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Today is my Shirazkaaka's birthday and I wanted to surprise him with a cake.. Actually a cake is not the surprise factor here..but the cake of his favorite flavor, is. Yes, he loves anything and everything in Pista flavor, may it be ice-creams, wafers, cream cones or anything. So this is the first time I am baking a pista cake for the love of my life.. 🙂 And I have made this in a healthy way, using wholewheat flour. So I present before you my part wholewheat pista cake.
Another interesting thing about this cake is it's crunchy topping. Wow..!! that was the most delicious part – the nutty and crackling layer. The soft and moist cake topped with this sweet and crunchy crust was indeed a treat for the taste buds.
For those who doesn't like those heavy whipped cream or chocolate ganache as topping could easily consider this nutty topping for their cakes the next time. You may use any nuts like cashews or almonds too. And it is super simple.
|Prep Time
|5 minutes
|Cook Time
|30 minutes
- 1/2 cup Wholewheat flour
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup pistachio Powdered
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- a pinch salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- Sieve together all the dry ingredients – Wholewheat flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Keep it aside.
- Whisk together butter and sugar.
- To this add the eggs, one by one and whisk again.
- Add in the vanilla essence too and mix well.
- Now fold in the dry ingredients mix to this slowly, and in parts.
- Add the pista powder and mix.
- Start adding milk little by little to get a smooth batter.
- Preheat the oven to 170 degree centigrade.
- Grease a cake tin and pour the batter. Tap against the kitchen counter to release any trapped air bubbles.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely.
- Once it is cooled, prepare the crunchy topping.
- For this mix together the water and sugar in a microsafe bowl and heat for 4 minutes. It will start to caramelize.
- Take it out of the oven and dd in the crushed pista and mix quickly.
- Immediately pour over the cooled cake.
Enjoy the crunchy bites..!! 🙂


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Blue Prism Attends Association of British Insurers Data Conference
Today, Blue Prism is attending the Association of British Insurers (ABI) Data Conference, an inaugural event marking the rise of big data in the insurance industry. Held at the BFI Southbank in London, insurance providers, customers, politicians and regulators will gather to understand technology's impact and applications in the insurance sector.
Symphony Ventures, a partner of Blue Prism, will also be in attendance, co-sponsoring a special breakout session titled "Claims in the digital world."
Together, Blue Prism and Symphony will outline how insurance providers are able to leverage robotic process automation to support policy migration and operational efficiencies in the overall claims experience – creating value for customers and a vital differentiator in a competitive marketplace. In years to come and with advent of RPA and other automation software, insurance providers will likely gain new, innovative capabilities resulting in pre-warnings for weather catastrophes, and virtual assistants used for claims handling.
A panel discussion will follow the presentation, chaired by ABI Emerging Risks Policy Adviser Ankur Vora. Andrew Burges, consulting director for Symphony Ventures, will sit on the panel, as well as Phil Churchman, CIO, EMEA AP, Crawford & Company; Dean Witherington, claims BI manager, Zurich Financial Services and Irene van den Brink, business development director, InShared Nederland B.V.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tag: Native American Studies
- Native Student Athletes Strengthen Cultural Ties at UMass Boston
UMass Boston is home to a minor in Native American and indigenous studies and four minority research institutions, including the Institute for New England Native American Studies.
- Massachusetts Native Peoples Working Groups
Join the ongoing discussion about responding to challenges facing the Native population in Massachusetts.
- UMass Boston Begins Native American Early Childhood Education Scholars Program
The University of Massachusetts Boston is working with regional tribes to increase the number of highly qualified Native American early childhood educators and intervention specialists serving Native children.
- Paradoxes of American Indian Race and Rights: From Pocahontas to Baby Veronica
Professor Bethany Berger will address indigenous peoples' challenges to dominant ideas of "race," belonging, and citizenship in the U.S.
- UMass Boston to Cohost 2012 Meeting of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association
The University of Massachusetts Boston is cohosting the 2012 Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) annual meeting through June 6 at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, Connecticut.
- UMass Boston to Host Native American Film Festival
Associate Professor of Anthropology Amy Den Ouden, the Anthropology Department, and other campus groups have organized a Native American Film Festival that takes a different look at the legacy of Columbus Day.
- UMass Boston will Manage New Mashpee Wampanoag Native Tribal Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe $1.2 million to fund a pre-college initiative in Massachusetts.


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Fed. Circ. May Take Damages Issue Into Own Hands
The Federal Circuit heard oral arguments in June in Microsoft Corp.'s appeal of a $358 million award to Alcatel-Lucent after a California court upheld a jury verdict that Microsoft's Outlook calendar date-picker...
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Evolutionary algorithms in forex
Although the research sounds interesting we would still need to see the methodology. One of the problems in such researches is that they test a single broker platform which may not show the whole picture – for instance the algorithm mentioned in the report needs to be transparent. I'd welcome similar research anonymously comparing results across several brokers through multi-broker platform such as Currensee.
Tel Aviv, May 9, 2012– Researchers at the MIT … [visit site to read more]
Source: Forex Magnates
You might also like:
Dollar Plunges to Record Low Against Euro2004-11-05 11:47:01 by ---
NEW YORK -- The dollar dropped to record lows against the euro on Friday, succumbing to negative sentiment and erasing all of the U.S. currency's earlier gains following a robust U.S. October employment report.
Technically driven trading also played a role in the dollar's fall.
The euro surged above $1.2900 and then breached the prior record high around $1.2927 hit in February, reaching new record peaks around $1.2950, according to Reuters data.
The dollar index, a measure of the U.S. dollar's performance against a basket of currencies , fell to a nine-year low. The U.S. currency also fell to six-month lows against the yen and 6-1/2 month lows against the Australian dollar.
Traders were struck by the dollar's inability to sustain a robust rally fueled by the...
I gave up watching tv about 3 - 4 years ago.2005-04-11 21:02:11 by FellowTraveler
I now use my tv for watching rented movies or programs I taped and collected before.
I do miss the history channel and other educational stations,
but over all I have more time for other activities the likes of this forum etc.
Now back to an issue of money :)
So called "free trade" works for this country under the guide lines of national security,
though the cost of this free trade is becoming very heavily taxed :)
This monopoly of money(currency) we are allowed to use - is controlled as it's tradable value-
One of the hidden taxation is inflation,
a million has the buying power of just a half million within less than a decade.
This fact keeps us on the treadmill of buy and selling (trading-investing),
else our savings soon...
SB Corp dividends aggregate to P1.37B — Philippine Star
This includes foreign currency exchange (forex) risk cover fee of P76.1 million, guarantee fees amounting to P18.9 million, withholding taxes on placements at P21.4million and taxes and licenses amounting to P11.7 million. Though at present SB Corp. is …
Members of Bank Fraud Ring Sentenced in $3.7 Million Scam — Federal Bureau of Investigation
... information presented in the public record: Between 2006-2007, Whitted operated a company known as "Mastermind Events" in Conyers, Georgia, which was supposed to host seminars, including foreign currency exchange (FOREX) trading training events.
Related posts:


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I had never visited or even been near Utah before so when I first got here the mountains and all the landscape left me speechless. I had no words for how amazing the surroundings and the environment looked. I grew up and still am growing up in a small town in Tennessee. I live by the Great Smoky Mountains and wake up every morning to see a great view of them, but Utah was something completely different. I have never gotten the chance to explore the United States until this month and I have to say that it is one heck of a country outside of my state. We only stayed one night in Utah, but we saw a lot while we were in town. We stayed in Ogden our only night, which had an amazing view by the way (see the 1st picture below). Then in the morning we went and saw the Golden Spike which was an incredible sight. They did not have the trains out for display so we got to go and see them while they were working on them. If I have the chance to come back though I definitely would. I had a blast while I was in Utah. Here are my two favorite moments while I was in Ogden.
Written by: Connor Brogan


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Please follow these Safe Cleaning Tips from Environmental Working Group
- Dilute cleaning supplies according to instructions and use only what's needed to get the job done.
- Clean with windows and doors open so you don't trap air pollution inside your home.
- Use gloves and other precautions.
- Children are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals. If they like to help, let them clean with soap and water, not toxic cleaners.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids. These combinations can produce deadly gases.
- Buy Certified Green Products – Certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo green standards.
- Pine and Citrus Oil Cleaners-Avoid using these cleaners especially on smoggy days, when the ingredients can react with ozone to produce cancer-causing formaldehyde.
- Avoid air fresheners.
- Use a baking soda and water paste to clean the oven and tackle toilet stains.
A BIG thank you to the people that created this video.
Production Company/ The Artists Company
Director/ Jeffrey Karoff
DP/ Anghel Decca
Producer/ Stacy Manzanet
Production Designer/ Joaquin Grey
Writers/ Christy Beck, Jeffrey Karoff, & Nina Smidt
Editor/ Brandon Beck / Northern Lights, NYC
Mix/ Damon Trotta / Northern Lights, NYC


text: Are you able to wear it on your shoulder. I can't tell how short the handles are. I'm about to place an order on the phone for a large multipocket, but I don't know if that's too big and if I should go with a Blake. I'm just worried I will have to carry it in my hands and I definately don't want to do that lol.


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Wilfried Bony has been pictured with a Manchester City shirt, as his move from Swansea City seems increasingly close at hand.
Football-Bony avec le numéro 14 de @MCFC aux côtés du président de la FIF, Sidy Diallo, à Abu Dhabi pic.twitter.com/tYORT2Wkxq— sport-ivoire.ci (@sport_ivoire1) January 14, 2015
Wilfried Bony has been pictured with a Manchester City shirt while away on international duty, as his transfer from Swansea City edges closer.
The two sides have agreed a £25 million fee for the Ivorian striker, according to the Daily Mail, and it appears that he may have been given the number 14 shirt at the Etihad Stadium.
Although no agreement has been officially announced, and Swansea City's Twitter account moved quickly to deny rumours that the deal was over the line this morning, it seems only a matter of time before it does go through.
Bony is currently away at the African Cup of Nations, but when he does return he is expected to be a City player.
Manuel Pellegrini's men have been impressed by his finishing ability and natural power since he moved to the Premier League with Swansea and he will be hoping to hit the ground running at his new club when he does return.
Bony has scored nine goals so far this season and he will be required to increase that tally considerably if he is to live up to his price-tag.


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Your customers or employees will be standing at attention to receive these aluminum promotional flashlights with a camouflage pattern and 9 LED bulbs.
Fire up your upcoming giveaways with fire hydrant custom stress balls imprinted with your logo on the front.
These promotional products from ePromos are ready to ship in 24 hours. Rush promotional items for a last minute event or if you're other supplier fell through.


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Soil that remains at the place of formation is called residual soil. It is usually formed from chemical or physical weathering and eventually covers the parent rock. the characteristics of residual soil depends on the that of the parent rock. They are very fertile as they consist of minerals from a variety of transported rocks.Farming, cutting down trees, and the grazing of domesticated animals often either reduce the amount of plant life in an area or compact the soil, making it less permeable. Please forward all your queries at our homework help and assignment help section for proper and timely solution.
Soil compaction is a concern for producers and researchers. For producers, soil compaction is an economic issue because it can reduce yield. Additionally, the methods and machines used to appropriately remove or control compaction are costly and, if incorrectly applied, can provide limited or no payback. For researchers, soil compaction is a difficult parameter to quantify, particularly in real time as compaction events occur. An ideal measurement would be one from an inexpensive, easy to position sensor that showed the effect of a compaction event in real time. Our tutors at Transtutors.com are highly qualified and undergo months of training before providing homework help and assignment help.
The examination of data from pressure sensors inserted in the soil suggests that residual stress, or the net stress remaining after a vehicle has passed over a sensor, is closely related to the peak stress or peak compaction force, and may be used as an indicator of the compatibility and net compaction of the soil. This could be a simple way to measure and compare compaction between different vehicles and treatments. This paper will discuss two methods of measuring peak and residual stress, compare results from a simple method to results from a more rigorous method, and report the magnitude of the measured residual stresses and their relationship to the peak stresses and the vehicle actions that produce them. One can get adequate help regarding assignments and homework from Transtutors.com
Surface runoff can occur when
the rate of precipitation exceeds the permeability rate (or infiltration rate) of Earth's solid surface
the pore space of loose material or rock is saturated with water
the slope of the surface is too great to allow infiltration to occur
the water on the surface has not evaporated or sublimated to a gas
Most runoff gets to streams, which often carry the water back to the oceanscompleting a major part of the water cycle. The greater the runoff, the greater the amount of stream discharge in local streams. There is a time lag between times of highest precipitation and greatest stream runoff due to the time it takes the water to get to the streams. Stream discharge is the volume of water flowing past a certain spot in a stream in a specific amount of time, and is expressed in units such as cubic meters/second or liters/minute. Even more such useful points are covered in simple way of learning through which you can have a good command on your stream in Residual Soil Homework and Assignment help at Transtutors.com.
Attach Files


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Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris did not break up
You better stop starting rumours or Calvin Harris will sue you
Happy couple Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris were rumoured to have called it quits yesterday by Radar Online. According to the report, Tay dumped Calvin after he was spotted leaving a Thai massage parlour known for its 'happy endings'.
"He lied to her," a source told Radar Online. "He gave her some bullshit excuse that his masseuse was sick, and he needed his shoulder worked on."
But before the world could go into full meltdown, Selena Gomez banished the rumours when she was asked about it on the Andy Cohen Live radio show.
"What?! Oh, I don't know. I think I would have found that out," said Selena. "I didn't even know – is that a rumour? Oh gosh, of course. This is honestly so stupid."
Even Tay's publicist helped debunk the rumour.
I've said it before and I'm saying it again, do not believe Radar Online.
— Tree Paine (@treepaine) October 12, 2015
Calvin, who has defended his relationship before, had the best comeback, hands down.
love isn't dead. i can sleep tonight. pic.twitter.com/S4FSQDUR3n
— Taylor Trudon (@taylortrudon) October 12, 2015
The fact that Taylor favourited his tweet proves TayVin is still alive. Now we can all go back to our lives.
Related: Selena Gomez opens up about being diagnosed with lupus
Related: Taylor Swift has created a playlist for you


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Central Vehicle Depot, Delhi is going to recruit following staff according to the rules given in the notification which was issued by the Depot in newspapers. The notification in PDF format is given at the end of this post. But before downloading the notification/advertisement, read the following information carefully as it is very important to know your eligibility, procedures and important dates.
Central Vehicle Depot Delhi Recruitment 2016 for 130 posts of Lower Division Clerk, Tradesman and Other Posts
Central Vehicle Depot Delhi had mentioned for the candidates to make the dispatch of the application get the seats secured of the various announced positions. The process getting generated is for 130 posts of Lower Division Clerk, Tradesman, and Other Posts for which the associated detail is underneath:
Age Perimeter: Central Vehicle Depot had mentioned the diverse conditions that will help the candidates to make the reckoning of the eligibility. The necessity of the age maturity is one of the most chief aspects that got discussed underneath as per the category to which candidates belongs. Applicants are liable to make the calculation of the age by the last date of receipt of application.
- UR: 18 years to 25 years
- OBC: 18 years to 28 years
- SC, ST: 18 years to 30 years
- PH (UR): 18 years to 35 years
- PH (OBC): 18 years to 38years
- PH (SC, ST): 18 years to 40 years
- Meritorious Sportsman (UR): 18 years to 30 years
- Meritorious Sportsman (OBC): 18 years to 33 years
- Meritorious Sportsman (SC, ST): 18 years to 35 years
Educational Qualification:
- Lower Division Clerk: 12th class passed
- Superintendent (Store): Graduation in any of the discipline
- Armed Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Mechanic
- Telecom/ Radio Mechanic: Higher Secondary passed or the Matriculation
- Remaining Posts: Matriculation passed
Selection Process: To make the selection of the candidates the initial flirtation will be on the basis of the reception of the applications. The short – listed candidates will get evaluated via the written test, physical test and the skill test completely.
Application Submission: Central Vehicle Depot had mentioned for the candidates to have the appropriate measure of the registration precisely. The need on the candidates is to get the format of the application and then to send the application with the concerning certificates and the documents as mentioned in the notice.
Significant Date: The date of the advertisement got mentioned thoroughly as 28th Nov 2015 to 4th Dec 2015.
- Applicants for the post needed forwarding the application within the 21 days of the advertisement being notified.
- The candidates from the remote area needed sending the application within the 28 days of the notification being notified.
Vital Link: Central Vehicle Depot had mentioned the connection underneath that will make the candidates getting connected to the official advertisement and the application form layout:
Download Recruitment Official Notification


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(CNN) – Proposed legislation would force Wells Fargo to face its victims of fake accounts in court.
Two congressional lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would prevent Wells Fargo from using fine print buried in customer agreements to derail class action lawsuits. The fine print, known as forced arbitration agreements, require customers to resolve their claims in closed-door arbitration instead of open court.
Wells Fargo is using this tactic in the class action lawsuit filed in Utah by dozens of customers who say the bank opened accounts in their name that they didn't sign up for. Regulators say there were as many as two million of these fake checking and credit card accounts.
The bank has admitted some customers had their credit scores damaged, while others were hit by unwarranted fines. Wells Fargo declined to comment on the new bill.


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This car stood pride of place as a new Accord before becoming a demonstrator. I snapped it up and owned it for just over 4 years and was my pride and joy.
Accord 1.8 SE
Previously Owned Owned by Mike c
Modifications & Optional Extras
Service History & Related Threads


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Aug 10 2017 (All day)
August 10 the celebrated SERENITY RIDE and Picnic. Ride
leaves St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 10:00 am sharp. Our doors are open at
7:30 am to 10:00 pm daily. Come join us for Serenity in Sturgis, SD. (1222
Junction Ave. Look for the shade).
This is our 20th anniversary of providing a safe place for riders during the
Sturgis, SD Motorcycle Rally.
Red Door Church
1222 Junction Ave57785 sturgis , SD
United States
See map: Google Maps
South Dakota US


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|Is Smart TV Platform Fragmentation a Good Thing?
|Posted by: Digg on Jan 10th, 2011 10:31 AM
|Talk about fast-moving markets. CES hadn't even officially started this week when LG announced it was launching its own Smart TV platform. By my count, this means at least 10 platforms currently vying for consumer, developer and TV OEM attention.
Read More


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Want more from Genius Kitchen?
Watch on your Apple TV, Roku, or Fire TV and your iOS, Fire, or Android device.Learn More
"A different take on stuffed mushrooms. I prepared these for a snack on Thanksgiving - while waiting for the bird and all the fixins to get done. They were a great success and were eaten with gusto, the cream cheese made for a smooth taste. Could substitute sweet Italian sausage for the regular pork sausage, whatever your tastes prefer."
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
1 recipe photo
READY IN:50mins
YIELD:24 Stuffed Caps
Ingredients Nutrition
- 24 fresh mushrooms, large & whole
- 1 lb pork sausage
- 2 bunches scallions, chopped, green parts reserved
- 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese, grated plus more for topping
- 1⁄4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- Preheat the oven to 350°F Grease a sheet tray or line with parchment paper.
- Clean the mushroom caps with a damp paper towel. Carefully break off the stems and using the tip of a spoon hollow out the center of the mushrooms.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage, breaking it up with the back of a wooden spoon. Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
- Add the white chopped scallions to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the scallions to the sausage and cool.
- When the sausage and scallion mixture is no longer hot, stir in the Parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and softened cream cheese. The mixture should be very thick. Using a small spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of the stuffing. Top with additional Parmesan if desired. Arrange the mushroom caps evenly on the prepared sheet tray.
- Place in the oven and bake until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under the caps about 20 minutes. Garnish with the reserved green scallions.
get the genius kitchen app.
Watch on your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android, Roku, or Fire TV.Learn More


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No, no. Not everyone's anger. Me. While working on my first piece for The Root, the brouhaha over the recent New Yorker cover emerged, which subsequently led to my first piece for the site now being commentary on the growing controversy. I imagine many might disagree with me, but honestly, that's not important. What is important is that you be so kind to read it, share it, and maybe even add a little commentary of your own on the site. C'mon nah. Share the love and help spread the brand. I need more people.
Anywho, here it goes: Satire 101.
Oh and while I have you, if you're interested in the real story of the issue, you can read that story here.
But after you read my article first. Please. Haha.
Edit: Found out my piece got picked up by Slate. I'm geeked.


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The California Assembly is about to vote on a bill authored by Senator Mike McGuire that insults the integrity of every practicing physician in California and threatens the sanctity of the patient-physician relationship, which is the cornerstone of effective health care. What's more, Senator McGuire attempts to hold physicians to a stricter standard than he is apparently willing to hold … Read More
Bill Harms Doctors and Patients, Doesn't Cure Cost Problem
Patients and doctors in California are about to be hit by yet another bad policy that helps the insurance industry while it hurts those of us who give care and our patients who need it. AB72, a bill by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, is the latest gift for the insurance industry and its lobbyists. Unfortunately, California legislators have bought into … Read More
Administrative Causalities Are Not Uncommon
Published in the Orange County Register: June 5, 2014 The only surprise about the tragedy concerning patients dying while waiting in line at our Veterans Affairs hospitals is that anyone would be surprised. I am surprised that no one is addressing the fact that these types of administrative casualties go on daily all across the country. For years, doctors have … Read More
Doctors Aren't an Afterthought
Published in the Orange County Register: May 22, 2014 It may not be long before a hospital will be the least likely place to find a doctor. Pressures are mounting to replace physicians with computers, guidelines, nurse practitioners and even pharmacists. The assault on the patient/doctor relationship continues to mount. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently made a final … Read More
Our Intrusive Medical Bureaucracy
Published in the Orange County Register: April 17, 2014 Every day in my office it seems I am confronted with a government or insurance clerk telling me that he or she knows better about the treatment of my patient than I do. Too often my patient asks me what their insurer will "authorize." I always answer, "Who cares?" Sadly, the … Read More
Deceptive Communications Threaten Patient Treatment
Published in Orange County Register: March 21, 2014 Some California pharmacy benefit managers may be intentionally misleading doctors and making it more difficult for doctors do their jobs. As is often the case when health plans and benefit managers insert themselves into the physician-patient relationship, patients could ultimately pay the price. Pharmacy benefit managers have sent misleading letters to California … Read More
Bound by Medical Regulations
Published in the Orange County Register: January 24, 2014 It is understandable Americans are distraught about the health care exchange and about losing insurance and their doctors. But, so are doctors. And it is not all about the money. The frustrations and cost of providing care mostly due to regulations and the costs are enormous. My office spends hours of … Read More
Nowhere to Hide your Data
Published in Orange County Register: January 16, 2014 Congress is back in session and the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act to assure Americans that Congress is monitoring the healthcare.gov website. Indeed, consumers need to know that their government is at least capable of securing Americans' privacy, but there is more. What Congress … Read More
Health Care in 2014
Published in the Orange County Register: December 26, 2013 Who would have imagined that in our America something as basic as our choice of doctor could be in jeopardy? For millions of Americans, that is precisely the case. As of Jan. 1, 2014, many of our sickest patients who have had a long, trusting relationship with a physician will find … Read More
Restoring the Health Care System
Published in the Orange County Register: November 4, 2013 The GOP must become the party of solutions and guide Congress through revisions to the Affordable Care Act. That must happen now. Americans cannot afford to wait until 2014, when the GOP wins the Senate, to undo the consequences of this overreaching law. American citizens have demanded repeal of unworkable laws … Read More


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GAO Sinks Protest Of $2.4B Army Missile Testing Contract
TFab's protest centered on a contract to provide services in support of the Prototype Integration Facility at the Aviation and Missile Research and Development and Engineering Center located at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. TFab had asserted that the Department of the Army's evaluation of Redstone's technical, past...
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text:
There will always be attraction in an office where men and women work in close vicinity. I would venture to say that when fallout happens at home for an attractive married person, the chance of the person they cheat with being an office-mate is pretty high. Office romances are a byproduct of working closely with someone for a period of time, the freedom of imagination, and that strange magic that makes someone grow more and more attractive to us as we get to know them better. For people who click with an office mate and would like to pursue a romantic relationship, there must be a level of maturity on both sides that is beyond what is expected of a stranger out on the streets. Dating a co-worker puts your job at risk from the outset and you must know the temperament and volatility of… [Read more]
One of the profiles that we respect on The Hall is that of men and women who fought, lived and maintained longevity on their own terms. What I mean by this is that any man who could survive into his late adult life within a society that used laws, government, schools and police to keep him "less than" is already a champion. If you add in the fact that a man like this defiantly and legally married 3 women that were of his oppressors and found a way to beat all challengers into a bloody pulp within the boxing ring then what you have is a certified badass. "for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth." – Ken Burns If you were a white man who loved boxing in the early 1900's you would hate… [Read more]
I follow a lot of blogs, I read them, I reply to them and I use them as inspiration. Some blogs are exceptional and the reason for this is due to exceptional writing, thought-provoking articles (I don't want to read things I agree with 100% of the time) and professionalism through design. Ahh you see my last point? As with most other designers that have put years into this thing of ours, I can't help but skip over blogs that look like an internet version of Zion in The Matrix. Blogs where the advertising links ARE the blog and others that have images crushed or stretched unnaturally (come on guys do better). Nothing however will stop me from subscribing to someone's blog faster than the obligatory "give me some money for writing" post. Fuckouttahere! It's insulting; you aren't asking for money to fuel some worthwhile… [Read more]


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Oops. I finished Hidden Figures awhile back and thought I already wrote about it. Apparently not.
Totally enjoyed it. Really enjoyed seeing how the movie combined bits and pieces of womens' stories and tweaked the timeline a little and the ages of characters and the relationships of characters. That was pretty interesting to think about, in terms of book to movie stuff.
I also really enjoyed learning more about the work these women did. And loved how much time was spent on Dorothy Vaughan's story. She's my favorite. The only complaint I have is that there wasn't quite enough about Christine Darden.


text:
Recent Posts
Quick Bright Things tweets
Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.
Monthly Archives: January 2012
REVIEW: 'Silver Shores' at the Tristan Bates Theatre
This article was first published on A Younger Theatre. To see the original review, please click here. Emmanuel Akintunde as Lekan in 'Silver Shores' Silver Shores opens in a week that could not be more pertinent to its subject matter. … Continue reading
Posted in Fringe, London, Review, Theatre Leave a comment
REVIEW: BLAST! at the Horse
This review was originally published on A Younger Theatre. To view the original article, please click here. BLAST! is aptly named. It is like a firework, a rocket, exploding and illuminating for an instant, and then gone. For me, the … Continue reading
REVIEW: 'A Walk On Part' at the Soho Theatre
This review was originally published on A Younger Theatre. To view the original article, please click here. With a blast of emotive classical music, five actors walk onto a polished stage full of clean lines and shining metal, a political … Continue reading
Posted in London, Review, Soho, Theatre Leave a comment


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GraphicRiver Settings Fix Logo 7514496
Logo Template \ Objects
Vector \ Carpenter \ Network \ System \ Electrician \ Computer \ Internet
Logo Template - Settings Fix Logo 7514496 by creativebeat @ GraphicRiver
Logo Template \ Objects
A clean and simple logo template ideal for a maintenance company, handyman, builder, electrician, carpenter or a computer, web, network, system and internet business.
- AI, EPS10 & PDF formats
- CMYK color
- 100% vector
- Fully editable & customisable
- Logically layered & labelled
- Created using CS6
- Help file included
The free font used is Asap (link below), but this can substituted for any similar font.
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Men and Things of Exeter (New Hampshire)
1871 · Exeter, NH
by Bell, Charles Henry
Exeter, NH: Privately Printed, 1871. Hardcover. Very Good. 1871? No date, one of 100 unnumbered copies. Tall 8vo, original dark maroon cloth gilt, 73 pp., wide margins, very good, with inscription from Bell dated 1883 and laid in prospectus for the Exeter A. I. and T. I. Association (1891). Very good. RARE. (Inventory #: C000025684)


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Learn more about dog grooming with Cambeas Bichon Frise Puppies.
Grooming A Bichon Frise
How To Groom A Bichon Frise
Hot spots are also known as pyotraumatic dermatitis or superficial pyoderma. Those tongue-twisters are just scientific labels for inflamed, infected skin.
How Hot Spots Develop
Hot spots are created when your dog's natural bacteria overpopulates parts of his skin. When an infection arises from a dog's own bacteria, there is almost always a root cause. Hot spots often occur in dogs with underperforming immune systems.
Hot spots can come on very quickly. You might leave your perfectly
Removing Red Eye and Mouth Stains on Bichons
All Natural Pet Tear Stain Remover from CastleBaths.com! Click Here To Shop Now!
Why Do Pets Develop Tear Stains And What Can Be Done?
Have you ever noticed how the fur beneath the eyes of your cat or dog can turn darker over time, perhaps becoming laced with streaks of red or brown? Eye discharge, more commonly referred to as tear staining occurs when your pet's tears oxidize upon contact with air and are absorbed into
Grooming Your Bichon Frise
The trademark of the Bichon Frise breed is their beautiful white "puffy" coat. Although the coat requires maintenance, grooming can be a special time of bonding between a pet and its owner. This has always been a very relaxing time for me and my Bichon. Some areas of grooming include bathing, brushing/combing, eye/ear care, and nail/teeth care.
Groom your puppy daily starting from the day that you bring puppy home. Bath as frequently as required


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On June 26, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") that effectively barred samesex married couples from being recognized as "spouses" for purposes of federal law. As a result of that ruling, the Health Care Cost Containment Committee has agreed to a special open enrollment period that will run from July 9, 2013 until September 13, 2013, to give state employees and retired state employees in a same sex marriage the opportunity to elect for health insurance. Prior to the Supreme Court ruling striking down DOMA, State employees were required to pay Federal taxes and social security taxes on the benefits of their same sex spouse. The federal income tax burden may have discouraged some employees from enrolling a same sex spouse in health benefit coverage.
Before the Supreme Court's ruling, heterosexual married couples were able to provide health benefits to a spouse on a tax-free basis but samesex married couples were not. This meant that state employees or retirees providing health benefit coverage for a same sex spouse under the state's health plan paid the premium for the spouse's coverage on a post-tax basis and were taxed on the imputed value of benefits provided to a same-sex spouse. For the roughly 800 state employees and retirees currently covering a same sex spouse, the Comptroller's Office is working on modifying the records on a global basis through CORE-CT to adjust premium shares from a post-tax to a pre-tax basis and to modify federal income and Social Security taxes year to date. The Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor are expected to issue guidance concerning how the Supreme Court's decision will affect the administration of some 1,000 federal laws. It is presently unclear how the ruling will impact federal income tax returns filed in prior years or whether the IRS will establish specific procedures for same-sex couples to seek refunds based on filing status or payment of federal income and Social Security taxes on the imputed value health benefits to a same-sex spouse.
Special Enrollment Period – The special open enrollment period began July 9, 2013 and end on September 13, 2013. During this period, enrollment is limited to state employees and retirees who did not previously enroll their same sex spouse. You will be required to provide a copy of your marriage certificate at the time of enrollment.
CSEA will work to provide further information on this subject as it becomes available.


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Ron Russell
- 68 years old
- Date of birth: January 16th, 1948
- Date of passing: September 12th, 2016
- Place of passing:
Monterey, California, United States
This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Ron Russell, 68, born on January 16th, 1948 and passed away on September 12th, 2016. We will remember him forever.
Memorial Tributes
I am very sad and have a heavy heart having read of Ron's passing. He is no longer suffering and is in a better place where their is no pain and discomfort. He was a great person with a wonderful sense of humor.
Geni if there is anything I can do for you, dont hesitate to reach out to me. God bless and prayers to you and the family, Sincerely, Greta Bogrow
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Entertaining golf buddies for the holidays? This holiday season you can check out 'Recipes from America's Finest Clubs'. It's filled with 190 recipes from 120 different chefs from golf resorts and private golf and country clubs in the Southeastern United States.
The cookbook features a Foreword by Arnold Palmer, who reminisces about his menu selections for the Champion's Dinner at Augusta National; and an Introduction by Chef Mike Deihl, executive chef at Atlanta's historic East Lake club and president of the local chapter of the Culinary Institute of America.
Click here for more information.


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Writing for Time back in 2010, Maia Szalavitz described how the connection between levamisole and cocaine first came to light. In the summer of 2008, a man and a woman in their twenties were both admitted to a Canadian hospital with fevers, flu-like symptoms and dangerously low white blood cell counts. Although the symptoms were consistent with agranulocytosis, at the time it was only known as rare disease found in chemotherapy patients and others taking certain antipsychotic medications. Neither of the Canadian patients fit that profile. But they had one thing in common: they used cocaine. A search of the medical literature at the time didn't find any studies linking agranulocytosis with cocaine.
But in April of 2008, a New Mexico lab had notified the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) of a cluster of unexplained agranulocytosis cases in the preceding two months. The NMDOH launched their own investigation and "identified cocaine use as a common exposure in 11 cases of otherwise unexplained agranulocytosis." In November of 2008, the NMDOH investigation and the Canadian public health officials connected with one another. In January of 2009 the NMDOH posted a notification of its findings on the CDC's Epidemic Information Exchange. In a still separate investigation, public health officials in Seattle Washington identified 10 cases of agranulocytosis among persons with a history of cocaine use between April and November of 2009.
In the midst of this growing public health mystery, two high profile overdose deaths occurred. Celebrity disk jockey Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, died of an overdose of cocaine and prescription drugs in September of 2009. Among the drugs found in his system was levamisole. Goldstein had been a fixture on the A-list party circuit and was a well-known cocaine user. Ted Koppel's son Andrew accidentally overdosed in June of 2010. The medical examiner found a combination of drugs in his system at the time of death, including cocaine and levamisole. It was likely that neither men knew they had been snoorting any levamisole.
SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, posted a public health alert the same month of Adam's death warning of the dangers of levamisole. Citing information from the DEA, the report said the percentage of cocaine specimens containing levamisole tested in its labs has steadily risen since 2002. In July of 2009, 70% of the illicit cocaine tested contained levamisole. They said there had been around 20 cases agranulocytosis, including two deaths associated with cocaine adulterated with levamisole.
Levamisole is used in veterinary medicine as a deworming agent for cattle, sheep and pigs. In the past, it was approved for use with humans to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer. It's been increasingly found as an additive to cocaine in samples tested worldwide. It has some serious side effects like a weakened immune system, painful sores and wounds that don't heal—the above noted condition called agranulocytosis. Left untreated, it could lead to death. Here is a short video on Adam's death and some pictures of individuals with agranulocytosis from cocaine use. Don't watch it if you have a weak stomach.
A recent case report in the British Medical Journal described a 42 year-old woman who came to an outpatient clinic in Britain suffering from vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. She had severe joint pain, muscle pain, intermittent abdominal pain and lesions. Initially, she repeatedly denied any cocaine use, but eventually admitted using it in the past. Hair testing done was positive for her recent use of levamisole-contaminated cocaine.
Erowid, a pro-drug website cautioned its readers to be honest with healthcare providers about their illicit substance use when they seek treatment for conditions like high fever that could be from levamisole to improve their chances of proper diagnosis and quick recovery. In other words, don't do what the woman in the BMJ case report did. There was an informative article there on levamisole that noted how widespread levamisole-tainted cocaine is: Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Guyana, Italy, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Speculating why cocaine is adulterated with levamisole, Erowid said:
According to the DEA, levamisole–as well as other adulterants–is apparently present in some shipments of cocaine intercepted before they are broken up for further distribution to consumers. Considering that, in one batch, only 6% by weight of the total product sold as cocaine was levamisole, it seems possible it is more than simply a bulking agent. One theory is that levamisole or other adulterants boost the effects of cocaine, permitting material to pass for higher-quality product despite additional cuts made down the line. Another theory is that levamisole or other adulterants are added as chemical signatures used to track distribution of material.It may be that levamisole has been used because it has similar solubility properties to cocaine and therefore is difficult to remove and has not previously been considered a serious health hazard. As of October 1, 2009, there is no definitive answer as to why it is used as a cocaine adulterant.
Kim Gosmer, a chemist specializing in narcotic samples at the Department of Forensic Medicine as Aarhus University in Denmark speculated that levamisole-tainted cocaine originated from South America. Cited in a Vice article, he said that forensic chemists are finding levamisole-tainted cocaine all over world, increasingly from every level of distribution. Gosmer believed this suggested the adulterant is added to the cocaine in South America before it is exported. "So the question is: Why bother diluting high-grade cocaine that costs almost nothing to produce (compared to street prices) with a compound that's more expensive than other adulterants and diluents?"
He went on to say that the amount of levamisole found in cocaine is typically not very large. So it's not added strictly to cut the cocaine. But one of its metabolites called aminorex has amphetamine-like properties. Another possibility is that levasimole increases the amount of dopamine released by glutamate levels in the brain. "Levasimole could potentially increase the effect of cocaine through its release of dopamine."
Casual cocaine users purportedly don't have to worry; but habitual users should worry. With upwards of 70% of the cocaine from around the world testing positive for levamisole, the typical cocaine user will snort some levamisole sooner or later. SAMHSA warned levamisole was a dangerous substance and that agranulocytosis was a very serious illness that needed to be treated at a hospital. Remember the similar warning given by Erowid. So if you use cocaine, watch out for:
- high fever, chills, or weakness
- swollen glands
- painful sores (mouth, anal)
- any infection that won't go away or gets worse very fast, including sore throat or mouth sores -skin infections, abscesses -thrush (white coating of the mouth, tongue, or throat) -pneumonia (fever, cough, shortness of breath)."
It used to be that you could trust drug dealers to only cut their cocaine and heroin with inert ingredients. It seems that the cost of snorting cocaine is going up in more ways than one.


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This is Sir Hunter Socks of Tilden (originally from Texas). He is a Pembrooke Welsh Corgi. This is the most fantastic Frisbee playing dog I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He will fetch until he is out of breath, then will lay with the disc until he is ready to go. He will play forever! This year his allergy got so bad that I had to take action. The vet suggested $250 of allergin tests. I thought, hmmm I had him on lamb and rice food for 3 months with no change - so it isn't chicken and chicken products... so I shaved him. WOW - he got a bath, a rinse and well - he was allergic to fleas or whatever it is they do (bite or spit) and that is that. Saved $250 dollars and now he is no longer an open wound.
Princess Raja is on the Left - Dixie Doodle - and Mr. Yutu on the right.
Renamed Boyfriend or Hank as he is a very loving horse - who craves affection and the human touch.
Boyfriend is just one of those horses that come to you, there is no chasing around the pasture - he loves to play and get all your attention.


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I'm Isola Marras black coat from Marvel's Luke Cage seen with Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard)
As Seen on Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard) in Marvel's Luke Cage - Season 1 Episode 4
Mariah Dillard (Alfre Woodard) is seen with what looks like the black I'm Isola Marras Floral Print Coat in Marvel's Luke Cage, Season 1, Episode 4 - Step in the Arena. Find Outerwear, Clothing and Women's Fashion from Marvel's Luke Cage below.
Get ready for Season 1 of Marvel's Luke Cage and the story of the bulletproof superhero of Harlem. While Luke (Mike Colter) is busy battling it out with Cottonmouth (Mahershala Ali), Mariah (Alfre Woodard) makes her mark on the neighborhood with risky political power plays. Ready for battle in power suits and pearls, she's ready to do whatever it takes to keep the streets safe.
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Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes has created a £4,000 moisturiser.
The band's founder helped to develop the luxury product, called GeneU, which claims to be one of the most advanced anti-ageing serums in the world, and says the bags under his eyes have been reduced by the treatment.
He explained: "'My DNA tests showed my skin degrades collagen rapidly, but that I have fairly good antioxidant protection.
"How well does it work? You have to be realistic and objective. You'll never get a product that will give you the skin of a teenager 40 years on. However, I found particularly underneath the eyes, the finer lines have been reduced.
"I don't look as tired first thing in the morning. I can honestly say my skin is smoother than it was.
"I completely believe in the product and the technology and if you can afford this, it's amazing."
However, the product comes with an expensive price tag, with an initial consultation and a tester kit costing £600, and each month's refresher supply costing £300, totalling £4,000 per year.
But the keyboardist said he is pleased with his fresh-faced look because it is an alternative to cosmetic surgery, something he has vowed never to have.
He told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I'd be far too terrified to slice my face open.
"If other people want to do it, good for them. But I sincerely hope I never, ever think of going down that route. Terrifying - no, not for me. No Botox, no nothing.
"I've tried my best to take care of my skin. Some of it is genetic - my mum and dad have pretty good skin. But you need to take care of it. I drink a lot of water, that's very important."


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IRVINE – Two people were taken to a hospital – one with serious injuries – after their vehicle exited from the southbound 5 freeway, authorities said.
No other vehicles were involved in the Monday morning crash, said Lt. Julia Engen of the Irvine Police Department. Police and paramedics were called after the Toyota Camry crashed just before 11 a.m., Engen said.
Police believe the 76-year-old driver was coming off of the freeway when he hit the curb along Barranca Parkway; the exit leads to a T-intersection on Barranca, and police believe the driver didn't make the turn. An 80-year-old female passenger was also injured.
Police closed Barranca Parkway for about two hours to investigate.
Contact the writer: firstname.lastname@example.com or 949-454-7361


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To compete for an award, retailers must put Chile in the spotlight throughout September, with in-store displays, tastings, wine dinners and promotions.
The event will coincide with Chile's national day on September 18.
The competition is open to all independent wine merchants in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The top four retailers will win an all-expenses-paid buying trip to Chile in January 2012, plus £500 towards the expenses of the promotion. Ten runners-up will receive £500 each.
For more details and an entry pack including promotional materials such as posters and neck collars, email firstname.lastname@example.com before July 21.


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Allen Dudley of Chelmsford was honored as Blood Donor of the Game at Fenway Park before a game between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox on May 12. Allen entered to win the chance to become Blood Donor of the Game after recently donating blood with the American Red Cross.
The Red Sox, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Red Cross honor presenting donors through the Blood Donor of the Game program. All presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives or donation centers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont can enter from now through the end of the regular season. In addition to winning two tickets to a game, the Blood Donor of the Game will receive a commemorative souvenir and most will be honored before the start of the game. For information, visit www.redcrossblood.org.


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If you are looking for a really specific book about the Panda Updates, I think you are really going to enjoy my book titled "Protecting Your Website From Google Panda." This book is really spectacular (though I am biased!) because I give you quite a few tips and information on how to keep your website from getting hurt by the Panda, but I also give you a really cool blue print to help you become your own SEO Expert. This is information that I may have charged a LOT of money for in the past, as have other Marketing Experts, but not this time. You can purchase this book either on my website or on Amazon.com at your leisure. If you do purchase on Amazon, please make sure you leave a review!
Here are a few topics I cover in Protecting Your Website From Google Panda:
– Things You Need To Start Doing Today to let Google reward you with your marketing tactics instead of punishing you!
– Quality ways to gain backlinks
– Ways to create quality content
– A HUGE list of Social Sites to sign up with. All of the ones I list are PR 3+.
– A List of THE BEST free and paid tools to check things like Page Rank, Keyword Related tools, HTML checker and encrypters, Feed Validators and much more!
– How to become your own SEO Expert blueprint – very easy to follow along with and I practically hold your hand while I show you how to go about this.
And much much more! Definitely worth buying.


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Next Sunday, thousands of children will grab colorful baskets and skip outside in search of brightly dyed Easter eggs. But who says that Easter Egg hunts are just for kids? Today, I am encouraging you and your spouse to have your own late night Easter Egg Hunt Date Night!
I know that Easter can be a busy time of year (especially if you have kids) so let's keep it simple. First, gather these supplies: 20 plastic Easter eggs, small fake candles or glow sticks, and these printable 'I Love You' prompt cards.
Print two copies of the 'I Love You' prompt cards. Fill one out about your spouse and have him fill out the other one about you. Cut the cards apart and put one card in each egg along with a fake candle or glow stick. Hide your eggs in one room of your house while he hides his in another. Turn off the lights, grab a basket and let the fun begin! Then take turns hunting your eggs in the dark. Once you both have found all of your eggs sit down and open them and read the I Love You's inside of them. Spend some time connecting and reminiscing about Easter egg hunts when you were a child.
Now, you don't have to stick to the script completely. If the weather's nice then go play outside! Or add your spouse's favorite candy to the eggs just for fun. The possibilities are endless! The most important thing is that you are spending quality time with your spouse.
If you aren't up for an Easter Egg Hunt Date Night then perhaps you'd like this Star Wars Date Night or these date night ideas!
Happy dating, my friend!


text: So... I'm a Collector of Limited Edition LV's and it kind of sucks in a way because if you miss a bag that you really want. Well...then there really is no way of getting another one, unless you see if on being sold by a reputable reseller. Unfortunetly, no such luck for me! I have been looking for a graffiti speedy for a long long long time now! I absolutely refuse to buy a regular speedy (because almost everyone in Vancouver has one!) so I came accross one that is apparently the prototype for the graffiti speedy. It is a speedy 25, unless i'm mistaken but wasn't the graffiti only made in the speedy 30? But the seller did say that it was a prototype. I'm not really familiar with prototype bags..I usually just buy the LE item from the LV store. The speedy was also signed at the bottom "the speedy is by Ellen Lewis", who is apparently one of the designers that helped design the bag. The graffiti writting all over the bag is also in gold. What do you guys think about prototype bags? I'm worried because it seems as though there is no way of authenticating a so called "prototype" bag...but the gold is really nice...what do you guys think?


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TEAS welcomes OSCE Minsk Group statement on Nagorno-Karabakh 'elections' – but criticises one element as "illogical and unhelpful"
Press Release: The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) today (20 July 2012) welcomed the main points in a statement from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairs on yesterday's 'presidential elections' in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, representing the United States, Russia and France "noted reports about the conduct of 'elections' that took place yesterday in Nagorno-Karabakh", but emphasised that "none of their three countries, nor any other country, recognises Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state." This is in line with the principles of international law and the fact that the whole Nagorno-Karabakh region is an internationally recognised territory of Azerbaijan.
Leon Cook, Director of Communications, TEAS, said: "As the Co-Chairs rightly point out, Nagorno-Karabakh does not exist as a legitimate sovereign entity. This being the case, it is illogical and unhelpful for the Co-Chairs to accept the need for the 'de facto authorities' to "try to organise democratically the lives of their population."
He continued: "Any support – no matter how tangential – given to the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani soil has the effect of slowing down the glacial progress towards a negotiated settlement, and further delays the return to their homes and lands of 875,000 Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)."
In line with yesterday's European Union statement by Baroness Ashton, the Co-Chairs also emphasised that the so-called 'presidential elections' held yesterday "in no way prejudge the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh or the outcome of the ongoing negotiations to bring a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."


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We love making a winter mural! The kids create individual homes and we combine them into towns and villages. The best part is, that we can leave the decoration up until we come back after the winter break.
- Blue and white butcher paper
- Colorful construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Sequins (optional)
- White and blue tempera paint
Prepare the landscape with butcher paper and tempera paint. Cut the white butcher paper in a wavy pattern and glue it on the bottom of the blue paper. Paint swirly patterns on the blue paper. The swirly patterns create the impression of icy gales blowing over the landscape.
Introduce the kids to making a collage. We show them how to create small houses with colorful construction paper. They decorate them with glittery sequins and markers.
The whole class helps to arrange the houses into small towns. The kids love creating a neighborhood with their friends!
Looking for more (Almost) No Prep Art? Click right here.


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All About E coming to Mountains
October 14, 2015 in Broader Community Event, Event, News, womens event by Peter Hackney
Acclaimed new Australian queer film All About E is coming to the Blue Mountains, with a screening scheduled for Mount Vic Flicks on Sunday, December 6.
Presented by Pink Mountains, the film will screen at 6:30pm and will feature a Q&A with director Louise Wadley.
The film revolves around 'E' – a beautiful, sexy DJ on the run after she stumbles upon a stash of cash. Can she keep the money, conquer her demons and get the girl?
Starring Mandahla Rose, Brett Rogers and Julia Billington, the film has been variously described as a love story, a road movie and a thriller. While the main love interests are lesbians, it also appeals to the wider community with one of the main characters being E's gay best friend, and the themes of the film having universal appeal.
All About E has so far screened at the Miami Fort Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles and the Reeling Film Festival in Chicago, among others.
The Mount Victoria screening is the movie's first showing in the Blue Mountains, giving local residents the chance to see a film that has wowed film festivals and gay events in Australia and overseas.
However, the screening at Mount Vic Flicks can only go ahead with YOUR support.
Unlike a traditional movie showing, All About E is being screened through the Tugg web platform, and requires a certain number of bookings to go head.
In this case, the screening will only proceed if a minimum of 51 people commit to purchasing a ticket online via Tugg.
To reserve your seat visit the Blue Mountains screening of All About E plus Q&A page on Tugg, and book your tickets via credit or debit card. Your card will only be charged if the screening goes ahead.
For more info or to book tickets, visit: www.tugg.com/events/70674.
What: All About E Blue Mountains screening at Mount Vic Flicks featuring Q&A with director Louise Wadley – presented by Pink Mountains.
When: 6:30pm Sunday, December 6, 2015.
Where: Mount Vic Flicks, 2A Harley Avenue, Mount Victoria.
Tickets: $20, available here.
– Pink Mountains


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Here Is What Happens When You Confront A Rothschild Banker
Lord Jacob Rothschild Confronted By Luke Rudkowski
Ever wondered what happens when you confront a Rothschild? Well, that exactly what journalist and alternative media pioneer, Luke Rudkowski, did. If you don't know Luke Rudkowski, he is the founder of We Are Change and Change Media University and has , in fact, done this many times with all kinds of elite people in government and banking, regardless whether you agree the Rothschild are responsible for mass human suffering over the last few centuries, this makes amazing viewing.
Luke confronted Lord Jacob Rothschild, who is a British investment banker and a member of the Rothschild banking family as many suggest are part of the Illuminati. The video is very long and Lord Jacob Rothschild comes across as an unassuming old man, but when he engages in the confrontation, he is clearly thrown off guard, his lack of interaction following Rudkowski's statement "We as a people are not afraid and are waking up to the banksters who are looting this economy..."
Luke Rudkowski also owns Change Media University, where he teaches budding journalists how to get ahead in the alternative media world.
This type of confrontational journalism is nothing new, though, other alternative media pioneers like Alex jones has trail blazed with stunts like breaking into the shadowy Bohemian Grove and was the first person to capture the occult activities otherwise hidden from the public. Jones found his way into the 2,700 acre compound and said in a statement "Thank God I caught the whole thing on videotape because no one would believe me if I hadn't. I have trouble believing what I witnessed with my own two eyes. It was actually that bizarre."
CMU's video on "How to Be a Real Journalist" gives you an insight into the fulfilling work of an independent journalist and also outlines how going through the traditional avenue of university education is crippling most students with debts worth tens of thousands.


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Social Media outrage on Lahore Honor Killing
Malik Omaid
Farzana Iqbal, 25 was killed by two dozen men including her father and brother in front of Lahore High court with passerbyes watching her being stoned to death. Her crime was that she married without the consent of her family. Last year 869 women died in so-called "honor killings".
Social media showed huge outrage on this barbaric event and many prominent tweeters showed their anger and anguish through demanding justice from the responsible institutions and condemning justification of "Honor killing" by hiding under any religious or cultural excuse.
Below are some selected tweets from prominent tweeters highlighting this horrific issue:


text: Redefining the Ideal Buttocks: A Population AnalysisGaxiola-García, Miguel Angel M.D.; Lugo-Beltrán, Ignacio M.D.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: April 2017 - Volume 139 - Issue 4 - p 1023e doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000003199 Letters Author Information Article Outline Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre ISSSTE, México City, México Correspondence to Dr. Gaxiola-García, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre Edificio E, Félix Cuevas 540, Colonia Del Valle, Delegación Benito Juárez 03229, Mexico, email@example.com Sir: DISCLOSURE REFERENCES GUIDELINES Back to Top | Article Outline Sir: We have read the article published recently by Dr. Wong et al.1 The authors intent was to define patterns of ideal buttocks aesthetics in a most innovative way, taking into account preferences of an anonymous lay male population by their choices over a series of digitalized photographs. We consider it has been a great asset of the authors taking into account cultural differences in the appreciation of beauty. Although only one respondent is from our country, ethnicity of our common patient population has been included (11.8 percent). Of note, to clarify an aspect pointed out by the authors, although in our previous report presumed aesthetic ideals were set on beautiful model bodies in photographs, subsequently, when these ideals were put into practice at our department, none of our patients was a model; all of them were upper middle class women, mainly housewives already with children. The only atypical trait was possibly a tendency toward healthier nutritional and exercise habits.2,3 In our opinion and experience, aesthetic canons evolve as a result of shifts in cultural values. As a matter of fact, mainstream media role models have shifted preferences to a wider hip. Indeed, regional patterns also exist in our country, with northernmost colleagues performing even lateral hip implants in contrast with a slender appearance that is sought in the central region of the country. Of course, patient size and body habitus must be emphasized to avoid generalizations; as a rule of thumb, aiming at projecting the central aspect of the buttock is of utmost importance, always preserving proportion. As the authors point out, and like everything on earth, beauty paradigms evolve or even shift completely from time to time. Always having safety as the main value, it is part of our task as plastic surgeons counterbalancing that which is most desirable to the patient with that which is permitted in the context of a natural and sophisticated appearance. Back to Top | Article Outline DISCLOSURE The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest related to any aspect treated in the text. There were no royalties nor economic benefits. Miguel Angel Gaxiola-García, M.D. Ignacio Lugo-Beltrán, M.D. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre ISSSTE México City, MéxicoBack to Top | Article Outline REFERENCES1. Wong WW, Motakef S, Lin Y, Gupta SCRedefining the ideal buttocks: A population analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016;137:1739–1747. Cited Here... | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef 2. Cuenca-Guerra R, Lugo-Beltran IBeautiful buttocks: Characteristics and surgical techniques. Clin Plast Surg. 2006;33:321–332. Cited Here... | PubMed | CrossRef 3. Cuenca-Guerra R, Quezada JWhat makes buttocks beautiful? A review and classification of the determinants of gluteal beauty and the surgical techniques to achieve them. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2004;28:340–347. Cited Here... | View Full Text | PubMed | CrossRef Back to Top | Article Outline GUIDELINES Letters to the Editor, discussing material recently published in the Journal, are welcome. They will have the best chance of acceptance if they are received within 8 weeks of an article's publication. Letters to the Editor may be published with a response from the authors of the article being discussed. Discussions beyond the initial letter and response will not be published. Letters submitted pertaining to published Discussions of articles will not be printed. Letters to the Editor are not usually peer reviewed, but the Journal may invite replies from the authors of the original publication. All Letters are published at the discretion of the Editor. Letters submitted should pose a specific question that clarifies a point that either was not made in the article or was unclear, and therefore a response from the corresponding author of the article is requested. Authors will be listed in the order in which they appear in the submission. Letters should be submitted electronically via PRS' enkwell, at www.editorialmanager.com/prs/. We reserve the right to edit Letters to meet requirements of space and format. Any financial interests relevant to the content of the correspondence must be disclosed. Submission of a Letter constitutes permission for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and its licensees and asignees to publish it in the Journal and in any other form or medium. The views, opinions, and conclusions expressed in the Letters to the Editor represent the personal opinions of the individual writers and not those of the publisher, the Editorial Board, or the sponsors of the Journal. Any stated views, opinions, and conclusions do not reflect the policy of any of the sponsoring organizations or of the institutions with which the writer is affiliated, and the publisher, the Editorial Board, and the sponsoring organizations assume no responsibility for the content of such correspondence. The Journal requests that individuals submit no more than five (5) letters to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in a calendar year.©2017American Society of Plastic Surgeons


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Romantic Sailboat Rides on the Chesapeake Bay
Sail Selina II Videos
Very upscale & exclusive, the Selina II limits her passengers to just 6 guests for an intimate taste of the history of sail.
Come join us for a relaxing 2 hour day sail or romantic sunset champagne cruise aboard the beautiful vintage catboat Selina II. Her polished bronze and freshly varnished mahogany set the tone for your adventure in sailing history.
You will be treated to an unforgettable boating experience with Captain Iris Clarke, granddaughter of the original owners. We are docked at the Harbour Inn & Marina in St. Michaels, Maryland, a charming Eastern Shore town known for its wonderful seafood and quaint small town feel.


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A book about the power and influence of square footage over the home valuation process, and those who control the power! Realtors are the MLS and the numbers they report change home prices. Accurate information is the key to quality CMA's and appraisals.
Bookwire is a mobile app for your iPhone that gives you the ability to scan a barcode
or enter ISBN, access book records and add titles to wish lists.


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Eastern and Midwestern states face greater earthquake damage potential that previously thought, according to new data added to the U.S. Geological Survey's seismic hazard maps.
The USGS recently updated the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Map to reflect the best understanding of where future earthquakes might occur across the lower 48 states. The agency provides the updates to help other agencies and the private sector with building planning and emergency contingencies through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, a congressionally established partnership of four federal agencies -- USGS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Science Foundation.
USGS said it typically updates the national seismic hazard models and maps every six years, in sync with building code updates. Updates include data on earthquake frequency and intensity, among other parameters.
The maps show that 42 states are at risk, with 16 facing high risk. While those 16 have historically experienced earthquakes with a magnitude six or greater, the eastern United States has the potential for larger and more damaging earthquakes than considered in previous assessments, the agency said.
The 2011 5.8 magnitude earthquake in central Virginia that shook Washington, D.C., and forced the closure of the Washington Monument was felt as far away as New York City. It was among the strongest along the east coast in 100 years, USGS said, and reminded residents that larger seismic events are possible in the region.
The update led the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to include states and specific geographical areas in the new maps that haven't been considered risky, including Utah and Oklahoma.
Not surprisingly, USGS said the hazard is especially high along the west coast, in the intermountain west, and in several active regions of the central U.S., including near New Madrid, Mo., the location of an historically dangerous fault line. The 16 states at highest risk are Alaska, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
"With an understanding of potential ground shaking levels, various risk analyses can be calculated by considering factors like population levels, building exposure and building construction practices," USGS said.
About the Author
Mark Rockwell is a senior staff writer at FCW, whose beat focuses on acquisition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.
Before joining FCW, Rockwell was Washington correspondent for Government Security News, where he covered all aspects of homeland security from IT to detection dogs and border security. Over the last 25 years in Washington as a reporter, editor and correspondent, he has covered an increasingly wide array of high-tech issues for publications like Communications Week, Internet Week, Fiber Optics News, tele.com magazine and Wireless Week.
Rockwell received a Jesse H. Neal Award for his work covering telecommunications issues, and is a graduate of James Madison University.
Click here for previous articles by Rockwell.
Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter at @MRockwell4.
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Government Cyber Insider tracks the technologies, policies, threats and emerging solutions that shape the cybersecurity landscape.
Check it out today!
Large parts of the federal government will shutter at least temporarily as Congress fails to enact a four-week stopgap spending bill. As agencies prepare to power down, officials say cybersecurity is being given a higher priority than it was in the 2013 shutdown.
An individual's walking gait will be the first biometric used to continuously authenticate mobile warfighters.
The former chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the lead sponsor of the IT procurement bill FITARA is calling it quits.
Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord has been replaced as the chair of the group overseeing the massive cloud initiative known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure.
Government application of the ledger technology lags behind the hype, but expect more experiments to take off in the coming months.
After a 2017 filled with uncertainty and slipped deadlines, the Census Bureau faces a critical 2018 that could make or break the constitutionally mandated count.
Which FEMA regions will be most affected, and what Interment camps would be likely to move as a result?
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Baby Comments and Inquiries
Zach seems happiest to merely observe out loud the wonders of pregnancy by proclaiming the presence of a baby in my stomach and then asking if he can "pat" her. He then proceeds to gently pat my belly, but then it always seems to escalate to rather firm pats that are more reminiscent of punches (and honestly, I'm getting punched and kicked enough from the inside, I don't need it from the outside as well) and have to be quickly redirected.
He also happily announced last week that his mommy is now the proud owner of a "Kung-Fu Panda Belly." And, just in case you don't know who Kung-Fu Panda is, he is a ginormous, talking, animated panda that performs sweet ninja-moves with a gelatinous, jiggling belly. Definitely just the thing that I wanted to be compared to.
Anyway, I still think Zach is a little confused, though, as to where this baby is actually coming from. Whenever we get together with friends that have baby girls, Zach always inquires if their little girl is our baby. In fact, the other week, he even asked me if we could just share my friend's baby girl!
Allie, always the inquisitive one, has had a million and one questions about her sister. We've talked about how the baby moves and sleeps in my tummy. She's expressed concern over the fact that her sister must be bored "in there" because she has no toys and nothing to do. Allie's enamored by the fact that her sister can hear her voice, but is a little disconcerted that she can't see through my tummy (because how will we know if she likes her new room or not?!).
The best (and most memorable) conversation to date, though, occurred last night over a before bed time snack. I'll try my best to recreate it as follows.
Allie: So when is the baby coming out again?
Me: In the fall, after Zach's birthday.
Zach: I want a Buzz Birthday!
Me: Ok, Zach, that's a good idea, you can have a Buzz Birthday.
Allie: And, where are we going again when the baby comes?
Ben: To stay with Grandma and Grandpa while we go to the hospital.
Zach: But I'll miss Mommy and Daddy!
Me: I know and we'll miss you too, but then when the baby comes, you both can come to the hospital and meet her.
Allie: (taking her time, obviously something is troubling her) But, how will the baby come out, Mom?
Ben: Silence. A bit of panic on his face.
Allie: Mom?
Me: Well, God just makes the baby come out when she is ready.
Allie: But, HOW MOM? HOW can she get out of there???
Ben: Staring right at me. COMPLETE PANIC.
Me: Well, she comes out of a mommy's bottom.
Allie: What?! Are you joking with me?
Me: No, Allie, that is how God made mommies.
Allie: Do you mean she comes out your butt, like poop?
Zach: POOP?! Poop is disgusting.
Ben: Now laughing....silently. And, making absolutely NO effort to help me out!
Me: No, Allie, the baby does not come out a mommy's butt.
Allie: But, the other hole is NOT big enough for a baby to come out of, Mom.
Me: Well, God made it so the hole gets bigger so the baby can fit.
Allie: Oh. So, do you get to see her come out?
Me: No.
Allie: Why not?
Me: Because I can't see down there.
Allie: So, can I see her come out then?
Me: No, only mommies and daddies and doctors and nurses are in the room.
Allie: And, I have to stay with Grandma and Grandpa?
Me: Yes.
Zach: But, I want to see the baby!
Me: You will, AFTER she comes out.
Allie: Of your bottom, right?
Me: Yes, Allie.
Allie: But, not out of your butt, like poop?
Zach: POOP!? HA? (now laughing hysterically...seriously, what is it with boys and poop?!)
Allie: No, not out of your butt like poop.
Ben: (Through peals of his own laughter) Ok! I think it is probably bath time now!
Here's hoping we get a little more preparation and many fewer follow-up questions when she does decide to ask how the baby got in my tummy in the first place.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Our Trip to Wisconsin
We ended our stay with a grand tour of Sheboygan where we spent some time playing at the beach and even took a dip in Lake Michigan. Of course we did not have our swimsuits along with us at the time, so I was merely anticipating dipping our feet in the icy water, but apparently my two children have never seen an ocean before and ended up completely soaked from the waist down...which provided us all with a good laugh and a load of laundry to do that evening. As a side note, my kids have actually never seen a true ocean before, but do not tell them that. Allie insists Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are indeed oceans. I mean, they have waves AND you cannot see to the other side! Seriously, we live in the Midwest, people, what do you expect?!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A Really Random Update Interrupted
So, instead of writing about all the other crazy little things going on in our world, I have opted for silence. And, then I kind of feel bad when I meet someone (like at the baby shower I attended today) who tells me that they love my blog and read it all the time and although I say something to the effect of "Thanks, I'm glad you like it!" what I'm really thinking is, "I'm not quite sure what awesome blog you are referring to because over the past few months I feel like mine has kind of gone down the crapper." (As a side note, I have officially reached a new low in my blogging life by reading that previous sentence out loud to Ben to inquire whether or not the use of the word "crapper" on my blog is appropriate.)
Anyway, as I write this the kids are watching "Toy Story 2" and drinking Daddy-made strawberry milkshakes while Allie is burning up with a 102 degree fever and complaining of a sore neck (really, she means she has a sore throat, but insists that it is her neck that hurts). I think she just caught a cold that I've had for the past few days, but seems to have come down with a much more severe case. We'll see how tomorrow plays out and if a visit to the doctor on Monday will be necessary. Also, I'm hoping Zach will come down with it sooner rather than later because we have planned to visit my sister and brother-in-law in Wisconsin this week and I'd prefer we just get all the sickness out of the way before our trip.
In other news, Allie passed her swim lessons with flying colors this week and she'll be advancing to the "Titans" class after a two-week hiatus. Hopefully, by then, we can have a few more chats about using our ears more than our mouths at swim lessons and the importance of following the teacher's instructions rather than inventing our own games to play and spending the duration of lesson time successfully convincing all the other boys to take part.
Zach has been spending the majority of his recent days trying to decide whether he is big or little. Truth be told, I think he is just enjoying his last few months of baby-of-the-family status while also feeling conflicted by the innate 2-year-old desire to be a big boy. Either that or he is just beginning to learn how to "work the system." Regardless, this conflict presents itself on a daily basis when he is asked or told certain things. Examples:
Me: Zach, it's time to pick up your toys.
Zach: No...I'm too little to pick up toys.
Me: Zach, you are not supposed to pull Allie's hair. Timeout, buddy.
Zach: No...I'm too big for time out.
Me: Zach, let's use the potty before we leave.
Zach: No, I'm too little for the potty.
Me: Zach, you need to hold my hand while we're in the street.
Zach: No, I'm too big for holding hands.
Me: Zach, aren't you going to eat some broccoli?
Zach: No, I'm too little for broccoli...disgusting.
Unfortunately I'm going to have to end this post prematurely due to my innate fear of thunderstorms (growing up in Oklahoma can do that to you) and the fact that the sirens are blaring away while the local weathermen are talking of 70 mph straight-line winds and funnel clouds. And...Ben just grabbed the flashlights due to the lights flickering. Great...I have about T-minus 10 seconds to put on my brave face for the kids. Either that or Ben is going to have to be brave enough for the both of us...which is usually how it goes.
Update: We weathered the storm out in the basement. Although I thought the birch tree in the front yard was going to snap in two, it did not. The tornado missed us and so did the storm damage. All we suffered from was a 4-hour power outage (of which Ben and I spent an hour and a half of it playing Monopoly by candlelight) and a few big birch branches lying in the front yard. The best part was the awesome rainbow we got to see before putting the kids to bed for the night.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Pregnancy Update
From the very beginning of this pregnancy I have felt strongly that this baby is a girl. I have been sportin' the same oily hair and pimply skin that appeared when I was pregnant with Allie whereas while pregnant with Zach I never had one single bad hair day and had the most perfect complexion of my entire life. Plus, hearing my four year old daily declare that she has been given a baby sister pretty much had me convinced as well.
So, I really wasn't all that surprised when the ultrasound tech announced definitively that the baby is a GIRL! There is no question and we even have the picture to prove it.
I remember feeling surprised at discovering both Allie and Zach's gender. Allie--we didn't find out until delivery (which was more due to her lack of cooperation than our choice) and up until the day I went into labor, I didn't feel strongly one way or the other. Zach's gender was unveiled almost immediately upon the wand being placed on my belly at his 20 week ultrasound and since I was also not feeling strongly boy or girl, I was surprised as well.
So, it feels a little odd to not be surprised this time around. In fact, after the tech made the announcement, my reaction was something like, "Yep, I know" and Ben pretty much laughed.
But, it definitely does feel good to finally know for sure! I love, Love, LOVE to plan, so knowing we have a little girl on the way makes the preparations oh so much easier. Yesterday, the kids and I went out and bought our little gal a girly baby book, some clearance spit bibs (because if our newest daughter takes after her brother and sister, we will need to buy stock in burp rags and spit bibs), and I couldn't resist the pink fleece sleep sacks (which I love for night time changes in the cooler Fall months).
This may seem weird, because obviously we would love this new baby whether boy or girl, but knowing that the little 1.3 pound baby that keeps me up at night with her constant wiggling is a girl really helps me to give her an identity. I love being able to call our new daughter by name (yes, we have chosen a name, but while we're still attempting to convince Allie it is a lovely name, I think I'll keep it on the down low) as opposed to the ambiguous "baby" that we have been using. It is fun to hear the kids talk about their new sister and hear them plan all the things they are going to teach her and do with her.
And, since I usually don't feel at my best while pregnant, knowing we are going to have another daughter helps me to look past the months where my body feels big, tired, and icky toward the months where we will get to welcome a new little girl into our family (in all honesty...right now I'm kind of skipping over the whole just-brought-the-baby-home-she-never-sleeps-I'm-so-exhausted-how-will-I-ever-survive-this period because, for the moment, I am choosing to forget that--kind of like how I'm also choosing to gloss over the whole oh-my-gosh-I'm-in-labor-this-is-the-worst-pain-I've-ever-felt-why-in-the-world-did-I-decide-to-have-a-3rd-baby period as well. But alas, after having gone through this with two kids and SURVIVING, I kind of hope the whole shock factor will be a little decreased this time around...who knows...I could be completely wrong...you'll just have to ask me again at Christmastime).
So, anyway, we are all excited about the new baby girl on the way. Allie, though, I'm sure is the most thrilled. When I told her, her response went something like: "Oh, I TOLD YOU SO MOM! I'm getting a sister?! I just knew it! I'm so happy! Yay! I'm getting a sister!" Zach's reaction was more of an "Oh. Ok."
However, the little sister that was due to arrive on October 26 will most likely be making a later appearance somewhere around November 6. They officially changed my due date and at first I was a little bummed, but then decided I much prefer a due date change than waiting excruciatingly every single day after October 26 and having her a perceived 11 days late. I've already gone 5 days over a due date (with Allie) and that was not really my idea of fun.
I believe that covers most of the new baby news. Other than the fact that all I ever want to eat are Pop-Tarts. I can't even remember the last time I craved a Pop-Tart, of all things, but here I am, 20-some weeks pregnant (my brain still isn't functioning well enough to calculate how many weeks preggo I am according to my new due date), and all I want is a stinkin' Pop-Tart. I had one a few weeks ago and after glancing at the nutritional information on the side of the box, I decided I needed to limit my Pop-Tart intake, no matter how intense the craving. We'll have to see how long I hold out.....
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Swim Lessons
Although from the picture you cannot tell (I think she was actually struggling to keep her eyes open because I posed her so that she was looking directly into the sun), she was so excited to begin swim lessons.
Zach was very disappointed upon arrival at the pool only to discover that he was not registered for swim lessons too. I explained to him several times before Monday morning that you have to be 4 years old to be in swim lessons by yourself, to which he continually commented forcefully, "I AM FOUR!" At least he is determined...
There was actually a class I could have enrolled him in, but I have to be present in the water with him and since the timing didn't coincide with Allie's class, there was no way I could sign him up. I know Allie is maturing quickly, but I don't think she is quite ready to entertain herself poolside without any parental supervision. Actually, after observing Allie's class this week, I'm fairly certain that by next year both Zach and Allie will be able to take swim lessons.
Anyway, Allie is doing great in swim lessons! She is the only girl with four other boy classmates and she manages to out-talk them all. She also seems to be the most daring in the water, jumping in with no hesitation, kicking her little heart out, and even showing the teacher how she can dive just like Ariel. I thought maybe she would get tired of going to swim lessons every single morning of the week, but come to find out, she was actually disappointed when she found out we aren't going tomorrow (there are no classes on Fridays). We have one more week of lessons for this session, then a two week break, and then I signed her up for another two-week session in August.
I have a feeling the only thing I will be hearing about for the last two weeks in July is why she can't go to swim lessons until August! Good thing we will be gone one of those weeks visiting Aunt Stephanie--hopefully the excitement of seeing her and Uncle Chris will put her enthusiasm for swim lessons on hold for at least a few days.
Vacation Pictures, Part 4
This next family shot is by our favorite vacation restaurant: The Thirsty Whale.
The big grey thing the kids are sitting on is actually a little whale statue and we try to take a family picture here every year. So why is the Thirsty Whale our favorite dining location? First, they make the best french fries I have ever tasted. Second, they have deep fried bread sticks. Need I say more?
Another favorite pastime while on vacation is visiting the local beaches. When it was too cold to go swimming, the kids still had fun picking flowers and finding snail shells along the lake:
- Turtle Fudge from the local candy shop
- Several walks into town on the scenic bike trail
- Watching the kids run around like crazy people on the playground
- Caramel Corn from the popcorn shop in town
- Playing Settlers with Ben and Chris
- Playing Hearts and Eucher with my dad, Ben, and Chris (I won Hearts by a landslide and Chris and I were victorious at Eucher!)
- Experiencing no problems at all with the kids sleeping while sharing a room
- Zach having a completely accident free week (unfortunately that streak has not continued upon our return home)
- Having Ben and Chris accompany me to the local movie theater to see the new Twilight movie at 9:45 pm (I actually cannot even remember the last time I stayed out that late-haha!)
Vacation Pictures, Part 3
One of our absolute favorite things to do on vacation is spend time on my dad's boat. While the big boys, namely Ben and Uncle Chris, participate in the death-defying water sport of wake boarding...
(Yep, that's Ben wake boarding behind the boat...I can honestly attest to the fact that my brother would never EVER be caught dead in a pair of bright orange swim trunks.)
This was Zach's first ever experience tubing and I'm not sure he was as thrilled about it as Allie. Whereas he is always begging Grandpa to take the boat "faster!" when he is merely a passenger, as a tuber he was a little more hesitant about going fast, especially when "high bumpies" were involved.
Grandpa even gave both kids their very first opportunity to drive the boat in middle of the actual lake (as opposed to the opportunity usually being given when the boat is securely fastened to the dock).
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Vacation Pictures, Part 2
We weren't really planning on horseback riding this year (mostly because the preggo mama wasn't allowed to participate), but then we saw a sign for pony rides and decided to give it a shot. The kids loved the opportunity and it was actually fun for the adults too because we got to lead the ponies around the wooded trail by ourselves!
Next up, Allie saw these little statue horses and insisted upon a picture:
Zach, on the other hand, sat on top of one of the statue horses and began screaming "NO PICTURE!" as soon as I whipped the camera out: Go-karts were next up and the kids were thrilled. Since preggo mama wasn't allowed to do the go-karts either, Zach picked to ride with Daddy and Allie decided to go with Grandma:
Since all was going so well, we decided to try our luck at the mini golf course. Unfortunately, the kids were reaching near-melt-down stage and the ideal mini golf experience was not had. Taking turns just didn't seem to be on their agenda and they had no interest in hitting the golf balls with the clubs, but preferred to roll them around the greens and place them into the holes or throw them into the water hazards while also jumping on every single rock, bridge, or embankment. Incessant whining seemed to take precedence over all else and by the end I think we were all amazed we actually survived all 18 holes alive and well.
Allie was not interested at all in having anyone give her any help and made sure everyone knew her feelings.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Vacation Pictures, Part 1
This summer marks the 5th year that we have spent our week long summer vacation in Minoqua. In a way, it almost feels like a second home to us: we always stay in the same cabin (ahem...a more accurate description would probably be humongous log home well equipped to sleep all of our growing extended family), we know all the lakes and beaches, and we have our favorite spots in town we must visit every year. I think it is pretty neat that we are beginning a family vacation tradition with our kids that they will remember for the rest of their lives. And, hopefully, when they reminisce back to their summer week-long vacations in Minoqua as kids they'll still feel a lot like this:
The beginning of our week this year started out rather cool and rainy. In fact, there was a record breaking low evening temperature in the upper 30's - low 40's for one of the evenings. A little too cold for my tastes for the end of June, but we made the best of it anyhow. When we weren't bundled up for a boat ride or a walk into town, we spent some time at the indoor swimming pool where the kids officially turned into fish:
We also spent some time hanging out in the cabin: reading books, playing games, playing with toys, chatting, attempting to relax (as much as possible with two very energetic kids around!), and enjoying the cable TV (especially Playhouse Disney).
Although I'm sure we would have had fun even if the cool temperatures and drizzly rain lasted the entire week, we were more than happy when the sun broke through and we were able to enjoy the outdoors even more.