text: Voluntary Car Service Become a volunteer car driver – your time makes a difference Do you enjoy driving, meeting new people and would you like to help your local community? If so, North West Ambulance Service wants you and your wheels to join our Voluntary Car Service. Every day our non-emergency Patient Transport Service assist hundreds of people to attend a variety of medical appointments and this is supported by a dedicated team of volunteer car drivers. For the patients they help, our volunteer drivers provide that friendly face and listening ear by putting them at ease during what can be an anxious and stressful time. They provide that personal touch to brighten their day as they collect a patient from their home, help get them to where they need to be at the hospital and make sure they get safely back to their own home. Our drivers often become a regular part of someone's life and for some their journeys together may be the only chance a patient has to get out of the house for days or even weeks. The Service currently has over 250 volunteer drivers that come from all different walks of life that have a shared aim to help lend a hand. However, it's not just the patients that benefit as our volunteers see and feel the difference that they are making to someone else's life. "It's a great sense of doing something worthwhile for those who are going through a difficult time. Every day is different but when a patient says they have enjoyed the company and I get them home smiling I know that I've helped someone, even in a small way." You can read more about a day in the life of one of our Volunteer Car Drivers here. Most journeys are done between 8am and 6pm weekdays, and there are some occasional weekend calls, but you choose when and how much time you would like to volunteer. All fuel costs and additional expenses are refunded and full training is provided. You don't need to have any previous medical experience; all we want is a friendly and caring attitude. To become a volunteer you will need to: Hold a valid, full UK driving licence with no more than six penalty points Have access to a car with a minimum of four doors Fully comprehensive insurance to carry patients and indemnity to operate as a volunteer Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (funded by the Trust) Take part in our volunteer training course If you are interested in taking part and would like to know more click here to complete the online application form or call: Cumbria - 01772 773 071 Lancashire - 01772 773 183 Merseyside/Greater Manchester - 01244 651 316


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A small living room may make you feel so confused about how to design and what to do with it. You may feel that your choices are restricted and there is nothing to do with a small living area to get your dream look. let me prove that you are mistaken; you can follow some few tips and ideas to get your living room beautifully and functionally ready to welcome your guest. Above all, these tips and ideas to create a beautiful and functional small area are great to give an illusion of a spacious area and also help you …Read More »
2018 brilliant ideas to decorate your living room perfectly
Your living room is your social area and the first place to attract your guest and friends. You accommodate your guest and gather with your family and friends in this special area. Therefore, living room décor is important to get your dream look and catch the eyes with your decorative taste. Let's take a look at some brilliant ideas to know how to decorate your living room perfectly in 2018. You can before starting your decor mission check various magazines, photos and online galleries to get enough knowledge about the best decor of 2018 living rooms. With this quick check, …Read More »
Living Room Decorating Ideas – Screens, Can They Fit My Decor?
No matter how spacious your living room is or which look you want to create, you'll find living room design ideas that fit the available space you have and suit your budget and your preferences. One of the best living room design items that can totally fit into your decor is room dividers. What is the Potential Uses of Living Room Dividers? Screens and room dividers can be used in your living room for so many purposes. Everyone knows that placing a screen in a living room can add a graceful and elegant touch to the whole decor. Plus they …Read More »
Living Room Decorating Ideas – How to Enjoy Furnishing Your Living Room
Your living room is the most important space in your house. This what really turns your house into a home where all of your loved ones sit together to hang, talk, and watch TV. Therefore, your living room should be as comfortable and inviting as it could get. It's actually an enjoyable task so keep reading! When you purchase your furniture set for your living room, make sure that you have enough seating spaces in the place. There are many types in the market today including sofas, loveseats, recliners, ottomans, rocking chairs, armchairs, and ottomans. The furniture set you choose …Read More »
Amazing Christmas living rooms decoration ideas for this year
Decorating your house is a noteworthy part of the Christmas festivities and the living room is certain going to be the focal point of your visitors and guests' admiration as it is the place your real celebrations will happen. Read the article below for ideas on how to transform your living room to a room filled with joy and warmth for Christmas this year. A customary red, gold and green decoration looks warm and welcoming and is ageless search for Christmas. In case you're feeling fearless, paint one wall in rich red and if the rest of your living room …Read More »
6 Living Room Decorating Ideas
The living room is one of the first rooms people see and is used mostly to entertain guests. And it also where you gather with your family to have fun and have a cozy conversation. So this room should serve the main purposes it is used for and should be extremely comfortable. The way you decorate your living room can achieve this target easily but this can happen if you know how to decorate it in the appropriate way to serve your needs. Below are some ideas you can use to enhance your living room décor and giving it a …Read More »
Fascinating Tips to Decorate a Living Room with White Walls
Living rooms serve a casual purpose for mundane activities, and a formal purpose for hosting all kinds of guests. For the duality of these rooms, careful consideration must be put into their decoration. One of the best ways to start living room decoration is to paint the walls in white. White is beneficial in this case for inducing a serene atmosphere for all kinds of activities. Read on to learn a couple of fascinating tips to decorate a living room that has white walls. 1. Designate a Focal Point The first aspect of decoration is always the focal point because …Read More »
Wonderful Ways to Use Cushions to Redecorate Your Living Room
Reasons to redecorate your living room are endless. Redecoration is necessary to change the ambiance of the room, give it a new life and prevent you from getting bored. A wonderful way to redecorate your living room without spending much time or money is to cleverly use cushions. Although cushions and other accessories are small in size compared to other living room furniture, they can make a great impact as you will read shortly. 1. Know How to Use Cushions Cushions vary in sizes, colors and patterns. By the right mix of cushions, you will get a mesmerizing living room. …Read More »
Simple and easy effortless small living room decorating ideas
I know that your small living room may make you feel depressed. Small living room means you have to buy small furniture pieces and fixtures to fit in with the space available. There is always hope and good news that will make yourself get through that depression and make this small room more particular and efficient without the need to spend lots of money. It will make you feel great and satisfied about the final product of your small living room decoration. It's all about enlarging your small living room space. Follow these tips: In as much as furniture arrangement, …Read More »
Master the art of living room decoration using these ideas and tips
The living room décor type is not that different from others, as any decor type you choose relies greatly on the size of the room and in what way the room will give prominence to the house utilities. Although you may not use your living room regularly, that doesn't mean to neglect it and leave it without proper decoration. It's the best room to make your guests feel the warmth of your house, that's why your living room is worthy your attention and you should make your best effort to decorate it properly. You should consider your living room style …Read More »
Bring your living room with a dining area back to life following these splendid decorating ideas
It's quite challenging to beautify and embellish a living room with a dining area, that's why you need to make these two areas stay detached yet complement each other. In my opinion, it doesn't seem that hard to deal with such two spaces especially if figure out the important points to work on. As a result, you are able to make the right decisions which will help you determine the best for your decoration plans. While planning to decorate both of your attached areas, try to focus and don't let their attractiveness control you no matter what. The first thing …Read More »
Best Ways to Redecorate Your Living Room
Cheap, Cozy, Comfortable & Chic, Infusing new life in your old living room can be a very daunting task; especially if you have to take into consideration the costs & the harmonious feel you so much want to create. You want everyone to feel happy as they sit in that dream room so you redo the floors and change the position of say a sofa. All this needs a certain idea or theme that makes things change from chaotic, erratic and old to modern, chic & simple. Nowadays, styles are getting more and more personalized; so you have to think …Read More »

subset: commoncrawl


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Mark Twain | George Washington Harris | Nathaniel Hawthorne
Mark Twain was the pseudonym of Samuel Clemens, one of America's most famous writers. Read his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and explore these websites to learn more about how Samuel Clemens created the "character" of Mark Twain, author.
After you read the story, think about the way that it is structured. Your teacher may have you try a variety of exercises to explore the structure of the story, including staging and acting out the story or using one of the tools listed below. Use the questions below to help you think about how the structure contributes to the story's comedic effect.
George Washington Harris was an "authentic comic genius" (Wilson and Ferris) whose work influenced later writers such as Mark Twain and William Faulkner. Harris and other southwest humorists who wrote in the 1830s through the 1860s, though considered low-brow at the time, are now recognized as foundational contributors to the humorist literary tradition. Read the Sut Lovingood story, "Mrs. Yardley's Quilting Party," by George Washington Harris and examine the story's structure.
This interactive map of the United States, via EDSITEment-reviewed Digital History, shows the outlines of states as they are added to the United States. To see this in action, drag the bar at the bottom through the timeline. Important moments in history are noted and annotated on the map.
Static maps via EDSITEment-reviewed Digital History:
Additional maps available at the EDSITEment-reviewed National Parks Service: A Link to the Past:
Born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, and a descendant of a judge in the Salem Witch Trials, Nathaniel Hawthorne had an understandable fascination with the Puritan ancestry and history that surrounded him. His collection of stories, Twice-Told Tales, which includes "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," with its sharp satire and refined narrative style, was published in 1837. Read about Hawthorne, read his story "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," and consider whether or not the tale is darkly moralistic or satiric.
The Narrator:
Dr. Heidegger:
(If you have read the stories by Mark Twain and George Washington Harris, also review these questions:)
The Structure of the Story:


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Quick Reference
Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield was born on 5 November 1851 at Gasmere, a country estate near Lexington, Kentucky, to a family rich with American and religious heritage. His mother, Mary Cabell Breckinridge, was the daughter of the prominent Presbyterian preacher-theologian Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, and a descendent of John B. Breckinridge, a United States Senator and Attorney General under President Thomas Jefferson. Warfield's father, William Warfield, was descended from English Puritan ancestors who had fled to America to avoid persecution. Warfield received his BA from the College of New Jersey at Princeton in 1871, where President James MCCOSH was an early influence. After study at universities in Edinburgh and Heidelberg in 1872–3, Warfield graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1876, and then studied at Leipzig in 1876–7. He served as an assistant pastor in Baltimore, Maryland in 1877–8.
From The Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers in Oxford Reference.
Subjects: Philosophy.
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Thank you so much for
helping us make memories
that will last a lifetime! The
weather was wonderful and
La Escondida is the perfect
setting for a Texas Hill
Country wedding! Kathryn
found a wonderful place
to begin her life as
Mrs. Matthew Goolsby.
I will put the check in the
mail this morning and
ask Kathryn to send a
few pictures your way.
— Dianne Fox
Picnics are fun at La Escondida!
Choose La Escondida Celebration Center—a great venue for your reunion, company picnic, church picnic or just about any other get together!
What La Escondida Celebration Center will provide:
Beautiful grounds-approximately five acres with a 2,400 sq ft Pavilion and an indoor area with four bathrooms. You will know your children are safe, there will be no other groups on the property.
Covered eating tables with chairs. Also covered banquet tables for food and drink set up.
Tea, lemonade and water set up in our Lemonade Stand.
Games: volley ball, horseshoes, bean bag toss, ladderball…
Nature trial, Nature Scavenger Hunt for kids.
Easy free parking.
Discuss additional items with us to make your afternoon event special:
small baby pools for the very young, bouncy castle, hay ride, balloon artist,
face painter, piñata, "Ranger Joe or Jill" to watch over children, nature inspired
environmental crafts for children, snow cone or popcorn stand,
petting zoo, entertainment.
Oh, the possibilities!
We can work with you to provide several offers of food choices for your guests. Prices depend on day of week/weekend, number of hours and your needs. Please contact us with your desires for your event and we will be happy to discuss venue choices and costs.
Your group will love to picnic at our beautifully serene location! Plenty of shade, space and fun!
Hours available
Fridays from 4 pm to 7 pm
Most Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm
Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm
Check for other available times by calling us at 210.313.4209


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No gender, but lots of personality: The chatbot, Eno, that Capital One launched in mid-October is purposely gender-neutral. "I felt strongly that we should challenge the industry trend of choosing female characters in voice and name for their bots," said Audra Koklys Plummer, head of AI design at Capital One, who leads a team of 12 people. She spent six years helping create fictional characters at Walt Disney Co.'s Pixar Animation Studios, and drew on that experience as she tried to imbue Eno with character traits like empathy and humor. The digital assistant, which interacts via text, not voice, helps customers track account balances, get bill due dates, pay credit cards and check recent transactions. It has some fun responses to questions like "where do you live" and is not ok with being treated disrespectfully by humans.
Lots of hush money: Fidelity is facing allegations of having a "men's club mentality" in parts of the company, after two prominent money managers were dismissed over sexual harassment allegations in recent weeks and at least six cases of alleged discrimination against female employees over the past decade have come to light. Half of the six complaints were settled; they involved allegations of a double standard for women who have relationships with co-workers and retaliation against a female employee for reporting harassment. This Bloomberg story recounts how Erika Wesson, a former Fidelity analyst, was the target of emailed threats by an anonymous sender whose address was "a crude comment on her anatomy." Fidelity paid her $500,000 in 2011 and promised to provide good job references — but Wesson, who has yet to find another job in finance six years later, says that she has been blackballed in the industry and that Fidelity is to blame. In rare public remarks, Fidelity's chief executive, Abigail Johnson, a repeat honoree in American Banker's Most Powerful Women rankings, has vowed to root out the mistreatment of women at the company.
Speak up and get punished: A bank's first line of defense against fraud and other violations should be its staff. But for eight years leading up to September 2016, when Wells Fargo's phony-accounts scandal became public, senior executives were "setting high targets, then driving staff to do whatever they could to hit them," even if it meant breaking the law, according to Ruth Landaverde, an ex-Wells employee. She was one of several women and men who shared accounts of getting punished for refusing to participate in the bad conduct that went on at Wells, as detailed in this longread about the whistleblowers. Claudia Ponce de Leon, a former manager, was fired in September 2011 for "drinking excessively and engaging in other inappropriate behavior," three weeks after she had called the ethics line to report "inaccurate portrayals of goals due to team members falsifying profiles and opening accounts to create the illusion that the numbers were greater than what they are." Rasheeda Kamar narrowly missed her target of eight accounts per day one December; she was then accidentally copied into an email with her draft letter of dismissal attached. "The accounts have to make sense for the customer," Kamar once wrote in an email to former CEO John Stumpf. "We may never get the chance to meet, but know that there are employees who really care and then they get beaten down."
A woman's sport too: Many in finance are still misjudging what makes a strong team, gravitating, without realizing it, to those they feel most comfortable with. For Barbara Byrne, vice chairman of investment banking at Barclays, a commitment to fostering relationships made a big difference in helping her overcome a common bias: that a woman with a strong opinion is difficult. "Team victories were more important than personal ones. Then and now I believed while getting a hit every three at-bats earns you a spot in the Hall of Fame, it is teams that win. Defining a series of wins — small and achievable — builds confidence and team achievement. Time and time again, my singular focus on clients and developing teams showed me that banking is not just a man's sport." Byrne is also a repeat honoree in our Most Powerful Women rankings.
Smarter security: Bank of America wants to ditch passwords, according to digital banking head Michelle Moore. "If you think about all the breaches and everything going on in the world, passwords need to go away. No. 1, people forget them. No. 2, they're not safe." B of A recently announced plans to roll out fingerprint verification on certain personal computers; it's also been testing iris-scanning technology with Samsung since this summer and Apple's new facial-recognition technology on the iPhone X. "For me, this is safer, but we can always make it more safe," Moore said. "And that's why we're moving towards biometrics, away from an online ID and a password that a lot of consumers use in other places." The bank has been exploring voice recognition technology but that process is still "too clunky." Moore is American Banker's Digital Banker of the Year for 2017.
Role call
Goldman Sachs Group has named Stephanie Cohen as chief strategy officer. Cohen has run mergers-and-acquisitions banking for financial sponsors since 2015. She joined Goldman as an analyst in 1999 and became a partner in 2014.
Comerica's Muneera Carr has been promoted to chief financial officer. She was previously chief accounting officer and controller.
Beyond banking
Performance review: Female tennis players perform better under pressure than their male counterparts, according to a study from the University of St. Gallen. The researchers analyzed the performance of male and female servers in more than 8,200 games from Grand Slam tennis matches. The results showed men's performance deteriorated more than the women's when the game was at a critical juncture. Researcher Alex Krumer suggests the findings could apply to men and women in other high-pressure situations. "Think about other roles in which you'd want people to stay calm under pressure — CEO positions at large companies, for example. You don't generally see average Joes or Janes filling them. You see a different type of elite, experienced performer. And still only about 4% of Fortune 500 chief executives are women."
Power dressing: Reformation, the popular women's clothing brand, has a new marketing campaign featuring female leaders in male-dominated fields. Instead of photographing models, it brought in a venture capitalist, a banker, an engineer and an entertainment and fashion lawyer to show off its luxe maxis and jumpsuits. "Our customers are already modern women who are on the way to accomplish great things in life, if they haven't already," Reformation founder Yael Aflalo said. "Maybe campaigns like this can make them feel inspired to make an impact in this world, and remind them … the pretty dress is just a cherry on top." Check it out.
#OutYourPig: Much like the United States, France is having a #MeToo moment. Ever since three French actresses joined the accusations against Harvey Weinstein, stories of abuse and harassment are pouring out from nearly every sector — medical, law enforcement, finance and media. But instead of #MeToo, French women are using the hashtag #BalanceTonPorc to expose their aggressors. Sociologist Laetitia Cesar-Franquet said a lot of changes are happening because women are speaking out – for example, companies are creating programs to sensitize workers to the problem of sexual harassment. "Men are starting to really ask themselves, what is harassment? They are putting themselves in the equation as well."
Want to sign up for this weekly newsletter? Go to our women in banking homepage, scroll down to where it says "join our mailing list," and type in your email address.
Tina Snieder and Bonnie McGeer contributed to this report.


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RooflineA well maintained roofline is important in directing rain water away from your home. Often poorly maintained fascias, soffits and guttering is the main cause for damp related problems within our homes. Centiam install high quality fascias, soffits, guttering and external cladding to customers throughout Scotland. The colour of your roofline comes in White, Mahogany, Light Oak, Brown and Black Ash.All our roofline products are made to measure for each customer and because we know that your roofline installation will last for many years to come, we offer all our customers a 10 year insurance backed guarantee giving you complete peace of mind.PVC-u Double Glazing Centiam's reputation for giving value for money and commitment to after sales service means that over 80% of new orders are through customer recommendation.Every order placed with Centiam is personally carried out or supervised by Craig, ensuring you receive the best attention at all times, without the hassle or sales pressure that is too frequently experienced with larger companies.Centiam has an enviable reputation for offering value for money and a helpful and professional service. Supported by a network of manufacturers and suppliers, Centiam only offers the best of the best.
& Grampian, Dumfries and Galloway, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Stirling & Central Scotland, Strathclyde, Tayside
Paul on stand H610 of Ideal home show Glasgow SECC
Craig on stand H610 of Ideal home show Glasgow SECC
Sales Director


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Disney's 'Kid Whisperer' Will Gladly Dig Through Your Children's Dresser Drawers
Hide your Black Sabbath T-shirts!
As anyone who has ever studied literature would attest, authors often put a great deal of emphasis on composing a strong first sentence as a means to propel their narrative forward. Scholars and critics debate first sentences, bloggers recap them, and even our magazine has been known to feature them in our year-end roundups. And while we're not sure that Brooks Barnes of the New York Times came up with something that will eclipse "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" or "Howard Roark laughed" in the pantheon of great first sentences, we're fairly certain we'll never forget the first line he wrote in his most recent piece:
Kelly Peña, or "the kid whisperer," as some Hollywood producers call her, was digging through a 12-year-old boy's dresser drawer here on a recent afternoon.
If you stopped reading after that first sentence, you would probably assume that Ms. Peña is some sort of pederast (8-year-olds, dude). However, it turns out that she's merely a researcher for Disney, one who roots around the drawers of preteen boys in an attempt to understand what makes boys tick so Disney XD can more effectively program to its target market. At one point, she identified that the aforementioned 12-year-old kept a "ratty Black Sabbath t-shirt" stuffed in the back of said drawer, a T-shirt that makes him feel "like [he's] going to a R-Rated movie." Laugh if you will (we certainly did), but Peña is on a team that's been responsible for increasing the station's ratings by 27 percent among children 6 to 14 since it took over for the struggling Toon Disney channel. Which just goes to prove that, even in Hollywood, it really does take all kinds.


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A growing familyPosted: May 2, 2017 Filed under: A few of my favorite things..., love | Tags: adoption, Child custody, death, family, foster care, grace, grief, redemption, Religion & Spirituality Leave a comment
Two short weeks ago, we received a phone call that Amy, Daniel's sister, wasn't going to make it through the night.
This wasn't the first time that we received a phone call like this one. In fact, it had been fourteen months since the first call where we dropped everything and drove through the night to South Carolina. Amy lived. Time passed. Liver transplant. Recovery. Dialysis. Now, she needs to get a kidney transplant.
This roller coaster season left the entire family depleted.
But this time, this phone call, this trip through the night to get to the hospital, this diagnosis, was different.
Amy passed away on Easter Sunday, leaving behind a ten-year old, bright-eyed {brighter personality} son.
As Amy's passing wasn't even absorbed yet, so also the reality that Daniel and I were about to become parents. The following weekend, after the funeral, the three of us drove home. With each passing mile, the reality of what had happened, and what was happening, sunk in deeper. Sadness and joy. Excitement and grief.
I think it's cool how the Lord is giving us this time as we wait for the adoption process. Time for Bright-Eyes to start the grieving process and learn about what his new life looks like. Time for us to catch our breath, grieve, and figure out what being parents looks like. {I mean, what time does a 10 year old even go to bed?} And time for all of our hearts to be knit together, no longer as aunt, uncle and nephew, but as a mom, dad and son.
There are so many fascinating details, so many emotions, so much brokenness, so many points of intersection that fill the last few years… And yet a strong, shining strand of redemption unites each piece. I hope to share more details in the future, but for now I'll just share this one…
For the past four years Daniel and I have been trying to start a family of our own. Nothing is wrong, we just can't get pregnant. [For those of you who have walked a similar path, you know what a toll it can take. A journey like this can barely be summed up in one sentence.]
Though God, in His tender sovereignty, knew that Bright-Eyes needed us to not have kids for him to acclimate to his new life. No competition. All attention directed toward him. God also knew that we too needed this bright-eyed boy first. Not sure why, but we're very grateful.
We are tired from the journey that lead us to this point. Though the joy and hope that we have in knowing that God's timing and ways are flawless puts wind in our sails and lovingly pushes us on. We are truly thankful for this gift in our growing family.
So, here he is… our first son. And soon, it will be official.
Color blindness and ValsparPosted: March 24, 2015 Filed under: Art, Life | Tags: art, color for all, Colorblind, colors, emotion, sunglasses, Valspar Leave a comment
A friend of mine posted this on facebook, and I really enjoyed it. So, I thought I'd share it with you. I'm impressed that Valspar is making this possible… Very cool Valspar. Very cool.
Letting goPosted: March 17, 2015 Filed under: Inspiration, Life | Tags: art, Artist, Bible, Christianity, clarity, entrepreneur, faith, God, guidance, Jesus, letting go, Obedience, Religion & Spirituality, truth, Vertical Church, work, worship Leave a comment
A message to myself:
Even if there's something better out there… It's hard to let go of what's in my hand for the unknown.
As I clutch, with white knuckles to what is good enough, I keep my eyes on what is best. I just can't let it out of my sight. I long for it… I dream about it… Though my inability to let go of good enough feeds my growing discontentment like fertilizer.
I don't know what you believe… but I believe that you can speak to the living God – and that God speaks back. Not in a crazy way… in a sane way. In a way that really transforms my life.
So, when I pray and ask God for insight and wisdom, I believe (100%) that He gives me those things. He promises that.
I've been seeking wisdom regarding a transition for years. (Just ask anyone close to me, I'm sure they're tired of hearing about it.) So finally, I felt like I knew what I needed to do. It was clear. More than clear actually – uncomfortably clear – the kind of clarity that has to do with obedience. When clarity mixes with obedience, that's some serious stuff. Seriously good. But serious none the less.
So, that's where I am… struggling to obey.
Like God has never proven Himself faithful, good, or loving beyond comprehension. So, why can't I let go of a mediocre dream for something greater? Can I not see that it actually is greater than what's in my hands? Is it because I know that the next step will be hard? Is it just too risky?
So, I'm at a crossroad… I'm either going to believe that where He leads me is best – or I'm not.
If I can just wrap my mind, a little bit more, around how much God loves me… I would be less fearful, less intimidated and more willing to let go of the known for the unknown… Because if He really does love me, then He is trustworthy – without hesitation.
Sometimes I wonder if I jump, will he be there to catch me? Or, what if I leave what is certain -and obey- and then it all collapses in on itself…. and I end up out on the street – begging for food – without my tweezers (possibly the worst case scenario)… Okay… I know, a bit over the top… But sometimes, before I even get to taking the step of faith, deciding to turn in the direction of obedience is more difficult than anything.
The unknown that I turn toward might fall apart. Then again, the certainty of today might be pulled from underneath me. If I do everything right, things could still end up in a hot mess.
You see the thing is (and excuse me as I tell myself this for the eighteen millionth time)… It's not up to me to make it right and beautiful and successful. Success doesn't hinge on my perseverance, intellect or smooth skills (whatever those might be) alone.
What I am responsible for is loving people and loving God. It's not complicated really (though I tend to over complicate everything). It's simple… Today, am I being obedient to what God is leading me to do?
Am I willing to let go of my expectations, fears and disappointments and turn toward Him {and trust} in His love? His love that sacrificed, and gave and risked it all… And continues to give so that I might continue to scratch the surface of how deep and how wide and how high is His love.
If I can allow myself to get lost in His great love, then I can more fully see who He really is… In seeing who God really is, you can't help but fall more in love with Him. Then, all I will want to do is turn and run in the direction that He is calling me.
If you would like to know more about what talking to God looks like – or want to ask any questions about His love for you, email me. We can walk through it together.
How to create a light boxPosted: February 24, 2015 Filed under: Art, DIY, Life | Tags: build it yourself, diy, light box, photography, product photography Leave a comment
So I needed ((wanted)) a light box to take some product photography. Holding up a piece of Arches paper with one hand, a camera in the other, and making sure the afternoon sun was just right took its toll on me. [Okay, I'm exaggerating… I don't get good afternoon sun in my new studio.] So, the idea of a light box was born. I googled how to make one and found a tutorial that I really liked at {Never} Homemaker.
I love do it yourself projects and really enjoy accomplishing them. I thought about documenting the process of making this light box, and sharing it with you (like most DIY projects I do), but here's the thing… If when doing a project, anything slows me down, that's a {very} bad thing. Slowing down = losing momentum… aka, losing interest. ((I'm working on finishing projects that I start… that's a new goal of mine.)) So, when the DIY iron strikes, I've gotta get to work. The next best thing I can offer you is an awkward photo that my husband took of my excitement when I turned on all of the lights (I know – I look somewhat constipated – but it's excitement I promise) – AND – share the link to the amazing light box tutorial.
Let there be light!
I found that building the light box was more expensive than the tutorial mentioned… though that probably has something to do with the fact it was posted five years ago. None the less the light box turned out great and so have the product images that I shot using it.
Thanks again for the wonderful tutorial Ashley!!
Love was in the air…Posted: February 20, 2015 Filed under: Calligraphy, Events | Tags: art, calligraphy, Florida, hand lettering, Rifle Paper Co., Valentines Day, Winter Park Leave a comment
This past weekend ((as you know)) I was at Rifle Paper Co. Thursday through Saturday, I was busy calligraphing love letters, favorite quotes, scripture and much more. I always enjoy my time with the wonderful people who pass through the doors as well as the rockin' employees! Basically, it's a great time had by all…
Valentine's Day at Rifle Paper Co.Posted: February 13, 2015 Filed under: Calligraphy, Events | Tags: art, bouquets, calligraphy, Florida, love letters, Rifle Paper Co., Valentines Day, Winter Park Leave a comment
It's that time of year again when love is in the air and everything is smothered in all shades of pink. It's also that time of year when I'll be at Rifle Paper Co. calligraphing love letters! If you will be in the Orlando area, you are cordially invited to stop by Rifle, browse their amazing sales and gorgeous bouquets! Also, make sure to stop by so I can see your beautiful face and calligraph a little love letter to yours truly!
The Sparkling Wine WalkPosted: February 11, 2015 Filed under: Calligraphy, Events | Tags: art, calligraphy, Florida, free, live, Rifle Paper Co., Valentines Day, wine, Winter Park Leave a comment
If you're looking for some laid back fun before the craziness of the Valentine weekend begins… I have a SUPER FUN solution: The Sparkling Wine Walk in Winter Park!
Tomorrow I will be at Rifle Paper Co. calligraphing love letters to your favorite love(s)! If you'll be in the area, stop by for some really great sales on Rifle products and {free} – beautiful – calligraphy! 🙂
I hope to see you there!


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Susan Cain Quotes About ChildrenQuotes about: Children
Theodor Geisel (otherwise known as Dr. Seuss) spent his workdays ensconced in his private studio, the walls lined with sketches and drawings, in a bell-tower outside his La Jolla, California, house. Geisel was a much more quiet man than his jocular rhymes suggest. He rarely ventured out in public to meet his young readership, fretting that kids would expect a merry, outspoken, Cat in the Hat–like figure, and would be disappointed with his reserved personality. "In mass, [children] terrify me," he admitted.
We often marvel at how introverted, geeky, kid 'blossom' into secure and happy adults. We liken it to a metamorphosis. However, maybe it's not the children who change but their environments. As adults they get to select the careers, spouses, and social circles that suit them. They don't have to live in whatever culture they'er plunked into.
Ask your child for information in a gentle, nonjudgmental way, with specific, clear questions. Instead of "How was your day?" try "What did you do in math class today?" Instead of "Do you like your teacher?" ask "What do you like about your teacher?" Or "What do you not like so much?" Let her take her time to answer. Try to avoid asking, in the overly bright voice of parents everywhere, "Did you have fun in school today?!" She'll sense how important it is that the answer be yes.
Remember that introverts react not only to new people, but also to new places and events. So don't mistake a child's caution in new situations for an inability to relate to others. He's recoiling from novelty or overstimulation, not from human contact. Introverts are just as likely as the next kid to seek others' company, though often in smaller doses


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College of Arts & Humanities
Samuel Mhasvi, a senior at Lander University with a double major in music and visual arts with a graphic design emphasis, has had a strong interest in music since he was a young boy in his native Zimbabwe. He plays the euphonium and other brass instruments, including trumpet, trombone, alto horn and tuba, but his first love is the euphonium, a valved instrument, which is known in music as "the king of band instruments."
Mhasvi will demonstrate his musical talents when he appears in a Senior Recital on Tuesday, March 31, at 8 p.m., in the Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium.
Mhasvi said his parents encouraged him and his sister, Rumbi, to study music but it was Rumbi who had the greatest influence on him. She played piano and trumpet and, hearing her practice so frequently at home, prompted his interest in music.
He obtained most of his early music experience playing with Salvation Army bands in Zimbabwe and Malawi. He enrolled at Lander in 2010 with financial assistance from the Mufuka Scholarship and, not long after arriving, he was introduced to the Greenwood Salvation Army Band and plays in that group every Sunday and on other occasions. He also teaches youngsters to play brass instruments at the Salvation Army's Camp Walter Johnson in Denton, N.C.
Segments of his recital on March 31 will feature members of the Greenwood Salvation Army Band along with other Lander music students. On some selections, he will be accompanied by Lander staff accompanist Amy Blackwood. Donald Mack, an adjunct member of Lander's music faculty, is Mhasvi's instructor.
The program will include performances of the Scottish folksong, "Bluebells of Scotland;" "Beautiful Colorado;" and "Euphonium Concerto" by Joseph Horovitz. Mhasvi will also perform "Benedictus," by Karl Jenkins, arranged by Andrew Wainwright, a composer and arranger and a friend since their boyhood days together in Zimbabwe.
The recital is free and open to the public.


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Jane Beedle: It doesn't matter if Great British Bake Off hosts can't bake
- Bang Showbiz
- 17 March 2017
Jane Beedle, a finalist on last year's 'The Great British Bake Off', says the show's new co-hosts, Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig don't need to know anything about baking
'Great British Bake Off' finalist Jane Beedle doesn't think it matters if the show's new co-hosts have no baking skills.
The baking competition's 2016 contestant has given her opinion on Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig taking over from Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc for the new series of the popular show on Channel 4 and she doesn't have any problem with the fact the 'Mighty Boosh' star and 58-year-old comedienne might not know much about cake.
Appearing on ITV's 'Good Morning Britain' on Friday (17.03.17), she said: "I don't think it matters if they can bake or not I'm not sure whether Mel and Sue could bake. They could eat! They do like a slice a cake and as long as you eat and enjoy it I think [they'll] be absolutely fine."
Selasi Gbormittah - who also competed on the show when it was on the BBC - wasn't shocked by the choice of presenters and she thinks Noel, 43, will be a great addition because he'll provide much-needed humour in the intense baking tent.
She said: "It's not surprising news to be fair because they are both really good presenters in their field and you've got Noel Fielding who is very funny which is what we need in the tent, or the new bakers need in the tent."
And she says people need to give him and Sandi a chance before they "knock" them.
Speaking about their lack of baking experience, Selasi added: "Well that's his new challenge now so we just have to wait and see, again we can't knock it till we try it so we just have to wait and see what they've both got to offer. And you've got Sandi who is of course Danish, so she will be good with her pastries. She has got that behind her and Noel of course we just have to wait and see but I think they will ace it."
'The Great British Bake Off' will move to Channel 4 from the BBC later this year and will see Paul Hollywood joined by 'Great British Menu' judge Prue Leith in place of Mary Berry.


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Andrea Cohen
If I could raise enough money I would divide the money between friends and family who need money. I can think of 4 friends who I would love to help but I don't have the funds to help them.
The Team: $0 TOTAL RAISED SO FARJOIN THE TEAM
Want to help Fundraise or Volunteer for this amazing Fundraiser? Join the Team


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This book is dedicated to the essential components of the design process and uses case studies, labs, and group projects to show their application. With explicit guidance, students learn that the design process is a set of procedures that will help them solve engineering problems. Yousef Haik and Tamer Shahin illustrate the critical steps of the design process, including articulating the problem, market analysis, function analysis, developing concepts, evaluating alternatives, and marketing, while facilitating hands-on learning and teamwork opportunities through labs and class-tested design problems. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.Consider the following need statement: Most houses have vents that open and close manually without any central control. ... I. The SIC codes that are associated with this design are (a) Airflow controllers: air conditioning and refrigeration valve manufacturing ... Assignee: Hitachi Kiden Kogyo, Ltd. (Hyogo, JP) Appl. No.
|Engineering Design Process
|Yousef Haik, Tamer Shahin, Sangarappillai Sivaloganathan
|Cengage Learning - 2010-05-14
You must register with us as either a Registered User before you can Download this Book. You'll be greeted by a simple sign-up page.
Once you have finished the sign-up process, you will be redirected to your download Book page.How it works:


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Terms of Service / User Agreement
BY ACCESSING AND/OR USING THE WEB SITE (OTHER THAN TO READ THESE TERMS OFUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME) YOU ARE AGREEING TO COMPLY WITH THIS USER AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF USE, DO NO ACCESS OR USE THE WEB SITE.www.kanerepublican.com (the "Website") encourages the open exchange of information and ideas. The opinions expressed in reader comments are not necessarily the opinions of the Website or of The Kane Republican. Users agree not to post any defamatory, abusive, threatening, libelous information. Further, Users agree not to post anything that is an invasion of privacy, contains personal information, illegal material, or any other material that infringes on the rights of others. This Website does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any User posting. Responsibility for what is posted on the Website lies with the person who posts it. By posting comments on the Website you represent that you are the owner of the material, or that you are posting the material with the explicit consent of the owner. Submitting material that is the property of another without the specific consent of its owner violates this User Agreement and may also subject you to liability for infringement of copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.You agree that this User Agreement is supported by good and valuable consideration. You acknowledge the receipt and sufficiency of this consideration. This consideration includes, without limitation, your use of the Website and the materials and information available on it.


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Russell Stannard is one of the Techsmith Recommended Trainers. In this set of videos Russell highlights a number of techniques that demonstrate how he produces the opening video that you see on all his new videos. Russell drawn up stacking, multiple tracks, grouping, adding sound and adding text to bring about a self made animation rather than using one that Techsmith provide. This is not an especially advanced set of videos but it does show a number of different techniques all being used together to achieve the result.
You can watch these videos full screen by going to the video controls below


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Early Bluff' newspapers are an ongoing project of Bluff History Group. These are highly successful publications and very much sought after from all corners of the globe.
The quality of information these papers contain is huge and features many old photographs and memorabilia from Bluff's rich and colourful past. Feedback informs us that tourists are now seeking copies of these papers when visiting from overseas and they are certainly excellent publicity for Bluff bringing tourists directly to our town to get copies.
Each issue takes around 200 volunteer hours plus many more in ongoing distribution and publicity.
A limited number of back issues are still available upon inquiry and can be posted to any destination. Copies only cost 50c each (issues 1 - 10 ) and $1 each (issues 11-15). All plus p & p.


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Last updated: Dec 2016
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Date: March 9, 2012
Bulletin Number: 1136
April 2012 Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Longevity Lump Sum Payments (LLS)
To inform agencies of OSC's automatic processing of the LLS payment and to provide instructions for payments not processed automatically.
Affected Employees
Longevity-eligible employees with an increment code of 1976-2007 in the following bargaining units:
Chapter 491 of the Laws of 2011 implemented the agreement between the State and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and provides for a Longevity Lump Sum payment effective April 2012. The Longevity Lump Sum payment will be in the amount of $1,250 or $2,500 based on the eligibility criteria below.
Effective Date(s)
Payment will be processed in a separate check dated April 19, 2012 (Institution) and April 25, 2012 (Administration). There will be no direct deposit for this payment.
Eligibility – CSEA Employees
Employees in graded positions (Grades 001-025) and NS (Grade 600) positions which are equated to grade are eligible for the payment provided the employee:
*Continuous service, as used in determining eligibility for the LLS payment, is paid service (including part-time annual-salaried service, paid Military Leave and Sick Leave at Half Pay) or time on Workers' Compensation Leave or Military Leave without Pay.
An employee who meets the continuous service eligibility requirement for payment in April 2012, but who receives an "Unsatisfactory" rating, will not receive a payment in April 2012 but will remain on the April payment cycle.
Once an employee meets the initial five year continuous service eligibility in April, they will stay on the April cycle.
The following employees will become eligible for the LLS payment upon processing of Performance Advances in Pay Period 1L:
An employee occupying a position that has been previously reallocated, whose salary was equal to or greater than the Job Rate of the lower grade and whose salary upon application of the October 2011 or April 2012 Performance Advance reaches the Job Rate of the reallocated grade is entitled to the Job Rate credit of the lower grade.
The following employees will become eligible for the LLS payment during 2012-2013:
The agency should request the LLS payment after the completion of six (6) full pay periods in the lower grade using the same effective date as the demotion.
An employee demoted as a result of a disciplinary action or who takes a voluntary demotion from a permanent position after the completion of a probationary period in the higher grade is not eligible for an LLS payment in the lower grade.
OSC Actions- Automatic Processing
OSC will automatically insert a row on the employee's Additional Pay page using the Earnings Code LLS to make the payment. The payment amount is $1,250 for five (5) or more years and $2,500 for ten (10) or more years or a prorated amount, as described below:
Note: For employees on the Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedule program, the agency must verify that the Full/Part Time Indicator on the Job Data/Job Information page is "Voluntary."
The Additional Pay page will be populated for eligible employees with the following:
Effective Date:
OT Effective Date:
Annual Additional Earnings:
Payment Amount
Earn End Date:
Agency Actions – Payments to Employees Not Paid Automatically
Payment will not be processed automatically for the following eligible employees:
Payment Processing in Pay Period 26 (Institution) and Pay Period 1 (Administration)
Agencies should pay eligible employees with Increment Code 0069 or 2222 in Pay Period 26 (Institution) and Pay Period 1 (Administration). Agencies must also update the General Comments page for employees in composite positions.
Payment Processing in Pay Period 1 (Institution) and Pay Period 2 (Administration) and later
Agencies should pay eligible employees who return to the payroll in the pay period the return from leave is processed. The effective date of the return to payroll will determine the effective date of the payment.For example: If an Institution agency enters a transaction in Pay Period 2L for an employee who returned to the payroll on April 20, 2012, the effective date is 4/20/12. If an Administration agency enters a transaction in Pay Period 2L for an employee who returned to the payroll on April 13, 2012, the effective date is 4/13/12.
To Make A Payment
To pay an employee not processed automatically, enter the following information on the Additional Pay page:
Enter eligibility date
Same as effective date
To Correct an Increment Code
If the employee did not receive an automatic LLS payment because the increment code was incorrect, the agency must, in addition to submitting the LLS payment, submit a Job Action Request using the Action/Reason code of DTA/CIC (Data Change/Correct Increment Code). The appropriate increment code must be entered in the Increment Code field.
Employee Becomes Eligible for Payment Due to Demotion
If an employee was ineligible on March 31, 2012 and becomes eligible in 2012-2013 due to demotion as explained above, the agency should enter a comment on the General Comments page verifying the employee is eligible for LLS based on the reason the demotion occurred.
Undeliverable Checks
If the agency has made an effort to deliver the check to the employee but the check has been returned and is undeliverable, the agency should forward the check to the NYS Department of Tax and Finance, Division of Treasury, per instructions in Payroll Bulletin No. 456.
Checks issued to eligible employees who are now deceased should be returned with a completed Next of Kin Affidavit (Form AC 934-P) and a Report of Check Exchange (Form AC 1476-P).
Retirement and Overtime Calculation Information
The LLS is a one-time, lump sum payment which is included as salary for retirement purposes and in the calculation of overtime compensation (refer to "Overtime Compensation," Part III, Page 1 of the OSC Salary Manual). The 2012 Longevity Lump Sum payment will be included in the calculation of overtime earned from April 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013.
Control-D Reports and Preparation for Payment
Prior to the automatic processing, the following report will be available:
NPAY756 Longevity Lump Sum (LLS) Eligibility Listing
This report is a preliminary listing of employees eligible for the LLS payment as of the date the report is run. The report was run on March 1, 2012 and will be available on March 9, 2012.
Agencies should review this listing carefully with particular attention to employees who are ineligible due to an "Unsatisfactory" evaluation on their last rating date.
Agencies should review the effective date (month and year) and amount of the employee's last LLS payment, if applicable, to verify the employee did not previously receive an LLS payment on the October 2011 cycle.
An employee on the April cycle with a prior LLS payment effective date other than April 1, 2011 may indicate the following:
Corrections to the preliminary listing should be submitted on the Correction Sheet. (The form may be duplicated if additional copies are needed.) This form must be used to:
Do not add employees whose eligibility will change due to transactions that will be processed prior to Pay Period 26 (Institution) or Pay Period 1 (Administration).
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The Donut Cushion allows you to sit with less pain in the coccyx area.
The Donut Cushion from Duro Med sports an ergonomic design to reduce pressure to the painful area. The donut cushion brings much needed relief by distributing the weight of the body away from the painful area. Great for people who have broken their tailbones, have hemorrhoids, are pregnant, or have coccygeal pain. Available in 3 sizes:
***The contents of the Painreliever.com website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Painreliever.com website. Read Full Disclaimer***
Additional Features
Weight & Dimensions
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Ships via: FedEx Ground
Estimated Delivery: 3-5 Business Days
Related CategoriesShop by Category > Pillows & Cushions > Back Cushions & Seat Cushions
Product Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Donut pillow id the trick. The only way my son could sit down following surgery!
3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Provides relief for a very painful problem.


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What Are Your All-Time Favorite xoVain Articles?
It's gonna get sappy up in here.
The sun is shining, Spring is finally in the air and I just had a coffee so I'm buzzing my tits off as I don't usually drink much caffeine. TODAY IS GOOD!
And what's evenbetter (can it be possible?! I think maybe it can!) is that I have a lovely little list of things that are making me almost as happy as I last was when I took a load of codeine when I had toothache and felt like I was sitting in a cloud made of puppies.
I'm going to start with beauty, and BOY OH BOY have I got good, over-enthusiastic news for you!
I've been wearing foundation since I can remember. I love it. I love any make-up. Apart from white mascara. Yes, that was a thing once, in the 90s, and it was horrible. It looked like tipp-ex on my lashes and I am not proud of myself. But yeah, apart from that, I love most things. I love troweling it on.
BUT -- I also love things that mean that I can skip steps and make me look good without actually having to go to the effort of buffing product onto my face and setting with powder.
Well, good friends, I have found my holy grail of base.
Origins VitaZing - $35, Sephora.
This wonder product is a little pricey, but stick with me. This one little tube of product does the job of moisturiser and base, for a lightweight look that somehow magically makes you look rested, glowy and healthy even when you have spent the last 4 days eating microwavable noodles with burger cheese for lunch.
I had heard good things about it and never really believed the hype, but decided to buy some the other day when I felt I needed something a little lighter now that the weather is changing. My usual foundation seemed a little thick and heavy, and my usual BB cream, L'Oreal Nude Magique, had run out.
I have no idea how it does it, but it makes my skin look brilliant. I apply it like I would my usual moisturiser, slap it on haphazardly, and instead of then waiting for it to sink in and shoving a load of base over the top, I go. Just like that. In a matter of minutes, my face is perked up and my skin tone evened out.
It's got a load of mangosteen in it, which is full of polyphenolic compounds which provide potent antioxidant properties and hydrates the skin throughout the day.
AND!!! And it's got SPF 15 built in. COULD IT BE MORE PERFECT? Well yeah, if it was about 20 quid cheaper, but my motto is "Buy cheap, buy twice," so I'm willing to shell out for this.
The second thing that's making me punch the air in joy this week is my new concealer. Concealers normally bore me. They're not very interesting, and most of the time I can't be bothered to use them, or buy them. Snore. NOT ANYMORE!
Benefit Fake Up Concealer - $24
This new little tube of goodness is in a twist-up lipstick-style container and contains a concealer tube with a ring of hydrating vitamin E and apple seed extract around it which glides on with the colour. It covers dark circles but also keeps skin hydrated and it doesn't go cakey or settle in any fine lines - which is something I hate in most concealers I've tried in the past.
The delicate under-eye area really benefits from the hydration element and I find that I look WAY less tired when I use it. BONUS!
I've been using this under my eyes and around the corners of my nose on top of the VitaZing and I'm good to go. IT'S A REVELATION!
One of my beauty posts wouldn't be complete without something nail-related, so here for your pleasure is what i'm currently loving on my nails.
OPI - I Don't Give A Rotterdam - $5.30, Amazon
Originally released last year in their Spring/Summer '12 Holland Collection, this dusty blue is one I've revisited for Spring and I am so glad I have. It's like your favourite pair of beaten up old blue jeans in a bottle.It's a kind of slate grey/blue creamy base but it's packed with teeny tiny gold and silver shimmer.
It's not as obnoxious as my usual nail polish choices, but I am loving it for a fresh spring look. As always with OPI, it's great quality and reaches opacity in a slick two coats. It applies like a dream and I haven't had any tipwear after three days of typing and opening tins of beans.
Finally -- have you ever eaten these Chips Ahoy with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups? OH MY GOD. Chris bought them home from Vegas and I snarfled basically a whole pack last night. Holy fuckballs. It was like angels were having sex on my tongue.
I'm seriously having to consider whether these would have a place on my Ultimate Death Row Meal now.
Have you tried any of the above? What's your go-to quick product for your face when you want to be out of the door quick-sharp? And more importantly, have you eaten those cookies? Heavenly.
Cramming cookies into every orifice on Twitter: @Natalie_KateM


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The cute PiTFT got even more adorable with this little primary display for Raspberry Pi in HAT form! It features a 2.2" display with 320x240 16-bit color pixels. The HAT uses the high speed SPI interface on the Pi and can use the mini display as a console, X window port, displaying images or video etc. Best of all it plugs right in on top of your Model A+ or B+ and fits into our case quite nicely.
Its a mini HDMI decoder board! So small and simple, you can use this board as an all-in-one display driver for TTL displays, or perhaps decoding HDMI/DVI video for some other project. This breakout features the TFP401 for decoding video, and for the touch version, an AR1100 USB resistive touch screen driver.
The AR1100 is a nice chip that acts as a touch->USB converter and also comes with calibration software. The calibration software is Windows only, but once you've calibrated you can use the screen on any OS. The AR1100 shows up as a regular Mouse or Digitizer HID device so no drivers are required and it works on any operating system that supports a USB mouse (that is, every single one we've ever seen) There is also a red LED that lights up to indicate when a touch has been detected.
I love the MP3 Music Maker shield, and our Wave Shield is a dependable classic. But you still need to get an Arduino involved. There's all sorts of tricks with ISD chips or recordable greeting cards, but they never sound any good. So after a lot of engineering and tinkering we've come out with the Adafruit Sound Board, the easiest way ever to add audio effects to a project!
Is this not the cutest, little display for the Raspberry Pi? It features a 3.5" display with 480x320 16-bit color pixels and a resistive touch overlay so is slightly larger than our popular original. The plate uses the high speed SPI interface on the Pi and can use the mini display as a console, X window port, displaying images or video etc. Best of all it plugs right in on top!
If you have a Pro Trinket you probably know it's the perfect little size for a portable project. This LiPoly backpack makes it really easy to do! Instead of wiring 2 or 3 boards together to make a charging system, this little PCB sits on top of the Pro Trinket and allows a LiPoly/LiIon battery to plug in. When the Pro Trinket USB port is powered, the battery is recharged automatically. Unplug the USB port and the Pro Trinket will switch over to the rechargeable battery.
This lovely little display breakout is the best way to add a small, colorful and bright display to any project. Since the display uses 4-wire SPI to communicate and has its own pixel-addressable frame buffer, it can be used with every kind of microcontroller. Even a very small one with low memory and few pins available!
We are excited to add another product to our growing Adafruit Bluefruit line, this time it's the Bluefruit EZ-Link Shield: the best Bluetooth Serial shield ever made. Like you, we have purchased all sorts of Bluetooth shields with high expectations - we just wanted something that worked! But nothing ever did exactly what we wanted: there was always some configuration modes to wade through, and trying to reprogram an Arduino is impossible. So we did what we always do, we went in and engineered something better. Something that works!
Pro Trinket combines everything you love about Trinket with the familiarity of the common core Arduino chip, the ATmega328. It's like an Arduino Pro Mini with more pins and USB tossed in, so delicious. Sometimes you just need more pins, more FLASH, and more RAM. That's why we designed Pro Trinket, with 18 GPIO, 2 extra analog inputs, 28K of flash, and 2K of RAM.
Add some jazz & pizazz to your project with a color touchscreen LCD. This TFT display is big (3.5" diagonal) bright (6 white-LED backlight) and colorful! 480x320 pixels with individual RGB pixel control, this has way more resolution than a black and white 128x64 display, and double our 2.8" TFT. As a bonus, this display has a resistive touchscreen attached to it already, so you can detect finger presses anywhere on the screen.
Unlike most of the other temperature sensors we have, this breakout has a really cool IR sensor from TI that can measure the temperature of an object without touching it. The TMP007 is the latest thermopile sensor from TI, and is an update of the TMP006. The internal math engine does all the temperature calculations so its easier to integrate
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor. Inside the chip are three sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a 3-axis magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north. The third is a 3-axis gyroscope that can measure spin and twist. By combining this data you can REALLY orient yourself.
PowerBoost 1000 is the perfect power supply for your power-hungry portable project! This little DC/DC boost converter module can run from 1.8V batteries or higher, and convert that voltage to 5.2V DC for running your 5V projects. With a beefy 4A DC/DC converter, it can give you 1A+ from as low as 2V.
When the future is dazzlingly-bright, this ultra-high-range luminosity sensor will help you measure it. The TSL2591 luminosity sensor is an advanced digital light sensor, ideal for use in a wide range of light situations. Compared to low cost CdS cells, this sensor is more precise, allowing for exact lux calculations and can be configured for different gain/timing ranges to detect light ranges from up to 188uLux up to 88,000 Lux on the fly.


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"A Shocking Diagnosis" by Jerry Penacoli
It was just a tiny brown freckle on my inner right thigh. Then, practically overnight, it became black and slightly raised. Had it been on my back or another less visible part of my body, I never would have known it was there. I had it removed last September, the doctor optimistically saying, "It looks like nothing." But it was something: the biopsy came back positive for melanoma, stage III.
When I heard that word, "cancer," first I cried, then I became paralyzed with fear, then I sprang into action. I talked to other melanoma survivors in Los Angeles about surgeons and oncologists, and became a sponge in order to absorb as much information from credible sources as possible about this form of skin cancer.
I was in surgery four days after my diagnosis. Two surgeries were performed: one to remove the affected area of my thigh, and another to remove 22 lymph nodes nearby because a biopsy of the nodes showed evidence that the melanoma had spread (metastasized) there. A PET CT scan also separately detected possible thyroid cancer, and after a needle biopsy, I had to have my entire thyroid removed.
Right now, I am cancer-free. Vigilance is the key. My skin will be checked visually and my body PET-scanned every few months. I refuse to have a recurrence. It is not an option with me, so, in addition to proper medical care, I have improved my nutrition, not to mention my sleep and exercise regimens.
After four months' medical leave, I decided to go public with this personal story on my show "Extra." I felt it was my responsibility. I was touched by the number of people who reached out to me with their own stories of hope and survival. Every one of them inspired me to keep awareness of this disease in the forefront. This is why I'm telling my story here.
The Skin Cancer Foundation is a tremendous wealth of resources and information about melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. I want anyone who will listen to heed these words:
Please get your skin checked by a dermatologist who knows skin cancer, and not just the head and torso. Have a full-body skin exam — a complete 'naked' check, if you will, by a medical expert.
I should have had that kind of check-up every year, and didn't. Please, do it. It could save your life.


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Trailer Released for 'Dear Old State' Movie
Earlier last month, we wrote about the upcoming student-directed movie "Dear Old State," which will serve as something of a sequel to "365 Days: A Year in Happy Valley." Under the Eric Porterfield Group umbrella, the film is a partisan Penn State love fest, as created by the two directors, junior Griffin Boustany and senior Ryan Blaschak.
"We realize everyone is sick about hearing about the Sandusky scandal and the community in a negative light," Blaschak said. "Our film isn't the typical negative story people have been hearing. Instead, we're looking at the best that Penn State and Happy Valley has to offer."
The trailer for the film was released within the last couple days, which you can view below:
You'll notice a lot of (potentially awkward) face time from former coach Bill O'Brien, along with folks like IFC President Dan Combs and club softball player Jessica Gallick. Sam Ficken and Michael Mauti also make an appearance in the movie, although not in this trailer.
The goal is to release the movie by May 1, following a successful Kickstarter campaign last month.
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Moore Academy
Bible Studies
Bible Studies
Prophetic Truth Lessons
Lesson 09 - The Christian Church, Past and Present - 1
Lesson 9 - (downloadable pdf file)
Very soon after the scattering of the people from Babel (see Genesis 11:1-9), idolatry again became well-nigh universal. Leaving those who had become hardened in their unbelief, the Lord chose Abraham to preserve the truth for future generations. Abraham stood faithful amid the faithlessness of his generation. To him God communicated His will, giving him a distinct understanding of His Law and of the salvation that was to be accomplished through Christ.
1. On what basis did the Lord make His covenant with Abraham? Genesis 22:18
NOTE: While all God's promises can be received only by faith, Abraham received the covenant because he was obedient to all God's laws and commandments - he submitted to the authority of God and of His government, thus demonstrating true faith.
2. On what condition were Abraham's descendants able to enter into this promise? Exodus 19:5, 6
3. What did God warn would result from disobedience? Jeremiah 26:4-6
4. What did Christ tell the leaders of His day? Matthew 21:43
5. Who then are the true Israel of the Bible? Galatians 3:29
NOTE: We can clearly see that God's promises are not given to anyone because of a physical relationship, but because of a faith relationship with Christ. Therefore, when Israel is spoken of, it refers to God's faithful people, regardless of national origin. The promises of God to Israel may be understood as applying to those who are in Christ.
6. How do we demonstrate our new covenant relationship with Christ? 1 John 3:6, John 14:15
NOTE: It was through disobedience that man lost his life, and it is obvious that he would not receive it back while still disloyal and disobedient to the government of God. It is those who have their loyalty to the government of God by obedience through the power of Christ, who will be received back into the family of heaven. See Revelation 3:21.
7. To whom did Christ become the Author of salvation? Hebrews 5:9
8. How has Christ made this obedience possible? Hebrews 8:10
9. How does Christ address those who profess this new covenant relationship, but do not show it to be a reality by true obedience? Matthew 7:21-23
NOTE: We see that it is the works (fruits) that determine the final reward, rather than the profession.
10. Are we able of ourselves to render this obedience? Jeremiah 13:23; John 15:5
11. Why is this the case? Romans 7:18, 8:7
12. What then must take place? Romans 12:2
13. How does this transformation take place? 2 Corinthians 3:18
NOTE: It is a law of our nature that the things we constantly behold, mold and influence our thought processes, changing us into the likeness of that upon which our minds dwell.
14. Where do we find Jesus revealed? John 5:39
15. What does the apostle Peter say of Jesus' life? 1 Peter 2:21, 22
16. Is it possible to have a relationship with Christ and not follow His example of obedience? 1 John 2:3-6
17. What must each person have done, who eventually sits with Christ on His throne? Revelation 3:21
When this earth's history closes, there will be only two divisions - the righteous and the wicked. Every man, woman, and child will be found in one of these two armies. All who enter heaven will do so as conquerors. You will have battles to fight; you will have difficulties to meet that can be overcome only by strong, determined resistance.
But eternal life is worth a lifelong, persevering effort.