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Feature Friday with Chip & Alexx Pons/
Happy Friday! This week's FF is a married couple who are actively serving in the United States Air Force, and stationed in San Antonio. Alex and Chip Pons share their inspiring story of what it's like being an openly gay, married couple in the military, what they're doing to help normalize the stigma around that, and their unconventional yet totally charming wedding. Read on to see what we mean...
Where are you from? Alexx is originally from California and Chip is from Michigan.
Where do you live? We currently live in San Antonio, Texas
Instagram handle: @chip_pons @alexx_pons
Age: Alexx is 30 and Chip is 28
On an unforgettable trip together: We were both given the opportunity to support the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program and Department of Defense team during the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. Something about that trip, despite our workload, was wonderful. It might have had something to do with the amazing people we met or the area we stayed in (this little village in the gay district near downtown)… it was just a wonderful trip and one of the only where the military sent us as a couple to do what we love as a team – that is when we are at our best!
On knowing they're "the one": We met through the process of joining the Air Force; fate brought us together at the same base in New Mexico. Alexx was actually Chip's instructor for a week-long military course and it was there that we realized we have the same job as photojournalists. Chip walked away from that initial meeting swearing he was going to marry Alexx…
On quiet, intimate proposals: Our proposals were very true to who we are as a couple; intimate, private and meaningful. I proposed to Chip first over a quiet night at home, and Chip proposed several weeks later while we were in the kitchen preparing dinner. To others, these moments might seem to be lacking a "wow" factor, but for us, they are some of our most cherished memories!
On making the most of a hard situation: We actually didn't have a wedding! To keep a very long and dramatic story short, we found ourselves in the middle of some very stressful and borderline homophobic professional trouble. As a same-sex, dual military couple who happened to be co-workers, there were some professional obstacles that we had to overcome in order to have our happy ending.
We were essentially punished by leadership for having what was termed an "unprofessional relationship," and were eventually ordered to not speak to one another. So, over a lunch break on Tuesday, Sept. 15, we drove down to the Curry County court house in uniform and swore to spend the rest of our lives fighting for one another.
Getting married was the only option to save our careers at the time which we had both worked so hard to build, but it also the key to our happiness and nearly three years later it is still the easiest and greatest decision we ever made!
On coming out: Alexx came out in his early 20s. His family was and still is very loving and supportive. In fact, they were the ones who sat him down and initiated the "coming out" conversation out of concern for his mental wellbeing. From that moment, Alexx felt fully comfortable being his authentic self, and his family has been so supportive of our marriage and welcomed me to the family with open arms!
Chip on the other hand is a bit of a late bloomer. In all honesty, I am the first man Chip ever dated or connected with emotionally. While he had a great relationship with his family, his fear of their disapproval kept him from living an honest life. When we met, Chip's world was turned upside down! For the first time, he was experiencing love, trust and self-acceptance. Before Chip had the chance to come out, a coworker we were stationed with felt the need to let Chip's family know he was involved with me and from there, it all blew up (personally and professionally) for us. But with me by his side, Chip took a leap of faith and chose love over the life he knew and the relationships he had. For nearly four years, Chip's relationship with his family was non-existent, but recently, those relationships have started rebuilding themselves.
On being openly gay in the military: We have our ups and downs just like everyone else. Constantly having to convince people we aren't brothers is hilarious and "correcting" people when they ask about our wives can be somewhat annoying, but for the most part active-duty members are very accepting. Those around us do a great job of making us feel supported and just like everyone else. We've found that having a good sense of humor goes a long way especially when dealing with people who may be awkward but have good intentions! Most military bases even celebrate Pride Month now, which is slightly unnecessary, but appreciated at least from an educational standpoint (when done correctly).
No matter how much support we feel, there will always be toxic individuals who thrive on spewing hate. Chip wrote a Pride Month commentary once about serving as a dual military, same-sex couple and when it was published, the overwhelming hate on social media (from civilians and active-duty members) was almost impossible to ignore. But we reminded ourselves why we joined the Air Force: to serve our country and its citizens; so that everyone has the right to express their opinions, no matter what those might be!
On normalizing same-sex marriages within the military: Coming out and accepting that you are gay is usually a life-altering experience. Doing so while adhering to military customs and courtesies, regulations and the day-to-day stress of military life takes that experience to a whole new level. While being a member of the LGBT+ community is a pivotal part of who we are, there is so much more to us than that. We are husbands, sons, brothers, friends... and professionally, we are Airmen. We try to promote a lifestyle that praises ALL aspects of what makes someone who they are as a whole instead of just focusing on one aspect.
For us, it's all about redefining what people in the military perceive normal to be. From us attending official military functions together and being seen supporting one another professionally, to holding hands in the grocery store (in Texas I might add) and enjoying a night out with friends, we try to show that life goes on when you come out. People have very different versions of what "being gay" looks like and for us, having a life that you are proud of and genuinely happy to be living is the only thing that matters.
On being each other's wingman: Working together has been the biggest blessing for our relationship. Before we were a couple, we were teammates and best friends. That friendship and professional comradery laid the strongest foundation we could have asked for.
The Air Force is built upon this idea of never leaving your wingman behind. Well, from day one we were wingmen and that notion of teamwork and support has absolutely transferred onto our marriage. Working so closely with your spouse during the formative years of your relationship not only allows you to spend more time together, but it unifies you in a way that is hard to put in words. Personally, we know that the other will always have our back, but there is a great sense of relief knowing that throughout the day, you have someone who is in your corner unconditionally and pushes you to be the best version of yourself!
And on that note, where some often feel some sort of competition between themselves and their spouse for success, that could not be further from the truth with us. We are one unit; we share success and downfalls – and when one falters, the other is there to quickly pick them up and keep moving in one direction again. There are just as few words for someone who would move heaven and earth to see you become your best self – even as a cost to themselves… it leaves you speechless and feeling genuinely loved!
We have been blessed to travel together and work side-by-side, and there is nothing more rewarding than getting to do what you love with who you love more than anything. Separation and distance is a huge obstacle military couple's face, and we have been fortunate throughout our careers to have not been apart too long from one another. But during those moments away for training or individual obligations, we take that time to take a look at the beautiful life we have built and appreciate all that we have – if anything, it is those brief moments apart that makes us a stronger, more resilient couple!
On the joys of a simple date night: For us, date night is all about relaxation. There is nothing better than putting on a movie or one of our favorite shows after eating a delicious home-cooked meal (Alexx is a MASTER in the kitchen). Add some wine, continuous laughter, a loving massage, and we have everything we could ever need!
On the one thing they love most about each other: First, we have to admit that we are very much still DEEP in the newlywed stage of our marriage and we've vowed to never leave it, so our level of obsession with one another is pretty extreme.
Chip: I adore so many things about the man that Alexx is and has become, but I love Alexx's passion the most. Alexx is protective and loyal and warm and everything Alexx does, he does out of love for me. It's overwhelming and exhilarating and a once in a lifetime feeling that I will never get used to but never take for granted. He throws himself 100% into every aspect of our life together. Our marriage, his job, our future...I am blown away at how completely immersed this man can be in so many things at once and he does it all with a smile on his face. Before we were married, Alexx told me that he aspires to "do the most good, for the most amount of people," and I am constantly in awe at how he has embodied that expression. He is the epitome of selflessness, unconditional love and unwavering support and the immensity of his love knows no limit. I am TRULY the luckiest man on the planet for tricking him into loving me!
Alexx: And for me, it is Chip's heart – he has the biggest one, sometimes to a fault. He really does not have a bad bone in his body. We are talking about a man who sees the good in everyone, which translates into the most unique and intense type of love I never imagined was real. He does not do anger or even mild irritation… Chip's go-to when things get remotely tense is affection – I mean tight, take-your-breath away hugs and kisses. It is this incredible propensity for love that he possess which lets me know how deeply loved I am, and without question that he will be an incredible father to our children (someday).


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As a team, we were frustrated that we couldn't find high quality research and insight into young people that wasn't sector specific, or issue specific when we wanted to design new ideas or events, or pitch new projects and funding.
We couldn't find access to the insight we intuitively knew having worked with young people nearly every day for the last few years. So we set out to use the power of our newly founded collective to drive forward a mission: capture insight from one of the most elusive, sophisticated, fluid demographics; young people.

subset: commoncrawl


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Further to your answer Question No: 2013/3704:
"You have pointed out the increased infrastructure and leisure facilities needed for our expanding London population, which you have estimated to be 10 million by about 2030.For that reason, is it your policy to protect all existing publicly-owned playing fields and running tracks under your control in the GLA portfolio? Are you allowing any to be sold for housing?"
Your response being:
"My London Plan strongly supports development proposals that increase or enhance the provision of sports and recreation facilities and resists proposals that result in a net loss of these facilities, including playing fields (Policy 3.19 on sports facilities). Policy 7.17 on Metropolitan Open Land (many playing fields are often designated as MoL) also gives strong protection to preventing loss of MoL as does Policy 7.18 on Protecting Local Open Space.
The only sport facility owned by the GLA is the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. The future of the NSC is under review as part of a comprehensive review of the park in conjunction with LB Bromley and others. More can be found here:
Why are you then selling off the playing fields attached to the Peel Centre for housing development?


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MOSCOW, January 19. /TASS/. Russian driver of F1 team Williams Sergey Sirotkin said on Friday that the lack of experience in the 'royal racing' will not be a problem for him at this year's FIA Formula One World Championship.
Team Williams announced on Tuesday that it signed a contract with Russia's Sergey Sirotkin to pilot one of its cars in the upcoming season. The 22-year-old Russian partnered Canada's Lance Stroll, 19, in Williams.
The contract with Sirotkin, who is a driver from the SMP Racing program on the development of the Russian auto racing sport, has been signed for the period of this season. He will be racing under number 35.
"I am aware of what is ahead of me in Formula One," Sirotkin told journalists. "I need not outdoing myself and will have to do what I am capable of and it will be sufficient."
"This is definitely not a plus for me that I do not know many tracks, but each Grand Prix has four hours of practice race," he said. "I do not think that it will be a problem and on top of everything we have an excellent simulator in the team."
Sirotkin is the third Russian driver to enter the world of F1 racing. The first Russian racer in Formula One was Vitaly Petrov, who made his debut in 2010. Another Russian driver, Daniil Kvyat, raced for teams Red Bull and Toro Rosso at different times between 2014 and 2017 and most recently signed a contract with Team Ferrari to become a development driver.
The 2018 FIA Formula One Championship includes 21 races and begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 23-25. The final Grand Prix of the upcoming season will be held in Abu Dhabi on November 23-25.


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Locals don't count years lived in Mammoth Lakes, they count epic winters survived! Visiting this magnificent mountain town, just a two hour drive from Yosemite Valley, and its vast wilderness surroundings hidden deep in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, is no small adventure. Often overlooked by California road-trippers, Mammoth Lakes is a hidden gem that we love and adore for its outdoor spirit and wholesome sense of community.
If you're planning a journey through California between May and October, Mammoth Lakes is likely to be bathed in sunshine and bustling with happy hikers and mountain bikers. Surrounded by 2.2 million acres of federally protected land, you can go for days without seeing another soul. Although it's a known mecca for adventure junkies and professional athletes, the special thing about Mammoth Lakes is that all activities on offer are accessible for every ability and every age. Rent a bike and explore over 30km of paved bike paths which surround the town, or head back-country and take on some of the steep mountain climbs. Drive 45 minutes north and you'll be entering the jewel in California's crown, Yosemite National Park. Visit this area of jaw-droppingly stunning natural beauty during the day and then escape the crowds by heading back to Mammoth Lakes in the evening. Enjoy a cold craft beer from the Mammoth Brewing Company and a delicious evening meal at Petra's, an elegant eatery in the heart of town.
A common debate amongst locals is which season is best to visit Mammoth Lakes. The honest answer is that both are fantastic. In 2016, Mammoth received 18 metres of snow, the most out of any ski resort on the planet. When you blend that with 300 days of sunshine, you'll get plenty of epic 'bluebird' days on the mountain. Although the 'world-class' conditions may sound intimidating to those yet to master the slopes, Mammoth mountain has an array of runs to cater for all abilities and a fabulous ski school offering group and private lessons for all ages. Keen boarders and skiers will never tire of the vast amount of back-country terrain to be covered, accessible from the top of the lifts, or by helicopter. One local hang-out not to miss is The Clocktower; Mammoth's great après ski bar, where you can grab a pre or post-slope drink any time of day!
This rustic yet luxurious tropical retreat is surrounded by nature and fronted by wide, gleaming-white sands on the unspoilt island of Con Dao, a short flight from Ho Chi Minh City – the perfect beach ending to a top-to-toe journey through Vietnam.


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About Rae
About Rae
Rae is currently consulting from
:: Denmark Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic
:: Via Phone or SKYPE
Bookings can be made via the old school phone method (08) 9848 3719 or our handy new online booking function. Simply click on the big orange booking button, follow the prompts and instantly secure your spot. Easy peasy!
Book Appointment
Initial Appointments
(1 hour) - $125
Follow up Appointments
(30-60 mins) - $85-$99
Brief Appointment
(up to 15 min) $45
SKYPE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. Simply indicate on your booking notes that you would like the appointment to be via skype.
:: Rae is fully registered with all private health insurance providers Health rebates are available.
Testing and Health Screening Services
In addition to undertaking a detailed case study Rae also utilises comprehensive and reliable scientific testing procedures where needed to assess and help to address any underlying causes for your health concerns.
This is in addition to any standard lab tests you may have recently had with your GP which also form a valuable part of your health assessment.
Used to assess and screen for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. There is currently no other accurate way to assess this common condition seen in cases of IBS, bloating, nutrient depletion due to malabsorption, bowel irregularities and general digestive discomfort. A simple breath test which is assessed by an independent laboratory.
Rae is also well trained and experienced in treating cases of SIBO that are seen regularly in clinic.
Complete Digestive Stool Analysis
With my special interest in digestive health, I regularly request a laboratory based comprehensive stool assessment. A specialised Stool
Analysis Test will help to detect the underlying causes of your digestive problems. The test will screen for parasitic and bacterial infections, parasitology, candida and other yeast overgrowth (taking out the guess work), your ability to digest and absorb your proteins, fats and carbohydrates and associating nutrients, screen for levels of beneficial microflora plus detect inflammatory markers in the gut.
Hormone Profile using dried urine sample. Accurate method of testing a range of female hormone profiles and metabolites.


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Spring is right around the corner. According to Ayurveda, the worlds oldest comprehensive system of medicine, Spring is the most important time of the year to renew your body, mind, and spirit!
Spring Cleaning
A time honored tradition in our homes, can have wonderful health and wellness benefits for the body and mind as well. Cleansing has become a bit of a buzz word in modern times, but it is a practice that dates back centuries and across many ancient cultures. It is rooted in living seasonally, in tune with the cycles of nature as well as enhancing our bodies innate detoxification processes. Seasonal Cleansing in the Spring and Fall is a time honored tradition in Ayurveda and is a wonderful way to help our bodies and minds adapt, come back to balance and reset in the process.
Why Cleanse?
We are exposed to toxins everyday in the foods we eat, our environment, the air we breathe, everyday stress and from chemicals that exist in our cleaning products, toiletries and cosmetics. These toxins accumulate year round, overloading our body's natural purification systems and creating inflammation in the body. The goal of a gentle cleanse is to release these toxins, improve digestion, de-stress, and help the body function at it's highest capacity — to reset and revitalize.
Ayurvedic specialist, Dr. John Douillard, DC, CAP explains, "The transitional seasons of spring and fall present a unique opportunity to detox in such a way that we send a ripple effect of health, vibrancy and immunity benefits into the summer and the year ahead. Spring marks natures "new year" and the plants and herbs that grow naturally this time of year are naturally detoxifying."
Shed the heaviness of winter, energize and rejuvenate with these simple tips.
Eat Seasonally
The spring harvest includes naturally light and antioxidant rich foods like dark leafy greens, sprouts, asparagus, spinach, peas, tart cherries and berries. Dr. Douillard notes, "When we adjust our diet and lifestyle to match the season, health-promoting digestive microbes dramatically change. Spring microbes support balanced immunity, digestion, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, sleep – and much more."
For a simple spring cleanse, nourish with body with seasonal, fresh, organic whole foods; avoid processed foods, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and simple carbohydrates. Drink lots of water and use herbs and spices like ginger and turmeric to fire up your digestion, boost metabolism and reduce internal inflammation.
For a guided experience and to learn more about the science of Ayurveda - check out Bhava Yoga's Ayurveda Essentials or Spring Cleanse offerings.
Just Breathe
Stimulate your respiratory system with 1-5 minutes mindful breathing a few times each day. This simple exercise can enhance the overall lung function, support the nervous system, increase mental clarity and focus. Once you have established a deep breath pattern, add an ocean wave or "Darth Vater" sound to each breath. In yoga, this technique is called Ujjayi or Victorious Breath. When practiced properly, it builds internal heat, oxygenates the blood and aids in the release of unnecessary thoughts, tension and toxins.
Yoga for Detox
Cleanse from the inside out and outside with a detoxifying yoga sequence. Yoga shares the inherent benefits of exercise but doubles down with therapeutic qualities, inspiration and ancient wisdom to purify the body, mind and soul. The connection of breath, movement and mindfulness tones the body, strengthens the mind, promotes focus, healthy digestion, detoxification, healing and restoration.
Focus on the Core
Build heat in the body and ignite your digestive fire or agni with focused core work. Use poses that strengthen the core and create stability like boat pose, forearm plank and knee to nose pose.
Twists help to tone and fortify the inner organs, calm the mind and balance the body. It is valuable to practice twists in standing poses like a low lunge or chair pose as well as seated and reclined on the back. They are wonderful tools to support and stimulate healthy digestion, increase circulation and vitality.
Child Pose variation
Practice Childs pose with your fists pressing against the low belly, resting your forehead on a block or the mat. Allow your low belly to soften; breathe deeply for a gentle belly "massage" with each breath. Adding compression to this pose aids digestion and healthy elimination.
Legs up the Wall
Gentle inversions reverse the flow of gravity by elevating the legs over the head. This simple action helps flush out accumulated inflammation, toxins and assist in movement of lymph boosting immunity. The deep relaxing and restorative nature of these postures literally gives the heart a break by allowing gravity to assist in the pumping of fresh blood to the brain and it's recirculation from the extremities back to the heart.


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Completed with Love + Money
Reel credits
Illustration: Vera Babida
3D & 2D Animation: Conlan Normington
2D Effects: Vera Babida
Music: CommonGround - Airtone
Project credits
Creative Director: Charl Laubscher
Design Direction: Kyle Mac, Vera Babida
2D Animation: Conlan Normington, Vera Babida, Noah Campeau
Producers: Rachel Gilkison, Lana Laham
Web Development: Max Coles
Phenomenom! is a fun and friendly educational series and online resource for teachers with the goal of encouraging kids to eat more vegetables by focusing on the super natural powers they give you.
My role was to create a suite of 3D type and vegetable animations based on Vera Babida's beautiful illustrations to be used throughout the website and series. After that I worked on the animation for 3 episodes. Working with Love + Money, we did a lot of R&D with inflatables, vegetation, pimples and many other effects to find a look and animation style to fit the quirky, unexpected nature of the series.
Above is a reel showing some of the 3D type, R&D and character animation I worked on.
Thanks to the team at Love + Money for getting me involved.
2D to 3D illustrations


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- The gas absorption heat pump draws energy from the air using heat pump technology and a highly-efficient, low NOx, gas condensing heat generator.
- By using gas as the primary energy source directly at the point of use, rather than electricity which is generated largely in coal or gas power stations, the gas absorption heat pump has a significantly small carbon footprint.
GHP AWO 38 Heat Pump
Bosch gas absorption heat pumps cuts energy running costs and provides up to 65% additional heat by drawing in free energy from the surrounding air. For higher heating demands, the GHP AWO 38 can be supplied in a multi-heat pump cascade system.
- Maximum efficiency of 165%
- Suitable for outdoor installation, no need for a plant room
- Low maintenance requirements
- Fast return on investment
- Reduced fuel costs due to high efficiency and use of renewable energy
- Low electric power requirement reduces reliance on local electricity supply infrastructure
- No requirement for a chimney as flues are included
- Compliant with key legislation and energy targets such as Building Regulations Part L, CRC EES, EPC, DEC and BREEAM/LED ratings
Technical data
|ErP label
|ErP Product label
|ErP fiche
|Max. Rated heating out (A7W35)
|Max. Rated heat input up to a flow temp. of 65 °C
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|Sound pressure level 10m at max. load
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|Absorb 6000 GHP AWO 38
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The energy-efficiency class indicates the energy-efficiency rating of specific product. Energy-efficiency classes for other products from this line may differ.


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John Deere 648GIII Skidder ***SOLD*** - $45,000
Specifications - $45,000
John Deere
- 2004
- 1191-8
- 12,500
- Northcentral USA
- Aaron
2004 John Deere 648GIII D/A Grapple Skidder. This skidder runs and starts good, hour meter reads 12,500 hours, strong hydraulics, DD transmission in good working order, tight center section, arch and grapple pins are tight, steer, blade and arch cylinders are in good working condition. 35.5x32 tires with full set of chains and a spare tire, heat, A/C, and lights. Contact Aaron @ Red Pine Equipment 218-720-0933. Machine is located in Northcentral USA. ***SOLD***
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(218) 720-0933
John Deere 648GIII Skidder ***SOLD***


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From anguish to desire
Anguish seems to imply a wait that is characterized by imprecision and a lack of objective. We might think that anguish is triggered by our deepest fears, by the very threat from nature itself, by other human beings, or by our own finiteness. So what becomes of our anguish?
What if our anguish is directed towards a certain nucleus of enjoyment that implies both, suffering and satisfaction? How can we avoid our compulsion toward the repetition involved in that particular enjoyment? How do we find our way to our desire, which is actually so close but so forgotten?
In this work, I explore the fundamental ideas related to the path that anguish takes on its journey towards desire. This involves the forgetfulness of being; the transformation that occurs in the subject when it assumes its mirror image; the omnipotence of the Other's discourse; the fascinating power of a sublime image which always announces a lethal dimension; the loss as deep sadness; the childhood that overcomes our life.


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It's What You Crave
For the first time in its 82-year history in Columbus, White Castle finally has a presence in the Ohio State University campus area. And it's not just any White Castle. It's built for fast-moving, tech-savvy students, who can punch in an order on their phone and bypass the cash register to pick up a sack of sliders. The locally based burger chain, of 379 domestic locations, has built a new 2,550-square-foot, two-story Castle — with its trademark white façade and blue logo.
The interior features a pristine exhibition kitchen that can cook more than 400 burgers at a time, a game-day necessity, store officials figure. Giving a nod to the Ohio State Buckeyes with vintage photographs, the new White Castle seats 47 people in the main dining room and another 18 in the lounge-style room on the second floor. Perhaps best of all, the store is open 24 hours for those students cramming for exams and wanting to stuff down a few sliders. A cup of coffee is only a buck. Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the store. Among the menu items are breakfast sliders, served all day.
A new feature is the Crave Box, not to be confused with the slider-filled Crave Case. The box a mobile-order pickup area where customers can retrieve their orders from to-go boxes that use special-access codes. The restaurant also will accept BuckID payment.
The new White Castle prototypical restaurant design has enhanced its brand position in the highly competitive collegiate food service market and improved customer/associate interaction. Rollout to additional locations is being explored.
We have enjoyed a 20+ year relationship with White Castle. We have supported their internal design team with 100's of projects ranging from Flagships, to Prototypes, to Remodels and Retro-fits all with the goal of continuing to build the brand and enhance the customer experience.


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Turkish police in front of the residence of the consul general of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia sent two "cleaners" to Istanbul to erase the traces of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder inside his consulate.
ANKARA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has sent two "cleaners" to Istanbul to wipe out the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside his consulate, a Turkish official said on Monday.
Confirming reports in the pro-government daily Sabah, the official added that the two men, a chemist and a toxicologist, had gone to the consulate nine days after the journalist's disappearance on 2 October.
Their mission was to "clean" the premises before Turkish investigators were allowed to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and the consul's residence.
The Sabah daily identified them as Ahmed Abdelaziz al-Jonabi and Khaled Yahya al-Zahrani and added that they were part of a team of 11 Saudis sent by Ryad to conduct inspections with the Turkish authorities.
"We believe that these two individuals came to Turkey for the sole purpose of concealing the evidence of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi before the Turkish police were allowed to search the premises," the Turkish official confirmed.
They completed their mission until October 17 and left Turkey three days later, he added.
"The fact that a team of 'cleaners' was dispatched by Saudi Arabia nine days after the killing suggests that Khashoggi's assassination was known to senior Saudi officials," he said.
Jamal Khashoggi, a regular contributor to the Washington Post who did not spare his criticism of the Saudi government and his de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, disappeared on October 2 from the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
After long denying his death, Saudi Arabia eventually admitted that the journalist had been killed inside the consulate. Prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb later evoked premeditated murder.
Five weeks after his death, Khashoggi's body remains untraceable. His sons, Salah and Abdallah, asked to be able to recover him in order to bury him in Saudi Arabia.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay also reported on Monday that the journalist's body was acid-etched.
"The question now is who gave the orders, and that's what we're looking for now," he told the Anadolu news agency. "Another question is where is the body?" Articles say it has been dissolved in acid, so check this out.


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Mass scaling and nonadiabatic effects in photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold strontium atoms
Borkowski, Mateusz
Morzyński, Piotr
Ciuryło, Roman
Julienne, Paul S.
Yan, Mi
DeSalvo, Brian J.
Killian, T.C.
We report photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold 86Sr atoms near the intercombination line and provide theoretical models to describe the obtained bound-state energies. We show that using only the molecular states correlating with the 1S0+3P1 asymptote is insufficient to provide a mass-scaled theoretical model that would reproduce the bound-state energies for all isotopes investigated to date: 84Sr,86Sr, and 88Sr. We attribute that to the recently discovered avoided crossing between the 1S0+3P1 0+u (3Πu) and 1S0+1D2 0+u (1Σ+u) potential curves at short range and we build a mass-scaled interaction model that quantitatively reproduces the available 0+u and 1u bound-state energies for the three stable bosonic isotopes. We also provide isotope-specific two-channel models that incorporate the rotational (Coriolis) mixing between the 0+u and 1u curves which, while not mass scaled, are capable of quantitatively describing the vibrational splittings observed in experiment. We find that the use of state-of-the-art ab initio potential curves significantly improves the quantitative description of the Coriolis mixing between the two −8-GHz bound states in 88Sr over the previously used model potentials. We show that one of the recently reported energy levels in 84Sr does not follow the long-range bound-state series and theorize on the possible causes. Finally, we give the Coriolis-mixing angles and linear Zeeman coefficients for all of the photoassociation lines. The long-range van der Waals coefficients C6(0+u)=3868(50) a.u. and C6(1u)=4085(50) a.u. are reported.
Published Version
Journal article
Citable link to this pagehttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/94756
RightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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- Faculty Publications [3602]
- Physics and Astronomy Publications [1345]


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This calendar is perfect as décor in your home, kitchen, or office and easily helps to keep track of important dates, contacts, and other events at a glance. Each calendar month is easy to glance at and see what responsibilities you have coming up, so make sure you stay organized through the year! Personalization is easy with different colors for appointments and trips, add stickers or stickie notes for a quick reference, or create your own system of symbols and abbreviations.
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So strong is the association between Georgia O'Keeffe (American, 1887-1896) and New Mexico that it is easy to forget how many of her oversized flower pictures were painted in New York. Between 1918 and 1929, she divided her time between NYC and the Adirondack Mountains, painting cityscapes, pastoral Lake George scenes, and the singular flower studies that brought her international acclaim in the mid-1920s. A summer visit to New Mexico proved to be a seminal even in O'Keeffe's life; enchanted by the high desert, she returned nearly every year thereafter and moved permanently to her beloved Albiquiu after the death of her husband, Alfred Stieglitz.


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The media mogul Sumner M. Redstone was in the middle of a bitter divorce from his wife of 52 years in December 2000 when he was spotted with a decades-younger woman at the New York premiere of the Paramount movie "What Women Want."
His companion was Manuela Herzer, then a 36-year-old single mother of three. The pair met the previous year, and they dated for about two years. When he asked her to marry him in 2000, she declined.
Yet Ms. Herzer remained in the orbit of Mr. Redstone's life as a friend, even as he cycled through another marriage and a series of girlfriends. He lavished gifts, real estate and money on her — more than $70 million in cash and other assets since 2009. He named her a beneficiary of his personal trust, listing her as "family." Upon his death, he planned to leave her an additional $50 million and his $20 million Los Angeles mansion, according to various court filings.
Now Ms. Herzer is challenging Mr. Redstone's mental competence in a salacious lawsuit she filed last November, not long after she was suddenly ejected from Mr. Redstone's life and his home, where she had maintained a residence for about two years. She also was removed from his will and from a directive that would have given her supervision of his health care.
The legal battle, filled with embarrassing claims about Mr. Redstone's sexual desires, incontinence and demands to eat steak while on a feeding tube, is scheduled for trial starting Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, exactly three weeks before his 93rd birthday.
This real-life soap opera has captivated both Hollywood and Wall Street. While the dispute concerns Mr. Redstone's personal affairs, the outcome could have major implications for his $42 billion media empire, which includes two of the world's largest entertainment companies, Viacom and CBS, both still controlled by Mr. Redstone.
A ruling by Judge David J. Cowan that Mr. Redstone is not competent would set off a contentious battle for power across Mr. Redstone's businesses.
At the center of it all is Ms. Herzer, now 51, who claims in the suit that Mr. Redstone lacked mental capacity and was under the undue influence of a nurse and his daughter, Shari Redstone, when he changed his health care plan. Is Ms. Herzer a loving friend, concerned about his well-being, whom he trusted to look out for his best interests even more than his own family? Or are her claims an invasion of privacy, riddled with lies and motivated by greed?
Those questions will set the backdrop for the trial, as the court is expected to hear video testimony from Mr. Redstone, as well as from his daughter, doctors and nurses, Ms. Herzer and Philippe Dauman, the chief executive of Viacom.
"The trial will expose the tragic inconvenient truth that Sumner Redstone needs the court's protection from those who have lied to and exploited him in his debilitated condition," Pierce O'Donnell, a lawyer for Ms. Herzer, said in a statement. "We look forward to trial."
Robert N. Klieger, a lawyer for Mr. Redstone, said in a statement that the case was all about money for Ms. Herzer.
"For Mr. Redstone, it is about his ability to decide who will make the most important health care decisions in his life," Mr. Klieger added. "Some things are more important than money."
The two sides came close to reaching a settlement last month but talks hit a snag. Since then, hurried trial preparations have been underway, with both sides boldly proclaiming that they are looking forward to arguing the dispute in court.
The trial, which is scheduled to last five days, promises to provide vivid details and plot turns worthy of a Shakespearean drama.
The first witness Friday is expected to be Mr. Redstone, in video testimony recorded Thursday. Mr. Redstone has not been seen publicly since his 92nd birthday last May and has suffered minor strokes that have left him with a severe speech impediment. In her suit, Ms. Herzer called him a "living ghost.''
One person who has interacted regularly with Mr. Redstone, and who asked not to be identified because the conversations with Mr. Redstone were private, said that while it was difficult to understand him initially, people who become familiar with his speech patterns could make out what he was saying, particularly when he responded to yes or no questions, spoke in shorter phrases or became angry. His speech therapists and nurses are said to assist in interpreting Mr. Redstone's more complex statements.
Next on the witness list is Dr. Stephen L. Read, a psychiatrist who conducted a medical exam of Mr. Redstone in late January and filed a 37-page report; most details were withheld. Dr. Read is expected to testify that Mr. Redstone "did not fully understand and appreciate the consequences" of removing Ms. Herzer from the health care directive, according to court documents filed by her lawyers on Thursday.
Lawyers for Mr. Redstone asserted in a separate court filing on Thursday that Dr. Read's report was manipulated by Mr. O'Donnell.
Then comes Keryn Redstone, Mr. Redstone's granddaughter, who has formed an alliance with Ms. Herzer that essentially pits her against Shari Redstone, her aunt. In a recent declaration Keryn Redstone described her grandfather as a "prisoner in his own home." She also claimed that she and her grandfather had been threatened by her aunt. Shari Redstone has called the claims false.
New court documents filed Thursday by lawyers for Mr. Redstone assert that Ms. Herzer exploited her relationship with him for financial gain, saying that between last August and mid-October she charged more than $265,000 to his American Express card, and at one point called in a request for $40,000 in cash to be delivered to Mr. Redstone's house and had him sign for it.
In response, lawyers for Ms. Herzer said that Mr. Redstone had been generous to many people in his life, and Ms. Herzer was one of them.
Ms. Herzer has said the suit is solely about Mr. Redstone's well-being. She was introduced to him by one of his old friends in 1999, about five years after her bitter divorce from Eric Chamchoum, a Nigerian-born telecommunications executive who is part of a dynastic Lebanese family.
Ms. Herzer was born in Buenos Aires, the only daughter in a family with four sons. The family moved to Miami when she was a child. She later studied in Paris, where she met Mr. Chamchoum. The couple moved to Los Angeles.
Their divorce filings, in the Los Angeles court system, are lurid. The case includes well over 1,500 pages, with accusations of physical abuse and tax evasion, and assertions by Ms. Herzer that her husband had threatened to abduct their two children and take them to Nigeria. Lawyers came and went.
Mr. Chamchoum lived in Nigeria at the time. Ms. Herzer was unable to provide any evidence of abuse.
Over the years, Ms. Herzer has listed her occupation in public records as homemaker, producer and self-employed. She owns property in California, New York and Paris and is also listed as the principal officer of the Herzer Foundation, dedicated to the prevention of childhood diseases and child abuse.
Former employees of Paramount, the movie and television studio owned by Viacom, described her as a frequent presence on the lot and on the red carpet for movie premieres, charity parties and other social events over the years. Last year, she participated in an interview and photo shoot for a lengthy profile about Mr. Redstone in Vanity Fair.
Though they stopped dating early in the 2000s, Mr. Redstone and Ms. Herzer remained close, and in early 2013 she moved into his mansion at his request, she said in court filings. From 2013 until August 2015, Ms. Herzer said, she helped Mr. Redstone make health care decisions along with his girlfriend at the time, Sydney Holland.
In August, Ms. Holland was ejected from the home after a confession of infidelity. At that point, Ms. Herzer said, she took over the management of Mr. Redstone's health care. She characterized his health as deteriorating rapidly.
On the morning of Oct. 12, Ms. Herzer was removed from Mr. Redstone's home in a scene she described as a tearful frenzy. She has said that she did not know why she had been ejected and was told by Mr. Redstone's lawyers only that she had "lied" to Mr. Redstone. The papers filed by the Redstone side on Thursday said the lies involved Ms. Herzer obstructing Mr. Redstone's relationship with another woman as well as her fabrication of a letter she said was from Ms. Holland.
Lawyers for Ms. Herzer said that they will show during the trial that the allegations have no merit.


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Bible scholars tend to be experts in languages and they focus on texts. But, but, but … there are other groups of Bible scholars who, as one of my old colleagues liked to say, get dirt under their nails. He then said, "I only want ink on my fingers." He was saying textual study is far more important than archaeology or geography.
Now that's where I want to begin. Lexham Press has a new book for those who love Jesus and Gospel studies: The Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels, edited by my former colleague Barry J. Beitzel. This is quite an accomplishment.
Not easy to describe accept to say that all things geographical are covered here … right through all four Gospels… beginning with the birth and birthplace of Jesus … by a host of top notch scholars each intent on clarifying geography as it impinges upon the text of the Gospels.I liked the chp on "Ministry in the wilderness" by Aubrey L. Taylor and "Locating the Baptism of Jesus" by Benjamin A. Foreman, who locates the baptism "northeast of the Sea of Galilee" in the Golan Heights. There's a wonderful chp on domestic architecture in Capernaum by Elaine Phillips, and Carl Laney has a chapter on fishing in the Galilee, and plenty of material on Jerusalem for Holy Week sermons and teaching. And all kinds of pictures and maps and diagrams in color.
Mercy, one gem after another can be found in this book and I hope every seminary, every Christian college and every church library gets a copy.


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So I've been spending a LOT of time lately learning how to market my book. For those of you who are not writers, let me just say that when you write "the end," you're only about a third of the way done with that story. Next comes rounds of editing and proofreading to get it exactly right and then comes the selling part. This is the hardest, yet most important part. After all, what good is a really good book with an amazing cover if nobody knows how to get their hands on it? (more…)
Archive for the 'short story' Category
In With the New
Posted in Amazon.com, authors, blogging, books, Family, Fiction, goals, grammar, humor, Jansen Schmidt, reading, resolutions, short story, social media, success, writers, writing, tagged advertising, authors, books, computers, Facebook, Facebook ads, marketing, marketing plan, novel, photos, photoshop, pixels, sales, software, technology on February 11, 2019| 7 Comments »
Snicker Snort
Posted in acting, authors, blogging, Family, friends, Holidays, humor, Jansen Schmidt, reading, resolutions, short story, Uncategorized, words, writers, writing, tagged corny jokes, deadpan, eye rolling, giggle, groan, humor, jokes, laughing, laughter, offended, puns, silliness, silly, snort, stupid, stupid humor on January 28, 2019| 10 Comments »
I don't know about you but I love corny jokes and slogans. You know the ones I'm talking about, the ones that make you groan, roll your eyes and snicker snort. Not an all out belly laugh, but that little giggle that halfway comes out your nose. I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff. Stupid stuff. The world – in my humble opinion – needs more stupid snicker snort moments. (more…)
Why Would I Do That?
Posted in Amazon.com, authors, awards, blogging, books, Family, Fiction, Free book, friends, grammar, humor, Jansen Schmidt, reading, resolutions, romance, short story, social media, success, words, writers, writing, tagged authors, Barnes & Noble, Book Bub, book buying, book recommendations, book reviewers, book reviews, e-books, Good Reads, Kindle, library, new authors, recommendations, star ratings on September 24, 2018| 18 Comments »
I know a lot of folks like to read. In fact, I'll go so far as to say, there are a lot of folks who LOVE to read. I'm one of those folks. Most writers probably are. Everyone has their favorite authors, books, series, genres, etc. Me? I like to read lots of stuff. The only things I don't read are science fiction, horror, and books that "preach" at me about anything. (more…)
The First Impression
Posted in Amazon.com, Aunty Cindy, authors, blogging, books, Fiction, friends, humor, Jansen Schmidt, Loucinda McGary, reading, romance, short story, social media, words, writers, writing, tagged artwork, authors, book covers, book shelf, book titles, books, cover blurbs, cover design, first impression, fonts, foreboding, foreshadowing, images, judge book by its cover, mock-up, romance writers, RWA, titles on May 21, 2018| 10 Comments »
About a month ago I blogged about the importance of a good title, in relation to articles and books. A lot of that post was poking fun at embarrassing headlines from newspapers, but the point got made – how something is titled is important. Because I'm on the brink of publishing my first novel, I'm at the point where I need to start making some very important decisions about not only titles, but the items that will make or break someone's decision to buy my book. The items that create a good first impression. The things that will make my book stand out from the rest on an already crowded shelf. (more…)
The Importance Of A Good Title
Posted in anthology, authors, blogging, books, Fiction, goals, grammar, humor, Jansen Schmidt, reading, short story, sports, success, words, writers, writing, tagged bad headlines, book blurbs, book covers, book titles, catchy titles, fun, funny headlines, humor, inappropriate headlines, internet, risque headlines, titles on April 23, 2018| 4 Comments »
Writers know how important it is to grab readers' attention as soon as possible. A catchy opening line, an intriguing back cover blurb, even a good title is important to make that very first awesome impression. Sometimes those 3 things alone are enough to make a sale. That along with a good cover of course. I've been known to buy a book based on these 4 things. (more…)
When Suspension of Disbelief Goes Too Far
Posted in acting, authors, books, Family, Fiction, friends, humor, Jansen Schmidt, reading, short story, super powers, tv, watching tv, writers, writing, tagged airplane, average, average people, critical thinking, disbelief, fantasy, LA, Lethal Weapon, logic, parachute, police, sacrifice realism, science fiction, sky diving, super human, superheroes on March 12, 2018| 8 Comments »
Suspension of Disbelief. It's a common enough term for writers of fiction. It's a fine line to walk when writing certain kinds of fiction. But, the average person may not quite understand what that term is. (more…)
Now You've Gone and Done It
Posted in acting, authors, Baer House Inn, blogging, Family, Fiction, food, friends, humor, Jansen Schmidt, romance, short story, success, writers, writing, tagged antagonists, authors, B & B, breakfast, cancellations, childish behavior, dining, embarrassed, evil plotting, FBI, idiots, killing characters, kindergarten, mean people, plotting, rude, rude people, watching you, writing on March 5, 2018| 12 Comments »
Congratulations. You've ended up in my book. Some of you are thinking, cool. Authors, on the other hand, are staring at the computer screen right now with mouths agape. Why are authors gaping? Because they know that if someone ends up in one of their books, it cannot be good. Usually it's offensive, rude, and mean people who end up in books. Most certainly, they die. So, you see, ending up in a book is definitely not a good thing. (more…)
Thine Own Worst Enemy
Posted in anthology, authors, blogging, Fiction, goals, grammar, Jansen Schmidt, resolutions, short story, success, words, writers, writing, tagged aim higher, editing, good enough, Jeff Gerke, manuscripts, opinions, paralyzed, perfection, perfectionist, preferences, proof reading, Roseanne Bane, rule breaking, rules, taboo, taking risks, The Irresistible Novel, uglification, vulnerable on January 15, 2018| 16 Comments »
Calling myself a writer these days is a stretch since it's been a very long while since I've actually written anything besides a blog post. Of course I've had a very good reason, with my recent cancer diagnosis and subsequent poor mental and physical health as a result, but still, I need to get back in the saddle so to speak.
Because my energy has been at an almost imperceptible level, I've tried to spend my time reading short chapters and articles rather then getting engrossed in a novel. Yes, I haven't even had the energy or desire to read, that's how bad off I've been.
But, treatment is going well and I've to the worst behind me. So, I'm trying to get back into not only reading, but writing. It's been hard.
Writers are our own worst critics, especially those of us who strive for perfection. I once read an "inspirational" quote that I tried to apply to my life: If you reach perfection, aim higher. Well folks, that can be paralyzing. In fact, it's counter-intuitive if you want to publish a book. At some point, that book is going to have to be good enough. I understand that the quote is encouraging us to try to improve and be better every day, but when it comes to a manuscript, throw that advice out the window.
I've had a hard time wrapping my brain around that concept though. Good enough. What is good enough? That means I'm settling right? I'm not trying hard enough? WRONG. I've been putting my best foot forward with my writing since the day I typed my first sentence. I attend workshops, read books on craft, watch videos from "experts," all necessary things to improve my craft. By doing these things I'm trying harder, I'm aiming higher.
Recently I read an article written by Roseanne Bane entitled: "Good enough, may be the best thing for your writing." Say what? That article started with this quote: "The best is oftentimes the enemy of the good; and many a good book has remained unwritten . . . because there floated before the mind's eye the ideal of a better or a best." – R.C. Trench, 1861. I read that sentence a dozen times before it dawned on me. That's me. I'm preventing my own publishing journey because I'm holding out for something better.
The article went on to say, "If you refuse to accept good enough, you can't move on." That's right, I'm becoming paralyzed by my goal to reach perfection. I have to allow myself to be more vulnerable, to take more risks and just let my above-average writing speak for myself. After all, not everyone is going to like my book even if it is perfect. I need to remember that I'm not writing for everyone, I'm writing for those people who believe my work is perfection. For every person who doesn't like what I write, there'll be at least one person who does.
Shortly after I read the above article I read this passage in a book called "The Irresistible Novel," by Jeff Gerke, which I highly recommend by the way: "It is inevitable that you will encounter people who will say you'll never get published if you do (or don't do) X, Y, and Z . . . I hope you understand that these people are merely giving their preferences, their opinions, and their own person brand of paralysis. " That really resonated with me because I do hear so many differing opinions on what you should and shouldn't do as a writer. Also, I hear all the things you absolutely should not do and then I read book after book where those "taboo" things occur repeatedly. Say what? It's confusing. How did they get published if you absolutely should not do those things? Why can they do it, but I can't?
Mr. Gerke went on to say: "If you keep letting the "experts" cause you to doubt yourself, you'll end up in misery." Exactly! He wrote that ". . . at some point you have to stop being so flexible and just decide how you want to write the thing." It is my book after all. I like that Mr. Gerke.
I know my manuscripts are better than a lot of books out there on the market, and there are millions. I've read several books lately that really should not have been published without another good proofreading or round of edits. I've read books with weak plots, boring characters, confusing dialogue. I know my books are better than that.
So, bottom line. I'm going to take a look at my manuscripts with a different perspective. Sure, I have to edit out the bad grammar and typos, but as far as the story goes . . . I'm going to believe it's "good enough." I've read them umpteen times. Beta readers have read them. Critique groups have read them. I've even had editors read them. It's time to let actual readers read them.
It's time to take Mr. Gerke's advice – I have to stop being so flexible and just decide how I want to write the thing. Bam. Done.
Look for something from me later this year. There, I've said it. Now, I have to do it. Right? You'll all hold me accountable?
So, tell me readers, are you perfectionists? How do you know when your craft is "good enough?" What advice resonated with you for anything that created a change for the better?
Word of the day: uglification
Fun fact about me: I didn't read a single Christmas novel this past year. (I barely read anything for the past 3 months of the year.)
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, January 2018. Photos courtesy Google Images.
Strike While The Iron Is Hot – Or Not?
Posted in authors, blogging, Family, Fiction, friends, goals, grammar, humor, Jansen Schmidt, resolutions, romance, short story, success, words, writers, writing, tagged brainstorming, editing, edits, fiction, historical romance, ideas, imaginary characters, imagination, innkeeping, morning person, novels, settings, work, work in progress, worlds, writing on October 30, 2017| 6 Comments »
Usually I like to "work ahead." I do things today that will make my life easier tomorrow. Like chopping onions or veggies for dinner or putting together a casserole for breakfast.
Do You Ever Wonder?
Posted in acting, authors, Family, Fiction, friends, humor, Jansen Schmidt, redneck, short story, watching tv, writers, writing, tagged clandestine operations, counterfeit money, crime, crime scene, crime shows, drug deal, jogging, spies, spy, spying, sting operation, tv, undercover cops on October 23, 2017| 8 Comments »
A week or so ago I was watching one of those crime shows on TV, you know the ones where they have an agent/detective go "undercover" and spy on someone? In this show, the gal was sitting on a park bench with ear buds, bopping along to some unheard tune when this jogger stops and plants himself on the bench next to her and starts up a conversation. Now, this gal didn't want to converse, yet neither did she want to appear as though she were spying on someone. So, she provided the occasional nod or "um hm" while continuing to watch her target from the corner of her eye.
That scene got me to thinking – which can be a scary thing I'll admit. I wondered if this had ever happened to me. I mean, I've been known to strike up a conversation with a totally random stranger if the mood hits me. Yet I wondered, have I ever intruded in a clandestine spying operation? Have I ever encountered a completely random person, who appeared to be sitting/standing idly, yet was really annoyed because I was distracting them from their bad guy's activities with mindless chit chat?
Seriously, how many of those mornings at Starbucks or the gas station or the grocery store have I talked to an undercover law enforcement person doing their surveillance job?
That in turn got me to wondering other oddball things. Like, have I ever had in my possession counterfeit money? Have I ever spent counterfeit money passed on to me from some other source?
Have I ever happened upon a drug deal without even being aware it was happening in my presence?
Has a late night sting operation ever had to be aborted because I happened along for a snack at a convenience store? Gosh, I hope not. And yet . . . hmmmm?
How many people do I talk to every single day are hiding concealed weapons? Being from Mississippi I'm sure that number is quite high.
There are just so many things that could be happening right in front of my nose. I know that from now on everyone is going to look suspicious to me. How about you?
Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong – or maybe right – time? What sorts of clandestine things have you interrupted? Come on – please share. Have you ever wondered if you've thwarted a crime just by showing up some place? Surely this isn't just me.
Word of the day: Ididem
Fun fact about me: I'm tap dancing again.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, October 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.
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text: There are now just two rounds separating the last eight clubs from the Europa League final at the end of May. The early preliminary rounds took place back in June of last year but now the quarter final and semi final draws have been made there is a clearer picture of who might lift the trophy in Baku. The round of 16 saw another avalanches of goals – and a few surprises as well. Inter Milan failed to capitalise on home advantage in their second leg and were beaten by Eintracht Frankfurt, while five times winners Sevilla were sensationally knocked out by Slavia Prague. The Quarter Final Draw With such a parity of talent the Europa League is an intriguing competition with any of the eight sides left able to get a result – and the quarter final draw has thrown up some interesting looking ties. Arsenal v Napoli Villarreal v Valencia Benfica v Eintracht Frankfurt Slavia Prague v Chelsea With the semi final routes also decided, the two English favourites could well meet up in the final after avoiding each other in both draws. The bookies have been consolidating their odds with nothing much changing after these latest developments. Early Thoughts Arsenal v Napoli is the real stand out tie of the quarter finals, giving Aaron Ramsey a chance to test himself against Italian opposition before his move to Juventus in the summer. Although the draws open up the possibility of an all English final there is also now the chance of an all Maurizio Sarri final – with Chelsea and his former club Napoli also separated. Eintracht Frankfurt continue to fly under the radar – although their victory over Inter Milan in the last round will alert the others of their potential. The German side have been very impressive in the Bundesliga this season and have followed up that form in the Europa League. Benfica may be happy that they have avoided the Premier League clubs but this is not an easy draw for the Portuguese side. Slavia Prague's reward for knocking out Sevilla has been a pairing with the favourites, Chelsea. Not many sports betting sites will give the Czech club a chance and this is likely to be the end of the road for the Europa League long shots. The all Spanish tie sets up a domestically woeful Villarreal against former Champions League regulars Valencia – and promises to be an exhilarating two games. Europa League Betting With Chelsea's odds narrowing the value bets are to be found elsewhere and – depending on preference – either of Arsenal or Napoli could be worth a wager. Unibet have Arsenal at 17/4 and Napoli at 15/4 to win the Europa League and whoever wins their tie could go all the way. Looking at the early prices for the first leg matches Arsenal also look good value at 6/5 with 888Sport to beat Napoli at the Emirates. Chelsea could conceivably beat Slavia Prague home and away and 5/6 for a win in the first leg in the Czech Republic looks good too. Final Eight This almost seems like the perfect quarter final draw for the Europa League – a blockbuster tie between Arsenal and Napoli alongside three others with intriguing match ups of their own. Chelsea may still be the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy but the quarter finals and semi finals promise some exciting games.


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E30 with a Supercharged S52 Tube Frame Front End
There are some builds that allow the team at Total Motor Werkes to be creative with our fabrication, and this E30 equipped with a supercharged S52 is one of those builds.
This E30 came to us incomplete with the engine swap already performed, and we are in the process of fabricating a tube frame front end to leave room for the necessary cooling system components for a build with high heat demands. Utilizing DOM tubing, the tube frame is also designed to be serviceable and safe while providing additional structural reinforcement.
The photos below are of the tube frame in progress.
Although these are just a few samples of the work in progress, you can visit our Facebook page, or to see this car in action watch the video of it at Cayuga!


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Leading Community Change with the Marin Women's Commission
The partnership of the Marin Women's Commission with Dominican University of California is guided by the mutual commitment that Women's Leadership effectively impacts systems' change so that Women of all ages are empowered, educated, and engaged in the Community. For more information: Marin Women's Commission (PDF)
Story of Cedric Jennings: Vision, Perseverance, Leadership
In 1998, Ron Suskind, then a Pulitzer prize-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal, wrote an extraordinary book about a young man's journey from the inner city to the Ivy League. Cedric Jennings, now 27, graduated from Brown University in 1999. For more information: Cedric Jennings (PDF)
The Compton Foundation Symposium: "The Humanization of Globalization"
On April 8, faculty and student research was presented at Dominican University of California. Invited Speakers included: Dr. Francoise O. Lepage, Dean and Professor Emerita, School of Business and International Studies
and Ms. Mashuda Khatan Shefali, Executive Director of Nari Uddog
For more information, please click here: Compton Symposium Faculty and Student (PDF)
On April 7, Dr. Francoise O. Lepage and Ms. Mashuda Khatan Shefali gave an oral presentation on some topics they have been researching. These topics included:
- "The Humanization of Globalization"
- "NUK, A Women's Initiative Center: Advancing Women's Economic Independence through Micro Credit and Garment Worker Programs."
For more information, please click here: Compton Symposium Keynote (PDF)
Celebration of Women's History Month: Women's History Week 2004 was presented by Dominican University of California's Institute for Leadership Studies, Honors Program, and Expression Series
Service Leadership: Women as Agents of Change
Service Leadership reflects the value that the role of leaders is to serve others. We are honouring women leaders who have demonstrated that value and have been dynamic agents of social change. This is a special presentation by two women leading the global fight to improve the lives of women and children around the world.
- Mashuda Khatan Shefali, Executive Director of Nari Uddog Kendra in Bangladesh will present the plight of female children in Bangladesh and the programs that are offered to educate and prepare them for future leadership roles.
- Ethel Siederman, Executive Director, Parent Services Project, and recipient of the 2002 Heart of Marin Award will speak of the process and experience of empowering others to seek leadership in their communities.
Women in Leadership in Faith: Leading Marin's Faith Organizations
Roberta Swan, Program director of The Women in Leadership Faith study will present highlights of the study completed last year in cooperation with the Dominican University of California's Department of Humanities, Dominican's Institute for Leadership Studies and the Sufi Women Organization. The study of 34 women faith leaders in Marin County will be discussed by a panel of six faith leaders who will join Ms. Swan to speak on the following topics:
- "Truth and Fiction: Muslim Women and the Veil"
Dr. Nahid Angha, Muslim Sufi leader, author & founder, Sufi Women Organization.
- "Hearing Women's Voices: New Interpretations of Sacred Texts"
Rabbi Chai Levy, Assistant Rabbi at Kol Shofar in Tiburon.
- "Social Justice as a Call to the Divine"
Reverend Carol Hovis, Presbyterian, Spiritual Advocate, Canal Ministry.
- "East Meets West, the Evolution of Buddhist Life"
Reverend Fu Schroeder, Zen Buddhist, Head of Practice at Green Gulch Center.
- "Striving for Women's Ordination"
Ms. Carolyn Kellogg, Catholic, therapist and founding member of A Critical Mass.
- "How Women Now Lead Within the Catholic Church"
Sr. Susannah Malarkey. O.P., Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.


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The city of Apache Junction's Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center was named one of the 10 "Must-See" swimming pools in the United States by nationally known pool supply company, Leslie's Poolmart.
"Of course they know a great pool when they see one," said Apache Junction Mayor Jeff Serdy. "Superstition Shadows has set a high standard not just for a public pool but for any swimming pool with its amenities and programs. Our Parks and Recreation Department has exceeded all expectations with upgrades and superior staff."
Phoenix-based Leslie's named 10 pools from across the country as "must-see" pools for National Swimming Pool Day on July 11.
In its announcement, Leslie's said it was highlighting "pools that showcase innovative design, thoughtful details, stunning views and unique features."
The list includes public pools and aquatic parks as well as high-end hotel pools and resort destination pools, resulting in a collection that offers a variety of options for the "perfect pool day," according to Leslie's news release.
In describing each selection, the pool supply company listed Superstition Shadows, saying:
"Located just outside Phoenix, Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center boasts two waterslides, a zero-depth entrance and a pipe water fountain play feature, as well as an Olympic-sized pool for laps and a whirlpool. The public pool is family friendly and offers swim lessons for ages 6 months and up, a rotating lineup of food trucks in the parking lot and special events like a Teen Glow Night and Dive-In Movies."
There is still time to take advantage of the city's top 10 pool.
- The facility holds a daily open swim from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through July 22.
- On weekdays from July 23 – Aug. 2, open swim hours will be from 3-5:30 p.m. and patrons can swim at no charge.
- On weekends through Aug. 18, the pool is open 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; regular fees apply.
- There are still two "dive-in" movies coming up this season:
- Aug. 16 (How to Train Your Dragon – The Hidden World)
- Sept. 14 (Spiderman into the Spider-Verse)
Visit www.ajcity.net/aquatics for details and more great programming information.
Three pools in Texas, two in California and one each from Utah, Louisiana, Florida and Nevada were selected.
The other pools on the list:
- Amangiri – Canyon Point, Utah
- Annenberg Community Beach House – Santa Monica, California
- Bayou Segnette State Park Wave Pool – Westwego, Louisiana
- Heights Family Aquatic Center – Richardson, Texas
- Hyatt Hill Country Resort – San Antonio, Texas
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – Orlando, Florida
- Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa – Dana Point, California
- Parkview Terrace at the Marriott Marquis – Houston
- The Tank at the Golden Nugget – Las Vegas
"Summer fun just isn't complete without a trip to the pool," said Leslie's President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Ortega in the announcement. "Whether it offers a relaxing beachfront for sunbathing or a diving board for the perfect cannonball, we encourage everyone to enjoy some pool time with family and friends – on National Swimming Pool Day and all summer long."
About Leslie's Poolmart Inc.
Founded in 1963, Phoenix-based Leslie's Poolmart Inc. is the world's largest specialty retailer of swimming pool and spa chemicals, pool cleaners, pool equipment, cleaning accessories, and pool toys and floats. Leslie's owns and operates more than 950 stores in 36 states and offers free, on-site water testing, expert advice on pool maintenance and free in-store labor on repairs. The company is committed to pool and water safety, and partners with nationally recognized organizations, giving a portion of sales of its pool safety products to provide swimming lessons in communities where it has locations. Leslie's is proud to sponsor several organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs, City of Hope, Big Brothers Big Sisters, local YMCAs and other local charities.
About the city of Apache Junction
Nestled at the foot of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is strategically positioned as the eastern gateway into the Greater Phoenix metro area (Valley of the Sun) and the western entry to the Tonto National Forest's recreation venues. The surrounding geography and western atmosphere draw more than half a million visitors through the city annually. From the mysterious stories of hidden treasures to the people who follow them, Apache Junction is surrounded by legends.


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Come out for the evening and get inspired!
Chandra Rice is off adventuring again this winter - refreshing her practice to bring you interesting ideas from around the world (you can follow her progress). In the spring (2019), she has lined up the following workshops so far!
Apr 23: Origami Basics (Burford Branch, Brant Public Library)
Apr 24: Macrame Magic (Paris Branch, Brant Public Library)
Apr 25: Printmaking (St. George Branch, Brant Public Library)
Jun 8: Shibori Felting (Kawartha Yarn & Fibre Festival)
Where there is a link, you can register for the workshop directly through the link. Otherwise, you can email her for more information!


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David Edwards Artist artworks for sale
Artist: David Edwards
Live in: Montreal, QC, Canada
Artworks for sale: 12.00
Views: 1280
Favorite: 193
David Edwards Artist Bio:
David Edwards was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1969. He has lived in Jersey, Channel Islands and Vancouver, BC, and is currently living and working in Montréal, Québec. He began his career as a graphic designer, but in 2000 began painting full-time. Focusing primarily on the landscape for many years, Edwards has recently revisited his first love, figure painting. His figurative images deal with issues of identity, and look not only at how we perceive ourselves, but how we believe we are perceived by others. In most of the figurative pieces the subject's face is covered or obscured. These 'anti-portraits' at once disguise and reveal the subject's identity. The artist has won several awards, and his work can be found in numerous private and corporate collections in Canada, Great Britain, Europe and the United States.


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Challenge Description
Hello ladies!
I believe nobody can answer my problem better than you two, so I decided to give it a shot.
The love of my life comes from another country. We just got engaged and now we need to decide: where do we marry?
The thing is, his family is huge, he has a lot of cousins and uncles and aunts that he constantly keeps in touch with. On my side, the family is way smaller. (He's French, I am Polish, by the way.)
And here comes the problem. We think it is impossible to transport his family to Poland for the wedding because it is just a lot of people who would need accommodation (and here comes the money part - I am not sure we can support them all). On the other hand, my Polish family would not afford completely to go anywhere else for the wedding and I don't want to allow getting married without my family being present.
That being said, we totally struggle about the time and the place, because we are unable to gather everyone together. Not even mentioning our international friends, what is another story.
Do you have any tips on how and where to marry an international?