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Garden City, KS-Head Volleyball Coach Jacquelynne Matula has signed two international setters and one American setter for the 2016 Volleyball Season.
Setter Tishara Hicks from Clarksville, TN inked with the Busters on Monday. Hicks is 5'8 inches and graduated from Northeast High School in Clarksville. Hicks played club volleyball for the Clarksville Volleyball Club. Hicks is pictured right-center with Assistant Coach Daria Winkler (Left) and Head Coach Jacquelynne Matula (Right).
Hicks can defend, play outside and right side hitter.
Katharina Volmer is also inked on Monday. Volmer is a 5'8 setter and is from Germany. Maddie Park is the other international setter. Park is 5'8" and is from New Zealand. Park inked with Garden City on Tuesday.
Pictured beow is Katharina Volmer and Maddie Park.
Katharina Vollmer
Maddie Park

subset: commoncrawl


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The Cleaner S02E07 HDTV XviD-NoTV.avi
- Category TV
- Type Divx/Xvid
- Language English
- Total size 350.4 MB
- Uploaded By Dita496
- Downloads 119
- Last checked 3 months ago
- Date uploaded 9 years ago
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Your IP Address is Location is - Your ISP and Government can track your torrent activity! Hide your IP with a VPN!
Infohash : 2BD964DA4061FCF360518F85C5FB449ED1D04263
Episode Title: An Ordinary Man
Original Airdate: August 04th, 2009
William takes on a case brought to him by a hospital executive after he
receives an anonymous tip that nurses and doctors on staff may be
using drugs.
- The.Cleaner.S02E07.HDTV.XviD-NoTV.avi (350.4 MB)
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What are you all up to today?? I have a list of cards to create, and Praise God, I have some card orders to work on!!! But this past weekend, I went to celebrate with some sisters in Christ, a sister that is leaving our state. She will be moving back to her home in Puerto Rico with her hubby and daughter. The Lord has called them to return for this season, and so we sisters wanted to celebrate the excitement with have for her and her Ohana, and just send her off with love n' fellowship and celebrate also with food!!!! :) Here are some pics I took at the event. What a blessed time of fellowship. We will truly miss this beautiful sister of ours!! After viewing pics, be sure to scroll below to view the card I created for her.
Gonna miss our laughs and smiles together... and will always cherish the beautiful memories we've created.
Beautiful sisters in Christ...
Valerie doesn't like to take pictures... she's too cute!!!
A pic with Queen D!
With all of the sisters.... God is so good n' amazing to put these beautiful ladies in my life!! Thank You, Jesus!!!
Thanks for looking at my pics of the wonderful night well spent. Now to share with you the card that I created for her, using a Unity stamp. There are actually several sentiments that came paired with this jar stamp. Each sentiment is different and can be used accordingly to the event. This set of stamps also came part of another set of stamps, it was a monthly kit I used to subscribe to!! But I think I've got a pretty good collection of Unity stamps now, so I had to stop ordering from them. LOL. I stamped with Black Momento ink, and then colored with my Zig Watercolor Pens. Then I went back and lined the image again with black ink, just so the lines looked more dominant, since it looked faded after using some water to blend my ink coloring. The embossing folder is from Stampin' Up!
Thanks for visiting!!!! I hope you've had a wonderful weekend as well!!


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More information
S.H.A.R.E., Inc. Telephone (970) 867-4444
Know Your IX is a campaign that aims to educate all college students in the U.S. about their rights under Title IX. Armed with information, sexual violence survivors will be able to advocate for themselves during their schools' grievance proceedings and, if Title IX guarantees are not respected, file a complaint against their colleges with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
This site is specifically focused on sexual violence, harassment, and abuse on U.S. college and university campuses.
New York Times story on the need for laws to require relinquishment of firearms for someone under a temporary protection order.
The Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would establish consistent, nationwide protections, prohibiting the sale to and possession of guns and ammunition by those subject to a temporary restraining order.
The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent. In 2010, of all the women killed by a firearm in the United States, almost two-thirds of them were killed by an intimate partner.
In many instances, laws fail to adequately protect victims at the moment they are most vulnerable—when a temporary restraining order has first been issued. The presence of a gun at this highly volatile moment can be catastrophic. The Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would make it a federal crime for those subject to a temporary restraining order to possess a gun.
Domestic violence victims are often at most risk when they leave and when only a temporary restraining order may be in place. Service of the temporary restraining order can be a particularly volatile time. Laws regarding access to firearms for those served with temporary restraining orders vary by state. In many states individuals can continue to possess firearms during this time.
Consider the following scenario: A woman ends an abusive relationship with a boyfriend. She successfully applies for a permanent restraining order against him, and, as the law stands, a period of one to two weeks passes before that application gets a hearing. In the meantime, the woman receives only a temporary restraining order against her boyfriend, who is notified of her application and, with a proven history of violence, might seek revenge. In 33 states, that boyfriend is legally allowed to purchase a firearm before the restraining order on him becomes permanent.
All too often, we know how that story ends.
In 2010, two-thirds of the women shot and killed in the United States were killed by an intimate partner, and the presence of guns in situations of domestic violence increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent.
Common sense says that people under temporary restraining orders shouldn't be able to buy guns in the brief period before those restraining orders become permanent. Why does the law still allow such purchases in a significant majority of states?
Connecticut's senators, Richard Blumenthal, D, and Chris Murphy, D, are working to close that perplexing loophole. The Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, would impose a consistent standard across the nation to ban the sale of firearms to those with temporary restraining orders. This would make it more difficult for abusers to get access to guns in the volatile period between the time their partners take action to protect themselves and the time that protection is officially granted. The New York Times reported in March that at least five women in Washington state have been shot and killed over the past decade by an intimate partner in that limbo period — and that's just one state. This bill might have saved their lives, and it will save lives if it is passed.
Seventeen states have extended those restrictions to include temporary orders. Research has shown that gun-related homicides among intimate partners in those states have dropped by as much as 25 percent.


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CHSAA Class A boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down Tuesday's Class A semifinals at Cardinal Spellman.
Here's the schedule:
6 p.m. – Mount St. Michael vs. Archbishop Stepinac
7:30 p.m. – Cardinal Hayes vs. Iona Prep
For live Twitter updates, click here
Mount St. Michael Mountaineers
Head coach: Tom Fraher
Record: 24-1
Player to watch: Peter Aguilar
Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders
Head coach: Tim Philp
Record: 17-9
Player to watch: Conroy Baltimore
Outlook: Mount avoided a second straight huge upset in the quarterfinal round by beating Monsignor McClancy, 72-50, at home Saturday to reach the semifinals.
The Mountaineers have the league's top scorer in Peter Aguilar and its best defender in point guard Malik Gill. The team's role players, guards Clarence White and Anthony Maestre and forward Omari Manhertz, are all capable of stepping up in a big spot.
Archbishop Stepinac is the defending Class A intersectional champions and is playing like it late in the season. Lehigh-bound Conroy Baltimore is a force inside, while guards James Chillemi and Julian Wright are a handful for any team. Sure, Mount swept the regular-season series but that was then and this is now, says Stepinac coach Tim Philp.
"We're a different team from when we played them, but they're playing real well," he said. "Two teams playing really well, it should be a great game. Too bad I have to coach in it, I'd like to sit and watch."
Mount was successful against Stepinac during the regular season because it was physical with Baltimore. That will again be the plan with Manhertz earning the defensive assignment.
"The key with Baltimore is, you have to block him out," Mount coach Tom Fraher said. "He's got great feet, great timing and he's long so when a shot goes up you have to find him and move him out. You can't just go to the rim."
Cardinal Hayes Cardinals
Head coach: Joe Lods
Record: 20-5
Player to watch: Amadou Sidibe
Iona Prep Gaels
Head coach: Vic Quirolo
Record: 12-12
Player to watch: Felix Abongo
Outlook: Cardinal Hayes shook off a slow start against Monsignor Farrell Saturday to cruise to a 73-52 win in the quarterfinals. The Cardinals went inside to the league's best frontcourt in 6-foot-8 Amadou Sidibe and 6-foot-7 Jalen Jenkins, which allowed Tavon Nelson some open looks from beyond the arc that he converted into 3-pointers.
Hayes also often creates matchup problems from the guard position as well with 6-foot-2 Davon Sylvester and 6-foot-4 Fadil Yacoubou.
The Cardinals reached the Class A final a year ago and they're a heavy favorite to get to Rose Hill Gym again. They beat Iona Prep twice during the season – 60-46 at Hayes on Jan. 31 and 54-44 in New Rochelle on Feb. 15.
The Gaels might be undersized and undermanned, but they also have no pressure, which should allow them to play free and easy. Iona Prep defeated St. Edmund Prep, 36-29, in the quarterfinals and while the Gaels have struggled to score this year, they have consistently played solid defense, a staple of Vic Quirolo's teams.
"Everybody underestimated us and we surprised a lot of people," Iona's Kevin Conroy said. "That makes it all the more better."


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|Restaurant & Bar
|Functions & Conferences
|Contact & Location
Our first-class hotel at Burgh Road, Carlisle takes its name from Hadrian's Wall which used to stand nearby. Situated in a select residential area, en route to the Solway Coast, it is open for morning coffee, bar meals and luncheons from noon to 2pm. Afternoon teas, high teas and evening bar meals are served from 6pm to 9pm and dinners from 7pm to 9pm. Our floodlight gardens add to the relaxing atmosphere of the hotel. The hotel has mainly en-suite bedrooms, complete with tea/coffee, television, telephone, trouser press, hair dyers, etc.
Only a mile and a half from the centre of Carlisle, and close to the River Eden, we are ideally situated for business men, walkers, fishermen, shoppers, and holiday makers alike. Set in a quiet residential suburb, Vallum House Hotel can meet all your requirements and guarantee your complete satisfaction. As well as our residential accommodation, we offer superb non-residential facilities for dining, private parties, weddings, and conferences. Do not hesitate to call us for any further details you may need, function details or to make reservations. We look forward to being of service to you, and to making your visit with us a pleasurable one.


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Syracuse, N.Y. -- More than 200 paddlers, including Native Americans and non-Native Americans, canoed down the Hudson River near Albany on Sunday as they continued a trip that began July 2 at the Onondaga Nation and is scheduled to end Aug. 9 in New York City.
The Haudenosaunee are taking the trip to draw attention to a 400-year-old Two Row Wampum treaty between the Dutch and the Native American nations that made up the Iroquois Confederacy.
The Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign is a joint effort organized by the Onondaga Nation and Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, a group affiliated with the Syracuse Peace Council.
Here's some links to stories about the paddlers arrival in the Albany area that were published by Albany area news organizations:
Albany Times-Union: Paddlers mark 400-year-old Iroquois-Dutch pact
Troy Record: Two Row Wampum flotilla embarks on Hudson River journey
Poughkeepsie Journal: Peace fest to flow through Beacon
Times Herald-Record: Historic Native American trip by horseback, canoe passes through region
Contact Mike McAndrew at email@example.com or 315-470-3016. Follow him on Twitter @mikemcandrew1


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Ernesto Ferreri b. Astoria, NYC April 15, 1954
I started composing at age 19, and had the good fortune to begin study with Robert Ward at NC School of the Arts in the fall of 1974. I received my MA in Music Composition from CUNY Flushing (Queens College) in 1985, after study with Henry Weinberg.
I have been teaching at Cape Fear Community College since 1993.
My works get revised regularly. If you are planning on performing a work of mine please contact me through this site so that you get the latest revised version. Also, it is always nice to get an audio and a program. There are no performance fees for the works I have provided parts for. I am a self-publishing composer thanks to the IMSLP.


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Depew's Reinstein Center gets the 'green' light
During a celebration of the 43rd Annual Earth Day at Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center in Depew on Monday, DEC Region 9 Director Abby Snyder presented a plaque that certified the center as a "green" facility. Reinstein Woods has environmentally sound facilities deserving of certification as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design site.
Wood used in the Environmental Center is from trees harvested locally. The center has radiant floor heating, tankless water heaters and energy-efficient windows throughout its 4,900-square-foot interior spaces.
After the plaque presentation, visitors enjoyed a brief tour of the education center grounds and viewed the preserve's abundant native landscape that serves as habitat for wildlife species typically seen in the Western New York area.
Snyder also announced the release of the "New York Wildlife Viewing Guide," a 248-page source for locating great places to find flora and fauna across the state.
This guide could help Reinstein visitors and all interested in New York State's wildlife to locate and enjoy all that is outdoors.
The guide is available on sale for $10.95 at the Web site watchablewildlife.org. Or one can receive a free copy of the guide with a one-year subscription ($15) to Conservationist Magazine at dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Dogs with big ears - Pick your favorite!
LOVEAPETPublished: December 1, 201523,370 views
Published: December 1, 2015
These 10 dogs were once residents of the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA. They have all since been adopted, so to remember them let us know which dog has the cutest ears! If you are considering adding a dog or cat to your family, please visit your local animal shelter. There are many awesome pets there looking for love!


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Villanova put up a strong fight, but in the end, the Pittsburgh was just too much for the Wildcats in a 57-54 win at The Pavilion.
With the clock winding down to 12.5, Jay Wright called a time out to draw up a play. Dominic Cheek's 3-point shot was wide to the left, and Maalik's Wayns's shot went in, but the ball was still in his hands at the buzzer.
The Panthers' Brad Wanamaker led all scorers with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Pittsburgh led by 10 with 4:16 remaining, but that's when the Wildcats mounted their comeback. Villanova closed within three inside the final minute, but Jamie Dixon's fourth-ranked squad found a way to hold on.
Villanova was looking to rebound from a heartbreaking loss to Rutgers Wednesday when Jonathan Mitchell completed a four-point play at the end of regulation to drop the Wildcats, 77-76.


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Design of an EPIC
Electro-Photonic Integrated Circuits are designed in much the same manner as any integrated circuit, with a design environment that goes beyond the standard electrical components and offers seamlessly integrated optical libraries. Similar to how most existing foundries offer different variants of their design kits, as might be seen in analog and digital offerings of a particular node, an optical variant can be enabled in much the same way with few additional design rules necessary to aid in the design process. Consistent with the physical design, full electro-photonic schematic design and verification is possible, enabling anyone familiar with IC design to function as an efficient optical designer. An example of an EPIC design can be seen in Figure 2.
The benefits of electro-photonic design cannot be overstated because the integration of electronic and photonic components enables manners of design impossible to any other technology. Classical optical system design requires a discrete divide between optical and electrical components, which is unnecessary in EPICs. By using electro-photonic design, electrical interfaces to photonic elements can be distributed as needed throughout a system, reaping tremendous performance and functionality benefits over discrete optical systems. This benefit has already enabled dramatic power reductions in high speed optical modulators as well as new and unique optical monitoring functions to ensure interconnect security.
EPIC Applications
Electro-Photonics Integrated Circuits have already begun to see broad adoption in the data-communications market; however this initial foray represents just a small step into a much larger, long-term CMOS photonics market. While a scale of technology adoption similar to that of conventional semiconductor solutions is still years off, the ability of CMOS photonics to dramatically reduce the costs of optional systems is enabling it to make initial product penetrations, while rewriting the rules of transceiver markets long dominated by discrete optical solutions.
Leading the data-communications market are InfiniBand systems. Used in many of the world's most advanced computers with quad data rate (QDR) systems, InfiniBand systems have successfully employed production grade CMOS photonics chips in high-performance data clusters already. This market is expected to grow and employ hundreds-of-thousands of CMOS photonics ICs per year. While InfiniBand is the leader in performance, larger datacom markets exist in the form of Ethernet and Fibre Channel interconnects. Both of these alternatives are expected to drive larger adoption of CMOS photonics for solutions at, or above, 10 Gbps. With the near-term adoption of 40G and 100G Ethernet solutions, 16G and 32G Fibre Channel, EDR InfiniBand, and other proprietary backplane solutions, the market for CMOS photonics ICs is expected to surpass 1 million units within the next 3 years.
While data-communications is a high growth market for CMOS photonics and vital to its adoption as the long term interconnect of choice, the real value
proposition for CMOS photonics is its ability to be integrated into any silicon IC. These applications could range from high performance computers that integrate the optical I/O directly into the CPU, obviating the need for a power hungry interconnect fabric (or several), to high speed consumer optics, enabling the growing demand for high bandwidth multimedia and advanced video interconnectivity. These steps will advance the market for CMOS photonics adoption, likely reaching the hundreds of millions of units and with growth limited only by the size of the semiconductor industry.


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What if you wanted to open a Taco stand?
- Start researching licenses and city permits.
- Scout out possible lease locations and speak with all the property owners.
- Start Googling taco recipes.
- Take out a loan (or borrow money) to buy a truck or cart.
- Spend money and time to get the truck food-certified by the city.
- Start looking for employees to help with making the tacos.
- And……
- Bunch……..
- Of…….
- Other……
- Boring……
- Stuff…….
"If you opened a hot dog stand…..and I opened a hot dog stand……I can beat the PANTS off you.It doesn't matter if you have better hot dog buns, or fresher meat, or more condiments…..My secret would be setting up my hot dog stand around a STARVING CROWD."
Using this theory, let's do a taco-stand validation in one day:
- How easy or hard it was to make all those tacos.
- How much time it took to make the tacos.
- How much money it took.
- If we even LIKED doing this work.
- If our tacos were delicious, or shitty.
- A rough estimate of how much to charge for each taco.
- If the location was good or bad.
- …..and most importantly:
- If people even WANTED our tacos from that location.


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In typical fashion, I've layered yet more complexity onto my life by ordering a Mac Pro through my friend, Victor, at Apple (thank you, Victor!). As most of my friends know, I have been on the verge of getting a Mac for a few years now. For quite a few reasons, I was just never quite able to pull the trigger until now. I'm now starting the search for software. I'm not replacing my Thinkpad T60p (yet), so most of this stuff will be for home desktop use.
So far, I know that I'm probably going to have to get:
- Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Rosetta! blech!!)
- InDesign
- Final Cut Studio
- iWork, Keynote (after I get a notebook)
- Dreamweaver
- MS Office
- CaptureOne (maybe)
- iView (maybe)
- Aperture
- Photoshop Plugin: Neat Image
- Photoshop Plugin: Photokit Sharpener
If Aperture works out, I won't need to get iView nor CaptureOne. But I am skeptical that its RAW conversion quality will be anywhere near what CaptureOne produces when used with custom camera profiles. I'll probably have to stick with C1 for conversions, but we'll see.
I also don't yet have a solution to replace Nelson Email Organizer Pro (NEO), which is the best mail client I've ever used.
I also need to replace the following apps that I use often on my PC:
- Breezebrowser - ultimate RAW image browser, EXIF/IPTC copy utility, flexible HTML generator with custom fields
- AppRocket - I know this thing was originally a Mac program. What was it called?
- Beyond Compare 2 - awesome sync tool that lets you point at two directories and do all sorts of customized file synchronization
- ZoomPlayer - the best video/media player for the PC
- DVD Decrypter/DVD Shrink
- FeedDemon - my preferred RSS reader, with web sync
- TextPad - my favorite text editor.
- WebDrive - mount volumes via ftp/sftp/webdav
- SmartFTP - ftp client
- Total Commander - My file browser/manipulator of choice
- Trillian - IM client, works with all services
- uTorrent/BitComet
- DUMeter - network traffic meter
Any Mac experts out there have a list of must-have software or suggestions for replacements? Commercial, shareware, and freeware are all welcome. :)


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Combine flour and garlic dressing mix in a large resealable plastic bag. Set aside.
Rinse and dry potatoes. Using a mandoline slicer, cut thinly into round disks. Starting with sweet potatoes, add about half of the slices to the seasoned flour. Shake in bag. Arrange on a sheet pan and repeat with remaining potatoes. Chill seasoned potatoes for about 20 minutes.
Pour oil into a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven until it is a little less than halfway up the sides of the pot. Heat oil to 375 degrees F.
In small batches, fry potatoes until crisp. Drain on paper towels season with salt and pepper, to taste. Repeat with the rest of the potato chips.
Check Out Our
Get a sneak-peek of the new Food Network recipe page and give us your feedback.See it Now!


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Product Information
Hills Prescription Diet Metabolic Treats for cats aid weight loss without deprivation – 81% of cats lost weight in 2 months at home. Clinically proven to avoid weight regain following a weight loss programme
Please consult your vet for further information and guidance on what is bestfor your cat.
Key Benefit
Chicken and turkey meal, maize gluten meal, brewers' rice, cellulose, tomato pomace, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, coconut oil, animal fat, minerals, fish oil, L-lysine, DL-methionine,dehydrated carrots, L-carnitine, vitamins, taurine, trace elements and beta-carotene. With natural antioxidant (mixed tocopherols).
Analytical Constituents
Beta-carotene 2 mg/kg, Calcium 0.0093, Carbohydrate (NFE) 0.288, Fat 0.128, Fibre (crude) 0.091, L-Carnitine 530 mg/kg, L-lysine 0.022, Magnesium 0.0009, Moisture 0.055, Omega-3 fatty acids 0.014, Omega-6 fatty acids 0.0227, Phosphorus 0.0071, Potassium 0.0071, Protein 0.377, Sodium 0.0033, Taurine 2375 mg/kg, Total Dietary Fibre 0.166, Vitamin A 9478 IU/kg, Vitamin C 122 mg/kg, Vitamin D 926 IU/kg, Vitamin E 810 mg/kg.
Feeding Guide
|Body Weight kg
|Treats Daily for Weight Reduction
|Treats Daily For Weight Maintenance
|3 per kg
|4 per kg
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Hills Prescription Diet Feline Metabolic Treats 70g
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Neighborhood: Gowanus
Address: 514 Union St.
Website: royalpalmsshuffle.com
The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club is an extremely low key place that invites its guests to step out of their normal happy hour routine and try something new for a change. If you have no clue of what shuffleboard is, here's the gist: you push a weighted puck down a court with broom-shaped paddles—not too hard—hoping it lands on the most points possible. The thing that makes the Royal Palms stand out is the availability to make shuffleboard a drinking game. The place offers cocktail specials, delicious food trucks for some grub, and a massive space so that no one gets in your way. Be spontaneous for a change and head out to the shuffleboard lanes. — Cedric Hall


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Chloe Madeley gave Ashley Roberts a good old spanking after filming The Jump.
The blonde twosome, who are currently in Austria taking part in the Channel 4 show, are in a fit of giggles throughout a video shared on Instagram .
In the clip, which was shared with Chloe's 10,700 followers, Ashley begins by standing still wearing a polka dot top.
But she's soon confronted by Chloe who runs in the shot and picks the singer up off her feet and begins to run.
The pair then begin to spank each other on the bottom as they run through a lodge while laughing hysterically.
So it appears that The Jump isn't just about athleticism and extreme sports.
Despite maybe getting a sore bum, the playful joke seems to have been just what Ashley needed after being eliminated from the reality show.
The former Pussycat Doll found herself being cast out of the contest after she lost her round in the skeleton challenge and the jump itself on the second episode .
Chloe, who was a last minute contestant, still finds herself competing for victory after making it to the final nine.
Obviously the 27-year-old is finding her fitness level to be in order for the show after spending most of her time in the gym.
Richard and Judy's daughter has also got a bangin' body because of her exercise regime - one that she isn't afraid to show off.
In December she even flaunted her abs of steels while wearing a very small crop-top for a mirror selfie .


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Following the Wood Wood press show were a few hours of nothing. It's weird how Stockholm Fashion Week is relatively slow paced with a lot of dead time in between shows. Not at all as hectic and packed with people as I would've thought.After a few glasses of wine we walked over to Berns for the next show.It was Whyred and since I'm not cool enough to sit on front row I have no good pics of the pieces but you can google it. The collection was really pretty and I would wear most of it. Although I have to say that going to fashion shows is weird because you do so much dressing up, queuing and waiting around for less then five minutes of garments swooshing past in glimpses between silhouettes of the people who sit in the rows in front of you.
But a plus is that you can pretend to be in the Devil Wears Prada and snapchat zoomed in pics of celebs.After too many hellos and street style photographers pulling at my friends we were starving and took our fashion bums on the tube to Hornstull. At some local spot we shared pizzas because we couldn't afford anything else. Unfortunately for us social media pays in events and not cash. It's like when I first moved to London in 2011 and worked at a luxury knitwear brand where my job outfit was worth more than two months salary.As the sun set walked along the canals to Långholmen where Björn Borg had set up a space ship beneath one of the bridges. The show was a tribute to the first human expedition to Mars and the four chosen volunteers were invited!!! So starstruck. It was foggy, loud and eerie with smoke machines, celestial sound effects and projections. Crammed up at a booth with fifty other people the atmospherical music went quiet and the stadium dark before it all began. It was incredible. Not in a sense of fashion but in a sense of performance. The models walked in from different entrances, looping in towards the middle stage through the ruby red gravel as recorded sounds of space shuttles departing mixed in with heavy electronic music.It felt like a set designers wet dream and a cool approach to an otherwise standard showcasing of clothing. I hope I get to go see more of their shows in the future.
As the whole of the fashion elite took taxis to after parties and whatnot I hopped on the tube to go midnight bbquing with Frida. Passion week/trashion week/fashion week does beat you up pretty bad.
Stockholm Fashion Week SS16 // Wood Wood


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Washington Nationals: Early Grades for All Offseason MovesApril 19, 2013
Washington Nationals: Early Grades for All Offseason Moves
The Nationals made big splashes via free agency and the trade market to enter the 2013 season, improving an already solid roster.
General manager Mike Rizzo and the Nationals' front office were widely commended for a productive offseason, as they had the difficult task of improving a team with the best record in baseball the previous season.
Although many thought the team would be relatively quiet this winter, the Nationals took the opposite approach as one of the more active teams. Their most notable additions came in the form of Rafael Soriano, Denard Span, Dan Haren and the re-signing of Adam LaRoche.
Despite a slightly inconsistent start to the season, there is still plenty of time for the Nationals' offseason moves to produce.
The following piece will grade each addition throughout the first three weeks of the season.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
All stats current through April 18, 2013.
Adam LaRoche
While LaRoche may not be considered a "new" addition to the Nationals, he was still a free-agent after the 2012 season.
The team took some time to allow the market to develop this offseason, but eventually they re-signed the first baseman to a two-year deal to stay in Washington.
LaRoche's defensive ability, solid left-handed bat, and positive clubhouse influence were important to retain.
Statistically thus far, LaRoche may be off to a bit of a slow start. He battled an early-season back ailment, but seems to be getting back on track as of late.
LaRoche has always had a penchant for starting the season off slow, but in his first game back after a two-game absence, he emphatically put that to rest while belting two home runs against the Chicago White Sox.
It's safe to say that LaRoche will regain his power stroke from last season that led to a silver slugger award at first base. All things considered, it is only three weeks into the young season and many players are still getting back into the groove of playing.
Stat Line: 12 G, 41 AB, 8 H, 4 BB, 11 K, .195/.267/.633, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 runs scored
Early-Season Grade: C+
Dan Haren
With Edwin Jackson on the free-agent market after a solid season in Washington last year, the Nationals needed a starting pitcher to take his place. The Nats worked out a one-year, $13 million deal with veteran right-hander, Dan Haren.
Haren, who is coming off a season to forget in 2012, posted a 12-13 record with a career-worst 4.33 ERA since becoming a full-time starting pitcher.
After a rocky start to the 2013 season, Nationals fans and front-office alike are certainly hoping this is not a continuing trend.
The 32-year-old right-hander is now sporting a hideous 8.10 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 12/1 K/BB ratio over his first 13 1/3 innings with Washington.
While this is obviously not the start that the Nationals expected from the veteran pitcher, he still has plenty of time to adjust and work out what may be causing this poor start.
Luckily, the one-year deal he signed is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Nationals. If he manages to get back to his pre-2012 form, the Nationals will have one of the deepest pitching staffs in all of baseball.
Unfortunately, that still doesn't prevent him from receiving the lowest grade out of all the Nationals' offseason moves thus far.
Stat Line: 13.1 IP, 8.10 ERA, 2.02 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 0.7 BB/9, 12.0 K/BB, 17.6 H/9
Early-Season Grade: D
Denard Span
During the offseason, the Nationals finally landed the quality leadoff hitter they've coveted.
In a trade with the Minnesota Twins, Denard Span was brought to the Nation's Capitol to set the plate for the rest of the talent-filled Nationals lineup.
His dynamic ability from the leadoff spot should lead to more opportunities for the middle of the lineup.
Thus far this season, Span has done just that, consistently getting on base and hitting for average. Unfortunately due to the Nationals' offensive inconsistencies early this year, the team has been unable to capitalize on it.
Once the remainder of the Nationals lineup heats up as the season progresses, Span's value to this team will be more noticeable. If he manages to become more of a menace on the basepaths, his value and overall grade will certainly rise.
It's obvious that the Nationals GM, Mike Rizzo, believed Span would be the perfect fit for this team heading into the season.
"You're talking about a true defensive ballhawk center field type of guy with great range," Rizzo told reporters, "Sabermetrically and with a scout's eye, he's a front line defensive center fielder. He's a confident, leadoff type of hitter. He appeals greatly to us because of his skill set as an offensive player. You know, high average guy, .350 OBP-type of guy, doesn't strike out -- one of the tougher guys in the league to strike out -- so a contact bat and can really, really run... from the left side of the plate, which keeps our lineup balanced and a guy that in the past has stolen a lot of bases and we feel is really going to come into his own as a base stealer in the National League."
Stat Line: 13 G, 48 AB, 15 H, 9 BB, 5 K, .313/.421/.775, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 9 runs scored, 2 stolen bases
Early-Season Grade: A-
Rafael Soriano
The signing of closer Rafael Soriano this offseason was probably their most notable move. On paper, he bolstered what many believe to be one of the top bullpens in baseball.
Soriano dealt with an early season leg ailment, but he's still converted five out of his six save opportunities thus far. There is a lot to be said about locking down the ninth inning as that was a cause of the Nationals early-playoff exit last season.
Soriano has been a bit shaky, but he's pitched scoreless innings in five of his seven trips to the mound and has seemingly righted the ship over his last three outings.
As long as he can continue his successful ways that he's proven in past seasons with the Rays and Yankees, the Nationals should be in good shape closing the door on their respective opponents.
It is also crucial that Soriano stay injury-free going forward for the Nationals, as Drew Storen may not be cut out to take over the ninth inning duties.
Stat Line: 7.0 IP, 5.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 1.3 BB/9, 8.0 K/BB, 9.0 H/9, 5 saves
Early-Season Grade: B


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Gotham Changes Direction In This Season Two Premiere
Gotham's season 2 premiere had a lot going for it. Some, such as myself, would say its the best episode of Gotham to date. However there are certain things you have to put aside to enjoy it fully.
The first of these being the change in the format in the first place. Last year, for almost the entire season, it was "freak of the week". This year, possibly due to the success of The Ogre story line, it seems to be going for more of a season long story arc.
The second change we are going to have to get used to is a tainted James Gordon (Ben Mackenzie). He makes a compromise this episode he never would have made last season and it just seemed too convenient. Maybe the actor that plays Commissioner Leob (Peter Scolari) wanted out of his contract or something, but the idea of Gordon committing a violent crime so he can go back to enforcing the law? He knew it could come to that when he agreed to work for The Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor). If that's not an outright shark jump, you have to agree Fonzie is warming up the motorcycle. What makes it worse is Leslie Thompkins (Morena Baccarin) knows he did something wrong, something illegal. She trusts however, that he did this bad thing for the right reasons, but he didn't. They were selfish reasons, and that's not the Gordon we were introduced to in the first season. The Gordon we were introduced to would use the blackmail HE ALREADY HAS to keep his job as a detective. Just because Leob tried to kill him does not mean Gordon doesn't still have the info that Leob locked up his daughter in an attic for DECADES because she killed her mother.
Then there is the good part. The villains. This is where I think the show is going to shine this season. There was a small amount of establishing their dynamic this episode, but even second of it was enjoyable. Barbara Kean (Erin Richards) shows up to Arkham and shows she can hang, and even thrive, with the boys as it were. Then of course they were kidnapped and given an offer they couldn't refuse (without consequence at least). I think an Injustice League like story line will be great for this show as long as Fish Mooney (Jada Pickett Smith) stays dead. I suspect that this group will find itself at odds with Penguin, so he and Gordon can work together some more.
I am going to have to give this episode a 7 out of 10, with the understanding that it is going to get better. Between the villains and Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) finally getting into the cave below, it has to, right? They have already released a trailer for next weeks episode and it looks.. well.. insane. They have even marked it as Red Band. Check it out, then leave your impressions of this weeks episode and whats to come in the comments!


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The Grain and Grain Processing Information Site
Declaring that "farmers must be competitive, they must become entrepreneurs for the future, they must have the chance to export freely," Franz Fischler, commissioner of agriculture in the European Commission, joined Jacques Santer, president of the Commission, in making the case for "Agenda 2000."
The agenda, introduced in mid-July in a 1,300-page report, proposed what Mr. Fischler called the greatest change in the Common Agricultural Policy since the system of agricultural supports became the centerpiece of the creation of the European Community in 1962.
"The 1992 reform of the CAP has been highly successful," Mr. Santer said. "But the time has come to deepen the reform and to take further the movement towards world market prices coupled to direct income aid. Several reasons militate in favor of such an approach: the risk of new market unbalances, the prospect of a new trade round, the aspiration towards a more environmentally friendly and quality-oriented agriculture and ... the perspective of enlargement."
Farming groups and some E.U. member nations, including France and Germany, immediately attacked the CAP changes as unacceptable and demanded a complete rewriting, The groups threatened mass demonstrations in opposition to the change, and COPA, the principal organization of farmers working with the E.U., called the proposals "an act of aggression."
But Mr. Fischler was optimistic about their eventual acceptance. He predicted that "after a period of reflection," farmers would accept the argument that there was no alternative to change of the dimension recommended in Agenda 2000.
Objections primarily centered on Agenda 2000's recommendation for sharp reductions in intervention price supports for cereal grains (wheat and barley), beef and dairy products at the start of the 21st century. In the case of the cereal grains, the proposal calls for a 20% reduction in cereal intervention prices to "a safety-net level" of Ecu95.35 (about U.S.$105) per tonne from Ecu119.19 (U.S.$131) currently. The cut would take place in a single year, 2000.
To compensate for 80% of the proposed reduction in prices for cereal grains, Agenda 2000 would provide for a non-crop-specific area payment to be established at Ecu66 per tonne, multiplied by the regional cereals reference yields established in the 1992 CAP reform. The assumption is that market prices would fall slightly less than intervention prices were cut. The 80% rate reflects the Commission's belief that grain farmers had been over-compensated for the 1992 reforms, with the excess total since 1992 estimated at Ecu8 billion (U.S.$8.8 billion).
That excess resulted from market prices falling less than forecast. To avoid a similar situation with Agenda 2000, the proposal said the area payment rate would be reduced "if market prices are sustained at higher levels than currently foreseen."
In another modification, the Commission recommended the introduction of an individual ceiling covering all direct income payments granted to farmers. This aspect was especially controversial in the United Kingdom, where farm sizes are generally larger than in the rest of Europe. Furthermore, the Commission, while excluding "renationalization," suggested that member states should be allowed to introduce differentiation criteria in accordance with rules that have been jointly agreed.
Another important change in the CAP would fix the set-aside rate at zero percent, meaning that farmers would not be required to withdraw arable land from production in order to be eligible for intervention. The compulsory set-aside rate in the E.U. has been 5% for several years. At the same time, a voluntary set-aside program would be allowed, and land in the set-aside would be entitled to the area payments.
Current supplementary aid for durum wheat and protein crops would be continued.
In recommending these major CAP changes, the E.C. said cereals intervention stocks by 2005 could rise to some 58 million tonnes, more than twice the previous record, while the trade deficit in oilseeds would remain very substantial. In these circumstances, the Commission favors a more offensive approach, which would have the advantage of simultaneously avoiding the routine use of export subsidies, reinforcing the competitiveness of cereals on the internal market and overcoming the Uruguay Round constraints for cereals and oilseeds.
The Commission estimated that the reduction in intervention prices would save Ecu3.7 billion per year but that the expanded direct aid would cost Ecu7.7 billion, for a net cost increase of Ecu4 billion per year. Creating alternative jobs in rural areas would involve an annual outlay of Ecu2 billion.
In addition to the 20% cut in cereal grain intervention prices to be carried out in the single year, 2000, "Agenda 2000" proposed a 30% decrease in beef price supports and 10% in dairy prices.
A further important part of the CAP reform would be the adoption of rural policies that would help bolster local economies and provide alternative employment for people currently engaged in farming.
Agenda 2000 also gave major attention to the impact of E.U. expansion eventually to include many of the nations of central and Eastern Europe. The Commission told 10 aspiring nations from the former Soviet Bloc that none currently meets economic criteria for membership but added that five should do so soon. These are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia, plus Cyprus. This list is likely to be revised before the first wave of accession negotiations are scheduled to begin in 1998, when Britain will hold the presidency of the E.U.
1CHS appoints senior VP of human resources
2Perdue acquires Cargill grain elevator
3Saudi Arabia stops buying Canadian wheat
4BayWa's earnings buoyed by ag segment
5Cimbria to install ECO-Logic dryer
( more )
1Cargill looks to connect, nourish and grow
2The Andersons seeks stability through change
3Numerous factors contribute to wild swings in U.S. wheat futures
4Researchers take closer look at nitrogen-fixing corn
5U.S. on pace to beat ethanol export record
to the PRINT edition, or click below for free, INSTANT ACCESS to valuable news & insights in the Digital Edition.


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SEOCurl | Blog Syndication Tool
The engineers at RCBryan & Associates are proud to announce the launch of www.seocurl.com.
As a Free Gift to our subscribers from RCBryan.com we would like to invite you to receive our 7 SEO Secrets of Blog Networks. A key element of a successful on line business is proper Search Engine Marketing. There are a lot of tools and services out there to choose from but few deliver like SEO Curl.
At the very least we'd love for you to take advantage of our free report. You can get it by visiting SEO Curl.
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We like to keep our subscribers aware of what is going on in the marketing world. The key to a successful business is marketing and as consultants we are constantly reminding our clients that the best products in the world still need marketing. Even companies like McDonalds or Pepsi still advertise and market their products. If you are not marketing efficiently you will never grow your business.
Do you understand what SEO is? Are you interested in SEO? SEO is Search Engine Optimization. It is the strategy used to increase your organic rankings through link building. The more links.. let me say that a different way.. the more QUALITY links you have the better your site ranks. The higher your site ranks the more traffic you get. The more traffic you get the more money you make! Why should you be interested in SEO? Well your competitors are using it so you should be too! SEO Curl does all of this for you.
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"The general experience thus far is that the best effects are obtained with combinations of probiotics rather than single LAB [lactic-acid bacteria] treatments," says Professor Bengmark.
The most severe form of bowel disease is cancer-of either the colon or rectum. Again, probiotics may be of use here, too. Researchers have noticed an association between a high intake of yoghurt or probiotics and lower rates of colon cancer (J Nutr, 2000; 130: 384S- 90S). So far, trials have shown a significant protective effect of probiotics on colon cancer, and even a tiny curative effect-at least in rats, so it may not apply to humans (Carcinogenesis, 2002;
23: 1953-60).
Guts apart
The link between probiotics and gut conditions is fairly predictable. The real detective work has been to uncover the connections between probiotics and diseases unrelated to the gut.
One breakthrough has involved allergies, perhaps because they are immune-related. The 'hygiene hypothesis', for example, posits the idea that allergies are caused by overzealous cleanliness, particularly in childhood-but our immune system needs to be exposed to bacteria to begin working. So far, trials of probiotics involving allergic children and adolescents have generally been disappointing, but some researchers argue that's because they have been given too late in life to work.
Five years ago, Finnish doctors were the first to examine probiotics in early infancy. Having located more than 100 mothers-to-be with a family history of allergic eczema, they gave their newborns either probiotics or a placebo for the first six months of life. Follow-up of the babies at age two revealed that eczema was halved among those taking the probiotics (Lancet, 2001; 357: 1076-9).
Similar studies on other allergies have had less favorable results, with no particular benefits found in asthma or food allergies and intolerance. This is surprising as one of the major theories of food allergy is the 'leaky-gut' hypothesis (mentioned above).
Experts now believe that the answer lies in a huge research program that has been designed to test both individual strains as well as cocktails of lactobacilli. A few small-scale probiotic pharmaceutical companies have already begun testing their own semi-exclusive probiotic cocktails.
As for female urinary tract and vaginal infections, most studies have shown that single probiotics haven't prevented or cured them, although an Austrian company has found that three Lactobacillus strains (L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri B-54 and RC-14) do work (World J Urol, 2006; 24: 28-32). And there's some tantalizing preliminary evidence of a place for probiotic cocktails in cirrhosis, pancreatitis and postoperative infections, too.
To date, this non-drug therapy is in its infancy. Only a fraction of the 500 gut-flora species has been explored so far, and few but the most advanced researchers understand that the specific strains of bacteria residing in our intestines may be related to maintaining health by keeping particular illnesses at bay.
What's already clear is that we need to change how we view health and immunity to something that doesn't just start and end with our own bodies.
Tony Edwards - WDDTY vol 17 no 10 (2007)


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We had a huge Sunday dinner with a lot of extended family for Father's Day. I was talking with a family member, let's call him Spock, about the new A-Team movie, since he'd just gone to see it. Someone around the table brought up Mr. T's absence from the remake and asked why he'd not been cast. Spock said, "Oh, he just got uppity."
My eyes widened at his flip remark, tossed onto the table with little more than a shrug. I said, "Excuse me?"
"He was too uppity for a part."
"I can't believe you just said that about an African American man."
"What?" he shrugged again.
"That's bad, Spock, really bad."
"I'm not P.C."
"It's not about being P.C., it's about using that kind of language when describing a black person."
Other interesting sources to read about the word "uppity":
1. The Obamas are called uppity by a congressman
2. Someone who is better qualified to talk about taking back "uppity"
3. The Uppity Negro Syndrome from the always great to read The Root.


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John Boyega Talks BB-8 Off a Ledge by Being His Charming Self
BB-8, nooo!
John Boyega of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Finn fame posted an Instagram video of his attempt at talking cutie BB-8 off a ledge in Shanghai. Boyega pleads, "BB-8, don't do it, lad," as things continue to look grim for his little robot buddy. Boyega captioned the video: "BB-8 got so tired. He was rolling towards the ledge but I stopped him thankfully." Don't want to imagine how many robot buttons would be on the Shanghai streets if not for Boyega. Feel free to watch this a couple dozen times in a row.


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Cowlitz Pride Plumbing, LLC is a locally owned plumbing contractor located just outside of La Center, WA.
After servicing his country for four years and receiving his Honorable Discharge, Chad Namanny went to work as an apprentice plumber for a local company. Now with his Journeyman License, and 20 years of experience, Chad and his wife Amber are fulfilling the American dream of owning their own business.
The name Cowlitz Pride Plumbing honors Amber's heritage, being a member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and is the inspiration for their distinctive logo.
Chad utilizes his experience in remodeling as well as new construction, to serve his clients' needs however large or small the project may be. Equipped with the latest tools, technology and knowledge of the latest trends in design, Cowlitz Pride Plumbing will far exceed your needs while remaining highly respectful of your property and time.
Cowlitz Pride Plumbing is
- Locally owned
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Currently, Cowlitz Pride Plumbing serves Cowlitz and Clark Counties of Washington. Call today for your free consultation. Ask us about senior and veteran discounts.


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GeneJET kits use well-established silica membrane technology and undergo extensive testing to ensure downstream compatibility. We understand your experimental needs and strive to be your trusted supplier of molecular biology enzymes and kits.
Rapid isolation of high quality plasmid DNA from microgram to milligram quantities.
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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.


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The Illinois Attorney General will review an Oak Lawn trustee's partially denied request for email communications between the village manager and attorney.
The attorney general's Public Access Bureau on Oct. 21 asked the village to provide unredacted copies of the emails requested by Trustee Carol Quinlan.
"We have determined that further review is warranted," the attorney general said in a letter to the village.
The Public Access Bureau grants most of the appeals it receives, a spokesman for the Attorney General's office said. It can decide to uphold the village's partial denial or direct it to turn over the complete records sought by Quinlan.
Quinlan and Trustee Robert Streit both have criticized Village Manager Larry Deetjen and Mayor Sandra Bury for not making the information available to trustees, especially because the communications are stored on village computer servers, they said.
The Illinois Municipal Code states that the mayor has the right to inspect all records, but does not mention trustees.
Deetjen has said that many of his emails between village legal staff and others are confidential as they regard "highly sensitive matters."
"Our legal counsel in concert with our village clerk's office, police and fire departments, the building department and the finance department respond professionally to every FOIA request but do so in a manner that protects the village to the fullest extent provided by the law but also by design they answer to be responsive and transparent. Those who wish to obtain unlimited data for reasons that are not objective and in the village's best interests certainly should understand this balancing act," Deetjen said.
Quinlan on Aug. 19 submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all emails between Deetjen and village attorneys between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012. The village partially denied her request, and provided Quinlan with a portion of the emails she requested.
Quinlan initially requested all emails between Deetjen and the village attorney between Nov. 1, 2012, and June 1, 2013. The village denied the request claiming "that it was too burdensome because of the amount of emails that would have to be produced and reviewed by attorneys," Quinlan wrote.
The village told Quinlan that her request included 2,831 emails during the seven-month period plus attachments. The village asked her to narrow the date range of her request.
Quinlan disagreed with the village's contention. "There is nothing burdensome about producing emails," she wrote.
"(The village) is refusing to turn over all records, most recently stating that certain records are exempt from disclosure under attorney-client privilege," Quinlan wrote in her request for review. "I believe that the (village) clerk has violated the Freedom of Information Act by not turning over these records."
Quinlan believes village's trustees have a right to review village records without submitting FOIA requests, but not everyone shares that view.
The village board on Oct. 8 voted against a measure proposed by Quinlan and Streit that would grant trustees unrestricted access to emails and other records.
Trustee Terry Vorderer said that opening email records to trustees is a potential security risk. He also questioned whether requests for records are politically motivated.
Quinlan said security should not be a concern.
"I'm not sharing this information," said Quinlan, who offered to review the records at village hall.
"Something is fishy," Quinlan said. "It bothers me that I am denied access to records. "(Village Clerk) Jane Quinlan can see it, our attorney can see it, the mayor can see it and I can't?"
The debate over who has the right to inspect village records began in May when former Mayor Dave Heilmann, after his defeat to Bury, asked for specific email records between Deetjen and the village attorneys because he had received multiple complaints that Deetjen improperly interfered with a million dollar contract an Oak Lawn business had with a prospective tenant, Heilmann said.
A village employee told Heilmann that Deetjen and O'Grady instructed him not to turn over the records to Heilmann, the former mayor said.
"I guess they felt they could get away with not following that law because I had lost the election. I did tell the attorney and manager that they were breaking the law and violating our code and made a second request, but that was ignored," Heilmann wrote in an opinion piece to The Reporter.
Illinois Attorney General looks into denied FOIA requests in OL
The Illinois Attorney General will review an Oak Lawn trustee's partially denied request for email communications between the village manager and attorney.


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North Take State Highway 121 South to the Coit Road Exit, Go North (right) on Coit Road, Turn West (left) on Lebanon Road. We are .4 miles down on the right.
Marquis at Stonebriar features a wide range of luxury apartment amenities. This upscale community is located in Frisco close to popular shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations. A sparkling swimming pool and spa await, as well as fitness and business centers. Courtyards and wifi social areas are abundant on the grounds while the interiors include vaulted ceilings, lots of natural light, bountiful storage, patios and balconies with incredible views, and upgraded ceiling fans and light fixtures. Washer and dryer connections are in every unit. Furnished corporate apartments are available, as well as short term leases. Overlooking the Plantation Golf Course, the Marquis at Stonebriar's 1-3 bedroom apartment homes are in a prime location for outdoor activities and retail therapy.


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February 06, 2007
NY Times reporter asked to appear in case of Zyprexa documents: AP
New York Times reporter Alex Berenson has been asked to appear in federal court next month to answer testimony that a judge said implicated him in a "conspiracy" to obtain confidential documents regarding Eli Lilly's Zyprexa, the Associated Press reported. Berenson wrote a number of articles late last year saying Lilly downplayed the risks of its anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa and marketed it for unapproved uses, charges Lilly has denied. Jack Weinstein, a judge in US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, invited Berenson to voluntarily appear in court on Feb. 7 and explain how he got the documents, which had been sealed by the court. Weinstein said Berenson could be accompanied by his attorney and would be subject to cross-examination. Times spokeswoman Diane McNulty told the AP that the publication was reviewing papers in the matter, including the invitation, and would respond to the judge "in due course." "We believe our reporting in this matter was very newsworthy and was derived from routine newsgathering procedures," McNulty added. Weinstein wrote in his filing that he was asking Berenson to appear after hearing testimony from James Gottstein, an Alaska-based lawyer named in Berenson's stories as the source of the documents. "This invitation is intended to permit Alex Berenson to confront testimony received at a hearing in this court on January 16-17 implicating him in a conspiracy to obtain and publish confidential documents sealed by this court," Weinstein wrote. Lilly said it had no role in the judge's decision to ask Berenson to appear. Lilly spokesman Phil Belt told the AP he didn't know whether Berenson was involved in a conspiracy but that the company would be interested in hearing what he would tell the judge. Lilly has settled 28,500 Zyprexa-related lawsuits and there are another 1,200 outstanding, Belt said.


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Ham Hill Geophysics
The site occupies a plateau with a north projecting spur formed of Upper Lias Shelly Limestone (Ham Hill Stone). This distinctive stone is in demand locally as it is the primary building material used in the historic building fabric of South Somerset.
Geophysical survey
The conservation of Ham Hill is a delicate balance between the competing demands of preserving an archaeological site of significant importance and the need for a sustainable supply of Ham Stone for the repair of the historic built environment in South Somerset.
Parts of the site have been quarried for Ham Hill Stone since the Roman period and two quarries are still in operation, with the remainder managed as a country park by South Somerset District Council.
Caesium magnetometer survey was undertaken by the Geophysics Team of the Remote Sensing Group of English Heritage (now Historic England) in the unthreatened plateau area of the hillfort. This was to complete previous geophysical coverage of the monument and augment intrusive investigations carried out during 2011-2013 in advance of renewed quarry expansion to the west.
The geophysical survey employed an array of between four and six high sensitivity caesium magnetometer sensors mounted on a non-magnetic cart or vehicle-towed sledge system in conjunction with a mobile GPS receiver for simultaneous recording of positional data.
This rapid and high-resolution magnetic survey technique provided exceptionally clear definition of buried occupation remains within the hillfort, such as pits, hearths, ovens, circular gullies and foundation slots for timber round-houses.
Geophysical interpretation
The surveys have provided detailed evidence for activity within the hillfort interior from the Bronze Age to Roman periods.
Evidence highlighted by the geophysical survey includes:
- An early phase of probable Bronze Age field systems and linear boundaries.
- Iron Age activity represented by a major arterial roadway running between the main entrances to the hillfort and numerous ditched enclosures with associated pit clusters and round-houses.
- Subsequent Roman activity in the form of a small corridor villa with further associated enclosures and quarries.
- Several early phases of quarrying activity possibly dating as far back as the Roman period. These appear to have disturbed earlier traces of occupation where they occur, though fortunately their extent is limited.
In conclusion Ham Hill appears to have been an occupied hill-top settlement with a long and complex sequence of use. Combined with earlier geophysical surveys undertaken in the 1990s a near complete archaeological map of the internal character of the hillfort has been obtained, providing an enhanced understanding of an important later prehistoric monument under continued pressure from mineral resource exploitation.
The full results of this survey can be downloaded as reports RRS 22-2012 & RRS 67-2014 from the Historic England research reports database.
Additional information on further geophysical surveys of hillforts in southern England can be found in the Wessex Hillforts volume:
The images used on this page are copyright Historic England unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project, please contact the Historic England Archive.
For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Remote Sensing Team please contact us via email using the link below.
Historic Places Investigation
Research Group
Also of interest...
Terrestrial Remote Sensing
Historic England experts investigate how geophysics and specialist survey methods can be used to learn about heritage assets


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Earthquake Engineering
(Betti, Deodatis, Ling, Smyth, Sun)
Analysis and design of a large range of structures, including buildings and bridges subjected to seismic loading. Active, passive, and hybrid control of structures. Seismic risk analysis and loss estimation of structural systems and lifelines. Geographical information systems. Geotechnical earthquake engineering, soil liquefaction.
Environmental Engineering and Water Resources
(Culligan, Lall)
Urban storm water and waste management. Modeling of hydraulic and pollutant transport. Analysis and design of watershed flows including reservoir simulation. Estuaries and flushing analysis of coastal embayments. Unsaturated zone hydrology. Geo-environmental containment systems and site remediation. Water and waste management for developing communities. Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Flight Structures
(Betti, Fish, Smyth, Waisman)
Reliability and fatigue of aging aircraft. Mechanics and thermal science of composite materials, thin films, and coating for aircraft and aerospace applications. Active vibration control. Multifunctional materials for unmanned air vehicles.
Fluid Mechanics
(Culligan, Sun)
Fluid and contaminant transport through porous media and fractured rock. Multiphase flow systems. Nano-, micro-, and macro-flow fields. Flow field visualization.
Geotechnical Engineering
(Ling, Sun)
Soil behavior, constitutive modeling, centrifuge modeling, reinforced soil structures, geotechnical earthquake engineering, liquefaction, and numerical analysis of geotechnical systems.
Infrastructure Delivery and Management (New Frontiers)
Development and application of decision support systems for infrastructure asset management. Strategic indicators of infrastructure performance and service. Economically sustainable strategies for provision of civil infrastructure systems and services. Portfolio approaches to infrastructure development, operation, and management. Procurement processes and project delivery systems. Risk allocation and management of integrated facility delivery and system-wide operation and maintenance contracts.
Modern Building Materials
(Fish, Waisman, Yin)
Development of modern building materials that are environmentally friendly and compatible with sustainable development. Use of recycled materials such as waste glass and carpet fibers in concrete. Beneficial use of highly contaminated dredged material and waste incinerator ash. Architectural concrete and gypsum products. Efficient material handling and production technologies. Fiber-reinforced cement slurries for oil-well construction.
Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment and Mitigation
(Deodatis, Smyth)
Research opportunities in risk assessment and risk management of the civil infrastructure subjected to natural and man-made hazards including earthquakes, floods, wind and blasts. Infrastructure components include buildings, bridges, aboveground and underground transportation facilities, lifelines, etc.
Probablistic Mechanics
Research opportunities in computational stochastic mechanics, stochastic finite element methods, simulation of stochastic processes and fields, linear and nonlinear stochastic dynamics.
Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Structures
Mathematical modeling of the constitutive behavior of cementitious materials, including fiber-reinforced cement composites. Damage mechanics and low-cycle fatigue behavior. Response of reinforced concrete members to strong cyclic loads.
Solid Mechanics
(Dasgupta, Fish, Waisman, Yin, Sun)
Nonlinear elasticity; constitutive modeling of solids at large strains, numerical analysis of static and wave propagation problems. Viscoelasticity and plasticity; nonlinear creep, non-isothermic dynamic visco-plasticity; constitutive equations for geomaterials. Mechanical properties of coated fabrics. Failure criteria for composite materials. Fracture mechanics; fracture under dynamic loading, large strain effects in fracture of elastic solids. Continuum damage mechanics.
Structural Control and Health Monitoring
(Betti, Smyth)
Today, buildings and bridges are built capable of monitoring their condition, diagnosing weaknesses and providing, if needed, corrective actions for performance improvement and/or prognosis for maintenance planning and resource allocation. These emerging areas are becoming more and more popular in civil engineering structures thanks to powerful computational resources and advances in inexpensive sensing, often employing multi-tiered wireless networks. In the department, today, research is conducted on identification of linear and nonlinear dynamical systems, with particular emphasis on development of techniques for damage detection. By using information about the structure's response to known and unknown input, it is possible to derive sophisticated models of the structures that allow to pinpoint locations where possible damage has occurred. For this task, it is important to have a reliable model of the structure and researchers in this department have been conducting extensive studies on the development of algorithms for the identification of linear and nonlinear structural models. Among the recent projects, the identification of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (New York) and of the new Carquinez Bridge (California). Still in the area of suspension bridges, researchers in this department are involved in a major research project on the monitoring of the corrosion in the main cable of suspension bridges: this project, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, has the goal of developing an innovative multi-sensor system that will be embedded in a main cable of suspension bridges and provide an online estimate of the remaining cable strength.
Structural Dynamics
(Betti, Deodatis, Dasgupta, Fish, Ling, Smyth, Waisman, Yin)
Dynamic fluid-structure interaction; acoustic scattering and radiation from submerged shells, use of alternate surface expansion functions. Dynamics of fluid-filled shells. Behavior of structures under wind loading. Ocean structures subjected to wind-induced waves. Dynamic response of inelastic structures at large deformations. Nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis. Nonlinear vibrations and chaos: stability bifurcations, effects of tensile failure under periodic loading. Active, passive and hybrid control of structures under dynamic loading in the time and frequency domain. Floor design for vibration control by passive and active damping systems.


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Mission Statement
The mission of the Biology and Forest Technology program is to provide students with comprehensive knowledge on the application of ecological, biological and forest resources management concepts and principles. The program incorporates scientific research that allows the students to engage in experimental design, data collection and analysis and scientific report writing which equip them for research, employment or graduate school program.
ObjectivesA graduate of this program will:
- Be knowledgeable of the woody plants of North America with emphasis on identification characteristics, natural range, growth characteristics and ecological factors affecting growth such as light, temperature, moisture and soils, affecting their structure.
- Learn the classification of diseases and insect pests of crops, ornamental, and tree species.
- Gain a knowledge of basic statistics applied to forest measurements and sampling design, volume table construction, timber cruising, growth prediction, and technical report writing.
- Become familiar with converting standing timber to wood products, processing methods marketing, wood identification and lumber grading.
- Study harvesting systems, harvest planning, log road planning and management methods.
- Become familiar with site preparation, tree planting, pruning timber, stand improvement practices and regeneration harvest cuts to improve various forest cover types for the benefit of forest landowners and persons that use forest land for wildlife, recreation, water, forage, and timber resources.
- Be able to utilize the scientific method, experimental design, and data collection to present results of research.
- Be introduced to the basic concepts and principles of ecology coupled with field observations of plants and animals.
- Study vascular plant anatomy and morphology considered from an evolutionary taxonomic viewpoint.
- Conduct individualized research emphasizing the scientific method experimental design, data collection, and presentation of the experimental results.


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Kat Bell
Grants & Office Coordinator
Kat Bell is the Grants & Office Coordinator for the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Oregon Arts Commission. With the agencies since 2006, Kat oversees the online grant system and database and assures compliance with state and federal policy. Kat earned an Oregon Project Management Associate Certification from the Willamette University's Atkinson School of Management and is in her junior year at Oregon State University, where she studies Cultural Anthropology. In addition to serving in the military, Kat has experience working at the state legislature as a Committee Assistant. She belongs to the Grant Managers Network and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. She is a self-professed Data Viz Ninja and proud member of Ravenclaw.


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MDT Surveying
Coordinate transformations and calculation of total station surveys
Surveying module is useful to manage total station measurements, calculate point coordinates, compensate traverses and networks, as well as perform coordinate transformations.
This optional module requires MDT Standard version or Professional version.
Calculation of Total Stations Observations
The topography module allows the importing of files from total stations and the most usual data collectors on the market. Data can also be entered manually in tachymeter, theodolite-distanciometer or total station mode which can be defined by the user, selecting the horizontal or geometric distance, vertical angle or change in level etc.
Based on this information, the program provides all the tools required for the processing, calculation and drawing of stations and topographic points. Stations calculation can be carried out by radiation procedures, inverse bisection, direct and inverse intersections and levelling.
The program compensates the mean distances and slopes in the calculation of points and stations. Optionally, corrections may be considered by refraction and sphericity, reduction to ellipsoid and combined scale factor.
It also includes the automatic correction of disorientations of mutual observations and instrument angular errors in direct-inverse circle observations. Finally, in order for these calculations to be more precise, a table is included with the precisions and characteristics of the most usual instruments.
Traverses and Networks
MDT includes the compensation of networks and traverses (closed, open and tied to one or more fixed points) by Least Squares, proportional to the distances, coordinates' increases, Crandall rule or rotation and dilation.
The program allows the configuration of admissible errors and for calculation methods which use Least Squares, the tests can be activated which assess the reliability of the observations and of the adjustment made.
The program includes the EPSG data base which incorporates hundreds of coordinates' systems and vertical and geodesic datum transformations from all around the world, including an adaptation to the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS). This data is used by the mapping projections library PROJ.4 to carry out conversions of coordinates between the different systems. The coordinates' units may be metres, miles, American feet etc. The most usual systems can be selected from a list of favourites.
A powerful geodesic calculator allows the implementation of the most usual transformations and/or conversions between geographic, geocentric and projected systems.
Furthermore, those module includes options for converting projected coordinates' files into generic format X,Y,Z and geographic coordinates into KML formats from Google Earth, GPS exchange Format (GPX) and W84 from TcpGPS.
Finally, another command allows the projection of drawings opened in CAD, applying the transformations to the complete drawing, a list of layers or a selection of objects and being able to decide whether the elevations will be included in the calculations.
The selected transformation applies to all drawing entities (vertices of lines, arcs and polylines, text insertion points and blocks etc.).
It is also endowed with specific options for transforming a flat and projected coordinates' drawing and vice versa.
Local Coordinate Systems
This module also has options for local coordinate systems application and management with the following methods being available:
- 2D: XY Translations, Helmert 4 parameters, Similar and Projective.
- 3D: XY Translations and Helmert 7 parameters.
- 2D+1D: Helmert 4 parameters + Z Displacement and Helmert 4 parameters + Z Displacement and Slopes at XY.
To create a local coordinate system there are various possibilities: enter the value of the transformation parameters directly (rotations, translations etc), establish the pairs of source and target points involved or by importing a predefined file. The program generates a detailed report in which the parameters calculated, various statistics and the coordinates of the checkpoints involved are provided.
Once the local system has been created, recording can be carried out to subsequently carry out transformations of drawings and files of coordinates and it may also be used in the TcpGPS application for mobile devices.
- AutoCAD 2007 to 2019
- BricsCAD Pro/Platinum 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
- ZWCAD Professional/Enterprise 2012+, 2014+, 2015+, Classic, 2017 and 2018
- Operating System - Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 in 32 and 64 bits
- Peripheral - Mouse or pointing device.DVD-ROM drive
- Graphical card - 1024x768 pixels, compatible with OpenGL.
- Hard Disk - Minimum Phisical memory 1 Gb
- Memory - 1 Gb
- Processor - Dual-core 2 Ghz or higher


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I am a childhood, family, and birth photographer based in Boca Raton, Florida. I am a mother, wife to my college sweetheart, and a storyteller.
I was blessed with an international upbringing, living in four continents, five countries and five states by the age of sixteen. However, for the last ten years, Florida has been our home. Through every transition, art has always remained my constant.
My style has been described as authentic, emotive, and soulful. I believe in capturing moments, fleeting but beautiful. I want to capture emotion and connection in the most genuine way. I want my images to tell a story and would be honored to tell yours.
- Carolina Gonzalez | C. Gonzalez Photography
Press and Exhibitions:
Featured Imagery for Inspired Styling featured on Kara's Party Ideas, published February 11, 2017.
Featured Article and Imagery, "Metamorphosis", in the print magazine, The Long Way Home Vol. III- The Change Issue, published Jan/Feb 2016.
Director's Honorable Mention for "Untitled, 2015" as part of the "childhood" exhibition at A Smith Gallery from February 19th to March 27th, 2016. Tom Chambers was the juror for "childhood".
Featured Article and Imagery, "Five Reasons I love Shooting with the Lensbaby Twist 60" for Click Magazine Blog, published August 16th, 2016.


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Preparations for the Sysco Eastern Wisconsin's 2009 Concept Show are in full swing.Blueprint Design Studio has partnered up with Sysco Eastern Wisconsin to present a restaurant stimulus package that offers detailed ideas and tips to maximize profitability for restaurants.
The restaurant stimulus package will help restaurant owners to discover ways to increase sales, learn cost control and bring you up to date with the latest trends.Restaurant owners, managers, executive chefs, floor managers, decision makers, food purchasers and general managers will get a peek into the deals from the Sysco Truckload Sale and rake in savings from the Warehouse Clearance Center.As well as being able to sit in on multiple stimulating seminars.
Blueprint Design Studio helps restaurants to become more profitable with effective menu designs, or by creating a website design to increase exposure online with proper marketing being implemented.
The show will be held at:
Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park
8200 W. Greenfield Ave.
West Allis, WI 53214
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Blueprint Design Studio will be at booth 1402
Recent Resource Links:
Restaurant Stimulus Packages…
Stimulus Plan Update
CA Restaurant & Bar Owners (not drinkers) Will Feel the Pinch of Nickel Tax
We've Got A Sweet Deal For You!


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Veteran NBA forward Lamar Odom checked into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center Wednesday, according to People magazine.
A source close to the basketball star told the magazine, "He realized he needs help."
The report comes less than a week after Odom was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and or drugs.
Odom, who previously played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, was taken into custody Aug. 30 after he was spotted driving erratically on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles, according to the CHP report obtained by KTLA 5.
Odom was booked into the Van Nuys jail and posted $15,000 bail three hours later.
The New York native won two NBA championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
On April 9, 2012, it was announced that Odom had parted ways with the Mavericks.
In a statement to ESPN, Odom said, "I'm sorry that things didn't work out better for both of us, but I wish the Mavs organization, my teammates and Dallas fans nothing but continued success in the defense of their championship."
On June 29, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a four-team deal.
But after one season, Odom was dropped by the team and became a free agent on July 1, 2013.
Various online sources, including the website TMZ, recently reported there was trouble in Odom's marriage to Khloe Kardashian, and speculated about Odom allegedly abusing drugs.


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The new year is well under way, New Year's resolutions are already proving hard to keep and tips for boosting your health are omnipresent, but one thing we must remember – to take time to enjoy good food and especially each other's company.
So imagine a Sunday morning with plenty of time. Time to read the newspaper and enjoy a bit of toasted rye bread and delicious cheese served with a glass of champagne juice. A quiet morning for yourself or perhaps a surprise to those you love.
Serve slightly toasted rye bread with Castello Organic Brie topped with blueberry jam and a piece of Castello Pineapple Cream Cheese sprinkled with chopped nuts and pumpkin seeds. In addition, a boiled egg and a glass of juice with gentle bubbles from the champagne.
Recipe for champagne juice
1 part cranberry and pomegranate juice (undiluted)
1 part champagne
2 parts orange / apricot juice


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Self Hatred
Self hatred is real. It is cruel and unkind, and harsher than anything anyone can do or say to you. I know because I have been there. The first step in self love is noticing your self-hatred. It takes a while to notice and pay attention to what you say to yourself. The first temptation is to shame yourself for having such a negative voice in your mind. But that only makes things worse. You must notice what you are saying, without judgement. You must be able to be strong and start to become compassionate with yourself, as if you are a child. To notice the thought and say "oh, wow, I am really hurting today".
The second step is to notice, and to stop it. That is to notice as it is arising what you are saying to yourself and then to simply not allow the conversation to go any further. As if you were in the room with yourself tantruming and you simply end the conversation by walking away.
The third step is to stop the thought as it arises. I physically had to put a hand up to my face, as if it were a stop sign when I looked in the mirror. Stop. I would say to myself. Then I would leave it at that.
The final step is to replace the harsh words with kind and compassionate words, and finally words of self love. This is the hardest part, because we are taught not to have "tickets on ourselves". For me I could not just simply replace one word and put another in. I had to work it out by writing though it. I had to experiment with my image, and find a way to love myself whilst my hair was growing out and I grew to gradual acceptance of my new life and being my own valentine.
Notes from my self reflective writings about the time and excerpts from my blog at the time as The Lake House Writer circa 2011/2012
My online adventures expand as I explore the lives of other bloggers. I begin to notice the bloggers who are attracting attention in the online space. The "Mummy blogging" world is crowded, and whilst many believe it is because people want their five minutes of fame, I see that it is because motherhood is a difficult time to navigate.
The world seems to be full of confused mothers looking to others for understanding. I feel noticeably worse by reading these blogs. So I stop. I look for blogs which are going to pick me up. The management consultant in me rears her head and wants benchmarks. I start reading 'Fox in Flats'.
Andrea Michelle started a website to inspire women stuck in the downward fashion rut of motherhood. I can identify with moving from a world of pin striped suits to tracky dacks, and like many mothers am often horrified to go out only finding that the clothes I have put on clean, are now covered in snot snail trails or left over bits of someone else's breakfast.
Make-up disappeared from my bathroom, and it became an exciting day when I remembered or could be bothered wearing mascara. Shopping for clothes has been impossible with two small toddlers, and often it became a case of the cheapest and closest thing I could grab whilst getting other things at Kmart. Getting my hair coloured at the hairdresser becomes a highly prized dream reserved for the annually granted 'time out' on my birthday.
And that was when I was married. Things get worse when I am a single mother living. A style icon I am not. The bottom of the barrel is scraped when I come across the 'I love my body' challenge that is going viral in the mummy blogging community. It asks people to post a picture of themselves and tell readers exactly why they love their bodies. Up springs hundreds of photos of women in bikinis and undies embracing all of their lumps and bumps (or lack of them). For me the effect is the opposite. I write
'I'm having a particular problem with a blog challenge that is going around. It's the one where bloggers are posting photos and writing what it is they love about their body. In the spirit of things, there have been so many photos of women semi-naked and naked posting photos and exclaiming they love their love handles. That they love the fact their bodies nurtured their children; that they don't mind the stretch marks that are the resulting trophy. I take my hat off to them. But you won't be seeing any photo of me naked or in a bikini any time soon.
I have a body image problem. It's got nothing to do with the body that I'm in. I was born pre-loaded with the problem. As a Buddhist, I believe, that it is your karma to be reincarnated in a certain matter until the issues you (your mind) faces, are dealt with – that is, the karmic intensity has been burnt out. Clearly, this is the lifetime in which I am to deal with it.
I am attractive. I just don't take care of myself. I seek to fault myself. I seem to prove the unattractiveness of myself every time I pick at my face or my arms. I wear long sleeves in summer because my arms are usually a mess from attacking them when in a down moment. I have terrible posture (my husband started taking photos just to show me), not because I didn't understand the whole 'shoulders back, tummy in' mantra. I got that a long time ago.
Somewhere along the line, I just gave up on myself. After I shaved my hair off, I got that. I am working really hard to change that. I now put make up on every day, so that I can't see my blemishes. I wear perfume every day. I do my hair every morning, even if I am not going anywhere. I have started using the million bottles of face and body cream that kind souls have bought me in an effort to make me feel better.
So I post the following picture not to ridicule others. (2017 note, I no longer have any idea of which particular photo it was so will insert one I have edited my ex out of so you get the idea)
I have already blogged about my appearance. I have faced a million demons with the shaving of my hair. I have created and posted photo albums of the journey of my self-esteem and my hair this year.
I am posting this photo, because this is the only photo, which my mind has been able to recognize this is what I look like. It is the only photo I can look at without a sense of wonder and confusion. I will conquer my body image problem. In this lifetime. And you will be around to read about it.'
The process of writing this blog really helps me. It makes me realize that the only person who is ever going to change the filter through which I see myself is me. I have to take tiny steps each day to stop hating myself, to spend the time each day to make myself look better, even if it is only to feel better for the school run. And so Andrea's style dares, are the way I begin. They are fun, and importantly don't require going and purchase expensive fashion.
The first step for me is to look in the mirror each day and just simply stop the words 'You are ugly' from forming in my mind. It takes a while, because I have spent so much time automatically reacting to my appearance in the mirror with these words, that I lose awareness of doing this. By stopping and being present with my thoughts I regain the power. I am able to say to myself 'hey that is simply not ok'. I need to treat myself better.
Fox in Flats conducts online 'style dares'. Each fortnight a new theme is designed to simply get you out of a rut, examine your wardrobe and be a bit adventurous with your life. They become the highlight of my week, and are fundamental to the slow transition of hating myself to beginning to see both the inner and outer beauty that everyone else claims to be able to see all along.
I also use the style dare as an 'excuse' to experiment further with my photography with the reasoning to anyone that enquired that I was doing it as The Lake House Writer in order to continue to increase my online profile. I write about the dares on the blog:
'When was the last time you added a little sparkle to your day? For me this week, it has been a literal sparkle. This week Fox in Flats dared its readers to join the sparkle dare. You had to wear something sparkly each day from sun up to sun down. I started slowly and added a sparkling polish to the top of my pink nail polish. Then I became adventurous and wore a shiny top that my cousin passed onto me. It even has diamante buttons… I was not sure I was ever going to wear it, but given it fits exactly within the challenge, here goes. I have teamed it with a pair of basic jeans, and a sparkly lip-gloss to keep it low key- after all, I am doing the school run…
The best thing about the dares are that they cast a whole new light on my week. I clean out my wardrobe and I donate to charity. I iron. I reorganize and I discover pieces in a whole new light.
Most importantly, I talk to people about what I am doing. It makes them laugh. They become interested in what I am wearing each day. Even more important, I take care of my appearance. I bother to change out of dirty clothes. I scour the op shops for glittery options, laughing at the multitude of tacky options available. I'm scared as hell that the next dare will be leopard print… But as the girls at laughing yoga said 'at least we'll get a good laugh out of it'.
Note after writing: I found the picture and the art that I made.