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I started my PLN last semester when I joined my IDS intro class. At first I didn't know what it was or how it could benefit me. When I first started it I thought that I should use Twitter to connect to businesses and other public pages that had a reflection of my interests. This included Twitter pages such as the National Weather Service, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency, The Weather Channel and many more pages that post about weather, climate change and earth sciences.
Last semester, the main focus of my PLN was to share information that was on Twitter that involved examples of climate change and show what is happening around the world that involves the effects of climate change. Last semester my main focus was the cyclones in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. There were several major hurricanes that made landfall in the Caribbean Islands and in the South East United States such as Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria. There was a lot of destruction from hurricanes and I was able to share a lot of things related to the warnings of the hurricanes, the doppler radar that was tracking the storms , the path of the storms and then of course the aftermath from these storms.
However during winter, I didn't share much about hurricanes since it was not hurricane season, but i did share a lot about the winter storms that hit us during the winter season. It seemed like not only were the hurricanes in the Atlantic getting stronger, causing more rainfall and leaving more communities destroyed. The winter storms seemed to get more intense as well. There were snow storms almost every week in February and March and this caused a lot of snow fall and problems with travel that resulted in power loss, road collisions and made for hazardous conditions for people outside.
As someone who studies how to implement early warning systems and ways to warn people before storms and other weather events happen, I decided that I would want to help scientists by warning people before these storms made landfall and caused damage. I would normally try to share the snowfall forecast so that people would be able to see which areas of the north east would get the most amount of snowfall. Unfortunately this season was very active and caused a lot of power outages and accidents all around New England. I communicated to others about these storms on social media because it was the easiest way for people to be warned and decide whether or not it would be too hazardous to go to work or school.
I was also able to share a few things about what is happening in other parts of the world. Not only would this be about storms that hit local areas, but also different events that were happening that could have a bad impact in the future. In this post I was able to watch a video about how the Antarctic ice sheet was moving and melting. This was interesting video because it led to some insight that may explain why the sea ice is melting because it shows how fast parts of the ice sheets are moving and the faster they move, the faster they can move away from the ice sheets, break off from the ice sheets and then melt in the ocean as they move away. I thought it would be interesting to share because it could get people thinking about why this happens and what will happen if this continues to be the trend in the future.
I plan to keep using my personal learning network after I graduate to help keep others updated on different weather events, advancements in science and other related topics.
This was a post that I re-tweeted from NOAA's satellites page which showed a satellite image from the storm that covered the NorthEast and brought heavy snow and rain to different parts of the region. This was one that I wanted to re-tweet because I thought it was an amazing gif that gave a good time lapse of the storm so that people would be able to see just how massive the Nor'easter was which would give them an understanding of why it caused the heavy rainfall and snowfall and why it caused so much destruction in the area.
This one I decided to re-tweet because it was a very well written article explaining why the arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world. I was hoping others would look at this article and see how different parts of the world are being affected by the changing climate.
This last post I chose to be part of my PLN because not only do I like to share posts about current events, how our climate is being changed by the rising temperatures and CO2 in the atmosphere but I also like to post about new advancements in technology that will help us understand more about how our earth systems work, even as we have a changing climate. This one had an interesting article about how to estimate past hurricane strength using seismic data from earthquakes and volcanoes. It was something that I didn't expect would be a way to figure out the strength of hurricane so I thought it would be interesting to share with everyone.
I think a personal learning network is a great way to learn new things even after you graduate. I intend to keep using it to post new things that have me interested and I hope to also post about how I am advancing in my career and what changes I am contributing to in my field so that others can learn more about the world around them.


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We can send money to any country in the world faster, cheaper and safer than anyone.
- Stage Not Set
- Industry Financial Services
- Location Miami, FL, USA
- Currency USD
- Website ingenicardamericard.com
Company Summary
We have a payment platform with a prepaid debit card pin base oriented towards the unbanked people. Our platform is unique because we work on "Close Loop", meaning we control the fees, and the % to distribute with our merchants and agents. We can do card transfers Faster, more economically and safer than Moneygram and/or Western Union, our customers are distributions chains with thousands of stores in several Latin American countries
Steve HodgesCTO
Senior level technology expert, with extensive experience over a 25 year period with the integrations and deployment of both large and small scale projects that has included systems design and implementation of IXC, CLEC, IVR's, PBX's, LAN's, WAN's, MPLS, WEB , Databases, SS7, PRI, TDMA, PCI Compliance, SAS 70 Compliance, HIPA Compliance, BSA Compliance at the hardware and software levels. Currently have a patent pending for VoIP technologies.
Previous Investors
Initial start up no initial investorsUnconfirmed

subset: commoncrawl


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Detroit rapper Geebaby has been bubbling since the top of 2018 with the success of his hit song "MILE HIGH CLUB" which is produced by Detroit's well know producer "Helluva."
RELATED: Snap Dogg Jumps On Hot 107.5 Truck During Summer Jamz 21 Performance [VIDEO]
RELATED: Peezy Took Us Back With 'Ooh La La La' Performance At Summer Jamz 21 [VIDEO]
On Wednesday he put on one of hell of show, as he performed "MILE HIGH CLUB" for the first time on the Hot's Summer Jamz 21 Detroit festival stage!
Watch the video above to see his full performance!
RELATED: Neisha Neshae Performs "On a Cloud" At Summer Jamz 21 [VIDEO]
RELATED: Sino Brings The Heat To Summer Jamz 21 [VIDEO]
Also On Hot 107.5:


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Trends in packaging label design are constantly changing and updating with the times. It is important to stay on top of these trends while including classic elements ensuring your packaging will endure the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here are some great tips for designing packaging and labels.
Origami Designs:
These folded designs can transform your packaging into a work of art. Many are thoughtfully laid out though simple at their core. To the consumer, these designs can present a quirky image making the product relatable, refreshing, uncomplicated and causing it to stand out on supermarket shelves.
Easy Labels:
Also giving off a refreshing and uncomplicated vibe, these labels can be attached to bottles or loosely wrapped around items. They give off a charming home made vibe making them great for independent shops and small businesses who need to product packaging quickly and cheaply. They are also easy to edit, making them useful for a variety of products.
The typography you use can really help convey the message your product is looking to send. A classic serif can be great for an aspirational product while a pared back sans serif can work for a product that is cool and trendy. For a luxury product, go for traditional serif typefaces or heavily tracked headers.
Natural Color Palettes:
While it was once thought that bold brash packaging would serve to make your product stand out, today the trend is towards toning it down. Nature inspired colors send a message that your product is eco-friendly and ethically sound. They also have a soothing effect on consumers.
Photography and Minimal Styles:
While illustrated graphics and simple typographic designs seem to be trending as opposed to photography, photography can still be incorporated into certain label designs. Black and white photography can work well when paired with colorful typography. Monochromatic color photography can go well with simple, sans serif type in a matching color.
Incorporate Art:
Arty looks will always stand out on a supermarket shelf. If you're not handy with a paintbrush, and don't have the funds to hire a professional, digital and vector art can also be the way to go.
Masculine vs. Feminine:
While there is no clear design trend in marketing products for the sexes, black and white often makes fitting packaging for men. These work well with square sans-serif type. Incorporating patterned designs, on the other hand, is a great way to market to women adding a touch of beauty and femininity.
If you are looking to create packaging label design for your products, these are all suggestions you should be keeping in mind. It is also a good idea to consult a professional on all aspects of your packaging including logo and label design and graphic design labels. If you are trying to find a company to help you in these aspects of your packaging, consult San Diego, California branding and graphic design experts Lien Design. They are always on top of the latest trends making for products that are sure to get noticed increasing your bottom line.
Disclaimer: Photos and trademarks are property of their respective companies. Some of the above photos are being used for educational purposes only and are not owned by Lien Design.


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Tag Archives: Entertainment Gaming Asia
- Melco International mulls upping stakes in Entertainment Gaming Asia
April 19, 2017
Lawrence Ho's Melco International Development Ltd. is considering a complete takeover of electronic gaming machines supplier Entertainment Gaming Asia.
- Entertainment Gaming Asia's social gaming shift a net loser
April 12, 2017
Entertainment Gaming Asia's ongoing transition from Asian casino slots supplier to social gaming developer results in a whole lot of red ink in 2016.
- Entertainment Gaming Asia sells remaining Cambodia assets
December 29, 2016
Entertainment Gaming Asia sells off the last of its Cambodian slots operations, while pledging to use the cash to enter the movie business.
- Entertainment Gaming Asia shrinkage after Cambodia, Philippines slots sell-off
July 12, 2016
Entertainment Gaming Asia sells off 824 slots it was leasing to casinos in Cambodia and the Philippines after deals expire.
- Entertainment Gaming Asia hatching secret plan to mitigate challenging 2016
March 12, 2016
Entertainment Gaming Asia says it's working on a potential opportunity in a brand new market to help company face a challenging year ahead.
- NagaCorp inks new slots deal, seeks new Chinese name, makes nice with Buddhists
March 8, 2016
Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp inks new slots deal with Entertainment Gaming Asia, seeks new Chinese name, makes nice with Buddhists.
Popular Posts
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February 12, 2019
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February 6, 2019
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February 22, 2018
Cambodia added 52 new casino licenses in 2018
January 2, 2019
Sihanoukville set to become Cambodia's top casino hub
December 5, 2017


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Games Recommended for you
Balls On The Depth 3
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Balls On The Depth 3 Info
Balls On The Depth 3 is a colorful online game that takes place somewhere on the seabed. Shoot balls of the same color to make them disappear.
The game is playable in two different modes and they are Arcade Mode and Classic Mode. Marine colorful balloons fill the seabed. Help marine life cope with balls.
One has to shoot colored balls to make groups of three or more same colored balls to pop them out of the screen. Points get added for all the balls that fall off the screen.
Balls On The Depth 3 is played with the mouse.Last updated on 06 Jul , 2015 by James Wray.
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Cross and BlocksFree
Cross and Blocks - puzzle game. The player is given the cross of colored blocks. Cross can be divided into five segments: left, right, top, bottom and center. Move the colored blocks on the cross, so that each segment of the cross were blocks of one color. Moving blocks is only possible by a column or a whole row. At the same time shift the row or column should always be carried out through the central segment. The game is very similar to the famous Rubik's Cube. But specific game mechanics Rubik's Cube complicates the classical implementation on smart phones and tablets. As a result, it is very difficult to find a suitable implementation. While the game mechanics Cross and Blocks adapted to the game on the touch screens of smartphones and tablets, which makes the game very convenient and enjoyable. The game has two modes: Step by Step and Free Play. If you have difficulty in solving this kind of puzzles, you can start from the Step by Step. Or get challenge in the Free Play m
Downloads: 254+ (for Android)Report app for spam or abuse!
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Pokemon Go Mod Free
Download last version of Pokémon GO Apk + Mod + Fake gps for android + Poke Radar


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Rise in Existing Home and Condo Sales in Florida
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 09:55AM
There is interesting news for those Snowbird's who are considering purchasing a second home in Florida or moving here. Existing homes sales in Florida rose in October, 2008. A housing report released by the Florida Association of Realtors indicates that activity in Florida existing homes sales increased by 15% over October of last year and existing condominium sales were 5% higher.
This may be an indication that the real estate slump might have reached rock bottom and is starting to improve. However, you should note that the median sales price for existing homes in Florida last month was $169,700 compared to $222,200 this time last year.


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Flaccavento Campaign: Summary of Post-election Poll Results
The Flaccavento for Congress Campaign commissioned a post-election poll in an effort to better understand the reasons Anthony was defeated by a margin of nearly 2:1 by Morgan Griffith, a weak incumbent who ran a lackluster campaign. The phone poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling, based in North Carolina, on November 16/17, 2018, ten days after the election. Seven hundred voting households were contacted, well beyond the 400 HH minimum suggested for a population the size of the 9th District. All findings below pertain solely to the 9th District of Virginia.
What follows is a summary of the poll's findings, along with some other takeaways from post-election data, including turnout rates and results in specific counties and cities.
Top line poll results:
The margin of victory for MG vs AF on election day was 65:35. This was corroborated by the poll which put the margin at 63:33 (4% were unsure or voted for someone else)
This margin also dovetails almost exactly with Donald Trump's job approval rating in the 9th district, with 66% of poll respondents approving of his performance, more than double the 30% who disapproved
Survey respondents were asked their reasons for voting for MG, with seven choices given, along with "other/not sure". The same question was asked twice, to allow them to give their top two reasons. Three reasons rose to the top, both as their first choice and as their top two choices:
o "Liked MG's policies on things like abortion & guns" (First choice – 39%; first and second combined – 54%)
o "Wanted to support Pres Trump" (First choice – 25%; combined – 41%)
o "AF was too liberal" (First choice – 17%; combined – 36%)
The fourth most common choice, well behind the top three, was
o "Happy with how things are going/didn't want to make a change" with 10%/22%)
"Wasn't familiar enough with AF to vote for him" received only 3%/5%.
Two other choices that had very low selection rates were: "Always vote Republican" and "My church/pastor encouraged me to vote Republican". These are likely lower than is actually the case, as many people would likely not believe, or not want to believe that they always vote the party line, or that their political choices are a direct result of their church's influence.
Asked if they had attended any of the town hall meetings or otherwise met or spoken with AF during the campaign, a surprisingly large 20% said yes, while 77% said no.
Demographic information from the poll:
o 44% identified as Republican, 31% as Independent and 25% as Democrats
o 53% were women, 47% men
o 81% identified as rural, 14% as suburban and 5% as urban
o As with other polls, this sample skewed towards middle aged and older people, likely because of reliance on land lines, with 76% of respondents 46 and older.
Other interesting findings:
Views of Trump
o 95% of people who voted for him in 2016 still approve of his job performance, with only 3% disapproving.
o Among women in the 9th, an extraordinary 61% approve of Trump's performance, with only 36% disapproving
o Trump also had a 21% approval rating among Democrats and an astounding 50% approval among people aged 18 – 29
o In addition to comparable rates of approval for Trump, female respondents gave the same top three reasons voting for MG, in nearly equal percentages to the overall sample.
o 93% of African Americans in the survey disapprove of Trump's performance and 79% indicated they voted for AF (only 7% voted for MG)
o Trump's approval rating climbed as age of respondent increased, with the highest approval rating – 70% - among people 46 – 65. Trump's approval declined modestly to 63% among people 66 and older
o MG's strongest base of support, surprisingly, was among people 30 – 45, with 69% voting for him, declining slightly with age, down to 60% among those 66 and older
o Millennial respondents (18 – 29) also favored MG over AF, by a margin of 54% to 46%. Note that this result seems at least somewhat skewed, given our margins of victory in Radford and Blacksburg. However, it's worth considering that the millennial vote is far from overwhelming for Democrats in the 9th.
Those attending town halls or otherwise met/spoke with AF
o AF won among those attending a town hall or otherwise meeting AF by 50% to 47% (I guess I should have held 1000 town halls…)
o Interestingly, 49% of this group approve of Trump while 51% disapprove
Poll respondents who voted for AF
o 59% were women
o 31% attended a town hall or otherwise spoke to AF
o 18 % voted for Trump in 2016 and 14% continue to approve of his performance
o 9% identified as Republicans, 32% as independents and 59% as Democrats
Voter Turnout
As everyone knows, voter turnout increased significantly across the country and the Commonwealth, where 59% of registered voters voted in 2018, up from the mid 40% in the past two mid-terms. However, while voter turnout in the 9th increased, it was the lowest of all congressional districts at 53%. Other findings:
Comparing voter turnout in 2012 – AF's first run and a presidential election year – with voter turnout in 2018, we expected lower overall numbers for the midterm. Nevertheless, the drop off in voter turnout between 2012 and 2018 was much higher for Democrats than Republicans
o Compared with 2012, Republican voters declined by 13%, while the decline in Democratic voters was nearly double, down by 25%
o In Washington County (AF's home county), the difference was even more striking: Republican voters declined by 9% while Dem voters fell by 35%
Looking at counties where the campaign had a particularly strong presence – several and well attended town halls, very strong core groups, persistent activities, letters to the editor, canvassing and phone banking – the same pattern of higher Democratic voter decline persisted, in spite of what appeared to be very strong energy at the ground level. This included the counties of Floyd (Rep decline of 6%, Dem decline of 12%), Grayson (R – 1%, D – 35%), Dickenson (R – 20%, Dem – 50%), Wise (R – 25%, D – 43%), Pulaski (R – 11%, D – 23%) and others. The only exception was the city of Salem, which saw Republican voters decline at twice the rate of Dem voters, 22% vs 11%.
Discouragingly, AF lost by comparable margins across the 9th, regardless of the strength of the local effort in place
From the election results themselves, the turnout numbers and the poll results, I'd offer the following thoughts regarding the reasons behind such a resounding loss:
1. It was not due to lack of name recognition or general knowledge of me or my campaign. Fewer than 5% of people cited this on the poll, and I lost in counties with the strongest campaign presence by virtually the same margins as in less traveled spaces. And besides, I lost overwhelmingly in my home county, where I'm pretty well known (and to my knowledge, generally well-regarded).
2. I do not believe the problem was messaging or "preaching to the choir". I hope to test this more through focus groups, but I believe our message had broad, non-partisan appeal and that it was delivered more and more effectively than MG's message.
3. Related to the above, it's clear from the numbers that MG's voters were in no way confined to working and lower income working people, or to men. He also won strongly among women. To have won by 2:1, he almost surely also got significant support from professionals, middle class people and those with college education.
4. The power of Trump, combined with a fear and or loathing of Democrats around key 'big issues' (abortion, guns, likely immigration as well) seems the most likely reason for the loss of this proportion. At present, this appears more important to voters than local/regional issues, or the performance of their congressman.


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A Christmas Gift Guide for Him
I have decided to do the mens gift guide a little differently and I haven't put a price cap on else I really would have struggled with this. Whilst I find Michael relatively easy to buy for, ish, I know that men in general can be quite tricky so I have tried to hit lots of gift genres without trying to stereotype. This is 35 gifts under a lot more money. Ha.
Skincare - I guess beard care is part of skincare? All beards need an elixir and this is a lovely one. Mr Miller has been using Clarins for years now and has no complaints. I think this gift set is such a good price and contains everything a bloke could need. Also!! If your partner/brother/whoever has a beard...they need one of these. It has changed our little lives. And cleanliness of the bathroom.
Fragrance, oh how I could write a whole blog on fragrance. Start with one of these candles from Beaufort London. Aftershave wise, anything from Creed, Aventus, Green Irish Tweed, Viking. Acqua di Parma - their aftershave is delicious ( I wear it myself) but their aftershave balm is probably the best in the world. And smells incredible, a little goes a long way so don't be tooo put off by the price tag.
Fashion - tan suede chelsea boots for under £100? Yes please! A bow-tie.
House bits - dispenser perfect for parties. Marble monogrammed cheeseboard, also perfect for parties, and Saturday nights in. An appropriate mug. A neon cactus light.
Accessories - good leather gloves at a decent price are hard to find but these from Barbour are perfect, and they also come with a wool scarf as part of the set. I have seen more men switch to smaller card holders rather than wallets recently, whilst you could easily spend hundreds, I found this one from John Lewis. Mr Miller has this one. There is also the classic Mulberry. If in doubt, beard baubles and if that is too much then a glitter beard kit will do.
Technology - a random one to begin with but I bought Michael this electric flosser last year and he proclaimed it the best gift ever. They are meant to be better than normal flossers and keep your teeth tip top. I can't recommend Sonos enough. Games wise, just buy Call of Duty. Or this Obama Llama one. Or cat bingo? A dinosaur skeleton jigsaw thing. If they are a Star Wars fan, how about this shaver.
Mini handheld pac man game? This looks like it would be addictive.
This Crosley record player in black is in the sale for £70. And this awesome record to go with it. I am groot.
Star wars origami, I think best bought for the man in your life that has some patience because it looks so damn hard! Edible bum holes. Also a superb stocking filler/secret santa gift.
Food & Drink - Whisky truffles. Need I say more? A bacon curing kit, really intrigued by this! There is also a gin kit.


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Ford Fiesta
Our objective was to strengthen Ford's position in the market, establish it as a desirable brand with its targeted demographic and to encourage readers to consider purchasing the new Ford Fiesta.
What we did
Rather than try to think of a way to base a campaign around cars and motoring, we took inspiration from Ford's 'What Would You Do with 24 Hours' messaging and tasked ourselves with creating a multi-platform campaign over four weeks, which included producing a special issue created in 24 hours – supported across print and digital to both build excitement before and report on it after the event. Co-branding was also used on the Ford Fiesta fleet cars used to transport the Stylist team, and the entire campaign drove awareness and promoted the Fiesta's desirability.
What we achieved
Our editorial commitment combined with strong relationships with celebrities and influencers meant that the event was a huge success not only in its execution over the 24 hours, but from a PR point of view – it garnered huge traction on social media, using dedicated hashtags #24HourFiestaStylist. The entire concept was a media first that everyone still talks about, and Ford were so pleased with the results that they booked another big campaign with us the following year. Our search for the next big stylist – another media first – climaxed at Stylist Live 2015 with the crowning of the winner of the 'Fiesta Stylista' competition, while the event also featured sponsored nail bars and catwalks.
Watch our video below to see the full 'Fiesta Stylista' case study.
"This is the culmination of the competition we've been running with Stylist which has been such a success. I've heard nothing but positive things about Stylist Live from all the customers that have been coming onto our stand, but I don't know how we top this!" - Howard Kee, Advertising & Experiential Marketing Manager - Ford of Britain


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Most flowers open only once, as they grow from a bud to a full-blown blossom. Others open during the day and close at night, some at varying times of the day. In harsh environments, this adaptation can help flowers conserve energy and improve the health of the plant as a whole.
Diurnal and Nocturnal Flowers
Some flowers, called diurnal, close during the night, while nocturnal flowers close during the day and open at night. Diurnal flowers close to keep insects out at night and protect the delicate blossoms for daytime reproduction. Nocturnal flowers, including some cacti and bromeliads, close during the day to avoid harsh sunlight and open during the night to pollinate. Diurnal flowers are typically pollinated by butterflies, bees and other creatures awake in the day, while nocturnal blossoms may be pollinated by moths or bats.
The Process
Flowers that open and close can do so in one of two ways. Some flowers, including those in the genus Kalanchoe, grow new cells each day on the inside to open the flower and on the outside to close the flower blossom. Other flowers open and close by expanding cells on the inside and outside of the flower by pumping water in and out of the cells. Light, temperature and even internal clocks can trigger these changes in flowers. ProFlowers' Year of Seeds allows you to witness this phenomenon with several different flowers, including marigolds and poppies.
Changes in the Flower
While some blossoms just open and close, others change shape in response to light or warmth. Bulb flowers, including tulips and crocuses, grow faster on the upper side than the lower, encouraging the bloom to open wide in the morning. In the afternoon, the lower side of the bulb expands, creating a cup-shaped flower. Potted bulb gardens in the house, like the ProFlowers' Pretty in Pink Bulb Garden, may show the same effect, especially if you adjust the temperature in your home from night to day.
Opening Cut Flowers
If you have a bouquet with closed buds rather than open flowers, you may want to open the blossoms to create a prettier display. Cut the stems on an angle when you purchase the flowers, and place them in warm water to encourage the flower to absorb water. Use a low temperature hair dryer to mimic the warmth of the sun and help the blossoms to open up in the vase.


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- Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Faith (Encounter);
- Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and the West (Regnery);
- Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics (with Daniel Ali) (Ascension);
- The Myth of Islamic Tolerance: How Islamic Law Treats Non-Muslims (Prometheus);
- The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades) (Regnery);
- The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion (Regnery);
- Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is and Islam Isn't (Regnery);
- Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting America without Guns or Bombs (Regnery);
- The Complete Infidel's Guide to the Koran (Regnery);
- The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War On America (with Pamela Geller) (Threshold Editions/Simon & Schuster).
- Did Muhammad Exist? An Inquiry Into Islam's Obscure Origins (ISI);
- Not Peace But A Sword: The Great Chasm Between Christianity and Islam (Catholic Answers);
- Arab Winter Comes to America: The Truth About the War We're In (Regnery);
- The Complete Infidel's Guide to ISIS (Regnery).
- The Complete Infidel's Guide to Iran (Regnery).
- The Complete Infidel's Guide to Free Speech (and Its Enemies) (coming in 2017 from Regnery).
UK: 5,500 cases of FGM in 2016 alone, not a single prosecution
...THE NHS has seen a shocking rise in the number of case of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Britain – despite the practice being banned for more than 30 years.Medical staff recorded almost 5,500 cases in 2016 alone, according to shocking new statistics.


text: GSTGST FAQs Q 289. Suppose a taxable person has paid IGST/ CGST/SGST mistakenly as an Interstate/intrastate supply, but the nature of which is subsequently clarified. Can the CGST/SGST be adjusted against wrongly paid IGST or vice versa? By Prashant Thakur - 09/18/2016 0 752 Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Ans. No. He will have to pay the appropriate tax and claim refund of the tax wrongly paid. (IGST Sec.30 and Sec.53 GST). [ As per FAQ on GST published by NACEN ] 136… This content is for annual and Semi Annual members only.Log In Register


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Bees player-coach Russell Earnshaw praised his side's adaptability after they produced a devastating first-half performance to set up a convincing victory in Essex.
The visitors chalked up four tries in the first 30 minutes and then defended stoutly to snuff out any prospect of a Southend second-half revival.
Earnshaw was delighted his side registered a fourth consecutive win in National League Two. "The first half was brilliant," said the back-row forward.
"All these games are potential banana skins so if we come away with a win, let alone five points, then I am a happy man.
"We've got guys who are stepping up to the plate as leaders and we're just enjoying it at the moment. There is a real good buzz around the team.
"In the first half, we played the wind really well. We want to play rugby and we want to wear sides down. Whatever the conditions are, we want to be able to adapt our game and I thought we did that really well."
Earnshaw's men took full advantage of a strong following wind in the opening period and fly-half Mark Woodrow was able to pin the hosts back with some measured kicking. They opened the scoring with just six minutes gone as flanker Adam Clayton stormed over after a neat offload from Ben Phillips.
Woodrow collected the extra two points and followed with a penalty shortly after to put the visitors in a strong position early on.
Although further opportunities to score went begging, Bees effectively wrapped the game up with three tries in the space of five minutes in the middle of the first half, with Woodrow slotting all three conversion attempts.
First, centre Cameron Mitchell was alert after Southend were penalised for entering a ruck from the wrong side, scoring from a quick tap. Moments later, second-row Ed Orgee burrowed over from close range.
Before the hosts had the chance to catch their breath, Simon Hunt scored in the corner and Woodrow's kick gave his side an insurmountable 31-0 lead.
Southend reduced the arrears with a well-taken try from Luke Sloane just before the break, converted by Joel Johnston. But a comeback looked unlikely when Woodrow swept a penalty between the posts just after the break and it was the Bees who had the better chances in the second half.
They took one, with Mitch Culpin zigzagging his way to the try-line. For once, Woodrow was off target with his kick.
The home side did manage a consolation try when Mark Billings opened up the Bees defence through the centre and, when replacement Chris Green kicked the conversion, a degree of respectability was restored.
But it was Birmingham & Solihull who took the spoils, despite a late sin-binning for Earnshaw after he deliberately knocked on a couple of yards from his own line. By that stagem his team had already secured the victory which keeps their hopes of an immediate return to National One very much alive.
SOUTHEND: Hoult, Lewis (Green), Sloane, Stanley, Billings, Johnston, Powell; North, Pay (Ferrier), Irvine, McClintock (capt), Waring, Braidwood, Gill, Connors.
BEES: Spee, Hunt, Young, Mitchell, Culpin, Woodrow (Petty), Brown; Long (Davies), Phillips (Collett), Voisey, Orgee, Pammenter; Connolly (capt), Clayton (Tomlinson), Earnshaw.
Referee: D Gamage (RFU).


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|Black Sapphire Metallic
|8-Speed Shiftable Automatic
|6cyl - 3L
|Fuel Type
|MPG City
|MPG Highway
Picture this: You're driving on a Nevada highway. The wind is gusting, bringing with it a wall of sand that cloaks the freeway ahead and pelts the car's paint with mother nature's idea of microdermabrasion. As other cars blow about in their lanes, the 2013 BMW X5 you're driving just plows forward as if on a tranquil spring cruise. Then the freeway starts to twist and increase in elevation. Yet the X5 keeps charging on while other, less composed SUVs have to slow down.
It's in these extreme circumstances when the X5 really proves itself, demonstrating a staggering degree of stability and handling prowess for something so big and heavy. It may not be the sort of SUV that ad agencies will show fording a river or climbing a rocky mountain trail, but the X5 has a toughness and solidity all its own. At the same time, this luxury midsize crossover comes with the equipment, quality construction and high-end trappings one expects from BMW.
Standard equipment on the xDrive35i includes 18-inch wheels, automatic and adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, foglamps and automatic wipers. Inside, you get keyless ignition, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats with memory functions, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, the iDrive electronics interface, Bluetooth phone connectivity, the BMW Assist emergency communications system, and a 10-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Convenience package adds rear- and top-view parking cameras, keyless ignition/entry, four-zone automatic climate control, rear manual side sunshades, a navigation system, voice controls and real-time traffic information. The Cold Weather package adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and headlight washers.
The xDrive35i models feature a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 that produces 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Both this engine and the 50i get an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive standard. According to BMW, it will go from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined.
Every 2013 BMW X5 includes stability and traction control, antilock brakes, automatic brake drying, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and adaptive brake lights. The latter flash the taillights under sudden extreme braking as a warning to trailing motorists. Also standard is the BMW Assist emergency communications system, which provides automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery and on-demand roadside assistance.
As with most BMWs, the X5's interior layout is elegantly austere, with solid construction and high-quality materials. The front seats are nicely shaped and adjust for a wide range of body types. The optional 14-way seats offer even more adjustment.
The 2013 BMW X5 is one of the best-handling midsize luxury crossovers around. Whether driving on back roads or on an endless expanse of interstate, the X5 is a champ. Some competitors offer more utility and off-road capabilities, but the X5 ably brings BMW's legendary handling prowess to the SUV arena. You'll notice the elevated ride height and considerable curb weight on tight roads, though. Engine performance is strong throughout the lineup, even with the base six-cylinder.
If you'd like to take it for a spin, give us a call now at 720.204.2542
Exterior: The exterior of this unit is in excellent shape with no major flaws. Interior: The interior is in excellent condition. Mechanical: This vehicle is "Insight Certified" with no known mechanical defects after completing a 144 point mechanical inspection with required maintenance performed. Tires: The tires are in excellent health with plenty of tread life remaining.


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The IT engineer extraordinaire, April, decided that if I were ever to become a singer, despite the fact that my vocal abilities would never be good enough to hold a single note, I would have a hot album cover designed by her. Of course, this is the basic Power Point version (she's no graphic artist) but its quite entertaining… enjoy!! (Note her self publicity in the photo for my hit single. Also – the duet on number 5 is Cakesy – also known as SherriBlaise)… My friends… I gotta love em!!
I'm headed to the interior Design FAB Awards now I have to post my great fashion finds later this weekend…
The DON'T item of the day came from Ben… I won't ask how he found these but these jeans from Sanna's are a NO for EVERYONE!!!!


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Garrett Armrest Pad for your Garrett Metal Detector.
This is a replacement or backup part for a Garrett metal detector. The armrest pad gives the detectorist extreme comfort in the field.
Compatible with the Garrett AT Pro Metal Detector, Garrett AT Gold Metal Detector, and the Garrett ACE series Metal Detectors (150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400).
In stock
This pad is meant for use with the Garrett AT Pro, Gold and ACE series metal detectors.
Parts & Accessories
Garrett 200, Garrett 300, Garrett 400, Garrett Ace 150, Garrett Ace 250, Garrett Ace 350, Garrett AT Gold, Garrett AT Pro
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We provide comprehensive care for the full range of sports injuries, including:
Recreational and professional athletes of all types and ages can receive comprehensive care for sports and related injuries at Brigham and Women's Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service. With radiology and rehabilitation services conveniently located on-site, orthopedic surgeons work with radiologists and physical therapists to return patients quickly and safely to their normal activity - be that organized or recreational sports.
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Cat Beds
Cat Beds
Give your cat a comfortable place to rest around your home after picking out a quality cat bed from the wide selection of beds that we offer here on our website. We have a huge selection of different types of beds for cats that are perfect for you to use anywhere around your home to make sure that your cat is able to have nice places to rest. If your cat likes the feeling of being enclosed, try out a cave cat bed that we offer. We have many options available including beds that look like bumblebees and cats. Look through the entire selection of options that we offer here on our website and find the very best bed to give to your cat as a new place to sleep.
As you look through the wide selection of beds that we offer here on our website, you'll find many fantastic cat beds that you can choose from. Whether your cat would enjoy sleeping in the perfect little cat palace or hanging out in a cat hammock, you'll have no problem finding something that will work well for your cat. Shop through the wide assortment of top quality pet beds that we offer and look for the perfect kind of bed that you can use to keep your cat more comfortable around your home. After looking at all these great beds, check out other categories of our website to find great items for your cats including cat health products and some quality catnip cat toy options.


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Directed by
Luiz Alberto Cassol e Paulo Nascimento
August 11th, 2014
Testimonies of the parents, relatives and survivors of the Kiss nightclub tragedy in Santa Maria, Brazil, on January 27th, 2013, which killed 242 young adults and left more than 600 survivors. The documentary covers the three years since the tragedy, and compares it to similar cases, such as the one at the nightclub The Station in West Warwick in 2003 and the Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2004. Tragedies that killed hundreds of people over a period of ten years and that could have been avoided. The documentary reinforces the need to raise awareness "so it never happens again" and so these tragedies are never forgotten.
Directed by: Luiz Alberto Cassol e Paulo Nascimento
Cinematographer: Alexandre Berra
Art Director: Luciano Ribas
Executive Producer: Leonardo Machado, Luiz Alberto Cassol e Paulo Nascimento.
Sound: Josias Salvaterra
Editor: Lucas Tergolina e Marcio Papel
Original Soundtrack: Felipe Vieria e Jonathas Ferreira


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Two things we love: makeup and doughnuts. Put the two together and we're sold.
Kim Chi – of RuPaul's Drag Race fame – has designed a snazzy new pastel lipstick for makeup brand Sugarpill Cosmetics.
We're obsessed. Not only because of the lippie's perfectly on-trend lavender mauve shade, but because it has the added bonus of smelling like doughnuts.
Now, when something is designed to smell like doughnuts, we're pretty sure it's likely to taste like doughnuts, too. So we're very much on board.
The lip colour itself is a creamy liquid formula with a matte base and a touch of sparkle.
It's the perfect shade of lavender, too.
Oh, and apparently it's very longlasting, so won't budge when you're eating. Which is the most important thing in a lipstick, really.
If you fancy getting your hands on your own doughnut scented lip colour, you can order it online through Sugarpill for $18 (£14).
MORE: 17 metallic lipstick looks that will make you want to go for gold
MORE: MAC's new super-pigmented Liptensity lipstick collection is absolutely mesmerising
MORE: This is how lipsticks are made and it's mesmerising


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Setting up SMS punch notifications allows an admin/manager to receive text messages when an employee punches in or out. This setting is specific to each employee, so you'll want to go into each employee separately to configure it. This allows you to customize the feature to work best for you (e.g. you may only want to know when one specific employee punches in, but not out, and not care about notifications for other employees--you can do this!). Enable the notifications by first going to:
Settings > Time Clock Settings > Advanced (tab) > SMS (text) Options > Choose "On." > hit Save.
Then select the employee that you would like to receive notifications from (from the Employees page).
Go over to the Alerts & Messaging tab.
From here you can choose any admins/managers you'd like to receive the notifications. Enter the number of the mobile phone of each person you add. Then select whether you want them to receive a text from every punch in, punch out, or both, for that employee.
Hit Save.
NOTE: This feature is free during your trial. However, once your account is activated, this feature will cost you a fee of $2.00/month (you do not have to pay this per employee, it is just $2.00 flat for the account) and $0.01 for each sent text message)


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My Everyday Carry
submitted by EDC Virginia Beach
- Victorinox Dive Master 500 Limited Edition
- MAKR Horizon Three Wallet
- Strider SNG CC Tanto Knife
- iPhone 4
- Kahr PM40
Great site! I hope more and more people submit, can't get enough.
Editor's Note: Nice, you've got some quality gear. Carry them well and thanks for the support.


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The weather cleared up so I took a ride out to Versailles. It was about 40 minutes on the train/metro from my hotel (Les Halles/Chatelet). Exiting the station, the palace was only about a 5 minute walk. Once you got there, the line took about an hour to get inside (there's no advantage to the museum pass since the line is for security- they have security everywhere).
I picked up a free audio guide which was very helpful since there were very few labels in English and I didn't hire a guide or take a tour. It was very crowded, I hate to imagine what it would be like during the season, or even on a really nice day. Even so, the palace was very much worth it. It was humongous! Full of huge rooms full of enormous paintings, long halls full of statues, and outside were beautiful formal gardens and acres on acres of lakes, ponds and forests.
I'm sure I didn't see everything there, I don't like crowds and they were getting to me so I hurried through some of the rooms and skipped listening to the audio guide in those. After a while it got to be pretty repetitive anyway. I mean how many big rooms full of old paintings can you look at before you get bored with it all? No matter how gorgeous and impressive they are at first?
Of course, I did see the famous "Hall of Mirrors".
I escaped to the gardens. It was nice and cool. The sun was out for a while but it turned overcast again later in the afternoon. The terrace was still pretty crowded with tourists from all over the world taking selfies. I took a walk down the steps towards the lake and a snack.
The map showed a snack bar in each of the small forests near the terrace, but the first one I tried was closed. I headed back out to the one on the other side. They had nothing left but hot dogs and baguettes with cheese and tomato (I hate tomatoes). I had the baguette and picked off the tomatoes. There was hardly any cheese on it but the bread was good. Maybe I should've got the hot dog, they seem to be really popular here. I'm just trying to try more French food in France and hot dogs are American to me. Maybe they're different here?
Wandering around the gardens was a nice change from the Paris cityscape, especially once I got further away from the main palace and the crowds there. I walked over to the smaller Trianon area. It was a pretty walk through the forests with the trees all changing to their fall colors.
The smaller house/palace had a few rooms full of furniture to look at. One of which was "Napoleon's favorite study". There was a restaurant next to the old guardhouse and you could go through to more gardens. I'm sure they must be more showy in the Spring when the flowers are blooming, but they were still beautiful and serene with the leaves changing on the trees and the streams and lakes with ducks and swans to watch.
And here, finally, I saw the rats. My god, they were huge!
This shot was taken from about 1000 ft away, they must be at least a foot long (not counting tails), maybe even 2 ft? I didn't want to get any closer, but one guy was over there trying to sneak up on them to get photos. I love taking photos of pretty much anything and everything, but I'll skip these guys. No thanks!


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In 2001, before embarking upon one of my most memorable trips to the city I love so much, I discovered a book called, "The Food Lover's Guide To Paris" written by Patricia Wells.
Night after night, cuddled up in bed with my pile of pre-Paris reading material, I continued to make copious notes concerning street markets, fromageries, bistros, cafes, patisseries...until I had pages of must-do's, listed by arrondissement, all taken from Patricia's book. I decided I had to be shown the venerable oven downstairs, at the Boulangerie Poilane, shop for cooking gadgets at E. Dehillerin, and sample the croissants and cafe au lait at Laduree. Per Ms. Wells's recommendation, I was prepared to head straight from the airport, to the bistro, La Tour de Montlhery for a hearty midnight meal. I minimized my list, down to pocket-size and carried that thing around with me for two weeks, checking off one gratifying destination after another.
Now I have a collection of books written by Patricia Wells, and enjoy each and every one of them. I have tried out (successfully!) recipes that deliver what they promise. Her onion soup from "Bistro Cooking" is a family favorite. Hanger steak from "The Paris Cookbook" is ridiculously easy and yields a gourmet result. Her Gratin Dauphinois from "Patricia Wells At Home in Provence" elevates the potato to star status. Patricia makes certain that any fairly competent home cook can achieve great results, following her instructions.
While a student, attending the University of Wisconsin, did she dare to dream that one day she would be splitting her time between Paris and an 18th century farmhouse called Chanteduc, in Provence? Today her cooking classes, held both at her studio on the Rue Jacob in Paris, and at her country home, attract serious foodies who love to cook. Put your name on the waiting list and pray.
For the lucky few who enroll in the Paris classes, the preparation of meals is just one part of the experience. There will be trips to food markets, specialty oil and wine tastings, and lunch at one of the best restaurants in Paris. Besides being the consummate host and teacher/cook, Patricia has found a way to impart her knowledge about the importance of using the freshest and finest of ingredients. Letting the natural goodness of a vegetable or meat, impart its essence to a dish, is essential. Also, supremely important, is the simplicity of her instruction. One can come away from a week-long class with new skills and ideas that can be easily implemented back home in Iowa.
Why waiting lists, you ask? Who wouldn't want to spend a week in France, cooking, learning from, and drinking great wine with Patricia Wells? From her long-time stint as food critic for the International Herald Tribune, to the James Beard Best European Cookbook Award (for "Patricia Wells At Home In Provence") one surmises that this woman has to be really good at what she does. Even the government of France has honored her with the French Food Spirit Award.
For more information about her delightful cookbooks, and about her cooking classes, visit Patricia's website. If, by some stroke of luck, you manage to snag a reservation for one of her classes, please share your experience with me. I'm afraid my travel budget is on the meagre side at the moment, but someday I hope to take my place, wearing a crisp white apron, and brandishing a lovely glass of regional wine, by the side of this culinary guru. I will smile my way through learning how to sear, steam and smoke, and oh, la, la! My tummy will be happy.
At Home With Patricia Wells www.patriciawells.com
Fields Of Bliss
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Police officers have deserted a Police station in Anambra after angry youths stormed the station to protest the killing of a motorcyclist by a Police man.
Reports have it that angry Awkuzu youths stormed the Police Station in Oyi and it was quite surprising that no police officer was seen at the station.
According to witnesses, the Okada rider was mistakenly killed by the police officers during a patrol in the community yesterday evening.
The death did not go down well with the youths in the community as they mobilised themselves and stormed the police station. Some officers who were on duty – reportedly took to their heels to avoid being caught up in the attack as the villagers overran the station.
"It was actually an avoidable death, but life is life and it is very important. No one will be happy to lose a loved one and that is why the youths are protesting" One of the protesters said to reporters.
Following the directive of the state governor, Willie Obiano, to the Honourable Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Uchenna Okafor, peace has been restored in the community.
The commissioner met the angry youths who had already overrun the police station and urged them to calm down as he mentioned that the police officers responsible for the Okada rider's death will be brought to justice.


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SAN DIEGO COUNTY: Launches Anti-Smoking Drive for Pregnant Women, Young Families
Three competing hospital systems are coming together to implement a "major" anti-smoking campaign in San Diego County for pregnant women and families with young children. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that obstetricians with Scripps, Sharp HealthCare and Children's Hospital will survey pregnant patients to find out who smokes and help those who do to quit, with pediatricians following up after the baby is born. About half the babies in the county are delivered at Scripps and Sharp hospitals. The program, Partnership for Smoke-free Families, will also provide free telephone counseling to pregnant women until six months after they have given birth through the state-funded California Smokers Helpline, which has a 26% success rate in getting clients to quit for at least one year. The three health systems are each contributing $150,000 yearly to the program for "materials, development of pregnancy-specific counseling methods and staff time to persuade doctors to make it a priority." Dr. Jack Schneider, medical director of Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women, said this "'elevates smoking to a much greater emphasis' in obstetricians' discussions with patients." Nationwide, about 20% of all pregnant women are smokers, and "at least that many have another smoker in the household." In San Diego County, that translates to 8,000 babies who are born to smokers (Duerksen, 6/3).This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.


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The Value in Giving Out the Perfect Smile
Having that perfect smile shown to people could possibly brighten their day. Having a smile flashed towards others could potentially lift their spirits up and it could even turn the most bitter and cranky person into the most happy individual in the world. Having such authenticity with your emotions would create that sense of vulnerability and warmth towards others. Although due to the society's views in maintaining a perfect image, it could be quite a struggle for some to even show a bit of a grin on their faces.
If you are being insecure with that part of your body, then there are various contributing factors that contribute to you not having that quote on quote perfect smile. For Hollywood standards, if you have some missing dentures, crooked teeth, or some discoloration happening, then that could detract you from achieving that flawless smile to show. Lucky for you, there are a variety of ways in order to create that flawless million dollar smile in today's day and age.
Celebrity Inspirations
Celebrities are still human and may not be born with the perfect set of teeth. Take for example, Tom Cruise. When he first started starring in some movies, his teeth were atrocious. But if you look at photos of him today, then you would see the great improvement that he has gained with his smile. Getting to this point will take some time though. You could turn to professionals in handling this kind of a problem. One known reputable expert would be Davis Orthodontics.
Is It Necessary to Fix a Not So Perfect Smile?
To be honest, no smile is perfect, so you could really benefit eventually if you do a few patches to your smirk. Just keep in mind that in any repairs that you do, it could be quite costly on your part to invest your time and resources in.
Having that less perfect smile could be quite embarrassing for most folks out there in the world. Some don't like to open their mouths, which could be hard for them to interact with the people all around them. This behavior could spur out from having such a low self-esteem, which could be rather catastrophic for people to move on with their lives.
Having such a bad set of whites could be caused by you not cleaning your teeth properly which could invite gum diseases and decay from consuming your smile. For a fact, gum diseases could possibly lead to various other health issues like heart disease. So, it is smart of you to maybe start doing some fixings with your smile.
The Orthodontist's Cure
There are various options out there in order to treat that crooked teeth of yours into a whole new set of perfect whites. People now have the option to have some orthodontic braces installed.


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Jackie Landry didn't know what to expect as she waited for Diamond, a 2-year-old pit bull, to be dropped off at her home.
Will the dog be too hard to handle? Will she get along with the cat?
After receiving an urgent call from a pit bull rescue group the week before, Landry agreed to take in the dog as a short-term foster pet. But plans changed after Diamond was diagnosed in January 2017 with advanced heartworm disease, which can have a lengthy and expensive recovery.
"We'll figure it out," Landy remembers telling an adoption counselor. "Bring her to me."
The energetic, but sweet white and brindle dog had been at Greyhound Friends, a dog rescue kennel in Hopkinton, for two months without proper medical care, preventative treatments and socialization, according to witnesses and state reports.
As Diamond's health declined, a volunteer quietly reached out to PittieLove Rescue in Framingham for help. When evaluating the dog for the transfer, the group discovered she never received a 4Dx test (heartworm, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and anaplasmosis) before coming into the state from Indiana or during her two-month stay at Greyhound Friends, according to medical records.
Before the transfer to PittieLove, Greyhound Friends got Diamond tested. The results: positive for heartworm with microfilaria, meaning it can spread through mosquitoes.
Diamond is one of hundreds of dogs transferred to other rescue organizations from Greyhound Friends since opening in 1983. Last year, state and local authorities shut down Greyhound Friends, citing unsanitary conditions. The state ordered the kennel to upgrade its individual kennels with heavier gauge chain-link fences, new hardware and a fresh coat of paint on the floors and walls.
Recent reports note dogs staying in the kennel for months, if not years, without proper veterinary care.
The kennel remains closed despite ongoing efforts by staff, board members and volunteers to reopen the rescue shelter. Many supporters claim the authorities are dragging their feet, while others think the shelter should never reopen because records show a decades-long history of violations.
The state Department of Agricultural Resources will not lift a cease-and-desist order that applies to importing out-of-state dogs until the town of Hopkinton issues a valid kennel license, according to Katie Gronendyke, a spokeswoman for the department.
A recently released 236-page state report, obtained by the Daily News through a public records request, details the cases of 10 dogs that did not receive timely medical care and where kennel officials failed to follow through on veterinarian advice.
"These dogs' cases are brought forth as examples of the lack of adequate care that pervades the culture at Greyhound Friends," the document prepared for Prosecutor Wendi Safran reads. "The poor recordkeeping at Greyhound Friends makes it difficult to follow the medical and behavioral history of many of the animals that moved through their system. These are not the only animals that suffered."
On Jan. 15, 2017, Diamond started her heartworm treatment at Landry's Woburn home where she received a new name – Emma.
In a shelter environment, the risk of heartworm spreading is high, said Martha Smith-Blackmore, president of Forensic Veterinary Investigations.
"It is bad to have a heartworm-positive dog in your neighborhood, and it's even worse in a kennel," she said.
The treatment can be expensive and painful for the dog, requiring daily pills and a series of injections, she said.
Emma is now heartworm free and loves to snuggle on the couch, hike and swim. She's even learned to balance on the front of a paddleboard.
"She has come into her own," Landry said, who ended up adopting Emma. "She owns the house, basically."
A complicated history
In November, Framingham District Court Judge David Cunis found former Greyhound Friends Director Louise Coleman not guilty on one count of felony animal cruelty. The four-day trial focused on the shelter's alleged unsanitary environment by the Animal Rescue League of Boston, other animal welfare groups and law enforcement agencies.
Coleman resigned from the Greyhound Friends' Board of Directors and took a leave of absence as executive director last March. Coleman lost her job in May.
Last week, Coleman said in a phone interview she can no longer speak on the behalf of the organization.
"It is disappointing things haven't progressed more quickly," she said.
In a letter sent to state officials, the Greyhound Friends board wrote that Coleman will not be rehired in any decision-making or financial roles in the future.
On a recent afternoon, while working alone in the kennel, Theresa Shepard, kennel and operations manager, declined to comment on the organization's plans to reopen. Several of the organization's board members, including President Stoddard Melhado and his wife, Ky, did not return multiple phone calls and emails seeking comment.
Outside the shelter on the same afternoon, Jane Braun and her 3-year-old greyhound, Piper, ran along Saddle Hill Road. She said many involved in the kennel have worked tirelessly to comply with state regulations.
"It is crazy," she said. "I just don't understand what the holdup is."
Braun, who adopted her first greyhound from the organization in 1989, hopes the shelter reopens soon.
"There's been so much effort to get it up to speed," she said. "I'm sure there are a lot of dogs in need."
Not alone
Emma is not the only dog whose health was questionable while in the care of Greyhound Friends.
On April 9, Sarah Juhlin waited inside Holliston Meadow Dog Resort with Coleman to meet Dakota, a retired racing greyhound. With no experience with the breed, Juhlin didn't know what to expect.
"Is he supposed to be bald like that?" the Farmington, New Hampshire, resident recalls asking. "Are you really supposed to be able to see his ribs like that?"
Coleman didn't say anything about the Greyhound Friends kennel being shut down.
Sherry Standbury, a former part-time employee at Greyhound Friends, handed the dog off to Juhlin during a second visit. She said it's typical for greyhounds coming off the tracks to be skinny and have patchy spots.
Dakota came to Greyhound Friends on Nov. 30, 2016, from Fred Fulchino, a greyhound breeder in Connecticut. The dog raced at Sanford Orlando Kennel Club in Longwood, Florida.
Within three days of the official adoption, Juhlin knew something was wrong and took Dakota to a veterinarian where he was diagnosed with hookworm - at the highest level Juhlin's veterinarian had ever seen.
The worms had settled in his muscles making for a lengthy and expensive treatment, Juhlin said.
"I am incredibly upset that the rescue either didn't know Dakota was ill or didn't inform me that he was having problems when I got him," Juhlin wrote in an April 21 email to Shepard, Greyhound Friends kennel and operations manager.
Shepard wrote back that Dakota was free of worms before arriving at Holliston Meadow and the parasite is known to come back.
"We did not intentionally pass off a sick animal," Shepard wrote.
But on Jan. 26, 2017, records show Dakota tested positive for hookworm while living at Greyhound Friends.
Shepard, when visited at the kennel, declined to comment on the email chain.
Under Juhlin's care, over time Dakota regained weight and his hair grew back.
Two other dogs, Canada and Dane, tested positive for the parasite Giardia on Feb. 12, 2017, while at Holliston Meadows, putting other dogs at risk, according to inspection reports.
As for hookworm and other parasites, Smith-Blackmore said they can easily spread through feces. Inspection reports called out Greyhound Friends for not properly cleaning and sanitizing the kennel.
'Her time was up'
After being pulled out of an abusive home in Indiana, Emma ended up in a kill shelter and was given five to seven days to live.
That's when Dottie Childers of TLC Pals 4 Paaws, a no-kill dog rescue, stepped in.
"Her time was up," Childers recalls. "The woman called begging me to take her. I told her, 'I'll see what I can do.'"
She hoped Coleman would be able to find a spot for her at Greyhound Friends.
"If anyone can place a dog with the right person, it's Louise," she said.
Emma spent about three months at a boarding facility in Indiana before taking the 1,045-mile journey to Greyhound Friends in November 2016. After suffering a heart attack, Childers was unable to make sure Emma saw a veterinarian.
"I just didn't get her to the vet. Ninety-nine percent of the time I have them vetted," Childers said. "I was in the hospital that's why Diamond wasn't tested."
Childers currently has other dogs, like Jersey, a pit bull, waiting to take a similar trip to Massachusetts.
"I look at Louise as a hero," she said. "A lot of dogs lives were saved by her. Every time I saw one of my dogs leave I'd cry. People would ask me why I was crying and I'd say, 'because they are being saved.'"
At Greyhound Friends, Standbury spent time with Emma every day. Taking her for walks in the field and playing fetch.
But on the adoption floor, people weren't interested in the pit bull.
"It is Louise's heart she couldn't say no," she said. "She didn't know what would happen to Diamond if she didn't come."
Despite the criticism, Coleman says she doesn't regret taking Emma in.
'Regrettable' euthanasia
As Coleman scrambled to find homes for nearly 15 dogs after the shelter shut down, Hershel, a 2-year-old greyhound who his adopters returned to the shelter with a broken leg, wasn't as lucky.
On Feb. 13, 2017, Dr. Rodney Poling of Holliston Animal Hospital injected 10 mL of Beathanasia into him to put him down at the request of Coleman. The reason: He "bit or tried to bite" adoptive owners in two different homes, according to euthanasia records.
"Dog hysterical, unpredictable and has tried to bite at the kennel," the records read. "The owner elects (to put to sleep) and I cannot disagree due to inability to control an unpredictable dog."
State officials were unable to verify if any behavior evaluations or bite records for Hershel were part of their investigation, according to the report.
"I have researched Hershel's history with Greyhound Friends and have confirmed that he did not bite anyone," Coleman wrote in a March 2, 2017, email.
At the recommendation of Coleman, the adopters of Hershel returned him to the kennel in January 2017 due to his change in behavior after surgery for a broken left front leg. Records indicate he didn't receive the recommended medication and a protective collar was removed, allowing him to lick and gnaw at the stitches causing an infection.
Coleman, in an email to state officials, wrote Hershel went to a new home on Jan. 14, but returned the next day because he was anxious. She said it was "regrettable" the shelter was unable to place Hershel in a home.
"In my opinion, there are times that Greyhound Friends accepts dogs with a past history of behavioral disorders," Poling wrote in an email to state inspectors. "They do their best but these are situations without a resolution. There is risk for staff and potential foster and adopter injury that requires euthanasia. Leaving a dog in a controlled and restricted cage for life is not a humane solution. Risking human welfare is not an option."
In 2013, Greyhound Friends came under fire online for euthanizing two greyhounds, Yogi and Roller, who had lived in the shelter for four years. Some questioned whether the group made as much of an effort as it could have to find a home for the dogs, and accused Greyhound Friends of not reaching out to other animal adoption groups for help.
At the time, Coleman said she couldn't risk adopting out the "unpredictable" dogs.
New home, new life
On that first day, Landry worried after being warned that Emma - formerly Diamond - didn't like to be touched or handled on a leash. She worried about the safety of her elderly cat, Max.
Making the first move, Max slowly approached Emma. That's when Landry knew the two would be just fine.
"I gave her (Emma) a ton of space and let her come to me," she said. "It took her a little bit."
But after a few minutes, Emma jumped up on the couch to join Landry's friend, Noel Zeeb, after being called over.
When it came time for a bath, Landry saw ticks all over Emma and pulled the engorged parasites from her stomach with tweezers.
"She had a massive ear infection," Landry said. "Her nails were curled over so it was hard for her to walk."
After losing her dog Tyson, a Shar-Pei mix, a few months before, Landry wasn't ready to take in a dog long term. But it only took a photo of Emma to change her mind.
"Emma would have died," Landry said. "There is no doubt in my mind Emma would have died there."
The dog is now a permanent member of the family.
"Emma made the decision," she said. "She knew this was her home."
Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.


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The case is out! You may download the file under this link: PAXMoot2019_Case
The response to requests for clarifications is published below:
Pax Moot 2019 Request for Clarifications
LIBERADZKI and MACDONALD v. the STATE of POLAND,
LIBERADZKI v. BLBC Ltd
Ms Sophia Liberadzki, of dual Canadian/Polish nationality, and Ms Mary Macdonald, of Canadian nationality, first met during an organised walking tour in La Malbaie, Quebec, in 2008. They lived together in Ontario since early 2009, and celebrated a civil union in the presence of family and friends in Quebec in the summer of that year. In 2011 they adopted a little boy from the United States, Martin Luther, who upon his adoption also became a Canadian citizen.
They lived together in Ontario until early 2015, when Ms Liberadzki, who is an experienced biochemist, accepted an attractive position at the North East England office of BLBC (BrightLifeBioChem) Ltd, an international research institute based in London with offices in several other countries. The job brought with it entitlement to social security benefits including for her partner and child. Mary and Martin Luther stayed in Ontario, but they maintained regular Skype contact and spent holidays with Sophia, usually hiking in the Scottish Highlands, more recently also in the Polish Tatra mountains.
Following an initial period in England, Sophia traveled frequently for her work. Many of the experiments were done in Poland, and some in Hungary and Turkey, and she divided her time between England and these other places. After some time, the office in Poland became quite reliant on her, as they were understaffed and she spent considerable time there.
In the early summer of 2017, during one of her work stays in Poland, the London board of BLBC Ltd suddenly decided to move Sophia to their Turkish office. Taken by surprise by this decision and not wishing to live in Turkey due to the potential lack of future opportunities for her family and the language, Sophia protested, arguing, among other things, that if she were to be transferred at all, it obviously would be both in her and her employer's interest to move her to the Polish office rather than to Turkey. However, her protests were ignored, whereupon she saw no other possibility but to resign.
In the face of Brexit, and weary of some xenophobic incidents (in particular towards Polish nationals), she decided to apply for a job elsewhere in the EU, and given her links with Poland, a move to that country seemed to be the best option. She successfully applied for a position at a university research institute in Warsaw, and following the summer holidays of 2017, moved to Poland. She bought an apartment in Warsaw, which she wanted to register in both her and Mary's names, on the basis of the contract, including a choice of law designating the law of Quebec, concluded that summer before a notary in Brussels, and embodied in a notarial deed.
Mary and Martin Luther joined her on a temporary residence permit, but were refused the right to stay permanently in Poland, a decision against which Sophie and Mary, also on behalf of Martin Luther, appealed before the administrative courts. These proceedings are still going on at the present time.
Since registration of their civil union and of Martin Luther as their child was refused as well, they also brought an action before the civil courts in Warsaw. Moreover, they joined the Warsaw deeds office to this action, as the office refused to register both Sophia and Mary as owners of the apartment: only Sophia's name was entered in the register.
While the civil court of first instance rejected their claims, referring, inter alia, to Art. 18 of the Polish Constitution, the Court of Appeal (which included a professor of European Union law) considered that the appeal raised questions of EU law that might need to be submitted to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. However, before taking any decision to do so effectively, the Court decided to arrange a special hearing on the possible EU law aspects of the case.
You are the lawyer of Ms Liberadzki and Ms MacDonald/You are the lawyer of the Polish government.
Each of you is invited to present before the Court of Appeal (1) your view on whether the case involves an issue/issues of EU law which require(s) a ruling by the CJEU, (2) assuming that there is such a need, your view on which question or questions should be submitted to the CJEU, and (3) your view on how the CJEU should respond to these questions.
Moreover, Sophia also turned to the civil courts in Warsaw requesting damages from her former employer in England, arguing that BLBC's actions amounted to constructive dismissal and were contrary to Polish law. BLBC argues that the Polish courts lack jurisdiction. The court of first instance found indeed that it lacked jurisdiction. Sophia appeals this decision including, in particular, on the basis of EU law.
Ms Liberadzki has asked you to represent her also in this case/ BLBC Ltd, knowing that you represent the Polish government in the case above, has asked you to also act on its behalf.
Each of you is invited to present your views on the EU law aspects of the case to the Court of Appeal.


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Thankfulness and a Healthier You
A Harris Poll conducted in 2013 reported that only one in three (33%) Americans consider themselves happy, which is slightly down from the 35% who were very happy in both 2008 and 2009. Other results show that women are overall happier than men (36% vs. 31% respectively).These are very disheartening statistics. Thankfully, studies show that feelings of thankfulness not only encourage enjoyment of life, but they also influence our health and well-being. Thankfulness is defined as a feeling or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. Who could imagine that something so simple and easy could help improve various areas of one's health and wellness? Some of us have embraced an "attitude of gratitude" as a daily ritual, while others traditionally reserve giving thanks only during the Thanksgiving holiday. If we only knew the benefits of being thankful for not only what we've received, but what we're expecting to receive. According to Joel Osteen, senior pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, thanking God in advance strengthens your faith, keeps you encouraged and moving forward, and gives you the strength you need to wait for God's promises.
There are two helpful tools you can integrate into your daily life to practice giving thanks: positive thinking and gratitude journaling. First, when we experience tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one or we encounter negative situations including a bad health report, loss of a job, financial hardship or failed relationship, it is very easy to get discouraged, sink into despair, and let negative thoughts run rapid. But, why not adopt the mindset of transforming those negatives into positives? Positive thinking is a skill that requires training and one you will need to develop over time. While it won't make the situation go away, it will put you in a better position to improve the situation.
Second, we've heard our parents say, "Be thankful for what you have and stop focusing on what you don't have." Journal what you are thankful for every day. Choose your journal, be consistent, write at least three to five things, and be specific. According to the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude and University of California, Davis professor of psychology, Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., it really is about forcing ourselves to pay attention to the good things in life we'd otherwise take for granted.
What do we receive in return? According to Emmons, gratitude is good for our bodies, our minds, and our relationships. There are a whole host of benefits that we can experience, ranging from physical and psychological to social. These include improved sleep patterns, fewer symptoms of sickness, longevity, more exercise, increased energy, increased pro-social behaviors (such as helping others), increased immune system, increased self-esteem in athletes, less stress and overcoming trauma.
Selena Moorehead is a health and financial wellness consultant whose passion is to educate others on how healthy living transforms into financial wellness. Visit www.AHealthierYou.today for her healthier consumer goods AND www.BossWomen.today to jumpstart your health and financial wellness business. Connect with Selena on Facebook | Instagram @tw4life4all AND @bosswomentoday.


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Change The Way We Give.
We are Generocksity.
Generocksity is a completely student-run non-profit organization* dedicated to educating young adults on the importance of philanthropy and how easily it can be integrated into their daily lives to help develop life-long habits of effective giving. According to Stats Canada (2013), young adults aged 20-24 make up the least philanthropic population in Canada and are the least likely to donate their time or money in any amount. We believe this is an issue of poor education rather than poor intentions and that given the proper motivation and precise tools to take initiative, our generation can become leaders and innovators in effective philanthropy.
To help young adults become more engaged in philanthropic endeavours and develop lifetime habits of giving, Generocksity has developed a 5 pronged approach.
1. Good Times (Charity Events): We organize large scale entertainment events including concerts, parties and comedy nights, with 100% of proceeds benefiting local charities, while always supporting local artists, musicians and comedians.
2. Good Deeds Volunteering Trips: An opportunity for young adults to come out on trips to help others in their community such as serving food at a soup kitchen, or doing arts and crafts with patients at a children's hospital. During our Good Deeds, young adults are able to do good while learning about different local charities and the marginalized populations they support.
3. Educational Workshops: We organize workshops where young adults are given the motivation and specific tools to achieve their own philanthropic goals. Each workshop features inspirational and informative talks from a wide array of successful social entrepreneurs, academics and leaders in the field of philanthropy.
4. Consulting: We offer free social enterprise and fundraising consultations and mentorships, where we help young adults and student clubs organize successful fundraisers and grow their own organizations.
5. Philanthropy Database: We have created a new philanthropic database which will contain charities, non-profits, social enterprises, clubs and initiatives at our schools, and university courses all of which align with our new 8 Education Goals. We envision this as being the philanthropic one-stop shop for students and alike. With our database, we hope to provide our users with multiple ways of giving back including monetary, through volunteering, campus and city-wide involvement, as well as suggesting courses offered at UBC that will educate students on these topics.
*Generocksity is incorporated under the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act
Generocksity began as nothing more than a nice idea for a friend in need. In May 2013, while volunteering at Canuck Place Children's Hospice in Vancouver, Zeke Blumenkrans befriended a new patient at the hospice named David. Due to strong similarities in music taste, humour and board game competitiveness, Zeke and David soon became friends. David had recently been diagnosed with life-threatening cancer and knew that in his new reality, every day counted. One day as Zeke and David discussed their bucket lists, David mentioned the amazing impact Canuck Place had had on his life and how as part of his bucket list he would love to one day organize a charity concert for the hospice. Given David's exceptional voice, unique eloquence and huge heart, Zeke was convinced that this event would be a big hit but David would need some help.
Zeke was incredibly moved by David's selflessness and desire to help others at a time when his days were numbered. Zeke decided that to help David cross this item off his bucket list, he would organize a team to initiate and lay the groundwork for what would become David's charity concert. After successfully recruiting four of his most talented, compassionate and hardworking friends/classmates, Ori Nevares, Vivian Braithwaite, Rachel Warner and Bavenjit Kaur, the new team got to work. The idea was for the team to solidify all the boring administrative tasks associated with the fundraiser (i.e. finding a venue, sponsors, etc.) and then present this shell of an event to David where he would then be able to lead our team to creating the charity concert he envisioned from his bucket list.
As pieces for the event began to fall into place and the team almost ready to present the fundraiser framework to David, tragedy hit. David's cancer had become increasingly aggressive and in the summer of 2013, he passed away. At the time, Zeke was volunteering as an EMR on an Israeli Red Cross ambulance in Jerusalem. He decided to take time off work to mourn and reflect. Three days later, Zeke returned to work and decided that after his night shift he would notify his team about his decision to cancel the charity concert. The whole purpose of the fundraiser was to help David cross this item off his bucket list, with David gone Zeke no longer felt a purpose for the event.
At 3am during his night shift, Zeke and his paramedic colleague responded to a call from a woman that was 6 months pregnant. Surrounded by a pool of what appeared to be her own blood, the woman was rushed into the ambulance as the paramedic sped towards the hospital. The woman would eventually give birth on the ambulance to a severely premature baby boy. Unable to initially breath, Zeke and his colleague were forced to perform immediate CPR on the newborn. After what appeared to be an eternity of ventilations and compressions, the baby was resuscitated and began to breath by himself.
Both physically and emotionally exhausted, Zeke concluded that witnessing the miraculous resuscitation of a newborn only a few days after his friend's life had been cut short, was more than just a mere coincidence. Zeke concluded that the charity concert would have to go on and that him and his team would put even more love and energy into the fundraiser in honour of David.
On November 28, 2013, the five friends hosted a concert at Vancouver Fan Club benefiting Canuck Place in honor of David. During the charity concert, Zeke spoke about David, his bucket list, the type of person that he was and how he was the eternal inspiration for the event.
After the fundraiser, Zeke and his team began to receive many encouraging messages from young adults that had attended the event with most messages expressing a similar theme: We like the idea of raising funds for local charities while supporting local musicians in a party setting that is accessible to our busy schedules and thin wallets. The plan had always been for this charity concert to be a one-off, however, after this feedback, the five friends began to realize that through their events they could begin to fill a void in philanthropic culture and improve how young adults interact with philanthropic endeavors.
Re-energized with a new vision but still with the same source of inspiration, Zeke would recruit the new non-profit's final co-founder Maya Zwang and become what is known as Generocksity, a multinational non profit with over 100 active volunteers. Our teams have engaged over 12,000 young adults in 9 cities in three countries. We have also raised over $120,000 for more than 25 charities.


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Kris Coleman
Health, P.E., and Instructional Technology Specialist
The first meeting of the MS Health and PE committee was held on May 14 with Kris Coleman and Tracy Schellberg facilitating. The committee reviewed input from a district parent survey that focused on topics identified as priorities for the committee and the community. Research was introduced and examined as it aligned with National and State PE/Health Standards. Next meeting October 16, 2019.


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I'm no baker. There's something about the precision of measuring and spooning and proofing and timing that has me all sorts of intimated. Throw me a recipe for pasta sauce, a braised lentil stew, even a juicy pink steak, and I'll sniff, prod, and taste my way through it. Breads and cakes, however, leave me confounded.
This year, I vowed to test my aversion. 2018 would be the year I got elbow deep in flour, and start a devoted courtship with my sourdough starter. I planned to bake boules and challahs, pastries and pies. But it's January 16 and I'm no further along than I was on the 1st. My freshly bought bag of flour remains unfurled in my pantry. In desperate need of inspiration, I reached out to a few bakers about their humble beginnings. Maybe, I could even pick up a tip or two along the way. Here are three cooks and bakers on their early forays into the kitchen:
I decided I wanted to try baking my junior year of high school in response to my burning urge to go to college at an art school (with no real artistic talent to speak of). My first creations were, in a word, messy. I infuriated my mother (a very good cook with a lovely kitchen) by leaving smears and smudges everywhere I worked. It was one of the most valuable things I learned, ultimately, in pastry school—how much easier it is to work clean (plus the subsequent lessons of careful practice and planning ahead).
After my first semester, I came home for spring break. My mom tasked me with making lemon bars while she hit the grocery store. I made them, cleaned up, and headed out to lunch with friends. She called me, irate, because the kitchen was spotless—a sure sign that I'd ignored my task. When she discovered I was actually finished and just less of a mess now, she officially declared school "worth it."
When I first started baking, I didn't really know what I was doing. I remember trying to make a batch of cupcakes for a get together and trying to wing a recipe that sounded good in my head, but failed so hard because at the time I didn't realize that there was an actual science to baking! If you're new to it, start by following easy recipes. The "New Cook Book" by Better Homes and Gardens was a great starting point for me because their recipes were so easy to follow. Make sure you thoroughly read the recipe at least twice, and take your time!
When I started baking I was futzing with a lot of vegan and macrobiotic recipes, and had already begun making up my own by dropping conventional ingredients and subbing in alternates. This, of course, leads to plenty of disasters when executed by a greenhorn. Puddles instead of muffins, entire sheet trays covered in one thin layer of sticky goo, when I'd actually been aiming for cookies. This is how I learned—I screwed around until I understood the fundamentals and somehow didn't get too downtrodden by the scourge.
That route isn't totally necessary now that the internet is so full of tips and videos, but I always preach the lesson I gleaned from it: Learn the basic ratios and foundational science behind baking (what's a batter or dough supposed to look/sound/feel/taste like, the many gifted parts of eggs, baking soda vs. baking powder etc., what actually is yeast, etc.) and then let your intuition take over. Really!! Read as many recipes as you can but do not marry yourself to any of them, ever. And always remember that trying to learn how to bake by eating is like trying to learn the violin by listening. You have to get in the kitchen and do it.
In conversation, these bakers preach a gospel of persistent experimentation. It sounds dirty, but kind of fun. With some gumption and a good apron, it seems about time I get started. First stop, sourdough!
What advice would you share with an uneasy baker? Feel free to chime in below!
See what other Food52 readers are saying.


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Your Custom Text Here
Written by Sharon Lee
One Friday night a few months back my husband and I were walking around Culver City after spending a beautiful night out at the Culver Hotel. We were having the same conversation we've had countless number of times. We were talking about our future. What our hopes and dreams were, where we wanted to be, the impact we wanted to have and the change we wanted to cause. I was anxious - I knew I wanted to do something, but I wasn't exactly sure what it was. I didn't know what the next step was, I just had a feeling of wanting change and wanting more for my life. I had been there at the same place for a number of years - at the corner of "desire, passion, longing for fulfillment and impact" and "not having clarity of vision, unclear on my strengths and fear". My husband, the ever insightful psychotherapist and thought leader that he is (IMHO), said something that suddenly clarified everything for me. At the time, my journey felt and looked like one of those poles with wooden arrows pointed in every direction: confusing, conflicting and where you just stand and stare for a long time before walking away without choosing a path. His words made made all those arrows straighten out and point in just one clear direction, and I knew exactly in which direction I would run.
He told me that instead of focusing so much on my future I should focus on my legacy.
Anxiety, he said, comes from thinking too far into the future. It rips you away from the present and takes you down a rabbit hole of "what ifs" and "I shoulds". It's paralyzing. If you think purely in terms of the future, you make decisions based on the unknown - it's really anyone's guess as to how things will pan out. For me, that leads me to choose to do things that I may not enjoy so that I can hopefully reap the benefits later. It also leaves me wanting and delaying.
But when you shift your mindset and think in terms of building your legacy, your decisions are then based on your present actions. Building your legacy is about the decisions you make now that stem from the things that bring you, and will continue to bring you, a sense of fulfillment and purpose. It's from where things will grow to build the life and story you are proud of. You experience the benefits in real time and know that the decision you just made was an affirmative building block to the legacy you want to leave behind. Your legacy is what remains, long after the future you were once contemplating.
That night, I made a decision to commit to feeding my curiosity and to lean into the things that brought me joy and fulfillment. Had I focused on only my future, I would have probably walked away from the pole of confusing arrows and still be at the stage of "lost and unsure." To be clear, I'm still in the process of figuring all that out and I fully accept that things may change. I also continue to plan for the future because I believe that's important too - it just can't be the only thing I do.
If you don't know what to do next, I challenge you to ask yourself, God, the open air - what is my legacy, and who is the person I truly want to be? Then buckle up because once you open yourself up to answering that question you may find yourself quite surprised at what comes your way. Be on the lookout for answers and opportunities - they come in all shapes and sizes.