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The objective is to simulate catchment-scale effects of constructed wetlands in the target areas. The simulations with catchment-scale models SWAT and VIHMA will show many and how large areas of constructed wetlands would be needed to substantially reduce agricultural nutrient loading. Simulations are made by Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE).
Two of the target catchments (Jokioinen and Lieto) entail study sites. Thus, coupling of the results from studies and model simulations will give insight on how much of the agricultural phosphorous loading could be reduced if such chemically boosted, effective systems would be made more than just these experimental ones.
The economical assessments will also be made to assess the cost-efficiency of wetlands in at least one of the target catchments. This work will be started in a 30-km2 catchment near Lahden Vesijärvi, because plenty of useful background data (e.g. a general plan of wetland establishment) from that area is available. Moreover, the local lake protection foundation (Vesijärvisäätiö) is strongly promoting constructed wetlands in the area, which makes the actual implementation of the planned wetlands more realistic.The economical assessments are made by MTT Agrifood Research Finland.
Puustinen, M., Turtola, E., Kukkonen, M., Koskiaho, J., Linjama, J., Niinioja, R., Tattari, S. (2010). VIHMA—A tool for allocation of measures to control erosion and nutrient loading from Finnish agricultural catchments. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 138(34): 306–317.


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a Health Foundations Birth Center story
What is it like to experience attentive and heartfelt prenatals, empowered birthing and in-home postpartum care at Health Foundations Birth Center in St. Paul, MN? Take few minutes to watch one family's beautiful journey where the model of care is:
Want to have one of the best days of your life documented? Let's connect!
To check out Health Foundations Birth Center, click here.
And, if you'd like to read more about this sweet baby girl's birth story, here are the details in her mama's own beautiful words:
Her Birth – 17 May 2016
Labor had been a long time coming. My dear sister had come to visit and left again, taking with her hopes of being present for the baby's birth. Early the morning of my sister's departure I had walked alone to the river, hoping to induce labor with another vigorous walk but also to have some time away to process my expectations.
With your first pregnancy you have expectations, but no real first hand experience. Yes, there are books you may have read and stories to which you can compare your own experiences, but for the most part you are left to weather your own unpredictable, wonderful storm. After all, nothing quite prepares you for labor except labor. My first baby had come 11 hours after my water broke. An arm around his neck meant 3 hours of pushing. My husband and I were enamored. I didn't sleep more than an hour or two the first night staring at my little boy, trying to nurse and feeling the need to protect him with my body still.
These thoughts and feelings were fresh anew in my mind that morning at the river: I wanted to meet the babe inside, wanted to face the marathon of labor again, but this time I also felt terribly disappointed. Disappointed that I'd been tense from the moment of my sister's arrival a week prior, feeling that I was holding baby inside with my stress, that I hadn't been diligent to move through all the appropriate exercises to place baby into the ideal birth position. Overall, I was realizing how little control I thought I had.
I shared my thoughts and feelings with a dear friend, a mother of 4. She told me that each of her pregnancies produced not only a child but also a time of great spiritual growth, especially the last months of each. She learned to surrender her expectations to a faithful and all-knowing God. Our sweet photographer also reminded me to enjoy the last "sacred days" of being pregnant.
My short morning at the river was poignant. I sat in the cool wind watching the water's course as tears traced their own paths down my face. The river helped to put things in perspective; the God who stayed the endless water was yet in control of the arrival of this squirmy babe. The birth would come in His perfect timing.
My Braxton hicks had been fairly consistent for about 2 weeks. They seemed quite intense and I had even alerted the midwives, our doula and family 2 weeks prior. Nothing obvious came of that early morning in the bath when I thought labor had started. Then, on a Monday night, I went for a last walk. I had to stop frequently to breathe through the Braxtons that were intense toward the end, though this had been their pattern.
I finally made it to bed around 11:30 pm and awoke after 2 hours of restless sleep, feeling tense and unable to fully relax through the end of my "Braxton's." Another uncomfortable squeeze came and I felt the familiar warmth of my waters breaking. I hesitated in bed, expecting a scant amount, then leapt to bedside as the flow continued. I nearly cried. I was so happy labor had finally arrived.
Weeks of expectation culminated in instantaneous excitement, which, in combination with sleepiness, produced a hilarious scenario. I shouted at my poor husband, deep in sleep, that my water had broken and we needed to make the appropriate calls and head to the birth center. I tried to dial my midwife and was perplexed at my phone, which had been turned to airplane mode. My waters continued to run so I headed to the tub where I stood, half clad, trying to summon brain function as my midwife asked questions.
When had my waters broken? Just then, um, 1:35 am, let's say.
Did I feel like labor was progressing? Well, I wasn't sure, things had been stuttering for at least 2 weeks.
Was I having contractions…? Erm, I think so…? I guess the Braxtons have been contractions?
I could hear my husband making calls in the other room to our doula and our downstairs neighbor. He was telling them we were leaving immediately for the birth center. I was cringing at the noise level, hoping our 2 year old would stay asleep, per the plan.
Midwife was asking questions but I wasn't completely listening.
I'm sorry, what did you ask? Question repeated. Well, I think I reflexively called you because our doula warned us that if my water broke she would meet us at the birth center rather than coming to labor at home with us.
Is there a reason she thinks you might have a precipitous labor? I'm not sure. I guess I'm just going off what our doula suggested since this is my second baby. I'm sorry. I'm still asleep. I'm just so excited!
We agreed to meet after 1 hour at the birth center, at 2:45am, and I texted our doula with the plan. My husband raced into the bathroom to find me quietly standing in the tub, answering his questions. "Why are you so calm?" he half shouted, clearly perplexed. "Well, I can think between my contractions this time!" I cheerfully explained. My husband felt we should leave immediately but I stated I thought I should wear some pants.
The drive was a pleasant one, full of joy and thankfulness, which was welcome as the drive in labor with our son was miserable. We were happy to soon meet our baby and were incredibly thankful we weren't traveling with traffic through all the road construction. My husband offered up a prayer of thanks and safety as we drove. I had many contractions, none of which were unbearable or too intense. I would hardly have described them as more than Braxton's, which were uncomfortable only at the end, lower on my abdomen. I continued to remind my husband he didn't need to speed, which he found hilarious.
I had wanted our friend and her 9-year-old daughter at this birth and they met us at the birth center. My energy was high wandering into the birth room and, going off what was recommended by our doula, my husband and I started to move through "spinning babies" exercises to help baby move into optimal birth position. Soon I was perched on the side of the couch, tush in the air, forearms on the floor.
All of this activity and energy might explain why our midwife smilingly suggested we may want to labor at home and she shared her concern that I could soon exhaust myself if I continued at my current pace. I was 4cm dilated, 80% effaced, but baby was at a high station yet. I was still so excited, running on adrenaline, but the thought of going home was terrifying. I didn't want a painful car ride when labor picked up.
Husband suggested we make a decision in an hour, which everyone agreed to. I remember our midwife smiling at me, pointing out that I may have felt pressure to perform to some degree with friends, doula and photographer present: "you're literally on camera right now!" she said. At her suggestion I donned a snug bellyband to lift my pendulous tummy before husband and I stepped into the shower together to be alone and allow labor to progress.
What a joy that time was! I carried into this labor the expectation of pain, exhaustion and solitude, as I'd felt in my first labor. This time, however, I felt connected to my husband, who supported me beautifully, encouraging me with touch and words. He massaged my scalp or shoulders between contractions while I sat on an exercise ball and hot water pounded my head and upper back. During contractions I put my hands around his neck then dropped down, arms draped over his, fully placing my weight onto him.
Soon I did feel quite tired and asked for the birth tub to be filled. We dried off and I moved to the bed to lay and rest. Our lovely doula recognized I would need quiet and calm and asked everyone except my husband to leave the room, though she stayed per my request. "Let's try this for an hour or two," she said, but my second contraction came with such force that it took great control to breathe through and relax. Within 40 minutes or so I was up out of bed, leaning on my husband during contractions.
At 5:10am I stepped into the birth tub, not knowing what to expect. I hadn't planned a water birth but wanted the option. Within minutes transition overwhelmed me like a flood and I almost immediately vomited. Although I do not permit myself to speak aloud the words "I can't do it" in labor, I felt I could not continue at that level of intensity. I had progressed from 4cm to 10cm in just about 2 hours.
Suddenly those feelings of insecurity and pain passed as I felt baby descend. I became what I felt to be supernaturally calm, realizing baby would come soon. I was able to relax my body and breathe deeply. One hand held myself off the bottom of the tub while the other caressed my crowning child, "Thank you for coming so quickly baby," I heard myself whisper.
I don't remember actively pushing, only allowing my body to gently birth baby. Fourteen minutes after I'd entered the tub a perfectly round head emerged, quickly and gently followed by a tiny figure that was caught by my husband and lifted to my chest. Within minutes we rejoiced in little cries and learned we had a daughter.
Whereas our son required resuscitation, his cord was cut quickly and he was moved across the room from me, our daughter breathed on her own, we were able to feel the pulsing cord long before it's work was over and baby stayed with me or my husband except only for a quick exam and measuring. It was such a sweet, calm and redeeming process.

subset: commoncrawl


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By incoming IDS Director Melissa Leach
As I prepare to take over as Director of IDS on the 23rd April, alumni are much on my mind.
Following our recent Graduation ceremony, we see it expand further, as a new set of cohorts from our MA and PhD programmes join the IDS global community. This is to be celebrated and valued, and for this reason I'm delighted that the Institute is already taking forward a new alumni strategy to strengthen relationships and networks in ways that work both for you, as alumni, and for IDS.
But my broad vision for the Institute's near future means our alumni network will be even more important than it has been so far.
Although it is early days, there are several directions that I believe will be crucial if we are to continue to pursue our core values – working towards a world with no poverty, widespread social justice and economic growth focused on improving human wellbeing, and, I would add, environmental sustainability – in internationally turbulent times.
Alumni are important to each:
Are there alumni out there interested to work with us to build and take forward a vision of 'engaged excellence' as the fertile future of development studies?
2. A second direction I've called 'transformational alliances': Transformational, because it is clear that 'business-as-usual' won't be enough to deliver the needed step-change towards wellbeing and justice on a constrained planet. There'll be a need to destabilise some dominant pathways and support imaginative alternatives. Alliances, because building these offers vital opportunities to bring about transformative change.
The current IDS strategy already emphasises new alliances outside the 'development industry'; co-constructing knowledge, and innovative influencing. But with an ever greater array of new actors becoming relevant to development, novel partnerships and hybrids emerging that challenge boundaries between public and private, state and NGO, and more than ever, resource flows conventionally associated with 'aid' being dwarfed by others, it may be time to become more ambitious and strategic.
IDS alumni are working in diverse roles, organisations and settings; how might we build alliances together for the kinds of transformation we would like to see?
3. However the third area of vision is where our alumni networks could be most central: making IDS more global. I think we would all recognise the huge shifts that have made an 'old style' development, focused just on aid agendas to address poverty in the 'global South', so outdated.
We are now in an emerging global landscape of new geopolitics associated with the rise of the BRICS and transnational movements; globalised movements of resources, ideas, technologies and people; changing patterns and geographies of poverty and inequality; and shared shocks and threats, whether involving finance or food, climate or political instability.
Poverty, inequality and struggles around rights and identity are realities in all countries everywhere – in the UK too. I believe our development studies agenda must embrace this, tracking flows of power, people, resources and ideas in multiple directions, and addressing questions justice and injustice more centrally, wherever they may be found. This in turn will require a more globally-defined and positioned IDS: for reach, partnerships, credibility, and critical mass and voice.
Would members of our incredibly international alumni network like to work with us to make a more global IDS a reality? For instance by collaborating to build global consortia around key themes and ideas, and taking forward opportunities for joint research, fundraising, fellowships, convening, teaching and learning, and more?
Looking forward
My understanding is that many of you are keen for closer engagement with IDS' ideas and strategies in ways that could enhance your own work and professional development. I think there are unrivalled opportunities to link these interests with the Institute's strategic directions over the next few years. As we move towards a new IDS strategy post-2015 and as our 50th anniversary in 2016 approaches, I'd be delighted to work with as many of you as possible to build together a future development, and development studies, fit for current changing global times.


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The Grand Canyon Veteran Wilderness Expedition, sponsored by Raytheon, will take a team of veterans with disabilities on a nine-day journey of discovery and challenge. These men and women will represent service from all branches of the Armed Forces and will support each other as they take on physical and mental challenges.
View photos and stories from the 2017 Wind River Range Veteran Wilderness Expedition using the #WildernessWarriors hashtag on social channels.
The Veteran Wilderness Expedition is a No Barriers Warriors program of the national nonprofit No Barriers USA. No Barriers Warriors' mission is to improve the lives of veterans through transformative, curriculum-based expeditions in challenging environments. No Barriers USA is committed to helping people overcome obstacles, live a full life and contribute their absolute best to the world.
- Chris Nolin, No Barriers Warriors Expedition Leader


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Carinya Lending Library
1. Why can't I borrow books that are on the shelves in the Carinya physical library?
Answer: The eBook collection is a separate collection of books that has been purchased from an eBook distributor. The collection will be added to over time and contains a mixture of books that are also in the print collection as well as others that are unique to the eBook collection.
2. Can I make suggestions for new titles?
Answer: Yes, you may contact the librarian to make suggestions. However, it must be remembered that not all published books are available to be purchased for digital lending. (Available titles are increasing daily). In addition, all purchases are made according to the Carinya Library book Acquisition Policy which is available from this website.
3. Am I able to renew a book if I have not finished reading it?
Answer: At the end of the borrowing period (14 days), books are automatically disabled. You will need to delete the title from your reading device and then re-borrow it.
4. Am I able to reserve a book that is currently not available?
Answer: At the moment this feature is not available.
5. What should I do if my book becomes disabled at the end of 14 days and I have not finished reading it?
Answer: You may select it again in the catalogue and re-borrow it if no-one else has borrowed it.
6. Can more than one person borrow the same book at the same time?
Answer: Unless there is more than one copy of a particular title in the eLibrary, only one person may borrow that title at a time. However, one person can download a book onto 6 compatible devices at a time.
7. If I finish a book early, do I have to keep it for the whole 14 days before I can borrow again?
Answer: You may return a book at any time if you are finished with it. Remember to return it from your reading device before you delete it. If you accidentally delete it from your reading device before you return it, you will need to download it again from the Carinya Lending Library so that you can return it.


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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Somehow Related?
Here's an interesting problem we faced this morning at work: We are currently using an LDAP directory for user authentication, and we authenticate using Samba for Windows Logins and a generic LDAP client for Unix logins. Well, when I came into work today, instead of the 1-2 seconds it normally took to log into Unix, it took like 120 seconds. Now, the only problem we had that we knew of was that our Internet connection was down. About 30 minutes later our Internet connection came back up and we were able to log in again with the 1-2 second delay... OH, one thing to mention -- Authentication through Samba for Windows worked normal the whole time. So, the question is, what relation is there between Unix, LDAP authentcation and the Internet?
Posted by Matt Augustine at 12:02 PM
1 comment:
- Mirko said...
The answer is DNS. Look in /etc/resolv.conf and you might find some entries that aren't accessible through your network.
This happens a lot if you move machines from one private network to another.
- June 18, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Book Review: "Charlie Parker for Bass" and "The II-V-I Progression" by Larry Dunlap
Ready to get your jazz chops in order? Hal Leonard's latest offerings for bassists include two bop-inclined volumes, each with its own merits. Charlie Parker for Bass is packed with the heads and sax solos for 20 classic Bird tunes, arranged for bass (yes, "Donna Lee" is here, and yes, there's 4-string tab). Larry Dunlap's The II–V–I Progression, meanwhile, takes it up a notch with detailed instruction on that ubiquitous progression, including chords and scales, major and minor progressions, patterns and variations, and practice tunes. It's actually four books in one: The material is customized for Bb, Eb, C, and bass-clef instruments. Best of all, there are two play-along CDs with removable bass parts.


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Around the holidays, I always see lots of posts in various Facebook groups for expats.
"Help! My parents sent me Christmas presents and FedEx wants me to pay €100 in taxes on the package!"
Unfortunately, the French border control has begun cracking down on imports of goods from outside the European Union, and not everyone knows the rules on how to send gifts abroad.
And if you get it wrong, you'll pay big. 20% import tax on the ENTIRE value of the package (not just the amount that goes over the €45 limit) PLUS on the cost of shipping as well. If you end up paying tax, it could very well be that you'll have paid more for shipping and tax than the gift is worth in the first place – and that's a bummer.
Fortunately, with a father who works in shipping and who LOVES to do things as 'by-the-book' as he possibly can (a quality that I do not seem to have inherited), I've gotten insight into the shipping and customs process, and know the rules for how to avoid customs fees.
Here are some tips for receiving gifts without paying fees. Make sure your parents and friends respect these rules to minimise your chances of having to pay.
1) Send your gifts via FedEx, UPS, or DHL, rather than through the post office.
I don't know why it is, but the French post seems to have a problem with tracking packages sent from outside of France. I've personally had several small packages sent via the post office lost – whether they disappeared at Customs or in the bowels of the Paris post sorting center, I have no idea.
But even if your packages are sent 'registered' mail via the post, they're impossible to track and find internationally. If anything happens, the US Post Office will tell you that the package got to France fine, and therefore they're not responsible for it. Meanwhile, the French post office will tell you that it was sent from the US, so the US post office has to track it. Lose-lose.
If you send the package via an international carrier, it'll cost a bit more, but the company will know exactly where it is at all times, and when it will be delivered. And FedEx, at least, will call you when they're on their way.
2) Make sure the declared value of the gifts is less than €45 per recipient.
Unfortunately, the amount that customs lets you import is very low, at only €45 per person. If you live with a roommate, it may work to your advantage – as long as the sender puts BOTH of your names on the package, and indicates gifts of equal value for both of you (even if they're all for you).
Keep in mind as well that exchange rates will play a role in the €45 limit, so you'll want to leave a little buffer. The sender will have to declare the value in USD, and customs officials will convert the dollar amount into Euros on the day the package clears. Thus, a package with a declared value of $60 will make it through customs with no fees on a day when the exchange rate is $1.45 / € – for a value of €41,37. But if that same $60 package clears customs while the exchange rate is $1.30 / €, it'll be worth €46,15 – and you'll owe taxes on the whole amount.
To be safe, have the sender convert the package's value from dollars to Euros using a very LOW estimated exchange rate. Since the exchange rate has been hovering around $1.35 / € for the past few years, I typically use $1.30 or even $1.25, to make sure it fits comfortably under that €45 before sending.
3) Wrap the gifts individually and put a name tag on them.
The wrapping doesn't have to be fancy, but the law says that gifts have to look like gifts. Therefore, they should be wrapped individually (packing paper or bags are fine), and each should be labeled with the recipient's name.
4) Write a complete package inventory with an accurate value for each item, and identify each item as an "unsolicited gift."
The package will clear customs far more easily (and without further inspection) if the packing slip has a complete and accurate inventory of what's inside, along with the purchase price.
My fastidious father goes so far as to identify the fabric blend of the t-shirt he gifted me (much to my mother's chagrin, as she had to unwrap all of the gifts she had already wrapped up to check the tags). You don't necessarily have to go that far, although the more details you provide, the better off you'll be.
Finally, it's important to list all of the items as 'unsolicited gifts' on the packing slip, so that it's clear that the items are not 'personal effects (the rules for sending personal effects are different) or commercial purchases.
5) Don't insure the package.
Insurance is a tip-off that the package has value, and many of the people who have had problems receiving gifts have indicated that their package was insured.
In many cases, it seemed like the gifts were sent following the other rules on this list, but for some reason, French customs marked their packages as "commercial" when they noticed insurance, thus cancelling the 'gift' designation, and requiring customs charges to be paid.
Plus, if your package's declared value doesn't match the insurance value, you'll be in trouble – you'll either get charged, or you won't get reimbursed the full amount if the package is lost.
6) Don't ship valuable gifts – bring them back with you in person.
A woman I used to work with received a handmade quilt from a relative, maybe her grandmother. When her family sent it to her, they put the full value of a handmade quilt – €300 – on the package, and she ended up paying almost €100 in taxes to get her "gift" out of customs hell.
Don't make the same mistake.
If someone wants to give you something of value, celebrate Christmas in July or your half birthday the next time you go home, and bring it with you on the plane. The same customs rules *technically* apply when you arrive in the airport, but checks are far from systematic, and it'll be hard to prove the item is new or wasn't purchased in France.


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State Bank of India inviting application for the post of Chief Marketing Officer. All eligible and interested candidates can submit online application on or before 26th October, 2015.
For further details regarding educational qualification, age limit, selection process please refer below. For detailed official advertisement go to the below link. If you are interested in applying for other Sarkari Naukri or Government jobs in Mumbai, Subscribe our website to receive daily job updates.
SBI Recruitment 2015 Notification:
- Name of Post : Chief Marketing Officer
- Educational Qualification : Master Degree or MBA
- Age Limit : 50 years as on 01.10.2015
- Application Fee : Rs. 1000/- pay through online
- Selection Process : Selection will be on basis of written examination & Interview
- Important Dates :
- Staring Date of Online Application : 19th October, 2015
- Last Date of Online Application : 26th October, 2015
- Last Date to Submit Hard Copy : 29th October2015
How to Apply
Interested candidates apply online from 19 October 2015 to 26 October 2015 & send their hard copy of application to before 29 October 2015
"Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, Mumbai or by email [email protected]"
> > > SBI Recruitment 2015 Notification
Apply online at : https://www.sbi.co.in/portal/web/home/careers-with-us


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Anti Seizure Medications are an important part of epilepsy and seizure disorder treatments and can help bring relief for sufferers as well as improve quality of life.Many people aren't aware of the devastating effects seizures can have on an otherwise healthy individual – in cases of severe juvenile epilepsy of seizure disorders the child can regress, becoming non-verbal and unable to walk due to the severity of the seizures. For these patients controlling the seizures is imperative to survival and achieving a high quality of life.
There are many different types Anti Seizure Medications that are used to treat different types of seizures and medications that work well for one type of seizure might not work for another type. For this reason patients who experience various types of seizures will need several medications to control them completely. In severe cases when the brain is in a state of perpetual seizure (Status Epilepticus) emergency medical intervention is necessary and emergency anti seizure medications either intravenously or via suppository.


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About a half-hour's drive from where Sarah Watkin was hooked to an IV at the Hospital for Sick Children, a movement was underway at Markham's Milliken Mills High School to help find the 5-year-old the perfect match.
"Incredible ... it's just incredible," said father Mark Watkin, a geography teacher at the high school where a student-led stem cell and bone marrow donation drive on Tuesday saw nearly 250 people get cheek swabs and register as potential donors.
It was about five months ago when the Watkin family — Mark and wife Leah, Sarah and 1-year-old Elizabeth — were vacationing in Mexico when Sarah came down with strep throat symptoms. A few weeks and a series of medical appointments later, the family's world was thrown into a tailspin.
Sarah was diagnosed last October with acute myeloid leukemia, a fast-progressing type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow and affects blood cells. The cure rate in children is just below 50 per cent, according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.
"I don't think there are words to describe how you feel when you are told your (5-year-old) has leukemia," said Leah. "Her life just flashed before my eyes."
Sarah began chemotherapy last October. But after two rounds of treatment, the disease relapsed and her parents decided to opt for a stem cell transplant.
And so Sarah, whose room at SickKids has since been decorated with Justin Bieber posters, joined the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network and was added to the list of more than 900 Canadians waiting for a match.
But the search proved unsuccessful and Sarah was forced to return to two more aggressive chemotherapy rounds in a bid to rid her body of the cancer.
Sarah's leukemia went into remission last month. But, as she's still reliant on blood and platelet transfusions and potentially in need of a bone-marrow transplant down the road, her parents turned to the community to raise awareness and encourage others to sign up as donors.
"We're being proactive," said Leah. "We hope we never need it ... but we want people out there to donate bone marrow and blood. And not just for Sarah. We want to fight for other families as well."
In addition to organizing several blood donor clinics, the family was the subject of Tuesday's OneMatch donor drive at Milliken Mills High School.
The daylong drive, organized by the school's Grade 11 leadership class, prompted current and past students and others from the community to submit to cheek swabs and add their names to the donor registry. OneMatch staff members were also on hand to explain the process and potential commitment required.
"I wanted to help an old teacher out," said Chris Okapiec, 22, a Milliken Mills graduate who returned to the school to have his cheek swabbed Tuesday after he learned on Facebook that Mark Watkin, his Grade 9 geography teacher, needed help.
Hajani Nithiyanantharajah, 16, was too young to provide a cheek swab on Tuesday (OneMatch registrants must be between the ages of 17 and 50), but said she hoped to become a donor as soon as she's old enough. Instead, she spent the day Tuesday manning a swab station and helping others fill out their registration forms.


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We in the Distilled Dollar household love to leverage the internet and financial tools to make our lives as easy as possible. We are extremely lucky to live in a day and age with so many free online resources available to us, but it can be overwhelming with so many search results!
Below are the tools and products we recommend that have helped us save, manage, or invest our money.
Of course, as you sign up for these products and services below, you'll be contributing to Distilled Dollar and helping us to spread our message. These are affiliate links, which translates into blog revenue being converted into new expenses to grow the site.
Even if you sign up for just one service, let me know what you think of it. If you hate it, then let me know what else you're using that works better for you.
Financial Tools
Personal Capital: If you're looking for an excellent net worth tracker, plus new ways to improve your investing, then sign up for Personal Capital. They offer a host of free financial tools and services in addition to analyzing your current assets and liabilities, all for, you guessed it, free!
Similar to Mint (below), Personal Capital will track your spend and create year over year analysis for you to review.
At the very least, let Personal Capital review all your accounts and analyze your current fees. This one exercise might shock you since financial institutions can be alarmingly clever at hiding fees.
Mint: If you're like me, you hate budgets. With that being said, the biggest benefit to having a great budget is keeping track of expenses (and where you overspend). Mint helps me do that by automatically keeping track of and categorizing my expenses.
Mint is free to use, and the full value of it can be felt after you're able to let Mint track your expenses for a few months. You'll be shocked by some of the trends and patterns they pick up on.
Related article: My Unconventional Approach to Budgeting
CreditKarma: This site helped me discover a fraudulent usage of my credit card in near real time. Thanks to Credit Karma, I was able to detect the charge, report it, fix the issue, and increase my credit score by 77 points. All of that in less than a month!
Overall, this service helped me gain a better understanding of what impacts credit scores and I'm happy to use it (especially since it is free!).
Related article: Credit Reports 101: How I Increase My Credit Score 77 Points in 1 Month
Refinancing Tools
LendEDU: When we went through the process of student loan refinancing, we used LendEDU to figure out our options. LendEDU showed us our refinancing rates after we spent only 3 minutes answering their short questionnaire.
We couldn't be happier with the help they provided in showing us what our best refinancing rate was. They're fast, they're free, and there is no negative impact on your credit score. I don't see what you have to lose by checking your rate today.
Related article: Distill Your Loans
SoFi: After doing our research, we settled on using SoFi to refinance our student loans. They offered the lowest rate so it was a no brainer for us.
I've negotiated my referral sign up so you now receive $300 instead of me. One caveat, SoFi requires a full two years of employment and are relatively strict on who they accept, so be aware that not all applications are approved.
One added bonus, SoFi offers events throughout the years (such as cocktail hours and dinners). The free food, free booze, and social element of it all makes for a great added perk.
Related article: Pros and Cons to Refinancing Student Loans
Best Personal Finance Books
Book Reviews: After reading over a hundred books on personal finance, investing, taxes, and everything in between, I've put together my top 5 recommendations.
Blogging Services
BlueHost: Unlike many other blogs, I don't recommend people start up a blog to make money on the side. Blogs take a lot of work and the revenue generated might be too small for too many people, so I don't advocate BlueHost for that reason.
Where I have seen a massive benefit, is in the power of making goals public. I wrote a piece on how our savings rate skyrocketed as soon as we had to hold ourselves accountable to the public. It can be scary, but we felt the transformation was long overdue.
Related Article: Earning an Extra $13,879 in 6 Months of Blogging
NameCheap: Registering your own domain is critical for owning the entire rights to your content. NameCheap is the service I've used and they offer a few security features for only dollars throughout the year. I haven't found another place that offers a better value for a lower price.
Meal Delivery Services
Blue Apron: I give credit to Blue Apron for rapidly reducing our total spend on food during 2016. With Blue Apron, we had so much fun learning new methods of cooking and trying new dishes, all while saving money. Our old habit of eating nice meals at restaurants was quickly replaced with eating nice meals at home.
If you are not a great cook, then give Blue Apron a try since they provide you with all the necessary ingredients along with step by step instructions to make your meal picture perfect.
If you sign up via my exclusive referral, you'll receive $40 off your first order. At the very least, sign up for the entirely free 1st box of meals and cancel if you don't like it. I'm confident you'll enjoy the experience!
Related Article: How We Chopped our Restaurant Expenses in Half by Using Blue Apron
Amazon Subscribe & Save: We swear by Amazon's free service, Subscribe & Save. We gain a 15% discount PLUS we have everything from toilet paper to cosmetics to pet food delivered to our door. It is the ultimate mix of frugality and efficiency.
Sign up for 5 recurring deliveries and receive the 15% discount. Any sign ups after 5 receive the same 15% discount.
Related article: Saving with Subscribe & Save
$$ Quotes: I put together my favorite quotes about personal finance, investing, and the overall ethos of pursuing financial independence at an early age. In some regards, I find this less traveled path requires a bit of courage and luck, but overall, it takes persistence.


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The Pittsburgh Steelers, who will already be missing RB Le'Veon Bell to suspension, will be without WR Martavis Bryant to start the NFL season. To make matters worse, the Steelers are set to kickoff the NFL season on Thursday Night Football, in Foxboro, against the New England Patriots, who will be missing Tom Brady and LeGarrette Blount due to suspensions!
Bryant was being drafted as a WR2/WR3 with the 63rd overall pick as the 26th WR off draft boards. Prior to news about a possible suspension, we had ranked Bryant 27th overall in our WR rankings, and we dropped hi down to 42nd.
There had been much love for Markus Wheaton coming from Steelers camp, and now we know why. Since August 1st, Wheaton has jumped up from the 14th round to the 10th round in Fantasy Football Calculator drafts, and he could jump up in the 6th or 7th rounds of fantasy football drafts this weekend. We ranked Wheaton 64th in our August 23rd update of our fantasy football WR rankings and now moved him up to 53rd.
Now that Martavis Bryant is also out for Week 1, here's a sneak peek at the Patriots' game plan for Antonio Brown: pic.twitter.com/9vRbSRrd8x
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) August 27, 2015


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One of the biggest myths under the sun is that anything can be original.
This may sound counter-intuitive for a creative agency but experienced creatives know that what appears creative is often an old idea reinterpreted in a new way.
The most successful and creative collaborations have been simply a fusion of great ideas into one melting pot. As far as the advertising and fashion industry goes, it is far more common than not to see recycled ideas which catch on from designer to designer.
Our team has been shooting for over 8 years and in this time we've had a lot of requests, briefs and photoshoot inspiration pictures put forward and through all of this, we can see that there are some recurrent ideas that capture the imagination of viewers time and time again.
We put this post together to showcase some of the biggest brands in the world and how they are using concepts that have been around for a very long time.
Use this to see what's fashionable for your spring or summer photoshoot.
First let's take a look at Chloe, a massive international fashion brand that's been around since 1952. This is their Spring/Summer 2017 campaign…
As you can see the images are light, airy and fun. Perfect for a spring time feeling and capturing the imagination.
Hmmm, seem familiar?
The same floral clothes, the same warm tones and a carefree and lighthearted feeling. Does this mean that H&M copied Chloe? Most probably not. It wouldn't make sense since H&M and Chloe have a very different target audience. Chloe is aiming to appeal to wealthy fashionable women and H&M appealing to teenagers without much budget.
The similarity in campaign-style could merely be that they are both longstanding brands that know what the season of Spring means to their customers.
Free Photo Pack
Download a free photo pack including 13 amazing photos you can use royalty-free to promote your social media accounts.
People buy fashion mostly on impulse in order to feel good about themselves, therefore it makes sense that the advertising for these brands also be about feeling positive with connotations of a carefree world.
Here are the shots for another very well known brand Gucci who's launched a new perfume this season:
Notice how the first image featuring famous personalities including the actress Dakota Johnson doesn't even feature the perfume bottle? These brands know that appealing to the customer's fantasy is going to get further than plastering the product in their face.
It's a bold move not to include the product a photo is supposed to be selling, but Gucci knows what it's doing and has for a long time.
Another example comes from Jimmy Choo:
Jimmy Choo has done a much bolder job of showcasing the product the label sells: shoes and handbags. They've offset the blue against a yellow background making it stand out, used a famous personality actress Dakota Fanning and (what do you know) made use of dreamy, floral dress in a nature landscape.
The Takeaways
If you're planning a Spring photoshoot, you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Take your photoshoot inspiration from these massive labels and put your own brand's twist on it. To nail a spring campaign photoshoot remember to incorporate:
- A light and airy feeling
- Warm tones in the photos using natural light or gels
- Use those same warm tones in the retouching to give a magical vibe
- Shoot in nature, wide open shots in a garden or field
- Use bright floral colour where possible to make your items stand out
Use these recommendations in your creative brief and you'll be tapping into the collective conscious of buyers all over the world who have been primed to react a certain way when presented with images like these from massive brands.
Remember, a Spring photoshoot is all about a fun, carefree feeling. Don't use heavy or deep tones, black and white pictures or heavy editing. Keep it colorful and try to incorporate movement into the shots as much as possible for best results.
This is by no means all of the brands that use the above recommendations for their photoshoots, take a look at these brands who have also followed very similar patterns for the Spring / Summer campaign shoots in 2017.
Sonia Ben Ammar stars in Dolce & Gabbana Eyewear's spring-summer 2017 campaign above.
Roberto Cavalli's spring-summer 2017 campaign starring Stella Maxwell uses bright colors, movement and warm tones to capture that carefree feeling.
Lily Aldridge poses in florals for Salvatore Ferragamo's spring 2017 campaign in a garden with flowers in the background, movement in her hand and hair
Below are two images from Zara's 2017 spring-summer campaign:
As you can see Zara has featured florals against a nature theme, with bright and light colours very similar to their competitor H&M who we discussed earlier in the piece.
We'll end with the image below also from Zara's ss 2017 collection which is the epitome of the carefree feeling we are aiming for with spring photoshoots.
Don't forget to download your free photo pack for 13 amazing free photos to use to promote your account on social media.


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SIgns and LOGOs
KABER is able to produce signs from an array of materials such as Expanded Polystyrene foam (EPS), Polyurethane modelling and tooling boards (RenShape/Ureol), timbers and metal. We utilise 3-axis CNC foam cutting machines and a CNC hot-wire machine to produce intricate designs.
By cutting polystyrene foam and other soft materials we can produce virtually any shape and size - from simple lettering, wayfinding, to large scale architectural form work.
We can produce unique signage for your trade show, stage production, window display, engagement party, wedding, corporate event, concert or any other celebration. The signs can be provided in a variety of finishes, such as automotive grade paint, vinyl graphics or artistic textured finishes. We are experts in Polystyrene CNC.
We can provide custom made signage and features to assist with new shop fit-outs.


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social media
all the kids are doing it, and so should you...
If you're not present in the social sphere, my friend, your business is missing out! Or perhaps you have a Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube...the list goes on...but you're not really sure how to use it.
We'll help you navigate your way online and even take the reigns, so you can relax while we make you stand out!
We can help you by:
- Identifying the social platforms your business needs to be present in.
- Creating your new social platforms.
- Developing engaging content that wow's your community.
- Managing your communities on a daily basis.
- Running competitions.
- Providing regular reporting on how your social communities are performing.
for an easy solution, Click here to see our social media packages.
If you would like to chat through a unique approach for your business, let's chat!


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The Benefits of Aerial/Drone Photography: Realtor Edition
The real estate industry is very fierce and competitive; therefore, the companies lagging behind are destined to fail! This is why Aerial/Drone Photography is such an important aspect of today's residential and commercial real estate. Buying a home is an emotional purchase so your advertising needs to not only convey information but also inspire emotion.


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Much like a faulty watch or a crooked sun dial, you should not set your watch by the release of a new Tom and Mat Attack. However, like a well cooked steak or a cheeky vimpto, it should be enjoyed and savored once it arrives! Hopefully now back on a regular schedule post-Danish holidays, the boys have been playing some serious games! Mat has boldly gone where no man has gone before in No Mans Sky, while giving his brain a work out trying to figure out how to pronounce 'tetromino' in Tricky Towers. Tom, always a purist, has been focusing his efforts on playing some FPS games of a bygone generation such as Syndicate, as well as doing some Gears-esq Rodeo Running in Spec Ops: The Line. Are any of them any good? Well, let's find out!
Listen Here.


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Automotive Immobilizer with rolling code
High Security Hands Free Access Control
Industrial automation with portable database
Manufacturing automation
Prepayment Device
LF:TK4100,EM4200,EM4305,T5577 etc.HF:ISO14443A--213/215/216,MF 1K S50/4K S70,FM11RF08,MF EV1 2K/4K/8K,TOPAZ512,MF UTL /UTL-C,D21/41/81 MF Plus S/X(2K&4K) etc. ISO15693---I Code SLI/I Code SLI-X/I Code SLI-S/Ti2048UHF:Alien H3 ,Moza Contact IC chip:4442,5542 ,4428 ,5528 ,24c02,24c16,24c64 etc
How to get faster feedback from us?
1. Please describe the matter in short in the email subject and add "!".
2. Please add our sales skype or whatspp from email signature to communicate directly.
Need a sample?
1. Samples without printing is free.
2. If you need printed samples with sophisticated printing, a $50-$100 printing fee is required.
3. All the freight cost will be charged. PS: The sample delivery time is about 5-7 days.
What material and glue of RFID tag we have?
Our Inlay are covered in the surface material to form the final label. These are some materials:
1. Coated Paper: Low cost, easy to print on.
2. PET: Waterproof, heatproof, environmental protection.
3. PVC: Waterproof, corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance.
4. Normal Double-sided adhesive: Robust, widely used, and cheaper than 3M Glue.
5. 3M Glue: Higher cost but strong viscosity, good temperature tolerance & anti-corrosion.
6. Electrostatic adhesive:Electrostatic prevention, high temperature resistance, strong water resistance
What chip should I use? And Inlay?
We have LF, HF and UHF chips with various memory and reading distance. If you are not sure, please inform our sales with project details.
Here are some commonly used chips and inlays for your reference:
1. LF (0-5cm): TK4100 (64 Bit), HitagS256 (256 Bit), EM4305 (512 Bit).
2. HF (0-15cm): 213 (144 Byte), S50 (1K Byte), I CODE SLIX (128 Byte).
3. UHF (1-10m): AlienH3 (96 Bit), Alien H4 (96 Bit), Monza 4D ( 128 Bit).
4. Inlay: Alien H3 9654, AlienH4 9762, Impinj M4QT, Impinj M4E.
Chips are then mounted on different inlays (Antenna etched on PET layer) for achieving different reading distance and angles. Our sales will provide you the most suited inlay if not specified.
What the data can I encode to each Tag?
We can encode different serial numbers, URL/website, Text to each Tag as your request.
What file of printing image should I offer to you?
Design Files of AI, PDF, Corel Draw, Photoshop, CAD format are supported. If no, then send us JPG or BMP, we can design for your confirmation, it takes longer time though.
What about sizes?
All the size and the shape of the final product can be customized as your request. For die-cutting the minimum size should be 4mm bigger than inlay normally.
Can I customize the inlay antenna?
Yes, Our R&D can do customized antenna designing, regarding cost please refer to our sales. Providing samples or design datasheet for your requirement is good to speed up the process


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Burlington office:
45 Swift St, South Burlington. If you're coming from Shelburne road you turn onto Swift at Denny's. Turn into the parking lot right before the little brick building just a couple down on the right. (There's a "Midwifery Ayurveda" sign out front from the previous tenant.) Enter the building through the door by the big metal stand of mailboxes, and my office is the first on the left.
Montpelier office:
654 Granger Road, Berlin. My office is just off exit 7 on interstate 89. My office is in the same building as Green Mountain Crossfit, Sunrise Gymnastics, and Concentra. The building is right before you get to the building that houses First in Fitness. Enter through the front door, go up the stairs, through the double glass doors and take an immediate left into The Confluence. Once inside The Confluence take an immediate Right and go through the door into the "Quiet Hallway" (with a sign above reading "Body work".) My office is the first one on the right once you enter the Quiet Hallway.
Call 802 552 8687 with any questions or difficulties finding my office.


text: Thanks to my wife and in-laws, we have been cranking out some hand-made, personalized notebooks for self promotion. We spent several evenings over Christmas stamping, gluing, and assembling notebooks for the new year. Becky's mom was master of the rubber stamp and rubber cement, her dad can punch rounded corners like nobody's business and Becky did a little bit of everything. It's been a crazy Christmas with the new business startup and working on several projects at the same time. 2010 will be the official launch of my business and there's been alot to do to. Details like registering as a corporation, setting up finances and setting up healthcare make my head spin. My wife has been eager to do all of the above as well as run errands, send invoices and print business cards. She totally rocks.


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IRVING, Texas, Oct. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BT, one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, today announced the signature of a global managed services agreement with British American Tobacco (FTSE: BATS), valued at more than 100 million USD.
Under the terms of the agreement, BT will manage the global wide area network infrastructure for British American Tobacco, including remote access, network security and third-party supplier management across nearly 1,000 sites in 119 countries. BT will deliver a high performance IP-based network, allowing British American Tobacco to prioritise different types of traffic according to its business needs and reduce the total cost of ownership of its communications estate.
Phil Colman, CIO for British American Tobacco, said, "BT's expertise and experience supporting other global consumer packaged goods companies was a strong factor in our decision. We were also impressed with BT's extensive global network, their desire and ability to improve the services continuously through innovation, and in-country resources, particularly in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions."
Kim McMann, President, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), BT Global Services, stated, "Leading multinational companies in the CPG sector are facing multiple challenges and opportunities with competition becoming more acute than ever. Global collaboration is one of the keys to success. This requires a global technology infrastructure that has great depth and breadth, running state of the art services offering greatest possible speed, security, reliability and flexibility. We are very proud that British American Tobacco recognises our ability to deliver and manage such an infrastructure and such services. This new win is further evidence of BT's leadership in providing global solutions for its customers, and builds on past success within the CPG industry globally. Our sector-focused strategy is a differentiator our customers recognise. We look forward to providing an outstanding service to British American Tobacco."
BT's CPG team is focused on companies that provide manufactured, consumable goods with a quick shelf turnover, including food, beverage, home and personal care, and tobacco. BT offers CPG-specific services based on a core portfolio encompassing global networking, security, collaboration, data centre services, contact centre services, supply chain services, mobility and unified communications. This enables CPG multinationals to focus on globalisation, new product development and operational efficiency to remain competitive.
For further information
Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News
About British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco is the world's second largest quoted tobacco group by global market share, with brands sold in around 180 markets. It has 46 cigarette factories in 39 countries and employs more than 55,000 people worldwide.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
In the year ended 31 March 2012, BT Group's revenue was £18,897m with profit before taxation of £2,445m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com


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12.12.2019 - 19.12.2019
9am-7pm daily
Cusco, Sacred Valley , Peru / Google Map
Organizer(s): Philippe Lewis | Nimai SunRa
Speaker/Facilitator: Niten Dhyan | komala lyra | Triambika Vive
TO REGISTER, GO TO: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
Payment plans available! Email Nimai
You do not need to earn it or prove yourself, you just need to live it.
If you are ready to step into your power and live your full essence through radically enliven your sexuality and to dive deep into the heart of your wild erotic nature, then join us.
Re-enliven your deep connection to LIFE. Reset your neurology from survival stress into thrive mode. Reclaim the sacredness of your body. Liberate your natural wildness. Gain powerful tools to shift emotional patterns for more pleasure and connection.
Join a global community prioritizing authenticity, embodied spirituality, intimacy, bliss, empowerment, and freedom.
If you are ready to transform your life, this experiential 8 - day event is for you
Join a global community prioritizing authenticity, embodied spirituality, intimacy, bliss, empowerment, and freedom.
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
Thousands of people on 5 continents have attended the ISTA training over the past 8 years and have uncovered core wounding reactive patterns, transforming them into conscious ways of being that enable them to respond from a place of empowered loving presence.
This retreat focuses on clearing the physical, emotional and mental bodies of shame, guilt and fear related to life force energy, sexuality and authenticity. This is done through multiple pathways of healing: guided visualization, emotional release, shamanic initiations, energy tracking and conscious touch are just a few of the practices used to dive deep into the inner realms. The inner masculine and inner feminine archetypes are explored because when they are fully integrated a door opens to a deeper knowing of the Self as whole and complete.
This event unfolds within a powerful group process based on presence, unconditional love, intimacy and acceptance of what is arising. By the end of this event, you will feel more alive, open, relaxed and present and be more in touch with the effortless flow of life, no matter what it looks like.
No prior knowledge of shamanism or sacred sexuality is necessary to attend this retreat. ISTA trainings tend to bring together people with a vast range of experiences and from many pathways. This event is about expansion, while honoring your healthy boundaries. Nudity and intimate touch are a part of this training, however, you are always at choice. It is possible to do this entire training without taking off any clothing or touching another person because at the core - this journey is about your relationship with yourself and life force energy. The facilitators will help you navigate what is authentic for you. Individuals and couples of any sexual preference and identification are welcome to attend.
This is an individual process that happens in a group environment and a level of ability to be self responsible is needed to navigate the spiritual sexual shamanic space. ISTA is a mystery school and approaches trauma from the shamanic perspective of connecting with the body and soul. We recommend that if there is known deep seated trauma, individuals seek one on one sessions and get the ok from their therapist before entering the group process.
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
- Ritual
- Breathwork
- Group Process
- Active Meditation
- Emotional Release
- Hands-On-Healing
- Guided Visualizations
- Subtle Energy Processes
- Conscious Communication
- Realize that you are love & freedom embodied
- Integrate your inner masculine & feminine
- Increase multidimensional awareness
- Let go of past dramas and traumas
- Expand your capacity for pleasure
- Celebrate sex positive community
- Transform the shadow into an ally
- Honor your healthy boundaries
This is only a partial list of what you may experience.
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
(see and click each person at the bottom of this page)
Komala Lyra ~ Lead Facilitator
Triambika Ma-Vive ~ Co-Facilitator
Niten Dhyan ~ Co-Facilitator
Nimai SunRa - apprentice and organezer
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
a journey
This journey has been an amazing experience that really shifted the way I feel about myself. Learning to integrate the male and female part within myself and see everybody else as both parts gives me a new way to approach others. After the training I really feel the way to honour and stand up for myself, while remaining on touch with physical and emotional body and the sweetness within it. what a journey, what a change, I don't even want to go back to the way before Thanks for providing this beautiful journey with its deep insights and enormous skills.
no stories
There are no stories I can tell to describe this journey. Imagine you are an ocean with deep waters full of terrifying creatures. You close your eyes and jump in all the way to the bottom. As you come up through the ocean you encounter all these scary things and realize that they aren't what you thought they were. You hold your breath and trust you will make it through. When you emerge from the depths you realize a beautiful, powerful creature awaits you. And that creature is you.
I am very grateful for all the different processes I went through this week, each one was profoundly transformative, the team provided me the loving safe space to let go of some very old and deep wounds.
ISTA training is of an essential nature. It takes the journey of a human experience into the perspective of healthy empowered being, it offers tools that allow you to heal your body and emotions and therefore enables participants to claim their birth right to truly live life.
an opportunity
ISTA offered me an opportunity and a space to shake up free up and escape into a reality of truth and honesty. It's a journey I took with abundance of teachers that showed me the way into myself, the real me, my real body, my true pleasure. It made me find ways to beat the fears and illusions awake and realise they are there, it it poured for me a pavement to walk steady on, towards the encounter with myself. ISTA took me with many other and put us in a container, shook that container up again and again, and let us find what was shed, and what was left in each and every one of us. I am now stepping, aware, present and brave towards the most important change that will ever happen to me.
a call in the heart
If you feel a call in your heart to attend this training then go for it… yes, your mind will come up with all kinds of struggles and fears.. but still trust your heart and go for it. It is not just another seminar that fills you with information, but it will touch you deeply within your very soul and then the healing takes place.. a healing from the source, such a sacred place… take the chance and do it for yourself .. for your life!
boundless lessons
There are boundless lessons to take with me from this experience, but perhaps the most precious for me in this moment was to witness the creation of Sacred Space; space where all is held sacred and safe; space without judgement; space made from love. I truly feel that I can carry this with me and recreate it anywhere I want or need. Thank you!
prep school
ISTA provides the training we all needed in prep school. It's the fast track process to healing and awakening! I'm so blessed to have had come across this family. I can never express with words my gratitude and love for my brothers and sisters from ISTA. Namaste!
boundless lessons
The training has been the most powerful and transformative experience I had in my life. It really kicked up my transition towards a more peaceful and aligned life. I am really grateful that I had the courage to be fully immersed in this experience.
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
♡ The Beauty of Sacha Munay retreat center:
We will be staying at the beautiful Sacha Munay in the Sacred Vally of the amazinf Ands mountains in Peru
Our beautiful venue, Sach'a Munay, sits in the town of Arin, 50 minutes outside of Cusco at the heart of the Inka Empire, in the gateway to the Sacred Valley – one of the more powerful energetic places on the earth. Sach'a Munay, which translates as "love from the ancient forest", is nestled in an oasis of native plants and fruit trees and is nourished by a magnificent waterfall. It is a place to connect to the incredible depth and beauty of what nature offers.
You will be offered amazing cuisine well-suited to the individual's transformative journey. The venue provides locally-grown, fresh, and mostly organic produce.
Shared accommodation is double and triple rooms with ensuite bathrooms in a range of delightful guesthouses with living rooms and fire places will hold our tribe.
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
This retreat includes:
- 8 day / 7 night accommodations
- 3 meals per day
- Full day transformational process and teachings
- Note: Airfare and airport transfers are not included.
Tuition (all spots in limited quantity):
- Super Early Bird - US$1550
- Early Bird - US$1750
- Full Price: $1950 US
- Peru Residents - US$1600
- Repeat students - US$1550
- Youth (18-24yo): partial scholarships available (application required, contact Nimai for details)
- Assistants (contact Nimai for details)
To reserve your spot / Deposit: $450 US
(use this link to send your deposit, then contact Nimai to let him know you sent your deposit)
Refunds: If for some reason you become unable to attend, a $150 US administration fee will be withheld and is non-refundable up until 30 days before the event. Once the 30 days before the training has passed the total deposit of $450 US is non-refundable
For registration information or question, contact: Nimai
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
We endeavor to make this powerful training available to as many people as possible, bringing in top leaders in the fields of sacred sexuality, personal development, tantra, and shamanism. After core costs are paid 25% of tuition costs go to support the non-profit organization ISTA in its ongoing growth of the field of consciousness and sexuality around the globe. The remaining 75% is divided between coordinators and the 3 facilitators (who are all responsible for covering their own travel costs).
Tuition for students includes teachings, accommodation, meals but excludes travel to the venue.
Spaces are limited on this retreat and registration will close once we have reached maximum capacity to ensure a supportive participant/assistant/facilitator ratio. If you are strongly interested in attending, please notify us through this site so we can keep you informed of availability. You can reserve directly through this website through PayPal above
A commitment to the Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience is a deep commitment to yourself. It is assumed that, if you feel drawn to this training, it is no accident. If for some reason you become unable to attend, you have the following options:
1. Your deposit/payment can be transferred to a future ISTA training minus $150 admin fee if over 30 days before the date of the training.
2. Your deposit/payment can be transferred to a future ISTA training minus the full deposit if under 30 days before the date of the training.
Please notify us immediately in the event that you find yourself needing additional time to prepare for this unique experience. Also note that bank charges from payments made via PayPal and or international transfers are the responsibility of the participant.
If you are ready to radically enliven your sexuality and dive deep into the heart of your wild erotic nature, then join us.
Through a beautiful synthesis of neurological re-wiring, ancient tantric practice, and shamanism, we will activate the powerful life force that is dwelling in your body.
In the safety of our temple you will:
- Claim your erotic birthright to passion and pleasure
- Release fear, guilt and shame around sexuality
- Learn incredible tools and information that will enable you to use creative energy for regeneration, manifestation and spiritual transformation
This course is open to all who are called. Experience is not required.
With all our love and appreciation, we invite you ♡
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com
DISCLAIMER - This is based on my experience, and everyone's experience is unique, because it's a deep process! [Feel free to share]
I have decided to write this taster for those people who do not know the International School of Temple Arts, for those who feel tuned out when they listen to videos and descriptions about ISTA Level 1, because it's in a language not accessible to them.
I first came across ISTA totally by chance; I was travelling with my beloved in Guatemala and a poster caught my attention. Probably because it had the word sex in it, and because it looked attractive and exotic. David and I signed up as a present to our love, not knowing what the week would be about. We are both grateful we took the plunge, as ISTA L1 is a well-oiled machine!
So why are people so mysterious about ISTA Level 1? Why can't they just give me the curriculum so I can decide if it's for me? The answer is simple; a lot of the transformational work that is done during that week needs to be in context. Out of context, it sounds nuts. I have done 2 Level 1s; once as a participant, and another time as an assistant, and I can guarantee that my learning and journey was unique each time. However, I understand that your mind wants something more palpable, so here goes.
In one sentence - ISTA Level 1 is the education every human being should get when growing up.
Boundaries - Do you ever feel like you should have said no, but ended up saying yes? This relates to #metoo, but it also relates to those times when you accept too much responsibility at work, when you give a friend a shoulder although you really don't have the emotional strength at that moment, and other situations in which you are not clear about your boundaries and end up feeling depleted. ISTA Level 1 explores this expertly from different angles, so even if you think you are brilliant with your boundaries (and the boundaries of others), you'll become better.
Tools - Even if you are content and emotionally switched on, there is space to become happier, more connected to your feelings, desires, fears, dreams. Exploring anger was one of the more difficult challenges for me, precisely because I am pretty joyful. In a nutshell, the tools involve using your voice and body movements to let energy move through you. I'm sure at a moment of stress, you've stretched out your arms, or have gone for a walk. This is the next level and has much more impact.
The thing is not the thing - Whenever you feel angry that someone arrived late, frustrated about a decision made at work… you are becoming a victim of that thing or story. You might not be able to change how late that person is, but you can change how it affects you. ISTA L1 teaches you how to move into your power and break this cycle of victimhood. It takes practice post-training, but you are given tools.
Honesty - We are brought up to be polite, and this can get in the way of honesty. Since our first ISTA L1, my beloved and I have had some seriously deep and painful conversations, which have brought us to beautiful places. Sometimes you feel unsure about being upset about something someone did, but here's the trick, you can tell them that! You can be honest about how it makes you feel, instead of blaming them for it. The key is to be clear that it is not a competition, it is not an attack. Put yourself in that vulnerable place of "I love you, and I'm not sure why this triggers me, but when you xxx I felt xxx", keeps the channels of communication open, and you will be surprised how things shift in most of your relationships. You also have to accept that some people are still stuck in fight or flight mode, so you might not have such a successful honest conversation.
You are not your story - I'll take a simple example. Everyone feels that at some point their parents didn't make the best decision (even if like me, you think that overall your parents are incredible and did a brilliant job raising you). Guess what, you are a whole human being, you have yourself. You are your own mother, your father, you design your story from now on. Everyone has traumas (to different levels and degrees), and it can feel like you are messed up for good, but you are not. More and more research is going into neuroplasticity, so we have the ability to rewire through a change in habits, and like William Ernest Henley says in his poem Invictus, you are the master of your own fate, you are the captain of your soul.
Why is it so expensive? You will have a full-time one-week experience with 3 expert facilitators who will support you 24/7 during the week, and a number of assistants (number depends on size of group), accommodation, full board… so surely this costs money. ISTA might sound alien to you, but it is made up of human beings who pay bills.
There are numerous more gifts (and each of them more powerful) you will receive with this training, but I don't know how to explain them in all their awesomeness without you actually being there. So, take the plunge, and you will love me and yourself for it!
ISTA is a transmission of the life force, clothed in love and expressing creatively in the world. ISTA is part of a global transformational movement where human consciousness is being opened to its source as love and harmoniously integrating with other sentient kingdoms and dimensions.
In particular ISTA works with spirituality and sexuality as two expressions of the life force. Our vision is a world where humans have a peaceful, delightful, shameless, fearless and loving relationship with their own bodies, sexuality, emotions, hearts, minds and spirit.
ISTA is a modern synthesis of: a) a spiritual transmission - a satsang of being b) a mystery school where the Temple Arts are taught c) a new era business and creative community who are networked together globally and sharing resources in innovative ways. ISTA collaborates with many groups, organizations, and communities in various locations around the world.
We implement our vision by generating a living, loving culture amongst ourselves, then propagating this culture and educating others through conferences, trainings and other events around the globe. Most organizations have a mission statement, a business plan with clear goals, budgets and strategies to achieve them. This will not work with the type of organism ISTA is - or not by itself. To be truly transformative we harmonize Awareness on what we are desiring to achieve, with Presence of who we are. A simple symbol for this is the word EARTH which has the H or the goal at the end. If we shift it to the beginning we get Heart.
Once we are anchored in the heart then we can gently focus outward again and the result is HeartH.
ISTA is a Hearth where the fire of spirit has been lit. This can be uncomfortable for people who are used to living in the prevailing earth culture. They want to know Why we are doing it, What we are doing, Who makes the decisions, How do we measure results and How much will they get paid? Our answer to this is often simply - we do not know!! What we do know, is that if we keep building the fire in the hearth then more and more people gather round. And, when they do, we share with them about building fire. We integrate the masculine energy of initiating, direction, and focus with the feminine qualities of living in the mystery, building relationships, and flow.
ISTA is committed to raising consciousness & sexuality education across the globe to grow community, provide conferences, events, and trainings to individuals, practitioners and teachers, and to provide business tools and collaborations to support the emergence of the Temple Arts around the world.
ISTA is a non-profit educational organization since 2007. What started as gatherings of teachers and practitioners quickly evolved a collaboration of empowered individuals representing every continent, to become a vehicle that connects experts from around the globe and now operates worldwide in over 30 countries.
ISTA's mission in the world is the propagation of a culture of love and freedom. We work to truly integrate the different facets of what it is to be a fully functional human being. We focus on liberating the life force energy that underlies both consciousness and form alike. We work quite deeply with sexuality because this is one of the areas where that life force is collectively blocked or distorted. We also pay deep attention to new models of sharing power, which builds trust and generates synergy.
Money is the third area in that trinity of Money, Sex and Power that clearly needs our attention on this planet to help manifest a culture of love and freedom we all serve. Sexual energy linked to heart and consciousness is powerful. Financial energy linked to heart and consciousness is also powerful. After many years of ISTA operating largely on the goodwill of benefactors and volunteering we celebrate that we are now generating a positive cash flow. We have been carefully considering for some time how best to not only use these resources but also how to create protocols that encourage their effective use in empowering and educational ways. Ways that transform financial energy as an expression of love. (Janine MacDonald)
Register here: http://www.istaperuexperience.com


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3 Very Important Resources for Oak Point Teachers
The school year is off and running, and with that fact I have become aware of several challenges that Oak Point teachers are encountering. I want to provide some resources that might help you with said issues.
A Lack of Student Apple IDs
Apple changes their policies and they no longer allow institutions to create student Apple IDs in batches. This presents a problem when you want to innovate on the fly and several of your students don't have Apple IDs. Here is one potential solution: Send home this letter and have them either create an Apple ID with their parents, or have them sign the blank to allow us to create them for their child. This will get us innovating quicker.
Get More Parents on Schoology
Communicating with our stakeholders in a consistent, effective way is crucial. If you want more parents to read your Schoology updates, and for them to be able to access your course information and coursework, then you need to get them into Schoology. The challenge for may parents is that they don't have the time to log into Campus to get the parent access code and then log into Schoology and enter that code. So, let's take that step away and help them out.
Step A: Get all of your students into your Schoology course. The easiest way to do that is by adding them manually.
1. Access your Course
2. Click on the Members tab on the left side
3. Click add Members and enter in each child's last name one at a time to enroll them all.
Step B: Access the parent access codes for your students only.
4. Click on the "Parent Access Codes" to download a spreadsheet of student account info including parent access codes.
Step C: Fill out this letter for each of your students and send it home with the access code from the spreadsheet (not the access code for your course-that number will not work).
When parents are "in" your course you will see their names under your students names in the member area of your course.
Pro Tip: Utilize the updates page in your course to send out newsletters and communications. When parents set up an account it defaults to them receiving an email every time you send out an update from your course.
Enriching and Enhancing District Created Digital Citizenship Content
Digital citizenship is not "something extra". Our students lives ARE digital lives. How they experience the world is often synonymous with how they experience it digitally, not something separate. So why do we all too often treat DC as just "another thing" that has to be taught?
In the grade level resource collections on Schoology you can find a great deal of digital citizenship resources that you can use in your classroom, AND you can utilize me (Cory). I'd be happy to come co-teach some DC lessons, and I have some "tricks up my sleeve" to enhance/improve upon what is in the current lessons. Let me know and I'd be happy to help out in any way!


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On April 21, 2015, The Dugger Law Firm, PLLC filed a federal complaint on behalf of Devyn Abdullah, the first winner of The Face television modeling competition, against her former modeling agency, Direct Model Management, Inc., as well as Direct owner and president Mykola Webster, and Direct head of finance Atiff Joseph, for violations of federal and state wage and hour laws, as well as breach of contract.
The complaint alleges that Defendants misclassified Ms. Abdullah as an independent contractor in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the New York Labor Law.
Among other violations, Ms. Abdullah alleges that Defendants withheld, and otherwise failed to pay her, at least $13,000 of her wages from The Face competition award of a $50,000 contract with Ulta Beauty.
The complaint also alleges that Defendants failed to pay Ms. Abdullah for work with several additional modeling industry clients.
Ms. Abdullah seeks payment of minimum wages, payment of unpaid earned wages, liquidated damages with respect to minimum wages that were eventually paid but were not paid promptly, reimbursements for illegal deductions, additional associated liquidated damages, as well as damages for breach of contract and New York Labor Law recordkeeping violations.
The case is Abdullah v. Direct Model Management, Inc., et al., No. 15 Civ. 03100, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
For more information contact Cyrus E. Dugger at email@example.com or (646) 560-3208.


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Millions of Food Shelf Visits Show Other Side of Recovery in MN
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Many economists agree the U.S. is successfully bouncing back from the Great Recession, but the high number of food shelf visits tells a different story for some Minnesotans.
Last year, food shelves across the state saw more than 3 million visits from people who are struggling to make ends meet.
That's according to Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which reports 2015 marked the fifth year in a row with more than 3 million visits.
Hunger Solutions Executive Director Colleen Moriarty says this has become the new normal for the state's emergency food system.
"Families are still struggling in our communities," says Moriarty. "Food shelves throughout the state, more than 300 of them, are doing their very best to meet the need. But it continues to be a struggle and there doesn't seem to be any end in sight."
As state lawmakers consider what to do with a $900 million budget surplus, Moriarty's group is asking them to increase funding for the Minnesota Food Shelf Program. She argues the extra money will help the food shelves keep pace with demand.
Deisy De Leon Esqueda manages the ECHO Food Shelf in Mankato and has been serving four times as many seniors than before the recession began.
She says even though Minnesota's unemployment and poverty rates are among the lowest in the country, good economic opportunities aren't available to everyone.
"There's jobs out there, but they're not paying what they used to pay before," she says. "We're seeing families that need to have both parents working in order to make ends meet, and still that's not enough."
Hunger Solutions reports adults over the age of 65 are the fastest growing group of food shelf users.
Moriarty says since the number of people relying on food shelves has jumped in recent years, so too has the demand for more fresh foods.
She says that's leading to new operating and equipment costs in order to keep fruits and vegetables in stock.
"The demands on the food shelves is ever increasing; we just haven't seen it improve," says Moriarty. "So, we feel that we're in a unique case to be able to ask for more funding for basic needs."
Currently, the state has set aside more than $3 million to support the Minnesota Food Shelf Program.


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- Connaught Private Nursing Homes
- Leinster Private Nursing Homes
- Munster Private Nursing Homes
- Ulster Private Nursing Homes
Private Nursing Homes in Ireland
Please select from the Provincial listings above to view the individual Counties
The Fit-person Entry Programme is based on the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland and is a tool for providers to self-assess their fitness to provide the service.Under section 50(1)(a) of the Health Act 2007, registered providers and others who participate in the management of the designated centre must be fit to do so. As a provider you must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Authority that you are suitable or fit for the role. The Fit-person Entry Programme is in the format of a programme with defined learning outcomes and self-assessment activities and is designed to be used without the need for any specialist training or additional resources. The Programme takes a participative approach by encouraging the provider to reflect on and consider their experience, competence and knowledge, together with their staff and residents. Its purpose is to prompt the provider, to:
• Consider the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland as a guide on how to provide, and continually improve care services.
• Assess the way in which the centre is operated.
• Identify gaps in the services of the centre or areas of learning.
• Increase awareness of changes that need to be made to some areas of practice.
Feel free to check out the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) website for further information on Irish Nursing Homes in Ireland .The address is http://www.hiqa.ie
Also check out some other useful services:
- Age & Opportunity in Ireland
- Older in Ireland
- Age Action Ireland
- Care
- Services for Older People in Ireland
- Assist Ireland
- Carers Association