text:
The photography companies that take the school pictures have come up with the greatest marketing ploy ever to make you buy those photos. They send home the entire package, including plastic-coated key-ring photos, without you even ordering them.
No mother worth her salt is going to tell her child that he or she must return their own photo to school!
Or would she?
I told Walsh this morning that his spring photo wasn't fantastic. I told him his hair needed to be cut and it was all in his eyes.
I didn't say this to him, but he also has in the photo one big-boy front tooth next to a baby front tooth that looks a little crazy. His smile was forced and fake. Plus he was wearing a Halloween shirt in February.
I recognize that all of this is my own fault, except for the tooth and smile parts, because I didn't pay attention to the spring photo date, but that doesn't mean I have to pay $42 for five pages of bad photos. (I have plenty of beautiful photos of my son that we take at home.)
He put on fake tears at the breakfast table and told me I hurt his feelings.
I bought one page of the photos for $12 and sent the rest back.
If you don't send them back in time you owe the full price for all five sheets of photos even though you didn't ask for them.
Do you buy the school photo in the Fall and in the Spring? (They shoot twice a year now! Your order the Fall ones but the spring ones they just send on home.)
Do you think the photo companies are trying to guilt parents into buying or force them to pay for not returning in time?
Did you ever not buy your child's school photos? Did you feel bad not buying them? Were their feelings hurt?
Do you find that the school photos are in general not very good? I get much better results with my kids when I take them in some place. I think they take more shots until they get a good one. With the school photos I think they take one or two and that's it – kind of like the DMV.
March 30th, 2010
7:10 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MOMania. MOMania said: Dare to send back your child's school photo? http://bit.ly/cZkVuM [...]
March 30th, 2010
7:10 am
i rarely bought the school packages…they were way too expensive and were not great pictures. i have tons of pics of my kids, some professional and some that others took…unless the pics were great im not spending that kind of money for them. and they usually werent great. on important occasions i had them done professionally, like graduation etc…when they did the yearbook photos for my daughters graduation they made everyone turn the same way-that way wasnt her best side as she broke her nose when she was little and it makes that side of her profile look funny (she thinks0i think you can barely tell) the photographer wouldnt let her turn to her 'good' side…we had pics made just like the ones they took with the black robe and all and thats what was put in the yearbook…the main ones we ever bought were the ones they would have made extra with their friends,..they werent so fornally posed and usually turned out well so we would go in with the other parents and buy some of those…dont feel bad for sending them back….no reason you should spend that much money on something you dont like….
March 30th, 2010
7:10 am
I'm a professional photographer. I don't operate in the school photo business though.
Regarding the quality of the photographs: there's two forces at work here. The first is they take 30-60 seconds per student, and the second is the "Photographer" is usually a minimally paid hourly employee if you are working with one of the big school picture companies. These companies advertise on Craigslist for seasonal help – hardly experienced and knowledgeable photographers.
Also keep in mind that this is a major source of funding for either the school system or the PTA and these companies pay money for the right to be there.
I don't think my kids (boys age 6 and 3) since they've seen me work, edit photos and I've told them there are good photos and bad photos. The bad photos get tossed and we move on!
If you want a good photo of your kids – take your kids to somewhere where the business owner shoots the photos, and not hourly help!
March 30th, 2010
7:14 am
We tell them ahead of time we're not going to buy them. Instead we go to Portrait Innovations and have pictures made with all of us. We get much better pictures that way at a lower cost. Still, sometimes we will buy the keychain and bookmark school picture sheets.
March 30th, 2010
7:17 am
i have bought the keychains etc…but sometimes you can only buy the extras if you buy a package…grrrr
March 30th, 2010
7:38 am
As a divorced dad, I'm not allowed input in any of those decisions. Which is fine, because when we were married my opinion wasn't really important to the outcome of these type of things anyway. Bada Bang, I'll be here all week, be sure to tip your waiter or waitress.
March 30th, 2010
7:38 am
@ Dennis…good points and thanks for sharing.
I almost NEVER guilt myself into spending money on something I do not want. I HAVE bought a candy bar or two that I did not need, from a neighbor kid but that is less than $5.
School pictures ( to me) are never the quality that a private portrait can be and after Dennis' comment…I can see why.
Theresa, we have a friend who is a part time photographer and lives right near you. He took our daughter's Senior pictures at the Lilburn Park in the fall and we were thrilled with the results . He included our family too. If you want his name, e-mail me and I could send you the link to view our pictures He is reasonable and friendly. He will come to you or meet you somewhere for an outside shoot ( our fall photos were so nice but spring ones could be too). He took pictures of our dog too and they were so cute! He was quite affordable and the personalization made it great.
March 30th, 2010
7:45 am
@ Jeff…not trying to hijack the blog but since you mentioned the tip thing:
I park at Park and Ticket ( at the airport). The parking is $11 per day for uncovered and $15 for covered. I park in the $11 lot. I drive a Chevy Malibu and my car is not by baby.
I have 3 suitcases and tip $1 per suitcase ( $3) on the way out and on the way back…in the shuttle for the airport…$6 each trip.
I assume the rule is to drop off the covered parkers first. They pay more to park but they NEVER tip the driver….just smile and say thanks. This is beginning to irk me. I think a BUCK would not hurt them? i am the last one dropped off ( many times) as I park close to the front of the lot and covered is in the back. I am often the only one who tips. I hate to not tip, as that is not fair to the driver.
I have jokingly mentioned it and the drivers agree that those who drive the nicest cars do not tip.
Your thoughts Jeff?
Sorry to jump to a different topic…everyone else…just go back to photos….:)
March 30th, 2010
7:51 am
@deidre_NC…the trinkets have a much higher cost to the studio than prints do! Forcing you to buy a package ensures they make a profit.
March 30th, 2010
7:56 am
This is a great teaching moment for your son. He is old enough to understand that people are always trying to sell you things that you don't want or need. You can show him that the company is using kids (and their mothers love) to try and make a profit. It's good to start them early to become a savy and critical consumer.
March 30th, 2010
7:59 am
I send back the school photos most of the time. They are usually terrible so I see no reason to waste the money.
And, no, it has nevered bothered my kids when I haven't purchased. They usually tell me if the pictures are good or awful before I've even seen them.
I'm not a huge fan of the school wasting time taking pictures twice a year. Once is sufficient, IMO.
March 30th, 2010
8:13 am
I bought my daughters first school pictures but I probably won't buy any more. I prefer the professional pictures. No reason to waste the money.
March 30th, 2010
8:13 am
Jane, what part of town do you live in? Is it within 20 minutes of the airport?
March 30th, 2010
8:15 am
I don't buy them. My kids never take great school pictures. They have all gone to private preschool, and those pictures are great, and I buy those.
This last time, though, I forgot it was my youngest's photo day (preschool). I sent him to school in a Halloween shirt (I thought it was funny, Theresa, that Walsh was wearing a Halloween shirt in his, too.), he desperately needed a haircut, and he had a small area of bedhead. However, his pictures turned out adorable. I will buy the smallest package for two of the poses.
With my girls (regular school), I told them ahead of time that it is a rip-off and that I will take them somewhere else for pictures. They know I am cheap, and they seem to understand when something is not worth the money. However, I would most definitely buy a class photo so they can have a nice keepsake of the school year.
March 30th, 2010
8:22 am
I always try to buy the class photo, which is usually around $10 or $12 dollars. I have rarely bought the school photos except for the special ones – i.e. the graduations (K & 5th), and some of the academic photos – clubs, competitions, etc. Generally, I have their photos taken by a professional.
March 30th, 2010
8:23 am
@ Jeff…Mall of GA ( 45 miles) and when I head to the airport I am frequently leaving another client…I cannot leave my car in a random school lot and feel good about it. Do not want to get dropped back off in a dark lot when I get home.
I am thinking you may be thinking of a shuttle. Just curious about the tipping aspect as I have never worked in the service industry and depended on tips.
March 30th, 2010
8:32 am
OMG, I have every single year of school pictures of my daughter. They are priceless!!!! I look back on them and I can see my baby growing up. I purchased the minimum package every year, but I did purchase them. My mom has all my school pictures and they are hilarious to go back and look at.
Professional photogs have their place. But the school pictures, when you look back on them years later, are just wonderful. Our kids are kids, not professional models.
Theresa, this year's picture of Walsh should be in a frame. When else are you going to see baby teeth right next to the "adult" teeth. These pictures should be put up and you should take pride in your child. You know how they feel when they see their pictures in a frame out on display? They feel great seeing their pictures out there!!!!!
My mom has tables loaded with pictures of all of us growing up. The kids absolutely LOVE looking at all the pictures and laughing. They bring back so many memories.
Buy the pictures, even though they aren't perfect and professional, and put them in frames and put them out on display!!!!!!
March 30th, 2010
8:38 am
I used to take a cab to the airport but I was in Va/Hi. I am not an advocate of the remote shuttle and leaving your car in some unattended lot. Here's something I would do on a rare occasion, work out something with the manager of one of the rental car places so you can leave your car there (gated, attended) and take their shuttle over to the terminal. It may work out cheaper in the big picture. the airport lots aren't safe enough, and the off-property lots aren't convenient enough.
I'm a fairly generous tipper, and although I've never worked in the service industry either, I know a lot of their income depends on those tips. I try to think of it as; if karma turns out to be true (it's the aethiest version of the golden rule, lol), tipping will hopefully build my credit balance. If it turns out not to be true, then all I got was a little do-the-right-thing in my pocket.
March 30th, 2010
8:43 am
We buy the individual photos in the fall only, and even then just the minimum package to get some wallets and a few larger ones for grandparents. Today my son is having spring pictures and class photos. We will only purchase the class photo. He also just had spring baseball photos done. I think the whole school/sports/event photography business has gotten so out of hand. I'm not even sure if the school PTA or baseball league gets any kind of kickback. If they do, it would be nice for them to tell us so we know they are benefiting financially in some way and it's not just the photo company getting all the $$.
I do agree Theresa that the photo companies are putting a huge guilt trip on parents by sending completed photos home. We've never had this happen, but for today's pictures we got a flyer where you actually pre-order photo packages…before you even see a proof! This was new to me.
March 30th, 2010
8:43 am
My son still has his baby teeth. He is in the first grade. This is terrible, but its quite simple and honest. The children who still have their baby teeth are cute. The children that don't are awkward looking.
I know its horrible, but I think it every time I visit his class.
He wants to lose a tooth so badly, and I dread the day.
Oh, and I am not much on pictures. I regret not taking more over the years.
March 30th, 2010
8:46 am
Thanks Jeff…the lot I use is gated and attended…so that seems o.k. Outta here now…have a great day all!
March 30th, 2010
8:50 am
@Evil Toothfairie–my son (also a first grader) lost his 2 lower front teeth last year, but the adult teeth were right behind them and came in quickly. He just lost his first front upper tooth a couple weeks ago, and the new tooth is nowhere in sight, so he'll have that big gap for a while. And yes, it may look awkward and he may sound a little different with that space in his mouth, but when it's your own child it's just wonderful. You know your child is growing up! And that new tooth will come in before too long, and in a few short years he'll have a full mouth of permanent teeth and you'll wonder where the time went! So just enjoy the normal changes your son is going through.
March 30th, 2010
9:01 am
A, its still cute when the tooth is gone. But its when they get those HUGE two front teeth that looks not cute anymore.
Kids are cute when they're little, then askward and not cute for many years. Then as adults they are either attractive or not.
But all little kids are cute.
March 30th, 2010
9:07 am
A parent has a right to not buy an unflattering picture of his/her child. The "hurt feelings" enter the scene when said parent buys the pictures of the other siblings.
I have always bought my boys' pictures. However, I have to select and pay for the package I want before the photographer appeared at the school. No money; no picture. After the package arrives at home, I have the option to order more pictures. There is also a "retake" opportunity. I don't know if it costs more, since I have never had to use it.
By the way, on picture day this year, my high schooler wore a shirt that read,"You know you're ugly when…"
Since this picture will appear in the year book, I considered having it re-taken. I decided not to because this shirt will always remind me of this time and his unusual taste in clothing.
March 30th, 2010
9:21 am
I would send anything back I didn't want! I always buy a few, but rarely the whole package. My son has always taken REALLY good pictures -the youngest one has only had one "school" photo experience -both are still in preschool. They do send the whole package though, but I don't need that many!
March 30th, 2010
9:28 am
I took some UGLY pictures some years and rather than thinking "oh, look at me in the 3rd grade" I think "dang I hope Mama didn't give these out". I think parents should be consistent, though. Either buy pictures each year or not. Or at least have pictures made each year or not. I could see a person feeling bad about not having a 3rd grade picture to look back on because that was their "ugly" year. People remember what they want to remember and how they want to remember it. "Mama thought I was ugly" is different than "I didn't take a good picture that year" but you never know what the feeling is going to be. I doubt seriously anyone wants their child to think their parent thinks they are ugly.
March 30th, 2010
9:40 am
I haven't purchased school pictures in years. I have a hard time paying for pictures upfront. Olan Mills does the "Watch Me Grow" program which I used for both of my kids. I was able to choose everything which I really enjoyed.
March 30th, 2010
9:55 am
My parents usually bought the smallest package of the fall photos – the ones that went in the yearbook. But back then, those were the only ones done at school, and we didn't have access to SO MANY photos via digital technology. By the time I got to middle school and we moved to a district that did twice-yearly photos, my parents sent back the spring photos every single time. By high school, the only year they bought the formal photos, was senior year. The other three years, we went to a Wal-Mart or similar, and got packages for less than $10.
My parents told us before pictures were taken, that we weren't buying any. There wasn't any extra money for that stuff – we were old enough by then to know that would be the case. Because we knew going into the photo shoot that we wouldn't buy any, there were no hurt feelings over thinking that Mom and Dad just didn't think the pictures were "good enough".
March 30th, 2010
9:55 am
Also, my son has had a couple portrait days at daycare so far. We have yet to order any from them . . .
March 30th, 2010
9:59 am
@Theresa, I really don't understand the filter… every now & then a seemingly mundane post gets eaten up.
March 30th, 2010
9:59 am
Sorry, no time to read through all of the posts. I think the school/photographers DO try to guilt you into pics. I've also noticed that 9 times out of 10, the spring photos are much better than the fall ones. Most of the time they are not good quality. I usually buy the cheapest package 12 or 14 dollars, NOT out of guilt, but so that I can say these are the school pics.
March 30th, 2010
10:02 am
I spend a good deal of money on my favorite photographer every year. Plus, I personally take thousands of photos of the kids every year. I'm quite certain my children will not think that I am ashamed of their looks.
March 30th, 2010
10:32 am
Does anyone know why schools are doing 2 pictures days now? When I was in elementary school in the late '70s/early '80s (and even later in middle and high school), it was one day a year and you got your individual and class pictures done at the same time. Now it's individual fall and spring and class in the spring. As I said earlier, if I knew for sure the PTA was somehow getting some financial benefit out of this, I wouldn't object so much. But if they are not, then why are schools…especially the public ones that are laying off staff and cutting programs…wasting 2 days out of the year on pictures?
March 30th, 2010
10:34 am
$42 a package?!?!?!/ GEEZ!!! I think we were lucky — at our kids school, a minimal package (8×10, wallets and 1 5×7) came as part of the tuition (I don't say "free"!) and if we wanted more, we could buy more. (The yearbooks were included in tuition, too, so we have a complete collection of those, too.) The arts guild also had a professional photographer come out in the fall that families would sign up with, and those pictures were lovely, people used them for Christmas pics, etc. Of course, the fees from those pics went towards the arts guild.
Even if the photos are hideous, I still saved them — they will make great photos when you're putting together the wedding rehearsal Power Point show! Everyone is not always perfect. My mom still has my 8th grade picture — truly, truly hideous. We had been water skiing the weekend before, my face was blotchy from sunburn, my lips were chapped, my hair was wild and I had just brushed it back with a hairband. Lets not forget the dark-rimmed cat-eye glasses, shall we? And I put on my favorite multi-colored striped shirt — and then realized, in horror, when I got to school that Monday was PICTURE DAY! Omigod . . . a truly, truly hideous photo. And yet — whenever I see that picture, I remember what a wonderful time me and my family had the weekend before swimming, skiing and crabbing . . . :-)
March 30th, 2010
10:48 am
I don't need photos of my kids. They are annoying and worthless.
March 30th, 2010
10:51 am
There were 3 school years in a row where I looked at my daughters photos and told her I would not be paying for them. Usually the reason was "wild hair". I made it a point to buy them this year since it was her first year of middle school. I'll buy the 8th grade, 9th grade and Senior Year, but that's about it.
March 30th, 2010
10:53 am
@Smoked Oyster – the kids or the pictures?
March 30th, 2010
10:59 am
OK, since my last post got lost in cyberspace…
My son's school does the deal where they send home the whole package and then you are supposed to send back either the money or the pictures. His pictures were cruddy as usual (How hard is it to get a 14 year old to at least look at the camera before you take the picture??) so I sent them back to school. About a week later, I see them in his bookbag. Uh hello, I don't want to pay for those things. My son says, "Mr. Homeroom teacher told us not to bother turning them in because he's just going to throw them in the trash. The photography company doesn't really care about getting them back." I was a bit surprised so I took them out of his bookbag and put them away thinking that if I did get a message [or a bill], I would return them. That was in September. I have never been asked or billed for them. I do wonder what these companies do with all the leftover pictures. Hopefully they recycle. I guess they make enough money off the people who do buy them not to have to worry about those who don't.
March 30th, 2010
11:11 am
@TechMom, when we've gone to Picture People in the past (before they went digital), you'd have a full package of pictures (of 5 different poses, I think) waiting for you when you went back to the store an hour or so after your sitting. Their prices back 5-7 years ago when my son was a baby/toddler were something like $18/sheet, which you can imagine adds up quickly. We'd buy a few and then right in front of us they would throw the rest away!! It's not only heartbreaking for the customer, but extremely wasteful for Picture People in terms of labor and supplies.
Thankfully the last time we went there about 2 1/2 years ago, everything was digital and while they will show you about 100 different pictures, they only print out what you actually order.
March 30th, 2010
11:16 am
School photos are a rip off….I buy the smallest pkg possible in the Fall….I buy the Class Photo in the spring. I do not usually buy the package in the spring.
Yes they have a photo of my favorite subject matter. Yes I want to capture these precious years. Yes the school gets a kickback on the orders.
They are still WAY over priced and I am not going to feel guilty about sending them back. I do not send them with the child though. I walk them to the front desk at school
March 30th, 2010
11:25 am
@ TechMom I did the same thing. She had received the pictures back on a Friday that she went to her mom's and they were in her bookbag. Her mom took them out and helped herself to some of them (w/o sending any money of course). She came home on Sunday and gave them to us. I just said oh well. Waited a few days, nothing came and the teacher didn't send home any note so I cut out one to replace the last year's in the frame and the rest are sitting in a box in the closet. It is such a waste.
March 30th, 2010
11:27 am
The kids. Thank god they live with the ex and her even more worthless boyfriend. They are all living off my money.
Seems child support and alimony are paying for the 17 year old's car that he is always wrecking, or having to install another stupid looking wing. I need a new lawyer.
March 30th, 2010
11:29 am
I used to struggle with this as well. As I'm a semi-pro photographer, my kids see me get rid of bad photos all the time and this year they came home complaining that the color was bad on the pictures. We got the single sheet, but I really prefer the pictures where you catch them off guard. Soooooooooooo much better. Guess that's why I'm in sports photography…
March 30th, 2010
11:35 am
@Smoked Oyster are you actually involved in the 17 year old's life (i.e. have you given him a reason to think of you as anything other than his bank?)
March 30th, 2010
11:43 am
If I don't like it…they go back. End of story.
March 30th, 2010
11:43 am
@FCM, I am exactly the same. Smallest photo package in the fall, class photo in the spring. Nothing more. We take our own pictures throughout the year, and every few years go to a Picture People/Portrait Innovations place for professional family pictures. As I've said in my other posts, if the school or the PTA is not getting a cut from the exorbitant school picture fees, then why are they wasting precious school time on this twice a year?
March 30th, 2010
11:50 am
I take my kids to walmart and get their picks done at different times, and then together for the holidays. Henry County school employees' get their kids' pix for free. Is this the case in other counties? One girl in middle school pix, the cheapest $38, and my elementary daughter was $30 for the cheapest package.
March 30th, 2010
11:50 am
Send them back. If you have photos this year of your child, you don't need to buy these. Especially don't buy the photos just out of sheer guilt. You are NOT rejecting your child, just rejecting a poor photo attempt by some unknown photographer.
My favorite photo guy is Ken Rada. He does several pics of each kid then posts them online and You choose which pics you want, what sizes and how many.
In today's digital world, getting actual prints before you've previewed the pictures seems like a big waste.
March 30th, 2010
11:58 am
@penguinmom I'm with you. I don't understand why they don't put them on a website and send home the web address and an access code. If you want them, you buy them. BUT obviously it's a marketing ploy – once they're printed and home, more people buy them than would otherwise.
March 30th, 2010
12:01 pm
I think schools should stop the practice of photographers sending pictures (not proofs) home with the child. It's an aggressive selling tactic that should not take place at a school and use kids as the messenger, since the photos are coming home with them. Agree with Penguinmom about posting proofs on a secure site and allowing parents to make their own decisions about what to purchase in the comfort of their home or office. For parents that may not have access to a computer, sending home a proof would fulfill the same thing without guilt-tripping parents.


text:
MS05-011: Vulnerability in server message block could allow remote code execution
Article ID: 885250 - View products that this article applies to.
Technical updateDecember 13, 2005
Microsoft has released security bulletin MS05-011. The security bulletin contains all the relevant information about the security update. This includes file manifest information and deployment options. To view the complete security bulletin, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Known issues
Article ID: 885250 - Last Review: February 6, 2007 - Revision: 7.8

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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They are news stories and they are the people behind them, they are photos and videos and GIFs. They are, quite simply and in chronological order, the good things.


text:
This is my 2nd fanfic... :D
Hope you like it... :)
(Banner: Alice Jones... thank you Alice, it's amazing! :])
This story is about Bella when she is 6 years old. Reneé and Charlie never got divorced. But Reneé died when Bella was 4, and Charlie never got over it. He started drinking and Bella must do everything on her own. What happens when Bella gets enough? Will she meet the Cullens? Will they take her in? Or let her be?
I ran. All I could think about was to get out of that nasty place, the place that once was my home. The place where I once was happy where there were no worries in the world. I didn't know where I could go if I went to Billy he would probably just call my dad. And I didn't want to go back there. Ever again. I didn't bother to push the branches aside, I just ran through them. I didn't have much time. I hurt to leave him behind, but he had hurt me first. In the end, I couldn't keep endure it. It had just became too much. As I ran I thought about the good old days. I wanted to remember him as the smiling person he used to be. Not the one I was afraid of, the one I couldn't trust. He had broken my heart, and I couldn't keep up the parade anymore. I single tear ran down my cheek and ended on Mr. Chocolate Chip.
Chapter 1
"What is wrong Isabella?,, my teacher Ms. Kim asked me. I briefly looked her in the eyes, and then concentrated on my drawing again.
"I miss my mommy!,, I lied. But it wasn't entirely a lie I missed her. But that wasn't why I was so sad.
She sighed.
"I know sweetie I know.,, she said and brushed my hair away from my eyes. I looked into hers again and mine spilled over with tears, because of the sympathy in them. She reminded me so much of my mother, who I would never see again. I quickly dried my eyes before the others came, or I would get teased. Ms. Kim's big blue eyes stared at me for a little while longer before she sighed again and walked back to her table.
I sat in the class waiting for the school day to begin and drew little butterflies and flowers on a piece of paper. I imagined that my mom would sit in the white clouds I drew and be happy. I hoped she was happy wherever she was.
I rode with the early morning bus and arrived 20 minutes earlier than everybody else. But I didn't want to go any later than that. Anything to get out from that place.
The bus driver was the same every morning and he always got a little sympathy in his expression when he saw me standing there in my little coat that wasn't warm enough. No matter the wetter, I would stand there early in the morning waiting for the bus. With my little schoolbag on, and my worn out sneakers and mittens I looked poor. (Bella's outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/school_outfit/set?id=14155114)
But the truth is I wasn't. I wasn't rich either, but the money we had was just used on something else. The bus driver never let me pay for my ticket; every morning he would say:
"Hey there Isabella, ready for school?,, and he would smile. I would nod and send a shy smile back. Then he would open the little door that lead in to his seat and take my hand, and let me drive the bus with him. He was a kind man, Kenney, the bus driver. He was one of my greatest friends.
The other kids in the school wore pretty cloths, and some of them made fun of me.
The ones who were meanest, Jessica and Lauren were their names, kept pulling in my shirt and say: "Ew, where did you find that? In the trash in the backyard?,, and other mean things like that.
I was shy and only had two real friends in school. Angela and Mike. I played with Ben and Eric too now and then, but in general I was too shy to talk to other kids at my age.
I never let them come with me home, afraid of what they would say. I haven't even told them about my problem at home. I'm 6 years old and I have to make most things myself.
I can't ask my dad for help, all he can do is cook some food, eat it, and then I can have the rest. Then he stump around and mutter to himself. I did my homework without help, picked out my cloths went in bath when I could and cleaned.
I did the dishwashing and cleaned the floor. But there weren't clean at home, it had that smell, the smell some people say is from bad cleaning. But it wasn't.
For a 6 year old, I am very mature. Growing up without help to most things did that to you. You had to take care of yourself and help yourself through the hard times in life.
Me and my dad never got visitors, and we never visited anyone. Our house was darkened and dusty, and the lights were greasy and shone badly. My dad worked as a garbage collector and worked in the night with a colleague of his.
He always got home around 4 am and sat on the couch and watched TV and drank a beer when I woke up. He looked so miserable that I never said anything just ate my breakfast in silence, washed up and yelled a small goodbye when I left. He never asked me anything he just yelled at me now and then when he wanted something done. I was an only child and my best friend, the only one who I trusted with anything and loved more than anything else was my rabbit teddy, Mr. Chocolate Chip. (Mr. C for short!)
(Mr. Chocolate Chip: http://media.petitepeople.com/products/pictures/12_dan.jpg)
I couldn't live without him, and he had to come with me everywhere. The other girls in my class didn't understand me, they thought I was very babyish when I brought my Mr. C with me to school- but they didn't understand how much he meant to me. My mom had given it to me when she became sick. She told me to be a big girl and be strong. She died 2 years ago. I was four.
A single tear escaped my eyes once again when I thought of the dark times of my mom's disease.
"Momma?,, I asked. I walked into the shiny kitchen, my mother had just cleaned up and I had hurried out there when I had heard a big crash.
"Momma?,, I asked again when she didn't answer.
I walked around a counter and there she was. Lying on the floor with closed eyes looking like she was dead.
"Momma! Momma wake up!,, I yelled at her in a little baby voice. I didn't know what to do, I just ran to her with tear running down my cheeks.
"Momma! Momma! Don't be dead Momma!,, I yelled and yelled, but she didn't move.
I remembered her and dad saying: "If anything happens call…!,, with serious faces. I couldn't remember the number.
Call what? 648? No that wasn't the right number. 112? No, but close.
They had shown me something. Something on our phone. I ran with my brown hair bouncing up and down to the phone and looked at it.
What was I supposed to do?
I closed my eyes and thought about what they had said back then. The last number once, and the first number twice. I looked at the phone again. 9-1-1? Yes! That's it!
I dialed the number with my little fingers not knowing what to do next.
"PSAP, what can I do for you?,, an unknown male voice said.
"Hello I'm Bella!,, I said.
"Excuse me how old are you?,, the man said. What an odd question to ask! I thought.
"Uhm… 4!,, I said after counting on my fingers.
"I don't have time for this!,, the man said, very rudely I thought.
"But my momma fell in the kitchen! She looks like she is dead!,, I cried tears clear in my voice.
"We don't have time for pranks!,, the man said.
"But I'm not making pranks! My momma lay in the kitchen! She was cleaning and then CRASH and then she lay on the floor!,, I cried and cried.
"Look little girl. We don't have time for this!,, and then he hung up.
What was I supposed to do now? Crying I ran back to the kitchen and tripped over a bucket of water. It spilled all over the place and my momma got it in the face. She blinked and tried to sit.
"Momma! You're not dead!,, I screeched and hugged her.
"Of course I'm not dead honey!,, she said a little surprised. She rose, but had to support herself on the kitchen counter.
"Momma the mean man in the phone wouldn't listen to me!,, I cried.
"What mean man?,, she said with a little edge in her voice. NO one was mean to her little girl.
"The mean man from ASAP!,, I said.
"ASAP?? Oh you mean PSAP??,, she smiled. I looked at her confused.
"I don't know!,, I said puzzled.
"He didn't believe that you looked like you were dead! He hang up!,, I cried harder.
"Bella!,, My mom exclaimed.
"What?,, I asked in a tiny voice.
"Don't cry baby, don't cry. I just fell!.,, she soothed hugging me and singing lowly to calm me down.
"But you looked so dead!,, I said. She shook her head.
"Bella, Bella, Bella.,, and hugged me even tighter.
---Two months later---
"Momma!,, I cried. She was lying in a hospital bed in a white dress that scared the hell out of me. She looked like a ghost as pale as she was. I was with my dad visiting my momma in the hospital after she was hospitalized a month after she fell in the kitchen. On her work, she had suddenly fainted and they had called an ambulance. We practically lived at the hospital me and my dad.
My mom had been diagnosed cancer and she was in pain.
"Daddy is momma going to be okay?,, I asked with big brown poppy dog eyes.
"I don't know Bells, I don't know.,, My worried eyes spilled over and I cried on my daddy's shoulder.
"You may see Renée now,, Dr. Cullen said.
"Thanks Carlisle.,, Daddy said. Dr. Cullen smiled at me and I hid myself behind daddy.
With Mr. Chocolate Chip under my arm, I took daddy's hand and walked over to momma's room.
I started to cry when we entered the room.
"Momma!,, I cried and ran over to her.
"Sweetie! My little Bella.,, she said with tears in her eyes.
"Charlie, how are you?,, she asked and gave him a kiss.
"I'm good, but that's not important. How are you honey?,, He asked her.
"I'm okay thanks to Carlisle.,, She said and winced a little when she moved wrong.
"Lay still Renée!,, Daddy ordered and asked if she wanted anything.
"Just a glass of water.,, and with that daddy left the room.
"Bellsie come here!,, Momma said and I crawled up in the bed where she was.
"Bella. You need to be a big girl now. Okay? Be momma's strong girl now. You have to promise me that you will take good care of yourself right?,, she looked me seriously in the eyes. I nodded and tried to stop the tears from flowing but they only increased.
She wiped them away and said: "Be strong!,, and then she leaned back and closed her eyes. She looked like she was asleep now so I got down from the bed to find daddy and say that mommy was sleeping.
I got out in the hallway and looked around. Nobody was there so I turned right and walked slowly towards a hallway on the left. I peeked around the corner and saw Dr. Cullen and daddy talking.
"Her condition is worse. She might not have a long time again.,, a sad Dr. Cullen said.
"What?,, I barely heard daddy say.
"I'm so sorry Charlie, there is nothing I can do. The cell is simply too big and has infected most of her organs and it's spreading too fast. It has gone into her blood Charlie. There is no more I can do. I'm so very sorry Charlie, but I have done everything in my power.,, He said.
I stopped looking at them. I spurted back to my mother, climbed the bed and curled up against her. My daddy came in 5 minutes later with a defeated look on his face.
"Renée I brought you your water.,, he said in a voice that sounded like he was about to cry.
She woke up and looked at him. She gave a week smile, and you could see she was worse than 10 minutes ago.
"Thank you Charlie.,, she said in a whisper.
He gave it to her and sat beside her, holding her hand. She took a sip and then dropped the glass.
She gasped and held daddy's hand tighter and took heavy breaths.
"Charlie. I. Love. You. Bella. Momma's. Girl!,, she said and went silent.
"NO Renée!,, daddy cried and I understood that momma was dead. I didn't say anything I just cried.
*End of Flashback*
As I thought of it now 2 years later it still brought tears. I had watched my mother take her last breaths and watched her pain. I had watched my mother die and I wish I had stayed home that day. But not really because I was glad I got the chance to see her one last time.
As the other kids began to fill the classroom I discretely wiped away my tears and hit my face from the others behind my hair. Angela came to me, and asked if I wanted to play when we had a break. I nodded and when Ms. Kim started class I carefully listened to her. I wasn't the top-student for no reason. I worked hard- harder than most people. When we got a break from the classes me and Angela found some dolls to play with. As always I had Mr. C with me, I couldn't bear to leave him alone. Jessica and Lauren came over; here we go the daily doses of cruelty.
"Where did you find that blouse? In the trash?,, Jessica started and I sighed and said nothing as they teased me and Angela. Of course they knew my mom was dead, but I guess they didn't care. I started to cry as they mentioned her.
"Why so sad little Bella? Has momma failed to teach you how to dress? Oh, when momma is dead I guess she has a hard time teaching you! Is that why you dress in trash?,, and they kept going on and on. Tears were streaming down my face so I got Mr. Chocolate Chip and ran out of the room. I was sick and tired of being teased. And they would only make it worse for me. As I ran for the bathroom with Angela yelling for me to stop, I fell over my own legs and fell into somebody.
"Ow!,, I said as I reached the floor, and hit my butt. I got up looked up and saw the principal standing there with a startled look on his face.
"Sorry sir. I fell.,, I said as I got up. I only got to hear him say it was no problem when I heard their voices. I ran again, tripping over my own feet now and then, and reached the girls lavatory. I slammed the door after me and hit in a boot. I couldn't hear them coming so I just sat there crying until Angela came in and asked if I was okay.
"Yes.,, I cried and I could hear Angela sigh. Jessica and Lauren did this every day, and I still couldn't just ignore them, they got to me. Because of my mom's death, my dad seemed to fail on his parent duty. He wasn't the same happy dad he once was. He was fat and creepy. I didn't like this dad, he frightened me. I was heartbroken when my mom died, and I was only a reminder to him. I tried to hide the bruises I got sometimes, but not always so well.
I only got food because he always made too much. Normally I would only come out of my room to see if there was any food left, and then I would sneak back into my room. He scared the hell out of me sometimes.
As I sat there I heard the bell ring, and I didn't get out from there. I could hear Angela silently apologize and walk out of there, but I didn't want to go back in there. Then Jessica and Lauren would know that I had cried and they would laugh at me. I really hated those two.
But I guess Angela had said to the teacher where I was because about 15 minutes later, Ms. Kim came.
"Isabella?,, she called out. I sniffed and opened the door. She saw my tear stricken face and went to hug me. I was great friends with her she was always there for me.
"What happened?,, she asked.
"Jessica and Lauren teased me miss. They said my momma had failed teaching me how to dress.,, and with that I cried again. I missed my momma.
"Shh Bella, it's going to be okay, shh.,, she soothed while stroking my hair.
Okay that's it for now, hope you liked it... :D
And please read my other fanfic:
Thank you and please leave a comment!!! =P
Oh, and if you want updates, please add me as a friend!! :D
Views: 431
oh waiting is a sign of patience and i hate having patience.
i know i know i have no choice do i? lol....but oh ok i get it
now...oooo love it love it love it!!! =D
this is soooooooooooooo good.........
when i read the first few chapters, they made me cry.......
very few ppl can do that. luv this and post more soon!!!
wow i didn't like it. i LOVED it XD
how do you write so splendidly? you're a natural talent <3
ben is bella's brother? O.o
WHAT a twist :D amazing job, dear
do keep it up!
xoxo--Dancing Vampire
please update mee <3
I love this!!!!!
Don't give up on us please!!
Post ASAP
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text: Bulk Fuel Communications Water Distribution, Source and Treatment Systems Sewage Collection Systems Refuse/Landfill Systems Electric Utility Alaska Power and Telephone Company Power Source Intertie PCE Eligible Yes Residential Rate $0.52 per kWh, June 2012 PCE reimbursement rate $0.32 per kWh, June 2012 Residential Rate after PCE $0.26 per kWh, June 2012 Note Wind Turbines installed Rated Wind Capacity Kilowatts ISER Community Data Summary https://akenergygateway.alaska.edu/community-data-summary/1866964/ Health Care Visitor Accommodations/Information Public Libraries Transportation Facilities Naukati Bay Seaplane Base Airport Type Seaplane Base Airport Code AK62 Airport Owner Naukati Bay Community Airport Use Public Airport Ownership Public Airport FAA URL http://nfdc.faa.gov/nfdcApps/airportLookup/airportDisplay.jsp?category=nasr&airportId=AK62 Runway Compass Directions 'N/S Runway Size 10,000 ft. x 1,000 ft. Runway Materials/Condition Water Runway-2 Compass Directions 'NE/SW Runway-2 Size 10,000 ft. x 300 ft. Runway-2 Materials/Condition Water Public Safety Entities Klawock Alaska State Trooper Post Alaska State Troopers Post Klawock Village Public Safety Officer No Airlines Pacific Airways, Inc. Enplaned Passengers 19 passengers in 2013 Enplaned Freight 0 lbs. in 2013 Enplaned Mail 0 lbs. in 2013 Venture Travel LLC d/b/a Taquan Air Service Enplaned Passengers 51 passengers in 2013 Enplaned Freight 11,325 lbs. in 2013 Enplaned Mail 41,329 lbs. in 2013 Post Offices


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Person DetailsUpdate
Andrew Gazdecki's goal is to develop and create solutions that support small and medium size businesses. He is the founder and CEO of Bizness Apps, a do-it-yourself mobile app and mobile website platform for small businesses, and Bizness CRM, a CRM tool designed to make selling to small businesses easy.
A graduate from CSU Chico, Gazdecki has been an entrepreneur for as long as he can remember. At the age of 10, he was selling baseball cards to neighborhood friends, and at the age 15, Andrew created his first for-profit website. In 2009, Andrew founded and bootstrapped Bizness Apps into a global enterprise all while he was a senior in college. Since then, he has gone on to help more than 100,000 small businesses engage with their customers on mobile devices.
Today, Gazdecki is the authority on mobile marketing for small and medium sized businesses. He has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as prominent industry blogs such as Mashable, TechCrunch and VentureBeat. A firm believer in education, Gazdecki offers frequent presentations and donations to his alma mater, and contributes to the school's Entrepreneurship Week, which gives students the tools and resources to bring their businesses to fruition.
Experience (3)Update
Bizness Apps
CEO and Founder
Oct 22, 2010
Team Member
Bizness CRM
CEO and Founder
Education (1)Update
California State University, Chico
BABusiness MarketingJan 1, 2010
News (1)Update
Bizness Apps Expands To Android To Bring Your Business Into The Mobile Apps Game04/06/11 -techcrunch.com


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The LBHBCC facility is currently OFFLINE for the summer due to maintenance updates that need to be administered. Therefore, we will not be able to accept any reservation requests until the first week of Fall Term. We apologize in advance and we keep you all updated if anything changes.
Fill out the form below and submit it to send your request to the cultural centers to reserve the center. We will contact you soon with the information you provided.
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text:
Back story: I meet a lot of great people through friends of mine and this year during SXSW I met a wonderful gal named April, who I immediately felt akin to because she too devours books and has a background in English. This brings us to a random Facebook status that April made where she shared that she had just read a book entitled Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar and her enthusiasm for the book immediately had me curious. I requested the book from the library and was surprised that there was no wait for it and picked it up with the intention of reading it after I finished the 10 (literally 10) other books I'm waiting to read. Yes, I read a lot.
For some reason I just couldn't start another book until I read this book and I think it was because I NEEDED to read this book and I'm thankful that I did. I plan to return it to the library and immediately go out and purchase it as well because it's brilliant. The book is compiled of letters that readers have written in over the years to her "Dear Sugar" advice column and Cheryl Strayed's responses. While this would seem like any other book of its type there is something so real and honest about the responses in this book that I can't quite put into words. There were times when I found myself screaming "yes!!" at the pages and times when I almost felt like crying at some of the stories and times when I wanted to hunt my friend April down and give her a hug for introducing this book into my life.
The picture above is from the essay "The Future Has an Ancient Heart" in which Dear Sugar writes a would-be commencement speech to a group of people graduating with English degrees and MFAs. This one was my favorite for my own personal reasons and reading it almost made me cry. The entire essay is brilliant.
It is rare that I have this kind of visceral reaction to an artistic work but when I do, I am thankful. This book was perfect and helped me realize that a lot of the stuff I go crazy about isn't worth it, that I'm naive about a lot of stuff, and that just like the last line of the book says, I should simply "say thank you" more. I can't properly express to y'all how wonderful this book was but I'll simply say read it, let it soak in, and then share it with a friend. It's good, so good. Below are a few of my favorite quotes and you can find more here.
"Don't surrender all your joy for an idea you used to have about yourself that isn't true anymore."
"You cannot convince people to love you. This is an absolute rule. No one will ever give you love because you want him or her to give it. Real love moves freely in both directions. Don't waste your time on anything else."
"You don't have to get a job to make others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don't have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don't have to justify your education by demonstrating it's financial rewards. You don't have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts."
"I happen to believe that America is dying of loneliness, that we, as a people, have bought into the false dream of convenience, and turned away from a deep engagement with out internal lives- those fountains of inconvenient feeling-and toward the frantic enticements of what our friends in the Greed Business call the Free Market. We're hurtling through time and space and information faster and faster, seeking that network connection. But at the same time we're falling away from our families and our neighbors and ourselves. We ego-surf and update our status and brush up on which celebrities are ruining themselves, and how. But the cure won't stick."
There are so many different ways I could describe this book and I don't think any of them would do justice to how I felt after reading this book. There are some books that just stay with you and make you more self-aware and put you on the path toward becoming a better version of yourself; Tiny Beautiful Things is one of those books.
"Don't do what you know on a gut level to be the wrong thing to do. Don't stay when you know you should go or go when you know you should stay. Don't fight when you should hold steady or hold steady when you should fight. Don't focus on the short-term fun instead of the long-term fall out. Don't surrender all your joy for an idea you used to have about yourself that isn't true anymore. Don't seek joy at all costs. I know it's hard to know what to do when you have a conflicting set of emotions and desires, but it's not as hard as we pretend it is. Saying it's hard is ultimately a justification to do whatever seems like the easiest thing to do—have the affair, stay at that horrible job, end a friendship over a slight, keep loving someone who treats you terribly. I don't think there's a single dumbass thing I've done in my adult life that I didn't know was a dumbass thing to do while I was doing it. Even when I justified it to myself—as I did every damn time—the truest part of me knew I was doing the wrong thing. Always. As the years pass, I'm learning how to better trust my gut and not do the wrong thing, but every so often I get a harsh reminder that I've still got work to do."
Read this book, now.


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As humans, our relationship to nature is vexed. Although inherently a part of nature, we also stand apart from it and impose our will upon it. In this course, we will examine some of the more troubling questions about our relationship with the environment. These questions include the following: How has modernity shaped humanity's relationship to nature? What purpose does the nature-culture division serve in society? How does the media mediate our experiences with nature and help to shape our responses to it? What are our responsibilities to the environment, and are those responsibilities at odds to our responsibilities to other humans?
Readings will include works from William Wordsworth, John Muir, Richard Louv, John Krakauer, and others. These works will provide the foundation for discussion and the context for exploring classroom ideas within the writing assignments.
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Stating At $110.00
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text: Hottest Yoga Pants Ever (This Week) By GuySpeed Editors March 13, 2014 7:58 AM | GuySpeed Share on Facebook Share on Twitter NEXT: CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 30 HOTTEST ROCKSTAR DAUGHTERS Source: Hottest Yoga Pants Ever (This Week) Category: Babes Share on Facebook Share on Twitter More Leave a comment Send to a friend! Print this page Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr! More From Eagle Jeff Lynne Mulls ELO's Future When Brian Jones Crashed Jimi Hendrix's Recording Session: 'Can We Get Him To Stop?' Led Zeppelin-Inspired Ice Cream May Be Forced to Change Name Who's the Crazy, Elevator-Fearing Guy Who Interrupted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's Speech? Best of the Web


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This conversation is closed.
What if Facebook suddenly disappeared?
I am facebook user, seriously every. single. day.
I have lots of pictures and memos that i saved for few years and today i just look out them and couldn't help wonder that what if this will be suddenly gone?
and as you all know, that is one of the most frequently used tool for communicate with people or sometimes just for their selves (i mean 'people').
I want to hear your opinions! :)
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
Mar 30 2013: I was "talked" into signing on FB. I stayed with it until about the second day. I spent the first four hours on the site getting shovels to those folks playing farmville. The next morning was spent reading short postings and people going shopping. Did you know that a gallon of milk is cheaper at the CVS than at WalMart? On the second day, I quit.
Since I have heard of stories where people have posted comments and pictures that have brought them all kinds of pain and suffering.
I see FB as an opiate of the masses. I see the seas raising from global warming, viruses infecting whole populations, farm lands turning into deserts, erupting volcanoes and tsunamis flow over the lands and most of us will be tied to their PCs, I pads or I phones posting shopping trips on FB.
Apr 6 2013: Social Change? FB is liken to a flock of chickens, just clucking and picking at dirt. Unless one chicken... say ... is torn when laying an egg and showing blood. Every chicken in the flock will peck that chicken to death.
Haven't you seen some indiscretion posted and thousands of comments so mean spirited and inflammatory that defy any description of humanity?
No, FB brings out the stupid and you can't change stupid. Count me as an ignorer.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.


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NAVIGON questions and answers
If you drive using NAVIGON, you'll want the exact details. How to download updates, for example, or install additional maps or services, or how NAVIGON FreshMaps works. You'll find manuals, downloads and answers to your questions here.
Select a topic, or enter a keyword to restrict your selection.
All items
Available answers: 475
- Is it possible to add an event in Events Live?
- Which database does the Live Service Safety Camera use?
- What is NAVIGON Sync?
- Microsoft Marketplace: No software download available
- Why is the map download on my Windows Phone 7 not starting?
- I wanted to restore my phone to factory settings, but there is always the NAVIGON icon on the WP7 main menu
- Why am I not able to navigate to my Windows Phone 7 contacts?
- NAVIGON select freezes when I connect my HTC Mozart via USB to my PC. What can I do?
- Android: Which regional versions are available?
- Android: Which languages are supported?


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Massage 101: The World Of Touch
With more than 200 variations of massage, how do you know what's what, and what's best for you?
By Carol Sorgen
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario
Almost anyone -- from infants to seniors -- can enjoy the benefits of a good massage.
Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use. The ancient Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments, and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems.
Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching, says Les Sweeney, executive vice president of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). Massage therapy has proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as so many of us already know, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.
But with more than 200 variations of massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies, how do you know what's what, and what's best for you? First, a definition of the different therapy categories is in order, says Sweeney.
According to William F. Burton, Jr., a professional massage therapist/bodyworker and co-owner of the Enraptured Day Spa in Philadelphia, most varieties of massage and bodywork therapies can be broken down into four broad categories:
Here's a brief explanation of some of the more common techniques of Western and Oriental massage.
Swedish massage: This is the predominant example of Western massage and is the most commonly used method in the United States. Developed in Sweden in the 1830s, it uses a system of long, gliding strokes, kneading, and percussion and tapping techniques on the more superficial layers of muscles. It is designed to increase circulation, which may improve healing and decrease swelling from an injury. This technique also results in generalized relaxation.
Neuromuscular massage: Trigger point massage and myotherapy are varieties of neuromuscular massage, which applies concentrated pressure on trigger points of pain and passive stretching of specific muscles.
Deep tissue massage: This approach is used to alleviate chronic muscle pain by reaching deeper muscles in problem areas.
Sports massage: This uses techniques similar to deep tissue massage but more specifically adapted to deal with the needs of athletes (both professional and the weekend variety); it's often used before or after athletic events as part of an athlete's training and to promote healing from injuries.
Manual lymph drainage massage: This approach improves the flow of lymph fluid with rhythmic strokes and is used primarily in conditions with poor lymph flow, such as edema.
Oriental methods of massage are based on the principles of Chinese medicine and the flow of energy or chi through the body's meridians, or energy points, says Burton. In Oriental massage techniques, pressure is applied by finger or thumb tips to predetermined points rather than by the sweeping broad strokes of Western massage.
of Oriental massage and bodywork therapy."
There are more than a dozen varieties of Oriental massage and bodywork therapy, but the most common forms in the U.S. are acupressure, shiatsu, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure.
Acupressure and shiatsu: These are similar varieties of finger pressure massage, with pressure applied to specific points that correspond with acupuncture points. In acupressure and shiatsu, pressure is applied to specific points with the thumb, finger, and palm to release muscle tension and increase circulation. Acupressure is the more generic term used for this approach and shiatsu is the Japanese version.
Jin Shin Jyutsu: This approach comes from an ancient Japanese healing tradition that uses touch to restore the internal flow of energy through the body by releasing energetic blockages. In this therapy the touch is very light a holds each pressure point for several minutes.


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2001-05-09 / Front Page
$30M suit filed against MPK
Saying they are holding out hope that a negotiated settlement can be reached, and that a major lawsuit can be avoided, attorneys for the Village of Massapequa Park, and those representing cellular tower operators and providers, continue to talk.
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It's been rather cold here in our Buckhead Patch area, and so too at Greenwood Cemetery in southwest Atlanta, where among the buried are synagogue founder and journalist, Frank Taffel, and singer-songwriter, Hank Ballard.
It will remain quiet and cold again Tuesday at the century-plus-old cemetery, where morning temps remained well below freezing, recorded as 8 degrees shortly before 10 a.m. The wind chill made it feel like minus-8 degrees.
Dangers of frostbite and hypothermia continue as the wind chill advisory continues until 1 p.m. today. The temperature in Buckhead won't reach 20 until 1 p.m. according to The Weather Channel, and even then it will feel like 10 degrees.
Add your photos to the Buckhead Patch Pics and Clips Gallery. Or, download the Patch mobile app and add the photo directly from your phone.


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Baylor > Paul L. Foster Success Center > The Foster Success Center > Celebration of First Year Excellence
Celebration of First Year Excellence is a reception honoring first-semester Baylor students who have earned a 3.7 GPA or higher. Baylor's top academic leadership join students to celebrate our brightest students and their accomplishments. Students will also have opportunity to network with Experiential Learning Opportunities for High Ability Students, including:
Baylor congratulates the following students for their academic excellence in their first semesters at Baylor!


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Google Shares Up for Grabs
Shambo is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), the No. 1 search engine, recently announced its plan to launch a new credit card aimed at small businesses in the United Kingdom. Google also expressed its interest to enter the US market.
Google has collaborated with Barclaycard, in the Uk and Comenity Capital Bank in the US to issue the cards (both of which happen to be from MasterCard).
The purpose is to provide investors a way to pay for spending on advertising through its AdWords program by means of a credit card. Google advertisers will be eligible for monthly credits ranging from $200 to $100,000 to pay for Adwords (which are the messages that pop up next to user searches).
Google said it set its initial interest rates considerably lower than prevailing market rates on credit cards for small and medium-sized businesses (with an 8.99 percent rate in the US and 11.9 percent in the UK).
But Google isn't the first of its kind to enter into the banking sector. Its biggest rival, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No. 1 e-retailer, said that it would provide loans to advertisers who would sell their products online in their marketplace. The strategy devised by Amazon is known as Amazon Lending according to which, it is lending up to $8,00,000 to some merchants based on their performance in the company's online marketplace. With this step, Amazon has announced its entry into aggressive finance marketing.
The move marks the opening of a new front in the battle between the biggest Internet giants, as they turn to their balance sheets as a source of competitive advantage. Only time would tell as to which of the two would emerge as the winner of the combat.
How About the Stock?
Ever since the announcement of the Adwords Business Credit card, Google's stock has followed an upward curve. With this agressive marketing strategy, I expect Google to outperform going forward. While the purpose of Google's credit card is very specific, the step marks the foray of Google into new ventures outside of its core operations. It simply adds another feather to its already illustrious cap.
So if you're an investor looking at smart investments, go and grab Google shares at the earliest opportunity.
Dig Deeper
If you're an investor in retail stocks, you have to look at Amazon.com, the company intent on disrupting the entire sector. Whether you're researching Amazon itself or one of the companies it's taking sales from, you need to understand the company and its prospects. That's why the Fool has created a new premium report on Amazon, sharing everything investors must know. The report also has you covered with a full year of updates, so click here now to get started.
ShamboB has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and Google. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Amazon.com and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.If you have questions about this post or the Fool's blog network, click here for information.


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UCSF will launch an innovative online Master of Science Degree Program in Healthcare Administration and Interprofessional Leadership created especially for working health professionals who want to focus on developing management and leadership expertise.
Latest News
August 14, 2013
July 24, 2013
Elizabeth Watkins, PhD, dean of the UCSF's Graduate Division, has been named to oversee all student and graduate affairs and lead major educational initiatives for the University.
July 19, 2013
UCSF is piloting a video series designed to inspire and inform the campus community about the great work that scientists and scholars do every day that is part of the University's advancing health worldwide mission.
July 12, 2013
San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center was put to the test following the Asiana Airlines crash, but outstanding trauma care is a hallmark of the safety-net hospital, a 140-year partner in health with UCSF.
July 12, 2013
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has been nominated for appointment as the 20th president of the University of California, it was announced today. Regent Sherry Lansing, chair of a 10-member special search committee, said Napolitano rose to the top from a large field of candidates and was recommended on a unanimous vote. Janet Napolitano
July 05, 2013
The nation's premier pharmacy school capped its academic year by welcoming a new dean and celebrating a stellar class of graduates at its commencement ceremony on May 24.
July 05, 2013
The School of Nursing honored its latest crop of nearly 200 graduates who received their master's and doctoral degrees at a June 14 commencement ceremony.
July 05, 2013
A new art display outside the School of Medicine dean's offices highlights the power of hands in this healing profession.
July 03, 2013
Seventeen-year-old Gabby Flores had never met a scientist before, yet she will be surrounded by scientists this summer as she conducts cutting-edge biomedical research as part of the UCSF Science & Health Education Partnership's High School Intern Program.
June 21, 2013
A group from UC San Francisco joined representatives from the nine other University of California campuses last month to make the case for Congressional support of graduate research and education at "UC Day in DC."


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Emil Dee Casey, 82, of Novinger, Mo., died March 27, 2013, at Kirksville, Mo., Manor.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Travis-Noe, Kirksville, with visitation at noon. Burial is at Green Castle, Mo., Cemetery.
He was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Stahl, Mo., to Roy and Mildred Casey. He married Bonnie Paris Oct. 5, 1950. She died in 1983. He married Donna Edelen Nov. 8, 1990. She died in 2004.
Surviving are children, Billie (Lorie) Casey, Galesburg, Emily (Mike) Conrad, Winston Salem, N.C., Kathy (Mark) Scritchfield, Coal Valley; stepdaughter, Donna Allen; two siblings; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren.
East moline, IL Details
Festive Fruit Bark
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for 3 persons - Available space for each apartment: 45 – 50 sq.m
Santorini Imerovigli Apartments Santorini Luxury Superior Hotel Apartments for 3 persons in ImerovigliAll apartments for 3 people offer the following:
- private bathroom with hairdryer, bathrobes, slippers and toiletries
- double bed (queen size)
- living room / sitting area
- sofa in the living room can be used as a bed by the third person
- mini bar
- satellite TV - LCD 26 "
- air conditioning (cooling / heating)
- safe deposit box
- direct dial phone
- notebook (laptop) with a Wi-Fi connection
- anatomic pillows and goose pillows for comfortable and restful sleep
- anatomic mattresses with the possibility to add to soft coat, if desired by our guests
- private balcony with breathtaking views of the caldera, the volcano, the sea and the sunset.
See our rates and contact us for any further information or send us your interest for reservation.
Luxury Accommodation
- Luxury Apartments for 2 persons
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Please Register as a New User or Login as Existing User to gain full access to all the photos on this site. Registration is quick and completely free.
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Tess posing on the pulpit
© Landy_Dom, Jul 2012
Route: Devonleigh
Camera used: Kodak EASYSHARE M753 ZOOM


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Taking a class on how to download and upload e-books opened up a new world for senior citizen Betsy Cunningham.
Cunningham plans to take her laptop computer with her on vacation and to upcoming conferences in South America. But she was frustrated after failed attempts to upload e-books onto her laptop in preparation for her travels.
"I just couldn't figure it out," she said.
On July 17, the Roland Park resident took a class called "E-books 101" at the Enoch Pratt Central Library in downtown Baltimore, where a handful of participants learned to download e-books onto e-readers, tablets and smartphones and to upload e-books from the Internet onto their home computers.
"I really have no interest in checking out an e-reader," said Cunningham, a frequent library patron. "But that's because I learned I can check e-books out online and read them on my computer. Isn't that wonderful?"
Convenience is driving the growing collection of electronic e-books and e-readers in Baltimore City's Enoch Pratt Free Library system, officials say.
But the costs to the library system of buying and repurchasing limited-use e-books from publishers, as well as a learning curve for library patrons with basic computer skills — many of them seniors like Cunningham — are holding back the tide of the new technology in local branches, officials add.
The collection has swelled to 30,000 titles citywide, one of the bigger e-book collections in the country, thanks to a two-year, $350,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation grant last year, officials say.
With more e-book titles available, library users are more frequently reading books online and on electronic platforms such as personal and library-issued Sony e-readers, Kindles and Nooks, which are easier to carry than books, said library system CEO Carla Hayden.
"You can take your device to the beach, take it with you on a plane or a train. Even five paperbacks are still bulky," Hayden said.
Also, fonts can be enlarged on e-readers and computers, an added incentive for those with poor eyesight, who often request books with large print, Hayden noted.
A trend in Hampden
At the Hampden Library, where e-books and e-readers are being promoted through fliers and word of mouth, branch manager Devin Ellis said she is seeing at least a small trend toward people using the technology.
"They seem interested," Ellis said. "We are checking out more e-readers."
Since many library users, especially older patrons, are unfamiliar with the technology, the library system is trying to bridge the gap by launching a traveling "e-books 101" tutorial class, as well as one-on-one instructional opportunities, at all branches.
Ellis last month called a member of the library system's instructional team to see about scheduling a class at her branch, especially for the elderly.
"I know we have a demographic in Hampden for it," she said.
The Hampden branch is one of several that plan to host e-books 101 classes in the near future, library system officials say. No dates have been scheduled yet, but users can call their local branch to set up individual appointments to learn and troubleshoot usage problems.
"Some people are not aware, so we've taken it on as our responsibility to introduce this new opportunity to them," Ellis said.
The library system will apply for additional funding as the grant concludes in 2014. There is no other funding for e-readers or e-books at this time, said Roswell Encina, library spokesman.


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A Tour Of 4 Midwestern Regional Banks
Maxwell is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Cincinnati based Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ: FITB) has a well-earned reputation as a conservative, well run institution. Despite having much of its asset base in two of the states (Michigan and Florida) most devastated in last decade's recession, Fifth Third has only been unprofitable one year in the last twenty, in 2008. In contrast, 2012 proved that the roughly $120 billion asset bank is back to its pre-recession levels. The year was capped by a strong fourth quarter coming in at $390 million, or $0.43 per share. This was a 30% jump from the fourth quarter of 2011, and also a few cents above the $0.41 per share that analysts had forecast.
Overall in 2012, earnings came to $1.54 billion, or $1.66 per share, up 41% from the $1.18 in 2011. Lowered loss provisions and excellent loan growth, especially on the mortgage side of things, brought about the stout earnings. $1.66 per share equaled a 1.32% return on assets, and an 11.1% return on equity, solid numbers both. Yet, the issue for any well performing bank from my standpoint is whether there is reason to expect improvement in key metrics as we look ahead over the next few years. With Fifth Third, unless there is an improved credit curve, I don't see how revenue and profit pictures can meaningfully grow.
Mortgage originations grew in 2012 to $25.2 billion, a 35% jump from the $18.6 billion in 2011. The bank's overall loan portfolio grew by about $4 billion, or by 5% to almost $84 billion at the end of 2012 versus 2011. Fifth Third's common capital at year end 2012 stood at 9.5%, which while well over the regulatory minimum, stood below most of its peer banks' levels.
At the recent Citigroup conference, Fifth Third noted that in 2012, it paid out a total of 62% of its profits to shareholders in the forms of stock buybacks and dividends. That payout total is relatively comfortable for a bank of Fifth Third's stability, and we can expect that ratio to grow slowly, if at all in coming years. Therefore, since I don't see much in the way of earnings improvements over the next year or two, I don't see much room for increasing the size of the dividend or buybacks. I think Fifth Third is a suitable choice for very conservative investors, but for those looking for capital growth, it might be best to look elsewhere.
Comerica Bank (NYSE: CMA) continued its recovery from the recessionary years with an improved 2012. Earnings came to $521 million, or $2.67 per share, a jump of nearly 30% from the $2.09 posted a in 2011. The earnings improvement was led by a $65 million dollar drop, or about 45% plunge in its provision for loan losses. Also relatively strong loan growth of 7% over the course of the year aided net interest income to eke out a $75 million, or 4.5% gain.
But what I like most about Comerica is it still has plenty of room to improve earnings further. In the Sandler O Neill West Coast Conference in early March, Comerica management stated goals of a return on assets in excess of 1.3%, and an efficiency ratio of under 0.60%. In 2012 the bank's return on assets was just 0.83% and its efficiency ratio was 0.69%. Comerica will achieve those improvements by continuing the recent path of taking assets out of its slow growth Michigan market, and reinvest those assets in faster growing Texas and California. Indeed, in 2012 the bank's Michigan loan portfolio fell by 2%, while the Texas and California loan books grew by 10% and 13%, respectively.
Unfortunately, I do not look for Comerica's profit goals to be achieved in the next 12 to 24 months, as the sluggish economy and interest rate spread flatness makes growing revenues a difficult chore for nearly all banks. Comerica returned 80% 2012 earnings to shareholders in forms of dividends and share buybacks. Comerica already has capital levels well above even Basel III standards, but I would like to see that ratio trend down closer to 60%. The current interest rate environment will not be here forever, and by the next three to five years, Comerica is in an excellent position to reward patient investors.
Huntington Bancshares' (NASDAQ: HBAN) Midwest concentration hit it hard last decade, but it has more or less recovered fully. In 2012 profits came to $641 million, or $0.71 per share, up about 18% from 2011. The earnings allowed for a 1.15% return on assets, compared with 2011's 1.01%. The earnings increases were due to a surge in mortgage income allowing for non interest income to advance 12%, or by $117 million. Net interest income also rose 5% on a 3 basis point jump in the net interest margin along with a modest 2% growth in loans. Loan growth was held down due to Huntington's sale of $2.5 billion of auto loans during the year. Management looks for more modest loan growth in 2013. But I see revenue growth as a real struggle, and a likelihood Huntington will have to post higher loan loss reserves in 2013 than it did in 2012 as reasons to be skeptical of earnings growth in 2013. Further beyond, I see Huntington having lower upside than other large banks, as it never has had a return on assets much over 1.3%.
Obviously, I have a similar, less than optimistic prognosis on the above three banks. Is there any Midwest bank I see having a chance for strong profit growth in the 2013 – 2014 time frame? Yes indeed, and it is Akron, Ohio based FirstMerit (NASDAQ: FMER). First it has a history of steady, if not spectacular profitability. As of the close of 2012 it returned a profit in the past 55 quarters. Second it reported steady progress during 2012, finally in the fourth quarter achieving a return on assets of 1.03%.
But what really stands out for FirstMerit is that it finessed its way into purchasing Michigan based Citizens Republic Bank in the third quarter of 2012. As a Michigan focused bank Citizens has only recently returned to profitability after several years of steep losses, and the $900 million, all stock purchase was done on the cheap. It may take through all of 2013 to overcome the dilution of the deal, but the former Citizens will have a sharply increasing profit curve in coming quarters, and by sometime in 2014 FirstMerit's earnings, and stock price, will be the better for it. The time though is now to invest in the probable winner.
StockCroc1 has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Fifth Third Bancorp and Huntington Bancshares. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!


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Easy Active Directory integration with Likewise Open
Manual and Automatic
In both cases, Likewise Open handles the configuration work in the background, removing the need for complex manual steps. The software modifies the configurations for user interaction with AD (see Figure 4), including the files required for Kerberos communications with the KDC krb5.conf and the PAM files in /etc/pam.d/*.
To log in using a Linux client domain, users must have a home directory on the client. Likewise creates the directory locally if you modify /-etc/security/pam_lwidentity.conf.
The /--etc/nsswitch.conf file tells Likewise Open to take control again and specify the lwidentity method. The NSS name service checks local files such as /etc/passwd first:
passwd: files lwidentity group: files lwidentity
If it fails to find an account, it then accesses the AD. This means that local users can still access the local machine if AD fails.
Careful Configuration
Likewise is careful about configuring the Linux system. It creates backups of any files it modifies, adding a suffix of .lwidentity.bak, and for good reason: Running domainjoin-cli leave as root at the command line or in the GUI removes the machine account.
In this case, Likewise restores any configuration files that have been changed. Likewise uses the /etc/samba/lwiauthd.conf file to let administrators set configuration options for their own Winbind system; you might be familiar with these settings if you use Samba in an AD environment.
Individual Configuration
The template shell parameter sets the login shell centrally for all domain users. The user's home directory is not defined in the AD user database; thus, you will need to specify the path in the configuration file with the Samba template homedir parameter:
template shell = /bin/bash template homedir = /home/%D/%U
Likewise-Winbind replaces %D with the short domain name and %U with the domain user.
To avoid name collisions in trust relationships, it makes sense to add the domain to the user's path – and to apply the defaults for user directories. If you do not change the configuration, Likewise Open will use the backslash as the separator between domains and usernames. Of course, the backslash has a special meaning in Unix shells. Experts recommend changing this to, say, the plus character on all your clients by using winbind separator.
If you only have one domain, you can set winbind use default domain = yes to avoid separating the domain and usernames. If you fail to do so, the domain users supplied by Winbind will not work unless you add a domain prefix. Restarting the likewise-open init script applies the changes.
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