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Defects of Character: A Defective Way of "Helping"
by Thaddeus Camlin, Psy.D.
Defects of Character: Helpful or Hurtful?
This week's article explores the widely accepted, rarely contemplated idea that identifying defects of character is helpful in recovery. Fault, failing, weakness, flaw, shortcoming, and inadequacy are all synonyms for the word defect. Character refers to the mental and moral qualities of an individual. Thus, the ubiquitous phrase in the recovery world defects of character implies moral and psychological flaws and failings in an individual. I will assume, perhaps incorrectly, that the idea of emphasizing defects of character arose as a method of advocating for personal growth through self-reflection. Indeed, looking at the imperfections we all have is a valuable tool for self-growth. However, the problem with the phrase defects of character is that it used to refer to natural human emotions and experiences that are unavoidable.
A brief investigation into the "literature" on the process of removing defects of character reveals that the defects referred to are often things like anger, fear, jealousy, pessimism, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, materialism, competitiveness, criticalness, self-indulgence, and so on. I think it is fair to say that no human has ever existed that did not experience at least one of the aforementioned "defects."
One of the most egregious injustices extant in the helping professions is the attempt to pathologize natural human qualities. The promulgation of the defects of character idea is an example of the injustice of pathologizing our humanness. Telling someone that anger, or self-indulgence, or fear are character defects is as ridiculous as telling someone that breathing is a biological defect. As with anything, problems may arise if there is excess anger, self-indulgence, jealousy, etc. Indeed, excessive involvement with anything is likely to be problematic. Even excessive, rapid breathing can result in hyperventilation. However, there is no problem, or defect, in the experience of anger, or jealousy, or fear themselves.
If we cannot help but feel angry, fearful, sad, and jealous at times, and we are told that feeling angry, fearful, sad, or jealous is a flaw and a failure, then success is essentially rendered impossible. Rather than turning natural human emotions into defects, more time could easily be spent highlighting and building on strengths. Many of the so-called defects in the recovery world are actually strengths that are misapplied. Someone who puts great effort into concealing substance use and goes to great lengths to acquire a substance is exhibiting exemplary creativity and determination. Helping people use such strengths in a way that does not result in feelings of guilt and shame is much more helpful than insisting they think of themselves as defective.
It is a well-established fact that building on strengths is much more productive than correcting weaknesses. Businesses apply this principle regularly as they focus on what they do well and outsource areas that are not their strengths. People using substances in a problematic way usually already feel acutely terrible about their actions, so effective support is much more likely to be rooted in helping those people reconnect with and build upon their strengths rather than insisting they label natural and unpreventable feelings as defects of character.
Ready to challenge your thinking some more? Check out our "change your thinking" section on our blog!
Interested in a different kind of treatment? We build you up instead of breaking you down. Learn more about our services here!


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Follow This Page for More Excel VBA Downloads. You can download our Free Example Macro Files, Tools, Dashboards and Templates for practicing excel VBA and developing new tools for automating your tasks.
Excel VBA Downloads helps you to learn VBA in a practical approach. Start Learning…
Example Files
15 Basic Macros for Absolute Beginners:
Excel VBA Macros for Absolute Beginners – These 15 macros provides the easiest way to understand and learn the basics of VBA to deal with Excel Objects.
|ANALYSIS TABS – 15 Examples VBA Codes for Bigenners
10 Examples On Conditional Statements:
Conditional statements are the crucial to write any program to automate the any task. You will find different examples on conditional statements such as IF,For,Select and Do While statements. […]
|ANALYSISTABS Examples on Conditional Statements
Sub Procedures: Simple and Parameter:
Examples on sub-procedures will help you to learn how to write a simple procedure and procedures with parameters. […]
ComboBox in Excel VBA:
A Simple Supermarket Application to show examples on adding new items, clearing, selecting multiple items and changing various options of ComboBox. […]
|ANALYSISTABS-ComboBox (1)
ListBox in Excel VBA:
A Sample Supermarket Application to show examples on adding new items, clearing, selecting multiple items and changing various options of ListBox. […]
Collections in Excel VBA:
Download the files and see the examples one Collections. Collection is an object contains group of objects having similar characteristics (with same properties and methods). […]
|ANALYSIS TABS – Collections
How to Show a Form: A Simple Bonus Calculator:
In this file you will see the code to call a UserForm from your Worksheet. […]
Examples On Events:
You can find simple examples on Excel Workbook and Worksheet Events. […]
Writing To a Text File and Reading From a Text File:
This example will show the procedures to export the data from Excel worksheet to a Text File and import the data from text files to a Excel worksheet.
Creating a New Workbook, Saving and Closing It:
In this sample code you can learn how to create a new workbook, save and close using VBA.
Adding,Deleting and Naming a Worksheets:
You can find the sample code for adding a new worksheet or deleting a n existing work sheet and rename the worksheet.
Getting Data From Closed Workbook:
You will find the procedure for importing the data from a closed workbook.
Getting Data From Already Opened Workbook:
You will find the procedure for importing the data from an opened workbook.
Getting Data Using ADO:
You will find the procedure for faster way of importing the data from a closed workbook using ADO. […]
|Getting Data Using ADO:
Export To PowerPoint:
This procedure explains how to export some data from Excel to PowerPoint
|ANALYSIS TABS – Export To PowerPoint
Working with Charts:
You will find the procedure to create charts using VBA.
Example VBA Tools
Image Viewer:
This is a tool where you can select a folder which contains set of images to show as presentation/ slide show.
Copy Data from One Sheet to Different Sheets:
A simple to tool to copy the data from one sheet to different worksheet in the same workbook.
|ANALYSISTABS – Copy Data from One Sheet to Different Sheets
TOC Creator:
This file will help you to create TOC based on your entries in Index worksheet. You can enter all your worksheet names in Column A and click a button to create worksheets and hyperlinks
|ANALYSIS TABS-Create Sheets and Hyperlinks
Example Dashboards
Sample Dashboard (Sales Data)
A very basic Dashboard (explained) using sales data to analyse different metrics of the data. […]
|Sample Dashboard (Sales Data):
Sample Interactive Dashboard (Sales Data)
A very basic interactive dashboard example (explained) helps you to create interactive dashboards. […]
|Sample Interactive Dashboard (Sales Data):

subset: commoncrawl


text: (Lasenza.ca) La Senza Canada specializes in lingerie and underclothing for men and women at affordable prices. They sometimes release high-value coupon codes and printable coupons for in-store use. Save money on your next bra and lingerie purchases with all the latest La Senza coupon codes and coupons right here on this page.


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Survey: Free bus plan unpopular among target rural demographic
Altogether 37% of Estonian residents between the ages of 15-74 support the public regional transport plan of Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson (Centre), including just one quarter of residents of Estonia's rural settlements, daily Postimees reports.
The greatest support for the plan was unexpectedly recorded among residents of Tallinn, foreigners and school and university students, while the target demographic, i.e. people living in the countryside, were predominantly against the plan altgether. Altogether 57% of rural residents do not support public transport, while just a quarter are in favor of it, it appears from the results of a survey commissioned by Postimees and conducted by Kantar Emor last week.
According to Aivar Voog, survey manager at Kantar Emor, the fact that support for free transport is among the lowest among rural people indicates that the target group likely does not consider the initiative to be very beneficial. There may be multiple reasons for this: for example, people fear a drop in quality, or are used to using personal means of transport for getting around.
"The main thing is that people in rural areas do not use that much public transport themselves, and likely feel that it will not benefit them," Voog said. "If they travel by public transport so rarely, then apparently it is not such a significant expense for them."
City residents biggest supporters of free public transport
However, several distinctive patterns emerge from the survey. For example, it appears that the main stronghold of those supporting free regional transport is Tallinn and other larger cities that will not actually benefit at all from free regional public transport.
"Residents of Tallinn have after all experienced free transport and seen that it being free has not reduced its value of use," Voog noted. "Secondly, there are many Centre Party voters and people whose first language is not Estonian in Tallinn, who predominantly support free transport." The same pattern appears in the case of party support: the free transport initiative is considered a positive one predominantly by Centre Party voters.
At the same time, it cannot be said that the supporters consist only of the Centre Party's usual target demographics, i.e. non-ethnic Estonians and the elderly. Other significant supporters of the initiative include school and university students, approximately half of whom consider free transport to be necessary. Voog noted that this once again alluded to personal experience.
"The youth are frequent public transport users and school transport is still free in the countryside," he noted. "They use public transport frequently and their income is not high. They would see concrete benefits from free transport."
Antsla councilmember: Get buses running, then we'll talk
Kurmet Müürsepp, a member of the management board of the Association of Municipalities of Estonia, chairman of Antsla Municipal Council and member of Pro Patria, said that he was not really surprised by the results of the survey. Even though he has come across both supporters and detractors of the plan in the countryside, he found that criticism there was rooted in rural residents' experiences.
"For example, I live in Antsla Municipality, and there are areas here where buses do not run at all," Müürsepp said. "And if people are then asked if they support free transport, what are they supposed to say? Get buses running and then we will talk."
Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS


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Product Description
Unibor Steel Annular Cutters made from premium M2 Tool Steel are ideal for cutting holes in pipes and other irregular shaped metal items. The Quality High Speed Tool Steel and unique chip breaker tooth design give you cleaner cuts /Up to 2″/50mm. cutting depths. Each annual cutter has a -3/4″/19mm. shank.


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Tricks to help you win at e-Commerce
Ask any retail expert and they will tell you that online is the place to be. Old-school bricks and mortar shops still have their place, but the explosive growth and market expansion is all happening on the internet. Outfits like Alibaba, Shopify and Wish have led the way, but there are countless other niche stores, smaller operations and of course online presences for traditional retailers. The reality is that online increases the size of the shopper base exponentially while at the same time lowering costs – you need fewer staff, cheaper premises and you don't need to hold such large amounts of stock. It is a retailer's dream. But in an already competitive market, how do you end up with clients? Here are a few tips and ideas that you might want to consider.
Drive traffic smartly
A site with no traffic is never going to manage any sales, so make sure that you know what you are doing in terms of acquiring traffic. Either through paid search or organic search, or both, you want to ensure that when people look for items that you stock, that you are positioned at the top of the Google results page. This is something that can be achieved through a national SEO campaign, something strategic that is run and managed for you by an agency that specialises in this type of work. You could look to hire your own internal expert to take care of this important process, but the reality is that when starting out it might be too expensive to hire a fulltime SEO expert.
Know your market
You are doomed to fail if you think that just because you have a potential base the size of the world's population that you are going to get rich. The truth is that there are a lot of companies out there who are a lot more established than you are and who have a significantly greater budget for advertising and acquisition. So, you need to be very good at what you do, and you need to have something that sets you apart from the rest. Do one thing and do it well. Don't try to be the next Alibaba, rather set yourself up to cater for a niche audience. Be the best place to buy socks, or be a lip-gloss specialist, or a kitchenware site. Whatever it is, know the market and the product and don't try to be all things to all people.
Make payment easy
Paying for online purchases is the biggest failure point for transactions, so make sure that once you have landed a client that you are able to finish the deal. Credit card payments from as many types of card are essential. Being able to accept online wallets and payment systems like PayPal, is also important. If you are able to process Crypto-currencies even better. In short, the easier it is to pay, without login details and passwords and other verifications, the more likely you are going to be to have successful transactions.


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EVA brings Hello Kitty jet into Los Angeles Schedule for three days
EVA Air is adding it's popular Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet into its Los Angeles schedule today. EVA is using the specially painted plane this Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for three of its 21 nonstop flights operating between Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan every week.
Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends decorate the Boeing 777-300ER from nose to tail. Among the colorful characters are My Melody, Hello Kitty, Dear Daniel, Kuromi, Little Twin Stars, Cinnamoroll, Bad Badtz-Maru and Pompom Purin.
The jet departs from Los Angeles International Airport at 11:55 a.m. and arrives at Taoyuan International Airport at 5:05 p.m. the next day. The specially painted Boeing has three cabins: Royal Laurel Class business, Premium Economy and Economy.
The fun doesn't stop at the plane's decoration. Guests flying aboard the Hello Kitty and Sanrio Family jets will receive special boarding passes and baggage stickers. Onboard the plane, the cabin crew wears Hello Kitty Jet aprons, and passengers get to use themed service items, like headrest covers, tissue, pillows, soap, hand cream, paper cups, napkins, utensils and snacks.
EVA currently flies seven of these specially painted planes on routes in Asia, as well as long-haul services to Chicago and Los Angeles. Their other Hello Kitty planes include the Shining Star, Celebration Flight, Joyful Dream and Friendship Bows. Their other Sanrio Family planes are the Gudetama Comfort Flight and Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun.
For more information on EVA Sanrio Family and Hello Kitty jets, visit evakitty.com/en.


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September 18, 2014
Let us know what you think about the lid… looks like a great DOT alternative to a Biltwell. I may pick up one this weekend…
Very sweet…. let me know if you want some paint thrown at it!
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Sad News – Courageous and Fireproof Filmmakers Include Contemplatives Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer in New Film on Prayer
LTRP Note: The following news story is posted for research and informational purposes only and not as an endorsement for CCM magazine. It is with dismay that we have learned that the creators of Fireproof and Courageous (two family-oriented Christian films) have turned to Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer for their new film on prayer. … [Read more…]


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Taiyesha Baker, a racist nurse at Indiana University was fired after firing off a series of anti-white tweets over the weekend.
She was fired some outrageous tweets. One was that every white person born should be sacrificed to the wolves. Very racist and ignorant.
Check them out.
That wasn't all. She also tweeted out some threats against white male children.
Indiana University investigated Baker after these offensive remarks.
Per The Indy Star:
Indiana University Health is investigating a controversial tweet allegedly sent by a nurse who works for the organization.
The tweet, from an account named Night Nurse that has been linked to an employee named Taiyesha Baker, said: "Every white woman raises a detriment to society when they raise a son. Someone with the HIGHEST propensity to be a terrorist, rapist, racist, killer, and domestic violence all star. Historically every son you had should be sacrificed to the wolves Bitch"
The account, @tai_fieri, was deleted and appears to have been recreated by a different user who posted new tweets Saturday.
IU Health spokesman Jason Fechner confirmed that Baker worked for the health system when the tweet was posted. He said human resources is investigating and will take appropriate action based on what it finds. He did not elaborate on the protocol for the investigation.
On Sunday Baker was fired.
What in the world was she thinking? That black people can't be racist? Either way she is exposed and now on the unemployment line.


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Obama is poised to reject Keystone XL this afternoon, so brace for a lot of Republican bellyaching about how he obviously doesn't care about jobs. There is a problem with this line of argument, and it's that it is nonsense. Don't believe us? Check out this graph, from ThinkProgress, which shows how Obama administration policies like the much-maligned loan guarantee program and the EPA toxic pollution rule will create many, many more jobs than Keystone construction:
The estimate TP uses for the Keystone jobs is on the low end of the estimates out there, but it's also derived from one of the only independent studies on the question. The study's authors have also made their methodology transparent, which isn't the case for some of those studies predicting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Plus, the jobs that Keystone will create may not benefit the counties that are bearing the environmental risk of hosting a pipeline full of oil. Inside Climate News points out that of the 67 counties that have a piece of the pipeline, only six have an unemployment rate at or above the national rate of 8.7 percent. Now, to be fair, that's a dismal unemployment rate. But in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, pipeline counties' unemployment rates are down in the 2-4 precent range. (In Oklahoma and Texas, they're higher.) They're not in such desperate need of jobs that they have to flirt with environmental destruction.
ICN also gathers some anecdotes about the lack of jobs for local workers:Dan Holub, a Marion County, Kan. commissioner, said the project did little for his constituents. "They promised us all kinds of jobs. And when it came down to construction, they were all union jobs."
Local truckers and heavy equipment operators were turned away because they didn't belong to a union, Holub said. … She and her husband know of only three people in their two-county region who were hired for the project….
The Andersons' neighbor Kent Moeckly said the construction workers drove cars with license plates from Arkansas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota and Florida—"everywhere but here."
"I'd say 95% of the [workers] were from out of state," Raymond Anderson said.
Granted, in this economy, jobs are jobs are jobs. But there's better ways to create them, both for all U.S. workers and for these local communities.


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Members of the City Council's Brooklyn delegation gathered this afternoon at Brooklyn Borough Hall to solidify their support for Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito's speaker candidacy–capping a whirlwind day that has drastically narrowed the field for the city's second-most-powerful post.
Frank Seddio, the chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, led the meeting, which was called to brief members on why he and Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio had cut a deal with the left-leaning Progressive bloc to try to crown Ms. Mark-Viverito speaker. Most members, according to a source familiar with the discussions, told the group they were on board.
"Frank Seddio finally grew a pair of balls," said the source familiar with the deal, which, if successful, will likely net the borough many prime committee chairmanships and other perks. "He did what was best for Brooklyn."
Sources in the coalition believe that a union of most of the 22-members of the Progressive Caucus and Brooklyn's delegation will be enough to set the wheels in motion to elect Ms. Mark-Viverito speaker. Nonetheless, her chief rival, Councilman Dan Garodnick, is not backing down, and has earned the support of the Queens Democratic Party and pols in the Bronx.
Today's meeting also served to "rally the troops" and ensure Brooklyn's members "were on the same page." But complications remain. Councilwoman Darlene Mealy, in particular, expressed reservations about backing Ms. Mark-Viverito and other conservative and moderate members were not immediately enthusiastic about the liberal firebrand's ascension, the source said.
Incoming Councilwoman Inez Barron, regarded as a "wild card" member by many, was not present at the meeting. Councilman Carlos Menchaca, a member of the Progressive bloc, was also not present, but is traveling and believed to be supportive of the deal.
For Mr. Seddio, explained the source, the deal with Mr. de Blasio hinged on fears that forging a three-county agreement with Congressman Joe Crowley, the Queens chair, and Assemblyman Carl Heastie, the Bronx chair, would leave Brooklyn without choice committee chairs. When a speaker was last elected in 2005, Brooklyn lost out on many of the spoils, and Mr. Seddio, who was recently elected, is now bearing the weight of that history and looking to regain lost ground, the source said.
The move, however, left Mr. Crowley livid and believing that Mr. Seddio had "back-stabbed" him. As recently as last night, a deal appeared in place between the three powerful county leaders to elect Mr. Garodnick.
Now, the primary challenge for the Progressive bloc and Brooklyn will be to maintain their alliances until January 8, when the 51 members of the council will officially cast their ballots.
"There's a lot of time left," the source cautioned.


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MTC Spindle
Electrofan Cooled, 6hp, 380V, 4P, 33 Pounds
Steal Bearings, 18,000 RPM
Inverter Supply, Circular Male Connector
Dual Voltage 220V-380V
Part Number: QN-1F 4.5/18 18 ER32 DX BT
Multiple Order Discounts Available
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- Description
MTC Spindle
Part Number: QN-1F 4.5/18 18 ER32 DX BT
Code: 29L0452304E
The QN-1F 4.5/18 18 ER32 DX BT spindle is a very high quality spindle made in Italy. Rugged design, built to last. This spindle is built to last for many years. We have repaired many brands of spindles through out the years and can say with certainty that you will not find a better spindle for the price.
Maximum Speed: 18,000 rpm
Horsepower: 6 hp
Cooling Method: Electrofan Cooling
Country of Origin: Italy
QN-1F 4.5/18 18 ER32 DX BT Layout: link
QN-1F 4.5/18 18 ER32 DX BT Specifications: link
Download Complete Catalog: link
Weight: 33 lbs
Paypal financing available if approved by Paypal. Interest free if paid off in 6 months.


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Finding What You're Searching For
If you're like many conscientious shoppers, you probably read the labels of the products you buy before making an informed purchase. But when you buy protein powders, herbal formulas, probiotics and other products, chances are your eyes probably glaze over when reading the labels. How do you know for sure if the products have the ingredients and dosage you want? Where can you compare products you're thinking of buying to find the one that suits you best? What it often boils down to is trusting that the brands you buy guarantee the ingredients are what they say they are and in the proper formula. It is that trust which guides us at Herbalife Nutrition and makes us an industry leader with proven results. That's why I'm excited to let you know about an innovative program we're a leading participant in called The Supplement Online Wellness Library (OWL).
Why OWL is Important to You
Until now, searching for specific ingredients in dietary supplements was difficult at best. That's why the dietary supplement industry – in partnership with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) – developed this new voluntary online product registry to give a more complete picture of the marketplace for government, private stakeholders and consumers. The database is managed by UL (Underwriters Laboratories), the trusted 120-year-old global independent safety science company that is the gold standard for the safety and efficacy of products.
OWL is important because it's founded in transparency and accountability. For the first time consumers can compare dietary supplements with credible and verifiable information. Using the OWL search function, you can now find specific information about ingredients and brands. That means you can begin to make even better, informed decisions regarding your health and wellness.
OWL offers two tiers of information. Participation in Tier 1 includes an image of the product, a complete product label and other fields of information, obtained principally from the label itself. Importantly, there is no charge to participate in Tier 1. Tier 2 allows companies to upload additional supporting information and documentation about their products and to choose who will have access to that information.
Setting Industry Standards
Even though most of what the OWL program does is behind the scenes, it's yet another guarantee that what we do as an industry is always worthy of our valued customers' confidence. Respected organizations such as the American Botanical Council, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and the Natural Products Association are avid supporters. Participation in OWL reflects a company's commitment to transparency and confidence that its products are compliant with label regulations, accountable to its customers and not afraid of close scrutiny.
People often ask me why I joined Herbalife Nutrition, and the answer is simple. I wanted to continue my career with a company that treats its customers the same way I protected consumers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in my 15-year career at the agency. My team at Herbalife Nutrition is responsible for evaluating the safety and benefit of all our products, as well as providing consumer support through monitoring product complaints worldwide.
The trust you place in the products you consume, regardless of where you buy your dietary supplements and meal replacements, are open for your review at OWL. As an active member of CRN, Herbalife Nutrition is leading the way to ensure consumers have access to this information. I encourage you to find out more at www.supplementOWL.org.


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Alien of Extraordinary Ability
This subcategory of EB-1 cases covers aliens possessing extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. The extraordinary ability subcategory does not require a specific job offer, so long as the alien states that he or she will continue to work in the field of their extraordinary ability in the United States. This means that the alien may file a petition on their own behalf, rather than having an employer file for them.
Extraordinary ability is a relatively new concept in immigration law, being introduced only in 1990. USCIS regulations define extraordinary ability as a "level of expertise indicating that the individual is one of those few who have risen to the top of the field of endeavor."
There are two ways to demonstrate extraordinary ability. First, the alien can show that they have received a major, internationally recognized award such as a Nobel Prize or an Academy Award. The second and more common method is for the alien to show three of the following 10 types of evidence:
- Receipt of lesser national or international prizes or awards for excellence in their field of endeavor;
- Membership in associations in the field of endeavor that require outstanding achievements of their members;
- Published material about the alien and his work in professional journals, trade publications, or the major media;
- Participation, either in a group or alone, as a judge of others in the same or a similar field;
- Original scientific, scholarly, or artistic contributions of major significance in the field of endeavor;
- Authorship of scholarly articles in the field, published in professional journals or the major media;
- Display of the alien's work at artistic exhibitions or showcases in more than one country;
- Performance in a lead, starring, or critical role for organizations with a distinguished reputation;
- Commanding a high salary compared to others in the field; or
- Commercial success in the performing arts, as shown by box office receipts and sales.
USCIS has also included a catch-all category allowing submission of other comparable evidence.
While USCIS rules set up a three out of ten requirement with regard to the above categories of evidence, subsequent policy statements have made the rule less clear. For example, when publication of scholarly articles is standard in the field of endeavor, the USCIS often will not accept it as one of the three types of evidence and will demand additional evidence. However, in this case, instead of presenting additional evidence the alien can counter by showing that the publications were in the most prestigious journals in the field, have been peer reviewed in other publications, or have been cited extensively by others in the field.
While not an official category of evidence, another way to demonstrate extraordinary ability is through comparison with an alien already granted that status. This is possible because USCIS regulations make comparison with others in the field one of the standards for judging extraordinary ability. Therefore, while it may be difficult to find out how the USCIS has treated someone with similar credentials, it is highly relevant evidence.
One final word of caution should be made about the type of evidence submitted to the USCIS. Many types of evidence may technically fit within USCIS regulations, but are not accorded much weight by the agency. For example, publications by a vanity press, a simple citation to the alien's work without evaluation, or a single listing in an index are not accorded much weight. Other types of evidence are considered highly persuasive, such as publication in peer-reviewed journals. Finally, some of the most persuasive types of evidence are letters from peers in the alien's field attesting to the alien's important contributions and ability.


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Lloyds Bank microsite
As part of SapientNitro's pitching activities with Lloyds Bank, I was asked to build a microsite to encapsulate all the information, documents, videos and event logs.
From a dev perspective, the project was quite simple, but we had to be sure the website was secure and IE7 compatible, which always complicates things a little bit.
The website was based on a responsive HTML5 template called Canvas, which we used to quickly layout the different sections.
After a few days, we decided to adapt the static website and transform it into a WordPress theme to allow a more developer-independent content update.
SapientNitro finally won the pitch ;-)
Apologies for not displaying any media, but all the files, images, videos and documents are confidential.


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U.S. Embassy Bern hosted an all-night election watching party starting midnight on November 9. Democracy enthusiasts, friends of the United States, students and journalists came to the event which was open to the general public. The evening celebrated not only the American presidential election but also cultural exchange: two Swiss bands entertained guests with bluegrass and, later, jazz. In between media announcements of election results, guests enjoyed buffets of American food and a trivia game that tested participants' knowledge of the American political system.
Guests came from all walks of life and political persuasions. In her remarks at the event's close, Ambassador LeVine stressed the importance of voting: "If you don't vote, you can't complain." She urged the guests to exercise their civic duty and participate to the fullest extent in their democracies.


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Electronic Arts has just backed into an interesting twist to the TOS story.  They are linking your online terms of service to the physical video games you buy — if you violate their online TOS, your right to run every video game linked to that account will be revoked.
This adds a massive lightning stroke of accountability into the affair, doesn't it?  Suddenly, the forums aren't just a "value-add", they are also a potential "value-take-away".  I have this picture in my head of Family Member A explaining to Family Members B and C how A lost his/her temper in the EA forums last night, and now the whole family has lost not only their access to their games, but possibly their game statistics & reputations too, depending on what EA does to enforce the ban and the subsequent serial number invalidation.  Ah, it all comes back to Identity mgmt and asset mgmt, doesn't it?
I suppose you could consider this the Real-time Blackhole List approach to reputation & social networking.


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Get your TMN Headlines Mondays–Saturdays.
Subscribe to get your TMN Headlines Mondays through Saturdays. Sign up for our daily dozen-plus links!
These x-rays of ancient and contemporary artwork were created to serve as a tool for art historians and conservators, but their ethereal yet familiar silhouettes become something more in David Maisel's photographs.
Seeking greater self-discipline and new adventures, our writer moves to Berlin to play tennis—the sport that's equal parts therapy and sadism—and winds up on Nabokov's old courts.
There is a big difference between looking for something and simply looking, though travel can suit both pursuits.
The gap between literary and historical fiction is mostly a marketing ploy—at least until a novelist meets a survivor of her story's plot.
Costco is cheap. Convenient, even, but should it be the subject of fine art? Here, the aisles of Home Depot and Target are the landscapes of the 21st century.
As some Christians prepared for the Apocalypse, 500 questers spent Friday night locked inside the New York Public Library with game designer Jane McGonigal.
To those who feel compelled to address the world from Facebook, Twitter, and email chains, here is a message: No one is listening, least of all Luther Vandross.
How you start an email reveals a lot more about your intentions than you know. Common e-greetings for etiquette voodoo.
You've seen the billboards and the banner ads: Judgment Day is coming on May 21. But just because you're saved doesn't mean you're home-free. Brimstone Barney's Apocalypse Surplus has just the deal for you.
Children easily comprehend the web—almost as easily as new parents grasp fear. Exploring his computer's "parental controls" for the first time, our writer tries to preserve his innocence a little longer.
Imagine an America in which all-female families survived the Great Depression raising children and farming homesteads in the absence of men (and in the absence of today's detractors to gay marriage.
A decade after Osama bin Laden's face achieved iconic status, one writer still can't help thinking, it's a handsome one—this definitive "face of evil."
As America dreams of black ops teams, where do mutants belong? And can comics end wars? From Captain America to big blond Thor, Osama bin Laden, and beyond.
Nigel Peake's new book is a lovely collection of drawings about farms, fields, and birds. It is pretty much irresistible, taken from childhood impressions and Peake's current life in a one-road Irish village, where he is mistaken for the postman.
There's a peculiar odor to burning hope—it's the smell of exhaust fumes, human sweat, and a fast-food container interred under a seat cushion.
From Schwarzkopf's boots to traffic cones, the federal government's official color palette—yes, it has one—controls much of what we see. An investigation into how America elects to paint itself.
Our man in Boston sits down with writer Andre Dubus III to discuss the differences between memoir and autobiography, Harvard and UMass students, and when it is inappropriate to send an email.
How is it we can know what Jupiter's Great Red Spot looks like, or Saturn's rings, or the dusty surface of Mars, though no human has every seen them in person? Michael Benson turns NASA's data sets and grainy pictures into dazzling, saturated images of our solar system.


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Volunteering Opportunities
Golf Jobs is delighted to also work with clubs, event organizers & national bodies to provide volunteer opportunities at all levels within the golf industry. Volunteers are the heartbeat of the golf industry, and without volunteers, our clubs & major events just wouldn't be viable.
Volunteering is a very sociable role & it also has a positive impact on mental health & happiness. Below we will list volunteering opportunities in which you can register your interest, and then we will contact you with further details.
Non-executive Board Member/ Senior Independent Director
Our Board meet approximately 5 times each year, with 3 General Meetings of the members as well as other ad hoc meetings (which can be virtual as well as in person). We are based in Woodhall Spa, at our very own National Golf Centre. You may be asked to sit on other Board committees as required. England Golf reimburse reasonable out of pocket expenses.MORE INFORMATION
2021 ISPS HANDA World Invitational
Volunteers at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational are integral to the success of the tournament at Galgorm Castle and Massereene Golf Club. Simply put, the tournament would not run as smoothly without the help and commitment of volunteers who give up so much of their time every year. Volunteering at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational is exceptionally rewarding and provides the chance to work within a great team. Headed up by Jackie Neill and her team, all volunteers are made to feel welcome and will be given all the necessary guidance and training before being assigned with a role.
- Be part of a tri-sanctioned event on the European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET)
- Variety of roles from marshals to scorers and more
- Part of a great team and excellent camaraderie
- Part of the tournament plus seeing live golf
- Watch some of the best players in the world
- Full training and guidance provided
Volunteer Greenkeepers
We are delighted to offer greenkeepers with the opportunity to work alongside the dynamic and enthusiastic teams at Galgorm Castle and Massereene for this groundbreaking event. This is a unique chance for greenkeepers to assist in delivering a major global event and gain tremendous experience in preparing courses in world class condition for a tri-sanctioned event between the European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour.
- Unique experience to be part of an International tournament
- Work with an experienced team and get expert guidance
- Play key role in the tournament set-up
- Experience the buzz of live tournament golf


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|Photo by Harry Brignull
I recently watched a TED talk video on YouTube that caused me to really consider if this paticular speaker had a valid argument. If you're not familiar with TED, TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Since then, its scope has become even broader. For more information on TED, check out its website at: www.ted.com.
So, back to my story. I watched this TED talk video by Barry Schwartz titled "The paradox of choice." Schwartz has also written a book by the same name. Before you continue reading this post, I would encourage you to watch his video here. It's an incredibly interesting and thought-provoking talk, but I also believe there are a lot of inherent flaws in Mr. Schwartz's final conclusions.
Here's a quick synopsis of the video: Psychologist Barry Schwartz takes aim at a central tenet of western societies freedom of choice. In Schwartz's estimation, choice has made us not freer but more paralyzed, not happier but more dissatisfied.
Schwartz's Solution Is Flawed
On many levels, I do agree with Schwartz that our western, affluent society has created a number of challenges for those of us who do live in an extremely wealthy society. We do struggle with depression and other psychological problems as a result of too many choices. Because of our great wealth, we get fixiated on the accumulation of money and stuff, thinking that this will buy us happiness. In the end, no amount of money or material goods can ever make us happy.
The biggest problem, though, that I had with the talk was his conclusion. It made me want to jump up on my home office desk and yell "WRONG ANSWER, BUB!" Mr. Schwartz's answer to the problem was income re-distribution. If he were given the power to fix western, affluent society, he would take a lot of our western wealth and spread it around to those other parts of the world that have less wealth and fewer choices. The main problem with this solution is that it has been tried before around the world and failed miserably - communism. Here in the United States, we've also tried and failed in this income redistribution experiment and have created a poor, dependency class as a result.
The purpose of this post is not to discourse in a political debate, but rather to encourage better thinking in this area. Wealth redistribution does not work from both sides - from those handing over their wealth to those receiving the wealth. Here's why. When people educate themselves, work hard, and begin to accumulate assets, they resent others forcing them to hand over what they have accumulated, involuntarily. As this happens more over time, people have less incentive to create wealth in the first place. Why should they "bust it" when they're going to be forced to hand it over to the government or other entity? They will automatically seek a level of work where they are getting maximum payoff for minimial effort.
On the other side of the problem, just handing wealth over to other people groups or nations that have less choices is definitely not going to solve their problem long-term. Why work hard and achieve anything if people are just going to hand money and resources over to me for free? I'll take it easy and just let others do the hard work for me in order to give me a few additional choices in life.
Laziness, less wealth, and fewer choices will be the ultimate result on both sides of the equation.
A Better Solution
I would like to propose a better alternate ending to Mr. Schwartz's TED talk. People in western, affluent society have failed miserably at teaching the important concepts of thanksgiving, contentment, and generosity. I don't think we need another government program to accomplish this, either. If parents would take their role seriously, our society would not be so wrapped up in the pursuit of wealth in order to give us more choices in life. If we were truly thankful and content for those things that we do have, we wouldn't be as interested in the accumulation of more stuff. We would understand that money and stuff can never buy us happiness in this life.
And, if we coupled thankfulness and contentment with generosity, I think western, affluent society would be in a lot better place than it is, today. Since these are primarily Christian concepts, the universal church needs to do a better job of teaching these three concepts to the Body of Christ. Mature believers in Christ also need to do a much better job of living out thankfulness, contentment, and generosity in their everyday lives.
So, Christian, where are you at, today? Are you living out a life here in western, affluent society in the pursuit of more money, more stuff, and more choices? Are you suffering from depression and greed because you are too wrapped up in the pursuit of more money, more stuff, and more choices? I would encourage you to rethink your current pursuits. Compare what you're doing in light of God's Word. I think you will see that you need to make some major changes in what you currently hold up in life as important. King Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11,
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.Also, check out these related posts:
- Wasting money on things that don't matter
- How To Discover Your Worldview On Money
- The Rich Get Richer
- We Don't Have Enough! | Scarcity Issues
- 5 Benefits of Generosity
- Spending Money On What You Value


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As expected, Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, filed a school funding rewrite bill late Thursday after more than a year of conversations about overhauling the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the formula that currently dictates school funding.
The bill includes much of the what New Jersey-based nonprofit EdBuild CEO Rebecca Sibilia described to House Democratic Caucus members on Tuesday, including retaining a provision that allows property-wealthy districts across the state to keep $120 million they would have otherwise had to raise in local taxes.
Gunn's formula includes some of the suggestions in the EdBuild report. Missing, however, is additional funding for kindergarten through 3rd grade students and the removal of the provision benefiting property-wealthy districts such as Madison, Rankin and Lowndes counties, which Sibilia described Tuesday as "inequitable, illogical" and "not good for kids."
The crux of the formula is a $4,800 base cost for every kindergartner through 12th grader, plus weights — or additional money — added depending on students' individual characteristics.
These characteristics include special education diagnosis, low-income status, gifted students and even age, with high schoolers receiving a weight of 1.3, or a total of $6,240.
The weights for students receiving special education services vary from 60 percent ($7,680) to 170 percent ($8,160) depending on the diagnosis.
In addition, students in "sparse," or rural, districts will receive an additional 10 percent each from the state.
Unlike under the current formula, the total number of students in the district — and thus how much money the district gets — will be based on enrollment numbers.
The bill must still go through the committee process and be voted on by both chambers. If passed, the new formula, called the Mississippi Uniform Per Student Funding Formula Act of 2018, would begin in the next school year.
Any increases or decreases in funding a school district experiences as a result of the rewrite would be phased in over 7 years, the bill says.
View the bill here.


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Gaming News
Beijing's Web Users Angry at Shutdown17 June 2002
BEIJING, CHINA -- As reported by the BBC: ``Internet users in Beijing have reacted angrily to the closure of all the city's cyber cafes after a fire in one of them killed 24 people at the weekend.
``They are accusing the city government of using Sunday's fire as an excuse to crack down on what is one of the very few arenas in China for free expression.
``...Beijing has closed its 2,400 mostly illegal internet cafes and plans to let only 200 re-open, pending new regulations, a city government spokesman said.
``But a BBC correspondent in Beijing, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, says that it is precisely the illegality of the majority of the cafes that attracts young people, operating as they do outside the Chinese Government's strict internet regulations.
``...But the state media lambasted the internet as a scourge on the nation's youth.
``...Chinese rules ban not only pornography, but foreign news sites and discussion of a host of topics, from human rights to government corruption.
``...Those cyber cafes which avoid the regulations by operating underground are at pains to protect their anonymity..."


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I was running an audio production program when my disk space was running low and "Windows disk cleanup" appeared and it inquired if I wanted run it. After declining many times I finally decided to run it and, frankly, it didn't seem to recover all that much space for me. What did happened though was that the next time I started my computer, a message of "bad or missing command interpreter" appeared alerting me that "command.com was missing". I decided that I would replace it with a good copy that I had on a good hard drive. I then restarted the computer and got the same message, only this time telling me that "msdos.sys" was missing, so I copied that one over as well. Each time I restarted the computer, more and more files were coming up missing and I was never able to get Windows to start. I then decided that, to retrieve my important files, I would make this corrupted drive as a slave and use a good drive that I have as the primary, so I can access the bad one as my D:. After doing this, I found that on the corrupted drive, the 'Windows' folder was now named as 'WINEOWS!.!', the 'Program Files' folder became 'PSOGRA~1!.!', etc, etc
Basically all important folders got renamed with one of the letters within the name incremented up by a letter or two (ie, the "d" in WinDows is now an "e") plus they end with exclaimation points. When I try accessing these folders from within Windows (the good install I have) I get an error saying "the file has been moved or removed". I notice that it still takes up all the same amount space as it did before on the drive although now when I right-click the properties of the folder, it is displayed as 0 bytes.
As I said before the priority is retrieving my .WAV files that are saved in those folders, I just need to get access to them, so I can copy them over to another drive. Does anyone know of a virus, worm or trojan that would rename folders like this and make them inaccessible. I also already tried accessing these folders from a command prompt with no success either. If anyone can offer any suggestions on what this could be and how I can get my files back, you would really be helping to save my livelihood. Thank you in advance.


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Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Another Grooming Tool?
After I gave the Haas brush a glowing review, someone asked if I had tried Epona's Tiger's Tongue Horse Groomer. Why no, no I had not. But at $7.80 with free shipping with my Amazon Prime account, one was on its way to me immediately after I read her comment and the reviews on Amazon.
If you haven't seen one of these scrubbers, they come shrink wrapped at about a tenth of their thickness. As soon as I cut away the plastic, it poofed up nicely. Once again, I used Yellow Dog to see if I liked the way it felt in my hand. She was less than impressed, but Tobias, our black lab, gave it a big smile. When I saw how much dirt came off of him, I rinsed it off with the hose and was surprised to see the scrubber grow even more in thickness.
The day after it arrived ended up being too hot to ride; it was over a hundred degrees, so I decided to make it a grooming day instead. I love getting new stuff, so I was happy for the excuse to try out the Tiger's Tongue on Speedy and Izzy. I adore Izzy, really I do, but that horse isn't picky about much, so Speedy's response to new stuff is my real litmus test.
To manage the dust, the ranch owner runs sprinklers in all of the horses' dry pastures twice each day. The horses just stand there enjoying the respite from the heat, but it makes them rather crusty by the time I get there. Speedy was really gross that afternoon, but rather than being annoyed, I rubbed my hands in delight. The Tiger's Tongue was going to get a real work out.
Except it didn't. To whomever recommended this thing to me, THANK YOU! Within jut a few swipes of the groomer, Speedy's coat was clean and soft and free of rough patches. I've owned horses for nearly 40 years. How have I not come across this particular tool before? It is truly amazing. And cheap. And my horses loved it.
I didn't even bother to use a halter. I just scrubbed Speedy's coat for a few minutes with the Tiger's Tongue - nothing else, and then stepped back to have a look. He coat was gleaming and looked as though I had just spent an hour scrubbing him. It was equally as effective on the big "buckskin" horse.
Izzy's barrel is so yellow that it's hard to see how shiny he was after using the Tiger's Tongue. After scrubbing the dried salt from his rump, I worked at the encrusted dirt along his back and sides. By the time I was finished, he was soft and smooth, too.
Since the groomer is basically a really porous sponge, it worked really well on both legs and faces. In fact, Izzy really leaned into it when I rubbed his eyes and forehead, Even Speedy appreciated his face being scratched with it.
I don't know how well the Tiger's Tongue will work on heavy winter coats, but for summertime use, I am hooked. I found mine at Amazon, but I am betting they are available wherever grooming products are sold. I am obviously in a buying mood, so if anyone else has the scoop on some other brilliant grooming product, let me know!
So while the first test was barely mediocre, I was still incredibly excited for our second test of the day, Training Level Test 3. You would think that with a paltry 56% I'd be dreading the harder test of the level. I wasn't; that was the test for which I had actually prepared. Working in my favor was the fact that we did Test 1 at 10:33 a.m. while Test 3 wasn't until 12:29 p.m., nearly 2 hours later. A lengthy wait on a fairly warm day was exactly what Izzy needed.
I knew that I wouldn't need a very long warm up, and I was right. 20 minutes seemed to be all Izzy needed. He never put a foot wrong. he warmed up like a seasoned pro. I headed up to the ring confident that he would be able to do his job. He didn't disappoint.
Don't get me wrong. The test was just barely satisfactory earning a ... wait for it ... and NO, it wasn't a 59% ( I am getting a lot of those lately). We actually earned a 60.862%! For our very first attempt at Training Level. It took Speedy and I a while to crack the 60% barrier at that level. Yes, I am a more educated rider now, but Izzy is a much more difficult horse to pilot. Am I happy with the score? You betcha!
I truly enjoyed every minute of the ride. I felt no pressure to impress anyone. I rode him as though no one was watching. There was tension, there was giraffing, but there was also a lot of try on his part. Does he need a better connection? Absolutely. We're working on it. Even so, I am really proud of this horse. A lot of you have followed our journey from the beginning, so you know what it's taken to get him even this far (such as it is).
Not that it really matters to me what others think of my big brown horse, but it was heartwarming to hear so many oohs and ahhs. Seriously. Izzy earned himself some fans. There were more than a couple of people who had really nice things to say about him, and I don't think they were digging deep for something nice to say. I think they really meant it. Hard to believe, but it's true.
Even though other people liked Izzy, the judge wan't enamored with him. Not overly critical, just not in love. Most of the comments included words like could show more relaxation and tension. Yeah, I know. The judge did award us 7.0s for gaits on both tests though. Imagine what we could earn without any tension! Speedy has to work hard to get a 7.0 for his gaits. The judge also gave me 7.0s for my position and seat, not a score I always see. I get plenty of 6.0s for that.
I am really glad I let Speedy sit this one out. I knew Izzy was getting close to being ready to go out into the big wide world. Now I have something to build on. Speedy has some fall shows lined up; I haven't forgotten about the Bronze Medal, but I am also thinking about what I can do with Izzy next season. I now have to decide who to show and when. What a great problem to have!
So that's it. Not a wildly entertaining return to the show ring, but that makes me glad. We've had more than our share of fireworks. A plain old boring show day was just what I was hoping for. Here's the video if you can stomach five and a half minutes of really boring. The score sheet follows.
And now, onward to 2020!
Izzy's Training Level Debut
Before I get to the show recap, I have to first say something. I've been showing Speedy up the levels since 2010. Every season we struggle with harder movements and worrying about earning the "right" scores for whatever awards program I have my sights set on for that year. With Izzy, I had NONE of that angst or pressure. It was Training Level. How hard could it be? No offense meant. I spent several years at Training Level on Speedy. Repeating a level on a different horse when you have no expectations other than keeping his marbles in his head is a whole lot more fun than when you're doing it "for real."
Before you get too excited, let me just say that we did not blow the judge's mind - or at least not in a good way. We earned a pretty ho-hum 56.923% for Training Level Test 1. But. BUT. Holy cow was I excited! Izzy exceeded all of my expectations.
I showed up at the ranch at 5:30 a.m. to bathe and braid. Was he upset by the radical change in his routine? Nope. He shrugged his shoulders and said whatever ... oh hey! There's hay! He loaded like a champ, traveled like a champ, and unloaded like it was something he did every day.
When he stepped off the trailer, he was a bit looky, but I am fine with looking. Since things were just getting started, I hand walked him up to the show ring and the show office. I walked him around, and before two minutes had passed, he was happily snuffling through the weeds looking for a snack. He started with a coat slightly damp from a nervous sweat, but by the time we made it back to the trailer, he was cool and dry.
I changed my clothes, keeping my eye on him. I then walked him to the warm up ring and back to the dressage court where we watched a test or two, standing right behind the spectators so he could hear the applause. He never even blinked.
I walked him back to the trailer and tacked up. I wanted to give him as much show ground experience as possible, so we walked back up to the dressage court. He got more and more relaxed as the morning wore on. The lead rope was loose as he plodded along behind me. He wasn't as worry-free as Speedy would have been, but his level of trust in me was huge compared to what it was when I tried to show him at Introductory Level back in 2016.
My original plan was to take a full hour for our warm up. On our worst days at home, we go that and longer. After seeing how calm he was, I decided that 45 minutes would be plenty. After 20 minutes of the easiest ride he's ever given me, I realized that I had 25 minutes left to kill. I walked back toward the gate not knowing whether to get off or just stand around. The universe decided for me.
Right in front of us, a woman turned her gray Arabian loose in the round pen. Izzy's head snapped up, and I swear a speech bubble popped up right over his head. THAT'S SPEEDY OH MY GOD SPEEDY IS HERE LOOK AT HIM LOOK AT HIM!!!!!!!
Except we all know it wasn't Speedy, but I could not convince Izzy otherwise. He immediately started hollering and his body exploded with tension. My heart sank. But rather than get too worried, I just put him back to work. It took about five minutes and a lot of cantering, but he slowly let go of the worst of his tension. Not all of it, but his brain reengaged.
We entered at A, I cracked a huge smile. He wasn't exactly relaxed, but he was rideable. We entered with a 5 for our halt, but then we earned a solid string of 6.0s until my lack of preparation reared its ugly head. I had worked on test 3 A LOT but had neglected to learn test 1 until an hour before the ride. During our walk work, I made a course error - oops, bye-bye 2 points.
Our scores got back on track where we earned a string of 6.0s for our trot circle and right lead canter. I was feeling really confident about the test when Izzy slammed on the brakes just before B. He went from a happy little canter to a stuttering halt. I could tell something was bothering him, but for the life of me I couldn't figure it out.
Someone later told me that a breeze picked up at that moment and the odor of cows came wafting up to the arena. There are cattle just down below. Not caring what the issue was, I kicked him no less than a half dozen times before he agreed to trot to which the judge remarked, "rider aids to be less obvious." HILARIOUS. He was rooted to the spot. If I hadn't kicked him so obviously, we'd still be standing there.
We were supposed to do a canter to trot transition just before he skidded to a halt, but I realized there was no way to pick up the canter only to come back down to trot, so I just continued on. We earned a 5.0 for the canter from C-M-B and then a 4.0 for the downward transition which was generous. There was no transition; it was caaaanter, HALT .... kickkickkickkick ... trot. We finished with a 5.0 for our final halt which was no surprise as he was still reeling from his near death experience with cows that he couldn't even see.
The judge was kind with his collectives - Izzy earned a 7.0 for gaits and I got a matching 7.0 for Rider's Position and Seat. So while a 56% isn't anything to write home about, we lost 2 points for stupidity and that unauthorized halt during the canter work didn't do us any favors either. Aside from that, it was a pretty decent little test considering it was his first time showing at Training Level AND his first showing experience since 2016 which we all know was a disastrous year anyway.
Here's the video followed by his score sheet.
Tomorrow, test 3 and redemption?
Collection With Suspension
Last week, I had a lesson on Speedy with Chemaine Hurtado, owner and trainer at Symphony Dressage Stables. Like I always do, I explained to Chemaine what was going well, and what wasn't - our half passes were much improved, but they lacked impulsion. Chemaine had several several exercises for me to try.
The first exercise she had me do was one from the past, but we used it differently. During the trot half pass, whenever I felt like Speedy was ignoring my outside leg, she had me turn the half pass into a leg yield by changing the bend. As soon as Speedy started moving off my now inside leg, I was to change the bend again all while ensuring that he still moved sideways off my leg. The exercise worked well, but I am going to need it for a while, especially to the right.
The next exercise that we did addressed the lack of impulsion. We did half pass to medium trot to half pass to medium trot. Because the half pass requires so much strength and collection, Speedy was thrilled to be allowed to really go for it in the extended trot. This in turn helped build in some natural impulsion for the half pass. It was a win-win.
Before we finished the lesson, Chemaine said that she had one more exercise she wanted me to try. We've worked really hard to get the impulsion and uphill carriage that Speedy needs for the medium and extended gaits. That's still a work in progress, for sure, but Chemaine wanted to add yet another dimension.
Down each long side, Chemaine wanted me to do big half halts with a lot of leg. As predicted, Speedy shot forward assuming that the half halt with leg meant medium trot. As soon as he went heavy in my hand, she had me half halt and again tap him with my whip. We repeated the exercise until Speedy connected the dots: I didn't want more forward, I wanted more up. You can see it in the photo above. He can't carry it for long, but as we schooled it, both of us got the idea a bit better.
When we moved to the canter work, both Speedy and I had an AHA moment. I realized that I could ask for the same thing in the canter. And sure enough, his canter got a lot more jump in it when I half halted with my outside rein and added leg. Canter half pass and flying changes both are much easier with canter that's got some jump to it.
Here's some video of getting the suspension in the trot.
I have learned more during this past year than in the last ten years combined. While it could get overwhelming to contemplate all that's still to be learned, I don't worry about it since what I am learning is turning out to be so much fun. Not to mention rewarding.
Like I've said before: Second Level sucked really rotten tomatoes. Third Level is the cat's meow!
Review: Thinline Reins
A few weeks ago, I asked for some feedback on the Thinline reins. My laced reins, which I've really liked for Speedy, suddenly started causing a gnarly callous on my left hand. It hasn't gotten any smaller since then and might have actually grown.
Once I realized that the callous was being caused by my reins, I switched to a pair of cotton web reins. I have quite a few sets from which to choose. They're cheap and usually come free with a bridle purchase. They've served their purpose, but frankly, they suck. No offense to anyone who actually likes them.
After perusing what felt like every U.S. web site, I discovered that The Dressage Pony Store, owned by my friend and fellow rider Valerie Gabriel, carries the Thinline Reins cheaper than anyone else - $95.00. I placed my order. Valerie had the reins in the mail the next day. The day after that, they were attached to my bridle. How come the big online tack shops can't package and ship that efficiently? Riding Warehouse excluded, of course.
As soon as I unpackaged them, I knew I was going to be ordering a second pair for Izzy's bridle. Don't even touch a pair unless you've got a hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket; they're that nice.
The reins have a wonderful cushiony grip, almost like the gel handle on my whip. They're not tacky or sticky or grippy in the same way rubber reins can be. Which I actually like, so I am not at all surprised that I like these.
I have not one single negative thing to say about the Thinline Reins, but depending on your particular preferences, these might be considered too thick. I love them, but I can see how someone with smaller or finer hands might find them bulky.
Thinline sells these reins with a variety of options, most of which Valerie carries at the Dressage Pony Store. I went with hook and stud ends as they look cleaner in the show ring. I also wanted the hand stops. The reins aren't slick, but I am used to the stops, so I made sure to choose that option. Oh, and even though the Dressage Pony Store is for well, ponies, Valerie carries the reins in pony sizes and a standard 60 inch length which is what I bought.
Both the bit and buckle ends of the of the reins are leather. And while it's probably not the most luxurious leather ever made, I liked the quality. I bent the leather part of the reins back and forth and was pleased that it didn't get that crackled appearance you see in cheaper leather.
I am not sure that a piece of tack can improve ones riding, but I think these have. I felt like I was able to take a more solid hold of the rein without the feeling of holding Speedy by a thread. It may be that as his ability to sit and collect is improving, he may be feeling heavier in my hand right now - hence the callous. I don't think so though. I think I am developing as a rider and communicating differently through the rein than in the past.
Overall, these reins are well priced and unbelievably comfortable in the hand. As soon as I have a couple of extra bucks, I am for sure ordering that second pair for Izzy's bridle.
About the Writer and Rider
I am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.
About Speedy G
Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About Izzy
Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider Awards
State Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level: 63.514%
Third Level: 62.105%
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:
2023 Show Season
Show Rating
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
2023 Show Schedule
2023 Completed …
2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)
Qualifying Training Level
3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
Score 1:
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The latest headline of the trend-driven media proclaims Clinton as the presumptive nominee. Her delegate totals, if one includes super delegates, puts her over the threshold for the nomination.
But if there is one truth in politics, it is that when someone says they are committed to a certain course of action it means for the moment. Between now and the Democratic convention on July 25th (coincidentally my birthday and only good things can happen on that date) there are many moments for new commitments to arise.
One cannot ignore the rising tide of popular votes sustaining Bernie Sanders. One cannot ignore the increasingly dangerous prospect of the anti-Clinton movement propelling Trump into the Presidency (and, I fear, America into an abyss.) One cannot ignore the clamoring for a stop to this American version of Divine Right determined by party insiders and political supplicants.
Those of us outside the inner sanctum of party politics want our voices heard. Those on the inside, while pantomiming statements that say they support this new paradigm, are more interested in protecting what they see as their moment.
As I said in the beginning, moments change. Clinton does not have the number of delegates to secure the election. She has 300 more delegates than Sanders. Super delegates do not count until their vote is cast.
Much can happen between now and then. We can hope that enough super delegates will listen to the voices of millions of Americans, weigh the chances of their two candidates against Trump, and vote their conscience not their self-interests.


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The Safety Course in the Driving of Forklifts and Mobile Cranes comes as a response to the duty of companies to provide their workers and their representatives with adequate training in the field of safety, hygiene and health at work in relation to the work equipment used for the job and the exercise of high-risk activities, according to article 8 of Decree-Law no. 50/2005 of 25 February, as well as in article 32 in item 1, self-propelled work equipment may only be conducted by workers properly enabled.
16 Hours
Thematic Training Area
862 – Health and Safety at Work
General Objective
Improvement of the professional skills of each trainee, allowing participants to know the general process of driving a forklift truck and the adjacent standards of safety and accident prevention that are at the basis of driving a vehicle of this nature.
Specific Objectives
As specific objectives, it is intended that at the end of the training action the trainees are able to:
- Know the legal requirements applicable to forklifts;
- Identify the main requirements for driving forklifts.
- Know safety rules when driving forklifts.
- Identify and eliminate the main risks when driving forklifts;
- Maneuver and drive forklift trucks safely in accordance with HSW standards.
Programmatic Structure
- Legislation applied- Decree-Law 50/2005 of February 25
- Mechanical Aspects of the Forklift
- Requirements for the driver role of forklift trucks and their professional training.
- Safety standards and procedures for the handling of forklifts.
- Sensitization in HST.
- Causes of accidents.
- Mechanical handling of loads – Risks and prevention measures.
- Regulations for the driver.
Training Methodology
The training methodology is predominantly participatory and is based on the realization of practical situations, analysis of concrete situations, as well as on the exchange of experiences between the participant and the trainer.
The methods to be used will be the exhibition and participative / active.
Training Mode
Continuing professional training, not included in the National Qualifications Catalog.
Formation Organization Form
Classroom training organized in a training room
Evaluation methodology based on the participation and involvement of the trainees in the resolution of the problems related to the work and practical exercises, in order to evaluate the acquisition, understanding and practical application of the contents, as well as the achievement of the pedagogical objectives.
Initial Diagnostic Assessment
At the beginning of the training action will be carried out, by the respective trainer, a diagnostic evaluation, with the objective of assessing the initial competencies of the trainees. This evaluation can be applied orally, through a set of questions asked to the trainees that allow to verify possible competences already acquired.
Continuous Evaluation
Its objective is the monitoring / control of the learning progress of the trainees in the field of knowledge, so that the pedagogical objectives of the action can be achieved, respecting the individual rhythms. Continuous assessment will focus on how each trainee met the pedagogical objectives for each module.
- The evaluation parameters correspond to the specific objectives;
- The existence and delivery of evaluation tests and / or grading and correction criteria is mandatory;
- The performance will depend on a result of greater or equal to 10 values;
- Behavior Observation of the Trainee – The formative entity will promote throughout the formation the observation of the behavior of the trainee, through its own form, taking into account the parameters participation, responsibility, interpersonal relations and punctuality. If the trainer considers that the behavior of a trainee in the referred parameters is not adequate, he / she should report the occurrence of the occurrence in a separate file – Record of Occurrences – and immediately report the situation to the coordination.
Training Monitoring and Evaluation
The follow-up to the training is continuous, either at the place of training under the figure of the Trainer or at the level of pedagogical coordination.
During the training there will be at least one evaluation of the action, by the trainees, through the application of a questionnaire. At the end of each module the action will also be evaluated by the trainer.
The trainers will be evaluated at the end of each module, also through the application of a survey of their performance.
Presence and Certification Scheme
It will be considered a successful grade whenever the trainee obtains a final grade of 10 or more (on a scale of 0 to 20) and has an effective frequency of 95% or more of the total course workload. The successful attendance gives the trainee the right to receive a Professional Training Certificate with an overall final mark resulting from the final evaluation average of all modules.
Entitlement to the certificate shall include:
- Evaluation in all modules;
- Achievement in continuous assessment;
- The attendance is equal to or greater than 95% of the total hours of the training action;
- The appropriate behavior (taking into account the following parameters: participation, responsibility, interpersonal relations and punctuality)
Material and Pedagogical Resources available to the Trainees
- Block
- Pen
- Manual
- Projector
- Writing board
- Training support exercises (where applicable)
- Other support material produced by the trainer (when applicable).
Access Requirements and Selection Criteria
Frequency Requirements
At the level of the frequency requirements for the course the following were defined:
- Employee or unemployed employee aged 18 years or over;
- Minimum compulsory education according to the date of birth or in the process of acquiring these qualifications or in the process of acquiring those qualifications;
- Listening, writing and reading Portuguese;
Selection Criteria
- Professional experience: professional experience is considered as a preferred criterion in the selection process;
- Motivation of frequency of action: this training being the overall objectives of strengthening the level of qualifications, we will try to emphasize the behaviors and attitudes evidenced by the candidates that reflect a manifest desire to improve their professional skills;
- Equal opportunities: in the selection process, we will seek to ensure gender equality, so in each training action we intend to integrate 50% of Men and 50% of Women.
Profile of Trainer
The training action will be carried out by Trainers who, having been duly certified under the legislation in force – holders of the Certificate of Professional Competence (old CAP) – have in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge on Health, Hygiene and Safety at Work.


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The OXO Good Grips POP Container Scoop is specifically shaped and sized for our containers, it's ideal for serving granola, nuts and candy, or for portioning rice, coffee and flour. The rounded edges allow you to easily reach into Container corners and the durable material is easy to clean. The ½ cup capacity POP Container Scoop is the perfect companion to your POP Containers. BPA free.
Dimensions: L5.5" x W2.5" x H1.5"
This product is only available for shipping within Canada.


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Luis Oval Optical Frame in Yellow Gold and Black
Prescription Free Optical Lens in a Yellow Gold and Black Frame
Dispatched on Friday
Layers of detail make up the striking form of this LINDA FARROW optical frame. The moulded titanium eye rim graduates from thin to thick at the outer edge for added depth.
-Optical lens free from prescription
-Titanium frame with titanium temples
-Titanium Made in Japan
-Titanium frame with titanium temples
-Titanium Made in Japan
Size & Fit
51mm lens width
22mm bridge width
145mm temple length
22mm bridge width
145mm temple length
The black painted rim is encircled with a contrasting 22 carat yellow gold plated titanium framework which is etched with a delicate criss cross pattern.
The nose bridge bears a discreet logo and transitions to adjustable nose pads for a comfortable fit.
A concave outer tip detail is echoed by a rounded inner tip to provide superior comfort.
Branded with our new signature temple which has been sculpted to take on a graduated form sweeping from hinge to tip.
Luis Oval Optical Frame in Yellow Gold and Black


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Still Wet Behind The Ears
$840.00 – $3,025.00
This is a Limited Edition of 100 regardless of the size you order.
|Limited Edition
Print that is signed and numbered by the artist.
|Shipping and Framing
This will come to you either unframed and tubed with complimentary Continental U.S. shipping – use code ARTFREESHIP – or you can add a custom frame with us.
A note from Sally-
Another Texas African Animal. I do not think I ever would have been able to witness this in the wild. In the Drive through Safari Park outside of San Antonio, where I first discovered the joy of shooting from your vehicle window without bars or chain link fencing, I happened upon this scene. I was careful not to disturb them and stopped a distance away. Mama was busy cleaning off the afterbirth. She allowed me to take as many photo as I wanted, but I decided to move off and give her their privacy after several minutes, knowing how important that bonding time is for a woman.


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Uses of Aluminium
Aluminium is used in virtually all segments of our modern life. Some of the many uses for Aluminium are in transportation such as automobiles, airplanes, trucks, rail cars, marine vessels, etc., packaging such as cans, foil, etc., construction such as windows, doors, siding, etc., consumer durable such as appliances, cooking utensils, etc., electrical transmission lines, machinery, and many other applications.
Aluminium is used in hundreds of industries, especially in the fields of transportation, aerospace, packaging, building and construction. The industry directly creates more than 155,000 jobs and is adding more yearly.
Lightweight, durable and infinitely recyclable, Aluminium has become an essential element of daily life. As the sustainable material of choice, its applications span from everyday items like fuel-efficient vehicles, smart phones, zippers, and foil to wiring the nation's power grid, the apex of the Washington Monument and housing the International Space Station.
Its physical properties enhance its versatility. The metal is lightweight, ductile, malleable, and corrosion resistant and is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Unalloyed Aluminium is soft and has limited strength. The addition of small quantities of alloying elements, such as copper, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silicon, and zinc, can increase the hardness, strength, and other properties of Aluminium. Adding to Aluminium adaptability is the fact that it can be fabricated into desired forms and shapes by every major metalworking technique—cast, rolled, forged, extruded, drawn, or machined.
Aluminium in alloyed and unalloyed forms is suitable for use in a wide variety of products for the consumer and capital goods markets. The largest markets are transportation, packaging, construction, electrical, consumer durable, and machinery and equipment.
The transportation sector, which is the largest single market for Aluminium worldwide, includes the manufacture of automobiles, buses, trailers, ships, railroad and subway cars, as well as aerospace applications and mobile homes. In recent years, Aluminium has made significant inroads into the automotive industry. Its light weight and recyclability have provided the impetus for the increased use of Aluminium to help meet new and more stringent corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFe) standards. The use of Aluminium for truck and automobile engine blocks and cylinder heads, heat exchangers, transmission housings, engine parts, and wheels has increased steadily during the past decade. Aluminium use in some body sheet applications has increased as well.
The International Aluminium Institute has estimated that 90 percent of truck trailers have Aluminium bodies as do long-distance buses and cargo containers. Aluminium components reduce the weight of tractor-trailers, which allows them to reduce fuel costs and to carry a bigger load without exceeding highway weight limits.
The success of the modern commercial aviation industry has depended upon Aluminium. The metal's combination of lightness, strength, and workability, as well as its abundance and low cost, makes it an ideal material for mass-produced commercial aircraft. Aluminium, which is the primary aircraft material, comprises about 80 percent of an aircraft's unladen weight. The standard Boeing 747 jumbo jet contains approximately 75,000 kg of Aluminium.
In the United States, Aluminium used by the packaging and container industry in such products as beverage cans, food containers, and household and institutional foil ranked second to transportation in total shipments. The largest single segment of this market is Aluminium beverage cans. As reported by the Can Manufacturers Institute. Beverage cans in the United States are made almost exclusively of Aluminium, because of consumer preference, however, Aluminium faces stiffer competition from steel cans and glass and plastic containers in other areas of the world and, therefore, accounts for a smaller percentage of total average container demand in those countries.
In addition to competition from other materials, the evolution of manufacturing technology has also affected Aluminium demand in the container industry. The first use of Aluminium in beverage containers was the easy-open ring-pull Aluminium ends on tin plate cans. The first all Aluminium can was introduced in the late 1960s.
Aluminium foil is used in containers and packaging for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Foil is light, strong, flexible, and durable and provides a barrier against light, odor, moisture, and bacteria. The third largest domestic market for Aluminium and the largest market in most other areas of the world is the building and construction industry. An estimated 20 percent of the world's Aluminium production goes into the building and construction sector principally in the form of sheet and extrusions.
Interior uses include partitions, cast door handles, staircases, and heating and air conditioning systems. Aluminium high strength-to-weight ratio allows architects to meet desired performance specifications while minimizing the load on a building's support structure. Other advantages are long service life, low maintenance, and design flexibility. Its physical and chemical characteristics, however, make Aluminium suitable for a myriad of other applications, such as transmission wiring, consumer durable, signage, sporting equipment, and cookware.
There are hundreds of Aluminium alloys, or mixes with other metals, on the market. Aluminium alone is light but weak, so other metals are added to give it more muscle.


text: People and the environment are protected and living sustainably alongside another. Community people of Bandarban are facing many problems due to climate change and practices that are affecting the local environment. The seasons play an active role in the rural people's life, especially farming however the seasons are becoming more and more disrupted with monsoon coming earlier and heavier each year. The area is subject to landslides due to heavy rainfall in the wet season, deforestation, forest fire and land reforming to create more land for development.


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The " Addis Ababa Museum " is located in an edification designed in 1887 that illustrates perfectly the turbulent context in which this important African capital was it was developed. Even though originally It was thought to function as an ammunition storage, this property was first released as a home after it became an imperial wedding gift. In 1935, following the Italian invasion to Ethiopia, it was used as a hospital, then it worked as a school, a factory, a hotel and a public office, until becoming the museum of the city till today.
Mostly based on photographs, some ancient articles of a daily basis use everyday and a series of explanatory panels explanatory, museography aims to inform visitors on the process of the different stages and historical development of Addis Ababa from the first establishments in the area known as Entoto, to the present in which it serves as diplomatic capital of Africa to host the African Union
Access is through the steps of Meskel Square, there's a parking lot there where vehicles can be left. Entrance prices are 10 birr for local and 50 birr for foreigners, whether they are tourists or residents.
This space can be highly enjoyed by those who like to know details and historical, as well as by those who want know and understand the city and its peculiarities better. However, it is possible that for someone who doesn't share the same interest this may come across as boring and stay simplified to being an antiquated house full of old clothing, some guns and several black & white photos.


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|133 South 14th St., as it appeared in 1915
Today, the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg is regarded as a dangerous place, where gunshots ring out during all hours of the night and drug deals take place in the darkened alleyways behind rows of low-income housing. Local historians are quick to point out that Allison Hill- one of the city's oldest neighborhoods- was once the site of charming Victorian homes, magnificent gardens, and stately churches. Many of these historians, however, are not aware that Allison Hill's sinister reputation isn't a modern creation; In the early 1900s, Allison Hill was the site of one of the most intriguing unsolved murders in Pennsylvania history.
A young girl's skeleton, a rusty razor, and chicken feathers.
These were the items found in the cellar of home at 133 South Fourteenth Street, by plumbers who were digging in the basement of the building in February of 1915. The coroner, Jacob Eckinger, was summoned and immediately concluded that the girl had been murdered. Unfortunately, nobody in the neighborhood recalled a young girl ever having lived at 133 South Fourteenth Street since the home was built twenty-three years earlier. Even more strange was the fact that no girls had been reported missing.
So who was this unfortunate girl and how did she end up in a cellar grave in Allison Hill? These were the questions which tormented Coroner Eckinger, as well as county detective James E. Walters and District Attorney Michael E. Stroup, who left no stone unturned in their investigation. Dozens of anonymous letters poured in, but these letters provided few leads. One of the more promising leads suggested that the body belonged to Bessie Guyer, a girl from nearby Mechanicsburg who had run away. This theory was later disregarded when Bessie was located safe and sound.
|The murder house as it appears today
The history of Allison Hill's "House of Mystery"
The house at 133 South Fourteenth Street, which still stands today, was built in 1892 by a man named Engle, who sold it soon after to a contractor named Morris Strohm. The following year Strohm sold the building to Milton Wagner, who owed the house until the early 1900s, when it was sold to Miss Minnie Burtner, who was the owner at the time of the chilling discovery. Like Wagner, Miss Burtner purchased the home as a rental property, leaving it in the hands of a landlord named B.F. Eby.
According to city records, the home's first occupant was Dixon Kitzmiller, a railroad worker who lived there between 1893 and 1894. From 1894 to 1900 the home was occupied by another railroad worker, Charles Eberly. From 1901 to 1902, a dentist named Charles Ayres lived in the building. All of these men were questioned and then exonerated, but the authorities were suspicious of the family who rented the home after Dr. Ayers- a German family said to have strange habits, which included the keeping of chickens and geese in the cellar.
R.C. Cashman and his workmen had taken four loads of mud from under the cellar steps in a wheelbarrow when they unearthed the bones. They found four or five vertebrae, several bones of the hands and feet, and fragments of skull. Next to a small clump of hair one of the men found a rusted razor blade and eight chicken feathers. The authorities believed that the feathers were an important clue and honed in on the German family who had rented the home in 1902. Unfortunately, all traces of the German family had been lost. It was said that the man of the house had worked as a laborer at the Boll Mattress Factory, but the Boll officials had no recollection of a German in their employ and, to complicate matters, the Boll company didn't keep records of its employees.
|Samuel Hillman (L) and RC Cashman (R), the plumbers who found the skeleton
"A thousand to one shot that the mystery will never be solved," stated District Attorney Stroup to the Harrisburg Telegraph on February 19th. "When you consider that the body appears to have been buried at least ten years and that half a dozen families lived at the house during the time the body may have been buried, and that no marks of identification have been found, you can see how indefinite the clues are that we must work on."
On April 21, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported that authorities from Dauphin County paid $10 to Dr. E.L. Perkins to examine the bones, in the hopes that the physician would be able to uncover some bit of information that would help solve the case. But the bones told no tales and the investigation was put on the shelf. On May 24, 1915, the bones were buried and the unsolved murder faded from memory like the German family who once kept chickens in the cellar of 133 South Fourteenth Street in Allison Hill.
With the burial of the bones yesterday which figured in the skeleton mystery of Allison Hill, the last act in the drama of the skeleton of the young girl unearthed in a cellar was closed.- Harrisburg Telegraph, May 25, 1915
(Reprinted with permission from Pennsylvania Oddities. Written by Marlin Bressi)


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Gustavson Column: Life before Southold for John May
I experienced a déjà vu moment the other day as I played tennis across the net from Paul May, one of the 11 children of Southold resident John May, who died Aug. 21 at the age of 87. Paul and I had been reacquainted at his father's wake, when the subject of tennis inevitably arose. And that's because John May was a nationally ranked senior tennis player up until the last few years of his life, and with a racquet in his hand Paul looks an awful lot like his dad. (Although he is the first to admit that John held a decided edge in their lifetime father-son tennis competition.)
If you read John's obituary in the Aug. 27 edition of The Suffolk Times, you are well acquainted with his many accomplishments since moving to Southold more than 25 years ago — including those on the tennis court and at Peconic Landing, where he served as chairman of the board. And then, of course, there was John May, family man, whose survivors include his wife Elinor and their 11 children, 27 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
But what you did not read about John May — due largely to this newspaper's fundamental pledge to "keep it local" — were his many professional accomplishments before moving to the North Fork. What follows is a (very) brief summary of those eventful years.
John was accepted at Dartmouth at age 16 but opted to attend the University of North Carolina because he could begin classes there the summer after he graduated from high school. He graduated with a degree in business in 3 1/2 years.
His first significant job was with the management consulting firm of William E. Hill & Co., where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. One such deal involved his own Hill & Co. being acquired by Dunn & Bradstreet, where he then served as a senior officer and board member. During his career his notable clients included the Mormon Church, The Oakland (CA) Tribune and the Penn Central Rail Road.
In an e-mail prior to our tennis match, Paul May wrote: "There are hundreds of stories like this — including Leroy and Forrest Raffle's small roast beef sandwich company that was then known at Raffel Brothers Roast Beef or RB's and became Arby's."
Paul's e-mail concluded: "After a few years when the business changed, he left D&B and joined TPF&C, later known as Towers Perrin and still later Towers Watson, where he again ran the management consulting and mergers and acquisitions businesses. He 'retired' at their mandatory retirement age but kept some clients and got new ones referred by his many business relationships and remained an active management consultant, investor in startup businesses and board member (Femco, Execor, InnRoad, and others) until his passing. He actually took on two new clients in the past year!"
So there you have it: proof positive, via the life of John May, that there is indeed life before Southold. Not to mention how fortunate Peconic Landing was to have available during its formative years a person of John May's experience and expertise.
The author is the former co-owner and publisher of Times Review Media Group. He can be reached at [email protected].