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MFSA Privacy Notice
This Privacy Notice provides information on the processing of personal data by the Malta Financial Services Authority ("MFSA") in connection with its statutory functions, employment obligations and procurement procedures as explained hereunder.
Data Controller
The MFSA is the controller of personal data in terms of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation – "the GDPR") and the Data Protection Act (Chapter 586 of the Laws of Malta – "the DPA").
The MFSA ensures that personal data are processed in accordance with the GDPR, the DPA and any other relevant European Union ("EU") and national law. The MFSA ensures inter alia the confidentiality and security of such personal data.
The MFSA is situated at Notabile Road, Attard BKR 3000.
Processing of Personal Data for Regulatory, Supervisory and Related Purposes
The MFSA processes personal data to perform its functions under the Malta Financial Services Authority Act (Chapter 330 of the Laws of Malta), and any other relevant EU and national law.
These functions include:
– Regulating, monitoring and supervising financial services in Malta;
– Promoting the general interests and legitimate expectations of consumers of financial services, and promoting fair competition practices and consumer choice in financial services;
– Monitoring and keeping under review trading and business practices relating to the supply of financial services to private and other persons, and providing relevant information and guidance to the public;
– Monitoring the working and enforcement of laws that directly or indirectly affect consumers of financial services in Malta;
– Investigating allegations of practices and activities detrimental to consumers of financial services, generally keeping under review trading practices relating to the provision of financial services, and identifying and taking measures to suppress and prevent any practices which may be unfair, harmful or otherwise detrimental to consumers of financial services;
– Processing applications of individuals for the exercise of Article 56(21) of the Income Tax Act (Chapter 123 of the Laws of Malta) and, consequently, for a formal determination relating to eligibility under the Highly Qualified Persons Rules.
The MFSA also processes personal data for the purposes of regulation and surveillance of financial markets and investigation of the activities of unauthorised providers of financial services. To this end, the MFSA may process personal data of individuals, who may or may not be connected with financial services providers, for the purposes of identification of possible risks or threats to financial markets or to the stability of the financial system, and to take the appropriate policy or other action as may be required in this regard.
The MFSA processes personal data of:
– "Fitness and properness" applicants, that is, individuals applying to the MFSA for approval to perform a role or be a qualified shareholder or be a controller within a regulated financial services provider. Such individuals are required to submit a Personal Questionnaire ("PQ"). The personal data the MFSA collects are used for the purposes of the application process, which includes a due diligence process and the "fitness and properness" test to assess the suitability of the applicant to perform the respective role;
-The European Central Bank ("ECB") is responsible for assessing the fitness and properness of the Management Board of all credit institutions applying for authorisation and also key function holders of significant credit institutions. The MFSA transmits such applications to the ECB for assessment in accordance with Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 (the SSM Regulation);
– Individuals connected to financial services providers including shareholders, directors, employees and clients of financial services providers, and any related third parties, in connection with its regulation of financial services providers and markets. The MFSA processes such personal data for various reasons including the authorisation and ongoing supervision of regulated financial services providers;
– The MFSA uploads personal data as necessary in its Financial Services Register and Licence Holder Portal following approval of the entity's / individual's application. Regulated financial services providers may also provide personal data to the MFSA in connection with the submission of regulatory returns or other information required by the MFSA;
– Applicants for the exercise of Article 56(21) of the Income Tax Act and, consequently, for a formal determination relating to eligibility under the Highly Qualified Persons Rules. The personal data the MFSA gathers is used for the purposes of the application process, which includes a due diligence process, or the "fitness and properness" test, and to make a formal determination in regard to eligibility under the Highly Qualified Persons Rules;
– If the individual's application for the exercise of Article 56(21) of the Income Tax Act is successful and he or she will be eligible under the Highly Qualified Persons Rules, his or her personal data will be transferred to the Inland Revenue Department;
– Individuals investigated by the MFSA where a concern arises that a breach of financial services law has been, or is being, committed. The purpose of such investigations is to allow the gathering of sufficient information to enable the MFSA to determine inter alia whether any breach of financial services law has occurred and whether the imposition of sanctions may be appropriate.
The provision of personal data arises from statutory requirements. Where applicable, failure of the provision thereof will prevent the MFSA from considering the individual and / or the entity's application.
Most of the personal data the MFSA will hold will have been provided by the individual concerned but some personal data may be obtained from a third party. In those instances where personal data are not obtained from the individual in question, the latter will be informed of the categories of personal data collected and the source from which the personal data originate, unless the provisions of Article 14(5) and Article 23 of the GDPR are applicable.
Processing of Personal Data when Calling the MFSA
The MFSA may collect personal data through the recording of calls made by data subjects to the Communications function on the following numbers: Freephone 80074924 or +356 2548 5700 (foreign calls). When calling these numbers the data subjects' call will be automatically recorded for quality, training and security purposes. Should any personal data be disclosed in such calls, the personal data shall be anonymised and such anonymised data may, in certain circumstances, be used for statistical purposes. The MFSA shall ensure that any personal data contained in any call recordings shall be removed prior to being used for quality and training purposes by its employees.
Processing of Personal Data in connection with Protected Disclosure Reports
Any information including personal data received from a whistleblower by the MFSA, which information is considered as a protected disclosure, may be used by the MFSA for the purpose of performing its statutory functions. The MFSA is legally obliged to protect the identity of an individual who makes a protected disclosure and not to disclose any information that might identify that individual as provided by the Protection of the Whistleblower Act, 2013 (Chapter 527 of the Laws of Malta).
Processing of Personal Data for Recruitment Purposes
The MFSA collects personal data from candidates for recruitment purposes. The MFSA needs to process personal data in order to decide whether to enter into a contract of employment with a particular candidate and may also process certain data to ensure that it is complying with its legal obligations. The MFSA has a legitimate interest in processing personal data during the recruitment process and in keeping records of the process in order to manage the recruitment process, assess and confirm a candidate's suitability for employment, and decide to whom to offer a particular role. The MFSA may also need to process candidates' data to respond to and defend itself against legal disputes.
In assessing the candidate's suitability for the role, the MFSA may contact third parties for information, however, this shall only be done once consent has been obtained from the candidate prior to contact. In all other cases, the MFSA will not share a candidate's data with third parties, unless his or her application for employment is successful and an offer of employment is made to him or her. In those instances where the MFSA processes personal data which have not been obtained from the candidate in question, he or she will be informed of the categories of personal data collected and the source from which the personal data originate unless the provisions of Article 14(5) and Article 23 of the GDPR are applicable.
Processing of Personal Data for the Tendering and Supply of Goods or Services
The MFSA may process personal data submitted by tenderers to manage procurement award procedures and decide whether to enter into a contract with a particular tenderer. Personal data collected for this purpose may relate to the tenderer, its staff or its sub-contractors. Following finalisation of the procurement procedure in question and the entry into a contract with the chosen supplier(s), the MFSA may process the personal data in order to perform its contractual obligations.
Processing of Personal Data included in the Contact Form
Any information collected in the 'Get in Touch' section of our website shall be processed solely by the MFSA and its staff as may be necessary to provide you with the necessary information relating to your request and to answer any of your queries.
Retention Periods of Personal Data
The MFSA retains personal data obtained in relation to its supervisory function for at least ten years from date of receipt of such data.
In case of fitness and properness-related information, the MFSA holds personal data for a period of twenty-five years after the individual's relationship with the MFSA has been terminated and no longer occupies a role within a financial services provider authorised by the MFSA.
The MFSA retains all information obtained in connection with an investigation, including a market abuse investigation, for a period of fifteen years after the case is closed.
In addition, the MFSA retains information provided by whistleblowers for a period of fifteen years after any related case is closed.
In cases of recruitment, if a candidate's application is unsuccessful, the MFSA may keep his or her personal data for a period of five years following the conclusion of the recruitment exercise.
In cases of call recordings, data shall be retained for a period of 15 days from date call has been made.
Furthermore, the MFSA retains files relating to procurement procedures for a period of six years following the closure thereof. The MFSA may retain procurement contracts signed with individuals or containing personal contact details related to the execution of a contract for a period that is longer than six years depending on the nature of the contract.
Disclosure of Personal Data
Other than as aforementioned, the MFSA will only disclose personal data to third parties if it is legally obliged to do so or where it is necessary in view of the application, due diligence, investigation, recruitment and procurement processes.
Third parties are generally regulators, public authorities and law enforcement agencies situated in other European Economic Area ("EEA") Member States or in countries outside of the EEA. The MFSA will only transfer personal data outside the EEA if permitted by the GDPR, DPA or any other relevant EU or national law.
Individuals' Rights
In terms of the GDPR and the DPA, an individual may request from the MFSA access to and rectification of personal data, and, in certain circumstances, has:
– The right for erasure of personal data;
– The right for restriction of the processing;
– The right to object to the processing of the personal data;
– The right to data portability.
Such requests may be made in writing to the MFSA's Data Protection Officer on any of the details indicated hereunder. In addition, an individual has a right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Information and Data Protection Commissioner in Malta (www.idpc.gov.mt).
Contact Details of the Data Protection Officer
The Data Protection Officer may be contacted by:
– E-mail at [email protected];
– Phone on (356) 21441155;
– Postal mail at Malta Financial Services Authority, Notabile Road, Attard BKR 3000.
Changes to this Privacy Notice
If there are any changes to this Privacy Notice, the MFSA will replace this page with an updated version. Therefore, it is in one's own interest to check the "Privacy Notice" page in order to be aware of any changes which may occur from time to time.


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PHAI Online - The Public Health Advocacy Institute
PHAI's Gottlieb discusses litigation as an approach to reduce childhood obesity at Institute of Medicine Workshop
October 27th, 2010
On October 21, 2010, the Institute of Medicine's Standing Committee on Childhood Obesity Prevention hosted a one-day workshop to examine "Legal Strategies in Childhood Obesity Prevention."
Mark Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, presented on a panel moderated by UC Berkeley law professor Stephen Sugarman entitled "Using Litigation to Make Change." Gottlieb's presentation focused on the underutilized legal tool of state consumer protection laws to stop unfair and deceptive practices that seek to sell junk foods and beverages to kids.
Michael Jacobson from the Center for Science in the Public Interest then discussed the litigation and litigation threats that his organization has been using for policy change.
The final panelist was Joseph Price, an attorney with Faegre and Benson in Minneapolis that defends the food industry. His presentation was critical of the use of litigation to fight childhood obesity and took time to focus on PHAI's President, Dick Daynard, as well as those who seek to fight obesity who, themselves, are overweight or obese.
All of the proceedings are available via the archived webcast and the litigation panel can be seen here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Adios, VAU Gaming!
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
After a long, wild ride of supplying and supporting incredible services at affordable prices to the international gaming communities. We ("VAU Networks Ltd") have made the executive decision to suspend all future gaming services and provisions through VAU Gaming for the immediate foreseeable future.
We understand this may have come to a shock to many of you, this was not a decision that has been taken lightly. We must state that we may reconsider re-generating the gaming side at a later date (Still to confirm). Through the 5 Years of actively operating VAU Gaming as a subsidiary to VAU Networks Ltd. We are incredibly appreciative of the clients we have supported during this time period and the experience that we have gained as a result!
During the end of year (2018) VAU Networks Ltd board meeting. The company structure and products were reviewed and it was deemed viable to follow through with the action of disbanding VAU Gaming for the foreseeable future to enable us to focus more on the main brand. If you are a client of VAU Gaming, you do not have to worry. Your account has been automatically converted to a legacy account and we will continue to supply services and billing as normal. As for the future clients, we apologise that we have suspended actively providing these services. However, We will be continuing to actively provision TeamSpeak servers on our main website VAU Networks.
VAU Networks Team« Voltar


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For the next three days, I will be perched on the narrow ledge of frozen rock that juts out into Lake Michigan north of
After toughing that out, it ought to be downhill until spring, wot? And the weather reports are calling for clouds on Friday. Hmmm. No shadows. Nice.
Life's been hectic of late and my wife and I will head up into the frozen north from home base near
We'll see how the camera works in those temperatures on Saturday. We'll see how the Bears work in the temperatures of Miami on Sunday.
Click on picture to enlarge. Photograph © 2007 James Jordan.
The name's James A couple of weeks ago I posted a chart that estimated how many people in the


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Laing & Buisson is the UK's foremost and most highly regarded provider of information and market intelligence on the independent health, community care and childcare sectors.
The Independent Healthcare Awards, now in their 6th year, were established to highlight a range of achievements within the independent health and care sector and to pay tribute to those teams that have demonstrated excellence in their particular fields. The Hazlewoods Health and Care team beat off strong competition from a number of International accounting and advisory firms to win the accolade. The team were in good company, with winners including, amongst others, BUPA, Spire Healthcare and Knight Frank.
Left to right: Paul Birley (Barclays Bank), Andrew Brookes, Partner and Head of Hazlewoods Health and Care Team, Gyles Brandreth


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Welcome to the Dreamscape Solutions Support Centre
Please use the links below to raise new tickets or to see a historical archive of your support usage.
Remember, you can also raise a support ticket by emailing email@example.com.
Dreamscape Solutions Ltd.
Orchard View, Laskey Farm, Laskey Lane, Lymm Road, Thelwall, Cheshire. WA4 2TF
Tel: 01925 755 960
Fax: 0845 862 7775
Support: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: www.dreamscape-design.co.uk
Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8.00am – 5:30pm
Friday: 8:00am - 12:30pm
Company Number: 05834564
VAT Reg Number: 887758148
D-U-N-S Number: 21-790-0606
Registered Office: 1st Floor, 264 Manchester Road, Warrington, WA1 3RB
Company Directors: Mr B M McCabe & Mr N J Riley


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It's Time To Reboot!
September means it's officially time to get excited about your new winter wardrobe, and what better way to start than with a brand spanking new ankle boot?!
If you wanna rock a shiny pair, like street style star Alexa Chung, then get yourself a pair of Camilla Elphick Silver Lining boots, like this week's Grazia helpfully recommends. An instant way to elevate your everyday early autumn style!


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Brand Duluth Pack
We took our largely best-selling Scout and made it larger. The Scoutmaster is built to hold and carry anything you would need for your day on campus, or out on the trail.
- Hand constructed 15 oz. canvas for durable quality and heritage "better-with-age" aesthetic.
- Shoulder strap side wing attachment for added comfort.
- Riveted leather reinforcements to make it a multi-generational heirloom.
- Adjustable cotton web shoulder straps with roller buckle closure for versatility.
- Nylon grab handle for easy pick-up.
- Interior snap hook attachment and a zippered pocket for items like keys, wallet, phone, etc.
- Two side slip pockets for water bottle storage.
- Top compression flaps to secure goods.
- Dimensions: 17"H x 14"W x 5"D
- Capacity: 20 Liters
- Uses: Everyday, Travel, School, and Hiking


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Motorola Moto G Apn Settings – Step by Step configuration
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings – Step by Step configuration
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings – Step by Step Configuration. In this post we will show you how to properly configure the Moto G Apn settings, for any career! Just for your information, As you may already know, one of the most popular smartphones from Motorola is the Moto G phone, ranking in the best selling cell phones in 2015
You could actually buy an unlocked carrier free Moto G from Amazon in less than 200 bucks! It's quite a good deal!. Ok, let's jump into our topic – Setting up the APN!
Motorola Moto G Phone Apn Settings Step by Step Configuration
If you just bought this phone from the internet (make sure it is unlocked), you may be required to setup the APN Settings on the Moto G, a basic requirement for you to be able to browse the internet, watch videos or send any MMS messages on the phone. These group of settings may also be called MMS Settings Moto G
Setting up the APN is quite easy, just to go the Application tray, and then go to Settings to access the settings application on the phone, you could also slide down the notification bard and select the gear like icon to access it
On the Settings menu, look for something that says Wireless and Networks and then Mobile Networks, and finally tab on Access Point Names. Please try to always setup a new APN instead of replacing an existing one, this way we make sure to have a clean setup. To find out which values to use (in case you don't already have it), please scroll down to the bottom of the page, as we have provided a list of most common APN Settings for the Moto G
Once you have setup all the required fields, save the APN, exit and try out sending a few MMS or loading your favorite video on YouTube.
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings – APN values
As we mentioned above, in case you don't already have the apn settings that should be entered to the Moto G already, please refer to these ones
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings Straight Talk
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings AT&T
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings T-Mobile
Motorola Moto G Apn Settings – Verizon
In the event that you can't make it to work, please drop us a message and we will kindly try to help you out.
Sam McCurry
Need the apn for consumer Cellular moto g service
The add button is grey out, that means, I can't add a new APN,please help


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Consumer Goods & Hospitality
Whether it's launching new products, establishing workflows to expediently support orders, or reaching out to your clients with relevant, up to date information, we harness your speed of innovation so you can seize market opportunities. We provide the platform to increase your agility to collaborate with stakeholders with powerful visualization tools to boost revenue and reduce costs.
From sales contract to compliance processes, services agreements and supply chain contracts, freight forwarders, we expediently gather the requisite signatures and keep departments in sync on versions, updates and comments.


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Ok the phone has a 5 megapixel camera which is good in 2011 that is and a poor 1.3 secondary camera and only 32 GB wow plus the battery is not as big as most phones. 4.2 Stars
It sucks! My SD card always unmounts for no reason and I loose all my files and photos... Basically all my information!
if its really owsme then i will try to buy it... thnkyou guys for making me easy abt ths phone
such a nyc phone it is . i like its stylish look an has a very the best battery backup
awsm and gug looking mobile and processor is so gud quadqore awsm phone by htc i will give you a 5 star out out of 5
its very good lookin phon...camera nd internet is also very gud................
Angel, 17 Jan 2013The box on this phone clearly states UMTS/WCDMA on frequencies 900 / 2100. I'm in dominican Re... moreU shld mke ur settings....ths is the fastest intrnet phone I eva.had....wifi hotshot ...3g is superb
The box on this phone clearly states UMTS/WCDMA on frequencies 900 / 2100. I'm in dominican Republic where Orande has the 900, but i've tried with a lot of sim cards and plans, AND i've never been able to detect 3G network with this phone. I even put it on WCDMA ONLY and didnt get a single bit of coverage, only an X.
They should be be clear on what 3G band it can work and DONT, HTC is not being honest, at least with this one.
koko, 07 Sep 2012does this phone get ics or not ( in other words is it upgradable to an up to date android vers... moreyes it is
can you get this phone in the uk? its pretty good size and spec for its price. not a fan of the new huge phones.
is the pize(200EUR) correct plz imform me..plz.plz..if u reply to my qus.....i will be very plesed....so.plz


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Although new Wearables are hitting the Market every other day, they haven't yet taken off in a big Way. Everyone is looking towards Apple to introduce the iWatch, as they expect it to revolutionize Wearables just like the iPhone did for Phones and the iPad did for Tablets.
However, both the iPhone and the iPad carry Premium Price Tags, and the iWatch too would be expensive, according to Recode's Report.
SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the iPhone 6
It may cost upto $400, which is pretty expensive considering that the Pebble costs $150 and the Galaxy Gear costs $300. The iWatch is rumored to have many groundbreaking Features, such as Great Battery Life, Great Design and Intuitive User Interface. Although the Pebble has great Battery Life, it skimps out on Design and the UI.
The iWatch is also rumored to make Wearables actually useful, as currently most Wearables just display Notifications from your Smartphone. Apple reportedly has discovered innovative use cases for a Wearables.
If the iWatch lives up to its Hype, we may see the Wearable Market to mature. The Wearable Market will triple this year, according to IDC. One the iWatch sets the Benchmarks, soon we may see competitors adapting the same models and soon we may witness actual competition, resulting in innovative Products.
We are hoping that the iWatch is all that the rumors claim it is, but $400 seems a bit expensive for such a Device. It may also be that $400 is just for the top-end Model and that the other Models are significantly cheaper. We have high hopes for the iWatch, which may be unveiled on Apple's Event on September 9.


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I've just always been queer...#genderqueer because I was told that I could do anything boys could do. So I did. And I do.
Like...win races, build bicycles, make films, build stuff outta wood, car audio lover, first in a family to graduate college... and even marry a woman.
Be different. Proudly. Dream biggest.


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Using Nonlinear Elastic Material Model
Tips & Tricks
With the nonlinear-elastic material model in RFEM 5, you can calculate and carry out a stress analysis of surfaces and solids with nonlinear material properties.
During the calculation, this material model acts without plastic components. To compare, you can imagine a rubber-like model, which from a certain point on only deforms and is not subject to any appreciable increase of stress. If this material is unloaded, it returns to its initial state without showing plastic deformations. Thus, you can consider rubber, caoutchouc, or plastic materials with very high strain limits in a model.
Contact us
Do you have questions or need advice?
Contact our free e-mail, chat, or forum support or find various suggested solutions and useful tips on our FAQ page.
Associated Products
Main Program
Structural engineering software for finite element analysis (FEA) of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, members (beams), solids and contact elements


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West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta
Saturday, October 19 → more dates through October 19, 2019
Saturday, October 19
Lake of the Commons 8325 S.W. Nyberg St., Tualatin, OR
The Giant Pumpkin Regatta is one of the most anticipated fall events in the Northwest. Costumed characters, paddling 1,000 pound pumpkin boats, compete in a series of wacky races across the Lake of the Commons.
This free family event also includes a giant pumpkin weigh-off, pie eating contests, kids' costume contests, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin golf, crafts, food and much more!
- Event Type
Family friendly, Festival, Food & Drink, Free, Spectator Sports, Outdoor Recreation
- Website
- Facebook Page


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Family Therapy and Sexuality/
Alaska and Kansas are the most recent states to pass laws that impact sex education in its schools.
Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, sizable suburban sections of Kansas City, recently lost government funding for the Personal Responsibilities Education Program. Although PREP was mainly an abstinence only program, it did provide information about consent, teen pregnancy, and sexually-transmitted infections.
On Thursday, Governor Bill Walker officially implemented a law requiring Alaskan schools to give sex education from specific sex educators, which sounds great, until you realize that AASECT (the national organization for sex educators, counselors, and therapists) has one certified sex educator/therapist in that entire gigantic state. Alaska had been relying on Planned Parenthood members to organize sex education programs; language in HB 156 seems to prevent that from happening in the future.
Our sister organization, South Shore Sexual Health Center, and SSFHC are dedicated to providing quality sex education to families of adolescents and young adults in the greater Boston area. There's a really good chance that should you send your adolescent or family to SSFHC, our therapists will be exploring the role of sexuality and relationships in your teenager's and family's development.
But what does that mean? What are our goals, and what does success look like?
We recognize that talking about sexuality with your teenagers may be challenging, but we hope to discuss some, if not all, of the following topics:
1) Sex positivity. Many families in our area have messages of anxiety, guilt, and shame attached to sexuality, and we have witnessed with numerous families how that anxiety transforms into negative messages about sexuality for teenagers. We want teenagers to explore physical pleasure and verbally identify what they do and don't like. We want teenagers to explore the choices they make regarding their expressions of sexuality--everything from wearing makeup to decisions about who to date. We want to provide families with a language that allows teenagers to explore their sexuality in safe, affirming ways.
2) Education of anatomy and physiology. For starters, we use anatomically-correct language when describing genitalia. We talk with teenagers and families about the functions of sexual organs, periods and ovulation cycles, and the sexual response cycle.
3) Consent. We mentioned that we want teenagers to verbally identify what they like and don't like; this increases the likelihood that they will be able to assertively communicate when and how sexual behaviors can and cannot happen. We want teenagers to know that they are able to say no and change their minds if they'd like. We want to discuss with them about activities that may affect the presentation of consent, such as alcohol use.
4) Contraception. A recent study suggests that teens who discussed condom use with their mothers before their initial sexual experience were three times as likely to use a condom than teens who hadn't discussed condom use. Even if you haven't discussed contraception use with your adolescent, there is a high probability that your teenager, male or female, will know how to put on a condom following visiting with one of our therapists. We are interested in discussing other forms of contraception, such as birth control pills and IUDs, with your teenager and family as well.
5) Involvement from both parents. We want you, the parents, to be the primary source of sex education for your teenagers. In fact, a recent study showed that 77% of mothers communicated with their children about their sexuality. However, only 37% of fathers did the same. Teenagers (particularly teenage girls) who communicated in a positive way about sexuality experience a number of positive effects: an increase in self-esteem, improved quality of dating relationships, a decrease in symptoms of anxiety (including symptoms of compulsive eating). We want to create ways for your teenager to connect with both parents, which often means foregrounding the role of the father.
Of course, any conversations about sexuality occur only with your consent; if you choose not to talk about sexuality in family therapy, we will respect your wishes. We do find, however, that families that invite conversations around sexuality into the therapy room often experience a decrease of familial anxiety, a closer connection between parent (specifically father) and teenager, and an increase in relational self-confidence.
While all of our therapists are trained in family therapy, Stephen Duclos and Paula Leech are Certified Sex Therapists who specialize in the connection of sexual development and family therapy with adolescents. Stephanie Wallace is also one of our family therapists who are clinically interested in the sexual development of adolescents. For more information, check out their bios, and feel free to schedule an appointment by clicking Book Now at the top of the page or calling us at 617-750-0183.


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I've been doing some interesting work on entrepreneurial ecosystems lately. I just published a paper in Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice on ecosystems (hint hint) but that was just the start. One of the points I made in that paper is that entrepreneurial ecosystems depend on more than just entrepreneurs. Look, entrepreneurs are the most important thing, but there are a bunch of other people that matter. Now, we know that angel investors are important and Kenney and Patton said that we should pay attention to folks like patent lawyers and accountants. Obviously you'll want experienced, successful entrepreneurs who can serve as mentors for future generations of firm founders. But I've been talking to a lot of entrepreneurs, policy makers, and other people in Edinburgh for the past month and from those conversations I think we need to think about a broader group of people that you need to make an effective ecosystem.
First of all is sales people. I think sales is the toughest nut for entrepreneurs to crack, especially entrepreneurs who see themselves as 'technologists' or 'innovators' rather than businesspeople. Heck, even businesspeople don't think of themselves as sales people: how many business schools or MBA programs actually teach sales techniques? The answer is Not Many. How many books on entrepreneurship actually talk about sales beyond a very simple 'it would be nice if you sold some stuff'?
But salespeople are very important for startups! Salespeople are typically the first employee at a startup that actually gets a real, competitive salary. They are instrumental in building connections with customers and landing the deals that actually pay for product development. But new entrepreneurs often have a lot of trouble working with sales people, they really don't know how to pay them, how to measure their effectiveness, or how to help them do their job. And if I'd have to guess, I doubt there are a lot of salespeople who like working in the structureless environment of a startup.
And this is where the trouble starts: there's been a 20 year debate in the academic research over if entrepreneurs are born or taught. The debate is still going on but there seems to be a consensus that we can at least try to instil an entrepreneurial mindset in people if we catch them early enough. There's be no discussion about this for sales. There is the basic assumption that salespeople are born; they are born with an extroverted personality, slicked back hair, and the ability to give a sales pitch so meaningful people run from the room crying and you never look at a slide projector the same way. This may or may not be true: I hate talking to people yet during my PhD I learned how to make cold calls to entrepreneurs in order to sell them something they truly didn't need — an hour of their time spent with me.
So we're left in a situation where we assume that since we can't teach sales entrepreneurs will just draw on what ever local talent exists and hope for the best. The problem is that there doesn't appear to be an even distribution of sales talent. We're lucky that the ONS's Labour Force Survey provides detailed occupational data so we can actually see where specific types of salespeople are in the UK. The map below displays the location quotient (LQ) of sales professions: not telemarketers or retail salesclerks but Marketing and sales directors, Business sales executives, and Sales accounts and business development managers. These are high level salespeople and managers. LQs are a nice metric for this sort of thing since they show the ratio of a certain profession to all other professions while controlling for population and other factors: an LQ above 1 means that the concentration is higher than the national average and below 1 means it's lower.
Not unexpectedly, London has a huge cluster of sales professionals: London is a global city filled with sales based companies, this is exactly where you'd expect them to be. But the map shows big problems for Northern England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These places have almost half the national average of sales professionals. This means that when startups go looking for salespeople, they have a smaller pool to draw from. They'll either have to pay more or get a lower quality worker. It means there's a smaller support infrastructure for salespeople to build up their skills and learn how to manage other salespeople.
What does this tell us? Typical region policy to support entrepreneurship focuses on training entrepreneurs first, then trying to educate potential angel investors, and maybe they have a workforce development program to help train people in computer programming or whatever else it hot right now (is Internet of Things a job yet?) But no one is really thinking about (1) how can we train more and better salespeople and (2) how can we train entrepreneurs to be better at working with salespeople. Having a broader conception of who matters in entrepreneurial ecosystems makes it clear that this should be a priority.


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topped with my favorite vegan mini marshmallows!
Hi There! Have you ever had yourself a super thick and super chocolatey hot cocoa? UGH. The days are toooo long ago when I remember having a hot cup of Max Brenners Italian Hot chocolate while shopping around Bryant park. I kid you not- probably the most chocolate packed thang I've ever indulged in. So rich and luscious, all in a little cup. WAIT. No, that's a lie. Another great classic Hot cocoa can also be found at The City Bakery. They're known for their cocoa, and literally have a month dedicated to just different flavors daily. Topped with their signature homemade marshmallow to top. Droooooooooling. (Note to self: OK, why did I give up milk again? ugh. RESIST).
I'm obviously missing these days, and since the cold weather has hit, I'm reaaaallly craving it, and need a HOT drink! Surprisingly enough [in this fast paced, nonstop city], I don't actually drink coffee. I don't like the taste of it, and I try to avoid a huge amount of caffeine at a time. So when I wake up and I'm super sleepy, I just have to pray I snap out of it before I get to work, because there's nothing I can rely on to wake me up.
But, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a hot cup of tea or cocoa before bed with a small snack. I know. So greedy. But what's better than slipping into bed after a long day, all showered & cozy, with a HOT cup of hot chocolate, smothered with little fluffy marshmallows on top- AS I watch the office?! Not much! Which is why I had to share this creamiest recipe with you, taken from My Sequined life. I have been on the hunt for the perfect cup of hot cocoa for months, and I have finally found it. Happy to share with me peeps! PLEASE enjoy (and recommended to watch why binge watching The Office) :) xx S.
| Vegan • Gluten Free |
- 2 Tbs of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tbs of cane sugar
- 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp Almond milk, divided
- 2 tsp of cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt!
- Dandies Vegan Marshmallows, to top (optional but SO NEEDED!)
SIMPLE THICK COCOA: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add your cocoa powder, cane sugar + sea salt. Whisk in 3/4 cup of almond milk until combined. While that's heating up, add your cornstarch and remaining tablespoon of almond milk to a seperate small dish and whisk to make a slurry. Now jump back to the hot cocoa mixture- it should start to boil soon, so make sure to whisk quite frequently. Once it comes to a boil, slowly pour in your cornstarch mixture while whisking. Once all incorporated, reduce heat to low and let simmer while whisking for just a few minutes (or until desired consistency). Remember as is cools, it will thicken up more! Kill the heat and add the vanilla. Serve with a generous amount of marshmallows, and enjoy! The perfect little cup of thick & rich cocoa. mmm


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Newegg Insider: ASUS Brings out the ROG Crosshair VII Hero Motherboardfor 2nd Gen Ryzen
The second generation of AMD's Ryzen chips are out, and that means ASUS is bringing out a fresh new line of X470 motherboards, like the ROG Crosshair VII Hero. This monochromatic, high performance board has two fixed RGB lighting zones controllable with ASUS Aura SYNC, M.2 heat sinks to get the best performance from your high end SSDs, among a ton of other features. JJ from ASUS walks you through all the new features on this cutting edge board, and the reasons you might want to upgrade. Check it out!
Products in Video:
ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero – https://goo.gl/R3xAie
ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (Wi-Fi) – https://goo.gl/WNQjq1
Newegg Inc. provides the information contained herein as an educational service. Although we believe the information in this presentation to be accurate and timely, because of the rapid changes in the industry and our reliance on information provided by outside sources, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy or reliability of the content or other material which we may reference. This presentation is provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title, non-infringement or implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This video/audio file is the property of Newegg Inc. Newegg Inc. grants permission to distribute, rebroadcast or copy this file, provided that (1) the below copyright notice appears in all copies (2) is for non-commercial use only and (3) is not modified in any way.
Copyright © 2017 Newegg Inc. All rights reserved.


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Park Hill At Issaquah
Office Info
- Mon – Tue: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Thu – Sat: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Sun: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Apartment Features
- Patio/ Balcony
- Cable Ready
- Dish Washer
- Disposal
- Dryer
- Fireplace
- Individual Climate Control
- Large closets
- Microwave
- Patio
- Refrigerator
- View
- Washer
- Window Coverings
Community Amenities
- 24-Hour Availability
- BBQ/Picnic Area
- Business center
- Clubhouse
- Fitness center
- High Speed Internet Available
- Near Mass Transit
- Night Patrol
- On-site Maintenance
- On-site management
- Package Receiving
- Parking
- Pet friendly
- Playground
- Pool
- Rec Room
- Spa
- Storage Space
- Sundeck
Pet Policy
- We allow cats and dogs
We love all pets, but the following breeds/crossbreeds are not allowed: Pit Bulls (Staffordshire Bull Terrier), Dobermans, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Huskies, Mastiffs, Great Danes, Malamutes, Akitas and Wolf Hybrids. Breed restrictions are subject to change without notice.
- Monthly Pet Rent: Dogs $35/Cats $35
- Pet Deposit: $200 per unit, Non-Refundable Pet Fee: $200 per unit
Floor Plans and Pricing
Your Move in Date: {{move_in_date}}
Close{{floorplan.name}} / sq.ft.Call Now for Availability!
Apt. #{{u.unit_code}} Available {{u.available_date}} {{ u.amenities_display}}Starting From ${{u.rent}}
Starting Rental Options
Lease Term Move-In Date Rent Starting From Varies {{u.available_date}} ${{u.rent}}
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Lease Term Move-In Date Rent {{best_price[u.unit_code].Term }} months {{best_price[u.unit_code].Date }} ${{best_price[u.unit_code].Rent }}
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Please Note: The apartment is not available on the date selected. The rental prices below reflect pricing on the first available move-in date, {{u.available_date}}.
Lease Term Rent {{ price.Term }} months ${{ price.Rent }} Apply
*Branding elements, floor plans, layout plans, specifications, images, names, drawings, perspectives, models, graphics, logos, icons and other details herein are only indicative and the Developer/Promoter/Owner reserves the right to change all or any of them. All room dimensions are approximate only and may or may not include balcony square feet in total square footage. Prices and availability are subject to change. Prices vary based on move-in and lease terms.
*The monthly rental rates provided on our website are an estimate of the likely rental rate for the available floorplans and provided as a service to prospective residents. We cannot guarantee that a rental rate displayed above will be the actual rate offered at the time a rental agreement is signed as our rates change daily based on economic factors of the community such as unit availability.
Leasing Details
- Administrative Fee:$200
- Deposit:$300
- Lease Term:We have flexible lease terms and pricing to fit your needs!
- Application Fee:$48
- *This community does not accept reusable (portable) tenant screening reports.
Located in the prestigious Issaquah School District
Boat, hike, & picnic at the beautiful Lake Sammamish State Park
Easy access to Highway I-90
Shop & dine, just minutes away from your favorite shopping centers & restaurants
Enjoy fresh foods at the local Farmers Market


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IIT Kharagpur announces JAM 2019 schedule: Find key dates
Kharagpur: Indian Institute of technology (IIT) Kharagpur has announced the schedule of Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM) 2019. IIT Kharagpur is the organizing institute for JAM 2019. JAM 2019 will be held on 10 February 2019 (Sunday) in two sessions.
Key Dates: The commencement of online registration and application on JAM 2019 Website is 01 September 2018. The last date for Online Application Submission and Uploading of Documents on the Website is 01 October 2018. The date of JAM 2019 Examination is 10 February 2019. The announcement of the results of JAM 2019 is 20 March 2019.
Exam Day:
February 10, 2019 : Session I - 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon- Biological Sciences (BL); Mathematics (MA); Physics (PH)
Session II: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM - Biotechnology (BT); Chemistry (CY); Geology (GG); Mathematical Statistics (MS).
Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. (JAM) is being conducted from 2004 to provide admissions to M.Sc. (Four Semesters), Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual Degree, etc. Programmes at the IITs and Integrated Ph.D. Degree Programmes at IISc for consolidating Science as a career option for bright students. These postgraduate programmes at IITs and IISc offer high quality education in their respective disciplines, comparable to the best in the world.
Eligibility Conditions:
The candidates who qualify in JAM 2019 shall have to fulfill the following Eligibility Requirements (ER) for admissions in IITs.
All candidates admitted through JAM should have a Bachelor's degree.
In the qualifying degree, the aggregate marks or CGPA/CPI without rounding-off (taking into account all subjects, including languages and subsidiaries, all years combined) should be at least 55% or 5.5 out of 10 for General/OBC (NCL) category candidates and 50% or 5.0 out of 10 for SC/ST and PwD category candidates.
For Candidates with letter grades/CGPA (instead of percentage of marks), the equivalence in percentage of marks will be decided by the Admitting Institute(s).
Proof of having passed the Qualifying Degree with the Minimum Educational Qualifications (MEQ) as specified by the Admitting Institute should be submitted by 30 September 2019.
For more details about eligibility, qualifications and exam pattern, the interested candidates should visit official website of JAM 2019:


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- KapiScrap
- KapiScrap & Art focuses on the digital scrapbooking industry. The organization has two main activities: scrapbooking kits design and training courses.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Paris New York no.25
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In 2007, faced with the growing popularity of digital video recorders, advertisers agreed to pay television networks for commercials viewed within three days of a show's first broadcast.
But with the pace of delayed viewing increasing ever more rapidly, a chorus of network executives is pushing for a new change — payment for seven days of commercial viewing on everything from computer screens and tablets to TV sets.
David F. Poltrack, who has headed CBS's research for more than 30 years, said it would be hard to overstate the influence of the digital video recorder on the economic model of commercial television. "The difference between this season and two seasons ago is more dramatic than the difference between two seasons ago and 20 seasons ago," he said.
The single biggest factor in that upheaval: delayed — and sometimes never counted — viewing of television shows. Under the agreement negotiated five years ago, known in the industry as C3, networks do not get paid for any viewing that takes place starting on the fourth day after a show's first run, even though more and more viewing is falling into that category.
Viewing in the period four to seven days after the first run is up about 17 percent this season, Mr. Poltrack said. That can mean millions of viewers. The new Fox and NBC hits "Sleepy Hollow" and "The Blacklist" have both been adding more than a million viewers in those extra days, and about half a rating point in the category many advertisers pay a premium for — viewers between the ages of 18 and 49.
"These are our viewers," said Kevin Reilly, chairman of entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company. "It's not as though they are lesser viewers or negligible viewers."
Indeed, they are valuable viewers. Brad Adgate, the senior vice president for research at Horizon Media, said the 18-49 rating for programs in playback mode is better than first-run numbers for almost every network program this season. The median age for viewers watching recorded shows is 45.1 — younger than any of the four big networks (CBS, 58.3; ABC, 54.2; Fox, 51.1; NBC, 50.7).
Leslie Moonves, the CBS president, noted that viewers who play back shows demonstrated "a definite desire to watch those shows," which goes to the increasingly important advertising area called engagement.
The counterargument, of course, to the building desire to receive seven days' pay from ad buyers is that delayed viewers are often commercial-skippers. But Nielsen has steadily shown — in the face of consistent skepticism from those who skip ads — that about half the commercials are viewed days later.
Pat McDonough, the senior vice president for analysis at Nielsen, said, "You just watch them; you forget you're watching a commercial." She said that no matter what the program or time frame, "it never gets below 40 percent" viewing for commercials.
Mr. Moonves, who in his long tenure at CBS has been aggressive in pursuing value for every aspect of network television, said confidently that by next May, when networks make ad deals for the next season, "The new currency will be live plus seven days" — or C7.
Linda Yaccarino, the top sales executive for NBC Universal, said she had already seen more flexibility among advertisers. "It's top of mind in meetings with customers," she said.
Paul Lee, ABC's top entertainment executive, said, "We've done some C7 deals already." He said ABC might be in a special position because of all the serialized shows it broadcasts. "We're getting more value for shows like 'Scandal,' " he said.
Still, the collective view of the ad community remains: we'll see.
"Clients are already getting this audience," said Rino Scanzoni, the chief investment officer for the media buying giant GroupM, who was at the center of the creation of C3 in 2007. "It's very difficult for an agency to go to a client and say: why don't you just be benevolent and pay for it?"
Even with added viewing, going past three days will remain an issue for advertisers who need timely exposure, Mr. Scanzoni said, especially movie companies that need to open a film on a specific date. But he said the issue would come down to a negotiation, with advertisers expecting networks to concede something — perhaps a lower initial rate. "There has to be some incentive," he said.
Whatever happens to the C3 system, the television business is rethinking across the board to cope with the changes wrought by delayed viewing. Mr. Adgate suggested that some advertisers might decide to start ad promotions earlier to capture the millions waiting longer to see shows.
Mr. Poltrack of CBS noted that playback was heavy on weekends, which is fine for CBS shows that play on Thursdays because that falls inside the C3 window; Monday shows are hurt, however, because CBS gets no money if they are played back the following Saturday. "It's becoming a marketing challenge," he said.
Robert Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, said, "It seems overly self-serving to say to viewers: watch it within three days. The better message is: watch it soon."
That has already led to a push to develop shows with excitement and urgency, he said. But urgency is what programmers also say they must now avoid in judging shows, because the viewership numbers that arrive in three or seven days (or 30 — networks are also putting out month-after ratings) may revive shows that struggle in early ratings.
Mr. Moonves pointed to how patient CBS was being with the new drama "Hostages," which has attracted weak audiences for its first broadcasts. The aggregated numbers are somewhat more promising, so CBS has so far stuck with the show.
Fox has done the same with its comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," going so far as to slot a special episode after the Super Bowl. Mr. Reilly noted that "comedy is a slow-growth business" that demands special patience to see if an audience finds it over time.
As they do all this recalculating, the networks are keeping eyes trained on two other developments. One is the rapid growth of video-on-demand, which the networks embrace. The VOD system does not allow fast-forwarding, so commercials cannot be skipped.
The future gold mine in VOD, as the networks see it, is in the added business that can be done after initial three-day commercial exposure ends. At the moment, the networks simply remove the ads. But they expect to be able to switch to new commercials after three days, which would mean separate sales to new advertisers.
And there is one more looming avenue of revenue, based on the addition by Nielsen — next fall by most estimates — of a system that will measure streaming shows on tablets and computers. At the moment, that viewing is going completely unmeasured — and unpaid for.


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Written on:
18 December, 2018
Foot Creams for Cracked Heels
Cracked heels are known medically as heel fissures and are most often the result of extremely dry skin, or xerosis. In fact, deep cracks can form along the back edges of the heel that are painful and sometimes deep enough to bleed. For most people, this condition is annoying, but in diabetics and those with poor circulation, deep heel cracks can provide a portal for infection, the website Foot Pain Explained notes. There are a number of creams available to effectively treat cracked heels, but consult your physician before using any.
Ammonium Lactate Moisturizers
Ammonium lactate creams are used to soften and moisturize dry, scaly skin. Drugs.com reports, ammonium lactate creams, such as Lac-Hydrin, are humectants that increase the amount of water in the skin and act to make skin softer and less dry. Ammonium lactate cream is for external use only and may cause burning or stinging when applied to open skin. Side effects are few, but include irritation, redness, itching and sensitivity to the sun. Its use is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Allergic reactions are possible, so any sign of hives or difficulty breathing should be reported to your physician immediately.
Urea Creams
Urea creams, such as Keralac, are used to heal certain skin conditions, but can also be used to treat heel fissures. Urea creams contain both an emollient and a keratolytic that work together to moisturize and remove dry, cracked skin. The emollient imparts an oily layer on top of the skin that holds in water and the keratolytic works by dissolving the horny layer of skin, softening it. Urea creams are for external use only, and should not be used near the mouth or eyes. Side effects include irritation and stinging. An allergic reaction is possible and should be reported to your doctor at once.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly is an over-the-counter preparation that is a mixture of mineral oil, paraffin and waxes. Petroleum jelly melts into the skin and creates a moisture barrier that protects skin from drying out. Petroleum jelly is very oily, so it's best to slather it on the feet at night before bed, covering the feet with clean 100 percent cotton socks to protect the bedsheets from staining. Lately, there are some concerns about the safety of petroleum jelly, mostly due to its impurities, and its use has been banned in Europe.
Baby Oil
Baby oil is a time-honored way of treating dry skin, including cracked heels. For best results, CNN Health suggests applying it when the skin is still damp from a bath or shower. Oils lasts longer on the skin than water-based moisturizers. It works by sealing the water in the skin, preventing evaporation.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is another type of cream that can be used to prevent dry, cracked heels.Foot Pain Explained says, people who are sensitive or allergic to other emollients and moisturizers may better tolerate Shea butter. Shea butter, extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree, is a mild compound that has no chemical additives, artificial colors or scents. It is a humectant that helps hold water in the skin.
- AndreyPopov/iStock/Getty Images


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Los Angeles-based Sorccia Surfaces are made up of a front layer of thinly cut real stone adhered to unique backings that are engineered using the most modern patented technology to create an extremely strong and light-weight stone faced structure.
Natural Stone
Each panel consists of 100% natural stone. The stone is quarried from around the world and has an abundance of appearances and distinctive characteristics. Panels are available in many colors of marble, travertine, onyx, agate, granite and semi-precious stones.
Our panels are 1/3 to 1/6 the weight of traditional stone materials, saving natural resources and allowing for more pieces to fit into a container when shipping, further reducing environmental impact. The reduced weight makes our panels lighter and safer to handle, resulting in fewer liabilities. Panels can be cut or re-trimmed on the job site using a traditional diamond saw and if necessary even installed over existing material, making installation faster.
Using advanced technology, stone panels from our Los Angeles shop are cut as thin as 3mm, drastically reducing the amount of stone used. The stone panels are then laminated to different backing materials allowing for use in a wide range of applications, many of which are not suitable for traditional solid stone. Thin stone panels maintain all of the beauty, feel and attributes of natural stone, and the reduced weight allows for easier and faster installation.
Thin stone panels in Los Angeles from Sorccia are suitable for a wide range of applications, not just for their unique aesthetic but also their high strength, lightweight and low installation costs. Common uses include exterior walls, bath and shower panels, wainscoting, feature walls, tables, flooring, ceilings and fireplace surrounds.
Standard Sizes:
48″ x 96″ (1220mm x 2440mm)
60″ x 96″ (1524mm x 2440mm)
*Please inquire about current sizes as natural stone slabs and panels will vary in size due to what is currently available in the marketplace.
*Custom sizing can be accommodated for an up-charge and an 8-10 week lead time.
Back Lighting
The thinness of Sorccia Stone panels makes it ideal for your backlighting projects. Translucent stones like Onyx, Agate, and some Marbles are adhered to a PVB backing which provides extra strength. This backing allows the light to penetrate through our panels much easier than full slabs. In addition to assisting you in your custom LED projects, we also can create a one-of-a-kind, framed piece of art to hang anywhere.
Thinner stone panels in Los Angeles mean less environmental impact:
Reduced water & energy consumption
Reduced use of raw material
Reduced use of packaging
Reduced cost of transportation
Reduced emissions during production


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Our Price: $68.00
Uber-rich moisture blended into a feather-weight cream infuses the delicate eye area with essential nutrients to increase and maintain cellular hydration
Additional features and ingredients:
•Osmolyte technology helps maintain critical water balance for more youthful-looking skin
•A peptide blend, based on natural elastin, awakens eyes by improving skin firmness
•Collagen Support Complex and Hyaluronic Acid boost skin's resilience and smoothes the appearance of fine lines
*Individual results will vary.
Because the sensitive skin around your eyes does not produce its own oil to moisturize and hydrate, skin dryness and have its biggest impact beneath your eyes. That's why a moisturizing eye cream such as Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes or a similar eye treatment is an essential part of any skin care (index) routine or regimen. Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes gives both immediate and long term relief from dry skin beneath the eyes, which can ultimately lead to wrinkles, dark circles or bags under the eyes. Not only does this under eye cream provide instant moisture and relief, it also provides hydration and moisture in the eye area for up to eight hours after application. Don't leave your skin care or moisturizer regimen incomplete – be sure to include an eye cream such as Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for Eyes in your skin care products.


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Here are today's top news headlines from Fool.com. Check back throughout the day as this list is updated, and follow us on Twitter at TMFBreaking.
MGIC Floats New Stock and Convertible Notes
Pfizer Gets 18 More Months of Celebrex Patent Protection
Walgreen Sees Dip in February Sales
Samsung Galaxy S IV Launches March 14
Obama Reaches Out to Congressional Republicans
Chavez Death Brings Uncertainty, Hope to Oil Patch
Private Survey Shows Steady Job Gains in February
Ex-BP Rig Supervisor Testifies at Gulf Spill Trial
Raytheon Contract Grows to $656.7 Million in Value
Northrop Wins $93 Million in Pentagon Contracts
Pentagon Spending $1.4 Billion on New Warships
Lockheed Nabs Nearly $173 Million in Pentagon Projects
Dollar Rises a Day After Dow Hits Record
SOHU Denies It's Going Private. Shares Plunge
European Regulators Fine Microsoft Over Internet Browser Choice
Boeing Wins $81.5 Million in Defense Contracts
AIG Launches New Unit to Invest in Home Loans
SAIC, Textron Among Those Getting Pentagon Contracts
Department of Justice Clears MetroPCS and T-Mobile Merger
Zoltek Rebuffs Move to Replace Board Members


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Use the form on the right to contact us.
Alternatively click on this link to send an E-mail direct....
7 Goulburn St
Crookwell, NSW, 2583
02 4832 1906
Trading under the Thrifty-Link & AIRR banners, the award winning JDs Rural & Hardware Supplies is a family run business. Owned & operated by Jason & Tanya Della and their team, in the internationally famed Southern Tablelands wool growing regions of Crookwell & Boorowa.


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Is it possible that taking a bath could heal the common cold, let alone work several other health wonders? I believe so.
I first heard about Pursoma bath products from Shen Beauty, a brilliant skin and body care boutique in Brooklyn. Intrigued by the philosophy behind the products, "to help others reclaim healthier lives by detoxifying, rejuvenating and soothing the body from the inside out," I had to give them a try.
In a blog next week, I'll be discussing the various baths that I tried out and their superb results. But today I'm talking strictly about the Hot Tub Bath which made a huge impression on me. This $35 one-time treatment comes in a package (see above) that includes a sea salt packet and a mixture of powdered ginger and clay. You spin it all together and soak in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes.
Here are the claims. "Made from pure, raw, vegan ingredients, this potent recovery bath helps to warm and stimulate the body, aiding in the elimination of toxin build-up for when your body needs it most: to combat runny noses and chest congestion, body aches and fatigue. Warming ginger root assists in stimulating circulation, ridding the body of excess fluids and mucus. Sea salt helps to stimulate circulation and blood flow, opening the body's cells to deep purification. Montmorillonite clay can support the absorption of toxin build-up as it aids in cellular revitalization and helps to restore the body to health."
I can say with utmost confidence that this stuff works. I had been battling a nasty cold since the day after Christmas and after four days of misery, I decided to see if this could help me out. Immediately after exiting the bath I felt better. And in the few days following, my cold began to dry up and was gone.
The science makes sense—you're essentially purging impurities and toxins from your body. Stay tuned for another review on the remarkable Pursoma products in the coming weeks and go draw that bath.
Find Pursoma products at pursomalife.com.


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I don't know how or why I sat through this film, Vikingdom. I also don't know why I'm doing this movie review. This film is like a train wreck, you don't want to see it, but you just can't look away. This film tried, they really tried hard. It reminded me of a really bad 80's movie, with some updated graphics, that still manages to be just as bad. My wife couldn't even sit past the first half hour, but being the glutton for punishment that I am I couldn't stop. Now, I will say this, the film was mildly entertaining, they used some of the techniques that you saw on the Starz series "Spartacus," and those were pretty brutal. But it was just a really weird movie, and this has to be the absolute worst Thor, ever. EVER.
But then again, when you've seen this guy as Thor….
So the story of this film is that Thor is pissed off because the humans are worshiping Jesus and have forgotten the old Gods. So he comes to Earth, builds an army and plans to open the gates of heaven and hell when the blood eclipse comes. There is a human that was brought back to life by a Goddess and he is chosen to take on the task of stopping Thor. He build his rag tag army and gets to war. From there on the cheesiness ensues.
I'm putting a picture of her, simply cause she was really hot. Sexy ass fighter woman, I like it!
You got two hours or so to kill? Wanna see a film that is entertaining but terribly cheesy at the same time? Well, then sit through Vikingdom, giving you the worst Thor ever! Oh, and they give you these guys too! No fantasy film is complete without a dead king monster zombie type thingy…
Angel Rodriguez
Latest posts by Angel Rodriguez (see all)
- Final Crisis DC - 09-18-2019
- The time I stole a can of spray paint - 09-03-2019
- Possessive male hug - 08-30-2019


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There are lots of ills I abhor in a nation, none, however, irks me like corrupt politicians. Humanity has come to realize that although we cannot have zero corruption level, we can still try to show complete ruthlessness and zero tolerance for this evil trying to tear our beloved country apart.
A lot of people have vented their anger towards the rising spate of corruption in the country, some have even gone ahead to prescribe the best punishment to be meted out to corrupt officials, and I will be wrong to call this a "rising level" of corruption because we have corruption at its best here.
For many, the type of capital punishments that are being practiced in countries like China and North Korea should be the ideal punishment for corrupt offenders, I wouldn't agree any less. If there was a weightier and more humiliating punishment, I will gladly say it out.
Senators like Adeyemi Smart, have in times past called for the implementation of death penalty to be applied to corrupt public and political figures in Nigeria; this I would consider a brave call from someone who lives in a system of corrupt politicians and wants to see that corruption is managed and reduced to the barest minimum like in other western countries.
No matter how enticing death sentences sound in an attempt to weed our society of corruption, I think there are other punishments that can also be incorporated in dealing with corrupt officials; court sentences with hard labour could serve as a deterrent to corruption in the future. Imagine the likes of Bode George, Tafa Balogun being subjected to hard labour under the watchful eyes of prison wardens, this would definitely help stem corruption.


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As a D&D child of the 70's and 80's, I'd never questioned the rule of the DM. It's our shared game, but the DM is the glue that holds it together. The DM makes up the adventures (or prepares the published modules) and runs them, adjudicating both the players' actions and what response the adventure has in store for them. Players know the rules, but don't have perfect knowledge of how those rules are applied in the game world for any particular situation. In other words, the role of the DM is to rule.
But that's not necessarily true these days.
Much has been said about the empowerment of players in 3.X and especially 4th edition D&D. While not as obviously player-over-GM biased as some modern games are, the expansion of codified rules in 3.X, and the emphasis on exception-based rules in 4E, calls out for the players to take an actve role in both understanding and applying the rules specific to their characters. Nowhere is this more evident in 4E than in Organized Play games.
For the weekly Encounters program, DMs are expected to help teach the rules to new players who may have never touched D&D before, as well as keep on top of the latest twist in races and classes brought to the table by perhaps more experienced players who wish to try out the newest toys Wizard's has published for the game. And the fact that the last several seasons of Encounters have included the same pre-generated characters, rather than new ones based on the product of the month being touted (and listed as legal for the current season), haven't helped matters. Though the Essentials-formatted characters are streamlined, there is enough variation that, in conjunction with the new book that season, makes it difficult for a DM who isn't spending a lot of prep time to know the ins and outs of each class and race. So many DMs will need to rely on the players to know how their character's powers work, making judgment calls when things aren't clear, or as circumstances warrant them.
Those who come with their character powers printed out from the online Character Builder make life a little easier (and as DDI subscribers, make Wizards a little happier), assuming the power text is complete and legible. Otherwise if questions come up, it's likely a visit to lookup land in the appropriate book. Even then, unless one has access to the compendium, or had memorized errata, the answer might not be clear. And who wants to stop play during a short (2 hr give or take) session to try and cast Comprehend Rule with maybe the right components on hand?
The situation is only exacerbated in the Lair Assault program which, while touted as 2-3 hrs of play, can easily drag out to 4-6 if players and DM are not up on the capabilites of the characters and situation therein. Add to that the fact the entire breadth and depth of 4E is available and legal to use (with a few ground rules) as opposed to just Essentials plus the latest book in Encounters, and the additional complexity in Dragon magazine feats alone make up for the addional play time. There is a (justifiably?) smug Glory award for the latest Lair Assault entitled Player Bait, which rewards players who do something unexpected, and cause the DM to look up something in the Rules Compendium or Player's Handbook as a result. That award by itself indicates that the designers are expecting the players to know certain aspects of the game better than the DM. As they should – by now there is a hell of a lot to keep track of. And Lair Assault, of all the varieties of D&D available to play, is the one most geared toward being run exactly by the rules. So having the players challenge the DM's knowledge of them might seem like a good idea.
It certainly points out, as well, how the role of the DM has come to be viewed in 4E. Having run 4E since the start, and Encounters since season 4 (about a year as of this date), I feel comfortable enough with the rules to make decisions on the spot when things are not clear, and I don't always look things up. I'm not always right, by the rules-as-written, but I generally am for the fun of the game at that moment, and in many cases calling a halt to look things up wouldn't lead to a better result – just a slower one. If I am uncertain as to a decision, I might look things up, of course, to give me guidance, or make a snap decision to keep the flow going, acknowledging that I am taking this position now for the sake of the current game, and will revisit it if need be for use in the future, when I've had a chance to review the details later. But I view the decision as mine as a DM, and I see this as in line with the role of DMs in editions past, and with the oft-discussed Rule 0 – the DM may change rules as needed for the fun of the game (at least that's how I interpret it).
I know not all DMs have used their power wisely, and that some spawn the horror stories of killer DMs that see their role as adversarial to the players, and the object is to "win" against them. My view is the role of the DM is to not only have fun myself, but to see that the players have fun as well. Even in a Lair Assault game, where the players are trying to defeat the design, I don't see it as my goal to kill their characters, but rather to present them with the hardest tactical challenge I can muster with the tools Wizards has provided. If they succeed, cool! But if not, hopefully they've had fun pitting their best against the odds! Lair Assault is the closest thing to, but in no ways the equivalent of, the killer dungeon of editions past in 4E (other than the updates of those same killer dungeons, of course!).
Still, it's tempting to use those tales of games gone wrong, and view the ever increasing complexity and depth of the ruleset as a check on DM fiat and power. It seems that many of the players in the 3.x and 4E versions of the game, and some of the designers among them, have taken the increasing detail of the rules as a sign that the DM is no longer the final say on the game, but rather the interpreter and referee – an authority of course, but one open to argument and to be refuted. As indicated, it is extremely likely that many a player may know certain aspects of the game better than the DM, and this is empowering to the player. But it doesn't have to superceed the power of the DM.
In some cases, especially involving experienced players with inexperienced DMs, it can. We've had issues with new DMs stepping in to run the Encounters program at our FLGS. First off, it's really a sign of the success of the program that former players who have never DMed a game before want to step up and run the game themselves! And having run most of the weekly sessions since last February, I certainly looked forward to a chance to either play, or even take the week off. And the Encounters program, being 4E adventures built up from single scenes each week that build to a larger story over a few months, seems ideal for the new DM. usually it is, but the recent season, Beyond the Crystal Cave, was an exception. Unlike almost every Encounters scenario before it, this one had a very complex plot that required heavy NPC interaction and some heavy duty fights with multiple higher-than-average level opponents with complex power sets. And combat was not always the only or even the best solution to the problem at hand.
For a new DM, who had previously experienced the straightforward weekly fights of the early seasons of the program, it's quite understandable that things could get out of control. Especially with the current seasons incentivizing the use of the latest class combinations, leading to character types being seen and played for the first time. With unfamiliar powers and races (hello Mr. Pixie!) running around, and a new set of powerful NPCs introduced nearly every week, it would be easy for an experienced DM spending the minimum of time to prepare to get lost. And while no one can be expected to know all the ins and outs of these options, the reliance on player knowledge, and the push to 'say yes' makes it hard for a new DM to 'say no' when it is justified, or required.
Once a new DM has discovered a game has gotten out of his control, it can be nearly impossible to get back on the right track. And unfortunately that is just what was reported to have happened more than once with the just finished season. While I never observed the worst of it, I did see a DM struggling to keep on top of the situation in the wake of players who were each rushing in different directions to do their own cool thing.
Once players sense some uncertainty, or hesitation, that 'taste of blood' can lead to pushing for more leeway, or even questioning the DM's rulings, further rattling him. That sense of 'the DM is in charge' just isn't there as much these days. the DM is more of a guide than the final authority. In many ways this is good, of course. I love some narrative-ly driven games. But in a tactical game like 4E, that can lead to a mess if the DM doesn't have the experience to state the rules with authority and have his statements accepted.
Problems like this, as well as the natural attrition over the holidays season, reduced the number of tables we fielded for the last season. While we're taking steps to bring some of those players back, as well as bring new players, into the fold this season, I don't want to leave the new DMs without guidance either. So while we have more experienced DMs taking back the reigns this season, I've proposed that we start a DM 'boot camp' of sorts, to help them get the experience they need to deal with a variety of situations. It's good that WOTC is switching up the variety of encounters they present in Encounters, but that same variety makes it hard to judge what will be needed from season to season.
The idea is still in its infancy, but I propose that for those interested, they play in the weekly encounter first each Wednesday, as run by one of the more experienced DMs. They then take some time to familiarize themselves with the scenario and setup. And finally they take turns running the encounter for those same experienced DMs, as well as other prospective new DMs, in a setting where we aren't rushed to finish, and everyone can take the time to stop and ask questions, or try out actions and options.
I'm not sure how this will play out in action, but I'm hoping the newer DMs will be able to get some more experience in a less threatening setup than being responsible for everyone's enjoyment on the first run through each Wednesday. Depending on how well things go, and if the weekly scenario is appropriate, we could switch things around later in the season, or next season. Have the experienced DMs run the training session before the regular Wednesday session, to get the new DMs up to speed and having them run during the regular session. Or perhaps we will expand this to non-Encounters games, perhaps earlier (or later) versions of D&D, or even other games entirely, based on the interest of the participants (and my own experience and enthusiasm for the other games).
Anyone who has an options or idea along these lines, please chime in, I'd be grateful for the input. This is obviously still just in the formative stages, but I've had interest expressed from potential new DMs as well as from experienced DMs who would also participate in the 'training'.
Tags: D&D, D&D Next, DM, Encounters, Organized Play


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A CA real estate blog for Orange and Los Angeles Counties by top local real estate agents
Friday, June 4, 2010
SB 1178 - Controversial Protection for Foreclosed Homeowners - Right or Wrong?
It's official today! SB 1178 just approved this afternoon by the Senate despite opposition from major lenders. The bill passed by a vote of 30 to 4.
In layman's terms. The bill will extend protection to homeowners who have been foreclosed upon. More specifically, lenders have been officially restricted from going after the personal assets of the borrower (except for the property that was foreclosed upon) even if the borrower refinanced (as long as the refinance was not a "cash out" or similar refinance). Refinances to simply get a lower interest rate with zero "cash out" will fall also fall under the protective wing of this bill.
Todd's quick implication examples for SB 1178:
A) Joe lost his house to foreclosure, Joe never refinanced and the entire loan amount was all money used to buy the house. **Joe is and has always been safe from the bank going after his bank accounts and other assets**
B) Jane lost her house to foreclosure, Jane did refinance but she only did so to get a lower interest rate and never pulled money out of the home. **Jane is now safe from the bank going after her bank accounts and other assets**
C) Tom lost his house in foreclosure, Tom refinanced and took some cash out of the house to buy another property and a jet ski. **Tom may not be safe from the bank going after his other assets**
D) Theresa lost her house to foreclosure, Theresa refinanced and took some cash out but only used it t do construction projects to the same house. **Theresa is now safe from the bank going after her bank accounts and other assets.**
- Pro: Allowing banks to go after personal assets outside of the home in question causes banks to become less critical than they should be of the homes they are lending on because of additional security in the borrowers personal assets. Lack of criticism by banks toward the homes they are lending on is partly to blame for the current housing market situation.
-Con: Banks need recourse via personal assets when borrowers refinance since they are outside of the original terms of the loan. Borrowers have clearly signed paperwork stating that they understand the forfeiture of these rights as part of the exchange (say for a lower interest rate) in a refinance. Cutting off recourse to lending institutions only increases the risk of doing business and therefore costs to consumers.
What do you think?
Was this the right or wrong thing to do? Why?
Will this hurt or help us?
Should banks be allowed to go after a consumers personal assets after foreclosure?Should consumers always have foreclosure protection regardless of refinances?
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The US Army Corps of Engineers offers more recreational facilities for Weathersfield at Stoughton Pond and the North Springfield Lake areas. Nonetheless, we can take a essentially preliminary look at what the cost of development and operation of a new recreation heart by updating the various elements and evaluation in B&D's 2009 examine. It might raise large amounts of money in taxes, create jobs, and eradicate the need to spend money prohibiting marijuana use. Help of community recreation proams must be by means of tax funds beneath some dpartment of the native authorities. Parks and recreation are very important to our society, financial system and to our everyday life.
Near Home Espresso resides in Key Center, nestled within the brand new Meals Market procuring center. Here is to the success of the National Recreation and Park Affiliation Annual Congress in St. Louis this yr, from one attendee who was actually impressed once more!
Off-highway motorized vehicle recreation, boating activities, horseback using, on and off-street biking, hiking, tenting, and mountain climbing are some of the recreational activities loved in 280 state parks organized into 22 discipline districts all through the state.
Palmdale presents all kinds of recreational actions for all ages ranging from grownup and youth sports activities to art, illustration, Tiny Tots and Fitness Flex & Stretch for seniors – you are sure to find a program to satisfy your distinctive needs.
Every group should present opportunity for the children once they depart school to proceed the musical and dramatic and other specialized recreation actions which they've loved throughout faculty days. We're proud to announce the discharge of Financial Affect of Outside Recreation in Whatcom County, Washington. This is a should watch video for all of us who've been engaged in efforts to reopen Clear Creek to OHV use.


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What we made: Fairy Gardens (also known as Toad Abodes or Gnome Houses)
-base containers (I used mostly old cake and pie tins that I picked up at a local thrift shop. Plastic storage containers, large plastic take-out containers and sturdy shoe boxes might also work.)
-paint & brushes
-string and fishing line
-hot glue gun
-plants (a variety, some purchased, others donated by friends with overflowing flowerbeds. Petite plants work best, mosses and small succulents are perfectly suited for this project.)
-stuff from nature: shells, stones, twigs, sticks, pinecones, etc.
(more supplies listed after the jump!)
-wander your local craft store for inspiration! Some of the most popular things I bought there included:
---- itty bitty flower pots, wooden picks, mini clothespins and miniature bird house ornaments (from the "unfinished wooden things" section)
----teeny jingle bells, small mirrors
What participants did:
--some painted their birdhouses.
--this one made a mailbox (with mail!)
--this one built a very complex fence
--this one had a clothesline
--this one had a great, bell-draped "chandelier"
--acorn cap "mushrooms," stone cairns and shell birdbaths
--twig chairs


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As I walked towards the room and grasped the door handle, I could feel the eyes on my back from the members already seated. The door closed behind me and the cool air from the air condition made for a more comfortable feeling as I knelt down to the confessional window to have my sins confessed. Time did not matter at that point, nor did I think about who may have seen me enter the confessional, a room that many Catholics neglect to go into.
The appearance of the confessional at my Parish has been updated with touches to make you leave behind the worries and fear of what you are about to take part in. With a sign just above the door, there is no need to wonder where the room is located (just remember to genuflect as you approach the tabernacle). The door has been changed to a solid door from the louver door, making for a very quiet conversation while inside, therefore preventing someone from hearing my transgressions. How to know if the room is occupied of not you may wonder? Well no need to wonder any longer, especially if no one is waiting on the outside to tell you that it is occupied, for just above the door is a green and red light (red means occupied, while green means available). As I indicated earlier, the room has been air-conditioned to make you and the Priest comfortable while engaging in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Will these changes draw in more people to a practice that has been around for centuries? Probably not! As human beings we care so much about what people say about us, that we avoid the Sacrament for fear of being judged. We judge without even trying to get all of the details before jumping to conclusions. Let's say I am seen walking into a clinic known to treat HIV and AIDS patients, automatically I must have the disease. How about considering that I may be just going inside to use the phone or ask a question? Likewise, when someone walks into the confessional he/she tends to wonder who is watching while those observing the candidate going into the confessional begin to wonder what major sin could that person have committed? Does it really matter, shouldn't we be happy that this person recognizes their frailty and the need to reconcile with the Body of Christ?
There are many Catholics who refuse to take part in the Sacrament of Confession. The only way to get over the fear of this Sacrament is recognizing and admitting that you are a sinner. We all sin and will continue to fall short of God's Glory. Pride is a great sin and should not be taken lightly. Do you think to yourself while watching someone partake of the sacrament that you do not need to confess your sins because you are a good person and do not offend God? First of all, good people are going to hell, plain and simple. Secondly, you have just committed the sin of pride by looking at yourself as being better than the individual going into confession.
What exactly is a Sacrament and how can it help us as Christians? A Sacrament is defined as an outward sign instituted by Christ to give Grace. There are seven Sacraments and Penance/Reconciliation just happens to be one of them. I do not believe any one person has ever experienced all of the Sacraments, but one that all Catholics are required to take part in is the Sacrament of Penance. However, many avoid this Sacrament and fail to recognize the need for it.
Consider what happens when you are at a party and the music begins; it takes some time to get warmed up before getting on the dance floor. We wait to see who will be the first to start dancing then we will follow suit. With every song that's played you begin to feel more and more comfortable getting on the floor without waiting for someone to take the lead. Those in certain positions should lead by example, whether it be Eucharistic Ministers, Altar servers or those associated with certain ministries, they should find it in themselves to show others how simple it is to get into the confessional. No Parish is looking for bragging rights to say that they are getting its members to partake of this Sacrament, rather it is a gift given to us by Jesus that the Church is mandated to offer the members of the Church.
Hopefully with the newly renovated confessional at the Parish of St. Thomas More there will be more who will begin to feel the need to participate. We are carrying around so much baggage that it becomes a burden. We should not be approaching the Altar to participate in the Sacrament of Eucharist with the stain of sin on us. With the availability of confession 30 minutes before Mass at STM wouldn't you want to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ with a clean slate?
We can never believe for a moment that we are at a point in our lives where we do not require confession of our sins. Confession is one aspect of the process, however there is another aspect that we must consider when utilizing this gift. I always like to use "The Jerry Springer Show" as an example of how easy it is to confess to a grander audience yet we have an issue when Jesus asks that we confess in order to receive forgiveness. On that particular show, the participants confess what they do, but do not have an ounce of quilt or repentance for their actions. This is why it is important to know that using the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives way for one to express their sincerest regret and sorrow for their actions.
The Priest through the power vested in him is able to discern whether the person is sorry for his/her sins. You may hear some people (even Catholics) say: "I go directly to God, to express my sorrows for my sins," but are you certain that you were sorry when you asked? You see, God knows our hearts and we cannot fool Him, some of the things we confess to God we know within ourselves that we can't wait to do it again. We know that there are no secrets we can hold back from God, but even if we say with our heart and mind that we are sorry, He still expects for us to say so with our mouths. It's the same as Him knowing our needs; even though God knows what we need, He still expects us to ask.
Anyone who has used the Sacrament knows immediately that they have been forgiven of their sins and walk out with a sense of cleanliness. The burden that you have been carrying with you have been released. So why do we need to seek reconciliation? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: CCC 1422 "Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church that they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion."
Priests do not forgive sins even though the noise in the market suggests otherwise. Priests acts in the capacity of Persona Christi given authority by Jesus. We are simply following the plan laid down by Jesus Christ. God forgives sins through the priest, it is God's power, but He exercises that power through the ministry of the priest. James 5:14-16 - Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. (NRSV)
The confessional is not only for people who have committed major offenses against God, but rather for any issues that have offended Him whether it be a venial or mortal sin. I am always told that my facial expression tells a thousand stories. Did I enter the confessional with guilt written over my face? Probably, but I cannot worry about what others think when I approach God for forgiveness. I would prefer to deal with a little gossip than to have my soul sent to hell for eternity. If you find yourself gossiping when someone walks into the confessional, please join the line, for you need the Sacrament just as much as every else. Maybe the next time I walk out I will jump and dance to express my freedom and bondage from sin, but I wouldn't want anyone to think I was crazy.
A big fear that people have about confession is whether the sins they tell the Priest will be kept in strictest confidence. Hey, I also had that fear until I recognized that I am a sinner and needed reconciliation. Once I got over the fear and opened those secret doors within my heart did I know for certain that I was forgiven. A good confession of a sin that warranted immediate reconciliation will normally have you balling in tears as you express your sincere sorrow for committing the sin. There is nothing wrong with shedding a tear, it is a sign of true humility. I am reminded by a Priest of the Archdiocese of Pennsylvania that the way to know how to choose a Priest to hear your confession you should observe the way they participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist during Mass. Go to other Parishes and have your confessions heard another Priest if you are afraid of divulging information to your Priest. Personally I do not believe they sit there judging us, they too are sinners and require confession just like you and me. I encourage you to go to confession as frequent as necessary.
Are you keeping a door within your heart closed with secrets that you do not want to let Jesus access. Jesus wants us to open the secret door within our heart and let Him in. The confessional breaks down that door that we hide away from others to see.


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Looking for big cats in the beautiful Lowveld.
We flew into the Hoedspruit airport on a small plane. Below us the land was orange and dry, speckled with trees but significantly absent of summer grass. The airport is a tiny brick building, not really an airpot at all. The lack of boarding gates, luggage carousels and burly officials make it more of a welcome party, which is the best way to start a holiday (even if it's just for the weekend). An hour away we stepped into our lodging for a quick lunch and then excitedly climbed into the Landie for a weekend of incredible leopard and lion sightings, among other incredible blessings of the bushveld.
The Timbavati lies west of the Kruger National Park, roughly north of Orpen gate covering an enormous area of 54 000 hectares. There is no fence between these parks and animals roam freely across the invisible divide. The reserve is famous because white lions were first seen here in the 1970s and although we weren't lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these snowy-looking felines there was plenty to keep our eyes peeled for. Here are a few of my favourite wildlife snaps from the top of the safari truck.