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Fat burner Compatible Foods
Trying Hard To Lose Weight? Try The Easy Way Out
A common problem with weight loss for many people is staying with the program. At the beginning, everything seems so easy to stick to, with both ambition and commitment running high. Then, your motivation takes a hit and you just do not feel like you want to do this anymore and feel like you want to give up. This drop-off is not a sure thing for everyone, though. People do succeed in losing weight and keep it off for years. What is their secret to this success?
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Successful weight loss programs need to include both dieting and exercise. Find an exercise that you enjoy enough to do several times a week. If it is difficult for you to get regular exercise, try incorporating


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Osborne's Mandate: There is no flexibility
In the past week both Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have admitted the obvious –Britain faces a demand shortage.
As I've argued previously they are quite rightBritain has both an immediate demand problem and long term supply side problem. An increase investment has the potential to help resolve both of these issues by increasing demand in the short run and addressing supply side issues in the medium term. The problem of course is that the private sector, stuck in a deleveraging, balance sheet recession is unwilling to invest.
Hence the recent talk (denied) of a £5bn investment led government stimulus.
Now I'd start by noting that £5bn is a mere drop in the ocean in terms of the UK macroeconomy – welcome but nothing to get excited about. The amount of investment needed is much higher and it cannot all come from a government stimulus anyway. This is why banking reform to ensure it supports the real economy and wider structural reforms to the UK economy are much needed (proper structural reforms that actually help – not a handful of enterprise zones and talk of cutting maternity pay!).
But the talk of a £5bn stimulus (coupled with the FT's revelations about a £12bn 'black hole' in the public finances) has led to a discussion on the nature of George Osborne's fiscal mandate and the question of how much flexibility he has.
Both Vince Cable and Chris Huhne have emphasised that Osborne is targeting the structural deficit and so has room to allow the 'automatic stabilisers to work'. I.e. if the economy slows further and tax revenues drop whilst welfare spending increases, Osborne will not have to bring in extra tightening to counter act this.
Huhne has gone further and argued that Osborne is targeting the 'current structural deficit' so could actually increase investment whilst still meeting his target.
Do these claims stack up?
Not really.
Osborne set out his formal mandate his Budget speech last year:
The formal mandate we set is that the structural current deficit should be in balance in the final year of the five-year forecast period, which is 2015-16 in this Budget.
This mandate is:
Structural – to give us flexibility to respond to external shocks;
Current – to protect the most productive public investment;
And credible – because the Office for Budget Responsibility, not the Chancellor, will decide on the output gap.
So far so good – he's targetting the current structural deficit so (if the FT is wrong about the OBR's likely downgrade to the output gap) then he would have room to both allow the automatic stabilisers to work and to increase investment.
But, but, but… Osborne went on to say something he may well regret:
In order to place our fiscal credibility beyond doubt, this mandate will be supplemented by a fixed target for debt, which in this Parliament is to ensure that debt is falling as a share ofGDP by 2015-16. (my emphasis)
It's this fixed target for a falling debt to GDPratio by 2015/16 that causes the problems. The current OBR forecast (almost certain to be revised heavily in November) is that debt/GDP will peak at 70.9% in 2013/14, fall to 70.5% in 2014/15 and 69.1% in 2015/16. I.e. Osborne is on course to meet his target two years early but by the narrowest of margins. The downgrades this Autumn are likely to mean he is meeting his second target just on time and with no rrom to spare.
In other words Osborne has no room to for a discrectiobnary stimulus without breaching his mandate. There is even a chance that the automatic stabilisers may have to be scaled back if he is to meet his target.
12 Responses
I agree with your general prognosis here. On Osborne, well they say he's an incredibly astute politician it's possible he may realise the positive politics of a well aimed stimulus out way the negatives politics on a little wiggling.
Curious about what you mean by 'proper structural reforms' Duncan…. Normally 'structural reform' is code for 'making life tough for workers AFAICT.
With you.
Good post, and I agree on the likelihood of missing the debt target, but am I missing something? Yes, by targeting the current structural deficit there's some implied scope for the govt to allow "automatic stabilisers" to work. But with growth almost certain to be weaker over the coming years than official forecasts, the bulk of the overall fiscal deficit almost certainly "structural" rather than "cyclical", and every chance that the size of this "permanent" deficit will be scaled even higher when the OBR has to revise down its estimate of the output gap in future forecasts, doesn't the fact that Osborne is targeting the structural deficit mean that his hands are tied even more, not less? That is, he can't blame weak growth for missing his balanced structural budget target. Weak growth will just make it harder to bring about the planned improvement in the structural deficit. Given the large size of the structural deficit, and the prospect of it being revised even higher, isn't it more likely he'll have to introduce greater austerity, not less, in order to balance this part of the fiscal budget?
Obviously the solution is for the OBR to just say instead there's a massive output gap, and that the deficit is almost all cyclical…!!
The amount of investment needed is much higher and it cannot all come from a government stimulus anyway.
This is a statement of political preference, not of operational constraints: In extremis, a sovereign state can command the sum total of productive capacity within its borders – there is no output gap so large that the sovereign is incapable of closing it, given the will to deploy sufficient seigniorage to do so.
But with growth almost certain to be weaker over the coming years than official forecasts, the bulk of the overall fiscal deficit almost certainly "structural" rather than "cyclical",
No, weak (real) growth should tend to reduce, not increase, the full-employment deficit. The full-employment deficit is based on the needs of the private sector to amortise investments (which is, ceteris paribus, increased by real growth and reduced by inflation) and to maintain the share of sovereign securities in the private sector's portfolio. So while inflation has ambiguous effects on the necessary deficit, real growth will unambiguously increase it, unless private savings desires and portfolio preferences change simultaneously (and fairly radically).
Of course, the "structural deficit" that the OBR computes is not the full-employment deficit. But that is a problem with the OBR, not with the above analysis.
– Jake
To paraphrase Goering, "when I see somebody reaching for the structural deficit, I reach for my gun".
"Osborne has no room to for a discretionary stimulus"
If investment spending has a fiscal multiplier 1, extra deficit spending now would increase GDP faster than it increase debt, so the target of falling "debt/GDP" would be *helped* not hindered by extra spending.
This is the whole point of Keynesian spending, right? So if you think the fiscal multiplier is < 1, why advocate for fiscal stimulus at all?
Hmm, my greater-than sign got filtered. "If investment spending has a fiscal multiplier greater than 1", that should read.
I am amused by the use of the word "mandate". No one coffered a mandate on the present Cabinet to do anything. They gave no intimation of these policies at the election; the Liberals opposed most of them at the time. The policy of the Cabinet has no connection with promoting economic prosperity but merely allowing more tax cuts and profiteering by the wealthy. All based on voodoo economic myths. This is an Anti democratic disgrace. Productivity growth will be lower not higher. As has proved to be the case when ever these policies have been applied.

subset: commoncrawl


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Zach Ransom
JAWS. The movie that made so many people terrified of going into the water, had a profound and lasting impact on Zach Ransom as well. The film didn't elicit fear, in fact, quite the opposite. He was captivated by the actors, boats and SCUBA equipment, but most of all, the shark. This seminal experience planted a seed in his mind that would develop into a passion and career spent mostly underwater. Zach obtained his first SCUBA certification upon turning age 12. His fascination with photography soon followed him into the water, and he has continued to study and practice the art of underwater photography for the last decade. Zach's primary focus has been on capturing the grace and power of the world's sharks with his photos, in an attempt to draw attention to the many dangers that threaten these magnificent predators. Hooper said it best, "What we are dealing with here is a perfect engine, an eating machine. It's really a miracle of evolution. All this machine does is swim and eat and make little sharks, and that's all."
At age 29, Zach has logged over 2,000 dives around the world, and is persistent in his desire to share time and space with sharks and other large marine predators. His photographs have been used in public displays and exhibitions, and have been featured by National Geographic and Scuba Diving Magazine. Prints of his work reside in hundreds of private homes across the country. Zach continues to explore the potential of his photography, and attempts to capture the beauty of marine organisms in their natural state.


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Syd Jones, museum curator, said the jet will be part of a museum exhibit that covers the history of the Korean and Vietnam wars and today's aerial arsenal.
Jones still hasn't reviewed the history of the museum's Tomcat, which caught a ride to Pearl Harbor Thursday chained to the flight deck of the helicopter assault carrier USS Bonhomme Richard. The carrier, here to participate in the Navy's 10-nation Rim of the Pacific war games, is normally berthed in San Diego.
The plane was removed from the carrier by crane yesterday morning and placed on a Pearl Harbor barge and ferried over to Ford Island.
Because Jones hasn't had time to examine the Tomcat, which is on loan to the Pacific Air Museum from the Navy, he said he couldn't estimate how much it would cost to restore it.
"It's been sitting dockside in San Diego for more than a year now," said Jones, "so I don't know how much corrosion has taken place."
The F-14, made famous in the Tom Cruise movie "Top Gun," was the Navy's primary carrier jet fighter from 1974 to 2006. It has been replaced by the F-18 Hornet.
The jet loaned to the museum doesn't have its two engines or any instruments or other cockpit items. The process to acquire the Tomcat was initiated more than 18 months ago, Jones said.
The Pacific Aviation Museum opened on Dec. 7, 2006, in one of three Ford Island hangars that still bear the bullet holes, strafe marks and bomb craters from the attack by the Japanese on the Pacific Fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Hangar 37, the only one open to the public, cost more than $14 million to restore and tells the story of the aerial attack on Pearl Harbor and the first three months of the Pacific war. It features 14 aircraft, including a Japanese A6M2 Zero, F-43 Wildcat, B-25 Mitchell bomber, a 1942 Streaman Biplane flown by former President George H.W. Bush, and the Zero that crashed on Niihau.
Anne Murata, museum spokesman, said that so far $30 million has been raised from local governments and businesses to complete the remaining phases of the museum, which include restoring Hangar 79 -- which will chronicle the last months of the Pacific war -- and Hangar 54, which will review the events of the Korean and Vietnam wars and the Cold War.
Kathryn Budde-Jones, the museum's education and volunteer director, said more than 100,000 people toured the museum during its first year of operation. "We are aiming for 120,000 this year," she said.
She said the museum offers a one-day program on the last Saturday of each month for Boy Scouts interested in earning their aviation merit badge. Similar aerospace merit badge classes are held for Girl Scouts.


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Announcing the new DramaFever Forums!
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Despite having four hit singles and recording four albums, The Outsiders are remembered today for this one song, Time Won't Let Me, which reached number 5 on the American charts in 1966.
Guitarist Tom King started the band in Cleveland in 1965. When King left the band in 1968, vocalist Sonny Geraci and Walter Nims attempted to continue recording under The Outsiders name. A legal battle ensued. After King finally won the rights to the name in 1970, Geraci and Nims formed a new called Climax. The new band recorded the number 1 hit Precious and Few. Today, Geraci tours under the name Sonny Geraci and the Outsiders.
"I never met Frank Sinatra…never met The Beatles. I did meet The Beach Boys. I would have loved to have met Frank Sinatra."
Sonny Geraci
Time Won't Let Me fuses elements of British rock and Motown. The horn arrangement gives the song a blues sound, while the jangly guitars were influenced by the British Invasion bands.


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Archive for September, 2015
Overweight children are at risk for heart disease as adults
In a recent study of nearly 9,000 overweight and obese children and teens, doctors found that these young people had concerning blood pressure readings and worrisome cholesterol and blood sugar levels. In adults, such test results suggest a much higher risk for heart disease — so they are of particularly great concern in children. The good news is that with help and support, kids can lose weight — the results are a healthier, happier childhood and a greater chance of a healthier, longer adult life.
How well does calcium intake really protect your bones?
How much calcium do you really need for strong, healthy bones? The answer isn't as clear as we once thought. Recent analyses suggest that neither dietary calcium nor calcium supplements reduce the risk of fractures. In the absence of a clear deficiency, it's impossible to know how exactly much calcium a person needs. Ideally, you should get most of your calcium through food. Be sure you're getting adequate vitamin D as well.
Why some parents don't follow the "safe sleep" recommendations for babies
The very thought of losing a baby to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is terrifying. Safer sleeping practices for infants have greatly reduced the number of babies lost to SIDS, but many parents are unclear on the reasons behind these recommendations and therefore often don't follow them. The safest way to put your baby to bed is: on the back; in a crib, minus blankets, bumpers, and stuffed animals; and with a pacifier. Another critical factor is maintaining a smoke-free home and family.
"Not Again!" — When UTIs won't quit at midlife
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in women of all ages. Physical and hormonal changes can leave women at midlife particularly vulnerable. No woman should have to put up with the inconvenience and discomfort of recurrent UTIs. Self-help measures can be effective, but if they don't do the trick, see your doctor. He or she can identify and treat any underlying problems and recommend other strategies to keep UTIs at bay.
Treating unexplained infertility: Answers still needed
One of the most common treatments for unexplained infertility is ovulation induction, in which a woman takes drugs that will increase the number of eggs the ovary releases in the hope that at least one will result in a pregnancy. But when too many eggs are available for fertilization, the rates of high-risk multiple pregnancies go up. A recent study compared three drugs used for ovulation induction and found that the one more likely to result in a live birth was also more likely to result in a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, or more). The options for treating unexplained infertility remain less than ideal, but careful choices mean that the pregnancies that do result will be safer for moms and babies.
Tai chi can improve life for people with chronic health conditions
Tai chi has become popular in the United States in recent years, thanks in part to growing evidence for its many health benefits. This ancient Chinese exercise not only improves balance and flexibility, it may prevent falls, ease pain, and even help your heart. A recent analysis of 33 studies of tai chi suggests that doing tai chi can help older adults with common, long-term health conditions move about more easily and enhance their quality of life. The quality of life improvements may stem from the meditative, mind-calming aspects of tai chi.
Following low-risk prostate cancers before starting treatment becoming more common
Treatment decisions are complicated for men with low-risk prostate cancer that grows slowly. These cancers may never become deadly during a man's expected lifespan. And there is no conclusive evidence showing that treatment in these cases extends survival. So cancer specialists have been leaning toward monitoring low-risk prostate cancer carefully and starting treatment only when it begins to spread. This approach was once used only in academic cancer centers, but new research suggests that this strategy is becoming more common in urology practices throughout the United States and other countries as well.
Join us for a special webcast: "Rethinking Cholesterol"
If the latest information on health and wellness is important to you, you will not want to miss a special live-streamed webcast, "Rethinking Cholesterol," which will be aired on Thursday, September 24, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm Eastern time. The webcast, which is free to all viewers, is co-sponsored by Reuters, Harvard Health Publishing, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Harvard Medical School.
The type of fat you eat matters!
Media coverage of a study published in the medical journal BMJ last month left the impression that eating saturated fat is not harmful to one's health. These news stories left out an important point. Low–saturated-fat diets, in which those fats are replaced with even less healthful food (refined carbohydrates, for example), may not be any healthier than diets higher in saturated fats. Experts generally agree that the overall quality of a person's diet matters more than any one particular food or food group. That said, the type of fat you eat is important, so choose foods with healthy unsaturated fat (fish, nuts, and most plant oils), limit foods high in saturated fat (butter, whole milk, cheese, coconut and palm oil, and red meats), and avoid foods with trans fat altogether.
Turning to drugs and treatments before they are "ready for prime time"
Having a terminal illness or debilitating disease is devastating. Imagine, then, being in that situation and exhausting the available treatment options — or having limited options to begin with. It's understandable that people in these circumstances might welcome the opportunity to try experimental drugs or treatments. But it is not always easy or expedient to gain access to such therapies. So called "right-to-try" laws are supposed to help doctors and patients access these treatments. However, it isn't clear that right-to-try laws will actually help, and they can create additional dilemmas in what are already complicated situations.


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Log in to make the most of Hymnary.org collections.
1. The voice of God's creation found me
Perplexed midst hope and fear,
For though His sunshine flashed around me,
His storms at times drew near:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew where He abideth!
For doubts beset our lot,
And lo! His glorious face He hideth,
And men perceive it not!
2. The Voice of God's Protection told me
He loveth all He made;
I seemed to feel His arms enfold me,
And yet was half afraid:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew where I might find Him!
His eye would guide me right:
He leaveth countless tracks behind Him,
Yet passeth out of sight.
3. The voice of conscience sounded nearer,
It stirred my inmost breast;
But though its tones were firmer, clearer,
'Twas not the voice of rest:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew if He forgiveth!
My soul is faint within,
Because in grievous fear it liveth
Of wages due to sin.
4. It was the voice of revelation
That met my utmost need;
The wondrous message of salvation
Was joy and peace indeed:
And I said—
Oh! how I love the sacred pages
From which such tidings flow,
As monarchs, patriarchs, poets, sages,
Have longed in vain to know!
5. For now is life a lucid story,
And death a rest in Him,
And all is bathed in light and glory
That once was dark or dim:
And I said—
O Thou who dost my soul deliver,
And all its hopes uplift;
Give me a tongue praise the Giver,
A heart to prize the gift.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #7064
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|The Voice of God's creation found me
|Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
|First Line
|Tune Key
|The Cyber Hymnal #7064
|The Voice of God's Creation Found Me
|The voice of God's creation found me
|Henry Twells
|Supplemental Hymns to Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1889


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New study shows you can't be obese and healthy
In recent years, many people have questioned whether it is possible to be obese and healthy. Studies have reportedly shown that if you take a thin person who has never seen the inside of a gym and compare him to an overweight person who has, the person carrying extra weight is in a much better place health-wise. This may be the case, but not when you're talking about the long-term affects of obesity, according to a new study.
British researchers kept track of the body mass indexes of 2,500 men and women for 20 years, keeping close watch on their cholesterol levels, blood pressures, fasting glucose amounts and insulin resistance levels. Here's what they discovered: "Fat but fit" is not an attainable reality for most people when you're talking about maintaining that level of fitness over the course of several years. Even if some of their subjects were obese at the start of the study but otherwise perfectly healthy, those people were more likely to suffer from heart disease as the years progressed.
The bottom line: Even "healthy obesity" is a "high-risk state," because the odds are in favor of progressing to an unhealthy obese state rather than staying stable or losing weight.
Out of all the test subjects who began the study with a BMI score of 30 or greater — which is considered "obese" — more than 51 percent were deemed "unhealthy" after two decades.
And, as we know, 20 years isn't a lifetime. Researchers are warning folks that a number of others involved in the study who started off obese may develop diseases and risk factors in years to come because "obesity affects virtually every organ in the body," according to Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of clinical cardiology at National Jewish Health Medical Center in Denver. And "...the longer you are obese, the less likely it is that you will stay healthy."
The evidence seems clear: No matter how healthy we may be, if we are carrying extra weight, we aren't as healthy as we could be, and eventually those extra pounds could seriously affect our overall health.
More on obesity
Unexpected causes of obesity
Health benefits of being overweight?
Childhood obesity: How big of a problem is it?


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Omar Minaya confirmed this week that the Mets remain in the market for a low-priced left-handed reliever, and that reliever might turn out to be Will Ohman.
The Mets' GM contacted Ohman's agent on Wednesday to discuss a potential contract, but the Amazin's are likely to have competition from the rival Phillies for the lefty's services.
Ohman, 31, was 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 58″ innings with the Braves last season after spending his first five years in the big leagues with the Cubs.
The Mets are looking to round out their bullpen after the recent trade of Scott Schoeneweis to Arizona left Pedro Feliciano as the only left-hander. That has prompted Minaya to look at Ohman and Joe Beimel, among others, but Minaya said he likes the recently signed Valerio de los Santos.
Meanwhile, the Mets agreed to terms with journeyman righty reliever Elmer Dessens yesterday. Dessens, 38, agreed to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training next week.
Top prospect Fernando Martinez returned to New York yesterday for tests on a sore elbow that will cause him to miss the rest of the Caribbean Series.


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|About Us / Contacts
The Oregon Division of USA Fencing (Oregon Division) is a non-profit organization, formed to promote fencing in the State of Oregon and support Division members. The Oregon Division runs several RYC events during the year, as well as qualifiers for the Junior Olympics and Summer Nationals. The Oregon Division has been the Local Organizing Committee for a number of North American Cups and the Junior Olympics in Portland since 2008. In addition to running tournaments, the Oregon Division Board also manages the Division's operations, sets the schedules for sanctioned tournaments in the Division, and manages classification changes. Oregon Division Board Members serve for two-year terms on a volunteer basis. Elections are held in June of each year at the Annual Meeting, held concurrently with the Oregon State Games.
The entire Board can be contacted by sending email to board (at) usfa-or dot org. Tournament organizers should send rating/classification change requests (use either the USFA form or the AskFred auto-generated form) to the Division secretary, Jamie Fife at the email below. The Division also has a Tournament Sanctioning Guide - please email us for a copy.
The Division also has two sets of Favero reels, two Firefly scoring boxes, a HP netbook with FencingTime, and test equipment available to Division member clubs for for use at tournaments. Please contact Leo Curtis, Board Chair, at the email below for more information.
2015-16 Board Members are:
Contacts for specific information:
The official mailing address of the Division is:
Oregon Division of the USFA


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Floating 2
Date: 06/12/2001 at 10:34:59 From: Britney Turner Subject: Algebra The floating 2: Start with the number 2 on the far left side, then float the number 2 to the far right side. The new number must be three times more than the old number. For example: 268 682. The only problem is that they're not three times apart.
Date: 06/12/2001 at 12:55:22 From: Doctor Greenie Subject: Re: Algebra Hi, Britney - I'm hoping that you haven't written your question the way you really meant to. If the new number is "three times more than" the old number, then it is FOUR times AS LARGE AS the old number. For that problem, your question has no solution. However, if you meant to say that the new number is three times AS LARGE AS the old number, then there are solutions. So let's look at this problem: You want to find a string of digits "dd...dd" (with an unknown number of digits) such that the number "dd...dd"2 is three times as large as the number 2"dd...dd". (This is awkward notation. Remember that "dd...dd" is a string of digits; there is no multiplication implied by writing the "d"s next to each other.) We can get a series of equations to try to solve by trying different numbers of digits in the string "dd...dd". If we try a string of a single digit, then we have "d"2 = 3 * 2"d" "d" is now a 1-digit number; call it x. Then algebraically we have 10x+2 = 3(20+x) 10x+2 = 60+3x 7x = 58 The solution to this equation is not an integer. So next let's try a string of 2 digits. We now have "dd"2 = 3 * 2"dd" "dd" is now a 2-digit number; call it x. Then algebraically we have 10x+2 = 3(200+x) 10x+2 = 600+3x 7x = 598 The solution to this equation also is not an integer. Let's go one step further and try a string of 3 digits. We now have "ddd"2 = 3 * 2"ddd" "ddd" is now a 3-digit number; call it x. Then algebraically we have 10x+2 = 3(2000+x) 10x+2 = 6000+3x 7x = 5998 The solution to this equation also is not an integer. If we pause now and compare the calculations we have made for these first three cases, we can see that what we are going to need is an equation of the form 7x = 599...998 which has an integer solution. To find equations of this form, we can be a bit clever. We are currently looking for numbers of the form 599...998 which, when divided by 7, leave no remainder. Let's look instead for numbers of the form 600...000 which, when divided by 7, leave a remainder of 2. The repeating decimal equivalent of the fraction 6/7 is 6/7 = 0.857142857142857142... From this we can see that 60/7 = 8.57142857142857142... = 8 remainder 4 600/7 = 85.7142857142857142... = 85 remainder 6 6000/7 = 857.142857142857142... = 857 remainder 1 60000/7 = 8571.42857142857142... = 8571 remainder 3 600000/7 = 85714.2857142857142... = 85714 remainder 2 We have now that 600000/7 leaves remainder 2, so 599998/7 is an integer (=85714). So our first solution to the problem is x = 285714; 3x = 857142 And if we think about continuing looking for numbers of the form 600...000 which leave remainder 2 when divided by 7, we can see that we will have an infinite number of similar solutions to the problem: x = 285714285714; 3x = 857142857142 x = 285714285714285714; 3x = 857142857142857142 and so on.... And not only do we have an infinite number of solutions to the problem; this infinite set of solutions of this form provides the only solutions to the problem. Let's go back and see why the question as you asked it has no solutions (that is, there are no solutions if dd...dd2 is four times as large as 2dd...dd instead of three times as large). In the above analysis of the problem where "dd...dd2" is three times as large as 2dd...dd, we encountered the following series of equations to try to solve: 7x = 58 where x is a 1-digit integer 7x = 598 where x is a 2-digit integer 7x = 5998 where x is a 3-digit integer ... If we do the same type of analysis for the problem where dd...dd2 is supposed to be four times as large as 2dd...dd, then the corresponding series of equations we get is the following: 6x = 78 where x is a 1-digit integer 6x = 798 where x is a 2-digit integer 6x = 7998 where x is a 3-digit integer ... In every case, these equations have integer solutions (every number of the form 799...998 is divisible by both 2 and 3, and therefore by 6) - but they are always the wrong number of digits. Thanks for the interesting problem. It turned out to be a lot more interesting than it sounded when I first read it! - Doctor Greenie, The Math Forum http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
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text:
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text:
I am grateful for this opportunity to reflect on and pay tribute to the life and achievements of this extraordinary man, which are almost without precedent in the history of science. For as far as I know, homeopathy is the only extant methodology for medicine or any other learned profession that was conceived and brought forth fully-formed from a single human brain, and that has continued to grow and develop, yet remained essentially intact for a period of two hundred years.
Similarly, there is no other profession that I know of in which those who carry on its work are content and even proud to acknowledge their greatest achievements as basically footnotes to the books he wrote and the principles he enunciated so long ago. Nor is there a more precise or suitable measurement of the gulf which still separates the homeopathic viewpoint from that of conventional medicine. While the latter rightly prides itself on its readiness for change, its astonishing capacity to remake itself on short notice, not only the Law of Similars, but the "Vital Force," the Totality of Symptoms, the Single Remedy, the Minimum Dose, and other basic principles remain as fresh and timeless today as when the Master first discovered them.
In part the uniqueness of Hahnemann's achievement lies in the fact that what we have come to know as "homeopathy" actually comprises two radically different projects in a single package, each closely bound up with the other, and both rightly bearing his name. To the public, it is best known as a set of techniques for healing the sick, a methodology that includes detailed instructions for interviewing patients and for preparing, investigating, selecting, and administering medicinal agents. Indeed it is at this technical level that Hahnemann continued to experiment throughout his career, and where homeopathy has always seemed utterly strange and even improbable to most people, and thus controversial and vulnerable to its many detractors as well. And it is here, too, that its practitioners are most grateful to him at that moment of truth when we get to place a tiny bit of fairy dust on a patient's tongue and to savor that look of incredulity that precedes the miracle to come.
But to those of us who practice it, homeopathy is also a philosophy, not only in the ordinary sense of a set of ideas and opinions about health and disease, but also technically, as a coherent system of principles that all follow logically from a few axiomatic premises that cannot themselves be proved, in the spirit of Bertrand Russell's whimsical definition:
. . . the point of philosophy is to start with something so obvious as not to seem worth stating, and to end up with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it.1
Not only the Law of Similars, but also the materia medica, the single remedy, the minimum dose, the "Laws of Cure," and the other cardinal principles of homeopathy all seem to follow inevitably from the concept of the "vital force," without which they make very little sense, and the "totality of symptoms," its applied or clinical aspect, upon which the methodology itself depends.
Homeopathy owes its peculiar longevity to this happy conjunction of both elements, of philosophy and method. Gifted thinkers have always left behind enduring philosophies that still speak to us across the centuries, but without a practical method of applying them in the world they survive only as ideal possibilities as yet unrealized. Conversely, modern physicians and scientists have contributed a wealth of technical innovations that by transforming medical knowledge and practice have also engendered new operating principles to keep pace with them.
Only homeopathy, Hahnemann's brainchild, has managed to sustain itself without fundamental change, because it is both philosophy and method, such that even its practical applications, while reflecting and keeping abreast of technical progress, remain firmly grounded in principles that still generate relevant and valid conclusions, and are therefore still operative to tht extent. While it does not qualify as "hard science" like physics and chemistry for precisely that reason, because the "Law of Similars," the "Vital Force," and the "Totality of Symptoms" are not subject to experimental proof or disproof like ordinary hypotheses, homeopathy remains thoroughly scientific in its attitude and subject matters, and is entirely amenable to objective, scientific, and even experimental corroboration by means of the consistency, accuracy, relevance, and predictive value of the system as a whole.
Its closest analogue in modern history if Freudian psychoanalysis, which was likewise conceived and developed by a single great mind, and which not only combined a rigorous analytic philosophy of experience with a detailed methodology for professional practice, but also gave rise to a disciplined and committed movement that still plays an important part on the world stage.
The similarity becomes even closer and more fruitful when we consider the practical difficulties that have beset homeopathy from the very beginning and are still very much in evidence today. For Hahnemann as for Freud, his tireless quest for immutable Laws of Nature, his overriding ambition to see his discoveries made good in the world, and the sheer force of his intellect all conspired to found a sectarian movement, based on strict adherence to his principles, that demanded the absolute loyalty and obedience of its adherents, and that thus increasingly fortified itself against and isolated itself from dissenting cultural influences from outside.
In spite of his distinguished reputation as an expert chemist and authority on the preparation of medicines, Hahnemann's unorthodox discoveries and often strident claims were greeted with silence from most of his colleagues, and aroused active opposition from the local apothecaries, whose very livelihood seemed threatened above all by his insistence on the single remedy, and on the physician preparing his medicines himself.2
Even after his success in treating epidemic diseases earned him a lectureship and made him famous throughout Europe, Hahnemann continued to be ridiculed and even persecuted for his heresies until 1822, when a wealthy patron gave him shelter and a stipend to publish his writings.3 In addition to the Organon of Medicine, his original text, which ran to six editions, and the Materia Medica Pura and Chronic Diseases, his other major works, he wrote dozens of technical articles and monographs, as well as maintaining a voluminous correspondence, and continuing to teach, practice, and conduct experimental research until the very end of his long life.
In his old age he remarried and moved to Paris, where at last he enjoyed wealth and celebrity, and died secure in the knowledge that his students and followers were practicing quality homeopathy throughout Europe and in America. Over fifty years after his death, his remains were finally laid to rest in the Père Lachaise, fitly crowned by his own epitaph, Non inutilis vixi, which means "I have not lived in vain." Driven by ambition and gifted by intellect, he left us an elegant philosophy of health and illness and a practical methodology of healing the sick that have stood the test of time.
At the same time, his autocratic style and imperious temper not only alienated many promising students, but also inadvertently encouraged a a profusion of opposing factions and interpretations, each claiming legitimate inspiration and descent from some aspect or phase of his thought. The unending flood of invective against faint-hearted prescribers who still cling to allopathic philosophy, use several remedies at a time, or treat the disease category rather than the patient all originated with diatribes emanating from the pen of the Master himself.
Defending the principles of homeopathy as sacred, quasi-religious truth, Hahnemann and his disciples were, as indeed many still remain, harshly intolerant of all who appear to deviate from his vision, creating an absolutist dogma that still expects and indeed attracts persecution, as well as a tradition of internecine ideological warfare that has continued to divide the movement through periods of success as well as decline. A tragic example was the abortive career of the Leipzig Homeopathic Hospital, a project which Hahnemann had long cherished, and which would probably have succeeded had he not turned the Law of Similars into a kind of loyalty oath by insisting that anyone claiming the title of homeopath be made to swear allegiance to it.
In 1832, physicians of the Leipzig Homeopathic Union put up the money to establish a hospital and medical school, and selected Dr. Moritz Müller, a prominent, reputable clinician and enthusiastic supporter of homeopathy, as acting Medical Director. It was understood that Dr. Benjamin Schweikert, an experienced classical prescriber, would eventually relocate to the area to take over the post, but the latter refused to serve without pay, and then backed out entirely when the original sponsors voted to admit all interested physicians, even if they were not yet ready to practice homeopathy exclusively.4
This seemingly well-meaning compromise infuriated Hahnemann, who turned on Müller and the "Half-homeopaths" of Leipzig in a scathing letter to the local newspaper that not only ruined the former's long and notable career, but also effectively insured the failure of the hospital itself. I quote a few choice passages:
I have heard that some in Leipzig who pretend to be Homeopathists allow their patients to choose whether they shall be treated homeopathically or allopathically. Whether they are not as yet thoroughly grounded in the true spirit of the new doctrine, or lack due benevolence to their species, or do not scruple to dishonor their profession for the sake of sordid gain, at least let them not expect me to recognize them as true disciples!
Bloodletting, the application of leeches and Spanish flies, the use of setons and mustard plasters, salves and aromatics, emetics and purgatives, destructive doses of mercury and quinine: these and other quackeries, combined with the use of homeopathic remedies, identify these crypto-Homeopaths as surely as a lion is known by his claws. Let such be avoided, for they regard neither the welfare of the patient nor the honor of the profession. Practice honorably as an Allopath, as yet ignorant of anything better, or a pure Homeopath for the welfare of mankind. But as long as you wear this double mask, you will be a contemptible hybrid of a physician, of all the most pernicious.
From now on, he who hesitates to prove himself a Homeopath in word and deed should never come to me expecting a friendly reception. We are considering an institution for demonstrating the efficacy of pure Homeopathy on the sick before the eyes of the whole world. Therefore I solemnly protest against the employment of such bastard Homeopath either as teacher or attendant. Should any false doctrine be taught in the name of Homeopathy, or patients be treated with any imitation of Allopathic practice, I will raise my voice and warn the world against such treachery.5
Hahnemann's all-too-human character flaws need not detract from the greatness of his achievement. It does us as little credit to blame him for the intransigence and fanaticism of our debates today as to abdicate responsibility for how we behave by writing it off to abusive parents or a difficult childhood. Indeed it must be admitted that if Hahnemann or his disciples had been any less zealous about preserving his principles, it is quite likely that neither the method nor the philosophy that we find so elegant and beautiful today would have survived in the face of both the persecution and the seductiveness of conventional medicine, which tried for so long and so powerfully to destroy it and very nearly succeeded not so long ago.
To understand our own sectarian mentality, we have to re-examine that part of Hahnemann's legacy that still rings true to us, and that we still reaffirm today, for reasons of our own. What has always divided us amongst ourselves and from the medical profession as a whole is simply a logical consequence of the absolute moral force we do in fact accord to the basic principles of homeopathy, first as an objective law of health and disease, and above all as a prescriptive guide to our conduct as health professionals, which does indeed imply the right and even the duty to set standards for ourselves over and above those of our various licenses.
It should occasion no surprise or undue disappointment if Hahnemann was a human being like ourselves, with his full quota of human failings and unattractive qualities. We can still be thankful for his mastery of the healing art, and for his having used his splendid gifts so long and so well for the improvement of our understanding, the development of our practice, and the benefit of mankind. He left us an art that is still beloved throughout the world, and a philosophy of health and illness that will endure long after the homeopathic method as we now know it becomes obsolete. For these great blessings we remain deeply grateful.
1.Russell, B., "The Philosophy of Logical Atomism," in Logic and Knowledge: Essays, 1901-1950, Allen and Unwin, London, 1968, p. 193.
2.Bradford, T. L., Life and Letters of Hahnemann, Boericke & Tafel, Philadelphia, 1895, pp. 113-116.
3.Ibid., pp. 120-134.
4.Ibid., pp. 292-313.
5.Ibid., pp. 300-302, passim.


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How to Train your DragonBook - 2004
From the critics
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The books are amazing... I read one of them, loved it, and made my friend give me the rest of the books to read during the summer! 10/10. Love it.
My brothers and I love how to train your dragon. Only they have read the books though, so I went to go check it out and see how it is......and it was awesome!
It's great to read the books in which Dreamworks used to base the amazing movies/TV shows
I really liked this book because it was very interesting. My favourite part was when hiccup was training his dragon toothless. Also, I liked when he was trying to come up with a way to kill the sea dragon. Overall, I have no negative feedback about this book.
I used to read these books to my son when he was 6, 7, 8 years old. He would fall asleep and I would keep reading to the end. Cressida Cowell is an excellent writer with a great imagination - I think she wrote about dragons when she was a child. I laughed and laughed. It's such good stories for kids ... the runt is the wisest of the great and mighty vikings and manages to get out of impossible situations. The books are so much better than the movie because Hiccup speaks dragonese and the only person who communicates with the dragons. The best kids series I could recommend. I bought all 10 books!
Although I've been aware of this book for years, I only just picked it up to read with my kid. I expected a lot of tongue-in-cheek captain-underpantsy humor, but it has so much more! HTTYD is a great humble-boy-hero and best-friend book as well. Great read for kids ages 5 and up!
How to Train your Dragon is a great children's book. I really enjoyed reading this interesting, and comical novel.
I like the books and the movies both for what they are. Having said that, the movie couldn't have been a children's movie if it had been as close to the books and you'd end up with a movie like Antz (pg) that gets bad reviews because it appears to be a children's movie.
But boy! toothless is the most spoiled brat I have ever read about!
BTW people in age ratings setting a rating of how old you need to be is cool, but don't be like "you have to be under 12 to think this is funny" It's offensive!
Boy was I surprised to find out the movie is nothing like the book nothing. I like the movie but I love the books better.
As one already said the drawings are on the scribble side and the jokes are a little raw but that's why the book is so cute!!
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Sexual Content: There is one bad picture after Gobber charges the giant dragon. His pants is missing and he has a bad tattoo on one of his legs.
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text: Railway Planning & Investment Organisation to Be Set-up. Indian Railways to Develop National Rail Plan-2030 The Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu while presenting the Railway Budget 2016-17 in Parliament today announced the Sashaktikaran – improving our planning practices. Shri Prabhu announced Railway Planning & Investment Organisation with funds available for developing and revitalizing the existing infrastructure. It is most pertinent that they are invested in the most efficient and transparent manner. Indian Railways intend to set up a Railway Planning & Investment Organisation for drafting medium (5 years) and long (10 years) term corporate plans and based thereupon, identify projects which fulfill the corporate goal. The organisation will independently conduct market intelligence and support preparation of feasibility studies or detailed project reports based on standard methodology and assumptions. Further, the organisation would propose innovative financing mechanisms for identified projects. Railway Minister also announced the preparation of National Rail Plan in order to provide long-term perspective to planning for augmenting the railway network, Railway Minister said that Indian Railways have decided to develop 'National Rail Plan' (NRP-2030) in consultation with all the stakeholders including State Governments, public representatives and other relevant Central Ministries. NRP-2030 will endeavour to harmonise and integrate the rail network with other modes of transport and create synergy for achieving seamless multi-modal transportation network across the country. This will also achieve the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of integrated planning and cost optimization of the transportation network by laying the new railway lines and new highways together in tunnels and over mega-bridges.


text:
Lean, mean, startup infrastructure
Are you pumped and ready to build the next hot mobile game or app? Great, all the power to you. However, if you have two or more members on the team, then you are going to need some structure to run efficiently. This is especially true if some members are far apart or work during different times of the day.
When we started working on our game, Sketch Guess, our first and only "tool" was email. It worked great at the beginning, but it quickly became cumbersome when our discussions moved to more complex matters and we started producing assets. As the project progressed, we incorporated fast, cheap, and reliable services to keep us rolling smoothly. We are happy to share what worked for us. Every project is different and each team has different needs, so look at this more as inspiration.
Project Management
First things first, you need a communication hub. Basecamp is the way to go. We were using the older version that had a free account. I think the latest version requires a monthly subscription. Regardless, it's worth the price. Basecamp is great for organizing conversations, establishing milestones in a calendar, and maintaining to do lists.
Files and Storage
You're going to need a place to store designs, digital assets, legal documents, etc. Dropbox is our tool of choice. In minutes you can have a central location where the team can access files. Also, Dropbox is great for backups because they keep a version history. Luckily, our game is lightweight, so the free 2GB account was sufficient. I referred a few people so were able to squeeze out another 1GB for free. Although, we were getting low on space when we created a video trailer for the game…
You can also try SugarSync, which provides 5GB for free. Whatever the case, don't be afraid to pony up some cash for a plan. They are pretty cheap and it's great to have everything sync up nicely without any effort. FYI, when we started the project Google Drive wasn't available yet. That is also a good option.
The great thing about Dropbox is the mobile app, which we used to quickly get a feel for the flow of the game. When designing comps, save them as PNG, then navigate to the folder within the Dropbox mobile app and swipe through the designs. It helps to label the files in sequential order. For example:
- GameName-01-LoadingScreen.png
- GameName-02-Tutorial-Step1.png
- GameName-03-Tutorial-Step2.png
- GameName-04-GamePlay.png
Customer Support & Bug Tracking
Once your game or app launches you may need to communicate with customers and deal with issues. This is where Zendesk comes in. It's a great ticketing system that is a snap to set up. You can simply direct users to the support site that they host for you. Although, the best approach is to create an email like "firstname.lastname@example.com" and have that be your middleman. Zendesk will automatically create tickets for the messages sent to the email address.
At the beginning, we didn't need a customer service system. So we used Zendesk as bug tracking tool. It's not the best tool for bugs, but it got the job done. On the plus side, it helped us get a feel for the system so we had a good understanding of the features/process by the time we launched.
We plan to eventually get something more dedicated. Especially if we get a lot of customer service requests. It's best to keep internal discussions (team) separate from external (users). If you have a really complex game/app you may try something more robust for bug tracking, like Jira.
When creating a game or app you're going to have copy (e.g tutorial, marketplace description, privacy policy, etc). Also, you may need to track expenses or specify game logic/rules. Google Drive is awesome for online documents. You can share and collaborate in real time. They got a word processor, spreadsheet, drawing (diagrams), and more.
Last Words
That's the core of our "project management" infrastructure. We didn't cover how we handled our game and server code. That will be explained in detail in another post. Lastly, if you have suggestions or advice, please feel free to share.


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New Study Shows Urban Children More Likely to Develop Food Allergies
EMSL Analyticals Houston, TX and Cinnaminson, NJ locations offer advanced allergen testing services.
According to a new study published on the Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, children living in cities are more likely to develop food allergies than those who grow up in more rural areas.
A team of researchers surveyed the parents of 40,000 children living across the country. They discovered that roughly eight percent of the children included in the survey have food allergies; however, this number varies depending on where the children live.
Of the children surveyed, 9.8% of those living in urban areas have food allergies. This number drops to 7.6% in the suburbs and again to 6.2% in rural areas. The researchers also discovered that children living in sunnier states are more likely to have food allergies than those in cloudier, rainy regions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), A food allergy is an abnormal immune response to a certain food that the body reacts to as harmful. Although any child can be at risk for food allergies, children are at greater risk if they are younger than age 3 or have a family history of asthma and allergies, a genetic predisposition to allergic disease, or elevated allergen-specific serum immunoglobulin levels.
EMSL Analytical offers testing services for a wide array of food allergens, including peanuts, soy, milk, egg, crustacean, and gliadin (gluten), states Joy DellAringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Microbiology Supervisor at EMSL. Our experienced staff of microbiologists analyzes food samples for allergens at our locations in Houston, TX and Cinnaminson, NJ.
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text:
Alex Ruiz
Just about every Mexican-American I know is familiar with Chingon music here in the great Southwest where we love our history and watching wild wild Spaghetti Western flicks, too. With the exploding Mexican-American population occurring -- it is important to keep track of sales in the performing arts industry. According to the Universal Latin Artist,
The breakdown of the Hispanic population is a good indicator as to the popularity of the different genres of Latin music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Regional Mexican music is the hottest selling Latin music format in the United States, making up 49 percent of all Latin music sales. Its popularity is fueled by the tremendous growth of the Mexican population in the U.S., which the Census estimates to make up 67 percent of the Hispanic population in this country; actual estimates may be higher.
Mexican Spaghetti Western Music
Who needs a guitar when you have killer Mariachi-rocker vocals like Alex Ruiz? Though he plays a guitar, his voice can be an instrument in and of itself with his unique voice and massive vocal range. He sings one of the best renditions of the classic Mexican song "Malagueña Salerosa" that was featured in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill 2. He is the lead singer of Chingon -- a band that comprises of filmmaker Robert Rodriguez with his electric guitar, alongside the Del Castillo brothers and their beautiful acoustic guitar sounds.
Ruiz's lyricist ability began with a poetry book his grandmother gave him when he was a child, and he would commit those poems to memory and quote them. His grandma reinforced his poetic foundation when she would remind him to read Psalms 119 -- the longest Psalm King David wrote. Ruiz understands the inspiration music can bring to an individual and recalls a moment sitting near a Fiesta when he saw a woman playing her harp bringing tears to his eyes without knowing why. These days, he finds himself seeking the comforting quotes by the Dalai Lama -- a man who has undergone extraordinary pain. The Dalai Lama could have chosen to be a bitter man but instead decided to be a man of smiles and laughter.
Within the last ten years Ruiz has recorded with artists such as Willie Nelson. The song recorded was I "Never Cared for You," which has now become Nelson's favorite version. Most recently, he has collaborated with Carlos Santana, Los Lonely Boys, Mana and many other well known artists on the compilation, Project of Love, in memory of Cesar Chavez and dedicated to the spirit of the labor workers from Central and South America.
Alex Ruiz has mastered the ability in being a Spanish lyricist, but he is broadening his horizons and crossing over by writing more English lyrics and melodies via the The Night Mothers. The most current project via The Night Mothers is an Austin, Texas-based all original Americana-Rock band. The band consists of Alex Ruiz, Albert Besteiro, Jeff Plankenhorn, Elias Montemayor, Michael O'Connor on guitar and Brian Mendez with drums. Alex has been writing with Jeff for the last two years in hopes of securing an album, and live performances can be seen and heard on YouTube and ReverbNation. The band can be seen live playing at places in Austin: Strange Brew, Lounge Side, Antone's, Continental Club, Saxon Pub, New Braunfels: Gruene Hall, Houston: Dosey Doe, McAllen, TX: Cine El Rey. The recent album from The Night Mothers, Sunrise was released in April, 2012 and is now available on iTunes.
Music for Ruiz comes natural and effortless, and lately he has been putting his heart, soul and personal experiences into the new music. He enjoys sharing his music, and the new music he writes about has much to do with the space we fill in-between in our day-to-day lives. He examines himself and asks how he can give back. He chose to give back through music. One way he gave back to the universe was through a beautiful ballad he created about the Rio Grande (perfect for any Tex-Mex movie). He wrote the ballad in special memory of his uncle and recalls participating in his uncle's wishes to have his ashes spread at the mouth of the Rio Grande River where the Boca Chica Beach meets the river near the Gulf of Mexico.
Ruiz believes Rock n' Roll gives him a poetic license allowing him to be a component of the arts industry -- filling a space as the mighty pendulum swings us into the highs and lows in life. It would not surprise me to hear how Mariachi Americana Rockers gain traction in the music industry fueled by the current Latin Boom -- and Alex is one musician to follow.
"Follow me down the Rio Grande, Cool River tastes salty again, Follow me down the Rio Grande, The Gulf of Mexico is where I'll make my stand!" - Alex Ruiz
The Night Mothers - Austin, Texas


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International English Language Testing System
■ Why IELTS?
IELTS stands for "International English Language Testing System" and is a prerequisite for all university entrance tests in New Zealand.
At Auckland Edinburgh College we recognize the different goals of our IELTS students and have therefore tailored the courses appropriately.
We can offer two different levels of IELTS classes:
- IELTS 1, to meet the needs of students who require a band score of 5.0 or 5.5 for University Foundation Courses.
- IELTS 2, to equip those who need higher scores to enter Degree or Masters programmes.
An internal IELTS Screen Test (offered free of charge) will determine the students ability for the level they require.
We have a highly experienced IELTS team with an excellent pass rate and student feedback, and as preparation for an IELTS test is a time consuming practice, and different universities require different band scores, we are continually developing our system to monitor the student's progress.
Students can book their own IELTS tests at MIT; however, we recommend booking through us, as we can match the test date with the start and end of our course. In this way students will get the full benefit of the courses we offer.
Every university will have their own requirements for the different Diploma and Degree programmes they offer. This entry requirement includes IELTS, but they will also include the following:
- Previous level of education in the student's home country
- Length of study time in New Zealand
- Other areas of study at preparation level completed in English in New Zealand
- Suitability for the course as assessed during an interview
While AEC cannot guarantee acceptance to New Zealand universities, we do have established pathways to various UNITEC Foundation courses and other tertiary institutions.
Your IELTS certificate shows that you have successfully completed the IELTS preparation course.
■ IELTS Teachers
Dan Stradwick has been a Church pastor for 25 years and has been teaching ESL for 10 years. He is a good communicator and presenter of English especially in higher levels. IELTS is his special field and he is currently teaching this class. He is a competent musician and encourages students to sing in English whenever possible. He encourages humor as a positive learning tool.
Gina Stradwick has been a secondary school teacher for 20 years and an ESOL teacher for 10 years. She has a very personal approach to teaching which brings out the students' personality linked to their language. She is very competent at teaching all levels of English and all ages, she encourages students to enjoy learning and practicing English because of her bright and positive attitude.
■ Elements of the IELTS test
■ IELTS : How will I know when I am ready?
Before taking an IELTS exam, the student needs a basic knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary. This includes classes from Beginner to Intermediate level. Without these foundational studies students cannot attain the higher scores they require.
Our Academic Intermediate/IELTS 1 class is specifically designed to provide the additional vocabulary needed for academic writing and listening with a band score of 5.5. Upper Intermediate General English is highly recommended for IETLS 2 where a band score of 6 or 7 is needed.
It is important to remember that IELTS classes are designed to teach IELTS skills and vocabulary, not English grammar. A sound all-round English ability is required when entering New Zealand universities, not just the ability to pass an IELTS exam. University level, students will need to:
- Easily understand their lecturer
- Read and understand academic material
- Write and speak fluently
Being patient and realistic will be most beneficial in the long run. The class teachers can best assess the readiness of the students to move up to the next level. They will also be able to advise students on the correct path to attain their desired goal. For more information please feel free to contact the school.
■ IELTS High Scorers
Lee Dong San(South Korea) 7.5
Kim Nam Do(South Korea) 7.0
Dong Nianyi(China) 7.0
Bai Yang(China) 6.5
Seo Chung Won(South Korea) 6.5
Dang NGOC Hung(Vietnam) 6.5
Chen Dan(China) 6.5
Verges Carlos(Switzerland) 7.5
Xu Jin(China) 7.0
Shao Yipiao(China) 7.0
Zhang Wang(China) 6.5
Pan Zhaoshuo(China) 6.5
Jia Ruolin(China) 6.5
Chen Xiang(China) 6.0
Li Jingyi (China) 7.5
Karmacharya Arai(Nepal) 7.0
Zhao Meng(China) 7.0
Kim Hyun Woo(South Korea) 6.5
Zhang Anna(China) 6.5
Zou Jie(China)6.5


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NOTE: Workshops and classes are non-refundable. They may be re-booked with a minimum 3 days advance notice. Materials and supplies are bought in advance by the artists, and also, on many occasions, interested parties are turned away.
Last minute cancellations most often cannot be filled.
Thank you for your understanding.
We schedule one-on-one private classes with our artists, and private group classes and parties. Please call for details.... 239-283-6006 and talk to Peggy.
Throughout the year, art classes and workshops are being taught at WildChild Gallery. By popular request, many different types of classes are being offered - from creating fish out of clay, wood or paper maché, painting, jewelry making or designing baskets from pine needles.
We specialize in small groups - "Girls' Night Out," a bridal shower/party, or other events. If you are interested in learning new art techniques, or experiencing something new, please call to participate or schedule a workshop or class. Contact the Gallery at(239)-283-6006 at least two weeks in advance to allow the instructor time to prepare. Invite your family and friends! Most of the instructors allow for individual classes or up to six participants per class.
If you're looking for a certain medium of art, just ask! We have 114 Florida artists that show in the gallery, many of whom are interested in offering classes and teaching people more about their artwork.
Follow the links provided on each of the media to take you to more information on how you and others can join in on the fun!
NOTE: Workshops and classes are non-refundable. They may be re-booked with a minimum 3 days advance notice. Materials and supplies are bought in advance by the artists, and also, on many occasions, interested parties are turned away. Last minute cancellations most often cannot be filled. Thank you for your understanding.
Classes and Workshops Calendar
click on arrow to advance
Ann Schroeder's "Garden Sprite" Class
Lenea Howe and her Paper Clay
Fishie Fishie Workshop
Fine Silver Class with Artist Lindy Holt
Creating Paper Clay "Fish" with Artist Lenea Howe
Taught by our Professional Artists at WildChild
click on class to learn more....
Essential Oils - with Tammy Osiecki
Pine Needle Basketry with Kathryn Erickson
Sewing and Quilting with Jeanne Workman
Photography Class with Joanne Smith
Photography Class with Cindy Cone
Chainmaille Classes with Sallie DeWitt
Faux Metal Plate Class with Sallie DeWitt
Painted Furniture with Pam Montag
Rubber Stamping with Sallie DeWitt
Big Brush Painting with Peter Humeniuk
Mini Painting Workshops with Peter Humeniuk
Garden Sprites Sewing Class with Ann Schroeder
Fairy Houses #101 with Peggy McTeague
Fairy Houses #102 with Peggy McTeague
Fairy Houses #103 with Peggy McTeague
Fairy Houses #104 with Peggy Mc Teague
"Learning How toPrice Your Artwork" with Peggy McTeague
"How to Get Gallery Representation" with Peggy McTeague
Fingerpainting for the Heart and Soul with Peggy McTeague
Glass Bead Making (beginners)
Beginner's Jewelry Making
Pint-Sized Picassos- Kids Art Classes
Open Painting Days
Paint Along Arty Parties (minimum 5 people)
Clay Button Making with Peggy McTeague
Clay Bead Making with Peggy McTeague
Acrylic Painting Class One-on-One (1-6 people) with Peggy or Lenea
"Do Dad & Do Dis" with Peggy McTeague
Funky Wire and Beads Garden Sculptures with Peggy McTeague
"Out of a Box...and Into a Box" with Peggy McTeague
Contact the Gallery to schedule your Class!
Wild Child Art Gallery
Fine Art -Artists at work in the "Heart of Matlacha"
Original Fine Art & Jewelry- Voted Best Art Gallery in Matlacha


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In a long Facebook post, Geraldo Rivera alleged that the PBS series "Frontline" is doing an exposé of News Corp., the company that owns Fox News and has been mired in the phone hacking scandal.
The Fox News correspondent described an extremely tense dinner meeting with former colleague Lowell Bergman, the journalist who produced the famous exposé of tobacco companies for "60 Minutes." Rivera's account took the form of a long caption accompanying a picture of himself.
In it, Rivera said that Bergman began to question him about the British phone hacking scandal rocking News Corp. and then "dropped a bomb": that his journalism students at UC Berkeley were working with ProPublica reporters to dig up dirt on the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News. None of those News Corp. properties have been implicated for phone hacking.
Bergman reportedly asked him for help getting an insider to talk about "derogatory information about News Corp" on record. Rivera said he denied knowing anything about phone hacking, and had never heard about it at Fox News.
But the conversation took a turn for the worse when Bergman said his students were working hard to speak to someone at the network. Rivera wrote:
Now glaring back at the indefatigable Mr. Bergman, I asked, "Are you threatening me?" which he denied, then I said, "Let me get this straight. You are the most left-wing reporter in television news, a Berkley professor no less, and you're working with ProPublica, the most hard-left reporters' group in the business, and you're going to air your documentary on Public Television, and you expect me to convince my colleagues at Fox News that you're going to give us a fair-shake? Give me a break."
Rivera also reported seeing a "Frontline" van outside his office on Tuesday. "I hope they're not hacking my phone," he wrote.


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Email isn't going away. It's here to stay. In the same vein, email newsletters are becoming more popular (and more important) than ever.
If you're wanting to reach potential (and existing) customers, newsletters are a great way to spread your message to a large audience — whether it be upcoming projects, company news, and other business-related information. Also, it's super cost effective.
In this tutorial I'm going to walk you through how to create your own email newsletter template in Adobe Photoshop, and we're going to be using some common design patterns that I've found to be very effective.
After you've completed this design process, you'll be ready to code and style this template. Here's a link to the post on coding an email newsletter. Let's go!
The Final Product
Here's an image of what the email newsletter will look like, when we're done with the design phase:
1. Getting Started
So, as a general rule of thumb, it's best to design your newsletter with a fixed width instead of a fluid/liquid layout. Don't know the difference? This article should clear it up. This will prevent horizontal scroll bars, resulting from not using the full width of the screen. Design your newsletter with a width of around 550-600px and make sure the important information is within the top 300-500px of height as this is the size of an average "preview pane" in most desktop email clients.
2. Setting up the Document in Photoshop
Open up Photoshop and create a new document with a width of 800px and a height of 1000px with a resolution of 72dpi. Be sure the color mode is RGB.
For the background I filled it with a light gray. I created a container 600px wide to house the main content. I chose to fill it with white and positioned it in the center of the document.
3. Allow the user to view the email in the browser of their choice
I added this notice to the top of the newsletter using the Myriad Pro font, 10pt size. It's important to give people plenty of options of how to view your email as some email clients might not download images from an email by default. To improve accessibility, always include a link to view the email newsletter in a web browser.
4. Create the Email Newsletter Header
In this tutorial I'm creating an email newsletter called The Pet Digest to compliment my new blog called The Pet Anthology. The goal is to keep interested readers up to date with the latest goings on through a weekly bundle, delivered to subscribers. Since the branding on my blog has already been established, choosing the fonts, color, and graphics of my newsletter should be easy.
The above image is the header of the blog. I'm going to retain the look and feel while making only slight modifications. I start by selecting and dragging the mascot over into the newsletter template. From there I grab the name and slogan and drag them onto the new document as well. With some minor revisions to the text, the newsletter looks like this:
The fonts I used were: Slab Tall X for the words Pet Digest, Champagne & Limousines for the words Our Weekly Bundle, and Learning Curve for the.
5. Create the main part of the newsletter
Start by creating another rectangle that's 600px wide under the header and extend it close to the bottom of the page.
I then gather the content that will be featured in the coming weeks newsletter. Again, borrowing the design attributes already laid out in my blog The Pet Anthology, I create the heading using Museo Sans, drag and drop in the main image as well as copy and paste the article text. A dotted border placed underneath will separate each article field.
I then duplicate the first entry twice and move them down to fill out the rest of the spots for this newsletter. I'll place the new content in the duplicated spots shortly.
Using guides, I insert the remaining two entries and erase the duplicated content.
6. Add Social Links
I want to include an area for social network and RSS icons, as well as the ability to let the subscriber share the newsletter with friends. I start by creating a rectangle 252px wide and include text to encourage the subscriber to follow us. I use these social network icons, changing the colors around to reflect my branding. Keeping in mind usability of e-newsletters I decide to keep things simple.
I then duplicate the rectangle and place it to the right, including the Share this with you friends text in the Museo font, on top.
7. Include a Footer
To wrap things up, I create the footer which will allow you to get in contact with me and a link allowing you to unsubscribe from the newsletter. Every newsletter needs to have a link or a button to allow the reader to freely unsubscribe from the newsletter if they want to.
That's it! Hopefully this tutorial gave you a good idea of how to design a functional email newsletter. Let me know if you have any comments or questions about the design process!
Once again, here's a link to the post on coding an email newsletter.


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in this section
Craig Fennie Interviewed at White House
AEP announces that Craig Fennie has been awarded a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). These awards are extraordinarily competitive and being named one is an indication of Craig's remarkable accomplishments and his exceptional future promise. The award was presented by President Obama recently at the White House. The awardees each spoke about their science while at the White House. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40MfN6lvhDc


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Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović as part of the "Supporting Syria and the Region" conference in London Feb. 4.
The sides expressed gratification with the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The mutual interest was expressed for the further development of economic cooperation, the implementation of energy, transport and infrastructure projects.
President Aliyev spoke about the current work on the implementation of the Silk Road and the Southern Gas Corridor projects.
During the conversation, the views on the mutual agreement in the implementation of joint projects were exchanged.
Follow Trend on Telegram. Only most interesting and important news


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|I found Rusty at a animal shelter and immediately knew he was my Baby Boy....that day was 12 years ago and from that beginning we were never apart. Rusty was my companion, confidant and most importantly my buddy. Rusty was a well traveled furbaby going anywhere and everywhere his Mom and Dad went. And he was such a good traveler. We miss Rusty so much. He was such a big part of our lives, especially around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, thats when Rusty would announce that it was nums time. He loved his food...boy did he love his food and treats. Rusty's favorite thing was eating and he did it well. Rusty has left such a hug void in our lives that could never be filled. It was so very hard to let him go. Even though he is gone we know he is happy and healthy in the Rainbow meadow with his food dish close and surrounded by all his new friends. Mom, Dad, Dutch and Abby send you our love, hugs and kisses. You are always in our hearts Rusty Man....Love you Baby Boy
Click here to Email Nita and Tim a condolence, or to send an E-sympathy pet memorial card click here.
Give a gift renewal of Rusty's residency
(by Credit Card, or PayPal)


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Christmas is perhaps the best time of the year to employ all your marketing know-how and really go in for the kill when it comes to your advertisement campaigns. Everyone is already on the search for presents, beauty treatments, dresses, hotel stays, spa days and the latest gizmos, so all you have to do is make sure what you're offering catches their eye before anyone else.
Here's how:
- Get found on Google
More and more people are heading online for their Christmas shopping, and Brits spent as much as £968 million on Cyber Monday alone this year, an increase from £720 million in 2014.
That's why it's important your business is the first they find when they Google what they're looking for. Preparation for this takes months, with careful SEO techniques employed to ensure you rank highly in online searches.
Tricks such as the right use of keywords, regular blog posts, and having a strong social media presence all help boost your rankings so start thinking about introducing these into 2016's marketing campaign to capitalise on next year's online shop.
- Produce Christmas content
As well as looking up gifts, people will be searching for Christmas-related videos, stories, images, recipes and so on. So make sure you have all the relevant copy on your site in time.
You might want to encourage your readers to bake something new for Christmas Day or remind them to book their fake tans for their festive parties. Whatever it is you want to sell this season, have blog copy, Facebook ads, landing pages with tips and hints, banners, and social media chat at the ready so you can give your potential customers what they want.
Christmastime isn't just about gifts and cards, and consumers spend a lot on all the frills over the holidays. That's why it's a good idea to have content that reminds them what they may need or want to make their Christmas stand out.
- Don't oversell
People spend a fortune at Christmas, with M&S revealing the average cost of Crimbo is £623, more than a third of which (£236) is on food and drink alone. Therefore, you can expect to receive a higher level of interest in your products and services than at other times during the year – because of this, it's worth easing up on the hard sell.
Consumers will come to you – especially if they have children and several expensive presents to buy – and they're more likely to take you seriously if you aren't pressurising them with one-time offers and guilt-ridden soundbites about treating their loved ones.
- Don't forget your mobile content
I know I can spend hours running around shops only to find myself clicking on my phone on the way home to find the presents I missed. Mobile-commerce is huge during the festive season, so if you have a site that crashes on mobile phones or content that cannot be easily seen on handheld devices, you are putting yourself at a huge disadvantage.
An IMRG report from February 2015 revealed 45% of e-commerce traffic in the UK is through smart phones and tablets, and this is sure to increase during Christmas as people (like me) panic search for gifts while they're out and about.
Not only should your site be easily viewed, but you should also produce mobile-friendly content – short blogs, articles with bullet points and headings, and features that don't have too many videos or images that will take a wile to download.
- Prepare for the new year
You might be getting into a Christmas frenzy as December gets underway, but don't forget the new year is just around the corner. That means you need to think about Boxing Day sales, New Year's resolutions, gym memberships and healthy eating plans (for your readers, not you).
The start of the year is when people cut back on their spending, so if you want them to sign up to your services or products, you need to really produce content that will encourage them to buy. January deals and prizes are therefore always popular, while your content should focus on things that consumers will be looking at – essentially, articles that give them tips on how to detox, get fitter and healthier, look better and younger, and save money for the next year.
- Think about Christmas 2016
You might not be buying your 2016 gifts just yet (although, I have to admit I do get a few bargains in the New Year sales!), but it's not a bad idea to write down ideas you may have for next Christmas' campaign.
There's always so much to do around the festive season, so making sure you're organised, you start your strategy early, and introduce Yuletide stories in drips will mean your marketing for Christmas 2016 could be your best yet.
If you want help with your Christmas 2015 or 2016 campaign and need a copywriter to produce top-quality blogs, features, landing pages, e-letters, social media outreach or print literature, get in touch with us today. It's not too late!
Natasha Al-Atassi
Read my thoughts and ideas on the latest search engine updates and copywriting trends that could improve your business marketing plans.
February 2018


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A film about those who are seeking peace in the mountain monasteries of Korea.
– IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WONHYO – The mountains have always been a refuge and haven for the Korean people. Before the coming of Buddhism, the spirits of the mountains were worshiped. They still live on in tiny shrines on the mountains and in the native shamanism, which still flourishes in Korea. It was in … Continue reading
Day 15: Arriving at a Sacred Spot, Realizing the End is the Beginning
Post 15, Dec. 18, 2011 "When sewing clothes, a short needle is needed, and a long spear is useless. To avoid the rain, a small umbrella is needed, and a cover that spans the entire sky is useless. Therefore, small things should not be regarded as trivial. Depending on their true nature, both small and … Continue reading
Day 14: Prelude to the Cave
Post 14, Dec. 17, 2011 "One who realizes that he is in delusion is not greatly deluded, and one who realizes that he is in darkness is not in total darkness." From Wonhyo's work. What does it mean? Sangmin sunim woke up the three of us in our cosy little room in Magok-sa temple about … Continue reading
Day 13: Cold Walk, Sharp Mind on the Road to Magok-sa
Post 13, Dec. 13, 2011 "Wisdom and Practice are like the two wheels of a cart. To benefit oneself and benefit others – these are like the two wings of a bird." From Wonhyo's work. Is it more important to benefit others rather than oneself? In the morning after breakfast at 6.00 am the abbot … Continue reading
Day 12: Tea at the Temple of Eternal Happiness
Post 11, Dec. 15, 2011 What is the best way to live, studying and practicing in a monastery or sharing your spiritual insights with others to help them? From story of Wonhyo's life. Sleeping in the Milano Hotel was a different experience from sleeping in temples and I began to realize how much I enjoyed … Continue reading
Day 11: Taking Care of the Body in Suanbo
Post 11, Dec. 14, 2011 "Who would not wish to dwell in the mountains and cultivate the mind? And yet you cannot do so, because you are enslaved to desire." Quote from Wonhyo's work. What keeps us from cultivating the mind? I woke up at 4 am to the piercing/empty tapping sound of a moukta … Continue reading
Day 10: A Journey to Find Wisdom
Post 10, Dec. 13, 2011, "Though diligent in practice, one who lacks wisdom is like one who travels west when he should go east." Quote from Wonhyo. How do we obtain wisdom? Today we split our forces. Chris and Rhea attempted to walk the 20 miles between Youngmun-sa temple and Gimyoung-sa temple, while I, suffering … Continue reading
Day 9: The Beaming Monk of Yongmun-sa
Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 "There is no benefit in nourishing an empty body that does not cultivate the mind, and a transient and futile life is difficult to preserve however much one tends to it." Quote from Wonhyo's work. What is the mind? How do we cultivate it? For what purpose? We asked that question … Continue reading
Day 8: A Feast on the Side of the Road
Post 8, Dec. 11, 2011-12-11 Can pain be used as a tool to develop spiritual insight? We arrived in the little town of Nam Myon Lee about 1:45 pm hungry and tired with a steep mountain climb ahead of us. We needed a restaurant badly for food and warmth but there was none in the … Continue reading
Day 7: Cultivating the Mind and Dealing with Pain
Post 7, Saturday Dec. 10, 2011 Wonhyo encouraged people to be free of preconceptions. How can one be free of preconceptions? How do they hurt us? David, the South African member of the Wonhyo Pilgrimage, had an opportunity to put into practice some of Wonhyo's Buddhist philosophy on the afternoon of Saturday December 10 as … Continue reading