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We know you're tired of hearing about this, but we're really just bracing you for the upcoming season. Seven months on, the Virginia Cavaliers' stunning loss to the UMBC Retrievers in the first round of the NCAA tournament is still difficult to fully comprehend.
Even if the game was a more extreme example of UVA's inability to make deep postseason runs, one has to wonder what the implications of that loss are in the short- and long-term. From the standpoints of recruiting and the media, we already know a decent amount. Competitively? That will be answered this season.
As of right now, "the shocker of all shockers," as Jim Nantz called it, appears to have had little impact on the recruiting trail. Weeks after the game, the Hoos landed Casey Morsell out of Washington's St. John's College High School and the powerhouse Washington Catholic Athletic Conference for their 2019 class. In August, 2021 guard Carson McCorkle, expected to be a five-star recruit, announced his intent to play for the Cavaliers, rebuffing offers from Florida and NC State among others. On the surface, Bennett's otherwise superb record of building and maintaining the standard for his program and his elite level of talent development are winning the day.
We've certainly fed into the narrative here at STL, and not that you need me to tell you this, but I'd guess that the UMBC game will be mentioned at least once a half by TV announcers this year. This year, that's just what the narrative will be — can UVA gather itself to rise above a loss that will be remembered forever and finally get to a Final Four with a team loaded at every position? The season opens against Towson, another school from Baltimore County. And of course the ACC/Big 10 Challenge pairs the Cavaliers against old nemesis Maryland; if you don't think Terrapins fans will bring out their best signs and chants for the revival of this classic rivalry, I don't know what to tell you. As March approaches and arrives, mentions of the loss will only get more frequent. The plus side to all this? If Virginia gets to Minneapolis or wins it all, that talking point will forever switch to what happened a year after UMBC. Maybe there'll even be a 30 for 30 on it.
UVA guard Kyle Guy changed his Twitter picture to him standing at midcourt with his hands on his knees in the immediate aftermath of the Retrievers finishing off the upset. That should give you a solid idea of how the Hoos are approaching this season.
On paper, this could very well be the best team of the Tony Bennett era. Guy and Ty Jerome comprise the best back court in the country, De'Andre Hunter projects as a lottery pick in next June's NBA Draft, and a front court of Mamadi Diakite and Jack Salt (plus Braxton Key if his NCAA waiver gets approved) cap off a starting lineup that should put the fear of God into every UVA opponent. Toward the back end, a bench rotation of Marco Anthony, maybe Key, Jay Huff, and Francesco Badocchi makes for a talented, if inexperienced, reserve unit.
When it comes to what happens on the hardwood this winter and spring, however, the question of whether five years of NCAA tournament shortcomings — especially their most recent one — were ultimately one big fluke won't gain complete clarity until they respond to this part of their story in full.


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Inspiring passion for art, while noble, can ultimately be a difficult proposition, especially if there's a business element involved. But while laborious, it's certainly not impossible if you go in with the right mindset, and a good plan. Chadwin Barley speaks to Beth Ann Hawley, who owns and operates her own dance studio, the Put Art In Your Heart Dance Studio. Beth expounds on the difficulties of having art and business intersect. Moving through this path might be arduous, but drawing from her own experience, Beth shows you how you can successfully navigate through this notoriously troublesome journey.
Listen to the podcast here
Put Art in Your Heart With Beth Ann Hawley
I get to introduce to you one of my favorite community business leaders in the Lakeway Bee Cave area. Her name is Beth Ann Hawley and she owns and runs a cute little dance studio in our area called Put Art In Your Heart. People may know it by the acronym. It always threw me off. What we want to know from Beth Ann is a little bit about her business, but more about her heart and her soul and what drives her business. We all know that as an entrepreneurial business person, it's that heart aspect that puts forth the service and product that you deliver to the marketplace. Beth Ann, thank you so much for visiting with me. I'm excited to know your story.
Chadwin, thanks for having me.
It's exciting to know your story because when I think back on how our relationship was first established and built, I know you through friends of friends. I keep an eye on you through social media and that thing. We all know that what's on social media is true, but sometimes, it's also our best foot forward. I want to know the real Beth Ann and where you're coming from. I know you and when we first met through a direct friend of mine, I know you as a stay-at-home mom and it was in the trenches, brand new babies and littles. The next thing I knew, you're this amazing entrepreneurial business person out there killing it in our community. How does that happen? How did you go from point A to point B?
I taught high school in the Lake Travis area for a few years. I was the drill team director out here and I had taught in another school district that was not a good fit for me in an adverse community. I found my way to Lake Travis after some soul searching and discovered that it was an awesome community. It was geographically beautiful, so I fell in love with it easily. Driving out to the lake is like a dream come true. I liked the people. It was a family-based community of people and I always say Lake Travis is full of people that worked hard to get there or got extraordinarily lucky. I was one of the ones that were in the right place at the right time.
I met and married a man that had two kids that were in the third grade and kindergarten. I was immediately an instant mom and then shortly thereafter, we started our family together and added three more kids in five years. In the trenches is an understatement. I had always been a dancer and enjoyed dancing and teaching. I taught locally for about every dance studio in the area as a substitute or as a full-on staff member. I enjoyed it but it wasn't mine. I got tired of working for other people to be totally honest. When I met you, I was a guest at a party or an event and I had been curious about sales, possibly real estate, and starting the next chapter of my life.
Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Click To TweetI loved being pregnant and being a mom with little kids, but I always knew in the back of my heart that there was something else on the planned path for me. I started teaching dance about anywhere I could. I got tired of working for other people and thought to myself, "If I ever have the opportunity to buy or begin a dance studio, that's my calling." I was in the hallways here at PAIYH Dance Studios and my daughters were taking dance. I was watching my little girls dancing around in the dance studio and heard through the grapevine that the owner was ready to sell. I kept quiet about it. They came to me and said, "We need a badass to buy this business and we want it to be you." I said, "How much? How fast? What are we going to do?" I went running straight into the fire and after 1.5 years, I am sitting in the back office that's mine. I have 233 enrolled students. That's where I'm at.
I want to talk to you about how you pushed through the fear because the way that you described it totally makes sense when you're looking at the lens of hindsight. Let's talk about where you were when that opportunity was presented to you and the immediate thoughts that went through your head. How did you bust through that? When we're presented with a good opportunity, the good Lord comes knocking and our first response was, "What to do next? How? Why?" How did you get through that? That'll inspire many others.
I didn't realize that by being a drill team director and having five kids, I essentially was already running a business. I didn't go to business school. I have three degrees in college and none of which have anything to do with business. I thought in the back of my head as I got older and I stopped, people with fewer qualifications were doing exactly what I wanted to be doing. Across the world, I have a large network of friends and family that have danced. I saw girls opening dance studios and I was jealous. I wanted to do that. I felt calling and pulling on my heart. I went with a commercial real estate agent to every commercial property from Steiner Ranch to 71 and 620. I walked all the properties and did all the numbers and figured out I needed a $500,000 to go from the ground up to build-out a box with a dance studio and smears. That's not even paper in the printers or staff or payroll. I was discouraged and I was brokenhearted, to be honest. I cried a lot because I realized that I didn't think I could ever make that happen.
My poor commercial real estate agent, who's still my friend, took me through all those opportunities. I talked to other business owners and I asked a lot of questions like, "What does this mean? What does that mean? What is this tax? What is the price per square foot?" Every single place was different, whether I had to think about what a warehouse on a dirt road versus a commercial property in the mall looks like. I knew that I did not have access to $500,000. I didn't have a rich father, large savings account or this is not the type of loan that banks necessarily want to give you. This is definitely a passion project. I found out that PAIYH was for sale and they were trying to sell it to somebody that would take off, run with it and take a good, well-grown business. This business was in its tenth year of existence and it wasn't failing, it was thriving. It was known as the mass market of little kid dance classes in the area. If you had a little one under the age of 8 or 9, this is where you started them dancing. Everybody knew that. It's a parade of cute up in here.
I was still terrified. I didn't believe in myself all the way. I knew I had the skill, talent and network. I did not believe in myself business-wise and I asked for a lot of help. I sat with my husband, uncles, brother, respected business friends, and a lot of women that have done other projects that I knew like boutiques or offices of any real estate agents. Anybody that's ever opened a business and grown a business, I wanted to pick their brain. I had to learn a lot. I've learned a lot. You have to be coachable and push past the fear. I knew that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and if I didn't go for it, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Someone said to me once, "If you don't try, you'll never know." I never want to die like that. I don't want to be on my deathbed or go to my grave with any should have, would have, wish that I had done those feelings.
I'm the type that goes all-in and I'd rather know than never tried. I put it all on the line. I asked for help and I got help. I prayed a lot. I had to ask for a large amount of money and that was scary. I've asked before and I was turned down by banks. I had to go and get a personal loan. I had a partner that backed out and failed me in the ninth hour that was bringing in 50% of the money to the table. After I cried for five minutes, I sat up and I said, "I've got to fix this. I've got to go hard and figure out if I can make this happen anyway," and I did. I put the pieces together that didn't even make sense and here I am now. Face your fear. Everything you want is on the other side of fear and I'm a walking example of that. Being scared is no excuse. I'm never going to be held back by fear. It fuels me, to be honest.
Here's the thing that I want to acknowledge that could be the elephant in the room and for other entrepreneurial businesses, specifically for women that knows your story. We want a partner that's going to support us and I'm going to assume that your husband did, but what if he hadn't? I would love to know what it sounds like to you because I know that I heard those voices in my head a lot of times. My husband did not put out there to me, but at every big pivotal moment in my own business when I've thought, "This can't happen because," we create stories in our own heads that are absolutely not true.
One of the stories I would tell myself is, "My husband will never support me in this." I had to be committed to the dream that I would say to myself, "The people who love me are either going to support me and jump on the bandwagon or they're not and I need to be okay with that." I'm curious if you told those stories to yourself as well. The interesting part for me and for you probably as well because of the success that you've experienced, is that I tell those people who love me, wanted to see my dream come true, and they supported me more than I supported myself.
My husband said during the process, "If I could have afforded this for you, I would have bought it for you a long time ago." I knew he supported me. He's a businessman and successful. He's got a lot of years on me and doing it. He's a bulldog hustler. I understand and respect him more now than ever because I'm absolutely amazed to see what he gets done at the end of his day. He blows my mind, but I have had to learn a lot. I've had to ask for help. I've had to take down walls on things. I didn't even use to check my email because I wasn't receiving anything except for Target ads and occasional classroom notifications from the teachers, which I hardly even read those.
I had to change my ways. I had to become coachable. I had to set up a schedule and regimen. To be totally honest, even if he didn't believe in me, I would have gone for it anyway. I would've found the way and I would have figured it out. I've surrounded myself with highly-aligned women that had to fight for themselves. Daddy is gone, the husband is gone, and nobody feels sorry for you. Your world is what you make it. I'm grateful for his support and I'm amazed by him every single day, even without the support. You say you want your friends to support you, but sometimes they don't. Sometimes, those are your biggest critics. Sometimes, your own family can leave you hanging or disappoint you.
I've had to learn a lot and trust. My Heavenly Father gets me through a lot of that. Sometimes, I recognize that we live in the land of what if. I come up with all kinds of crazy scenarios of, "What if this happens? What if that happens?" Most of the time, we've invented all that in our own heads and it's not even an issue. You're going crazy. You just need to look at what the real issues are and address them immediately. A lot of times, it's about communication and timing. Most of what we come up with within our brain are these what-if scenarios that don't even exist.
You might not realize it, but the things you do might just essentially be like running a business. Click To TweetWe tell stories to ourselves in our head and whichever story we choose to listen to, that's what our reality creates for ourselves. That's what I've learned as well. That brings me to another point when you were talking about your faith and how that's gotten you through so much of the fear. Here is what I know from a person who has watched you from a distance is that you've not only blossomed as a business person, but you've blossomed spiritually. I love that you have no qualms about putting that message out to the universe. I'd love to understand because I don't know the answer. Are you growing there? Is this a new thing, brand new? Tell us a little bit about that and how that's evolved.
My parents were great and I had an awesome childhood. I have one older brother and my dad was former military. He was a career serviceman and he retired as a lieutenant colonel, which is high up in the US military. My mom was a social worker, so she's in tune with heart and soul. I was a school teacher for years, which usually means you are boundaryless and do everything for other people for a terrible paycheck. That's the person I was groomed, taught and raised to be. In my first year of business ownership, my dad passed away and that was the hardest battle I have ever had to face.
I had to learn how to lean heavily on my God, my faith, and my husband and because my earthly father was taken from me, my Heavenly Father held me. I quickly realized that I can't do anything and I don't do life without faith and my God. He's got my back. He's led me through and even in the fire, I am not alone. It is not new. I've always had a walk with God. There have been times that I have been stronger than others. There have been times I've fought with my hand, tooth and nail. I absolutely leaned on my faith and my relationship with my God.
From my own personal experience and journey, I've learned that the more that you verbalize it to yourself, be that through a journal, verbally or others, and more apparent on you, that presence be calm. It's not that we're creating it for ourselves because I've seen miracles happen, not just in my own life, but in my client's circumstances when I lift those needs up. It's our awareness and that we opened that channel. If we don't do that, the channel is murky for sure. Thank you for doing that. It's always what I'm going to post on social media or something like that and I go out on a limb that way. I always double think myself and wonder, "Are people going to think this is weird?" The truth is that you have to be in line with what your own truth is and know that it all falls in line properly.
I want you to know and validate that about you. You've inspired me through your words and your own faith. I want to know about your perfect client, what your goals are for the school and how people can support you. There are a lot of dance studios out in the area, but as we all know like in real estate, the competition is in your own mind. We each have a value add to offer that's different than our neighbor next door. Who is your best client? What is your best-case scenario? Who do you want to become as a business?
My best example of a client would be a family with several children. Anybody that wants to dance as well, come here, boys and girls. We've been known mass to the market for lower elementary and below, and I want to maintain that, but I also want to grow that. I want to keep those kids dancing with me. I want to upsell them. Meaning I don't want them to take one class, I want them to take 2, 3 or 4. What sets us different aside from the other studios in town is we are non-competitive and I have no plan on becoming competitive. A lot of people try to tell me that that's how you make money in the dancing and that is not correct. That is not at all what makes money in the dance industry.
I'm not interested in competing for plastic trophies. I don't feel like that necessarily does anybody any good. I did it for a long time for other people and it creates more competition. My goal and true passion for dance are to be an avenue of discipline and respect. It can teach you a lot of things about your body, mind, soul and spirit. I'm not a still person. It has taught me to have that regimented discipline to stand still, position arms, and also how to be free and how to express. I want dancers to fall in love with movement and get excited about using their bodies to express happiness, sadness or anything that they feel.
It's awesome that your program is non-competitive because for what little bit I know of the competitive world, we experienced it in gymnastics and in dance, was that it's more of a distraction than anything else. When you are developing your own skills, especially at a young age and even through middle school and high school, you grow into the person that you're becoming. All the rest of it is the costumes, events, hours, travel, and all this other stuff. It takes away from the skill and talent because you're worried about many other moving parts. That's a huge value add. I love that you brought that up because people will have the opportunity to opt-in or opt-out in their own minds as to whether or not this program will be for them. I love that we can help you get closer to that by knowing your definition of that. You are located in the Hill Country Galleria. Tell us the positives about that location being where you are and how to overcome if there are any challenges or what you're doing to overcome them.
That's something I thought a lot about. I did a lot of research and I looked at what it would cost to buy a piece of land. I looked at what it would cost to be in a warehouse on a dirt road or in an industrial park. I looked at a lot of things and options. Being in the Hill Country Galleria, the benefit is location. It's an essential hub. Moms can drop their kids off and have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, go to the library or drop off dry cleaning and be right back. There's a lot going on around here. I love sitting in my studio in the front windows and seeing the vibrancy of our community. I love seeing people walk from the apartments to work from the buildings upstairs and the real estate office down the street to get lunch. I love seeing the movement.
There's always stuff going on, too. There are cool activities, concerts, children's events, and the farmers market on the weekends. There's a lot of movement and I enjoy that. I also have 24-hour security, which is a benefit when you run a child-based business of a mostly female predominant staff. Their safety and security are important to me. I do not want to talk much about negatives, but if I had to, I'd say the rent side. I definitely know that I pay for what I get, but with that also comes some backing in the event that something goes wrong. I have contractors and people here, maintenance men that can help me. It's not just my fault, it's my problem. That is a benefit. I like where I am and it's a nice spot. My goal would be to outgrow the space completely and have the next chapter of PAIYH.
I want to ask you how parking is for families that are dropping in, dropping out because I would assume your classes are 1 to 2 hours max.
You have to change your way: become coachable, set up a schedule and a regiment. Click To TweetMost of our classes for elementary age and above are 55 minutes. About half of our students take more than one class and usually, those classes are stacked one right after another. You're looking at a minimum of 55 minutes in a parking space, if not 2 or 3 hours, depending on the activity level of your kid. Parking is a bare. It is a challenge and I have to warn my families to prepare for it. We'd have parking right out in front, but it's challenging. There are two parking lots and a parking garage. What I do is I circle the building until I get my perfect spot. I manifest my perfect parking spot. I'll circle the building 2 or 3 times until I find a good place to park. That's not the most ideal situation with the Galleria events, especially on weekends. Sometimes, I have to send out emails preparing families saying, "Plan for parking." I tell parents, "Give yourself twenty minutes to park, unload and get to where you need to be."
Last year, I got to experience your holiday event for other local business owners to help support your business and vice-versa. Are you doing that again?
I'm still doing a lot of holiday planning. I feel like I'm behind schedule but I'm not. I'm right where I need to be with it all. We'll definitely be looking for upcoming marketing on a sip and shops and drop-in shop, which is, "Drop your child off while you go shopping for Christmas and we'll entertain them." Also, we have camps here at PAIYH. Every time school is out, we've got a camp running. If you're looking for something to fill your time with kids, we also have special events for holidays. We've got a Halloween party and camp day when the kids are out of school. We've got a lot going on all the time.
During the school holidays, do you guys take a break also or will you go for camps?
Lake Travis ISD takes up the entire week for Thanksgiving, so Monday through Friday. We will run a camp and skip a day for Thanksgiving and then have a camp also on the next day at the same time that we're running little kid's camp for elementary-age mostly. We will also run a drill team intensive for three days, so that's a big one where my middle school and high school girls are trying out for area pom squads or drill teams. They will come in during the day and work towards their goals as well. I do two programs at the same time. During the holidays, look in towards Christmas, we'll do the same thing.
You've been talking a lot about the girls and I know dances historically preferred with girls, but I know boys have opportunities, too, at your school. Talk about that so people can know what you have to offer for them if there's an interest there.
Boys are willing and able to join any in all classes. We don't have any that is exclusively for girls ever. Boys dance, too. One cool thing that we've brought in is a boys' hip hop instructor. I have a male instructor and I do offer some all-boys classes. I've found that a lot of little boys that have never taken a dance class before are a little apprehensive, but they are less apprehensive if they know it's all going boys and with a guy teacher. I have Mr. Rylei who's super cool. He comes in and he teaches an intro to breakdance class. He also teaches all boys ages 5 to 7, which is a nearly full class and then all boys ages 8 to 12, does still have openings. That's been great. That's probably about twenty brand new clients that wouldn't be in the building otherwise. Boys for sure dance, too.
One last element that is often forgotten with your studio is the retail side and what you have to offer there.
A little undiscovered gem here at PAIYH Dance Studios is that we also have a full dancewear boutique. Meaning we can outfit your favorite dancer from head to toe with leotards, tights, shoes, dance, wear of any kind, costumes, accessories, Christmas ornaments and gifts. You name it, we've got it.
My daughter needs a few things. Do you have all the sizes as well?
We do. We have everything up from teenagers and adults. For the drill team girls, we have your extra tights and your tan and black jazz shoes. Anything that you've left behind or has gotten ruined, I can replace it for you.
You just have to be aligned with what your own truth is, and know that it all falls in line properly. Click To TweetWith the holidays coming up, we need to remember, you can outfit your favorite dancer at PAIYH Dance Studios.
We absolutely will take good care of you.
Thank you so much for your time. Tell us how to best find you. Give us your social media handles where that applies, website, phone number and email. How do we connect with you?
Call, click or come by. Our phone number is (512) 291-2179 or you can check us out online at www.PAIYHDanceStudios.com. We're also on Facebook and Instagram as PAIYH Dance Studios. PAIYH is the acronym of Put Art In Your Heart.
I want you to know that the Lakeway Bee Cave area is blessed to have you as a mom, as a member of our community, as a friend, and someone who inspires. Your community is beautiful. If anyone wants to log into Instagram and look for Beth Ann Hawley, you will learn a lot from her by following her passion.
Thanks, Chadwin.
I'll talk to you soon. Take care.
Thank you, Chadwin.
Important Links:
- Put Art In Your Heart
- Facebook – PAIYH Dance Studios
- PAIYH Dance Studios – Instagram
- https://www.PAIYHDanceStudios.com/
About Beth Ann Hawley
Beth Ann Hawley is a 10+ year resident of Lake Travis, a wife, and a mother of 5. She is a former dance teacher and drill team director for Lake Travis High School, Killeen High School, and served as a long term sub at Harker Heights High School. Beth Ann has been a competitive dance director, recreational instructor, subbed, and taught locally for years as a private instructor. She has choreographed numerous award-winning pieces for schools, colleges, and studios, nationwide. She does contract adjudication for auditions and competitions, and works seasonally for 8 National Talent, a dance competition company.
Beth Ann holds a Texas Teaching Certification in Dance and a BA in Theatre & Dance from The University of Texas at Austin, where she cheered on the Longhorns as a member of the Texas Pom Squad. She also attended Kilgore College, where she danced as a member of the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. Beth Ann is currently co-president for LTYA Cheer, and has been a head coach for 4 years. Beth Ann is excited to take over the reins at PAIYH Dance Studios, as owning her own studio has been a life-long dream.

subset: commoncrawl


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Problems Crooked Teeth Can Cause
If you have crooked teeth, then there is more for you to understand about how they can be negatively impacting you than just affecting the way your smile looks. Once you understand some of the things that can happen when you have crooked teeth, you will have more of an understanding of why you should consider seeing an orthodontist and having your teeth straightened. Here are some of the different things that can happen with crooked teeth:
Your speech can be affected
Depending on which teeth are crooked and to what degree, your speech can be affected. One example of a way that your speech can be affected by the fact that your teeth are crooked is air can pass through spaces between some of your teeth when you are saying certain sounds, and this can cause more of a whistling sound to come out. Another example is that you may end up with a lisp due to your teeth being crooked.
You will have a higher chance of developing cavities
When you have straight teeth, you will be able to brush and floss in order to remove food particles and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. However, when you have crooked teeth, you might not be able to brush or floss all of the surfaces of your teeth, and this means that your teeth will be more at risk of developing cavities.
You can experience uneven wear in your teeth
Another thing that can happen because of the crookedness of your teeth is that more wear may be put on some of your teeth and in certain parts of your teeth. That extra wear that is put on them will cause them to become worn more than other areas, and this can lead to you experiencing other issues, such as weaker areas in some of your teeth, which also increases your chances of cavities, as well as problems such as chipping them easily.
Now that you have learned some of the different problems that can arise from having crooked teeth, you should have a better understanding of why it can be so important to have your teeth straightened. You can see an orthodontist, and they can help you to choose the method that will work best for you when it comes to straightening your teeth. Once your teeth have been straightened, you will feel better and you will have decreased your chances of having certain dental issues.


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Health and public sector workers have lost confidence in the government and their patience is "running out", the leader of one of the country's biggest unions is to warn the prime minister.
Unison's general secretary, Dave Prentis (pictured), is to tell his union's health conference in Harrogate that time is running out for Labour, which is losing the trust of public sector workers "in their droves".
"The country is in a mess and we look to the government to come up with serious solutions, not to waste time in childish venom," Mr Prentis is due to say.
"But at the moment, the government is losing us. It is losing the support and trust of health and public service workers in their droves.
Some 1,000 delegates at the conference will be told that "fundamental flaws" in private finance initiative school and hospital building projects had "come home to roost" and have had to be bailed out.
"Big business will only take the profit, but won't shoulder the risk, while ordinary workers, expecting to put in a fair day's work for a fair day's pay, are rewarded with threats of job cuts, low or no pay and privatisation," Mr Prentis will add.
Copyright © Press Association 2009


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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Abnormal uterine bleeding can be caused by a number of different things. A normal period typically lasts from 5-7 days and occurs approximately every 28 days. A menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. Things that are abnormal and are reasons to consult your provider:
- Cycles that are shorter than 21 days
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding after intercourse
- Bleeding after menopause
- A significant increase in the heaviness of menstrual bleeding
What are some common causes of abnormal bleeding?
- Pregnancy
- Infection
- Rapid changes in weight or exercise levels
- Hormonal changes—estrogen and progesterone are not the only hormones that affect the menstrual cycle. Thyroid disease or elevations of a hormone called prolactin (a hormone produced in the brain) can affect periods.
- Uterine fibroids—benign growths that can form in the wall of the uterus, on the surface of the uterus, or within the uterine walls. Uterine fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of cancer and almost never change into cancer.
- Uterine polyps—growths that are formed from the tissue that lines the uterus. They are attached to the wall of the uterus.
- Age—women who are very young and just started periods or who are close to the age of menopause may experience changes in the menstrual cycle varying from shorter periods and lighter periods to longer and heavier periods.
- Endometrial hyperplasia—this describes an overgrowth of the tissue that lines the uterus. These cells can be abnormal and progress to uterine cancer
- Uterine cancer
How do we evaluate abnormal bleeding?
There are a number of different causes of abnormal bleeding. Some of these causes are hormonal, some are structural (changes in the uterus and lining of the uterus), and some can be related to abnormal cells in the uterus. There are several steps that we commonly take in the office to evaluate this. Your doctor will discuss which of the following is appropriate for you based on your history:
- Labwork
- Urine pregnancy test
- Pap smear
- Pelvic exam
- Ultrasound
- Endometrial biopsy—a procedure in which a small plastic pipelle is inserted into the uterus to obtain a sample of tissue. This is done in the office and typically causes some uterine cramping.
Procedures that are also used for evaluation of abnormal bleeding and performed in the operating room include:
- Hysteroscopy—a small camera is inserted through the cervix into the uterus. Abnormalities of the uterine wall can be easily visualized and abnormal findings, such as uterine polyps, can be removed and treated.
- D&C—formally known as dilation and curettage; an instrument is used to remove tissue from the uterine lining for biopsy
How do we treat abnormal bleeding?
Depending on your diagnosis, your provider may recommend a number of different treatment options. There is not always a clear solution, and for some problems, many different things would work. We have listed treatment options from most conservative to most aggressive below:
Hormonal treatments
This can include the use of medications that contain estrogen and progesterone (birth control pills, NuvaRing) or medications that contain progesterone only (Depo-Provera). These medications can be highly effective for contraception as well as abnormal bleeding or pelvic pain.
Mirena IUD
The Mirena IUD was originally approved for contraception. However, the FDA has now approved Mirena for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding. It is a small T-shaped device that is placed in the uterus in the office. It stays in place for five years and can be removed in the office. Approximately 70% have a reduction in bleeding and 20% experience no further menstrual bleeding.
Novasure endometrial ablation
Novasure is a procedure performed in the operating room at Flowers in the outpatient setting. It is performed in combination with hysteroscopy (described above). Novasure involves removing the lining of the uterus (the endometrium). The procedure is quick and typically takes less than two minutes. It does not involve an overnight stay in the hospital. Most importantly, it preserves the uterus while reducing bleeding in over 90% of patients. Novasure is not an appropriate treatment for women who have not completed childbearing.
Hysterectomy is a definitive option for the treatment of multiple abnormalities responsible for pain and abnormal bleeding. Our physicians are able to offer the most up-to-date hysterectomy procedures including laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy and total laparoscopic hysterectomy. We have extensive experience and training in performing laparoscopic hysterectomies through three small incisions, each less than ½ inch, with a hospital stay of only one night, and a recovery time of approximately three weeks. Please see "hysterectomy" for more information.


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One of Donegal's best-known cafes is seeking cooks.
Baskin's Cafe at Main Street, Dunkineely, Co.Donegal are currently seeking cooks to join their team.
The successful candidate must have a minimum of 2 years experience and must have a good knowledge of H.A.C.C.P.
If you are interested in this position, please email email@example.com or contact Frances Baskin on 07497 37340.


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All books in this series are stand alone stories, but are best enjoyed in order.
As the illegitimate sister of the Duke of Raven, Emily knows only too well how society judges a woman like her, and what a debt of gratitude she owes her family. She also knows the vital importance of maintaining independence, and how cruel fate can eclipse good intentions anytime. Certainly she's not going to let her head or heart get fooled by the devilishly annoying Cambridge Sinclair, her family's protector, and London's notorious rake… who also happened to save her life… more than once.
Cam has been intrigued by the mysterious Miss Emily Tolly for years, even though theirs is a turbulent relationship. With her family and others, she's shy and timid, but with him, she's anything but. He knows this kitten has claws beneath the quiet exterior and a whole lot of other secrets she's hiding. But her passion and intelligence draw him irresistibly to her, so when he's given the opportunity to rescue her once again, he grabs it with both hands. This rescue, though, takes the form of a hastily arranged marriage, which Cam enters into willingly for her sake and her family's. What he doesn't count on is the closer he and Emily get, the stronger their passion burns, and Cam finds himself wanting not just her body, but her heart too. It was meant to be a dutiful betrothal from the start, but it soon becomes something more. As Emily sees the real man beneath the roguish reputation, her carefully guarded heart begins to believe and hope. Dare she trust the one man who could destroy her? |


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NFL coaches say that the first points in a game are always the hardest to get. The same is true of writing a book. The first few pages can establish momentum, but getting those onto paper can be excruciating. As another writer said: It's not like putting a hammer to a nail.
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Designed for would-be writers having trouble overcoming inertia, the project emphasizes quantity over quality: The idea isn't to write a masterpiece, just to write a novel in a month. Presumably if you've done it once, you can do it again; the experience of finishing a crude novel will make the goal of a decent novel seem attainable.
The average screenplay will consist of about 60 scenes. So if you write one scene every week, you can finish a movie every year. You don't need to write them in order; skip around, and fill in the gaps as you go. The point is to break up a colossal undertaking into manageable pieces; and any method will do, whether it takes a month or a year. You may not end up with a masterpiece; but you may acquire the confidence to bring that masterpiece within reach.


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- Lightweight, long-handled shopping bag by Neutral®
- 100% certified organic cotton. Fairtrade certified.
- EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence
- Production powered by renewable energy
- Reinforced at stress points to make it last
- The nerdiest possible bag for your puzzles and other goodies
- One tree planted for every bag sold
- Bag size: 38cm x 42cm. Handles: 66cm
Cloudberries 'I Quite Like Puzzles' Bag by Neutral
Out of StockUS $9.99
Do you quite like puzzles? So do we! That's why, together with the Danish brand Neutral, we've designed this awesomely nerdy tote bag. It's the perfect everyday bag, or the ideal gift wrap for a couple of our fun puzzles!
Designed with the planet in mind, these bags are completely reusable and eco-friendly, with enough space for two of our 1000-piece puzzles… or maybe a bag of groceries! The long handles make it comfy enough to carry over your shoulder all day long, and the subtle Fairtrade tag helps show off your eco-credentials. Show how much you love puzzles with our fun design on one side, and let people know about the work we're doing to plant trees in the world's most fragile ecosystems with our one tree planted logo.
As you'd expect, this bag is made from 100% certified organic cotton, and has been awarded an EU Ecolabel for environmental excellence. What's more, its production was powered by renewable energy, and it's been reinforced at key stress points to make it last a lot longer. Why not treat yourself, or make a fellow Puzzle Nerd® happy?
Additional information
Weight | 0.080 kg |


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Monthly Archives: March 2013
You've been warned
If you can't be a good example, be a terrible warning. Either way, it's your opportunity to lead. Use it how you see fit. Tweet
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Start with a 10
In a follow-up to my previous post, here is my take on a possible better way to encourage your customers to give you a good rating on a company survey. It's a concept that may be foreign to most workers. … Continue reading
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Shopify Alternatives and Similar Sites
Below you will find the brief info about Shopify, user reviews and the list of the most similar sites.
Some Facts About Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce site with the goal of helping businesses run their online stores. Use the free business name generator to check domain availability as well as gain various name suggestions. Choose from more than 70 Shopify themes to use as build your store in drag & drop store builder. Shopify accepts over 100 payment gateways, making transactions a breeze. It is search engine optimized and mobile-friendly. Check out various apps on the Shopify App Store that can help your business grow. Create a store and get to grips with all the useful tools with a 14-day free trial, after which you can purchase one of 3 monthly subscriptions that come with the availability to sell unlimited amounts of products, the option of selling on other marketplaces, discount codes and more.
Sites Like Shopify
If you're looking for a great ecommerce platform, then maybe one of these sites like Shopify offer what you're looking for.
BigCommerce divides its site into Enterprise and Essentials. Essentials is probably what you'll need, as it provides a complete ecommerce platform with the right tools and security to properly set up and start selling anywhere you want, even on Amazon. You can opt for a 15-day free trial to see what it's like creating your store at this site, after which you can pay monthly or annual for one of three different plans that come with 0% transaction fees, or contact them for Enterprise if you happen to be quite a large team.
Square is simply packed with various useful services, but most importantly, it allows you to set up a free online store. There is no monthly fee, but instead you are required to pay 2.9% + 30 cents on every transaction. This is present in its other 3 plans you can for yearly, with the most expensive plan lowering the 2.9% bit to 2.6%.
A custom domain can be bought for $12, but if you pay for one of the memberships then you get a free custom domain for one year. You can sync various other platforms with Square, but sadly, Shopify does not seem to be one of them.
With a 14-day free trial that doesn't even require a credit card, Volusion lets you see what it's like to use its site builder, coupled with various themes and features you can use that don't require you to know programming, though a CSS editor is available if you know CSS and would like to make use of it. Integrate PayPal, Stripe and more as you create product pages.
There are 3 plans that can be paid monthly or annually, plus a Prime Custom one, all of which have a 0% transaction fee: Personal, Professional and Business. Paying annually can save you up to 10%. Personal limits the amount of products you can list to 100; Professional has a 5000 product limit, while no limits are present in the Business membership.
Mobile-friendly themes, complete access to HTML and CSS, an easy content management system (CMS) and more is present at this drag and drop e-commerce builder. 3dcard even lets you find third-party designers, developers, marketers and photographers to do the work for you, at varying prices of course. The platform takes no transaction fees, and you can try it out with a 15-day free trial, after which you can pay for one of 5 monthly/yearly subscriptions, all of which allow an unlimited amount of products, have a shopping cart, built-in blog, over 100 payment providers and more.
A huge amount of businesses have set up a store on this e-commerce platform which allows you to easily sync and sell across various other marketplaces and social media platforms, including Amazon, Facebook, Instagram and more. It has its own App Store where you can find various useful apps, tools and extensions to improve your website – they may be free or have a free option next to a monthly subscription.
Speaking of monthly subscriptions, Ecwid allows you to make a store for free with a mobile-responsive shopping cart and a limit of 10 products. You can upgrade to Venture, Business or Unlimited, which open up more sales channels, increase the product limit and more.
Easily design your store without worrying about coding with Webflow. Customize product pages, the shopping cart and more. Making custom interactions and animations is also possible.
Don't worry about a trial limiting how long you can tinker about – Webflow lets you mess around as long as you like. When you're ready to publish, then you can choose from 3 different website plans, 3 different e-commerce plans, 2 individual account plans and 2 team plans, one of which requires contacting the site.
Whatever product it is you'd like to sell, Big Cartel lets you create a proper online store easily with their free adjustable themes, with the option to do coding if you'd like. It's been up and running since 2005, and is a nice store builder for artists and makers looking to sell their work. You can opt for the Gold plan that can be used for free but offers limited features and a limit of 5 products.
The available monthly subscriptions are: Platinum ($9.99/month), Diamond ($19.99/month) and Titanium ($29.99/month). Platinum gives space for 25 products, Diamond 100 and Titanium 300. They come with real-time stats, bulk editing, inventory discounts, the ability to post 5 images per product and more.
Whether you're looking to make an e-commerce site or anything else, Squarespace lets you do it with its set of well-made designs you can customize to your liking. You can find templates specifically made for e-commerce too. Use SEO tools, blogging tools and more as you integrate things such as YouTube, Twitter and more while managing your website with the mobile app available on Android and iOS devices.
Start off with a free trial and then choose one of 4 plans: Personal, Business, Basic Commerce and Advanced Commerce. If you'd like to get a free custom domain and save up to 30%, then you should pay annually. Those wanting a fully integrated e-commerce will want to go with the latter 3 plans, with Business having a transaction fee of 3%, while the Commerce ones don't have a transaction fee at all.
You may have already heard of this popular website builder that even has an AI builder that can make a website for you by just giving the AI a bit of info. Everything works on mobile, there are hundreds of different templates, and there's even a logo maker if you need an easy way to make one. Making a free blog is possible, but if you'd like to get your own domain, then you can pay for one of 3 Website Premium plans or one of 3 eCommerce plans, all of which come with a free domain that will last you 1 year.
Unlike most, PrestaShop lets you download its free, open-source e-commerce software, using it to build your website with more than 5000 themes and modules. It has its own marketplace called PrestaShop Addons where you can find paid and free themes and modules that help you create a quality store. If you have made a store already, then you can migrate it to PrestaShop whose shopping cart comes with no monthly fees, no transaction fees. This free software may be totally worth going for.
This is supposedly the most popular e-commerce platform out there. It's in fact an open-source plugin built on WordPress. There are plenty of free and paid extensions over at their Extension Store, such as Stripe and Amazon Pay, which could be of great use to you. There's also a Theme Store with paid and free themes in various categories, including fashion & apparel, arts & crafts and more.
Despite its starting roots being in 2008, WooCommerce has shifted to fully focusing on e-commerce in 2017, and thus could well be worth a look if selling online is what you're after.
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Heroic Commander Adventure
Choose Your Class and Skills
Choosing your class and skills may quite possibly be the most important and engaging aspect of role playing games. As such, Heroic Commander Adventure takes its classes and skills seriously. With 21 class possibilities divided into single class and dual class specializations, there are plenty of choices that will cater to different playstyles. As players level up, they will choose their skills and talents from a wide variety available to their chosen class or classes. You won't be able to obtain every skill or talent though, so your choices will matter in helping you create your unique character and role.
Engaging Combat
Heroic Commander Adventure (HCA) offers a unique spin on combat that minimizes the role of randomness and focuses on making encounters feel more active. Rather than relying heavily on various random die rolls for things like damage, defense, hits, and misses, HCA uses a single defense reaction die roll system for combat.
When a hero or enemy makes an attack, the defending hero or enemy can choose to either block or dodge if they are able. The defender then rolls a single die based on their block or dodge stat to see if their defense is successful. A successful block or dodge allows a player to avoid damage completely. Choosing not to block/dodge or failing a block/dodge roll results in a successful attack. This single die roll mechanic allows combat to move more quickly, resulting in more engaging combat encounters.
The combat dynamics and hero skills in HCA are designed to be an interesting mix of traditional tabletop turn-based role playing game (RPG) and modern action RPG video game mechanics, resulting in faster and more interactive encounters that focus on player choice and strategy.
Combat System
Teamwork Matters
The greatest adventure stories ever told always include more than one hero, and Heroic Commander Adventure is no different. You will need to work closely with your teammates, utilizing each of your unique skills and strengths to overcome the challenges that await you.
Whether you ensure everyone's HP is replenished as a Healer, blast groups of enemies with fiery meteors as an Elementalist, summon bears to maul enemies as a Druid, or rush into the fray as a Legionnaire, your unique role will be essential to the survival and success of the team.
Challenging Enemies
Heroic Commander Adventure includes 52 enemies and 15 bosses. Each enemy and boss is unique and has access to 4 different active skills in addition to their standard attacks. You won't find useless fodder enemies in HCA. Every enemy will present a unique challenge to be learned and overcome!
Explore and Discover
Heroic Commander Adventure also offers a unique spin on exploration. The HCA World Board is shrouded in mystery when the game begins, and Adventurers uncover each World Tile as they move and explore the world. What will you discover as you move into uncharted territory? Dangerous enemies? Terrible traps? Special events? A Landmark? Treasure?
When Adventurers discover a Landmark Tile, gameplay shifts to the Adventure Board. Adventure Boards can symbolize a variety of locations, including ancient castles, dark mines, spooky mansions, or creepy forests. Adventurers will also need to explore these Landmark locations, revealing each Adventure Tile as they move.
HCA campaign quests will require Adventurers to travel the world and delve through Landmarks to defeat enemies, find treasure, and more!
Fully Customizable Gameplay
The open-ended nature of Heroic Commander Adventure (HCA) means that no two adventures will ever be the same. Even when playing through the same campaign twice, your experience will be different depending on the choices you and the Adventure Master make. You might discover a secret you missed the first time. You might fight new enemies or old enemies with a different set of skills. You might choose a different class or skills. You might encounter new events. HCA offers excellent replayability!
HCA is also designed to be fully customizable. Players can create their own alternative rules, difficulty scaling, new classes and skills, and campaigns. Players can also modify game assets or add their own new assets, such as figurines. The possibilities are endless!
Game Requirements
Heroic Commander Adventure requires access to Steam and Tabletop Simulator on either PC or MAC. Participants in structured sessions led by Heroic Commander Adventures will also need access to Discord and a microphone for voice communication. A webcam is not necessary unless video chat is desired during sessions. Steam, Tabletop Simulator, and Discord are all 3rd party software provided by their respective owners/publishers and unaffiliated with Heroic Commander Adventures.
Click the button below to check out the Demo Version of Heroic Commander Adventure on Tabletop Simulator and Steam.


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Naming Resources
Dictionary.com | www.dictionary.com
A simple, easy-to-navigate dictionary.
Merriam-Webster | www.merriam-webster.com
The granddaddy of dictionaries, which includes pronunciations and first known uses.
OneLook Dictionary | www.onelook.com
The dictionary of dictionaries that combines results from multiple sources.
Sideways Dictionary | https://sidewaysdictionary.com
A dictionary of technology terms.
Thesaurus.com | www.thesaurus.com
The sister site to Dictionary.com. Easy to search and discover words.
OneLook Thesaurus | www.onelook.com/thesaurus
A powerful thesaurus, which will help you generate lists of loosely related words.
Moby | http://moby-thesaurus.org
A thesaurus into the unusual. It is a reference full of unusual word relationships.
Play with Words
RhymeZone | www.rhymezone.com
A rhyming dictionary. It's never been so easy to play with words.
Etymology Online | www.etymonline.com
The etymology and history of English words.
Google Translate | https://translate.google.com
An easy-to-use tool to browse foreign-language translations.
Linguee | www.linguee.com
A valuable translation dictionary with over 1 million reliable translations.
Avoid Bad Words
Word Safety | http://wordsafety.com
Search across multiple languages to ensure your name isn't in offensive in a foreign language.
Urban Dictionary | www.urbandictionary.com
A goldmine of slang and bad words. Find out if your name means something inappropriate.
Green's Dictionary of Slang | https://greensdictofslang.com
Similar to Urban Dictionary, you can search for slang terms and what different phrases might mean.
WIPO Global Brand Database | www.wipo.int/branddb/en/index.jsp
Search trademarks across international jurisdictions.
Justia Trademarks | https://trademarks.justia.com
A free search tool for United States trademarks.
TESS: Trademark Electronic Search System | http://tmsearch.uspto.gov
The United States Patent and Trademark Office's official trademark search tool.
Canadian Trademarks Database | www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/home
The Government of Canada's office trademark search tool.
Markify | www.markify.com
A paid trademark search engine. It delivers more sophisticated tools than free offerings.
Domains, Apps, and Social Media
Panabee | www.panabee.com
Search for domain names, app names, and company names all at once.
I Want My Name | https://iwantmyname.com
A powerful domain search engine to view a name's availability across multiple top-level domains.
Domain Maker | www.bustaname.com/word_maker
A useful wizard for generating available domain names based on descriptors of or words associated with your core brand name.
KnowEm | https://knowem.com
Check to see if your brand name is available as a vanity URL on over 500 popular social networking sites.


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We all love and need sugar and we all know that sugar is a result of extracting sugarcane. The moment the extraction process is done, there will be residue that is supposed to be destined to our landfills. Good thing designer Veerlee De Ridder have created a product that will make use of sugar cane, which resulted into the creation of the Ecover Bottle. The not too arty yet clean design will surely make the bottle fit enough for your kitchen. Aside from being made of sustainable sugar cane, the Ecover is also 100% recyclable and this will surely reduce the growth of our landfill drastically.
Source: De Invasie


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Find Kastelorizo Tilos Ferries with Ferries.co.uk
Ferries.co.uk features all the main ferry providers for the Kastelorizo to Tilos route.
We offer fantastic rates on all Kastelorizo Tilos Ferries so on Ferries.co.uk you will not be disappointed! To look further into travelling on Kastelorizo Tilos ferries such as viewing ferry timetables, ferry prices and information on how to book Kastelorizo Tilos ferries please select your desired route, number of ferry passengers and then click on search.
If you'd prefer to get a quote or book on an alternative route, then please click on one of the Kastelorizo Tilos links below.


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The Kreepy Krauly VTX3 has a unique scrubbing seal dislodges calcium and algae from the pool surface for a pool cleaning performance like no other.
The VTX-3 has Kreepy Kraulys "Vortex Cleaning Technology " that scrubs, sweeps and thoroughly vacuums your pool removing difficult sand and other debris using a true random action coverage for a perfectly clean pool. The smooth bore and flexibility of the Kreepy Krauly Ultra Flex hose delivers optimum cleaning performance and completes the system.
To find out more about this product and discuss your exact requirements, please call Pump Shop today to talk to one of our friendly pool and spa equipment experts.


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Updated on: March 1st, 2023
Mana Takamiya spirit is available in the A/AA class in DaL Spirit Pledge. Read on for Date A Live Spirit Pledge Mana Takamiya guide, build, skills info
There are two versions of this character; Vanargand version(AA class) and Muarkumo version(A-class). This post will give the build and skills info of both these characters.
Date A Live Spirit Pledge Mana Takamiya(Murakumo):-
- Role; Melee and Ranged Attacker
- Energy: Lightning
- Mana Takamiya requires "lightning energy" for special effects/bonuses. Her skills, on the other hand, do not require lightning energy.
- Restoration of Energy: the base attack generates x1 lightning energy.
- Attacks gain lightning energy and decrease the foes' lightning defense
- Grade – A-Class
Date A Live Spirit Pledge Mana Takamiya(Murakumo) Sephira Build Recommendation: –
- Deity: Heqet – increases main stats + gains +2% attack on hit
- Deity: Flora – increases main stats + gains +2% Crit Rate on hit
- Mocana – gains attack speed on hit. Increases main stats
This set improves the overall stats of the main character.
Mana Takamiya(Murakumo) Skills & Skill Combo –
- Murakumo – attacks surrounding enemies with Murakumo – inflicts strikes to enemies; lightning damage on the enemies
- Lightning Edge – lifts opponents swiftly with Murakumo and inflicts damage.
- Cloud Piercer – dashes forward to pierce one time before returns to the same spot – causing lightning damage
- Lightning Strike Gallery – after charged up, covers a wide area forward with a web made of lightning blades – inflicting lightning damage
Mana Takamiya(Vanargand) Form: –
- Role – Melee Attacker
- Special effect – the probability to attack overdrive to targets. Overdrive effect; enemies receive more damage for the next few seconds
- Skills cost energy
- Energy restoration – restores energy every second and whenever Mana's base ATK hits an enemy.
- Grade – AA Class
Mana Takamiya(Vanargand) Sephira Build Recommendations: –
- Phantom: Heroic Stance – increases Crit Rate + Crit Damage
- Prydwen: Rose Slash – increases Pierce Rate and DMG
- Imola – increases ATK, Skill ATK DMG
This sephira set will boost the CRIT stats of the character.
Skills & Skill Combo –
- Inverted Cloud – lifts enemies in front, jumps up, and inflict the physical damage
- Wolf Tail – invades surrounding enemies with the sword; inflict strikes and cause PHY DMG
- Tracing – teleports to the back of the opponent and slash continuously. Inflicts lightning DMG
- Perfect Dodge – after moving forward for some distance, can control flying angle and direction
Check out the Mana Takamiya tier score in the tier list.
So that's all in this post on Date A Live Spirit Pledge Mana Takamiya guide; overview, skills, build info.
Do you love playing mobile games? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel – Gaming Soul for new mobile game videos. For More Updates, Game News, Game Guides, New Game Releases, And ALERTS – Like Us On Facebook – Gaming Soul, Follow Us On Twitter – Gaming Soul. Check Out – Best mobile games. Do you have any suggestions? Submit Here


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Spending our time
Published 6:07 am Friday, December 10, 2021
And Jesus said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Luke 12:15 NRS
This verse, pulled from what is often called the parable of the "rich fool," speaks to so many pieces of our lives. Perhaps the most important is how we spend our lives in this place and time. Jesus knew that how we spend our greatest resource, time, is perhaps who we will become not only here and now but also, for all eternity.
Jesus spent much time directing his disciples on how to concentrate on the activities that lead to God's Kingdom and not those that we think will make us happy. In a world that is constantly pushing us to do more, experience more, make more and gain more so that we can be happy, Jesus tells us to slow down, listen to God, feel the moving of the Holy Spirit, and to give our time to the betterment of others. Those who would be first will become last and those who are last will be first in the Kingdom of God.
In this time of year, the pressure to do more, to buy more and accumulate more seems almost unstoppable. It seems there are thousands of things we "must" do before we can settle in to celebrate appropriately. If Jesus truly wanted us to live in this rush and hurry, it seems this parable would be very different. It does seem we should perhaps be doing a little less and concentrating on God a lot more.
After all, this is the season of Advent, the time we remember Emanuel, God with us, and prepare for the time when we will completely dwell with God once again. So, how are you reminding yourself to spend time with God and draw nearer to your creator? Perhaps we should be truly concentrating on growing closer to God each day so that we can care less and less about the things of this world and not trying to check so many boxes. To receive the great joy of God with us, our hearts, minds and spirits must detach from the world's push to things and instead strengthen our relationship with a God who is indeed with us!
KEITH LEACH is Pastor of College Church and College Chaplain at Hampden-Sydney College. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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This exclusive edition Giclée Art Print, designed by Samah El Hakim, comes with a numbered and signed certificate of authenticity. Printed on 100% cotton, acid-free, heavyweight paper using HDR UltraChrome Archival Ink, this artwork reflects our commitment to the highest color, paper, and printing standards.
This exclusive edition Fine Art Block designed by Samah El Hakim is numbered, signed and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Artwork is printed on fine art paper using archival inks and mounted to a 2" deep hand stained dark brown frame. Comes ready to hang.
Extracted from "Goodness On The Spot" (a post I wrote on my personal blog fiballouta.blogspot.com). It is about the need for any of us to act upon our instinct, right away, whenever we feel the urge to do a good action.
Mazraat Yachouh, Lebanon


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2024 entry
BDS Gateway to Dentistry (A208)
Course overview
Typical offer
A-level standard offer: BBC
A-level contextual offer:
See entry requirements for full details and eligibility.
Course duration
6 year(s) full-time
Part-time study is not available for this course
Application method
Full-time: UCAS
The closing date for Dentistry UCAS applications is 16 October. UCAS advises that no more than four choices from a possible five are used for Dentistry.
£9,250 per year, home students
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
International students
This course is open to applicants from specific schools and colleges in the UK only.
Gateway to Dentistry is aimed at students who have the potential to become dentists but do not meet the academic entry criteria to apply directly to our five-year undergraduate BDS Dentistry course. Our Gateway courses are widening participation initiatives for UK students who fulfil specific criteria and wish to apply for a clinical course in dentistry, medicine or veterinary science.
During the Gateway year, students will learn alongside each other, benefiting from shared interprofessional insight and the unique community of Bristol's medical, dental and veterinary schools. Students will be taught by academic teachers who are scientists and clinicians.
The Gateway course builds on core basic sciences underpinning clinical subjects (chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, anatomy and physiology). It encourages reflection and places emphasis on personal and professional development; strengthens practical, statistics, research and library skills; and considers attributes and behaviours that enable successful transition to university study. Successful completion of the Gateway year allows automatic progression onto BDS Dentistry.
This course is open to applicants from specific schools and colleges in the UK only and/or to those who have spent three months or more in care. For further information, visit contextual offers.
International students may be eligible for the International Foundation Programme for Dentistry.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT, formerly UKCAT) is required for admission to this course. You may be eligible for a UCAT bursary to cover the cost of taking the test; please visit www.ucat.ac.uk for more information. The course admissions statement will provide full details and will be available online by September 2023.
Health and Disclosure and Barring Service check
Certain health conditions may be incompatible with careers in dentistry. Before starting your degree you will need to complete a health assessment questionnaire and pre-course screening for blood-borne viruses; find out more about pre-course occupational health information.
In accordance with General Dental Council guidelines on fitness to practice, all dental students are required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in line with other health-related courses in the UK.
Please note that as part of your training you will come into contact with human and animal cadaveric material.
Course structure
Your studies will include:
- basic cell biology, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the healthy human/animal;
- fundamental principles of chemistry;
- numeracy skills and statistics relevant to health sciences programmes;
- clinical professional attributes;
- clinically-relevant work experience.
Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.
Go to programme catalogueEntry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
A-level standard offer
BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
DMM BTEC Extended Diploma Applied Science (RQF): Grades DDM or DMM, including five specified Biology or Chemistry units in any combination. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of DDD or above cannot be considered for Gateway programmes but could be considered for the five-year standard entry course instead.
Find out more about our BTEC entry requirementsInternational Baccalaureate Diploma
29 points overall with 14 at Higher level, including 5 at Higher Level in Biology or Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of 33 points overall including 16 at Higher Level, or with 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.
Scottish Qualifications Authority
Advanced Higher: BB including Biology or Chemistry, and Standard Level: BBBBC. Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.
Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted for this course. Access to HE students are instead welcome to apply to the standard Dentistry course.
Mature students can contact email@example.com to check the suitability of their Access course.
Welsh Baccalaureate
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Cambridge Pre-U
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
Applicants must also meet these requirements
GCSE profile requirements
Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent)
Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
- IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in all other skills
- GCSE English Language grade B or 6
- An alternative English Language Profile B qualification
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels
Additional requirements
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is required. Bursaries are available to cover the cost of taking the UCAT - please see the UCAT website for details. Work experience is recommended - please see the Admissions Statement.
More about UK qualifications.
Selection process
- We select successful applicants based on the UCAS application, UCAT and interview.
- Full information about our selection processes for this course:
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement:


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Conspiracy Files: George Soros - The Billionaire Global Mastermind?
Investigating how multi-billionaire George Soros has become a boogeyman around the world - castigated not just by bloggers, but now by presidents and prime ministers. But are the allegations of secret Soros plots to overthrow governments and flood countries with migrants simply the product of resurgent anti-Semitism?


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The Lighthouse Inn hotel offers gracious amenities in non-smoking environment. Cozy up to the fireplace as you enjoy a daily complimentary continental breakfast of breads, muffins, coffees, teas, cocoas, fruits and cereals, and juices.
For reservations call:
The Friendliest Casino on the America's Wild Rivers Coast! Experience an unimaginable combination of beautiful décor and impeccable service within the hotel at Lucky 7 Casino. Each room contains an abundance of space, with a minimum of 400 square feet to over 900 square feet all with spacious bathrooms featuring granite counter tops and tiled floors.
For reservations call:
Let Us Be Your "Base-Camp" for Exploring!
We've got 23 rooms located directly across Highway 101 from the Trees of Mystery, the End of the Trail Native American Museum and adjacent to the Forest Cafe, the Motel Trees that can be your base-camp for exploring the wonderful and naturally exciting North Coast Redwoods area.
For reservations call:
Gold Beach Oregon – A Beautiful Oregon Coast Town
We are the Oregon Coast as it's meant to be: Wild and Natural.
Whether your "Wild Side" is the excitement of salmon fishing, rafting or taking a jet boat tour on the mighty Rogue River, or the adrenaline rush of windsurfing one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.
Klamath Camper boasts over 25 grassy and tree studded acres of camping plus an additional 25 acres of woods and trails to explore with loads of amenities!
For reservations call:
Hiouchi Motel is situated along the Smith River and allows easy access to local river activities such as fishing, kayaking, rafting, river guides and day trips. Steelhead, Trout and Salmon fishing is a favorite pastime. The Smith River is one of the last major free flowing rivers in California, it is clean, clear and a natural spawning ground for the native fish. We offer clean, comfortable lodging with 1 and 2 bed rooms with cable TV and WI-FI, in a quiet, serene setting with a picnic area, river activities and more. This setting is ideal for family gatherings, special events or just relaxing and enjoying nature at it's best. Well behaved dogs are allowed.
For reservations call:


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Nowadays learning a foreign language is easier than ever. You can learn Spanish online, go to a local language school or even travel to attend Spanish courses in Mexico. The way you choose may depend on your language level, the time and money available, or even on the particular skill you want to improve.
Some skills can be trickier than others. For instance, correct pronunciation is very hard to practice on your own. If you are watching a video-lesson, you can try to imitate the speakers, but there is no one to tell you if you are doing it right. Thus, pronunciation is better practiced with a teacher, preferably an accredited teacher from a reputable language school.
Let us look in more detail at some of the best ways to practice and improve pronunciation.
Learn Phonetics
Simply put, phonetics is the science of sounds. Learning phonetics will help you understand the peculiarities of Spanish sounds and how they differ from the sounds of your native language. It may help you prevent some mistakes before you even start speaking.
Listen and Repeat
In order to speak well you should also listen a lot. Watching videos or listening to podcasts in Spanish will help you get acquainted with and get used to Spanish sounds and correct pronunciation. Nonetheless, just listening is not enough. It may seem like a primitive idea, but if you want to learn to speak, you have to speak. Even just trying to pronounce the words is better than listening alone.
However, you will benefit greatly if there is a highly qualified teacher to check and correct your pronunciation, as well as provide you with the best materials to study. For instance, if you take Spanish courses in Mexico at an accredited language school, you can rest assured that you will have the most efficient pronunciation practice.
Useful tip: If you do practice pronunciation on your own, record your voice. Listening to the recording can help you analyze your speech and notice the mistakes you make.
Learn Tongue Twisters
Tongue twisters can be a fun way to practice pronunciation. They may be difficult to say at first but they help you warm up your tongue and adapt it to Spanish sounds. Tongue twisters can be easily found online and do not require too much time to master.
Attend a Language School
As has been above, practicing your pronunciation with a teacher is the fastest and most effective way to success. A highly qualified teacher will help you prevent and avoid mistakes, correct the ones you make and provide you with the best possible speaking and listening practice.
Whether you study with a private tutor, at a local school or decide to attend Spanish courses in Mexico, consider choosing an accredited teacher or school. Accreditation means that the school or teacher has been evaluated by a board of experts and maintains the highest standards of education. It provides for the most efficient learning process and may prove to be one of the best investments of your time and money.
Practice Regularly and Be Patient
No matter how you choose to learn Spanish or which techniques you use, regular practice is essential. Good Spanish pronunciation cannot be achieved over night. But do not let it discourage you! Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice the better you become.


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TSB 'meltdown' blamed on data centre test failures
The long-awaited report into the IT meltdown at TSB will be published today and is expected to outline a raft of failings at the bank - including a critical failure to properly test one of its data centres. The huge meltdown cost chief executive Paul Pester his job and the bank itself around £370m in compensation and expenses. Law firm Slaughter and May's report will reportedly criticise Carlos Abarca, the bank's head of IT, who is claimed to have failed to warn board members about "shortcomings" with the testing of the new system. People briefed on the report say it will say the bank's board of directors failed to show "common sense" ahead of the IT upgrade, with another source saying the report concludes that the decision not to test both data centres was taken by Sabis, the tech division of TSB's Spanish owner Sabadell. The report is set to be followed by a joint investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.
Bank appoints area director for Scotland
Cambridge & Counties Bank has appointed its first area director for Scotland, with Donna Kerr taking the position. Ms Kerr she would be helping to lead the lender's "expansion charge" in Scotland. Cambridge & Counties specialises in secured lending and deposit products for small and medium-sized businesses.
Bankers in HQ switch
Société Générale has started relocating staff to its new Canary Wharf office as it looks to consolidate its London business. The site will house a divisions including corporate and investment banking, securities services, asset management and back and middle office private banking activities.
Asset manager Russell Investments put up for sale
TA Associates has hired Goldman Sachs to explore a sale of Russell Investments, which has $293bn under management. Russell Investments was valued at $1.15bn when TA Associates acquired it in 2016.
German bank customers feel pinch as lenders grow less reluctant to impose negative rates
Data from Germany's central bank shows almost 60% of the country's banks are charging corporate clients negative interest rates on deposits, with over 20% doing so for retail customers.
Bank faces hit over 'hawking' insurance
Commonwealth Bank, Australia's largest bank, will be forced to refund more than A$12m to customers after unfairly selling life insurance over the phone. It has pleaded guilty to 87 criminal charges for 'hawking' life insurance in unsolicited phone calls and has been ordered to reimburse 30,000 people who were targeted by telemarketers between 2010 and 2014. Commonwealth Bank also faces fines of up to A$1.85m following the legal action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
China cuts interest rate for first time in four years
The People's Bank of China has cut its short-term lending rate for the first time in four years, trimming the seven-day reverse repurchase rate from 2.55% to 2.5%.
Airbus announces orders worth more than $30bn
Airbus has announced orders for more than 170 planes in a set of deals valued at more than $30bn at list prices. Air Arabia, a low-cost Emirati carrier, has ordered 120 narrow-body planes including the A320neo and A321 XLR models, while Dubai government airline Emirates placed an order for 50 of the bigger A350 planes.
Lloyd's of London encourages workers to voice concerns over harassment
Lloyd's of London has launched a new campaign to encourage employees to speak up about harassment after a report revealed that more than half said they would keep quiet. A survey by the insurance market found that 38% of workers were unsure how to raise a concern and 45% felt uncomfortable doing so. It has now responded by introducing an advice line. Employees are urged to use this if they are victims of or witness bullying or harassment. Lloyd's will then provide trained counsellors to speak to the individuals and to help them with any further actions.
FCA probes pawnbroker's lending practices
Lending practices at H&T, the largest pawnbroker in Britain, are being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The watchdog is looking into how the firm judges whether customers who take out an unsecured loan can afford to pay the money back. The probe is focused on lending over the last six years, a period in which customers have paid £24m of interest.
Aviva opts to retain Asian businesses
Aviva has revealed that it plans to retain its arms in Singapore and China following media speculation over the future of its businesses in Asia. In a statement, the insurer said: "Aviva's Singapore and China business units delivered double digit operating profit growth in 2018 and are earning attractive returns. Both countries are expected to pay dividends to group centre in 2019." However, the company confirmed that it is continuing with a strategic review of its operations in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, which could result in a sale.
Sage to offload payments arm
Pending regulatory approval, software firm Sage Group is to sell its payments arm Sage Pay for around £230m to Elavon, a payments firm and unit of US Bancorp. Sage said it expects to report a statutory profit of around £180m after the deal. For the year ended September 2018, Sage had operating profit of £15m and revenue of £41m.
Diploma raises dividend
Diploma, which supplies technical products for the life science industries, is to increase its final dividend by 15% after posting double-digit growth in both earnings and revenue. Profit rose 14% to £97.2m from £84.9m in 2018, while revenue climbed 12% to £544.7m from £485.1m last year. Cash flow was down 7%, however, hitting £56.5m.
SoftBank to form internet giant
Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank has signed a $30bn deal between Yahoo Japan and Line, a South Korean messaging app. The move, which is set to see a merger completed by October 2020, will see SoftBank take a 50% stake in the venture, while Naver, the majority owner of Line, will take the other half.
Ban no-fault evictions to stem rising tide of homelessness
Campaigners say that homelessness could be cut by more than 10% if tenants were protected from no-fault evictions. Analysis of government data shows that more than 260,000 households faced homelessness over the past year. Of these, 27,450 were evicted from their private rental accommodation because their landlord was selling up or reletting the property. A further 800 households were evicted after complaining to their landlord, letting agent or council.
Retail closures reach nearly 6,000
High street chains have closed almost 6,000 stores so far this year, according to the Centre for Retail Research, which also revealed that retailers with 10 or more stores have already closed 5,834 shops in 2019 - up 77% on the whole of last year. Some 708 shops have been closed by large retailers falling into administration in the year to September 30, while a further 333 shops were closed through CVAs. In the first nine months of 2019, 2,531 more shops were closed by large retailers than the 3,303 closed during the whole of 2018, while a further 4,793 shops have been shuttered by large retailers through "rationalisation" as part of cost-cutting programmes.
Man Utd revenue and debt rises
Manchester United has posted revenues of £135.4m for the first quarter of 2019/20, a £400,000 increase on the same period for the previous year. Commercial revenue was up 5.9% on a year ago, hitting £80.4m. The club's net debt has risen by over £100m, with projected revenue for 2020 also dropping. It expects 2020 annual revenue to be between £560-580m - a drop compared to £627.1m for the year ending June 30, 2019.
Brits are top Xmas spenders
Britons are set to be Europe's top spenders this Christmas, with a new poll suggesting UK shoppers will spend an average of £567 each this Christmas. This total is 39% higher than the European average of £409 and includes £299 on presents and £143 on food and drink. The average spend is up 1.3% on last year's figure. The survey found that a third of UK shoppers plan to buy most of their presents in November, while three in five said they preferred to shop for Christmas presents in stores.