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A Tribute to His Country-An Interview with Khizr Khan
In the summer of 2016, a South Asian gentleman and his wife took the stage at the DNC convention and shouted, "Mr. Trump have YOU read the U.S. Constitution?!" Khizr's speech took the media by storm and moved people with the poignant story of his son Humayun Khan.
This past weekend, Khizr came to Austin, Texas to talk about his life since that memorable day along with discussing his life story and the two books he recently published. The proceeds for both books are going to the Captain Humayun Khan Memorial Fund. The funds will be used to provide scholarships for students at the University of Virginia.
Some highlights from his talk:
His initial speech for the DNC was 12 pages long, his wife Ghazal helped him shorten it to the two minute required time.
It was Donald's Trump bigoted statements against Muslims is what motivated him to speak at the DNC.
One of his favorite lines is, "So what if you're thirsty, be a river for others to drink."
I found it to be an incredibly profound line, regardless of the trials you face, make sure to help others.
"A persons life is not complete unless your education is complete."
Desis and their passion for education!
"Sometimes time chooses you, right now we have been chosen in this difficult time of history. Make sure you can look back and say that you did what you could during this difficult time."
He realizes it is easy to be lazy and not vote, but what we don't realize are the sacrifices many people make to allow us to have the ability to freely vote.
He does not intend to run for office in the near future.
Khizr Khan was also kind enough to do an interview for us as well! So tune in and hear our interview with Khizr Khan. He discusses why he decided to speak at the DNC convention and why South Asians and Muslims must be civically engaged.
** We sincerely apologize for the background noise, we had to interview in the lobby of the venue!**
Some other pictures from the event:


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subset: commoncrawl


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Multitasking is a true art form and the Becca One Perfecting Brush makes it easy. Ten brushes in every girls' collection become obsolete the moment you pick up your One Perfecting brush. One of the most amazing things about the brush is that it can be used with primers, cremes, powders, and liquids. I'm waiting for my brush to start mopping the floor and making me dinner.
As it's called the "chameleon" of brushes, it definitely is able to do all a "foundation brush, powder brush, contour brush, bronzer brush, stipple brush, blush brush, fan brush, kabuki, and sponge" can do and more. The first moment I swept it up to feel the silky soft bristles, I was skeptical that such a square brush would be able to give me the airbrushed, seamless quality it promised. I found myself to be wrong when I used it for the first time today. The bristles are packed into a horizontal design for a very specific purpose – it allows you to sweep vertically and horizontally for contouring AND full coverage and dot the apples of your cheeks with blush.
Not only is the design practical, but Becca has used the finest materials for their consumers. The bristles are non-porus and made from goat hair. I found that I used less product than I typically would with sponges, brushes, or my fingers. Also, my product didn't settle into the brush which meant I was using all the product on the brush and was able to transfer to another product without having to clean or wipe the brush down. Brill!
During my makeup routine this morning, I applied moisturizer with my fingers, but used the Becca brush for all other products: BB cream, foundation, concealer, and powder. The reason I put my makeup onto a mixing plate was so I could use the full range of the brush (as well as to help me contour). Some of my face makeup comes in a delicate, small glass jar which would have been difficult to reach with the brush's shape. That's been the only downside I have found with using The One Perfecting Brush. Others have mentioned the bristles fall out while applying makeup, but that has not occurred for me. Using this brush means you will have to clean it more often (probably once a week), but who can argue with having to take care of one perfect brush instead of ten?
I am truly in awe of this product. I was able to contour my face beautifully and I received full coverage with less product. This video gives consumers a better idea of what the Becca brush does compared to sponges and fingers! I love it. If you are interested in purchasing the Becca One Perfecting Brush you can go to http://bit.ly/H1H3l6. This will link you directly to Sephora's website. Becca also offers amazing brush cleaning soap which is a perfect buy along side your new brush!
*This post is sponsored by ifabbo


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Indiana Buddhist Temple is a meditation learning center.
It was founded in 2003 by Bhante Devananda. Bhante emphasized that the temple is open to people of all religious beliefs, cultures and backgrounds.
The temple recently celebrated Kathina, a Buddhist festival which comes in October at the end of the three-month Asian rainy season.
It is a time of giving, and for laypeople to express gratitude to Buddhist monks by bringing donations to temples, including new robes for the monks.
The temple offers guided meditation sessions that are open to the public 6:30 p.m. every Monday and Thursday.


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This is the worst gimmick ever, but on Facebook I have listed as favorite music, 26 albums starting with a letter in the alphabet. Whatever, I decided to upload them for friends. So let's start with A.
Probably the best solo album from a member of the band, Levon Helm's 1980 masterpiece is one of the true gems of the country-rock sound.
The album came to be during Helm's work covering "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" for the soundtrack of Coal Miner's Daughter where he played the father of Loretta Lynn. The song and session went so well with Fred Carter Jr. that they just decided to go ahead and cut an album of other lesser known traditional songs (none are original here). What resulted from these sessions is Levon getting down to what he does best, the more country-oriented sound rather than the funky stuff he was trying to do prior. Tracks like "Violet Eyes" will wrench your heart out, but subsequent songs like "Stay With Me" will get your head bobbing and foot stomping.
American Son is the most Band-like album by Helm and just one really fun listen. This version I have uploaded has a couple pops in the sound, but they are hardly noticeable. Enjoy and leave comments.
James Tappenden reviews American Son
Download Here:
American Son


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Around fifty crafters (should we call them busy bees?) got together this week to celebrate the opening of the newly refurbished crafts room called The Hive at Workaid in Chesham.
Rob Levine, Chairman of Workaid, welcomed visitors and thanked them for their continued support. Everyone was delighted to see the transformation that The Hive has undergone thanks to a generous donation specifically for upgrading the room, for which we are very grateful to the benefactors, who wish to remain anonymous.
For the occasion The Hive was decorated with little bees made by Barbara and Wendy. Don't they go well with the plates of delicious cakes?
The room is now a smart, bright and cheerful working space with a dedicated crafts sink and good facilities for tea making – very conducive to creative activity!
Check out our Resources page or the Crafts page to see the new programme of tasters, workshops and ongoing courses that are due to start very soon. We hope you'll find topics to tempt you to join in.
We would also like to ask for help with something that Workaid's in need of to send to projects in Africa. Do you have an iron in working condition that you no longer need? We would love to be able to send more of them to sewing and tailoring projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia. We test all electrical items before packing and sending.
In the meantime, you might like to know that the next Forecourt Sale will be held on Saturday, 7th October and we'll be holding our first specialist crafts and haberdashery sale in The Hive on Saturday, 4th November. More details to follow (you heard it here first)!
On certain days The Hive is available for hire at very reasonable rates. Please ring us on 01494 775220 to enquire.


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Neha – Minimalist Shopify Theme
Neha – Minimalist Shopify Theme is the best solution for your eCommerce website. This 100% responsive Shopify theme is suitable for a variety of business owners. This modern design ensures a minimalist look while offering endless possibilities. That is why looks perfect on any device or web-browser.
Neha is a splendid Shopify theme for all types of clothing, accessories, and fashion websites. Easy to install and gives quick demo import. Make all necessary customizations within drag and drop. It is built on a powerful Shopify framework with Sections.
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However, Neha assures plenty of functionality like Shop Grid & List View, Collection (Sorting, Tab, Sidebar, and Filter), Product (Zoom, Share, Review, Video Tab, and unlimited Custom Tab). This modern theme will help you manage everything to make your store look classy.
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3/4 Sleeve Nursing & Maternity Dress
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- Description
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This 3/4 sleeve nursing & maternity dress is that little black maternity dresses great for any occasion and any weather! It may also be used as breastfeeding dress due to a unique opening. Fall in love with it's beautiful fabric and style. This fun dress is suitable throughout pregnancy and can also be used as a nursing dress for breastfeeding discreet.
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99 Cent, 1999
In the present day, Gursky shares a studio with fellow photographers, Laurenz Berges, Thomas Ruff and Axel Hütte in Düsseldorf. Andreas Gursky mainly captures modern day society, including its landscapes, people, architecture and industries. His work often shows individual or granular subjects. For example, supermarkets, football players, windows or islands, which he then submerges into the surrounding environment. Gursky was inspired by his work after learning from the photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, where he began composing images he had captured of large expanses of areas in order to cause a 'dizzying effect' on the viewer. Gursky bears a close comparison to other members of the Dusseldorf School of photography that he attended, particularly Thomas Struth, Axel Hütte, and Candida Höfer. In this photograph, Gursky has captured an image which depicts the existence of mankind's influence on the present day environment, without presenting man as a subject.
Chicago, Board of Trade II, 1999
This composition has been taken of the trading floor of the Board of Trade in Chicago. The subjects in the image appear to be flurrying around, thus causing the photograph to become blurred. To help enhance this effect, Gursky double exposed various sections of the image. Around the edge of the central focus, desks have been built up, as if framing the image. This also gives a sense of coordination which juxtaposes the more busy and vibrant activities happening in the centre of the frame.
Paris, Montparnasse, 1993
Gursky was the first photographer to produce large prints that measured up to a minimum of six by eight feet. Paris, Montparnasse is a composition made up of a highly dense apartment building which fills the whole frame. This photograph analyzes the realities of contemporary urban life, exploring the growing population and the impacts of this. Paris, Montparnasse also shows Gursky's initial attempts at digital manipulation, of which he started experimenting with in 1992. Gursky's process in obtaining an effective image is that he often takes a variety of chromogenic images which he then scans into a computer in order to digitally manipulate them by merging them together. His main aim in creating images like this is to portray the heightened version of something that already exists in this world, rather than creating a fictitious composition.
Evaluation: Overall, I feel that this task went well and I managed to photograph a range of effective images linking well to the topic title, Freedoms or Limitations. To further improve this task, I would go further with using a larger range of frames, such as mirrors, infrastructure and other abstract shapes found within the environment.
The first image provides curiosity into the busy streets of America. There is a dark subject in the centre of the photograph creating a curious, eerie atmosphere. The contrasting colours of the vibrant red and yellow bring detail to the photograph. The background is much lighter than the foreground, of which is the inside of what seems to be a car. This contrasts and brings depth to the image, showing the difference between the dry and the wet from outside. This makes the photograph effective as different arguments can be formed around it. The second image that I have selected is similar. Again, it has been captured with contrasting foregrounds and backgrounds of wet and dry. However, with the more neutral colour selection, there is less detail to cause distraction from the main subject. The man in this photograph is dressed darkly which can be reflected on the weather which therefore brings a more interesting photograph where explanations can be obtained from. The composition relates clearly to abstraction as the steam on the window has been distorted and it is difficult to determine what is happening on the other side of the window. Both of these images show ominous atmospheres as no identity is shown.
To capture this photograph, I set my shutter speed to around 1/2000 of a second in order to capture my entire subject in focus. After altering my shutter speed, I also had to change my depth of field choosing a high f stop number in order to allow more light into the camera so that my image did not appear dark. I also adjusted my ISO and white balance.
For this image, I chose a slower shutter speed (around 1/80 of a second). This allowed my image to come out more blurred, allowing comparisons to be made between the faster shutter speed and the lower. As more light was being allowed into the camera, I had to adjust my f stop number in order to maintain a well exposed photograph.
Blumenfeld argued that beauty in motion/films is just as beautiful as the beauty in portraits and still photographs. In the 1960s, Blumenfeld became the director of the worlds first fashion films, hence 'beauty in motion'.
The video on the left shows Blumenfeld's 'beauty in motion' and I feel like he represents a contrast of fashion, presenting it in a distorted way. By presenting these fashions in video form, the viewer is able to see lots of detail and the way the subject acts can show clear links with the associated fashion. Blumenfeld presents this video without any background music, placing more attention onto the subjects and composition of his work.
For this task, I looked at the work of Willi Dorner, exploring small spaces around the school rather than in the studio. To do this, I found areas where I asked my subjects to either crouch, get in or try to fit, with the intention of linking to the photographer Willi Dorner and his 'bodies in urban spaces' project.
Willi Dorner began choreographing his own pieces of work in 1990. Dorner has been involved with film making which enabled him to develop an interest in creating events with the intention of giving the audience the opportunity for new experiences, insights and a different perception of day to day life. Much of Dorners performances and works are presented in festivals and venues in Europe, Africa, North and South America and China.
Another Kind of Life: Photography on the Margins follows the lives of communities and individuals surviving on the fringes of society in America, India, Chile and Nigeria. Throughout this exhibition, viewers are given an insight into a more complex and diverse view of contrasting societies across the globe, captured by photographers of who have immersed themselves into the way of living. The photographers included in this exhibition spent months, years or even decades documenting these representations of such deprived areas found on earth today. The images displayed in the exhibition explore communities of sexual experimenters, romantic rebels, outlaws, survivalists and the economically deprived. Another Kind of Life features the works from famous photographers Paz Errazuriz, Pieter Hugo, Mary Ellen Mark and Dayanita Singh.
Mary Ellen Mark - Tiny: Streetwise Revisited
Mary Ellen Mark was an American photographer famously known for her photojournalism, documentary photography, portraiture and advertising photography. One of her most successful projects is that of 'Tiny: Streetwise revisited'.
In 1983, Mary Ellen Mark began working with and photographing a group of independent homeless and troubled youth who were making their way on the streets of Seattle as pimps, prostitutes, panhandlers and drug dealers. Her project 'Streetwise' was published in 1988, exploring the lives of several unforgettable children, with her most famous subject being Tiny, who was originally born with the name Erin Blackwell. Tiny has many aspirations, hoping to live on a horse farm with diamonds and furs, along with having ten children. Tiny: Streetwise revisited documents Tiny's life across thirty years. This then became Mark's most significant and long term project. Throughout this project, Mark incorporates numerous images from Streetwise and the life of Tiny from the age of thirteen up to an adult.
The project also presents ideas about the roots and cycles of poverty, addiction and homelessness, enabling the viewer to consider and evaluate the consequences and type of lifestyle these children lived.
This photograph has the subject of a runaway child, named Rat, who lived in Seattle and was part of the film Streetwise. In this image, there is a clear juxtaposition of what he is holding. From the image it is clear that he is a young boy, but with the cigarette in his hand and mouth, the viewer is given an insight into the conditions of living on the street as a young child and the dangers they face. The combination of the cigarette and his expression helps to give off the feeling that he has been through more than most people of his age. This leads to a story being revealed to the viewer, enabling emotional connections to be made, which is the intention Mark has when presenting her influential photographs. The lighting used to take this image is natural. This is because Mary Ellen Mark tried to capture her images as close to the truth and reality as she could. The background of the image appears to be stone and concrete, which can be related to the idea of a prison, with the child having no ability to get out. This photograph expresses the idea and sense of isolation, resulting in the viewer being able to make connections with the subject within the frame.
"I photograph the people I photograph because I care about them and because their lives fascinate me. In a sense you might say that they are my heroes, because I think they have such a sense of passion and feeling in their lives. They have heart and soul and that is what I want to capture in my pictures. They touch me. If I had to stop photographing people I care about, I wouldn't even want to photograph again."
This image depicts 3 rows of cots in pairs of two. The only source of 'bright' colour is found in the faded orange coloured pillow cases in a few of the cots. You can see the rough texture of rust on the frames of the cots and on the damp back wall. You can also see some damp marks on the ceiling in straight lines where a wooden floor would be on the floor on the next level. Light is coming from two sides of the room which created a balanced and natural lighting atmosphere. This creates a natural lighting scene which is similar to the subject/ meaning of the photograph: the force of nature. The photographer has positioned the camera in the centre of one of the pairs of cots, this creates a feel of perspective in this image and also a feel of order and symmetry contrasted with the uncontrolled and disordered rust and damp. I think Kander would have used a high aperture in order to keep the back wall in focus so all the textures in the image would have been kept for the viewer to experience and see.
This image shows an old sports hall which would have presumably been used by children in schools. The room which would have been used daily is seen to have plants and weeds growing in the corners of the room which show cases how derelict the area is. The formal element scale is shown in this photograph as the hall is very big and the image looks as if it has been taken from a low angle which further reveals the scale of the room. The light is natural and is coming from the left hand side of the photograph. The walls are a light colour and the amount of light coming out from the windows suggests they are very big, this makes the whole image look light and bright which is contrasted with the story behind the image and the sight of the plants growing which shows a serious and unhappy matter. The light would suggest that the image has a positive message behind it, yet it is the opposite. It looks like the photo would be taken on a height f stop number as it has a large depth of field.
Kander has created a sense of mystery in this image as there is not one clear subject: in my opinion I feel that there are two. There is the piece of artwork at the background of the image which is the obvious subject as it is the only area of brighter colour found in this image. This colour is therefore contrasted with the dull, lifeless feel of the rest of the room. The other subject is the tree which is slightly to the left of the image. It is a subtle subject as it is not the first thing your eye is drawn to when looking at the image however, it is what ties this image in with the rest of the series and hence making it another subject. The textures seen in this image are rough and not smooth. This demonstrates that this room has been abandoned and therefore not up-kept. The textures in this image make up most of the composition as they are evidently rough and different on all the walls and ceilings. Therefore, I think Kander would have thought of the formal element texture when taking this image.
Miroslav Tichy was a photographer, born in Czech Republic. Throughout his lifetime, Tichy constructed his own camera out of cardboard tubes, tin cans, dress elastic and various parts of old cameras he would come across. Between 1960 and 1985, he used these cameras to capture thousands of images around his hometown, most prominently his subjects being unsuspecting women. However, it wasn't until 1981 that one of his friends decided to gather up all these images, organising them to share with the world through exhibitions, that Tichy's unique approach to photography was discovered. In an interviewed, when asked why he changed from photography, he answered, 'all drawings have already been drawn. All paintings have already been painted. What was there left for me to do?'
Miroslav Tichy from Ray Anderson on Vimeo.
For this development, I decided to experiment with the use of photographic paper and old cameras I found in the photography room. Both of these cameras use film, however, I decided to load photographic paper into the back in the darkroom to see what effect that had on my images. I then brought the cameras out of the darkroom, to the studio. I asked my subjects to stay still before manually exposing my photographic paper for around seven seconds, finding that this time frame produced the best image. Following this, I went back into the darkroom, removed the photographic paper and used the developer, stop and fix in order to obtain
Evaluation: Overall, I preferred this approach to using old cameras and photographic paper to produce abstract portraits. I particularly like the image shown on the left. This is because it is confusing to the eye, causing the viewer to come back and question the angles and subjects used in the composition. I also like how the subject is placed, with the face on portrait fitting in with the side on one. The juxtaposition of the harsher blacks and the more faded greys adds to the abstract side of the image, creating a dynamic image. To further improve this experiment, I would use other cameras from the photography room, comparing the final outcomes. I would also use a tripod or balance the camera on a table. This would therefore mean that my subjects and compositions would be more in focus, leading to a more effective link to my chosen photographer, Stefan Killen.


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Sermon Notes
Part 5 - For Mercy's Sake
Matthew 5:7 - Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
What is mercy?
Compassion for the hurting - Luke 10:36-37
Forgiveness for the sinner - Luke 18:13
Is God's mercy conditional?
No - Ephesians 2:8-9
- God's mercy is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus
There is more mercy in God than sin in you and me!
- B5 comes after B1-4 - Matthew 5:3-7
- Our mercy to others is an overflow of God's mercy to us - Ephesians 2:10
The forgiven forgive. Those who receive mercy show mercy. Or at least they should …
Yes - Matthew 5:7
- If we don't show mercy it could mean 2 things
1. We have never experienced the mercy of God because we are not saved at all
2. We have closed the tap on all the mercy God has shown us and wants to flow through us
- If we don't show mercy even though we are saved, our salvation is secure, but our relationship with God is weakened and His loving discipline is guaranteed
Mercy is more than a feeling, it's an action
- To our family
- To our friends
- To our coworkers
- To the needy
- To ????


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Some Local Minimum Wage Increases to Take Effect July 1
Minimum Wage Hike Brings Many Changes for Employers
Although the next increase in the California minimum wage is still six months away, a number of local minimum wage hikes took effect on July 1, 2016.
Employers need to prepare for the minimum wage increase and examine other pay practices that might be affected by the increase.
The California Chamber of Commerce is providing resources to help employers comply with the minimum wage increase: short video, white paper and infographic.
"California employers need to be aware of a number of changes to the minimum wage," said Erika Frank, CalChamber vice president, legal affairs, and general counsel. "Many localities throughout California are passing their own minimum wage ordinances and employers must be familiar with those requirements and ensure full compliance."
Local Ordinances
A number of other cities already have minimum wages that differ from the state minimum wage.
Following is a list of the cities (and one county) that increased the required minimum wage on July 1. Eligibility rules may vary from city to city:
- El Cerrito: $11.60/hour.
- Emeryville: $13/hour for businesses with 55 or fewer employees; $14.82/hour for businesses with 56 or more employees.
- Los Angeles (city): $10.50/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $15.37/hour for hotel workers. Increase delayed until 2017 for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
- Los Angeles County: $10.50/hour for employers with 26 or more employees. Increase delayed until 2017 for employers of 25 or fewer employees.
- Pasadena: $10.50/hour for employers with 26 or more employees. Increase delayed for employers of 25 or fewer employees.
- San Diego: $10.50/hour (effective July 11 or July 18, whenever election results are certified]).
- San Francisco: $13/hour.
- Santa Monica: $10.50/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $13.25/hour for hotel workers. Increase delayed to 2017 for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
- Sunnyvale: $11/hour.
Many of these local ordinances contain notice requirements. Members can use the Local Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ordinances chart on HRCalifornia to determine which requirements apply. Nonmembers can sign up for a free 15-day trial of HRCalifornia.
The CalChamber Store offers posters that are in compliance with the Los Angeles City ordinance, the Los Angeles County ordinance, and the San Francisco ordinance.
For more information including overtime and classifying employees, view CalChamber's Top Story.


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Shout Out to Tri-Widows/
Sometimes Stephanie asks me how my day went and I don't know what to say. It sounds so trivial, really. I woke up early, ran for a while, maybe jumped in the pool for a bit and went to work. I attended a bunch of meetings really about nothing important, did some other work too, and then after leaving the office I either came home or worked out some more. Then I blog. End of story. Meanwhile, Steph is up to her eyeballs in work, building a career, trying to juggle multiple wedding vendors and their tedious contracts, planning a close friend's bachelorette party and trying to help maintain a home for us both. Her to-do list looks like my to-bring list for a race, just longer and without the butt-butter.
After spending two nights just trying to pick up a bit more of the household load, I realized while folding laundry and towels that I've got nothing on her!
So tonight, instead of spending a bunch of time reflecting on my hard swim workout, or watching Paris-Roubaix replay (again) while spinning, or the lifting I did at lunch with Shannan, I'm going to write about folding laundry. Cleaning out drawers. Hanging dresses. Doing dishes. Picking up around the house. Taking over some wedding planning duties. Helping cook dinner last night. This is the stuff that's really important.
We as triathletes have to remember that while we juggle three sports, our partners juggle our three sports (and hearing about them endlessly) AND their lives too.
I'm not sure which is more mentally taxing. I may be the Ironman. But Steph is no less an Iron Woman for enduring and being such a supportive partner.
61 days and counting.


text: Regular dental care is vital to a healthy lifestyle. Many problems can develop in the mouth without warning, and may require more extensive and expensive treatment if found too late. These benefits are neither offered nor guaranteed under contract with the FEHB Program, but are made available to all enrollees and family members who become members of FEP BlueDental. We're excited to also offer our coverage, not only to federal employees and retirees, but also to eligible TRICARE retirees. High Option Under FEP BlueDental's High Option, basic, intermediate and major services from routine exams to fillings and bridge procedures have an unlimited annual maximum benefit for in-network benefits and a $3,000 annual maximum benefit for out-of-network benefits.View the FEP BlueDental Premium Chart Find a Dentist With FEP BlueDental, you can find a local, in-network dentist by entering your city, state or ZIP code. In addition, you can search directly by name. You may also contact customer service at 1-855-504-2583.Find a Dentist New! Get Blue365® discounts Members of FEP BlueDental now get access to Blue365—receive weekly discounts and savings that make it easier and more affordable to make healthy choices. Deals include health club membership discounts, diet plans, mortgage discounts and more.Learn More Standard Option Under FEP BlueDental's Standard Option, basic, intermediate and major services covering cleanings, crowns, and more are subject to a $1,500 annual maximum benefit for in-network benefits and $750 for out-of-network benefits.View the FEP BlueDental Premium Chart Save with FEP BlueDental Learn more about reduced costs on visits to the dentist for both you and your family. With FEP BlueDental, you can save hundreds of dollars on dental services throughout the year.Learn More


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An actor who thrives on action, Sherman Augustus counsels kindness.
There's a solid chance you don't remember the 1996 sci-fi film Space Marines.
But Sherman Augustus will always consider it a game-changer. On the set, noted fight coordinator Philip Tan approached the NFL player–turned-actor and encouraged him to pursue martial arts. He heeded the advice and became a black belt. "It centered me and made me more aware of my body," he says.
More than 20 years later, Augustus performs "75 to 85 percent" of his own action scenes on the third season of AMC's post-apocalyptic martial arts drama, Into the Badlands. His Nathaniel Moon, a badass with a mechanical hand, is aligned with the fierce assassin known as The Widow (Emily Beecham). The action in the next eight episodes "is bananas," he says. "There's a new threat, and none of the main characters are safe."
Growing up in central L.A., Augustus had such severe asthma he was afraid to leave home. His parents enrolled him in flag football "to get over my illness and conquer my fears.
Playing sports injected something into me," he says. Getting off the couch (where he was glued to The Beverly Hillbillies, The Six Million Dollar Man and The Green Hornet) and competing revitalized him. He eventually made the team at Northwestern College in Minnesota and went on to play pro ball — "a brief stint, blink and you'll miss it" — for the Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers.
But he'd always wanted to act, so when a knee injury sidelined him, Augustus called agent James Bridges Sr. (the father of a childhood friend) and said he was ready to get serious. The former cornerback and safety took classes. Worked with teachers. Did five years of improv. Augustus landed his first role in the 1988 Dennis Hopper–directed cop drama Colors and has worked steadily ever since, in such series as NYPD Blue, NCIS, Dexter, Bones and Westworld.
Yet he singles out his experience as "Well Dressed Black Man" in 2001's The Mexican.
"That's when I knew I'd arrived," he says, citing the film's A-listers (Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, J. K. Simmons, Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg). During an off day, he learned that costar James Gandolfini had called several agents to vouch for Augustus's talent. He recalls, "Jimmy told me, 'I've watched you rehearse. You're going to make it, dude. Just stick to your guns.' It resonated."
Now he's paying the good deed forward with aspiring actors. "If someone feels pent up against the wall, I say that you must dig down and find your guts," he says. "Nobody can deny you if you know your craft and believe in your ability. And if someone else blows it? Help out."
The first half of season three of Into the Badlands is available on AMC's on-demand platforms; seasons one and two are on Netflix and iTunes.
This article originally appeared in emmy magazine, Issue No. 8, 2018


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The Residential Appraisal Report – Contract Section
The contract section of the appraisal report form is only important and completed when the appraisal is for the purchase of the subject property. If applicable, you will notice that in the subject section, the 'Purchase Transaction' box is checked next to the "Assignment Type." If the appraisal "Assignment Type" is checked as 'Refinance Transaction' or 'Other (describe),' then the contract section will be left blank.
The appraiser should read and analyze the purchase and sales agreement between the buyer and seller. The contract section reports the analysis as well as key information from the purchase and sales agreement. According to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), 2014-2015, when developing and reporting the results of an appraisal, the appraiser must analyze all agreements of sale as of the effective date of the appraisal. In addition, per Fannie Mae Selling Guide September 29, 2015 the appraiser must indicate whether the contract was analyzed and if not provide an explanation. If analyzed, all fields in the contract section must be completed.


text: Stay in Control of Your Comfort and Your Energy Expenses Posted September 13, 2016 One of the most significant things homeowners look for in an air conditioner, next to keeping them cool, is energy efficiency. Whether you are in the market for an air conditioner replacement or looking to get the most out of the efficiency of your current system, being energy efficient is important. Heating and cooling expenses can make up nearly half of your total utility expenses, so we want to help you do everything you can to make sure you're cool while keeping down costs. If you're thinking about air conditioner replacement you've probably seen that each unit has a SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is a measurement of the efficiency of your air conditioner. The higher the SEER rating, the higher the efficiency, which means the lower the utility bills. The government requires a minimum SEER rating for all equipment that was made after 2015, that rating is based on region. Our certified professionals will work with you and look at your home to help you make the best choice when looking into air conditioner replacement. If you're wanting to get the most efficiency possible out of your present unit, there are a host of things you can do. First, as we always try to remind people, switch out your air filters. A dirty filter will cause your air conditioner to work harder to keep you cool. Keeping it clean will improve efficiency, keep your air clean and extend the life of your unit. We don't want to sound like a broken record, but it's a big deal. Another thing to do is stay on top of regular maintenance. Our certified professionals will clean your unit, check electrical connections and notice any problems that may be impacting the efficiency of your unit. Our professionals will work to keep you comfortable and save you money. We know what a big investment your air conditioner is and we want to keep it running at its best and help you save money on your energy bills in the process. Give us a call at 661-437-3499. Back To Blog


text: Hello everyone, I am Dr. Doug Dilworth. I grew up on a grain and livestock farm in West-Central Illinois. My early education started with my own 4-H sheep herd; horses; family cattle and swine operations. The local veterinarian's skill with animals and people inspired me to consider this profession at an early age. I completed a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Iowa State in December 1987. My Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State was celebrated in May of 1992. After graduating from veterinary school, I returned to my hometown area around Macomb Illinois to practice in a large and small animal practice. I relocated to Petersburg Illinois 2 years later where I practiced in a mixed small and large animal practice. I then headed west to Park City Utah to enjoy the mountainous west, where I could fly fish, ski and hike. I eventually settled near Denver Colorado; where I trained and mentored veterinarians along with managing many corporate hospitals across the Mountain West. During this time, I re-found my love for horses and the best way to explore the outdoors. I moved to the Charlotte area in 2008; where I continued to be involved with mentoring veterinarians, managing, and practicing in corporate veterinary hospitals in North and South Carolina. I left corporate practice in 2012 to return to the joy of private practice and working directly with clients in finding solutions for their pets' veterinary concerns. I have always been enthusiastic about clients, veterinary care, and the joy of helping people. I have known Dr. Watson for some time and have always enjoyed the philosophy, practice, and team at Carolinas Veterinary Medical Hospital. I love being a part of the CVMH team and look forward to helping you and your pets. When I am not helping people and pets; I teach horsemanship, horse handling, and training of horses at 3-D Horsemanship with my wife Lisa in Waxhaw, NC. Our 2 girls, Carter and Charlee, always add exciting dimensions to our lives every day. Our animal family includes Irish Draught Horses; Quarter Horses; 2 ponies; a small flock of Katahdin Sheep; along with Checkers, our Border Collie; and cats; Phoebe, Bert, and 3 new tortoise-shell calico kittens.


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The event is sold out, but please join us for the Faga Forum networking reception!
(Registration not needed to attend)
Engage with Experts
Leading government officials and industry experts, well-versed in space and intelligence issues, will discuss critical threats and challenges, and share their perspective and insights on a variety of issues.
Timely and Compelling Topics Include:
- National Security Space and Risk Assessment
- Rapid Capabilities and Acquisition Initiatives
- NRO Requirements and Capabilities
- Fostering Unity across the IC Space Domain
- Congressional Perspective and Future Legislation
Featured Speakers
Frank Calvelli
Acting Director/Principal Deputy Director of the NRO
Larry Gershwin
National Intelligence Officer for Space
Dr. Fred Kennedy
Director, Space Development Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Kevin Meiners
Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Enterprise Capacity, ODNI
Lt. Gen. David D. Thompson
USAF, Air Force Space Command
Join Us at the Faga Forum
With overwhelming interest in classified programming at our annual Space Symposiums, and customer demand for such programming, the Space Foundation is again convening this one-day event for the Intelligence Community in the metro Washington, D.C., area.
U.S. citizenship and a TS/SCI security clearance required for all attendees.
Contact the Space Foundation for more information at +1.800.691.4000.
Forum Co-host
The Aerospace Corporation | 14745 Lee Road | Chantilly, VA 20151 | Map
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Vegan on a budget
Not a recipe today I'm afraid but something I hope you'll find equally helpful? Interesting? Informative? Something? We are currently on a very tight budget. It happens. Not that we're particularly materialistic but there have been a few big purchases of late and now we're paying the price - literally. Many people think veganism is expensive and it can be. That is if you're buying such luxuries as cacao powder, chia seeds, coconut oil, however, these items last a fairly long time, so as long as you don't go crazy and use massive amounts of them everyday you can keep the cost down to a minimum.
I always make sure there are some staples in my cupboard so that my weekly shop doesn't cost the earth. Well, I try to implement this system, some weeks more successfully than others and I will admit to having a tendency to frequently veer away from my carefully prepared shopping list especially if I spot a bargain or just fancy something I see in the supermarket. This tends to happen more often than I'd like. What ya gonna do!
If I really need to though I can reign myself in and stick to the list. I'm also pretty good at using up every scrap of food in my cupboards in order to make a little go a very long way. It takes a bit of planning and some imagination but the more you do it the easier it becomes. I've been making a weekly meal plan pretty much since I left home at 18. I'm not saying it happened immediately but I soon realised I needed to take control of my allocated weekly budget or else I would go very hungry(and I did) - you can only 'borrow' other peoples cereal so many times before they lose patience with you.
It was during my student days that I really got the cooking bug and I became an expert in making 50quid cover an entire weekly shop for two including wine. Including wine!! That's breakfast, lunch and dinner with wine for seven days. Not bad even if I do say so myself. Some things never change and here I am all those years later still trying to make a small sum of money stretch to a now entirely vegan shop full of organic produce but without vino, which I now consider to be a treat rather than a nightly ritual.
Down to the nitty gritty then. I had 30 pounds (about $50). With that I needed to buy enough food for seven breakfasts, seven lunches and seven evening meals for two not forgetting enough snacks to satisfy an active hungry man and woman for a full week - phew! I also have to ensure my menu is balanced - protein, calcium, iron, vit c, you get the picture.
I had a few staples such as grains to work around. Here is a list of what I already had in my cupboards:
dried lentils (red and green)
vermicelli noodles
udon noodles
brown basmati rice
gluten free pasta
arborio rice
wild rice
mung bean noodles
canned tomatoes
cannellini beans
masa harina flour
rice flour
spelt flour
dried mushrooms
sun dried tomatoes
and in my fridge and freezer I had:
2 Linda McCartney sausages
broad beans
soya beans
thai red curry paste
lemons and limes
spring onions
Of course I also have a host of herbs and spices as well as oils (extra virgin olive and coconut), vinegars, seeds, nuts, nut butters, dried fruit and teas. These are items you accumulate and I couldn't live without them. Without these the following menu would be bland as an old boot. So stock up when you can on these essentials.
my menu read as follows:
Sunday: cannellini bean and courgette patties with a wild rice and arborio risotto
Monday: red lentil dhal with brown basmati and fried tofu
Tuesday: Thai red potato and cauliflower curry served with udon noodles
Wednesday: Tacos with green lentil meat and guacamole
Thursday: Pasta with a tomato and 'sausage' sauce
Friday: Butternut squash and black bean burgers
Saturday: Vermicelli stirfry
My plan for lunches was to make the evening meal large enough so that my Husband could take some to work with him. I can always rustle something up for myself but frequently have soup and ryvita topped with either avocado or hummus and sliced tomato. Breakfast is very oat centered but that's fine by me, as I can make a multitude of things such as porridge, overnight oats and granola. I'll talk about snacks in a mo but first here's my weekly list:
sweet potato (they had none so I opted for butternut squash instead)
red pepper
courgettes (zucchini)
black beans
flat leaf parsley
hemp milk
organic jumbo oats
The total came to 27.50 so I came under budget but then went ever so slightly over with the purchase of four raw bars for Hubbie's lunch, which took the official total to......31.50. Not bad, not bad.
I also must stress that If I had stuck to my list (I tried!) I would have been well under budget but I couldn't resist the locally grown strawberries that were calling my name. Nor could I not buy the ever so ripe satsumas and a pack of redwood 'sausages' that are great for chopping up into a multitude of dishes or eating straight out of the pack. Had I stuck to my guns that would have left the total at around 25 quid with the addition of the raw bars bringing it up to just under 30. Regardless I was pretty happy with the outcome - great food, great prices, job done.
I avoided the supermarket and instead opted for the the local farm shop. All the goods (apart from the satsumas, I think) were organically grown. They also sell non-organic produce, which is a little cheaper but I believe organic is best - not for taste but most certainly for the environment and your health. Pesticides are bad bad news people. Here are some reasons why you should be buying organic.
Oh yes, snacks! Examples are:
Hummus with either carrot or cucumber sticks
Ryvita or rice crackers smeared with nut butter (almond or cashew, sometimes peanut)
instant banana ice-cream (frozen banana blended until smooth)
raw bars or balls (shop bought or homemade)
Now you're either going to be impressed with my efforts or thinking to yourself 'Pffft, I can do better that that!'. Either way I'm sure you loved a virtual rummage through my cupboards - am I right, am I right? I love a mooch myself and am always drawn to posts like these. I'm endlessly fascinated by what foods people buy and eat and I hope there are some amongst you who are the same as me. Please tell me this is so - I don't wanna be the only voyeuristic food freak in blogland.
Also, I thought I'd leave you with a review of last night's dinner, it was beyond good. The tofu was literally tossed in a mix of polenta (cornmeal) and rice flour and fried for about five to seven minutes either side on a medium to high heat. OMG! Also, I mixed some broad beans and spinach through the dhal - you must must try this, it adds texture, bite and flavour.
One thing is for sure, being on a budget forces you to be creative. I've discovered some of my best recipes by having to be frugal and this week was no different. And I can't deny, it was sorta fun.


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People outside our hobby may not recognize Jerry Slover's name, unless they've been around hot rods. But it's likely they've heard of Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Parts. Jerry already owned Ruskin Rod Shop in a Kansas City suburb, when in 1988 he purchased the legendary Pete & Jake's Hot Rod Parts business. Since Pete & Jake's was the Home of the California Kid, (Martin Sheen made his screen debut driving Pete's black 'n' flamed three-window '34 Ford) the coupe along with the mail order parts business was moved from Southern California to Missouri. The famous coupe would be the icing on the cake of a sweet deal for everyone involved.
Being an avid collector, Jerry has purchased a variety of rare and extremely nice bubbletop Chevys, assorted 409s, and other fine rides, without buying the businesses of their previous owners. He now has possession of Jim "Jake" Jacob's yellow coupe of Pete & Jake's fame. But the Jacob's deal cost him ownership of the Deuce truck and it was temporarily sold to a good friend, Alan Cape. What does this have to do with this '32 Ford flatbed truck? In his qualified opinion, this 130-inch wheelbase Deuce truck has the nicest cab, grille, doors, and hood Jerry ever saw on a '32 Ford truck, and this Flatbed remains one of his personal favorites.
In it's stock configuration, the Deuce was purchased by the original owner from a St. Louis dealer in 1932. In 1941, the truck was put to use on a family farm in Marshall, Missouri, where it served faithfully until 1969. Its retirement years were spent parked in a barn, until Jerry purchased it in 1984. At that time, the factory tool pack, owner's manual, and a Montgomery Ward replacement carburetor were included in the deal.
Over the next 11 years, Jerry and his crew at the newly acquired Pete & Jake's Hot Rod Parts refurbished the truck to its current condition. The changes were basically limited to mechanical upgrades and new paint, as the truck was still in very good condition for its age. It was only natural to use Pete & Jake's hot rod components for the resurrected suspension. In front, a Super Bell dropped I-beam axle is located by a Pete & Jake's four-bar and a Posies Super Slide spring. Super Bell spindles mount 15×5.5-inch early Ford wheels stopped by a Super Bell power brake kit. Steering is directed by a Mullins Vega-type steering box that receives input from a '37 Ford Banjo wheel, through a re-sleeved '32 Ford steering column.
Out back, some leaves were removed from the original spring pack, and the front spring hanger was moved to the top of the chassis. This locates a 9-inch Ford rearend from a '68 Ford F-100 with 3.25:1 gears. Air shocks, drum brakes, and an antisway bar complete the rear suspension. A fuel tank from Tanks Incorporated is mounted under the bed. The rear wheels measure 16.5×10 inches and were modified by wheel expert Eric Vaughn.
Beneath the stock hood is a 327ci Chevrolet small-block that includes an Edelbrock intake manifold and carburetor, an ignition system from MSD, and Taylor sparkplug wires. Exhaust exits through Sanderson headers and Turbo mufflers. A stock Turbo 350 tranny is upgraded by a Mr. Gasket Rodware shifter. A Walker radiator easily cools this docile and reliable combination.
With the chassis work completed and the drivetrain in place, a new coat of paint and some new upholstery was all that was still needed. Steve Pierce prepped the cab, front fenders, hood, and yes, the original stake bed and wooden racks. The entire vehicle was painted with DuPont black, by Bruce Curry at Curry's Rod shop.
Bob Bund added the pinstripe that matches the apple-green wheels. Al Bradshaw wired the truck using a Wiremaster kit from Affordable Street Rods. Westach gauges in a Haneline insert were installed in the original dash. A Pioneer stereo provides the tunes while this truck makes one of its cross country jaunts. Bob Sipes stitched the stock front seat in vinyl, keeping true to the Spartan styling of the original truck.
Upon the truck's completion in 1995, Jerry called the farmer who had purchased the truck when it was new, 63 years earlier. The farmer was now 92 years old and quite anxious to see the old truck. It became a multi-generational celebration when his son and grandson accompanied him. The old man grinned excitedly and said that he was most impressed by the fact that his old truck could now cruise easily at 75 mph, faster than he'd ever traveled in this truck.
Perhaps there's a little streak of hot rodder in everyone.


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Featuring the most talked about, critically-acclaimed and best live acts in the world right now, the 2019 Laneway Festival - our tenth birthday! - is gonna be the hottest ticket in town.
In a very special nod to our 10th Anniversary celebrations, the incredible Florence + the Machine return to Laneway 2019, after performing on the first ever Auckland Laneway in 2010. Happy birthday to us indeed!
And for a full day of musical discovery and adventure, we have you covered. With New Zealand debuts from future RnB superstar Jorja Smith, beloved heartstring puller Rex Orange County, hip hop's brightest new star Denzel Curry plus unmissable sets from the mighty Gang of Youths, peerless electronic pioneer Jon Hopkins, Australian songwriter royalty Courtney Barnett and much, much more, the original boutique festival is setting up to be the highlight of your summer.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie - Bene
Camp Cope - Clairo - Cosmo's Midnight - Courtney Barnett -
Denzel Curry - DJDS - Florence + The Machine - G Flip -
Gang Of Youths - High Beams - Imugi - Jon Hopkins -
Jorja Smith - Lontalius - Masego - Miss June -
Mitski - Parquet Courts - Ravyn Lenae - Rex Orange County
Skegss - Smino - The Dead C - Yellow Days
To add up the hype, the festival has added three more artists to the already stellar 2019 festival line-up featuring sensational Kiwi pop singer Robinson, award-winning alt-indie Sydney rockers Middle Kids and talented indie synth-pop act Daffodils.
Unfortunately, electro-pop songstress Billie Eilish will no longer perform at the Auckland Laneway next year due international scheduling conflicts. She may have cancelled her concert slot, the three additional acts are a superb enhancement to the line-up of one of the most talked festivals of 2019!
Laneway Festival fans can gain access to pre-sale tickets by using Visa Checkout. Register now at visacheckout.co.nz and add any major payment card (debit or credit). Advance tickets will be available from Thursday 20th September at 9am (local time).
The general on-sale date is Tuesday 25 September at 9am (local time) via lanewayfestival.com


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Brand: Safco Office Furniture
Collection(s): Active
Mfg #: 1956BH
Weight: 83 lbs.
Overall: 57-1/2 in W x 24 in D x 50 in H
Metal, Laminate
The Elevate™ Bi-Level Desk is a great desk option for a more active workday.
Having two levels allows the user to switch between postures for a healthier workday.
The sitting workspace can be mounted on either the left or the right side, during assembly, of the standing workspace to accommodate to personal preference or to suit a variety of spaces.
The standing desk height can be adjusted from 38-50"H to suit individual users.
It also features an adjustable footrest for added comfort and support while standing, as well as to encourage more movement.
The desktop has a melamine laminate construction and the base is made of steel with a powder coat finish for added durability and chip-resistance.
Each tabletop provides 30" of workspace.
This bi-level desk is great for use offices, personal workspaces and home offices.
Ships ready for easy assembly.
Attention California Residents: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/furniture.
Ships Within: 1 Week
If ordered today, we estimate this item will arrive between 8/31/2019 and 9/7/2019.
Delivery Method: Small Package
Depending on the size, shipments where any single package is less than 100 pounds will deliver by UPS, FedEx or DHL. These carriers bring the items right into your office or home and if for some reason you are not available, in most cases they will leave the product without a signature. If not, they will either automatically redeliver or leave specific instructions on how to arrange redelivery. The date range indicated on your order confirmation will allow up to 1 week for transit time from date of shipment.


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A beautiful setting for a truly magnificent country fair. Hot air balloons, cooking demonstrations from Mary Berry, Falconry, Medieval jousting, the White Helmets motorcycle display team and a fly past by the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Wing. Many trade and food stands abound.
We look forward to being there and meeting the crowds that attend every year.
Chatsworth House, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1PP


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We've laid out some important details that can help guide you through the prescription process.
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If you would like to prescribe a medication that requires authorization by Sharp Health Plan, you'll need to fill out the prior authorization request form and give us any relevant support or documentation. Once the form is complete, we can review your request. Turnaround time is 24 hours for urgent requests, and 72 hours for non-urgent requests.
Our drug list includes many commonly-prescribed medications. When a generic equivalent is available, it must be dispensed instead of the brand-name drug unless a doctor specifies otherwise. Use our helpful online search tool to find covered medications.
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I caught myself in the middle of packing sunscreen, water bottles and snacks for my day of taking the family to the ballgame. As a mom, of course, I was in charge of the logistics, tickets, snacks, extra clothes, gas in the car (which I forgot) and planned out bathroom stops for the day. I was starting to get overwhelmed by all the "to-do" list items and then something occurred to me. As I was rushing around, trying not to spill my coffee, this is supposed to be a day of family fun, right? The kids are excited, my husband is looking forward to seeing the game and here I was, taking everything upon myself once again and borderline frantic that I didn't have everything together.
This situation reminds me of one a few months ago when I was packing for a day at the amusement park. The situation was similar where I was self-promoted to event coordinator and snapping left and right that things weren't organized the way they needed-- er, I wanted-- them to be. I remember being pulled aside in my panic and being told "Calm down, you are making this such a big deal, and it's really not."
Not a big deal? Infuriating comment, anyone? I can only liken this to someone insulting me by telling me to "Relax!!" when I clearly was not in an emotional state of relaxing. It certainly was a big deal, since I seemed to be the only one concerned about the kids getting skin cancer! I was the ONLY one who was concerned about dehydration, heat stroke and the possibilities of death! Ok, maybe I was pushing the limits of rationality just a bit, but I was in too deep, I certainly couldn't back down now.
Or could I?
I thought for a moment about what the day represented for my 10 year old son, it was his birthday. He had been talking about the roller coasters and how proud he was to be able to ride all of them this year, how he was going to pick the cuisine of our dinner and how ice cream would be a perfect treat to celebrate this awesome day! I stopped and looked at the situation through his eyes and saw a raving lunatic that was yelling about not having enough tissues in her purse in case someone sneezed too much. What was I doing?
While putting my tail between my legs, I started to smile and let go of the panic, (even if it was against my nature to do so), threw a few snacks in the backpack and corralled the troops. It was, after all, the day ten years earlier that I became a mother. Why was I not enjoying in the excitement of which ride was the fastest, of how many rides we can squeeze in before we decided on lunch or how late we were going to stay up that night?
I wasn't going to let this memory sour. It wasn't fair to me and certainly not to my family or my birthday boy. This mom-lesson-learned sticks out to me because I would often get sucked into the craziness of worry and anxiety that a "fun, family day" would entail. I snap back to reality and let go of the struggle and enjoy being a part of the wonderment of this childhood memory-in-the-making. After all, in ten years I don't want my son saying "Remember my 10th birthday when you were upset that we only had 3 bottles of sunscreen instead of 2?"
I came back to my present day worries and made the decision that this was going to be an awesome day!! I did my best to pack everything that we needed and left the rest to the power of the universe to take care of us. Why should I be the one to suffer the anxiety of categorizing "What is everything that can go wrong?", when I wanted to be living "How awesome would it be ifs?" How awesome would it be if we saw 5 back-to-back home runs today? How awesome would it be if we hit no traffic? How awesome would it be if this was the best baseball game I have ever seen? (All of these things happened yesterday, by the way).
What memory are you creating today? I challenge you to make it a good one. Think of all the "How awesome would it be ifs". It will definitely bring a smile to your face and, well, "relax" you.


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It's Poverty, Stupid!
Why U.S. reading scores just aren't going up...
Posted Aug 14, 2017
No Child Left Behind, Reading First, Race to the Top—what these federal programs have in common is that they represent literally billions of hours of teacher and student time and billions of dollars spent over the past 12-15 years, trying to improve reading achievement in the U.S. public schools. Yet we have very little to show for all this effort and all this money.
This graph shows U.S. reading scores from 2003-2015 on the two most respected achievement tests in education: the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) and the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment).
Looking at six year intervals, it's pretty clear that not much has changed. The blue and red lines, representing fourth- and eighth-graders' reading scores on the NAEP, do show some very slight progress, less than two percent overall, while the twelfth-graders NAEP reading scores (green) and the reading scores on the PISA, which tests 15-year-olds who are mainly in tenth grade (purple), have remained essentially flat.
Why can't we make any progress? While many might (and did) argue that some of the reading reforms of the past 12 years, and much of the money spent on them, were too one-sided, ignoring or even discouraging some of the strategies we know to be most effective for reading development, there is another major factor holding us back: in 2015, more than one in five U.S. children were living in poverty, and poverty adversely affects reading development in multiple and complex ways.
Direct effects
At its most basic, poverty can be defined as a lack of necessary material resources, which can directly affect poor children's overall development and, specifically, their development in reading. For example, children in poverty are likely to have fewer books and less access to the Internet, and we know that availability of reading materials in the home is directly connected to reading development. Poor children also tend to own fewer toys and have fewer experiences with novel or stimulating environments, all of which can adversely impact their oral language and general knowledge, which in turn will hinder their reading development.
But most children in poverty face more fundamental problems than simple lack of books and experiences. Children in poverty frequently experience food-insecurity, and in this country, many also go without basic health and dental care, putting them at serious risk for both current illness and longer-term health issues. Poor health, painful teeth, and lack of nutritious food impact children's physical and cognitive development, and they also make it harder to learn to read.
Family-mediated effects
Poverty also affects children indirectly, through its adverse effects on their families. Families that cannot afford even inadequate housing move frequently and may suffer periods of homelessness, causing some poor children to routinely change schools two or three times within a single year. Working adults in poor families are more likely to hold low-wage, service jobs, with no benefits, no paid sick or family leave, and unpredictable hours, which means that routine health or dental care is often out of reach, quality child care is rarely available and difficult to arrange and pay for, and one car break-down, late bus, or sick child can cause tardiness or absence for both children and working parents.
According to medical researchers Wadsworth & Rienks (2012), living in that kind of stress results in "constant wear and tear on the body, dysregulating and damaging the body's stress response system, and reducing cognitive and psychological resources for battling adversity and stress" (p. 1). Such stress, along with unhealthy housing conditions, can lead to chronic health problems like asthma, which is 66 percent more common in children living below the poverty level. Higher levels of stress can also impact family relationships. Hart and Risley's classic 1995 study found that parents living in poverty even communicated with their children more negatively, averaging "five affirmatives [to] 11 prohibitions per hour" (p. 117).
Poverty also seems to be specifically related to the amount and types of reading done in families. In part due to lack of time and resources, parents in high-poverty homes are less likely to model literate behaviors like reading for pleasure, and also less likely to read aloud to their young children, who thus miss a vital foundation for school learning.
Community-mediated effects
Rather than helping to make up for the disadvantages they face, the characteristics of the communities in which many poor children live are more likely to pose additional barriers. Neighborhoods in which poor families are increasingly concentrated in this country have higher than average rates of violent and property crime as well as more open enticements to harmful behaviors such as drug or alcohol use. Because poor people have less political influence, such neighborhoods also often lack adequate civic services, from police and fire protection to trash collection. They are more likely to experience dangerous levels of traffic, outdoor air and water pollution from nearby industry and agriculture, and indoor pollution from mold, insects, and lead paint. Again, these factors all negatively impact children's emotional, physical, and cognitive health, and thus their ability to learn to read.
Susan Neuman and her colleagues at New York University have found that poorer neighborhoods also have significantly fewer reading-related resources of all kinds, from bookstores and public libraries to the very signs in the stores, and of course, the deep disparities between schools in poor and well-off neighborhoods are well-known and long-standing.
Societally-mediated effects
Interwoven and often causal in all the above-discussed issues is the way our country continues to treat people in poverty, including children. New voter-identification laws, recent restriction of advance voting and voting hours, and inadequate polling places in poor neighborhoods combine to discourage poor people from using their votes to improve their lot. The increasing influence on our political process of massive political spending also works to silence their voices. The zoning of dangerous traffic and polluting industries into poor neighborhoods, unequal school funding, deliberate concentration of poverty housing coupled with restrictive housing codes in more affluent neighborhoods, lax enforcement of housing codes and unconcern for civic services in poor neighborhoods are all common because most people in poverty lack the political power to effectively oppose them. At the same time, families in poverty are often blamed for not surmounting these societally-erected barriers, while teachers and schools lower their expectations for poor children because their parents are perceived as "not caring."
What are we trying to say here?
It is far from our intention here to imply that the problems are so large and complex that there is "nothing we can do" to help children from low-income homes learn to read, and read well. Rather, we hope that calling attention to the complex and multi-layered nature of poverty's effects on reading development may encourage teachers and schools to look for specific ways to mitigate some of these barriers and, most of all, convince educational policy makers at all levels to look beyond carrot-and-stick efforts to raise test scores, and begin to address the real issues these children face as they try to master the reading skills which are so essential in today's world.
For further reading:
Berliner, D. (2013). Effects of inequality and poverty vs. teachers and schooling on America's youth. Teachers College Record, 115(12), 1-26.
Lauter, D. (2016, August 14). How do Americans view poverty? Los Angeles Times.
Ullucci, K., & Howard, T. (2015). Pathologizing the poor: Implications for preparing teachers to work in high-poverty schools. Urban Education, 50(2), 170-193.
Wadsworth, M. E., & Rienks, S. L. (2012) Stress as a mechanism of poverty's ill-effects on children. CYF News, American Psychological Association.


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Living in Costa Rica
It's that time of the year when the birds are rushing about gathering twigs, moss and other useful materials including string (??) to build their nests.
Once again, Costa Rica is the best country to retire and also ranked highly for a healthy, comfortable retirement, according to the 2016 Best Countries rankings and Annual Global Retirement Index.
Every spring, mountain biking enthusiasts from near and far come to Tilaran to participate in La Vuelta del Lago. What started with a group of less than 100 riders back in 1992 now has thousands of participants flocking to the area for this spectacular 2-day event.
As you walk through Zarcero's central park, Don Evangelista Blanco Brenes looks like any ordinary gardener trimming the hedges. That is, until you get a glimpse of his striking blue eyes. Then you know he's special. This must be the man behind the jardín.
The other day wife and I had the pleasure of accompanying my son on a school field trip to Guatil in Guanacaste to learn the ancient techniques of pottery making that the local Chorotega indigenous people have been using for almost four hundred years.
If you ever wondered what life is like in "Pura Vida mode", it is like living in slow motion, in full appreciation while in awe of every living thing and doing this with a genuine sense of being content.
I've lived in Costa Rica for ten years full time and I've been coming to this amazing country since I was born (thanks to my mom). I've seen many changes over 30+ years and I feel lucky that I get to call this place home.
Here a few more glaring facts and figures about the 'war for drugs', the CIA (Cocaine Importing Agency) and money laundering that should shame any wanker left with a brain still working at the US Department of State…
A few reasons are that the country lacks adequate signage, the infrastructure isn't always in the best condition, and there are unspoken social agreements that everyone knows…unless of course, they come from abroad!
Canadian Realtors in Costa Rica Nadene and Roland Tipper Will Help You Find Your Little Slice Of Paradise Near The Beach!
Nadene and Roland specialize in residential and vacation properties. Like many of the Realtors in the area they offer services that extend beyond the typical obligations that one expects from a real estate agent.
My wife Mayra and I know this real estate developer very well. He is a proven developer who continues to build attractive, great value homes that people are fighting for… We live in one of their NaturaPark homes …
Jaco beach has recently seen such a surge in its art and food culture that it may soon be considered the Wynwood of Central America. In the heart of town, Teatro Jaco reopened its doors with Broadway quality shows, theater classes and weekly screenings of classic Broadway musicals.
Beach vacations are the cliché of shoreside luxury. Think outside the beach and invest in a property on Lake Arenal. Here are a list of five reasons that you will prefer Costa Rica's largest lake to any coastal establishment:
The heavily pregnant mother was about to give birth at any moment when she walked across our garden, onto our terrace and then into our living room late on Friday night.


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Dennisâ Decision
by Sonja Mattison
9/20/2017 / Short Stories
Dennis stared at the blank sheet of paper that covered his mahogany desk deciphering what he should draw. He wanted to empty his cobweb of ideas and form a masterpiece. He mused until he became weary of thinking, and finally plopped his head on the desk to rest, but drifted off into a deep coma-like sleep.
During his nap the Sun gleamed through his window. It was so bright that it awoke him. When he awoke he yawned, and stretched and looked out his window. He thought about the Sun, and how he idolized it with admiration. It often clarified his thinking such as the muddled thoughts that were confronting him at the moment. The Sun grew even brighter, and then Dennis' mind unraveled with an idea of what to sketch.
He chose to create a timeless forest, so he picked up his pencil, and maneuvered it like a graceful feather blowing in the wind. He drew with confidence assured that this piece would be beyond originality and perfection, and incomparable to none. He paused and observed his incomplete sketch, and smiled. He was very proud.
Dennis labored in love, and then reminisced about how his passion for drawing had begun. He recalled how his insecurities were once his worst enemy. As a troubled adolescent, he craved for attention, friends, and to be accepted by his peers. But, instead he seemed to find himself surrounded by a sleuth of bad influences that were uninterested in school, yet enthusiastic about drinking and truancy.
He followed crowds for a support system to avoid loneliness. However, he only encountered more loneliness. In order to try to "fit in" he drank and ditched classes. Soon, he was headed for self-destruction. His drinking and unhealthy so-called friendships led him into a deep depression, but he continued to behave the same.
Life, to him, was passing him by. It was like an illusion. He was not focused, and failing every course in school. Since he was failing, he thought in order for him not to worry about passing or failing, the best solution would be to drop out, which is what he did. This made his life worse.
He now felt really withdrawn and his friends were no longer around. Dropping out of school made it even more difficult to mask his pain. His negligence later resulted in many regrets. Graduation came quicker than he expected.
On the day of graduation he went to the auditorium and stood outside for the whole ceremony until his fellow colleagues came outside. They were rejoicing, jumping up and down in jubilee celebrating their accomplishment(s). Huddling in circles they planned for parties and made arrangements to celebrate. Dennis watched them. He was unable to fathom why he made such decisions to forfeit this great opportunity. He resented the happiness that flourished through the graduates. He was embarrassed, disappointed, and miserable. Thinking about his bad choices he wanted to instantly start over and receive a diploma right then. Unfortunately though, it was not an option, and too late.
He shook his head in awe, sulked and walked home in tears. When he arrived home he tried to escape seeing his parents' faces, and the scorn they would have in their eyes. As he attempted to skate around the corner up the stairs from the entrance of the foyer, he stumbled into his little 8 year old sister. She greeted him with a "Hi Dennis! I love you!" He battled holding back more tears as he reached down and kissed his sister on the cheek, and returned, "I love you too!" He looked into her innocent eyes, and was more mortified than ever.
He had set such a poor example for her while he loved her dearly. What a disappointment. Finally, he could make his way up to his room, but he did not escape the look of his parents' discontent on their faces. When he entered his room he ignored the junk that lie before him. On the floor lied liquor bottles, cigarettes, and dirty clothes. He stepped over the mess and sat on his bed.
Putting his head between his knees he dwelled on how irresponsible he had been. He then lay on his back and studied the ceiling. He noticed its dullness and colorlessness; it was just like his life – clouded without ambition and negative dispositions on life. He stared at the ceiling one more time, and abrasively jumped up and punched the wall. He melted down again with unstoppable tears.
With a few breaths in between he looked at the punched-in wall and scanned his room. He could not remember the last time he had seen any school supplies. The only school supply he found was a black Sharpie felt-tip pen. He wanted, at last, to use his mind opposed to drinking and being lazy.
He picked up the Sharpie and decided to draw on the wall. The picture that he produced was an angry man. He stared at it. It was him all over while it was also a magnificent drawing. This inspired him. He could actually do something intellectual. Insecurities or drinking did not need to play a part in his life anymore. To replace them he would sketch every day and also read.
Sketching everyday turned into a hobby for Dennis, transpired into a lucrative hobby and finally a prosperous career. Dennis looked at his picture of the forest. It was not only beautiful, but a significance of his faith. It dawned on him that drawing near God saved him from self-destruction and graced him with a resting place in his soul. He also realized God had always been his guider and protector. He would never look back or give up.
Sonja Mattison currently resides in Clarkston, Georgia. She is an inspirational writer and the author of Thoughts of Mattii40. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Feb 12 (Reuters) - Virgin Trains USA has delayed its plans to raise more than $500 million in an initial public offering, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
The railroad had planned to sell 28.3 million shares in its IPO, which was expected to be priced at $17 to $19 per share, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
At the top end of the range, the company would have been valued at $3.15 billion in what would have been one of the biggest U.S. IPOs so far this year.
"As we explored a public offering, a number of alternative financing sources became available that allow us to keep the company private and meet our growth strategies," Ben Porritt, senior vice president of corporate affairs for Virgin Trains USA told Reuters.
Virgin Trains, backed by Fortress Investment Group, operates a recently built passenger rail line from Miami to West Palm Beach.
The company, previously known as Brightline, rebranded itself after entering into a licensing agreement with British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group to use its brand, name and logo.
The company had reported a net loss of $87.13 million in 2018, compared with a loss of $35.96 million in 2017, mostly due to higher expenses, its filing showed.
Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley were among its lead underwriters, with BofA Merrill Lynch and Allen & Co LLC serving as joint bookrunners. (Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru)


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The Next Step! Order Food Now On Facebook
The world is changing, and technology has made everything a bit more effortless. Today Facebook returns to add another function to your social experience that lets you get what you want, wherever you are. Today the word comes down that users can Order Food Now On Facebook. This new feature allows individuals to order food from nearby restaurants right from the app, which was teased earlier this year.
The "Order Food" icon appears on Facebook, allowing you to effortlessly order food from your computer as well as your mobile devices. According to users who have experienced the service noted that every step of ordering food is done through Facebook, including looking at menus, checking daily specials and payment. Check out the new feature immediately and let us know. Right now the feature is only available in certain areas around the world, though it's sure to expand soon. Stay tuned for more from Facebook coming very soon!
Photo provided by Which?