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So this week has been a tough one so far. I've seen a lot of clients really hurting with upper back and neck pain. When I find myself making notes on who to send which video or exercise to I start to think it's time for another self-care post.
I considered making this another round up of videos similar to the sciatic pain post, but it occurred to me that a discussion on awareness might be a better place to start.
Specifically, awareness about head forward position. Head forward is something that is talked about a lot and I know you've seen the 42 pound head graphics. I don't know if my noggin weighs 42 pounds when I'm working on the computer, but I know it wreaks havoc on my upper back, neck and between my shoulder blades when I spend too much time with my head unaligned with my spine. And really that is all head forward position is about, the head not being aligned over the spine. In addition to the head, neck and upper back pain, head forward position can cause pinched nerves, rotator cuff issues and tight pectoralis muscles. Fun stuff, NOT!
So awareness being the key to combating head forward position, I've put together a list of times or activities I've caught myself or observed others with our heads hanging out in not so great positions.
Washing your hair
Next time you jump in the shower to wash your hair take a minute to notice where your head is while you're shampooing away. Does your head hang down in front of your chest? If so, try lifting your head into an upright position and letting your arms reach up to your head. That's three minutes you're not in a head forward posture!
Brushing your teeth
Are you bending down over the sink? If so, stand up and bring your brushing hand up to finish the task. That's three or four more minutes you're not in a head forward posture! See where we're going with this?
This one is a biggie. I see it all the time while driving. Someone zips by with their seat back slung way back and they're neck is at a 45º+ angle. This is a different type of head forward position, but it's still stressing all those back, neck and upper trap muscles. Think about how much time you spend driving with your neck bent.
Watching TV
You would think that relaxing and watching tv would be a no-brainer for head forward position, but I do it all the time. I'll be sitting, enjoying a show, and suddenly realize I'm hurting. That's when it occurs to me I must look like a turtle peeking out of his shell.
Side sleeping (fetal position)
Again you'd think sleeping would be a no-brainer, but it was the last bastion of neck pain for me. It took a long time to figure out, but my neck pain finally got so bad it was waking me up in the middle of the night. I would move and align my neck and head with my spine and the pain would stop. After a few weeks of trying to be really conscious of how I was sleeping the pain started to resolve. I even had relief down into my low back from changing my sleeping posture. There's 6 to 8 hours more your neck could be in a painful position.
Texting or working on the computer
For texting or using a handheld device, try raising your hands and the device up to eye level instead of looking down. For computer use, raise the monitor to eye level. If you're like me, even then you'll have to guard against leaning the head forward in anticipation of all the goodness that monitor is going to deliver.
It's all about the looking down with the studying. Try raising the book with a desktop book stand to get the head in more of an upright position.
I had never thought about head forward position in relation to walking, but recently I went to a walking track and watched several people who were walking for fitness with extreme head forward posture. All I could think of was whether their neck and back hurt all the time.
Now That You Know!
So now that I've inundated you with a bunch of ways to be more aware of where your head is in the universe, here are a few tips to help start getting the head aligned over the spine.
- Drop your chin. This seems counterintuitive, but by dropping the chin a primal reflex kicks in causing you to automatically adjust your neck so your eyes point forward
- Set your cellphone to alert you several times a day to check where your head is. Just being reminded to check in will help with long term awareness
- Press your head back into your pillow, headrest, the couch, etc. a couple times a day, be gentle these muscles may not have been activated in a while
- Get a massage or do some self-massage on the upper back (foam roller, tennis balls, etc.)
- Read this article about Cracking the Walnut and try strengthening your upper back
- Imagine having a string attached to the top of your head and that someone is pulling you upright. Use this visualization to adjust your posture several times a day until it begins to feel natural.
So I hope these suggestions and tips help you to be more aware of the position of your head and neck and also help you increase the amount of time you live with better alignment. The end game is less pain through healthy choices and smarter posture.
Be good to yourself and as always my table is available to you if you need me!
|Harvest Moon Massage Therapy is Decatur's Only Master Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist!


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Borrowers need to get off the sidelines and into a home
Posted by Mastura Zaini-Roberts on Thursday, March 2nd, 2017 at 11:15am.
When the housing crisis hit in late 2009 and 2010, credit tightened as a natural response. Although the market has largely recovered, financing has remained difficult for borrowers with credit scores below a certain threshold.
According to the January 2017 Ellie Mae Origination Insight Report, 69% of all closed loans had FICO scores over 700. In fact, borrowers with FICO scores between 750 and 799 represented the largest share of closed loans in January for purchase, refinance and conventional loan categories.
Because borrowers with lower credit scores are still having difficulty securing financing, there's a significant amount of pent-up demand. Many lenders are reluctant to work with lower credit scores, leading many potential homebuyers to believe they cannot enter the housing market.
The only segment that credit bracket didn't dominate was Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, where FICO scores of 650 to 699 had the largest share of closed loans.
There are, however, some lenders that are making an effort to serve these frustrated potential homeowners in an underserved market. Mortgage professionals with clients who have lower credit scores or challenging credit histories must seek out lenders that have programs that allow for responsible lending to these borrowers. Some lenders have programs – or are experts at using existing government loan programs – that work with borrowers with credit scores as low as 550 for FHA loans, as well as offering products with smaller down payments, simplified loans with no lender closing costs and more.
By partnering with lenders who not only recognize the need for loan products for an underserved market, but make the effort to specialize in understanding and underwriting these programs, mortgage professionals can help a broader swath of potential homeowners who have been stuck on the sidelines for far too long.
By Ray Brousseau
Mastura Roberts
(702) 710-3330
Team Leader, The Tonnesen Team
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Nevada
3185 St Rose Pkwy #100 Henderson, NV 89052
With over 30 years of experience helping families call Las Vegas "home!"

subset: commoncrawl


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SHUFFLING on to the cobbles in her red anorak, soap's first transsexual Hayley Cropper was an instant hit on her arrival on Coronation Street.
Fifteen years on, it is only fitting the character – played by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh – makes an equally momentous exit.
Last month, nearly nine million viewers were traumatised as lovable Hayley was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given months to live.
In harrowing scenes to be filmed in November, the factory worker will take her own life in a controversial "right to die" plot.
It is a topic Julie – a committed humanist – is passionate about in real life.
Under UK law, it is an offence to encourage or assist a suicide, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
But speaking at Manchester's Granada studios, Julie, 43, says: "It's a very complicated issue.
"Everybody feels that if they got a terminal disease they'd want to be shot, but obviously there are massive ethical issues around that, and it's easy to exploit older people.
"Maybe we need to sign something now when we are fit and healthy, rather than when we are old – but even then I think it's quite complex, in that when is the right time?
"And yes, personally, I would like the law to change but I know this is going to be a very long and very complex road.
"Hopefully this storyline gets people thinking and talking – in that sense, it's such a privilege to be involved in this.
"I'm a British humanist member and they've told me what we're doing is great."
Over the coming weeks, viewers will see Hayley, joined by her loving husband Roy, tick off various dreams on her bucket list.
It comes after she was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, a disease affecting nearly 9000 people in the UK every year.
Despite it being the fifth most common cancer in Britain, it receives only one per cent of government cancer research funding.
The show has been praised by cancer charities for raising awareness of a condition which has a low survival rate. Julie has befriended several people affected by it and she's promoting an online petition – http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/48389 – requesting more research into the disease. "
It wasn't a cancer I knew much about beforehand," she said. "A friend of mine's husband died from it and it's so quick, like five months.
"It's really bad there's no research funding and no improvement in survival rates. With almost every other cancer there has been a steady improvement but with pancreatic cancer the survival rate has been three per cent and stayed at three per cent."
"There's an amazing woman who lost her husband to pancreatic cancer called Maggie Watts, who started this e-petition. To get it to Downing Street you have to get 10,000 people to sign it and to get a debate on it, you need 100,000 signatures.
"I've put it all over Twitter and am trying to get as many people backing it as possible."
Julie joined the soap in 1998 and has worn her famous red anorak since day one. Now she's going to sell it for charity. She said: "I'm auctioning it off for the Meningitis Trust, in memory of a good friend of mine, Alex Williams, who was a young ambassador."
Julie, married to screenwriter Ian Kershaw, is looking forward to new challenges – and a few lie-ins.
"The schedule is five days a week but fairly full-on from about 7.15am right through," she says. "So it'll be nice to sleep a bit more but I've already got a couple of theatre jobs lined up, and a real dream of mine is to appear in a Ken Loach film.
"That's on my bucket list."


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Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Everything from hamburgers to prime rib but our speciality is German cooking. Sauerbraten, schnitzels, wursts etc.
We offer a wide selection of food from crispy thin crust pizza to our famous sauerbraten and weinersnitzels.
Kirker's Inn, Restaurant and Bar, located in Hawthorne, NJ, Passaic County, NJ features German Food, german food recipes, german restaurant, german cuisine and german restaurants in Hawthorne NJ.195251ATTR:DELIVERYBARCATERING
Be the first NJ.com user to add photos or videos of Kirker's Inn
I'll be honest: the place makes a very bad first impression. Beside Bavarian flags and vintage Miller mirrors are, probably in an attempt to appeal to younger crowds, massive tacky Yuengling posters, among other kitsch decorations (the plastic shark mounting with a doll in its mouth comes to mind).
Furthermore, while the servers do their job well enough, don't expect a beaming smile and a...
I went here with my girlfriend for the first time two weeks ago, not only did I find a new beer that I love, but I've also found a new favorite local spot. We are anxiously awaiting our next...
Kirker's Inn can be found at Diamond Bridge Ave 237. The following is offered: Steak Houses. The entry is present with us since Sep 8, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Hawthorne there are 2 other Steak Houses. An overview can be found here.
Kirker's features an all day menu with selections of designer sandwiches, fresh seafood and steaks, thin crust pizza and German specialties. It's possible to order smaller portions of all menu items for those with smaller appetites.


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Too Hot To Handle
It's hot. This is the third week of sticky, sweat inducing heat. Every night I watch the news to see a break in the weather, but to no avail. I am aware it isn't hotter than other areas, but we pay the San Diego Tax to have perfect, 65 to 70 degree weather. That being said, none of the coastal homes come with air conditioning. When we moved to our first place, which was overly expensive, and very new, we never thought air conditioning would be an issue. When the August heat reared its disgusting, humidity infused head, I turned on the AC. Nothing but warm air ensued. I called our landlords, annoyed, and upset that the cool air wasn't performing. They told me, "there isn't air conditioning, you are on the coast"! I was 9 months pregnant, pissed, and perhaps crazy. Mike left immediately and bought us an air condition unit. I called it "My Unit" for the duration, and deemed our bedroom the Panic Room for all heat related problems.
Since moving to Oceanside, our bedroom is an odd assortment of vaulted ceilings that move into the closet, shower, and bathroom (WEIRD??? Architect, what were you thinking????) My amazing, "Unit" is working diligently, but due to the way our ghetto room is set up, not operating to my liking. Mike will surely be annoyed with the cost of running my unit around the clock for little return.
This brings me to the story at hand. When we moved in, our new neighbors invited us over for apple pie and Pepsi. I have never encountered someone inviting one over for such American offerings. It reminded me of one of those 80's alien movies, when they posed as humans. It made me laugh, but truly consider they may be of the extraterrestrial sort. I never see, or hear them; however I know they are there. There may be a wife, perhaps a sister, maybe more. Honestly, we have been here a year, and I haven't seen them, albeit the exception of a car leaving the garage. Since the first week, we haven't received another invitation.. I assume they know we are of the booze and darkness persuasion.
Today. I heard the magic. While I am sweating, swearing, and hoping my cool room will be enough, I heard the buzz of central air. They have installed air conditioning. The delicious, boisterous buzz is titillating. Their home must be cool, comfortable and inviting. I would gladly drink Pepsi and eat Apple Pie with possible aliens if they invited us today. Damn it, I love air conditioning. What are they doing? Probably enjoying central air, and laughing as the cool air pisses off the rest of us. What would one endure to enjoy cool climates? Odd, yes, but I can overlook it if they would invite us over for a cool respite. Damn It I am annoyed I didn't make friends with the one neighbor who installed central air.


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Wine Industry leaders recognized for Paso Robles Wine Country.
Put all the different wine regions of San Luis Obispo County into one tank and you get an award-winning blend. And the cream of the crop are being honored this month at the Mid-State Fair.
That's when the SLO County Wine Industry Awards will be presented to this years honorees.
They were chosen by members off the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, the San Luis Obispo Wine County Association, the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area, the Vineyard Team and past award recipients.
Here's the early scoop on the awards recognizing dedication, stewardship, innovation and leadership:
Wine Industry Person of the Year: Jason Haas, Tablas Creek Vineyard
Jason Haas, the son of Tablas Creek Vineyard founder and renowned importer Robert Haas, learned the wine business at an early age, accompanying his family on yearly European wine-buying trips and spending two summers working at Château de Beaucastel.
Winemaker of the Year: Christian Roguenant, Niven Family Wine Estates
Winegrape Grower of the Year: Lino Bozzano, Laetitia Vineyard & Winery.
Upon nomination, each recipient was voted on by their peers for their leadership and accomplishments in San Luis Obispo County, California's third largest wine region.
The San Luis Obispo County Wine Community will celebrate this year's award winners at a special event on Friday, July 21 at the California Mid-State Fair within the Mission Square beginning at 6:30 p.m. The awards presentation is a free event with paid admission to the California Mid-State Fair. Preceding the awards presentation is a ticketed event featuring a walk-around tasting of the gold medal winners of the Central Coast Wine Competition.


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All the information you will find on this page is courtesy of the Design Council, the national strategic body for design.
When times are tough and revenues are falling there may be a temptation for business to cut 'discretionary' budgets – money allocated to activities such as design, perhaps.
But design is a powerful tool in a downturn.
Our research shows that more than half of the UK's businesses:
• … are looking to design their way out of downturn
Over half (54%) of the firms in our survey thought design would contribute to a large or great extent in helping maintain their competitive edge in the current economic climate.
• … think design is more important now
Similarly, 53% thought that design had become more important in helping the firm to achieve its business objectives over the last three years.
• … think design is integral to the economic performance of the UK
The same number agreed or strongly agreed that design is integral to the country's future economic performance.
What can design do?
There are many ways design can help your business perform more strongly, from improving your image (internally and externally), innovating your products or services, through to enhancing your overall efficiency and saving you money. Companies of different sizes and from different sectors have worked with designers to improve their performance during challenging conditions.


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Posted By: John Holdorf, Personal Risk Advisor
Normally if you are age 65 and older or have certain disabilities you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, which often is referred to as original Medicare. For most of us Part A which covers hospital visits is no charge but Part B, which covers doctors' visits, will have a monthly premium and that base premium for 2013 starts at $104.90 a month.
Medicare does not cover everything and you may be responsible to cover some costs but there are options through private insurance companies to help pay for these uncovered expenses. There are Medicare Advantage plans which are also known as Medicare Part C and Medicare Supplements. In addition, to get drug coverage you need to enroll in Medicare Part D which also comes from private insurance companies that are contracted with Medicare.
There a limited times that you can sign up for Medicare coverage, turning age 65, at the loss of employer group coverage, and after a certain period on Social Security disability. There are penalties for late enrollment so make sure you are within the enrollment periods.
Once you are enrolled in a Medicare plan, you do have options to change plans at least once a year, October 15th to December 7th for a January 1st effective date. There are also some Special Election Periods that may occur depending on certain situations.
If you are turning 65 or are over 65 losing group coverage, I would suggest start the Medicare enrollment process three months prior to your effective date. You can check with the local Social Security office or go on line to: socialsecurity.gov, or medicare.gov. Also there may be extra help available to pay prescription drug premiums and costs. Again check with Social Security to see if you would qualify.


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Ruby see, Ruby do!
Was reading some books and after a few discussions with a friend of mine, Greg, who's the boss of EyeTools and a Ruby fan. For a database-centric guy, this is one heck of an eye-opener: migrations, a Ruby on Rails tool (or a gem), that helps you manage your database through classes, no SQL Queries to write at all! Note, Ruby is a language, and Ruby on Rails is an entire framework that consists of ready-built classes that you rarely need to poke around with that rides on top of Ruby.
I won't go to much details on how to get going on using Ruby on Rails or setting up a database as there's well written documentations only a "Google" away.
Migrations is something a non-SQL programmer could potentially use to add columns, primary keys, etc to your tables. It can even be effective for guys in other langauges like C#, C++, VB.NET, etc... let me show you some code examples -- yeah, some of the Ruby on Rails code syntax may throw you off -- looks too easy!
Let's create a table:
class AddClientTable def self.up
createtable :clients do |table|
table.column :name, :string
table.column :address, :string, :null => false
table.column :city, :string, :limit => 32, :null => false
table.column :email, :string
def self.down
droptable :clients
The self.up stuff is obviously the new stuff, and the self.down stuff is in case you need to backtrack from the changes you're making. Point is.. using migrations, all changes are self-documenting and easy to revert back. Excellent for DBAs with OCD.
Notice there's no ID field? Well, Ruby on Rails Migrations automatically adds it for you and sets the increment to 1. If you don't want an ID field, just replace the above crate table line to:
create_table :clients, :id => false do |table|
The possibilities are endless! unique constraints, text columns, varchar, char, foreign keys, default values, etc, etc... there are some limitations where you'll have to write up straight-up SQL like numeric(8,4) or whatever... but that SQL can be embedded in the class tho' so it still retains that self-documentation.
All in all, an awesome tool for the budding DBA.


text: If The Bra Fits, Fuck It!: Carmen Valentina is desperate for some new lingerie ever since her husband has stopped fucking her. All Carmen wants is to look and feel sexy but unfortunately her husband just doesn't seem to be all that supportive when it comes to her tits. When Ms. Valentina catches Jessy Jones, a horny salesman, peeking into her changing room, she decides to take advantage of the horny pervert! Actores: Carmen Valentina, Jessy Jones Etiquetas: Blonde, Blowjob (POV), Cheating, Couples Fantasies, Natural Tits, Sneaky, Tittyfuck (POV), Wife, Work Fantasies


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Although I had ordered Fuji's 18-135mm lens at the same time as the X-T2 body, the lens is still on back order which is extremely frustrating. Apparently, Fuji relocated the manufacturing plant for this and other lenses to the Philippines which is causing the back log. Fortunately, I have been able to secure a used 10-24mm and 100-400mm lens which I am very impressed with. They are extremely sharp and the image stabilization works much better than any Nikon lens I've owned. More on these lenses in future blog posts. During a recent trip to New England, I rented a 18-135mm lens and was blown away. Not only is the lens sharp, but the image stabilization is out of this world. The image of the leaf and shell was taken at 1/27th of a second at F16 hand held. I never did any hand held close up photography with my Nikon equipment. Due to the fact that this lens focuses to within 1.5 feet, I don't see myself having to purchase a macro lens. This lens is built like a tank and is weather sealed.
There is still a lot to learn and experiment with this camera. I'm really enjoying the film simulations, the exterior control knobs, and of course the electronic view finder. More later ...
January February (2) March (2) (9) April (9) (8) May (8) (3) June (3) (3) July (3) (3) August (3) (4) September (4) (2) October (2) (1) November (1) December
January February March April (2) May (2) June July August (1) September (1) (4) October (4) (3) November (3) (1) December (1)
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January February March (4) April (4) (1) May (1) (2) June (2) (2) July (2) August September (1) October (1) November (1) December (1)


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I stopped taking my beyaz birth control pills for two days because I started my period and didnt want to start my new pack. im usually active after im done with my period and just started taking my pills again, i only missed two days. how long do i have to wait until i can safely have sex again without a condom?
Beyaz - stopped my pills for 2 days, how long do I have to wait until its safe to have sex again?
- Asked
- 20 Jun 2013 by beyaztaker
- Updated
- 21 June 2013
- Topics
- birth control, sex, beyaz, period
Responses (1)
well i normally take my pills at 3pm so if i took it on wednesday at 3pm and decide to have sex next wednesday but before 3pm should i be okay?
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- Beyaz Information for Consumers
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- Side Effects of Beyaz (detailed)
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Now that Ted Lilly is back with the Cubs, do you see him as a general manager some day, possibly with the Cubs or maybe some other franchise? -- Peter S., Cary
First, Lilly has to get used to whatever duties the Cubs assign him. For starters, he'll be performing a lot of evaluations, from amateur players to minor leagues to major league players the Cubs might trade for some day.


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Carl Young CFRE
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation
Carl is the Fundraising Director at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and has close to two decades of senior fundraising experience at some of Australia's leading charities. Carl has extensive expertise across the key fundraising methodologies and is passionate in establishing effective business rules and processes to empower staff in strategic donor engagement and development; this has resulted in several awards for fundraising excellence.
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The Instigator
Pro (for)
0 Points
The Contender
Con (against)
0 Points
should all students be required to take at least one class of ASL?
Post Voting Period
The voting period for this debate has ended.
after 0 votes the winner is...
It's a Tie!
|Voting Style:
|Point System:
|7 Point
|2 years ago
|Post Voting Period
|747 times
|Debate No:
Debate Rounds (4)
Comments (1)
Votes (0)
I will argue that students should not be required of taking at least one year of American Sign Language (ASL).
I ask my opponent, and voters, what is sign language? Sign language, according to Webster's dictionary, is "A system of communication using visual gestures and signs, as used by deaf people". As it is seen in the quote, sign language is used commonly for those who are deaf. So what is wrong about teaching others how to communicate with deaf peope? Well according to the National Institute of Health and Deafness (1), there are only 4.3% of individuals in the United States who are deaf. Both young and adult, that is a very low number compared to other things.
I stand upon the position that students should not be required to learn ASL because of the fact that there isn't a high population of deaf people in society. If there was, I would heavily support it but unnecessary. How common do jobs look for someone who has ASL? Very minimally, and if we compare that to lets say a foreign language; a foreign language is a far superior skill. According to "The Hottest Job Skill is Foreign Language" (2), the common thing looked upon by employers is knowledge of a forein language; not ASL.
The idea sounds thoughtful, but is not useful what so ever. If it was given as an option for students, I would support it; but requiring students to learn it is actually a waste of time and money.
1. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov...
2. http://money.cnn.com...
My opponent states, in this round, "Many school today require student to learn a foreign like french or German or even Spanish not that there is any wrong with that at all but all i'm saying is instead of offer them languages that they will probably never use why not offer them a language that can teach a new perspective on communication". My opponent says we should offer this language, which I agree as a choice; however, the topic says "Should all students be required to take at least one class of ASL". The topic does not say, "Should be offered", it clearly states "Be required". Because of this, this counters my opponents claim on it being offered.
Also, my opponent claims that a foreign language will not be used in the future, however the same can be said about ASL. In the previous round, I provided evidence on how a foreign language is beneficial. What has my opponent provide? Nothing so his claim about ASL being "better" cannot work without any evidence to support it.
The Manitoba School District in Canada believes the importance of learning ASL is enormous. Apart from the common advantages related to learning of a second language, it permits and insight into the Deaf culture and bestows more opportunities to communicate with those who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The learning of American Sign Language develops awareness and sensitivity to cultural and linguistic diversity in addition to preserving the cultural identity of one. It also provides cultural enrichment and is the best means of fostering understanding between people who are hard of hearing and those who are not. Furthermore it gives the opportunity to identify question and challenge one"s own cultural assumptions, values and perspectives to contribute positively to society." ASL is just great over all it is beautiful to see someone be able to communicate with there hands and it as well has health benefits. ASL challenges you and your mind with hand and eye correlation Many studies have show that ASL " builds overall communication skills ; When you think of "language" you might just think of your spoken native language, such as English. However, language involves many other aspects including body language, emotional language, and more. An interesting study shows that people who can sign have improved abilities to read general body language " an integral part of communication. Think of the other ways you communicate beyond spoken words, such as sending someone red roses because as a message that says love, because you have learned that different flowers have different emotional messages. Sign language also helps communicate emotions and sometimes allows people who can"t express their emotions in words easily to still give voice to their feelings."(Speech Buddies)
Now imagine how much a student can benefit from one class of ASL , many people see it as it just be a language for the deaf but maybe if they would just give a try and be opened minded they would see that ASL is just another alternative form of communication. There are many studies like the ones above that prove that students can truly benefit for learning a bit of ASL.
In this round for the debate, I will take quotes stated by my opponent and rebuttal of why ASL should not be a requirement in schools.
According to Signing Time "Most children are not developmentally ready to speak until approximately 2 years of age. Babies are developmentally able to communicate with signs much earlier than that. Some studies indicate children as young as 5 to 6 months of age can communicate with limited signs. The inability to communicate can cause frustration and tantrums for both the parent and the child! Sign language is a wonderful tool that allows even very small children to express themselves. Most parents that sign with their babies talk about an unexplainable bond that is felt when their child communicates so early!"
Congratulations, you can communicate with a baby through ASL. But we must consider what ASL consists of. It consists of gestures, which any one can do without learning ASL. Examples include pointing, waving, and clapping which indicates a positive feed towards the baby's emotion. According to the article "It's No Charade: Baby Gestures Could Help Speaking" (1), it states: "Simple gestures are the fundamentals of communication -- shaking your head, pointing at something you want or a baby raising his or her arms to be picked up. The University of Chicago study found that the more gestures a baby used at 14 months, the more words he had in his vocabulary at 3½ years old". As it is seen, it says "simple gestures" not ASL, meaning that a class isn't required to gestures to help your baby learn to speak.
Some teachers who have incorporated sign language into their hearing classrooms are finding that they have better classroom management. Using signs for things such as toilet and question can reduce interruptions and help keep students on track during lectures.
And there is another way of keeping a class more maintained, than being forced to learn ASL; letting them learn upon their passions. According to the article "Seven Sins of our System of Forced Education" (2), it states that the seven sins for being forced to learn something is: Denial of liberty on the basis of age, Fostering of shame, on the one hand, and hubris, on the other, Interference with the development of cooperation and nurturance, Interference with the development of personal responsibility and self-direction, Linking of learning with fear, loathing, and drudgery, Inhibition of critical thinking, Reduction in diversity of skills, knowledge, and ways of thinking. For something being "required", it actually has worse consequences than positive effects. If we forced this on schools, it would not recieve the benefits that my opponent stated.
Apart from the common advantages related to learning of a second language, it permits and insight into the Deaf culture and bestows more opportunities to communicate with those who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
In the second round of this debate, I brought up the fact that only 4% of the U.S. population are deaf. A very low number, and being required to learn ASL is not as beneficial compared to a foreign language, where the population of that foreign language is far greater than those who are deaf.
To conclude this debate, my opponent only shows the positive aspects of ASL, but neglects the negative aspects that I brought up throughout the debate. My opponent has failed to rebuttal any of my points, while I rebuttaled and added new arguments to my points. Also, my opponent failed to provide any evidence until the final round, while I brought up more consecutibve evidence throughout the debate. And when my opponent did bring up evidence, he failed to povide a list of sources so we wouldn't know whether or not the evidence is legit. Overall, the debate was more one sided towards the Con because I brought up arguments, more evidence, and definately more rebuttals. Vote Con!
1. http://abcnews.go.com...
2. https://www.psychologytoday.com...
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Presenting advanced access related research in PERICLES at QI-14
The concept of advanced access combines automatic indexing, automatic document categorization, document retrieval and information visualization in digital libraries, and is crucial to any progress in digital preservation (DP). Namely, what would be the point of preserving anything for the future if one had no access to safeguarded content?
Lately the temporal aspect of content, its ageing, composition and dynamics, has become a matter of study in several fields, all of which have a lot to learn from physics, the heartland of such considerations. Further, increasing scholarly interest is being paid to the insight that quantum theory – practically quantum mechanics stripped of its physical content and focusing on uncertainty in human decision-making – could be relevant to the dynamics of macroscale systems as well, much beyond the subatomic world of Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger. This has brought in focus application areas such as concept theory, economics, information retrieval, linguistics and organizational dynamics under the name of quantum interaction, the new testing ground for such ideas.
Quantum interaction uses techniques and models developed in quantum physics and applies them in new areas of informatics. We are interested in the question of how they can be applied to access to semantic content in digital objects, and if parallel research trends in the field justify our own approach. Therefore related work done in PERICLES was presented by University of Borås (HB) representative Sándor Darányi at the 8th International Conference on Quantum Interaction (QI-14) held in Filzbach, Switzerland, from June 30 to July 3, 2014. QI-14 followed previous successful meetings at Stanford University; Oxford University; the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken; the AAAI Symposium in Washington DC; Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen; the Paris School of Economics; and the University of Leicester.
At this point it is important to recall that over the past 20 years, the role of context for the interpretation of semantic content has been emphasized in many scientific disciplines relevant to DP, and has become central to PERICLES too. And, as it happens, contextuality is also the central notion of the QI conferences. So the relevance of having presented our own solutions at QI-14 was threefold. We could learn about new methods on how to handle context and its semantics-modifying effects; receive critical feedback about the combination of ideas tested; and, last but not least, link in DP as a new and important research area for large-scale experimentation with evolving content in this scholarly community.
Of course the big research question is, does evolving semantics of digital collections show quantum-like behaviour over time, or rather, one fully described by classical physics? How to design measurements so as to falsify one of these assumptions? First answers related to space and digital media data investigated by PERICLES are expected next year. For now, using a software tool called Somoclu, we modelled the semantic content of words in a text collection as an evolving vector field (see below). The white dots indicate index terms, the black zones are inactive, stable semantic areas, whereas the red hot zone – just like in a lava field – indicates underlying tensions going back to language use. In fact one can expect new index terms to appear in this area, with the red and yellow boundaries being those fault lines where "content tectonics" will push apart existing content and allow for protruding new content to modify the semantic landscape.
Interesting related readings:
For a quick background, popular science articles about the interactions between quantum theory and wider sciences include the following stories in New Scientist:
- Quantum links let computers understand language. 08 December 2010 by Jacob Aron. Magazine issue 2790.
- Quantum Minds: Why we think like quarks. 05 September 2011, by Mark Buchanan. Magazine issue 2828.


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Uber Agrees Not to Use Waymo Technology in Self-Driving Cars
Uber Technologies and Alphabet's Waymo have settled their legal clash with Uber agreeing not to use Waymo's technology in self-driving cars.
Equifax Hack Might Be Worse Than You Think
Equifax said cyber thieves accessed records beyond what the company previously announced, according to a document submitted to the Senate Banking Committee.
Amazon to Launch Delivery Service That Would Vie With FedEx, UPS
Amazon is preparing to launch a delivery service for businesses, positioning it to directly compete with UPS and FedEx.
GameStop Fires Two Executives Days After Naming New CEO
GameStop Corp. has fired both its chief operating officer and its executive vice president of strategic business and brand development just a few days after it named a new chief executive.
L.L. Bean to End Unlimited Returns, Citing Customer Misuse
L.L. Bean, which had allowed customers to return products even years later if they weren't satisfied, now will allow returns for only one year after purchase.
Two Years After Meltdown, Third Avenue Fund Drops Again
Third Avenue Management's Focused Credit Fund imploded in late 2015 when credit markets turned rocky. On Wednesday, Third Avenue told investors it slashed the value of its remaining positions by more than 50%.
Maersk Swings to Profit, But Shipping Rates Still Too Low
Danish shipping and energy giant A.P. Moeller-Maersk swung to a profit in the fourth quarter, but the company's leader said global freight rates are still depressed.
L'Oréal Would Pay to Disentangle Itself From Nestlé
Cosmetics giant L'Oréal said it has the financial firepower to buy the roughly $27 billion worth of its stock held by Nestlé, opening the door to negotiations over how to decouple two of the world's biggest consumer-goods companies.
Bank of America Chief to Receive $23 Million for 2017, a 15% Bump
Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan is set to receive a 15% bump in pay for 2017, a year in which the bank hit new profit milestones.
China Signs First Long-Term Deal for U.S. Natural Gas
China has signed its first long-term contract to import U.S. liquefied natural gas, following a push by the Trump administration to open the rapidly growing market to U.S. suppliers.


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West Virginia tends to be considered a coller area than the majority of the mid-Atlantic states. West Virginia golf courses are generally in great situation year-round (before and after the snow, obviously). One of the best courses you could encounter is the Palmer Course at Stonewall Resort (Mountain Lakes). Hilly, tight and accented by lakes, Stonewall's prices remain nicely beneath $100 and also the vacation resort has a lot to offer for all family members. Also worth the West Va. go to will be the Raven Course at Snowshoe Mountain (Potomac Highlands), a Gary Player creation exactly where whitetail deer, Canada geese, beavers, foxes, rabbits, and the occasional black bear are associates of the course's sanctuary.
The typical greens fees stay under $150 and package offers via the resort are available. Of numerous noteworthy West Virginia courses, the 90-plus-year-old Greenbrier golf program is particularly notable; it is hosted a Ryder Cup and was home to golfing legend Sam Snead.
Other great locations include Pikewood National, Pete G.C and the Williams C.C. Weirton!
But what about equipment? Well you can either buy it or rent it, its really up to you.
We'll be covering everything Golf here at WVG!
Thanks for stopping by!


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Northrop Grumman Mechanical Engineer (level 2 or 3)- Marine Systems in Ventura, California
Northrop Grumman - Mission Systems Sector - Undersea Systems Division is seeking a self-starting, motivated Mechanical Engineer 2 or 3 to join our dedicated team. The team designs, develops, tests, delivers, and operates advanced prototype, unique marine systems.
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This position requires an active top secret clearance with SCI eligibility. Good written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills are also required.
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**Exposure to 3D mechanical CAD tools, MS Office suite tools
**Active Top Secret Clearance with SCI eligibility
Basic Qualifications for a level 3:
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**Exposure to 3D mechanical CAD tools, MS Office suite tools
**Active Top Secret Clearance with SCI eligibility
Preferred Qualifications:
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**Team player capable of working closely with customer personnel
**Proficient at traditional and finite element analysis
**Marine environment engineering experience
**Willingness to deploy at sea with customer personnel
Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.


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Saturday, December 31st, 2016
I have followed the Print Pattern blog for years – such a great showcase for the genre of surface design, illustration and pattern. Marie Perkins the founder of the blog has had several books published over the last few years all of which are gorgeous books filled to the brim of design, illustration and beautiful patterns. I noticed last year there was a call for entries for a new book which was focusing on Nature, so I applied and to my shock got accepted! So a year or so later the book has now been released and I have a dbl page feature – beyond happy and very flattered to appear against some of the biggest names in the industry. My copy arrived today – a great great way to finish 2016. I have so many ambitions as a designer of things i'd love to do and achieve and I feel now is my time to make these things happen and start believing in myself a bit more xx


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Paradyskloof Trail Run
Our trail grading: ORANGE 6A
Distance: 6.4km
Extremeness: Technical single track downhill
Location: Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Joggers: Riana Roux & me
Yesterday I had the privilege of running with my wife! We did the Paradyskloof regular at a very chilled pace. It was really enjoyable and the perfect way to get more extreme after a week of sickness.
|The start of our run


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It's currently 4am, and I am 39 weeks + 4 days pregnant with my second child. This isn't ideal, as I need to be sleeping as much as I can before my world gets turned upside down by sleep deprivation!
Instead, I am anxiously wondering if the 5th February will be the day we meet our little princess, and do I have everything ready? – almost. I have a couple of things to add to my hospital bag, and tons of ironing to do, oh yeah and a new house to get in order (we've been in less than two weeks!).
I then started thinking about how overwhelming it can be when you're pregnant for the first time. My best friend is currently 24 weeks pregnant (so exciting!) with her first, and she has so many questions, and it has reminded me of all the emotions you go through with your first (btw you second pregnancy is far less exciting and a lot more exhausting when also running around after a toddler, working – and stupidly moving house at the same time).
Given I am wide awake, I thought I would use this time to jot down some of my thoughts / tips for first time mums-to-be
Finally, ENJOY! The first pregnancy is special, every day is new, every movement is exciting. Remember how incredible your body is for producing another human being, and make sure you rest, and relax. The feeling you have when the baby arrives is nothing I can explain, and its something I can't wait to experience again.
I am sure lots of mums have other tips or suggestions, so please feel free to add them in the comments section! I would love to know if anyone has any for second time mums!!
Good luck to anyone who is expecting!
So I've been away for a while, nearly 16-months to be exact, and 2016 has been my most challenging year yet, and here's why….
On the 27th December 2015 we lost my Grandad to a stroke, in January we had an almighty party to say our goodbyes, and what a fantastic send-off but such a sad way to start the year.
January also brought the news my agency had a lost a large contract, this later led to the agency closing (which i believe was for the best), therefore I was made redundant. Having worked at this agency for 8 years I knew nothing else…but maybe this is the change I needed.
Three weeks before my wedding a dormant cyst on my shoulder became infected and I had to have emergency surgery and was left with an open wound. Not only wouldn't this be healed by the time I got married but it involved daily trips to the Drs to get my dressing changed, which my husband-to-be had to master so he could do it for the duration of our honeymoon. Plus I couldn't drive or exercise and struggled managing harry as I couldn't lift him.
May arrived and our wedding was amazing! It literally flew by, it was worth all the stress and chaos. We had an amazing day, we got very drunk with all of our favourite people. Our honeymoon was the trip of a lifetime, we flew to Hawaii (This place truly is paradise) , flew back to LA, drove up the west coast in an open-top-mustang to the Big Sur, and on to San Francisco. Couple of days sightseeing, and then back to our little boy.
The first four months of the year had been totally overwhelming, and not until we went on honeymoon had I stopped, then did I realise I didn't have a plan….I always have a plan…..sh*t!!!
After 4 weeks at home with Harry, an opportunity came up a stones-throw away from home (well in comparison to my previous 90 minute daily commute), it was part-time and right up my street. However things can never be that simple…..Not long after my second interview I found out I was pregnant (we basically got pregnant the weekend of our wedding, not part of my 'non-existing plan' – whole other post coming!).
So, I went for my third interview, but I couldn't walk-away without saying something. I was shaking I was so nervous, but that proved to me how much I wanted this role, and I couldn't go ahead unless I was 100% honest. I dropped the bombshell and left them to discuss, and later that day they offered me the job, it was a 6-month freelance contract but with the opportunity to go back once the baby was born! AMAZING!!!
At our 12 weeks scan we got high-risk for Down Syndrome again, we opted for the harmony test, which Wrexham NHS offered for free (Only some NHS offer this service FOC – and only if you're high-risk). Thankfully we got the all clear.
As we are soon to be four, we definitely needed a new house. Our house has been perfect for our little family and a great first home, but with a fourth member on the way, we need more space. We found an adorable cottage (that we had to fight off lots of other people for) that has been extended to more than double the original size. Its just what we were looking for – something full of character, but with lots of space! Its perfect, and fingers crossed we should be moving in January 2017 – a great start to a new year.
This year has been beyond challenging (though I wouldn't change anything about it) with the above being a very very brief summary of my ups and downs, but there's something I haven't mentioned in here, that has had a huge impact on my life and that's anxiety and depression. This I need to write about in my next post so stay tuned…
I am 31 years old, I am engaged, own my own home, have a gorgeous 11 month old son, and I guess you could say so far I have a sucesful career. Is this normal for most entering their thirties? Who knows?
A few decades ago, I would of been deemed by society as too old to be having kids, and living out of wedlock would have been a sin.
I was never one of those girls who grew up dreaming of their wedding day, or meeting the man of their dreams, settling down and having children. I dreamt of having a successful career, making a difference, and being independant. Rather than putting an age on getting married, I would put an age on what job I wanted, and earning enough to afford little luxuries. Only five years ago I had none of the above and if you'd of asked me then if I would of been in this position now I probably would of laughed.
I hear friends, colleagues and even strangers talk about what you should of achieved by the time you're 30. Typically people want to of travelled in their 20's, and then be married / engaged, own a property, be considering children, and earning a decent salary by their early 30's.
Is it society putting pressure on people to have this expectation?
Is it our peers?
So if you reach you 30 and have all of the above are you then deemed successful?
In my opinion age is just a number, you only have one go at life, and its YOUR life, no one elses. I came about this post for a couple of reasons. Recently a couple of friends who will be turning 30 next year having been writing bucket lists, changing up their lives and making important decisions, and they have all said "oh but I'm going to be 30 next year, and I don't have [a husband, a baby, a house a career]", but I want to shake them and tell them to go enjoy their lives, they have plenty of time to do all that.
Another reason I wrote this was because of a montage we did in work, each person had to write in two words what we would of said to our younger selves. I found this too hard to do in two words, so I just suggested 'no regrets'. I dont think people should regret anything as what ever decison you made at the time, you would of done for a very valid reason, and there is no point on dwelling on things you can't change. However my favourite came from our Creative Partner, he nailed it with 'Trust Dreams', I realy think dreams can be achieved if you put your mind to it….and stop wasting time thinking about where and what you should have by the young age of 30.
So what does everyone else think?
Does society have a checklist of where you should be at the age of 30?
What would your two words of advice be to your younger self?
Join me and post a selfie with your #wizewords to your younger self.
So I have been awful at keeping my blog updated, my little sister would not be happy that I have not blogged for 6 weeks!!! In my defence I started back a work full-time in September, and have been trying to get Harry in a new routine of going to his Nanna's and starting Nursery. Plus we had 8 family birthdays in September, including mine, so big party month!
Trying to find time to write over the past few weeks has been really hard, I have started a new role at work, and really struggled with being away from Harry four days a week, and we have had birthday celebrations most weekends. Once I lost the momentum a little, I got a bit scared of what I could write about. Guess i stuck my head in the sand.
After a month of chaos, I am ready to start the next chapter of life as a working full-time mum. I am settled in to work (in a new job), Harry is getting settled, and my sister has kindly taken Harry for a walk, so I can get cracking on some new posts, here goes…..
A new baby can be so consuming, and it is easy to forget the relationship you had before they came along. We try our best to get time together, either a day out, or going for a meal, but it can be quite hard when you don't have a long list of babysitters to call on.
Rich was given tickets for the Red Bull Air Race at Ascot Racecourse. We were invited as 'Friends of Red Bull' (FORBS), which included complimentary food and drink all day, the best view of the race course, and all day entertainment. We packed Harry off to his Grandad's for the weekend, and managed to squeeze in a visit to the cinema on the friday, two lie-ins, and our day out to the air race.
Red Bull, as usual put on a good show. The whole set-up was vintage / retro themed, with all the staff dressed up, the interior of the FORBS section was fantastic, the cocktails flowed (all Red Bull based of course), the food was never ending and we had a front row seat to the air race.
The whole day was great from start to finish, to relax with a morning cuppa in bed, take my time to wash and style my hair, do my make-up and have breakfast together. The day at Ascot was such a treat, and we managed to talk about a lot more than just Harry. We finished the day off with a visit to the local Chinese, just like old times. However I do think I had a little too much Red Bull, as the insomnia kicked in soon as I leapt in my bed.
After a whole weekend without my baby, on Sunday I was like a kid waiting for father christmas, I sat looking out the window, waiting for him to come back! I was so excited to have him back in my arms. I thought him going away would get easier, but I think it is getting worse!
A lot of people, admittedly me being one of those prior to having my own baby, thought mums who stayed at home had loads of time on their hands. How wrong was I!
I am sure all mums would agree, taking care of a baby 24/7 is a lot harder than it seems, and one thing you never catch, is a break. What I mean by a break is your little one being the responsibility of someone else, be that your partner, a family member, so that you can relax, and know they aren't going to wake-up just as you sit-down.
Yes the baby will go down for naps, sometimes a few times a day, so why don't you get a break whilst they're napping? Perhaps because you always find a million and one things to do round the house. There are always bottles to wash and sterilise, if you're weaning, there is pureeing and cooking to do, cleaning the house, which seems to get messier now your on maternity leave as you are there all day! If like me, my hair started dropping out 4 months after giving birth, i was hoovering and sweeping everyday. You now have twice the amount of washing and ironing…. the list is endless.
Yes there are the nice things you get to do, like coffee with other mums, shopping, walks in the park, but you're not relaxing, as you still thinking about the next item on the schedule, well when will the little one need a feed, and do I need to change his nappy, do I want him to fall asleep in the pram or in the car…it is mentally draining.
I have come to realise (only taken me 7 months), that mums need time off too, the same as other people do from their jobs. Sometimes just an hour away from the house, away from other responsibilities, a couple of drinks with a friend, go for a swim, pop round your mums for a cuppa. These are such simple things, that can be overlooked, and I confess I took having 'me-time' for granted before having Harry.
I've found my blog has been a great escapism. For example today – Saturday, I have been with Harry all week, and unfortunately my partner had a super busy schedule, and so he has been away most of the week. I think this really took its toll on me, being responsible for Harry all week, alone, especially after a 10 day holiday and having support on a daily basis. So today I have been in a funny mood, I had a lie-in which was great and I woke up feeling positive and ready for the day, but as the day progressed, and Harry decided not to have his nap, I've become anxious, and snappy, unfortunately taking it out on my partner. Both my baby and his daddy have now gone for a nap, and I have been able to just chill-out (opting to do no cleaning, no cooking, no washing), just me, my blog, and I am about to treat myself to a fresh juice! I feel so much better for just having this past hour, to collect and download my thoughts.
Don't misinterpret this for me being ungrateful, I love my baby more than anything in the world, but I need to be Jen as well as mummy.
I am going to try and make sure each weekend, I take myself out for a coffee, get my nails done or see some friends, letting the boys have some 'father and son' time, and allowing me to have a bit of time to be Jen and not mummy or wife (to be).
It would be great to hear anyones thoughts on how they relax, or have created their own time away from being a mum?
I will be the first to admit I am a sun worshiper, 99% of my holidays have been about sitting in the sun, reading a book with a glass of vino, working on my tan. I would possibly dedicate one day to either shopping or sightseeing…if the weather was bad. Well I can kiss those holidays goodbye for the next 10 years….at least!!
We decided for our first holiday with Harry we would drive to France. Contemplating having to get all of Harry's stuff on a plane made me want to cry , whereas driving we could shove it all in the car, stop when we wanted, and do everything at our own pace.
We opted for Normandy / Brittany as the drive wasn't to long, and my best friend lives in Normandy so we were able to stay with her for a few days for a real French experience. We had 5 days in Fecamp, a small coastal town about 2 hours south of Calais. We stayed in a typical French home, ate fresh croissants each morning, and stuffed ourselves with bread, cheese, meats and wine for lunch. Sylvie (whose house we stayed in, and she spoke very very little English) was an excellent cook and made us a homemade cheese tart, it was divine, and I think rich will definitely be trying it at home.
We spent our days relaxing, and catching up on some sleep, visiting an old Mill recently bought by Katy's family, checking out the local markets, also we had a day trip to Rouen and a walk through Fecamp and along the promenade.
Rouen's famous gold clock / our trip to the mill / Rouens beautiful architecture /date night!
Each evening we did something different, we attended a French birthday BBQ, where we were taught how to lasou, had meat fondue (not sure it was my cuppa tea, but glad I tried it), went to a steak restaurant where the meat was cooked in front of you on an open fire (this tasted AMAZING), had another BBQ, and our final night we ate so much at lunch we couldn't face another meal, so had a lovely date night whilst Katy babysat Harry, and we went for a few drinks.
Meat Fondue / Galette (famous Brittany savoury pancakes) / chocolate with salted caramel
We decided to take the scenic route to our next stop in Roz sur Couesnon, until we saw it was a 7.5 hour drive. So we took the motorway to Caen (our half way point), and then took the scenic route, admiring lots of tiny French villages along the way. We had rented a cottage for 3 days / 4 nights, based in between Mont St-Michel and St-Malo. We spent a day at each of these locations, and then a day in the cottage when we had the best weather (make sure to read my blog post about the cottage we rented, it was wonderful and a reasonable price). We'd not had the best luck with the weather so far, but on our last day we had glorious sun, and were able to get the paddling pool out for Harry, and being typical Brits, soon as he was down for a nap, we were out trying to catch what we could of the sun, so at least we come back looking a little healthier.
All-in-all we had a great time, but I must admit going on a holiday with a small baby was much harder than I thought despite packing our car so it was bursting with all his stuff. Harry really missed his jumperoo, and I think just having playtime, as a lot of time was spent out and about so he was either in his buggy, his car seat or the sling.
I guess it also didn't help that Harry had a stomach bug for the first week and projectile vomited multiple times over Sylvie's sofa, which I might add is black. It rained for our first two days, Harry screamed for 2 hours on date night, so we nearly never made it out, and to finish it off, we spilt red wine down the cottage's white curtains on our last night, and the owners didn't speak English so trying to express how deeply sorry we were was very hard.
Would I do it all again? YES! Spending a week with my boys and a few days with my best friend was totally worth the hard work.
Despite our child being ill, and vomiting everywhere I would like to thank Katy, Greggers, Sylvie and Katy's family for making us feel soooo welcome! We had a great time and a true French experience.
Our little man is 6 months today!!!


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A lovely lady asked if I could do gloves without fingers for your 16month old boy. He didn't sit still long enough to get thumbs or fingers in, and of course, gloves don't stay on. I suggest mitts, like you get for babies and a cord fastening.
The top picture is the result, and this is what I got back yesterday. I was thrilled.


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Here's to the summer!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Memorial Day 2012: Recap
Though no Memorial Day will ever compete with 2011, this Memorial Day was packed with fun - a 30th birthday trolley with the Specials, lunch at my favorite sandwich shop, first anniversary wedding cake, homemade salsa and mojitos, a new necklace from Scott, fancy jello shots, dinner with Matt and Kelly, an anniversary couples massage, at-home jewelry making, and lots of sun and happiness.
Here's to the summer!
Here's to the summer!
3 comments:
I love your new necklace...and want more information on the jewelry making! Fun weekenend and I love your bright clothes!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMay 29, 2012 at 11:25 PM
I agree, where did you learn to make necklaces? It's very pretty!ReplyDelete
Thank you for helping me to celebrate 30 - it wouldn't be the same without you two!!! :) ~LS
Thanks guys :) Just posted a little more detail on the jewelry making! Thanks for asking - it was very fun to do!!ReplyDelete
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Four Seasons Mall is a small enclosed dead shopping mall located in Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. I'm aware that this topic has nothing to do with Disney in any form, but it's a place I've wanted to talk about for a long time, because I live near it and I haven't seen an article talk in depth about it and do the mall any justice. I wanted to write about it before it gets torn down, so I hope you find this article interesting, especially if you live in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota.
At about 117,000 sq. feet, Four Seasons Mall is on the smaller end of shopping centers, and it has been largely ignored by dead mall enthusiasts. Instead they focus on the larger dead mall Brookdale Center (Now Shingle Creek Crossing) in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. This means it has largely avoided vandalism, but it also means little has been documented about the mall and not a lot is known about it. Before I talk about the history of the mall, I want to talk a little bit about the design of the property, as it is very strange.
Four Seasons Mall is built on a thin strip of land off of Lancaster Lane, parallel to HWY 169 in Plymouth. It was built in a great place; vehicles on 169 could see the mall, bringing traffic to the area which also includes a Cub Foods. Just like the land it was built on, FSM is long and thin, seeming more like a strip mall than a regular mall. The mall has a unique design not seen in a lot of malls: four entrances, all located on the west side of the mall, allowed access to the interior of the property. Once inside, you would be greeted by beautiful designs on walls made of wood. There was only one hallway in the mall, located on the west side of the building. All stores were on the east side of the hallway, with the west side having windows letting in natural light and allowing for tenants to advertise sales/promotions. This is what makes the mall so thin: There are only stores on one side of the hallway, instead on both sides like most other malls.
Picture by gregshaal
The design of the exterior is pretty dated now. It may have looked nice in the malls' prime, but now it looks really old. The four entrances are marked with the logo of the mall on a beige background: a circle with pieces of it depicting each of the seasons. Along the top of the mall is a green border which includes white signs where tenants would advertise their business. Some of these advertisements can still be seen today, including Marcello's Pizza, and Curves (a gym).
The largest store was on the north end, and had its' own entrance and sign. The space was used as a grocery store named Fresh and Natural Foods. The building itself is made of a dark red brick, which attributes to why it looks so dated and depressing now that the property is vacant.
Four Seasons Mall opened in 1978 with 26 spaces for tenants. It was constructed by RMF Group (http://www.rmfgroup.com), the same company that built Brookdale Center. It was built on 17 acres of land, right off of US HWY 169. There isn't that much recorded history about the mall in its' early days, other than it had a fairly high occupancy rate and became a popular place for locals to go to. Over time, the mall slowly lost tenants to other malls and shopping centers, and in the process it lost costumers and traffic to the area. These pictures were taken by Google Earth and show the downfall of the mall from the early 1990's to 2016.
In the mid-2000's, the city of Plymouth took measures to get tenants of the mall and the surrounding area better water, as pipes leading to the area has eroded. This showed that the city still cared about the property. At about this time, the mall had somewhere between 5-10 tenants, most of them small businesses. The owners of the mall (Four Seasons II LLC.) knew that nothing could be done to save the mall, and they put it up for sale for $12.5 million after buying it from the original owners for about $2.5 million in 1996. It was bought on November 30th, 2010 by Walmart. At this point, there were five tenants: Bahn Thai, Marcello's Pizza, Fresh and Natural Foods, Kaplan Professional Schools, and Curves. Walmart took an interest in the site after realizing that they aren't well represented in the West Metro of the Twin Cities. Currently, Wal Mart has three stores in this area: Maple Grove, Brooklyn Center (Redeveloped location. Once was Brookdale Center), and Eden Prairie. They decided they needed a new location, and Four Seasons Mall would be a great place for it. There was one problem: Plymouth City Council hated the idea of a Wal Mart taking the place of the mall. The city had drawn redevelopment plans, and all of them were either mixed use or residential developments, and none of the were close to a big box retailer like Wal Mart: http://www.plymouthmn.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=7076
Wal Mart hadn't had the property rezoned before they bought either, which added another layer of trouble for the company. Still, the plans carried on, and Fresh and Natural Foods, Bahn Thai, Kaplan Professional Schools, and Curves abandoned their locations. Fresh and Natural Foods have three other locations in the Twin Cities, so everything was moved to one of those stores. Curves relocated to a strip mall near Target called Cottonwood Plaza. The location the Bahn Thai closed permanently, and wouldn't open in a new location. Their website hasn't been taken down strangely. It's a piece of crap but I found that interesting: http://bahnthai.tripod.com.
With these stores gone, there was only one tenant left in the mall, and they didn't have a long time left as Wal Mart refused to renew their lease. On February 29th, 2012, the final tenant, Marcello's Pizza, closed their doors, leaving the mall officially dead while Wal Mart figured out what to do with it. Wal Mart was having some issues with getting their store built. They originally planned to build their location in 2011-2012 but ran into some issues with the city. They submitted plans for a 150,000 sq. foot store, but the plans were rejected by the city. They then submitted plans for a smaller, 87,000 sq. foot store, but that too was rejected by the city.
The city claimed that the site could only handle 85,000 sq. feet of retail, even though the mall was well over that threshold. After this rejection, Wal Mart went silent for a few years, leaving the mall abandoned for even longer. Inevitably, on February 26th, 2015, Wal Mart put the site up for sale for around $10 million. It was bought by the current owners, INH Properties, soon after. On INH's website, the mall is listed as being For Sale: http://inhproperties.com/property/four-season-mall-site-2/
Recently, plans have been submitted by the city by a group called Rock Hill Management, who from what I can gather, are a division/partner of INH Properties who plan on developing the location. They pitched a mixed use development which has retail, residential, and a transit area, named Agora.
The first city council meeting discussing this redevelopment occurred recently, and it seems as if the city really likes the idea and wants to approve it. The EAW was created within the last month (http://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showdocument?id=12948), and more city council meetings are scheduled discussing Agora: http://www.plymouthmn.gov/home/showdocument?id=3003, So it seems like the days of Four Seasons Mall are numbered. Currently, the Mall sits completely vacant, and it's quite sad. Here are some pictures I took of the mall:
I only hope that Agora can live up to what the mall was: a place where members of Plymouth and surrounding areas could gather, host events, and shop. Interestingly, the same company who built the mall are also helping to redevelop it. The website for Agora can be found here, and it makes the project seem very promising: http://www.agoramn.com. It says that Agora will be open in 2018, so we'll see…..
Here are some drawings of what Agora will look like:
Here is a brochure talking about Agora.
AGORA Update (12/26/16): I was doing a little bit more research about the Agora project, as I was very interested by it, and I came across this document from Colliers' website. It goes into a ton of detail about what each building is going to look like, and I found it fascinating. I noticed that the two hotels listed have brands attached to them: Home2 Suites and Aloft Hotels. Maybe those are the hotels that are going to be a part of Agora, but who knows this early on in the planning phase. Another interesting thing I noticed was that on the first page some of the retail is labeled as 'Existing'. The retail sections that are labeled that are in areas where the mall currently stands, which leads me to think that the developers are remodeling sections of the mall and using those sections as the new retail areas, but I'm not sure. I'll keep updating this article as I find out more about the future of Four Seasons Mall.
AGORA Update (1/18/17)
The latest news related to Agora has surfaced: The rezoning plan has been approved, moving the project one step closer to becoming a reality. I reached out to Agora about whether they plan on including something to pay homage to FSM in the new development. I will update this post if I get a response.
Lots of news related to Four Seasons Mall has been released in the last month. The project was approved by the City of Plymouth. The days of Four Seasons Mall are limited now. Also, I was sent a response from the developers saying they haven't considered it, but it's possible. So, I don't know.
Depending on when demolition takes place, I'll try to get out there and take as many pictures as I can, under a new post I'll call Four Seasons Mall: The Demolition
That's all from me today; I hope you enjoyed this article! I'm really proud of it, so it would mean a lot to me if you shared it on Twitter, Facebook, etc.! I've created a gallery of photos of the mall, in case the pictures I showed weren't enough.
Colliers' description of project
If the city of Plymouth wanted to let me have/give me one of the logos the mall has above its' entrances, I wouldn't be mad 😛
Or the one on the sign.
Also, I really hate whoever wrote on the door "Fuck HELP." I hate people who vandalize abandoned things.


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I'm a life story coach who helps insightful people develop memorable stories, so they can share their knowledge, wisdom and heart with others.
This can be in the form of what sales people call an elevator pitch or it might be more suited toward creating a legacy book for kids and grandkids. And for some, it'll help them make a point in conversation, while sharing life stories in a more memorable way.
I'm also passionate about film and television, so you'll see several articles about my favorite storytelling media. It's in my blood and no matter how often I help others with communicating their stories; I always come back to my medium of telling stories on screen.
This internal battle between helping others and participating in the film arts has drawn several types of people from 144 countries and gave rise to the following types of blog entries (click on the below to read sample entries):
• Life Stories
• Leadership Articles
• Filmmaking/Production Tips
• Behind the Scenes
• Creativity
• Media & Society
• Interviews
• Reviews
Simply put, this blog is about Creatively Exploring the Stories of Life.


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This annual symposium aims to bring to light the research and discoveries of photonics experts from across Canada and from around the world.
Bridging the gap between theory, research and applied science, the Schawlow-Townes Symposium explores the science of light from all angles. It's a gathering of the brightest minds in the field who, like the symposium's namesakes, continually strive to push the boundaries of photonics.
The inaugural annual Celebration of the University of Ottawa's research achievements in the arts, humanities and social sciences took place on September 27.
Tabaret Hall550 Cumberland StRoom 246Ottawa, ON, CanadaK1N 6N5Tel.: 613-562-5270Fax: firstname.lastname@example.com


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[Warning: Minor Spoilers Ahead]
|Add to Goodreads
Goodreads Summary:
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellant ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...
Published before The Hunger Games and other such dystopian phenomena, Uglies is free from many of the typical tropes of this genre. For example, while most main characters in dystopian novels start out somewhat suspicious of if not downright against the system of government in their respective society. However Tally, the main character in Uglies, is completely fine with the cultural norm of getting a surgery at sixteen to make her pretty. Even when Shay, her friend, tells her about the possibility of escaping their destiny and going to live in a place called the Smoke, Tally decides she still wants to turn Pretty and even agrees to track down her friend and bring her back. It is only much later that she decides the government is actually rotten at its core.
Although there was romance in the book, it was rather downplayed as opposed to being the center of attention, which I found rather refreshing.
Not only that, but this book brings up some important issues in our lives today (as every good dystopian novel should), such as society's extreme focus on beauty and the ethics of plastic surgery.
Tally was somewhat of a flat character, not particularly well-developed, and I also found Westerfeld's descriptions of scenery and events to be somewhat lacking in vividness. Plus, nothing in the book really surprised me--most events were rather predictable.
Overall though, Uglies was exciting and different, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Pretties.
Now I'm going to do a breakdown of each element of the series, judging it on different criteria. I'll rate each element on a scale of 1-5, 1 being bad, and 5 being amazing.
Plot: 4
Complexity: 3
Creativity: 4
Believability: 5
Surprise: 2
Characters: 4
Plot: 4
Complexity: 3
Creativity: 4
Believability: 5
Surprise: 2
Characters: 4
Depth: 3
Personality: 4
Believability: 4
Writing Style: 3
Description: 2
Tension: 3
Overall Score: 4
Happy Reading!


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Welcome to the office of Thomas DiFulco, MD and certified physician assistant Stephanie Richards. Our practice, DeKalb Medical Physicians Group Toco Hills Primary Care, has been established to serve the community with professional healthcare and exceptional, compassionate care.
DeKalb Medical Physicians Group Toco Hills Primary Care is located right across from Toco Hills shopping center at 2882 North Druid Hills Road NE, Suite B in Atlanta, GA 30329.
We devote ourselves to the comprehensive health care of you, our patient. We are committed to providing the highest level of care when you are ill and when you are well. This requires a collaborative effort with you to help you with your health goals. We want you to achieve the healthiest you by promoting a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention.
Our practice is aligned with DeKalb Medical Physicians Group. This means that our patients are able to promptly obtain a full range of diagnostic tests, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound at any of the DeKalb Medical facilities that are most convenient. When urgent medical care by a specialist is necessary, we are able to facilitate appointments and referrals for our patients to one of the more than 800 physicians on the DeKalb Medical staff.


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Using More Data Sources for Better, Faster Business Decisions
More Data Sources, Fast Holistic Insights, More Answers
Accessing your disparate internal data sources and reaching insights is a lengthy process. Your external data sources and files are fraught with data formatting and data prep issues that slow things down even further. If blending them, it requires more prep and data modeling. There's a way around this with built-in intelligent data inferencing, and automated data blending and harmonization solutions that speed and ease this otherwise tedious process.
- Free your business from the shackles of time-consuming data munging across internal and external data sources.
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- Speed exploration of insights, iterate fast and conclude on actions.
Data Intelligence (DI) Over Business Intelligence (BI)
A rigid pre-wired analysis or a traditional dashboard view will restrict the possibilities of what you can uncover in your data. The biggest trap is viewing a pre-determined analysis that someone else built. Don't let a pre-set dashboard read someone's mind. Let domain experts and users explore the data with more degrees of freedom.
ClearStory enables you to:
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Building a Data Lake and Making it Work for the Business
An Enterprise Data Warehouse. Any data platform. Hadoop. Whatever your data lake architecture, ClearStory helps you take advantage of the opportunities your data lake presents by enabling your users to securely access data and uncover valuable insights but with the user governance and data governance that is crucial to the success of your data lake initiative.
- Leveraging ClearStory's user governance and data governance model to securely access data from your data lake and ensure both IT and the business knows how to generate compelling analysis and data stories.
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Unlock Insights From Your Cloud-based Data Sources
You've got relational databases and data warehouses in the cloud and cloud-based applications. ClearStory speeds access, processing, and analysis of data stored in the cloud and scales as data volumes increase. These sources can also be blended and harmonized with your on-premise data sources. ClearStory provides the first, highly scalable interactive analysis solution with deep data exploration capabilities to uncover more insights.
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Salesforce.com Analytics, CRM Applications,
Holistic Analysis
Don't let blind spots hinder your sales operations. Connect directly to your Salesforce.com data, harmonize other sources on-the-fly, and avoid painful API and integrations. Harness the insights that help your sales team stay ahead of plan. Collaborate with your team in real-time to make critical decisions faster on opportunities that help your business stay ahead.
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Multi-screen behavior, franchise analysis, supply chain analysis, audience analysis and more. Viewers watch 140 hours of TV per month and 7 hours of video on the Internet while also browsing their smart phones and tablets simultaneously. Who's watching what, from where, when, and what are the trends across mobile versus fixed devices? Discover and diagnose impacts of new media, retail channels, and social influences on audiences and viewership.
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- Generate insights in the form of "Data Stories" and "Interactive StoryBoards™" that you and other line-of-business users can actively collaborate on – in real-time.


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Popular uses of Bitcoin
Bitcoin has now moved well beyond its days as a novelty for most and now functions as an important digital asset in its own right, with the market in the cryptocurrency estimated to be worth almost $4 billion. Despite this, many users will feel left in the dark as to the actual potential for using the digital currency, both online and in person. Nowadays, due in part to the hard work of a number of Bitcoin payment providers, there are a huge number of goods and services accessible using Bitcoin, with companies both large and small getting involved. As more and more purchases can be made using Bitcoin, some users may be curious as to what else they can use Bitcoin for.
Pay & get paid for freelance work
Bitcoin provides a fantastic means to pay for the work of talented freelancers around the globe. Due to the nature of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency can provide businesses with access to highly talented individuals regardless of location. There are communities of hard-working freelancers who actively seek employment with payment in Bitcoin, due to the practical nature of transferring value internationally with the cryptocurrency. In our continually globalising world, flexible working arrangements are set to become more and more important, could Bitcoin provide a simple way to pay staff for remote work?
Support & Invest in Innovation
With more and more platforms appearing, Bitcoin is now extremely useful as an asset for crowdfunding and venture capitalism. In this period of anticipated growth within the tech-sector and particular interest in blockchain start-ups there is huge potential for investors to fund exciting new enterprise and reap the benefits.
Arbitrage & Exchanges
Due to the global nature of Bitcoin, those with access to multiple fiat currency markets can take advantage of price differences between markets to make a healthy profit. Although this can make users a good income, the volatility of the Bitcoin market can also result in losses! There are a huge number of exchanges based almost everywhere in the world so buying and selling Bitcoin can be an exciting profit-making challenge. Until recently, prices seemed relatively stable and have only risen of late!
Pay for services & Donate to Charity
There is a massive list of services which can be accessed with Bitcoin. Users can pay for everything from web hosting to flights with the cryptocurrency and the list continues to grow daily! Bitcoin also provides an incredibly flexible way to donate to charities and individuals. There are a few charitable organisations which already accept donations in Bitcoin; why not encourage others to get set up with a Bitcoin payment provider? Many providers offer their services to charities for free!
Buy other digital currencies
There are vast numbers of different alt-coins now available, from the well received Litecoin to the internet meme parody, Dogecoin. These are alternative digital assets, often similar to Bitcoin in many respects; they can be used in much the same way, although very few, if any, have the kind of level of use and acceptance as Bitcoin.
Speculative Intrigue & Investment
Many users will have a wallet with a small to medium amount of Bitcoin for no reason other than to satisfy their curiosity surrounding the digital currency. There was a great deal of speculative investment when Bitcoin first became talked about in the mainstream media, but many of these investors missed the party and wound up losing a great deal as prices dropped off. A number of such users will still maintain access to their bitcoins, prepared for a time when prices may rise or they find some more interesting use of their 'failed' investment. Such users would do well to engage with the wider community to realise the potential of their bitcoins, for purchases and further investment. As Bitcoin adoption continues to rise, the opportunities for using Bitcoin are sure to grow; perhaps we can look forward to paying our rent and bills with Bitcoin in the near future? Get involved today and become an active participant; if you're a business owner you can set up Bitcoin payments with ease! Consumers need to help persuade businesses to adopt Bitcoin, if there is a retailer you want to pay in Bitcoin, talk to them about getting set up!
Author: George Basiladze
George is a finance guy with an in-depth knowledge of financial systems. Together with Dmitry they designed the concept of Cryptopay in May 2013 and started developing the system.