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Engagement rings are special. Although technically just a ring, the addition of the engagement symbology imbues it instantly and meaningfully with the magical powers of sentiment and romance, setting it far apart from the ordinary. Unlike other jewelry items that gather sentiment with time, engagement rings immediately evoke a sense of momentous purpose. Everyone who sees an engagement ring on your finger knows what it represents; it is the most publicly recognized symbol for the universal language of love. It's the prize, the Holy Grail, the pinnacle, the trophy, the booty - the culmination and recognition of all the work that has gone into your relationship. An Engagement ring signifies that you are betrothed to your one true love, promised to another, affianced, taken, off-the-market and it sits there like a beacon sending out its message to the world. Ironically, engagement rings are, for the most part, more valuable and more elaborate than the wedding ring you will eventually wear to represent your legally binding marriage contract.
Diamonds are the gemstone most commonly associated with engagement rings, but that has not always been the case. They first made their appearance in betrothal rings circa the fifteenth century but were not universally presented as betrothal/engagement rings until the seventeenth century. This is partly to do with the supply of diamonds, their affordability, and their popularity, or lack thereof. Until sufficient supplies of diamonds were available and techniques evolved that enabled them to be cut to maximize their brilliance and fire, they were mounted pretty much as they came out of the earth and worn only by those wealthier citizens who had access to the limited supply. Today the supply is more than adequate to provide diamonds to enhance every engagement ring and they are available in many shapes, sizes and colors.
Although diamonds have a longstanding tradition of being the featured gem used for engagement rings, many other gems have also served as the central symbol of everlasting love. Among others, Sapphires, rubies and emeralds have been conspicuously displayed in engagement rings, with or without diamond accents. Most famously in recent history was the sapphire ring presented by Prince Charles to his fiancée, Lady Diana Spencer, upon their engagement. Princess Diana picked the ring out herself from a Garrard's catalogue. Diana's son William continued the tradition by presenting his bride-to-be, Catherine Middleton, with his mother's sapphire engagement ring. Colored gems can have deep and spiritual meaning to some and traditionally, they have also been thought to be suffused with amuletic and healing powers. This additional symbolism can enrich the significance of an engagement ring beyond a declaration of love to one of protection and strength.
All this power pent up in a ring makes its acquisition quite possibly the most exciting and terrifying purchase you or your perspective mate may ever make. So many styles to choose from: what metal, which gemstone, a matching wedding band... antique, modern???... questions spin endlessly. Sometimes there is a family ring to be resized, remodeled or traded-in, but most often you are starting from scratch to pick out or design this outward sign of your love.
No other piece of jewelry is so deeply rooted in historical design sensibility as the engagement ring. An examination of the historical influences on engagement ring design often yields the answer to your design questions. Do you love Art Deco or are you a devotee of a more delicate Edwardian style? Should your ring be a replica of one worn by an historical figure or more practically, do you want your ring to be able to survive a trip to the gym and some serious gardening on the weekends?
In this time of "anything goes" the choice of a modern sparkler or an historic beauty is up for grabs. There's no wrong choice as far as fashion dictates, just the right choice as governed by personal preference and lifestyle. Highlights of the major design period originals and reproductions available for your "pop the question" presentation are detailed below.
Contemporary engagement rings run the gamut from plain to elaborate and all increments in between. The emphasis has moved from the style of the setting to the cut of the diamond. The solitaire, a plain hoop with a specially selected diamond in any shape or color, optimized to produce the maximum brilliance and perched in delicate prongs (or bezel set) has come to be seen as the classic style. Since the 1950s this design has often included diamonds or gemstones flanking the central stone thereby subtly enhancing that crisp classic uncluttered look. A halo of smaller diamonds surrounding the central gem in a shimmering outline, and sometimes lining the shoulders or the entire ring shank, is a thoroughly modern design. Manipulating and splitting the shank itself into a myriad of shapes and undulating channels glimmering with pavé/micropavé or channel-set lines of diamonds provides another twenty-first-century look.
Transitional-Cut Diamond and Platinum Engagement Ring with a Split-Level Gallery and Diamond Shoulders.
At the close of the 1930s, with war approaching and platinum being reserved for the war effort, gold re-emerged as the metal of choice for jewelry, including engagement rings. Some countries banned jewelry manufacturing completely and in Britain they allowed only "utility" wedding rings of 9 karat with a weight not to exceed two pennyweights. Gemstone rings featured larger less expensive gem materials and diamonds were scarce, mostly limited to those that could be culled from existing jewelry.
The end of the war allowed the jewelry industry to slowly ramp back up as the routes that gemstones traveled to market were reopened and precious metals were released from their wartime restrictions. In 1947 the De Beers ad slogan, 'a diamond is forever' cemented the diamond as the premier gemstone for engagement rings. Men returning from war were anxious to get back to a sense of normality and there were weddings galore. Modest diamonds were set in illusion heads to maximize their brilliance. Wedding sets were popular and yellow gold was still used for their construction with the illusion head in white gold to brighten the stone.
By the 1950s the jewelry business was thriving once again. Platinum was available and the "all white" look for jewelry was all the rage. The combination of platinum and diamonds was irresistible and engagement rings were no exception. For the more modest budget white gold filled the bill. Diamonds were featured more prominently in prong settings with a tasteful pair of side stones, or a discreet line of melee. The prongs were often large and incised to act as a modified illusion setting. Echos of the Art Deco Era remained in the millegrained details and classic design elements.
Abstract art and the clean, modernist design ideals of the machine age resulted in jewelry with a much more severe, geometric look. Jewelers of the day despaired at this lack of ornament, but little did they know that this aesthetic would remain popular for decades despite the changes in fashion and continuing innovation in the jewelry arts.
Art Deco Diamond Engagement Ring with a Central European-Cut Diamond Framed by Straight Baguette and Full-Cut Diamonds.
Art Deco engagement rings were usually composed of white metal (either platinum or gold) and diamonds. Innovation in the diamond and gem cutting industries resulted in new diamond shapes, used both as central elements and as distinctive geometric accents, along with new shapes of calibré-cut colored gemstones. The innovative baguette-cut diamond was integral in creating the bold, angular look of Art Deco jewelry. Round brilliant-cut diamonds were used to pavé larger areas with baguettes used to define the edges and borders.
Alongside the classic platinum and diamond ring another popular Art Deco aesthetic featured a surround or other symmetrical accent, of small colored stones that provided a punch-up to the "all white" look. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds and black onyx were all popular choices to use in juxtaposition with diamonds to accentuate the geometric aspects of Art Deco jewelry compositions. These timeless beauties are so distinctive as to be instantly recognized as quintessential Art Deco.
Art Deco Diamond and Platinum Engagement Ring with Swirls of French-Cut Sapphire Outlines and Millegrained Edges.
Art Deco Diamond and Platinum Engagement Ring with Calibre Emerald Shoulders an Millegrained Geometric Segments.
The birth of the Edwardian aesthetic had its beginnings in the last decade of the nineteenth century. Jewelry styles moved from large and overstated to delicate at a very quick pace. The garland style that is a hallmark of the Edwardian period harkened back to eighteenth-century designs. Inspiration was taken from the ornamental motifs found in books and observable in situ on buildings, gates, monuments and in museums. Platinum replaced silver atop gold rings as the metal for diamond settings and eventually, thanks to the 1903 invention of the oxyacetylene torch, jewelry made of platinum without the gold underpinnings became possible.
Rings rendered in platinum took on a diamond-dotted lacey appearance. Millegrained and knife-like edges were possible, giving jewelry both textured and smooth mirrored accent possibilities. Pierced openwork fantastic designs rolled, scrolled and undulated in platinum and diamonds. The outbreak of World War I effectively ended the Edwardian Era, but designs changed little until after the war as jewelers and jewelry metals were put to work in the war effort. The Edwardian jewelry style persists in popularity and design influence more than one hundred years into the future.
In the book "Rings for the Finger" published in 1917, George Frederick Kunz wrote:
|At the present time many platinum wedding rings are made perfectly plain, others are engraved with a laurel wreath as a peace or anti-divorce symbol, with oak leaves for strength, ivy for clinging devotion, and some other symbolic devices. Many alliance rings are made of two parts, one bearing the names of the engaged couple, the other the date of the engagement. Narrow gold rings with diamond settings are also used, closely resembling the type of diamond ring that has been worn as a guard-ring for many years.[1]
Though not unheard of, true Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts engagement rings are rare. It could be that these rings have been lost through time and attrition or remodeled or recycled but whatever the reason, very few remain available on the estate and antique jewelry market today. The Arts & Crafts Movement eschewed the use of more expensive precious stones, such as diamonds, in favor of colorful cabochons highlighted by enamel. The metal of choice was usually silver or other white metal, with the occasional use of gold. While some of the rings made during this era may have served as engagement or wedding rings, there is no definitive engagement ring style.
The whiplash lines of the Art Nouveau era can be found in engagement ring styles. The use of gold (as well as silver) with sculptural effects that encompass the entire piece and the use of the undulating line are telltale design elements. Pastel colored gemstones, as well as diamonds, are commonly included in Art Nouveau jewelry. This period was also known for the use of unusual materials such as horn and plique-a-jour enamel which were totally unsuitable for use in a ring that would be worn daily as an engagement or wedding ring. These design periods overlapped with Victorian and Edwardian Eras making it more likely that engagement rings from that time would fit design elements of those categories more readily.
The rising middle class, with its disposable income, ascended as a result of the Industrial Revolution. Lavishing one's wife with jewelry was the perfect way to display a successful man's nouveau riche standing. The 1867 discovery of diamonds in South Africa helped meet the ever increasing demand, essentially bringing diamonds to the masses. Soon every bride-to-be wanted a diamond engagement ring.
Many solitaire styles featured a central diamond pushed up above the ring, allowing light to shine through from all directions. The Tiffany solitaire diamond mount, introduced in 1886 by Charles Louis Tiffany, was the most notable example of this style and became an instant classic which is still popular today. For the more modest budget, rings composed of smaller stones, cluster rings and half hoops set with rows of stones were also favored. Acrostic rings composed of colored stones spelling out romantic messages, symbols such as hearts and lover's knots, as well as the language of flowers were all steadfast Victorian engagement ring motifs. Another fashionable Victorian style was the "Toi et Moi" ring set with two larger stones representing the entwining of two hearts and two souls.
According to the 1875 Young Ladies' Journal
|Any pretty fancy ring may be worn as an engagement-ring. Pearls or diamonds are considered the proper gems. The engagement-ring is not considered after marriage to answer the purpose of a keeper. A keeper should be a chased gold ring without stones in it. It is worn on the same finger as the wedding-ring." also "… opals, on account of their signification being "sorrow" are not fashionable for engagement rings.[2]
By the mid-18th century gemstones, including diamonds, twinkled out of sweetly elaborate openwork styles. Very clever hearts with coronal surmounts, pierced by arrows, surrounded by symbolic knots, and paired with colored stones of amuletic significance. A secretive cult of lovers gave rise to a fashion for jewelry with hidden messages including gimmels with letters attached spelling out such sentiments such as "amour" and "forever." Keeper rings designed as a surround of diamonds were popular as safeguards for the wedding ring. By the mid-eighteenth century the diamond ring was the first choice of those becoming affianced.
Betrothal rings often featured rose and table-cut diamonds because the custom was for these stones to be passed down from one generation to the next. Diamonds were discovered in Brazil c.1727 thus dramatically increasing the supply making diamonds de rigueur for the well-dressed of the day. Those who could afford "new" larger stones were able to enjoy designs with more complicated facet patterns made possible by advances in diamond cutting technology, the early brilliant-cuts predominating. Both were set in more delicate mountings that had split shanks, graceful openwork. King George III presented Queen Charlotte with a diamond solitaire engagement ring in 1761 demonstrating the long history of this popular style.
Betrothal rings from antiquity are not a practical choice for everyday wear, but it is interesting to explore the roots of the modern engagement ring as having come from these much earlier customs and traditions. Conventions and practices with regard to betrothal rings were as varied as the countries and centuries in which they were presented. There were assorted notions as to which hand and/or which finger should bear the betrothal ring, whether to wear two rings or one and, with two, whether to wear them together or separately. The style and design of the ring including which gems, what shape, symbols, enhancements and mechanisms were constantly changing much as they do today, sometimes due to technological innovations and sometimes as a result of changing fashions. Even the most basic question of when to present the ring, i.e. betrothal - upon asking for her hand or at the wedding or both evolved over the centuries and from region to region.
The English word engagement has its roots in the French word engager meaning to pledge. Use of the word in everyday English parlance began circa the seventeenth century and referred to battles or fighting. Engagement joined the wedding lexicon circa 1742 and was defined at that time as a betrothal or promise of marriage. Interestingly enough this was about the same time that the presentation of an engagement ring became customary among those who had the means to afford it. Prior to this time there might be a separate betrothal and wedding ring but the styling and construction were quite different from the rings we see today.
Early betrothal rings not only symbolized love and marriage but originally represented an actual value in coin with the promise of more at the wedding. In some cases the amount of money to be awarded was defined by law could be presented in coin or in the form of a ring confirmed to have a value equivalent to the legally required coins. Other ring designs had functional uses and/or symbolic meaning for the future of the relationship. Rings designed as keys symbolically granting access to the household and all it contained, occasionally they were actually functional and physically allowed access to goods necessary to run a household. A seal or signet ring was more than a symbol, it granted the wearer to the authority to "sign" for goods and services using the seal.
One notable custom involves the question of which hand and even which finger a betrothal or wedding ring should be worn. This varied from culture to culture and generation to generation. The Greek Church stipulated that the right hand was to be used for betrothal and wedding rings and most European countries did the same from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries. The French favored the right hand until circa fifteenth century and some Scandinavian countries continue that tradition today. Other cultures split the betrothal ring and wedding ring between the right and left hands.
Various fingers (and even knuckles) were designated for the special purpose of bearing this important symbol of love. Religious rituals placed the ring on the "third" finger (what we call the ring finger) because the religious presiders at marriage ceremonies would point to the fingers in order (index to ring) and say "In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," touching each finger in turn ending on the ring finger where they then placed the ring. Jewish betrothal rings were placed on the index finger and there is artistic support to indicate this was the custom throughout seventeenth-century Europe as well. Thumb rings were popular during the reign of George I in England, and the thumb has also been the custom in India. In addition, there was a widely held erroneous belief that a vein leading directly to the heart ran through the "fourth" finger (counting from the thumb) on the left hand and that therefore the betrothal ring should rest on that finger. We know now that blood flows through all our fingers and eventually returns to the heart making them all equally connected, but the tradition continues.
Gold Triple Hoop Gimmel Ring with Conjoined Hearts and Clasped Hands Overlay.
Victoria & Albert Museum Collection.
The French had a fondness for the gimmel ring and in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the gimmel graduated from a friendship ring to a full sponsalium annulus or "ring of affiance." The name gimmel has its root in Latin – gemellus - meaning twin. Gimmel rings began to turn up all over Europe in various forms and designs. The most popular was the twin ring with clasped hands that could be unclasped by rotating the rings on the pivot point. Puzzle rings were seen as a type of gimmel ring, though they usually had five or more intertwined rings. Similar alliance rings consisted of a gem-set ring and a signet ring, worn separately by bride and groom respectively, that could be joined together at the marriage ceremony.
During the American colonial period a tradition of presenting "keeper rings" as betrothal rings, typically consisting of a hoop of small diamonds. Once the marriage took place and the wedding band was put on the finger, the keeper ring would be put back on the finger to act as a guard ring for the simpler, but more important wedding ring. Losing one's wedding ring was considered bad luck and most wedding rings were never removed during a lifetime of marriage, so the keeper/guard ring had a very important function and may have been the precursor of the modern engagement ring.
As you can see the history of this important and symbolic jewelry gift is long and varied. Other jewelry items rise and ebb in popularity or become obsolete, but engagement rings are here to stay. No matter the choice of style, gems and materials, the important feature of an engagement ring is the outward representation of the love it symbolizes. Choosing the ring that "speaks" to the personal tastes and lifestyle of you and your fiancé, and represents the love you share, is a magical journey. Bon Voyage!


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The Midwest Region includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Find a location near you
Endangered Species Program
Conserving and restoring threatened and endangered species and their ecosystems
Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)
Bat Survey Protocol1 for Assessing Use of Potential Hibernacula
A typical cave or mine portal survey is an attempt to determine presence or probable absence of the species; it does not provide sufficient data to determine population size or structure. Following these guidelines will standardize procedures for bat surveys at caves and mine portals. Although the capture of Indiana bats confirms their presence, failure to catch Indiana bats does not absolutely confirm their absence. If one or more Indiana bats should be captured at a particular site, subsequent surveys may be necessary before one can confidently conclude the feature is being used as a hibernaculum.
In general, a cave or portal opening can be dismissed from bat surveys (i.e., they are not suitable) if the following conditions apply:
No equipment, litter or other debris will be left unattended at site that could result in the capture or entanglement of any animals. Any equipment stored at site between sampling sessions should be clearly labeled with contact information.
Harp Traps (first choice): Place in front of opening and block surrounding space with plastic sheeting or bird netting. Traps should be tended at least once per hour. When the catch rate is high (>25 bats per hour) or during inclement weather, traps should be tended more frequently.
Mist Nets (second choice): 50 denier, 38mm mesh. Place in front or around openings that can not be harp trapped. Nets need to be monitored closely and checked at least once every 10 minutes. At sites with a heavy bat swarm, the net should be monitored continuously.
Bat Detector: In addition to the harp trap or mist nets, an ultrasonic bat detector should be on site to periodically monitor general bat activity and to assess the general effectiveness of the harp trap or mist net placement.
Alternative Monitoring Techniques: In situations where cave/mine entrances can not be safely/effectively trapped or netted, bat detectors (e.g., heterodyne or AnaBat) and/or night-vision/infrared/thermal-imaging recording devices should be used to monitor and record bat activity to determine bat use of the site. Bat activity in or around the entrance can be monitored by counting bat passes with a bat detector, or night vision/infrared video tapes can be recorded to provide actual counts of bats entering and exiting the opening. As with trapping, monitoring should be conducted for 5 hours. Reporting format will be: Start and end time for 1-hour sample period and bat passes for that hour. If a bat detector is used to monitor a cave/mine entrance, the biologist should 1) manually operate a tunable detector to quantify the amount of bat activity (i.e., tally # of bat passes/hour for 5 hours) at the cave entrance, 2) write down the peak frequency associated with each bat pass, and 3) take field notes describing the bat activity throughout the 5-hour sampling period (e.g., are bats entering and/or exiting the entrance, just passing by etc…).
If alternative monitoring techniques are needed to complete a survey, these should be coordinated with the Service's Field Office in that state on a case-by-case basis prior to being employed.
Standard measurements should be taken and recorded for all captured bat species. Photo documentation of Indiana bats is also encouraged.
Fecal Samples: Fecal samples should be collected from Indiana bats (and other species as time allows), clearly labeled, placed within separate Ziploc bags, and stored on ice or in a freezer.
Banding of M.sodalis: To identify recaptured bats, a single, uniquely numbered/embossed band (preferably celluloid/plastic) of a high-contrast color (e.g., white) should be placed on the right forearm of each male and the left forearm of each female Indiana bat. If many bats are captured at one time, it is acceptable to only band a subset of the individuals to avoid having to hold them for a long period of time. Please use your best professional judgment.
1 Adapted from the protocol used by the Pennsylvania Game Commission
Last updated: March 12, 2018

subset: commoncrawl


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Beautiful Wut Mhone Shwe Yi New Photoshoot photos
Super Star Actress Wut Mhone Shwe Yi new photoshoot for January Issue of People Magazine. Make up artist is May Oo as she shares this photos on his Facebook. Many fans love her creative make up and praise her make up skill as it looks natural and attractive.


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Coming from an artistic family I've always been influenced by creative expression. My current passions are card making, photography, and writing. After 30 years in corporate management I'm now pursuing a quieter life in the arts. Luckily I have a supportive family and the encouragement of many friends
Hello:o) My name is Carolyn. First and foremost, I am a child of God…the King of Kings!! He has blessed me with a loving and supportive husband, two amazing sons and a sweet and lovely daughter (in-law). Our oldest son is in the US Army and is currently stationed in Hawaii, and our youngest son is a junior in high school. I have a passion for paper, find coloring extremely therapeutic and thoroughly enjoy life!!! It is a huge honor and incredible pleasure to be a part of this amazing adventure with my darling friend Heather:o) I have always been a fan of her artistry, her love of family, and her strong faith in our Savior! I very much look forward to working with the fabulously talented ladies in the Fresh Brewed Crew!! Thank you, Heather for bringing all of us together:o)
I am married to John and we have been blessed with our son and daughter. I became involved in papercrafting thanks to the urging of my daughter and haven't looked back since. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. I also teach youth at my parish through the family formation program when I'm not at my day job as an accounting and buyer's assistant.
I am a Christian stay at home homeschooling mom who is addicted to coffee and card making. I try to keep Christ first in my life and put him first in all I do. I have been married for 12 years to my best friend. We have two beautiful children. Card making and my online friends keep me happy and sane. All in all I am blessed beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I opened Fresh Brewed Designs in late August of 2009. I started sketching and just could not stop. I have enjoyed creating, sharing, learning, growing and meeting new friends daily.
I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful children. My wonderful husband and I are expecting baby #4 in October. Life is crazy at my house, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have been so very blessed with what God has given me! My love for paper crafting began about 5 years ago. I like to try all types of crafts, but card making is my passion.
Hi, I'm Kelly ~ christian wife and mom to 4 beautiful children. We currently live in tropical South Florida, but I'm a military "brat" that has been very fortunate to live all over the world. I have been an avid scrapbooker since I was 15! I would say that I've been paper-crafting (card making) for the past 6 years and am amazed at all the things you can do with a card. I love to read, paint, be outdoors and love with a passion the ocean, which is where you'll find me and my gaggle of children pretty much all year round! I'm humbled to be on the FBD DT and know you will love all the things in store for you! Blessings! ~Kelly
I am marriedto my highschool sweet heart going on 11 years and I am blessed with a beautiful 4 yo daughter. By day I'm an engineer and by night I like to grab my copics and images to unwind. I have been seriously card crafting for about 2.5 years and have just had a blast getting to know so many fabulous people. Heather and I crossed paths during tryouts for another DT and just hit off. When she asked me to join her journey I couldn't be more honored. I'm really looking forward to working with all the girls.
I am just a christian woman from Missouri trying to "live a life worthy of my calling" I am a mother, a daughter, a friend. I love all things paper crafting and am addicted to ribbon and pretty paper! Blogging has been my creative outlet and has lead me to some of the most wonderfully talented women I could ever hope to be so blessed to know.


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I forgot to announce the Linux Tools 0.9 release. Please check the New and Noteworthy for details. There a number of fixes and enhancements in the RPM related tools. As part of it we changed Manpage viewer plugin's bundle id and forced me to release new ShellEd.Latest ShellEd is restoring compatibility with Manpage viewer and fixes an outline issue with DLTK 3.x. Also you can try the new update site.
Note that this release will not work with Linux Tools releases prior to 0.9.


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In Colorado and looking for the perfect weekend getaway or a spooktacular Halloween adventure? You don't have to go far! Located in the heart of downtown Denver, the Brown Palace has everything you need for a good Halloween scare or a quick staycation to tide you over until the holiday season.
Haunted Happy Hour – ONE NIGHT ONLY! (Friday, October 25, 2013)
What past personalities and incidents potentially haunt the 121-year-old hotel? Join hotel historian, Debra Faulkner, for a Haunted Happy Hour and see what you can detect – or sense – for yourself!
As part of this exclusive "spirited" offering, guests will enjoy a haunted reception with Halloween-inspired hors d'oeuvres and handcrafted cocktails, exhibition of The Brown's reported sightings and captured phenomena, a private guided tour through the hotel's most popular, spirited spots and an evening stay at The Brown Palace.
Calling All Colorado Residents!
It's almost time for the holiday season and summer vacation is now a spec in your rearview mirror. Don't waste your PTO on a long weekend right before the holidays. Look no further than your own backyard for the perfect staycation at one of Denver's most iconic hotels. Colorado guests are invited to stay at the Brown Palace for a special room rate of just $189/night from Thursday through Sundays now until December.
Want to tool around the city during your escape but worried about parking? Worry not! This offer also includes 50% off valet services for Colorado guests. Don't forget to tag your Brown Palace staycation photos with #BrownPalace on Instagram and your images could become our next "Photo of the Day" to be featured on Facebook and Twitter.


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|Reprints - Duane Watson
Thank you for your interest:
Please request a reprint by entering your email address here and we will email the reprint to you in PDF format (to comply with copyright law):
Watson, D., Arnold, J. A., & Tanenhaus, M. K. (2008). Tic Tac TOE: Effects of predictability and importance on acoustic prominence in language production. Cognition, 106, 1548-1557.Return To Article List
Last Updated: March 25, 2015
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SAFETY DATA SHEETS (Formerly MSDS)
CLICK HERE for a link to a searchable directory of safety data sheets.
Enter product name in the BASF product name field.
Guidance on Best Practices for the Installation of Spray Polyurethane Foam: Guidance for Residential Homes and Commercial Buildings
Ventilation Considerations for Spray Polyurethane Foam: Guidance on Ventilation During Installation of Interior Applications of High-Pressure Spray Polyurethane Foam
BASF ENERTITE NM (No Mix) Process Procedures
Enertite NM (No MIx) Install Guide
BASF Re-Occupancy Times for Interior Building Spray Applications
Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Insulation Guideines


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7 Easy Ways To Maximize Your Chances Of Getting Pregnant Naturally
If you've been trying to conceive or are still planning for pregnancy, you'll know it's not as easy as it looks in the movies. There are many facets to the picture, not to forget the old wives tales and armchair experts who'll tell you what you should and shouldn't do to increase your chances. Not many couples are aware which of these tales are true and which aren't. So, we decided to help you out with these seven ways to maximize your chances of conceiving.
1. Lose A Few Pounds
If you're overweight, it will take you twice as long to get pregnant than someone at their ideal weight. This is according to a study conducted where the BMIs of more than 2,000 women were considered. Women whose BMIs were between 25 and 39, or who were otherwise considered overweight or obese, experienced this problem.
2. Avoid Fertility Impairers
You need to give yourself every chance of conceiving, even if that means sacrificing a few of your favorite vices. Drinking too much coffee or alcohol can reduce your fertility. So, while you don't need to cut it completely, it's best to stay under 200 to 250 milligrams of caffeine per day — about 2 cups.
3. Ban Smoking
Smoking is one habit you should kick whether you're trying to get pregnant or not. Not only does it affect your lungs and reduce their functionality, but it can also lead to cancer. Smoking can also reduce a man's sperm count and affect a woman's uterus.
4. Try Often
"Try and try until you succeed" is an old saying that is rather apt here too. The simple explanation is that the more times you have sex, the more likely you are to conceive. Doctors report that it can take a healthy couple up to a year to conceive, only after which there may be cause for concern. Sometimes issues crop up with pregnancy tests as well, so make sure you're checking the right way.
5. Choose Your Moments
Doctors often refer to the "fertile window," which is based on a woman's ovulation cycle. She is most likely to conceive within three days of the day she's ovulating. Make sure to track these times and take advantage.
6. Stay Calm
The more stressed you are, the fewer chances you have of conceiving. Unfortunately, because our lives are getting more complicated and active with every passing day, living without stress is almost impossible. Stress affects your body and reduces your hormone levels, leading to hormonal imbalance. Left undiagnosed, hormonal problems become a major stumbling block for your pregnancy aspirations.
7. Eat Healthy
The healthier your body is, the easier it is for you to conceive. This means eating right. This will take dedication and a significant effort, but the results will be worth it.
Everyone can seem a little anxious when it comes to pregnancy, and nobody wants to wait to have their own little bundle of joy once the decision has been made. However, some couples feel like giving up after a few unsuccessful tries. Hopefully, this article has helped shed some light on what can be done to improve your chances of conceiving naturally and help you fulfill your dream of starting a family. Are you trying to get pregnant? What is the biggest challenge you face?
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
My 400 Days Without Candy & What I Learned About Sugar Addiction
At the end of 2017 I decided to temporarily say goodbye to my dietary Achilles heel.
While I'm certainly not suggesting that I am some beacon of ideal healthy eating, I have always been someone who, for the most part, makes what I've found to be healthy choices. Except for my one glaring weakness… candy.
In particular, the really sour and heavily sugar coated kind, but you'd be hard pressed to find me turning down even those better classified as sweet, with all of their sugar fused within the confines of the chew. Cherry Blasters, Sour Patch Kids, Fuzzy Peaches, Sour Punch Straws, you name it, I ate it, and usually with a big smile on my face.
But no matter how much my tastebuds loved this stuff, I've always known that it's not good for me (I can't imagine that there is anyone out there who actually thinks it is), so I decided to listen to my body, just as I had already done with a number of my other dietary changes. I opted to no longer ignore the stomach and headaches that would often come shortly after my sugary indulgences and give it up.
What started as a one month challenge quickly evolved into a three month challenge, followed by a one year challenge, and then a 400 day challenge simply because I liked the sound of the number. Here's some of what I learned from this journey:
The First Days Are Undeniably The Hardest
The old adage that it takes approximately 21 days to break a bad habit or make a new one in this case certainly held true. It was right around the 3 week point that I started to find myself far less tempted and far less frequently on the search for something to satisfy my sweet tooth. And believe it or not, the longer I went on, the less appealing the idea of eating candy became. It almost felt as if the memory in my tastebuds that had controlled so many of my past decisions had gradually faded away.
Mindset Is Everything
While I will fully admit that my quest to 400 was helped by it naturally feeding into another one of my "addictions" (a great joy in setting records and tracking analytics), I found that so much of the temptation to consume these sugary, salty and greasy foods really was incredibly temporary. Challenge yourself to at least not let it win once and you'll likely see just how quickly its strength can fade.
It Paid Dividends
While I didn't completely cut sugar out of my diet, as many people have so admirably done and documented about, I can say that cutting back even as much as I did felt really good for me. Some may be quick to chalk it up to the placebo effect, and understandably so, but I can honestly say that the above mentioned stomach and head aches occurred far less often over the 400 day span.
Real-Time Analysis: After The First Bite
Having now officially consumed my first piece of candy since 2017, believe it or not, it tastes different. Is it still tasty and did it satisfy me at some level? Absolutely. But it also tastes way more sugary and foreign to my body than it once did. It's as if my body really wanted to make it clear by saying, "are you sure you want to bring this stuff back into the picture?"
Side Note: For those that are curious, since it's the most common question I've been asked since embarking on this journey, the candy I chose to eat as my first piece was a Vegan Wild Cherry Belt by Squish Candies. (And no I'm not getting paid to brand-drop, and no I don't make any commission should you choose to buy any at that link… unfortunately LOL).
Where I Go From Here
While I don't see myself going completely cold turkey on candy again, I also cannot see myself consuming it nearly as much as I once did. And I do so happily, not out of punishment. While I'm also certainly not qualified to be giving out dietary advice, I am comfortable challenging all of you to give up something you know to not be good for you. See how your body feels both without it and after you re-introduce it.
For more brutally honest personal development content designed for those who actually want to change be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel and to follow me on Instagram. And to receive my free eBook on 5 Simple Daily Hacks For A Genuinely Happier Life click HERE.
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Alternative News
Big News: Costco To Become First Major Retailer To Stop Selling Roundup Herbicide?
In Brief
- The Facts:
According to the non profit group Moms Across America, Costco is set to stop selling Roundup herbicide.
- Reflect On:
Despite the fact that harmful products continue to be approved across North America, the ultimate power to stop their use is us. When we become aware, we stop buying, and their profits drop. We are the ones that use it. Vote with your dollar.
It's hard to even know where to start with the herbicide Roundup. Despite years of science exposing the inarguable health and environmental consequences of Roundup, federal health regulatory agencies in North America are still approving the herbicide, while multiple other countries have banned it and made its use illegal, citing various health and environmental concerns. Sri Lanka, for example, banned it five years ago due to its link to deadly kidney disease.
Furthermore, the countries approving it are doing so with massive amounts of corruption. These approvals come as a result of corrupt regulatory agencies here in Canada as well as the US, specifically the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The list of examples is very long when it comes to corruption and government connections to corporations like Monsanto, the corporation that created and sells Roundup. This is the only way these products get approved. It's not science, it's simply because of lobbying efforts and shady politics.
"It is commonly believed that Roundup is among the safest pesticides… Despite its reputation, Roundup was by far the most toxic among the herbicides and insecticides tested. This inconsistency between scientific fact and industrial claim may be attributed to huge economic interests, which have been found to falsify health risk assessments and delay health policy decisions." – R. Mesnage (et al., Biomed Research International, Volume 2014 (2014), article ID 179691)
The latest approvals of glyphosate, the main active ingredient in Roundup, came from within Canada as well as Europe.
EU regulators recently decided to relicense glyphosate, a decision that was based on an assessment plagiarized from industry reports. It's quite backwards that, for years, health regulators have been relying on the scientific reports from the companies that manufacture these products instead of seeking out independent scientific studies.
A group of MEPs decided to commission an investigation into claims that Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (bFr) copy-and-pasted tracts from Monsanto studies. You can read more about that here.
In addition, Monsanto colluded with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stifle cancer research that had any connection to their products.
The corruption is never-ending when it comes to the link between corporations and government agencies. In fact, only a few years ago, more than a dozen scientists from within the CDC put out an anonymous public statement detailing the influence corporations have on government policies. They were referred to as the Spider Papers.
Related CE Article: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Explains How Big Pharma Completely Owns Congress
The corruption that plagues our federal regulatory agencies runs deep, and no matter how obvious the science becomes, like the dangers of Roundup, products that negatively impact our health seem to often get approved anyways. But something special on planet Earth is happening, and that's massive awareness. We are finally starting to see through the veil that's been blinding the masses in so many different areas within human life.
Sure, these products may continue to get approved, but we are the ones who are constantly choosing to do so. We don't have to buy them, and that is why awareness is key.
Zen Honeycutt, the leader of Moms Across America, announced this week that Costco will not be selling the glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup Ready.
In a live video update posted on Facebook, Honeycutt stated that she received word that Costco was no longer selling Roundup or glyphosate-based herbicides.
While she's allegedly not received any official word yet from Costco, she stated that she has talked to various people at the headquarters and regional offices confirming this news. This is huge news because, according to a 2015 article in National Geographic, Roundup is the second-best-selling herbicide in the U.S. for home lawn and garden use. Under a lucrative contract with Monsanto, Scotts Miracle-Gro owns the exclusive right to market Roundup in North America and much of Europe. Scotts distributes about $154 million worth (5.5 percent of the company's total sales) of Roundup each year to retail giants including Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart.
So let's hope it's true.
I asked for an official statement and was told that usually, Costco does not issue press releases, etc discussing which items they have discontinued. Despite not hearing back from the Costco PR department, I decided to announce the information anyway. I told them that the 89,000 people who signed a petition to Costco, Home Depot, and Lowe's deserved to have an answer. I knew that they would be happy to know that Costco was doing the right thing. – Honeycutt (source)
It's weird how this is even a debate in some circles. This has been known for a very long time, and we've seen similar happenings with DDT in the past.
"Children today are sicker than they were a generation ago. From childhood cancers to autism, birth defects and asthma, a wide range of childhood diseases and disorders are on the rise. Our assessment of the latest science leaves little room for doubt; pesticides are one key driver of this sobering trend." – October 2012 report by Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) (source)(source)
Glyphosate is really getting a bad name, as this new information regarding Costco is coming off the heels of some bad press for Monsanto (Bayer) as the case regarding school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson was the first lawsuit claiming that glyphosate causes cancer to go to trial. There are thousands upon thousands of similar pending cases. Any jury that reviews all of the scientific evidence will not be able to rule in favor of Monsanto, and Johnson's case was a great example that showed glyphosate caused his cancer.
The Takeaway
At the end of the day, it's us who decide to use these products. Obviously, we've been misled and made to trust our federal regulatory agencies who are supposedly in charge of protecting us from these harmful products. It's the complete opposite, and what these agencies do is actually quite criminal. This is why conscious media is so important. The same powers that control these corporations have a tight grip on mainstream media as well.
This is why this issue goes largely ignored, and the fact that so many people rely on mainstream media for information about what's really happening in the world with regards to health, environment, finance, politics, etc. is why a lot of people are still completely unaware of important issues. This is also why governments have started a war on 'fake news,' which seems to be a cover for protecting corporate and government interests.
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
Alternative News
New Study Links Acetaminophen (Tylenol) To Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Another damning study indicates it is simply time to pull the plug on this outdated drug.
The study just published in JAMA Pediatrics once again indicated that women who take acetaminophen during pregnancy are more likely to have a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers also found that prenatal exposure to the medication was associated with a higher risk of having children who exhibit other emotional or behavioral symptoms.
Recent detailed analysis of clinical studies on acetaminophen (Tylenol) have concluded that this popular drug was ineffective for low back pain and provided no significant clinical relief of hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain, while quadrupling the risk for liver damage.
All together, the results from all of these analyses further calls into question whether this drug should still be on the over-the-counter market or at all.
Background Data:
Acetaminophen is the only remaining member of the class of drugs known as "aniline analgesics" that is still on the market, as the rest were discontinued long ago. Acetaminophen only blocks the feelings of pain and reduces fever, it exerts no significant anti-inflammatory or therapeutic action.
It is well-known that acetaminophen is very hard on the liver. About 40% of regular acetaminophen users show signs of liver damage. Acetaminophen reduces the liver's store of the important detoxifying aid and antioxidant glutathione. When acetaminophen is combined with alcoholic drinks or other compounds toxic to the liver including other medications, its negative effects on the liver are multiplied. It should definitely not be used in anyone with impaired liver function and given the stress the liver experiences during pregnancy, it appears unwise to use it while carrying a child for both mother and the developing fetus.
Acetaminophen is often the drug of choice in children to relieve fever. However, use for fever in the first year of life is associated with an increase in the incidence of asthma and other allergic symptoms later in childhood. Asthma appears to be another disease process that is influenced greatly by antioxidant mechanisms. Acetaminophen severely depletes glutathione levels not only in the liver, but presumably other tissues as well, and should definitely not be used in people with asthma.
Each year acetaminophen causes over 100,000 calls to poison control centers; 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and more than 450 deaths from liver failure. In addition, regular use of acetaminophen is linked to a higher likelihood of Alzheimer's disease, infertility, and hearing loss (especially in men under 50 years of age). Acetaminophen use during pregnancy has also been linked to the development of ADHD confirming animal studies showing acetaminophen use in pregnancy can disrupt normal brain development.
New Data:
To more closely assess the associations between maternal prenatal acetaminophen use and behavioral issues in their children, researchers in the United Kingdom collected and analyzed data 7,796 mothers along with their children. The data included acetaminophen use and behavioral assessments of the children were 7 years old. From this data the estimated risk ratios for behavioral problems in children after prenatal exposure to acetaminophen was determined.
The results showed that prenatal acetaminophen use at 18 and 32 weeks of pregnancy was associated with a 42% increased risk of the child having conduct problems and hyperactivity symptoms, while maternal acetaminophen use at 32 weeks was also associated with a 29% increased risk of the child having emotional symptoms and a 46% increase in total behavioral difficulties.
Obviously, the researchers concluded "Children exposed to acetaminophen prenatally are at increased risk of multiple behavioral difficulties, and the associations do not appear to be explained by unmeasured behavioral or social factors linked to acetaminophen use."
The results from this study and others are clear. Stay away from acetaminophen. Most people consider acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) as being an extremely safe pain reliever for both children and adults. The reality is that it can be extremely dangerous and causes significant side effects. The FDA has done a poor job alerting the public to the dangers of acetaminophen. In my opinion, it is a drug that serves no real medical purpose in the 21stcentury. Bottom line, it is time to pull it from the market.
As far as alternatives to acetaminophen during pregnancy, I would recommend ginger. Historically, the majority of complaints for which ginger (Zingiber officinale) was used concerned the gastrointestinal system as well as pain and inflammation. Several double-blind studies have shown ginger to yield positive results in a variety of gastrointestinal issues, especially those related to nausea and vomiting including severe morning sickness. In regards to pain and inflammation, dozens of clinical studies have supported this use with positive results in various forms of arthritis, chronic low back pain, muscle pain, and painful menstruation.
Ginger powder, ginger tea or a shot of fresh ginger juice added to any fresh fruit or vegetable juice is certainly a much better option to acetaminophen anytime, but especially during pregnancy.
My overall interpretation of the study is that depletion of glutathione caused by acetaminophen leaves cells, especially brain cells, susceptible to damage. I believe that future studies will not only show more evidence of a link to ADHD, but also autism as well. Glutathione is absolutely critical in protecting cellular function. Any factor that depletes glutathione is obviously going to alter proper development. In addition to acetaminophen, the following factors can deplete glutathione:
- Alcohol
- Pesticides, herbicides
- Acetone, cleaning solvents, paint removers
- Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, etc.)
- X-rays, UV radiation, and electromagnetic fields (EMF)
To boost your glutathione level it is important to focus on a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables. Their rich source of antioxidant phytochemicals and nutrients spare the use of glutathione and help to keep cellular levels high.
For additional related research use the following links:
If you want to learn more from Greenmedinfo, sign up for their newsletter here.
Stergiakouli E, Thapar A, Smith GD. Association of Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy with Behavioral Problems in Childhood. Evidence Against Confounding. JAMA Pediatrics. Published online August 15, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.1775
Help Support Collective Evolution
The demand for Collective Evolution's content is bigger than ever, except ad agencies and social media keep cutting our revenues. This is making it hard for us to continue.
In order to stay truly independent, we need your help. We are not going to put up paywalls on this website, as we want to get our info out far and wide. For as little as $3 a month, you can help keep CE alive!
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Oil edges off 2015 low but stocks stay slippery
December 8, 2015 (Source: Reuters) — A surprise leap in Chinese commodity imports helped steady the ship for oil prices and energy-exposed currencies on Tuesday, although world stocks fell for the second day emerging market bourses hit a two-month low.
Investors were still struggling for confidence after Monday's 6 percent plunge in oil [O/R] had whacked it to its lowest level of the year and the prospect of the first U.S. interest rate hike in almost a decade next week also loomed.
European shares .FTEU3 were down 1 percent at their lowest level since mid October as energy and mining stocks .SXPP fell sharply again [.EU] and futures prices pointed to Wall Street starting firmly in the red too. ESc1 ECONG7
Currencies of major oil exporting nations such as the Canadian dollar CAD= and the Norwegian crown NOK= remained edgy despite their stabilization, while safe-havens like the yen JPY= and the low-yielding euro EUR= did well.
"If you are looking to play weak oil prices you would want to sell the Canadian dollar and the Norwegian crown," said Jeremy Stretch, head of currency strategy at CIBC World Markets.
"With oil prices falling and some even talking about oil falling to $30 a barrel, revenues for these countries will take a beating and hence their currencies will remain under pressure."
Get our daily investorintel update
Internationally traded Brent oil futures LCOc1 were up 62 cents at $41.37 a barrel and U.S. crude CLc1 was at $38.02 ahead of U.S. trading, though there was little certainty from traders that they would remain steady.
It has fallen 40 percent since early May, reviving global deflationary pressures and concerns about how countries that rely on it for revenues will cope.
Asian shares had been hit overnight too. Tokyo's Nikkei .N225 ended down more than 1 percent despite data showing Japan dodged recession in the third quarter, while Chinese stocks fell 1.8 percent.
Though there was the surprise jump in commodities demand, overall Chinese imports fell for the 13th consecutive month with an 8.7 percent decline in November compared to a year earlier.
"Beyond the December hike (by the Federal Reserve), investors are concerned about the lack of Chinese demand which is acting as a millstone around the neck of risky assets," said Cliff Tan, East Asian head of global markets at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in Hong Kong.
Even normally ultra-safe bond markets provided little refuge.
German and other northern euro zone government bond yields nudged higher amid the lingering disappointment over last week's ECB policy moves. Swiss yields climbed, too, as that also dampened expectations of another Swiss National Bank rate cut this month. [GVD/EUR]
Greek 10-year yields rose to their highest level in almost three months, meanwhile, as concerns about the country's ability to stick to its reform program were stoked by critical comments on the IMF from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
He accused the Washington-based global lender of making unrealistic demands both on Greece for tough reforms and on its euro zone partners for debt relief beyond what they can accept.
"The Fund must decide if it wants to compromise, if it will stay in the program," Tsipras said. "If it does not want that compromise, it should say so publicly."
Other than that it was all about what is expected to be the first post-financial crisis rise in U.S. interest rates on Dec. 16 for bond markets.
Federal funds futures contracts FFcm1 imply an 80 percent chance that the Fed will end seven years of near-zero interest rates at its December meeting and about even odds of a second rate rise by March.
Long-dated U.S. Treasury debt prices held firm after rallying on Monday as the drop in oil prices pointed to benign inflation, potentially tempering the Fed's policy tightening path.
On the currencies front, action around the China trade data was brief with the Australian dollar settling to new intraday lows at $0.7224 AUD=D4 and receding further from a 3-1/2 month high of $0.7386 touched on Friday.
The euro was firm at $1.0856 EUR= following last week's less-than-aggressive ECB stimulus and the offshore Chinese yuan CNH=D4 traded at a three-month low of 6.4930 per dollar despite another lower-than-expected fixing by China's central bank.
Raj Shah has professional experience working for over a half a dozen years at financial firms such as Merrill Lynch and First Allied Securities Inc., ... <Read more about Raj Shah>


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The natives have become restless and are calling for the head of
Republican Party Chair Chris Healy.
Republican Party Chair Chris Healy.
|Healy texting for reinforcements.
|Angry mob outside Connecticut GOP headquarters in New Britain.
Having won nothing, not a Senate seat nor a single Congressional district or State Constitutional Office, defending Healy has become difficult at least; the work of a masochist at best.
The blame falls at his feet, and rightfully so.
Matt Daly, who briefly ran a quite forgettable campaign for congress in CT's 2nd district himself, called for new leadership in an Op/Ed piece in Sunday's Hartford Courant, and even Healy's former employer, the Torrington based Register-Citizen called for his removal in their November 4th editorial.
However - take a deep breath.
If not Healy - who?
What? You gasp.
You're not going to defend Healy are you?
Well in a fashion, only because I'm probably a masochist and despite himself I like him in the same way I like cigarettes. I know cigarettes are no good for me, but I enjoy them anyway.
While I enjoy Healy's acerbic wit immensely I find myself no happier with this year's end results than even the most rabid members of the Tea Party.
Reasons to dump Healy.
As a member of the Republican State Central Committee there's much I could criticize regarding the convention in May and the actions and activities emitting from headquarters since.
I won't elaborate on any of it here.
Reasons to leave Healy in place.
- Funding - Healy's been better than good at bringing in the cash.
- Stability - Dragging the losing party chair off to a firing squad without a ready, willing and suitable replacement is just plain shortsighted and stupid.
- Pit-bull - Healy can be as vicious as a junk-yard dog. While some believe that contributed to our dismal results, I would disagree. Besides what's the difference at this point?
- Entertaining - We might as well enjoy his witty remarks for at least a little longer.
- How? - The process for forcible removal is difficult. Connecticut Republican Party Rules.
Connecticut Republicans will select new State Central members next May with those members selecting a new chairman the following month.
In the meantime we should calmly review last weeks


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Aug 24th 2015
TWiT Bits 1569
Inside The Machine: Triangulation 214
Leo talks with author Megan Prelinger about the influence of art on science, as well as science on art, in the 20th century.
Inside the Machine is a visual history of the electronic age that captures the collision of technology and art. It is a rich historical account of electronic technology in the twentieth century.
For the full episode, go to twit.tv/triangulation/214
Bandwidth for TWiT Bits is provided by Cachefly.


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Alternatively referred to as the file menu, a menu is a list of commands or choices offered to the user through the menu bar. Menus are commonly used in GUI operating systems and allow a user to access various options the software program is capable of performing. File menus are commonly accessed using the computer mouse; however, may also sometimes be accessed using shortcuts or the keyboard. Below is a visual example of what a menu may look like in a GUI environment.
Tip: Press the Alt key or F10 function key any time you want to open the file menu in any Windows program with a File menu.
Note: To help keep the interface clean many new programs are hiding the file menu or putting the file menu in a hamburger menu. To show the file menu press the Alt key on the keyboard.
Tip: Sometimes the file menu is also referred to as the file, edit, view menu because these are almost always the first three options in a drop-down menu system.
Chevron, Menu bar, Menu-driven, Mnemonic, Operating system terms, Pop-up menu, Ribbon, Separator, Start Menu, Submenu, Tear-off menu


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Tipping Point, 2015
Artipelag konsthall, spring 2015
Deus ex machina, from the Greek theos ek mēkhanēs, means "god from a machine". The term was originally used in Greek theatre, in which actors representing gods were suspended by ropes on a mechanism above the stage. At the end of the performance, the gods would come to the rescue or create a divine intervention that influenced the ending of the story. In modern usage, deus ex machina means an event or force that salvages a seemingly hopeless situation.
In the performance installation Tipping Point, the audience meets a giant mobile placed in a dark room. The mobile consists of tilting arms from which platforms and counterweights are hung. The platforms are peopled by actors whose movements cause the mobile to rock. The counterweights are a slowly melting iceberg and a large black dot. The people moving on the platforms take on different roles; the weather god plays on the machines of old-fashioned theatres that were used to create the noise of wind and rain. The meteorologist in the middle of a parabolic antenna is receiving information about the following day through a number of weather instruments. On one platform is a vulnerable person in a state of flux, changing clothes according to the weather, while another person sits listening to the weather report on a stone formation in a diorama-like section of forest. The performance is a loop that cycles every 15 minutes.
The relationship and balance between man, machine and climate is a theme that Bigert & Bergström have worked with throughout their artistic career. Tipping Point is an attempt to develop this physical reasoning so that we can expand the discussion of climate change and methods for dealing with it. We need an unexpected force or event (good or bad) that can change the focus of the predicted climatological development – a deus ex machina.


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This is an article the Post published on Latin American constitutions. It points to the alleged role some Spanish scholars have had in the writing of the Venezuelan, Ecuadorian and Bolivian constitutions. The question is, how much influence (if any) have these academics had on the texts?
Latin America's Document-Driven Revolutions
Team of Spanish Scholars Helped Recast Constitutions in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador
Tuesday, February 17, 2009; Page A01
LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Once a product of armed rebellion, the revolution in Latin America today is taking place on paper in the form of new constitutions, a mostly peaceful process influenced by the work of European legal scholars who have played a behind-the-scenes role in drafting the populist documents.
Venezuela's referendum Sunday on whether to amend a constitution less than a decade old to allow President Hugo Chávez to run for office indefinitely is just the latest example. Two other South American countries have embarked in the past decade on rewriting their societies' fundamental rules, creating enormous new charters that vastly expand the social and economic rights granted to citizens, particularly the poor.
In all three cases, from the Venezuelan charter in 1999 to the new constitutions in Ecuador last year and Bolivia last month, a team of Spanish legal scholars influenced the conception, drafting or implementation of the documents, which have stirred domestic class tensions and harmed relations with the U.S. government. The leader is Roberto Viciano Pastor, an author and constitutional law professor at the University of Valencia whose technical, and some say ideological, assistance in writing the constitutions is generating new scrutiny across South America.
(Continue reading in Washington Post)
Sorry, I would like to post the whole article but I cannot, copyright!!!!!


text:
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Raw Puff Pastry Sausage Rolls
Product Description
Home-made Sausage rolls made with Andrew's fathers traditional Lincolnshire Sausage Meat recipe, encased in puff pastry.
1 Sausage Roll per 70g.
About our Pork
- British
- Locally Sourced
- Traditional
- Home-made
- Supplied Fresh
Cooking Instructions
Place in a pre-heated oven at 180C/Gas mark 4 for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from packaging and place into refrigerator. Consume within 4 days.
Please note that this product is fresh and therefore is suitable for home freezing. However, do not refreeze once defrosted.
Allergen Information:
Contains: Wheat, Egg, Soyabeans, Milk.