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Interstate 90 a major route for traffickers heading east
Sun., Jan. 6, 2013
The buds are potent and fresh, packed gingerly in heat-sealed bags to preserve their form and flavor – and throw off the drug dogs.
These aren't the dense bricks of Mexican pot moving up from the border. This is superior Northwest marijuana that fetches top dollar in the Midwest and Eastern states.
And it flows through a pipeline straight across the Inland Northwest.
The volume of narcotics trafficked on Interstate 90 is anyone's guess. But the police who patrol the freeway say it's big business, involving cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, hallucinogenic mushrooms and prescription drugs.
But marijuana is what they're intercepting more than anything else.
High-grade cannabis grown in Washington, Oregon and Northern California is worth about $1,800 to $2,500 a pound locally. But in Chicago the price jumps to $5,000 a pound and can climb even higher on the East Coast, law enforcement officials say.
"The farther east you go, that price goes up and up and up," said Deputy Joel Gorham, a crime interdiction officer with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.
Clandestine farms and basement grow rooms are not the only source of this lucrative trade. Medical marijuana, too, is diverted to the black market. Growers easily can produce far more medical pot than state laws permit patients and designated providers to have, Gorham said.
"So what happens to all the surplus? It comes through here and it goes somewhere else where they can make a higher profit," he said.
Scarce state oversight of the burgeoning medical marijuana industry and generous possession limits entice growers to exploit the system, police say. This funnels more pot into drug supply routes already inundated by small-time dealers, regional smuggling rings and Mexico's drug cartels.
States are easing up on marijuana prohibitions. Eighteen now have medical marijuana laws, and voters in Washington and Colorado recently approved measures legalizing recreational use.
But the war on drugs is not letting up.
Local law enforcement agencies are seizing cash and cars in drug stops and pumping the money back into interdiction efforts – work they admit may be stopping only a small fraction of what's moving down the road.
In Kootenai County, Gorham and his partner, Deputy Jerry Moffett, seized about 400 pounds of marijuana in 2012. They took about the same amount off drug runners over the previous two years combined.
In one of their largest busts, they stopped a pickup truck early last May and questioned the driver, a 58-year-old man who was trembling and more nervous than usual for a traffic stop.
Ronald Ray Clark, an Aspen, Colo., jeweler known by the nickname Diamond, consented to a vehicle search. Moffett opened one of two duffel bags in the bed of the truck and found marijuana in heat-sealed bags. The pot weighed in at 167 pounds.
Clark was charged with trafficking more than 25 pounds of marijuana, which in Idaho carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. He pleaded not guilty and died about three months later in Aspen before he could be prosecuted.
The Idaho State Police patrol division is seeing a surge in marijuana seizures. In 2012, troopers confiscated more than 660 pounds in 45 traffic stops involving at least a pound of pot. Most of that was in the Boise area along Interstate 84, followed by the I-90 corridor in North Idaho.
In one stop last month, a trooper pulled 120 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $386,000, from an SUV caught speeding eastbound on I-90 near Pinehurst in Shoshone County. The driver, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant, was arrested and charged with felony trafficking.
The ISP was unable to identify the origin of nearly half of the marijuana in last year's seizures. Of the drugs that could be identified, about 20 percent came from California, 13 percent from Oregon, 9 percent from Washington, 5 percent from Colorado and 4 percent from Montana – all states with medical marijuana laws.
Just how much is diverted from medicinal grow sites is hard to nail down, but investigations show more of the product is being funneled into the black market, said Capt. Charlie Spencer in ISP's headquarters.
"They are bringing that marijuana into our state," Spencer said. And with the decriminalization of marijuana possession in Washington and Colorado, "We are anticipating that these numbers are probably going to increase," he added.
Seizures almost always from eastbound lanes
Mexican weed largely circulates in the South, selling for around $700 a pound. In the Northwest, cannabis cultivation is all about the high-potency marijuana that swept the scene with the explosion of "BC bud" out of British Columbia.
It's premium stuff, and demand for it across the country feeds a constant supply chain from the West Coast. When police seize loads on I-90 and other drug corridors, it's almost always in the eastbound lanes.
Washington State Patrol Trooper Nick Gerard, a K-9 officer based out of Spokane, primarily patrols the interstate with his black Lab, Kolohe. He sees the economics of drug trafficking at play.
"You make one run, take a shot at it … you're going to get paid a lot of money if you can get that load through," Gerard said. "And with the economic times we have now, people are willing to take that risk."
Last spring he pulled over two middle-age women, with two children in the car, who admitted to having a couple of grams of pot on them. But Kolohe was drawn to a stronger scent in the trunk. Gerard got a search warrant and found 12 pounds of marijuana plus some hashish, a cannabis product.
The women, headed to Montana from California, were arrested on charges of possession with intent to deliver. They could have netted $15,000 to $20,000 if they had made it through.
"The black market for it is extremely big. It's not going to go away," Gerard said. "I've been doing this 23 1/2 years, and it's as strong as it's ever been."
He also sees a surge in heroin moving through the area. The soaring cost of opioid painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone has pushed many addicts to the similar but far cheaper high from heroin, Gerard said.
Moving drugs along interstates and highways is a relatively low-risk method of distribution, even with a growing emphasis on interdiction work.
Some traffickers use drug mules – a driver paid thousands of dollars to deliver a car concealing drugs to another state.
Others ship the drugs using the Postal Service and private mail services, which Gorham believes is a growing trend. Often the packages can't be traced back to the sender.
"We've run into evidence in our stops that people have started out shipping a pound or two at a time, and eventually they get greedy and bring all their money over to buy a big load, and that's when we pop them," he said.
Another option is private aircraft.
"It's nothing for a load of Ecstasy or marijuana to be loaded up in any of these places and driven into the Coeur d'Alene Airport," Gorham said.
Up to 15 plants per person
Much of the black market marijuana from Washington is grown illegally – in remote corners of Eastern Washington on public and private lands, and in indoor grows on the West Side.
An emerging source, authorities say, is marijuana diverted from growers operating under the state's 14-year-old medical marijuana law.
It can be difficult to tie marijuana seizures to specific medical dispensaries or growers, but investigations of traffic stops in other states indicate there is a robust underground trade in pot produced under the auspices of medicinal programs.
"It is being done. And we receive it anecdotally," said Dave Rodriguez, director of the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal program that assists law enforcement agencies in 14 Washington counties, including Spokane County.
Part of the problem, Rodriguez and others said, is how much marijuana a patient is entitled to in Washington and Oregon. The two states have the nation's highest possession limits: 24 ounces and six mature plants per person in Oregon, and 24 ounces and 15 plants – defined as a 60-day supply – in Washington.
"You'd have to be smoking from sunup to sundown to be able to go through that much marijuana," Rodriguez said. "The conclusion is that if you are growing to the limit, then it's going to be diverted."
Gorham, the Kootenai County interdiction deputy, believes the possession limits encourage trafficking.
"Each plant can produce up to a pound, if you know how to grow it correctly," he said. "So what are they going to do with this (excess)? Are they just going to throw it away, are they going to burn it, throw it down the toilet? No. They know there's a value behind it."
It's easy to manipulate the law for profit, said Gerard, with the WSP, and he sees it routinely in traffic stops.
"Every single day you can be in possession of a pound and a half in our state," he said. "So you get two people in a car that both have their (medical authorization) cards. They load up with 3 pounds of marijuana, they go from Seattle to Spokane or try to make their way into North Idaho, and turn around and double their profits on a one-day run."
Making several such runs a week can be quite lucrative, Gerard said. "They're making $20,000 a month untaxed. They're living a pretty good life," he said.
State oversight could address oversupply
The trade group for Washington's self-regulated medical marijuana industry is pushing for changes in state law that will help bring production and distribution out of the shadows, said Greta Carter, executive director of the Coalition for Cannabis Standards and Ethics.
"The more that cannabis can be routed into legitimate markets, where we can tax and we can regulate and control it, the less appealing the underground economy becomes," Carter said.
The Legislature last year passed a bill to set clearer regulations on medical marijuana use and establish a licensing system and patient registry to protect qualifying patients, doctors and providers from criminal liability. But Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed critical parts of it – including regulations for dispensaries and producers – over concerns that state workers still could be prosecuted under federal law.
Lawmakers plan to take another run at the reforms this year, at the same time the state confronts the reality of the new recreational use law.
Voters in November approved an initiative to decriminalize and regulate the possession of an ounce or less of marijuana by adults over 21. The measure calls for setting up state licensing procedures for pot growers, processors and retail stores, with the marijuana taxed 25 percent at each stage.
Carter, who once operated a medical marijuana dispensary in Spokane, said state oversight of both medicinal and recreational marijuana will resolve questions about surplus supplies.
"Are there going to be bad actors out there that are motivated by greed or have been in the underground economy for so long they don't want to come forward? Yes. And do we need to weed them out? I'm the first one there to report them," she said. "If somebody's not playing by the rules, yes, get them out."
'We're talking major crime here'
Officers working the I-90 drug corridor are apprehensive about the increasing acceptance of marijuana. As long as considerably more money can be made trafficking drugs than supplying legal markets, they say, people will be drawn into it.
Authorities also worry about more drug-related crime, including home-invasion robberies targeting marijuana suppliers, and maybe even reprisals from crime syndicates.
"All of a sudden Washington has gotten in the business of distributing marijuana, and that is going to cut into a business enterprise, the drug cartels," Moffett said, adding that he is fearful of the violence that may arise. "These people are all about money."
Idaho now borders four medical marijuana states, but medical marijuana cards are worthless in the Gem State. No amount of marijuana is legal to possess in Idaho, and the state's penalties for felony possession are stiffer than federal sentences.
To get across the Idaho Panhandle, traffickers need to traverse just 75 miles of interstate. But it's not clear sailing.
In an effort to disrupt the flow of drugs and money through Kootenai County, the Sheriff's Office formed the criminal interdiction unit in 2010.
The deputies are trained to look for certain cues that tip them off to criminal activity. Nervous behavior is one of the best indicators.
"It's something that people can't control at all," Gorham said. "They just give themselves away."
Local crime response remains the department's priority, and Moffett and Gorham regularly are pulled off their patrol to work other cases, said Capt. Dan Soumas, patrol commander.
"But we do have an obligation to not just turn a blind eye" to what's moving along the interstate, he said. "And we're talking major crime here."
The deputies encounter stolen vehicles and guns, human trafficking, kidnapping, wanted felons, prostitution and counterfeit money.
"There's a whole lot of crime happening outside our jurisdiction; we just happen to be the funnel point they're passing through," Soumas said.
The lure of easy money draws all types into trafficking drugs. They've arrested drug traffickers as young as 18 and as old as 67, almost all of them men. The portrait, however, is no more specific than that.
"It can be anybody, literally anybody," Gorham said.
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What exactly is a 'cutline' or 'cutline navigation'?
GE Centricity Web Manual [1]
If you are a GE Centricity Web user or if you read carefully through the GE's Centricity Web User Manual, you should know that there is a function called 'Displaying Cutlines'.
In the manual, it states that a cutline is the intersection between two planes..
"With Centricity Web you can display cutlines (intersections between two planes) provided your study has images suitable for this... If a series contains images in random order, you will not be able to turn on cutlines..." [1]
But, the explanation is extremely vague. Two planes. What kind of planes? orthogonal planes? planes between two series? more than two series? just one series?
DICOM Standard
Since the above basically did not help with my concerns, i went back to my favorite source: DICOM STANDARD.
In PS3.3, by searching the keyword 'localizer', you should get quite a number of hits. You should then start by reading CT Image Type. There, you should see that DICOM 3.3 defined CT Image Type (0008,0008) as one of the followings: AXIAL or LOCALIZER.
In PS3.3, section C.22.214.171.124.1, it clearly states that The Referenced Image Sequence (0008, 1140) provides an unambiguous method for relating localizer images.
In PS3.11, section E.3.3.2, it clearly states the localizer related attributes allow the image to be referenced to a localizer image or other orthogonal image. The Rows (0028, 0010) and Columns(0028, 0011) attributes are required in order to facilitate annotation of such a localizer. It also refers to the Frame of Reference section in PS3.3
In PS3.16, in the annex, it defines localizer as "Image providing an anatomical reference on the patient under examination, for the purpose of defining the location of the ensuing image".
From the most notable and respectable figure in DICOM, D. Clunie [2]
You will need to make a careful reading in the attached section. Therefore, i will not repeat the info here. However, it must not be neglected that the Frame of Reference UID is being used throughout for the projections. That is, they must be the same for both the localizer and the orthogonal images.
Basically, a cutline maps the orthogonal relationship between two planes that are supposingly orthogonal to each other. In this situation, those two planes are most likely from two different series that are, perhaps, meant to be registered the moment the DCM files are generated (hence, Frame of Reference UID). Note that this can lead to co-registrations between multiple series if those multiple series are related but do not provide direct spatial mapping. And, there is a huge research history of algorithms that produce good results for co-registrations.
[1] http://pulmonaryfellowship.hms.harvard.edu/NewFiles/CentricityWeb2UserGuideM3.pdf
[2] http://www.dclunie.com/medical-image-faq/html/part2.html#DICOMLocalizers

subset: commoncrawl


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My Dad has always told me to save for retirement...
...but to me that doesn't mean just putting pennies away for older age. It also means taking a stand for the things I love and cherish, so that they will be saved for my old age and for generations to come.
So in the summer of 2015 I decided to save for retirement by reminding people there are alternative modes of transportation to planes and cars, daily choices can be made with sustainability in mind, there are beautiful places we need to conserve, we can become involved in communities wherever we are, we can cultivate our inquisitive minds, and that we all have stories to share.
Director // Julie Hotz
Director of Photography // Amado Stachenfeld
Editor // Ian W. McGee
Music // "Procesion", from the Motorcycle Diaries Soundtrack.
"Everything Could Be Fine (the Astroboy Remix)" by Sun Glitters
In early July thru early October of 2015 I thru hiked the entire length of the Pacific Northwest Trail, which runs from Glacier National Park Montana to the Washington/Olympic Coast. To get to the trailhead I walked out my front door in Los Angeles, CA, hoped onto my loaded bike, and rode to Glacier NP. Along the way and throughout the hike I will be collected data and raised both funds and awareness for the nonprofit organization Adventurers and Scientists for conservation.
Learn more about ASC at www.adventurescience.org.
Why work with ASC?
Typically it is quite hard for me to be regularly involved/volunteer with non profit groups or community events due to work and my semi-nomadic lifestyle. With ASC I can regularly participate, even if I'm deep in the heart of the wilderness or cycling down a lonely stretch of highway. They are trying to fill a gap in environmental data gathering and problem solve in a unique way, this in turn can expand our understanding of human impact on the world around us, and help guide the decisions we make as a world population going into the future.
Their mission is to "mobilize the outdoor community to gather scientific data, driving conservation around the world."
Though my fundraising campaign is over, Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation is still working hard to collect data on several research and advocacy projects! If you're interested in possibly volunteering or donating, visit www.adventurescience.org today!


text: Emily Ritter, our newly appointed Lead Choreographer, has been dancing and choreographing from a young age. Her first Scottish dance choreographies were all set to the tune of Cotton-Eyed Joe and were created when she and her dance friends were supposed to be practicing highcuts in her living room. She soon graduated to choreographing group performances for the Kansas City St. Andrews Scottish Highland Dance Association. She also choreographed several solos that she competed at the B.A.T.D. Sadie Simpson Highland Scholarship and Highland Games across the country. She is very much looking forward to bringing her enthusiastic style to Shot of Scotch, and is working on a new choreography for the group that is part-jig, part-reel and very high-energy to match the frenzied pace of NYC.


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Awed yet attracted, fearful yet fascinated.
It's that personal, powerful feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired —
This is how most of life's experiences should make you feel.
Traveling through White Mountains in New Hampshire and sitting literally at the edge of the earth made me feel nothing but numinous. There's nothing like realizing how high you are above the ground and seeing how spectacular the view is right in front of you to make you feel immensely overwhelmed yet so inspired.
I was reminded in order to be, I don't always have to do. I feel like I've spent most of my life "doing" things and often for other people and never enough for myself. And even when the heart and intention is in the right place, our actions are still the driving force in defining who we are.
And as a millennial living in a generation where the desire for more is constant,
I start to look for less.
More honest. Less fake. More real. Less drama. More peace. Deep rather than just the surface.
Doing is easy and for many, that's all they really know.
'Being' takes a different kind of hard work. It involves seeing what's around instead of just looking.
I'm at a place in my life where I would rather reserve my energy for deeper interactions instead of pretending to be interested in things that don't matter to me. We do things to please people we don't like and make these efforts because we think it will make them like us more and look at us a certain way. I think it's ironic that these are the same things and efforts that keep us from meaningful relationships.
Burning bridges is not always a bad thing. Yes, you may feel in awe and maybe even fearful.
But burning bridges will attract and fascinate you to new and better land.
Burning bridges is numinous. It will leave you overwhelmed yet so inspired.
And as a millennial living in a generation where the desire to be liked and relevant is constant,
I start to look for genuine and real.
Real with happiness. Real with pain. Real with struggles. Real with self.


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I had the pleasure of shooting with my good friend Amber today. I've wanted to shoot with her for a long time, and I think the photos show why. She has a great look to her, and I always tell her she could definitely pursue modeling if she wanted.
For this shoot, I wanted to keep things very simple to showcase the fact that sometimes you don't need a whole set of lights and an elaborate location to produce a great image. Sometimes, when your subject matter looks great, well...that's all you really need.
Click the photo to the left to see the rest of Amber's photos.


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Understand a few things first. I love competition. I firmly believe that competition is what makes people and companies strive to be better. More than anything, I wanted iPhone to have a strong competitor to keep it honest. Anyone who lived through the glorious chip revolution of the 1990's and saw the birth of PowerPC (who?) and AMD challenge the supremacy of Intel and the resulting monumental gains in chip technologies knows the good that comes out of companies fighting for their lives.
Second, understand that dollar or dollar, I own more Google stock than I own Apple stock. Google is an amazing company, I genuinely believe they try to do all the right things, and I know if I was presented with some of the interview questions posed to potential Google employees, I would probably curl up, wimpering, into a fetal position.
But I have to be honest. After almost five months of desperately wanting to just *like* the Android phone, I have to conclude that it is frustrating on a par with my Windows machines at work. Yes, it's that bad.
Let's start with some specifics. I am using the Samsung Fascinate from Verizon. Specs appear to be about on par with most Android phones--1GHz Hummingbird processor, 384M of RAM. I love the sleek design and slim size--it is very iPhone-esque. A co-worker showed me, and between his positive review, my love of Google, general public praise for Android, and being able to get a smart phone with Verizon service, I could not pass it up.
But it only took a few times of turning it on for me to be annoyed--the phone was about as responsive as a Pentium Pro circa 1998 running Windows Vista.
So I went back to my co-worker, and he explained that you pretty much HAD to run a utility (he recommended the free version of Advanced Task Killer) that would aggressively kill applications in memory that were no longer needed. With a lot of experience with iPhone and iPad development, I was immediately skeptical. Does the operating system manage everything so poorly that third party apps need to be bolted on to make the experience bearable? Has Google made the equivalent of Windows for the smart phone????
Advanced Task Killer immediately created it own set of problems. Since I installed it, I notice my keypad disappears at awkward times when I am using it mid-phone call--like when I am trying to enter my PIN to access my voicemail. I tried disabling ATK for the obvious tasks--like the phone--but that did not fix the problem. Turning down the aggressiveness of the task killing (I normally have it set to "Aggressive", not the top setting of "Crazy") does help, but then my phone is no longer responsive in any way again. I would call it a catch-22, but my keypad would disappear after I type the first 2.
Next comes the most common app I would use on the phone, Mail. Strangely enough, the native mail app was so slow and sluggish, I switched over to the official Yahoo! mail app. This, let me tell you, is a real piece of work. Not only does it suffer from the absolutely embarrassing performance, it has weird quirks that you need to be aware of. For example, there is an Outbox. Once I sent an email, watched the message appear on the screen saying it was waiting to be sent, then waited until it disappeared. No problem. The next day, I found this not STUCK IN MY OUTBOX. I had synched mail probably 50 times. And of course I discovered this handy problem with an important email. Today, I just figured out the work around. When messages get stuck in your Outbox, start up the aforementioned Advanced Task Killer, kill Yahoo Mail, restart it, and hope for the best. It only took me 15 minutes to send this email today. Of course, in the future, I know I can just kill the application and restart it to actually send a note. Does this sound more and more like Windows to you???? (OK, you are thinking, Google is not responsible for what Yahoo publishes, right? I think I am within my rights to list this because (1) it is actually better than the native mail app, (2) I am sure the poor performance has something to do with the operating system since every Android app seems to suffer from it.) Oh, and did I mention the performance? If you are retrieving mail, don't even bother trying to scroll the display or even use the home button to get out of the app. If an app does not want to give up control to the operating system, you might as well set the phone down and let it do its thing for the 7 minutes--because it will NOT respond.
Oh, and then let's talk about browsing. If I try to launch my My Yahoo! page in the native browser, the application crashes. I guess that is good, because I don't have to load up ATK to do it for me. In desperation, I switched to the Dolphin browser, which can be downloaded free. It is pretty good, has not crashed on me, and seems to perform pretty well. I recommend Google or Verizon (whoever is packaging the native browser on the Fascinate) switch to Dolphin. It would have saved me hating something else about the Android. And you would not have needed to read this paragraph.
I had a lot of confidence in Android's overall approach. Be open. Run on all kinds of hardware. Open source the code so it can be understood, and possibly improved. But I would contend after 5 months of serious use that it is simply not finished. Android, if it will ever be a contender, is going to need either a major overhaul, a significantly higher hardware requirement to offset the unacceptable performance of the apps, or some combination of the two. The iPhone outshines it in so many ways, it is not even a contest. But the biggest way--it is just plain usable. Sure, bad connection speeds are a fact of life when you are not in wi-fi range. The iPhone is cool with that--maybe you can't get your mail right then, but you can scroll through the mail you do have, even press the home button to go do something else if mail isn't getting retrieved fast enough for you. Try doing this with an iPhone, then with your shiny new Android. You will want to put your Android through the nearest window.
So, if you are in the market for a smart phone, PLEASE think carefully before you get an Android. If you are patient and like waiting on your devices, or if you are getting it for free and would have to pay for anything else, or you have never used a peripheral in your life that was not powered by Windows, you might be happy with it. But if you do not fit into one of these three categories, you owe it to yourself to look at all the choices out there....
Review: Android Blows
Posted by jtabernik on Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Labels: Android, smart phone / Comments: (0)


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Yesterday in describing the impact of trauma I talked about how some people shut their emotions down—how they can go numb and not feel anything—and that often this happens automatically. And how being numb can interfere with healing and being becoming whole.
This ability and pattern of shutting things down, of being able to flip a switch and shift your state of being is also known as compartmentalization. You can have the ability to take how your feeling, or what you are thinking about and put it in a box and close the lid. The thing about these strategies, these protections, these coping skills is that they are rarely learned—more often, and especially through trauma, we grab on to the strategy that worked for us—or that our brains and systems naturally gravitated to.
If you overuse shutting down or going numb or putting everything that is hard for you in a box—what's the down side? Well, mostly, you eventually are cut off from your emotions and this interferes with your ability to be connected to other people and to make good decisions. We actually need emotion to make decisions—we feel before we think, and if we are shut down, we are not using all available information.
But the ability to compartmentalize is also a strength and a capacity that helps us function when we feel overwhelmed. When we just don't have the resources to manage. When it's too much right now. When we have to get something else done.
The opposite of being shut down is being overwhelmed. Flooded with emotions. And this can be even more problematic than numb because for people who don't naturally compartmentalize, it can be hard to know what to do when they get flooded with emotion. In my work I have noticed that when people who aren't good at shutting down or compartmentalizing go through trauma they are more susceptible to drugs and alcohol because they use these substances to become numb and shift state.
But the real issue of having a defense, a protection, a coping skill isn't whether the skill is good or bad because they are all useful or not useful depending upon the situation. The issue is choice: it is whether you are choosing to be shut down or choosing to be open to emotion. This issue is whether your coping system is driving you or whether you are driving your coping system. It's the capacity to both open yourself to emotions or put them away for a bit that will allow you to be at your best for whatever you are working with, whatever you need to do.
How do stretch from one to the other?
If you are trying to learn how to expand your ability to sit with emotions and not shut down:
1. Learn to sit with your own emotions: You can practice sitting with emotions. A good way to do this is to practice mindfulness or meditation. Sit for one minute or five minutes and just pay attention to how you feel. Name the feelings if you can. Just expand your capacity to be with whatever comes up without having to shift it. Some people like to sit in quiet. Some people like to use meditation tapes. Experiment and find out what works for you. My previous post on mindfulness and mindfulness and trauma might be helpful. The good news for you is that no one will ever be able to take away your capacity to shut it down or box it up. You are already good at that. Your job is just to build your ability to sit with emotion.
2. Experience emotions by watching others. You can watch movies with emotional content, or listen to other people talk. You can read memoirs or biographies of others. You don't have to do anything special, or feel anything in particular—it's a chance to pay attention to the feeling part of your understanding of people. Try to guess how they are feeling. If you are listening to another person you can try to guess and then ask them to check it out.
3. Write it down. Take 10 minutes each day and write. Don't edit or censor—just write about where you are—how you are feeling, what you are thinking? What is top of mind? You don't need to interpret, or judge. Just write. You are merely stretching your awareness and feeling muscles.
If you are trying to learn how not to feel so flooded and how to compartmentalize so you can function better:
1. Part of the issue is learning to get some distance between you and the emotion or the 'problem.' Some people find that concretely writing down the problem and putting it in a folder, or a box helps, with a plan of when you will get back to it.
2. There is the illusion that talking to other people about it will help. For people who shut down, talking about it can help them be more connected to the feelings. But if you are already flooded with emotion, talking about it can make it worse. It is probably best if you can to let other people know you are having a hard time, but not get in to the specifics. If you can, save the conversation for therapy or another trusted conversation partner, but for now, just ask for support to move away from that topic or those thoughts.
3. Distraction can be your best friend. Read something, do a crossword or Sudoku, watch TV, listen to a book on tape, clean out a cabinet. Anything that helps you shift gears and take your mind off it.
4. Short mantras to coach yourself. Statements like: "I've got this" "I'm ok" "I'll figure this out." "This too shall pass" can be really helpful. Brainstorm a few more and write all of them on 3 X 5 card or post it notes to grab when you need them. Photograph the cards on your phone and you will always have them with you.
© Gretchen L. Schmelzer, PhD 2015


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Evergreen Cemetery
The City Public Works department is also responsible for the grounds upkeep and maintenance for Evergreen Cemetery. According to city records, Evergreen Cemetery was established in 1858 and is located on Cemetery Street. The cemetery is open to the public.
The Chester City Council appoints five representatives to an advisory Commission to monitor all concerns of the Evergreen Cemetery.
The City's appointees to the Commission are:
Dede Guza – Chair
135 York St.
Chester, SC 29706
Ross Gladden
130 York St.
Chester, SC 29706
Tony Emerson
169 Jeter St.
Chester, SC 29706
Open Seat
Evergreen Commission Agenda 2-15-18


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Metal Fridge Magnet: Spain. Map of Spain (Chrome Plating and Enamel)
Author of the photo: World Wide Gifts ©
Weight: 34 gr. (1.2 oz.)
Dimensions (W x H x D): 6.1 cm x 6.4 cm x 0.3 cm (2 3/8" x 2 4/8" x 1/8")
See similar items in the following groups: Metal Magnets, Metal Magnet Maps


text: With Thanksgiving coming this week the race is on to plan the menu, shop, and set the table. Table runners help to tie everything together and also add a bit of spill protection for the table cloth. Making a table runner is a quick and inexpensive way to customize the colors and style to your … Continue Reading


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> > is not a loss in usability at all. The dfn element having not direct > > benefits for the user. Even better someone could choose to do. The human usability of DFN was established long before the web was ever invented. It was conventional, in typography, to use italics for the defining use of word or phrase. DFN is a more precise way of encoding the same semantics.Received on Saturday, 25 March 2006 00:30:38 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Wednesday, 7 January 2015 15:06:12 UTC


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After two seasons at UMass Lowell, Christian Folin is headed to the NHL.
Folin, considered college hockey's top free-agent defenseman, signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild on Monday, one day after Lowell's season ended with a loss to Boston College in the NCAA tournament regional finals.
"Christian is an impressive package of size, mobility, and puck-moving ability," Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in a statement. "He plays a very mature game that we feel should allow him transition to the NHL very quickly. We're very excited to have Christian join the Wild and further add to our group of emerging young players."
Folin tallied six goals and 14 assists as a sophomore this season for the Hockey East champion River Hawks and earned a spot on the conference's all-tournament team. The 23-year-old Swede was pursued "by nearly every NHL team," according to ESPN.com's Craig Custance, before signing with the Wild.
Folin will not be eligible for postseason play this season, but he is expected to join the Wild this week before their Thursday meeting with the Chicago Blackhawks.


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I'm thrilled to partner with The Workhouse again this fall on a workshop to help artists write about their work. Here's the info:
Writing About Your Work -- A Workshop for Artists with Sarah Cyr
Thursday, November 3, 6:00-8:00
Spend an evening with Sarah Cyr learning a practice that will crack open your approach to writing about your work. The method includes meditation and stream of conscious timed writing sessions inspired by prompts. It can be applied to draft artist statements, blog articles, and essays about your work.
Open to anyone with the desire or need to write about their craft (painting, sculpture, photography, crafting, jewelry making). No professional writing experience required.
Bring a notebook, fast writing pen and two pieces of work you'd like to write about.
Register for this workshop at The Workhouse website.


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Dyslexia is characterized by problems with expressive or receptive oral or written language. The term dyslexia describes brain-based processing differences that affect the way a person gets, uses, stores, and sends out information. But dyslexia manifests differently in each person. At Camp Spring Creek, we like to say that people with dyslexia are like snowflakes: no two are alike.
Dyslexia and its related language-based learning disabilities affect 15-20 percent of the population, cutting across every segment of society. Because there's a lot of misunderstanding about what dyslexia is, many dyslexic people are never diagnosed and don't get the help they need.
Dyslexics may have trouble with one or more of the following skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking, reasoning, and math. Dyslexics are often gifted in creative, "right brain" abilities and possess unusual talents in the arts. Dyslexia is not a disease, nor is it the result of low intelligence, low motivation, or emotional, psychological, or behavioral difficulties. If misunderstood, however, learning disabilities can limit a child's ability to reach his or her full potential.
A Few of Our Favorite
Dyslexia Resources:
The Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators
Decoding Dyslexia
Dyslexic Advantage
The International Dyslexia Association
Nurture Shock
What is Dyslexia? TED Talk
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity


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Psychedelic Icon Owsley Stanley Dies
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Owsley "Bear" Stanley, a 1960s counterculture figure who flooded the flower power scene with LSD and was an early benefactor of the Grateful Dead, died in a car crash in his adopted home country of Australia on Sunday, his family said. He was 76.
The renegade grandson of a former governor of Kentucky, Stanley helped lay the foundation for the psychedelic era by producing more than a million doses of LSD at his labs in San Francisco's Bay Area.
"He made acid so pure and wonderful that people like Jimi Hendrix wrote hit songs about it and others named their band in its honor," former rock 'n' roll tour manager Sam Cutler wrote in his 2008 memoirs "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
Hendrix's song "Purple Haze" was reputedly inspired by a batch of Stanley's product, though the guitarist denied any drug link. The ear-splitting psychedelic-blues combo Blue Cheer took its named from another batch.
Stanley briefly managed the Grateful Dead, and oversaw every aspect of their live sound at a time when little thought was given to amplification in public venues. His tape recordings of Dead concerts were turned into live albums, providing him with a healthy income in later life.
"When it came to technology, the Bear was one of the most far-out and interesting guys on the planet," Cutler wrote. "The first FM live simulcast could be, in part, attributed to his vision, as could the first quadraphonic simulcast on radio."
The Dead, a fabled rock band formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1965 known for its improvisational live concerts, wrote about him in their song "Alice D. Millionaire" after a 1967 arrest prompted a newspaper to describe Stanley as an "LSD millionaire."
Steely Dan's 1976 single "Kid Charlemagne" was loosely inspired by Stanley's exploits.
via Psychedelic icon Owsley Stanley dies in Australia - Yahoo! News.


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Leading men of several generations were represented in the Italian city when Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine and Jude Law appeared to publicise their remake of the 1972 mystery Sleuth
Photo: © AFP
Click on photos for gallery
The arrival of perennial bachelor George Clooney also sent female hearts aflutter
Photo: © Getty Images
If the Weather Girls had been in Venice this week they would have found plenty of inspiration for their ode to masculine charms It's Raining Men. From Hollywood golden boy Jude Law to smooth operator and man-about-town George Clooney the Italian city was awash with the silver screen's most attractive stars.
Alfie star Jude led actors from every generation at the city's glamorous film extravaganza. The 34-year-old Londoner took to the Venetian waterways with Michael Caine, who slayed hearts in the original 1966 movie about a love 'em and leave 'em-style Cockney charmer.
And Jude seems to have taken to reprising roles first played by Tinseltown vets, signing on another role made famous by Sir Michael in Sleuth. Together with actor-turned-director Kenneth Branagh, "the lads" as the Shakespearian specialist referred to them, were there to draw attention to their updated version, which was shot in four and a half days.
Meanwhile, in a further treat for the fairer sex, Sean Bean, a favourite with the ladies for his real-man appeal, was also in town, promoting Far North.
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If you would like to get more involved with or support Asylum, there are several ways to do it:
If you're a Christian and have been coming along regularly to our fellowship and events, we'll invite you to join the Crew if you like what we're doing, express an interest and if we connect with you.
If you're not a Christian but would still like to be involved in helping to run Asylum then let us know and we'll pair you up with a crew member so you can help them with whatever needs doing.
We have Facebook and Meetup groups. However we are most active on Yahoo Groups.
If you're in a band then can come and play for us, or you can let us know of bands that can play for our live events.
Asylum doesn't exist on fresh air! We need cash to hire venues, pay our rent, buy supplies, pay bands, etc. We also like to give to other charities when ever possible. We don't need much to run our group, however at the moment we are trying to reach a humble goal of finding 30 new donors who are willing to give 5 pounds a month to cover our basic monthly cost. Of course any one off donations are also greatly appreciated.
If you want to throw some spare pennies our way or set up a standing order, please contact Martin at: email@example.com
Don't forget, if you pay tax on your earnings you can increase the value of your donation for free by filling out a gift aid form.
If your knees are still in good condition then get on them and pray for us! Pray that we'll always do God's will and do a good job of conveying Christ's love to people. Pray that we have the resources, a venue and finances to keep doing that.


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Our Attendee Spotlight is:
Victoria Torres who's blog is Aquarium Reef
What do you hope to experience at Blogging While Brown 2013?
I want to learn to become a better blogger. I have always dreamed of making money in my sleep. This is the beginning of my dream coming true. To be able to talk about something that I love with such passion and profit from it would be that dream come true.
Why did you to start a blog?
I have always wanted to start a blog but never knew what to talk about. I tried several times to talk about my profession but eventually lost interest. I have finally found something that I enjoy talking about on a daily basis and I hope to make it work for me.logs, money & lifestyle
What are your top blogging tips for other bloggers?
I am interested in bloggers who talk about hobbies that they are interested in and profit from. I am also interested in speaking with experienced bloggers who have had years of experience in the field of blogging.
Where do you see you and your blog in 5 years?
In 5 years, I hope to bring new and experienced aquarist together to share their knowledge with one another without the backlash because of their time in the hobby. I hope to make products easier for both to find and deliver those products when they need them.
Do you need something from your fellow bloggers to take your blogging to the next level?
The dos and don'ts along with the pitfalls of blogging are also an interest of mine. I want to know what to expect and how to deal with downfalls that may come to pass. How does one keep focus? How does one know what their readers want to read? How do you keep the interest of your readers? How do you go about reaching out to gain readers? These are a few questions that run through my mind when I try to motivate myself while blogging.
Do you have something to offer bloggers to help them take their blogging to the next level?
I am a newbie when it comes to blogging. I have expertise with deescalating hostile customer service situations. I am aware that many bloggers have issues when it comes to providing services and/or products to clients. I also have a niche for writing. I write very well when it is about a thought that I am trying to express or something I am passionate about. I am able to engage people very well regardless of their knowledge of my particular subject. Everyone was a newbie once. We have to remember that even after we have had years of experience doing the things that we love.
Welcome to BWB !


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Up and coming hip-hop singer, Ekeh Eustace Chinaza, better known by his stage name ZealKeyz, is set to shake the Nigerian music space with his new single "Farawe". The young talent, who has been doing music since he was 11 years old and professionally since 2013, has 6 singles to his credit including his newly released single "Farawe".
Speaking on the stumbling blocks upcoming artistes face in the industry, ranging from writing songs, to getting a good producer and performing at unpaid shows, ZealKeyz confirmed the
"It's not so easy for upcoming artistes, going for shows and not getting paid, not having enough money to record songs is another problem. I draw inspiration from what is happening in the streets and what is going on with me. How to record songs is a major challenge for an upcoming artiste, if you don't have money to record and also a good producer, it is tantamount to doing nonsense and people won't accept such music," he lamented.
In a time when youths are going into fraud and illegalities to make money and have what others do have, ZealKeyz released Farawe which basically preaches contentment and God's awareness of any circumstance.
"Farawe is a song that says God is in control of whatever one is facing and so no one should compare you with anyone and you should also not compare yourself with others. I did Farawe because of the trend of singing in Yoruba language to get prominence especially in Lagos because the language is accepted," he said.
ZealKeyz who particularly looks forward to working with Wizkid got his latest single produced by MSN gang's in-house producer, Dabeat on D Beat.


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A Boeing 747-400, a Dubai-bound cargo plane, terribly crashed at about 11:20 a.m. local time a few moments after its takeoff on Monday, April 29, at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan instantly killing the 7 onboard crew members. The victims have now been identified and the weather condition that day is reportedly considered as a possible factor of the plane crash as well as a cargo shift.


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Saturday, March 4, 2017
Pebbles Inc Mini Card set
8 comments:
OH I LOVE cards like these!! I have a ton of papers that I could do this with too. I am a paper whore (was thinking how bad I was today too with paper as I have a HUGE basket ready to be paid for full of it at sb.com) Thank you for the inspiration. I think I need to go through my stash now!!ReplyDelete
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh I love love love love these!!! Just gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ReplyDelete
Wow! Love the collection you created! The patterned paper in the background is a beautiful backdrop to the focal image and colors you chose. Spring is surely almost here! :)ReplyDelete
Such a sweet set of cards. You rocked all those goodies!ReplyDelete
Aww, the patterned paper! I love it. What a great set.ReplyDelete
Super fun! I just love Pebbles... and it's a growing love :).ReplyDelete
What a cute set of cards! So quick and easy to put together too!ReplyDelete


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In June of 2013, I had the great pleasure of visiting Bun E. Carlos' "drum barn" to pick up a 1920's Ludwig Wild Rose Triumphal (see NSMD Featured Articles, January, 2014). Bun E. was very kind to give me a tour of his amazing drum collection. I took quite a few pictures with my trusty Nikon D800 expecting that I would never see a collection like this ever again. Recently, I started looking through these pics, zooming in on the details that a wonderful DSLR allows. No, this is not an advertisement for Nikon! My eyes kept returning to the far left corner where many exquisite and rare 1920s-1930s Ludwig & Ludwig drums were placed. Third from the left, next to a Ludwigold and Stipelgold, there appeared to be a 10-lug, non-engraved Black Beauty, circa 1920s (p-338 strainer), with gold-plated hardware. Actually, there was some engraving but only the "Ludwig – Chicago - USA" logo. No scroll – no florettes. While the drum showed some wear-and-tear for its ~90 year lifespan, I was pretty sure there were very few of these around in any condition. Eventually, the allure became too much and I emailed Bun E about selling me the drum. To make a long story short, the drum made its pilgrimage from Rockford, IL to Carmel, IN about a month later. At the time, I did not know very much about these drums, but my curiosity made me dive deeper.
The first example of a non-engraved Black Beauty that I encountered was in Mike Curotto's 2006 book, "The Curotto Collection." On page 98-99 to be exact, there was a picture of a 1924-25, 5X14", 8-lug, Ludwig & Ludwig Gold Inspiration model. With the exception of the number of lugs (8 vs. 10), it was almost identical to the drum I got from Bun E. - almost. Being a true drum nerd, I looked more closely at the engraved logo. On Mike's 1924-25 Inspiration model, "Ludwig" was scripted with "CHICAGO" in block letters below. On my Inspiration 10-lugger, "Ludwig" was scripted but underneath was "CHICAGO" and "USA". Over the letter "i" in "Ludwig" of Mike's drum was a squiggly line while mine had a rounded dot. Clearly, these were different engravers at work and/or drums from a slightly different time period. For the totally anal-retentive, the logo on the 1924-25 Inspiration was just to the left of the strainer, while mine was one panel removed to the left. I contacted John Aldridge, resident master engraver and vintage drum expert. He said this was likely from around 1926-27 "because the Professional strainer came out in late 1927."
Looking through my 1927 Ludwig catalog (page 13), I noticed that the Ludwig logo engraving on the 10-lug De Luxe model was virtually identical to mine. Like the 1927 Ludwig De Luxe, my drum had a center-beaded, two-piece soldered shell, 10-lugs, a p-338 strainer, and bearing edge bent back to the shell forming a triangular air chamber (one of the aspects of these drums that I believe makes them sound so unique). As mentioned earlier, my drum had gold-plated hardware; though scratched and worn it had the survived the test of time. I looked closer at the catalog page and saw various "Ornamental Finishes" listed below the pic. The "Genuine Gold Trimmed Models" read, "The shell is black nickel finish; white enamel or Ludwigold optional; the counter hoops, rods, lugs and snare strainer are genuine gold-plated. This model makes an ideal presentation drum and is now being used in many leading feature orchestras. Not engraved. Any size (Nos. 1 to 6)…$57.50." Correcting for inflation, this would be about $800 in today's dollars - pretty reasonable in my humble opinion given the quality of craftsmanship. I assumed "not engraved" meant no floral pattern on the shell and excluded the logo. To be sure, I checked in with John Aldridge again, explaining my observations from the 1927 catalog. John said, "Hey Bob, my vote is for the gold trimmed moniker as opposed to the Inspiration. The reason is supported by your own observation. The style and content of your logo is consistent with this found on 10-lug flower engraved models from 1927. That makes it a more accurate choice to use the 1927 catalog name and also allows you to point out how Ludwig would rename an older model when a design element changed (8 to 10 lugs). The locations of the script engraved logo are standard: left of strainer for eight lug models, one panel left of strainer for ten lug models. There are a few with misplaced logos, but the standard placement is by far the most common."
So while I nailed down the drum's identity, I was at a loss to find any of the previous owners prior to Bun E. I keep wondering who was the drummer who bought and played this drum almost 90 years ago. I wish I knew… In a previous catalog, Ludwig stated, "You can play better on a gold drum. You wonder why, but it is true." Well, I'm not so sure but I am to find out!
All said and done, this is a pretty rare drum. I feel privileged to be its custodian for the next generation. Now it's time to send it off for a bit of gentle cleaning and preservation (by Mike Curotto, one of the few people I'd trust with such a delicate task). Hopefully, I'll remember to send some before-and-after pics! Mike does amazing work. Best wishes and keep hunting for those musical treasures.
Many thanks to Bun E Carlos, John Aldridge and Mike Curotto for their help with this article; they are a wealth of knowledge and inspiration (no pun intended!).


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This Ayah contains a command from Allah to the wives whose husbands die, that they should observe a period of `Iddah of four months and ten nights, including the cases where the marriage was consummated or otherwise, according to the consensus (of the scholars).
The proof that this ruling includes the case where the marriage was not consummated is included in the general meaning of the Ayah. In a narration recorded by Imam Ahmad and the compilers of the Sunan, which At-Tirmidhi graded Sahih, Ibn Mas`ud was asked about a man who married a woman, but he died before consummating the marriage. He also did not appoint a Mahr (dowry) for her. They kept asking Ibn Mas`ud about this subject until he said, "I shall give you my own opinion, and if it is correct then it is from Allah, while if it is wrong it is because of my error and because of (the evil efforts of) Satan. In this case, Allah and His Messenger are innocent of my opinion. She has her full Mahr.'' In another narration, Ibn Mas`ud said, "She has a similar Mahr to that of the women of her status, without stinginess or extravagance.'' He then continued, "She has to spend the `Iddah and has a right to the inheritance.'' Ma`qil bin Yasar Ashja`i then stood up and said, "I heard Allah's Messenger issue a similar judgment for the benefit of Barwa` bint Washiq.'' `Abdullah bin Mas`ud became very delighted upon hearing this statement. In another narration, several men from Ashja` (tribe) stood up and said, "We testify that Allah's Messenger issued a similar ruling for the benefit of Barwa` bint Washiq.''
As for the case of the widow whose husband dies while she is pregnant, her term of `Iddah ends when she gives birth, even if it occurs an instant (after her husband dies). This ruling is taken from Allah's statement:
﴿وَأُوْلَـتُ الاٌّحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ﴾
(And for those who are pregnant, their `Iddah is until they lay down their burden.) (65:4)
There is also a Hadith from Subay`ah Al-Aslamiyah in the Two Sahihs, through various chains of narration. Her husband, Sa`d bin Khawlah, died while she was pregnant and she gave birth only a few nights after his death. When she finished her Nifas (postnatal period), she beautified herself for those who might seek to engage her (for marriage). Then, Abu Sanabil bin Ba`kak came to her and said, "Why do I see you beautified yourself, do you wish to marry By Allah! You will not marry until the four months and ten nights have passed.'' Subay`ah said, "When he said that to me, I collected my garments when night fell and went to Allah's Messenger and asked him about this matter. He said that my `Iddah had finished when I gave birth and allowed me to get married if I wished.''


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Raging Racist Has Complete Meltdown At Black Family At North Carolina Hospital (VIDEO)
A shrieking volunteer at a North Carolina hospital was caught on video kicking out a black family from a family resource center. Racist fury is alive and well in America unfortunately.
Isaiah Baskins who uploaded the video on YouTube said the unidentified woman called him the n-word before who took out his smartphone to record her.
From Isaiah Baskins:
Went to Baptist hospital for my daughter appointment and went into the family resource center and became a victim of racism before I started recording she called me a nigger and said get my black kids out We wasent bothering anybody I was just taking to someone I just met in the hospital. After i grap my camera she say my pants and gray underweare keep it real u called me a nigger and my kid little black kids. Out of no where she flips and put me and my kids out them pushes me and kicks me Racism is still real Wake forest baptist medical center.
According to RAW STORY, the hospital has apologized and said the woman is no longer a volunteer there.
Press play to watch the video below.


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- Overview
- Description
- In Action
Glass Shuen is a fully sized Shuen paper. Sized Shuen is custom-made for the Fine-line [Gong-bi] School of Painting. Sizing reduces absorbency. The sizing gives the artist the ability to apply layer after layer of color.
As its name suggests, Glass paper offers a smooth and consistently non-absorbent surface on which to paint. This paper handles repetitive shading with consummate ease. This paper is similar to Shimmer Shuen! In the paper, Glass paper has been off white, cream-like color with no residual signs of a sparkle. However, our present batch is white and has a notable glisten.
Although glass paper is featured in Ning Yeh's video for marbling, our last batch that we stocked was not taking the marbling colors featured in our product line due to the sizing on the paper. However, our present batch has been tested and takes the color well. It's great for student use to do Fine Line "Gong-bi" style of painting


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An invisible watermark gives you the opportunity to communicate with your end-customers about ingredients, recipes or instructions of use and this can be done in the language of the smartphone. Less misusage, less claims for food and health products. Imagine the opportunity that easily can be reality of having an allergy check in the smartphone-app. A timer-help for healthcare products, what ever you wish, we can create. Your company and your agencies do the creative work, we are a tech company that provides the technology and cooperate with your current app-builders.
The extra dimension
Watermark technology works with an invisible code, a watermark concealed in the printed design of a package, valuable documents and more. This code is unique, hard to copy and can be applied to every surface of the product packaging - similar to an EAN code that is wrapped around the entire packaging. Once the code is recognised, interaction with the consumer begins. Contrary to Augmented Reality (AR), the product does not need to be constantly "in the picture", making this system a lot more user-friendly.
FiliGrade delivers true innovation in the area of packaging and printed valuable documents. By adding digital watermarks into the design, and managing the quality of the invisible codes in various print production processes, we upgrade what typically is static medium into an interactive and informative medium.
Scanning the package or document with the camera of a smart phone or tablet, opens a world of possibilities in terms of product information, promotions, customer loyalty, creative marketing campaigns, social interactions, etc. The transfor- mation of "functional", into powerful, modern and engaging communications.
Digital loyalty programs
Based on the combination of the watermarked item, and the smartphone that provides day and time information, GPS-information, and the credentials of the user it is possible to create digital loyalty programs based on the amount of scans in a time-scheme, and to minimize the abuse of the program.
If you are interested in this technology, please contact us.


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Each Big Easy Driver can drive up to about 2A per phase of a bi-polar stepper motor.
It is a chopper microstepping driver which defaults to 16 step microstepping mode.
The Big Easy Driver, designed by Brian Schmalz is a stepper motor driver board for bi-polar stepper motors up to 2A/phase. It is based on the Allegro A4988 stepper driver chip. It's the next version of the popular Easy Driver board.
It can take a maximum motor drive voltage of around 30V, and includes on-board 5V/3.3V regulation, so only one supply is necessary. Although this board should be able to run most systems without active cooling while operating at 1.4-1.7A/phase, a heatsink is required for loads approaching 2A/phase. You can find the recommended heatsink in the related items below.
Whenever possible, items which are in stock are dispatched the same day, or the next working day.
Large and/or heavy items are dispatched by UPS courier service and these orders must be placed before 15:00hrs (GMT) to ensure same day dispatch.
Small items are normally sent using a Royal Mail service for UK orders, and International Airmail or UPS for overseas orders
Returns Policy
Active Robots (Retail) LimitedUnit 7 New Rock Industrial Estate,ChilcomptonRadstockSomersetBA3 4JEUnited Kingdom+44 (0)1761 231 320
Registered: England & WalesCompany number: 11619910VAT Reg: GB 307 5299 92
We're Open Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM
Active Robots


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AWE also offers career education to enhance your job search skills
Eligibility and how to apply: Click here for complete details on program eligibility and the application process.
What AWE Alumni have said about their experience:
"I was able to test-drive a possible career path and get a head-start financially before graduation."
"I not only received the practical skills I needed to be successful in future jobs, I discovered a career that I am passionate about and can pursue after I graduate."
"[I had] a safe environment to develop skills related to my degree. In my internship, I had lots of opportunities to go beyond my comfort zone and expand my skills and experiences, but I always felt supported when doing so."
"The confidence in an interview is huge! I interviewed for jobs that I didn't get but I learned something from each experience. I also learned that my degree can take me in unconventional directions."
"The main difference is that AWE work terms encourage students to develop personal goals, achieve them, and reflect on their experiences. Regular jobs don't make this process explicit, so students might not gain as much from those experiences."


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Each month a different CSU hosts the CSSA Plenary meeting. Every school sends a delegation to the meetings, and each school has a vote at the table. Each school builds their delegation differently, Sac State has a dedicated CSSA representative (me) and also sends the ASI President (Nielsen Gabriel).
CSU Stanislaus hosted the September CSSA Plenary meeting. The college was established in 1957 and is the only campus in the CSU system to offer a bachelor's degree in cognitive studies. Accredited in 1964, it held class on the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds until moving to its current location in 1965. Additional members that were in attendance at this Plenary included ASI Executive VP, Erica Brown, and ASI VP of Academic Affairs, Chantel Banus.
The weekend was jam packed with many discussions, primarily those surrounding topcs of projects that are currently being worked on within CSSA like Online Education, or an updated Sustainability Policy, or Federal Advocacy for CSSA.
Policy Agenda
At The CSSA board approved the policy agenda that will be used to direct CSSA for the following year. The following is a brief outline of the sections included in this year's policy agenda:
- Goal 1: Ensure the improvement and establishment of systemwide programs and resources for students. Support the quality of the student experience through assessment and implementation of safety and accessibility needs, as well as the creation of student programs and initiatives that ensure the quality of the student experience on campus.
- Goal 2: Advocate to the state legislature for the growth and quality of the CSU. Increase student participation in advocacy at the state level, both in-district and at the state capitol, to ensure that the CSU is evaluated for the overall affordability, accessibility and quality of the system.
- Goal 3: Advocate on behalf of Higher Education initiatives and legislation at the Federal Level. Increase the affordability and accessibility of the CSU by advocating on behalf of CSU students in Washington D.C.
*Full Policy Agenda is available on the CSSA website at www.CSUStudents.org
Notable Appointments
2 new members joined the Sac State delegation that attends CSSA each month. Erica Brown, ASI EVP was appointed to serve as the Chair of the Chess planning committee, and Chantel Banus, ASI VPAA was appointed to the Initial Review Board, which handles most of the process for searching for the next student trustee.
The next meeting is in CSU East Bay on October 12-13. Be sure to keep an eye out for more updates in the future!


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Registration of disinfectants
Dear colleagues!
We are pleased to offer you a range of services for registration of disinfectants on the territory of Ukraine on "turnkey" basis!
Why is it beneficial to work with us:
- low prices;
- We focus only on registration of medical and pharmaceutical products;
- We are working with registration every day for 10 years, so we can guarantee 100% positive result!
In order to register you need:
- Prepare a list of documents (see below)
- Send them to us in any way, which is convenient for you.
- Our experts will conduct a technical examination of documents and indicate the exact cost of the registration procedure and the status of the registration dossier during 2-3 days.
- After agreeing on the price, we will make the contract with you and begin to perform a registration on "turnkey" basis, we will issue attached papers properly, submit a package of documents, conduct laboratory studies, obtain registration certificate and give it to you.
Performance time 30-40 days
The exact cost of the registration is determined after an examination of documents submitted.
- Name (trade name in the original language, English and Ukrainian); Name of the applicant (address, phone, fax, e-mail address) for foreign applicants – registration number, for native – the code according EDRPOU is needed;
- Name of the manufacturer (address, phone, fax, e-mail address) for foreign manufacturers – the registration number for native – code according EDRPOU;
- Composition of product, the form of packaging;
- Purpose of product;
- Mode of use;
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"Dominic has the best feel and notes of any bass player I have ever heard. He is the music bass man!"
-Chris Kimsey
In light of this effusive statement by the legendary Rolling Stones producer, it's hard to believe that Dominic didn't pick up a bass guitar until he was 20 years old. He soon found himself touring the clubs of Europe with his first band, often for months at a time -a tireless work ethic that would set the tone for Dominic's musical career.
Whether in the studio or on the road, the one consistent element in an ever-changing lineup of musical situations has been Dominic's use of Gallien-Krueger amps. "Amps are tools and for me, it's always been a case of choosing the right tool for the job. I've yet to find myself in a situation where my GK doesn't deliver on every level. Tone and unfaltering reliability. What more could you want?!".
Whether it's recording albums with appearances by the likes of Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith (Celtic Pride -Light Up The Sky) or playing the hallowed musical turf of Donington with Buck & Evans, it's the Gallien-Krueger 2001RB and accompanying 115 and 410 RBH that have delivered every time.


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Now, more than ever, we need to actively move towards a sustainable future.
We are so proud to be able to inspire, initiate, and support collaborative actions that enhance our local communities. EcoAction Partner programs and eventshelp businesses and residents in San Miguel County, Ouray County and beyond. Our commitment to supporting sustainable communities is unwavering. However, we would not be able to do any of this important work without the support of our partners and local community members.
EcoAction Partners is reliant and grateful for the support of our local community!


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What do you hold sacred about your children's education?
Of course, it varies among parents. But are there commonalities regarding what parents hold in high regard?
Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, based on my experience as an educator and parent, I'll explore what I believe are critical features of a quality educational experience. I'll cut a large swath across the educational landscape, in the exploration of what I think are the essential features of a quality education.
The previous eight articles in this series have focused on:
1. Care / connection
2. Mission
3. Communication
4. Optimal conditions for learning
5. Great teachers
6. Opportunities
7. Community
8. Valuing differences
This ninth and final article speaks to the outcomes parents expect from their children's education.
Introduction We all want "successful" outcomes from our children's education. Depending on the context "success" might mean graduating high school against mighty odds, to being properly prepared for an elite college.
Applying a purely transactional approach, outcomes are a reasonable expectation. After all, we all are stakeholders of sorts via the payment of taxes that fund the educational system. It is even more transactional for parents in private schools. Recent scandals notwithstanding…money (i.e., tuition, fees, donations) is remitted to schools and via their value proposition, schools make claims and hopefully meet parents' expectations.
Hard outcomes
Foundationally, parents expect a good solid liberal arts education… a curriculum that solidifies the three R's and surveys a broad spectrum of knowledge, preparing their children for access to college and the workplace. Sounds basic, but we still hear about high school graduates of typical intellectual ability who graduate without a solid liberal arts foundation.
The great news is that the graduation rate from high school is at an all-time high of 84 percent. And the percentage of graduates who go straight to college at 70 percent is also an all-time high. These statistics, however, also bring to light a vulnerability I have noticed in the education system.
Finding the right college is almost as important as going to a college. In terms of nuts and bolts outcomes of American parents, attending college, moreover the "right" college, is very high on the list. The resources, however, allocated to college guidance, even in the most resourced schools are usually scarce. If ever there was a place to manageably deliver on a hard outcome that would be well-received by parents across the country, it would be to better resource college guidance.
Soft Outcomes I noted above that 70 percent of graduates go straight to college but one in five leave college before graduation. Bringing the college graduation rate of high school graduates closer to 50 percent*. In the voluminous research (e.g.,Why do so many students drop out of college? And what can be done about it?) conducted on the topic, often the lack of softer skills are highlighted.
Presented below are a few examples of so-called softer skills. Not "softer" because they are weaker or less important, softer because they are more difficult to quantify as outcomes.
As much, and more, parents might think about how well we educate students for these softer skills.
For example, being taught how to think versus what to think. How to think "travels" much better than what to think. How to think leaves you open to the complexities that surround our most perplexing issues and leaves you open to change in the light of reason and basic moral principles — when one is only taught what to think you tend not to stray from where you were when you were first told what to think.
At Currey Ingram Academy, we value "soft" outcomes such as grit, advocacy, service, leadership and humility — as much, or more, than grades, wins and college placement. Educating students towards these outcomes is baked into our culture. It happens over time, often imperceptible, but always present. Like the power of a great book, the magic happens between the lines. It's not the mechanical reading of the words, it is what happens when you interact with the words.
The power of softer skills rests with their transferability. They do not prepare you for one class or a particular job, they prepare for any class and any job; not to mention all the challenges the winds of life can blow your way.
"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." — Wilma Rudolph
The greatest thing that could happen to humanity is to have a society, including our education system, that maximizes the potential of every person. What an outcome this would be!
Thank you for reading.
*Although it is true that a healthy proportion of initial college dropouts eventually return and receive a college diploma.
Dr. Jeffrey L. Mitchell is Head of School of Currey Ingram Academy, Brentwood, TN.


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Today I'm giving a presentation. We all give presentations every day. We communicate with others for professional and personal reasons all the time. Even if we just focus on professional communication, our days are full of presentations. We are effective in these presentations to the extent that our audience understands what we are trying to get across. Let me make the key point again: We are effective to the extent that our audience understands what we are trying to get across. Effectiveness is not about how flashy our presentation is, how much information we present, or whether or not we used PowerPoint. Effectiveness is about transmitting understanding and that transmission is hard. As Linda Flower says in Problem-Solving Strategies for Writing:
When you think about it, we ask a great deal when we expect people to translate a few words presented on a page into a complex meaning or an image that resembles what we originally intended. As we all know, merely reading a message is not the same thing as understanding, much less remembering, it. (p. 128)
When we ask people to translate fleeting comments and images from real-time presentation the task is even harder. Two articles I came across today highlight the value of focusing on our audience and the process of how they come to understand the ideas we are trying to transmit:
- Michael Schrage's post for the Harvard Business Review blog,Delivering Your Innovative Ideas, highlights what a presenter can learn from reading (or hearing) how the audience translates his ideas. This is an idea Linda Flower also presents in her work, mentioned above. We can learn a great deal from the interpretations of our presentations, be they reports, slide decks, or verbal.
- FastCompany reports that it is "Say No to PowerPoint Week." I'm troubled by this one as it places the blame on the technology rather than the presenter. I've also heard Edward Tufte talk about PowerPoint and how the templates "weaken verbal and spatial reasoning..." Bert Deckerof Decker Communications provides a more evenhanded view in his 2009 post. He notes that our first step is to "figure out what your message is – what is your Point Of View, what Action do you want people to take and what are the Benefits (for them – not you...)" rather than to sit down and have the technology drive the outline.
Schrage and Decker both keep the audience's understanding at the forefront of the process. They are both demonstrating systems savvy whereby the technology tools, organizational process, and human dimensions are used in concert to support the specific goal of transmitting an idea such that it is understood by the particular audience. Start with the goal of understanding and then mix your tools and approach to create your message and method. PowerPoint alone is not a cause of weak reasoning. A great idea alone is not the key to a successful presentation. Use your systems savvy to transmit the great idea to the audience in a way that they can use -- that is the key to a successful presentation.


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A family-owned and certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise
Led by siblings Devi Momot, chief executive officer; Dawn Juneau, vice president of administration; and Clark Currier, vice president of operations, Twinstate Technologies® continues in the future-forward vision of the trio's parents and company founders, Chuck Currier and Dulcie Sherman.
Devi Momot, CISSP®, GSLC®, GISP®
CEO and Acting CISO
Devi steers the company alongside technology's constant evolution, guiding it to where it is today: an award-winning leader in unified communications and collaboration, cybersecurity and IT, and building and infrastructure. Devi is known for her entrepreneurial skills, remarkable determination and selflessness in her community, and being an avid promoter of education.
She is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) by (ISC)2, the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, Inc. Certifications by (ISC)2 are internationally revered. She has core cybersecurity leadership certifications from the SANS Institute, including the GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC®) and the GIAC Information Security Professional (GISP).
As well, Devi holds certificates in education from institutions like Harvard Business School; serves on advisory councils for global tech titans; is a present and past member of a number of boards of directors; and is actively involved in making a difference in her community.
Devi has been recognized for numerous honors, including the Trailblazer Award from the Girl Scouts' Women of Distinction program; the 57th Irishman of the Year from the local Chamber of Commerce; and multiple Citations from the NYS Assembly. Most recently she was acknowledged for her aid in the revival of the Strand Theater, a historical landmark.
Devi is a devoted animal lover and recently a proud grandmother. She and her husband, Pete, have two children, and a third, if you count the company dog, Ayla.
Dawn Juneau
Vice President of Strategic Alliances
Dawn began her career in the family-owned business as a secretary, at the young age of 17. Now with more than 35 years of experience assuming multiple roles and responsibilities, she is an integral part of the company's success. She was the driving force behind its status as a Women-Owned Business Enterprise on the federal level and in New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. In her current role, she actively oversees the company's government and subcontracting services.
Over the years, she has introduced automation processes, positioning the company to expand to other markets, thus opening several office locations throughout the Northeast. She pioneered its first computerized inventory control and purchasing system, and implemented the first database to track sales and expenses, back in 1985. She is an inspiring force, demonstrating the organizational and leadership skills that have helped steer the success of the business from a farmhouse to a multi-state operation.
Dawn supports a strong belief in social responsibility. She led the charge to start company-wide blood drives and the Adopt the 10th Mountain Platoon effort. She worked closely with her siblings to lead an effort to help during significant times of need, such as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid.
She and her husband, Kevin, split their time between Northern New York and sunny Florida. Combined, they have four children.
Clark Currier
Vice President of Operations
Clark's technical expertise began early during his service in the U.S. Air Force as a Teletype/Crypto Repair Technician at a top secret facility in Italy. There, he worked on equipment for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the CIA, and other forces and agencies. After leaving the military, he joined the family business, and for more than thirty years has piloted numerous projects and assumed a variety of positions before taking on the responsibilities of his current position as vice president of operations. In this role, he oversees design, installation, and ensures exceptional support is provided to our many customers.
Clark is an advocate of continuing education, encouraging ongoing employee certification, and leading and serving on boards for various college foundations. His passion for emboldening and helping others doesn't stop there and is evident in his volunteerism. He is a certified EMT, Interior Firefighter, Swift Water Rescue Swim Technician, and is certified in Swift Water Rescue Boat Operations.
Clark and his wife, Jodi, have three children, a Basset Hound-Labrador mix named "Shorty", and reside in northern New York's beautiful Adirondack Mountains.


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More than ten years after the peace agreement which put an end to the longest (36 years) and most bloody civil war in Central America, the violence has not abated in Guatemala, remaining the major preoccupation of the population.
In 2008, Guatemala has not finished counting its dead. In the capital alone, there has been an average 20 murders per day since the start of the year. The streets of Guatemala City are amongst the most dangerous in the world. There are an estimated 360,000 legal and 2 million illegal weapons in circulation.


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Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year! VLJ first opened its doors in 2001 with 30 volunteer attorneys willing to assist low-income residents of Essex County with family, consumer, housing, and family law issues. As of 2016, over a thousand attorneys have volunteered with VLJ to offer pro bono services to tens of thousands of clients statewide with a variety of civil legal matters. Last year alone, VLJ's pro bono volunteers assisted 3,460 people and provided $1.8 million in free legal services. VLJ's core areas of service are, advocating for veterans, aiding women, children, and families, working through financial crisis, and responding to disaster.
We owe our success over the past 15 years to all of our dedicated volunteers and the many individuals, businesses and foundations that have generously contributed to us. Thank you for your confidence in our ability to provide legal services and advocacy to and for New Jersey's most vulnerable populations!


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Improve your web writing
The quickest way to improve your web writing is to focus on structure – not style, language or grammar. Clear structure is a sign of clear thinking.
People think that if you can't "write", you can't write. But writing's real value is in channelling your ideas into a single, coherent message. Good writing is mostly about structuring your thoughts, and it's easier than you think.
This is a guide to a simple structure for writing content pages. It's not for everyone, but if you're ever asked to write a web page it might just be useful.
The headline says it all
The headline should tell the reader what they're about to read. That's it.
It has the biggest text on the page, so it's your biggest chance to hook a reader. Say clearly what you're writing about – if this doesn't sound compelling, maybe it's not worth writing about. Remember that it will get used as link text from other sites, especially Facebook and Twitter, so make sure that users get what they are expecting from these links. Otherwise they'll leave.
Don't be too clever. Avoid jargon. And recognise that if your headline is saying two different things, you should probably write two different pages.
Open with the conclusion
Your opening paragraph should summarise the whole text. In 25-ish words. Don't set the scene. Don't write a whimsical introduction. Above all, don't start with the start. Instead, tell your reader what the page is about and let them judge whether they're interested (readers do this anyway, so help them out).
Think of the headline and opening paragraph as an inseparable couple walking arm in arm across the web – alone on your page, with their friends in your listing pages and with their enemies in the Google search results. Give them the love they need to survive in all contexts.
Subheadings are the new body text
People read subheadings first. Sometimes that's all they read, so use them to tell your story too. Ginny Redish put me up on the four ways to write them:
- Statements – 'Subheadings Are The New Body Text'
The clearest, most useful type of subheading. They are difficult to write, but it gets easier. If you struggle then maybe your ideas are not yet clear enough.
- Instructions – 'Create Subheadings That Tell A Story'
Great for writing instructions or talking someone through a process. Begin with the verb, either imperative ('create') or gerund ('creating') and don't mix.
- Questions – 'How Many Ways Can I Write Subheadings?'
This puts you in the user's shoes and is a fantastic way to get started (list and answer all possible questions). But you risk answering things that no one asks.
- Nouns – 'Subheadings'
Simple nouns work well as short, descriptive labels for navigation – but they're not great for subheadings as they carry no extra information. Avoid.
Micro structures matter too
Edward Tufte talks about using macro and micro to your advantage in information design. This applies to writing too. Your individual paragraphs (micro) should be structured just as carefully as your overall page (macro).
Start every paragraph with its main idea. People skim the starts of paragraphs like they scan subheadings. Anticipating this behaviour will help your readers and get your message across.
Use single sentence paragraphs to add emphasis.
Break lists of items into lists. But be careful. Lists stop working when there are too many on a page and they break if you put too many items inside them. Theway to get the balance right is to write out your text and read it back (critically).
Formatting is not acceptable
Lazy writers use bold and italic to emphasise their key points. Great writers use placement (as in starting a paragraph with its main idea), sequence (like putting the best ideas high on the page) and grouping (using lists and subheadings).
Avoid bold and italic. Try using your text flow and structure to provide the emphasis you need. Of all the techniques here, this is the one that can improve your writing most in the shortest space of time.
Links go at the rnd
Just because you can link to any page on the web doesn't mean you should.
Web writing is a hand-crafted experience. You are taking your reader on a journey through your text – whether they're reading every word, skimming paragraphs or scanning subheadings. Interrupting that experience with links to other sites is a great way to undo all your hard work.
Place your links at the end of your page. Make it clear why they are worth following. Take the time to really think about what you include.
Break all the rules
These techniques are not hard and fast rules. There are great writers who use clever headlines, whimsical openings, nonexistent subheadings and heavily linked text. And there is terrible writing that follows all of the above guidelines.
But sometimes it helps to learn a simple structure first. It certainly helped me.
I'd love to hear what you think. Have you got anything to add? Let me know on @myddelton. And if you want to improve your writing for the web, the best thing you can do is to read Letting Go Of The Words by Ginny Redish.


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The Power of Elizabeth Arden's PREVAGE® + a Giveaway!/
You know I am all about serious anti-aging skincare and fast results. I have tried the latest in technology and love the results. I'll be honest though; I haven't come across too many skincare products that can work as well or as fast that I feel confident in highly recommending or personally re-purchasing. That is, until I had the opportunity to try the power of PREVAGE®, namely the PREVAGE® Anti-aging+ Intensive Repair Serum. Combined with a few other Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® products, my skin has taken a turn for the better, faster than what I had ever thought possible.
The PREVAGE® Anti-aging+ Intensive Repair Serum is a highly potent serum. It is so highly potent, that it only takes one drop to completely cover my entire face and neck. Trust me on this (I've wasted too much on my first few uses). Within as little as 15 minutes, my face and neck are visibly more firm and my fine lines are plumped up and filled in as my skin looks brighter and younger. I don't want to stop using it! This Intensive Repair Serum is infused with the most powerful blend of antioxidants, proven to protect skin from 99% of the damage to collagen triggered by environmental aggressors. With continued use, the serum has been shown to significantly reduce the appearance of deep expression lines and wrinkles as well as minimize the appearance of age spots and discolorations. I haven't used it long enough to attest to those facts, but for the few weeks that I have used, it, I have noticed a remarkable enough difference that I will be stocking up. PREVAGE® Anti-aging+ Intensive Repair Serum is going to be a daily part part of my routine, morning and night.
To prime and properly cleanse skin before using the serum, I have been using the PREVAGE® Anti-aging Treatment Boosting Cleanser, because my anti-aging skin care routine can also use an extra boost, right? This Treatment Boosting Cleanser is an exfoliating foaming cleanser that is formulated with gentle bamboo microbeads and enzymatic exfoliators to not only quickly dissolve dirt, makeup and impurities, it gently exfoliates away dull, dead skin. My face is left fresh, clean, super soft and smooth. The cleanser helps to clear the way for maximum treatment benefits.
Another anti-aging powerhouse in the PREVAGE® collection that is going to be part of my routine going forward is the PREVAGE® Anti-aging+ Intensive Repair Eye Serum. I am all about making my eye area look as young as possible (doesn't everyone look at your eyes first?) and this serum is making a significant difference in the appearance around my eyes. First off, it feels luxurious when I gently pat it around my eyes. It instantly smoothes out my lids as it fills in my fine lines and makes them look less visible. My entire eye area looks more brightened and firm. I don't really have dark circles, but the little bit of darkness that I do have is much lighter - so much so that I feel I am using less concealer. It really is a powerful serum. With continued use, Intensive Repair Eye Serum helps support skin's natural collagen matrix for an even firmer look all over the entire eye area.
All I can say is that when just using this trio of products together, for just a few weeks now, I feel like I have received the equivalent of some fancy treatments at the dermatologist office. My skin looks younger, brighter and more firm. The area around my eyes is noticeably more smooth as fine lines are filled in. All of my lines seem to have filled in some, and I'll say it again; I have only been using the products for a little over two weeks! These PREVAGE® products are very powerful. It really is a combination of the power of the ingredients, consistent use of the products on a daily basis, taking extreme care of the skin by using SPF and staying out of the sun. It is the power of PREVAGE®.
This week, the Power of PREVAGE® is being celebrated at all Elizabeth Arden counters and they are having an amazing gift with purchase happening. Customers will receive a FREE Full Size PREVAGE® Treatment Boosting Cleanser (a $49.50 value) with the purchase of any PREVAGE® serum. To get yours, visit an Elizabeth Arden counter this week. To find an Elizabeth Arden counter nearest you, click here: http://www.elizabetharden.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-ElizabethArden-Site/default/Stores-Find This offer is valid from 9/14/14 - 9/20/14, one per customer, while stock lasts.
Elizabeth Arden is also sponsoring a fantastic giveaway just for YOU! Five winners will receive a $100 Macy's gift card to go a pick up a PREVAGE® product of your choice PLUS a pair of aviator style sunglasses with UV protection which complements the protection of PREVAGE® to further protect skin against the environment.
Enter the giveaway in the widget below.
The Power of Prevage Sweepstakes (the "Sweepstakes") is intended for participation only in the United States and Canada and shall be construed according to, and governed exclusively by, United States law. Do not participate in the Sweepstakes if you are not a legal resident of the United States or Canada, physically located in the United States or Canada at the time of entry or do not fall within the eligibility requirements set forth in these official rules.
PROMOTION DESCRIPTION: The Sweepstakes begins on or about 9/15/2014 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time ("EST") and ends on or about 9/20/2014 at 12:00 a.m. EST (the "Promotion Period"). By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Beautiful Makeup Search/ElizabethArden ("Sponsor"), which shall be final and binding in all respects. Sponsor reserves the right to modify or terminate sweepstakes if conditions arise that compromise its integrity or intended play.
ELIGIBILITY: Only legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia and Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and located in the United States and the District of Columbia and Canada at the time of entry are eligible to enter the Sweepstakes. Employees of Sponsor and Sponsor's advertiser partners and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies and each of their respective officers, directors and employees (and immediate family members and those persons living in the same household of any such officers, directors and employees) (collectively, the "Promotion Entities"), are ineligible to enter the Sweepstakes or win the prize. Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void in, Puerto Rico, all U.S. territories and possessions and overseas military installations, and where prohibited.
TO ENTER: Fill out the widget on this page. Winner will be randomly chosen by widget on or about September 21, 2014 and be notified by email left by entrant in the entry widget. Winner has 48 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited. All decisions by the sponsor are final.
PRIZE DELIVERY: Sweepstakes prize will be delivered by Elizabeth Arden within 6 weeks of sweepstakes promotion period ending. Beautiful Makeup Search does not have possession of prize and will make every attempt to make sure Elizabeth Arden delivers prize, but cannot be held liable if they do not deliver as set forth.
By entering this sweepstakes, you agree to all official rules.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for which I was compensated and received products for testing. While I was compensated to write a post about PREVAGE®, all opinions are my own.