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Radical Departures specialise in award-winning interactive medical and healthcare communications. We conceptualise, design, write, produce and implement award-winning e-learning, digital, animation, video and print solutions, and have been doing so for over 20 years.
Our clients include the pharmaceutical industry, professional, public and charitable bodies in the UK, Europe and USA. Known for a creative approach and in-depth understanding of our clients' requirements, our proud boast is that we have had repeat business from every client we have worked with.
We are passionate about what we do.
The objective of this series of documentary films is to communicate the positive impact Named Patient Medicines provided by Idis Managed Access Programs (MAPs) have on people's lives. The films were shot in an authentic style, on location and without scripts. The desire was to create an experience that is not only beautiful to watch, but educational, demonstrating the tangible benefits a MAP can offer to people, regardless of their location.
The films are delivered through a responsive website designed to immerse the user in a journey that allows them to explore the different stories. Each film is complemented by an editorial providing further background and context to the wider issue in that county. The entire experience is intended to present a soft call to action to find out more about Idis and Managed Access Programs (MAPs) without detracting from the integrity of the stories.
A 60 second film was created with three meningitis charities and parent focus groups. It shows siblings role playing doctors and nurses with their sick dolly, interspersed with a narrative about the dark reality of meningitis. Real-life siblings were cast to ensure chemistry. For authenticity, the film was shot at St Mary's Hospital, one of the worlds leading meningitis centres. The film was created to be the centrepiece of a social media campaign to raise awareness of meningitis. It was housed on a campaign Facebook page and YouTube channel, promoted through TV/online advertising and mother and baby cinema screenings.
Cherry created a large screen video for prominent display at the Mundipharma congress stand displaying the face of a woman slowly aging from her late forties to an age of approximately 85-90 years old. A strapline questioned physicians "Are your expectations of me changing?" The morphing animation that aged a potential patient was an engaging way to personify and hence directly challenge physicians' preconceptions for their patients based on age. Even physicians who may not be consciously aware of any bias were forced to reconsider their view. State-of-the-art facial prosthetics and makeup artistry gave a level of realism to the aging process that disarmed physicians and captured their attention as they approached the stand. The hand-sketched style of the supporting animation created a narrative to bring the clinical data to life in a patient-centric way promoting engagement with the clinical evidence.
The key objectives of the video were to highlight the need for digital communication in healthcare, set an appropriate tone for the educational programme, and build enthusiasm about a new approach to marketing that focuses more heavily on digital channels. The video was broadcast through the Pfizer offices, on communal screens, the company intranet and sent via email to relevant members of the marketing teams. Its fast-paced approach, fresh styling and energetic tone beautifully highlighted the need for change, without patronising the viewer or indeed exposing their current lack of understanding.
This simple video highlights in an enlightening and entertaining way the beneficial outcome of treatment with Simponi. Its creativity lies in the intriguing way the everyday objects and hands perform the simple tasks that cause problems for people with RA, holding the attention until the final reveal. Using a short, 45 second, live action and digital animation video the viewer sees hands holding, squeezing, twisting, turning and pulling various objects. All of these manoeuvres are important for everyday activities and people who have RA are likely to experience difficulty performing some or all of these functions. The activity the hands are involved in eventually reveal the brand name along with the strapline, 'Put everyday life back in their hands'.
DrewFrank's business model is to run a small in-house creative team supported by a network of outsourced creative talent. The campaign objective was to communicate that creative excellence is determined not by the size of the agency but by the quality of its talent. The campaign communicates that their flexible way of working makes it possible to provide creative excellence that is always cost-effective. The strategy was to give a name to this way of working; SMART SOURCING and to identify a succinct and engaging vehicle that would help the agency communicate their messages and personality. Animation was chosen to explain the proposition in a succinct but engaging way. When the content is unfamiliar to your target audience, animation can provide a neat solution. The script is memorable, to the point, fun and slightly edgy. The illustration style and animation techniques work together to explain their differentiator for example, through a series of creative 'character icons' which represent how they outsource talented people. Visuals and humour result in digestible messages for example, an alternative perspective on a well know cliché 'thinking outside the box'. Overall the intention was to keep it simple with the animation to ensure the visuals enhance rather than distract from the message.
MSDialog is a novel PC, phone and tablet platform that extracts data from an electronic injection device and displays it alongside subjective patient-input data. This provides a platform for patients and physicians to have more meaningful conversations. The challenge was to develop an animation communicating the benefits of MSDialog in a way that would be easy to understand and appealing to both patients and physicians. The basis of the animation is a simple story following a patient and a doctor using MSDialog to have a more effective consultation and optimise the time they have together. The simple infographic style ensured it was appealing to all audience types and textured effects were used throughout the design to make it feel more tactile and human. Each element was created individually and situated within one large canvas allowing the camera to pan from scene to scene but also show the interconnectivity of MSDialog as a whole.
Despite being a leader in Asthma, Seretide's biggest challenge was protecting share and driving volume growth. The objectives were to improve patient education and thereby adherence to Seretide, with the aim of improved patient outcomes, increased sales and reduced attrition due to poor control, by supporting GPs/their patients to make the most of Seretide.
The video combines audio and creative visual elements to deliver the story of asthma and Seretide in a novel way. Filming against greenscreen with scripted actions, enabled the video team to confidently interweave illustrations and audio around model's movements to produce a dynamic and striking effect. Dynamic transitions and a unique animation style supported by friendly voiceover helps patients believe and retain the information and drives GPs and patients to interact and engage with health.gsk's online hub whilst promoting other high value resources.


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Rep. Bentz Bill Would Create Ombudsman to Address Predatory Student Loan Practices
DOVER – Citing a dramatic growth in student loan debt and defaults, Rep. David Bentz introduced legislation Thursday that would protect Delawareans from predatory student loan servicing practices.
According to the White House, approximately 70 percent of students earning a bachelor's degree graduate with debt, which averages nearly $30,000. In Delaware, an estimated 129,000 residents have student loan debt. Delaware ranks first among states with the highest average student debt total, with the average student graduating with nearly $34,000 in student loans. That is a 129-percent increase in average student debt totals from 2004, when the average student graduated with $14,780 in student debt.
House Bill 349 would establish a student loan ombudsman within the Office of the State Bank Commissioner to receive, investigate and assist with complaints and questions from student loan borrowers. Under the bill, the ombudsman also would analyze data trends from the complaints and questions received, analyze developments and make recommendations about further steps that could be taken to address the student loan crisis.
"This generation of college graduates and current students is being saddled with more debt than any previous generation. This burden is forcing young people to delay other major life decisions, such as buying a house and starting a family," said Rep. Bentz, D-Newark/Bear. "I was fortunate, but many other young people run into problems with unscrupulous student loan servicers. Others just have questions or other concerns.
"There needs to be an avenue for these students and graduates to get the answers they need and address their complaints. We as a state owe it to future generations to make sure they aren't unnecessarily saddled with debt that they could avoid by asking a question. By creating a student loan ombudsman, we will give borrowers easier access to the information they need to make good, sound decisions and confront any problems they face."
Under HB 349, the ombudsman also would also create a student loan education course to ensure potential and current borrowers have complete information regarding key loan terms, documentation requirements, payment obligations, income-based repayment options, loan forgiveness, and disclosure requirements so that borrowers are able to make wise financial decisions.
HB 349 has been assigned to the House Education Committee.

subset: commoncrawl


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On October 21, 2015, the Department of State (DOS) released a Fact Sheet titled "Refugee Resettlement in the United States." The Fact Sheet has a few interesting notes and charts that I would like to share with you.
There are few issues more important to immigration law – and our republic as a whole – than who occupies the White House. Thus, as we fast approach the first votes of this 2016 Presidential election, I have decided to write a series of candidate profiles about each of the important 2016 Presidential hopefuls.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently released statistics regarding the apprehension of unaccompanied alien children or unaccompanied minors during Fiscal Year 2015. You can find these statistics and other information about the apprehension of unaccompanied minors at www.cbp.gov. An unaccompanied alien child is a child who has no lawful immigration status in the United States, has not reached the age of 18, and has no parent or legal guardian in the United States who can provide care and physical custody.
On November 10, 2015, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) invited interested members of the public to submit an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief discussing the following question: "In determining whether an offense constitutes an aggravated felony under section 101(a)(43)(M)(i) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(M)(i), must false statements be "material" in order to find that the statute "involves deceit"? The parties may address other issues pertinent to the case."
Attorney General Loretta Lynch referred two Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decisions to herself for review. The decisions are Matter of Chairez (decided February 11, 2015) and Matter of Sama (decided July 17, 2015). Pending the Attorney General's review, the BIA's decision in both cases are automatically stayed. The Attorney General is reviewing the cases to determine whether they are consistent with the Supreme Court's decision in Descamps v. United States (decided June 20, 2013). In this article, I will explain how this referral process works, the main issue that the Attorney General is considering, and the possible effects of this review going forward.
The Obama Administrative has used executive action to expand the use of parole to assist members of the armed forces, individuals in the reserves, and veterans. Parole is typically used to permit an alien who is outside the United States to enter the United States, but the Department of Homeland Security has recognized that parole may granted to an alien who is physically present in the United States without inspection or admission.
On November 9, 2015, by a 2-1 majority, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in a decision written by Judge Jerry Smith, upheld a District Court's preliminary injunction against the implementation of the Deferred Action for Parents and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program, and against the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Fifth Circuit's decision is sound, and strikes me as quite right on all of the key points. I will use this blog to first explain why the majority on the Fifth Circuit decided to uphold the preliminary injunction, the next steps in the litigation over DAPA and DACA, and my thoughts on why both the Fifth Circuit majority and Judge Hanen are spot on with their reasoning and decisions on these important issues.
Today American Immigration Lawyers Association published its Q&A notes on the Liaison meeting with Field Operations Directorate.
Three significant immigration programs are slated to expire on December 11, 2015. These three programs are the: EB-5 Regional Center Program; Conrad 30 J Waiver Program; Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker Programs. This blog will discuss the programs' prospects for reauthorization before they are set to expire.
In Matter of Garcia-Ramirez, the BIA addressed whether an alien had his continuous physical presence (for cancellation of removal purposes) severed when he was picked up near the Mexican border and briefly detained before voluntarily returning to Mexico. The key question was whether that was sufficient to constitute a break in continuous physical presence.


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European Mini-Grants
Graduates of our summer seminars in Europe are eligible to apply for mini-grants of up to $300 for projects in their classrooms, their schools, and their communities. These grants have been used to support teaching students about the Holocaust, human rights, Jewish life in their country or community, discrimination, tolerance, and respect for diversity. With the help of grants from TOLI, students have read books, watched documentaries and movies, met survivors or their relatives, visited synagogues and museums, written essays, created posters, photo exhibitions and multimedia presentations. Examples of successful grants are found below.
While teachers may continue to apply for mini-grants, individual projects may receive only one grant per year for no more than three years. For more information about how to apply for a mini-grant, participants in TOLI seminars in Europe should contact Oana Nestian-Sandu at email@example.com.
For more information about The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights (TOLI), please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
TOLI is located at 58 East 79th Street in Manhattan. (get directions)


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Religious tourism
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Melilla: the meeting place of four religions.
Travel ideas
…(Melilla) One of the greatest attractions of the city of Melilla is that it links two continents: Europe and Africa. This makes it the perfect place to experience the atmosphere of cultural intermingling. Another highl…
Santiago, a pilgrimage destination.
Travel ideas
…Santiago de Compostela. A Coruña. (Galicia) Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the Way of Saint James, a route that will offer you a unique experience. You will feel a great sense of achievement as you ar…
Easter week in Seville devotion in the streets #EasterinSpain.
Travel ideas
…Seville. (Andalusia) Easter Week in Seville is a wonderful way of learning about Spanish customs. And as well as witnessing a religious celebration, you can also chat with the people of Seville and share in the popular e…
Easter Week in Seville a unique spectacle #EasterinSpain.
Travel ideas
…Seville. (Andalusia) Easter Week in Seville is the perfect time to discover how the city celebrates one of its most traditional fiestas, and to celebrate it yourself by calling at a few bars - they stay open all night fo…
Travel ideas
…One hundred percent artisanal, with limited production and cooked with the dedication characteristic of monastic life. Such are the sweets that you can buy in convents in many cities in Spain. Here are some suggestions f…
Ribeira Sacra, land of monasteries.
Travel ideas
…(Galicia) Welcome to the Ribeira Sacra, an area of inland Galicia which is home to spectacular natural wonders such as the canyon of the river Sil, a symbol of the region, and valuable artistic heritage. Here you'll find…
Route of the Monasteries, Birthplace of Castilian Spanish.
Travel ideas
…The monasteries located in and around the Najerilla River valley (La Rioja) are prime examples of this type of religious building for their beauty, diversity of artistic styles and historic importance. These institutions…
Travel ideas
…We propose a trip along the itinerary of the Marian Route. You'll see three of the most important and best-known Marian shrines in the whole of Europe and the Americas: the shrines of El Pilar, Torreciudad and Montserrat…
Monasteries in Aragón, the experience of tranquillity..
Travel ideas
…(Aragón) In the Region of Aragón, in northeastern Spain, there are places where the feeling of calm is palpable and silence becomes the finest company. These are monasteries, built centuries ago in locations that transmi…
Las Huelgas Reales Monastery, royal pantheon.
Travel ideas
…Burgos. (Castilla y Leon) On the outskirts of Burgos, in northern Spain, you will find this stunning monastic centre that dates from the Middle Ages, and which came to be the pantheon of the Castile monarchs. It is still…


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My Top 50 Korean Groups
I decided to rank my top fifty favourite Korean groups, and this video was the result! This list includes subunits and disbanded groups. I made this video earlier this year, so I am sure that my ranking has changed a bit. Please check out the video above and let me know which groups are your… Continue Reading
[TOP 50] My Favourite Korean Songs (2018)
I am very late with this post, but I have finally created my "TOP 50 Korean Songs" list for this year! Many new songs made it on the list this year. There are also a lot of old favourites that re-entered in my rankings. Check out the video and accompanying table below! Let me know… Continue Reading
[TOP 100] My Favourite Korean Songs (May 2017)
My first "Top 100 Korean Songs" list was released TWO YEARS ago. Time really flies. There are hundreds, maybe, thousands of Korean songs released every year. I quickly get bored of songs after listening to them for a while. In some cases, my love for certain songs is renewed when I listen to songs I… Continue Reading
Throwback Thursday (K-POP Edition)
Every Thursday I will post some of my favourite Korean songs from the past!
[Bonus] TOP 100 Master List
This year, I ranked my favourite Korean, Chinese, Hello Project and Japanese songs. I then created "TOP 100" and "TOP 50" lists showing my current favourite songs of each genre. As part of this "TOP 100" series, I decided to do something fun and create a "Master List"!
2016 Favourite Comebacks: August & September
Here is a list of some of my favourite comebacks from August & September:


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May 8th, 2017
5 Steps to Packing the Perfect Toiletry Bag
You've picked your gear, chosen the perfect luggage, and organized your clothes and shoes, but now comes the tricky part—figuring out how to bring all your liquids and personal healthcare items onto a plane without having them confiscated at the airport by TSA or leak all over your clothes in transit. Don't worry. This toiletry kit plan is just what you need. These tips will help prevent goo from getting all over everything, they're eco-friendly, and they'll save you money, to boot.
1. Remember 3-1-1: If there's any chance that you will be toting carry-on luggage onto a plane, you have to pack your toiletries by the numbers. That means bringing one one-quart bag per person that's filled with items that are no larger than 3.4 ounces. To make things as easy as 1, 2, 3, the Pack It Original Wallaby comes with a handy, removable one-quart attachment that will help you speed through security. And Eagle Creek's refillable bottles (more about them below) also come packaged in a quart-size reusable bag that's ready for you to grab and go.
2. Reduce, Reuse, Refill: Although there's a world of miniature versions of health and wellness products that you can buy at your local drugstore, refillable silicone bottles will help you save money. Simply decant some of your favorite everyday products such as shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, and makeup remover. Plus, no tiny bottles will wind up in a landfill. Added bonus: They're leak-proof, so you don't have to worry about goo if you're reaching for your toothbrush in the dark. Just be sure to label them or write on them with permanent marker, so you know what's what, or remember a color-coded system in your head (like: large blue bottle = shampoo).
3. Get Crafty: Need to stow a product that doesn't squeeze into a refillable bottle? Think outside the tube: Fill a case that's made for contact lenses with dabs of makeup, convert a travel soap dish into a first aid kit with multi-sized bandages, antibiotic cream, and antiseptic wipes, and use resealable plastic baggies to stash baby wipes, power bars, and more.
4. Think Multi-use Products: Finding one product to do the job of several makes great packing sense because it will both lighten your load and reduce your costs. There are several natural products that eliminate the need for chemical-laden products, too. Argan oil, for example, can be used as a rich body moisturizer, a hair conditioner, and a remedy for acne and bug bites. Coconut oil is the holy grail of multi-use, natural products. You can use it as a moisturizer, a hair conditioner, a shaving cream, a makeup remover, and a post-sun skin soother. Pack some baking soda to add to your coconut oil and you have instant homemade toothpaste.
5. Compartmentalize Essentials: Organizing your toiletries well allows you to find items quickly. When you're selecting a toiletry bag, look for one that has multiple compartments, or keep certain items such as your brush and comb in a separate small bag, like a Pack-It Specter Wristlet Set.
What are your hot tips when it comes to organizing a toiletry bag? Anything you'd add to the mix? Toss in your two cents in the comments section.
Related Links (from Eagle Creek blog):
Top 3 Packing Tips from Eagle Creek Experts
Melissa Klurman is a freelance travel writer and editor, and the winner of a Lowell Thomas Gold Award for excellence in travel writing. Melissa explores Africa for Luxury Travel Advisor, scouts locations for destination weddings and honeymoons for Brides, sails away for OnBoard and ShermansCruise, and uncovers kid-friendly adventures for Family Fun, Parents, and Working Mother and her travel site, ThePlaygroundBlog.com. She is also a contributing editor at Frommer's Travel Guides.


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My name is Debra Butler, and I was born in Southern California and grew up in Huntington Beach ("Surf City USA"). I spent many summers at the beach, but spent most of my free time training at the gym. As a gymnast, I competed on UCLA's gymnastic team as a freshman. I then switched my goals to academics and graduated from UCLA School of Medicine to begin my career as a physician in the field of diagnostic radiology.
I developed a passion for photography in 2006 on a trip to Sweden and I have never looked back. My profession as a physician was often demanding and sometimes stressful, so photography became my creative outlet and way of relaxing. I spent hours enjoying nature's beauty as I captured it through my photography. As my passion for photography grew, I devoted more and more of my free time to learning and improving my skills as a photographer.
After 22 years as a physician, I converted my love of photography from a hobby to a profession. I am a self-taught photographer and my interests include nature, sports, and portraits.
It is the small things in life that make me happy. I smile for hours after capturing the wonder of nature, the depth of someone's smile, or the passion in their eyes.
My goal is to share the beauty of what I experience behind the lens with those on the other side.
Family, Lifestyle, Fine Art, Portraits
Candid, Glamour , Natural Light


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Greater Manchester has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling air pollution by becoming the UK's first member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Environment-led 'BreatheLife' cities network – with a pledge to meeting strict WHO air quality targets.
Leading practitioners from across the country attended the Greater Manchester's Natural Capital Annual Conference in Salford recently, to discuss how best to adopt a natural capital approach in urban environments.
Tony Lloyd outlines the need for additional housing across Greater Manchester and explores our options for sustainable development.
As part of the GMSF, the Natural Capital Group has set up a consultation event for GM wide environmental bodies with a Green and Blue Infrastructure focus, to be held on Wednesday 30th November 2016.
Understanding the multiple benefits and opportunities to be gained from natural solutions.
Domestic gardens offer a remarkable depth and range of benefits, particularly in urban areas, and we want you to help us enhance and better understand the value of this important Green Infrastructure in Greater Manchester.
Protecting and enhancing Greater Manchester's natural assets with the new Spatial Framework
Roger Milburn examines our dependency on the critically important physical infrastructure supporting our cities, towns and villages.
Investors needed to support the green heart of Manchester - City Forest Park – an inspiring green space and culture hub.
Protecting our environmental assets and planning for good, green infrastructure across Greater Manchester with the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.


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We're inviting you to help raise funds for a number of charitable causes this year. From July 1 to 31, we'll be publishing posts on our Facebook page that you can like, share, and comment, with each of these actions resulting in a donation to a partner charity organization.
In this Q&A post, we'll be getting to know one of our charity partners, Point Hope and its founder, Delilah.
Could you tell us more about your charity and its advocacy?
Point Hope believes all children deserve a safe, happy life. We have done a lot of work with refugee and impoverished children in West Africa and we continue to support that mission. Our goal is to be the "Voice for Forgotten Children" which includes the 463,000 American children in foster care here in the United States. Delilah, the founder of Point Hope, in addition to her adopted children from Africa, has adopted three children out of the foster care system in the U.S. and they have a forever home, a forever family, with her.
What inspired the charity, and how did it all begin?
Popular radio personality and Point Hope Founder, Delilah, was hosting her nightly program in 2003 when she received an email written by a single woman in West Africa, Winifred Ticley. Winifred wrote to Delilah from an internet café located outside a refugee camp run by the UNHCR in Ghana. Delilah read the appeal – Winifred was asking for help caring for her three starving children. They lived in a mud hut in a camp called Buduburam where over 80,000 refugees from Liberia and Ivory Coast lived in complete destitution.
Delilah felt God telling her she had to check out this story. She reached out to the people at World Vision, and learned the truth of Budubram. The United Nations had sponsored a refugee camp, primarily filled with Liberians, since the first civil war broke out in Liberia in 1990. Over the years the population swelled to over 80,000, in a camp that was equipped for 4,000. Instead of three little children who were starving and needing help, there were more than 30,000 children living without hope. This marked the beginning of Delilah's founding of Point Hope.
In what ways does Point Hope give back to the community?
Point Hope has a number of programs that provides care for youth of various ages in the U.S.:
- Teenista: The Annual Point Hope Teenista allows foster girls between the ages of 13 to 18 to have a day filled with the fun of being pampered while also being mentored and encouraged.
- Beanies 4 Babies: Something as simple as a "beanie", a tiny hand-made hat, can help to save the life of a premature child in a developing country. To date, over 1,200 beanies have been crafted and donated to Point Hope for distribution to underserved hospitals and clinics.
- Points of Hope: Points of Hope chapters exist to raise awareness and funding for Point Hope and to give caring, compassionate people of action the opportunity to reach out and offer Hope in their local communities. Many are making backpacks for kids to take with them when they go to new foster homes, so the kids can have something of their very own to take with them.
Point Hope helps in Africa in a number of ways:
- Agriculture: Point Hope's agricultural program has been in place since 2004. Point Hope teaches and practices organic, sustainable gardening. The agriculture program provides skills training in vegetable farming, livestock and poultry. Parents or caregivers of malnourished children are encouraged to participate in the farming projects and are trained regarding vegetables, fruit, poultry and egg production. In this way, Point Hope is not just feeding a hungry child, it is empowering the family to care for the child as they grow.
- Nutrition: When Point Hope first started working in the refugee camp, almost half of the children living in the region suffered from malnutrition. Adam Sandow, along with the entire Point Hope team, has spent over 10 years working daily to improve the lives of those who are hungry. Adam's education in public health and nutrition combined with his incredible heart for those who are suffering has changed and saved the lives of thousands. To date, Point Hope has not lost a single child enrolled in its program to malnourishment.
What challenges did your organization face, and how did you overcome them?
Point Hope's biggest challenge and biggest success to date has been getting fresh water into the Buduburam camp, taking four years and considerable funding to complete. Finally, in May of 2008, clean and fresh water started flowing into the project site. Where initially there were only three "fetching stations", there are now 19 to date. (A "fetching station" is comprised of double-sided spigots, much like we would see outside in our gardens in America.) Point Hope made 38 of these spigots available for 124 acres and 24,000 people – a vast improvement from the previous 18 years where these water sources were scarce or lacking.
Balsam Hill is now on its fourth year of giving back to the community through A Charitable Christmas in July. This year's charity partners include the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Idaho, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Ronald McDonald House and Point Hope.


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April 26, 2017
11 swimmers from Lake Washington Masters traveled down to Riverside, CA, to represent Puget Sound Masters at the 2017 USMS Spring Nationals (SCY). Our athletes swam spectacularly and helped PSM finish the meet in 3rd place out of Regional Clubs! It was a hard fought meet that stayed competitive to the last day, as illustrated by the final scores:
1. Colorado Masters 1,309
2. Arizona Masters 1,233
3. Puget Sound Masters 1,139.50
LWM had 3 swimmers set new National Records at the meet: Rick Colella (200 Free, 100 Breast, 200 Breast, 100 IM, 200 IM, 65+ Mixed 200 Free Relay, 65+ Mixed 200 Medley Relay), Charlotte Davis (50 Breast, 100 Breast, 400 IM, 65+ Mixed 200 Free Relay, 65+ Mixed 200 Medley Relay), and Bill Hayes (65+ Mixed 200 Free Relay, 65+ Mixed 200 Medley Relay).
Swim of the meet for all LWM Athletes:
Rick Colella - What can I say, that SwimSwam hasn't in their selection of Rick's 200 IM (2:03.63) as the BlueSeventy Swim of the Week ? It was an amazing race!
Charlotte Davis - Charlotte has worked super hard on improving her breastroke which was clearly evident in her 100 (1:20.27), where she not only won, but destroyed the National Record by over 3 seconds!
Ellen Ella - Battling through a minor allergic reaction… Ellen saved her best for last, finishing 3rd in her 200 Free (2:04.37) and besting her goal time for next year! Time to reanalyze, Ellen.
Skip Greene - In his 2nd appearance at a National event, Skip proved that he is becoming a bonafide swimmer and athlete. A 32.77 is a legitimate time in the 50 Free, Skip! So, what's next?
Max Hanson - Max came out strong in the 1000 Free (11:05.86), besting his goal time by almost 10 seconds and finishing in 7th place! Nice job, it was a fun race to watch!
Bill Hayes - Bill finished in the top 10 in 3 of his individual events, but non was more impressive than his 200 Free (2:23.74) where he took it out without fear and held on for a couple second drop!
Mike McColly - Mike also had a great meet, finishing in the top 3 for all his events! In his 1000 Free (12:46.06), Mike earned the title of National Champion by getting his time back under 13:00, and beating the 2nd place finisher by over a minute!
Mats Nygren - Mats was an absolute beast at the meet, and although he won the 1000 Free, I was most impressed by his 100. Getting back below :50 in the 100 Free (49.62) at the age of 50, is ridiculous! Way to go!
Daniel Phillips - After a strong race and a 3rd place finish in the 200 Breast, Dan was able to make a small stroke adjustment in the 50 Breast (28.51), drop time, and end the meet on the podium!
Bryan Smith - Brian saved his best performances for the last day of the meet, where he made swimming backstroke outside look easy! Brian raced the 100 Back (1:04.06) in textbook fashion and earned his first ever Top 10 finish at a National event!
Julie Voss - Both of Julie's breaststroke races were impressive, but it was her 50 (34.81) that stood out. She looked great and battled through an extremely competitive age-group to snag 8th place. Nice job, Julie!


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Confederate Standard Bearer
By Don Troiani
Union Standard Bearer
By Don Troiani
The Harrisburg CWRT adopted the monument dedicated to Brevetted Major General John White Geary on Culp's Hill, Gettysburg. Funds were provided for the refurbishment and an endowment established for future maintenance and upkeep of the monument. The Harrisburg CWRT sponsored the official dedication of his monument on August 11, 2007.


text: The popular social media photo sharing app Instagram has recently patched a bug in their website that accidentally exposed some of their users' passwords in plaintext. The bug resides in the new "Download Your Data" feature. This new feature allows the user to download a copy of all the data they have shared with the site, including comments, posts, photos, and other information.read more →


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To say that financial affairs are at the epicentre of daily life in the world is as true as it is somewhat difficult for even those involved in the world of finance to fully grasp. After all, for all the tangible aspects of pitching and running your own business, there are many elements that can seem more purely conceptual than concrete fact, at least until you've been able to pull it off successfully. Securing a loan for the first time can easily fall into this category. Sure, you know that loans for businesses exist – that many different types of such loans exist, in fact. That's part of the problem. With so many different options available, it can be difficult to know where to start. This can be made all the more difficult by traditional lending teams who, while quite useful for established companies, can feel more like an amorphous obstacle for startups.
That's why you'll want to turn to the best online source for business loans in Australia to jumpstart your startup business.
Talk to a Specialist
When you start your search for a great loan for your business, you're likely to want some help figuring out which one is right for you. That's why the best sites offering such loans offer consultations with loan officers and specialists who can help give you the guidance you need. They will go over different loan options, discussing the pros and cons of each one, and helping you figure out which one best suits your needs while simultaneously answering any other questions you may have.
Quick Approval Processes
Time is money, and nowhere is that truer than in the world of business. You don't have an endless period of time to sit and think about a loan. That business opportunity you have may disappear, or your company may go under. One of the drawbacks of traditional means of lending is the fact that the process can be rather drawn-out sometimes, especially for new businesses. By contrast, securing a loan online is quick and easy. All you have to do is provide the necessary documents, click the right boxes, speak to a specialist if necessary, and expect to have your case reviewed and likely approved in a matter of a few short hours.
Different Types of Loans
As stated, there are many different types of loans available for your consideration, including the following:
Affordable Loans
The whole point of a loan is to help improve your financial situation. You can hardly do that if a loan leaves you in the red. That's why the best sites offering loans for your business also offer competitive rates for their services. What's more, they can actively work with you to help you arrive at a rate that works for your particular financial situation.
Secure the loans you need to fuel your company's rise to the top with the best online site for business loans.2018-10-16
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Candles have become a popular decoration in our homes. The wide variety of colors, shapes and scents have helped candle sales become a billion dollar industry. Each year, candle misuse causes approximately 9,300 residential fires in the United States and the results are $374 million in damages.
Follow these basic rules to prevent a fire from starting in your home:
See Candle Tips for more information


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Noka's Cafe & Catering
1 Courthouse Square
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 281-7100
Monday - Closed
Tuesday- Sunday 8-3pm
Tuesday- Sunday 8-3pm
Noka's Cafe & Catering Offers Breakfast & Lunch. Located In The Old Lake Courthouse. We also offer full service catering events for the Maki Ballroom upstairs. Visit Nokas website or facebook!
Bottom floor of the Old Lake Courthouse in the square


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Remember when Quantic Dream actually developed video games rather than glorified movies that let you walk forward on occasion? I know it sounds crazy, but that actually happened. Granted, the later games Quantic Dream developed had intriguing and involving narratives, but they still were too akin to films with little gameplay. In the wake of David Bowie's unfortunate passing, we've decided to go all the way back to 1999. Which saw the release of Quantic Dream's first video game that had story input, cameos, and original game tracks by the man, the myth, the legend, David Bowie; in Omikron: The Nomad Soul.
Omikron: The Nomad Soul may have the strangest story in video game history, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Nomad Soul begins with our protagonist, Kay'l 669, directly speaking to the player. Kay'l 669 asks the player if they can help save his dimension, but first, the player must "transfer their soul" into the body of Kay'l so they may control him. Things only get stranger from here. After the player "transfers their soul" into the body of Kay'l, he is then transported into Omikron; a dark cyberpunk city on a world called Phaenon. Once the player enters Omikron as Kay'l 669, they must continue his investigation into a string of serial killings with his partner, Den. This quickly escalates into anti-government conspiracies, demons, and an ancient religious order led by David Bowie himself (as a character known as "Boz").
The plot initially feels overwhelming and convoluted, but once you trek further into The Nomad Soul's narrative and begin to understand what exactly is going on, you will quickly become engrossed in this world's story. Admittedly, to me at first, the story felt too strange and awkward at first.
This almost got me to completely give up on The Nomad Soul, but I was glad that I sat through until the end because my initial feelings soon went away. The Nomad Soul's story isn't perfect though. While the overall plot eventually gets more engaging, the characters always feel so one dimensional. You never care about their struggles or how their fates play into the overall scheme of everything. That is with the exception of one character.
I'd be going too deep into spoiler territory if I said too much, but David Bowie's performance as Boz is absolutely fantastic. Although Boz has odd motivations and isn't around long enough to become likable, David Bowie portrays him in a way that intrigues you every second he's on screen. I even purchased Omikron: The Nomad Soul again on Steam to play through to his part.
For 1999, the graphics are fairly good. The darker shading and non-reflective surfaces help bring the dark Blade Runner-esque world to life. Granted, the graphics were good, but they weren't anything to write home about.
Sadly, this is a poorly optimized game. The only settings you are given to tweak are resolution, clipping distance, display sky, display shadow, street activity, and detail level.
This may not sound like an issue since most of our computers were built after the dinosaurs died off, but there is also a 30fps lock that hinders your experience with the game. I even had an issue running at a framerate above 20fps due to an issue with the 30 fps lock.
The Nomad Soul also happened to be one of the earlier games to use motion capture technology for some actors, including David Bowie. The technology was still fairly primitive back in 1999 for games, but it was still nice to see slightly more animated faces on some characters.
Decent gameplay and Quantic Dream usually get along together about as well as Anakin Skywalker and a group of younglings. So, is it different in this case? Yes and no. Yes, there is a lot more gameplay in The Nomad Soul than what you will find in Heavy Rain or Beyond: Two Souls, but it feels pretty awkward and clunky. I can't really blame the game for that because a lot of older games played in modern times feel clunky and awkward. Times change and so does player accessibility.
There are two types of combat gameplay. First, we have hand to hand combat. Hand to hand is also the less awkward of the two. Once you've engaged in a fisty cuffs battle, you control kicking and punching with the WASD keys. I never could get a good pattern so I just mashed them until I won. The second is gun combat. Once you are given a gun, you are put into a first person perspective. While serviceable, the gunplay in The Nomad Soul feels stiff. Especially when you have enemies from all sides and you have to work with the Resident Evil style tank controls. Overall I've had better, but I've also had much worse.
With the inclusion of David Bowie, you would think that the soundtrack would be absolutely amazing, right? Well, it certainly is great, but it falls short of perfection because of the lack of David Bowie sung songs. There are a few songs sung by Bowie himself, but the rest from him are purely instrumentals and you would have to be a diehard Bowie fan to notice. The other side of the soundtrack comes from Reeves Gabrels. His additions are also good and add to the dark cyberpunk vibe. Gabrels' additions also sound akin to Bowie's genre of music.
Voice acting in The Nomad Soul is also convincing with an exceptional performance from David Bowie himself as Boz. The distorted computerized effect to his voice is also a great addition. A lot of expository dialogue is, unfortunately, just in text. This is most similar to examining an object in Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Along with the fixed camera positions, you will be right at home to many of the features of The Nomad Soul if you are coming off of Resident Evil or Silent Hill.
With the inclusion of many strange features and elements, one would think that Omikron: The Nomad Soul doesn't always know what it wants to be. And you may be right with that conclusion, but that doesn't make it a bad game. In fact, The Nomad Soul does just enough different from other games to remain entirely unique. This is an Underrated Gem in every sense of the word. Just as I did for the late Lemmy Kilmister with Brutal Legend (which was uploaded before his passing), this Underrated Gems article is dedicated to David Bowie.
I suppose it's understandable to see why many people forgot about this gem, but that doesn't mean it's a bad game. It may take some extra hoops to jump through to get this to run on modern machines, but you can still buy Omikron: The Nomad Soul on both Steam and GOG for less than usual microtransaction. I highly recommend you give this game a try.
This is arguably Quantic Dream's best game. An intriguing story, David Bowie, a great soundtrack, AND actual gameplay? It feels like a dream, but it's not. It's a Quantic Dream.
Rest in peace, David Bowie (1947 - 2016)