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Insulectro, a leading distributor of materials for use in the PCB and printed electronics industries, has announced promotions to the leadership of its sales division.
"2015 has been a strong year for us in both the PCB side of our business as well as our new printed electronics initiatives," Insulectro Vice President of Sales Ken Parent commented. "It's time to increase our focus on sales and service with two well deserved promotions."
Effectively immediately, longtime Insulectro veterans Trey Adams and Sean Redfern become Regional Vice Presidents for the Eastern US and Western US respectively. Both Adams and Redfern will continue to report to Parent.
"Insulectro has long had a national footprint with its 10 stocking locations domestically. We learned years ago we want to be where our customers are. It makes sense that we also specialize our sales management regionally to align with our operations," Parent continued.
Under the new plan, Trey Adams will assume responsibility for sales in Londonderry, NH; Bloomingdale, IL; Dallas, TX; and Eden Prairie, MN (Insulectro's new location in the Twin Cities area); and Canada. Adams will also oversee sales efforts, as well, in the Pacific Northwest, an area he formerly served.
Redfern will lead the sales in Southern California, Silicon Valley, Tempe, AZ, and Aurora, CO,
Adams has been a key player in Insulectro's growth and success in the Midwest PCB market for over 11 years. His intimate knowledge of PCB and PE products and has great rapport with customers making him invaluable to Insulectro's OEM strategy by successfully embracing the company's highly-touted ACT! Initiative (a synergistic program that advancing the needs of all members of the supply chain – OEM, designer, fabricator, distributor, and supplier).
Sean Redfern has been involved in leadership roles across most of the Redfern Companies during his 14 years, including Tri-Star Laminates (LCOA), relocating to Shanghai, China for nearly 2 years and establishing a presence in China with Tri-Star International Group (TIG), spearheading our sales and marketing efforts for Integral Technologies. For the past 1½ years Redfern has fulfilled a Regional Sales Management role for Insulectro in Southern California. His experience will be invaluable to Insulectro's strategic growth initiatives along with his proven track record of building strong alliances with customers and suppliers.
"I'm pleased we have two remarkably talented sales leaders in these new, important roles. As a distributor of best-in-class materials from such PCB suppliers as Isola, DuPont, LCOA, CAC, Pacothane, Ormet Circuits, and Focus Tech Chemicals, along with DuPont, Kodak, Vistana, and Coveme, and others on the Printed Electronics side, we are in the middle of rapidly changing technologies and an amazing onslaught of new, high performance materials. I know Trey and Sean look forward to meeting Insulectro's customers throughout their territories," Parent stated.
"This is the first of several announcements we will make in the near future – all exciting and each providing new strategies for helping our customers strengthen their businesses," Ken Parent concluded.
About Insulectro
Insulectro is the leading supplier of PCB materials used to manufacture circuit boards as well as materials for Printed Electronics. Insulectro combines its premier product offering with local inventory in strategic stocking locations across the country, fabrication capabilities and backed up by expert customer and technical support services.
Insulectro supplies advanced engineered materials manufactured by DuPont®, Isola, LCOA®, CAC, Inc., Integral Technology, Pacothane, Vistana, and Focus Tech. These products are used by our customers to fabricate complex, multilayer circuit boards and to manufacture printed electronics components. Insulectro serves a broad customer base manufacturing rigid, rigid/flex and flexible circuit boards for applications in a variety of end markets including telecom, data communications, high speed computing, mobile devices, military, and medical.


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MISSION, Vision and Values
Our Mission
Our mission is to harness and sharpen the best of strategic, technical and marketing skills with a view to address client-centric challenges and develop innovative solutions for optimal organizational growth.
We envision ourselves to be pioneers in global IT delivery, while delivering faster and better to our clients. We aim to rapidly grow our service offerings ranging from management and strategy consulting in IT outsourcing and let our clients leverage the finest workforce that we nurture.
Our Vision
Weblife Solutions takes pride to vision itself as a premium provider of unmatched and flawless IT enabled services by practicing latest trends in technology and quality determined approach.
Our Values
We cherish and nurture our values and interactions with all our employees and clients. We have high regards for individual value which creates a transparent atmosphere ensuring outstanding teamwork and rapport, built within the company.
An in-depth understanding of our clients' business is the key to our relationship. We help you identify which projects will deliver the best value to your business, driving powerful results through mobility.

subset: commoncrawl


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Safe Harbor LLP , a top San Francisco CPA firm is proud to announce the publication of their latest tax bulletin for individuals and small business owners. The firm shares this information first with clients and then posts it for the public on its website.
"Education is an important part of our mission as a CPA firm," explained Chun Wong, Managing Partner at Safe Harbor LLP. "We have found that many clients and prospective clients of the CPA firm like to go to the Web to read timely, informative content on tax planning and other financial issues."
To read the latest tax bulletin, go to https://www.safeharborcpa.com/august-tax/ where one can download it in full in Adobe PDF format.
Tax Bulletin Contents – Information for San Francisco Individuals and Businesses
August is the last month of summer, and it's a month of preparation: preparation for a new school year, a new Fall season, and – fortunately or unfortunately – a season to prepare for accounting, taxes and all the other financial issues for small businesses and high income individuals. Many new changes are coming with the advent of 'Obamacare,' and so this tax bulletin is packed full of information. Topics include student loans, foreign stock ownership, and health insurance issues.
While the tax issues are national in scope, the company focuses specifically on California tax issues and San Francisco individuals and businesses. The CPA firm has particular strengths in dealing with individuals or businesses that have foreign assets and international exposure.
IRS Circular 230 Notice
The Internal Revenue Service requires Safe Harbor LLP to inform the reader that any tax advice contained in this correspondence cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or for promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed.
About Safe Harbor LLP – a Professional CPA Firm in San Francisco
Safe Harbor LLP is a CPA firm that specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater California. Safe Harbor CPAs helps both individuals and businesses with tax preparation, IRS audit defense, and audited financial statements. The firm prides itself on friendly yet professional service and utilizes state-of-the-art Internet technology to provide quality customer service.
Safe Harbor CPA
Tel. 415.742.4249


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Perhaps a result of the fear that WWIII would be announced via twitter, 2017 was a spectacular year to navigate World War II films. In no particular order, we look at the range of films focusing variously on Polish, French, American, German & British victims, heroes and villains, and those that defied categorisation.
From deceptively light and airy slop to visceral military engagement, we take a look at a year of World War 2 films.
Alone in Berlin
A quiet tale of the crimes a German couple committed during Hitler's reign: Brendan Gleeson and Emma Thompson are stoic, terse, and relatable as husband and wife in this film based on the non-fiction book by Hans Fallada. When their only son is killed in action, these proud German parents start to question the value of war being fought. Beginning an anonymous letter writing campaign, they soon come to the attention of the German military.
This is a slow-burning film. It asks, what would you do? And how much hatred and death is too much? It takes an ordinary couple to question what their lives mean. Daniel Brühl returns another fine performance as a Nazi agent. Brühl's German lead investigator is nuanced and complex, though he may be sympathetic, his crimes remain without sympathy. These German dissenters opposition to Hitler did not begin against state sanctioned genocide. We feel that their opposition drew strength from their son's death, the straw that broke the camel's back. The subtle soundtrack, the dark browns and heavy greens, the detailed and luxurious costuming lend this tense thriller gravity and bravado.
A brilliant Rachel Weisz portrays the Jewish historian, Deborah Lipstadt whose book, History on Trial, was the basis of this film. Infamous holocaust denier David Irving lies, that the Nazi perpetrated Holocaust did not occur, or was greatly exaggerated, remain infuriating. Lipstadt asserted Irving was lying and Irving sued for libel. In order to win the case, Lipstadt's team needed to provide evidence the Holocaust occurred.
This dry courtroom drama should have been the movie of the year, alas it falls short. Denial's exceptional value is that it provides Jewish agency. Survivors found the strength to contribute to this trial and their courage stands out across the years.
Their Finest
Whilst the young men of the day were fighting World War II, women were being invited into the workplace in greater numbers than ever before. We meet the vivacious Gemma Arterton, her boyfriend's intermittent artist's income in need of supplementary provision. This unmarried (gasp) writer (sigh) living in sin with a divorced man (faint) is bright and gutsy, soon landing a writing gig with a film producer creating British propaganda content. Her learning curve is offset by the gruff old actor, Bill Nighy, and the brilliant yet snarky lead writer, Sam Clafin.
A female led story, created by females, it was directed by Lone Scherfig, adapted by Gabby Chiappe, based on Lissa Evan's book. With an engaging cast, this is a go-get-em, sock it to them sorta film, slyly feminist, in the vein of a British, A League of Their Own. Perhaps also the first this year to discuss the events of Dunkirk…
War is horror. A war film with a horror movie soundtrack, this Christopher Nolan film should win Oscars, place bets on a winning a score or sound editing nomination at the very least.
Written, directed by, and starring white men, Dunkirk hit a nerve in small corners of the net when googling revealed, yes, there were men of other colour fighting on Dunkirk. A valuable consideration in a year when outgoing Doctor Who showrunner, Stephen Moffat was reluctant to cast men of colour in a British Victorian regiment on the MOON.
Strong actors focus this cleverly structured non-linear entity: A juxtaposition of three timelines running parallel with each other remained simple to follow. With breathtaking scenery shot from Tom Hardy's spitfire perspective, theIMAX price is worthwhile.
Bag of Marbles (Un Sac de Billes)
Based on the 1974 memoir of the same name, Bag of Marbles tells the true story of French Jewish brothers escaping the occupied France.
When films discuss the holocaust we often see brave escapes engineered by, and nuanced portrayals of these saviours. Their heroics will stand the test of time, their acts undiminished by other stories of the same time. Bag of Marbles focus is on these survivors. With agency given to survivors perhaps we may identify with them more closely, help to see how quickly, and without cause, the 'other' is demonised. This French language film's sub-titling is visually appealing and relatively easy to navigate.
Three key reasons:
1. Brian Cox as Churchill in 1944 arguing against the Normandy landings is magnificent.
2. Miranda Richardson is a delight, providing a complex and refreshingly authentic portrayal of Churchill's wife, Clemmy.
3. The opening dream sequence as Churchill's famous hat (homburg) tumbles along a bloodied beach might be one of the most beautiful scenes released this year.
The Zookeeper's Wife
Polish couple, Antonina & Jan Zabinska, saved hundreds of Jewish, funnelling them through their Warsaw zoo. Zabinska's determination, at first to save close friends, expanded into a much larger operation. Once again, Daniel Bruul plays the German lead investigator, complimented by the always enchanting Jessica Chastain, and Belgian actor Johan Heldenbergh.
The film is told from Antonina's perspective, based on Dianne Ackerman's book, adapted by Angela Workman and also directed by Niki Caro. Having the film led by the female perspective makes the film all that much better. Beginning lightly, the town is thrown into chaos after a bombing raid frees zoo animals. Later, we are delivered darker moments in the Warsaw Ghetto and and abusive power. One of the more gentle Holocaust films, it nonetheless does not hide the cruelty and difficult circumstances.
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments below.


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Monday, we started school, were trying to get back on schedule.
And, unfortunately, during the third day of this I lost my patience and was not being pleasant. So, in the midst of when Mommy was having a little talk with me, she asked me if I asked Jesus to help me with this problem. No I had not. But the next day I did. I asked Jesus to help me through that day, and to help me get everything done. The day came to an end and even though I didn't quite get everything done, I got LOTS done and I didn't feel stressed!!!! The whole day was different and I felt at peace. I know it was Jesus who helped me. Oh, how I thank and praise Him!
Maybe you are barely getting through your day, and you are about to fall to pieces. All you have to do is ask Jesus to help you, and I am sure he will help you and that your day will go better too.
So the reason this post is called "It Does Make A Difference", is because there is a difference from when you ask Jesus to help you versus if you are trying to get through the day on your own strength (which is very little).
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Philippians 4:13
I must go now I am tired and need to go the bed…. I think I hear my bed calling me. : )
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Rachel Beatton – Chair
Rachel moved to Peebles in 2010 and looked to become actively involved in the community. Her husband, Paul, became a mentor with PYT and with small children at home, Rachel volunteered to support with some office tasks. She quickly realised what a contribution PYT makes to young people in the community and became more involved with the running of the charity, taking on the role of Secretary, Treasurer and now Chair of the Board of Trustees. With a background in Financial Project Management, Rachel works from home and finds the time where possible to continue to engage with the community through PYT, Cycling Without Age, Parent Council and InChorus community choir. She is amazed how many familiar faces appear across the spectrum of these organisations and enjoys seeing the benefits that volunteers deliver.


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Copyright (c) 2004-2021 ExoAnalytics Inc.
Copyright © 2004-2021,
Extreme Optimization. All rights reserved.
Extreme Optimization, Complexity made simple, M#, and M
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Microsoft, Visual C#, Visual Basic, Visual Studio, Visual
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registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.


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Florida boasts 1,350 miles of beautiful sunny shoreline, second only to Alaska's 6,640 miles long coastline, making it a premier location for beach weddings.
There are several important questions to answer when planning a Florida beach wedding.
1. Which coastline should I choose for my Florida beach wedding?
Florida offers four unique coastlines:
The Atlantic Ocean stretches along Florida's east coast and is the perfect backdrop for a beautiful sunrise wedding. As the sun climbs out of the water the sky over our Atlantic beaches is often a mixed hue of colors. The Atlantic coast also provides an excellent backdrop for evening twilight ceremonies, especially in spring.
Florida's west coast is known for some of the best beaches in the world. Covered in powder-white sand and set against the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you can't go wrong when choosing Florida's west coast for a beach wedding. Sunset beach weddings offer stunning views and great photo opportunities.
The Florida Panhandle also sits on the Gulf of Mexico, but because its beaches face south, the beaches of the Panhandle are beautiful for both sunrise and sunset beaches.
The beaches of the Florida Keys are special in their own right, as no two Keys beaches are alike. Caribbean breezes make these beaches some of the most beautiful in the world.
Of course, Florida also offers miles of lakeside shoreline if you opt for an inland beach wedding
2. What time of year should I have my Florida beach wedding?
Hurricane season (June 1-November 30) as well as Florida's famous summer afternoon thunderstorms and summer midday heat should be considered when deciding on the time of year for a beach wedding. If you plan on a Florida beach wedding during the summer months, consider morning hours when the sun is still shining and the temperature is still comfortable.
April and May are my two favorite months in Florida when there is little rain, comfortable temperatures, and the humidity of the summer months hasn't yet arrived.
December through March are also safe months to plan a Florida wedding, but some days in central and northern Florida, especially at the beaches, can be very cold. This is not a problem on South Florida beaches.
3. Will you need chairs for guest seating, an arch where the couple will stand, and any other accessories?
If it's just you and your fiancé, and perhaps a few guests, you may not need chairs, arches, etc. Just walk out on the beach with your beach wedding officiant and enjoy the moment. But if guests are invited and the ceremony will be longer than 10-12 minutes you make want to rent chairs, an arch, flowers, candles, etc. Most Florida Beach Wedding planners provide these items as part of an all-inclusive package. Alternatively, you can rent these items from a local business for a reasonable price.
4. What wedding vendors should you hire for a Florida beach wedding?
A wedding ceremony officiant- When seeking a person to officiate your Florida beach wedding consider these items:
Depending on the size of your event, the style of your ceremony, and how many guests are in attendance, you may want to hire a DJ to provide music and microphones for the ceremony. Most Florida DJs have rechargeable speakers with a built-in amplifier so not having electrical power on the beach isn't a problem. Alternatively, many couples bring a good quality Bluetooth speaker to play their ceremony music from a connected device.
A photographer is another vendor to consider. Many Florida wedding photographers offer discounted 1-2 hours of photography for reasonable rates, especially if your wedding is on a weekday when wedding vendors aren't as busy as on the weekend. Alternatively, most officiants are happy to take pictures of the couple and their guests after the ceremony. While the images aren't professional quality, great shots can be achieved by today's smartphone cameras. This works great for couples on a tight budget.
5. Where are you going to celebrate afterward?
If you have a significant number of guests joining you for the celebration consider contracting with one of the many amazing Florida Beach Wedding venues. Along our shoreline, you'll find small intimate spaces, large luxury spaces, and everything in between. Most of these venues have all-inclusive packages covering the ceremony and subsequent reception. For groups of more than 20 people, this is the ideal way to host a Florida beach wedding
Florida's coastline truly is the ideal location for the perfect beach wedding. Answer these questions and you're on your way to a great day.
If you need more guidance regarding your Florida Beach Wedding, contact Pastor Mike Cassara, a Florida wedding minister who specializes in beach weddings on the Space Coast, the closest beaches to Orlando, and the theme parks.
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! May the journey be as joyful as the destination.
To get married in Florida, you must have a Florida marriage license. The process may seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite simple. Keep in mind that it can take a few days, depending on how much documentation you need to submit to get your marriage license. After receiving your marriage license, you will present it to the licensed officiant who will perform the ceremony for you.
There are requirements to obtain a marriage license in Florida. It may be helpful to contact a Florida Clerk of Court office to determine the requirements that apply to your particular situation. Once the requirements have been identified, the necessary steps must be taken to satisfy them.
Here's a step-by-step guide to getting a marriage license in Florida.
In pre-COVID days, Florida was a hot spot for destination weddings. Couples from all over the world come to Central Florida to be married. Now that the vaccine for COVID is being distributed, people will soon be returning to our amazing state for their marriage ceremony
What's the best time of the year to get married in Florida? Our weather can be uncertain some months. While Florida is the Sunshine State, couples planning Florida nuptials should consider how the weather might impact their day.
The best months of the year to get married in Florida are the winter months. December promises great temperatures. A lot of people come to Florida for the holidays so it's a busy month in the wedding industry here. Vendors you hope to secure may already be booked. Hotels and airfare will be more expensive than at other times of the year. Some venues have higher rates in premium months.
January and February are also great months to be married in Florida. Just keep in mind that the temperatures, especially in Central and North Florida can get downright cold (relatively speaking of course). The chilly temperatures come into play if you are planning a beach wedding during these months. The wind off the ocean and the cooler temperatures can make beach weddings a bit uncomfortable, especially if the ceremony takes place in the later afternoon.
March and April are my favorite months in Florida. The weather is amazing with comfortable temperatures and little rain. Like December, they are busy months in the wedding industry here so once again you have to think about costs and availability of the best vendors.
What can we say about May? The weather is still pretty terrific but unless you are a Floridian you may not be aware of what happens every May in Florida, especially along the coast. LOVE BUGS!!!. Now, love is what a wedding is all about, but LOVE BUGS are anything but lovely. They are nasty bugs that dominate the state almost every May and stick to everything, particularly things that are white. Yes, I've seen swarms of LOVE BUGS attach themselves to beautiful wedding dresses, white linens and chairs, and white and lighter-colored buildings. If you choose to get married in Florida in May, have indoor backup plans in the event that your year is a particularly festive one for our little friends.
June is a great month to get married in a lot of locations but not so much here in Florida. It's the beginning of the rainy season and one of our wetter months. July and August is all about the heat and humidity. Trust me, it can be ridiculously hot and humid in Florida during the summer months. It also rains most afternoons so keep this in mind if you choose to plan a summer wedding here.
September is similar to June in that there's a lot of rain. That combined with the still warm temperatures and high humidity, September days can be sultry and steamy in the Sunshine State.
October and November are good months to be married in Florida as long as a hurricane doesn't interrupt your plans. August through October are the most active months for hurricanes but the entire hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 through November 30th.
With flexible plans and easy-going attitudes, amazing weddings happen every day in Florida. Understanding the climate here will help you plan a perfect and touching day.
by Chris W from https://orlandophotobooths.com
Planning a wedding is challenging, especially since every couple wants theirs to be extra special and unique. You want it to be "your day" while making sure that all your guests are having a wonderful time and celebrating with you. But with so many wedding ideas out there, it's easy to get overwhelmed.
To help you out, here are some ways on how to make your big day more memorable not just for you but for your family and friends who are joining you in one of the most important days of your lives as a couple.
Choose a special venue
If you want to make your wedding stand out and you're ready to embrace being different, consider choosing a venue that's out of the box. Choose a place that's both unique and meaningful for you and your partner.
You can have your wedding at an art gallery, park, campsite, ski lodge, waterfalls, and even the planetarium. See, you can incorporate your passion, interests, and hobbies in choosing the right venue for your wedding day. So go ahead and skip the ballroom hall and give you and your guests a unique and memorable experience.
Choose your wedding favors carefully
From figurines to candles, and plants, you have a variety of choices when it comes to your party favors. But most of the time, these items end up in a corner, collecting dust, and never be used again - which is a big waste.
Since you're going to spend time and effort on these gifts and favors, it'll be better to give them something they won't be able to put aside. At the same time, something that can remind them of your special day. For instance, a wine glass, a travel tumbler, or anything they can use.
You can also give them something that reminds them of how much fun they had at your event. For example, their photos. Just imagine your guests posing and goofing around to have their pictures taken and going home with a copy of it. Not only is this a memorable experience but it will also provide them a party favor that they could add to their albums, walls, or wherever they keep their photos.
If you want to take it up a notch, you can give them a more unusual wedding favor through flipbooks. The Flipbook People, for instance, take several photos of your guests and bound them into a single book that they can take home. This can be flipped over and over, creating a somewhat moving animation of their experience at your event.
Maximize photos
Photos have this effect that brings more meaning into people's lives. It can tell your journey as a couple as well as create a great decorative piece. So why not maximize its use and share your pictures at your wedding?
You can put together all your old photos when you were just dating and add your engagement pictures as well. If you already have a family together, share that too. For more impact, consider taking new photos with Orlando Photo Booths.
On the other hand, you can also consider using pictures for your seating chart and show how each person at the table is connected. Not only will your guests have something to talk about at their table but it will also make them feel more "included" in your wedding.
Ditch the old guest book
A traditional guest book, while well-intentioned, can be pretty dull and uninspiring. Your guests have probably seen it a hundred times and it may not reflect who you are as a couple. So to make it more memorable, mix it up with your personalities.
You can use something that represents your hobbies and interests. 'if you are both music lovers, you can use a guitar. For travelers, a globe or a map is a nice touch. You can put these items in your venue and have your guests sign on them. You can also get creative and turn your photo into a jigsaw puzzle. Just give each guest a piece and let them sign it.
After, you can put it up somewhere in your home and always be reminded of your special day.
Have a pre-ceremony get-together
You may not have enough time to mingle and enjoy conversations with some of your guests during your wedding day. So to make up for that, have a pre-ceremony get-together. During this time, you can share casual conversations, eat together, and just spend time with each other.
If you're worried about the extra expenses, remember that it doesn't have to be big. You can invite everyone and set up outside your home. Have them bring at least one chair, drink, and an ingredient for your taco bar. Don't like tacos? How about burgers or barbecues instead? If you're worried about the additional work this will give, you can ask your close friends or family to take care of it.
By encouraging everyone to mingle with each other before the big day, they'd feel more at ease and welcome at your party. This also creates a better atmosphere where they could just let loose, have fun, and enjoy themselves - and this experience is what truly makes a wedding unforgettable.
Planning Your Wedding Ceremony
Congratulations! You are engaged. Now the planning begins for your special day. A significant part of your wedding day is the ceremony itself. As you plan your wedding and all the details of this special day, keep in mind that it all begins with your ceremony.
There are several important questions to answer in the early stages of planning the entire day.
1. Will your ceremony occur at a house of worship or the reception venue?
Over the past twenty years, there has been a significant shift from ceremonies held at places of worship toward ceremonies held at the reception location. Most wedding venues now feature a beautiful and dedicated area to have a wedding ceremony, which is more convenient for guests, the bridal party, and the couple. Yet, many couples prefer to have the ceremony take place at their own house of worship. If you are actively involved in a church, synagogue, or mosque, look at both options as you plan your day. Does your house of worship allow wedding ceremonies to take place in their facility? If so, what are their requirements for having the ceremony at their location, and is your date open and available on their calendar? You should also look at the available ceremony area at your reception venue. While many venues have created dedicated areas for wedding ceremonies, other venues have yet to do so. They may have an area to offer for the ceremony but it may not be visibly adequate. Choose the ceremony location carefully and well in advance of your wedding day.
2. Who will officiate your ceremony?
Options range from inviting a professional wedding officiant to perform your ceremony to having a qualified government official perform the ceremony to even having a friend or family member conduct your ceremony. With a professional wedding officiant, you have someone who has years of experience in the wedding industry. You will work with your officiant to create a personalized and unique ceremony that you can be confident will be delivered in a timely and enthusiastic manner. Most professional officiants have plenty of on-line reviews for you to examine. They can conduct both religious and non-religious ceremonies.
Another option is to invite a government official to conduct the ceremony, such as a Justice of the Peace, a Judge, or a Notary Public. Generally, this option will be less expensive than hiring a professional wedding officiant but you will not have much input regarding the ceremony. They tend to be cookie-cutter, one size fits all ceremony.
Your other option is to invite a friend or family member to officiate your ceremony. If you go this route, the person must be ordained as a minister. There are several online options to accomplish this but not all jurisdictions recognize ceremonies conducted by people who've been ordained online by a "church" that exists solely to ordain people to be ministers for a fee. You should also consider how the person's lack of experience will affect the ceremony. How will the ceremony be created and will the delivery flow well? This option may seem like a good idea early on but it comes with significant risks. If you wouldn't invite a friend to buy a camera and be your photographer, or purchase a sound speaker and be your DJ, why would you invite a person who has no experience officiating wedding ceremonies to conduct your ceremony?
Plan to book your officiant at least six months in advance.
3. Will your ceremony be more traditional in style or more laid back and contemporary?
A professional wedding officiant can guide you through the process of setting the style and tone of your ceremony. They will ask questions to get a feel for the mood you hope to achieve. Most professional officiants will provide you a ceremony planning booklet from which you will select various items to include in your ceremony. I recommend ceremonies last somewhere between 12 and 22 minutes. The length of the ceremony will always depend on what the couple wants to include or exclude from their ceremony.
4. Who will coordinate your bridal party during the ceremony?
Most couples invite friends or family to serve as bridesmaids, groomsmen, Maid of Honor, or Best Man. Depending on the size of your bridal party, you may need someone to coordinate the processional (entry) and recessional (exit) of the party. If you hire a Wedding Coordinator to oversee the whole day, that person or their assistant will coordinate your bridal party. If you do not hire a Wedding Coordinator, then you want to make sure someone is designated to instruct and assist the bridal party regarding timing and where to stand during the ceremony. Some officiants will provide this service for an additional fee. Often, the venue can offer someone to provide this service. Some DJ's will also provide coordinating services. Be sure to select someone qualified to provide this vital service.
5. Will you have a rehearsal before the day of the ceremony?
If you have a medium (3-4) or large (5+) bridal party per side, a rehearsal may be a good idea, especially if you have a ceremony that involves others besides the officiant and the couple. Generally, whoever will coordinate the bridal party on your wedding day will conduct and lead the rehearsal. You also want to inquire about additional fees for having a rehearsal. Your officiant, coordinator, or venue may charge you for the rehearsal time. Many couples do not have a rehearsal before the wedding day, especially if they have a small (2 or less per side) bridal party. Instead, the person coordinating the bridal party will meet with your bridal party about 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony to give them their instructions. This saves time and potentially money if it works for you.
Your ceremony begins the public part of your wedding day. It's the moment you express your love for one another and vow your life to each other. A well-planned and conducted ceremony sets the tone for the rest of the event. Be sure to give the ceremony the priority it deserves.
Mike Cassara
Pastor Mike has been officiating dream weddings for 20 plus year both in Central Florida and on Long Island NY. Click Here for more info


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Domestic Waste Clearance
If you have unwanted rubbish that you need to dispose of, then get in touch today. We will remove your rubbish the very next day, no fuss, just hassle-free junk collection when you need it.
Construction Waste Experts
Waste Disposal UK Limited is a waste removal company that provides you with a hassle-free, reliable and professional construction waste clearance services.
Commercial \ Builders Waste
We have expertise in construction and builders waste and rubbish removal, almost anything related to construction in the area we can help you with.
Office or Business
Not many people think about it until it becomes a problem – missing one week's worth of rubbish build-up can cause havoc if not removed on time.


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Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives :
The word adjective is derived from the Latin word nōmen adjectīvum, which means additional noun. In the linguistic tradition of Latin and Greek ,adjectives were amended for gender, number and case like nouns(this process is known as declension), hence they were believed to be a subtype of noun. The words which are known as nouns today, were then called substantive nouns or nōmen substantīvum. In the past, noun substansive and noun adjective were used in English. Gradually noun substansive was known as noun and noun adjective was known as only adjectives.
Types of use
Normally, an adjectives can be used in three ways, like:
Attributive adjective : That's an interesting idea
Predicative adjective : That idea is interesting
Nominal adjectives : I read two books to them; he preferred the sad book, but she preferred the happy
Now let us discuss in detail……
Attributive adjectives are a portion of the noun phrase led by the noun which is being modified by the adjective. Example : Happy people… here happy is an attributive adjective and people a noun. In certain cases, attributive adjectives come before their nouns, in other cases, attributive adjectives come after their nouns, and in some cases it is dependent on adjective or on the accurate relationship of the adjective to the noun. In English language, attributive adjectives normally come before their nouns in simple phrases, but time and again adjectives come after their nouns when the adjective is modified or qualified by a phrase which is acting as an adverb. For example: "I saw three happy kids", here happy (adjective), kids (noun)…in this case adjective is coming before noun. Now let's have a look at another example: "I saw three kids happy enough to jump up and down with glee." Here happy (adjective) comes after kids (noun).
Predicative adjectives are connected by means of a copula or other connecting method to the noun or pronoun they modulate. For instance, "happy" is a predicative adjective in "they are happy" and in "that made me happy".
Nominal adjectives function more or less as nouns. This can happen in a case where a noun is omitted and an attributive adjective is left behind. For example : "I read two books to them; he preferred the sad book, but she preferred the happy". In this case happy is a nominal adjective, short for "happy one" or "happy book".
Several languages, including English, differentiate between adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives moderates nouns and pronouns. Adverbs , mostly moderate verbs, adjectives, other adverbs. Example : "a fast car"…here fast is an adjective , qualifying car (noun).Let's have a look at another example : "he drove fast"….here fast is an adverb which qualifies the verb drove.
Determiners and adjectives
Today Linguists differentiate determiners from adjectives, as they consider them to be two separate parts of speech, but previously determiners were considered to be adjectives ,based upon their usage in certain cases.
Adjective phrases
In an adjective phrase or adjectival phrase, an adjective acts as the leader. In the simplest case, an adjective phrase contains merely adjective, more difficult adjective phrases may include one or more qualifying the adjective ("very strong"), one or more complements , like "worth several dollars", "full of toys" etc. In English language, attributive adjective phrases which contain complements usually follow the noun which they qualify.
In English language , adjectives form an open class, which means it is comparatively a normal matter that new adjectives would be formed thru such processes as derivation.
Comparative and superlative adjectives
In English language there are three degrees of adjectives:
Positive Adjectives (Example: rich) : These adjectives specify a quality of an object without comparing it to anything else.
Comparative Adjectives (Example : richer) : These types of adjectives compare two things or group of things.
Superlative adjectives (Example : richest) : These type of adjectives states that one object or thing has a quality to a greater degree than two or more other object or thing.
Forming comparatives and superlatives
For comparing two things, the (est) suffix is never suitable, even though this particular rule is not followed in case of informal speech and writing.
Example: Fat, Fatter, Fattest, late, later, latest.
Adjectives of three or more syllables use more and most instead of (er) and (est)….familiar, more familiar, most familiar
Few adjectives of two syllables also use more and most- example..active, more active, most active. Few of them use the comparative and superlative suffixes – example : shabby, shabbier, shabbiest.
Participles which are used as adjectives take more and most in place of (er) and (est) ….like outmoded, more outmoded, most outmoded ; boring , more boring, most boring.
Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
The most common adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms, they are :
Far, farther/further, farthest/furthest
Good, better, best
Participial adjectives
A past participle(-ed word) or present participle(-ing word) which functions as an adjective is known as a participle adjective. Participial adjectives perform like any other type of adjective. Eg: the emptied boxes, a flashing light, the undulating waves.. Here the participle in each of the phrases mentioned modifies the noun that is ensued.
Proper adjectives
A proper adjective is an adjective which originates from a proper noun. Normally they begin with capital letters like… Australian dollar, Iranian embassy. But it should be remembered that a noun which is qualified by a proper adjective should not be capitalized. Eg: Iranian Embassy…is incorrect.
Coordinate Adjectives
Coordinate adjectives are those adjectives, which make sense even if the series is reordered or when and is added between those adjectives.
For example:
The tall, creamy, delicious milkshake melted on the counter while the inattentive waiter flirted with the pretty cashier.
The delicious, tall, creamy milkshake melted on the counter while the inattentive waiter flirted with the pretty cashier.
The tall and creamy and delicious milkshake melted on the counter while the inattentive waiter flirted with the pretty cashier.
In the above examples the series of adjectives make sense even when the order is changed. When and is inserted in between the adjectives , still they make a logical sentence.
Noncoordinate Adjectives
Noncoordinate Adjectives are those adjectives which do not make sense when the series is rearranged and when and is added between them.
For Example :
Jeanne's two fat Siamese cats hog the electric blanket on cold winter evenings.
Now if the order or the arrangement of the adjectives is changed , then the sentence becomes twaddle….
Fat Siamese two Jeanne's cats hog the electric blanket on cold winter evenings.
Now lets see when and is added:
Jeanne's and two and fat and Siamese cats hog the electric blanket on cold winter evenings.
The least believable detail of the story was that the space aliens had offered Eli a slice of pepperoni pizza before his release.
Several languages have distinctive verbal forms called participles which acts as noun modifiers. Sometimes participles mature into pure adjectives.
Examples : relieved…I am so relieved to see u. Here "relieved" is the past participle of the verb relieve, has been used as an adjective in the sentence.
Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives / Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives / Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives / Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives
Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives :
Idioms Index – Previous Page


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Paul Shin Devine, a midlevel Apple global supply manager accused of accepting $1 million in kickbacks in exchange for Apple secrets has already been caught stuffing $150,000 into shoeboxes at his home. Now authorities are demanding access to his two safety deposit boxes.
The explanation given is that Devine is a great flight risk and that authorities need to know what's hiding in those safety deposit boxes before he is released on bail. [Bloomberg]


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New Members !!
New Member Booklet - Click To Read
The Midwest Camaro Club
Omaha, Nebraska
Welcome to the Midwest Camaro Club website. Feel free to look around and check out our member's car's and upcoming events. Questions about the club? You can stop by one of our meetings or drop us a line at firstname.lastname@example.com . The Midwest Camaro Club was founded almost 40 years ago as a group of enthusiasts with a common interest in all generations of Chevrolet's pony car, the Camaro. Do you own a Camaro or just have a love for anything Camaro? You don't have to own a Camaro to join our club! We get together for monthly events and other family friendly activities along with monthly cruise nights starting in May. Dues are just $30.00 per year and we welcome all generations and years of Camaro's.


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I support wildlife rescue charities and conservation organisations.
I do this by providing pro-bono photography services, creating/assisting with fundraiser projects,
donating prints/vouchers, sponsorships, exhibitions, educational talks and print sales.
I'm also a busy wildlife carer for WIRES Inner West
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have an animal charity cause I may be able to assist you with.


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With a new investment of $4.1 million from the CFI, the Érudit dissemination and research platform hopes to expand its services to a wider Canadian community.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) has awarded a new $4.1 million grant to Érudit as part of its 2017-2022 Major Science Initiatives Fund competition. Through this competition, the CFI wishes to contribute to the ongoing operating and maintenance needs of national research facilities, enabling Canadian researchers to undertake world-class research and technology development.


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Moodle Teachers often find it a difficult task to create practice questions as it is hard to provide a large set of questions for all self-assessment and mock exams. That's why quiz with practice questions is not popular among Moodle teachers. However, there are ways to add a demo quiz for practice but you will always struggle with the small set of practice questions.
Frank Koch – University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil, Switzerland have came up with an innovative solution to create the practice questions pool through student participation. The university have developed a new activity plugin named- StudentQuiz which enables students to collaboratively create their own question pools within Moodle.
Let's say you have 30 students in your course and if each student contributes 5 questions, you could easily end with a large pool of questions which can be used for practice and become a part of the question bank.
Motivating Students for Entering Questions:
Students can see the questions created by others and practice through them, they can also rate and comment on questions while working through the quizzes. The StudentQuiz activity collects usage data, and assigns points to students for creating questions and giving right answers to motivate the students for creating more students. Students get the point for following activities:
- For adding a questions (default: 10 points)
- For the average of stars received for a question (default: 2 points)
- For each correct answer (default: 2 points)
- For each wrong answer (default: 0 points)
Frank has also created a small demo video for the StudentQuiz activity which can be watched here – https://tube.switch.ch/videos/637cda8a
You can download the plugin from the Github repository here and here and share your feedback in this forum thread.
I am very much impressed by the innovative idea behind this plugin and feels that it may help a lot of other teachers also so that they can provide self-assessments and mock exams more frequently to their students. What is your opinion about the idea behind this plugin and how useful it will be for other teachers? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


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But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve like other people who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus God will bring those who have died with him. For we declare to you what the Lord has told us to say: We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have died. With a shout of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of God's trumpet, the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and the dead who belong to the Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
According to the Latin word translated here as caught up, this describes the rapture. The moment this takes place, there will be no believers left on earth to proclaim the gospel.
Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed—in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ISV)
As a trumpet sounded on Sinai, so this trumpet not only signals the resurrection of the Church, but alerts the inhabitants of earth to God's change in His methods.
This begins another phase in God's plan of redemption. Satan will be cast out of heaven, his time will be short and demonic forces will have greater access to those alive on earth at that time. Many who accept Jesus as the Messiah during this time will face rapid martyrdom. It will be the time of 144,000 Jewish witnesses, 2 special witnesses, and an angel flying through the air to proclaim the gospel.
Then I saw another angel flying overhead with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the time for him to judge has arrived. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water." (Revelation 14:6,7 ISV)
Image Credit: Unknown illuminator An Angel with the Eternal Gospel Date about 1255 – 1260 Getty Center Source/Photographer KwFA0VOH3o96DA at Google Cultural Institute Public Domain Wikimedia Commons


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Robert Berchtold kidnapped, sexually abused, and convinced his neighbor's 12-year-old daughter, Jan Broberg, she was an alien hybrid on a perverse mission to save a faraway planet. This weirder-than-life story is told in the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, which traces how Berchtold groomed, manipulated, and blackmailed the Broberg family in the 1970s. Find out more about his unassuming life and the events surrounding his horrendous crimes in this Robert Berchtold wiki.
Who Is Robert Berchtold?
There isn't a lot of information out on there on the formative years of Robert Berchtold. This probably suits people who don't want a psychological profile on what turned a so-called clean-cut "family man" into an unrepentant, manipulative pedophile just fine.
Berchtold was born on February 7, 1936 in Tremonton, Utah.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he returned to Utah, got married, had children, and settled in the small town of Pocatello, Idaho, where he ran a furniture store.
The dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) wasn't quite the family man he appeared to be. In truth, he was a pedophile who stopped at nothing to get access to his victims.
And unfortunately, little was done to deter Berchtold from acting out his fantasies.
Berchtold had a history of trying to ingratiate himself with families with young daughters. It came back to haunt him. But only barely. In January 1974, he was given a slap on the wrist, a "reprimand" by the LDS Church for his behavior with a young girl.
No lesson was learned that day.
It wasn't only the church that turned a seemingly blind eye. As incredible as it may sound, the parents of his victims did everything they could to be accommodating.
Berchtold Charmed His Way into the Broberg Family
In 1972, Robert Berchtold and his family met Mary Ann Broberg and her husband, Robert "Bob" Broberg, at the LDS church in their Idaho hometown. Berchtold and the Brobergs lived in the same neighborhood and would soon be spending copious amounts of time together.
The two men bonded over their backgrounds in business and being family men. Mary Ann Broberg and Gail Berchtold, Robert's wife, bonded over their family and faith. A close family friendship ensued, with 10-year-old Jan Broberg and her sisters Susan and Karen Broberg describing Robert as a second father, affectionately calling him "dad" and "Brother B."
"They had all the fun toys we didn't have, like a boat, snowmobiles, a trampoline," Jan recalled. "A close friendship ensued."
Robert soon took a special interest in Jan. Upon learning that Jan and her sister Karen shared a basement bedroom, the handy Robert built a wall, giving the two girls their own bedrooms.
It would also give Robert private, intimate access to Jan…which he would get with her parents' approval.
Robert told Mary Ann and Bob that he was seeing a therapist to help him deal with the issues he was reprimanded for by the LDS Church. Somehow, he managed to convince his neighbors that his therapist recommended he sleep in the same bed as their daughter Jan.
"Neither one of us was comfortable with him doing it," Mary Ann said, "but it was his therapy."
Berchtold Manipulated Jan's Parents
A master manipulator, Robert Berchtold knew that to have access to Jan, he'd have to groom her parents. A seemingly impossible task when you consider they were a conservative LDS family.
But shockingly, in due course, both of Jan's parents had sexual relationships with Berchtold.
Enthralled by Berchtold's charms, Mary Ann developed a schoolgirl-like crush on him. Mary Ann and Bob had been married for 13 years and were, as is often the case, dealing with some issues.
Berchtold could sense this and exploited their struggles.
"Berchtold began saying things to me that were very exciting to hear. 'Oh you have a beautiful body and those legs!' And I felt this fluttering inside of me… He could give me a great feeling about myself," said Mary Ann.
He also managed to convince straight-laced Bob Broberg to masturbate him. During one afternoon outing, when the two fathers were alone, Berchtold asked Bob to "relieve" him.
So he did.
Their reactions to that event couldn't have been more different. Years later, a teary-eyed Bob said, "I did the worst thing I've ever done."
Karen explained the impact that incident had on her father.
"Once he (Berchtold) had something to hang over their heads, he controlled them. They had a 10-minute locker room incident that affected my father for the rest of his life to his dying day."
Berchtold later admitted to the FBI: "I entered into a homosexual relationship with her father in order to have access to Jan. I had a fixation for Jan."
October 17, 1974 — The First Abduction
Robert Berchtold believed that he and Jan were meant to be together. And nothing would stand in their way.
On October 17, 1974, Berchtold offered to pick up Jan from her piano lessons and then take her horseback riding. Mary Ann was a little apprehensive at first; it was, after all, a school night. But she eventually agreed. What could possibly go wrong?
As soon as Berchtold got Jan in his car, he drugged her and staged a fake alien abduction.
Fading in and out of consciousness, Jan discovered her arms and legs tied to a bed. On occasion, Jan would wake up with a small intercom device next to her pillow.
The high-pitched voices coming out of the white ivory box identified themselves as aliens who had come to earth from a dying planet.
"They said that they had been watching me since I was born and I had been chosen to be impregnated with a child who would save their planet. They called me the 'female companion,' not knowing what they meant by that, and I would be given further instructions when I met the 'male companion.'"
After three days, Jan woke to find the motor home had stopped moving. The intercom told her to go to the front of the vehicle. She opened the door and found a bloodied Robert Berchtold lying on the couch of the motor home.
A dazed and confused Berchtold acted as though he had no idea what was going on.
As if on cue, the intercom relayed more details about Jan's mission. As told to Berchtold by the aliens, he was the "male companion" she was seeking. Not only that, Berchtold needed to impregnate her before she turned 16 so she could help save the extraterrestrials' dying planet.
If she didn't follow the aliens' order, they would kill her and her father, Karen would go blind, and her sister Susan would be kidnapped and take her place as the "female companion."
Over the course of the next month, Berchtold repeatedly raped Jan Broberg.
During their time in Mexico, Berchtold and Jan married. The legal age to marry in Mexico at the time was just 12.
But what was going on back in Idaho during this time? The Brobergs soon realized that their daughter and Robert were missing.
They were going to contact the FBI, but Gail Berchtold somehow convinced the Brobergs not to call; instead, they waited three days before calling the FBI. Even then, they didn't want to believe that Robert had done anything wrong.
November 1974 — Police Locate Robert and Jan
At some point, Robert Berchtold wanted to return to the U.S. with his child bride. But he needed Jan's family to bless their unholy union in order to cross the border back into the U.S. For once, Bob and Mary Ann did not agree.
Instead, they flew to Mexico to retrieve their daughter. It would take a concerted effort. In the early hours of November 23, 1974, police stormed Berchtold's motor home and arrested him.
Bob and Mary Ann took Jan back to Idaho, while Berchtold remained in prison until he was extradited to the U.S. to face kidnapping charges.
His punishment was not severe. It was, like his experience with the LDS Church, a slap on the wrist.
For starters, he wasn't charged with any crimes of a sexual nature. Jan assured her parents that nothing improper had gone on between them.
Second, the still-brainwashed preteen was not going to reveal anything about the sexual abuse she had been subjected to, because the "aliens" had told her not to.
See also: Michael Briere Wiki: The Man Who Raped & Murdered Holly Jones
Robert Berchtold and Brobergs Still Friends?!
One might think that kidnapping a child and marrying her would mean you were on the outs with said child's family. But not in this bizarre case.
Not only did the family remain friends with Robert Berchtold, but Mary Ann fell in love with Robert and the pair had a full-on affair. Amazingly, the affair lasted for nearly a year—during the same period that he was charged with kidnapping Jan.
Mary Ann claims she met up with "Brother B" a total of eight times, but, allegedly, only had sex with him three times.
Eventually, the kidnapping charges would be lessened. This happened because Gail was able to use the affair and other sexual misdeeds against Mary Ann and Bob.
Instead of pursuing any legal action, the Brobergs issued a letter stating they would not be taking that route—since the whole kidnapping thing had been a big "misunderstanding."
In the end, Robert Berchtold spent less than two weeks in jail.
Meanwhile, as all of this was going on, Jan and Robert continued to sneak in visits with each other. In addition to writing letters, they spoke on the phone. Sometimes, the voice on the other end of the line wasn't Robert's; rather, it was the "aliens" reminding Jan to complete her mission.
Robert would sneak into Jan's bedroom at night and leave the brainwashing tape on. On numerous other occasions, he would rape Jan.
August–November 1976 — The Second Kidnapping
Two years after kidnapping Jan the first time, Robert Berchtold stole her away again. This time, they were gone for four months.
Berchtold appeared in Jan's bedroom window on one night in August 1976, telling her to pack her bags and leave a note saying she was running away. Jan, who was clearly misguided, wrote: "You won't let me do what's right so I'll do what's wrong. I do not plan on coming back, I just want to be me and have 'B.' Let me go."
The pair snuck into Berchtold's Lincoln Continental and headed south to California.
Naturally, Jan's parents were distraught about her running away. The FBI, on the other hand, wasn't convinced, what with Berchtold being away and all. It wasn't until November, though, that it was discovered that Berchtold had kidnapped Jan and was now living in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jan wasn't, however. He'd enrolled her at an all-girls Catholic school in Pasadena, California.
True to form, Berchtold convinced the educators at the school that he was in the CIA and that he and Jan were on the run! If anyone came looking for her, it was "the bad guys."
The FBI eventually contacted the school, but the staff was more than a little reluctant to provide them with any information on Jan. Since they—like almost everyone else, it seems—believed everything Berchtold told them.
The FBI is the FBI after all, so they were eventually able to get Jan out of the school.
After three months in hiding, Jan was, once again, returned to Idaho. Berchtold was, once again, charged with kidnapping.
Jan would later recall that Berchtold raped her more than 200 times. But again, sexual abuse charges were never brought against him.
Aftermath of the Second Kidnapping
The first time Berchtold was in jail, he'd allegedly paid two men $1,000 to burn down the Brobergs' store. Which they, of course, did. So now that he was in jail again, the Brobergs feared for their lives. Their fears should have also extended to the judicial system.
Berchtold was not sent to jail. Instead, he went to a mental facility…and was released six months later.
Berchtold Used Alien Story on Other Victims
Eventually, it was discovered that Robert Berchtold had used the alien abduction story on other victims. In one instance, he told a young girl that she was a princess from another planet, and was also on a mission.
As was Berchtold's modus operandi, he befriended the girl's mother, who was a psychiatric nurse at a prominent hospital. She was in his apartment for 119 days.
"My mother couldn't see through him," the victim later said.
For this, Berchtold was actually charged and convicted of rape of a child and sentenced to jail. He served one year.
Why Berchtold used the alien narrative has never been completely answered. Was he fascinated by science fiction? Or did he know that his victims, who were mostly religious, grew up believing that an angel had appeared to Mary, telling her she would give birth to Jesus Christ and save the world?
Six women have since come forward to say they were also raped by Berchtold.
Berchtold Remarried a Teacher with Two Young Daughters
Proving there's someone for everyone, Robert, who had long ago divorced Gail, moved to Brigham City, Utah and remarried. This time, to a second-grade teacher who had two daughters. The two daughters, though, ran away to their biological father's house in Idaho. Why? Robert had begun to sexually abuse them as well.
It was 2004, a full 28 years after he'd kidnapped Jan Broberg for a second time, and years after serving jail time for raping a child, he was still sexually abusing young girls. Nothing had, it seemed, changed.
A Confrontation, Hit-and-Run, and Arrest
Jan Broberg changed her name to Jan Broberg Felt when she married for the second time.
Broberg Felt seems to have channeled her difficult youth into an acting career. She has many theater, TV, and film credits under her belt, but she's most known for roles in the television shows Everwood and Criminal Minds.
She's also a writer. Broberg Felt and her mother Mary Ann Broberg collaborated on a book, Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story. It was eventually published in October 2003.
Subsequently, the pair embarked on a speaking tour. Robert Berchtold, feeling he was being misrepresented in the book, took to showing up at the readings.
Berchtold took it upon himself to inform the local media, and anyone present, that the two women were telling "lies."
In March 2004, Berchtold, who was now 68 years old, showed up at a women's conference at Dixie State College (now Dixie State University) in St. George, Utah where Jan was speaking. He asked a volunteer for Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) if he could distribute some pamphlets at the conference.
Jan had asked BACA, which included 12 bikers, to attend the conference for added safety. In the lead-up to the conference, Jan, members of her family, and the women's conference board had received threatening letters from Berchtold.
Les Watson, the volunteer, asked to see the material. Berchtold refused and became threatening. When Watson walked away, Berchtold got into his white minivan and drove into him, striking his right knee. Watson, knocked into the front of the van, was dragged for 110 yards.
Berchtold then left the scene. Police were able to track him down a little while later at a local McDonald's, thanks to a witness remembering his license plate.
Berchtold was booked into, fittingly, Purgatory Correctional Facility on charges of assault, criminal trespassing, and disorderly conduct. He was found guilty and was scheduled to be sentenced.
But once again, he avoided jail.
While Broberg Felt never saw Berchtold at the event in St. George, she was sufficiently worried for her life and decided to get a restraining order, which he contested. While in court, Berchtold told the presiding judge that
Broberg Felt was just looking for her 15 minutes of fame, a reference to American pop artist Andy Warhol's oft-quoted refrain, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes."
The woman he'd victimized as a child stood up and yelled, "No, I'm doing this because I want to protect families from monsters like you."
The judge awarded Broberg Felt a restraining order against Berchtold. It was to last for the rest of his life.
Berchtold Commits Suicide
Robert Berchtold, aged 69, had no intention of going to jail. Ever. On November 11, 2005, he overdosed on his own medication.
His obituary makes no mention of his horrific crimes. Instead, he is fondly remembered as a truck driver who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was survived by his wife, Deanna; sons, Jerry, James, Joseph, and Jeff; daughter, Jill Scott; and mother, Lucille.
Abducted in Plain Sight, directed by Skye Borgman, is currently on Netflix. Check out the film's trailer below.


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The Pollock-Krasner House continues its tradition of presenting American abstract painters for its first exhibition of the season. On view is "Color and Time: Paintings by Roy Newell, 1956-2000". The exhibition presents 28 of Newell's abstract oil paintings culled from decades of work. A reception and panel discussion with guest curator Dr. Robert E. Harrist, artist Richard Dupont and art historian Kent Minturn will be held May 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit runs through July 26. A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
During his long career, Roy Newell (1914-2006) created an extraordinary series of abstract paintings characterized by obsessive reworking, according to the Pollock-Krasner House. The exhibition, organized by guest curator Robert E. Harrist, Jr., presents small oils by Newell. The works are notable for their multilayered surfaces and luminous tonality, often bearing multiple dates that reflect the many subtle changes he made to them over time. Although they span several decades, they reflect a remarkable consistency of vision.
Pollock-Krasner House director Helen Harrison first came upon Newell's work in 1986 while an art critic for The New York Time's Long Island Section. In the exhibition catalogue introduction, Harrison recalls "...Newell's work captivated me aesthetically—the paintings are drop-dead gorgeous—and by their remarkable unity over a span of some 30 years. As I wrote then, I was "hard-pressed to think of another painter who has so ruthlessly expunged all traces of stylistic inconsistencies."
The fully illustrated catalog includes essays by Dr. Harrist and the artist Richard Dupont. The catalog sheds light on the life and times of Newell, whose work seemed to slip critical notice and continued to evolve throughout his life, with his most impressive works (and a consistency in execution) being achieved in the latter part of his life, according to Dr Harrist.
Lenders to "Color and Time: Paintings by Roy Newell, 1956-2000" include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Ovitz Family Collection, several private collectors, and the artist's estate. Following the Pollock-Krasner House exhibition, the show will travel to the Steinberg Museum of Art at Long Island University's CW Post campus in September. The show will be exhibited there from Sept. 8 through Nov. 15, 2014.
BASIC FACTS: "Color and Time: Paintings by Roy Newell, 1956-2000," exhibition opened on May 1 and continues through July 26, 2014. A reception and panel discussion with Dr. Harrist, Mr. Dupont, and art historian Kent Minturn takes place on Sunday, May 25, 2014 from 5 - 7 p.m. The Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center is located at 830 Springs-Fireplace Road, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse.
Copyright 2014 Hamptons Art Hub LLC. All rights reserved.


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Cryptocurrency Exit Scams; Here are the Red Flags.
There is a growing mix of excitement and anxiety over the emergence and growth of cryptocurrency popularity in different countries around the world and Uganda is no exception. The internet and press are awash with stories of individuals who have mined and reaped big from the trade enough to lure new investors to this 'digital revolution'. However, the same media is filled with tales of other less fortunate investors who have lost their money in 'exit scams'. A few days ago in neighbouring Kenya, Bitcoin investors fell prey to a Brazilian pyramid scheme and lost tens of thousands of dollars that they had invested in it . The company known as Velox 10 was run by a Brazilian national and claimed to trade in bitcoins, promising investors that they would earn millions of shillings in profits . This is just one of many similar scams that many have fallen prey to because of a lack of knowledge of what to look out for to discern a genuine cryptocurrency establishment from a scam.
A number of questions and concerns have arisen out of the complex nature of cryptocurrency. How does one protect themselves from falling victim to exit scams? Is there a way to spot an exit scam miles away from a genuine cryptocurrency trade? Is it legal and crucial to note, with no central regulatory authority, how exit scam victims are helped and the remedies are available to them? This article focuses on exit scams in cryptocurrency and how one can spot one and protect their money from the reptilian reach of sly fraudsters. Here are the red flags you should always look out for.
What is a cryptocurrency?
A cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. A currency is money in any form when in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, especially circulating banknotes and coins . A currency therefore refers basically to a system of money (monetary units) in common use, especially for people in a nation or country . Digital currency means the money is only available in digital form, not in a physical nature like usual bank notes or coins. While exhibiting properties similar to physical currencies, these currencies also allow for instantaneous transactions and borderless transfer-of-ownership. Cryptography is the cryptocurrency's major outstanding characteristic separating it from other forms of digital or virtual currencies. Cryptography refers to techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties and is generally concerned with constructing and analysing protocols that prevent third parties or the public from reading private messages.
It is this feature that makes a cryptocurrency difficult to counterfeit. Cryptocurrency's other alluring feature is its decentralised nature that is; it is not issued by any central authority, rendering it theoretically immune to government interference or manipulation. According to Investopedia, the year 2009 was the year that Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency to capture the public imagination was launched. A brainchild of an individual or group known under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, it has continued to be a global success and to engage investors from all over the world including Uganda. As of May 2018, there were over 17 million bitcoins in circulation with a total market value of over $140 billion. Over the years other cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin, Namecoin and PPCoin have also crept up.
Cryptocurrencies have advantages that appeal to many for instance, the fact that they assist in saving money. Since fund transfers between two people are facilitated through the use of public and private keys, minimal processing fees are incurred allowing users to avoid the steep fees charged by most financial institutions for wire transfers.
Cryptocurrency projects raise money through ICOs, an unregulated means by which funds are raised for a new cryptocurrency venture. An (ICO) is used by start-ups to bypass the rigorous and regulated capital-raising process required by alternative capital options like venture capitalists or banks. In an ICO campaign, a percentage of the cryptocurrency is sold to early backers of the project in exchange for legal tender or other cryptocurrencies for example Bitcoin.
Bitcoin, one of the more prominent cryptocurrencies, employs a block chain technology to store an online ledger of all the transactions that have ever been conducted using bitcoins, providing a data structure for this ledger that is exposed to a limited threat from hackers and can be copied across all computers running Bitcoin software. The requirement to verify every new block generated by the ledgers of each user minimises chances of forging transaction histories. This platform may, infact be 'too secure'. Early this year the press was screaming with news of $137.21 million in cryptocurrencies that was frozen in a user account of Canadian digital platform Quadriga after Gerald Cotten, the founder and the only person with the password to gain access, died suddenly in December .
However, it's not all roses as cryptocurrencies are vulnerable to hacking. Bitcoin has been subject to over 40 thefts with some exceeding $1 million in value. The currency is also a target for digital theft, phishing, fraud, and hacking. According to the Bitcoin official website, it is reported that around $1.36 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen by fraudsters during the first two months of 2018. Fraud constituted the majority of virtual currency scams (30%) followed by hacking attempts (22 %), theft and exit scams (17 %), and phishing (13 %).
Various governments around the world have reacted differently to the growing digital currency wave. In January 2018, the government in China ordered a shutdown of all cryptocurrency mining operations. Tunisia on the other hand had a warmer response by embracing it with an announcement that it would launch a digital currency based on block chain technology. South Africa has so far embarked on research to ascertain the technology's feasibility. Uganda has however cautioned its citizens against the currency in a warning sounded by the central bank. Bank of Uganda warned citizens that investing in bitcoin and other digital currencies amounted to, "taking a risk in the financial space where there is neither investor protection nor regulatory purview." Kenya and Nigeria have issued similar concerns and Namibia took a more radical stance when it banned cryptocurrency use for commercial purposes.
What is an exit scam?
Many naïve and unsuspecting investors have been conned of their money through exit scams. An exit scam is when unethical cryptocurrency promoters vanish with investors' money during or after an initial coin offer (ICO). The decentralised, anonymous nature of digital currencies hinder any efforts to trace scammers who dupe the investors as opposed to if there was a central authority managing the system/currency.
Mode of Operation;
• Promoters introduce a new cryptocurrency platform with overly favourable concepts for investors.
• It then proceeds to raise money from the investors through an ICO.
• The business may or may not run.
• The promoters then disappear with the collected ICO money leaving the investors with nothing.
This new form of forgery lurks and preys on unsuspecting investors and feeds on the decentralised and anonymous nature of the system to grow. According to Investopedia's Shobhit Seth, approximately $9 Million is lost each day in cryptocurrency scams. Many such scams are on the increase today since naive investors are lured into placing their savings into "the next big thing," after being promised absurdly high rates of return. While Bitconnect and OneCoin scams received the highest media coverage because of the high amounts of money lost due to them (the latter is alleged to have generated over €3.3 billion in fraudulent sales ), there have been other less known scams that had indicators the investors should have paid attention to.
In November 2017 Confido, an escrow-related cryptocurrency startup disappeared overnight after collecting $175,000 through its initial coin offering (ICO). This incident led to the market cap of the cryptocurrency to fall from about $6 million to $70,000 within that week. LoopX, another crypto startup abruptly shut down in February 2018 after raising $4.5 million from investors through a combination of bitcoin and Ethereum. Its ICO promised 'guaranteed profits every week which they boasted to be due to "the most advanced Trading Software out there to date."
Giza Device, another scam vanished in March 2018 after raising US$2 million in cryptocurrencies in a fake ICO. The funds were said to be for the purpose of funding the development of a "super secure storage device" for cryptocurrencies. Bitconnect, a cryptocurrency-lending scheme, shut down its operations in January and vanished, leading to an exit scam with an estimated loss of around $250 million. In India, the promoters of OneCoin who had previously allegedly moved about $350 million offshore through a payment processor in Germany were arrested. A common denominator in all these is the promise of a super return or advanced advantage making the particular scheme superior to others.
The most publicised scam last year was probably the PinCoin and I-fan scam (Singapore and Dubai respectively) which conned an estimated 32,000 investors of an alleged $660 million in tokens. They bought tokens for money, allegedly injected into I-Fan marketed to be 'the most advanced social media network' with a very high success probability, whose function included linking athletes and entertainers to their fans. The multi-level marketing Ponzi schemes were under the control of Vietnam-based outfit Modern Tech. I visited the website and found it well-done with a captivating visual appearance which can easily sway any investor who is not cautious but wants a quick piece of the pie. The site however bears no mention of any founders or advisors and even their multi-lingual white paper, has no clear founder information.
In the East African neighbouring country of Kenya in March 2019, Brazilian scam Velox 10 pulled its "exit scam," by disappearing and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a number of local cryptocurrency investors in the process . Since September 2017, the scheme had been luring people into contributing money to its supposedly sound "Bitcoin investment fund," Ricardo Rocha, the founder had promised investors up to $4,000 in daily profits depending on the "membership fee" paid and pledged to take the biggest contributors on an all-expenses paid trip to the United Arab Emirates for a meeting with "top global business gurus."
The Red Flags; How to spot a cryptocurrency exit scam?
There is no particular laid down indicator or rulebook on spotting an exit scam but as an investor, you will do well to weigh the following before making investment decisions. These points should be a starting point;
1) Extremely Extravagant Return Projections and Guaranteed Profits:
The most important indicator of an exit scam is derived from the fact that to thrive, it has to possess the ability to lure new investors fast. These scams survive on the need for the potential victim to bet on them for an easy cut on the 'next big thing'-a shortcut to prosperity. Therefore promises of crazily high and extremely generous return projections are a consistent feature. To escape this one must bear in mind that most times if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Forgetting this is the first step to getting conned in an exit scam. A case in point is the BitConnect scam which promised investors a steady 1% daily return. This meant that an initial investment of $1,000 would have been transformed into a return of more than $50 million within just 3 years! If the prospective returns sound like a financial miracle, simply stay away. Ponzi schemes use funds by the new victim investors to pay off the older ones and it is always just a matter of time before the whole house of cards comes crumbling down. In the case of the Kenyan based scam Velox 10, the founder, Ricardo Rocha promised investors up to $4,000 in daily profits.
High return projections aside, guaranteed profits are another obvious sure way of identifying a fraud or exit scam ICO. This is because, like a business, there are no certainties in the blockchain system, and no proven reliable, or guaranteed methods of generating profits. Flee from any ICO that promises returns to investors for "staking" their coin. BitConnect promised guaranteed profits and turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.
2) The Credibility of the founders:
It is an old adage that a product should be judged or weighed from the producer, owner, creator or founder. When you first hear about a cryptocurrency investment opportunity, look into the team that runs it. Many scams could easily have been avoided if only the victims had tried to do some homework research on the founders. Try to gather as much information as you can. Chances are that if it is genuine, this information will be readily available. They will be normal traceable people whose friends and online connections can lead them to you be it via social media or their alternate internet profiles. Expect plenty of connections and respectable past job experiences and accept nothing less. Accountability and ownership are already a challenge in this virtual world. Always verify the credentials of the crypto teams of those ICOs that look promising. Brand-new social media profiles with barely any connections should always be a red flag for any diligent investor. However, fake online credibility is also easy to attain with a few dollars to spend so discern cautiously.
3) The project's white paper standards.
The white paper is probably the most important document for a cryptocurrency project or venture. This document must detail the project's design and development, its evolution, and how it will generate business. Therefore, having no white paper, a bad white paper, or one that is blatantly plagiarised should be a flag red enough to give you your marching orders. If the white paper is unclear and ambiguously written, then the whole project ought to be treated with suspicion. You should be able to understand the business and the project from this paper and if incomprehensible, the project is just not for you. No shrewd investor injects his/her hard-earned money into a project they do not understand well and the role of that document is to give you a standard understanding of the scheme.
4) Extreme Promotion Activity;
Have you ever seen a new company searching for investment but seemingly carrying an advertisement and promotion campaign so big that you will wonder how good willed the founders are to want everyone to enjoy a piece of the cake? Big promotions indicate a big budget and it defeats common sense that a brand should go all the way to spend all their money on promotion except if the founders expect to reap the benefits in a very short term. Short term rewards ought to raise red flags as they scream a too good to be true message. Most exit scams really have extremely huge promotion campaigns. Full-page ads of new ICOs by lesser-known founders in the print media should always push you in the opposite direction. In India, the popular exit scam Confido reportedly paid bloggers to spread the word on various online forums. Kenyan scam Velox 10 started off with an extravagant colourful launch at the posh Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi and several advertising campaigns on numerous media outlets ranging from radio stations and television. While big promotions themselves are no evidence of dubious intent, a prudent investor should investigate the claims made before investing.
5) Non-existent Working Model:
The working model of the cryptocurrency project should be of utmost importance to you as an investor as it is the only way your money will make returns. Does the model make sense to you or it's a concept-only, with a non-existent product? Most cases where it is the latter, the project does not work. The team should prove their worth by convincing you of the viability of their model. Do not invest until the founders prove to you that their project is worth investing in.
6) Shaky or Unrealistic Roadmaps
A roadmap is a detailed list of what the initial coin offerings project team has achieved so far in the development of their project, as well as what they plan to achieve. This must be provided to the potential investors. If no roadmap is provided there is a high chance the only future plan is "exit" and "profit". A roadmap also ought to be realistic. The absence of a working platform prototype or any code at all is a red flag you should never ignore as an interested investor. Roadmaps which include plans of using ICO capital to develop a prototype or those that make any references to a future token price are highly likely to be exit scams. If the ICO you're considering investing in offers an unrealistic future roadmap and has not achieved anything significant, flee!
All in all, the same way you wouldn't normally invest in the shares of a company whose business you don't understand, or if you don't trust the people behind it, don't give cryptocurrency projects the benefit of the doubt. Always do your own research about the ICO you are considering. It is wise to rely on more than hearsay from other sources. Do your own due diligence and pay close attention to claims that are being made. Be very rigid when it comes to crypto investing. It may be what saves you from an exit scam.
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For argument's sake, let us say that you do everything right … your choice of footwork was correct for the situation, the parry is at the right distance, your riposte is correctly executed with no extra movement, timing is superb, speed is good, etc. But somehow the opponent sees what is coming and starts to recover or jump back or otherwise accelerate rearward movement so that you are going to fall short. Do you want to let them get away with this?
Well, of course not. You want the touch. More importantly, you want the touch while the opponent is still under pressure and is unstable because he or she is in movement. The combination of the psychological impact of the attack failing, the pressure of being under attack, and the instability introduced by movement means that even a well trained and psychologically tough opponent is to some degree vulnerable, especially if your choice of footwork in the parry was a surprise.
However, you must recognize that this is a dangerous situation. Your riposte has failed, making you vulnerable to a parry-counterriposte in the early stages of the next part of this phrase. To pursue the opponent you have to initiate additional forward movement, making you to some degree unstable. The possibility exists that you will so fixate on the target that you will miss a well timed counteraction or an easily deceivable parry. And the opponent knows that your are in the pursuit, and, if experienced and in good psychological shape, has initiated his or her plan to deal with pursuit.
So, you have to be alert – you have been warned. Now to the business of moving forward. In your riposte you either fought from on guard, fought from the lunge, stepped forward with the riposte, or lunged with the riposte (and we are going to exclude the possibility that you fleched or flunged with the riposte from this discussion). The footwork creates two situations. You are either in a lunge or in a position that is fundamentally a guard position. The guard position allows the greatest flexibility – the legs are bent to either lunge or to advance. The lunge position is fundamentally static – you have already gotten the most out of that movement (yes, you might be able to get another six inches with a gravity lunge or maybe even a foot on a lean, but that is not the range of the problem we are discussing here). If you are in the lunge you must recover forward into a guard position.
This is not a mechanical step 1, step 2, step 3, even if we start with teaching it that way to sequence the movement correctly. It is a flow. When the flow starts depends on when you recognize that the riposte will fall short. If it is in the lunge, the forward recovery to guard starts the millisecond the front foot hits, before it is even down. If it is with the front foot flat, the forward recovery must start immediately.
Now you have a decision to make – if you advance or lunge or advance-lunge, will your reprise of the riposte arrive where the opponent's target will be? If so, do the reprise with a quick step forward, a lunge, or an advance-lunge. You want this to be one extended continuous movement with no clearly discernable interruption between the components: lunge-forward recover-advance-lunge. If at all possible you want the final action to be accelerating.
But what if your assessment is that the opponent will be further away? Then you have more work to do. There are two possibilities. You can introduce added steps as needed. However, this approach has the disadvantage that the opponent can match your steps – you are essentially betting that you can advance faster than he can retreat. What you want to do is close the distance.
And that means either of two options. You can change your step size. We teach a standard step size, and for most cases having that standard down pat is a good thing. However, this is a chase and you won't catch the opponent with neat, short, quick steps. It was a revelation in 2005 when Ed Korfanty taught me that step size is essentially variable based on what you want to do with it. In this case you want to cover ground, so take a bigger step. A hint here, if you do not know what size step you take as your standard, it is much harder to take a bigger step because you have no frame of reference for closure rates. So, this is not a license to forget about the standard.
The other part of this is that now your attack becomes not a quick-step advance lunge but rather a marching step advance-lunge. And that is ideal for your second option, the patinando. Patinandos have been described in a variety of ways over time, but I am using the term as a distance stealing advance swinging immediately into the lunge. In the distance steal the footwork sequence is bring the rear foot forward so that it almost touches the heel of the front foot, followed immediately by the lunge. The movement is quick, flows, and is deceptive in terms of how much distance it covers. The patinando can be executed from your original lunge or from the guard position.
Now you are moving. Understand that the opponent may do two things that require you to be eyes-open. First, she may counterattack into your forward movement. Be ready with countertime – foil or sabre defensive countertime, in epee add counteroffensive countertime depending on the bout score. Second, he may endeavor to parry and counter-riposte. Here is where this series of articles all come together. If you have disrupted the opponent's attack with a parry taking the blade into an unexpected line, he or she has already been forced into a new OODA loop. Your forward movement in reprise forces further OODA cycles. And if you employ a riposte by indirect action or taking of the blade, the chances are good that you will be well inside your opponent's capability to manage the decisions required for a successful defense.


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5Dimes Takes Bets on High School Football Games: Armwood at Plant
Costa Rican online sports book, 5Dimes.com, much to the chagrin of locals in the Tampa Bay area, will be taking bets on the opening High School football season.
"Wagering on sporting events involving children is common," the owner of 5Dimes.com told The St. Petersburg Times. "In Europe, he said, people wager on soccer matches featuring children younger than 16."
The hot ticket this coming weekend: Armwood at Plant, a game that promises to be a smorgasbord of Division I prospects broadcast live on national television. It will also be available to millions of viewers on ESPNU.
5Dimes took flack last year for offering betting on another nationally syndicated High School football game last year: Southlake Carroll (Texas) and Miami Northwestern. They reacted by removing the line.
Still, betting on High School football games is nothing new.
Pasco High athletic director Jim Ward recalls people in Dade City talking about wagering on the Pasco-Hernando football rivalry game in 1991 when the crowd swelled to more than 8,000 to see Class 3A top-10 teams square off.
"Rumors had it back in the early '90s there was betting," Ward told the Times. "... I always heard the guys talking about, 'I got $100 on this,' and stuff like that."
In recent years, online gambling establishments have delved into offering bets on the Little League World Series. Just a few weeks ago, some gambling sites were even offering bets on the Chinese Women's Gymnastics squad - who were supposedly over the age of 16 but were rumored to be much younger.
The Republican platform last week ensured that online gambling prohibition would be a major focus of its agenda despite attempts to see that the issue be removed. Diehards in the party have cited the "ability of minors to gamble with ease", something that has proven time and time again to be inaccurate thanks to successful blocking technologies implemented over the years.
Republican candidate John McCain has tried to stop gambling on college sports out of fear that the young players would be more inclined to assist in "fixing games" for big money offers from gambling syndicates. The problem is known to occur in professional sports worldwide - most recently in the NBA and tennis. High School players - though presumably still living at home - are no less likely to be influenced by unscrupulous syndicates, it can be argued.
Predictions for the game were available at The Tampa Bay Blogs:
Robinson coach Mike DePue: Armwood 24-21. "If Armwood keeps Plant off the field, they can win. But if their offense can't stay on the field for sustained drives, Plant wins."
Tampa Bay Tech coach C.C. Culpepper: Plant 28-17. "What I saw Plant do against Northeast in the passing game, I think they'll be able to do against Armwood,"
Blake coach Sean Washington: Armwood 28-27. "Plant has improved since the first game. It's hard to beat teams twice, but I'm going to go with Armwood because they're playing at home."
Durant coach Mike Gottman: Armwood 35-31: "Armwood played them early on and played very well defensively. Armwood's defense has always been extremely tough to handle and Plant found that out."
Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com