text:
Frankie's Story: Accomplishment Personified
Hardcover, 108 Pages
Price: $34.95
Prints in 3-5 business days
Frankie Scarfone is a fourth degree black belt inductee in the International Martial Arts hall of fame - as a karate master. He's also a special olympian, a keyboard virtuoso, a guitar player and a .......choir singer, alter server, teachers aid and much more. BTW, Frankie has Down's Syndrome! This a story about parental commitment, creativity, innovation & love, the importance of having a social support group and about ways that special teachers teach special kids that may help others with disabilities. Frankies successes go far beyond his disabilities - he is an inspiration for anyone who has challenges and obstacles and for those who just want to be successful !!! Relevant concepts from the fields of psychology, neuroscience and education are included, along with an extensive listing of resources for parents. - Dustcover version
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Product Details
- 9781257053049
- Copyright
- Dorothy Scarfone and Michael R. Basso (Standard Copyright License)
- Edition
- First
- Publisher
- LuLu
- Published
- March 9, 2011
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 108
- Binding
- Hardcover (dust-jacket)
- Interior Ink
- Black & white
- Weight
- 0.51 lbs.
- Dimensions (inches)
- 6 wide x 9 tall
- Product ID
- 15106203
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The winner of this week's Simon Sez challenge is Lisa Miller! Vikki King had requested a theme that was all about recreation and play. Vikki said that it wasn't an easy choice but in the end Lisa's entry got the nod because: "…gosh darn it that girl on the swing out in front is just so ADORABLE!!! All the kids are having fun, but she makes it look like some awesome ride at Universal Studios. I want to play with her!!"
If you want keep up with Simon Sez, be sure to go to the EBSQ Forum and check Challenge Central. Challenge Central is the place to check on current and past Simon Sez challenges – complete with all the entries, as well as all other EBSQ Challenges.
Congratulations Lisa! We look forward to your turn as Simon.
Like what you see here? We hope you'll consider leaving a comment or subscribing to one of our feeds. Never miss another cool post from EBSQ. Subscribe to EBSQ: Art Meets Blog v2.0 by Email today!

subset: commoncrawl


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Phoenix police: Cars veer onto sidewalk after crash, killing pedestrian
Go inside the Phoenix Fire Department 911 call center to learn about what's going on when you call 911 in the Phoenix metro area. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com
Phoenix police say a pedestrian was killed after two cars involved in a crash veeredonto a sidewalk Friday afternoon.
Police responded to the near 24th Street and Broadway Road in Phoenix at 1:30 p.m. where witnesses said a vehicle turning onto 24th street collided with another vehicle traveling northbound, according to Phoenix Police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune.
The impact forced both vehicles to veer onto the sidewalkand both the man and woman were struck, Fortune said.
Both pedestrians and one of the drivers were transported to a hospital, where the male pedestrian was pronounced dead, Fortune said.
Police were still investigating the crash Friday, but have ruled out impairment as a cause, she added.
- 12-year-old girl killed in hit-and-run crash in Phoenix
- Roads reopened after Scottsdale police shooting leads to chase, crash
- Woman crashes car into Surprise home, hitting a parked car


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Auto Loans: 3 Dos and Don'tsRichard Barrington
LoanBiz Columnist
Rate:Article Rating ,
Car buyers owe it to
themselves to get better at shopping for auto loans. After all, it is an
experience that people are likely to repeat several times over the course of a
lifetime. Added up, the value of all those car loans could equal or even exceed
the value of a person's mortgage. That's why shopping around is important --
given the dollars involved, even small differences in auto loan interest rates
can become significant over time. The following are three dos and don'ts of
shopping for an auto loan.
3 Dos of Auto Loan Shopping
- Do negotiate price before discussing financing. Some salespeople and dealers have an incentive tied to financing; for others (typically those without a financing relationship), cash is preferable. To avoid being put at a disadvantage in the negotiation process, it is best for buyers not to commit to a method of financing until after they've negotiated their best price.
- Do use an auto loan calculator to analyze different loan terms. Auto loans are often packaged with special incentives, such as no interest for the first six months. Using an auto loan calculator can help a borrower determine which package will represent the best deal over the full life of the loan.
- Do carefully budget before borrowing. This
is another area where an auto loan calculator can help -- by understanding
how much monthly payment a purchase will translate into, a buyer can test
to see whether that payment fits into the monthly household budget.
3 Don't of Auto Loan Shopping
- Don't step on the lot before doing some research. People get excited about cars, which can lead to impulsive decisions. Therefore it's a good idea to do some research in advance, both about the cars themselves and financing.
- Don't settle for dealer financing without shopping around. It seems so convenient to let the dealer handle the financing, but shopping around for a better auto loan interest rate can be well worth the time.
- Don't make decisions under duress. It
is a salesperson's job to close the deal, and auto salespeople are better
at this than most. However, buying a car and taking out an auto loan are
major financial decisions that should not be made under pressure. When in
doubt, a buyer's instinct should always be to back off so they can sleep
on the decision, do some extra research, or talk it over with friends.
This will help make sure the buyers get the car, the price, and the auto
loan interest rate that is best for them.
About the Author
Richard Barrington is a freelance writer and novelist who previously spent over twenty years as an investment industry executive.


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Recent Episodes
Upcoming Episodes
Tech Maiden challenges notions about what it means to teach and explore science, technology, engineering and math ("STEM") by presenting the experiences and wisdom of successful innovators, researchers, teachers and business leaders who are challenging and evolving the way people think about STEM together with its significant implications. The support that Tech Maiden and its guest interviews lend to the academic examination of STEM research together with their theoretical and business applications is vital to inspiring young innovators, scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and business thinkers about the vibrant and evolving world of STEM. It is in this spirit that I created Tech Maiden to engage students in the ever expanding STEM universe and its broadening applications.
About Natasha Stamler
Founder & Creative Director
Natasha is a member of the class of 2018 at The Bronx High School of Science in NYC where she is Captain of the Fe Maidens, the all-girls robotics team. Natasha has spent the last several years doing research in the area of climate change at Columbia University and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Her research has focused on climate change mitigation and roof studies. Natasha has conducted research on NYC's Cool Roof and Urban Heat Island Mitigation initiatives. Natasha frequently presents findings at roundtable presentations and symposiums. She is interested in the dynamic word of STEM research together with their theoretical and business applications. In addition to her interest in the world of STEM research, Natasha volunteers with Bronx House teaching middle school girls Lego robotics as part of the EveryGirl Robotics Program, participates in hackathons, enjoys music, playing piano, doing crossword puzzles, and running as a member of both the Bronx Science Cross Country and Track teams. Natasha is thankful to her guests who made time available to share their experiences in order to help others.
We'd love to hear from you
If you would like to be interviewed for one of our podcasts or just want to be in touch, fill out this form or send an email to us at email@example.com.


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SEATTLE--Microsoft's stock traded higher today even after efforts by its chief sales executive, Steve Ballmer, to temper expectations about the company's prospects in the new fiscal year.
The stock was trading at 120-5/8 at 4 p.m. Eastern time, up 2-3/4 points from its Wednesday close. The stock opened unchanged at 117-7/8.
Despite Ballmer's relatively pessimistic view of the year ahead, outlined to Wall Street representatives at the company's annual analyst day Wednesday, the more upbeat words of Chairman Bill Gates prevailed. Microsoft also outlined plans to release 13 new business software upgrades or products by year's end in its Office 997 suite.
Gates also predicted that Microsoft would expand its browser market share to as much as 40 percent with Internet Explorer. Rival Netscape Communications controls more than 70 percent of the market now with its Navigator browser.
Related stories:
Gates thinks big for '96
Microsoft ropes in another ISP
Explorer ventures into Unix territory
ActiveX may be turning into Brand X
Internet Explorer gets a facelift
MS posts the real Explorer 3.0 beta
MS ships Explorer 2.0 for Macintosh
Navigator 3.0 vs. Explorer 3.0


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My favorite time of the year to visit Paris? Definitely autumn.
Weather: Not too hot, not too cold. Just perfect to walk the beautiful leafy streets, enjoy a cup of coffee or wine in the closest corner brasserie, and immerse yourself in the magic of the city.
Where to stay
It's hard to pick one place but my two favorites areas are around Montmartre/Sacre-Coeur (18eme arrondissement) or le Marais (3eme/4eme arrondissement), simply because of the charm of these typical small Parisian streets and definitely their lively young vibes. If you are on a budget, I would recommend checking Airbnb, there are a lot of cute apartments that you can find around these areas!
Places I visited while getting lost in Paris:
On a cultural note….
Museums, exhibitions, theatre plays, fashion shows… I never really know where to start in Paris. What I personally visited on my fall trip and can recommend are: Le Musee d'Orsay (for the largest collection of painting, sculpture, and decorative objects between 1848-1914 from artists like Monet and Van Gogh), Le Palais de Tokyo (for modern and contemporary art), and the Victor Hugo Museum (for a sweet tour inside the house where the French artist lived the longest).
Where to Eat
Let's face it, food is a very very important part of any travel experience – at least for me. Luckily enough, there is a good restaurant around every corner of Paris, but how harmful is it to have some good recommendations from a foodie? Here are my top 8 finds:
(17 Rue Notre Dame des Victoires)
(Rue Ramey)
Le Petit Cambodge
(20 Rue Alibert, Canal Saint Martin)
Pizzeria Da Vito/Moonshiner
(5 Rue Sedaine)
Andy Wahloo/Derriere
(69 Rue des Gravilliers)
Chez Nous
(10 Rue Dauphine)
( 67 Rue Labat)
I hope you've enjoyed this post and I would be more than happy to hear some of your own experiences in Paris!


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As a trainer, I serve people by helping weave connections and encourage people to engage in personal growth. With the power of heart and experience, I create safe and respectful spaces where people can authentically encounter their own lives.
For me the way is the goal and a steady career
- to learn to love myself.
- to accept all my weaknesses and strengths, listening to the voice of my heart and using the tools of Possibility Management for clear distinctions.
- to experience trust in non-knowledge and transformation.
- as a woman, mother of 3 adult children, dancer (healing powers in the dance), girlfriend and as a human becoming part of a larger one.
- to learn that we need the community of people to heal.
I look forward to seeing you ... in the training room with trainer colleagues or in individual coaching, which I particularly love. Meet me personally, or even through the possibility of the Internet via Skype or WhatsApp. Especially if you are dealing with addiction and addiction issues, you are in the right place with me.
Say Hi!
Invite me to teach in your area, book a coaching with me or just ask me anything.
There are no upcoming trainings at this time.
My Upcoming Events
Mobile: +49 1577 298 4621
Office: +1 206 854 7190


text:
Hello! My name is Jenny Patlan, I am from Mexico but I am living in Houston Tx, USA. I am 26 years old and I have a degree in Marketing and Graphic Design, I love my life. I like to visit new places and to learn new things. I believe that life finds its meaning by walking, crossing borders, and overcoming our own limits. My English is still bad, but my intention is good!
Finally just say that I am the kind of person who breathe feelings better than scents.
You can followme on Instagram:


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Firework Lighters or Portfires
Portfires, commonly known as Firework Lighters are ideal for lighting fireworks safely and quickly and have become an essential tool for garden firework displays, bonfire night and other firework celebrations!
As their name suggests firework lighters are a handheld lighting stick which produces a bright, fierce flame, that usually burns for around 4-5 minutes.
The flame produced by a portfire is weather resistant so it will be unaffected by the rain and will not blow out in the wind. So whatever the weather you'll never have issues lighting your firework fuses again!
These are the safest option when it comes to lightening fireworks and we highly recommend them.


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HAFILLER Fine Line
Is a biodegradable, non-animal based, clear Hyaluronic Acid gel with the smallest particles. it is best used to fill superficial imperfections in the dermis, such as fine lines, forehead wrinkles, crow's feet, perioral lines, marionette lines, oral commissures, and glabellar lines. The Hafiller® family of fillers uses ultra-smooth biphasic hyaluronic acid gel, making it very easy to inject. Finelines will break down naturally at the implant site after about 6months without leaving any harmful by-products.
Where to inject:
Upper part of dermis
Recommended indications:
Thin superficial lines, such as worry lines, periobital lines, perioral lines.
Needle size: 30G


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Spellslingers Origins: Aiden part. 2
Chapter 4: Flames of the Past
"Aiden, will you help me find my hat?" Aiden's father Rand said.
"Sure thing," a young Aiden replied. He lifted himself quickly from his relaxed state in his chair. Aiden, just ten years old, was more than happy to help his father. He began noticing, however, that despite his constant search for the hat, his father wasn't helping in return. He was merely spectating. It made Aiden feel very nervous.
He didn't mind too much, though. He wanted nothing more than to be close to his father. But there was a problem...
Two hours passed.
"Aiden, where's my cursed hat?!" Rand shouted.
"I'm trying to find it, Dad. I've looked everywhere."
"What the hell can you do right if you can't find a blasted hat? I thought I raised you to be worth something, you little—" He tried to bite his tongue and keep from saying anything more, but steam could be seen visibly forming around Rand. His anger was elevated well past anything remotely sane.
Aiden turned to look towards his mom, who he could see peeking through the crack of her bedroom door. She was too fearful to step out and defend her son.
He looked back to his father. "Maybe if you helped me look for it, we could find it," Aiden suggested.
"Are you talking back to me now, you worthless little piece of crap?" Rand was heated. Steam continued billowing from his body. He formed fire in the palm of his right hand and aimed it at Aiden—a single blast would be powerful enough to burn him to ashes. He was fueled with so much anger and he just needed to unleash it. But what little sense remained wouldn't let him harm his son. Instead, Rand blasted his door, burning the wooden frame to cinders and stomping out. He continued to storm off, but to where, Aiden did not know.
Aiden was shaking with fear, sadness, and anger.
"Why can't my father just calm down? Why does he have to be so angry?" he thought to himself. Aiden was now left at the house, as good as alone. His mother continued to be paralyzed and would only leave her room when she felt it was needed, such as to get food or to use the restroom.
During his father's absence, Aiden began studying up on his rage magic. He knew he may have to fight his father. Hopefully not anytime soon; hopefully not ever. But he had the feeling it'd come one day, whether he wanted it to or not.
After about a week had passed, Aiden heard heavy footsteps from the outside. Knowing it would be his father, Aiden prepared himself. He had been studying rage magic, although he didn't like it, as it made him think of his father. Nonetheless, he knew it was his only line of defense.
"I'm not going to hurt my dad," Aiden told himself, clutching his fists. Tears began pouring down his face. He wanted nothing more than his father's love, but now he felt like he had no choice but to fight him. Perhaps then, he and his mother could move on and have a better life.
"I have to beat my father," Aiden gulped. His body trembled as the footsteps drew closer, closer, closer still.
Aiden, ready to fight, summoned fire around his fists. Then, there he was—his father, Rand.
"Son," his father said. He looked defeated; half alive.
Aiden immediately released the fire from his hands and let down his guard.
"Listen, Aiden, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have threatened you or yelled at you. You don't deserve that, you deserve someone better. I'm sorry."
Aiden was still upset, and didn't think he should let his dad off the hook so easily, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to make things right if he had any choice, so he moved in closer. Rand quickly took his hand and clutched him in his embrace. Aiden had felt fire all his life, yet this was the warmest he had ever felt. His vision began blurring from the tears in his eyes. He couldn't see.
"Is everything okay, Aiden?" Rand pulled back to see his son's face, and was met with little Aiden staring back up at him. He saw the pain and sadness in his eyes. Rand felt deeply hurt.
"I'm so sorry." He continued holding Aiden in his arms. "I promise I won't ever do it again."
Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time, nor was it the last time he did it.
Chapter 5: Magic Mountain
Aiden woke.
Luckily for him, the hospital had the best healers in the world. In just the one night, Aiden was completely healed. He lifted himself from his bed.
"Whoa! Aiden, take it easy on yourself, man. I mean, you had your ribs shattered by a gigantic monster last night," a concerned Tye said.
"I'll be fine," Aiden assured him. "I'm good as new now. So, what's the plan today?"
"Well, as long as you're sure, then... the plan today is to have some fun! It's not every day we're off, so we're going to make the most of it."
"Aren't we supposed to have class today?"
"Maybe. Technically. But honestly, what's it going to hurt if we have just one fun day? I feel like you deserve it."
Aiden smiled. "Alright, that sounds good to me, then."
The two, along with a few of their other friends, spent the entire rest of the day at Magic Mountain—a theme park located atop (you guessed it) a mountain. They played spelltag and rode several rides, including roller coasters, magical cups, and beyond.
Nighttime approached quickly, and the group grew tired. Everyone went their separate ways, leaving Tye and Aiden as the last ones to leave, which was typical.
"By the way, Aiden... where did you get that?" Tye pointed to Aiden's neck. Around it hung a strange, golden necklace topped with a skull.
"Oh, this thing? I actually don't know. I just woke up with it on me and thought it was pretty cool. Not to mention I feel a bit stronger when wearing it." Aiden proceeded to flex his muscles, knowing he wouldn't impress Tye, but it at least was amusing for himself.
Tye laughed. "Sure, whatever you say." Aiden joined in laughing, and they both kept at it to the point of tears. This type of thing happened a lot between the two of them. Laughing nonstop over the silliest of things.
After it died down, Aiden looked at Tye, face to face.
"Thank you," Aiden told his friend. In the background, the lights from the theme park painted the night sky.
"For what?" Tye was puzzled.
"For everything. You're the best friend a guy could ask for."
"Oh! It's not a problem, I'm always happy to be here for you. Someone's got to be. Who knows what you'd do without me?" Tye winked and lightheartedly punched Aiden in his shoulder. "On that note, I guess it's time to split. I'll see you tomorrow, man."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
The two began walking their separate ways. But after only a few minutes, a loud explosion could be heard.
"Tye?" Aiden immediately thought. He whipped around to see a giant dust cloud.
"Tye!" he shouted. Aiden began running back to where Tye was, only to find him thrown over the shoulder of a tall man wrapped in bandages. He wore many staves on his back, and had yet another in his hand.
"Put down my friend or else." Fire started emitting from Aiden's hands.
The mysterious man retorted with a strong voice, "Don't make me laugh. You're no threat to me." He aimed his staff at Aiden. Blue runic spells conjured around the end of it and fired toward him; the blast held his feet to the ground, bringing the rest of his body down. It was as if gravity itself had increased to such a severe amount. Aiden could barely move.
"You're not yet ready, but soon." The man turned, Tye still held hostage, and teleported elsewhere.
Aiden, struggling to move, finally felt the clutches of the gravity spell release him. He shouted as he fell forward, "Come back!" Fire erupted around him with the fury of his emotions, and a strange, helix-like symbol appeared where his heart was. It glowed gold, and so did his eyes. His body lifted into the air, hovering just a few inches above the ground. He felt an immense amount of pain and an odd sense of pleasure all at once. A contradiction.
The glow began to fade away, and with it, the power. Aiden found himself back on the ground, breathing heavily. Fire encircled his fists.
"I'm useless in long range with anyone," he thought.
Remembering his father's prized possessions, he snuck into his parents' house and found the twin fury spellguns. Rand was never very good with them, but he was quite proud having them be a part of his collection.
"These will work," Aiden breathed. His body felt so weak; he was dizzy and could barely sort his thoughts. The rest of the night was just a haze.
Weeks passed and Aiden still didn't know what happened to Tye, nor what happened to his body and why he still hadn't recovered. He tried his best to work through the pain and find Tye, but couldn't. He tried writing down his thoughts each day, but it didn't help at all. He just felt empty—like he had even less purpose than before.
Chapter 6: Where The Sun Sleeps
After six months had gone by, Aiden still hadn't forgotten about the incident. He thought about his friend practically every waking moment.
A strange and sudden vision appeared inside his head one day, a voice accompanying it.
"If you want to see your friend, meet me in Ghost Town where the sun sleeps." The voice sounded eerily familiar. It was the voice of the man who took his friend.
"It's time," Aiden said to himself. Loading up his guns, he at last started to move forward, eager to get his friend back.
As the sun began to fall, eclipsing behind the incredibly large gravesite that was Ghost Town, Aiden felt a little nervous. Even still, he was determined. Before him, he saw a portal open up and a man step through it—the bandaged man who took Tye.
"You there!" Aiden exclaimed. "Give me back my friend!"
"Your friend?" The man seemed puzzled. Aiden began assaulting him with a hail of furious shots from his twin pistols. The fire he conjured was now able to be projected with more power and accuracy than he could ever pull off before.
The fire tore through the darkness, illuminating its path towards the bandaged wizard. With a twirl of his staff, a portal opened and swallowed up the assault, only for another to open and send it right back towards Aiden.
"Crap!" Aiden tumbled to avoid the redirected attack.
"This is going to be tough," he thought to himself. "I've never faced a mage like this before." Nevertheless, Aiden was more ready than ever to fight.
He continued firing at the enemy. It seemed there was no end to the flames.
"Enough of this." The bandaged mage hit his staff atop the ground, and the fire dispersed and faded into the still night. He pointed his staff at Aiden, who became locked into place, unable to move. Weight began crushing him. It was the gravity spell again!
"You will pay for taking such a grave toll from me, rage mage," the bandaged man said as he approached Aiden. He was still unable to move with his bones being held under so much weight.
"What toll? What are you even talking about?!"
The man went to read Aiden's mind, but there was a disturbance, something he had never felt before.
A blast of wind raged forward, sending him flying into the air. His spell lifted from Aiden, able to move once more.
The girl with the blonde braids, the one Aiden kept running into, approached. She moved her hands around—she was the one controlling the storm. Lightning began flashing in the sky, arcing its way toward the bandaged mage. He deflected two of the attacks, but the third delivered a powerful strike on him, sending him tumbling through the newly formed hurricane.
"Thanks for the help!" Aiden cried out to the girl. "I got you now, bandage face!"
He began firing a bullet storm into the wind, crippling the mage, who then gestured his hand to open another portal. He teleported himself outside the range of the hurricane. Blood poured from his bandages.
"Looks like you're going to need more bandages once we're done with you," Aiden quipped. He readied his guns at the man; however, in the corner of his eye, he saw the girl was conjuring another spell—though it didn't look like she was aiming this one at his enemy, but at him!
The girl grinned, and frost shards began flinging at both Aiden and the bandaged mage. Aiden dodged most of it, but still took some scrapes and cuts.
"Dammit," he cursed. Aiden realized this girl wasn't there to help, but to kill both him and the other mage. Readying his guns at each side, he began firing at both of his enemies.
The bandaged man's cuts and wounds diminished. As he stood up, he negated Aiden's assault of fire and retaliated with fire of his own, aimed at the girl. A radiant shield of many colors formed around her, his attack also being negated.
With a flick of the girl's wrist, a rain of daggers began falling from the sky.
"What the hell?!" Aiden's body, as if on its own, began to move at an incredibly fast rate. "What is this?" he thought to himself. His body glowed red, and he was now twice, no, three times as fast. With his fire fueled, he continued his onslaught at the two other mages; in turn, they continued deflecting and counterattacking.
"Listen," the bandaged man called to Aiden. "We are not enemies. This girl has staged this. She didn't want me to, but I was able to read both your mind and hers. I see your innocence. She's the one I'm after. So I ask that you leave and let me handle this."
Aiden was surprised. Could this man be telling the truth?
The girl bit her lip and thought, "Damn. I must have let my mental barrier down trying to kill these two."
"No, listen to me, Aiden. This man is a liar. He's a powerful wizard. I've come to help you, but he's been controlling my actions. He took your friend and now he's trying to kill your only help, so you will have no way to defend yourself."
Aiden's left fist glowed with fire. A burst of flames surrounded him, burning the graveyard they all three stood in.
"Alright." Aiden stood up with immense power, his twin spellguns left on the ground. The bandaged mage prepared to fight two on one.
Aiden yelled and went for a fake out attack. He projected all of his rage at the girl with the blonde braids.
"What?! How dare you!" The fire launched from Aiden's fist at a faster speed than any gun could project, and an inferno the size of a skyscraper engulfed the girl before she could do anything to stop it.
"You'll pay for this!" she screeched. The flames vanished, leaving nothing but charred ground and an empty circle where the inferno hit.
Aiden, out of breath, said to the mage before him, "I knew she wasn't my friend. She was lying through her teeth." He continued panting. "Now, the question is, are you friend or foe?"
"The name is Kyugen," the mage said. "For now, I'm your friend, though I can't promise we will hold any sort of alliance. I suggest you continue training and honing your abilities. It seems there are powers beyond us that are plotting something."
"Plotting something?"
"Yes." Kyugen opened a portal and stepped through.
"Wait!" Aiden cried, but Kyugen didn't care and continued through the portal. It closed, leaving Aiden to fall to the ground, exhausted.
"I still need to get Tye back," he said, clutching the dust on the ground, though he knew no one was there to hear him anymore. Then, everything went black


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Our Services Complex Care
What is complex care?
We are a provider of complex care support for people who need medium to long-term, continuing, specialist or substantial care because of a disability or chronic illness, or following hospitalisation or long-term medical treatment. Our senior professionals look carefully at individual needs and create a personalised tailor-made plan to give them the best possible care.
We regularly review the plan with other professionals to make sure you receive the right level and type of support when you need it.
You'll find us discreet, reliable, positive and honest in our support as we help children and adults with disabilities and health conditions achieve maximum independence in all aspects of their daily lives. Whether a client or service user needs just an hour's support a day, or 24-hour live-in care, we will work with you to create the most appropriate care plan.
We care for people with a wide variety of disabilities and health conditions ensuring we work with all the community team in place and family members who are part of the complex care package.
When we provide intensive or long-term care for people in their own homes, we'll create an individual complex care plan to look after them.
- Huntington's Disease
- Locked-in Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Help at home
- Live-in care
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Paediatric
- Ventilated clients
How it works
A dedicated senior case manager will attend all reviews and assessments and give your client a single point of contact, specialist intervention and assessments when they need it. We will provide care workers and healthcare professionals to match their needs and the client is surrounded by 24-hour on-call support from case managers and healthcare professionals.
We can produce a complex care package at short notice and an efficient rota system. We realise that stability and continuity of care is vital to clients and their families and endeavour to maintain consistency in terms of staff we provide. All our case managers are experienced in NHS Continuing Care and Social Services Packages of Care.
Individual Complex Care Plans
Once we've received your referral, we'll visit your client at home or in hospital and talk to you both about the type of care they need. We will then develop a care plan and assess the risks with the help of the client, carers, family members and healthcare professionals. The care plan will look at the health, social care and level of support your client needs.
Once we've agreed this with the relevant funding authority, we can create a client contract to outline roles and responsibilities.
Why choose Four Oaks Healthcare for Complex Care?
At Four Oaks Healthcare our aim is to improve the quality of life of the people we care for and their carers, by providing the best complex care and support services.
By providing safe and effective care we can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, reduce the length of stay in acute units and improve end-of-life experience. We manage risk efficiently and work hard to co-ordinate a variety of services to look after you and your clients every step of the way, whatever their individual needs.
Giving you the best care
You'll find we take a pride in our company and our work. Our staff are loyal, committed and enthusiastic, providing warm, compassionate complex care.
We firmly believe our care services are the best and continually challenge ourselves to improve every day. We actively encourage creativity and innovation throughout the teams and we're constantly seeking new ways to improve our service to you.


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SFUU's Transportation Footprint
Thanks for participating in this discussion on April 14, 2019!
Participants at this forum brainstormed about how we can work together to reduce our fossil fuel consumption. Discussion covered how to encourage members to carpool and the potential for using public transport to get around our local area (around town in Auburn, to the Rocklin/Roseville area, to Sacramento, and to Grass Valley). Stay posted for a possible "bus party" to allow us to familiarize ourselves with the local bus routes! Click here for Bob's summary of the main outcomes of this forum.
The purpose of this project is to lower the SFUU congregation's carbon footprint by reducing the number of miles the congregation, as a whole, travels by car or by other means that consume fossil fuels. One outcome of the project is to obtain agreement on personal actions that each congregant is willing to take in the area of transportation. The project will begin with a congregational forum to introduce the idea of reducing our transportation footprint. This will include discussions of ride-sharing, video conferencing techniques for meetings, public transport alternatives, personal trip awareness, maximizing driving efficiency, and getting travel/tourist satisfaction while still minimizing the impact on our planet. A brainstorming session will round out the forum and may identify other efforts that will help SFUU meet its goal of reducing its transportation carbon footprint.
SFUU serves a farflung geographic area, so sharing rides to church for Sunday services, meetings and special events, and video conferencing some committee meetings are all ways to start reducing our transportation footprint. To facilitate ride-sharing, we propose creating a physical or virtual ride-board. Recognizing that we use transportation for more than just church functions, we also propose disseminating information about public transportation alternatives for our area, perhaps devoting space to this issue in our monthly newsletter. This could involve local transportation alternatives columns in the newsletter or developing experts in public transportation to serve as resources for our congregation.
Green Team Leader for this project: Bob Niblack
Click here to learn about zoom meetings (one method of video conferencing)
Click here for tips on maximizing your fuel efficiency from the Union of Concerned Scientists


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Corsage Questions
Can You Make a Corsage for Me?
I'm often asked if I can make wedding flowers for someone - but no, I'm retired from the flower shop. I can answer questions you have and supply the necessary products only.
Is it Hard to Make a Corsage?
Not really. In days gone by, florists always wired and taped each and every bloom that went into a corsage. With the introduction of floral adhesive, it is much easier to create gorgeous wrist corsages.
How Soon Can I Make Corsages before a Wedding?
Corsages are usually the last thing I create for a wedding. Because they are cut off from a water source, they won't last as long.
Where Can I Buy Corsage and Boutonniere Products?
I carry a full line of products just for that purpose. They are the same products professional florists use. The advantage is that I've broken down the large lots that florists are required to buy so that you can buy them individually and truly save money at the same time.
If You Have Questions about a Specific Corsage Picture . . .
If you still have questions that aren't answered above, please feel free to drop me a line. If you have questions about a specific picture, please be sure to reference the page URL AND the specific corsage on the page you are asking about. Fill out the form below and I'll get back as quick as I can!


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Wooden Hill Coffee Co.
Branding for Wooden Hill Coffee Co. based in the Bedfordshire, the brand takes it's name from an old Bedfordshire saying "up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire".
The ascending and descending lines are inspired by staircases and the interlocking paths reminiscent of old parquet flooring. There are two versions of the logo that use different patterns as they will be stamped using black ink to distinguish between the companies two blends.


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Bringing Fresh Eyes to an Old Story
Even if you've never read the actual story of David & Goliath in the Hebrew scriptures (in the book of Samuel here), you've no doubt heard the reference. A "David & Goliath story" happens when a small, unlikely person battles and conquers a giant. The story is a classic for a reason.
David & Goliath speaks to the universal appeal of bravery and victory going to the underdog. For people of faith, the story conveys God's provision, not by an earth-shattering miracle, but by God's using David's training as a shepherd to prepare him for this epic battle.
The idea of moving from a lowly position to a conquering hero is one which transcends time and culture.
In the video below, Malcom Gladwell re-frames the tale and makes a couple of unusual observations. In this talk Gladwell takes nothing away from the original text, but uncovers thoughts which will appeal to the most analytical minds.
Take a look...
Now think about how the story applies to some of the situations you experience. Perhaps you fall for two mistakes which David avoided:
1) Are you dismissive of your resources?
How often do you dismiss "all that you have" as being inadequate? Part of what I love about David's story is how he operates from his strengths and refuses to approach a problem outside his skill set.
If you're like I am, it's easy to marginalize your gifts and resources because they don't compare well to the crowd or what's "typical" for the situation. In new or scary situations I'm tempted to look at my tools and think I'm ill-equipped for the job.
Sometimes I need to view my future hopes and dreams through the lens of my past, show a little bravery, and trust God's training.
David recognizes the value of what he can do without boasting or dismissing his skills (or his confidence in God).
2 ) Do you understand the challenge?
David also skips the second mistake by seeing his opponent accurately. Challenges don't usually come with obvious solutions (otherwise someone else would have been the "conqueror"), but David finds his opponent's weakness. David saw what others missed and understood the opportunity to win.
While David's technique wasn't new, he alone applied his skills to the situation.
Do you understand how your skills fit the challenge you face? Do you really understand the opponent? I love Gladwell's closing remark...
"Giants are not always as strong as they seem, and sometimes a shepherd boy has a sling in his pocket."
What do you have in your pocket?


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MIKE MOWER, baritone saxophonist with the saxophone quartet Itchy Fingers, originally studied classical flute at the Royal Academy in London. His high-energy pieces provide many opportunities for improvisation. In addition to producing classical and jazz CDs, his work as composer and arranger has included commissions for ensembles such as the BBC Big Band and Radio Orchestra, London, the NDR Big Band, Hamburg, the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, and many classical and jazz ensembles throughout Europe. Read more »
Earlier this year, the Amherst Saxophone Quartet was knocked out of their position as quartet-in-residence at the University at Buffalo, not for any reason that was based on their level of artistic accomplishment (round up the usual weak-kneed suspects: budgetary shortfall, etc.). Thursday evening, at their Allen Hall concert, broadcast live on WBFO, the ASQ clearly demonstrated by their high performance level that they were by no means ready to throw in the towel. Read more »


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CRKT Big Eddy
Designed by Alaska fishing guide, Russ Kommer, this blade breaks the mold for traditional fillet knife design. Most fillet knives rely on a symmetrical blade grind for cutting, but what Russ did was apply a hollow grind ton the topside and a flat grind on the bottom. This makes your fish fillets lift and float off the topside while the bottom side is gliding and not digging into the skin.
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A Note on the Gentrification Syllabus
Recently I posted a syllabus co-created with a student for their independent study. One of the documentaries we viewed was FLAG WARS, which I found to be an interesting examination of a predominantly white, LGBTQ group of homeowners and realtors that gentrified a predominantly Black neighborhood in Columbus, OH. The documentary deftly illustrates some of the earlier waves of gentrification led by the LGBTQ community, particularly how this community created physical spaces/neighborhoods through gentrification. Yet I found the documentary problematic in a number of ways. The first was the homophobic language used by long term residents. It wasn't necessary to the narrative, even if it did capture the realism and tensions of the time. I am not a film studies scholar, so I won't delve into the merits of preserving hateful language (the comments in question are made on a resident's porch, as they talk with neighbors, and are not used to drive any antagonisms between the residents and gentrifiers), but I certainly didn't think I would show it in my seminar course, as there are other means to study LGBTQ gentrification. The second was this false parallel the gentrifiers (and by extension, the documentarian) made with these long-term Black residents. The white LGBTQ residents felt rightfully excluded from other (white) neighborhoods in Columbus, and saw the old homes in this depopulating Black neighborhood as a place to create their own space. The social and political production of space is my reason for being, and so I truly empathized/identified with this community. Nonetheless, these residents started to feel themselves and soon went from "we feel excluded and need a space" to "we, like these Black residents, have been discriminated against and because we have disposable income/access to capital to 'improve' the neighborhood, we deserve this space." There are no mentions of Black neighborhood formation via exclusion, the role of white supremacy in the housing market, and only one explicit mention of Black dispossession and disinvestment (via access to capital). And of course, the documentary hinges on "queer people are white and affluent" "black people are straight and poor" binaries. David Epstein's piece (which nudged me to write this note) does a wonderful job breaking down my last point.
So if you must teach FLAG WARS, please do so with critical caution.


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"What is the point of voting?" That may be the question many Americans ask themsevles when they think about November 2018 but growing up in Gaza, that question never arose. Voting was a pipe dream. Our last election was 2006. While we studied democracy in school, we knew that it was all theory. Until the occupation ended, we knew we would not have a choice to have a voice, which is what a vote is supposed to mean. When I came to the US in 2015 to participate in the New Story Leadership delegation in Washington, DC I was thrilled to see democracy in action. People took voting seriously.
In 2016 I began my gradudate studies at the NYU Journalism School to focus on news and documentary filmmaking. That same year, I experienced my first USA Presidential election. Voting was something that mattered for Americans. I remember thinking how exciting this was and yet, how removed from my own experience. Then a friend told me about a local election that she thought might be relevant. Khader El-Yateem, a Palestinian American Lutheran Pastor was running for a seat on the NY City Council, and he was the first Arab American ever to do so.
I was intrigued. I recognized my own people, speaking my own language, Arabic, but engaging in something totally foreign to me, American democracy. I took my camera and started following the campaign. I filmed fiery debates, the inner circle of advisors and the door to door campaign. I started to understand why voting matters. It did not take long to realize that this would become my major thesis project. With Pastor El-Yateem's approval, my crew and I shot over 600 hours of cinema verite footage and "Brooklyn, Inshallah" was born.
I thought only Gaza people were denied a vote, and that American democracy empowered everyone. That was the theory. How naive I was? I learned that many Arab and Muslim Americans, and many other immigrants of color and their families, do not vote in American elections. Like Gazans, many think their vote does not count, while others are too afraid of ICE or Islamophobia, or have had no productive experience with democracy. In Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, only about 250 Arabs and Muslims out of about 40,000 voted in the last election. I could not believe that then and still find it astounding. My camera followed the candidate. Could he change that?
Born in Bethlehem Palestine, starved and tortured by the IDF as a seminarian, and 20 years serving all the people of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn — Jews, Muslims, Christians — Rev. Khader Al Yateem became the face and the voice of my documentary. His story became emblemmatic of this whole community in their crucible moment when they had to decide if their silence would protect them. They rallied around his candidacy with the leadership of local activists who registered and mobilized thousands of American Arab and Muslim voters for the first time.
The key figures to emerge on that leadership team were two women campaign organizers who in this #MeToo age, challenge the orthodoxies of Brooklyn power broking. One is controversial and a nationally known Muslim leader, Linda Sarsour, who was the force behind the 2017 Washington Women's March and of Khader even running. Sarsour is also the subject of daily death threats from anti-Arab fanatics. The other is a young local community organizer Aber Kawas, whose family were victims of post 9-11 Muslim deportations, and who has a personal stake in the outcome. These two Muslim women, together with a Christian priest, form an unlikely team, working tirelessly to mobilize the Arab American and Muslim communities of Bay Ridge. This story of voter empwerment is also a story of women leadership.
As the film reveals, the odds were stacked against them from the start. But by registering and mobilizing over 3,000 new voters from the American Arab and Muslim communities, they set up the platform for a whole new player in Brooklyn and NYC politics — "Yallah Brooklyn" an alliance of Arab American voters who are playing a decisive role in the 2018 elections. No one will dare ignore them again in a hurry.
My focus now is to raise the funds to finish editing "Brooklyn, Inshallah" and take it on the road in September and October to support voter registration drives, attract volunteers, and create media buzz. As a non-partisan initiative, we want to mobilize all American Arab and Muslim voters, irrespective of whether they are affiliated with any political party or candidate. "Brooklyn, Inshallah" will partner with non-profit organizations in targeted communities to organize screenings/voter registration drives. The format can be as simple as showing the film and using it as a trigger to discussion about what lessons can be learned. As director, I am an experienced speaker and facilitator of group events.
"Brooklyn, Inshallah" is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Fractured Atlas will receive grants for the charitable purposes of funding "Brooklyn, Inshallah", provide oversight to ensure that grant funds are used in accordance with grant agreements, and provide reports as required by the grantor. Contributions for the charitable purposes of "Brooklyn, Inshallah" must be made payable to Fractured Atlas and are tax-deductible. You can give online here.
According to recent research, 42% of those who did not vote in 2016 were from minorities, mainly Black, Asian, Hispanic, women and Arab. Democracy never works if people are silenced. In 2018, more Arab Americans and Muslim Americans – and our allies – are running for office than ever before and they need our support. It is time for our American Arab and Muslim communities to make democracy work for everyone, including us. Please support "Brooklyn, Inshallah."


text: Finding ways to make delicious and healthy food and drinks for my family is important, but can be time consuming. I try and take advantage of any moment especially my work breaks throughout the the day to prep or make some goodies for everyone. In this episode of the work break I teach how to make one of my favorite drinks, Rosa De Jamaica aka Hibiscus Juice, thats easy for you to make over and over again.Read More


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Tear Drop Stepping Stone Mold
Tear Drop Stepping Stone Mold
from 15.00
Memory Stone
Measures 8" x 5" x 2" thick at its thickest, the Concrete mold is made of ABS. Select your thickness.
A great stone to send to your friend who lives far away or would make a wonderful gift for a keepsake stone or memorial stone for a pet or loved one.
Printed instructions are included.
You will use this concrete mold to make the item shown.
Select Thickness:
Add To Cart


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The African Access Holdings Group spans a multitude of business areas and industries. We focus our investments in a variety of small and medium businesses resulting in a well-balanced and competitive portfolio with strong growth potential.
Our subsidiaries are selected for a combination of organisational effectiveness and for their sector specific positioning to strategically align all our investments with South Africa's development goals. Our business units achieve high return on investments, provide solutions to our partners and empower the people on our continent.
African Access Information & Communication Technology
Specialist IT solutions services provider.
Access Hospitality Management Services
Catering to hotel and Leisure pursuits.
African Access Agriculture
Utilising agriculture as a catalyst for rural development, poverty eradication and economic emancipation.
African Access Telecom
Advanced and professional turnkey services in the IT and Telecommunications industry.
Agri Land
Land reform process management specialist as well as Agri property, project and risk management.
Brand Talk
Connecting your brand to the world.
Chanti Travel & Events
Whilst Chanti Travel takes care of the arrangements, clients get to devote all their time to their business or leisure pursuits.
Develop Access - Office Automation
Dynamic balance - our strategy for your success. Now and in the future.
Edu Logistical Solutions
State-of-the art innovative warehousing and distribution facilities.
Edu Procurement
Strategic Sourcing and Buying function.
Edu Solutions
Complete end-to-end supply chain management solution specialist providing Learner Teacher Support Material (LTSM) to Provincial Departments.
L'Agulhas Links
Property development located at the southernmost tip of Africa.
Original Boats
Exclusive private motor yacht charter offers you personalised tours of Robben Island, Table Bay and surrounds.
Road and pothole maintenance that is quick, clean and inexpensive.
Prop Access
Sourcing and acquisition of prime property.
Ensuring road safety for all South Africans.
Safe Zone
Comprehensive security solutions, providing peace-of-mind in any environment.


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Sales at Coca-Cola company has continued to fizzle and the company has announced to cut 1,200 jobs to try and get back on track.
The company made this known in its earnings report Tuesday that the layoffs, which will begin in the second half of this year, are part of a broader cost-cutting plan aimed at saving $800 million.
The layoffs are a relatively small fraction of the company's overall headcount.
Recall that in 2015, Coke (KO) announced it will eliminate 1,600 to 1,800 jobs around the globe as part of a major reorganisation over the coming months aimed at saving billions of dollars during the next five years.
As at 2015, Coke employs about 130,600 people around the world, it not employs about 100,000 people worldwide.
According to CNNMoney Incoming CEO James Quincey said the moves are being made to make Coke more agile and lean. The company is also in the process of refranchising some of its bottling operations in North America to save money.
Quincey, currently Coke's chief operating officer, will take over as CEO on May 1. He is succeeding long-time CEO Muhtar Kent, who will remain at Coke as its chairman.
Coke has struggled over the past few years as consumer tastes have shifted away from sugary drinks. Even Coke's diet brands are in decline due to health risks associated with artificial sweeteners.


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This morning, Tom Closser (owner of Aloha Bay) sent this out and we thought it well worth reading if you care about environmental sustainability. It opened our eyes and we hope it opens yours. Utopia is proud to carry Aloha Bay products. Check them out when you get a chance.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead
All of us are getting bombarded with thousands of messages every day that are doctored and spun by media experts. Greenwashing, like "whitewash" and "green sheen", are all forms of marketing spin in which positive language or claims are deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's products, aims and/or policies are environmentally friendly. Evidence that an organization is greenwashing often comes from pointing out the spending differences: significantly more money or time is spent advertising being "green" (that is, operating with consideration for the environment), than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices.
Greenwashing efforts range from changing the name or label of a product to evoke the natural environment on a product that contains harmful chemicals to multimillion dollar advertising campaigns portraying highly polluting energy companies as eco-friendly. The rise of green and sustainable business practices has sent a ripple, maybe even a storm, heck more like a tsunami through the natural food industry. While many organizations have made an earnest attempt to become greener, it's also no surprise that many others have attempted to use marketing to disguise feeble efforts and mislead consumers about what they're actually doing.
While greenwashing is not new, its use has increased over recent years to meet consumer demand for environmentally friendly goods and services. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides voluntary guidelines for environmental marketing claims. However, the green guidelines were not created to be used as an enforceable guideline but instead were intended to be followed voluntarily. The problem is compounded for especially in the lifestyle category there are no guidelines. Manufacturers can still claim their candles are "all natural" or "100% vegan" when they contain hexane derived soy wax. In an effort to appear to use pure essential oils, manufacturers claim "signature perfume blends with essential and natural oils" when the fragrance is actually 99% synthetic. Candlemakers are not required to list all the petrochemical additives used in candle making or in their proprietary fragrances. Terms such as "Soy Candles" or "Beeswax" can be on a product label when in fact the contents are a blend of paraffin and other waxes.
Examples of Greenwashing
Throughout the year in Aloha Bay's monthly newsletters, we will address these myths and more:
- One type of wax burns longer, better, cleaner, and is drip less.
- Beeswax candles are the purest. (They are full of pesticide residue.)
- Only beeswax gives off healthful negative ions and cleans your air.
- Commercially farmed, pesticide and heavy equipment intensive, annual soy crops are sustainable, eco-friendly, renewable, and carbon neutral.
- Candles are soot free.
- Pure essentials oils and synthetic fragrances are the same.
- Any soy wax is non-GMO.
- Beeswax and soy wax are healthier alternatives.
- Palm plantations and not soy farms are destroying rainforests.
- Palm production is killing off orangutans and other wildlife.
However, It's Becoming Tougher to Hoodwink the Public.
Even if the rise of greenwashing, paired with ineffective regulation, contributes to our skepticism of all green claims, and perhaps diminishes consumer's confidence in our power to motivate companies toward greener solutions for manufacturing processes and business operations, don't give up.
A number of organizations, including Organic Consumers Association, TerraChoice Group, Green Peace, Cornucopia and CorpWatch have begun calling out companies for perceived exaggerations or outright fabrications. Thankfully, the press is increasingly picking up on these stories.
Check out: Greenwashing Index attempts to keep advertisers honest; California's right to know grocershighlights natural food stores that are organic and cites non-GMO advocates trying to make a difference; andUNFI's Honest Green news is useful, because it rates fifteen-thousand products by what sells the best.
The Truth is Out There.
Truth in marketing is essential for sustainable commerce. However, because there are no US requirements for fragranced health and beauty products to source sustainably, the industry is notorious for false marketing claims and egregious greenwashing. You just have to ask enough questions. Honest manufactures always appreciate your questions about any global issues, so don't hesitate to query the owner, president, or CEO. Your intelligent questions and sustainable choices will ultimately determine the health of your friends, family and our planet.
Here are a few tips on what to look for so you don't get greenwashed (or if you're a company, avoid involvement in greenwashing):
The Truth: If you see a green advertisement, take a look at the company as a whole. Can you easily find more information about their sustainable business practices on their website? Do they have a comprehensive environmental story? Is there believable information to substantiate the green claims you saw in the ad? If not, buyer beware.
The Whole Truth: Next, try this: Google the company name plus the word "environment" and see what pops up. This is far from scientific, but if consumers or environmental advocates have a beef with the company's track record, something is bound to pop up.
And Nothing But the Truth: "I know it when I see it." Those are the words of Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart in a ruling on hard-core pornography in 1964. If you spot a green advert, how does it strike your gut? Does it ring true and authentic, or is it obviously hype? Smart shoppers abound globally, and your own scrutiny of green marketing claims is one more item to throw into your shopping cart.
You Have the Power to Change the World
As you and other consumers become more savvy and the downside for greenwashing becomes more apparent, smart companies will increasingly discover that it's better to approach environmental issues honestly and make genuine efforts to improve rather than to try to fool us folks. What you spend your hard-earned money on determines what manufacturers produce and from whom they source their raw materials.
Who Are Your Purchases Supporting?
If you demand to know who and where the raw materials come from that a manufacturer uses in their products, you can decide whether you want to support global greed driven agro-conglomerates such as Monsanto or fair trade, organic, and Rainforest Alliance certified growers. Aloha Bay is the only candlemaker in the world that is certified Rainforest Alliance and EcoCert, sources certified organic USDA palm oil, and is verified non-GMO.
Aloha Bay's New Year's Resolution: Be Totally Transparent.
The soul of any brand exists in those core values that they hold to even under the most stressful situations, independent of the business environment, competitive pressures, or consumer fads. These values are so inherent in the most sustainable companies that if they disappeared, the company would cease to exist. The best situation is when the manufacturer makes the most sustainable choices about sourcing raw materials based on contacts with folks who actually live in those countries. Sourcing sustainable palm is an ongoing process, because even better organic, fair trade and Rainforest Alliance certified sources are becoming available. Transparency about what is in our products is the key to Aloha Bay's corporate conscience. We make every effort to source organic, fair trade and sustainable raw materials and are conscientious of the implications of our international purchases.


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Narrow Results Clear All
Resource Type
Approach to Improving Safety
- Communication Improvement 5
- Culture of Safety 1
- Human Factors Engineering 3
- Legal and Policy Approaches 3
- Logistical Approaches 3
- Policies and Operations 2
- Quality Improvement Strategies 10
- Teamwork 1
Safety Target
- Device-related Complications 2
- Discontinuities, Gaps, and Hand-Off Problems 2
- Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation 3
- Identification Errors 2
- Medical Complications 1
- Medication Safety 5
- Psychological and Social Complications 1
- Surgical Complications 7
Setting of Care
Clinical Area
Target Audience
Error Types
Search results for "Nurses"
Download Citation File:
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- Sort: Best Match | Most Recent
Journal Article > Commentary
Infection prevention in the operating room anesthesia work area.
Munoz-Price LS, Bowdle A, Johnston BL, et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019;40:1-17.
This expert guidance provides recommendations to help health care facilities develop policies for preventing health care–associated infections in the operating room. The authors build on existing anesthesia safety practices to outline specific actions for infection prevention and control.
Journal Article > Organizational Policy/Guidelines
Managing Alarms in Acute Care Across the Life Span: Electrocardiography and Pulse Oximetry.
Jespen S, Sendelbach S. Crit Care Nurs. 2018;38:e16-e20.
Overexposure to clinical alarms can contribute to burnout, errors of omission, and staff fatigue. This guideline suggests improvements for both frontline nurses and nursing leaders to enhance the management of electrocardiogram and pulse oximetry monitoring to reduce false alarms and alarm fatigue.
Journal Article > Commentary
Guideline Summary: Medication Safety.
Association of PeriOperatve Registered Nurses. AORN J. 2018;107:489-494.
Perioperative medication errors can result in patient harm as well as emotional distress among clinical team members. This guideline summary outlines best practices to ensure surgical teams employ methods to design, implement, and assess medication safety processes and improvements. A related commentary discusses how to integrate the guidelines into frontline care activities.
Journal Article > Commentary
AORN Position Statement on Patient Safety.
This position statement outlines recommendations from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses on core components of safe perioperative nursing and its role in strengthening patient safety. Elements discussed include error reduction, patient engagement, and appropriate staffing levels.
Journal Article > Commentary
2016 Updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, including standards for pediatric oncology.
Neuss MN, Gilmore TR, Belderson KM, et al. J Oncol Pract. 2016;12:1262-1271.
Administration errors involving chemotherapeutic agents can result in patient harm. This set of standards provides guidance to help ensure reliable use of these high-alert medications for both adult and pediatric patients. Components of the revised standards are expanded to include two-person verification, vinca alkaloid mini-bag administration, and labeling enhancements for home-based chemotherapy.
Journal Article > Commentary
The effect of staff nurses' shift length and fatigue on patient safety and nurses' health: from the National Association of Neonatal Nurses.
Samra HA, Smith BA. Adv Neonatal Care. 2015;15:311.
Nurses' work-related fatigue has the potential to contribute to medication errors and missed nursing care. This position statement provides recommendations for neonatal nurses and their employers to reduce risks related to long work shifts.
Legislation/Regulation > Organizational Policy/Guidelines
Addressing nurse fatigue to promote safety and health: joint responsibilities of registered nurses and employers to reduce risks.
Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association; September 2014.
Fatigue is known to contribute to mistakes and omissions in nursing care. This position statement outlines the shared responsibility of nurses and health care organizations to limit the conditions that contribute to nurse fatigue such as shift work, personal habits, and mandatory overtime.
Legislation/Regulation > Sentinel Event Alerts
Managing risk during transition to new ISO tubing connector standards.
Sentinel Event Alert. August 20, 2014;(53):1-6.
The Joint Commission issues sentinel event alerts in response to significant emerging safety risks for events which carry high risk and require immediate action. This alert reports on new standards for tubing connectors to prevent injury from incorrect administration of therapeutic agents. New ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards prevent one type of tubing (such as intravenous) to be incorrectly attached to a different delivery system (such as a feeding tube.) The Joint Commission recommends multidisciplinary review of existing tubing connectors, maintaining awareness of the possibility for incorrect connections, and preparing and adopting safety connectors as soon as they are available in late 2014. A past AHRQ WebM&M commentary describes an administration error due to incorrect tubing connection.
Journal Article > Commentary
Delivery of optimized inpatient anticoagulation therapy: consensus statement from the Anticoagulation Forum.
Nutescu EA, Wittkowsky AK, Burnett A, Merli GJ, Ansell JE, Garcia DA. Ann Pharmacother. 2013;47:714-724.
Anticoagulant medications are considered among the highest-risk medications in common use, due to the potential for serious bleeding complications if medication errors occur. As a result, ensuring anticoagulant safety is one of the National Patient Safety Goals. This consensus statement provides guidelines for developing safer systems for the appropriate prescribing, administration, and monitoring of anticoagulant drugs in the hospital setting, as well as for minimizing adverse events after hospital discharge in patients receiving these medications. A serious medication error due to incorrect dosing of warfarin is discussed in an AHRQ WebM&M commentary.
Journal Article > Commentary
Optimal preoperative assessment of the geriatric surgical patient: a best practices guideline from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and the American Geriatrics Society.
Chow WB, Rosenthal RA, Merkow RP, Ko CY, Esnaola NF. J Am Coll Surg. 2012;215:453-466.
This guideline describes recommendations for preoperative assessment of elderly surgical patients, including risk factors for postoperative delirium and pulmonary complications, to enhance safety and reduce readmissions.
Legislation/Regulation > Sentinel Event Alerts
Safe use of opioids in hospitals.
Sentinel Event Alert. August 8, 2012;(49):1-5.
Opioid pain medications are considered high-risk medications due to the potential for respiratory depression and other adverse effects. Because these medications are frequently used to treat acute pain in the hospital, opioids account for a disproportionate share of preventable adverse drug events. This sentinel event alert, issued by The Joint Commission to highlight particularly important safety issues, calls for hospitals to implement standardized methods to assess and monitor acute pain, ensure education for clinicians on appropriate opioid usage, and use information technology to support safe opioid prescribing. A serious case of opioid overdose is discussed in this AHRQ WebM&M commentary.
Legislation/Regulation > Sentinel Event Alerts
Health care worker fatigue and patient safety.
Sentinel Event Alert. December 14, 2011;(48):1-4.
The Joint Commission issues sentinel event alerts to emphasize pressing safety issues and provide guidelines for organizations on how to address them. The link between health care worker fatigue and patient safety has been established in seminal studies, which have demonstrated that the risk of error increases when nurses work more than 12 hours per shift and when resident physicians work more than 16 consecutive hours. In response to these data, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) further restricted resident duty hours in 2011. This alert calls on hospitals to design work schedules to minimize fatigue risks, monitor the safety of handoffs, and provide education for clinicians on fatigue management strategies. The combination of the ACGME regulations and this sentinel event alert provides a powerful incentive for teaching hospitals and residency programs to harmonize efforts around minimizing the risk of fatigue-related complications.
Journal Article > Commentary
ACOG Committee Opinion #464: patient safety in the surgical environment.
ACOG Committee on Patient Safety and Quality Improvement. Obstet Gynecol. 2010;116:786-790.
This revision of the 2006 committee statement provides a series of recommendations responding to issues that contribute to errors within the operative theater and highlights checklists as one approach to improvement.
Legislation/Regulation > Organizational Policy/Guidelines
2008 Recommendations for Pre-Anesthesia Checkout Procedures.
ASA Committee on Equipment and Facilities. Park Ridge, IL: American Society of Anesthesiologists; 2008.
These guidelines explain how to examine equipment prior to administering anesthesia; the protocol includes checklists that can be used for specific equipment systems.
Journal Article > Commentary
AORN Guidance Statement: Safe Medication Practices in Perioperative Settings Across the Life Span.
This guidance statement outlines recommendations from the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) for developing, implementing, and evaluating safe medication practices in the perioperative environment.
Legislation/Regulation > Organizational Policy/Guidelines
AORN guidance statement: creating a patient safety culture.
This article provides a framework of strategies to support a culture of safety in the perioperative environment.
Statement on the prevention of retained foreign bodies after surgery.
Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons; October 2005.
This statement briefly lists the American College of Surgeons' guidelines for preventing retention of sponges, sharps, instruments, and other items after surgery.
Legislation/Regulation > Multi-use Website
Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, Wrong Person Surgery.
- Classic
The Joint Commission.
According to an AHRQ-supported study, wrong-site surgery occurred at a rate of approximately 1 per 113,000 operations between 1985 and 2004. In July 2004, The Joint Commission enacted a Universal Protocol that was developed through expert consensus on principles and steps for preventing wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery. The Universal Protocol applies to all accredited hospitals, ambulatory care, and office-based surgery facilities. The protocol requires performing a time out prior to beginning surgery, a practice that has been shown to improve teamwork and decrease the overall risk of wrong-site surgery. This Web site includes a number of resources and facts related to the Universal Protocol. Wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient errors are all now considered never events by the National Quality Forum and sentinel events by The Joint Commission. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have not reimbursed for any costs associated with these surgical errors since 2009.


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Prevalent Ethereum wallet MyEtherWallet (MEW) has recorded more endeavored assaults by programmers than Fortune 500 banks, as indicated by reports from driving cybersecurity firm Segasec.
Segasec has been in charge of protecting MEW from vindictive assaults. Such endeavored assaults don't come as a shock, knowing the measure of profitable Ethereum tokens got to through the MEW stage. Truly, clients are constantly gone up against with an obvious message on the stage's landing page exhorting them on the best way to protect their wallets.
An Exceptional ScenarioPast the fundamental safety efforts that are identified with private keys and login apparatuses, generally stage security is vitally basic. As indicated by Segasec, since the start of its assignment of ensuring the MEW stage, it has brought down 313 dynamic assaults, with a normal of 30 to 40 every week, and these numbers are developing day by day.
The CEO and Co-Founder of Segasec, Elad Schulman, clarifies that such measurements as specified above place MEW among the best organizations getting hit in the crypto world. He likewise takes note of that the stage has been focused on essentially a greater number of times than a portion of the enormous names in the venture enterprises, similar to huge budgetary organizations.
Obviously, the need to appoint the duty to anchor the MEW stage has all the earmarks of being for the most part because of these staggering assaults. Until the enlistment of Segasec, anchoring the MEW stage was being completed by its originator, Kosala Hemachandra, and his group. The recognizable proof of phishing assaults and mimicking locales offered a feverish errand that would frequently take the group two or three days and unlimited stages to accomplish. This is primarilyy because of the volume of such assaults.
About User SecurityAs per Hemachandra, the association with Segasec is fundamentally gone for anchoring stage clients and guaranteeing the wellbeing of their Ethereum tokens.
He says:
We need our clients to feel safe and we will do all that we can to get that going, so joining forces with Segasec is another significant advance towards protecting our clients from malevolent performers.Security dangers frequently show up as pernicious duplicates of their focused on destinations crosswise over different computerized channels with the goal to misdirect potential clients. These could be through particular sites, web based life, and even Google Ads.
Insurance against such dangers is typically taken care of by either add up to takedown of such vindictive stages, blocking them, or by duplicity before clients end up presented to them.
On account of MEW, Segasec is, right now, always observing 2,746 suspicious areas on the off chance that they develop into dynamic assaults.


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Facebook shares dip by five per cent
Shares in Facebook fell to a new low yesterday amid reports that the social network was planning to spend billions of dollars buying companies that could help it build its own mobile phone.
The stock dropped more than 8 per cent as markets reacted badly to suggestions that it was considering a bid to acquire Opera, the Norwegian company that provides one of the most widely used mobile internet browsers.
At its present share price, Opera is worth more than £500 million. But analysts said that Google also coveted the Scandinavian company's software for its Android operating system for mobile phones, suggesting that a bidding war could push the price above $1 billion.
Facebook shares dropped to about $29 (£18.50) yesterday, valuing the company at…


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The number of used cars being imported under different schemes are still on rise as more than 8,500 used vehicles were imported during just two months of the current financial year.
According to details, approximately 4,440 vehicles were imported in July 2016 and 4,076 were imported in August 2016. The break-up of imported vehicles in July shows that 2,408 cars below 800cc (1211 cars and 1197 cargo vans/pick-ups/jeeps) and 809 vehicles from 800cc to 1000cc were imported.
A total number of 715 vehicles from 1500cc to 1800cc including 35 non-hybrid and 680 hybrid were imported. In the above 1800cc category, total 508 vehicles (luxury, SUVs, trucks & busses, and LCVs) were imported.
Similarly, in the month of August 2016 vehicles of below 800cc (1,025 cars and 520 cargo vans/pick-ups/jeeps) and 775 from 800cc to 1000cc vehicles were imported. In the 1500cc to 1800cc category, 834 vehicles including 34 Non-Hybrid and 800 Hybrid were imported, while 404 vehicles in the above 1800cc category were imported in the said month.
Pakistan Automobiles Assemblers Dealer Association (PAMADA) has asked the government to look into this issue as upsurge in the import of used cars still continues.
"The government should probe the misuse of baggage and gift schemes for imports of used cars, which is resulting in huge losses to national kitty," demanded Iqbal Shah, Chairman PAMADA. He expressed his profound concern on the issue and said: "we have grave concerns over the illegal and unchecked import of used cars right under the nose of FBR. Smuggled and non-duty paid motor vehicles are a very small part of illegal car imports and if the government is serious to counter the revenue loss it should stop the misuse of used cars import schemes. This is because it is increasing consistently as more than 54,000 units were imported in 2015-16 as compared to 30,000 units in the corresponding period last year."
Iqbal Shah added that in the last 10 years, over 300,000 used vehicles have been imported into the country, capturing a prominent chunk of the market, while the surge of used cars is also responsible to some extent for the closure of plants of Hyundai, Nissan, Chevrolet, Fiat and Adam.
"The vehicles are imported as a noncommercial commodity and then openly sold against hard cash in the market. At an average value of Rs1.5 million per used car, this activity has generated grey economy of over Rs80 billion in 2015 alone," he added.
Another problem, Chairman PAMADA added, is that the custom levies on second-hand vehicles are not applied ad-valorem. Instead, a fixed amount in US dollars has been notified under SRO-577, which includes custom duties, sales tax and withholding taxes on an arbitrary and unknown basis.
"These fixed duties are highly suppressed, causing loss of tax revenue to the government. This also effectively subsidizes imported used cars, causing serious damage to the domestic auto industry. This fixed duty is calculated on less than half the current market price of those cars, based on the monetary values that were set in 2005," reasoned Mr Iqbal.
It is worth noting that national exchequer incurred a loss of approximately Rs43.728 million because of this amnesty scheme for smuggled motor vehicles as per FBR. To investigate the matter, an audit team of the Directorate of Post Clearance Audit was involved, which reportedly found a shortfall in the duties and taxes in over 500 files that had been quoted lower than the actual amount. This happened because the vehicles were assessed at a value lower than the actual assessable value provided by FBR.
The major cause of concern is that though the FBR is apprehensive about the low valuation of over 500 vehicles under amnesty scheme but is indifferent to the valuation differences for imported used cars resulting in the loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.


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José "Cheo" Marquetti (April 4, 1909 – March 29, 1967), was an important but underappreciated Cuban singer (reginero and sonero) and songwriter in the guajira-son style.
Marquetti was born in Alquizar, Cuba. He started his career in the late 1930s as singer of danzons with the Belen Puig Orchestra as well as Ernesto Muñoz's Conjunto. He then joined a number of septetos, among them Septeto Cauto, led by Manuel 'Mozo' Borgella with whom he first recorded in 1940, followed by Septeto Hatuey, Septeto Fachenda and the famous Septeto Habanero.
In an effort to achieve wider recognition he left Cuba for Mexico in the mid forties. Only mildly successful, he returned in 1953. Back in Havana he joined Orquestra Sensacion, led by Rolando Valdez (to briefly replace the much more famous sonero Abelardo Barroso). This engagement was followed by temporary stints at a group whose fame survives today, Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas, whose members at the peak of their success and fame were Felix Chappottin, Miguelito Cuni, Rene Alvarez and Louis 'Lili' Martinez as well as Marquetti. Between 1955 and 1957 he had his own conjunto with whom he recorded a couple of albums for the Panart and Egrem labels.
In 1957 he traveled to Venezuela and on his return to rejoined Orquestra Sensación. In 1958 he left the group and formed another conjunto for more recordings. In 1961 he dissolved his group to move to Panama. He returned to Havana in 1963. After his return he was an occasional contributor to Grupo Tutankamen. He died, almost forgotten, in Havana, Cuba, at the relatively young age of 57.


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Stunning New French European inspired custom house by European craftsman. Residence sitting on a 6690 sf lot, South facing, slightly higher in the back at the very pretty quiet street. Spacious 4302 sf open layout plan with 10 ft ceilings, hardwood floor, radiant heating, A/C, HRV & heat pump. True craftsmanship in every detail. This impressive home features 6 bedrooms & 6 bathrooms, an outdoor area perfect for BBQ & entertainment, a gorgeous dining room, a gourmet chef's kitchen including WOLF stainless steel appliances, SUBZERO fridge & wok kitchen. Basement features a home theatre, wet bar, and a space for a fitness gym. Steps to renowned golf courses & parks, BC's top schools: Magee & MacKechnie.
Taxes (2019): $12,448.49


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Only show food that suits me
Peroni Nastro Azzurro
330ml 4.40 /
660ml 6.95
(ABV 5.1%). Made in Italy, a delicate light dry lager (330ml pictured)
Gluten-Free Peroni Nastro Azzurro
330ml 4.40
(ABV 5.1%). The same crisp and light lager, but without gluten
Fuller's Organic Honey Dew Golden Ale
500ml 6.70
Peroni Gran Riserva
500ml 6.95
(ABV 6.6%) Full-bodied with a malty flavour
Thatchers Gold Cider
500ml 6.25
Kopparberg Mixed Fruit Cider
500ml 6.70
Peroni Libera
Peroni's first non-alcoholic lager (ABV 0.0%)
Grecanico Chardonnay
175ml 4.95 /
750ml 18.95
Sicily, Italy (ABV 13.5%). A fresh, crisp, medium-bodied white with a hint of tropical fruits, herbs and sweet spices
175ml 5.50 /
750ml 20.40
Veneto, Italy (ABV 12%). Typically light and delicate with a soft straw colour and gentle almond notes
Pinot Grigio
175ml 6.25 /
750ml 22.50
Veneto, Italy (ABV 12%). A subtle wine: light and lemony with a fruity bouquet and refreshing acidity
Organic Verdicchio
175ml 6.75 /
750ml 23.80
Marche, Italy (ABV 13%). Dry and smooth with apple and citrus notes, and a fresh finish
Sauvignon Blanc
175ml 7.25 /
750ml 26.40
Marlborough, NZ (ABV 12.5%). From the award-winning Yealands winery, a delicious and elegant wine balanced by a flinty minerality
Add any extra ingredients for 1.95 each
Chicken/Pepperoni/Jalapeño peppers/Hot green peppers/Mozzarella/Olives/Prosciutto cotto/Mushroom/'Nduja sausage/Artichokes/Tuna/Brown anchovies
If there are any additional toppings you would like that are not listed above, just ask! Also available as a bigger, thinner, crispier Romana for an extra 1.95.
All our Romana and Classic pizzas can be ordered on our unique, Classic-sized, gluten-free base, made at our gluten-free bakery; if your gluten-free pizza is not served to you on a black board, or if the takeaway box your gluten-free pizza is served in does not carry a gluten-free sticker, please check this with a member of the team. Our Dough Balls 'PizzaExpress' are also available gluten-free.
The GF symbol refers to dishes made with measures in place to avoid gluten-contamination, as accredited by Coeliac UK. We also use gluten-free flour and penne pasta in our kitchens.
Please let the team know if you have any allergen or dietary requirements and ask for our Allergen information, along with our Nutritional information. As our dishes are handmade in our busy kitchens, unfortunately we cannot guarantee that they are 100% free of allergens or contaminants, or that nutritional values are as stated.
Nutritional information, including calories
Food & drinks allergens
Please watch out for stray olive stones and bones
The GF symbol refers to dishes made with measures in place to avoid gluten contamination, as accredited by Coeliac UK. We also use gluten-free flour and penne pasta in our kitchens.
Contains nuts or nut oils.
Suitable for Vegetarians.
Suitable for Vegans (other dishes are available, please ask for the Vegan menu)
The ABV% on alcoholic drinks are correct at time of printing this menu, however may be subject to change.


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It's National Pizza Day today and to celebrate we've done a very legitimate and thorough analysis of which pizza your university is...
Manchester Metropolitan - Meat Feast
The big old hearty meat feast for Manchester Met. Flexing his steroid pumped muscles as he munches on all that meat. Look how manly I am, eating all this meat. Meat meat meat.
University of Manchester - Pepperoni
Just as much testosterone but will probably give you a cuddle as well.
University of Leeds - Yorkshire Pudding Pizza
Yorkshire pudding pizza, yep, tastes as bad as it sounds, but tbh Leeds students are so attractive, if one served it to you, you'd probably eat it anyway.
University of Birmingham - Tikka Masala Pizza
The birthplace of the tikka masala, so they put it on a pizza... what could go wrong? A lot. Just have a curry or a pizza and don't be greedy you weirdos.
University of Warwick - Peach Pizza
It's a perfect match - peach pizza is pretty weird, people from Warwick are pretty weird. But apparently, they're both "fancy"... Uh… Ok...
University of Southampton - Margherita
Everybody LIKES Margherita. I mean, it's ok, there's nothing wrong with it. But let's face it - it's pretty darn boring, just like the people at Southampton University. Although they probably call it 'cheese and tomato'...
University of Exeter - Seafood Pizza
Because it's by the sea... get it? Seriously, does Exeter have ANY other defining features?
Goldsmiths - Vegan Pizza
A vegan pizza is totally wrong on every level but this is Goldsmiths so everything HAS to be vegan, even when it shouldn't be vegan.
London School of Economics - Hawaiian
Some like it, some don't but we can all agree on one thing - regardless of how special the students of LSE may think they are, at the end of the day, it's pretty damn common.
Kings College London - Ham and Mushroom
Talks about itself far less than Hawaiian, quietly delicious, truly classy, a total classic.
Is anyone else suddenly really hungry?
If you liked this, we think you'll love:


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Do PE firms struggle to attract female board directors? Alumni's partner Catharina Mannerfelt shares insights and recommendations based on conversations with female board professionals.
I recently discussed with some thirty female board professionals why private equity firms may find it hard to attract female non-executive directors for their portfolio companies. Rather than the usual theme of availability (or lack) of experienced and relevant female board director candidates, we discussed instead the perception that female candidates are more likely to turn down board offers from PE firms than their male board colleagues. With a surprisingly large number of the women I spoke to, however, the following themes came up again and again:
Culture match: PE firms typically have a different style from the corporate one from which candidates come (and indeed a different style from most portfolio companies); the offices are grand, most investment professionals are young-ish men, and perhaps most importantly, there is a very specific jargon and style. If you have not worked with investment /corporate finance professionals in your earlier career, a slight and often unarticulated uncertainty may arise. This small uncertainty, or discomfort, may be what moves the needle in favour of another board engagement.
Compensation: Most of those I have spoken to consider compensation to be one of PE's clear strengths; the cash remuneration is seen as fair, and the opportunity to invest is very attractive. There is, however, a 'but' with regards to the investment requirement, since it is often understood to be a requirement, not just an opportunity. With the aim of identifying a larger and more diverse pool of potential candidates, nominating committees and search firms scout beyond CEOs and the top-tier management teams. Candidates earlier in their careers and outside the 'CEO-track' have a lower typical income and available personal capital to risk, which means that investing, although attractive in principle, can be less possible in practice.
Risk appetite: Is there a difference between male and female risk appetite? Both recent studies and the women I spoke to are divided. If, for the sake of argument, we accept that women are generally more risk averse, it carries a broad impact;
If the PE firm is new to me, do I want to commit to a responsibility in a new setting?
Do I want to invest my own capital?
Can I trust the 'troika' to keep me informed and involved in all critical decisions?
Is there a sufficient number of independent directors, or will I carry that responsibility alone?
PE firms in general invest with a high-risk profile; is that leverage a deterrent in itself?
Time consumption: Do PE boards consume more time than others? Opinions vary. Some regard PE boards as very intense, whereas other believe that the investment team and the 'troika' increase board efficiency. But if these boards are perceived as being time consuming, operationally active candidates may find it difficult to take on a PE board engagement, and a relatively large proportion of female candidates are still in executive positions.
My advice to PE firms (and other owners) based on this research can be summarised as follows:
Build broader networks earlier: By making an effort to get to know more female executives and board directors, you can, of course, grow the network of potential candidates. But by also allowing time for a relationship to form, you will find that cultural or jargon uncertainty will be diminished. Make the (mutual) effort to understand each other's frames of reference, way of communicating, influencing and decision making. Perhaps some meetings should be on neutral ground, outside the impressive PE offices? Meet the potential candidates where they are at their most comfortable!
Talk about compensation and investment - explicitly: There is an uncertainty regarding the personal investment expected when joining the board of a PE-owned company; my experience is that the size of the expected investment is in most cases exaggerated. Most PE-firms do expect some form of investment, but the size is adjusted to suit the individual director. Furthermore, have a realistic discussion about the time the board role will entail, both for board meetings and work in between meetings. Have a candid discussion regarding the match between time, responsibility and remuneration (cash and investment opportunity).
Don't look for the 'token woman': Female board candidates are in some cases still given the impression (sometimes even explicitly) that the PE firm in question is primarily looking to improve the female representation on the board, and 'that's why we're talking to you'. Unsurprisingly, most candidates will walk away from this type of courtship. However, if you can show that the discussion is part of a genuine and comprehensive effort to become more diverse, it can be the start of an interesting and valuable dialogue. Furthermore, don't limit the diversity initiatives to the board. For long-term impact, executive teams and the investment professionals will need to be more diverse as well. On a related theme, most studies show that for a minority group to have an impact, there needs to be more than one minority member in the group. So, whenever possible, make sure to have two or more female directors on the board.


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Inspirational Desktop Background
I don't know about you but the one thing I look at everyday without fail is my computer and in turn, my computer background. Why not give yourself a little mini pep talk every time you close your tabs? Here is one of my favorite quotes that I've made into desktop background for you!


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Jill Beecher - Production Designer
Jill Beecher is a Production Designer, Art Director and Concept Illustrator from Dublin, Ireland. A member of the British and American Art Director Guilds, her work can be seen on such productions as revival series of Twin Peaks, Alien Covenant, Mother, Spotlight and Game of Thrones. An accomplished animator, she won Best Visual Development Award for Boss Baby in The International Animated Film Festival in Poland in 2017. Her work on The Revenant was recognised by The Art Directors Guild of America in 2016 with an honours award for 'Contribution to Excellence in Production Design for a Period Feature Film.' She is also a visual artist who has exhibited in Europe, America and Australia. She holds an MA in Creative Media Practice from University of West Scotland.