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With that, it is always good to understand the terms in an insurance contract so that you can make informed decisions about whether to purchase coverage or not. This post will highlight a few terms.]]> Elimination period – This refers to the time period that must pass before long term disability benefits will kick in. LTD products are not constructed to provide benefits for short term injuries. They assume that you will have other ways to navigate the period between an injury and the time that benefits are actually necessary, such as using savings or unemployment.
Benefit period – This refers to the time period that benefits will actually be paid. The benefits period could be as short as two years, or as long as the date from the end of the elimination period to one's retirement age. Before signing any LTD contract, it is critical to know the length of the benefits period.
Guaranteed renewable – This term seems self explanatory, that your policy will not be canceled. However, it is inevitable that the policy will have the word "cancel" somewhere else in the policy. It is critical to know the circumstances in which a policy could be cancelled.
If you have additional questions about the terms of your LTD insurance contract, we invite you to contact us.]]>
Just as the name suggests, an IME will report their findings to the insurer and may challenge your physician's findings regarding your ability to work. Although IMEs are supposed to be independent, it is not surprising that they attempt to find things that are favorable to the insurer. After all, the insurer saves money when they don't pay claims, and they would rather give a few thousand to an IME if it will save them a hundred thousand in paying a claim.]]> With that said, there are a number of things to be mindful of when undergoing an independent medical exam.
Assume that you are being evaluated at all times – While the medical exam is supposed to focus on your physical limitations, you will likely be examined from the time you enter the building to the time you leave.
Don't talk about your injury – You may be goaded into small talk with the receptionist, a nurse or even a fellow patient in the waiting room. What may be overheard may be used against you in the future.
Don't exaggerate or embellish – Your credibility is your greatest weapon when it comes to guarding against unscrupulous insurers, so don't exaggerate pain or claim to have ailments that you don't have.
If you have additional questions about independent medical examinations, an experienced disability law attorney can advise you.]]>
But of course doctors and other medical professionals are people, too, and sometimes they become disabled themselves.
In this post, we will use a Q & A format to address issues that can arise for doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who develop long-term disabling conditions.]]> Does it matter what kind of insurance you have?
Yes. There is a lot of confusion among the general public about whether you can only collect disability benefits if you are completely disabled and what "total disability" means.
The fact of the matter is that the definition of disability in private or workplace insurance depends on whether the insurance coverage is "own occupation" or "any occupation."
For example, let's say you are an OB/GYN doctor has to stop delivering babies or doing obstetrical surgery because of an orthopedic condition. In this situation, under an "own occupation" policy, you would be considered disabled - even if you could do other things with your medical degree, such as teach at a medical school.
Considering how specialized medicine is, is "own occupation" coverage specific to a medical specialty?
Many policies define "own occupation" for disability purposes as a doctor's medical specialty.
This type of coverage is often available through a group plan.
Is there any detailed guidance under California law on what "own occupation" means?
Yes. Under state law in California, there is a standardized definition of definition for "own occupation" insurance policies, as well as for "any occupation."
For "own occupation," the definition has been applied in case law going back more than 30 years. Total disability, in the context of any occupation insurance, means being prevented "from working with reasonable continuity" in your "customary occupation" or another occupation that you could reasonably be expected to perform "in light of your age, education, training, experience, station in life, [and] physical and mental capacity."
In other words, total disability does not mean a state of absolute helplessness.
Give an example of the California definition of "own occupation" in practice.
Suppose you are a dentist with severe arthritis or some other orthopedic condition affecting your wrist. If you can perform multiple procedures one day, but are in too much pain to do any on the next day, you do not have reasonable continuity in your occupation.
Why can it be so difficult to recover under a disability insurance policy?
Many insurance companies are shameless about exploiting loopholes or being downright dishonest in denying coverage.
Insurers also often manipulate the medical findings about the degree of disability. As a medical professional, if you yourself have become ill, such manipulation is something you need to watch out for. An attorney skilled in handling long-term disability issues can help you assert your rights.]]>
For those suffering from debilitating injuries and are waiting on an insurer to make good on their promise, holiday weekends can be particularly disappointing. It may be especially poor when you have not heard from your insurer or receive terse or ambiguous answers to your questions. Unfortunately, delays and distractions are common business practices for insurers. Sometimes these tactics violate state and federal law, but it is not always easy to know when legal action should be taken.]]> This post will highlight a few clues to look for with an insurer's communications.
No reasons for a denial – Your insurer is supposed to provide specific reasons for a denial, not only because it may be required by your policy, you must have a detailed information so that you can lodge a proper appeal.
No description of additional materials – Again, having specific information about what else is needed to process your claim is essential. If you don't know what is required, the more likely your claim will be denied due to non-compliance, and the insurer can claim plausible deniability.
No reason for additional information – In the same vein, not providing a reason for requiring additional materials or information can be confusing and wasteful. While this may a sign of a duplicate request, it may also work against you in terms of limiting the amount of time you have to appeal a denial.
Nevertheless, if you receive these types of cryptic requests, getting an experienced disability law attorney involved may be your next step. We invite you to contact us if you have questions.
The preceding is not legal advice]]>
Long term disability insurers are no different. You may be entertained by the catchy commercials and catchphrases, and your employer may persuaded by the coverage offerings and supporting numbers, such as how many people may become disabled for an extended amount of time before reaching retirement age.]]> Indeed, insurers expend billions of dollars each year in LTD benefits through employer sponsored group disability coverage, but that does not mean that they always pay benefits willingly and expeditiously. In fact, the games they play encourage claimants to simply give up on money they are legally entitled to.
So what does this mean as a consumer when you are offered coverage through your employer? We cannot advise you to ignore disability insurance offers. After all, these insurance plans do serve a vital purpose in the event an employee becomes disabled. However, it is important to know that insurers don't care about your ailments or the financial hardships you face when you need your provider to step up and do the right thing.
An experienced disability law attorney can help you make sense of things when you need to file a claim, and handle all of the correspondence necessary so that you are taken advantage of. If you have additional questions about an insurer's obligations towards you, or if an insurer has denied your claim, we invite you to contact us.]]>
Basically, claimants must overcome a gauntlet of uncertainties in order to receive benefits after a denial. Insurers bank on the notion that one of them will work out in their favor. Once that happens, the insurer wins. For those not familiar with those "ifs", this post will highlight them.]]> If the claim is appealable – Because of the intricacy and short timelines that insurers allow for appeals, insurers anticipate that a majority of consumers will not pursue an appeal. A percentage of those who do appeal will be limited because of preventable mistakes.
If a lawyer will take the case – Insurers also believe that an attorney will shy away from taking on such a case because of the work involved and the complex laws surrounding ERISA claims.
If the court rules in favor of the claimant – Again, insurers bank on the notion that a case will not even get to trial, and that it could be dismissed on procedural grounds.
Despite the number of "ifs" involved, the reality is that denied claims can be successfully appealed, a skilled disability rights lawyer can take your case, strong arguments can be raised to obtain a ruling in your favor. Because of the sheer number of successful denials, insurers are not likely to change their practices anytime soon. As such, an experienced attorney can turn the sum of all "ifs" into a win.]]>
Fortunately for you, it's never too early to hire a skilled attorney to help you with your claim. In fact, an insurer would rather have you strike out on your own so you can strike out on your claim, thereby limiting your ability to recover what you are legally entitled to. With that, this post will focus on how we can protect your interests.]]> Managing your initial claim for benefits – Like other areas of law, having an attorney involved early in the process is beneficial. After all, insurers design forms and questionnaires to elicit answers that can form the basis for a denial. As a claimant you won't know this, but a lawyer can help you understand the traps that can befall your claim. Our office can help you understand the information that must be included, including supportive recommendations from your physicians and detailed narratives about your work limitations.
Handle correspondence during administration – Having our office handle all the communications with the insurer can alleviate concerns about missing information or incorrectly prepared documents; two tricks that insurers use to deny or delay proper claims. With calls and letters coming to our office, we can short circuit the games insurers play so that your benefits stay intact.
If you have additional questions about how we can help, we invite you to contact us.
Is it a coincidence that fibromyalgia became a regularly accepted condition after Pfizer introduced a drug (Lyrica) that could treat its symptoms? It's a question worth debating; but consider this: if drug manufacturers were making money of treating fibromyalgia, chances are that insurers would be compelled to see it a legitimate condition. But this does not prevent insurers from being ridiculously skeptical about other conditions with the same characteristics.]]> A perfect example is Lyme disease. People suffering this condition have the same difficulties proving that they are legitimately debilitated. This is partly due to insurers relying on medical reviewers that will testify that Lyme disease is "not a real disease" in order to deny claimants benefits.
Fortunately, there is growing medical literature supporting the existence of Lyme disease. It has even become a subject of pop culture debate after Yolanda Foster from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" endured it for over a year. Unfortunately, until a major drug manufacturer releases a drug to remedy the ailments of Lyme disease, chances are that insurers will ignore legitimate claims based on this condition.]]>
Nearly 23 percent of adults report doctor-diagnosed arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Nearly 44 percent of those people have activity limitations due to arthritis.
When do those limitations become so severe as to be disabling? In this post, we will use a Q & A format to address that question.]]> What is arthritis and what are the main types?
Arthritis is an inflammation of the body's joints. It typically involves joint pain and stiffness and gets worse with age.
The two most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. With osteoarthritis, there is a breakdown of the cartilage that provides a covering for the ends of bones where they join together.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of the joints and is considered to be caused by an autoimmune disorder.
Can arthritis be worsened when combined with other conditions?
Yes. And the reverse is true as well. For example, if someone has severe back pain, the problem can be compounded by arthritis in the knees.
Arthritis can also affect mental conditions, such as depression. If someone has terrible arthritis that severely limits the ability to engage in the activities of life, this can be contributing cause of depression.
How is disability defined regarding arthritis?
Keep in mind that the term "disability" has difference definitions, depending on the context. Its meaning in the context of Social Security disability insurance is not synonymous with its meaning in the context of private disability insurance.
Indeed, even with private disability insurance, the definition may depend on the policy type. There are important differences, more specifically, between "own-occupation" and "any-occupation" policies.
If you have private disability insurance, and are concerned that your employer or insurer is treating you unfairly, it is important to discuss this with an attorney knowledgeable in this area of the law.]]>
Generally speaking, the question of whether your benefits will be taxable depends on how you paid your insurance premiums. If you used pre-tax dollars to pay them, chances are that the benefits you receive will be considered taxable income. If you used after-tax dollars to maintain premiums, chances are that your benefits will be tax free.]]> The reasoning behind this is simple. Using pre-tax dollars to make premium payments reduces your taxable income in the year you made the payments. So you essentially receive a tax benefit before receiving any income from the policy. The tax code doesn't allow taxpayers to "double dip" when it comes to tax savings in that regard. So if you used after-tax dollars to make premium payments, you did not get a similar tax benefit. In these cases, you will likely get that benefit on the back end by receiving tax-free benefits.
Knowing this difference is especially important in the midst of negotiating a settlement (or buyout) of an insurance plan. While finally receiving benefits after a legal battle is compelling, you certainly don't want to sacrifice more income to Uncle Sam than you really have to. Also, what may seem like a generous offer from an insurer may not be after considering the tax hit you may take.
The preceding is not legal or tax advice.]]>
Why is this? You just have to follow the money. If a customer knew in advance how difficult it would be to get paid after submitting a claim, would he or she really buy the insurance? In fact, there are a number of things long term disability insurers may not want you to know. This post will highlight a few of them.]]> Ambiguous terms are interpreted in your favor – While this is a basic tenet of contract law, insurers know that you did not go to law school probably won't consult an attorney prior to buying your policy. So if you understand the meaning of "totally disabled" to mean that you cannot perform "important duties," you shouldn't be compensated as if you cannot perform "some of your important duties."
We're on the hook if we recommended insufficient coverage – If your disability coverage benefits are not enough to cover your actual losses based on an agent's recommendations, we may be liable for the entire cost of your loss, and not just the policy limits.
We teach our agents and adjusters to be nice, not to be experts – More often than not, our agents are not experts when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of the policies they sell. There's a big difference between being able to sell a policy and interpreting one; and if we focused on policy details we wouldn't sell very many policies.
If you feel like your insurer is hiding things from you, or just telling you enough to keep you at bay, a conversation with an experienced disability law attorney may be necessary.]]>
So when an insurer has your records reviewed by an independent medical examiner (IME), you may feel like the doctor will understand, and the insurer will follow suit. But when your claim is denied (despite evidence indicating that you are entitled to benefits), is the medical examiner actually "independent?"]]> Keep in mind that some doctors have deep working relationships with insurers, and may be directed to find benign issues or discrepancies that can be used to deny claims. In fact, courts have questioned just how independent or neutral some examiners may be given that their "bread has been buttered" by insurance companies.
An experienced disability law attorney can challenge bogus reviews and expose conflicts of interest so that you may obtain the benefits you are legally entitled to. For example, I raise questions when an examiner fails to provide specifics on why the claim was denied or does not substantially comply with ERISA's disclosure requirements. When an examiner ignores prior medical evidence, this could be an indication that he or she is not exercising independent medical judgment.
If you believe that your long term disability benefits have been thwarted by so-called "independent" medical examiners, we invite you to contact us.
The preceding is not legal advice.]]>
This syndrome can be debilitating. It can result in symptoms so severe that the person suffering from the syndrome is unable to work.
In these cases, those with fibromyalgia may be eligible for disability benefits.]]> What benefits are available? Those who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia may have a number of options. Two options to take into consideration include are benefits available through both short and long term insurance.
What are the diagnostic criteria? Fibromyalgia is not merely in someone's head. The objective criteria have changed in recent years, as we discussed in a post last November.
What kind of information is taken into account when reviewing a request from insurance for disability benefits? The exact information that will be requested and reviewed may vary depending on the insurance provider. However, applicants can generally increase their chances for success with the following tips:
Unfortunately, denials for these benefits are not uncommon. This is true even when an application is filled out accurately and the applicant qualifies for benefits.
How can an applicant find success when applying for disability benefits? It is important to make sure that the application is completed fully. This may require including various pieces of evidence like medical records. A failure to do so can result in a denial of benefits.
Those who are attempting to navigate this process can benefit from legal counsel. An experienced disability claims attorney can help you pursue the benefits you need.]]>
Why? Just follow the money. If an insurer can get you to believe that they are battling a dysfunctional (yet impenetrable) barricade of adjusters, reviewers and other meaningless bureaucrats who don't give a damn about your pain, your inability to work or to make ends meet, chances are that you will simply give up on benefits that you are legally entitled to and go away. If that happens, no money is paid out, and the insurer makes money. Simple as that.]]> There's a number of ways that an insurer can frustrate you into submission, including:
Essentially, they know that few people have the personality and legal acumen to fight through some of frustrating nonsense they dole out. So once you throw up your hands in frustration and talk about giving up, just know that the insurance carrier has you right where it wants you. But that's not the end of the story. Having a dedicated disability law attorney at your side is the key to breaking through the barrier to get what's rightfully yours. I have the skill and temperament to hold them accountable.
If you have questions about how I can help, I'd love to talk with you.]]>


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From outdoor concerts and flicks to a day on the farm and cheering on your favorite athlete, this weekend is full of endless possibilities for fun. Slather on the sunscreen and pack up some snacks, because there's plenty of events and activities to fill your days. Read on to find out where you can find the perfect time for your clan.
photo: Oregon State University via Flickr
SE Portland
Join Micah and Me Music Show at Beantstalk Montavilla
Run down to Beanstalk Montavilla for an in-house dance party for kids of all ages. Micah & Me have the ability to connect with youngsters of all ages while playing live fun-filled music on the guitar and ukulele! Fri. Event Details.
Attend Organic Valley Farm Discovery
Who's your Farmer? Visit an organic farm and meet your local Organic Valley farm family. You'll walk the pastures, make butter, feed baby calves, visit the milking parlor, enjoy story time and learn more about where delicious, organic food comes from while getting to taste it, too. RSVP for your space on the tour, driving directions, and to "meet" your farmer hosts. Sat. Event Details.
Attend the Grand Opening of Pacific Northwest Hula Academy
Join Pacific Northwest Hula Academy's grand opening celebration with free classes, refreshments, enrollment/registration incentives, and fun! Hula like you mean it and your littles will too. Sun. Event Details.
N Portland
Don't Miss the Mississippi Street Fair
The 2017 Mississippi Street Fair is Portland's largest street fair, featuring over 200 vendors, 5 music stages, the Art Hub, Grandfather's Rib Off, Dunk Tank and proceeds benefit the Boise Business Youth Unity Project.
Visit the Kids Zone presented by New Seasons at N Beech, or the Kids Stage at Mississippi Pizza for some extra fun! Sat. Event Details.
Head to the Kids' Comic Studio
Let your kids explore their creativity at this cool event! Drop your kids in grades 1-5 off for three hours of fun comics exploration! Sat. Event Details.
NE Portland
Attend Friday Lunchtime Music
Head to Holladay Park for a free lunchtime concert. Bring your own low back chair or blanket to enjoy the free music event. Holladay Park programming is held from June 1st through Labor Day. And this lunch time activity gives your family and opportunity to get down together and do summer the Portland way. Fri. Event Details.
Catch Concerts & Movies in the Park
Don't miss this musical tradition over 110 years in the making. Concerts in the Park offers something for everyone. The Rose City's best and brightest – from classical to country, rock & roll, to rhythm & blues – have been entrancing audiences in parks since 1901. Head to Portland parks citywide for the revelry, with over forty thousand people attending 61 concerts offered in 2016. Fri. Event Details.
Attend the Special Olympics Oregon Summer Games
Get out and support your favorite athlete! The countdown is on for the 2017 Summer State Games. In the largest annual event for Special Olympics Oregon, the Summer Games will host 2,000 athletes, 600 coaches and 1,300 volunteers over the course of two days. Sat. & Sun. Event Details.
Head to the Donald Hazelnut Festival
Take a road trip to the City of Donald, Oregon and celebrate the area's rich agricultural heritage with our Annual Donald Hazelnut Festival! Watch the parade, enjoy tasty food and fun events, take in some great bands and fun exhibitions, enter to win $7,000 worth of fantastic raffle prizes, and admire the classic cars at one of Willamette Valley's hottest classic car Cruise-Ins! Sat. Event Details.
Fly Over to Open Saturday Programs
Take your little aviation lovers to the historic Pearson Field to experience the Fort Vancouver National Trust's Pearson Field Education Center. This free educational experience is open to the public and features the Flight Simulator Lab, vertical wind tunnel, glider-building station, historic airplanes on-site for viewing, collections on display, and various ongoing educational programs that will propel students of all ages into the wonderful world of flight. Sat. Event Details.
What is your favorite mid-summer weekend activity? Share it with us in the comments below.
—Annette Benedetti

subset: commoncrawl


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What's driving bitcoin to record highs?
- CryptoCoins News
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- Sep 8, 2017
Bitcoin is back in business after some bad publicity.
On September 5, the controversial cryptocurrency (digital currency) was trading below $4,000 after the Chinese central bank banned initial coin offerings (ICOs), which allow firms to raise money by selling new digital tokens to investors. Bitcoin then soared to $4,410 within 24 hours – a record 11.6-per-cent increase. Another cryptocurrency, Ether, had a similar dip and rise.
Related to this story
Some factors in the swift recovery were a statement from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission on the legality of ICOs, and an announcement on the upcoming launch of a new cryptocurrency.
Associate Professor J. P. Vergne explains the phenomenon in CryptoCoins News.
"We found that the best predictor of a cryptocurrency's exchange rate is the amount of developer activity around it," he says.


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Content count62
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About The.Dragon.Prince
- Birthday 03/05/1994
Profile Information
Czech Republic
books,movies,sports,politics and good food
Recent Profile Visitors
1,782 profile views
A Dance with Dragons finished, ...wow
Finished AFFC, ohh wonderful book! Now a break and then ADWD
Reading AFFC for the 1st time!
So who would you bend the knee to?
The.Dragon.Prince replied to sam90's topic in A Storm of SwordsI think he is cruel enough. Just think about his childhood,adulthood,The Sack or RW. Its a nice point with Martin creating him in this manner,it suits perfectly. I think its a pity we didnt know him better before ASoS because I truly understanded himafter I read about hus earlier days in The World of IaF For the topic: Joffrey(Lannisters) if I hadnt know of incest etc as a one of the smallfolk.
Re-reading A Storm of Swords,a brilliant part of the series
Who has the most right to the Iron Throne
The.Dragon.Prince replied to BlackBrother55's topic in A Clash of KingsStannis Baratheon before the War of Five Kings had the right, anybody who wins it has the right once they start a War But as Pseudodemtrius said several parts of Westeros would be better off with independence, The North, Dorne, The Vale and Iron Islands for start.
Ending ACoK re-read (House of Undying:) )
Yes! It probably has to do something with me reading other 2 books, and also not paing a lot of attention to him. So now when I think he is an important character with an interesting features and life path which nobody else does Im so focused on him and his chapters that it surprise even myself
The Bran thing is interesting, I was so bored with his chapters reading for the 1st time, but during my re-read he was one of the best for me, all his chapters are so action pact(including the dreamy ones):)
Ending AGoT re-read :))
The.Dragon.Prince started following Viserys - Dastardly Villain or Misunderstood?
Re-reading half thru AGoT. Brilliant book!
I believe we are discussing AGoT favourite POV here, otherwise my favourites would be a lot different also (till SoS) But at least you got me hyped for Feast and Dance which I havent read yet. Im just want enjoy re-read and then go on. OTOH it looks Im rushing again!
Im greatly surprised by the change of my mind during a re-read. Im rereading AGoT for the first time now and while during my premiere I almost hated (or was 2nd worst) Bran chapters now I seem to love it. If you consider how interesting his chapters are - its amazing. The process with NW deserter, finding direwolfs, jaime and cersei, three eye crow and air look on westeros, tyrions arrival from NW, first ride while crrypled and wildlings ambush.His chapters are a bomb!I dont really understand why I dont like them during my first read (maybe cuz I know what would happen in ACoK) Also enjoying a lot of Neds chapters and Jon as always, and Tyrion for sure.Maybe Arya and Sansa chapters seems a bit meh now reading it in comparison with ACoK and ASoS!But most significant is Daenerys storyline during the first book, that one is super interersting with all that tense with Viserys and Drogo's savages.
Not understanding Reek's speech
The.Dragon.Prince replied to False Aegon's topic in A Clash of KingsMagnificent post, applause! Im actually going to re-read this in a short time (today delivered from amazon, yayyy ) and this is a part I MOST enjoyed in my first time, so looking forwad to this again!
Characters you changed your mind about after finishing ASOS...
The.Dragon.Prince replied to PetyrPunkinhead's topic in A Storm of SwordsI need to wait for a re-read to make a top10 list of characters, but Im sure that Jaime is in top5, maybe even on podium As you said, incredible development and contrast, very enjoyable character, and at the end of SoS brilliant!


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New RUSA committee will focus on campus sustainability
Students heading a new Rutgers University Student Assembly task force are dedicating their summer to reducing the school's carbon footprint.
Emily Arezzi, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, chairs the Sustainability Committee, which is devoted to promoting a zero-waste mentality and increasing support for campus sustainability initiatives through research and planning.
The committee will begin implementing initiatives and reaching out to the student body during the 2016 Fall Semester.
"RU Composting on the Game Day Recycling Initiative" is the committee's first initiative. It is a plan to increase recycling efforts at High Point Solutions Stadium during football games.
School of Arts and Sciences Junior and RUSA member Cecilia Salazar is researching existing sustainability initiatives used by Rutgers and other Big Ten schools to reduce waste throughout the football season.
Salazar is trying to find the University's landfill diversion rate, the percentage of waste recycled out of total waste produced during games.
"If we can make it into the top-10 of total pounds (recycled) we should be able to make it into the top-10 of how much waste we diverted from landfills," Salazar said.
"I hope this sustainability committee will help promote the incredible success that we already have on campus," she said.
The committee has been reaching out to other Big Ten schools to find out what initiatives they use and what has proved successful in reducing waste.
The initiatives will involve a multiple departments on campus as well as possible governmental facilities, Salazer said.
She hopes funding can come from sponsorships, local businesses or corporate sponsors such as Johnson & Johnson.
"We need to reach out to (the) Rutgers administration about how important it it to take on this issue now, as opposed to next year, or the year," she said. "(Climate change) isn't something we can wipe under the rug ... This is something we need to address now and as soon as possible."
She also feels Rutgers needs to join other universities that have been implementing recycling and other sustainability initiatives into their campuses.
More than 12 organizations promoting sustainable living and development currently exist on campus, and Salazar hopes that the Sustainability Committee will help unite them.
As of now, research is still being done to develop practical programs, but Salazar said all Rutgers students will be encouraged to participate during the school year.
"By the start of next semester, you will be hearing a lot from the sustainability committee about different ways for students to get involved," she said.
Already this year, Rutgers has made strides in recycling.
The University participated in and won Recyclemania 2016 as well as the Recycling Game Day Challenge. The school recycled more than 32 thousand pounds of waste last football season.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Targum.


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Welcome to Aspire - Aspect's blog featuring blogs from Aspect staff and others in the autism community. The views expressed in this blog are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect). To be considered as a guest blogger on Aspire, please send a brief outline of your topic and your credentials to Aspect via the Contact Us page.
Guardians of the educational system, A Thomas Kuzma tale
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 07/08/2014
this week on the blog thomas talks abotu his experiences at the Autism in Education Conference.Read more
So a horse walks into a blog
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Date posted: 29/07/2014
and the blogger asks, how the hell did a horse get on the internet? This week on the blog thomas explores humour, comedy and everything derives from it. So I hope youare sitting comfortably on your chair, because for this week's blog you will only need the edge of it!Read more
The Eternal Blink
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Date posted: 24/07/2014
This week on the blog Thomas discusses death, kicking buckets and sleeping for an incredible long amount of time, which he is planning to do on the weekend. He also talks to Elizabeth Low about dealing with bereavment.Read more
The golden brush of the mind
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 17/07/2014
This week on the blog Thomas talks about his experience of going to the Adobe Seminar called Create Now.Read more
Breaking, belonging and blogging!
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 10/07/2014
This week on the blog Thomas talks about society and belonging in the community and Debra Costley drops by to talk about the 'We Belong' Report.Read more
Anniversaries and NDIS
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Date posted: 03/07/2014
This week thomas talks about celebrating the first anniversary of meeting the peopel from the Cornetto Trilogy and discusses NDIS with John KellyRead more
Education never stops
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Date posted: 27/06/2014
The opportunity to learn is everywhere. Not just in the classroom, but all around the world we live in. Read about Thomas' own experiences at school and an expert's view.Read more
An emperor and a gentleman. A Thomas Kuzma tale
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 19/06/2014
This week on the blog we go into a weekend of a life of Thomas Kuzma. not just any weekend though, the weekend of Supanova! Find out who he 'Cosplayed' as, what movies he watched and try and guess this weeks riddle!Read more
Pop fiction
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 12/06/2014
From video games to exciting tv shows and movies Thomas talks about Pop culture and fiction! This week on the blog we explore what makes tv shows like simpsons, movies like Star wars and Video games like Zelda enjoyable and what we can do to brin that into the world that we live in today.Read more
Pawsperous friendships
Thomas Kuzma
Date posted: 05/06/2014
This week on the blog Thomas talks about cats and dogs. More importantly he talks about their involvement in the autism community.Read more


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Saturday, May 9, 2009
My Mothers Day Post
I know Steve is going to suck at doing the Mother's Day thing for me and I feel kinda sad about that. Because after everything that I've been through to become a mother, and everything I do on a daily basis to be a good mom to Ruby - I think I deserve a little sumthin-sumthin. A little TLC. A day of being made to feel special and appreciated.
On the other hand, tomorrow will be special and significant to me even without any extras. Because I have Ruby. And I will enjoy spending the day with her. Reflecting on what it means for me to be her mom... How it is nothing at all like I would have expected. How it has changed me in so many ways, for the better, ways I could never have imagined.
And while I appreciate the need to celebrate our own mothers, (and I do intend on showing my own mom just how much I love and appreciate her) I do not want to spend my whole day and all my energy by fussing over my MIL or my mom. They both live an hour away, in different towns and I can already see that we'll be running around to visit them and fuss over them. But I'm a mom now too, and I deserve to enjoy Mother's Day just as much as anyone else.
As I was picking out cards for my mother and Steve's mother, I saw that there was a lot of cards from grandchildren to their grandmothers on Mothers Day. And I thought about maybe getting our moms each a card from Ruby (in addition to cards from us). But then I gave my head a shake and decided that this is not something that I want to start doing. Because that just means twice the work for me every year. Eff off, Hallmark - you almost sucked me in.
Also - on Mothers Day I will be thinking of my comrades in IF. I know all too well how painful the day can bee for those who are still in the trenches, fighting the fight. I wish for all of you to come out of this battle successful (in one way or another) and with some peace in your heart.
6 comments:
- Jen said...
Happy Mother's Day! I hope you have a good day.
- May 9, 2009 at 11:49 AM
- Julia said...
I feel the same way...it YOUR day now and THEY should understand.
Happy Mother's Day to you!
- May 9, 2009 at 11:59 AM
- JJ said...
A bulleted comment:
I hope you did have a lovely 1st Mother's Day--did Steve step up?=)
Im sorry to hear about your friends dad...
Your tattoo is just rockin' I cant wait to get my next one!
Im just proud of you for doing WW, period. Im still not motivated enough...
- May 10, 2009 at 8:44 PM
- Emily said...
Good for you to tell Hallmark to stuff it - damn I hate them and all their invented holidays!
Hope everything worked out yesterday!!!
- May 11, 2009 at 9:52 AM
- Somewhat Ordinary said...
I hope your 1st Mother's Day was great!
You know I just get them cards from the baby now. I know they aren't his mom, but they get a kick out of it and he is the one they go gaga over so I just opted out on cards from us.
- May 11, 2009 at 12:11 PM
- annacyclopedia said...
I hope your day was really good, and that being with Ruby more than made up for Steve's fumbling (although I am secretly hoping he surprised you and lavished you with splendid gifts and food and treats.) You so deserve to be appreciated and honoured for being a mother - not just on Mother's Day, but every single day of the year.
- May 11, 2009 at 2:02 PM


text:
Solving time: 5 mins (solo, no solving aids)Solution
Clue of the puzz: 4d musician {One in a jam?}
Grid art by Sympathy [about the grid colors]
Detectives of the small screen, indicated by 60a TV detective {What each of the characters named at the ends of 17-, 24-, 38- and 48-Across is}.
17a loose cannon {Unpredictable sort}Crucimetrics [about Crucimetrics]
24a casual Friday {End-of-the-week office dress policy, maybe}
38a burn one's bridges {Permanently sever ties}
48a Capuchin monk {Franciscan order member}
Other Clues
Compilers Andrea Carla Michaels and Jennifer Nutt / Will Shortz Grid 15x15 with 38 (16.9%) black squares Answers 78 (average length 4.79) Theme squares 61 (32.6%) Scrabble points 287 (average 1.53) Letters used ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1a gamma {Letter after beta}; 6a speed {Go 80 m.p.h., say}; 11a spa {Place to get a mud bath}; 14a Amour {Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie ___"}; 15a niece {Uncle's special little girl}; 16a tan {Sunbathe}; 19a out {No longer chic}; 20a Asti {Italian wine province}; 21a aft {Back of a boat}; 22a idols {Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia}; 28a aspire {Have high hopes}; 31a alop {Drooping, as a rabbit's ears}; 32a Mayan {Yucatán Indian}; 33a demo {Audition tape}; 35a emu {Cousin of an ostrich}; 42a Île {Paris's ___ de la Cité}; 43a alps {Austrian peaks}; 44a riots {Laugh-a-minute folks}; 45a dish {Appetizer, entree or dessert}; 47a Nasser {President of Egypt before Sadat}; 53a exude {Ooze}; 54a Oop {"Alley ___"}; 55a Eros {Greek love god}; 59a Li'l {"___ Abner"}; 64a Las {___ Vegas}; 65a école {French place of learning}; 66a attic {Anne Frank's hideout}; 67a olé {"Go, bullfighter!"}; 68a a rest {"Give it ___!" ("Quit harping!")}; 69a weedy {Like an untended garden}.
1d gala {Grand party}; 2d Amos {"Famous" cookie guy}; 3d moot {No longer worth debating}; 4d musician {One in a jam?}; 5d are {"What ___ the chances?"}; 6d snafu {Awful mistake}; 7d Pinta {Ship of Columbus}; 8d een {Early night, to a poet}; 9d eco- {Environmental prefix}; 10d De Niro {Robert of "Meet the Parents"}; 11d stood {Got up}; 12d Paula {___ Abdul, former judge of 22-Across}; 13d antsy {Having the jitters}; 18d case {24 cans of beer, e.g.}; 23d dip {Word after skinny or salsa}; 25d Arno {Pisa's river}; 26d lambs {Baby sheep}; 27d flor {Bloom: Sp.}; 28d ambi- {Both: Prefix}; 29d Saul {Author Bellow}; 30d pyre {"And our love become a funeral ___" (lyric from the Doors' "Light My Fire")}; 33d Delhi {Indian metropolis}; 34d ESP {Telepath's "gift," in brief}; 35d egos {Divas have sensitive ones}; 36d mete {Apportion, with "out"}; 37d USSR {Lenin's land, for short}; 39d Nash {Ogden who wrote "Candy / Is dandy / But liquor / Is quicker"}; 40d Iran {Tehran is its capital}; 41d diskette {Quaint computer insert}; 45d dud {Firecracker that fizzles}; 46d ice tea {Drink served with a mint leaf}; 47d nope {"Ain't gonna happen"}; 48d cello {Pablo Casals's instrument}; 49d axial {Like some symmetry}; 50d pulse {Throb}; 51d noels {Christmas carols}; 52d motet {Sacred choral work}; 56d rite {Baptism or bar mitzvah}; 57d Ovid {Roman author of "Metamorphoses"}; 58d secy. {Cabinet head: Abbr.}; 61d VCR {RCA product}; 62d doe {Buck's mate}; 63d caw {Crow's call}.


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Recruitment #18-000521-0003
|MDA Resource Cnsrv - Resource Conservation Ops
|Date Opened
|Filing Deadline
|$41,358.00 - $65,827.00/year
|Employment Type
|HR Analyst
|Hazel Day
|Work Location
92 Thomas Johnson Drive, Suite 110, Frederick, MD 21702
Main Purpose of Job
This is a regional position that provides support to soil conservation districts in Western Maryland by working with farmers to provide on-farm assessment/education on management issues regarding the implementation of best management practices related to compliance with nutrient management regulations. In addition, this position is responsible for investigating and coordinating rapid response to address compliance issues resulting from complaints received involving agricultural operations. This position also provides support to soil conservation districts in carrying out MDA programs including cover crop, manure transport and manure incorporation and various MDA initiatives.
Review soil conservation water quality plans to identify nutrient management related BMPs, field verify and geospacially document these practices and identify areas where these practices may be needed.
Respond to Ag complaints in Western Maryland by coordinating with Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) and local soil conservation districts to resolve cases of water pollution caused by agriculture.
Conduct outreach activities to educate landowners and farm operators about MDA and Soil Conservation District initiatives and to raise awareness about regulations related to protection of water quality.
Assist soil conservation districts in Western Maryland with carrying out activities associated with Maryland Agricultural Cost Share (MACS) for cover crop including completing applications and verifying plantings; for manure transport and manure incorporation.
Submit quarterly and annual reports regarding compliant activity and progress on compliant resolution and MACS cost share activities related to cover crop, manure transport and manure incorporation.
Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources, agriculture or a related field.
Experience: Two years of experience in planning, engineering or program administration work related to soil conservation or water quality.
1. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in urban or regional planning, engineering, physical geography, or the physical, chemical, and biological sciences, including 3 credit hours in soils, and one year of experience in soil and water conservation work may be substituted for the required education.
2. A Master's degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources, agriculture or a related field may be substituted for the required education and one year of the required experience.
3. An Associate of Arts degree from an accredited college or university in natural resources, agriculture or a related field and one year of experience in soil and water conservation work may be substituted for the required education.
4. Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and two additional years of experience in soil and water conservation may be substituted for the required education.
5. Candidates may substitute planning, engineering or program administration experience in a soil conservation, water quality protection or related agricultural or natural resource program on a year-for-year basis for the required education.
6. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in natural resources management and biological science classification or natural resources management and biological science specialty codes in the soil conservation field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.
Possession of current Nutrient Management Certification (A copy of your current certification must accompany your application).
1. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.
2. Employees in certain positions in this classification may be required to become Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Certified Conservation Planners (USDA/NRCS-General Manual, Title 180, Part 409).
Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the qualifications for this recruitment. All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year.
The assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.
Please report all experience and education that is related to this position.
The incumbent in this position is a member of a covered bargaining unit and will be required to pay a bi-weekly service fee to the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit.
Resumes will NOT be accepted in lieu of completing the online or paper application.
Online applications are STRONGLY preferred, however paper applications will be accepted from candidates who may not have internet access. All paper applications must be received by 4:30 PM on the closing date, no exceptions. (Postmarks not accepted.)
If you are submitting additional information, such as transcripts, the preferred method is to upload them online with your application. If you are unable to upload, you may mail, hand-deliver or fax (HR Fax # 443-602-9831). Mailing Address: Maryland Department of Agriculture, Human Resource Office, Room 304, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401.
For questions concerning this recruitment, please contact: Hazel Day at 410-841-5840 or firstname.lastname@example.com
TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.
As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country, and encourage them to apply.


text:
This blog is to let you know whats happening with me... Kelly Daniel... and my two fur babies: Brody the Si-bord, and Chace the Border collie.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Chace progress...
2 comments:
Hello Kelly,ReplyDelete
I've been reading your blog on and off for quite a while now and never post so thought I would post now...better late than never. My name is Denise and my dog has a blog as well (although I don't post all that often). Her name is Kasha the Dainty Great Dane...stop by when you have a chance.
I just had to tell you that you are an amazing dog trainer...I am so impressed on how much Chace already knows. Brody is impressive as well and it's all because of you. Someday maybe I will get into the freestyle since it looks like so much fun. Keep up the great work.
Denise & Kasha the Dainty Great Dane
Thanks Deinse! I still consider myself to be very much a newby learner trainer, as Brody was my first ever dog.ReplyDelete
Do you know Honey the great dane? She does canine freestyle and is AMAZING - take a look at: http://bighoneydog.com/
Thanks, Kelly


text:
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A partir de US$69,88
The food was pretty good, not exceptional. We enjoyed the views to best. It was really difficult to find the boarding location. A sign or time boat was to arrive would have made it easier to locate.
Lovely food and amazing views. All a bit rushed and cramped though and felt pressurised to spend more than budgeted.
This was a wonderful evening on the river. The meal was superb and waitstaff was excellent. I would maybe would like to have heard maybe a little on the sites that we were seeing. I would recommend this cruise.
This was a great way to spend the evening after a busy day. The food was great and the service was good. It was a fun way to see the city from a different perspective.
The cruise and scenery were great. It was our first night in Paris so it was a nice way to start our trip. The food was decent, but you're on the boat for the experience of sailing in the river, not for the meal. We really enjoyed the evening and we recommend this dinner cruise.
It was a very enjoyable night on the Seine. I can't think of a thing I would change. It is not a luxurious cruise like some but it is very pleasant and priced accordingly. The food was very good. The waitstaff efficient and pleasant.
Was not given option to upgrade on booking. Overall good, though fairy lights inside boat cause reflections on glass and spoil photos. It needs low level lighting like some of the other operators have. Attentive staff, but dance floor unnecessary loud disco for last 15 mins and not in keeping with ethos of cruise
A very pleasurable time. The boat ride on the river at night is very peaceful and very nice. The food is ok. Some of it comes out cold. Some of it plain cafeteria food, like boiled cubed carrots. The small snail pie app is by far the best of them all. Wish we could have ordered just that. The braised chicken leg was quite good and hot, the steak my wife ordered for 7 Euro was cooked perfectly but tough to cut. Seeing the Eiffel and Statue of Liberty lit at night is fantastic. The only thing I would recommend would be for the boat operator to turn off the thin LED lights that run along the length of the boat on the ceiling. They reflect in the window glass as you take your pictures and you get a row of lights across every picture.
The food was adequate but I would have expected better in Paris. The Seine at night is lovely and our party enjoyed the scenery especially the Eiffel Tower's light show.
Beautiful boat - fabulous dinner - great servers - wonderful views! What more can I say??
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text: Since opening its doors in April 2006, Katherine's Boutique has become a hidden gem for women's shoes, clothing, and accessories. Owners, Kathy Visceglia and Jacylene Holloway are always on the hunt for new designers. Home to the most popular shoe lines, Katherine's carries Seychelles, BC, Steve Madden, Madden Girl, Sam Edelman, Lucky Brand, and Sorel. Also adorning the racks at Katherine's, Lucky Brand Apparel, Mystree, She and Sky, Angie and DL Denim. Almost everything is under $100, the quickly changing inventory is refreshing and always new. Katherine's is proud to announce the opening of their second store, TURQUOISE, located at 503 Bay Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach, 732.701.1099 Located next door to Green Planet Coffee, Turquoise, a hip & trendy boutique, carries similar items while keeping the casual vibe of beach life abundant. Both stores are OPEN ALL YEAR LONG. KATHERINE'S located at 100 Main Street, Manasquan 732.528.1099 www.shop-katherines.com Find us on FACEBOOK. Open 7 days a week.


text:
Japanese consumer electronics giant Nintendo may well showcase a completely new version of its popular DS handheld gaming console at the forthcoming E3 event in June 2010 with a potential release date towards the end of the year.
Raymond Padilla of Rpad spoke with a number of developers at the recent Game Developers Conference 2010 to find out more about Nintendo's gaming plans and it turns out Nindendo's DS2 shares a lot of common points with a smartphone.
The successor to the DS is set to be built using an Nvidia Tegra chip rather than the usual combination of PowerPC and ATI GPUs that were present in the recent Nintendo game consoles.
Why choose Nvidia rather than say, a combination of the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor combined with AMD's own Z430 GPU which will power the foundation of the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 Series.
Padilla also said that the console would have two screens like the DS but these will be larger and sport a much higher resolution, which makes more sense. There's also talks of using the two screens as a virtual larger one thanks to a very thin bezel.
The DS2 will also feature an accelerometer and have the same amount of firepower as the Gamecube which means that the developers will find it easier to make the transition.
Our Comments
We actually think that the DS2 might actually be more powerful than the Gamecube which is a 9-year old gaming console that featured an underpowered GPU (which ran at 162MHz). Expect the product to be launched on Christmas or depending on market conditions.
Related Links
Rumor: DS Successor Has Nifty Screen, GameCube Power
New Nintendo DS coming to E3 conference?
Will Nintendo unveil the DS2 at E3?
Is HTC Touch Pro3 Coming Summer or September?
DS successor to feature GameCube quality visuals?


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Mother's Day and Me
Monday May 15, 2006 | by Dalia Griffith | 0 comments
Somewhere between the Hallmark ads and the never-ending spam pushing cheap flowers, it occurred to me that I was now part of the maternal club. I'm officially a Mom. It's going to take some getting used to, though, as Mother's Day up until now was always about remembering to call my own Mom and staying as far away from family restaurants as humanly possible.
But I have to admit, this celebratory thing is pretty cool. No, it's extremely cool, thanks to Hugh and his killer gift. It wasn't anything material, because what I craved more than flowers or whatever most moms get was the freedom to sleep in, ride my horse, and do anything else that struck my fancy at the time.
He took over all the Jack chores—feeding, changing poopy diapers, easing him through those crusty moments, and so much more—while I got to swoop in during the happy play times, and put my feet up when the challenging stuff took over. It was bliss.
Thanks baby!


text:
My parents are not happy campers at the moment. You see, someone went into our van during the night and took my wheelchair. Now I can't go to my therapy appointments and doctor appointments without it really being a big ordeal.
Check mom's blog to see what happened... CLICK HERE
Monday, January 18, 2010
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No gaming machine advertising in shop windows
Limit setting on all gaming machines
World leading technology to monitor player behaviour
5000 staff trained to spot signs of harm and intervene
National multi operator self exclusion scheme
Gambling is a popular leisure activity enjoyed by more than two thirds of Scots. The vast majority of customers gamble responsibly and have the right to spend their leisure time and money as they choose. But it is right too that the gambling industry takes steps to support the small number of customers who are at risk. This is a responsibility we take extremely seriously.
Our members have introduced a series of responsible gambling measures including a nationwide multi-operator self-exclusion scheme that allows gamblers to exclude themselves from all betting shops in their area, developing world leading technology that allows our trained staff to monitor account based players, helping to identify those at risk of problem gambling at an early stage, and signposting customers to free support and confidential counselling services.
As result of these and other measures, betting shops now offer the most robust system of protection for customers.
Problem gambling in Scotland is low by international standards and has remained statistically stable, according to the independent Gambling Commission. Nevertheless, our members will continue to work with local authorities and other partners to ensure that Scotland continues to gamble responsilbly.
Our members have a zero tolerance approach to crime and anti-social behaviour. We want to ensure everyone visiting our shops has a safe and fun experience. We work together with various agencies to share intelligence on crime and anti-social behaviour through a National Bookmakers Forum, chaired by Police Scotland. This industry wide body has proved extremely effective in reducing betting related crime. As a result, betting shops are now among the safest retail outlets on our high street, accounting for just 1.34% of recorded retail crimes between April and September 2016 (source: Police Scotland)
"Local bookmakers have been working along-side officers from Police Scotland to tackle antisocial behaviour in the area of Govanhill, Glasgow. The area has, in recent years, been affected by issues relating to poverty and incidents of antisocial behaviour.
Supported by Police Scotland, the many local bookmakers created a forum which takes place on a quarterly basis to discuss ongoing issues and share information. From this, they developed a 'barred from one, barred from all' approach and 'round robin' contact system which alerts all bookmakers premises of any recent or potential incidents.
These initiatives are reinforced by regular police patrols and engagement in the local area. The community have reacted well to this cohesive approach and incidents within bookmakers have reduced to negligible levels."
Constable Oliver Blackwell, Police Scotland.
Almost 3000 young people in Scotland have participated in a schools project designed to highlight the risk associated with problem gambling. The project was funded by ABB and delivered by independent charity RCA Trust. Over six months, the charity took their responsible gambling message to schools and youth groups across the west of Scotland.
The vast majority of people gamble for fun, only spending what they can afford. However, we understand that some customers can get into difficulty. Help is available – both from our specially trained shop staff and from confidential support groups.
Self exclusion
In April 2016, high street betting shops launched a multi-operator self exclusion scheme. Under the scheme, anyone who feels they may be developing a problem can call a telephone hotline to select the shops, or even entire areas, from which they wish to be excluded for a minimum of six months. Typically, this could be shops within the areas where they live, work or socialise.
Once the customer has provided the photo ID needed to complete the process, the details are sent to the relevant shops.
Call 0800 294 2060 or go online for more information.
Learn how to take control of your gambling with Opt-in >
Need confidential help and advice?
GambleAware can help you to find out more about gambling safely and how to gamble responsibly, to understand and recognise problem gambling, and show you where to go for further information, help and support should you need it. You can call the freephone National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 seven days a week, from 8am to midnight, or visit gambleaware.co.uk for more information. You can also have a live online chat with a counsellor.
The following organisations can also help provide advice and support:
GamCare >
When the Fun Stops, Stop >
Young Gamblers Education Trust >
National Problem Gambling Clinic >
Gamblers Anonymous Scotland >
Addictions Counselling Inverness >
RCA Trust (Renfrewshire) >
Gam Anon Scotland >
Money Advice Scotland >
Please note ABB is not responsible for the content of third party websites.


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British drink and food exports are growing with alcohol, especially whisky, driving the market, research by GS1 UK has revealed.
A survey of the supply chain organisation's 34,000 members published in its report Brits Abroad: UK Food & Drink Exports in 2018 found that the export of goods had risen by 12% in the year to November 2017, with alcoholic drinks outstripping this with a 16% increase.
With estimates placing total UK food and drink exports at around £22 billion in 2017, the 12% increase represented approximately £2.6 billion of additional transactions, it said.
UK whisky exports were worth £4.5 billion with beer at £603 million, according to GS1.
Exports are now a larger proportion of each business overall than five years ago, accounting for 15% of revenue, up from 11% in 2013, it said.
Non-alcoholic drinks and beverages faired well with exports at 22%.
It said this growth, was in part, driven by the increasing number of entrepreneurs and small businesses producing high-quality products.
The on-going Brexit negotiations and the uncertainty surrounding the issue had very little impact on the confidence in exports of these businesses, it claimed.
"With official Government figures showing that £22 billion of it was sent overseas in 2017, there is clearly a lasting taste for British products and our members have optimistic expectations for the coming years," said Gary Lynch, CEO, GS1 UK.
Whisky and salmon were very much "our export staples", but the thirst for our beer and gin also continued to intensify, he added.
Direct sales, including online transactions accounted for two-fifths of sales for its members, but a further 39% was from working with in-county agents of distributors.
Almost three-fifths of those surveyed (56%) said they expected direct sales to account for an even larger percentage of overall export sales in the next five years.
GS1 UK said it had seen a 73% growth in members in the drinks and beverages sector in the last year; whilst the GS1 UK membership growth in the broader food & grocery sector increased by 34%.


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Since the beginning of cryptocurrency world in 2009, Bitcoin has been the undisputed king of cryptocurrencies. But it was until 2014 when Bitcoin saw a close competitor.
Yes! You guessed it right! I'm talking about one of the most popular cryptocurrencies having the 2nd highest marketcap after Bitcoin – Ethereum.
Recently, Ethereum has reached ATH of $1300 which has attracted a lot of eyeballs towards it. Also, In my article about various ways to Buy Ethereum with Debit/Credit Card, I found that a lot of people were actually confused about storing their ETH. In fact, people are still actively looking for the Best Ethereum Wallets to store their ether safely.
Surprisingly, when I was purchasing Ethereum for the first time, I had a really tough time searching for a reliable Ethereum(ETH) Wallet. In no time, I actualized that why people still fear and don't trust upon cryptocurrencies. Half knowledge is dangerous! Is'nt it?
Then I realized that instead of just hovering around different ways and means to buy Ethereum, it is important for me to first figure out the basic of storing the same in a reliable wallet. Only then I can also make you guys believe that yes you should invest in it without any despair.
#CageTip: If you do not keep your Ether safely then you might end losing them. This happens especially with the beginners who store their Cryptocurrency on some Exchange/Web Wallets, usually where they buy it from.
Best Ethereum Wallet for 2017
My hunt for Ethereum wallets got me some really interesting stuff that I would share with you as well. It's like finding a pandora box of some really amazing and trusted wallets where you can keep your money safe.
However, let me tell you that although there are different types of wallets, each is different in terms of security and ease.
|Wallet Name
|Ledger Nano S
|Hardware Wallet
|Hardware Wallet
|Online Wallet
|Mobile Wallet
|Desktop Wallet
|Desktop Wallet
|Desktop Wallet
|Web Wallet
|Paper Wallet
|Mobile Wallet
|Keep Key
|Hardware Wallet
Appended below are the Top Ethereum Wallets that you can trust:
- Hardware Wallet
- Online Wallet
- Desktop Wallet
- Mobile Wallet
- Paper Wallet
First of all, I will discuss the most secure and safest way to store your cryptocurrencies i.e. Hardware Wallets.
But before you get started let me tell you that all these wallets are categorized into two types:
- Hardware Wallet
- Software Wallet
Hardware Wallets
These wallets are the most secured cryptocurrency you can ever get as they offer more security to your funds. Hardware wallets are USB like devices which can be connected to your computer and still stay safe from malware and hacks.
In order to send the funds, you need to connect the device to the computer and log in with your passcode. As a result, hardware wallets are not much easy to use all the times.
These wallets are not free but a great choice if you wish to keep your cryptocurrencies for a long term.
Software Wallets
These wallets come in 3 varieties i.e. Mobile, Online, and Desktop. While the former is known as cold wallet, these are known are cold wallets because they can be connected to the internet.
Mobile Wallet – As the name depicts, you can simply download these wallets apps on your mobile phone. Being on mobile device, it gives quick access to check, receive and send funds.
But the sad part is, you can lose your funds if your phone is hacked by a malware, lost or damaged.
Online Wallet – These wallets use cloud/servers and can be accessed by the company or hackers. These wallets are very fast compared to other wallets.
If you want to store a small amount of cryptocurrencies for a short duration of time, then online wallets are desired.
Desktop Wallet – Similar to Mobile wallets, Desktop wallets are the apps that can be downloaded on the computer. These wallets are quite safe as the private keys are stored on your computer itself. However, if your computer is hacked or attacked by malware, then you might end up losing your precious cryptocurrencies.
Without any further delay, let's now have a detailed look at all the ETH wallets along with their features, pros and cons.
Ledger Nano S
Undoubtedly, Ledger Nano S is the most popular and affordable hardware wallet currently available in the market. You can easily store your ETH, BTC, ETC, Zcash, XRP, DOGE, STRATIS etc. without much of a hassle.
While using it for the first time, you will have to choose a PIN to protect this device. Then you will get a 24-word seed, that you can use to create your private keys. Needless to add, this device, therefore, becomes a very secure one as you own the Private Keys yourself.
Ledger Nano S can easily be connected to other Mobile Wallets like Mycelium, Jaxx etc. to check the amount and other relevant details.
This device looks like a USB with an OLED on the top which allows to carry out transactions quickly. This device will not be harmed even if you connect it with a malware affected computer.
#CageTip: Don't forget to note down the 24-word seed as it will be used, in case you forget the PIN. Also, write it on a paper not on the computer as this seed controls your cryptocurrencies.
You can also go ahead and read my complete review of Ledger Nano S.
Then comes another Hardware(HD) wallet which is widely used around the world. Infact, this was the first known HD wallet used to store Bitcoin. However, later it started supporting Ethereum as well and became the preferred choice to store the latter too.
Now, how do this works?
Simple! If you want to send your BTC or ETH, you need to connect your Trezor with Trezor web page. You can definitely rely on this device as it is really a safe one to store your Ethereum for a longer period of time. Similar to Nano S, you own the private keys of your wallet hence your funds could not be stolen.
Also, you can select it amongst the 3 different colors – White, Black, and Grey – at quite a cheap price of just $99.
My personal choice is White indeed 🙂
Moving next, we have "Coinbase", with which most of the people start their cryptocurrency journey. Earlier, this one was also famous for selling Bitcoins, however, recently they have started with Ethereum as well. I guess the credit goes to ETH's rising popularity. Is'nt it?
A unique characteristic of Coinbase is that it's an Online Wallet, wherein you do not own the private keys.
Yes, you thought it right, in case if the wallet is attacked by the hackers then you might lose your Ethers.
Getting started with Coinbase is very simple as you just need to create an account and complete the verification process.
And yes, before planning to buy Ethereum, don't forget to check the list of the countries where Coinbase gives its services.
Once again, I would want to make a note of it – please send your ETH to Ledger Nano S, if you have a large amount of it. I want my readers to always make a smart decision when it comes to the crypto world. Afterall, I have been collecting all this gyaan and sharing with you all so as to make more and more people aware and smart during their crypto-filled journey.
You must also read my Coinbase review and guide to know about it.
Coinomi is a Multi-asset mobile wallet which allows you to store 18 coins and 214 tokens.
With this wallet, your private key is stored on the mobile device itself which makes this wallet pretty safe.
Coinomi is available in various language likes Spanish, Russian, French, German, Chinese etc.
Moreover, It has changelly & shapeshift integrated into in the app, allowing you to instantly convert one crypto to other.
Though Coinomi wallet is not so old, it has gained a huge reputation and adoption among the crypto community.
Further, we have "Exodus", which is a very popular Multi-currency Desktop Wallet. I am sure if you are already into Bitcoins then you might have heard about it.
Multi-currency simply means that you can hold multiple currencies in this wallet-like BTC, BCC, ETH, DOGE, Neo, Golem etc. To simplify it further, above mentioned is the Pie-chart smartly depicts all the currencies as well their real-time value. It also has Shapeshift.io integrated into it, hence you can instantly exchange your currencies without any hassle.
Also, this wallet is absolutely Free to use and has a very attractive interface. Excited?
Now, since it is a Desktop wallet, it saves the Private Key on your Machine itself. Therefore, you can easily connect your PC/Laptop to the Internet without any security concerns.
What makes this is one of the Best Ethereum Wallet is its security and an amazing user interface. However, Exodus is not 100% open source, hence many of the codes cannot be fully reviewed by the community.
MetaMask is often 'considered' as a Desktop Wallet for Ethereum. Surprisingly, it not much popular, but its really worth a try.
Let me tell you that this is not really a Desktop Wallet, in fact, a chrome extension which saves your keys on your machine itself. Truly, it is very simple and easy to use – all thanks to its seamless technology. You can not only store your Ethereum but also send or receive to other addresses instantly.
Also, being a decentralized one, it also allows you to use other dApps within. Interestingly, they might soon be available for Firefox, Internet Explorer and beyond. Big Relief!!
Jax is a multi-currency wallet which supports 13 cryptocurrencies including ETH.
With Jaxx, Private keys are stored on the device itself either be a Mobile or Desktop. Also, you get a seed key which lets you restore your funds anytime.
Currently, Jaxx wallet is available on:
- Android (mobile and tablet)
- iOS (mobile and tablet)
- Windows
- Linux
- Chrome (extension)
This wallet is absolutely free and you can also have a look at our Jaxx Review. Although, Jaxx is a popular wallet I prefer Coinomi because of it's easy to use UI and large no. of supported token.
Being the official Ethereum wallet, Mist tops the priority list of the crypto-Nazis since you do not have to worry much about the security with this.
Being a Desktop Wallet, this wallet is similar to Exodus but a bit more complicated for a common man to grasp altogether. Don't worry, I'll guide you step-by-step on How Mist works?
- Download Mist on your Device
- Select "Use The Test Network"
- Now set your Password
- You can now see your Ether Wallet
#CageTip: Write Down your Password somewhere or Remember it, as you can not change your Password again. There is no way to use the account with the password.
I know that's a tough job but you have to do it. Afterall, your security is in your hands first!
For a non-techy user, it might look like bit tricky but trust me it's a super secure and safe way to store your Ethereum. Strikingly, the keys can be stored on your Machine itself, making it all the more safer 🙂
"Please note that you can instantly exchange currencies as it has shapeshift built in for you".
Different, tricky, yet extremely popular "MyEtherWallet" is a place where you can Create, Send and Receive Ethereum without compromising your private keys. It is an open-source Desktop wallet where you can write and access smart contracts.
Additionally, it also has an inbuilt BTC to ETH and ETH to BTC exchange feature. Not just this, you can also connect it with Hardware Wallets like Ledger Nano S and Trezor to access your cryptocurrencies. Here you go on how to do it:
- Visit MyEtherWallet
- It will ask you to Enter a Password and create a New Wallet
- Now Download the Keystore File & Generate Wallet
- You can access your Ethereum Wallet anytime now.
Note: The password you enter only encrypts your private key. You will need this password and your Private Key to unlock the wallet. Remember – It's double authentication!
Further, we have "Keep key" which is one of the costliest amongst the Hardware Wallet.
It was started before Ledger and recently been acquired by the Ledger itself. The price of each wallet is around $120 and this isn't much handy.
Keepkey, certainly has a bigger screen than its competitor but that makes it a bit heavy. Although it has a good reputation and name in the Hardware Wallet market, keepkey is considered as the last option for the Ethereum wallets amongst the users.
Thence, comes another popular and secure cryptocurrency wallet i.e. Paper Wallet.
If you are good at safekeeping a piece of paper then trust me ETHAdress is the one for you. ETHAdress is an open source project that will create a Private and Public key for you with a single click. You can then print it on a paper and keep it safe.
This is the best if you want to store your Ethereum for a long term. There is no way that you can lose your Ethers unless you lose that paper.
Not only this, if you want to add another layer of security, then you can encrypt the private keys also.
It will only take a few minutes to get started with this cold storage Ethereum wallet.
If you are planning to make a Paper wallet, then you must follow our Bitcoin Paper wallet guide as making a paper wallet for cryptocurrencies is almost similar.
So which Ethereum Wallet is the best?
If you want my clear cut suggestion, then I would suggest you go for a Hardware wallet. As already mentioned, we have 3 popular Hardware wallets (Ledger Nano S, Trezor, Keepkey) and all of them are really very secure. It would cost you something around $60 – $100 and then you do not have to worry about losing your hard earned, large amount of money.
To be very very specific, I would prefer Ledger Nano S as it is the latest, cheapest and most robust Hardware wallet that I had ever come across.
Now, before I wrap up this exclusive list of the Top Ethereum Wallets for you, I would like to spare a moment to tell you the key fundamentals that a wallet should have, which you must keep in mind
Security: Make sure that if you are storing a large amount of Ethereum, then you should control the private keys. As mentioned, most of the online wallets store Private keys on their servers and in case they are hacked then your money will vanish into thin air.
Compatibility: As per your usage, you need to make sure if the wallet is compatible with different systems like Mobile and Desktop.
Ease: Ease of usage is also a major factor. Make sure the wallet has an easy to understand interfaces like Exodus or Ledge Nano S have.
So that was it for today, I hope you like this article and by now you must have got a fair idea of selecting a Ethereum Wallet for yourself.
If you found this article helpful, then don't forget to share it with your Crypto enthusiast community.
Moreover, Feel free to drop a comment and tell us which Ethereum wallet do you use and what is your experience with it, we would love to hear that!
If you want to know more about Cryptocurrencies then you can have a look at:
- How to Buy Bitcoin with Credit Card
- Easy Way to Convert Ethereum To Altcoin
- Best Ways to Instantly Buy Bitcoin with Paypal
- Best Bitcoin Debit Cards to spend your cryptocurrency anywhere
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- Don't start looking for technology until you've completed your Information Architecture. You need to finish work on your content strategy and content model before you begin to select a CMS, because both of these inform your CCM requirements. You wouldn't believe how many organizations start looking at CMS technologies before they've even made their minds up about adopting DITA or component content, let alone complete the IA work that needs to be done to adopt DITA and implement a component content strategy.
- Document your technology requirements – in the form of capabilities – and clearly identify what is essential (a.k.a. "kill criteria") and what is nice to have. Kill criteria are things that you can absolutely not live without.
- Use your kill criteria to develop a short list of potential CCMS products.
- Write short scenarios or user stories that you want to see demonstrated in each product. For example, you want to see how an author uses the product to create a reusable Topic in DITA, or how a content manager composes a DITA Map, or how a release manager Publishes a DITA map. This gets out of the trap of feature checklists, which ultimately don't help you differentiate between competing products.
- Arrange demos of your short list products, and have the vendors follow the user stories you've developed. If possible, provide some sample content to the vendors. Be sure to give them plenty of time to demonstrate the use cases without rushing them. Don't schedule more than two demos in a day to give your team time to debrief after each demo, and allow for more demo time if you want it.
- Select a product and complete a pilot project. Be sure the vendor gives you a way to access the CMS product for a pilot project with no long term commitment. The pilot project should follow a "real" project from soup to nuts. This means authors evaluating content creation, SMEs and authors evaluating collaboration, project managers evaluating reporting and review/approval workflow, and release managers evaluating publishing and localization capabilities. You should have clearly defined success criteria for your pilot, and share these with your software vendor (and services provider if you are getting professional services help from a consultant or systems integrator).
- Evaluate the pilot outcomes, make appropriate adjustments to your content strategy and content model, tweak your requirements (and perhaps your expectations), and either confirm going forward with your first choice, or fall back to the next CMS option if the pilot was not a success.
Sure I'm with a CCM vendor now, but for years I was a content management consultant and solution architect, and I helped many organizations choose CMS and search technology. Everything I say here is a best practice that I've recommended to consulting clients. I hope you find this helpful – and I welcome your feedback.
Latest posts by Paul Wlodarczyk (see all)
- How to decide if DITA is right for you – and where to learn more - February 16, 2014
- Task-Oriented Info Dev for Agile Software Development - October 31, 2012
- The trouble with delivering product documentation in wikis – and some better alternatives - July 20, 2012


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16 Jul 2016
Before I get down to the nitty gritty, I want to tell a love story. Not a Romeo-meets-Juliet-style tragedy or something weepy like The Notebook. This love story is short and sweet and oh-so simple, and it perfectly illustrates how writing a Top Five can improve your relationships.
I started writing a Top Five not long before I met my husband. I was passionate about it, and to my complete and utter surprise, he picked up the habit as well. To this day, I am not quite sure if he joined in because he was trying to impress me or if he was trying to show his interest in my interests. Or maybe he genuinely thought it was a brilliant idea (I'm almost certain this is the case). Either way, he gave it a go and it stuck. And through the years, writing a Top Five has become a grounding bond in our relationship. It's something we often talk about often. It sparks our individual inspiration — while also helping us keep the sparks in our relationship.
The Top Five also happens to be how I learnt when he is at his happiest. Because this practise of positive thinking has been a constant in our relationship, the Top Five has become like an emotional barometer. My favourite example is when my husband announced one day that his top moment was when we were cleaning the house together.
"Seriously? Cleaning?" I asked.
"Yep," he replied. "We felt like a team, and it made me really happy."
Slightly annoying…but also really insightful. I'll spare you the mushy stuff (at least for now), but I mention our story because it illustrates just how having a gratitude habit, such as the Top Five Movement, can transform you and your partner into a pair of positive thinkers. When you sit down to write five positive things each day, you begin to see the things, happenings and people around you in a more positive light.
What's this got to do with you and your soulmate? Or the soulmate you have yet to find but who you know is out there waiting for you? All I have to say is this: Love thrives on happiness, and happiness is even better with love.
The Top Five Movement helps you notice the positive qualities, acts and strengths in other people. And the Top Five Movement helps others notice the positive qualities, acts and strengths in you. Doesn't that sound like a win-win and something worth giving a crack?
Writing a Top Five is pretty powerful stuff. It's not just about thinking to yourself, "Wowza, my hair looks amazing today." That's great; we all love a good hair day. But the act of sitting down and writing a Top Five means that you are analysing your day, your people, your actions, your world for the good.
That practise becomes a part of your consciousness, and you become a master of positive thinking. From there, your gracious and optimistic perspective turns to gracious and optimistic actions, and you become more connected, confident and communicative. You become more mindful, emotionally balanced and generous. You are awesome.
When you turn happiness into a habit, you become a god or goddess of goodness.
And all those things listed above, they make you a better friend, lover, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, daughter, son, neighbour, pet-owner, friend-of-a-friend and so on. And while The Beatles once said, "All you need is love," I like to think that they forgot the lyric about how all you need is love from someone who shares your approach to positive thinking.
A Top Five will also reveal what makes the people around you happy, which can be a revelation. Say you learn that he loves when you two hold hands on your Sunday walks or when you leave funny notes for him around the place (my personal favourites are notes featuring cheesy song lyrics that lighten up a situation) . Or maybe he tells you his Top Five included you asking about his day or telling him about yours.
It's dinner-table talk that can breed wedded bliss.
It's these little things that affirm your relationship. They are the understandings that get you through the hard times and help you celebrate the good times. And they can now become action items for you (Note to self: Take more Sunday walks and hold his hand tight).
And let's be honest, it's not always easy to figure out what our favourite people are thinking. From their profound love for sunsets to their adoration for four-ply toilet paper, if you are both genuine about it (Hint: not telling the other what you think they want to hear!), you are likely to discover more than you ever thought you could. It's almost like they are giving you a cheat sheet to their heart.
Also, a gratitude practise will help you start powerful, positive conversations with your partner. When you talk about your Top Five, you talk about all those straight-from-your-soul wants, needs and wishes. That kind of talk can strengthen your connection and deepen your understanding of each other.
On the other hand, since I started this whole Top Five Movement, I've come to see that when you notice the positive things, you also notice if you are taking someone for granted. You become mind-blowingly aware of how you consider others. It is a practise that reminds you to notice the little things that people do to make you smile, show you love, show you they are thinking of you. That is where the magic happens.
We've all met those types of people who complain and kvetch and then complain some more. Maybe we've been those people at some point in our lives (Not you, of course! Never!). But here's the deal, we have the power to influence our own thoughts.
Yep, our brains are pretty mighty, especially when it comes to persuading our thoughts. If you focus on the negative, you see the negative and you have radar-like focus on the negative. Or you can be the other kind of person. The person who looks for the good in people. The person who compliments instead of complains, who laughs instead of lamenting.
It is a skill that can be developed with practise. And friend, that's exactly what the Top Five is: practising positivity.
It helps you know yourself better as well. When you start to think about what you love about your friends, then you start to think about how you show your love and support for your friends. Trust me, think about if you are being a supportive friend before you start looking at how others treat you. This has a ripple effect. When you are positive and when you are a good friend, you attract more positive people who are good friends. You attract what you put out into the social universe.
A Top Five can help you see the best in people and can strengthen your resilience to support your relationship with those who take a lot of positive emotion to manage (that's my positive way of describing those negative, draining people who can make it a challenge to stay happy). When they are negative or critical, you can reframe situations, shift your thinking and soak up the benefits of positive thinking yourself. You can show these people what is possible.
You show them the way
by letting your goodness radiate.
As a rather important side note, I do want to add that it is never, ever healthy to stay in a dysfunctional relationship regardless of how many positive moments you can highlight. There, I said it. Let's move on.
Some people will always say things and make assumptions about why I am so positive. Lots of people have asked me what my secret is: Was I born super happy? Do I lead a charmed life? Did I just win the happiness lottery (or the real lottery, for that matter)? Am I taking happy pills?
There is no secret, no pill, no magic formula. It isn't luck (genetic or otherwise). The truth is that I treat happiness like a habit — same as brushing my teeth or eating my veggies. It is a skill I have developed and continue to develop. And because of that, some of the most positive people I know say that I am the most positive person they know (this makes me very happy).
I make this choice every day. And so can other people.
Yes, when you say, "Let's list five positive moments or highlights from a day," to your friends or partner, he or she may respond with an expressive, "YES! I love that idea!" These are your singing-to-the-choir cohorts who are always up for making the world and your lives better. For others, they may look like you just asked them to give you all of their money. I suggest you begin by easing it into the conversation or covertly start a Top Five practice without even announcing it. Try it out when you are on a walk, while you are getting ready for dinner or when you two are discussing your day. Here's what one of my friends told me about this:
"My husband and I do Top Five daily as we walk around the block. It is so awesome, and we are both hooked. I am finding out so much about his day that would have otherwise remained hidden." —Melanie Gibson
If your partner is finding it difficult to look back on their day, challenge them to look to the future. Ask them what they are you looking forward to this week? What are you looking forward to today?
The Top Five can be deeply personal, and some people may want to keep their Top Five personal (especially if you are in a new relationship and you are still getting comfortable). Suggest that you both write down your Top Five, and then share one each day. Because you write these for yourself and not for other people, you might prefer to share one or two instead of all of them.
Holidays are a great time to introduce the habit. You want to remember your holidays and keep them alive, and you often have more time on holidays too. When you get home, you can propose to keep the holiday dream alive by noticing, capturing and sharing with each other the simple moments you have enjoyed most about life at home.
In the spirit of fives, here are five questions to help you notice the link between gratitude and your own relationships and help you capture those five positive moments a day:
What do you do to add positivity to your relationships? Would love to hear in the comments below.
Lastly, if you haven't already, I encourage you to sign up for my regular so-useful-you'll-thank-me emails. I am all over the best and brightest developments in the world of positivity and self development. So let me do the sorting for you and bring you only the most effective tools and tips to help you live longer, be healthier, happier, more confident, less lonely, more relaxed, more creative, help you bounce back from hard times quicker, experience improved emotional balance and even sleep better.
With loads of gratitude,


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Cinemoron reviews "Hotel Transylvania"
By Austin Yoder | Echo
"Hotel Transylvania 2," the sequel to the 2012 animated film "Hotel Transylvania," is an exciting, slow-burning movie that I enjoyed immensely, even though it's not animated, follows a completely different storyline and doesn't feature a single character from the original film.
Last Friday, facing yet another weekend of overwhelming loneliness, I went to the local cinema, fully prepared to see Adam Sandler's newest cartoon comedy. The theatre was packed. As people filled the seats around me, I was surprised to see no children attending this family-friendly film. This just goes to show how Sandler appeals to a wide audience.
In "Hotel Transylvania 2," Tom Hanks plays James Donovan, an insurance lawyer who is given the unenviable task of defending Soviet spy Rudolph Abel (Mark Rylance), who has been captured by American agents. Overnight, Donovan becomes one of the most hated men in America as he strives to provide a fair defense to the enemy. When an American pilot is shot down and captured, Donovan must travel to Germany to negotiate a swap. If I remember correctly, the original "Hotel Transylvania" was about a hotel for monsters run by Dracula. I honestly have no clue how or why the filmmakers chose to make such drastic changes to the characters and plot, but the result is a film that is far superior to the original in every way.
Hanks gives a reliably terrific performance, his affable demeanor cutting through the palpable tension that hangs over much of the film. But it's Rylance that steals the show, with a powerful performance that commands compassion, effectively undermining every stereotype of foreign spies. As the soft-spoken and likable Abel, he accomplishes the improbable task of getting Donovan, and the audience, to be sympathetic toward his livelihood and motivation. However, as far as I can tell, neither of these characters is a vampire or any other sort of monster for that matter.
The rest of the cast is equally riveting, specifically the relatively unknown Scott Shepherd, who brings some much needed levity to the movie as CIA Agent Hoffman. Austin Stowell plays Francis Gary Powers, the pilot who gets shot down in enemy territory. Teary-eyed and snot-nosed, Stowell reduces the American legend to a blubbering wimp, which is even more shocking when juxtaposed with Rylance's Rudolph Abel. But lest you think the movie is at all lacking in patriotism, America and its values, per usual, are the ultimate victor.
The film's cinematography is another high point, artfully capturing the dark, paranoid atmosphere of the Cold War world. From the bright, colorful halls of the United States Supreme Court to the bleak, cold streets of war-torn Germany, the filmmakers paint a fascinating, engrossing picture of a bygone era.
All in all, "Hotel Transylvania 2" is an intense, inspiring, and spectacular film, even though it strays very far from its predecessor. Don't forget to pick up next week's copy of "The Echo," where I will be reviewing Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies."