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Top 5 Reasons to Use SiriusXM Background Music in Your Dental Office
It's a reality that most people don't look forward to their appointments at the dentist. Professionals like those at Dentist Houston try to make the experience as welcoming as possible, which keeps the patients coming back for regular appointments, whether it's for a simple check up or something that requires more assistance like dental implants for example. Adding office background music is a subtle way to calm and affect patients' minds in a positive manner. SiriusXM radio is a paid service that offers music 24 hours a day. Your office can significantly benefit from this dentist office music system choice because of several reasons. Explore how adding waiting room music with SiriusXM radio can change your dental practice with just a few songs.
1. Wide-Variety of Channels
When you subscribe to SiriusXM background music services, you're greeted by over 100 channels. In fact, you might find the selections so intriguing that you'll want to experiment with different channels every day. These dentist music channels aren't repetitive variations within one genre either. Discover 12 genres that are truly different from each other. Choose one genre for an entire week, but then switch it to another type next week. Both your employees and patients will anticipate the change as they enjoy the eclectic, subtle background music mixture.
2. No Interruptions
If you've listened to standard dental office radio selections before, most of the time is devoted to commercials, station identifications and random banter. Your patients deserve a relaxing environment where the office background music takes them away from their dental concerns. With SiriusXM, everyone enjoys the pure music. No commercials play during the subscription. Your monthly payment covers any advertising costs that are normally required of standard radio. The day will fly by with constant dental office music playing song after song.
3. Distracts Nervous Patients
Dental patients can be in the evaluation chair for 20 minutes or longer. For most of this time period, they have their eyes closed as dental tools work on their teeth. Because many patients are nervous about their appointments, playing soothing background music for the dentist office while their eyes are closed creates a relaxed atmosphere. The patient may even relax their body so that the dentist can easily access the back molars.
4. Lifts Employees' Spirits
It's important to realize that the employees' happiness at work counts too. With a wide variety of music being played for eight hours straight, workers can groove to the beat as they keep up with the patient load. In many cases, the employees are happier with pleasing music from a dental office sound system.
5. Keeps Your Office Legal
It's important to use a licensed music service like SiriusXM music for business in your dentist office. FM radio, personal playlists, and personal services like Pandora and Spotify are illegal to use in any business setting. There are agencies like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC that actively check with businesses to make sure they are using a licensed service. If your office is using an unlicensed service, these agencies will assess large fines. Be sure to use a licensed service like SiriusXM music for business to keep your office safe and legal.
Choose your SiriusXM music for business today by listening to a few sample office music channels. There's a genre for almost every office culture. Whether you want country or easy listening, a quality dental office radio will only please your patients and employees. Removing the commercial chatter of regular radio is the key to any comfortable, dental office.
To learn more about dental practice music, click here.


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Programs & Organizations > Tobacco Prevention Project > Monthly Newsletters > January 2006
A Project Update From The Contra Costa County Tobacco Prevention Project
January 2006
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors gave the public an early holiday gift, directing Contra Costa Health Services to develop a list of policies to protect residents from secondhand smoke. While the County has made tremendous progress on the issue of clean indoor air, much remains to be done in the areas of smoke-free entryways, multi-unit housing, parks and trails. The health department will submit the list to the Family and Human Services Committee by March 20.
After hearing testimony from members of Empowerment Through Action, the Richmond City Council on December 20 directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would require tobacco merchants to be licensed. For more information call Charlotte Dickson at 925-313-6216.
Secondhand smoke will likely be classified as a toxic air contaminant by the end of January 2006. The California Air Resources Board will hold a public hearing at its January 26 meeting in Sacramento on the report it issued recently describing environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) as a possible toxic air contaminant (TAC). For more info, log on to arb.ca.gov
A 25-feet smoke-free doorway amendment to Oakland's Smoking Control ordinance passed with flying colors recently. This means that all workplace doorways, including private businesses, are no smoking zones. Once a business has been informed of a violation, they will be provided with a sign to put up. For more information call WHO?
Our local Alcohol and Other Drugs Update, published faithfully biweekly by Ellen Peterson, recently devoted an issue to tobacco concerns. Among other things, the publication looked at hookahs - water pipes used to smoke flavored tobacco, which they called a new phenomenon in college culture. A new publication from the World Health Organization says a water pipe smoker may inhale as much smoke during one session as a cigarette smoker would inhale consuming 100 or more cigarettes. Hookah bars are currently legal in many communities.
RESPECT (Resources and Education Supporting People Everywhere Controlling Tobacco) has launched its new website at www.respect-ala.org. The site contains information and tools for addressing tobacco use among low-income populations.
The Tobacco Prevention Project and Promoting Smoke-Free Families placed tobacco prevention media messages in several venues this month. The PSA "My mom's my hero" will be aired on Comcast cable stations in the county in the Deer Valley 16 movie theaters in Antioch. The public service announcement encourages adult family members not to smoke around children. Also screening at Brenden Theatres in Concord is a reminder for adults not to sell tobacco products to young people.
Tobacco Prevention Coalition Meeting
Thursday January 19 10 a.m.- noon
597 Center Avenue Suite 150, Martinez 94553
What's Up with Hookahs
Smoking in Multi-Unit Housing
Smoke-free Hospital Campuses and more
Happy New Year!
Westin Hotels & Resorts recently announced that it would institute a ban on smoking in all rooms, restaurants, bars and public areas at its 77 U.S., Canadian, and Caribbean properties starting in January. Guests may smoke only in outdoor areas. The policy reflects "a demand from guests for a smoke-free hotel experience," says Sue Brush, Westin senior vice president in an article in U.S.A. Today. For a big chain to make such a major policy shift is "very cutting-edge," American Hotel & Lodging Association President Joseph McInerney said in a statement. "The industry is sure to take notice."
Voters in Washington State, by a margin of 62% to 26% approved smoke-free workplace legislation protecting all workers, including those in bars and restaurants. The measure, which passed in every county, also bans smoking within 25 feet of doorways, windows, and ventilation ducts of smoke-free establishments.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports smoking cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products caused 14,450 residential fires in 2004, resulting in 520 deaths.
In December's Pediatrics is a review of 42 studies on how viewing on-screen smoking affects adolescent and teen smoking behavior. It concludes that eliminating scenes of smoking in new youth-rated films should substantially reduce smoking initiation in the adolescent years, when the vast majority of smokers start. Among other conclusions: "If Hollywood just got the smoking out of youth-related films, it would have a huge effect, and it would cost nothing," UCSF researcher Stan Glantz said. "It would be the most cost-effective health intervention ever done." The report is available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/116/6/1516
A Dartmouth Medical School study published in the November issue of Pediatrics shows that teenagers who watch movies depicting smoking are more likely to try it. The study prompted a letter from the National Parent Teacher Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Heart Association and American Medical Association to film studies.
And the October 28 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, reports that exposure to state anti-tobacco television advertisements among adolescents aged 12-17 increased from 1999 to 2002, but then declined in 2003 when prevention funding was cut. In the 37 states and the District of Columbia studied, the majority of adolescents were exposed to less than one state-sponsored anti-tobacco television advertisement per month. Anti-tobacco television advertising plays an important role in tobacco prevention and is recommended by the CDC as a key component of a comprehensive state tobacco control program.
Believe it or Not!
R.J. Reynolds has a new campaign where it sends individuals birthday greetings reading: "Camel - It's your Birthday. Drinks on us." Inside the envelope are six coasters, with recipes for mixed drinks with high alcohol content and tag lines that promote excessive and irresponsible drinking such as, "Layer It On. Go 'Til Daybreak." In a letter to R.J. Reynolds, New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer, Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, and California Attorney General Bill Lockyer demand an immediate end to the campaign. "This promotion is a complete abomination," said Attorney General Spitzer. The attorneys general initially wrote to Reynolds in November, demanding that the company discontinue the program because of the grave public health concerns raised by this promotion of excessive drinking, particularly among young adults.
Here's another angle: The percentage of New Yorkers over 18 years old who smoked dropped from 20.8% to 18.1% from 2003 to 2004 - an all-time low, according to a report from Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington, D.C.-based health group. Smoking among high school students has fallen as well - from 27% in 2000 to 18.5% in 2004, according to the state's Health Department. New York's success is attributed to smoke-free workplace legislation, cigarette taxes which require smokers to pay a fairer share of their health costs, free nicotine patches and a helpline.
Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. and 31 other attorneys general from Hawaii to Maine sent letters to nine major Hollywood studios asking them to couple any depictions of smoking in movies with anti-smoking ads on the recordings they release. Last month, in response to Curran's letters, industry spokeswoman Kori Bernards said each studio would have to decide individually whether to include anti-smoking ads.
Contact FYI by e-mailing email@example.com or call 925-313-6214. This newsletter was made possible by funds received from the Tobacco Health Protection Act of 1988 (Proposition 99), under Contract Number 04-07 with the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section.
Content provided by the Tobacco Prevention Project of Contra Costa Health Services.

subset: commoncrawl


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Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
At the end of March we wrote in the post 'Scala Wallahs Do India' "Scala it appears now has 25 full-time employees in India … courtesy of (a rather quiet) acquisition of .. Digifour Technologies" and they have alas continued to keep very quiet about the acquisition, their future plans and what they have been up to in the country.In our discussions these past few weeks with various people about helping us with India (and China) coverage (you may have noticed our email text tag line 'advert' recently) we have actually discovered just how successful Scala seem to be doing in India.
One way to succeed in India is to offer a total solution and with the size of the Scala division there (and the experience of the folks) it seems that this is exactly what Scala have been doing and plan to do more of going forward. Scala we are told by locals is already offering project management, content creation, content management, network management and even hosting.
Some of the new and existing Scala business we have been hearing about from locals include: –
- A couple of large infrastructure projects; including the new Hyderabad Airport and the new Delhi Airport.
- Rollout of 200 x 65" screens for the TimesOOH project
- YUM India's business. We hear that all new KFC and Taco Bell restaurants opened since the middle of last year are now equipped with Scala Digital Menu boards (YUM is expanding incredibly rapidly across India for some reason)
- Emporio Shopping mall (which we believe is the most exclusive mall in India) and something we covered a while back here
- Three major Indian universities (one being the Jawaharlal Nehru University) are now using Scala across their campuses
- A big win at one of the major Indian hotel chains
- Tata Consulting Services (TCS) continue to use and rollout more Scala for corporate communications throughout its buildings
For those wishing to charge top-dollar, India is of course a country where it is very difficult to do business. For a long time Australian based Ryarc Media Systems seemed to be doing a roaring trade there (we hear little from them anywhere globally these days) but all the time the competition was from cheap and mass produced home grown software and services.
As much as it pains us to write; Scala seem to be bucking the trend.


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Monday, August 20, 2007
Now, here's an exciting photo contest that I found out from Shutter Box Philippines:
Sponsored by the New York Institute of Photography, the contest's overall theme is hometown -- the place where you currently reside or have lived or were born.
One of its four categories is Local Music, which I wonder if perhaps, I could submit the photo above. The other categories are Main Street, Faces in the Crowd, and Pets and Wildlife.
The winner in each contest category will receive a Nikon D-40x digital camera with two Nikkor lenses (18-55mm, 55-200mm), a $1000 retail value, and a Lensbaby 3G. The grand prize winner, on the other hand, will receive a 5-day trip to NYIP's hometown, New York City.
It is an international contest and therefore, open to all amateur and emerging professional photographers from anywhere. There is no entry fee, payment or purchase required. Contest duration is from July 9, 2007 to September 9, 2007.
As in any photo contest, all entries must be the contestant's original work -- either in color or black and white, and taken with any type of camera. Entries must be submitted digitally on www.nyiphotocontest.com in JPG or TIF format and as low resolution files to prevent unauthorized copying or appropriation of the photograph. Full size files and/or photographic transparencies or negatives will be requested from selected finalists.
For more information, visit Shutter Box Philippines.
posted by Señor Enrique at 10:12 AM
22 Comments:
- ladybug said...
Hey, I read about this too! I would love to get my hands on the Nikon d40x...hahaha. Unfortunately, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.
- Señor Enrique said...
Remember, Ladybug, there's such a thing as a "beginner's luck." And this contest gives you four chances to win a Nikon D40x.
Check out what you my submit as entries in any of the following four categories:
1) Main Street
What does your hometown look like? Is it a desert setting, an imposing skyline, or a single stoplight? We want you to show us the landscapes and landmarks that capture the heartbeat of your town. Your Main Street submission could depict the Taj Mahal, your general store, or the natural beauty that surrounds you.
2) Faces in the Crowd
Who are the people that you see in your hometown? Nothing captures a place like the people who live there. Your Faces In The Crowd submission could depict children at play, a holiday parade, or it could be a portrait of your grandmother. We want to see the people who give your hometown its character.
3) Pets and Wildlife
How are animals a part of your life? You may appreciate the beauty of a herd of grazing zebra from afar or consider a special dog or cat to be part of your family. Send us pictures that capture the way that animals, both wild and domesticated, fit into the environment in which you live.
4) Local Music
What is the soundtrack of your community? Do you dance to the beat of African drums, tap your toes to the rhythm of a jazz band, or lose yourself to the emotions conveyed by a classical aria? Whether you listen to sambas or saxophones, show us the way that music fuels the spirit of the place you call home.
I've witnessed a few photo contests in which absolute neophytes were able to clinch the top prizes, Ladybug! So, just have fun and enter ... hey, you never know :)
- said...
some fine prizes, good luck!
- said...
It's worth a try, the main prize is really good plus of course the distinction of winning an international tilt.
The pic of the band above is really dramatic with the lightning in the foreground adding mystic to it...
- Señor Enrique said...
You have some pretty cool pics of your town that you ought to submit, Luke.
- Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Major Tom! That bright light came on at regular intervals and of different colors. I simply timed my shot to get the desired color and effect I wanted.
Everyone ought to join this contest even for just the fun of it. Besides, it doesn't cost anything :)
- Sidney said...
Ok, let's do it but we compete with the whole world...
- punkiliciousss said...
i'm always thankful for your eager beaverness in updating us with contests and other announcements! gracias senyor!
and thank you also for the warm welcome back! glad to have time for blogging and photography again!
- Señor Enrique said...
I'd expect you to keep the momentum going on Sidney by joining this constest :)
Don't think of it as competing against the world; rather, as a challenge to your ability to present your hometown in the best of light as much as possible :)
- Señor Enrique said...
Yes, you've been gone away long enough, Punkiliciousss. It's time to get back to posting your pics and stories again ... hehehe!
I'd love for all our fellow bloggers and photography enthusiasts to win in all these photo contests. Why not? We're all creative and talented enough naman, di ba? So, join ka din, ha?
- Unknown said...
Hi Senor Enrique!
Thanks for the information about the photo contest. :)
would really love to visit New York it has been on my list of places to visit for the longest time.
- Senorito<- Ako said...
You have the lensbabies ba ? or do you just blur the edges of your pix ? :)
- Señor Enrique said...
Wouldn't it be grand, Daisy, for you to actualize your dream to visit NYC through winning a photo contest? Hehehe!
You have some awesome pictures that you can use as entries for this contest.
Good luck :)
- Señor Enrique said...
I don't use lensbabies, S.A. The soft blurs on my pics were through Picasa2 only :)
Ny the way, I'm moving here the recent two comments you posted on my earthquake entry:
Senorito<- Ako said...
August 21, 2007 12:47 PM
Senorito<- Ako said...
Here's how I found out about him.
August 21, 2007 12:49 PM
Thanks for the URLs!
Amazing photographs :)
- said...
Thanks for this lead, Senor Enrique.
I'd like to give it a try. I need a new dSLR camera. :-)
- Señor Enrique said...
You must submit entries, Jayred. You have four chances to win that new dSLR, which I heard so many good things about.
Good luck :)
- said...
Thanks, Senor Enrique. :-)
Can I post pics of my Swiss hometown? (The rules did say past or current hometown, right?) I would have preferred to send digital pics of Las Pinas if only I have them (the Bamboo Organ Church is really a great subject).
I like your church pic. It's already a winning entry to me. ;-)
- said...
ahhh, might give it a try. let's see.
- Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Jayred.
Yes, I'm sure you can submit entries of photographs you've taken in Switzerland; I bet you have some lovely ones since it offers an abundance of photogenic sceneries.
- Señor Enrique said...
Good luck, Belle!
- gmirage said...
Questions Senor, are we allowed to Submit only one photo? I havent read it in shutterbox yet but I will...I'm gonna give it a shot(no pun)...
And please, if it wont be much to ask please vote for my daughter in this contest: http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/photo/12/70
- Señor Enrique said...
I think you're allowed more than one entry per category, G. Mirage. Yes, you must join the fun. Good Luck!
What a cute girl you got! An artist, too!
How do you cast a vote?


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Make A Positive Impact_009
To me, this life is all about making a positive impact on the lives of others. However, in order to do that we must first free ourselves from the mental bondage of societal conditioning. The movie "Bad Moms" is a perfect example of how society puts unrealistic ideals upon us and expects of to live within the confines of them. Once you try to breakout and live on your own terms, your labeled "Bad".
In order to make a positive impact in this world we must think freely and live life on our own terms. If not, then whats the use, if we have to live under the dictates of others. This week we explore these ideas of making a positive impact and freeing ourselves so that we can live life on our own terms
Come join me on the journey of discovery every week on the Yololivefree Podcast!
Please subscribe and leave a comment below if this topic is something you think is important to your life.
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- Facebook.com/yololivefree1
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Right-click here and save as to download this episode to your computer.


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Earthquakes? Vacations? Always On: Highly Available Data
How long can your business survive without your data? What data, you ask? We'll get back to that in a minute.
How long can your business survive if your people can't access the internet? How long can you go without cable or satellite TV at home, especially in football season or <insert your sport here>?
How long can you go without a mobile phone signal, where you can't text, call or browse with your BB/Android/iPhone?
Recently, I "survived" an earthquake near DC, where I live, and I was not able to access the internet, call my wife at work or on her mobile phone (she has AT&T, I have Verizon), or use my home phone (Comcast) or my work phone (Cisco IP phone, connected via the cable broadband service). That outage lasted just a short while (an hour, maybe), but it disrupted my personal life and my work life. I was on a conference call that did not get dropped, with people in three different states up and down the Eastern Seaboard, and we all got to share in my personal earthquake experience as I ran out of the house with my kids and dogs and waited for the earthquake to end. Businesses and many government agencies closed (did you notice?), traffic was snarled, and communications and data access were disrupted. More than an inconvenience, this cost some serious money, but the data and communications infrastructure rebounded very quickly, thanks to some serious data availability planning and design.
I just got back from vacation on Cape Cod, near Falmouth, probably 100 miles as the seagull flies from downtown Boston. I had a cell signal at my rented cottage, but it was so weak (probably 2G) that I could not use my cellular modem (Verizon MiFi Access Point – great product, rush out and get one!) to access the internet! Disaster! Calamity! Frustration! I waited 15 minutes for Google to load! Well, you say, you were on vacation, so get over it. Sorry, I had to approve time cards and expense reports. I had to download & evaluate some data to help a team meet a deadline for a consulting engagement, which could not be viewed on my BlackBerry – something that would have taken 10 minutes total back in the connected world, but was impossible for me. I had to drive to town to find a Starbucks (actually used the free broadband at the public library) to do this seemingly simple task.
Do you see where we are headed? We have to be plugged in, at home and at work. What can you do about the cable company, or the backhoe operator that just cut the cable? Not much. What can you do about terrible phone reception, or no service at all? Not much. What can you do about making sure that your customers can always access your business on the Internet, and your employees can always access their applications and data? Quite a bit, actually.
So, back to my first question: What kinds of data have to be "always on" for your customers and your business? Do you know? I'll wait while you think it over…
Done? OK, now how will you make sure that this is highly available data and applications? What has to be done to your computing, storage and networking infrastructure to keep your business running? Back in the twentieth century, the answers were quite a bit different, and if you didn't have a million dollar budget, you couldn't really make sure that your business was accessible even if the power went out at corporate headquarters. Oh, you could protect the data from loss and corruption, but no one could access it from "outside." Clustering, mirroring, replication, tape backup, generators – do these solutions sound familiar? What about moving your computing and storage infrastructure to a hosted or collocation data center? Expensive and painful, this solution was out of reach for many, and all applications couldn't be accessed this way.
So, what about the Journey to the Cloud? Will this take care of it? Can you do disaster recovery to the Cloud, so that if your datacenter is cut off, you can failover to a virtual infrastructure, if only for a short while? Is this possible? Is it affordable? If it is, and you can do it and it works, then…why are you in the business of building and running a datacenter at your headquarters?
Stay tuned for the answers to these and other questions, and some possible solutions, with "Disaster Recovery in the Cloud"!


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Tips for Foreign Students
– Surviving in British Universities
Word Count:
The United Kingdom is one of the most popular study destinations for foreign students. Every year the number of international students coming to the country to study is rapidly and constantly increasing, and that is not very surprising.
proofreading, online proofreading, student, proofreading and editing services
Article Body:
The United Kingdom is one of the most popular study destinations for foreign students. Every year the number of international students coming to the country to study is rapidly and constantly increasing, and that is not very surprising. Through the years, many UK-based universities have been successfully increasing their reputation so that they would be more recognized throughout the globe.
For the best Maths Tutor In Ireland company, call Ace Solution Books. With numerous foreign students enrolling in major UK universities, there are many exposed problems and setbacks. Since the UK is a modern and western country, foreign students especially from Asia and Africa are finding it hard to initially cope and adjust to the prevailing culture and many foreign students do not last the stay of their studying course in the UK due to culture shock. However, those students should have striven to do better, as the UK will not (and shouldn't really) adjust to accommodate them. They should assert themselves to cope up with the British environment and norms.
Here are several simple tips that will help many foreign students survive studying in the UK:
– Foreign students are assigned mentors who are faculty members. Make sure you regularly consult with your mentor and ask for guidance and help about specific academic challenges.
– Always seek help and assistance from your university's student advice/support centre. Such centres have been established to answer your every query, whether it is about academia, socialising or visa extension. You can also ask about comfortable lodgings as well as referrals for part-time jobs if you need one.
– Try to interact with other foreign students of the same nationality as yours. You will be more comfortable interacting with them and asking them advice and recommendations about many things related to your stay at the university.
Overall, British universities are cordial to foreign students, just be observant and equally friendly, and you will survive.


text:
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Online marketing isn't magic. So why do other "online gurus" keep you in the dark?
We're proud of our work and want you to understand how it'll benefit your practice. We touch base with you every month to share your progress and keep you informed.


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Benchmark International wins the 'International Mid-Market Corporate Finance Advisory of the Year' award for a second year running
In recognition of recent efforts, Benchmark International is the proud recipient of the 'International – Mid-Market Corporate Finance Advisory of the Year' award for a second year running at the ACQ Global Awards 2015.
The ACQ Global Awards have acknowledged industry leaders, eminent individuals, exemplary teams and distinguished firms since 2008, representing the benchmark of achievement and best-practice in a variety of fields.
On receipt of the award, James Thornton, Chief Operations Officer of Benchmark International said, "Having won the award for the first time last year, Benchmark International is delighted to have secured back-to-back awards and we are pleased that our collective hard work is being acknowledged.
"Benchmark International is now intent on ensuring its continued efforts and maintaining our position as the preeminent, international corporate finance adviser."


text:
My current Verizon phone is eligible for an upgrade in March. (Coincidentally, within a week of when Samsung is expected to announce its Galaxy S IV. I'm very excited.) I'm currently on a family plan, still grandfathered in with unlimited data. It's wonderful.
But ever since Verizon switched over to its Share Everything plan last June, it's very difficult to upgrade to a new phone and keep that unlimited data. I don't really want to buy a phone outright, because spending $800 at once is a lot of money (obviously). However, switching over to my own plan (so as to not muck up the rest of my family's currently unlimited data) is even less appealing.
Because I'm eligible for my upgrade soon and really, really, really hate my current phone, I really looked into Share Everything for the first time today.
What's the Verdict?
Share Everything drives me crazy. It seems 100 percent geared toward families with lots of devices who need to share lots of data. Even though I'm constantly online, I know I don't use that much data. Heck, I could probably get away with Verizon's 1 GB data plan. (Maybe.) But when one gig of data starts at $50 per month, it's just stupid.
I used to work in retail and we would sell data plans for hotspots and tablets and such. Back then (this was before Share Everything existed), you could get a 3 GB data plan for $35 per month or a 5 GB data plan for $50 per month. Those are numbers that make (more) sense, and numbers I'm used to. But fifty bucks for one gig of data? That's absurd!
In Share Everything, once you're at that first level of data, each additional gigabyte is only $10 more per month. That makes sense. I can live with that. I can dig that. That's exactly what Verizon hopes for, too. By setting the starting bar high and then having small, incremental jumps up, it's easy to turn that $50 per month into $80 or $90 per month for a few extra gigs.
But a $50 starting point? That's insane. That means that for me, with just a smartphone, the MINIMUM I can pay is $90 per month. That's a lot of money for anyone to spend on one phone and one gig of data per month, whether they're my age or not, whether they have all the money in the world or not.
Other Options Exist… Right?
There's an easy alternative, though: just switch to another carrier! Duh. But wait. The minimum I could pay per month on AT&T with just one smartphone is $80 per month. That's unlimited messaging, the same as Verizon, but only 450 minutes (as opposed to unlimited) and only 300 MB of data (as opposed to one gig). That's awful. That makes even less sense.
The only plans Sprint offers that are significantly cheaper than Verizon's don't seem to include ANY data at all, and only limited minutes and restricted messaging. Blech.
In the end, it just makes me sad that my "best" option is to pay about a hundred bucks a month to Verizon, just so I can have a new phone and be able to use it. Oh well. Verizon, I'll let Fry do my talking for me:


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Framed Antique Map of the World
Surrounded by fabulous and ornately detailed scenes, this is probably the most decorative of Bible maps. The classic scenes depict the abduction of Persephone, Zeus being carried across the heavens in a chariot led by eagles, Poseidon leading his entourage, and Demeter receiving the fruits of the Earth. California is depicted as an island. A small island in the vicinity of Alaska is labeled Anian. In Asia, the Great Wall of China is evident and the northeastern coastline is shortened. A very ornate and decorative map over 300 years old.
This is one of the most beautiful maps published due to its incredible design.


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Sephora Pearl MaskFriday, February 26, 2016
13 comments
I had this mask in my hand at Sephora the other day but the line was going so slowly that I put it back. 'll have to go back and check it out.ReplyDelete
Sounds nice! I like moisturizing sheet masks, my dehydrated winter skin demands them :)ReplyDelete
The mask sounds good. I love any kind of sheet mask out there too.ReplyDelete
Even just the fact that it's pearl makes it very appealing. I'm so cheap though that I stick to the paper $1 masks when I'm not using one of my other masks.ReplyDelete
I love hydrating masks.ReplyDelete
The pearl one sounds the nicest of the three.ReplyDelete
This mask sounds interesting. I've never been sure if a sheet mask would work well for my dry skin.ReplyDelete
I live for face masks. I should try this nextReplyDelete
I really need to try some of these out. I don't often use anything from the Sephora brand, just because our local Sephora is so far away - I never get around to it. I think I need to try this one.ReplyDelete
I need to pick up a few of these, next time I place a Sephora order. This one and the Rose... They are calling to me.ReplyDelete
I haven't tried any of the Sephora masks, but this one sounds nice! I like that they have a deal if you buy so many you get one free. Did it leave a pearlescent finish on your face?ReplyDelete
LMAO I love sheet masks! They are always so fun! If this ones OOS a lot of people must like it...ReplyDelete
I LOVe their sheet masksReplyDelete


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Charlottesville, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Virginia unexpectedly wrapped up the ACC regular season title Saturday with a thorough 75-56 victory over No. 4 Syracuse.
The 12th-ranked Cavaliers won the crown outright for just the second time in the program's history by somewhat quietly reeling off 13 consecutive victories following a close loss at Duke on Jan. 13.
Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points, Akil Mitchell chipped in with 12 and Mike Tobey and Justin Anderson each had 11 for Virginia (25-5, 16-1 ACC), which outscored the Orange 33-14 over the final 11 minutes.
"I was super excited," Brogdon said of the waning moments of the game. "You can do nothing but smile at that point. When you beat a team like Syracuse and you're having success like we're having, it's surreal."
Syracuse (26-3, 13-3), losers in three of its last four games following a 25-0 start, received 13 points apiece from Tyler Ennis and C.J. Fair and 12 from Trevor Cooney.
Jerami Grant, the Orange's leading rebounder and third leading scorer, sat out the entire second half for the second straight game due to a back injury.
The Orange barely survived Grant's absence at Maryland on Monday, and the Cavaliers proved a far superior test.
"They have been the best team in the league so far this year. They proved that today," said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
Ennis picked up his fourth foul during a 7-0 Cavs flurry that London Perrantes capped with a 3-pointer from the top of the key for a 49-42 Virginia lead with 8:48 to play.
Rakeem Christmas scored inside to stop the run, but that was the only basket the Orange mustered over a nearly 11-minute span.
Senior Joe Harris, playing his final game at John Paul Jones Arena, drained another of Virginia's eight 3-pointers to highlight a 13-3 run that essentially put the game away.
The Cavs, winners of 18 straight league games at home, celebrated the signature win and their first outright ACC title since 1980-81 with the student section at midcourt.
Virginia owned the largest lead in the first half at 22-15 following a Tobey putback.
Syracuse answered with 13 of the next 15 points behind 3-pointers from Ennis, Cooney and Michael Gbinije, and went into the break holding a slim 28-27 lead.
A flash of exchanging blows kept it close early in the second half. Virginia hit 3-pointers on three consecutive trips at one point, only to be countered by a successful Syracuse bucket at the other end.
It was 42-42 before Virginia took control.
Game Notes
Virginia has six all-time ACC regular season titles ... This is the Cavs' first 25-win campaign since 1994-95 ... Virginia, which wraps up its regular season slate on the road against Maryland on Mar. 9, finished 15-2 at home ... Syracuse closes out the regular season with a home game against Georgia Tech and a road test at Florida State next week ... Syracuse came in seventh in the nation in scoring defense (58.5 ppg.)


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The Reason Why
Daylight saving is now with us and we have the light of the evening to enjoy. The cost of this, I discovered recently, is that it gives Amanda more opportunity to beguile you with one of her little talks. I am not sure why she feels the need to confront us with our failings from time to time or why the mood always seems to come upon her when she is feeling most relaxed, with a glass of chardonnay in her hand.
'Tell me,' she said, stepping towards me along the veranda, 'what's the purpose of this nonsense?'
I felt an urge to say that the whole point about nonsense was that it didn't have a purpose but I refrained. Better instead to pretend innocence or, at least, ignorance.
'What nonsense?'
'This web site thing.'
'Oh, you mean the Nectarine Project.'
'Is that what you call it? I won't ask why.'
In fact she said nothing at all for a few seconds. We stood together, almost companionably, looking at the garden. It was too much to hope that she would drop the subject, though.
'Why are you doing it?' she asked, turning to me.
'Why? Because I enjoy it, I guess.'
'Why the Internet? That little book of yours seems to be creating a bit of interest. Why aren't you writing another novel?'
'I'm a bit sick of novels.'
'Typical,' she said. 'As soon as you start to get a bit of recognition for something you go away and do something else.'
I was stung by this. Mostly because I felt the truth in it.
'I just want to try something new,' I said, realising before the words were even out that I was not exactly countering her observation. 'The Internet's a new medium. It needs new literary forms.'
She gave one of her more derisive snorts. 'The Internet's full of amateurs. A bunch of sad little idiots, desperate for attention, parading their egos about in blogs and on You Tube.'
'I'm not writing a blog.' I tried not to sound too defensive. 'At least, not any more.'
'What is it then?'
'I'm not sure,' I said. 'I'm just letting it grow.'
'A mess, in other words.'
'No. I don't think so. I think it's going to have shape and even structure. I can feel it there.'
She looked at me over the rim of her glass. I could see what she thought of that. I stumbled on.
'The Net's all about flexibility. Change and dynamism. And if the significance of art really is in the making, then it seems a perfect place for that to happen.'
'You call this thing Art, then, do you?'
'In the broadest sense. Why not?'
She didn't answer, just looked at me. I took her silence for acquiescence. What else was I to do?
'And the other thing about the Net is that it's both anonymous and public. And its based on the principle of caveat emptor. I can do what I like in my little private corner and people can come and look if they want to. I don't feel responsible for their reactions. I'm not asking them to pay money for something they mightn't like.'
'Amateur,' she said, as if I had proved her point.
'I'm not sure that's entirely a bad thing, though, is it? Amateurs do things for their own sake. Professionals offer a product or a service. The first seems a healthier attitude to me.'
'Well,' she said, 'I suppose you have a right to waste your time, if you want to.'
'What else is there to do with it?' I asked.
'Something useful? No, too much to hope for.' She turned and walked away.
1 October 2008
© Chris Else 2008


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South Okanagan auxiliary recognized for major PRH donation
Patients who visit the outpatient lab when the new tower at Penticton Regional Hospital opens in 2019 will notice a strong South Okanagan connection.
The South Okanagan Health Care Auxiliary has received government approval for its name to be featured on the outpatient lab's main blood sample collection area as well as two patient isolation rooms.
The Health Care Auxiliary has already contributed $200,000 towards its $250,000 pledge to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation to help provide medical equipment for the PRH expansion.
The Auxiliary, which dates back to the 1940s, has been able to make this generous donation largely due to public support of its thrift shop in downtown Oliver.
President Carol Howes noted they have also donated to various other facilities including South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH), plus McKinney Place extended care and Sunnybank Centre long-term care in Oliver.
The Oliver Thrift Shop opened in 1942, operating under different names and locations over the years.
"Our shop does very well and we truly appreciate the community's generous donations and support," Howes said.
Other fundraisers include their "Dinners at Home" frozen meals program and a "baby showcase" at SOGH.
The auxiliary contributes a further $10,000 annually towards a cancer patient transportation service operated by the Masonic Lodge, which picks up people in Osoyoos and Oliver undergoing cancer treatment in Penticton and Kelowna. It also provides annual bursaries to graduating Osoyoos and Oliver high school students planning to enter a human healthcare profession.
The South Okanagan Health Care Auxiliary currently has about 80 members. "We could always use more volunteers because we do need 10 every day at the Thrift Shop, plus our other fundraisers," she said. "We also put on a fashion show once a year in May."
Prospective volunteers can pick up an application form at the Thrift Shop on Kootenay Street which is open Wednesday through Saturday.
Penticton Regional Hospital is the acute care hospital for more than 90,000 residents throughout the South Okanagan-Similkameen. Construction of the new six-storey patient care tower is about half-way towards its April 2019 completion date. Work then begins on Phase 2 of the hospital expansion, including a major upgrade of the Emergency Department.
The SOS Medical Foundation has now raised $15 million in donations and pledges towards its $20-million PRH campaign goal.


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The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the United Nations (UN) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture marked on 26 June annually. The United Nations General Assembly selected June 26, to honour June 26, 1987, the day the Convention Against Torture and other cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into force. The Convention was created to reaffirm that the equal and inalienable rights of the human family are the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.
26 June 2009 marks exactly a year after a "botched, bloody and violent 27 June Presidential Election",1 a charade that saw many Zimbabweans endure the unimaginable, the unspeakable, – torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. The UN theme for 2009 – "together against torture" is most relevant to Zimbabwe, a nation that has seen a pervasive culture of torture and impunity entrenched over years. It reminds us that torture is a crime, and the day provides us with an opportunity to stand united and voice our position against a cruel violation of human rights. The Forum calls on all Zimbabweans to remember and support the many victims and survivors of this cruel violation of human rights.
Article 1 of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) defines torture as follows:
"torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an
act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the
instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions"
As we remember the many victims of torture across the globe it is important to revisit some of the findings the Forum made in 2008 with regards to torture and its link with the outcome of last year's two elections in Zimbabwe. There is no doubt that statesponsored politically motivated violence informed and influenced political thinking amongst citizens and helped to carry the day for ZANU PF. The Forum observed at the time that the country was involved in some kind of internecine war that was meant to determine the outcome of elections and how Zimbabweans were to choose
a government to lead them. The violence attributed to state security agents, ZANU PF and even non-state actors, showed evidence of systematic torture, abductions, disappearance, summary executions and extra-judicial killings.
On this day in 2008, the Forum was on record noting that the torture that had been recorded in Zimbabwe was systematic and showed a strong association with officials of the State. These included members of Parliament, the police, the Central Intelligence Organization, and other officials – as well as an association with groups closely affiliated to the ZANU PF political party (ruling party at that time) such as "war veterans", youth militia, ZANU PF youth, ZANU PF supporters, and ZANU PF party officials. To make matters worse, there was no or very little evidence, of any
attempt by the executive or organs of the State to proactively deal with the violence. These negative characteristics of the violence, the involvement of state officials, support from state funds and the impunity for perpetrators associated with such violence in Zimbabwe match largely the descriptions and proscriptions provided for in the main documents on torture such as CAT, Robben Island Guidelines2 and even the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which all proscribe torture.
Last year the Forum reported on 723 cases of torture, 35 of these were recorded in June alone. In December 2008, 18 cases of torture were recorded. A spate of abductions took place between October and December 2008. Jestina Mukoko the Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) (a member of the Forum) was abducted from her home in the early hours of the morning of 3 December. Mukoko and 15 others, mostly MDC activists, who had also been abducted from their homes between October and November, were only "found" on 23 December 2008, when
they were brought before the Harare Magistrate's Court "facing charges of banditry". Mukoko and the other abductees, who included a two-year old boy, were allegedly assaulted, tortured, denied access to food and medical treatment.
The Forum recommends and reiterates that:
· there must be a complete end to the violence and all torture bases reportedly being reactivated in some rural areas must be abolished.
· the Inclusive Government must enact laws that outlaw torture as a criminal and cruel offence that cannot be amnestied.
· sign, ratify and domesticate CAT and its Optional Protocol.
· scrupulously investigate all reported cases of torture and bring the perpetrators to account.
· guarantee non-repetition through the systematic enforcement of the prohibition against torture and elimination of impunity for all perpetrators.
· victims of torture should be rehabilitated, receive adequate, effective, prompt and proportional compensation to the gravity of the violation as recommended in the 2002 African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) Fact-Finding Mission Report; determinations in the communications 245/02 of the ACHPR between the government of Zimbabwe and the Forum and various other domestic court orders which have been ignored by the Zimbabwean government.


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Last week, Gordon Klingenschmitt declared that the owners of a Colorado bakery who refused to provide a wedding cake to a gay couple were really "blessing" the gay couple by letting them know that homosexuality is a sin. On his "Pray In Jesus Name" program today, the Colorado Republican state representative heaped similar praise upon a Washington florist who likewise refused to provide flowers to a gay wedding for supposedly also "blessing" the gay couple against whom she discriminated by trying to save them from Hell.
Calling the florist a prophetic "hero," Klingenschmitt said that while she is being persecuted for standing for the truth here on earth, she will receive a reward for her courage in Heaven for her effort to save this gay couple from damnation.
"There will be a day when, after they've lived their life of pleasure and sin and after they have manifested all kinds of demonic spirits … that they will be held accountable before God," Klingenschmitt warned. "And some day when they're standing before God, God will ask them, 'Didn't you know this was wrong?' And they'll have to admit that, yes, this gentle Christian woman told us it was wrong":


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Boat that ferried passengers to Boblo Island catches fire
DETROIT, Mich. (AP) — A floating piece of Detroit nostalgia was gutted by fire Friday as flames roared through one of two historic steamships that once ferried people from the city to an island amusement park in the Detroit River.
The SS Ste. Claire caught fire while docked at a marina east of downtown.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation, but Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell said welding being done on the mostly wooden boat when the fire broke out about 11:30 a.m. was suspected.
Police and fire officials said it was doubtful the aging vessel could be salvaged.
"It's an iconic piece of history ... a lot of history," police Chief James Craig said.
However, Ste. Claire owner Ron Kattoo said he hoped to rebuild the boat if possible. He called the fire and damage "heartbreaking" as firefighters on the dock doused the flames with hoses.
Usually loaded with passengers, the Ste. Claire and SS Columbia traveled for decades between Detroit and Boblo Island in Canada, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away.
The three-story, 197-foot Ste. Claire was built in 1910. The Columbia was launched in 1902. The boats made their last runs in 1991, and the amusement park closed two years later.
Both steamships were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1992.
The Columbia was sold and moved by tugboat in 2014 to Toledo, Ohio, for repairs before heading on to New York state, where it was to be restored as a floating museum.


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Regional Alzheimer's disease research
According to World Alzheimer Report 2015, over 46 million people live with dementia worldwide. The incidence of dementia is estimated over 9.9 million every year, and nearly half of new dementia cases (4.9 million) occurred in Asia. In China, over 9.5 million people are diagnosed with dementia and over 5.69 million with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, China is the country with most diagnosed cases of AD in the world. AD burden will continue to increase over the coming years due to population aging. As predicted by the Chinese State Council, more than 20 million people would be diagnosed with AD in 2050.
Due to regional distribution differences of AD cases, AD research and education will continue to emphasize in the continents that are affected by AD the most. Geographically, Asia and Oceania are close together. Therein, I, and with support from Prof. Debomoy Lahiri, organized the thematic issue 'Translational Alzheimer's Disease Research'. We have made an international effort to fight with AD scientifically by recruiting the top researchers from Asia and Australia to contribute their works to the special thematic issue of the journal. Notably, in that thematic issue, a group showed that the density of aging related pathologies differ in people from Colombo, Sri Lanka compared to people from Bangalore, India. This further highlighted the importance of regional studies on AD due to different genetic, dietary and/or environmental variations, although the initiation of aging related pathologies might be the same.
From the genetic perspective, another group showed the very old people (carrying longevity genes) once underwent to AD had different brain structural changes compared to those affected at relatively early age (<85 years old). Further, plasma biomarkers levels could correlate with cognition and brain structural changes, which were influenced by genetic variants.
Talking about biomarkers, two research groups from China published meta-analysis studies in the thematic issue on sex related hormones, as well as metabolic pathways of carbohydrate, protein and fats. They found several blood biomarkers being elevated in AD. Another research group from China showed that neuroimaging could detect early changes in AD, as brain functional activity and connectivity of resting state networks differ compared to controls.
The research on AD aims at the early prevention and developing an effective therapy. That thematic issue also describes research efforts of using triptolide (a kind of Chinese medicine extract) and SS1 (a small peptide), in possibly treating AD-like pathologies in mice.
That thematic issue witnessed the regional co-operation and understanding on AD research. As it is a thematic issue, all manuscripts will be published in a comprehensive and logical manner. With the support from the journal of Current Alzheimer Research, finally, the thematic issue with nine manuscripts was published in February this year.
As an editorial board member of Current Alzheimer Research, I am planning to organize another thematic issue, focusing on clinical Alzheimer's research from an international group of eminent researchers, including from Asia and Oceania regions. Through internet, my colleagues and I have established an online Chinese neurologist community group with over 500 members. How to do an effective clinical AD research and what to do are our next challenges to face.
Yue Huang
School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, Australia
Editorial: Translational Alzheimer's Disease Research.
Huang Y, Lahiri DK
Curr Alzheimer Res. 2016
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My trip to Royal Gorge, Colorado, marks the only time that I can remember being affected by height.
Royal Gorge is essentially a gorge with this massive bridge crossing it:
I've never really had a problem with heights before. Maybe it was the openness of it all, or the slight breeze causing the bridge to sway – I don't know. But I had a real problem walking across!
Maybe it had to do with the gaps in between the wood planks:
You could see a lot through those gaps. Heck, check this out:
…stupid gaps.


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Yolanda Adams to Kim Burrell: Attack on My Friend Bishop Long Is Unwarranted
Gospel singer Yolanda Adams has responded to singer Kim Burrell's comments about megachurch Pastor Eddie Long bringing homosexuality into the church with a "perverted homosexual spirit" by claiming it was an unwarranted attack.
Burrell, who is the pastor of Love & Liberty Fellowship Pentecostal Church in Houston, Texas, has been fighting off the backlash she's received from LGBT activists after footage of her surfaced from a sermon she gave at her church last month.
Adams also chimed in on Facebook with a comment addressing the accusations that have been made about Long.
A majority of Adams' Facebook followers didn't agree, however, and said her response to Burrell was wrong and she shouldn't be excusing sin.
"Kim Burrell spoke TRUTH although some claim they don't like the tone or words she used. TRUST ME there are no right words to satisfy the homosexual community unless you openly denounce the Word of God," one commenter said.
Another person responded to Adams by saying that Long, the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, is "No bishop. He has lied, and molested young men."
In Burrell's video clip, the 44-year-old called Long's condition "heartbreaking."
"I've never seen anything as heartbreaking as watching Bishop Eddie Long go down to nothing. It is an embarrassment to the Church. 'Cause nobody would be making that you have AIDS unless a homosexual man didn't come out and reveal what you did behind closed doors ... they have yet to deny it," she said.
The allegations against Long stemmed from lawsuits filed by multiple men who said he engaged them in sexual acts while on ministry trips together.
Last September, Long revealed that he was battling an unidentified "health challenge" which has caused significant weight loss. Since his health announcement many have publicly speculated that he contracted AIDS, but Long and his church have not commented on the matter.
Long settled with his accusers — Anthony Flagg, Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris and Spencer LeGrande — in May 2011. In the lawsuits cited by CNN, the church leader allegedly pressured the young men into having sexual relationships with him while they were members of his congregation.
The bishop's attorneys denied the claims and say that he was a spiritual father to the boys and that is why he provided them with financial assistance and encouragement.
Burrell said in her sermon, however, that Long's silence concerning his health issues is an indication that there is some truth to the claims. She sternly warned her congregation that if they engaged in homosexual behavior while they professed to be Christians in 2017 that they would die from it.
"Anybody in the room who is living with a homosexual spirit, beg God to free you. If you play with it in 2017 you'll die from it. If you play with it in 2017 in God's house you'll die from it. Y'all came to hear about carnal, I came to tell you about sin," she declared.
"That perverted homosexual spirit is a spirit of delusion and confusion and it has deceived many men and women. And it has caused a stain on the body of Christ. And those homosexual spirits have been angry and they come up against you [saying] 'you gotta love everybody.' Sit down you serpent."
"You cannot give instructions to God's holiness with that much perversion. You, as a man, would open your mouth and take a man's penis in your face? You are perverted and you better not tell me, thus saith the Lord. You are perverted," she admonished. "You are a woman that would shake your face in another woman's breasts? You are perverted, and its coming into our church and it has embarrassed the Kingdom of God."
Burrell took to Facebook Live in a series of videos to clarify her comments for anyone affected by the sermon video clip.
"I never said that all gays were going to Hell. That never came out of my mouth. Y'all quit spreading that. And if you're gonna listen to the video, listen right, it's not of my nature, natural or spiritual," she explained. "I was addressing church people, and let's get specific, ones who were in my church."
"We're not in a war against flesh and blood. We are not in a war with that. I care about God's creation and every person from the LGBT and everything else, any other kind of thing that is supporting gays. I never said LGBT last night. I said S-I-N. And whatever falls into sin was preached," Burrell said.


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Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Teaser Tuesdays - July 9th
If you'd like to play along on Teaser Tuesdays, just click the button above.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week I'm reading...
He saw a new direction. By any means at his disposal, Andrew Goodwin had to be wiped off the planet. It simply wasn't fair to grant him anything less.
11 comments:
I wonder what Andrew Goodwin did for him to deserve this kind of fate. Good teaser!ReplyDelete
My TT
Whoa,that's a bit drastic!ReplyDelete
Here's our 4: http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2013/07/tuesday-teasers.html
The book cover made me look twice before I even read the line of writing!ReplyDelete
My teaser
Now I'm really curious about Andrew's misdeeds...thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
Here's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
I am sensing a strong dislike of Andrew Goodwin ;-) My teasers this week are from Playing to Win by Jaci Burton and Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George. Happy reading!ReplyDelete
I am intrigued enough to want to read it!ReplyDelete
Here is my post
An intriguing teaser, though it was the tagline below the title that really caught my attention. My teaser: Breakfast at Tiffany'sReplyDelete
Oh wow, I stared at the cover for a couple of minutes trying to guess what the book might be about. It's so mysterious! I love it! :DReplyDelete
Andrea K. @ Books and Bindings
Teaser Tuesdays
Here's my Teaser Tuesday 3 Fun Redhead Books
Mei @ Diary of a Fair Weather Diver
What a teaser! I hope you enjoy the entire book, Yvonne.ReplyDelete
Wonder what he did to piss somebody off..... great teaser.ReplyDelete
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog! I always love reading comments and getting to know my readers!
After some careful consideration, I've decided to become an award-free blog. Although I appreciate and am honored by each and every award I've received, your comments and friendship are enough award for me. Thank you all so much for your thoughtfulness.
Due to way too many spam comments, I disabled the Anonymous User comments. We'll see if this works, otherwise I'll have to go back to word verification.


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If I were to ask your mother about you, how would she answer? Would your best friend answer in the same way? How do you think others perceive you? Are you smart, tall, easy going, hot tempered, and foolish? Are you a doctor, a lawyer, a student, a housewife? Who are you? What do you do? In certain situations we are perceived as one thing, and then we go to another and then we are, perhaps something totally different. Sometimes we even allow a conjunctive description of ourselves, such as a working-mother or African-American.
Is this the way others perceive you? Is this the way you perceive yourself? Mothers and fathers all around the globe will offer well-meaning distinguishing characteristics for their little ones, quite often because of how they perceived you once upon a time. He is the smart one, she is the sweet one. In schools across the world, teachers and classmates are labeling in similar fashion; he is slow to learn, she is sensitive, he is more an athlete then a student, she is a class clown. You move from school into a job, or a career and others perceive you as the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker. How surprised they are to see you outside those roles, or beyond those perceptions.
Many of my clients simply go along with the characterizations or the perceptions of others. I find them stuck in a perception that has been fostered by others. They spent years defending those perceptions, some worthwhile, others destructive. Some just need to perceive themselves in a different light. For example, a champion's characteristics instead of a winner (a champion will always be a champion, though they may not always win.). With others, I require them to consider the source. Which loser told you that you would not amount to anything? What compels you to remain a victim and have to defend yourself each time with new people? The choice is yours, how would you like to live your life? When you leave a room, exactly how would you prefer the way others remember you? How would you set it up for them to consider you with favor?
It is only by your design, in line with how you define your character, as a guide to how you feel about yourself and how you allow others to perceive you. You need not spend a cent.
Just remember this maintenance plan:
• Maintain your convictions. Continue to act with the behaviors of those convictions.
• Maintain your integrity. Time changes and you learn new things. Take a lesson from some wildly successful people; they reinvent themselves without trading their integrity.
• Maintain your sense of humor. Remind others of who you are today through humor. Eventually they will laugh with you.
• Maintain your sense of dignity. Others may attempt to tear you apart. This is their limitation. They will only succeed if you lose your dignity.
• Maintain your temper. While you may want to fight back and strike hard, remember the Grand Canyon was created by a constant water stream, never wavering and always in the same direction.
• Maintain your sense of patience. Some people are slow learners. Those are the folks that you may have to explain in different ways. Advertising knows the importance of repetition. When you begin to get bored of repeating, get creative and deliver your message with a fresh outlook.
• Maintain your sense of balance. You are more than your job, more than your loves and more than many think of you. It's okay to bring your Self to your job. It's also okay to bring qualities and ethics of your work into all areas of your life.
The ways others perceive you are generally the guides that determine the behaviors of others towards you. Simply stated, others will treat you within the framework of their perceptions of you. This works the same way with companies. Corporations across the world will spend millions on perceptual shifts that lead perspective customers into thinking of them in far more profitable ways. When one allows these perceptions, they deserve much of what they get. If you want to change these perceptions begin with the perception you hold of yourself.
© All Rights Reserved 2008
Jeffrey Schoener is a trainer of NLP© with DHE© and also the creator of Whole-Brain Learning©. He offers classes and services with his company Neuro-Enhancement Strategies, Inc. www.neuro-enhancement.com


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Peggy and Abe meet with a real estate agent at an Upper East Side apartment.
Bobby rips off a piece of wallpaper in his bedroom, then pushes his bed over to hide the damage.
Don and Megan see Arnold and Sylvia waiting for a cab in the apartment lobby. Arnold says, he and Sylvia are headed to D.C. Don says, Megan is up for an advertising award.
Ginsberg's father Morris sets him up on a surprise date with Beverly, the daughter of one of Morris' friends.
Don and Megan arrive at the ANDY awards ceremony. Megan approaches Peggy. The two discuss business. Peggy points out that SCDP's only nominees -- herself and Megan -- no longer work there.
At a diner, Ginsberg and Beverly make small talk. Beverly admits she's only on the date as a favor to her parents.
At the awards ceremony, Paul Newman's speech is interrupted by a man shouting that Martin Luther King is dead. The ceremony announces a ten-minute break.
Ginsberg and Beverly hear news of King's death on the radio in the diner.
Betty, Sally and Bobby listen to the radio as Henry leaves to help the mayor.
Abe goes uptown to cover the MLK story for the New York Times. "Don't do anything stupid," Peggy says. "It's too late," Abe replies, "I'm going to Harlem in a tuxedo." Pete leaves to go home, but Peggy, Megan and Don return to the ceremony. "What else are we gonna do?" says Don.
Betty catches Bobby picking at the wallpaper. "Why are you destroying this house?" she asks.
Pete calls Trudy and offers to come over so that she and Tammy are not alone. Trudy declines.
At home, Don watches news of the D.C. riots. After talking on the phone with her father, Megan complains to Don that, "My father just hides behind his intellect. He doesn't want to feel any emotions."
At SCDP the next day, Don unsuccessfully tries to contact Arnold Rosen.
Peggy enters her office and hugs her secretary, Phyllis. Peggy sends Phyllis home.
At home, Betty and Henry discuss Mayor Lindsay's efforts to calm the riots. "It was terrifying," Henry says. "Walking into that crazy, angry crowd, and Lindsay smiling like he was going to a pancake breakfast."
Harry complains about the news interrupting the primetime schedule. Pete yells at Harry for being selfish and racist. AtCooper's urging, Harry shakes hands with Pete, who says, "I'm sure you can make your money back on some Movie of the Week next Fall about the death of a great man."
Dawn arrives at SCDP and stays despite Don telling her to go home.
Peggy's real estate agent urges Peggy to lower her bid on the apartment.
In Don's office, Roger's friend discusses an idea for a property insurance ad: "Our name and a Molotov cocktail being lit with a match. And then a coupon at the bottom."
Betty calls Don at home to remind him to pick up the kids.
Morris tells Ginsberg to find a woman: "In the flood, the animals went two by two. You gonna get on the ark with your father?"
Megan takes Sally and Gene to a vigil. Bobby says he doesn't feel well and stays behind with Don. Bobby says that Betty forbade him from watching TV for a week.
Don takes Bobby to see The Planet of the Apes. Bobby tells Don he's being punished "because the wallpaper didn't line up." When the movie is over, Bobby asks to watch it again.
Peggy's real estate agent phones to say someone else got the apartment. Abe admits he doesn't want to live on the Upper East Side: "I saw us raising our kids in a place with more different kinds of people." Abe suggests the West 80s instead.
While waiting for the next movie screening, Bobby tells an usher, "Everybody likes to go to the movies when they're sad."
Henry tells Betty he's been offered a seat in the State Senate and is considering running. "This is what I've wanted for you," she says. They kiss.
At home, Megan chastises Don for ignoring his children. "You want to love them, but you don't," Don admits of himself before adding, "Then one day they get older, and you see them do something. And you feel that feeling that you were pretending to have. And it feels like your heart is going to explode."
Betty holds one of her old dresses in front of her in the mirror.
Don sees Bobby awake and joins him in bed. Bobby admits he's scared of someone shooting Henry. "Henry's not that important," Don says.
Don smokes a cigarette on the balcony.
Source: AMC.com
Written by MichaelDeBoey on Oct 29, 2015


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An injury to Dan Henderson has forced an unprecedented cancellation of a major UFC event.
UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that because Henderson, who was set to challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 151 on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, suffered a partially torn MCL, the event would be canceled.
Jones will instead fight former champion Lyoto Machida on Sept. 22 in Toronto.
"This is one of my all-time lows as a president," said White. "For the first time, in 11 years we're gonna cancel an event."
During the teleconference, White said that when he found out about Henderson's injury, former middleweight contender Chael Sonnen was offered the bout with Jones and accepted, but Jones refused to accept the fight. White also said that Machida was offered to take the spot on Sept. 1, but was in flight to Brazil and the couldn't make the circumstances work. "I can accept why Machida didn't take the fight," White said.
With a weak undercard and no other viable main-event alternatives worth asking customers to spend $50 on, White pulled the plug on the event.
The UFC president clearly placed the blame for the fight cancellation on the champion.
"Chael Sonnen accepted the fight with Jon Jones last night," White said. "At 8 or 9 last night the one thing I never thought would happen in a million years happen. Jon Jones said, I won't fight Chael Sonnen on eight days notice. That has never happened either."
White said that the company has not yet figured out what will happen to the remainder of the fights scheduled for the card. Fans who purchased tickets for the event will be able to get refunds at the point of purchase.
While a planned March event in Montreal was canceled, this marks the first time a UFC event will be canceled with a full card announced. White acknowledged the company doesn't know how much of a hit it will take for the cancellation.
"It's major, major deal," said White. "We lose [expletive] of money, money that's already been spent. We're eight days out. We've spent [expletive] of money on this fight. How long, how far it goes and how bad it hurts. I don't know because it's the first time we've done it."
White held steadfast in his belief that the UFC is not running too many events, despite a summer filled with fights canceled due to injuries and now a major event cancelation.
"We've built this industry, we know what we're doing," he said. "There are going to be things coming up, like injuries, and guys who don't want to fight anybody. It has nothing to do with business. .. nothing to do with too many cards and cards stretched too thin."
White's anger level didn't subside as the teleconference went on, if anything, he got angrier. The majority of his wrath was vented at Jones' coach, Greg Jackson, whom White said counseled Jones not to take the bout.
"The guys a [expletive] sport killer," said White. Later, he added. "Greg Jackson should never be interviewed by anyone again, except a psychiatrist."
Moments after the press conference ended, reaction started pouring in from around the MMA world. Henderson posted the following statement to his Facebook page:
"Sadly and unfortunately, I partially tore a ligament in my knee in training," the post read. "As a result I've had to make one of the toughest decisions that I have ever had to make...for the first time in my career I am forced to pull out of a fight, my fight with Jon Jones at UFC 151. Luckily, surgery is not needed at this time and I will be completely devoted to rehabbing my knee as quickly as possible. I feel that I owe it to my fans and all the people supporting me to fight at my full potential in order to give myself a chance to win the UFC title. I appreciate the loyal support that I have felt from my fans. I want to thank all of my coaches and team of guys for the great support with my training camp. Most importantly, I appreciate their honesty when I needed them the most to make this very difficult decision. I also want to thank Dana and Lorenzo for being so understanding and supportive. I will continue to pursue the UFC belt with all of my heart!"
Jackson told Mauro Ranallo on The MMA Show, "I was asked if it was smart to take a fight on three days notice and I don't think it's smart to do that. Three days to fight a guy that caliber is not a smart thing to do. I'm not trying to ruin the sport or cancel an event. I don't know about that stuff, but thought it wasn't a wise course of action."


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Into the Wild at a British Columbia Resort
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Beyond the Louvre: The Hidden Gems of Paris' Art Scene
The small museums, galleries, and cuisine that capture the spirit of Parisian art.
It was not easy to find Steakhouse Shima. Even with a street diagram written in kanji script, the kind of treasure map concierges hand you to show to taxi drivers in Tokyo, locating the hidden temple of Tajima beef in Nihonbashi can require you to beg pedestrians for directions. (Someone finally took pity on me and personally escorted me to the correct door.)
Chef Oshima Manabu nodded as I sat at the six-seat counter bar. He is a cult favorite of American chefs such as David Chang and Sean Brock, who have posted meals at Shima on their Instagram feeds. Copper pots bubbled on the stovetop in his open galley kitchen. Assistants sliced onions, fried garlic, tended to the binchotan charcoal rotisserie grill. Manabu personally selects the cattle destined for his restaurant, and on request will produce documentation of each cow's nose print, birth date, and lineage. He adjusted the toque on his closely cropped head and pulled out three massive marbled cuts of beef for my inspection.
"Filet, sirloin, or tenderloin," he asked.
"Which do you recommend?"
He nodded and pointed to each. "Nara, Kyoto, Kyoto. The sirloin is from a ranch in Wadayama. Choose this one."
The meat arrived caramelized, but perfectly rare inside, topped with slivers of fried garlic. I simply couldn't eat it all.
"Don't worry," said Manabu, kindly. "I will make you a sando."
That promise alone was worth the $200 lunch tab.
The lowly sandwich has attained cult status in Japan. As is true of other culinary superstars that evolved from humble beginnings (ramen, pizza), the featured player of the brown bag lunch—the second-tier entry in any afternoon tea tray—has developed a fanatical following. For those unfamiliar with Japan's long history of adapting and elevating imported food traditions, the phenomenon can be puzzling, but the Japanese are masters of this assimilation. They even have a word to characterize it: Yōshoku refers to any Western-style dish that has received a makeover suited to the local palate. The version prepared by a rigorous chef like Oshima Manabu—who obsesses over the quality of the bread, the precision of presentation, and the sourcing of ingredients—represents one extreme, but as I discovered during my deep dive into sando culture, variations are more or less ubiquitous in the city, displayed at Shibuya and Ginza depachika (food halls), subway konbini (convenience stores), artisan bakeries, and late-night room service menus at top hotels.
The history of sando dates back to the 16th century, when the first Portuguese and Dutch trading ships landed at Nagasaki and introduced bread to the locals. (Bread is called "pan" by the Japanese, a variation of the Portuguese word pão.) Consumption was interrupted as Japan closed its borders and attempted to purge foreign influences in the 1630s, but returned in the form of a hard-baked field ration with a long shelf life during the Opium War. Bread finally gained popularity during the Meiji Period, when pioneering Japanese baker Yasubei Kimura created anpan, a natural rice yeast roll filled with sweet adzuki bean paste, in 1874. (Kimuraya Sohonten still sells anpan, which resembles a bready, filled donut at its store in Ginza.) Other yeast buns soon followed, including melon pan (with a meringue-like topping) and cream pan (inspired by cream puffs or choux à la crème), invented by Nakamurya baker Aizo Soma in 1904. The evolution continued into the lean years immediately following World War II, when commercial bread baked in regional factories with imported wheat and powdered milk became a cheap substitute for rice during the American Occupation. The squishy white sandwich bread fed to Japanese schoolchildren became today's standard square loaf known as shokupan—literally "food bread"—and inspired the modern day sando. At first, fillings, such as an egg omelet called tamagoyaki, were familiar to the Japanese palate. Then things got creative.
After my first sando encounter, I met translator Nobuko Iwanami for lunch at Centre the Bakery, a café in Ginza that specializes in toast, but also offers an extensive sandwich menu. (A shelf of luxe toasters from DeLonghi, Dualit, and Russell Hobbs lines one wall of the contemporary dining room; guests can choose their favorite machine and a waitress plugs it in at the table for a DIY experience.) I ordered shaki shaki, made with thinly sliced Daisen ham from Tattori Prefecture, delicately folded next to buttery lettuce and a smear of Maille mustard, placed between double-thick slices of shokupan. It was like eating a cloud. Centre the Bakery bread is so esteemed (their dough is dry-aged for 36 hours before baking) the crusts were served separately in a bowl on the side. "Mottainai," explained Nobuko, as she bit into her chunky egg salad sandwich. "Nothing should go to waste." I already knew it was considered impolite in Japan to leave food on the plate, but this concept has an added element of regret, rooted in a Shinto belief that all objects have a soul, and to discard even a crust of bread is disrespectful. We gladly devoured them all.
Next, Nobuko and I weaved through crowded aisles of the Daimaryu department store food hall to find Sandwich House Märchen, where the display counter contained a tempting array of fresh takeaway sando: vegetable croquette, shrimp cutlet, carrot salad, peanut cream, pastrami, and even a tempura battered chicken variation on a Philly cheesesteak. Peering through a glass window into a prep kitchen behind the counter, I observed one of the staff neatly arranging chunks of mango, kiwi, and banana before smothering them in freshly whipped cream, and gently pressing them between thin, crust-less slices of bread. The most coveted is ichigo, made with seasonal strawberries, which can cost up to $10 per berry depending on flavor, grade, and ripeness.
We moved on to find the original Maisen Tonkatsu, sited in a former public bathhouse in the maze of streets behind Omotesando Hills in Shibuya, where Harajuku street culture meets high fashion. The oak counter bar, with its swivel seats, reminded me of old-fashioned soda fountains. Nobuko and I ordered the signature Kurobuta katsu sandwiches with cha me ton, which translates poetically as "tea beauty pig." As prized as waygu beef, it's a hybrid of heritage breed Berkshire and domestic Japanese black pigs, from Ibaraki Prefecture. The thick sandwiches were paired with grated daikon radish, a pot of spicy hot mustard, and housemade tonkatsu sauce, which tasted like sweeter, thicker Worcestershire. Businessmen next to us wolfed down panko-crusted deep fried pork loin mounded with shredded cabbage. (Spiky panko breadcrumbs are typically made from the heels of shokupan loaves.) Similar to schnitzel, katsuretsu (cutlet) is also considered a yōshoku dish, adapted by another Tokyo restaurant in 1899, but it gained popularity first as a filling for sandwiches sold at intermission during kabuki theater.
Chef Sean Brock, who also made the pilgrimage to Steakhouse Shima and Maisen Tonkatsu on his most recent visit to Tokyo, had issued me instructions about Shima's steak sando: "It's meant to be eaten cold," he said. So I left it marinating in my Imperial Hotel suite's mini-fridge, neatly packaged in its bamboo bento box. By the time I opened it for breakfast several days later, the bread had soaked up chef Manabu's caramelized onions and special tomato sauce, and the meat had tenderized even more, giving the sandwich the consistency of beefy butter. "This is certainly one of the best sandwiches I've ever had," Brock added, "with amazing white bread cut in perfect rectangles, it doesn't get soggy in the box. I've been trying to replicate it for the last five months—you can't just use American bread—still not there yet but getting close!"
Funny, when food fads come full circle.


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When you're busy, it can be super hard to prioritize the things that really matter in life, like spending time with your favorite people, getting out into nature, or… orgasming. Now, hear me out; even though most might think that the divine orgasm is more of a luxury than a necessity, I'd argue that it's actually quite important for us to prioritize our sexual pleasure. Sexuality is sacred and vital — us mere mortals have simply gotten our priorities a little whack over the years. We live in a time where we encourage multitasking at all costs as a way of keeping up and being dizzyingly busy is glorified. As distractions come at us from every direction and anxiety, exhaustion, and depression are all ubiquitous parts of culture, it's no wonder that there's less time to prioritize masturbation and sex. But that, my dear friend, is why we need to get off more than ever!
If you consider the tantric view of sexuality, every orgasm is a glimpse of enlightenment and the act of sex is a weaving and expansion of energy. Essentially, the more we're diving into pleasure and coming, the more we're tapping into and experiencing this powerful, limitless energy. Pretty powerful stuff, eh?
So whether you're single, cuffed up, married to your sweetheart, or anything in between, I'd highly recommend prioritizing orgasm. How does one go about doing this all 'naturally'? In essence, by choosing to derive pleasure via methods and personal belongings that align with nature. By choosing natural ways to turn ourselves on, we are choosing a very powerful facet of ourselves to treat with care and working with Mother Nature in a respectful way. To accelerate your pleasure, here are some natural ways to make sure you get (and stay) turned on.
Set and Setting
- Get your candles lit. Soft lighting and candles are a good way to decrease your external stimuli so you can focus all your attention on channeling pleasure.
- Bring the outdoors in, by filling your house with plants, especially your bedroom. A study on indoor plants showed that houseplants not only can remove 87% of harmful toxins in the air, but they can also elevate your mood and reduce stress, which will definitely help you get in the mood.
- Clean up your space as much as you can! Tidying up your surroundings is super relevant when it comes to our sexual flow because physical clutter takes up precious mental capacity, and we need all that energy to be put toward sexy-time, not toward thinking about our plan-of-attack for the piles of clothing on the floor. For a temporary solution, it's completely chill to go for the "out-of-sight-out-of-mind" method of hiding your mess in a closet. If your home feels out-of-control messy, Marie Kondo's methods of organization could be a long-term solution; it takes time and effort, but don't most the good things in life?
Touch and Physicality
- Make time to move your hips. This is a practice best done by yourself with some sexy music and simply consists of taking the time to sway your hips and stretch them out. Take this time to breathe deeply into your belly, breathing into the movements, and rolling your hips around, much like a belly dancer does. You can totally get freaky with it too, as a prelude to touching yourself. Don't inhibit yourself with your thoughts and judgments – just intuitively move. If done on a regular basis, this can help to tune in to your divine sexual force so that getting in the mood flows more easily.
- Abhyanga, the Ayurvedic practice of oil-massage is a major key when it comes to getting in touch with your sensuality. Lavishing every inch of your body with rich oil (coconut, olive, or sesame oil work wonders) or a thick balm, or having your partner massage you up and down is a great way to take time to melt stress away, come "home" to your physical body, and check in with yourself about what type of touch brings you pleasure.
- Follow this up with a steamy shower or aromatherapy bath, scented with sensual sandalwood, ylang-ylang, or clary sage essential oils. Water is refreshing and renewing, so it's a perfect way to wash away thoughts and experiences that could keep you from being fully present for your pleasure. And yes… the oil massage and bath-time are all before you get to climaxing… seduction is even better when layered on slowly, so let that sexuality simmer, baby.
- There's nothing like eye contact! If you have a level of understanding and trust with your partner where you can tune into deep eye contact, this can be hella sexy. If this is a solo mission, experiment with watching yourself in the mirror. Focus your attention on the parts of you that make you feel powerful and sexy. Feed off of the energy of adoring your body and honoring your sexuality.
- Encourage playfulness and teasing in your erotic exploration because foreplay is a big part of building up to the overall mood. Feeling your sexual energy slowly build as opposed to diving right in can amp up the overall experience. We, as adults, don't get to play enough, so take advantage of the time you get when you're expressing your sexual self to have fun and get wild! Bring fun textures, aesthetics, and tastes into the bedroom with feathers, silk, lace, fruit, oils, and honey. Give yourself ample time to explore and enjoy yourself, lover.
- A natural lubricant can be a fun texture to bring into the mix; go with a natural one, like this one, called Shine or this one. Why use natural? Like our eyes and the inside of our mouth, vaginas are comprised of mucous membranes, meaning they have semi-permeable tissues that are extra sensitive. Most conventional lubes out there contain toxic chemicals and endocrine disruptors that you'll want to keep away from your sexual organs. So what do you want to look for when choosing a natural lubricant? A lot like skincare, the more simple and recognizable the ingredients, the better.
- Damiana is a sensual herb with uplifting and erotic benefits for men and women. It makes a great tea or tincture with lemon and honey.
- Ashwagandha is another herbal aphrodisiac. It supports fertility, balances hormones and cortisol levels, and tastes mellow in an adaptogenic latte. Consume this regularly to feel its benefits.
- Chocolate is the ultimate aphrodisiac as it releases serotonin in the body; indulge in a chocolate that is sweetened with maple sugar or coconut sugar, for something elevated and sexy. Feed it to your lover, feed it to yourself… chocolate cures all.
- Want a magical mixture, pre-made just for you? Try one of these herbal blends out: Arouse me, Super Sexy, or Sex Dust.
- Now is not the time to think about this weeks' to-do list, that crazy thing you saw on Instagram, or to think about what you should've said to that person you met yesterday. Achieving a vibe-y mood is a lot like meditation. It's okay to let distractions float by in your head, but don't get attached and run off with them. Be present and try focusing in on one or two details that really get you going in the moment and let those sensations take over.
- You know how they say that comparison is the thief of joy? This could not be more true or applicable when it comes to getting sexy in the bedroom. When you're diving into a dance with pleasure, honor your time and self by emptying your mind of the outside world, what you wish you could look like, or who you wish you could be. Wanting to improve on yourself isn't bad in and of itself, but leave those ambitions for a different time. While you're trying to get in the mood, build yourself up with loving words of affirmation and feel genuine confidence, because you're damn sexy and this is your time to enjoy yourself!
- Coming back to the tantric outlook on sexuality — having sex and reaching orgasm is a good time to manifest what you want in this world. Sexual energy is potent, so direct it toward that which you desire to see it bring forth opportunities, open doors, and move mountains.
Toys & More
- Chakrubs are natural crystal sex toys aimed to bring "sacredness to your playtime" and bring powerful beauty to your sexual practice.
- Mentors come in all sorts of subjects, including sexuality; consider investing in a sexuality doula, like earth angel Ev'Yan Whitney. This deep, sexual work can transform old habits and thought patterns about sexuality, allowing your to (re)claim your sensuality.
- Wear slinky, sustainable and organic intimates. Nothing is sexier than feeling sultry in something special and supporting companies that provide high-quality, ethically-made lingerie. Check out lines like AmaElla, Faelyn, ClareBare, and Only Hearts Lingerie.
If… you've got your candle going, you've stretched those hips out, and doused yourself in oil… but you're still not in the mood, just know there's still so much you can do to tap into your sexual energy! First, take the pressure off and keep calm. If you're not in the mood, there's probably a pretty good reason, conscious or subconscious, that's keeping you from tapping into it. The mind and body are so intricately connected that chances are, if you're stressed/worried/angry/tired your sexual flow may get blocked. Before heading back to the bedroom, try amping up your physical activity and getting your sweat on; working out and getting your blood pumping is a great way to work through all sorts of stagnation. If it feels like something a good sweat session can't fix, get yourself to a naturopath, therapist, or acupuncturist and discuss what you can do. There are so many holistic healers out there with deep passion and verified methods that can help!
So, there you have it — some natural tips to get you in the mood. My last tip is to take and use whichever of these tips you're drawn to and leave the rest. Your sexuality is your own to explore and get to know. The more time we dedicate toward experimentation and play in this realm, the more familiar we'll become with what turns us on and taps us into the wonderful, expansive energy of sensuality. And that is time well spent.
Need a little something to help you get in the mood even more? Shop our picks below.
Eva IIEva II by DameNeed This Now| $135
OH! To Go BagOH! To Go Bag by UnboundNeed This Now| $34
Feature image via Victoria Morris