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What's inside? Here are the questions answered in today's reader mailbag, boiled down to five word summaries. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Handling a large gift
2. Free toothbrushes
3. Internet banking and future loans
4. Pieces of inspiration
5. Medical billing problems
6. Getting value from panini press
7. Toilet paper: quality or price?
8. How much should I save?
9. Memorable but inexpensive Father's Day
10. Starting over with credit cards
A few weeks ago, I spent most of a Saturday to quite a few yard sales in our local area. I took my oldest child with me.
On those visits, I didn't buy anything and I really wasn't planning to. So why did I go? I was looking for huge bargains on stuff I knew about ("My son went to college and left behind this old junk…"). I also wanted to show my son a clear example of personal restraint, as I pointed out things at each sale that we could have purchased but chose not to.
Q1: Handling a large gift
I graduated from college last June, and have been looking for a job (in the architecture field, which has been challenging). For graduation, my dad gave my wife and I a very generous gift of $20,000. We haven't been completely sure what to do with it, and right now it's sitting in a savings account. We are basically looking at three options. First, we could just keep it in savings with as high interest as possible, and just let it grow. Two, we could use it to pay off a large portion of our student loans, which total about $27,000. Or three, use it to start a small business. Any advice in deciding which route to take?
– Charles
There isn't a right answer for what to do with the money. It depends entirely on what goals you guys have.
If I were you, I'd spend some time talking about where you want your lives to be in, say, ten years. What do you want from your life? Do you want to buy a house? If so, when? Next year? Nine years from now? Do you want to have children? When? Do you have a really good and well-researched idea for a small business?
The farther off your goals are, the more I'd lean toward paying off the student loans. The closer they are, the more I'd lean toward the savings account. I'd only open the business if you have a well-researched business plan and a strong desire to run that business.
Q2: Free toothbrushes
Whenever I go to the dentist every six months, they give out a free toothbrush. However, my toothbrushes start to get pretty ragged at about the three month mark. Is it cheap to ask for two toothbrushes when visiting the dentist?
– Amy
I don't think there's anything wrong with asking for another toothbrush at the dentist's office.
If the dentist has a very strict policy of one toothbrush per customer, then they'll simply say no, which puts you right back where you started, anyway.
I personally don't wear a toothbrush that hard, so I wouldn't have the need to ask for multiple brushes.
Q3: Internet banking and future loans
My question has to do with internet banking and obtaining loans in the future. Due to a divorce and subsequent bankruptcy, I now have a checking and savings account with internet-only banks, as I was unable to open accounts with most of the brick-and-mortar banks in my city. I have two checking accounts with Perkstreet, one for actual checking and one for short-term savings. My emergency fund is saved with Ally. Perkstreet only offers checking accounts at this time, which is totally fine by me. My question is: bankruptcy notwithstanding, will it be more difficult to refinance my auto loan or ever get a home loan with another bank because I do not have a standing relationship with anyone? While I know anything beyond checking and savings is far in the future, I'd like to put the right steps in motion.
– Lois
I'm unclear why you were unable to open an account with the banks in your city. Whatever the reason was that they denied you an account there, I would resolve it.
If you know what that reason is and have resolved it, the next step I would take is making sure that your credit report is good. Start with the FTC's website at annualcreditreport.com and verify that everything on your report is correct and that you don't have many late payments on there (or, even worse, failure to pay).
If you've taken those steps, you should be in pretty good shape for a loan. People often get loans from banks where they don't have active accounts.
Q4: Pieces of inspiration
How do you find the ten pieces of inspiration each week? I love them!
– Julie
I have a huge collection of quotes that I've picked up over the years. I dig through them pretty regularly for various things (usually presentations, since my presentations usually just feature a picture with a quote vaguely related to what I'm talking about).
I find pictures because I often look at them in bunches with my children. I try stick to ones that I can share without violating copyright.
As for the videos, I watch most of the Ted talks (and share many of those) and I also often use YouTube for music.
Q5: Medical billing problems
My husband is having a hip replacement soon. We've researched the hip implant however hospital costs are not available. We've contacted the hospital billing department who referred us to the surgery department who referred us to purchasing who referred us back to billing. The billing person couldn't give any information on account of HIPPA and when we challenged that (because no patient name) we were referred to purchasing. Do you see the dilema?
Any time I've been in the hospital the bills are in the mailbox before I got home so SOMEBODY knows what the hospital charges; we'd just like to know what to expect. Do you have any suggestions?
– Tessa
In this situation, I'd go up the administrative food chain a bit. Who is in charge of these departments? I would try to contact those people directly.
It's often difficult for the first-level customer service people to answer the questions you're asking here. Often, they don't have access to the data you want.
I would keep escalating until I could get answers.
Q6: Getting value from panini press
My children got me a panini press for Mother's Day. While I love the thought and I've used it a couple of times to make sandwiches for me and for family members, I don't really know what to do with it. Why wouldn't I just cook a sandwich in a skillet with a bit of weight on top of it? I don't want to just put the item away and not use it and eventually yard sale it because I know my oldest son spent some of his carefully-earned allowance money on it.
– June
If you look at it as just a sandwich machine, it is indeed pretty limited. You can replicate what it does by simply cooking a sandwich in a skillet with a small weight on top (we use another skillet).
However, you should look at a panini press as essentially being a small cooker. You can cook chicken breasts on it or hamburgers on it or portabella mushroom caps on it quite easily. Slice some potatoes or sweet potatoes, dip them in a bit of vegetable oil, and cook them on the panini press.
If your press has a griddle-like surface, you can also cook things like eggs and waffles and pancakes on it.
A panini press has more uses than just sandwiches and it's worthwhile to experiment. However, don't use this as a reason to run out and buy one, as you can still replicate many of these uses with the kitchen equipment you already have.
Q7: Toilet paper: quality or price?
I've been a long time reader (3+ years) and have a question about toilet paper. I have a reputation in my family for being frugal. I've always bought the cheap single ply toilet paper. My family teases me about this choice and have bought me charmin's ultra soft double ply as a gift for birthdays and holidays as a joke. I am not arguing the quality difference, you get what you pay for. One feels like a soft towel, the other is closer to sandpaper. I just find it hard to throw money down the toilet on your bum. The other argument I have a against buying the nicer stuff is based on my personal habit of always double or triple folding the toilet paper regardless of its thickness. I'm not sure how many people do this, but if I double or triple the thick stuff, as I've found myself doing at my families, I feel like I'd go through a roll really quickly. Is there any way to quantify the amount a person might save if he buys the cheap stuff vs the more expensive. I know it depends on a number of personal variables….but if it was only saving me $10 a year I might be convinced to upgrade.
– John
If you triple-fold the sheets, it's pretty easy to quantify how much you save on toilet paper.
If you buy a jumbo-pack of Charmin like this one, you're going to be spending about $0.75 per roll. Each roll has 176 sheets on it, which means if you're using three sheets at a time, you're going to get 58 uses out of a roll. Each use, then, is going to cost you 1.3 cents.
On the other hand, Scott rolls can be found for $1.16 per 1,000 sheet roll, meaning you're going to have a cost of 0.35 cents per triple-sheet use. Your generic of choice may be even cheaper.
Now, is that extra penny per use worth it for the comfort? It's really up to you.
Q8: How much should I save?
I'm a 35 year old professional with a good job now, however I spent quite a few of my adult years quite poor (beans and rice and no fresh food poor). Since graduating with my JD, I've managed to save approximately one year of my salary in my retirement accounts, and 15% of one year's salary (pre-tax) in an emergency fund. I own a home that I don't live in because I had to move for work. I have tenants who cover basic monthly costs (mortgage, taxes, etc.) however I've had to put a significant amount of money into the property because we were hit by a tornado last year and my insurance company simply didn't cover everything (plus I had some repairs dating back to when I couldn't afford anything). I'm currently negotiating with my insurance company over the last major repair (approximately $25k). At this point I'm operating under the assumption that they'll eventually cover most/all of it. I can't sell the house at this point without a major loss, because my neighborhood was so hard hit by the foreclosure crisis. So I'm resigned to being a landlord for now. Who knows maybe someday I'll move back there. Right now I'm in a rental about 90 miles away (not commutable due to traffic and a relationship). I have a paid off car, so that shouldn't be an issue in the short term. My only non-mortgage debt is approximately $25k in student loans, plus an additional similar amount to my dad for school and house expenses. My dad doesn't need/want to be paid back quickly, so we've agreed that I'm to consistently give them $50/month. (Note: My parents are retired and now working in new PT careers. They haven't touched their retirement funds yet and don't expect to for quite some time.)
Anyways, in about four years I've been able to save approximately one year of my salary in retirement accounts (and another 15% in an emergency fund), by living in a way that simply isn't comfortable. I was willing to do that temporarily because I was so far behind, and because I never want to be as poor as I used to be again. Right now I'm saving approximately 28% of my salary (pre-tax). I now need to figure out the "middle ground" route. I need more money for my daily/monthly expenses, but I'm so afraid to save less for retirement, and am having trouble determining whether I'm now "caught up."
Any thoughts or resources would be helpful.
– Rachel
It is really all about comfort level. As long as you're spending less than you earn and saving the difference, you're in good shape.
If I were you, I'd target saving 10% of my income each year for retirement and another 15% for other expenses (like eventual car replacement, maintaining the emergency fund, and so on). I'd spend the rest on bills and just living life.
Some people strongly desire debt freedom and are willing to live very lean to get there as quickly as possible, but that's not a solution for everyone.
Q9: Memorable but inexpensive Father's Day
Over the last year or two, I've come to really realize how awesome my dad is. He's just been a rock in my life, my sister's life, and my mom's life for as far back as I can remember. Whenever something crazy would happen to one of us, Dad would just listen and he'd take care of things. I was so dumb for getting so angry with him when I was younger because he'd stop me from doing something even dumber.
Anyway, I'm trying to think of something to give him on Father's Day to really show my appreciation, but I don't have much money. I am delivering pizzas while trying to get a good job and there just isn't a lot of cash. I need your help!
– Andy
Time. Spend time with him.
Plan a day where the two of you do whatever he enjoys doing. Does he like to fish? Does he like to play board games? Does he like to do yard work? Golf?
Whatever it is he likes, just do it with him for the whole day, even if you find it to be the most boring thing on earth. Don't grumble about it a bit – this is his day, so do what he wants and put your best effort into enjoying it with him. Pack up a picnic lunch and eat it with him. If you're not good at some aspect of what it is he enjoys doing, ask him to teach you.
Trust me, it's just about the best Father's Day gift you could give him.
Q10: Starting over with credit cards
So I've been meaning to get a credit card that benefits me. I have only one credit card that I've had for 10 years. Through bad experience (getting into debt over my head), I've closed off all of my cards 6 years ago and kept just one, Capital One. My credit score dropped but I have worked on it and it's up to 740 or so. I don't have any debt except a house mortgage. I pay off my balance monthly so as to not accrue any interest. It also has an annual fee of $49. I'd like to get a credit card that earns points or pays me back for using it. I want to close my CapOne card because of the annual fee but know that if I do so, my credit score might drop. I don't want to keep it around and charge a small amount on it to keep it going either. What do you suggest?
– Geoff
If I were in your shoes, I would open a card with whatever business I used the most. Do you use a particular gas station a lot? I'd get a card from them. Do you shop mostly at a particular store? Get a card from that store.
Almost always, those store-branded cards have really good bonus programs when you shop at that store. You can use them elsewhere, but the bonuses will be pretty small (or none at all).
Once you have the card for a year or two, cancel the old one. If you cancel the old one now, your credit history will take a pretty painful shot. If you have another line of credit that isn't brand new, the drop from canceling the old card will be smaller – and it gets even smaller the longer you have the new line of credit.
Got any questions? Email them to me or leave them in the comments and I'll attempt to answer them in a future mailbag (which, by way of full disclosure, may also get re-posted on other websites that pick up my blog). However, I do receive hundreds of questions per week, so I may not necessarily be able to answer yours.


text: Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na.. sweeps IIFA technical awards Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara swept the technical awards category with five trophies at the 13th International Indian Film Academy Weekend and Awards. bollywood Updated: Jun 09, 2012 14:22 IST IANS Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara swept the technical awards category with five trophies at the 13th International Indian Film Academy Weekend and Awards. The winners were announced Friday night at the IIFA Rocks, a fashion and musical night organized a day before the main award ceremony. The Road Movie, starring Abhay Deol, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin, walked away with five awards for best editing for Anand Subaya, best sound recording mixing for Anuj Mathur and Baylon Fonseca, best choreography for Bosco-Ceaser, best screenplay for Zoya and Reema Kagti and best cinematography for Carlos Catalan. "It is the best thing when a director trusts you and has faith in you. I would like to thank Zoya for trusting me. I would also like to thank Farhan, who sat with me for three weeks and taught me to edit," Subaya said after receiving the award. RA.One followed with four awards for best special effects, best sound design for Resul Pookutty, best song recording for Vijay Dayal for Chammak Challo and best production design for Sabu Cyril. Niharika Khan won the award for best costume design for The Dirty Picture and best make up award went to Vikram Gaekwad for the same film. The Dirty Picture also won the award for best dialogues. "I would like to thank Vidya for allowing me to take off her clothes in the film," joked an excited Niharika, before thanking the cast and crew. Oscar winner A.R. Rahman won an award for best background score in Rockstar, while Jai Singh Nijjar won best action trophy for Singham. Hosted by Ayushmann Khurrana and Chitrangada Singh, the event also saw performances by Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, who grooved to their song Uff from Teri Meri Kahaani. Others who performed included Neha Dhupia, Vishal-Shekhar, Hariharan, Lesle Lewis, Usha Uthup, Mika, Gauhar Khan, Sonu Sood and Hazel Keech and Shafqat Amanat Ali. First Published: Jun 09, 2012 12:44 IST

subset: commoncrawl


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CUSTOMER CARE: firstname.lastname@example.com
Our beautiful signature packaging makes gifts extra special. For a minimal charge of $4, your order will be placed in a gift box or decorative bag, depending on the size and shape of your purchase. Please note that our elegant gift boxes and bags change seasonally and may vary, and that all items in one order will be boxed or bagged as one gift.


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For the first time, the Baseball Writers Association of America awards are being announced Hollywood-style — on live television with pre-announced nominees.
Were this really like the Oscars, there might be statuettes for, say, best performance in a supporting role (Marco Scutaro), best costume design (Josh Reddick for "Spiderman") and achievement in sound editing (for any broadcast featuring Grant Balfour's profanity-filled ninth).
A film about the Dodgers' second half ("Titanic") would go home empty-handed.
But while the format is new, the awards remain traditional. For four nights starting Monday at 6 p.m. on the MLB Network, an hourlong show will reveal the biggies: Rookie of the Year (Monday), Manager of the Year (Tuesday), Cy Young (Wednesday) and MVP (Thursday).
Immediately after the announcements, complete voting results will appear at BBWAA.com. Balloting was conducted at the end of the regular season, so postseason play was no factor.
The nominees from the Bay Area are Giants catcher Buster Posey (for MVP), A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (for Rookie of the Year) and the Giants' Bruce Bochy and the A's Bob Melvin (for Manager of the Year).
To help build the drama for this week's revelations, let's take one last look at the cast of characters:
JACKIE ROBINSON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (Monday)
N.L. finalists: Todd Frazier (Reds), Bryce Harper (Nationals), Wade Miley (Diamondbacks)
Who will win: Harper
Who should win: Harper. This isn't a clear-cut choice, no matter how much the Nationals' 19-year-old outfielder dominated the hype machine. The under-the-radar Frazier was just as good, or better, in several categories while Miley was 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA. Harper gets the nod because of his huge edge over Frazier in runs (98 to 55) and stolen bases (18 to 3). He'd be the first player to earn the award as a teenager; Harper turned 20 on Oct. 16.
A.L. finalists: Cespedes, Yu Darvish (Rangers), Mike Trout (Angels)
Who will win: Trout.
Who should win: Trout. Cespedes ranked second among A.L. rookies in runs (70), hits (142), doubles (25), home runs (23), RBI (82), walks (43), extra-base hits (53) multiple-hit games (40), total bases (246) and slugging percentage (.505). He ranked first in bad timing, having done all that in the shadow of Trout (more on him later).
MANAGER OF THE YEAR (Tuesday)
N.L. finalists: Dusty Baker (Reds), Bruce Bochy (Giants) and Davey Johnson (Nationals).
Who will win: Johnson
Who should win: Johnson. Bochy spent his October playing chess while his competitors played checkers. Johnson and Baker, in contrast, suffered embarrassing first-round playoff exits. But for the regular season, Johnson deserves credit for guiding Washington to an 18-game improvement over the previous season and delivering the first postseason game in the nation's capital in 79 years.
A.L. finalists: Bob Melvin (A's) Buck Showalter (Orioles), Robin Ventura (White Sox)
Who will win: Showalter.
Who should win: Melvin. Both Melvin and Showalter had mind-boggling seasons, making this the most agonizing choice on the list. The A's improved by 20 games; the Orioles improved by 24. The A's had a major-league-best 14-walk off wins; the Orioles went 29-9 in one-run games — and 16-2 in extra innings.
In the end, though, the question isn't who did the most — it's who did it with the least. On that count, it's Melvin, by a narrow margin, after he captured an A.L. West title despite a rookie-laden pitching staff, a lineup featuring several players out of position and the lowest payroll in the league.
CY YOUNG (Wednesday)
N.L. finalists: R.A. Dickey (Mets), Gio Gonzalez (Nationals), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
Who will win: Dickey
Who should win: Kershaw. Another toughie because Gonzalez led the league in wins (21), Dickey in strikeouts (230) and Kershaw in ERA (2.53). Voters in recent years are putting less of a focus on the W-L total, which might be good news for Kershaw (14-9). Besides his second straight ERA title, the Dodgers left-hander had the lowest WHIP (1.02 to edge the Giants' Matt Cain) and finished second in batting average against (.210).
A.L. finalists: David Price (Rays), Justin Verlander (Tigers), Jered Weaver (Angels)
Who will win: Price
Who should win: Verlander. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com makes the persuasive case that in this scenario, where all other numbers are similar, Verlander should get the nod because of his heavier workload. The Tigers right-hander led the majors in innings (2381/3) and faced 120 more hitters than Price and 224 more than Weaver. Stark writes: "That, friends, is what Cy Youngs do. They take on responsibility of acehood in a way other pitchers don't."
MVP (Thursday)
N.L. finalists: Posey, Ryan Braun (Brewers), Chase Headley (Padres), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), Yadier Molina (Cardinals)
Who will win: Posey
Who should win: Posey. A day before the All-Star game, Posey was asked to pick the N.L. MVP. "We just finished playing Pittsburgh," the Giants catcher said, "and it would be hard not to argue for McCutchen."
Shortly after that pronouncement, Posey started making his own case for the award He batted .385 with 60 RBI and a .646 slugging percentage after the break and became the first N.L. catcher to win the batting crown since Ernie Lombardi in 1942. McCutchen was terrific, too, but the Pirates faded as the Giants surged.
Posey would join Johnny Bench and Thurman Munson as the third catcher to win a Rookie of the Year, a World Series and an MVP over the span of his career.
A.L. finalists: Adrian Beltre (Rangers), Miguel Cabrera (Tigers), Robinson Cano (Yankees), Josh Hamilton (Rangers) and Trout
Who will win: Cabrera
Who should win: Trout. As with that other election day, the one Nov. 6, this topic causes the kind of hostile, divided debate that makes Facebook members click "unfriend." Cabrera looks to be a no-brainer after winning the Triple Crown — the first since 1967! — for a division-winning team. But Trout was the most valuable all-around player. He batted .326, while becoming the first player ever to hit 30 homers, steal at least 45 bases (he had 49) and score at least 125 runs (he had 129). The statistic Wins Above Replacement — or WAR, which is what it causes whenever it's brought up — factors in defense and baserunning and gives Trout a decisive edge. (Baseball-reference.com has a terrific overview of WAR on its home page.)
That's it for 2012. Or, as they say in Hollywood, it's a wrap.


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I feel both guilty and justified in thinking about doing a working to clear the area of homeless people. My lease isn't up for several months and although there are two that are respectful (usually) it seems more have cropped up and they leave DISGUSTING messes. Truly this is the first time in my life the mere thought of a homeless person makes me want to vomit. These guys are on another level.
And they specifically are camping on my corner a couple businesses down which is near several stores and businesses that I like to walk to. Plus I park on the street and even the one I have no problem with has bothered me with trying to reach out to me in unnecessary conversation about my life and old news when I come home late at night and all I want to do is get in my apartment and go to sleep.
*Also, most of these homeless are mentally insane.* Not just regular people tremendously down on their luck. Who dumps trash in 4 shopping carts and then knocks them over then proceeds to stack certain items in one cart? Who monopolizes the bus benches to sit and sleep on all day? (thank God for my car)
I know they are human beings but them being homeless isn't helping them, the system isn't helping them, a couple bucks isn't going to help them. They are of no benefit to the plant or animal life here as they litter like crazy!!!!!! I just want them elsewhere where I don't have to walk past them or their mess. They can all congregate together as one big happy family in the woods somewhere or underneath a bridge away from my neighborhood. I'm specifically saying this because 80% of them hoard shopping carts that they leave in the pathway (saw one almost hit a car once) and dump trash and food on the side walk.
The police can't lock them up and won't move them. If you report homeless people the police are too slow to catch them in action. Businesses at best bounce them back to the side walk.
What do you suggest? Petitioning a certain entity? Creating an entity to scare them off? I want to do something that will not energetically connect me to them. I don't want to hurt them just move them several blocks away.
Moving would be wonderful but as stated I have several more months on the lease and I'm not financially prepared to make a move yet. My county is super expensive and it's a landlord's market. Moving too far out and dealing with 2 hour traffic is not an option either and this is the hub of my industry and where I've built my connections. I just don't want them ON MY CORNER. There is skid row for this type of behavior and this isn't skid row. I don't want THEIR MESS in my path. One day I hope to be able to comfortably afford to move somewhere ritzy where they don't tolerate this, but only God knows when that will happen.


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Monday 17th September
Meeting with the Programme Leader Session
Meet and Greet - Tea, Coffee and Cake
Enrolment Session
13.00-14.00 Cookworthy Welcome Centre
You must complete online enrolment and upload a photo prior to attending this session. You will need to bring identification with you to this session. The preferred form of identification is a valid current passport. Please refer to our University Card Collection web page for further details.
Important: Please remember to enrol online and select your elective modules by clicking on the panel at the top of the page.
Library Session
14.00 – 15.00 PSQ Devonport
A general welcome and introduction to Library services and resources lead by your School Information Specialist. The aim is to offer a fun but informative session to get you started in your academic life.
Tuesday 18th September
PBS New Students Inauguration Ceremony
18.00 Hoe Graduation Marquee
Faculty of Business Welcome Party
19.15 - 21.45 Hoe Graduation Marquee
For new students to meet other students in the Faculty of Business, the academic staff, and some past students in an informal environment.
Wednesday 19th September
Personal Tutoring Session
With Ricky Lowes
Academic Skills - Session One
With Paul Harrington
Thursday 20th September
Academic Skills – Session Two
With Paul Harrington
IT and Student Services Session
This session will introduce you to the University's IT systems. It will be useful to both novices and techies as it will take you through how we use IT systems at the University and where you can find useful and important information on our network.
Careers Session
The Careers and Employability induction session will give you all the information you need to prepare for your future. Helping students to understand everything the service offers, I will talk though who can help with placements, careers guidance, employability workshops and graduate recruitment, just to name a few. The key message will be 'your career starts now' and will explore the vital importance of taking all the opportunities available to you whilst studying to enhance your chances of employment after graduation. The session is run by Emily Packer the Careers Adviser for the Faculty of Business.


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Anne Plummer and Associates Real Estate is proud to be your Maine Lakes Region real estate agency! We offer a full assortment of real estate services including the sale and purchase of residential property, land, vacation, lakefront and waterfront homes, fixer-uppers, commercial real estate, new construction packages, and short sales and foreclosures.
Our service extends throughout the entire Sebago Lakes Region and includes the towns of Naples, Casco, Raymond, Windham, Bridgton, Harrison, Waterford, Sweden, Lovell, Fryeburg, Denmark, Sebago, Standish, Oxford, Otisfield, and Poland. We represent both buyers and sellers of year round residential and seasonal properties on such area lakes and ponds as Sebago Lake, Long Lake, Brandy Pond, Thompson Lake, Moose Pond, Highland Lake, Panther Pond, Crescent Lake, Pleasant Lake, Coffee Pond, Woods Pond, Trickey Pond, Thomas Pond, Crystal Lake, Raymond Pond, and Parker Pond. Many properties offer outstanding views of Shawnee Peak ski area, Pleasant Mountain, Mount Washington and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the western Maine mountains and foothills, Sebago Lake, Long Lake, and may other area lakes and ponds.
We are affiliated with the Maine Mulitple Listing Service and offer a Maine Real Estate Property search page on our website. Here you can set up your personal search criteria and receive automated emails containing listings currently for sale that meet your specific criteria.
It is our goal to provide you with consistently superior service that fits your needs and lifestyle. Give us a call so we can learn more about you and your family and discuss how we can best provide service to you.


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Men's Outerwear, Jackets & Coats
Dialing in the right cold weather look can be tricky for modern men. But it shouldn't be rocket science. When it's cold out, a bomber jacket or windbreaker will keep you warm and stylish. Browse our Original Penguin men's outerwear and you'll find everything you need to look smart and put together at all times. Shop men's jackets with modern appeal or vintage flair.


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I have been a Google Chrome user for a while now, and I have two different 'Users' in Chrome. The default user is my personal account, and then I have a work account. For my personal email I use a Google Apps Gmail account and just check my email with Chrome. I use Thunderbird to check my work email. For a while now I have had an issue where I click a link from Thunderbird and it tries to open in my default Chrome user. This doesn't work very well as I am not logged into most of my work accounts on my personal user. This drove me nuts! Now I have to copy and paste the URL into the work user Chrome window. After a little Googling tonight, I was able to setup Thunderbird to open URLs in my work user Chrome browser. Life is much better now! To do this, I had to add two lines to prefs.js. On Ubuntu 13.04, prefs.js is located at ~/.thunderbird//prefs.js where is what appears to be a random set of numbers/letters followed by .default.
The two lines I added are:
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http", "/opt/google/chrome/google-chrome –profile-directory='Profile 1′");
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.https", "/opt/google/chrome/google-chrome –profile-directory='Profile 1′");
If the profile-directory for the Chrome user you are wanting the links to open in is different than what I have, you may need to edit the directory name. This worked for me on Raring (what will become Ubuntu 13.04) with Thunderbird 17.0.4.Read more


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View parents Singles in Valley Lodge
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Diversity comes to 'Downton' with first black character
The show welcomes its first black character, jazz singer Jack Ross.
The very British Downton Abbey will look a little bit different in Season 4 thanks to actor Gary Carr, who will portray the hit period drama's first black character.
The British actor will star as jazz singer Jack Ross.
"We are delighted to introduce another fantastic, dynamic character to Downton Abbey," executive producer Gareth Neame said in a statement. "His addition will bring interesting twists to the drama which we can't wait for viewers to see."
Carr is not the only new cast member who will appear in the fourth season. Other new faces: Kiri Te Kanawa, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Harriet Walter. Tom Cullen will play Lord Gillingham, Lady Mary's childhood friend and, now that she's a widow, a potential suitor.
PBS, which airs the wildly popular ITV series in the United States, has not announced the U.S. air dates for Season 4.


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Toni Talks about PT Today
Is It Really About Autonomous PT Practice?
Toni Patt
My post last month, " The DPT: How Did They Miss This? " has generated numerous comments on the ADVANCE website, almost entirely from readers who agreed with its content. One exception, however, was an assistant professor of physical therapy who stated
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3 comments »
APTA Membership: Cost vs. Benefit
Toni Patt
I've been reading the responses to my various blogs over the past few weeks . The responses seem to be echoing what I've been saying. Hardly anyone has had anything to say in support of the APTA. Many explain why they don't belong. The general consensus
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3 comments »
It's Time to Renew My APTA Membership
Toni Patt
It's that time of year again. I just opened my mail and found my APTA renewal notice. For a mere $585, I can continue to receive all the benefits of membership. This amount includes APTA membership, Texas chapter membership and membership in three sections.
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5 comments »
Whose Profession Is It?
Toni Patt
Two weeks ago I attended a Texas Physical Therapy Association meeting. The speaker was Mike Conners, president of the TPTA. Last week I discussed my belief the APTA is too focused on issues, such as direct access, that do not affect the majority of PTs
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4 comments »
What About the Rest of Us?
Toni Patt
Last week, I went to a meeting of the Texas Physical Therapy Association Southeast District. Mike Conners, the TPTA president, was speaking. His topic was the future of physical therapy and increasing awareness of legislative action in the Texas congress.
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1 comments »
A Bridge from PTA to PT
Toni Patt
Last weekend I volunteered at the Texas Physical Therapy Association annual conference. I sat at the election table and verified membership numbers during the day. Later I helped count ballots. During the slow times, I spoke with one of the professors
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7 comments »
The PTA Student Who Only Wants to Do Orthopedics
Toni Patt
Last month we had a PTA student at my facility. The other PT was his CI because while schedule facilitates time at the barn, no one else wants to start work at 6 in the morning. From the beginning, the student made it clear he planned to work in an outpatient
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3 comments »
For Want of an Hour
Toni Patt
One of the PTAs I work with didn't meet her CEU requirement for license renewal. She found out Friday. A one-hour course she listed wasn't approved for credit in the state of Texas. She now has to pay a fine and do community service. Her initial response
Read More...
2 comments »
The New Manager
Toni Patt
The rehab director at my SNF is new. She took over the position about the same time I started the job. Whereas I've worked in many SNFs, this is her first management job and it shows. For the past few weeks, she has been making beginner mistakes. Most
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4 comments »
Having a Second Job
Toni Patt
In a recent blog for ADVANCE , Jason Marketti talks about having several per diem jobs to help him afford large purchases. That reminded me of when I used to do the same thing. I can remember when most of my coworkers worked a few extra days. No one did
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1 comments »
What Is a Physical Therapist Extender?
Toni Patt
Reading Jason Marketti's blog last week reminded me of a discussion we're having here in Texas. It's called RC-3 and is an amendment to the Texas Physical Therapy Practice Act. It proposes unlicensed individuals such as athletic trainers and massage therapists
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4 comments »
Specialization and Skill or Low Salary?
Toni Patt
Recently I've found myself looking at the available positions in Houston. I never thought I would be doing this again but here I am. Things have changed since I last looked. There are more jobs posted than previously. Salaries are higher. No one seems
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4 comments »
Legality Doesn't Make It Right
Toni Patt
Last week I ran across something I'd never seen or heard of before -- a therapist who doesn't write notes. I had 12 of his patients. All 12 were lacking daily notes. The papers were there where the notes would have been written. Times in and out were
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3 comments »
No Bridging the Gap
Toni Patt
One of our rehab techs is planning to apply to PTA school. He wants to eventually go to PT school and thought this would help him get accepted when the time came. He also thought it would cut down on the time it takes to get his DPT. He was more than
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11 comments »
Direct Access and the DPT
Toni Patt
Today I ate lunch with someone I hadn't seen in a while. He wanted to tell me about the new facility where he is working. Someone there recently earned a DPT. He said the rest of the staff was now fawning over the new DPT. He asked me what my facility
Read More...
2 comments »
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Office ergonomics are an essential component of the WCSU Safety and Illness Prevention Program. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has published proposed regulations which would mandate the type of equipment used in offices. The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services has established guidelines specifying operating parameters of office equipment. This policy applies to all office environments where computers are used. A representative from Environmental Health and Safety will conduct an ergonomic assessment of your work station and help you to make those changes necessary to promote healthy work habits.
Office Ergonomics Policy (pdf)
Ergonomic Furniture Standard & Information (pdf)
The Environmental Health and Safety Ergonomic Programs are presented in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, please download and install it from Adobe's web site.


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Rihanna received a naughty gift from edgy British design house Vivienne Westwood. The bad girl shared a photo on Instagram of the penis purse and then was seen out and about, carrying it in her hand.
We won't say anything about that crazy, colorful outfit she wore or that hideous mullet. The purse is way cooler anyway.
It's a long (ahem) clutch, made of leather, with a green-tinted, croc-skin like penis embossed on it. While Justin Timberlake had 'D—k in a Box,' Rihanna has a d—k on her bag.
She can carry her junk, like lip gloss and keys, in her, uh, junk bag. Thanks, we'll be here all week.
RiRi thanked folks at Vivienne Westwood and called them family. Maybe that's the long-rumored fashion endorsement at which she has hinted?
You can see the note from the brand in the background, revealing that this is a complimentary gift, even though Ri can afford such a pricy purse.
Whatever the case, RiRi's Instagram feed is officially X-rated with the posting of this purse.
Hey, at least she is not topless this time. That's getting old.


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New coach Bill O'Brien made it clear two weeks ago that the Houston Texans have a "wide open" competition at quarterback.
Now he's hinting that one of his four signal-callers won't make it through training camp.
"Anytime you have four, I don't think it's easy to divide the reps," O'Brien said Monday. "I think you can really get three guys reps in a practice, which is basically what we've been doing, and I know that's probably not the easiest thing for those guys.
"We haven't really talked about the roster yet as it relates to training camp. ... It's a very competitive situation."
Not only do O'Brien's comments seem to rule out any lingering possibility of a Ryan Mallett trade, they also suggest that either T.J. Yates or Case Keenum will not make the final roster.
Since O'Brien took over, the Texans have signed Ryan Fitzpatrick and drafted Tom Savage. Keenum and Yates are holdovers from the Gary Kubiak regime.
Keenum could be the Week 1 starter or the recipient of a visit from the Turk. That just about sums up the Texans' quarterback conundrum.
The latest Around The League Podcast picks the best receiver group in the NFL, and goes deep previewing the season with Bucky Brooks.


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I have the following code:
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TO 'email@example.com;
I am a beginner in mySQL, I was wondering if there is a method in which I can specific the privileges for every user in this domain network without having to type the above code for each user? %wildcard?
Also is there any method such as using a table where I can manage all the privileges of said users


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5.11 ATAC Tactical Flashlights
We've carried 5.11 Tactical products for several years here at KnifeCenter-until this point, it's been mostly tactical knives-but now they've added their new line of ATAC LED flashlights, and there's a lot to like!
Machined from aerospace-grade aluminum, ATAC flashlights are water-resistant, drop-resistant, and all but the PLx offer 3 lighting modes: high intensity (103-222 lumens depending on model), ultra-low intensity (10-15 lumens depending on model), and disorientation/strobe mode (high intensity).
Whether you use them on the battlefield, at the campsite, or around the house, these tough lights provide outstanding functionality at a great value! Check them out at www.knifecenter.com! Information on individual models below the break.
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17th Annual Symposium
in San Diego, California on Aug 27, 1999
I. Who we are... why we are doing this..
Introductions of Dr. Ruth W., neurologist, and Susan Wright, Policy Director of NCSF
We are presenting on "SM Issues for Healthcare Providers" because the same issues which may lead to inadequate health care for patients with non-mainstream sexual orientations or gender identity affect those who participate in sexual minority practices.
There are many questions related to physical or psychological health which patients may feel unable to ask because of fear of discrimination or of breach of confidentiality. As health care providers, we have a responsibility to be able to address these concerns without passing judgment.
An understanding of the basic principles of SM play enables us to fulfill this responsibility. In addition, it is important that we be able to identify when someone is in an abusive, non-consensual situation, and to provide them with appropriate support. This workshop will address the physical and psychological aspects of SM practices and provide an understanding of common scenarios.
II. Examples of questions Doctors may get
A 50 y/o man defers consulting his family physician about lower abdominal cramping associated with bowel movements because he is afraid the doctor will be able to tell he is into anal sex play and enemas, and that this may be related to his problem.
A 30 y/o woman gets a vaginal tear from fisting, which is continuing to bleed, but doesn't want to consult her doctor or got to the ER.
A 45 y/o man is left in bondage by a professional dominatrix for too long and develops numbness and weakness of both arms which does not resolve after a couple of days.
A 25 y/o woman newly diagnosed with MS is scared to explore her new interest in SM with her girlfriend, because she doesn't know how to ask her neurologist about what might be safe or dangerous for her to do.
The same issues which may lead to inadequate healthcare for patients with non-mainstream sexual orientation or gender identity affect those who participate in sexual minority practices. This includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals, folks who enjoy SM, who have body modifications such as piercings, tattoos, who crossdress, who are sex workers, who have multiple partners, who are transgendered or engage in fetish behavior.
There are many questions related to physical or psychological health which patients may feel unable to ask because fear of discrimination or of breach of confidentiality. Simple problems fester or become chronic. Patients are afraid to tell their doctors about their alternative sexual expression - even doctors they know are kink-friendly.
We are all unused to discussing sexuality in a neutral atmosphere and we are not given training to do it. In the LGBT community we are at an advantage, because sexuality is often more to the forefront than in the heterosexual community, but this certainly doesn't make us immune to being judgmental about practices outside our realm of experience. But precisely because of this reason I would argue that we have more of a responsibility to address issues related to alternative sexual practices.
Everyone deserves adequate health care, whether they are kinky or straight. As a prerequisite to good health care, the patient must trust their physician.
As healthcare providers we have a responsibility to be able to address these concerns without passing judgment. An understanding of the basic principles of SM play enables us fulfill this responsibility. In addition it is important that we be able to identify when someone is in an abusive situation and to provide them with appropriate support.
III. What is SM?
SM includes a broad and complex group of behaviors between consenting adults that involves the consensual exchange of power. This includes the giving and receiving of intense erotic sensation and/or mental discipline and power games.
SM activity is often called "playing" or having a "scene" because that is the way the SM-Leather-Fetish community approaches our form of sexual expression. Our equipment is often referred to as "toys". Like any other kind of game, we have rules we play by.
Individuals negotiate their limits prior to having a scene. Negotiation is ongoing; before, during and after the scene (what's known as "aftercare") to make sure the bottom is fine with what occurred. In our community, it's considered polite to check in with a bottom the day after the scene (or to request that they call you). This is usually more for the psychological issues that may have arisen rather than physical concerns.
SM does not feel like what it looks like. SM rests on a firm foundation of ongoing communication because most of what's going on is in the participants head. I'll use the term top and bottom, but it's also called dominant and submissive, or master and slave. SM is sometimes called D/S or BDSM or the practitioner may not identify or label their activities at all.
Contrary to popular stereotypes, the bottom is in control of the scene and can stop the activity at any time. Often people use a predetermined "safeword". This is a word or gesture that will stop the scene. At community events, the established safeword is "safeword," but individuals often have their own personal safeword, or some simply use "no" to mean "no." Sometimes people who are very submissive have trouble saying no, so a word like "red" is easy for them to say. Or some bottoms like to resist and say no, when they really mean yes, so they choose to have a safeword.
This community-wide standard was codified more than ten years ago in the creed: "safe, sane, consensual."
1. Safe is being knowledgeable about the techniques and safety concerns involved in what you are doing, and acting in accordance with that knowledge.
This includes protection against HIV, STDs, and hepatitis. It also includes notifying your partner of any physical condition that may impact on the scene, like asthma, bad back, epilepsy, etc. It also includes psychological safety, such as you were abused as a child and don't like a particular part of your body touched.
The community concerns itself with safety issues by supporting hundreds of educational and social organizations that teach people the proper way to use their equipment. Such as: how to tie wrists without putting pressure on the insides; how to properly clean equipment; which areas on the body are unsafe to stimulate, such as the face, joints, spine, bottoms of the feet.
2. Sane is knowing the difference between fantasy and reality, and acting in accordance with that knowledge.
Since physical acts has so much power, there are many fantasies that can be acted out by only hinting at the physical conditions someone fantasizes about. That's why our language is so symbolic: dungeon, slave, words of humiliation, or affectionate ownership. You may have to break through the fantasy to make sure your patient likes and wants what is happening.
Sane includes being of clear mind, and the community strongly recommends that mind-altering substances should be avoided during a scene, including alcohol, illegal drugs, and prescription drugs that impair judgment.
3. Consensual is respecting the limits imposed by each participant at all times. One of the recognized ways to maintain limits is through the "safeword" I mentioned. If it's nonconsensual, then it's abuse or assault. SM must be consensual.
To determine if informed consent has been reached, you can ask the following questions:
a) Was informed consent expressly denied or withdrawn? (similar to rape standards, if one of the participants withdraws consent during the activity, that must be respected)
b) Were there factors that negated the informed consent? (alcohol impairment, drug use, underage participants)
c) What is the relationship of the participants? (first encounter or long-term partner?)
d) What was the nature of the activity? (did it cause permanent harm, was it unsafe, was it enjoyable?)
e) What was the intent of the accused abuser? (to cause pleasure, to gain dominance, to gain control, to hurt?)
IV. SM vs Abuse
The community standard of safe, sane and consensual emerged from the growing national concern with domestic violence. SM is not domestic violence, but increasingly as SM gains wider mainstream acceptance, there are abusers who take advantage of men and women who enjoy SM. This makes it difficult for you, as a doctor who is required to report abuse.
If there are physical signs, you can usually judge by the marks:
1. SM rarely results in facial marks or marks that are received on the forearms (defensive marks).
2. There is usually an even pattern of marks if it is SM, indicating the bottom held quite still during the stimulation.
3. The marks are often quite well-defined when inflicted by a toy like cane or whip, whereas in abuse there are blotches of soft-tissue bruising, randomly distributed.
4. The common areas for SM stimulation is on the buttocks, thighs, back, breasts, or the genitals. The fleshy parts of the body can be stimulated intensely and pleasurably.
Questions to ask to determine if it is abuse. Whether an individual's role is top/dominant or bottom/submissive, they could be suffering abuse if they answer no to any of the following questions:
1. Are your needs and limits respected?
2. Is your relationship built on honesty, trust, and respect?
3. Are you able to express feelings of guilt or jealousy or unhappiness?
4. Can you function in everyday life?
5. Can you refuse to do illegal activities?
6. Can you insist on safe sex practices?
7. Can you choose to interact freely with others outside of your relationship?
8. Can you leave the situation without fearing that you will be harmed, or fearing the other participant(s) will harm themselves?
9. Can you choose to exercise self-determination with money, employment, and life decisions?
10. Do you feel free to discuss your practices and feelings with anyone you choose?
V. Intersections of SM and Healthcare
The role of Health Care Providers is to educate the patient to understand the medical problem. Give the patient the info to help determine what is safe, and what to do if there is a problem. If they don't know already, they should know to educate play partner(s).
1. When SM causes health problem (least common). An accurate report of activity is essential and requires trust from patient:
a) Fainting or dizziness
b) Bondage-related - causing nerve damage, joint strain, numbness
c) problems releasing retained rectal objects
2. When the patient wants advice on what is safe (pretty common). Much of this we can figure out from common medical knowledge (eg how long can vascular supply be cut off), but you may need expert advice on this from scene-friendly physicians:
a) extreme bondage (breast, genital)
b) play-piercing
c) breath control
d) anal play
e) nipple piercing and breast-feeding
3. When health problem inhibits a patient from full expression of sexuality. This is more straightforward, and involves educating patient about their disease:
a) MS: fatigue, overheating, numbness, coordination, sexual dysfunction,
b) CAD: HTN level of exertion,
c) Diabetes: avoiding hypoglycemia,
d) Asthma: need quick-release restraints, no chest or breath restraint,
e) Epilepsy: awareness of aura, what to do if seizure occurs,
f) LBP, arthritis: avoid putting strain upon joints (shouldn't do this anyway).
VI. Talking to your Patients about SM
1. Who is involved in SM?
You have patients involved in SM practice and you don't know it. One out of every ten Americans engages in diverse sexual behavior, yet the stigma against these millions of people means that these people aren't talking about their sexuality as it impacts on their health concerns.
How does a patient come out about SM activities to a healthcare provider? It may be that the provider simply notices piercings or marks or shaved skin. Don't ignore these signs--ask questions to ensure it is consensual SM. That will encourage your patient in turn to ask their health care questions. As you ask questions, never assume you know the kinky activity by a person's appearance.
As an added bonus, Doctors can benefit from being kink-aware because the SM community constantly talks to each other. They belong to support groups, women's groups, special interest groups, and word gets around. You could find you're getting many referrals if it's known that you don't pass judgment on their lifestyle.
2. Don't discriminate against SM practitioners.
It is imperative for you to be nonjudgmental. As a prerequisite to good health care, the patient must trust their physician. To create that trust, the HCP must be receptive. Patients are often inhibited from going to HCP in the first place because of embarrassment/fear of being judged or discriminated against. Many practitioners don't even tell their therapists much less their doctors.
You must be aware that there is REAL discrimination and persecution going on against SM practitioners. The analysis of the NCSF Violence and Discrimination Survey indicates that 1/3 of the respondents have suffered discrimination because of their SM practice, and another 1/3 have suffered attacks and harassment because of their SM practice. People lose their kids, their jobs, their spouses, and even suffer estrangement from family members because of the stigma. NCSF has received complaints from people who have been lectured by their doctors to stop what they are doing, or they were made to feel like they were wrong.
Just because you treat and understand a kinky patient, that's not the end of the road. Often you have to make referrals, and you will have to educate other HCP. This includes making them comfortable enough and knowledgeable enough to give quality medical care to the patient.
3. How do you talk about SM with your patient?
You as the Health Care Provider may be embarrassed about expression of sexuality in patient. Most of us are uncomfortable with discussing sexuality. Medical school doesn't address this issue, and our society is taught to treat sexuality as a joke or something to be avoided.
4 out of 5 of the people who participate in the organized SM community are closeted at work or with their friends and family. Some don't even tell their primary partner about the SM activities they engage in. This can cause problems for the doctor when the patient hems and haws and doesn't ask their real question until your hand is on the door knob. It can take up extra time you don't have. So be sensitive to hints and tentative probes - it may be up to you to help them discuss their activities and how it might be adversely affecting their health.
Remember that your patients have had no experience talking about this in the way that you require. They may provide too much information about their personal desires and explain their sexual encounters in ways that are embarrassing to you. They aren't trying to shock you - they are simply sharing in the way they've learned through SM support and educational groups. You can gently help them stay on track by asking questions and keeping the dialogue moving.
VII. Conclusion
We are here because we want to be able to address these needs of our patients, as they can have deep impact upon level of healthcare sought and given. Patients have a right to this. If we don't feel comfortable we should refer to someone else, and not at patient's emotional expense. As LGBT Health Care Providers, I feel we are better equipped to deal with these issues because our sexuality is a more prominent factor in our identity, and we should have more empathy for those who feel marginalized because of sexual practices.
We don't have all the info about what the patients' needs are, and they may not tell, or even anticipate all of their activities, and they don't have the medical information to make decisions about safety.
How we can appear non-judgmental:
a) Ask about sexual partners/activities when taking medical history
b) Be very careful about judgmental language and use open ended questions.
c) Ask patient to define terms used rather than making assumptions.
VIII. Open up for questions


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Pacers rout Hawks, take series lead
Indianapolis, IN – The Indiana Pacers came back home and reasserted themselves in the paint.
Now they just need to figure out a way to do that in Atlanta.
David West had 24 points, while Paul George added 21 points and 10 rebounds in the Pacers' 106-83 rout of the Hawks in Game 5 of this Eastern Conference first-round series.
West went 11-of-16 from the field and George missed just one shot over eight tries. Roy Hibbert finished with 18 points and nine boards for the Pacers, who will try to wrap up the series in Atlanta Friday where they have dropped 13 straight dating back to 2006.
"I don't think it's just about how we're playing in that building versus this building," Indiana head coach Frank Vogel said. "I think there's been a series of moves in this series where you play a game and something works and something doesn't work You make an adjustment. Give (Hawks head coach) Larry Drew credit, he changed the series a little bit down there."
Once the series shifted south, Hawks head coach Larry Drew made the decision to start Johan Petro at center. That moved Al Horford to power forward and Josh Smith to the three-spot. Kyle Korver went to the bench and the big lineup worked.
In the two tilts at Philips Arena, the Pacers shot 27 percent and 38 percent, respectively, from the field.
Indiana, though, got back to playing its game on Wednesday. The Pacers shot 50.7 percent (35-of-69) from the floor, outrebounded Atlanta by a commanding 51-28 margin and won the points in the paint battle by a 36-28 spread.
Al Horford and Josh Smith netted 14 points apiece for Atlanta, which has dropped seven of its last eight in Indianapolis.
"With us losing our composure we totally got into a me, me, me state. We took a lot of ill-advised shots. One thing compounded the other," Drew said.
The Hawks led 22-21 after a quarter of play, but Indiana began to seize control of the contest in the second.
Smith split a pair of free throws to give Atlanta a 31-28 advantage, but West went on a personal 8-0 tear to put Indiana ahead. He began the flurry with a pair of layups before knocking down back-to-back jumpers for a 36-31 Pacers edge a little past the midway point of the frame.
West was 6-of-7 for 12 points in the stanza as the hosts took a 50-43 cushion into the break.
An 11-2 Pacers run during the middle stages of the third put them comfortably in front. George Hill, who capped the swing with a jumper, had six points, while George added the other five during the surge, which propelled Indy to a 68-48 advantage.
The Pacers held an 81-67 lead after three and the margin peaked at 27 in the final stanza.
Game Notes
All five games in the set have been decided by double figures ... Since moving to Atlanta in 1968, the Hawks are 21-85 in postseason road games ... Hill had 15 points and 10 assists ... Devin Harris tallied 13 points for Atlanta ... The Hawks shot 33.3 percent (25-of-75) from the field.


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1992-93 featured unprecedented offensive explosionby Dan Rosen
The offensive numbers from the 1992-93 season are staggering compared to today's National Hockey League, a game that is considered faster and even more thrilling than it was 20 years ago.
"I'll say this -- the goaltending wasn't as good," Brendan Shanahan told NHL.com. "The coaching wasn't as thorough as it is now."
He might be on to something.
For proof, check out these stats and facts:
* A record 21 players scored at least 100 points during the 1992-93 NHL season. The Pittsburgh Penguins employed four of them. Wayne Gretzky was not one of them for the first time in his career.
* A record 14 players scored at least 50 goals, including seven who never reached that milestone again. Pierre Turgeon and Mark Recchi did it for the only time in their careers. Shanahan's 51 goals didn't even put him in the top 10.
* Teams combined to average 7.25 goals per game, a total that has not been approached since then.
* Eleven of the 24 teams had a power play that scored at least 20 percent of the time; by comparison, three of the 30 teams were at 20 percent or better in 2011-12.
* The League-leading 282 goals that Pittsburgh scored last season would have been tied for 18th in 1992-93, when the Detroit Red Wings led the NHL with 369 and the Hartford Whalers, a team that won all of 26 games, scored 284.
* Fifteen teams scored 300 or more goals in 1992-93, compared with zero last season.
* Pavel Bure's 110 points, good for 13th in 1992-93, would have been enough to lead the NHL in scoring in each of the past two seasons.
"It does go to show you how much better the League is now and has evolved," Adam Oates, who was third with 142 points in '92-93, told NHL.com. "I wanted 100 assists but I ended up with 97. It was a pretty magical year."
But don't all these glaring numbers make you wonder why -- as in why was there such an abundance of offense in one season 20 years ago and why have we seen anything like it only once since, in 2005-06?
There were 7,311 goals scored in 1,008 games in 1992-93, opposed to the 7,443 goals scored in 1,230 games in 2005-06 -- when the NHL returned from a work stoppage with stricter rules on obstruction that led to an average of 480 power-play opportunities per team, 37 more than teams averaged over 84-game schedules in 1992-93.
LaFontaine's line was something specialBy Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer
During the 1992-93 season, Pat LaFontaine set a single-season record for American-born players with 148 points while teaming with Alexander Mogilny and Dave Andreychuk to form a lethal unit. READ MORE ›
"Teams weren't necessarily playing a trap or a 1-2-2 at that time and there is so much more emphasis put on defense and playing a defensive game all over the ice [in today's NHL]," said Hall of Fame center Steve Yzerman, who was fourth in the NHL with 137 points in 1992-93. "And goaltenders are just way better compared to 20 years ago. The equipment, athleticism, size -- they're better.
"Eighty-four games, two expansion teams, not as good goaltending and not as good defense or emphasis [on defense] -- you can put it all together for more offense."
Yzerman raises several interesting points, but specifically the two hard facts he mentions -- the 84-game schedule each team played in 1992-93 and the birth of the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning -- appear to have plenty to do with why there was so much offense that season.
The fact that there were at minimum 128 more games played than in any season prior matters as it allowed for more goals.
The stats also suggest that those added games -- all 252 that involved the Senators, Lightning and San Jose Sharks, who had come into existence in 1991 -- led to a flurry of offense.
San Jose, Ottawa and Tampa Bay combined to give up 1,141 goals in 1992-93. Not surprisingly, the three expansion teams combined to win only 44 games, including 23 by the Lightning -- a resounding success considering the Sharks won only 11 and the Senators just 10.
"It was a long year," Jamie Baker, a center on the 1992-93 Senators, told NHL.com. "We didn't think we were going to be good, but we didn't think we were going to be that bad."
The top five scorers in 1992-93 feasted on the expansion teams to the tune of more than two points per game.
Mario Lemieux, who led the League with 160 points despite playing just 60 games, had 18 points in a combined five games against Ottawa, San Jose and Tampa Bay. Pat LaFontaine, second with 148 points, had 27 points in 11 games against the three teams, and Oates had 23 points in the same amount of games.
Yzerman had 28 points in 13 games against Ottawa, San Jose and Tampa Bay. Turgeon had 15 points in seven games.
"Some of the expansion teams made the mistake early on of trying to go after players on other teams that were older, established, maybe brought a bit of a marquee name but were past their prime," Shanahan said. "Sometimes those teams were easy to play against. Sometimes those players were either on the back nine of their careers or even the 19th hole. The teams were trying to get established, trying to accumulate draft picks, but they wanted to have some names for fans to come see."
Adding insult to the defenses and goaltending in 1992-93 was the sheer number of power-play opportunities (an average of 443 per team) and the success of the power plays (an average of 19.57 percent).
The Buffalo Sabres, with a combined 79 power-play goals from Dave Andreychuk, Alexander Mogilny and LaFontaine, finished just 10th in the League with a 20.34-percent power play.
The average amount of power plays per team topped 400 twice between 1992-93 and 2005-06. It has dropped precipitously since, down to 271 last season.
"That season [1992-93] might have been the year where there were going to be more calls on the clutching and grabbing and I think there might have been a little more power plays earlier," LaFontaine told NHL.com. "We thrived on the power play that year. It was an offensive year and there wasn't any slowing it down because if you tried, you were sent to the box."
Shanahan also thinks television -- or more specifically, the lack of modern-day technology that is now available to all coaches, players, scouts, managers, media, etc. -- had a lot to do with why there were so many bloated offenses in 1992-93.
"You knew the players, but I don't know if the pre-scouting was at the same level," he said. "When you'd get into a playoff series you would really pre-scout a team and know where the scorers went, but in a full NHL season, where you're playing three or four games a week, you just didn't have the ability to scout a team like you can now, when all the games are televised.
"You would go home on your off nights and there really weren't a lot of nationally televised games. There wasn't a hockey package that you could flip on and watch any team. You read the stat sheet. So I would say it was an advantage to the offensive players because, as we know, a coach's ability to coach defense and to check has made it a lot tougher to score [in today's NHL].
"It was all sort of word of mouth [20 years ago], because you didn't have the ability to watch all these other teams play, and that probably helped the offensive players."
Shanahan also pointed to how limited depth hurt defenses across the League.
"I remember guys like Pat LaFontaine and Alex Mogilny, you didn't roll four lines [against them]. You'd roll sort of two lines, they'd insert the third line a little bit and the fourth line sometimes got a shift a period depending on who you were playing, the style of game," he said. "I had buddies on the fourth line that would complain because they got one or two shifts a game. There wasn't that, 'Let's roll four,' so as an offensive player, if you got on a bit of a roll, you'd touch the puck a lot, feel good and get more points.
"If you're going with a shorter bench, you don't have the energy to backcheck with that same intensity, so there was a lot more time to pull up, slow down, crisscross and get some more offense. I don't know the exact numbers, but the top three or four offensive guys on every team were probably playing 25-35 minutes a night -- and that certainly made it a lot easier [to score]."
It's also possible that, for whatever reason, the goaltending just wasn't good enough that season.
"It was all sort of word of mouth [20 years ago], because you didn't have the ability to watch all these other teams play, and that probably helped the offensive players."
-- Brendan Shanahan on the offensive firepower on display in 1992-93
Felix Potvin and Eddie Belfour were the only goalies to play more than 25 games in 1992-93 and finish with goals-against averages less than 3.00; 40 goalies had a sub-3.00 GAA last season, including five who were below 2.00.
Curtis Joseph, Potvin, Belfour, Tom Barrasso and John Vanbiesbrouck were the only goalies who played at least 25 games and stopped at least 90 percent of the shots they faced; 41 goalies had a save percentage of .900 or better last season.
"I remember the goals and all the points, and I don't know if it was just the amount of talent that there was offensively or if the goalies were just poor that year," Hall of Fame forward Dino Ciccarelli, one of the 25 players who scored at least 40 goals in 1992-93, told NHL.com. "I really don't know. It's just one of those things where everything came together with so many offensive guys.
"It just seemed like you were not going to win games 3-1 or 4-2; you had to score a lot more goals and every team responded to that."
Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl


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Are you ready to gamble? What are the stakes when you choose Aftermarket Parts vs. Genuine FISHER® parts? When it comes to purchasing service parts and accessories for your snow plow, tailgate or hopper spreader, there may be options to purchase a similar part or accessory from an aftermarket supplier for a lower price. "Is the higher price of the Factory Original service part or accessory supplied by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) justified by the value delivered?" is typically the most important question that comes up when considering options. Similarly, "Does a lower cost part or accessory mean lesser quality?" and "Are there certain situations where you should only use OEM parts and accessories?"
We will compare and contrast the pros and cons of both types to help answer these questions.
Original Equipment Manufacturer parts and accessories are a direct replacement for your particular product. They were designed, tested and engineered for their specific purpose. They are manufactured and sourced from the same means as the original product and, for all intents and purposes, are the same part or accessory.
EASIER TO CHOOSE YOUR PART: If you go into your preferred dealer and ask for a OEM part or accessory at the counter, they will get you that item and you can have peace of mind knowing it will fit, perform and function as designed for your snow plow or spreader. Manufacturers also provide parts diagrams and other supporting documentation to ensure you are ordering and receiving the correct part or accessory.
GREATER ASSURANCE OF QUALITY: The OEM part or accessory should work exactly like the one you are replacing or adding because, in most cases, it is the exact part or accessory that either came standard on the product or when purchased new. It was designed and manufactured to an exact specification for the purpose it was intended. As a result, product performance is fully restored.
COMES WITH A WARRANTY: OEM manufacturers back their products with a one-year or two-year warranty. In addition, the service part or accessory will not void or adversely affect any other warranties with the product.
AVAILABILITY: Dealerships generally maintain a stocking inventory of most common service parts and accessories, so they are ready and available for purchase.
SUPPORT: The OEM provides training to dealers to ensure their product knowledge. They offer technical and ordering support to help resolve any issue that may arise. Many dealerships offer extended hours during events or emergency contact information.
PRICE: Due to the additional value delivered, OEM parts and accessories may cost more than their aftermarket counterpart. This can be driven by the quality of the product, manufacturing costs, maintaining higher inventory levels to ensure availability, or to help offset the costs associated with engineering, testing and designing the products.
POINT OF SALE: OEM parts and accessories are sold through a network of dealers. Even though there are other ways of purchasing OEM parts and accessories, most people choose to purchase from their preferred dealer. This limits the number of places to buy, but also may enhance the service provided and ensure support is available if needed.
An aftermarket part or accessory is any part or accessory that may fit your plow, tailgate or hopper spreader that is not sourced from the original factory manufacturer. These parts and accessories have not been designed specifically for the product or tested to ensure performance and, as a result, may void the original factory warranty. Electric and hydraulic aftermarket parts in particular may alter the overall operation of the equipment from its original design and intent.
LESS EXPENSIVE: Aftermarket parts and accessories are generally less expensive than OEM parts and accessories. The amount you save may depend on your particular dealer and region. If the price seems too good to be true, inquire about the quality of the product.
QUALITY CAN BE SIMILAR OR EQUAL TO OEM: In some cases you may end up with a part or accessory of similar quality as the original, but this can be difficult to determine.
AVAILABILITY: In some cases, the parts and accessories may be very common. Many outlets are available because they may be applicable to many different applications or manufacturers. You may find them available at automotive parts stores, hardware stores or other outlets, as well as online.
QUALITY VARIES GREATLY: The old saying, "you get what you pay for" is generally true. Aftermarket parts and accessories may use inferior quality materials and may not be to the original specification. Often there is little or no testing to ensure consistent performance with the associated brand product.
DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS: Aftermarket parts and accessories may "do the job" or fit in the required space. Often they are not truly built to the exact specifications designed by the original manufacturer who developed and tested the product to serve a specific purpose and perform at a specific level of quality.
SUPPORT: Aftermarket parts and accessories often come with less support. Documentation is often generic in nature and not specific to the application. Installation or troubleshooting assistance may not be available should there be a question or problem.
WARRANTY: To keep costs down, aftermarket parts and accessories may be sold with a lesser or without warranty. In some instances, it could even void the original factory warranty on your snow plow or spreader.
Ultimately the decision is up to you and the variables may not remain constant for all parts and accessories. If the part or accessory directly impacts the performance of the snowplow, tailgate or hopper spreader, then more significant consideration should be given to the OEM part or accessory. Additionally, the more complex the part or accessory, the higher the level of engineering and testing involved. In general, the more separation created between the aftermarket and the original the decision greatly shifts in favor of the OEM.
Remember, not all aftermarket parts and accessories are created equal, but all OEM parts and accessories are. If you don't mind paying a little extra for peace of mind, purchasing OEM parts and accessories are the right decision for you.


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Play audio from nearly any device with the pair of steel Kanto Living YU6 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speakers. They feature an RCA, 1/8" mini, and two optical TOSLINK inputs, plus built-in Bluetooth for wireless connectivity. The RCA input can function as either a line-level or phono input via a rear-mounted switch, and a ground terminal is onboard to attach to your turntable. A 5V USB port is also built-in to keep your phone charged during playback. Each speaker has a 5.25" Kevlar woofer and a 1" silk dome tweeter to produce a total RMS output of up to 100W. An IR remote is included, along with speaker wire and an 1/8" AUX cable for instant connectivity.
This item is only available on GameStop.com and our stores are unable to issue a refund. Please do not return this item to your local GameStop store. To return this product please refer to the instructions included on the packing slip that will be shipped with this item.
Pro Price


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New Louis Vuitton Biface Bag Size And Price GuideCategories:Louis Vuitton
The Louis Vuitton Biface Bag we will talk about today is the newest model bag for Fall Winter 2014 Collection for the french luxury brand line. From it's name, we knew the handbag got two-faces. It is not the first time launched by Louis Vuitton, but in a classic model can been choose for the Holiday season.
Same in Two-faces features, we also can be find the Louis Vuitton Capucines Tote Bag which in an extremely elegant and glamorous handbags which always been the popular bags.
Related: Louis Vuittaon Capucines Tote
However, the New Biface LV Bags looks similar but styled in a different way which can be carried at all times for all occasions. On one side the iconic S-Lock, on the other a secure buckle, Either side represents versatility in its purest form. More New Bags available choose from Cheap LV Bags!
Here is the detailed Features for LV Biface Bags:
- Adjustable and removable shoulder strap
- Golden brass metallic pieces
- Calf velour lining
- 1 interior flat pocket and 1 interior zipped pocket in S-Lock compartment
- 1 exterior pocket 1 interior flat pocket on buckle compartment
Louis Vuitton Biface Bag with silver brass metallic pieces
Size: 8.7′ x 6.3′ x 2.8′
Price: $6050 USD and €4100 euro's
Louis Vuitton Biface Bag with golden metallic pieces
Size: 8.7′ x 6.3′ x 2.8′
Price: $4250 USD and €2880 euro's
Tags: Louis Vuitton bag Biface


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Apr 27, 2007
April 27, 2007
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara women's basketball program has set dates for its Summer 2007 basketball camps and clinics. Head coach Mark French, the Gaucho coaching staff, and UCSB players will offer four different camps this summer, beginning with the Basketball at the Beach camp June 23-24. Below is a list of this year's camps.
Basketball at the Beach/June 23-24
Team Camp/June 25-28
Elite Camp/August 18-19
Day Camp/August 20-24
Note: All camps are held on the UCSB campus.


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I have an Asus RT-N12 router with wifi available. For the last 2-3 years I've been running it with the wifi disabled (or at least i hope it was) since I didn't have any notable wireless tech.
Now I do! And I'd like to be able to use this modern wizardry! But I am having pain because I am decreasingly competent with crap the older I get.
Here's the router's main wireless tab. So far so good, or have I screwed up already? Where else should I be checking for things? (SSID and WPA key deleted for obvious reasons.)
In case of unreadability:
SSID - [yes, I put one in]
Hide SSID - No
Wireless mode - N only ("b/g protection" is unchecked)
Channel bandwidth - 20/40 Mhz
Control channel - Auto
Extension channel - Auto
Authentication method - WPA2-Personal
WPA encryption - AES
WPA pre-shared key - [there's a password in this field]
Newtwork key rotation interval - 360


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Short Breaks & Holidays in the Algarve
Drenched in culture and history, with golden sands that stretch over 100 miles, short breaks to the Algarve can provide the perfect getaway whatever your style. With our wide variety of flights and hotels in the Algarve, we're sure to have something for anyone who's … Read more
About Algarve Breaks
Algarve Breaks Highlights
The Algarve stretches 200km along the southern coast of Portugal. Overlooking the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic Ocean to the west, the wonderful climate gives guests booking flights and hotels in the Algarve the chance for a perfect holiday experience all year round. Nature trails, theme parks, golf courses and water-sports are all highlights of what our Algarve short breaks can offer. Whether you're looking for a private cove to relax in away from the crowds, or a vast stretch of beach to join in the many cosmopolitan parties, over 100 miles of beach means you're sure to find your ideal spot.
Guests looking for winter sun breaks to Portugal need look no further than the choice of our 29 wonderful 2-4 star accommodation options. From apartments on the golf courses of Villamoura like the Apartamento Do Golf, to hotels in the centre of Albufeira including Vila Recife, we'll have something to make your Algarve beach break perfect. Visitors wanting to start their holiday as soon as they land can rest assured that Faro Airport's central location is within reasonable transfer distances to all resorts, and only a three hour flight from London. For rest and relaxation, nothing beats our Algarve short breaks.
Algarve Breaks Inspiration
1. Head to Slide&Splash, one of Europe's biggest water parks for a perfect for a family day out
2. Relax on one of the finest beaches in the Algarve, Falesia Beach
3. Algarve Boat Tours are the best way to see how beautiful the Algarve truly is
1. For great cabaret shows and evening entertainment visit the Algarve Casino
2. Albufeira Old Town by Road Train is the perfect way to sample the traditional and charming town
3. Take an evening stroll on Praia da Rocha Strip
Other Beach Holidays you might like
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