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osculate verb kiss
My son just recently learned how to kiss on demand. He opens his mouth wide and suctions it to your cheek with a loud "mmm—ahhh" sound when you ask him for a kiss. It is my favorite thing in the world. When I was kid I used to dread family occasions or holidays when people were over and I was forced to kiss or hug people. I remember I would run and hide when I heard the doorbell ring just to avoid it. I come from an Italian family so the formality of kissing friends and family is important and one is considered rude if you do not do so. I suppose the main reason I clam up is due to being shy – an attribute I truly believe I was born with.
The world can be very cruel to people who are shy. It is not a trait that the majority of people find endearing. Shyness is often misunderstood and in our extroverted culture, not something that gets you very far. I have been shy since as far back as I can remember. You probably wouldn't tag me for this trait these days as I most often disguise this aspect of my personality. There are still clues to it but I fear that most people mistake it for weirdness, snobbery, or pretension – which is most unfair.
It seems most people stereotype shy people as being sweet and mouselike, hiding in corners, timid and shaking. But that is not the case at all. Shy people have opinions and passions just as strong as extroverts. Just ask someone who is shy and I am sure you will get an ear full – once they get to know you. I don't know if all shy people are this way, but I just enjoy observing and not participating. I'd rather take in everything and make a story about it than participate. I don't enjoy making the first move. I like to go slow and ease myself in when I think it's safe and when I'm ready. There's nothing wrong with this in my opinion. And shyness doesn't mean that one has to be a wallflower either. Shy people are like little secret packages waiting to be opened.
I have always channeled my shyness through writing. The first time I did this was my senior year in high school where I wrote an article in the county paper about not going to the prom…and about how happy I was not to go. I received many cheers and jeers from it, but for once I had a voice and I didn't have to speak to put it out there – and people listened. In college, I wrote for the newspaper for 4 years in the commentary section, no less. Unfortunately, upon graduating in a bad economy, I wasn't able to work as a journalist as I had planned and gave up my voice for a long time…until most recently with this blog. My writing has become an extroversion where my everyday life is lacking.
My shyness makes me fear being the center of everyone's attention, yet long for it with all of my being. I believe there are many people like me. Instead of overcoming or ridding our lives of this attribute, we find a different language – writing, dancing, singing – that releases our voice in a different way than just playing a role at a party and keeping up conversation.
Shyness is at the core of creativity, grace, humility…all of those traits that people find lacking in society and that most people strive for. Perhaps they are so rare because most people misunderstand them as negative attributes…the way the world mistakes shyness for so many other unsavory things.


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Lucky for me, a decent amount of people in the United States has never even heard of my sport. Now this is lucky because that means they have not been able to come up with inaccurate judgments. However, the half of the U.S. population that has heard of it often fall victim to the stereotypes of field hockey. The two biggest stereotypes I have heard of and encountered over my years playing surround gender and sexuality. I would like to note, however, that these stereotypes are among U.S. popular culture, they are not transnational. Field hockey is a very common and popular sport in other countries in Europe and also in India. Therefore, these stereotypes tend to fade away to the truth about the sport. Nonetheless, stateside there is an assumption that boys do not play field hockey. The reason most stated is "because you wear skirts". While the females do wear skirts when playing that does not mean men do not play and moreover that they would have to wear skirts too. I believe this stems from male hockey being extremely small in the U.S. and there being no collegiate male teams.
Here is a video of male field hockey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqGumHoOuzg
This means that most people who know about the sport think it is a female sport. However, the types of females they believe play are also very stereotypical. Since the sport is seen as a high contact and highly dangerous sport it is assumed that the females playing are rather "manly". This assumption is furthered by the think legs and shoulders that many female field hockey players develop. This "manly" mentality and broad body lead people to the conclusion that the women who play field hockey are lesbians.
These stereotypes have always bothered me as a player because they are generally very untrue. Boys do indeed play and I grew up playing in a co-ed league with them. Moreover, not all the women are of homosexual orientation. In fact, in my eight years of playing the sport I can count on one hand the females I have met and had as teammates that identified as lesbian. The only way I conform to a stereotype about my sport is that I have a very strong body due to my thicker legs and shoulders. Therefore I have often been called "manly" in my life. However, while I may not look like the "girliest" girl, that is exactly what I am. Off the field, I love shopping and make up and boys just as much as the next "girly" girl.
Overall, sometimes I love that no one has heard of my sport. It gives me the chance to properly educate them and expose them to all the reasons why I love it. However, since it is so unheard of stateside, my sport also falls victim to horrible stereotypes that I fear make people not interested in the sport and keep it from growing and becoming the past time it is in other countries.

subset: commoncrawl


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Assailant stabs transgender woman after melee on Muni bus
An assailant armed with a steak knife attacked two transgender women in San Francisco, stabbing a 24-year-old victim two times in the chest, the couple said in an interview Sunday.
Samantha Hulsey, 24, was on a date with her partner, 52-year-old Rae Raucci, around 5 p.m. Saturday when they boarded the 49 Muni bus in the city's South of Market neighborhood.
Almost immediately, a man on the bus, who authorities did not name, focused on the couple and "began acting violently," Hulsey said.
"He started saying a lot of hateful things and messing with us," she said. "He was threatening to hurt us. The way he was behaving leads me to believe he was on some kind of drugs. He was obviously not sober."
The two women became more frightened when they noticed the man had a steak knife with "a three-and-a-half-inch blade and a big black handle," Hulsey said.
The women exited the bus at Van Ness and Golden Gate avenues, where they said the man ran after them and plunged the blade into Hulsey's upper chest, just below her neck. She said she put her hand over her wound, ran into a nearby McDonald's and asked customers and employees to call police.
"I was afraid I was going to die," said Hulsey. "I thought I was going to pass out on that floor and never wake up again. It was very traumatic."
Hulsey said she saw her attacker in handcuffs as emergency responders were loading her into the ambulance. Fortunately, the blade did not puncture any organs. She was stitched up at a hospital and later released.
"I'm very sorry for the nice man who was enjoying his McDouble when I ran in bleeding and screaming for police," she said.
Hulsey grew up in Savannah, Georgia but recently moved to San Francisco where she has been living openly as a woman.
"I had been bullied and had things thrown at me in Savannah but no one tried to kill me," she said. "That sort of thing shouldn't happen here."
Police said the suspect is in custody but have not released further details about the attack.
Raucci, who is a first-year law student at San Francisco Law School, said the attack was a hate crime.
"He basically said we were offending him," she said. "Transgender people are a part of the society that some people don't understand, and what they don't understand, they fear. It serves to show that violence can show up anywhere."
Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky


text: Greeenriver SASS #38681 0 Posted May 12, 2010 I was looking over the application fot EOT and I can see and understand the entry fee for Main Match, The camping fee if camping, but I'm kind of confused about the Guest Badge(Spouse of registrant only). In the app, under spouse, it requires a SASS number for her. I think this is just to shoot, but does it also require a SASS number for her to buy a Guest Badge so she can attend the events with me?? Reason I ask is I'm planning on attending EOT in one of next few years at least once, and would like my wife to attend with me. She is NOT a SASS member and has no intrest in joining. If she can't go with me, I can't go, or won't go without her. This would be the end of a complete winter spent in the southwest and I flat won't go without her. So, does she have to be a member to attend with me or not?? Greeenriver Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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What do you think? Do you hook? If not, would you like to? What are the pros and what are the cons...? Come on, we want to hear from YOU!
...AND it would be fun to say.."Yes, I am a hooker"...:o) (with a shake of the bum!!)... but it would be even be better to have a few of these wonderful heirloom masterpieces on display! I think Marie has got the right idea! She is a HOOKER and knows how to shake it!
Have a FUN Friday and Happy Stitching!~P


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The Sorensen Institute is pleased to announce the winners of the first annual Sorensen Institute Leadership Awards. The awards will be presented April 10th at Sorensen's Annual Gala at Richmond's Altria Theatre. (Gala tickets are available at sorensen-gala.eventbrite.com, and sponsorship opportunities are still available!)
The winners of the Leadership Awards were nominated by Sorensen alumni and friends, on the basis of the following criteria:
- They demonstrate integrity, commitment, and courage to build bridges across political, social, and/or economic divisions in the Commonwealth.
- They deliver extraordinary service and results as an elected official, board or commission appointee, community or political leader, or volunteer within the Commonwealth.
- They demonstrate exceptional leadership in the public, private, or non-profit sectors of our Commonwealth in pursuit of understanding and cooperation consistent with the principles of the Sorensen Institute.
Winners of the Sorensen Leadership Award
Sharon Bulova is in her third term as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Ms. Bulova has had an impact on northern Virginia and the Commonwealth in countless ways, with a leading role in the founding of and growth of Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Faith Communities in Action, Communities of Trust, Diversion First and the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. For more than three decades she has governed with skill, engaged with her constituents and modeled transparency.
As the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Suzy Kelly shares her business acumen and leadership knowledge across the Commonwealth. The business she leads as Chief Executive Officer, Jo-Kell Inc, specializes in Navy shipboard and high-tech industrial automation products, systems and services. Beyond raising the standards of excellence in business, she served on the Chesapeake City Council for eight years and continues to be active in community organizations related to faith, entrepreneurship and leadership.
Emerging Leadership Award Winners
Delegate Lashrecse Aird, of the 63rd District of Virginia, is the youngest woman elected to the House of Delegates. She works in development for Richard Bland College of William and Mary and holds a master's degree in Public Administration. A tireless community leader, Delegate Aird is actively engaged in numerous civic boards and organizations, as well as leadership positions in the Democratic Party.
Councilman Phil Miskovic currently is serving his fourth term on the Town Council of Crewe. His political career has led him to multiple roles in state and local government and he is pursuing a PhD in Public Administration and Public Affairs. Phil has served as chairman of Crewe's Economic Development Committee and member of the Volunteer Services Committee, and chairman of the Virginia Municipal League's General Laws Policy Committee. Phil represented Crewe as a member of the Governor's Rural Jobs Taskforce in 2013.
Sorensen Founders Award
This award honors an individual who has made substantial contributions to building and sustaining the Sorensen Institute. This year's Founder's Award will be awarded to Leigh Middleditch, a cofounder and long-time board member of the Sorensen Institute. In the 25 years since Sorensen was founded, he has provided advice and support, raised money, recruited applicants and solved problems for the Sorensen Institute. Mr. Middleditch has had a long and successful career as an attorney at McGuireWoods, served on the Board of Visitors of UVA, served on the board of the Claude Moore Foundation and dozens of other boards and community organizations. His service includes time as an officer in the Navy, from which he retired as a Captain.


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Reid: Brennan vote Saturday at latest
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said this morning he hopes the Senate can agree to vote on John Brennan's nomination to be director of CIA today.
"If no agreement can be reached," he said, "we'll vote Saturday morning."
Reid, who has moved to end debate on the nomination, said the Senate needs to consider it by week's end because "we have to be on the continuing resolution on Monday," and "next week is the budget, and we have to do that before the break we take for Easter."


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North Carolina Budget & Tax Center: Analyzing the Impact of Tax Changes – Economic Incidence Analysis a more accurate measure of how taxpayers will fareITEP Work in Action
Policymakers need accurate information in order to make informed policy choices. And the general public, too, should know what is at stake when their elected officials propose tax changes. That is why it's so important to have data on how the proposed tax changes in North Carolina will impact actual taxpayers in the state.
The model used by the Budget & Tax Center was created by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), and employs methods widely considered to be the best, most comprehensive way to determine how tax changes will affect taxpayers. This type of model – known as an Economic Incidence Analysis – uses tax return data on real-world taxpayers and other economic and consumer spending data to produce the most accurate prediction. This type of model is used by the U.S. Treasury Department, the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.


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The 6th annual Schooner Fall Classic
was another year full of fun and giving!
Save the Date for 2019 - September 26 - 29
Letter From Your Host, Tricia Covel
Each year, we see the positive impact this tournament has on not only the amazing families that are hosted at OK Kids Korral, but also the teams that come in to support and participate in our event. We are so blessed to share how important giving and supporting us is with the coaches, young women, and sponsors. Whether it be financially, spiritually or emotionally, you make an impact on our families.
Toby and I want to say THANK YOU again for the continued success of this tournament.
Tricia Covel
Tournament Host
Thank you to all of the sponsors who make this event possible. We appreciate your commitment to women's golf and The Toby Keith Foundation.
Sponsorship Opportunities


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Item #: US-ENS3060W-33SET
Retail Value: 3200.00
Price: $2,125.00
Your great-grandmother may have worn rings like these, but that doesn't mean that they're not perfect for today. This antique-style bridal ring set is adorned with 0.74 carats of diamonds, including the glimmering third-carat stone that adorns the engagement ring. The remaining 41 diamonds are set in two dazzling lines that accent the bands, and hugged by beaded edges. This pair is timelessly sophisticated, and it's ideal for celebrating that the love you share is a treasure with enduring beauty.
Total carat weight is 0.74
Shown with a 1 Carat Center


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The Desk Assistant (DA) is an integral member of the Housing and Residence Life team, serving as one of the initial representatives of the residence halls and Seattle University (SU) communities. The DA works at the residence hall front desk, assisting in the administration, service and security of the residence hall.
The DA, often the first contact to residents, visitors, and persons outside of the SU community, must demonstrate professionalism and customer service at all times, while also responding quickly and effectively in emergency situations. Candidates must demonstrate effective leadership ability and possess qualities such as personal maturity, dependability, motivation, initiative, integrity, responsibility, discretion and strong interpersonal skills.
Reports to: Area Coordinator (AC)
To qualify for the DA position, you must:
For a more complete position description, take a look at this document: Desk Assistant Position Description 2019-2020.
The following is the projected selection process timeline for 2019/2020 DAs.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2019/2020 DA Selection Process, please contact Brian Hooks (firstname.lastname@example.com).
The application for the 2019/2020 DA position will become available on March 15th and will be found at the following link: 2019-2020 HRL Positions Application.
For any other information regarding the selection process, please refer to the timeline above or contact Brian Hooks (firstname.lastname@example.com) or the Central Housing Office (firstname.lastname@example.com).


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The UQ Living Laboratory provides unique opportunities for students to partner with the water & waste industry to explore different approaches for developing the 'Utility of the Future' through active experimentation with the St Lucia campus' water energy system as a part of UQ St Lucia's proposed master plan.
Working together with Queensland Urban Utilities and CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, we proposed a vision to incorporate the teaching, learning and research of water, waste and energy management using the campus itself as a living laboratory – a state of the art, user-centred, open-innovation ecosystem. The project will make visible previously hidden infrastructure opportunities, decentralised facilities located at 're-use hotspots' across the campus. In turn both the university population and visiting public will gain an understanding of these systems and how their daily actions affect them through a technologically inspired feedback loop.
The current re-framing of the Master Plan provides an opportunity to embed the Living Laboratory into the campus to influence how the campus develops over time to leverage learning opportunities for a range of university facilities.


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A bit of a hiatus is in order...
The Blank Slate of Non-Attachment
Join the conversation about what it means to let go of your death grip on the outcome and simply flow.
The Wisdom of Bending Backward to Move Forward
"Lead with the heart, the head comes last."
Good Day Sunshine: 8 Yoga Poses to Start Your Morning Off Right (without leaving your bed)
Here comes the sun!
Rise to the Challenge: Connect to Your Inner Warrior in Virabhadrasana I
Find out the mythology behind one of the most well-known yoga poses, as well as safe alignment, breath cues, and its mental and physical benefits.
Israel Yoga Fest 2018!
A weekend of friends, handstands, camping, vegan smoothies, and sweating our asanas off in 103 degree Israeli heat!
Inhale Joy & Open to Your Heart's Power in Cobra Pose
Let your heart open and your inner radiance shine with the powerful back bends of the Surya Namaskara sequence.
Banish Tension with 4 Surprising Benefits of Uttanasana
Master your alignment in Uttanasana and reap the awesome benefits that come with a soothing forward fold.
Yoga Break: Finding Balance in Samastitihi & Tadasana
Learn how to engage your whole being in Samastithi and explore the mental and physical benefits of this grounding posture.


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What's a trip to the ocean without a chance to hook a prize catch? In Marina del Rey, you can be at the water's edge, pole in hand, in just minutes. Or, connect with a licensed sportfishing or charter company to head out into the big blue for some deep-sea action off the Los Angeles coast.
Land-Based Fishing
Licensed fishing is permitted at the north and south jetties. You can also fish at the nearby Venice Pier, which doesn't require a license. Fishing licenses and bait are available at the West Marine store, located at 4750 Admiralty Way in the Waterside shopping center. 310-823-5357. The shop doesn't rent tackle, but there is plenty for sale.
Marina del Rey Sportfishing operates a bait dock at Fisherman's Village (13739 Fiji Way), open daily 5 a.m.–6 p.m. Anyone can stop by with a bucket or cooler to purchase live or fresh frozen bait – sardines, squid, and anchovies. Dock fishing from the bait dock is allowed between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m.; $10 per person, including bait. Fishing license is required and can be purchased at the dock, as well as rental rods (with advance notice).
Deep-Sea Fishing
Marina del Rey Sportfishing offers the most affordable option for single-day fishing excursions in Los Angeles. Choose from open-party (public) half-day and three-quarter-day fishing trips out onto Santa Monica Bay, offered year-round. Private charters are also available. Santa Monica Bay is home to numerous types of gamefish. Depending on the season, you'll be on the hunt for halibut, barracuda, sand bass, calico bass, white sea bass, and yellowtail. The boat service includes fish cleaning and packaging, or you can catch-and-release.
A valid fishing license is required for anyone over age 15, and you can buy a one-day license on the boat. Marina del Rey Sportfishing also offers tackle rental onboard for an extra $10 (cash only). The boat departs from Dock 52 (13552 Fiji Way), which has a large parking lot with free parking. 310-822-3625.
Private Yacht Charters & Rentals
Many other yachts in the Marina are available for private charter. Review our charters page for a current list of those properly licensed to operate in Marina del Rey. Make sure the vessel you charter has been inspected and certified for commercial use by the U.S. Coast Guard. Your operator must have commercial charter insurance, and if you are hiring a skipper, your skipper should be a certified captain with a valid commercial captain's license. Further information is available from the Marina del Rey Harbormaster at 310-482-6000, and from the U.S. Coast Guard at 310-823-2300.


text: A random Marcus Robinson appears. The NBA season is dissected at its halfway point. Marcus and Kelen both agree half of the 2017-18 NBA season was better than the entire 2017 NFL season. Kelen celebrates the oddly successful tank in Chicago while Marcus laments about his Wizards chances of surviving the second round of the playoffs. Hot a** takes are thrown around by Kelen. Chris Paul and his greatness is questioned at great length. MVP and NBA Finals predictions are made. Wakanda rises. The Black Panther motion picture is exalted on high. MVPs are chosen, the women of Black Panther steal the show, and theories are thrown out for future films and the location of the Infinity Stone. Did the MCU miss their window with Black Widow? When does the MCU finally miss with a movie? Is Venom doomed to fail? And can Paul Rudd bring 'em out again with Wasp & Ant-Man? I support West Virginia's teachers!


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SiS (Science in Sport) has announced the signing of Sir Chris Hoy as brand ambassador for the company. As Sir Chris' long-standing relationship with the leading endurance nutrition brand becomes official, the six-time Olympic track cycling gold medallist joins a long list of elite athletes and teams who currently use SiS products.
In addition to Sir Chris Hoy, SiS has GB triathlete, Helen Jenkins, and Olympic and World Champion cyclist Rebecca Romero MBE as official brand ambassadors.
The deal announced today will see Sir Chris work closely with Science in Sport and its team of experts in hydration and nutrition to help him perform to his maximum both in training and competition. Sir Chris will use a range of the brand's leading energy, recovery and hydration products, including SiS GO Gels, SiS GO Energy and products from the successful SiS REGO recovery range – including one of his 'all-time favourite products', SiS REGO Rapid Recovery.
The multiple World and Olympic champion and Britain's most successful ever Olympian will make appearances to help promote the brand's wide range of leading endurance nutrition products, as well as appearing on the SiS website and providing relevant content for use on the brand's social media channels.
Sir Chris Hoy said, "Nutrition plays a huge part in how well I do on the track, in the gym and out training on the roads so to be the best I can be, I need to use the best nutrition possible. I have used SiS products for many years and I'm looking forward to working with them to further develop this area of my preparation and recovery. The credibility of the science and their innovative approach is the reason I chose to partner with Science in Sport. Working closely with SiS to manage my hydration and energy levels gives me confidence that my nutrition is tailored to my specific needs whether I am in training or competition."
Stephen Moon, Managing Director at SiS added, "Sir Chris is without doubt one of the world's best athletes and truly epitomises what SiS is all about. Having used our products as an integral part of his nutrition ritual for a number of years, we are delighted to announce this new partnership. We are very proud of Chris and his achievements and it's a major honour to have him as a sporting ambassador."
SiS has significant usage amongst elite athletes. SiS supports teams and individuals in various endurance sports in particular cycling, triathlon, rowing and running. SiS is official sports nutrition supplier to Rapha Condor JLT, Blanco ProCycling, Madison Genesis, Pro Team Astana and Team Katusha; and official Supplier of Sports Drinks and Sports Nutrition to the GB Rowing Teams.


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Compare Insurance Quotes
About Equitable Life & Casualty
Equitable was formed in 1935 out of a group of benevolent societies that had been created a few years before to assist the families of poor miners financially after the death of a society member. Founded by a local doctor, the original name of the company upon its launch was Equitable Mutual Aid Protective Society, and members paid into the society so that the funds could be distributed when needed.
In the 1960s, Equitable was among the first to offer Medicare Supplement coverage in response to the gaps in the newly created Medicare system. From that point on, the company focused on the needs of seniors, and over the decades added new products to assist with things like home care and nursing homes.
Equitable moved into third-party administration in 2009, and now administers policies for several other companies. They are licensed in 45 states, but their headquarters remain in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Equitable Products
Equitable's main products are Medicare Supplement and life insurance, although they also offer a few other supplemental policies. We have reviewed the company's Medicare Supplement products separately, so this review will focus on their other offerings.
Life Insurance
Equitable's Heritage Protector Plans are offered in two forms, Level and Graded.
The Level plan provides the full death benefit from the first day of issue, while the Graded plan offers increasing benefits. Under the latter, if the insured dies in the first 12 months of issue, all premiums plus 5% are paid to the beneficiary. In the second 12 months, the payout is all premiums plus 10%, and in the third year, 75% of the death benefit will be paid. After 36 months, the plan becomes level and the full death benefit is paid.
Heritage Protector plans are offered with an issue age of 50 through 85, with death benefits ranging from $2,000 to $35,000. These plans are intended to provide coverage for final expenses. While the website does not specifically state whether or not they require a medical exam, this type of policy usually does not. The lower death benefit indicates a simplified issue program.
Equitable's CancerCare plan provides coverage specifically for a cancer diagnosis. The plan covers a variety of expenses that are not paid by the main health insurance plan.
Plan benefits include an initial diagnosis payout of $1,000 to be used in any way the insured wants, coverage for overnight hospital stays, and coverage for a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient treatment. Also covered are things like transportation, including ambulance rides, to and from the hospital, and inpatient hospice for terminally ill patients.
EquiCash is a hospital indemnity plan that provides coverage for out-of-pocket costs associated with inpatient hospital stays. The plan pays what your health insurance does not.
EquiCash is offered at three plan levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level offers increasing amounts of coverage. All levels have a daily hospital indemnity benefit, coverage for durable medical equipment and ambulance charges, emergency room and physician benefits. An optional lump sum cancer rider can be added at any level.
Short-Stay Nursing Home
EquiCare is the company's short-stay nursing home policy, and it can be tailored to a variety of levels.
Daily cash benefits start at $50 and go up to $300 with benefit periods ranging from 100 to 350 days. This plan is designed to pay for the cost of a nursing home stay of less than one year, and not for long-term care.
Equitable does not offer online quoting or any rate information. There is a form that can be filled out to have a representative contact you for further information and quotes. This type of form is common for a company like Equitable but often leads to unwanted, ongoing solicitation attempts, which many people prefer to avoid.
It would be helpful to see online quoting available at least for the company's life insurance products.
Equitable offers several ways to start a claim. There is an email form that can be filled out and submitted to start the process, although this is not true online claims reporting as it simply leads to a representative contacting the insured to handle the claim.
There is also a toll-free number, although it is only open during business hours of 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. This is common for a company where claims are not often filed on an emergency basis, such as with home insurance or auto insurance.
Finally, claims forms can be found on the website and either mailed or faxed to the company.
Overall, they do make it easy to find claims information and to contact the company. There is no information, however, on the claims process or what to expect.
Ratings and Consumer Reviews
Equitable has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and there are only three customer complaints on file in the past three years. Two of those were closed in the past 12 months. For a nationwide company of this size, this is quite a low number of complaints.
Equitable has been rated three times on Google Reviews, but only one customer wrote a full review, in which the company was praised for excellent service. The overall rating is 4.3 stars but again is based only on three ratings.
We were unable to find any reviews of this company on the usual consumer websites, which is usually a good sign, particularly with a low complaint volume at the BBB and the presence of a few positive reviews.
The Bottom Line
Equitable caters to seniors and has been focused on that market for a long time, so their products and expertise are likely to appeal to many. Although there are no red flags, it is difficult to compare this company to others without rate information. They are worth getting a quote from for those who are willing to go through the process of direct contact rather than obtaining their quotes online.
For a list of companies that we recommend, visit our Best Insurance Companies page.


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Mr. JOHN WHELAN (restaurateur, Paris, France) will be polishing the chrome fuel tank of his vintage ROYTAL ENFIELD BULLET motorcycle with BRASSO.
Mr. MONEYPENNY
Mr. MATTHEW MONEYPENNY (CEO, TRUNK photo agency, New York, USA) has a newly-restored home in Southampton to enjoy. Southampton, he points out, on Long Island, not in the U.K.
Mr. RICHARDSON
Mr. TERRY RICHADSON (photographer) had a delicious veggie dish of rice, beans, guacamole, cheese, and cilantro – AKA a "burrito" – with green and red salsas and fresh-squeezed watermelon juice, all from his favourite Mexican spot Pinche Taqueria, in New York, USA. For dessert he had a pack of sour Skittles, also "very yum."
Mr. LUCAS
Mr. MICHAEL LUCAS (film director, in New York, USA) wearing a navy lightweight wool blazer by LANVIN; grey cotton and silk tank top by RICK OWENS; navy cotton trousers and white lightweight sneakers, both by MARTIN MARGIELA.
Mr. THOMAS
Mr. RUPERT THOMAS (editor, THE WORLD OF INTERIORS) had dinner at home in Camden, London, UK, with the playwright Mr. ALAN BENNETT. They ate breaded plaice, tartar sauce, and small roasted potatoes from the local deli MELROSE AND MORGAN, which is so expensive it is known locally as "Melrose and Mortgage." They also ate steamed broccoli and a homemade carrot-and-apple salad, then stewed apple-and-vanilla rice pudding. It was accompanied with a glass of organic Merlot and some tap water. They shared the GUARDIAN easy crossword, then watched some TV. It was so cold, they lit a real fire.
Mr. OSSENDRIJVER
Mr. LUCAS OSSENDRIJVER (designer) and his friend Mr. DAVID AZCON dined at a Japanese restaurant on Silhouette Island, Seychelles. They had teppanyaki of assorted meats (chicken marinated in soy sauce, Angus beef, lamb), cuttlefish and gambas, miso soup and salad. They downed it all with Japanese beer.
Mr. DIENER
Mr. FERDINAND DIENER (carpenter, Oslo, Norway) will build an indoor æroponic garden in his new apartment in order to grow the varieties of salad leaves from his native Cape Town that are hard to find in Oslo: "Radicchio, wild rocket, and heart lettuce."


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The Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine is one of five research institutes of the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam. Our activities predominantly deal with research in primary care and public health, focusing on chronic diseases and ageing.
Extramural medical research, in principle, concerns the study of health and disease outside hospital walls. The Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine mainly focuses on applied research involving issues which are relevant for primary health care. Many projects deal with chronic disease and aging. The research projects are typically of a multidisciplinary nature. Our studies focus on aetiology (including primary prevention), diagnosis (including secondary prevention) or prognosis (including therapy). The interventions studied do not concern highly specialized forms of care, and should normally be applicable in an extramural or transmural setting. Evaluation often focuses jointly on both efficacy and cost-effectiveness. The Institute focuses on a research programme which makes a serious contribution to the needs of the national extramural health care system and complies with the international standards for applied research. Consequently, the dual aim of the Institute is to excel on criteria for scientific quality, as well as on criteria for societal impact.
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Our activities predominantly deal with research in primary care and public health, focusing on chronic diseases and ageing. It concerns multidisciplinary applied research with a strong emphasis on health outcomes relevant to individuals in the extramural setting. The research projects are grouped in four consistent programmes: diabetes mellitus, common mental disorders, care and prevention, and musculoskeletal disorders.
EMGO Institute
VU University Medical CenterVan der Boechorststr
+31 20 4448180


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First Step of the Guadalupe Area Renovation Project
As part of a series of renovations scheduled for the Guadalupe Cultural Corridor, this past week we broke ground on our first wave of improvements – The Guadalupe Area Renovation Project.
This project will provide for the construction of sidewalks along the west side of Brazos Street, extending from Montezuma Street to San Fernando Street and along the south side of El Paso Street from Brazos Street to the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center property entrance driveway. This Guadalupe Area Renovation Project will include landscaping and other pedestrian amenities such as benches, litter receptacles, bicycle racks, a future B-Cycle station, parking canopy and trellis at the southwest corner of El Paso Street and Brazos Street, transforming our landscape and the experience for our visitors.
The City of San Antonio's Department for Culture and Creative Development (DCCD), through the Public Art San Antonio (PASA) division, coordinated with VIA Metropolitan Transit are also working on a design competition for public art bus shelters to be incorporated in the Westside Cultural District. This project will fabricate and install three public art bus shelters near the intersection of Brazos and Guadalupe Streets. These unique public art bus shelters are designed to create visual markers along the Westside cultural corridor. The "Urban Porch" design will echo the historic vernacular front porch that commonly is found in homes on the Westside.
The construction is scheduled to be finished by March 2014. We are thrilled about this change and the many other changes to come next year! We would like to thank District 5 Councilwoman, Shirley Gonzales, Razi Hossein, Assistant Director for City Capital Improvements Management Services, Felix Padrón, Director of the Department for Culture and Creative Development,Patty Ortz, our Executive Director and all the people who made this possible.


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November 29 – The coronation of St. Louis IX of France
Then the cathedral was filled with the strains of the Te Deum….
The ceremony began. Louis removed his robe, taking care to leave his shirt open at the throat. Bartholomew de Roye, the Lord Great Chamberlain, drew on his hose. The Duke of Burgundy, a very young man, attached his spurs. Since William of Joinville, the Archbishop of Rheims, had died while with Louis VIII in Avignon, it was the Bishop of Soissons, James of Bazoches, who handed him the sword, now unsheathed, and who would shortly anoint him. The little prince, holding the sword across both palms, solemnly knelt before the altar…. Then he was anointed, just as Saul, David and Solomon were said to have been in the books of Samuel and Kings. The holy oil was touched to his forehead, his shoulders, his arms, his hands, and his breast. Then he was clothed in the tunic and surcoat. The ring was placed on his finger and the scepter in his right hand. The Bishop took the crown and placed it on his head—and at once all the lords present stretched out their hands and symbolically held it in place.


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Transitions are sometimes rocky. (Can I get an Amen, my fellow parents of preschoolers?) I know I was just talking about the celebrations and the asparagus and the season of the egg, just
a week two weeks ago in fact. But. After a week with icy blasts of wind rattling our rooftop, kids shivering through breakfast, and one night (begrudgingly) a fire in the woodstove – after that week, it rocketed into the eighties and the boys declared the house clothing-optional. Spring has arrived, spilling through the front door in a stunner of a green gown, but Winter – even our vague rather toothless California version – has not yet left the building. Summer meanwhile has been peeking in the windows. We leave the house in fleece jackets and come home in t-shirts, and I don't know if the pink cheeks each evening are from wind or from sun.
Days pass with blossoms, and bubbles, and muddy toes – and at night, we snug an extra blanket on the boys when we go to bed.
And while we are surrounded by flowers and colors and fresh morning air, other places burst with pain and shock and blood. It is a strange, fearsome, beautiful world. Kyle runs marathons – New York, Philadelphia, Philadelphia again. We watch from the finish line. Not Boston, not this year. These days, he runs mostly through the quiet green hills around our home, or on the treadmill out in the garage. When he leaves to board a plane for work, I chew my lip. Strange, fearsome, beautiful. Entirely unpredictable, despite the aching familiarity of these California seasons, arriving as they do all in a jumble.
Jacob has been crying for ten minutes, huddled under his quilt, clutching my hand. There are space storms, he tells me, so vast and so terrible and "dark like thunder", so hard "like a rock that can break through your door." He does not want to close his eyes because he will see them, they will be there in his dream, and from his dream they will somehow get in the front door and be real, in our house, a really real thing. And then he says, "Space storms have guns. They break the window of your car and shoot two bullets, one to the front and one to the back, and then they get in your car and they throw poison all over the world and nothing can get away from them, they chase you until you are in a cul de sac and then they get you with teeth like the teeth on a digger, that can break through concrete." He starts crying again, body-shaking sobs.
"I can only think of two solutions," he tells me, tears streaming. "I can stay up all night, and not dream about them. Or you can sit next to me all night, and protect me." I try to imagine how I would protect him from such a thing, how I could protect him from anything. We take him on airplanes, we send him to preschool, we watch from the finish line. I am ready to start crying myself. I hold his hand. He takes a deep breath.
"But if I stay up all night, I will get sick. And if you stay up all night, you will get sick. So we might need a different solution." Thinking about the practicalities of his plan seems to soothe him. A minute later, he is asleep. I sit in the darkness.
"Mommy?" Lucas's voice comes from across the room. "Mommy, call firefighters space storm. Beep beep beep."
He sounds confident in his plan to protect his brother. It's better than anything I've got.
We do yoga together in the mornings, rooting our feet into the ground, arching up from our sticky mats (and our bath towels), pushing into down dog. I do not feel centered, practicing with the boys, who tug and pull at me and at each other. Oatmeal is better than no meal, I tell myself. And didn't it turn out that I love oatmeal, after all? I spread my fingers and breathe deep. Lucas stomps on my hand.
Later that day, I force myself onto the elliptical at the gym. In front of me, a television tuned to CNN shows image after image of this man, this boy really – this kid who is now in a hospital, this kid whose mother thinks he did nothing wrong. We don't have television at home, and I have been spared this. But now there is no where else to look. I climb down, retreat to the geriatric bike in the corner. It faces the wall, reeks from twenty years of old man sweat. I stare at nothing, legs pedaling furiously. But I can't stop thinking about brothers, and mothers, and what it means to hate.
The next day, I sit back down on the mats with Jacob and Lucas. "Let's try and fill our hearts with love," I tell them, unsure exactly what I mean.
"I think love is like the wind," Jacob says. I nod.
"You mean, because you can't see it, but you can see the impact it has on things?"
"No. I mean like, when the wind is really loud." Before I can figure that out, Lucas chimes in.
"Really loud! Eat my birdseed, birds!"
Jacob learns how to make bubble cups at preschool. He comes home, gathers supplies, makes one for Lucas.
We spend an entire afternoon outside with them, making long strings of bubbles that catch the sun, glinting and glamorous and surprisingly durable. Unlike their delicate spherical cousins, these thick ropes of bubble can handle a bit of bumping around in the real world. "These are strong bubbles," Jacob tells Lucas. "You can make them into a kite, see?" And so he does.
The bubbles are lifted by the breeze, pulled out into the world. They soar up into the blue until we can't see them anymore. I imagine them, foamy and brave, facing off with the space storms somewhere far far away.
The berries are coming fast and furious now, and the baby lettuce and the asparagus. There are pungent bunches of spring onions, garlic scapes, the first peas. They fill market stalls along with the end of last year's root crops, an ever-smaller grouping of butternuts, and the cauliflower. We love cauliflower here: the favorites have a touch of lavender to them, but the more traditional creamy-white is plenty popular too. When summertime fruits arrive in force I will have a hard time getting the guys to eat their veggies, but for now, the tail end of roasting season, cauliflower is a mainstay.
We roast carrots and broccoli, sweet potatoes and tiny new Yukon golds, but it is the cauliflower that I always make sure to double-up on. In this funny in-between time, it makes a cozy side dish straight out of the oven – and a wonderful lunch straight out of the fridge, with a splash of bright mustardy vinaigrette and maybe an end from a crusty loaf. There's not much of a recipe, but here is the best way I know to make cauliflower a favorite at your house, too.
Warm and Cozy Roasted Cauliflower
Preheat your oven to 400 F. Break your cauliflower into florets and put them on sheet pans. (You want them in a single layer, I find one pan per cauliflower works well.) Toss on the pan with a good drizzle of olive oil and a generous sprinkling of kosher salt. Get everything pretty well coated. Roast for 20-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and crisped. Serve warm. Save at least a cup or two to have cold for lunch tomorrow.
Cold Roasted Cauliflower with Vinaigrette
Get your roasted cauliflower leftovers out of the fridge. Toss with a tablespoon or two of this simple vinaigrette. (You can do that right in your tupperware, or in an actual bowl if you are being civilized.) Add a squeeze of lemon or a little pinch of salt if you'd like. Also, a few snips of fresh dill are wonderful here if you happen to have some. Toss with baby lettuce and a bit more dressing if you're feeling spring-timey – or, reheat gently in a pan if you need something cozy. For a basic mustardy vinaigrette, shake together in a jar:
1 -2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon favorite mustard
1 small chopped shallot (optional)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of sugar (or, drizzle of honey)
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
This should be enough for at least two servings of cauliflower. Any leftover can be the start of your vinaigrette for dinner. Oh, and those roasted carrots? They are good. These honey-mustard roasted ones from Chelsea at Blackberry Eating are even better. Enjoy.
And, by popular demand, the recipe for:
Bubble Cups
Recipe by the brilliant Teacher Conny :)
For each cup, you will need:
1 plastic cup
1 square of rag (terrycloth/washcloth type works best)
1 rubberband
1 straw
~ 1 tablespoon Baby Shampoo (No Tear variety with chemical foaming agents, such as Johnson's – Burts Bees etc doesn't work because you need the 'soap' action)
Water (a small spray bottle is helpful)
Have a grown up poke a hole in the side of the cup, near the top. Put the straw through the hole, so that one end touches the bottom of the cup and the other end sticks out.
Wet the piece of rag/washcloth, then squeeze it out so it isn't drippy. Stretch it across the top of the cup, and put the rubberband around the edge to secure it. (It needs to be pretty airtight).
Using your fingers, gently rub a generous tablespoon of baby shampoo into the cloth.
Spray the cloth with a little more water – it should be very damp, but not dripping. You don't want water in the bottom of the cup.
Blow into the straw. You should get bubbles within a breath or two. If not, add more water until it starts foaming.
Play all day! One application of shampoo lasts a long time. Just keep rewetting the cloth as needed.
Some of the questions the kids answered as they made their cups at school were:
What do you need to make bubbles? (ideas: water, soap, air, bubble wands, etc)
How are bubbles and balloons the same? How are they different?
What about soap bubbles and gum bubbles? Are they the same or different?
What sound does a bubble make when it pops?
Where does a bubble go when it pops?
What happens when you blow air into the straw of your cup?


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Myla's homepage proposes a link to their Christmas Girls: a mini-website where you can see all the Myla lingerie sets and nightwear worn on a short movie. The "strip-tease dance" effect is not each time very nice but it enable you to have a close look on the lingerie as it will be worn, so it could be a precious help in the choice of a gift.
Christmas lingerie at Myla
➜ View all Myla lingerie


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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Arthouse 5 x 7, The Dallas Show
I posted an article on Art & Seek about The Arthouse 5 X 7 fundraiser that is happening Aug 28th. It's a great event with lots of art and lots of art collectors behaving badly.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
EASL Fundraiser
I am a big sucker for fundraisers, especially when the money collected goes directly to the people in need. EASL (Emergency Artists' Support League) is the prime example of just of what people can do for people in need. EASL has been around for over 10 years. They have helped so many artists, that if you live in Texas you probably know someone they have helped.
Above is my donation to this years Art Heist, August 23 at Artspace 111 in Fort Worth Texas. The title is Valves #1. It is part of a series based on the various valves located on or inside of the human body. It measures 10" X 8" and is made from MDF and cast resin.
Arthouse 5X7 show 2008
The annual Arthouse 5 x 7 fundraiser is coming to Dallas on August 29th. This time it will be held at the Dunn and Brown Gallery. It is always a great event. Lots of great art for great prices. Lots of people to meet from all walks of the Dallas art life.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Tonybones article on Art & Seek
Once again for the sake of art, I stayed up until the wee hours struggling with the english language in hopes of constructing a new article for Art & Seek. This time it is about the Tonybones show at the Public Trust.
Check it out, and let me know if there are any misspellings.
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|Public News
ICD-10 - Despite the Deadline Extension, It's Still Time to Prepare
The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced its intent to push back the October 1, 2013 ICD-10 compliance deadline for certain health care entities. The new proposed date is October 1, 2014. Based on what the industry has learned from the transition to 5010, we all know that it is never too early to start preparing!
Recently, we presented a webinar with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) to inform practices on how ICD-10 will impact the way that they do business. When we received nearly 400 questions from attendees at that webinar, we realized that there is still a lot of confusion about what ICD-10 is, why we have to make the switch, and what changes practices will have to adopt internally to be compliant.
Here are answers to the most common questions that we have received:
What is ICD-10? International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are alphanumeric designations that providers assign to every medical diagnosis and description of symptoms for patients. ICD-10 is the 10th edition of these codes and will replace the ICD-9 system currently in use in the United States.
Why are we changing to ICD-10? There are multiple reasons for the change to ICD-10. The United States is the only country that currently is still using ICD-9, and the switch to ICD-10 will allow us to compare our healthcare data more accurately with other countries. ICD-10's more expansive system will also help us to track data more effectively in order to measure the quality and safety of care; process claims for reimbursement; and improve clinical, financial, and administrative performance.
When will we begin using ICD-10? As stated, the proposed compliance deadline is October 1, 2014. There is also the opportunity to send comments to Health and Human Services by May 17, 2012. However, we do know that code set usage will depend on whether you are submitting an inpatient or outpatient claim. If you are billing outpatient claims, you will use ICD-9 for dates of service prior to the compliance deadline and ICD-10 for services after the deadline. For inpatient claims, the code set will be based on the discharge date.
Is the switch to ICD-10 just for Medicare and Medicaid, or are other insurance companies changing, too? HIPAA mandates that all insurance plans in the United States make the transition to ICD-10.
How many codes will there be in ICD-10? ICD-10 will include 140,000 codes, while ICD-9 is made up of only 17,000 codes. The additional codes will allow practices to more precisely report the care they provide to patients on their claims.
Where can I find the new ICD-10 code sets? The ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code sets are currently available free of charge and can be found on the CMS website (www.cms.gov/icd10).
If we have the ICD-10 codes, can we start using them now? ICD-10 code sets cannot be used until the compliance deadline. You will need to continue using ICD-9 until that date.
Why should I start preparing now for the ICD-10 transition? The transition to ICD-10 is a major undertaking for providers, payers, and vendors. It will drive business and systems changes throughout the healthcare industry, from large national health plans to small provider offices, laboratories, medical testing centers, hospitals, and more. To ensure a smooth transition, these organizations need to devote staff time and financial resources to transition activities. So, it's best to develop a transition plan now and start preparing your staff. A successful transition to ICD-10 will be vital to transforming our nation's healthcare system and ensuring uninterrupted operations.
What type of training will providers and staff need for the ICD-10 transition? Training needs will vary for different organizations. For example, physician practice coders will need to learn ICD-10 diagnosis coding only, while hospital coders will need to learn both ICD-10 diagnosis and ICD-10 inpatient procedure coding. You and your staff should take advantage of specialty-specific ICD-10 training offered by societies and other professional organizations.
CMS and coding associations, such as AAPC, have resources to help providers prepare for a smooth transition to ICD-10. These organizations will continue to add new tools and information to their sites through the course of the transition, so visit regularly to access the latest information and training opportunities. For a compilation of key industry resources on ICD-10, visit www.gatewayedi.com/icd10.
Shelly Guffey, Manager, Premier Accounts and Vendor Partners at Gateway EDI, helps physicians optimize revenue by managing relationships with large medical practices and vendor partners. With more than 20 years experience in medical billing services, her expertise areas include ICD-9 and ICD-10 code sets, current procedural terminology (CPT) coding, and compliance for billing companies, as well as coaching teams and analyzing reports.
Dawn Duchek, Industry Initiatives Coordinator of Gateway EDI, researches healthcare industry trends and changes that could impact providers. She shares insights with clients and business partners to help them navigate and stay ahead of industry challenges. Dawn also educates internal associates about healthcare trends to help them better serve customers. Additionally, Dawn participates on the Gateway EDI 5010/ICD-10 implementation team. In this role, she is the contact for issues and questions about upcoming changes to healthcare transactions.


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100 Voices: Southern perspectives on what should come after the MDGs
This research from 2011 with 104 of our partners in developing countries shows global development goals are important for the work that they do with poor and marginalized communities around the world, but there need to be some important changes in what the goals cover and how they are created.
Southern perspectives on what should come after the Millennium Development Goals. Available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.


text: Hi my name is Krysta and I would like to welcome you to my WordPress.com! Blog.I am excited to introduce my web page K's Days (still under construction).I designed K's Days to be fully interactive webpage. It's contents include information, events-calender, many links where to go and what to do in Southern Oregon. I hopeContinue reading "ksdays.com"


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Helen Benedict on Sand Queen
October 16, 2011
Helen Benedict was one of the first journalists to notice that American women serving in Iraq were fighting a war on two fronts. In the field, against enemy combatants; and back on base, where they coped with pervasive sexual harassment and assault from their fellow American soldiers. Benedict spent 3 years interviewing women veterans of the Iraq War. She wrote a nonfiction book, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women in Iraq. She's returned to the same subject, this time in a novel called Sand Queen.


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Chi Omega Prism Tee
Chi Omega Prism Tee! These Sorority Prism Tees are a must for every Sorority girl on campus! Boyfriend cut, white 100% cotton T-shirt.
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Product ID: IHO-DTG-the-Prism-Tees-27247253
Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large, XLarge
Style: Ladies Crewneck Sweatshirt
Brand: Greek U
Full Description: Chi Omega Prism Tee! These Sorority Prism Tees are a must for every Sorority girl on campus! Boyfriend cut, white 100% cotton T-shirt.
Production Time
This item takes 10 business days (M-F) to produce. It will ship out when complete.
Expedited Shipping options available during checkout.
No Hassle Returns
Greek U offers a money back guarantee on orders under $100. Any orders over $100 and all group orders are subject to our Manufacturing Guarantee. Since products are custom made, please make sure that all of the details of your order are correct before ordering. If you need to return or exchange, please follow the steps below within 10 days of receiving your order to fill out a request form. We'll send you instructions on how to return the item(s). You can also email email@example.com to discuss your order.
We will not accept worn and/or used merchandise. Original and return shipping charges are non-refundable. Greek U will cover shipping costs if there is a manufacturing defect.
We are not responsible for incorrect spelling, typos, names, text, or any errors made by the customer so please make sure your order is correct and without errors before ordering. Greek U reserves the right to alter the size and/or layout of lettering, logo, or design so that it will fit imprint size restrictions and look attractive on the item ordered.


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We receive numerous phone calls, emails, and letters each week from people sharing how the work of AiG has impacted lives for the Lord. We also hear many testimonies from those we meet at the Creation Museum, conferences, etc.
I thought you would appreciate (as we did) the following testimonies we received recently. If you have a testimony of how God has used AiG in your life or in the lives of others, then I encourage you to send us an email.
Be encouraged as you read these:
We recently finished viewing the Foundations DVDs in Sunday school. We combined middle school through adult. The response was so positive and resulted in consistent SS attendance. Each DVD got better and better. Personally, I now have a better understanding that it really does all begin in Genesis and that the battle is man's word versus God's Word.
All the information presented is crucial in developing a Biblical Worldview. As a mother of 5 sons, I am committed to teaching them truth and to critically think. This video set is a tremendous teaching aid to both of these goals. I would recommend that this series be shown in every Sunday school, church, Christian school and Christian home so that we are better equipped to withstand the wiles of the devil. (Idaho)
I just have to write and tell you how excited and thrilled beyond measure that I am about your entire organization, and specifically the Creation Museum. It's because of the Creation Museum and hearing of its biblical message, that we are planning a trip to visit the first week in August.
This year we decided to do our own family VBS and I chose to order the AiG "IncrediWorld: Amazement Park" curriculum for it. We all LOVED it!! I was worried that my 6 kids were going to say they didn't like having our own VBS; that it was boring without all the other kids, etc. Each and every one of them (ages 3 -13 yrs) said they were sad when it was over and asked if we can do it again next year!
From our VBS week last week, we chose to start a fundraiser box for the Ark Encounter [a full-size Noah's Ark AiG is building]. I followed the suggestion of the AiG VBS curriculum to make a roller coaster chart to show how the giving increases. We will be saving money throughout the summer until we visit the Museum in August. The kids are so excited to visit and to see/try the new zip lines you've added :)
Anyway, thank you for standing firm in the Word and preaching it thru all sorts of means in VBS, the Museum, the soon-to-be Ark Encounter, etc. It was presented in the materials so well and in such a way that made it easy to teach and reach my kids (and a couple neighbor kids!) so they can understand God's creation vs. evolution. It was an awesome VBS experience for us all. Thank you and we'll see you in August!!
This email was sent to AiG musician, speaker, and dinosaur model builder Buddy Davis:
At our Family VBS this year my husband and I are teaching our people some of your songs. What fun we had last night as we learned "I Don't Believe in Evolution," "It's Designed To Do" and "The Woodpecker" song. I think the adults had even more fun than the children! We thank God for you, your ministry, and your dedication to the Lord. Keep composing, but even more important, keep living for the Lord. (Iowa)
And this testimony was sent from Australia to Dr. Andrew Snelling, our staff geologist:
I was encouraged by my wife to come to church; I was not a Christian at the time, but she was. You were the guest speaker. It was Kurrajong Baptist Church in about 1992, I think.
Your presentation and the material I purchased convinced me that I could trust the Bible from the first word. Shortly afterwards I confessed my sin, and accepted Jesus as my Saviour and His forgiveness. Your presentation started my way to becoming a Christian. Thank you, and I hope this note passed on via [creation speaker] John Mackay will encourage you. I now teach Scripture in schools and use creation materials to help. It is amazing how most of the kids' questions can be answered from Genesis.
I hope these testimonies were encouraging for you to read.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,


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Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category
Unusual SquirrelDecember 15, 2015
Does everyone do this? Wake up and immediately check email? I'm still in bed, and I reach to the nightstand and swipe on the inbox, watch the swirly asterisk turn..
The first message I read today was from my mom, who's been mad at me since I left my day job. It was titled, "Unusual Squirrel." There may be no better email subject line than that. This might be the best one… for the rest of my life. I'm okay with that.
The message included this text:
We found him on Saturday.
It's so huge and fat and well nourished.
Yesterday was the day your dad died 15 years ago.
I don't feel that long ago.
Have a good day.
Sent from my iPad
And these photos:
I don't know… I get such a kick out of my mom finding something near delight in a fat squirrel. And even though she's still mad at me, she can share this fat squirrel and thinking about my dad's passing in the same email. It was a really good first email of the day. Will tomorrow's be better? Better than "Unusual Squirrel?" Probably not possible. I would like to see my inbox try.Share
Sunday – Philip Roth in the ParkJuly 18, 2014
Okay, it's on this time. July 20th in Propect Park. Join us in the southern end of the Big Lawn in Prospect Park under the tree on top of the hill with the Teddy Roosevelt Boy Scout Tablet. We'll be the ones playing songs inspired by Goodbye Columbus by Philip Roth.
Sunday, July 20th, 3 pm
Prospect Park – Teddy Roosevelt Boy Scout Tablet
Performers: Pierre de Gaillande, Jessie Kilguss, Susan Hwang, Leslie Graves, Dave Voigt,Chris Rael, Don Rauf, Geoffrey Scott Diesel, Julie Lynn, Mark Lessereaux


text: Finding the most sought after iconic pieces that will stand the test of time for each individual client is Jenna's expertise. She sorts the racks and pages of fashion finds for the bona fide fashion "It" girls around the globe. She is able to discern which pieces should make the cut and into each of her client's personal collections while remaining unabashedly true to their unique fashion voice. Jenna can be put on retainer to make sure to don't miss out on anything and bring a treasure trove of goodies to your doorstep and to help with the editing to prevent costly luxury purchase mistakes. Her clients revel in the fact that they have her on their side making them look effortlessly fashionable. Many clients also entrust Jenna with managing their "life style" conceptualizing, planning and executing many other aspects of their lives that exude their taste and style.


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Musical Instruments for Sale in Greeley, CO
Comprehensive list of Greeley, Colorado based musical instrument shops offering new & used guitars, pianos, percussion, string, woodwind instruments for sale.
Business Listings
This is a great time to make the move. We take pride in delivering exceptional service to Greeley and the surrounding area for more than ten years. Since 1995, Music Depot has been a one-stop source for anyone in need of a musical instrument store, whether they are seeking music instruments for sale, musical instrument repair or musical instrument rental.
Service you can count on since 1974, serving northern Colorado since 1984. Colorado Piano Works is respected across northern Colorado for its best quality services, honesty and old world craftsmanship. It is run and run by Hank Lea, who is known for his care to detail and passion for the instrument. I feel that it's important to treat every client's piano as if it were a Steinway.
With a knowledgable and friendly team, most of whom are active musicians, Loveland Music is the destination for the music enthusiast of any skill level. Looking for a new instrument or rental? Need an existing instrument repaired or sold? Come on down to Loveland Music - we are here to assist you with all your music requirements.
Our Saturday Jam Sessions and Swap Meet have been a great success! Come out and jam with the pro's. If you have musical related items to sell bring them to the swap meet to sell or trade. We sell Musical Related Gifts.
We are a locally owned and operated business featuring Yamaha Avant Grand Hybrid Pianos, Keyboards and the Lowrey Virtual Orchestras and Home Organs. We also offer class piano programs including the Yamaha Keyboard Encounters and Keyboard Encounters Kids. The Lowrey Magic Recreational Music Making class is also offered.
Here you'll find guitars designed to be contemporary expressions of the highest aspirations of the luthier's art, precisely executed from the best materials in the world. Using a mixture of modern and traditional methods, my designs are inspired by the natural beauty of wood, and simple, organic lines which allow the instrument to completely express itself, both visually and tonally, with every element
Boomer Music provides the widest variety or sheet music in Northern Colorado! Boomer Music has been locally owned & operated since 1976! We carry the biggest range of rental instruments in northern Colorado!
Colorado Drum and Percussion. is situated along the pretty Rocky Mountain Front Range in the city of Fort Collins, CO. We are the only full-line, full-service shop in Northern Colorado. We provide a very well stocked shop full of the latest drum set products, an extensive vintage drum inventory, a huge range of percussion items and hand drums including custom made Ashikos and Djembes and just about


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On 25 May 2018 the new General Data Protection Regulations came into force. The way that organisations hold and process their employee data has changed. Please download our helpful guide on GDPR to assist you in being prepared and compliant.
From April 2019 there will be changes to Employment Laws, including an increase in National Minimum Wage. To keep up to date with the changes, please download our free guide to assist you with compliance.
There's been a lot in the news lately about whether someone is an employee, worker, or sub-contractor. Our handy checklist will help you to find out which one applies to your business
Taking on an intern is a great way of introducing people to your industry and showing them the best practice. Download our intern agreement, it will help you stay compliant and give the intern the information they need about the terms and conditions that come from working for you.


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With easy access to I-75 and Highway 92, the La Quinta Inn Acworth is amidst Acworth's wealth of history, shopping and dining. This quaint southern city is home to two man-made lakes: Lake Allatoona, just 2 miles away, and Lake Acworth, which opens the door for many water sports and recreational activities. Spend the day boating, fishing or hiking around these scenic lakes. We offer interior corridors, full business center, fitness center, free wireless high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel, and even fresh coffee 24/7. Relax in spacious rooms with pillow-top mattresses with upgraded bedding and other amenities like microwave, refrigerator, large 32" flat screen TVs with many premium cable channels, massage shower head, hair dryer, coffee maker, iron & ironing board. Wake up hungry because our Free Bright Side BreakfastTM with Belgian waffles, bacon, sausage gravy & biscuit, and eggs is sure to satisfy your appetite.
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The BBC Ethics Scandal
News should reflect the true picture of an incident. Thus it is of the utmost importance to report the news with honesty, fairness, and impartiality. How the BBC reports it directly affects how people understand and view the events. If the BBC does not uphold impartiality and fairness it will mislead the public and even defame or slander an innocent party. Unfortunately, this is what the BBC has done.
Upon seeing the May 28, 2014 report condemning the Church of Almighty God and its members as the perpetrators and also the report previously published on August 13, 2014 again reinforcing the implication that the Church of Almighty God is responsible and even trains the members of the Church to instigate such actions from the Zhaoyuan case or in destroying families. However, in the report, there was no investigation other than taking the word of the Communist Party, and the outcome is that the BBC has reported what was told to them by a brutal, inhuman regime in China, that is represented by the CCP, acting as the mouthpiece of a political party that is more devilish than the Nazi Party and which symbols and even membership is banned in many areas of the world because wherever the CCP goes, people will suffer numerous disasters. The BBC must know that. So why would it support the CCP? Does it mean that the BBC now stands for "Better Believe Communism"?
What has happened to the BBC Editorial Guidelines? Where was the independent investigation? Why only show one side of the story? Is there still fairness or openminded-ness?
If the BBC keeps publishing their unsubstantiated stories, then isn't it an abhorrent doing? If the BBC continues to side with the CCP without objectively checking the facts, doesn't it show that the BBC lost its senses when it was wooed by the CCP? Perhaps the BBC's relationship with the CCP can be called "Better Believe Communism & Collect Communist Payoff." It is an open secret that the CCP buys off and pressures politicians and even reporters to achieve their ends. Surely the BBC knows the history of the CCP's methods? Is it possible that the BBC has been bought off? What are the implications of this reporting only one side of the event? Does the BBC really want to be a tool of oppression?
The BBC is accountable. Yes, even in the BBC editorial guidelines accountability, fairness and impartiality are stressed, yet in this news piece where can we see the impartial reporting? Where can we see the fairness? We welcome the BBC to publish the links of our church materials and videos, so the BBC audience can have an impartial chance to discover the truth for themselves.
The mission of the Church of Almighty God is to spread the truths that the returned Christ expressed in the end time for the whole mankind. God's words in the end time, The Word Appears in the Flesh, teaches us how to live out the likeness of a real man and satisfy God's will. It is the greatest honor for us to share God's word with others. It's common knowledge that the CCP is the most evil power on earth, which is the enemy of God, and it wants to prevent God's word from spreading to the entire mankind. That is why it persecutes and frames and hinders the Church of Almighty God. This man in the Zhaoyuan event is most definitely not a member of our Church. From his own words it is obvious he doesn't believe in Almighty God. No one in the Church recognizes him. So what would his actions have to do with the Church of Almighty God?
The BBC has made a grossly incorrect report and we demand it to be corrected and your response published on the BBC webpage. Millions of Church members are waiting.


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- Description
Lacewing larvae are natural predators of aphids and other soft bodied pests and are able to eat over 300 pests each, so they are ideal for clearing heavy infestations under-glass. Use them to clear heavy infestations of pests in greenhouses and conservatories i.e. aphids, whitefly and mealybug. Lacewing larvae occur naturally in the garden, but with a huge appetite for aphids they can be used to clear heavy infestation of pest under-glass. Each lacewing larvae will eat about 300 aphids each before turning into an adult lacewing and dispersing. At this point, Aphidius can be introduced to give on-going aphid control. Currently unavailable.
N.B. Lacewing Larvae are currently unavailable, so for aphid control, use Ladybird Larvae instead - CLICK HERE
Lacewing Larvae are supplied in a cardboard tube containing the larvae and buckwheat husks - simply open the tube and sprinkle the larvae (and the buckwheat husks) over the affected plants. The larvae soon settle down to feed on aphids and other soft bodied insects such as whitefly and thrip. Lacewing larvae are safe to use on food crops, are safe for children, pets and wildlife and are easy to apply. N.B. Lacewing Larvae are available between May and August.
N.B. If you have recently used a chemical spray i.e. within the last 2-3 weeks, please contact us (firstname.lastname@example.com) to check how soon Lacewing Larvae can be introduced? Once the infestation is under control, the relevant natural predator can be introduced to give on-going control i.e. introduce Aphidius for on-going aphid control.
- Reviews
Customer Reviews 1 item(s)
- Lacewing Larvae
Great service at a good price
I have used Green Gardener products for a number of years. They supply a number of natural pest control options and I have tried several of them.
I have used nemaslug successfully for several years, also vine weevil control for adults and grubs. I have also tried encarsia in the greenhouse, adult ladybirds, larvae and lacewing larvae to control greenfly. All products that have worked well and benefitted the garden.
They provide a good and reliable service, particularly the two part delivery which ensures that you treat at the right time
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Get Creative with Small Business Financing
Whenever I'm asked about financing a small business and especially about capital raising to buy an online business, I can't help but think of the well known saying "A Banker is a man who will loan you a Brolly (umbrella) when the sun is shining, but he'll ask for it back the minute it begins to rain!"
I first heard this attributed to Winston Churchill, but I have to admit (reluctantly because I'm a Brit), I think it was actually said first by Robert Frost, either way, I find it to be sadly, all too true, and at the same time not really surprising.
Bankers are tasked with holding our deposited money securely and ensuring it's available whenever we may have need or desire to withdraw it. They're therefore also tasked with ensuring that they only loan said deposited money to those who can easily repay it. Hence the other saying which I believe came from Bob Hope (I just know a disgusting percentage of under 30's are now off to Google Bob Hope!) "A bank is a place that will lend you money, but only if you can prove you don't need it."
Are You Buying More Business Than You Should?
I think first and foremost you need to address why you need seller financing to buy the business. You really want to avoid being like the actress with a fur coat but no knickers, you want to be sure you're not buying something you can't really afford! So consider maybe starting out a little smaller with something you can finance yourself and build. One of the biggest advantages of doing business online, especially once you get things properly set up and automated, is that you can very often run and grow more than one at a time.
Are You Asking Too Much Of The Seller?
If you're a seller and you've built a good business, have solid, verifiable income and expense records, decent traffic history with established vendor and customer relationships, why on earth would you give up 100% control of your business to a total stranger for anything less than 100% of its value?
Well, almost shockingly, there are actually good, sometimes very good, business opportunities with seller financing available. Good ones are typically few and far between but there can be extenuating circumstances such as the seller has another opportunity and needs to cash out to take advantage of that, but the business doesn't have enough 'age' on it yet to have reached its full potential.
In my experience, you'll always get the best 'deal' when you are financing a business yourself or at least outside of the basic negotiation.
What Are The Options?
So what's an entrepreneur to do when they're looking to finance their purchase of an online business and the bank has effectively said "no way are we funding your fly-by-night web biz dude" or the typically much more verbose but still dismissive banker equivalent of it?
Let's invite a little sunshine into this conversation by saying all is not lost here, there are still quite a few options you can tap into to realize your dream of owning an online business!
Sell your stock portfolio (that baby from the eTrade ad's can show you exactly how), cash in your 401-K (that's a Private Pension for those not familiar with the US vernacular), take a second mortgage on your house (back to the Bankers for that one – but they're much more picky than a few years ago before they drained the housing and financial markets faster than the entire cast of Twilight on a major binge) hmm none of those find the sun shining on your parade yet?
As a last resort you could always tap your friends and family for a loan, but if that too strikes you as NOT quite the perfect raft on which to launch your entrepreneurial voyage, read on to learn more about seller financing and how to go about trying to land some.
Cash is always going to talk loudest to a seller but if you absolutely must look for seller financing, it's essential to approach it as if you are approaching a bank for a small business loan.
You really need to prove you're a good risk and offer some sort of security such as a Promissory Note PLUS and maybe even further financial benefit to compensate the seller for the additional risk they're assuming should you default on the loan for whatever reason.
This type of financing structure and approach has the best chance of a seller giving your offer serious consideration.
What Are Holdbacks?
Another more common reason to justify asking for seller financing is if/when there are legitimate concerns regarding some aspect of the business itself or to secure the sellers compliance with terms and provision of transitional training. Either of these situations would warrant a financial mechanism (usually a holdback) to mitigate the risk of a buyers concerns whether they are justified or not – but it's still really a form of Seller Financing albeit short term.
What Are Performance Based Earn-Outs?
If there is some justifiable reason or concern on the part of the buyer but he can convince the seller he (the buyer) is capable of overcoming it then a seller may agree to take some cash up front (allowing them to move forward with a new project) plus a specified percentage of profits from the business you're buying until a pre-defined value cap is reached. This can also be for a specific period of time but then how much the seller will realize is dependent on the buyer's ongoing success running the company, so there's additional risk there too.
Either of these options will usually provide the seller with the ability to 'potentially' make more than the asking price as compensation for taking on the risk. If the seller is a bit more risk averse they may prefer to ask for a promissory note, kind of like a bank would but in this case the seller IS the banker – expect to pay interest on the loan, make regular payments on make them on time or they may end up owning your new business all over again.


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Saundra M.Gumerove has enjoyed a distinguished legal career that spans 30 years-initially practicing in the areas of corporate law, banking, commercial finance, real estate and most recently, in the special needs sector.
She earned a B.A. degree from the School of Government and Public Administration at American University, and a J.D. degree from Hofstra University Law School. For five years, Saundra worked for Senator Charles Goodell and North Carolina Congressman James Broyhill as a legislative assistant and caseworker.
The birth of Saundra's first child changed everything. She defines herself as an attorney, an advocate, and most importantly- the parent of a developmentally disabled, learning disabled and medically involved young adult. After realizing the other parents of children with disabilities were facing similar issues, Saundra began providing them assistance and support-both personally and professionally. She refocused her practice to assisting others in gaining vital services for their loved ones, including special education, guardianships, life planning, estate planning, and Special Needs Trusts.
Saundra has been recognized countless times for her community service and achievements. She is a sought-after speaker on legal matters and special needs issues. She has participated in Continuing Legal Education programs for the New York State Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Association and the Academy of Special Needs Planners. She has also presented seminars for parents of children with disabilities for Nassau-AHRC, the Developmental Disabilities Institute, and Life's WORC, where she is an advisor to its Pooled Supplemental Needs Pooled Trust.
The Town of Oyster Bay nominated Saundra "Woman of the Year." She participated in the National Town Hall Meeting sponsored by Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, which resulted in a national agenda presented at a conference in Washington, D.C. She was the proud recipient of the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award-Mets Spirit Award during Disability Awareness Night at Shea Stadium for her work on behalf of disabled Americans.
In 2010, Saundra received the Hodgson/Jacobs Law Award from NYSARC, Inc. That same year, she was named Touro Law School's Public Interest Attorney of the Year and was inducted into the Jericho High School Hall of Fame for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. She was named a 2011 Best Advisor and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The New York Enterprise Report. Most recently Saundra was named a 2015, 2016 & 2017 Super Lawyer.
In February of 2012, Saundra was invited by the Obama administration to attend a White House meeting, "Community Leaders Briefing" as part of the three-person delegation from NYSARC, Inc., of New York State and the only attendee from Long Island. She serves as NYSARC Southeastern Regional V.P., Chairperson of AHRC- Nassau's Governmental Affairs Committee, and is also on the Board of Directors of Nassau AHRC.
Saundra is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association,the Nassau County Bar Association where she served as Chair of the Elder Law Committee. She lives with her husband Jeff Bernstein in Jericho, NY. They are the parents of three lovely daughters.


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Your Baby's Language Skills: From Seven To 12 Months
Your little one is changing from a baby to a toddler – welcome to your new mini chatterbox
Ok, seriously where did the time go?
One minute, crying was your baby's only real way of letting you know what he wanted, and now he's got some full blown vocal acrobatics going on.
There's plenty you can do to encourage his language and communication skills – mostly involving talking yourself. Hey, you've got a captive audience…
Encourage chatting
At seven months, most babies are babbling and by nine months he might be able to combine syllables into long patterns and begin to change pitch and tone. When it comes to the one-year mark, you may well be hearing him jabber word-like sounds.
You can help boost your baby's language skills by talking to him as much as possible – reading books, telling him how your day was, even relating the latest plot in New Girl.
Also use his name as much as possible, so he gets used to it and doesn't become confused with pronouns, such as 'you'. Before the year's up, chances are he'll learn to recognise and respond to it.
Get signing
Using baby sign language to communicate has become quite common over the past 10 years.
'Watch closely and you may find your child uses his hands to gesture for things anyway,' says speech and language therapist Libby Hill.
Signing involves mirroring these gestures and, perhaps focusing on just a couple such as mimicking a drink of milk, repeating and seeing if he starts to copy.
'Research suggests signing improves your baby's understanding of language by providing a visual layer,' says Libby.
The key is to use it alongside spoken language. If you accompany signs with words, it's a great way to encourage interaction.


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Climate Change to Blame for Brazil's Weather Woes?
Sao Paulo is underwater. The most populous city in the Americas was drenched with more rain than it could handle; Yesterday alone, it amounted to nearly half of the total precipitation expected for the entire month of December. The rain not only shut down the bustling city, but was responsible for six deaths and countless displacements. At least 15 more people died in mudslides across the state. Some experts are calling the unprecedented rainfall symptomatic of the climate change phenomenon. By the way, it's still raining.Too Much Rain for Sao Paulo
The rain triggered mudslides in the city's poorest neighborhoods, called favelas, burying four brothers as their home was overtaken. Two more fatatlities were reported in other districts across the sprawling city and countless residents have been evacuated from their homes due to fears of more mudslides throughout.
Sao Paulo also experienced extensive flooding, causing two of the city's major rivers to swell over their banks--washing out several key highways. Traffic was backed-up for nearly 75 miles as motorists were stranded for hours.
For the last several weeks, heavy rains have been falling across the entire region of south-Brazil, causing damage to an estimated 15,000 homes and forcing dozens of municipalities to declare a state of emergency.
The "abnormal" weather has some scientists pointing the finger at climate change.
It's Too Dry in the Amazon
While the rain continues to pound Sao Paulo and south-Brazil, the situation couldn't be more different in the northern-Amazon region of the country--which has been experiencing a widespread drought--killing thousands of fish as the Negro River's tributaries have been drying up. The river itself has dropped over 45 feet since earlier this year.
Carlos Nobre, of the National Institute of Space Research, calls it an "atypical" drought, with warmer ocean temperatures the likely culprit. He continues:
When it comes to the Rio Negro, in Manaus, this drought has no parallel in the last 103 years. That is, since 1902, when the level of the Rio Negro began to be measured.
215 thousand people in the region are said to be affected as crops have become decimated and rampant forest fires cloud the air with smoke. People living the more remote regions are thought to be stranded in some areas as the normally flowing waterways have been reduced to stagnating puddles.
Experts warn that deforestation of the Amazon may be contributing to the lack of rainfall, which would be another great reason to stop the practice immediatly.
As Sao Paulo city administrators struggle to regain control over their water-logged city and Amazonians continue to brace for many more months of drought, one can only wonder to what extent this could have been avoided? Any ventured guess would be purely speculative, of course, but with every passing day of too much rain or none at all the drenched and dry are suspecting climate change may be to blame.
More on Extreme Weather
6 Extreme Weather Projections for the U.S.
Australian Heatwave: "Climate Change Link is Very Likely"
Europe's Warmest Winter in 700 Years