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|Making Changes: Are You Creating Obstacles For Yourself in Therapy Without Even Realizing It?
The focus of that article was the term, "help rejecting client," how it's counterproductive to therapy, and that, most of the time, the onus is on the therapist to find creative ways of working rather than blaming the client.
In this article, I'll focus on the same issue, which is common in therapy, to encourage clients, who might be engaging in creating obstacles in therapy, to become more aware of what they might be doing unconsciously that gets in their way of making the positive changes that they want in their lives.
No One Likes to Think of Himself or Herself as "Creating Obstacles" in Therapy
Let's begin by saying that no one likes to think of herself or himself as "creating obstacles" in therapy.
When a client is unconsciously engaging in this dynamic, the therapist needs to broach this issue with the utmost tact and compassion, otherwise it can engender a lot of shame in a client.
Since many clients come to therapy with a long history of being shamed in childhood, the last thing that therapists want to do is engender more shame in therapy.
Since my purpose in writing this article is to help clients, who are often frustrated when they discover that they are unwittingly getting in their own way, I also want to avoid engendering shame.
So, let's try to understand this phenomenon with compassion and understanding.
Why Would Anyone Create Obstacles to the Changes That He or She Wants?
Why would clients, who come to therapy because they want to make changes, create obstacles to the very changes they say they want to make?
After all, coming to therapy involves time, money, and effort. And, while therapy usually provides a supportive and empathic environment as well an opportunity for self exploration, which can be tremendously gratifying to many people, it's not always "fun" at times.
So, considering that coming to therapy is a major commitment, why would people, who say they want to make changes, get in their own way of making these changes?
Most People Have Some Unconscious Ambivalence About Changes They Want to Make
It's important to understand that, no matter how much people want to change, most people have some degree of unconscious ambivalence about the changes they say they want to make (see my article: Making Changes: Overcoming Ambivalence).
Most of us tend to like to think of ourselves as being integrated beings psychologically. But, in fact, psychologically speaking, we're really made up of many different aspects within ourselves.
These psychological aspects can be in conflict with each other without a person even realizing it.
|Ambivalence About Change
Clients' Ambivalence is Common in Therapy
As a result, I discovered early on in my career as a psychotherapist that it helps to address this unconscious ambivalence during the early stage of therapy to help normalize this phenomenon for clients.
Of course, it's usually easier to see someone else's ambivalence before seeing your own. So when I'm talking to clients about how it's common to have mixed feelings about making changes, even for deeply desired changes, some clients say, "I've heard about this. My friend went through that when she started therapy."
But, while this client can see that her friend has this problem, she might not see her own ambivalence at this stage in therapy.
So, beyond just addressing the idea of ambivalence in therapy, as a therapist, I find it's useful to reach for it and, when the time is right for a particular client, to explore his or her ambivalence in a way that gets a client to become curious about his or her psychological process, as opposed to feeling ashamed about it.
Feeling ashamed about it only makes the issue worse and can be retraumatizing, especially for clients who come to therapy with a history of trauma.
Getting Help in Therapy
While many people have no awareness of how their ambivalence might be creating problems in their lives, many others do see it and want to change this dynamic for themselves.
If you recognize this dynamic within yourself and you want to change it, you could benefit from working with a therapist who is skilled in helping clients to overcome this problem.
By addressing this issue in the initial consultation with a therapist, you can often sense how the therapist might deal with it and whether or not this therapist is a good match for you.
About Me
I am a licensed NYC psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing therapist who works with individual adults and couples.
I have helped many clients, who were, initially, creating obstacles for themselves in therapy, to learn to overcome this dynamic so they could lead more fulfilling lives.
To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist.
To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.


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Augmented reality integrates digital information with the user's environment in real time and is becoming more accessible and affordable for medical education and imaging, dentistry, and nurse training.
Augmented Reality and Its Application in Health Care
Augmented reality (AR) is the art of superimposing computer-generated content over a live view of the world. AR integrates digital information with the user's environment in real time and is becoming more accessible and affordable for medical education and imaging, dentistry, and nurse training. AccuVein, VIPAR, ARnatomy, and VA-ST are among the available AR solutions for health care.
Health Care-Focused AR Apps
Health care-focused AR apps in the Android and Apple stores include:
AR Technology Is in Nascent Stages of Market Penetration
The AR market, is in its early development stage but is growing quickly—especially in the last two years. Diverse AR content from various fields and more affordable consumer solutions are expected in the next five years. AR enterprise applications and subscriptions will boost revenue for start-ups.
Many industries are expected to turn to AR as the primary source of multisensory instruction and for the of standard operating procedures for workforce safety. Medical education and staff training is bound to remain the principal use of AR in health care.
Behavioral and psychological health problems are being addressed through AR technologies that create engaging and motivational environments; immersive technologies also are fostering empathy between patients and their caregivers and helping in understanding and treatment of diseases. The USC Center for Body Computing, for example, has devised a Virtual Care Clinic system that combines AR, analytics, and artificial intelligence technologies with mobile apps, wearable sensors, and virtual human health care providers to give patients comprehensive access to medical care and content from anywhere in the world. The system features an app for connecting patients with an avatar of their primary physician that guides patients through the different courses of their medical care.
Privacy Concerns and Depth Perception Challenges Need to Be Resolved for Widespread Adoption of AR Technology
Privacy issues are the main barrier to AR technology's widespread adoption in the health care industry. Doctors worry about Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance because data transmitted to AR devices is not encrypted, making confidential patient information vulnerable.
Depth perception also is another concern. It is an important component of many augmented reality applications and many times and AR displays do not display the depth of virtual objects with the same fidelity as real objects. Therefore technical issues such depth perception, developing robust registration and tracking methods, designing interactive user interfaces to intuitively control virtual and real parts of the scene and integrating AR technology into medical workflows, needs to be resolved for widespread adoption of this technology.
What Is the Future?
The AR market will resemble the smartphones market, thus targeting a huge population worldwide. The AR ecosystem is witnessing an influx of software and hardware manufacturers and mobile data and voice businesses, with a large number of mergers and acquisitions already. This reflects the immense interest in this technology from all quarters.
AR companies must address regulatory and privacy concerns to be successful in the health care space, which will benefit from AR-assisted surgeries, staff training, and in-patient behavioral and rehabilitation programs
By 2020, the health care industry will be among the first to realize the benefits of AR technologies on human behavior, patient experience, and lifesaving interventions. By 2025, consumers will be able to thoroughly analyze their health and well-being in real time through AR-based apps, giving them a snapshot of how time and unhealthy lifestyles would affect their bodies.
Copyright © 2017 Frost & Sullivan

subset: commoncrawl


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NYC waiter Armando Markaj comes across blank check for $424,000- receives no tip when he helps find the check's owner, Karen Vinacour retired social worker who faced possible ruin after forgetting check at Harlem Pizzeria restaurant.
A New York City waiter who returned a $424,000 cashier's check left behind by a customer and retired social worker has said he bears them no hard feelings after failing to score a tip for his remarkable 'table service'.
Armando Markaj, 27, found a blank envelope while cleaning off a table at Patsy's Pizzeria in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood on Saturday. Markaj, a medical student working his way through school, ran outside after the customer, but she was nowhere in sight.
'Saturdays are pretty busy and I was very close to taking everything left on the table and throwing it out when I saw an envelope,' Markaj told the New York Daily News. 'I just pulled up the flap and I saw 'Citibank' and thought it was important, so I ran out to the street to look for her, but she was gone.'
At that point, the waiter opened the envelope to find a check for almost a half-million dollars. Markaj gave the check to Patsy's owner, Frank Brija, 63, who then contacted the Daily News, which helped them track down the mystery woman.
'We thought for sure it was a billionaire or something who came in here, because who walks around with a check like that?' Brija said. But the check's owner, Karen Vinacour, is actually a 79-year-old retired social worker from Manhattan who finally came into some money after couch-surfing with family and friends.
The check represented proceeds from her apartment sale, earmarked for a down payment on a new home. Vinacour said she had taken out a student loan for her daughter decades ago that she was still paying back. Because of this, she claimed she was unable to gather up enough finances for a condo sooner despite having a pension and good credit.
'I can't believe it, I'm so relieved. You have no idea,' she said Wednesday morning when the newspaper called her from Patsy's to ask if she had recently lost something of great value.
'I'm jumping in a cab, I'll be there right away,' she said.
NYC waiter Armando Markaj: Understanding and defining karma.
Vinacour said her 'world just collapsed' when the bank told her Monday that they couldn't immediately cancel a cashier's check. The bank explained she would have to wait three months before they could begin the process and only if someone didn't cash the check in the meantime, she said.
The woman apologized for stiffing the waiter after a 'stressful day' of condo shopping with her daughter and tried to offer Markaj a belated tip. The man accepted the apology but declined the money, adding that he was just 'happy for her,' – which of course is par for the course of giving back to the universe (and the universe giving back to you…).
As far as his initial reaction, Markaj did share that he was shocked that a tip wasn't left behind.
'I guess I figured that it was just karma for them,' he said.
Vinacour retorted: 'I believe in karma too. I guess that's what helped get me back to you.'


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While working in the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, for four years I functioned in a supervisory and administrative capacity as VISN 8 Transgender and Intersex Workgroup Chair, providing evaluation of service delivery and guidance to the Network Clinical Council (NCC) in meeting the needs of Transgender and Intersex Veterans throughout Florida and South Georgia. In 2016, I was appointed by the Miami VA Healthcare System director, and served for one year as an LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator. This appointment included providing clinical care, and increased VA visibility and presence within the LGBTQ community by initiating and organizing Vet and VA staff participation in community events. I was privileged to represent VA at several local medical conferences, and at Southern Comfort Transgender Conferences held in South Florida.
For more information about SE™ please note the following references: Levine, P. and Frederick, A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Kline, M. and Levine, P. (2007). Trauma Through A Child's Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Levine, P. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. For further references and information online about SE™ go to www.somaticexperiencing.com SE™ can result in a number of benefits to you, such as relief of traumatic stress symptoms, increased resiliency, and resourcefulness. Like any other treatment it may also have unintended negative "side effects". It is important that you are aware that there are other forms of body-oriented and somatic psychotherapy. The United States Association of Body Psychotherapy www.usabp.org is a good source of information about other modalities. Obviously, there are also many non-somatic focused forms of psychotherapy and counseling that you can choose from.


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Contact Us
Phone: 517.351.0765
Fax: 517.351.6376
Family owned and operated since 1969
How can we help you?
Whether you are looking to buy, sell or rent we can help.
Hagan Realty has been located in East Lansing since 1969. Our experienced brokers, builders, and office staff can assist you with whatever need you may have.
Let us help you find the ideal commercial or residential property for you or your company.
for a complete list of available residential properties, lease info and more.
Please fill out the contact form or give us a call if you are in need of real estate services. We will be happy to assist you with any of your needs.
Thank you for choosing Hagan Realty, Inc.
Hagan Realty, Inc. ® 927 E. Grand River Ave. Suite 11 East Lansing,MI 48823 Phone: 517.351.0765 Fax: 517.351.6376 firstname.lastname@example.com


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Contracts to buy U.S. previously owned homes rose to a nearly 14-1/2-year high in June, the latest indication that the housing market was weathering the COVID-19 pandemic far better than the broader economy.
Other data on Wednesday showed a sharp decline in the goods trade deficit last month, with trade boosted by a rebound in exports after three straight monthly decreases as the coronavirus upended global demand. The upbeat reports, however, did not change expectations that the economy contracted at its steepest pace since the Great Depression in the second quarter.
"Trade flows bounced but the underlying trend remains weak, driven by slow global activity and weak demand," said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics in White Plains, New York.
The National Association of Realtors said its Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed last month, rose 16.6% to 116.1 in June. That was the highest level since January 2006.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast pending home contracts, which become sales after a month or two, increasing 15% in June. Pending home sales advanced 6.3% from a year ago.
The report followed on the heels of news on Tuesday that the homeownership rate raced to its highest level in nearly 12 years in the second quarter.
Reports this month showed a surge in homebuilder confidence in July, and an acceleration in home construction and sales of both new and previously owned homes in June.
The housing market is being boosted by historically low mortgage rates, offsetting record unemployment triggered by the coronavirus crisis, which has fallen disproportionately on workers in low-wage industries.
The public health crisis has seen the emergence of home offices and schooling, fueling demand for bigger homes in small metro areas, rural markets and large metro suburbs. But hurdles remain for the sector, which accounts for less than 5% of gross domestic product.
New cases of the respiratory illness are surging across the country. Analysts say disrupts to economic activity as authorities try to slow the spread of the virus could unleash a wave of white-collar job losses. There is also a persistent shortage of homes available for sale.
"The spike in COVID-19 infections in states in the South and the West, regions that account for well over 60% of existing home sales, may put some downward pressure on sales in the months ahead," said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead economist at Oxford Economics in New York.
Stocks on Wall Street were trading higher. The dollar fell against a basket of currencies. U.S. Treasury prices were mixed.
Pending home sales increased 11.9% in the populous South in June. They soared 11.7% in the West and surged 54.4% in the Northeast. Contracts rose 12.2% in the Midwest.
In a separate report on Wednesday, the Commerce Department said the goods trade deficit dropped 6.1% to $70.6 billion last month. Exports of goods accelerated 13.9% to $102.6 billion, eclipsing a 4.8% increase in goods imports to $173.2 billion. Goods imports fell in May to their lowest level since July 2010.
The rebound in exports was led by a 144.1% surge in shipments of motor vehicles and parts. Exports of capital goods soared 11.0% and consumer goods jumped 12.6%. There were also increases in exports of industrial supplies and other goods, but shipments of food, feeds and beverages fell.
Imports of motor vehicles and parts accelerated 107.7% last month. There were also strong gains in imports of capital and consumer goods. Imports of industrial supplies, however, fell.
Though the smaller goods trade deficit is a boost in the calculation of gross domestic product, it was offset by continued decreases in retail and wholesale inventories. Prior declines in imports forced businesses to draw down inventories.
"Even with the narrowing in the deficit between May and June, it widened on average between the first and second quarter so net exports should drag on growth in the second quarter," said Daniel Silver, an economist at JPMorgan in New York.
The government is scheduled on Thursday to publish its snapshot of second-quarter GDP. According to a Reuters survey of economists, GDP probably contracted at a 34.1% annualized rate last quarter, the sharpest drop in output since record-keeping started in 1947. The economy contracted 5% in the January-March quarter. It entered recession in February.
Retail inventories dropped 2.6% in June after decreasing 6.2% in May. Motor vehicle and parts inventories tumbled 6.5%.
Retail inventories, excluding motor vehicles and parts, the component that goes into the calculation of GDP, fell 0.8% after dropping 1.7% in May. Wholesale inventories fell 2.0% in June after sliding 1.2% in the prior month.
Source: Read Full Article


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Docudrama100 Mins1982
This film is based on the true story of Lois Gibbs (Marsha Mason), a housewife in Niagara Falls, N.Y., who spearheads her community's battle against Hooker Chemical. At first, her husband (Robert Gunton) dismisses the idea that an old chemical dump site beneath their 36-block neighborhood has anything to do with a rash of child ailments. But Gibbs perseveres, circulating a petition, accepting the role of head of the Homeowners Association and leading a fierce legal battle for compensation.
- Bleak
- Disturbing
- Gutsy


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Ask The Fiddler #2: Bird Watching in Afghanistanby Ask The Fiddler
Filed under: Satire
Editor's Note: We often receive questions on a variety of prank-hoax-scam related topics. Readers want an assessment of the validity of news reports or web site information, or they suspect a received email is a scam. Some are looking for moral or immoral support for their prank ideas. So, we are pleased to provide a new service, Ask The Fiddler, a lifestyle advice column that may remedy more chaos and confusion than it creates. Questions may be submitted to us here at Art of the Prank, and good luck.
Dear Fiddler:
Now that the U.S. mission is accomplished and all is peaceful in Afghanistan, my friend and I want to head over there to do some bird-watching. Do you have any suggestions to make our trip more enjoyable?
Phil in Pennsylvania.
Dear Phil,
An intriguing choice of destination. As it turns out, the Afghans have a similar hobby. It"™s called drone-watching.
You may want to do just a tad more research regarding your notion that the U.S. is leaving under tranquil conditions. Let"™s say for the sake of tourism risk analysis that a range of one to ten starts at 1) "a picnic," and concludes at 10) "you must be nuts." Afghanistan is an 11.
More on that later.
Likely you want to know what kind of birds to watch. May I suggest a notable local resident, the Hoopoe, also known as Upupa Epops.
Readily identified by its crown of feathers, it can also be recognized by it peculiar call, "oop-oop-oop."
Among distinguishing characteristics of the Hoopoe is its ability to direct a stream of feces at a predator.
True fact.
But let"™s talk about your plan in general. There are some real problems around this idea of hiking the Afghan countryside. Like, showing up as a suspicious stranger in remote sectors where locals reportedly use the heads of their enemies for soccer balls.
The surviving foreign travelers who have ventured forth mention problems with the Taliban (they don"™t know the conflict is settled), as well as encounters with hostile warlords and gangs of ill-tempered drug and gun-runners.
It"™s a fair bet you will be kidnapped, and, if you"™re short on rich relatives, very possibly executed.
So, naturally, you plan to take your own security contingent. Unfortunately, under rules imposed since the announcement of U.S. withdrawal, you can"™t take your own bodyguards along, you have to rent security forces from the Afghan military.
As a stranger in a strange land, you will undoubtedly need a guide. There are a couple of tour companies. They are not very busy. Announced itineraries are subject to hurried change and departures may be rushed. One travel advisory outfit makes the following statement: "It may sound obvious but anyone wishing to travel to Afghanistan must understand that in places tourist infrastructure is almost non-existent."
Revolutionaries and bandits aside, a major obstacle to having a good hike in the countryside is the proliferation of live landmines. Vast areas have yet to be cleared.
According to a Human Rights Watch report issued before U.S. forces hit the ground in Afghanistan: "It is generally estimated that millions of mines are scattered throughout the country. While virtually all combatants in Afghanistan in recent decades are thought to have used mines, most were laid by Soviet and pro-Soviet Afghan government forces from 1979-1992. At least fifty different types of mines have been identified in Afghanistan of Belgian, Chinese, ex-Czechoslovakian, Iranian, Italian, Pakistani, Singaporean, ex-USSR, United Kingdom, ex-Yugoslavian, and Zimbabwean manufacture."
So you need a good detector. Make sure you buy a reliable, working model, there are a lot of fakes on the market.
Fake detectors have been widely sold, a despicable racket responsible for numerous deaths. The crude gadgets manufactured by one company cost less than $20 to make and have ultimately sold for over $20,000.
The sale of fake detectors is prosecuted as fraud but it should be considered a war crime.
Overall, sorry to say, the sum of advisories on travel to Afghanistan from a number of knowledgeable sources is: Don"™t.
Just as an aside, this little essay is not meant to discourage bird-watching in general. With luck, it can be a lucrative endeavor. Consider the tale of Mike, the Headless Chicken, who earned as much as $4,500 per month entertaining gawkers in the late 1940s.
Mike lived for 18 months following a botched decapitation and toured with the carnival. His memory is still celebrated in his hometown of Fruita, Colorado, on "Mike the Headless Chicken Day" in May.
Events include the 5K "Run Like a Headless Chicken" race.
Yours truly,
The Fiddler
Remember our motto here at camp: "If you take advice from The Fiddler, you need advice." Send comments and questions to: Art of the Prank.
images: www.birding.in, Responsible Travel
The Fiddler is a creation of W.J. Elvin III


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Municipal Court meets at the Statham Community Center located at 336 Jefferson Street.
Judge - Ryan Bramblett
Solicitor - Tim Sanders
For information about a citation or the court session, call the Court Clerk at (770) 725-5992 ext. 2009
Administrative Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Mailing address:
Municipal Court
P. O. Box 28
Statham, Georgia 30666
Court Calendar
Pay tickets online here.
Please read instructions carefully. There will be a 6.5% service fee charged by Government Window, LLC to cover the cost of this secure and convenient payment service. You will need your citation/ticket number or your driver's license number to pay online.
By phone:
24-hour automated phone pay system at (844) 744-0383. You will need your citation/ticket number or your driver's license number when using the automated phone pay system.


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Now, this is definitely not the first post of the year filled with cherry blossom photos. Kawazu zakura bloomed in Atami as early as January and it was quite a spectacular sight. However, end of March seems to be the time that Japanese and all the tourists traveling here are anticipating the most. Indeed, this is the time when the most popular type of cherry trees – somei yoshino – start to bloom, and as of last weekend sakura craze has officially began.
Last year I didn't get a chance to spend as much time gallivanting Tokyo during the peak season as I wished, so I will do my best to make up for the lost time this time around. The plan is to visit all popular and off the beaten path cherry blossom viewing spots in and around Tokyo, so stay tuned for my cherry blossom chronicles. Last weekend I spent the most wonderful weekend with my friends – Naomi, Celia and Hitomi – looking for early blooms. We spent some time in Zojoji Temple's yard and then moved to Shinjuku Gyoen. Buds in Zojoji Temple were still delicate, just starting to open. Shinjuku Gyoen, on the other hand, treated us to a few gorgeous trees that were in full bloom. By the way, in case you plan on arriving to Tokyo later in April, Shinjuku Gyen should definitely be on your itinerary. It is filled with so many varieties of cherry trees that you are guaranteed to find yourself a lovely hanami spot. Here are some photos from our adventures. Stay tuned and travel with me vicariously as I take you around Tokyo to show you its breathtaking cherry blossom views.
xoxo, nano
Let's connect on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | BlogLovin' | Pinterest


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With today's launch of Hired Guns by reporter Shoshana Walter, The Center for Investigative Reporting embarks on an exploration of guns in America that will continue in 2015. The Second Amendment is much debated in the news, and we don't intend to dedicate our resources to the controversy. But we are interested in figuring out what is broken and helping fix it.
We hope you will come along on our journey by signing up to receive regular updates and helping us decide which directions to head. A team of journalists already is mulling a few ideas and we're interested in hearing what you think about them – now or whenever something occurs to you.
For instance, Hired Guns has raised serious questions about the rigor of oversight of prohibited possessors – people not allowed to own guns for mental health, violence or other reasons:
Anyone who purchases a gun from a licensed firearms dealer is required to go through a background check to determine whether he or she has lost the right to bear arms. But 27 states do not check whether armed-guard applicants are in this federal database and prohibited from carrying a gun. The database of prohibited possessors includes categories such as restraining orders or mental health commitments that do not usually appear in a routine FBI background check.
If Arizona had required regulators to check the prohibited possessors database, Joshua Kosatschenko might not have received his license. And he might not have begun work as an armed guard at a Tucson Circle K convenience store where, six weeks later, he shot and paralyzed an unarmed teenager.
We're going to look into the breakdown of what seems on its face a reasonable law.
After the recent shooting in Florida State University's library by a former student, reporter Matt Drange wrote a short piece about guns of choice in school shootings since Adam Lanza carried out his 2012 massacre of grade-school children in Newtown, Connecticut. He discovered something that intrigued us:
The make and model of guns used in shootings is not consistently reported by law enforcement, and there is no central federal repository for the information. Even the FBI has trouble getting the information.
Pete Blair, a lead author of the FBI study and an associate professor of criminal justice at Texas State University, said some police departments declined to turn over detailed gun information, citing exemptions from state public records laws. Of the 160 cases included in the study, Blair obtained police reports for roughly 100 and turned to FBI field office and media reports for the rest.
Today's package of stories is just a start, and we want to hear what you're curious about as well. Please take a minute to tell us on this form.
Amy Pyle, Managing Editor
P.S.: Feel free to contact me or reporters on our guns team with tips or questions:
Matt Drange
Abbie VanSickle
Shoshana Walter


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Explosive plays are crucial in today's NFL. When an offense is unable to occasionally pick up big chunks of yardage, it becomes difficult to sustain drives. When you're unable to sustain drives, it becomes difficult to score points. When you're unable to score points, well... I think you get the idea.
San Francisco has been inconsistent throughout the season in their ability to generate explosive plays. As you would expect, the lack of these big plays has been an issue in the 49ers' four losses this season, where they've produced an average of just 4.75 explosive plays per game. The passing game has predominantly been the issue in these games, accounting for a pedestrian five explosive plays in four games.
What exactly defines an explosive play? If you didn't happen to catch my advanced stat preview from last week, explosive plays consist of runs of at least 12 yards and passes of at least 16 yards. I haven't explicitly seen the 49ers' coaching staff define what they consider to be a big or explosive play, so I stole this definition from the guys over at Field Gulls. Are those cutoffs somewhat arbitrary? Sure. But I think they do a good job of picking up the types of plays we're looking for, more so than some of the other marks that get tossed around to define big plays, such as a blanket 20-plus yards for runs and passes.
With that, let's take a look at the explosive plays the 49ers' offense produced against the Seahawks.
|Play Detail
|Drive Result
|Colin Kaepernick pass complete deep left to Michael Crabtree for 17 yards (tackle by Byron Maxwell)
|Colin Kaepernick pass complete deep left to Anquan Boldin for 20 yards (tackle by Byron Maxwell)
|Colin Kaepernick pass complete deep right to Anquan Boldin for 27 yards (tackle by Richard Sherman). Penalty on Richard Sherman: Defensive Holding (Declined)
|Frank Gore right guard for 15 yards (tackle by Bruce Irvin)
|Colin Kaepernick pass complete short left to Anquan Boldin for 18 yards (tackle by Bobby Wagner)
|Frank Gore left tackle for 51 yards (tackle by Richard Sherman)
Six explosive plays isn't exactly going to conjure up memories of the 2007 Patriots or anything, but it was better than we've performed against other top end defenses, such as the Panthers and Saints. However, these plays were extremely important ones in the game. Drives featuring an explosive play led to 16 of San Francisco's 19 points on the day. The only scoring drive that didn't have an explosive play was the field goal that followed Kassim Osgood's blocked punt.
With these plays having such a significant impact on the game, let's go to the All-22 and take a look at a few of the ways the 49ers were able to generate big plays against the Seahawks.
Attacking Seattle's Cover 3
The 49ers come out in an Offset I formation with Anquan Boldin split wide to the left and Vernon Davis in the slot. San Francisco did several things throughout the game to limit Richard Sherman's impact and this was one of them. Seattle doesn't often have their top corner follow around a specific receiver, instead preferring to keep him to the offense's right on the wide majority of snaps. By aligning their top two receiving targets to the opposite side of the field, the 49ers can look to go to work against the Seahawks' weaker coverage players.
Seattle ends up running one of their base coverages, a Cover 3 zone. The route combination run by Boldin and Davis is setup to perfectly attack one of the weaknesses in this coverage, the seams. Earl Thomas is playing the deep middle of the field for Seattle and his job is to stay deeper than the deepest and not allow any receivers to get behind him. Davis is running what essentially amounts to a clear out route – he is attacking Thomas with a vertical route to occupy him and free up space for Boldin running the drag route underneath him. With Davis being the 49ers' primary deep threat, Thomas has to respect it and stay over the top of Davis's route.
With Byron Maxwell, the corner aligned over Boldin, playing with outside leverage in his deep third zone responsibility, he's never going to be in position to make a play on the ball once Boldin breaks over the middle on his dig route. Kaepernick has plenty of time to throw and delivers a strike 20 yards downfield to move the ball into Seattle territory.
Bunch Formations
With the struggles of the passing game this season, nearly everyone involved with the offense has taken their turn in getting tossed under the bus. A popular one as of late as been offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Some of the criticism has been justified, but this was a game where after watching the coaches film, I thought Roman and the staff put together a fantastic game plan. One element of that game plan that I especially liked was the increased use of bunch formations.
Seattle's defense is known for being very aggressive in the secondary. They like to be physical at the line of scrimmage and try to disrupt the timing of the passing game. They were very successful with this approach in the Week 2 match-up between these two teams. There are several things an offense can do to combat this approach, but one of the best is through the use of bunch formations. You can see in the screenshot below, San Francisco has a bunch to the left of the formation. Whereas Sherman is up in press coverage on Crabtree on the single receiver side, Maxwell is forced to play in off coverage when faced with the bunch. Many of the route combinations that you will see teams run out of the bunch involve staggered or crossing releases from the receivers. This makes it difficult for the defense to be physical at the line of scrimmage because of the natural rubs and picks created by these releases.
On this play, San Francisco runs what is commonly referred to as the "spacing" route concept. Spacing aims to stretch the defense horizontally and is very effective against zone coverages such as the Cover 3 that Seattle frequently uses. Davis and Boldin are going to run short curl routes while Bruce Miller is going to head into the flat. This route combo is going to attack Seattle outside linebacker Bobby Wagner, the outermost underneath pass defender to that side of the field. If he heads to his flat responsibility, Boldin will be open. If he sits with Boldin on the curl, Miller will be open in the flat.
Wagner ends up sitting with Boldin's curl and Miller breaks open in the flat for what likely ends up as a 10-yard pick-up or so and a first down. Given how frequently it seems Kaepernick throws to Miller in the flat, it's a bit surprising he doesn't pull the trigger on this throw. With Boldin and Davis both initially covered on their curl routes, Kaepernick begins to float to the left. This is where Boldin shows off one of his greatest strengths – finding open space once the play breaks down.
Boldin begins to float along with Kaepernick to the left before spinning back inside and finding some open real estate in the middle of the field. There aren't many, if any, linebackers that are going to be able to stick with a receiver for any significant length of time and with a player as savvy as Boldin at finding those soft spots, it's easy money. Kaepernick makes an accurate throw on the run that allows Boldin to turn up field right away for some additional yards after the catch and a gain of 18.
Pin and Pull
Of course, the most important play of the game came on Frank Gore's 51-yard run late in the fourth quarter. 97 G-rub, as the 49ers call it, was the perfect storm of execution by the offense and miscues by the defense that is needed to break a play over 50 yards.
97 G-rub is actually a variant on the outside zone run known as the pin and pull. The pin and pull introduces a man blocking element – which is what the 49ers predominantly use in the running game – to a zone blocking play. You can utilize the pin and pull in a number of ways depending on the front of the defense, but in this instance the tweak comes in the assignments of left tackle Joe Staley and left guard Adam Snyder.
The pin and pull makes what would be two difficult reach blocks – where the offensive lineman would need to "reach" a player outside of him and attempt to turn him back inside – two much easier angle blocks. Rather than trying to reach outside to outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, Staley is going to perform a down block, or pin, on defensive end Red Bryant, who's aligned to Staley's inside shoulder. Bryant ends up making this an even easier block by attempting to shoot that inside gap, allowing Staley to use Bryant's momentum against him and take him where he wants to go. This frees Snyder up to pull to the outside and kick out Irvin, creating a nice, wide alley for Gore to run through.
From here, Gore sets the rest of his blocks up beautifully. Once he gets through the hole, he can see Wagner and safety Kam Chancellor over-pursuing to the outside. Gore keeps pressing the outside hip of Miller before sticking his foot in the ground and cutting up field, allowing Miller and Vance McDonald to make easy work out of the two over-pursuing defenders.
The other key block comes from Alex Boone on the back side. Boone is working up to the second level to weak side linebacker Malcolm Smith. Once Boone is able to cut off Smith, Smith decides to cut underneath the block, which proves to be a poor decision. That gives him a terrible angle to try and cut off Gore and essentially takes him out of the play. Gore finishes things up with another great cut on Thomas, allowing him to bust free into the open field.
Though the 19 points and a cursory view of the box score wouldn't lead you to believe it, I thought it was an impressive performance from the offense this week. There were some missed opportunities to be sure – namely failing to get touchdowns in two favorable situations on possessions in the first quarter and Kaepernick's interception midway through the third. But considering the defense they were facing and how well the offense has performed against similar caliber defenses this season, it was a good step forward.
I choose to spend this article focusing on the offense's ability to generate explosive plays, but equally important is the defense's ability to prevent them. San Francisco's defense did a fantastic job of limiting these plays, allowing the 49ers to win the explosive play battle six to four. All four of Seattle's explosive plays came via the passing game, with the two big ones coming on nearly identical plays to Luke Willson over the deep middle of the field. The defense held the Seahawks without an explosive play in the running game for the first time all season as we consistently stayed in our base 3-4 defense against Seattle's 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) unless it was an obvious passing situation. It was a successful approach, as the defense held Marshawn Lynch to just 3.6 yards per carry on the day.
Often times, too much gets made about a team "getting hot" as they enter the playoffs. However, slowly but surely, the 49ers' offense is becoming what we thought it could be prior to the start of the season. If they can continue to improve each week, as they've done over the last several, they can put themselves in position to be one of the scariest Wild Card teams in recent memory.


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This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (April 2018)
|Lower Austria, Austria
|Pannonia Superior
|Roman Empire
Carnuntum (from Ancient Greek Καρνοῦς (Carnous) according to Ptolemy) was a Roman legionary fortress (Latin: castra legionis) and headquarters of the Pannonian fleet from 50 AD. After the 1st century, it was capital of the Pannonia Superior province. It also became a large city of 50,000 inhabitants.[1][2]
Its impressive remains are situated on the Danube in Lower Austria halfway between Vienna and Bratislava in the Carnuntum Archaeological Park extending over an area of 10 km2 near today's villages of Petronell-Carnuntum and Bad Deutsch-Altenburg.
Military history[edit]
Carnuntum first occurs in history during the reign of Augustus (6 AD), when Tiberius made it his base of operations as a Roman fort (castrum) in the campaigns against Maroboduus (Marbod).[3]
Legio XV Apollinaris[edit]
Significant Romanisation happened when the town was selected as the garrison of the Legio XV Apollinaris before 14 AD.[4] A few years later, it became the centre of the Roman fortifications along the Danube from Vindobona (now Vienna) to Brigetio (Ó-Szőny).[3] According to Tacitus,[5] the emperor Claudius ordered the governor of Pannonia "to have a legion with an auxiliary on the bank of the Danube" to protect the losers of a dispute between Germanic tribes (the Quadi and Marcomanni) and deter the victors from the temptation to invade Pannonia. To this period (about 50 AD) belongs the auxiliary castrum of a cavalry ala 1.5 km south-west of the legionary fortress.[6]
In 71 AD, after several campaigns, the Legio XV Apollinaris returned to Carnuntum and rebuilt its fortress. While some of the legion fought in Trajan's Dacian Wars, the main body of the legion remained in Pannonia.
Legio X Gemina[edit]
Legio X Gemina was sent to Carnuntum for a few years from about 63 AD.[7] During the brief reign of Galba (68–69), it was transferred back to Hispania.
Legio VII Gemina[edit]
Legio VII Gemina, newly founded by Galba in 68 AD, was allocated to Carnuntum until about 71 AD after his defeat by Vespasian.[8]
Legio XIV Gemina[edit]
In 117–118 AD,[9] Carnuntum became the permanent quarters of Legio XIV Gemina where it stayed for three centuries until the frontier collapsed in 430.
History of the city[edit]
In Roman times, Carnuntum had a history as a major trading centre for amber, brought from the north to traders who sold it in Italy; the main arm of the Amber Road crossed the Danube at Carnuntum.
As Aelium Carnuntum, the capital of Pannonia Superior, it was made a municipium by Hadrian. Its importance is indicated by the fact that Marcus Aurelius resided there for three years (172–175) during the war against the Marcomanni, and wrote part of his Meditations there. Also Septimius Severus, at the time governor of Pannonia, was proclaimed emperor there by his soldiers (193),[3] to replace Emperor Pertinax, who had been murdered.
In the Severan dynasty (193–235), Carnuntum experienced an economic boom, the canabae reaching their maximum size. Caracalla elevated it to colony status as Septimia Colonia Aurelia Antoniana.[10] During the reign of Gallienus, the Pannonians rebelled by electing the usurper Regalianus, who established a mint with coins depicted him and his wife Sulpicia Dryantilla. He was killed shortly afterwards by his own soldiers, probably at Carnuntum.[11][12]
In 308, during the Civil wars of the Tetrarchy, the Emperor emeritus Diocletian chaired a historic meeting there, the Conference of Carnuntum, with his co-emperors Maximian and Galerius, to solve the rising tensions within the tetrarchy.[13][14]
Around 350 Carnuntum suffered severe earthquake damage.[15]
In 374, it was destroyed by Germanic invaders, the Quadi and Iazyges. Although partly restored by Valentinian I,[16] it never regained its former importance, and Vindobona became the chief military centre.[3] During the Barbarian Invasions, Carnuntum was eventually abandoned and used as a cemetery and source of building material for building projects elsewhere. Eventually, its remains became buried and forgotten.
The Archaeological Park Carnuntum comprises three sites:
- Museum, Heidentor and amphitheatre near Petronell
- Excavations in the garden of Petronell Castle
- Museum Carnuntinum
Civilian city[edit]
The remains of the civilian city extend around the village Petronell-Carnuntum. There are several places to see in the city: Roman city quarter in the open-air museum, palace ruins, amphitheatre, and Heidentor.
The Roman city ruins are exposed in the open-air museum directly in the present village. One of the ancient houses, called the House of Lucius, has been rebuilt using traditional techniques. It was opened to the public on 1 June 2006.
The forum was next to the palace ruins, also referred to as the large public baths.
Some way outside the city was a large amphitheatre, which had room for about 15,000 spectators. A plate with an inscription found at the site claims that this building was the fourth largest amphitheatre in the whole Roman Empire.
Between 354 AD and 361 AD, a huge triumphal monument was erected next to the camp and city. Contemporary reports suggest that Emperor Constantius II had it built to commemorate his victories. When the remains of Carnuntum disappeared after the Migration Period the monument remained as an isolated building in a natural landscape and led Medieval people to believe it was the tomb of a pagan giant. Hence, they called it Heidentor ('Heathens' Gate' or 'Pagans' Gate').
The only remaining building of the fortress is an amphitheatre, located just outside the fortress. Today, a small adjacent museum shows the history of gladiators.
The World Theatre Festival Art Carnumtum (German: Art Carnuntum Welttheater Festival[17]) is held each year in the ancient amphitheatre. Art Carnuntum is a cultural organisation that aims support the cultural and philosophical heritage of Europe and promotes classical drama in both traditional and contemporary styles.[18] The festival was founded around 1988[17] by the italian artist Piero Bordin,[18] who died suddenly in March 2021. Since 2021 Constantina Bordin is the new artistic director.[19] Collaborators from Greece include Irini Pappas, Michalis Kakogianis, and Theodoros Terzopoulus, and the popular festival has become known as an international centre for ancient drama as well as European classical and modern music.[17]
The festival was held in August in 2021.[17]
Gladiator school[edit]
In September 2011 aerial photographs and ground-penetrating radar led to the discovery of the typical contours of an ancient Roman gladiator school to the south of the Roman settlement, a ludus rivaling the Ludus Magnus school and covering an area of some 3,350 square yards (0.280 ha).[20] This approach of aerial photography and modern remote sensing has allowed for a detailed virtual recreation of the gladiator school.[21] The aerial photographs used in the recreation were acquired with a radio-controlled Microdrone md4-1000 quadrocopter, which captured a sufficient number of photographs to create an overlap among them. Then, using a technique called structure from motion (SfM), a 3D model of the school was calculated using the sharpest images.[22]
The school, along with the amphitheater, was located outside of the town's walls. The school had training grounds, bathing facilities, an assembly hall and dormitories for the gladiators. The school also had a courtyard which housed a training area for gladiators. The school was attached to an open campus which was most likely used for chariot races.[23]
Museum Carnuntinum[edit]
The archaeological museum Carnuntinum, which is situated in the village of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg on the river Danube, exhibits important archeological finds from the ancient city.
In fiction[edit]
Völkisch author Guido von List was so impressed with the ruins that he based his first novel, Carnuntum, on the subject. Another novel, Household Gods, by Harry Turtledove and Judith Tarr, is set in Carnuntum during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, from the point of view of a modern American time traveler.
In Frank Tallis's crime novel Vienna Blood, both Guido von List and his novel Carnuntum appear, together with an eponymous opera based on the novel.
The palace ruins near Petronell
Heidentor (so-called Heathens' Gate)
Scale Model of Carnuntum in Roman times
Scale Model of Carnuntum in Roman times (amphitheatre and region outside city walls)
Tombstone of Titus Calidius Severus, centurion of the Fifteenth Legion, depicting a horse, centurion's helmet and armour, found in Carnuntum
Statue of the god Jupiter Dolichenus
- ^ Sutter Fichtner, Paula (2009). Historical Dictionary of Austria. Scarecrow Press. p. 54&–55. ISBN 9780810863101.
- ^ Beattie, Andrew (2010). The Danube: A Cultural History. Oxford University Press. p. 109. ISBN 9780199768356.
- ^ a b c d public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Carnuntum". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 378. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
- ^ "Legio XV Apollinaris – Livius". Livius.org. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ Tacitus, Annals, XII, 29.2
- ^ Fitz, Jenő (2008). "The Danubian Provinces". History of the Greeks and Romans, Volume 16: The Principles of Rome, from Augustus to Alexander Severus. Milan. p. 495.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ "Legio X Gemina - Livius". Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ^ "Legio VII Gemina – Livius". Livius.org. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "Legio XIIII Gemina – Livius". Livius.org. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ Fitz, Jenő (1982). The Great Age of Pannonia. Budapest. p. 14.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ Morris, J.; Jones, A. H. M.; Martindale, J. R. (1992). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire. Cambridge University Press. p. 273. ISBN 0521072336.
- ^ Temporini, Hildegard; Haase, Wolfgang. Aufstieg und Niedergang römischen der Welt (in German). Walter de Gruyter. p. 852. ISBN 3110049716.
- ^ Zosimus, New History, II, 10, 4
- ^ Mazzarino, Santo (1973). The Roman Empire. Vol. II. Rome: Bari. p. 598.
- ^ Decker et al. The earthquake of Carnuntum in the fourth century A.D.. Journal of Seismology 10, pages479–495(2006). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10950-006-9032-0
- ^ Ammianus, Stories, XXX, 5.2
- ^ a b c d Gstrein, Georg (26 July 2021). "Art Carnuntum Welttheater Festival 2021". Hephaestus Wien (in German). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ a b "About us". Home. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Constantina Bordin: "Jede Sekunde war eine Sternstunde"". NÖN.at. 26 August 2021.
- ^ Jahn, George. "Unique Roman Gladiator School Unearthed". NBC News. Associated Press.
- ^ Morgan, James (26 February 2014). "Roman 'gladiator school' recreated". Bbc.com. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
- ^ "The Amphitheater of Carnuntum-Towards a complete 3D model using airborne structure from motion and dense image matching". Academia.edu.
- ^ "The discovery of a gladiatorial school at Carnuntum". Academia.edu..
External links[edit]
- 6 establishments
- 0s establishments in the Roman Empire
- 374 disestablishments
- 370s disestablishments in the Roman Empire
- Populated places established in the 1st century
- Populated places disestablished in the 4th century
- Roman towns and cities in Austria
- Archaeological sites in Austria
- Former populated places in Austria
- Geography of Lower Austria
- Buildings and structures in Lower Austria
- Archaeological parks
- Roman amphitheatres
- Roman legionary fortresses in Austria
- Roman fortifications in Pannonia Superior
- Tiberius
- Quadi
- Populated places in Pannonia


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On 4 October 2018, The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) opened a consultation on 'Establishing a UK Geographical Indications (GI) scheme' post-Brexit. The consultation sought feedback on the proposed UK Scheme but did not invite substantial changes to the proposed scheme which will not change substantially from the existing EU Scheme.
Geographical Indications
Geographical Indications (GIs) are a form of Intellectual Property granted to products with a specific geographical origin having been either produced, processed and/or prepared in a specific region and/or by using specific know-how. Notable examples produced within the UK are the Cornish Pasty, Scotch Whisky and Jersey Royal Potatoes.
These products can be of enormous value to economies such as the UK. Earlier in the year, HM Revenue and Customs reported that exports of Scotch Whisky generated overseas sales of £4.36bn. Poor imitations could harm not only the cultural value of these products, but also reduce revenue streams. Champagne is after all not just any old sparkling wine.
The current system
The current EU system (regulated by EU Regulation No.1151/2012) for registering and protecting such products against imitation and misuse throughout the EU, ensures EU countries comply with international regulation (specifically, the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)). GIs can be obtained for agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines, spirits and aromatised wines. EU-recognised GIs are enforced in every EU Member State and in third countries through trade agreements.
To obtain a GI in the EU, an application is made and considered within an EU Member State, which must also review any opposition before sending the application to the European Commission for further scrutiny. Once satisfied the Commission will, subject to any amendments, grant a GI. Once granted, those products must carry the appropriate GI logo; in the case of agricultural and food products, carrying the logo is mandatory whereas for wine, aromatised wine and spirits, carrying the logo is optional.
Non-EU Member States can also apply to the EU for a GI provided certain conditions are met; including the mutual protection of such products via trade agreements.
New UK GI scheme
The current proposal is that when the UK leaves the EU it will set up its own GI scheme which will broadly mirror the current EU regime, and introduce a new UK GI Logo and appeals process
To obtain a UK GI under the new scheme, applications will be made within the UK to the relevant UK authority. The UK authority will then approve or reject applications and enter successful applications onto a publically accessible register of recognised UK GI products. UK products currently registered under the EU GI schemes would receive automatic protection under the new UK scheme.
At present it is anticipated that UK products registered under the EU Scheme will continue to be recognised by the EU post-Brexit. In the event they are not, and should future UK applicants wish to register their GIs in the EU, they can apply direct to the EU as 'third country producers' once registered in the UK.
It is proposed that the UK Scheme will have its own logos to replace the EU logos. The rules regarding the use of the UK logos will mirror those for the use of the EU Logos. In recognition of the costs producers will incur to switch to the new UK Logos, a 3-year 'adoption period' is proposed to reduce the cost burden for businesses.
For those who wish to appeal decisions made by the relevant UK authority in relation to the grant of UK GIs, the proposal is for appeals to be dealt with by a first-tier tribunal.
A fee, yet to be decided, will be payable for making an application for either UK or EU GIs.
The consultation
The consultation invites stakeholders, i.e. current and future GI rights holders, to provide views on the introduction of the UK's GIs scheme post-Brexit.
The consultation is asking for input on what the UK GI logos should represent and how this can be reflected in the design, whether the 3-year 'adoption period' is long enough and whether the proposed appeals process is suitable.
The consultation closed on 1 November 2018 and a response will be published within 12 weeks of the consultation closing.
Next steps
The UK scheme will echo the current system under the EU. It is hoped that UK GIs will continue to be recognised by the EU post-Brexit, but if not UK GI holders will have to apply to the EU, at an additional cost, for GI recognition in the EU. The UK Government has stated that it is working with its global trading partners to try to accommodate the protection of UK GIs in third countries.


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|The judge rejected claims the biker's rights had been violated in the proceedings to grab properties in Nanaimo, Vancouver and Kelowna. The club was sunk by the information gleaned from 3 big busts "Project Halo," "Project E-Pandora" and "Project E-Predicate."
Davies said that there was no support for the club's claims. His decisions on the forfeiture applications as well as on the Angels' counterclaim are pending. This decision had to be made first.


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Materialism or atheism provides a nice safe neutral ground for Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, and scientists of other religions or no religion to communicate and cooperate. If the atheists are right we all end up the same, we cease to exist. This makes atheism weak and neutral, and therefore comfortable for all.
In the cold war powerful nations, the United States and Soviet Union, often negotiated in weak neutral nations, Switzerland, Austria, and Finland. Materialism serves much the same function of these weak neutral nations.
For the full essay on methodological materialism click here.
For the full essay on miracles and science click here. For my YouTube, video version of Miracles and Science Contrast but don't Contradict click here.
In the worlds of Marvel and DC superheros it might be difficult to found a religion, like Christianity, because all the heroes come back from the dead. The contrast would be lost. Short page on miracles and superheroes here.
Why is there this disconnect between professed belief and action. Educated people seem to feel a greater need to match professed religious belief to action, and therefore religion is more expensive for them. Therefore educated people are more likely to say that they do not believe.
For the full essay on the statistics of religion and education click here.
Recently we have seen a good example of an educated man, and something of a genus, Brendan Eich, making a major sacrifice to match his behavior with his Catholic beliefs. It is well known that he gave a thousand dollars to the campaign for an anti-gay marriage initiative. But what is more he refused to approve of legal recognition of gay marriage. To do so would have been a serious violation of his Catholic faith, and tantamount to apostasy.
The Catholic Church has long been proud of its literary converts. Here is my list of Catholic literary converts. These are people who swam the Tiber against the current of their childhood education, family, and society.
Professionally writers often have to be more broadly knowledgeable than scientists. Scientists as argued above are specialists, often extreme specialists.
Converts are strong evidence that the faith is still a live intellectual option. As people convert both ways their conversions do not prove the truth of a position, but simply that high quality minds can be convinced by the idea.
Tell me what you think. Here is my contact information..Last edited
Miracles don't contradict science
The Amazing Randi says his challenge does not apply to religion
Scientists are specialists, God is not their specialty
Religion Among the Educated and the Brilliant
Educated people attend church more
Brendan Eich unemployed for the Catholic faith
Science, and Religion in Education
Save the controversy for Junior High
Creationists can believe in evolution we see, antibiotic resistance
My secular science work and speculation
My area of expertise, economics
Biology speculation
Apologetics, Miracles, Evidence indexs


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the countdown to the cover reveal is on (just five days left!!!), so i thought it would be fun share something KINGDOM related to hold you over. before i started writing novels, i wrote music reviews online. singer-songwriters, blues, live bands, big bands, oldies, punk; i adore it all. which means i am SO excited… Continue reading KINGDOM OF THE WICKED playlist
Tag: Writing
an ode to the precious and some gemma doyle fangirling
books are such magical things. we can open them and be transported to new worlds, new times, and new adventures. we can laugh and cry and shake our fists along with our favorite characters, and we can fall in love and have our hearts broken with them, too. my ya gothic horror is on submission… Continue reading an ode to the precious and some gemma doyle fangirling
YA Author of FERAL – Holly Schindler – Talks Cats, Creepiness, and Spills Writing Secrets
As promised in yesterday's review, I've got a nice little treat for you today... Please help me (and Bella) warmly welcome YA Author, Holly Schindler, to our little corner of the interwebs with her fun interview! Were there times when you were writing FERAL that you found yourself afraid of unexpected noises, or checking over… Continue reading YA Author of FERAL – Holly Schindler – Talks Cats, Creepiness, and Spills Writing Secrets
Post Revisions Pizza – Homemade Recipe
Hello my lovely blog friends! I know it's been a few months since I've stopped in and said hello, but it's been quite a year. I was balls deep with my new writing project, trying to keep myself occupied while on submission, and doing a BUNCH of research. I'm finally putting the final touches on… Continue reading Post Revisions Pizza – Homemade Recipe
Why, hello there lovely blog friends. It's been...well...it's been a SHAMEFULLY long time. Between moving a thousand miles, unpacking, decorating, writing books, revising books, going through the submission process, reading/critting/and beta'ing friends books, researching the ever loving heck out of my new book, and...excuses, excuses. I know. Hope you're all doing exquisitely on this lovely… Continue reading SUMMER ON THE SHORT BUS
Query Critique
Original Query: Dear (Agent), Small-time thief, big-time troublemaker, Tristan Storey has been accused of a murder he didn't commit. And is going to hang for it. With a rope squeezed tightly around his neck, Tristan knows it's the end, but just as his consciousness flickers, lightning tears down from the sky. It smashes the gallows, freeing the thief.… Continue reading Query Critique
33 Ways to Stay Creative
Do you know how incredible you are?
I know I've said this before, but it's something I firmly believe in. If you are querying, or are out on submission, or doing anything where you're receiving rejections, celebrate them. Want to know why? You are actively DOING something. You decided to go for your dreams, you didn't just talk about it - you… Continue reading Do you know how incredible you are?
25 First Sentences
If you're a writer, you know how difficult it is to nail that elusive (and all-powerful) first line. Writing an entire book is often more enjoyable (and possibly easier) than coming up with that griping, you've GOT to read on sentence. Here are 25 first sentences from pretty amazing books that you can mull over… Continue reading 25 First Sentences
5 Things Every Aspiring Author Should NOT Be Afraid of.
A few months ago I did a guest post on the fabulous Bunny Ears and Batwings Blog (Run by the SUPER awesome Alexis) and wanted to share that post with you here. 5 Things Every Aspiring Author Should NOT Be Afraid of. 1.) Don't be afraid to shelf your work for a bit. Sounds like… Continue reading 5 Things Every Aspiring Author Should NOT Be Afraid of.


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They're Playing Our Song
Music by Marvin Harmlisch, Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager
Book by Neil Simon
Directed and Choreographed by Stephen Bourneuf
STAGES St. Louis
June 4, 2014
My earliest memories of They're Playing Our Song involve the ubiquitous television commercials for the national tour in the early 1980's. First produced on Broadway in 1979, this show was a very popular and much-hyped touring staple. Nowadays, although the show has been revived a few times, it is very much tied to its time. In its music, situations and sensibilities, it's a 1970's show through and through. STAGES St. Louis, in the first main stage production of their 2014 season, has wisely chosen not to try updating the show's setting, presenting what is, for the most part, a sweet and very period-specific romantic comedy with an appealing cast and a clear sense of time and place.
Inspired by the real-life romantic and professional relationship of composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, They're Playing Our Song presents a series of significant moments in the lives of an Oscar-winning composer, the professionally competent but romantically unlucky Vernon Gersch (Seth Rettberg) and his new lyricist Sonia Walsk (Maria Couch), an offbeat and chronically late free spirit who likes to wear recycled theatrical costumes and has a somewhat unhealthy attachment to her unseen but much talked about slacker ex-boyfriend Leon. The more conventional Vernon and the unpredictable Sonia soon forge an uneasy bond, learning to work together and trying to manage a burgeoning romantic connection in the midst of various personality conflicts and situational difficulties. There are a lot of jokes about analysts, New York life, show business, sex and the male vs. female expectations in relationships as the two navigate their on-again, off-again relationship.
If this sounds like a Neil Simon plot, that's because it is. Simon wrote the script, and it plays out like a fairly typical offbeat 197o's romantic comedy. The characters are neurotic and quirky, and the jokes are witty and fast-moving, although some of them don't land quite as well as they probably did once upon a time. Although the show involves the interesting conceit of employing a sort "Greek Chorus" of alter egos for Sonia (Brittany Rose Hammond, Sarah Rolleston, Bronwyn Taboton) and Vernon (Craig Blake, Nic Thompson, Aaron Umsted), the real weight of this production rests on the shoulders of its two leads. Rettberg and Couch bring a lot of enthusiasm to the stage, and Rettberg especially is able to infuse the somewhat stuffy Vernon with a lot of deadpan wit and goofy charm. His voice is strong, especially on "Fallin'" at the beginning of the show, and "Fill In the Words" at the end. Couch does a fine job as Sonia as well, especially in opening scene where all her eccentricities are made known, and in the later scenes where she starts to show some substance behind all the over-the-top quirkiness. Her best musical moments are the plaintive "Just For Tonight" and her duets with Vernon, such as the upbeat disco-driven "Working It Out" and "They're Playing Our Song". Both performers excel in the delightfully cheesy dancing scenes, as well, and their chemistry is good if not exactly electric. There's some great support from the alter-egos, as well, and their entrances from basically everywhere (from inside wardrobe, behind curtains,from behind walls, etc.) are hilarious, even though their role often comes across as more of a running gag than as a truly relevant plot device.
The 70's atmosphere of this production is very well realized, even if sometimes I wish they had hammed it up even more. Director/Choreographer Stephen Bourneuf's fun, disco-influenced dance numbers are a real highlight. The set, by James Wolk, is colorful and clever, with a stage surrounded by a giant piano keyboard and individual sets (especially Sonia's rummage-sale special of an apartment) that add to the whimsical nature of the show, and Matthew McCarthy's lighting design adds to the mood as well with some great effects, especially in illuminating the giant piano keys and in the disco-style lighting of the night club scene. Lou Bird's costumes are another real strength of this production, particularly in Sonia's outfits that range from thrift-store chic to "best of the 7o's" fashion (a striped wrap-around top, an orange turtleneck, a shimmery red disco dress). Vernon's well-coordinated suits accurately reflect his character, as well. This was a very colorful period in American fashion and culture, and that is reflected very well in the overall look and feel of this production.
They're Playing Our Song is musical that definitely shows its age, although there is much to like in STAGES' production. Ultimately, I would say that this is a production that majors on charm and energy, with a sweetly cheesy 70s vibe. Although I do wonder how it will be received by audience members who don't remember this time period, for the most part I think it's a time trip worth taking.


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Despite economic uncertainty, turbulent markets and stagnant wages, the United Performing Arts Fund has defied expectations. One might expect philanthropic endeavors to be hard pressed in these times, but UPAF's fundraising has only grown more successful. In 2015, UPAF set a record by raising $12,001,226.
According to UPAF President and CEO Deanna Tillisch, the upward bump was no fluke. "Over the past three years, we have seen a significant increase in giving with 18.1% growth," she says. "Our goal is to continue raising the bar each year."
UPAF's 2016 campaign launch begins Tuesday, March 1, with an inaugural reception at the Pfister Hotel's Grand Ballroom. The event's theme centers on The Wizard of Oz and its deathless song, "Over the Rainbow." The guest of honor, Aaron Harburg, is great-grandson of the song's socially conscious lyricist, Yip Harburg. "The Yip Harburg Foundation and UPAF share similar goals," he says. "Namely, enriching the lives of others through the arts. Yip understood the importance of creativity and its power to impact culture. Making it possible for others to continue is something that he would no doubt actively encourage." The UPAF campaign culminates with the annual Ride for the Arts, scheduled for Sunday, June 5.
When it began in 1967, UPAF was a novel idea founded on two concepts: 1. Fill one large pot of money and divide it among Milwaukee performing arts groups, reducing the scramble to compete for donors; 2. Derive a portion of that money pot from workplace giving as well as private and corporate donations.
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Six performing arts groups that received UPAF money in 1967 are with us today: Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Skylight Music Theatre and Bel Canto Chorus. UPAF eventually settled on a formula involving 15 "member groups" who receive the lion's share while reserving funding for "affiliate groups."
Why only 15? "It is important that we provide adequate funding for all our groups," Tillisch explains. "Having too many groups diminishes our impact."
UPAF's original mission of keeping music and theater on Milwaukee stages at high levels of proficiency has been supplemented in recent years by the need to repair a faltering cultural ecosystem. In 1967, no one imagined that arts funding would be slashed from public schools and public funding for the arts would dwindle.
"UPAF and its member groups can not entirely fill the gaps left by these funding cutbacks," Tillisch says. But UPAF has stepped in, providing its member groups with grants enabling them to stage performances and hold workshops in area schools. UPAF's Notable Women affinity group is dedicated to raising money towards arts education. Another initiative, UPAF Connect, "will partner with local nonprofits to bring our member groups and arts education programming to those who traditionally have not had this opportunity."
Although UPAF customarily concentrated its efforts in Milwaukee County, affiliate groups in Waukesha and Racine counties also benefit from the fund. "A strong performing arts scene, while mostly based in the Downtown [Waukesha] area, impacts the entire region by attracting innovative companies and talented individuals," Tillisch says.
The 2016 UPAF Campaign Launch begins at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, at the Pfister Hotel Grand Ballroom, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. The program will be emceed by Ryan Jay of Channel 4's "Morning Blend" and feature comments by Aaron Harburg. The event is repeated at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W. Capitol Drive. For more information, call 414-273-8723 or visit bit.ly/2016UPAFLaunch.


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Feature: Bloggers.com
Is there anything better than to come home from a long day of work,
reading an email you've been featured on the Internet?
Well, that's exactly what happened to me today!
I've been featured on the front page of Bloggers, in the section Editor's Pick Of The Day.
Bloggers is a community where you can share and promote your blog with the rest of the
world. It's also the right place to meet other bloggers with the same interests.
Thank you all for the sweet comments and support,
I can't thank you all enough...
Xoxo Krizia
11 comments:
Proficiat meid! Ik wil ook gefeatered worden, haha :DReplyDelete
@ Glamour Bbey.: Jij bent toch gefeatured op de site van Chicisimo met je interview, niet?ReplyDelete
x Je suis Sophie
- AnonymousDecember 6, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Wat leuk voor je! :DReplyDelete
Dank je wel, allemaal! =)ReplyDelete
- Laura OpgenortDecember 6, 2010 at 7:06 PM
Proficiat meid!ReplyDelete
Check altijd met heel veel plezier je blog.
@ Laura: Dank je wel, schat! Ik mis je! XxReplyDelete
Congrats! That's amazing! :)ReplyDelete
Regarding the Wang bag, it's kind of heavy but the long strap (that sits very comfortably on the arm) makes you not realize how heavy it is! I find the Balenciagas with giant hardware to feel heavier than the Wang!
@ Helena: Thanks for the information, doll!ReplyDelete
Congrats Girly!!! :)ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for all of your comments.
I always do my best to answer your questions, so if you have a question, I'll answer it here in the comment section!


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by Anya Monroe
Release Date: 02/19/15
***Paddle boards, bonfires & bikinis won't help Penny. She craves the boy from the woods; not knowing she's already caught in his nightmare. ***
Penny's nightmare is ruling her life and she doesn't know why. It started a few months ago, and since then Red Bulls, 5-hour Energy Shots, and Starbucks drive-thru are her lifeline.
When Penny's parents decide to take their research of a rare Native American cult to a remote cabin for the summer, she's less than enthused.
Then Penny meets Delsin in a clearing in the woods, and her view of the world awakens. Apathy defines her, but Delsin lives life to it's fullest. A shaman-in-training, he is everything Penny is not.
Each morning she comes to the woods, handing pieces of her heart to him, but when Penny is confronted with her worst nightmare, Delsin asks for a sacrifice Penny didn't see coming.
My parents told me apathy is the first sign of depression and I told them I don't give a shit. That's when I got locked up in the psych ward for fourteen days, which is how long insurance would let me stay. The only decent thing about that place was the drugs were so good I could sleep without remembering.
At home, I don't have that luxury. Grandma got all hooked on painkillers a few years ago so to say my parents have "issues" with narcotics would be an understatement. In their opinion, Advil is basically a gateway drug.
Besides the drugs, I hated the psych ward. The food was seriously disgusting and access to Starbucks was a no-go. One time Ollie tried to bring me a quad-venti-salted-caramel-mocha and he had to dump it out in a sink. Literally dump the entire twenty ounces of glory down the drain in front of the nurse. I told him he was a jackass for even telling me that story.
You don't mess with caffeine.
At least I don't. Not anymore.
I suppose I am a hypocrite. Since I do care about coffee, which is the only thing keeping me on this side of crazy.
"I'm getting a bagel. You want anything to eat?" Ollie asked as we pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru. I shook my head no, frowning at the question. Carbs made me sleepy. Sleeping is where all the trouble started. "Okay, one bagel and a venti Americano with cream. Oh, and a grande chocolate chip Frappuccino," he said into the intercom.
"I can't believe you're drinking that before 8 am."
"It's all good, Penny. I'm headed to the lake with my paddleboard. Ain't nobody gonna hold me down!" He gets all gangster when he's pumped. He graduated high school last week and suddenly the world is his oyster. Which would make sense if he weren't currently couch surfing.
"I still have to go to school, okay? Stop rubbing it in my face."
I had another week of junior year. Ollie could suck it. He got to do whatever the hell he wanted. I mean, besides the homeless part. I handed him a twenty, which he in turn handed to the barista hanging out the window wearing a green apron and a smile.
I scowled at her.
Taking a sip of the coffee helped even though Ollie kept driving toward the massive brick masterpiece that had been my school for way too long. The place blew, and Ollie was the only reason it had managed to remain semi-tolerable.
"I can't believe you're ditching me. I would never do that to you," I whined to my best friend as we pulled up to the curb for drop off.
"Look, I'll pick you up after school, just like we promised your parents, and then we can go do something epic. Something totally Penny." He leaned over to open the door for me, kissing me on the cheek.
"What in the world is something totally Penny?" I asked, as I got out of his ancient Honda civic.
"We could go to the mall. There's a sale at American Eagle."
I rolled my eyes out of habit. Having a gay best friend would be better if I liked to shop.
"You're such a cliché," I said, shutting the door.
"See you at three!" He called through the rolled-down window as he drove away, leaving me standing, half-awake, on the sidewalk outside of the lamest establishment known to man.
I pulled my phone out of the pocket of my hoodie as it vibrated. Mom.
MOM: Hope you made it to school okay!
See you at 6. Please check in at 3 and hand in paper! XO
I needed more coffee if I was going to get through the day.
Anya Monroe likes to write stories and paint words on her walls. She believes in love at first sight and fights for happily-ever-afters. As a wife and mom to six kids, she carves out time to write between carpool pick-ups and date nights because words are her heartbeat. She lives a ferry ride from Seattle and is a total Pacific Northwesterner who drinks chai lattes and wears Birkenstocks and has dreadlocks. She's a cliché, but doesn't mind it. Not even a little.
She documents her lovely-messy life on IG @anyamonroe. Find her there!
Book Blitz Organized by:


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The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) recorded three cases of Streptococcus suis infection in June 2015.The first case was a 52-year-old woman with good past health. She presented with fever and right knee pain since June 18 and was admitted to a public hospital on the same day. Her right knee joint aspirate and blood specimen collected on June 18 grew Streptococcus suis. Clinical diagnosis was right knee septic arthritis with sepsis. She underwent arthroscopic surgery and was treated with antibiotics. Her current condition was stable.
The second case was an 80-year-old man with underlying illness. He presented with fever and left knee pain and swelling on June 23 and was admitted to a public hospital on June 24. His blood specimen taken on June 24 grew Streptococcus suis. He was treated as left knee septic arthritis. He underwent arthroscopic surgery and was treated with antibiotics. His condition remained stable.
The third case was a 46-year-old man with good past health. He presented with fever, headache, dizziness, sore throat and abdominal pain since June 23 and was admitted to a public hospital on June 26. His blood specimen taken on June 26 grew Streptococcus suis. He was treated as sepsis with antibiotics. His condition was stable.
All three patients recalled having handled raw pork but denied any previous skin wound or contact with pigs. Their home contacts were asymptomatic. Investigations are on-going.
Human Streptococcus suis infection is a zoonotic infection associated with pigs. The infection can be fatal, particularly if the specific strain produces certain toxins. S. suis infection can manifest itself inmeningitis, toxic shock, septicemia and endocarditis.
Eating undercooked infected pork and blood paste are common ways people contract the disease.
Proper cooking of pork meat or porcine organs eliminates the risk of infection with Streptococcus suis. The infection in humans is not only seen in those who consume raw pork, but also in those who slaughter and prepare the meals.
Streptococcus suis infection can be treated with appropriate antibiotics.
To prevent the disease, members of the public are advised to always practise personal and environmental hygiene. They should avoid contact with pigs that are sick or dead from diseases and their excreta or body fluid. If contact with pigs or raw pork is necessary, one should:
* Use protective gloves;
* Wash hands after handling pigs or raw pork; and
* Clean and cover all wounds properly.


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Standardised Knowledge
Talk Series
Standardisation of housing construction, rationalisation of layouts, uniformity of lettering and language, modularisation of forms – the Bauhaus strove for systematisation and consistency. Behind this lay the Bauhaus's belief in the egalitarian power of technology and industry. It also shows the will to intervene through design to bring order to an increasingly complex and accelerated present. In light of the Bauhaus's drive for standardisation, the talk series Standardised Knowledge introduces modern projects, standard works and systems that address the ambivalent alliance between the pursuit of order and the shaping of society.
The talk series is part of the supporting programme for the exhibition Carl Fieger. From Bauhaus to Bauakademie.
Thursday, 27 September 2018
6 – 7.30 pm
Bauhaus Building
Weltformat DIN
Talk by Markus Krajewski, media scientist and professor of media studies at the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Past Events
Thursday, 19 April 2018
6 – 7.30 pm
Bauhaus Building
Organised Transport. The Container System
Talk by Alexander Klose, author and Container Researcher from Vienna, Austria.
Thursday, 17 May 2018
6 – 7.30 pm
Bauhaus Building
Houses of the Production Line: The "Packaged House System" of Walter Gropius and Konrad Wachsmann
Talk by Bauhaus Lab 2018. The Bauhaus Lab "The Universal Connector. Building Systems after the Bauhaus" is engaged in research into the universal wedge connectors that underpin the building system by Walter Gropius and Konrad Wachsmann.
Thursday, 21 June 2018
6 – 7.30 pm
Bauhaus Building
Ernst Neuferts: Architects' Data: A Standard Work
Talk by Gernot Weckherlin, architect from Berlin. He worked at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Universität der Künste Berlin and Beuth-Hochschule Berlin.
Exhibition and supporting programme
Carl Fieger
From Bauhaus to Bauakademie
22 Mar – 31 Oct 2018
daily 10 am – 5 pm
Bauhaus Building
Fieger Construction Kit
Interactive Architectures
22 March – 31 October 2018
All day
Bauhaus Building
Visitors of all ages
Drawing Made Simple
9 September 2018
10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm
All ages
Bauhaus Building


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What is chest piercing?
In recent times, surface piercings have invoked a great deal of interest in many youngsters, chest piercing being one of them. As the name suggests, chest piercing involves the perforation of the chest that is believed to cause a lot of pain unlike other types of surface piercings. If you are planning to get your chest pierced then make sure you visit a well-known piercing parlor adhering to all the guidelines and policies set by the health department of your state. Continue reading "Chest Piercing"


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Answer: Personal documents are stored on an offline server.
The personal information we receive from you for verification will be stored on an offline server after review. Because this server is not connected to the internet, it is not sensitive to online attacks. Only authorised persons within LiteBit have access to this offline server.
We meet the standards of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
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27 Jan 2020
Jack Miller RZ Recipe for a Winning Season
The newest orange bell pepper variety called Jack Miller RZ has developed the reputation of an easy to grow variety without any special requirements. This pepper was successfully grown (6 hectares) at one company in 2019, and in 2020, Jack Miller RZ is being grown on over 50 hectares throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.
With success in Europe, Jack Miller has made a good impression in Canada as a reliable high quality variety with large fruits. Over 10 hectares are being grown in Canada this year. Keeping a healthy balanced crop, Jack Miller RZ can lead to a regular production and help keep labor down in both harvesting and pinching. Read the Jack Miller RZ crop manual PDF to learn more about one grower's recipe for success with Jack Miller.
Jack Miller RZ Grower Recipe
- Recipe for success to the finish line with Jack Miller RZ. Pdf file 1.67 MB
Still have not heard of Jack Miller RZ? Watch and learn about this new exciting variety and its benefits!
For more information, contact Pepper Crop Specialist, Bradley Breedveld at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Designer Dupes
Okay, okay so I know this can be a controversial matter, but I get a TON of requests for a blog post on designer dupes. Some of you like the real deal while others of you are all about a dupe! I fall somewhere RIGHTTTTT in the middle. I love having designer pieces, when I can afford to splurge, but I also understand how tempting it can be to save on a dupe. I will say that all of my handbags are real, and that's one thing that I just prefer to splurge on for the sake of quality. When it comes to shoes and belts, I have a little of both. Sooooo, don't send me any hate messages, lol I am simply extending some resources for those that choose to buy the occasional dupe :)
These designer pieces are some that I am currently obsessing over, or have recently purchased for myself (oops)! Also, a major heads up- if you're used to buying real designer pieces, or you've never purchased a dupe, remember not to expect the quality of a designer piece... hence why it's less expensive ;) I'm always pretty skeptical when I am eyeing a designer inspired item because some websites can be sketchy so read reviews and do a little research before you order!
Here we go... the moment you've been waiting for!
Below I have my favorite designer/dupe combos, and then below that even MORE for you!
Ready, set, SHOP!
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