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Dawn-Luxurious Wood Beaded Chandelier (Custom made)
from $1,450.00 $1,500.00This distressed white wood beaded pendant light will bring a romantic farmhouse vibe to any living room.
Grand Tara- Modern Rectangle Chandelier Light (Custom made)
$1,500.00 $2,200.00Grand tara is an extremely chic and modern chandelier from the tara collection,It is an accessory that will illuminate any room in your home
Lighting Collections
Pendant lights come in a wide variety of designs, colours, and materials, and Space has a big choice to choose from.
Discover the unique assortment of table lamps, floor lamps, lamps for the living room that Elegant Interior has to offer.
Looking for artistic sculptural floor lamp? There is a vast variety of exquisite selections available from Elegant Interior.
Explore the gorgeous range of wall scones to add elegant elements to your home and create a wonderful environment.
Home Décor
Check out Elegant Interior's collection of luxury wall mirrors for the absolute finest in one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces that can be customised to your specifications.
We have cushions in various shapes and sizes, from standard square to lumbar and bolster cushions. Browse our collection to find the perfect addition for your home.
We have a wide range of fun wall and table clocks that show both serious design and practical use. Whether you want a clean design for an office or a bright one for kids, we have everything.
Looking for world-class, high-end wall art and furniture for your home? Elegant Interior has a lot of high-quality collections of modern luxury for you to choose from. Decorate your wall now.
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Marble and stone are natural materials that are prized for their beauty and durability. Marble is a metamorphic rock created when limestone is subjected to heat and pressure. Stone is a broader term that can refer to any type of natural rock, including marble, granite, travertine, and quartzite.
However, they can also be susceptible to staining, scratching, and etching. With proper care, your marble or stone furniture can last for many years.
Timber is a natural material that is beautiful, durable, and versatile. However, it is also a sensitive material that needs to be cared for properly in order to maintain its beauty and lifespan.
Reclaimed or recycled wood furniture is made from wood that has been previously used for another purpose, such as old barn beams or shipping pallets. This type of furniture is often characterized by its unique character and patina, which can come from the different types of wood used, the way it was finished, or the wear and tear it has experienced over time.
Fabric is a material made by weaving, knitting, or felting natural or synthetic fibers. It is used to make a wide variety of clothing, home goods, and other items. The care instructions for fabric will vary depending on the type of fiber, the weave or knit, and the finishing treatments.
Velvet is a luxurious fabric that has been popular for centuries. It is made from a woven fabric with a pile, or nap, on one side. The pile is created by weaving the threads in a way that creates a raised surface. Velvet is typically made from silk, but it can also be made from other fibers, such as cotton, wool, or polyester.
Feather-filled furniture is a popular choice for many people because it is soft, comfortable, and supportive. However, it is important to care for feather-filled furniture properly in order to keep it looking and feeling its best.
Feathers are naturally airy and buoyant, which is why they make such comfortable cushions. However, over time, the air can be squeezed out of the feathers, causing them to become compressed and lumpy. This can be prevented by regularly plumping and dressing the cushions.
To plump the cushions, simply stand them on their end and tap them firmly on all sides. This will help to redistribute the feathers and restore their loft. Dressing the cushions involves turning them over and fluffing them up with your hands.
In addition to plumping and dressing, it is also important to vacuum the cushions regularly to remove any loose feathers or dust. You should also avoid exposing the cushions to moisture, as this can cause them to become musty. If a spill does occur, blot it up immediately with a clean cloth. Do not use detergent or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the feathers.
It is normal for a few feathers to escape from a feather sofa from time to time. This is not a sign of poor quality and does not affect the comfort of the sofa. To remove any loose feathers, simply vacuum the cushions regularly.
Leather furniture is a beautiful and durable addition to any home. However, it is important to care for leather furniture properly in order to keep it looking its best for years to come. This guide will provide you with some tips on how to care for your leather furniture, including what to do and what not to do.
Tempered glass is a type of safety glass that is made by heating ordinary glass to a very high temperature and then rapidly cooling it. This process creates a surface that is much stronger and more resistant to breakage than ordinary glass. Tempered glass is often used in appliances, furniture, and other products where safety is a priority.
Outdoor furniture can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but it's important to take care of it properly to extend its lifespan. This product care guide will provide you with some tips on how to clean and maintain your outdoor furniture so that it looks and lasts its best.
Teak and acacia are dense and durable hardwoods that can be left outside untreated for many years. Over time, the natural color of these woods will weather to a soft, silver gray due to the oxidization of the oil layer.
Eucalyptus wood is susceptible to water damage and discoloration.
Rugs are a beautiful and functional addition to any home, but they can be delicate. With proper care, your rugs can last for many years. This product care guide will provide you with some tips on how to keep your rugs looking and feeling their best.
Mirrors are a beautiful and versatile addition to any home. They can make a room look larger, brighter, and more inviting. However, mirrors can also be delicate and require special care to keep them looking their best.
This product care guide will provide you with some tips on how to clean and maintain your mirrors so that they last for years to come.
Create a focal point for your home with this long and twisted wall light lara. A complimentary gold finish combines to create a beautiful look that adds a feeling of sophistication to any room. The light curves around the twisted design as it brightens your living room or bedroom. LEDs use up to 85% less energy and last up to 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, modern, traditional and industrial interiors as well as shops, bars, and restaurants.
Download our latest catalog showcasing the perfect fusion of luxury, design excellence, and elegance, curated to elevate your home.
Download our latest catalog showcasing the perfect fusion of luxury, design excellence, and elegance, curated to elevate your home.


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Some exciting Bigfoot News has emerged like an elusive primate from the mists of the Cascades over the holiday weekend…
The latest from Dr. Melba S. Ketchum's team…
'Bigfoot' DNA Sequenced In Upcoming Genetics Study
Five-Year Genome Study At DNA Diagnostics Yields Evidence of Homo sapiens/Unknown Hominin Hybrid Species in North America
Dallas, TX (PRWEB) November 24, 2012
A team of scientists can verify that their 5-year long DNA study, currently under peer-review, confirms the existence of a novel hominin hybrid species, commonly called "Bigfoot" or "Sasquatch," living in North America. Researchers' extensive DNA sequencing suggests that the legendary Sasquatch is a human relative that arose approximately 15,000 years ago as a hybrid cross of modern Homo sapiens with an unknown primate species.
The study was conducted by a team of experts in genetics, forensics, imaging and pathology, led by Dr. Melba S. Ketchum of Nacogdoches, TX. In response to recent interest in the study, Dr. Ketchum can confirm that her team has sequenced 3 complete Sasquatch nuclear genomes and determined the species is a human hybrid:
"Our study has sequenced 20 whole mitochondrial genomes and utilized next generation sequencing to obtain 3 whole nuclear genomes from purported Sasquatch samples. The genome sequencing shows that Sasquatch mtDNA is identical to modern Homo sapiens, but Sasquatch nuDNA is a novel, unknown hominin related to Homo sapiens and other primate species. Our data indicate that the North American Sasquatch is a hybrid species, the result of males of an unknown hominin species crossing with female Homo sapiens.
Hominins are members of the taxonomic grouping Hominini, which includes all members of the genus Homo. Genetic testing has already ruled out Homo neanderthalis and the Denisova hominin as contributors to Sasquatch mtDNA or nuDNA. "The male progenitor that contributed the unknown sequence to this hybrid is unique as its DNA is more distantly removed from humans than other recently discovered hominins like the Denisovan individual," explains Ketchum.
"Sasquatch nuclear DNA is incredibly novel and not at all what we had expected. While it has human nuclear DNA within its genome, there are also distinctly non-human, non-archaic hominin, and non-ape sequences. We describe it as a mosaic of human and novel non-human sequence. Further study is needed and is ongoing to better characterize and understand Sasquatch nuclear DNA."
Ketchum is a veterinarian whose professional experience includes 27 years of research in genetics, including forensics. Early in her career she also practiced veterinary medicine, and she has previously been published as a participant in mapping the equine genome. She began testing the DNA of purported Sasquatch hair samples 5 years ago.
Ketchum calls on public officials and law enforcement to immediately recognize the Sasquatch as an indigenous people:
"Genetically, the Sasquatch are a human hybrid with unambiguously modern human maternal ancestry. Government at all levels must recognize them as an indigenous people and immediately protect their human and Constitutional rights against those who would see in their physical and cultural differences a 'license' to hunt, trap, or kill them."
Full details of the study will be presented in the near future when the study manuscript publishes.
Dr. Ketchum is available for interview or to answer further questions about the Sasquatch genome study and associated research on novel contemporary hominins at media(at)dnadiagnostics(dot)com
Sounds like some Crazy Lovecraft Shit to us… but I guess you never know! Looking forward to reading the entire, peer reviewed report when it comes out! The link to the story is here.
AND you can hear our own take on the Oregon Bigfoot Story here and here.

subset: commoncrawl


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March 11, 2005 Perhaps the most insane news we've posted on Gizmag this week comes from the inaugural DynoJet Horsepower Challenge held last weekend in Valdosta, Georgia, USA. Basically, DynoJet make motorcycle dynamometers and they provided a bunch oif them and anybody could roll up and the guy whose bike made the most horsepower won. The winning fellow was Hank Booth of Great Falls, Montana, whose highly modified 1999 Suzuki 1300GSXR Hayabusa motorcycle with an NLR turbocharger cranked out an incredible 701.32 horsepower.
Other winners in the Import Unlimited class with Booth included; RCC Turbo/Richard Peppler, of Ontario with 559.02 HP, and Glen Bertagnoli coming in third with a 445.16. All of the top three competitors were using the Suzuki Hayabusa engine.
Revving the scale in other classes were Kent Stotz with 210 bhp on a turbo powered Honda in the Imported V-Twin Cruiser Open class while Don Smith squeezed a respectable 118 bhp out of a 600cc Suzuki.
The domestic bike category was dominated by, well, what else would you expect ... Harley Davidson. The champ in this class was Kevin Kelly of Weston, Florida who managed to get his harley producing 247 horsepower in the V-twin Unlimited category, narrowly ahead of Nick Trask of Phoenix, Arizona whose Harley generated 228 horses.
Brandon Rybicki's turbo-powered Harley V-Rod produced 191 horses.


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Want to sell your home this summer?
With the help of a real estate professional, you could be signing a closing agreement and on your way to a whole new housing world before winter sets in.
So, get inspired this Fourth of July to liberate yourself from your current home.
A local real estate agent who is an expert in his or her field might be the spark needed to get you motivated, strategically market your home and have potential buyers seeing fireworks at your first open house.
To help with your quest for the perfect home-selling expert, here are three questions you should ask during initial interviews:
What do you know about the local market?
Make sure your agent is up to date on the area's current listings. He or she needs to know what's happening in your neighborhood in order to market it and ensure it beats out the competition.
How will you market my home?
Make sure you're on the same page when it comes to spreading the word about your property. You'll want to confirm that your agent is Internet savvy and has fresh ideas on how to make your home stand out. It's always a good idea to ask agents you're interviewing to provide examples of how they've marketed other homes.
What will you do to help me prepare my home for sale?
Successful agents should do a walk-through with you and use their past experience and buyer feedback to give advice on how to stage your home. It benefits both of you to have your home looking its best, so that it sells fast!
In honor of the Fourth of July, take a cue from our forefathers and enlist the services of a good real estate agent to help emancipate you from your current home.
If you're looking for a real estate professional, I'd appreciate the opportunity help you. Give me a call today or email me to get all of your questions answered.


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Los Angeles School District Teaches Children to Share HIV, STD Status With Peers
A first of its kind sex education program is being taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District, in which students as young as 12 are encouraged to share their HIV and STD status with their sexual partners by way of a text message that reveals they were tested for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. The text message also includes a disclaimer, which reads: "This person MAY have had sex since being tested. Always be safe, use condoms."
In their heath classes, students in the seventh through 12th grades will watch a three-minute YouTube video created by the company Qpid, pronounced cupid, which tells students to go to the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic, or HIV testing center to be tested, and to then register at the qpid.me website to share their results online or by phone. The test, however, doesn't confirm a diagnosis of HPV or herpes.
The Qpid YouTube video states that students must be 13 to use their free program. However, their website also notes that "children as young as 12 can get tested for STDs without the need for parental consent in the state of California."
"We're not using this as a lure for kids to say, 'OK, you can have sex because you did this.' What we felt was that if the kids had the information that they would make better decisions about their sexual partners," said Tim Kordic, the school district's HIV/AIDS prevention program manager.
Some parents are not on board with the school district adding the Qpid program to their children's health classes, and believe this initiative will only encourage young children to engage in sexual activity. They also feel the program is taking their parental rights away from them.
"This is not right. It's something that I should know first," Rosie Alulema, a parent of an LAUSD student, told KCAL-TV.
Last month, The Christian Post reported on the expansion of the California Family Health Council's initiative to mail 10 free condoms a month to children ages 12 to 19, because the state believes sexually active teenagers won't buy condoms at local stores or go to health clinics to obtain free condoms, due to the "barrier of embarrassment."
The Qpid program, however, requires students to go to a sexual health clinic to be tested for HIV and STDs.
This program also claims that a child's HIV and STD results will remain confidential.
The list of advisers for the Qpid program include: Dr. Roni Zeigler, the former chief health strategist for Google; Dr. Jeffrey Klauser, former director of STD prevention at the San Francisco Department of Public Health; Vincent Vigil, director of the LGBT resource center at the University of Southern California; Kicesie Drew, a blogger who has an adult sex channel on YouTube; and Tim Kordic, the program manager for the HIV/AIDS prevention unit at the LAUSD.
According to a CDC study released in 2011, youth ages 15 to 24 account for half of the 20 million STD cases each year.
Likewise, a 2011 study conducted by the Los Angeles County Health Department reveals that Los Angeles teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 account for 16 percent of all gonorrhea cases, and one out of every four chlamydia cases in the country.


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Cybersecurity has long been paramount for businesses that utilize digital solutions, but it's even more necessary for today's distributed workforces. As cloud and mobile technologies continue to prove their value amid a public health crisis, it's important that you take proactive steps to manage and protect company mobile devices. Here's what you should do.
Ensure mobile OS is up to date
The updates on Apple and Android operating systems (OS) improve overall user experience, but their most important function is to fix security vulnerabilities. Reduce your business's exposure to threats by installing updates for all devices as soon as they become available. Don't wait for a few weeks or months to update, as this gives cybercriminals ample time to exploit vulnerabilities on devices that run on an outdated OS.
Install business applications only
Downloading apps seems harmless. But lenient policies on what should and shouldn't be downloaded on company mobile devices could lead to staff downloading and installing non-business-related apps from third-party stores, most of which are notorious for malicious advertising codes and other threats. It's imperative that employees download and install only business applications necessary for their work on their company mobile devices.
Be careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks
Emergencies may compel you to use password-free Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, cafes, and other public places. Connecting to an open network can expose your confidential information and sensitive company data to cybercriminals connected to the same network.
You can avoid this by providing a practical internet data plan, preferably one that includes roaming services, for remote workers. And if you really have to connect to a public Wi-Fi network, don't use the connection for transferring sensitive data.
Enable phone tracking tools
Losing a company-issued mobile device is unfortunate but inevitable. Devices can be misplaced or stolen, but enabling Find My iPhone for iOS devices, GPS Phone Tracker for Android, or any device-tracking app helps users locate lost phones. Some also have the option to delete data on stolen devices. Downloading and setting up such an app only takes a few minutes, and it will give you peace of mind knowing that even if your phone is lost or stolen, its contents will not be compromised.
Screen SMS carefully
SMS phishing can be used to trick you into clicking malicious links. Cybercriminals send messages purporting to be from someone you know, asking you to urgently disclose confidential information. Should you encounter such an SMS, you can either delete it or alert your IT department. You can also block unknown senders without even opening their message.
Mobile devices are becoming more critical to operations. And with more devices open to attacks, businesses must bolster their cybersecurity efforts. Malicious actors will exploit every possible vulnerability, and that includes those in unsecured smartphones and tablets. Get in touch with us if you need comprehensive security solutions for your business.


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Model | Design | External Dimensions (inches) | Wood/Finish | Glass |
GD-ALU-D4 1SL | Single with 1 Sidelite | 69-3/4 x 99-1/2 | Exterior Aluminum Clad with Matte Dark Gray Finish | Satinato |
Shown with hardware: HDWR-EURO-SET-RECTANGULAR-48-SINTESI,
available in Silver and Black.
Shown with Sidelite: 18 in.
A long window has been placed on this Aluminum Shield Front Door to let in a lot of natural light without hurting the minimalist aesthetic. It can be either centered or offset, and window opacity is also customizable.
Euro Technology is a unique construction method that provides for some of the most durable, stable, thermally efficient doors on the market. The sandwich design consists of stiles and rails made from solid European would, a thermal insulation board, and resilient layers of aluminum sheets and plywood, available in various wood veneers such as Mahogany. Put simply, our Euro Technology allows for your door to look better and last longer.
A Glenview Door never backs down. Some might call it chutzpah. We call it EuroTechTM. A proprietary structural innovation we have perfected and made uniquely our own. EuroTechTM is the reason a Glenview modern wood door is the heaviest, thickest solid wood entryway on the market today. And why we can say with confidence: The brilliance doesn't stop at superior construction, as no other wood door on earth can equal the lasting beauty and strength of a Glenview Door.
learn more»Shown in Exterior Aluminum Clad with Matte Dark Gray Finish • External Dimensions: 69-3/4 x 99-1/2"
Glenview Doors – The Right Choice for Wood Entry Doors, Exterior Doors and Front Doors
The front entry door sets the stage for any visitor's journey through a house. First impressions are set early on and the entry door is the part of the home that often gets the initial close look. Most older front doors made of wood often show their age prematurely because of inadequate treating and finishing to protect against the weather and heavy wear. At Glenview Doors, we bring together superior craftsmanship and modern manufacturing to give the home owner an entry way they can be proud of.
Glenview Doors is a leading provider of wood entry doors, front doors and exterior doors with a focus on leading-edge design, product innovation, manufacturing excellence and customer service. We are committed to offering a line of beautiful and durable wood entry doors and exterior doors that add elegance to any home. The front door of your home makes a lasting impression that will beautify and accentuate any home style. Remember Glenview Doors; the right choice for your wood entry doors , exterior doors or front door needs!
Our front entry doors are available in most states in the US including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, State, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, California, Texas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Arizona.
Please contact us for the list of distributors for the following cities: Miami, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Richardson, Austin, Denver, San Diego, Minneapolis, Tampa, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Plano, Dallas, Houston, Arlington Heights, San Jose, Rancho Cucamonga, Mt. Laurel, Washington DC, Holmdel, Raleigh, San Francisco, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Gaithersburg, Columbus, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Boston, Huntington Beach, Saratoga Springs, Arlington, Charlotte, La Grange, Staten Island, Cincinnati, Tucson, Troy, Portland, Gainesville, Seattle, Springfield, Skokie, Schaumburg, Jacksonville, Conroe, Naperville, Cherry Hill, Indianapolis, Nashville, Chatham, Aurora, Long Beach, St. Louis, Memphis, Tulsa, Palatine, Ft. Worth, Richmond, Madison, Westport and Oakland.


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Fur Vision '18 events put us in the front row to give you a forecast about trends to watch for in next year's A-W season. The craft techniques and skin samples we present at Fur Visions in Paris, New York, London and Milan never fail to inspire designers for upcoming collections. We look forward with pride and – just like you – excitement to see how have interpreted the inspiration we provide them. Here's what to look for:
Shearing – Clip, cut or trimmed, sheared mink and fox makes for a playground of creativity. Shades and tones change, different hair lengths emphasize the 3-D aesthetic of fur, shearing to the guard hair gives a wonderful effect. Designers will surely highlight the sheer beauty of fur.
Tribal instinct – An enticing balance of the Primitive and the Modern. Designers can achieve tribal looks by mixing colours, fur types and deftly melding the characteristics of each into a unique aesthetic.
Precious metals – Scintillating metallic foils and other materials contrast with the natural beauty of fur to create glam looks that sparkle and will put a twinkle in the eye of any beholder. Fur style shines.
Stripe teasers – Strips make the stripes in a mix of colours, fur types, volumes and crafted patterns. Touches added with the help of techniques impart special effects to enhance the depth of fur's natural beauty.
Geometric motifs– Intarsia, shearing, tiles and other imaginative techniques have allowed infinite play with patterns, volumes and colours. The purity of mathematics translates into pure beauty … in a wealth of styles.
Organic patterns – Nature is both simple and intricate so designers will be creating styles reflecting a beautiful balance of the two. Organic looks bring fashion to life and underscore the natural beauty of fur.


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Sat, Nov 30 2013 1:02 pm | Comments
November 25, 2013 Santa Monica, CA
Signal Snowboards founder Dave Lee signs on as an ambassador for new rental service and mobile app Spinlister.
There's a new way to rent a snowboard and you can do it all from your phone, it's called Spinlister. The new gear rental service and App for iOS and Android has joined forces with our founder here at Signal, Dave Lee. The new innovative Rent-Your-Ride service is much like AirBnB for gear.
As soon as you use the app you get it. The filters are great, the in-app messaging is key, and it's really easy to use. It's riders supporting riders, much like the early days of snowboarding," says Dave.The service/app allows you to list snowboards and rent snowboards anywhere in the world. You set a price as a lister and find a price you like as a renter. And if you get a request or make a request it's all done with the app. Once it goes through the renter gets paid and rider gets the board they chose. All listings are GPS located so you can find the closest boards to you. There are no lines, no issues. Everything is exchanged through the app and listers are completely covered through the Spinlister insurance policy.
Sign up now and fund your winter. Use your board to raise money to buy a new one. Reps, list your boards. Get people on good product and make money while doing it
Spinlister began with bikes in 2012 and is now offering the service to snowboarders for the upcoming 2014 season.
Sign up today at https://www.spinlister.com/snow


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In the project »Design, Development and Dissemination of New Musical Instruments«, an interdisciplinary team of researchers and artists worked from 2014 – 2016 on questions regarding the multitude of aspects of historical and contemporary electronic musical instruments. In close collaboration with international artists and in hands-on courses for students of the associated universities, prototypes of new musical instruments were developed. The emerging designs were evaluated regarding their versatility and expressiveness in artistic practice.
The project has the following sub-divisions


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St. Anthony: The Miracle Worker of Padua is one of those films that you always see in the Catholic film catalog and wonder if it is any good. It is always a crap-shoot with some of these Catholic-produced movies. Some are very good productions but still end up being bad movies, like Leonardo de Filippis' Therese. Others are poor productions by American standards but wind up being phenomenal films; the Spanish language Teresa of the Andes and Teresa de Jesus fall into this category. Some, like Patrick, are bad productions and bad movies, while others, like Padre Pio, wind up being all around decent. Then there are those saint films that are secular productions and may be anywhere on the spectrum, from Man for All Seasons (awesome) to Brother Son, Sister Moon (extremely questionable). Some secular saint films, like Becket are actually wonderful. and In short, when you look at these saint films, there is absolutely no way to know what you are getting in to.
Against this backdrop, St. Anthony comes off pretty well. The most famous episodes of Anthony's life are depicted well, the cinematography is excellent and the score is wonderful. The casting is spot on, with one exception, which I shall get to momentarily. There were a couple of tear-jerking moments, especially towards the end, and the whole film did a decent job of being faith-building. The film dwells not so much on Anthony's external ministry as much as his own internal struggles with pride and his desire to find and fulfill God's will. Like Teresa de Jesus, the focus is very introspective, though it is not handled quite as well.
I should also mention that the film is in Italian with English subtitles. To me this is a plus because subtitled movies are usually better than English language films, but if subtitles aren't your thing, then this movie isn't for you.
The big weakness in St. Anthony; The Miracle Worker of Padua is the same weakness shared by many other feature length films on saints: it spends way too much time developing how Anthony became a saint, focusing on his struggles in his pre-conversion life and his spiritual wandering to the point that by the time Anthony becomes sure of his mission and really starts to look "saintly", the film is practically over. Thus, we end up sitting down to watch a movie about Anthony the Saint but end up getting one about Anthony the worldly knight, Anthony the misguided, would-be Augustinian monk, Anthony the doubtful Franciscan full of inner turmoil but never really get to know Anthony the Saint. By the time the Saint does show up, it is so brief and rushed as to feel somewhat artificial and unbelievable. We have witnessed him struggling with pride, confusion and self-doubt for 75% of the film so that the miracles crammed in to the remaining 25% feel somewhat unrealistic.
This is a problem in many of these saint films; another one that comes to mind is Leonardo de Filippis' Therese, which dwells so exclusively on Therese going into the convent and her early life that, by the time we get to the Little Way, it seems just a footnote in the life of a character who does not come off as saintly at all. Perhaps the directors are trying to make the saints seem more "human" by depicting these sorts of things in depth. But the fact is, when we watch a saint movie, we do not want to see the saints acting like us and dealing with petty troubles like we do; we want to see them acting saintly; i.e., transformed and transfigured by Christ's grace to be signs of God's presence in an unbelieving world. Paradoxically, in order to make the film believable, the saints should be depicted in a somewhat other-worldly (unbelievable) manner.
I mentioned one huge misstep in casting: while the actor who plays Anthony is perfect, and his side-kick Giulietto is likewise a great pick, the actor cast for the pivotal role of St. Francis of Assisi was terrible. The character is not central to the plot - he only shows up three times, I believe. But the presence of Francis is so important to the development of Anthony, both in the film and in real life, that the poor choice in casting this character is a definite detriment.
What is so bad about him? Well, without getting into too much detail, let's just say he looks and acts like Russell Crowe, which is about the last actor I would ever cast as Francis. Granted, St. Anthony depicts Francis in his older years, but what we have here is not the emaciated, half-blind yet joyful character from Bonaventure's biography, but rather a well groomed, rotund, and gruff character who seems almost too serious to be taken seriously as the Poverello. For all its other problems, at least Brother Son, Sister Moon did a great job in its casting for this part. Too bad St. Anthony missed out on this important role.
All in all, this movie is decent. It is faith building, fairly historically accurate, and has good acting and cinematography. Like I said, though, it dwells too much on Anthony's struggles and not enough on his saintliness. I give it two tiaras.


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When is it time to stop running?
Coralie Casey is haunted by her past. Deciding it's time for a fresh start, she sets up 'Sweet Cleans', a range of natural beauty and cleaning products, and escapes to Penmorfa, a quiet coastal village in west Wales.
Gethin Lewis thinks he's about to put his home village Penmorfa behind him for good. Now an internationally-acclaimed artist living in New York, he just has to return one last time to wind up his father's estate.
But the village soon disrupts their carefully laid plans. As truths are uncovered which threaten to split the community apart, Gethin is forced to question his real reasons for abandoning Penmorfa, and Coralie is made to face the fact that some stains just won't go away.
My thoughts:
Romance in a quaint Welsh village, filled with gossiping ladies.
Coralie is running from her past, what past we do not know, but we learn. Sure it was...something, but I did feel she made too much of a big deal of it. But she is sweet, loves her new place and is just nice you know.
Gehtin hates the same village, he wanted out and out he went. Famous painter and disliked by certain people in Penmorfa. But he also is a nice guy. He had reasons to get out. These two together works, they are both not looking, so we know something will happen. The road there takes awhile. A bit of talking, which leads to flirting, which leads to talking. Yes no rush here. You can't rush love, not even lust at times.
Even with the gossiping old ladies this was a nice village. People felt close, even if they talked dirt behind each other's backs. There is a family that gets a backstory too as they know Coralie, and Gehtin. The parents have marital issues and their daughter is back and preggers. A sidestory that gives warmth and drama to this story.
Romance that takes time, a village that I want to visit. That is this story.
Genre: Women's fiction
Pages: 336
To Be published: October 7th 2012 by Choc Lit
Source: For review
Amazon US
AMazon UK


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Ex-US Sen. Rod Grams dies
Published 10:15 am Thursday, October 10, 2013
ST. PAUL — Former U.S. senator Rod Grams, a popular TV anchorman who went on to become the most conservative politician ever elected to statewide office in Minnesota, has died. He was 65.
Grams died late Tuesday night at his home in the east-central Minnesota town of Crown, said Kent Kaiser, a longtime GOP activist and spokesman for the Grams family. Grams had been diagnosed with cancer in April 2012.
After nearly a decade as lead news anchor at KMSP-TV in the Twin Cities, Grams launched his political career in 1992 by running for Congress and ousting the Democratic incumbent. The small-business owner then won an open U.S. Senate seat two years later, but he only held the post for one term. He lost his re-election bid to Democrat Mark Dayton, who is now Minnesota's governor.
Shortly after his 1994 statewide victory, Grams told The Associated Press he was successful as a conservative in a Democratic-leaning state by appealing to Minnesotans' natural thrift and belief in the value of hard work.
"I believe there is a good role for government to play. But we can't be everything to everyone," Grams said.
Former state House Speaker Kurt Zellers, who started in Minnesota politics as a press aide to Grams, said Minnesotans likely never elected anyone more conservative than Grams to a statewide post. He credited Grams' personal touch, saying he treated everyone the same no matter their station in life.
"He was more concerned, and was always just as interested, in somebody waiting on his table as he was to some politician or VIP in the room," Zellers said. "It is still to this day the most admirable quality I've ever encountered from any public official. He put the servant in public servant, and that's what he was all about."
Grams tried for a political comeback in 2006 with an unsuccessful bid against former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar. He was also briefly chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack, the Republican who finally unseated Oberstar in 2010 but lost to a Democrat two years later.
Grams grew up on the farm where his father was raised in the eastern Minnesota town of Crown. He worked in broadcasting for nearly 25 years, including stints at stations in Montana, Wisconsin and Illinois, before he landed at KMSP-TV in 1982.
In 1985, Grams founded a construction and residential development business, and his experience as a small business owner helped push him into politics, Kaiser said.
"He got tired of the regulation and taxes, and one day he called up the Republican Party and said, 'What can be done? How can I run?"' Kaiser recalled.
Grams never shied from championing conservative goals. He and the late liberal icon Sen. Paul Wellstone formed one of the most ideologically diverse state delegations in the U.S. Senate. Among Grams' chief legislative accomplishments was his early championing of a $500-per-child tax credit, which became a major Republican initiative of the 1990s.
One of Grams' most difficult public moments came in the lead-up to his 2000 re-election bid, when his son Morgan, who struggled with addiction, made headlines for a series of legal troubles. Zellers said that Grams occasionally shared his regrets at not having been able to spend more time with his son as he grew up.
"I learned a lot of political lessons from him, but a lot of life lessons too," Zellers said, noting that those lessons have guided his own decisions as a father.
In 2004, Grams and his second wife Christine — a former chief of staff in his Senate office — bought a Little Falls-based group of radio stations. As a frequent on-air host, Grams often discussed returning to politics — even after his unsuccessful 2006 campaign for Congress.
Grams was diagnosed with cancer in April 2012, and entered hospice care in September 2013. He declined to specify what type of cancer, but he said it had metastasized after the initial diagnosis. Kaiser said Grams went through several rounds of chemotherapy but stopped when the disease continued to spread.
He is survived by his wife, Christine, four children and several grandchildren.
Funeral services for Grams will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Zion Lutheran Church in St. Francis.


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The Impact Fee Committee (IFC) was established to guide applicants through the alternative impact fee process. This includes the review process; approval or denial of proposed alternative impact fee methodologies and studies; review of agreements relating to alternative impact fees; overseeing issues related to monitoring, and addressing other impact fee issues.
Orange County Code states that when "an applicant believes that the cost of off-site roadway improvements needed to serve his proposed development is less than the fee established in Section 23-92, the applicant may, at his own expense, submit an alternative fee calculation to the County Administrator or designee pursuant to the provisions of this section."
The Impact Fee Committee (IFC) meets the second and fourth Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Public Works building, 4200 South John Young Parkway.
To be placed on an IFC Meeting agenda, the IFC meeting application must be filled out and submitted eight business days prior to the meeting.
Marla Molina Assistant Project Manager Orange County Public Works Traffic Engineering Division 4200 S. John Young Parkway Orlando, FL. 32839 Email: email@example.com Phone: (407) 836-7794 Fax: (407) 836-7869
All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.


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It's a rabbit hole, though, because sometimes you find yourself wanting a cream for oily days, one for normal days, and one for dry days, and then maybe a mist for a little extra hydration, and that whitening serum looks promising, and you haven't found an oil cleanser that works for you just yet, and the next thing you know, your daily lineup options look like this:
It's just as terrifying the second time, isn't it? (Click image for large size) |
In this post:
- Visuals of my current products/their order of use (pt. I)
- My actual base routine (pt. I)
- How I add in optional steps (pt. I)
- Think 'steps', not 'products' (pt. I)
- My current product lineup for each step (pt. II)
1. Cleansers
The double cleanse is a mainstay of the multi-step Asian skincare routine. You can read more about the double cleanse here: Cleansing Megapost: Double Cleansing, Cleanser Types, Tools, & Techniques. In a nutshell, the double cleanse is a makeup/sunscreen removal + regular skin cleanse, not actually cleaning your face twice.
On days I don't wear sunscreen or makeup, I don't double cleanse, since I have nothing to remove.
Here are my current cleansers:
Note: I will at most use one 1st cleanser, one 2nd cleanser, and the Mizon cleansing toner at a time. |
Bioderma Crealine H2O Solution Micellaire: French, cleansing water (1st cleanser)
Used on: mornings when my skin doesn't feel like it needs a foaming cleanser, when I am feeling lazy, or as a first cleanser if I am wearing minimal makeup.
Micellar waters supposedly contain oil/fatty acid esters which assist in breaking down makeup and sunscreen like an oil cleanser, and don't need to be rinsed off. You apply it with a cotton pad and wipe down your skin to cleanse it, but I don't find it as effective as oil/balm cleansers for removing heavy makeup or sunscreen. It's very handy in the mornings, however, when I can't be bothered to clean my face thoroughly and just want to swab it down with a cotton pad and be done with it. (Nearly empty.)Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Oil: Korean, cleansing oil (1st cleanser) [review]
Used on: nights when I need to power through makeup or sunscreen, or I want to oil massage to clear my pores.
Asian cleansing oils are formulated with emulsifying ingredients so they react with water and can be rinsed off. I find that oil cleansers really clog up my skin unless I do the traditional double cleanse and follow them with a foaming cleanser. (Nearly empty.)Mizon Real Oatmeal Cleansing Sherbet: Korean, cleansing balm (1st cleanser)
Used on: nights when I need an oil cleanser for makeup/sunscreen removal but my skin is crabby from the last time I oil cleansed; I find this doesn't pull things out of my pores or emulsify as cleanly, but it also is less likely to get trapped in my pores and cause breakouts.
Balm cleansers are just like oil cleansers, but they are solid at room temperature and 'melt' only when they're on your skin, so they are less runny/messy to deal with than traditional oil cleansers. From my experience, 'sherbet' cleanser seems to be no different than the balm cleansers I have tried. (Nearly empty.)Mizon Almighty Cold Cream Cleansing & Massage: Korean, cream cleanser (1st cleanser)
Used on: nights I need to remove makeup/sunscreen but I don't want to use an oil cleanser or balm cleanser, or I want to do a facial massage to clear out my pores.
This is a retro-style cold cream that has to be tissued/wiped off and followed with a foaming cleanser, because it does not contain emulsifiers that react with water. I am going to be honest, I got this because I was searching for an oil cleanser that did not break me out, and at first I didn't like it. Then I became determined to use it up (which is why it's in this lineup) and I discovered something unexpected about its massage properties, but I'll save that for the review. (Nearly empty.)Mizon Oil Bubble Deep Cleanser: Korean, oil bubble cleanser (unknown)
Used on: nights when I want to once again attempt to figure out what the heck this is supposed to be. Is it an oil cleanser? Apparently not. Is it a foaming cleanser? Nope, it doesn't do that either.
I need to corner a chemist to analyze the ingredients because I am still unclear from a function-testing standpoint which step this cleanser is supposed to belong to.Su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick: Korean, foaming cleanser (2nd cleanser) [review]
Used on: a twice daily basis, as both my AM cleanser and my PM cleanser, specifically my 2nd cleanser if I had to double cleanse that day due to wearing makeup or sunscreen.
Foaming cleansers need to be both gentle and a low pH to avoid weakening your skin barrier, and the Su:m37 is still the best low-pH foaming cleanser I have tried. You can read more here about Why the pH of Your Cleanser Matters.Mizon AHA/BHA Daily Clean Toner: Korean, pH adjusting and cleansing toner [comparison review]
Used on: a twice daily basis, as the final cleansing step. Regardless if I have done a simple cleanse or a double cleanse, I always follow up with this cleansing toner to remove residue and refresh my skin.
It also has the added perk of being a pH-adjusting toner, so it does double duty as prep for my actives, which comes next!
2. Actives
As I mentioned in Part I, 'actives' are products that have a scientific pedigree when it comes to their benefits for skin. Since I have so many skin troubles (acne, large pores, clogged pores, sun damage, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, wrinkles .. *sobs*) I have a routine heavy in actives.
You have to be careful with them, as you can easily overdo them and irritate/damage your skin. You can read more about adding actives to your routine, and where to put them, here: Putting your products in order, including pH dependent acids
Here are my current actives:
Note: You'd never actually use all these in a single day, but if you did, this would be the order they'd be in. |
Mizon AHA/BHA Daily Clean Toner: Korean, pH adjusting and cleansing toner. [comparison review]
Used on: a twice daily basis. Sometimes more, if my actives leave a layer of dissolved goo that I feel I need to wipe off before finishing the rest of my routine.
Why does it appear again here? Well, I use it as my final 'cleansing' step, but it's also important (for me) as an actives-prepping step. Because I live in the desert, my skin cannot afford to wait around for 15-20 minutes after cleansing to buffer itself back down to a normal skin pH, and therefore be ready for pH-dependent products, which need to lower the pH of my skin even more before they can start working. I like to give my pH-dependent products a 'head start' so they waste less time buffering down my skin, and more time doing their job. I might use it at the very end too, after my acids are done, if there is dead skin sludge I can feel under my fingers. Gross.OST C20 Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum: Korean, L-AA (L-Ascorbic Acid) Vitamin C serum
Used on: a once-daily basis, usually in the AM.
I use Vitamin C serum for lightening darkened areas from PIH or sun damage, general brightening of skin tone, and for reducing the appearance of fine lines. I won't get into all the details of Vitamin C serums because that's a whole other blog post, but because I use an L-AA Vit C, it has the lowest pH of my actives and needs to go first if I am using more than one active in a routine. If I just confused you, read Putting your products in order, including pH dependent acids and it will all make sense.Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid: Korean, Beta Hydroxy Acid chemical exfoliant
Used on: a twice daily basis, unless my skin needs a rest because I did something stupid to it, like a clay mask and forgot to remove it in time. HYPOTHETICALLY.Totally did that.(Nearly empty.)
Before you freak out, know that Korea does not allow Salicylic Acid (the most common BHA) in concentrations over 0.5% to be sold OTC. This product uses 4% Betaine Salicylate which is very, very gentle. In fact it's so gentle that a Western brand reformulated their 2% Salicylic Acid product into a 5% Betaine Salicylate formulation for sale in the Asian market. BHA is recommended at a 1-2% concentration, with up to 3-5% for those with 'congested' skin.
This is the Canadian of BHAs; instead of ordering those squatters out of your pores, it apologizes for the inconvenience and attempts to engage in a friendly and polite dialogue implying that maybe it would be a good idea for them to consider vacating on their own volition, if it would suit them and it wouldn't be too much trouble? That's why I use this 2x a day, and it's still not enough to control my grit problem, which is why I sometimes use:MUAC 3% Beta Hydroxy Serum: American, Beta Hydroxy Acid chemical exfoliant
Used on: days when my skin feels like it's bristling with thousands of angry grits rising up in rebellion against their epidermal overlord.
Technically this is a 'peel' and should only be used 2-3x a week, and be rinsed off after 3-8 minutes. I followed the instructions, cut out all other exfoliants, and worked it into my routine ultra cautiously, expecting my skin to spontaneously combust at the slightest misstep. I was then reminded that you need to do what is right for your skin. As I mentioned above, I have read that those with 'congested skin' need a 3-5% BHA, and after using a 'real' BHA, I can only conclude that my skin needs all the de-congesting it can get. This was a 3%, so on the low end of the 'recommended' range for 'congested' skin. AfterMizon 8% AHA Peeling Serum: Korean, Alpha Hydroxy Acid chemical exfoliantparanoidcautious, extended testing, I have determined that my skin doesn't require it to be rinsed off, nor am I limited to 3x a week, and I've found a happy medium/where to use it on my skin that works best for me. That being said, unless you're the sort of person who is ready to spend a few minutes twice a day meditating on the mood of your skin, stick to the instructions. (Nearly empty.)
Used on: a weekly or twice weekly basis, when my skin feels rough/flaky or I have closed comedones that need to be brought to the surface.
AHAs are good for exfoliating dead skin, lightening hyperpigmentation, reducing the appearance of fine lines, and uncovering closed comedones that are lurking under a layer of skin. Since I need so much BHA action and use L-AA Vitamin C daily, and I don't need a lot of skin resurfacing anymore, I don't need to use this as often as I used to. I used AHA more often at first, but after I stabilized my skin after years of neglect, my need for AHA tapered off.Cosrx Natural BHA Skin Returning A-Sol: Korean, Propolis acne treatment
Used on: a twice daily basis, as the final 'active' step although this is firstly a Propolis product (60%) and contains only a small amount of BHA and AHA, and is too high of a pH to exfoliate.Things I will repurchase on this list: Everything other than the MUAC. I plan to try Stridex (red box) BHA next, because my grit situation is ... dire. Curse you, desert, with your ever-pervasive dust and high winds!
Since AHAs and BHAs have other benefits that aren't tied to pH like exfoliation is, they can still be good for the skin but make sure you research BHAs and AHAs as well as the concentration and pH of your products so you can be sure your product is going to do what you need it to do. I use this as an acne prevention product, but it's designed for 'spot treatment' so as with all actives, be cautious when integrating them into your routine, especially if your skin isn't used to them. (Nearly empty.)
3. Hydrators
As someone with Dehydrated skin living in a dry climate, hydrators are my best friends. Like the sponge analogy from Part I, I need to suffuse my skin with hydration before I layer any sealant products over it.
Here are my hydrating options:
Not only do I use sheet masks every day, sometimes I use them twice a day! |
Mizon Mela Defense White Boosting Toner: Korean, hydrating toner [review]
Used on: days where I feel like I need to wipe off residue after actives, because there is a layer of dissolved grime gooped on top of it.
I've almost succeeded in using up the last of this; it didn't work as a pH-adjusting toner but it's perfectly nice on a cotton pad to swipe off aforementioned goo layer and lightly hydrate my skin in preparation for the next step. (Nearly empty.)LJH Tea Tree 70 Mist Toner: Korean, facial mist
Used on: days where my skin feels a bit dry after actives, but I don't need to wipe with a toner-soaked cotton pad, and I want to prep it to absorb the next products/so they will spread more evenly.
I'm also quite close to finishing up the last of this too. It would probably work for a summer mist for those in more humid climates, but I find it drying if used on its own. I suspect this is due to it being a tea tree/acne/oil control product. (Nearly empty.)Mizon Snail Repair Hydro Mist: Korean, facial mist
Used on: days like the above, but my skin feels too dry to use the LJH; also used as a post-powder mist if I am wearing makeup
This is much more hydrating than the LJH mist, and I'm currently testing it out but I don't use it daily.LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence: Korean, essence/serum/ampoule.
Used on: a twice daily basis, sometimes more! Love this stuff. It's my staple daily hydrating step.
This is called an 'essence' but it's really more of a serum consistency, and it's glorious. I grabbed this after reading fanserviced's review, and even though she's broken up with Memebox, it's readily available in a few places online and I've bought 3 bottles of it so far. It's nothing like the harsh 'tea tree' products of my youth; this is a light, refreshing, gentle serum that makes my skin happy. I apply it before my sheet masks because I want it to have maximum penetration into my skin, but I have applied it after as well, especially if my sheet mask fell a bit short on the hydration front. (Nearly empty.)Sheet Mask: Varies. I use both Korean and Japanese masks.
Used on: a daily basis, sometimes twice a day. These are my primary source of hydration, because my climate is so arid that watery products evaporate off my face before my skin can absorb them.
Since I use so many, I review any new masks I try on my Instagram:
So many sheet masks! I put my mask reviews on Instagram to avoid cluttering up my blog with mini-reviews. |
I have, uh, quite a stash as I use these daily! You can read a review of my HG masks (and budget alternatives) here: Sheet Mask Roundup and Holy Grail: Spring 2015Esthetic House Gold Snail Hydrogel Eye & Spot Patch: Korean, hydrogel patches for under-eye or spot areas
Used on: the rare occasions where I don't want to wear a full-sized mask but I want to target the skin under my eyes or specific areas for a boost of hydration. (Nearly empty.)Mizon Rice Wine White Toner: Korean, Hydrating 'toner', is actually a thick essence
Used on: days where I want to load up on a heavier essence/serum because my skin feels dry, but I don't want to layer on anything heavy or rich.
This is also the product I was 'testing' for two weeks while writing this review; as you may know I feel really strongly about products being properly tested before review, which includes a 2 week 'isolation' period where it is the only new product in my lineup, followed by at least a month's usage overall before I review it. As soon as I am done the testing phase, and review it, this is gone outta my hair.Things I will repurchase on this list: LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence, and Sheet Masks. That's it, at least until I have tested the Mizon Snail mist more.
4. Occlusives
To prevent letting all that delicious, delicious hydration escape into the air, I follow up my hydrating steps with some occlusives to retain the moisture in my skin.
Here are my current occlusive options:
Korean Packaging; making your routine a pleasure to do, day after day. |
Mizon Multi Function Formula Snail Recovery Gel Cream: Korean, thick gel. [review]
Used on: days where my skin feels oily, or the weather isn't dry (for once), or when I feel like I need to seal in my hydrating steps but my skin doesn't want anything heavy or rich.
I only layer creams/occlusives in the areas of my face that are normal, or dry. If I stray out to the oily areas of my face, I'm asking for things to get messy, fast. #CombinationSkinProblems. This is a staple, although I tend to use this as my occlusive in the summer, when I am so hot and sweaty that getting out of my chair makes a noise like someone peeling off a strip of duct tape.Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream: Korean, face cream. [review]
Used on: a twice daily basis. I say it's a "face cream" like it's just some run-of-the-mill faceless face cream that could be swapped for anything else, but this stuff is amazing at sealing in my hydrating steps without making my skin feel heavy, and is itself a hydrating (yet emollient?) cream.
I even use this as an eye cream, because I like it better than my actual eye creams; this is why my routine is conspicuously missing one.LJH Tea Tree 80 Cream: Korean, face cream.
Used on: days I feel guilty about leaving it for the Joseon cream, or days when I'm too tired to go digging around in my box of stuff for the Joseon cream and it's the first thing I see. (Hey, just being honest!)
I like this cream just fine, and I was almost out of it before IBuyonghwa Jeonghyo Wild Cream: Korean, face cream. [reviewed]fell hopelessly in love withstarted using the Joseon cream. I always leave a 2 week buffer of a product left before I start testing something new, just so I have something to fall back on if my skin hates the new product. (Nearly empty.)
Used on: the rare occasion that I need something heavier on my dry areas, or in the winter.
I am almost finished this cream, which was part of February's Hanbang Experiment, but I rarely need to use it since the weather is warming up and I just don't need a thick, occlusive cream anymore. It's fairly rich and I only used it in my super dry areas. (Nearly empty.)Hankook Cosmetics The Prestige Gold Oil Essence: Korean, facial oil
Used on: the occasions I feel like I need that extra oomph of a facial oil in my dry areas, becoming increasingly rare now that Winter is over.
I actually decanted a fair bit of this because my skin doesn't need a lot of oils (it's Dehydrated, not Dry other than the apples of my cheeks) and I couldn't see myself using it up in 3 months. You can read more about my decanting bonanza here: Turning your Discards into Decants (Nearly empty.)Things I will repurchase on this list: Mizon Snail Gel, Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream.
5. Treatments/Protection
As I mentioned in Part I, the final steps of one's AM and PM routines will be very different. AM's final step is sunscreen, especially if you are using AHA.
AM Protection:
The last sample of the IOPE left from the pack I purchased; I have the full size en route from Avecko. |
IOPE UV Shield Sun Mild Clinic SPF25 PA++, Korean, physical-only sunscreen [review]
Used on: days where I will be indoors with the window blinds open.
If it seems excessive that I wear sunscreen indoors, consider that I am a Fitzpatrick Type I, my windows are untreated, and I live at an altitude of 3,200+ feet; then go read this blog post from someone who knows her way around scientific studies: Sunscreen series: The numbers game. Then factor in the fact that I use AHA on the regular, which requires full spectrum sun protection due to its side effects. That being said, I am indoors, getting indirect light (albeit really strong indirect light) and it's physical so unless I sweat or wipe it off, I am probably ok. Probably. Sunscreen data makes my head hurt.Sunkiller Baby Milk SPF45 PA+++, Japanese, physical-only sunscreen [review]
Used on: days I go outside before nightfall.
I can't wear makeup when I wear this, other than concealer, but if I need to go out under the harsh burning sun of the Texas steppes, I know I can slather this on and protect my AHA-compromised face.Dr. MJ Real Mucin Restore Cushion SPF50+ PA+++, Korean, cushion (makeup)
Used on: days I want to wear base makeup instead of bare skin. My skin is steadily improving since I started using Korean skincare (and an Asian approach to skincare in general) but I've got a looong way to go before I feel comfortable wearing a bare face in public.
I know I said in my Missha Magic Cushion Case review that I hated the idea of cushions, and I still kinda do, but learning from blogger adoredee that rubycell puffs are anti-bacterial, I am a bit less squicked out than I was, but I still rotate out my puff after every use so I can wash them. Also, snails. You know there had to be snails involved. I know it has SPF/PA, but I put it on so thinly (that's kinda the point of cushions) that I am getting negligible sun protection.Things I will repurchase on this list: IOPE sunscreen.
PM steps focus on nourishing the skin and treating spots with things not meant for the public eye. Although I personally don't use any sleeping packs/overnight masks, this is where they would go.
PM Treatments:
Check out the handy 'easy peel' feature of the Nexcare stickers. |
Mizon Acence Blemish Out Pink Spot: Korean, spot treatment [review]
Used on: nights when I have a pimple that is threatening to rear its ugly head. I use this to call its bluff; either they grumble away by the next day, or they bluster into a real pimple that I can then open (google how to do this safely please!) and slap on the next thing in the list.
Also, this leaves a pink blob of paste on your face, which is why I use it at night, and after my husband has already gone to sleep. (Nearly empty.)3M Nexcare Blemish Clear Cover: Korean, hydrocolloid acne sticker [review of Taiwanese version]
Used on: nights where I have an open blemish that I want to drain/flatten by morning.
These leave a noticeable circle on your face, but just like their Taiwanese version, these marvelous little bandages pull out all the 'wound exudate' out of a pimple, leaving it flat and empty of ammunition. These are amazing; every time I use one on something I know was desperately trying to mutate into sanity-shaking mountain of angst on my face, the HCB thwarts it by morning. (Last sheet)A'Pieu NonCo Tea Tree Spot Patch: Korean, acne sticker (not hydrocolloid)
Used on: nights (or even days) when I have something on my face that I want to keep my fingers off of, because I have a terrible unconscious habit of scratching at things on my face that are irritating my skin.
I will often slap these on something that was drained by a HCB, and is still open but I don't want to waste another HCB as they are expensive. They keep air, bacteria, and your wandering fingers away from any blemishes and are subtle enough that you can wear them during the day, although you can't cover them with makeup and it's clear so you can see the blemish below.Aritaum Ginger Sugar Overnight Lip Mask: Korean, overnight lip treatment [review]
Used on: a nightly basis, to protect my poor lips from the ravages of the dry air.
This is too thick to be used as a regular balm (unless you aren't bothered by the heavy, semi-sticky texture) but it keeps my lips soft and supple overnight, without cracking or becoming chapped by morning.Things I will repurchase on this list: Everything but the A'Pieu patches.
Things to take away from Part II:
- It's ok to have multiple options for a single step, but
- Don't open more products than you can use up in 3-6 months
- It's ok to have products designed for a specific purpose
- Don't throw everything at your skin, only give it what it wants
All the best,
**Disclaimer: All products mentioned are 100% purchased with my own money, with the exception of the Sunkiller sunscreen which was a Christmas gift from a friend, and my opinions are entirely my own. This blog contains both affiliate and non-affiliate links, and clicking the former before you shop means that this blog may receive a small commission to assist in this blog supporting itself. Please see my Contact Info & Disclaimer policy for more information.


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In Brief
Barry Blitt, The Politics of Fear Cover of The New Yorker (July 21, 2008) |
- Alex Ross, as he does so often, has written the best review of the controversial production of Bernd Alois Zimmermann's 1965 opera Die Soldaten at the Lincoln Center Festival. (Get some sounds from the opera in your ear in this video and this photo set.) American Opera Theater may have had angel bondage, but David Pountney trumped that: "Men dressed as Santa Claus held down screaming women." There is a photo, too. [The New Yorker]
- Oh, yeah -- this week's issue of The New Yorker had a funny picture on the cover, too. Check out the other political covers by the artist, Barry Blitt. Part of being President is that people are going to make fun of you and the political problems you have. Get used to it. [The Politics of Satire]
- Heh. "Do you know how many people are displaying works mixing bodily fluids and religious symbols this week? I'd have to look on my PDA to give you an accurate count, but it's a lot. Of course, I didn't attend any of them, because the three to six hours I have for viewing art each day must be devoted to only the most sensibility-accosting exhibits. And shitting on things is so 1999." [The Onion]
- Love my Sirius radio -- srsly. Peter Dobrin reports that a new show on Sirius's Symphony Hall channel, Modern Masters, "will explore the works of living composers" on Saturday nights. Last night's show, the first one, featured works of Jennifer Higdon, Stewart Wallace, John Corigliano, Pierre Boulez, and Aulis Sallinen. [ArtsWatch]
- Roderick Conway Morris reviews an exhibit that sounds great, Exempla: The Rebirth of the Antique in Italian Art, From Frederick II to Andrea Pisano, at Rimini's Castel Sismondo. Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor who kept his court in Sicily, was fascinated with Roman antiquities, for which his reign, in the 13th century, is often called as the "first Renaissance." He was excommunicated a couple times, partly because he warred with the papal states. Dante, although he admired Frederick as an intellectual patron, placed him with the heretics in the sixth circle of Inferno. [International Herald Tribune]
- J. M. Barrie and Peter Pan, a tale of childhood innocence or creepy pedophilia? [The Telegraph]
- Don't look now, but a certain prominent American weekly has published something about classical music. Lang Lang, plugging his new memoir, answers fan questions. Funniest answer goes to his response to the question about what other musical genres he likes: "I love jazz and opera. And also hip-hop. They make impressive music videos. Classical music videos are still pretty traditional. You can probably direct one yourself. Just put a piano out in some landscape." [TIME]


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After a fulfilling life with the now dead prince, Cinderella happily sits upon her rocking chair, watching the world go by from her front porch, with a cat named Bob for companionship.
One sunny afternoon out of nowhere, appeared the fairy godmother.
Cinderella said, "Fairy Godmother, what are you doing here after all these years?"
The fairy godmother replied, "Cinderella, you have lived an exemplary life since I last saw you. Is there anything for which your heart still yearns?"
Cinderella was taken aback, overjoyed, and after some thoughtful consideration, she uttered her first wish:
"The prince was wonderful, but not much of an investor. I'm living hand to mouth on my disability cheques, and I wish I were wealthy beyond comprehension."
Instantly her rocking chair turned into solid gold.
Cinderella said, "Ooh, thank you, Fairy Godmother."
The fairy godmother replied, "It is the least that I can do.
What do you want for your second wish?"
Cinderella looked down at her frail body, and said, "I wish I were young and full of the beauty and youth I once had."
At once, her wish became reality, and her beautiful young visage returned.
Cinderella felt stirrings inside of her that had been dormant for years.
And then the fairy godmother spoke once more: "You have one more wish; what shall it be?"
Cinderella looks over to the frightened cat in the corner and says, "I wish for you to transform Bob, my old cat, into a kind and handsome young man."
Magically, Bob suddenly underwent so fundamental a change in his biological make-up that, when he stood before her, he was a man so beautiful the likes of him neither she nor the world had ever seen.
The fairy godmother said, "Congratulations, Cinderella, enjoy your new life."
With a blazing shock of bright blue electricity, the fairy godmother was gone as suddenly as she appeared.
For a few eerie moments, Bob and Cinderella looked into each other's eyes.
Cinderella sat, breathless, gazing at the most beautiful, stunningly perfect man she had ever seen.
Then Bob walked over to Cinderella, who sat transfixed in her rocking chair.
He held her close in his young muscular arms.
He leaned in close, blowing her golden hair with his warm breath as he whispered…
"I bet now you're sorry you had me castrated!"
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text:
26. The fifth passage selected by him for blame is the most important, that in which I explain the statement of the Apostle. 3052 "From whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through every juncture of ministration, according to the working in due measure of every several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love." Here I summed up in a short sentence Origens exposition which is very long and goes over the same ideas in various words, yet so as to leave out none of his illustrations or his assertions. And when I had come to the end, I added:
"And so in the restitution of all things, when Jesus Christ the true physician comes to restore to health the whole body of the Church, which now lies scattered and rent, every one will receive his proper place according to the measure of his faith and his recognition of the Son of God (the word recognize implies that he had formerly known him and afterwards had ceased to know him), and shall then begin to be what he once had been; yet not in such a way as that, as held by another heresy, all should be placed in one rank, and, by a renovating process, all become angels; but that each member, according to its own measure and office shall become perfect: for instance, that the apostate angel shall begin to be that which he was by his creation, and that man who had been cast out of paradise shall be restored again to the cultivation of paradise;" and so on.
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The manufacturing of slots is becoming an increasingly competitive industry in recent years. Not long ago, in the 1970's, approximately 90 percent of industry was owned by one business, Bally Gaming Systems. Thus, all through the period, if you're to perform a slot device it's probably that you're playing one produced by Bally. Now you can find above twelve position device companies available in the market, including pc software makers that creates slot models for on line casinos. Subsequent, though maybe not a comprehensive number, is a sample of some of the greatest titles in the field of traditional slot unit manufacturing.
AC Money & Position was established in 1978 in Pleasantville, New Jersey. I don't learn about you, however when I watched Reese Witherspoon and Tobey Maguire in Pleasantville, I'd number idea the town was real. I undoubtedly didn't believe it absolutely was in New Jersey, though parts of the Backyard State appear nice enough. In whatever way, AC Money & Slot started building slot machines around the same time gaming was legalized in New Hat and currently, as well as selling their very own slots, will be the unique vendor of slots created by Global Sport Engineering in Atlantic City.
Aruze Company, located in China, generates slot models and different products. They're qualified to production and distribute position products in Nevada, New Shirt and Mississippi. Aruze Gambling America, their U.S. part, is located in Vegas and is a 100%-owned subsidiary.Atronic Americas is not, like you may expect, a business located in North, South or Central America. It's really a German company. For some reason, they didn't think Atronic Deutchland sounded good. It features a good ring if you ask me. Anyway, the company began in 1994 and is just about the third-largest slot equipment producer in the world.
Bally Gaming Systems is the initial big boy on the scene. Started in 1968, it's run under a variety of titles, including Bally Systems, and produced the first multi-coin position and the very first video multi-coin slot. Though they don't have a stranglehold available on the market like they applied to, Bally is still a principal title in the industry. They're perhaps not related to Bally Whole Fitness.International Game Engineering (IGT) is a producer predicated on Reno, Nevada, house of Lieutenant Rick Hang and his great deputies. IGT is a multinational corporation, with part offices found across the world and is the biggest position unit maker in the world. These were an innovator in popularizing wide-area progressive slots and created a ticketed program named EZ-Pay.
Konami Gambling could be the gaming division of the Japanese organization most useful known for creating common video gaming performed in arcades and on Nintendos throughout the world. How awesome is Konami? They produced Castlevania. Enough said. They've been manufacturing slots since 1973, but have just spread slots in the United States since 2003. They are today certified in Nevada and several tribal areas in America.Mikohn Gaming is a family member newcomer to slot equipment manufacturing. They're based in Las Vegas and started in 1996. Nearly all the games they build and industry belong to IGT.
Along with position machines for land-based casinos, there are several companies that specialize in planning software for on line slots. However there are lots of businesses in that area, you can find a handful of large names that are owning the market.Microgaming is a computer software growth organization based in the Isle of Man. They maintain to possess released the initial on line casino in 1994 and produce on the web slots for almost 100 casinos. Along with slots, additionally they design games for poker, blackjack, roulette and more.Playtech recognizes themselves because the world's biggest publicly traded on line gambling pc software designer, and I possibly could find nothing to refute that claim. They style a wide selection of activities, including slots and different desk games.
Actual Time Gambling (RTG) was created in 1998 in Curacao. They are most useful known for their progressive slots and are one of the leaders within their manufacturing. RTG is among the several on the web game manufacturers not to develop their very own policy regarding National consumers following to the United Claims Congress passing of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act in 2006. As an alternative, they let each of these customers choose whether they'll accept American players.Vegas Engineering is not, as you could think, situated in Las Vegas. Nope. They are situated in Antigua and were created in 1997. Vegas Technology is best known for their video slots and for the fact you don't have to acquire any computer software to perform their games.With most of the manufacturers of slots models there is an amazing selection of themes and reel combinations. There truly is really a slots sport on the market for everyone.
Position devices were developed around a century ago, slowly offering more complex mechanisms, fancy seems, and persuasive perform options, but it had been the web that took online slots to a new level. How have slot games transformed as they joined cyberspace, why were these improvements expected, and what other improvements may people and casino owners expect?
On line slot activities created their introduction almost a hundred years following the initial Liberty Bell slot that started it all. In the beginning these internet slots were the clones of Las Vegas slots. The designers of the first internet slots were therefore settled to keep up the initial format and feel which they virtually copy-pasted the boxy search to the pc screen. The pragmatic style constraints produced from mechanical necessity of non-virtual casino slots surpassingly impinged on the creative flexibility and sparkle that web style methods may have offered for anyone pioneering slots online.
Awarded, probably too innovative designs could have alienated the traditional players, but it's striking innovative approach that sets web casinos far besides area centered casinos when it comes to slot machines. After a relatively boring start it appeared that casino designers were prepared to march the newest industry of people to the thirty first century. The one-arm bandit missing their famous limb for stylized buttons and the original box figure produced way for intriguing 3D options with unconventional inventions. Samples of exciting slots that demonstrate what it way to think beyond your box are interesting Eureka! designed as a angry scientist's lab or the picturesque Faerie Story position themed as a marvelous forest where in fact the representations burst out of petals in charming animation. More excellent examples can be found at Money- including the excited Travel In Slots where in actuality the icons are expected on film displays, or the fear picture encouraged Haunted Slots set in a severe cemetery and growing specters from the severe instead of rotating the old fresh fruit reels.
A designer with an even more traditional approach may question what's so excellent about slot games that at a primary glance don't look like slots at all? Well, the human eye is eager for surprise and novelty. That's how it absolutely was back in 1895 when the first position was the final scream, and it's exactly the same now. So how do we assume the thirty first century person – therefore used to quickly computer activities and constantly bombarded with interesting aesthetic stimulation- to be in for the old routine? The internet had injected new blood to the industry – it created the greatest market actually by hitting people who never had use of land centered casinos before. On another give, there are so several on the web casinos out there. Table activities can't be successfully modified too much, and thus search really similar in different casino softwares. Innovative slots will keep a casino remembered. Fresh search and method are price a lot of advertising ads.
The images should accompany lucrative rewards. Thirty first century slot games, or movie slots since they are occasionally named to distinguish them from classic slots, sport an amazing selection of benefit features that leave the monotony of these ancestors mild decades behind: as well as wild designs and scatter pay, computer technology helps to generate games within games, double-your-win bets, advantage units, and more. Alternative choices are practically unlimited, and the visual effect combined with play experience is astonishing.
Besides remarkable images and participating perform functions the one thing that produce online position activities better than land based casino position models is that they offer the ability to perform for exercise at the ease of the player's house – free slots let players to study the position machine of these choice and see for themselves if it's loose or tight. A big collection of slots, or fruit machines whilst the British call them, assures longer perform time as people in many cases are keen to try out different activities and styles, always searching for progressive ideas.
A trusted indicator to the rising acceptance of online slots among old-timers and amateur players likewise is that the computerization of slots has additionally spurred the development of niche literature. The players preoccupation with slots is apparent from numerous Google looks for slots rules and basic online slots guides as is found at the raising amount of best-selling gaming technique books alongside on the web e-books and ezines solely specialized in slot games. Needless to say we must not your investment liveliest top features of the Internet – boards, concept boards, and towns – presenting vibrant discussions of the latest and greatest slots on the web, updates on new position devices, slot recommendations and warnings.
What does the long run hold for this engaging game? My guess is that slots could keep on sub-dividing to genres. Casino's game fits must cater to the customer's desire for diversity. Standard classic slots (usually describes single-reel slots, or 3-reel 1-line slots) will be here, but we will have new assumes on the 1-liners in forms of bonus features. Multiline slots will keep on reproduction new lines – they actually make 100-line slots now with a huge 5,000 max bet. As skill activities getting a serious riot I feel that casino software designers may give you a new form of slots which will function more elaborate internal games and gambling options that leave room for choice creating, aesthetically influenced by quest activities, or even combat games. Whatever new face that sport may possibly take it will certainly stay one typically the most popular gaming activities in the world.토토사이트


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The Economics of Replacing Obamacare: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
ACRU Staff
June 2, 2014
This column by ACRU General Counsel Peter Ferrara was published on June 1, 2014 on Forbes.com.
Republicans have not unified behind a single bill to replace Obamacare because conservatives have been debating among themselves exactly what the components of that bill should be. The ongoing collapse of Obamacare, economically and politically, is heightening the stakes in that debate, delaying matters.
But the replacement plan now emerging will broaden health coverage at least as much as Obamacare, which teased universal coverage but never delivered. Moreover, the replacement plan would actually reduce health costs (through tried and true market incentives, proven to work in the real world), again which Obamacare promised, but instead produced exactly the opposite. Indeed, the plan would do this while cutting government spending, taxes and regulation as compared to Obamacare. Just think of the historic political significance of the Democrat Left finally enacting socialized medicine, after fighting for it for over a century, and the country rising up in political rebellion to reject it, and replace it with free market medicine instead.
Jim Capretta, a Senior Fellow with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, recently wrote about this emerging plan in the book, Room to Grow, published by the YG Network, a conservative organization that grew out of the work of the Republican House majority.
Capretta starts with a fundamental point that more conservatives need to grasp: "[I]f a plan to replace Obamacare is found by CBO to do little or nothing to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, it is unlikely to get the political momentum necessary to fully displace Obamacare." He adds quite correctly,
"Conservatives must see the present opportunity provided by Obamacare, clearly. We have an opportunity to move our health-care system to the right not only of Obamacare but also of the pre-Obamacare status quo. The middle class is ready to hear from conservatives about their practical and realistic proposals to improve their lives. If conservatives seize the political moment, they could displace the largest expansion of governmental power in a generation with a program that would unleash, for the first time, the real potential of consumer choice in health care. It would be the most significant conservative policy victory in many years."
Capretta also grasps the core of the issue when he writes,
"The Obama Administration claims that Obamacare is a marketplace, but the reality is that it is a top-down, bureaucratic solution, with all of the critical decisions made in Washington. HHS strictly defines the insurance product and then compels insurers to sell it while the IRS compels consumers to buy it. That is not a market. The conservative alternative must employ a decentralized approach, with consumers driving the system by the decisions they make about insurance coverage and the use of medical services. It must therefore feature far less prescriptive insurance regulation."
Capretta also correctly identifies the core problem with health policy even before Obamacare: "[E]conomists of all political stripes have long agreed that the open ended tax subsidization of employer-paid health insurance is one of the main distortions of the existing system. It encourages excessively costly employer plans and discriminates against households that do not have access to employer coverage and thus must rely on the individual market for insurance."
But Capretta too easily accepts conventional wisdom among Republican health policy staffers when he writes, "But conservatives must resist the temptation to simply undo current tax policy in an Obamacare replacement plan. Approximately 160 million people in the United States are enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance. Any widespread disruption of that coverage, as a complete rewrite of the federal tax treatment would surely involve, would be strongly resisted by the families benefitting from that coverage and would likely doom the entire reform effort."
Yes, it is wise that in repealing and replacing Obamacare we don't do what Obamacare has just done in causing millions, perhaps tens of millions ultimately, to lose their current health insurance, which they were promised they could keep. But Capretta and too many others too easily forget a central difference between the two approaches. Obamacare is based on coercive mandates prescribing from the top down exactly what health insurance everyone must buy, so that naturally involves banning many existing health policies people currently have and like. The conservative Obamacare replacement is based on unrestricted individual consumer choice in a competitive marketplace. So anyone who likes the current plan they have can just choose that one under the Obamacare replacement reforms. And the plans people like in widespread numbers are precisely the ones that are going to continue to be offered in the competitive marketplace.
Replacing Obamacare: The Good
Capretta's central strategy for the Obamacare replacement plan is to extend the tax preference for employer provided health insurance to everyone, in the form of a tax credit, with a fixed, finite, maximum, for purchasing health insurance. That has been advocated for many years now by John Goodman, President of the National Center for Policy Analysis.
Capretta references an earlier paper, A Winning Alternative for Obamacare, produced by The 2017 Project, an organization dedicated to developing policies for the post-Obama world. That paper proposes a tax credit of $1,200 a year for those under 35 years old, $2,100 for those between 35 and 50, and $3,000 for those over 50, plus $900 per child. Goodman proposes a credit of $2,500 a year for everyone, and $8,000 per family. These credits would all be refundable, meaning that if the taxpayer has less in income tax liability than the amount of the credit, the government would pay the taxpayer the difference in cash.
The 2017 Project paper states, "Ending the unfairness in the tax code by offering a refundable tax credit for the purchase of insurance through the individual market is the core element of a well-conceived alternative. Indeed, this first leg is the most important of the three legs that any winning alternative to Obamacare must feature–and, with it in place, Obamacare would be poised to fall."
These credits are only intended to help with the purchase of health insurance, just as the employer tax preference helps employers pay for the insurance, not finance the whole purchase. What tax credits of these amounts consequently do is provide an incentive up to the limit for everyone to buy health insurance, but not to buy more expensive insurance without limit, like a health insurance deduction, or the current, non-taxation exclusion for employer provided health insurance, which provide more in subsidies the more the consumer spends. That leads to overconsumption of health care, and more rapid health care inflation.
Capretta explains the improved incentives by saying, "A tax credit of this kind would help generate intense price competition in the marketplace. Consumers receiving the credit would have every incentive to find good value in health insurance because any premium charged by an insurance plan above the credit would be paid by the consumer, not the government."
Besides that incentive for economic efficiency, Goodman's plan has the advantage of providing the same, equal, tax benefit for health insurance to everyone, not just to those who get employer provided health insurance, or those favored by the widely varying, largely arbitrary differences in tax benefits provided under Obamacare.
The Obamacare mandate for employer provided health insurance has also raised the cost of emp
loyment, reducing jobs and contributing to the weakness of the economic recovery. Because the mandate applies to full time workers of 30 hours a week or more, millions of workers have seen their hours cut back to 29 hours per week. Because the mandate applies to firms of 50 or more workers, hiring has slowed as firms approach the 50 worker threshold. Replacing the mandate with the tax credits for health insurance eliminates these negative economic effects, while probably expanding health insurance coverage at least as much as Obamacare.
The emerging replacement plan would also provide for continuous coverage protection against the development of pre-existing conditions. Those who lose employer health plans because of a job change could not be charged more or denied coverage for pre-existing conditions they may have developed if they purchase health coverage with the credit in the individual market within two months, just as the law provides when a worker gets a new employer plan upon a job change.
The plan also provides for federal funding assistance for states to set up High Risk pools for those who have contracted costly illnesses while uninsured. They would be assured of coverage by the High Risk pool, and charged premiums based on ability to pay, with taxpayers covering financing shortfalls in the pool. Such High Risk pools have proved workable at modest cost in 30 states.
Finally, the plan provides that anyone in Medicaid could use their tax credit to help purchase private insurance instead. States would be given broad flexibility over Medicaid to provide supplemental benefits for the poor to choose private health insurance instead. If Goodman's proposal to allow anyone to choose to use their credit to buy into Medicaid as well were adopted, everyone would be further assured of coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, and the Obamacare replacement plan would assure universal health care for all. Goodman's credit is equal to the CBO estimated cost of adding an additional person to Medicaid.
Replacing Obamacare: The Bad
But Capretta and others would not offer their health insurance tax credits to everyone. They limit their credits only to those without employer coverage, who consequently must buy health insurance on their own in the individual market. They also allow those employed by small businesses to use the credits to buy health insurance they prefer over their employer's plan.
The reason for this limitation is that Capretta and others fear larger employers will drop their health insurance plans if workers have a credit to buy health insurance on their own, resulting in millions losing their current insurance just like under Obamacare. But Goodman's proposal for the same equal tax credits for everyone would not take away the tax preference for employer health plans. It just changes the form of the tax preference from the current tax exclusion to the tax credits. But it extends that same preference to everyone, with the much better incentives described above.
Capretta's limitation, however, limits the efficiency incentives of the tax credit for less expensive insurance only to those who purchase insurance in the individual market. Capretta tries to make up for that by proposing to limit the tax preference by taxing the employee for employer paid premiums above a certain limit. That creates new political vulnerabilities of its own, discussed further below.
In addition, allowing workers with employer insurance to choose their own insurance they prefer with the credit empowers workers with an important check and balance on their employer choosing insurance that may be better for the employer but not for the workers. Such as insurance with more limited provider networks, or stricter gatekeepers denying preferred health care. Moreover, with the credit going to everyone, everyone would have the freedom to choose Health Savings Accounts, even if their employer did not offer them, extending the proven, cost reducing effects of those accounts. Capretta's limitation sacrifices these benefits of the credit.
Replacing Obamacare: The Ugly
Capretta's tax on employer provided health insurance in practice turns out to apply to the top 35% of employer health plans, as reflected in the bill proposed by Senators Coburn (R-OK), Burr (R-NC) and Hatch (R-UT). That is a tax assessed against the covered workers, which means roughly 35% of workers not necessarily wealthier than middle income could be expected to bear that tax.
Moreover, about 97% of voters have health insurance. So the plan is to raise taxes on about 35% of those who vote, to help finance insurance for those who don't vote. Unions will be more worried about this new tax on their workers than about losing employer provided health insurance for their workers.
This is supposed to be better political strategy than just offering the same, equal tax credit to everyone?