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ALROSA has unveiled The Dynasty, the lead stone in a unique collection of five diamonds created from a 179-carat rough diamond (The Romanovs) and manufactured at its cutting and polishing facilities. The centerpiece of the collection, a 51.38-carat traditional round brilliant-cut diamond, is the purest of all large diamonds manufactured throughout the Russian jewelry history, according to the company. The Romanovs was recovered from Nyurbinskaya kimberlite pipe in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2015. The Dynasty video and photos are available here. The collection will be sold at a special online auction scheduled for November 2017 as part of a program to build up its polishing business for high-end stones.
The company says there was a good reason to choose the name for the collection, which is connected with ALROSA's intention to revive the traditions and memory of renowned Russian jewelers famous for their craftsmanship; Russia's first cutting and polishing factory was founded by Peter I early in the 18th century. The Dynasty, the main 51.38-carat diamond, is a 57-facet traditional round brilliant-cut diamond, Triple Excellent, D, VVS1. As to overall characteristics, it is unprecedented in the history of Russia - it is the most expensive diamond with the best clarity characteristics ever cut in the country, the chef d'oeuvre of Russian polishers. Other diamonds in the collection are named after the dynasties that played a crucial role in the development of the Russian jewelry. A 16.67-carat round brilliant-cut diamond, the second by weight, was named The Sheremetevs. The Orlovs is a 5.05-carat oval diamond. The Vorontsovs is a 1.73-carat pear-cut diamond, and The Yusupovs is a 1.39-carat diamond.
Sergey Ivanov, President of ALROSA commented, "This collection is really unique. All five diamonds were manufactured from one rough diamond, which is exceptional. It took a year and a half to create the collection, but the result was worth it: we have obtained amazing quality diamonds. And the main diamond, The Dynasty, has become the purest of the largest diamonds throughout the history of jewelry in our country. The whole collection was certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Less than 1% of diamonds in the world have such characteristics as color D and clarity VVS1. And such characteristics of polished diamonds obtained from one rough diamond are exceptional. To be sure, it is a masterpiece of Russian polishers." All five diamonds in The Dynasty collection were manufactured by the craftsmen from Diamonds ALROSA, ALROSA's cutting and polishing division.
Pavel Vinikhin, Director of Diamonds ALROSA said, "The creation of The Dynasty was of great importance. This stone gives a start to a new stage in the development of ALROSA's cutting division that will actively develop polishing of extra-large and colored diamonds. The Dynasty demonstrated that we can do it at the highest level. We work a lot on the technique, combine modern technologies with the secrets of jewelers of the Russian Imperial Court. And we expect that the revival of their traditions will be a worthy contribution to the promotion of the Russian jewelry stones' brand in the global market."


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Say Yes To The Dress UK
Hannah wants a frock to shine for her New Year's wedding. Can David find one her picky mum will love? Midwifery student EJ longs to ditch her scrubs for a divine dress.
- € // maksullinen kanava
- Tänään 15.09. klo 18:00
First-timer Rebecca is set on a glam gown but falls for her first dress, a princess gown picked by mum. Rhia wants a dramatic dress with cleavage – but not mum!
- Tänään 15.09. klo 18:30
Harry Potter fan Jodie wants her passion for it reflected in her dress. Gothic rocker Jennifer seeks a black dress for her masquerade ball reception.
- Tänään 15.09. klo 19:00
Having beaten ovarian cancer, bride Gemma wants the perfect gown for her wedding in Thailand. Plus, Emma seeks a figure hugging dress after losing four stone!
- Tänään 15.09. klo 19:30
Lisa longs for a princess ball gown with a big bow, and Kate wants a dress with lace, a long train, a big veil, and lots of bling. Can David and the team help?

subset: commoncrawl


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May 11, 2017, 7pm - 9pm, The Galdstone Hotel
Muse | FEATURED SHOW – CONTACT PHOTO FESTIVAL
As a female photo editor at one of Canada's major news organizations, I have been a firsthand witness to the unprecedented flux taking place in Canada's contemporary photojournalistic landscape. From print to screen, still to moving images, the methods and materiality of photojournalistic production and dissemination has changed greatly. Despite the rapidly changing media landscape, the unbalanced gender politics of contemporary photographic reportage remain the same– females are disproportionately underrepresented.
Muse investigates the feminine role in visual storytelling by subverting themes of voyeurism, female subjectivity, and the often-unbalanced relationship between artist and subject. By featuring a group of emerging female storytellers with roots in photojournalism, Muse explores the construction of these women's visual narratives from inspiration to completion, pushing against tropes prevalent in the industry. The appropriation of their work in a gallery setting, shown across multiple mediums reflects the changing media landscape and a shift towards new creative forms of documentary.
— Rachel Wine
Participating Artists:
Laurence Butet-Roch, Chloe Ellingson, Marta Iwanek, Anica James, Hannah Yoon, Galit Rodan, Annie Sakkab + Michelle Siu.
Curated by Rachel Wine
Muse is the result of a small group of female image makers coming together as a means of supporting each other's work in an industry that often lacks diversity. It is an exploratory gathering of talents working collaboratively on projects centred on the human condition.


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Then the socioeconomic situation changed in Bengal. The years after Independence brought a huge gap in art infrastructure. Recently though, new galleries have come up, and Bengal art might see a resurgence, but very little can make up for the lost years.
Though Bengal hasn't seen a huge boost in art sales, other metros in India have seen a blossoming of culture. Delhi being the nation's capital has always come first where infrastructure was concerned, and venues like the Modern Art Gallery or the Lalit Kala Akademi have provided a platform for its artists.
Mumbai flourished on account of it being the financial capital of India. Art is linked to money, for at the end of the day, art needs buyers.
Meanwhile in Kolkata, despite a good art atmosphere initially, economic handicaps deterred the art movement. If art galleries are coming up in the city now, it's because they are mostly owned by people from the business community.
But in the end, it's a good thing that the art market is changing for the better. Art in Bengal has been through many stages. After the stalwarts era, came an art wave propagated by the Calcutta group of artists.
The likes of Gopal Ghosh, Pradosh Dasgupta, Ramkinkar Baij and Sunil Madhab Sen, revolutionised Indian art by addressing the situation of the common man through their works.
Bengal's political scenario, the rise of Left and Marxist politics, and social concerns were reflected in their works. In between, an abstract school flourished in the 1960s, with Shanti Dave, Kishen Khanna and their peers, which was heavily influenced by modern European abstractionists.
At the same time, there was a generation of Bengal artists, like Somenath Hore, Mira Mukherjee, Nirode Majumdar and Paritosh Sen, who searched for a medium to express the daily lives of people.
They were creating an original space to portray their art. Then, our generation, comprising J. Swaminathan, Ganesh Pyne, Bikash Bhattacharjee and me, tried to find a parallel to Western art in the Indian context.
Instead of borrowing from the West, we brought originality in Indian art. This movement also included senior artists like Prokash Karmakar, Bijon Chowdhury and Shyamal K. Datta Ray. This era was followed by a huge gap in Bengal art. It became regressive, and we wondered if our movement and ideas would be carried forward at all.
There was blatant borrowing form Western art, and those working with Indian themes were stuck in the past. But then came the likes of Chittrovanu Mazumdar, Jaya Ganguly, Ashok Bhowmick and Samir Aich, who found the perfect balance to present Indian art in its globalised avatar. Now, artists have more access to current Western practices of art.
But then, a group of artists are trying to come back to the national elements in art, keeping the global influences in mind. We have the likes of Atul and Anju Dodiya, while in Bengal, Chhatrapati Duta, Sheikh Shahjahan, Paula Sengupta, Ashim Purkayastha, Elena Banik and others are looking inwards despite Western influences.
Moreover, their works have a pan-Indian feel which makes them successful even outside Bengal. I feel good that there are initiatives to start world-class museums in Kolkata. The proposed Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (slated to come up in 2010) will help the cause of Bengal art in at least two important aspects.
First, a world class museum will adhere to certain standards and will foster an interest in art among people. Secondly, the presence of a certain artist's works in a museum will make buyers want to own his painting. All in all, such new initiatives will be good for art.
As told to Swagata Sen


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Prerequisite: Licensed Massage Therapist
You'll learn how to use your feet to provide a full body deep tissue, myofascial release and trigger point focuses barefoot massage session using overhead support while the client lies comfortably on a massage table.
Special attention to techniques applied on posterior aspects of the client's body, as your weight and natural gravitational forces are utilized to effortlessly maintain consistent pressure. Comprehensive "feet-on" practice will allow you to explore the strokes on different clients in class, and you'll awaken your feet's potential to "heel" and heal within a short period of time.
3 days, 24 CE's, $670
Back to All Events
Prerequisite: Licensed Massage Therapist
Prerequisite: Licensed Massage Therapist
Earlier Event: October 21Fight Like a Girl
Later Event: February 24MOVE YOUR DNA WORKSHOP


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i promised no embarrassing pics...Hey Ya'll
I am going to be curating a show displaying shirts from messenger events from the last dozen or so years. It's going to be going down the weekend before the NACCC during the NY pre-event at Boneshakers in Brooklyn. Boneshakers is a cycling themed vegetarian cafe, co founded by Brad from Trackstar (sorry if you didn't get wind of this brad, i took it up with meghan!) The show will be up all weekend but SATURDAY JULY 25th, there will be an opening mimosa breakfast/ brunch, preceding a group ride to the track for the VELOCITY CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Mostly on display we will be showing shirts from events all over the country, and hopefully the world. Each shirt will give short details of the event, designer, and the owner of the piece. We hope to also be able to show a select group of custom bags from relevant events, and a very select group of spoke cards.
For this I NEED YOUR HELP AND YOUR SHIRTS! I'm looking especially for older shirts (beat up, stained, cut up), and shirts from rare events. We'd also like to get a entire history of NACCC and worlds shirts, and I would love to get as many ECMC shirts as I could possibly get! I will pay for all shipping costs if you live far. all items will be returned the weekend after the NACCC in Boston.
I will update the below list as I secure more submissions. Contact me at email@example.com
cmwc dublin 07
cmwc sydney 06
cmwc new york 05
naccc chicago 08
naccc SF 07
naccc philly 06
naccc portland 05
ecmc warsaw 04
east coast messenger chumpionships 07
bombtrack berlin 04
Dancing with Death Dublin ?
kyoto loco 05
Milwaukee Messenger Invitational 4 ?
Monstertrack 06
panamexperience ecmc preevent paris 08
Ruedas en Fuego Barcelone 09
superheros NY 06
west side portland 06
west side portland 04
seems like a cool event. i know i got a couple shirts laying around somewhere but im sorta attached to them. we'll see...i might be willing to let go of them. good luck...peace.


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Holidays in capraia e limite in province of firenze
Discover the best accomodaion in firenze
Holidays in capraia e limite in province of firenzeCheck the map
Holidays in capraia e limite in province of firenze
The municipality consists of two distinct towns Capraia Fiorentina and Limite sull'Arno. The territory is crossed by the river Arno, between its bends, slightly offset from the major roads, there are the two villages. The majority of people refer to the nearby town of Empoli for various bureaucratic, administrative, education and health services. It's very strong even commuting to work. The name Capraia already appears in some documents of the eleventh century, was originally a fief belonging to the family of Alberti. Later came under the control of Pistoia and then of Florence. Limite seems to be born as an etruscan settlement while in the Middle Ages was dominated by the Counts Guidi. Also Limite was subject to Pistoia, around the fourteenth century, and later to Florence. To date this secluded center of the Lower Valdarno still retains several testimonies of the medieval and renaissance past. Very interesting are the Church of Santo Stefano in Capraia, built in 1786 using pieces of an ancient castle now disappeared because of successive restorations, the Church of San Jacopo in the locality of Pugliano, the Church of Santa Maria a Limite, probably erected in the first half the twelfth century and then radically transformed between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and the Abbey of San Martino. The latter is located a short distance from the hamlet of Artimino and has existed since 1057, one of the original three-nave collapsed perhaps because of natural geological phenomena so today the church is asymmetrical but no less impressive. The traditional activities of the two towns are practice even today albeit in small numbers: Capraiause to produc terracotta objects no longer used, so now it's specialized in ceramics and in footwear industry. In Limite were rather large shipyards on the Arno that moved to the sea, today in town are just shipbuilding industries specialized in construction and repair of small boats.|"Capraia e Limite"


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5 Ways I Simplified Life in 2016
In 2016 I committed to living life a bit simpler. The year started out with my boyfriend and I in a cross-country relationship, I was completing a full-house renovation, juggling my career, making time for friends and family, and figuring out post-fitness competition life. It was a hectic – yet amazing- time and I knew… Continue reading 5 Ways I Simplified Life in 2016


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Coffee shop weathers East End reconstruction project
As 2015 winds down, Chronicle reporters revisit people featured in stories during the year. Read more of this series in our special section.
"Hey, Red Shirt!" Kristi Hilliard called out to a customer waiting for her drink at Ben's Beans, a coffee shop on the east side of downtown. "Whipped cream on your frappaccino?"
Hilliard was zipping around behind the counter, pouring coffee concoctions for a modest lunchtime crowd at the cafe she co-owns.
When the line died down, she fell into a chair, relieved an employee had shown up early that Thursday.
She looked at the counter, turned back and whispered, "That never happens."
Business had been pretty good in recent weeks, thanks to nice weather and downtown conventions and despite road construction along the block of Dallas Street in front of the shop.
Four months ago, the Houston Downtown Management District had offered to compensate small retailers up to $25,000 each if they could prove sales were off at least 15 percent.
Hilliard and her business partner, Gray Deaton, rejoiced, then submitted an application and financial information. They're going back and forth with the district over the required documents, which would illustrate their losses.
"We've been encouraging them to get everything together," said the district's Angie Bertinot. "We're trying to make it as simplistic as possible."
The Dallas reconstruction project started in March and may not end until early next summer.


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Our development team have accumulated 30-years experience in delivering bespoke applications, consultancy and a wide range of solutions across a number of business sectors, in particular the Water, Wastewater, Energy, Environment, Road and Rail Transport.
Our solutions include anything from the integration of sensors, the conditioning of data through to the delivery of the data to a web portal of your choice or a legacy telemetry/SCAD systems.
Those that think IoT and wireless data is a recent innovation may be surprised to find that they were delivering IoT/telemetry for almost 30-years. Now with the ever increasing risk of cyber crime, DOS and DDOS we offer our customers a Mission Critical IoT and Telemetry service where the communication is over secure private, secure and legally protected radio spectrum.
Virtually any parameter can be measured, reported and/or controlled using our technology. Data can be ported equally into web portals, servers, the cloud, edge computing devices or legacy systems such as BMS and SCADA. Again many will be surprised to find that still over 95% of our data is actually passed into such legacy systems.
When data export is required we offer a wide range of file formats, including support for emerging open exchange standards such as Hypercat PAS212.
The solutions and applications on the following pages are just a sample of what is on offer, please feel free to ask and also remember some solutions, because of their sensitive nature cannot be featured here in the public domain, but it does not mean that we do not have them or the knowledge to construct them.


text: Last Thursday Pasha made an appearance at Birnam Wood Galleries in Chelsea, New York. With Dmitry Sholokhov, winner of Project Runway season 10, at her side, she went to show her support for the unveiling of the new collection, "Elements", by fellow artist and close friend, David Datuna. David's signature look features a web of positive and negative optical lenses suspended over large-scale images, which in this case were the portraits of several famous persons throughout history including Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, and Michael Jackson. See more of David's work at http://datuna.com/


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Product Description
This premium English Vodka from Keepr's in Oxfordshire has been infused with chocolate and refreshing fresh British mint with a touch of honey. The most insanely delicious thing you might ever try… perfect as an after-dinner tipple. Tastes exactly like a liquid form of a very famous After Dinner Mint!


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How Rental Condos Can Help You Save Money
Hotel & Resort Holly Johnson July 02, 2017
If you're trying to save money while you travel, you might look to cheap hotels or motels as a money-saving hack. Unfortunately, these options don't always help you save, mostly because they tend to lack important amenities you'll pay for elsewhere.
An upscale hotel might do the trick, but they come with their share of financial trappings, too. For example, many higher-end hotels and resorts come with resort fees or charge outrageous sums for internet access or breakfast.
If you really want to save, a rental condo or Airbnb could easily be your best option—even if the nightly rate is higher than local hotels.
Avoid Booking Multiple Hotel Rooms
Depending on your family size or who you're traveling with, a condo can easily be the most feasible and most affordable option. That's because many regions around the globe drastically limit the number of guests that can stay in a single hotel room.
In Europe, for example, most hotel rooms are only made to sleep two. By booking a rental condo that sleeps however many you need, you can avoid the added expense (and hassle) of multiple rooms.
READ MORE: Airbnb Acquires Vacation Rental Service Luxury Retreats
Cook Some Meals at "Home"
Hotel rooms rarely have more than a coffee pot, while rental condos tend to come with a full or partial kitchen that makes cooking some of your meals at home a breeze.
The more you can cook at "home," the more you'll save on your food bill. Even if you just eat breakfast in your rental condo, you'll save plenty.
Avoid Resort Fees
While you'll need to pay a cleaning fee to rent a condo, you can usually avoid many of the added fees that hotels and resorts charge—things like resort fees, Wi-Fi fees, gym fees and parking fees. Rental condos typically come with television and a cable package along with high-speed internet and a dedicated parking space.
Before you rent a condo, however, you should check to make sure it offers all the amenities you need.
READ MORE: Airbnb's Most Popular Family Destinations
"Relax" In Your Own Living Room
A cheap hotel room may offer a place to sleep, but it offers little else. To have some fun—or to enjoy the company of your family—you need to leave your room and find more space.
Unfortunately, being away from your tiny hotel room all day usually entails spending money to keep everyone happy and entertained. A rental condo with a living room, on the other hand, offers space for your family to relax and unwind. You could watch a movie, play a board game or enjoy some snacks you brought along without having to pay for the privilege.
Do Your Own Laundry
If you're traveling with a family in tow, having the ability to do your own laundry while you travel is huge. Not only will having on-site laundry let you pack less and potentially avoid checked baggage fees, but you could avoid a laundromat visit as well. This will not only save you money but time.
For more Hotel & Resort News
More by Holly Johnson
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King Hotel - Cairo
Are you a business owner in Cairo?
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- Gain MAXIMUM EXPOSURE with a 'Dedicated Business Profile'
The King Hotel is an affordable three-star property located in downtown Cairo. The hotel has a comfortable rooftop lounge with a view of the city. The hotel is family friendly. The hotel staff will pick guests up from the airport at no additional charge.
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The Golden Tulip Hotel Flamenco Cairo is designed to provide comfortable accommodations for business travelers. The hotel, housed in a tall white modern building, is loc
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The four-star Novotel Cairo 6th Of October is a sleek, contemporary hotel located in the 6th of October City, about 25 km outside of Cairo proper. The 6th of October Cit
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Foreign travelers from different parts of the world come to cherish the history and the age old mysteries trapped inside the ancient monuments and find the Hotels in Egyp
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The Happy City Hotel is a three-star hotel located across from the Mohamed Najeeb subway station, in downtown Cairo, near the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The hotel i
Atlas Zamalek HotelMohandesin-and-Dokki, Cairo
The hotel is constructed over an area of 1079 m2 and lies in the middle of Gameat Al-Dewal Al-Arabia Street – Mohandessin, in the heart of Cairo............
Zoser Hotel CairoGiza, Cairo
Zoser Partner Hotel is the place you can feel the simplicity of life and the luxuriousness of services and facilities.............
Pharaoh Egypt HotelMohandesin-and-Dokki, Cairo
The Pharaoh Egypt Hotel is a larger bed-and-breakfast style modern hotel located in Cairo's centre.............


text: Here Come The Millennials Posted on August 19, 2016 - 03:49 PM by Red Hilton Many have been wondering when the much anticipated move by Millennials' into homeownership would actually take place. We know the belief in owning a home is there. According to a recent Merrill Lynch study, eighty one percent of Millennials believe "homeownership is an important part of the American Dream". This compares favorably to previous generations. The obstacle seemed to be employment. It appears that is about to change. The most recent jobs report disappointed many economists. However, the silver lining in that cloud of doubt was Millennials. Jonathan Smoke, realtor.com Chief Economist, reported: "About 33% of civilian jobs created over the last 12 months have been for the young adults who are most likely to buy their first home. This should help support continued growth in the share of homes purchased by first time buyers, as economic success has been influencing older Millennials to jump into the housing market this year." Selma Hepp, chief economist at Trulia, concurred: "The faster rate of job growth among Millennials will continue to bolster both the rental and for-sale housing markets for an extended period of time." It appears that Millennials will be entering the housing market in great numbers in the very near future. Comments There are no comments for this post. Be the first to comment! Leave a comment Comment Already have an account? Yes No Email Password Not Required First Name Last Name Email Password Not Required Login and Add Comment


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Hello everyone!!!!!
Today's post isn't in honour of a particular book or poem, but a feeling, an emotion we all (like to think we) know … L-O-V-E!!!! Valentines Day is upon us and that means, according to popular imagination, that you will either be up the Eiffel Tower with a bouquet of roses serenaded by a violinist on one knee, OR a sobbing mess sequestered beneath layers of duvet, shovelling ice cream and discounted chocolates down your gob. One of the main reasons I began writing, and specifically poetry, was to try and find the truth of love. It sounds horrendously cheesy like a fucking Richard Curtis rom-com, but it is a fact. I have always been beguiled as to what this emotion that everybody needs and wants, but can never define or explain really is.
And although Valentines Day is meant to be a celebration of that divine mystery, I think just as with most other sincere emotions/traditions, capitalist patriarchy has sucked out the life blood and made of love a travesty. For starters, Valentines never originated as an innocuous trading of fluffy pink things and shitty lingerie. IT STARTED AS A REBELLION MOTHER FUCKERSS!!!!! Yes, St Valentine got his head chopped off by the bastards in charge for the audacity of believing that people should have a right to dedicate themselves to one another if they were thus inclined. I'm not about to start halooing and yaying for the indoctrination of heterosexual Christian monogamy (ew.) into us all, but it is still important. Valentine's Day did not start as a chance to brag about how rich and beloved and pretty you are. It started as a statement of intent: I can love without permission.
But today en masse it feels like this burning desire has been replaced with obligation and FOMO. Real love is powerful, and The Man doesn't want us to believe it. LGBTQ+ people are being called sinful and aberrant for their love, whilst pornography constantly fetishizes their desires into a mockery for the mainstream. People are clinging to stay in or start toxic relationships just so that they can say they have a bae, pretending that forcing someone else to (pretend to) love them is a gratifying substitute for the real thing. Black girls are feeling like they don't measure up to billboards of whiteness selling us pants and weekend breaks, force-feeding us the Imperial lie that only pale skin is worthy of attention and 'protection'. Boys are made to feel like they can't ask for love at all, locked up in macho cages. And little girls are made to feel like failures because they didn't get the most cards in their class, being taught by stick insect Disney princesses or Love Island drones that the most defining sign of success for a woman is 'love'.
To be loved, for beauty and selflessness. But the patriarchy has weaponized love, and it no longer actually means what it says on the tin. To be loved = men want to fuck you and for you to be grateful for everything they steal and exploit for themselves. And of course, womynx (womyxn= term including cis women, Trans women, queer people, feminine people, non-binary people e.t.c) are taught to give love like a handout, an infinite resource of patience and tenderness arising from no effort whatsoever. Love is infinite, but it does not come without effort. The emotional labour of which is, SHOCK HORROR, pushed on womyxn. To love= give all you have whilst simultaneously being a placid doormat, one of the bros.
I used to think 'love' was the only thing that I ever wanted, but as I age and see the haranguing cruelty of the patriarchy crush all things sincere and delicate; I have to admit that the version of love I thought I needed (old-school hand holding in the park, sharing sweets on the bus with a lover who will cherish me forever in sentimentalized photo albums and diaries- don't judge me.) VS the 'reality' of what is inside each individual, is never going to calibrate with this hypocritical cess pit of 'society'. So many 'concepts' I cannot wrap my head around.
Monogamy, and partnering in general is a myth of patriarchy to keep womyxn feeling like they aren't enough if they aren't 'chosen'. Like womyxn need to complete themselves with a man who will 'take care of them', which really just means less women working and being bosses for themselves. NEWS FLASH: WOMYNX DON'T NEED MEN. WE NEVER HAVE. STOP RIDICULING SINGLE WOMYNX. STOP DEMONIZING PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPIER ALONE. WOMYNX WANT LOVE. WE WANT HAPPINESS. WE WANT TO FUCK. WE DO NOT NEED MEN FOR THESE THINGS. WE TOLERATE MALE BULLSHIT TO TRY AND FIND DIAMONDS IN A SHIT STACK. I am glad I got that off my chest, because that is one of my main despairs at modern depictions and thoughts about love: that we need someone else. It is such bullshit, because as soon as you feel you need love, and that you've got to force and be desperate and do anything you can to be completed, then it isn't love but fear.
What I'm saying isn't anything new, feminist movements since the suffragettes and before have been saying that womynx need to stop relying on men, and I think it's especially important when it comes to love. We do not need permission to feel beautiful, we do not have to feel ugly just because a man said it so. Men (lol NOT ALL MEN) are pretty stupid, we should not be following the same rules they have been trying to enforce. Their rules are leading to the 6th mass extinction of earth. We can do better than that, we can choose ourselves and start thinking of important things other than what men want their dates to dress like, or how to lose weight fast.
I know it may seem hypocritical, considering I myself have a boyfriend. But, actually he is one of the reasons why I am trying to be more astute in recognising the difference between needing and wanting love. He always tells me that I should never let a man break my heart, and that's him included. Knowing that you can survive alone, and that anyone else is just a glorious bonus of extra colour to an already mystifying and divine existence, is a much more beneficial foundation for happiness than feeling that you will be nothing unless you force another creature to be tethered to you always. People like Chidera Eggerue ( AKA- The Slumflower), Audre Lorde (MY QUEER QUEEN) and Virginia Woolf (the way she cherishes the world and writes so exquisitely could not have been done had she been chasing a man incessantly) are much more eloquent on the importance of self-love before anything else much more than me. But I hope that this little snippet of thought has given a different perspective on one of the most tired and money-fuelled exploitations of love this western world has created.
If anything, I hope you all have a lovely day by yourself. I hope you romance yourself, take yourself on a date so that when you are encountered with amazing humans you can fully appreciate them without the clouded perspective of desperately searching for validation. Fuck the patriarchy, smoke a blunt and bask in the miniscule yet cosmic significance you hold on this fleeting planet, ignoring how pretty you may or may not be. Love without permission, from the state, or God, or family, or popular culture, or even yourself.


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We are drawn to haunted houses like a moth to a flame. We already love homes and are fascinated by their grandeur and intimate details. Add a murder mystery or a troubled fate and we're all in! Halloween has been such an exciting (and spooky!) time in the District that we decided to share the top 10 haunted houses in the United States.
Grab a handful of candy and read below!
1. Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, CA
The Winchester Mystery House belonged to Sarah Winchester, widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. Following his death, Sarah moved out West and bought a small farmhouse to which she created this monstrous home. She believed in paranormal activity and that ghosts were following her. Over 30 years she constructed doors that didn't open, hallways that lead to nowhere, and "floating" staircases. The house is now open to the public.
2. Amityville House - Amityville, NY
The Amityville house is arguably the creepiest on the list. In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed 6 members of his family and was sentenced to prison. In December of 1975, The Lutz family moves into the home. Before February, the family left the home claiming they were terrorized in the house. Their experience is the basis of the book "The Amityville Horror" and multiple movies.
3. The White House - Washington, DC
Home to our President and our past presidents it may be to no one's surprise that the White House is on the list. The White House has the most famous ghosts in the country! The most viewed ghost is said to be Abraham Lincoln with frequent sightings of our past president. He is said to appear under great times of duress and has a calming presence in the White House.
4. Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, LA
Located in Lousiana, this home has no shortage of ghost stories. Said to be haunted by many types of ghosts, this house leaves much to the imagination. The home was originally built by General David Bradford who fled the United States to avoid imprisonment. It is said to be the location of nearly 10 deaths and is even built on an Indian Burial ground.
5. Joshua Ward House - Salem, MA
The Joshua Ward House may be one of the few homes not named for the person who actually did the haunting, George Corwin. Sheriff George Corwin was responsible for many deaths during the Salem Witch Trials and when Corwin died, he was buried in the basement of his home. When that home was destroyed, there was a new tavern built upon it, The Joshua Ward House. He is said to haunt the home as well as a witch who he killed during the trials.
6. The LaLaurie House - New Orleans, LA
The LaLaurie house is named after owner Delphine LaLaurie who was a socialite as well as a serial killer. Delphine is said to have tortured her house slaves. In 1834 when emergency responders came to her mansion they found slaves bound in the attic. She escaped to France and her whereabouts from there are undocumented.
7. Franklin Castle - Cleveland, OH
Franklin Castle is located in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, OH. Franklin Castle was home to Hans Tiedemann who became rich from the barrel-making business. Three of Tiedemann's infant children died in the home as well as his 15-year-old daughter from diabetes and wife from liver disease. He is said to have also killed his mistress for wanting to marry another man. The home has been empty for a number of years and has changed ownership many times but when plans came to fruition mysterious fires or legal trouble seem to set in..
8. Whaley House - San Diego, CA
The Whaley house is the second house on the list to be built upon haunted land. The Whaley House was built on top of an old graveyard. It was the home of Thomas Whaley and his family. The home is now a museum dedicated to its former owners and they are said to be frequently seen in the home. However, part of the home was also rented out to the County of San Diego and used as a courtroom which could be why so many other spirits are seen lurking around awaiting their fate.
9. Sauer Castle - Kansas City, KS
The Sauer Castle is located in Kansas City, Kansas and was built by Anton Sauer, an Austrian immigrant. Sauer's family owned the property for many generations but many tragedies also occurred here. There have been two suicides, one drowning, and one natural death in this home. The house fell into derelict after the descendants passed away. Visitors can frequently hear laughing, shouting, or crying.
10. The Pink Palace - Louisville, KY
To end our Haunted Houses on a happier note we will leave you with the Pink Palace! The Pink Palace was used as a gentlemen's club in the 20th century which later was converted into a private residence. There is said to be one ghost, Avery, who has appeared over the years. He is said to be a well-dressed gentleman who is a friendly spirit that keeps the tenants safe.
We hope you enjoyed your haunted houses' round up! Let us know what you think in the comments below :)


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We understand blind spots in the context of driving; areas around us where we can't see what's going on around us.The larger those blind spots are, the more dangerous they become. The same is true in leadership. John Maxwell defines a blind spot as "an area in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically."
In leadership, blindspots are usually a result of "not looking" and therefore a failure to investigate ones own weaknesses and blindspots. Either being blind to areas that need adjusting or ignoring them.
As a leader, you have to recognize that first of all, you can't be good at everything and you will have blindspots. For me, I'd rather know what my blindspot is than have my team in the backrooms whispering about my blindspot and tip towing around me, just to keep me happy. So, I solicit my team to point those out and help me with them. It's painful and I can get defensive, at first, but it's good. And it's good to admit it to your team. Then ask them to hold you accountable in that area and find someone on the team that can help you grow in that area.
Not all weaknesses are blindspots, some weaknesses may be a result from personality types.
When People Focused Becomes a Weakness
Some personality types are naturally more concerned with relationships than results. This weakness usually plays itself out by leaders not delivering desired results in a timely manner. This weakness requires learning to guide the right people to deliver results on time and on budget. So how can a people leader gain traction to be more results focused?
Well, I'd say recognize your natural strengths and weaknesses and do what you can to develop your strengths and hire your weaknesses. So, If you are a relational driven person and tend to not deliver results in a timely manner, hire someone or recruit a good volunteer who is results driven. Have them set the schedule and hold the both of you accountable for the deadlines.
Another key is to learn time management and project management skills and tricks. There are a lot of books and resources out there that can really help you develop habits in this area that will work just for you and your personality. I know, I work on this continually. In fact, this weekend, I studied an article on how to research better and more efficiently for messages using tips and tricks in Evernote. It's going to help me a ton and free me up to do what only I can do.
When Results Focused Becomes a Weakness
Other personality types are naturally results focused to the point of burning their people out.They get things done, but their effort is often less collaborative and less team building.These often are the autocratic leaders.
Owning this tendency and weakness is key. You have to recognize who you are and where your strengths lie. So, for me, this is my natural tendency. I am very results driven and have had a track record of burning people out around me. So, one trick I've learned is to admit it, not only to myself, but to my direct reports — those closest to me. Then I ask them to hold me accountable in this area and to help me set the pace for our team. I give them permission to tell me when I am pushing too hard and when the team is tired. We talk about this often.
I operate at a really fast pace in so many directions at once so I also tell those around me to not feel pressured to keep up with my pace. I am not expecting my team to work like I do, because I realize not everyone is built the same way as I am or has the same set of skills or focus. That's ok. I need them on my team BECAUSE they are different than me and have a different skill set and focus. When I admit it to myself and my team, it opens up the dialogue for us to talk openly about my weakness without repercussion and helps us set a team pace, instead of my pace.
The Assumption Pit
Leaders may assume others are like them.In business communication we call this "assumed similarity".It's a trap to think that because a leader thinks like you in one subject area that they think like you in all subject areas.Leaders with the same vision may easily differ in what motivates them, or in how they make decisions. Leaders who share the same values may even deal differently when resolving conflict.
But it's vital that a leader surround himself with people who are different than him and think differently. If you hired everyone on your team who were just like you, your organization is going to have glaring weaknesses that will be crippling.
So, if you are hiring currently — staff your weaknesses — then you would immediately avoid the assumed similarity problem. If you are not sure if you have hired correctly I would suggest to a leader that they give each of their team members personality tests like a Meyers Briggs test or a DISC test. Then review the results as a team and you will begin to identify immediately your team members strengths and weaknesses, their natural tendencies and thinking patterns. This helps tremendously to understanding and appreciating your team.
The People Pleaser
Have you ever worked with a leader who just wanted to be liked?Just wanted to fit in, be loved and please everyone.They are great to be around, fun to hang out with but their weakness is usually in holding people accountable, making the hard calls and being decisive. If this is you, or you know someone like this, it's important to help this people pleaser type to see the bigger picture that produces results.
Again, I think it is good to study decisive people. Ask them how they do it and what kind of results they get by making the hard calls or by holding their team to account. When you study the results, you will quickly discover that these leaders are usually well respected and liked by their team and in fact their team seems to thrive in an accountable environment. I know I did just that. I studied some of the best church leaders in the business and I soon discovered that what made the best the best was that they were excellent at making the hard calls and at being decisive and in holding people accountable. That's what separated them from other leaders.
When I looked at my results or at the results of other struggling leaders around me who were shrinking or plateauing in their ministries, it all came down to the fact that they just couldn't make the tough call and it paralyzed their ministry. I remember talking to my mentor about this very thing and I commented at how easy he made making the tough calls look and he replied "Easy? The hard calls are never easy. They are painful every single time and I agonize over them just like everyone else, but they are necessary for the betterment of the organization." When I heard that, I was relieved. Because, I wasn't weak because I struggled with the tough calls. I was normal! And it empowered me to be bolder in making those calls when I had to.
The Isolationist
Let's pick on the leader who isolates themselves from their team.Not only do they shut out their best people's input, but their disconnect may cause them to over-promise and under-deliver.
I've never understood leaders who would isolate themselves from the people. I think that is one of the first things I noticed and still one of the things I respect most about my mentor and spiritual father, Dr. George Hill. Although he is the founder and president of a worldwide ministry, he always wants to be around the people. At conferences, he doesn't hide in a green room, coming out just before he is to step on stage to deliver his message. No, he is mixing and mingling with everyone in the foyer or sanctuary before the service and after the service. I have always found him to be very approachable. That's one major thing that makes him a great leader in my opinion. Leaders who need to be separated from their people won't be leading long because they won't be able to keep the pulse of their organization, or hear the heart of the ones they lead and then will make visionary decisions based on their feelings instead of the feelings of the people they lead. It is vital a leader stays connected with their people.
The Coaster
What about the leader who is coasting to the finish line?They have grown complacent, stopped learning and are totally invested in maintaining the status quo of their business, organization or church's glory days.They have probably lost their "first love" but carry on as if changing is out of the question.
If I was coaching such a leader, I would probably ask a series of questions. I would ask if they felt like their assignment was up in the organization or in the location they are in in the organization. It's not natural for a leader to coast. Leaders hold the vision — which is always progressive and forward moving. Once the leader doesn't have the vision he is not the leader any more. So, maybe their assignment is up. If it is, who would be the obvious replacement. Most times, leaders don't have one.
Then I would say that that is their next assignment. Find someone to mentor and train to be your replacement. And when they are 60-80% ready, cut them loose and hand it off to them and look for your next assignment. A leader is often energized by a new challenge — so seek where the new challenge is — and if it is in your current organization, stay. If it is outside your organization, then prepare to leave responsibly.
The Exploder
Have you ever had a leader turn on you, going into a rage in front of the whole team? Or maybe you weren't the only victim. Leaders who are lacking in emotional intelligence are toxic not only to their team but to themselves as well.This weakness in a leader often goes unchecked because people fear them. It's often easy to recognize in others, but it's harder to identify in yourself.
I recently listened to a podcast by Pastor Craig Groeschel entitled "Fire Your Inner Boss." In it, he described the difference between a boss and a leader. He said that a…
A boss instills fear while a leader inspires confidence.
A boss assigns blame while a leader takes responsibility.
A boss demands loyalty while a leader extends trust.
A boss controls people while a leader empowers people.
A boss is often guarded whereas a leader is transparent.
He said, we can have control or we can have growth, but we can't have both. Isn't that powerful. I think my favourite quote in the podcast was "Position may give you power to control, but trust will give you permission to lead." I think as leaders we need to look at this list and ask ourselves which one are we to our people? Are we being the boss? Or are we leading? And if you dare, ask your team which one you are — a boss or a leader?
[bctt tweet="We can have control or we can have growth, but we can't have both. @craiggroeschel" via="no"]
The Poor Communicator
One of the major blindspots in leadership on multiple levels centres around communication.When "communication" is a weakness it is often because what leaders think is enough communication is not what their team, board or stakeholders think is enough.
I think communication is always a skill we as leaders should be working on and improving in. Our success and our organization's success depends on it. I have yet to meet a perfect communicator, so we are all in process and my advise is that communication be a top priority to study and learn. Remember, successful communication is not what I think I said, but instead what the receiver understood I said.
[bctt tweet="Successful communication is not what I think I said, but what the receiver understood I said." username="kellystickel"]
So, if there is a breakdown in the reception of the message, then it is my fault regardless of how well I thought I communicated it. I am not communicating to people in a way that I understand, but I must communicate to them in a way that they understand — whoever 'they' is. That is an ever learning process, for all of us.
The Poor Planner
Strategic thinking is a vital skill set in organizations today because everything is moving so fast.Change is constant.Opportunities are plentiful. But leaders who are limited to managerial thinking rather than strategic thinking fall into an area of weakness. This weakness can jeopardize everything they've worked for. Some may even be blindsided by this weakness.
I happen to think that there are natural strategists and there are those who strategic thinking does not come natural, too. I think you need to discover which you are. If you are a leader and you are not naturally strategic in your thinking, then I would say one of your first hires should be someone who is naturally strategic. Listen to them, and pull on this gift. The ultimate decision will be yours, but the idea was theirs. You don't always have to be the idea man to be the leader, you just need to be the one who knows which idea to follow and which one to avoid. That is usually trial and error. When it works, give your strategist the credit. When it fails, you take the blame, because you made the call to go with it. That's what a leader does.
The Cultural Drifter
In leadership today the term "culture" is of constant discussion. Andy Stanley says the longer a leader is in an organization the more they don't see the culture they are in.We constantly fight here to prevent drifting in our culture.We constantly evaluate everything we're doing.And we constantly incorporate better ways of doing what we do.Leaders who don't understand the significance of culture may be blinded to their weakness in this area.
This weakness in creating culture is detrimental to leadership today, especially in the church. Everything; every organization, every family, everything has a culture. Culture either happens by design or by default. But, culture is powerful. It is more powerful than vision or strategies.
[bctt tweet="Culture either happens by design or by default." username="kellystickel"]
The right vision in a wrong culture is doomed to fail. Culture will win every time. I think every leader must learn how to recognize and design culture in order to see their visions come to pass. For pastors, I'd recommend starting with Sam Chand's book "Cracking Your Churches Culture Code" to better understand how to understand and design the culture of your church. It is vital, because you won't get very far as a leader without truly understanding culture.
And pastors, we all need you to be successful and go far because thechurch is the hope of the world and we are on a missionto reach every available person, at every available time, by every available means with the Gospel of Jesus Christby creating churchesunchurched people love to attend.


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For Sale
1 Bed(s)
Includes $2000 credit on upgrades! Assignment for sale. 1 Bedroom + Den, highly sought after Asker model. 590 sq ft. Comes with 1 parking and locker. Brand new urban village felling condo steps to Air Canada Center, Gardiner Expressway; Union Station, Via Rail, GO bus, and the Go train, and the Metro Convention Center, Harbourfront and entertainment district, shopping and more! Features include swimming pool, dry sauna, steam room, cold water dip pool, hot tub, relaxing lounge, fitness centre, and aerobic/yoga room. Other amenities include: business conference rooms, party rooms, board room, and meeting rooms. With a full service kitchen having a large party is no longer an issue for condo residents.


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Former Space Workers Map Faces not Planetsby J-Touchette
A new technology is coming to funeral homes as an option for consumers, and it's made by NASA.
Actually it's made by former aerospace workers who have started a Florida company called LookLikes, but the team is mainly comprised of former NASA workers.
They put their talents for mapping locations in space to mapping human faces for headstones. LookLikes will be unveiling its three-dimensional headstone images at October's National Funeral Directors Association after which the technology will be available for leasing at funeral homes.
But the science officer for the company, Michael Schulman recently had some transport problems when bringing a sample 'head' to Arlington National Cemetery to see if it would be approved for use there.
On his return trip, airport security noticed what seemed to be a head as it passed through the scanner, with three officials inspecting the scan before confronting Schulman.
They seated Schulman at a table while searching through his belongings, and asked if he brought the head on previous flights. After a discussion, the officials decided the head was not a prohibited item, and Schulman went on his way.
Schulman even offered to take a picture of them with it.
Lucky for LookLikes, it seems there won't be any problems shipping the product.
Read More:
Headstone head stops TSA workers | Orlando Sentinel
Tags: Funeral Products, headstone, NASA


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Life's Essential Spaghetti Sauce
My kids already know they aren't allowed to get a phone until they can cook a few of life's basics recipes. Spaghetti sauce is one of them!
cook Time: 20 minutes | Serves 6
1 pound spaghetti
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 tsp sugar
1-3 grinds pepper
1 pat butter, to swirl at end
Toppings: parmesan cheese (shave with vegetable peeler or citrus zester), basil leaves
Cook spaghetti to al dente.
In large saucepan, heat oil and add onion. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook a minute more. Add the tomatoes and season with salt, pepper, and sugar. Simmer this for about 15 minutes, longer if you have time. You can simmer the sauce up to an hour. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or sugar as needed.
When you are ready to serve, swirl in the pat of butter. Add pasta to sauce and toss to coat. Serve with cheese and basil leaves.


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SOA Watch and God Bless Fort Benning to share downtown turf this weekend
Downtown will be the center of it all this weekend as the SOA Watch protest and the God Bless Fort Benning rally collide.
The protest, held annually for the last 18 years at the gates of Fort Benning will have a substantial presence downtown. SOA Watch, the group seeking to close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, has rented the Columbus Convention and Trade Center for concerts and workshops on Saturday. God Bless Fort Benning, a pro-troop rally now in its fifth year, has moved from the Columbus Civic Center to the median of Broadway. The organization has also opened a downtown office in the 1110 block of Broadway.
Organizers on both sides welcome the obvious intermingling that will occur. "My biggest hope is the lines at Ruth Ann's, Cannon Brewpub and Country's won't be too long," said SOA Watch organizer Eric LeCompte.
God Bless Fort Benning will start with a downtown 5k run and will continue through the day with concerts and pro-military speakers. The majority of the SOA protests will occur 4 miles away on Fort Benning Road, as they have for the last 18 years.


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Wilmington Real Estate | 3 bedroom home in Courtney Pines
New on the market!
2627 Bow Hunter Dr. Wilmington, NC 28411
Charming 3 bedroom home in the sought after Courtney Pines community. The bright & airy open floor plan boasts many great features including recessed lighting, ceiling fans, separate laundry room, & a formal dining room. The kitchen has stainless appliances, lots of cabinetry & counter space, a pantry for additional storage, a breakfast nook with a bay window, & a breakfast bar overlooking the large family room, complete with a vaulted ceiling & gas fireplace. The spacious master retreat also has a vaulted ceiling & offers a huge walk-in closet and has its own large bathroom featuring dual sinks, a garden tub, separate stand up shower, & ceramic tile flooring. The finished room over the garage could be a perfect 4th bedroom, office, or play room. The exterior is nicely landscaped & includes full irrigation. The fenced backyard provides a patio, perfect for grilling out with friends, & a convenient shed for even more storage space. Best of all, a 1 year home warranty is being provided.
MLS# 438172Click Here for more photos, additional information, & room dimensions.Call 910-395-1000 to schedule an appointment!


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You know how poets write about a feeling of discontent that settles in as winter gives way to spring? We Minnesotans are acutely aware of this ennui that feels a bit like a hangover from a long winter of being cooped up inside. It's been like that at the bakery lately. We're excited about the new grain currently in the ground that in a few months' time will be milled by us and turned into bread, but the thought of that alone doesn't quite scratch the itch.
And so, we've been experimenting.
The bakers have been working with salted levains. This is new territory for us—we are maximizing the yeast but minimizing acidity to create mellower bread that still has grain-flavor…kind of like a perfect spring day, not too much of this or that.
The poets often write about spring as a time for suitors. Love and the smell of spelt-and-corn-grain bread is in the air at the bakery. This new variety, along with ciabatta and some of our current breads in smaller sizes, is debuting at Kowalski's Marketsthis spring. Find us in Hennepin, Lyndale and Grand Avenue stores.
Downtown dwellers and skyway workers who enjoy good food already know SIMPLS, a grab and go food emporium. We're delighted that starting today, Baker's Field bagels and bialys, along with table and seeded demi-loaves of bread, will be available for purchase at their two Minneapolis locations. From 5/16-19, we'll be offering samples at each location from 7:30 – 9 am and 11:30 am – 1 pm. See you there (and don't forget to enter the drawing for a Baker's Field prize).
Speaking of spring flings, our next Pop-Up sale is 5/21. It is during Art-A-Whirl, so come for bread and sundries and stay for the art. FOOD BUILDING is celebrating Art-A-Whirl by hosting 15 local artists for the weekend -- they're also a stop on the Art-A-Whirl Trolley!
Do you have a personal love affair with bread? Spring is the time to but your seat in our July baking class with me. Come hear about my personal love affair with bread (it's complicated), and I'll tell you all my tricks to coaxing the very best flavors from levain and flour. Spoiler alert: like any good relationship, bread requires waiting and patience, so, yes, it is a 2-day class. Only six seats, so act fast.
Eat more bread,


text: You will need to pay the SEVIS fee if you were issued an I-20 on or after September 1, 2004. The fee is $200. This fee is separate from and in addition to the visa application fee. The SEVIS fee must be paid by the Internet or by mail. It cannot be paid at a U.S. embassy or consulate and it cannot be paid at the port of entry.


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Opening up the Knowledge Universe: IBM Data Science Experience Comes to a Powerful, Open, Big Data Platform
I have just finished presenting at the DataWorks Summit in San Jose. CA. where a partnership between IBM and HortonWorks was announced the aim of which is to help organizations further leverage their Hadoop infrastructures with advanced data science and machine learning capabilities.Read More


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Any Ideas???
What I love about the web is the opportunity to share my thoughts and passions with others, it would be impossible otherwise.
But I also like to hear what others think and to exchange ideas.On this page, I'll share some of the comments I've
received in my Guestbook and via e-mail. In some(most) cases, I may also respond to the comments. Please get in touch!


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director: David Leitch
writers: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick & Ryan Reynolds
starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin and Zazie Beetz
genre: Action | Comedy | Comics
released: 16 May 2018 (Australia), 17 May 2018 (Germany & Greece), 18 May 2018 (USA)
While it does have a rocky start at the beginning of the film and takes a sudden turn towards the dramatic, the film does get better as it progresses and becomes more relaxed and loose with its plot and jokes. The addition of Cable and others was great and more of the same was just what the doctor ordered.
Everything was going well for the 'Merc with the Mouth' Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) until his professional life got intermixed with his personal. This will lead him down the path of trying to find a new purpose in his life, which could be either the potential to be a X-Man or merely just for him to be still his jolly old self even after everything he's been through. What will though help him make the call is when a time traveling soldier named Cable (Josh Brolin) has the mission to kill a mutant boy, which so happens to be Deadpool's bunk mate.
The only real complaint one must have with this production is that it cost more money to the studio to make and will only earn roughly the same amount it did in the U.S. and around the world as well with the first film. Which begs the question, was going bigger on a R-Rated production a wise move on the part of the studio. As it didn't make it any better or worthwhile for more people to see or even for fans of the first film to say it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. That is not a dig at the production that did keep the quality at the same level as before in terms of humor, performances and general dumb fun, but thinking more people would eventually join that fun because you spent more money proved to be a bad call. And this is coming from someone who would like the series to continue and watch out for the effect of diminishing returns. (source)
Moving on, the film itself did the best thing it could which was inject fresh faces into the story with the old and throw away the dead wood which may be harsh, but for a film franchise and character such as Deadpool, the last thing you need is a love interest dragging you down. Unexpectedly, the inclusion of Cable was brilliant and the casting of Josh Brolin sublime. Him and actor Ryan Reynolds both act off each other perfectly and bring that yin and yang to the series that didn't exist in the first. The old faces that return to accompany them are welcome such Negasonic and Colossus. Also, the kid plot with his possible future path wasn't bad and worked for Deadpool as a character who's arc was to do the right thing in the most Deadpool way possible. While also finally the introduction of the team X-Force in the most hilarious way you can imagine. It is by far the best moment in the film bar none and really is breathtaking how much leeway the Deadpool series gets by involving family friendly characters in horrendous situations such as Colossus saying the f word and killing off characters that in any other comic book film wouldn't even dream of doing. But, before anything else glad Domino was added to the series as she does have some of the coolest powers from the comics and also mixes well with the other members of the cast.
The rest of the film is more of the same as with the first film. A lot of sexual jokes, inside humor, pop culture references and predictable plot patterns with some twists in there that make the laugh fest into a more serious film at times and that also doesn't shy away from the personal drama the characters had faced or still coming to grips with. Either that be Wade's romance, or Cable's troubled future timeline for example. Additionally, the jokes while are not all laugh out loud are still well written and work for film's style. Not to mention the film being very aware of the political nature of the time and including a lot of well placed jokes on political individuals and even on political correctness as well. Not going to spoil anything, but a lot of the humor is edgy and most importantly funny.
The action in the film while enjoyable isn't as good as in the first in my opinion, with Deadpool having had more clear cut moments to shine in the original. Here, Cable steals the show with the action and the third act has a great guest appearance that does spice it up a bit. But, in all honesty they could have saved a buck and cut on some of the action as most go for the Deadpool humor and wild situations. Having though said that, the effects do play a role in giving Cable's weapons and gadgets an incredible presence and the look of the film throughout is never a letdown.
Note: Review is based on the viewing of the film without the post end credits scenes in mind. It ends up after having read an article about them that they do shake up the film's conclusion even more than what was brought up in the review above. This will teach me a lesson for leaving the cinema early from a Marvel film.
The return of the lovable and R-Rated Deadpool was as expected funny, dirty, provoking and entertaining. Its not often where you get what you pay for at the movies and Deadpool is two out of two at meeting audience expectations and without a shadow of a doubt its next film will most likely do the same.
Personal Rating:


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Behind The Lens: Senior Portraits in Downtown Dallas
The 2018-2019 school year has been my busiest yet, and I'm not complaining! Getting to work with seniors to create great images is what I love doing.
There are probably a thousand photographers between Dallas and Louisiana, so when Ashley drove 6+ hours from Baton Rouge, to say I was honored is an understatement!
I'm glad she did, because together we were able to create some incredible images. We ended up shooting in the Dallas Arts District, and got some great stuff before the sunset. Thankfully we kept shooting till it got dark, because the Arts District hosts some really wonderful lighting throughout the streets of Dallas.


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There is no limit for the imagination. Children could take part in design processes; favorite colours, theme, purpose. Safety is also an important issue to take into consideration. There are so many great fabrics to choose from. Wallpaper is possible to custom print of a photo or another favorite images. Also now wallpapers are easy to remove when taste changes and children grow.
A handy person could even create more unique designs.
What a joy it can be when a child sees their new room for the first time!


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High ammonia levels in the blood and brain cause irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, drowsiness and, in severe cases, coma.
The most common symptom of arginase deficiency is the neurological disorder spastic diplegia, where there is an abnormal increase in muscle tension and the muscles are tight and stiff. Developmental delay may also occur.


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Audio Technica ATW-T1002 Radio Microphone Holds 6 Swan Flight Case (Hex). Black Hex/Aluminium flightcase designed and built to fit 6x Audio Technica ATW-T1002 microphones. Made in the UK by swanflight. Supplied with a fully CNC Routed foam insert. 1x Padlockable butterflycatch on the front (padlocks not supplied).
1x Techno handle on the end. Hinged lid with lidstays, keeps the lid open at just over 90 degrees. Approx external dimension 480mm(L) x 360mm(W) x 140mm(H).
THIS LISTING IS FOR THE FLIGHTCASE ONLY. The item "Audio Technica ATW-T1002 Radio Microphone Holds 6 Swan Flight Case (Hex)" is in sale since Friday, September 9, 2016. This item is in the category "Musical Instruments\Pro Audio Equipment\Cases, Racks & Bags".
The seller is "swanflight" and is located in Sedgefield, Cleveland. This item can be shipped worldwide.


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Good Things Don't Last Forever! Sorry the deal or promotion you were looking for is no longer available. View Similar Promos
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Inside, this subcompact crossover is integrated with a 7-inch LCD touchscreeen with 4 speakers and a digital combination instrument cluster. It's also fitted with a manual air conditioning system for a comfortable ride.
This is run by a 1.3L gasoline engine that delivers up to 99 hp and 126 Nm of torque, connected to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Safety and security features include dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), immobilizer, security alarm, electronic door locks, speed sensing door locks, rear parking sensors, ISOFX child seat anchors, and tire pressure monitoring system.
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Name JAC S1 1.3 VVT MT Body Type Crossover Price ₱ 585,000 Transmission Type Manual
Engine Size 1.3 L Displacement 1,332 cc Number of Cylinders 4 Number of Valves 16 Transmission Category 5-Speed Manual
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Active Park Assist Hill Start Assist AWD Modes n/a Tire Pressure Monitoring Heads-up Display Power Liftgate Start-stop System


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A Reflection: 'Perfection is the enemy of good'
I studied and prepared all night for this meeting. Esq. Apprentice had some funding, but I knew we needed much more, and this funder could be the one to do it. As if preparing for trial, I practiced each line of defense: (1) legal apprenticeship is necessary because we need debt-free paths to becoming lawyers; (2) hundreds of thousands of youth are out of work and school, and among them are the next great legal minds; (3) To truly grapple with the (in)justice system, we need a diverse legal bar that looks like those most negatively impacted by the system… and on and on. I even had some numbers about how we could get it done—and I hate numbers.
When the morning of the informational meeting arrived, I was ready to make my case. I walked into the room, made eye contact with the three people sitting there, and shook hands with each of them firmly—but not too firm. I took my seat. "Thanks for making it out," they said. "Tell us a bit more about your program." I launched into my thirty second pitch and paused for a moment. On deck, I had my longer 1-minute and 5-minute pitches ready to go, but I wanted to make sure I left a "natural" pause for questions. If they were hardballers, they would want to jump straight into questioning why they should spend any money supporting Esq. Apprentice, and I was ready to battle until I won them over. So, I paused and waited a beat.
"Wow. That sounds amazing. How can we help?" I was ready to go when I stopped myself...wait, what? Did they just ask me how they could help? I was at a loss. All night, I had prepared to wow them with my expertise and impress them into supporting my work but they were already on board. When I came to, I realized that I was scrambling to put something together…that's great, happy to hear, these are some numbers, really could use your help with stipends, blah, blah, blah. The meeting went okay. We agreed to stay in contact and the connection is still warm, but I realized that I had prepared for everything except "yes."
I've always thought that I could control a situation with dogged preparation. I already knew that, as a Black woman, I would have to be more prepared than everyone else in my classes in school because I could not let others think that I—and, by association, all black people—were lacking in any way. As a lawyer, I worked to anticipate every possible counterargument so that my opponents would deem me worthy and so that no judge could accuse me—and all Black people—of being lazy. The battle would be constant. I knew I would get weary, but I could never stop, because if I didn't do this tireless work, and do it well, I'd ruin some other woman of color's chance.
Don't get me wrong—preparation matters. But the problem with working tirelessly is that it leaves very little room for self-care and even less room for dreaming. I was so taken aback in that meeting because I realized that I had sacrificed imagination for some version of perfection and control. And as my two small babies now constantly remind me, I can actually control almost nothing in this life. Not only is perfection ever-elusive, but constantly holding ourselves to that unattainable standard, particularly for Black women, degrades our capacity to imagine joy and abundance.
I left that meeting determined to give all my hopes and dreams at least as much credence as the pressures of perfection such that "yes" would not catch me off guard again.
Are you prepared for "yes"? Have you taken the time to dream a little today? If not, I strongly encourage you to get all by yourself and imagine for just a few moments—and then a few more.
You don't have to do or be perfect, you just have to do and be good. Sweet dreams!


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Working With Us
Welcome to the MIX Lab at Montclair State University. MIX stands for Making and Innovating for X; Where X is the unknown.We welcome students, faculty and local entrepreneurs into our lab who share our vision for innovation and creativity. If you have a novel idea, we will help you create it.
Our lab techs will teach any novice to design in 20 - 25 minutes with no prior knowledge or experience required. Want to get started?
Ways To Get Involved
- Take an Innovation and 3D Design Class or Get a Certificate in Innovation Design and Digitally Mediated Making
The MIX Lab offers a complete 3 course 9 credit certificate in Advanced Innovation and Digitally Mediated Making. Complete details on Montclair State University's 3D Printing classes and certificate.
WHY DO YOU NEED THIS? Today, in a world where jobs, industries & technologies are quickly appearing and disappearing, the only constant is change. More than half of you will be working in fields that as yet do not even exist. So how do you prepare? By acquiring the key skills of Innovation: Creativity, Collaboration, Cognitive Flexibility, Complex Problem Solving & Critical Thinking. Developing innovation today cannot be divorced from the emerging world of the digital fabrication revolution. Our certificate program uniquely teaches these skills to produce innovative leaders able to navigate & create disruptive social and economic change while moving into multiple emerging fields.
Why take our Certificate in Innovation Design and Digitally Mediated Making? Learn more about the MIX Lab curriculum.
2. Drop-In and Start Innovating
As an individual, you do not need to take a class to engage with innovation and 3D Printing. You can start making by simply dropping by the MIX Lab in SBUS room 014 with an idea; email for lab hours.
Software Requirements
Requirements to work in the MIX Lab are minimal. All the software we use is free. We recommend arriving to the lab with the following software installed on your laptop with user accounts created. This will allow for a faster and more enjoyable user experience on your part. The minimum recommended software is:
Hardware Requirements
Any Windows or Mac laptop should be sufficient. It has been only rare instances that an older laptop has not worked with the required software. If that is the case, or you do not have a laptop, we have a laptop or two that can be used while in the MIX Lab.
The MIX Lab has supported and co-developed classes and enhanced curriculum across numerous disciplines including: Math, Fashion Studies, Theatre, Entrepreneurship, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewelry, Environmental & Sustainability, Computer Science, Education and Italian Studies. We support the student-led 3D Printing Club as well as connecting with regional industries and entrepreneurs. We are on a steep trajectory of controlled growth bound only by our imaginations.
If you are faculty on campus or a local entrepreneur and have an idea to collaborate, please swing by the lab or reach out and contact us - we are game for any collaboration that amplifies innovation and design.
A Bit About The MIX Lab
We have both a state-of-the-art lab and faculty team in place. We have a 2,000+ sq. ft. of digital fabrication lab and teaching space with a broad range of additive and subtractive systems (50+ 3D printers of various sizes and styles, laser cutters, routers, scanners). We are the 9th Makerbot innovation center in the world, the largest in the NYC area, and the only digi-fab lab in a school of Business in the US. The lab includes a resource library, and incubator space. Our faculty consists of two full-time faculty and one part-time with strong backgrounds in innovation, digital fabrication, and entrepreneurship.


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150 amazing professional digital images of your dear ones at ultra high resolution on a CD. Canon EOS5D with professional lighting and multiple synchronized flash units will create awesome pictures for your life time enjoyment. Free consultation and post processing. The images are suitable for very large enlargements.
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text: Seawheeze 2014 08/12/2014 I was excited about this race for MONTHS-billed as the big Lululemon race of the year, complete with yoga and zen like activities all weekend long. Add in the fact that I was meeting one of my dearest running friends from Texas and I was PUMPED! Seawheeze weekend started out on Friday with a two hour wait in line to get into the special store that had exclusive Seawheeze Lulu clothes. Being an ambassador for INKnBURN, I was mainly interested in the clothes that my favorite company doesn't


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Offline Authentication
JayATC last edited by
I am trying to do an offline authentication and ANVEL 2.5 gave me a code and said to enter it into Anvelism.com. Where do I enter the code?
ANVEL Team last edited by
@JayATC, I have enabled offline authentication on your account. Please visit the My ANVEL section of the website - you should see the link for completing the validation process.
The ANVEL Team


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Boehringer Ingelheim will withdraw all pending marketing applications for faldaprevir worldwide and is discontinuing further development.
Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to developing new treatments that provide high therapeutic value in areas where medical need exists. The company is focusing its efforts on numerous promising development projects in immunology, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic diseases, diseases of the central nervous system and oncology.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, Boehringer Ingelheim operates globally with 142 affiliates and a total of more than 47,400 employees. The focus of the family-owned company, founded in 1885, is researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing new medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
Taking social responsibility is an important element of the corporate culture at Boehringer Ingelheim. This includes worldwide involvement in social projects, such as the initiative "Making more Health" and caring for the employees. Respect, equal opportunities and reconciling career and family form the foundation of the mutual cooperation. In everything it does, the company focuses on environmental protection and sustainability.
In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 14.1 billion euros. R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.5% of its net sales.


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In the last view years Unit Testing has grown more important in iOS land. Because Unit Testing UIViewControllers doesn't lend itself naturally to Unit Testing the MVVM pattern has found its way in the iOS universe.
Patterns always add complexity to the problems that they are supposed to solve. Especially if you are unfamiliar or worse yet, we can't agree on the definition of the pattern.
My thoughts on MVVM boil down to Unit Testing. I've used MVVM for unit testing, and I can't say that I'm in love with it, but like Winston Churchill said,
"MVVM is the worst pattern for testing ViewContollers except for all of the others" .
So this blog caught my eye
Which main point is that we need better defined classes, and who would argue with that?
Anyway here is my comment on the article.
A downside of MVVM is that you can see a Massive View Controller become a Massive View Model which only transfers the same problem somewhere else with added complexity.
I agree with your premise that the real problem is with class design. In both cases, what should be abstracted out, becomes code in a class that is bigger then it should be.
However if Unit Testing is a concern, MVVM can be a good pattern where these better designed classes (dependencies) are passed in (injected) to a ViewModel where they can be tested.
With ViewControllers this becomes harder, but not impossible.
This also makes in clearer to see that this view is dependent on these nicely designed classes with clearly defined responsibilities, more so than a ViewController instantiating dependencies in a say an action handler.
With a ViewModel I could test.
1. Button tap
2. Service call
3. Update label with some formatted text, is the text in the view the required format.
Doing that with a ViewModel, the interactions between all of those parts becomes natural, but in a ViewController not so much.
You could argue that unit testing is of little value and let's use UI testing for these types of test, but I think that really the value of unit testing is better code, with better separation, which should be the end result here.


text: Categories Selfstudyhistory.com Protected: Discuss the provincial and district administrative units of the Gupta Empire with the designations and functions of the officers. Author selfstudyhistory Posted on Posted on August 25, 2017June 6, 2018 0 This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: Advertisements Share this:TwitterFacebookWhatsAppMoreEmailLinkedInRedditTumblrPinterestPocket Related


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One of the best things about retirement is being able to spend quality time with your family, especially your grandchildren. When we recall our childhood, grazed knees, muddy clothes and wasp stings were everyday hazards for rowdy boys and girls. However, recent studies by the National Trust have shown that this is a thing of the past. With the rise of computer games and over-cautious parents, it seems fewer youngsters are venturing into the great outdoors.
The research found that less than one in 10 children regularly play in wild places, a third have never climbed a tree and one in 10 can't ride a bike. Most shockingly, the findings showed that three times as many children are taken to hospital after falling out of bed.
The National Trust have launched a fantastic campaign nationwide to get kids outside, having adventures and exploring just as they should be. The new list challenges children to tick off all 50 old-fashioned pursuits. Here are some of our favourites for you to try.
1. Go on a Bike Ride
What better way to spend time with your grandchildren than to teach them a life skill? Take a long cycle through the country with a picnic full of goodies. You can help inspire the thrill of adventure and may even revitalise it in yourself while you're at it!
2. Plant it, Grow it, Eat it
You'd be surprised at how many children don't know the name of most fruit and vegetables, let alone where they come from! Perhaps you have green fingers and enjoy growing your own in an allotment somewhere. Bring the grandchildren along and let them taste the sense of achievement from their hard work.
3. Make a Home for a Wild Animal
Think back to your old woodwork classes and help your grandkids to make their very own nest box. Give nature a new home and spend some quality time together. You'll have them coming back every weekend when they see their project being enjoyed by some feathery friends.
These are just some of the wonderful activities suggested. If you're short of ideas for what to do with your grandchildren, look at the National Trust's site and help them get started!


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November 16, 2018
What Could Happen if I Refuse a DUI Chemical Test in California?
California follows the implied consent law, which means drivers imply their consent to blood alcohol content (BAC) testing just by operating a motor vehicle. If a driver is arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, they will be required to complete one or more of the following chemical tests: DUI Chemical Tests in California […]


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A Department of Justice paralegal reportedly utilizes government software to push her socialist agenda, as revealed in the latest installment of Project Veritas' "Deep State Unmasked" undercover exposé series.
The undercover video shows anti-Trump DoJ employee Allison Hrabar, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (Metro DC DSA) who was involved in driving DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielson from a DC restaurant in July, discussing the use of DoJ resources to obstruct Trump administration policies.
"So Allison is a paralegal, so she, her living is researching people, so she's very good at researching people. So, they just find the companies, and then the people that run those companies, and then they find their home address. She uses Lexis Nexis and a couple other software things," said DSA member Cliff Green to a PV journalist.
Green goes on to say Hraber likely breaks the law using her position to push a socialist agenda.
"That's the kind of thing that you would get fired for…people do not have the silver bullet, the smoking gun or whatever. Um, if they were able to get proof of that, you know? So, we're all walking that line."
Also featured is Jessica Schubel, the former Chief of Staff for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration.
"It's kind of like the Nixon, 'deep throat' type of thing," she says in the video.
The DoJ has issued a statement in reaction to PV's latest video:
"These allegations are deeply concerning. Department policy prohibits misuse of government resources to advance personal interests. We are looking into this immediately and have referred this matter to the Inspector General as well."
PV's first Deep State installment featured State Department employee Stuart Karaffa discussing how he carries out socialist political activities on the taxpayer's dime.
"Resist everything. Every level. F*ck sh*t up," he said.
The State Department said Monday they have opened an investigation into Karaffa.
Twitter: Follow @WhiteIsTheFury


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When I think about those two big scary questions–Who am I? Why am I here?–clarity usually comes to me in flashes; in fragments I try to force together like puzzle pieces. Sometimes the burst is so bright, everything illuminated, that I feel a sense of purpose and conviction so supernatural in its potency that I know for a fact God is speaking to me. Other times, the glimpse is so brief that I feel more lost and alone than before.
Which has led me to ponder new questions: How do I find my North Star? How do I keep it in my sights through the storms, the darkness, and the doubt that follows?
For the past month these questions have consumed me and I've let them. Even though I'd committed to daily blogging, as long as these questions were on my mind, I felt like I didn't know what to say. Even though I desperately wanted to finish my current WIP, as long as these questions were on my mind, the act felt useless.
Because I need to know the why.
Why was I telling this story and all the others that have been fighting for my attention lately? Why are these characters so important to me? What do I want my readers to know and feel about them? What do I want them to do with those revelations? Are there other ways I can spread my message? Am I really even clear on what that is?
Some people just want to be writers, putting out a book as often as they can, whether that's once a year, once every two years, once every ten. Pen to page, day after day. For them, that is the work. And that is beautiful. That is admirable.
But I've been feeling this pull lately, this stretching of my spirit to do something…more. Not something else. Not something that isn't still storytelling. But something more. Bigger. Greater.
For months, I've thought that it was my fears that were getting in the way, that my anxiety was the distraction, that my problems were caused by a lack of stamina and focus. Instead, what was getting in the way was this other voice. So faint I didn't even realize it was there.
Maybe it wasn't even a voice. Not in the beginning. Maybe it was more like a nudge. Move. Grow. Change. It's okay. I am with you.
But I wasn't listening. Because I thought I already knew the answers to those big, scary questions.
Who are you?
A writer.
Why are you here?
To tell stories.
Those answers are beautiful. They are admirable. But they are also wrong. Because they are incomplete.
Usually, when we think about our life's purpose, we start at the macro level. We approach it with giant expectations and then we crush ourselves beneath the weight of never meeting them. If we're a writer, we might think that we have to write a book as influential as Harry Potter. Something that cultivates the values and beliefs of an entire generation. Something that reaches the far ends of the earth. That makes us rich and famous.
But what if the key to unlocking our potential is thinking much, much smaller? Not thinking that our potential is small. Not thinking that our gifts are small. But small in the sense that we are snowflakes. That the pattern of purpose alive in me is different from the purpose that's alive in you. That it's the subtleties and nuance of our nature that allows us to have the greatest impact because that's what allows us to connect with the specific people who need our gifts the most.
I think I'm starting to figure out my true gifts, and more importantly, who needs them the most. In other words, I am inching towards the real answers to those big, scary questions and as the answers loom on the horizon, I can already sense that they will be much bigger and much scarier than anything I could have ever imagined. But big and scary doesn't always mean bad. Sometimes big and scary means joy. Sometimes big and scary means freedom.


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Taken for a Ride: What to Know as a Ride-Sharing Passenger
In a recent post we addressed the changing picture of liability coverage for those working as drivers for ride-sharing service like Uber and Lyft (if you missed it, read it here). But what are the risks to passengers of these wildly popular services? The first thing to understand is that in many cases individual states…Read More
Fun Overload: When Good Times Get Out of Hand
March is a much anticipated month in Maryland, when many of us start shedding our winter layers in excited preparation for the coming spring. In addition to extra clothes, however, some folks also shed their common sense. There is such thing as having too much fun, and a few times illustrate that better than the…Read More
Extravagant Holiday Gifts and How to Protect Them
Buying something special this year? Camera equipment, jewelry, furs, electronics, etc.? It's that time of year again, and most of us are making our lists and checking them twice. Some gifts – like those to our partners, children, nieces, and nephews – will be fun and heartfelt. Others – the ones to our colleagues, neighbors,…Read More
Guns in the Home?
In the United States, gun ownership is still a hot button issue. A 2014 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that having a firearm in the home puts those in the household at higher risk of committing suicide or being the victim of a homicide. And approximately one third of American households keep…Read More


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The Ark enjoys the diversity of its members and it prides itself in the accomplishments of each of them. It is our goal, that everyone progresses towards their goals. For this reason we take into consideration the individual differences of our members and incorporate that into their training.
Continue reading to learn how The Ark has helped Ariel Lang meet and surpass her fitness goals.
1. How long have you been training at The Ark?
Three years.
2. What were your goals when you started and has The Ark helped you achieve them?
I joined The Ark three years ago with the goal of becoming stronger and more content with my body.
I've become stronger, faster, more flexible, and healthier than I ever thought I would be. This has given me confidence in my body and mind that carries over into all parts of my life.
3. What do you like most about our gym?
The diverse and supportive members, excellent programming, and community focus. The members of The Ark are all incredibly supportive of one another. It doesn't matter what level you're at, we're all there to help each other excel and learn new skills. I look forward to going to the gym every day because I know I'll get to see faces I love.
The coaches at The Ark spend a lot of time developing multi-faceted, intelligent, and FUN programming that's accessible, yet challenging, to all fitness levels.
Too many gyms charge exorbitant fees that are cost prohibitive for a lot of community members. Michael has made an unparalleled effort to make fitness available to anyone that is interested through various forms of community outreach. When you join The Ark, you can be confident that you're joining a gym with a conscience that is helping better the community.
4. What would you say to convince someone who's thinking about joining?
Stop thinking about it and just do it already :)