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Soaring The Heavens - Chapter 103
Chapter 103: The Snowy South Edict (9)
Translator: Kelaude Editor: Milkbiscuit
Initially, he had thought that Miao Yi was doomed, and even if he wanted to rescue him, it would have already been too late. But who knew that he would instead see a masked head come flying out. Then what about Miao Yi?
The others were also the same. Nobody moved an inch and were all watching the scene in silence.
The snowflakes began to slowly disperse, and the figure of Miao Yi heaving heavily gradually became visible;he turned his head to look in their direction.
This fierce battle had exhausted him terribly. They hadn't directly crossed spears with each other because he couldn't afford to butt heads with them, but while he was being chased with the intent to kill, he needed to constantly return with spear strikes to destroy the incoming hail of transcendence energy, snow, mud and stones from behind his back. Although these hadn't inflicted any fatal blows on him, the attacks launched with the opponents' cultivation level were still forces to be reckoned with. Utilizing such fierce counterattacks had already caused his transcendence energy to be depleted terribly.
Seeing the appearance of Yang Qing and his men, Miao Yi could already roughly guess why these people were here.
He didn't know why, but when he saw Yang Qing's appearance, Miao Yi then felt that he was safe.
There was one thing that he had to admit, Yang Qing's repeated actions to win his favor had already affected Miao Yi, as without Yang Qing, he wouldn't be who he was today.
But he still did not wish to expose his hidden trump card;the little ones in the snow were speedily approaching him in silence. They emerged from the snowy ground and, using Charcoal as a cover, they dived into Miao Yi's storage ring one after the other.
'Harrumph!' Charcoal shook its head and let out a loud snort.
Miao Yi turned to cast a glance at the enemy's mount, having previously fled, coming back to side of the headless corpse, unwilling to leave. Then, he turned to look towards Yang Qing, and their gazes locked onto each other.
Yang Qing quietly heaved a sigh of relief;it was only at that moment that his dragon steed carried him forth as it dashed over, with the rest also dashing out and following behind.
Once he arrived, Yang Qing halted his steed in front of Miao Yi. He sized Miao Yi up and down, with the rest also doing the same.
Now, Miao Yi definitely appeared to be in a sorry state. His hair had gone from being tied into a bun to becoming semi-scattered and in a disarray;a large splattering of bloodstains were hanging from the corner of his lips and it could be said that the clothes on his body were ragged, covered in mud and dust. Both of the webs between the thumbs and the index fingers of his hands were split by a large cut, and amongst his blood-drenched hands, ghastly white bones could be seen. Yet, he still held onto the silver spear in his hand and did not let it go. The body of the spear had already been stained with a lot of his own blood.
To end up in such a sorry state, anyone could well imagine that this man had thrown all caution to the winds to do his utmost, and also, how precarious his situation had been. With just one glance, they knew that he had just narrowly escaped death;otherwise, he wouldn't be in this battered and exhausted state.
A smile faintly flashed through Yang Qing's eyes as he thought in his mind, 'This kid...'
But on the surface, he still maintained the prestige of a Manor Head as he asked indifferently, ''What happened?''
It was exactly at this moment, that another two mounts hurried towards them from a short distance away;it was Zheng Jinlong and Wang Zifa.
Running to the front, the two also had blood hanging from the corners of their mouths, and looked very much in a sorry state as well. They asked pressingly, ''Cave Master, are you alright?''
In fact, the two of them had already arrived earlier. But when facing such a strong adversary, they absolutely did not dare to show themselves. Only upon seeing Yang Qing and the rest arriving, did they dare to run out.
Yet prior to this, even hiding in the dark and witnessing their fearsome battle from afar could also be said to be nerve-racking. Cave Master had actually used his weak cultivation to behead the two cultivators who were at least at White Lotus Fifth Grade. Witnessing the scene with their very eyes made both of them feel like they were dreaming.
Miao Yi shook his head, he was not in a hurry to reply to them so he replied to Yang Qing first in a low voice, ''Your subordinate is also interested to know what happened. I was about to head back to East Arrival Cave and halfway back, a man suddenly ran out to intercept and tried to kill me. I risked my life to flee towards South Edict Manor, but who knew that the enemy seemed to have anticipated that I would escape back. I then fled here, and fell into an ambush with nowhere to go in front and with one hot in pursuit behind my back. I had no other choice but to go all out and fight back at the risk of my life. Fortunately, I managed to behead these two scums!''
Yang Qing squinted slightly, casting his gaze at the two dragon steeds who were lingering on, reluctant to leave their deceased masters' sides. He laughed coldly, ''Take a look and see who they are.''
''Understood!'' Xiong Xiao rushed out to cup his hands in acknowledgement of the order, and was about to examine of his own accord.
Nobody expected Miao Yi to abruptly extend his spear, pointing it at Xiong Xiao.
Xiong Xiao's face turned sour. ''Brother Miao, what do you mean by this?''
''What do I mean?'' Miao Yi let out a cold laugh, his expression was suffused with sternness as he said, ''Xiong Xiao, you bastardly scum! Do you think I am an idiot? You know perfectly well what I meant. Are you planning to burn the corpse and destroy all traces of your crime?''
After the ordeal he had at Mystic Arts Temple, there were reasons why he had quietly gone to Changfeng Cave, and covertly left with Charcoal to meet Yang Qing alone in South Edict Manor.
Firstly, he was afraid Xiong Xiao would find out and would lay murderous hands on him during the journey again. Secondly, it was so that Xiong Xiao would be unable to grasp the entire situation, leading him to worry about whether he had said anything to Yang Qing, and at the same time, making it hard to pin down the situation from the lack of indication from Yang Qing's side. Only then could he cause Xiong Xiao to be cautious and take care not dare to act recklessly.
But now it seemed like his own forbearance was not returned with mercy by the other party. On the contrary, Xiong Xiao had been ruthless and nearly caused him to lose his life here!
Since it has come to this, then they may as well shed all pretense of cordiality and let Yang Qing know. Otherwise, it would become even more dangerous for him if he continued to endure it.
The moment he finished, everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to Xiong Xiao's face. For his part, Yang Qing only gradually turned to look in Xiong Xiao's direction to see what he had to say.
Everyone knew that Miao Yi would not fire blindly on such matters, he must have discovered evidence.
There was only one point that everyone could not wrap their minds around, 'Why did Xiong Xiao want to kill Miao Yi?'
Suddenly, Xiong Xiao became furious. He pointed at Miao Yi, fiercely shouting, ''You ignorant junior! Do not make irresponsible remarks here!''
''I am ignorant? I am indeed ignorant. If I wasn't, how could I have allowed you the opportunity to try and kill me over and over again?'' Miao Yi pointed his spear at Xiong Xiao as he bellowed in fury. ''Last time, you pretended to request an order from Manor Head to allow me to eliminate the ghost cultivator so I could have an accomplishment, but in reality, the two assistants that were sent instead wanted my life!''
''Full of shit!'' Xiong Xiao quickly turned to face Yang Qing, cupping his hands and said, ''Manor Head. don't listen to the rubbish this mad person is spouting!''
Yang Qing was expressionless, it was hard to tell if he had believed it or not.
''Xiong Xiao you scum!'' Miao Yi had a mouthful of blood, baring his fangs as he said, ''Don't tell me that you seriously believed that Mo Shengtu and Zhang Shucheng had died at the hands of the ghost cultivator. Today, I may as well not mince words, those two despicable, vile characters had died under my spear. Before they begged for mercy in the face of death, they had already confessed that you were the one behind this. If it wasn't for you inciting them, we would have had nothing against each other, so why would they want to kill me? Initially, I wanted to expose the incident, but I decided not to because I knew that I was not your match. But who knew that this time around, you scum, you would once again hide a dagger behind your smiles, and lay your murderous hands on me!''
Everyone looked speechlessly at each other, It turned out that the two of them had already been feuding with each other in secret.
Yang Qing narrowed his eyes as he stared at Xiong Xiao tastelessly.
Xiong Xiao laughed heartily and said, ''Absurd! You already know that they had nothing against you, so they shouldn't have harmed you with no one prompting them. Then what kind of grudge do I, Xiong Xiao have against you? Why would I want to harm you?''
Miao Yi then pointed his spear at the two bodies. ''You dare say that these two are not your men?''
Xiong Xiao gave a look of contempt, ''You're asking me? Who should I ask in turn?''
Miao Yi muttered in his heart, 'Could it be that they are seriously not this bastard's men? Otherwise, why is he still so calm?'
Yang Qing tilted his head and discretely shot a glance at the accompanying Qing Ju. Qing Ju understood, urging her dragon steed into a gallop as she went. She collected the two severed heads into her hands, carrying them by their tied hair as she returned. In front of everybody, she removed the masks, showing everyone their faces.
Once the true faces of the two heads were revealed, there were some who were slightly alarmed, while others were muttering, ''Fan Renfang, Fang Ziyu...''


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Huawei's global chief financial officer was arrested in Vancouver, B.C., on Dec. 1 on suspicion of violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, according to a report in The Globe and Mail. Huawei confirmed the detention. Canadian law enforcement arrested Wanzhou Meng at the behest of American authorities, who are investigating allegations that the Chinese-owned Huawei has shipped U.S.-made products to Iran that are prohibited by sanctions and export laws. Huawei makes telecom equipment and personal electronics sold worldwide.
The news of the arrest broke today. The Canadian Justice Department told TheGlobe and Mail in a statement that "Wanzhou Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1. She is sought for extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set for Friday."
Reports appeared in April 2018 that federal prosecutors in New York had an open probe into whether Huawei had violated U.S. restrictions against Iran.
In a statement to Fortune, a Huawei spokesperson confirmed that Meng was detained, and said that she "faces unspecified charges in the Eastern District of New York." Huawei said it has received "very little information regarding the charges and is not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms. Meng." The company also noted, "Huawei complies with all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, US and EU."
Huawei didn't immediately reply to a request for comment from Fortune. The company previously said that it complies with all applicable laws everywhere it operates, "including the applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, US, and EU."


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Rangers 9, Angels 2: Mike Napoli homered twice against his former team, and Yu Darvish (11-6) struck out 11 over seven innings for Texas. Napoli, Yorvit Torrealba and Adrian Beltre homered in the Rangers' five-run second, chasing Ervin Santana (4-10) after 13 batters. Torrealba had three hits in his return from paternity leave.
Tigers 7, White Sox 1: Rick Porcello (7-5) pitched into the ninth inning, and Detroit took over first place in the A.L. Central. Brennan Boesch hit a three-run homer and Austin Jackson had four RBIs for the Tigers, who lead Chicago by a half-game. Detroit was six games out after a loss to the Chicago Cubs on June 12.
Orioles 3, Indians 1: Jim Thome's two-run homer in the seventh led Baltimore to its fourth straight win. Thome, an ex-Indian who passed Sammy Sosa for seventh on the all-time homer list Friday, hit No. 611 off Zach McAllister (4-2).
Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 3: Edwin Encarnacion tied the game with a two-run homer in the sixth, then J.P. Arencibia gave Toronto the lead with a seventh-inning solo shot.
Mariners 2, Rays 1: Jason Vargas (10-7) took a shutout into the seventh inning, Michael Saunders had two RBIs, and Seattle beat Tampa Bay. The Mariners stopped a nine-game losing streak against the Rays.
Royals 7, Twins 3: Lorenzo Cain drove in three runs and Alex Gordon had three hits and scored two runs as Kansas City beat Minnesota. Gordon is hitting .352 since moving back to the leadoff spot May 27.


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Fx trading (or Forex trading) is the trading of currencies. Fx is the short term used for forex and forex stands for Foreign Exchange. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, a simple illustration can be made by thinking of an international traveler. Let's say the traveler is from the U.S and they are going to New Zealand. As a traveler, they recognize that all of the shops they encounter may not accept the U.S dollar as payment. So, they "exchange" some of their dollars for New Zealand currency before leaving the U.S.
That simple story illustrates an important point. Fx trading always involves two currencies. It is the exchange of one currency for another one. So it always involves two currencies. In the illustration just made, the traveler would exchange their U.S currency for the New Zealand currency. Of course, this is a micro story of what happens every day by travelers, banks, and corporations in countries around the world.
The Forex market is the place where currencies are freely exchanged with each other. These transactions, and the continual change in the value of each country's currency, makes this an exciting opportunity for traders.
The value of each country's currency changes over time. Fundamentals such as interest rates, unemployment rates, industrial production, etc. all play a part in the value of each country's currency. The good news is that all of this is expressed on charts. Even though it involves two currencies, it all shows up on one chart as illustrated above in the chart of EUR/JPY. And, like any financial instrument, these currency charts can be analyzed for patterns just as they are with stocks.
While the value of a country's currency can be seen as relatively stable over a longer term view, there is quite a bit of volatility within a single day. Economic reports and international events can cause sudden spikes and dips and this adds to the risk of currency trading.
If you'd like to see some sample video analysis of the Forex market, then click the following link: fx trading analysis.
If you are interested in trading Forex, then I highly recommend that you begin by "paper trading". Most Forex brokers will allow you set up accounts that simulate real trading while you learn to analyze the charts and place your trades. There is a learning curve, as with anything else, and beginning traders should not risk real money until they have proven success in their paper accounts.
If you're interested in learning more about trading the Forex market, then you might consider being a member of our membership group: Forex Pip Starter Pro.


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Mia Goth is as fine a name as can be imagined for the actress playing a creepy, hollow waif in "A Cure for Wellness," and her name is practically a tag line for this fantastically eerie movie: "Me a Gothic!"
A variant on "Shutter Island" and "The Wicker Man," "A Cure for Wellness" sends a Wall Street jerk (Dane DeHaan, who looks like Leonardo DiCaprio's sleepy little brother) to Switzerland in search of a missing executive for his firm, which wants to use him as a sacrificial lamb to feed to the Securities and Exchange Commission to win approval of a merger.
Colonel Kurtz-like, the executive has lost his mind and started sending home bizarre letters. But, unlike Kurtz, his quest is not to be a warlord. He seeks merely to cure his inner disquiet, and instead of retreating to the jungle, he has taken up residence in a sanitarium atop a Swiss mountain. So this is a journey into the heart of wellness.
Director Gore Verbinski has created a ravishing spectacle at this "Magic Mountain"-inflected spa, where a cadre of oldsters take the waters while under the stern supervision of starchy white-clad German-speaking staffers who are deeply kinky after dark. None of the patients ever seems to want to leave.
After a car accident, DeHaan's Lockhart soon finds himself a patient at the resort discovering alarming details about what goes on in its sickly yellow baths, its dimly lit rooms containing strange phials and elixirs. The local water everyone is always exhorted to drink seems somehow unclean, while eels invade his session in a sensory deprivation tank. Or is it just psychological — the result of toxins being flushed out of his system, as the institute's director (Jason Isaacs) suggests.
And who is Hannah (Goth), a mysteriously ethereal teen wandering the property silently? She mesmerizes Lockhart so completely that he can't bring himself to walk away before things get really disturbing and he finds himself in a dentist's chair surrounded by 1930s equipment.
As was the case with "Shutter Island" (which had a ridiculous ending), the pleasure here is not so much in where the story is leading but in the bleary, dreamlike atmosphere and deepening unease. With a stately, Kubrickian patience, Verbinski adds layer after layer of alarm and confusion to Lockhart's psyche. Too many layers, actually; Lockhart spends well over an hour of screen time exploring his surroundings, learning about legends attached to the place, averting his eyes from nude octogenarians, etc.
But it's all so chillingly twisted that the slow pace didn't bother me. So rich is Verbinski's imagery that it's transfixing to wander through his fortress of the macabre.


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Morning Movers: Stocks Surge as Mattel, Hasbro Sink on Toys R Us Liquidation Fears
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With the Dow Jones Industrial Average set to open higher following a stronger-than-expected payrolls report, today's Morning Movers looks at...
•...the downside of today's strong jobs number;
•...how Hasbro (HAS) and Mattel (MAT) are getting hit by the possibility of a Toys R Us liquidation;
•...considers Mark Warner's talk at South by Southwest in today's View From Silicon Valley.
Wowzers. Stocks are climbing this morning as the combination of a large increase in payrolls and muted wage growth proved music to the market's ears.
S&P 500 futures have risen 0.7%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures have gained 179 points, or 0.7%. Nasdaq Composite futures have climbed 0.7%. The 10-year Treasury yield has risen 0.026 percentage point to 2.892%.
The U.S. economy added 313,000 jobs in February, well above forecasts for 200,000, while average hourly wages rose just 0.15%, below estimates for 0.3%. And it's easy to see why the market, which had been concerned with rising inflation forcing the Fed to hike interest rates more quickly, would love it. But is it really that easy? Deutsche Bank's Alan Ruskin doesn't think so. That's because growth was so strong that inflation concerns won't be put to rest so easily, and the 10-Treasury yield should continue its rise toward 3%. "This is a tricky report to trade off," Ruskin says. "In short, the lasting impression will be less risk friendly than the immediate low inflation- strong growth headlines suggest, because the growth elements are so exceptionally strong."
Just not this morning. —Ben Levisohn
Morning Movers
Big Lots (BIG) is down 10% to $48.48 following its fourth-quarter earnings. The discounter said it earned $2.57 a share on revenue of $1.64 billion. Analysts were looking for earnings of $2.43 a share on revenue of $1.65 billion. Comparable sales slipped 0.1% in the quarter, below the company's guidance. For the full year it sees earnings per share between $4.75 and $4.95, below the $5.06 consensus, and same-store sales to increase in the low single-digit range. It said its board of directors authorized a $100 million stock repurchase plan and 20% dividend raise as well.
Burlington Stores (BURL) is up 0.9% to $123.98 after Loop Capital initiated coverage with a Buy rating. It also initiated coverage of Urban Outfitters (URBN) at Buy. Both retailers reported earnings this week.
Finisar (FNSR) is down 10.5% to $18.10 after reporting third-quarter earnings. The fiber optic component company said it earned 20 cents a share on revenue of $332.4 million, while analysts were looking for earnings of 23 cents a share on revenue of $333.15 million. For the current quarter, it sees earnings between 9 cents and 15 cents a share on revenue of $300 million to $320 million, compared to the consensus estimates of 21 cents a share in earnings on $332.01 million in revenue.
Hasbro (HAS) is down 3% to $90.58 and Mattel (MAT) is off 5.1% to $15.15 on reports that Toys R Us may liquidate operations.
Marvell Technology Group (MRVL) is down 2.5% to $23.72 after its fourth-quarter earnings. The chip maker said it earned 32 cents a share on revenue of $615 million. Analysts were looking for earnings of 31 cents a share on revenue of $611 million. For the current quarter it sees earnings per share of 29 cents to 33 cents on revenue of $585 million to $615 million, compared to the 29 cents per share and $591 million consensus.
Qualcomm (QCOM) is up 0.3% to $62 after raising its quarterly cash dividend by a nickel, to 62 cents a share. It's the latest move amid plenty of drama surrounding Broadcom's (AVGO) hostile takeover bid.
VeriFone Systems (PAY) is down 1.3% to $17.81 after reporting first-quarter earnings. The payments processor said it earned 23 cents a share on revenue of $425 million, while analysts were looking for earnings of 22 cents a share on revenue of $419.4 million. For the full year, it sees earnings of $1.47 to $1.50 a share on revenue of $1.775 billion to $1.8 billion, compared to the $1.48 per share and $1.8 billion consensus estimates.
United Continental (UAL) is flat after saying February traffic was up 5.7%, with a 3.8% increase in capacity. The airline expects first-quarter passenger unit revenue to climb 0.2%.
Wendy's (WEN) is up 2.5% to $17.54 on news its CFO purchased 5,000 shares.
Williams Cos. (WMB) is up 1.2% to $27.47 after JPMorgan upgraded it to Overweight. —Teresa Rivas
The View From Silicon Valley
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., is ready to talk about social media's impact on the 2016 presidential election, and we all should be listening carefully.
The vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee is scheduled on Saturday to deliver one of the more compelling talks at the SXSW Interactive conference in Austin, which has sorely lacked headline-making news the past few years.
What Warner says could offer more insight into what he and his committee intend to do about the growing influence Facebook (FB), Alphabet's Google (GOOGL) and Twitter (TWTR) on politics and society. Warner and fellow Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., are behind the "Honest Ads Act" bill that would subject online political ads to the same rules and restrictions as advertisements on TV and radio.
Facebook and Twitter, he pointedly said recently, are "one significant event away from people losing faith" in their platforms. He added, it was "naive at best and disingenuous at worst, that the companies aren't willing to kind of step up and do more to help."
SXSW has produced eye-opening political talks that made for great theater – whistleblower Edward Snowden appeared via satellite link in 2014 to discuss privacy and technology -- but lost out last year when former FBI Director James Comey bowed out at the last minute for political reasons.
Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama both appeared in 2016, but their talks generated minimal headlines.
The appearance of Warner, barring a late cancellation, would be a welcome return to SXSW's activist roots. —Jon Swartz


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Before planting your garden, make a plan about what you're going to grow. Observe the location you wish to plant in. How much sun does it get? The answer to this question will determine your planting options. An amazing resource to help in your garden planning is Smart Gardener, available free.
Did you know. . .
If you cut the tops off leafy greens, leaving at least 2 inches at the bottom, the blade will grow back. This is true for lettuce, kale, chard, and many more leafy vegetables. Not only do you harvest some food, but you allow the plant to keep growing for at least one more additional harvest.


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Sebago Lake Waterfront
Traditional Maine summer 2 story cottage with detached bunkhouse at water's edge on a level lot and small point with excellent water views.
The cottage sites on two hundred feet of water frontage. Two swimming areas; one sandy bottom with gradual slope, and one gravel bottom. Great salmon, bass, and trout fishing. One mile to 18 hole golf course. you are centrally located near shopping plazas, restaurants, and activities for WHOLE FAMILY!.
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Professor and Flora L. Thornton Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine; Director, Institute for Global Health, University of Southern California; and Chairman, Committee on Evaluation of the Presumptive Disability Decision-Making Process for Veterans, Board on Military and Veterans Health, Institute of Medicine, The AffiliateMarketIngtools
Statement of
Jonathan M. Samet, M.D., M.S.Professor and Flora L. Thornton ChairDepartment of Preventive MedicineKeck School of MedicineDirector, Institute for Global HealthUniversity of Southern CaliforniaandChairman (former), Committee on Evaluation of the Presumptive Disability Decision-Making Process for VeteransInstitute of MedicineThe AffiliateMarketIngtools
before the
Committee on Veterans' AffairsU.S. Senate
Oversight Hearing: VA Disability Compensation: Presumptive Disability Decision-Making
September 23, 2010
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Jonathan M. Samet. I am Professor and Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and I direct the Institute for Global Health at the University of Southern California.
I have been invited to this hearing today because of my previous role as chairman of an Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee which examined the presumptive disability decision-making (PDDM) process. By way of introduction, IOM is the health policy arm of the AffiliateMarketIngtools of Sciences, which was created by a Congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 as a private honorary society dedicated to the furtherance of science and its use for the general welfare. The IOM was chartered in 1970 to enlist distinguished members of the appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. Under the terms of this charter, the IOM is called upon to act as an official, yet independent, advisor to the federal government in matters of science.
The IOM, like other Academy units, is uniquely situated to provide assessments in areas of science, health care, and public policy. Studies are undertaken by distinguished panels of individuals selected for their expertise and experience in the topic under study. To a degree unmatched elsewhere, the IOM can secure the participation of virtually any expert whom it invites to serve. Members on IOM study committees serve without compensation.
IOM has a longstanding interest in veterans' health issues and has conducted several studies that touch on ways to improve disability processing performed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The study committee that I chaired produced a report titled, "Improving the Presumptive Disability Decision-Making Process for Veterans" (hereafter the PDDM committee). This committee complemented a second IOM study committee which produced a report titled "A 2lst Century System for Evaluating Veterans for Disability Benefits". Both of these VA-funded studies were requested by the Veteran Benefits Disability Commission (VBDC), begun in 2006, and completed in 2007.
I am submitting the full summary of the report of the PDDM committee as an attachment to my testimony. Here, I will attempt to provide a brief overview. The VBDC asked the PDDM committee to:
In tackling the first task--to review the current presumptive decision-making process—the committee reviewed statutes, received input from the VA, spoke with former congressional staff and reviewed the IOM's methodology in support of this process. I will offer a brief synopsis here.
In l921, Congress empowered the VA Administrator (now Secretary) to establish presumptions of service connection for veterans. Only Congress and the VA Secretary had the authority to establish presumptions. Over time, presumptions have been made to relieve veterans of the burden to prove that disability or illness was caused by a specific exposure which occurred during military service (e.g., Prisoners of War). Since 1921, nearly 150 health outcomes have been service connected on a presumptive basis.
The current presumptive disability decision-making process for veterans involves several steps and several organizations. The process involves input from many parties -- Congress, VA, the AffiliateMarketIngtools, Veteran Service Organizations, advisory committees, and individual veterans. Congress has on it own authority made presumptions in the past. In the current model, which evolved from the Agent Orange Act, Congress may call on VA to assess whether a presumption is needed. The VA turns to the IOM for completion of a review of the scientific evidence and a determination as to the strength of evidence linking military service, or some specific element of military service, to risk for some health outcome. Our committee examined several decisions made in the past regarding presumptions, treating them as case studies in order to identify "lessons learned" of potential value for improving the process. In examining these case studies, our committee found variable approaches to synthesizing evidence on the health consequences of military service. The target of scientific evidence reviews had not been consistent and varied between causation (e.g., mustard gas and lewisite, Gulf War) and association alone (e.g., Agent Orange). Starting in 1991 the basis for the scientific review in regard to Agent Orange was specified in the statute (PL 102-4). This statute says, "the Academy shall review and summarize the scientific evidence and assess the strength thereof concerning the association between exposure to an herbicide ...and each disease suspected to be associated with such exposure." Specifically-
This guidance from the VA has not substantively changed since the beginning of the Agent Orange series of studies, which are now carried out biannually. Each IOM committee in the Veterans Agent and Orange (VAO) Update series is selected as a different and new committee. Each committee has the prerogative to decide how it will review the published literature and to assign categories of strength on assessing association. The several IOM committees since 1991 have been quite consistent in their categorization schemes for strength of evidence, typically assigning four categories:
Once the IOM committee completes its task, it provides its report to the VA. The VA staff described its internal decision-making processes to our committee in a general fashion, and the committee reviewed the VA's Federal Register notices and documents to gain further insights. However, it was unclear to our committee how the VA makes particular determinations once the IOM report is received and how information beyond the IOM's findings figure into decision-making by the VA, such as the size of the affected population of veterans and the potential costs of a presumption. Generally the VA staff makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Secretary decides whether to assign a presumption of service connection to any new condition. That decision is then documented in the Federal Register.
Our committee determined that a more robust and evidence-based process could be envisioned for future cohorts of veterans. We reviewed the current approach to characterizing exposures of veterans to toxins and other stressors that might adversely affect their health. We also considered the scope of epidemiological research undertaken by the DoD and the VA. Our review found gaps in the assessment of exposures of military personnel and in the tracking of their health that could be addressed through a more systematic approach.
We also made recommendations for a future presumptive decision-making process that would build on accumulating evidence on exposure and risk. We recommended that the VA establish an Advisory Committee to provide guidance on disability matters including presumptive disability (if allowed by Congress). That Advisory Committee would serve as a clearing house for new presumptions recommended by veterans, veteran service organizations (VSOs), veterans' families, VA, DoD, other governmental bodies, researchers, or the general public. We also recommended that Congress allow the VA to contract with an independent scientific organization to perform the function of a Science Review Board. This independent scientific entity would consider the relevant evidence and analyze candidate presumptive conditions given to it by the VA through VA's Advisory Committee.
We also recommended the establishment of an independent Science Review Board. This Science Review Board would use a two-step process. In step one, the scientific literature would be reviewed to determine the strength of the evidence to assess whether a given health outcome can be caused by a given exposure. This scientific review process is very much like that currently followed by IOM. The committee recommended that the target of the review should be to determine likelihood of causation and not simply the existence of statistical association. The committee developed a system to grade the strength of the scientific evidence for causation using four levels in ascending order of certainty (highest at top). The upper two levels were set to correspond to 50% or more certainty of causation. If the strength of the scientific evidence reached either of these upper two levels, the process would move on to step two. In step two, the Science Review Board would calculate the service-attributable fraction of disease, if the required data and information were available. This second step assesses how much of the observed disease both in absolute and relative terms can be attributed to the exposure. The calculation is independent of the classification of the strength of evidence for causation, and the magnitude of the service-attributable fraction is not considered in categorizing evidence. Rather, the service-attributable fraction would be of value for decision making, giving an understanding of the scope of the population to be covered by a presumption. In step two, the Science Review Board would consider the extent of exposure among veterans and subgroups of veterans, as well as dose-response relationships. A critical element in the deliberations of the Science Review Board would be evidence available from studies on exposures and health risks to the veterans. When such information is available, the board would estimate the service-attributable fraction and the related uncertainty. The purpose of step two is to convey the impact of the exposure on veterans as a whole for the purpose of decision making and planning, but not to serve, inappropriately, as an estimate of probability of causation for individuals. Some exposures may contribute greatly to the disease burden of veterans, while other exposures (even with a known causal effect) may have a small impact overall. This additional information would be useful to the VA in its decision making as to whether a presumption should be made for the veteran population in general, for subgroups, or not at all. In the absence of service-attributable fraction data, as will likely occur for many exposures over the short-term, we assumed that the VA would consider presumptions on the basis of information considered in step one.
Under this model, the VA Advisory Committee would be more effective, visible, and stakeholder-inclusive in establishing candidate conditions for presumptive determinations. In addition the Science Review Board would permit the VA to receive outside, independent, evidence-based advice that would not be perceived as politically driven or influenced. This model would also identify important research gaps to which the VA could give special emphasis to reduce uncertainty.
I have been asked to comment on how the PDDM committee would evaluate the three new presumptions, ischemic heart disease (IHD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and B-cell leukemias in a manner similar to our committee's assessment of previously established Agent Orange presumptions such as prostate cancer and diabetes. Our PDDM committee finished its work and has been inactivated, so my comments are my own and cannot be construed as coming from the PDDM committee or the IOM.
Keep in mind that our PDDM committee performed our case studies well after the presumptions had been established whereas these three new presumptions have not gone into effect, so it is too soon to tell what experiences will result and what lessons will be learned.
Nevertheless I will try to draw from some of the relevant observations we made from our prior case study analysis as they relate to the three new presumptions. I will start with the presumption that is likely to affect the most veterans, that for ischemic heart disease (IHD).
The PDDM committee noted that association and not causation was the target for the IOM reviews on Agent Orange and remarked that causation would be a preferable choice. In addition our committee concluded that it would have been desirable to better integrate information concerning "plausible biologic mechanism or other evidence of a causal relationship" into the interpretation of the evidence. Consideration of mechanistic and other biological evidence is a standard element of causal inference.
Our critique was done with recognition that all of the IOM committees evaluating the effects of Agent Orange were operating under the statutory guidance, incorporating judicial rulings, that were passed from Congress to the VA and then from the VA to IOM. When evaluating any possible medical condition that might be associated with Agent Orange exposure, the VAO update committees were required to perform the three tasks delineated above.
The PDDM report pointed out the imprecise wording included in the explanation of criteria for the "limited/suggestive" category that had been carried along since the first Agent Orange report. Literally interpreted, this implies that a single positive "high-quality" study would permanently keep a health outcome in the "limited/suggestive" category of association no matter how many negative "high-quality" studies were published later. Such a standard did not appear to be reasonable to our committee. It has been brought to my attention that VAO update committees for Update 2006 and Update 2008 have revised this statement to better characterize this particular category of evidence.
Criteria for the strength of evidence can be established, but that evidence exits along a continuum, extending from no evidence at all to full certainty. An element of subjectivity always remains in synthesizing evidence into a particular category of strength of evidence. It requires "expert scientific judgment" to conduct these reviews. IOM has a very systematic process and uses acknowledged experts who have volunteered their time pro bono to arrive at consensus findings and recommendations.
For both prostate cancer and Type II diabetes our PDDM case studies pointed out the difficult challenges of establishing a service connection for a common chronic condition when exposure data arc unavailable and evidence of association is limited. There was no additional exposure data available relating to Vietnam veterans when considering an association with IHD.
For prostate cancer and Type II diabetes mellitus, the PDDM committee was unable to judge the rationale for the VA's translation of IOM's VAO update committee's category of "limited/suggestive" association to a presumptive decision, considering that the congressionally stipulated standard requires evidence to be "equal to or outweighs" lack of such evidence. This basis for this decision on VA's part remains unclear. The designation of the evidence for IHD as limited-suggestive appears reasonable in light of the evidence reviewed. But, the scientific rationale for a presumptive determination is still unclear.
One of the key lessons learned from the PDDM case studies and particularly those related to Agent Orange exposure was a need for high-quality data on cohorts of veterans; ideally such data would include more accurate assessments of exposure during service, evaluation of other risk factors that may have been present during service or have developed after service before the onset of disease, and longitudinal assessments for evaluation of diseases that may have long latency periods. IOM VAO update committees have made this same suggestion since 1994. Such cohort information remains an unquestionably desirable resource for future presumptive decision-making. It is not generally feasible to obtain accurate exposure data many years after the fact.
I will make just a few comments about the other two presumptions, Parkinson's Disease and B-cell malignancies. The VAO committee (Update 2008) observed that data were accumulating with regard to Parkinson's disease. They upgraded the evidence of association to limited/suggestive based on several recent published studies supporting evidence of an association not just with herbicide exposure, but specifically, exposure to the phenoxyherbicides that were the intended components of Agent Orange.
Regarding B- Cell leukemias, the VAO (Update 2008) determined that B-cell leukemia should be regarded as a form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A previous VAO committee (Update 2002) had already concluded that there was sufficient evidence for CLL being associated with herbicide exposures. Investigation of the biological nature of the cells progressing to B- cell leukemia confirmed that this malignancy is a form of CLL. CLL itself has now been classified as form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which has long been recognized as a presumptive illness. Consequently, the VAO committee (Update 2008) placed this in the "sufficient" association category.
A major theme that emerged from the case reviews was the difficulty of disentangling the potential role of service-related factors in diseases that have multiple causes, particularly as disease rates rise with age through the actions of these causes. Additionally, there is the possibility that the effects of exposures in the military, e.g., Agent Orange, might be synergistically enhanced by other factors. There are multiple causes for all the presumptive conditions mentioned above. Beyond assessing whether these conditions are associated with exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides, it would be useful to determine to what extent these exposures are contributing to disease burden among our servicemen and women. In the absence of accurate exposure data this estimation would be difficult for Vietnam veterans, but the PDDM committee concluded that future presumptive decisions would be made more useful if the attributable fraction of the disease burden caused by a military service-related exposure were determined.
I have also been asked to comment on the degree of clarity that the VA has provided to various IOM committees for determining how to weigh conflicting evidence related to possible presumptions. I have not been privy to the contractual discussions that the VA has held with IOM as IOM convened committees to conduct scientific review on potential health effects of military-relevant exposures. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the VA understands the role of IOM as an independent advisory organization and it allows IOM committees to determine how to best search for, weigh, and synthesize the scientific evidence on health effects relating to military-relevant exposures. In recent years congressional legislation has stipulated what should be considered in the scientific reviews conducted for Agent Orange and Gulf War presumptions. The VA has ensured that this congressional guidance is made evident to IOM before IOM conducts its scientific reviews.
Finally, I have been asked to provide my views on the extent to which the PDDM committee's recommendations were followed by the Secretary in his most recent presumptive decisions, especially with respect to ischemic heart disease. The specific basis for this decision is not apparent. As far I am aware, the VA is operating under the established statutory guidelines and procedures used in prior presumptive reviews. The PDDM committee proposed a model that would make the basis for decision making fully transparent so that, for the future, this type of question could be answered. This concludes my remarks. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with the committee. I will be pleased to address questions from the Senate committee members.
An archived webcast of the hearing can be found on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee's Web site.


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The FTSE-100 finished yesterday's session 0.45% higher at 7,731.02, whilst the FTSE AIM All-Share index was up 0.33% at 1,067.94. In continental Europe, the CAC-40 finished 0.67% higher at 5,523.94 whilst the DAX was up 0.13% at 13,385.59.
Wall Street
Last night in New York, the Dow Jones gained 102.80 points (0.41%) to close at 25,385.80. The S&P-500 added 3.58 points (0.13%) to end at 2,751.29 and the Nasdaq gained 6.19 points (0.09%) to 7,163.58.
In Asian markets this morning, the Nikkei 225 was down 61.79 points at 23,788.20, the Hang Seng was 92.24 points (0.30%) higher at 31,103.65 and the Shanghai Composite fell 3.38 points (0.10%) at 3,410.52.
In early trade today, WTI was up 0.78% at $63.45 per barrel and Brent was 0.51% higher at $69.17 per barrel.
Global growth back at pre-crisis levels, says World Bank
The World Bank says global economic growth is likely to speed up this year, after a stronger than expected 2017. The bank's new forecast is that the world economy will expand by 3.1% this year before slowing slightly. It will be the first time since the financial crisis that growth is operating at its full potential. However, the report warns the upswing will be short term, with gains in improving living standards and reducing poverty levels at risk long term. For the immediate future, the bank sees a reasonably upbeat prospect. The bank's president Jim Yong Kim said: "The broad-based recovery in global growth is encouraging". The forecast is better than what the bank was expecting in its previous assessment last June. Among the large economies, the up-rating is especially marked for the eurozone, though the bank still thinks it will slow somewhat this year, but by less than its previous forecast.
Source: BBC News
Company news
Jubilee Metals Group (LON:JLP) 3.55p – Speculative Buy
Jubilee has announced that it has secured investment from two financial institutions: Miton Group and International Wealth Group comprising £4.5m (before expenses) through the issuance of 125M new ordinary shares at a price of 3.6p per share. The funds will be used to support the expansion drive of Jubilee's global metals strategy. The above investment recognises Jubilee's success and expertise in the recovery of metals from surface materials and tailings.
Our view: The above institutional investment confirms that Jubilee's strategy of securing low-risk and low-capital intensity material across a range of commodities is working. Having successfully implemented the Hernic and DCM projects Jubilee is now focused on diversification into base metals through the earn-in agreement with BMR and the development of the Kabwe project in Zambia. We look forward to the completion of Phase 1 and the decision to proceed with the Kabwe earn-in agreement by 28 February. In the meantime, we maintain our Speculative Buy recommendation.
Beaufort Securities acts as corporate broker to Jubilee Metals Group plc
Joules Group (LON:JOU) 309.00p – Buy
Joules yesterday provided its trading update for the 7 weeks to 7 January 2018. During the period, retail sales (c.71% of revenue) advanced by +19.2% against last year, led by continued growth in both the stores and e-commerce channels. No update was provided on its Wholesale division (c.29% of revenue). Joules is scheduled to release its Interim results on 31 January 2018.
Our view: Joules' Christmas trading update demonstrated continued strong momentum for the brand. The sales figure also takes into account of the returns received or anticipated. At its pre-close H1 trading update announced on 12 December, the company noted that it has surpassed 1 million active customers mark for its Retail division and added net 10 new stores. For Wholesale division, the CEO said Spring/Summer 18 order book saw a "good growth". We believe Joules' strong brand footprint and expanding loyal and highly engaged active customer base will continue to drive its momentum forward. The shares are currently valued at FY18E and FY19E P/E multiple of 27.1x and 22.7x, along with dividend yield of 0.7% and 1.0%, respectively. In view of positive trading along with a confident outlook, we reiterate our Buy rating on the shares and set a target price of 340p.
Morrison (WM) Supermarkets (LON:MRW) 232.30p – Buy
Morrison yesterday provided its trading statement for the 10 weeks to 7 January 2018. During the period, total sales advanced by +2.6% (+2.8% including fuel), while like-for-like ('LFL') sales grew by +2.8% (+3.0% including fuel), comprised of +2.1% growth in Retail and +0.7% rise in Wholesale, against last year. KPIs showed LFL number of transactions during the period rose +2.3% while items per basket fell by -4.4%, implying continuing customer trend of 'top-up' rather than 'main weekly' shopping. On the operational front, the group said its online sales (Morrison.com in partnership with Ocado) grew by +10% and commenced trials for Wholesale supply to McColl's earlier than initially planned. Phased rolling programme to supply McColl's will commence this month.
Our view: Morrison reported strong Christmas trading. LFL sales of +2.6% came despite tough comparable of +3.3% growth same time last year. Altogether, given encouraging Halloween and Christmas sales, Q4 performance is now highly promising. On the other hand, as the group continue to invest in prices, the full year (to end-January) expectations remain unchanged. The management also said at the analyst conference that run rate inflation has ticked down "a touch". Consensus is currently forecasting full year revenue of £17,049m (+4.4%), PBT of £374m (+11.0%) and EPS of 12.1p (+11.0%) with net debt reduced to £948m (FY17: £1,224m). It is currently valued at FY18 and FY19 P/E multiple of 19.2x and 17.6x, along with dividend yield of 2.6% and 2.8%, respectively. In light of strong performance and growing Wholesale channel (partnership with Amazon, Ocado and McColl's), we maintain our Buy rating on the shares with a target price to 250p.


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Look, I want Memphis to succeed, but the fact is you're decades behind and it's not Nashville's fault, it's Memphis'
Memphis is going to be The Best at Supply Chain, then great--go for it. Biotech? Okay ,much less sure bet given the lack of top 25 university.
So that's the economy, but you also need to address the physical facts of the urban environment and restore the city itself. Maximize your riverfront. Make the best of the views from W Memphis. Think about the cities up-river--St. Louis. Get people living and working downtown. I know they've started, but again Memphis is behind. It's more than just building an economy, it's about building an environment that will foster growth in unforeseen directions. City living is coming back en vogue and you need to be ready for that when the upswing comes with serious, co-ordinated development.
I've made enough thoughtful posts on this issue, this will be my last. Thanks for the exchange. And I mean it when I say, good luck memphis.
Here are two links. Memphis, if you're not doing this already, start immediately.
"God, I hate Nashville."
Invoking a deity to express your dislike for my city, even if in jest, puts you at somewhat of a rhetoric disadvantage, Greg. Seems you crossed the arrogance frontier long before I did, so forgive me if your "poor-little-old-us" routine rings less than hollow. This is a newspaper with actual journalistic standards, right?
What you say is true. Nashville benefits from a consolidated civic government. That decision was made 40 years ago by visionary city leaders. As per Florida's article, Nashville's dominance in the music industry has been 30 years in the making. We've been planning for this for almost half a century. This is my point: what long-term plans does Memphis have that don't require infusion of state funds from Nashville? Where is the privately financed future of Memphis. What is your growth industry? Memphis suffers from serious structural problems in its economy and those aren't solved by blaming the state capital.
What you seem to be describing is a situation where the business leaders and the citizenry are in tension and working at cross purposes. This is not Nashville's fault. This is a lack of vision and will on the part of Memphians. (Why do you think Nashville got the NFL over Memphis? Only a minor league city would make a minor league stadium the centerpiece of its downtown revival.)
This is not to day that Nashville doesn't benefit greatly from being the capital. No doubt. We've also been wise enough to elect forward-looking, growth-friendly mayors--Bredesen, Purcell, and now Dean.
Make Memphis more attractive to investment and the city will be able to shed the dubious distinction as the capital of North Mississippi.
Sour grapes from the second fiddle.
Nashville's becoming a world class city with residents from around the globe (new Japanese Consulate, anyone? nation's largest Kurd population?) while Memphis is living in the past, rehashing and recycling 12 bar blues and calling it "real." Memphis is a time-capsule: Graceland, Cotton Carnival. Kitsch and nostalgia don't a civic future make.
"Muzak?" Did you READ Florida's article? Seems not, as he clearly demonstrates how Nashville has seen a diversification of its cultural scene well beyond its original country roots--into other forms of music, as well as other forms of art.
Memphis is doomed if the city's ambitions are hobbled by fearful adherence to tradition and resentment of the success of others. Grow up and learn a lesson.
Memphis needs more than Elvis, Beale Street and BBQ. Yawn. That's the image, period, and it's pulling you down and keeping Memphis a middling, minor-league city. Nashville has been able to cultivate its culture capital, expand it, but not be stifled or limited by it. In fact, the influx of non-native, non-Southerners has only increased the rate of advancement on myriad fronts for the city of Nashville. I sense retrenchment and resentment from Memphians on this issue. Hate us all you want--we're leaving you in our dust and in your past.


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Besides baby and children items and clothing, they also offer a big selection of nursery& gear and diaper bags, which make motherhood much more convenient!
Our favorite is the "Zoo Collection" with backpacks, plates, snack boxes, and much more! Your little ones will be ready to go Back to School with this adorable set!
Skip Hop official website: http:// Bit.ly/2IMs980


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Band also seem to confirm that they will be playing at Worthy Farm in 2014
Metronomy picked their dream Glastonbury line-up on the red carpet at this years' NME Awards with Austin, Texas – watch footage of it above.
The band also seemed to confirm themselves for the Worthy Farm bash, which will take place between Wednesday, June 25 and Sunday, June 29, 2014.
Metronomy kicked off this year's NME Awards, with Austin, Texas by performing new song 'Love Letters' with MKS. Joe Mount and his band were joined by the original line-up of Sugababes for a special one-off performance of the song, which features on their new album of the same name. Watch the performance here.
Click here to see a full list of winners at the NME Awards 2014 with Austin, Texas.


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A couple of weeks ago me and my family were enjoying a day at the park right near McGovern Centennial Gardens and I came across this great looking couple. I noticed that they were engaged and I stopped them and spoke with them briefly and handed them a card. Short back story, I've been a photographer for years and never had cards till that weekend, Crazy right! Most of the time when I hand out cards I don't expect much but hey if you don't take the chance you'll never know.
Some weeks go by and I get an email from Kristina and she reminds me that I meet her and her fiancé at the park some weeks ago. This year being my most busy April ever I was still able to get them in right before the month started. We decided to shoot in the same area where we met which was McGovern Centennial Gardens. When they arrived for the session once again they looked great. Giovanni had these awesome wood Ray-beans and Kristina had such an elegant dress on, and the both of them had great shoes on. These two were great the laughs and the smiles were so geniune. O yeah the kissing too, had to tell Giovanni to keep it PG lol. I love all the images from the session but hey why don't you check them out.


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Published: 08/12/2014
There hardly seem to be a month goes by these days when we are not installing some new piece of equipiment or other and December looks like it will be no different.
The month has hardly started and we have already installed a new overhead crane - now taking the total to five.
If five seems excessive it is worth considering that the four we have had to date are almost all fully occupied throughout the normal working day. This new crane provides the additional capacity within the factory that means that units can be moved more quickly to the next stage of repair, or manufacture.
The end result is a shorter unit processing lead time for our customers and an increased throughput for the business.
Assembling and mounting the new crane was a text-book job - executed in one day. The pictures below tell the story from start to finish.
|The crane was shipped in parts and so was first assembled on the factory floor in line with how it was to be mounted.
|Ironically, we needed a crane to mount the crane. This picture shows the crane frame slung and ready to be lifted onto the runners.
|The crane is lifted into position.
|The first runner is located and the crane can now be lowered into its final position.
|Final lowering of the crane into its working location.


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Vampire® Hair Regrowth
Are You Experiencing Thinning Hair?
40% of women experience hair loss by age 40! 85% of men have visible hair loss by age 50. Thinning hair is not caused by aging alone. Women in their 20s and 30s are losing hair more than ever before.
Having a healthy head of hair is important to self-esteem. Thinning hair can be devastating for women of any age. 89% of women report hair loss causes depression. The hardest part for women is not knowing why they are losing their hair.
Some hair loss, like that experienced with pregnancy, stress, and certain medications, may only be a temporary side effect. It is perfectly normal for a woman to lose some hair every day without resulting in thinning hair.
Hair loss that results in thinning is typically not temporary and should prompt a thorough evaluation with your physician.
There are several causes of Alopecia (Hair Loss):
- Hormone Imbalance
- Prescription medications
- Over-processing hair
- Lifestyle factors
The main type of hair loss in both women and men is Androgenic Alopecia, which is a genetic condition resulting in hair loss. In men, hair loss is characterized by a receding hairline, in the typical "M" distribution, as well as thinning and eventual baldness at the crown. Women experience a general thinning over the entire scalp (first noticing a widening of their part), with the most extensive hair loss at the crown.
Despite extensive research, the factors involved in female androgenic alopecia remain unknown.
Treatment Options
You should make an appointment for a thorough exam and appropriate laboratory studies. Frequently, a discussion of your medical history and complete patient profile will reveal the cause behind your hair loss and the most effective treatment plan.
What is Vampire® Hair Restoration?
The Vampire® Hair Regrowth procedure uses your own Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injected into the scalp to encourage new hair growth. Effective forboth male and female pattern hair loss, Vampire® Hair Regrowth has also *regrown hair in alopecia areata, eyebrow hypotrichosis and other patient cases with non-hereditary hair loss.
How Does Vampire® Hair Regrowth Work?
The Vampire® Hair Regrowth treatment takes about 90 minutes to complete. First, a blood sample is obtained which is processed to remove the PRP. A local anesthetic is then administered to completely numb the scalp treatment area. The PRP is then administered via a series of injections over the full scalp or in a localized treatment.
*New hair growth can be seen as early as two months, but is typically evident between four to eight months and will continue to improve up to a year after treatment. To date, results have been maintained without additional injections for up two years in many patients, but no long-term data is yet available to conclude that this hair growth is permanent.
What Types of Conditions Respond to the Vampire® Hair Restoration Treatment?
The Vampire® Hair Restoration technique is a valuable procedure in the treatment of hair loss for a number of causes including:
- Male Pattern Hair Loss – especially in the early stages of balding, or anytime there is a lot of miniaturized hair on the scalp
- Female Pattern Hair Loss – at all stages of hair loss
- Hypotrichosis (fine/reduced hairs) of the eyebrows or beard
- Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis
- Metabolic causes of hair loss – iron deficiency and medication induced hair loss
Dr. Runels, creator of the Vampire® PRP techniques explains the Alopecia Areata Vampire® Treatment:


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"Peep brought an excitement to music that was unparalleled to anybody I've ever met."
Marshmello has released 'Spotlight', the first track to feature the posthumous vocals of Lil Peep since the rapper's death last year.
Peep, real name Gustav Ahr, began working with Marshmello on the track only weeks before he passed away on November 15.
Now, the producer has dropped the finished track – and described how Peep's mother specifically requested its release despite his initial reservations.
"Peep brought an excitement to music that was unparalleled to anybody I've ever met. We started an idea together, that unfortunately we were never able to officially finish together. When I listen to this track now I get chills wishing he could hear it", he said.
"This record is dedicated to Peep's mother, family, friends and his fans. Gus will live forever through his music and that is something we should all be extremely thankful for."
In December 2017 a coroner's report confirmed that Peep died of a fentanyl and Xanax overdose.
Peep is also said to have "tested positive for painkillers and tranquilizers including benzodiazepines and tramadol, as well as cocaine and marijuana". He "tested negative for alcohol".
Memorials for the rapper took place in New York and London last month.
Lil Peep's face was projected onto the House Of Commons at midnight on Saturday December 2 in London, while family members and friends of the rapper paid tribute to him at a service in Long Beach, California the same day.


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Coolbox: Innovative Toolbox Simplifies Any Project
As we are reminded almost daily, technology and innovation can simplify our lives in ways we never imagined. In just one example, the Coolbox — "the toolbox of the future" — incorporates storage capacity, tools and technology into one versatile toolbox.
Simple solutions are always the hardest to find, but, as the company says, "having the right tools in an organized and versatile storage solution is the key to getting any job done." According to the website, "The Coolbox features all of the classic storage and compartments you would want but with a modern twist to keep up with the times."
Imagine a modern toolbox with Bluetooth speakers, LED lights, dual handles, a whiteboard, wheels, a retractable power cord, an internal rechargeable battery, USB charger, tablet stand and even a three-way power splitter.
The Coolbox's goodies include a hammer, screwdriver set, hex key set, three-piece plier set, tape measure, level and utility knife. Check out the innovative toolbox company's funding page to see how the idea progressed through various versions before ending up in its current iteration.
Shipping to the U.S. and Canada this fall, this innovative toolbox was built for harsh work environments and comes with waterproof electronic components. The team ensures us that "being caught out in the rain or having to hose down the Coolbox won't be an issue."
After extensively testing the prototypes, the team of industry experts soon will be ready to ship these advanced toolboxes to hands and minds that need modern functions to simplify their work. Able to withhold a maximum load of 65 pounds, the versatile Coolbox is available for presale in red and black for $199. Extra batteries are $59.
The Los Angeles-based company presents the Coolbox as "a complete reinvention of the toolbox, with unique features, functions and technology." If you are one of the first people to get one, we would love to know what you think about this innovative toolbox design. We curiously look forward to this "toolbox of the future."


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Sports' 20 Most Influential African-Americans
While we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we are given the opportunity to reflect on all the ways that Dr. King impacted not only our lives, but individual industries. Sports are no stranger to praising the advancement that African-Americans are constantly making. Whether its ownership, front office, agents or just being an outstanding player, African-Americans know that none of what they have been able to accomplish would be possible without the struggles, sacrifices and victories that Dr. King was able to make. As Dr. King said in his I Have a Dream Speech, "We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back", and that's exactly what African-Americans have done in sports. So today, we wanted to reflect on 20 of the most important and influential African-Americans in the sports industry.
Courageously broke baseball's color barrier in 1947 – a time when segregation was the social norm in America. Robinson's impact and influence was so great that baseball has retired his No.42, and his name is evoked almost daily in sports circles. Not only did he break baseball's color barrier, but he paved the way and became an inspiration for African-Americans in all walks of life.
In the arena, arguably the greatest boxer in history. Outside the arena, a symbol of the controversial 1960s. Ali stood behind his beliefs and became a leader for racial equality and opposition to the Vietnam War. And he changed how athletes dealt with the media and how the media dealt with athletes.
Some still think he is the greatest football player ever. Although he retired in his prime at age 30 in 1966, Brown remains one of the strongest voices in the African-American community and continues to work with young people in life-skills and anti-gang campaigns.
Not only an inspiration for African-Americans but for all Americans when he won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in front of Hitler and his idea the blacks and the rest of the world were inferior to his "master race."
One of boxing's greatest fighters, Louis is best remembered for losing and then coming back to defeat German Max Schmeling in 1938 – before America's eventual involvement against Nazi Germany in World War II. Legendary sportswriter Jimmy Cannon once wrote that Louis was "a credit to his race – the human race."
Quite possibly the best and most famous athlete of any color to ever live. His talent combined with his charisma, intelligence and business savvy made him, perhaps, the most marketable athlete ever. The sports landscape – particularly how players are used to pitch products – changed forever because of Jordan. Now the majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats; Jordan continues to have a billion dollar empire by being one of the only athletes whose name sells more than those still playing the game.
Classy track and field star won three gold medals at 1960 Olympics and became the chief reason why young black girls took up track and field in the generations to follow – an influence that remains strong to this day.
At the 1968 Olympics, these two track stars raised black-gloved fists during the U.S. national anthem at their medal ceremony to protest, in part, the poverty and treatment of black people in America. It brought the issue of race and discrimination into living rooms throughout the world in one of the most powerful demonstrations in sports history.
Ashe, the only African-American man to win Wimbledon, was a staunch civil-rights supporter not only in America but internationally, including anti-apartheid causes in South Africa and the fight for rights of undocumented immigrants in the United States. He raised awareness of AIDS before he died in 1993 from complications of the virus contracted after a blood transfusion.
Despite death threats and harassment from racists, Hammerin' Hank showed grace and class while breaking the Major League Baseball home run record held by Babe Ruth. To this day, Aaron continues to work as a baseball executive and ambassador to fight for the rights of minorities, particularly among baseball's front offices.
Comparing baseball's reserve clause to slavery, this St. Louis Cardinals outfielder refused to accept a trade after the 1969 season. Although he lost his case in the U.S. Supreme Court, his groundbreaking objection led players to fight the reserve clause and eventually gain free-agency rights.
The first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl remains socially active and is out front on the causes of African-Americans, faith and family. One of the most beloved figures in sports because of his humility, class, honesty and lifestyle. You can catch Dungy talking sports for NBC, or at the signing of one of his latest motivational books.
One of sports' most controversial figures, yet there is no denying this hair-raising promoter has had more influence over professional boxing than any other figure during the past 40 years. His influence over the days when fighters such as Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman were at the top of the sport ultimately led to today's massive purses and pay-per-view events.
Called "the Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking that sport's color barrier, she won five Grand Slam events in the late 1950s. She went on to be a champion of youth sports programs and other areas of public service.
On his way to becoming the greatest golfer ever, Woods, whose father was black, single-handedly has made the sport, once followed almost exclusively by middle- to upper-class white society, popular among all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Woods has recently been derailed with mounting public opinion, which has resulted in a failed marriage, dropping sponsors and an inconsistent golf game. Hopefully Woods will be able to make a comeback in 2011.
Helped revive the NBA and make it as popular as it is today. More important, became one of the first openly HIV-positive celebrities/athletes and has since become a leading voice and contributor in HIV/AIDS prevention, safe sex and other social causes. Since the NBA, Johnson has turned into an exceptional businessman owning everything from restaurants, to banks, to Starbucks coffee shops. Recently, Johnson caught headlines when he sold his shares of the Los Angeles Lakes to put money into bringing the NFL back to Los Angeles.
The first African-American to win the heavyweight boxing title. His victory over James Jeffries on July4, 1910, sparked race riots through the country. Once called the most famous and most infamous African-American on Earth.
A six-time Olympic medalist, including three golds, in track and field. And she scored more than 1,000 points in basketball for UCLA. Simply put, probably the greatest female athlete of all time. And she did it without the performance-enhancing drugs that have ravaged track and field.
Founded in 1927, this predominantly black team has entertained crowds of all colors, races, religions and nationalities with its unique brand of basketball that mixes incredible skill and hilarious shenanigans. The team has played more than 20,000 games in more than 100 countries and remains a top draw wherever it goes.
The founder of BET (Black Entertainment Network) became the first African-American to own a major sports franchise when he led the group that acquired the expansion Charlotte Bobcats in 2004. Johnson has since sold his stock in the team to another amazing African-American and former NBA player, Michael Jordan.
Your JGF,
Marcelle E.
*some information is courtesy of the St. Petersburg Times


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Railroad Earth's Andy Goessling Passes Away
Andy Goessling, multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of Railroad Earth, has passed away. The band confirmed the news this evening via Facebook.
"Friends we come with heavy hearts and the sad news that our brother Andy has passed," the statement reads. "He was truly one of a kind – a brilliant musician, and a better person. It was a privilege to share this journey with him, and through his music he touched many lives. There's simply too much to feel right now, words are hard to find, and we'll have more to say in time."
Goessling, who began playing music from a young age, helped found the New Jersey–based bluegrass outfit in 2001 along with From Good Homes guitarist and songwriter Todd Sheaffer and the original Railroad Earth lineup of violinist Tim Carbone, mandolinist John Skehan, drummerCarey Harmon and bassist Dave Von Dollen. Goessling was known for playing a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin, saxophone and dobro, among others.
"Andy Goessling was a musical genius," bandmate Andrew Altman writes in a post on his own Facebook page. "I've always hesitated to describe anyone in those terms but not him. Calling someone a genius implies something given not created. A gift. Something handed from beyond. 99.9% of artists are born with a love of expression and love for whatever form moves them but little else in terms of tools for creating. We all come into this world the same; screaming and unformed. The tools we use to express ourselves are forged over time and it took me a few years to see that Andy was rare. The .1%. Most people spend their lives trying to be a great soloist on one instrument and he did it on many. Most people have never even heard of the Zither…he owned piles of them."
No cause of death has been confirmed at this time. Starting in May of 2017, Railroad Earth announced that Goessling would be undergoing medical treatment and would miss some of the band's shows. Goessling also recently sat out RRE gigs late this summer.
"I lost one of my best friends this morning," writes Carbone. "RIP Andy Goessling. There are no adequate words to express my grief. It is incalculable the amount of knowledge you've imparted to me or the mountain of inspiration you have given me. It was an honor to play, create and share music with you. We had a great run brother. 40 years of laughs, tears, love and music. I am blessed to have known you. We grew up in a Greyhound bus together. Travel gently to the other side."
"The genius label can also be awkward because sometimes it's used to excuse eccentric, rude, or even abusive behavior. Andy was the antithesis of these things," continues Altman in his note. "He was the glue that held our sound together musically but his unflappable personality is something no band can survive without. Art thrives on emotion and artists deliver it in spades. That's great on stage, in words, and in melody but trying to do business, that bane of an artists existence, it can easily turn a conversation into a cage match. Andy was a grounding force. The ground is gone now and I only see sky. The place we look when we think of the divine. The beyond. A place that I thought had little hand in the journey from screaming and unformed to coherent and complete. Thank you Andy for changing my mind. I love you. I miss you."


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"Why did you decide to climb Bolivian mountains?" my friends asked my boyfriend and climbing partner Dick Stone as we showed the slides of our trip. "Well", he admitted for the first time "My Mom gave me a book about climbing in Ecuador and I meant to go there". So I guess that mistake determined our climbing destination.
But I wasn't daunted by the fact that there were no climbing guides to Bolivian mountains in English. Or that we decided to do the trip without using a guide service, relying instead on my high school Spanish. And I had been to La Paz in 1969 as a missionary for my church. Most importantly, Dick was an accomplished mountainteer, even at that time. (He has since summited Everest.) At least there were mountains in Bolivia.
We flew into La Paz at 13,000' and spent a few days acclimatizing and visiting the local Aymara Indian markets which is something I always enjoy. Some of the more interesting items in the bruja or witches market are the llama fetuses. I never did learn what their purposes was. I guess my high school Spanish only goes so far.
The town had changed quite a bit in the 25 years since I had been there. There was traffic on the roads and highrise buildings where there had been single level mud structures. And Illimani, one of our objectives at 21,200', was still visible from town.
The translation issue is always interesting to me. I consider myself pretty outgoing and I enjoy engaging people in conversation when I travel. When I first arrive in a Spainish speaking country I am a bit shy (and rusty) with my language skills and am more comfortable talking to the children until I get used to using my Spanish. Dick also wanted to get into the spirit of the conversation but as happens with lots of non-native speakers, he tended to agree when he didn't know what was said. After he finished the conversation with the woman below, I informed him that he had just hired her!
Before we started our climbing expedition, we took at trip to the altiplano above La Paz to Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and at 12,500' the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. We took a boat to the island of Surqiu where Thor Heyedahl discovered the reed boats upon which he modeled his Ra II. It also has excellent truca or lake trout.
Finally we headed out to a pleasant valley where we planned to climbed two mountains-Condoriri (18,640') and Alpamayo Pequeno (17,800'). Because we had no guidebooks, we hoped that the routes would be obvious once we got on the mountains. And we generally found this to be true.
We camped one night on the flanks of Condoriri which we found to be a cold and windy experience. But the mountain is beautiful and steep and we were the only ones climbing it the day we summited. I suspect that after English guidebooks were published, that was no longer the case.
The next day we attempted the perfect Alpamayo Pequeno, named after the mountain in Peru. I was just too worn out to summit, leaving Dick to solo that peak which he did in style.
After a rest day in La Paz, we headed back out to Huayna Potosi at just under 20,000'. We made a Base Camp at 15,000, then proceeded up to Campo Argentina at 17,000' for a night. From there we got an alpine start at about 2:00 am.
I would have said that I wasn't affected by the altitude. But I was struggling mightily with my crampons in the glow of my headlight. Dick came over to see what was taking me so long and gently remarked "They work better when the spikes are pointing towards the ground." I laughed so hard I could barely reattach them.
We set off for yet another perfect weather day to our summit. It was a beautiful, narrow summit, just like mountains are supposed to be. Another day where we were alone on the mountain.
After Huayna, we returned to La Paz for a rest day, then packed up to attempt our last goal, Illimani at 21,200' which would be a record for Dick whose high point at that time was Denali. My record was Huayna at 20,000' so everything was record-setting for me.
On Illimani, we had a Base Camp at 15,000 and high camp (Nido de Condorers or Condors' Nest) at 18,000'. As we headed up to the summit, I discovered that I had contracted a stomach thing. It just wasn't my day so I hung out at about 20,000' and Dick again soloed the peak.
I really wasn't disappointed as I had exceeded what I thought I could climb at that point. I am not really that drivin to "bag peaks' I am more interested in the fun quotient. When it stops being fun, I lose interest.


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Glamorous Skin Face Treatment
Glamorous Skin Face Treatment
A light weight face treatment perfect as an addition to your nighttime skincare regimen. Formulated with deep nourishing ingredients to penetrate your layers, plump up your cells and hydrate fully.
Our cells are structured with a lipid bi-layer that keeps water in and all of the bad stuff out. Stress, diet, lifestyle and the environment wear down the integrity of this protective layer and the effects can show on our face.
Rehydrate your cells with these same lipids to restore strength and elasticity. Healing cacao butter deeply nourishes while the light properties of organic sunflower oil hydrate and help penetrate cells. Your choice of Wild Orange for radiance and brightening or Sandalwood for cooling, calming and rejuvenation are added for extra benefits. Simple, clean ingredients for a powerful impact.
This lovely oil sinks into the skin and absorbs quickly. Bonus: it smells like white chocolate!
The 1 oz Glamorous Skin Face Oil is step 5 in your Ayurvedic facial treatment.
The skin is our largest organ. It breathes, eats, drinks, and needs attention. Everything we put onto our skin gets directly absorbed into our system and affects you.
Have you ever looked at the ingredient labels on your beauty products, lotions, shampoos, and such? Do you know what all of those ingredients are, or what they do inside of your body? Sometimes our body doesn't recognize lab made chemicals and it doesn't know what to do with them. They get stored as toxins, mostly in our fat, but sometimes in our organs, causing imbalances and making us sick.
My idea is that anything you put onto your skin should be something you are willing to eat or drink. My formulations are created with this philosophy in mind. The ingredients I choose are simple, clean, organic and easy on the body, while being highly nourishing and effective.
Wellness should be simple, and so should your ingredients.
The Wellness By Helen 5 Step Ayurvedic Facial can be an every-so-often mini treatment you give yourself or a daily regimen. It's all up to you! Use all together or pick your favorites. The steps are the following:
1. Cleanse 2. Steam 3. Scrub 4. Mask 5. Moisturize
*This product has not been evaluated by the FDA. It is not intended to treat or diagnose any disease. This information is provided for educational purposes only. This product is for use at your own discretion.


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£230,000 Offers over
B-Spoke are delighted to offer to the market this well presented and rarely available modern 3 Bedroom Detached Bungalow, situated within a quiet residential area of Tillicoultry.
This property demands immediate inspection to allow prospective purchasers the opportunity to fully appreciate the size and location of the accommodation on offer.
Accommodation comprises;
- Well proportioned Formal Lounge with feature fireplace and gas fire. Window overlooking the front of the property and open plan to the dining area.
- Spacious fitted Dining Kitchen with Neff integrated appliances including gas hob, electric oven, microwave &extractor hood. Fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. Door leading to garden.
- Generously proportioned Family Bathroom with vanity units and white 3 piece suite comprising WC, wash hand basin and bath.
- 3 Spacious Double Bedrooms all with built-in mirrored wardrobes providing ample storage. The Master Bedroom also benefits from an
En-Suite Shower Room comprising WC and wash hand basin with shower cubicle.
- Additional storage is provided by the hall storage cupboard and loft.
Warmth is provided by gas central heating and double glazing.
Externally the property benefits from mature garden grounds to the front, side &rear with garden shed.
The property is located in the village of Tillicoultry and allows easy access to the City Centre of Stirling and nearby town of Alloa. For those who travel for business, the area is well provided for by the national road network system and links to motorways and to business centres in the central belt. For those who use public transport there is a regular bus service into Stirling.
Local shops will adequately cater for everyday needs and Stirling is only a short drive away and offers numerous high street multiples and specialty shops. Local schooling is available nearby including the prestigious Dollar Academy.
Lounge / Dining Area 7.18m (23' 7') x 4.27m (14' 0')
Dining Kitchen 3.59m (11' 9') x 2.99m (9' 10')
Master Bedroom 4.08m (13' 5') x 2.94m (9' 8')
En-Suite Shower Room 2.97m (9' 9') x 2.02m (6' 8')
Bedroom 2 3.95m (13' 0') x 3.03m (9' 11')
Bedroom 3 3.03m (9' 11') x 2.74m (9' 0')
Family Bathroom 2.99m (9' 10') x 1.80m (5' 11')
This house description is based upon information supplied by the owner, or on behalf of the owner. These property particulars are produced in good faith and do not constitute or form part of any contract. s1homes do not take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in this document.
If a property value displays '0', don't worry it just means no properties have been sold in that area during that time.
Source acknowledgement: Contains data compiled by Registers of Scotland. For further information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
Registers of Scotland is a government body responsible for compiling and maintaining property registers. There can be a delay of up to 3 months from when a property is sold to being recorded with Registers of Scotland. We provide house price data for your information only, we do not accept any liability for any errors.
If you have noticed any incorrect information, please contact email@example.com.


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We welcome you, our dear friends. As the northern hemispheres of your planet move into their waning cycle for the year, energy flow and light emanations have begun to diminish. Life in general is reducing its intensity and will start the move to a quieter period – one requiring more introspection and contemplation. Planetary rhythms absorb the amount of light received from the sun and adjust accordingly. All sentient life on Earth responds in the same manner with alternating cycles of activity and rest.
The human body is calibrated to respond to the amount of light found in its environment. This is also true for animal life and plant vegetation. As the amount and warmth of light diminishes, the energy field available to all forms of life is altered resulting in a lessened field of activity. These changes reflect the duality found throughout your universe and occur with regularity and consistency producing a rhythmic cycle that never wavers.
In many different ways down through the years, we have spoken with you about the importance of attuning to Earth and living in harmony with her vibratory field. One of the most important realizations one can have is that of the interconnectedness existing between your planet, which provides life support, and you who receive it. We have asked that you develop the ability to feel the vibratory emanations coming from within the core of your planet and use this energy source as the foundation for all of your activity.
If you do so, you will live in a state of harmony and balance since you will be reflecting accurately your planet's energy field. Those of you residing in the northern hemispheres will be experiencing a reduction in vital life force for the next six months with its most intense time occurring three months from now. Alternating activity and rest provide a clear reflection of the duality found in every sphere of the universe.
The underlying reason for this pattern is quite simple. When a stimulus is introduced, a period of less intensity follows to allow for assimilation before moving on to the next period of activity. This is why the seasons of spring and summer are typified by increased vegetative growth and human physical activity; and fall and winter provide a period of rest before regeneration begins anew. There is a divine purpose behind the unfolding of this pattern, one that is important to recognize and incorporate into daily life.
In the past one hundred years, the natural rhythms created by the degree of sunlight have been overridden by the advent of electricity, which has provided artificial light whenever needed. This has resulted in cycles of never ending movement with no following period for rest and assimilation. There is no impetus to cease activity and engage in recuperative hibernation for many people since light is always available.
This new manner of living has put a severe strain on human beings residing on your planet. They have lost their innate sense of harmony and balance which has resulted in unhealthy behavior in a wide variety of different situations. It is not necessary that this be the case. The invention of electricity was a great boon to humanity and should be valued as such; but to be truly beneficial it must be incorporated into the vibratory rhythms of the planet.
In order for this to happen, it is important that incarnating souls on Earth connect with the spiritual entity infusing your planet on an on-going basis and reflect her rhythmic patterns in their daily lives. This can best be done through regular meditation and attunement. By sitting quietly and going within, one can start to feel the pulsation and throb emanating from the core of Earth at a very subtle level. Pull that vibratory energy into yourself so that you can resonate in harmony with the Earth on which you live.
If you are able to accomplish this important connection, you will find that your life in the fall and winter of the year will take on a different tone and tenor. You will recognize the value of quieter moments and will find yourself modifying your life in small but significant ways so that you can be in harmony with your larger planetary energy field.
To truly benefit from this period of assimilation, go back and review the key issues that have risen for you during the spring and summer of this year. Reflect on them and glean from them the knowledge and wisdom you have gained. Let these experiences sink into your inner knowing to become a part of your soul's journey.
To see your existence in this manner provides growth that brings peace and harmony into your personal life at every level. Also, as we have said before, your universe is in the throes of a monumental shift in consciousness. One key element of this shift is expanding one's concept of self from a physical body to that of a spirit-infused human persona residing within a living planetary field that is part of a much greater universal Creator. Once this awareness is gained, a major step up the spiral of life has been reached.


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Ready for a new look in your kitchen or bathroom? Or perhaps your flooring is just starting to seem worn out? Adhesive vinyl Floor tiles are a good option, giving you versatility for a reasonable cost. Here we will look at what you need to know about adhesive vinyl Floor tiles and how to get the most for your money.
Planning the project
Laying adhesive vinyl Floor tiles is a project of moderate difficulty, requiring a certain amount of patience and precision. To make your selection for a design or style, you can either take a trip through your phone book to check out local flooring outlets, or you can go online. Many companies do not charge shipping.
Costs for adhesive vinyl Floor tiles range from around $45 a box, or about 75 cents to $3 a square foot. You can achieve the look of ceramic tiles, wood or stone with adhesive viny! Floor tiles.
You will need to know the square footage of the room in which you plan to lay adhesive viny! Floor tiles. Tiles are 12" by 12" and come in varying thicknesses. Don't go for the very thin tiles, as they will wear out quickly.
Once you know the square footage of the room. You can estimate the cost and number of tiles needed. It's good idea to purchase a few extra tiles in case of mistakes. For example, if you have an 8' by 10' room (80 square feet), buy 90 tiles. Then you gave 10 extra tiles to work with.
The tools
You will need the following tools to set your adhesive viny! Floor tiles:
• Measuring tape
• Utility knife or tile cutter (you can rent tile cutters)
• Chalk line
• Tile roller ( also can be rented-some people use a large rolling pin)
Important tips
I can't emphasize enough that the floor surface (linoleum, plywood, cement, etc.) must be clean and free of holes, cracks, dips or any other damage. Sand, dirt and grit will inhibit the bonding process, as will old adhesives or a glossy surface. Make sure your surfaces are dry before laying down adhesive viny! Floor tiles.
Leave the in your home for 24 to 48 hours to allow them to adjust to the temperature. You will need to pry off any molding and replace it after you lay the tiles. Sun can damage or bleach tiles, so you may need a throw rug here or there once the tiles are laid. Don't take the paper off of the tiles and begin laying them until you are absolutely sure of your .
Separate the room into quadrants. Using a chalk line, find the center of the room and lay two sharp cross lines. Find the center of the room by measuring the center of each wa;; and snapping the chalk line between opposing walls. Vents, door jambs or fixtures such as tubs will require careful measurements. You will likely need to trim some tiles with a utility knife.
Laying adhesive vinyl Floor tiles
The first tiles you lay is the most important. If that is off, the rest will be off too. Work in quadrants. If you are nervous, lay the tile with the paper backing on first. This may be more time consuming, but you'll get a better visual which will help you feel more confident. You will likely have to cut tiles to fit the edges of the room and around spots such as vents. A tile cutter will make the job easier and more precise.
Once you have laid the adhesive vinyl Floor tiles, roll over them with a heavy tile roller (or rolling pin) to help the adhesive bond.
Lastly, don't wash the floor for a few days to allow the adhesive to cure.