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ADA -- Beset by injuries, Heidelberg University track and field team limped to a fifth place finish on the men's side and an eighth place finish on the women's side at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Ohio Northern University.
Wes Fritz took home the lone championship for Heidelberg, dominating the field in the high jump.
"It was a tough afternoon, filled with highs and lows," said head coach Joe Yoder. "We'll pick up the pieces and continue moving forward."
All-OAC Performances:
Men's High Jump: Wes Fritz leapt to victory in the high jump. He passed until 6-2.75, then cleared it on his first jump. At 6-4, Fritz passed while all other competitors failed to clear the bar. He sealed victory when he cleared 6-5 on his first attempt. As the lone competitor remaining, he cleared 6-7 on his third attempt.
Women's 4x200m Relay: Allison Schwarzbek, Arinn Hayes, Ayanna Hayes, and Kelsey Grove took home third in the 800 relay with a time of 1:46.45.
Men's 500m: Kenny Beucler was the runner-up in the 500 with a time of 1:06.39.
Women's 500m: Schwarzbek was third in the 500 with a time of 1:19.28.
Men's Weight Throw (Friday): Ahead after the first throw, Gutzky wound up in third. His best throw was his fifth -- 59.22 feet.
Other performances from Saturday:
Men's 400m and Men's 200m Dash: Dan Stoll won the preliminaries on Friday but suffered an injury on the back stretch of the second lap in the 400.
Men's 4x200m Relay: Noah Paris, Dimitri Penick, Kenny Beucler and Volaskis Walkins finished fifth in the 800m relay with a time of 1:34.45.
Women's 3,000m: Amanda Elkins placed eighth overall with an exhausting effort, crossing the line with a time of 10:46.24.
Men's 3,000m: Austin Neura finished in sixth place with a time of 8:52.97.
Women's 4x400m Relay: The team of Kelsey Grove, Ayanna Hayes, Tomea Abbitt, and Allison Schwarzbek finished fifth with a time of 4:15.12.
Men's 4x400m Relay: The quartet formed of Kenny Beucler, Eric Peterson, Hunter Greenman and Mitchell Luken placed fourth, clocking a time of 3:32.90.
From Friday:
Men's Long Jump: Wes Fritz took sixth in the long jump. His best jump -- 21-2.75 -- came on his first attempt.
Men's DMR: Heidelberg took seventh in the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 11:02.53.


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If you only have a small crafting space, this new item from We R Memory Keepers might interest you. They are releasing this fold down crafting table which will be available this fall. It comes with storage space and a working surface, and folds up when not in use to a chalkboard. Comes complete with chalk and eraser too! get more details here on their blog
I need to know how much this desk is?
Hi, we love this Website! This is one of the most clever Crafting spaces we have seen so far. Thank you for sharing!

subset: commoncrawl


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Brunson has Words about PartyPoker
As reported by IGamingBusiness: "In America
professional poker player Doyle 'Texas Dolly' Brunson has criticized the recent decision by PartyPoker.com co-founder Anurag Dikshit to plead guilty to violations of the Wire Act in Federal Court as it applied to online poker rooms and casino "…India-born Dikshit created the software platform for the Gibraltar-based online gambling operator […]
PokerPro Event Scheduled
Poker even hosting news out of  Atlantic City casino has announced details of a special tournament featuring PokerTek's automated card tables. Starting on Saturday November 1st
players at Trump Plaza have a month to qualify for the $25
000 freeroll no-limit Texas hold'em event
which begins on December 13th. Using the automated PokerPro tables developed by PokerTek


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06 Mar the X100F – after one week of use
Posted at 11:54h in FUJIFILM, Fujifilm X100F 0 Comments
Source: Fujifilm Insider
Time to share my further experiences with Fuji's new model of the X100 family with you. As I wrote in my last X100F article I was coming from the older X100S and the changes for me were huge in terms of the auto-focus, the sensor and the overall speed.
Auto-focus and EVF/OVF
If you're coming from the X100S you will notice the difference, because the auto-focus was really bad back in the early days of this product line but I managed to deal with this flaw. Now it feels fast enough, more accurate and serves my needs as a documentary and street photographer very well. There are faster systems out on the market but this is not the aim of this camera. Most of the time the auto-focus delivered just the way I expected it, even in OVF-mode.
EVF is bliss! It is fast with a high refresh rate as I know from my XPRO2. It stays that way even in low light situations without becoming a porridge of pixels.
The OVF is also more detailed now and can show a tiny fraction of the auto-focus-area in the lower right (nothing new for the X100T users). I am a heavy OVF user, because I love the distraction free experience and the possibility to see what is coming into the frame (because the visible area is greater through the OVF). I love the way Fuji stays to it's fundamental principles by having unique products which standout to the whole camera-manufacturer landscape out there. You hate it or you love it, but it's a distinctive Fuji….
the X100F - after one week of use posted on Fujifilm Insider on .


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With enough snow to rival what I remember from wild winters of my childhood in Vermont, and a wind chill in the negatives, there was really only one reasonable place to take photographs today (indoors). And only one logical subject: My sweet little guy, almost five, who always protests his bath time and yet never wants to get out once he's started...
One of his favorite tub games is "Pizza shop", wherein he fills a little cup with water, and then one of those tiny sponges that you get in a set of 6 dissolvable capsules - in this case, trains and common creatures - and then hands me a "box" of pizza.
I take one cup off the top of another, and see my "pizza" (water) and then act shocked and dismayed that there is a spongey squirrel or caboose in it. This cracks him up beyond reason, and we do it over, and over, and over again. Until one time I call to order my pizza and he informs me "the phone isn't working because the electricity is out" after which he flips the drain switch up and down a few times and declares it fixed.
Here's to bath time joy, and after-bath snuggles.... to five year old silliness and imagination.... to dreading more snow days, yet knowing when they come I will find plenty of goodness in another day with my little guy.


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Wonder Festival 2017 Summer took place on July 30, 2017.
Azone International was in attendance.
They displayed a lot of amazing dolls.
Let's Take a Look at What's Coming Your Way 2017 & 2018:
- A lot of anime dolls, big & small
- Delightful KIKIPOP! girls serving up deliciously cute styles
- Adorable EX-Cute family & friends dressed in their favorite clothing brand
- A cute EX-Cute girl takes a twirl as a meow x meow cat
- 2 new adorable Lil' Fairies
- A lovely Happiness Clover girl dressed in a beautiful costume
- A sweet Iris Collect girl prepares for Autumn
- New, flexible Pure neemo and Picco neemo body types
- Darling yet scrappy 1/12 Black Raven characters and
- A great deal of Assault Lily characters
My Faves:
- Ah, these KIKIPOP! girls are too cute for words. I would love to have all 3 adorable waitresses wait on me in their KP Diner.
- Cream Soda (blue hair) and Cherry Pie (golden blonde hair) are regular release girls. Orders start September 5. While Pink Cream Soda (blonde hair) is an exclusive. She'll be at the KIKIPOP! Fest2017 in Harajuku on September 16 -18.
- The EX-Cute family & friends are always a favorite. I'm curious as to what prompted Azone to transformed Mia into a meow x meow kitty too!
- I would love to get my hands on the Mia Siamese Cat Doll Show version (blond, wavy hair). I mustn't get her. . . . I must get her! I have a tough dolly decision to make.
- I am excited to meet the newest members to the Lil' Fairy series. I have a soft spot for those teeny tiny fairies (bye-bye money). I want both of them but I'll most likely get 1 . . . but which one? I don't know! Man, more dolly decisions to make this winter.
- The 1/3 scale girls are trying to breakdown my resistance.
- Happiness Clover Yui looks amazing in that costume. Can't wait to see the final version and
- Noix looks lovely in her autumn apparel
- I'm loving the new improvements to the Pure neemo and Picco neemo bodies. I wonder which boy will have the new body type.
Over to You:
What do you think about Azone's Wonder Festival booth?
Were you impressed or was it lacking something?
Who are you looking forward to adding into your collection the most?
And which girl or boy were you surprised to see on display?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I look forward to chatting with you about Wonder Festival 2017 Summer.
via @neemosi


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Mads Brugger's 2011 documentary The Ambassador is fascinating,funny and disturbing. You should see it—but it's also terrible and I don't trust it. And when you're done being entertained, you shouldn't trust it either. This movie lets an entertaining tail wag the whole dog, and a chilling,deeply fascinating story of corrupt bureaucracy is forced to share screen time with the filmmaker's low-rent Borat impersonation, ruining everything. There's a reason there hasn't been a 60 minutes/Jackass crossover, and the mixed bag of The Ambassador is it.
The Ambassador appears to be an undercover expose of how extremely shady people use African diplomatic passports and widespread political corruption to smuggle blood diamonds. If you have diplomatic immunity, you can leave a conflict diamond producing country without going through customs, and this film alleges that there are thousands of people using this quirk of international law to become blood diamond mules. The movie appears to consist almost entirely of conversations with officials in the Central African Republic filmed with hidden cameras, and since some of the people shown having those conversations have since taken legal action against the flick according to Wikipedia, I have to believe the movie struck a nerve. Evildoers being dragged into the light, so far so good, right?
Wrong! This movie steps right into a cow pie with its opening narration, in which Brugger talks over footage of himself standing in an airport, telling us he is leaving journalism forever to become a diplomatic blood diamond smuggler. As the movie progresses, the way the footage is edited and some of the over-the-top things Brugger says and does suggest to us that he is playing a character, that he is pretending to be a disgusting racist euro-trash diamond profiteer while winking at the camera and remaining, in secret, a reporter. But he never says this explicitly, and I frankly was unsure about it for much of the film. He never tells us he is going undercover, there is never a big reveal. We see him buy diamonds that certainly appear to have been mined by children living in a hole in the ground, and at the end of the movie he implies that he smuggled these diamonds out of Africa in his ass, for profit. If I can't tell where Brugger the journalist ends and Brugger the Sacha Baron Cohen wanna-be begins, I can't trust anything else that is going on in this movie. At the end of the film I felt compelled to make sure the Central African Republic, the country that is the focus of the movie, actually existed. What kind of expose instills doubt into the viewer about its most basic premise? A crappy one, that's what.
Even though I'm against the way Brugger inserted his stupid business diplomat caricature into the film, I can't deny that he's entertaining, when he's not being horribly racist and exploitative. But more on that in a sec. Caricature Brugger is a glad-handing, money obsessed smile, who dresses like a bond villain, complete with cigarette holder. He hobnobs with government officials, frightening diamond mine owners, and shady government ministers. I won't deny that the way these officials take his money grubbing character seriously is an effective way to show how disgusting they are, but it comes at a cost. Since I can't separate Brugger from his character, I don't know what to think when he tells his fixer he doesn't trust any Asians because they are sneaky, or causes an entire village of pygmies to be over served wine and moonshine so they'll dance for him. Even though we see gun toting soldiers and apparently exploited diamond miners in this movie, the sight of those drunk old men and children dancing around to please him so he will employ them in his (fictional!) match factory is the most disturbing in this film, in my opinion.
The fascinating undercover interviews in the film and the intercut historical context show that Brugger had the seed of an amazing documentary here, but he fumbled it going for laughs. There is a scene where a diamond mine owner gets into an argument with a business associate over a woman who appears to be a prisoner of one or both of them. Brugger remarks on it, he notes that it is disturbing, but it is never fully explained, and never revisited. Instead, we get a scene where Brugger, who has acquired two Pygmy assistants he seems to think are comedic relief, plays tape recorded whale song for them while they sit there not knowing what to do. It's cruel, completely unfunny, and does nothing to satisfy the burgeoning fascination with the blood diamond trade that this movie was supposed to be concerned with. If you see this movie, you will leave with that itch unscratched. You should see it, because it's fascinating. But you can't fucking trust it.


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Here are some of our guides, tips, and patterns we've compiled over the years. We hope they're helpful to you and we'd love to see what you make with them!
If you find these helpful, please consider supporting our Patreon! There you can find some exclusive tips, work in progress photos of our projects, and previews for upcoming merch!


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Writing Anxiety: Turn Angst Into Productivity
When I accepted my first ghostwriting project, I spent three or four days in a haze of anticipation and glee. Someone wanted me to write their manuscript. Holy crap, how lucky was I?
After that initial exuberance wore off, however, anxiety took the place of excitement. No longer was I thinking about the big paycheck or the sense of accomplishment; instead, I was wondering what the hell I was going to do when my client realized I was a big fat fraud.
I wasn't a fraud, of course, but my imagination ran wild with images of shoddy literary craftsmanship and angry e-mails filled with hard-slung criticism. Taking on the responsibility of someone else's manuscript is a heady experience, and one fraught with writing anxiety.
Now that I am embarking upon the next step in my career, I find myself at anxiety's doorstep once again. The old fears come back, the mind-numbing insecurity that threatens to derail my future success with geometric precision. I could very easily succumb to the angst and shelve my project indefinitely.
When the butterflies in your stomach turn to gigantic birds of prey, how do you push forward? Writing anxiety is not an uncommon occurrence, and in fact I am writing this article in response to a great number of anxiety-ridden blog posts published by acquaintances over the last few weeks. So how do you get control of your anxiety so productivity and creativity can shine through?
You've Succeeded Before
Writing anxiety is often the result of poor output. Maybe you've been trying to write the Great American Novel and everything you put on paper sounds like it was written by a fifth grader. It happens to the best of us.
This doesn't mean, however, that you are incapable of excellent prose. Somewhere, some time in the past, you have produced a work of literary art in which you've taken pride.
One of the fastest ways to reduce writing anxiety is to pull out a previous manuscript and read it over. Marvel at the word choice, the sentence structure, the descriptive cadence. This might be the best way to restore your confidence and remind yourself why you write.
Whenever I'm feeling low, I read some of the books I've ghosted for clients over the years. Some of these scripts showcase my best work, and I always feel an adrenaline rush after skimming them. They remind me that I do have talent, and they often spark ideas.
If this isn't a reason to save your work, regardless of whether or not you publish it, I don't know what is. If you don't have any previous manuscripts to which you can refer, put a Post-It note beside your computer reminding yourself to SAVE YOUR WORK. This way, when the doldrums hit again, you'll have ammunition.
Cutting the Umbilical Cord
Writing a book or novel (and sometimes even something as simple as a blog post) is a work of art, and writers become attached to their words—sometimes in an unhealthy way.
In 2002, my first novel was published. It didn't even have my name on it because I'd written it for a client, but it was still my work and I was emotionally invested in it. Consequently, I refused to read any of the reviews that came out until six months later.
Much like a mother-child relationship, this attachment begins long before your manuscript makes it to book store shelves. From the moment you put fingers to keyboard, you develop a relationship with your manuscript—one that ebbs and flows with your output.
Just like a mother, there are times when you will want to ring your manuscript's neck, and others when you feel like cuddling it to sleep. You'll experience anger, resentment, frustration, joy, pride, protectiveness and elation, sometimes all at the same time.
What would happen if a mother refused to give birth? Devoted all of her energy to the baby inside her, forsaking even contact with her other children? There is a reason why mothers are supposed to give birth, raise their children, then send them off into the world.
So cut the umbilical cord. Rather than focusing all of your energy on your current WIP, take a breather for a few days and work on another project. Give the manuscript a chance to cool and you might see your writing anxiety evaporate within hours.
The same goes for a completed manuscript. Many writers jump directly into the editing process, furiously injecting commas, splicing sentences and reworking awkward phrasing. This is a mistake. The manuscript is too fresh on your mind, too close to your heart. Stick it in a drawer and wait a couple weeks before you try to edit.
Of course, the "cooling-off" period is directly proportional to the length of your manuscript. For an article, a few hours will do; if your project is book-length, give it at least a week.
Changing Direction
Do you pre-write? Create an outline? Formulate the plot or direction of your manuscript from the get-go? Many writers prefer this organized approach to writing, but it can create anxiety.
Think of it this way: You're taking a vacation in another state, and you decide to drive. You pick up a key map at the grocery store, identify the fastest route, and mark your path with highlighter in preparation for the trip.
You set out on the road, but when you turn from one highway onto another you discover the road is closed. Or maybe there is a ten-car pile-up across three lanes, or perhaps a herd of turkeys is crossing the road and taking forever. Regardless, your meticulously planned route has been thwarted.
Some people would sit in traffic for six hours waiting for the blockage to clear, while others would simply flip a U-Turn in the median and seek out another path. To cure writing anxiety, you need to be the latter.
It doesn't matter how carefully you plan your manuscript; you might reach a point where the course you plotted simply doesn't work anymore. You can either try to force it in the direction you chose at the outset, or you can roll with the punches and plot a new route.
I never pre-write or outline simply because I don't want to formulate a specific plot in advance. I want to see where the characters will take me, how the mystery unfolds. I allow the book itself to guide me rather than the other way around. This doesn't mean you shouldn't pre-write, but be willing to change direction when needed.
In many cases, this will lift the blockage and melt your writing anxiety immediately. You'll have fresh material in mind and a brand new outlook on your manuscript.
Finding Motivation
I always find it easier to sit down and write when a cause is weighing on my mind. Be it politics, social activism, consumer rights or any other issue, if I'm passionate about the subject matter the words just flow.
Your writing anxiety might be the result of apathy. Do you really care about your WIP? Are you invested in it? You might be suffering from a blockage because you just don't care.
Regardless of whether you write fiction or non-fiction, passion is necessary. If you don't care about the subject matter or if the plot of your novel doesn't incite fervor, it is doubtful you will ever finish the piece. More important, the finished product will not be half as good as it could have been if you were motivated.
This doesn't mean that everything you write should contain your perspective on a hot-button issue. You don't have to write about abortion or gun control or the environment each time you sit down at the computer. However, you should find a reason to write any manuscript you start.
I won't divulge many details about the novel I am currently writing, but I will say that it deals with violence against women. This is an issue I take seriously, and I feel that while the novel will be entertaining, it will also enlighten a few souls to a very real threat.
Maybe you are passionate about gardening or cars or dogs. Work those things into your writing to eliminate anxiety.
Location, Location, Location
Many people claim to work well under pressure, but I know few writers whose best work is accomplished when pressed for time. If you are constantly placing yourself in a negative frame of mind when writing, anxiety will surely follow.
The experts advise you to squeeze in writing whenever your schedule will allow—on the train, in the doctor's waiting room, during your thirty-minute lunch break. While this might seem like sound advice for the aspiring author, it can actually work against you.
Location might be essential to real estate and retail, but it is just as important for writers. If you force yourself to work in less-than-ideal circumstances, anxiety is likely to follow.
Create an atmosphere conducive to writing. This will be different for every writer, so you might need to experiment. For example, I work best when working to 80s metal. Others might prefer classical music, country tunes or silence.
Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable chair with both back and arm support. Keep a legal pad or other notebook handy for jotting notes and use a word processing program with which you are comfortable. If you tend to get thirsty, keep a bottle of water or a cup of coffee on the desktop so you don't have to break for a visit to the kitchen.
It is also a good idea to head off any interruptions that might disrupt the flow of your work. I put my cellular phone on silent, turn off the ringer on my house phone and disable my e-mail program. There is nothing I can do about knocks on the door, but people rarely visit without first checking by phone.
Since I live with my husband and no one else, I don't have to worry about family interruptions. However, if you have children, friends or other relatives living in your home, let them know what "writing time" means to you. Ask them to hold all non-emergency questions or issues until you are finished.
Everyone's Got an Opinion
Sometimes writing anxiety is born of external stimuli beyond your control. Sharing your work with others is always a gamble since appreciation of art is subjective. What one person adores another will hate, and vice versa.
Perhaps a dear friend has offered terse criticism of your WIP, or maybe you've received that unhelpful suggestion to "keep your day job". Of course, the opposite approach can also stimulate writing anxiety. Maybe someone has lavished praise on your work and you now feel intimidated by your own potential.
If you are feeling the pressure from external forces, you'll need to make a decision. Some writers despise the idea of letting anyone read their work until it is finished (myself included), while others thrive on continual feedback. Know, however, that if you open yourself to praise and criticism, you shall receive.
Consider the source. Have you solicited feedback from your best friend or from an experienced acquisitions editor? Does the critic have a degree in English literature or experience in editing? Many times, unhelpful criticism comes from uneducated parties, and you have to be willing to let it roll off your back.
Dealing with Deadlines
I cannot tell you how many times I've experienced intense writing anxiety because of an impending deadline. As a ghostwriter, my clients contracted me to produce within a specified period of time, and writing—like other forms of art—cannot always be rushed.
If you are facing a deadline, look at the bright side: You already have a publisher! Someone has decided you produce written works of sufficient quality to warrant a contract. This means you are capable of writing a masterpiece, regardless of how long it takes.
If you truly believe that you writing anxiety will cause you to miss a deadline, advise the client immediately. Whether it's a ghostwriting client, the editor of a magazine or your literary agent, call them up and explain the situation. The sooner you do this, the better.
Most people are willing to work with writers on deadlines—within reason. Try to give as close an estimate as possible for when the script will be finished, then rearrange your mental processes to reflect the new deadline.
If an adjustment is not possible, try breaking up the manuscript into managable pieces to cure writing anxiety. Sit down at the computer and tell yourself you will accomplish as much as possible in one hour, then set a timer to mark your deadline.
Alternatively, you can set word-count minimums for each day until the deadline. Rather than looking at it as one big manuscript, approach it from the perspective of smaller chunks. This often reduces writing anxiety and makes the writing process easier.
Of course, some deadlines are not quite so easy to diagnose. The self-imposed deadline, for example, is particularly formidable. If you are setting your own expectations too high, you are prepping yourself for failure.
Some writers like to set word-count or time-limited deadlines for themselves on a daily basis, but I find this method counter-productive. It produces writing anxiety in abundance and often leads to depression.
Instead, give yourself the gift of time. Decide that you will work at your own pace and let the manuscript guide you down the path toward completion.
Getting Excited
Writing is supposed to be an enjoyable activity, something to which you look forward every day. If writing anxiety is dampening your passion for the art, it's time to find ways to get excited.
For example, let's say you want to write a mystery novel. Seems like a good idea. You've got a mystery all figured out, know your characters by heart. The only problem is that you can't seem to get started.
Rather than trying to think of the perfect way to begin your mystery novel, jump ahead to the first exciting scene. Maybe you're excited about describing the murder or the theft of the jewels—go with it! There is no rule that says you must begin at the beginning.
Once you've written a few of the exciting scenes, you can go back and fill in the rest. Get something down on paper of which you can be proud, then let the rest fall into place.
This is also an excellent strategy for keeping your material fresh. You might find that you never have to write any "boring parts" once you get a few exciting scenes down on paper.
Getting Educated
Two years ago, I ghosted a novel for a client based on a screenplay he'd written. I had the script in front of me and I originally thought it would be the easiest project I'd ever undertaken. After all, with the screenplay, most of the work had been done for me.
Wrong answer, Sam.
It turned out to be the most challenging project because, even with the screenplay, the plot was terribly confusing. It dealt with industrial espionage, a genre with which I had absolutely no experience, and without the requisite knowledge the manuscript was impossible to complete.
And so, rather than bathing in writing anxiety and trying to fudge the parts I didn't understand, I hit the library. Three days later, I pulled my out out of the stacks and got back to work with not a trace of anxiety.
Research is a writer's chain mail, and you will never feel confident in your work unless you succumb to the magnetic pull of books and trade journals and magazine articles. I'll cover a how-to on research at a later date, so watch out for that article.
Finding the Cause
In the above paragraphs, I've given you lots of different ideas about what might be causing your writing anxiety. Your issue could be one of them or a combination. Whatever the case, you won't make any progress unless you identify the sources of your writing anxiety.
What makes you want to chew your nails and grind your teeth? What is it about writing that quickens your pulse and respiration? Think about this carefully for a few days before making a determination.
Once you've identified the cause, fixing it is usually easy. You can target the cause of writing anxiety directly rather than troubleshooting randomly.
Tessie O. Rios permalinkJanuary 26, 2017 8:47 am
Your articles are interesting and insightful. I have begun writing a non fiction novel but the memories are so painful that I find myself crying with each paragraph i write. I read your articles on ghostwriters and now wondering if I should take that route. Somehow working with a ghostwriter may help me accomplish this goal of completing my book. Thank you.


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I present to you, Gilles Villeneuve, at Montreal in 1978. My first large canvas pastel piece, and it turned out phenomenally.
As I write this, the original piece has already been spoken for, but I will be running this particular work as a Limited Production of 20 pieces. This piece is available by request only.


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https://voukgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/14-JUNE-2015-RAI-OOK-HOUSE-OF-MONK.jpg 579 1030 admin http://voukgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/vhm-logo1-300x188.png admin2015-06-24 17:35:112016-08-10 10:21:40Rai Ook House of Monk
Rai Ook House of Monk
On 24 June 2015,
VHM visited Rai Ook House of Monk, located at Songkhla province. The team helped to clean around the house in order to maintain a hygienic and comfortable living space for the monks. After cleaning activity, lunch was served and provided by VHM. VHM also donated some mats, pillows, blankets and cleaning equipment.


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I wanted to be an actor. I had no reason to think I could succeed in the arts, but I loved the theater. I had no formal training, I couldn't sing at all, and had never taken a single dance lesson. My stage experience was limited to a couple of very low quality high school productions but that didn't stop me from enrolling in college as a theater arts major. I had a dream. I wanted to act.
The dream died my first day of college. I do not remember what prompted the moment of reflection but after my first, very boring day at Cal State Fullerton I sat and reflected on the reality of my goals. Given my complete lack of musical talent there was no hope for Broadway. Drama or comedy were a possibility, but I was not leading man material. I was not particularly good looking. I had a very slight build and was not particularly tall (somethings never change!). "Romantic lead" was not going to ever appear on my resume. If I was going to be an actor I would have to do it the hard way. I would have to have another job and scrounge for any role I could find, likely as a bit player or character actor.
While many similarly endowed have gone that route and eventually succeeded I realized there would be another barrier to success, my beliefs and values. As a committed Christian, there were limits to the roles I could accept. There were things I would not say, even in character, and things I could not do because of my faith. There would be times I would be forced to say, "No."
As I pondered all of these facts in my head I realized I had no choice. The chances of me making it as an actor, making it to the level of being able to one day provide for a family without compromising my values, were nil. My dream had to die and it did. As I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life I dropped out of school to reconsider my life path.
This story from my past came to mind this week as I read more of the tales of abuse and harassment in Hollywood. The lurid accounts of shameful and disrespectful behavior validated the conclusion I reached almost 40 years ago. So many have given up so much in pursuit of acting careers, preyed upon by lecherous men like Harvey Weinstein. It seems it is almost impossible to make it as an actor or actress without compromising one's values.
As disgusting and offensive as the actions of Harvey Weinstein were I cannot ignore the reality of why they continued for so long. Men like Weinstein do what they do because there are men and women who are desperate enough to allow them to. Morals are tested, challenged and frequently cast aside. One compromise leads to another, and the compromises of one person lead others to feel pressured to similarly give in.
Strings of compromise lead to entitled expectations from powerful people who make or break careers. Actors and models who are willing to take off their clothes and imitate lewd behavior on camera for money or the opportunity at fame should not be surprised when others think they may be willing to do the same in private. When you have established a price, people will try to buy you.
The solution to this problem isn't only to punish the perverts (although the punishment should be severe). The solution requires values and boundaries. People need to be willing to accept the potential adverse consequences of saying, "No." They may lose coveted roles or even their careers to the whim and spite of a power-hungry sleaze, but they will keep their dignity.
They may lose a Hollywood career, but they will not lose their chance for happiness. They will have the same opportunities for happiness as the rest of the world, the happiness that comes from being a good spouse, parent, friend or co-worker. They can have joy that surpasses fame, the joy of being a good person who is true to their values. They can live a fulfilling life that is not subject to the whims of another, fulfillment dependent on neither fame nor income level.
I do not know any celebrities but my distant observations are that few of them appear to be truly happy. Most of the people I know have lives of better quality. I know I do. I have been happily married to my best friend for over 35 years. I have close relationships with my adult children. I have no skeletons in my closet and no terrible secrets waiting to be discovered. I also have my values and my dignity.
- Bart


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This Week at All Saints
This Sunday at the 10 am Service we get to join in with some wedding celebrations. Tom and Muriel Teague's daughter Nicole (grand daughter of Don and Carleen Gordon) recently married Patrick in a civil ceremony and the marriage will blessed this Sunday! Come along and shed a misty eyed tear for the happy couple.
On Tuesday 10 January at 6:00 pm our Ladies Dinner Group meets in the hall for dinner and conversation. Please sign up on the sheet by the hall if you're planning to come.
On Wednesday 11 January at 10 am we meet to celebrate Eucharist together and follow up with Bible Study. The Wednesday group is steadily growing and so is the amount of chatter and hoots of laughter during their coffee time. This is not your "aged monk sitting in a cold chamber studying ancient texts" type of Bible Study - trust me!
Make a note in your diary - Burns Night Supper will be on Friday 27 January at 6:00 pm. Tickets will be available from the church office at $20 each.
That's all for this week really - it's a nice quiet start to the year. That's a good thing considering all that we're planning for the months ahead.


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Beginning a new workout routine can be exhilarating. You feel like you are doing something healthy for your body. Unfortunately, if you haven't worked out in a while, you may feel sore afterward. That soreness can not only interfere with your daily activities but it can also make you feel hesitant about continuing with your workout plans. Understanding muscle soreness and how to cope with it is vital to helping you stick with your workout routine to lose weight and get healthy.
First, it's important to recognize that experiencing some muscle soreness after any type of strenuous physical activity, especially if you're new to it, is completely normal. This is because muscles experience a tremendous amount of stress during exercise. Mild soreness is simply a natural result of physical activity. This is most common at the beginning of any type of workout or fitness program.
What Is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness?
The gradually increasing soreness or discomfort you experience after a workout is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. This discomfort typically appears within 24 to 48 hours following physical activity. Whenever muscle tissue is stressed beyond what it is accustomed to, soreness is the result.
This typically occurs when a muscle performs a lengthening contraction. Small, nearly microscopic tears take place in the muscle fibers. It is believed that this type of damage combined with the inflammation associated with those tears is what causes the pain most people experience following a new workout.
Keep in mind that while soreness after beginning a new workout routine is normal, any aches and pains you experience should be minor. This is an indication that your muscles are simply adapting to your new regimen. Over time, your muscles will become stronger and better capable of performing your workout.
For someone who is deconditioned and has not worked out in a while, this soreness can be somewhat intimidating. One of the biggest problems is that many people who are not fit attempt to start out doing too much.
They begin a new program or join a new class and they're not told that they'll likely get sore. Since they're not familiar with it, they may even be concerned they have injured themselves. Making the situation even worse, they will not want to continue.
It's important to be aware that such soreness is normal as well as understand how to work through it without becoming discouraged. The good news is that there are things you can do to help alleviate muscle pain following a workout. Remedies such as anti-inflammatory medication, ice, rest, massage, stretching, and applying heat can all be beneficial in the recovery process.
How to Prevent and Relieve Muscle Soreness
Stretching, in particular, is often highly underrated in terms of preventing and soothing muscle soreness. Most people simply do not stretch enough. Stretching is essential to easing soreness and preventing muscle spasms. In fact, stretching both before and after a workout is vital to limbering up and lengthening your muscles.
Another important step is to take the time for a cool-down period after your workout. Just before finishing, include about 10 minutes of easy activity, such as walking or jogging, followed by stretching.
Be aware that there is nothing wrong with taking it easy for a few days while your body goes through the adaption process, but that doesn't mean stop all activity. Try engaging in some light activity, such as swimming or walking.
The key is to keep your muscles in motion. Your performance will not be at peak levels for the next several days, so go ahead and plan for a few days of easy activity to prevent any additional muscle damage while also reducing the chance of injury.
Heat therapy can also be beneficial for easing muscle soreness. Warm temperatures work to increase blood flow to the muscles. Try soaking in a hot bath. To make your bath even more soothing, add some Epsom salts.
Magnesium, which is the main component of Epsom salts, is vital for healthy muscles and works as a gentle and natural muscle relaxer. When the salts are added to a warm bath, they can then be absorbed by your skin. Applying heat directly to the area where you are experiencing pain can also help to soothe soreness.
Taking the opposite route of a cold shower just after your workout. Taking an ice bath has also been shown to help reduce muscle soreness.
Taking Omega-3s can also help to reduce soreness as well as the inflammation associated with post-workout stress. Try taking one fish oil pill per day or getting a dose of Omega-3s naturally through certain foods, such as nuts, spinach, and salmon.
Nutrition is also critical following a workout. Make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs to properly recover. Proper amounts of protein and carbohydrates are vital for muscle repair. Try snacking on some quinoa with lean chicken or having a protein smoothie after your workout.
It's also important to stay hydrated. Muscle cells require water, so dehydration can be detrimental to the recovery process. While working out drink water every 15 minutes to stay hydrated. After your workout, drink at least 20 ounces of water for every hour that you worked out.
If your soreness following a workout is particularly bad, consider treating yourself to a sports massage. A sports massage can help to increase circulation while also breaking up knots that might cause soreness in problem areas.
Never stop abruptly while exercising, as this can result in muscle damage. Instead, try to keep moving steadily to ensure fresh blood is directed to your muscles.


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Travel Medical Insurance
What is Travel Medical Insurance?
Travel Medical Insurance covers emergency medical care expenses if you are suddenly and unexpectedly sick or if you have an accident while outside your home province. Your provincial health plan only covers a fraction of any health care expenses incurred outside of Canada and it limits coverage when you are travelling to another province. Should you get sick or injured during your trip, Travel Medical Insurance will cover all or most of your medical expenses up to a pre-determined limit. This coverage will protect you against the high cost of health care, and potentially save you from financial ruin should you unexpectedly need health care outside your home province.


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Here we are with almost 12 hours of daytime. Sunrise is at 8:02 and sunset at 7:54 and we're gaining 7 minutes of daylight every day! Temps are in the 20s during the day and the -teens at night. Very shortly, we'll be moving up that thermometer.
This picture was taken down by Anchorage a couple of days ago, on the Turnagain Arm while the bore tide was coming in.


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From keeping yourself healthy to navigating the complexities of our health care system, no one should have to go it alone. In this series, we'll meet the many different professionals who are part of your Highmark health care team and learn what they do, when to contact them and how they can help you.
Ryan Grisnik has pharmacy in his blood nearly a dozen family members are pharmacists, including his father. However, it's not just tradition but the chance to help people that led him to his profession.
For the past three years, he's used his pharmacy expertise to help Highmark health plan members. Originally one of two people in his role, by April 2016 his team had grown to 10 pharmacists and begun collaborating with Highmark's multi-disciplinary Care Management Team.
Grisnik took time to talk with me about the Clinical Case Management Pharmacist service and how he and other pharmacists coordinate with case management nurses, outreach nurses, behavioral health specialists, health coaches, wellness coaches, and other members of the Care Management Team to support the health of people managing complex conditions.
Corey Florindi (CF): How did your pharmacy career begin and what brought you to Highmark?
Ryan Grisnik (RG): My first job was at a community pharmacy. My favorite part was getting out from behind the counter and working with patients one on one. Unfortunately, opportunities to do that are limited in a retail setting.
My next job was with a specialty pharmacy, where I was more involved with one-on-one counseling. Specialty drugs treat rare and complex conditions, and some prescriptions have additional legal requirements, so you have to walk a patient through some extra steps to make sure the medicine is used safely.
These previous roles only allowed me to use my clinical skills a portion of the time. At Highmark, our team spends the bulk of our time talking with members, doctors, physician's assistants, and our Highmark Care Management Team colleagues. Clinical skills and consulting with members are now the core of what I do every day.
CF: I understand you've been a big part of helping to grow the pharmacist service at Highmark over the past three years.
RG: There were two of us to start, and we enthusiastically promoted all that pharmacists could do to help members and also support other parts of the business. Once we began getting questions and consultation requests from the Highmark nurses in our department, we made sure we always delivered quality answers. And whether working with the nurses, or directly with members, we weren't just answering their questions but also anticipating other needs they might have.
During a redesign of Highmark's health care management program, the company really looked at every role in depth to see how we could work best together in supporting members. Even though the pharmacists were a small team, this process showed that we provide incredible value for the entire system. Senior management evaluated the feedback they were getting from everyone, and from that initial two-person team, we have grown to now include 10 pharmacists.
CF: What services do you provide to health plan members? And how does it work do they just call in?
RG: If members use Blues on Call (see sidebar), they will get routed to us if appropriate. But most of what we do is helping with complex cases where your first contact is probably a case management nurse they're really the "quarterbacks" in our model.
Our services include many things. Sometimes it's just providing more detailed drug information and making sure a member understands that information. Because we're with the health plan, we also understand how your coverage works, so we can answer more questions than a retail pharmacist in that respect.
Drug interactions are a big focus. If a member has polypharmacy which means taking multiple drugs at the same time we can check for potential interaction risks, or even duplications.
Keep in mind that someone with a complex condition may have multiple prescribers, and complete information about what they already take isn't always conveyed when they see a new doctor. The pharmacy checks, but people may use two or more pharmacies. You may use one pharmacy because you get a discount or fuel perks, but then for another prescription a mail-order pharmacy is cheaper, and another pharmacy may be more convenient because of location. Situations like that create gaps where an interaction or duplication might not be caught. Our team tries to find those gaps. This happens more often than you'd imagine. It can be a health risk if you're getting a double dose of something or two drugs that shouldn't be taken at the same time. There are cost issues too you don't want to be paying for the same drug twice.
We also help if someone is not taking medicine as prescribed. Is it because of cost? Were they experiencing side effects? Is there a fear of side effects? Maybe it's just a matter of forgetting or being confused about when to take a medication. We want to figure it out and get it taken care of so the medicine works the way it should.
CF: Some people might be surprised to hear that you interact more with the public now than you did as a community pharmacist. Could you talk more about that?
RG: Sure, let's look at it from both sides. Here, I'm talking with a member one on one by phone. There's privacy so the member might be comfortable asking more questions or talking about something they wouldn't at a public pharmacy counter. On my side, members have my undivided attention during a call unlike a pharmacy, I'm not worried about picking up the phone that's ringing, or watching prescriptions coming in over the fax machine, or managing a line of people at the counter.
We're really able to deliver high-quality service this way. Member satisfaction is the ultimate goal. Whenever I talk with a member, I give them my direct line and tell them to let me know if they have any other questions. I've had members call me back a year or more later even though there are certainly other pharmacists they could talk to.
I think what we're doing is good for the pharmacist profession, too. Members may be more likely to ask their community pharmacist a question in the future because they've had a good experience with us and realize how much pharmacists know and can do to help them.
CF: Pharmacists are one of several professions within Highmark's Care Management Team. Talk a little about how you all collaborate.
RG: Both on our team, and across different disciplines, working together allows us to leverage everyone's unique strengths. Nurses gather all the information and are able to look at the big picture and then give us a thread to follow to identify and resolve any pharmacy issue. Whenever I get on the phone with a member who's already talked to a nurse, I know they're going to be engaged.
This approach encourages us to be holistic together, we get a very comprehensive view and can treat the whole person. So, as pharmacists, we look at lifestyle interventions as well as medications. We all receive extensive training in motivational interviewing which is a way of asking open-ended questions and trying to find the root of a problem or maybe identify a problem no one was aware of yet.
At the end of the day, it comes down to keeping members healthy that might mean instead of talking about increasing the dose of a prescription, we talk about exercising more or healthier eating. And then we pull in a dietician or health coach because they're part of the Care Management Team, too.
CF: Can you share an example of being pulled into a complex care case to figure out a pharmacy problem?
RG: One that ties together a couple issues involved a 74-year-old man who had been prescribed a pretty expensive brand-name medication to manage chronic pain from bone cancer. He also had asthma and was on a fixed income, and, to compensate for the extra cost of his pain medication, he began taking his asthma inhaler once a day instead of twice a day as prescribed.
His case manager nurse referred him to me. Now, ultimately, this came down to cost, but we needed to work together to find a better solution. So first, I recommended that he ask his doctor about a less expensive, generic pain medicine that was similar to what he was taking. But I also talked to him about the importance of taking his inhaler twice a day. He didn't realize that the inhaler medicine only lasted 12 hours in his system and then it's pretty much gone, so taking it once a day put him at risk for the other 12 hours. I asked him to compare what he was saving on his inhaler copay with how much money he would lose if he had to go to the hospital because of not taking the medication. That clicked for him.
I followed up three weeks later and his doctor had switched him to the generic pain medicine, and because he was back to taking his inhaler twice a day, he said he'd been breathing better, had more energy, and felt better.
CF: Is there anything you wish health plan members knew more about with Highmark's pharmacy and other Care Management Team services?
RG: It's just increasing awareness that we have these services. Many times when members get a call from one of our nurses, they don't know how much we have to offer as part of their health plan. This is a valuable resource a whole multi-disciplinary team of professionals from the medical community backing them, ready to help, and it's free to members with their health plan.


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Charity of the year 2017 donation
What a privilege it was to present Teresa from AWARE NI with £3000 for this very important charity. As our 2017 chosen charity, AWARE was the centre of our fundraising events, including cake sales, coffee mornings, an Ironman challenge, a table quiz & various raffles. We would like to thank our staff members & suppliers who donated so generously.


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To many, the Eclipse CS1 altered the high-end marker landscape for good. With its incredibly soft shot, minimal kick, bullet-proof reliability and quiet sound signature it gave the professional athlete the ultimate tool needed to succeed.
But in an increasingly fast-paced and wildly competitive arena where success is expected, the pressure for players and teams to develop and improve is huge, so we must match this pace with improvements to our equipment.
Taking influences from the CSR and CSPro versions of the CS1, the CS1.5 brings a well balanced performance package that will continue the success of the platform. And those who use it.
Gone are the sweeping lines and curves of the original, replaced with a more direct and angular styling package of hard edges and notches throughout hinting at the CS1.5s 'all business' attitude. These cutting styling cues continue with a bespoke POPS design and blade trigger completing the look.
The Blade Trigger emphasises the more angular styling along with a bespoke AT2 POPS System to reflect the aggressive body lines
The cosmetic changes continue with a new low-profile feed neck with self-locking sprocket thumbwheel to streamline the profile of the CS1.5
Finally, the hugely popular Shaft FL carbon fibre barrel system that debuted with the CSR (designed and manufactured in collaboration with DeadlyWind™) has been added to the package for optimum performance and weight saving intent. And speaking of weight, the CS1.5 weighs just 892g, over 90g lighter than the original CS1.
The insanely light Shaft Fl Carbon Fibre two-piece barrel with rubber grip section performs as good as it looks
In short, the Eclipse CS1.5 is proof that through continual development we can truly make something great, even greater.


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Katrina Kaif At Phantom Trailer Launch. Katrina Kaif attends the launch of the trailer of her upcoming film 'Phantom' in Mumbai. She will be seen starring opposite Saif Ali Khan for the first time in the movie. It's directed by Kabir Khan. Checkout Katrina Kaif Pictures.
Last 5 posts in Bollywood Events
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- Aishwarya Rai - Bachchan's Diwali 2016 Party
- Katrina Kaif - 'Fitoor' Movie Trailer Launch
- Aditi Rao Hydari & Dia Mirza - Prithvi Theatre Festival 2015


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Written by Suzie Majer
1. a glass of water
There is no end to the benefits of keeping yourself hydrated, let's face it. I find it helps me maintain focus and definitely keeps me cool in the warmer months. It keeps my skin from looking any older too!
If I'm not properly hydrated, I feel like my body just isn't working as well as it could be. I know you're meant to drink at least 8 glasses a day… sometimes I get to 5.30pm and try to drink my last 3 glasses consecutively.
2. my phone
I tend to be on this a lot! My phone is a great tool for productivity - I love being able to access my emails and our JobAdder database no matter where I am.
Plus, it's nice to have a look at my screensaver shot of Henry when things are going haywire and I can't pull myself away from my desk 😊
My go-to apps are Sonos, Tidal, my online banking app, the weather app (I need to know if it's going to rain as can't have frizzy hair at work!), the Insta app of course and the currency converter for online shopping...
3. lip balm
Clarins lip balm is my go to! I don't often wear lipstick – lipbalm is just quick and easy! I'm not big into makeup, period. Didn't they say the natural look was back??
Plus, in the mornings, trying to get myself ready, do homework with Henry, pack lunches and walk Arthur there's not much time for anything else!
4. medicated hand wash
I shake a lot of hands...
When you have an 9 year old son, a new dachshund and you're out & about meeting people as often as I am, it's important to stay on top of hygiene! I make sure to always use a medicated hand wash and there may or may not be more than one bottle of hand sanitizer in my desk drawer. I use the Dettol brand because it feels and smells so clean and it's easy to grab at the supermarket!!
An honorable mention should go to one more thing I can't leave the house without - Rosken Skin Repair. OMG…. best hand cream ever!! Simple and cheap from the supermarket but oh so good. Over the years friends have given me Aesop hand creams & lots of other divine balms but nothing does the job like the trusty Rosken!
5. snacks
I'm all about making sure I have a stash of snacks at Majer HQ in case I don't have time to duck out for a break. The world of recruitment is so unpredictable - I like to make sure I'm prepared for anything and that I'm keeping my body fueled throughout the day. I'm definitely a grazer...
My go-to snacks are a packet of raw nuts, a piece of fruit and a tin of tuna. My new dog, Arthur, always has some treats on-hand as well, and Team Majer definitely has a secret stash of chocolate for the harder days... we buy them to give to our clients but more often than not… they never leave the building.


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Visual Liturgical Arts in Worship
We worship and appreciate the love and beauty of God with all our senses. Recognizing this, often art projects coordinating with themes in worship are prepared for installation in the HSLC sanctuary that aim to deepen our connection with the Divine. Creative, crafty individuals are always needed and welcome to assist! See below for a few images of past projects. Contact John at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Free Webinar, "SMBIOS 3.0 Release Overview", Now Available On-Demand
In case you missed it, the free webinar, "SMBIOS 3.0 Release Overview" is now available on-demand in the DMTF Learning Center. Find this and all of DMTF's past live events directly on the DMTF BrightTALK channel.
Are you a DMTF member interested in speaking opportunities with BrightTALK to showcase your work with the DMTF? Contact Liz Johnson of StrongPR at firstname.lastname@example.com to learn more about upcoming opportunities.


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Faculty Directory » Robin Dinda
Office Hours:
Semester: Fall 2019
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
Office Information:
Room Number: Conlon 161
Phone: 978-665-3015
Email: email@example.com
Website: http://www.robindinda.com/
Courses Taught:
Commonwealth of the Arts (MUSC 2000)
Commonwealth of the Ancient Arts (MUSC 2100)
Art of Music (MUSC 1000)
American Music (MUSC 3500)
History of Jazz (AAST 3800, MUSC 3800)
Music Theory (MUSC 2200)
Harmony (MUSC 2240, MUSC 2350)
Opera (MUSC 3200)
Private instruction, independent study, and seminars taught in: composition, graduate composition, orchestration, advanced harmony, jazz harmony, piano
DMA The University of Michigan 1986
MMus The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music 1982
AB Davidson College (Honors in Music) 1980
Research Interests:
Recipient of the 2003 Faculty Scholarship and Research Award
Research Interests Include
- American music
- 20th century music
- Music notation
- Humanities in the ancient world
Current Projects:
- "Seasonal Hymn Preludes," a 15-volume set of compositions for organ. Volumes I-VIII are published; Volume IX (Trinity and All Saints) is scheduled for publication in 2018.
- "Historical Organ Techniques and Repertoire: The Modern Age." A three-volume treatise with anthology of 80 pieces concerning the performance of organ music 1910-2010, published by Wayne Leupold Editions. Publication planned for 2019.
- Technical Editor (errata) for "Dudley Buck: Complete Organ Works," four volumes to be published by Wayne Leupold Editions. Volume I published in 2004. Volume II scheduled for 2018.
- Compositions published exclusively since 1990 by Wayne Leupold Editions. Currently over 130 compositions in print. Published works performed across the United States, in Canada and Mexico, in multiple European countries, and in Japan.
- Numerous compositions commissioned and premiered across the United States and in Europe.
- Active organ recitalist throughout the United States.
- Workshop clinician (organ and composition) at numerous venues.
Representative Publications:
Please see website (above) for publications, commissions, and recordings.
Robin Dinda's Publisher is Wayne Leupold Editions
Professional Affiliations:
Elected to writer membership in ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), 1995.
- FAGO Fellowship Certificate, The American Guild of Organists, 1990
- AAGO Associate Certificate, The American Guild of Organists, 1988


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Lisa Binkley
Hendersonville High Hendersonville, TN Class of 1981
Memories of Lisa Binkley
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GTE checking accounts offer you fantastic services such as the ability to earn GTE Go Points rewards for enrolling in financial features, an option to receive your paycheck early, Overdraft Protection or Courtesy Pay, account balances alerts, and online check ordering.
Direct Deposit is the electronic transfer of your paycheck, Social Security benefit, pension, annuity check, or other payment into your account. Direct Deposit increases the safety and convenience of processing your check. You no longer need to worry about your paper check being lost or stolen and having to wait in line to cash it. Your entire paycheck can be distributed in any combination to your accounts each pay period. You can even earn Go Points for enrolling!
Looking for the routing and account number? GTE Financial's routing number is 263182794, the account number is unique to your relationship with GTE and can be found by logging into Online Banking.Click here to download the form to give to your employer and enroll in Direct Deposit with your checking account.
Want to receive your paycheck a day early? For only $3 per deposit, you can! You work hard for your money, and who doesn't like to receive it faster? Well, with GTE's Early Paycheck option, now you can have access to your funds a day quicker. The deposit will only be posted early if your employer has transferred the money on-time.
How to Enroll
In the event you have non-sufficient funds in your checking account when you go to make a purchase or complete a transaction, you can have available funds automatically transferred from another GTE account like a Savings, Special Savings, Money Market account, or even a Personal Line of Credit to cover the costs.
To add one of your accounts as overdraft protection:
When your balance is getting low, you may want to avoid an overdraft. Or, maybe you want an alert when you've reached a certain savings goal! You can setup a custom Account Balance Notification within Online Banking. This is a free service that will help you have more control over your money.
Allows you to overdraw your checking account, to a limit, if funds are not available when a transaction posts*. For example, if your car breaks down, and you don't have enough money in your checking to pay for it, Courtesy Pay may be helpful. Instead of being declined and stuck on the side of the road, Courtesy Pay will allow you to pay for the repairs, even if you don't have the funds in your account to cover the costs.
To have this benefit applied to your ATM/Debit Card transactions, you must be opted-in. Every member is automatically enrolled for Check/ACH transactions.
Complete the Courtesy Pay Form and reply by mail.All GTE checking accounts are eligible for Courtesy Pay except for the Go Further account.
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Clinton: School boards' anti-Catholic scare tactics in 1928 election
A warning to political junkies: This has very little to do with the burning issues of the presidential campaign. Sometimes, we just like to fact-check claims about history.
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton dropped an intriguing nugget in our laps when she spoke at the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner in New York on Oct. 20, 2016. After making joke after joke at Donald Trump's expense, Clinton turned serious and reminded her audience of the anti-Catholic bigotry Al Smith faced when he ran for president in 1928. Most of the arguments against Smith stemmed from the belief that Smith would be a puppet for Rome and the pope. One conspiracy theory was that the pope and Smith would ban protestant versions of the Bible.
"It is important to just reflect how groundbreaking it was for him, a Catholic, to be my party's nominee for president," she said. "Don't forget, school boards sent home letters with children saying that if Al Smith is elected president, you will not be allowed to have or read a Bible."
We wondered if that was so.
The Clinton campaign pointed us to a New York Times article from 2011. In the article, historian Robert Slayton at Chapman University described the hysteria stirred up by Smith's candidacy.
"Feelings were so strong that they swirled into a hurricane of abuse, a crescendo of fear and hate blasting through eight weeks," Slayton wrote. "The school board of Daytona Beach, Fla., sent a note home with every student. It read simply: 'We must prevent the election of Alfred E. Smith to the Presidency. If he is elected President, you will not be allowed to have or read a Bible.' "
Clinton made the school boards plural; Slayton only mentioned one.
We asked Slayton if he had an image of the note. He didn't, although he said the anecdote might have come from a 1932 book The Shadow of the Pope by Michael Williams.
We tracked down the book in the stacks at the Georgetown University library. Williams described something appreciably different from what Clinton and Slayton had said.
Williams wrote about a Sunday school -- a class held on Sundays to teach about religion --, not a public school board.
"On September 16, 1928, a Sunday school in Daytona Beach, Fla., (said the Daytona Times), was reported as acquiescing in a plan whereby the children were handed cards and told to pass them on the their mothers.
"It is stated that the cards declared: 'We must prevent the election of Alfred E. Smith to the Presidency. If he is chosen President, you will not be allowed to have or read a Bible.' "
Williams went on to write that this plan "is reported to have originated in St. Paul, Minn., and to have been used in other places." So it's possible that other Sunday schools did this, but we don't really know.
We've tried without luck to find the Daytona Times report. If anyone reading this is able to find the article, or find an example from St. Paul, we welcome the help.
Our ruling
Clinton said that in 1928, school boards sent kids home with a note warning that if Al Smith were elected president, they would not be allowed to own or read a Bible.
It appears that reference tracks back to a 1932 book, and a newspaper article before that, that spoke of a Sunday school in Daytona Beach passing out a note. There is a chance that other Sunday schools in other states did likewise, but we don't have proof of that. There is a big difference between a Sunday school and a public school.
The anti-Catholic sentiment Clinton talked about was real and there's credible evidence that the note she described went home with some children. But her statement is only partially accurate.
We rate this claim Half True.https://www.sharethefacts.co/share/fd009790-f44c-49a8-909f-e659f86df74b


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Employer: Apex Resources Salary: £12.50 PER HOUR
Duration: Temporary Hours: 40 - 45 PER WEEK, MONDAY TO FRIDAY, BETWEEN 8AM - 5PM
Vacancy Description
You must have a CSCS card. Duties to include: all re-wiring and inputting switches.
You can apply for this job by telephoning 01254 504940 and asking for Jordan Whalley.
Location: Richmond, Surrey TW10
Phone: 01254 504940


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TIFF Style Picks from Consign Toronto
|September 6, 2018
|Filled under Style & Beauty
It's that time of year again! Now that the Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 6-16) is rocking the city with a lot of star power – you will want to look your best! Consign Toronto, GTA's largest chain of pre-owned designer fashion and accessories, offers up high-end style at a fraction of the cost. Here are a few of our top picks:
This Nina Ricci Black Sequin Dress ($650) will make a grand entrance at any TIFF party! Made in France, it is a light polyester wear in size small (38).
Remain incognito or shield against flash photography with these pink Dior Sunglasses ($200).
Add a dash of animal print with this Roberto Cavalli Bangle Bag ($250). Made in Italy, it features a gold-tone removable bangle and is satin with leather lining.
For more info visit Consign Toronto www.shopconsigntoronto.com @Consigntoronto @ctconsigntoronto


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The first photos are in from World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2014 in Horsham Park. Thanks to all of the new and current students for attending and helping with schools across the globe celebrate our love of Tai Chi and Qigong.
It's a special day in the Tai Chi calendar, and each year our class size has doubled. We started modestly with 3 students in 2012 and pouring rain, then 2013 with freezing temperatures and now 12 of us in much milder agreeable weather. Hope to top that next year! A sincere thanks to my students for making our school what it is, a friendly Tai Chi and Qigong community of lovely like-minded people who enjoy mindful powerful movements, meditation, humour and making friends. Thank you, Nicola.


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Jelly Skellies
sold out
Jelly Skellies
4"x6" Premium silky smooth vinyl sticker sheet. Each skull is approximately 1.5" in diameter. These puppies are durable and resistant to water, fading, scratching and tearing.
Slap 'em on your water bottle, phone case, snowboard or anything your heart wishes.
*Each sticker sheet comes with 8 skulls.
Add To Cart


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Smaller 0201/210/0447 type boxes > 3.7" x 1.5" x 4.8" (94 x 40 x 124mm) 0447 50 BOXES
This is an excellent box for Storing smaller items, office consumables, hardware items, buttons, processors, trinkets, jewellery.confetti, hair accessories etc
This box is 94 x 40 x 124mm Plain white so can be decorated to your own tastes to make it individual, add labels for a more proffessional business look.
This is a Feco style 0447. (similar design to a Pack of cards container, ear and tab top style
This product is sold in boxes of 400.
WE can offer larger quanities if required please contact us with details on what quanitity you require and your postcode and we will email you back with a price and delivery charge
All prices exclude VAT


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Chapman students and faculty are bringing non-service dogs to class, which may pose a distraction.
Sammy Keane, junior studio art major, doesn't attend class alone. Keane, like other Chapman students and professors, brings a furry companion.
Chapman has no policy against dogs in the classroom, according to Equal Opportunity and Employee Relations Specialist Rick Zeiger. Students and faculty have taken advantage of this by bringing their non- service animals to class. Some bring their dogs as a registered emotional support animal. Others just bring their dog to socialize and not be left alone at home. While the owners describe their pets as well behaved, dogs can disrupt the learning environment by running around, barking and whining, or making a mess of the classroom. Dog owners request permission from professors and students before bringing their dogs into the classroom and ensure their dog is a minimal distraction. Some students find dogs distracting and would prefer them to be left at home.
Keane was granted permission to bring a dog to class before she purchased her Labrador and golden retriever mixed puppy, Noodle.
"I bring her because no one is home to watch her and my roommates and I want her to be more social," Keane said.
Keane says she brings Noodle to class for convenience and to make her more social.
There are a number of faculty members that bring their furry friends to school as well for similar reasons. Keane says she has had four professors who have brought their dogs to class, and sophomore dance major Raea Palmieri has seen five professors with dogs around campus.
More professors in the art department bring their dogs, compared to other subjects, according to Keane and Palmieri.
"Especially as an art major, we have a different type of learning atmosphere," Keane said.
The laid back and expressive ambiance of art classes is a welcoming environment for dogs, Keane said.
Palmieri chooses not to bring her dog to her math lecture because the environment is more concentration.
"Math is a more complex subject and I don't want to distract people," Palmieri said.
Freshman journalism major, McKenna Sulick, has feared dogs since she was young. The presence of dogs distracts her and makes her feel nervous. She is afraid to tell dog owners that she feels uncomfortable because so many people are dog lovers, Sulick said.
"People can get offended that you wouldn't want to have their dog around," she said. "I usually just deal with it."
"If I was more confident in myself, I would ask (students and professors) to leave their dogs at home," Sulick said.
Palmieri considers that her French Bulldog, Gypsy might be a distraction in her classes. however, she has asked for permission and no one has complained – to her, at least.
"While I know that not everyone is a dog person, most people don't mind having her in class and a lot of people actually enjoy it," Palmieri said.
Gypsy doesn't bark or bite according to Palmieri, but she has gotten sick in class.
"The worst thing Gypsy ever did in class was projectile vomit," said Palmieri. "She had a stomach bug and someone picked her up with her mouth facing outwards and she projectile vomited at the front of the class… It was really gross."
Palmieri cleaned up the mess with the help of two classmates before resuming class, she said.
Facilities did not respond to whether pet waste is an issue in the classrooms.
Despite this messy incident, Palmieri continues to bring her emotional support animal to class.
Unlike service animals, emotional support animals do not require specific training but are required to behave in all settings, according to a website that registers emotional support animals.
As emotional support animal phenomena grows in popularity, researchers question the effectiveness of emotional support animals on personal mental health.
"Isolating the effect of a pet in the context of all the other factors that influence a person's mental health is so hard, so the evidence there is really, really mixed," said Molly Crossman, a psychology researcher at Yale.
Emotional support animals and service animals are permitted on campus and in residence halls according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Yet the process of registering a dog as an emotional support animal is as simple as a Google search and a small fee.
Gypsy is a registered service dog and Palmieri feels less anxious in class because she can put some of her energy into paying attention to her dog.
"Having my dog in class, surprisingly makes me focus more because I have no additional time to go on my computer and be distracted from the lecture," Palmieri said.
Professor CK Magliola said she sees no harm in bringing emotional support animals and pets to class. Magliola brings her dog, Ginger, which she describes as small and harmless, to her women's studies classes. She allows students to bring their pets as well.
"Most folks who ever bring their dogs to class have a dog whose temperament is well-suited for it, or else their owners wouldn't bring them," Magliola said. "If there were a dog not well-suited for this kind of public environment (and barked or whatever) or if anyone felt intimidated, I wouldn't allow it,"
Out of the four of five classes Magliola teaches, she says only one or two students will regularly bring dogs.
"If the school was a crazy zoo and any untoward incidents happened then there would be cause to regulate the matter, but there seems to be no evidence or just cause for this as far as I know," Magliola said.


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Hendricks County Parks & Recreation currently has an opening for Part-Time Maintenance.
This person will work 28 hours per week at McCloud Nature Park, Sodalis Nature Park, the portion of the Vandalia Trail that spans from Amo through Coatesville to the Hendricks-Putnam County line, and W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park.
Essential job functions include:
- Perform general landscape duties as directed.
- Maintain, clean, and make basic repairs of landscape equipment.
- Assist Park Manager with building and facility maintenance.
- Diligent compliance to all safety procedures.
- Displaying an exceptionally helpful and friendly attitude to all parks visitors.
- Ability to work without direct supervision for long periods of time.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply for this position.
- Experience with standard landscape maintenance equipment.
- Ability to effectively and politely assist staff and members of the public.
- Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.
- A high degree of pride in work performed and self-motivation is essential.
License or Certificates:
- Must possess a valid driver's license and the demonstration of a safe driving record.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands:
- Duties will be performed primarily outdoors during all seasons of the year.
- This position requires the ability to walk/stand for long periods of time, walking on uneven terrain, and lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
- Persons in this position must be responsible and feel comfortable working alone for hours at a time.
- Some weekends and some holidays may be required.
Part-time maintenance employees report directly to the Park Manager or Park Naturalist as directed.
Please direct any questions about this position to Park Manager Jim Holtsclaw at (317) 489-8807 or email@example.com.
To view the job description, click here.
To view and complete the Hendricks County Government job application, click here.
Applications should be submitted to: Hendricks County Human Resources, 355 S. Washington Street, #217, Danville, IN 46122.


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Commentary: Don't ignore signs of depression in seniors
Depression affects more than 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans over 65, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Because increased age often brings loss, families and friends might think that sadness and depression are a normal part of aging.
Age-related physical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, thyroid disorders or chronic pain can lead to depression, as can memory or cognitive difficulties.
Side effects of multiple medications taken by the older population can also lead to depression. Older adults might be more at risk for depression due to life changes such as the loss of a spouse or close friend, social isolation, loss of independence or moving out of their longtime home. Some research suggests that almost half of those in nursing care are depressed.
Yet recent research suggests that on average, older adults appear to be happier than their younger counterparts.
The diagnosis of depression is best left to medical professionals because of the varied causes of symptoms. However, family and friends need to stay alert to the signs and encourage their loved one to seek help if symptoms are influencing their quality of life.
Signs of depression include confusion or forgetfulness, eating less, weight loss or gain, neglecting self-care such as not bathing, shaving, or wearing dirty clothes, not taking care of the home as they did in the past, irritability, sleep disruption, fatigue, social withdrawal, and self-medicating through alcohol or drug use. Although any one of these signs might have an explanation other than depression — confusion or forgetfulness might also be a sign of a memory or cognitive disorder — they all can indicate a mental or physical health problem that should be addressed. Taken together, one or more of these signs might also indicate depression.
Because many of the symptoms of depression can be dismissed as part of another illness or as part of normal aging, depression in older adults is often missed as a diagnosis.
Left untreated, depression can worsen physical illness and contribute to cognitive decline. Untreated depression can even put people at risk of suicide.
According to the NIH, the rate of suicide among adults older than 65 is slightly higher than the suicide rate among the general population.
Depressive disorders are not part of normal aging, and they can be treated. A combination of medication and talk therapy is the most common approach.
People with depression should seek help by discussing their symptoms with their primary-care doctor, who may refer them to a psychologist or psychiatrist specializing in treating depression. If the person can't seek help, a family member or friend should accompany him or her to the doctor. For people whose depression is caused by inactivity or social isolation, healthy levels of exercise, social activity and connection with others can also be helpful.


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Soul Pancake.
Last night we moseyed (in tons of traffic) on over to Mountain View's Books, Inc. for a Soul Pancake book signing and reading. My own Soul Pancake book came my way recently as a birthday present from my sister. We've been fans of one of the book's content co-director, Golriz Lucina, ever since we came across her awesomely adorable wedding video from Green Wedding Shoes. It not only brought us to tears (true love always moves me) but took us on a DIY-creatively-inspired-crafting spree that hasn't stopped since. Anyway, when I read that the Soul Pancake peeps were going to be right here in the Bay Area, we were stoked! Not only did we get to meet the hilarious and brilliant Rainn Wilson, but also Golriz (and Devon) who's blog and thoughts and creativity is an inspiration for my own blog and thoughts and creativity. By the way, the Soul Pancake authors were everything I imagined them to be: eccentric, friendly, personable, and beautiful! Oh, and the Soul Pancake book (not to be forgotten) is also beautiful and eccentric and I can't wait to chew on life's big questions.
cozy hunter: golriz lucina.
(this was well worth the wait!)


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This month's guest blogger is Arti Patel, UK, a Baha user who was born with Treacher Collins and hearing loss. She now dedicates her time to help others in her situation, by working as a Membership Assistant for the National Deaf Children's Society and volunteering at the National Registry for Bone Anchored Hearing Systems. This is her Baha story:
"This year marks 20 years since I was fitted with a bone conduction hearing solution. My parents really made a leap into the unknown when they agreed I should have this new hearing implant. I can say without a doubt, that it was the BEST decision they ever made for me.
I was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS), a genetic condition affecting the development of the tissues and bones within the face. This resulted in smaller jaw bones and under developed cheekbones and ears. I was diagnosed with a hearing loss when I was 2 years old and was fitted with behind the ear hearing aids. Although these worked well, I suffered from frequent ear infections and those pesky things never stayed in my ears!
Thankfully, someone mentioned the implantable bone conduction to my parents and the process began. I was referred to the esteemed Mr Proops in Birmingham and had my surgery* when I was 5 years old. I don't remember much about it, apart from waking up with a bandage on my head and getting a new teddy bear which I've kept to this day.
When I was fitted my brand new Baha Sound Processor, my parents noticed a difference straight away. My speech improved, I became more confident and started doing better at school. The first couple of weeks my parents helped me take the sound processor on and off, however I quickly learned to do this myself.
Now, no one ever notices my sound processor, but that doesn't stop me telling everyone about it. At school, the teachers were great and very eager to see this new piece of technology. I remember standing up in class at school and telling everyone about my new hearing implant, and how it helps me to hear. The other kids were pretty fascinated and thought it was the coolest thing ever. I'm very lucky that people have always accepted me for who I am. They've understood that the Baha solution makes my life better.
In school, the FM system was a huge support to help me hear the teachers in the noisy classroom. Of course, technology has improved massively since then and most systems are now wireless and more reliable.
Without the Baha System, I wouldn't be where I am today. I'm thrilled to be volunteering for the Ear Foundation Registry which was developed with the support of Cochlear Europe and Oticon Medical, and will help secure the future of the Baha solution in both the UK and worldwide.
It's been a great privilege to share my experience, and one of the best things about having a Baha sound processor is meeting fantastic people through the Ear Foundations' Baha forum. One question I always get asked is, 'Would you recommend the Baha solution'? Of course my answer is, YES!
You can read more about me and my Baha experience on my blog.
Love, Arti"
* In the United States and Canada, the placement of a bone-anchored implant is contraindicated in children below the age of 5


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On this week's edition of The Takeover with T.M. Powell, a disappointing start to the Dark Universe in The Mummy has T.M. all bummed out. Learn what went wrong with The Mummy and find out what movie you should see instead of this new remake. The true life story Megan Leavey or the intense thriller It Comes at Night? Check out the video above to find out.
Check out T.M.'s full reviews of The Mummy, Megan Leavey, & It Comes at Night.
Watch DECLASSIFIED for a FULL SPOILER REVIEW of The Mummy
Follow T.M. on Twitter @tmpowellCW44 and become a fan on Facebook.
Read all of T.M.'s reviews HERE!


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Lowline Lab - Nitty Gritty Soil Health Workshop with LES Ecology Center
A couple weeks ago I went to the Lowline Lab for a session on dirt quality and composting. We learned not only of some great composting initiatives going on around the city, but also lots of great facts around dirt types and components.
Here are some of my notes:
- Residential buildings in Manhattan generate 11,000 tons of trash a day and 30% of it is food related (this isn't even including restaurant food waste).
- All of this trash travels via ships, trains, and highways to go to Virginia or Ohio to get dumped.
- It costs us $400 million for this exportation out of a $1.4 billion budget for waste services
- Not only can decomposed food material in general improve soil quality, but we can use specific food types for specific purposes/goals. i.e. roses need calcium, so we can add eggshells to the compost and soil.
- Healthy soil with the proper balance of components holds water well enough for the plants to intake and encourages fungus growth which furthers nutrient absorption
- Fertilizer is composed of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, which are necessary elements for plant growth. However while fertilizers carry the danger of overuse and runoff into water sources, compost slowly releases these elements to the plants without these risks.
- Soil is composed of solid material/particles, organic matter, water, and air.
-There are three types of solid particles in soil: silt, sand, and clay, and in most cases we want a equal balance of the three - this type of soil is called loam.
- Compost can act as an amendment to these solid particles to aid in moisture retention.
- We can use a Soil Composition test to see the balance of particle types in our soil. This can be done by filling a beaker half way with a soil sample, adding water to an inch from the top, then adding 1-2 drops of soap. This will separate the soil into sand, silt, and clay layers.
- Other soil additives include vermiculite (the small white particles in potting soil), which help to add pore space and oxygen, and coconut husk.
- Vermicasting, "soil" from worms, should be mixed into soil but not used as soil itself as this would provide too much energy for the plant to take in at once.
This event was a great intro to soil science and soil health, and like the barefoot experiment has a few potential "next steps" to explore:
- Try a soil composition test!
- Read Soil and Decomposition Science Manual
- Volunteer at community garden or compost center and get my hands dirty
- Further research and investigate Lowline Lab itself and similar converted greenspaces


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I soon found out I had assumed Escait would be an entirely different sort of desert. Instead of a sandy desert like the Sahara, it was more like the Mojave. In some places the ground was still sandy, but in general it was more like dirt than sand. Plants grew, mostly small spindly shrubs and trees, but there were plants that weren't cacti.
I didn't really appreciate the difference, however. It was still dry and hot and very uncomfortable to traverse. I couldn't wear my armor as I rode- at least not the plate part of it. Even then, I found myself with too many layers. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if it were actually summer… but spring was bad enough.
In the cities I stopped in along the way- spaced approximately a half day or full day's ride from each other- I learned several things I probably should have already known before coming. First, they used the same alphabet, including numerals, as Othya. That was good, because whatever magic granted me the ability to speak Othyan didn't extend to other languages. This meant if prices were written down, it was fairly easy to figure them out… if I knew what the prices were for.
Fortunately most of the innkeepers spoke Othyan. At least, enough to get by. The language sounded somewhat familiar. It was sort of like listening to Spanish. Not that the actual language resembled Spanish- despite the area's similarity to the Mojave- but rather it definitely seemed to have come from the same root language, whatever that was.
The prices for a bed and meals were basically the same- perhaps slightly more expensive, but still reasonable. I didn't think I was getting ripped off, at the very least. If I was… I didn't really care. I just wanted to try to find Kantrilla as fast as I could. However, the distance between the cities pretty much set the amount of time it would take me to reach Inassas unless I wanted to risk sleeping outside a city. Since I didn't have any camping gear, I didn't like the idea much.
Along the way I found myself attacked by giant lizards. Giant by the standards of Earth, anyway, but they were somewhat smaller than wolves still. From the road, it wasn't hard to see them coming. The area was relatively flat and open anyway, but the road even more so. I had to stop and dismount Cass to deal with them, but most groups were driven away when I shot one or two with arrows. Only once did I have to use my heavy mace to attack… and I learned something interesting. It barely seemed to have any sort of magic at all. Not that it seemed to be out of energy or wearing out, but just that it had little effect. It was still magical, but its frost powers apparently weren't much good with all of the heat and lack of moisture. It still did something but it no longer created sheets of ice everywhere it struck. It was good to find out I couldn't rely on that in a somewhat safe fashion.
All in all, my journey wasn't terribly exciting. Sure, any attacks by dog-sized lizards would have been notable on Earth, but here they were just… part of life. They weren't a cause for concern, though I did my best to avoid taking injuries because I had no one to heal my wounds. I also couldn't be sure if they were the sort of lizards with infectious bites, though I had the feeling those wouldn't be common even here.
Inassas itself was a startling sight. It was built primarily on top of a mesa. The mesa itself was as if someone had talked about a mountain, but forgot to mention that they aren't just a section of land that went straight up. The mesa, not knowing any better, was a giant area of reddish-brown rock that seemed as if it could almost be pushed back down into the ground. I could see the city on top, and the buildings near the edge. Up there, it had no wall. Not that it would have done any good, since anything that could climb up the side of the cliff faces could easily climb a bit more wall.
However, at the base of the mesa was the rest of the city that sort of spilled over the edge. It seems they had run out of room, and started building around the bottom, though it appeared to be on just one side so far. The lower city had a wall around it, made out of the same reddish-brown rock as the mesa itself.
Though I'd heard about the city, a description couldn't do it justice. In addition to the buildings at the bottom and top of the mesa, there were a few areas carved into its sides. I imagined they would have a very nice view, though it would take quite a few stairs to actually access them.
At the gates I stopped to show the guards my identification. "Othya?" One of the guards looked at me and asked, then nodded and waved me through after glancing over me.
I headed for the center of the city, which I assumed would be accessed via the giant winding path I could see crossing back and forth up the side of the mesa. It clearly wasn't natural- at least not entirely. Perhaps it had sloped more gradually, but it was clearly carved out further and further in before finally reaching the top after many back and forths. Cass didn't seem to be having any trouble with all of the uphill motion, but I was going to make sure she got well fed tonight.
First, however, I had to find someone. The adventurer's guild was supposed to be near the city center, and Timmy had said Kazik could help me. I didn't know who he was, but I figured I should meet him first. As I moved through the city streets, I noticed a few walled off sections. Some of them seemed to just be large manors, but one of them was guarded and I saw just a hint of blackness peeking over it. A dungeon, then. I wondered if it came before the city or after, and what it contained but I didn't have the time to go exploring at the moment. I had important business… and I absolutely had to succeed. If I couldn't somehow rescue Kantrilla… I wasn't sure what I would do.
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