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Russia has strategic goals as well as national interests. Russia spies. But then again, so do we. Over what should we be more surprised – that all this happens, or what we forget this sometimes and let it influence our society?
Military / Politics
The US and Ukraine – BFF in 2017, We Swear
"I send the message from the American people – we are with you, your fight is our fight and we will win together," Senator John McCain said today, as he visited Ukraine's front lines in its ongoing conflict with Russia. "In 2017 we will defeat the invaders and send them back where they came from. To Vladimir Putin – you will never defeat the Ukrainian people and deprive them of their independence and freedom," he said. But when Russia influenced the elections in Crimea in March, and annexed it, where was the United States? In light of the revelations
History / Intelligence / Military / etc.
The train derailment in Russia
CNN is just now starting to talk about a 1.5 meter by 1 meter hole under the railbed, and Russian assertions that — gasp! — this tragic accident may not be an accident but indeed the work of (dum, dum, DUM!) terrorists. Well, of course it's terrorism. Investigators have shown up and have begun to ask questions of the locals — have there been strangers in the area recently? Maybe Chechens? Or some other terrorists from the North Caucasus region? I have no doubt that it's terrorism, and would not be surprised in the least if it turns out
Georgia at the Crossroads
The recent fighting in South Ossetia is one small part of a proxy war between the United States and Russia. The country of Georgia has, since gaining independence, become three groups within one border, with the central government losing effective control over both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. And while the United States has courted Georgia as a partner in the Global War On Terror and as a possible future member of NATO, Russia has effectively subverted this growing alliance through continued support to the separatist movements in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Conflict in Georgia, and the prospects for resumed
Army / Intelligence / Military / etc.
Russia, Georgia, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia
Georgia and the separatists in South Ossetia came to blows a couple of days ago, ending the de facto stalemate in the war there. Russia has had "peace keepers" there for some time, and this re-introduction of combat operations has dragged Mother Russia back into the fighting. Russia and the Republic of Georgia are at war. I realize that, for most of America, this is not a big deal. For me, this is news, with a capital N. For Russia, this is a win-win situation. Russia wins in exerting influence over South Ossetia when it comes at the expense


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Lo and behold, the "Presidential ritual" continues; as journalist Glenn Greenwald points out, every President in the last 30 years has bombed Iraq. Like with the Iraq War in 2003, the mainstream US media has largely featured pro-war voices in its coverage of the conflict against ISIS. Opposition to US foreign policy in Iraq and Syria based on moral grounds has always been too easy – we helped install Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party in 1963, helped him acquire chemical weapons to use against Iran in the 1980s, then placed sanctions on Iraq that killed thousands of children, and finally killed hundreds of thousands more in a war based on a false pretext.
Looking at the issue purely from a strategic and security-minded vantage point, US policy in Iraq and Syria has been disastrous. As former CIA operative Graham Fuller puts it, "the United States is one of the key creators" of ISIS. We may become locked into a perpetual war in that region, which would of course be a profitable scenario for military contractors, which made $138 billion off the last war. Unless we want to keep fighting ISIS, which US military officials say doesn't even pose a security threat to the homeland, we have to radically rethink our strategy. Here's a manual on how not to defeat ISIS.
- Install Friendly Dictators
This has been the go-to option to maintain US hegemony in the past. Now, it's leading to dangerous consequences, with the US globally regarded as the biggest threat to world peace, according to a Gallup poll. This hostility engenders violence. In Iraq, a number of US-allied strongmen have been unable to restore order, with the most recent failed attempt by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki. Former members of Maliki's government blame his brutal suppression of Sunni dissent for fueling the sectarian tensions that ISIS has exploited.
- Prop Them Up With Arms Flow
Generally, you don't want to send more arms to a volatile region wracked by anarchic violence, but that's been the American policy. We've been covertly sending arms to "moderate Syrian opposition forces" since March 2013. Now, groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (the main forces opposing Assad), like the al-Nusra Front, have allied with ISIS. Meanwhile in Iraq, ISIS has largely been fighting with American weapons seized from the Iraqi army, which has repeatedly deserted the battlefield against ISIS while leaving its own weapons behind. It should give pause to any rational person that we're now trying to destroy our own weapons, given to ISIS by our own allies.
- Ally With Unhelpful Authoritarian Regimes
We've cooperated with a number of dictators post-WWII to further our interests in the Middle East. This approach was never morally justifiable, and it's not even strategically sound. The Saudi monarchy, a key US ally, is an Islamic fundamentalist regime that has beheaded more people than ISIS. Patrick Cockburn, a reputed Middle East correspondent, reports that Saudi Arabian elites have donated substantial funds to ISIS with their government's tacit approval.
Turkey, another authoritarian Islamist US ally, has bombed Kurdish forces in Iraq instead of ISIS. Turkey has failed to secure its border with Syria, allowing ISIS to gain from an influx of foreign fighters and oil. It recently refused to let the US use its bases to conduct strikes on ISIS. How are Turkey and Saudi Arabia strategic assets for the US in any way? In order to defeat ISIS, we must cut off diplomatic ties and military aid to uncooperative regimes.
- Bomb Populated Areas
Air strikes might work if ISIS had a single headquarters separate from civilian areas. Unfortunately, ISIS is a decentralized guerrilla group that has placed its bases in densely populated areas. Military strategists assert that air strikes haven't "prevented the movement or offensive of ISIS," partly because ISIS doesn't have much infrastructure to bomb; American intelligence officials concur with this assessment.
Air strikes cause civilian deaths that are disastrous not only for Iraqi and Syrian families, but also for American strategy; FBI director James Comey testified to Congress that US air strikes have boosted ISIS' ranks. This makes sense, in light of discoveries like that of the anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which found that a US bombing of a grain silo in Aleppo, Syria, resulted in only civilian deaths. Human Rights Watch similarly denounces "possibly unlawful" US air strikes. On the ground, this breeds resentment; a Syrian resident explains, "People don't want some outside power to attack." We should appreciate the general truism that people don't like it when their villages get bombed any more than when ISIS takes them over.
- Pretend ISIS and Assad Can Be Removed Simultaneously
The Obama administration has repeatedly stated that the US must get rid of Assad to defeat ISIS. While Assad is a tyrant, cooperating with him is likely our best chance of defeating ISIS (we can take him to the International Criminal Court afterwards). As Rand Corporation policy analyst William Young advises, the US must "acknowledge the political and geographical realities" and come to a settlement with not only Assad, but also Syrian allies Iran and Russia.
You may be wondering how a leftist could advocate for the appeasement of a bloodthirsty despot. But is the alternative – an ongoing civil war that's killed hundreds of thousands of people while terrorists brutally occupy cities – more morally acceptable? As for the American government, we deal with dictators routinely (think Saudi Arabia), so why do we insist upon retaining this faux moral high ground? At this point, the only thing preventing cooperation is the US' undue focus on its "prestige" and its "red lines." It might look better if we act tough and refuse to negotiate with Iran, Russia, or Assad. But would the US be safer with more "prestige" or with a more effective policy against ISIS?
Our remarkably ineffective and immoral foreign policy has created a mess that only leaves room for a few alternatives. First, increase humanitarian aid – this improves the US' standing among ordinary Iraqis and makes ISIS' recruiting efforts more difficult. Second, as policy analyst Phyllis Bennis suggests, we must push for an arms embargo from all sides. This will require diplomacy; in the past, negotiations led to the destruction of Assad's chemical weapons arsenal, and now, it could lead to a quicker end to the brutal civil war. Finally, we must promote real democracy in Iraq, not the sham banana republics typical of US satellites, to ease sectarian tensions. The battle against ISIS will not be won through the use of cruise missiles, but through uprisings from the people they oppress.
Changing entrenched US foreign policy doctrine would be nothing short of a revolution, but if we truly care more about our security and international peace than some abstract notion of "prestige," we won't be deterred from pressing for change.

subset: commoncrawl


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Islanders rally, beat Senators in shootoutby Sean Farrell
OTTAWA -- The New York Islanders gave Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner all the shots he could handle, plus one more that he couldn't.
Frans Nielsen scored the tying goal early in the third period and the winner in the shootout to give New York a 5-4 victory against Ottawa on Friday.
Nielsen deked Lehner to score on the Islanders' second attempt in the tiebreaker. He tied it at 4-4 with his eighth goal at 3:14 of the third after the Senators had killed off a lengthy 5-on-3 New York power play that carried over from the end of the second period.
John Tavares, Matt Martin and Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored for Islanders in the second, when New York outshot Ottawa 25-9. The Islanders, who ended a two-game losing streak, outshot Ottawa 57-31, marking the third time this season the Senators have allowed 50 or more shots in a game.
"We played very well the first five minutes of the game, I think, and then they took over," said Lehner, who made a team-record 53 saves in his third start of the season. "They were very fast. They played with speed, they moved the puck, they shot a lot of pucks -- they had a good road game. They were in front of the net a lot and they took it to us.
"We were able to come back and get ahead, and then they took over the momentum for some reason. It was a weird game."
Lehner, who was unable to hold 2-0 and 4-2 leads, started for the first time since stopping 18 shots in a 3-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 19.
That was by far his lightest workload to date. The 22-year-old Swede stopped 47 of 50 shots in his other start, a 3-2 road loss against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 12. He turned aside 45 of 47 one night later after replacing starter Craig Anderson early in a 4-1 loss against the Anaheim Ducks.
"Every time Robin plays, he's busy, but that's good," Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said. "He's a big guy and he can keep playing and I thought he was real solid in the net tonight. He gave his teammates an opportunity and I thought he really competed."
Lehner stopped Thomas Vanek on a breakaway in overtime. He also kept the game scoreless midway through the first when he denied Michael Grabner on a shorthanded breakaway, but was beaten by Nielsen's forehand in the shootout.
"He did play well," Nielsen said. "I think in the first period we shot a lot but I think he saw it all. The last two periods we started to get in front of him so he gave some more rebounds and we got some easy goals too, going off guys, so it was a nice win and good to see we can still play like this."
Evgeni Nabokov, playing for the 11th time in New York's first 13 games, stopped 27 shots through 65 minutes and denied all three attempts in the shootout, ending the game by getting his left pad down to stop Bobby Ryan.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano wants to see the effort his team showed against Ottawa carry over into Saturday's home game against the Boston Bruins. He pointed out that his team dropped two in a row at home after a 4-3 road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins last Friday.
"It's a situation where when we play the way we know how to play, we have success, but now you have to respond against a good Bruins team [Saturday] night," Capuano said. "You have to be consistent on how you play and you have to do the little things, and I thought tonight our puck management was much better. We played high percentage hockey and that's the way that we have to continue to play."
Vanek played his 600th regular-season game, his second with the Islanders since he was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. He earned his first point with the Islanders with a brilliant feed that set up Tavares' goal at 9:07 of the middle period, which drew New York within 2-1.
"It was a great pass to recognize I was going to the net and get it by their defender," Tavares said. "I just had the easy part, obviously, so it was nice to get rewarded for it and finally put one in and kind of break the seal there. It kind of opened up the floodgates there and we got another one right away. It was a big point in the game for us and we had to battle back from two down twice and it was good character showing for us to be able to do something like that."
Martin scored on a deflection 28 seconds later to draw the Islanders even.
Ryan put Ottawa back on top at 12:34 with his seventh goal of the season and 300th career point, then assisted on Clarke MacArthur's first goal of the season, a wraparound inside the right post at 14:47 that put Ottawa up 4-2. The play was called a goal on the ice and confirmed after video review.
Bouchard brought the Islanders back within one with his second goal of the season at 18:24.
The Islanders outshot the Senators 18-9 in the opening period, but Erik Condra and Mika Zibanejad scored on Ottawa's last two shots to give the Senators a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Rookie center Derek Grant earned his first NHL assist on Condra's goal at 18:38. Grant got his stick on New York defenseman Andrew MacDonald's clearing attempt, slowing the puck just enough for Condra to jump up and intercept it inside the Islanders' blue line. Condra moved in and fired between Nabokov's legs for his first goal of the season, before going to the dressing room. He returned for the second period and played two shifts before leaving the game because of a muscle strain in his right leg and did not return.
Zibanejad made it 2-0 lead with 19.6 seconds left. Nabokov ducked under Zibanejad's slap shot from the top of the right circle and the puck struck the glove over his head and trickled behind him into the net.


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Design : F. Giuliacci
Ceiling fan Centottanta design by the italian team Italexport.
Centottanta made with Perspex or alumium blades is the reply to the need for fans in proportion for medium size spaces : it presents a total diameter od 180 cm with blades made of aluminium or Perspex, a style choice that prefers lightweight materials, visually non invasive, with high performance. It's design blends with any architectural context, for either contract use or home solutions in classic or modern style.
Extras : wall mount regulators, remote controls, downrods in 60 cm and 120 cm.
Technichal details :
Voltage : 220 Volt / 50 HZ
reverse function
Structure : metal painted with epoxy powder, satin-finished grey aluminium colour
Motor colour : clear perspex
Blades : in satin finished grey aluminium or clear Perspex
Diameter : 180 cm ø
Light : 150 W
Power : max 110 W
Speed : 55 - 115 Rpm
Height : 56 cm
Distance ceiling to blade : 49 cm
Weight : 15 kg
Delivery time : 3 days


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Other talks from Padmaloka
This is the seventh in a sparkling, wide-ranging, thoroughly comprehensive ten talk series by Padmavajra on 'The Diamond Sutra'. What is the Buddha like? Especially in the properly disquieting world of the Diamond Cutter? Padmavajra doesn't have the answers - but he does deliver some thoughts founded on his own experience, and echoed in the words of the sutra.
Talks given at Padmaloka Retreat Centre, 2004
This talk is part of the series The Diamond Sutra - Taking Mind to its Limits.
|A brief summary - the nature of the Buddha (2:12)
|The Buddha's question about merit; puja - making offerings and gratitude; the Mandala Offering; chod practice and the Heart Sutra (6:46)
|Diamond Sutra logic; giving the Dharma - a quote from Sangharakshita, Wisdom Beoynd Words; the Bodhisattva as Dharma teacher (8:19)
|Keeping another dimension alive; the transformative aspect of the Dharma - Dr Ambedkar and social change in India (4:35)
|Life with and without the Dharma (3:25)
|Buddhas born from the Dharma; special qualities (dharmas) of a Buddha (5:02)
|All things as the Buddha's special qualities (2:45)
|Stages on the way to Enlightenment - the Arya Pudgalas (Holy Persons); the nature of attainment - metaphors from the Pali Canon (6:29)
|Discussions about Stream Entry; coursing un-self-consciously in the Dharma (7:48)
|Subhuti's words on himself as an Arhat (Stream Entrant); moments of faith (3:37)
Total running time: 50:58


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Situated on the Northern outskirts of the shopping centre of Coleraine, we are only a stone's throw away from the seaside resorts of Portstewart and Portrush. Located between Derry/Londonderry to the west and Ballycastle to the east, it is an ideal resting point while you explore the Causeway Coast.
For the tourist, local amenities, historical places of interest and places of natural beauty are all within easy reach.
We are also in a convenient spot for university visitors with the university campus just across the road.
Route From Belfast
1.Head North on the M2
2.At junction 2, exit onto M2 toward Greencastle / Larne / Londonderry
3.At junction 1, take the A26 exit to Antrim / Ballymena / Coleraine
4.At Dunsilly Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Lisnevenagh Rd / A26 heading to Coleraine / Ballymena
5.At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Ballee Rd E / A26
6.Continue onto M2
7.Continue onto Crankill Rd / A26, Continue to follow A26, Go through 3 roundabouts
8.At Lodge Rd Roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Ring Rd / A29 heading to Portrush / Portstewart / B185 / Bushmills / B17 / Ballycastle / B67 Continue to follow Ring Rd, Go through 3 roundabouts
9.Turn left at Cromore Rd / B185
10.Take the 2nd left onto University Park Destination will be on the left
Route From Londonderry~Derry City
1.Head towards Limavady on the A2, Go through 7 roundabouts
2.At Limavady Bypass, take the 2nd exit onto Dowland Rd / A37 heading to Coleraine / Ballymoney Continue to follow A37
3.At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Farrenlester Rd / A29 heading to Coleraine / Portrush Continue to follow A29, Go through 1 roundabout
4.At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Strand Rd / A29
5.Turn left at Link Rd / A29, Continue to follow Link Rd
6.Turn right at Killowen St / A2
7.Turn right at Waterside St / A2, Continue to follow A2
8.Continue onto Portrush Rd / A26 / A29, Continue to follow Portrush Rd / A29
9.Keep left at the fork, Continue to follow B185
10.Turn right at University Park, Destination will be on the left


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S's dad is doing a great job with the installation, which he discovered was a lot harder than installing ceramic tile. As soon as he's done, we're ready to set the toilet, install the vanities and check it off the list. Here are some "in-progress" shots:
It's taking shape nicely and I'm super excited to have a functioning bathroom soon! In the meantime, we still shower at the in-laws' house. And also we have this, for those middle-of-the-night emergencies:
Oddly enough, S wouldn't let me take an action shot.


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A 21-year-old school teacher, Karuna, was stabbed to death in broad daylight in New Delhi's Burari area on Tuesday. The accused, Surender Singh, was captured by the public and handed over to the police.
The CCTV footage of the heinous crime shows people just passing by while the man runs behind the woman and stabs her until she kept moving. He reportedly stabbed her 22 times, then bashed her head with a stone and finally kicked her before walking away.
The Centre sought a report from the Delhi Police regarding the murder. Aam Aadmi Party hit out at Lt Governor Najeeb Jung saying that the law and order situation in Delhi was deteriorating.
"We have sought a fact report from Delhi Police Commissioner over the incident. Whatever happened is very sad," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said.
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal tweeted in Hindi: "Last year, Meenakshi was killed publicly. This year a girl was stabbed 22 times and killed in public. The emptiness of the system and society is visible. Shameful...People have no fear. Nothing will change unless people like that are hanged to death."
The public did not intervene while the woman was being attacked by the 34-year-old.
Singh had been stalking Karuna for some time, but her family and he had arrived at an agreement around five months ago after the woman's family registered a police complaint, the police said.
Singh, who was in the middle of a divorce, had been stalking Karuna for the last one year, Esha Pandey, Additional DCP (North), said.
The woman was walking to the private school where she worked when Singh stopped her and stabbed her over and over again until she stopped moving.
She was declared brought dead when taken to the hospital.
The incident comes only a day after a 28-year-old mother of two was publicly stabbed and killed by her neighbour who had been harassing her for six years in Delhi's Inderpuri area. The neighbours of the woman watched while Sanjay Kumar, 26, chased her down the street and slashed her. He committed suicide after killing the victim, Laxmi.
Laxmi had stood up to the harasser by filing a police complaint against him. He was arrested, but was later released on bail.
Another similar incident that had shocked India was the murder of Infosys techie Swathi in Tamil Nadu.


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Rumbling through the suburbs in a giant white Hummer emblazoned with the words DeVore Tech, Lori DeVore is anything but subtle. But its taken that kind of audacity to transform her information technology firm, DeVore Technologies of Bedford, from a startup in her dining room to a company that employs nearly 70 workers. Im persistent, Ms. DeVore said. Nothing stops me. People can call me ugly, old and fat and my feelings dont get hurt, the 43-year-old business owner continued. That thick skin evidently has served Ms. DeVore well. Her company has weathered the tech bust near the beginning of the millennium and is back on the upswing. DeVore Technologies, which provides training, web hosting and custom application development, could hire 30 to 40 people by the end of the year, Ms. DeVore said. Earlier this year, the company started up a Spanish translation group, which Ms. DeVore expects to be a big area of growth. The group translates medical records, legal documents and web sites. Ms. DeVore got her start in information technology while at the University of Florida in the 1980s. She toiled on projects that involved developing accounting software for a local hospital, and realized she had talent for IT work. Fast forward to 1991, when Ms. DeVore started DeVore Technologies. In the early days, Ms. DeVore said she worked three other jobs as a sales representative at an electronics store, an administrator at a temp agency and a teacher of adult education courses. The company grew as large as 200 employees, but when the recession hit earlier this decade, Ms. DeVore had to slash her work force, as large clients no longer could her afford her companys services. Next thing I know, I was down to 12 employees, she said. I had to reinvent my company. Ms. DeVore decided the company desperately needed to find sources of reoccurring revenue. To that end, she borrowed about $500,000, bought some servers and began hosting web sites. Clients have included University Hospitals and medical sterilization products maker Steris Corp., Ms. DeVore said. For clients that use DeVores shopping cart software on their sites, the company usually collects 0.1% of sales, another piece of reoccurring revenue. The best part of being an entrepreneur is the freedom to live and die by her own decisions, Ms. DeVore said. I have no one who can stop me from dreaming, she said. They can express their opinions, but if Im determined, no one can stop me. Owning ones own business apparently comes with a price, however. Ms. DeVore said she generally works 75-hour weeks. Few American workers bathe at their offices, but count Ms. DeVore among those who do. A full bathroom connected to her office suggests she has little free time to spare. Asked her greatest challenge, Ms. DeVore candidly said, To stay above water. With low-cost overseas competition and falling margins, the IT business isnt an easy place to be. But Carol Rivchun, president of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a nonprofit that aims to teach job skills to low-income youths, doesnt seem worried about Ms. DeVore. Ms. Rivchun lauded Ms. DeVore, who donated her companys old computers to the nonprofit, as having more enthusiasm, brains and success than most of the women entrepreneurs Ive met in many years.
Lori DeVore
Owner<BR>DeVore Technologies
Recommended for You


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The Group North website is moving to www.groupnorth.club. The site is a bit bare at the moment but all the great stories from the club and record of our competitions will be moving there.
Another Guild Ball competition has been announced for December 19th. See tetails on our tournaments page.


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"After they are taken orally or intravenously, bisphosphonates bind tightly to the surface of the bone directly beneath the bone cells known as "osteoclasts," which actively dissolve bone. The drugs then become incorporated into the osteoclasts, stopping them from dissolving bone. As a result, bone production continues, bone loss decreases, bone density is improved and the risk of fracture is reduced." (http://www.aaoms.org/bronj.php)
It started quite a few months ago as what I thought of as a mouth sore, which I reported to Dr G. But it never hurt too much, and so I stopped mentioning it. At my prior dental exam in October 2011, no one remarked upon it. Or at least no one wrote a note remarking on it.
At today's dental visit, my dentist was off so his (younger) partner examined me. She noted right away that something was amiss. Exposed bone appeared in the roof of my mouth. She sent me immediately to an oral/maxillofacial surgeon in the next building. That doc, who I've seen before, wasn't in, but his (younger) partner was, and she diagnosed BRONJ. Kudos to these younger doctors, who caught something neither of my older, more experienced practitioners did.
I told her my medical history, concentrating on how I'd taken bisphosphonates for 9+ years, and how her partner had supervised teeth extractions about 5 years ago.
She explained that osteonecrosis happens when dead bone remains and is not dissolved, and metastatic cancer patients have known for years that bisphosphonates can cause this to happen.
They took more X-rays and photos of the roof of my mouth, and then the new oral surgeon removed some of the necrotic (dead) bone from the roof of my mouth. I received numbing medicine and nitrous oxide, so I wasn't in pain or uncomfortable.
The good news is that the tissue surrounding the dead bone looks healthy. We hope it will grow over the necrotic bone. I'm to go back for a recheck in one week and then again in one month.
She will send notes to Dr G, who I see tomorrow, and he can decide whether or not to decrease the frequency of my current bisphosphonate, Xgeva.
I went home with a special oral rinse and instructions to dilute with warm water and swish three times a day.
Just what I needed - yet another medical specialist to deal with yet another issue related to cancer.


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I am Vidah.
You can also call me CVR which stands for all my initials.
I am Kenyan, from a small village called Sifuyo located along the shores of Lake Victoria.
I am very passionate about life just as my name (Vida). I believe in smart, transformative power of self expression and soulful conversations. I believe in the warmth that comes with inspiration and the sparkle in peoples faces when they find out there is still one good person in the world that still exists. I am a firm believer in co-existance and lifting each other and not tearing down.
Through PeachesonBlue, I would like to interact with you and learn from you as I share some of the things I love (as seen on inspiration category) and my learnings on life so far in the past 27 years (as seen on Misty Life ) sometimes pertinent, but most of the time easy with topical issues that will make you relate in one one way or onother.
So, why the name PeachesonBlue?
To be honest, I had the option of going with carydonvidah.com. But, as I have noticed over the years, it is not very memorable to all. So I opted for something else that makes me happy:-) I have always been drawn to the colour peach and of course the forever timeless blue. When I look at these two colours, I feel genuinely excited and comfortable in whichever space I am. It is my hope that I can transfer to you these positive vibes through PeachesonBlue and that you will be able to somehow find your charm to disarm.
Enough said, I am so glad you are here, please feel free to comment on any article or drop me a mail.


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Get Started >> Web Browser Download
Access Data Via Web Browser
Before you continue,
do you have an account?
In order to download NOAA data files, you will need to have an account on this website.
Don't have an account?Create Account
Already have an account?Log In
Downloading Rapid Refresh (RAP) Data Files Via Web Browser
Weather forecast files are organized by directories that follow the NOAA weather file directory structure. The diagram, to the right (Directory Diagram 1), illustrates the directory organization all the way down to the weather file.
Directory Diagram 1
If you want to download a weather forecast file at 10 PM on November 8, 2016, with a forecast of 15 hours, you would click:
"201611" → "20161108" → "RAP_130_20161108_2200_015.grb2"
The diagram, to the right (Directory Diagram 2), showcases this transaction example.
Directory Diagram 2
Download National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Data Files Via Web Browser
NMFS data is organized into three main categories: Trawl, Observer, and Essential Fish Habitat.
For the Trawl data, files are organized by NMFS Science Center region. Data structures and available fields vary by region. For Observer data, files will ultimately be organized by region. However, currently Observer data is only available for the Alaska region. Essential Fish Habitat data consists of one main national shapefile which includes species-specific habitat layers, and several associated reference files required for working with the shapefile.
If you want to download the Trawl data on individual fish from the Northeast region, you would click:
"Trawl" → "Northeast Fisheries Science Center" → "nefsc_bts_indiv_fish.csv"
The diagram, to the right (Directory Diagram 3), showcases this transaction example.
Directory Diagram 3


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SSD OSClass Hosting
Try OSClass on SSD-only cloud hosting to get up to 300% better performance.
Most hosting providers use traditional Hard Drives that can be too slow for OSClass. Solid State Drives gives you up to 300% faster OSClass performance by reducing the random access time to just 0.1 millisecond. Experience the difference with the 14-day OSClass demo in the cloud.


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The California Supreme Court's 4-3 decision overturning a state ban on same-sex marriage has cheered backers of marriage equality, and particularly California couples whose path to the altar has been cleared. Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, however, may not share their joy. Though he surely counts on the Golden State's 55 electoral votes bolstering his electoral total in November, some political analysts now say this wedge issue may drive California's social conservatives to the polls and put the state in play for de-facto Republican nominee John McCain. "Two days ago, you'd put his chances, at best, at 20-30%," says California GOP pollster Stephen Kinney. "Right now, I think you could put it at 50-50. This ruling changes the dynamics. It will energize our voting base."
Kinney concedes that California the nation's heftiest electoral prize is still widely considered "a longshot" for Republicans. But the state will be a sticky predicament for Obama, who does not back gay marriage itself, only "civil unions." Conservative voters may not make the same distinction. Kinney notes that Proposition 22, the anti-gay marriage initiative vacated by the Court's ruling, was supported by 61% of Californians in 2000.
Not everyone thinks the ruling could prompt a major electoral shift. "It's obviously going to be polarizing," says pollster John Zogby. "But will it be an election changer? Probably not. Take your navy blue crayon and color California in on the election map." Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor who received death threats when he ordered marriage licenses for same-sex couples in 2004, told TIME that "Republicans need a bigger issue this year. Gay marriage is not going to work."
But even if California remains secure for the Democrats, the Court's ruling could still factor heavily into the electoral math in November. McCain "has to look for issues that motivate and activate social conservatives," says Bill Whalen, a research fellow at the Stanford University-based Hoover Institution. "This issue is a gift in that regard. It gives him a very effective talking point in Ohio, in Michigan, in Wisconsin, where he's appealing to culturally conservative Catholics and swing voters."
Yet the Court's decision also thrusts McCain into a tightrope act: on this high-voltage issue, he must simultaneously court centrist voters and cater to the party's base. In California, strong denunciations of "activist judges" are unlikely to sway voters, says University of California-Berkeley political scientist Bruce Cain, who adds that if McCain is to capitalize on his slim chances in California, it won't be by "championing a social conservative cause. There just ain't enough of them." Nor, Cain says, is gay marriage an issue capable of inflaming an electorate consumed with a sagging economy and a moribund housing market. "California is slightly red with respect to economic policy, and slightly blue with regard to social policy," Cain says.
But California Republicans are hoping that history will prove instructive. After Massachusetts became the first state to codify marriage equality in 2003, the G.O.P. spent the ensuing general election wielding the issue as a potent weapon. Thirteen states passed ballot initiatives to ban same-sex marriage including Ohio, the battleground that tipped the 2004 election in George W. Bush's favor. Opponents of gay marriage in California have generated more than 1 million signatures to place on November ballots an initiative amending the state's constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. Newsom expects the measure will appear on the ballot. Voters in Florida, 2000's election fulcrum, will face a similar choice. While Cain says "this is an issue that will have appeal," he notes that "there's a huge dispute over whether these measures made any difference last time."
The muddied electoral math wasn't on the minds of same-sex couples and supporters in the aftermath of the court's decision. "We're exhilarated and proud," says Newsom, who spoke of a poignant moment in which a teary-eyed son thanked the mayor for supporting his mother's relationship. For same-sex couples, their families and supporters, the Court's ruling was a sunlit moment. But the political forecast has become a bit cloudier.


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Mick Jagger has been recovering for the past month after having heart valve surgery, which led to the postponement of The Rolling Stones' North American leg of their "No Filter" tour. However, Jagger is clearly on the mend, and we can see the proof of this in a new video he posted to social media.
After reports that he was cleared to tour again, Jagger shared the video below of him in a dance studio obviously tuning up and rehearsing again. It should be no surprise that the guy seemingly shows no signs of having heart surgery just a month ago.
Mick Jagger on Twitter
Mick Jagger on Twitter
Seriously, GET...IT...MICK!
This video is also a very good sign for fans that had tickets to the Stones' postponed North American tour dates. While new dates haven't been announced, clearly they must be close if Jagger is practicing choreography. Hopefully, an announcement from the band will come soon.
Erica Banas is rock/classic rock news blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.


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Knee Replacement Surgery India: Benefits, Risks and Costs
Kanchan Madan
There are various reasons why the need for Knee Replacement surgery may arise, like Osteoporosis, worn and torn tissues, Osteoarthritis, ageing, lack of nutritious food intake, serious sports injury, etc. Knee Replacement surgery is also referred to as Total Knee Replacement or Knee Arthroplasty or Artificial Knee Replacement. Knee Replacement becomes necessary for the patient if there is no relief despite of medications, exercise or physiotherapy, and the problem has become severe enough to restrict the patient's movement and stopping him from performing his or her routine activities.
Knee Replacement surgery India has become one of most preferred surgeries by the medical tourists. With every passing year, the number of patients visiting India to get this surgery done is witnessing a welcome rise.
What is Knee Replacement Surgery?
Knee Replacement surgery is performed to replace the damaged or worn out knee joint with an artificial one. The damaged portion of the knee is removed with the help of specialized surgical instruments. The thigh bone, shin and the knee cap are resurfaced to help in keeping the joint in the at position.
The same procedure is done with a minimally invasive approach where the surgeons make very tiny incisions and extremely advanced instruments are used to perform this procedure successfully.
The type of surgery needed to repair the issue depends on the severity of the issue. The types of Knee Replacement available are:
- Unilateral Knee Replacement
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair Surgery
- Bilateral Knee Replacement
- ACL and PCL Reconstruction Surgery
Benefits of Knee Replacement in India:
There are several benefits of Knee Replacement surgery India:
- Relief from prolonged and persistent pain
- The diseased portions of the knee, which are causing the pain and discomfort can be removed and replaced
- Enhances the Knee joint's mobility
- The quality of life is improved and the patients can lead a more active life
- There are different types of Knee Replacement surgeries that can be opted according to the damage
Risks of Knee Replacement in India:
The hospitals of India and the associated Knee Replacement specialists ensure that the patients do not face any kind of risks and complications. The procedure is done very meticulously and thus leaves hardly any chances of complications but still there can be some issues that the patients may face temporarily, which go away with time as the patients recover.
- Headache and drowsiness due to anesthesia
- Infections leading to redness, pain and swelling, which can be reduced with the help of ice pack
- Discharge from the area of the surgery for which antibiotics can be prescribed
- Blood clots
- If the newly implanted joint fails then another surgery might be required
Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery in India:
India offers the benefits of huge cost differences to the countless medical tourists coming here. Each and every ailment has a very cost effective answer to it in Indian hospitals. This facility is highly advantageous for the patients coming from difficult economic backgrounds because Knee problems bring along a lot of pain and it is a very urgent situation for the patients. Like other affordable treatment choices, Knee Replacement surgery India is very sensibly priced at $6,600 in India while the same surgery costs $35,000 in USA and in UK it costs $25,000.
For free online consultation contact Tour2india4health:
At Tour2india4health, we make sure that the medical tourists enjoy all the Knee Replacement Surgery benefits in India. We have a very strong bonding the best hospitals of India where we can plan your Knee Replacement treatment with the best associated amenities. There are highly skilled and knowledgeable specialists, who have successfully performed several Knee Replacement surgeries. Further, with us, you can easily avail low Cost Knee Replacement Surgery in India. The patients can be totally assured about feeling at home because we fulfill all their requirements related to accommodation, staying connected to their families, and even their food requirements are taken care of.
For the initial consultation or for free online consultation, no doctor's referral is needed; the patients just have to get in touch with call on: +91-9325887033 OR mail there queries on: email@example.com
Read More:
Affordable knee replacement surgery in India with high success rates


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Cranford, NJ – February 2, 2009 Paragon Solutions, a business and information technology consulting firm, announced today that the company has earned the Microsoft Gold Certified status.
The Gold Partner Status, which is the highest level of certification in Microsoft, was achieved as a result of Paragon's performance in two competency areas: Custom Software Development and Data Management Solutions. Each competency has unique requirements for achieving certification. In 2009, Paragon demonstrated its qualifications for gold status through client referenceable solutions in insurance, financial services, life sciences and communications.
"Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive benefits that create a strong value to our clients," said Dan O'Connor, CEO. "Some of these benefits include enhanced training, support as well as access to Microsoft itself."
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners' businesses be successful.
About Paragon
Paragon Solutions, a division of Paragon Computer Professionals, is a management and technology consulting firm that specializes in helping clients leverage information assets for better business results. The company does this through its vertical practices and specialized technology service lines that help clients optimize their operations for maximum return on investment. Paragon works with businesses that are focused in a few key verticals – financial services, insurance, life sciences and communications. The industry-focused business consulting and delivery teams work with Paragon's competency groups in areas that include Business Intelligence, Business Process Management, Data Management, Enterprise Content Management and Web Services.
For more information, please visit the Paragon Web site at www.consultparagon.com.
Erik Raper
Paragon Solutions
(908) 653-3016


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What better place to put this than a blog which is actually running on one of these. The element14 one is powering the site as we speak. I had uploaded this set to Facebook, but it'd be nice to include the Pi's goodness on this page as well.
So lets start by examining the package from the outside. This is what you get for your GBP25 ($41.80 Australian Dollars including GST):
The element14 one comes in a plain thin-walled cardboard box. Nothing special, whereas the RS one comes in a pink plastic box (presumably as a warning of ESD sensitive components). The plastic box looks quite a bit nicer to me, but it doesn't quite close firmly like it was made with quality. So lets open them up …
I've left the regulatory information out of this shot – just to note that both do come with warnings about EMC regulations – element14 bundles a thin one pager, whereas RS bundles a larger print version. But really, not that important – just have to keep in mind that these are not finished "products" as such, and so can radiate signals out (especially when in non-metallic cases), and are also susceptible to radiation causing improper operation. Not to mention that adding or modifying it will affect the EMC of the device.
Enough on the regulations, but it's of interest to note – both are in Anti-static bags as expected, but the RS case has nice notches/standoffs to hold an SD card and to act as a stand for the Raspberry Pi. If one were to cut some notches into the walls, it would make for a complete case, free of charge! But definitely it does a good job for transporting an Raspberry Pi if one doesn't have a case for it. Now for the product itself …
Top-sides of the boards – as you'll notice, the PCB designs are all Revision 2 designs, and both are 512Mb versions (lucky me, or rather unlucky, given the wait time of 17 weeks for the RS one). Note the differences – the silkscreening on the element14 one is quite a bit thinner and lighter, the solder resist/soldermask is also a lighter colour. The colour of the audio jack is different between the two, the ribbon connectors are different too – the RS one also appears to have protective tape still applied to it. The branding on the USB and magjack are different as well, so components are definitely chopped and changed depending on which vendor you get it from. Hard to say which is the better quality one – but at this stage, given that the RS one does NOT work due to a high-resistance polyfuse fault (which causes voltage dips on the CPU causing instability), I'd have to recommend potential buyers stick to element14.
It's also great news that element14 has now allowed people to go in and get their Pi fix in person at their trade counter, with no quantity restrictions or requirements to wait online. It is now a stocked item, making it easy to get. No more worrying "will I get another Pi if mine breaks?"
And now the bottom side. Note the revision labels are different in format, and at different places. The SD contacts are different as well – the one on the element14 one looks quite a bit better for size, given that the SD contact has been an issue for some people, again, I would probably recommend that one. That being said, unusually, around the connectors, there appears to be quite a bit of flux residue on the element14 board, making for an untidy look. The RS board has the holes for the headers under the GPIO partially filled with solder for some strange reason. Judging from the markings, element14 and RS have chosen to use different PCB Manufacturers. The markings on the element14 board suggest it was made by KCE and may have been made panellized (note the '3 OF 6' marking near the corner), whereas the one from RS appears to be made by Shenzhen Sun and Lynn (which I've seen their markings on quite a lot of electronic PCBs).
It's a shame that both of these don't work identically. RS has yet to respond to my e-mail, and are yet to resolve the problem. After the long wait, I'm not surprised if they're sick and tired of dealing with so many disgruntled customers. Apparently this polyfuse issue has affected at least 10 people on the official Raspberry Pi Foundation's Forums.


text: I've known Steve Powers for years and he never fails to impress or surprise. I told him that we wanted to do a New Yorkers feature on him and he told me to come to a new address in Brooklyn that I've never been to. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that he had set up shop in a 5000 square foot space in downtown Brooklyn. Even more intriguing, but in character for Steve, was that he had somehow convinced some community board to provide this space to him for free. Like the title of his book, Steve is a master of "The Art of Getting Over".


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Bodegas del Palacio is located in the town of Cambados in the Rias Baixas region of Spain. The winery produces three white wines using the Albariño variety, as well as orujo, a Spanish liqueur.
The 2010 Albariño de Fefiñanes was 100% Albariño. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks. The labeled ABV was 13%.
In the midst of my research into the Albariño variety, I came across a timely blog post by David Lincoln Ross on his visit to Bodega del Palacio de Fefiñanes in Galacia. On the basis of his comments, I set upon a search for the winery's product.
I was able to locate the 2010 Albariño de Fefiñanes. This turned out to be a good thing. In fact, I need to find some more of these.


text:
In This Issue
Past Newsletters
- September 2017
- Sept. 13 MLR Checks Mail
- Sept. 28 Rx Prior Authorization, Medicare Cards
- August 2017
- Aug. 9 Transitional Relief Update
- Aug. 23 Medicare Creditable Coverage Mandate
- July 2017
- July 12 Digital Onboarding
- July 26 PCORI Fee Due July 31
- June 2017
- June 14 MLR Schedule Released
- June 28 Data Assessment Requirement
- May 2017
- May 10 IRS 6055 Collection Data
- May 24 IRS Issues 2018 HSA Amounts
- April 2017
- April 12 New Preventive Measures Announced
- April 26 New Client Tracking Tool Introduced
- March 2017
- March 8 ACA Update for Aggregate Groups
- March 22 July 1 PDL Changes
- February 2017
- January 2017
- Jan. 11 Broker Bonus Announced
- Jan. 25 Court Bans Gender Enforcement
- December 2016
- November 2016
- Nov. 9 IRS Releases New FSA Amounts
- Nov. 23 CMS Ratings Released
- October 2016
- Oct. 14 Section 1557 Update, Reinsurance Notice
- Oct. 26 Reinsurance Quiz
Local and Other News
BrokerConnect Newsletter Subscription
Get the latest news and thought leadership to help you serve your customers and grow your business. Contact your UHC representative to begin receiving our BrokerConnection newsletter.
New Prior Authorization Requirements for Enzyme Replacement Medications
November 6, 2013
These requirements apply only to UnitedHealthcare integrated commercial members insured or administered by UnitedHealthcare, Mid-Atlantic Medical Services (MAMSI), Neighborhood Health Partnership, Oxford, and River Valley. They do not apply to direct commercial business (OptumRx direct business without UnitedHealthcare medical coverage or to the State of New York Empire Plan, UnitedHealthcare West, or UnitedHealthcare Community Plans.
As the cost of specialty medications continue to rise, we continue to look for ways to provide access to clinically appropriate health services and products while managing these escalating costs. Therefore, effective Feb. 1, 2014, we will implement prior authorization requirements for enzyme replacement medications, Cerezyme® and Elelyso®, used to treat Gaucher disease. These requirements will affect both new and existing members on therapy.
Requests for coverage of Cerezyme and Elelyso may be subject to medical necessity review. Depending upon the results of that review where Cerezyme or Elelyso are not considered to be medically necessary, members may be required to switch to VPRIV®, a lower-cost clinically similar medication, in order to continue benefit coverage. Prior authorization will not be required for VPRIV.
Although only approx. 131 UnitedHealthcare standard book of business members currently use the enzyme replacement medications for the treatment of Gaucher disease, use of these medications has a significant impact on pharmacy cost trends with the average cost of therapy ranging from $250,000 to $350,000 per patient, depending on the dose.
What is medical necessity review?
- Medical necessity review determines:
- Whether the use of a health service is supported by published clinical evidence;
- Whether it is clinically appropriate for the particular person for whom coverage is requested;
- Whether it is cost-effective relative to other services that treat the same condition.
Prior authorization requests will be reviewed:
- Based on medical necessity criteria for:
- Fully insured members with the 2011 Certificate of Coverage
- Self-funded clients with updated Summary Plan Description language that includes a medical necessity definition
- Based on approved or proven uses of the medications for all other members.
All impacted members will be notified by Dec. 1, 2013. Network physicians are required to obtain prior authorization where appropriate and provide any supporting medical records before administering a targeted medication billed under the medical benefit.
If you have any additional questions, please contact your UnitedHealthcare or OptumRx representative.
January 1, 2018 PDL Updates
The following updates will take effect for the OptumRx direct Prescription Drug Lists (PDLs) on January 1, 2018. Learn more
New Sales Automation Management Tool
Check out our new Sales Automation Management (SAM). Learn more
UnitedHealth Group News
Visit our newsroom for the latest about programs, reports and initiatives designed to help people live healthier lives.


text: This small apartment complex is 3 minutes, or about 400 m, Playa del Ingles. It is 500 m from the center and 700 m from Maspalomas. It is within walking distance of shopping centers and Sandia and Yumbo. This apartment complex offers guests all the comforts of a quality hotel and a relaxing, friendly and quiet. A perfect place to stay and enjoy your vacation. During free time you can relax by the pool on the sun or play billiards. The apartments are well equipped


text:
Organization : Amazon
Job Role : Risk Investigator
Location : Bangalore
Qualification : B Tech/BE/MCA/M Sc
Experience : Freshers
salary : Rs 3 – 4 LPA
No.of Vacancies : NA
Website : www.amazon.com
Apply Mode : Walk-In
Walk-In Date : 3 rd October – 7 th October 2016( 10 AM – 12 PM)
About Organization:
Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon.com), incorporated on May 28, 1996, serves consumers through its retail websites and focus on selection, price, and convenience. The Company offers programs that enables sellers to sell their products on its Websites and their own branded Websites and to full fill orders through them , and programs that allow authors, musicians, film makers, application developers, and others to publish and sell content. The Company operates in two segments: North America and International.
Job Description:
* Transaction Risk Investigator Amazon India is seeking dedicated, hard working, analytical candidates with a proven track record of performance and results-oriented thinking, to join the Transaction Risk Management Team in Hyderabad.
* Candidates will be responsible for a wide range of duties related to the investigation and elimination of online e – commerce risk.
* Ideal applicants will have experience in the e commerce payments space, previous trust and safety experience, and experience succeeding in a customer-driven workplace. All candidates will be analytical and capable of succeeding in a fast-paced team environment.
* The Transaction Risk Investigator position relies on excellent judgement plan and accomplish goals and will work under very limited supervision of the Manager.
* Excellent individual problem-solving and analytical skills are used to authenticate customers and complex transactions.
* Nearly all decisions are expected to be made independently with little to no guidance and a high degree of accuracy.
Job Requirements:
* Candidate should be BE/B Tech/MCA/M Sc from a recognised university.
* Must have excellent written and spoken english skills and an ability to compose a grammatically correct, concise and accurate written response.
* Must have excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex transactional issues correctly and clearly to both internal and external customers.
* Must have problem Solving Skills.
* Should have demonstrated ability to work independently and make complex investigation decisions with little to no guidance.
* Must have demonstrated ability to analyze problems logically.
* Must be self disciplined, diligent, proactive and detail oriented.
* Must have strong time management and organizational skills.
* Should be able to effectively prioritize work time to ensure productivity and fulfill department standards for time spent.
* Should have excellent ability to determine situational needs and provide appropriate solutions.
Amazon Development Centre India Pvt. Ltd.,
2870, Orion Building, Bagmane Constellation Business Park,
Doddanekundi Circle, Outer Ring Road,
Marathahalli Post, Bengaluru 560037.


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Tag: iThermonitor
A New Non-invasive Continuous Way to Monitor Core Temperature for Surgery Patients
TMCx team Raiing Medical
Social Posts
RT @utsystem: The Board honored outgoing Student Regent Brittany Jewell, who is working on her Ph.D. in cell and regulatory biology at @UTH…
It's all about timing when it comes to intermittent fasting. See what Jennifer Cleveland, one of our registered dietitians, has to say in our latest edition of "debating diets." https://t.co/NgiZG3ag1V #diets #intermittentfasting https://t.co/LOkrJVJFOX
UTMB Health@utmbhealth
It's a full house at UTMB's annual Employee Service Day! Congratulations to all of our employees celebrating today and thank you for your outstanding service! https://t.co/NG8TqNmAnm
Harris Health System@harrishealth
May is International Mediterranean Diet Month. Get in the spirit with this Mediterranean Diced Salad made with flavorful, nutritious chickpeas. https://t.co/iDHXhsttod https://t.co/5qGP5hgIfo
Texas Children's@TexasChildrens
The nation's top medical experts, hospital executives, pediatricians and community health leaders recently convened at @TexasChildrens for @usnews "Combatting Childhood Obesity" summit, addressing one of the nation's most critical health issues: https://t.co/ZfeU7kEOwB
TAMU Health Sciences@TAMHSC
@NurseKnut @TAMU Thank you for your selfless service, life savers!👍
RT @BCM_CancerEd: Summer is almost here, do you have the right sun protection products? The @SkinCancerOrg and @AADskin give recommendation…
MD Anderson Cancer Center@MDAndersonNews
#Mealplanning tips to help you make healthier food choices, while saving time and money, from our dietitian Lindsey Wohlford: https://t.co/FSjXRUl8UK @FocusedonHealth #endcancer https://t.co/UWAGalotCh
Veterans Affairs@DeptVetAffairs
3-D printing technology brings innovation to @SanAntonioVAMC https://t.co/fGVG1p4ki7 via #VAntagePoint
RT @BCMHouston_News: A new study shows practicing dawn to sunset fasting for 30 days may potentially help treat #obesity-related conditions…
University of Houston@UHouston
@JRUG_17 Just chillin' https://t.co/nahz4T5ZSr
Memorial Hermann@memorialhermann
Try this delicious and fizzy—but also healthy—drink at your next get-together: https://t.co/GdY9NEq0Ir. https://t.co/vyj5TUj3IC
Rice University@RiceUniversity
RT @MoodyArts: We're excited to share that the Moody Center for the Arts, designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture, is a recipient of the T…
MD Anderson Cancer Center@MDAndersonNews
"There was no question I'd go to MD Anderson for my #tonsilcancer treatment," says survivor Jeff Deatsman: https://t.co/60zRSzp7vA @mekupferman @CD_fuller #HPV #hncsm #endcancer
Rice University@RiceUniversity
RT @RiceUNews: Houston's new poet laureate is not only a @RiceUniversity employee, she's also a @ricealumni: "Rice absolutely helped me get…


text:
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Mr Sanchos ATV fleet is ready to take you to the tropical Cozumel beach jungle through rocky roads and white sand of our Caribbean beaches. You will experience the thrill of driving an ATV 650cc touring the Cozumel Beach jungle at Mr Sanchos moving faster ahead while admiring Cozumel natural wonders and amazing turquoise sea.
Let adrenaline flow throughout your body in this unique Cozumel Tour. At the end of the Mr Sanchos Cozumel Shore Excursion, wind down and enjoy Mr Sanchos facilities, Cozumel Beaches, food and delicious cocktails.Read More
Reserve from:
You don't need to leave the premises to enjoy your day at Cozumel. Once there, you will find a veriety of options to enjoy your day, starting with our 2 Flagship experiences:
Mr. Sancho's All Inclusive Day Pass: An all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink experience,
Mr Sancho's Romantic Day in the Beach for 2. Everything from the Mr. Sanchos All Inclusive Pass + A Cabana + A Massage for 2.
In Addition, You will find here, the only place where a FIsh Spa is available in the Island.
Or you can choose from our list of activities such as: Wave Runners, Parasailing, Horseback Riding, ATV tours, Massages, Snorkel, Kayak, Scuba Dive, Shopping and much more activities. Our exclusive facilities, the beach activities and the best of the Caribbean nature are together in one place: Mr. Sancho´s Beach Club
Select from our list of Activities and Create your own adventure in Mr. Sancho's Cozumel!!Read More
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text:
If you are a millennial who has grown up with video games, you may have missed out on the fun of playing a good, old-fashioned, non-electronic Role-Playing Game (RPG) with your friends. Those who have watched The Big Bang Theory know how exciting and engrossing these games can be.
I am a middle-aged man whose youth was in the late 1970s and 1980s. Of all the diversions from study and the usual work that I loved the most was non-electronic Role-Playing Games (RPG). Well, they were not known as not known as non-electronic then because we are talking about an era that pre-dated the arrival of electronic video games or one when they were still in their infancy.


text:
A Suicide Attempt
It took a lot of courage
As I sat by the window sill
My last note in one hand
And a bottle of the dreaded pill
I gazed outside my window
To the bird in the mango tree
This could be my last time ever
When I would sit on my window sill
I was about to pop in,
Not one or two,
but the entire bottle of that pill
Alas I am terrible at gulping anything
To myself, at that point I said,
Should have bought some syrup for sure instead!
For my journey to the other side,
How could I get some silence?
When the bird had decided to flutter its wings,
In all its craziness!!!
It knew what I was up to, I think,
And decided to ruin my plans.
Little did it know why I was so sad,
And only a little courage for this I had had.
It flew mockingly straight at my hand
I fell down the window sill.
But into my room instead of out
And hurt badly, my knee.
I knew I was saved that day
Even though I did not feel free
But save it did from a courage-less act
That little bird in the mango tree


text:
I had planned to make laptop covers for both kids before Christmas. My plans ran out of time, but I had some time on Christmas day, and got going on my daughter's. For both, I used the Noodlehead's tutorial for a wide open pouch, and simply planned the dimensions to fit the computer (a MacPro).
|The finished computer bag.
|A perfect fit!
I have a stash of science fabric for my scientist daughter, and we chose the lab critters for the cover. I cut the fabric generously to allow for shrinkage during quilting, and quilted the fabric on top of the batting. I found some left over flannel from childhood pajamas to use for the lining.
|A close up of the critters doing science! (already quilted with a simple and quick loopy pattern.
|Showing the quilting from the batting side. Without a fabric on both sides of the batting, it does stick sometimes, and creates lots of fuzz.
|The Parisian flannel
|With the zipper installed.
|Sewing the parts together. This is really a very easy pattern!
|Top stitching around the zipper.
|The fussy cut little tab!
My son (and his computer - an HP) came home later on Christmas, with his computer wrapped in his fuzzy vest. I took care of that the next morning!
|The computer "case"
|I had some novelty fabric featuring old cigar boxes. He loved it.
|I put the fabric on top of some scrap batting, and quilting the two pieces together.
|The finished top piece with the loopy quilting.
|I had some old cowboy flannel, which I had to piece together for the lining. I opened the seam to make it as smooth as possible.
|The final product (with my new little tag)!
|A view of the finished bag.
These were quick, useful and fun projects. Two happy kids - two protected computers! It was actually fun to work on them after Christmas - no pressure! I'll double check the measurements, and add them later this week to this post. I am linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts.
Happy New Year to all.
Take care,


text:
Sean Miller can't buy a Pac-12 championship. The University of Arizona head basketball coach has been to the finals of the Pac-12 Tournament four times in the last five years and came up empty for the fourth time yesterday as UCLA upset the favored Wildcats, winning in the final minute of an action-packed thriller.
Arizona, which is the regular-season conference champion, was the No. 1 seed in the tourney, won 30 games this season and held the No. 1 spot in the nation for eight weeks. The No. 2 seed UCLA (26-8) was unranked.
And to add further insult to injury, this is the first year for UCLA's new head coach, Steve Alford.
The Bruins were able to play their kind of game yesterday. Alford was hoping for a score in the 70s, and that's just what he got in the 75-71 win. This was a battle between one of the best defenses in the country (Arizona) and one of the best offensive teams in UCLA, and Miller was hoping to keep the score of the game somewhere in the 50s.
From the beginning of the game, it was apparent that was going to be a tall order. UCLA was off and running.
Miller did what he could to slow down the hi-octane UCLA offense. He called a time-out at the 15:39 mark of the first half when the Bruins began pulling away 10-3. Then he sent Gabe York into the game and the sophomore guard kept things from getting out of hand by sinking three 3-pointers that kept the Bruins from getting beyond an 11-point advantage.
That gave the Wildcats some time to get their legs under them and find their offensive rhythm. They pulled to within two points at 33-31 on an alley-oop pass from Aaron Gordon to Nick Johnson that brought the Arizona fans to their feet. Gordon added another point on a free throw shortly after that to get Arizona within one before UCLA closed out the half ahead 43-40.
UCLA held the lead throughout the half and were on track to hit their average of 82 points a game, which has kept them in the top 10 of teams nationwide and played perfectly into their game plan.
"I like the pace, I like the tempo of this game," Alford told a sideline reporter as he headed into the locker room.
For the first 20 minutes, it was the potent Bruin offense that held the upper hand as the Wildcats tried to slow it down and do a better job of defending in transition, a problem that has plagued them repeatedly this season. And UCLA was red-hot, shooting 58.1 percent from the field in the first half.
By the start of the second half the Cats had recovered from the get-it-and-go transition offense the Bruins used to put them on their heels to start the game. Within four minutes, they had tied the game at 48 and, 30 seconds later, had their first lead of the game, 49-48, on a Gordon free throw.
Arizona couldn't get their three-point shooting on track, but managed to keep the Bruins from pulling out to more than a five-point lead. The Cats regained the lead at 61-60, but it was back-and-forth scoring and lead changes the rest of the way until Jordan Adams gave the Bruins a three-point lead at 71-68 with 30 seconds left to play – a lead they would hold the rest of the way.
With the victory, the Bruins showed they deserved to be a ranked team and worthy of a ticket to the Big Dance. As tournament champion, that becomes an automatic now. And it puts them on everybody's radar going into next week's start to the NCAA Tournament.
But for Arizona fans, it raises questions.
What happens when the Cats come up against a tourney opponent with a high-efficiency transition game? It took them half a game to recover from the UCLA fast-break.
Can they stay composed in the final stages of a really close game? Against UCLA, they unraveled in the final minutes, creating uncharacteristic turnovers and missing critical free throws. They were 6-of-16 from the line for the game, and missed the front ends of a couple of 1-and-1 opportunities down the stretch.
Can they maintain 40 minutes of consistency with their much-heralded defense that is ranked sixth nationally? Getting it on track yesterday proved to problematic, as the Bruins led from the start, going up by as many as 11 points during the fist half and shooting the lights out.
But no doubt, the biggest question will be whether this team, which won the regular-season conference title, can put two major setbacks in one week – the loss to Oregon in the last game of the regular season and the upset by UCLA – behind them and focus on getting ready for the challenges ahead in the Madness of March.
There was some question about whether the Wildcats could recover from losing their prolific 6'8″ forward Brandon Ashley in a Feb. 1 game against California. They struggled to get a couple of wins after that and were on the road to recovery. But then they were devastated in a stunning 69-66 loss to rival Arizona State.
Now UCLA has put them on the canvas again, and may have put the Wildcats' anticipated No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in jeopardy.
And whether they can get up and continue the fight this time will define their character – and determine how far through the tournament this team will travel.
(Photo: Arizona Athletics)


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Congress Shoots Down Drone Change
The plan by the Obama administration to move control of the aerial drone program to the Pentagon from the CIA has run into a large obstacle—the U.S. Congress. The roadblock comes in the form of a secret provision inserted into the $1 trillion budget bill from this week that would halt funding for transferring unmanned aircraft or authority to carry out the strikes. The administration's plan was seen as an effort to get the CIA back to traditional intelligence gathering, and add transparency to the drone strike process.


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Monthly Archives: November 2010
National Data Providers Respond to Critical Issues
Doing more with less
National mapping, charting, and data production (NDP) organizations are being asked to respond to issues and events with timely, relevant GIS data provided through spatial data infrastructures (SDIs).
The value of authoritative geographic data was recognized in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit (officially called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro). In addition, geographic information was determined to be a critical component in meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Recently, organizations such as the Group on Earth Observations and the UN Economic and Social Council Statistics Division have emphasized the importance of authoritative data in addressing trans-national issues. The goals of these organizations are similar and can be aggregated into the following areas: Continue reading


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Babyshambles: The Blinding EP
Just here to pay the legal fees, natch
Amid the torrent of Babyshambles-related press releases that fall through our letter box, it's a rare occurrence that one of them doesn't hide the phrase: "Original tickets still valid". Sometimes we fantasise that 'Original Tickets Still Valid' is the greatest Babyshambles song never written, with Pete apologising to every single fan he's ever left waiting outside a gig. Sadly, that song will never be written, and instead we've got 'The Blinding EP', Babyshambles' first release with their new carers Parlophone, consisting of five choons that reek of the dreaded stopgap.
Miraculously, however, it verges on the, um, blinding. 'I Wish' is the key track here, a delicate horn-flecked homage to 2 Tone that sounds like the aborted summer of ska never happened. Such is the might of Pete's lyrical trickery that, after listening to him sing for two minutes, even the most vindictive paparazzo is bound to feel some smidgen of sympathy for him. 'I Wish' is no exception, and lines like, "I'm piping almost every night/Watch my dreams float by/Out of sight/I wish to God I'd just been stabbed, oh" make you just wanna take him home and start pouring the Horlicks. Exposed to this EP, even those of us who despise Pete Doherty beyond all mortal sense will have to concede the lanky one some sliver of genius.


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Messy ordeal only sends wrong message in school.
If patrons of Garden City USD 457 didn't know about so-called senior pranks taking place at Garden City High School over the years, they do now.
This year, however, GCHS seniors went in a different direction with what's been described as an organized senior class prank.
Conducted with the approval of Principal James Mireles, seniors were given permission to leave a mess at the school so long as they helped clean up the next day.
Some 50 to 100 students were allowed to enter the high school at night to leave their Class of 2013 mark, and they did so with gusto.
They used streamers, yarn, glitter, Silly String and more inside the school. Outside, they wrote on sidewalks with chalk and adorned trees with toilet paper.
Some students went too far, naturally, by placing Vaseline on door handles, plastic wrap on stairs and even hanging a condom on a buffalo statue. (Imagine how alumni who were instrumental in placing nice artwork in the new high school felt about that stunt.)
As for Mireles, he no doubt was relieved to have some control over the prank, and hopefully ward off more serious acts that materialized in the past, such as damage to the football field.
Still, it's difficult to see how such a prank � even one meant to be fun rather than malicious � made sense.
We're all for seniors celebrating their final year of high school, but surely there are better ways to do so than making a mess on school property. There's a big difference between decorating a building to make a statement and creating a situation that inconveniences others.
Educators often complain that they don't receive proper respect. While they deserve as much, allowing students to disrespect the school setting in any way sends the wrong message.
Mireles said he hoped the activity helped seniors get the desire to pull a prank out of their systems.
Let's also hope next year's seniors views such acts for what they are � silly and unnecessary � and come up with a better way to celebrate the end of their high school days.


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Class Dojo is an amazing concept that allows parents, teachers and students to work together to create the most successful classroom a student can have! Class Dojo is a communication app which can be used on any device and in any language.
Just imagine a child being able to share their triumphs big or small right when it happens. Class Story which is included with the Class Dojo app allows students to share videos, stories and many other moments on the same school day it happens. The app also can be used by teachers and parents to privately message each other without the necessity of phone numbers being exchanged.
Student Stories allows students to create a portfolio of pictures and videos of their work to be shared with their parents. Class Dojo offers the ability to allow incredible classrooms to be created by using the ideas and needs of the teacher, parent and student involved. Basically, the classroom using this app is based on the individuality of that particular class. Class Dojo offers simple ways to make this a reality by giving good people the connection they need on a daily basis to bring their ideas into the classroom.
Just a few quick facts about Class Dojo:
1) It is actively used in 90% of K-8 schools in the US, and in over 180 countries.
2) 20% of team has a teaching background
3) Series B funding in 2015 (this funding is given by entrepreneurs and private investors to new companies that have already reached certain milestones in their development).
Class Dojo is always offered free to the teaching community. It is an exciting option that allows parents to be more involved in their student's education as a daily and "right at this moment" experience!


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I have a limited number of offspring available for sale each year. Preference is given to prior customers and those individuals who are currently working with (breeding and showing) Gouldians. I am open to trading with like-minded breeders producing birds of similar quality.
All of the birds I sell come with an individual identification "certificate" that outlines the genetics of both their parents and themselves. It also contains their band information (all babies are close banded with NFSS bands and a colored split band representing lineage) and hatch date. All birds are parent-raised unless specified otherwise.
To put yourself on a waiting list for a particular color combination currently not available, please email me with what you're looking for.
The following birds are currently available for sale:
Look for us at the following upcoming Bird Related Events!
Shipping is available via Delta Pet First or Continental for those who are not within driving distance. Please note this year Delta raised the rates for shipping animals significantly, and the total cost with the crate can come out to be close to $150-$175 depending on the location the birds are being shipped.
Please contact me if you are interested in shipping birds. There is no minimum purchase requirement at this time.
Customer Testimonials
Tiffany, Dear Tiffany:
Dear Tiffany:
I can't say enough about how pleased I am with the Gouldians I bought from Tiffany. Not only did she help me learn about Gouldians, she followed up with emails to make sure the birds were doing ok. I always use her as a primary resource when I've got questions. She's the best! Tiffany is very knowledgeable about Gouldians and has high quality birds. Her facility is super clean, she takes great care and pride in raising these gorgeous birds. Every single time I go to her place to pick up my new addition to my family I never want to leave. I feel like bringing home every single one with me. It's very hard to leave her place with only one bird. You can tell she puts a great amount of time and effort into her birds. Her birds are healthy, happy, and of course beautiful. My Gouldians are doing great and are in great condition. I know that I will continue to buy my birds from her. It has been a total pleasure to do business with Tiffany, and I could not be happier with her birds. I can highly recommend 'Gouldians Galore' to you!
Hi Tiffany,
I bought a beautiful double factor yellow split for blue juvenile from Tiffany. He is healthy and the service from Tiffany wasoutstanding. She obviously understands and cares about these creatures.
The pictures and information on this website are the property of Gouldians Galore and may not be copied or reprinted for any reason without the sole written consent of the owner.


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Your FIRST Look At The 2016 Bachelor Girls!
If you've seen the news, you'll know that Richie, the second runner up from the last season of The Bachelorette, is set to be our new Bachelor!
Women around Australia were delighted with the choice, with Richie being a firm favourite throughout The Bachelorette series.
Now, we've managed to see a sneak peek at the bevy of beauties Richie will have the pleasure of meeting.
And they're PRETTY cute! What do you think?


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Royal Oak is pleased to announce a new slate of UK travel offerings in partnership with The Carter Company. We asked them their favorite biking spots in the UK – here's what they said:
By Iona Carter, The Carter Company
Here at The Carter Company, we've spent the last 25 years hunting down the very best places to cycle in Britain. What makes a good cycling destination? In our opinion, you need:
- fabulous scenery and a landscape full of variety
- traffic-free, relatively flat routes (otherwise all you expend all your energy on getting up that hill, rather than enjoying the scenery around you)
- rich local history and culture, giving you an excuse to stop and explore points of interest along the way
- lovely boutique hotels within 30km of each other, so you have somewhere luxurious to relax in at the end of the day (and don't have to cycle too far to get there!)
- a plethora of great cafes and restaurants – essential for refuelling throughout your trip!
As you can tell from the list, it's a fairly demanding set of criteria, but then we want people to come to the UK to cycle and absolutely love it. It's fair to say we also secretly enjoy the challenge!
If we had to whittle it down, and pick our absolute top 5 favourite places to bike in the UK, the list would read as follows:
1. The Trossachs in Scotland
Often described as 'mini Scotland', Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park encapsulate all that Scotland is famous for: majestic mountains, misty lochs, fabulous views, wild landscapes and remote villages. Located just south of the Highlands, not far from Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Trossachs have been a designated National Park since 2002. The cycling here is superb and – if you know where you're going – relatively hill-free. Pedal along idyllic loch-side lanes with dramatic mountains as a backdrop, conjuring the adventures of the famed Scottish outlaw Rob Roy, who called the Trossachs home. There are also some great luxury hotels in this part of Scotland, many of whom specialise in fine cuisine.
2. The River Thames
The Thames is often referred to as 'Britain's liquid history' and it's not hard to see why. The story of the Thames is really the story of Britain. Not only does it abound with history, but it also offers a landscape full of variety: in parts it is (to many people's surprise) very rural, particularly along the Upper Thames meadows. The route is peppered with fabulous National Trust gems and culturally rich towns and cities: Windsor, Oxford, Hampton Court, Kew Gardens and of course, London. Whilst there isn't a designated bike path, the cycling along the Thames is almost entirely traffic-free, and the river offers great flexibility, as there's always the option of hopping on a boat instead of cycling. We offer the route in sections, or you can do the entire Thames from Source to Sea for a truly fascinating trip.
3. Devon
We have a fantastic route from coast to coast (north to south), which is pretty flat and entirely traffic-free along a disused railway line, in what is otherwise a very hilly and scenic area. Devon is where the Brits go on holiday. It offers great weather (most of the time), pretty villages tucked into verdant valleys, an interesting landscape and sweeping sandy beaches on the coast. En route, you can soak up the laid-back pace of life in Devon. The local culture is well known for its delicious cream teas and there is a thriving organic food movement in the area.
4. The Cotswolds
Better known perhaps than many other parts of the UK, the Cotswolds are universally loved for their immensely characterful and charming honey-coloured stone villages, rolling hills ('wolds' means hills), world-famous gardens including Hidcote and Kiftsgate and seriously delectable country house hotels that are redefining English luxury. Cycling here offers the chance to absorb it all up close. Other highlights include fantastic organic farm shops and Michelin-starred restaurants, cosy classic English pubs serving locally brewed ales, palaces, stately homes, museums, theatres, Roman history, local specialist architecture and more. It's quintessential England!
5. Ireland
Ireland is a dreamy place to explore by bike, with a bountiful network of cycle paths and quiet country roads to discover. We have a wonderfully unhurried trip in the unspoilt and utterly beautiful Connemara region on Ireland's west coast. Long regarded as the 'emerald of Ireland', the landscape here is full of surprises. There's the rugged Twelve Ben mountain range, lush nature reserves, serene lakes, picturesque fishing villages, remote and pristine sandy beaches, and beyond that, miles and miles of Atlantic ocean stretching as far as the eye can see. The area is also famed for its warm hospitality, with superb hotels offering excellent, friendly service and delicious food.


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Når griser flyr
Unity 3D Games > Unity 3D Logisk > Når griser flyr
When Pigs Fly is an unity 3d game which will put your logic skills and designing skills at test. Your goal in this game is to build a functional airplane. Use different objects , create astonishing airplanes and then fly with them. Ha det gøy.
To play When Pigs Fly, du vil bruke W,En,S,D keys to control the airplane, Q and E key to turn left or right the airplane, Shift key to increase speed, Ctrl key to decrease speed, B key to use brakes, Z key to toggle fine, T key to toggle full screen and mouse to drag items and build.


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One of my favorite neighborhoods to wander is San Francisco's Mission district, where Indie arts and hip offerings meet the thriving, vibrant Latino culture, creating a sense of energy and magic unlike any other place. This time of year I am especially drawn to the Mission where Day of the Dead is celebrated with a number of events from altar exhibits to a mole sauce contest, to the big candle light parade on All Souls Day.
(For a glimpse of a past year's parade go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCiYwC94W1A)
(For a glimpse of a past year's parade go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCiYwC94W1A)
So Saturday afternoon I headed out on my yearly pilgrimage to see the newly installed exhibit of Day of the Dead altars at The Mission Cultural Center. The main gallery space holds about a dozen altar installations created by local middle school and high school students and several contemporary Latino artists. The student altars vary from the traditional style, honoring ancestors with photos, dried marigolds, paper flowers, sugar skulls, and cheerful, dancing skeletons, to more specific statements as the one displaying 24 pairs of combat boots worn by soldiers killed in Iraq.
But the altar in the side gallery most caught my attention. Created by artist Brett Cook, the installation honors his deceased grandmother with a large, contemporary painted portrait as the background for layers of her personal items on display; an amazing collection of old (really old) cookbooks, jello molds, hotpads, jars of canned applesauce, cookie cutters, tubes of colored sugar sprinkles, handmade valentines, hundreds of bottles of pills, old lipsticks, bottles of perfume, costume jewelry, her Bingo hat, a shower cap and even an old girdle. The piece is called The Grandma Collaborative Altar Project and invites visitors to bring photos to this community altar to honor their deceased grandmothers. What a lovely idea.
That evening, I lit candles on my own small altar at home, where the faded photos of my grandmothers, great grandmothers and great aunts stand with pictures of my father, grandfather and a favorite great uncle, all seeming to whisper remember me. At this time of year, when the veil between worlds draws thin, let us all take time to honor our grandmothers and those who have gone before us by remembering them in some way; whether it is creating an altar, cooking a favorite dish or simply by speaking their names out loud.
Sharry Wright


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So far, my break has been great. I work in the morning, do something fun with family or friends during the day, and do homework in the evening. I wish it were always like this! But hey, at least I'm 3/4 of the way done with freshman year! It's been wonderful.
One thing I haven't gotten to work on yet is scholarship searching. Yes, it's that time of year to apply. I know I definitely wouldn't be here if it weren't for scholarships. I'm so thankful that last year many people selected me as a recipient for local scholarships. I probably applied to around 30, and it definitely paid off. But right now I'm in a bit of a situation. I still don't know how I'm going to afford next year. Unfortunately, it seems like there are tons of scholarships for incoming freshmen to apply for through their high schools, but there are hardly any out there for current college students. How do they expect us to come back each year? It's stressful because I've spent a lot of time looking for scholarships, and have only found a few this year I qualify for. I was counting on a big one that I thought I had a good chance at, but sadly I received notice today that I didn't get it. It really is a heart-breaker for me. I put so much time into my applications and feel like I'm a deserving candidate, and then I just get denied. I'm not so good with failure. But I know that I'm not the only one, and God has a reason for everything.
I think in these past few years I've let scholarships become too big a part of my life. They are such a great resource for students, and I encourage everyone to apply for them. Honestly though, I've put so much pressure on myself because of them. Since my first day of high school, I worked so hard to have a flawless grade point average, be involved in clubs and activities, and serve my community all because I knew about scholarships. Of course, that wasn't my only reason for becoming so involved in my school, but deep down I believed that the only way I'd go to college and become successful was to get scholarship money. What I've learned is whether I receive them or not, I can't dwell on them. There will always be another one to apply for and there will always be another way to earn money. Money comes and goes. It's just hard because no one wants to start off their adult years with thousands of dollars of debt. There are so many students in college stressed out every day because of financial issues. I don't think that's right because a student shouldn't have to worry about money. They should be able to focus on school. But I guess life isn't perfect.
In the big scheme of things, I recognize that it doesn't really matter how many scholarships I receive. They are a blessing, but they're not the most important thing in my life. I'm learning to not be so hard on myself about paying for school. The Lord commands us many times not to worry. He declares that He has a good plan for us, and He will always provide. I just have to remind myself that if I remain focused on Him, everything will work out for the best.


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Although there are two of us we also like to be very independent, we love travelling on our own, shopping on our own and going on long walks on our own, you get the gist we are still very independent. We absolutely love our own company and we are defiantly not the kinda people who are embarrassed to do anything on our own.
Many people who visit London will often visit on their own, and although it's very very easy to find somewhere to stay in London it may not seem as easy to find things to do on your own. So to help you out with this we have compiled a short list of things to do when visiting London exploring some of the best solo activities in the heart of where we call home, London.
Theatre- Finding the perfect activity when you're on your own in a new city is always a challenge. In a place like London, though, you need only think of what the place is famous for to be able to start coming up with some ideas. Having a long history in the field of performing arts, theatre can be one of the greatest choices in this situation. Not only will you get the chance to enjoy some of what London is known for, but you will get to do it in a way which doesn't require someone else to make it fun. Most people will enjoy a play once they get into it.
History- Being an incredibly old place, visiting London to soak up some history is always a pleasure, even when you're by yourself. Museums are the perfect place to go when you're looking to burn some time enjoying a slice of the past. London is packed with different options, from the Natural History Museum to the numerous heritage centers found around the city. This sort of activity will be perfect when the weather is bad outside.
Artwork- History might feel a little bit too dry for your tastes during a break, and something lighter might be on the cards. For similar reasons to visiting museums, going to art galleries is a great way to learn about a place and the people who live there. London is home to loads of important galleries, and is a great place to learn about art from across loads of different eras. These are some of the best value attractions London has to offer, giving you hours of entertainment for nearly nothing.
Sightseeing- A lot of people will go to cities like London simply to see what's they have to offer in regards to sights. Websites like vlondoncity are some of the best to help you with this, giving you the chance to learn loads about the place before you get there. From Big Ben to Windsor Castle, you have plenty to explore on your journey to London.
Fitness- If you are into fitness we would definitely recommend trying out some of the fitness classes that are available in London! There are so many and if you type #londonfitness into Instagram you are bound to find one that you like. There are also lots of free running clubs, running is a great way to explore the city, it's one of our favourite things to do when visiting a new city.
Coffee & Brunch- London's brunch scene is booming so what better way to spend your morning. There are so many amazing brunch spots you are bound to stumble across a few on your travels. Have a coffee stop in the afternoon and make sure you go to an independent coffee shop the coffee always tastes SO much better!
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking into ways to make the most out of your next solo London trip. An adventure like this doesn't have to be boring, and most people will be able to find loads of different activities which they will really enjoy. Of course, you won't know until you've researched it, though.


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The trademarked technique of locking hair, called Sister Locks, has been around for a couple of decades. However, Sister Locks have never been more popular than they are now. Clients often want to know what the difference is between Sister Locks and other Locking techniques? Basically the difference between Sister Locks and other locking techniques are worlds apart when it comes to both technique and results.
The primary difference with Sister Locks is the fact that each Lock is created to be very slim. Because of the slimness / thinness of Sister Locks, it allows for many more styling options. For instance thermal styling with curling irons is easily achieved with Sister Locks. You can also more easily set the hair on rods and rollers with great results. These options can create styles that look like loose (permed) hair – for those who are interested in those kinds of styling options. Also unlike regular Locks, Sister Locks will not pop or break off because of their thinness. The techniques allows each Lock to be strong even though the Lock is thin.
I have also found that because of the smallness of Sister Locks, it's easier to color (dye) them than it is to color regular Locs. Regular Locs tend to be more dense and require a lot more time and product to achieve the desired results.
In my 40 years of wearing my hair natural, I have had my hair locked three different times. The first two times I had regular Locs and I loved them! I wore both of those sets of Locs in a bright auburn color that my clients as well as strangers, loved. When I cut my first set of Locks off, many clients were responding as if I had cut their hair without their permission! It was very interesting to realize how many people identified with my Locs and used my Locs as a standard for how they wanted their own Locs to look.
Right now I am wearing Sister Locks and I have the tips dyed turquoise (although many call the color green). People never know what to think when they see my hair. Some think I have beads at the end of my Sister Locks, others think I have turquoise (green) yarn at the tips. I must admit the turquoise color at the tips attract a lot of positive attention and has been a great fun for me wearing my hair this way.
I keep saying I am going to take the color out because it's a lot of maintenance, ( it's a rinse and a little rinses out with each shampoo) but I've grown attached to the color and how it gives my hair a funky edge.
For more on Locks please visit us at http://www.khamitkinks.com