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The Daily Examen: A Beautiful Prayer of Gratitude.
About 400 years ago, Saint Ignatius Loyola developed a beautiful gratitude prayer practice called the Daily Examen that's just as inspiring today as it was during his time.
It's a simple practice, but amazingly powerful. Done daily over the course of the year will bring tremendous benefit and insight to your life.
Read how to unlock the joy & fullness of life in my FREE bestselling eBook.
The Examen is an easy, five-step process you can use at the end of your day. Find a quiet place free of interruptions and get into a calm, relaxed state either sitting or lying down, and complete the following five steps.
The Daily Examen
Become aware of God's presence.
Look back on the day and note the times you felt God was with you, assisting.
Feel God with you now and ask to become more conscious of God's presence.
It may be helpful to repeat a phrase like, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46v10), or any other prayer that connects you to a Higher Power.
Look back with gratitude.
Review the past 24 hours and notice what you're thankful for. What happened to make you feel blessed?
Take a moment to give thanks to God for providing you with these blessings.
Take an honest look at your day.
Note everything that happened over the course of the past 24 hours, your interactions with others, and your emotions.
We often rush though each day, not pausing to reflect. Doing a deep, honest reflection of the past day causes us to learn more about ourselves and improve our future actions.
Choose one part of the day, and pray about it.
From doing your review, you might find something God is directing you to work on - an emotion, a relationship that needs mending, an unpleasant situation.
Pray for it, ask God's guidance to resolve it.
Pray for tomorrow.
Ask God to guide you tomorrow, leading you to your highest purpose. Send love and light to tomorrow, praying for wisdom and strength.
Feel deep gratitude, knowing God has already answered your prayer and tomorrow is already blessed.
Take some deep breaths, and know that all is well.
Download a free PDF copy of The Daily Examen Gratitude Prayer >>
This is such a beautiful prayer to end your day - I made a PDF copy of it for you to keep on your nightstand so you don't have to look on a screen to read the instructions.


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Goededag to all Dutch in Bangalore! Would you like to meet fellow Dutch expats in Bangalore? Would you like to get insider suggestions from other Dutch, e.g. where in Bangalore your hometown team's next match is shown on TV or where to get stamppot?
We would like to invite you to become a member of InterNations Bangalore. As a member of InterNations, you will have access to an active group of Dutch expats, hailing from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and all regions of the Netherlands.
Attend our monthly events and activities and join various interest-based groups to get to know like-minded expatriates and fellow Dutch in Bangalore.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow Dutch in our Bangalore expat forums.
With InterNations, Dutch expats in Bangalore are able to find both the help they need as well as lots of valuable information. The "Silicon Valley Of India" offers so much for expats to explore - our community helps you enjoy your stay to the fullest.
Our Bangalore community is also lively and welcoming offline. The InterNations Ambassadors host regular get-togethers and a range of expat activities, e.g. a chic dining experience in Bangalore's trendiest restaurant or a get-away with fellow Dutch expats to discover southern states like Kerala, Goa or Tamil Nadu. These activities make it easy for you to get to know other expats from Netherlands in your local community and meet Dutch in India in a comfortable setting. If this sounds interesting to you, simply sign up for membership – we are looking forward to welcoming you among our Dutch living in Bangalore!

subset: commoncrawl


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White Ibis
The American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a species of bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae. It is found from the mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast of the United States south through most of the New World tropics. This particular ibis is a medium-sized bird with an overall white plumage, bright red-orange down-curved bill and long legs, and black wing tips that are usually only visible in flight. Males are larger and have longer bills than females. The breeding range runs along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, and the coasts of Mexico and Central America. Outside the breeding period, the range extends further inland in North America and also includes the Caribbean. It is also found along the northwestern South American coastline in Colombia and Venezuela. Populations in central Venezuela overlap and interbreed with the Scarlet Ibis. The two have been classified by some authorities as a single species.
Their diet consists primarily of small aquatic prey, such as insects and small fishes. Crayfish are its preferred food in most regions; however, it can adjust its diet according to the habitat and prey abundance. It is a tactile, non-visual forager, whose main foraging behavior is probing with its beak at the bottom of shallow water to feel form, and to capture its prey.
During the breeding season, the American White Ibis gathers in huge colonies near water. Pairs are predominantly monogamous and both parents care for the young, although males tend to engage in extra-pair copulation with other females to increase their reproductive success. Males have also been found to pirate food from unmated females and juveniles during the breeding season.
Human pollution has affected the behavior of the American White Ibis via an increase in the concentrations of methylmercury, which is released into the environment from untreated waste. Exposure to methylmercury alters the hormone levels of American White Ibis, affecting their mating and nesting behavior and leading to lower reproduction rates.
Photographer Les Ruthven at Woodland Park


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Home > The Edge > Returning to Sports After a Concussion
Published on September 19, 2016
After someone has suffered a concussion, how do you know when he or she is ready to get back into the game? The Concussion Care Network utilizes the ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) software as one assessment tool to help healthcare providers determine an athlete's ability to return to play after suffering a concussion.
ImPACT is a widely used testing program that's become a standard tool across high school, collegiate, and professional sports. It measures many aspects of cognitive functioning in athletes, including:
After a concussion, the ImPACT test measures a player's symptoms, verbal and visual memory, and processing and reaction speed. Information from testing can help providers appropriately determine when players can be returned to school and sport.
"Concussion education is especially important because Wisconsin State law requires any child in an organized athletic program suspected of a concussion to be removed from play even if they say they feel OK to continue playing," says Erin O'Tool, MD, who oversees the Concussion Care Network. "To return-to-play, the child must be evaluated and cleared by a health care professional. We provide baseline testing, concussion evaluation and management, and guidance for patients and their head injuries."
If you're concerned that your child has sustained a concussion, seek care by visiting an Emergency Department near you or scheduling an appointment with the Concussion Care Network.
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More information about the Hexagon Purus product range can be obtained here.
If you are missing certain documents or need more information, we will gladly help you in person. We look forward to your phone call or your written enquiry.


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Brandman Receives Grant from Fletcher Jones Foundation
Grant will lead to Scholarship opportunities
IRVINE, Calif. (October 27, 2011) – Brandman University's School of Nursing and Health Professions has received a gift of $350,000 from the Fletcher Jones Foundation in support of scholarships for promising students with financial need. This gift will be instrumental in enabling Brandman University nursing students to complete an advanced degree, achieve their professional goals, and contribute to the advancement of health care in our communities.
Renee McLeod, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions said, "The Fletcher Jones Foundation is really making a difference for the nursing community and ultimately our patients, who will receive better care from highly skilled nursing leaders and practitioners. The trend that I've been seeing is that the majority of potential students cite financial issues and the inability to leave their jobs to go back to school in this very difficult economic climate. Even when the outcome means an increase in income, they are unable to cover the tuition cost. This donation provides a real solution."
Support from the Fletcher Jones Foundation demonstrates a vote of confidence in Brandman's innovative School of Nursing and Health Professions, which was established in 2009. All Brandman University nursing faculty have doctorates and current real world experience with established practices and state of the art technology. The curriculum is evidence-based, which trains students for the job and narrows the gap between educational theory and a vital, evolving healthcare practice.
Along with programs leading to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master's in Health Administration (MHA) and Health Risk and Crisis Communication (MS), Brandman offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for nurse practitioners in five critical areas –adult geriatric primary and acute care, mental health, neonatal and pediatric care. The scholarship is particularly relevant given new recommendations by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to double the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020, and a recommendation by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to establish the DNP as the entry point to advanced practice nursing by 2015.
"Fletcher Jones is an important foundation and their support means so much for Brandman. In the current economy, philanthropic contributions have declined significantly. To be granted such a generous first-time gift from the Fletcher Jones Foundation speaks volumes to the future of our nursing program," said Linda Dixon, Associate Vice Chancellor of Advancement at Brandman University.
All Brandman University programs are specifically designed for adults. Working RNs can explore educational options at Brandman University that will include an online nursing component, short immersion sessions on campus and a state-of-the-art immersive simulation lab that offers real world application of the latest technology. The flexibility and convenience of Brandman's DNP program is further emphasized by clinical practice internships arranged near the student's work or home. For more information about nursing programs at Brandman call (800) 746-0379 or visit www.brandman.edu/nursing.
About The Fletcher Jones Foundation
The Foundation was established in 1969 by Fletcher Jones, Co-Founder of Computer Sciences Corporation, a global leader in providing technology for businesses. Following the untimely death of Fletcher Jones in 1972, the bulk of his personal estate endowed an independent private foundation which bears his name. The Foundation's primary mission is the support of private, independent colleges and universities in California.
About Brandman University
Brandman University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. As part of the Chapman University System, Brandman blends a legacy of academic excellence with innovative curriculum and strong support services designed for students with busy schedules. The university offers 50+ undergraduate, graduate, credential and certificate programs across its schools of arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and health. Brandman serves 12,000 students annually with programs available online and at 26 campuses throughout California and Washington. The university's online programs consistently rank among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. www.Brandman.edu
Become a Student
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Written by Alexis Dobranowski, Communications Advisor at Sunnybrook.
Exercise. It may seem like the opposite of what you should do if you have cancer and are suffering from pain, nausea or cancer-related fatigue.
However, evidence-based research shows that people living with cancer can and should keep exercising or add some physical activity into their lives. Sunnybrook has introduced new exercise guidelines for people with cancer based on recommendations from Cancer Care Ontario.
"Exercise can give you more energy, help you sleep better, make your muscles stronger and improve your mood," said Leslie Gibson, occupational therapist at Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre.
Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation decrease strength and endurance, sometimes making it hard to complete day-to-day tasks. Participating in physical activity before surgery, or during and after chemotherapy or radiation can help. Being physically active helps keep your muscles strong and can maintain or improve your fitness level. And, it releases endorphins, brain chemicals that are known to improve mood and lift energy levels.
"I feel that endorphin release every time I drag myself to the gym, and then feel better and more energetic after I exercise," said Joanna Mascarenhas, physiotherapist at Odette.
"Cancer is now a chronic disease for many people," she added. "We now know that following the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of 30 minutes of physical activity a day can improve quality of life for people living with cancer, and for those without cancer, too."
Leslie and Joanna even prescribe exercise to some patients before their cancer surgery.
"We are finding patients who comply have shorter hospital stays. They are stronger going in, so they are stronger going out," Leslie said.
For cancer-related fatigue, exercise is the No. 1 prescription.
"We want patients to balance rest and activity. Expending some energy actually makes your rest-time more restful," Joanna said. "So, while it seems backwards, being more active actually helps with the fatigue."
So if you are newly diagnosed with cancer, undergoing treatment or post-treatment, here are Leslie and Joanna's tips for adding physical activity into your life.
Talk to your health-care provider before starting any new exercise routine.
Start slow.
Set a realistic goal and build from there. Try shorter bouts of exercise, like 10 minutes three times a day. You should be able to talk throughout the activity -- that's called "moderate intensity." If you are working so hard you can't carry on a conversation, that's too hard. Slow it down.
Listen to your body.
"If you are in pain or out of breath, that's your body's way of telling you to take a break," Joanna said. Don't forget to warm up (with a slow, short walk) and cool down (another slow walk).
Anything is better than nothing.
"Look at your day," Leslie said. "Where are the opportunities for you to add in a bit of physical activity?" This doesn't necessarily mean full-blown, hit-the-gym-for-hours exercise. Park a little farther away. Take the stairs instead of the elevator if you are going up one flight. Walk to Starbucks instead of taking the car. This is called "lifestyle-based physical activity."
It's never too late.
"No matter your age or the stage of your diagnosis, adding some physical activity into your day can help you," Joanna said. Improved strength, lower pain levels, better balance: these are all positive outcomes of exercise. Here are more.
Do what you love.
Choose an activity that's enjoyable for you. If you don't like running, don't make running your goal! If you love being out in your garden, do that instead.
Find a buddy or a group.
For many people, exercising with a friend can help you stay motivated and make your new routine more sustainable. In many cities, there are free, supervised exercise groups for people living with cancer.
"These groups can help you stay motivated and help support you as there are other people on the cancer journey too," Joanna said. "Plus, the classes are supervised by cancer exercise experts, so if you have questions or are nervous to get started, there's support."
Learn more about living with cancer with advice from Sunnybrook experts at health.sunnybrook.ca
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Frank J Cilluffo, director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute of George Washington University, has told the United States Congress that the endemic corruption found in every level on India's law enforcement apparatus is a major impediment to India-US counterterrorism cooperation.
Cilluffo, testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, which convened a hearing on US-India Counterterrorism Cooperation: Deepening the Partnership, told lawmakers, "While we have made great strides in expanding our relationship with India in the counterterrorism space, obstacles to increased cooperation remain."
Cilluffo said despite the plethora of anti-terrorism initiatives between Washington and Delhi, as well as a host of other mechanisms for cooperation, "a trust deficit encompasses the US-India relationship."
"The US relationship with Pakistan as well as Indian perceptions of the US withholding intelligence on Islamic militants in Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a source of distrust, one that prevents deeper cooperation between our two nations," he said.
But more specifically, Cilluffo noted, "One aspect of the Indian security structure that deters cooperation is endemic corruption found in every level of India's law enforcement apparatus."
"Corruption prevents front-line police officers from fulfilling their duty effectively as they often concede to bribes and regional policies, rather than focusing on community policing and accurate crime reporting," he said.
Cilluffo said, "Another obstacle to greater intelligence sharing between the US and India is a notion that pervades the US intelligence community regarding the Soviet KGB's close relationship with the Indian intelligence structure, the Research and Analysis Wing."
He claimed, "Vestiges of the Cold War represent a reality that rightfully leave many in the US counterterrorism community hesitant to engage in deeper involvement until further assurances are made that the information can be appropriately protected."
"While high-level security talks are important, the breakdown of barriers will only occur if regular exchanges between mid-level security services officials are encouraged," he said.
Cilluffo acknowledged that enhanced cooperation with India would necessarily complicate US cooperation with Pakistan, but argued, "The truth is that American-Pakistani cooperation is erratic, and varies based on the political climate and bureaucratic interests in Islamabad, with attitudes and actions varying between and across agencies."
Cilluffo was quick to add that despite some of these recent promising developments, "the US cannot allow its national security to be held hostage by nearly two decades of unfulfilled expectations in Pakistan."
"It is vital that the United States now work to deepen America's cooperative relationships with India's internal security architecture to counter the terror threat that permeates and extends beyond the region," he said.
Congressman Ed Royce, California Republican and chairman of the Congressional Subcommittee, said, "I'd like to get to a point where our counterterrorism exchanges are just as high-profile, numerous and unprecedented as our combined military exercises".
Royce said, "Let's be clear: this is more than just helping a democratic ally. There are real, hard US interests at stake. Simply put, the militants targeting India are also targeting us."
He recalled how at a recent subcommittee hearing on the Future of Al Qaeda after bin Laden's death, many experts placed just as much importance on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba as any Al Qaeda affiliate. "LeT, India's mortal enemy, has gone global, with Western targets in its sights," he said.
The lawmaker, while acknowledging that "in the past decade, US relations with India have grown considerably," bemoaned that "we've hit a lull."
"Counterterrorism cooperation is a way to reinvigorate this relationship, and better protect America," Royce predicted.


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Problem Definition
Your client is a big financial services company in Germany that just implemented a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system. Its intention is to provide the leadership with a real time view into the organisation's sales channel.
Before the introduction of the CRM system the sales teams have maintained the client sales information in separate Excel spread sheets. This made it very complicated for the managers to have an overview of the latest information.
At the end of the fiscal year, all sales teams have to migrate their sales data into the new system. They want our advice regarding the necessary change management.
This case is made to be interviewer-led. Therefore the interviewer should guide the interviewee through the interview.
This is a Human Capital Case and therefore is slightly different than other "Strategy" cases. Here the focus is more on the approach needed to introduce the change and make it sustainable.
The questions in the big boxes should be read out and shared with the candidate.
The case should be carried out in a conversational format with hints and clues in order to push the candidate through the questions.
Detailed Solution
The following framework/structure provides an overview of the case:
I. Background
1. Who are the stakeholders and how would you communicate the change to them?
A good answer would include:
- Leadership, sales teams and the rest of the organisation
Communicate change:
- Find out what way of communication is preferred in the company.
- Identify a change introducer (leads one-on-one sessions)
- Describe how the helpdesk should be contacted.
- Create a central place for feedback.
- Use honest communication (describe both good and bad attributes)
- Generate excitement/engagement through a well-branded communications campaign (used by all communications/marketing)
- CEO Webcast announcing the change.
II. Issues
2. What could be other issues and how would you solve/address them?
- How can we make sure people know how to use the system?
- What is the benefit of the system to their users (if there is any)?
(if candidate has problems, use the buzz words "incentives"/"benefits")
- How do we know that we made the right decision in introducing this system?
A good answer would include:
- Training for sales teams and technical support.
- Design and implement incentives tied to Performance Management.
- Create success metrics.
III. Evaluations
3. How would you measure the success and what could you possibly do if management resists the change?
- How and in what time frame would you set goals for the outcome of the project?
- How would you respond if management refuses the change?
A good answer would include:
- Set measureable goals for the project, e.g.:
- 75% usage by the end of the project
- reduction of manual excel spread sheets by 50% within the first 3 months of the project.
- Show the management other projects that can now be tackled in order to improve company performance, as less time is being spent on maintaining the excel spread sheets.
IV. Conclusion
4. What is your final conclusion/synthesis of the provided information?
The main conclusion should be that:
- The change affects employees at all levels and there is a need to plan the introduction thoroughly.
- There should be training for users as well as supporters.
- The change should be positively advertised and provide some benefits for everybody.
- It is important to set goals and measure the success of the project.
Difficult Questions
Assume the system was implemented WITHOUT change management and it failed (was not adopted).
The team wants you to save the project.
What would you do?
Possible solutions:
- Analyse how the system was implemented.
- Try to get feedback about the reasons why it was not adopted (meetings, workshops, etc.). Let everybody know that their opinion is valued and the system will be changed according to the suggestions.
- Start a new, better branded campaign introducing the changes that will be made to the system in order to make it more adapted.
More questions to be added by you, interviewer!
At the end of the case, you will have the opportunity to suggest challenging questions about this case (to be asked for instance if the next interviewees solve the case very fast).


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What's it about?
Lois and Carly-May are just twelve years old when they're abducted, driven across the country, and imprisoned in a remote, isolated hunting lodge for two months. That summer, under the watchful gaze of their kidnapper, they form a bond which will never be broken . . .
Decades later, both Lois and Carly-May have built new lives and identities for themselves. Lois, a professor of literature, is shaken when an obsessive student reminds her of the man who kidnapped her, a man she saw shoot himself on the porch twenty years before.
Out in LA, Carly-May is drinking too much and watching her beauty-queen looks fade, clinging to the last remnants of a once-promising career as an actress. When she reads a shockingly familiar screenplay, she warily she takes a role she knows is based on events from her own life.
Increasingly haunted by the devastating experience that shaped both their lives, Lois and Carly-May are drawn together again in a world that both echoes and falsifies their beautiful, terrible story.
My thoughts
I'd seen this book doing the rounds on social media and was pleased to be accepted for a review copy from the publishers; many thanks. Unfortunately it just wasn't for me. It's a shame I didn't get on with it because it did have real potential.
The book is a kind of examination of the psychological impact of 'kidnapping'; a term I use lightly and the impact an experience like this has years after the fact. It would be easier for me to review this book as a list of unanswered questions because overall things just didn't add up.
>> I never understood the girl's behaviour and reactions; were they that far removed from their home lives that this was a better option? But they were twelve…how could they possibly have not been out of their minds about the situation they were in rather than sit back and behave like they were at summer camp? This was not survival instinct; this was ludicrous to be fair.
>> What were the kidnapper's motives and intentions? How did he pick the girls in the first place and why? This was never gotten to the bottom of.
>> What did Lois' stalker want and how did he know what he knew? In the bigger picture, would it really have mattered if he revealed his info anyway?
This is one of those books that would make a really good book club read because you could have a really good discussion thrashing out all the possibilities, answers and outcomes.
Don't go into this expecting a fast paced thriller…more like Swiss cheese…full of holes.
Connect with the author Maggie Mitchell


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This helps the student as they get:
- Process Your Admission right in your home town through online Application & online payment facility.
- Single Window Information Hub for multiple medical courses and universities.
- Opportunity of taking advice from experienced, unbiased and reliable counselor.
- Using our services you can not only smoother your admission process but also cut on process time and Cost involved to secure confirm admissions.
- Support in Hostel Accommodation, Opening bank account and other requirements
In fact, rather than anxiously waiting for the Medical admission in Karnataka via the COMDEK framework, students are more than willing to get MBBS admission through management quota in Karnataka.
We do admission under Discretionary Quota Like - NRI/Management Quota for various institutes and courses. Under this service we provide Direct Admission for various Medical Professional Courses in the institutes desired by the student. This helps the student as they can feel secured about getting admission in Medical course or college of their choice. They just have to visit once with all the documents meet the respective counselor and complete the formalities to enroll in the course on the same day.
Here is the information we need for on-the-spot decision.
- Completed Application for Admission – This can be done by collecting the respective college application from colleges office and subsequently filling it.
- Copy of Student's Most Recent educational certificates
- Passport Size photographs
- Copy of latest competitive exam attended (if necessary)
- Fees
- Letter of recommendation from EduCrunch Educational Services to the respective college / institute


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After the twins were born, my front and behind were not as they were prior to pregnancy. As I sit here eating 2 pieces of cake, I'm sourcing an exceptional product known as the Miraclesuit . This source may be a bit late in the summer but if you're still trying to figure out how to look and feel good in a swimsuit this season this product will assist you. You will look 10lbs lighter in 10 seconds! These bathing suits are a bit expensive but they seriously work. Note: it is not easy to get into them similar to SPANX since they work the same way. Last year, I picked up a purple and white polka dot Miraclesuit and had numerous compliments (I also felt that it held everything together).
Once you have your body back to the way you'd like – try out this line of swimwear Title Nine. This company sells clothes that fit women who have had kids and that are active. It's for the real woman. They also hold up well to chlorine, waves and children!
Tip: If you want to wear a bikini (but a bit nervous) – choose a bikini you love and then buy a matching rash guard to cover up.
Enjoy the sun!


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Hello Grand Lakers!
The fishing on Grand Lake has been really tough for the large mouth bass all winter. Basically, if your not fishing the Elk River area your lucky if you get a bite.
As I was out last weekend I was still seeing shad dying and people keep asking me what is wrong with the lake. Here is what I think…it might be right and might not, but it's what I think.
There is still a shad kill going on and that's never good on the fishing because as long as the shad keep dying the fishing will not be good. The fish don't need to look for food because the food (the dying shad) is coming to them.
So, until the shad kill is over (and don't worry about the shad kill, it's natural and happens every year) and the water warms up, which it is STARTING to do, the fishing will not get any better.
As we've gone later in this week, I'm starting to hear of a few largemouth being caught…so that's good.
I have been trying the sand bass but they are tough also. The Elk River – where a new lake record white bass was recently caught -was good until we got a little rain and the river got murky. So, until it warms up and the water clears up the sand bass will still be tough.
Now the good news…I have been catching crappie like they are going out of style! I've been cleaning anywhere from 40 to 50 per day and catch up to 100 a day depending on the wind because I am catching them deep.
Jerry Kroft has been catching a lot of catfish, and big cats at that!
The spoonbill are around the Sailboat Bridge and Grays Ranch area.
Call me, Tony Coatney at (918) 964-0049 to schedule your next fishing trip.
Until next time…Good Luck Fishing!
Note – All images courtesy of Tony Coatney.


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New Hanover Medical Group
Wrightsville Beach Family Medicine
Coastal Family Medicine
NHRMC Physician Specialists - Internal Medicine
Pender Primary Care
NHRMC MyChart
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Health Library
Contact Us (Email Form)
Learn more about making an appointment, or call us at 910-815-5190.
Throughout their lives, women need different types of specialized gynecologic care. Whether you are planning for childbirth or experiencing menopause, you can turn to us for expert care that helps you make the most of every stage.
Helping a woman be healthy before, during and after pregnancy is an important part of what we do. Since every pregnancy is different and each woman's needs are diverse, our practice offers you options to help you get the care you want. Not only do we have experienced obstetricians as part of our team, expert care is also provided by our certified nurse midwives. Our goal is to help you plan your family and your delivery so you can have the best birth experience possible.
Regular gynecologic exams are important for maintaining your health and discovering concerns at their earliest and most treatable stages. Our physicians and midwives offer ongoing care and testing and can help you manage menstrual and menopause symptoms. We also treat urogynecologic conditions such as incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
You, your doctors and New Hanover Regional Medical Center are unified through NHRMC Physician Group.
Access your secure personal health record, request an appointment, view lab results and email your doctor.
Meet our team of Obstetric and Gynecologic specialists and midwives.


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Greetings and Salutations, friends and family.
Lately I've been in some weird kind of photographer/adult/artist transition period and have spent abit of time the last 6 months analysing why I started taking photos, where I'm at with it and what I actually want to gain out of it all. I've taken some time off and slowed down a little, tried to block out the world and mental noise and worked out what's important. There's been alot of soul searching but I finally feel like it's time to push my career to the next level and approach it all with a more human touch and develop my skills as an artist now.
I know how to take a nice photo, that doesn't make me special, it's about the drive and motivation to take that photo and what I'm trying to say with that photo. It's so funny because in school I used to think photography was so stupid and wondered why they needed a whole class about it, you just click the button right?!? But as I've gotten older, I've realised it's not all about taking photos, its about the journey and connecting with people and saying something with your photos and the emotions and thoughts they invoke in the viewer.
I've been abit focused on the whole technical and learning side the last 7 years or so, and I won't ever stop learning, but I feel my creative desire expanding and I feel like I'm at a stage where I am finally finding my voice within photography. I guess the weird thing about being an artist is not really knowing what is going on and never being satisfied, it's about letting the universe take its course, but at the same time gaining the knowledge and being as prepared as possible, so you can take control where you can and guide yourself down the right path to achieve your goals.
There are so many positive things happening with the world, and they're all great, but I would love to start analysing some of the pressing social, moral and environmental issues, and exploring different ideas, points of view and try to encourage healthy discussion and positive change. So many issues that I want to explore and bring to light, to try and speak for people that might not necessarily have a voice or platform. I'm a firm believer in questioning everything and the saying "Beware of Artists! They mix with all classes of society and are therefore the most dangerous."
I've always been in a constant struggle with social media and wasting time and procrastinating on it, but still using it to keep in touch with people, I guess it's all about balance. The whole problem of social media is that it is not actually that social lol but you gotta move with the times and I guess social media is a large way of connecting with people these days, not the only way, but it does play a part. Thanks to all the people who supported me when I didn't reply, comment back or like, sorry I was busy being in a constant rush and trying to learn as much as I could about photography, as quick as I could. I'm going to try my best to engage and give you some meaningful photographs and stories from now on.
So after this long journey, it's time to take the next step and unveil my brand new website and logo, that represent me a little closer to where I am at in my career. It's a portfolio that showcases some of my favourite photos from the last 7 years and my style and direction of where my photography is headed. It was so hard to let go of alot of photos that I had personal attachments to, but I had to be subjective and it's time to move on to the next phase of my career. Quality over quantity.
This all sounds abit serious, so its time to end this lol. It really isn't all grim and serious, I'm excited to keep shooting your favourite rappers and DJ's around the world, awesome landscapes and all the random stuff I shoot, it's just time to put abit more creative vibes and thought into it and connect with people some more. So if you see me out, come says what's up, don't be afraid to write on my wall or inbox me, I feel like I've completed my photography apprenticeship and I'm ready to get back to life and create some meaningful photographs, reconnect with people and the world and be creative haha. Hopefully you can all enjoy and stick along for the ride :-)


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|View North from Burnt Knob, Kevin Kenny, Catskill Mountains, 2013
When I was a kid I spent my summers at a camp in the Catskills – perched on the side of a mountain, looking out across the
Hudson Valley
toward Connecticut and Massachusetts. Once a week I received mail, a small envelope from my grandmother, with a sentence or two about the current pet, news about the Japanese
beetles eating her roses, or the rhubarb pie she made for a neighbor. The world
seemed very far away, misty green and gold squares bordered by darker tree
lines, traced with slow-moving shadows from the fluffy clouds above.
The world is much closer now – insistently so. It hammers at me from the radio as I fold my laundry: Ebola,
Gaza, Yazidis, Boko Haram. It grabs my heart when
I check my email: a sobering update on persecution of Christians in Syria and Iraq, with requests for prayer,
financial and political support.
Checking weather.com in preparation for a Weed Warrior workday, I find myself confronted with more news: "The Real DeathValley: The Untold Story of Mass Graves and Migrant Deaths in South Texas."
From every direction, every device, we're asked to care about people we've never met, issues we don't understand, places we'll never go. Sign petitions, send money, call your congressman.
What do we do with what we know?
He describes "An Info-glut Culture" that leaves us feeling numb, quoting at length from a 2002 Harper's article by Thomas de Zengotita, The Numbing of the American mind: Culture as Anesthetic:
The moreness of everything ascends inevitably to a threshold in psychic life. A change of state takes place. The discrete display melts into a pudding, and the mind is forced to certain adaptations if it is to cohere at all.
When you . . . hear statistics about AIDS in
Africa, or see your 947th picture of a weeping fireman, you can't help but become fundamentally indifferent because you are exposed to things like this all the time, just as you are to the rest of your options. Over breakfast. In the waiting room. Driving to work. At the checkout counter. All the time. I know you know this already. I'm just reminding you.
Which is not to say you aren't moved. On the contrary, you are moved, often deeply, very frequently--never more so, perhaps, than when you saw the footage of the towers coming down on 9/11. But you are so used to being moved by footage, by stories, by representations of all kinds--that's the point. It's not your fault that you are so used to being moved, you just are.
So it's not surprising that you have learned to move on so readily to the next, sometimes moving, moment. It's sink or surf. Spiritual numbness guarantees that your relations with the moving will pass. And the stuffed screen accommodates you with moving surfaces that assume you are numb enough to accommodate them. And so on, back and forth. The dialectic of postmodern life.Garber suggests that the numbness we feel in the face of our info-glut culture leads us toward "a shrug of the mind and heart, whatever":
Sometimes playful, often cynical, the word itself is a window into the complexity of life; we feel overwhelmed in so many different ways all at once. How else to respond than with a heartfelt 'whatever'? . . .The Synchroblog topic this month is Connection – and that word appears regularly in Garber's "Vision of Vocation":
And yet there are ideas and issues that seem beyond 'whatever.' . . . The reality of pain and evil in this life requires a response that is more than the culture of whatever provides. . . Thoughtful, honest human beings wonder, knowing what I know, what am I going to do? To do nothing seems less than human, seems less than right.
What is "the connection between education and vocation"? (22)
"What is the relationship of ideas to life, of theories to practices, of knowledge to responsibility? Almost always, we assume a connection, that the one implies the other." (97)
How do we live in relationship to broken people, broken places, loving even when we see the flaws? "In every century and every culture there is an integral connection between knowing and doing, and it is most fully expressed in love. For glory or shame, we choose to live in love – or not." (135)
I'm still working my way through Garber's book, and still puzzling over how to stay engaged with needs both near and far away when the lure of "whatever" beckons.
Wondering how to encourage engagement in friends and family who say "Carol, you think too much."
"It's all hopeless, so why bother?"
We all have numbing behaviors, both symptoms and fuel to our disengagement:
Hours spent on games like Candy Crush, Angry Birds, FarmVille.
Evenings spent cruising Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram.
Darker addictions, like online gambling, pornography.
Withdrawal into work, food, shopping, TV.
In one of his closing chapters, Garber talks about "Learning to Live Proximately."
It is so very hard to keep at it, knowing what we know. Even our deepest hopes are hard, because in this now-but-not-yet world we have to live with something less.
Several years ago I had to write an essay on the vocation of politics, and I offered "Making Peace with Proximate Justice." It is an old idea, one that ripples across the centuries, taken up by people who in their own times and places have longed to do what is right, knowing that all that is right will not be and cannot be done. . . (201)
Whatever our vocation, it always means making peace with the proximate, with something rather than nothing – in marriage and in family, at work and at worship, at home and in the public square, in our cities and around the world. That is not a cold-hearted calculus; rather it is a choice to live by hope, even when hope is hard. (203)Yesterday I spent the day with thirty women who are part of the League of Women Voters of PA,several of them fifty-year members, women who have been persisting in pursuit of voting rights for all and a fair and equitable democracy across more than half a century. They celebrate their small successes, grieve the many set-backs, continue to share their vision.
Garber offers descriptions of other men and women involved in working for justice, for health care for those without, holistic education, courageously, persistently creating connections between vision and reality, between theory and practice, between values we say we care about and the every-day work of making it happen. Accepting the proximate, when their real goals remain elusive.
What do we do with what we know?
How do we maintain connection between who we are and what we do, between ourselves and a hurting world, when numbing disengagement seems the safer, certainly easier choice?
Here are some practical ideas I take with me:
Stay alert to the ways we numb ourselves, or wallow in our numbness. Ask for help (from God? from each other?) to hold those behaviors in check.
Examine the ways we fall back on "whatever." Surround ourselves with others who choose to live and work in hope, and talk together about what we know and can do to bring change in areas that concern us.
|Bread for the World: With Child Refugees,
Who Are Members of Congress Listening To?
Pay attention to the distance between the way the world is and the way we think it should be. Where does that vision of how it should be come from? What responsibility do we have to act on what we see and know?
Join an organization committed to training members in practical ways to facilitate change: Bread for the World, Oxfam, International Justice Mission, League of Women Voters. We can't join them all, but we could learn a great deal from ongoing engagement in one.
And one more - that I'll post about next week - maintain Sabbath times, as an acknowledgement that we're not the ones in charge. We are called to love, connect, engage, but also to step back in times of rest, renewal, and reminder that the burdens we carry are not ours alone.
This is part of the August Synchroblog, Connection. Please take time to read some of the other posts exploring this topic:
Jerry Wirtley – ConnectionSara Quezada – Can You Really Know Someone In A Different Language?Ford – InterindependenceMichael Donahoe – ConnectionMinnow – Our Dis-ConnectJustin Steckbauer – Connection in Love, it's what Life is all about!Wesley Rostoll – Finding Jesus In Different PlacesDoreen A Mannion – A bunny, a fawn and some geese walk into a bar …Leah Sophia – Touch of LifeKaren "Charity" Aldrich – Wuv True WuvAbbie Watters – Connection – Addicted to the BuzzLiz Dyer – Human Connection and the Power of Empathy
Loveday Anyim – Why Get Connected to God when He can't be there for Me?
Wisdom, July 6, 2014
Liberty and Constraint, July 13, 2014
Justice for All, July 20, 2014
Appalling Silence, August 3, 2014
The Role of Rules, August 10, 2014
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome. Just click on __comments below to see the comment option.


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Why Banks Are Enjoying Record Mortgage Revenue
Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest recorded levels, but the spread between banks' cost of funding mortgages and the rates being offered to borrowers has soared in recent months.
The upshot, the thinking goes, is that mortgage rates would be even lower if banks were passing along their lower funding costs to borrowers.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York devoted a daylong conference to answer the questions of whether banks are booking higher mortgage profits as the Federal Reserve embarks on its latest effort to push mortgage rates down (answer: they are), and why (answer: there are a host of factors, but it has a lot to do with the fact that banks aren't able to add capacity fast enough to process the demand).


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Asia Catalyst have released a new report on research conducted in partnership with sex workers in China: "The Condom Quandary: A Survey of the Impact of Law Enforcement Practices on Effective HIV Prevention among Female, Male and Transgender Sex Workers in China"The research found that laws, policies and police practice severely impact the implementation of China's HIV response. And the use of condoms as evidence of sex work, and police crackdowns on the sex sector, contradict government health policy and put sex workers at risk.Asia Catalyst worked with four community-based organisations in China plus the UNFPA China office to conduct the research. Sex workers actively participated in defining the research topic, planning the research and interviewing over 500 female, male and transgender sex workers in three Chinese cities.The report recognises the significant and often progressive efforts the Chinese government has made in HIV prevention and treatment. The government pays for over 98% of all HIV response costs, for example, and focus on key populations. Condoms play a central role in China's HIV strategy. The government allocates budget every year for free distribution of condoms to key populations including sex workers. In many provinces entertainment venues are required to display condoms publicly.On the other hand, sex work is illegal in China. Sex workers are regularly interrogated, fined, and detained by police. Police specifically target condoms, and they use possession of condoms as the main evidence of sex work. The Public Security Bureau – China's domestic law enforcement department – is required to crack down on sex work. Their main tactic is the seizure of condoms.The research found that sex workers who had experienced police interrogation reported carrying and consistently using condoms less often than those who had not been interrogated. Sex workers also reported that dealing with the police was a daily reality. Half of the respondents reported having been interrogated, and over one third had experienced condom searches by police. Of those interrogated in the last year, one fifth said they would now use condoms less often.Sex workers in the study revealed that police actions always targeted condoms, even when the police activity was not related directly to a sexual transaction. Sex workers reported police looking for condoms in wastebaskets, beds and quilts, handbags and even removing the trousers of a client. If police found condoms, then they took the sex worker to the police station for further action. Condoms were the deciding factor.According to A-Hong, a male sex worker interviewed in the research, this police behavior has a direct impact:
"The boss doesn't dare to put condoms out in the open and hides them all away. It's a real hassle for us to find them. Every three to five days he distributes them to us a few at a time."
The research also found that police crackdowns on the sex sector have caused policy confusion. In the past, managers of entertainment venues allowed health workers access for HIV prevention work with sex workers. However after the "vice raids" began, managers of these venues told health staff that no target groups worked there, and they were afraid to put condoms out. The research found law enforcement actions decreased the overall availability of condoms in sex work venues, despite health department requirements that condoms be on display.The report makes a number of recommendations, including:
- An immediate stop to the use of condoms as evidence of sex work
- Health and security departments should set up working groups to coordinate and solve issues that prevent sex workers from accessing SRH and HIV health services
- Police officers should receive training on the human rights of sex workers and the importance of condoms in preventing HIV
- Sex workers should have a process for filing complaints of misconduct by police
- HIV programs should be designed and implemented in consultation with sex workers.
Welcoming the new research, Regional Coordinator for APNSW Kay Thi Win said:
"This not only an issue in China, it is a common practice in most of the countries of Asia and the Pacific. Even in countries that have a policy not to use condoms as evidence, low ranking police officers continue to do so and arrest sex workers. When they file the cases, however, they do not say that condoms were used as evidence. So each and every country needs to put an end to the practice of using condoms as evidence of sex work."


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rocks to place cards // diy
happy monday everyone! i hope those of you celebrating had a fabulous long weekend. and now that you're head is officially overloaded with red, white and blue pics from the past week, i thought we would hop right into some summer decor.
i love incorporating natural materials into my designs. nature, or just being outside, is one of my favorite sources of inspiration. we've had these little pebbles sitting outside of our house for a long time, i even
. but they were calling my name to be used for summer table decor. paired with a tiny bit of moss and pretty feathers, they made the perfect place cards.
i used a charcoal pencils to write each name in script on some of the flattest stones i could pick out.
i would add in some simple with plates and glassware so that the stones and embellishments pop at the table.
how would you style them?


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\m/ \m/
A double-throw of the rock horns and a link smorgasbord for my buddy Jim Carchidi, Field's Edge co-founder and photographer extraordinaire, who's getting some of his work displayed in the Rock Walk at this year's Florida Music Festival. Jim's concert stuff is fantastic - he's shot the Orlando festival the last two years (galleries here and here) - and tons of other shows, too. (Clapton, BB King, and, heck, just look at these two collections.)
He does other stuff, of course. And yeah, we share a little interest in Star Wars.


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Workouts: Last night 45 minutes on the bike. Today…REST DAY!
Last night looked a little like this…(Sorry about the fuzzy phone pics)
Guess that movie….don't judge, but yes, that is New Moon being watched as I pedaled away. It was that or the news…and that doesn't pass time quickly at all!
The ride felt good-a little never ending, but it is kinda similar to the dreadmill. I just hate working out inside.
Good thing we are hitting the road tomorrow for some warmer weather…say hello to 70s and 80s. Where have you been
all my life for the last 5 months?!
This morning, Ken dragged himself out of bed at 5ish to hit the gym. I was going to join him and do some swimming, but I must of slept on my hip funny (it felt great during the ride). It was super sore and I just don't want to push things before our trip…..so I was forced to stay in bed for another hour. Jasper was pretty happy about that!
Today has been filled with work and work and work. I feel like a busy little beaver! After work things will not slow down either. I need to finish packing, pack for the dog, help Ken load the car, cut up snacks and put together meals for the ride and prep breakfast for the morning.
And if we are lucky, we will get everything done in time to hit the hot tub one last time!
Counting down hours!!!!


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Read today's article discussing our project here.
It's also on the front page if you buy a copy.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Day Eleven - Railings, two walls, and a door
Taking a rained out morning to update on yesterday. We designed and built railing using an aircraft cable system that runs the entire length. We also finished framing up the storage space. On our deck at the end we began assembling a 16' door for the front. We worked late into the night and even began our roof.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Day Ten - Raising the wall
Today we raised the wall that was going to be the back of our storage area.
Day Ten - Finishing the decking, tension cables, and beginning to frame
Today was a scorcher! We spent a lot of time finishing off the decking, and then replaced the temporary bracing on the last bay with tension cables.
We began to frame the stud walls on the upper level of the deck on the platform, and raised two up.
We began to frame the stud walls on the upper level of the deck on the platform, and raised two up.
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An emergency call resulted in a first responder taking a baby home to keep as his own.
"I will never forget that day. It was a day when a lot of things came full circle," Marc Hadden told CNN.
Someone had called 911. A woman was suffering severe abdominal pain.
When he arrived at the scene, the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, firefighter discovered the source of the woman's discomfort was her labor pains.
Time slipped away. Hadden and his partners calculated she was minutes from giving birth and knew they had to act fast.
Moments later, Rebecca Grace was born in the back of an ambulance.
"We went from caring for one patient to two: the woman and the baby," Marc Hadden said.
When he arrived at the hospital after that 2011 incident, he learned the newborn was up for adoption. Jokingly, he told doctors he would be her father.
He told his wife, Beth. She responded, "Can we keep her?"
"We had prayed about it for so long," he said. "We wanted to adopt because we were unable to have more kids. We always dreamed of adopting a little girl."
Forty-eight hours later, the Haddens brought the newborn home for good.
"To see my wife's face light up when we brought Gracie home. I can't even begin to tell you … ," he recalled.
The Haddens' story gained attention recently after Fox News posted a write-up of a 2012 profile of the family from a local television station, WMBF. "Today" posted a story about the family on Monday.
Gracie, now 5, is a budding gymnast and soccer player. She's the youngest of three and her older brothers Will, 14, and Parker, 12, embraced her as part of the family from the moment she arrived home.
Life is different for firefighter Hadden now. He said the addition to his family was more than he could have asked for.
"Every day I look forward to waking her up, getting her ready for school, then picking her up later on," said the beaming father, now retired from firefighting. "I am living the best days of my life. She contributed to all of our lives."
From the moment Gracie could comprehend, he told her about how she was born and even took her to visit the exact ambulance where it happened.
"She knows the entire story, but we know we'll have to reinforce it as she becomes older and becomes more cognizant of everything around her," he said.
Following Gracie's birth, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department named Hadden firefighter of the year. But he says there's no better reward than having the girl he's always wanted.
"She's a special person," he said. "We know it and she knows it."


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To clear up any confusion out there. ROMIÓS in Boise is actually NOT a chain restaurant. I have been working there for about a year now and the family that owns it has no affiliation with the one in Ontario. Although, the name is exactly the same, our recipes and menu are quite different. Quite often we get mistaken as the same restaurant. This is not the case. I just wanted to clear up any confusion. Thanks for a great review and we love to see you in there again soon!
Review: Romios Pizza & Pasta
After eating at Romio's, I was very excited to introduce you to this quaint little restaurant. They serve up some killer Italian cuisine. I could hardly contain myself to start writing a review. I couldn't wait to tell you about the bad-ass Greek/Italian family recipes of amazing meat balls, fantastic marinara, sumptuous bechamel, perfect pizza dough, and delicious garlic bread. I couldn't wait to tell you about their lasagna, which is probably the best lasagna I've had from a restaurant. I couldn't hardly wait to tell you of a small family owned local treat that was forever going to change your opinion of Olive Garden. But as I prepared to write this review, I did my standard background research of the restaurant I'm reviewing, only to find that Romio's is a franchise out of Washington. Damn chains! That's all we seem to get here in Boise (8 out of 10 anyway). I was so disappointed that I felt like skipping this review and leaving Romio's to their own reproduced ways. However, the food was so tasty that I couldn't leave the need to share it with you alone. So without further adieu, let's enter Romio's Pizza and Pasta.
Romio's Delicious Lasagna
I must admit, I don't go out for Italian very often. But when I do, I want it to be at least close to as good as what I can make at home. But it seems like anytime that I order lasagna from a restaurant it inevitably tastes like crap. Take Olive Garden's for example. It is single handedly the worst lasagna I've ever had. I'd much rather eat microwave Stouffer's that that crap. Not so at Romio's. Their lasagna is down right delicious. But what makes it different enough for me to say that?
For starters, Romio's marinara sauce is quite good. It's acidic and tastes of tomatoes, but is slightly sweet as well. It has a good balance of herbs and garlic, and is down-right tasty. This delicious sauce is layered into, and poured all over, the individually baked servings of lasagna. Second, the ground beef it is made with is perfectly seasoned with all the right tasty bits. Third, the ricotta incorporates a bit of Romio's bechamel sauce, which is heavily seasoned with nutmeg. But there's only a touch of bechamel mixed in, so you only get little hints of nutmeg to go with the creamy texture of the cheese. Lastly, the whole thing is covered with mozzarella and parmesan cheeses and baked to a boiling hot golden brown. It is rather exceptional, especially for a franchise restaurant. It's so good in fact that it's hard for me to order anything else off their menu. It doesn't really seem like a very authentic dish, but it is exactly what you wish your mother made on Sundays.
The lasagna is served with their house garlic bread, which is crispy on the outside, but soft and buttery on the inside. It has just the right amount of garlic so as to let you taste garlic without it leaving you fending off vampires.
The lunch serving includes a salad or cup of soup, the dinner portion does not. Romio's house salad and ceasar salad are good, but nothing to write about. Their soup, however, is a completely different matter.
Romio's Chicken Lemon Rice Soup
It is my understanding that the Boise Romio's owners have added a few items to their menu that are not typical of other Romio's franchises. I believe that Maria's Chicken Lemon Rice Soup is one of those items. This stuff is quite tasty. It has a delicious strong chicken stock base, with the standard carrots (finely grated though which is nice), chunks of chicken, loads of rice, and a terrific strong lemon flavor. Fantastic! Next time I'm sick with the flu, I'm going to Romio's and ordering a large bowl of this stuff to make me feel better.
Romio's Calzones
We thought it'd be nice to try out one of Romio's pizzas or calzones, so we ordered the Italian Calzone. Damn! This was probably about the best calzone I've had. The meatballs, which are made onsite, were fantastic. They were perfectly seasoned and had a great texture. In fact, all the calzone ingredients were perfect. Garlic Meatballs, fresh basil, big scoops of fresh ricotta cheese, gooey mozzarella, and that same delicious marinara sauce they put on the lasagna. They even gave a little side ramekin of marinara to enjoy. But the best part was the pizza dough. It had a perfect chew but was extremely soft. Seriously, some of the best pizza dough ever. If you want a great calzone, go to Romio's. They're $11, and worth every penny.
Other Pastas at Romio's
Based on what I've tried at Romio's, I'm guessing that most of their pasta dishes are well worth ordering. Their spaghetti and meatballs were good, and worth an order if you want something basic. The meatballs were very large, and quite tasty.
Romio's special dish, "Pastitsio", was something unlike anything else I've had. This thing caught our attention because it was on sale. We were a bit surprised by what it was. It sounded a lot like lasagna, but was a completely different animal. It consisted of macaroni that was layered with a thick bechamel sauce. Romio's bechamel is loaded with nutmeg, but somehow is put together in such a way as to not be overpowering. The Pastitsio is covered in cheese, smothered in marinara sauce, and then baked until piping hot. It looks just like a stack of lasagna, but eats completely different. The smells were intoxicating, and the taste was surprisingly delicious.
But if you really want to go crazy, order the Baked Fettuccine Formaggi, otherwise known as "The Boat of Cheese." Holy cow, this thing is not good for anyone's heart, but what a treat for the mouth! The fettucccine was swimming in Romio's alfredo sauce. Their alfredo is interesting. It is lighter than most alfredos, and has a lot of added dried basil to it. Normally, I would feel like adding dried herbs to an alfredo was sacraligious, however, in this dishes case, it worked rather well. The dish is covered in about a half pound of cheese, and then baked. It's served with a few garlic meatballs and some garlic bread. It is certainly not anything close to authentic Italian, but who cares when it's this belly-warming.
Baklava at Romio's Pizza and Pasta
I love baklava. It is one of the best dessert creations ever invented. Romio's version is pretty good, but falls a bit short. It is heavily spiced, and has plenty of sugar, but the whole nutty mess was a bit soggy and reminded me more of wet paste than a crispy crunchy baklava. However, if you've never enjoyed really fantastic baklava before, you'll probably find Romio's version very delicious.
The Bald Gourmet eats at Romio's Pizza and Pasta and really enjoys the experience, but is disappointed to find that it is a franchise operation.
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Sounds wonderful. Do you know if the restaurant in Ontario with the same name is the same franchise? Wonderful food and generally great service, even for a large group. Found it 5 years or so and have returned many times.
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text: The Official Yacht Week Party - Toronto - 3rd February 2012 We are thrilled to announce the Official Launch Party of The Yacht Week 2012 in Toronto! This exclusive event is happening on Friday February 3rd at one of Toronto's hottest venues - The Hoxton - and we cordially invite you and your friends to come and join us. The Yacht Week is a sailing getaway experience like no other, and whether you are new to The Yacht Week or a seasoned veteran of the trip get your crew together (past & present) and join us for the kick-off of the 2012 sailing season. Get ready to meet former guests of TYW, who will most likely tell you about the best weeks of their lives and how they probably never wanted to leave. We also have two awesome up-and-coming DJ's that are going to keep everyone on their feet. Check them out: [fancy_list style="star_list"] DJ AM-E DJ STIMS [/fancy_list] Join the event on Facebook for more details! We are looking forward to seeing you all at The Yacht Week Official Party in Toronto and kicking off what is going to be a great year of smooth sailing!


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Choose the Right Event Hire in Mornington Peninsula
Are you in charge of hosting a special event? Everybody loves to celebrate, but no matter the excitement, there is much work to be done to host a memorable party. Without the right furniture, equipment, and decor, your party will be unable to stand out and leave an impression.
We are Over the Top Events, and we believe that life is much too short to have boring parties. That is why we bring the best to any event hire in Mornington Peninsula. When it comes to party furniture, tables, marquees, decor, and more, we offer it all. We are one of the biggest event hire companies in all of Victoria. We also have a new warehouse that our customers may visit to see our products for themselves.
Even if you've never hosted a party before, we can help you make your event unforgettable. Just come to us with your needs, expectations, and budget, and we will put together something special. Our event hire in Mornington Peninsula can maximise your event and take it over the top because we've got everything you will need.
Our hiring range includes all the pieces necessary to throw a party with style. We offer chairs, tables, and marquees to make everybody comfortable. Also available for hire are our decorative pieces and lighting, which add life to the party. We even have cocktail shakers, chocolate fountains, and barbecues. No matter the occasion, we make your event hire in Mornington Peninsula exceptional.


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On the edge of SomaliaMillions of men, women and children have fled their homes in Somalia since civil war broke out in 1991. After more than two decades of continuous war, recurrent droughts and famine, over one million Somalis remain displaced. Some have settled as far north as they could, and reside in Puntland. Danish Refugee Council with the support of the European Commission Office for Civil Aid and Protection works in support of people living under extreme and insecure conditions in Puntland. The stories of the Somali people there are ones of hardship, fear and loss – and of appreciation.
From Somalia
An elderly man kneels in prayer on the rocky and dusty ground next to his home, a home-made of card board, old clothes and plastic sheets. He rises back on his feet, his palms held in front of him, and thanks God for what he has been given. 'Allah o'Akbar' echoes from megaphones in Bosasso during the warmest hours of the day and when the sun shows no mercy – 'God is the greatest' says the deep male voice sounding over the settlements for displaced in the outskirts of the port town, Bosasso in Puntland, at the northern tip of Somalia. For a moment, this can seem as a place of serene equatorial beauty and economic potential with long stretches of sandy beaches, the sun, blue sky, and a coastline formed by mountains dropping as waves into the turquoise sea. That moment is soon gone. The sun is merciless here. More than 50 degrees Celsius during the summer and the frequent strong wind, is lashing dust and dry heat onto the faces of anyone venturing out.
This is where Danish Refugee Council works to provide shelter and access to water and sanitation, to improve the limited income opportunities, as well as helping the thousands of displaced people to better help themselves with safety and security measures.
'Our work in Somalia began in 1998, and since then we have been able to expand our efforts to reach out to some of the many people in need of humanitarian aid. Puntland is one of the areas of Somalia where widespread poverty and protracted displacement have made people extremely vulnerable and in need of continued assistance,' tells Heather Amstutz from Danish Refugee Council's Regional Office for the Horn of Africa and Yemen.
An epicenter of crisis
As of May 2013, UNHCR estimated that 1.1 million people in Somalia are living in displacement within their own country. Some are hoping to return to where they fled from. Others have nothing to return to and simply wish to stay where they are.
'Somalia is the epicenter of what is today one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. War has created immense needs for emergency assistance in the region, and when famine struck in 2011, the last bit of resilience was gone. People need everything now – to survive and to rebuild their lives whether in displacement or from what is left in their home areas,' says Heather Amstutuz.
Aid needs in the 34 settlements in the outskirts of the port-town Bosasso span from getting access to basic services as water and food, but also longer term assistance that can rebuild and strengthen a minimum of resilience among the populations in Bosasso. Protection of the most vulnerable people living here is of great concern. Even for those who have lived here for many years, the struggle for better shelter and for safety and protection continues. Crime, abuse, and violence is ever present in the settlements for the displaced people. They are facing dangers and risks during daytime, but even more so at night, especially for the women of whom many live alone with their children.
Attacked and raped
Not far from the man praying in solitude is a woman watching from inside what is her home. She too lives in a home which under layers of sand dust reveals second hand clothes, old sacks, plastic sheets and card board boxes that have carried goods from around the world to Somalia. The woman, 40 years of age, is a mother of five daughters living with her in a Somali buul like that of the elderly man praying, and of hundreds of thousands other refugees and displaced in this region.
'Everyone fears the night here – especially women like me who have no protection and no men to guard the family,' the woman tells. She is one of the estimated 35,000 people living in poor settlements scattered in the outskirts of Bosasso. Being alone with five daughters, she is among the very vulnerable inhabitants of the settlements. Only two months ago, the nightmare came true as a group of armed men broke in just after midnight. The daughters managed to escape, but she didn't. She screamed and called for help, but her calls were not heard. She was raped by the three men who fled after the attack and who have never been found.
'There is hardly any light in the settlement. And not even inside our homes can we feel safe.' The woman was examined at a hospital the day after. Pain killers was all she got before she went back home. As Danish Refugee Council became aware of the case, the woman received protection support and assistance allowing her to recover at home.
As part of Danish Refugee Council's efforts to help improve protection in the settlements, solar cell torches have been distributed which make it feasible for women and children to travel around the settlements after dark and safely access facilities such as latrines. Through awareness raising campaigns people have been informed about their rights and obligations, and how to refer cases of crime, violence, and rape, to the local police. Her case was reported the day after the incident happened.
'I pray to God that the perpetrators will be found. The men who raped me were armed, and if they are powerful people then they will get away with it. I don't know. But they knew where my daughters and I are living and since this happened I can't sleep at night any longer.'
As the call for prayer again sounds out over the settlements in Bosasso, the elderly man reappears outside his shelter and again turns his face in the direction of the sea, towards Mecca. Faith can seem all that is left here where survival is a daily quest. A new shelter made of iron sheets with windows and a door, a torch, better access to water and sanitation, small business grants and improved livelihoods – these are little but essential improvements of lives on the edge of Somalia.
The European Commission's Office for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection is among the donors funding Danish Refugee Council's protection and emergency aid activities in Puntland, and most recently through the 'Integrated Emergency Response' project in Somalia from 2011 to mid-2013.


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Individual Therapy
Life can become stressful at times. Whether you're experiencing job related stress, relationship problems, or just general anxiety. I work with you to help overcome your problems. My approach is individualized to your needs; I utilize compassion, and collaboration to work through life blockers. I try to make your individual therapy an enjoyable experience, where you can be free to be yourself without any judgment and or criticism.
I provide the following services for Individual Therapy
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Relationship problems
- Life transitions
- Personal struggles
- Anger Managment
- Life stressors
- Adult ADHD


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SunSaluter is a 501(c)3 charitable organization which started as our founder Eden's high school science project, and grew into an award-winning technology used and featured around the world.
Our Vision is social and environmental justice through a world with universal access to clean, convenient, and affordable energy and water.
Our Mission is accelerating access to clean energy and water by matching partners with high impact solar tracking and water filtration technologies.


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Holiday GO PackageGayla's Grits
If you're looking for a perfect way to show appreciation to your clients, employees, customers, family, or friends then look no further than our Holiday GO package. This package includes a .75lb Cloth Bag of Gayla's Grits and two 50 ml bottles of Georgia Olive Farms olive oil. Order online for single orders or contact Sara Ray at email@example.com for bulk ordering. Don't forget to add a personalized note in the comments section so that you can show your appreciation and holiday cheer.


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Cultural Experiences
The Traditional People of West Papua
West Papua lies at the confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and has a fascinating history extending back over 40 thousand years. The TRUE NORTH is the perfect platform to discover the influence of Melanesians, Islamic Sultans, Dutch traders and Portuguese mariners. Meet traditional Indonesians on Banda Island and the Melanesia people on Gam and Waigeo.
The Land of the Unexpected
The TRUE NORTH first visited untamed Papua New Guinea in 2005. Since that time we have continually refined our itineraries to ensure that they are filled with only the highest quality experiences – the highlight being countless encounters with the overwhelming hospitality of those who are fortunate to call this untouched paradise home. Witness rarely seen ceremony on the Sepik River.


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We are excited to be publishing the memoir, The Funeral Papers, by Josh Gross in the summer of 2016!
The Funeral Papers begins at the funeral of Josh's estranged father, Arnie, where Josh is given a manila envelope stuffed with the complete output of Arnie's elusive writing career, texts Josh previously believed to be non-existent.
Arnie was a terrible father, an absentee weirdo who played tricks on Josh in order to teach him questionable life lessons. Arnie was lazy, enigmatic, and frustrating. Josh was the sort of kid who knew how to throw a few good jabs of his own. He hoped his father's writing could shed light on how things had gone wrong between him and his father. But when Josh finally reads it, he goes into a tailspin.
The memoir moves from Arnie's stories, articles, and poetry about the 1970s Sausalito houseboat community to Josh's commentary on the writing, then to scenes of Josh and Arnie's relationship and back again. Throughout, Josh grapples with his responses to his father's writing, which uncover old wounds but also cast a different light on some pivotal memories. Josh realizes he is simultaneously competitive with, embarrassed of, and proud of his father. He also realizes — to his horror — that despite his efforts to the contrary, he and his father chose the same profession, the same lifestyle, and the same types of friends. They even look the same.
The Funeral Papers is strange, raw, and surprisingly relatable. The process of muddling through his father's writing forces Josh to examine himself, providing a fascinating look at the struggle toward forgiveness, or at least closure. Deep in the push and pull of opposite forces — dependence and independence, vulnerability and strength, knowledge and mystery — Josh creates a dialog with his dead father's writing, exploring whether or not it is possible to heal the wounds created by years of anger and misunderstanding.


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In This Section
While your household rubbish is probably "out of sight, out of mind", have you ever wondered where it ends up? The outline below explains where your waste goes and what happens to it.
And the good news is that no waste produced by MidCoast residents is transported outside the region for disposal to landfill.
The waste that you place in your red lidded bin is collected by our contractor, JR Richards & Sons, who delivers it to one of our licenced landfills - either Bucketts Way Landfill (Tinonee), or Gloucester Landfill.
We have all the necessary contract management, quality assurance and audit systems in place to ensure that 100% of this waste is disposed of at the two designated licenced landfills in our region.
Only general household waste should be placed in your red bin… things like food waste, nappies, plastic wrappers and bags, and ceramics or crockery.
Recycling is easy, it helps us reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, and has great environmental benefits. Cardboard, newspapers, junk mail, glass bottles and jars, rigid plastic containers, aluminium cans and empty aerosols are suitable for your yellow bin.
The waste from your yellow recycling bin is also collected by our contractor, JR Richards & Sons. They deliver it to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Tuncurry Waste Management Centre. Here the material is separated and sold as recycling product to the following companies:
Recyclable waste from the Tuncurry Transfer Station and our other waste facilities also comes to our MRF for processing.
Did you know… around 10% of items placed in yellow bins for recycling aren't recyclable? Things like crockery and plastic bags must be identified through the sorting processs, removed and transported to our Bucketts Way landfill for disposal.
Want to learn more? You can view the sorting process by taking a tour of our recycling facility. Contact us to arrange a tour by emailing email@example.com or by phoning 6539 7073.
Residents in our urban and rural-residential areas will also have a green bin for organic waste. This service helps divert garden waste from around the home away from landfill, which reduces the production of methane, a greenhouse gas.
Our contractor JR Richards & Sons collects your green waste bin, and delivers it to one of our licenced waste facilities: Bucketts Way in Tinonee, Gloucester Landfill, Stroud Landfill, Tea Gardens Transfer Station, Bulahdelah Transfer Station or Tuncurry Transfer Station.
All green waste is mulched and either used as EPA-approved cover material on the capped landfills, windrowed and composted for residents to use, or further processed via the MAF (Material Aerated Facility) into a soil conditioner and sold to residents for reuse.
Every year we recycle:
Reduce, re-use, recycle.
Our aim across the region is to minimise the impact of waste on our environment and divert waste from landfill.
You can help, every day. By reducing the waste that we produce in the first place, even thinking about waste at the time we make a purchase, we can all help minimise the issue of waste disposal across the MidCoast region.
Find more information and your closest MidCoast Council waste facility here.
Find out what waste items are suitable, or not, for each of your coloured bins here or for a useful A-Z guide of how to dispose of different types of waste, visit the 'What Goes Where?' resource on the Midcoast Waste Services website.
Gloucester Office - (02) 6538 5250
Forster Office - (02) 6591 7222
Taree Office - (02) 6591 7222
Water & Sewer Enquiries:
24 hours for service faults - 1300 133 455
Full contact information
Aquatic Centre Great Lakes
Aquatic Centre Manning
Manning Entertainment Centre
Manning Regional Art Gallery
MidCoast Assist
MidCoast Libraries
Destination Barrington Coast


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Using venture debt - bridging to profitability
This is for companies that are almost there.
So far the use cases covered have assumed that a startup will continue to raise more equity. But later stage companies can benefit from venture debt as well.
If a company is close to reaching break-even the investors may want to avoid putting in more equity. At this stage of a company's life management will likely find a less dilutive option is attractive. A debt round that can bring the company to break-even means that the company can be self-sustaining which is always a great place to be.
When considering a debt round at this stage of a company's life more repayment options may be available than at earlier stages. Once a company has the scale and ability to be self-sustaining debt structures with longer amortization schedules, or even bullet loans, come into play.
A longer amortization term can make a lot of sense for a nearly break-even business. With more time to repay the loan the company may be at a point where it generates sufficient cash flows to service the debt.
Company tip:
Considering a venture loan for a nearly break-even business can be a good low dilution option for investors and management. Consider a structure with longer interest-only or longer repayment amortization – ideally long enough to allow free cash flows to service the loan.
- Craig.


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Here's what you will need to make this delicious Drinking Chocolate Cake:
3 medium eggs
175 grams soft margarine. I used Stork.
150 grams caster sugar
150 grams self-raising flour
80 grams drinking chocolate. I used Twinings.
11/2 tsp baking powder
3 tablespoons hot, nearly boiling water
For the chocolate ganache and filling:
75 gram 70% dark chocolate, broken into pieces
75 gram milk chocolate, broken into pieces
150 ml Double cream
Here is how you make The Cake:
- Pre-heat the oven to 170C (fan-assisted).
- Grease and line two 8" sandwich tins.
- Cream the margarine and sugar with a wooden spoon or a hand-held electric mixer till pale, light and fluffy.
- Beat the eggs in one at a time, adding a little flour with each egg to stop the mixture from curdling.
- Make a paste of the drinking chocolate in hot water and add it to the cake mix.
- Now sift in the self-raising flour and baking powder. I love this bit. It leaves the kitchen in a mess, but it does a great job of aerating the cake mix.
- Gently fold in the flour with a spoon or spatula.
- Divide the batter in two cake tins, gently levelling the surface with a spatula.
- Bake in the centre of a pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes or till a skewer in the centre comes out clean.
- Allow to stand for 5 minutes before turning out on to a cooling rack.
To make the chocolate ganache and filling:
- Divide the cream, milk and dark chocolate into two halves. One half will form the filling, the other the ganache.
- Warm the cream in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. Make sure it is not boiling. Stir in the milk and dark chocolate.
- For the filling, carry on stirring the mixture till it cools and thickens considerably. Use it to sandwich both cakes together.
- Use the other half of the cream and chocolate to make the ganache. Stir till smooth and shiny. This point is reached before the mixture reaches the consistency of the filling. Now pour the mixture on top of the sandwiched cake for a lovely glossy finish.
Decorate the cake with white chocolate buttons and milk chocolate stars or anything else that takes your fancy.
Serve with some pouring cream and a cup of tea.
Not only does it taste heavenly, this chocolate cake is ludicrously easy to make. If I can bake it, so can you. Give it a go, and tell me how you got on in the comments below.


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Lennon + Marissa | Vashon Island Wedding
Lennon and I go way back...we have been good pals since our high school days. I had the pleasure of meeting Marissa a few years ago and the moment I met her I knew she was definitely the right match for Lennon. She is smart, beautiful, and has a laugh that is absolutely contagious! Both of these two have incredibly kind spirits, work hard for positive social change, and know how to have a good time. Their day reflected their personalities well. They chose The Jesus Barn Farm on the gorgeous island of Vashon in Washington as their venue. Marissa's one wish was to get married under a giant maple tree that sits on the property. We got a bit of rain (more than a drizzle to say the least) but the clouds broke just in time, the guests gathered for the ceremony, and these two made their promises to one another under the boughs of that majestic tree. I am so happy for my friends and honored that they allowed me to document their day.