text:
Let's hangout, drink coffee, be weird, be friends.
My name is Amanda (Mandie). I am a photographer based in beautiful rainy Seattle. I love Jesus with my whole heart and strive to bring Him glory through all my work. I love adventure (duh) and I am beyond willing to travel. My best friend since I was 14 is now my husband and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for that. I'm a huge fan of all things photo, moose, John Mayer, rain, & Harry Potter. I love driving at night with the windows down and the heater on. Chic-fil-a sauce should be on everything and cuddling my sweet kitty, Luna, is my favorite part of the day.
I live for the wind in your hair moments where you're consumed with that "this is it" happiness. All of life's mile markers are so important to me. I love how everyones mile markers are different. Some are quiet, some are loud, and I feel overwhelming lucky to be able to capture those moments for people. I would love to scale a mountain with you and your boo if that's your thing, but I'm also down to hang with you guys at home and capture all the quiet moments that sing loudest in your heart.
I've been shooting wedding for 2 years now and families for 5. I've proudly been the one silently crying with my clients during their vows, first looks, births, prayers, etc. Nothing is more precious to me than getting a front row seat to the best moments in someones life. Life is crazy hard and I am the first one to admit it's not always picture perfect. That's why I choose to celebrate all the in-between moments along with the big. Let me help you celebrate yours.


text:
Muslimah Fest
What is the Muslimah Fest?
Ladies, our time is NOW! Muslimah Fest is a time to celebrate everything great, powerful, inspiring and wonderful about Muslim women. It's an opportunity to be educated, empowered and inspired by the awesome successes of the women in our community. Join us on November 10th 10AM-6PM at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center for Motivational Lectures, Real Talk, Modesty Fashion Show, Quranic Recitation, Delicious Food, Short Films by Muslim Women, Beauty and Health tips, Spoken Word and so much more!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Despite intense interest from the geek set, Canonical's Ubuntu Edge Indiegogo campaign still fell short of its ambitious $32 million funding goal. In fact, project to build a dual-booting, open-source smartphone ended late last night at less than half its goal, with $12.8 million pledged from 27,000 backers. While impressive, that wasn't even close to the sum needed to greenlight the project.


text:
Amelia Island 2015
Amelia Island car week did not let us down. The quality and the mix of vehicles was outstanding. After many years wishing we could break away to Florida to attend the events of the week, we finally made to commitment to attend. The week had some poor weather, rain and cold, but it didn't stop the fun of checking out some cars and visiting with some old and new car friends. We hope the Amelia Island car week becomes a regular event on our calendar.
At the auctions. We attended and registered to bid at Bonhams and Gooding & Co. Although we came home without a newly purchased vehicle, we didn't feel like we left disappointed.
Some photos from the trip.


text:
Cinzia Casu1*, Luca Viganò2 and Matteo Fanuli3
1Doctor of Dental Surgery, Private Dental Practice, Cagliari, Italy
2Department of Radiology, San Paolo Dental Building, Milano, University of Milan, Italy
3Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
Received Date: June 20, 2018; Accepted Date: June 29, 2018; Published Date: July 6, 2018
Citation: Casu C, Viganò L, Fanuli M (2018) Lip Metastasis: An Overview of the Last 30 Years. J Rare Disord Diagn Ther 4:13. doi: 10.21767/2380-7245.100181
Metastasis to the oral cavity is a rare event and constitutes 1% of all oral cavity malignancies. 412 oral soft tissue metastasis were documented in scientific literature, in a period between 1937 and 2015; gum was the site most involved. We had found only 8 cases of oral metastasis on the lips searching on PubMed with the keywords "oral mestastasis in lips", "lip metastasis". The primary malignant tumor that most frequently metastases at the labial level is certainly the renal tumor with 5 cases out of 8. In 5 cases the upper lip was affected, there was 1 case in which metastasis was present in both lips, and this is a very interesting data because the other malignant disease are more frequent in the lower lip.
Metastasis to the oral cavity is a rare event and constitutes 1% of all oral cavity malignancies [1]. Oral cavity metastases are mostly observed in the jaws compared to the soft tissues, particularly in the posterior area of the mandible. The most recent review on the oral soft tissue metastasis reported that only 33% of oral metastatic lesions are seated in the soft tissues [1]. In a period between 1937 and 2015, 412 oral soft tissue metastasis were documented in the literature, gum was the site most involved [1]. Oral squamous cell carcinoma and Actinic Cheilitis are the main malignant disease that can develop in the lips [2]. Actinic Cheilitis involves overall the lower lip and male patients of middle age [2]. The percentage of malignant transformation is more than 17%. Also chronic discoid lupus erythematous can develop in the lips with a percentage of cancerization of 3.3% [2]. We had found only 8 cases of oral metastasis on the lips searching on PubMed with the keywords "oral metastasis in lips", "lip metastasis".
The primary malignant tumor that most frequently metastases at the labial level is certainly the renal tumor with 5 cases out of 8 [3-7]. The most frequent primary tumor site of oral metastasis is lung, breast, prostate [1]. A case of endometrial carcinoma [8,9], a case of lung cancer and a case of ciliary body melanoma [10] were reported in the literature. In 5 cases patients were male, and in 2 cases were female, in one case the gender and the age of the patient was not reported. The average age of the patient involved is 61, 14 years old. In most cases the upper lip was affected (in 5 cases, 1 in which metastasis was present in both lips), and this is a very interesting data because the other malignant disease are more frequent in the lower lip [2]. In the last case reported the lesion was very big, 1, 8 x 2 cm [3]. Comparing these data with the average size of metastatic lesions on the oral soft tissues, which is about 28.5 mm, we can conclude that the only data we have on the lip is that we suggest that the lesion is intercepted earlier than the other oral metastasis [11-18]. In fact, the lip is definitely the most visible district of the oral cavity. However, a maximum diameter of 20 mm suggests some diagnostic delay, by oncologists, dermatologists and dentists. The metastasis of ciliary body appeared after 6 years from the primary neoplastic lesion [10]. Sometimes other oral sites could be interested such as the case reported in 1994 by Corsi et al. in which at the first there was a metastasis on the cheek, after 46 months of nefrectomy and then on the upper lip at 51 months later [7].
The association with renal tumor and the increased involvement of the upper lip should be investigated, so that patients with kidney's tumor can be more closely followed by dermatologists, oral pathologists and oncologists for an early diagnosis of the oral metastasis, in this way the lesion does not have a size of about 2 cm when it is discovered.
All Published work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Copyright © 2019 All rights reserved. iMedPub LTD Last revised : September 18, 2019


text: Judith Clark, of Women Who Care Ministries (WWCM), received a $2,000 check from B-CC Rotary Club Foundation for their Helping Kids Eat Backpack Weekend Meal Program. Starting in September B-CC Rotary Club will pick up bins of food from WWCM and re-package them individually for the kids. The packaged food is then delivered to a local Elementary School.


text:
Arnella Nechita-Rotta
Executive Director Sunimprof Rottaprint
Arnella is a mother, wife and entrepreneur, and assists at the helm of a company that is market leader in a continually-changing market. In 1991, she built the first self-adhesive labels typography in Romania together with her mother and husband and, ever since, Sunimprof Rottaprint has been producing self-adhesive labels made of sheets and flexible packaging for the majority of Romanian FMCG brands. More so, their products have also reached Europe, Asia and the US.


text:
What is Sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a common treatment for spider veins. This treatment method has been around for almost a century, and has been proven over and over again to be both effective and safe for spider vein removal.
What are Spider Veins?
Spider veins are widened venules that appear as red or blue, spider web-like marks on the skin or mucous membranes. In general, they are not associated with any symptoms, but skin irritation or pain might occur in some cases. Spider veins can be found anywhere on the body, including in the white of the eyes or inside your mouth, but are most commonly observed on the face, feet, ankles, legs and thighs.
How does Sclerotherapy Work?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a sclerosant, a special kind of fluid, is injected straight into the spider vein through a fine needle. One such sclerosant is polidocanol (aethoxysclerol), which is also a local anestethic, and thereby does not burn or sting as some solutions might. The injection results in irritation of the blood vessel walls, shrinking of the veins and clotting of the blood, essentially rendering the vein non-functional. Consequently, the vein will break down and gradually fade away from sight.
Benefits of Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is associated with several benefits, in addition to providing effective symptom relief. First, it is a minimally invasive and relatively fast procedure, with each session only taking approximately 15-30 minutes, and there is very little, if any, pain or discomfort during the procedure. Second, the recovery period is relatively quick; you can usually get back to your every day routine immediately after the procedure (with the exception of strenuous exercise and taking hot baths). Lastly, this procedure has been demonstrated over and over again to be highly safe, and the risk of side effects is minimal.
That said, it is important to keep in mind that sclerotherapy is not right for everyone. For example, this treatment is not effective for very large varicose veins, and it is not recommended for women during pregnancy. You should always consult with your vein care specialist before deciding on which treatment is right for you. After treatment, patients have a renewed sense of confidence and are able to wear shorts, skirts and dresses. Get your 20-year-old legs back!


text:
Here we have a mixtape I made awhile back. I used Lyvo's tracks that I pulled off bandcamp as the germs for these songs, I remixed, stretched, and changed the tracks around a bit. Lyvo published his project, Chapter I&II, as creative commons which is awesome. I took the tracks and composed some original lyrics to give the songs some form. Thanks for listening 🙂
An Infinite Regression of Past Lives
A skunk walks across the beach
in a red and white striped one piece,
a surfboard under his arm.
He stops every woman
to ask for the time of day.
None give it to him
as bikini clad women
tend not to wear watches.
They are, for the most part, cordial
in their refusals,
but the waves laugh at his rejections.
The skunk, visibly frustrated by the guffaws,
refrains from spraying the water
out of respect for the other beachgoers.
The skunk is not a skunk at all,
He is a businessman carrying a briefcase.
The sand is Grand Central Station.
He constantly checks his watch,
then squints at the schedule,
then back to his watch.
He is the type of person who shows up
hours early in case of this very predicament
and would likely catch his train with time to spare.
He asks anyone and everyone
for directions to the proper platform,
pointing to his ticket for reference.
No one acknowledges his presence.
He is not a businessman at all.
He is me. I am no businessman.
I am in a motel room
washing my face
I don't know what city I'm in,
some town bordering Detroit.
I stare into the mirror in the mirror,
see how many of me there are.
It's three a.m. and I have a strange feeling
I'm going to a funeral tomorrow.
Why else would I pack a suit?
Drunk On New York
Madness is unrefined passion
Passion is exonerated madness
Yak's milk is sweet
and I drink to no end
No end
like these streets—
I walk every one
and never grow tired
knowing even eternity won't last forever
and I have a train to catch
out to the countryside, where a mad yak
waits for me
with an infectious smile
with pure milk
which I drink to no end
and think of the endless city streets—
with bronze idols, glass walls,
cemented paths
That is all behind me now
The streets are behind me
The train is behind me
The mad yak is behind me
goading me to keep going to no end
goading me to drink her milk to no end
until the last sap of life is drained
so she can sleep to no end
so her dreams become my dreams
and my dreams travel beyond
the endless city streets
who refuse to sleep
They drink me to no end
consuming the same mad yak visions
that gestate in the womb of slumberless nights
who give birth to babies
that overrun the endless city streets
with cries for yaks milk.
The wails resonate
off skyscrapers as
an admission of want for nothing
other than mother,
an omission of subways, stadium deals,
condo complexes, dreams of electric sheep.
A call for transformation
of pavement to pasture
and the world's city citizens
to sprout curved horns
grow hooves, don thick coats of fur
and udders and udders
filled with the passion and madness
of yaks milk
Voice Control
By Peter
wave function rolls
over tongue
say it
say it
it again
thoughts like
french kiss
ear lick
mind meld
right thought (check)
right speech (check)
(right) action
communication out
of focus
a monkey teaching a dolphin
to climb a tree
both agree that
oranges are oranges
peel means skin
skin does not mean peel
you can skin a banana
but you can't peel a cat
you can tuna fish
can the piano
it's out of tune
false positives
doubly negated negatives
placebos work
if you let them
everything is a matter
of percentages
90% of the time
from vegas to wall street
but I live in kansas
off-broadway is still broadway
paris is still paris
and still burning
I make a claim
then stake it
I have no idea what
that expression means
none of the words I invented
are in the dictionary
I shout them
from rooftops
on cold nights
words are just a song
I don't know the melody
translate english into
english into english
and the original
meaning is lost
if it had one to begin with
this corn maze means
something but
is too big
for me make it
out alive
I need the bees
to dance my way out
I recite my lines
stage directions say
to exit left
I do
the curtain closes
no one applauds
Moving House
Moving house
A year of memories
Fun times
Remembering clogged drains
Fluorescent lights
Memories in space
Moving house
A house I outgrew
A year of posession
Moving house


text:
Saturday, March 08, 2014
A real life experience...
3 comments:
Hindsight can certainly put things into their right places, I think. You can often see the patterns and the connections throughout your life, as painful a process as that can be (and I know you have had many painful life experiences). Still, all of that together has made you into the person you are today, and since you can't change the past, you just have to accept and love yourself as the good person you still are now and move on. It's really all anybody can do, isn't it?
- March 8, 2014 at 4:00 AM
- Maggie May said...
I'm sure you have nothing to blame yourself about. No need to feel this way.
It's true that if a pebble is thrown into a pond, then the ripples reach far and wide affecting all who are in it's path.
You have grown as a person even though you suffered from the premature death of your mum.
You have reminded me that my father has been dead for thirty years now. I can't really get my head round that as it only seems like yesterday. yet....... I was in my forties then.
I heard this morning that it was woman's day.
Maggie x
Nuts in May
- March 8, 2014 at 3:24 PM
- Wisewebwoman said...
I am happy for you that staying put was your decision and to dress up your dwelling. I loved the pics on FB, I felt I was sitting there and having a cup of our favourite blend with you. I would make you cappuccinos.
It is extraordinary how one huge trauma can continue to shape our lives. Same for me. But not death as in your case but life for me.
Special hugs on this anniversary. I've never recovered from the death of my mother nearly 43 years ago now.
- March 9, 2014 at 2:24 AM


text:
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Thunderball Grotto
Staniel Cay is the home of the Thunderball Grotto. The James Bond film Thunderball was filmed there in the 70s. It started as a puddle on a big rock. Over time the puddle got deeper and deeper and the waves wore out the underside of the rock. They eventually met and formed Thunderball Cave. Seb and I took turns snorekeling through this incredible cave. The fish in and around the grotto are abundant, huge and incredibly colourful. The cave itself is like something out of a movie...yeah, really. We were hoping to take Emma and Macsen into the cave on our second visit at slack tide but Emma was unwilling. I took Macsen in swimming with him on my back. He stayed and looked around for about 10 sconds. My exclamations of awe were met with a very short "OK, but can we get out now."
Geplaatst door S/Y Pjotter op 04:21
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text:
essay on of our spiritual strivings
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text:
My stomach lurched, and then the moment of transition passed. When my vision cleared, I found myself in a world of circuitry and electric green light. The Mines were not truly a mine in the traditional sense; they'd been equipped to excavate tons of ore but this had been done not to retrieve valuable minerals but simply to dig deeply into the planet's surface. Why this had been done, I had no idea, nor did anyone else admit to knowing. The very existence of the place, though, was clear evidence that there was far more to Pioneer 1 than a simple colonization mission.
No Man's Mines themselves weren't just a road to whatever lay beneath, either. They contained laboratories and industrial factories, advanced computer resources for projects that were as mysterious as the mines themselves.
What they also contained was trouble.
Just as the surface and the caves had been infested by monsters, so too did the mines have theirs. Somehow, industrial robots had been customized--some very effectively--for battle. These roamed the mine, seeking out and attacking any intruders. My second mission on behalf of the military had been to clear an area of these robots so that army scientists could check things out. As usual, my employers didn't trust the Council's hunter team to do the job right--or to offer a full report.
Paranoia was such an entertaining diversion.
There were robots in this area of the mine, too. In fact, four attacked in the room just past the transporter from the Pioneer 2. Luckily, I was ready for them.
As I'd indicated, the loss of my autogun was no barrier to my performance in the field. I'd switched over to a high-powered military blaster, a combat rifle used by soldiers. It was good to have army contacts, who could tap military supply channels. This particular weapon had had its Photon output adjusted so that it would be even more effective against mechanical enemies, precisely what I needed under the circumstances.
The robots were basically humanoid, a bit shorter than I was, nightmares of glistening steel and tangled cable. Their crude design and ill-defined faces hinted at how much less advanced they were than the androids of Pioneer 2, or even most computer systems. They could only process and carry out simple tasks, their current orders apparently being to seek out and kill all intruders.
I wondered if the scientists who'd used these corridors had given the orders, or if instead it was someone else, someone more recent, who was using these machines to keep us from fully investigating No Man's Mines.
My blaster spat Photon energy at the nearest robot, the bursts of violet destruction hammering into its midsection. The thing was thrown back, top half separated from its legs by my attack. It self-destructed, detonating in a small, contained explosion that blew its shell to scrap and slagged down its microcircuitry. I was already turning to the next robot, sighting along the barrel and sending three shots into its "head." Bereft of its main sensor array, it spun in a circle and went down as well.
Fighting multiple enemies in an enclosed space was never an easy thing, and although the robots were slow-moving, they were still able to get around the small chamber quickly enough to cause trouble. One's clanking footsteps alerted me to its proximity, and I ducked low under a swipe of its hand. I knew from unpleasant experience the power of those clubbing blows; it was like getting hit by a very heavy steel bar in the hands of a very strong person.
Since I was already ducking, I dropped and rolled forward to open up some distance between myself and the robot. As I did, a searing energy bolt passed just behind me, reminding me of their second method of attack. Whomever had customized the machines for combat had gone the extra mile and equipped them with long-range weaponry for dealing with people like myself who preferred to fight enemies at a distance.
I spun on my side and fired low at the shooter, my repeated attacks scything it off at the knees. I pivoted back to the last robot just in time; its right arm was extended and the muzzle of its beam weapon was pointing directly at me. I fired first, catapulting the robot off the wall with repeated direct hits to its torso.
Four up, four down.
An irksome feature of the mechanical killers was their habit of self-destructing upon taking serious damage. While the blast was not powerful enough to cause damage to enemies (or nearby robots) or to send shrapnel flying lethally through the room, it did a very good job of destroying the robot's internal electronics. That meant there was no way to analyze their programming in search of answers as to who had created the robotic army and why.
Thinking over my experience, the notion came to me that even if I was right and Alicia had come down to the mines to work on her data, I might not find her. A single individual, especially one who wasn't an experienced hunter, might well not survive the exploration of the area. Alicia Baz's corpse, together with the answers she promised, could well be lying in some unknown corner of this technological pit.
With that grim thought in mind, I called up Jeromy's map and synched it with the one in my radar unit. They meshed neatly, and I headed out to the next room. The trip wasn't an easy one, owing to the variety of robots I encountered along the way, but the map allowed me to take the most direct route possible. That and my skill with weapons got me through unscathed to what Jeromy had designated as Bio-Technology Lab C, a large, square-shaped room with cylindrical tubes mounted along the walls. They were empty now, but each was easily large enough to accommodate a person, or perhaps a large creature. Bio-engineered animals, perhaps, to be added to Ragol's ecosystem?
Somehow, I didn't think it was anything that benign. My eyes scanned the room, taking in the details, looking for any sign that someone was here. There were none, only the faint greenish glow of the lights that were present in every room.
At the other end of the lab was a second door, which according to Jeromy's map led to the computer room. Each lab like this would have its own sub-computer for faster processing of data than if they had to fight for mainframe time with all of the other labs. If Alicia was working here, that's where she'd be.
Luckily, the door was not locked; it slid open at my approach. I could see that the small chamber was dominated by a multi-screened computer bank about eight feet wide. The computer was active, its screens displaying a variety of charts and graphs, and stuck in one corner next to it was a bedroll.
"Alicia, are you here?" I called, stepping through the door. I didn't have time to see any more, though, because the side of my skull seemed to explode in pain. I swayed, toppled, and the floor came up to meet me but I never saw the end result because darkness swallowed me before I hit.
* * * * *
Consciousness returned slowly and dimly to my brain, pulling me back from a world of phantasmoragic dreams. I was sorry to make the return at first; my head throbbed like it had been through a week-long drunk, albeit only on one side, and that pain was added to because my hands had been lashed to my ankles behind my back, not only drastically inhibiting my movement but also being an annoyingly cramped position. As for my gun, there was no sign of it.
"Who sent you?"
Dizzily, I looked around, moving my head slowly.
"I know you can hear me. Who sent you?"
"Fersen," I said. It's probably a bad habit, but when I'm not quite sure what's going on I tend to respond to questions with the truth. Or in this case, part of the truth. I figured "Some guy who won't give me his name or even show his face on the link" probably wasn't quite what the questioner wanted to hear.
Then again, the response to my actual answer turned out to be a high-pitched, barking laugh.
"What do you take me for, an idiot?" The voice was feminine and sounded strained, even brittle. Then my vision decided to stop showing me two of everything and I realized that "brittle" was no more than would be expected.
It was Alicia Baz, all right, but she definitely wasn't the composed, elegant scientist I knew from her picture. On the contrary, she looked like a woman who was about twelve seconds from a mental breakdown of epic proportions. The white and yellow Force's robes were dirty and stained with blood and a variety of mechanical fluids. Her elaborate hat was gone, and her long blue hair hung bedraggled around her shoulders. The dark circles around her eyes were nearly purple; she'd obviously pushed herself near exhaustion, and little tremors ran through her body.
The physical strain I could understand. She had obviously had to hunt room by room through the mines until she found a lab with suitable computer facilities. Alicia, while a Force, was neither a trained hunter nor a soldier and as such was not used to combat. The struggle to get this far must have been brutal.
As for the mental strain, I could only guess.
"Your friends are worried about you, and from what I can see, they've got good reason."
Her hands clenched and unclenched spastically.
"You're saying that they, Fersen and Alex and Delilah and all the rest, actually got together and hired a hunter to find me? They hardly have two meseta to jingle in their pocket."
"The way Fersen tells it, they nagged your ex-employers into posting the reward. If I bring you back successfully, I get the nice ripe sum of five thousand meseta."
A shiver ran through her, and she grabbed up her cane, a Force's weapon with a clubbing head. No doubt the Photon charge in its head was responsible for the throbbing pain in my head.
"My...ex-employers? They sent you?"
"No, Fersen sent me. They, as you call them, just put up the money. There's a difference. As a hunter, I work for my client, not the person paying the freight."
"That doesn't matter," she spat angrily. "Fersen is a boy. He may be worried, but he'll turn me over to the senior officials and the soldiers when they come to interrogate me."
They would come, too; I knew that much to be so if even half the suppositions I'd come up with were correct.
Of course, that was a big "if."
"So what is it?" I groaned. "What's the big secret that makes you so valuable?"
"You think I'll tell you?" she exclaimed with a hysterical laugh that felt like a spike being driven into my aching head. I sighed heavily.
"Look, Alicia," I told her, using her own name. "There are two possible options here. Either I'm lying to you or I'm telling the truth. If it's a lie and I really have been sent by the bad guys, whomever they are, then I already know what you're up to, or at least my bosses do or I'd never have been sent here in the first place. So it wouldn't matter if you told me or not. On the other hand, if I'm telling you the truth then I'm here to help you, and I can't do that if I don't know what kind of game we're playing. I swear, trying to keep score in this mess is giving me more of a headache then your cane!"
It was a slight exaggeration, but only a slight one. She didn't respond at once this time, so I tried a little more truth.
"My sister Vel was on Pioneer 1, Alicia. I want to know what happened to her and you may have the answers. That's why I took this job in the first place. I couldn't pass up the chance to learn the truth."
She looked at me with wide, lost eyes.
"The truth?" she said incredulously. "You want to know the truth?"
Something inside Alicia seemed to snap, and she collapsed, crumpling to a seated position with her back to the wall, and began to weep into her hands. The sobs wracked her body for several long minutes, and I inexplicably wanted to go across to her and hold her reassuringly like I would a frightened child. Of course, trussed up as I was like a fowl ready for roasting that wasn't an option for me.
After at least ten minutes, the crying began to die away, replaced by the deep, heavy breathing of one who was exhausted, worn down beyond bearing. I looked at her and listened, and then I realized something important.
"This has been going on for some time, hasn't it?" I asked. "Not just the few days you've been down here, but long before that. Probably from the day you quit working for the military lab, whichever one it might happen to be."
She raised her head slowly from her hands.
"Do you know why I left that laboratory?" she asked.
"No, I don't."
"It was because I didn't think it was right to kill animals to collect data from them. It was pure sentiment. Isn't that crazy?"
"Well, I'll admit that I'm not all that squeamish about kllling the animals of Ragol, but that's because about everything on this planet seems to want to kill me on sight. As for the general principle, though, you might have a point."
"I hated it," she said. The whole attitude of the lab was, 'how can we use Ragol?' and 'how can we change Ragol to better suit us?' It was all one-sided; there was no respect for the environment here at all. That's why I quit; it had nothing to do with secrets or mysteries or Pioneer 1."
Another deep sign, almost a moan, escaped her lips.
"So how did you get tangled up in this?"
"Curiosity," she said bitterly. "Pure scientific curiosity. I've studied large mammals all my life, and was looking forward to research on Ragol's indigenous species. The data brought back by the hunter on that last mission, though..." She shook her head. "It was strange, so strange that I couldn't believe it. So, after a couple of days away from the lab, I couldn't resist trying to verify that data with my own eyes."
"What did you find out?"
Alicia smiled sadly.
"The results were absolutely correct."
"Well, that's informative," I said sarcastically. It probably wasn't my best course of action, but no one has ever accused me of having a temperate personality. I just hoped my lack of diplomatic skill didn't get an ice blast shoved somewhere unpleasant.
It didn't, though. Instead, it won me an apologetic smile, which was not precisely what I'd expected from the woman. Apparently the fit of crying had helped her to release some of her emotional tension and relax.
"I'm sorry. I'd made up my mind to talk to you, but it's still hard. The truth is, it's very hard to explain to a layman what had taken place as it is a genetic issue."
"Genetic?" I asked. There are some words which grab at the imagination, catching people's attention, and that's one of them. At least for me. "You're saying that the animals on Ragol went crazy and started attacking people because of their genes?"
"It's not that simple." Her voice was much calmer now, even pedantic, and I started to get a glimpse of the skilled researcher she had been before the trouble had taken over. "Something has been done to them...well, except for the Rappies."
"Yes, but the question is, what?"
"Well, the biology of the animals on Ragol, while obviously different in certain ways, is essentially similar to that of our homeworld. Because of that, there are distinct parallels in our basic makeup. One of those is that their genes follow certain patterns. Their DNA is constructed of basic building blocks. However, these animals show a completely foreign material inserted into their genetic makeup."
"You mean, someone did some kind of genetic experimentation on them?"
"Yes, but it's more than that. Gene therapy alters the DNA in certain targeted cells, but in other cells, the previous genetic structure remains the same. Like, if someone has a disease of the pancreas, doctors can correct the defect in pancreatic cells, but they won't change every skin cell, every bone, and so on to match. These animals have had every cell in their bodies, so far as we can tell, altered to include the foreign matter."
"So how do you know it's foreign, then? Maybe it's supposed to be there--part of Ragol's ecosystem?" I suggested. "It's not like you have a lot of samples."
She shook her head.
"No, and there's two reasons. One is that this foreign matter appears exclusively in the part of the genetic code affecting the brain, even though the DNA makeup of each species is different. Each 'monster' type, if my understanding is correct, would have extraordinary sensitivity to emotions and empathic impressions."
She looked at me as if to make sure I'd understood what she had said. I did, perhaps a third of it.
"So every single cell in each animal carries the genetic information for the changes in the brain, even though most of those cells have nothing to do with it and aren't altered in function by the foreign genetic matter?"
Alicia nodded.
"That's exactly right. What's more, during the quest when I went to the surface personally, the hunter and I encountered a young Hildebear. The baby was injured and had been neglected by its parents at a stage in its life when it could not fend for itself. This would not be unusual for insects, fish, reptiles, or amphibians, but is completely out of character for large mammals. It also wasn't aggressive."
She paused, and I could tell what was coming next, but I let her have her dramatic moment.
"I scanned the young Hildebear. While the scan was preliminary, as we did not kill the animal, I found no signs of genetic alteration."
"So something changed these animals, making them violent and aggressive in ways which they were not before, and which they wouldn't be naturally?"
Alicia nodded, then smiled at me.
"And that's what you came down here to study," I concluded, "because you needed a computer no one on Pioneer 2 could hack into or spy on."
The look of fear flickered back into her eyes.
"How did you know that?"
"It's why I'm here in the first place. I looked at your computer--it was too clean. I am halfway good at my job, you know, and I was hired to find you."
"By Fersen, you said, who doesn't know anything about secret data or genetic research!"
The tremor was starting to come back into her voice, and that worried me.
"No, he doesn't, but he's not my only source of information. I wasn't dumb enough to think that's all there is to this job, and I checked around. I already told you as much. I just didn't know the why of it until you explained things."
"No, you still don't know the why of it."
"I don't?"
"I haven't told you what I learned here"--she waved a hand at the computer--"by analyzing the data."
"What did you find?"
"At first I thought it might be some kind of plague, an unusual disease organism attacking its prey on the subcellular level, and there do seem to be some distinct similarities in the way this foreign material proceeds from cell to cell until the entire organism is altered. That wasn't the root cause, the reason the foreign matter was present in the animal originally."
I knew it was silly, maybe even juvenile, but my emotions were strung to a fever pitch. Under her emotional strain, Alicia Baz was doing as good a job as any professional storyteller in building suspense in her captive audience.
Melodrama, I thought, but the cynicism couldn't quite touch me--not really. I truly was interested, even excited, about learning what Alicia had discovered.
"Did you find that root cause?"
"Oh, yes."
She licked her lips.
"Upon further analysis of the data taken from the native animals, I found faint but distinct traces of standard genetic engineering methodology. There's no question but that these animals were altered by the scientists of Pioneer 1."


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I learned about Banach spaces a few weeks ago. A Banach space is a complete normed vector space. This of course made me wonder: are there unnormed vector spaces? If there are, can anyone please provide any examples?
Some thoughts:
A complete space is where all Cauchy sequences converge.
A normed vector space is a vector space (say, over $\mathbb{R})$ on some norm $N$ (which is a function that maps $N\to\mathbb{R}$), where the norm obeys the triangle inequality, the norm of a vector is non-negative, and if you have a scalar being multiplied by a vector, you can factor the scalar out, but it'll have absolute value braces.
I'm not really sure what is needed in order to have an unnormed vector space (perhaps the vector space necessarily needs to be infinite dimensional?). Perhaps something really weird like the zero space?
Thanks for any insight.


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Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A tale of three cities
Councillors spend a lot of time in the council chamber in St Kilda in meeetings formal and informal. Our companions are the mayoral chairs and crests of the three former cities of St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne. I am constantly intrigued by the story they tell of the character of those three cities: St Kilda flamboyant and artistic, Port Melbourne plain and modest, and South Melbourne grand and imposing. At least, that's how I read them.
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By Albert L. Winseman, D.Min
Near the beginning of the recent movie, "The Greatest Showman," P.T. Barnum first as a boy and then as a young man sings:
"Every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make."*
These lyrics resonate with those who have Ideation among their Signature Themes, because they know what it's like to have a million dreams keeping them awake. Ideation dreams, imagines, creates. There is a power in ideas, and those ideas tend to come fast and furiously. Individuals with high Ideation can find themselves getting lost in thought; not necessarily deep thought (which tends to be associated more with the Intellection theme) but plentiful thought. "What if …?" is a favorite expression of Ideation, and if you want the best of someone high in Ideation, ask them to come up with a new process, a new product, or a new perspective, or to find a way to do something that has never been done before. The thrill is in the novelty -- and in the novelty there just might be the answers we've been looking for, if we only have the eyes to see it.
Ideation: Helps and Hinders
When you coach those with Ideation in their Top Five, helping them claim both the "helps" and the "hinders" of the theme is critical to productive aiming. Some common helps and hinders of Ideation include:
• With your natural ability to consider issues from multiple perspectives, you can find solutions to problems that may vex others. This solution-finding perspective makes you a valuable member of your team.
• You are creative and can generate ideas around nearly any topic. Your ideas can become plans for addressing inefficiencies, creating new processes or developing inspirational team goals.
• You see the bigger picture, and because you see connections where others may not, you can explain initiatives and decisions. You can help others see the "why."
• You are drawn to complexity -- in part because of your desire to see and understand the simplicity in the midst of complexity. You can help others see a way forward, making sense of what appears to them to be nothing short of chaos.
• You tend not to be satisfied with the status quo. This can create friction and misunderstanding. Help others see the logic of your push for change.
• Sometimes the sheer multiplicity of the ideas you generate can be overwhelming -- both to you and to others. It might help you and those you work with if you create a system and process for prioritizing the value of your many ideas.
• By nature you tend not to be the most practical of humans on the planet. That's OK, but there are times when you need a reality check. Find a partner who can keep you grounded.
• For you, the ideating is the thrill -- not necessarily putting the idea into action. This can lead to your having a reputation of a dreamer, not a doer. Find someone with whom you can partner to turn your best ideas into reality.
Ideation: Self-Awareness, Self-Expression, Self-Regulation
In order to productively aim Ideation -- or any -- talents at a particular goal, an individual must have: 1) self-awareness about the theme's power, edge and vulnerabilities; 2) an understanding of how the theme finds expression in day-to-day thinking, feeling and behaving; and 3) knowledge of how to regulate the theme to maximize the potential positive outcomes that can be realized through intentionally applying a strengths-based approach. Coaches can help clients with strong Ideation talents by exploring the following:
• The Power and Edge of Ideation: Those with Ideation among their Signature Themes bring new and fresh ideas to situations and projects, and are natural innovators. Their creative energy can bring an alternative perspective to a team's challenges.
• The Vulnerabilities of Ideation: With their tendency to prefer novelty over the tried and true, those strong in Ideation may reflexively discard conventional ways of doing things -- even if the tried and true is sound, efficient and productive.
Coaches can assist clients in realizing and claiming the expression of Ideation by helping them explore instances in the past when this theme has been particularly useful. To facilitate this exploration, coaches can ask the following questions:
• How do you get your best ideas?
• Who helps you clarify your thinking?
• What has been your greatest success -- either at work or in your personal life? How did your Ideation talents contribute to that success?
• Do you schedule "musing time" for yourself to give free rein to your ideas?
Self-Regulation occurs when individuals know which of their talents to use in particular situations, or know which talents to combine to amplify or accelerate a specific talent, or to soften or moderate that talent. For example, sometimes those with strong Ideation talents can slow a team down at crucial moments because they have a "great new idea" they need to share -- they may not realize the right time and place for sharing their latest brainstorm. In situations like this, a coach can help the client find other talents that might yield better results. Also, coaches can help clients explore different theme combinations. Because Ideation is a Strategic Thinking theme, below are some possible combinations that will either activate or clarify Ideation:
• Themes that tend to activate Ideation: Achiever, Activator, Restorative, Maximizer, Belief, Competition
• Themes that tend to clarify Ideation: Strategic, Intellection, Analytical, Discipline, Learner, Deliberative
Ideation: Five Powerful Questions for Productive Aiming
• What has been your best idea? How did you arrive at that idea? How many other "best ideas" do you have that you need to share?
• How would you describe a great day at work? How do your Ideation talents contribute to those best days? How can you have more of those days?
• How do you know when an idea is a good one and should be acted on, or just a pleasant diversion?
• What ideas do you have that will make your company or organization great? How will you make those ideas heard?
• Who are colleagues who can become your thought partners? Who has the potential to see your dreams and help you activate them?
* "A Million Dreams," music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, copyright © 2017 Breathelike Music, Pick In a Pinch Music, and T C F Music Publishing, Inc.
Access all Theme Thursday episodes
Albert L. Winseman, D.Min., is a Senior Learning and Development Consultant at Gallup. Al brings deep expertise in employee and customer engagement, executive leadership and organizational dynamics to his consulting work with Gallup's clients. He consults with senior leaders, executives and front-line managers to improve employee and customer engagement and to implement strategic initiatives that drive business growth.
Al's top 5 strengths are: Ideation | Futuristic | Maximizer | Strategic | Command.


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Condition of roads in Marathwada, Vidarbha can improve: Bhujbal
Thane, Jan 6 (UNI) Maharashtra PWD Minister Chagan Bhujbal today said the condition of roads in the backward regions of the state like Marathwada and Vidarbha could improve within the next one to one and a half years.
Mr Bhujbal was speaking at the inauguration of the multi-crore 6.1 Km bypass, connecting Mumbra to Kusa, which leads directly to Panvel, cutting short the distance by almost an hour.
Mr Bhujbal pointed out that the state on its own cannot take up major road projects. However, it is committed to provide better commuting facilities, and connect various states.
He said road projects worth Rs 5,000 crore, with 40 per cent funding from the Centre, was in progress in the state.
Maharashtra has 2.25 lakh Km of roads and its construction, repair and maintenance is an uphill task and is not viable for the state.
Hence, we have to find out some means to meet the requirement.
Speaking about giving exemption to those staying in the village and towns near Toll Naka and those who do not use the bridge, he said this demand would be looked into along with installation of lights on either side of the bypass.
Mr Bhujbal pointed out that though the construction of the bypass, which is in the hands of the Central Government, has faced many hurdles, the citizens can reap the benefits now.


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Christmas Specials! :)
As I slowly get back into the swing of things, I'd like to share just a few of my favorites from this Christmas season! I am now booking sessions for 2015 and January and February are already filling up so contact me if you are interested in booking a session soon! Ready to get this year started and meet some new faces! :)


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Square Enix's Tetsuya Nomura has revealed that if time allowed it, he would love to do a sequel to DS hit The World Ends With You.
Tetsuya Nomura was the character designer for the 2008 action RPG and admits that a sequel would be a wonderful thing to do; however, he is also currently working on several other projects including Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy Agito XIII, The 3rd Birthday, the Kingdom Hearts franchise as well as other unannounced games.
"I'm really happy that the game was so well received in North America," Nomura told Nintendo Power. "I definitely want to make a sequel. I'm very busy working on other titles right now, but when the time is right, I would love to make another installment of The World Ends with You."With all the other projects Nomura currently has under his belt, it'll probably be a while before we see a sequel to The World Ends With You.
Source: Official Nintendo Magazine


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WELCOME to the deep healing and rich tradition that Chinese medicine offers you, whether you want to be free from pain, need support through a difficult transition or major illness, or strive for optimal health.
While a sense of well-being is available to each of us, everyday stress or a serious medical diagnosis can make you feel as if you've fallen out of alignment with your innate sense of health.
The tools of Chinese medicine, combined with the precision of Classical Chinese medicine, can help you restore your good health and reclaim your balance.
At HS-ACUPUNCTURE, you receive:
- Thoughtful, caring and effective acupuncture treatments, including herbs, tuina, moxa, and lifestyle suggestions regarding diet and exercise;
- Personalized treatment, quality care and clear communication about how Chinese medicine can best serve your health needs and life goals.
To book with Heather, visit her website or text in for an appointment at (207)266-8633.


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Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Depends on Your Contribution!
Let me start by thanking John Knauf for his many years leading our pledge drive and working with me to assure a smooth transition. But most importantly, thanks to all of you, our ECOT family, for making it possible to build our budget so we can fulfill our mission to know Christ and to make Him known.
A recap of a blessed 2018: We have ministered 10 weddings, six baptisms, conducted 126 services giving communion to 7,317 souls. 1,100 attended Easter services and if you add the 1,300 who attended 2017 Christmas celebrations, the numbers are incredible! Youth Ministry reached out to dozens of those in need during its Denver mission, held the vacation bible study week, and celebrated valley seniors graduations. 70 of us visited the incredible Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. Our volunteers manned numerous Salvation Army canteen call-outs including feeding over 400 firefighters thrice daily during the during the Lake Christine wildfire. As you can see, ECOT's service and outreach in impacting lives extends to thousands. None of this would be possible without our continuing member support!
As we look to 2019, we ask again for you contribution of time, talent, and treasure. Please complete the pledge form below by November 18 or at Sunday services.
We are also exploring another pledge option through estate planning. I am working with Chris Silversmith, of Silversmith Legal, to understand this process. If you would like to learn more about this, please check the "I'm interested" Box on your pledge card.
If you have any questions, please call me on my cell at 970-394-0096 or email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Print the 2019 pledge card here or complete the form below:
If you choose to have a payment or payments taken from your accounts, please print this form and mail or bring it to our offices. Thank you! ECOT ACH Debit Agreement


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FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club is one of the newest in the world, having only opened for play in August 2017. The course is located just 20 minutes from Ha Long City and affords incredible views of the awe-inspiring Ha Long Bay.
Designed by Schmidt Curley, the links layout is sure to become one of Vietnam's premier golfing destinations in some of the most stunning surroundings.
Facing the South China Sea, the course boasts one of the most beautiful settings for a golf course in Vietnam, if not Asia. Its brilliant conditions can be attributed to the Paspalum turf which lace the tee boxes, fairways and greens with the backdrop of the neighbouring mountains towering over stages of the course. Panoramic views of Ha Long Bay are available from many of the holes, in particular the five par-3 holes. The links course incorporates the sea breeze on many of the longer holes, requiring careful shot selection from players, as it can get quite strong and a high drive could be swept off course. On the whole, this new course is sure to turn some heads in northeast Vietnam and offers exciting golf with beautiful surroundings.Stats:
Tees: Back tees - 6826
The FLC clubhouse is over 2000 square metres in size and is modernly designed, offering a luxury base for golfers before and after their round. With a driving range and short game practice area, the clubhouse also boasts several top-class restaurants and a fully-stocked pro shop.


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We are a small kennel, so we have puppies only once a year or every two years. We breed puppies in all three colours - black, chocolate and yellow. If you are interested in a puppy from our kennel, please contact us at any time - we keep a list of possible new owners. Our breeding combinations are always carefully chosen.
Puppies are usually ready to leave at 8 weeks of age. They are checked by a vet, dewormed, vaccinated and microchiped. We evaluate and test their character, which help us choose the right owners. We dedicate a lot of time and effort dedicate for correct socialization. Puppies are sold with contract.
Planned litters Present litters Past litters


text: Does Your Guy Wear Pantyhose? Now, when people notice the guy across the aisle from them is wearing nylon hosiery, their first thoughts tend more toward assuming there must be a health-related reason, or something along those lines. Contributors Essgkay Steve Newman. Those who have ' the nylon gene ' and those who don't. As the emerging trend of men wearing nylon support hosiery continues to grow in Where do men by pantyhose U.


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Oral Cancer
Early Detection is Your Best Protection
Cancer is never a welcome disease. But of all cancers, oral cancer has one of the highest mortality rates. Why? Because it's both painless and sneaky in the early stages, often going undetected until it's advanced beyond what can be effectively battled by cancer treatments.
Be smart, don't start.
There are five common risk factors that correlate strongly with oral cancer. If you use any kind of tobacco product-chewing it, dipping snuff, smoking cigarettes, smoking cigars, or smoking a pipe, your chances of developing cancer are significantly higher than people who do not expose their mouth to tobacco. In fact, 80-90% of oral cancers are found in people who take part in these activities. You're also at a higher risk for oral cancer if you consume frequent or large quantities of alcohol. And what's worse, when alcohol and tobacco are used together, the risk is not only doubled, but compounded. In either case, you can improve your chances of long term health by simply never using these products, or quitting now if you do use them.
Chronic irritation, bad situation.
You may also be at risk for oral cancer if your lips are constantly exposed to sunlight, if you have a chronic habit of lip or cheek biting, or if you wear poorly fitting dentures. These factors seem to cause problems because of their tendency to produce various types of oral sores, often appearing as small, whitish patches inside the mouth or on the lips. While scientists don't fully understand why these patches or leukoplakia form, they believe that these areas of chronic irritation may begin to experience excessive cell growth, leading to cancer.
White patches, red flags.
If you're careful to check for warning signs, it may be possible to catch and treat oral cancer before it becomes life threatening. And while you can stay alert to these 'red flags' on your own, Altamonte Springs cosmetic and family dentist Dr. Arnold is meticulous about checking every aspect of your lips, mouth, gums, tongue and other oral tissues during your regular check-ups. Dr. Arnold looks for whitish patches, persistent mouth sores, tissue color changes, spots of pain, tenderness, or numbness, or any changes in your bite over time.
Be careful, not fearful.
All in all, your best weapon against oral cancer is to avoid the known risk factors. Studies show that tobacco and alcohol users who quit can greatly improve their health status, and lower their chances of related problems. Sunscreen use can eliminate your risk for lip cancer; careful attention to personal lip or cheek biting habits can reduce any concern in those individuals; and those with ill-fitting dentures should have their appliances re-sized as quickly as possible. In any case, it's wise to notify Dr. Arnold if you have concerns related to any of these factors.


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Asagio and White Truffle Mashed Potatoes
3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled
1/2 stick (4 oz.) unsalted butter
1 medium clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup half & half
2 teaspoons OLIVE & VINE White Truffle infused olive oil
1/2 cup Asiago cheese, grated
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Italian parsley, finely minced to garnish (optional)
Dice potatoes and boil in a large saucepan of salted water until fork tender. Heat the half & half, butter and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from heat and set aside. Drain the potatoes and mash with the garlic-cream-butter mixture. Add the Asiago cheese and White Truffle infused olive oil and stir to combine. Let stand for 5 minutes so that mixture thickens. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Serves 6-8.


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This week the guys discuss the latest news from CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, the Whitecaps' loss at RBNY, open the mailbag and much more!
Mark and Jorge also tackle the question of whether the Caps can get back on a roll in time for the MLS Cup playoffs.
Become a From The Backline partner and get cool rewards like an exclusive extra episode per month, access to Live Q&A video streams and more. Get all the details in our Patreon Page:
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Women account for half of the global labor supply and about 70% of global consumption demand, but their potential as leaders, influencers and consumers remains largely untapped.
Many leaders believe that in today's global economy, gender equality is a key driver of competitiveness, innovation, risk management and sustainable development. In fact, a recent McKinsey & Co. study found that companies with leadership roles equally divided between men and women reported above-median profits.
This indicates that by involving women in the design, implementation and financing of products and services, brands and policy makers can speed innovation, gain market share and strengthen their leadership quotient.
Let's look at the impact women are having in 5 change-driven industries and the opportunities brands have to tap into their market potential.
According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, women make up 43% of laborers in the agricultural sector and 47% in fisheries. Some believe that if women had equal access to resources, agricultural yields could increase by 20% to 30%. And that making more resources available to women could mean a global decrease in hunger by 100 to 150 million people. Rising global populations combined with climate change are powerful pressures on this sector. Forecasters predict a major labor shortage by 2030. That means we need to feed more people with a smaller labor force in an increasingly complex environment. Organic farming, vertical farming and precision farming are leading innovation in agriculture.
By providing an already large base of women farmers with better access to credit, designing equipment and tools with women in mind, and offering information and education, policy makers can strengthen their agricultural markets and brands have the potential to significantly and quickly expand their market share.
There is good business to be grown here.
In the energy industry, globalization and climate change are raising the national and international discourse about sustainable development. Current research indicates that international efforts to address global warming are woven together with the role of women. In fact, the UN in their 2017 World Survey of the Role of Women in Development has inextricably linked the role of women as a crucial mandate to achieving sustainable development.
But the energy industry is suffering from a lack of talent and a lack of diversity. Women represent less than 28% of all positions in this sector even though research proves companies with higher levels of gender diversity deliver a greater return on investments.
In the United States jobs are growing in renewables. The U.S. solar industry employed 260,077 workers last year, a nearly 25% increase in the number of jobs from 2017. The American Jobs Project is using their resources to develop state-specific growth strategies. This creates multiple opportunities to engage women, drive development and solve the energy demands of a swiftly shifting planet and brands will need to be prepared.
Health care on the other hand has lots of women. More than 76% of hospital employees and people who work in doctors' offices and more than 88% of home health workers are women. And according to Pew, women owned more than half of all firms in the health care/social assistance and educational services industries in 2012.
Additionally, women are more likely to choose the family's health care providers, make the diet and activity choices as well as, decisions for their aging or ailing family members. Women also have unique and specific health concerns. But the industry's key decision-makers – leaders in the commercial industry as well as policy makers are still typically men. This is both a gap and an opportunity.
As the tidal wave of aging boomers continues to rise and the redesign of care delivery in this country evolves, it should become clear that health care brands need to be marketing to women – as care providers, care givers, influencers and patients.
It is likely that anyone in the industry could see gains by designing research around women's health, better understanding the nuances of marketing to women and lifting women into the C-suite and policy process.
It would seem as if the tipping point has arrived in this sector. Women now control nearly 60% of the wealth in the United States. Women are responsible for 85% of consumer purchases. And yet the financial industry still balks at leading with and marketing to women. Only 23% of certified financial planner professionals are women and research from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards indicates that unconscious bias and a significant gender pay gap remains.
Just as in health care, women consumers have unique pressures, tensions and goals. Women live longer, get paid less and take time out of the workforce to care for family. All of these factors impact their earnings, savings and investment strategies – yet only a few brands have developed products, services and employment structures that put women (and families) at the center.
Once again we see a gap and an opportunity. It is likely that, as the millennial generation hits its stride and inherits an anticipated 41 trillion dollars, they will bring the high levels of disruption now felt in the health and media industries. In response, financial services organizations will need to transform their business models, evolve their communication strategies and understand how to better include women in their leadership, segmentation strategies and product design.
Last, but certainly not least, the media industry creates a cultural idea of what's 'normal'. And yet, 60% to 70% of news is still authored by male voices - which simply means their voice is disproportionate. Women are on-camera 32% of the time; in print news, women report 37% of the stories; on the Internet, women write 42% of the news; and on the wires, women garner only 38% of the bylines.
Yet, women are 54% of the heaviest consumers of media. Across radio, television, Internet and print newspaper, they are simply under-represented.
This is an obvious opportunity for those in marketing communications to bring the missing conversations forward. Imagine a segment that is rising in wealth, eager to fill labor shortages and capable of adding value to their communities, as well as the bottom line – and all they need is someone to start the right discussions.
Five steps to future growth
These actions outline a clear path for organizations to benefit from the untapped potential that 50% of the population can contribute:
- Invite more women into leadership ranks
- Explore the range of unique pressures faced by women
- Design products and services using the lens of women
- Optimize the brand experience for women
- Bring forward the voice of women
Industries facing change and disruption must rely on insight and innovation to survive. Gathering the untapped perspectives, talents and influence of women appears to be a sound strategy with a huge upside.


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On the 21st January a Times Travel section journalist called Christ Haslam wrote a piece called 'How to be Spanish' for a Spain Special segment in the newspaper. I think I understand what he thought he was getting at. I (hope) it was supposed to be an overly exaggerated piece playing on stereotypes and dripping with supercilious irony.
Unfortunately it was not written well enough, or obvious enough, for this to come across. Other elements were simply wrong or lazy and the whole piece lacked a nuance of either knowledge or endearment that would have helped the article come across as tongue in cheek as opposed to a little mean and haughty.
Safe to say I haven't seen the Spanish media, social or otherwise, kick up this much fuss and vitriol since Jamie Oliver had the audacity to add chorizo to paella. Chorizo does make paella taste better by the way; it makes everything taste better. If you like chorizo…
An El Mundo editorial fired back, with some less than perfect translations of what Mr Haslam said, virulently negating almost every point he made and not seeing, or choosing not to see, the funny side of any of it. There has also been a large online backlash with Spanish people, understandably irked, pulling out the drunk hooligan card and firing back with equally distasteful stereotypes about the British.
After eight years living and loving here - and with no dreams of ever moving - I thought I would throw in my two cents about this article; an article which, in 2018, was written, and paid for, for a reason that I cannot fathom. It shouldn't exist.
So let's have a look at what he wrote, section by section. I'll eschew the humorous introductory paragraph.
'First, forget Anglo-Saxon notions of politeness, discretion and decorum. Being Spanish involves walking into a bar, kissing and hugging complete strangers, shouting "oiga" at the waiter and chucking anything you can't eat of drink on the floor. Except glasses. That's too much. But you can drop the please and thank yous. They're so unnecessary.'
So far so wrong. The Spanish are not impolite. They are frank, to the point, less anal about manners, but not that that would make them impolite or indiscrete. Being Spanish involves walking into a bar, kissing and hugging people you know. Not strangers. Why in sweet buggery would they do that? The only time you hug and kiss a stranger is when that person is someone you don't know that you are introduced to.
Oiga…no one says that. If the bar is loud, and they often are, you may have to raise your voice, but you'll say 'perdón' or 'disculpa'. Unless you've been waiting for the bill for an hour and you are thoroughly pissed off, you won't hear 'oiga'.
In some old trad bars you might throw tissues, chorizo skins, toothpicks and olive stones on the floor. It was the old-school pre-Tripadvisor way of knowing if the bars were any good. But these days it's not that common really.
The Spanish also do not drop the please and thank you. It's true that their language does away with the constricting over-polite modal-obssessed language of some English people: 'Evening, I don't suppose you'd mind ever so awfully bequeathing me, if it's not too much trouble to your kind self, one of your most loveliest and scrumptious beers, if you don't mind, thank you ever so much kind sir.' Instead a simple 'me pones una caña, por favor. Gracias.' Will do the trick.
'If you're a lady, carry a fan. Over here, it's a tool, not a souvenir, and regardless of gender, do try to develop the uncanny Spanish skill of knowing instinctively where the coolness is. Not hipster coolness. The ambient one.'
I don't really know what to say. If you're an old abuela in the middle of summer, yeah buy a fan. If it's 45 degrees outside, get a fan. Other than that you won't seen that many about.
'You also need to unlock that potty mouth. Spoken - or rather, shouted - Spanish is shot through with obscenities of astonishing inventiveness and anatomical awareness, and it doesn't matter who you're talking to. In Salamanca, I heard a teacher on a school trip tell his pupils to "**** off for lunch", and that any "****er" who wasn't back at 3:30 sharp would be "****ing left behind for social services". The kids seemed cool with that, even though being Spanish requires utter disdain for punctuality. Arriving anywhere 30 minutes is actually considered quite early and quite rude.'
Now there are a couple of interesting truths here, but his writing has missed the mark. The Spanish do swear a lot, and it is both creative and beautiful. But it's not really a 'potty mouth' as the words are not usually used aggressively but just flow as part of the language. It should be celebrated. I once saw a father trying to convince his adorable little 4 year old boy to come to him in the Retiro Park. The kid was in his own world and on the fourth try the dad said 'joder coño, Jaime ven aquí', which literally translates as 'shit c**t, Jamie come here', but of course that's not really what he said.
The Spanish linguistic gymnastics around 'swearing' is joyous. They shit on everything 'me cago en…'; from milk, to God, to your dead or the mother that gave birth to you. But again they aren't really saying that. They're just words, usually devoid of power and anger. Swearing releases happy hormones; maybe that's why they're less uptight than the Brits.
And punctuality. Yeah, to be fair the Spanish 'in general' are not that great. But if a lawyer has a meeting, you can bet your bottom dollar he won't be late. The laissez faire tardiness only really comes into the fray on social occasions. The 30 minutes being considered early and rude is stupid. But I would say that on average punctuality, in the day to day realm, is less observed here. And yes, it can be annoying. But who cares?
'You need to learn food etiquette, too. Start with a breakfast of tostada, sobrasada and a cortado, and don't ask for butter. This is olive-oil country. Stop whatever you're doing at 11am and nip out for a beer and a sandwich. That should keep you going until lunchtime, at 2pm. You'll be going for a three-course menu del día, and it will take between two and three hours. Then have a kip.'
Some good bits here; although barely anyone outside of maybe the Balearic Islands or Valencia will be having semi-cured chorizo on toast for breakfast. Had he not been referencing small-town life on Mallorca - my unfounded theory - he may realise it is more common a tostada de tomate with maybe some ham on top. The butter is funny, and kind of true. This is olive oil country, but breakfasts in bars often have jam/marmalade and maybe some little plastic tubs of one-use butter.
11am - the media mañana - breaks can exist. It may depend on the company itself if employees are allowed to nip out. This may be when they choose to actually have breakfast, perhaps just having a quick coffee at home after waking up. Beer? Maybe. More likely a coffee.
Lunchtime at 2pm? Yeah, good. Menu del día? Very possible yes, good! But two to three hours? Not really. In the week if employees are leaving for their two/three course set lunch, it'll be for an hour. That's how Franco designed it. Quick and hearty. At the weekend yes they can extend. But an actual menu del día is fairly swift.
No one is sleeping except a nap at the weekend after a hearty lunch maybe. Also the siesta, much misunderstood, is not really about sleeping. You might have forty winks - no more than 30mins - but the point was originally for the farmers and shopkeepers to get out of the heat during the hottest part of the day.
'Next, tapas. You can always spot the Brits. They're the ones who walk into a crowded tapas bar and can't believe there's a table free. That's because the Spanish sneer at tables. Tapas are eaten at the bar, while yelling at the waiter and throwing stuff on the floor. Except the glasses. Remember that.'
He could have just stopped with 'you can always spot the Brits'. Good observation, actually. In Spanish tapas bars it very common for the locals to stand to nibble. But they don't sneer at tables. It's an unwritten rule that tables are really for people in for a while and ordering a lot of food. Generally going for tapas involves eating less at each place and bar hopping. So the tables are usually kept free. Don't yell, unless it's noisy.
'Then go home and watch telly. Got Talent España and Sabado Deluxe - a sort of Jeremy Kyle for celebrities - are good choices. They're probably on TV in the bar, what with all that shouting, you won't be able to hear a thing.'
Yup, on point here.
'Ten o'clock is dinnertime. Start with beer or ice-cold red wine, because cocktails are for after dinner, and make sure you eat everything you've ordered. Countries that have suffered famine are funny about that. Don't go overboard on tips (it's not done here), be ambivalent about bulls and, finally always take your phone to the toilet. This is a) so you can check for messages from your secret lover, and b) because every motion-activated toilet light on the Iberian peninsula is programmed to go out after four seconds.'
Ice-cold red wine? Sometimes; either in tourist trap bars serving what is essentially toilet duck in a wine bottle, or during the height of summer, so the drinker has more time to enjoy her glass of Ribera del Duero before it turns to soup.
Famine. Oh lord, what an unequivocal arse. He has inferred that a country with a long history of agricultural living in tough climates equates to famine. Spain has had famines; one killed 20,000 people in Madrid in 1811. But here comes the arrogance verging on racism: Britain suffered 95 famines during the Middle Ages so does that same rule apply to us? When I'm in a pub in England and I'm getting full, do I force myself to finish my chips because of my ancestors 800 years ago? No, it's stupid.
People finish their food because they've paid for it. And Spain, like every country, will have the grandma saying 'don't waste your food, there are kids in Africa…' The difference might be that the jovial waiters will ask you if you're done here more often than perhaps in the UK. And with all the free tapas it's actually quite common to find food left on the plates.
Ambivalent about bulls is a wise point.
Phone to the toilet. This made me laugh. The toilet lights are useless here, though Haslam gets it wrong. You won't need a phone light for a motivation-activated light; all you'll need to do is move a bit. But it's the touch-pad lights do go out quickly. And sometimes the pad it outside the bloody cubicle, plunging the tipsy bloke aiming as best he can into darkness. Maybe the rule should be 'always sit down'.
All being said and done, I don't think Haslam meant any harm from his article and perhaps some of the Spanish should have taken most of it with a pinch of salt and just laughed at both themselves and some of the heightened jokery a bit more. But on the other hand I think it needed to be written better, and by someone with more insight. Perhaps we can all move along from these Fawlty Towers-esque commentaries from now on and actually use humour to tell the truth.


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Many years ago, my high school creative writing teacher Mrs. Brennan suggested that a classmate change the gender signifiers of his male character to female. This was emphasized as a way to reveal cliche, boring characters.
It was good advice for a high school writing class. I still use it when I find myself confused about a character's motivation. Complex characters have complex identities. Gender and sexual identity are unique to the individual you wish to introduce to the world. These interests and impulses influences how a person approaches nearly every situation. Sometimes, switching gender of a character can show me how to add depth and color to their identity.
However, this technique is not a band-aid for lazy characterization. Bold women are not basic men. Weak men are not soft women. It takes more to represent a unique place on the gender spectrum than creating a woman or man and swapping their bathroom assignment. Without added character development, the storyteller risks overlooking opportunities for complexity.
The most obvious example is the massive societal pressures to conform to gender and sexual identity expectations. From birth, little girls in western culture are inundated with pink and boys with blue. There are bikinis for toddlers and plastic guns for boys. Teenage boys must be aggressive in all things while teenage girls must walk the thin line between slut and prude. It continues into adulthood; men want ladies, women want babies. Society offers two buckets to choose from, except you don't get to choose. These pressures influence a range of choices, preferences, fears, and hopes every day, all around us. To fail to account for these influences when switching a character's gender is madness.
Switch your character's gender if you aren't happy with their story arc. Explore what it meant for them to grow up in the society you have envisioned. Allow them to live out in your mind the challenges they faced and then describe the person they came to be in your story. Just don't expect changing the gender of your character will magically add interest.


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Swedish Interior Designer Marie Olsson Nylander' s unique style has been featured many times on design magazines and blogs till today pointed out as one of the most inspirational stylistic homes of contemporary living. Here, we are taking a sneak peek to her home from a different point view. This time talented Wendy West is styling her house by &tradition products designed by Norm architects. What can we say? Perfect Scandinavian style combination and great photo shoots by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.
Photography: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen
Styling: Wendy West
via Bo Bedre


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Dark Grey Eye Candy Bracelet - Full
Dark Grey Eye Candy Bracelet - Full
Brand: Sigal Arts
Product Code: B138-GLD-BLK-DGREY
Availability: In stock
There's nothing sweeter than showing off your good taste in jewelry
Rich black leather bracelet with gray opel Swarovski crystals, 24k gold plated mountings, black cotton thread, 15-20 cm long, adjustable closure.
Glam is a collection that was created to bring out the Diva in you. Feel like you are on the red carpet. Whether at a special event a fancy dinner or the cocktail party after, Glam puts you in the spotlight and brings out the sparkle in you.


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A couple of weeks ago I was nominated for a Blogger Recognition Award by Barb and John at Decluttering The Stuff. Thanks guys!! I graciously accept and of course, I'd also like to thank the Academy…if for no other reason than I've just always wanted to say that 🙂
Who doesn't love a good blog award?? They're like a slam book and a chain letter all rolled into one! You get to answer some (sometimes silly) questions and tag a bunch of other people to do the same. Easy peasy!
So here are the "Rules" for accepting this award:
- Thank the Blogger who nominated me and provide a link to their blog. Done
- Write a post to show the award. Ta-da! Here it is.
- Write a brief story on how the blog started. Once upon a time in a cubicle far, far away, sat a writer, bored to tears from endless hours of editing an auto parts catalog. To vent, she started a little blog called "I have to say…" where she had a whole lot to say about everything, including the "quest" she was on to live without a car in the suburbs of Denver. As more and more of her friends began calling her a minimalist, she began to think, hmm…maybe I am. When the car-free living experiment ended, she set about to find another topic to blog about and so began The Minimalist Next Door (which was later changed to The Minimalists Next Door when she added a like-minded partner.) And now they live happily ever after (well maybe not just yet but they are working on it) in a land without cubicles or auto parts catalogs.
- Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers. Write about something you know and love. Don't blog simply to make money.
- Select 15 bloggers to pass this award on to. Yeah, that's not going to happen. How about I just make a list of some of the blogs I follow (which is the whole point of the exercise in the first place – to create community by recognizing the efforts of fellow bloggers). You should probably check out:
- Going Sightseeing – yes, this is a shameless plug for our newly minted travel blog.
- The Healthful Saver
- Chief Mom Officer
- All-Round Better Me
- The Mindful Hub
- Saving Without Scrimping
- Comment on each of their blogs to let them know they have been nominated for this award and provide a link to this post. Should any one of the amazingly talented bloggers listed above wish to take up the torch and run with it, that would be swell. You are hereupon nominated for a Blogger Recognition Reward. Have fun! (If not, that's perfectly acceptable too.)
Happy Blogging!!


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Advance Shafter
Shafter High students enrolled in AP classes at Shafter High or at the Shafter Learning Center can become eligible for the program by attending at least three hours of special tutoring/study sessions with their instructor.
This qualifies them for a $35 reduction in the cost of their AP exam.
It also qualifies them for a cash reward for success on the exam. For each qualifying score of 3, students will receive $100. For each 4, they will receive $150, and for each 5, they will receive $200.
We believe that the true value of succeeding in AP coursework is significantly higher than these amounts, but we hope that this tangible and immediate benefit will reduce financial barriers to success and perhaps motivate students to do what is necessary in the present to reap long-term benefits in the future.
If you have any questions, please email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Students who will take an AP exam should turn in a completed application packet to an AP instructor by November 1, 2018 or to the Shafter Learning Center before December 1, 2018. A completed application packet includes:
Advance Shafter Cover Sheet
Completed W-9 Form
Additionally, if students would like to request that their reward be made out to another individual the following form will also need to be included in the application packet: Recipient Change Request Form
* Advanced Placement and AP are registered trademarks of the College Board.


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Carie Leigh Roland and Owen Michael Stanfill, both of Tyler, were married at twilight July 10, 2010 on the Veranda at Larissa House in Jacksonville.
The Honorable Judge Dwight Phifer, officiated the twilight ceremony below an oak tree, decorated in fresh flowers and satin ribbons.
Carie is the daughter of Kevin and Patti Roland of Mesquite, Texas. She is the granddaughter of Dolly Gaines of Garland, and Barbara Luckett of Mesquite, and of the late Lee Gaines of Garland, Jo Luckett of Mesquite, and Bill Roland of Dallas.
Owen is the son of Eric & Kathleen Stanfill of Jacksonville. He is the grandson of Eve Stanfill and Carol and Jimmy H Staton of Jacksonville, the late Hugh Owen of Houston, and CL and Pat Stanfill of Oklahoma City, Ok.
Matron of honor was Shanda Moorman of Mesquite. Maid of honor was Joni Roland of Mesquite.
Bridesmaid was Callie Willeford of Mesquite.
Best man was Josh Long of Tyler. Groomsmen were Brandon Partain of Nacogdoches and Luke Canter of Jacksonville.
Ushers were Kevin Wood, Bryan Williams and Aaron Ousley of Jacksonville, Brian Johnson of Houston, and Colby Butterfield of Edmond, Ok.
House Party members were Matt Moorman and Kaleb Lambeth of Mesquite.
Reception was held following the ceremony at Larissa House. Rehearsal dinner was hosted at the Lake Jacksonville home of Carol & Jimmy Staton the evening before the wedding.
Following an extended cross country honeymoon to Las Vegas, the Napa Valley and Seattle, the couple will reside in Juneau, Alaska.


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If you are planning on improving the exterior of your house by commissioning some new garden fencing and decking, you can rest assured that you are choosing the Edinburgh fencing experts.
Lothian Decking and Fencing offer a Professional Service
Erecting new garden fencing and adding decking to your garden can really transform the appearance of your home. We provide the best decking West Lothian has to offer. We are proud of our work and our reputation and will be delighted to show you examples of our work. If you enjoy relaxing in your garden after a hard day in the office, then an area of decking, where you can sit comfortably in the evening sun, will fit the bill. Entertaining outside is much simpler once you've installed decking, and no contract is too small or large for us. By commissioning our company, property owners have been able to transform their gardens by extending the entertainment area at the rear of their homes with the installation of decking. No two projects are ever the same and we offer:
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We have been in the business for over 20 years so we know what we are talking about
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No two gardens are alike, although a shoddy fence can give your garden an unkempt image. When you invest in smart new garden fencing, you'll be able to upgrade the exterior of your home and enhance your garden. It's no use having beautiful flowerbeds and a manicured lawn, if the first impression anyone receives from your home is of an old weatherworn fence. We supply the best fencing Edinburgh has to offer and are a reputable firm of fencing contractors. We always stick to our timetables and will cause the minimum of disruption to your busy life. Wooden fences come in different shades and colours and we will work with you to create the best possible design for your property. Take a look here for the best fencing West Lothian has to offer.
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As well as improving the exterior of your house, well-built sturdy garden fencing will also make your property more secure. You'll be able to maintain your privacy when you're enjoying your garden, and you'll never have to cut the hedge again. We will always work within the agreed timetable, with a minimum of disruption.
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We'll be delighted to come around and discuss your plans with you. If any other company has offered you another quote, we'll see if we can beat it. We have already saved up to 40% for other clients, and we never compromise on the quality and integrity of our work. Why not get in touch today.


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Strencor Bumper Plates - Pairs
Bumper Plates
The EKG Bumper Plates are a must have for any home gym.
These weights are machined perfectly within 1% of its target. Combined with stainless steel inserts and quality virgin rubber, the EKG's offer a dead bounce and durability rarely seen in an econ plate.
EKG Bumpers are available in pairs or as sets.
These plates will stand the test of time.
- Plate Diameter: 450mm
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- Durometer: 89-90
- Weight tolerance: +/- 15 grams of claimed weight
Sold in pairs.


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A short content about Best lion tattoo sleeves . Read more.
Best lion tattoo sleeves
Well, it's a portion of a woman's body that may be discreet, but in addition easily exposed. Showing you have a fantastic awareness of tattoo design for certain purposes is a rather very good thing… however, you also need to put in a bit of layout and design in the shape of flash pages. There are a few great suggestions for tattoos that will fit your physique and personality.
Tags are Best lion tattoo sleeves , body art, ink.


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Hi Fitties!
Can you believe we're over half way through January? How are those New Year's Resolutions going? Not to boast, but every single person who is involved with my eating/workout accountability groups is pretty much rocking their asses off. 😉 If you're lagging on your goals and if 2012 is looking just like 2011, time to shit or get off the pot ya'll.
BTW, did I mention my New Year's Resolution? It's to "run with the willing." When I began teaching fitness in 2009, I was very cognizant of my own fitness baggage. Of "trying" to get fit and sabotaging myself. Of being lost and aimlessly flitting from program to program. So I was very sensitive and… soft with people. And sometimes, that's good. And sometimes… that's enabling and it's not doing anyone any favors.
You're strong, you can do it, make the decision and get it done. When I was figuring fitness out in my 20s, there was no Facebook. There were no blogs. There were no people posting about what they did that day to be healthy. Now there is all that stuff. It's everywhere. It's largely free. You have NO EXCUSE. If you're not doing it, it's because you don't want to.
That's totally fine. But just keep that in mind. Own it. I'm not getting fit right now because I DON'T WANT TO.
The truth shall make you free.
K, but that brings me to today's topic. Speaking of things that weren't around when I was in my 20s and trying to lose weight (I've lost 27-30 pounds since college, have I mentioned that? 3 of those pounds bounce on and off depending on my wine and cupcake intake, but I've been pretty stable other than that): the Biggest Loser phenomenon. You know the shows where deconditioned people get on a treadmill for 14 hours a day or howling trainers strap themselves to some hapless victim's back and yell "MUSH!" and the trainee runs around the gym dragging the fitness demon?
Those shows are criticized and a bit unrealistic, but they do burn themselves into our psyche. I'm going to train and train and train and the weight is going to fall off. Trouble is…. that sort of non-stop training leads to overuse injuries. If you're injured, you can't train.
Plus, a lot of people transform that already dangerous message of "more is better" to "MORE than more must be even better". So if the Biggest Losers train for 14 hours and take 2 rest days, we'll train for 16 hours and take NO rest days.
And then injuries happen. Not good. Injuries don't get you closer to your fitness goal. They get you farther from your fitness goal.
So it's important to avoid injuries in the first place. Here's how:
1) Work with a professional or use professionally created products. Use the trainers in your gym or if you're an at home workout-er, try a home program that gives you a training schedule. Beachbody programs tell you when to workout AND when to rest. They also give you eating plans. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!
2) REST. Listen, even God rested. Rest is when your body rebuilds itself. It's the rebuilding that makes you stronger. You tear your muscles up during the workouts and when you rest your body puts it all back together — but stronger than it was before.
3) Fuel yourself. Your body cannot rebuild itself out of glutamates, aspartame, and rice cakes. Eat real food. Eat enough of it.
So what if you start feeling pain while you're working out? We're all pushing during our workouts (we want to feel "comfortably uncomfortable") but pain is often a bad sign. Burning in the muscles, that's pretty common. Ripping, tearing, grinding, snapping = STOP.
Get it checked out by your medical professional of choice. That might be a physical therapist or a chiropractor or a primary care physician or a sports medicine doctor or an orthopedist… but have it looked at. Sometimes, you might just get a little twinge and it's no biggie. But sometimes, those little twinges are signs of something that's about to BECOME a biggie, so have it looked at. K?


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Proactively Valuing the People in Your Life
There is no time like the holidays to think about how you tend to proactively value the people who matter to you. Take a moment to share that directly... We all need loving reminders that we matter. Here are some clues for enhancing the quality of your relationships, which stand at the core of every single thing that we create in our lives.


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"A Second Harvest" won #1 Best Gay Contemporary Romance in the Rainbow Awards. "How to Walk Like a Man" won #4 Best Gay Paranormal Romance.
You can see all the winners here.
I'm very much honored to have my books recognized, especially among so many other talented writers. Thanks to Elisa who puts so much work into the Rainbow Awards and to the judges.