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This lightly grilled avocado was infused with a lovely hint of smoky flavour paired perfectly with the refreshing icy cold yuzu granita and crisp organic kale topped with caramelised walnut.
Sweet and succulent, the scallop coated with sesame add a nice crunch and a burst of flavour, beautifully presented with compressed green pear and a good dash of dun pea oil.
This perfectly pan-seared foie gras was crisp on the edge, rich and creamy in texture wonderfully accompanied by portobello and porcini duxelle, cranberry brioche and fungi veloute.
Tangy guava sorbet topped with banana foam.
For the main course, I opted for this sumptuous beef cheek. Wonderfully braised, the beef cheek has the most incredible melt-in-your-mouth texture, absolutely rich and flavourful, paired beautifully with braised leek, roasted parsnip and crisp, de la vera dust.
My partner picked this succulent grouper fish fillet drizzled with yuzu reduction and beautifully garnished with tomato horseradish pate, onion petal and poached napa cabbage.
The cheese was lovely presented on a marble board along with accompaniment such as raisin on vine, house-baked 'croute', toasted wild nut and New Zealand honey comb embodying a myriad of flavours and textures.
Simply stunning, the tangerine jello was sweet and tart whilst the opalys semifreddo and cuvee bali torte gave some crisp texture, savouring each bite was really enjoyable.
Beautifully presented, the divine rhubarb ganache was filled with nutritious granola seed and a nice sweet kick from jackfruit soy gelato, a true delight for the senses.
Cap off the night with a selection of mouth-watering petit cookies platter.
The Face Suites
1020, Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel : 03-2168 1688
Opening hours : Daily from 6.00pm to 10.30pm
Website : www.thefacekl.com


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The aim of our research is always to help the ones who need better hearing. Therefore, it is important to listen to those in contact with hearing aid users, when generating the ideas which are the foundation of everything we do.
And that is exactly what we did for this week's idea generation workshop. To get inspired to think outside the box we took untraditional methods into use. We opened a window to reality by inviting Kirsten Miró, who is a hairdresser, and Tanja Pico Stougaard, who is an optician, to Eriksholm Research Centre. Their professions may not be the first that comes to mind when thinking of hearing loss, but they are both in contact with hearing aid users in their daily work. And that gives them a special knowledge.
To spark all kinds of alternative ideas, our two guest were interviewed about their experiences in a temporary living room in the lecture hall. A setup which hasn't been seen before at Eriksholm.
"Some costumers tell me that they have a hearing aid, because they want to make sure that I don't cut the hair to short, so the hearing aid will be visible," hairdresser Kirsten Miró explained in the interview.
Tanja Pico Stougaard told that for an optician it is quite important to know, whether the costumer is a hearing aid user in order to make the glasses fit properly next to the hearing aid.
"When we choose a frame, it needs to fit behind the ears, so we will always notice, if they are using a hearing aid, even if they don't tell us," she said.
Her impression is that her costumers are happy with their hearing aids and not afraid to talk about them. But some, especially women, still seem a bit shy about publicly showing their hearing aids. Kirsten Miró agreed to this.
After the interview our employees really got to work and opened up a creative mindset, which resulted in tables and windows painted with colourful post-its and bright ideas.
The participants developed their ideas in groups
Our guests were interviewed about their experiences with costumers using hearing aids
Optician Tanja Pico Stougaard brought different glasses to show how different the temples can be
Ideas were written on the boards
The setup was imitating a living room
Kirsten Miró explaining how she is in contact with hearing aid users when working as a hairdresser
The interview kickstarted the idea process
One of the groups discussing the ideas
The Oticon Foundation established the Eriksholm Workshop series for gathering small groups of experts in audiology and hearing science.
> Read more
You can reach us at email@example.com. If you want to contact us regarding a specific study or research area, you can find the appropriate contact person in the top of every research and study page.
Disclaimer Cookie Policy Copyright 2017

subset: commoncrawl


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Name Angela represents about 1.0696% of Italian population (10° most common name), that corresponds approximately to 645416 people.
The geographical distribution of the name Angela in Italy
© 2006-2023 ItaliaNames.com - All rights reserved - ItaliaNames.com is proudly made in Italy by Nomix s.r.l.
Tax ID: IT02941300044 - Email: info - About us


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World's leading mobile platform, LINE is launching Free Talk Time promotion once again to recreate the frenzy from the first edition. Starting from June 1st, if users send any message or sticker on LINE, they will earn points every day, and gain up to INR 111 worth of Free Talk Time on their mobile phone. The promotion would run for an entire month and this time the offer is bigger and better.
By rewarding 'Free Talk Time', LINE wants to provide endless pleasure of using LINE service to its very own users.
LINE is continuously adding new features and promotions to its service to enhance user experiences and benefits. The offer is available for all prepaid and post-paid users on smart phones operating on iOS and Android OS with no restriction on the telecom service provider. LINE aims to free everyone from the burden of spending more to talk more. This offer is all about talking more for FREE.
To redeem the Free Talk Time through LINE, the users need to –
1. Send at least one message or sticker to a LINE friend every day to receive Free Talk Time points. Each day is a milestone and with each milestone the Free Talk Time increases.
2. In 25 days, users can earn as much as INR 111
Representative of LINE India, Daman Soni, said "The first leg of Free Talk Time exceeded our expectations. LINE users were blown away by our offer and we saw a huge number of users redeeming the offer every day. With every campaign we are getting a considerable number of active users on board and this testifies that our research is paying off. Our mobile messaging business is growing in India and we would continue to offer our users innovative options to experience the LINE app and extend usage beyond simple chat."
LINE also provides a chance to get exclusive deals by creating a dynamic market place through its platform. With messages on the go, LINE users have an option to shop from their favourite brands on a special price exclusively on LINE. Recently LINE has also released localized character stickers designed and created by famous Indian artistes and illustrators. The sprawling online offering has made LINE a truly engaging platform and a huge success in India.
To date, LINE has reached more than 440 million users worldwide, and more than 18 million users in India. Making strides forward in its industry, LINE continues to provide most engaging and innovative communication services.
You can download the latest version of the application from the links below:


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Viega streamlines vertically integrated PEX tubing production, adding resin production to McPherson, Kan. manufacturing and distribution campus.
Wichita. Kan. — Viega moved production of PEX resin used in the manufacturing of its ViegaPEX Ultra tubing for plumbing systems to its McPherson, Kan. manufacturing and distribution center.
By centralizing the PEX tubing manufacturing process in McPherson, Viega is better able to monitor its PEX products for quality, improve product innovations, as well as better integrate sustainability practices in production. Viega became the first manufacturer to quality control PEX tubing from raw material through finished product nearly two years ago.
"We're now able to monitor the materials more closely and make innovations much faster," said David Perciful, director of quality assurance at Viega. "We work with thousands of pounds of materials each day for PEX tubing production here in McPherson with a close eye on quality, providing the PEX tubing that exceeds our customers' expectations."
The ViegaPEX Ultra tubing produced in the vertically integrated McPherson facility include the standard blue, red, white and black ViegaPEX tubing as well as the purple ViegaPEX tubing for reclaimed water that was introduced in February.
The PEX resin processes were previously completed at a more than 70,000-square-foot facility in Georgia and were consolidated into a 10,000-square-foot space at its existing McPherson facility. This eliminates the need for additional packaging and shipping, which reduces the overall environmental impact and carbon footprint of its PEX production.
ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, which offers the highest industry ratings for UV exposure and chlorine resistance, is extruded from Viega's own resin. This step creates higher quality product that will provide excellent performance and offers increased flexibility compared to tubing made from third-party resins. ViegaPEX Ultra tubing can withstand up to six months of exposure to sunlight without damaging its performance.
The increased flexibility of Viega's PEX tubing helps installers reduce labor costs and minimize materials costs by needing fewer fittings. This also decreases the potential for leak points in a plumbing system.
Viega has a heritage of manufacturing excellent high-performance products and innovative concepts such as its PEX solutions which include ViegaPEX Ultra tubing, Viega ManaBloc and Viega PEX Press fittings.
About Viega:
The Viega Group, with a tradition of innovation for more than 115 years, has more than 4,000 employees worldwide and is among the leading manufacturers of pipe fitting installation technology. In metal press systems for industrial, commercial and residential projects, the company is the global market leader. In the U.S., Viega LLC employs nearly 500 people and offers more than 3,000 products. These include Viega ProPress for copper and stainless, Viega MegaPress for black iron pipe and Viega PEX Press systems in Zero Lead bronze and high-performance polymer. Viega also specializes in the design, production and installation of ProRadiant™ heating and cooling systems. For more information, visit www.viega.us.


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SC refuses to entertain plea for directions to curb black magic, forced religious conversions
The bench said there is no reason why a person above 18 can't be allowed to choose his religion.
Published: 09th April 2021 12:10 PM | Last Updated: 09th April 2021 12:10 PM | A+A A-
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday said persons above 18 years of age are free to choose their religion as it refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Centre and states to control black magic and religious conversion.
A bench of Justices RF Nariman, B R Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy told senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayana, appearing for petitioner advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, "What kind of writ petition is this under Article 32. We will impose a heavy cost on you. You argue on your own risk".
The bench said there is no reason why a person above 18 can't be allowed to choose his religion.
It further told Sankaranarayana, "there is a reason why the word propagate is there in the Constitution".
Sankaranarayanan then sought liberty to withdraw the petition and permission to make representation to the government and the law commission.
The bench also refused to grant permission to a representation to the law commission and said, "no we can't grant you this permission".
It dismissed the petition as withdrawn.
The plea filed by Upadhyay has also sought directions to ascertain the feasibility of appointing a committee to enact a Conversion of Religion Act to check the "abuse of religion".
"Religious conversion by 'carrot and stick' and by 'hook or crook' not only offends Articles 14, 21, 25, but is also against the principles of secularism, which is an integral part of the basic structure of the Constitution."
"Petitioner states with dismay that the Centre and States have failed to control the menace of black magic, superstition and deceitful religious conversion, though it is their duty under Article 51A," said the plea filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey.
Alleging that the government has failed to take any concrete action against them, the plea said the Centre may enact a law with minimum imprisonment of 3 years that may extend up to 10 years and a hefty fine may be imposed.


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Newswise — The University of Texas at El Paso's College of Science opened the spring 2020 semester with its newest undergraduate degree offering – a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB). The new degree is the campus' latest effort in an ongoing mission of providing competitive academic and research opportunities at one of the most reasonable prices for a U.S. top tier university.
The new EEB program, which is housed in the Department of Biological Sciences, will benefit students preparing for careers or advanced degrees in such fields as ecology, evolutionary biology, systematics, zoology, plant science, conservation biology, or wildlife management. The 24 semester hours of required coursework offer students opportunities in topics such as introduction to research, desert ecology and population genetics. Sixteen courses are part of the formal degree plan, while many other electives can be applied.
The program will be led by Elizabeth Walsh, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences and director of the EEB program. Walsh said 13 biology faculty members are involved in the program and new faculty hires are anticipated to support the new degree.
Walsh said the program was created to meet the demand for more trained professionals in ecology and evolutionary biology that can fill jobs as science teachers, educators, and in government positions at agencies such as the National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, one of the fastest-growing job sectors is related to environmental changes associated with human impacts on natural resources.
The degree is a gateway to advanced degrees such as master's and doctoral programs in EEB, biology, conservation biology, and others, Walsh said.
UTEP offers a total of 72 bachelor's, 72 master's and 22 doctoral degrees.
Students interested in the program can email [email protected] or visit the EEB website at www.utep.edu/science/eeb to learn more.


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Injection Procedure Enhancer / Great for Post-Procedure Skin. Good for all skin types
The iComplete System
- Intense Firming Complex
- Skin Hydration Complex
Helps enhance the effects of injections and other anti-aging procedures. This two-step age reversal regimen is specifically designed for use following injections and other procedures to maximise and extend results.


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Seminole Pool
5948 Schumann Drive
Link to the Seminole Pool Web site
Pool Configuration: 27 meters by 6 lanes
From downtown Madison take Monroe Street to Nakoma Road. Turn left on Seminole Highway and head south on Seminole Highway. Continue on Seminole across the Beltline (Route 12) and through the intersection of Seminole and McKee Road (Hwy PD). Turn left on Schumann Drive. Pool is located on your left at 5948 Schumann Drive.
From other locations take the Beltline (Route 12) to the Midvale Avenue (Route 18) exit and head south toward Verona. Midvale turns into Verona Rd as it passes under the Beltline. Head southwest on Verona Road to McKee Road (HwyPD). Turn left on McKee and head east. Turn right at the second stop light which is Seminole Highway. Turn left on Schumann Drive. Pool is located on your left at 5948 Schumann Drive.


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Consumer Construction, Inc., was founded in 1985 as a family-owned business. The company began as a
residential and commercial roofIng company serving customers in Prince William County. By 1999, the
company began to offer windows and siding services as well. Over its three decades of operation,
Consumer Construction has added key capabilities to its repertoire of home exterior remodeling
offerings and has expanded to include home interior remodeling offerings.
In the last decade, Consumer Construction has added doors, decking, and gutters to its list of services. The steady growth of our capabilities now enable us to completely transform homes in Northern Virginia, by including all exterior remodeling needs for our customers. We are proud to have completely renovated several hundred homes in the Northern Virginia area. Most recently, with the help of our expanding team of experts, we offer a number of home interior remodeling services, including finishing basements. Consumer Construction has grown steadily since our start as a small roofing company.
Today, Consumer Construction is owned and operated by husband and wife team Ken and Joan Ayer. Ken is a business leader with over three decades of manufacturing, engineering, and customer service experience. Joan is the company's in-house counsel and leads the company's marketing efforts. Today, the business continues to grow and thrive thanks to our highly-skilled and professional staff. We are proud of our reputation and are honored to have worked with many repeat customers over the years. Consumer Construction has been in business now for over 30 years providing top-notch services and honoring its warranties. We look forward to many more years working with valued customers!


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We fix 99% of issues remotely
- Details
- Created: Monday, 09 December 2019
- Written by Ella Coles
We fix 99% of issues remotely. Why is that better?
It means we can get to the root of the problem faster. We see exactly what's happening on the customer screen, straight away, in real-time. We get the relevant details while it's fresh in the customer's mind.
If we send out an engineer for every problem, the customer has to wait for the engineer to get there and begin troubleshooting, and by this time the customer has forgotten important details.
Investigating remotely provides an immediate and efficient service to customers when things go wrong.
Contact us if you're fed up of waiting for IT to arrive and fix your problems


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A unique experience to rememberVilla Cordevigo is a completely restored Venetian villa of the 16th century, which placed just a 10-minute drive from Lake Garda, Italy. The outdoor space is surrounded by beautiful vineyards creating a space that offer peace and sheer relaxation for the guests. An exclusive vacation spot dedicated to wellness and the well-being of their guests.
Shoppa det som visas i storyn
Från 13 900 kr
Från 4 700 kr
Från 4 600 kr
Från 19 200 kr


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Peace Scholars
The Peace Scholars program was designed to deepen students' understanding of the central issues and theories regarding conflict, war and peace. Through an application and interview process, students are selected as Peace Scholars and awarded a seven-week academic experience held in Lillehammer and Oslo, Norway.
The program is an outgrowth of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, an annual event held in Minneapolis that inspires students and other global citizens to become active participants in peacemaking efforts around the world. Begun in 1988 by Luther and four other colleges, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum is the Norwegian Nobel Institute's only such program or academic affiliation outside of Norway.
Academic Coursework
The program begins with five days at the Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue in Lillehammer, where Peace Scholars will be participant-observers in structured dialogue sessions with students from the Balkans/Caucasus regions.
The program continues at the University of Oslo's International Summer School (ISS) where students will participate in a Peace Scholars Seminar, a rigorous academic course that provides an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of peace and conflict studies and combines theoretical and empirical aspects. As part of the seminar, students will be expected to develop a research project in consultation with the course leader.
Because Norway is known in the international community for its leadership role in advocating cooperation and the peaceful resolution of conflict, the Peace Scholars Seminar will include visits to several peace organizations and institutions in Norway, including the International Peace Research Institute, the Nobel Institute, and the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights. Scholars will also take an ISS course of their own choosing with other international students. Course offerings include Norwegian language, culture, or international politics. At the successful conclusion of the program, the Peace Scholars will receive academic credit for two courses.
The Peace Scholars program is competitive, and those selected to participate will be awarded a scholarship that will cover most of the costs to the Lillehammer and Oslo program and ISS program fees, including academic credit, room, and board. Students will be responsible for personal expenses, books, and supplies.
- Open to UH System full-time undergraduate students with a strong academic record (3.0 cumulative G.P.A. or above preferred).
- Attendance in the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota in mid-October (official dates forthcoming).
- Available for participation in Peace Scholars Program at the University of Oslo in Norway from June 16 - August 2, 2019 (be sure to be available a week early for travel plans).
- Agree to use of blogs and pictures for further promotion of the program
- Costs: Students are responsible for personal expenses and may be expected to cover some of the costs of their round-trip airfare.
- Applicants must commit to the full program dates that normally range from mid-June to early-August.
- Attendance at two of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum is highly encouraged. The purpose of the first is to be introduced and to attend a brief orientation session for the Peace Scholars program. The purpose of attending the second Forum is to network with the newly-appointed scholars.
- Blog regularly during the Peace Scholar experience in Norway
- Formally share one's Peace Scholar learning experience in two venues during Fall semester, either on campus or in one's home community
- Play a leadership role in peace activities on one's campus and community
- Assist in promoting the Peace Scholars program and the upcoming Nobel Peace Prize Forum
- Assist in other aspects of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, such as hosting and introducing speakers or other opportunities provided by the Forum staff
Application Deadline: Program on Hiatus
- 1,000-word essay (max) addressed to the Peace Scholars Selection Committee. The essay should articulate one's interest in being a Peace Scholar, including how the experience would connect with one's academic and vocational interests and goals.
- Two letters of recommendation: one from a faculty member and the second from either a faculty or staff member.
- Resume/CV.
- Official Transcripts.
- Interview (finalists).
- Selected Peace Scholars must complete the Oslo International Summer School online application at uio.no/summerschool.
For more information contact:


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A librarian's laugh-out-loud funny, deeply moving collection of love letters and breakup notes to the books in her life.
If you love to read, and presumably you do since you've picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it's clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.
In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler's Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence's take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature—sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.
A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book…and another, and another, and another!
"A winsome volume published this year in which the librarian Annie Spence writes letters to books she has loved, or not." —New York Times Book Review
"Perfect for any bibliophile and terrifically funny." —Library Journal, starred Review
"A librarian delivers a charming epistolary volume that begs to be read with pencil in hand.... A smart, funny, forthright librarian in book form." —Kirkus
"Dear Dear Fahrenheit 451, thanks for the lovely reminder of the ways we find ourselves in books." —Booklist, starred review
"The truest testament to the quality of Dear Fahrenheit 451…is that my enjoyment of it was, in the end, great enough to outweigh my fury that someone other than me had written it....She has a unique ability to capture the thoughts and feelings of book lovers, both professional and otherwise, on the page." —NPR
"Readers (and librarians especially) will appreciate the sly stabs or 'roasting' that the author makes to point out fine and not-so-fine moments of key books that she is contemplating removing from her shelf. She weaves in stories from her life inside a library (which is fodder for chuckles in itself). Perfect for fans of Jenny Lawson." —LibraryReads, "The top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love"
"Hard to put down....Dear Fahrenheit 451 is a delightful gem for readers who experience stories as friends, not just words on a page." —Shelf Awareness
"A collection of one public librarian and book lover's snarky, relatable, and hilarious (like really, really, laugh-out-loud hilarious) letters to the books she has loved (and hated, and passed on) throughout her life." —Bustle
"A must-read for librarians (duh) and avid book lovers." —Albany Times-Union
"A funny, reflective look at the books we love and the ones we don't." —Gazette-Mail
"Spence, like all devoted librarians, is informed, well-read, and able to keep a straight face when somebody asks her where to find a book on the Norman Tableknocker Choir. Her knowledge is encyclopedic. And—the reader is warned—she can be a tad salty…As they say at the library, check it out." —The Virginian-Pilot
"Spence is a Michigan librarian with a predictable passion for books and an endearing, if less conventional, habit of talking to them. More accurately, she writes to them with sweetness and candor, with fondness and scorn." —The Kansas City Star
"All books should be as fun as this…I want to keep this book at home, but I know it must be shared with the world." —Burlington Times-News


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Welcome to my page. My name is Master Jay, I am a male hypnotist and I love making erotic hypnosis.
I've been into hypnosis for as long as I can remember and always thought there was a lack of hypno maledomonline, so I decided to give it a try myself. Feedback was great, so I continued.
I love the erotic side of hypnosis. While most artists like to focus on other aspects of the mind, I'm more into the pleasure side. I think hypnosis should be a safe and pleasurable experience that not only leaves you feeling good physically, but mentally as well.
My style can vary from file to file. I especially enjoy being loving and caring towards my subs but I can be dominant as well. I love weaving the strangest fantasies, carrying you deep into them and guiding you to your sweet release. I especially enjoy making files for men because I can relate to them better.
Come escape into my world.
Yes, that's it. Closer. Deeper. Sleep. Good pet.
Of course my main goal on Erotic-Hypnosis.com is to give you exactly what a male hypnotist should: gay hypnosis, submissive training, cock worship, cum eating, cock sucking fantasies, slave hypnosis and much, much more; all aimed at giving you the most pleasure possible. I also like using sleep hypnosis as a gateway and introduction to a deeper and more pleasurable experience, you'll hear what I mean in my files.
You will find that all my files contain binaural beats, layered audio tracks and whispers to give you the best trance experience, so make sure you listen to them using headphones.
Maledom & Gay Hypnosis Sessions by Master Jay:
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Obedient Maid Loop$15,00 incl. VATThis erotic hypnosis loop is packed with layered audio tracks and subliminal messages to slowly but surely turn you into Master Jay's obedient maid.Add to cart


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FAA Repair Station # D57R025X
Experience - Effective - Economical - Excellence
1410 Industrial Dr. Royse City, Texas 75189
972.635.7922 office 1.866.4.ROTORS 972.635.7944 fax
**Now offering State of the Art NDT Services**
Southern Rotorcraft USA is opening its NDT Capabilities Services to the public.
In other words, if you need professionals to do the NDT of your parts, please let us help you out.
Call us now or send us an e-mail to get a quote and/or to get more information about pricing.
Office: 972-635-7922
E-mail: Click Here or Click Here
Our fax is also available if you prefer to use this method:
Fax: 972-635-7944
We'll be glad to be of any assistance.


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Because we live in a globalized economy, market trends and customer preferences constantly morph and change over time. This only leaves brands with (open-ended) questions about their customers.
Among the constant waves of competition and increasing power of choice given to consumers, a company's ability to maintain an agile strategy with this added pressure will determine its rate of survival over the next decade.
With that in mind, conducting effective and impactful market research is now more essential to basic business survival than at any point in history.
That's why we put together this epic list of 100 open-ended survey questions for market research.
Often, the first step in collecting consumer data is developing a strong customer survey. The type of survey questions you use would then be really dependent on the type of insights you are looking to collect.
Close-ended (or multiple choice) questions can be highly effective in helping you achieve a quantitative overview of your customers. For example, if you were conducting research on condiment usage patterns, multiple choice responses can help you quickly understand the percentage of users that consume cilantro on a weekly basis.
On the other hand, open-ended questions can help you understand deeper, qualitative customer insights. For example, as part of the same research, open-ended questions can you help collect free form verbatims on what difficulties customers face when they cook with spices.
Good surveys are built with specific insights in mind. Within the world of market research, we believe that strong qualitative survey questions can fall under five broad categories:
Implementing the appropriate open-ended questions in a survey helps you collect the most relevant insights to your needs. But what are the different types of questions your company can use to collect the strongest survey data?
What does the customer journey look like for your consumers? What are some of the key pain-points they face? Use these questions to gain better insights into those behaviors and preferences.
Customer feedback management has a bad reputation for existing in quantitative scales of 1 to 5 and smiley faces of measurement delivered via cold email. Whether a customer's feedback for your product or service is positive or not, this type of data collection will likely not give your company the feedback you want. Instead, try a few of these open-ended questions to collect quick, meaningful data.
Your company can collect data on a variety of types of customer feedback - and you don't have to wait until after a product's launch. Gauge customer interest for new products or features by writing a survey that measures perception, usage, tone, and experience before the concept ever reaches fruition. Use these questions to launch your inquisition into a new concept.
Qualitative research is not exclusive to product development and concept testing. Surveys can also be used to understand customer and consumer perception of marketing and advertising campaigns. These questions will help your company better understand external perceptions of your product.
Although competitors come up in a variety of conversations with customers, asking specific competitive analysis questions is your time to dig deeper into your market share and potentially obtain internal information from competing companies.
So you've developed a strong set of questions. What's next? Check out the next step in our guide to writing a better survey or discussion guide.{{cta('5c7b2d4a-c7fe-4e44-8516-00cf96855bd5')}}


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DHHS Guidelines Recommend ART for All HIV+, New Info on Older Patients and HIV/HCV Coinfection
- Details
- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 30 March 2012 00:00
- Written by Paul Dalton
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) this week released an updated version of its Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents. The DHHS panel now recommends that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be offered to everyone diagnosed with HIV. Other highlights include new sections on aging with HIV and drug costs, more information on antiretroviral treatment as prevention, and recommendations for use of new hepatitis C protease inhibitors in HIV/HCV coinfected people.
[Editor's Note: The DHHS guidelines are written by a panel of clinicians, researchers, community activists, and government representatives. Paul Dalton is a community member of the panel. This article is written as an individual, not as a representative (official or otherwise) of the panel.]
The updated guidelines, released March 27, 2012, include 2 new sections -- HIV and aging, and drug costs -- as well as updates to several sections including "Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Treatment-Naive Patients," "HIV-Infected Women," "Prevention of Secondary Transmission," "HIV/Hepatitis C Coinfection," and "Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Disease with HIV Coinfection."
HIV and the Older Patient
Perhaps the most notable change in this update is a new section entitled "HIV and the Older Patient." This discussion arose from growing community and scientific attention to the interplay between HIV and aging. This section was first proposed at a meeting of community advocates and researchers in Baltimore in 2011.
The guidance covers HIV testing, prevention of secondary transmission, initiation of antiretroviral therapy, co-morbidities, drug interaction, and discontinuation of antiretroviral drugs.
From the Guidelines (ratings in parentheses indicate the strength of the evidence for the recommendation):
Key Considerations When Caring for Older HIV-Infected Patients
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is recommended in patients > 50 years of age, regardless of CD4 cell count (BIII), because the risk of non-AIDS related complications may increase and the immunologic response to ART may be reduced in older HIV-infected patients.
- ART-associated adverse events may occur more frequently in older HIV-infected adults than in younger HIV-infected individuals. Therefore, the bone, kidney, metabolic, cardiovascular, and liver health of older HIV-infected adults should be monitored closely.
- The increased risk of drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other medications commonly used in older HIV-infected patients should be assessed regularly, especially when starting or switching ART and concomitant medications.
- HIV experts and primary care providers should work together to optimize the medical care of older HIV-infected patients with complex comorbidities.
- Counseling to prevent secondary transmission of HIV remains an important aspect of the care of the older HIV-infected patient.
The section touches on one of the most widely discussed aspects of HIV and aging -- whether HIV disease or its treatment leads to an accelerated aging process. While the causes are still being explored, most experts in the field believe that people with HIV appear to be aging faster. Conditions associated with aging, such as heart disease, cognitive decline, and bone weakening, develop somewhat earlier among people living with HIV, including those on effective ART.
Aging complicates antiretroviral treatment itself. The guidelines recommend that all people over 50 years old begin ART, regardless of CD4 count. Blunted CD4 recovery, increased complexity of drug-drug interactions, and the co-management of aging-related diseases all factor into when and what to start.
Drug Costs
The other new section is an appendix on drug costs, which simply lists the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) of each approved HIV drug and fixed-dose combination pill.
When to Start ART
In the section on "Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Treatment-Naive Patients," the major change is a recommendation for treatment of all people with HIV, "primarily based on increasing evidence showing the harmful impact of ongoing HIV replication on AIDS and non-AIDS disease progression." In addition the updated recommendations "reflect emerging data showing the benefit of effective ART in preventing secondary transmission of HIV."
From the Guidelines:
- ART is recommended for all HIV-infected individuals. The strength of this recommendation varies on the basis of pretreatment CD4 cell count:
o CD4 count < 350 cells/mm3
o CD4 count 350 to 500 cells/mm3
o CD4 count >500 cells/mm3.
- Regardless of CD4 count, initiation of ART is strongly recommended for individuals with the following conditions:
o Pregnancy (see perinatal guidelines for more detailed discussion);
o History of an AIDS-defining illness
o HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN)
o HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection
- Effective ART also has been shown to prevent transmission of HIV from an infected individual to a sexual partner. Therefore, ART should be offered to patients who are at risk of transmitting HIV to sexual partners [heterosexuals] or [other transmission risk groups]).
- Patients starting ART should be willing and able to commit to treatment and should understand the benefits and risks of therapy and the importance of adherence. Patients may choose to postpone therapy, and providers, on a case-by-case basis, may elect to defer therapy on the basis of clinical and/or psychosocial factors.
Women with HIV
This revised section includes further discussion on the use of hormonal contraception by HIV positive women, focusing on drug-drug interactions between oral contraceptives and antiretroviral drugs, as well as recent conflicting datashowing a possible association between hormonal contraceptive use and higher risk of acquisition or transmission of HIV.
HIV/HCV Coinfection
Updates to this section focus on the recently approved HCV protease inhibitors boceprevir (Incivek) and telaprevir (Victrelis), including known interactions between these drugs and antiretrovirals, and interim results from ongoing studiesof protease inhibitors plus pegylated interferon/ribavirin in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.
For patients not on ART or taking a regimen of raltegravir plus 2 NRTIs, the panel recommends either boceprevir or telaprevir. Due to uncertainty about interactions with boceprevir, the panel advises that people taking atazanavir (Reyataz) should use telaprevir at the standard 750 mg 3-times-daily dose, while those taking efavirenz (Sustiva) should up the dose to 1125 mg. The panel emphasizes that "These recommendations may be modified as new drug interaction and clinical trial information become available."
HIV and TB
The panel also updated their recommendations for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(TB) in people living with HIV. The main changes have to do with the timing of initiation of ART after starting TB treatment:
- For patients with CD4 counts < 50 cells/mm3, ART should be initiated within 2 weeks of starting TB treatment (AI).
- For patients with CD4 counts > 50 cells/mm3 with clinical disease of major severity as indicated by clinical evaluation (including low Karnofsky score, low body mass index [BMI], low hemoglobin, low albumin, organ system dysfunction, or extent of disease), the Panel recommends initiation of ART within 2 to 4 weeks of starting TB treatment (BI for CD4 count 50-200 cells/mm3 and BIII for CD4 count > 200 cells/mm3).
- For other patients with CD4 counts > 50 cells/mm3, ART can be delayed beyond 2 to 4 weeks but should be initiated by 8 to 12 weeks of TB therapy (AI for CD4 count 50-500 cells/mm3; BIII for CD4 count > 500 cells/mm3).
Treatment as Prevention
The final major update was to the "Prevention of Secondary Transmission" section. Most importantly, there is a discussion about antiretroviral treatment as prevention. Citing the HTPN 052 study, the guidelines state that effective ART greatly reduces the risk of secondary HIV transmission. This protection is mitigated by the challenges of optimal antiretroviral adherence, along with some evidence that risk-taking behavior may increase when people believe they are on suppressive therapy.
From the Guidelines:
Consistent and effective use of ART resulting in a sustained reduction in viral load in conjunction with consistent condom usage, safer sex and drug use practices, and detection and treatment of [sexually transmitted diseases] are essential tools for prevention of sexual and blood-borne transmission of HIV. Given these important considerations, medical visits provide a vital opportunity to reinforce HIV prevention messages, discuss sex- and drug-related risk behaviors, diagnose and treat intercurrent [sexually transmitted diseases], review the importance of medication adherence, and foster open communication between provider and patient.
Other Changes
Minor updates were made to various other sections, including drug interaction tables, goals of treatment, "What to Start," "HIV and Illicit Drug Users," "Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy," and "Adverse Effects of Antiretroviral Agents."
The Guidelines Panel is accepting feedback on the latest revisions to the adult and adolescent treatment guidelines, as well as the new format.Please send comments with the subject line "Adult and Adolescent Guidelines Comments" to JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING by April 10, 2012.
Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents. March 27, 2012.


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The SJ-9 Jacket was designed with extreme cold weather in mind. With its insulated hood theSJ-9 Jacket is ideal for range work and stationary outdoor activities in extreme temperatures. The comfort rating for the SJ-9 Cold Weather Jacket is 14°F (-10°C). Paratex Micro is used as the outer shell material and Paratex Light material is used as the inner, lining material. It utilizes Snugpak's proprietary Softie Premier Insulation, the same filling we use in our high end UK Made Sleeping Bags.
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The idea started off as a good one: To establish new trad climbs on the amazing 1,200-foot granite big-wall rocketing directly out of the ocean in Devil's Bay, Newfoundland. But for climbers Hazel Findlay, Alex Honnold, James Pearson and Mark Synnott, the great idea soon became something much different then planned.
Though Newfoundland is relatively close to Mark Synnott's home in upstate New Hampshire, in reality, it would be easier to reach some Himalayan basecamps than get to Devil's Bay. Five days of travel by car and boat into this land forgotten by modern time, the team finally arrived only to discover adverse conditions and suffering.
Expeditions are remembered for being either great successes or grand failures. But the reality is that most of the time, they are neither. For the climbers, their experience became as much an inward exploration of their own hopes, anxieties and fears as it was an exploration of the vertical walls. "Tentbound in Devil's Bay" is a portrait of the darker side of an expedition, a side that you rarely hear about.
Read more...
Monday, February 27, 2012
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Aaron Thompson pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut and Jason Grilli came on to win for the first time in nearly two years as four Pittsburgh pitchers combined on a five-hitter in the Pirates 2-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday at P-N-C Park.
Jose Veras and Joel Hanrahan followed Thompson and Grilli to close things out for the Pirates.
The Brewers suffered just their 5th loss in the last 29 games and maintained their 10-game lead on St. Louis atop the NL Central after the Cardinals lost to the Dodgers 9-4 in St. Louis.
Shaun Marcum suffered just his fourth loss (11-4) of the season, his first loss in eight outings since the all-star break. Marcum allowed only a pair of sacrifice flies. He gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 6-innings of work, walking 3 and striking out 4.
The Brewers are off today. They'll open a 3-game weekend series against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park on Friday night.


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Crushed Ice ~ Yellow Chunky Glitter ~ 1.14mm
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Crushed Ice ~ Snow White Chunky Glitter
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Why do donors make gifts? What motivates a donor to give?
It's not because your materials are the most eye-catching or compelling. It's not because your institution has the most needs. It's not because you serve the most disadvantaged populations. It's not even because you have the most urgent and life-impacting case for support. If any of these were true, your local food pantry would be raising huge amounts of money and an institution like Stanford University wouldn't have recently announced that they were the first higher education institution to raise $1 billion in a single year.
No, donors give, fundamentally, to meet their own needs. To fulfill their own desires. To align with their own interests. Donors, in short, are like most all humans. They are selfish.
But don't take this to mean that selfishness is a negative concept. Selfishness can be evidenced as a social good. Research on giving is clearly showing us that humans are hard-wired to care for and support each other. We gain things when we give to each other. Our brains reward us when we give in much the same ways that our brains reward us when we experience other self-sustaining acts – such as enjoying food or even having sex! (I'm waiting for the campaign tagline that reads: "Give to us. . . It'll be just as good as sex")
Giving, or being altruistic in general, are, in fact, selfish acts.
Some donors give because they want to make a difference. Others give because they want to be viewed as generous (by the world and/or by themselves!). Others give because it's a family hallmark. Some give because of their religious beliefs encourage generosity. Still others give because they quietly like the good feeling they receive. And yes, some give because they want a specific, public, and tangible, return on their transaction with your institution. But none of these donors are more or less selfish than the others. They are simply meeting different individual needs and agendas.
In attempting to better understand our donors and prospects, we often ask ourselves the sterile question: "What motivates this donor to give?" Perhaps a more pointed and penetrating question we should ask ourselves is, "What does this donor crave?" When we answer this question, we will get closer to fully appreciating what selfish drive animates their philanthropy.


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Stephen Lang Terrorizes the Tropics in Isolation (Trailer)
After terrorizing some teens who broke into house last year in Don't Breathe, Stephen Lang continues to be a threatening movie presence in Isolation. Starring Luke Mably and Tricia Helfer as a couple on a tropical vacation on a remote island in the Bahamas that initially seems perfect but another couple on the island (Dominic Purcell and Marie Avgeropoulos) introduce themselves and act a little shady and then Helfer and Mably's vacation house is ransacked and their passports and other items are stolen and things escalate from there. It's out on April 18th and you can check out the trailer below.
I'm like the J. Jonah Jameson of Everything Action, writing and editing and constantly demanding pictures of Spider-Man.


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Page 2 columnist
Random thoughts while wondering how they shuffled the deck in "Card Sharks":Saying Jerry Krause built the six-time champion Chicago Bulls is like calling "Jurassic Park" a Jeff Goldblum flick. Is it safe to say that no player in NFL history will sell fewer replica jerseys than Browns running back Ben Gay?
I've never walked through the first-class section of an airplane without wanting to punch somebody in the face.When MTV runs the first episode of "Down On Their Luck Celebrity Cribs," I just hope Corey Haim, MC Hammer and the Chief from Village People are prominently involved. David Duval seems like the kind of guy who knows how to get an illegal cable box. "Eating Stouffer's French Bread Pizza Without Burning Your Mouth" should be turned into an Olympic Event. I've never made it past Bite No. 3. Thank God for NBA.comTV, or else I would have forgotten that the whole "Isiah and Magic kissing each other on the cheek before each playoff game" routine was the most disturbing tradition in sports history. The Pentagon really needs to figure out a way to bottle Bill Russell's laugh and use it as chemical warfare against our enemies. If I ever played for a team that won the Stanley Cup, when I finally got my day with the Cup, I'd take it over to my local Store 24 and let Joe the Alcoholic Counter Guy hold it for a few seconds.
The greatest "Two-Minute Drill" of all-time would definitely include John Rocker, Dikembe Mutombo, Old Dirty Bastard and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf as the celebrity panelists.I would take a blood transfusion from Charlie Sheen before I ever laid points with Ty Detmer on the road. You know, NBA games would be much more fun to watch if we knew which players were stoned. Now that Little League officials have solved the Danny Almonte case, when will they reopen the Kelly Leak investigation? The Inevitable Fred Taylor Injury has replaced one of my friends calling me just to ask, "What the hell's the deal with John Madden's eyebrows?" as my favorite sign that the NFL season has finally kicked off. If you're not getting along with your girlfriend and she suddenly starts spending time with Russell Crowe ... well, that's not a good sign.
I always thought the most destructive invention of the 21st century was Red Bull ... and then Dunkin Donuts unleashed the "Coffee Cake Muffin" on a startled American public. Good God. Will the madness ever end?If a casino ever launches a "Minimum bet: $1,000,000" blackjack table, they should definitely hire Lucy Liu as the dealer. Four irrefutable facts: 1) nobody ages faster than a female porn star; 2) nobody was dumber than Lois Lane; 3) nobody can turn down a bite of Eggs Benedict; 4) nobody in the history of mankind was more whipped than Lionel Ritchie on the day he wrote "Truly." All right, somebody call the authorities ... I think Phil Mickelson ate Hugh Grant. When you hand the wedding section of a Sunday newspaper to a female, it's like tossing a chewy to a dog -- you know it will occupy them for at least 20 minutes. If I were ever umpiring a no-hitter in progress, I would call every pitch a strike from the seventh inning on.
Shaq's performance in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was his best work since "Kazaam."I wish a "Black Sheep" Giambi brother had worked as a bullpen catcher for Oakland this season, just so he could have pulled a "Shooter from Hoosiers" in the playoffs and wandered onto the field in a drunken stupor -- holding up the game as Joe Buck said, "You hate to see this happen" in a hushed voice, and Jason and Jeremy ran out to right field to escort their brother back to the bullpen. That would have been fun. You never hear anyone utter the sentence, "My wife used to be the catcher on her college softball team." The three greatest extended runs by a go-to-guy in the history of mankind were Michael Jordan (Bulls, 1991-1998), Larry Bird (Celtics, 1981-1988) and Richard Dawson ("Match Game," 1974-1978). Any time a boxer is described as a "young 36," that's code for "This guy has spent time in jail." When Axl, Slash and Izzy were putting the finishing touches on "Sweet Child O' Mine," did one of them say, "Some day this will be remembered as the greatest strip joint song of all-time"? If I were ever playing against Jack Wagner in a celebrity golf tournament, I'd call him "Frisco" a few times just to get under his skin. My girlfriend thought that Morton Downey Jr. was Robert Downey Jr's father ... and I just had to tell someone that.
The yellow first-down line, Napster, DVDs, the Internet, Red Bull, Spice Hot, Jill Arrington and the Foxwoods theme song were all fantastic, but the state-of-the-art movie theater is still my favorite invention of the past 10 years.As the years pass, Vince Vaughn's performance in "Swingers" begins to take on "Brady Anderson hitting 50 homers in a season" proportions. I'm still waiting for a "Bizarro ESPN Classic" channel that features shows like: "SportsCentury and Beyond: Rusty Hilger" ... "NBA's Greatest Games: Miami 65, New York 56" ... "The Best of the Jim Rome Show" ... "SportsCentury Flashback: Fred Taylor's Groin" ... "Games That Ended Prematurely Because Somebody Died" ... "The Michael Irvin Show" ... "Greatest Magic Johnson Comebacks" ... "Inside Schwartz" ... "NHL Instant Classic: Columbus at Minnesota" ... "The Season: Ryan Leaf" ... "Pardon the Interruption" (with your hosts Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis) ... and "Vintage NBA: Paul Mokeski." You know you're watching the NIT when you hear the phrase, "You think these guys don't want to win this game?" It's never a good sign when your wife has a mug shot. "Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek for Heathcliff Slocumb" was the greatest deal since Andy Dufresne bought the rockhammer from Red for $10.
Every time I watch a Sixers game, I feel jealous that I can't write my columns in front of 20,000 screaming fans with my Mom sitting in the front row wearing a Sports Guy jersey, whooping it up and holding a sign that says, "MY BABY IS THE SPORTS GUY, AND HE'S ALL THAT!"I wish you could break up with people for reasons like, "I'm sorry, you failed your physical yesterday." All right, I'll say it: You don't even need to wait until it's 1 a.m. and you're drunk anymore to be attracted to Jennifer Capriati. Don't you miss the old days when we didn't label everything? Back in my day, a high ankle sprain was called "an injured ankle," a kid with ADD was called "slow," someone suffering from poor eyesight was called "four eyes" and a guy suffering from a chemical imbalance was called "crazy." It was a lot easier. Every time I see the name "Bubba Franks" on my TV screen, I keep thinking that I inadvertently turned to the Spice Channel just in time to catch the opening credits for "My Baby Got Back 3." Here's a sure sign that a TV network doesn't have a hit on its hands: The moment one of the network execs utters the words, "Well, we finally agreed to terms with Matt Vasgersian!" You know you're watching ESPN Classic when Karl Malone is firing up a brick in the last two minutes of a playoff game. I love those "Take me out to the ballgame" commercials with all the baseball players singing in different languages, but how could they leave out Rickey Henderson? How can you have English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Australian ... and not Rickey-Speak? Buy Rickey peanuts and cracker jacks ... Rickey doesn't care if Rickey ever gets back ... Every time I see a picture of the daughter of Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, I'm always amazed there isn't an arm sticking out of her forehead. I'm the kind of guy who watches the closing credits of "The Natural" to see if Glenn Close's son is listed as "Bastard." Do you think Pat O'Brien was interviewing Michael Clarke Duncan outside the Blockbuster Awards this year and thinking to himself, "Ten years ago, I was hosting the NCAA Finals ... now I'm interviewing Michael Clarke Duncan"? The Allison Fisher-Jeanette Lee nine-ball feud is slowly evolving into the Russell-Chamberlain rivalry of my generation After Johnny Lawrence graduated from high school and squandered the All-Valley Karate Title to Daniel-San, is there any doubt that he went on to attend Duke University? Bill Simmons writes three columns a week for Page 2.
Simmons: 'Ali' good, but not The Greatest
The Sports Guy: In case you were wondering
The Sports Guy: Ramblin' through a cultural wasteland
Simmons: The All-NFL Ramblings
Simmons: Curses! Please stop with talk of Red Sox curse
Simmons: The Sports Guy's Book of Lists
Simmons: The Ramblings


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I want to be very clear at the beginning of this article that it applies to the religious right, the religious center, and the religious left, and I'm going to focus on the religious left. This is something within human nature, not within specific religious traditions. If there is a difference in how this article applies across religious traditions, it is a difference of degree.
There is something in the human experience that calls us to desire certainty… to want to "know" something in its fullness, and to not have to continue to wrestle with doubt. Many humans seem to have an internal mechanism for certainty… and when that is shown to be impossible we often go to the other extreme… that nothing can be known at all.
Even we Unitarian Universalists are not immune to faith without doubt… it just tends to occur more on the ideological spectrum than the theological spectrum for us… though I'm going to focus this article on some of our theological "certainties".
Many of you know that I love UU jokes. Partly this is because I think it is healthy to be able to hold a little irreverence for the things that you hold the deepest loyalty to… and also it is because that I believe a caricature of a thing is revealing about the core of that thing. I believe many UU jokes serve that role for Unitarian Universalism. Here is one of my favorites:
To have no doubts is fundamentalism.
To have some doubts is normal.
To have many doubts is a crisis of faith.
To have nothing but doubts is a conversion to Unitarian Universalism!
Now the joke is not literally true… to have nothing but doubts is not UU'ism, and it would be a hell of a way to live. I'm sure that fundamentalists have doubts about some things in their lives, whether they admit to it or not. I know that was true of the fundamentalist churches I grew up in. Humanity is never as clear cut as the distinctions above make it seem. That's the point.
The deeper truth (lower case t) the joke points to is that we Unitarian Universalists recognize the importance of doubt, at least intellectually. I sometimes question how good we are at putting that intellectual and spiritual understanding of doubt into practice, but we are getting better… it is one of our "growing edges". During my first few years as a Unitarian Universalist I made two profound realizations:
There are Unitarian Universalist Fundamentalists…
And I was one of them.
That realization helped me to begin to have a new, spiritual understanding of the concept of doubt. It allowed me to hold a new understanding for my Christian commitment to humility… not necessarily humility before others (something I have never done very well, though I try) but humility before ultimacy. The important lesson of doubt is not that we can know nothing, but that it is impossible to know everything. Certainty without ultimate knowledge (either knowing God perfectly or making yourself into God) is hubris.
There are many human attempts to make something that is limited represent ultimacy… so we can live in the illusion that it is possible for us to grasp all there is and remove all doubt. These attempts are not limited to any particular religious tradition. Believing a particular set of scripture to be "God's Revealed Word" even when it is demonstrably the flawed work of human hands is one such attempt to transmute the limited into the ultimate. Believing that science and the scientific method can reveal all the "mysteries and secrets of the universe" when it is obviously limited by the senses and faculties of the human beings who practice it is another. Reducing God to idyllic forms and placing your faith for ultimacy in them, forms such as "Justice", "Liberty", "Truth", "Love" or "Reason" are attempts to make the limited ultimate. I know this is the one I am most often guilty of practicing. I can always tell when I am trying to make such limited ideals ultimate, because I tend to capitalize those words.
I believe I am not alone in being drawn to this kind of certainty of ultimacy on the religious left. What I believe we need to realize is that it is our own version of believing the Bible is the "Word of God".
I believe the corrective to each of these attempts to make the limited ultimate (be it scriptural literalism, scientific foundationalism, or idyllic formism) is to transform each of these not into a graspable substitute for totality (idolatry), but rather into a lived practice in our daily lives.
The corrective for exalting a scripture as the literal truth of God is to transform your relationship to that scripture into a dynamic dance… to give it the space not to speak as a commandment from on high, but a conversational reality whose meaning can shift as you shift, grow as you grow, and change as you change. It is to allow that scripture to work in your life in ways that transform, not command; in ways that draw-out, not condemn. It is to make a lived practice of dancing with the scripture… I will write an article specifically on this later as it is a much larger concept that I can capture in a paragraph.
The corrective for exalting Science as the literal truth of the Universe is to imbue into each act and practice of science that sense of wonder that Albert Einstein so often spoke of… to remember the metaphor of Einstein's Library. It is to engage science not as discovery of truths… but as an ever evolving practice of wonder. For the same reason as before, I will write about this in more detail later… but you can see much of what I am speaking of in transforming science from ultimacy to practice in much of the thought of Einstein. He was the master of this particular practice.
The corrective for exalting idyllic forms is to make each of these a daily practice in our lives. Rather than seeking some metaphysical Justice, in what ways do you/can you create justice every day? Rather than pining after some metaphysical Love, what ways can do you/can you create love around you as you live? There are two parts to this process. The first is similar to "Precept Study" in Zen Buddhism. First we must look at our lives through each of these "Idyllic Forms". To make Love no longer some substitute for ultimacy, we must very intentionally look at our lives through the lens of love: Where are we feeling loved? Where are we not? Where are we giving love? Where are we not? What kinds of love do we feel and give? What kinds of love do we reject? What kinds of love do we yearn for and do not have? What kinds of love have hurt us, or hurt those around us? What kinds of love have caused us to feel shame? What kinds of love have lifted our souls? Etc, etc.
Through this reflection, we not only make love real for us, we learn how we are practicing it already. Where we are responsible in our loving, and where we might not be. How our love affects us and affects others. Where our love may be harming others, or harming ourselves. We cease to think of Love as an unattainable metaphysical ideal and make it a real and living part of our daily lives.
We must do this kind of reflection for each of the different "Idyllic Forms" we find in our lives. Reason, Justice, Mercy, Faith, Liberty, Freedom, Equality… all of these and more would be used as lenses to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, of our lives, and of how we live with and affect those around us.
From that understanding we would then be called into living our lives with intention around those idyllic forms… because they would no longer by idyllic, they would be real and vibrant parts of our lives. If we have intentionally gained understanding of how we love and relate to others, we would likely then be called to intentionally practice that love in different ways. If we intentionally gain an understanding of were we experience inequality with others (where we are the oppressed and where we are the oppressor) we then would be called to intentionally practice how we relate to the world and to others in it in different ways. The same would be true for any of the idyllic forms we cease to make idyllic through intentional spiritual reflection.
This could become an intentional Liberal Faith (see the capital letters?) spiritual practice, and the intent of the article was to lay some of the foundation for this as a possibility. I could even envision a monastic order that found their "rule" in something similar to this… the continual self-reflection that then motivates a practice of living in the world "deliberately"… to borrow from Thoreau. And yet, recent movements in Liberal Faith as a whole, and UU'ism in particular, have sought to move right to the "living in the world" without the individual and communal critical reflection on what the "idyllic form" might really mean for us.
This is my core critique of the "Standing on the Side of Love" campaign. I perceive it as an attempt to make a practice of something we have yet to make personally spiritual… and as such it becomes another glorification of an "Idyllic Form" that we do not really understand, have less agreement on than we think, and do not understand how it relates to our lived lives. Before we can "Stand on the Side of Love", I believe we need to deliberately understand love in our lives and in our spirits. That means finding ways to inspire individual reflective practice on love within our lives first, and from that move into the communal reflection, and then the forms of practice that the campaign is currently attempting. Otherwise, we run the danger of treating love as just another idol… another graspable substitute for certainty and ultimacy.
Yours in faith,


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It's going to be old news to all who were able to attend, but yesterday's Stenopalooza was great. I can only speak to the courses I was able to attend, but I noticed something very special about all of the presentations. All of them blended together with nice and overarching or connected themes of releasing fear, making smart and data-driven decisions, adapting, and learning new skills. The videos of these are going to be available to people that registered, as far as I understand, and it's impossible to touch on every topic we hit during the 8 hours of coursework, but maybe putting this out there will encourage people who didn't register this time around to give the next webinar or CEU session a try. At the very least, take a glance at the topics and see if they're relevant to you.
The day started off with Max Curry, NCRA's president. He talked about letting go of fear and making smart choices. He discussed introversion, his push to overcome introversion for his professional life and career, and how that positively impacted his life. This hits home for a lot of us. There are a lot of introverts in this field. We don't like public speaking. We don't like marketing. We just want to do our jobs and go home. Through Max's story, we can understand that letting go of fear and pushing past those limitations can broaden our skill base and make us better workers and leaders. Next, I attended President-Elect Christine Phipps's "Turning Coronavirus From Pandemic to Opportunity and Marketing Through Adversity." Almost seamlessly, this presentation built on a theme of making smart choices. The central theme was seeing this as a time to pivot and become the person and resource your clients go to for information and service.
Then we got to the NCRA Strong POW session. I've been a volunteer with NCRA's Strong committee for months now. The work that they put in prior to my joining was extraordinary. Sue Terry, immediate past president of the NCRA, introduced the Strong committee and talked a little about the work we've been doing. She encouraged members to research and ask questions about some of the terms and things they'd be hearing during the session. I got to have a conversation with audio forensic expert Edward Primeau. We got to briefly touch on some very important topics, like how having an objective person in the room helps add integrity to the process of making a record, and how valuable his services are in authenticating audio. At the end of my presentation, I asked whether members would have the courage to ask questions they needed the answers to, and the stage was set for stellar presentations from Cathy Penniston & Alan Peacock, who dove into how people could educate themselves on advocacy materials and products that are found all throughout NCRA's site, including the Strong resource library. Kristin Anderson & Rich Germosen talked about advocacy efforts they've made in official and freelance positions, and gave examples of grassroots advocacy. They made clear and reinforced Cathy & Alan's theme that everyone can step up and be an advocate. Rich said something that resonated with me on a personal level, "I'm not much of a talker," when it comes to clients. That reinforces one thing. It doesn't matter where your strengths are, anyone can make a huge difference. There was a STRONG finish by Strong Chair Phyllis Craver-Lykken, Elizabeth Harvey, and Dineen Squillante. They discussed finding an audience, making connections, and again, gave real-world examples for attendees. We put together a social discussion group on Facebook, Steno Strong, for people to hop online and talk to us. Just do us a big favor and answer the admission questions. It's just a way of determining who really wants to be in the group and who got caught in a mass invite.
We moved into State of the Industry by NCRA Executive Director Dave Wenhold, Max Curry, and Christine Phipps. Common themes were diversification of work and being able to pivot business and plan for times of stress. The Paycheck Protection Program was discussed alongside the fact that some associations, including our NCRA, have contracts for conventions that require them to attempt to go forward in good faith despite the current COVID-19 outbreak. Dave made it very clear that members should stay tuned for more news about the 2020 convention. Next up, Alan Peacock & Heidi Thomas jumped in with a fantastic CART / Captioning Intro for the Court Reporter presentation. They discussed mainly broadcast captioning, the need to get the correct words and meaning out to the end user, the people who need the access captioners are providing, and even provided attendees with a list of offensive words that captioners do not want coming out on the screen by accident! I do a good amount of mentoring, and from time to time, my mentees seek information on captioning. All I can say to "old" and "new" reporters is you want to get on webinars like the ones that Heidi & Alan put together, because it's going to help you, or it's going to help you help somebody else.
The rest of the afternoon and evening kept up the energy. There was a presentation by NCRA Board Member and past NYSCRA president Meredith Bonn on the Power of the Positive Attitude. Meredith talked a little about how our frame of mind can change outcomes, increase productivity, and proceeded to give attendees a whole host of ways to get themselves thinking positively. Everyone in attendance got suggestions on music, videos, and activities to keep themselves positive and motivated. Motivated by Meredith's presentation, coursetakers then got to join Lights, Camera, Zoom with Debbie Dibble, Lynette Mueller, and Sue Terry. People got to learn about optimizing their internet connection, fine-tuning their settings for streaming and remote work, and captioning without an encoder. Denise Hinxman and Kelly Linkowski finished our day with Captioning Facebook Live. They talked about bringing our services online to people who may not traditionally use it, like churches or Facebook users. They dove into using OBS Open Broadcast Software to help stream and connect people to captioning and access.
At that point, my computer decided to take itself offline, so I completely missed the Stenopalooza remote social. Maybe it's best we don't write about what happens at stenographer socials.
I could never do justice to the hours of work and dedication of every presenter. I've given a short summary here just to get people thinking about the next time they have a chance to sign up for continuing education workshops or see a class they're on the fence about taking. I would say go for it. This was a huge confidence booster for me as member, seeing how NCRA staff put together this session, connecting volunteer and presenters with members and nonmembers that signed up for the betterment of our whole profession. The one recurring theme is that our future is largely in our hands, and by remaining positive, educating ourselves, and educating the public, we all have powers to be agents of change and pillars of community. This event truly brought out the grassroots nature of advocacy as a whole and association volunteers. The more I learn about association structure and nonprofit entity organization, the more I realize just how tricky the whole thing is, and just how talented the people who get involved in nonprofits or advocacy efforts are. I have to say I'm grateful to reporters who are able to open their schedules for advocacy and their wallets for contributions. It's no easy task, especially at a time when many are hurting financially. Thanks to all of you for encouraging so many reporters to jump in and contribute however they can. Coming off the Stenopalooza high, I know we all can make a difference.


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If I were able to sum up in one word this past week of orientation with my mission board, Vision Baptist Missions, I believe it would be "Brokeness!" "Brokeness" is typically used in a negative connotation, however, in the Christian life, it is essential to God using our lives for His glory! Let's look at just a few biblical examples of men that once God broke, He then began to build:
Jacob: (Gen 32:22-31) Jacob wrestled with God until the breaking of day and begged God to bless him. Yet before He blessed him, God touched the hollow of his thigh and it was out of joint. It is at this point that when Jacob was BROKEN, that God changed his name from "trickster" to Israel!
Moses: (Ex 3) Moses was a man that God was constantly breaking. (As with all of us, by the way!) Moses had just killed an Egyptian, fled from Pharaoh, and was now keeping sheep in the wilderness. God comes to him in the burning bush and commissions him to lead the Children of Israel out of captivity in Egypt! Before God used Moses, He had to break him!
David: (2 Sam 11) King David…"a man after God's own heart!" At a time when kings are supposed to be leading his men on the battlefield, he stays at home and sees another man's wife bathing. He sins against God, has Uriah killed, and then tries to hide his sin before the face of his people. God sends Nathan, the man of God to confront David, and with authority from God declares to him "thou art the man!" The rest of David's life is one of loss of children, his son trying to kill him, and BROKENESS before God. However, God always sees David as having a heart that is perfect toward Him.
As I reflect on my life, events that had taken place, loved ones I have lost; I can see the times that God was breaking me! I think on the lessons from this week, and I feel the Holy Spirit convicting me and breaking me. With each trying of my faith, and each storm I endure, I look to the God of Heaven and see Him working in my life and building me each step of the way.
This week was one of "BROKENESS…" God working in my heart to get me to a place of submission where He can build me into an instrument He can use! I pray that others will rejoice in the times of building, and in the times of breaking. For it is during these times of our weakness, that His strength is made perfect!
Stephen Underwood
Missionary to South Africa
Acts 20:24


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As a youngster, Yang Thearith dreamed of being a doctor, but a change of direction saw him become an engineer with a focus on the health and safety of his projects
It is a national holiday and the morning sky is filled with black clouds, signalling a rainy day ahead, but Yang Thearith, managing director of GBC Engineers, is cycling to his office on Street 331 in Beung Kak II to finish some work and get some exercise at the same time.
Health has always been very important to the 34-year-old, who as a boy dreamed of becoming a doctor. Although that dream was not fulfilled, the engineer, who two years ago co-founded a multinational company still considers himself a "healer" – not of people but of buildings.
"After more than 10 years working in this sector, I can say that like a doctor, an engineer is mostly sought by customers when a problem happens," Thearith says. "But an engineer not only cures, but also shapes the destiny of a structure."
The third son from a poor farming family in Battambang, Thearith has always valued hard work. Although his parents didn't receive much education, they encouraged their children to study and do well at school. Their dream for Thearith was to see him as a doctor, examining patients in a hospital, wearing a gown and a surgical mask.
"Unfortunately I was not accepted into medical school after I finished high school in 2001," Thearith says. "So I applied to Institute of Technology of Cambodia, and was accepted in their three-year technician training program."
Disappointed but not downhearted, Thearith set his sights on the ITC's Department of Engineering by becoming a top student in his current program. After a year of hard work – which involved frequent struggles to stay awake overnight to study – he achieved his goal. A major bonus was discovering a love for the subject, especially designing engineering.
"I always loved maths, but engineering is not just about solving equations," Thearith says. "It is also practical and technical, which I really love."
Upon graduation in 2006, Thearith spent half a year working as an engineer for a paper factory in Sihanoukville and another six months for ILI Consulting Engineering , a German company. In 2007, he was awarded a postgraduate scholarship from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
After receiving his master's in 2009, Thearith, then 25, returned home and resumed working for ILI. In the next six years he had worked on many major projects, most notably the ACLEDA building in Phnom Penh.
Despite his success, Thearith quit in 2015 to found a company with two German colleagues. The huge risk make him nervous, but also excited to put not only his engineering and design skills to work, but also test his management and marketing abilities.
"It was a huge risk using my life savings on the venture, but we wanted to see how far we could go on our own, he said.
"In addition, I had got married and was not getting any younger. I really needed something of my own for my family before it was too late for me to do anything."
With a head office in Berlin, Germany, GBC also has international offices in Cambodia and Vietnam.
In GBC's Phnom Penh-based office, there are more than 30 employees – both Cambodian and German, working on engineering services such design, consultancy, supervision and building assessment.
In the past two years, GBC Cambodia had been assigned to many major projects including the civil and structural concept designs of Mercedes-Benz Autohaus and the 21-storey Diamond Apartment Building. Its biggest project is the Novotel Hotel Palace's nine-storey building, over 16,600 square metres GFA in Sihanoukville, with construction possibly starting in mid-2018.
The main reason behind their success, according to Thearith, is their priority on building safety, focusing on minimising danger or risk of harm by strictly following international standards.
"Many investors expect lower prices and quality from local engineers and designers although they actually have similar academic backgrounds and experience to their foreign counterparts," he says.
"I believe this is a very big obstacle for local engineering students, despite the country's booming construction sector, and one of my lifelong missions is to improve the skills and also perception of my Cambodian employees.
"Many investors and engineers here focus only on the look of the project, but our principle stands on 100-percent safe buildings," Thearith says. "We will not compromise anything for safety.
Thearith says he always makes sure that designs from his company matches the abilities of the labor force as well durability of materials used.
"High-quality materials and human resources are needed for great projects," he says. "So while our fees may be high, what investor receives will be what they really desire."


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The Golf Foundation has been invited by the European Tour to stage a demonstration event of the charity's 'GolfSixes League' at Centurion Club later this week – a project that is set to inspire young golfers through its innovative, shorter team format, featuring 125 golf clubs this summer.
The Golf Foundation is the European Tour's Official Delivery Partner for GolfSixes League in the UK and the charity has developed the fun team format as a companion series to the GolfSixes tournament – held this weekend at Centurion Club (May 5-6) – which aims to attract new and younger audiences to golf.
As some of the world's golf stars do battle, including Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup Captains Thomas Bjørn and Catriona Matthew, the Golf Foundation will present some of its own young stars of the future. On Friday and Sunday, more than 200 boys and girls from 16 local schools and six golf clubs will compete together as they officially tee-off the new Golf Sixes League for the UK.
Over the summer in this joint initiative with England Golf, GolfSixes League will feature 125 golf clubs from 25 regional inter-club leagues playing weekly team golf. Around 1,500 boys and girls will be representing their golf clubs, wearing coloured team shirts with GolfSixes branding; squads of 12 juniors will play six holes against other clubs in a Texas Scramble format. Youngsters work with their club's PGA professional during the week to prepare for the big matches at the weekend, supported by watching parents. Lasting just over an hour, matches should be fast, fun and a foundation for a long-lasting
love of golf.
The project was created following Golf Foundation commissioned research by SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. which found that many young people wanted to play fewer holes, in team formats and at different courses, while parents see golf clubs as a safe environment and have expressed enthusiasm for active involvement in events.
With additional funding by Sport England, the GolfSixes League is a significant expansion of a pilot project last year that featured six regional leagues, garnering highly positive feedback. Some 80% of kids wanted to play more golf after GolfSixes and 61% said they "loved golf". Some 90% of events featured supportive Mums and Dads, including volunteer roles. There was a 65% increase in affiliated membership (73 members at the start, 121 at the end).
The aim is to boost retention in clubs as a key part of the Foundation's 'Start, Learn and Stay' strategy as a charity that helps young people from all backgrounds and abilities to enjoy the playing and personal benefits of the sport.
The leagues take place mainly in England this summer but include five pilot leagues in Wales and Scotland, with this number expected to rise significantly in 2019 in support of Wales Golf and Scottish Golf.
Meanwhile, the European Tour has worked with partners in Europe to set up GolfSixes Leagues in Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: "We are hugely excited by the expansion of the GolfSixes League in 2018 and our partnership with the European Tour. We learned last year that this fun and shorter team format encouraged young players to practise and play more often at golf clubs while attracting the interest and support of their parents.
"This charity offers the 'Skills for Life, a game for life and a healthy life', and GolfSixes is an innovative new way in which we can all work together to bring on the next generation of players at club level."
GolfSixes is just one strand of the Golf Foundation's national HSBC Golf Roots programme which is reaching 500,000 youngsters a year in schools, communities and golf clubs with the express aim of helping 50,000 experience golf at a golf club and creating an additional 15,000 new regular golfers in golf clubs every year. All of the charity's work is underpinned by the teaching of life skills, termed 'Skills for Life', that help children as they play the sport and in their wider lives.
Golf Foundation https://www.golf-foundation.org/clubs/golfsixes/


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Ibis always make me smile. They chatter, a lot, in an "unmusical" way according to All About Birds. There is no mistaking them for something else, by sound or sight with that big beak. A small group took off as we rounded the corner of the rice field and this one landed in a tree hanging over the path, nicely framed by the turning leaves.
He didn't stay in the tree long, spotting some of the others who had landed in some open water at the edge of the marsh.
He touched down gently on the other side of the path showing off his black wing tips.
Click on any photo for larger view.


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The Aegis Trust is pleased to announce a global partnership with Civility Experts Worldwide. This partnership will draw upon the peace and values curricula and educational expertise that Aegis has developed and will be used in a new program called Leading with Humanity, developed by Civility Experts Inc.
Civility Experts Worldwide is led by CEO Lew Bayer. For over 20 years Dr. Lew Bayer (hon.) has been internationally recognized as a leading civility expert. The team at Civility Experts, based in Manitoba, Canada, includes 376 affiliates in 46 countries.
Aegis Trust has developed an educational approach in Rwanda, known as peace & values education, which aligns strongly with principles of civility – focusing on the development of empathy, critical thinking and individual responsibility. Aegis', whose mission is the prevention of genocide and crimes against humanity, uses this methodology to disarm hearts and minds, and build resilience against pathways of violence, to save lives and create foundations for peace and prosperity.
Whilst the world of work may not be associated with issues of genocide, the linkages are not as far removed as one might think.
An article in the Harvard Business Review in 2013, by Christine Porath and Christine Pearson, stated that, "Rudeness at work is rampant, and it's on the rise. Over the past 14 years we've polled thousands of workers about how they're treated on the job, and 98% have reported experiencing uncivil behavior."
Moreover, Dr James M. Smith CBE, Founder and CEO of the Aegis Trust has noted that, "Genocide is only possible when we lose our empathy and certain people are devalued in our society."
Lew Bayer, best-selling author, says in her 2016 book, The 30% Solution – How Civility at Work Increases Retention, Engagement and Profitability, that "Civility is its own reward, that in choosing civility, people find their best self, and in doing so they experience the grace, courage and generosity, humanity and the humility that civility engenders".
Lew Bayer and members of her team visited Rwanda with Aegis' senior leadership in August 2018, Lew commented afterwards, "I have such respect and admiration for James and the work Aegis is doing, this gift they have given the world. I wholly believe that this partnership can make a meaningful contribution."
On announcing the strategic partnership, Dr James Smith said, "I am so delighted to have met Lew, she has demonstrated such commitment to the mission of Aegis and to the principles of civility. She has created this opportunity, which has the potential to reach global audiences in a way that creates synergy between the Aegis Trust and Civility Experts. Leading with humanity is what the world needs right now. This will also generate important financial contributions to support the work of Aegis working with at-risk communities and countries. We are genuinely excited about the potential from this new partnership."


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A throwback to old-school Ravenloft, bone golems are built from the previously animated bones of skeletal undead. These horrors stand roughly 9 feet tall and weigh between 150 and 280 pounds. They are seldom armored and can easily be mistaken for undead, much to the dismay of those who make this error.
How do Bone Golems Fight?
Bone golems are no more intelligent than other forms of golem so they will not employ clever tactics or strategies in combat. Their great power, however, makes them far deadlier than they initially appear to be; there is a chance that those not familiar with the true nature of their opponent will mistake them for simple undead.
Bone golems attack with their surprisingly strong blows and sharp, claw-like fingers. They can never be made to use weapons of any sort in melee.
To rile its opponents, the bone golem may throw back its head and issue a hideous laugh that causes most those who hear it to cower in fear or even die.
Bone Golem
Large construct, unaligned
Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
Hit Points 142 (15d10 + 60)
Speed 30 ft.
Abilities Str 18 (+4), Dex 11 (+0), Con 18 (+4), Int 3 (-4), Wis 8 (-1), Cha 1 (-5)
Damage Vulnerabilities thunder
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic; piercing and slashing from nonmagical attacks not made with adamantine weapons
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands the languages of its creator but can't speak
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)
Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The golem's weapon attacks are magical.
Necrotic Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected to necrotic damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the necrotic damage dealt.
Multiattack. The golem makes two claw attacks.
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 4) slashing damage.
Dreadful Laugh (Recharge 5-6). The bone golem tilts it head back issues a hideous laugh. All creatures within 60 feet of it that can hear it must make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened. While frightened in this way, a creature is paralyzed and it must repeat the saving throw at the end of its next turn. On a success, the effect ends. On a failure, the creature dies of fear. If a creature's saving throw is successful, or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the golem's Dreadful Laugh for the next 24 hours.
Thank you!
Hopefully, you enjoyed this old throwback monster from 2nd edition Ravenloft.
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See you next time!
Art from League of Legends design team.