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The creation and design of an e-learning resources does not necessarily need to involve the use "user centred design" and the philosophy of epistemology and semiotics. The creation of an e-learning resource such as a virtual learning environment often start their lives out with learning and pedagogical aspect being the primary design principle. Over the time the evolution of these resources does empirically involve epistemology and semiotics but this could be an accident of design and not a structured, logical, philosophically driven process.
In this paper I will look at the use of "user centred design", epistemology and semiotics in the creation of a virtual learning environment, in this case Moodle.
The theories of epistemology range back in the form we acknowledge now to the works of James Frederick Ferrier (1808–1864) and even as far back as Plato. It is a branch of philosophy related to knowledge or the theory of knowledge. The history of which is well documented in the studies of Fichte, Bolzano, Husserl, Ferrier and Meyerson.
Psychologist and philosophers define knowledge differently. Psychologist often referring to the declarative memory and non-declarative. Declarative is broken down in to semantic and episodic. Semantic is the storage of general knowledge about the world, rules and language. Whilst episodic is storage of spatial and temporal memories associated with an event (Bernecker, 2010).
When philosophers distinguish kinds of memory they refer to experiential (or personal), propositional (or factual), and practical (or procedural) memory (Bernecker, 2010). Russell (1997: ch. 5) uses the distinction between knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description to differentiate between experiential and propositional memory.
Experiential (or personal) a person can gain knowledge through sense and reasoning. For example I can examine a plant and through experience learn the characteristics about it. This is an empiricist point of view and empiricism and knowledge comes from sensory experience. Experiential must involve first hand participation and first-person perspective and involves qualitative experiences (qualia) and imagery (Bernecker, 2010, p. 2)
Propositional memory is memory of true propositions or facts (Bernecker, 2010), and can be viewed as past, present, future and timeless knowledge and is not limited to things that a person has had direct dealing with. For example it is a known fact that the Battle of Hasting was in 1066, we do not need to have witnessed Harold's demise this is knowledge of the past. The present events are factual knowledge and have to be so, otherwise a person's decision making process could not move forward. Knowledge of the future can be a fact for example, next Wednesday I will be in work teaching Geography and finally it is a known fact that 2 + 2 equals 4. Bernecker (2010) surmise's that propositional memory doesn't require qualitative experiences and imagery. Rescher (2003) concludes that it is a condition that one has come to occupy in relation to information.
Practical knowledge stores previously required skills, for example I know how to ride a bike it is known implicitly or unconsciously. When we are children we learn how to walk down stairs and retain this knowledge for the rest of our lives ie know how to……Martin Heidegger viewed this has more important than propositional knowledge (SEP, 2013), but he repeatedly dismissed epistemology as short-sighted, inept, and useless (Bartels, 1985).
If we base our thinking on Bartels we can ask why do we need epistemology? A number of philosophers offer reasons for our need for epistemology, stating human inquisitiveness, the need to know and a way of being. A few including Heidegger say the need for it is limited, but there may be a need to look at the world outside ourselves for fear leads us to need knowledge and explanations.
In terms of using epistemology to design e-learning I believe there are a number of question that need to be answered.
Is e-learning design based on epistemological principles or pedagogic principles, and is this process a conscious or un-conscious decision making process by the designer? Or based on pragmatism and empiricism?
Semiotics is the study of signs, this science was first proposed early in the 19th century by Swiss linguist Saussure the pragmatist Peirce.
Saussure argued that there was no inherent or necessary relationship of that which carries the meaning the "signifier"- a word or symbol and the actual word that is carried the "signified". For example the meaning of CAR could be carried by any other signifier it just happens in English the meaning is carried by CAR.
Peirces ideas distinguished between three types of signs, the icon, index and symbol and whether a sign belongs to one category or another depends on its relationship between the sign and itself, called the reference and the meaning.
An icon is a sign that stands for an object by resembling it for example pictures, maps or diagrams and are based on similarities.
An index refers to the object via causal links for example smoke is a sign of fire.
Symbols refer to their object by virtue of law, rule or conventions. Words, prepositions and text are examples. No causal link is suggested. For example a red rectangle could mean danger, love, stop, hot, anger etc.
These outline the views of semiotic cognition in humans. The fact that humans utilise signs which are arbitrary and need have existence in their immediate experience is what makes though possible. Cognitive semiotics was initially developed at the Center for Semiotics at Aarhus University (Denmark)
Ideas can be brought to mind and manipulated without being directly experienced, meanings can be expressed in various ways through a variety of sign systems-language music, pictures and humans can create via signs a world entirely separate from one of direct experience. (Cunningham & Shank, 2005)
Semiotics is often employed in the analysis of text which can exist in any medium and may be verbal, non-verbal or both.
The term text usually refers to a message which has been recorded in some way (eg writing, audio and video) so that it is physically independent of its sender and receiver. A text is an assemblage of signs (such as words, gestures) constructed ( and interpreted) with reference to conventions (Chandler, 2013), associated with a genre in a particular medium of communication.
The term medium Chandler (2013) suggests can be used in a variety of ways, for example speech, writing, printing, broadcasting and mass media or media of intrapersonal communications. This having an influential role in on-line and e-learning design and content.
He continues by stating that human experience is "multi-sensory" and every representation of experience is constrained by the channel which utilises it.
There seems to be two branches of semiotic that are relevant to e-learning design, the first is the cognitive semiotic branch developed in Denmark 'Centre of functionality' Integrated Neuroscience-based on the integration of methods and theories in cognitive science in the form of textural, conceptual and experimental.
The second is computational semiotics-which studies the design for human computer interaction (HCI) and the mimicking of human cognition by artificial intelligence.
Current applications of Semiotics that would seem to relevance to on-line learning and e-learning are outlined by Chandler (2013) and have a more scientific principle rather than philosophical principle.
It can improve ergonomic design in situations where it is important to ensure that human beings can interact more effectively with their environments, whether it be on a large scale, as in architecture, or on a small scale, such as the configuration of instrumentation for human use.
(Chandler, 2013)
User centred design methodology is a simple and easy to understand model which incorporates all of these processes. It should address quality, usability and evaluation, be iterative in its execution typically involving four main stages and should be driven by the users' need rather than technology. (Hussein, 2005).
Minocha & Sharp (2004) suggest designing e-learning is a combination of pedagogical design, usability and information architecture…should be intuitive interfaces and clear informational design…allow learners to focus on learning.
E-learning offers cost effective opportunity to build skills, knowledge workers require for twenty first century knowledge based economy….but this depends on the quality of the learner's experience which is in turn affected by the user interface.
Research carried out by Corporate University Exchange indicated dropout rates of 70% for on-line learning compared to 15% in class education. Reasons often cited by students and educators included:-
- Poor usability
- Insufficient engagement between learner and course content
- Inadequate support from tutors
- Ineffective collaboration.
It is important that in designing e-learning courses and content that pedagogic approaches are used in conjunction with user-centred-design, epistemology and semiotics.
Vygotsky theory of learning was based on social constructivism, he states that learning and progress of learning will be limited without a teacher to give appropriate intervention and scaffolding. This social constructivism is mirrored in the work of Paiget and Bruner.
Behaviourism on the other hand states that behaviour and skills are the goals of instruction, the learner being the solitary driver for developing understanding (Minocha & Sharp, 2004).
In their conference article Minocha & Sharp (2004) identify that there is a mismatch between the educators pedagogical strategies with what the student expectations of the course are… and the instructional designers who will apply previous 'experience' and 'knowledge of design'…but may not have the information architecture (pedagogical) structure envisaged by the educator. An argument that reinforces the authors thoughts that empiricism and 'sub-conscious' and sound pedagogical principles plays a greater role in design than theoretical epistemological or semiotic considerations.
VLEs or virtual learning environments have been at the forefront of learning technology for much of the 21st century. Forming the back bone of institutional 'Learning Management Systems' (LMS); with the commonly accepted driver of this move being the Dearing Report of 1997 and their increased use was encouraged in the Government's 2005 strategy paper Harnessing technology – transforming learning and children's services. (Ofsted, 2009).
One such LMS is Moodle and typical of a LMS often used to support course content, with educators usually adding content, providing information generally in passive format. Collaborative learning encouraged by the use of forums, self-assessment quizzes and student evaluation surveys.
Dougiamas (2012) states "The design and development of Moodle is guided by "social constructionist pedagogy". This also envelops the related concepts of constructivism, constructionism and social constructivism.
The author believes that at its conception in 1998 Moodle was designed solely based on pedagogical principles and through a collective of dedicated educators, designers, computer literates and much based on empiricism and little thought for user-centred-design (UCL, 2012) has gone through a number of improvements arriving at is current verison of Moodle 2.6 in 2013. However over the years the development was not linked with research (UCL, 2012) with the emergence being:-
"Mis-match between designers, practitioners, theorist and everyone in the middle"
This origin and its limitation are probably demonstrated by at the criticisms Moodle has received over the intervening years from students and teachers alike.
Typical criticisms include:-
- Takes too much time
- Hard to find information
- Complaint regarding collaboration with tutor
- It is not intuitive
- Moodle is hard to understand for a novice
- It isn't an environment that encourages alternative approach to learning.(UCL, 2012)
It seems that the main complaints are one of usability i.e. user-centred-design and pedagogical principles not being met because of design or the lack of design implementation. In the on-line article UCL (2012) state that 'theorists are too theoretical'…and people often wish to just get on with developing…and goes on to question 'does established and ratified theory need to influence design?..'
The approach to user-centred-design in e-learning have changed progressively over the years. The traditional approach was based around the face to face education. Educators providing information and student taking the information with very little time to ask questions and formulate ideas (JISC, 2004), with this design just being pushed in to CAL (computer aided learning), with the computer replacing the teacher. This has led to poor engagement from the students and a poor experience and limited cognitive progress. VLE's were mainly seen as an add-on but not essential (JISC, 2004). Sigala, (2002) identifies this approach to e-learning as the initial stage by educators and refers to it as 'webify' and 'webification', she concludes that 'there is very little reward for an educator's or students in the webification of face to face course notes.'
More recent models have tended to focus more on student centred aspect rather than the tutor. A number of models are available based on constructivism and can lead to pedagogical principles (JISC, 2004) including:-
- Mayes Conceptualism Cycle
- Laurillards Conversational Model
- Biggs and Salmon.
These are outlined in detail within JISC, 2004. Effective Use of VLEs: Introduction to VLEs. and I refer you to them for additional detail content.
Referring back to Moodle, if we remind ourselves of the pedagogical concepts behind it we have a social constructionist pedagogy, people working together to produce social artefacts. For example a document a manual or a presentation. Social constructivism focusses on the learning by an individual through social interaction within the group.
Figure 1 indicates the typical framework of a Moodle e-learning course, its framework having sub-consciously semiotic undertones in its design. Semiotic design is being used to divide up Moodle into its three major components. The administration on the left, typical of the familiar structure of web 1.0 design. The central section in the contents and where students are presented with resources and activities and finally the right column typically used for social interaction and notifications. The framework seems to deliberately divide the areas into Admin, typically the teacher's domain, content area representing the classroom, and finally the social area, maybe representing the staffroom or playground and afterschool chats?
Figure 1
Navigation and Administration | Course Design and ContentAllows you to Add Resources and Activities, also general topic information
BlocksGeneral information
HTML Mashables (Twitter) |
Figure 2 Outlines the standard Activities and Resources that can be added to a Moodle course.
Figure 2
Resources are very much content driven and if used without user-centred-design consideration and limited pedagogical thought are often the reason for the negative comments received from students and educators resulting in lower engagement. This mirrors the statement made by Sigala's 'webification' of face to face notes. Dougiamas and Moodle's pedagogic stance is social constructionist and this is very much reflected in the 'activities' available. The central column in Figure 2 shows this, with many revolving around social interactions, for example forums, wikis, chat, and surveys.
From this brief overview of Moodle's core components it is clear to see that Moodle has the framework to enable user-centred-design and design models. For example Mayes Conceptualisation Cycles and its key focus of exposing people to others concepts to build knowledge and the ability for tutors to give feedback is easily encapsulated within Moodles framework. Build into this a pedagogic principle such as Bloom's Taxonomy, scaffolding learning objectives and you have a robust learning environment within an online environment.
Moodle structure organises files and content in a hierarchical organisation and merely reflects file structure of the internet itself (Baynes, 2008, p. 400) which itself tries to create an environment that is familiar to early writing and historically formed our ways of thinking.
One of the more obvious development in the evolution of Moodle has been to increasing use of icons. Baynes (2008) in her article highlights the growing importance of the use of icon and refers to 'iconic turn' which logic of the image as it emerges on our screen has growing influence on our working, thinking and learning practice (Baynes, 2008, p. 395). She also cites Eikone's reference to the 'knowledge society becoming a society of images.
Baynes continues in her article to explain how visuality increasingly mediated between pedagogy in H.E. and the digital space, the learning space being the virtual learning environment. It is this argument I would put forward that the design of a virtual learning environment such as Moodle was design based on pedagogical principles and not user-centred-design and the philosophy of semiotics. This I believe was particularly true for the early development of Moodle and it social constructivism principle. One argument for this could be the wish to isolate itself and students away from wider non-digital-world.
We can use semiotics to retrospectively analyse Moodle and draw conclusions. Moodle's recognisable 'orange' M (Figure 3), could be an attempt to mirror the corporate image produced by the yellow McDonalds M. However the similarities stop there, the Moolde M has a distinctive indicator of it educational links in the form of the classic black 'motar board'. This could be interpreted as an attempt to associated itself with an older traditional teaching practice and instil some familiarity into its being and ask us to value the modern VLE with the older didactic teaching, and as a signifier of authority.
Figure 3
To conclude, the use of semiotics and user-centred-design are a key ingredient in the creation of e-learning content but the greater importance is the use of pedagogical consideration and the epistemology embedded within learning.
Bartels, W. J., 1985. The status of epistemology in the thought of Martin Heidegger (knowledge, art, phenomenology). [Online]
Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/1911/15879
[Accessed 31 December 2013].
Baynes, S., 2008. Higher education as a visual practice: seeing through the virtual learning environment. Teaching in Higher Education, 13(4), pp. 395-410.
Bernecker, S., 2010. Bernecker, Sven. "Memory Knowledge.". [Online]
Available at: www.protosociology.de/Download/Bernecker-Memory.pdf
[Accessed 30 December 2013].
Chandler, D., 2013. Semiotics for Beginners. [Online]
Available at: http://users.aber.ac.uk/dgc/Documents/S4B/sem01.html
[Accessed 31 December 2013].
Cunningham, D. J. & Shank, G., 2005. Semiotics, An Introduction. [Online]
Available at: http://www.drama21c.kr/semiotics/memo/introsemiotics.htm
[Accessed 31 December 2013].
Dougiamas, M., 2012. Moodle Pedagogy. [Online]
Available at: http://docs.moodle.org/24/en/Pedagogy
[Accessed 9 March 2013].
Hussein, S., 2005. Developing e-learning materials. Applying user-centred design. Leicester: National Institute of Adult Continuing Education .
JISC, 2004. Effective Use of VLEs: Introduction to VLEs. [Online]
Available at: http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/vle/
[Accessed 30 December 2013].
Minocha, S. & Sharp, H., 2004. Learner-Centred Designand Evaluation of Web-Based E-Learning Environments.. Preston, Open University.
Ofsted, 2009. Virtual learning environments: an evaluation of their development in a sample of educational settings, London: Ofsted.
Rescher, N., 2003. Epistemology: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. Albany: State Univeristy of New York Press.
Russel, B., 1997. The Problems of Philosophy.. In: New York: Oxford University Press..
SEP, 2013. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. [Online]
Available at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/heidegger/
[Accessed 31 December 2103].
Sigala, M., 2002. The Evolution of Internet Pedagogy: Benefits for Tourism and Hospitality.. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, sport and Tourism Education. , 1(2), p. 17.
UCL, 2012. The future of Moodle is well within our grasp. [Online]
Available at: http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ele/tag/user-centred-design/
[Accessed 2 January 2014].


text: A- A+ Beginning Your DEI Journey in DSM June 8, 2021 Greater Des Moines Partnership In a new web series on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey, Sanjita Pradhan, director of diversity and inclusion at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, along with 2021 Partnership Inclusion Council members Becky Coady and Timothy Perkins, spoke with panelists about how to start a DEI program and ramp up DEI efforts. The webinar panelists included Greater Des Moines (DSM) employers, all at different places in their DEI journey, including: Holly Kluever, COO of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Tracey Gibson, VP & chief diversity officer at Andersen Windows Greg Blythe, VP and treasurer of IMT Insurance The Meaning of DEI The definition of diversity has expanded from just gender and race to include religion, social economic status, education, marital status, age, mental/physical ability and more. Inclusion is making sure everyone can participate. Equity is the guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement of all while identifying barriers and understanding that there are underserved populations. Perkins said that not everyone starts from the same place. Equity is about giving people the same access to opportunities. Organizations and nonprofits can ensure they are making the playing field equal by identifying biases preventing people from opportunity. He said when businesses make things better for one group, it will make things better for everyone. Benefits of DEI The panelists discussed the benefits of their own DEI programs, including what success looks like for their companies. Kluever said that ensuring inclusivity in the workplace by looking for gaps in hiring processes is an important step, as well as focusing on reaching diverse populations when it comes to Girl Scout troop members. Gibson spoke about creating an inclusive culture and creating an organization where each employee can reach their full potential through building organizational capability, leaders driving results and implementing inclusive practices within the business. One way Andersen Windows has done this is by certifying more than 70 diversity COO's in order to integrate diversity into the organization. Pradhan highlighted that it isn't just one leader who needs to be trained in diversity practices, and that this action is a DEI best practice that companies across DSM should consider as well. At IMT Insurance, Blythe said the organization values family. But while family is emphasized, was that culture being created at IMT? He said it was eye-opening to find out that there were employees from a marginalized populations who felt they could not be authentic in their workplace. While this initially was hard to hear, Blythe said the organization is now purposeful in creating an inclusive workplace culture into the future. In doing so, employee engagement will continue to increase and this, in turn, will make the business more effective. Panelists also discussed challenges faced in forming DEI programs, DEI strategies and more. Watch the entire webinar below: Greater Des Moines (DSM) welcomes diverse talent to the region. As one of the fastest growing business communities, inclusion and attracting diverse talent in the workplace is a key strategy of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Learn more here. Greater Des Moines Partnership The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 400 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com. Categories #DSMstrong , Business Resources , Inclusion , Quality of Life , Startups and Entrepreneurs

subset: commoncrawl


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In Justice v. Lombardo, 2017 WL 5329370, (Pa. Cmwlth. Ct., 11/14/17), the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court held that a State Police Officer had sovereign immunity from intentional tort claims brought by a motorist who sued for assault and battery, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false arrest, false imprisonment, and abuse of process arising from a traffic stop where the trooper handcuffed the motorist to get her off a busy highway when her vehicle was being towed. In this case, the trooper stopped the motorist, and found that she was driving on a suspended license. Since she could not drive from the scene, the motorist called a friend to drive her car from the scene. While waiting, the trooper called a tow truck and ordered the motorist to exit the vehicle. There are conflicting versions of what occurred next, but the trooper ended up handcuffing the motorist. When the motorist's friend arrived, the trooper removed the handcuffs and allowed her to leave. The Commonwealth Court held that the trooper's conduct was within the scope of his authority, and therefore he was immune from suit. Consequently, the decision of the trial court denying the trooper's motion for judgment JNOV was reversed, and the case was remanded with instructions to the trial court to enter judgment in favor of the trooper.
Before Brobson, and Wojcik, J.J, and Pellegrini, S.J., Opinion by Pellegrini


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from YouTube Website
They are alluded to in ancient texts and Arab legends, but have been left unexplored until today. They have now been rediscovered and investigated for the first time. What exactly does this subterranean realm tell us about the pyramids, their relationship to the stars and the mythical origins of Egyptian civilization?
Discover for yourself as we explore the
"Lost Caves of Giza."


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Eagleville, PA– Streamlight® Inc. introduced a new Red Nano Light® as part of the company's Lights for a Cause series of flashlights. The new light will benefit the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. Streamlight will donate $1.00 to the organization for each of these Red Nano Lights sold. Proceeds will help support research to prevent and find a cure for diabetes, a group of diseases marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.8 million Americans have diabetes, or 8.3 percent of the population. Of this number, 7 million are undiagnosed. It is estimated that an additional 79 million adults aged 20 and older have pre-diabetes. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. The tiny keychain light measures 1.47 inches in length and weighs only .36 oz. Fabricated from machined aircraft aluminum, the light runs up to eight hours, powered by four IEC-LR41 coin cells, and delivers 10 lumens. The light features a rotating on/off head switch, a non-rotating snap hook for easy one-handed operation when attached to a keychain, and a FOB that features the Stop Diabetes® logo. The Red Nano Light boasts a 100,000-hour LED that never needs replacing.
For more information, please visit www.streamlight.com.


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From the start of the second quarter on, when the Clippers went on an 11-0 run, they pretty much owned this game against the Rockets. Blake Griffin had 30 and the Clippers were in control most of the way to cruise in for a win.
Still, James Harden put on a show for Houston.
Above he gets the assist with a nifty pass through De Andre Jordan's legs. Below. Matt Barnes go torched with the crossover. It was fun, but the Rockets are not the same team without Dwight Howard and were no match for LA.


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Intelligent Herbal Glycerites
Much Like our Transdermal Creams, Herbal Glycerites are special formulas that maintain Nature's Intelligence called Prabhava in a liquid vegetable base. Glycerites are produced using the purest raw materials according to the strict SVAFF (Shaka Vansiya Ayurvedic Family Foundation) standards as outlined by Vaidya Mishra. These formulas can be added to spring water and sip to deliver the herbal intelligence to the deeper cellular levels.


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Herbal hay bath
Application with hand-harvested herbal mixture.
Enjoy a herbal hay bath in the AlmSpa!
The hay of the Carinthian Alpine region is a natural herb mixture. Heat and moisture allow the active ingredients of the treatments to unfold their healing powers. They have a purifying, calming and soothing effect on your skin. The mountain farmer Franz Gruber harvests and brings the hay harvested in laborious manual work directly to the Almspa. By open fire and candlelight you enjoy your herbal bath in the bath tub. With herbal decoction from hay temple. Afterwards you can rest and relax in the hay bed.
Under the influence of the moon phases
The moon affects our daily life and sometimes our well-being or discomfort. The Almdorf Seinerzeit offers very special treatments for the respective moon phases . With each treatment, in each phase the detoxification and relaxation as well as stress reduction of the body and the soul is strongly stimulated.
True to our philosophy, all treatments and healing methods are based on the farmer's almanac and bring man and nature into harmony. Extreme care is taken to ensure that plants, herbs and flowers are only picked or cut when the time is ripe. Applications and treatments in every season are therefore consistent with what nature has to offer.
"I am allowing myself time out in the Almdorf "Seinerzeit"!"
Contact us & Make a reservation
Terms and conditions
Cancellation & rescheduling
A rescheduling or cancellation must be notified at the reception at least 24 hours in advance. In case of cancellation less than 24 hours prior to your reservation, there will be a cancellation fee charged to your room of 90%.
Late arrival is to be taken into consideration with regard to subsequent guests and can also lead to a shortening of your treatment time. We will charge the full treatment price.
Health issues
Do you have any health problems, ailments, allergies, accidents or injuries? Please do not forget to mention it to the spa staff members.
We recommend that you consult your doctor before visiting the spa. He can recommend the right treatments for you. We will also be happy to advise you at any time.
Minimum age
The minimum age for visiting the sauna area is 16 years. You are welcome to use the public bath tub with your children under the age of 16 until 3 pm.
Your questions
We look forward to welcoming you
9564 Patergassen


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What is Lymphomatoid Papulosis?
Lymphomatoid papulosis is a skin disorder which occurs in rare cases and presents with skin lesions. These skin lesions are basically the unusual cells which are similar to the ones found in cancerous cells of lymphatic system. 80% cases of lymphomatoid papulosis disorder are benign but rest of the cases may turn out to be malignant, which have severe health effects. Know the causes of lymphomatoid papulosis, its symptoms and treatment.
Lymphomatoid papulosis, being an internal form of disease, it has many repercussions in the long run and termed as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Being a chronic skin disorder, pruritic papules crop up at different stages and the main areas which get affected are trunk and limbs.
Healing time taken by lymphomatoid papulosis is mostly up to 1 to 2 months, which usually leave the oval shaped scars.
Causes of Lymphomatoid Papulosis
The causes of lymphomatoid papulosis is multifactorial. Its association with white cells (also known as T-cell lymphocytes is deep) and one of the main causes of lymphomatoid papulosis is the proliferation of these cells. In the population of millions, some people can fall prey to this skin disorder.
Mostly, Caucasians are subjected to this disorder than the black skinned and people from all the races and sex are affected by this condition. While the exact cause of lymphomatoid papulosis is not known, studies indicate its close association with immune system in which T lymphocyte cells are multiplied abnormally. This is an early stage, which can turn cancerous, but can be controlled if identified and treated in time.
This condition of skin disorder has nothing to do with the genetic factors as its onset is generally from childhood to middle age. Risk factors of lymphomatoid papulosis are related to mycoses fungoides and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Some causes of lymphomatoid papulosis are also thought to be related to certain chromosomal changes.
Symptoms of Lymphomatoid Papulosis
Recognizing lymphomatoid papulosis is easier and people suffer from multiple skin lesions in the body, mainly on chest, stomach, back and limbs. Symptoms of lymphomatoid papulosis indicate presence of nodules and papules which are red and brown in color and are usually bumpy and spotted.
Symptoms of lymphomatoid papulosis include itching, which can be mild or moderate. The papules appear on the body in the form of drops which are gradually filled with blood or pus and appear as blisters. Later these pus-filled blisters break to form crust and heal on their own but scars are left even after these blisters have cured.
The size of these lesions are more than 1 cm and up to 3 cm, these skin lesions may increase in size depending upon the severity of disease or may reduce if the symptoms are mild. Patients may get frequent breakouts and marks remain permanently on the body, but when it comes to general health, patient usually remains unaffected.
These symptoms of lymphomatoid papulosis may show raised bumps, which are found anywhere in the body and are usually itchy which one should avoid doing. The skin lesions are sore and crusty before they begin to heal.
How is Lymphomatoid Papulosis Treated?
Treatment of lymphomatoid papulosis is planned after proper diagnosis with skin biopsy. This condition may be easily confused with acute pityriasis lichenoides and many other conditions of skin. Hence correct diagnosis is important.
There are many histopathologic variants like Type A, Type B, Type C and Type D. These are the types of lesions, which can be a cause of cancer and specific types of tests are carried out depending upon the type of lesion and symptoms of lymphomatoid papulosis. Treatment of lymphomatoid papulosis mainly focusses on reducing the symptoms and timely detection of early lymphoma.
Some of the common treatments of lymphomatoid papulosis, which suppress the cause of the disease and the related symptoms include
- Topical steroid creams
- Phototherapy (UVB or PUVA)
- Methotrexate in which the response rate below 100% as the disease relapses after a certain time duration
- Steroids are also used which are intralesional
- Usage of anti-inflammatory agents which include tetracycline antibiotics
Talking about the effects of treatment of lymphomatoid papulosis, can last for a lifetime but the patients have to regularly check for symptoms and eruptions of any skin lesions. If the changes have picked up then early lymphoma is for sure there. Many other forms of lymphoma may or may not follow lymphomatoid papulosis but this happen in maximum 25% of the cases and for such patients, long term treatment is required which generally includes follow up.
Some advanced treatments of lymphomatoid papulosis include sunlight therapy and biological therapy, which have boosted patient recovery on a massive scale. If you have been recommended a treatment, then make sure it is based upon cause of the disease and your immunity towards other drugs and medication which may have a long term effects upon your health. By following a healthy diet and exercise, symptoms of lymphomatoid papulosis can be prevented therefore check-ups are mostly the best preventive measures you can take.


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Top 5 tips to get you thinking about bathroom design: when to start planning, what to prioritise and to how to be budget savvy.
In this article we cover:
- Top 5 tips from an interior designer to nail your bathroom project
- How to figure out what's important, and what's not
- Tips to design a cost effective bathroom
- Finding your style
- Storage and tech tips
- Maintenance requirements
Because of its size the bathroom is often neglected and left last to plan, especially in a new build. Too often we just go out and buy sanitaryware and tiles and drop them in where they fit. But this approach is a missed opportunity to give yourself the luxury you're aiming for.
And those lavish extras are surprisingly inexpensive – they just require planning. Bear in mind too that the bathroom is the second most expensive room to fit out, after the kitchen, so mistakes are costly to rectify.
But it's precisely its size that makes it so appealing to me as a designer, and a control freak. It really is possible to tailor the room to your exact needs. Every millimetre can be made to account for itself.
1. Express Yourself
The bathroom is your perfect opportunity to go mad and have some fun. After all, it's contained and separate from the rest of the house, so it doesn't have to 'flow'. You don't spend too much time in it, which means you can tolerate zany patterns that you might not want in your bedroom or living room. Liken them to an orange lining on a conservative suit – the bathroom gives a glimpse of personality without being overpowering.
Adding wallpaper, with a decorator's varnish to seal it, is a good way to inject some fun. This can only be done in Zone 3 of the bathroom (Zone 0 is the bath area where everything needs to be submersible and fully waterproof). Don't buy an expensive kind and replace as often as you want to update the bathroom scheme. Tiles come in beautiful patterns for the walls and floor but they won't be as easy to change as wallpaper or paint.
Antique chandeliers are also ok in Zone 3, so long as the fitting has been checked by a registered electrician. Bespoke fixtures can definitely add a touch of class and individual style, e.g. a glazed wall cut to size in a wetroom or custom-made vanity unit. The cheaper approach is to use standard size units but design the space in carefully so that they fit exactly.
For example if you want to transform a space you could buy an inexpensive mirrored wall unit from a DIY retailer and fit it into a space especially carved out for it. It'll look stunning but you need to be planning ahead for it.
2. Think of maintenance
When it comes to the wc itself, the least expensive is usually the close coupled – where the pan and cistern are both visible and sitting on the floor. It's the hardest to keep clean though. The floor mounted back-to-wall wc is next up on the cost scale and it requires that you build a stud wall in which to conceal the cistern. The most expensive, but also the easiest to deal with in terms of maintenance is the wall hung which requires a stud wall and a metal frame to hold the toilet up.
The metal frames are designed to take weight so don't let the thought of falling stop you. Where you choose a concealed cistern, always remember to allow for a removable access panel for maintenance. Some cisterns come with a flush plate which is theoretically large enough for the plumber to use for access, but I have found that plumbers can find those very tricky. When it comes to tiling, stone will usually be more expensive to fit and often requires sealing prior to fitting – an aspect many self-builders tend to forget.
Think also of the ongoing maintenance. In terms of grout colour, consider what they will look like in a couple of months – a darker shade from the start may be a good idea. When selecting shower tiles, remember smaller tiles require more grout which requires more cleaning. Specify the thickness of the grout lines, consider 2mm (less maintenance) versus 4mm lines (easier to install).
'The planning is also important because in this tiny room, every trade will have to pitch in.'
Although not technically required for a residential build, I would always specify an anti-slip tile in a wet room area, ideally R11 (ask your tiler or tile supplier). Smaller tiles have more grout lines which in turn can increase the ant-slip properties but that increases maintenance and to my mind gives less comfort than using the correct tile in the first instance. There are companies that will apply a rubberised surface to a tile to make it slip resistant, but this is usually quite expensive for a one-off bathroom.
Select sanitary ware and screens with an 'easy clean' finish; even when it is available sales staff may not always offer it as it is more expensive (often 10 per cent more), this is an extra that could very well be worth the investment as you'll be using little to no cleaning products on these surfaces.
3. Worthwhile tech additions
The tech touches that will make you feel like you have a spa in your own home won't be as expensive as you think. Motion sensors (known in the trade as Passive InfraRed or PIR) are cheap to install, at €100/£80 a point. Use them to turn on ambient light in window-less bathrooms to create a welcome ambiance or to turn on the lights in the shower area. Think of how many light fittings and circuits you want to have, what can be controlled individually, and on what circuit to put the fan on. You might not want the noisy fan to come on every time you walk through the door.
When it comes to the towel radiator consider investing in an electricity mains connection so you can turn it on in the summer when the heating isn't on. Make sure it's programmable so it turns on when you want and thermostatic so it switches off when it reaches temperature.
Demister pads (small pads with electrical current installed behind the mirror) are reasonably low cost and work well if you want to shave or do your makeup after having had a shower. Electric underfloor heating is about €800/£750 to install in a small to medium sized bathroom and is worth the investment – you'll be turning it on for short periods of time so won't cost too much to run either. Just remember that it isn't sufficient to heat the space, you will still need radiators.
4. Storage
Consider open shelving only insofar as you are prepared to keep it curated – messy items on display look worse than a cupboard door. Think of whether you need to store towels, toilet roll for the house, toiletries for teenage girls, etc. and where all of these will go.
Every stud wall is a storage opportunity – you can create an alcove-shelf recessed into a stud wall in a shower – you only need a dept of 80mm. Ask the tiler to have a slight incline leaning towards the front so that you don't get a pool of water at the back.
5. Builders
The planning is also important because in this tiny room, every trade will have to pitch in, from general labour, to plumbers, electricians, carpenters/joiners, plasterers, tilers, decorators. Remember that sanitary ware and tiles can have lead times; make sure they are not only chosen but on site before the work begins to avoid delays. Or at least have the first fix items. The labour costs and time associated with a bathroom can vary significantly depending on the type of fittings and fixtures that you specify. When a builder is pricing a job they'll give you a keen price, which will often mean they are assuming the most straightforward of installations – so a move away from those assumptions after the price is fixed can be costly – either in terms of relationship with your builder or your pocket.
Some tiles for example are more time consuming to lay and will incur an additional fee. Small and patterned are generally more expensive than large format. If you need to do any demolition (clearing away your old bathroom fittings and tiles), you must be clear about what's staying and going, who is going to rip it out and who's removing the debris from the house and bringing it to a recycling facility


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Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Specialists
Hartford, CT
Are you an HHC Employee? Click here to apply
Job Schedule: Full Time
Neurocritical Care Opportunities and MORE!
Hartford HealthCare (HHC) is the largest integrated health care system in Connecticut with 2 tertiary academic Hospitals including Hartford Hospital, the highest volume stroke center in New England and our newest member St. Vincent's Medical Center. We also have five community hospitals, and Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, a large multi-specialty medical group employing nearly 2,500 physicians practicing in 400 state of the art ambulatory locations throughout southern New England.
HARTFORD HOSPITAL - 867 bed tertiary care academic medical center
These opportunities are available for BC/BE Neurologists with fellowship training in neurocritical care medicine. We are seeking a collaborative clinician who wants to practice in a fast-paced, collaborative setting with a diverse patient panel and who is driven to learn from peers in all medical specialties.
We invite you to join the Ayer Neuroscience Institute at Hartford HealthCare
We offer highly competitive compensation, including incentives, one of the finest benefits offerings in the northeast including generous paid time off and retirement plans, robust academic and research opportunities, and access to the Physician Leadership Development Institute.
Located just two hours from Boston and New York City, we are in the heart of New England's most stunning and desirable communities, offering nationally acclaimed schools and exciting year-round recreation. Choose to live at the shore, in vibrant urban areas, in a Kiplinger's "Top 10 Best City to Raise a Family," or in Travel and Leisure's "Coolest suburb in America," so you will love heading to work and heading home.
To put MORE LIFE IN YOUR LIFE contact HHC's Neuroscience Recruiter Clayton Tebbetts at [email protected] - 860-249-6927.
Neurology Residency & Neurocritical Care Fellowship


text:
Victor Hoskins Leaves Arlington To Lead Fairfax County Economic Development
The carousel of D.C.-area economic development leaders continued to spin Monday, with Victor Hoskins leaving Arlington County for its neighbor to the west.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced Monday it named Hoskins as its new president and CEO. He plans to assume the role Aug. 5.
The announcement comes after Jerry Gordon, who led FCEDA for over three decades, retired late last year. The organization said it worked with consulting firm Korn Ferry to conduct a nationwide search that ultimately found the boisterous man in Fairfax's backyard.
As Arlington County's top economic development official, Hoskins led the effort to bring Amazon HQ2 to Crystal City and Pentagon City, where it plans to create 25,000 jobs. He also helped Arlington land Nestlé, which moved its U.S. headquarters in 2017 from Southern California to Rosslyn.
Prior to leading Arlington's economic development, Hoskins held top economic development roles in Prince George's County and in D.C., where he served as deputy mayor for planning and economic development.
In Fairfax County, Hoskins will enter a jurisdiction that has experienced significant economic growth around the office market hubs of Tysons and Reston. During Gordon's tenure from 1987 to last year, Fairfax County's office market grew from 32M SF to 117M SF and its total employment grew from 243,000 jobs to over 600,000. That growth was bolstered by having 10 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the county, including Capital One, Northrup Grumman and Hilton.
"Fairfax County is well known for its pro-growth environment and its ability to attract, train and retain talented workers," Hoskins said in a release. "With the backing of FCEDA's excellent staff, I hope to do more of that with increased outreach in the U.S. and abroad, especially among young people. As always, I hope to work closely with my colleagues and friends in the region. I also plan to increase our use of research and digital communications to expand the county's dynamic workforce, attract startups and grow existing businesses."
Hoskins departure from Arlington Economic Development comes after Christina Winn, previously AED's business investment director, was hired as Prince William County's economic development director last month. A spokesperson for Arlington Economic Development said Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz plans to name an interim replacement for Hoskins soon.
Also last month, Brian Kenner announced he would leave his role as D.C.'s deputy mayor for planning and economic development to take a job with Amazon. In April, David Petr announced he would leave his role as head of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corp. Prince George's County's Economic Development Corp. welcomed a new leader in December, when longtime county official David Iannucci was tapped to replace Jim Coleman.


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The Story of Lando Freeman – S03/E10
- Welcome
- Episode synopsis
- HBOMax Synopsis: There's a new handyman in the neighborhood undercutting Uncle Ruckus, which is all good for Granddad and his garden until the man claims to be his long lost son, Lando. Will Granddad take responsibility and be a father to his child?
- Episode synopsis
Pre Show:
- Tiara's back
- Rain
- House closing
- Kitchen
- Social media
- Jan 6th insurrection
- Let's go Brandon
- Reminder: https://www.patreon.com/boondockspod
- Dads
- Gay panic
- Talk shows
White People Question:
- From: A myriad of places – "Why are there so many absent Black fathers?"
- Have a "Stupid White People Question" you want to leave us?
- Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com or leave us a voicemail at (760) 933-8636, that's (760) WE-3-UNDO.
Post Show:
- Thanks again to Demond!
- Disputed Podcast – https://disputedpod.com
- Next week: The Lovely Ebony Brown
- Need to see where we are on social media and such? Come find us! https://www.theboondockspod.com/links
- Riley used the phrase "Smoking with cigarettes", which is said in the episode Smokin With Cigarettes.
- This is the only episode Gin Rummy appeared without Ed Wuncler III.
- Lando (Granddad's supposed-to-be-but-is-not-really son) is voiced by Slink Johnson, known to be the voice of Lamar Davis in the Rockstar game, Grand Theft Auto V.
Show Music:
- Intro: #Makeachange by K.I.R.K. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.
- Outro: Good Times by Audiobinger is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.


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INJECTIONS of a protein called sonic hedgehog into the brains of people with
Parkinson's disease may be able to restore the number of dopamine-producing
cells in the brain and safeguard them from further damage.
Neurons situated in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra normally
make the neurotransmitter dopamine, which conveys signals chemically to other
nerve cells in the brain. In people with Parkinson's disease, the
dopamine-making neurons gradually die. People with the disease slowly lose
control of their movements, and suffer from tremors and shakes.
Ontogeny, a company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is hoping that
injections of sonic hedgehog will help transform stem cells in the brain into
dopamine-making neurons, and has new evidence from laboratory studies to back up
its hunch. The research has been submitted for publication.
Sonic hedgehog is one of a family of newly discovered proteins that play a
key role in the development of embryos, but which might also help to restore
damaged tissue in adults. What the substances have in common is that they trip
genetic master switches that tell immature stem cells to become differentiated
cells with a specific function. Sonic hedgehog triggers the development of
neurons from stem cells in the brain and nervous system.
Ontogeny has already begun animal tests of indian hedgehog—another
member of the hedgehog family—to see if it can mend broken bones by
creating new bone cells. More recently, the researchers turned to sonic hedgehog
to see if it could create new dopamine-making brain cells.
First, researchers at Ontogeny took brain tissue from the substantia nigra of
mice and killed all the dopamine-making cells with a toxin. When the researchers
added sonic hedgehog to the remaining cells, new dopamine-making neurons
But more exciting, according to Doros Platika, the president of Ontogeny, was
the appearance of other types of neurons called gabaminergic cells. These
protect the dopamine-making neurons from damage during the repair process. "This
was totally unexpected," he says.
Platika says that a single shot of sonic hedgehog into the brain might be
enough to treat a patient for years. His rationale is that with the protection
of the gabaminergic cells, the dopamine-making neurons will have time to recover
their numbers, possibly reaching normal levels.
The gabaminergic cells produce a substance called gamma-aminobutyric acid,
which dampens down electrical activity in the recovery zone. "It almost puts all
the cells to sleep while they recover, blocking electrical signals that would
otherwise overexcite and damage the neurons," he says. "We expected hedgehog to
generate the dopamine-producing cells, but not these protective cells as well,"
he says.
Platika speculates that sonic hedgehog could also be useful for treating
people whose brains had been damaged by strokes or injury. "It may give you a
chance to rescue live but damaged cells," he says.
Ronald Lindsay, who studies gabaminergic cells at a company called Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York, says that the rationale for using sonic
hedgehog to treat Parkinson's disease makes sense. "I think a lot of people are
interested in the potential for turning residual stem cells in the brain into
dopamine-making neurons," he says. "It's still a bit futuristic, but it's not an
unreasonable hypothesis," he says.
Sonic hedgehog is the second substance that could regenerate brain cells in
people with Parkinson's. In August 1996, Amgen, a biotechnology company in
Thousand Oaks, California, began testing the safety of a substance called glial
cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on patients in North American hospitals.
It also appears to regenerate dopamine-making cells, and to protect existing
cells from damage (Nature, vol 373, p 335). But according to Platika,
there was no evidence that protective gabaminergic cells were produced as well.
Amgen says that studies of GDNF in animals continue to "yield encouraging
results", and hopes by the end of the year to have published results from the
David Latchman of the medical school at University College London says that
if it can be shown in animals that sonic hedgehog regenerates dopamine-making
neurons from residual stem cells, then it might be a better treatment than GDNF,
which simply halts the decay of dopamine-making cells. "But sonic is a long way
behind GDNF, and what's been seen in culture may not be repeated in animals," he
But sonic hedgehog and GDNF are a ray of hope for Parkinson's patients.
Patients usually receive L-dopa—a substance which can be converted into
dopamine. But the treatment loses effectiveness as dopamine-making neurons die


text:
Environmental Studies
Develop an understanding of the principles and practice of environmental policy, planning and governance. You will address how global warming, water shortages, deforestation and the like are to be managed. Responding effectively to environmental problems involves far more than the application of scientific knowledge, or the 'top-down' regulation of people and their environments. Government policies must be negotiated with, and implemented through, diverse private-sector agents and a differentiated civil society. Managing environmental problems therefore entails a new set of approaches, including government, public-private partnerships, economic tools and incentives, democratic decentralisation and risk management. This degree addresses how the signature environmental issues of our time are to be managed; now and into the future.
Degrees that offer this study area
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: 09 Jul 2019


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Bike Zines!
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The first Velo Vixen was one of our favorite bike zines in recent years, so it was extra exciting when the second issue…
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We Ride Bicycles is bursting at the seams with ideas and stories and experiences. It has one of everything and then…
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In this new issue of the feminist journal of contemporary cycling, we are treated to one long essay from Elly Blue…
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Boston City Councilors Michael Flaherty and Ed Flynn want tougher fines for large house parties that violate the state's pandemic-related protocols, asserting that the unruly gatherings have a "negative impact on the quality of life" for neighbors.
Flynn on Monday tweeted out a photo of a hearing order he and Flaherty filed, writing that fines ought to be set as high as $1,000 for the first offense, $2,000 for the second, and $3,000 for the third.
The hearing order laid out an alarming trend of parties across the city in clear violation of public health protocols.
"Even as more people are getting vaccinated and restaurants slowly reopening, neighbors have highlighted that these large house parties oftentimes include renters with absentee landlords, sometimes inviting 30 to 40 people," the order said, adding that it's "not only concerning with the potential to become super spreader events, but also due to the negative impact on the quality of life for our residents."
That impact manifests itself in a number of different ways, per the order.
"[T]hese inconsiderate partiers disturb neighbors with loud noise at all hours of the night, while also leaving behind trash and litter on the street, attracting rodents and pests to their neighbors' property," the document said. "Governor [Charlie] Baker's previous COVID-19 Order No. 63 stated that no private gatherings be more than 10 persons in a single enclosed, indoor space," with failure to comply carrying a possible fine of up to $500.
Despite Baker's order, the document said, "pandemic fatigue" has given way to large parties, including one weekend in Southie where police received 600 calls for disturbances.
And, the councilors said in the order, that $500 levy for violators isn't stiff enough.
They wrote that "we need to talk about increased fines and accountability for property owners who allow this rude behavior," and that "stricter enforcement" is warranted.
City officials, the order said, should "look to issue increased fines, perhaps starting at $1,000 for a first offense ... $2,000 for a second offense, and $3,000 for a third offense."
It wasn't immediately clear when the City Council will schedule a hearing.
Sophia F. Wang, Flynn's policy director, said in an e-mail Tuesday that the hearing order will be introduced this week, and they plan to have the hearing as soon as possible.
Officials have previously highlighted the issue of house parties in the pandemic era.
Then-Mayor Martin J. Walsh told reporters in September the city had recently seen "an increase in house parties," and he urged people not to host or attend them.
Addressing college students directly, Walsh said, "You want to be treated as adults? Well then act [like] it."
"You wanted to go to school here because your college is one of the greatest in the country," Walsh continued. "Then we're asking you to be responsible."
Walsh, who left the city to serve as President Biden's labor secretary, said at the time he was frustrated because "here we are today, laying down millions of dollars to open school. We have businesses on the verge of bankruptcy. We have restaurants that need to open up. We have art venues that need to open up."
He told reporters a month later, "We are going to be cracking down."
However, Flynn and Flaherty's order said, "[W]e continue to hear an overwhelming number of reports of large house parties."
Material from prior Globe stories was used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at email@example.com.


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Jordan is a Payne in the Keswick side
Saturday saw Blackpool mens 2nd team face an old foe in the form of Keswick Mens 2nd. A team they know very well from past seasons and almost all of which have been close affairs.
As Blackpool lined up with yet another changed team from previous weeks they were expecting a tight game with both teams known to enjoy a fast paced passing game. It was with this in mind that Blackpool went on the attack early hoping to put the travelling team on the back foot.
The early pressure soon told as the newly paired strike partnership of Payne and Hayes found themselves with space in the area, with Jordan Payne finding Hayes, who had time to finish neatly past the on rushing keeper.
With Blackpool 1-0 up they knew they could not rest a single goal lead and pushed for a second from the Keswick restart. Boyne and Pasqualino working hard in the centre of the park to break down the Keswick play distributed the ball out wide to the Blackpool wings where they knew they had the pace to attack on the counter. A clever pass from Boyne found its way to Sam Robinson who, after a good run, passed the ball to Payne, who smashed the ball into the net for Blackpools 2nd of the day.
Blackpool pushed high up the pitch in search of their third goal of the game and didn't have to wait long for it, as Sam Bury collected the ball on the half way line ghosted past several players into the D. His shot was initially well saved by the keeper, only for the loose ball to be pounced upon by the waiting Jordan Payne at the back post, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Half time could not come quick enough for the visitors. With Blackpool 3-0 up, the team talk was an easy one for the home captain, Sam Owen, who instructed the team to carry on pressing and to win the second half. Blackpool set themselves for Keswick to come out hard but it was again the home team that struck first and again it was Jordan payne who finished a neat passing move from Blackpool.
It was time for the midfield to get on the score sheet and Sam Robinson scored a nice goal passed the Keswick keeper. With the game coming to an end Blackpool pushed hard to finish on a high and again it came in the form of Payne, who drew the keeper from his line and calmly flicked it into the waiting net.
The game finished 6-0 and left Blackpool feeling they got what was deserved them after some good passing and a high work rate.


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King Mohammed VI Visits Ali Bongo Ondimba, Hospitalized in Morocco
King Mohammed VI of Morocco visited Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon on Monday (Dec. 3), who has been recovering since November 29 at the Rabat military hospital.
The king inquired about the health condition of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, and wished him a speedy recovery.
The King's call on the ailing president reflects the excellent relations and strong ties of friendship and solidarity binding the two countries.
Footage of the royal visit aired by the Moroccan TV networks was the first photo of the Gabonese President since his hospitalization in Saudi Arabia for almost a month and his coming to Morocco for convalescence on November 29.
The footage showed the two leaders sitting in armchairs around a small table and President Bongo drinking from a glass what seemed to be milk.
The photo should put an end to persistent rumors and speculations about the health of President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Key government officials have already joined Ali Bongo in the hospital in Morocco to work on urgent issues.
The Gabonese presidency said little about the health of the Gabonese head of state, with the spokesperson of the presidency, Ike Ngouoni Aila Oyouomi, issuing only two statements in more than a month, raising speculations about the seriousness of the President's health.


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Configuration Window
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Hundreds of thousands of Australians may be missing out on a tax refund this tax time. Last year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) identified around 200,000 taxpayers who failed to lodge tax returns even though they were likely to have received a refund.
Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson said many salary and wage earners end up with a tax refund. But some are missing out on their money because they haven't lodged.
"Unfortunately, the tax office can't return your money until you lodge a tax return," she said.
"We estimate there are 200,000 individual salary and wage earners who are likely to have been either due a refund or owed a small amount of tax, but who had not lodged a tax return. Collectively, these clients have millions of dollars of unclaimed refunds."
"There are a few reasons why Australian's might not lodge even if they are due a refund. Some might not lodge because they don't realise they need to – maybe they are on a low income or haven't worked recently. Others might be worried about lodging because they haven't lodged for several years, which often causes them stress and anxiety.
"The key thing to remember is that the ATO is here to help; we want all taxpayers to get it right, and we will assist them to do so," Ms Anderson said.
So far this tax time, just over 2.7 million taxpayers have lodged their own returns via myTax, and almost 4.3 million taxpayers lodged via an agent. If you haven't lodged yet, you have until 31 October to either lodge your own return, or ensure you are on your agent's books.
Ms Anderson said some taxpayers may delay lodging their tax return when they expect they may have a debt. "We know some people put off lodging because they think they'll owe money, but for self-preparers the payment is due on 21 November whether or not a return is lodged," Ms Anderson said.
"The ATO will help people who may have difficulties paying a tax debt, and work with you to tailor a payment plan to your circumstances. Some taxpayers may even be able to set up a payment plan online depending on their circumstances."
For those taxpayers who are entitled to a refund, most returns are processed in less than two weeks. Over 98% of refunds this year have issued within 12 business days. However, mistakes in a return may cause delays.
"If you have already lodged and realise you have made a mistake, don't stress. You can quickly and easily make an amendment online using myTax or by contacting your registered tax agent. Not correcting errors may mean the ATO has to contact you, which may cause unnecessary processing delays," Ms Anderson said.
For more information on making an amendment, visit ato.gov.au/fixamistake or to set up a payment plan, visit ato.gov.au/helpwithpaying


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There is often a lot of confusion about the names and types of mortgages available in the market place. Here is some general information to address some of the confusion.
I. "Government Loans" are mortgages that are either insured or guaranteed by the government or a government agency. They include FHA, VA and USDA loans.
A. FHA or Federal Housing Administration mortgages are insured by the FHA and they offer more flexible down payment and underwriting guidelines. They are not just for first time homebuyers, but are available for all borrowers who qualify – for both purchases and refinances. FHA also allows "As Is" purchases.
B. VA or Veterans Administration mortgages are guaranteed by the VA with very flexible underwriting and down payment guidelines for veterans and their spouses only. VA loans have low interest rates, no mortgage insurance, and no down payment requirements for most veterans. VA financed purchases require clear Section I termites (no "As Is" allowed).
II. A Conforming mortgage "conforms" to Fannie Mae (Fannie) and Freddie Mac (Freddie) underwriting guidelines and is therefore eligible for purchase by Fannie and Freddie. Fannie and Freddie are the quasi-governmental organizations set up to create a secondary market for mortgages (outside of banks alone). The majority of all mortgages obtained in the United States are conforming. Conforming loans must comply with the loan limits in a particular county; for example, in most areas in California, the loan limits range from $424,100 to $636,150. In the Bay Area and other high end coastal locales, the county loan limits are usually $636,150.
III. Conventional mortgages should not be confused with "Conforming Mortgages." Conventional mortgages are institutional mortgages that are not insured by the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), or guaranteed by the VA (Veterans Administration), or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In other words, conventional mortgages are most institutional mortgages other than "government loans," as discussed above. Conventional mortgages include conforming loans, but they also include jumbo and portfolio loans.
IV. A "Jumbo Mortgage" is a loan that exceeds a particular county's loan limits (see "Conforming" above). Jumbo mortgages usually have stricter underwriting guidelines because they are not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, but are instead held by banks or private funds. Stricter guidelines include tighter debt ratio requirements, larger down payment and reserve requirements, and tighter credit standards.
V. ARM is an acronym for Adjustable Rate Mortgage. ARMs were much maligned after the housing crisis because of their undisclosed adjustments, balloons and other harmful terms. But today's ARMs usually come in the form of 5, 7 or 10 year fixed periods before converting to a one year adjustable. They are straight forward nowadays and they sometimes are the best option for borrowers with shorter time-horizons.
VI. Balloons are loans that are amortized over a longer fixed period, 30 years for example, but come due in full long before the amortization period ends. Very few lenders offer balloons these days.
VII. Hard Money or Private Money refers to loans that are usually offered by private individuals or non-institutional investors. These lenders focus entirely on the property and ignore credit standards. Because of this, they require much larger down payments (30% or more) and they charge much more (higher rates and fees).
VIII. Non-QM Loans refer to "Non Qualified" mortgages. These are the loans currently offered by some large funds that bridge the gap between standard FHA/Conventional financing and Hard Money. Non-QM loans have replaced the segment that used to be known as "Sub Prime" but the lending is much more responsible now with more stringent down payment and income requirements.
Jay Voorhees
Founder/Broker | JVM Lending


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WhappenStar Clothing Brand is the street wear label created by Richard Barrett, a creative who honed his skills in the entertainment and media industries.
The concept was clear: what would people want to wear? The answer was clean, essential clothes that were distinct. Unique designs that are memorable and thought provoking.
We want to keep things fresh and funky. We're starting with the basics but we will expand from there. The concepts will have a limited run. We won't want to mass produce to an extent where customers are all rocking the same thing. Miss a run? Don't worry, the next shit will have that drip.
Thank you for your patronage.


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My Steadfast little man,
so loyal and true,
these are just a few words that describe you,
Thoughtful and wise,
I'll never forget your soulful eyes.
Cool and brave,
It was your best effort that you always gave.
Trusting and smart,
even though we're now apart,
You'll be forever in my heart.
Miss you so much Boo!!
Tucker |
23, Aug 2012 |
Helen Stewart |


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
If you are having a yard sale with in the city limits you will need a yard sale permit.
Show All Answers
Yard sale permits do not cost anything. They are free.
You can get a yard sale permit at City Hall. City Hall is located at 503 W Division St Stilwell, OK 74960


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Contact Blue Heron
The information you provide will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Oculus poses a unique homesite, situated on rugged terrain with stunning views of Dragon Ridge. Showcasing a designated auto court, this Home offers plenty of additional parking to complement the generous 5-car garage. Upon entering the residence, you are greeted with a central courtyard featuring a dramatic overhead oculus, hence the name, providing an elegant frame for the night's sky. The double-height foyer acts as a pivot between the private wing and entertainment spaces, including a sizable upstairs game and media space with views of the Strip. Other features include a casita, office, optional home gym, and formal dining.
- MacDonald Highlands, Henderson, NV
- 6,477 Sq Ft
- 6 Beds / 6.5 Baths
- Game & Media Room
- Pool & Patio
- Dramatic 20′ Oculus at Entry


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Have Your Say In Southfields | |||||
An opportunity for residents to quiz politicians and town hall management
The latest town hall 'report back' sessions will take place at the end of the month and give local residents the chance to have their say on a wide range of local issues, including street cleaning, parking, policing, public transport and the NHS. The meetings are designed to ensure that town hall politicians and managers understand local people's priorities for their communities. The Southfields ward meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 26 at Sheringdale School in Standen Road, and will be attended by the ward's three locally elected councillors - Lucy Allen, Terry Walsh and Guy Humphries. Senior managers from all the main town hall services will also be on hand to answer questions from the audience and address locally identified concerns. A newsletter will be hand-delivered to every residential and business property in both wards in the coming days to make sure local people are aware of the meetings. January 11, 2011 |


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It's time. The finale episode of The Fosters is here, so let's dig into the episode.
This episode on The Fosters:
I think I'll start with Brandon here since the wedding is a main part of this finale episode.
Brandon: It was actually Emma who knocked on Brandon's door at the end of the last episode, and she was of course looking for Jesus. Brandon is having doubts if he should marry Eliza or not but after having a conversation with both Callie and then his dad (which by the way was a really nice and wonderful scene) he decides that he is all in and he signs the prenup and shows that to Eliza's parents. He tells her parents that he loves their daughter and then Eliza actually stands up to her parents and tells them that Stef and Lena will be marrying them at the beach, and she also ripped the prenup and says that she trusts Brandon and they don't need a prenup. I was actually okay with this wedding happening because I feel like Brandon has been through so much last season with losing Grace and he actually looked really happy with Eliza so I'm all for him being happy.
Stef and Lena: The mums are having a great time in Turks & Caicos with a beach adventure that ended with me laughing so much as they were trying to navigate the situation. Stef and Lena also gets to marry Brandon and Eliza by the beach where they deliver a speech that was so beautiful and there we also got some flashbacks to the earlier seasons which made me tear up. We also find out that Corey decides to go with his birth mum because she is doing better which is something that Lena and Stef understands and their last scenes with Corey made me cry so much. We do find out that they still talk to him everyday and see him often. Stef and Lena also decides to sell their home and move since the kids and Stef all want Lena to run for state assembly. I loved they way they gave the mums some closure on this show and their last scene in the garden by Frankies tree also made me tear up.
Jesus: As I mentioned, Emma comes to the wedding and she wants Jesus back. After the wedding, Jesus tells Emma about his one-night stand with Eliza's bridesmaid. Emma and Jesus then have a real heart to heart which I think was actually so good for them, it was heartbreaking to watch but I do see where Emma is coming from. She tells Jesus that they need to figure out who they are as people without each other, and if they are truly meant to be, they'll find their way back to each other. This is something that probably needed to happen since they had been together since they were 15 and 16, but it was still heartbreaking to see, and Jesus was still very upset when they got home from Turks & Caicos, but that's when Mariana suggets to him that they should go to Europe together.
Mariana: Mariana decides during the wedding reception that she wants to give Mat and her another try, but as she's going to find him, she find him making out with one of Eliza's bridesmaids. I actually liked her and Mat together before but I do think this was the best thing that could've happened to her because now she gets to be single and actually find out who she is and be on her own for once. I'm excited to see where the spin-off will take her and I also especially loved the last scene with her and Jesus. Where she tells him that they should go to Europe and that he is her best friend. I've missed those scenes with the twins, because I feel like lately it's just been fighting and bickering between them, so it was nice to actually see then have a scene like that one.
Callie: Callie has a few heart to hearts with Brandon in this episode, she tells him that she sees that he loves Eliza and at the end of the episode Callie and Brandon both talk about how they made the right decision by not being together. They chose the family first and they both know that they made the right decision because now they get to be best friends and be in each other lives forever. Callie also gets both of her clerkships and you think that she'll go with the more openminded judge but she actually ends up taking the clerkship with the more conservative judge in LA for many reasons, but the main one being that is is closer to Jude. She also shares a kiss with Jamie after he suggets that she should go for the clerkship in LA because then she'll get to make an impact on a somewhat conservative judge, and he also says that he will be in LA and she'll have friend in him there. I actually really liked this pairing, I wouldn't mind if they got together but I wouldn't mind them just staying friends either but I really liked the dynamic these characters shared so I'm hoping we get to see some of Jamie in the spin-off.
Favourite character: Honestly, since this was the last episode ever of The Fosters, I can't even chose a favourite because I honestly loved every single character this episode and their journey. I loved how it all came together, and I honestly did think that every character ended up in a fitting way, and this made me so much more excited for the spin-off because basically almost all the Adams-Foster kids will be in LA so we'll hopefully see more of all of them. I do have to say that I think they did a beautiful job of giving the mums closure and they really have been the backbone of this entire show.
Best/Favourite scene: There were so many to chose from in this episode, but I do think that the dinner scene at the end of the episode where they all convince Lena to sell the house and run for state assembly. I also loved all the flashbacks that we got to see of Brandon and Callie, Lena and Stef as well as the rest of the family. I just thought that was such a sweet homage to the beginning of this show and why we all fell in love with these characters. I also loved the very last scene where the Adams-Foster family took one last picture outside of their home before they all moved on.
Best quote:
Brandon to Callie:"You're my best friend"
Calle: "You too, but don't tell Mariana"
Mariana to Jesus: "You're my best friend, but don't tell Callie"
Final thoughts: I just want to say thank you to this show, I've loved it so much and I think it has been such an important piece of television for the past couple of years. The Fosters have dealt with issues that are so current and important, especially in this time that we live in and I'm so happy that they have done it with poise and grace. I also want to say thank you to everyone who has read these reviews and loved the show. I'm hoping to see you here again when the spin-off Good Trouble starts because I'll be back reviewing that show when it airs.
What did you think about the series finale of The Fosters? Please, let me know your thoughts in the comments below and I'd love to hear your favourite The Fosters moments overall from the past five seasons.


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Win a trip for two to Devil's Thumb Ranch!
Come hang out with the Indie Staff and a few artists from our April Local 303 lineup! Watch an exclusive live performance from up and coming rock band American Culture!
You love learning about new music and the Denver music scene. We have a weekly newsletter for you -- Inside Track. Sign up here to stay in the know about the hottest Colorado concerts and how you can score tickets!


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The founder of the English Defence League has been convicted of leading a street brawl with 100 football fans.
Stephen Lennon, 28, shouted "EDL till I die" and encouraged fellow Luton Town supporters when they clashed in the town with Newport County fans on 24 August last year.
Lennon, a father of three from Luton, was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work and given a three-year football banning order. He was also ordered to pay £650 in costs. He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and accused of leading Luton's hooligans into a fight.
He denied the charge but was convicted after a trial at Luton and South Bedfordshire magistrates court. Outside court he said he was being persecuted for his rightwing beliefs. "I am being done for what I am saying rather than what I am doing," he said. "In the last 12 months I've been banned from protesting, going to the football and my assets have been frozen. It is a police state."
Lennon was at the front of a large group of fans and was seen provoking opposition fans by gesturing and swearing at them. A terrifying scene unfolded with masked fans fighting, launching bottles and other missiles including a car roof rack.
A car windscreen was smashed during the battle as only seven police officers struggled to separate the sides. PC Robert Field described the scene as "incredibly intimidating" to members of the public and said it was "clearly going to get out of control".
Lennon, who has previous convictions for assault, possession of cocaine and disorderly behaviour, shook his head upon hearing the verdict.


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In Vadodara, a Muslim man repeatedly rapes a 14-year-old class X girl and recorded her on his mobile phone, reports Times of India. Allegedly the man had also attempted to brainwash her to convert to Islam by taking her to various religious places.
19-year-old Tausif Imran Khan, a class XII student who lived in Manjalpur, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually exploiting a minor. Police say that he used to take the girl to Lalbaug garden and also near the ONGC campus on Pratapnag to sexually harass her. Her parents have claimed that Khan used to force her to commit sexual acts while being recorded.
The police investigation has revealed that Khan used to share pictures and videos of the girl on Tik Tok. He didn't share any obscene content of the girl. However, he threatened to use them when the girl's parents confronted him.
The parents discovered the girl's exploitation when on June 20th they decided to follow her. They found out that Khan took her to Lalbaug garden and then to Hazira tomb on Pratapnagar Road. They complained that the girl was taken to various religious places in an attempt to brainwash her to convert to Islam. On being promised of marriage the girl had also started to fast for Ramzan.
According to the police, Khan had met the girl at an examination centre for the Gujarat board exams. He made repeatedly following the girl, contacting her and promised her of marriage. He had also been previously booked under POSCO for molesting a minor in 2017. He has been picked up from home but yet to be formally arrested.
There have been several incidents of the rape of minors in the past few months. In Kanpur, a Maulvi had raped a minor in a Madarasa. In another shocking case, 2 Muslim men have been arrested for raping a 12-year-old girl. In another rape of a minor in a Madarasa, the victim's family are traumatized after Islamist trolls demanded to marry her off to her rapist.


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July 18, 2016
Republicans are gathering in Cleveland this week, as will Democrats in Philadelphia next week, to formally nominate their respective Presidential candidates.
The national conventions took on presumptive forgone-conclusion status weeks, if not months, ago. America already (almost) knows Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will face off in November.
While Clinton was long the favorite in her race, Trump's rise to the top was deemed a longshot. What drove that rise will be studied for years to come, regardless of the outcome, but one thing it highlighted were problems with traditional means of polling.
See some of PredictIt's unexpected side bets here!
With landlines approaching VCR status, pollsters face heightened challenges to get the data they need. Maybe that led to pollsters missing Trump's upward trajectory, or maybe it didn't. But a new wrinkle in the political-prognostication game has been the entrance of websites like PredictIt.org, a self-described "real-money political prediction market; the stock market for politics."
It's part academic-research project and part unique way to invest (or wager, depending on your outlook) real money in political races across the country.
"Markets are highly accurate because people have self-interest in their [answers]. They're putting their money where their mouth is." – John Phillips, CEO, Aristotle Inc.
"PredictIt is an exciting new, real money site that tests your knowledge of political and financial events by letting you make and trade predictions on the future," explains the site itself. "Although the stakes are limited, PredictIt involves real money so the consequences of being wrong can be painful. Of course, winning can also be extra sweet."
As of Friday afternoon, traders on the site gave Democrats a 66 percent chance of winning the White House in November. While pollsters, in many case, seek information about who people will vote for, markets like PredictIt base their stats on who users think will win.
To John Phillips – CEO of the non-partisan political-technology company called Aristotle Inc., which is involved in PredictIt – that's a defining difference between polls and markets like this.
"We're forecasting with what people believe the answer will be, and have skin in the game. Markets are highly accurate because people have self-interest in their [answers]. They're putting their money where their mouth is," Phillips told PhillyVoice during an interview last week. "Polling has been around for a while, and it's very good with focus groups, to understand the why behind what people are forecasting, something that markets aren't very good at telling you."
Take last week's announcement that Trump selected Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate. Before that news broke, PredictIt traders read the tea leaves and were investing on Pence while sending Newt Gingrich's numbers down.
Phillips explained that it's essentially a "stock market for politics," as opposed to the political version of a Las Vegas sports book. Users settle on a price between 1 and 99 and whomever gets the correct answer gets the full dollar. (There's an $850 maximum wager for PredictIt).
With that 66 percent Democratic advantage to win the White House, should someone buy in and say the GOP will win, they'll invest 34 cents to win the dollar.
"It's a lot of fun, especially if you're into politics," said Phillips, noting that users skew younger, male and starting off with a modest investment. "In the prediction market, the more information you have, the better you can do."
While the UK's Brexit vote was an unexpected aberration, Phillips said "the market has been quite accurate this year."
While Trump was a longshot initially – seen at the time as "a Black Swan event" – the market caught up as the primaries evolved. Moreso than answering a call from a pollster, this provides a mechanism through which voters can play closer attention to the candidates and the issues.
As the initiative started as a Victoria University of Wellington research project, and is legal to bet upon thanks to a "No Action Letter" from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, academics from more than 50 institutions will have access to data and gauge the ways that markets can forecast future events.
"Political scientists. Statisticians. Business schools. Mathematics departments. They'll be looking at why people forecast the way they do, whether right or wrong," he said. "Polling could transition into something like this. Markets measure things no one has the time, money or inclination to measure. There will be a lot of information in there to research."
As for what the PredictIt markets are saying now, users expect Clinton to win the Presidency (65/35), Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine to be her vice-presidential running mate (49), and Democratic challenger Katie McGinty with a slight lead over incumbent U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (52/50) in Pennsylvania.


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Elegant symmetry adds an architectural element to any space. Shown in a grey-washed plain-cut oak base and with our Swiss Coffee semi-gloss top, the Xavier Coffee Table will be the star of any seating area. As with all pieces from our Custom Furniture Collection, this stylish coffee table is made-to-order in Los Angeles and can be infinitely customized. Choose your own dimensions, wood type(s), and finish(es). For pricing, please call, e-mail, or submit an online quote request.
Any additional photos (thumbnails left of the main image) are provided to show alternate angles, detailed views, or to offer ideas for design customization. Please note: This product description and its listed measurements are specific to the item displayed in the main image.
Dimensions: W: 48″ • D: 48″ • H: 16″


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Wooden Teethers Set 1
A wooden teething toy can be a safe and environmentally friendly option for infants. This handmade teether is made from one of highest quality natural wood - beech wood, which is widely used around the globe in the making of teething toys. These are suitable for babies to hold in their small hands, smooth to touch and safe for chewing.
It is tough and durable and can be used as a pendant for nursing necklace or a teething toy, for baby to chew on, or attached to the baby gym or stroller with baby links.
3+ Months
Beech wood
Wood has natural anti-bacterial properties, so keeping them clean is simple.
Wooden toys can be wiped with a dry cloth for daily maintenance and cleaning.
No Soaking. Never submerge wooden toys in the water.
Do not leave them in a direct sunlight.
You can moisturize wooden toys by applying Coconut oil or olive oil sparingly with a washcloth. Then let it dry.