text:
Bob Dodrill B.S.
Bob Dodrill has been with Rollprint for over 40 years, he also has over 53 years in flexible packaging industry. Mr. Dodrill received his chemical engineering degree from West Virginia University. He is a founding member of the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council, and currently holds a chair position on the council. Bob is also a board member of the Flexible Packing Association. He was inducted in the Packaging Hall of Fame in 2010 for his innovations, contributions, and active mentorship over the half a century he has been in the flexible packaging field.
Dhuanne Dodrill B.S.
Dhuanne Dodrill has over 30 years of experience in the flexible packaging industry and at Rollprint, Dhuanne has worked in a variety of technical, quality assurance, and management positions. She is the chair of ASTM's Committee F02 on Flexible Barrier Packaging, serves on the Board of Directors of the Flexible Packaging Association, is on the Executive Committee of the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council, is active with IoPP's Medical Packaging Task Group and AAMI Technical Committee 198, Sterilization, Working Group 7, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Summit Insurance. Dhuanne has her bachelors in chemical engineering with honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Doug Dodrill B.S.
VP of Technology
Doug Dodrill has been with Rollprint for over 30 years. He received his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Doug is a Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, a member of TAPPI, both on the Extrusion Coating Committee and running the Extrusion Coating short course. Doug's specialty is new product development and he has won numerous awards for his products including, 3 Highest Achievement Awards. He is also a speaker at many packaging events and has a patent pending.
Dwane Hahn B.S., M.S.
VP of Sales and Marketing
Dwane Hahn has been at Rollprint for over 20 years. He received his bachelors from Texas Tech University and his masters of science in technology commercialization at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas Austin, graduating at the top of his class. Dwane has helped lead Rollprint through the recession, exceeding growth expectations and revenue targets. Dwane also sits as top industry consultant for the Editorial Board of Healthcare Packaging. In addition, Dwane is an award-winning mentor for the McCombs Business School at University of Texas for a new tech product team and a a mentor for Texas Tech Kinetic Accelerator Program. He is also a member of Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and Internal Federation of Fly Fishers (IFFF).
Dr. Henk Blom M.S., Ph.D.
Director of Technical Services
Dr. Henk Blom has been with Rollprint for over 5 years, with over a decade of experience at Baxter Healthcare. He attended the University of Waterloo where he received his master's degree in inorganic chemistry and his doctorate in polymer chemistry and engineering. Dr. Blom is an active member of F02 (Flexible Barrier Materials) Committee of ASTM, he has served on the Board of Directors for 3 divisions of SPE (Medical Packaging, Failure Analysis and Prevention, and Flexible Packaging), and was most recently elected Chair of the Technical Committee of the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC). He also holds 3 patents, has written over 20 peer-reviews articles, and speaks at numerous conferences and webinars.
Joe Miceli
VP of Manufacturing
Joe Miceli has been the VP of Manufacturing for over 20 years and has over 35 years of experience at Rollprint. He began his career at Rollprint as the Quality Assurance Manager giving him unique insight into the needs and requirements of our customers in highly regulated industries. Joe is a member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and uses his expertise in lean manufacturing to help drive Rollprint's continuous improvement activities. Committed to giving back to the community, Joe is a Boy Scout Leader and also works with a Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club. In his free time he is a private pilot and also plays trumpet in a community band.
Mike Johnson B.S., M.B.A, CPA, CMA
Corporate Controller
Mike Johnson has over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, including 5 years at Continental Can Company and more than 10 years at Rollprint. With his extensive manufacturing experience, he has led many companies out of financial turmoil and back into a profitable state. He holds an accounting degree from Eastern Illinois University and a masters of business from DePaul University. Mike is a certified public accountant and certified management accountant. He is an active member of the Illinois CPA Society and Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).
Debra Kinder B.S., CQE, CRE
Director of Quality
Debra Kinder has been with Rollprint for over 5 years. Debra is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) from the American Society of Quality (ASQ). She has presented on her co-authored paper Using Cost of Quality Measures for Bottom Line Improvements at QuEST's Forum's 4th Annual Best Practices Conference with Avi Vaidya, Ph.D. She received her bachelors of science in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois.
User-Friendly Pouch For Dialysis Patients
Recessed, User-friendly Pouch Easy on Dialysis Patients


text:
6 Springtime Safety Tips for Pool Fun
03/28/2017 | Categories: Pool Fun
With the weather really starting to heat up over the next couple of months, everyone will soon be seeking an oasis to cool off and relax in. Spring is the best time of year to make your list of springtime safety tips for children and adults alike. Below is our list of common no-nonsense water safety tips that will keep everyone's time in and around the pool fun and enjoyable:
No Phones Allowed
It's so easy for us as parents and guardians to become distracted by our smartphones these days, but even those few seconds that you may take to look away to check a text message could be deadly. If you absolutely must have your phone nearby, keep a strict "hands off!" policy for yourself and only answer it when necessary.
Tie Up Long Hair
Here's one of the least considered springtime safety tips: long hair. Long hair can pose a serious threat to the safety of children and adults alike as it can become entrapped and entangled in drains, pipes, or anything else that may be in or on the pool. If you or a child has long hair, tie it up securely prior to him or her entering the pool.
When Lightning Strikes, Get Out Of The Pool
If you hear any thunder or see lightning off in the distance, take that as a warning to get up and out of the pool. Water can act as a conductor for electricity, so you could be in danger of electrocution if lightning strikes anywhere in your vicinity.
Don't Forget The Sun Block
Here in South Texas, the blistering UV rays from the sun can begin to damage the skin within a few mere minutes. Sun safety for kids and adults is just as important as water safety, particularly with skin cancer being on the rise. Take the time to choose a high quality sun block and apply it to yourself and your kids 30 minutes prior to going out and enjoying the pool (this ensures that the sunscreen has had time to be absorbed into the skin so it won't come off in the pool).
Invest In SPF Swimsuits and Swim Shirts
Here's another great tip for sun safety for kids: swimsuits with SPF built right into the material! A number of bathing suits are now made with a built in SPF of 30 or higher. Also always try to encourage children to wear t-shirts (and if they're SPF shirts, all the better!) when in the pool.
Have a First Aid Kit Handy
Our last of the springtime safety tips is to always have a fully stocked first aid kit near the pool (and make sure it's fully stocked!). Time is of the essence when an injury occurs. This can help fully take care of minor injuries and prevent the worsening condition of a major one.
As the leading pool builder in Brazos Valley, Sunshine Fun Pools builds more than 100 pools each year while maintaining a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating. Founded in 2005, Sunshine Fun Pools specializes in custom pool design and quality construction, pool remodeling and pool maintenance services.
Call Sunshine Fun Pools today if you are looking for a professional, qualified customer pool builder in the Bryan College Station area. For more Bryan College Station pool design tips, subscribe to their blog and YouTube Channel or 'Like' them on Facebook. You can also read their customer reviews to learn more about the exceptional services they provide.
Ready to get started on your own backyard oasis? Contact the Bryan College Station pool experts at Sunshine Fun Pools today!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I floated in amniotic liquid in my mom's womb, duh.
Major getting thru, push out.
Lots of skirmishing, leg and arm thrashing,
often hollering, thus fortifying my lungs.
Walking. Running. Jumping. Kicking. Tree climbing. Hide&seeking.
Primary school P.E. calisthenics. Military instruction.
Learning swimming or bike riding forbidden as deadly dangers,
life-threatening activities, dictated mother.
Two years of amateurish modern dance classes.
Disco. Walking for hours into the woods and hills of my hometown,
then hiking rocky cliffs national monuments.
Dancing, daily one-hour fitness working on my poster-girl image.
Sex life starts. Sex life starts. Sex life starts.
Long distance running attempt ended with scary gall bladder/liver pains.
Awful sexual transgressions perpetrated upon her while running away to the big city. Gang rape.
Stops dancing, stops walking about; movement confined within the sacred space of theater hall. Exercises abs and face muscles for perfect voice, diction and projection.
The body is just a launching pad for her voice.
Bored with same daily drilling exercises.
Lots of carrying possessions, moving, suitcases.
Sex, marriage, pregnancy. Sex, pregnancy. Sex, pregnancy.
Strenuous 8-10 kilometer walks around the lake dragged
by well-meaning cuckoo husband.
Birth giving, shattering pain.
Holding the baby, pushing the stroller.
Sex again. Cuckoo husband attacks!
Again possessions, suitcases, running for dear life.
Crossing the border to a better country, a larger city. Divorce.
Learns swimming. Finds it demanding, so unlike romantic movies.
Prefers lazing in hot thermal water, but French boyfriend and son need lively company every second evening in the swimming pool.
Carrying journalistic bags filled with papers and tape recorders.
Experimental Sex Academy Frenchman. Goes on for three good years.
Boxes, suitcases. Gone to America. Louisiana.
Again pushing, shoving furniture.
Real photo camera. Nights of excited standing oblivious in the darkroom.
Learns to ride a bike. Joyful feeling of freedom ends in fear when thugs honking, bike falls, knee injury.
Learns driving, speeding. Road rage thugs on the highway. Stops driving.
Boxes, furniture. East Coast. New Jersey Desert.
Sex, theater, sex, theater, darkroom pictures.
Pushing, carrying, pushing, carrying. New York City!
Meets salsa maestro who insists on dancing. Hilarious failing attempt.
Sex profuse.
Pushing, carrying possessions. Fighting him back in ambushes/matches of jealousy, street performance! Boxing. Jostling. Police presence, referee.
Sex forbidden as deadly danger, life threatening activity, dictated AIDS.
Pushing, carrying possessions. Pushing, carrying possessions. Furniture.
Metabolism change? Delayed maturity?!
Body eats, eats, loading 20 extra pounds.
Attempts to exercise irregular. Lazing on Brighton Beach sand.
Walking along the waves barefoot.
Knee injury painful.
Tendency to clutter space
to avoid her body's needs for movement, expression.
Hanging out with selfish dancers for body awakening purposes.
Sex still forbidden as deadly danger, life-threatening activity, thus lots of artsy sublimation.
Fancying a man again. Terrified of herself on video screen.
Fasting. Shedding 10 pounds in two months.
Disillusion. Putting back 15 pounds.
Disturbing couch potato tendencies.
Gardening. Walking in Central Park.
Shoving, pushing suitcases, camera, on international trip to Motherland.
Back from Motherland: donating, donating boxes of possessions to charities.
Meets less selfish dancer who makes her do monkey dances with him.
Gets Rec. Center membership. Buys her first pair of sneakers.
Goes to physician for knee injury clarification.
Danger of amputation? Nah, paranoia.
Swimming. Gym. Muscle machines. Dancing. Endorphins.
Deep deep sleep. Swinging in the hammock of summer.
Why not decades ago swim, dance, deep deep sleep? Well, now.
Awake. Alive.
©2008-2016 Ella Veres ArtVentures
Updated on March 5, 2016


text:
By Ollie Irish
Yet another graceless reaction to a defeat by JT (and Didier Drogba, who is another bad loser extraordinaire).
Instant reaction to Inter's 1-0 win? Chelsea played a very poor match tonight. Inter were more disciplined, more incisive, more deserving; they were also cynical and sly and wasted time whenever possible, but that's Serie A for you. I thought Wesley Sneijder and Javier Zanetti were quite brilliant for the visitors. Conversely, for Chelsea, the likes of Frank Lampard and supersub Joe Cole were terrible.
Time for Chelsea to clear out some old furniture. Michael Ballack, that means you – the German was even worse than Lampard and Cole.


text:
Documenting the impact of one's services has taken on added urgency in an addiction service system that is demanding unprecedented accountability. Nowhere does the gap between what is being routinely asked for and what is traditionally delivered appear greater than in the realm of recovery support services.
As Curtiss Kolodney writes in the introductory text to his Recovery Measures website, "Often the only information we have about people who visit recovery community centers is found on the sign-in sheet at the door."
Having had experience during his own recovery with recovery support functions (his many roles in the field have included house manager in a sober residence and program manager for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery), Kolodney has developed an accessible software package allowing recovery support organizations to assess the impact of their programs and the progress of their clients.
Kolodney recalls the lack of reinforcement he received in the earliest days of his recovery, a journey that began around 10 years ago.
"Six months into my recovery, I was miserable," Kolodney says. "Oftentimes somebody just needs someone else to tell them, 'You really are doing well.'"
And it helps to have data to back that up. Recovery Measures, which Kolodney says seven service agencies of different types in the addiction and recovery community are now using, offers organizations ready access to Internet surveys and reports addressing individuals' quality of life and "recovery capital" resources.
Kolodney says this will allow recovery support programs to begin talking specifics about the impact of the services they provide. His website states, "Applying for funding becomes difficult when all we really have is a 'sense' of how things are going."
Especially in the area of recovery support services and recovery housing, he adds, organizations also need a common language for discussing outcomes and benchmarking performance. Even for a question such as how many individuals came in for services in a given month, organizations diverge in how they calculate those numbers. "We need a common vernacular in order to make comparisons," Kolodney says.
Kolodney has contributed to the field in numerous ways since getting into recovery, in both the treatment and recovery support arenas. His work background also includes time spent in a managed care organization, where he helped to develop interventions to reduce medical spending.
Recovery Measures requires only Microsoft Office software for participants. A one-time payment and a monthly fee for support are charged to each customer.


text:
The Good Pub Guide recently announced its annual round-up of the UK's top pubs, naming 13 of the best places to have a pint or Sunday roast in the country.
Each year, the travel guide's editors reward pubs based on their "consistent excellence," according to The Good Pub Guide website.
Pubs are awarded across a range of categories from the range of drinks and the quality of food on offer to accommodation and customer service.
Here are the best pubs to visit in the country:


text:
May, 2017: Back to work
The Tallow Terrors resumed work Monday after a two month hiatus to let the birds procreate. Five enthusiastic TTs did excellent work…Phil Boyer, Steve Rice, Brian Burtnik, Whitey Carpenter, and Ed Conant. They were rained on, but it stopped after 15 minutes and they had a productive day. The photo shows the nearly dried out but happy Steve Rice and Brian Burtnik standing next to the pile of dead Tallows placed next to the curb for County pickup.They worked at 27 and 29 Little Comfort Road and eliminated 115 Tallows, including some seed bearers and many immature trees between 6 and 15 feet in height. There is one large seed bearer they did not get to at #27, but they'll take it down at a later date.The Tallow Terrors running total is now 35,664.It was good to be back cutting Tallows!


text:
DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights was established in 1993 and since then has remained the only organisation in Botswana dealing with all aspects of human rights. We are proud to say we have won several awards for our work since 1993.
We work to advocate for changes in laws, policies and practices, and to raise public awareness of rights and responsibilities. We also provide paralegal services to those earning less than the minimum wage.
We work in partnership with other rights-focused organisations in Botswana, such as those focusing on gender equality or the rights of those affected by HIV/AIDS. Complementing the work of our partners, we focus on issues least supported by others, including the Basarwa / San (Bushmen), sexual minorities and domestic workers. We have a specific Children's Rights Programme and an Outreach Programme in Kasane, northern Botswana, and conduct campaigns on issues such as abolition of the death penalty in Botswana and the development and rights issues related to the relocation of the Basarwa / San from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Our website includes an overview of current human rights issues in Botswana, a guide to residents' rights and responsibilities, information about sources of help for violations of rights, publications and press releases and information about DITSHWANELO.


text:
We are eager to help associations make the most of their association's training budget.
Madison, WI (PRWEB) May 27, 2015
Omnipress, provider of educational content solutions for associations, is pleased to present a comprehensive infographic and case study that effectively communicate its services. Omnipress can help associations with print on demand, order fulfillment, online training materials, inventory management, and an online storefront to offer both printed course books and digital resources (PDFs/eBooks) for purchase.
In the new infographic, which can be found on Omnipress' blog, survey statistics are cited. Many survey respondents (41%) told us, for example, that they struggle with managing the costs of printing continuing education materials. The top three challenges that associations face when producing materials for on-site continuing education training programs, as the survey respondents indicated, are also shown.
"We are eager to help associations make the most of their association's training budget," says Product Director Dan Loomis. "In addition to saving our customers money, we help them reclaim staff time and reduce frustration. That way, associations have more human and financial resources to spend on mission-critical work."
An example helps to illustrate how Omnipress can help associations save time and money. Omnipress customer International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, also known as (ISC)2, experienced a 60% cost reduction in printing and shipping of course materials after they started working with Omnipress. Download the case study to read the (ISC)2 story.
# # #
About Omnipress
Omnipress helps organizations produce and deliver educational resources for learners.
Products Include:
-- Print on Demand
-- Order Fulfillment
-- Custom Kitting
-- Inventory Management
-- Online Training Materials
-- USB & CD Production
Our customers rely on us for our nearly 40 years of dedicated customer-service and undisputed dependability.


text:
Making STEMM pay: realising a bright engineering idea to turn a profit
Innovation and Enterprise Lecture
Tuesday, 26 September 2017, 7pm to 9pm
President and founder of Johnson Research and Development Co., Lonnie Johnson will share his journey on how to a take an idea and make it work, his top tips for success and share insights on his personal journey.
Lonnie Johnson is an American inventor and engineer who holds more than 80 patents, and is best known for inventing the Super Soaker water gun, which has ranked among the world's top 20 best-selling toys every year since its release, generating close to one billion dollars in sales.
Lonnie holds a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering, and an honorary Ph.D. in Science from Tuskegee University. After a period at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lonnie joined the U. S. Air Force, serving as Acting Chief of the Space Nuclear Power Safety Section at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has subsequently held positions within NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on the Mars Observer project and Saturn Orbiter missions, and has been awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal on two different occasions.
Presently, Lonnie is president and founder of Johnson Real Estate Investments, LLC and Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc., a technology development company, and its spin off companies, Excellatron Solid State, LLC; Johnson Electro- Mechanical Systems, LLC, which both currently develop revolutionary energy technology.
Articles on Lonnie Johnson have appeared in numerous publications including Time Magazine, the New York Times, and Inventor's Digest. Johnson serves on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Alliance for Children, an organization which serves as an informed and influential voice to protect the rights and interests of Georgia's less fortunate children. He is a Board member of the Hank Aaron "Chasing the Dream" Foundation, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Commonwealth National Bank
Register here (attendance is free): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/making-stemm-pay-realising-a-bright-engineering-idea-to-turn-a-profit-tickets-37618542072
7pm Lonnie's Talk
8pm Networking plus Drinks & Nibbles
9pm Close


text:
A release has appeared!!
A release has appeared!!
Happy 4.013 Years of MangaIchi!
Continue reading 4.013 Years Anniversary – RELEASE #307 & Release #308 – Rengoku no Karma Chapter 13 & 14
Moar Karma!
Who is the sixth person…? Continue reading Release #289 – Rengoku no Karma Chapter 12
The next chapter of this awesome dark series is here!!
Another new release ~
Good evening everyone,
Chapter 8 of Rengoku no Karma is he~re!
Hello there! We have two new releases for you and a new project that we are picking up. This project was something the staff wanted and has worked on for a while now since the big Christmas release. We hope you enjoy this series as much as we do. We really need more cleaners and redrawers to help work on our projects and ensure faster releases!
Without further ado, releases are after the jump!
Credits: kai, Chairo, bluesky, Psychorhythm, Mitsuru-kun
Continue reading Releases #261 & 262 – Rengoku no Karma Chapters 6 & 7!


text:
Situated on the east coast of Australia, Sydney is the capital of the State of New South Wales and the country's largest city, though not its capital (that's Canberra). Sydney was the site of the first white settlement in Australia, being originally established in 1788 as the centre of a British penal colony, though the country's original inhabitants, the Koori people, have been in Australia for over 60,000 years. Famous today for its Harbour and Opera House, Sydney was the host of the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics.
There is, of course, an inevitable Australian slant to many of Bikwil's features. For example, people, events, places, TV and radio programmes are frequently referred to in an Aussie context. There'll be a bit of local slang here too. Email us if you ever want explanations. It's always interesting to see how well or poorly travelled certain phrases and concepts from Down Under really are.
And if you are at home with North American spellings you may find that some words look odd at first, but it doesn't take too long to become acclimatised. The same applies to dates: day/month/year is the order in Australia, a convention which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that northern and southern hemisphere seasons are six months out of sync.


text:
Food Around Us
Trust us. We understand there are a plethora of super important amenities when it comes to coworking – food being at the top of that list. Enjoy a list of some of the best spots around us for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks!
Cafe Kacao
Cafe Kacao is known for their amazing Latin Cuisine. Their Desayuno (breakfast) is served all day, everyday! You can snag some of the best Huevos Rancheros you've ever had – or try a different traditional Guatemalan dish like the Desayuno Chapin. P.S. if you're in the mood for french toast.. Cafe Kacao serves up some of the best there is! It's a quick 4 minute car drive from Halcyon Works.
3325 N Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
The Red Cup
This place is an OKC staple. It's described on Google as "Hip cafe with front porch serving vegan & vegetarian dishes & pastries in art-filled ambiance." It really is just that! Breakfast is served until 2:30pm. Two of our favorites are the oats or the veggie scramble! And their espresso will get you hopped up for that work session back at Halcyon. It is also about a 4 minute car drive from Halcyon Works.
3122 N Classen Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Picasso Cafe
Their slogan "Great food is an art" is no joke. Everything on Picasso's menu is delish. Right around the corner from us, Picasso offers everything from health-conscious, made-from-scratch meals to tequila, we want everyone to feel like they have a seat at our table. Picasso is a 5-minute walk from the office.
3009 Paseo
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Sauced on Paseo
Pizzzzzzza. Sauced is where the pizza is, people. Snag one of their specialty pies or you can order an entire platter of cheesy breadsticks (we won't judge you) – they're amazing! But, don't come back to Halcyon without some. It's a quick 6-minute walk or 2-minute bike ride from Halcyon Works.
2912 Paseo
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Prairie Gypsies
You don't have to walk far to snag lunch from our favorite gypsies! Prairie Gypsies are the queens of carryout. They prepare a delicious daily entrée serving and soup – both available, Monday through Saturday. You can give them a call – or take a 30 second walk over to find out what they're serving up!
411 NW 30th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Paseo Grill
If you're meeting a partner or loved one for dinner after a big day at Halcyon – Paseo Grill features classic American cuisine with an international flair! You can get the very best of land & sea with their prime steak and fresh fish selection. Their dishes are best accompanied with the top-rated wines that have been hand picked to compliment your meal. The Paseo Grill has been a staple in the district for 11 years! It's just a 2-minute car ride from the office.
2909 Unit A Paseo
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
The Other Room
On the flipside of Picasso's – there is The Other Room! Great for meeting some friends for after-work drinks. You can snag an appetizer from Picasso's or just soak up their patio for the evening.
3009 Paseo
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
The Pump
Tater tots and tiki drinks, anyone? The Pump is the spot for all of the above. They've got a great patio, great drinks and yummy food. Take a friend and soak up the atmosphere after work! Just a quick 2-minute drive from Halcyon Works.
2425 N Walker Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73103


text:
Emergency Response
Dana Smith, Commissioner
Dutchess County Emergency Response Offers Autumn Safety Tips for the Community
With autumn fast approaching, more and more people in the area will be enjoying the change of the leaves and the cooler temperature. Unfortunately, some autumn–related weather activities such as hiking and camping, turning the furnace back on, and cleaning the chimney do present their share of hazards. To help ensure everyone in the community enjoys a safe autumn, the Department of Emergency Response offers the following tips and suggests you post them where they are likely to be seen by your family members and co-workers.
Chimney maintenance is vital to your family's safety.
As you take in the fall's beautiful scenery, think ahead, be prepared, and stay safe.
Most important of all, remember to call 911 in the event of an emergency.
Watch out for family pets as you prepare for the cold, festive days of fall.


text:
I know why the caged bird sings. But I wish I didn't.
The following review is about the bonus story in volume one of "Portrait of M & N". We'll save that for a different day, as I have a lot I want to say and I don't want to be distracted by the masochism and narcissism. Instead, we'll be looking at "A Girl In A Birdcage".
I've been holding onto this review for years. I bought M&N in Israel, and I thought the primary story decent enough. Now, I have some issues.
However, when I read the bonus story, I was horrified. Keep in mind, this was a number of years ago, and I wasn't really the amazing reviewer you see before you. Yet even then I could sense that I was going to hate this. As such, I wrote up a separate review and put it aside for later.
It is now later.
Problem is, it doesn't really fit what I want to say. Maya Angelou died today, so obviously I want to insert "caged bird" references.
And then there's the killings. That's what this is really about. I want to mostly blast the main character. It's time to shut up and start talking.
We have Kobato, just your average high school girl. She gets forced into a relationship with Roger, but that's not his name. I don't want to call him by his name, because he offends me. If you can't find him in the manga, here's a clue: He's the only other male character there. Roger forces Kobato to date him, alienating her from her female classmates and possible boyfriends.
Now, in the poem "Caged Bird" by the late and great Angelou, the caged bird sings for freedom. Kobato likens herself to a caged bird throughout the story, feeling isolated from the world.
This is the first problem with the story. There's no way to put Roger and Kobato together without being entirely wrong. Here are some ways Roger shows his "love":
-Chasing her
-Leaning over her in a way that looks like he'll rape her if she moves
-Literally telling her, "Until you answer me, I'm not letting you go."
-Forcing her to come home, making her feel "horror, anxiety, regret, sadness, etc.", as if those weren't enough.
-Screaming at her if she calls any other guys good looking
-Literally trying to rape her
Roger, Edward Cullen is the wrong role model. And that's my obligatory Twilight comparison.
This could have been a story about the perils of guys like Roger, since he's so obviously abusive. Well it isn't. Instead, Kobato starts falling for him.
Stockholm Syndrome. Dammit.
She is a caged bird, but since she starts seeing he's awkward, that makes him cute!
"It certainly is a small bird cage… but the food may be pretty tasty." Dammit, dammit, dammit. BUY A HAMSTER!
Kobato tells Roger that she tried to give Valentine Chocolates to her teacher in grade school, but a bully chased her and Kobato fell down the stairs. Remember, one character in this story is male. In the hospital, Kobato met a sweet boy who couldn't speak, but he was a great comfort. One male character.
Of course, it turns out that Roger was a fat kid and that he was the bully who hospitalized Kobato. Kobato's faceless brother forced him to leave when he put two and two together (THANK YOU), and Roger's family moved away. Now he's back to beat up Kobato some more! Then Roger says something to his classmates that is so obnoxious that it somehow turns into sound and penetrates my brain:
"I was fat and nobody liked me, so what? Does it make you happy that I used to be that way?! You are superficial fence sitters. Conformists! YOU are the ones too ugly to look at."
I see. Don't worry, there's plenty more out there like you. They're called cretins. No fence sitting there, pal.
So Kobato goes to cheer Roger up, but he tells her she can do what she wants. Hey, maybe Roger finally learned the difference between real love and Hollywood love.
Oh, um… Kobato is drawing chocolate around her mouth.
Hey, uh, Kobato, he let you leave. Be smart, Kobato.
Well, now they're together under a curtain, naked. Wonderful, just wonderful. It can't get worse can it?
Oh. Last page. Um… It's a "future vision". Roger has a bundle and arrows, while Kobato is by the birdcage with eggs in her lap. THEY GOT MARRIED? Come on! How are these two fit for each other? Hollywood ending protest aside, she got abused by him during childhood and as a teenager, so you married him?
Wait. Why would either of them have condoms? Who knows if they even know how to apply…
It's pandering sludge like this that fills heads with the wrong ideas. Granted, it's only a bonus story, but Portrait of M & N isn't exactly different. Only marginally better. But that's still not good.
The caged bird sings for freedom, but that's not why Kobato sang. She sang for imprisonment. She thought that she wanted to make her own decision, but why do that when men can do that so much better? No, clearly women should depend on the sanity of strange men.
See, we joke about Twilight because the notion of love is insane there, that any woman would want love that way. The problem is that it's true. Oh, not that we should accept love from people who hurt and abuse us, no sir. But the fact is that many people think that the expression "you only hurt the ones you love" is true. That is even more false than "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". You should still go to the doctor, especially if he tells you that he wants to cut apples out of your diet.
And the truth is, the author said this about the reaction to her story:
"One of the most common comment was 'I would love to be fiercely loved like Kobato was.'"
And yes, like Twilight, the author is a woman. Do they really view love this way? Not women, I meant psychotic authors who should help the world instead of destroying it. Love is hard to describe for all people, but "he wants to hurt me" should never be the answer.
I know why the caged bird sings. And it makes me want to cry.


text:
Key Ingredients: Chia Seed Oil, Prickly Pear seed oil, Baobab seed oil, Vit E, Evening Primrose, Frankincense & Lavender essential oil.
Directions for use: After cleansing, simply warm 2-3 drops of Night Nectar onto your fingertips. Lightly press onto the face, neck and décolletage. Massage in an upward motion whilst deeply inhaling the calming scent of Lavender and warming Frankincense.


text:
The best writing in the world, period. There is proof.
Nov. 15, 2002
volume i, issue vi
sometimes the rhythmic pulse giggles through my minds. i float mysteries through my pleasant cruise, ploy the wheel and pretend.
truth it do be told in shadows of the words you attempt to avoid. loosely held words fall right into my mess of a carry nation. right onto my confession. poor confession. mean confession. no words do justice to the nailed palms justice of manstupid
creature spitting manic causative relics functionally less despondent creatoids nor rising semblance of slightly tittilating secondary germanic-type human tribes that we resemble. qualitative measures of self inspect nets zero. certifiably disengenuous rotations of thought forcefully share non screen personnel pursing lips. pout. me too. mee to.
at another peer, clueless one anothers skinny breezing tightly. puzzle tempered mommys for jeezus love me too. but in the plot versus attitude wars nothing is winning. back to work, dreadfully. i try not to have little problems about me. i will deny my self. die with the rest of you. try to look past crooked founds and use nouns instead of the abstract bending of your spine. in the calm current pictures of separation let them be, let them be themselves. let them find illumination in mankindling.
let's consider the consequences.
let's count. something. our blessings. they suggest. shock. cripples. come again. yes. i'm a player of many returns. i forget easily. i fight endlessly. not endlessly but, you know, inspiration is one part reaffirmation, nine parts death. save. save the indians. they will make their triumphant return and i will be their ancestors - in law. in peace. i can smoke with the particles of sin.
let's quantify our results. they abridge our attempts. they become one with all and forever fill your needs. or at least my fruit baskets are never eaten conveying joy and surprising juxtaposition one nation underwhelmed by leaders trip over that cliff, you lemmings. humph.
let's have many sappy returns nappily given and attired. let's crease things under foot, save a nickle, miss your prime. never fear the retarded sense, the natural worded coiffure for the ages. never mind a failure. a topsy conclusion. a bad clarification day.
never use the word "splay".
i'm warning you.
and within that warning becomes the infinite. the hard crested shells of your ambitions splayed out before you and inedible. rotten for years. or what years become when they are no longer with us. much like alabasters and cream which is a good flavor for sour mashers.
what's the point?
the big God's stare is blankly staring on cattle being caressed by crows on their way to the abbatoir. don't ask me why you are bitch-slapped from here to eternity. that is why you cower in the corner with the primer for 'or'... buy a big house and will your lot to able.
if i were to take any cake i made and baked it better... this is a promise. do not believe it. travailutionary. translate inception. score heavily on the oh sigh leaves me factor. we will slow down now, again, and look at things. dot. dot. dot.
trees rustle cattle and hang from the moon where the cup and the spoon have run away with mable. mable, it seems, had stolen the fakes, and left town with the assistant production. this did not stop the show. it still smiles smartly on the landscape forshadowing danger and rotting teeth - which die in life and thrive in their own shunt corners of planned escape later. but now, in this life, the director has decided to throw up his hands in despair for the maddening roar of serranno's piss-jesus. lest you forget, he will save you if you are easily distracted. that is a life lesson and should be taken with you to breeding parties and red sea skinny dipping. bring your reminiscenses of callow juice and fortune baked.
in the new life it's a modest emporium of clever silk laced handcuffs and wispy blow jobs. it licks tenderly on veins of superstition and drains freely through the fingers of desperation. it sips wine flavored testimonials to how you'll spend your night tomorrow if only you can reach yer wanna and have some left over for the mourning. i'd spend all night on this if i was disciplined by a round spectacled wearing crusading martinet. i'd hand in my paper in the morning and go out for coffee with bill the magical effuser. the f using son of a bitch might call me back and give me all his secrets of how to whip the willing and trip the fleecing. smack you in the face with this fishing expedition guide book. don't go back on your word to my figurative scene setting tarantula crawling. let me skip the life step into your spina bifida. don't reveal any monkeys to be. let yourself slip under the surface of this lake of jesus' pee. don't swim. revel. be happy shit. celebrate de cesspool. celebrate your disease. die of terminal laughter. don't go gently into that slaughter. or do. do unto you as you would have. you have no choice in the matter/doesn't matter anyway.
would you rather be pointless or have a 1932 map? you decide. because, after all, it's the year 2049 and you are dying of smiles. good for you. have a pleasant foreboding. don't forget the.
chi chi ©2002
caressed by crows
chi chi


text:
Luxury & Style
St Lucia
Friendship & Laughter
Attempts at Cooking
Sipping on Sparkling
The Team
To always celebrating life
"To travel is to unlock a little piece of your soul
every time you experience something new!" - TTC
Grand Room @ Raffles Hotel Tianjin
Underwater hotel room, Rangali Island, Maldives
Overwater Bungalow Suites, Four Seasons, Bora Bora.
Shangri-La Hotel Paris
Jade Mountain, Soufrière, St. Lucia
Lower Level of the Oceanside Pier, Southern California
J.K. Place Capri, Italy
Song Saa, Cambodia
Oh the Places we've been....
St Lucia
My husband and I visited St. Lucia for our Honeymoon and it was truly one of the most beautiful places we have ever been to. We took a helicopter ride from the St. Lucian airport to a landing pad about 10 minutes from the hotel which gave some of the most incredible views. We opted to do the all-inclusive adult resort (Sandals, Regency de La Toc) which did not disappoint. Our room even came with a butler which added such a nice touch to our vacation. They reserved a spot for us at the pool (with ocean view) every morning, helped with reservations and any type of transport when needed.
While we relaxed and played on the resort, we were both anxious to get out and truly see St. Lucia. We took a boat tour to Martinique, took a sunset tour (the most incredible sunset that truly looked like an artist was painting it) and took a jungle tour on the back of an open top jeep. Outside of the crazy St. Lucian drivers passing us, the jeep tour was by far our favorite! We got to stop and see some local towns, a banana plantation, snorkel, go inside a volcano and take a mud bath...which we were told was supposed to help our skin. (Ironically I've been told i look super young lately...so maybe it worked!!!) Then they took us down the road to wash it off under a natural waterfall....probably one of the coolest experiences ever!
cuisine was exquisite and the local Piton beer (named after the Piton landmark) and champagne were delish! It was super easy to get around the La Toc property. Some of the reviews I had read stated it would take forever to walk. I'd say by the second day we had a pretty good idea of where we were going and didn't feel like anything was too far away.
I also didn't feel like we spent a ton of money while we were there. Most of the tours ran at least 6 hours and were all inclusive, outside of buying mementos and gifts. We didn't tip while we were on the resort but did tip the tour guides and then left our butlers something extra when we checked out. They do have an option to have a photographer come and take your picture either on the beach or at higher points on the resort. While the photographer was complementary, the photography packages definitely added up! We ordered a few of our favorites but left it at that.
It was a dream to spend time in St. Lucia and if you don't put this on your bucket list you are truly missing out on one magnificent place!
To read our full adventure and see more pictures, click here.
Costa Rica
We had such a terrific time when we visited Costa Rica. We rented a house within a resort community that allowed us full access to the hotel restaurants and pool. From private chef's, horseback riding up a mountain, deep sea fishing, zip lining, and forest adventures, I promise, we did leave time for relaxation.


text:
RSSBus ConnectRSSBus Connect - Build 18.0.6614
RSSBus Connect is a leading platform for data integration, giving your business the ability to easily integrate data from files, databases, or cloud applications all in one application. RSSBus Connect features API-led connectivity for all parts of your business.
RSSBus Connect is built on top of a flexible scripting engine, which allows you to communicate with many different systems through a variety of protocols and message formats. With just a few clicks, you can begin connecting your business with RSSBus Connect.
The Getting Started section explains how to set up RSSBus Connect. It covers setting up the server as well as configuring ports to connect to your data sources.


text:
Between the stunning victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential elections and the political and economic turmoil in South Africa, fuelled by state corruption and what is seen as capture of the state under the watch of President Jacob Zuma, South Africans do not know what will hit them next.
The news that Trump has swept Hillary Clinton away in the US elections caused an immediate drop in the value of the South African rand, falling 3.4 per cent against the euro, 2.64 per cent against the British pound, 4.43 per cent against the Japanese yen and 1.98 per cent against the US dollar.
Political and business leaders who gathered at the US Consulate in Cape Town this morning to watch the final stages of the election results, warned that the result will also have a profound effect on South Africa and the wider continent at large.
Observers point to the fact that South Africa and Africa generally currently benefit from the US African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) which give the country and the continent's products preferential access to the US market.
"Given Mr Trump's pre-election promises that he would review all trade agreements it is just as well that the AGOA was renewed last year," said one observer.
"Whatever the outcome of the US presidential election, South Africa would have to analyse the impact and find opportunities for trade," says Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities. "The world is changing and we have to see the US presidential election the same way as we saw the unexpected Brexit vote."
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille told the audience at the consulate event that she did not realise the big underlying and hidden fears of many US voters. "Donald Trump played on the fears of people and my biggest fear should he win, will be for a nuclear war."
South Africa's citrus growers, who have developed a lucrative trade in the US under the AGOA, insist that they do not think the Trump administration will want to fiddle with the agreement which also benefits US exports to South Africa.
The South African currency has improved substantially during the past couple of months, mostly driven by increased pressure from inside the country to deal with corruption and protect the integrity of the country's treasury and economy. Despite this, there is still a threat of a ratings downgrade for South Africa later this year.
With the UK being one of the country's most important markets, growers are concerned that the increase in the value of the South African rand over the past two months against the British pound, compared to last season, will dramatically reduce their income back on the farm. At times last season the rand traded at R22.00 to the pound, but this has now dropped to below R16.00.
Early grape exporters are likely to favour shipments to the EU rather than the UK because they get better returns from euro markets. However, where they have established programmes with retailers in the UK, there is not much they can do without endangering the long-term future of these programmes.
Meanwhile President Zuma's future is perhaps more uncertain than that of the new American president, regardless of his pre-election threats.
Zuma is facing a vote of no confidence in Parliament tomorrow, which will probably be voted down by his ANC allies. His woes will not disappear, however, because he is the subject of a damning report as the country's public protector. He is also under a dark cloud because the High Court recently ordered that charges on more than 700 cases of corruption against him, previously withdrawn under very suspicious circumstances, have to be re-introduced.
Dealing with these matters, in South African terms, takes time and it is unlikely that the country will see more stability soon.


text:
VEREENIGING. – Steelpark residents of Vereeniging say there will be no votes coming from their area as the Local Government Elections take place.
This is as a result of a water supply interruption in the area since July 20.It seems the area was also affected by the burst pipes in Skippie Botha road and Langerand road in Sonlandpark. Residents also claim that there is always load shedding in the area although this was said to be a thing of the past. Other things residents were complaining about is potholes, the air pollution coming from the industries nearby and the lack of recreational centres for kids.
"We will only be addressed by Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Mayor Simon Mofokeng. We are one of many communities that have to pay escalating rates and taxes to the municipality because if we don't our electricity gets cut off."
Residents further said they would continue with their protest should their complaints not be addressed. "If our issues are not addressed, there will be no voting polls in this area come Wednesday."
The protest action was joined in by School children from the area who said that their school had been closed because of the water supply interruption. "Some of us are matrics and we are busy with exams. We have been turned back home since last week; there is no water at school."
Learners said that the problem had even affected those learners who depend on the feeding scheme for lunch.
ELM's Spokesperson Stanley Gaba says, "We have taken note of what the community is complaining about. The issue of water was an emergency as a result of the pipe that burst in Sonland Park, but the water supply was already back on Saturday. The problem of potholes is being attended to as Steelpark is one of the places where the recent project launched by Mayor Simon Mofokeng will take place."
Gaba further added that the problem of electricity outages in the area was as a result of load shedding and electricity-overload caused by illegal connections. Sedibeng MMC for Basic Services Nomvula Thulo and Housing MMC Veli Mciga addressed the community on Monday. The road was open again on Tuesday.
Boy Louw Road was shut down after a service delivery protest by Steelpark residents two days before Local Government Elections. Photo: Moleboheng Chaha.


text:
More information on Bro. Larry Carter http://larrycarter.com/larrycarter.com/Home.html
Heear his music here: http://larrycarter.com/larrycarter.com/Videos.html
Disaster Relief! - If you would like to give towards Disaster Relief for Louisiana and Texas. We have the Hope Corps Disaster Relief Team 102 and this will go toward supplies, etc.
The Dianne Townley Memorial Fund for the Kenya Project. For more information click here.
Also Our Building Fund Project For more information click here.


text:
Just because there is a blanket of snow in your backyard doesn't mean you have to confine yourself to the kitchen when it comes to preparing your meals. In the midst of winter, your outdoor grill may look like a non-descript white lump, buried under the most recent dumping of snow. But that has not … [Read more...]
Brockmans Gin Cocktails Are Ready for Some Football
You know that Monday night ritual. You know that long-running, high-rated, occasionally nail-biting thing you watch on TV. Well, now that your favorite team is out of playoff contention and you're feeling ever so slightly disinterested, it's game time all over again. Time to stir and shake up the … [Read more...]
10 Of Our Favorite Fall and Winter "Comfort Beers"
When cold weather sets in we all grab our comfort foods but how about comfort beer? Here are are favorite new brews that will warm your spirits on the long, cold days of Winter. Up here in the northeast, as the leaves start to fall off the trees indicating fall has arrived soon to be followed by … [Read more...]
McDonald's Makes Big Changes to The Big Mac
McDonald's is making big changes to The Big Mac for a limited time in its restaurants across the United States in early 2017 to test the market. The ingredients of The Big Mac will basically stay the same but McDonald's will also sell a miniature version called Mac Jr. and The Grand Mac. The Mac Jr. … [Read more...]
Halloween-Inspired Cocktails from Blue Chair Bay Rum
Looking for some quick cocktails for your Halloween party? Here are some Halloween-Inspired Cocktails from Blue Chair Bay Rum. Whip up a eerie green punch bowl for a party, or mix one of these cocktails for a perfectly spooky Halloween weekend. Click on any cocktail below to see the recipe, or check … [Read more...]
UncommonGreen's Spooky Literature-Themed Glassware Perfect for Halloween
Take your Halloween cocktails up a notch by serving them in one of UncommonGreen's literature-themed glassware. Choose Dracula and serve a cranberry based drink as "Vampire's Blood" or add a little green food coloring to a vodka soda or a simple lemonade in their Frankenstein glass. Each of these … [Read more...]
Get a Better Grip on Your Fruit and Vegetables in the Kitchen
It might look like a hair pick but the Onion Slicer by Idea Maze is the one kitchen gadget designed to help you cut onions easier, make more precise cuts and keep that onion smell off of your hands. It works great to do just that. We also found it useful for cutting potatoes to make them a uniform … [Read more...]
Get Dad Cooperstown Baseball Inspired Spirits for Father's Day
Cooperstown Distillery, an award-winning farm distillery in upstate New York that seamlessly marries award-winning spirits and America's favorite pastime – baseball! The distillery produces a portfolio of delicious spirits that pay homage to the history of baseball which are sure to be a hit with … [Read more...]
How to Drink Like Teddy Roosevelt with the Perfect Mint Julep
The 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby is upon us. The fastest 2 minutes in sports celebrated by one of the most epic parties nationwide. Along with your seersucker suits and ladies in their finest Derby wear and largest hats, the only thing you need is the race itself and the classic, … [Read more...]
Winter Grilling Days are Here: 5 Tips for Winter Grilling
Winter grilling is not as simple as just throwing a few burgers on the grill and braving the elements. Not everyone is going to want to gril outdoors during the Winter when it's 10 below but if you are one of those people, let us give you some ideas to get your winter grilling on! Clean out … [Read more...]


text:
This article was published in the Lexis Practice Advisor: Private Equity by Lexis Securities Mosaic on November 24, 2016. It is reprinted here with permission.
A leveraged dividend recapitalization is a partial exit strategy of private equity sponsors, whereby proceeds of a new indebtedness incurred by a portfolio company are used to fund a dividend distribution to the portfolio company's stockholders. Interest among private equity sponsors and the growing appetite of lenders to provide debt financing to fund leveraged dividend recapitalizations reached a pinnacle in 2007, before the onset of the financial crisis in 2008, with dividend driven loan volume of $49.3 billion. After being virtually nonexistent during the two years following the financial crisis, there was a resurgence in dividend-driven loans beginning in 2010. According to Standard & Poor's Leveraged Commentary & Data, the years following 2010 saw dividend recap activity at astonishing rates and surpassing 2007 levels, with dividend driven loan and high yield bonds volume of $56.9 billion in 2012, $73.9 billion in 2013 and $53 billion in 2014.
The easing of credit markets coupled with the ability of financial institutions to finance dividend recaps at attractive interest rates have played a significant role in the comeback of leveraged dividend recapitalizations following the financial crisis. The excitement surrounding leveraged dividend recapitalizations has been tempered, however, with concerns about bankruptcy and related claims of fraudulent conveyance, breach by portfolio company directors of their fiduciary duties and payment of distributions in violation of statutory requirements under state corporate law.
The first bankruptcy of KB Toys, Inc. in 2004 may serve as a cautionary tale for leveraged dividend recapitalizations gone awry. In 2000, Bain Capital LLC and other investors (collectively, Bain) acquired KB Toys from Big Lots Stores Inc. In 2002, KB Toys was recapitalized by issuing significant secured and unsecured debt, and the proceeds were used to pay executive bonuses and dividends exceeding $120 million that ultimately flowed through the corporate structure and back to Bain. When KB Toys filed for bankruptcy almost two years later, creditors alleged that the dividend contributed in large part to the company's insolvency, was a result of self-dealing and outright fraud, and constituted a breach by the directors of KB Toys of their fiduciary duties. Though the case eventually settled, it still stands as an example of what can go wrong in a leveraged dividend recapitalization transaction.
Under appropriate circumstances, a leveraged dividend recapitalization is not illegal and may constitute an appropriate course of action to enable stockholders to receive a return of capital through a dividend. Indeed, if done correctly, a leveraged dividend recapitalization can maximize the present value of future earnings of a corporation. If a company's profitability, future earnings and capital structure are sound, a leveraged dividend recapitalization can be a useful tool to presently extract the expected future earnings of the company and enable the private equity sponsor stockholder to employ that cash to bolster another profiting enterprise. As this practice note will explore however, these are big "ifs." If a leveraged dividend recapitalization threatens a company's solvency, or appears to be a result of self-dealing, its creditors will find ample recourse in the law to protect their own interests. A prudent course of action requires a mindful approach to the minefield of potential issues surrounding the decision to effect a leveraged dividend recapitalization. The balance of this note examines the metrics used for identifying opportunities for executing a successful leveraged dividend recapitalization, the potential risks surrounding leveraged dividend recapitalizations, and risk mitigation strategies.
Identifying Appropriate Opportunities for Engaging in a Leveraged Dividend Recapitalization
A company with investors seeking a current return on their capital and having (1) conservative debt levels or debt at less market-friendly terms than its peers, (2) a history of consistent revenue growth, and (3) predictable cash flows presents a viable candidate for a leveraged dividend recapitalization. Once it is determined that the company is a suitable candidate for engaging in a leveraged dividend recapitalization, a variety of metrics can be evaluated by the management and the board to determine whether a leveraged dividend recapitalization is appropriate. A few of these metrics are discussed below and in essence speak to the capacity of the company to incur additional indebtedness at competitive levels.
The existence of one or more of the following conditions may favor an opportunity for a company to engage in a leveraged dividend recapitalization:
Potential Risks
If a company's solvency is threatened following an leveraged dividend recapitalization, then creditors may initiate actions to attempt to recover dividends that may have been improperly distributed on one or more of the following grounds, (1) that the dividend constituted a fraudulent conveyance, (2) the company was insolvent at the time the dividend was paid, and (3) the board of directors breached their fiduciary duty by declaring and paying the leveraged dividend recapitalization financed dividend.
Fraudulent Conveyance
A dividend paid in connection with a leveraged dividend recapitalization may be subject to claims of creditors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the laws of most states (including Delaware) if it is deemed to be a fraudulent conveyance. While the issue of fraudulent conveyance most commonly arises in bankruptcy proceedings, under state law, the filing of a bankruptcy petition is not a prerequisite to a claim based on a fraudulent conveyance.
There are two types of fraud for purposes of fraudulent conveyance law: actual fraud and constructive fraud. Actual fraud exists where a transfer was made with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud creditors. Constructive fraud is intended to deal with transfers that were not in the best interests of the transferor. The principal elements of constructive fraud are that the debtor:
Transfers that are deemed to be fraudulent conveyances that are made within two years prior to a bankruptcy filing are subject to a number of remedies, including (1) recapture of the dividend by the bankruptcy trustee into the bankruptcy estate, (2) attachment of the dividend or other property of the transferee, (3) an injunction against further disposition by the debtor or the transferee of any property, or (4) appointment of a receiver to take charge of any property of the transferee.
Insolvency at the Time of the Leveraged Dividend Recapitalization
While fraudulent conveyance statutes may scrutinize transfers that threaten the transferor's solvency, many states, including Delaware, separately require directors to declare and pay dividends either out of the corporation's surplus or, if there shall be no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Delaware law defines surplus as the excess of the company's net assets (being the amount by which total assets exceed total liabilities) over the amount determined to be capital by the board.
The responsibility for determining appropriate values for net assets and capital and whether there is a surplus ultimately falls to the board of directors. It is imperative that the board takes proactive steps to ensure that its determination complies with all applicable laws, because each director could be subject to personal liability under a claim for breach of fiduciary duty as discussed below.
Insolvency Tests
For purposes of the foregoing analysis, courts typically apply one of three solvency tests: the balance sheet test, the cash flow test, or the unreasonably small capital test.
In order to manage the risks associated with creditor claims, a company considering a leveraged dividend recapitalization should ensure that it can pass each of these tests both before and after the transfer.
Statutes of Limitations
Owing to the variations in statutes of limitations for various creditor actions, special attention should be paid to the timing of leveraged dividend recapitalizations. The US Bankruptcy Code looks back to any transfers that occurred within two years before the filing of a bankruptcy petition. The Delaware statute allows a creditor to make a claim for fraudulent transfer as long as four years after the date of the transfer. Under Delaware law, the statute of limitations for breach of director duty is broad, making directors jointly and severally liable for up to six years after the dividend has been disbursed. However, such a statute of limitations may also be tolled for periods when the defendant either actively concealed such knowledge from the plaintiff, or the plaintiff relied on the defendant's fiduciary role such that the plaintiff had no reason to suspect any wrongdoing. Thus, it is impossible to say with any confidence that a company is in the clear until at least six years after a leveraged dividend recapitalization, and even then the threat of litigation may persist.
Director Liability
Under Delaware law, a third-party creditor typically has no claim against the directors of a debtor corporation for breach of fiduciary duty. However, insolvency of a debtor corporation can give rise to a derivative claim of breach of fiduciary duty on the theory that satisfying the claims of a corporation's creditors is essential to maintaining the business as an ongoing concern and thus consistent with the fiduciary duty owed to its shareholders. The standing that such creditors gain is a result of insolvency and does not exist merely because the corporation is "navigating the zone of insolvency." See N. Am. Catholic Educ. Programming Found., Inc. v. Gheewalla, 930 A.2d 92 (Del. 2007). Therefore, a leveraged dividend recapitalization that leaves a corporation insolvent can also expose the directors to a breach of fiduciary duty claim from its creditors.
Under Delaware law, while directors are afforded a certain level of deference through the business judgment rule, the law nonetheless penalizes directors who act imprudently, thereby making them liable not only for the full amount of the dividend, but also for the accrued interest.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
Claims of breach of fiduciary duty and fraudulent conveyance are certainly not insurmountable, but are ones that should be carefully avoided. To avoid such liabilities, directors and corporations as a whole should seek and rely on truly independent solvency opinions and, if appropriate, create special committees charged to evaluate whether a leveraged dividend recapitalization is a justifiable transaction. While there is no safe harbor for leveraged dividend recapitalizations, best practices should involve a three-pronged approach focusing on (1) the solvency of the company both before and after the transaction, (2) complete independence by the board (or any special committee of the board that has been delegated the appropriate authority to consider a leveraged dividend recapitalization) and any financial advisors, and (3) business decisions made with the best information available. Each of these is discussed below.
Corporate Solvency
Ensuring that the company is solvent both before and after the leveraged dividend recapitalization is effected is essential to any risk mitigation strategy. This is true not only to mitigate the risk of liability arising under the bankruptcy law or fraudulent conveyance statute, but also to reduce the risk of director liability under a theory of breach of fiduciary duty, as insolvency is the prerequisite that gives rise to creditors' standing to bring such a claim. Best practices include obtaining a solvency opinion from an independent financial advisor. This solvency opinion should address the company's ongoing viability under each of the three insolvency tests discussed above. That is, the opinion should be sufficient to assure the board of directors that (1) the company's assets will exceed its liabilities immediately after the leveraged dividend recapitalization, (2) the company's projected cash flow will be sufficient to cover its ongoing debt payments, and (3) the company's will retain a capital cushion sufficient to weather any foreseeable problems in the future. In addition, the opinion should demonstrate that the leveraged dividend recapitalization is paid from the corporation's surplus.
The financial advisor providing the solvency opinion should work closely with the company's legal counsel to tailor its analysis to the specific legal requirements of the jurisdiction in which the company is incorporated. Moreover, the financial advisor should also have sufficient knowledge and experience in the particular industry of the company to make accurate cash flow and capital needs projections.
Independent Decision Making
Independence of the decision makers is essential to ensure that the transaction is consistent with the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders and is not influenced by self-dealing. Therefore, in the event there is any actual or perceived conflict of interest with respect to any member of the corporation's board of directors, an independent committee of directors should be formed to evaluate and consider the leveraged dividend recapitalization. Such committee should have full and complete access to its own financial and legal advisors counseling the proposed transaction. Moreover, any situations or circumstances where undue influence can be exerted upon the board or, if applicable, the independent committee, in connection with the decision making process should be minimized or removed. Thus it is imperative that the directors and the advisors be given sufficient autonomy, and that the transaction be properly documented (including through an appropriate record of all board or committee proceedings) so as not to eliminate the appearance of any undue influence.
Director independence may also help to ensure that the company obtains the benefit of the business judgment rule. If the decision to distribute a leveraged dividend recapitalization is made by directors who have acted on an informed basis, in good faith and with the honest belief that their actions are in the best interest of the corporation, then the decision is more likely to be evaluated under the business judgment rule. A court viewing the transaction in hindsight would thus afford the decision a favorable presumption and would be more likely to defer to the decision of an independent board or committee to engage in the leveraged dividend recapitalization.
Companies should consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with all of the relevant laws surrounding dividend distribution. If directors, after reviewing all of these sources, do not agree with the decision to effect a leveraged dividend recapitalization, then they should make their dissent clear and such dissent should be reflected in the records of the board proceedings. Through these vigilant actions, directors will be more likely to demonstrate a good faith reliance on dependable sources, as well as a reasonable and prudent decision-making processes.
Best Information
Finally, it is crucial that all parties act with the best information available to them. Thus, a financial advisor rendering a solvency opinion should have as much access as possible to the company's information, and the independent directors who are evaluating the decision to engage in a leveraged dividend recapitalization should base their decision upon all available information. In its complaint against Bain Capital dated January 13, 2006, in the Massachusetts Superior Court, the residual trust of KB Toys asserted that the solvency opinion delivered by the independent financial advisor was based on misleading projections derived from "overly optimistic and unreasonable" assumptions compared to historic trends and "incomplete financial information" and as such the solvency opinion was "inherently inadequate."
The popularity of leveraged dividend recapitalizations waxes and wanes from year to year based on market fluctuations and the terms and availability of credit to finance the related dividend; however, the liability created by such transactions remains constant. Before initiating a leveraged dividend recapitalization, it is crucial that corporations and their respective boards consider the various risks, benefits, and other factors described above, and be vigilant in implementing appropriate processes and procedures to limit claims and liabilities associated with a leveraged dividend recapitalization. Despite the clear risks, leveraged dividend recapitalizations continue to be an attractive solution for private equity investors to address liquidity needs and desires, particularly in the face of constraining market conditions that may limit alternatives for providing such liquidity, and may very well continue to grow in popularity in the future, particularly in a low interest rate environment.
The material in this publication was created as of the date set forth above and is based on laws, court decisions, administrative rulings and congressional materials that existed at that time, and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinions on specific facts. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and the transmission and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship.


text:
Continuing down the path of software safety, security, and compliance management, LDRA is helping developers in the Class II and Class III medical device space. The goal is to create safe and effective medical devices faster, and at a lower cost, while mitigating risk. The latest LDRA tools do this through:
- Compliance management for IEC 62304
- Lifecycle traceability, from functional, safety, and security requirements throughout the software development lifecycle
- Static code analysis, analyzing software for various quality metrics such as clarity, testability
- Automated unit and system level testing, automatically generating test cases, test harnesses, and automatically executing those test cases
- Providing the ability to measure the effectiveness of testing processes through structural coverage analysis, and graphically showing what code has and hasn't been tested.
According to LDRA, they're automating many of the tasks that were previously done manually. This includes automated software quality analysis and testing, while adhering to IEC62304.
In a nutshell, the tool suite improves productivity and efficiency through automation while mitigating risk; performs a software quality analysis; ensures code consistency; and automates the process of test case generation, test harness generation, test execution, and structural coverage analysis.
The LDRA tool suite for Medical Devices is available now.
eletter-11-07-2017 eletter-11-08-2017
About the Author
Richard Nass is the Executive Vice-President of OpenSystems Media. His key responsibilities include setting the direction for all aspects of OpenSystems Media's Embedded and IoT product portfolios, including web sites, e-newsletters, print and digital magazines, and various other digital and print activities. He was instrumental in developing the company's on-line educational portal, Embedded University. Previously, Nass was the Brand Director for UBM's award-winning Design News property. Prior to that, he led the content team for UBM Canon's Medical Devices Group, as well all custom properties and events in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Nass has been in the engineering OEM industry for more than 25 years. In prior stints, he led the Content Team at EE Times, handling the Embedded and Custom groups and the TechOnline DesignLine network of design engineering web sites. Nass holds a BSEE degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.Follow on Twitter More Content by Rich Nass


text:
Articles by Martina Sonego
In JoVE (2)
Other Publications (2)
Articles by Martina Sonego in JoVE
Nucleofectie van knaagdieren neuroblasts om neuroblast Migratie Studie Katarzyna Falenta*1, Sangeetha Gajendra*2, Martina Sonego1, Patrick Doherty1, Giovanna Lalli1 1Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, 2MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London Neuroblast migratie is een cruciale stap in postnatale neurogenese. Het protocol hier beschreven kan worden gebruikt om de rol van de kandidaat regulatoren van neuroblast migratie door gebruik DNA / small hairpin RNA (shRNA) nucleofection en een 3D migratietestsysteem met neuroblasts geïsoleerd van het knaagdier postnatale rostrale migratiestroom onderzoeken.
In vivo Postnatale Elektroporatie en time-lapse imaging van neuroblast Migratie in Muis Acute Brain Slices Martina Sonego*1, Ya Zhou*1, Madeleine Julie Oudin2, Patrick Doherty1, Giovanna Lalli1 1Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, 2David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Neuroblast migratie is een fundamentele gebeurtenis in postnatale neurogenese. We beschrijven een protocol voor efficiëntie-etikettering van neuroblasts door in vivo postnatale elektroporatie en de daaropvolgende visualisatie van hun migratie met behulp van time-lapse imaging van acute hersenen plakjes. Wij beschikken over een beschrijving van de kwantitatieve analyse van neuroblast dynamiek door video-tracking.
Other articles by Martina Sonego on PubMed
Fascin Regulates the Migration of Subventricular Zone-derived Neuroblasts in the Postnatal Brain The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience. Jul, 2013 | Pubmed ID: 23884926 After birth, stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) generate neuroblasts that migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to become interneurons in the olfactory bulb (OB). This migration is a fundamental event controlling the proper integration of new neurons in a pre-existing synaptic network. Many regulators of neuroblast migration have been identified; however, still very little is known about the intracellular molecular mechanisms controlling this process. Here, we show that the actin-bundling protein fascin is highly upregulated in mouse SVZ-derived migratory neuroblasts. Fascin-1ko mice display an abnormal RMS and a smaller OB. Bromodeoxyuridine labeling experiments show that lack of fascin significantly impairs neuroblast migration, but does not appear to affect cell proliferation. Moreover, fascin depletion substantially alters the polarized morphology of rat neuroblasts. Protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent phosphorylation of fascin on Ser39 regulates its actin-bundling activity. In vivo postnatal electroporation of phosphomimetic (S39D) or nonphosphorylatable (S39A) fascin variants followed by time-lapse imaging of brain slices demonstrates that the phospho-dependent modulation of fascin activity ensures efficient neuroblast migration. Finally, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy studies in rat neuroblasts reveal that the interaction between fascin and PKC can be modulated by cannabinoid signaling, which controls neuroblast migration in vivo. We conclude that fascin, whose upregulation appears to mark the transition to the migratory neuroblast stage, is a crucial regulator of neuroblast motility. We propose that a tightly regulated phospho/dephospho-fascin cycle modulated by extracellular signals is required for the polarized morphology and migration in neuroblasts, thus contributing to efficient neurogenesis.
Transcriptional Basis for the Inhibition of Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Migration by the TGFβ-Family Member GDF11 PloS One. 2013 | Pubmed ID: 24244313 Signalling through EGF, FGF and endocannabinoid (eCB) receptors promotes adult neurogenesis, and this can be modelled in culture using the Cor-1 neural stem cell line. In the present study we show that Cor-1 cells express a TGFβ receptor complex composed of the ActRIIB/ALK5 subunits and that a natural ligand for this receptor complex, GDF11, activates the canonical Smad2/3 signalling cascade and significantly alters the expression of ∼4700 gene transcripts within a few hours of treatment. Many of the transcripts regulated by GDF11 are also regulated by the EGF, FGF and eCB receptors and by the MAPK pathway - however, in general in the opposite direction. This can be explained to some extent by the observation that GDF11 inhibits expression of, and signalling through, the EGF receptor. GDF11 regulates expression of numerous cell-cycle genes and suppresses Cor-1 cell proliferation; interestingly we found down-regulation of Cyclin D2 rather than p27kip1 to be a good molecular correlate of this. GDF11 also inhibited the expression of numerous genes linked to cytoskeletal regulation including Fascin and LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) and this was associated with an inhibition of Cor-1 cell migration in a scratch wound assay. These data demonstrate GDF11 to be a master regulator of neural stem cell transcription that can suppress cell proliferation and migration by regulating the expression of numerous genes involved in both these processes, and by suppressing transcriptional responses to factors that normally promote proliferation and/or migration.


text:
Welcome to the Heights!
|"Heights To New Heights!"
On Saturday evening, the Albuquerque Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church voted to accept an offer of its cell tower lessees. This offer, once the contract is completed, will give the cell tower lessees perpetual status and provide the church with enough funds to pay all indebtedness, except for the current mortgage. Beyond that, the church is refinancing its mortgage and moving to pay off this mortgage by making available to its members the right to rename its fellowship hall, as well as, raise funds through July 2. (For more details click here.) While the members realize that this is only a first step, they are excited to begin a journey that they believe will be successful.
Thank you for visiting the Heights Seventh-day Adventist Web Site! We hope you enjoy this site so much that you will come and bless our worship service with your presence. All of our services are guest friendly and open to the public. The center of our worship service is preaching from the Bible about Jesus. Members and guests of our worship service (Saturday morning at 11:00 am) come to hear the Word of God. We hope you will visit soon and you will feel God's presence in our worship service. Of course, the worship service includes more than preaching; there is congregational singing, a children's story, fellowship, and much more!
We have a great children's program where our young guests learn Bible stories with a main interest in helping them find Jesus as their Friend and Savior. This program and the adult study hour begin at 9:30 am. You don't have to know anything about the Bible to enjoy this study time. All of the materials are free, and everyone is learning together.
Browse through the events in the Heights calendar. We have planned some exciting programs. calendar.
Want a place for the young ones? Visit My Place with Jesus, an interactive Bible study for kids!
Want to be involved? There are a lot of opportunities to share your talents when you join one of the ministries of our church.
We hope that you will meet us for worship on Saturday morning or that you can attend one of the many other activities listed on our calendar.
For Email Marketing you can trust
Daily Devotional


text:
To be 18 and going into battle like that had to be terrifying. Being young in that kind of situation you have to be mentally prepared for it. You had to be brave and ready for what was going on. I think the men and women were known as the "Greatest Generation" because they went thro
You need health & disability insurance so that you can go to the doctors if you're sick or for regular check-ups and if you get hurt and you're out of work you're able to get paid. Homeowner's or Renter's insurance is important to protect your protect in case anything happens to it for whatever reason. Auto Insurance covers accidents if you are the cause of it & some covers repair for your car. You need life insurance to care of your family & cover any extra cost for when you die.
Investing vs Gambling
Investing is putting your money towards something that you will profit off of. Gambling is taking a chance in making a profit off of it. I agree that investing is a smart way to use your money.
Memorial Day Reflection
There are any people who put their lives in danger for me to ensure my country is safe and for that I thank them. I am especially grateful for those who have died in honor of my country. I don't personally no anyone who has died even though I'm sure I may have a family member who has died. The soldiers who died are brave, strong and selfless. Without them we would not be able to live as freely and safe as we do now. I greatly appreciate the work of the military.
Poverty Reflection
The term poverty means being poor.
My first resolution is to study more. I need to study more so that I won't be scrambling to get extra credit when grades go in. Also I need to be consistent with it.
My second resolution is to let go of negative people. This is because they will distract and will be no assist for you in any way. Also a tighter circle helps you focus more anyways.
RATS215 Response-JOURNAL 5
I feel that the student clearly had too much time on his hands. Also he needs to worry about himself and not other s especially if it does not concern him. The student is basically "snitching" too because he is exposing those who supposedly "snitched." I think he should be treated how he treated those he hurt. I think this because sometimes people need to get a taste of their own medicine to really feel the damage they have caused others
7 Habits-JOURNAL 4
I will "carry my weather with me" by choosing how I react to something. I could inform others on having more control over their mood to encourage them that this is an important first step in being more m
A Thin Line-JOURNAL 2
I received a 94% on the "A Thin Line" quiz. I am labeled as connected & I have a top score. The quiz in general was different & I wasn't really expecting those type of question. Although I wasn't looking for anything in specific. Topics that were suggested to me were constant texting and redraw the line challenge. The website its self was rather interesting because it featured topics that we as teens have to deal with everyday. The topics included very informative content & even ways to solve those problems & how to avoid them in the future.
12x12x12 Impression- JOURNAL 3
To me this passage basically means whether you are aware of it or not you only get on chance at a first impression.When you meet someone new the first impression that you give off starts right away.I have noticed this idea in action because there have been times when I've meet new people on a bad day & their first impression of me wasn't so great because right away they noticed my mood & based my personality off if that.


text:
Fujitsu to stop drive-head production
Japan's Fujitsu said on Tuesday (January 27) it will shut down its hard disk drive head operation at the end of March at a cost of 5 billion yen ($56 million).
Fujitsu has been in talks with Toshiba Corp to sell its loss-making hard disk drive business, but a newspaper has reported that its Nagano plant in central Japan that makes disk-drive heads was not included.
Fujitsu spokesman Takashi Koto said the company was still discussing the future of its hard-drive operations with multiple parties. The company said the Nagano plant, which employs about 360 people, will keep operating to make printed circuit boards for servers and telecom equipment.
Fujitsu's hard drive business had an operating loss of several billion yen in the last business year, Koto said.


text:
Head of Faculty "Business, Economics and Technology", Paris
Closing date:
Start date: September 2018
Contract type: Full Time
Contract term: Permanent
Suitable for NQTs: No
Headmaster Mr Nicholas Hammond is seeking to appoint a Head of Faculty
Business, Economics and Technology
to start in September 2018.
Full-time and permanent post.
The British School of Paris is a non-selective co-educational school which provides British education of a high quality to an international student clientele. Our location and facilities are outstanding.
After a period of being managed as three individual departments, this Faculty is being reformed to better fit the school faculty structure and recognise the similarities and common threads which bind Economics, Business, Computing, Computer Science, Design and Technology.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic leader to develop our learning in this vital area of the curriculum.
The successful applicant will be a driven and talented classroom practitioner who will build upon the considerable success already enjoyed by these departments. It is a post particularly suited to an individual who is considering a future role in school leadership.
All applicants must be qualified teachers with recent experience of the British National Curriculum and hold a valid EU passport or a full French work permit. The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and have a proven track record in leading change.
To apply please consult our website:
www.britishschool.fr (Employment opportunities/Current vacancies)
Closing date: 26thFebruary by noon.
Interviews will be held shortly after in Paris. Pre-interviews may be held using Skype.
The BSP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children. All members of staff are trained in child protection. We ensure successful candidates are police checked on appointment and that all staff will report concerns through our child protection policy.
The British School of Paris is a non-selective co-educational independent school which provides British education of a high quality to an international student clientele. Founded in 1954 as a centre of holistic education for a British ex-patrio...
Contact The British School of Paris
Thanks for your interest in this role.
Simply fill in the form below to ask any questions, request a call, or schedule a school visit.
This field is required


text:
The BBC has allowed a group of Radio One disc jockeys to front an Amnesty International campaign against the arms trade, despite the controversy over the corporation's political impartiality raised by the Hutton Inquiry.
Jo Whiley, Zane Law and a trio called the Dreem Team have each agreed to host a night of films and debate in central London next month. The corporation said it has allowed them to take part on the condition that they did not compromise their "political neutrality".
Amnesty is campaigning to "tighten up" British arms export controls and to strengthen international restrictions on the sale and use of arms.
In February, the BBC banned its more prominent presenters, and journalists were barred by their bosses, from taking part in an anti-war march in London because of the need to appear "independent, impartial and honest".


text:
Wow! It's certainly been quite some time since my last post on here. So, here's what has happened since then. In January this year (2016), I had a trial surgery for a spinal chord stimulator (SCS). This was done to see if a permanent SCS implant would be of any benefit. In this trial, I had 2 leads inserted and placed at C2 and another 2 leads inserted and placed at T8. The trial went for 10 days where I was limited as to what I could do movement wise. This included no driving.
Tag Archives: back pain
Pain Free!!
Well, at least that what the pain management specialist said to me on Monday. Yes, it is a possibility that in the not too distant future that I could be pain free, or at the least be able to reduce the need to take the narcotic drugs that I currently need to get me through my worst days.
How Do I Fill In My Days
How do I fill in my days? This is a question that people often ask me. Most of the time I just say that I spend a lot of it lying on the lounge or in my recliner watching TV. Which, isn't far from the truth.
Why I Hate Mondays
I never look forward to Mondays, or Sunday nights for that matter. Not because it's the start of the new week. Or for the fact that Michelle and the girls will be at work and school during the day, leaving me at home alone.
But because late Sunday night I go through withdrawals, as I come off the narcotic drug which I have needed to be on for the weekend or sometimes just for Sunday. A drug, just so that I can bear the increased pain of sitting, standing and walking as a result of going to church, the wanting to be social and trying to have a 'normal' life/weekend like everyone else.
Where It All Started
Firstly, a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to stop by and read my blog. I started writing about my journey dealing with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) back in late November 2012. Mostly to help me deal with the changes that this has placed both on my life and my family's lives. But also as an inspiration to those of you who struggle with chronic pain, or anything else for that matter.
If you would like to have a better understanding of my journey, how it has changed me and what I have to deal with each and every day. Then please, read all my posts in chronological order from where it all started – Everything Crashes Around Me
Time Flies By
Well, I can't believe that it has been more than a year since my last post. Lots has happened since then. My DDD (Degenerative Disc Disease) has worsened and as a result a change in medications has been required. I am now on the maximum dosage of Lyrica per day and with that, mainly on weekends, I need also need prescribed narcotic drugs to get me by. But all in all, I am coping reasonably well most days. Though I have those days/nights when I just wish there was a quick fix and I could be rid of this constant pain for good……but, there isn't one
Shopping takes time
I was listening to the radio the other day and heard a comment made by one of the announcers about shopping. He said that both him and his wife do the grocery shopping together so that they can get it done quicker. Hmmm, I go and do the grocery shopping with Michelle………..
Focus on the future, not the past
I was looking back over some photos the other week when I was designing the header for this blog site. Seeing photos of when I was a bit younger and more able bodied, made me think back to how things use to be like before now.
Just a short note
Yes, thank you! Thank you to all those who have taken the time to read my posts about what I am going through. Even a bigger thank you to those who have left or passed on comments. It has overwhelmed me as to the number of people that have read them and from a number of countries.
An ode to pain
Well, I was lying in bed having another one of my rough days and I thought, why not try something different. So here we go…….
As I was lying down on my own bed
Was thinking about what should be said


text:
Add your image to the historical record and share them with others
Upload Picture!
Added: May 2010
credit: Destiny Carpenter
More Info
Added: Jul 2009
credit: Lynette Lapointe
Added: Dec 2005
Added: Aug 2004
credit: Kevin Searles
Movie showtimes, pictures, history and much more information about Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena located in in Plymouth, MI 48170
Drive-ins.com is not affiliated with the Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena. The information above is provided as a free service; we encourage you to contact Summer Drive-In at USA Hockey Arena directly with any issues, concerns, or suggestions that are specific to them.
The database is a repository of information from many sources: our own research, submissions from visitors like yourself, as well as published sources. As a result, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of all of the information. However, updates and improvements are being made all the time.
Copyright Drive-On-In Inc © 1999-2018 - All rights reserved


text:
Great Body Can Boost the Self-Confidence
For women, cutting down excess fats and losing weight can give them healthier body and also boost up their self-confidence. Getting a great-looking body means getting a healthy body.
Healthy women are always attractive, as they have the confidence to wear any type of dress, and flaunt their body. They will feel better about themselves once they get on with their new lifestyle.
Losing weight will not only curve your body into a great shape, but also enhance your whole aura. Losing weight might be a hard activity, but it will be satisfying once done rightly. The three main reasons why all women should lose weight are discussed here and these reasons might give them enough motivation to lose weight and stay slim, sexy, and fit.
Get a Pretty Appearance
Some women are happy with their look, while some are not. If anyone is unhappy with their appearance and feel, they need to consider reducing their body fat. Weight loss could significantly enhance the way that they see themselves and the way others see them. If you hate to look yourself in front of a mirror everyday then it might be the right time to lose weight.
Health is Wealth!
For women, being obese or overweight isn't just about holding some few extra pounds. Obesity may lead to several health complications, including diabetes, and high blood pressure. If you don't follow the steps to cut down excess fats and lose weight, especially if you are overweight then you may need to face many health problems.
Reducing Stress and Improving Stamina
In addition to aiding your appearance, losing weight might also make you feel great about yourself. Many women will notice an immediate improvement in their self-esteem and self-confidence when they lose weight. It means that if you have any other concern apart from overweight, weight loss might also help you to overcome those concerns or at least reduce the stress associated with those concerns.
The above reasons are just some of the many reasons why one should think about losing weight, if they are overweight. If you decide to lose weight, you should think about consulting a healthcare professional. These kinds of appointments with them are important and also insightful.
Healthcare professionals can instruct you about some safe ways that you can try out to lose weight and build lean muscle body. They might also help you to set weight loss targets for yourself. By following these instructions, one can be fit and healthy, and maintain a great figure.