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By Mike Steffanos
I've sat down at my computer a couple of times in an attempt to get back into more frequent updates to the site. The hot stove season has always interested me in the past, but I have to admit that I'm just not as into it this season.
I suspect part of the reason for this is that I am less inclined to take anything I read about impending deals or free agent signings all that seriously. We've just seen too many examples about how these anonymously sourced stories of impending actions are nothing more than well-written speculation. I've read so many of them over the years I think I can do a credible job of producing my own:
A baseball insider who is familiar with the Mets' thinking has confidentially notified the Mike's Mets news desk that a deal is on the table to bring [insert your personal favorite rumor here] to the Mets in exchange for Aaron Heilman, Luis Castillo and a package of minor leaguers. Our sources inform us that the one stumbling block is the Mets reluctance to include [insert your favorite prospect's name here].*
Of course, some semblance of said deal probably was broached at one point but never came even remotely close to final form. No matter -- if the rumored deal is reported enough it takes on the quality of "fact". The consequence, of course, is that whenever that prospect who the Mets allegedly refused to give up has a bad day -- particularly if it is at the major league level -- there will be writers and bloggers will feel the need to identify said prospect as the one who cost us the privilege seeing [rumored star player] in a Mets uniform. And this process will continue endlessly every time that prospect stumbles a little.
The myth has grown over the years that the Mets turned down a deal for Manny Ramirez straight up for Lastings Milledge, and the fact that it's patently ridiculous doesn't seem to matter. I'm reading the same sort of thing now where I am informed that Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Robert Parnell or some other Mets prospect was somehow deemed "untouchable" by the Mets and cost them that one magical player who would have clinched the playoffs for the Mets in '08.
I guess if there was a shutdown reliever out there somewhere who could have contributed 3 or 4 innings to the cause every day that magical player might have actually existed, but I strongly tend to doubt it.
Although I am a strong proponent of the Mets developing some of their own prospects, I am not against trading prospects in the right deal. On the other hand, most teams have very, very few prospects in their systems that have much chance at all to make any real impact at the major league level, and I believe that they have to be very careful about dealing these players for veteran mediocrity or short-term rent-a-players.
Despite their being no shortage of folks willing to present themselves as expert evaluators of prospects -- hence the endless profusion of dubious top prospect lists -- it's my belief that very few people have that talent. I can assure you that if I had that ability I would be making my living doing just that. I won't pretend that I can predict what type of major leaguers youngsters like Martinez, Niese and Parnell might eventually become, if they even make it that far.
I'm not going to attempt to add myself to the list of all the tedious self-appointed prospect experts, and will avoid constructing or criticizing trade scenarios that involve specific prospects. If you're looking for that type of thing there is no shortage of places to find it, you just won't find it here.
Well, I guess I rambled enough about what I won't do this hot stove season. Check back tomorrow to see what I will do. I'm looking forward to figuring it out myself. Let's talk some baseball.
*By the way, for more on how to compose anonymously sourced generic hot stove reporting, please see Chuck Rothman's excellent piece from earlier this month.


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(717) 665-5781
M, Th 9:00am - 9:00pm Tu, W, F & S 9:00am - 5:00pm Closed Sun
At Myers Furniture, we strive to create a comfortable environment for our customers to shop and buy home furnishings. There are many available options for purchasing furniture these days. What sets Myers apart is our philosophy that, customer service comes first. In an age of price speaks loudest, personal service often takes a back seat to profits. Not at Myers, we provide the personal service you expect and deserve, at prices that make it affordable to...
Myer's Furniture of Lancaster County has been providing homes and businesses in Lancaster County with beautiful and durable flooring for over 50 years. We continue to work with a variety of trusted name brand manufacturer that create carpets, rugs, laminates, vinyl's and many hard surface options that provide the ambiance you're looking for. Complete design, planning and installation services are available for homes and business. Custom Flooring options...
Window Treatments are the final touch to a beautifully dressed room, and nothing makes more of a statement than gorgeous window treatments. And we're ready to help you make some choices. A good starting point is to browse the Hunter Douglas website, and then give us a call at 1-717-665-5781 or 1-888-452-0269 (1-888-4LaZBoy) or stop in and we'll help you with the details. Following are links to our Manufacturers' Web Sites. Hunter Douglas ...
Beautiful accent furniture, well placed artwork and an elegant and eclectic mix of materials and finishes characterize the wonderful assortment of Myer's Furniture's home accents. And we're ready to help you here at our website to make some choices, so browse some of our manufacturers, Pulaski Furniture and Howard Miller, and then give us a call at 1-717-665-5781 or 1-888-452-0269 (1-888-4LaZBoy) or stop in and we'll help you in getting the desired look...
A Tradition of Quality Since 1957The Seating Specialists and More
4-30-19 Updated Inventory List. Going Fast!
Visit our Facebook Page for pictures of remaining inventory here.
(Please use email for questions.
"All our remaining inventory is 75% off! Anyone wishing to still purchase items from our remaining inventory or who want to pick up an already purchased item, call 717-665-5781. Leave a message. We will return your call ASAP to schedule an appointment. Quality furniture at Bargain Prices.
Partial list of remaining inventory ALL Discounted 75% to create these Crazy Prices:
3 Complete Queen Beds, Headboard & Footboard
2 Dressers
2 Armoirs
1 Chifferobe
1 Chest on Chest
9 Night Stands
12 Mirrors
2 Canadel Dining Room Table & Chair Groups Priced from $135.00
3 Canadel Hutches Priced from $342.00
3 Entertainment consoles or Wall units Priced from $170.00
4 Pulaski & Jasper Curios Priced from $245.00
21 La-z-Boy, Hallagan & D R Kincaid Upholstered chairs Priced from $175.00
Garage Sale Area: Dishes, Plants, Blind Cleaners, Novelty Desk Clocks, Brass Candle Holders
34 Floor and Table Lamps Priced from $13.00
51 Coffee and End Tables Priced from $58.00
1 Englander Single Bed size Mattress and Box Spring Set Priced at $175.00
5 Wesley Allen Metal Bed & Frame Sets Priced from $269.00
Door Mats $0.50 each, Bound & unbound Carpet floor mats for Cars and Homes $1.00 Each
Multiple odd box lots of Congoleum & Mannington Hard Surface Flooring: Hard Wood, Laminate, Luxury Vinyl Tile and Planking Priced from $3.00 per Box
Multiple Broadloom Carpet & Sheet Vinyl Remnants Priced from $0.40 per Sq Ft.
52 Pictures and hanging Mirrors Priced from $15.00
15 odd Lamp Shades $5.00 each
8 Hassocks & Ottomans Priced from $30.00
50 Plus Bed Frames, Rail sets in all sizes Priced from $10.00.
t than other local furniture stores.
Myer's Furniture specializes in freshening your home with new sofas and chairs as we have since 1957. With one of Lancaster County's largest selections of upholstered furniture in stock, your new furniture is ready for immediate delivery or we can special order the color or fit of your choice.
Being the oldest La-Z-Boy Dealer in Lancaster County, Myer's is
The SEATING SPECIALISTS and MORE! …… Much, Much MORE!
We can transform ANY ROOM in your home in a day. Let the team at Myer's show you the way. Our experts will install your new flooring, hang your new window treatments, and place your new furniture–All to your satisfaction. And we service what we sell, there's no middleman to deal with.
With a large variety of solid wood Dining Room and Bedroom collections, Boxspring and Mattress sets, and complete Flooring and Window Fashions departments, Myer's Furniture is a one-stop place to shop.
We offer FREE in Store Decorating and Design Services including Coordination of Pieces, Finishes, Patterns, Textures, and Colors. Endless combinations of Window Fashions and Flooring can be added as you request.
Our goal is to help you make the right purchase for your home without being pushy. By giving you factual information, our knowledgeable non-commissioned sales associates strive to meet your needs, while paying attention to detail.
As you browse through our website, we want to be able to help you make informed choices. We recommend that you give us a call to allow us to guide you in seeing what may be available for your home! Certainly with gas prices what they have been, your initial experience online will be helpful. Because we're also very concerned about fit and comfort, simply viewing items on this webpage will never be enough. Colors are depicted but are not exactly the same online either. Sometime you'll want to stop by and visit our showroom where you can find that perfect piece in which to make your nest!

subset: commoncrawl


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Sometimes it's rather difficult not to see Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter as the herald of the U-pocalypse, but you can't say he isn't committed to his job.
According to GamesIndustry International, Pachter has forecast sales of just 55,000 Wii U consoles within the last month, as NPD Group prepares to release official retail figures on Thursday. Pachter's number represents a 17 percent decline in sales over the previous month and he expects the tune to remain the same for the near future:
The only key hardware device to underperform our expectations [in last month's numbers] was the Wii U and its fortunes appear unlikely to improve for several months, even if Nintendo decides to drop price, as there are an insufficient number of core titles that are generating interest in the console.
The "core gamer" market, according to Pachter, may further turn their attentions toward the PS4 and next Xbox as their releases near, with the Wii U's long term appeal shortened in light of perceived superior consoles — especially if their prices are reasonable. He has previously stated that he expected the Wii U will sell 30-50 million units in its lifetime.
Do you have a response to Pachter's latest predictions?
[via gamesindustry.biz]


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Mission Statement: The crew of Marine Outlet will work together as a team to make boating and our related services an enjoyable, safe recreational experience for our customers. We will provide the products and services at fair prices and maintain the highest ethical standards while maintaining a productive, fun, safe working environment approach. We will develop long term relationships with our customers, staff and vendors that will be based on the Golden Rule and strive for personal and business growth and prosperity.
Bio: At Rick Smith's Marine Outlet, the buck stops here. They are a friendly, family oriented business with no silly rules. Each customer and situation is unique and is treated that way. For over 40 years, they have provided a wide variety of marine products with personalized services to meet the individual need of their customers. Rick Smith has been in the Boating Industry for all of his life. Rick has numerous awards for his contributions to the Boating Industry. Rick is a Physics Major with a triple degree in physics, mathematics, and biology, at the University of Texas. His love is boating, striving to help his customers make their boating dreams come true. Rick has been an actor, appearing on "Walker Texas Ranger", Past President of the Marina Association of Texas, Charter member of Marine Retailer Assoc. of America, President of the Central Texas Marine Association, Past Director of Boating Trade Association of Texas. Congratulations Rick! He has been elected Director of "The Boating Trades Association of Texas" District 12 on October 23, 2000. We're not bragging about Rick, he's simply a nice guy, highly qualified, willing and able to serve you, with a heart for his customers. We want your business. We will answer your questions. Tell us what you want We will make it happen.
Marine Outlet Celebrates 50 Years in Central Texas in April: 1969 was not only the year of Woodstock, but also the year Marine Outlet began as a small business on Lake Stillhouse. Starting with only 3 boats, Rick Smith has used his knowledge and love of boating to expand the business to a full line sales, service and parts facility. Whether you are looking for a high performance, fire breathing, rooster throwing bass or ski boat, a pontoon boat for those lazy family summer days on the lake, a bay boat for local fishing and those long weekends on the coast, a cuddy cabin for those over-nighters or a small jon boat for the tank out in the pasture, Marine Outlet can provide you with the watercraft that fits your personal needs and tastes. We are an authorized dealer for G3 Boats, SunCatcher, Falcon, Sportsman, Tidewater boats, Falcon bassboats, Starcraft Deckboats, Old Town, Ocean Kayaks and NuCanoes and many other boat lines plus outboard motors from Honda Marine, Tohatsu, Mercury and Yamaha.
Centrally Located Between Dallas, Austin and Houston, TX!
Marine Outlet
4410 South General Bruce Drive Interstate 35 Temple TX 76502
Phone: (254) 773-9931 Fax: (254) 773-4111
Toll Free Phone: (866) 397-5934


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Among the companies in Sri Lanka making a name for themselves in the snack, biscuit and cracker segment is Sunrich Confectionery Confectionery, a manufacturing and distribution company that sells its products throughout Sri Lanka and exports around the globe. Sunrich Confectionery produces a wide variety of snacks, including Power Crunch energy biscuits, Milkies, and Onion Bites. Production is directed by M. Shridaran, whose family has been in the biscuits industry for decades and who holds degrees in Product Management specialising in Food, Bakery Technology and Biscuit Technology.
Generally defined as products that are eaten either between meals or as substitutes for meals, the market is made up of cookies, crackers, candy (including chocolate), and chips. Depending on what products are included, the industry sells about $400 billion annually.
Tastes vary a lot from region to region of the globe, and demand depends not only on population, but also consumer tastes and health considerations. As is true in many industries, the big players enjoy advantages of economy of scale and marketing, while smaller players find success in specialty products and knowledge of local markets. As an example, it took Kraft a year to successfully introduce Oreos into the Chinese market, and by the time they did the product was quite different from the one that is the most popular cookie in the United States.
One market segment that is experiencing overall growth is savoury biscuits, driven by consumer demand for new flavors and by a concern for healthy snacks. More than any other category, savoury crackers have been redesigned for local markets by introducing ethnic flavours, reducing sugar and fat, and increasing fibre.
Worldwide, North America and Europe are the largest, mature markets, making up about 70% of sales, while the rest of the world is growing about three times as fast. The market is also highly competitive and quite fragmented, and because of the factors cited above regarding local variations in tastes, it is likely to remain competitive and fragmented for the foreseeable future.
According to a Nielson study, the single largest snacking segments in each region of the world are confections in Europe and the Middle East/Africa, salty snacks in North America (potato chips dominate), refrigerated snacks in Asia/Pacific, and cookies and snack cakes in Latin America.
Snacking is quite universal, with 76% of respondents to the Nielson survey saying they eat snacks often or sometimes to satisfy their hunger between meals or to satisfy a craving, and 45% eating snacks as a meal alternative. Consumers who eat snacks as a meal alternative are more demanding so far as health characteristics such as low sugar and calories are concerned. Savoury crackers and fresh fruit seem to be the biggest beneficiaries of this trend. Nonetheless, consumers eat a wide variety of snacks when asked about their habits in a 30 day period, meaning there is room for producers and distributors of practically any type of snack. Indians are the most likely to replace meals with snacks, while northern Europeans are the least likely.
Sri Lanka is a country of about 20 million people and has a documented history which spans 3,000 years. It is home to a diverse group of religions and ethnicities, although Buddhism is by far the predominant spiritual belief. After suffering a civil war lasting nearly 30 years and ending in 2009, Sri Lanka has emerged as a fast growing economy. It is the only country in South Asia that is currently rated "high" on the Human Development Index, and is the oldest democracy in Asia.
Because of its long history, Sri Lanka is home to many fascinating and ancient temples, ruins and settlements. One fascinating destination is Sigiriya, a fortress built in the fifth century which sits on top of a massive outcropping. The landscaping and terracing are marvels, and many of the murals contained there are unique.
Sri Lanka's most important exports are tea, coffee, spices, gems, cocoa, coconut, and rubber. The country produces a lot of agricultural and food products, and the food industry is highly developed. Sri Lankan cocoa is world famous, and exporters of savoury crackers and sweet biscuits have had considerable international success. Exports of Sri Lankan confectionery products have more than quadrupled in the past 9 years to $40 million.
In addition to producing the tastiest biscuits in Sri Lanka, Sunrich Confectionery boasts a modern manufacturing facility capable of producing not only the broad product range offered under their own label, but also other varieties based on wholesale customers' recipes. Sunrich Confectionery is the best solution for companies that need to expand product offerings quickly and rest assured that their private label brands represent them with quality and consistency that today's consumer demands.
Another strength possessed by Sunrich Confectionery is its extensive distribution network with lorries and warehouses located throughout the country along with export capabilities that allow its products to be delivered efficiently throughout the world. Sales, invoicing and warehousing operations are computerized, ensuring timely delivery of house brands and private labels. Any company is only as good as its people, and Sunrich Confectionery has the best sales and distribution personnel available.
Sunrich Confectionery is also proud of the fact that it is on the Halal Compliance Certified Companies list. Halal certification means that all of its food has been processed in strict compliance with Halal procedures and that regular audits ensure that the company continues to follow Halal guidelines. Whether the customer is retail or wholesale, Halal or not, the quality of Sunrich Confectionery products is sure to please.
Because of its commitment to continuous quality improvement, Sunrich Confectionery has been selected to receive the BID International Star Award for Quality for 2015 at the convention in Geneva.
BID is a private and independent organization founded in 1984, whose primary activity is business communication orientated towards quality, excellence and innovation in management. A leader in the broadcasting of Quality Culture, BID recognizes those companies and organizations which lead the most important activities in the business world, and is considered the founding organization in the broadcasting of the Culture of Quality, Excellence and Innovation in 179 countries.
The trophy symbolizes a pledge to the principles of Quality Culture. The QC100 Total Quality Management Model, together with the Quality Mix program, media coverage of the convention and its impact on the community and business sector, create an unmatched platform for continuous improvement within the organization and awareness of the achievements of the company at an international level.
Awards are given only to those who are committed to improving their Quality Culture based on the principles of the QC100 Total Quality Management Model. Candidates are proposed by the leaders of previously awarded companies who they consider worthy of the award. Especially meritorious candidates may also be nominated. The International BID Quality Award Selection Committee then chooses the winning companies who will receive the award in New York, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, Madrid and London.


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We have a recovery plan that we handle from beginning all the way through the long term. We have certified professionals to help guide you through the entire process.
We help individuals solve ALL issues in life by using our structured individualized program. We guide people to help themselves overcome any obstacles they are facing and enable them to experience health, success, and happiness.
We fell that it's important for families to learn and grow together. That is why we offer sessions for families to be coached as a unit. This enables all involved to get on the same page and learn how to commmunicate in a healthy way.
My team and I have developed a series about substance abuse prevention. It includes how to teach our younger generation some important life skills and preparation for the workforce.
We host a group for family members who have a loved one suffering from substance abuse which is free of charge.
We consult with businesses and develop seminars tailored specifically to the goals and needs of that company.
We understand how difficult it is to address addiction. We offer a simple and highly effective intervention process that will benefit the entire family.
Many people have expressed frustration when it comes to treatment placement. We assist in the search for treatment centers that best fit the individuals in crisis.
The road to long term recovery only begins when when an individual has been discharged from a treatment center. We offer certified experienced coaches to guide people to sober living.
Rob Evans helped me tremendously in many different aspects of my life. I suffered from depression, anxiety, addiction, and anger issues. I had no identity and no purpose. Life was painful and I didn't know why. I was lazy, undisciplined and my mind was always racing. I can't really explain exactly what Rob did or how he did it… all I know is that I was miserable for 29 years and became happy in just a few months. Rob taught me that I matter. He explained how many issues in my life is a direct result of my low opinion of myself. He also realized that my negative thinking and self-deception were the causes of my self-destruction, so we both took action to tackle those dangerous flaws that I had buried inside me all these years.
Put simply, I am capable of greatness. I think we all are. But I think the reason why many of us do not achieve greatness is because we don't have someone like Rob Evans to guide us.
Life doesn't hurt anymore. I am better now. I am on my way to a happy, fulfilling and successful life, thanks to Rob Evans. I think the coolest part about this is that Rob and I have become close friends. That's the thing with him…he's not some therapist that sees you for 45 minutes and moves on to the next subject with no emotional connection. Rob actually cares. If you're struggling, do yourself a favor and give him a call. If you're serious about getting better, he will change your life.
I could have easily become a victim of my circumstances. I could have easily remained stuck in the negativity that surrounded me. I could have continued to believe the things my abusive stepfather said to me. I could have continued to make bad choices and never escaped that negative lifestyle. But God placed the right people in my life at key times to encourage me and help me believe I had much more potential. I lacked direction and had no goals, but those people awakened drive and a purpose within me. They wouldn't allow me to be satisfied to stay where I was. Today I am a wife, a mother, and a successful career woman, all things that would have been impossible without people to guide me and encourage me and help me believe in myself. Rob Evans is one of those people. He draws on his own life experiences to connect with people and helps them overcome whatever is holding them back.
We appreciate what Rob Evans life coaching has done for our son. What a transformation! He helped my son discover the potential that was deep inside him. As parents we knew that potential existed but his life was spiraling out of control. With Rob's life coaching sessions my son is happy, confident and meets life head on. Thank you Rob Evans, for teaching my son he CAN have a life beyond his wildest dreams.
When I met Rob Evans I was in no position to be anything to anyone. Rob helped me see the value in myself in a very practical way. Rob showed me through his experience that I was not alone in the issues and problems I have faced in my life. He also taught me how to use the things I have went through as tools as opposed to letting them burden me. I now see the tough times I went through in life as assets that have made me a better man for the people that I love.
610 Carmans Road, South Farmingdale, NY, USA


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Home sweet home?
Not so much for the Dallas Cowboys this year.
The Cowboys are 7-0 on the road, after defeating the Eagles in Philadelphia last week. At home, they're just 3-4, leaving fans and players alike perplexed as to why the team has so struggled in Jerry Jones's $1.2 billion shrine to football and excess.
"I don't have a good answer for you," quarterback Tony Romo said this week when asked about the team's struggles at home, via the team's official website. "More than anything, you just go and do all of the things that it takes to win."
According to Romo, up until the Thanksgiving Day debacle, the crowds at AT&T Stadium had been good, and loud. He added that he fully expects the building to be electric once again on Sunday.
"You could really feel the energy, excitement and just the passion behind the fans and I expect to see that again this weekend," Romo said. "I think it's going to be a real special place. And everyone who is at that game, I think it's going to be loud."
Stay on top of the latest Dallas Cowboys news with NBCDFW.com. Follow NBC DFW on Facebook or have breaking Cowboys news sent directly to your phone with Blue Star SMS alerts. Text "bluestar" to 622339 (NBCDFW) to subscribe, text HELP for more info, and text STOP to end the subscription. Message and data rates may apply.Read more about it here.


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We need to learn the past …. to understand the present … and prepare for the future.
This magnificent project, created by Eduardo Costa Audiovisual Productions, aims an encounter with the valuable past, the Folklore and Ethnography of the archipelago of Madeira. It portraits in terrific details the daily life and activities the small nation in the past, but in some places still present-day culture and profession.
The project "Raízes de um Povo" (Roots of a People) is a 13 documentaries about 25 minutes. Each county of Madeira will have its own documentary. There will be a dedicated version for the Christmas period on Madeira. The main objective is to produce a true and accurate reference that guarantees historical consistency and validity.


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Another possible cup run was ended last night as Brighouse Town, showing seven changes from the FA Trophy clash at Farsley Celtic, were beaten at 2-0 Morpeth.
Vill Powell's young side, apart from veteran striker Zeph Thomas and experienced midfielder and acting captain Iwan Heeley, fell to a goal in each half on a cold and dank night in Northumbria.
But Town were not disgraced against the Evo-Stik East league leaders.
It was their third visit to Morpeth already this season and in good old football parlance they gave as good as they got but, like at Farsley, their chances were not put away.
Powell said: "We made the seven changes to give the more senior players a rest from competitive football and freshen them up after what has been a very busy October on the road with long trips for the most part.
"It was also a chance for the young lads to show their mettle and Simon Ward and I were not disappointed with their efforts.
"We can now say we have a strong squad to take on more challenges during November and now that we are out of the cups, we can concentrate on strengthening our league position."
Wayne Philips put Morpeth ahead on 18 minutes after Brighouse had failed to clear their lines.
Powell's men had chances to level proceedings but were unable to find a way through the home defence.
With nine minutes remaining, Jack Foalle struck to seal the host's place in the next round.


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Our Volunteers
Nia Cultural Center is largely a volunteer organization. We would not be able to meet our mission without the critical services of community volunteers. In addition to these volunteer positions, your knowledge and expertise in the following areas is always needed"
- Computer Data Entry
- Cafeteria Assistants
- Fundraising
- Grant Writing
- Computer Programming
- Office Maintenance
- Tutor
- Office Assistance


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The Destruction Of Wtc 5
May 30 2010, 09:48 AM
Post #1
Group: Active Forum Pilot
Posts: 770
Joined: 1-February 09
Member No.: 4,096
The above link is to a slide show for a collection of images that shows WTC 5 and the condition of the building throughout the day on 9/11 and during the clean up phase after the attack.
In the picture below, you're on the corner of Church and Vesey Street looking south. The panels from WTC 1 are sticking up in the background and behind that is a white hot glow indicating very intense heat down in that area. WTC 4 is heavily damaged and engulfed in flames. WTC 5 is not on fire yet. There are still a lot of people standing around this area, so I'm not sure if WTC 1 has come down yet or not?
Then WTC 5 goes from no fire to fully involved in flames.
This next picture is very confusing. Heavy smoke is coming out of the top of the first floor. So is this the beginning of the fire or the end? It appears that the Church Street side of the building has already been damaged by the fire, so that it would indicate that the fire is going out. If the fire is going out it is putting itself out because NYPD only was able to put one hose on this structure and that didn't make a dent.
So we've got a steel building that's not on fire, then it's fully involved in fire and then it puts itself out. This is not a normal fire from falling debris.
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 27th February 2020 - 08:15 PM


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On this blog I hope to keep you in the loop about local writing conferences that are happening as well as those nationally. Keeping in line with my writing goals this year, I hope to attend at least two if not more. The first one I will be attending is the iWriteNetwork Winter Workshop.
This mini writing conference will be held on Saturday, the 26th of January in Orem, UT. The fee is $35 dollars and the line-up of authors and their sessions is pretty impressive. I promise to report back to you after the conference those things that I have learned in the process. Here is a sneak peak of who will be there.
Sarah Eden | Gregg Luke | Michelle Paige Holmes | Elana Johnson | Donna K. Weaver
- Writing with Humor
- Mastering Suspense
- Adding in a Little Romance
- Mapping out your novel using beats
- Writing a one-page synopsis
Make sure to check out their website for more information, details and registration. I hope to see some of you there. If you are going drop me a comment and we can meet up.


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You are hereHome ›
Road to state begins for Bulletin area boys hockey teams
Being stuck in a section with a couple of perennial powerhouses makes its difficult for programs with less of a pedigree to get to the state tournament. That's the situation that the Irondale/St. Anthony Village and Mounds View boys hockey teams face each year.
Section 4AA is usually owned by either Hill-Murray or White Bear Lake, and that's the expected path for the section again this year as those teams are the top two seeds.
Irondale and Mounds View hope to catch lightning in a bottle the way Stillwater did last year in knocking off White Bear Lake and Hill-Murray in back-to-back games to reach the state tournament for the first time in school history.
Seventh-seeded Irondale's trip down such a path begins Saturday afternoon with a section quarterfinal against second-seeded White Bear Lake. The Bears have the most wins of any team in the section but fell to the second seed because of a 2-1 loss to Hill-Murray, the top seed, in late January.
Irondale has the fewest wins of any team in the section but was seeded ahead of North St. Paul thanks to a 5-2 victory over the Polars in the season opener back in November. The Knights' other two wins this season came against Marshall in late December and Armstrong/Cooper in mid-January.
The Irondale/White Bear Lake winner advances to the section semifinals on Feb. 25 against either sixth-seeded Tartan or third-seeded Stillwater.
Mounds View faces a bit more manageable first-round game. The Mustangs, seeded fifth, take on fourth-seeded Roseville at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The two Suburban East Conference rivals split a pair of regular-season games with Mounds View taking game one 3-2 in early December and Roseville returning the favor with an 8-7, overtime victory last month.
The Mounds View/Roseville winner takes on either eighth-seeded North St. Paul or top-seeded Hill-Murray in a semifinal on Feb. 24.
The section championship game is scheduled for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
All Section 4AA playoff games take place at Aldrich Arena.
—Brian Meyers
Section 4AA boys hockey playoffs
All games at Aldrich Arena
Seed, record in parentheses
Quarterfinals, Feb. 21
Game 1 — North St. Paul (8, 4-21) vs. Hill-Murray (1, 18-7), 11 a.m.
Game 2 — Irondale/St. Anthony (7, 3-19-3) vs. White Bear Lake (2, 20-5), 1 p.m.
Game 3 — Tartan (6, 12-12-1) vs. Stillwater (3, 17-8), 5 p.m.
Game 4 — Mounds View (5, 12-10-3) vs. Roseville (4, 15-10), 7 p.m.
Semifinals, 7 p.m.
Game 5 — Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, Feb. 24
Game 6 — Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, Feb. 25
Championship game, Feb. 27, 7 p.m.
Game 7 — Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner


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Curbly Bookworm: Return of the STUPID SOCK Creatures
When John Murphy wrote his first book Stupid Sock Creatures, little did he know he would start a sock creature revolution. People everywhere were so inspired by the eight creatures contained within, they began making sock creatures of their own. John then invited these loyal readers to become guest designers for his latest work, Return of the Stupid Sock Creatures (Lark Crafts, October 2012, 132 pages).
The book is divided into two parts. The first breaks down the basic instructions for creating sock monsters. It includes such things as the contents of a creature sewing kit (sewing machines are NOT required), explanations about stuffing techniques and teeth and tongue construction, to name a few of the 14 tips included in the 31 pages.
The second part is the meatiest and consists of 19 wild and wonderful creatures all with personalities and biographies that make the how-to book read almost like a storybook. For instance, one of my particular favorites (the pop-eyed guy on the far right pictured above) has a profile that reads like this: "Pie Thagorus-PT for short-is a chubby little fellow who likes to eat pies, You'll know he's spotted a tasty one when his eyes pop right out of his head. PT is lazy enough to require no legs, but he expects to be carried everywhere he goes." John warns us, however, that if we don't have a pie nearby, PT just might go for our cat. Run, kitty, run!
As far as the instructions to make Pie Thagorus and his other friends, they consist of colorful, easily interpreted diagrams, well-thought-out descriptions and quips that make your sock creatures come alive. From a one-sock creation for beginners (which was designed by a 12 year old), to a four-sock masterpiece for those with more experience, there is something for everyone.
You can find John Murphy's Return of the Stupid Sock Creatures at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for about $11. For more information about John, please visit his website stupidcreatures.com.


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Statement on the Litvinenko Case
Yesterday while I was at the Winter Graduation ceremony, one of the esteemed Emeritus Professors in the Department of Physics of Astronomy, Norman Dombey, recorded two TV interviews about the Alexander Litvinenko case. Professor Dombey was an expert witness who contributed evidence to an inquiry that concluded that Mr Litvinenko was deliberately poisoned with radioactive Polonium, and that his murder was probably explicitly authorised by Vladimir Putin.
One of the interviews took place outside the Department:
The other was filmed in my office while I was on graduation duty.
In case any KGB agents are in the habit of reading this blog, I wish to point out that the use of my office by Professor Dombey should not be taken as evidence that I endorse the conclusion that Vladimir Putin ordered the assassination of Mr Litvinenko. Even if that is probably the case.Follow @telescoper
One Response to "Statement on the Litvinenko Case"
Peter – remember that it was actually MI6 who poisoned him and then spread Polonium across central London while following the two Russians and all over those BA flights to Moscow… so apparently its not the KGB you need to be concerned about. Ian


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Hot dogs are all right but why not experiment with other types of sausage?
Praise the buns, but ditch the dogs this Memorial Day. The hot dogs, that is.
Though grilled hot dogs are standard -- and no fuss -- for holiday cookouts, there are other tubular temptations to spark your menu. Think savory, spicy and even sweet sausages, from traditional bratwurst, kielbasa and hot Italian to interesting combinations like chicken and apple or spinach and feta.
Cradle sausages in hot-dog buns or more sturdy rolls, toasted or not, and you've elevated the usual fare by a mile. Settle on something interesting to garnish them with, such as whole-grain mustard, sauteed onions and mushrooms or even a mango chutney mayonnaise.
Different regions of the United States have their sausage favorites, mostly owing to the immigrants who settled there. You'll find plenty of Polish kielbasa in Milwaukee and Chicago, and lovers of Wisconsin brats will tell you that a brown, German-style mustard is a must. In fact, anything else might get you kicked out of the Badger State. In states that border Mexico, spicy chorizo is common at home and on restaurant menus. New Jersey takes pride in Italian sausages, and just about everywhere, you'll find sausages with German lineage -- and that includes the frankfurter.
There are three types of dinner sausages -- most often made from pork and beef -- and you'll find them in a variety of places in the store. Fresh sausages are not cooked and will take the longest time to cook on the grill, 8 to 10 minutes a side. They are done when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Find them in the butcher case.
Fully cooked sausages only need to be heated through. About 5 to 6 minutes over medium heat, flipped halfway through to get those coveted grill marks, and they're done. Fully cooked sausages are normally stocked near the hot dogs, and you'll find lower-fat and lower-sodium offerings, too, including turkey versions. The green section of the store will offer organic sausages -- and that includes meatless varieties.
Cured sausages are dried and are generally eaten sliced rather than whole in a bun. Salamis are cured sausages as are Portuguese linguica and chorizo, which also come fresh. These are best in sandwiches and on antipasto platters, for nibbling with crackers or adding to egg and rice dishes in cubes.
For your Memorial Day cookout, I recommend two salads to serve alongside brats with cherries and bacon, or grilled apple-and-chicken sausage with a simply homemade mango-chutney mayonnaise.
The apple-and-chicken sausages I tested in the oven and on the grill were Aidells brand. We liked them better on the grill. In the oven, the pleasant snap that comes with some casings became too tough and we had to fight each bite. The spread was simply mayonnaise mixed with mango chutney. The sweet tang of the chutney paired well with the apple in the sausage.
To continue the Indian flavors, I prepared Curried Rice and Artichoke Salad. If you're heading to a potluck, consider this salad. It travels well and feeds a boatload. The base ingredient is two boxes of cooked and cooled chicken-flavor Rice-A-Roni, and the recipe can easily be cut in half for a smaller gathering.
The curry is subtle here, just 2 teaspoons for a large bowl of ingredients, and once you make it, you'll think of a number of ways to doctor it. For a main-dish version, add shredded chicken. A handful of halved red grapes would add a welcome sweetness. To take the salad in another direction, ditch the curry, substitute chopped kalamata olives for the green olives and add feta cheese. Now, you've got a Greek version and a perfect accompaniment to a roasted garlic sausage or even Aidells' spinach and feta.
Brats With Cherries and Bacon are a simple showstopper and one of those who'd-have-thought? recipes. Cherries stuffed in sausages? Well, why not. I used fresh cherries that I halved and pitted to stuff the split sausages. The recipe says thawed; frozen are just as good, but I think they'll get soft and fall apart over the heat. After stuffing the brats, wrap with a piece of bacon. You'll need some wooden toothpicks to hold everything in place or risk losing the cherries to the bottom of the grill.
The brats were just as delicious in the oven, and actually cooked more evenly. I baked them at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes on a rack over a pan to catch the drippings. Because they were on the rack, they didn't need to be flipped and stayed together better. Whole-grain or Dijon mustard adds the perfect tang to the cherries' sweetness. I love this recipe.
Make Spinach Salad With Mahogany Roasted Mushrooms and Onions as your side with the brats. It's a bit fussy as a take-along salad, but works well if you're entertaining at home. Small whole button mushrooms and onion slices are briefly marinated in a sweet balsamic dressing, then baked until golden. The warm veggies are tossed with spinach leaves and warm dressing.
Croutons are made from sourdough bread that's toasted then broiled with a slather of goat cheese. This is a spin on the typical bacon-spinach salad with warm, sweet dressing. I like it better for a change, and find that big shaves of Parmesan cheese stand in nicely for the homemade goat-cheese croutons.
Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks? Your sausage menu will prove them wrong this Memorial Day.
(St. Petersburg Times food and travel editor Janet K. Keeler can be reached at jkeeler(at)sptimes.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)


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ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy
One of ECSL's most successful activities is the ECSL Summer Course on Space Law and Policy, which is open to students of all levels of study, as well as a few young professionals already working in the space or space-related sectors. The course is now in its 28th year and boasts a large family of alumni around the world.
The 2019 Summer Course on Space Law and Policy:
The course is organised each summer by the ECSL with the support of a host university or other institution. The 2019 Summer Course will be organised together with the University of Messina from the 2nd of September to the 12th of September.
This year is special as the ECSL Summer Course is returning to its roots, in Messina, Italy where the first ECSL Summer Course ever was organised in 1992.
During the two-week course, participants attend intensive lectures and seminars given by leading university professors and space industry practitioners concerning the international and domestic legal and policy frameworks governing space activities and applications. The main objective of the Summer Course is to stimulate participants' interest in this particular field of law and policy and to provide them with a basic, solid knowledge upon which to build or enhance their professional career or carry out further academic research
During the course participants have the opportunity to meet highly qualified experts, to learn from their experience and to visit the premises of companies operating in the space industry or intergovernmental bodies, as well as other entities active in the space sector (research centres etc...).
The theme of this year's course will mainly focus on the use of outer space in managing and monitoring disasters, aiming to both refer to the peculiarity of the beautiful territory in which the Summer Course will take place and to highlight the particular relevance of space technologies and resources in disaster mitigation.
Indeed Sicily still hosts an active volcano also known as Mount Etna. Participants will have the opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of volcano activity monitoring during a visit to Etna.
The course will also feature a project, where all participants must take part. Each group will present their project on the final day to a panel of judges, who will award one group as the winner.
More information about the program will be made available in the coming months.
Important information:
For students who are citizens of or studying in an Member State or Associated State of the European Space Agency (ESA) there is no course fee, and the accommodation will be organised and paid for by the ECSL.
For students who are not citizens of or study in any ESA Member State, the course fee is 1200 Euros, this includes accommodation that will be organised by the ECSL. Students from ESA Member States and Associated States are given priority, but every year we accept a few students from non-ESA states.
For Young Professionals the course fee is 1200 Euros, this includes accommodation that will be organised by the ECSL. This is primarily a Course for students, but each year we do also accept a few Young professionals.
Professionals are also invited to check out the ECSL Executive Course on Space Law and Regulations: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_European_Centre_for_Space_Law/ECSL_Executive_Course_on_Space_Law_and_Regulations
Both students and Young professionals are expected to organise and pay for their own transport to Messina, and have a travel insurance for the duration of the course. The insurance should cover travel/third party liability. Participants are also expected to cover some local transportation costs in Messina as well as living costs, although some transportation and meals may also be covered by the ECSL or local partners.
Participants are expected to arrive in Messina on the 1st of September, and stay until the 13th of September. We will only accept participants who can stay the whole time, and participants are expected to take part in evening and weekend activities.
For more information check out the information in the right hand tool bar.
Application information:
Students for ESA Member States should apply to the National Point of Contact in the country where they study or where they are citizens.
You may only apply to one NPoC. A list of NPoCs can be found here: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ECSL_European_Centre_for_Space_Law/National_Points_of_Contact
Students who are neither citizens of nor studying in an ESA Member State should apply directly to the ECSL Secretariat, and send their application to email@example.com
Young Professionals should also apply directly to the ECSL Secretariat, and send their application to email@example.com
The deadline for all applications is the 26st of June, by 24.00 (CET)
Please fill out the Application Form below and submit the Application form and a CV to your NPoC or ECSL Secretariat in line with the instructions above.
Application for Tutors:
The ECSL will also recruit four Tutors for the Summer Course. As a tutor you get a chance to interact and engage with other young space enthusiast, as well as some of the most prominent people in the field. You will get organisational and tutoring experience, a chance to learn from all the lectures while potentially experiencing a new country.
Tutors are usually selected from previous years' Summer Course students, as they are familiar with the structure of an ECSL Summer Course and have experience of preparing and presenting a group project.
Tutors receive a place on the course and accommodation free of charge but they are still required to pay for their transport and insurance.
The main task of the tutors is to tutor the teams for the project and assist the Executive Secretary with the day-to day running of the course.
More information and application instructions is available below:
If you are interested in applying as a tutor to the 2019 Summer Course, send your CV and Motivational Letter to the Executive Secretary on email@example.com by 24:00 (CET) on Thursday 26st of June 2019. All applications should be in line with the instructions of the Tutor Information 2019 document.
Previous years have taken place in:
1992 - Messina, Italy
1993 - Toulouse, France
1994 - Granada, Spain
1995 - Aberdeen, UK
1996 - Leiden, Netherlands
1997 - Rovaniemi, Finland
1998 - Brest, France
1999 - Geneva, Switzerland
2000 - Cologne, Germany
2001 - Nice, France
2002 - La Rochelle, France
2003 - Leuven, Belgium
2004- Graz, Austria
2005 - Terni, Italy
2006 - Noordwijk, Netherlands
2007 - Noordwijk, Netherlands
2008 - Genoa, Italy
2009 - Lisbon, Portugal
2017 - Rome, Italy (Information right hand side bar)
If you are interested in finding out more about the course, please contact the ECSL Executive Secretary Chehineze Bouafia at email@example.com


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Specialists in Orthopedic Manual Therapy, Sports Physical Therapy and Neurological Rehabilitation
Whether you are a potential first time patient or a regular consumer of physical therapy services, we believe that your experience with us will lead you to better health and wellness. Restoring function, promoting healing, and ensuring your road to healthful living is our specialty. Our approach to healing involves building trusting relationships and cultivating friendships that go beyond just treating your injury. It's about empowerment. It means giving you the solution to minimize your injuries and to maximize your potential to heal. It means being available to answer your questions at any time, to erase any doubts, and to rebuild confidence.
As your physical therapist, we are committed to providing you the accountability, the one-on-one attention, and the care that you deserve. Your health is our concern and we embrace the opportunity to provide you with the best physical therapy service that will keep you on the road of active living.
We look forward to working with you soon!
APT Difference:
We Are Dedicated To Our Patient's Optimal Well Being
Simply put, we thrive on empowering individuals to reach their highest level of recovery.
The Center for Orthopedic, Sports and Neurological Rehabilitation
Why Choose Advance Physical Therapy:
- One on One Attention
- Comprehensive & Holistic Evaluation Approach
- State of the Art Healing Facility
- Evidence Based Treatment and Exercise Program
- Proven Results
- Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Specialists
What people are saying:
"Their greatest reward is knowing that what they do transforms lives with a renewed zest for living pain free."
"I've seen four different physios (2 in the US and 2 in Australia), and these guys were just simply amazing! Deanne did a thorough assessment of my injury and quickly identified my back problem and got to work on it straight-away. My recovery was immediate and I made significant improvements. Within a few visits I was 100% better!"
"Since having a broken back over twenty years ago, I have seen over a hundred physical therapists, physiatrists, and specialized pain doctors. None have been as helpful as Alton and Deanna and their staff. They treated me top to bottom, and spent careful time assessing every dysfunctional area of my body, giving me more information about what was broken and why, and how to get past it than I have ever gotten before. The home exercises are effective and gets results."
"I've been seeing Dr. Ching now for about 10 months. Prior to that, I went through dozens of rounds of PT in several different clinics in several different towns. Dr. Ching is hands down the best! I have severe chronic back pain, and Dr. Ching single handedly got me through a very challenging pregnancy, during which he was the only person I would have trusted to do manual manipulation on my back. He is very caring and incredibly knowledgeable, I wouldn't go to anyone else."


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Even though I'm past the early stages of postpartum haze, I fully remember how exhausting the newborn stage can be.
In the Office
Finding My Groove As a Work From Home Mom
Finding my groove as a mother and as my own boss in the same year has been anything but easy. It
Read More >
Our Sweetheart is One!
I truly can't believe Ivy is one! Time seriously does fly, and it breaks my heart when I think about
Read More >
How and Why to Travel Without Baby
So you might have seen that my husband and I took a European vacation aka incredibly delayed honeymoon last month.
Read More >
Life in general
2017 Year in Review
Photo by BrandiGard When I was an angsty teen and had a Xanga account, I used to always write a
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Why We Chose Day Care for Our Infant
"Daycare" is a scary word – one that brings upon a lot of shame and dirty looks from well-meaning friends,


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- home
- news
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- calendar
- enewsletters
- people on the move
Making The Real World Connection
GRAND RAPIDS — Connecting high school students with real-world information technology experience is the goal of Ken Brower, Trivalent Group Inc. chief technology officer and a long-time supporter of the Kent Career Technical Center's information technology program.
Brower, leader of an advisory board of IT professionals for the KCTC program, said he's seen some amazing changes since he joined in the mid-1990s. The information technology program is one of 29 in six career pathways offered to high school students at KCTC, 1655 East Beltline Ave. NE.
"From where it was in the mid-'90s to where it is today, the curriculum has changed quite drastically," Brower said. "We brought in an addition of a soft skills set — communications, written and oral, listening skills — so they know how to work with customers."
Trivalent Group, a Grandville system integrator and solutions company with about 70 employees, has opened its own doors to KCTC. The company has provided students with job shadowing and internships, and has provided opportunities for the center's four information technology instructors to help with networking projects during the summer. Since they spend so much time teaching, the instructors get little opportunity to experience the industry, Brower said.
"There's a textbook, and there's what happens in the real world," he said.
Instructor Ron Houtman said he and two other teachers joined Trivalent to work on networking for Rehoboth Christian Schools in a remote, low-income area of New Mexico.
"We keep our skills up to date and get to see what customers are requiring out there," Houtman said.
About three years ago, Brower arranged for KCTC students to become the main computer consultants for Jubilee Jobs, a nonprofit employment training program located in the Baxter Community Center in Grand Rapids. Executive Director Chana Edmond-Verley said the arrangement has saved her organization as much as $10,000 annually. "It's been a huge cost savings," she said.
Edmond-Verley said teams of students set up the network, which has about 35 computers including a 25-station computer, from wiring to assembling PCs to applications.
"They came in with a slew of students and built the network from scratch," said Edmond-Verley, who had a career in computer science before moving into the nonprofit sector. That was three years ago.
Today, KCTC chooses four students per semester who act as Jubilee Jobs' network managers, visiting the office each week and taking care of the network. Those students may apply for a paid summer internship, Edmond-Verley said. The KCTC instructors are available to back up their students, she added.
The program fits well with Jubilee Jobs' mission of teaching job search skills and computer literacy to 800 youths and adults each year, Edmond-Verley said. In fact, several students who started in Jubilee Jobs programs now are KCTC students and are preparing to apply for college, she added.
"It's kind of a neat thing," Brower said. "It's important for our company to have community-type involvement, to work with organizations that support us."
Houtman said KCTC's information technology program has 160 high school juniors and seniors in four tracks: personal computer technician, multimedia, Visual Basic programming and networking. The one- or two-year program is available to students in 72 schools within the Kent Intermediate School District and Tri-County Area Schools.
He said KCTC's graduates are finding entry-level IT jobs and are going to college for further education in the field. For example, Houtman said, Davenport University gives two-year KCTC information technology grads 40 credits toward a 60-credit associate's degree.
The information technology advisory board, of which Brower is a member, includes representatives from about a dozen companies, including Alticor, Wolverine World Wide and Lake Michigan Credit Union. Houtman said they've been open to showing students their businesses and give them an idea of what the IT industry is like from the inside.
"It's nice to have organizations that really value education to the point where they are allowing our students to come in just to see what they do," Houtman said. "And they can get some pretty good employees out of the deal."


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Fuzz Testing (or Fuzzing) is a software testing technique in use to discover coding errors and security loopholes in software, operating systems and networks.
Vulnerabilities in well-known applications are often used by malicious actors to target Cyber Attacks on enterprises. Fuzzing is aimed to identify those vulnerabilities as a proactive measure. The activity is conducted by attempting to crash test the system by inputting massive random data.
- Industry leading security Testing methodology to help Customers Fuzz Test the code/application before final release.
- Highly experienced team credited with identifying critical vulnerabilities such as Memory Corruption by Google, Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec and many more.
- Uncover bugs before product release
- Propitiatory file format covered with custom Fuzzers
- Identify Logical Programming Bugs missed in source code audit
- Automated Discovery and Reporting
- Fully Managed support


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Bossier City, La.-based firm Landpoint says it has been granted a Section 333 exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the senseFly eBee RTK drone for aerial surveying and mapping.
The company performs land surveying and engineering services for oil and gas, transportation, commercial land development, and residential real estate companies. It also provides consulting, GIS mapping and laser scanning.
With the commercial exemption, Landpoint says it now able to survey large areas in a day and provide deliverables within 24 hours of the initial survey. In addition to its Louisiana headquarters, the firm operates from locations in Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
"This is a great asset for Landpoint and a very exciting time," says Chad Souter, vice president. "The regulatory approval is a very positive point of progression and shows that we strive to find new ways to innovate and provide better value to our clients."


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Our ProLuxe line of extensions: Our highest quality hair collection crafted and meant for professional salon users.
Each pack of tape-in extensions comes with 20 pieces of hair and 50 grams per pack.
Click here for Color Chart
- Each piece is already taped and ready to apply.
- 100% remy human hair.
- Each weft is 1.5 inches wide
- Invisible and high quality italian tape
- Hair can be curled, styled, and colored.
- 2-5 packs are recommended for a full look.
- Tape holds for at least 8 weeks and hair can be re-applied 2-3 times.
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ProLuxe Remy Collection: Tape-In Extensions Color Pale Ash Blonde #60 22 inches in length
Regular price $209.99


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Welcome to Lytle South Baptist Church
About Us
"Lytle South", as we refer to ourselves, is a family and community church. We feel we have a place for every age group, from the infant to the senior adult and everything in between. We have Sunday School and Worship Services each Sunday morning. For Sunday nights, we like to have our members meeting in homes for Special Focus Studies and Fellowship. On Wednesday evening, we have a Church Wide Meal and Bible Study for each age group. Included on Wednesday is Choir for children and adults. Regularly, we have some form of Church Wide Fellowship and Outreach for our members and our neighborhood.
Having had only one pastor, Rodney Watson or "Brother Rodney" as we like to call him, has given the church consistency most church families never receive. Located just east of Oldham Lane on Industrial Boulevard, we currently have approximately 250 members.
Our Beliefs
We are a member of the Abilene/Callahan Baptist Association, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the Southern Baptist Convention. We adhere to the Message of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Our Worship
Our worship service is a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary songs, which span the generations of our church family. Our prayer is that we can worship God in Spirit and in truth.
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
Our History:
Lytle South Baptist Church began when Temple Baptist Church, located at 1073 Sycamore, became a mission church of First Baptist Church and relocated to southeast Abilene. Lytle South prepared for their relocation by holding Vacation Bible School under a tent for 2 years and by meeting in home Bible Study groups before constructing a new building and holding their first service on December 11, 1988 with 74 members making the move. Rodney Watson began pastoring Temple Baptist on July 1, 1984 and continues as pastor of LSBC today.
Mother's Day Out
Kids at Lytle MDO believes in the development of the whole child, which includes their physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth and development. In our warm and loving environment, children are encouraged to reach their fullest potential in all areas of life.
Kids at Lytle MDO is open Mondays and Wednesdays September through mid-May 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Children ages 1-4 are welcome.
Our Gallery
American Heritage Girls
American Heritage Girls are for girls
All girls in in grades K – 12 are invited to join American Heritage Girls, a Christian alternative to the Girl Scouts, which meet on Fridays at 6:30 pm Lytle South Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Special events are planned throughout the year. Check the calendar on this site for events, dates and times.
Trail Life USA for Boys
Trail Life is for boys
All boys in grades K – 12 are invited to join Trail Life, a Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts, which meet on Fridays at 6:30 pm Lytle South Baptist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Special events are planned throughout the year. Check the calendar on this site for events, dates and times.


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Only a few months before permanent separation, the Ohio State Master of Fine Arts candidates are unified this week when their theses are displayed under the same roof downtown.
"Phase Shift" will showcase 14 MFA candidates' works Tuesday through March 21 at the Urban Arts Space. A showing Saturday will also include a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
The thesis exhibition is a summation of the MFA's ideas, discussions and experiments with various materials over the past three years, said Rebecca Harvey, interim chair and professor in the Department of Art.
Natalia Arbelaez, a third-year MFA in ceramic and sculpture, is an artist who leaves all of her work untitled because she wants the pieces to stand for themselves.
Arbelaez's 30 drooping clay sculptures, with bodies "melting" to symbolize aging, are intended as a reminder that life is temporary. She also said the high-to-low positioning of the figures, varying from 12 to 34 inches in height, hints at the hierarchy people place on themselves through such things as race and religion.
Liam O'Connor, third-year MFA in sculpture, calls his work a single installation of two pieces. The work includes two videos: "Pillar of Clouds" and "Shamayim," both of which are his personal interpretations of the Israeli mentality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
O'Connor, a Jewish-American, said "Pillar of Clouds" is hundreds of YouTube clips of rockets shot between Israel and Gaza edited together so the only images seen are the cloud-like shapes left behind by the smoke.
"Pillar of Clouds," an Israeli term for 2012 bombings, was originally a Biblical description of a form God took on in the Old Testament to guide the Israelites through the desert.
O'Connor said the video tries to figure out how governments are using religious imagery in violent actions by creating a perverse, man-made image of the divine.
"Shamayim" features a horizon on a part of the ocean over the course of an hour, he said. The film is set in slow motion so even the sounds of the waves create a dull roar.
O'Connor said "Shamayim" was about the question of Hebrew vocabulary because shamayim means "the heavens" while sham means "over there" and mayim means "water."
Michael McDevitt, a third-year MFA in painting and drawing, has created a "narrative installation" telling a fictionalized version of a real-life shooting that happened involving one of his friends in high school.
He said the installation is a large stage set that one can walk into and see different household items represent different pieces of the story.
"It puts the viewer in the position of being somebody who is not directly involved in the story but is inducted in bits of pieces from different sources," McDevitt said.
Urban Arts Space spokeswoman Kelly McNicholas said the exhibition is a good finale for the MFA candidates to be united at the end of their programs.
"Coming to the show is like a window into the studios of all these artists who have been on campus for the last three years," she said. "Maybe you've seen their faces, but not known what they've been working on. This is one of the few times they get to come together for everyone to see."
Admission to the "Phase Shift: Department of Art, Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition" is free.


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Yii 2.0 introduced a new feature to its ActiveRecord class, the inverse relation. The documentation does a decent job at explaining its purpose – to prevent an unneeded SQL call from being executed and the instantiation of a new object, when in reality, the current object that is performing the lookup is the same object that would be found with that unneeded SQL call. The optimization is much appreciated and in one project, this new relation has cut down on the SQL being executed and potential errors being introduced.
However, what the documentation does not make clear, as referenced in issue 7316, is that, in most cases, the inverse relation should only be defined for one side of the relationship. For example, let's take the documentation's example of an order having exactly one customer, and customers having many orders. In this example, the inverseOf should only be defined within the Customer class' order relation. This is because the order can only have one customer, so no SQL is required to determine what the correct customer will be.
What if we had an inverseOf relation defined in the opposite direction from the Order class' customer relation? The inverseOf relation would tell the customer class that this one order is the only order the customer has! Obviously, not correct.
To determine if you should use the inverseOf relation, just ask yourself when writing the relation, does the other class have a 'hasOne' relation to this class? If it does, you should be OK to use the inverseOf relation.


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Tip 4.34: How to quickly access Full Screen mode
"Visual Studio Tips, 251 ways to improve your Productivity in Visual Studio", courtesy of 'Sara Ford'
Sara Ford's Blog
You can quickly toggle into Full Screen mode from any of the other three window layouts by pressing Shift+Alt+Enter.
Any window customizations you make in Full Screen mode persist across different window layouts (meaning when you are in design mode and go back to Full Screen mode, you'll see the tool windows where you last had them in Full Screen mode) and across different Visual Studio instances (where you close and reopen the IDE).
Happy Programming! =)
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Mid year move
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Hello Lovers
Since January this year I have been based full time in Perth and not touring. While I have absolutely loved my time here, and made some wonderful friends, it was never going to be a permanent relocation. In June I will be moving back to the east coast. From the end of July I will once again be Sydney based with regular tours to Melbourne and Canberra. Perth lovers this gives you approximately 6 weeks left to see me after I return from my upcoming holiday. I will still have occasional Perth tours but they may not be too frequent.
With love, Amie


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David Priscott
BCIS Number: 5045
Cardiac Nurse
- A Allied Health Professional
David Priscott - Research Profile
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Two full days of on-track action are included, with excellent front stretch reserved seats in Section 337 Pit in the Middle (formerley Weatherly Tower) for the 300-mile, 20 lap Sprint Cup race on Saturday and the 500 on Sunday. Transfers to the Daytona track on Saturday and Sunday are included and a Grandstand representative who will be on hand throughout your stay will accompany you.
For an even better experience we have also included Sprint FANZONE for Saturday, which allows you to go infield and take a closer look at the action. Walk the track, tour the garages, watch the drivers walk across the pre-race stage and enjoy the Daytona 500 2020 pre-race show.
Don't miss out, call us now on 0116 231 1222 to discuss your plans!


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God, this All Stars season isn't making much of an impression on me. The only thing keeping me watching is that the live threads are so much fun! But I couldn't even remember what the hell happened 2 weeks ago!
So, there was a team challenge, and Jeffrey won, and Mychael went home. They were supposed to be "30s inspired" or something because Lifetime is shilling a horrible looking Bonnie and Clyde remake and blugh. Some pictures:
The 2nd outfit, with the stupid high-water pants, was the winning entry (WHUT?) and the, um... lame bomber jacket? or something? on the far right was Mychael's losing look.
I don't get it you guys.
So fire up your fingers and come bitch about how annoying Alyssa Milano is!!


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Marc Faber, Peter Schiff and Nouriel Roubini are endlessly calling for the mother of all crashes for 2014, but now a different source is sounding the same 2014 stock market crash alarm — Richard Ross, a global technical strategist at Auerbach Grayson, and he is calling for a serious correction. He's quite bearish and thinks the market's are going significantly lower.Read the full story »
Examining the largest daily percentage losses on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ leading to 10% or higher corrections.
The Stock Market Crash of 1929 was the most devastating market crash in the history of the U.S.A. because of its extent leading us into a Great Depression.
Black Monday refers to October 19, 1987 when the Dow Jones Industrial Average made history falling the most ever (-22.61%) in one day of trading.
A look at downturns of 20% or more in broad market indexes which lasted over a two-month period considered and entry into a bear market.
The best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment is the ratio of the total market capitalization to the total dollar value of the GDP. And any time that valuation stands at more than 100% of the total goods and services in the economy means it is time to be wary about common stocks.
Barron's latest "Big Money" poll and its magazine cover just gave you reasons to be on the lookout for a stock market crash. Barron's drives the point home with its over-the-top cover titled "Dow 16,000" — "Rule of Thumb" When the cover of a major financial magazine features a cartoon of a bull leaping through the air on a pogo stick, it's probably about time to cash in the chips, mutual fund owner John Hussman wrote on his Hussman Funds website.


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A Question I Was Asked:
Here is more of this question (still partly edited):
"...Surely Peter should have been head at Jerusalem (Matthew 16:18-19; Galatians 2:7), yet within a few years we find that James, the brother of Jesus, is the leader there. He speaks authoritatively in his epistle, and there is no mention of Peter at all, or even of 'Cephas' (an alternative name for Peter). Was Peter already dead when James wrote? Could James even have been a supplanter as a few suggest?"
My Reply:
First of all, James seems to have been written in the early 60s AD, although it is not impossible that it could have been written even earlier (perhaps late 50s). We can be fairly sure that Peter did not undergo martyrdom until about AD 68 or 69; this means that Peter was certainly active when the epistle of James was written. However, we must remember that Peter was an apostle/evangelist and he would have certainly travelled extensively. James, on the other hand, was certainly overall leader at Jerusalem but probably fulfilled the role of Senior Elder. Without question, he saw himself as running the Jerusalem congregation, on behalf of, and under Peter's overall authority. However, I have to admit that it does seem somewhat strange that James does not mention Peter even once. In fact, without doubt, James is probably one of the most controversial books in the entire New Testament; Martin Luther famously called it "an epistle of straw" and there seems to be evidence of some theological naivety compared to the much more mature writings of Paul and John.
This brother of Jesus was Jacob, James simply being another version of this name. A few have not been slow to point out that the meaning of 'James' is 'supplanter.' According to a few (I believe that Gary Amirault, for example, teaches this), James did indeed supplant Peter, he is therefore called James, a version of Jacob which means 'supplanter' - but his book is still correctly included in Scripture - largely (although not entirely) as a warning!
Certain writers (again, I think that Amirault is typical of these), point to Galatians 2:7 as evidence of their claim that God allowed two differing gospels: one for the Jews, the other for the Gentiles, but the Jewish version only had authority for a generation (AD30-70). Once the temple was destroyed in AD70 there was no further possibility of the Jews going a somewhat separate way. God - according to this view - gave them a generation to understand that the law, and temple-based legalistic ritualistic observations, had no further place in the worship of God; until that time they did indeed have Christ, but they seemed to worship Jesus in a more fleshly way; God was prepared to 'wink' at this for a generation, but the greater spiritual truth was certainly within the Gospel for the Gentiles which was delivered to Paul and which was intended to be preached everywhere after AD70. Therefore, we should not be entirely surprised that the epistle of James, a product of the elder of the Jerusalem congregation, does not contain the 'spiritual meat' of Paul, John and the writer of Hebrews. A few have even extended this to Matthew's Gospel; that Gospel was originally written expressly to Greek-speaking Jews around AD50; the writing within Matthew is certainly highly-informative, confirming what Greek-speaking Jews most needed to understand, yet it is possibly not always spiritually-deep.
For my own part, I do not accept that James was a supplanter who took over Peter's authority (the evidence is far too thin for such a sweeping conclusion), however, I think that the 'two early gospels view' is pretty hard to refute, this would certainly explain certain somewhat puzzling things within Acts (Acts 21:17-26, for instance). I suppose that the theory's major weakness is the fact that Jesus did not clearly point this out to the first apostles in the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20 for instance; but, there again, He might not have considered it necessary to do so. Regarding the name of 'James' (rather than Jacob), it is true that the Greco-Roman world would sometimes render Jacob in this way but this does not necessarily answer all the questions on this. It also remains somewhat odd, perhaps, that James does not refer to Peter at any point in his epistle. Nevertheless, we must conclude that James is indeed a part of inspired Scripture which our Lord wanted included in Holy Writ. I would simply offer one piece of advice: in my opinion, James should not be studied in isolation from the rest of the New Testament, especially from the maybe more mature writings of Paul.
I don't think the questions on the epistle of James from deeper students of the Bible will go away any time soon but the epistle is authoritative Holy Scripture and perhaps that is all we need to know; it contains some nuggets of truth but, to go deeper on the subjects of faith and grace, one needs to consult Paul.
Robin A. Brace, 2008.


text: Star Ace is proud to present the Ron Weasley (Casual Wear) Sixth Scale Figure. The film accurate collectable figure features an authentic and fully realised likeness of Rupert Grint in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Ron is depicted in the casual clothing he wears while searching for the Philosopher's Stone. This figure includes a wand accessory, the Sorting Hat, and Ron's pet rat Scabbers.


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Position: Long Russia via the etf RSX
Everyone's aware of the geopolitical risk associated with Russia. Below are negative and positive factors for framing this debate; we believe reward outstrips the risk. As always, price rules.
- Russia has a massive amount of debt to refinance this year (~$100 Billion)
- Siberian Services (an oil drilling company) defaulted on $100 Million of debt today. This is the second case of default in Russia this year (Finance Leasing Co.)
- Volatility of Medvedev and Putin Government remains a constant
- Inflation at 14% in March Y/Y
- Volatility in the Ruble (despite intermediate stabilization) is always a credible threat. Should inflation extend itself, it will put further pressure on the price of imports
- Russian stock market (RTSI) is up +36% since March 1st or +17.2% YTD
- Russia benefits from Commodity Reflation
- Economy is levered to basic materials and energy commodities
- In Q408 natural gas and oil accounted for 46% of total export revenues. (Down from over 50% in 1H08)
- Credit Suisse upgraded Russian stocks today, citing stabilization of oil prices
- Proximity to THE client, China
- Russia has what China needs-Oil. Russia did a major oil deal with China in mid- February '08. In return for 300,000 barrels of crude a day for 20 years, China loaned $15 Billion to Russia's Rosneft (oil firm) and $10 Billion to Transneft (oil pipeline co.). The loans will help capitalize their balance sheets and promote expansion
- Increased Ruble stabilization versus its trading band
- Early cycle in mark-to-market prices to expedite its purge
- Putin issued a $90 Billion stimulus package yesterday
- International reserves up last week $2.7 Billion to $388 Billion, third largest in the world
We're currently long Russia via RSX, which we bought for a second time this year on 3/27.
Matthew Hedrick


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Complexity Theory Framework
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Explain and discuss, within a complexity theory framework, how small changes in a system can lead to large, or even radical transformational changes in an organization. You may also wish to show how understanding organizations as complex adaptive systems can affect the innovation process as well as leadership.© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com October 9, 2019, 11:37 pm ad1c9bdddf
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According to Dann, Z. and Barclay, I. "Complexity theory has grown out of systems theory and chaos theory in an attempt to demonstrate why the whole universe is greater than the sum of the parts and how all its components come together to produce overarching patterns as the system learns, evolves and adapts." In complexity theory, the system is described as an integrated whole and its properties cannot be lowered to the sum of its parts. Hence, all of the phenomena are related to each other yet independent and even if a system is a part of a larger system, each of them has its own unique properties. The initial Complexity theory framework was developed from the term used by Santa Fe Institute called Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) which describes a kind of system that is adaptable through the self-organization process and new behaviors, structures, and patterns. From a theoretical viewpoint, ways were proposed which makes the theory applicable in practice. Hence, the complexity theory was simplified and was handled as a knowledge/cultural/learning process wherein real application potential emerges. The management environment becomes active and dynamic which changes as time goes on, a human system that must learn to adapt, and evolve. It is vital to understand the relationship between the system as a whole and the parts that comprise the whole system as it learns and ...
Solution Summary
The solution explains and discusses how small changes in a system can lead to a large transformation change in organization within a complexity theory framework. References included.


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Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH; Debra L. Roter, DrPH; Rachel L. Johnson, BA; Daniel E. Ford, MD, MPH; Donald M. Steinwachs, PhD; Neil R. Powe, MD, MPH, MBA
Presented in part at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 6 May 2000.
Disclaimer: The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Commonwealth Fund, its directors, officers, or staff.
Acknowledgments: The authors thank Eliseo Guallar, MD, DrPH, for advice on revision of the manuscript.
Grant Support: By research grants from the Commonwealth Fund, the Bayer Institute for Health Care Communication, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Cooper was a fellow in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Minority Medical Faculty Development Program during the time this work was conducted.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Requests for Single Reprints: Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH, Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-500, Baltimore, MD 21205-2223; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Current Author Addresses: Dr. Cooper, Ms. Johnson, and Dr. Ford: Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-500, Baltimore, MD 21205-2223.
Dr. Roter: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 624 North Broadway, Room 750, Baltimore, MD 21205-1999.
Dr. Steinwachs: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 624 North Broadway, Room 482, Baltimore, MD 21205-1999.
Dr. Powe: Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, 2024 East Monument Street, Suite 2-600, Baltimore, MD 21205-2223.
Author Contributions: Conception and design: L.A. Cooper, D.L. Roter, D.E. Ford, N.R. Powe.
Analysis and interpretation of the data: L.A. Cooper, D.L. Roter, R.L. Johnson, D.E. Ford, N.R. Powe.
Drafting of the article: L.A. Cooper, D.L. Roter, R.L. Johnson, N.R. Powe.
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: L.A. Cooper, D.L. Roter, R.L. Johnson, D.M. Steinwachs, N.R. Powe.
Final approval of the article: L.A. Cooper, D.E. Ford, N.R. Powe.
Statistical expertise: L.A. Cooper, N.R. Powe.
Obtaining of funding: L.A. Cooper.
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: L.A. Cooper, N.R. Powe.
African-American patients who visit physicians of the same race rate their medical visits as more satisfying and participatory than do those who see physicians of other races. Little research has investigated the communication process in race-concordant and race-discordant medical visits.
To compare patient–physician communication in race-concordant and race-discordant visits and examine whether communication behaviors explain differences in patient ratings of satisfaction and participatory decision making.
Cohort study with follow-up using previsit and postvisit surveys and audiotape analysis.
16 urban primary care practices.
252 adults (142 African-American patients and 110 white patients) receiving care from 31 physicians (of whom 18 were African-American and 13 were white).
Audiotape measures of patient-centeredness, patient ratings of physicians' participatory decision-making styles, and overall satisfaction.
Race-concordant visits were longer (2.15 minutes [95% CI, 0.60 to 3.71]) and had higher ratings of patient positive affect (0.55 point, [95% CI, 0.04 to 1.05]) compared with race-discordant visits. Patients in race-concordant visits were more satisfied and rated their physicians as more participatory (8.42 points [95% CI, 3.23 to 13.60]). Audiotape measures of patient-centered communication behaviors did not explain differences in participatory decision making or satisfaction between race-concordant and race-discordant visits.
Race-concordant visits are longer and characterized by more patient positive affect. Previous studies link similar communication findings to continuity of care. The association between race concordance and higher patient ratings of care is independent of patient-centered communication, suggesting that other factors, such as patient and physician attitudes, may mediate the relationship. Until more evidence is available regarding the mechanisms of this relationship and the effectiveness of intercultural communication skills programs, increasing ethnic diversity among physicians may be the most direct strategy to improve health care experiences for members of ethnic minority groups.
Cooper LA, Roter DL, Johnson RL, et al. Patient-Centered Communication, Ratings of Care, and Concordance of Patient and Physician Race. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139:907–915. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-11-200312020-00009
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(11):907-915.
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A foundational belief that I have which informs every facet of the ministry God has called me to is that the gospel transforms people and places, for the fame of Jesus and the benefit of the city. Throughout the last 16 years or so, for me, this has included the gospel expressed through both word and deed, sometimes with an emphasis on one or the other, sometimes with an attempt at simultaneous duality.
When the rubber meets the road, the question seemingly keeps coming back to, "What does transformation look like?" What does it do for people in both physical and spiritual ways? I think the spiritual in this case is actually easier, as the bible tends to spell it out with more detail. The old becomes new, and the new isn't a better version of the old, but an entirely new creation; one with a new identity, a new ministry and a new message (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). The complication then, lends itself to the physical. In other words, what does transformation of the heart, flesh itself out as, in the person and in the place in which the person exists?
Even if not an answer, I may have found some insight. The little drawing above (credited to Noel Castellanos, President of Christian Community Development Association, @NoelCCDA) has given me, at least some insight to the equation. While it might not have provided a slew of really good answers, it feels like it's moved me toward the right questions. That's a start. Let me see if I can explain it a little, and start to digest some of its implications.
Incarnation – The gospel, of course, starts with incarnation – God coming to dwell with us, in our mess, in our brokenness. We, in turn, express the same ministry that Jesus has given us in incarnational ways. Once we "incarnate" ourselves within a particular community, or industry, or whatever, it should reverberate out in at least 4 distinct areas which lead to transformation, not only of the person (spiritual), but also of the place (physical).
First is in Proclaimation and Formation. No transformative movement can take place without the simultaneous proclaimation of the gospel (word and deed) and formation of the disciple (through training and life-on-life discipleship). The local church is okay at this; but most of us stop here, assuming some sort of trickle-down-transformation.
Second is in Compassion. This is where the gospel itself meets real needs. If the gospel can redeem people through heart regeneration, then it can also redeem places through city and/or community transformation. The emphasis here is transformation. That's the old becoming new. It's the old way and reality dying, and the new one coming to life. The really tough part here is figuring out how to not get stuck on our work with the poor, for instance, taking place in such a way that they always remain recipients. That is, true gospel-oriented Compassion ministry should be transformative, not transactional. This is a difficult code to crack, and takes an emence amount of dedication on the part of those participating in Compassion ministry. To be transparent, my brain has taken up residence here and is trying to figure out what this looks like for the particular place I'm in at the moment. I'm losing sleep trying to figure out this secquence of moving the state of Compassion from band-aids to "unleashing the power of the poor". Giving credit to Claude Alexander, you can see a glimpse of this sequence in a story found in Acts 3:5-8. They Proclaimed the gospel, they Reclaimed the man from his afflication, and they Incorporated him into the process. He became a part of the team. All three of these steps are profoundly important.
Third is Development. The example to look at here is found in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah, and the work that he mobilized people into, didn't just ignite a people in their awareness and understanding of God; it renewed a city, making the city a better place to live. Again, the gospel doesn't stop at renewing people, it moves forward to renew places.
Last is the Confrontation of Injustice. Ah, here is where it goes next level. Confrontation of Injustice means a concerted effort, not just to relieve the effects of poverty, but includes clear action against its cause. In this context, emergency assistance can't end with food and clothing. It has to start there, and move towards alleviating the need for assistance with food and clothing, through education, job training, skills development and a host of other emphases. How can the church address the effects of need, and not go after the cause itself? I don't believe a holistic application of the gospel, in people and in places, would allow this. For this to work, we have to think beyond programs and toward relationships.
Within each of these categories must be movement toward the others. Proclamation and formation can't end with benching players in the church, but must move them towards Compassion. Compassion for the person must also involve Compassion for the place, in the form of Development. And Development cannot stop there, but must press into a Confrontation of Injustice that focuses not only on the effects, but also the causes of poverty. Then the cycle continues on towards more Proclaimation, Formation and so on.
As usual, I propose more questions than answers. Much prayer and thought are needed, along with the churches in a city to band together as a united front and express the gospel throughout the entire body; from the mouthpiece all the way down to the hands and the feet that care for and walk alongside her city.