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Thanks to the generosity of Windermere agents, staff, franchise owners, and the community, the Windermere Foundation has proudly donated a total of $920,351 so far this year to non-profit organizations that provide services to low-income and homeless families. This brings the total amount of money that the Windermere Foundation has raised since 1989 to over $36 million.
Each Windermere office has its own Windermere Foundation fund account that they use to make donations to organizations in their local communities. One such organization in Boise, Idaho is CATCH (Charitable Assistance to Community's Homeless), whose vision is to end homelessness for families by providing programs that work with local resources to provide stable housing, inspire financial independence, and build on a family's strength and resilience.
The Windermere Caldwell and Boise Valley offices have worked with CATCH for over six years, with funding support from the Windermere Foundation. These donations help pay for programs that provide hope and support to many families in Idaho's Treasure Valley…families like Andrea's. *
Before CATCH, Andrea had come out of an abusive relationship, leaving her to raise her three young children on her own. When they became homeless, they spent six months living out of her car, waiting until a more stable living situation became available. Finally, the call came from Andrea's case manager that they had been accepted into the CATCH program. Through the program, Andrea had access to resources to help her find housing. After about a month, she was able to find the perfect home for her family.
During her few months in the CATCH program, Andrea said she not only gained housing, but also so much more. "I've gained a bigger support system, more love, and knowledge. I've gained more strength and responsibility. I learned how to budget, worked at bettering my career, and I didn't feel alone anymore. But most of all, CATCH has allowed me to put my pride away at times I didn't need it and accept what I do need, and that is LOVE. I thank the CATCH program for helping me and my family grow stronger."
Generous donations to the Windermere Foundation over the years have enabled Windermere offices to continue to support local non-profits like CATCH. If you'd like to help support programs in your community, please click on the Donate button.
To learn more about the Windermere Foundation, visit WindermereFoundation.com.


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PHOENIX — An Arizona sheriff known for aggressively cracking down on illegal immigration has been stripped of some of his special power to enforce federal immigration law, and he claims the Obama administration is taking away his authority for political reasons.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose office faces racial profiling allegations over crime and immigration sweeps in some heavily Latino areas of metro Phoenix, said officials from Washington won't let him renew a deal that let his deputies make federal immigration arrests.
"Let them all go brag that they took away the sheriff's authority. Let them all do that. That doesn't bother me. I don't have an ego. I will continue doing the same thing," the Republican sheriff said, noting he can still enforce state immigration laws. "What has changed, other than the politics and the perception emanating from Washington?"
The U.S. government, which does most of the nation's immigration enforcement, is changing its rules for allowing local police to enforce more expansive federal immigration laws. Nationally, more than 1,000 local police and jail officers have been granted the power since 2002 to make immigration requests and speed up deportations.
Arpaio has more officers with the special powers than any other local police agency in the country. For more than two years, 100 of his deputies have made immigration arrests and another 60 jail officers have identified inmates who are illegal immigrants.
Even though federal officials declined to let the sheriff keep making immigration arrests, Arpaio last week renewed a deal that will let his jail officers determine inmates' immigration status.
Arpaio said federal officials offered no explanation of why his powers were cut in half.
Vinnie Picard, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which grants the special powers, declined to comment on the curtailment of Arpaio's powers or whether any of the other 62 participating local agencies across the country have been denied renewals.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement will make no final decisions on the agreements until Oct. 14, which is the deadline for renewing the agreements. So far, at least three agencies have dropped out of the program.
Giving federal powers to local police helps supplement the small staff of federal agents who enforce immigration laws in the country's interior, said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors tougher immigration enforcement.
He said it's hard to tell whether the limits on Arpaio's authority will extend to other agencies and would hamper the movement for local police to confront illegal immigration.
"I suspect there is some effort there to send a warning to other police departments: Don't get too aggressive with this, because we will yank it out from under you," Mehlman said.
Joan Friedland, immigration policy director for the National Immigration Law Center, said the federal government wasn't making a serious attempt to rein in Arpaio, because his jail officers still have the power to question jailed people about their immigration status.
"All he has to do is get people to the jail, rather than being able to question them about their immigration status on the street," said Friedland, whose group advocates for low-income immigrants.
For his part, Arpaio said he plans to continue cracking down illegal immigration by enforcing state laws that prohibit immigrant smuggling and ban employers from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Arpaio said his deputies can still detain suspected illegal immigrants who haven't committed state crimes, as long as his officers call Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to pick them up.
Critics say some of Arpaio's deputies racially profiled people during immigration sweeps. Arpaio maintains that people pulled over in the sweeps were approached because deputies had probable cause to believe they had committed crimes.
His office is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures.
A September 2008 audit by Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the relationship between that agency and the sheriff's office was good, but noted that most rank-and-file patrol deputies who had the special training and who weren't part of a special smuggling unit had rarely used their federal powers, because they didn't have the experience – or didn't want to take the time – to process illegal immigrants.
The review also noted that the local FBI office received no complaints against officers with the special training.
Arpaio's approach to immigration has frustrated other public officials.
The mayor of Mesa complained in 2008 that Arpaio didn't warn his city of raids by deputies who were looking for illegal immigrants working at his city's library and City Hall.
And as Arpaio's sweeps began to draw heavy criticism in 2008, then-Gov. Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, cut off immigration enforcement dollars to his office.
Napolitano, who as the country's homeland security secretary now oversees the federal government's immigration agencies, had said it wasn't an attempt to change Arpaio's approach to cracking down on illegal immigration. Rather, she said the funding was reallocated to try to clear a backlog of thousands of outstanding felony warrants across the state.

subset: commoncrawl


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n Bob Woodward's new book, Plan of Attack, reference is made to how President Bush prayed "for the strength to do the Lord's will" when he committed the nation to war.
In an interview with the Christian Science Monitor on April 19, presidential contender Ralph Nader characterized Bush's remarks as follows: "We are dealing here with a basically unstable president….We are dealing with a messianic militarist. A messianic militarist, under our constitutional structure, is an unstable office-holder. Talk about separation of church and state: It is not separated at all in Bush's brain, and this is extremely disturbing."
In the next day's Washington Post, columnist Richard Cohen picked up on this subject by saying that Bush is convinced that he is "a servant of God and history." In thePhiladelphia Inquirer, a Catholic University professor, John Kenneth White, was quoted the same day as saying that Bush is "coming to the very edge" of the "very fine line between church and state."
Here is what we told the media:
"Bush mentions Jesus as his favorite philosopher, and the secularists go mad. The president turns to God for wisdom, and the elites get nervous. There is more than a phobia at work here—it's a deep-seated hostility to any public expression of religion. And demagoguery: Nader is not decent enough to simply disagree with Bush; he must label him as unstable. As for the 'messianic militarist' tag, Nader should be careful: he has done more to earn his stripes as a messianic militarist—in service to the Leviathan—than any American.
"Separation of church and state has nothing to do with 'God talk.' In fact, the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of religion. And that is why attempts to censor the free speech rights of any candidate for public office must be resisted. Persons of faith, comprising 94 percent of Americans, will not be silenced in this election."


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text: Bell-bottoms are in. Bell-bottoms are out. Bell-bottoms are back in again. Fads constantly cycle and recycle through popular culture, each time in a slightly new incarnation. The term "retro" has become the buzzword for describing such trends, but what does it mean? Elizabeth Guffey explores here the ambiguous cultural meanings of the term and reveals why some trends just never seem to stay dead.


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Four People Shot Outside Texas Roadhouse in San Antonio
On Sunday night (Feb. 18), a masked shooter fired on a group of people waiting outside a Texas restaurant.
San Antonio Police responded to the shooting just after 8:40 p.m. outside a Texas Roadhouse near Ingram Park Mall.
A 6-year-old boy was wounded in the leg, along with three adults, all in their 20s. Two of those adults have life-threatening injuries.
The masked suspect is believed to have been 15-feet from the front of the restaurant when he began shooting with a semi-automatic handgun. He then reportedly ran in the direction of a nearby Holiday Inn Express.
Police are still searching for the suspect, who is believed to be related to the adult victims.


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Potash-Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway (U-279)
17 miles - 1 hour
The Moab area is known for its abundance of Indian rock art. This byway features several petroglyph panels, with many individual carvings depicting symbolic animals and anthropomorphs. Other ancient traces include a roadside display of dinosaur tracks and a number of delicate, naturally formed stone arches.
There are also many opportunities for outdoor adventure and extreme sports. Climb Wall Street, a popular stretch of cliffs just after JayCee Campground. The Potash boat ramp allows you to cast off and raft the Colorado for a better view of the art on the cliffs. For off-road vehicles, the Potash Road continues past the paved byway, and Long Canyon Road makes for an intense tour. Both connect through to Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse State Park.


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Sprawling over the rolling plains north of Mt Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a prolific wildlife conservancy that is popular with celebrities, conservationists, writers and photographers. Lewa found recent media attention with stories of a Royal romance and the fairytale engagement that followed.
-Anne M, Citta di Castello, Italy.
Visitors to Lewa are privy to some of the most spectacular wildlife viewing that Kenya has to offer: lion, leopard and jackal thrive on the rich diversity of prey that inhabits the area. The Wildlife Conservancy is home to the largest concentration of Grevy's zebra in the world, and its range of habitats attracts diverse birdlife and hosts over 200 Black and White rhino.
Featuring large tented bedrooms with verandahs and full en-suite bathrooms, Lewa Safari camp offers authentic comfort for its visitors; cozy log fires in the sitting room are perfect for relaxing after a day in the Conservancy. This unique and exclusive retreat offers privileged access to 65,000 acres of private protected wilderness.
Underpinning the glamorous magnetism of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a serious mission: a pioneering and pragmatic approach to conservation, founded in the 1970's, that has developed into a thriving and globally recognised rhino conservation habitat.
Lewa Safari Camp is the only tourist facility within the Conservancy that is owned by the Conservancy. Profits and conservancy fees generated by the camp are reinvested directly into the conservation and community efforts of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.


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David Leblond, a computer programmer based in Durham, North Carolina, decided in December to post on his local Nextdoor feed about participating in a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine trial. He was almost positive he didn't get the placebo, and he thought talking about his experience on the hyper-local neighborhood social media platform could reassure people in his community about the new vaccine.
"So you can read this knowing that you know at least one person who got it and is fine," concluded his post on his local community feed. "I hope that eases your mind a little bit! Yay science!"
Most of his neighbors responded politely and thanked him for sharing. But the comments section of the post quickly devolved into an aggressive argument. Someone accused him of trying to force people to get vaccinated. One user suggested the vaccine was a tool for "population control," and another user said that "a new vaccine in less than 1 year" frightened her. Some of the more "out there" comments on his post have been removed, he says, and one neighbor apologized. But other posts stayed up: As of February, LeBlond says there are still posts expressing skepticism about the vaccine on his thread and others.
Leblond is one of eight Nextdoor users from across the country who told Recode about similar frustrations with the platform. Many said they went to Nextdoor to meet neighbors and get updates about local events that they couldn't find on sites like Facebook. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they thought Nextdoor could help keep their communities healthy and safe by being a reliable source of local information about vital topics like quarantining and vaccinations at a time when local media is shrinking or shutting down entirely.
But they say Nextdoor is letting them down. They say their local sites can be taken over by a loud minority that push misinformation about Covid-19, vaccines, and masks. Multiple Nextdoor users told Recode the platform's reporting tools and community moderators aren't effectively doing their jobs — and that some even exacerbate the problems — making Nextdoor fall far short of its promise to be a neighborly social network.
Nextdoor wanted to help in the pandemic, but misinformation ran rampant
Table of Contents
At the beginning of the pandemic, Nextdoor users — like everyone else — were figuring out how to deal with Covid-19. Much of that discussion was productive and generally positive: Neighborhoods used the platform to coordinate what songs to sing from their windows during lockdown and offered to help each other out, says Jenn Takahashi, who runs the popular Best of Nextdoor account on Twitter that aggregates some of the funniest posts on the platform.
Before Covid-19, Nextdoor was widely used throughout the United States. But the pandemic had people turning to the site more often, as they spent more time at home and the app became a source of local information and discussion about the pandemic. In April, Nextdoor reported that it saw a dramatic increase in daily active users — more than 60 percent since January — on the site across age groups. As of February, more than 222,000 neighborhoods were registered on the site throughout the country, up from the more than 135,000 that Nextdoor had advertised on its website in the spring of 2017.
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As more people began discussing Covid-19 on Nextdoor, the company — similar to platforms like Facebook and Twitter — expanded its moderation policies surrounding the pandemic. Unlike other violations of Nextdoor rules, which are reported to community moderators, Covid-19 misinformation that's flagged by users goes straight to Nextdoor's hired support staff. The company also added an interstitial "reminder" that encouraged users to cite accurate sources before posting.
But Nextdoor's neighbor-oriented moderation — which relies on a combination of unpaid neighbor "leads" who help run local communities and Nextdoor content moderation staff — didn't seem prepared for the problems that arose as discourse about the pandemic and how to respond to it became increasingly politicized. Nextdoor's neighborhood moderators are often selected by invitations from other leads, and the first person to "found" their community's digital presence on the platform can automatically become a lead.
Nextdoor did not provide additional details about the size of its content moderation team or the technology it uses, although it emphasized its work to elevate content from public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
Nextdoor tried to encourage more neighborly behavior, too. In March, the company expanded the availability of its group feature, which basically functions like Facebook groups. It also launched a "help map" inside its app, which allowed users to flag in their profile that they were available to help neighbors who might need assistance amid the pandemic. Despite these changes, misinformation and resistance to public health measures, including vaccination, still show up on Nextdoor.
"It's just the kind of classic stuff that you probably saw on other social media," Mark Boslough, a physicist who uses Nextdoor in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and who took over a coronavirus-focused citywide group early on in the pandemic, told Recode in December. "Like, 'It's not that bad,' 'It's the flu,' or 'It's intentionally created by the Chinese' or just calling it the 'Wuhan flu' or the 'China flu.'"
When one of his neighbors posted an image suggesting that Covid-19 was being exaggerated right before an election and that the spread of the coronavirus was subsiding, Boslough told the neighbor to delete the post (and accused the neighbor of lying). He also wrote to Nextdoor's support staff, demanding that the "dangerous spread of misinformation needs to be stopped NOW."
The next day, Boslough found that he had been temporarily suspended for violating Nextdoor's rules about being "helpful, not hurtful." Nextdoor would not comment on individual users but emphasized the site has rules in place against profanity, over-posting, and personal disputes.
Boslough, who is part of an informal effort focused on getting Nextdoor users to listen to science experts, isn't alone in his frustration with the platform.
"I really thought it was such a great, great site. I absolutely loved it," Serena Spencer, an attorney who has used Nextdoor for about three years in Pasadena, California, told Recode. "And then Covid happened."
She recalls posting a pattern for homemade masks in her community's feed, at the start of the pandemic in March, only to receive a slew of angry comments in response. She says that misinformation on the site has moved in "peaks and valleys"; at the beginning of the pandemic, posts would be removed more often, but now people have taken an "agree to disagree" approach on threads about topics like wearing a mask.
Spencer says the environment on the app got even worse following the police killing of George Floyd and that some neighbors began to post racist comments during the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, adding that she's one of the few Black leads in her area. She told Recode that while she thinks Nextdoor can be a useful tool, she's concerned about the way it handles content that includes misinformation and hateful posts from neighbors. Spencer also says that Nextdoor has wrongly reported or suspended her several times, and that she's had to appeal to get her account back.
"There is a way for it to be a really, really great resource," she told Recode, but warned that "the way it's being moderated right now is dangerous."
Misinformation on Nextdoor fuels more aggressive fights between neighbors
How pervasive misinformation is on Nextdoor is difficult to measure: Nextdoor is segmented by design, and what appears in one user's local feed could be entirely different from what's in the feed of someone living elsewhere. But some users Recode spoke to say that misinformation is a rampant problem that's turned their local Nextdoor communities into stressful, contentious spaces.
Joanne Martinez, who uses Nextdoor in Kona, Hawaii, pointed to one user who called Covid-19 vaccination "a large Darwinian I.Q. Test – survival of the intellectually fittest."
Another member of the same community feed made more alarming comments, pushing the false idea that Covid-19 had a 99.99 percent survival rate and then floating that people should "come back stronger and infect all the old weak people." (The CDC says that eight of 10 people who have died of Covid-19 in the US are over 65, and contracting the illness can still leave people of all ages with long-term symptoms and side effects.) That wasn't all: The same person posted that if "I could infect another person and kill them that would be the ultimate power," later adding: "it's all your fault boomers maybe you deserve to die."
Tracy Walker, who is in the same Nextdoor feed as Martinez, told Recode it took about two and a half weeks for that content to be removed from the platform.
How Nextdoor moderates its content also makes things murkier. Nextdoor says that it uses both technology and user-generated flags to identify Covid-19 misinformation. The platform also relies on neighbors who have taken up the job of reporting on other users for spreading misinformation.
"We're committed to the safety of our members and are taking proactive measures to help our members stay safe and have access to real-time, trusted information from credible sources," a Nextdoor spokesperson for the company told Recode in December. In 2021, the platform did make one major change: It stopped recommending political groups, following reporting from several outlets, including Recode, that highlighted racism, conspiracy theories, and toxic political fights on the platform.
This approach of combining technology, staff, and unpaid content moderators to identify and report problematic content can mean that Nextdoor sometimes punishes users who say they're beating back misinformation. "Nextdoor having a rule against misinformation in the wrong hands can backfire on the people who are trying to debunk this information," Boslough, the physicist in New Mexico, told Recode.
According to emails he was sent from Nextdoor's moderation staff (which he shared with Recode), Boslough in November was reprimanded by Nextdoor's content moderation staff for violating the platform's "public shaming" rules, after he warned against "anti-science, anti-mask, anti-social trolls" making untrue claims and spreading conspiracy theories. In December, his account was temporarily disabled for violating Nextdoor's "ranting" and "profanities" rules after he emphatically told nonessential workers to "stay the hell home" and to strictly observe social distancing measures.
Stephen Floor, a professor who uses the platform in California, says reporting coronavirus misinformation on Nextdoor can be a frustrating cycle of being urged to continually report content. Even if individual pieces of misinformation are taken down, accounts that share "chronic" amounts of misinformation remain on the site, and people have also used the platform to oppose lockdown and stay-at-home measures. Nextdoor says that misleading claims about Covid-19 measures like social distancing or wearing masks do violate its rules, but it's not clear how the site, in particular, handles organizing against these measures.
As vaccines are distributed, some Nextdoor users are creating a warped local reality
As a self-identified "hyperlocal" platform, Nextdoor tried to provide users with a unique view — and news — about what's happening in their communities. The company has worked to provide local agencies, including public health agencies, with a megaphone to broadcast information to communities, and its CEO Sarah Friar has even floated that, with the decline of local media, the Nextdoor feed could be a platform for updates about local politics.
Lauren Tostenson, who works at the public information office for El Paso County in Colorado, says Nextdoor users seem to be "a more dedicated group of people," and don't seem to visit the site specifically to start fights. "I think people take Nextdoor more seriously than Facebook," she told Recode.
But others say the local nature of the app is what makes it challenging.
"They're trying to walk a fine line of being helpful without putting them in a place where they could be held responsible for any incorrect information," notes Will Payne, a Rutgers University professor who has studied Nextdoor. "That's a tricky line to walk." Payne points out that while Nextdoor can give users some local information, it can create a warped sense of local reality, and there's no guarantee it's accurately conveying the severity of the pandemic in local communities.
Ultimately, a small minority of users who question or outright oppose the vaccine threaten to drown out accurate information about the vaccine being spread through its platform. Public health agencies, for instance, are already using Nextdoor to announce their vaccine distribution plans, including keeping locals up to date on vaccine distribution, connecting locals with experts, and warning about potential vaccine scams.
Nextdoor would not comment on whether or how it's changing its approach during the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. But amid the ongoing inoculation campaign, the platform has also become a resource for many who are trying to get vaccinated. Several users Recode spoke to said that in recent weeks, the platform has seen a surge in people desperate for more information on where and how to get vaccinated, and neighbors trading information about how to find an available dose.
Ultimately, that Nextdoor is a local platform means it's more closed off than a social network like Twitter, which makes it harder to track how misinformation can spread on the platform. But it's also made the platform more useful — and given people an incentive to stay.
"It's one thing when you're on Facebook and nobody knows who each other is on Facebook," says LeBlond, of North Carolina. "But Nextdoor, it's your neighbors. I don't want to start fighting with my neighbors."
Open Sourced is made possible by Omidyar Network. All Open Sourced content is editorially independent and produced by our journalists.


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What is Hypertension?
Blood pressure refers to the force of blood against artery walls. When this pressure becomes too great, the arterial walls may narrow or thicken, putting an extra burden on the heart. Blood pressure fluctuates over the course of a day. When it stays elevated over time, it's called hypertension or high blood pressure.
A blood pressure level of 140/90 or greater is considered high. Systolic pressure—the first number in a blood pressure reading—represents the amount of pressure on the artery walls. The second number, or diastolic pressure, represents the lowest level of pressure.
If your blood pressure reaches between 120/80 and 139/89, you have a condition called prehypertension. You don't have high blood pressure yet, but you may develop it unless you adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Why is High Blood Pressure Dangerous?
High blood pressure is the most common of all cardiovascular diseases and the leading cause of heart attack and stroke—the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans.
If your blood pressure is too high, your heart has to work harder, eventually developing atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. High blood pressure can also result in other conditions, such as kidney disease, diabetes, blindness, and congestive heart failure.
How Often Should I Get My Blood Pressure Checked?
Because hypertension is largely a "silent" or symptomless disease, it's important to get your blood pressure checked at least once a year, starting at age 40. Symptoms—which include dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds, fatigue, ringing in the ears, insomnia, and sweating—can occur if blood pressure is already very high.
Who is Most at Risk?
High blood pressure is most common in African Americans and Hispanic Americans, those living in the southeastern states, and seniors. While certain risk factors—such as family history—are out of your control, there are many things you can do to lower your blood pressure, including exercising more, adopting a healthier diet, and taking supplements.
Prescription drugs are available to reduce hypertension, but a holistic, natural approach seems the wisest first course of action. Once hypertension develops, it usually lasts a lifetime, so take good care of yourself now to avoid future health problems.
How to Lower Your Risk
Get Off The Couch
Losing even 10 pounds can help lower your blood pressure. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise at least four days a week. Try reducing your daily stress level through t'ai chi or yoga.
Be sure to get enough sleep. Adults between 32 and 59 years of age who slept fewer than five hours a night had a significantly higher risk for hypertension, even after controlling for diabetes and obesity, than those who enjoyed a good night's sleep, according to the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
You may also want to try meditation. The American Journal of Cardiology reports that people with hypertension who practiced transcendental meditation had a 30 percent lower mortality rate than those who didn't meditate.
Eat Better
increase Fiber
Eat foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables. To get more produce into your diet, introduce change gradually by adding one vegetable or fruit serving to your lunch and dinner. Try eating fruit for dessert.
Reduce Meat Intake
Meat should be considered one small part of a meal, not the main attraction. Try having two or more meatless meals a week. Instead of eating a five-ounce serving of chicken, for example, make a stir-fry with two ounces of chicken and 1- cups of raw vegetables cooked in a small amount of vegetable oil. You'll save 50 calories.
Eat Omegas and Antioxidants
Eat fatty fish rich in omega 3s (or take a supplement). Good juice choices include carrot, cranberry, orange, or prune juices. Celery, garlic, onions, and parsley have also been found to lower blood pressure. Scientific studies find garlic has the ability to reduce blood pressure by 6 to 8 percent.
Get Enough Potassium
Research shows that potassium lowers blood pressure. Some good sources include fish, dairy foods, and fruits and vegetables. Good picks include lima beans, bananas, oranges, raisins, and tomatoes. Tomatoes not only contain potassium but also lycopene. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of hypertension patients finds that lycopene, an antioxidant-rich extract, significantly lowers both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. In small quantities, dark chocolate may also have beneficial effects on blood vessels and lowering blood pressure.
Avoid Alcohol and Salt
Alcohol and salt should only be consumed in moderation. Most people get too much salt in their diets. The current daily recommendation is less than 2.4 grams (2,400 mg of sodium). That equals about one teaspoon of table salt per day. To lower your sodium intake, cut back on or eliminate salty processed foods, which include canned vegetables and soups, frozen dinners, lunchmeats, instant and ready-to-eat cereals, and potato chips.
Take Supplements
James F. Balch, MD, recommends taking calcium (500 mg) and magnesium (250 mg) twice daily, as these minerals have been shown to lower blood pressure.
Other studies find that coenzyme Q10 also helps decrease blood pressure. Cardiologist Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, recommends 180 to 360 mg daily as part of any natural hypertensive-lowering regime. For high blood pressure, he suggests taking L-carnitine (500 to 1,000 mg), D-ribose (5 to 10 g), 1 g of fish oil, and a daily multivitamin/mineral. Take a balanced antioxidant formula that supplies 5,000 IU of vitamin A, 25,000 IU of beta carotene (or mixed carotenes), and 200 micrograms of selenium.
Other daily supplements that may lower blood pressure include green tea (50 to 100 mg), ginger (25 to 50 mg), and garlic (500 to 1,500 mg).


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Wyoming Cold Case Files: The 2000s
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is the statewide criminal justice agency with lots of responsibilities. They run Wyoming's crime lab; investigates crimes in Wyoming, especially ones that cross local jurisdictions; and they coordinate criminal justice information, like criminal history records and the sex offender registry. They also keep track of cold cases in Wyoming.
Basically, a cold case is an unsolved crime no longer being actively investigated. There's not any leads for investigators to follow, not enough evidence, or information. The case is still open, but waiting for new info that could lead to a resolution.
Here is the list of cold cases from 2000-2018 from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Anyone with information regarding these cases is urged to contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation at (307) 777-7181.
Wyoming law enforcement agencies are working cooperatively on unsolved missing person and homicide cases located throughout the State of Wyoming. A brief summary of each missing person case and unsolved homicide case is provided. Anyone with information regarding any of these cases is urged to contact the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction or the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation. Information may also be submitted through this website here.


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Anyone who has ever dreamed of flying should most definitely not miss this thrilling experience of a Hanggliding flight. Safely attached to an experienced guide, the guest runs the first few steps down a patch of grass and then glides up into the open air. A Hangglider can reach a speed of around. 60 km/h in flight and guests feel the wind whistling around their ears.
May - October
Take off 1350 m
Time required 90 - 120 mins
Flight time approx. 20 mins
Including transport
Age from 7 years
max. weight 90 Kg / 200 lb
Our team is dedicated to providing an opportunity for you to feel pure freedom, as you soar through the air like a bird on the wing. Spectacular views of the Alps await you, from the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau down to the sparkling glacial fed Lakes of Thun and Brienz. People from all over the world have experienced the thrill and freedom of flight with us and we look forward to sharing this unique experience with you.
Ever dreamt of taking to the skies? Wanted to feel the freedom of air and endless space as you soar high above the earth. Our professional team is dedicated to giving you an above-the-world feeling like no other. Your flight will leave you with a lasting impression that may just change your life!


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Perfect Finish
Lasting print results for modern packaging designs - A new slip additive suitable for food contact
TEGO® Glide A 116 is a highly effective slip additive from Evonik for use in solvent-based printing applications. Demands made up on printing ink formulations are high, especially in the packaging market, as they must be high quality, reliable, and in compliance with regulations. Because it is easy to process and is highly compatible with other materials — particularly when used in overprint varnishes — TEGO® Glide A 116 yields outstanding print quality while meeting all legal requirements.
Its outstanding compatibility in color printing systems unique in the market. TEGO® Glide A 116 works especially well in combination with waxes and matting agents, where it lends a perfect finish to the product. It also eliminates sensitivity to scratching and keeps surfaces from sticking together, particularly during the production process.
Food packaging is a particularly important component of the packaging market, and strict regulations help ensure safety in this sensitive area. TEGO® Glide A 116 is in compliance with regulatory demands and legal requirements; a complete listing is available for Switzerland's Consumer Goods Ordinance (A).
"When designed well, food packaging helps with product placement, provides the customer with information, and, most importantly, protects food," says Anna-Maria Ickert, director of global marketing for inks & new applications. "TEGO® Glide A 116 yields ideal printing results in an exceptionally wide variety of applications, such as beverage containers, plastic packaging for ice-cream and chocolate, and in labels or films for printing on surfaces. TEGO® Glide A 116 is highly compatible with other materials, produces lasting results in overprint varnishes, and meets regulatory requirements. It's a highly effective slip additive for all solvent-based end-use applications."


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New Lighting Accessory Products
Pendant with a 3m cord and wall plug or ceiling rose. Diameter: 145mm Height: 210mm.
Cage: Peppermint, Small.
Lampholder: Wooden. Dark. E27 screw.
Cord: Grey Linen, 3m.
Cord grip: Black. (piece between lampholder and cord).
Plug: Black, Three Pin.
Additions: None. Light bulb not included.
These pendant lights are created by Empirical Style within Australia. Please note that they take up to 5 working days to complete before posting.
*Please note* due to the hand made nature of the product that the colours may vary slightly from the image.
All pendants can be created to suits your specific needs including custom:
- Cord lengths and colours.
- Plug/ceiling rose.
- Bayonet/screw fitting.
- Custom colour combinations.
- Additions of a dimmer, on/off switch, hook or bulb etc.
Please add theses additions to your shopping cart through the category 'Cord & Accessories' and make notes in the checkout process or send us an email.
Enjoy your pendant by:
- Hang from a ceiling, over a counter or bar (swap plug for a ceiling rose).
- Use as a wall light or looped over a wall hook resting against a wall.
- Standing alone upright or on its side on a table, floor or counter top.


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Six AC/DC Albums Commemorated With New Australian Coins
The Royal Australian Mint has released a series of seven coins celebrating the country's most popular rock band, AC/DC.
The series includes 20-cent pieces dedicated to six of the band's most popular albums: 1975's High Voltage, 1976's T.N.T., 1976's Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, 1980's Back in Black, 1981's For Those About to Rock We Salute You and 1995's Ballbreaker.
There's also a frosted, silver $1 coin featuring the band's logo and guitarist Angus Young. You can see photos of all seven coins below.
The news arrives the same week AC/DC announced Power Up, their first new studio album in six years. The upcoming release follows several tumultuous years for the long-running hard-rock band, including the death of founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017.
Three members - singer Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams - left the band for legal or health reasons during various stages of the 2015-2016 Rock or Bust tour. But all three returned to the group for the recording of Power Up, which features riff ideas the Young brothers came up with together before Malcolm's death.
The AC/DC coins are available for purchase now at the Royal Australian Mint website.


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With the goal of achieving a safe and sufficient worldwide food supply, the Chicago-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
The agreement facilitates cooperation between the two, with IFT called on to:
- Identify individuals for consideration in food safety, quality and security-related expert rosters.
- Create conferences, seminars and workshops related to food safety, emerging technologies, food science and nutrition.
- Assist with education curriculum development, review of university food science and nutrition programs in developing countries.
- Provide scientific input on background papers, scientific perspectives and documents.
- Respond on public policy and regulatory issues relating to and affecting the global food supply.
FAO's goal is to make sure people around the world have access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives; to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.
In the process, the organization must work at the country level to build legal and institutional support for science- and risk-based approaches to the food supply.
IFT members who are interested in contributing expertise should contact William Fisher, vice president of science policy and initiatives, at 202-330-4977 or [email protected]


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Interracial Intimacies SymposiumPosted in Asian Diaspora, History, Live Events, Media Archive, Social Science, United States on 2018-04-12 14:46Z by Steven |
Interracial Intimacies Symposium
University of Chicago
5733 South University Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
2018-04-18 through 2018-04-19
Please join us for a two-day symposium examining the history of interracial intimacies in comparative and transnational perspective. This symposium offers emerging and established scholars an opportunity to come together to discuss issues of interracial intimacies broadly construed.
Doris L. Garraway, Associate Professor of French at Northwestern University, and Sarah Kovner, Senior Research Scholar in the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University, will be the keynote speakers.
For more information, click here.


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The Pro-Stix Carbon Fiber Series Tripods are designed and built for the professional videographer or photographer looking for the toughest and most rugged tripod. The tripods are rated to support loads up to 60 lbs. The apex features an interchangeable flat plate that can be removed and transitioned to various accessories such as our #TRB3475 75mm Leveling Bowl insert. The apex plate has a 3/8-16 standard mounting thread for Ball Heads, Video Heads, Gimbals, Sliders and much more.
The carbon fiber legs have 3 adjustable locking angle positions to accommodate any shooting situation, high to low. Each side of the apex features a 1/4-20 threaded adapter port to mount additional accessories. One of the adapter ports comes complete with a large and easy to read spirit level. Lastly, each tripod foot has a hardened stainless-steel spike integrated inside the tube. The entire line-up of ProMediaGear Pro-Stix Carbon Fiber Tripods are precision CNC machined in our factory located in Tinley Park, IL USA.
Made in the USA by photographers for photographers! We pride ourselves in being experienced photography professionals and design gear we would use. There's nothing more important than our customers' satisfaction. So, What Are You Still Waiting For? Order Your Own Premium PMG Pro-Stix Carbon Fiber Tripod Today!


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Parks & Rec. Leadership, Fair Board Lack Thereof & Journalism
Last night the Costa Mesa Parks and Recreation Commission elected new leaders. Vice Chair Mike Brumbaugh was elected Chairman and long time resident and activist, Terry Shaw, was elected Vice Chairman. Commissioner Jeff Mathews was nominated for Vice Chairman by Kurt Galitski but no second was put forth. It will be very interesting to see what impact this new leadership has on the activities of the commission, which meets only every other month now.
FAIR BOARD OK's BEAZLEY SECURITY SYSTEM
At it's meeting today the 32 Agriculture District Board (Fair Board) the five members in attendance voted unanimously to spend $3,000 for a security system at CEO Steve Beazley's Costa Mesa residence. According to Mona Shadia's Daily Pilot report on the meeting, HERE, the expenditure was authorized even though no testimony either in the staff report or otherwise, made a link to the vandalism and harassment experienced by Beazley and his family to his position at the Fairgrounds.
An interesting sidebar to this story - neither Board Chairwoman Kristina Dodge nor the Vice Chair, Dave Ellis, attended the meeting today. That's more than a little curious, since Dodge was scheduled to pitch the need for Beazley's security to the Board. I guess they didn't want to be personally associated with this controversial subject. That's "leadership" for you.
According to Shadia's article, some good news finally came out of a Fair Board meeting. Today, on a vote of 4-1, the board agreed that sub-committees should be at least three members, which requires them to be subject to open meeting laws. Previously only two members were required in sub-committees. Hopefully, this will lead to more open discussion of important issues before the Fair Board.
ANOTHER JAW-DROPPING ADMISSION! (10:20 p.m.)
Well, now, this issue got much more interesting with the publication of Tom Johnson's column in the Daily Voice, HERE. Seems that, during the meeting at which the Fair Board agreed to follow the open meeting laws, several of them admitted to a major violation in the case of the Beazley Security System issue! According to Johnson, one Board member, Gary Hayakawa, sent an email to ALL the other Board members about this subject - a clear violation of the Bagley-Keene act. Even more astounding is the quotation by Johnson of a comment attributed to Dale Dykema, who acted as moderator of the meeting due to the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair. Once he finally admitted it was a violation of the "Brown Act" (it's really the Bagley-Keene Act), Dykema said, "but, in this case, this is different - this is a human thing." Good grief! These people really are clueless! I sure did get it right with the title of this post! Just put that on the list with all the other reasons this Fair Board should go - regardless what happens to the Fairgrounds!
An observation: It's hard to understand how some local stories simply don't seem to reach publication by the "real" media until well after the date of occurrence - if ever. For example, Amy Senk over at the Corona del Mar Today blog reported the failure of a structural beam above the council chambers at Newport Beach City Hall, including photos of the failure that will deem the chambers unusable for some time while it is repaired. You can read Amy's report HERE. I have yet to see any mention of this situation mentioned by the Daily Pilot nor the Orange County Register.
I'm turning the old cauldron down to simmer for a few days while I take a little breather. Comments might be delayed as I try to find my way to a computer to approve them, but they will eventually be posted. We'll be back at full steam before the next council meeting, returning with our heads full of March Madness. In the meantime, you might wish to re-visit a little piece I wrote on March 22, 2006 to keep your juices flowing. Just click HERE and fasten your seat belt.
Labels: Corona del Mar Today, Fair Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Steve Beazley


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With the weather quickly heating up, many people are starting to pull their swimsuits out from their winter hiding spots. With California's thousands of miles of coastline, there are plenty of places to go to the beach. However, the beach isn't for everyone. Some people prefer to cool off without having to worry about sand getting everywhere. That is why some people prefer going to a pool.
In addition to the lack of sand at pools, they are often cleaner as well. The water is maintained by humans, instead of being left alone. However, despite the chemicals, mostly chlorine, put into pool water to keep it clean, one recent survey found that pools aren't always as clean as one would hope.
Public Pools May Not be as Clean as You Think
The clear blue water of pools often looks a heck of a lot cleaner than ocean, lake, or river water. Those waters typically have all kinds of debris floating beneath the surface, making them hazy. Pools lack this haze due to the chemicals put into them to kill bacteria, and the filtration systems in them to pick out the bigger particles like bugs and leaves.
However, despite all of that, pools can still contain bits of harmful bacteria, bacteria that is typically brought in by swimmers. A recent survey conducted by Water Quality and Health Council found that 51% of Americans used pools as a way to rinse off after performing sweat inducing activities.
The survey, which polled 3,100 American adults and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7%, also found the following information:
• 40% of adults peed in pools.
• 48% admitted to not showering before entering a pool.
• 53% didn't know makeup affected the chemistry of the pool.
• 55% didn't know deodorant affected the chemistry of the pool.
• 64% acknowledge the fact that pools don't eliminate the need to shower, but use pools as a reason not to shower anyways.
While chlorine does help keep pools cleaner, it isn't an infinite source of cleanliness. Think of the chlorine in a pool like a bar of soap. Every time it is used to clean something, it becomes smaller and less effective until it is all used up. However, chlorine is not a replacement for soap.
Chlorine keeps pools clean by causing chemical reactions in the water that kill microorganisms and bacteria. By adding other chemicals to the mix, bodily fluids, makeup, and deodorant, a person reduces the strength of the chlorine in the water, thereby reducing its effectiveness.
Help Keep Public Pools Clean
Some of the findings in this survey are more than a bit disgusting. Hopefully, they will serve as a reminder to everyone that there are times when they shouldn't go swimming, and more than that, they should shower before getting into a pool. Doing so can help keep the water cleaner, longer.
Pools are a great way to beat the summer heat, and most are likely maintained on a regular basis. So long as a pool's owner keeps up with the maintenance of the pool, its filter system, and the chemical makeup, there is no reason to not go swimming in it. All public pools in California are required by law to be kept at safe and sanitary levels at all times. If a person suspects that this isn't being done at a local public pool, they can report the problem to their local health officials.
As things begin to heat up this summer, be sure to help keep pools clean by not using them as bath time, and showering before getting into the water. This will help keep the pool water clean for everyone.


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SAHARANEWS – President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday prayed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to dismiss petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar against his Feb. 23 re-election.
Buhari made the prayer through his Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, in a motion adopted and argued on Tuesday before Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-man panel in Abuja.
Olanipekun submitted that the petition was fundamentally defective, adding that his client won the presidential "square and clear''.
He explained that the allegations advanced by the petitioners were mere theoretical assumptions that could not stand the test of critical legal debate.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tribunal also entertained the president's motion that sought to effect amendment on the identities and addresses of counsel representing him.
Another of Buhari's application seeking to mandate the tribunal to entertain all interlocutory motions before the commencement of proper hearing of the main petition was also adopted and argued.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition brought by PDP and Atiku against a "flawless'' election that won by Buhari.
Mr Yunus Usman, SAN, Counsel for INEC said that the electoral commission would standby the declaration of the second respondent (Buhari) as winner of the Fbe.23 presidential election.
Usman said the petition challenging the outcome of the exercise was "misguided'', adding that the allegations of fraud made against the electoral body was "mischievous''.
NAN reports that INEC's application is challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the tribunal to entertain the petition.
Usman further urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition as the petitioners failed to include the vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, as a co-winner in the election.
" The failure of the PDP and Atiku to include Osinbajo's name as party should not be overlooked because whatever affects the president affects his running mate,'' Usman said.
NAN also reports that three other interlocutory motions filed by the All Progressive Congress were argued and dispensed with.
Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Counsel for the APC had urged the tribunal to strike out 18 paragraphs of the petition with frivolous assumptions among other prayers.
He submitted that the competence of the petition was questionable, adding that it would soon become a mere "lame duck''.
Meanwhile, Dr Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, Counsel for the petitioners prayed the tribunal to discountenance all the arguments canvassed by the respondents, describing INEC's position in the matter as "unusual".
The presiding judge, therefore, fixed June 13 for the petitioners' motions to be heard.


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Por favor, selecione até 20 itens da sua cesta para usar como escopo da Busca.
Parece que ocorreu um problema ao trazer conteúdos da sua cesta; por favor, tente novamente.
Clique aqui para adicionar itens em sua cesta.
Looking to understand competition for keywords? Search Explorer presents a keyword based view of the web by examining URLs, domain names and anchor text. Search Explorer presents a more granular view of Keyword Difficulty than can be found elsewhere.
Search Explorer represents an index of a huge volume of keywords based on a substantial data extract from the Majestic Fresh Index. The dedicated optimised inverted index returns up to 1000 URLs for queries.
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We have discussed how Search Results works above, and will now explore the remaining three tabs.
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Different parts of the URL contribute different weights to the overall score. You can see above how an "exact match" Domain scores far higher than a match on subdomain. You may also note that only exact matches qualify for "in URL" – other factors like in Title and in URL make up a lot of difference.
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Youth unemployment is a major social problem
Beau Bassin-Rose Hill is the capital of the Lower Plaines Wilhems region of Mauritius and has a population of over 100,000, making it the country's third largest city. Living conditions have been steadily improving for the majority of the population, and primary education and health care are freely available to everyone. However, in rural areas many families continue to face a very difficult day-to-day reality.
Although only around one per cent of Mauritians live below the national poverty line of one US dollar per day, many still struggle to afford basic goods: living costs on the island are very high, as 75 per cent of all commodities, including food and petrol, are imported.
Global competition and the recent global economic crisis have led to a decline in production for export, for example in the sugar and textiles industry, which are the main source of income for most families in rural areas. They then have to fall back on farming or fishing, but the income they are able to generate this way is minimal. In addition, many families do not have enough land to provide sufficient food, and soil erosion, over-grazing, as well as droughts and cyclones pose a threat.
Unemployment rates have also been on the rise in recent years, reaching over eight per cent in 2013. Most affected are women and young people – youth unemployment is as high as 21 per cent according to some estimates. Single mothers, especially when they lack education, have a very hard time finding employment.
For children from struggling families, life bears many risks
Infrastructure is also less readily available in rural areas: for example, ten per cent of the rural population do not have improved sanitation facilities. In addition, almost 13 per cent of women in Mauritius are illiterate, and around nine per cent of men cannot read or write.
Due to its location in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has increasingly become a transit point for drug trafficking, specifically heroin intended for trafficking into Europe. This has also led to a rise in drug abuse in the country, particularly amongst young people. Around two per cent of Mauritians are reported to be heroin abusers, which is the highest prevalence of opiate abuse in all of Africa. Abusers are also getting younger: many children start smoking, sniffing glue or drinking cough suppressants, which can quickly lead to consumption of alcohol or cannabis and other drugs.
What we do in Beau Bassin
SOS Children's Villages began its work in Beau Bassin in 1992.
Family-based care: For children in the region who are no longer able to live with their parents, 15 SOS families can provide a loving home for up to 150 children. In each family, young children live with their brothers and sisters, affectionately cared for by their SOS mother. Once the children turn 11, government policy requires boys and girls to live in separate houses. At this point, the children move into new SOS families in the village where boys live only with other boys, and girls with other girls. They continue to be cared for by SOS mothers and to take part in joint activities.
Education: The children attend the SOS Kindergarten together with children from the neighbourhood, ensuring that they are integrated into the local community from a young age. The provision of day care also allows working parents to leave their children in safe hands while they are out making a living. Around 150 children attend the kindergarten and then go on to attend the local schools together.
Support for young adults: When young people are ready to move out of their SOS family home in order to study, receive training or find work, the SOS Youth Programme continues to support them as they make the transition into adulthood.


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MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is pleased to announce changes to its Asia to USA East Coast network.
Our EMERALD service will introduce a direct call to the Caribbean, with Cristobal becoming the first call of the otherwise unchanged rotation, and maintaining the same USEC transit times.
This will introduce a direct call from Hong Kong and will improve the transit times from Shanghai to Cristobal.
The first vessel impacted by the change will be the MSC Lisbon, voyage UL723E.
Taking place at the same time as this change, the LONE STAR service will omit Cristobal from its rotation, taking effect after Maersk Garonne 722E.
We are continually assessing our services in line with our customers' requirements and regard these as positive changes on a busy global route.
For transit times information and full details, please visit our East-West Network page on msc.com.
For further information or queries, please contact your local agency.


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When we stand together in ceremony, the receptive crystals of water in the snow feel the gratitude that we have for the Mountain. These feelings spread from the snow beneath our feet, down the rolling slopes and under the trees all around the Mountain – a blanket of blessings. In the warm sun of springtime, the snow crystals full of love become water flowing downhill, into the creeks, into the rivers, into the ocean, rising and falling again as rain or snow, carrying our blessings to all beings.
For the last two years we have done ceremonies on Mount Ashland, in Oregon. We will do this again in April, 2010, at the ski area near the top of the mountain, in the quiet time after the close of the season. We wish to encourage others to do the same kind of ceremony on mountains all around the world.
Different Cultures in Common Prayer for our Common Ground ~ Mother Earth
An essential part of the ceremony is bringing together people from different backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the Earth, honoring natural harmony as a model for human harmony.
Many of us want to give more attention to the Earth these days. Whatever our spiritual tradition, or non-spiritual tradition, we recognize that our larger home needs attention.
Mountains, with their far-ranging views, are a good place to go for a sense of the whole Earth. And the snow that covers them in the winter gives us a dramatic way to understand the water cycle that nourishes planet, people, plants and animals alike.
When we touch the snow, we touch the water that, in the warm sun of springtime, will flow downhill, into the creeks, into the rivers, into the ocean, upward to the sky, and down again, reaching all of life.
This is why we want to encourage folks to go up on mountains in the snow and express their positive feelings – about mountains, snow, water, Earth, life in general, and each other.
Following traditions shared by many cultures, we call these feelings "blessings," and call the events "Blessing Mountains in the Snow." Like the Earth, they are open and free to all. And also like the Earth, we hope that the people who come to offer blessings will be of many different traditions and beliefs. For example, Native Americans of several Tribes, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Buddhists, Zoroastrans, Pagans, environmentalists and others have all offered blessings on Mount Ashland, the one mountain in Oregon where these events have happened in the past two years.
No matter where we come from or what we believe, we all have some common problems to solve. Getting together on mountains in the snow can help us to feel our unity, the enormity of the issues, and how we can all reach out to help.
For more information
Bears bless mountains too. photo © Sam Camp www.campphoto.com


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Peace Pillow - Peach
Return & Refund Policy
Return & Refund Policy
Our initial goal is to make sure you are happy with your order, keeping you in good hands throughout your entire shopping experience and order process here! Merchandise may be returned within 7 days from the date of the order is received for a store credit. All merchandise must be returned in NEW CONDITION (unwashed, unaltered with the original tag attached.) Any return received with makeup stains, deodorant stains, pet hair or smoke will be refused and returned to you and is subject to a shipping charge. All store credit issues is ONLY for clothing and will not be accepted for any accessories. Also, all graphic tees or sweatshirts along with basics (camis, tanks, bralettes, etc) at FINAL SALE.
Shipping Info
Shipping Info
We ship within 1-3 business days of the order being placed.


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Dear Mr. Mckesson,
As the social justice caucus within the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, we were surprised to see that you are coming to Philadelphia to speak alongside leaders of Teach for America (TFA). The Caucus of Working Educators (WE) is committed to racial justice in our schools and society, and we stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
We see Teach for America as working in opposition to the goals of publicly funded education for all students in Philadelphia and to the goal of increasing the number of teachers of color and teachers who are committed to building relationships with communities over the long term, which we see as an integral component of culturally responsive teaching. We view the hiring of cadres of racial, cultural, and geographical outsiders with very little teaching preparation as part of a larger neoliberal effort to privatize education and replace unionized teachers (many of whom are teachers of color) with young, inexperienced teachers (most of whom are white and do not intend to stay in the teaching profession and commit to the long-term improvement of their teaching practice).
This practice of displacing African American teachers, in particular, is already underway. While Philadelphia's teaching force increased by 13 percent from 2001-2011, the percentage of Black teachers dropped by 19 percent. This has contributed to Philadelphia having the greatest disparity between the race and ethnicity of the student body and those who teach them. Only 31 percent of Philadelphia teachers are of color compared to 86 percent of the student body they are teaching. This is unacceptable.
TFA has ties and parallels with the charter school movement, which we see as undercutting public education. The mass charterization of public neighborhood schools has led to the outsourcing of public school management to private operators. Just weeks ago Philadelphia Public Schools announced yet another wave of school closures and conversions of public schools into charter schools affecting upwards of 5000 students. This is in addition to the 23 public schools that were closed in Philadelphia in 2013.
The decision to turn a district school into a charter is often made by the highest levels of administration without consulting with the school community, including parents, teachers, students, and leaders. Your support of Teach for America represents a support of these same kinds of outsourced and contracted paradigms for educating our children. Rather than hiring experienced professionals that will stay in the profession for a long period of time, Teach for America hires individuals with little or no experience in classroom settings via external channels such as private universities and corporately sponsored recruitment. Teach for America and charter schools both represent a failure of public leadership to lead and create change in our public schools, and prioritize outsourcing teaching and school governance over public responsibility to realize every student's right to a fully funded, culturally relevant, education in their neighborhood.
Instead, TFA contributes to the dangerous and misleading discourse that claims poverty and structural inequality have little to no impact on educational outcomes. This irresponsible explanation provides Democrats and Republicans alike with a pretext to continue vicious budget cuts to public services and institutions under the guise that "personal responsibility" and "grit" are the main factors in determining a child's success or failure.
We live and work in state that has the largest funding disparity between wealthy and poor districts and in a city whose externally appointed school governance commission is proposing to continue to close down schools that primarily serve low-income African American families. In Philadelphia where 79 percent of the city's students are Black and Latino, $9,299 is spent per pupil compared to the $17, 261 spent just across the city line in Lower Merion where 91 percent of the students are white. This is the civil rights crisis of our generation.
In this context, we believe that it is essential that those who are committed to racial justice take a critical stance against organizations that aim to further privatize education and/or replace fully prepared unionized teachers with underprepared novices who are likely to leave the teaching profession in two to three years.
The Black Lives Matter movement has served as an inspiration and instruction on how to confront racism and inequality throughout our country. Part of that inspiration is the way that the movement has looked at the connections between police violence and racism and other inequalities faced by African Americans. We consider the attacks on public education to be a part of the "state-sanctioned violence" that the movement has done so much to highlight over the last year. We do not believe that the white billionaires that bankroll Teach for America and the corporate education "reform" movement are any more interested in the education of poor and working class Black and Latino children than we believe they are interested in ending police violence in Black and Brown communities. If they were, these crises would no longer exist.
We are glad that you are visiting Philadelphia, and we hope that you will use your platform to engage in a critical dialogue about whether TFA supports – or as we believe undercuts – the goals of a fully funded education for every student in Philadelphia with teachers who know their community and are committed to staying for the long haul.


text: Informatics. It's the field you've never heard of, and the one you know everything about. In a digital age, technology — how we design it, how we use it and how it affects us — touches all aspects of our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we work and the way we build the foundations of a global society. Informatics is a window into this dynamic relationship, examining the interplay of people and technology and what it means for our collective future.


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Getting what you want doesn't always come easily. Chances are, you'll have to work to reach your goal. Achieving what you want financially -- whether saving to buy a house or for a fun vacation -- requires the same planning, perseverance and know-how.
Goal-setting is pretty simple. A goal is something that you are willing to work for. You can get what you want by planning AND following the plan. Setting achievable -- and SMART -- goals is your first step to success. SMART goals are:
- Specific The more specific your goal, the easier it is to understand what you need to achieve.
- Measurable With a dollar amount to your goals, you have a built-in way of measuring your progress toward that goal and something tangible to work toward.
- Attainable Your goals should be a challenge, yet not so challenging as to be impossible to meet.
- Rewarding How are you going to feel when you've reached it?
- Time-bound You have to choose a reasonable timeframe for the achievement of your goals.
Compare the two sets of goals below. The general goals simply state what you hope or want without specifics to help you along. The SMART goals provide you with specific and measurable targets to work toward both in terms of a dollar amount and timeframe.
General Goals | SMART Goals |
When setting financial goals, it's important to understand the types of goals you are trying to achieve. In general, there are three types of financial goals, all distinguished by the time it would likely take to achieve them. One of your first goals should be saving for an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses. It is always important to keep that emergency fund on your radar as you're working toward achieving other financial goals.
Short-Term Goals (Less Than a Year) |
Mid-Term Goals (One to Three Years) |
Long-Term Goals (More than Three Years) |
Once you've set your financial goals, achieving them requires planning to get to where you want to be. Take these steps to get going:
- Set your goals. Figure out what you want to achieve and what it will take, financially speaking, to achieve it.
- Plan the time and savings level to achieve your goals: Goals take time and effort. Set a realistic timetable and a savings level that you can keep up.
- Stick to the plan.
- Write down your goals
- Place reminders where you'll see them every day
- Use constant, positive motivation
- Draw support from friends and family
Set SMART Goals Worksheet
Use the worksheet below to help you outline your goals and a plan to achieve them.
Goal | Amount Needed | Month & Year Needed | Saving Start Date | Months to Save | Monthly Amount to Save | Ways to Reach Goal |
1. | ||||||
2. | ||||||
3. | ||||||
4. | ||||||
5. |
Source: InCharge Education Foundation


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Outside Sales Representative
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at DoorDash.See open jobs similar to "Outside Sales Representative" Matt Wallaert.About the Team
The Outside Sales team has been the face of DoorDash to our merchant partners since our founding in 2013. Stationed locally, this team creates deep partnerships with the most coveted local and regional restaurants in any given geography. Our Outside Sales team is the revenue driving arm of DoorDash and ensures the growth of our SMB partnerships which help strengthen operations, accelerate consumer growth, and improve our bottom line.
About the Role
As a Regional Merchant Lead (Outside Sales Representative), you'll join a team of experienced sales professionals who have excelled in the art of leading deliberate sales processes. You'll be focused on new restaurant acquisition with a transactional deal cycle and bringing on the best local and regional restaurants onto the DoorDash platform. In this role you will prospect, meet with, and close partnerships with these restaurants – selling new products and services to them while also uncovering their pain points. You'll report into our sales leadership, you'll have direct access to all you'll need to grow your career to the next level. This is a hybrid role with some time traveling in the region meeting with merchants and some time remote.
You're excited about this opportunity because you will…
- Have a passion for SMB businesses and the restaurant industry
- Sell restaurant owners on the value of partnering with DoorDash and negotiate revenue share agreements
- Excel in a transactional deal cycle and closing new business within days
- Use creative strategies in sales processes and prospect outreach
- Share on-the-ground insights with sales leadership and operations team
- Mentor teammates on how to be the best version of themselves after establishing yourself in the role
- Travel into different markets and meet with restaurant owners (hybrid role with up to 50% travel)
We're excited about you because…
- You have 2+ years of experience, ideally in a closing sales role or related experience
- You excel in a transactional deal cycle
- You have experience exceeding goals
- You have experience selling multi-product solutions
- You approach challenges from the fundamentals
- You express creative sales tactics to engage with prospects
- You have experience using a CRM (Salesforce) and Google Apps
About DoorDash
At DoorDash, our mission to empower local economies shapes how our team members move quickly, learn, and reiterate in order to make impactful decisions that display empathy for our range of users—from Dashers to merchant partners to consumers. We are a technology and logistics company that started with door-to-door delivery, and we are looking for team members who can help us go from a company that is known for delivering food to a company that people turn to for any and all goods.
DoorDash is growing rapidly and changing constantly, which gives our team members the opportunity to share their unique perspectives, solve new challenges, and own their careers. We're committed to supporting employees' happiness, healthiness, and overall well-being by providing comprehensive benefits and perks including premium healthcare, wellness expense reimbursement, paid parental leave and more.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We're committed to growing and empowering a more inclusive community within our company, industry, and cities. That's why we hire and cultivate diverse teams of people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that true innovation happens when everyone has room at the table and the tools, resources, and opportunity to excel.
Statement of Non-Discrimination: In keeping with our beliefs and goals, no employee or applicant will face discrimination or harassment based on: race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, or veteran status. Above and beyond discrimination and harassment based on "protected categories," we also strive to prevent other subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (i.e., stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our office. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at DoorDash. We value a diverse workforce – people who identify as women, non-binary or gender non-conforming, LGBTQIA+, American Indian or Native Alaskan, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, differently-abled, caretakers and parents, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Thank you to the Level Playing Field Institute for this statement of non-discrimination.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.
If you need any accommodations, please inform your recruiting contact upon initial connection.
This job is no longer accepting applications
See open jobs at DoorDash.See open jobs similar to "Outside Sales Representative" Matt Wallaert.


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24174-Turkmen Hand-Knotted/Handmade Persian Rug/Carpet Traditional/Authentic/ Size: 4'3" x 2'0"
Babak's Oriental Carpets
1 in stock
Small Carpet
Location: Turkmen
Size: 4'3" x 2'0"
Country: Iran
Pile: Wool
Base: Cotton
Turkoman rugs are handmade in north-western and eastern Iran, parts of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Syria, and other...
Location: Turkmen
Size: 4'3" x 2'0"
Country: Iran
Pile: Wool
Base: Cotton
Turkoman rugs are handmade in north-western and eastern Iran, parts of Turkey, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Syria, and other parts of the Caucasus.
The Turkoman art of knotting grew out of the practical necessities of a nomadic way of life. Mobility was an important requirement of this lifestyle and all the nomad's personal property had to be, as far as possible light, easily transportable and made from readily available raw materials, the most important of which was the wool from their own flocks of sheep. Piled carpets provided protection from the cold underfoot. In these climates, freezing temperatures seep up from the ground at night, and rugs could also be used as covers and blankets.
Turkomans are generally soft and lush and similar to one another. They are easily distinguishable from other Persian rugs. The patterns are normally all-over, known as guls, repeated in straight lines on the field, with the most popular color being a rich burgundy, exclusive to the Turkomans. These guls vary from one tribe to the other, and also appear in the Bokhara pattern of Kashmir where they are often called the "lucky elephant's foot" since they resemble the large oval reliefs made by an elephant's footprint.
Background colors can also be found in navy blue, black or a series of beiges. These are sometimes referred to as Caucasian carpets. Turkoman rugs have small, repeating geometric designs and are normally fine quality. The elephant foot and octagonal gul motifs tend to look best in smaller sizes that make the most of the intricate pattern and have fewer repetitions of the form. Oriental Turkoman rugs are unfortunately not the hardest wearing rugs, and are recommended more for decorative use than high traffic areas. Turkoman rugs usually come in greens, reds, whites, and browns. You'll hear Turkoman rugs referred to as Beshir rugs, Bokhara rugs, or Samarkand rugs.
The dying methods used are similar to those employed by other global weavers and artisans. The use of vegetables, bark, roots and other natural items to make dyes has been a well known art for many thousands of years.
Madder root, indigo, St. John's wort, onion, saffron, sumac, chamomile, rhubarb, turmeric, sage, poppy, buckthorn, quince, almond, walnut, chestnut and henna are just a few of the long list of natural dye sources, with madder and indigo perhaps the most commonly used. To this already complicated brew yet another ingredient is usually added, namely a fixative/a bonding agent known as "mordant." It is applied to the wool before, often during, and occasionally after dyeing. Known as mordanting, this process has its ancient roots in China and India, reportedly passing to Europe via Persia and Turkey.
Price Range and Value:
LOW TO MEDIUM HIGH TO ANTIQUE (Collectable)
For any further questions please call us at: (250) 480-7114
Turkmen Turkomen Turkemen Articles & VideosWikipedia Entry (Article)
Showcase/Production (Video)
People & Culture (Video)
Landscapes & Nature (Video)
Carpet Museum (Video)


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76design is looking for a few great freelance developers to round out our skill set and provide us with the capacity to deliver all of our projects during the busy autumn and winter business cycle.
If you're interested, you'll possess a strong combination of the following expertise and experience:
Strategic and Analytic Thinking
• Understanding of fundamentals of new marketing and communications principles
• A solid understanding of information architecture practices
• Gathering, reviewing and validating project requirements
Skills and Assets
• Demonstrated experience with the following: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP5
• Experience with a modern MVC web framework like Zend Framework, Java Spring, etc.
• Background in web API programming
• Polylingual programming beyond PHP considered an asset (Java, .Net, Ruby, etc)
• Comfortable with use and function of a variety of modern CMS: WordPress, Drupal;
• Experience customizing WordPress development, themes, and plugins
• Direct experience with social media tools and platforms, such as Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc.
• Work with tiered deployment environments
• Experience with a version control system like SVN
• Experience with automated deployment using tools like Phing, Ant considered an asset
• Use of OO and design patterns
• Working knowledge of web standards, SEO and accessibility
• Front end development experience working with XHTML, HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, Ajax
Bonus Points
• Unix system maintenance, shell scripting
• Apache web server configuration, virtual host management
• Experience with Microsoft SilverStripe CMS
• Experience with modern ORM such as Doctrine
• Knowledge of Apache Software Foundation Projects: Lucene / Mahout
• University degree in computer science or software engineering
Interested in working with us? If so, click over to the 76design Careers page and apply on the link provided on that page.


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At Bartlett, we have developed a staff of highly skilled individuals that make up a team to provide our clients with the service they deserve. We all work together at Bartlett to ensure that our clients receive the benefits of our combined expertise. Explore the tabs below to learn more about Bartlett's expert staff.
- Corporate
- Research Lab
- Local Office
Corporate Team
Our corporate headquarters, located on East Main Street in Stamford, Connecticut, consists of executives, managers, and other staff who handle such functions as planning, budgeting, finance, sales, insurance, personnel, safety, equipment, business systems, taxes, marketing, public relations, government regulation, field support, purchasing, warehousing, and more.
Bartlett Tree Research Lab Team
The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, provides training and technical support for our staff. The scientists advise arborist representatives and technicians about the latest advances in arboriculture, pest and disease management, and the development of new procedures.
A primary function of the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories is to provide intense, technical training to the Bartlett representatives, technicians, and workers who care for the trees and shrubs on your property. As a result, Bartlett's technical expertise is unsurpassed in arboriculture.
Our Local Office Teams
Our local offices staff arborists, technicians, crews, and safety coordinators who work with customers every day. These employees are local experts, bringing advanced arboricultural knowledge to client properties.
Arborist Associations
Bartlett Tree Experts is proud to be a member of so many industry associations. Many of our expert arborists have reached the pinnacle of their profession and have been recognized as such. Bartlett Tree Experts has been inspected and accredited based on adherence to industry standards for quality and safety, maintenance of trained, professional staff, and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices.
View a list of the many arborist associations with which Bartlett is associated.