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Book Description:
My name is Becky. I arrived home to find my husband, Chris, stabbed to death and a gang of men ransacking our house.
Turns out that Chris has something that belongs to them. And if I want to stay alive, I have to find it and return it. They have given me seven days. And a beating.
There is nowhere to hide and no time left to look. So I will stand my ground as the deadline approaches. All I have is a head full of lies and a very bad plan.
This is my story.
My Thoughts:
The book being set in the city where I live is always going to go down well. Knowing the areas described through out the book really brought the whole story to life.
Becky, what a fabulous character she is. She is one strong and feisty protagonist and I was routing for her right from the start. I think it would be anyone's worst nightmare to lose a loved one, especially your husband. Chris dying though is only the start of Becky's nightmare and believe me things are about to get so much worse.
Becky is given a week to find a certain something that some very unsavoury characters want. Due to her having a week this really made the pace of this story feel like it was in full throttle. It wasn't just due to the urgency of Becky finding this item but the whole dilemma she finds herself in. I think most people would go to pieces but Becky shows the reader she is made of sterner stuff. The pace certainly doesn't relent and at times I had to keep remembering to take a breath!
The End of Lies is a brilliantly dark and truly gritty read. Probably not one for the feint hearted but if you love a gripping and thrilling read with lots of hair raising twists and turns, boy are you in for a treat. Absolutely loved it!
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Goodreads rating 5/5 stars.
The End Of Lies is available to purchase from Amazon.
Author Bio:
Andrew Barrett has enjoyed variety in his professional life, from engine-builder to farmer, from Oilfield Service Technician in Kuwait, to his current role of Senior CSI in Yorkshire.
He's been a CSI since 1996, and has worked on all scene types from terrorism to murder, suicide to rape, drugs manufacture to bomb scenes. One way or another, Andrew's life revolves around crime.
In 1997 he finished his first crime thriller, A Long Time Dead, and it's still a readers' favourite today, some 120,000 copies later, topping the Amazon charts several times. Two more books featuring SOCO Roger Conniston completed the trilogy.
Today, Andrew is still producing high-quality, authentic crime thrillers with a forensic flavour that attract attention from readers worldwide. He's also attracted attention from the Yorkshire media, having been featured in the Yorkshire Post, and twice interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds.
He's best known for his lead character, CSI Eddie Collins, and the acerbic way in which he roots out criminals and administers justice. Eddie's series is four books and two short stories in length, and there's still more to come.
Andrew is a proud Yorkshireman and sets all of his novels there, using his home city of Leeds as another major, and complementary, character in each of the stories.
You can find out more about him and his writing at Andrew-barrett.co.uk
Contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.andrewbarrett.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewBarrettUK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewBarrett.author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarrettauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbarrettauthor
Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andrew-Barrett/e/B0055888Q0/
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Barrett/e/B0055888Q0/


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Positive action in the right direction is what makes great things happen. This is the good news. The bad news is that there are no magic wands. The only way to get what you want is to take consistent action in that area of your life. Passive manifestation doesn't work, and to quote Maya Angelou, "nothing works unless you do."
No matter what you want or what you hope will happen, you have to be the one to take action first. Whether you meditate, pray or wish, you have to be the one to put the car in gear and go. Even if it's a relationship you hope to mend or one you need to end, waiting for the other person to be the one to make the first move only wastes precious time and energy.
Identify one thing you have been hoping would happen or resolve itself that hasn't in your life and take action today. Right now. What daily action can you take to ensure success and results? Keep it up.Image source: Maria-Ines Gul

subset: commoncrawl


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TWS ScaleTrader is designed to help you average down or buy into a weak declining market at ever-lower prices; or conversely, to sell into a market that, having reached highs that are unstable, can be expected to decline; or scale out of a long position.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. For information on the uses and risks of options, you can obtain a copy of the Options Clearing Corporation risk disclosure document titled Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options by clicking here.


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Stays that include the following days require a night minimum: Fri, Sat Sorry, but the dates you selected require a night minimum stay. Please adjust your search and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
River Oaks Resort Vacations
The River Oaks resort Vacations FAQ page will answer the most commonly asked questions that we at Beach Vacations get from our customers. Please browse and let us know if you would like additional information. Thank You!
How do I access WiFi?
Not all units are guaranteed to have WiFi, but passwords and network info are located on the router. Typically this is located near the TV in the living room.
Where can I take trash?
Inside your welcome pack is a resort map. Trash areas are located on the map.
What is the standard linen setup?
Each unit is stocked with four towels and two washcloths per bedroom (ex: three bedroom units receive twelve towels and six washcloths).
How do I receive more towels/washcloths?
The majority of our rentals are equipped with washers and dryers, and you will be able to launder your own linens.
What toiletries are provided?
Each bathroom will get a roll of toilet paper, 2 bars of soap and 1 bottle each of shampoo and lotion. The kitchens will have a roll of paper towels and 2 packs of dishwasher detergent.
How do I receive more toiletries?
Due to the large area our staff must cover, we cannot guarantee being able to replenish every request for restocking toiletries. There are several area grocery stores within a very short drive, and we suggest guests purchase what they need above the initial setup.
Where are the area pools?
Pool areas will be marked on the resort map included in your welcome pack.
Are motorcycles/trailers/recreational vehicles permitted?
Our properties do not allow motorcycles, trailers or recreational vehicles at this time.
Are these units pet friendly?
Our properties do not accept pets at this time.
Are these units non-smoking?
Yes, all our properties are non-smoking. Smoking is permitted outside the units. However, please be mindful of ash and litter caused by cigarette butts.
Who should I contact with after hours emergencies?
For emergency maintenance situations (ex: large water leak, heating or A/C failure, electrical failure, non-secure entry) guests should contact our night service at 843-449-2400. Non-emergency issues should be reported during normal office hours.
What does the damage waiver fee cover?
The damage waiver fee covers non-negligent damage done to the unit. Intentional damage or damage due to negligence is not covered by this waiver. Damage done over the coverage offered by the waiver will result in charges to the credit card kept on file.
What if I decline the damage waiver fee?
We will require a $100 (6 nights or less stay) or $250 (7+ nights) security deposit at time of booking. This does not go towards your balance, but does reserve your rental and will be refunded within 30 days of check-out provided there is no damage to the unit.
What is your do not disturb policy?
Your Health and Safety is of utmost importance, therefore, if the "Do Not Disturb" sign remains on your door for an extended period-of-time and we are unable to contact you, we may knock on your door and if no answer, enter your room to determine your well-being. Please understand it is not our intention to disturb guests during their vacation, however, we reserve the right to enter rooms to check on the safety and security of our guests and property as well as to perform maintenance and repairs.
What is the cancellation policy?
Should you need to cancel, the policy is as follows:
- The advance deposit is 100% refundable if a reservation is canceled up to 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date.
- Reservations canceled within 14 days of the arrival date can reallocate the advance deposit funds toward future dates within one year of the original stay dates. Please note that changes to the reservation will be subject to availability and any room rate differences.
- Guests who do not arrive on their scheduled arrival date and fail to notify the resort of a change to their stay dates, therefore acknowledge forfeiture of advance deposit funds.
- For Monthly Rentals Only: All deposits are due at the time of booking. Full amount of the deposit is non-refundable. No changes to the dates of arrival are permitted within 30 days of arrival. Payment of full stay is required upon check in. There will be absolutely no refunds on early departures. Additional requirements for winter rentals do apply.
Featured Unit Types
3 Bedroom Rentals
Grande Villas - 3 Bedroom


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I speak frequently to large groups of students, families, and professionals about the silent eugenic movement against children diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome, and I also write regular articles about this disturbing subject. I warn people that if the culture can identify, target and eliminate unborn children with Down syndrome at a 90%+ rate because they are viewed as "defective" then we should all ask who is next?
There has been a focus in parts of the Autism community to unlock the genetic code for this diagnosis, and I have cautioned that this could lead to the same type of prenatal slaughter unborn children with Down syndrome are experiencing.
As bioethicist Wesley Smith commented this week, "More boys than girls have autism, so now, an Australian IVF clinic will search out male embryos for destruction before implantation, e.g., sex selection." Not surprisingly there has been a lot of comment.
This week I read an article from Australia titled "Comment: Should there be prenatal screening for autism?" that shows how the culture of death is seeping into the prenatal Autism community while placing a focus on prenatal sex-selection.
Andrew Whitehouse, the author, explains
"Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD) is an IVF technique that occurs at the embryo stage prior to implantation. An egg from a woman and a sperm from a man are combined outside of the body (i.e., in a petri dish) to create an embryo (a fertilized egg). That embryo can then be 'screened' to determine whether its genetic make-up increases risk for a given disorder."
Whitehouse shows how PGD can be misused:
"The Reproductive Technology Council will now allow certain women undergoing IVF treatment to be selectively implanted with female embryos only. The rationale for this practice is that autism is more likely to affect males than females (approximately 4 males for every 1 female), and by selecting female embryos, the chances of this child developing autism are reduced."
So the Reproductive Technology Council, by giving permission to eliminate a male embryo (via sex selection), concludes this will assist in reducing the births of children diagnosed with Autism?
Had this technology been available we may have "terminated" the lives of amazing, brilliant males like Mozart, Michelangelo, Newton, Picasso and Lewis Carroll (www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/5-famous-autistic-people-throughout-history-3543522).
As we know, of course, it is not only male babies with fetal anomalies who are targeted. Some societies label prenatal females as "undesirable." Hundreds of millions of girls are "missing," the victims of prenatal targeting via ultrasounds.
Where is the outcry, protests and shock from women's rights groups? The silence is deafening!
There is a very ominous declaration in Whitehead's article that we all need to pay close attention to:
"The extraordinary developments in genetic technology in the recent past and the immediate future will undoubtedly lead us to a point, not too far from now, where we have the techniques and information to identify whether a person has autism by their genetic make-up alone. Science is moving fast and this is a debate that needs to be had."
I totally agree, and if Life does not win the debate then we will continue down a slippery slope of silent eugenics eliminating all classified "defectives". First they came prenatally for Down syndrome, then they came for females, then for Autism, then they came for…..?
My beautiful daughter Chloe was born with Down syndrome in 2003. She is featured on and in a book titled "Brilliant Souls" which highlights the priceless blessing individuals with Down syndrome are to this world. How many more brilliant souls will we eradicate as prenatal genetic testing rapidly progresses and "tolerance and acceptance" for human beings who are not "culturally perfect" diminishes?
LifeNews Note: This column originally appeared at National Right to Life News Today.


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Samantha & Tony Wedding Day
Samantha & Tony's Wedding Day
Craig Y Nos Castle
We photography Samantha and Tony's wedding last weekend at the lovely wedding venue Craig Y Nos Castle we had a wonderful time photographing this wedding from start to finish from the bride and groom getting ready to the first dance after the main service the did the group shot in a heart shape and I had to go to the roof of the castle (not realising how high the roof was and it was very hard for the guest to hear me). Put we got the shoot and it was great and then it started to rain on and off put again we went down to the Gardens and got some great shoots etc.
We did have a great day so I would like to say a big thank you to you all you was very welcoming and we had a great time we hope to see you all again very soon here is some of the images taken on the wedding thank you.
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Family transition: Jackson Lee honors Seton hoops, while his dad coaches at South Dakota
It was the hardest thing Todd Lee ever did.
When he left Grand Canyon University, where he was one of Dan Majerle's assistants in the school's first five years as an NCAA Division I program, Lee had to say goodbye to his family.
His son Jackson didn't want to go to South Dakota, where his father is in the midst of an injury-riddled first basketball season leading his alma mater, his first Division I head coaching job.
Jackson wanted to finish what he started with his Chandler Seton Catholic friends on the basketball team.
The team captain's wishes were granted, as Todd's wife, Kim, stayed home with Jackson and the youngest of their three sons, Peyton, an eighth-grader. Carson graduated last May and is now a manager on Creighton's men's basketball team.
Creighton is less than a two-hour drive from Vermillion, S.D., so it's not hard for Todd to meet up with his oldest son.
But he is missing out on middle son Jackson's senior season, which figures to be one of the best in Seton history. He missed Jackson's team-high 19 points in a 67-59 upset win over Buckeye.
The 6-foot-2 Lee is averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals for the 9-3 Sentinels.
During a three-game stretch in December, Jackson Lee averaged 18.3 points in wins against Buckeye, Flagstaff and Goodyear Estrella Foothills, playing 86 of 96 possible minutes.
'Hardest thing'
"I talked to coaches who have done it, and they tell me it's the hardest thing you'll ever go through," Todd Lee said. "They're right. Being away from your family and not being there for your kids and your wife, it's tough.
"Jackson wanted to stay and I play his senior season. He's captain. He didn't want to move. I don't blame him. It's really hard to go through, not being able to see his senior season."
At GCU, there was still a lot of time away from home, but, when the Antelopes were at home, Lee was always able to get out to his sons' games. He was the perfect dad for Commander King, who, coincidentally, was once recruited by Todd Lee to play college basketball at UC-Irvine when Lee was an assistant coach there.
Todd never complained at Seton games, unless he felt there was a missed call by a ref. He was a quiet dad, who would give his son advice and let Coach King pick his brain for ideas.
Jackson actually took a look at South Dakota. After his father got the job at the University of South Dakota, he went with his father to his introductory news conference. He looked at some of the high schools, but his heart kept going back to Seton.
"I feel like I made the right decision by staying here," Jackson said. "I think basketball is better here. He did leave it up to me."
It's his alma mater, so Jackson wanted his dad to take the South Dakota job.
"I"m glad he took it," he said.
The plans was for the rest of the family to remain in Arizona for Jackson to finish his senior year, graduate with his friends, before Kim and Peyton and maybe Jackson (depending on what college route he takes) join Todd in South Dakota.
"It can be challenging," Kim said. "We really wanted to honor his commitment to Seton and his team. He is an integral part of the team. He provides a foundation for the team. Our oldest (Carson) graduated (last May), and, after the graduation festivities with him, we wanted Jackson to do that, as well.
"He's happy. He's stable. We wanted normalcy."
Kim Lee keeps her husband posted through text messaging on how Jackson is playing in games.
"I've gotten pretty good at play-by-play, the acronyms," she said. "As the game goes along, if it's a nail-biter, I'm texting more."
Kim has had to play both the mother and father role with Todd away.
"I've always considered myself tough on him anyway," Kim said. "But fortunately I have great boys. They are very respectful. They rarely give me any problems. I'm very blessed."
Kim has been married to Todd long enough, going through coaching changes and her husband being gone a lot for games and traveling, to be used to this lifestyle. But this year is new, as far as living a part for a whole season. Todd was home for 2 1/2 days during the Christmas break. Once in a while, Kim will fly out to South Dakota to support her husband and his team.
"We just have to make it work a little longer," she said.
King helps with making sure that Jackson stays on top of his studies and is a good son at home, while Todd is away.
"He's a coach's kid and he understands," King said of Jackson. "When Todd got the job up there, he was like, 'Hey, I want to stay and finish out.' We were absolutely ecstatic that he would stay.
"He has had to shoulder a lot of the load. He's done everything I've asked him to do."
Jackson isn't sure where he is headed for college. He knows he wants to follow his dad's coaching path. Todd saw that during one of Jackson's eighth-grade games and Jackson grabbed the white board and drew up a play during a timeout.
He may walk on at a college program in South Dakota. Who knows? Maybe he'll walk onto his dad's team.
Todd Lee says he feels he can coach Jackson.
"I can yell at Jackson and get after him and it doesn't affect him," Todd said. "He's got thick skin. I talked to friends in the business about walking on at Saint Mary's (in California), Gonzaga and Indiana. My wife is from Indiana. They would take him if he wanted to go there.
"My thought is, I want him to do what is best for his future. Does he want to play or be a program student-assistant and help learn the business?"
- Globe's B.J. Burries becomes 3rd player in Arizona history to score 3,000 points
- Tucson Salpointe's Majok Deng playing senior season for brother, who was shot and killed
- Photos: High school boys basketball 2018-19
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at firstname.lastname@example.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.


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by Lucius Shepard
56,000 words/$5.99/2001
Reviewed by Steven H Silver
Jimmy Guy and Rita Whitelaw are gun dealers who travel the circuit of weekend gun shows trying to make their living selling guns which have an historically important or interesting provenance. When the gun of a white supremacist martyr comes into their possession, Jimmy begins to fantasize an alternate history for the weapon, leading to the story of Colonel Rutherford's Colt, a thin e-novel by Lucius Shepard.
As the novel begins, Shepard hints that there is something strange about Jimmy, who many look upon as retarded in some way. It is also unclear how and why Rita Whitelaw, an American Indian more than a decade his elder, hooked up with him. Nevertheless, Shepard builds a relationship between the two which, while never fully explained, does come across as a natural friendship in which each person takes away more than they put into it.
On the opening day of the Issaquah Gun Show, a local woman, Loretta Snow, brings a Colt revolver to them. Loretta explains that the gun belonged to her dead husband, Bob Champion, a local white supremacist. Eventually, they agree to sell the gun on consignment, but Loretta includes one stipulation. Jimmy and Rita may not sell the gun to "Major" Raymond Borchard, the man who envisions himself as Champion's successor. Naturally, Borchard quickly shows up offering much more than the gun is worth. The primary part of the story looks at Jimmy's relationship with Rita, Loretta and Raymond as he attempts to find a buyer for the gun.
At the same time, Jimmy's strange talent has kicked in. Holding the gun, he creates an alternative story to explain its importance. Rather than belonging to Champion, the gun now belonged to the fictitious Colonel Rutherford, an American living in Cuba at the beginning of the twentieth century. As the story unfolds, woven into the actual events, Jimmy creates a romance novel tale of Rutherford's wife, Susan Lisle Rutherford, and her unhappiness.
While Jimmy's story never completely meshes with the events which are unfolding around him, eventually, the story in Jimmy's mind is affected by those events and, in turn, the story affects Jimmy's perception of what is happening around him. Although Rita seems at first as if she has little influence over Jimmy, she manages to manipulate both him and the story in subtle ways as Shepard tale progresses.
There is little, if any, fantastic content to Colonel Rutherford's Colt, instead it looks at the way Jimmy's perception is altered as he fantasizes about the gun, even as he is aware of the gun's true history and his own story. Shepard's characters are well filled out, with the sympathetic ones very likable and the villains evil without falling into the trap of caricature. Currently, Colonel Rutherford's Colt is only available as an e-book, but at its short length (under 57,000 words), it may very well show up as part of a collection or anthology in the relatively near future.
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SPECIAL REPORT: Is the game up for betting shop gaming machines?
Lancashire leaders have welcomed news of a crackdown on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT), as the Gambling Commission recommends the maximum stake is cut to prevent problem betting. When the review was first launched, we spoke to key figures in Preston about whether changes were needed on our high street...
There are 24 bookmakers and 87 FOBTs in Preston and over £125m has been lost gambling across Lancashire since 2008.
Terry Kilgariff, a member of Preston's Gamblers Anonymous and a self-titled compulsive gambler for the last 40 years, said: "I was very cynical about this review at first because the government makes significant amounts from betting companies in tax revenue, but I definitely welcome the reduction in stakes down to somewhere between £2 and £50. Any reduction is a good thing as it will reduce problems."
The 60-year-old, who has tried to take his life twice in the last four years as a result of his addiction, added: "For people on FOBTs, it's not about the money but about the anticipation and thrill of the bet. £2 stakes would reduce the damage to these people.
Most Popular
"Since FOBT's came about gambling on phones and computers has taken over, leaving punters able to gamble every minute of every day.
"It's not like playing with real money – it's so easy and accessible – which is why it's so dangerous."
Preston MP Sir Mark Hendrick also welcomes a change. The Labour MP said: "I've been complaining about these machines for years and I welcome the changes in decreasing the stakes. £100 per spin is ridiculously high and even £50 is too high in itself.
"Preston is a working class town with people with modest incomes. The further stakes go down the better."
For one bookmaking business, Paddy Power Betfair, which has a Paddy Power shop on Fishergate in Preston, has listened to concerns regarding FOBTs and called for a reduction to £10 or less.
Company chief executive, Breon Corcoran, said: "We now believe the issue has become so toxic that only a substantial reduction in FOBT stake limits to £10 or less will address societal concerns.
"I am confident we could operate our retail business successfully and profitability under such circumstances. Other well-run operators should be able to do the same."
But the Association of British Bookmakers, the leading trade association for betting shops on the UK's high streets, said: "Independent analysis has suggested very significant shop closures and job losses if stakes are materially reduced and, as Paddy Power Betfair concede, this would do little to help problem gamblers."
In 2013, Preston Council put betting shops under the microscope. This included writing to the government to 'demand urgent action' for a ban of gambling machines in betting shops.
Former deputy leader and cabinet member for planning and regulation, Coun John Swindells, was part of the 2013 campaign.
Four years on, Coun Swindells said: "It was back in 2013 that Preston joined the growing number of councils who were asking for the ability to restrict the stake and the number of betting shops clustering in the city centre."
Coun Swindells added: "I would welcome any reduction in the stakes in betting on FOBTs and sincerely hope the figure of £2 is the one that the Government legislates for – not the £50 they consulted on.
"I also welcome the rather belated response by Government in seeing the need to reduce the stake on FOBTs."
Leader of Preston Council, Coun Peter Rankin, added: "We at Preston have discussed this at length since 2013, doing all we can to address the problem, including trying to work with neighbouring local authorities and the Betting Commission.
"Councils have also requested greater powers from the Government to refuse applications for more betting shops. This would help in areas, like Preston, where fewer betting shops would be welcome."
And while progress is being made from the point of view of FOBT critics, this is just the start of what some think should be a greater examination of the UK's gambling industry
Spokesman for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, Matt-Zarb Cousin, said: "The Campaign for Fairer Gambling would like to see stakes and prizes for online gambling brought into future reviews. Issues such as advertising, the lack of independent gambling research, and the insufficient funding for treatment are also priorities."
What does the Gambling Commission say?
Fixed odds betting terminals, or FOBTs, are gaming machines which allow people to play virtual games at a terminal in the betting shop, including roulette, blackjack, and poker. Each shop can have a maximum of four.
Depending on the game, players can stake a maximum of £2, known as 'category B3 games', or £100, known as 'Category B2 games'.
Between 2002 and 2012 over 34,000 FOBTs were introduced with profits reaching over £1.4 billion, according to the Campaign for Fairer Gambling.
The Gambling Commission has this week said the stake limit should be £2 on FOBT slot games, such as fruit machines, and £30 on non-slto games like roulette.
It also suggested game limits per session, tracked play and player limits in the report.
Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur said: "We've put consumers at the heart of our advice - advice which is based on the best available evidence and is focused on reducing the risk of gambling-related harm.'
"In our judgement, a stake cut for fixed-odds betting terminals alone doesn't go far enough to protect vulnerable people. That is why we have recommended a stake cut plus a comprehensive package of other measures to protect consumers."
The Commission recommended on Monday (March 19) the stake limit for FOBT non-slot games, including roulette, should be set at £30 or less - while traditional slot games like fruit machines should be capped at £2.
Currently punters can bet up to £100 every 20 seconds on the machines, which are found in high street bookmakers. The Government has been reviewing FOBTs amid concerns they encourage gambling addiction, with punters a player to theoretically gamble away £18,000 an hour.
A final decision by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the recommendations is due in the next few weeks.


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First, we saw Instagram (quickly followed by Facebook) copying the very feature that helped Snapchat grow in popularity – Stories.
And now, with the emergence of another social media platform, TikTok, which is becoming very popular amongst younger users, Instagram has released its own version of TikTok's main feature. And they've called it Reels.
At the time of this writing, Reels has been rolled out in Brazil. And it won't be long before Reels would be rolled out internationally.
What Exactly is Instagram Reels?
TikTok provided a platform that allowed users to share a short video clip of them lip syncing to their favourite song from a catalog of tracks that have been provided by various record labels.
Instagram Reels is more or less the exact same where you can share a 15 second video clip of you lip syncing to a track from an extensive catalog of music.
This new feature will be made available via Instagram Stories and will appear alongside popular features such as Boomerang and Super-Zoom.
How to Create an Instagram Reel Post?
To create an Instagram Reel post, users simply need to open up Instagram Stories, access the Instagram Reels feature via the main carousel. Once selected, select your music track, record/upload your clip, and then head over to the editing interface where you can add features like timed captions which allows you to schedule when the text should appear in your clip.
Similar to Stories, you can publish your Reel posts privately to a close circle of friends or you can send them to people via direct message. However, to expand your post's reach and get featured under the 'Top Reels' section on the Explore page, you need to publish your Reel posts publicly.
Your Reel posts, just like Stories, will disappear after 24 hours. You can also add them to your Highlights.
The Impending End of TikTok?
The introduction of Instagram Reels could potentially mean the end of TikTok. When Stories, was introduced, Snapchat's rapid growth came to a sudden halt. And when this feature does to get rolled out Facebook, it looks like history could be repeating itself.
The main difference between Instagram Reels and TikTok is that Instagram gives users the option to choose not to share their Reel posts publicly. Whereas, with TikTok, your posts are shared publicly as default.
The new feature is available in Brazil right now. No news from Instagram has been announced as to when the feature will be rolled out to more locations.


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Experiences, personal stories, motivation, activities.
As a part of the project, EXIT TOUR, offers lectures that fits by their content the Minimal preventative program.
We prepare them so they would not just teach professional findings but to be done in an interesting way and to be inspiring and motivating to the students.
The lectures are provided by TCKompas and partner organizations ACET SK, ACET CZ, ABATOP and their lectors including the needed accreditations and professional guarantees. Normally we have two sessions of lectures during the day at the school. More about the program at school.
"It was successful event, I think even for us who are at school for a longer time and survived lot of things, Exit tour guys were interesting. I recommend it also to other schools."
A variety is offered, professional, with personal enthusiasm and team building.
About AIDS – the disease, its origin and spreading. About risky behavior and the ways of transmission of HIV. Lectures are supplemented with actual statistics and other materials such as videos, pictures etc. Beside the issue of HIV/AIDS, lectors talk about the related problems: drugs, sexual abuse, sexual diseases, birth control and others.
Aggression (physical, psychological, sexual and cyber- bullying) in school environment. Explaining the basic concepts. How to recognize bullying, how to behave toward the aggressor and how to help the victims? Parts of the lecture are social games and practical training of the behavior. Emphasis to the meaning of a good and healthy collective as the most effective way of defense against bullying aggressors.
Gradual beginning of addiction, consequence of the addictions (health, financial, relational, psychical and other problems, start of the tolerance to the object of the addiction). Most usual medicaments here and its effect to the organism.
How is evolving the perception of a beauty, the cult of the body as a result of a psychical manipulation a connected problems. Mental anorexia, bulimia, plastic surgery. Negative effect of the pornography to the person. Prostitution, unhealthy sexual behavior.
Student's favorite lecture finding the answer for the questions: Why do we long for the relationship? How to find the one? How to prepare for it? How to avoid disappointment, hurt? What can be dangerous in the relationship?
Multimedia lecture with discussion with musicians from abroad about culture and life in their country. The lecture and discussion is in English (with optional translation). Parts of the lecture are team-building activities.
If you ask young people what he/she longs for when they will be between 30 to 40 years old, among the first things they mention are a spouse, house, kids, family, etc. The lecture speaks about the main pillars of the healthy family relationships and a happy family.
"In the world where you can be whoever you want to be, be yourself." In the present many young people are too overestimating or underestimating themselves. Healthy self-esteem is key to the successful and happy life of all people. This lecture helps the student to discover things they may not even anticipate about themselves.
Relationships are the most important thing in our lives. They can be very good but also very complicated or even bad. And some of them we cannot avoid. They are waiting for us every day. Lecture is talking in a humorous way about the relationships and building of good friendships.
An interactive lecture coming from the values of the program for the teenagers. Through the art we create a space where the students can try something new, even discover their talent! They need to face the tasks asking for the team spirit and cooperation. Encouragement is welcomed!
Edge is not just a sports program for youth. The lecture helps and encourages students toward the values necessary for their successful personal and professional life. The goal, motivation, discipline, renunciation, steadiness, determination, courage and others.
Nowadays the limits of knowledge and culture no longer exist. You can have everything right away in your mobile phone. But the opportunity to meet a real Scot, English or American and discuss about his country, culture, and life of the youth in his native language and to know his first handed experience from the life in Slovakia, is not here every day.
We want to reflect real situations and needs of young people through the topics we are pursuing . We long to bring topics resonating in the society and create the space during the lecture for understanding and discussion. That is why we work on its preparation and future enlistment to the program.
We are also involved in research connected with education and training and essence of nowadays culture and life of the youth in Slovakia and Europe. We prepare our lectures and structure of EXIT Tour and the program at schools and afternoon activities according to them.


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Health problems like neck & shoulder pain, back pain, sciatica, fatigue, etc., are getting common in our so-called modern society.
In case these pains are interfering greatly with your daily activities, it's time to think about some natural and most effective ways which can save you a trip to the doctor.
Ranging from various kinds of medications and therapies to different kinds of fitness equipment, many things are being recommended and are used by us, which yields favorable results for improving the health and quality of living.
Inversion therapy is one such therapy that is being used widely to treat many common health-related issues.
Let us discuss in detail the inversion exercises for pain and the role of inversion table therapy in the wellness of human beings…
Page Contents (Quick View)
- What Is An Inversion Table?
- How Does The Inversion Table Work?
- 7 Best Inversion Table for Back and Neck Pain
- 1- Teeter EP-560 Inversion Table
- 2- IRONMAN Fitness Gravity 4000 Inversion Table
- 3- Innova ITM4800 Inversion Therapy Table
- 4- Invertio Premium Folding Inversion Table
- 5- Health Mark Pro Max Inversion Therapy Table
- 6- Health Gear Advanced Inversion Technology Table
- 7- Exerpeutic Inversion Table with Backrest
- 5 Factors To Consider When Buying
- Benefits of Inversion Table Therapy
- Inversion Therapy Risks and Side Effects
- Inversion Table FAQs (for Neck and Back Pain)
What Is An Inversion Table?
An Inversion Table is basically a gravitational device that helps you in achieving all the best health benefits by placing you in the required "inverted" state.
This is a great device that is being strategically designed like a hammock.
Just as a chair that is curved backward and also folds out straight, this particular table has the desired ability to bend to a certain degree and also has the straps for the right safety and proper support.
Inversion tables are being widely used these days to reduce the pain that particularly occurs in the areas such as the neck, shoulder, upper, and lower back regions.
In fact, inversion table therapy is today one of the most effective treatment options prescribed by health care providers for treating various spinal problems.
How Does The Inversion Table Work?
An inversion table is a wonderful device that considerably allows the operator to invert their body to varying degrees to relieve pressure along with stress on the spine and back muscles.
The science behind this is gravity – which is being used to stretch the neck and back muscles in the opposite direction when you are lying in the inverted position.
This works similarly to a traction device (for stretching the spinal columns and neck muscles) which provides great relief to individuals suffering from back and neck pain.
While using an inversion table therapy, the person's own weight is suspended from the lower body (instead of from the hands in other forms of therapy).
There is a force of gravity that acts, and it helps in decompressing your joints from below the anchors.
Then hanging upside down considerably exerts an equal and opposite force on each of the bones in the person's body, and this helps in relieving painful conditions such as arthritis, stiff neck, pinched nerve in the neck, spine problems, etc.
Inversion table therapy works naturally (just as a method for traction therapy) to treat painful conditions and helps in reducing the overall stress level by improving the blood circulation of the body.
It also loosens all the bound muscles in the concerned person's body.
7 Best Inversion Table for Back and Neck Pain
Using the best inversion table for exercising at home can be a lot more advantageous for your body than you can actually think of!
As it decreases the compression between the neck and the vertebrae, it relieves the tension & stress in the neck & back region.
Also, it helps in the realignment of the cervical vertebrae. In case you are looking for the best inversion table for a bad neck and back, you can find them here.
We have listed down the top-rated inversion tables that are best selling online. You can check the detailed reviews below to find the best-suited one for you.
1- Teeter EP-560 Inversion Table
Teeter EP-560 Ltd. is a redesigned latest inversion table model by Teeter, which is one of the best rated and top popular in the market.
It is an FDA-cleared inversion table that is best suited for problems like back pain, herniated disc, cervical pain, sciatica, muscle tension or spasm, etc.
This inversion table for your lower back features a Lumbar Bridge with an adjustable arch for added traction and support.
It also includes 8 acupressure nodes that are placed at varying heights for easy trigger-point release and focused relief.
Patented wrap-around ankle cups fit ergonomically and provide unmatched comfort and support to the users.
Additionally, there are Contoured Bed flexes in this Teeter inversion table which provides maximum comfort and relief by optimizing the stretch.
According to various reviews by recent purchasers, it is one of the simplest and best inversion tables for the money you can buy to use at home.
It's made up of heavy-gauge steel parts and has all the best-patented security features. People love it for its ease of use, easy setup, quiet operation, and maximum comfort levels.
Above all, it comes with a 5-year full warranty from the manufacturer, which makes your purchase risk-free.
Although the price of the table is a bit higher than other brand models, its features and ease of use make it one of the best choices among users.
2- IRONMAN Fitness Gravity 4000 Inversion Table
IRONMAN Fitness Gravity 4000 is a highly sturdy inversion therapy table for stimulating blood circulation and reducing backache.
This model is known for its highest weight capacity, which supports up to 350 lbs.
It comes with a patented, easy-reach "Palm Activated" adjusting ratchet ankle locking system, which makes it safe to use and exercise.
Additionally, there are ergonomically molded ankle cushions provided, which hold the ankles securely and comfortably while you are doing the hang-ups with this machine.
The IRONMAN Fitness Gravity 4000 machine comprises a high-quality tubular steel frame with a powder-coated finish.
Memory-foam nylon backrest is provided for enhanced comfort. And foldable waterproof PVC equipment mat is included that protects your floor and reduces noise reduction while you are exercising.
According to various consumer reviews found online, this Ironman inversion therapy table for lower back pain is easy to set up, and it folds up easily for easy storage when you are done up.
3- Innova ITM4800 Inversion Therapy Table
Priced lesser than Teeter and Ironman tables, this is another great option to check for users who want the best solution to their spinal problems.
Especially if you want to get an affordable inversion therapy table for neck traction, this is the machine to get.
Innova ITM4800 comes with an Isolated Heat and Vibration Therapeutic massage Inversion with an adjustable lumbar pad.
Multi-mode massage settings are provided with auto and manual selection so that you can experience a sensational massage experience.
Additional features such as Soft Touch Foam Handles, Large Energy Foam Comfort Backrest, and padded removable head pillow make the machine more comfortable while using.
4-Position Adjustable Safety Pin (in place of old strap systems) is provided in the table that helps in easy positioning and safer inverting.
Overall, this inversion table for herniated disc and pain comes with a one-year warranty which makes your purchase risk-free.
In addition to this particular model, Innova Fitness ITX9800, Innova ITX9600, and Innova ITX9700 Memory Foam models are also available in the market, which are getting slowly popular among patients.
You can check them out in case you want to make a deeper comparison between Innova Fitness inversion table models.
4- Invertio Premium Folding Inversion Table
Invertio presents one of the best premium foldable inversion tables for back and neck pain relief. This can accommodate users up to 300 pounds in weight and 4'10" to 6'6" in height.
The heavy-duty steel frame with non-skid feet, adjustable padded ankle supports, and extra-long padded handles are provided in the table, which makes it highly durable, comfortable, and safe for users.
A large and luxuriously padded head and backrest with an additional lower back support cushion make this back stretcher inversion table even better for users with a bad back.
All you experience is a soft touch and easy body movements with this spinal decompression machine.
Invertio Premium is a fully adjustable and accurate inversion table that provides a full 100% inversion to the users.
You can refer to the provided instruction manual (in addition to the quick-start toolset) in case you need any help.
Above all, its black upholstery, silver frame, and nylon aprons (provided to hide the pivot hinges) make the table enormously attractive.
Also, the table is portable and easy for storage as it folds down completely flat.
5- Health Mark Pro Max Inversion Therapy Table
Health Mark Pro Max Inversion Therapy Table is one of the most expensive models which is worth checking out.
The real consumer reviews found online make it clear that its costly price is worth every penny. If you are suffering from chronic back pain, this table can do wonders for you.
The Health Mark Pro Max Inversion Therapy Table is well designed to stimulate blood circulation, thus helping to relax your aching back and neck. It also helps in improving posture and in decompressing the spine.
The unique thing about this device is it comes with 5 pre-set angles and 25 total height settings. Also, the table can well support up to 600 pounds of weight and is thus the most suitable option for every user.
As it works in a traditional "face-up" or inverted "face-down" position, it promises to deliver the best results to the users.
The Face-down position helps to achieve full 180-degree inversion (for full gravity traction) quite easily. Whereas the face-up position helps in getting a complete abdominal workout.
Specifically designed for therapy centers (also available for residential use), this best inversion table for neck pain is the only non-motorized bi-positional table available on the market.
With this table, you can treat yourself with an ultimate inversion therapy experience along with simultaneous massage stimulation.
When it comes to sturdy construction, there is no compromise made on the comfort and security of the users.
It comes with easily accessible front and rear ankle brackets, a rolled thigh and knee support, foam-padded back support, a crescent-shaped head/face rest, etc.
6- Health Gear Advanced Inversion Technology Table
Health Gear is the leading brand amongst National Retailers for Inversion Tables. They offer the inversion table models, which are tested and approved to UL 50-point safety and performance standards.
Health Gear Inversion Table (With Vibro Massage & Heat) is one of the best-selling models in the inversion table market.
It comes with advanced technology so that you can not only decompress your spine but also can enjoy the soothing effects of vibration massage along with isolated heat therapy.
This dual back relief benefit makes the table one of the most comprehensive therapeutic units on the market today.
The ergonomically designed racing-style backrest pad is also provided for the ultimate comfort and support.
Extra-long ankle clamp post is provided so that you can lock and unlock your ankles when entering and exiting the table without any bending.
All the best security features are added for the users so that they can offer maximum comfort to their sore backs.
Designed with a very stable heavy gauge steel tube frame, this inversion therapy table for neck pain relief is coated with scratch-resistant powder coat paint so that you can enjoy the great relaxing experience for years to come.
Moreover, it comes with a space-saving "fold and roll" design so that the machine can be conveniently stored.
7- Exerpeutic Inversion Table with Backrest
Exerpeutic Inversion Table is an excellent inversion therapy table that comes with a soft comfort foam backrest, foam rollers, and ankle cushions for best comfort and safety.
This height-adjustable machine can be adjusted for users from 4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 6 inches tall.
It includes extra-long, full loop safety handle bars along with an adjustable tether strap, which ensures safer inversions and returns to an upright position.
This Exerpeutic Inversion Table is made up of a heavy-duty 1.5-inch square strong steel frame which has a 300-pound weight capacity.
Exerpeutic aims at providing health at an affordable price. Overall this is one of the best inversion tables in the market that can provide you excellent relief from stress and back pain at an affordable price range.
You can check this out at the Amazon store to get a discounted price.
Other than these 7 best inversion tables, there are yet many upcoming newer brands and models (such as Stamina, Pure Fitness, SWM, TruBalance, etc) available on the market for you to choose from.
You just need to ensure that it comes with the right features and suits your budget.
5 Factors To Consider When Buying
If you are suffering from back pain and have been advised by the doctor to follow the inversion therapy, there are certain important things to consider while buying an inversion table so that the purpose is fully served.
There will be certain questions that could come to your mind before going for the inversion table, the answers to which will help you to make an informed decision while buying an inversion table.
You will surely want to know which are the best spinal decompression table and whether using them could be painful or not.
Other queries that could crop up include how quickly you can get the benefits by using the inversion table.
Here are some of the important things that you should consider which may help you to buy such an inversion table that could help you achieve your health goals.
1- Features:
Not all inversion tables are the same, and that is why it is important to consider which type of configuration could be the most convenient and beneficial for you.
Check out the controls which are pre-set for rotation in order to ascertain the maximum angle of inversion that could be set.
You should also check on the quality of the material of the inversion table, steel being the most common material used for manufacturing. This will help you to get an idea of the durability and safety of the table.
2- Safety:
Safety is the most important thing which you should consider while buying an inversion table for neck arthritis.
The inversion table should be ergonomically designed to ensure proper safety. Otherwise, you may find that the table is not serving the purpose that you are expecting.
Unsafe inversion tables can increase the blood pressure while decreasing heart rate, which can be dangerous when you are in an upside-down position on the inversion table. Long lever handles also ensure proper grip and safety.
3- Comfort and Safety:
Comfort is another important factor that you should consider, as uncomfortable positions can adversely affect your body condition.
Check out whether the lever is long enough for the antilock system. This will help you from bending when adjusting the table.
You should also ensure that your ankles get adequate support so that you feel comfortable while in an upright position.
Cushioned holders for the ankles are an important feature in designing an inversion table for the purpose of supporting the body weight of the ankles. A sturdy base can be safe and secure, allowing total comfort.
4- Space:
Buy an inversion table, considering how much space is available in your home.
Folding inversion tables that are portable can be the best choice, where you will need much smaller space than usually required for storing a conventional inversion table.
Weight is also another factor that should be considered for the portability of the table. Portable tables can easily be folded and moved from one position to another for storage.
5- Price:
Although inversion tables that are innovatively designed are expensive, it is advisable not to go for cheap tables that can make you compromise on the quality.
Compare the prices by searching online so that you can make an informed decision while buying the best inversion table for your good health.
Benefits of Inversion Table Therapy
The benefits of hanging upside down may be far greater than you think. Here are a few most important of them you should know about.
1- Neck and Back Pain:
The primary use of the inversion table is to relieve the person from neck and back pain.
As these tables assist the user in stretching their neck and back to realign their spine as well as posture, it helps in reducing muscle spasms.
Those who are suffering from chronic back pain problems (such as a bulging disk) can also find this particular therapy very useful.
Further, with the help of this inversion table, you will be able to do sit-ups to relieve yourself from neck and shoulder pain in a very efficient manner. This also helps in relieving tension, headaches, and stress levels.
2- Makes You Taller:
Yes, you heard it right! Using an inversion table is one of the most effective and natural ways by which you can grow taller.
By allowing you to hang upside down for partial or full inversion, this machine can help you gain extra height when all other ways fail to do so.
However, do remember that there is no guarantee or definite numbers (of height increase) you should expect.
Sometimes it's much more than expected, and at other times the increase is so negligible that you can hardly notice. It certainly depends on your body type and many other factors.
3- Helps to Lose Weight:
The other use of the gravity inversion table includes weight loss.
As you can do sit-ups on these inversion tables in a much easier way (as compared to doing it naturally), you can expect to get faster results.
Inverting exercises also help in enhancing blood circulation, which further helps in getting an enhanced lymphatic system.
4- Improves Circulation and Mood:
Hanging your body upside down is much more effective when it comes to improving circulation or flushing the blood all over your body.
By doing this type of exercise your heart works more efficiently in doing the job. The blood rushes to the head much faster and distributes the oxygen throughout the body very fast while flushing out the toxins.
As inversion improves circulation and stimulates the lymphatic system, it can also enhance the sad mood by alleviating depression and stress.
5- Prevents Further Painful Conditions:
One of the best things about using an inversion table for pain treatment is that it not only works in treating the prevailing chronic painful conditions but can also prove helpful in preventing the painful conditions from developing in the future.
This simply means that even if you are healthy and lead a healthful life, you can find inversion therapy useful for avoiding any pain or stress in your body.
Exercising on your teeter inversion table also helps in preventing/relieving the conditions like knee pain, vertigo, scoliosis, bulging or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, pinched nerve, hip pain, etc.
You can just invest a few minutes of your time and use it for exercising and relaxing your tight muscles at the end of a stress full day.
Inversion Therapy Risks and Side Effects
Besides the benefits offered, there are certain health risks as well, which are associated with Inversion therapy. You should, therefore, know about them before trying this therapy.
First of all, it is very important that you go ahead slowly when you first begin to use the inversion table.
While in the process, when the concerned individual is undergoing inversion therapy, the person's blood pressure tends to increase, and the heartbeat reduces considerably.
Who Should Not Use An Inversion Table?
Individuals suffering from glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, fracture, osteoporosis, etc., are at a higher risk while undergoing inversion therapy.
Pregnant women and patients with excess weight should also avoid undergoing inversion therapy.
This therapy also considerably increases the blood pressure inside the eyeballs and can cause bleeding in the eyes if there is too much pressure applied or inverted for long.
Hanging upside down aggressively for too long a duration can also lead to temporary loss of vision. It can even kill you if not used properly for recommended time intervals.
Be sure that you consult with your doctor and follow all the guidelines available while using your inversion chair so that you can get all the best benefits without any risks imposed.
Inversion Table FAQs (for Neck and Back Pain)
Besides the above risks, there are certain tips that should be kept in mind while using an inversion table as a therapy to relieve neck pain.
We will try to answer a few of the questions that people may have in mind before actually trying this therapy…
What Are the Different Parts of The Inversion Table?
In general, an inversion table that you can find on the market includes 4 main components. These are:
In general, an inversion table that you can find on the market includes 4 main components. These are:
1- Frame:
This is the main component of the machine that holds the table in place.
Usually, there are two safety handles here on the frame to hold so that you get better support without falling.
2- Backrest:
Next is the backrest, where you lie down your body. Mostly it is made up of soft foam that makes it comfortable to use.
3- Ankle rest:
This is where you place your ankles. This will make sure that your feet are properly placed and not hanging when inverting.
4- Angle adjuster:
Lastly, this is which allows you to control your inversion angle.
By pre-setting this, you can adjust to the desired angle you want to go for.
How to Assemble the Machine Properly?
Getting your inversion table assembled is fairly simple. By following the instructions on your user's manual, you can do it fast, within a few minutes.
No matter what brand or product you choose, the basic steps may include:
- Set up the frame and then install the table bed
- Then install the main shaft of the table at the back of the table.
- This will enable you to adjust the inversion angle of the bed when you are inverting.
- When you have set this up, make sure that all the parts are fastened tightly in place.
- This will ensure that the table remains sturdy while working out.
How To Use An Inversion Table?
No matter whether you are using an inversion table for pain relief or just for growing taller (increasing height) you should use it with proper care so that it can deliver maximized results without any danger.
To use your inversion therapy table properly, check the detailed instructions and guidelines in the video below…
How Long To Use An Inversion Table?
People often commit the mistake of rushing into treatment and staying in an inverted position for a long time. This is not at all advisable as it may lead to increased soreness after the treatment.
When it's about how long you should invert, the answer generally depends on you and your body requirements.
Experts in the field recommend that you begin with only 1-2 minutes per session. You can then advance to 3-5 minutes as per your comfort levels.
Your ultimate goal should be to relax your muscles and release the tension off your body.
How Often Should You Use It?
In this particular process, users need to invert for a few minutes – two to three times a day – in order to get the relieving sensation and alleviate the neck and back pain.
Do bear in mind that – inverting more often (the frequency) is more effective than the time for how long you invert (the duration).
However, this should be only adopted under the supervision of a professional physician after their consultation.
What Is the Best Angle for Inverting?
Most trainers and physical therapists recommend inverting at an angle of 50 to 60 degrees which is highly effective for achieving maximum decompression.
Few chiropractors advise inverting at a much lower angle (to only a 15-degree angle) which is generally based on the current condition of the patient and the results they are seeking by getting inverted.
Should You Do Anything When in Inverted Position?
Although not essential, there are several things that can be done when you are in an inverted position on the inversion table.
These include:
- Deep breathing can help you oxygenate your system
- Crunches and inverted squats. Make sure that you are warmed up before and inverted at a smaller angle.
- If there are handlebars on the machine to grip, you can twist in different planes. If there are none, you can stretch your neck a bit to relax.
What to Do If You Get Dizziness or Headaches?
Many times, when you just get started with investing, you may experience dizziness or headaches. This may be due to wrongly using the machine or inverting at a greater angle than recommended.
It's therefore important that you try to learn proper techniques before you start. Go slower when beginning. Try it for a lesser time and to a lesser degree.
If the problem gets severe, the safest thing to do is stop the inversion and talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Inversion Table vs. Gravity Boots: Which Is Better for Pain?
Although both of these (inversion table and gravity boots) offer various benefits of hanging upside down, these work and benefit differently.
When you are trying to differentiate between inversion table vs. gravity boots, it is most important that you understand how these gravity boots work.
While using gravity boots, the latches are tied to your ankles firmly so that you can hang inverted in a well-balanced condition.
The inversion through gravity boots usually takes place in an aggressive manner than as compared to tables.
Few other factors that differentiate gravity boots from inversion tables are:
- Gravity boots occupy very less space
- These are priced relatively less and are much more affordable
- It can cause pain in the ankles and knees if the fitting around the legs is not proper
Based on the above, you can choose to go with the one that suits your style and budget.
How To Hang Upside Down At Home (without Inversion Table)?
Not a fan of using an inversion table?
Worry not; there are many other ways by which you can get the benefits of inverting your body without using an inversion table.
Some of these are:
- Gravity boots
- Inversion chair
- Exercise ball
- Inverted yoga
- Yoga trapeze
- Headstand stool
Overall, for people suffering from neck pain problems, there are so many treatment modalities available that are effective in relieving pain and stiffness.
While each and every treatment has its own potential benefits and importance in treating neck pain and associated stiffness, using an inversion table is one of the top favorites among many – especially for people who love exercising and staying fit.
If you are really among this type, you should definitely consider getting one.


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RIL Launches 'Virtual Reliance Summer Program': At Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), it is business as usual in its commitment to new joinees. Even as we increasingly hear about large global companies withdrawing job offers or suspending on-boarding of recruited employees, RIL went ahead and on-boarded 84 summer interns last week in a well-crafted online manoeuvre.
The program, called the 'Virtual Reliance Summer Program', is a thoughtful and detailed program that not only enables interns to do their summer jobs online but also get the feel of working with an organisation, inculcate a sense of belonging and get a full corporate work experience.
The 84 summer interns were recruited earlier this year from various management schools from across the country. They were relieved and pleasantly surprised to receive an email from the company asking them to join in April, as scheduled in the pre-Corona period. The interns were provided guidance on the appropriate online platforms to equip their devices with.
At its own end, RIL prepared the detailed "Virtual Reliance Summer Program" for each of the interns. The program started with a detailed on-boarding module aimed at not only providing interns with company and job orientation but also building team spirit through several tasteful ice-breaking and team-building sessions.
The Interns were inculcated into the company philosophy, culture and businesses through online sessions with leadership from key businesses as well as the heads of HR and Corporate Brand and Communications. Each Intern was assigned a 'Buddy" – a senior alumni from the same business team – to be a mentor and support, so essential in the initial days. In addition, personal calls were arranged with business heads and HR partners to provide each intern an adequate overview of the program and relevant guidelines.
Creative and interesting engagement activities were next in line to ensure the ice was broken and teams were built. Some ingenuous activities included:
- Gesture Challenge: Wednesday, 8th April was the day of the pre-boarding session where the summer interns learnt to effectively use the online platforms. A light hearted gesture challenge at the end of the session put all of them in the right positive frame of mind for their next few weeks at RIL.
- Twinning day: Monday, the13th April was "twinning day" – interns got to plan twinning outfits with one colleague in the batch
- Props day: Tuesday, 14th April was 'props day' when our interns joined an interactive session with their alumni while wearing fun props
- Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Interns were divided into teams to play a 'virtual scavenger hunt' with a list of tasks to be completed. People got glimpses of each other's daily life during WFH through this activity.
Sufficiently charged and excited about their internships, the summer interns have now plunged into their daily routines. The eight week programme has been well adapted to the online environment with adequate protocols for access and data security and governance.
The program itself has been revamped to be remote friendly with charters shared with each intern and pre-defined weekly connects established. The program has also incorporated gamified learning and engagement modules to make work and learning more interesting. Adequate governance through regular check-ins and surveys and working with assessment partners for online assessment and Pre Placement Offers have also been incorporated to make it a completely functional internship programme.
RIL teams feel satisfied they managed to create this comprehensive online internship programme in such a short time through sheer hard work and resolve. The initial relief at finding their internships were not withdrawn, and then the delight on the faces of the young interns as they started the programme, have been just rewards.


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New Twitter bot after artist Gerhard Richter
This week I went to the SFMOMA for the first time. It's great! I spent hours there and felt like I had to rush to see even a fraction of the collection. One of the pieces that really struck me was Gerhard Richter's massive 1974 painting "256 Colors" (or "256 Farben" in his original German). I took a picture of it there:
He made a few "256 Colors" and a bunch of other color charts, some of which are more explicitly generative—that is, where the colors and their arrangement are left to chance.
Anyway, that sounded like fun, so I've put together a small script that creates paintings that look a bit like "256 Colors." Here's one that it made:
And naturally, I've made a Twitter bot that posts them twice a day: @256farben. Follow along for two daily reminders of the beauty of randomness.


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"Cost, size, weight and power (C-SWaP) is always a concern when deciding on technology investments," said Tim Bennett of DHS Science and Technology in a release. "Legacy radar arrays require an expensive, complex and often heavy phase shifter to direct radar beams. Echodyne developed MESA to electronically steer a radar beam with high fidelity and fast directional changes with lower C-SWaP."
Homeland Security got a thing and it's called radar loveOct 5, 2018


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#formerstudentFriday is an occasional series in which former students and I team up on topics of their choosing. Through their voices and perspectives, we can level up in everything we do.
This is a particularly special installment.
Garrett Kampf checks several boxes. He's brilliant, self-aware, civic, and, in full disclosure, my cousin-in-law. Garrett's mother, Carol, introduced me to her niece, Allison, some thirteen years ago; shortly thereafter, Allison and I were married, and Garrett, and his sister Jackie, went from former students to current family. Garrett's piece, like the David Foster Wallace passage that precedes it, is raw and unabashed. My man has come full-circle personally and professionally, and he's only 27.
"The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day."
-David Foster Wallace, This is Water
I left Rutgers University on fire, determined to tear down systems that I spent the previous four years critiquing. Accordingly, I set out for Kansas City as a 2013 Teach for America corps member. At best, I was taking part in a movement that would radically expand meaningful educational opportunities to all students regardless of race or class. At worst, I was motivated by fear to prevent my experience from being reduced to stereotype: the white savior complex. Some probably pejoratively viewed me a social justice warrior. Looking back, my idealism was naïve, but it was pure!
To some extent I feel like a fraud writing this piece. I never intended to remain a teacher. Becoming a criminal defense lawyer was always the dream. However, education and the criminal justice system for me have always been inexorably connected. Failure in the former often leads to entry into the latter. This idea of meritocracy, unconscious but near universally worshipped in the American psyche, is built on the flawed premise that we are masters of our own destiny. My success was largely contingent on socioeconomic factors entirely outside of my control. Similarly, the criminal justice system is contingent on a corollary principle that is equally flawed: judging human autonomy in a vacuum. When determining one's blameworthiness, it is inconvenient to take circumstance into account.
It would be charitable to say that my record as a teacher was mixed. I was woefully ill-equipped for the job. But what I found invigorating about the profession was all of the many hats I would wear at any given moment: educator, counselor, confidant, advocate. I learned quickly that I was never going to tear down a system that perpetuates inequality. My more measured approach was finding a way to validate the potential of at least some of my students and invest in them. Sometimes it was as simple as listening to what was going on in their lives without judgment.
You see, it took a while for this to happen in my own life. I was an aimless and apathetic high schooler until a 10th grade history teacher saw that I was worth something. Once my potential was validated, he effectively extracted it. This investment encouraged me to trudge my chosen career path. There's something rudimentary human in all of this that we shouldn't lose sight of.
I am now in my 3rd year of law school at the University of Oregon. Whether you are a teacher or an attorney, you must work within the confines of the system, implicitly acknowledging the reality that no matter how hard you fight against it, the system isn't going anywhere. In many ways I have been forced to trade in my idealism for pragmatism. This isn't meant to sound like some call for political quietism or surrendering to some nihilistic reality. It's merely about humility in paying it forward: equipping others with purpose or treating others with dignity, the way it was done for me. My life's work as an aspiring public defender in the criminal justice system is fighting to prevent someone from being eaten alive by it.
My twenty-two-year-old self would be so disappointed in my tacit acceptance of the way things are rather than waging war for the way things ought to be. Put differently, I'm not sure how much of a large-scale difference I make. That doesn't matter to me much anymore. By working in the pursuit of my own sense of purpose through helping others, my life has meaning. Today, that surely is sufficient.
Garrett Kampf is a 2019 J.D. Candidate at the University of Oregon School of Law. He graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick in 2013 with a B.A. in Philosophy. He spent 2013-2015 teaching middle school English and Language Arts in Kansas City, Missouri. Garrett lives in Eugene, Oregon where he enjoys exploring the state, playing golf, seeing live music, and quoting the Big Lebowski wherever possible.


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Team Based Compensation Plans: How to Recognize Individual Effort
The Importance of a Well-Planned Compensation Strategy
Understanding the many facets of compensation can be difficult, even for a person educated and experienced in compensation analysis. Although it is difficult, with the right tools, anyone is capable of developing an effective, equitable, and motivating compensation plan for project teams.
Compensation decisions cannot be arbitrary – they must be made with careful consideration and strategic planning to ensure employees are compensated equitably with respect to experience, tenure, responsibilities, and others in similar positions inside and outside of the organization and/or project. Therefore, to develop a fair and motivating compensation plan, project managers and company leaders need to develop a strategy that best instills a strong pay-for-performance mindset without inhibiting employee satisfaction, motivation, and productivity.
How to Develop an Effective Compensation Plan
1. Understand the purpose of a compensation plan.
First and foremost, a project team's compensation plan must align with the project's goals in terms of profitability margins, process versus results orientation, deadline adherence, and interdependence expectations. A compensation plan is also another type of job description – how employees are compensated determines where they will invest time to ensure the greatest return on their investment. Finally, a compensation plan reinforces behaviors. Ideally, a compensation plan is a positive reinforcement for productive behaviors as identified in a performance evaluation; however, a poorly planned and executed compensation strategy can act as a demotivator and an instigator of negative competition and hostile working conditions.
2. Determine what percentage of compensation will be team-based and what portion will be based on individual contributions.
The benefits of a team-based compensation plan include: increased teamwork and cooperation, improved processes and implementation results, increased flexibility to change, and encouragement of information sharing and communication.
The benefits of an individual-based compensation plan include: promotion of healthy competition among team members, increased innovation and creativity, increased personal satisfaction for achievement of individual results, and increased motivation to exceed expectations.
3. Determine what percentage of compensation will be fixed and what portion will be variable.
Fixed compensation, also called base pay, is the amount of compensation that employees earn for working, regardless of performance and productivity. A fixed amount helps ensure a minimum compensation level, which is beneficial to reduce anxiety and unhealthy competition. Although fixed pay is set at employment or project onset, it does not mean that every team member's base pay is the same. Instead, an effective fixed compensation strategy accounts for variations in job responsibilities, experience, and skill competencies.
It is recommended that a base pay range be developed for each job description (not job title) to ensure equal payment for equal work because not all similarly named jobs are equal indicators of responsibilities, tasks, difficulty level, and expectations. After developing a pay range by researching market and industry standards, the following pay scale is recommended.
- Entry-Level: 0-35% through pay range; defined as little to no prior experience or skills
- Professional: 35-65% through pay range; defined as mid- to advanced-level experience or skills
- Managerial: 65-100% through pay range; defined as professional-level worker with supervisorial responsibilities
Variable compensation, also called incentive pay, is the amount of compensation that employees earn in excess of fixed compensation for reaching a certain productivity or performance goals. Variable pay increases motivation, encourages healthy competition, and provides an opportunity for project leaders to reward employees and teams for exceeding expectations. The following variable pay guidelines ensure incentives are effective.
- Incentive ceilings should never be set (or at least communicated to employees) because it only limits the productivity of employees. Once a limit is reached, an employee's motivation to exceed that production goal diminishes.
- Incentives should be meaningful to employees, while being practical for the company.
- Incentives should be varied in amount, type, and frequency, so employees don't begin to associate variable pay as a form of entitlement or expectation.
4. Specify the percentage makeup of project team compensation.
Use the example on the left as guidance to specify the details of a project team's compensation plan.
In the example, the project manager decided that compensation should be based equally on individual contributions (50%) and team results (50%). Furthermore, 70% of an individual's compensation will be fixed, while 30% will be variable.
Of the individual's fixed pay, 35% will be based on individual skills, experiences, and tasks. The remainder 35% will be based on available project funds equally dispersed among team members. Of the individual's variable pay, 15% will be based on individual achievements, and 15% will be calculated on team achievements.
5. Document and communicate the compensation plan.
Prior to implementing a compensation plan, the plan's details must be recorded clearly and concisely in writing. After the plan is documented, project managers must communicate the changes to employees verbally as well as providing a written copy of the plan's specifications.


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Each smartphone model has been analysed by SOSav experts to give them a repairability grade from 0 to 10, toughest to easiest. A small idea of your phone disassembly difficulty !
What to expect when disassembling your smartphone ? SOSav technicians have listed all positive and negative sides for each phone model in order to know if they're easy to disassemble or not. The repairability grade is based on technical criteria like replaceable components, the difficulty to open and manipulate, for a grade going from 1 to 10.


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How to a learn a language — stop wasting your time with methods that don't work for you! There is no best way for everyone. The best way for YOU depends on YOUR learning style! People have different learning styles. In other words, they learn in different ways. Some people like to hear information, some like to see an image or diagram, and others learn by doing.
In this video, I'll show you how you can figure out your personal learning style, and how you can use this information to your advantage in the future to learn English more effectively. Knowing your preferred learning style means you can learn more effectively. You will also see that these methods are the ones that you find most interesting.
Knowing how you learn best also means you can try new methods of learning English that you may not yet know about! I'll share with you some ideas about new methods you can try out to help you develop your English. Then you can take a quiz on my lesson here: http://www.engvid.com/whats-your-learning-style/
Hi, everyone. I'm Jade. What I'm talking about today is the best way to teach yourself English, and that's the way that fits you, your personality, and the way your mind ticks; the way your mind works. I think that, in general, it's the best time ever to be learning English because you have so much access to English materials. So I'm not talking just about traditional ways, like books, and going to classes because now with the internet, there are just so many ways that you can learn, also with new devices. So, right now, you're learning English for free on the internet. Right? But you can also be learning English for free on Facebook or by using an app. So more than ever, there are just so many opportunities to learn, but also to connect with other people who speak English or who want to speak English. So it's great. Yeah?
Well, what would help, though, is knowing the best way to maximize what's already out there, so how you can use it more effectively. So to get there, what I want to do first is a little quiz, a quiz to find out your learning style. So let's go through the quiz and you have to decide which answer fits you best. Okay?
So when using new equipment, equipment… This could be like… Could be a new computer or a new remote control for your television, something like that. Do you..? Or something a little bit more difficult than that. Do you read the instructions first, do you ask somebody who already knows how to use it for an explanation, or do you work it out by trial and error? That means you just start using it and learn… Learn yourself. Which one fits you? So, for me, I am… I am a trial and error person. This is me, so I'm going to put a star there. Another good example of that is: have you ever bought any flat pack furniture that you need to put together for yourself? Well, you know, do you read the instructions first, do you ask somebody, or do you just start? I'm this kind of person and I can tell you that it often goes wrong because I just think: "Oh, it will be fine."
Next of all, when you're travelling and you need to find somewhere, do you use a map? "Aha, we go this way." Do you ask for directions or try to memorize them before you go? "Oh, I go there, and then I turn right, and then I go left. Aha, I see." Do you do that? Or do you get a sense of where to go by landmarks? I've lived in a couple of different cities, and this is what I always do. I live in Dubai at the moment, so kind of have a… Just a feeling of where the sea is all the time. I'm like: "The sea's over there, I'll go there." Doesn't always work, but that's how I make sense of where I am, so I'm here.
When you're cooking, what do you like to do? Are you someone who follows a recipe? "I do that, I do that, I do that." Often, people who follow a recipe do exactly the thing it says. Is that you? When you're cooking, do you ask a friend to give you their tips for cooking? "Oh, I really loved what you made there. Can you tell me how you did it?" And then you try it yourself? Or do you just make it up as you go along? "I'll put a bit of that in. I'll make it a bit spicier. Who needs a recipe?" Which one are you? I'm… It's getting a little bit repetitive here. Isn't it?
How about this one: I learn best when I'm shown what to do? So you show me what to do with your hands, I see it, and I go: "Right, I can do that now." I learn best when somebody tells me what to do, so they give you instructions, you hear it. You're like: "Aha, I know what to do now." Or do you learn best when you just have a go? You don't… You know, you can listen to them, you can see what you're supposed to do, but you really learn when you can be practical and get your hands involved. Which one are you? That's me.


text: The difference is that foldl *must* produce the entire list of thunks, even if f is lazy in its first argument. There's no foldl that can perform better given a sufficiently-lazy f; given head = foldr go fail where go x y = x fail = error "head: empty list" head [a,b,c,d] = foldr go fail [a,b,c,d] = go a (foldr go fail [b,c,d]) = a you might think you can define last = foldl go fail where go x y = y fail = error "last: empty list" but this fails to be sufficiently lazy: last [a,b,c,d] = foldl go fail [a,b,c,d] = foldl go (go fail a) [b,c,d] = foldl go (go (go fail a) b) [c,d] = foldl go (go (go (go fail a) b) c) [d] = foldl go (go (go (go (go fail a) b) c) d) [] = go (go (go (go fail a) b) c) d = d which allocates lots of extra space for thunks, which may even take more memory than the original list. Whereas if last uses foldl': last [a,b,c,d] = foldl' go fail [a,b,c,d] = let z = go fail a in seq z $ foldl' go z [b,c,d] = foldl' go a [b,c,d] = let z = go a b in seq z $ foldl' go z [c,d] = foldl' go b [c,d] = ... = let z = go c d in seq z $ foldl' go z [] = foldl' go d [] = d -- ryan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/haskell-cafe/attachments/20120730/710edec0/attachment.htm>


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How fast is too fast?
Rapper Tech N9ne's supersonic lyrical delivery tests the boundaries of human comprehension. The Kansas City-based MC was bestowed his name thanks to his ability to spit out words with the speed of a TEC-9 semiautomatic weapon. Tech N9ne later gave his handle a double-entendre by stating the "tech" was short for "technique" and "nine" representing the number of completion -- therefore his name signifies his total ability to rhyme like a champ.
The rapper got his start moving from one hip-hop collective to another. In the 1990s, he went from Black Mafia to 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians to Nnutthowze to the Regime. But in 1999 he decided to become independent, not just as a solo artist but by starting his own record label, Strange Music. The name of his current tour, Independent Grind, celebrates his status.
We caught up with Tech N9ne in advance of his St. Louis show on May 4 at the Pageant to discuss what it takes to put on a great hip-hop show and the importance of clarity over speed.
David Rolland: What's the secret to rapping with such quickness?
Tech N9ne: Years of practice. Back when I did my first rhymes, in seventh grade, everyone had the LL Cool J style [rapping slowly], "All the money I'm gener-a-ting" back in 1985. I was going like [rapping much faster], "I'm getting all the money crumples." I guess I talk kind of fast. But it's years of practice which makes perfect.
Is there a formal method to your practice?
You have to rehearse, because with a style like that, you have to get your tongue ready for that kind of thing. I guess you can wake up and just do it, because I just woke up and just did it, but it's practice. I don't have no mantra, but sometimes when I'm writing I have to loosen my tongue up. You can't pinch hard on the roof of your mouth. That way you don't slur, and words come out much clearer.
Have you ever timed how many words per minute you can get out?
No, I've never done that because it's never been about how fast I can go. I'm from the Midwest, where all of us -- from Bone Thugs N Harmony, Ludacris, Eminem -- crazily have that fast flow. It's never been about how fast I can do it; it's been about if I do this style, how clear I can do it. A lot of guys go way faster than me, but you can't hear what they're saying. I don't think that's worth it.
Are you working on something new, or are you still recovering from last year's album, Something Else?
I have a new collaborative album with all my artists called Strangeulation. It's not "strangulation"; it's Strange Music artists having you in a choke-hold, everybody on the roster. It comes out May 6. We've been touring a lot. We have 78 dates in something like 84 days.
Continue to page two.


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Gamers in Crimea are no longer able to access Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, and other games that require a connection to Battle.net. Blizzard has suspended access to the service in the region, in order to comply with US sanctions.
Battle.net users in the area received a notification of the service cut earlier this week, according to Russian gaming site Geektimes.ru (via The Moscow Times). "You are receiving this email because, in accordance with current trade regulations relating to the region of Crimea, we are legally required to suspend access to your Battle.net account. Any recurring subscription payment will be cancelled," it states. "We are sincerely sorry that you're being impacted in this way; if the situation changes, we will happily do our best to restore access to your account."
The US has imposed numerous sanctions as a result of the ongoing dispute between Russia and Ukraine, but the Battle.net blockage would appear to arise from Executive Order 13685, "Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to the Crimea Region of Ukraine," signed on December 19, 2014. Among its many prohibitions is "the exportation, reexportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, services, or technology to the Crimea region of Ukraine." That, naturally, would include services like Battle.net.
It's an unfortunate mess for gamers in the Crimean region, and given the apparent intractability of the situation, one that could drag on for a long time to come.


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Just about any Web design company will tell you that change is on the horizon. As consumers continue to rely more heavily on smartphones and tablets (mobile devices account for more than 50% of all searches -- and that percentage is only growing), ecommerce development services, Website marketing solutions companies, and small and large businesses have one option: optimize their sites for mobile viewing, or watch their search rankings and sales plummet. Here are a few simple ways to make the shift:
One Word: Minimalism
For the most part, complicated Web design only creates problems. Complex sites may be difficult to view on mobile devices -- and some may not be mobile compatible at all. Most importantly, consumers are less likely to trust sites with all of the bells and whistles and, more often than not, a slow load time. A simple, streamlined website is viewed as more professional, and un-embellished webpages load a lot faster, too. (It is wise to pay attention to load time, given that most sites loaded in just 2.078 seconds in April 2013 and expectations are only getting higher.) MarketingProfs.com recommends looking to Apple's website for inspiration -- for Web design that is clean, transparent, and compelling. The Web marketing data source also recommends abandoning separate sites for mobile and desktop viewing. It is less expensive -- and more effective -- to optimize a single design for seamless viewing and navigation on all devices.
Pinterest Leads The Pack
The social media and image sharing website established an important precedent: organizing content (especially image- and video-based content) in a tile-style format. With nearly half (46%) of consumers consulting social media pages before a purchase and many others visiting companies' official webpages, it is crucial for content to be organized in a simple and visually compelling manner. Tile-style formats work well because they can hone in on just one tile or a few tiles (optimal for mobile viewing), or it can appear as a page of thumbnails, perfect for consumers perusing webpages on a desktop or laptop PC.
The fundamentals of Web design are changing, thanks to mobile devices. Keep pages current with minimalist design and an effective and flexible content layout.


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I'm a fan of the Vampire. Not the Twilight/Vampire Diaries vampires, although I did read and watched those. Not the Vampirism-as-virus type although I read The Strain and I Am Legend (great book, awful movie) and watched 30 Days of Night. Not the vampire as animal True Blood type (although I thoroughly enjoy watching that show). No, I'm a Anne Rice-gothic-romantic-spleen-cut-wide-open-doomed-love-forever-trying-to-adapt type of vampire lover.
My love for the vampire boils down to a few facts. 1- I would love to be immortal. I'm a great believer in humanity. Despite all odds and current state of affairs, I believe that humanity will thrive and evolve and oh how I would love to bear witness to that evolution! When Marius sees Boticelli paint the Birth of Venus in the Vampire Chronicles, I had chills down my back. Imagine witnessing humanity emerge from the Dark Ages.
2- As a woman, I would love to have unlimited strength and have absolutely no fear of anyone hurting me. I wonder how that would change me? To have that freedom, to have no fear of consequences. Plus the never aging thing.
3- Finally, over time, the Vampire as I see it becomes Love. A being that transcends petty fights and mortal shells, a being who sees the other inside. I love that idea. When Coppola made his movie Bram Stoker's Dracula, this is the idea he was conveying, this was at the root of that first vampire : love lost, a being out of time, cast away following the loss of his love. I'm a romantic, I admit it!
I grouped my favorites in this portrait. They are (top to bottom):
– Salem's Lot by Stephen King (old school creepy vampire)
– The Vampyre by Tom Holland (a retelling of Lord Byron's life)
– Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (the one that started it all)
– Let the right on in by J. A. Lindqvist (1000 times more terrifying than the movies)
– Dracula by Bram Stoker (Victorian gothic vampirism at its best)
– Prince Lestat by Anne Rice (the more recent of the Vampire Chronicles)
– The Twelve by Justin Cronin (the second part of The Passage trilogy -excellent)
– The Historian by Elizabeth Kustova (a masterpiece)
(not pictured is I am Legend by Richard Matheson, a truly worthwhile novella where the tables are turned on humans)


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Participantes > Zbigniew Nowicki
Zbigniew Nowicki received a Ph.D. degree in 1978 from the Institute of Computer Science Foundations of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Since 1985 he serves as a national CDS/ISIS distributor in Poland. For many years he worked as a computer science consultant to the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO in Geneva. Author of two CDS/ISIS guidebooks: ''How to utilize advanced features of CDS/ISIS'' (1st ed.1989, 2nd ed. 1992) and ''New features of the WinISIS system'' (2001).