text:
My Reluctant Texan Pride
By: Molly Wadzeck Kraus
I spent my formative years in the
, from birth until 18. When I think about my past, fond memories of
the scorching summer days, bluebonnets in the field across the street, and
cotton candy at the State Fair play like a slideshow loop in my head. My Lone Star State
heritage runs deep. I still have my
flag; I know how to properly fold it. I
still cook my favorite versions of Tex Mex.
I've always taken pride in being a Texan first, American second. When I traveled alone for the first time (to Texas ), I
beamed when a Kiwi server at a restaurant exclaimed "Wow! I've never met a
real-life Texan before." New Zealand
But the
Texas I knew then
is not the
I know now. I knew my Northern and
non-American friends had an image of my state that I felt was unfair, an inaccurate
portrayal of my beloved home. I thought,
of course it has its flaws- it is still a Southern state, after all. Like most of them, it has race, human rights
and religious issues that linger. But
it's getting better all the time, right?
Our whole country is progressing… right? Thanks to social media, I have
bared witness from afar to the non-stop coverage of the events unfolding in Texas recently. And I
see, along with millions of others, the exposed, gritty, unpolished truth. Austin
I grew up in
Waco and left
for New York at 18 for an internship near . My father passed
away soon after, and I took this as a sign that I should accept a job upstate and
start my adult life there. It's been 7 years, and I have always looked down
south fondly, reminiscent of my upbringing.
My mom still lives there. My best friends are scattered throughout the
state. Women. Men who have women they love. Women and men
I've known from childhood, from church, from school, from punk shows, or met
during my brief time in college. A diverse group of different races, religious
affiliations and sexualities. Ithaca
I've watched them on Facebook, and enjoyed countless phone dates. I've flown back for weddings and visits. I've seen them have children, find their life partners, excel in their careers, lose parents, divorce. I've seen them struggle to find affordable healthcare and childcare in a place that offers practically NO sexual education, makes it difficult to obtain and afford birth control, and makes women jump through hoops to meet their basic needs.
I've seen many friends become unprepared young parents because of the complete absence of sexual health literacy programs and the limited access to factual, accessible pregnancy prevention resources. Some of them needed abortions. And though their children are here now and loved, they deserved to have a choice. They deserved the tools and the education to prevent the pregnancies in the first place. They were owed that information. It was their right. Their state failed them. Their schools failed them. Their families failed them.
A woman I know developed cervical cancer because of these failures. The unnecessary and religiously-motivated barriers have created an American Ninja Warrior-type obstacle course to healthcare access. The pontificating of the misogynist politicians and educators knows no bounds; the outright REFUSAL, or willing ignorance, to ensure our youth are taught scientifically correct information regarding their sexual and emotional health runs rampant. Make no mistake, this statement is not an embellishment: women suffer and women die because of these failures. Because a governing body comprised of people who think the solution to abortion is to teach youth to not have sex until marriage. They see it their moral imperative to deny them information, protection, prevention and support. And when their reckless system fails to curtail the increasing rates of teenage pregnancy, STIs and need for abortion, they turn back toward the women they failed, wagging their fingers, and attempt to force them to carry a pregnancy to term, while shaming them for the "consequences" of their actions.
My friend who developed the cervical cancer could afford regular pap smears when the Planned Parenthood within reasonable driving distance was open. But then came the big defunding of Planned Parenthood, and with it went her clinic and ability to afford routine check-ups. Because she was without insurance, she waited until she had the money to pay out of pocket and the time to drive to a different clinic. She had high-grade lesions. It was too late. It was in the beginning stages of cancer. One in 3 women in
is without
insurance. She is not the first to suffer this outcome, and she will not be the
last. Texas
I've seen the system work for kids. When I worked in the public schools in
during my assignment in AmeriCorps, I helped lead workshops for middle and
high-schoolers. We offered comprehensive, interactive sessions about STIs,
healthy relationships, puberty, pregnancy, birth control, abstinence, domestic
violence, and gender. We made condoms
and pamphlets accessible. Our doors were
also open for counseling. Kids in the
SEVENTH grade were asking questions I did not have the wherewithal to even conjure
when I was a Senior. They were engaged
and empowered. Manhattan
My friends and my family deserve better. My friends' kids deserve choices and autonomy and education and insurance and the pursuit of their own goddamn happiness to live a life BETTER than their parents. But it's going to be worse.
does not care about my friends. They do not care about my family. They care
about their religious zealotry. They create laws they erroneously believe are
sanctioned by God. They do not have open
ears, open hearts and open minds to listen to what the people of Texas are telling
them. If they truly wanted to "protect
women" and "improve their health" as the supporters are claiming, then they
would listen to them. They are telling them their stories of
struggle, their honest truths and experiences.
But all they hear is "abort more babies". They do not hear the loud cries of the women
who needed better healthcare, who desperately needed information, and who
needed their state to treat them not as second-class citizens, but as humans
who should be trusted to make their own decisions about their bodies and
families. They do not listen to the harrowing realities I have written out
here, which amass to barely the tip of the iceberg. Texas
I weep for my friends tonight. Yet, at the same time, I am happy to say that I live in state now that routinely provides me with affordable, preventative healthcare at my OBGYN, and that when I wanted whatever birth control I wanted, I could get it. I had access. Clinics in NYC and upstate made it affordable. Planned Parenthood prevented my own cervical cancer, because they helped enroll me in a program that would lessen the financial burden. They were prompt, informative and supportive. When I wanted an IUD at 20, they told me "Here are the facts. Here are your options. What is your decision?" and did not lecture me on something about God, on marriage, on my relationship with my boyfriend, or shame me like the clinic did in Huntsville, Texas did when I first tried to obtain birth control at 17. They did not try to intimidate, coax, deceive, deny or patronize me. It was MY decision and I thank
for trusting me
with it. New York
These decisions should remain solely between a woman and her doctor. But in a state like
you may not be
able to trust that your doctor is providing you with unbiased and all-inclusive
care. A physician that has a moral objection against providing information or
offering certain services (emergency contraception, IUDs) can wield their power
and change the course of a woman's life. Of course, a Texas woman is welcome to find a physician
who will better serve her needs. But the time and money spent on finding one is
a great barrier, especially for poor, rural or teenaged women, or women who
struggle to take care of their already existing children. Texas
And now that I am a mother, I am even more enraged by all this. No one should have any say in what I carry or do not carry in my body. The people with the power who think otherwise are the ones denying girls the right to education and preventative care in the first place. Deciding to have my (unplanned, unexpected - I got pregnant with an IUD) daughter was the most momentous, difficult decision of my life. I love her fiercely with all my being. But I got to make that choice.
let me make that choice. And that
choice in and of itself has made me a better, stronger, happier parent. Every woman deserves that choice. I know a great amount of people in my home
state hold these same beliefs. They are still fighting for their government to
hear their voices and serve them accordingly. And for that, I still have some New York pride, however reluctantly. Texas


text: One of the highlights of Saint Louis Design Week was hearing Aaron Draplin speak. Not only did his sense of humor make his talk entertaining, he was very humble about the success he has had as a designer. Aaron at one point stated he has been called a "raging sentimentalist," a quality that does seem to shine through in his work. If you ever get the chance, don't miss the opportunity for an entertaining hour or two listing to Aaron. There is also a great interview with him on Designboom. It's a few years old, but definitely worth the read. Thanks for a great evening STLDW and Mr. Draplin!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Murder conviction for man who prompted cop to shoot
He didn't pull the trigger but was charged with causing the slaying.
Jesse Ramon didn't fatally shoot well-known female impersonator James Lee Whitehead when he mugged him in 2009 — a police officer accidentally did that.
But it took jurors less than 30 minutes Friday to find Ramon guilty of murder for causing the chain of events that led to Whitehead's death.
Ramon, 24, now faces up to life in prison. Jurors also deliberated his punishment for about two hours but were unable to reach a decision before state District Judge Ron Rangel sent them home for the weekend. The panel will continue deliberating on Monday.
"The whole thing just happened quick. It was too quick," Ramon testified during the punishment phase of his trial. "I do owe my deepest, sincerest apology for Mr. Whitehead, his family and any individual who knew the man... What happened was just a tragedy."
Ramon was short on rent and looking for someone to rob when he decided to target Whitehead, who was walking home about 3 a.m. near San Antonio college, prosecutors Miguel Najera and Ashley Botard have said.
Ramon beat Whitehead and demanded money while holding a loaded pistol to his chest, they said. When San Antonio Police Officer William Karman arrived and yelled repeatedly for Ramon to drop his weapon, the defendant ignored the demands and advanced on the officer, who opened fire, Karman and another witness testified.
Shot four times, Ramon was in a coma for more than a month, he told jurors. Whitehead was struck once and died that morning.
"His actions made him a threat that needed to be stopped," Najera said of Ramon during closing arguments. "This is a simple case of cause and effect. He caused the situation, and the effect is an innocent man died."
Whitehead was dressed in men's clothing at the time of the incident, but he was known in Austin and San Antonio for his charity drag shows under the stage name Niki Hunter.
"We're going to miss him dearly," testified Joseph Johnson, his roommate. "So is the (gay, lesbian and transgender) community in San Antonio and throughout the United States."
Ramon gave his own version of events Friday. He had been drinking, smoking marijuana and carrying a gun to calm his nerves after someone tried to rob him at his apartment, he said. While going out to meet some women, he saw one of Whitehead's friends make a rude gesture at him as he was at a stop sign, staring out the window, he said.
That caused Ramon to get out of the vehicle and start a fight with both Whitehead and his friend, he said. He pulled the gun out for protection and didn't see the officer behind him, he said.
Because robbery and aggravated assault are both felonies, it doesn't really matter which version jurors believe, prosecutors said, arguing that Ramon is guilty of murder either way.
But Ramon's version of events was "crazy" and not compatible with witness testimony, prosecutors said as they later suggested a life sentence. Defense attorneys Richard Langlois and William Brooks didn't request a specific sentence but asked that it not be life in prison.


text:
Harry Fisher: South Africa needs to
learn to accept bikes
Story: Harry Fisher
This year I've spent time in the UK, Italy and France. No, I'm not boasting; after all, in this day and age international travel is nothing particularly special. But a few things occurred to me while in those countries.
The first thing I noticed in France and Italy is that there are so many bikes being used on a daily basis by absolutely everyone; young and old, male and female, open road and around town. Bikes are simply everywhere and one thing that occurred to me is the issue of space. Many European towns and cities are ancient, with all the narrow streets and alleyways that entails, meaning that a bike is the only practical urban transport.
Having said that, the way that the presence of bikes is accepted by the populace is at such odds to here in South Africa, where bikes are seen as a nuisance and not a transport solution. In Italy, there are no draconian penalties for parking a bike anywhere; they are on pavements, in piazzas, in front of historic monuments, churches, wherever they can find a space and that is completely acceptable behaviour.
In France and Italy they have a very practical approach to transport, especially in urban areas; small is beautiful. No hulking great SUVs or 4×4's and a distinct lack of stupid luxury executive barges taking up far too much space. It can be no coincidence that both nations have made some of the most iconic small cars the world has ever seen; it is because space has always been at a premium and rather than adapting the space to the vehicle, they have adapted the vehicle to the space. Not only that but small is cheaper, meaning accessible to more people.
This is something we haven't quite got our heads around in SA; cheap transport for the masses. Actually, that's possibly not true; there has been cheap transport but it has never been taken up in any significant proportion for several reasons.
Firstly, distances are a problem; we live in a country where cities have had no restriction to vast expansion through geographical limitations; Johannesburg, for example, has been able to expand outwards, unchecked by anything such as a neighbouring town or city, partly because none were there in the first place. Streets were built wide because they could be and because that is what the wealthy desired and so we have a city with unrivalled space in which the car can move freely.
This is very much opposite to what happened to cities in Europe; London expanded to swallow up villages in the immediate vicinity but this was at a time long before the invention of the motor car so provision for the space they take up was not an issue. Not only that, but things were kept tightly packed because living space for an expanding population was at a premium.
Secondly, in South Africa, the car is king; it is a status symbol for many in a way that a motorcycle will never be, despite its practicalities. There is too much stigma attached to owning and riding a motorcycle.
The U.K. is a different proposition for motorcyclists. First, the weather is really shit which never helps. Secondly, public transport is incredibly efficient, both inter-city and inner city. But you do still see plenty of bikes on the road.
However, changing times have affected the number of bikes, especially in the bigger cities. When I was living in London, in the late 'nineties, there were thousands of bikes on the roads of the city as courier riders plied their trade. I should know; I was one of them! But even then, in the late 'nineties, the industry was on the wane due to the rise of the internet; courier companies were being driven out of business by technology and this had a huge impact on the number of bikes you'd see on the road. Now, I don't think there are more than a handful of courier riders.
But still, every bike parking bay will be chock full of bikes every day as people use them for practical inner-city transport.
So, here in SA, the motorcycle will always be seen, among the uninitiated, as a nuisance, dangerous, irresponsible and so on. Those of us in the know will understand otherwise. As for the 'dangerous' tag, well, yes, we are more exposed to the dangers of the roads but often, many of those dangers we bring upon ourselves by irresponsible riding. We need to modify our behaviour in order to gain acceptance and, if we can get more bikes on the road, then motorists will have more opportunity to become used to motorcycles in and around them and, maybe, the motorcycle will become a more acceptable method of transport and traffic congestion will become a thing of the past!
Feature pic: Meghan McCabe


text:
Microsoft's pathetic attempt to buy Windows 8 mobile customers
Microsoft's latest gambit to get people to buy their tablets and smartphones is to pay Apple customers to give theirs up. Good luck with that.
In fact, just a week after offering a $200 gift card to Apple owners, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reports that they've upped the ante to $350. It's worth noting that's what a new Surface RT costs, so they would be making exactly zero dollars on this deal. Do I hear $400?
I love the smell of desperation in the morning.
I can just see the Microsoft brain trust sitting around spitballing ideas about how to jump-start their mobile business. Ballmer enters a room surrounded by Microsoft's sharpest marketing minds. A large white board and several magic markets sit at the wait in the front of the room. Ballmer sets the stage.
So far, every attempt by Microsoft to capture mobile marketshare has been stifled. They tried making their own tablets and it's gone so poorly, Microsoft had to resort to giving them away to schools. The phone business remains mired in the single digits in the US and is not doing terribly well outside of a few pockets of popularity in the rest of the world.
The mission, Ballmer tells his marketing minions, is to find a way to get that market fired up. He opens the floor to suggestions. One particularly sharp young woman suggests they build better devices that people actually want. Ballmer pulls a Tim Armstrong and fires her on the spot.
This stifles the conversation for a bit, but after a few minutes somebody cautiously raises their hand and suggests paying iPad and iPhone owners to sell their equipment to Microsoft in exchange for a Windows phone or tablet. The room goes silent. Ballmer stares at the employee, then raises his eyebrows and triumphantly declares the idea brilliant!
OK. That never happened, but just how did such an idea actually see the light of day and why would they think it would work? Ideally any product lives on its own merits and doesn't require gimmicks to make people buy it. That Microsoft believes it needs to pay its competitor's customers to give up their devices to use Microsoft's smacks of the worst kind of desperation.
And seriously, how many devices are they going to sell with this stunt? I'm guessing not very many. The thing is if Apple owners wanted a Windows device, chances are they would have bought one. It's not as though the market is teetering towards Microsoft's favor, and with just a little push, Apple owners are going to go running to Microsoft. That's not going to happen.
One thing is clear from this attempt, Microsoft has a serious problem with their mobile device market and it's letting the whole world know about it. Look, Microsoft probably made a smart move buying Nokia's handset division, but they need to come up with a better approach than paying for customers. Even if they were able to buy marketshare, which is highly unlikely, they wouldn't make any money doing it. No, Microsoft has to go back to the drawing board and earn marketshare the old-fashioned way.
They have to earn it.
Photo Credit: (c) Can Stock Photo


text:
How to Save the Environment (for Teens)
Explore this Article Changing Daily Routines Using Less, Reusing More Making Yourself Heard Questions & Answers Related Articles References
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. Learn more...
Cleaning up the existing damage to our environment and preventing further destruction is a huge job. It can seem like there is no way one person, especially a young person, can make a difference. But you can make a difference, starting with changing some simple everyday habits and working with others to spread the word about the importance of protecting the environment. This is the world of not just your present but your future, so you're never too young to take action and make a positive difference!
Changing Daily Routines
1Take shorter showers. Yes, everyone wants to look (and smell) his/her best for that special someone or secret crush, but how many rinses and repeats do you really need? A dripping faucet can waste 3,000 gallons a year, about the same amount you can save by halving your daily shower time.[1] That's no drop in the bucket!
- It can seem like water is cheap and abundant, but access to clean water is an issue for billions of people around the world. Increasing demand for water also affects rivers and lakes (and what lives there) by reducing levels, changing water flow with dams and reservoirs, and introducing chemicals and waste products.
2Turn the lights off. You might not pay the electric bill, but you know that the lamp (or TV, stereo, or laptop) costs money to operate. That money pays for the power plants that produce that electricity and usually release pollutants into the environment in the process.
- Ask your family to set the furnace temperature lower and the air conditioner higher. Sweaters, open windows and fans will work just fine most days.
- Unplug appliances that are not being regularly used. Many electronic devices still draw power even when turned off, sometime known as "vampire" energy drain.
- Many states now allow residents to choose their energy supplier. Talk to your family about choosing a supplier that produces electricity with less pollution, via solar, wind, and other options.
3Ride your bike or walk instead of driving (or being driven). Yes, every teen looks forward to a driver's license and a first car, but automobiles are one of the primary causes of air pollution. When pedal power won't cut it, take the bus or carpool. It might not seem as cool as driving yourself, but it is much more fuel efficient.
4Eat less meat. The animals that were bred to become your hamburger or chicken quesadilla require significantly more space, energy, and five times more water than the stars of a meatless dish. You don't necessarily have to become vegetarian just for this reason, but eating less meat will probably do your body good while it helps the planet anyway.
5Consider enrolling in a hunter education course. Meat from wild animals like deer is both healthier for human consumption and more carbon neutral than meat from domestic animals. When done responsibly, hunting for meat is an environmentally appropriate way to obtain animal protein for yourself and others.
Using Less, Reusing More
1Buy eco-friendly products. Seek out products that do not test on animals and do not contain chemicals that require big CAUTION or WARNING notices on the label. There are increasing numbers of products called "natural" or "organic" available, but it never hurts to look at the labels.
- Choose products without excess packaging. It was annoying enough when you had to wait for your Dad to dig out your new action figure from that plastic blister packaging; think about the excessive waste such over-packaging creates.
- Buy local products when available. Maybe your area has a little candle-making factory or engraver where you can pick up a nice Mother's Day gift. Not only will you be helping your local economy, you will be saving the energy usage and pollution required to ship goods long distances.
2Carry a tote bag and reusable water bottle. They don't take up much space but can prevent a lot of waste. Ever notice how plastic bags seem to always end up stuck in trees or on grassy hillsides, or seen news reports about the giant swirls of plastic junk floating in the middle of the oceans? Every plastic bottle not made and plastic bag not used helps a little bit.
3Donate old clothes, toys, electronics, etc. Just because you don't want them anymore doesn't mean someone else wouldn't be happy to have them. People always seem to assume that all teens need to have the newest everything and discard perfectly good things that are no longer "cool" enough. Prove them wrong.
- Buy used and vintage items as well. Freak out your parents by buying a shirt from their high school days and declaring it "so retro."
4Get creative before throwing things out. Can you use some parts from your broken-down old bike for your science fair project? Or use your (or, okay, maybe your parents') old CDs to make a collage or mobile for art class?
5Recycle everything you can. If your municipality has a recycling program, make sure your family uses it. Does your school make recycling convenient? If not, isn't that something that student councils are for? Help turn recycling into a habit for everyone.
Making Yourself Heard
1Raise awareness. Talk to family and friends about simple changes they can make, and why they should do so to help protect the environment. You don't have to lecture or preach (but if that's what works with your family, go for it); show them that you have thought a lot about the subject, are passionate about making a difference, and really could use their support.
- Take advantage of all the new social media technologies that your parents can't keep up with. It's easier now than ever before to connect with people all over the world. Find out how environmental destruction impacts all of us everywhere, and discuss ways to stop it.
- You might want to mention the notion of "sustainable happiness," which focuses in part on how interconnected we all truly are.[2] You parents will know how serious you are if they realize you've done research!
2Join an environmental group. There are numerous national organizations dedicated to protecting endangered species, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, preserving clean water supplies, and so on. But there are also probably local environmental groups doing things like planting native trees or setting up hard-to-recycle pickups in your own neighborhood.
- Is there an environmental club at your school? If not, round up some buddies who know the importance of the issue and start one. You can do some good and make your college applications look a little better at the same time.
3Contact your elected officials. No, you probably can't vote for them yet, but most of them want to remain in office long after you've turned 18. And they want your parents' votes right now anyway.
- Depending on their respective offices, ask them to support legislation to reduce carbon emissions or protect endangered species, or to back local measures like curbside recycling or plastic shopping bag fees. Get in the habit of demanding action from your representatives when you are young and it will be easier to do so when you're older.
4Don't be afraid to lead. Regardless of what some adults may think, teens can have great ideas too. When you have one, put your youthful energy to good use.
- Your idea might be as straightforward as a neighborhood clean-up day, but go for it. Pass out flyers. Ask local businesses to donate supplies or refreshments. Round up your buddy's garage band and turn it into a block party at the end of the day.
- Teens like you have helped pass legislation banning electronic waste from landfills, [3] and created organizations that help schools run environmentally-friendly proms. Surely they had people tell them they were too young to make a difference. But the earth's future is your future. So don't be so quick to accept "can't" or take "no" as an answer.
Community Q&A
QuestionWHat can we do to clean our surroundings?Community AnswerAlways remember the 'three Rs' -- Reuse, Recycle, Reduce.
QuestionWhat can I do to improve the environment at school?Community AnswerHave a paper bin in the class rooms so excess paper, cardboard, etc. can be recycled, either by you or the teacher. Set up a compost for your school's fruit and vegetable scraps.
QuestionWhat other events can I do in my neighborhood besides clean-up day?Community AnswerYou might try a Plant a Tree day.
QuestionHow can I clean the environment?Community AnswerStart locally and clean up any trash you see. Recycle what you can and try to reuse as much as possible.
QuestionDo our movements make us socially alienated?Kade BreshearsCommunity AnswerYes, because no one wants to be around another that they don't see eye-to-eye with.
How do I help the world when I have social and mental problems?
Article Info
Categories: Environmental Awareness
In other languages:
Español: salvar al medio ambiente (para adolescentes), Français: protéger l'environnement (pour les ados), Deutsch: Als Jugendlicher die Umwelt schützen, Русский: спасти окружающую среду (для подростков), Italiano: Salvare l'Ambiente (Per Adolescenti), Português: Salvar o Meio Ambiente, Bahasa Indonesia: Menyelamatkan Lingkungan bagi Remaja


text:
Slingshot Yogurt Protein Drink
by Slingshot Foods
Product Type
11 oz
Nutritional Info
Nutritional information is not available for this product.
Ingredients are not available for this product.
Review: Simply Plain
(Last Updated: Jul 22, 2014 at 12:26 PM)Simply Plain is a slightly different experience than the other varieties of Slingshot yogurt drink. For this one, the company has skipped the added sweetener and flavoring, leaving just the yogurt and the attached shot. That said, the ingredients in the shot, which includes chia seeds, toasted oats and almond pieces, take center stage when it comes to flavor. And the added crunch and chew that you get from these ingredients doesn't hurt either. Nutritionally, this product has the most protein of the four flavors at 20g per bottle (assuming you mix in the shot). It also has the lowest calories at just under 300. Plus, it has fiber (3g), vitamins, calcium, and omega 3 and 6. It's a very well-rounded and wholesome product. On the packaging front, the most obvious thing about this product's appearance is the shot that's taped around the bottle's neck in a ring-like shape. It certainly makes the product stand out visually. As for the label, this one, which has a brown background rather than the whitish color of the others, doesn't have the same visual appeal as its counterparts. Some of that is because it lacks an accent graphic (for the flavoring), but it's also because the text on the front of the label is very difficult to read as it's almost the same color as the background. Lastly, we wish that the product had a slightly more appealing name than "plain." Overall, we really like the concept, but the label needs some small improvements.


text:
Contact Us
Phone 604-504-7441 x. 4116Email email@example.com C1007, Abbotsford Campus 33844 King Road, Abbotsford BC., Canada V2S 7M8Like us on Facebook
Please feel free to drop us an email, give us a call, or swing by the office at any time! We're happy to help and love visitors! ~ the SLG team


text:
Family Reunion Forum
How to revive a family reunion.
Hello, this is my first time posting here. I was wondering if someone could help me with the following issue.
How do you revive a family reunion after having a bad experience?
I am thinking about planning a possible reunion for the summer of 2009. However, our family had a bad experience at our 2007 family reunion. Over the years we have had many successful family reunions with large turnouts. But in 2007, it was different. The person who was supposed to be organizing our reunion ran off with some of the registration fees our family members sent in for the reunion.
Usually our reunion fees cover the cost of the banquet and the picnic. In the 2007 case, the person who planned the reunion had paid for the cost of the banquet however didn't have the money to cover the cost of the picnic. Thus, the picnic had to be cancelled. This person claimed that their bank put a hold on their account and they were unable to withdraw the funds to pay for picnic activities. We did not find this out until the day the reunion was supposed to start and the out of town guest had already arrived and traveled hundreds of miles to come to the reunion.
The person who planned the reunion had to tell everyone that the picnic was cancelled and promised to return to family members their unspent portion of the money. But in the end this person only returned some of the funds to some of the family members. Some family members didn't get any of their money back. Even when family members called to inquire about when their funds would be returned, this person would not answer the phone nor return their phone calls. So the end result is was a bunch of angry family members who are probably skeptical about participating in future family reunions for fear of being ripped off again.
So fast forward to the present date and planning for our 2009 reunion, How do I convince family members that they are not going to get ripped off again? The person that planned the last reunion will have nothing to do with the planning of this reunion. How can I convince them that I'm a more honest person and won't rip them off like that? I want to take away the bad feelings that were generated by the last family reunion. I want turn this reunion back into something that our family members can feel good about and look forward to attending.
Please advise.
Messages In This Thread


text:
Musée Rodin
I love how you walk off of some unassuming narrow little street and find this waiting inside, and how we all just take our normal selves into these places and stroll around like we're shopping for toilet paper at Walmart. The more I see the more I feel like I should be bowing or kneeling everywhere I go, although I suppose that would be distracting.
Note that I'm talking more about the art here than the walled enclosure or palatial trappings; I'm not actually advocating a return to the feudal estate, particularly since I'm sure I'd be one of those in charge of upkeep rather than one of those being kept up. I just dig the general grounds, so to speak, and am searching for the appropriate way to communicate "awestruck." Do I jump up and down? Weep? Wave my arms in the air? Wave my whole body? What's the artistic equivalent of delivering a high-five? Throwing money? Praying? Nothing feels right or enough, or not bordering on insane.


text:
Temptation Coffee are delighted to offer the world's strongest coffee "Death Wish Whole Bean Coffee" - Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic.
With so many coffee products claiming to be "strong", people are now looking for an more a powerful coffee to drink. The Death Wish Whole Bean Coffee - Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic Coffee is certainly that and will be a perfect purchase for coffee conissures looking for an extra caffine hit.
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text:
Sam Roberts' Show Rundown - 9/19/14
-Sam starts the show with Yannis Pappas in studio
-Sam talks to Yannis about Jack White's most recent on stage rant, and his inability to find fault in musicians he likes.
-We listen in on the Roger Goodell press conference
-Justin Long comes in to talk about being in Kevin Smith's new movie, Tusk.
-Katie Linendoll joins Sam and Yannis in studio, Sam talks about his quest for a new iPhone, and the amount of scalpers taking over the iPhone lines.
-Sam, Katie, and Yannis take calls on the Chinese Mafia take over of the iPhone lines.
-Katie shows Sam the iPhone 6+
-Sam plays a clip of a politician who believes young people should be sexting to get the word out about voting.


text:
Align Organizing provides other specialty services to enhance life!
Large commercial property management companies focus on the maintenance and leasing of multi-unit complexes. Align is available to individual homeowners on an 'as-needed' basis with one-time, several-time, or routine engagements.
- moving / transition
- managing multiple homes
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Busy professionals often require additional support to take care of details related to their work, ongoing projects, peak activity times, or special events such as speaking engagements.
- travel arrangements
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PhD's • MD's • JD's
nOTARY SERVICE
Notary on staff for wills, legal documents, and verification.


text:
Introducing SAFe® with the Power of IBM DevOps!
Do you need to orchestrate software development and delivery in your complex, heterogeneous environment but you're not sure where to start? Have you heard about SAFe but you don't know what it is or why you should care?
blogs about the new feature in Rational Team Concert V6.0 that supports the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe) out of the box. This feature enables you to explore the framework and establish a SAFe Program of your own, complete with the infrastructure, artifacts, best practices, and guidance prescribed by SAFe built right into the tooling.
[Read more...]


text:
Which is the most important for search engine searches: the Hub summary or the first paragraph of the Hub? I thought the summary was most important, but I notice that sometimes searches show the first sentences in the hub. Are both equally important?
I think the most important thing for SEO is the title.
The summary and the first paragraph are ideally used to grab the reader's attention and get them wanting to read more. I see them as opportunities to engage....if you miss it, then you miss readers and if that happens a lot it lets google know that your page doesn't meet searchers expectations.
Obviously that's not going to do you any good!
If you enter a search query (for example); 'net worth of max martin', the search engine will find the closest match on specific pages to show in the serps. The snippets in the results bold the key words. A summary or the first few lines of a paragraph may not successfully answer a query. In my understanding, the summary is used to properly index a page. I think knowing your audience and giving them the best user experience is what google is looking for. The Hummingbird algorithm changed how pages rank and they fluctuate.
If I had to rank the importance of SEO (at which I'm horrible), my ranking would be as follows (from most important to least): 1. title 2. summary 3. opening paragraph.
I do try to conclude my hub articles with a decisive ending, but this is not always an effective summary in accordance with journalism standards, rather my writing tends to be creative. (Probably why I'm not making much money.)
i say, it is the title but on hubpages, the title and the first paragraph shows up
Surprisingly, no one has mentioned keyword research. Is this a dead art or has keyword research been rendered irrelevant by Google's new algorithms? It would appear though there are two camps: Title versus Content. I think attention has to be paid to both. A SEO friendly title will help you climb the search engine rankings ladder. But well written content is vital to maintaining your position in search engines.
Generally, Mapping Keywords are really important in your title and the content as well.
It means use the best keywords in your title and content.
Basically Meta Title,Meta Keywords ,Meta Descriptions is important for seo.
The most important think in SEO is Title and Keyword in the content.
The copy in the article is by far the most important. This is what engages readers. Descriptions can add value, but they're secondary.
Fancy, I always thought it was the summary, seems I should be looking at things rather differently, thanks Paul.
I see a lot of people do more damage than good with summaries by packing too many keywords. Doing this can make a good article spammy.
Thanks for your explanation, Paul. I'm to keep the summary brief and concise. And my first paragraph should be interesting and includes a sentence with a keyword or phrase that tells what the hub is about.
I like Paul's explanations. I use the first 60 words of the hub's first paragraph to get in the title words and a clear description of what the article is about. In the summary I copy a part of the article that will entice readers to read more.
This is going to get me checking those summaries and opening paragraphs. That should not take too long (one advantage of not having a lot of hubs).
Your post caused me to go check my summaries yet again. I edited a few more that might have been borderline. All is well.
To anyone who is interested, just editing a summary will not change your article date and therefor will presumably not get your hub tortured by QAP.
Yes, and yet when I have reported them, the hubs have not been removed. Why?
But for "SEO" search engine optimization (the question here) the issue is getting rank, not engaging readers.
I thought the most important thing for SEO was content.
I think they all walk hand in hand. If you have the best optimized title with bad or irrelevant content you lose. A title could be average with great content and get a lot of traffic.
I agree. Search engines pick up on keywords that naturally occur in text of the article anyway. And the body of the article is what mostly engages readers, keeping them on the page.
One of the things I was always told was that best practice was keep the articles to the point (keeps the readers engaged) with good grammar and don't worry so much about the right 'keywords' as a well written article of a reasonable length will naturally have those.
I'm still fairly new to hubpages so I'm still working that all out. I do find the 'hints box' (that's what I call it) helpful as it reminds me to put photos, video and other stuff in that can make the article 'interactive' and the readers can enjoy 'playing' on the article. I just need to learn more about the tools we're given. Hope some of these ideas help.
What I have noticed seems to be that the first sentence of the text shows up only if there has been no summary filled in.
Fill in the summary box, and that should always be what appears in searches, at least according to what I've seen.
If I'm wrong, I'll happily accept correction on the matter; but you do notice that here, on HP, when a new hub shows up on the front page, with a brief description--if there's no summary, you get the first line or so of the body text.
The most important is the keyword that you want search engines to use to find your Hub. That keyword should go into the title, the first paragraph and at least a few more times throughout the Hub.
If the Hub doesn't have a well-defined keyword (which is another way of describing the theme), it will be much harder to attract attention.
with regards search positioning only (ie nothing to do with readers) the title is by FAR the most important thing, to give the page it's "core" ranking potential.
content is secondary, and will then allow the page to pick up longer tail queries, from any extra content words.
if you want rankings for blue widgets, you 100% need blue widgets in the title, after which any extra content then allows variations on any blue widget theme.
but even in these days of almighty Google, it is still possible to rank a page with page titles and linkpower alone, content is soooooo definitely not king.
given that most hubbers couldnt tell a good link from their elbow, you definitely want to get the titles right.
For Search Engine optimization of any business website or blog or hub the most basic fundamentals remains the same. For search engine optimization of the most two important factors are on-page SEO and Off Page SEO. If on page optimization is done efficiently then you have won half of the race after that off page optimization comes. To generate sales and genuine traffic proper off page SEO is the most important factor. To develop organic traffic it is necessary to link you hub, blog or website to the relevant sources according to your niche. If Link building is done properly then it helps tremendously help in generating quality and original traffic. Also keyword research also plays an important role before writing on anything that what users actually searches for.
generally use proper seo on page which helps to improve the website ranking in search engine result page.
According to me important factor for SEO is the target customer/reader/viewer.
how target customer are perceiving particular website, content or any kind of business.
On that basis researcher have to do (niche) keyword research and need to formulate online strategy.
This step will help to attract prospect viewer/reader and keep engage them. Result of this website quality score will also improve. In this whole set up internal linking will play important role.
Thank you
Most important thing in SEO is to get quality backlinks and rank your keywords
No it isn't.
The most important thing for SEO is to write quality content that people are actually searching for. Too many backlinks can harm your page/site.
Content is the King that is obvious. But if you get quality backlinks from good DA websites, then it'll definitely help you to rank in SERP.
All that stuff is so out of date Stop paying attention to the 'gurus'; they know nothing. They are simply trying to sell their own 'expertise'.
Best SEO:
Top quality content
Searchable title
Judicious use of keywords/phrases
Maybe some careful social media promotion.
If a quality site backlinks to you **in a natural way**, then count yourself fortunate. However, if you go link farming, your content will soon disappear from search results.
Creating your own backlinks is an outdated strategy. So is keyword stuffing.
So, how will you do link building if you won't create any backlink for your own website?
by Schatzie Speaks 4 weeks ago
Can anyone help me figure out how to best optimize my hubs? I have several that have scores of 90 and above but they hardly get any views...I'm not sure how I could improve that. Even ones that have been changed by Hubpages' editors still don't get much traffic. Is it just the titles that I should...
by Liz Elias 4 years ago
It has been suggested that I submit one of my hubs here for an SEO check.This one has become unfeatured for lack of engagement, but it is a popular topic these days.I wonder, would it be better split into two separate hubs, so that I have a three-part article instead? I feel it might be a tad...
by Susan Hambidge 5 years ago
Does the SEO on a hub only come from the title?It says that the title is really important, and I have seen others commenting on their titles, saying how traffic can go up if the title is improved. But I understood that Google can pick up SEO phrases from the body of the text? Have I got this wrong...
by Glamorously Jacob 7 years ago
I'm officially now my first month into HubPages and loving it; however, I'd like to share with the community some of the observations I've made in the first 30 days.The OpportunityLet me start by saying that I think there is plenty of opportunity for writers here, even post-panda, to become...
by Robin Joe 3 years ago
Hi Hubbers,I'd like some help with passing the Quality Assessment Process. Will you please give feedback on my Hub The positive and negatives of Organic Search Engine Optimization (must be signed in to view). What can I do to improve? Thanks!
by Sondra Rochelle 3 years ago
I am of those people who has a terrible time getting my titles right. Recently, I've come up with a new strategy which has made it easier, and may help you guys, too.I open my word processorI open the Google Keyword Tooland I open https://moz.com/blog/new-title-tag-guid … eview-tool which...
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text:
Imagine Dragons' frontman almost became a G-Man
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons was on his way to becoming an FBI agent to make a difference in the world. He took a seminar and enrolled in classes. But then his mom sat him down.
Dan Reynolds was on his way to becoming an FBI agent to make a difference in the world. He took a seminar and enrolled in classes. But then his mom sat him down.
"Do you think you would be OK if one day you got in a predicament and you had to shoot someone and you killed them?" she asked.
Dan never really answered her question. But he thought about it, and he was happy in his little Vegas band. So after a while, he called his mom with a bombshell.
"I'm going to take the semester off from school and do this rock band thing," he told her.
Reynolds laughs while telling me this story, and he jokes, "I think she probably regretted making me think about it, like, 'Wait wait wait, hold on! I think you would have been OK shooting someone. You should go into the FBI.' Haha."
Imagine Dragons went on to explode this year with the hit album, "Night Visions." Billboard named it rock band of the year, and Spotify named it the most-streamed online band of 2013.
After touring constantly in 2013, Imagine Dragons is home tonight to play the Hard Rock Hotel. After the show, Reynolds will DJ at Body English nightclub.
Reynolds and his mom are happy with his career choice.
"Kill-someone-or-be-killed is such a heavy concept. I'm just glad the thought in my mind is: 'Should we play 'Radioactive' first tonight, or should we play 'It's Time' first?' Those are much easier conversations."
Reynolds has had fun glimpses of fame:
"The weirdest moment I have had was when I went home for a day to go to the dentist's office, and my aunt came in and asked me for an autograph," Reynolds says and laughs again.
"This is my Aunt Shelly. You know what I mean? This is the lady who wiped my nose when I had snot on my face at Christmas. I was, like, 'Why are you asking me for my autograph?' "
Reynolds says the band has been greatly helped by the fact other band members went to Boston's Berklee School of Music.
"They invested their lives in the music. It was never about, 'Let's start a band to get a girl,' or 'Let's start a band to make friends.' It was, 'Let's start a band because we love music.'
"That's helped, because we all realize this isn't about us. It's about the music. It's about a lot of work we've put into this, and the connection the music has with fans.
What helped the band most was playing small Vegas venues for four years.
"Our band wouldn't be here if it weren't for Vegas. The casinos supported us. The bands supported us. The venues supported us — the Bunkhouse and the Beauty Bar — from the very beginnning."
"Radioactive" has been huge on radio and TV, in video games and at sporting events. But?
"That song almost didn't make the record," he says.
"We experimented with a lot of different sides of Imagine Dragons. Some were darker than others. Some were lighter than others.
"One of the darker, more edgier songs was Radioactive," he says. "We ended up deciding, 'Let's show different sides of the band.'
I'm glad we did that. Otherwise, we wouldn't have had the album we've had."
Reynolds says the band has written "a ton" of new songs. They are converting a Vegas house into a studio, where they will write even more. There's no date for a new album, just his careful vow to release new songs "when they are ready."
Doug Elfman's column appears on Page 3A in the main section on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. He also writes for Neon on Fridays. Email him at email@example.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.


text:
"The first step in this divine place, Al-Aaizah, was transformative in itself. I went to the madrasah to register for the two year program, but ended up registering for the six years Alimah program when I experienced the welcoming environment and the cooperation and unconditional love of the staff. The teachers are dedicated and selfless and ensure that we are always comfortable in the madrasah space and in our studies. The essence of tranquillity and barakahs of the place and books is felt seeping into your soul. The books taught are extraordinary and magical, leaving behind a very strong sense of spirituality and emotional well-being. Each day is a step towards enlightenment, with pleasant and mystifying things happening, each carrying a hikmah within. The positive influence of teachings and the learnings here has been extremely beneficial for my self-development in the light of my deen and dunya."
– Umme Roman, 2nd Year Student, Alimah Program
"Beyond everything else, the madrasah has helped me correct myself, my deeds, my approach towards life and to connect to my Creator. I feel spiritually heeled and calm. Madrasah Al-Aaizah has, no doubt, become my second home. The general perception of a madrasah is a place where extremely strict rules and orthodox methods of teaching are followed. However, Madrasah Al-Aaizah is nothing like that. My life changing association with the madrasah began a year ago and I've always seen the teachers being very patient, compassionate and so keen on imparting knowledge to their students that they go out of their way to give extra classes. At Madrasah Al-Aaizah, I have met such fabulous women who I wouldn't have met otherwise. Although we might all be of different ages, but we share a deep bond and understanding that is incomparable to worldly friendships."
– Somia Rizwan, Student, 1st Year, Essentials Program
"Attending a bayan by Shaykh Azhar Iqbal db at Madrasah Al-Aaizah was a life changing experience for me and I have been hooked since then. Whatever the accommodation of the madrasah is, the learning space is always the heart. Adab of books, love for Allah SWT and our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, importance of sohbah, is what Madrasah Al-Aaizah is all about. Besides being interested in imparting true and sacred knowledge of ilm of deen, our teachers focus heavily on the purification of the heart and inner reform, with sincere affection to drive their students closer to ALLAH SWT. All this equips you with the sweetness of dhikr, a taste incomparable to anything. The reason behind providing such a strong foundation is to produce women who can not only talk the talk but walk the talk. I am truely grateful that Allah swt blessed me with such an opportunity."
– Sarah Saleem, Advanced Program graduate of Madrasah Al-Aaizah and current teacher
"Getting enrolled in the short Fundamentals Program, was not only a life changing experience for me but it altered my entire perception towards life in general and helped me understand that the actual purpose of life is to prepare ourselves for the life hereafter. My interest in self-development as a Muslim and studying the ilm of our deen was so awakened that I am now enrolled in longer diploma course, the Essentials Program, at Madrasah Al-Aaizah and can safely say that it has become an essential part of my life."
– Rubina, Student, Fundamentals Program & 1st Year, Essentials Program
"In order to get first class Islamic education, Madrasah Al-Aaizah was the perfect place to start with. Studying here has been the best decision I ever made. The madrasah facilities are impeccable, incredibly organized, and the teachers are highly qualified, responsive, easy to communicate with, and very helpful. My 4 years at Madrasah Al-Aaizah as an Advanced Program student have allowed me to reassess the priorities in my life and work for the ultimate success in the hereafter."
– Amber Zahid, Advanced Program graduate of Madrasah Al-Aaizah and current teacher
"The entire concept of giving higher level Islamic education to girls and women with domestic or other academic obligations is novel, but Madrasah Al-Aaizah has proved that it can be successfully done and a second chance to acquire the ilm of deen and transform their lives and live it according to Quran and Sunnah can be given to those occupied with households or worldly education."
– Najia Abdul Shakoor, Student, 2nd Year, Advanced Program


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text:
May 25 7:30 pm
Chad Harris
How the Analysis of Light Led to a New Worldview
The Co-Emergence of Depth Psychology and Quantum Mechanics and the Corresponding Jupiter-Uranus and Uranus-Pluto Cycles
This talk will explore the synchronistic relationship between the Jupiter-Uranus and Uranus-Pluto planetary cycles and the correlations to the major breakthroughs and discoveries in the history of quantum mechanics and depth psychology. We will investigate the underlying principles of quantum field theory and how they are not only coherent with the astrological perspective but also illuminate an intelligible framework for understanding essential aspects of how the human psyche participates in the archetypal nature of reality. Is archetypal astrology a neutral language informing both psyche and matter? No quantum mechanics background necessary. The discussion will be tailored for an astrological audience.
Chad Harris has been studying astrology since 1995. His astrological focus centers around understanding the nature of humanity's participation in archetypal phenomena with a particular focus on the epistemological and ontological consequences for our understanding of reality. Ie,. How and why does astrology work and what does it say about who we are? Chad is an assistant to Richard Tarnas at CIIS, a contributing author to Archai: The Journal of Archetypal Cosmology, and a professional counseling astrologer since 2008.
We so hope you will be able to join us!
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text: Arthritis Treatment Print Cytokines and How They Work By Carol Eustice Updated June 25, 2019 Product Disclosure Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Terry Vine/Getty Images More in Arthritis Treatment Biologics Methotrexate Pain Relief Causes & Risk Factors Living With Support & Coping Joint Pain Rheumatoid Arthritis Gout Ankylosing Spondylitis Diagnosis Symptoms Osteoarthritis More Arthritis Types & Related Conditions Psoriatic Arthritis View All Cytokines serve as molecular messengers between cells. Cytokines are proteins that are produced by cells. With regard to arthritis, cytokines regulate various inflammatory responses. Cytokines interact with cells of the immune system in order to regulate the body's response to disease and infection, as well as mediate normal cellular processes in the body. Types of Cytokines Cytokines are diverse, meaning they are not all alike. Cytokines serve various functions in the body: colony stimulating factors (stimulate the production of blood cells)growth and differentiation factors (function primarily in the development, tissue maintenance, and repair)immunoregulatory and proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., interferons, interleukins, and TNF-alpha that function in the immune system) While "cytokines" is an umbrella term that includes all kinds, there are more specific names given to cytokines based on either the type of cell that makes them or the action they have in the body: Lymphokines (made by lymphocytes)Monokines (made by monocytes)Chemokines (associated with chemotactic actions)Interleukins (made by one leukocyte but act on other leukocytes) How Cytokines Work The immune system is complex—different types of immune cells and proteins do different jobs. Cytokines are among those proteins. Explaining how cytokines work is difficult. It's a lesson in cell physiology. But, to understand inflammation, you must understand the role that cytokines play. Cytokines are released by cells into the circulation or directly into tissue. The cytokines locate target immune cells and interact with receptors on the target immune cells by binding to them. The interaction triggers or stimulates specific responses by the target cells. Overproduction of Cytokines Overproduction or inappropriate production of certain cytokines by the body can result in disease. For example, it has been found that interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are produced in excess in rheumatoid arthritis where they are involved in inflammation and tissue destruction. Biologic Drugs Are Cytokine Inhibitors Biologic drugs have been developed to inhibit IL-1 or TNF-alpha. Kineret (anakinra) was developed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and works by inhibiting the binding of IL-1 to its receptor. TNF-alpha inhibitors (also called TNF blockers) bind TNF and prevent TNF from attaching to cell surface receptors. Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade (infliximab), Humira (adalimumab), Simponi (golimumab), and Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) are TNF blockers. Actemra (tocilizumab) binds IL-6. More biologic drugs are in development. Study results from a pivotal Phase 3 study of sarilumab (named SARIL-RA-TARGET), a human antibody against the IL-6 receptor, revealed the drug met both its primary endpoints of improvement in signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and improvements in physical function. Sarilumab binds with high affinity to the IL-6 receptor, blocking the binding of IL-6 and disrupting the cytokine-mediated inflammatory signaling. However, on October 31, 2016, the FDA rejected sarilumab based on deficiencies they discovered during an inspection of the manufacturing process. Once corrections are made, Regeneron and Sanofi intend to resubmit for approval in 2017. In the meantime, on February 1, 2017, Health Canada approved the drug under the name, Kevzara (sarilumab). A Word From Verywell While cytokines seem like a complex subject, it is essential to understanding the inflammatory process which is at the core of inflammatory types of arthritis. We know that there are both proinflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The proinflammatory cytokines play a role in the development of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The anti-inflammatory cytokines are actually inflammatory cytokine antagonists. There is evidence to suggest that chemokines are involved in initiating pain, as well as in the persistence of pain. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Cytokines. BioBasics. 4/24/2006. Growth Factors and Cytokines. Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. Edition 12. Published by the Arthritis Foundation. McInnes I. and Schett G. Cytokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Nature Immunology. June 2007 Regeneron and Sanofi Present Results from Pivotal Phase 3 Study of Sarilumab at American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting. Regeneron. November 8, 2015. Zhang, J-M et al. Cytokines, Inflammation and Pain. International Anesthesiology Clinics. Spring 2007. Continue Reading


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Satisfy your inner naturalist by visiting the Santa Elena reserve and experience some of the most diverse species of flor and fauna in Costa Rica!
Walk through the beautifully stunning Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve with an experienced guide who will be able to point out the many different diverse specie in the reserve that live there! Being high up in the Monteverde Mountains, you will be able to experience and see for yourself the absolutely breathtaking views.
4 hours
Pick Up Time: 7:00 am
Difficulty: Moderate
Minimum 2 people
After you book your experience, you will receive a confirmation email from us confirming that your payment went through. You will then be connected directly to the tour operator, in case you have any further questions. We are also happy to answer any questions about the tour, or travel in general in your country of destination.


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There is something I must confess.
Well, I was...
A couple of Saturdays ago, Jade, my cousin, met me at King's Cross after she finished work to catch out train to the North, on our way to Leeds festival!
We arrived in Doncaster late and were met by my uncle Anthony and Eddie who kindly put us up for the night. After some Northern fish & chips and exterminating a couple of spiders from our room, we woke up feeling fresh and ready for a festival.
We had a day pass for the Sunday, thanks to my festival guru Lucy, where the Red Hot Chilli Peppers would be headlining.
The consensus from everyone I asked about what to take to a festival was all pretty much the same: not a lot.
Wellies, shorts and a portable phone charger. Oh, and baby wipes (essential).
As is compulsory when we see my wonderful uncle, we had a mini photo session. Not least because I always like taking ten thousand photos to document my life, but because my dear uncle is a photographer, did you know?
I'd like to say I follow in his footsteps, but he is ten million times better!
I always like to pick his brain when I see him, as he is a fountain of knowledge and has captured some pretty incredible moments. Check his work out here Robling Photography or his Facebook Page, all I ask is that if you work with him you mention his favourite niece (BIG GRIN).
We had heard terrible rumours of awful mud baths at the festival site with Eddie giving us regular updates from the news and so forth. Even Lucy text me to say "It's awful here. Mud everywhere. Avoid if you can".
Avoid? Oh hell no! We were prepared for the mud, this is what we came for!
As we were getting ready, Jade presented me with the most wonderful surprise.
Can you guess what it is?
My wonderful, amazing, beautiful flower crown.
I was gobsmacked when she presented this to me.
"Where did you buy this Jadey? It's amazing. I love it!" - I said.
"Buy it? No, I made it" - she replied. My jaw dropped.
"You made it! But how did you know I liked them?"
"Pinterest. You seem to always pin photos of girls with flower crowns in their hair, so I thought I'd make you one for the festival".
I could've cried. That's why Pinterest is so amazing! I wasn't even dropping hints, but maybe I should start pinning photos of Chanel Handbags and see what happens...
It's true, I have been pining flower crowns they are just so beautiful and romantic right? Check out my garden fairy board on Pinterest here.
Jadey is a very talented florist, but I never knew she could make something so beautiful.
A mixture of fake and real flowers, I was all set to go!
Anthony & Eddie kindly dropped us into Leeds to drop our stuff off at the hotel. There was a festival vibe in the city with tons of people wearing muddy wellies, glitter in their hair, shorts and colourful outfits.
The bus transfer to Blenheim park seemed like the cheapest and most convenient way to get to the festival ground.
It was a rather long and tedious drive we just wanted to get there.
We wouldn't want to disappoint our fathers.
We arrived expecting the worse, but there was no mud.
What was everyone talking about?
We walked through the mud-less guest campsite and were temporarily optimistic about going in to the main arena.
Leeds, we are here for you!
Then we were greeted by the mud.
Serious mud.
No, but serious slushy slimey mud...
This is why you wear shorts to a festival and not trousers. You can wipe the mud off your legs, but they will stick to your trousers foreverrrrr.
Or until you bung them in the washing machine.
We sloshed our way through into various different tents. Bands playing to willing crowds who didn't care about the mud. It was all about the music and that's what I loved.
There was a buzz in the air and I was drunk with the atmosphere.
This particular tent had Lany playing. An uber cool band from LA, with Californian laid back tones to their tracks.
I can imagine listening to their music at the beach or a rooftop pool party please. Not to mention the cute lead singer with floppy hair and the hot drummer.
It was warm and humid and nothing beats the sound of live music.
We moved into the BBC Radio 1/NME Stage to catch a floor thumping, crowd jumping performance from Sigma.
Banging tunes, colourful lights and absolute crowd pleasers.
We stayed in the Radio 1 tent for most of the afternoon, only nipping out to grab drinks.
Two at a time, as the queues were way to long.
It was rather annoying the food stalls didn't sell any alcohol whatsoever. They could've sold a cheeky beer here and there, that would've gone down a treat.
We were both blown away by Jack Garratt. I have heard him on Radio 1 (he's on like all the time) and everyone raves about him but I never got it.
Until I saw him live.
My god, that boy is talented!
He takes the stage by himself. It's just him surrounded by a semi-circle of instruments and he plays and sings them all live: drums, piano and guitar. He gets lost in the music and his lyrics and everybody just watches him in awe. I am mesmerized.
He is like a mini Ed Sheeran, who Jadey & I saw live at Wembley last year, and he just captivates the audience.
I am in love with how down to earth Jack Garratt still is and how much talent he doesn't know he has.
Watch out for Jack, he is about to take over the world.
People were friendly, stopping and talking to us, complementing our outfits, saying they loved my crown, parting the way the get by, asking if we wanted our picture taken - am I still in England? Or is the North just different?
It was like we were all a community brought together by the music and the mud.
Kimono H&M | Similar here | | Similar here
Black top from H&M | Similar here | Similar here
Frayed denim shorts Zara| Similar here
Imagine Dragons were playing on the main stage so we trudged through the river of mud to the other side of the camp.
Knee-deep in mud.
I'm on top of the world, Demons, Warriors, Radioactive... so many hits which I knew all the words too.
A few hours in and I already needed my power bank. We all know the batteries on the iPhone don't last, let's hope the iPhone 7 has longer battery life.
The lead singer of Imagine Dragons had an insane voice and was a perfect live performer, not to mention had a very good torso (WINK). We didn't mind staring at him rocking out the stage with his shirt off (WINK).
I was amazed at how many compliments I got for my flower crown. Paloma Faith I was nicknamed.
I have such a talented cousin, but she doesn't always believe it!
She has a new flower stall on Southbank, in front of the Swan Pub (next to Shakespeare's Globe) in London. She caters for events, weddings, bouquets, restaurant decorations, any sort of Christmas decorations and now festivals!
She is insanely creative and could do with some more love as she has only just started. Check her out (and like if you are feeling generous) on Facebook and on Instagram.
The main attraction for the evening were the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. They had the biggest crowd of the whole weekend and it quite doesn't surprise me.
The only problem with a huge crowd and lots of mud is little short asses like me can't see the stage above the crowd. The more I tried jump or stand on tip toes the more I sank into the mud. Jadey narrated their performance to me but eventually we made our way to the back and (finally) bumped into Lucy!
She was looking all important in her yellow rain jacket and radio ear-piece like she was running the place, which she pretty much was.
We only caught here for a few minutes but she will be back in London soon so we can play.
We finished with a bang!
I guess you could say I'm no longer a festival virgin but I still haven't had the full experience of camping for the weekend. But with all that mud? I'm kind of glad we didn't.
The only let down of the entire day was catching the bus back to Leeds. We waited for 3 hours to get on the bus. There was no clear lines, no staff to support, no clear barriers and everyone was starting to get pissed off. Eventually people stampeded towards the buses which could have resulted in a real big accident, especially as there were kids around too. Very poor management on this front.
Have you been to a festival? What was it like? Let me know in the comments below :)


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BuildingChurch.net - 50% Tools for building up the body of Christ: an online spiritual gifts inventory (Gifted2Serve), personal ministry profile (Find Your Place), spiritual disciplines, worship, church growth/health, architecture, and more. URL: http://BuildingChurch.net Category: Personal Growth > General
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Calvary Baptist Church Awana - 50% Building new lives one person at a time. URL: http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/ Category: Family/Individual > Kids' Ministries
Calvary Chapel Jesus Film Outreach - 50% Ministry Goals 1) To expand the awareness and distribution of the Jesus film, whether across the street or around the world 2) Invite the churches to go on their own Jesus film showings 3) Use the resources of the sending church for film team funding, di URL: http://ccjfo.com Category: Ministry Outreach > Missionary Ministries
Calvary Missionary Church - 50% Calvary missionary church is a full gospel church in Pontiac, MI, 1361 Giddings Rd., Pontiac, MI 48340. URL: http://www.calvarymissionarychurch.org Category: Ministry Outreach > Churches
Campground Ministry - 50% We no longer attend bluegrass festivals, however, our ministry of leading souls to Jesus continues along with our intercessory prayer ministry based from our home and in our church. We are "Ambassadors for Christ." URL: http://campgroundministry.homestead.com Category: The Arts > Music
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Borderlands is many things, but it's mostly about one thing: pointing your gun at an enemy and firing bullets at it until it dies. You do it again until there's nobody left onscreen, then move to another area and repeat. It encourages a Diablo-like mentality, tossing you into lightning-fast gameplay loops of anticipation, action and reward. As you earn better loot from enemies and chests, level up, equip specialized grenades, shield mods and tweak your skills, the shooting spectacle gets faster and flashier. You kill more efficiently, from long-range with sniper rifles, with sprays of acid-coated SMG bullets and with thundering blasts from fire shotguns. With Borderlands 2, developer Gearbox wants to add even more ways to play.
A big part of that is an overhaul of the class system. The four classes from the original game still appear in Borderlands 2, but they're not playable. They're around for story reasons, but you'll be wielding weaponry as one of four new or reimagined classes. Take Maya, the Borderlands 2 Siren, for instance. It's a returning class, but with completely different functionality.
While every class uses guns to burn, shock and blow up enemies, every class does so with the aid of a unique primary action skill. This skill essentially defines the class, and can be modified in dramatic ways. The phasewalking of the original Siren has been replaced with something that sounds similar but really isn't: phaselocking. The phaselock ability is the first earned in the Siren's skill tree, allowing her to bind an enemy from range in a kind of energy bubble. At its most basic level that has a few advantages. First, it takes an enemy out of a fight, providing a degree of crowd control. If there's an especially irritating monster that you or your co-op group would rather freeze in time in order to clean up the rest of the battlefield first, phaselock it and return to shooting it after the enemy horde has been thinned out. Second, it locks the enemy in place, useful for turning fast-moving creatures into easy targets.
By leveling Maya and earning more skill points, you can customize the advantages of phaselocking. Paul Hellquist, creative director at Gearbox, explained more. "She's got support trees so she's also kind of a mystical healer and she uses her ability to grant health bonuses to herself as well as the team. If the team or yourself kills the person who has been phaselocked then it grants health to the party. She can use her phaselock ability to revive another player, which is an exciting one so you don't even have to be near somebody to get them up – she can revive people from across the battlefield. Then in some of the other trees she has things that allow phaselock to affect more people. She has an ability that the phaselock sphere shoots out these additional projectiles that then lock those characters in their places as well so she can go into a more control-oriented role."
Though she'll have options for healing, support and crowd control roles, she'll also be able to deal out plenty of direct damage by investing skill points in the Cataclysm tree. "She has a skill called Helios," said Jeramy Cooke, art director at Gearbox, "and what happens there is, when a target gets Phaselocked you get a huge [area of effect] explosion and targets in that radius can get set on fire." Hellquist added that the decisions you make with skill point allocation also affect the visual appearance of the phaselock ability, so if you were to join someone else's game and observe their phaselock, you'd have an idea about their skill build, like how armor sets in some MMOs give away class specializations.
In terms of what phaselocking is like mechanically, you highlight an enemy with a cursor and initiate the phaselock. It's not a projectile attack, so you don't need to lead targets to hit them or anything like that. Then affected targets hover above the ground for the duration of the effect. "We had considered doing like homing projectiles," said Hellquist, "but it reduced the player's ability to actually choose exactly who they wanted to take care of, so it lost a lot of the strategy because the homing projectile would just kind of find someone and you were like 'I didn't want this stupid skag pup, I needed the badass gone.'"
Paul Hellquist pointed out that phaselocking can serve the additional purpose of marking a target, which tends to be useful in situations where especially lethal enemies should be focus-fired into oblivion. To help with this, the phaselock effect can be modified to add additional bonuses to the affected target. In one build after learning a skill called Wreck, according to Hellquist, "while you have an enemy Phaselocked you [get] an increased fire rate and damage with all gun types. So you throw the badass up in the bubble and now your SMG, which already had an outrageous fire rate, is just sending insane amounts of lead into this thing. It's one of my favorites."
Badass monsters are the equivalent of elite or veteran monsters in MMOs – generally they output higher damage and are able to absorb far more punishment before finally keeling over, and yield better rewards. Though you can use the phaselock on badasses, you won't be able to on bosses. "You definitely cannot phaselock bosses," said Hellquist, "although the Phaselock skill is still useful against bosses and will deal damage when you hit them. There's a neat little thing as well where we found that players were frustrated with accidentally wasting Phaselocks so we designed it such that if you attempt to Phaselock something and miss, you're skill immediately goes, like resets its cooldown so that you can have another chance to use it again and it works the same way against bosses. Although, if you successful deal damage it will expend the cooldown on it."
There's also the storyline of the new Siren. While it may not be as exciting as the many ways to kill things, Gearbox has pointed out that more substantial story development is a focus for Borderlands 2. "What we wanted to do with the Sirens this time around was to have a kind of a different flavor," said Cooke. "There's some Siren lore that says that there's only a certain number of Sirens around at any given time in our universe and we wanted them to all kind of have unique back stories. [Maya] knows a bit about where her power comes from. We kind of patterned her a little bit after Indiana Jones to some extent. You know, she's the adventurer, roving the universe trying to find the secrets of where she came from and what the Sirens are all about."
You'll certainly find a lot of guns in Borderlands 2 (somewhere in the vicinity of 87 bazillion multiplied by bazilliondier if the recent trailer is accurate, which it's not) and Gearbox has designed each skill tree so specific guns aren't best paired with certain classes. There will be exceptions, but in general, Gearbox didn't want to limit your gun selection with a specific class. "We sort of backpedalled on that from the first game," said Cooke. "We found that people really just wanted to be able to use the weapons they wanted to use. So we tried to be a little less like 'you really want to use this type of gun,' because inevitably someone would just take Brick and go get a sniper rifle and they just wanted to play that way. So we've opened the skill trees up a lot more so that people can access weapons that they want. Now there may be weapons that just harmonize better with certain skills but we're not really kind of forcing that whereas like, you know, here's a buff to this very specific class of weapon. We typically don't do a lot of that."
"This time around we want players to really explore our new guns," said Hellquist, "which have a staggering amount of variety. We want the player to have the fun RPG experience of determining, you know, the min/max area of the best weapons for this class with this build are these types, whether it's this brand of pistols or this brand of assault rifles or whatever. We really want that to be something that players explore instead of sort of saying 'hey, go use the assault rifles all the time.'"
You can actually see even finer detail in the Siren's skill tree if you watch the release date trailer, as the Siren's skill set is highlighted starting at 1:17 of the video.


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