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In the last six months, I have received four e-mails that contained blatant requests for my untimely death. The first two said, respectively, "I hope you die ASAP" and "Screw you, Decker, I hope you die, die, die, and die."
The third came last week. It was written by Jeff Webster of Allied Gardens, and published in CityBeat. It was a volatile reaction to my article, "The pied piper of truth" (in which I took the position that it's just really sometimes OK for teens to smoke pot). Webster ended his letter by saying, "I hope you... wrap your car around a telephone pole at 2 a.m. in the middle of fucking nowhere. I hope your life ends as a 10-second sound bite on Channel 8."
Ouch, dude.
Still, even after that ugly third letter, I had no intentions of acknowledging these angry requests for my death. Because, 1) I didn't want to legitimize the fringe, 2) nobody wants to hear some writer whine about how the hate mail is hurting his feelings, and 3) these e-mails were not, technically, death threats. After all, they only wrote, "I hope you die," which is more like a call to some cosmic hit-man than an actual death threat. And since I don't believe in cosmic hit-men, I didn't feel a need to respond.
But today-well, sonovafreakingbitch-today I received yet another chilling request for my death. A woman wrote the editor to say she was upset about the column "Sniper semantics" (in which I pondered the tenuous moral distinction between a Beltway Sniper and a military sniper). Her letter ended with the following, "Please Tell Mr. Decker I hope he gets sniped."
Which brings the total to four death requests in the last six months.
Four is more than a fringe. Four is more than a lone voice in the wilderness. Four is a force. Four more and four is a mob. And four is the last straw. Hard as I try, I can no longer ignore these vile requests for my untimely demise.
Open letter to the Death Requesters:
Dearest DR,
First of all, with all due respect, anybody who wishes death upon somebody they have never met is a heartless scumbag asshole moron. Do you even know what the word "dead" actually means? I think if you did, you might be more reluctant to wish it upon my good person.
Hi-ho, Hi-ho, to the dictionary we go: "Dead: [pronounced: ded]. Adj. 1) No more barbecues on the deck. 2) No more Scrabble tourneys. 3) No more disc golf. 4) No more roasted red peppers feasts, plates of baked garlic or mushroom camping trips. 5) No more Zepfests. 6) No more late night Rumpy binges or hungover breakfasts with friends. 7) Nada, zip, nothing-nothing but afternoon tea with the beetles and worms."
Secondly, yes, I understand there is a difference between a military sniper and a Beltway sniper. I'm not a moron. Yes, I understand there is a danger in promoting marijuana to teens or legalizing drugs. But do you understand that there are many sides to any given issue? Do you understand that this country has a bad habit of force-feeding one point of view on its citizens while squelching another? Do you understand that, only by exploring all the angles can we best decide how to tackle the issue at hand?
What an obscene waste of time it would be to simply regurgitate the well-covered opinions of the masses? What would be the point? Do you really need yet another article about how the beltway snipers are bad, bad men and bad men should be put to death? Do you really want another pro-legalization argument that hides behind the medical marijuana initiative-instead of saying what most legalization proponents are afraid to say; which is: "It's just pot, people! It's just pot. It's just pot. It's just pot. Please, people, please. It's only pot. We've been smoking it for centuries, and we'll smoke it centuries more."
Thirdly, the only people who wish me dead, that I know of, are people who have never met me; which leads me to believe that it's probably my ideas you want dead more than my flesh. Well, killing me is like killing Napster-the body is gone, but the technology remains. There will always be somebody to howl out, loud and proud, "Hey man, something reeks 'round here and it ain't your mama's stinkpit."
So hey, you want me dead? Fine. But why are you waiting around for some unknown cosmic sniper to take me out? Why not kill me your own damn self?
Otherwise, blow me; I'll die when I'm damn good and ready.


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River Kwai morningPosted: August 29, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 48 Comments
I'm still finishing up some paintings I did in Thailand. This one was early morning, looking out on the River Kwai towards Myanmar. In the distance the mountains have forms that are so unlike anything I've ever seen — sharp and undulating and so densely green. Every once in a while a fisherman goes by and disturbs the still water, but in minutes it is dead calm again. A sight I'll not likely forget any time soon. Arches paper, 15″ x 11″.
48 Comments on "River Kwai morning"
Super beau! What a great memory you must have of that morning.
Wow! This is beautiful. Perfection!
Very nice, Shari. That water is mesmerizing. It draws my eyes back into the mountains. The whole scene reminds me of a postcard!
Delightful. Tranquil. Great greens – especially the background mountains.So
appreciate your generosity in sharing your experiences.
Yes, I agree! Very generous to share your sketches and watercolor paintings. I always look at them slowly and study your wonderful work. All the best to you.
The water, the shadows,the mountains, just perfect and so lovely to look at.
Peaceful and calm as you described but at the same time your painting captures the alertness you felt so magically. Masterful work.
Nice painting, and a big congratulations on tenure.
Your artwork is so beautiful and captures the tranquility of the river. I always look forward to seeing your lovely new paintings.
This utterly takes my breath away. It's ALL lovely, but the sense of humidity/atmosphere with the distant mountains is particularly amazing.
This one is as technically perfect as anyone could wish. You have reached perfection in your art!
I imagine you in a strange busy city staying at a hotel..if so,how do you find such a beautiful peaceful scene to paint early in the morning? I'm thinking street signs etc are all in a foreign language..who can direct you to this location and explain what you are looking at? The painting is superb!
Shari. This is really wonderful. It's a great composition, atmospheric, direct, just enough detail and, as always the control of values is amazing.
Gosh, I really can't add anything to what has already been commented. What an incredible painting!

subset: commoncrawl


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How cute are these chalkboard table numbers? Even with Pinterest inspiration every way you look, most wedding tables still have the same old fashioned table numbers. These were a welcome change from the usual.
Looking for a photographer for your Florida destination wedding? Click here or on our logo above to view the rest of our site.


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Words that start with aerochlor
Found 1 words that start with aerochlor. Browse our Scrabble Word Finder, Words With Friends cheat dictionary, and WordHub word solver to find words starting with aerochlor. Or use our Unscramble word solver to find your best possible play! Related: Words containing aerochlor
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Mount Sinai
If you are searching to assist yourself or somebody you know fighting with substance abuse issues in Mount Sinai, NY, SoberAssistance.com provides a massive Internet database of safe and affordable facilities, as well as a lot of other choices. We can assist you in locating substance abuse treatment clinics for a wide range of drug addictions to Clonidine, crack cocaine, alcohol or any addictive drug. Search for a highly-rated rehab facility in Mount Sinai now, and take the first step on the road to healthy living.
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The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) has been invited by the Pew Scholars Program to nominate one candidate for support by the program. The aim of this program is to support assistant professors of outstanding promise in basic sciences relevant to the advancement of human health. This is an extremely prestigious award. Strong proposals will demonstrate particularly creative and innovative approaches. Previous recipients usually had an extensive publication list that includes at least one, and often more, first author publication(s) in either Science, Nature (or one of its specialty journals), Cell, and/or PNAS.
The award provides $240,000 in flexible support – $60,000 per year for a four-year period. The applicant is expected to spend no less than 80% of their time on the project described.
Please refer to the Committee on Special Awards' email announcement for additional details.


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Beat the Heat: Guess the 90-Degree Day to Win Tickets to Canobie Lake Park
Summer is right around the corner, and we can't wait for the temperatures to really heat up again.
But what day will it finally hit 90 degrees?
We want you to guess which day it will hit 90 degrees in Salem, NH, and if you guess correctly, you will win a family four-pack of tickets to Canobie Lake Park (which is in Salem, NH). In fact, up to five people can win a family four-pack of tickets!
You'll have until July 1 to make your guess, but don't delay, because it could just wind up hitting 90 degrees before then! (If more than five people correctly guess the day, winners will be randomly selected.)
We will be using, AccuWeather to measure the temperature to HERE.
UPDATE: It has already reached 90F in Salem, NH so this contest is over. Please check out our new app contest 'Cool Off with Canobie' for another chance to win.


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- This event has passed.
Countering the Mass Shooter in Houses of Worship, Businesses and Schools 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
September 21, 2018 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm CDT$99.00
"Countering the Mass Shooter in Places of Worship, Businesses and Schools.
This class explans what we've learned in 165 Active Shooter events since Columbine.
This is a 4 hour course that will give you a clear snapshot of these events and help you prepare to counter and survive an active shooter event.
Class size will be limited to 20 persons.
For more information or if you have any questions, please call (708) 926-2524 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Topics We'll Cover;
Part One
Mass Shootings by the Numbers
Would Reducing Magazine Capacity or Banning AR-15s Work?
Do Gun Free Zones Help or Hurt?
Does Victim Response Make a Difference?
What Are Universal Checks, and Would They End Mass Shootings?
What About No Fly Lists and theTerror Watch Lists?
Part One Summary
Part Two
Know the Signs
Creating an Emergency Operations Plan for your School, House of Worship or Business.
Special Considerations for Schools.
Don't Be an Easy Victim: Run, Hide or Fight.
When Fighting Back Means Using a Gun.
Triage and Treat the Wounded.
Eliminating Gun-Free Zones.
Where do we go from Here?
Student qustions will also be addressed.
Student registration starts a half hour prior to class.
Illinois Concealed Carry Training provides Basic Firearms Training, Concealed Carry Classes, Emergency First Aid and Countering the Mass Shooter Threat. Through firearms training and safety instruction, we will equip you to properly and confidently handle a firearm and be able to deal accordingly with an active shooter event. We will also teach you how to remain physically, morally, and financially safe in the event you ever have to use your firearm in self-defense or in the defense of another.
Our founder is a retired Sergeant from a Chicago area suburb with over 35 years as a Public Safety Professional. He became a certified United States Concealed Carry Association firearms instructor because he wants all of those who carry a concealed firearm to be responsible, properly trained and have the correct information to stay physically, morally, and financially safe in the event you have to use your firearm in self-defense or the defense of another.
Our Instructors will bring their expertise and experience into the classroom to teach others how to use guns safely and ethically.
We at "Illinois Concealed Carry Training" believe that carrying a firearm is an awesome responsibility, and we want to ensure that everyone who chooses to do so is responsible and properly trained. We provide a positive training environment where we teach home defense, gun safety and the Illinois gun laws.
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
Yes, to attend this course, you must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid Illinois State ID or Driver's License.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
The Pace Bus stops at 142nd and Cicero or you may park in the lot across the street.
What can/can't I bring to the event?
You should bring your Illinois ID, a pen and a notebook.
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
You may call 708-926-2524 at anytime and leave a message. We will get back back to you as soon as possible.
Is my registration/ticket transferable?
Yes it is. Please let us know who your registration is to be transferred to, so we can make the adjustment.
Can I update my registration information?
Yes you may. Call 708-926-2524 and we will do that for you.


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Wollongong South Coast & Southern Highlands Street Directory
Click images below to enlarge:
Wollongong South Coast & Southern Highlands Street Directory
This product is no longer available :(
Product Overview
- Product No:
- 2801636
- Publisher:
- Universal Publishers
- 9780731927784
- Edition:
- 21st Edition
- Edition Date:
- November 2012
- Pages:
- 192
- Size:
- 215 x 280 x 8 mm
- Weight:
- 500 g
- Format:
- Paperback
- Sales Rank:
- 3010 (See Top 100 in Maps)
Product Description
The UBD and Gregory's Wollongong South Coast & Southern Highlands Street Directory includes over 80 new streets and new subdivision details at Tullimbar, Bulli, Horsley, Kanahooka.
Over 1700 facilities including churches, hotels, motels, parks, places of interest, sportsgrounds, wineries etc. are also shown in detail.
Coverage includes Helensburgh to Gerroa plus Nowra and Shoalhaven Heads. Also South Coast town maps of Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Tathra, Eden, Merimbula, Huskisson, Milton, Ulladulla, Mogo,, Sussex Inlet, St Georges Basin, Sanctuary Point and Vincentia.
Current reviews for 'Wollongong South Coast & Southern Highlands Street Directory'
No reviews yet, but you should totally write one. It's easy, just put some words and stuff in those boxes over there and everyone will be super happy.


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In a hurry? Here are the best products at a glance.
There are many amazing health benefits to using Blue Tansy essential oil. Also known as Tanacetum Annuum oil, it's derived from a North African flower and has an incredible blue color. We've researched and reviewed a variety of new and bestselling products to help you decide which Blue Tansy essential oil is the best option for you. In a hurry? Take a look at the top 10 Blue Tansy essential oil reviews below. But before we jump into the reviews, check out these features to look for when shopping!
Organic – Choosing an organic or regular oil is a personal choice. For some people, organic essential oils are a good option because they want to ensure that their product is top-notch. The best quality oils also meet therapeutic standards. For many standard uses, regular essential oils do the trick.
Volume – Most essential oils come in 5, 10 or 15 mL bottles. Depending on your needs, you may need a smaller or bigger size. For occasional use, a smaller 5mL bottle may suffice. However, if you find that Blue Tansy essential oil is a great complement to your daily routine, consider purchasing a bigger bottle.
Type – Essential oils come in two different varieties. First are pure essential oils, which feature the extract from one particular plant. Second, you have essential oil blends, which combine the smells and properties of two or more blends. Pick the one you prefer.
Pipette Included – Pipettes allow you to precisely measure the amount of oil you need for each application. Many essential oils include a pipette, which makes it easy for you to use it right out of the box. Others require you to supply your own pipette.
Bottle Color – Essential oils can be sensitive to light, and different colored bottles offer different levels of protection from degradation. Tansy essential oil is a beautiful blue color, and it's a great idea to help maintain its original composition. Brown bottles are the industry standard for preserving essential oils.
Bottle Material – Some Blue Tansy essential oil bottles are made of plastic, while others are made with glass. When essential oils are strong and pure, it's important to store them in airtight glass containers. This is because the strength of the oil can deteriorate rubber and plastic.
Here's the deal: there are many choices when it comes to Blue Tansy oils. Because of its rarity and incredible properties, it's highly sought after. The remarkably blue tones of the oil are complemented by its ability to soothe your body and mind. Now that you know how to choose the best products for you let's take a look at our reviews. If you need a quick answer, take a look at the top pick and budget pick. Enjoy!
Article last updated on:
June 4, 2019
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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Getting adults to be more active on visits to children's playgrounds could be as simple as removing the temptation to sit, a small new study suggests.
Inspired during his daily lunchtime walks by the sight of parents sitting on playground benches, a U.S. researcher has shown that moving the seating away from the area increased the amount of exercise that parents and caregivers got as they watched their kids.
"For such an easy and inexpensive change, we were able to shift many adults from sitting to standing and that alone promotes health," said lead author James Roemmich, a supervisory research physiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The study, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, focused on a single playground in Grand Forks, where parents tended to congregate at eight picnic tables with benches and watch their children. The researchers observed playground activity by adults and children for a week with the benches present, and for another week after they were taken away, then again for a week when the benches were returned.
When the benches were removed, the adults were as much as 23 times more likely to engage in moderate to vigorous activity, the researchers found.
With benches gone, the parents were "walking around following their child, watching them play, swinging or pushing children on swings, walking around and socializing with other parents, walking through the splash pad to cool off, playing with the kids/lifting kids up to monkey bars and other play equipment," Roemmich told Reuters Health in an email. "A couple times they brought a Frisbee or football and threw them around with the kids."
Removing the benches did not affect the amount of time adults were willing to let the children stay and play at the park, the researchers point out in their report.
They also found that removing the benches did not make the children more active.
"That's because children are already very active when they're at the playground, running from swings to slides, climbing and jumping," Roemmich said. "Increasing their activity level is more challenging."
The one thing that did tend to increase children's activity level, Roemmich said, was if they arrived at the park with a friend or sibling. That "social facilitation," he said, upped kids' activity level because much active play typically requires partners.
Research also suggests that children play more if their parents aren't hovering too close, Roemmich notes. "I'm not advocating leaving kids at the playground unsupervised, just give them some space," he said.
The 17-acre park where the study was conducted is across the street from Roemmich's office, so he passed by it daily.
"I saw a terrific playground there, and I noticed that the parents or adult caregivers were sitting while kids were playing," he said. "I thought, 'Wow, what a terrific opportunity for parents not to be sitting.'"
Roemmich said the study is an example of a "micro-environmental" change - a small alteration that can sometimes change behavior. Other micro-environmental changes include painting portions of the playground in bright colors and adding playground equipment - both of which have been shown to increase activity levels in children.
James Sallis, a professor of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego, said one of the virtues of this study is that "it could really be done in virtually any park or playground."
Sallis, who was not connected with the study, is director of Active Living Research, an organization that supports research designed to promote physical activity in children and families.
"There's a lot of applicability," Sallis said, noting that removing benches is easy and inexpensive. "People are always looking for something you can do that's cheap."
"You could argue that it's just a little bit of activity," he said. "But that's how we got to be an inactive society to begin with, with a million tiny little decisions like that. Who decided you needed benches in every playground?"
When asked if parents objected to the removal of the benches during the study, Roemmich said the parks department got "three or four complaint calls" from parents unhappy with the removal of the benches. "But once it was explained that it was a study, they were okay with it," he said.
Sallis said he wishes the study had gone a step further and looked at whether removing the benches facilitated social activity among the adults.
"People tend to go to their own separate seat," he said. "But if you're standing up and wandering around, you may be more likely to have some social interaction - that could be an additional benefit," he said.
Sallis also suggested that a next step to encourage adult activity might be to put adult exercise equipment on the periphery of the playgrounds.
Source: bit.ly/1o9q8o1 Preventive Medicine, online February 4, 2014.


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Timekeeping Article by Elise Moana – Recruitment Consultant William Shakespeare once said "Better three hours too soon, than one minute… read more
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Agreements Are Everything! Article by Alister McDonald – Lead Coach and Mentor Agreements Are Everything! Whether you realise it or… read more
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DISCIPLINE – THE MASTER KEY TO YOUR MIND & LIFE – Article by Annie Kallis, Inspirationalist Everything we want in life starts… read more
Dressing to win is the key to your success – Article by Jane Allen, Image Consultant from STYLEDGE I don't know about… read more


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Bona Hard Floor Cleaner is a ready-to-use pH-neutral detergent specifically formulated for cleaning laminate, vinyl, and tile floors . It makes both the everyday cleaning and the cleaning of very dirty floors easy. Compatible with Bona Hard Floor Refresher and many other similar types of maintenance coatings including polishes. Suitable for both residential and commercial use.
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• Suitable for both residential and commercial locations
• Easy – Ready to use


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Bingara murder: police appeal for mystery caller with information on Darren Willis' disappearance to make contact with Moree detectives
DETECTIVES believe an anonymous caller could hold the key to solving the murder of a Bingara man almost eight years ago.
Strike Force Barca detectives are trying to piece together who killed Darren 'Spaz' Willis in Bingara in 2010.
An anonymous caller phoned Crime Stoppers last month and now officers believe that person could "hold the key" to the case, New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader.
"Detectives wish to speak to the caller who contacted Crime Stoppers at 7pm on Saturday the 14th of July, 2018, and provided information," she said.
"Strike Force Barca investigators believe the information received could be of great significance.
Detectives wish to speak to the caller who contacted Crime Stoppers at 7pm on Saturday the 14th of July, 2018, and provided information.New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy
"We are urging that person to make contact again and speak with detectives directly at Moree Police Station on 02 6757 0799.
"Speaking with an investigator may elicit more pertinent detail that is important to the investigation."
Mr Willis disappeared after leaving a Bingara hotel on Maitland Street on the night of December 10, 2010.
His body has never been found but a breakthrough in the case earlier this year turned the long-term missing person report into a murder cold case – prompting a $350,000 reward for any information that leads police to his killers.
New England detectives say an anonymous caller who contacted Crime Stoppers last month might hold the key to solving the murder of #Bingara man Darren Willis who was killed in 2010. Officers are appealing for the caller to make contact again with $350k reward on offer @nswpolice— Breanna Chillingworth (@breannachill) August 24, 2018
Already detectives have "persons of interest" and are hunting who murdered and disposed of Mr Willis' body.
"The information we have received supports investigators' belief that Mr Willis has met with foul play," Detective Inspector Joy said.
"We have identified a number of persons of interest and they are now the focus of our inquiries.
"Investigators have received a lot of valuable information from the community regarding the disappearance of Mr Willis.
- Persons of interest: Yellow ute could hold key in cold case murder
- Police finish search of bushland in murder hunt | Update, photos
- $350,000 reward as hunt ramps up for missing man's killers
- Reward offered as missing person's case turns to murder probe
- Search goes on for lost souls
- Have you seen Darren?
- Search continues for missing men not forgotten | Video
"This is a timely reminder that a government reward of $350,000 is available for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the death or disappearance of Mr Willis."
Strike Force Barca was formed to investigate Mr Willis' disappearance earlier this year.
In July, senior officers confirmed a yellow ute is at the centre of the murder probe.
In late-May, as part of the murder probe, specialist officers and divers combed the river and its banks in the Eaglehawk Reserve, or Four Mile area, as its known to locals on the outskirts of Bingara.
Anyone with information on Mr Willis' disappearance is urged to contact detectives at Moree Police Station on 6757 0799.
Discuss "Mystery caller 'could hold the key' in cold-case murder: police"
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A battle that I never seem to be able to win is the one against time. I'm not sure if anybody can ever win that battle.
No matter what I seem to do, it seems as if I'm always on the losing end when it comes to time. There never seems to be enough of it, and I'm always left trying to prioritize what seems like multiple priorities. I have too many things in my life that seem to be important, and never enough time to truly devote to them all.
So, it becomes a challenge when I'm faced with figuring out how to squeeze one more task into an otherwise booked day. In some cases I've been successful, but in most, not so much.
Therefore, when we're given an opportunity to possibly save time, we should consider taking it. For instance, my oldest daughter plays soccer in the afternoon on Thursdays. I often have to leave work slightly early in order to get her there on time. I normally bring her gear to her after school program, where she changes, and then we head off to practice. The other day, one of the teachers in her after school program said, "Hey, why don't you just leave us with her gear, and we'll have her get changed and be ready for you when you arrive?" It was a great idea, and one that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.
While this change will save just ten minutes, it is ten minutes that will allow me to more effectively wrap up my work for the day, and transition more comfortably into after school time.
Whether we are exploring ways to do things more efficiently at home or at work, we should heed the advice of others and also make sure that our efforts to save time don't cause quality of work to suffer. If given the option, I would rather have too little time to do everything but still do what I can do well, then engage in everything and have the end results suffer.
While there is no way to slow time, we can always find ways to work better within its confines. Sometimes, we just have to listen.


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All I had to do was hit the locals with a "Hola" and "Muy bien, y tu" and I blended in for 50 seconds. I took four years of Spanish in high school and never really thought my basic el bano, gracias, and por favor would come in handy. (Gracias Señora, Kinnaird).
My travel partner, Kelli, and I met on a flight we worked one time a few weeks ago. We started discussing our schedules and it turned out that she had the same days off. So naturally, we began to plan a trip over the next course of days.
We were torn between several destinations, but we came to the conclusion that we wanted to visit Mexico because one, it is super affordable, and two, there is sunshine and Mexican food! It was our first time to Mexico and we were eager to embark on a new adventure.
We searched places that would offer the most Mexican feel, as far as culture and scenery. Our final pick was a gorgeous bungalow we found online in the middle of the jungle. We had no fear of mosquitos, snakes, bugs, food poisoning, or Zika. In fact, I am alive as I write this today.
Catching a flight to Mexico was not so promising since the loads kept going down. We got to the airport and we were upgraded to first class. I started talking to a woman next to me who began telling me about her travels and history. As we continued our conversation, she offered us a five night free stay at a hotel she was trying to cancel. We could not believe what we were hearing. What are the odds you get offered a free hotel in Tulum, Mexico on your way there? We ended up staying in our booked reservations only because we wanted to stray away from the resort style this time. We wanted to stay somewhere completely different.
We arrived in Cancun where it was torrentially pouring down rain. We had to catch a bus to Playa Del Carmen, and then flag a taxi to take us to our villa in Xcaret. Once we arrived in Playa, we were so soaked that we found a cute little restaurant and began feasting on our first round of guacamole. I then caught myself forgetting that I could not order water, which was rather depressing and dehydrating.
We toured around downtown Playa on the hunt for a poncho to cover our luggage. Found the poncho. Wrapped the poncho around the luggage. Began rolling the luggage. Ripped the poncho. It was a mess, but we could not help but laugh.
We found the shuttle to take us to Xcaret, where we were going to be staying. We got dropped off on the side of the road and then the next step was trying to figure out how to get to our place. Mind you, I had zero service so it was up to Kel to work her T-Mobile magic the whole time we were in Mexico.
We arrived at our Mexican, beautiful, yellow, tropical bungalow after contacting our host who came to pick us up. It was stunning, even on a rainy day. We explored around the villa and instantly fell in love. We threw our bathing suits on and pranced around in the rain discovering true beauty in the jungle.
We soon realized we were far from any type of convenience store/restaurants, so we lingered down to our hosts home. Our host was making homemade pizza dough and pastries, which they gave us as a send-off when we checked out. Our hosts had very thick Spanish accents, so they were not very well-spoken in English. They taught us more Spanish, and we taught them English, robotically.
We awoke the next morning to crisp clear air, birds chirping songs, and the trees swaying in the wind. We stood outside on our balcony and took it all in. I have never stayed at a place so serene and zen. We looked down below our balcony and saw a beautiful breakfast set-up. So we went down to our breakfast and my-oh-my was it delicious. I will not forget the fruit blend and the nuts and seeds that were naturally grown from Mexico.
We then began to plan our day and started our hike through the jungle to Cenote Azul where we spent the day in the sinkhole composed of garra rufa fishes that gave us a free pedicure! It seriously tickled so much as they sucked the dead skin off of our feet. It took me forever to actually get into the cenote. There were fish everywhere including cat fish and it was just freaking me out. We had to throw sea salt chips on the opposite area of where I was just to get them away from me. Nasty little things. Eventually, I got more than knee deep in and overcame a fear of deep underwater caves, kinda, not really though.
After visiting the cenote, we trekked our way to the road and began our walk to the beach. We visited an exclusive private beach and ordered a piña colada and mai tai's at the bar. Then, it did not take much, but I convinced Kel that we just HAD to get a massage on the beach. And oh was it wonderful as we listened to the ocean breeze and waves crashing against the shore. We also attempted paddle boarding on one of the most windy days. I kept crashing into the reef and stepping on rocks. It was a complete fail for me, but it was kind of a lot of fun to try. Let us just say I am a pro at knee-boarding.
When we got back from the beach, it was time to move onto our other reservation. This place turned out to be just as delightful as the first one when we were hosted by a French woman who made homemade breads. Her casa was Mayan inspired and it was absolutely amazing as our room was decorated in Mayan theme. The casa even had an outdoor shower, which was sooo cool!
The next few days and nights were spent exploring more of Playa Del Carmen and getting burnt on the beach. Poor redhead, Kel came home a lobster and tried to convince me her Cuban side would kick in and it will turn into a tan. Still awaiting that confirmation text now that we are home…
We eventually made our way to Tulum and ventured around the ruins. I was stunned by the ruins that overlooked the beach.
That night we went out in Playa and experienced the nightlife. People were pulling us in every direction to get free drinks at their bar. It was as if vultures coming at us for food. Tan loco. Making zero eye contact somehow still attracted them more. We were tired from a busy day, so we got dinner at an amazing Mexican restaurant. As soon as we sat down, someone came up with a professional camera and took our pictures. Ten minutes later he came back with my face literally on a wine bottle. I asked to take a picture of the bottle, but obviously he wanted me to pay for it. Unfortunately, I did not come home with the bottle since I travel with a carry-on.
We walked around Playa and had to stop to watch a woman and man who were singing Spanish music and salsa dancing. I must learn how to salsa dance one of these days!
Since all flights were full and we needed to get back as soon as possible, we were desperate to get on any flight. Little did we know Mexico was on school break and other places around the country as well. So, we had to jumpseat back for four hours. I guess that is what we get for being lucky in first class on the way down.
Our trip to Mexico was absolutely a blast. From the moment we arrived, we had an amazing experience. We had zero plans going in to Mexico, as far as what we wanted to do. All we knew is that we wanted to explore. Sometimes you just have to just go with it and hope things play out. Our hosts were unbelievable and the kindest. They treated us with such respect and made sure we always felt welcome. I truly enjoyed getting to know Spanish culture and being more familiar now with the language. I loved being able to pick up just one word out of a full conversation.
Thank goodness for Mexican pesos, new travel buddies, and letting the jungle give back so much relaxation. My first trip to Mexico was amazing and I am so happy I was able to experience its culture. Buenas Noches, Mexico!


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Inkjet printing has arrived on the global stage as a mainstream print production process, with drupa 2016 playing host to a plethora of new solutions.
Actually the term inkjet is a bit of a misnomer, as it is now being used in a generic sense to include virtually all types of non-toner digital printing.
This includes the liquid toner used by HP on its Indigo presses – housed on the biggest stand on the show, dwarfing all others at 6200sqm – including all its new presses.
Liquid toner is also the technology that Xeikon is using on its new Trillium inkjet web-fed press range, and by Ryobi MHI (RMGT) on its B2 digital sheetfed press DP7, that it claims will run three times faster than anyone else's at 8000sph, and on any stock.
It also includes the nanographic technology from Benny Landa, who is in danger of moving into enigma mode.
First shown at drupa four years and promised to be on stream by now, Landa's nano technology in some ways is no closer. Beta testing is at least 12 months away, maybe more.
He has orders, including one from CMYKhub, and 20 for Vistaprint parent Cimpress, but no product as yet, despite having 500 scientists beavering away on nano in Israel.
[Related: All the news from drupa 2016]
The toner king Xerox is now into inkjet printing, with a B3 cutsheet printer the Brenva and a webfed printer the Trivor. Toner rival Canon is also in B3 cutsheet with its i300 printer, and showed a four-colour B2 inkjet printer which it aims to release next year.
Ricoh already has inkjet with its high volume webfed VC60000, while Konica Minolta has launched its B2 inkjet AccuriJet, which is branded by Komori as the Impremia 29.
Then there is the whole bunch of folding carton inkjet presses launched at this show, with EFI's Nozomi pumping outs 75 metres a minute B1 sheetfed, the Heidelberg/Fujifilm B1 Primefire, the B1 Landa S10 – although a caveat is on that – the Screen BHS inkjet corrugators, the KBA/Xerox VariJet 106, and the Konica Minolta B1 folding carton printer, due out end of next year.
And of course there are the existing high speed inkjet web systems from Kodak, Ricoh, Canon Oce, Screen, HP and KBA, which are all now well established technologies, most of which have already found a home in Australian businesses.
Should the printers of Vogue be quaking in their boots? Well no, with few exceptions inkjet / liquid toner / nano printers at drupa have not yet reached the heights of offset quality. For many applications though they are easily good enough; books, direct mail, transactional, transpromo and catalogues are all sectors that inkjet could handle, and for leaflets, flyers pamphlets the technology is up the job.
Almost a quarter of a century after its launch, digital printing is only responsible for a miniscule three per cent the global print output, but at drupa 2016 you could be forgiven for thinking it is 97 per cent. It is that gap – and other segments such as folding carton – that is causing the technology developers to spend hundreds of millions of dollars between them in developing new systems.
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Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD
HSV529 is a vaccine candidate that is classified as a replication-defective virus, where the virus possesses all the components of the wild-type HSV virus with the exception of two proteins UL5 and UL29 that are involved in viral DNA replication.
HSV529 is indicated to treat herpes simplex virus (HSV).
The vaccine candidate was delivered by intramuscular injections.
Clinical Trial NCT01915212: Study of the Safety of a Particular Herpes Vaccine in Adults With or Without Herpes Infection
The goals of the study are to determine:
Three groups of 20 subjects each will be randomized and will receive 3 doses of HSV529 (15 subjects per group) or saline placebo injection (5 subjects per group).
Each subject will be followed for 6 months after the last dose of vaccine.
The 3 groups will be (a) subjects who were infected with HSV-2 in the past but may or may not have been infected with HSV-1 (HSV-1+/-/HSV-2+), (b) subjects who have been infected only with HSV-1 (HSV-1+/HSV-2-), and (c) subjects who have not been infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 (HSV-1-/HSV-2-).
Vaccine or placebo will be administered on Day 0 and approximately 1 month and 6 months after enrollment.


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VENICE — In what stands to be a transitional year for the world's oldest movie celebration, the 58th Venice Intl. Film Festival gets under way tonight with the world premiere of Milcho Manchevski's Balkan Western "Dust," starring Joseph Fiennes, David Wenham and Adrian Lester.
Screening marks the first time since 1994 — when Michael Radford's Italian drama "Il Postino" bowed in Venice — that a major U.S. feature has not occupied the opening-night slot.
It also marks a return to the Lido for Macedonian director Manchevski, who won Venice's top honor, the Golden Lion, for his Oscar-nominated 1994 debut, "Before the Rain."
Unspooling out of competition, "Dust" is a British-German-Italian-Macedonian co-production. Set between present-day New York and the early 20th century during the first Balkan war, it centers on two brothers in love with the same woman.
All eyes on fest
Fest pundits will be closely assessing the success of event chief Alberto Barbera's new double-competition formula, designed to spread media and critical attention more evenly throughout the program.
For the first time, alongside the traditional competition (this year known as Venezia 58), which is dominated by established auteurs and classical filmmaking styles, a parallel competitive lineup will run, dubbed Cinema of the Present, showcasing riskier, edgier fare, the majority of it by emerging talent.
Each competition will be judged by a separate jury. The Venezia 58 panel is headed by Italian actor-director-producer Nanni Moretti, who won this year's Palme d'Or at Cannes for "The Son's Room," while the Cinema of the Present jury of international film critics is topped by Japanese Cahiers du Cinema scribe Shiguehiko Hasumi.
Eagerly anticipated highlights from the Venezia 58 lineup include "Behind the Sun," from "Central Station" helmer Walter Salles; Mira Nair's New Delhi tale "Monsoon Wedding"; and Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic's English-language "How Harry Became a Tree."
Also expected to come under the acquisitions radar is Clare Peploe's period piece "The Triumph of Love," which marks the first producing credit in 20 years for the director's husband, Bernardo Bertolucci. The Marivaux adaptation stars Mira Sorvino, due in Venice for the premiere.
Tipped for attention in the Cinema of the Present competish are Laurent Cantet's "Time Out," which follows the French director's critical breakthrough with "Human Resources"; Werner Herzog's 1930s-set "Invincible," with Tim Roth; and U.S. director Jill Sprecher's "13 Conversations About One Thing," starring Matthew McConaughey and John Turturro, both of whom will be in Venice.
Sans Spielberg
One of the disappointments to fest organizers is the no-show of Steven Spielberg for the European premiere of Warner and DreamWorks' "A.I. Artificial Intelligence." Reportedly busy in post on "Minority Report," Spielberg has nixed appearances at the Venice and Deauville fests.
Warner will be well represented, however, with star power on hand thanks to Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, accompanied by Uma Thurman, who make the trip for the world preem of Antoine Fuqua's "Training Day."
Other stars expected in Venice include Helen Hunt and Charlize Theron for Woody Allen's "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," and Johnny Depp and Heather Graham for Fox's "From Hell," directed by Albert and Allen Hughes. Elizabeth Taylor will add some traditional Hollywood glamour, flying in to chair an Amfar Cinema Against AIDS event Friday, while Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas are due for a Red Cross gala dinner Tuesday.
Rare Rohmer visit
Barbera makes no secret of the fact that the key event for him will be the arrival of French auteur Eric Rohmer, making a rare personal appearance to receive the Golden Lion for career achievement during the Sept. 8 closing ceremony and to present his digitally shot feature "The Lady and the Duke," which Sony Pictures Classics will release in the U.S.
"The Golden Lion to Rohmer is what I'm most proud of in Venice this year," Barbera said. "… Rohmer has won many prizes in festivals all over the world, but until now, has never accepted invitations to receive them personally, so this is an exceptional event."


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Looking for relocation information? Specialized home searches to find that perfect Dayton luxury home? Information for the first time home buyer? I know that each Dayton home buyer's needs are going to be unique and I strive to give you the information and resources that can help you make informed decisions throughout the process. Call Dayton Realtor […]
Archives for January 2009
Dayton Lifestyles
Dayton Ohio real estate information can be found throughout this site, but what about Dayton lifestyles? From high tech to agriculture, from cool urban condos to sprawling rural farms, the Greater Dayton area embraces it all. Dayton Ohio is small enough for you to become instantly connected to the pulse of the city. We have a southern influence that gives us a laid back, relaxed look at life, but with our rich history of inventions, Daytonians are curious, driven, and not satisfied with good enough.
Hospitals like Kettering Medical Center, Miami Valley, Good Samaritan, and Children's, along with all the satelite and sister locations: Grandview, Southview, Sycamore, bring first class health care to the city of Dayton.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base brings the proud tradition of flight and military personel and their families to the Dayton area and the need for high tech support that the modern United States Air Force requires.
Home Sales in the Dayton Area, YTD June
The Dayton Area Board of Realtors has released their statistics for home sales in the entire Dayton area, for June, 2012. This is a broad, overall market view which is useful in seeing how the general area is doing, but may not be indicative of how your particular neighborhood is faring through all this. As always, give me a call when you need specific community and neighborhood information as that is going to impact the sale of your home, more than these general stats. – Theresa Lussier, 937.343.1411


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Andrew & Kirstin // Seattle Engagement Photographer
I sat there with a book in my hands pretending to read on the bench Andrew and I had discussed over Skype. Every 10 seconds or so I would look around to see if they were coming my way. The suspense was killing me, as most proposals I shoot do. It was cold that morning and I had made the mistake of wearing sandals, ripped jeans and a tank top. I was freezing. It didn't matter though. I was going to make this happen, chattering teeth and all.
Suddenly, I saw them. Andrew and Kirstin, walking hand in hand looking so happy. I smiled knowing Kirstin was about to be even happier. He spotted me and walked up to the water right in front of my bench just like we planned. I pulled my long lens out from under my bag and let everything unfold naturally.
We spent about 35 minutes together laughing and taking photos together before they went to meet up with their friends and family. They told me about their story and how they had only met about 6 months ago. "When you know, you know, Liz." Two brave souls who took a risk on each other and let go. My heros. I'm so happy I could capture such a specific, special moment in their lives. Proposals are the best. Love is the best.
// I know. I'm a mushy, sappy, hopeless romantic. It's fine. Everything's fine. xo
* Shoot for Flytographer


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Archery: World Tournament
The following story was published in Issue 1 of The Paolite, 2017.
This summer, the PHS archery team took their second trip to the World Tournament, this year held in Orlando, Florida. The tournament took place on July 20-21. Twenty-one archers traveled to the contest for an amazing experience and opportunity from Wednesday, July 19 to Sunday, July 23.
In order for the team to participate in the tournament, they had to qualify by competing at qualifiers, such as the Indiana State Tournament and the National Tournament, which went well for the team.
To prepare for Worlds, the team focused on improving their individual weaknesses. Everyone worked on improving their technique and to have better accuracy. The team did several activities at practice to work on getting smaller groupings.
The team's overall score was 3,179, with the highest score on the team being senior Anna Hutcheson with a 280. Right behind Hutcheson was eighth grader Kennon Scott with 279 and sophomore Tony Lowe with 277.
"There is always something to improve on, but it is impressive for our archery team to already be making it to Worlds in our second year competing," said Hutcheson.
Archery coach Kyle Woolston feels the team did very well considering none of the 2017 graduates attended the event. The team also took several younger members so they could get experience at a larger tournament.
While in Florida, the team did not just compete. They also spent time on the beach and boardwalk in Daytona, took a dolphin viewing boat ride and toured a local chocolate factory. On the way home, the team stopped in Georgia to get Georgia peaches.
This upcoming year will be challenging since they have a young team. This past year, two of the team's top shooters graduated, leaving the team to rebuild their top ranks.
"With the potential of the new archers, there is a lot of potential on the team," said Woolston.
The new season is set to begin in mid to late October.
Story by Avery Owens