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I told you tyrosine kinases were old. It has now been discovered in amoeba, along with machinery to help front load the emergence of the immune system:
From Clarke M et al., Genome of Acanthamoeba castellanii highlights extensive lateral gene transfer and early evolution of tyrosine kinase signaling. Genome Biol. 2013 Feb 1;14(2):R11
BACKGROUND: The Amoebozoa constitute one of the primary divisions of eukaryotes encompassing taxa of both biomedical and evolutionary importance, yet its genomic diversity remains largely unsampled. Here we present an analysis of a whole genome assembly of Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) the first representative from a solitary free-living amoebozoan.
Ac encodes 15,455 compact intron rich genes a significant number of which are predicted to have arisen through interkingdom lateral gene transfer (LGT). A majority of the LGT candidates have undergone a substantial degree of intronization and Ac appears to have incorporated them into established transcriptional programs. Ac manifests a complex signaling and cell communication repertoire including a complete tyrosine kinase signaling toolkit and a comparable diversity of predicted extracellular receptors to that found in the facultatively multicellular dictyostelids. An important environmental host of a diverse range of bacteria and viruses, Ac utilizes a diverse repertoire of predicted pattern recognition receptors many with predicted orthologous functions in the innate immune systems of higher organisms.
Our analysis highlights the important role of LGT in the biology of Ac and in the diversification of microbial eukaryotes. The early evolution of a key signaling facility implicated in the evolution of metazoan multicellularity strongly argues for its emergence early in the Unikont lineage. Overall the availability of an Ac genome should aid in deciphering the biology of the Amoebozoa and facilitate functional genomic studies in this important model organism and environmental host.
Remind me again why I am supposed to be wrong about the hypothesis of front-loading evolution?


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Orange Tabby Cat Bowl
Orange Tabby Cat Bowl
USPS Priority shipping included in price. U.S only.
This adorable little critter will keep you company all curled up on your tabletop or desk and is awaiting adoption.
Use it as a serving dish for nuts or candy, warm up your soup in it or put your kitties kibble in it. It would also make an adorable planter.
This Ceramic Orange Tabby Cat bowl is completely handmade, thrown on the potters wheel using mid fire white stoneware clay.
After throwing the base shape and trimming, I then attach face, paws and tail.
After bisque firing at 1940 degrees, I hand paint the entire kitty.
The bowl then goes back into the kiln for another fire to 2250 degrees where it comes out shiny and happy and ready for your home.
Start your orange tabby cat collection here!
Design © Karen O'Lone-Hahn 2013
Food, micro and dishwasher safe
Approx. 3 " tall paws to bowl 5" to top of tail
Bowl: 4 1/4" wide
2" deep
(sizes are approx. and may vary slightly depending on tail design)
Each piece of Rising Star Pottery is hand thrown on the potter's wheel, glazed in lead-free glazes and fired. It is here where the kiln gods transform the final product, giving each piece its unique look.
Signed KOH by the artist
Love, Peace and Pottery

subset: commoncrawl


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So after the sushi on Tuesday I wanted more kama. I tried to find it at Aburiya Kinnosuke near my office, but it was not to be. They had a fish lunch special with mackeral cooked on the robota, fried oysters with tartar sauce (um this was egg salad, guys), rice, miso soup, this yummy potato salad thing and this other veggie thing (radish maybe?) that was pickled with sesame seeds on top.
I adored everything but the main bit, the mackerel. I don't know if it was just a bad piece but mine was grossly overcooked. I could not break it apart with my chopsticks so I had to let my fingers lend a hand just to get bite sizes pieces of the near-jerky like mackerel. It came with a nice spicy dollop of something and the little lemon triangle which is almost impossible to squeeze without shooting it across your tray.
The oysters were HUGE and delicious. The "tartar sauce" was egg salad and kinda bland. I'd have liked more of the pickles from the potato salad.
I did get to watch the two chefs out front preparing things for other patrons. That was fun. For the rest I mostly fiddled with my iPhone as I was eating solo.
After the meal they gave me square mochi with a caramel sauce and yummy warm tea!


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Sue Frause will suggest 12 exciting trips for 40 lucky attendees' traveling pleasure. Discover exotic places to add to your bucket list during an afternoon of travel talk with this freelance writer and photographer. Sue has traveled to 47 countries on seven continents, from Antarctica to Zambia. Through words and images she'll share a year of travel, featuring places she's visited during the past year. The list ranges from Pacific Northwest getaways such as Skamania Lodge and the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, to an off-season adventure aboard the Alaska Ferry and a riverboat cruise on the Columbia River. Further afield, Sue will share tales of the Mississippi Delta, New Orleans, Puerto Vallarta, and "How to do Spain" on a Rick Stevves' "My Way" tour. All you need to bring is a spirit of adventure as you armchair travel around the world. Refreshments Included.
Seats are limited so get your tickets today!
All Seats: $25
Click Here for Online Purchases
Via Phone: Please Call the Box Office at
800.638.7631 or 360.221.8268
In Person: Visit the Box Office at
565 Camano Ave, Langley, WA 98260
**Online Tickets Purchases are available until 12-Noon the day of the show.**
Wednesday through Saturday
1pm - 6pm
and 2 hours before every show
Or questions regarding your ticket order please call or visit the WICA Box Office.


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The Lion as Leo
In modern astrology, Leo is painted as having simple wants and needs: recognition, creativity, and a pleasurable lifestyle. What this approach leaves out, however, is the deep psychological reasoning behind those desires.
If you've met a Leo, then you'll surely remember them. They make their presence known, with a dramatic flair and golden aura that both inspires and perplexes their celestial compatriots. Usually their reputation precedes them, as Leos are the performers of the zodiac. They thrive in the spotlight, whether on stage or as a leader of a team.
Leos have been lighting up rooms since ancient Babylon, where the constellation was called the Great Lion and has a countenance to match. Early astrologers relied more heavily on fixed stars for their interpretations, and Leo is home to a host of the most important fixed stars in the zodiac. Among them is Regulus, the King Star, or "the star that stands at the lion's breast". It bestows great ambition and independence, and with those, great success.
According to Greco-Roman myth, Leo's origin story -- like many of the other constellations -- comes from one of Hercules's Twelve Labors. Specifically, Hercules's first labor was to slay the crafty Nemean Lion, who took women prisoner and kept them as bait to lure heroic types from local towns for its dinner. It's unclear why it used such tactics, because its golden fur was already impenetrable to any mortal weapons! Either way, Athena spoke to Hercules, telling him that he would have to fight the beast with his bare hands. In the end he broke its back, hence the "sickle" shape in the constellation itself.
If that story seems a bit violent to you, you aren't alone: Roman poet Ovid gave Leo the Latin names of Herculeus Leo and Violentus Leo.
Leo's epithet of Jovis et Junonis, or "Jupiter and Juno", also sheds some interesting light on the nature of the sign. Jupiter and Juno are the original power couple, whose regal relationship, though central to Greco-Roman myth, is inconstant at best and turbulent at worst. Here we see Leo as the king and queen shining through again, but this time, the responsibilities that come along with power become more weighty. This also, unfortunately, displays what's possible when Leo chooses to focus only on his or her individual needs instead of projecting his abilities outwards into the group. Performance, leadership, and generosity are central to the Leo identity, and without those, the amusements one can grasp only bring fleeting satisfaction and petty irritation.
Another one of Leo's names was Bacchus Sidhus, or "Star of Bacchus". Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, revelry, and wildness, was almost always depicted with cats of the Panthera family, including lions, leopards, and tigers. Whether he wore them as clothing, rode them as his mount, or was pulled by them in a chariot, these cats symbolized his completely untamed nature. That's one thing that doesn't always get discussed with Leo: there's a desire for unadulterated pleasure that, if it goes unchecked, can spiral out into a maenad-like frenzy. For some of them, it's spiritual. For others, it's escape. Consider that perhaps what Leo -- who has at times been maligned as "selfish" or "immature" -- is really trying to unlock here is ecstasy, or oneness with the divine through experience.
The Lion as Animal
By Sara Magnuson
Lion generally brings to mind power and strength. In fact, it's hard to see Lion's weaknesses for all its grandeur and magnificence. The strengths of Lion are obvious and many; nonetheless, let's paint a clear picture of this glorious creature.
Panthera leo is the second largest Cat after Tiger and lives primarily in savannas and open grassland. Lion is an apex predator and a keystone predator. This means that Lion is at the top of its food chain and it is prey to very few. As a keystone predator, Lion plays an important role in controlling the population of its prey. Weighing in at 400-500 lbs and 6-11 ft in length (including the tail), they are formidable to say the least. They can run up to 50 mph, strike their claws with over 300 lbs of force, and bite with over 600 lbs of pressure. Like all Cats, their senses of hearing, vision, and smell are exceptional and are most acute at night. Lions rest (i.e. lay around) for 16-20 hrs a day - again, like all Cats - but that's where their similarities end.
Unlike any other Cat in the Felidae family, which includes house cats, Lions are social. They live in groups we all know as a pride, which consists of 2-4 males (called a coalition), 5-7 females, and their offspring. Each adult Lion plays a very specific role and cooperation is key. Females are the core of the pride social unit and do not tolerate outsiders. Prides are lineage-based and membership almost always only changes with the birth and death of the females within the pride. Few Lions live solitary lives and those that do spend most of the time looking for another pride to join. It is rare for females to accept a lone Lioness into the pride and males will only accept lone males after fierce battle.
Lions are also unique among Cats in the way they express gender, physically and behaviorally. In most Cats, there's no obvious difference between males and females; you have to look at their genitals to tell them apart. Lions, on the other hand, exhibit sexual dimorphism - an outward, physical distinction between the sexes beyond their reproductive organs.
The mane of the Lion is the most obvious difference from the Lioness and tells many things about him. How big or small his mane is, how thick or thin it is, and its color all tell about genetic preconditions, sexual maturity/testosterone production, and climate. It turns out that darker fuller manes are usually favored among females. The larger of the two sexes, his role in the pride is very distinct - eat, mate, defend territory, protect other members of the pride. He rarely hunts, leaving that to the Lionesses. When not patrolling the borders of his territory, he is often found looking after the cubs while the females are finding dinner. The lifespan of the Lion is about 10 years, much shorter than the Lioness' 14-15 years, and cause of death is typically injury from other Lions. He is good at defending and protecting and that's what he does.
The Lioness is an elegant and complex creature. It is within and amongst the women that the cooperative nature of Lion shines. Due to her slightly smaller size and lack of mane, Lioness is the more effective hunter - she is swifter, more agile, and aerodynamic than her male counterpart. While they can run very fast, they can only do so in short bursts, so if they miss a catch it's usually due to lack of endurance. Within their hunting groups, each Lioness plays a very specific role that is strictly observed and carried out. Some females fan out to the sides, while others flank the prey, and still others do the actual pouncing. Their maneuvers are smooth and precise because they know and trust that each Lioness will fulfill her position on the team.
The cooperative nature of the Lioness goes even further with raising their young. The females of a pride will synchronize their menstrual cycles to facilitate cooperative cub rearing. It is much easier to have groups of cubs that are around the same age rather than cubs at all different stages all the time. Females share the duties of providing the general needs of the cubs and are diligent mothers. The Lioness moves all of her cubs to a new den about once a month so their scent doesn't build up and attract predators of the babies. At 2-4 years of age, male Lions are pushed out by the females to join the other adult males, while the young females remain with the core group of Lionesses.
Lions collaborate, coordinate, and unite. All this cooperation provides many benefits - protection, maintenance of territory, less injury, and kin selection (i.e. increased survival of kin vs self). Lions are extraordinarily distinct from one another in their appearance and actions and those born under the sign of Leo contain all the qualities of both the Lion and the Lioness. One could not exist without the other. The true power of Lion is twofold - power comes from complete ownership of its strengths and weaknesses; and power comes from an unflinching trust in the pride. Each Lion knows what it's best at and doesn't try to be something it's not. Lion walks proud with its golden fur shimmering in the sunlight, daring anyone and everyone to question their identity.
During the Sun's transit through Leo, we ask all of you to draw on the powerful energy of these heavenly bodies and, no matter what you look like on the outside, own yourself in all your magnificent glory. Draw on the nature of Lion and Lioness and know that you are a strong, powerful, majestic creature.
Call on Lion when...
- You need to make an amazing impression.
- You want to reconnect with your inner wildness.
Be wary of...
- lack of endurance.
- can be lazy.
Rituals for Leo
Ecstatic Meditation
This week's meditation is simple: do whatever will most help you connect to the divine through experience. Like Leo, ecstatic meditation is usually very active, but it doesn't have to be. A few examples include:
- dancing
- singing or playing music. For some people, going to see a concert or a movie can be a very ecstatic experience!
- painting, drawing, or creating art
- taking a walk, yoga, or other exercise
- crafting a spell
Before you begin, breathe deeply. Think, know, and affirm the presence of spirit with you. You can speak your intention, but it is not required.
After you've completed your meditation, take a few moments in a quiet place to record your experience. What strengths and limits did you find within this form of connection? What did you learn about yourself and all that is? What symbols, omens, or spirits were present during your work?
You may also want to consider recording the moon's phase and sign, as well as other astrological indicators for future reference.
Sacred Sexuality Altar & Ritual
For this ritual we'll be honoring the masculine/feminine sides of ourselves individually, as well as the place where they blend - all under the shining glory of the Sun.
What you will need:
- 4 candles - red/pink, blue, purple, and yellow (any shade of these colors is fine)
- 3-5 Items that represent your masculine side and/or represent masculinity in general to you; these should be positive symbols for you; the goal is to *honor* the masculine side of yourself; suggestions - an arrow, a horn or antler, a High John the Conqueror Root
- 3-5 Items that represent your feminine side and/or represent femininity in general to you; again, these should be positive symbols for you; the goal is to *honor* the feminine side of yourself; suggestions - a pomegranate, anything in the shape of a circle, a Queen Elizabeth Root
- 1-5 items that represent the blend of masculine and feminine within you, the parts of you that are not gender specific
- Optional - if you already identify with a particular spiritual path or cultural group, use items that symbolically represent male, female, and gender-blending and/or gender-neutral within that context to further your connections
Think of your altar as a triangle, with two base points closest to you and the peak opposite.
At the right base point, place the blue candle.
To the right of the candle, place the items you have chosen to represent masculinity.
At the left base point, place the red/pink candle.
To the left of the candle, place the items you have chosen to represent femininity.
At the peak, place the purple candle.
Above the peak, place the items that you have chosen to represent the blend of masculine and feminine.
In the center, place the yellow candle to represent the Sun fueling the triangle.
Light the yellow Sun candle first.
Next, light the candle that you identify with most (it's okay to light the purple candle first) and move toward the candle that you identify with the least.
As you go, draw power from the Sun and the candle you lit first.
Moving on, use that power to honor the other parts of yourself and the knowledge within them.
Sit with candles for at least 10 minutes, meditating on the flames, the symbols, how they work together, and the everlasting Sun catalyzing the effort.
Let the candles burn as long as you can without being interrupted. If you must put them out, be sure to relight and sit with them again until they've burned completely down. Once complete, collect any leftover candle wax and bury it outside all together.
Collect the symbols you used during this candle rite and arrange them however you see fit - keep them on your altar or create separate spaces for each part of the triangle. You can also bury them outside with the candle wax, again all together.
Remember: always observe common sense fire safety when burning candles!
About Asteria & Artemis
Named for the Greek goddesses of the stars and nature, respectively, this joint blog series with Candlesmoke Chapel's Sara Magnuson investigates the magic and mythology behind each astrological sign.
Sara is a crafter of spiritual supplies, a reader of cards, a diviner of animals, and the co-founder of Candlesmoke Chapel. Her personal practice is eclectic, animistic, and ancestral. The guidance she provides is based in the messages of Nature and its role in how we move through this world.
Connect with Sara via Candlesmoke Chapel:
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
There's more where that came from.
Join the coven for more astrology, horoscopes, and things witches love!


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Enemies of pigs throughout the world include eagles, hawks, tigers, pythons, hyenas, lions, leopards and wolves. Piglets in addition to adult pigs are targets for these carnivores.
Domesticated feral pigs are found in North America, Africa, Europe and Australia. At times, the pigs get loose and some are even let go for hunting purposes. In Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Australia and California the population of feral pigs is rising. Enemies of feral pigs include mountain lions, golden eagles, bobcats, coyotes, alligators and dingos.
The pygmy hog is on the critically endangered list largely because of carnivores such as pythons, tigers, hawks, crows, wildcats, mongooses and eagles. Pygmy hogs live in areas such as the Himalayas, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The hog was thought to be extinct in the 1960s, but several were found at Manas National Park in Assam, India. However, the pigs still fall victim to illegal hunting at times. Another endangered pig is the Vaisayan warty pig. The islands Nergos and Panay are home to the pigs, and human predators are their primary enemy. The pigs are also known to often breed with domestic pigs, which in turn has lowered the numbers of the pure version of the pigs.


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Painting large can be a scary thing. My approach includes diving in fearlessly with wild abandon and reining it in toward the end. This system has really worked for me and I will show you my whole process from start to finish as we prepare a background, measure for successful placement, build layer over layer of paint and paper, use special attention on the edges of the painting and then bring it all together with some special touches and tedious details. Finally! Something to go on that big empty wall!
Materials Fee $30 includes:
18x24 1/3/8" deep canvas, large Collage Paper Pack with lots of beautiful art papers, shredded money, old book pages, maps, and more. Acrylic paints to share, use of pigment pens, stencils, spray acrylics and anything on the art supply community buffet. I'll also have some chicken images for reference and inspiration.
Supplies Needed to bring for Class:
Soft Gel Medium (I use Golden)
Favorite acrylics set and brushes
Your favorite collage papers
Water container
Optional: You are welcome to bring a larger canvas and keep the 18x24 for another project. I chose this size because it will fit in a large suitcase.
Feel free to email if you have questions email@example.com
Register here: ArtandSoulRetreat.com


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Samsung Galaxy S III Leaked On Amazon Germany
Samsung have never really had a great history of keeping upcoming products secret, and this is no exception. A listing for their upcoming Galaxy S III has appeared on amazon.de, touting a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, Ice Cream Sandwich and a 12-megapixel camera.
Only partial information is provided, and no picture of the device is saved alongside it, leaving a few aspects to question. Firstly, the Super AMOLED display the listing speaks of doesn't mention a 'Plus,' possibly leading to the inferior pentile arrangement of pixels, something that is commonly done to maintain the thin profile of a smartphone (one of Samsung's go-to selling points in its hardware). The storage is listed as 16GB "expandable up to 32GB," which eludes to either two variants of the phone or one version and microSD slot expansion.
Whichever way, we won't know for certain until May 3rd rolls around to see whether these specs are correct; but they do seem realistic. Watch this space.
Source: Amazon.de (Google Translate)
see the big picture about galaxy s iii
Is This Really The Samsung Galaxy S III? 'Tinhte' Goes Hands-On


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Hey there, Wildlings!
If it seems like kids are hitting puberty younger and younger these days, that's because they are.
If you're worried about the increased risk—of hormone-related cancers, heart issues and other adult diseases that come along with this early onset of puberty—you should be.
So, why is this happening?
Many believe it's because young people are more and more overweight. And it's certainly true that children in the U.S. and other Western countries are getting heavier.
Yet, that can't be the reason, because while children are getting heavier all over the world, girls are only hitting puberty younger in the U.S. and Asia, while those in Europe are not. Maybe, then, it's not how much but simply how children are eating that's affecting this change.
The most likely culprit (you won't be surprised to hear) is animal protein.
For every gram of animal protein consumed per day, girls will likely experience a 17% higher risk of starting menstruation before the age of twelve.
Why? I knew you'd ask!
As we've already discussed "Stop Counting Calories, and Start Doing This", consumption of animal protein leads to increased production of IGF-1 (growth hormone) in our bodies. That alone could be responsible for the earlier onset of puberty. But in addition to that, other chemicals that build up in animal products (which are higher up the food chain and thus accumulate more toxins) could be disrupting children's endocrine systems and speeding up maturation.
Recent studies in Europe discovered important links between these environmental pollutants and earlier development; in the U.S., similar connections were made with flame retardant chemicals showing up in poultry and fish. Such chemicals have, in the last few decades, gone from almost non-existent to extremely ubiquitous in these animal products.
Young girls with the highest concentrations of these chemicals in their bodies were also as much as 1000% more likely to start menstruating early.
On the other hand, consumption of plant protein—and especially soy—seems to be associated with later start to puberty (several months later than the average).
I'm an example of this. I got my period at sixteen, whereas my sisters and friends got theirs when they were years younger. (In my Mums words, "Finally!")
We didn't have this insight then, but it makes sense in hindsight. I was the only vegetarian girl in my family; I went from milk to soy for health reasons when I was a toddler, and vegetarian when I was eleven years old. I have three sisters to compare my development to.
On average, girls with higher levels of isoflavones (the phytonutrients contained in soy and other veggie products) show signs of sexual maturation seven to eight months later than their peers with lower levels. (I was also one of the last of my friends in my grade at school to begin having sex, and I was the only soy-drinking vegetarian among my closest friends.)
As might be expected, reaching puberty later seems to lower risk of the diseases I mentioned above. Increased consumption of vegetable and soy proteins (and decreased consumption of animal products) may have serious benefits for our children's health: namely, lower risk of breast cancer (by around 6%) and longer lifespan (3% lower total mortality).
And this is relevant for boys and girls, because boys who reach puberty earlier may also be at higher risk for heart disease later on.
So, protect your children—make the shift to plant-based nutrition.
Originally published at wilddonna.com


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Many parental figures find it prudent to have more than one offspring. Biologically it makes a certain amount of sense. I mean, the more spawn you produce, the more likely it is that the human race will continue. Not to mention that it's helpful to have a 'do over' in case you irreparably mess up the first ankle biter. If you have more than two, then your averages for producing a decent human being only increase.
However, there is a significant flip side to having multiple offspring. For the sake of brevity, I'll summarize.
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR EVER LOVING MIND?! Has nothing you've been through with the first little terror you've unwittingly unleashed upon the world been enough for you to keep it in your pants? You truly want to relive every inadvertent golden shower, every tantrum, every moment of panic all over again?
I digress. Who am I to judge how you choose to punish yourself for whatever heinous skeleton is in your closet?
The real purpose of this particular blog is making sure your first mini human is prepared for the invasions of a more annoying and even more mini-er human.
Now, before you run off to tell your oldest that they weren't enough for you to love only them, consider these factors for what is bound to be an intense conversation full of tears and blame.
1. How old is your current offspring? Scientists have proven that the older the first child is, the more they will be personally insulted by another sibling entering the picture. Whereas the younger they are, another drool monster is less of an impact. My advice, any spawn younger than eight years of age, don't worry about telling them of the new family edition until your little bundle of horror comes home from the hospital.
2. Have you already had the 'talk' with your youngster? You know. The reproduction talk? The buzzing insect and feathered balls of beaks and talons discussion? If you haven't, then you may need to prepare for a lot of awkward questions that will complicate the whole conversation. However, on the other side, this could be a very teachable moment as far as the "if you allow your hormones to go too far with the lip mashing, then you could wind up like your mother." It depends on how much you want to drive the lesson home. To really emphasize that premature procreation is a bad thing, you can hand over the second offspring into the care of the oldest as a crash course in parenting.
3. Do they have friends with siblings? Perhaps to ease the stress of communicating they will no longer be the only child in your universe, you could conscript another set of parents to have the talk for you. After all, they've already been through this tough time before and it does take a village...
4. Has your offspring done something terrible lately? Are they in trouble? If so, you can use the coming of a sibling as a sort of punishment for them. If you make the whole thing their fault (again, it is helpful if you haven't had the 'talk' for this route), it will take their anger and blame off of you and put it squarely on their own shoulders.
While I don't agree with your choice to have multiple spawn, I can understand how useful siblings can be in the rearing of your first grand experiment. Good luck with that. As a refresher, you may want to go back to the first blog in this series and up your stock in sanitizer.
Here we go again,
***Disclaimer***Azra has been around children for centuries. While not having any of his own, part of being an exiled angel means blending in on earth. As he traveled the earth, he picked up on a lot of parenting practices across the globe. This blog is meant to share his parenting wisdom with a new generation. And to win a bet.
*Note: any advice given is meant to be satirical and not to be taken literally. Please do not exercise it upon any living being, child or otherwise.*


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Replacement of Slated Roof to Hampstead Property
Large domestic property in Hampstead, North London
Project: The original slate covering was approaching the end of its life and the box gutters also required replacement.
The client wanted to coordinate the roofing works with planned external redecoration to make best use of the scaffolding that was required for all trades on site.
The entire roof was stripped of the original coverings and the coping stones removed from the roof parapet walls. The box gutters were recovered using torch-on polyester membranes and the sloping areas prepared and recovered using new vapour-permeable underfelt and preservative-treated slate battens.
New Spanish quarried slates were selected by the client and fitted together with new matching ridge tiles. The chimney stacks were overhauled and lead flashings fitted before the new coping stones completed the roof refurbishment.


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Odie is a 12 year old Schichon originally from Oklahoma with a love for cheese & his human, Daryl Ellis. This ol' boy isn't into new tricks & sticks by his Mutto... "Pet Me, Damnit".
What's it feel like being nominated to be Fur Ball's King? Meh...
Favorite four-legged film or Celeb dog? Giggy Vanderpump
Why do they call you Prince? My brother was an Orange Tabby cat that resembled Garfield
Worst habit? I have two, dragging butt on mom's good rugs & biting my nails.
Favorite treat? Cheese, cheese & more cheese.
Best playmate? Ginger & Sugar
Top trick? Tricks are more for animals, I like going to work & boating with my dad
Those funny dreams where you kick and bark, what are you dreaming of? I love to chase those squirrels
What do you like most about your Humans? They include me in everything. I love that they let me sleep between them.
If you had a human job, what would it be? Financial Advisor. like my dad.
Favorite thing to ruin? I'm a good boy & I don't ruin things


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Stressed? Read this.
We all experience stress - it's inevitable. Be it physical or psychological stress, positive or negative stress, it's always going to be something that's a part of our lives. The problem is, we don't all perceive stress as being a positive or productive thing and have misread stress to be a negative and destructive experience. While most stress is almost dysfunctional in today's society, it's all about using that stress in a more positive light.
So how exactly do we manifest stress to work for us instead of tear us down? Here are some excellent tried-and-true techniques that you can experiment with. Not every technique is going to work for everyone and it's important that you find something that works best for you.
I talk about mindfulness technique often and it's for a very solid reason. Mindfulness is the ability to bring awareness to the present moment, without judgment. It's a beautiful technique to help us get to know ourselves a bit better, to pay attention to any negative dialogue or physical responses to stress that we may have not already been aware of. Allowing negative self-talk and the related physical manifestations of stress to continue will only lead to more significant issues in the future. It's so incredibly important to understand how we perceive ourselves and learn how to be with those thoughts and sensations without becoming reactive to them and preventing the downward spiral that usually ensues. Mindfulness is about remaining calm amidst the storm and learning how to take a step back and observe what's going on within ourselves without judgment.
I know for myself that my ability to handle stress unravels if I'm not sticking to a regular yoga practice. Even in the literature, yoga has been shown to modify the physiologic stress response and allows us to become more resilient against stressors in the future. Starting a regular yoga practice is not only a great way to get stress-reducing exercise in during the week, but also provides routine. Having patterns and regularity during the week is a simple trick to help us feel less chaotic and little more "in control" of events that happen in our lives.
Yoga is also a physical way to bring mindfulness into our day. With each pose and movement between the poses, a certain aspect of awareness is required. This awareness helps us shine light a little more on what exactly is going on within ourselves - how the pose feels in our physical bodies but also the emotional experiences we are having when in certain poses. Finding an excellent yoga instructor and going to classes is a great way to help guide you with your practice and is also a smart way to ensure that you stick to a routine.
Writing is an excellent way to gain awareness and become more mindful of our thoughts, emotions and actions. Setting aside time daily to write about anything that's going on in your mind is truly an eye-opening experience. If you ever wanted to find out what's going on in your mind, taking out a pen and paper is a great way to do so. Not sure where to start? Set aside 15 mins as soon as you wake up and literally write out anything that comes to your mind. It could even be simple things, like what the weather is like right now. Eventually you will be able to open up with yourself and realize just how much is actually going on in the background of your thoughts. You'd be surprised.
Many people worry about writing down their true thoughts for fear or shame that others may read it. The simple answer is to destroy the evidence. Either type out your thoughts in your notebook on your computer and delete it afterwards or write on paper that you can easily shred or burn if you want to make a whole ritual out of it.
Whenever I prescribe supplementation for patients with high levels of stress, I always note the fact that popping supplements (or medications for that matter) are not going to make the stress go away. Usually they are temporary support, or something to help lessen the physical and emotional sensations that can manifest in the face of stress, such as anxiety, flat affect, mild depression and feelings of panic. Supplements are highly individual to each person and how stress manifests for them. From infusion therapy of various vitamins, minerals and amino acids to oral botanical and nutrient supplements, they do have an appropriate time and place in stress management and can provide wonderful benefits when used in conjunction with other dietary and lifestyle modifications.
Social interaction
Did you know that social isolation has been linked to episodes of psychosis in some individuals? By social isolation I'm not necessarily meaning physically not spending time with people but rather not having connectivity with others. Having alone time can actually be incredibly therapeutic for many people is a great opportunity to get to know yourself. However, humans are social creatures and to think that we're not is incredibly limited thinking. We require social interaction to feel like we are a part of something greater than ourselves. All the more reason why having open, honest and loving relationships is so incredibly important.
In today's society, being independent is certainly a valued trait but I'm up for challenging that idea. I believe that allowing to give and receive support from others should be more valued. It takes more courage to let people know who you truly are than it does to hide the real you behind an iron door of independency. Probably one of the hardest things for us to do is to allow others to see us in all our shame and messiness but what is connectivity all about if we are not able to express the full extent of ourselves to people we trust and respect?
It sounds impossible until it's done. Trust me on that.


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Sexual violence is a burning issue in the humanitarian response, but what is the impact on men and boys who are victims of sexual violence? Stigma, homophobia, and traditional gender roles make reaching male survivors especially challenging. In this panel, held at ICRC's headquarters in Geneva at the end of March, leading experts discussed emerging approaches to reaching male survivors of sexual violence. Want to hear the full audio file? Email Niki Clark for a link to the Dropbox.
- Louise Aubin, Deputy Director, Protection Operational Support Service, Division of International Protection, UNHCR
- Dr. Chris Dolan, Executive Director, Refugee Law Project
- Charu Lata Hogg, Director, All Survivors Project, Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law and Associate Fellow, Chatham House
Professor Doris Schopper, Medical Faculty, University of Geneva and Director of the Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH)


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A US Camera Pro purchasing specialist will be at Foto Care November 15th & 16th, from 10am - 5pm, for an in store buying event.
Don't miss this great opportunity to sell us your used photographic equipment, as well as take advantage of the option to get 10% more money as an Foto Care voucher to be used towards any of the store's products or services.
Feel free to contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions regarding the event, or to receive a quote on your equipment.


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Haynes and Boone, LLP
1221 McKinney Street
Suite 2100
To view the presentation materials, click here.
Employment and workplace-related lawsuits increased 15% last year creating new challenges and concerns for in-house counsel, corporate executives and human resources professionals. Join us for a complimentary seminar addressing new and changing legal issues in the workplace, current liability trends and strategies to reduce employers' exposure.
Who Will Be Presenting
This seminar was presented by lawyers from our Labor and Employment Practice Group who dedicate their practice exclusively to labor and employment matters, including all aspects of complex labor and employment issues that impact domestic and international businesses.
Who Should Attend
In-House Counsel, Human Resources Professionals, Certified Public Accountants, Corporate Executives, Business Owners and Managers.
CLE: An application for accreditation of this program is currently pending for California, New York and Texas.
CPE: As a registered CPE Sponsor with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, this seminar is pending approval (no prerequisite required).
HRCI: This program has been submitted to the HR Certification Institute for review.
For more information:
Sending an email will not establish an attorney-client relationship. You should not send us any information that you want treated confidentially. By clicking Accept you acknowledge that we may review and use any information you transmit to us.


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...Those couples my age that talk about getting married and having children. And the ones who actually get engaged. You're seventeen/eighteen! You haven't even lived yet! You should be setting your sights higher than being a housewife and mother before you're twenty-five.
I hated it when my ex brought up marriage or kids. Or when my friends' boyfriends do. Funnily enough though, when one guy friend of mine said "I reckon we'll get married one day", I didn't even flinch. In fact, I replied "yeah, probably."
I wonder if we still will. x


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Today starts Men's Health Week and it is actually a great time for cancer prevention for men. You might not think so with all the controversy surrounding PSA testing, but we are making enormous leaps in the ability to detect cancers early when they are most treatable in two of the leading causes of cancer death in men – lung and colorectal.
Colorectal Cancer. We've had great screening options for colon and rectal cancers for years. Depending on your preferences and a conversation with your physician as to which test is best for you, there are three evidence-based approaches to colorectal cancer screening: fecal occult blood testing (FOBT or stool test), colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
1. FOBT is a non-invasive test that needs to be done every one to two years. If your FOBT test comes back positive (for blood), your doctor will send you for diagnostic testing, which is done via colonoscopy.
2. Colonoscopy can be both a screening test and a diagnostic test. In a colonoscopy, the entire colon and rectum are examined using a lighted scope. Precancerous and cancerous lesions can be biopsied and removed during the test. Colonoscopy typically requires some form of sedation and a thorough cleansing of the colon.
3. A flexible sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and lower colon, but not the upper colon.
You can read about the government colorectal screening guidelines on the CDC site.
Some people find the preparation for colonoscopy unpleasant and scientists have been working to find other approaches. A virtual colonoscopy uses x-ray equipment to view the colon and rectum. It is non-invasive and doesn't require the same preparation as a colonoscopy. However, virtual colonoscopy may not detect smaller abnormal tissue areas or lesions. If a lesion is detected with virtual colonoscopy, a standard colonoscopy is typically required to remove it. Scientists are also working to develop genetic stool tests. In FOBT, the test looks for human blood. In these new tests, the cells from the colon lining that are shed into stool are tested for genetic alterations common in colon cancer. At present, neither test is a recommended screening test by either the National Cancer Institute (NCI) or American Cancer Society (ACS).
Lung Cancer. For years, we didn't have any evidence-based methods for lung cancer screening. Last year, scientists published a study showing older individuals with a strong smoking history, and thus a strong lung cancer risk, do see a benefit to a low-dose helical CT-based screening. Helical CT (sometimes called spiral CT) takes multiple x-rays of the chest to obtain an image of the entire chest. The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial looked at the effects of this screening tool among current and former heavy smokers with at least a 30-pack-year history.
In the trial, those in the low-dose helical CT arm of the trial had a 20 percent lower risk of lung cancer mortality and a 7 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality than those in the standard chest x-ray arm. The study did not include individuals under age 55 or those who were not heavy smokers.
The National Cancer Institute is still evaluating the trial data to determine its effect on lung cancer screening guidelines. The American Cancer Society issued interim guidelines as a result of the trial finding.
At this point, there is not evidence that non-smokers or light smokers benefit from the screening test – it may in fact do more harm than good, particularly for non-smokers. Forty percent of the trial participants in the CT arm had at least one abnormal scan. These scans lead to additional testing, some of which can be extensive and invasive.
Screening isn't always the answer, but it is a key part of colorectal cancer prevention and a promising strategy for current and former heavy smokers, though of course, quitting or not starting smoking remains the best way of avoiding lung cancer!
Along with not smoking, other lifestyle choices also play an important role in prevention, such as diet and exercise. You can read more about how to reduce your risk for cancers here.
Dr. Kate Wolin is an Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. She blogs about practical approaches to prevention, wellness and disease management at drkatewolin.com and on Twitter @drkatewolin.


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By Barett Poley – April 12, 2017
If you thought paint was expensive before, just wait until you see the price on the new Rolls-Royce Ghost Elegance. The Ghost, which regularly starts at just under $400,000, is about to get quite a price hike, thanks to a new paint job announced by the company. The Ghost is a car that even under normal conditions could only be described as "pure luxury," featuring a twin-turbocharged 6.6 litre v12, a butter-smooth 8-speed transmission, and over 560 horsepower, the Ghost is already guaranteed to turn heads wherever it goes, but the "WOW" factor of the car, and it's price tag, are about to jump exponentially with the reveal of the Rolls-Royce Ghost Elegance.
What makes the Rolls-Royce Ghost Elegance so impressive? The paint job, made with over 1,000 crushed diamonds. A media release from the company says that the Ghost is already near-perfect, stating each Ghost is "hand-built by more than 60 pairs of hands. The precision and patience our craftspeople put into Ghost make it a masterpiece in its own right. From the five coats of paint on the body to the hand-stitched leatherwork inside, perfection is the benchmark. Anything less just won't do." They hope to ramp this up further with the Elegance, stating that the paint job alone is "the most luxurious and lustrous exterior ever seen on a motor car."
Rolls-Royce states that this will be the most expensive paint option ever put on any of their cars, though they haven't released any pricing details as of yet, nor have they shown any of the other features beside the paint job of the Elegance.
Previously, the world's most expensive paint job was probably found on the Cadillac CTS-V's Black Diamond edition. That car featured a layer of SpectraFlair pigment sandwiched between a metallic black base coat and the clear on top. Inside the SpectraFlair pigmentation, aluminum flakes encased in magnesium-fluoride, diffract light in a way similar to a diamond. Cadillac paired with JDSU to develop the paint scheme. Encased aluminum, impressive though it may be, just doesn't cut it when compared to actual diamonds.
Bentley also offers some impressive paint options. A matte-coat of paint on the brands flagship Mulsanne costs about as much as a loaded Toyota Camry, around $35,000. If even one speck of the paint isn't perfect, the entire panel has to be repainted. Talk about dedication!
What do you think of the opulent new paint job? Too much? Or just enough to match the company's reputation? Let us know in the comments section below!
By Barett Poley - April 6, 2017
If you live in a large urban centre, you might have an easier time getting around in the coming years, thanks to a new project lead by popular post-secondary learning service Udacity. The project-company, named 'Voyage', seeks to put fully autonomous taxis on the road in the next 5 years, saving money for consumers, but also putting traditional drivers out of work.
Udacity is a continuously growing for-profit education company that offers degrees at a cheaper rate than traditional colleges, and also offers free courses to students. Though it may seem like a "too good to be true" proposition, they've actually been actively backed and supported by companies like Google, NVidia, Facebook, Bosch, and most recently, Mercedes Benz, who have just pledged to support a Self-Driving-Car engineer and repair program. In addition to that degree, they offer qualifications in Data analysis, web marketing, VR development, AI, robotics and more.
The program comes at a time when autonomous vehicles are more relevant than they ever have been, but with the impressive crash-avoidance systems in many modern vehicles, Collision repairers and body techs might be worried about their job security when said vehicles become more mainstream. You don't need to worry though, as there are always going to parking-lot accidents, and there are always going to be people who drive their own cars. Beyond that, with the growing market for restored vintage cars, restoration, collision repair and painting jobs will only become more profitable in the near future!
The project is headed by Oliver Cameron, CEO and vice president of Udacity, with help from Udacity founder Sebastian Thrun, who is famous for having helped with Google's earliest self-driving car projects. According to Engadget news, Cameron says "Voyage can hit that goal thanks to a maturing ecosystem that will allow the company to add autonomous functions to existing vehicles without needing to build a new self-driving car from the ground up."
The cars will also feature voice-control and a fully automated entertainment suite, reminiscent of the Rinspeed Oasis and its contemporaries, which I saw a few months ago at the Canadian International Auto Show. What sets the Rinspeed apart from the likes of the Voyage cars is that it offers the ability to drive the car yourself – which will apparently become a luxury feature in the not-so-distant future rather than the standard.
Another thing to consider, and another reason not to get too worried about self-driving-cars, is that getting companies to standardize with one-another is almost always impossible. This means that each self-driving and autonomous car company will have their own network of maps and vehicles that their cars are connected to. If a self-driving Tesla is going down the street, it is connected to the Tesla network, and can see every other Tesla on said network. What they wouldn't be able to see are the Google self-driving cars, or any others, and will therefore have to rely on external cameras for collision avoidance. In plain English, that means collisions aren't going away any time soon. In fact, with the advent of the technology to the masses there will probably be a significant spike in collisions as programmers and companies work out the kinks so fear not, collision repairers of the world!
By Barett Poley - March 20, 2017
If you're worried, as a collision repairer, about exploding batteries, fire-prone wiring, or the cold-war connotations of "Hydrogen" as a prefix to anything, don't be. As Toyota amongst others reveal their hydrogen powered and more heavily developed electric vehicles, questions arise as to whether or not the same old tricks work with these new technologies?
Thankfully, for the most part, replacing, or welding, a new body panel or frame or what-have-you will pretty much always be the same. Since the earliest days of Collision Repair, body panels, frame straightening and the like have gone through some major changes, but the fundamental act of what you are doing – fixing or replacing a part – hasn't much changed. The same is true looking into the future for hydrogen and electronic vehicles.
Where companies such as Tesla implement breakers which turn off the cars batteries and completely cut all currents once collision detectors are tripped, Hydrogen powered cars rely on new safety features, most of them unique to the new and not as oft-used fuel cell type. Safety features are important on both models like the Tesla Roadster and a hydrogen-cell car like the Toyota Mirai, as they both have unique dangers associated with them. Hydrogen is a well-known potentially explosive gas, and the Tesla Roadster has over 7000 lithium-ion batteries, each and every one of them capable of creating a massive amount of energy if things should go wrong.
Toyota isn't too worried about the Mirai though. Nor are other companies who are putting significant R&D into hydrogen-cell-run-vehicles. According to Dr. Frano Barbir, Professor and Chair of Thermodynamics at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Split, Croatia, the risks associated with hydrogen, despite their H-Bomb connotations, are far less than those that can be associated with Gasoline. "Due to higher sonic velocity, hydrogen would initially escape much faster than natural gas." he says, adding "Since natural gas has more than three times the energy density than hydrogen, a natural gas leak will always contain more energy. If a leak should occur for whatever reason, hydrogen will disperse much faster than any other fuel, thus reducing the hazard levels." This can be seen as sort of a natural safety feature of using hydrogen; despite its propensity to explode well when it's atoms are split, in every day application it's actually safer than what we've all been driving around with for the last century or so; doubly so when in a natural atmosphere. The chances of natural hydrogen explosions in the normal atmosphere are incredibly low. Barbir says "Like any other fuel or energy carrier hydrogen poses risks if not properly handled or controlled. The risk of hydrogen, therefore, must be considered relative to the common fuels such as gasoline, propane or natural gas. The specific physical characteristics of hydrogen are quite different from those common fuels. Some of those properties make hydrogen potentially less hazardous," explaining, "the likelihood of any detonation depends in a complex manner on the exact fuel/air ratio, the temperature and particularly the geometry of the confined space. Hydrogen detonation in the open atmosphere is highly unlikely." This is to say, if you're driving around and you get hit, your Toyota isn't going to explode. In fact, it's likely just as safe if not safer than a traditional gasoline combustion-engine car, and the results say the same thing, in fact, a Microsoft tester for the Toyota Mirai was recently in a collision, where, drumroll please…. Nothing happened.
That's right! As Xbox AOL director Randy Shaffer was test-driving the Mirai, he was crashed into, with no Hindenburg-esque explosion to show for it, just a dented fender and a need for a new-rim. Easy-peasy repairs for any seasoned collision repairer. Shaffer says, per Autoblog, "Out of the corner of my eye I saw a black, '90s-era BMW 5 Series smash into my right rear-tire panel. The Toyota driver also saw it out of his eyes and was hoping she would just miss us. She had a stop sign but either didn't see me or was trying to shot the gap between me and the other Mirai. End result, at about 15 mph (best guess) she hit my Mirai right in-between the two Hydrogen tanks and directly into the main battery."
I'm certainly impressed and excited about the future of Hydrogen-cell cars, and especially excited to see what other safety features become commonplace in the future. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below!
By Barett Poley – March 30, 2017
Mike Hall, a British Columbia man, is selling a 5-acre property in Tappen, B.C for over 1.5 million dollars. Land in British Columbia has been expensive as of late, thanks to their booming housing market, but $1,500,000 for a five-acre property outside of the coastal urban-centres would normally seem like a stretch. Such is not the case with the property of Mike Hall. $1,500,000 is completely reasonable considering the wealth you're getting with the property – in the form of hundreds of parked cars and loads of deadstock OEM parts.
The Cars, which range from turnkey to terrible, are valued between 500-30,000 dollars each. The most valuable vehicles having been taken great care of and restored – Amongst the rarer cars to grace the lot are a row of 55-57 Chevrolet two-door station-wagons, a 1926 Chevrolet Roadster pickup truck, a 1927 Ford Model T pickup, a collection of Dodge Super Bees, and one of only 45 Pontiac Beaumont Sports Deluxe models, which were made for the rich and famous and came equipped with a v8 and four-speed manual transmission.Mike himself restores cars, and his daily drivers are a Chevrolet Firefly Turbo Coupe and a 1968 Chevelle with a big-block 396 CI V8, which he has owned for 30 years after restoring. His property is described not just as land and buildings, but as a once in a lifetime opportunity.
More interesting perhaps to the body-techs and collision repairers amongst us are all of the thousands upon thousands of rare and unique OEM body-panels, lights, interior components and more that come with the lot. Old cars can be notoriously hard to restore to OEM specifications if they've been in a collision, and to insurers, they're far easier to write-off due to the extremely expensive nature of OEM spec parts. Even rarer are the plethora of deadstock parts that come alongside the property as part of Hall's collection for restoration and repair.
Per Driving.ca, the collection started when Hall began his job climbing cliffs and getting boulders off of plateaus so that they wouldn't fall down and crash onto cars. He wouldn't have found much to do in Ontario or any of the plains, but in B.C, thanks to their mountainous geography, he made a mint. According to Driving.ca, Hall Says, "I was away 10 months of the year working around the province. I made more money than I knew what to do with, so I would buy cars all across B.C."
"I started accumulating cars when I was 20," says Hall per Driving.ca, continuing to say "First it was 50 cars. Then the collection grew to 100. I bought more and more. It's easy to buy them when you're working. It's like an addiction. With 100 cars, 200 seemed better, and now it's well past 300."
If you're interested in purchasing the property, you can contact Listing agent Hudson Purba of Century 21 Desert Hills Realty in Kamloops.
By Barett Poley - March 15, 2017
Here's one to make all you painters and paint techs shake your head in confusion! Patina-finished hot-rods were all the rage in the showcar category at Motorama this year, defying conventions as well as conventional paint-jobs. Of the rust-clad rat-rods were a 1959 Chevrolet Apache, a 1954 GMC 9100 heavy-duty, a flat-head-v8 equipped 1940 Ford, and more, their owners all choosing to keep their cars' naturally-aged finishes rather than repainting or refinish the vehicles.
If the painters amongst us are wondering just why in the world somebody would skip out on the painting process, the answer is likely two-fold, with a modifier to the second possible answer. The first answer is cost-effectiveness. Patina 'paintjobs' came to be with the advent of the rat-rod in the late 60s onward. Rather than restoring or 'hot rodding' cars, racers and grease-monkeys would make their cars driving purposed, rather than show-purposed. Where they could save money on paint they would, and chose instead to put those resources into superchargers, bored-out-engines and forged components. In short: they didn't want to look pretty; they just wanted to go as fast as possible on as little money as possible.
This evolved into the second reason many cars kept their rust: the looks. Believe it or not, as more people saw these rusty speedsters driving around, the styling caught on, and at any show now you'll see a collection of patina-clad and rusty hot-rods. The subculture has its roots in classic Americana, but it's sort of evolved on its own now to something completely different, with imported cars donning the rust just as often as American cars – drift missile Nissan Silvias with rusted hoods or even rusted-in designs (such as the car's logo or a rising sun) are common on the drift track and in D-series races.
Fear not, though, paint techs! All of that rust can be bad for a frame and body unless properly done and properly clear-coated afterwards! Now that the culture is more about the look than doing things as cheaply as possible, there's plenty of room for the spray-booth when it comes to building a rat-rod! Clear coating and sealing is the way to go with these cars, so that their age can show, without harming the structural integrity of the car or truck!


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Back by public demand, FILMGATE MIAMI and JEFF QUINTANA PERFORMING ARTS will bring to the Downtown Media Center the Improv Bootcamp you have been waiting for!
This bootcamp is for people of ANY LEVEL interested in growing as actors and humans. We will focus on skills to improve confidence, conversation, focus, listening, acting for comedy, acting for drama and on camera. Whether you are a veteran of the stage or brand new this workshop will benefit you!
Jeff Quintana has been performing since 2003. He has trained and performed at some of the biggest comedy theaters including iO Chicago, The Magnet Theater, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NYC, The Peoples Improv Theater NYC, The Annoyance Theatre Chicago, Second City and more. Jeff has been an instructor for Annoyance Theatre, iO Theater, and the Playground Theatre in Chicago. He continues to work in Miami to create new and innovative theater through emotional vulnerability. Follow Your Fear and grow.
$5 Valet/5 hours flat-- $10 after
PK 1 @ Courtyard Mariott (200 SE 2nd St, Miami FL 33131)
Bring your ticket for validation.We hightly recommend you valet at this parking lot, it is cheapest and most convenient in the area. DO NOT park in lot next to our building


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Video from Handheld Learning 2009/
My talk, "Create It in Your Hand, Share it with the World," from Handheld Learning 2009 is online in video form! This is the presentation where I talk about the importance of creating and sharing, focusing on iPod touch and three types of products: comics, animations, and audio podcasts.
For links and a transcript of the presentation, read my previous blog post. For more video from Handheld Learning 2009, go to Handheld Learning's channel on Blip.tv or subscribe via iTunes.


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Walking around the Eastern Mission its easy to find Tacos San Buena, part of the Tonayense brothers team who have made a major name for themselves in an area known for the best taquerias in America! Their classic taqueria offerings always deliver!
Famous For
Tacos and Burritos
More Information
Website: http://tacosanbuena.com/
Twitter: @tacossanbuena


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Designing For Your Needs
The first step of good design is determining what the need is. For instance, I have a pair of tongs that is my first choice in the kitchen or when grilling. The pair of tongs I select out of the 3 or 4 pairs available in the kitchen is a result of their design. While they spring apart with ease, they do not resist compression too greatly. Neither do they make me wish for larger hands to better grasp them. They were designed by someone who understood the needs of those who use tongs.
Understanding the needs of a homeowner prior to landscape design is the first step to a comfortable experience for the homeowner
after the designer is gone
. Some of these needs are predetermined--for instance, if large trees flank portions of the homeowner's land but are not on his or her property, plants that will thrive in part sun or shade will be a need. If the land shows signs of constant erosion from heavy rainfall, dealing with storm water will be another need. But most homeowner needs are the result of conflicts between what they have and what they want. Finding the solutions that resolve those conflicts are what homeowners are after when they hire designers. (
photo at left--course-textured sedum in a rock garden--great for low maintenance landscapes
Any designer should be able to put together a design that is attractive. In order to ensure a design that really suits you, make sure you identify your needs prior to meeting with a designer. How much maintenance do you want to do? (Be Honest! Some folks 'gripe' about the work they have to do outside...but you can't keep them inside. What does that tell you?) What irks you about your current landscape? Does it provide enough privacy? Do you feel closed off from your neighbors? Do you want views from your windows? Should those views invite you out, or do you want to be content with the view from inside? Do you have children or pets that need to be accommodated?
Some of these might sound more like wants than needs, but, in the context of landscape and our relationship to it, it's imperative to pay attention to the things that bother you, even if those things are subtle. I want a yard that invites me outside. That gives me a place to entertain. That makes spaces for the wild things I love. If I don't have these things in my landscape, the want becomes a psychological need, making me feel impoverished. Nothing outside but grass? Bad. My friends have to be inside? Bad. No bumblebees to pet, hummingbirds to dodge or caterpillars to gently squeeze? Bad. Do you like fragrance? Make sure you have olfactory delights. Do you like color? Make sure you have color in every season. (
photo at right--how many eastern black swallowtail caterpillars do you see in the parsley?
This is where a good designer will earn her fee. Not all good smells come from flowers--nor do all colors. Your designer should have the knowledge base to help you meet your needs. Your job is to articulate those needs before the designer has planted the entire landscape.
In working with my own landscape, the greatest challenges have been imposed by a desire to "do no harm." To me or to the critters. So the issues are the same outside as in--just with a different target audience. Food. Shelter. Water. Places to play with friends and mates. And inside, clean windows so I can watch the show.


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100% Solar TriSports.com, Tucson's very own triathlon, cycling, running and swimming gear shop, is now generating up to 100% of their electricity from solar power. The 128 kW solar electric (photovoltaic) system consists of two solar arrays mounted on custom built steel shade structures and a third array mounted on their roof. The panels will produce over 19,000 kWh per month which has the potential to cover all of the electricity the business uses. TriSports.com is the first triathlon shop to get even close to generating 100% of its electricity from solar power in the United States: they're winning the race for sustainability. Environmental Savings The 128 kW solar system saves 18,560 lbs of coal from being burned each month and 41,400 lbs of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Perhaps most importantly, the TriSports.com solar array will save approximately 9,280 gal of water each month as compared to traditional electricity generation. This fact is often overlooked but is extremely significant in the Sonoran Desert where we live.
Sustainability has always been a goal of TriSports.com and solar is just the latest addition to a larger integration of sustainable practices. Seton Claggett, CEO of TriSports.com, shared this, "Three years ago I told our staff and our vendors that we would be on solar within the next 5 years, and here we are. This is a large investment for us but it is the right thing to do for our environment, our staff, our customers, our vendors and for our future generations." TriSports.com has two large rainwater cisterns that collect and store up to 36,000 gallons of water at a time, which is then used to irrigate the landscaping. The company also made the switch to energy efficient lighting with their latest renovations, which significantly reduces their electricity consumption.
Financial Savings Not only was installing their solar system an environmentally-conscious decision, but it also makes sense from a financial standpoint. The system will offer a four and a half year payback period, a 10% rate of return, and over the first twenty years the solar system will save the company over $467,000.
Bruce Plenk, the City of Tucson's Solar Coordinator, congratulates TriSports.com on their new solar system. "I am impressed with the foresight and leadership of Tucson businesses like TriSports.com who have chosen to be leaders in installing solar using their sunny rooftops as well as their parking areas to generate electricity, reduce our urban heat island and save their business money. This is a wonderful example that I hope other Tucson businesses will see and follow. Thanks to TriSports.com for showing the way to a solar future in our Solar America City!"
KVOA News picked up TriSport's amazing story. Watch the segment on their website.


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Thanks for this article. Seeing a food labeled 'GMO' will definitely have some people discouraged to buy and consume it.
It may not be exactly a piece of green news, but it's most definitely good news. This week, The Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, freeing states to acknowledge that marriages between same-sex couples are legal. Congratulations to everyone involved.
You can have your own opinion about the pros and cons of organic foods, but you cannot make up your own facts. Food Safety News takes a "writer" to task regarding a book containing misleading "facts" about organic foods.
Are you a fan of soy and soy products? Turns out that soy is more than likely environmentally more destructive than you can imagine. Between radical deforestation and poor working conditions in India and China, most soy production isn't good for planet Earth.
According to a new Duke University-led study, residents living near shale gas wells (think: fracking) appear to be a higher risk of drinking water contaminated from released gases. And yet, fracking is going to be part of Obama's new "Climate Action Plan" that environmentalists are hyperventilating with joy over. I don't get it.
And hats off to Chipotle for becoming the first restaurant chain to start labeling all GMO ingredients. It's a great start, for sure, but 12 of the 24 ingredients on their menu are now labeled with a red "G" for GMO. Next step? Get rid of 'em.
Lastly, this one's for you, Maryland. According to new research, the coast of Maryland could see sea levels rise up to 2 feet by 2050. This could spell disaster for anyone living along the Maryland's 3,100 miles of tidal shoreline.
Have a great weekend everyone. Stay cool out there.
Thanks for this article. Seeing a food labeled 'GMO' will definitely have some people discouraged to buy and consume it.
Copyright © 2002-2013. All rights reserved


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Glenn: Piano Teacher in Ealing Broadway, W5, London
Our piano teachers' location in Ealing Broadway, W5, offers piano lessons on a Korg Kronos 2 88key stage piano, in one of our piano teachers' home teaching studios.
Our piano teacher in Ealing Broadway offers piano lessons in all styles of music for ages 6 and above, from beginner to advanced. This piano teacher has a Master of Music degree and extensive experience both performing and teaching piano lessons. He has been teaching piano lessons since 2006. This piano teacher has classical training, and his professional focus currently lies in jazz, pop/rock, and other modern styles. He has performed in Hyde Park for a crowd of 60,000, as well as other prominent venues in London and beyond, including the London Palladium, Coachella Music Festival in California, Greek Theatre in L.A., Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Sydney Opera House, Casa De Musica in Portugal, and Le Trianon in Paris, and has worked with Marina & The Diamonds, Mark Ronson, Katy B, and Anna Calvi. As a piano soloist he performs his own brand of music rooted in jazz and mixing in pop and soul sounds, and appears around London in cocktail bars and for hotel residencies. This piano teacher's classical training and experience in jazz, pop/rock, and contemporary music styles allows his piano lessons to be flexible, designed around his students' musical interests and learning styles.
Request Lessons with our Piano Teacher in Ealing Broadway, W5
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CPD & Resources
Thomas Small and his team have delivered CPD workshops across the UK including at Greenwich Dance Agency, Dundee City Council. Angus Council, YDance, and NHS. We have resource packs to sell based on our critically acclaimed productions. We can work with you to create a bespoke training programme for your nursery, school or university, to build confidence and refresh skills.
More info


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Enhanced Employee Training
Business leaders across industries rank Learning and Development as the third most pressing issue they face today – right behind Employee Engagement and Advancement Opportunities, according to the 2015 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report.
And it's in the top three for good reason: Learning and Development programs have been shown to play a critical role in a company's ability attract and retain top talent.
How critical? Very.
Nearly a quarter of departing employees report that the lack of learning and development opportunities was the key factor in their decision to seek employment elsewhere, according to the National Research Business Institute.
What's more, though, is that not only does robust L&D contribute to a clear increase in employee longevity, it can translate into financial strength too. A study by the American Society for Training and Development found that "companies that offer comprehensive training have a 24 percent higher profit margin than those who spend less on training."
So, three cheers for L&D, certainly, but here's the problem: Despite business leaders' increased awareness in the importance of L&D's role in creating happier employees and healthier bottom lines, their confidence in their company's ability to address L&D has plummeted since 2014.
In fact, the measured difference between importance and company readiness, a metric Deloitte calls the "capability gap," has more than tripled over the past year.
So, what to do? Fill that gap.
GOXD creates and supports learning and development programs for our clients, leveraging data and insights and incorporating the most impactful emerging trends. Consider applying some of the tips below to maximize your L&D programs.
Create a Flexible Format
Employees increasingly request learning solutions that mirror how they access and interact with content outside of work. They want things on demand, in easily digestible nuggets, and accessible on mobile devices. Consider ways to incorporate short, YouTube-style content for a cross-platform learning experience.
Google, for example, has taken its 6-hour training program and broken the content up into bite-sized chunks no longer than seven minutes in length. This gives the employees the ability to download these sessions and watch them whenever and wherever they choose.
Gamify the Learning Experience
Incorporating games and challenges in training programs, even adding social competition, can increase participation, excitement, and engagement in the learning process. Not only are employees attracted to the play element of friendly competition and games, gamification also improves recall by incorporating an interactive element.
Google utilizes online games to help ensure learning. The company includes quizzes after each course to make sure information is being absorbed, and it uses leaderboards to foster friendly competition and increase participation.
Show the Relevance
Employees' ability to understand how their roles connect to the organization's goals is a key factor in employee engagement and satisfaction. Influence this engagement for the better by explaining how each course ties into larger organizational goals and tailoring learning goals and training content to fit employees' individual positions and skills.
MasterCard, for example, ties learning directly to business strategies and has assigned product managers to help make sure learning is directly relevant to individual employees. Apple offers similar tailored content for their employees based on their positions and backgrounds.
GOXD has created similarly bespoke training programs for clients in industries from automotive to finance.


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This striking group exhibition gives art a chance to shine like never before at Marzen! Luminous Flux explores lighted sculpture and conceptual art forms ranging from neon, large scale installation pieces to sculptural glass works. Featuring some of Madison's most notable artists working in light, this illuminated collection of work brightens the dark days of winter.
November 24-January 2
Reception: December 4, 5pm-9pm
coinciding with Atwood Winnebago Winterfestival
Participating artists are:
Steven Feren
Leslie Iwai
Aaron Laux
Katherine Steichen Rosing
Scott Shapiro


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Regular price
Our waxed canvas fabric baskets are very popular!
They can be used for a variety of things like displaying (dry) fruits, hiding not-so-pretty planters (use a saucer!), as a gift basket, storage for remotes & game controllers, use in the bathroom and more!
Details+ Amethyst waxed canvas base+ 100% linen top with exclusive fabric+ White canvas lining+ Genuine leather handles cut in studio+ Rivets+ Approximately 6.5" width x 6.5" length x 6" heightCare instructions: we recommend that you store ONLY dry items in this basket (no wet fruits, plants without saucers, etc) as the basket cannot be washed. Washing would ruin the waxed canvas finish and leather. For small stains, we recommend a wet rag and light scrubbing. Air dry.Designed & handmade in Seattle


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You know you've got some amazing clients when the first time you meet you are in an arm cast, 8 months pregnant, and tell them they will have to wait to sign the contract until months from then. After all of that, these two stuck around and life wouldn't have been the same if they had chosen someone another planner.
Jessica and Jason are the most perfect pair. Jessica is quirky and becomes your best friend in 5 minutes. Jason is reserved and so calm. Together, they made life more fun and tough decisions lighter. They trusted me from the beginning and saw it all come together seamlessly for that very reason. Working the day of their wedding felt more like hanging out with a bunch of new friends rather than "work."
It may have been a tad bit hot in June and Mother Nature may have threatened more than once to damper they big day, but you would never know. Despite a small (but not small) hiccup when Jessica's engagement ring fell into her car air vent the week of the wedding, these two never lost sight of marrying their best friend.
Jessica and Jason - What's there really to say? You make my life a little happier. You were dream clients, and I'm so thankful you chose and trusted Southern Fete. Maybe you should place a bet on how many more times I'll look through your gallery ... or just settle on "too many." Bocce date soon? xoxo
Sarah Beth Photography // Flowers by Rodney // Crescent City Soul // Le Pavillon // Crystal Weddings // Great American Cookie Factory // Bleu Coiffure


text: Write some pre-new year's resolutions! PumpUp member canmeanswill explains that when we write resolutions for the present, the only resolution we'll have for the new year will be to maintain our good work! "Don't make a resolution for a future that is far away. It will only legitimize 'cheating' in the present." We encourage you to tag your resolutions with #MyResolution!


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- Oral presentation
- Open Access
- Published:
Treatment of lumbar curves in adolescent females affected by idiopathic scoliosis with a progressive action short brace (PASB): assessment of results according to the SRS committee on bracing and nonoperative management standardization criteria
Scoliosisvolume 7, Article number: O26 (2012)
Article metrics
1025 Accesses
1 Citations
The effectiveness of conservative treatment of scoliosis is controversial. Some studies suggest that brace is effective in stopping curve progression, whilst others did not report such an effect.
The purpose of the present study was to effectiveness of PASB in the correction of lumbar curves, in agreement with the SRS Committee on Bracing and Nonoperative Management Standardisation Criteria [1][2].
Materials and methods
Fourty adolescent females (mean age 12.95 ± 1.72 years) with lumbar curve and a pretreatment Risser score ranging from 0 to 2 have been enrolled. The minimum duration of follow-up was 24 months (mean: 41.75 ± 34.47 months). Antero-posterior radiographs were used to estimate the curve magnitude (CM) and the torsion of the apical vertebra (TA) at 5 time points: beginning of treatment (t1), one year after the beginning of treatment (t2), intermediate time between t1 and t4 (t3), end of weaning (t4), 2-year minimum follow-up from t4 (t5). Three situations were distinguished: curve correction, curve stabilisation and curve progression.
CM mean value was 26.43 ± 2.77 SD at t1 and 13.80 ± 7.94 SD at t5. TA was 10.83 ± 3.74 SD at t1 and 7.88 ± 4.24 at t5. The variation between measures of Cobb and Perdriolle degrees at t1,2,3,4,5 and between CM t5-t1 and TA t5-t1 were significantly different.
Curve correction was accomplished in 82.5% of patients, whereas a curve stabilisation was obtained in 17.5% of patients.
The PASB, due to its peculiar biomechanical action on vertebral modelling, is highly effective in correcting lumbar curves.
- 1.
Aulisa AG, Guzzanti V, Perisano C, Marzetti E, Menghi A, Giordano M, Aulisa L: Correlation between hump dimensions and curve severity in idiopathic scoliosis before and after conservative treatment. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011
- 2.
Aulisa AG, Guzzanti V, Galli M, Perisano C, Falciglia F, Aulisa L: Treatment of thoraco-lumbar curves in adolescent females affected by idiopathic scoliosis with a progressive action short brace (PASB): assessment of results according to the SRS committee on bracing and nonoperative management standardization criteria. Scoliosis. 2009, 4: 21-10.1186/1748-7161-4-21.
Rights and permissions
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
About this article
- Idiopathic Scoliosis
- Adolescent Female
- Nonoperative Management
- Curve Progression
- Minimum Duration


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Build support groups to help families dealing with ESRD through special programs, and community outreach.
Facilitate prevention by increasing access for screening. This in particular is our key program in developing countries.
Educate communities on how maintaining a healthy lifestyle can protect the kidneys and prevent kidney failures.
Advocate at the state level for more programs and awareness to combat kidney disease both domestic and internationally.
Providing vital medical equipment and resources, such has dialysis Machines for medical staff and hospitals in Africa to help fight Kidney Disease.
Offering financial assistance on a need base to people in developing countries to get screenings and cope with the challenges of Kidney disease.
Raise Awareness of Kidney Disease and the Need for Regular Screenings.
To educate patients & their families understand kidney diseases and options for treatment including Organ donation.
To provide some financial support to transplant and dialysis patients with no insurance.
To work with health Organizations so as to provide more access to dialysis treatment.
To Promote Cadaver and Living organ donation awareness programs and to help break the stigma amongst Minorities.
The facilitation of / Participation in workshops.
To perform active, professional fundraising to generate sponsorship from corporate and donations from the public.
The Family of the Late Justice Scott Moses Ataba Anyangwe wishes to congratulate the Atanga Kidney Foundation (AKF) on the Launching of the Foundation and their 1st Annual Fundraising Gala. The mission of the AKF, which is to promote kidney disease awareness, organ donation awareness, and kidney disease prevention, resonates well with us, because we have lost our dad and husband, Justice Scott Anyangwe, to chronic kidney (renal) disease and we have also seen the life-saving benefit of organ donation. Our dad and husband suffered from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as a result of hypertension. He was fortunate to have an altruistic brother, Mr. George Akande Anyangwe, who donated his kidney to him in March 1987 at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
We the patients of the Cameroon Association of patients on Dialysis and Transplanted Kidneys Bamenda Branch wish to extend our sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the Atanga Kidney Foundation for the financial rescue mission we received following the shortage of Dialysis material at the Bamenda center that lasted for more than one month. We received the sum of 607,796frs. Your assistance went a long way to sustain some lives, even though we still lost some of our brothers due to this problem. We therefore say thank you for the timely intervention.
Your stories are important to us. We welcome them here at the Atanga Kidney Foundation. Share them with us and help provide support and motivation to others.


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American Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
Tau Beta Pi (National Engineering Honor Society)
The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Hearing Committee Member
When complex environmental regulatory and litigation issues surface, clients rely on John J. McAleese to help them resolve those matters. A partner in the Environment & Energy Practice Group and Managing Partner of the Philadelphia office, John has helped corporations in such industries as energy, chemicals, manufacturing, and real estate development address their environmental compliance and litigation needs for more than 25 years. Drawing on his prior experience as a chemical engineer, John is able to quickly assess risks and liabilities and offer his clients reasoned guidance based on their business objectives. John has specifically helped clients by:
Awards & Accolades
Included in the 2003-2020 editions of The Best Lawyers in America
No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. See Awards Methodology.


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01 Jan
Why the poor pay more.
An interesting article about poverty in America. Walks you through specific examples/personal stories about why it is so hard for the poor to escape poverty. Hopefully, this article will allow people to empathize more, rather than attribute simplistic conclusions such as laziness as the causes to poverty.
About Poverty in USA by subto on Scribd


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About QSROnline.com, Inc.
QSROnline is a restaurant management software company located in Corpus Christi, TX that is dedicated to improving restaurant profitability.
For more than a decade, we have provided restaurants with a comprehensive suite of tools to lower food and labor costs, automate accounting and payroll processes, and drive profits. Currently, we serve more than 3000 diverse restaurants across the United States.
QSROnline is a great place to work! Our employees are smart, dedicated and motivated. Company Friday lunches, outings (movies, water parks, etc.), and the unlimited sweets are just a few perks that keep employees happy. Great medical, dental and Vision benefits, 401k and competitive wages make QSROnline a premier employer!


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East Brunswick Emergency Plumbing Services
Hate Waiting? Call Gold Medal Service for 24/7 Plumbing in NJ
Not all plumbing issues occur during business hours. Your drain may become clogged after taking your nightly bath. Your water heater may stop producing warm water in the middle of an early morning shower. With over 24 years of experience in the plumbing industry, our New Jersey plumbers have seen it all.
At Gold Medal Service, you don't have to worry about waiting for the next business hours to get your plumbing system working again. Our team is available to provide you with top quality plumbing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including weekends and holidays. As a company that prioritizes your safety and concern, we are committed to being there for you when you need us most.
Is your house at a standstill because of a plumbing issue?
Contact us today!
Types of Plumbing Emergencies
There are several issues that can occur in your plumbing system. While some are simply annoying like a leaky faucet or a lightly cracked toilet, others can cause significant damage to your property and put your health at risk.
Some of the most common plumbing emergencies include:
- Clogged drains
- Running toilet
- Frozen pipes
- Burst pipes
- Heavy pipe leaks
- Water heater repair
When left unattended for long, these plumbing issues can lead to foundation damage or mold growth. It can also cause a sudden increase in your water bill. With our East Brunswick plumbers, we strive hard to minimize or prevent any of these devastating effects from happening. Our team can come to your home immediately, provide an accurate diagnosis, and get your plumbing fixed in a timely and precise manner.
Please don't hesitate to contact our team for any of your plumbing emergency. Call Gold Medal Service now at (732) 365-3199!


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As the 15th anniversary of Mama's Gun is here we've been reflecting on the years of inspiration E.Badu has shared with us. More than any of her other projects, Mama's Gun was a record we came of age to as we developed our musical, cultural, and political identities. As part of the "holy trinity" of Soulquarian albums released in the year 2000 (along with D'Angelo's Voodoo and Common's Like Water for Chocolate), this album's sound embodied a movement. When approaching Erykah's classic J Dilla production "Didn't Cha Know", we observed how her sound has evolved and pushed ourselves to do the same. Thank you, Ms. Badu.
RIP Dilla.
Produced, arranged, performed and mixed by Columbia Nights
Vocals and Strings by @VaughanOctavia | vaughanviolin.tumblr.com/
Original song produced by J. Dilla
Artwork by Noah Deeakili
twitter.com/columbia_nights | facebook.com/columbianightsmusic | www.columbianights.com


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perfSONAR Engagements
Spring 2015 - Winter 2015
perfSONAR ("Performance focused Service Oriented Network monitoring ARchitecture") is an infrastructure for monitoring network performance. The perfSONAR software toolkit is deployed around the world, primarily at government labs and universities, to help monitor and provide network reliability information across multiple domains. Some of the virtual organizations deploying perfSONAR include ESnet, GÉANT, and Internet2.
This engagement actually consisted of two separate sub-engagements:
- Examine the current vulnerability management process, identify and address needs for improvement, evaluate the need for web100 patches to the kernel and any possibility of getting those included in the main kernel tree, and provide an outside eye to look over perfSONAR's documentation for areas where user expectations may be better managed.
- Perform a code review of the Bandwidth Test Controller (BWCTL) component. The code review consists of two parts: a manual (human focused) First Principles Vulnerability Assessment (FPVA) and a programmatic (automated) static code analysis using the SWAMP. The final report can be found at http://hdl.handle.net/2022/20596


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Tariffs hurting us right here, right now
Here at the Kenwood Press we are hyper-local. Our focus is on Kenwood, Glen Ellen and Oakmont first. Then we expand our circle of coverage to include the wider Sonoma Valley, and Sonoma County, as events affect us right here along Highway 12. You can get state and national news almost anywhere, but you can only get Crime Watch and Village Chat in these pages. And for the most part, its been a good business model for us. Its no secret that all our revenue comes from advertising, and advertisers like it that all of you read the paper cover to cover. Thank you.
We have always told contributors to save their political pieces for other publications, and its rare that state or national events impact our reporting. So we were dismayed to find out that tariffs of 29 to 32 percent on Canadian uncoated groundwood papers, including newsprint and other papers, will directly affect our bottom line. And not only ours, but those of other newspapers, paper producers, and book publishers throughout the country, and other further down the supply chain (ink and equipment manufacturers, for example).
Our printer tells us that not only are prices going up drastically, but that moving forward, the bigger issue will be getting paper at all. Deliveries from paper mills are three to four weeks out now, and some mills are not even returning phone calls.
The printing, publishing and paper-producing industries employ over 600,000 workers. Here at the Kenwood Press, our biggest cost, other than salaries, is printing, as it is at most other publications around the country. Many smaller circulation print publications are hanging by a thread already, and we imagine that many of them provide their communities with the only local reporting for their area.
Why the tariff? According to a newly formed advocacy group called STOPP (Stop Tariffs on Printers & Publishers), it was initiated by petitions filed by a single newsprint mill, NORPAC, an outlier in the industry that is owned by a New York hedge fund, with no additional pulp or paper operations in the United States or globally. NORPAC is looking to use the U.S. government for its own financial gain.
STOPP members include media associations from all over the United States, from Alabama to Wisconsin, Trusted Media Brands (formerly Readers Digest Association), Resolute Forest Products, Rayonier Advance Materials, Quad Graphics, the paper products industry, and book manufacturers, among others. For more information go to www.stopnewsprinttariffs.org.
This country cant afford to lose any more newspapers or book publishers. Well be contacting our representatives to urge Congress and the International Trade Commission to reject these counterproductive tariffs. Please join us.
Alec and Ann


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This henna oil is a blend of 5 favorite high quality aromatherapy grade essential oils (cajeput oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil and frankincense oil) to add in your henna mixture for a dark henna stain. This blend of essential oil contains high amount of terpenes and enhances henna color for a dark henna stain. This essential oil is also great for aromatherapy, use in massage oils, creams, lotions, soaps, perfumes, etc.
Henna oil blend essential oil- 0.5oz.
Buy larger quantities and save $$!
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Our drivers are all professionally trained to follow timeliness, and always provide our clients with a friendly and professional atmosphere. If you are looking for a professional, luxurious and convenient sedan service to use for your next corporate meeting, contact Infinity Transportation today.
Our luxury vehicles are great for entertaining clients, organizing a day out for your employees or ensuring that your clients can have a safe trip to and from the airport. We have worked with many corporate clients in the past who have been very satisfied with the services that we provided. Read some of our previous customer's testimonials here. Our dedication to excellence and professionalism has set us apart from the competition.
If you're interested in our sedan service and would like to find out more, contact us today and one of our friendly customer service agents will guide you through the process of placing an order.