impossible not to feel the pain and fear of various patients as they struggle with their bodies and their mortality. It is also fascinating to peer into the lives of physicians and nurses and to recognize their humanity and the sacrifices they make for their profession and their patients.
The fact that this carefully constructed show seems to be "real" is because most of Boston Med tells genuine stories through a highly sophisticated use of artifice. Fabrication is at the core of the documentary impulse, and this is not meant as a pejorative comment. This brings me back to the Internet.
The Internet is really a vast network of story pages told for the most part in the first person with Facebook as the primary interface among people seeking information about each other, as well as providing a context for the exchange of ideas and fantasies. Facebook and Twitter are built on narrative principles. On Facebook you have your main page, which is your home. This is a place where you can list what you like and show everything from your photo album to your furniture. Facebook pages unfold synchronously and asynchronously. And for many, Facebook allows the personal to be public. Your Facebook home is your environment and your diary, a visual, oral, chat and game space, the living room or basement of your house.
Twitter augments all of this by increasing the pace of connection and varying the density and purpose of the stories people tell each other. The overlay of first person and third person perspectives opens the news and personal events to constant comment. In other words, social media takes private lives and makes them public even if you limit your "friends" to a few hundred. Imagine trying to do what Facebook does over the phone.
This intermingling of the private and the public is at the core of the storytelling on Boston Med and, in fact, all of forms of television and film. Our identities are being shaped by these interactions, by the interfaces between the stories we tell each other and their transposition into the broadcast and social media context. The media in general are making it possible to be unashamedly voyeuristic under the cover of truth.
Watch Boston Med and you will understand why.


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Need a Social Media Makeover?
Stop treating your business social media pages like you're personal accounts. Start gaining new followers, without paying for them. Stop posting images with snooze-worthy text or hashtags that don't have value. Start getting your business/brand noticed with posts that attract new likes, shares, and follower loyalty.
Welcome to Social Media Makeover (For Business)
Where: Virtually (via a Webinar Tool) + How Much: $35 + When: June 2oth, 2016
Here's what you'll get out of this 90-minute class.
1. A breakdown of how to use each social media platform to gain new followers and make your current followers even more loyal
2. How to lift sales with engaging posts and how to tailor those posts to each social media platform
3. 12-tips that will help you build a 12-month social media strategy for your business
4. How to gain traction with your social media pages – without spending a dollar on paid-ads
5. A Q+A session
Want In? Reserve Your Spot ASAP
I want to give you and your social media concerns/questions a lot of attention, so I'm limiting the class attendance to 15 people. Save your virtual seat now – before the class sells out!
Step 1: Pay for the Class by clicking "Add to Cart"
Step 2: Check your email to hear about next steps, lesson plans, and breakdown of what you'll need to bring with you to class.
Step 3: Except weekly high-five emails from me with pre-class tools & worksheets.
Words from Past Students:
"Jen speaks with such infectious enthusiasm by the time she was done presenting I felt like I was ready to take on the world! She shared so many helpful insights, tips and tricks to help get my business in the news not just once but consistently. The information she shared was based on her tried-and-true methods which was wonderful for her to share."
–Logan W., BreakBox.Tv
"Jen was engaging, funny, and shared a wealth of information with the audience. You will learn proven, actionable tips that you can begin to implement immediately. Trust me, this class is amazing!"
-Netty Baril, Cofounder, SuperNetworks NYC


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MID-RISE SCULPT JEANS Details
Navy blue - 5252/243
Mid-rise jeans made with stretch fabric technology that helps boost and shape your figure. Five pockets. Washed effect. Front zip and metal button closure.
MODEL HEIGHT: 5' 10" (177 cm)
Care for fiber: at least 95% ecologically grown cotton.
Ecologically grown cotton is grown using practices that help us protect biodiversity, such as crop rotation or the use of natural fertilizers.


text: I'm pleased to confirm I'll be an invited member of the public "with a proven interest in the ISS" at the ISS Berlin Symposium, 2 -4 May 2012. See http://www.isssymposium2012.com/ . Any amsat-ers joining the Symposium please make contact via email - <callsign> - at - <amsat dot org> and we'll enjoy a good beer there together! 73 de andy g0sfj


text: Building Better Cities We travel to Colombia and Singapore to explore ways of helping the world's expanding cities to grow sustainably. 30 May 2017 07:33 GMT Environment, Singapore, Colombia, Poverty & Development From this Episode Colombia's Lego Homes Half the world's population live in cities, and by 2050 the figure will increase to two-thirds, or about six billion people. The environmental impact is already extensive. As the global population expands, so too do pollution and pressure on resources. earthrise travels to Colombia and Singapore to meet some of the people who are finding ways to meet growing demand while also making our cities more sustainable. Colombia's Lego Homes Over 300 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, yet just a fraction of this is recycled. Most of the waste usually ends up in landfills, waterways and oceans. However, one enterprise in Colombia has found a novel way of using the normally discarded waste. Conceptos Plasticos, founded by architect Oscar Mendez, collects recyclable plastic material, melts it down and moulds it into bricks which are then used to build houses for the local community. The hope is that using plastic to build homes will be the answer to both recycling and housing shortages. "If we use just two percent of the waste plastic in the world we can change the lives of millions of people. We can end the housing shortage in Latin America in just 10 years," says Mendez. Juliana Schatz heads to Bogota to see how Conceptos Plasticos builds these homes out of discarded waste. Singapore: Asia's Greenest City Known as Asia's greenest city, Singapore has long favoured innovative environmentally friendly ideas. However, challenges from rapid urbanisation, sea level rise and a changing climate are pushing planners and policymakers to find innovative ways of coping with the pressures of growing demand. From vertical farms to living buildings, Singapore is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable urban solutions. Russell Beard travels there to meet some of the entrepreneurs who are helping the island city-state earn its green title. Source: Al Jazeera Tell us what you think


text: Join us in wishing Miss Black USA, Daphne Lee a very special Happy Birthday. She's done some pretty cool stuff thus far. This week she is sharing the stage at New York City Center with the Dance Theater of Harlem on the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's passing, which makes it historical..


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Last month, both FedEx and UPS announced price increases for 2017. Will companies continue to pay premium for FedEx and UPS services? Well, right now they will, but could the internet of things (IoT) change all that? Is it possible that the two leading logistics providers value proposition would become irrelevant in the near future? Here's a look at the possibility.
What Is IoT?
The Internet of Things is a popular topic, especially when it comes to any device with a sensor or an on-off switch. Since Wi-Fi and cell networks are more widely available and easier to afford than ever before, there are many companies and individuals looking into connecting everything to the internet.
Such is the potential, that items that didn't have sensors and connectivity previously, are now getting them. Some are in built into our everyday consumer products like toasters and coffee makers, or enterprise products like jet engines and vending machines, and then some are designed to be attached to normally non-connected items, and removed after use. Items like pallets, crates, or even individual boxes, during shipping.
So, how does this affect the FedEx and UPS value proposition?
Many companies still buy into the old tag line, "When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight". It makes us feel safe, like if our jobs or personal lives depended on it.
The reality is companies pay a premium to use UPS and FedEx rather than cheaper, nimbler operators, and 3rd party logistics providers, and they do so, in part, for the visibility into their shipments.
But now, with the advent of connected sensors and global communications networks, we have the ability to monitor items during shipping to avoid disruptions and for tighter security. Visibility right down to the individual carton. We can see the actual location of a shipment, whether all the cartons in the shipment are together, and what the current environmental and handling conditions are. Tie that with the tremendous level of granular data collected to analyze the performance of a company's physical supply-chain, and the promise of IoT delivers a value proposition far greater than the "departure" and "arrival" messages we've come to expect from premium-priced logistics companies.
Now, a company can have the confidence to use 3rd partly logistic companies, freight forwarders, combinations of vendors, or even smaller trucking companies, at far lower costs then the premium providers.
So, while IoT alone will not make the likes of UPS and FedEx irrelevant, IoT has the potential to challenge some of the core aspects of their value proposition.


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Staffing Agency Dallas
Offering Flexible Staffing Services For Dallas EmployersAs one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the United States (by Staffing Industry Analysts), Horizontal Integration delivers flexible staffing solutions. Whether you need contract, contract-to-hire or direct hire (permanent) placements, we provide it all. Need project teams and Statement of Work (SOW) projects completed? We do those too. Our expert recruiters specialize in finding the most qualified IT, Digital and Creative professionals that precisely fit the unique requirements of each employer and position. We have an expansive network of thousands of candidates that are ready to get started.
View some of our open IT, Digital and Creative roles in Texas:
Application Development
Infrastructure & Security
Digital Marketing
What makes us different?Our recruiters and staffing industry specialists are surrounded by IT & Marketers from our in–house digital agency. When it comes to understanding marketing, creative, ux and IT projects, we know it because we live it. This insight helps ensure a cost-efficient, top quality staffing process that is proven.
Making you priority
"My team and projects are always evolving. I'm always in need of top talent and rarely have a long time to find them. That's where Horizontal Integrations comes in. They are fast, friendly, and have an eye for finding great User Experience professionals at all stages in their careers. Over the past 3 years, I have worked with Horizontal Integration to supply a growing team with some of the best designers and developers I have ever met. They are extremely responsive to my needs and always make me feel like a priority. Horizontal Integration has helped shape my team and without a doubt, has helped lead to successful product launches." - User Experience Lead Top Financial Data Services Company
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5080 Spectrum Drive, Suite 800E
Addison, TX 75001


text: The FLT93 Series FlexSwitch from Fluid Components International (FCI) is a flow/level/temperature switch for use in liquid, air and gas. The FlexSwitch provides relief valve monitoring and flare gas flow or leakage detection for petrochemical industry process and plant engineers in oil/gas upstream production or downstream refining, storage and distribution or in other rugged industries with high-reliability instrumentation requirements. The heavy-duty thermal dispersion technology flow and level switch is SIL2 rated for ultra-reliability. Ex agency approvals are provided for the entire instrument—FM, FMc, ATEX, IECEx and more. A dual-function instrument, the flow/level/temperature switch can be configured for flow or level sensing, flow + temperature sensing or level + temperature sensing. A single FLT measures and monitors flow or level and temperature simultaneously. Dual trip points and 6A relay outputs are standard and are assignable to flow, level or temperature. FCI's sensor technology provides flow accuracy as precise as +/-2 percent of the setpoint velocity over +/-50 F [+/-28 C] temperature range; repeatability of +/-0.5 percent reading. Level resolution is +/-0.1 inch (+/-2.5 mm); repeatability of +/-0.05 inch (+/-1.3 mm). Standard temperature accuracy is +/-2.0 F (+/-1 C); repeatability +/-1.0 F (+/-0.6 C); improved temperature accuracy is available with factory calibration.


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Product Code: EN-DLM981X
Brand: Enlite
RRP: £ 11.00 ex VAT£3.58 (ex VAT) or £4.30 inc VAT
Enlite EFD Pro 50W Fixed GU10 Downlight
Enlite's EFD Pro 50W Fixed GU10 Downlight (EN-DLM981X) really takes things to the next level. In addition to being fire-rated, like standard EFD downlights, the EFD Pro is insulation coverable and features their latest push-fit terminal block for quick and easy installation. For extra design flexibility, this fitting is compatible with both standard and IP65 rated bezels in 4 different finishes (see options above). It can also accommodate a variety of different GU10 LEDs (sold separately), so you have the freedom to use the most efficient lamps available. We recommend the GU10s in Enlite's own ICE range.
Please note: this fitting is supplied less lamp. The required lamp type is GU10.
For more info, take a look through this Downlight's Specs and Instructions.
For full delivery details, please click here.
We offer a 14-day money back guarantee on all items*, provided they are returned in accordance with our terms in the link below.
* excluding made to order items
For full returns & refund information, please click here.
Free Delivery on orders over £75
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5a Windmill Road, Hampton Hill, Middlesex, United Kingdom, TW12 1RF


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A Handful Of New Metal Songs Coming To The Rock Band Network
Band Photo: Psychostick (?)
Rock band legions: prepare to engage your disappointment sequences again as yet another lackluster week arrives on the metal front.
Today on the Rock Band Network you get access to one new track for the Xbox 360:
Chaotrope - "Synesthesia" (80 MSP)
While PS3 fans instead get these songs on 2/19/2013 (North America) and 2/20/2013 (Europe):
Dir En Grey - "Dozing Green" ($1.99)
Psychostick - "Political Bum" ($1.99)
What's Next?
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text: Come down to a spring classic and join me for my third year at Art City Austin. Art City is the direct descendant of the old Fiesta Art Fair at Laguna Gloria and so is the oldest running art show in the city by far. It will be held Saturday April 25th & Sunday April 26th in downtown Austin, on Cesar Chavez in between Guadalupe and Lamar. For more info and tickets go here.


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Band will play 10 dates next year in support of new album 'Fallen Empires'
Snow Patrol have announced a UK arena tour for early 2012.
The Belfast band, who will release their sixth album 'Fallen Empires' next Monday (November 14), will play 10 arena dates in January and February next year.
The trek begins at Glasgow's SECC on January 27 and will run until February 10, when the band headline London's 20,000 capacity O2 Arena. Support on the tour will come from Everything Everything.
'Fallen Empires' is the follow-up to the band's 2008 album 'A Hundred Million Suns' and includes recent single 'Called Out In The Dark'. You can watch the video for 'Called Out In The Dark' by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and clicking.
Snow Patrol will play:
Glasgow SECC (January 27)
Aberdeen Exhibition Centre (30)
Liverpool Echo Arena (31)
Nottingham Capital FM Arena (February 1)
Manchester Evening News Arena (3)
Birmingham LG Arena (4)
Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (5)
Sheffield Motorpoint Arena (7)
Bournemouth International Centre (8)
London O2 Arena (10)
Tickets go onsale on Friday (November 11) at 9am (GMT). To check the availability of Snow Patrol tickets and get all the latest listings, go to NME.COM/TICKETS now, or call 0871 230 1094.


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I'm sure many of you know who this is. It's June Buggie-- the nemesis of Rumpy Dog. If you don't know them, click here and visit their blog... Rumpy sent me two pictures, but I couldn't get a good fix on his eyes from either of them. So, I snuck on line and found another picture that gave me just what I was looking for without having to make Rumpy get up nose to nose with Buggie to describe his eyes..
It was fun to paint him. I love the subtle colors of yellow and white cats. Hope you all enjoy. It's Thankful Thursday and I'm thankful Rumpy sent in Buggie's picture.
If you'd like to see all of the 30 in 30 paintings I've done so far go here: LouBelcherArt
Just click on Paintings when you get there, then you'll see the 30 in 30 category.
If you'd like to see all the painters participating int he challenge, go here: Leslie Saeta's Blog
Have a great day.
hugs, Bugsy, Knuckles and HH


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Basic Tour
The Basic Tour includes all the must-see locations the area has to offer. You will experience a quick tour through the Ozarks. The tour is approximately 30 minutes long. The Basic Tour starts at $149.
Ozark Excursion
Buckle-up for a gorgeous flight through the Heart of the Ozarks. This is a flight that you will not forget. You will fly by the Bull Shoals Dam, down the White River, over to the Norfork Dam, up Norfork Lake, across the Henderson Bridges and through beautiful Mountain Home. The Ozark Excursion is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes of beautiful scenery. The Ozark Excursion starts at $289.
Plan Your Own Flight
The Plan Your Own Flight gives you the freedom to fly wherever you want. If you want to fly over your house. Do it! If you want to fly over the Bomber Football Field. No problem. Wherever you want to go. We can make it happen. As long, as it is within 25 miles. The Plan Your Own Flight package price will vary depending on the length of the flight.
Q: How many people can go?
A: We are limited to taking up to three people or up to 350 pounds.
Q: How much does each additional person cost?
A: It does not cost any extra for additional people.
Q: How far can we fly?
A: We are limited to 25 miles. See picture below.
|Jet A with FSII
|100LL AvGas


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Teresa Giudice has reminded all of the RHONJ viewers that Dina Manzo has a strained relationship with her sister Caroline. We all remember Dina as the Manzo sister that HATED the drama with former housewife Danielle Staub, and ended up leaving the show because of it. Neither of the sisters will give us a clear answer on why they are feuding. Caroline told the Huffington Post, "If it breaks your heart, can you imagine how I feel? I remember the day she was born. I decorated her cradle… In time, we will mend and quite frankly, the only people that I have to worry about what they feel is my family."
But what does Dina have to say? When she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with DJ Pauly D last Sunday many fans asked the same question. Here is what Dina had to say,  "I'm obviously not going to get into the reasons, but… we're all on a life journey and sometimes people's energy doesn't vibe. We're just letting it sit. It doesn't mean you hate the person or you wish bad for them. I know this pisses people off, but Teresa had absolutely nothing to do with it. I kind of distanced myself from everybody. So I don't know what they're talking about… I can guarantee you two things: one, it's going to be OK one day, we're going to be back to normal. And two is as weird as things are, and I'm not gonna lie they are weird, if either one of us needed each other we would be there in a heartbeat. That's where the family bond will never be broken."
Vague much? Our question is when will these vague answers stop and they finally reveal what has caused the "thick as thieves" family to have such a long feud with each other.
Do you like Dina Manzo? Who's side are you on?
Photo Credit: US Weekly


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Contextual complexities: written language policies for bilingual programs
Center for the Study of Writing, 1989 - Education - 16 pages
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Common terms and phrases
able to write and/or community members authentic autonomy becomes the real bilingual programs bilingual Boothbay boya Carnegie Mellon University Chicano children learn community language situation comprar ropa create text curriculum decision makers decisions about written demonstrate dinero para comprarles educators and/or community English example Fairfax County Goodman Haiti Haitian Creole highly specified Hispanic home language e.g. Hopi increased numbers interaction kinds of writing language resources language writing learning to write Mexican Spanish native language non-English speakers OERI/ED Ohio State University oral language policies about written POLICIES FOR BILINGUAL policies or programs policy makers program e.g. Puerto Rican Sarah Hudelson school district school language second language social STANFORD UNIVERSITY STUDY OF WRITING teaching tests United States bilingual University of California world language e.g. write in Navajo write particular genres writing ability writing and reading written language acquisition written language education written language instruction WRITTEN LANGUAGE POLICIES written products York


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With the first sunny day after months of rain, the centre of Perth comes to life. A similar unfurling of activity is felt in the areas of Interior Design and home furnishings. Spring releases, Designer meet and greets and product showings flourish like the wildflowers that come into abundance after our long rainy winter.
Exciting invites appear in my inbox, and my schedule fills. One of the first is volunteering at PICA. This time there's two solo exhibitions on. I help with hanging pictures, cleaning floors and masking painting areas. It's like having spring fever at someone's grand residence! Justene William's exhibition is colourful and huge, while Gordon Bennet's Be Polite is sad and confronting but beautifully hung with stunning examples of the use of negative space and balance to display a strong message.
One night I scrubbed off the paint and ventured into a rainy night to West Elm's meet and greet in the city. With my daughter Matilda and other Designers, I delighted in rose wine and chacuterie and made the most of having the whole of Pottery Barn and West Elm to ourselves.
One of the interesting initiatives West Elm promote is supporting local makers, allowing them to stage pop-up stores and classes in their store.
Design Farm in the CBD is a Perth institution, family run since 1997 and for investment pieces, they stock the best in modern design. A new showroom especially for residential interiors and a dedicated salesperson make this a wonderful shop to explore for inspiration. Japanese, Danish, German and Australian made furniture icons are represented here and I was recently treated to a tour of the showroom by Designfarms' knowledgable Chris Pooré.
With two floors of furniture and settings of unique products, this is a place to come to wander and be inspired. Here's a watercolour I made of the gorgeous Gubi chairs in a dining setting.
To top off a great Spring Season, InDesign arranged Contemporary Wine in Design. On Saturday 15 October, a prestigious line up of showrooms turned on their best for a day of show and tell for the design industry. I attended Arthur G in Claremont. At the door we were met by this cool Perth business.....
Inside the showroom had been impeccably styled by Steve Cordony, flown over for the occasion. Moderated by David Congram, with Steve Cordony, David Weir and Richard Miso on the panel, this discussion was frank and enlightening, in that it involved experts in the field of Design, Social Media, Styling and Architecture. With Melbourne, Sydney and Perth being represented the merits of each cities' design scene were up for examination. Lots to think about!


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• Good knowledge of software testing methodologies and procedures and a fair understanding of software development lifecycle
• At least 1.5 years of experience in testing mobile and/or web applications
• Experience in using test automation tools is a benefit
• Higher education in the field of IT/mathematics
• Ability to learn quickly and willingness to continuously improve yourself
• At least intermediate English level (both written and spoken)
• Experience in gambling
• Possibility to cooperate with a product company
• Professional growth
• Educational possibilities
• Competitive compensation
• Fully-equipped perfect office space located in the city center ("Palats Sportu" metro station)
• Warm and friendly attitude to every specialist
• Manual testing of mobile applications for various casino projects
• Estimation of testing efforts for the project
• Analysis of system requirements and producing testing specifications from systems requirements
• Creation of Test Cases, Test Reports
• Communication with internal development teams regarding requirements clarifications and quality expectations
• Constantly learn from experience and be proactive
If you are interested in our current vacancies, please don't hesitate to send your CV. We'll contact you if there's a fit with one of our opportunities.
We develop cross platform (Java, HTML5, Android, iOS, Windows) games using Google open source framework PlayN. To develop games we use Java core and PlayN for 95% of cases. All projects are developed from the scratch with all the business logic. We have a lot of different games and features with interesting and complex architecture solutions. Almost all games have the unique features that require non-standard architectural solutions. Cross-platform development allow us to release our products for different platforms without any additional efforts. We are supporting the latest mobile devices (including Android Wear, Apple Watches), browsers, OS (iOS 9, Android 6, MS Windows 10) and mobile technologies and trends like Web-GL, Open GL ES, HTML5, Web audio, Video streaming, etc.
If you are creative, "out of box thinker" and ambitious enough to make a difference in such a large scale International business, you are more than welcome to apply for one of our open positions at Playtech Kyiv. We'll contact you if there's a fit with one of our opportunities.


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Make a BT statement with the Rokford, a cheeky Border Terrier on a 1MM Sterling Sliver plated ball chain necklace. Designed by Roky and his helpers and made in sunny Glasgow. It is made from opaque frosted resin and available in smoke grey or orange ice.
Chain length: 54cmDog Dimensions: 5.2cm long x 3.7cm high


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Just wanted to post my thanks to those of you that have done translations for the VidOn box! Even though I only speak English, and a few words and phrases of Spanish, I am excited to see other languages supported! And those of you offering up your time to do the translations are really awesome!
Keep it up! It would be great to see the VidOn box work in every language in the world!


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It is that time of year again - holiday gift buying. Most of us will spend a lot of money, maybe too much money, on gifts for our loved ones. Robert Harrow has some tips on dealing with holiday debt.
His tips are fairly simple:
- Pay more than the minimum amount due. This makes sense. If you have a balance, pay more than the minimum. This will help you pay off the debt sooner.
- Consolidated your debt. Find a credit card with a lower APR and consolidate your debt to that card. This will save you money in the long run.
- Change your shopping habits. This is the most important tip. When the holidays come, people start buying gifts for anyone and everyone. Instead of this one month push to buy a ton of gifts, spread it out. Start buying in August or September and lower how much you are paying. This may allow you to buy gifts and pay cash, instead of having to put it on a credit card.
A few more tips that should help you:
- Make a budget. Okay, the tip should actually be make a budget and stick to it. A budget that you do not follow is useless. Follow a budget.
- Make a list. This will make sure you know who you have to buy for. Then, with some simple math, you know how much to spend on each person. (Divide your budget by the number of recipients for a per recipient limit.)
- Shop around for the best deals. A few minutes online may save you $10 or $20, but make sure that you are not paying for shipping or those savings may go out the window.
The holidays are a fun time. Its a time of giving and a time of reflection. Make sure that this time does not turn into a time of worry or turn your new year into a sour time.


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Couples are asked to call for an appointment with the priest at least eight months prior to the wedding.
Congratulations! Weddings are special times for brides and grooms, for their families and friends and for their parish community. The new beginning, the love, the promise and hope that weddings represent make this celebration a special and grace-filled time. The church welcomes its members to celebrate their weddings in the Church, but marriage is such an important event in Catholic life that we understand it is more than just an event. You are considering one of those seven unique encounters with God that we call sacraments.
We look forward to helping you with your wedding and welcome your questions. The first step in the process is very simple, contact the parish office and make an appointment to chat with the priest about your wedding plans. Also take time to pray about your decision to be married in the Church. These are grace filled times in your life and Church would be happy to help you.


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... the Cheap Revolution, the wholesale shift by corporate customers and techmakers to cheap chips and open-source (often free) software such as Linux. They are embracing simplicity, unlocking prodigious new power and cutting tech costs by up to 90%, threatening the Silicon Valley plutocracy: the proprietary gear, "closed" software, redundant backup systems and fat profit margins of incumbents like Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, EMC and other blue-chip nameplates.
People who know me know that one of my favourite rants is about the systematic fleecing of business by the IT industry over the last few years and how people's tolerance for it is at an all time low.
Hopefully Forbes are right about this trend (I believe they are) and we will finally get away from willie waving IT procurement deals that may have increased the machismo of those involved but did bugger all to further the interests of their organisations.


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Nearly all Americans share the belief that they'd like to retire comfortably. For many people, however, the chances of this happening is, for a variety of reasons, becoming increasing slim. Perhaps the biggest issue revolves around Social Security, the financial backdrop designed to protect low-income workers and their surviving beneficiaries should they pass away, as well as the disabled.
Social Security's dual woes
The Social Security program is falling victim to two major demographic shifts.
First, people are living longer than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the average life expectancy of men and women combined in the U.S. is 78.8 years. When baby boomers were born the average life expectancy was at, or under, 70 years, demonstrating how much of a jump we've experienced through improved health awareness and pharmaceutical/medical device advancements. Living longer means being able to receive Social Security distributions over a longer length of time. For the Social Security program, it means even more benefits flowing out of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Insurance Trust, or OASDI.
The other major shift is the retirement of the baby boomer generation, which has shifted into high gear and will be ongoing throughout the next 15 years. There simply aren't enough workers coming into the workforce to replace those boomers who are retiring. The net result is the worker-to-beneficiary ratio is expected to fall from 2.8-to-1 in 2014 to 2.1-to-1 by 2040 based on estimates from the Social Security Administration. Fewer workers per beneficiary simply means we're going to see a shift from an inflow of revenue into the OASDI to a net cash outflow.
Based on a recent report from the SSA, the Trust will have burned through its remaining cash reserves by 2033.
Too many people believe this erroneous Social Security myth
This report -- whose 2033 end date is arguably debatable since the SSA actuaries have their data and predictive models under tight lock and key -- is the primary source of the most pervasive and erroneous myth that involves the Social Security program.
In a Pew Research Center study that was released almost three weeks ago, the research organization asked Americans of varying ages across the country the following question:
When you retire, do you think there will be enough money in the Social Security system to provide benefits at current levels?
Respondents were tasked with answering this question given only the following four responses to choose from:
- Enough money to provide benefits at current levels.
- Enough money to provide benefits, but at reduced levels.
- Not enough money to provide any benefits.
- Don't know.
Overall, just one in five respondents (20%) suggested that the Social Security program would be able to pay benefits commensurate with today's levels when they retire. Another 8% didn't know or refused to answer. This means the bulk of respondents either believe their Social Security benefits will drop when they retire, or worse yet, that there won't be any at all.
The most popular answer in Pew's report was (drumroll) "not enough money to provide any benefits," which 41% of respondents chose.
Why this myth is so wrong
What's wrong with this belief is that Social Security isn't going insolvent, but it will need some form of benefits adjustment if Congress can't figure out a way to fix America's largest social program by 2033. In other words, there will be Social Security benefits for retired workers, their survivors, and the disabled when they're eligible to receive benefits, and the 41% of respondents (especially those under the age of 49) who answered that there won't be benefits available when they eventually retire are almost assuredly wrong.
As it stands now, the OASDI will deplete its cash reserves by 2033. If Congress does nothing, benefits will simply drop by 23% to 77% of the projected full retirement benefit. At this level the Social Security Administration predicts that a 23% reduction in benefit payments will sustain the program for another 54 years. In 2088, the SSA suggests that another drop to 72% of full retirement benefits would be required to keep the program solvent and ensure that eligible retirees and the disabled are getting their benefits.
Although a cut in benefits isn't good news, it's much better than the alternative mode of thinking that Social Security will be insolvent when you retire. It's time we put this myth to rest.
How Social Security could be fixed
Respondents' concerns about a cut in Social Security benefits is a much more viable possibility – especially with Congress' inability to pass legislation in recent years.
Lawmakers have two primary tools at their disposal: they can either increase revenue through taxation, or they can reduce benefits to cut cash outflows from the OASDI. It's a situation where you can't please everyone, because on one hand you have retirees and pre-retirees that could be counting on their Social Security benefits, while on the other there are workers who don't want to pay more in payroll taxes without seeing a commensurate boost in their own benefits.
The most popular of the roughly dozen or so solutions to fix the Social Security program is to boost the payroll tax cap for upper income individuals.
As it stands in 2015, no income beyond $118,500 is subject to the Social Security payroll tax. It means people making far more than $118,500 per year only pay a potentially small percentage of their income into the system, while a majority of Americans are taxed on every dollar they earn. Not surprisingly, the solution that a majority of people chose in an informal poll from The Washington Post was to boost the payroll tax earnings cap. Raising the cap would only affect a small percentage of the population, which is likely to appeal to the low- and middle-income worker.
Unfortunately, this solution by itself would only close the shortfall by about 30%. Chances are that some combination of payroll tax increase and benefit reductions or cost-cuts will be needed to keep the program solvent and avoid a potentially devastating 23% drop in full retirement benefits.
Now that you're in the know, how would you fix the Social Security program?