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A few days ago the US Supreme Court heard arguments on the case Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt and I am excited about this.
From reports it seems that the dynamics on the Supreme Court have changed significantly since Antonin Scalia's death in February and that the three female judges on the bench gave the lawyers in this case hell and were determined to get their questions answered irrespective of time limits and other formal rules usually imposed on the Court.
This blog by Dahlia Lithwick is worth a look. The case is about abortion clinics. It's about issues which profoundly impact on women so we shouldn't be surprised or even shocked that women taken an interest, that women want to fully understand, that women want to draw out the rhetoric and get to the substance and that women will not take no for an answer until they are satisfied that they fully understand the arguments made and until they are satisfied that they have all the information they need to make up their minds. This is important stuff. Important stuff that impacts on women more than it does on men.
In Hellerstedt, maybe for the first time ever, we saw women taking control of the US Supreme Court. Not women trying to persuade men to do the right thing, not women pleading for their rights, not women trying to frame their case in ways which the judiciary can understand and identify with. We saw women taking control, asking the questions, framing the debate, pointing out the obvious flaws in some of the basic legal arguments. The questioning, the arguments, all of it is impressive. It's a lesson in what the best legal minds can do when they turn their attention to something that is really important to them.
So why am I excited? Well, I have been thinking and writing about gender equality and I have been thinking, writing and teaching about the impact of gender on EU law and policy. I have often struggled to really explain why I think gender makes a difference and why I think a critical mass of women makes a difference. I think the way the arguments were conducted and the way the three women judges conducted themselves in Hellerstedt is a great example of how and why gender matters. It is also an illustration that the balance of power in a court is important and that if and when that power shifts for any reasons the dynamics can change very quickly and dramatically. I am excited because the case gives me hope that my work makes sense, that it is important and that I can add to the understanding of how our legal systems work by trying to better understand the impact of gender.
I have recently written about some of this in an EU context in a book chapter which will be published later this year. It's called 'Law as the Object and Agent of Integration: Gendering the Court of Justice of the European Union, its decisions and their impact' and is included in a fantastic book edited by Professors Gabriele Abels and Heather McRae. The book is called 'Gendering European Integration Theory' and is published by the Barbara Budrich Verlag and includes contributions by political scientists and sociologists who collectively shine a very different light on EU integration.
International Women's Day (March 8) always makes me think about what we have achieved in terms of gender equality but also how much is left to do and I want to leave you with the words of one of my feminist heroes because the reality is, all female panels, benches, anythings still raise far more eyebrows and elicit far more comments than all male anythings and as long as that is the case, we need International Women's Day as a reminder that we're not there yet!
"So now the perception is, yes, women are here to stay. And when I'm sometimes asked when will there be enough [women on the supreme court]? And I say when there are nine, people are shocked. But there'd been nine men, and nobody's ever raised a question about that." – Ruth Bader Ginsburg


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{an emotional goodbye with daddy at the airport}
{auntie dd & cedar hanging out on a front loader at the farm}
{playing the chase game with auntie la la in the almond orchard}
{reading with grandmarmie...she is still uber skinny but is on the way to healing and getting better! cedar is wearing his fisherman pants and a kicky pants shirt he got from grandmarmie for his birthday}
{a new game that cedar invented. we call it the "hug train"...uncle marky, auntie dd & cedar}
{the country glow that we always get while at the farm. shirt from Splendid Littles. scarf handmade last year by his auntie pammie and hat from canada is a gift from uncle jon-erik/boho brother}
{grandmarmie brought over a box so that he could play house. we all decided to color it. uncle marky is such an artist and drew a gorgeous tree on one side}
{cedar and me one FREEZING morning at the farm saying hello to the doggies Pandora & Zeus. lion hat and sweater from Baby Gap}
{snuggling up all warm and cozy inside with auntie la la}
{his favorite game that uncle jj taught him...throwing stones in the pond. here he is with auntie dd trying to make bubbles with each throw. cedar is wearing fisherman pants and sweater from Baby Gap}
{grandmarmie & cedar watching the doggies in the morning run like crazy around the orchard}
{mommy loves this canadian hat from uncle jon-erik that just covers his cold little ears. scarf made by auntie pammie and striped shirt from Target}
{reading on the airplane ride home...just like his daddy}
{we had a few emotional days while adjusting to travel and teething. he is a trouper. "compassion" shirt from Joy Spread the Word and custom Tree hat from Everyday Beautiful.}
{taken this morning and in better spirits. wearing his new kicky pants shirt that auntie dd got for his bday, fisherman pants and shoes from Bobux}
here is a video from today of my boys jamming together:
ps. you can still enter the yummy ecourse giveaway here until sunday night!

subset: commoncrawl


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My fees vary depending on the work involved and are in keeping with the pricing range cited by the British Psychological Society (2008).
Individual therapy sessions are competitively priced, with many people finding their insurance company will fund their treatment (fee assured).
Neuropsychological assessment fees are arranged on an individual basis and are costed with regards the extent of testing required and the nature of the assessment question to be answered.
Consultation fees are, as individual therapy, often funded by organisations.
Research and audit fees are, as neuropsychological assessments, arranged on a per project basis.
Please do contact me to discuss my fee structure/pricing as needed.


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The story of Meena
A true gratitude report does just that. It oozes warmth and appreciation for the good work of donors. If you have nailed it, by the time they turn the last page, they quietly smile to themselves and acknowledge that when they decided to make a gift to your organization, they made a wonderful decision. This gratitude report for CODE (an organization that supports literacy and learning in Canada and around the world) focuses on the story of Meena.


text: Description: Visiting Angels Home Care offers trusted and compassionate home care assistance and elder care services in Union County, NJ, Essex County, NJ, and the surrounding areas. Our unparalleled standard of non medical in home care ensures that your senior will be well looked after by qualified home care providers. With our multi step screening process, you can be sure that our staff has the right training and expertise to take excellent care of your loved ones.


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Nino the cross-eyed kitty.
Once again, Margie finds the warm sunbeam.
Margie peeks outside while Nino snoozes.
Sheba with a flower.
Ruth tried to turn Sheba into a 49ers fan, but it's obvious she's a Raiders fan, after all, she's already silver and black!
Sheba and Shasta play together in Visalia.
Sheba in Visalia.
Shasta wants to play some more.
Sheba decided that she wants to drive.


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Samsung CCTV products for video surveillance (network cameras, encoders, Digital Video Recorders and Network Video Recorders) are managed through a single application, named Samsung Security Manager (SSM).
The SSM application is critical because,
The operators relying on the Samsung Security Manager application must react immediately to the slightest incident. The idea of an IT failure compromising the video surveillance and the operators' view is totally unthinkable.
SafeKit is a simple and economical high availability software. SafeKit is installed on two standard Windows PCs or servers (physical or virtual). Without changing the Samsung Security Manager (SSM) application, a mirror module implements real-time replication of SSM data over the network, automatic restart of the SSM application in case of failure and failover of the virtual IP address.
For 24x7 high availability of Samsung Security Manager download a free trial here.
Tommy Park, CEO, WithNCompany, South Korea:
"WithNCompany is a reseller of Evidian SafeKit in South Korea. WithNCompany has deployed many SafeKit high availability solutions with the Samsung Video Surveillance Platform and with the SSM application. SafeKit is appreciated because the product is easy to install and very quickly deployed. The SSM application does not need to be modified to run in the high availability mode. The SSM application can be installed on the default C: drive and there is no need to configure a separate disk volume. SafeKit is able to make real-time replication of SSM folders inside the C: drive. Moreover, for cost saving, SafeKit can be installed on 2 Windows PCs instead of 2 servers."
For 24x7 high availability of Samsung Security Manager download a testimonial here.
This video shows the configuration of a mirror module. By viewing this video, you will understand how to customize a mirror module and you will be able to do it for the SSM application. The video also shows how the module operates in case of software or hadware failures.


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I told you earlier about doing a commissioned painting for the singer songwriter Darryl Purpose. Now I'm excited to receive my very own copy of the "Still the Birds" Darryl Purpose CD. My painting was used on the cover! It's so fun to finally see the real thing and hold it in my hand. Wow, I'm so honored! I love Darryl's music! I'm going to listen to it right after I post this. The art direction, design and layout of…Read More »
Commissioned painting and Darryl Purpose's new CD "Still the Birds"
This is a little story of a commissioned painting I did for Darryl Purpose but it's also a story of meeting Darryl, his music and how it's touched me. When Darryl Purpose approached me to paint a commissioned painting to go on his upcoming new CD, I was thrilled! I immediately said yes! I've known Darryl from way back when I was living on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington. That would be around 1996. I first met Darryl when…Read More »
New whimsical bird painting
This is a new whimsical bird painting titled "Swinging on a Peaceful, Breezy Day," 12″ x 12″, acrylic on wood.Read More »
New colorful, whimsical greeting cards for sale
I have packages of new greeting cards for sale. There are whimsical birds and colorful trees. Take a look. You can find them for sale in my Etsy Shop. Maybe these cards would make a great gift for someone you know? Enjoy the holidays! I'm hoping for snow!Read More »
Whimsical Raven Painting titled "Mr. Raven, Meet Miss Web"
This raven painting cracks me up. When the title came to me, I just laughed. It seemed fitting. I love that my raven has a personality named Mr. Raven. He's a bit mysterious, a bit devious, definitely the trickster! Print added to my Etsy Shop.Read More »
#twitterartexhibit created by David Sandum and my "Flying From a Leap of Faith" Art
I've finished and mailed my #twitterartexhibit piece titled "Flying From a Leap of Faith." It will be entered into the Twitter Art Exhibit in L.A. I donated a piece last year to the exhibit when it was held in Moss, Norway. This year it's in Los Angeles on January 12, 2013. The Twitter Art website says, "Twitter Art Exhibit: Los Angeles is the third installment of an open international exhibition of handmade postcard art for charity, donated by hundreds of participating artists from around…Read More »
New Acrylic Hummingbird and Garden Painting
I've finished some new paintings and I'll be posting them here in the weeks to come. It's been fabulous painting again in my Baja studio! I love the light and looking at palm trees and the view of the ocean. I feel very grrateful for the opportunity to create art in this kind of setting. I'll first put my new work on the VIP page of my website for those who have access to view first and then a week later I'll…Read More »
Development of a painting – Protecting the Nest III
I was painting about a dozen canvases and pieces on wood while I was taking the Bloom True e-course by Flora Bowley. I'm still working on some of the pieces and they are developing and changing and don't look anything like the way they started. It's always interesting to me to watch a painting develop. In the future I'll be posting some of these pieces to show you. What I love about the Bloom True e-course is you can take…Read More »
New, original acrylic painting
A new raven painting to share. Protecting the Nest III, acrylic on canvas, 19″ x 23″, framed, $625, © 2012 L. Gruger Print available in my Etsy Shop.Read More »
Be Here Now
Sometimes, when I'm waiting for something, I have to remind myself to "be here now". To be mindful that the present is where it's at. It's easy to put myself into a stressful mindset, thinking about the future and where I want to be. And sometimes I can't help myself to look back on the past to see how far I've been. It's this tug of war of past and future and that is where the stress comes in. If…Read More »
"Two Ravens Sit and Reflect" Painting Series
I wanted to share two raven paintings that I finished the other day. I've been working on this raven series titled "Two Ravens Sit and Reflect" for awhile now and I finished two more paintings for it. I like the play on words that I use in the titles for these paintings. The first one is titled "Two Ravens Sit and Reflect on the Waves." Inspired from when we went to the beach the other day and watched the surfers…Read More »
My Little Red Bird Print is in an Etsy Treasury
My little red bird print, "She Felt the Sum Beaming", is garnering some attention over on Etsy.com. She's in a beautiful bird Treasury picked out by the Hola Greeting Card Company. Hola Cards makes fun greeting cards and many of them have spanish sentiments on them. They're very unique and they're not printed, they're made by hand! That's what I love about Etsy…the unique handmade items that an independent artist is making just for you! Love that! ♥Read More »
New Whimsical Bird Art – Original Acrylic Paintings
I have some new whimsical bird art that I would like to share with you. They're acrylics on paper. Mostly small. I've been painting these little bird creatures for a number of years now. They started showing up in my paintings when we moved to Bend, Oregon in 2003. We have tons of birds in our backyard. Lots of hummingbirds and quail in the summer. Robins, jays, ravens and chickadees the rest of the time. I'd like to make a…Read More »


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One of the most difficult things about debating with people about the existence of god is that everyone seems to have a different definition of god. I have never heard a definition that made any sense to me, it's one of the many reasons I don't believe in a god or gods. Many characteristics that I commonly hear associated with the Judeo-Christian god seem to not exactly match up with what's described in the bible. Although to that sort of statement believers typically tell me I'm reading it wrong. But that's beside the point I'm getting at because most of the time it seems like people aren't really basing their definition of god on what is in the holy books.
Most definitions I encounter are very vague and often ever-changing, and statements like "we can't possibly understand" and "he works in mysterious ways" assist believers in avoiding answering what god is. It's always a funny coincidence that god's morals seem to pretty much match up with all the beliefs and opinions of the faithful, from the right-winger that says god doesn't like homosexuality to the left-winger that says god accepts all no matter what. This is why I don't really like to debate about the existence of god with believers; it's pointless to debate something if there isn't even a clear definition for what you're debating about. In my experience, it seems like believers are a bit defensive about god because their personal god is a reflection of who they are. So in a way, I have to admit that their god does exist, but just in their mind as a collection of thoughts and opinions the same way a friendly pink unicorn exists in my mind when I think of it.
One of the things that lead me down the path to being a militant atheist was my personal belief that honesty is very important, and I think being truly honest can only really begin when one is honest with themselves. It's often very difficult to be brutally honest at times, especially with ourselves. So when I was younger and getting interested in philosophy, the concept of intellectual honesty really spoke to me and has been one of the driving forces behind how I try to conduct myself and my passions. When striving to be intellectually honest, the key is to do your best to not allow personal beliefs to interfere with the truth and to look at facts in an unbiased manner. I feel a good way to keep yourself in check is to ask yourself things you would ask others. Even when I was trying hard to be a good Christian as an adolescent I was curious about other religions and would ask friends of different faiths to explain what they believed and it lead me to question why they believed it. This in turn made me eventually realize I should be asking myself those kinds of questions too. When I could barely get past coming up with a good definition of what I thought god was, I realized it was pretty pointless for me to believe. The definitions I came up with fell flat logically and I realized I was basing them on bias sources, like my upbringing and education. It hit me that I mainly was trying to believe because I felt pressured to by the culture around me.
I think everyone is guilty of lying to themselves in some capacity and that's alright, I think life would be very miserable if we all didn't lie to ourselves a little bit, but I think one of the keys is to keep it to a minimum. People can believe in the existence of god if they want, it's just my opinion they might not be being fully honest with themselves and are avoiding asking certain questions. I'm still open to any good definitions and evidence of god, but until then I simply don't know and don't believe in a god or gods and don't care to debate it.


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Loon Watch Vacation Rental
Loon Watch Vacation Home is a beautiful 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom year-round vacation home on Lost Lake. Our home features all the personal touches to give you that relaxing, up-north getaway feel while boasting all the modern amenities you seek while at your home away from home.
Conveniently positioned just steps away from the 544 acre sandy bottomed lake and the snowmobile trail, this places offers everything you may be looking for any time of the year!
Our home features a fieldstone gas fireplace, knotty pine walls, central air, tiled bathrooms, an open concept first floor with stunning views of the lake from nearly every angle, lakeside fire pit, grill, picnic table, pier, paddleboat, HDTV with a DVD player, high speed internet, ROKU internet TV services including ESPN, HBO, Showtime, Netflix and more.
The main floor has a bedroom with a queen bed and a full bathroom, along with a kitchen, dining area and living room. The second floor has 2 rooms with a queen and twin bed in each room, which are adjoined by a full Jack and Jill bath. Also on the second floor is the 3rd bedroom, which has 2 twin beds. All rooms are furnished with classic Northwood's decor to complete your up-north experience.
Whether you are looking for a place to fish, swim, snowmobile or simply sit back and listen to the beautiful call of the loons, a stay in our home will make your vacation one to remember!
Or $1850/Week
SUMMER Weekly Rentals Only!
Loon Watch Vacation Home is a year 'round rental that rents Saturday to Saturday from the 3rd Saturday of June to the 3rd Saturday of August. Outside of that time it rents daily, weekly, or longer with a 3 day minimum rental period. This home has a no pet policy.
Check In: After 3:00 pm
Check Out: 9:00 am
All rates are based on 10 people. Children 2 and under sleep free. Extra people are $15 per night and $75 per week. State and local sales taxes apply.
Rates provided are subject to change and may differ for holiday or special event reservation dates.
A 25% deposit is required to confirm your reservation. All reservation, deposit and payment policies for Hiller Vacation Homes apply. See our website for details. Loon Watch Vacation Home is a non-smoking facility.
The balance of the bill is due in full at check in or at time of cancellation via your credit card on file.
Pontoon boat, outboard motor, fishing boat, paddle board and kayak rentals are available through Hiller Vacation Homes. All reservation, deposit and payment policies for Hiller Vacation Homes apply. See our brochure or website for details.


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Honor Flight gives WW II vets a trip, and a salute
A day in Washington, D.C, all expenses paid, is one way to say 'thank you'
For World War II veteran Harold Parkes, a trip to see the new World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., was beyond description.
"It was just hard to describe," Parkes said. "It was spectacular. To see it in reality is altogether amazing."
Of course, having an organization that flies veterans to the nation's capital to see the memorials for free makes things even better.
"Our goal is to give every World War II veteran, who wants to go to D.C., and is able, to get to see the [World War II] memorial," said Ray Wiedle, the chairman of the Land of Lincoln branch of the Honor Flight. "It's just a way of saying thank you to the veterans."
The local Land of Lincoln Honor Flight branch, the organization that takes veterans to war memorials in Washington, D.C., for one day, was formed and recognized by the national Honor Flight organization in March of 2009. The local branch was able to take 99 veterans to Washington, D.C., in its first year. Since then, the organization has managed to take more than 100 more World War II veterans to see the World War II Memorial as well as the Korea and Vietnam War memorials. The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight hopes to take as many more veterans as funding allows, however the organization does not allow the veterans to pay for anything. For every two veterans there is a guardian, who assists them and pays for their own ticket. The group relies on donations to pay for tickets for the veterans they take, which cost about $475 per person.
Wiedle originally got involved in the Honor Flight program after he moved from Chatham to St. Anne, Mo. His real estate broker was a member of the program and encouraged Wiedle to join as a guardian. When he was on one of the flights, Wiedle found that there was no branch available for veterans from central Illinois. Soon, Wiedle, from his new home in Missouri, worked with others to form the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight Branch, gathering donations and sending veterans to Washington, D.C.
"I feel like I was called to do it," Wiedle said.
Woody Shadid, a field artillery veteran who finished World War II as a staff sergeant, will be attending the next trip to Washington, D.C., on June 22 with other veterans from Springfield and the surrounding area. His nephew will be accompanying him as his guardian.
"I think it's great," Shadid said. "It'll be a very emotional moment."
Shadid still vividly remembers his experiences in the war, but he was extremely happy to come home.
"We came back Christmas Day, 1945," Shadid said. "It was snowing when we landed. There was a young couple welcoming everybody, standing out in the snow. That really meant something."
The appreciation for WW II veterans back then extends to today. "You can't imagine the crowd that was at the capital [Washington, D.C.]," Parkes said. "It was amazing how many of them wanted to stop and take your picture or take a picture with us."
Parkes' group was also able to view the changing of the guard at Arlington cemetery and viewed the Korea and Vietnam War memorials, but he was truly impressed by the enthusiasm and respect people gave them in Washington, D.C.
"You felt humbled to be there," Parkes said. "The crowd in Springfield was welcoming you whether they knew you or not."
The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is funded entirely by donations from businesses and organizations, with many groups holding fundraisers so that the veterans don't have to pay anything for the trip. For Ray Wiedle, the work is worth the sacrifice to give something back to the veterans.
"It's such a rewarding feeling to talk to the veterans and their spouses. Tom Brokaw called them the greatest generation and the more I talk to the veterans the more I agree with Tom Brokaw," Wiedle said. "They truly are the greatest generation."
Donations to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight can be made by mail to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, P.O. Box 403, Chatham, Ill. 62629. Donations can also be made at any of the Marine Bank branches in Springfield, Chatham or Champaign. More information is available at landoflincolnhonorflights.com.
Contact Jackson Adams at email@example.com.


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Happy July from PRSA!
Here is what you should be on the lookout for this month and next:
Webinars (Free for Members)
- July 12: Media Training for Media Trainers
- July 14: Key Message Development
- July 19: How to Monitor Anything
- July 21: Craft Content Marketing Pieces That Almost Write Themselves
- July 26: Online Influencer and Stakeholder Mapping
- Aug. 9: Guiding Leaders to Make Wise Decisions in a Crisis
Workshops/Partner Events
- July 26-27: Social Media & Storytelling Summit
- July 27-28: "NOT Your Father's News Release" Writing Workshop
- Aug. 10-11: PR Writing Conference
- Aug. 18: Think Like a Friend, Fan, Follower or Visitor
- Aug. 26: Brand Journalism Workshop for Corporate Communicators
To register or learn more about webinars, workshops and partner events, click here.
- July 5: Nomination Committee Endorsement Deadline
- July 18: Individual Awards Nomination Deadline
- Aug. 26: International Conference Saver Rate Ends
- Aug. 31: Counselors to Higher Education West Coast Forum Saver Rate Ends
Upcoming Events
Not a member? Join PRSA today and become a part of one of the largest communities for public relations and communication professionals!
- Sept. 26-27: Counselors to Higher Education West Coast Forum, San Francisco, CA
- Oct. 23-25: International Conference, Indianapolis, IN
Happy July from PRSA!
Source: www.prsa.com


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A man is facing a jail sentence after his top-of-the-range sports car crashed into an elderly motorcyclist from Whitby, causing devastating injuries.
Joe Leonard, 26, was behind the wheel of a Toyota MR2 which was driven on the wrong side of the road as it approached a bend on the A171 at Cloughton.
It struck the oncoming motorbike on the brow of a hill, causing "very serious" injuries to 71-year-old rider Alan Atkinson.
Mr Atkinson, from Fylingthorpe, is said to have spent about two months in hospital.
Leonard, of Barugh Green Road, Barnsley, was arrested and charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving on June 22 last year.
He appeared at York Crown Court on Monday when he admitted the charge.
The smartly-dressed defendant, wearing a navy-blue suit, white shirt and tie, had hoped to be sentenced on the day but the case was adjourned for medical reports and a victim-impact statement to establish the precise level of injury and the effect it had had on Mr Atkinson's life.
Prosecutor Andrew Semple said that Leonard's Toyota had crossed the double white lines in the road and drove into the path of Mr Atkinson's motorbike on a bend near the brow of a hill.
He added, however, that there was no suggestion that Leonard had been speeding.
Mr Semple said the victim was still in hospital by August of last year - some two months after the accident took place.
Leonard's barrister Nicholas Adlington said that thus far a proper accident-investigation report had not been produced showing just how far Leonard was over the double white lines, adding that his client was of an otherwise "impeccable" character.
Recorder Benjamin Nolan QC adjourned sentence to May 12 but warned Leonard's defence team: "He must understand that he is looking at an immediate prison sentence."
He gave Leonard an interim driving ban pending sentence and granted the defendant bail.


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Introducing Vitamin D Video. Our easy-to-use software brings professional-grade video monitoring to anyone with a webcam or network camera. Know exactly what you've missed without scanning hours of video.
Our single camera version is free.
The ideal monitoring software for home and small business
Vitamin D Video detects people and moving objects in video streams for security and monitoring purposes. It runs on a PC or Mac, and uses off-the-shelf USB webcams or network (IP) cameras.
For the first time, professional performance with real-time alerts is available to everyone.
Source: Vitamin D Inc
Popularity: 3% [?]


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Jackson Hole Jewelry Co.
18 Karat Yellow Hinged Teton Outline Stacking Bracelet
$ 4,900
The Teton Outline Stacking bracelet is the perfect companion for any trip-casual enough for sight-seeing, sophisticated enough for a destination wedding. Combine them for a stylish mixed-metal look or wear alone as an eternal statement piece.
- 18 Karat Yellow Gold
- Hinged Design with Safety Clasp
- 5mm Width
- Available in Small (46 mm x 58.5 mm) or Medium (55mm x 65mm) Sizes
- Also available in .925 Sterling Silver, 18 Karat White Gold, and 18 Karat Yellow Gold with Diamond Pavé


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Thursday, May 09, 2013
The allure of 'yellow fever': New documentary explores why so many white American men aspire to marry Asian women
"Asian" is too broad below. The pattern described below fits women from the Philippines but much less so women from China. The Chinese ladies are on average much brighter.
Australia's largest minority (about 5% of the population) is Han Chinese and do they have a visible effect! Chinese-origin women in Australia want one thing and they will forgive a lot to get it. They want a TALL husband. So if you see a couple about the place that includes a Chinese lady, the man will be tall, almost without exception.
He may be a tall Chinese but there are few of them. He will usually be a tall Caucasian. He may even be a bit of a dummy but the lady will put up with that in order to have children taller than herself. So it is not yellow fever in the men that is at work but tallness-capturing by the Asian ladies. They like big men
A new documentary, which airs tonight on PBS, explores the psychology behind yellow fever - the phenomenon that sees white men attracted to, and sometimes even obsessed with, Asian women.
Filmed and directed by Debbie Lum, a fourth-generation Chinese-American from St Louis, Missouri, Seeking Asian Female looks to discover why many men see Asians as ideal wives, a concept that is 'very painful for the Asian-American community,' Ms Lum told ABC News.
According to the filmmaker, there is an overriding perception that women of that particular race are more docile and make for obedient life partners, a stereotype that is offensive and often untrue.
Indeed, according to Goal Auzeen Saedi, a post-doctoral fellow in counseling at Stanford University, the dominant perception is that women from Asia are 'submissive'.
In a 2011 Psychology Today article, Dr Saedi explained that the men who desire Asian women - most of them Caucasians themselves - are sending an 'underlying message about power, dominance and white privilege'.
It is exactly that attitude that Ms Lum sought to expose in her debut feature-length film.
'Every Asian-American woman knows exactly what I am talking about,' she said. 'Men come up to you in a way that really looks like a stare, which lasts a bit longer than it should. 'You can feel it,' she continued. 'It's like they are looking through you.'
In the film, Ms Lum follows the lives of Steven, a twice-divorced 60-year-old on the hunt for an Asian bride, and Sandy, the Chinese woman half his age whom he meets on the internet and ultimately marries.
According to the website for the documentary, Steven first became interested in Asian women after witnessing the success of his son's marriage to a Japanese immigrant.
The 60-year-old, who works as a garage attendant at the San Francisco airport, spent years looking through mail-order catalogs and dating websites, trying to find the perfect mate.
'Over the course of the last five years there must be hundreds of different girls from China that I've been writing to,' he explains in a trailer for the movie.
Finally, Steven meets Sandy - a 30-year-old factory worker who grew up on a tea farm in the remote mountains of China.
He flies out to Sandy's home country to meet her, and two weeks later he returns to California with Sandy in tow, after she agrees to marry him. 'I'm happy as a clam,' he says in the trailer with a boyish grin as he introduces his fiancee to the film director.
But while Steven has fulfilled his fantasy by having a relationship with an Asian woman, the couple soon begins to struggle to communicate, since Sandy's English is basic and Steven doesn't speak a word of Chinese.
The trailer shows them bickering, with neither able to understand the other. 'What?' Steven yells to Sandy at one point. 'Speak in English!'
Ms Lum, who speaks Chinese, becomes a translator and mediator as both Sandy and Steven turn to her to resolve their issues.
Steven admits to the filmmaker: '[Sandy] has read a lot of things to me in Chinese. I feel comfortable with it, but I have no idea what she's saying.'
Ultimately though, their relationship works after Steven realizes that he can love Sandy despite her fiery temper, a trait which contradicts the stereotypical picture of an Asian female. Today, Sandy and Steven have been happily married for four years.
'[Steven's] obsession with any Asian woman has been replaced with a real-live Sandy,' explains Ms Lum, who admits that her own preconception of Steven was perhaps just as bad as those she sought to debunk about Asian women.
Still, Ms Lum said she hopes the film will start a conversation about negative categorizations in general - including those involving men like Steven.
'The story is about expectations and stereotypes, which are very related,' she said. 'Stereotypes about white guys, and expectations going into a relationship.'
Honest Examination of Race
By Walter E. Williams
One definition given for insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results; it might also be a definition of stupidity. Let's look at some cities where large percentages of black Americans live under poor conditions.
Experiencing a violent crime rate of 2,137 per 100,000 of the population, Detroit is the nation's most dangerous city. Rounding out Forbes magazine's 2012 list of the 10 most dangerous cities are St Louis; Oakland, Calif.; Memphis, Tenn.; Birmingham, Ala.; Atlanta; Baltimore; Stockton, Calif.; Cleveland; and Buffalo, N.Y.
The most common characteristic of these predominantly black cities is that for decades, all of them have been run by Democratic and presumably liberal administrations. Some cities — such as Detroit, Buffalo, Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia — haven't elected a Republican mayor for more than a half-century. What's more is that in most of these cities, blacks have been mayors, chiefs of police, school superintendents and principals and have dominated city councils.
You might ask, "What's the point, Williams?" Let's be clear about it. I'm not stating that there's a causal relationship between crime, poverty and squalor on the one hand and, on the other, Democratic and black political control over a city. Nor am I saying that blacks ought to vote Republican. What I am saying is that if one is strategizing on how to improve the lives of the poorest black people, he wants to leave off his to-do list election of Democrats and black politicians. Also to be left off the to-do list is a civil rights agenda. Racial discrimination has little to do with major problems confronting black people.
Today 72 percent of black babies are born out of wedlock. Being born and finding out that your mother is 17 years old, that your grandmother is 35 and that you don't know who or where your father is is not a good start on life. In fact, it's a near guarantee for school dropout, poverty and crime, but such a start in life has nothing to do with racial discrimination.
Law-abiding poor black people suffer the nation's highest rates of criminal victimization from assaults and homicide. More than 50 percent of homicide victims are black. Would anyone claim that this victimization is caused by racist groups preying on the black community? In addition to victimization, the level of lawlessness in many black communities has the full effect of a law banning economic growth. That's because the thugs are equal-opportunity thugs who will rip off a black-owned business just as they'd rip off a white-owned business.
Black education is a disaster, but who runs the violent, disruptive big-city schools, where education is all but impossible? For the most part, it's not white people. Go to a city such as Detroit and you'll find that blacks have been superintendents, principals and most of the teachers for years. Most black high-school students, in Detroit and other cities, can't read, write and compute as well as sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade white students, but is it because of racism?
What the elite teach is not only futile but counterproductive. For example, speaking standard English in an English-speaking country is critical for self-improvement. But that's not the lesson from the nation's multiculturalists, who call for the celebration of native languages and dialects. Sloppy-minded academics and assorted hustlers have taught that poor English, gangsta rap, men wearing pigtails and thug behavior should not be criticized but become a part of the celebration of diversity.
Black people could benefit from an honest examination of the bill of goods they've been sold. Such an examination would not come from black politicians, civil rights leaders or the black and white liberal elite. Those people have benefited politically and financially from keeping black Americans in a constant state of grievance based on alleged racial discrimination. The long-term solution for the problems that many black Americans face begins with an absolute rejection of the self-serving agenda of hustlers and poverty pimps.
Despite The Global Gasping, Niall Ferguson Has (Had!) A Point About Keynes
Harvard financial historian Niall Ferguson has gotten himself into the usual sort of Larry Summers / James D. Watson-style trouble for answering a question about economist John Maynard Keynes's famous quip—"In the long run, we are all dead"—by cheekily pointing out that Keynes was a childless homosexual. There's no transcript of his original remarks, but a writer who heard him speak wrote it up on his magazine's website. [Harvard Professor Trashes Keynes For Homosexuality, By Tom Kostigen, fa-mag.com, May 3, 2013.]
Ferguson commented: "In the long run our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are alive, and will have to deal with the consequences of our economic actions."
Ferguson has groveled, needless to say, but the Homintern is still pursuing him—see Niall Ferguson: Keynes Was Gay for Germany, by Jonathan Chait, nymag.com, May 7, 2013.
(In contrast to Keynes, the philoprogenitive Ferguson has three children by his first wife and one by his latest, the courageous anti-Islamist activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali.)
Ferguson's off-the-cuff comments generated a vast global spasm of gasping and tsk-tsking. A Google search of "niall ferguson keynes gay" comes up with over two million hits.
Why the hysteria?
Because intellectual life has declined to the point where all that matters is Are You on the Side of the Good Guys or the Bad Guys? And the Good Guys are powerful groups of self-proclaimed victims.
Ferguson's suggestion that family life can influence ideology is, of course, true. For example, Mitt Romney carried only 16 percent of the gay vote in 2012 in contrast to 57 percent of the married vote. Over the last four elections, the rate in each state at which whites are married has been the strongest determinant of the Electoral Vote.
But Ferguson felt it necessary to issue "An Unqualified Apology" [May 4, 2013]because he makes a lot of money giving speeches to financial organizations, so he can't afford to offend Designated Victim Groups that play a major role within them—such as gays, Jews, and women. At this moment in our culture, gays are particularly dominant, and thus are looking for ways to throw their weight around to intimidate skeptics for good.
What's more striking, though, are the Voluntary Auxiliary Thought Police who rush in to denounce heretics. As Dennis Dale commented during another recent brouhaha of ridiculous moral outrage:
The Left has routed us and is now chasing us into the weeds to cut us down individually--because they haven't even the capacity to imagine doing anything else.
What are they going to do, declare victory and behave graciously? Where's the fun—or more importantly the influence and cash—in that? They are like a vast standing army with nothing to do and no wish to return to civilian life.
Still, Ferguson was somewhat unfair. Keynes (1883-1946) betrayed today's conventional wisdom by doing the supposedly impossible: he converted, permanently, from a homosexual lifestyle to a heterosexual lifestyle when—to the shock and dismay of his former Bloomsbury boyfriends—he married the popular ballerina Lydia Lopokova in 1925.
He wasn't under any particular social or career pressure at the time. He just switched his affections.
Moreover, we can see that Keynes was concerned about the welfare of future generations of the British from his lifelong advocacy of….(wait for it) eugenics!
After all, in 1911 Keynes, along with the great statistician and geneticist Ronald A. Fisher, R.C. Punnett, and Horace Darwin, helped found the Cambridge Eugenics Society. Keynes was a eugenics activist throughout his life, serving as an official of the national eugenics promotion organization from 1937-1944. In the year of his death, 1946, Keynes made a speech citing eugenics as "the most important and significant branch of sociology."
If Ferguson had excoriated Keynes for pushing eugenics, he would have not heard a peep of criticism. He just forgot who is riding high at the moment and who is not.
What the Left doesn't want you to know about Britain's £200 billion welfare bill
Amid much hand-wringing by the Left-wing Establishment, the Coalition has this month been pushing ahead with long-overdue reforms to Britain's vastly expensive benefits system.
Yesterday ministers began piloting a more efficient way of paying state handouts, called the Universal Credit. It follows changes to disability benefits and a trial to cap total welfare payments at £26,000 a year — the income of the typical working family. The cap, which is being trialled in four London boroughs, will be imposed across the rest of England, Scotland and Wales from July.
Most reasonable people might think the changes fair — generous even. Indeed, polls show that three-quarters of the public are in favour of sharp cuts in benefits and stricter rules on entitlement.
However, critics have condemned the cuts by the 'cruel' Coalition, and insist that if voters knew the full facts, they would change their opinion.
Here, we reveal the truth behind the claims peddled by commentators on the Left...
CLAIM: The welfare budget is being slashed in size and scope by the Coalition in a series of 'cruel' attacks on the needy.
REALITY: Between 1997/98 and 2010/11, benefit and tax credit spending in Britain increased from £122 billion to around £200 billion. This represents an increase of 60 per cent over the whole period.
As Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith recently admitted, the budget is not being cut at all — despite howls from the Left and BBC. It is just increasing more slowly than it would have under Labour.
At the end of the current Parliament in 2015, the Coalition is forecast to spend £206 billion on welfare. In other words, it will be higher even than at the height of Gordon Brown's ruinous debt binge.
Working age welfare will fall slightly from £95.3 billion to £91.5 billion over the Parliament, but pensioner welfare will rise from £103.7 billion to £114.2 billion.
At the end of the current Parliament in 2015, the Coalition is forecast to spend £206 billion on welfare. In other words, it will be higher even than at the height of Gordon Brown's ruinous debt binge
At the end of the current Parliament in 2015, the Coalition is forecast to spend £206 billion on welfare. In other words, it will be higher even than at the height of Gordon Brown's ruinous debt binge
CLAIM: Only a tiny number of jobless families have large numbers of children reliant on the State for support.
REALITY: There are 160 families on out-of-work benefits with ten or more children. This figure was cited by the Left during the debate over the case of Mick Philpott from Derby, who killed six of his 17 children in a house fire and whose lifestyle was subsidised by taxpayers.
However, closer scrutiny of official figures shows that there are huge numbers of large workless households reliant on welfare.
There are 194,000 homes with three children; 76,310 with four; 25,980 with five; 8,760 with six; 3,200 with seven; 1,080 with eight; and 360 with nine.
Some 419,370 workless families have two children — which is the average number of offspring for all homes in the UK.
CLAIM: Millions of people in and out of work are having their benefits 'cut'.
REALITY: Benefits, including out-of-work-benefits and tax credits, are increasing by one per cent. This is depicted as a cut because it is less than the rate of inflation. But it follows a period when benefits outstripped average wage increases.
In 2012/13, while average earnings increased by 2.9 per cent, most working age benefits were up-rated by 5.2 per cent.
There are 160 families on out-of-work benefits with ten or more children. This figure was cited during the debate over the case of Mick Philpott from Derby, who killed six of his 17 children in a house fire
There are 160 families on out-of-work benefits with ten or more children. This figure was cited during the debate over the case of Mick Philpott from Derby, who killed six of his 17 children in a house fire
If compared over the past five years, the gap is wider still: with the incomes of those in work having risen half as quickly as those on out-of-work benefits — at a rate of 10 per cent compared with 20 per cent.
Elsewhere in Europe, benefits have suffered real cuts: Ireland has cut unemployment benefits by four per cent a year for two years; Portugal has reduced it by six per cent; and Spain has cut payments to anyone unemployed for longer than six months by 10 per cent.
Much more HERE
Political correctness is most pervasive in universities and colleges but I rarely report the incidents concerned here as I have a separate blog for educational matters.
American "liberals" often deny being Leftists and say that they are very different from the Communist rulers of other countries. The only real difference, however, is how much power they have. In America, their power is limited by democracy. To see what they WOULD be like with more power, look at where they ARE already very powerful: in America's educational system -- particularly in the universities and colleges. They show there the same respect for free-speech and political diversity that Stalin did: None. So look to the colleges to see what the whole country would be like if "liberals" had their way. It would be a dictatorship.
For more postings from me, see TONGUE-TIED, GREENIE WATCH, EDUCATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL, FOOD & HEALTH SKEPTIC, AUSTRALIAN POLITICS, DISSECTING LEFTISM, IMMIGRATION WATCH INTERNATIONAL and EYE ON BRITAIN (Note that EYE ON BRITAIN has regular posts on the reality of socialized medicine). My Home Pages are here or here or here. Email me (John Ray) here.
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If you have been selected to Master's Programme in Software, Systems and Services Development in the Global Environment (GS3D), you will study two years and receive Master of Science degree. Please, follow the instructions on this page regarding to the beginning of your studies.
Before You Begin Your Studies
You should confirm your study place as well as enroll and register to the university before you begin your studies. In addition, you should activate your user account for systems and services of the university. You will need access into computers and information systems already during the Orientation Week.
If you need inforfmation on housing, residence permit or other general matters, please, see the university-level information.
Beginning of Your Studies
|Your studies will begin in Linnanmaa campus on Monday, September 3rd, 2018 at 9am.
The first day program is organised by the University Student Services. Thus, follow their announcements on the location.
Orientation Week
It is highly recommended to participate in Orientation week that is arranged from Monday, September 3rd to Friday, September 7th, 2018. During the week, you will receive information on University of Oulu and your forthcoming studies as well as you will get acquainted with other students. You will also familiarise with Information Processing Science and personnel teaching it.
General Orientation Week Program (provided by University Student Services)
Orientation Week Programme (updated 22.8.2018)
First Period
First courses will begin on Monday, September 3rd, 2018. Teaching is organised into four periods (two in autumn semester and two in spring semester) in University of Oulu. In addition, some courses are also offered during summer time. In the academic year 2018-2019, the first period lasts till October 26th.
My First Timetable (updated 22.8.2018)
More Information? Questions?
If some matter is unclear or you need more information, for example, regarding to exceptions on the beginning of your studies, do not hesitate to contact degree programme director Marianne Kinnula (Marianne.Kinnula (at) oulu.fi) or International Office.
Last updated: 6.9.2018


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Aviation Aircrew Basic ACU Sew-on Badge
Aviation Aircrew Basic ACU Sew-on Badge
The Aircrew Badge, commonly known as Wings, is a qualification badge of the United States Army that is awarded to personnel who serve as aircrew members on board military aircraft.
We accept All Major Credit Cards and All Transactions are Encrypted and Secured through Paypal. Checkout is Quick, Easy, and Safe!
Orders over $10 have the option for free shipping as well as 2-3 day ground shipping.


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You may still use e-Bankoh as you normally do, but some sections of boh.com may not look and behave as intended. If possible please upgrade to one of these modern browsers:
The right solution to meet your business needs
Click for details >
With Bank of Hawaii's Payroll Services1, you can forget about chores like payroll processing, tax filing, and W-2 preparation, leaving you free to attend to the more important job of running your business. Just submit your payroll data to us and we'll do the rest.
Financial Education Article: "Guidelines For Creating an Employee Benefits Program"More >> (Financial Education)


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Report: marriage equality plank added to Dem platform draft
Well, considering 1) the polls are solidly moving in favor of the right for gays and lesbians to marry, and 2) the fact that the plank in the Democratic platform is fairly symbolic, and 3) the President already came out in support of marriage equality, you'd think this was a given. Washington Blade:
A Democratic National Committee staffer, who is familiar with the process and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the language in the platform approved on Sunday not only backs marriage equality, but also rejects DOMA and has positive language with regard to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The exact wording of the language wasn't immediately available.
The platform is still in a draft phase. Writers of the platform are now set to come up with close-to-final draft that will be presented before the full platform committee in Detroit next month. That committee will discuss amendments before presenting the platform at the convention in Charlotte in September.
A number of witnesses were to testify in favor of a marriage equality plank in the platform: Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry; Army Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan, a lesbian New Hampshire guardsman with stage-four incurable breast cancer and a plaintiff in Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's lawsuit against the Defense of Marriage Act; Michael Macleod-Ball, the American Civil Liberties Union's chief of staff for the Washington Legislative Office; and Aaron Zellhoefer, a gay delegate to the Democratic National Convention representing the National Stonewall Democrats.
Let's hope it gets past the draft stage.


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Ease into Summer : Win A Spa Certificate From CentrSource - Indulge Yourself!
CentrSource, the unique shopping resource that is built around you, the consumer, is launching an online promotion to encourage site visits and new user registration.
If you register before June 15, 2005, you will be automatically entered into our "Ease into Summer" contest for one of forty $100 gift certificates to be used by you or that special lady at the "sumptuous, state of the art" Verity Spa, located in the elegant women's club, Verity, in downtown Toronto (http://www.verity.ca). The National Post describes Verity, Toronto's only private club for women, as a "luxurious oasis of French Provincial crossed with industrial warehouse."
Click here http://www.CentrSource.com?Loc=595797479 for Contest Details and Registration.
You are automatically entered into our contest every time you forward our contest entry from within CentrSource to a friend or family member.
Also, when you visit CentrSource, don't forget to check out the "Latest Offers" section on our homepage. There you will find scores of unique offers from leading international, national and local advertisers. In fact, you will find over 5,000 advertisers specifically selected for consumers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
(Full Disclosure: I work with CentrSource Inc.)
Technorati Tags: Toronto/Spa/CentrSource


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Ann Curry allegedly asked the Today show to let her out of her contract so she can make the move to CNN. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, rumors about Jeff Zucker wanting the former morning show co-anchor to follow him to CNN began circulating earlier this month.
A Radar Online source allegedly close to the Today show had this to say about Curry's alleged contract request:
"Ann wants out of her contract, big time. She has formally asked her attorney to explore exit options from the network. However, NBC bosses have indicated they are unwilling to release Ann from the contract. If Ann were to just quit, there is a non-compete clause, which would prohibit her from working for another news outlet for two years."
Curry's tearful good-bye from the Today show couch earlier this year sparked outrage with show fans. Matt Lauer has taken the brunt of the public backlash. The Today show has been beaten in the ratings multiple times after Curry's demotion by top competitor Good Morning America.
Lauer's popularity has reportedly taken quite a hit recently. NBC has allegedly urged Ann Curry and Matt Lauer to have lunch in a public place to help thwart the ongoing angst about the co-host's departure, according to the New York Daily News.
The source also claims that Ann Curry's attorney could be able to make a breach of contract case due to her change in stature on the Today show. Before making the move to CNN, Jeff Zucker was Curry's old boss on Today. Rumors about Curry's relocating to CNN also alleged that she would be given the prime time 8 pm slot, currently used by Anderson Cooper.


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- TV weight loss plans and "pretend" health foods keep women in the dark about sustainable healthy eating habits. It's time they take control of their own diets.
- Women need to train and eat to support muscle growth. Muscle and metabolism are intimately connected.
- Going to extremes with carbs or dietary fat means avoiding one like the plague while over-consuming the other. Athletic women need the right kinds of both.
- Women often attach their identity to food choices. They need to gain perspective on food in order to gain control of their eating habits.
Check out this article for all 10 mistakes!


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You already have in your home the two most powerful, effective, and economical tools you'll ever need to clean your entire house: water and elbow grease! Since all conventional products contain well over 70% water, why pay for it when you still have to scrub?
Instead go out and purchase two simple, cheap ingredients—white vinegar and baking soda—and make your own green products. It's truly amazing what these two can conjure up. Then, follow the green cleaning recipes below, and have a blast. For information and guidance on commercially available cleaning products, visit the Environmental Working Group's "Guide to Healthy Cleaning."
In the kitchen, an easy all-purpose cleaner can be made from 50% water and 50% white vinegar, with a drop or two of liquid dish soap (green, please). Boom, you're off! It works on everything! For baked-on messes, soak them in straight vinegar and use kosher salt for a terrific abrasive. Rub kosher salt onto cutting boards. In the oven, scrub down with a baking soda paste. On floors, use vinegar, hot water, and a few drops of liquid dish soap (wood floors shine with vinegar).
Are you filling up your dishwasher all the way before you run it? Dishwashers use only one-sixth of the water it takes to wash dishes by hand. Don't rinse your dishes beforehand (just scrape); it is simply not necessary with these new machines. Green it up even more by filling the rinsing aid container with white vinegar instead of a petroleum-based rinse aid like Jet-Dry. Or, go bold, and make your own dishwasher powder by adding 1 tablespoon of washing soda and 1 tablespoon of borax to the soap bin.
In the bathroom, only one demon stands out: mildew. Mildew, surprisingly, can be cleaned just by spraying undiluted white vinegar on the tub and tiles, or by scrubbing areas with half a lemon. Leave to soak for 30 minutes to cut the water deposit build-up.
If you need an abrasive, use baking soda as a paste with the lemon or vinegar (your new soft scrubbing cleaner) to whisk away the tub ring. Really tough stains on grout and other porous surfaces will probably remain, though the actual mildew will be gone. Just remember, that when chlorine bleach interacts with anything that is semi-porous or porous (grout, wood, vinyl, plastic, PVC), then it emits toxic organochlorines (see Chlorine Bleach, above)
Avoid drain cleaners, which are made from lye, a caustic, corrosive, and poisonous substance. They also may contain ammonia, a respiratory irritant. Most clogged drains can be undone simply by using a handful of baking soda followed by ½ cup vinegar and boiling water. Follow with vigorous plunging, ifnecessary. You can also clean your toilets with—you guessed it—baking soda and vinegar.
1. NPEs
Many cleaning products have ingredients derived from petroleum including alkylphenol ethoxylates APEs, which are used as inexpensive surfactants (agents that break down the surface tension of water so that it will interact with the grease and grime).
Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) are actually a class of hormone-disrupting compounds and take a number of forms. One of these most insidious offenders is nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), a surfactant found in laundry detergents and many other household cleaners.
NPEs break down in the environment into nonylphenol, and it is this compound which has been found to be an endocrine disruptor, known to alter the reproductive systems in fish, shellfish, and frogs (and, some scientists suggest, human males). Wastewater treatment facilities may or may not remove them, and septic systems generally do not. The European Union has banned NPEs. There is enough concern in the U.S. for the EPA to create the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI), a program recognizing environmental leaders who voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants.
Chlorine bleach (aka sodium hypochlorite) is an all-purpose whitening agent used in housecleaning and laundry products. When chlorine hits the waterways, it interacts with organic matter, such as dirt, sewage, or leaves. This interaction causes the development of toxic organochlorines. Two commonly-known organochlorines are the insecticide DDT and dioxin, used in a wide range of manufacturing processes, such as the chlorine bleaching of paper pulp. Organochlorines occur any time chlorine interacts with organic matter, and this can include your home, when chlorine bleach is used on anything other than hard, non-porous surfaces.
Breathing small amounts of pure chlorine for short periods of time can adversely affect the human respiratory system, causing coughing and/or chest pain. It can irritate the lungs, eyes, and skin, as we have seen from our swimming pools (consider instead salt water pool systems, which contain much less chlorine).
Chlorine bleach is often touted as the supreme disinfectant, "killing 99.9% of germs" fast and effectively. But, killing all living organisms won't make your house cleaner. A cleaner, safer nest for you and your family comes in a balanced ecosystem—aka your home—wiped down with plain hot water and a few green cleaning items.
There's nothing like the smell of a clean house, but what does "clean" really smell like? A house cleaned without toxic chemicals won't smell like much of anything but a sweet breeze, but many companies continue to design products that smell "nice." The problem is that "nice" has been manufactured from chemicals that definitely are not nice.
Fragrance is often made with phthalates, chemicals linked to reproductive abnormalities and liver cancer in lab animals and to asthma in children. Fragrances contain many volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In fact, the list of chemicals needed make these lovely smells is astonishing, the most common being: limonene, linalool, citronellol, eucalyptol, geraniol, and ?-pinene. There are no laws regulating either the use of these chemicals or the full disclosure of the use. Three commonly-found VOCs are considered Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs): acetaldehyde, chloromethane, and 1,4-dioxane. Yet, they are still being used to add fragrance to air fresheners, cleaners, and laundry products.
Scientists have shown that smells trigger memories for us, and that is why fragrance has not only remained a key ingredient in home products but is now ubiquitous. If fragrance is important to you, then add a few drops of an essential oil like lemon or lavender to the any of your green cleaning mixes. Essential oils can be found at Whole Foods and in many other natural food stores.
The good news about phosphates is that they have been taken out of most laundry detergents, but they remain in automatic dishwasher detergents. Phosphates may soften water for detergents, but are they worth it? Phosphates contribute to the overgrowth of algae and aquatic weeds in our waterways. Excessive algae can completely disrupt an ecosystem, killing off fish populations and other aquatic life. In time, this will affect human lives. Choose cleaners without phosphates; there are many greener options.
Do note that there are no regulatory laws in the cleaning products industry, so you will find that even "green" products, from Ecover, Mrs. Meyer's, Seventh Generation, and more, may still contain NPEs, pthalates, and other harmful toxins. They are not required by law to disclose every ingredient in every product. Stay tuned to our site, as we continue to report on these issues.
Lead exposure can harm young babies and children even before they are born. You can get lead in your body by breathing in or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing with lead. Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family. Here are some things you can do to prevent childhood lead poisoning.
- Wet-mop floors and wipe windowsills and other wet surfaces weekly. Wipe in one direction only.
- Don't let children chew on anything covered in lead paint.
- Don't try to remove lead paint yourself.
- Don't bring lead dust into your home. Teach children to play in grass or sandy areas instead of dirt.
- Practice safe water habits. Lead cold water run for one minute before drinking it or cooking with it.
- Eat healthy. Don't store food in pottery or cans as they may contain lead.
- Have your child tested for lead poisoning, even if he or she seems healthy.
(Source: Adapted from "Lead Poisoning and Your Children" October 2000, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics)


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Hello everyone. I'm catching up with all my lovely summer work and today wanted to share a nice artistic pregnancy photography pictures done at my Edinburgh studio. Some of them are more simple, but loved this session so much.
Jen signed up for my watch me grow program or as I call it Baby year. See more information about baby year photography here. She wanted to create nice story about her babies first year journey and these a first stage pregnancy photos. Baby year can start either with pregnancy photography or with newborn photography. She really wanted to capture her maternity stage so we started with that.
Pregnancy sessions are always fun and relaxed. New mums enjoying full attention from their partners. I always recommend to bring them with you as they can help me with little things like moving hair out of face, fixing fabrics or dresses etc. Also as much as partners say that they don't want to be in photos, somewhere deep inside they actually want few photos as well :) Every time couples leave and say how much they actually have enjoyed the process of pregnancy photo session.
For some families this might be the first and only one pregnancy and for some this might be the last one. In any case I think it is great to have few keepsake photos from your maternity stage. Not necessarily you will show them everyone, but few years down the line you will still look back at them and will enjoy memories.
Here is little set of Jen's pregnancy portraits.
Edinburgh artistic pregnancy photography
I really love this set of photos. Love softness of the last portrait. It is so easy to make mistake with lighting pregnancy portraits in wrong way and I hear lots of these stories. For you to get the best pregnancy bump shots, first of all it is important that you are comfortable with your photographer and secondly make sure that photographer knows how to light these type of portraits. This probably would definitely mean that you can't cut the corners if you want them to look beautiful.
Can't wait now to meet their little daughter and create some gorgeous newborn photos as well.
Would you like to find out more about my pregnancy photography? Click here to ask questions or schedule an appointment I would love to chat with you.
Thank you all for coming along and I shell see you back here real soon.


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Djokovic turns to Boris Becker in his pursuit of Nadal
Issued on: Modified:
Novak Djokovic (pictured right) may be ending the year ranked No. 2 in world tennis behind Rafael Nadal (left) but the Serb has decided to shake up his coaching team and is turning to former Grand-Slam champion Boris Becker (centre) for help.
Djokovic said on Wednesday that Becker will join his staff as head coach next season.
"He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the Grand Slams and other tournaments," Djokovic said in a statement on his web site. "Becker is a great person, too, and I am sure he will fit in our team in the best possible way."
The 46-year-old Becker, like his new employer a six-time Grand Slam champion, will travel with Djokovic and other coaches to tournaments, including next month's Australian Open.
"I am proud Novak invited me to become his head coach," Becker, the youngest man to win Wimbledon, at age 17, said in the statement. "I will do my best to help him reach his goals, and I am sure we can achieve great things together."
Djokovic won his fourth Australian Open title this year. He reached two other major finals but lost at Wimbledon to Andy Murray, who is coached by another former great, Ivan Lendl, and at the US Open to the Spaniard Rafael Nadal. Nadal also beat Djokovic in the semifinals of the French Open.
Becker will join a coaching staff that also includes Marian Vajda, Miljan Amanovic and Gebhard Phil-Gritsch.
Vajda, a Slovakian, has been working with Djokovic since 2006 and is making room at the top of Djokovic's coaching team.
"Becker's assignment will not affect much my position in the team, since I will do all I can for Novak, just like I did before," Vajda said. "On the other hand, choosing Boris as the head coach is a good solution, I am sure we will get along very well, and that Novak will continue to progress."
It is the first shake-up in Djokovic's team since a short and unsuccessful spell with Todd Martin as head coach in 2009.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, REUTERS)


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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 15, 2016) -
CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd. ("CanWel" or the "Company") (TSX:CWX) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by GMP Securities L.P., and including Canaccord Genuity Corp., Raymond James Ltd., Haywood Securities Inc., Cormark Securities Inc. and Paradigm Capital Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase on a bought deal basis, 9,091,000 common shares (the "Shares") of the Company, at a price of $6.60 per Share (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to CanWel of approximately $60.0 million (the "Offering"). The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to repay, in full, the Company's outstanding 5.85% convertible debentures due April 30, 2017 as well as to fund potential future acquisitions, working capital and for general corporate purposes.
The Company has agreed to grant the Underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,363,650 Shares at the Offering Price, exercisable in whole or in part, on or after the closing of the Offering and for a period of up to 30 days thereafter to cover over-allotments, if any, and for market stabilization purposes. If this option is exercised in full, an additional $9.0 million will be raised pursuant to the Offering and the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering will be $69.0 million.
Amar Doman, Chairman & CEO of CanWel, commented, "This equity financing allows us to address our convertible debenture obligations early, further reduce indebtedness and continue to execute on our strategic plans with a much stronger balance sheet."
The Shares will be offered by way of a short form prospectus to be filed in all of the provinces of Canada, (except Quebec). The Shares will also be sold to U.S. buyers on a private placement basis pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements in Rule 144A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in certain other jurisdictions. The Offering is expected to close on or about September 1, 2016 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the applicable securities regulatory authorities.
The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About CanWel
Founded in 1989, CanWel is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CWX and is Canada's only fully integrated national distributor in the building materials and related products sector. CanWel operates multiple treating plant and planing facilities in Canada and the United States, and operates distribution centres coast to coast in all major cities and strategic locations across Canada and near San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. CanWel distributes a wide range of building materials, lumber and renovation products. In addition, through its Jemi Fibre division, CanWel operates a vertically-integrated forest products company based in Western Canada, operating from British Columbia to Saskatchewan, also servicing the US Pacific Northwest. CanWel owns approximately 136,000 acres of private timberlands, strategic Crown licenses and tenures, log harvesting and trucking operations, several post and pole peeling facilities and two pressure-treated specialty wood production plants.
Cautionary Statements
Certain statements in this press release, including but not limited to statements about the Company's dividend payment or policy, may constitute "forward-looking" statements. When used in this press release, such statements use words, including but not limited to, "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "future" and other similar terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations of the Company's management regarding future events but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors. These factors would include, but are not limited to, dependence on market and economic conditions, sales and margin risk, competition, information system risks, availability of supply of products, risks associated with the introduction of new product lines, product design risk, environmental risks, volatility of commodity prices, inventory risks, customer and vendor risks, acquisition and integration risks, availability of credit, credit risks, interest rate risks, regulatory risks and employee retention risks. In addition, a number of assumptions were utilized or applied in making the forward-looking statements. Some of the key assumptions include, without limitation, assumptions regarding the performance of the Canadian or U.S. economy, interest rates, capital and loan availability, the Canadian or U.S. housing and building materials markets; the amount of the Company's cash flow from operations; tax laws; and the extent of the Company's future acquisitions and capital spending requirements or planning. There is a risk that some or all of these assumptions may prove to be incorrect. There are numerous risks associated with an investment in the debentures or common shares of the Company, which are also further described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual information form dated March 30, 2016 and its other public filings on SEDAR. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We caution that the foregoing factors that may affect future results are not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to the Company, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Contact Information:


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Carrera y Carrera Bestiario monkey ring in yellow gold, set with tsavorites, sapphires, amethyst and diamonds ($6,200).
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As I walked through a major grocery chain store a couple of days ago, I passed a sign that said I could save 10% on my groceries if I got a free flu shot… So if my bill was $250, I save $25 and won't get the flu! Wow, what a deal, these major corporations must really care about my health…. Wait, what!? Do you know what's in a flu shot these days ? I do! Every where I turn there is someone telling me that I need to inject myself or my children with a vaccine so we won't get the flu. Which flu, by the way, because aren't there 1000's of strains of the flu? AND.. doesn't it seem that when you hear of someone getting the flu shot, they end up with the flu anyway, and they justify it by saying if they hadn't got the shot, it would have been much worse!
You also have to stop and wonder who is profiting from the flu shot industry? It's a multi-billion dollar industry so someone is making a LOT of money – and on what? Keeping you healthy so you don't get the flu?? NO, I'm sorry, but it's quite the opposite my friends…
Lets find out what is in the flu shot that is massed produced around our country.
What's in the Flu Shot?
The flu shot contains a particular strain of a flu virus that is basically dead. The dead virus is then injected into the skin and muscles which causes the immune system to produce an immune response to that flu virus. Once the virus is 'eradicated', your immune system then 'files' that particular response to be used again later if the same flu strain comes around.
While the ORIGINAL concept behind vaccination was a great one, the idea of arming our immune systems with tools to help us stay healthy is a phenomenal humanitarian idea, the sad unfortunate truth is that the modern vaccination industry is not so innocent at all. The misinformation and cover ups, scandals, and the sheer amount of money involved make it a very dark and dangerous industry.
The vaccine does not just contain the flu virus, it also has other substances such as mercury, a heavy metal proven to be extremely hazardous to human health. Mercury toxicity can cause neurological problems, respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, depression, anxiety, ADD and many other serious health concerns. Among other preservatives in the vaccines is formaldehyde, also a very toxic substance to humans… The list goes on and on…
I never get sick and this is why!
I have never been injected with a flu shot, neither has my husband or children. We believe our own immune systems have everything we need to keep us healthy, as long as we keep it balanced by giving it what it needs. We focus on maintaining a healthy nutritional diet on a daily basis. We include foods that keep the immune system strong so when a strain of the flu comes along we can fight it off naturally. I have also developed tonics for us that help boost our immune systems. My hubby and I drink the Master Tonic and our girls drink the Immune Support tonic. The formulations in these tonics support your own immune system by providing extra vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and substances in a time of need – think of it like special weapons and extra ammunition for your army as they're being attacked!
Of course, we cannot always keep the flu away and a strong strain of the flu will come along and we will catch it. It usually happens once or twice a year and we always feel likes its when we are run down both mentally and physically. We treat this time as an opportunity to rest and do nothing, except take care of ourselves and heal.
Now its more important than ever!
There are some nasty viruses going around right now. The most important thing we can do right now is to take care of ourselves, stay active and healthy and build our immune systems.
I can't stress enough the importance of drinking the Master Tonic daily. It is a powerful organic medicine from nature that works as an antibiotic and is also anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. I swear by this tonic. I have been drinking it for about 10 years now and anyone that knows me can vouch that I never get sick, even when my kids bring home nasty bugs from school! I have also had tons of feedback from various customers who have included this in their daily regimes and have seen a huge improvement in their overall health. It has also been reported to help reduce the size of skin lumps, skin lesions, aid in cancer recovery and help with digestive issues.
To learn more about the Master Tonic CLICK HERE
To learn more about the Immune Boost tonic CLICK HERE
My mission is to help as many people as possible live healthy, all natural lives while learning to be self-sufficient and to trust the intuition that is in all of us. Now more than ever is the time to take your health into your hands and build your immune system to act like a powerful shield protecting your body from any sickness that goes by you.
Stay Happy and Healthy!
XOXO Earthie Mama
Organic Master Tonic mailed directly to your door!
**Laboratory Tested and clean of heavy metals**
It is an antibiotic, respiratory aid, anti-inflammatory, circulatory propellant, clears infection, blocks cancer, anti-viral, anti-fungal, immune booster and much more!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Horseradish, Garlic, Onions, Habanero Peppers, Ginger and Turmeric
4 oz. of Elderberries, Echinacea, Rooibos, Rosemary, Astragalus Root, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Vegetable Glycerin and Clean Water


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ThingM Project Feature: BlinkM in DrumKit/
DrumKit was the result of a semester of design and prototyping as part of a product design course at Rensselaer. DrumKit is meant to encourage the user to explore music, math, programming, electronics, and acoustics.
* The kit can be programmed to build rhythms. Through iteration and other mathematical patterns, one can explore rhythms and meters of increasing complexity. * The Arduino-based system can be integrated with other electronics to construct new instruments or inventions. * The mallets can be used with drums or other objects in order to combine interesting sounds.
The system works with any Arduino-compatible software. The mallets themselves are mobile, connected with standard network cables to a hub, which is linked to the Arduino controller as well as a central power source. Creators:
Anasha Cummings Joe DiLuzio Dan Zollman How DrumKit Works:
In the prototype, each mallet is a simple lever driven by a solenoid. The Arduino sends a 5-volt pulse for each stroke of the mallet, triggering a relay which turns on the solenoid at 24 volts. The Arduino signal also turns on a BlinkM for the duration of the stroke (see below). The length of the pulse can be varied in order to change the way the mallet strikes the drum surface; a quick pulse results in a fast recoil and a quick staccato, while a longer pulse holds the mallet against the drum and changes its sound.
BlinkMs as Feedback Mechanisms:
Each mallet uses a BlinkMs as a feedback mechanism. A BlinkM is an LED that can be programmed to play back a sequences of color when it receives power. On a mallet, the BlinkM's color reflects the motion of the mallet. The light also makes it possible to see the signal received by a mallet even if the solenoid's power source is disconnected.
When a mallet is triggered, the BlinkM first turns red and then fades, or "cools down", to blue, representing the decay of the drum hit. For short mallet strokes, the light simply flashes in red before turning off. The longer the mallet is held down, however, the closer to blue the color gets. Eventually, the color stops changing because an excessively long stroke no longer affects the sound of the drum.
ProjectBlog_Renssleaer_DrumKit (Downloadable PDF)
http://www.insteadofthebox.com/drumkit/index.php (link to more information)


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Thanks to your donations, Black Girls Sew successfully provides sewing machines, free supplies/materials and scholarships for students during our Sew Green Fashion Camp.
Collaborations such as The Brooklyn Accelorator, Brooklyn Arts Council, Jahnia Imports, Community Arts Fund, and the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs are great examples of the expansive plans that Black Girls Sew has on the horizon.
By making a contribution today you will not only be helping a Black Girl Sew, but also investing in the future.
Impacting LivesThrough Sewing..


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college soccer coaches
Colleges will be announced every 7 days!
Scroll over the logo's to see who is coming!
While cancellations and changes are rare, should they occur, we will do our best to replace the coach with someone from the same college before replacing them with another college. College Soccer Exposure reserves the right to modify the colleges as needed
What makes College Soccer exposure Identification camps different?
Advance Sports Technolgy (AST) to provide all participants with free mental training during camp. AST Founder and CEO, Jim Madrid, and staff will be presenting their Introduction to Mental Toughness Training to all campers. AST will also provide a special complimentary session for all parents in attendance.
AST's experience leverages cognitive and neuroscience based mental technology to accelerate performances. Integrating the physical body, the mind, and the essence of the individual (purpose, values, emotions, and aspirations)!
Saturday August 4th
ontario soccer park
Turf and Grass Fields
2200 E Philadelphia St, Ontario, CA 91761
ontario, CA
Boys ages 14-19
College Soccer Exposure ID Camps are open to any and all entrants (limited only by number and age, grade level, and/or gender).


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Pluto Transits: A Need to Come Undone/
Recently, I received an email from an acquaintance that has been concerned and rather confused about the behavior of a mutual longtime friend. It appears that our friend, who for privacy purposes shall remain anonymous, has dropped off the map; refusing contact with either one of us. While I share concern for our beloved comrade, I decided some time ago (namely after a couple of failed attempts to reconnect) that I wasn't going to go beating down her door anytime soon. Why? I suspect she's going through a major Pluto transit.
Pluto transits to key planets or points in a birth chart can make a person feel as though the very ground itself is being torn out right from under them (largely in solitude--Pluto is a behind the scenes kind of guy). Associated with the zodiac sign of Scorpio and the Eighth House of Sex, Death, and Transformation (add other people's possessions in here too); Plutonian energy roots out whatever "ugliness" we try to repress, deny, or hide about ourselves and draws it out into the open by way of upheaval. Reality gets tested. People around us cease to recognize who we are, the old us, and wonder who we've become. We will wonder if we're losing it, and more than likely we are.
But what exactly are we losing?
Pluto forces us to get rid of what no longer works. Weak, faulty structures that we built up in our lives come crumbling down when The Dark One shows up; a nasty breakup, the loss of a job, disillusionment are all side effects of the Plutonian cure. Working with extremes, Pluto helps to heal us by testing our mettle. We feel as though we are both living and dying at the same time (Folks that have ever befriended or betrothed a Scorpio, probably know just what I mean. Life or death. LOL.). Whatever doesn't survive in the process of this trial by fire period either has served its purpose or wasn't really meant for us in the first place. A Pluto transit isn't solely about losing things but about finding a clearer path to our personal source of power.
Currently, Pluto is transiting through the sign of Capricorn and making a tense aspect with Uranus in Aries. However, both essentially are on the same mission: to put an end to stagnation. People who have major planets or points in their chart between 5 to 10 (update: 12-14) degrees of Cancer, Capricorn, Libra or Aries have been learning how best to work with this energy as they've been feeling it most intensely. Personally, I have had both planets rocking and rolling their way all over my little Mercury in Capricorn which at times has been supremely frustrating (and a little frightening) but has led to improved perception and a shedding of outworn beliefs.
Having already been made familiar with Plutonian energy what I have learned thus far is this: 1) the best way to work with the flow of this transit is to get comfortable with leaving your comfort zone and 2) how important it is to have a space to privately fall apart and then rebuild. With Pluto we come undone, then find the strength to pull ourselves together.


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Children Created For My Glory,
Rejoice! I stand before you in love. I Am the Great I Am. I Am the Alpha and the Omega. I Am the King of Kings. I desire to rule over your hearts without condition. Open your heart to Me. Surrender in expectant faith. Give Me permission to transfigure you once more. I need millions of prayer warriors to do My bidding in all parts of the world. I need to transform the Earth as you know it, and to restore it by My hand. I invite you to assist Me through your prayer petitions. Raise your voices in unisson, and adore My most holy name. I will bless you as you comply. I promise to transform you, and to mold you into instruments of grace, and mercy. Please comply. I make myself a Beggar-King in hope that you will see the urgency at hand. Look around you, Children. Wars are everywhere. Satan has plans of his own. Wars will soon break out in many parts of the world, unless you pray for peace. Pray. Pray without ceasing, and be faithful to Me. Pray for peace. Pray for the defeat of the Prince of Darkness. Your prayers will bear much fruit, each time you recite them with all your heart.


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presence :: scenes from here
Oh hi, July.
Where did you come from?
I'm rising at last from a fog of getting-through
and leaning back into wide-eyed presence,
every day's
delicious drops.
Surprise blooms, popping up when I'd forgotten to look.
They smell like sunshine and hope, even/especially after surviving hailstorm after storm.
Green green green grass, begging for naked soles.
Come out and play, summertime calls.
Creekwater and calm.
Piling precarious stones in the water, each solid heft a prayer of thanks for here and now . . . life in the after. And laughing when the stones tumble into the water, free, after I release my tight grasp.
May we all be.
What are you savoring this July, phoenix souls?
Let's celebrate together.
with love,
PS: Keep an eye out tomorrow for a peek behind the scenes at Carly Mojica's stunning Truth Tribe interview, featured in our current issue, Tenacity. How did she walk away from corporate life and rediscover her soul? How does intuitive painting teach her about letting go? Join us to find out. xo


text: Ripper Nick is just about the most exciting dude to watch skate. He never goes below %100, always shredding the hardest, always stoked to be skating. Living outside of Buffalo, NY at the moment in his hometown of Derby. Nick was one of the major hands in building our bowl. Our park would not be what it is without Nick's hard work and building talents. He travels a lot to skate, so you can find him sending huge airs at any random park in the southern tier region.


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Why Isn't Cheap Trick in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? is playing Ace of Cups Friday, April 8th. Click here for details
- What is is about Cheap Trick that motivated you to join this band?
Dan - I've been a Cheap Trick fan for years now. They have such a great catalog of tunes, and most of it is underrated. In addition to that, they have toured forever. It's great for fans, because they come through most American cities every year. They headline their own shows, open for obscure bands, play corporate gigs, and come through on festival dates. If you pay attention, you can see them a couple times of year without having to travel very far.
- Tom Petersson and his 12-string bass have a very distinctive sound, how has your rig evolved over the years trying to simulate it?
Dan - When we started this thing four years ago, I really had no idea what I was getting into. The first few years, I used one of my Fender basses and my regular rig. I've always played with my fingers and continued to do so on the Cheap Trick tunes. In the end, it didn't feel right and it didn't sound right. What a lot of people don't understand is that Petersson's sound is most of what you hear in the Cheap Trick sound. His bass covers a giant frequency range, and the way he plays holds down the bottom end while creating melody and full harmonic range at the same time is truly distinctive.
Once I really started listening to the Budokan record, I realized that he was playing most of the parts. What I thought was guitarist Rick Nielsen in so many places was actually Petersson. Nielsen really just paints on top of everything with tasty leads (and writes nearly all of the tunes). Even Robin Zander plays more guitar live than people think…..and not like a pussy either (Bono). So, I realized last year that I needed to take the plunge and get the 12-string bass sound going. For those who don't know, Tom Petersson literally invented the 12-string bass. His basses have multiple outputs and he splits his signal in many ways. Nobody knows for sure exactly how he is crossing the frequencies. He also changes his amplifiers on a regular basis. For me, part of the fun of going to see CT is to stand stage left in front of Petersson and look at what amps he brought out. It's different every time, and always totally bad-ass.
I decided against buying a 12-string bass. What I would want is ridiculously expensive and I'm still not convinced it would sound right. So, the challenge is to get a distorted 12-string bass sound from a 4-string bass. With some help from bandmate Rick Kinsinger, I started building the rig. I have played with bass distortion for many years, and there is a major problem with it. No matter what pedal you use, the low end goes away when the distortion is engaged. So, the answer is to split the signal. I use my regular rig for a clean low end. It's a Traynor 200 watt bass head on an Ampeg SVT ported 4x10. For the high end, I'm basically putting a guitar half-stack on top of my other amp. This year I'm using a Sovtek 50 watt head on a vintage Music Man folded cabinet. The high end signal is run through distortion and a pitch fork pedal. The pitch fork gives me the octaves for the 12-string sound. Together, it sounds killer!
The other issue is what bass to use. When I plug a Fender bass through it, it sounds great, but not like Petersson. Last year I used a vintage Gibson Thunderbird. It was perfect! Everything I wanted. Lately, Petersson has been playing a semi-hollow body Gretsch 12-string. I recently found a 4-string version of the bass that is really cool. That's what I'm using for the show this year. The hollow body gets a great low end tone and tons of feedback! It's basically a giant guitar envy setup, which has been a lot of fun.
- Do you feel like Tom gets enough credit strictly as a bass player?
Dan - No, I don't think he does. I think it's linear with Cheap Trick as a band. They are one of the great bands in rock & roll, and most people don't realize it. Petersson is the same way. If you ask bass players who their favorite players are, his name doesn't usually come up. It's probably because of his crazy tone and 12-string basses. What CT fans need to know is that his sound IS Cheap Trick. His sound covers the entire stage. He's more than a bass player. There aren't many other examples of this. John Entwistle from The Who is one. I remember reading an interview with Pete Townsend talking about the reunion tour The Who did back in the late 80's. They decided that because of hearing damage, the stage volume would have to stay below 90 db. The problem was that when The Ox wasn't able to turn the full rig on, they had to hire strings, keys, and horns to sonically fill things out. Petersson does the same thing.
- What are your favorite Cheap Trick songs to perform live?
Dan - I really like the heavy stuff….Auf Wiedersehen, He's a Whore, On Top of the World, etc.
- Who are some of your other favorite bass players?
Dan - There are so many: James Jamerson, Donald "Duck" Dunn, John Paul Jones and Paul McCartney are a few.
- Four String Brewing is going through a major expansion and you have two young ones at home, how do you find the time to squeeze in a project like this?
Dan - That's a great question. My time has gotten really tight in the last year or two. We just built a new production facility on the West side, expanded the Grandview taproom, and opened distribution in the rest of the state. I decided a few months ago to promote my two year old son, Oscar. He's basically running the show these days: running the brewery, booking gigs, and working as my bass tech. He gets a little whiny sometimes, but I don't have to pay him. It's a good deal. The brewers get a little pissed off that they have to report to a two year old, but whatever.
- If I stopped by the Four String Taproom and I hear some Cheap Trick playing, what beer would go best with that?
Dan - Definitely a Brass Knuckle Pale Ale!
- Any chance of a special edition 12 String Brew in honor of Tom Petersson making the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Dan - I think we would have to brew (3) Four String beers for the math to work.
Dan Cochran is a founding member of the band Why Isn't Cheap Trick in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? and the Four String Brewing Company. He also plays bass in Colin Gawel and The Lonely Bones and toured the world and elsewhere with the band Big Back 40. Four String Brew is available everywhere so look for it on a tap or in a store.
Tom Petersson Hoisting a Four String Brew to Honor Dan.