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People struggle to stay warm in the Big Freeze
BELLEVUE -- Many in Washington are struggling to cope as temperatures dip to dangerous conditions.
It was expected to get as low as 18 degrees overnight in Bellevue. Water fountains froze over, stopping people in their tracks to take pictures.
But even in the frigid cold, who says you can't have fun?
Instead of canceling their company tailgate, employees at MainVue Homes in Bellevue started a fire.
"Yes, we are crazy," Jennifer Hendrix-Johnson said
"Showing our support right here for the Seahawks -- they are tough, so we are tough," employee Tony Chantharangsy said.
Not too far away, the bitter cold sent many searching for ways to warm up.
"I didn't expect it be so cold," Siwapan Waraphasakul said.
The chill means Café Cesura will have a better than normal night.
"We have a lot of lattes that we are producing everyone wants extra hot drinks right now," barista Levi Davis said.
As day turned to night, people got busy to get the blood flowing.
They tapped back and forth, hopped up and down and some went for a full on jog.
"The wind, it's just cold really cold," Brittany Stewart said.
Despite multiple layers of clothes, the bus couldn't come soon enough for Stewart.
"It's Seattle it should be raining but instead we have cold and sun," Lynne Robitaille said.
That misery was lost on Brandon Phillips, he isn't shaking one bit and he was wearing shorts to prove it.
"Even if it was below zero I would be in shorts, it's just comfortable for me I grew up in Chicago.
The region is dealing with the coldest temperatures in years and it is expected to get worse Saturday.


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Flood Damage Claims
Dealing with water and flood damage at your property is a messy enough situation. If you've never experienced this type of disaster, the task can be overwhelming and daunting. You will be staring at a million details needing your focus and attention simultaneously. You need a public claims adjuster on your side, NOT your insurance company adjuster. Knowledge is power, and Power is Leverage.
What are Flood Claims
Floods are the least predictable type of disaster that can damage your home. Some homeowners can salvage their homes by disposing of some furniture and appliances, others find themselves faced with up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in home repairs. Even after you've spent money on repairs, mold can still develop in places where water damage cannot easily be seen, such as inside the walls.
Unfortunately, your homeowner's insurance may not fully cover flood damage. Many victims of flood damage do not find that out until it is too late. While some may qualify for disaster relief assistance, these often fall short of the actual costs of repairing a badly damaged home and making it safe and functional again.
Harris Claims Services will work on your behalf to make sure that you receive the benefit of their years of experience to obtain a fair and complete settlement. Our experienced and dedicated public adjusters, structural engineers and other experts will not only assess the damage from the flood but will also determine the full damage from the hidden water, mold, mildew, and fungus, that your insurance company may have overlooked.
What You Should Know BEFORE a Flood Claim
Dealing with your insurance company during or after flood damage is a very frustrating process involving several calls, emails, letters, and documents. Make sure that you keep track of all communication, including copies of all documents and post office receipts for mailing. Take as many detailed notes as possible, including the date and time of every phone conversation and face to face meeting. Do not put it off to the next week. Write it down while it is fresh in you mind.
Keep all original documents of everything that you've filed for your claim in case your insurance company wants proof of a document for any reason. Take inventory of everything that you have in your house so that you won't have to rely on memory in case of some catastrophe such as a flood. Walk through the house with a camera or a video camera and carefully scan each room inside and outside of your property. Take out and individually photograph valuables separately. Lastly, keep the photos, video, and inventory in a safe place outside of your house or in a digital cloud. Better yet contact Harris Claims Services and let us do the leg work for you.
What You Should Know AFTER a Flood Claim
During a flood disaster, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. Most if not all insurance policies require that you file a claim immediately. Contact your insurance agent immediately to get your claims process started. The insurance company will require you to submit a "proof of loss claim," which should include the following information:
- Date of loss
- Type of loss or damage
- Location of damage
- Any related injuries
- Others involved
- Condition of the home
- Description of damaged contents
- Whether or not temporary repairs are necessary
- Police report
- Let Harris Claims Services assist with review of the facts and Proof of loss
What Harris Can Do for You
During the claim, your insurance company will send out their company adjusters to calculate the estimate of the cost of replacing any damages from the flood; however, these adjusters work for the insurance company and will make decisions in the insurance company's best interest, not yours.
Even if after hiring your independent contractor you are unable to reach an acceptable settlement, consider hiring a public claims adjuster. We are independent adjusters that are retained and paid to negotiate with the insurance company for you. Some people fear to do this because of the extra cost, but this can be worth it. Really the cost is outweighed by the increase in the amount paid by the insurance company. Our adjusters at Harris Claims Services can help get you significantly more than you would have otherwise received. We call it the Harris Advantage. It is simple, we release your stress, settle the claim, increase the claim thereby covering our fee and earing you more.
Our team of dedicated disaster specialists and public adjusters work ONLY for the policyholders and victims, NOT the insurance companies. Our team ranges from public adjusters to accountants and attorneys, with specific knowledge in flood disasters and claims.
We offer emergency assistance to our customers and their families through Chicago Board-Up Services, our sister company. There, customers are provided with a full range of emergency services to assist and protect the most important investment in a disaster victim's life.
Our Flood Damage Claim & Restoration Package includes the following:
- Building & Structure Board-Up
- Water Removal and Extraction
- Flood Relief
- Window Replacement
- Generator Services
- Building Estimate
- Negotiation & Settlement Content Estimate
- Business Loss Estimate – Negotiation & Settlement
- Building Estimate – Negotiation & Settlement
- Contents Estimate – Negotiation & Settlement
- Contents Pack Out, Cleaning, & Storage
- Temporary Housing
- Building Restoration & Complete Repair
- Legal Claims Services & Litigation
- Legal Review of All Insurance Policies
- Legal Consultation During Loss Negotiation
The Entire Flood Claim Process
Our staff and a team of flood damage loss experts handle every single phase of the settlement procedure through and including the repair process.
PHASE 1 — Claims Adjustment: Adjust, Maximize, and Settle the Claim
During the first phase, HCS helps manage the preparation, negotiation, and settlement of all claims covered under the insurance policy. Our staff of experts reviews your policy to confirm that all claims have been maximized and accounted for before closing any settlement, including numerous clauses within a policy that can increase the recoverable amount.
Harris Claims Services will move as quickly as possible to meet policy requirements to evaluate the facts and prepare the claim. Our prompt service helps preserve evidence that may otherwise be overlooked or destroyed by an insurance company adjuster. While it is our office which will prepare, support and negotiate the claim, the ultimate decision to accept is the owner.
PHASE 2 — Repair & Restoration: Construction & Restoration of Damaged Property
Once there is a verbal settlement agreement between HCS and your insurance provider, we'll begin construction immediately. We won't wait for the insurance company to issue the settlement checks, which can sometimes take months from the date of the flood. If our customer decides to keep Harris Claims Services to perform the flood repairs or restoration after Phase 1, then there is no building adjusting fee, and work is done based on the amount agreed upon by the insurance company.
We will guide you through every phase of the entire process to ensure that your flood damage claim has been paid in full and your property is restored to a pre-catastrophic condition, if not better.
Flood Damage Claim Costs & Fees
The fee for our public adjusting services is paid from insurance proceeds; therefore, there is no out-of-pocket expense to the policyholder or flood damage victims. We charge between 7% and 10% of the insurance company's claims settlement with you. Our team has helped policyholders obtain on average 35% to 200% more from their claims, so our fees are offset by the larger settlement that is obtained by using our services.
We want you to understand how our staff of public adjusters works for you and how we can relieve your stress in this challenging situation. Let our public adjusters put our years of service and experience to work for you. Call us TODAY at 847-329-8444!
Complete the form and get a call back shortly.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Vision for Trails
The World Trails Network strives to connect the diverse trails of the world to promote the creation, enhancement, and protection of outstanding trail experiences, by advocating for the protection of nature and culture linked to trails.
Organization and individual members are committed to a world that values, celebrates and sustains trails and trail experiences.
World Trails Commitment
We are a global trails community and share a voice for trails, as dedicated trail users, trail operators, trail associations, trail managers and trail supporters. The word accord is used to convey the collective commitments we can all engage in going forward concerning trails that are in alignment with the conference theme: Trails and Health, with the idea of encapsulating the spirit and essence of the gathering.
We acknowledge and commit to the following which was agreed to as the closing statement as the Tottori World Trails Accord of the World Trails Conference 16, October 2016:
By ensuring our trails are well designed, planned and built to be environmentally sustainable and cared for:
- Through restoration of land and conservation of nature linked to our trails.
- Through exposure to nature and healthy lifestyles, by encouraging trail activities and regular trail usage by all.
- By encouraging practices of leave no trace, love for our trails and respect for nature.
- By promoting a broadly embraced ethic of land stewardship
- Enhancing the land connectivity value of trails and the role trails play in landscape-wide ecological corridors
Trails shape our lives, we shape the future. We recognize that the 6th World Trails Conference in Tottori has opened the way for a new stage in widening the global trails network where many trail operators, associations and trail lovers could gather.
- We will make efforts to actively develop youth and young leaders for the future of trails and the future of the world.
- Encourage all trail users to be responsible trail users promoting good trail use and ethic.
- Actively promote the heal benefits of trails.
- Support the spiritual and pilgrimage values of trails.
- Work to address nature deficit disorder through making trail access possible for a wide diversity of trail users.
- Foster sustainable economic benefits through trails and trail tourism.
Help enable and facilitate what trails can do and can be, for all communities around the world.
- Healing economies through economic value of trails, by encouraging travel and tourism
- Promoting cultural preservation, appreciation and respect
- Recognizing the cultural value of trails
Cross-border trails show how trails can build inter-cultural bridges for prosperity.
- Through promoting the peace-building power of trails through common understanding among nations and people.
Communications and Outreach
Growing a community of trails and organizations for improved cooperation of practice
- Increase visibility to and support from governments and private partners
- Increased promotion and cross-promotion of trails around the world
- Sponsorships
- Spreading the good story of trails at a Global level
- Promoting access to trails through signage and mapping
- Encourage research of trails by organizations
- Promoting best practices for capacity, skills building and sustainable development
Specific Commitments
- We commit to linking more trails across the world as part of the International Friendship Trails initiative.
- We would like to further deepen ties between Jeju Island, Korea, and Tottori Prefecture, Japan, and make efforts to help people live in harmony with nature and discover the enjoyment of trail walking.
- We will motivate for the creation of an International World Trails Day to be sanctioned by the United Nations.
- We will endeavor to create an international awareness day for trail clean-up.


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Our China matching specialists recently received updates for many Waiting Children we're advocating for! These updates help provide families with new information on the children's development, needs, and personalities.
If you're interested in learning how you can be matched with one of these kiddos, contact our China matching specialists today or visit our photo listing to see all of the Waiting Children!
This beautiful girl is 11 years old! Talia was diagnosed with a cyst in her brain, but it does not appear to impact her overall development or affect her daily life. Talia is a smart, independent girl who does very well in school! She is in the 6th grade. She is very popular with the other kiddos and is described as having a shy personality. She has fantastic language development and is even able to say some simple English words! She is a bright, happy girl who would thrive with a family to call her own. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about her!
Click here to watch Talia's NEW video!
Sage is a sweet little girl who just turned 4 years old. She Down Syndrome and appears to be doing well overall. Because Sage has Down Syndrome, her speech is delayed, but she can understand what her caretakers are saying to her and can follow simple instructions. In a recent update, her caretakers indicated that she has strong cognitive abilities and interacts very well with kids and adults! Sage does not have any mobility delays, and she is a very active and playful child.
She does a great job at completing self-care tasks, such as getting dressed on her own and eating by herself. Sage gets along well with other children. She has a ready smile and is described as being a little sweetheart! Sage loves to jump and play, and she especially loves to dance with her caretakers! She's very attached to her caretakers and loves to be around her nanny. If you would like to learn more about sweet Sage, please contact GWCA China Home Finding Team today!
Max is a precious little boy who just turned 6 years old! He was born with a clubbed foot but had surgery to fix it, and now he can walk normally like any other child. Max also has one testicle that hasn't dropped yet, but that is fairly common, and it will either drop naturally in the next few years, or a very simple procedure can be done to fix it.
Max is described as being an obedient, well-behaved, and outgoing child. He enjoys bath time, watching cartoons, and playing with other children. Max helps his nannies take care of the younger children in the orphanage. He can say many words and understand what others are saying to him. Max is said to be loved by everyone who meets him. If you would like to learn more about him, please contact us at GWCA today!
Click Here to Watch Max's NEW Video!
Peter is a precious kiddo who just turned one year old! He was born with a congenital heart defect and a brain need, but overall he appears to be doing very well! Peter is currently living with a foster family and has shown very healthy attachment towards his foster parents.
Peter is very curious and loves to explore new things! He can sit up without assistance and has excellent fine motor skills. He can call to his caregivers to express his needs and is able to say "ma"! He is a happy, bright kiddo who would thrive with the love of a family. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Click Here to Watch Peter's NEW Video!
Erin is an adorable 8-year old girl in need of a home to call her own. Her file indicates that she has mobility delays in her lower limbs, but with physical therapy, she has thrived! Erin's caregivers describe her as a sweet little girl who is strong and brave. With therapy, Erin has improved her overall mobility and can now walk up and down stairs with assistance!
Erin has incredible language development and is able to speak in full sentences with her caregivers. She has a very curious mind and loves to learn. Erin has excellent self-care ability and loves to take care of the younger kiddos in the orphanage. Erin appears to be on target cognitively and overall is a bright, happy kiddo. If you'd like to learn more about this amazing girl, please reach out to us at GWCA!
Check out This NEW Video of Erin!
This precious little one is Audrey! She is 2 years old and was born with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease. Audrey is a snuggly, sweet little kiddo who loves her caregivers! She loves to play with toys and has excellent fine motor skills. She is an adorable little one who would thrive with the love of a forever family. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more her!
Click Here to Watch Audrey's NEW Video!
Wayla is a beautiful little girl who is two years old! She had hydrocephalus when she was younger, but she received surgery and a shunt in May 2015 and has recovered well from this operation. She also has some speech delays. Wayla is not walking yet but is crawling very well, and she can stand up when holding on to something. She can sit up by herself and play with toys.
Wayla is a shy and gentle little girl. She likes to push the ball between herself and her nanny. Wayla also enjoys threading beads. She is very attached to her nannies. Wayla will make sounds such as "ya" and "na" and can say "mama." She likes clapping her hands when her nannies call her name. If you would like to learn more about her, please request to review her file today!
Click Here to Watch Wayla's NEW Videos!
This precious boy is 11 years old! Milo was born with cleft lip and palate that have been surgically repaired. He was also born with deformity of his toes. He is a very smart kiddo who is able to read and communicate with his caregivers clearly! We received an update on his condition recently, and his caretakers note that he has developed very well cognitively and does very well in school! He loves to play sports with the other kiddos in the orphanage and is very well loved by his caregivers. Please reach out to us at GWCA l to learn more him!
Click Here to Watch Milo's NEW Videos!
This precious boy is 3 years old! He has been diagnosed with a need related to the brain. Adrian has some delays in mobility and his cognitive development. However, he is receiving rehabilitation services everyday, including exercise therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. He has been described as being very active and optimistic. He is able to follow simple instructions, such as cooperating when his caretakers dress him and following his bedtime routine. He loves to play games with other children in the orphanage and likes to dance in his crib. Please reach out to us at GWCA to learn more about him!
Luna is a sweet little girl who just turned 7 years old. She has lived with a foster family for most of her life and is very close with her foster mother. She is described a being beautiful and having a happy disposition. Luna has a congenital cleft soft palate, which has not been repaired. Her physical development has always been delayed compared to other children her age. She also has a hard time balancing sometimes. A recent update indicates that her cognitive ability is delayed, although we are unsure at this time whether or not that is due to overall orphanage delays. Her CT scan came back clear with no abnormalities.
Luna is a brave girl and she will seldom cry when she falls down. She has an outgoing personality and likes playing with other children. She can speak in simple words and phrases. Luna has become a very good eater over the hears, and she rarely gets sick. Luna can put on her clothes by herself. If you would like to learn more about Luna, please contact the GWCA China Home Finding Team today!
Check out This NEW Video of Luna!
Jason is a sweet boy who just turned 12 years old. He was born deaf but has since received a cochlear implant, so he has quite a bit of hearing ability now. Since he received his cochlear implant 4 years ago, he has attended a special boarding school to help him learn language and speech.
Jason has great self-care skills and is a very easy person to live with. He has an easy-going personality and gets along well with others. He likes to draw and make models with his hands. Jason is good at math, and he likes to play basketball with other children at school. Please contact us at GWCA if you would like to learn more about adopting him!
Click Here to Watch One of Jason's NEW Videos!
You can watch more NEW videos of Jason when you request to review his file!


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Kvaas is a sweet, salty, tangy and sour beverage primed with beneficial bacteria and loaded with minerals to rehydrate your cells, glands and tissues. It is super inexpensive and easy to make right on your kitchen countertop. Traditional to Russia and the Ukraine and popularized by Sally Fallon-Morell's Nourishing Traditions book, kvass is the result of the fermentation process by friendly Lactobacillus bacteria, which gives the brine a tangy flavor and nutrient boost every body can benefit from!
You can make kvaas from any fruit or vegetable. Today I am sharing my fruit kvaas ideas and recipe. Also, here is my recipe on traditional beet kvaas-the blood tonic.
- ½ cup of fruit (raspberries, blueberries, mulberries, strawberries, cherries, oranges, green apple, rhubarb, lemon, lime, watermelon, etc...)
- 3 slices of ginger
- ½ Tablespoon whey or juice from sauerkraut (here's how to make whey) (this ingredient can be optional, but it speeds up the fermenting time)
- ⅓ Tablespoon sea salt
- Filtered water to fill jar
- 1 quart mason jar and here are clear glass flip top bottles
- Wash and rinse fruit
- Larger fruit, cut into small cubes
- You may also puree some of the fruit to give a more intense fruit flavor
- Place fruit in jar
- Add whey/sauerkraut juice and salt. If you don't want to use whey or sauerkraut juice, you can double the salt instead, though it takes a bit longer to ferment
- Fill jar with filtered water
- Cover with a tight fitting lid and leave on the counter at room temperature for 2-4 days to ferment to your taste and liking
- It will start to bubble, this is all part of the fermenting process
- Open lid to release co2 every 2 days
- Transfer to fridge once it reaches the taste you like
- Keep in fridge up to 1 week
- Drink 3-4 ounces each day
Making more: This recipe can be easily doubled for a half-gallon jar or quadrupled for a gallon jar.
Adding starters: If you'd like to speed up the fermentation process, you can add a tablespoon or two of whey, sauerkraut juice or kimchi juice to the jar to speed up the fermenting process.


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2016 AACR: Answering the Challenge of Cancer Genetic Testing
Cancer genomes present unique challenges for analytical validation. Diverse variant types (SNVs, SVs, etc), tumor heterogeneity, and archival samples conditions (FFPE) contribute to more complicated genomic analyses in cancer than that of normal germline tissues. Since commercially available standards are of limited utility, we aimed to create a standard for cancer NGS testing to represent the full spectrum of mutations and frequencies. Using both augmented whole exome sequencing and a comprehensive DNA cancer panel (~1500 genes), we determined sensitivity and specificity across a set of gold standard cancer variants.


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Magic just doesn't happen.
understands this well.
In the same way the theater has opened children and adults to new worlds through its performances and educational and community programs, its puppet masters have expanded their corner of the world.
Open Hand Theater has completed the renovation of its "castle" at 518 Prospect Ave. and its neighboring building at 204 Ash St. This gives the staff of five room to breathe and be creative.
Open Hand invites the public to its grand-reopening tour of its refurbished buildings from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney are expected to cut a red ribbon at 4:15 p.m.
It has taken 10 years to get to this point in improving both buildings, says Artistic Director Geoffrey Navias. A capital campaign was launched the week before Sept. 11, 2001.
"We had to address a new reality," he says. Timelines were reset after the terrorist attacks reversed the economy and during the recent struggles in the nation's finances.
"It's been a hard process," says Navias as he surveys the improvements. "We've been the tortoise, very slow and steady."
Navias and his board have tried to be pragmatic with the reconstruction and renovation. The price tag is $230,000, and $10,000 still must be raised, says Navias. The theater received government and foundation support and donations from private individuals. It operates with a yearly budget of about $250,000.
Major projects were undertaken in both buildings over the past three years. Electrical, plumbing, heating and ventilation work were done in the castle, the theater's home since 1990. It was built in 1890 and sits in a historic district. Open Hand tried to be faithful to the buildings' design elements.
Many of the artistic operations of the 31-year-old theater moved into a neighboring building at 204 Ash St. The woodshop is no longer squeezed in the basement of the castle, and there's space for the puppets. A costume shop, a design studio and a mini rehearsal space also share the second floor.
Navias is pleased finally to have a room for the theater's 30 years of archival material, such as programs, photos, videos and news clippings.
In the castle, many of the improvements are overhead, including structural supports for the walls and roof in the attic, and lighting was upgraded throughout the building. Or they are behind the scenes, like new water lines and insulation.
Other enhancements can be admired as theatergoers approach the main entrance on Ash Street. Landscaping and pavers between the two buildings have been completed.
Navias kept children in mind when designing the castle's entrance. He says the little touches are important. Glass partitions in the inner door give young theatergoers a glimpse into the first floor's expanded gift shop and redesigned museum. Parents will have an easier time purchasing and picking up tickets with separate windows for those transactions.
With the relocation of some theatrical activities next door, it makes more space for the children's workshops in the castle's basement and a remodeled kitchen. The second-floor theater space has been reconfigured to become multifunctional, says Navias. But, he said, it still keeps its "sense of elegance and playfulness." Colorful carpet squares encourage children to cluster in some spots or spread out before, during and after performances.
What: Grand reopening of Open Hand Theater.
When: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Where: 518 Prospect Ave., Syracuse.
Information: Call 476-0466 or go to its website.


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"If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities."
It's all about JESUS!!!
No matter what denomination you belong too; as Christians, Jesus has commanded us...
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself." – Matthew 22:36-40.
He prayed to the Father that all believers would be in unity.– John 17:21
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
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October 28, 2013, 10:18 am -- /EPR NETWORK/ -- HD Biosciences Co., Ltd (HDB) and Anchor Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that they have formed a strategic collaboration to co-develop and co-market Anchor's proprietary pepducin technology and provide novel drug development solutions to global pharmaceutical companies with drug discovery efforts focused on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR).
Pepducins are proprietary lipidated peptide modulators for GPCR signaling. They may stabilize receptor conformation, promote or inhibit dimerization, and modulate interaction of GPCR with signalosome. As a strong research tool, pepducin technology enables high throughput screening (HTS) campaigns for the identification of special class of compounds and allosteric ligands, facilitates biophysical studies via stabilization of GPCRs in different activation states and functionally de-orphanizes GPCRs to provide tools for interrogation of pharmacology in vitro and in vivo.
As a key component of HDB's plate-based pharmacology service capabilities, GPCR assays and screenings is one of the most active research and development areas that attracts global clients and partners in drug discoveries. With over 200 recombinant GPCR cell lines in house, some of which are orphan receptors, combining a variety assay formats with pepducin technology allows HDB to enhance its capabilities for supporting hit identification, lead discovery and receptor selectivity profiling. The collaboration is also designed to provide broader exposure and accessibility of pepducin technology across pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries through HDB's global client base. HDB's clients will gain unprecedented access to not only the pepducin screening platform but also HDB-Anchor's joint expertise in GPCR research.
"Anchor's pepducin technology has provided a novel approach to search very special GPCR related compounds that have potential to alter the receptor functions. We believe this technology will be very valuable in GPCR related drug discovery." commented Dr. Xuehai Tan, President and Chief Executive Officer of HDB. "As one of the global leaders in biology focused contract research services, HDB emphasizes on innovative and scientific driven technologies in order to deliver extra value to our clients. The partnership between HDB and Anchor is a perfect example to demonstrate our commitment to grow the expertise and strengthen our leadership in GPCR R&D." Dr. Tan continues his comments.
"Anchor Therapeutics is extremely pleased to partner its pepducin technology with HD Biosciences, one of the leading companies providing state of the art high throughput screening services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients," said Thomas J. McMurry, PhD, Anchor's Interim President. Dr. McMurry continued, "Through this collaboration, Anchor and HDB will expand the validation of pepducin high throughput screening probes in order to provide HDB's clients with access to innovative screens designed to facilitate access to novel small molecule pharmacophores."
About Pepducin Technology
Pepducins are novel, allosteric modulators for G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, especially those intractable to current approaches. They are composed of a short peptide derived from a GPCR intracellular loop linked to a lipid moiety. This structure allows pepducins to anchor in the cell membrane and target the GPCR protein via a unique intracellular allosteric mechanism. The pepducin technology platform represents an entirely new paradigm for modulating GPCR signal transduction, potentially providing a novel approach to studying the in vitro and in vivo biology of GPCRs and screening for small molecule modulators of these targets. This technology may transform the scope of GPCR therapeutics to treat a much wider range of serious illnesses, including inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Anchor Therapeutics has broad exclusivity to pepducin technology intellectual property.
About HD Biosciences
HD Biosciences Co. Ltd. is a Shanghai-based, biology-focused preclinical drug discovery contract research organization (CRO). The company offers comprehensive service platforms around target validation, plate-based pharmacology, hit identification and lead discovery, therapeutic antibody discovery, in vivo pharmacology and other research and development services. The company currently collaborates with eight of the world's ten largest pharmaceutical companies; many of them are strategic partners, plus other pharmaceutical/biotechnology clients. The great expertise, high quality in deliveries, and consistence in meeting and exceeding the expectations have earned the company a great reputation in the industry and helped the company to build its widely recognized leadership in contract research services.
About Anchor Therapeutics
Anchor Therapeutics, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, is a venture backed company that is the leader in the development of pepducin technology. The Company is engaged in the licensing of pepducin technology as research tools for drug development and has established a portfolio of first-in-class pepducin drug candidates, novel molecules that can selectively target G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) to allosterically modulate GPCR signaling.
Contact Details:
For HD Biosciences
Director, Business Development
HD Biosciences (China) Co.,Ltd.
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.hdbiosciences.com
For Anchor Therapeutics
Thomas J. McMurry, Ph.D.
Interim President and Senior Vice President, R&D
Anchor Therapeutics, Inc.
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.anchortx.com
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The EIFF mission is education & understanding to enhance the equine/human bond & to improve the welfare of the horse & other equines through excellence in film, television & other media. EIFF strives to brings films of diverse and differing viewpoints to the screen and to public audiences, here at home in Montana and around the nation and beyond.
Keith Dane
Senior Adviser, Equine Protection
Humane Society of the United States
Bio coming soon!
Scott Knudsen
Cowboy Entrepreneur
He's not your ordinary 5th generation Texas cowboy with a business degree. In 2005, Scott was struck in the head by lighting while holding his daughter on her first birthday. She was fine. He had to re-learn to read and write.
Headquartered at Lightning K Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, Scott's family owns Knudsen Equine Center, Knudsen Horses, and Knudsen Cattle Company. An AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA Ambassador, Scott has ridden rough stock to race horses, team roped, penned, and sorted, ridden cutting horses, worked with rescues, and trained every breed from Quarter horses to Thoroughbreds, Morgans to Mustangs.
Scott's been an award-winning national sales rep for a Fortune 50 company. He founded the Extreme Trail Horse Association. A captivating speaker and media personality, Scott has inspired audiences near and far. cowboyentrepreneur.com
Elizabeth Kaye McCall
Author, Journalist & Media Consultant
Elizabeth Kaye McCall is a Los Angeles author, journalist, and media consultant, specializing in the horse industry, travel, and entertainment. She was the original horse industry liaison for the acclaimed equestrian spectacle Cavalia.
Her book The Tao of Horses: Exploring How Horses Guide Us on Our Spiritual Path showed how horses can transform the way we see the world, interact with our environment, and handle challenges. RAJALIKA SPEAK, a young adult tale, was inspired by her late Egyptian Arabian stallion, who really did "speak" on request.
As a contributor to wide-ranging outlets including Cowboys & Indians, Los Angeles Times, USA Weekend, Hana Hou!, Hemispheres, Horse Illustrated, Arabian Horse Life, America's Horse, The Hollywood Reporter, and more, Elizabeth has written extensively on horses in film and television.


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Thursday, October 31, 2013
Fresh perspectives may be coming to Iceland—new U.S. Ambassador nominated
Monday, October 28, 2013
University of Iceland's philosophy students
Posted by Ambassador Luis E. Arreaga at Monday, October 28, 2013
Labels: Ambassador Arreaga, Iceland, interesting discussions, Luis E. Arreaga, Philosophy students, Sendiherra Bandaríkjanna, The University of Iceland, vísindaferð
Friday, October 18, 2013
Using film to raise climate change awareness
We were very proud to sponsor the Reykjavik International Film Festival and the efforts of the organizers to use the program to raise awareness of the challenges of climate change by showing informative films and conducting panel discussions on the subject. There were several top scientists and filmmakers from the United States who participated in several events, including noted climate scientist Michael E. Mann (author of The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars), University of Oregon Professor Kari Norgaard, Peter Sinclair (who runs the "Climate Denier Crock of the Week" website), film producer Patrick Gambuti (Greedy Lying Bastards) and film critic John Defore. I attended one of the panel discussions of the Earth 101 project, which generated a lot of great questions from a standing-room-only audience of university students, teachers, and concerned citizens. I hope some young film makers have been inspired to make more films on this important topic.
Reykjavik – City of Peace
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The U.S. and Iceland partner to bring geothermal energy to Africa
|Photo: Reykjavík Geothermal
We were delighted to learn that the U.S.-Icelandic company Reykjavik Geothermal has sealed a deal to build the Corbetti Geothermal Plant in Ethiopia. The Corbetti geothermal plant will be a 1,000 MW plant to be built in two stages. When completed it is expected to be the largest geothermal facility in all of Africa, and represents an investment of $4 billion over an 8-10 year construction period. We are very proud to note this excellent example of what American-Icelandic partnerships in both the private sector and in government can accomplish in bringing economic development to Africa. The United States Agency for International Development and other U.S. government agencies played a critical role in putting this complex project together. We look forward to watching the development of this exciting
new venture in Ethiopia.
Posted by Ambassador Luis E. Arreaga at Thursday, October 03, 2013
Labels: Africa, Ambassador Arreaga, American-Icelandic partnership, Corbetti geothermal plant, economic development, Ethiopia, Iceland, Luis E. Arreaga, Reykjavik Geothermal, Sendiherra Bandaríkjanna
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text: February 01, 2011 - 17:03 GMT hellomagazine.com Las Casitas del Colca is perfectly located for excursions around the marvellous volcanic scenery of the Colca Valley, one of the deepest canyons in the world. And you may even get to see the legendary condor. Las Casitas del Colca offers the most luxurious accommodation in the region: a score of stylish casitas – 'little houses' – individual cottages, each with spacious lounge area and bathroom, underfloor heating, private terrace and heated plunge pool. And all perfectly located to admire the stunning scenery of this unspoiled area of Peru. The setting is a haven of peace and tranquility and the accommodation is all in keeping with the surrounding landscape. There are one-bedroomed cottages and 'combined' (two individuals linked by a lobby, perfect for families or groups) as well as Valley View accommodation which, as the name suggests offers unobstructed views out over the Colca Valley. Finally, there's the Presidential Casita, which is larger than the others, and boasts a glass ceiling to the bathroom allowing you to indulge in star gazing while you relax in the bath. The valley is dotted with picturesque historical towns such as Chivay and Yanque, rustic villages with adobe houses and old Dominican churches, dirt tracks along which the llama caravans would make their way from the high plains down to the Pacific, and markets in which the Cabana and Collagua women sell had-made textiles and crafts. At Las Casitas del Colca, the fragrant scent of eucalyptus trees welcomes guests to the Samay Spa – the name means 'rest' in the ancient Inca language. The spa is an area of peace and tranquillity inspired by Inca traditions and offers treatments – ranging from beauty treatments to a massage to reduce the effects of altitude sickness – using indigenous products from the Colca Valley and the high plains. The activities are included in the all-in price at the resort, which allows guests to get the most out of their stay, and enjoy to the full the beauty of the Colca Canyon. There are trips up to the Cruz del Condor, one of the most likely places to spot the rare Andean condor, horse trekking through the winding trails of the canyon, and cycling tours to the local beauty spots. And for those who wish to relax at the resort itself, you can fish for your own dinner in the trout ponds, take painting classes or attend Andean cookery classes. Further information:Las Casitas del Colca


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Bike Repair and Tune Ups in Lancaster County
Fixed. Fast. Affordable. That's the Barebones way, bring your bike in for an upgrade, repair, or tune-up.
We offer different levels of tune-ups:
The Basic Safety Check-up includes brake adjustment, cleaning and lube of drivetrain, check tire pressure, chain wear and inspection for loose of damaged parts.
The Maintenance Tune Up includes everything from the Safety Check-Up plus adjustments to derailleur and all bearings, cleaning and lube of cables and housing, true and clean wheels, and cleaning and polishing of your bicycle.
The Performance Overhaul includes everything from the Maintenance Tune-Up plus cleaning and repacking all bearings, a complete disassemble, cleaning and rebuild of the shift/brake systems.
*Parts and installation labor is extra.


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During an unlikely appearance on Meet the Press yesterday, Bill Cosby was not pleased to learn that the Obamas would join him on the formerly exclusive free-food list at Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C. (The list used to begin and end with Bill Cosby.) Cosby was appalled when he heard that Obama had the gall to ask what a half-smoke was. (We didn't know either, but it's a specialty sausage in D.C.) Host David Gregory, nothing but a muckraker, calls Obama out on his ignorance of local cuisine: "He goes to Ben's Chili Bowl and asks, 'What's a half-smoke?' Can you believe that?" Cosby, who looks disgusted, responds, "I'm taking my vote back." The foodies are watching, Obama!
Barack Obama Doesn't Know What a Half-Smoke Is [Serious Eats]


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How to Calibrate Battery on iPhone 5 for Remarkable Battery Life
The demand of iPhone is high due to the remarkable battery life. Nevertheless, not all users get the same performance. It is important for you to calibrate the battery periodically. We are going to tell you on how to calibrate battery on iPhone 5 to provide long-lasting battery capacity. You can apply this method for iPad and iPod touch.
Steps to Calibrate Battery on iPhone 5
- Drain the Battery Completely.
To accomplish, you can start a normal use, but for some people, it is not an option. You do not want to deal with your iPhone when the battery is only about 2% left. It is great to drain the battery if you can live without your device for several hours such as before sleeping. You can spend the battery by turning on the flashlight, play a video or turn up the brightnes.
- Leave the Device off Overnight
The battery charge is insufficient, and the device is off. At this time, you must leave it for some time or overnight. It is good not to charge the battery until the following morning. You can skip this step if you think that it is inconvenient for you. When your device sits overnight, it can drain the battery just like when you immediately plug it back in when it powers down; there is 2-3% charge. It is the fact that your device still had the battery life when it was off
- Plug The Device Into The Charger
At this time, you must keep it on the charger for at least 100%. The longer you charge it, the more you can get. Apple explained that 100% means the expected battery life. Your device can charge more. Make sure that you keep the device in the charger until 100% and do not plug it out, not before the additional two hours. The best time to charge your device is when it is off. It is because the device can charge faster and it provides less heat to extend the battery life
- Reset Your Device
After it is fully charged, it is a good idea to reset it. To do so, hold down the sleep or wake button that is located on the top of the device and the home button so that you can find the Apple logo on the screen.
Those are the steps on how to calibrate battery on iPhone 5 and other devices. Hopefully with the tips above, you won't need to headache anymore because the battery problems on your iPhone 5.


text: Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I love reading books of many genres... historical fiction, horror, self-help, biographies, and YA fiction, to name a few. I have become especially passionate the last few years about reading books that have body positive characters in the central role and books that contain fierce, positive advice about… Continue reading Body Positive Book Review: The (Other) F Word


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Blackpool fans enjoy taste of Premier League success
- Published
It was a scene many fans had waited nearly 40 years to be part of but even the devoted Tangerine Army could not have wished for a better start.
Blackpool kicked off their first game in the Premier League with a triumphant 4-0 win in front of a sea of orange-wearing supporters who made the relatively short journey to northern rivals Wigan Athletic.
For many it was a family event, as generations stood side by side to be part of the Tangerines' first appearance in football's top flight since 1971.
And it was more than just a game of football, with promotion to the Premier League securing jobs and a much-needed boost to the seaside town's end-of-the-pier tourism industry.
Lifelong Blackpool fan David Dixon, 53, was one of those who was in Wigan to cheer on his team.
Economic boost
He said he remembered the team play in the old First Division so many years ago.
"We've had a good ride for the last 10 years, we've had some good days out and we're going to have some more I hope," he said.
Carol Bates, 45, who helps to run the Tango Junior Seasiders supporters' club, said the rise to the Premier League would be great for the town.
"If we can stay up it will be fantastic, if not we'll just enjoy ourselves this season," she added.
Nurse Debbie Senior, 31, said local businesses and the economy would feel the benefits.
She said: "Everybody's getting together, everyone's a Blackpool supporter now and years ago there wasn't many of us about."
Blackpool secured a place in the Premier League by defeating Cardiff 3-2 in last season's Championship play-offs.
Awash with colour
Hundreds of fans travelled to Wigan's DW Stadium for the season opener, bringing the motorway to life with tangerine-coloured flags on cars.
Back home the town centre had been awash with colour and song as the excitement built.
It was not long before Blackpool's dream turned into a reality as the stands erupted into cheers from the seasiders after a 16th-minute goal by Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
A second and third by Marlon Harewood put the newcomers into a more than comfortable position in the first-half.
Alex Baptiste hit home the fourth goal in the second half to seal a memorable victory.
The win put Blackpool at the top of the Premier League, something many fans will be shouting about.
Blackpool Gazette football writer Steve Canavan told BBC News the morning of the match brought colourful scenes to the north west resort.
"It's unheard of really, it's normally people huddling around in the rain," he joked.
"There were so many cars coming down on the motorway with tangerine flags coming out of them."
The team should have started the season on home turf but redevelopment work to Bloomfield Road is still under way.
The last time Blackpool played against the big names in football you could buy a house for £5,000.
Club legend Jimmy Armfield summed up the reaction from many fans who witnessed the team's ascent in May after a play-off promotion no-one expected.
"Some people tend to forget that Blackpool were actually relegation favourites last year and they shocked us all by getting up," he said.
"They are relegation favourites again and the manager Ian Holloway has actually said the team is weaker than it was last year."
But he added: "They might shock us again, we'll see."


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At Experimental Theology, Richard Beck argues that all forms of predestination, no matter how their proponents try to nuance them, ultimately boil down to double predestination. "You're either an Arminian or you believe in double predestination," he concludes.
But Beck has missed an important possibility here, it seems to me. What if God predestines everyone to salvation?
This is, in fact, the position that Schleiermacher more-or-less comes to in The Christian Faith. According to Schleiermacher, God does not make specific determinations about each individual's salvation, rather all humanity is elected in Christ. The "toal efficacy" of Christ's work can only be demonstrated by the inclusion of all in "the divine fore-ordination to blessedness." God "regards all men in Christ." God may temporarily "pass over" some, leaving them in unbelief, but ultimately everyone will be restored. So Schleiermacher at least didn't think you had to choose between double predestination and Arminianism.


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How many of you think that fantasy football and politics go together? How about fantasy football and a modern day Settlers of Catan? While many of us may not have thought of combining these various things into one complex and engaging learning tool, teacher Eric Nelson did. A former high school civics and history teacher, Eric Nelson struggled to engage his technologically-distracted students with the very real world around them.
Nelson combined his love of fantasy football with the study of current events, allowing students to 'draft' countries and political leaders. Points were granted based on those people and nations being relevant in ever-changing current events around the world in the subsequent weeks. Nelson called his creation Fantasy Geopolitics.
Students became more engaged with the world around them, learning about past historical events and connecting them with the current events happening around the world. Even with an arbitrary point system, students became invested in the game but retained valuable information about the real world outside of their classroom. A few more batches of students allowed Nelson to refine his Fantasy Geopolitics idea and later led him outside of the classroom.
Nelson is now putting his time and energy towards expanding his Fantasy Geopolitics game into an online learning tool for a much wider audience. Other teachers can now access the game to use in their own classrooms, impacting more students and allowing teachers to effectively engage students with the happenings of the world around them.
The game is available online as well as mobile devices. Nelson and others are seeking to make learning as acceptable as possible, and with more and more students owning cell phones, this is becoming easier than ever before. Some classrooms may not have the technological resources to run a full scale Fantasy Geopolitics game, but teachers interested in using the game in their classrooms could find ways to do this.
Fantasy Geopolitics can engage students in civic, national, and international discussions, allow them to learn about US foreign policy in different locations around the globe, and even assist with foreign language learning. History is an important factor in the game, and players can learn more about the history of the countries they have drafted as well as the histories and current events of the countries of other users. Players are given points based on the countries they draft week by week and how many times those countries are mentioned in world news during that week.
Teaching is all about innovation in learning. Eric Nelson and Fantasy Geopolitics took topics that to many young students could be considered boring, and made them into something they could tangibly engage with. Learning about the world around us is an incredibly important lesson for students young and old; without the knowledge of our shared history, the future will become even more uncertain.
- FANGeopolitics
- Gamified Social Studies Takes Off in Fantasy Geopolitics, EdTech Magazine


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Fashion meets function with our Black Ninja Tank. With its sport fit and style, this tank offers the utmost comfort and breathability to keep you looking hot while staying fresh and cool. Its PUMP! Logo imprint and side stripes add the perfect stylish edge that is sure to take your look to the next level.
• Black Mesh Tank• Black Piping• Black Tone On Tone "07" Print• Black Tone On Tone Racer Lines• Black Tone On Tone Logo
Sofort ab Lager


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11 Ways to Get Ahead of Holiday Stress
You see the holiday season approaching on the calendar, and suddenly, you find yourself in action mode. You're scrolling through your favorite online stores, flagging items that might make the perfect gift for your loved ones. You're shaking the dust off the decorations that have been tucked in the basement for the last 12 months. You're picking out the best cookie recipes to share with friends at your annual holiday gathering.
These are all important preparations, but there's a lot more to jeholiday planning. We all know how stressful this season can get, and being proactive about your physical health, emotional well-being, and, yes, festive prep can help make a big dent in those stress levels. Keep scrolling for 11 expert tips that will help you get ahead of your seasonal worries.
1. Take a social media hiatus. According to a recent survey from Everyday Health, 60 to 70 percent of young adults say they check their social media platforms at least daily. Why not dial that back for the holidays? "Give yourself the gift of disconnecting and see how great it can be to live in the moment with loved ones," Everyday Health editor in chief Maureen Connolly says. "Be grateful for what you have and distance yourself from the comparison cycle and obligatory feelings to comment and post, which will add unnecessary stress — especially during the holidays, when social media use increases." Sounds like one less thing to worry about!
2. Stick to your routine. It's tempting to shake up your typical schedule when the holidays come around, but women's health expert and BINTO founder Suzie Welsh emphasizes the importance of routine amid the revelry. Maintain your usual wellness habits as much as possible in November and December to ensure that your body (hello, immune system!) is in fighting shape to fully enjoy the season. Beautyrest sleep expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins notes that maintaining a consistent bedtime is especially key.
3. Wrap gifts as you buy them. If you're anything like us, you tend to buy gifts over the course of the few weeks leading up to the holiday celebrations, which leaves you with a huge pile of packages to wrap at the last minute. Maybe you love turning gift-wrapping into an occasion of its own, but if you find that the process actually just drives you crazy, Scotch Brand's most gifted wrapper Alton Dulaney suggests that you wrap presents along the way instead. It seems so simple… why haven't the rest of us been doing this for, like, ever?
4. Be intentional about fitness. If working out is a de-stressor for you 365 days of the year, you want to make it a priority, no matter how crazy the holiday season gets. RSP Nutrition nutritional consultant Monica Auslander Moreno encourages you to set extra measures in place to ensure that you make the time you need to sweat out your stress at the gym. Pre-book and pay ahead of time for classes to boost your accountability and lay out your exercise clothes before bed so you see them right when you wake up.
5. Create time for yourself. Yes, the holidays might officially be all about friends, family, hosting, giving, and general togetherness, but if you throw yourself all the way into doing things for others for the entire season, you are bound to burn out. Co-founder of support network app Supportiv Helena Plater-Zyberk suggests getting proactive about your alone time. Plan for a manicure, massage, or cozy day around the house between all the holiday celebrations. And if all else fails? "It's okay to make an excuse and disappear when you're about to hit your limit on family interactions," Plater-Zyberk says.
6. Streamline gift-giving. Find one or two luxury items, then stock up on the rest and give them to several people on your list. We wouldn't necessarily recommend this for close friends or family members (or people who are going to be in attendance at the same holiday party), but it's a great way to complete the shopping process for coworkers, acquaintances, teachers, and more, per Jessica Turner, the blogger behind The Mom Creative and author of Stretched Too Thin.
7. Go theme-y. Already worried about how you'll set this year's holiday celebration apart from the rest? Elana Karp, head chef and culinary co-founder of meal subscription service Plated, suggests that you start planning with a fun theme in mind. "Even during the holiday season, a theme can help give you focus while planning and will make it fun for the guests too," she says. Holiday prep will feel less stressful when you're putting a twist on things with a country, year, or decade.
8. Decorate in low-traffic areas. Your most beloved holiday decorations probably bring a big smile to your face, but they can also interfere with your daily tasks and activities. Have you ever tried to make dinner on a countertop covered with festive figurines? It's not easy! Co-founders of design platform SwatchPop! Jessica McRae and Kristen Yonson recommend that you focus your decorations on rooms and areas that are visible, but not necessarily used or touched. "Go all out on your mantel, shelves, sideboards, and front porch," they say. "The house will look festive, but it won't interrupt your family's lifestyle." And when your home is peaceful, you'll feel more peaceful!
9. Take a bath. A bubble bath may feel like a luxury, something you'll only have time to enjoy during that all-too-rare "you time." The truth is, though, that a long soak in the tub can do so much more than chill you out. "A bath can offer huge physical and mental benefits," reiki healer, chartered herbalist, and Crystal Hills founder Andrea S. Barone notes."Soaking in a therapeutic bath allows you to detoxify and rejuvenate. Adding in this nighttime ritual can help you sleep better at night, ease muscle pain, and even burn calories." Start working a bath into your routine ASAP to help minimize holiday strain.
10. Work ahead on wardrobe. Don't find yourself in a last-minute pinch without an outfit for an upcoming party — and don't feel like you have to spend tons of time and money designing the perfect holiday looks. Figure out how to create multiple looks using the existing staple pieces you already have in your closet. Digital wardrobe app Finery is a great resource to help you do just that.
11. Feel the feels. There's a lot to celebrate during the holiday season, but it's an emotional time too — and that's okay. "If you find yourself feeling sad or worried, allow yourself to experience these emotions before making efforts to let them go," Dr. Lindsay Henderson, a psychologist who treats patients virtually via telehealth app LiveHealth Online, tells us. "Giving yourself permission to feel negative emotions actually makes it easier to then move on from them."
How do you plan to minimize your holiday stress? Tweet us @BritandCo.
(Photo via Getty)
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.


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Why an orphanage's 'mass grave' controversy strikes such a chord in Ireland
Mass unmarked graves at a former orphanage in Tuam, County Galway, may resurface the pain of older scandals centered around the Catholic Church.
Government investigators in Ireland said on Friday they had uncovered the remains of babies and children buried in a network of 20 underground chambers at a former Catholic orphanage, appearing to confirm long-held suspicions of mass burials at the church-run facility during the 1950s.
Three months of excavations had already turned up "significant quantities of human remains" of children between 35 weeks and 3 years old at the site, said the judge-led Mothers and Babies Commission.
Ireland's Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, called the findings "sad and disturbing." She said a proper burial and other memorials would be offered to any surviving relatives of the children.
"We will honor their memory and make sure that we take the right actions now to treat their remains appropriately," Ms. Zappone said.
The shocking discovery ties into a larger movement that has sought to reckon with past abuses committed at Catholic orphanages and schools, in the decades following a growing secularization – and economic renaissance – in Irish society.
Perhaps the most comprehensive effort emerging from that movement was the 2009 "Ryan Report" published by Ireland's Commission into Child Abuse, after almost a decade of investigation and interviews with some 2,000 witnesses and religious representatives. The report implicated more than 800 priests, nuns, and brothers at dozens of orphanages and other institutions for children, as The Christian Science Monitor's Michael Seaver reported then:
The report found that sexual abuse was "endemic" in boys' institutions, and throughout the system children were "frequently hungry" and "lived with the daily terror of not knowing where the next beating was coming from." The investigation spanned incidents from the 1930s to the 1990s. Many of the institutions have since closed. The government has vowed to increase unannounced inspections of those still open.
Some smaller-scale efforts have been led by Church faithful: in 2014, the Monitor profiled an initiative led by Philomena Lee, who was forced to give up her baby for adoption by the Church after becoming pregnant out of wedlock some 60 years ago. Ms. Lee's initiative, helped by the publicity she got from the film telling her story, pressured the Vatican and the Irish government to release files that would allow an estimated 60,000 Irish women track down children delivered under similar circumstances.
The home at the heart of the current scandal, run by the Sisters of Bon Secours, would take in unwed pregnant women, then raise the children apart from their mothers in the home until they could be put up for adoption, reports the Guardian. One of a dozen such facilities that operated in Ireland in the 1950s, the home closed in 1961.
Suspicions of mass graves at the site got their start in 2014 when a local historian, Catherine Corless, tracked down some 800 death certificates for children residing at the orphanage, but only one corresponding burial record.
In 1975, Ms. Corless found, two boys playing at the site of the former home fell into what had once been a septic tank and stumbled upon children's skeletons there. She later obtained records from the county dating back to the 1970s, when the town council built an estate over an area marked on maps from the time as a "burial ground", reported the Guardian in 2014.
The Irish government responded to her research by forming the Commission to investigate the treatment of children at 14 former shelters. But the new findings vindicate Corless's work and present the first hard evidence of such burials.
Corless called on the Bon Secours order to apologize for the unmarked burials and help organize proper graves for each of the dead children once the remains were identified.
"That's the least that can be done for them at this late stage," she told the AP.
The sisters said in a statement that they had turned over all their records to state authorities in 1961 when the home closed, but they pledged to cooperate with the continuing investigation.
This report contains material from the Associated Press.


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Rascal is a luxury private charter that sails the exotic waters of the Indonesian archipelago, but the inspiration for this beautiful yacht's interior design is from much closer to home. The blue and white color scheme, brass hardware, and rattan ceilings in its five airy, upper-deck cabins, is classic Hamptons.
While the 103-foot vessel has been crafted from local ironwood and teak using traditional techniques, it comes with plenty of hi-tech features, including a state-of-the art audio-visual system. The spacious roof deck is perfect for sunbathing and watching movies under the stars, while indoor and outdoor dining is available, with Rascal's chefs creating Indonesian dishes with a European twist. And there are plenty of opportunities to work off all the excellent food—from diving to kayaking to surfing.
What to pack:
Sailing style requires a range of swimwear. Mara Hoffman's Striped Triangle Bikini Top and Bottoms come in terry with cute ties. Lisa Marie Fernandez's Poppy and Navy Seersucker Bikini is a fun, retro choice. Solid and Striped's Anne-Marie Striped Suit is a classic. Top off your look with Eugenia Kim's Bunny Sun Day Straw Sunhat.


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Pending justice
ROLL over, General Pinochet. His Chilean regime's torturers and executioners were shown up as mere amateurs at their trade by the publication, last month, of a truth-commission study into the mass killings of the ghastly civil war in Guatemala. Guatemalans are still reeling—but no more certain than are Chileans (or Argentines or the citizens of several other once brutalised countries) that the guilty men of the past will pay for their crimes.
Guatemala's truth commission was set up under the 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of fighting that had led, on its estimate, to 200,000 deaths, mostly of Amerindian Mayan peasants. To no one's surprise, the commission blamed the army for more than 90% of the torture, disappearances, murders and wholesale massacres. More surprisingly, it told the government the armed forces must be purged and reformed, and those guilty of genocide brought to book. Genocide? The commission's use of the G-word has caused consternation—and tearful joy.
Reaction was immediate. The United Nations said the report should be published and an open debate fostered: it is a challenge to national reconciliation, indeed, but one that must be faced. Eager to bring at least some of the guilty to justice, human-rights groups, alongside state prosecutors, are busy collecting evidence of the slaughter.
There is no shortage of that. For the past 18 months such groups have been reopening mass graves around the country. Already dozens of sites and hundreds of skeletons have been dug up. "We know the day, the time, the place of the massacres, up to how the people were killed: with knives, machetes or bullets," says the director of the Mack Foundation, a local rights group. And the conclusion? These were no random attacks on alleged supporters of the guerrillas, but elements of a strategy co-ordinated in its aims and even its methods of death: bullets were seldom wasted on children, the killers just swung them against walls.
Most of those exhumed were massacred between 1978 and 1983, under the brutal regimes of Romeo Lucas Garcia and Efrain Rios Montt. At that time Mayans, in addition to the destruction of whole villages, and sometimes of their occupants too, endured mass displacement (to Mexico in the north, or to the cities), rape and conscription into civil militias. All this amounts to genocide, say the rights group. Not so, says the government; the attacks on civilians were unco-ordinated and carried out by local army officers against a social class, not an ethnic group.
The rights activists believe they can prove that genocide this was. The timings of many killings coincided, even though the places were far apart. The methods used, as for the murder of children, were often the same. This suggests direction from above, the activists argue. Their evidence will be presented at any forthcoming trial.
But whose trial? The truth commission had no mandate to blame individuals, and its conclusions were to have no judicial implications. However, by detailing specific killings and times it has turned attention to Messrs Garcia and Montt. Mr Montt claimed on February 28th that, while in office, he "never was informed of any act of that nature I never fired a shot." The report also identified American assistance in unlawful executions, kidnapping and torture. Bill Clinton, visiting Guatemala on his Central American trip this week, admitted to American "support" for the criminals, and—unexpectedly—came very close to an overt apology. Not before time, but welcome, said Guatemalans.
More important, though, is the army's response. Will it harass investigators, to hide the truth? Some fear this has already begun. Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi was murdered last year just after the Roman Catholic church's human-rights group that he headed had issued its account of the killings. Amid public ridicule, a priest was charged. That trial collapsed last month. Bishop Mario Rios Montt, brother of the former president, later claimed the government had offered the church a deal—which it refused—many weeks before: the priest would be freed if his superiors would issue a formal statement that neither army nor government had any part in the crime.
That mystery may never be solved. No trials may ever be held. But at least the exposure of the past may help to bring a better future for Guatemala's 40%-plus Mayan population. As an element of national reconciliation—and just possibly also to avoid court cases—the government is pushing on with reform. Congress has approved 47 constitutional changes which, among other things, provide for army reform and recognise special rights for the Amerindian peoples. A referendum to confirm the changes will be held on May 16th.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline "Pending justice"
The Americas March 13th 1999
From the March 13th 1999 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
More from The Americas
After a bungled coup attempt, Peru's president falls
Pedro Castillo tried to shut down Congress. Instead, he was impeached
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is found guilty of corruption
Argentina's former president, now vice-president, steered public works contracts to a family friend
Recent left-wing triumphs in Latin America may prove short-lived
The bigger trend in recent elections has been anti-incumbency


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Article 1903 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 5-31-2006
Posting Date: 10-28-2006
Directed by Robert Lynn
Featuring Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne, Samantha Eggar
A doctor and his young lover find themselves on trial for the murder of the doctor's wife. Their story is then told in flashback.
Dr. Crippen is another one of those historical characters whose story lends itself to the horror genre, largely due to the grisly method of the disposal of the body. It is this, along with the presence of Donald Pleasence (a familiar face in the fantastic genres), that lend what horror elements there are to this story, and these factors are slight indeed. In fact, this telling of the story is singularly unsensational; in fact, I would go so far to say that the movie itself is pretty dry and a little on the dull side. The performances are quite good, especially from Pleasence and Eggar, but they can't quite overcome the lack of energy here, though Pleasence has some rather touching scenes towards the end. It's one of those movies that feels like a photographed stage play at times, though it isn't based on a play.


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You can sculpt virtual clay using an application provided from the developers at Leap Motion.
The Leap Motion Controller connects to your computer and is used to track the movements of your hands.
The Freeform application allows you to use your hands to create a 3D model from virtual clay.
[Original Link: http://youtu.be/rod-Gg3j_U0]
Find out more about the Leap Motion Controller at
If you've already got a Leap Motion controller, pick up the (free) application from the Leap Motion AirSpace Store
for Windows
or for Mac