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Adeptus Health and Deerfield Collaborate on Comprehensive Financial Restructuring Plan
Financial Restructuring to Significantly Reduce Debt and Better Position Adeptus for Long-term Success
Receives Commitment of $45 Million in Debtor-in-Possession Financing
All Company-Owned and Joint Venture Freestanding Emergency Rooms Remain Open, Operating and Serving Patients as Normal
Apr 19, 2017, 17:42 ET
LEWISVILLE, Texas, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Adeptus Health Inc. (NYSE: ADPT), the largest operator of freestanding emergency rooms in the U.S., today announced that it has collaborated with Deerfield Management Company ("Deerfield") and certain of its other creditors on the terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring plan that is expected to significantly reduce the outstanding debt under the Company's existing credit facility and better position Adeptus for long-term success.
As expected, to implement the restructuring, Adeptus filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division (the "Chapter 11 Cases"), to pursue a plan of reorganization ("Chapter 11 Plan"). While Adeptus Health's wholly-owned subsidiaries are included in the court-supervised restructuring process, the joint venture entities to which Adeptus is a party are not part of the court-supervised process. Through this restructuring, it is expected that ownership of the Company will transition to Deerfield. Deerfield is a 23-year-old firm focused on advancing healthcare care through investment, information and philanthropy with over $8 billion in assets, and has been a long-term investor in Adeptus.
Importantly, all of the Company's owned and joint-venture freestanding emergency rooms are continuing to operate as normal. These facilities are open and are continuing to serve patients with the same high-quality care and medical attention for which they are known.
Adeptus has also received a commitment from Deerfield for $45 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing, which is expected to support the Company's operations during the court-supervised restructuring process. Upon completion of the restructuring, it is also expected that Deerfield will provide the Company with additional funding, operational support and healthcare expertise, ensuring that Adeptus continues to offer patients the highest-quality care, and support employees, affiliated physicians and partners.
"Our partnership with Deerfield and the actions we are taking today are intended to strengthen Adeptus and enable us to continue our mission of providing access to the highest-quality medical care to the communities we serve," said Gregory W. Scott, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Adeptus. "Over the last several years, Adeptus has invested significantly to expand our facility footprint and respond to the growing demand for high-quality emergency medical care. While these investments have increased patient access, the associated expenditures have strained the Company's financial resources. We believe that our partnership with Deerfield and the associated court-supervised restructuring process is the best path forward for Adeptus. As a long-term investor in the Company, Deerfield understands our business well. Their desire to deepen their relationship and commitment to our business, employees and partners demonstrates that they share our confidence in Adeptus and in our future prospects."
Jim Flynn, Managing Partner of Deerfield Management, said, "We are pleased to enter into this partnership with Adeptus. Adeptus Health's network of freestanding emergency rooms, employees and partners provides an excellent foundation for efficiently delivered, high-quality emergency medical care. We look forward to working closely with the Adeptus team and the dedicated physicians and medical staff working in its facilities to ensure that the Company reaches its full potential. Deerfield is committed to support the Company with capital, healthcare expertise and operational support."
Mr. Scott continued, "As always, our facilities are open 24-7, and we are continuing to offer rapid access to board-certified physicians on-site. Importantly, we expect to continue working with our vendors and supporting the medical staff in our facilities as normal throughout this process. We thank our incredible team members for their hard work and dedication to our patients."
Adeptus has filed a number of customary motions seeking court authorization to continue to support its business operations during the court-supervised process, including uninterrupted payment of employee wages and benefits. The Company intends to pay vendors for goods and services provided after the filing date, April 19, 2017. The Company expects to receive court approval for these requests.
Additional information can be accessed by visiting Adeptus Health's website at www.adhc.com/restructuring or calling Adeptus Health's Restructuring Hotline, toll-free in the U.S., at (844) 469-3932. Court filings and other documents related to the court-supervised proceedings are available at a website administered by the Company's claims agent, Epiq Systems, at http://dm.epiq11.com/ADPT.
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is serving as reorganization counsel to Adeptus, and FTI Consulting is serving as financial advisor.
About Adeptus Health Inc.
Adeptus Health (NYSE:ADPT) is a leading patient-centered healthcare organization expanding access to the highest quality emergency medical care through its network of freestanding emergency rooms and partnerships with premier healthcare providers. For more information, please visit www.adpt.com.
About Deerfield
Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy.
For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Any forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this filing, and the Company undertakes no duty to update or revise any such statements except as required by the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") from time to time and which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, including in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and its Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Among the factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those provided in this release are: (i) the Company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, (ii) the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to consummate the transactions contemplated by its Chapter 11 Plan, (iii) the effects of the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents, (iv) Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the cases in general, (v) the length of time the Company will operate under the Chapter 11 Cases, (vi) risks associated with third party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, which may interfere with the Company's ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Chapter 11 Plan, (vii) the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations, (viii) the ability to operate the Company's business and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Chapter 11 Plan, (ix) the transactions contemplated by the DIP financing and the Chapter 11 Plan being subject to closing conditions, which conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside of the Company's control; (x) increased legal costs to execute the Company's reorganization, and other risks and uncertainties, (xi) the Company's ability to maintain contracts, trade credit and other customer, joint venture partner and/or vendor relationships that are essential to the Company's operations, (xii) the Company's ability to retain key executives and employees, and (xiii) the factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and its Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.
The Company's stockholders are cautioned that trading in shares of the Company's Class A common stock during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases is highly speculative and poses substantial risks. Trading prices for shares of the Company's Class A common stock may bear little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by holders in the reorganization. Accordingly, the Company urges extreme caution with respect to existing and future investments in its Class A common stock.
Media Contacts:
Michael Freitag / Aaron Palash
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Tel: (212) 355-4449
SOURCE Adeptus Health Inc.


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Roman Deininger, a Ph.D. student of Political Science at the University of Vienna, was Resident Junior Research Fellow at Center Austria from April to June 2006. He is a University of Munich graduate and working on a dissertation on religion and politics in the United States. While in New Orleans he had the chance to meet Jimmy Carter after the former President taught Sunday School in Plains, Georgia. He also received research grants from the Johnson and Bush Presidential Libraries in Texas.
Besides his research endeavors he covered the New Orleans mayoral election for German newspapers, among them the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.Center Austria was delighted to have Roman Deininger as part of the team and we wish him well and hope to see him back in New Orleans!

subset: commoncrawl


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Bob Dylan's latest compilation of more than 2-dozen bootleg tracks was released today on the Legacy label. The Bootleg Series, Vol. 7: No Direction Home - The Soundtrack arrives a few weeks before the new documentary by Martin Scorsese that chronicles Dylan's early days (the movie focuses on 1961-66) and his transformation from Woody Guthrie acolyte to pop god. The film version of No Direction Home airs on PBS stations across the U.S. as a two-part special installment on American Masters on Sept. 26 and 27 (check local listings for times). For those of you in the U.K., it will also air on BBC2's Arena series on Sept. 26. It's a reunion of sorts for Dylan and Scorsese, who directed The Last Waltz, a documentary of the final concert of The Band (who, of course, started out backing up Dylan).
On Sept. 20 (a week before it airs on tv - go figure), No Direction Home - The Documentary arrives in stores. And, on Sept. 13, Simon & Schuster publishes The Bob Dylan Scrapbook - 1956-1966, offering pictures, lyrics, interviews, memorabilia and a CD that will tie into the film as well.
Last week on Gilmore Girls (aka - my favorite tv show), Lane (who a Korean-American girl rock drummer) discovered her boyfriend (who is also her bandmate) sneaking around with a bluegrass band. He was afraid she would lose respect for him if she found out about his love of the banjo. She told him she thought his banjo was sexy. How about you? Have you ever lied to a girl (or a boy) about your bluegrass lifestyle?
It's been almost 20 years since my buddy Jonathan told me that we should move from Colorado, where we'd been living, to Europe. His idea was that we'd take country and American folk music to the culturally-starved Europeans. We'd reach iconic status, develop our language skills, eat and drink well, meet interesting people and return to a warm welcome in the USA after a year or so. And it all happened (except for the iconic status and the return to our homeland). Jonathan lives in Paris; I live in Switzerland (I got first choice).
He visits now and then and when we cruise along the Alpine highways and back roads, our always-nostalgic conversations are supported by a carefully-selected, folk-driven soundtrack on the car's CD player.
With cassettes, choosing music for the car was an enormous challenge: we didn't want to have to fast forward through an unloved song or turn the volume down for three minutes and sixteen seconds.
I'm still influenced by the tape days. I try to find CDs which I can enjoy in their entirety at relatively high volume. Currently, in my five-disc changer are the two Girlyman CDs, Herb Pedersen's Southwest, a Tim and Mollie O'Brien album, and a Peter, Paul and Mary compilation (Japanese import). Lots of vocals these days.
I'd be curious to know what the FolkAlley.com gang listen to in their cars. Studio-released tapes or CDs? Compilations (legal, of course)? Do you go through phases? What's the all-time best folk-ish CD for the car? Start your engines!
This September 18th, Farm Aid's 20th Anniversay concert takes place in Tinley Park, IL - about 25 miles or so outside of Chicago. Artists scheduled to perform at this benefit include: Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Arlo Guthrie, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris, John Mayer, and many more. Farm Aid is a US non-profit organization that works to keep family farms operational and to restore family farm-centered agriculture. In addition, they offer disaster relief to family farmers in times of drought. Of the artists performing at Farm Aid, Willie Nelson in particular has put his shoulder to the wheel by starting his company - Willie Nelson's BioDiesel - that sells high quality biodiesel grown by family farmers. Are there any Folk Alley listeners planning to attend the concert next month? Or who have attended in the past?
Does folk music have to be acoustic? Is there such a thing as "electric-folk?" How do you feel about a crunching guitar in the middle of a traditional song? When Bob Dylan plugged in--he freaked a lot of people out. When bands like Clannad in Ireland started using electric guitars, people there were freaked out too. A recent search in Google for the definition of folk music brougt up seven different descriptions--not one mentioned the music being acoustic. So, how do you feel about an electric dulcimer?
I recently received this E-mail that I thought might be a fun summer question. All I know is that Dolly actually took the Dollywood houseband out on tour with her, because she felt their quality was so high.
"Hi, Has anyone been to Dollywood? I would like to go to hear some good bluegrass. Are there any critics out there?
Linda In Savannah"
Since last I posted to Folk Alley, I got tossed out on my ear from a longstanding office job, applied to everyone on Earth, got one taker, and just started in with a pretty jolly crew. Pretty much Lone Gunmen-type (talking X-Files here, not assassins) programmers and designers. Okay, there's a spectrum here between Lone Gunmen and GQ/Cosmopolitan, but definitely trending toward the former.
In the midst of all the drama came a couple of extremely welcome playing jobs. Couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to take a leap of faith to full-time gigging. It always seemed that a change like that would need to happen incrementally, certainly not as the result of fall-back failure. But is that necessarily true? Has anyone here done it full time, or tried it for awhile, or followed the progress of a friend who took the plunge? Do you have any experiences or general advice to share?
The PBS documentary series American Experience presents Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues tonight (8/10) at 9 p.m. EST in many markets (it's fund drive season again, so you should check your local listings). Williams was a masterful singer/songwriter and star of the Grand Ole Opry who rose fast and fell from a great height equally as quickly. By 29 - with failed relationships, a problem with alcohol and a break with the Opry taking over his life - he was dead. Even today, Hank Williams remains a musical legend on the level of Elvis and the Beatles.
Singer/songwriter Marc Cohn (perhaps best known for the song Walking in Memphis, which won him a best new artist Grammy) was shot in the head as part of an apparent car-jacking attempt in Denver on Monday. Surprisingly, he was treated and released (the bullet hit him squared in the center of his temple but did not go through his skull). Cohn is originally from Cleveland and is married to ABC TV's Elizabeth Vargas. He is supposed to release a long-awaited follow-up to 1998's Burning the Daze this year. Cohn has cancelled the final five stops on his tour.
Fiddler Vassar Clements' web site reports that his cancer has spread to his brain and he has stopped medical intervention and is now in hospice. His family asks that you keep him in your prayers. You can also send well wishes via the web site's guestbook.
The Newport Folk Festival moves to the mainstage at Fort Adams State Park today and tomorrow with a stellar line up of artists (including an acoustic set by a reunited Pixies, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Bright Eyes and lots more). Sunday, up-and-comer
Posted by Ann VerWiebe at 8:37 PM
| Comments (3)
We have recently gotten a shipment of business card-sized Folk Alley magnets in house, which I am happy to send to anyone. However, to keep Folk Alley's postage costs down, I am asking that you send us a self-addressed stamped envelope (aka a S.A.S.E.). Some listeners from outside the U.S. have asked about sending the SASE, since most obviously don't have access to U.S. postage. If anyone wants to send us foreign currency that is around $.80 U.S. (only paper money - coins can't be converted), we will accept it ($.60 U.S. for those in Canada).
If you do send money, drop a picture in envelope, too and we'll post them all up somewhere. Click here for a currency converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.
Here are links for the artists and albums mentioned in the new music section of the August Folk Alley Chat (distributed 8/2):
Billy Joe Shaver and Friends - A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver
Eliza Gilkyson - Paradise Hotel
Patti Casey - The Edge of Grace
Michelle Shocked - Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike - That's What Love Can Do
The Ditty Bops - The Ditty Bops
Abigail Washburn - Song of the Traveling Daughter
Uncle Earl - She Waits for Night
Nickel Creek - Why Should the Fire Die?
Bob Franke - The Other Evening in Chicago
Foghorn Stringband - Weiser Sunrise
Jeff Black - Tin Lily
John Doyle - Wayward Son
Laurence Juber - One Wing
Jorma Kaukonen & Barry Mitterhoff
Breadline Blues
Full Playlist


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Blazer + sneakers
I love throwing a blazer and some sneakers on with a simple outfit. It somehow pulls it together and makes it feel fresh and current. An easy blazer and white sneakers are big right now, and easy to find even if on a tight budget. Put on an ear jacket or cuff to complete the look and step it up a notch.


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"First Read" is a daily memo prepared by NBC News' political unit, for NBC News, analyzing the morning's political news. Please let us know what you think. Drop us a note at email@example.com.
Monday, March 28, 2005 | 9:25 a.m. ET
From Elizabeth Wilner, Mark Murray, Huma Zaidi and Kasie Hunt
First glance
Social conservatives turn out, even in bad weather. The fact of political life that heartens GOP candidates and strategists at election time haunts them now (and may or may not at election time, TBD.) Along with the Easter egg-rollers, the White House gets protestors asking that President Bush order the replacement of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. The DC-based Christian Defense Coalition will hold a press conference at 12 noon, followed by a 1:00 pm protest outside Speaker Hastert's office.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
As emotions run higher in Pinellas Park and elsewhere, we'll repeat what we said on Friday -- that anything that happens as a result could, by association, further affect how the public views the President, GOP lawmakers, and the party. At the same time, anger among the protestors is increasingly being directed at the Bushes. In retrospect, while any long-term effect remains TBD, the GOP's involvement is looking increasingly lose-lose, at least for now.
This may also hold true to the degree that the story distracts attention from Bush's top legislative priority. Remember the debate awhile back about Bush having several weeks, per some lawmakers on the Hill, or a couple of months, per the White House, to make headway with the public on private accounts? No one foresaw that Washington would get so tied in knots for over a week by the Schiavo case. And the progress of her situation is such that it will hang over Bush as he makes his next Social Security stop in Cedar Rapids, IA on Wednesday.
Also showing up in Florida early this week: RNC chair Ken Mehlman goes to Orlando on Tuesday to appear with Martinez at a forum about "the shared values and issues facing the Hispanic community and the Republican Party," per the release. Asked why now, an RNC aide says they've been looking for a convenient date for this event for some time.
Today, President Bush returns from Crawford and takes part in a celebration of Greek Independence Day at the White House at 3:00 pm, currently his only scheduled public event.
Second-term presidencies have been known to get bogged down by scandal, but right now, Bush II seems more likely to get distracted by apparent conflicts between his agenda and various facets of conservative philosophy -- social, fiscal, and governmental -- for which the Administration will constantly be appeasing one faction of the party or another. Beyond the Schiavo case, today the US Supreme Court hears another case that pits the Administration not only against state courts, but against those conservatives who feel that international law should have no bearing on US judicial decisions. More on Medellin v. Dretke below.
And out in California, a state judge's weekend reaffirmation of her decision allowing Governor Schwarzenegger to raise unlimited sums of money for his ballot initiatives may prove to be a mixed blessing for him, in that all that fundraising may further erode his reformist image. Schwarzenegger is on an increasingly bumpy road as his efforts to enact reforms through a special election take on an increasingly partisan taint. Democratic sources confirm to First Read that Schwarzenegger has been meeting with state lawmakers in an effort to strike some kind of deal that might eliminate the need for a special election. But Schwarzenegger tells the Washington Post in an interview that he still relishes the prospect of a good electoral fight.
Schiavo politics
The Los Angeles Times' Brownstein references the polls and points out, "To many analysts, the resistance to Washington's role illustrated the challenges Bush and other social conservatives face in forging consensus for a 'culture of life' agenda that includes issues such as abortion, embryonic stem cell research and end-of-life cases... [M]any on both sides agree that the emotional confrontation... will reinforce the shift from economic interests to cultural values as the principal force unifying each party's electoral coalition." Also, "many Democratic strategists believe the party could benefit among moderate swing voters who believe Republicans overreached in the matter."
The Sunday Los Angeles Times laid out key similarities between the Schiavo situation and the previously unreported circumstances under which DeLay and his family permitted his own comatose father to pass away in 1988. "Both stricken patients were severely brain-damaged. Both were incapable of surviving without medical assistance. Both were said to have expressed a desire to be spared from being kept alive by artificial means. And neither of them had a living will."
Following up this morning, the New York Times has this line from DeLay's recent speech to the Family Research Council: "'Congress has a legislative and moral duty to do what we can to protect [Terri Schiavo],' Mr. DeLay said… 'Her life is being threatened, and we have it in our power to act on her behalf. Every human life deserves at least that much.'"
The Raleigh News & Observer says "some analysts contend that the president's dramatic reaffirmation of his close ties with the Christian right may erode his appeal to centrists, including Republican moderates in the Senate." The story also notes that "Frist's effort to preserve Schiavo's life could help him with conservative religious voters during the 2008 presidential primaries."
Social Security
Today in New Mexico, Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall (both D) address a forum about Social Security at a vocational school located in GOP Rep. Heather Wilson's district at 9:00 pm ET.
Or if New Mexico doesn't suit you, try Des Moines. Previewing Bush's Wednesday visit, the Register notes that Iowa is now "smack in the middle" of warring lobbyists, interest groups, and politicians intent on winning the debate over Social Security. "In Iowa, television, radio and print advertisements… will be only the tip of the iceberg. There will also be phone banks, in which callers try to talk to Iowans about Social Security; mini-tours of the state by prominent speakers; and distribution of opinion pieces written for newspaper editorial pages, officials with the groups said."
Also back home in Iowa, in between town halls, the AP caught up with GOP Senate point man Chuck Grassley, who said he's "finding little clamor for" the President's proposals "among the people who have kept him in the Senate for 25 years... The mixed message he is getting is not the one the White House wanted when a week earlier Mr. Bush urged lawmakers to meet with people in their states and districts... One troubling aspect of Mr. Grassley's town meetings is the demographics: Everywhere he goes, he sees a lot of people with gray hair, but not many young people."
At the same time, the President's new congressional liaison tells Roll Call she "believes the landscape for Social Security looks promising. Although polls have shown opposition to the president's plan, [Candi] Wolff points out that they also have shown a recognition that there is a problem with the program that needs to be fixed." "Howard Paster, the first Hill liaison to then-President Bill Clinton, likened Wolff's challenge on Social Security to the one he faced in trying to sell Clinton's controversial economic plan to Congress in 1993..."
Bush II
The New York Times front-pages Karl Rove in his new gig as deputy White House chief of staff for policy, a job that has allowed him to play a large role in selling Bush's Social Security proposal. "[T]he intensity of Mr. Rove's involvement in politics and policy makes his current status unusual and gives him remarkably broad authority inside the White House and out. And in giving Mr. Rove his new title, Mr. Bush, freed from the need to think about re-election, seemed to acknowledge what everyone in Washington knows: that in this administration, as in all others, politics and policy are inextricably intertwined."
Looking at his jokes on the trail, his softer tone on foreign policy, and his abandonment of his my-way-or-the-highway approach on domestic issues like Social Security, the New York Times wonders if the second-term Bush is a different president.
This is a complicated one, so bear with us. The Washington Post lays out a case that the Supreme Court will hear today, in which the state of Texas is accusing President Bush of "attempting to impose on a sovereign state not only his will, but also the will of an international court that has no authority over criminal justice in the United States." The case, Medellin v. Dretke, involves "51 Mexicans who were convicted of murder and sentenced to death... without first having access to diplomats from their home country. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague has ruled that their rights... were violated, and that they are entitled to new hearings in Texas courts." In an effort to strike a compromise, Bush instructed "the Texas courts to comply with the ICJ's ruling by holding a hearing for one of the Mexicans, Jose Ernesto Medellin, a Houston gang member convicted in 1994 of raping and murdering two teenage girls in Houston." Bush then "withdrew the United States from the part of the treaty that gives the ICJ enforcement authority, ensuring that... no similar cases could arise at the ICJ again."
"Bush took these steps to smooth diplomatic tensions with Mexico and other nations over the death penalty cases," the Post says, "while also appeasing those in his administration who are skeptical of international bodies such as the ICJ." But Texas "officials say their ex-governor is trampling on Texas's sovereignty."
USA Today notes that the case "pits the authority of state courts against the Bush administration."
The Sunday Washington Post laid out how business has been the big winner thus far of Bush's second-term agenda, backed by bolstered GOP ranks in the Senate and a small but crucial number of Democrats.
Roll Call finds some possible answers, but nothing conclusive, on why Congress' approval rating has slipped. Possible explanations: Schiavo, Social Security and judicial nominee gridlock, a lack of focus on issues of more direct importance to Americans, and/or not enough notice of those measures which Congress has already passed this year.
Mitch McConnell said yesterday that Senate Republicans have the votes to go nuclear. – USA Today
Roll Call reports that "Democrats and their allies hope to duplicate the level of coordination" they've mustered on Social Security in uniting to defeat a GOP effort to go nuclear before it's initiated. "Senior Democratic aides will meet today at AFL-CIO headquarters... with top union officials," including from AFSCME and the SEIU, "and other interest groups." The effort involves various ad campaigns, including some targeted at specific lawmakers. (We presume that this coalition would then be primed and ready to try to defeat any Bush judicial nominees they view as objectionable.)
"America's Health Insurance Plans today kicks off a bristly lobbying and advertising campaign that's designed to propel medical malpractice legislation to the forefront of Congress' agenda," the paper also reports.
The Wall Street Journal editorial page on DeLay's ethics issues: "Taken separately, and on present evidence, none of the latest charges directly touch Mr. DeLay... The problem, rather, is that Mr. DeLay, who rode to power in 1994 on a wave of revulsion at the everyday ways of big government, has become the living exemplar of some of its worst habits... Whether Mr. DeLay violated the small print of House Ethics or campaign-finance rules is thus largely beside the point. His real fault lies in betraying the broader set of principles that brought him into office..."
More on the values debate
The Washington Post reports, "Some pharmacists across the country are refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control and morning-after pills, saying that dispensing the medications violates their personal moral or religious beliefs." The Post says, "Supporters of pharmacists' rights see the trend as a welcome expression of personal belief. Women's groups see it as a major threat to reproductive rights and one of the latest manifestations of the religious right's growing political reach... The issue could intensify further if the [FDA] approves the sale of the Plan B morning-after pill without a prescription -- a controversial step that would likely make pharmacists the primary gatekeeper."
In Boston today, a wealthy Democratic businessman and activist "is expected to enter the fray" over embryonic stem cell research by launching an "emotionally charged" TV ad "featuring parents of two children with diabetes who argue that Governor Mitt Romney would block promising research that could cure the disease." A state "Senate vote, scheduled for Wednesday, will be the first test of the political viability of" a bill "which would give the state's official endorsement to embryonic stem-cell research, including stem cells obtained from cloned human embryos." - Boston Globe
The Washington Post interviewed Schwarzenegger, who "gave every indication that he relishes the opportunity to defeat, not compromise with, his opponents. When it was suggested that Schwarzenegger sounded as though he would be disappointed if a face-off were averted by compromise, he responded without hesitation. 'There's something very attractive about it,' he said. 'You're absolutely right'... The governor said the battle is not Democrats vs. Republicans. But his opponents see him and his agenda as part of a partisan and ideological battle that echoes the priorities of President Bush and the Republicans in Washington." The story adds, "in interviews last week, neither side sounded optimistic about the prospects for compromise" that would stave off a special.
Oh-eight (D)
Edwards is focused on his poverty center and on getting his wife well -- but he's got trips to Iowa and Wisconsin scheduled within the next week. The AP says Edwards' two-day Iowa trip includes a fundraiser for Rep. Leonard Boswell and "an interview with Iowa Public Television, which will be broadcast statewide," and an ed board at the Register.
As a general note to all oh-eighters, including the other half of the 2004 Democratic ticket, we don't care if you're exploring or keeping your options open. But why not just admit it?


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Connecticut education officials have just begun enrolling students for online high school classes , beginning January 23rd. If you want to teach on-line courses at a regionally accredited college, your doctorate pretty considerably requirements to be accredited from one particular of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the division of education. As a retired educator, the 1st work opportunities that may possibly come to mind are teaching jobs. Been a little slower these past handful of years , and simply because of many reasons but if you have a Master's with teaching knowledge you can nevertheless get it, just as rapidly as that new Phd. In most cases the alternative to on the web and campus degree applications is choosing on-the-job instruction and operate knowledge rather than formal education and schooling in L.A. Sooner than you believe, you will be on your way to becoming a high college graduate.
Earlier, I pointed out the electronic gatekeeper and how important it is to get previous these when you commence producing application to teach on-line at different schools. The experts of American Higher School will guide you to choose the proper course for your youngster that will be proven powerful for them in future. These on-line schools are generally two kinds they are private and public on-line organizations. Ahead of you sign a contract with a private college, you may well want to try subbing or volunteering in the school 1st. Some trusted examples are the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and College Improvement (SACS CASI). In addition to receiving a high college diploma, you also earn a career certificate and comprehensive extra job preparation documents and training. And speaking of volunteering, these can be wonderful jobs for retired teachers!
The Library encourages people to go to its 41 locations, discover these web-based literacy sources , and visit the On the internet Learning Center section of its website. But ahead of you reach a dependable choice to get your kid admitted to an on-line college , lay prior emphasis more than the teaching procedure, techniques and qualifications of the chosen medium. The student can do his assignments by way of online and also send their coursework by means of the challenging copies it is up to the student. Credit for expertise: Some on-line higher schools offer credit for life and function knowledge. I taught a number of classes for our nearby tech college for the duration of the summers, and I truly enjoyed it. The spend was excellent, and so have been the students. Earn your high college diploma on-line on your personal time, with the nationally and regionally accredited Penn Foster High School Education System.
According to careerbuilder the trend of best paying jobs is that there are professions that do not demand a high school degree. Also permitting you to simultaneously perform for your individual monetary wants, this form of teaching also assures you the relativity of not getting left behind than your classmates. Teaching on the web can be a rewarding job and add thousands of dollars to your month-to-month revenue. Adults between the ages 18 and 21 and minors should pursue their high school education through existing higher school programs. At our higher college, only students who had failed a class are allowed to attend summer school. If you want to attempt to get an online teaching position with a master's degree, maintain reading what appears right here and follow the actions.
For any probable purpose, if you have not yet completed your higher college diploma yet, and are searching for the dependable institution that can cater your educational requirements, stay ready to come across a lot a lot of on the web sources that will supply you online high school rewards , where only a handful of prominent serves you with the proper essential criteria.


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Sunday, March 27, 6pm
Whole Foods for the Whole Family: keep your family healthy by filling your refrigerator with foods that you'll be able to find at your local co-op. Join Marie Winters as she discusses the benefits and medicinal properties of everyday fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins. Find out how eating seasonally helps to keep the body naturally healthy and learn different ways to use first spring fruits and vegetables to improve your health and wellbeing. This event will teach you about gentle detoxing using food and juice, and immune support for the whole family. Hosted by Philly Community Wellness at 1241 Carpenter Street. RSVP by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Sunday, March 27, 11:45am-1:30pm
Let's have lunch with city leaders! Join Center City Proprietors Association members and friends to become familiar with Philadelphia's business, civic, political and cultural leaders. Featuring University of Pennsylvania's president, Dr.Amy Gutmann. The luncheon includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert and coffee. Reservations and pre-payment are required: $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. No-shows will be billed. This event will take place at Capital Grille, 1338 Chestnut Street.
More events after the jump!
Monday, March 28, 11am-6pm
The Clean Technology Resource Center (CTRC) hosts its Clean Technology Forum for users and providers of clean technology. CTRC's staff, along with clean tech start-up business owners and experts in the industry, will discuss topics such as challenges facing clean tech start-ups, how to execute clean technology in small businesses, commercialization difficulties, and how to obtain financing. This forum will conclude with a networking reception and a clean-tech focused business exhibition. Held at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harrisburg, PA. Fee: $55 (includes lunch.)
Tuesday, March 29, 6pm-7:30pm
The University of the Arts: FREE Lecture. Matt Owens is the founding partner of the design collective Athletics and the studio VolumeOne. He was trained as a graphic designer; with experience in both print and digital media, and has paired the two to work for clients such as Forbes magazine, Nick at Nite, and Zoo York Skateboards.
Thursday, March 31, 4pm-7:30pm
The 3rd Annual Mid-Atlantic Cleantech Investment Forum is an event you won't want to miss out on. If you are interested in clean technology investment and opportunity, then you should attend to learn more. Cleantech Alliance Mid-Atlantic's mission is, "to connect, support, and grow clean and alternative energy technology business opportunities in the mid-Atlantic region." This event will be held at The Academy of Natural Sciences (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.)
Friday, April 1 – Saturday, April 2
PennDesign's in the Terrain of Water Symposium will focus on how to find creative solutions to the myriad of water-related issues that influence politic, dynamics, and fears. This symposium will be organized around a series of dialogues, exhibits, workshops and talks, including contemporary thinkers who go beyond addressing water merely as a design opportunity or an environmental challenge. Conversations and presentations will be within three themes:
- design ACTIVISM / ADVOCACY in the Terrain of Water
- design STRUCTURE / INFRASTRUCTURE in the Terrain of Water
- design IMAGING / IMAGINING in the Terrain of Water
This event will be held at the University of Pennsylvania, Meyerson Hall, Upper and Lower Galleries.


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I know some of you are chomping at the bit to get some holiday baking done, and that is why I have highlighted some of my all time favorite recipes for sweet holiday cheer. I'll have plenty of new recipes to share starting next week. Some of these are vegan, some gluten free, some so buttery and wheat-y you'll feel like your at grandmas.
Rosemary brown butter shortbread-cookies
Dreamy coconut pecan date bliss balls
Ginger pear chocolate buckwheat loafs
Truffle kisses chocolate mousse
Vegan nut butter truffle balls
Now where to start?


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November 16th, 2018
Our speaker on this day will be Pat Soldano.
Ms. Soldano has spent over 25 years managing family offices, providing full service, integrated family office services to many families. She developed Cymric Family Office Services into a multi-family office in 1996, and in January of 2009, she sold Cymric to GenSpring Family Offices. Ms. Soldano was the Managing Director of the Western Region and then a Family Office Consultant to GenSpring before retiring December 31, 2017. Ms. Soldano is now a Family Office consultant working directly with families herself.
She will discuss best practices around setting yourself apart from the competition, and truly positioning yourself on the side of your ultra high net worth families and individuals.


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About Us
My name is Vuthy Ou and I started the Line M Clothing Company after teaching and competing in Ballroom and Latin for 7 years. I've always found it difficult to find good value in men's ballroom clothing, whether it's shoes or pants. So, after years of spending $200 - $300 on items I didn't really like, I decided to make my own stuff and offer it to other male dancers looking for great looking, low maintenance clothing.
Contact Us
Note: See the returns and exchanges page for detailed instructions.
MensDancePants LLC
8609 Cathedral Circle
Philadelphia PA 19128
Before contacting us, your question may be answered in our FAQ section.


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What's the world coming to? Justcooknyc writing about grilled cheese? Well, grilled cheese is kind of trendy in NYC right now, but that's not the reason. I'm writing about it because the weather cooled down last night, a lot. A live in a top-floor apartment which is great for light, but it gets quite warm in the summer. I'm air conditioner-dependent for sure, and I do a lot less cooking when it's warm. A lot less baking too. But with the cool breeze flowing through my place today, I've got yummy things on my mind — brownies, soup, casseroles, and grilled cheese. A while back I was invited to a great event sponsored by Harry & David. Their executive chef was doing cooking demos, and I wondered how making grilled cheese was relevant since all I knew about were their chocolates, confections, and fruit baskets. It turns out they sell other things like relishes and salsas, so I watched the demo, and it got me thinking.
On my way back from Big Summer Potluck, I stopped by a roadside stand and picked up some local jarred goodies, including this quince jelly. I had some manchego in the house, so I grated that finely. The Harry & David chef inspired me to buy some raisin bread too. I spread the jelly on one side of the bread and added the grated cheese to the other. I fried that up in way too much butter, and it was just about perfect — both sweet and salty. Now I need to get myself a panini press for my desk at work so I can make grilled cheese for lunch everyday, and I'll be all set.


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About Arte Vaticana - Vatican Private Walking Seminar
Our four-hour critically acclaimed Arte Vaticana walking seminar is designed to give a comprehensive in-depth introduction to the Vatican art collection and St. Peters Basilica. Led by a scholar of Church history or an art historian this is our most signature Vatican itinerary. Armed with reserved entry tickets which guarantee a quick entry into the museum we begin with the Vatican art collection one of the worlds great repositories of art. Although each walk evolves differently depending on our docents area of expertise and the interests of the group we generally start with a thorough overview of Papal history and the construction of the Papal Palace now home to the Museums. We will often veer off to the chronologically-arranged picture gallery known as the Pinacoteca which forms the perfect backdrop for a seminar on the history of painting from the late medieval to high Renaissance periods. From here we will traverse the halls of the Vatican palaces visiting the most important rooms of the museums including the ancient statuary collection of Julius II and the Papal apartments decorated by Raphael. By the time we reach the Sistine Chapel we will have set the context to appreciate the cultural and artistic climate in which Michelangelo worked painting the ceiling and later the Last Judgment. The last quarter of this walk covers St. Peters Basilica a vast church and the symbolic center of Catholicism. Our docent will navigate this vast space visiting the major works by Michelangelo the dome La Pieta and Bernini the canopy fixing the church and its artworks in a social and historical context. Finally we will emerge into St. Peters square designed by Bernini. Includes - Services of a docent - Reservation and tickets - Hotel pick-up Excludes - Meals and drinks - Personal expenses - Tips and gratuities - Optional activity costs Please Note - Hotel pick-up is available upon request. Please inquire. - Walks are held rain or shine with some variations to accommodate the weather. - Please come on time. If you miss the reservation time you will forfeit your tickets and will not be allowed entry into the museums. - Please observe the Vaticans strict dress code requirements. Knees and shoulders must be covered. - Large bags and any sharp object will need to be deposited at the entrance. Please avoid bringing such objects to avoid hassle. - Photography without flash is allowed inside the Vatican museums EXCEPT in the Sistine Chapel where photography is forbidden. Photography with and without flash is allowed in St. Peters Basilica.


text: Surf Lessons 7 Day Tour – 1 person – Auckland – This Multi Day Surf Tour is by far the ultimate kiwi adventure! All inclusive of transportation, accommodation at our beach side lodge, 3 yummy meals per day, gear hire, fun and knowledgeable ISA certified coaches and many other awesome activities to keep you occupied. Truly an epic adventure! This tour is often described by our guests as the best thing they have done while travelling through New Zealand; something of which we are very proud! This is by far the ultimate surf tour adventure! Price Includes The package includes return transport from central Auckland, Trip departs every Sunday at 7:30am. 4,6 or 13 night's accommodation, mixed dormitory style (bedding is included). Food for 3 meals daily, self catering Surfboard and wetsuit hire. Surf lessons – Up to 2 lessons per day dependent on tide times and swell and wind conditions


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Recently, we designed a food package for an organic food company based in Colorado. They wanted a label that hearkened back to orange crate designs from several decades ago. We worked with an illustrator whose experience creating landscapes and concept art for Dreamworks was a good fit for the style we envisioned.
Together, we worked through several rough sample designs and illustrations before settling on a final direction and exploring color options. Our chosen illustrator was great to work with, and helped integrate the logotype and USDA organic seal through several sketch iterations, then helped adjust colors to match the branded Pantone Ink Swatches. The final package design was prepped for production, and has since become the source for advertising and promotional material.


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Resort fashion is always relaxed, designed in fun colors, often it reflects the aqua waters of the ocean. Accessories sparkle in the bright sun light, polished silver clasps, facetted gemstones cast a bright glow. My inspiration from the Caribbean islands waters and the white sand is shining through in this necklace.
purchase information: use the Contact form.
photo background:scenes of Antigua by Alexis Andrews. www.alexisandrews.com
Source: http://www.resort-to-fashion.com


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Motörheads Bastards Beer has now qualified in to the ordinary range at Systembolaget. The beer is made by the Swedish brewery Krönleins Bryggeri.
- I'm not surprised, Motörhead Bastards Lager is an awesome beer that is easy to like, says Mikkey Dee of Motörhead.
The beer is a lager with attitude that is perfect accompanying food and in its own majesty, appreciated by many whether you are a dedicated fan or not. Fr.om 2nd of October you can buy Motörhead Bastards Beer at Systembolaget shops.
- Motörhead Bastards Beer is a fresh beer with a good character of light malt. Easy to drink but with an hardrock edge, says Yvonne Wener, Brands For Fans.
If you can't find it - demand it from Systembolaget!


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Jenny + Daniel's wedding was just too wonderful to not share a bit more....
And it went from spring to SUMMER as guests entered the Tiger Ballroom for Friday night's rehearsal dinner. A basket of flip-flops was awaiting with a sign that instructed all to take off their shoes "you're at the beach!" Kent's Floral Design had done a remarkable job transforming the historic ballroom into a tropical paradise...of course the steel drum band really helped set the stage.
There's nothing more fabulous than a lovely wedding inside a tent. (Even if the sun refuses to shine outside.)
OK, perhaps things are a bit more fabulous when you call in the Marines! (Daniel, his dad and all of his brothers have served in the Marine Corps with his youngest brother / best man, pictured below, just getting into town a few hours before the ceremony)
Not only had Kent and his staff transformed the Tiger the night before and decked out the tent that morning, when we arrived we got to see the transformation of the Country Club from its "business-formal" standard to ENCHANTED! wow!!!
[have we said "wow!" yet??]
note this garland-drenched mirror above the buffet PERFECTLY FRAMING this delicious Edith Hall cake.If there was a ledge inside or out, (see above and also below) why of course there were FLOWERS!
even flowers in daniel's neice's hair.
how sweet!Annika created some amazing ceremony images, like this one of Daniel with his dad over his shoulder (note a family resemblence?) seeing Jenny start down the aisle.That "being enveloped by family" is one of our favorite things about wedding.
could a wedding get ANY BETTER? well, yes:
(how cute is Frank La Mantia helping Daniel's nephews fully drench their marshmellows + strawberries in the melted chocolate...) BUT WAIT, W-A-I-T there's even MORE . . . . . Aaron Rose, fabulous [FWB] DJ for one, and ok, EVEN MORE... maybe pictures will be more comprehensive than words:
if haven't seen this slideshow, you have no idea what you're missing...it may load a wee bit slow (?) but it is SO WORTH the wait. PLUS you'll be hearing the uber-talented Hilary Scott. Buy her CDs...you won't be disappointed!)


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New Quito International Airport opens
The new Mariscal Sucre International airport in Quito, Ecuador, has officially opened following an inauguration by President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa. The last flight from the old airport departed at 19.07 on 19 February. Project stakeholders concluded a highly complex overnight transfer of operations to the new airport, 15km to the east of the city in just 14 hours. The new airport opened its doors and received its first aircraft at 09:07 local time on 20 February.
With two UN sustainability awards, and a brace of airport finance and structuring honours; the new airport boasts a 4.1km runway, the longest in South America. Providing direct connectivity to Quito's major export and tourism markets, the new airport will transform the export roses and provide travel connections to stunning tourist destinations such as Quito, Cotopaxi, and the Galapagos.
Mott MacDonald has acted as lenders' advisor1 on the project since 2002, providing a full range of technical, commercial services and critical risk management services.
David Beare, Mott MacDonald's principal transaction advisor, said: "This is a significant project that will leave a lasting legacy for the Ecuadorian people. The project team has overcome a number of significant risks through collaborative working in order to get the job done."
"The Municipality of Quito, the Quiport2 consortium, and the contractor have delivered a world-class airport facility that has significantly improved performance and customer service whilst addressing the municipality's primary concerns of safety and security issues associated with the old and constrained location in the centre of town."
In partnership between the municipality and the airport's international investors, this project has provided training for 7,000 Ecuadorians and delivered over $1bn of economic benefit to the local Ecuadorian economy in construction alone. It will continue to provide increased employment and inject over $200m annually into Greater Quito economy as the new facilities grow. A new water pipeline built in association with the airport now provides a reliable water supply for over 120,000 people in the communities close to the airport. These are examples of key corporate social responsibility objectives of the Canadian Government3 that underwrote the construction contract in terms of cost, quality and timely delivery.
Notes for editors:
1. The lenders for the project are OPIC, IDB, EDC and USExim.
2. Quiport shareholders comprise Aecon, CCR, ADC and HASDC.
3. Canadian Government Agency, Canadian Commercial Corporation, "CCC"
Media Enquiries:
Tom Smith
+44 (0) 20 8774 2205
Christina de Burgh-Milne
+44 (0) 20 8774 3639
Lee Lodge
+44 (0) 20 8774 2040
About Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a global management, engineering and development consultancy with more than 14,000 staff, £1 billion revenue and work in 140 countries for the public and private sectors. For 6 consecutive years the employee-owned company has featured in the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For survey. Mott MacDonald's core business sectors cover buildings, transport, energy, water, environment, health, education, industry, oil and gas, communications and international development.
More information can be found at http://www.mottmac.com/


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WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday (february 28th) that it would allow some people to receive federal subsidies for health insurance purchased in the private market outside of health insurance exchanges. The sudden shift was the latest in a series of policy changes, extensions and clarifications by federal officials trying to help beneficiaries and minimize political damage to Democrats in this election year.
Federal officials said they had agreed to provide such assistance retroactively because technical problems had prevented consumers from using online exchanges to obtain insurance and financial aid in some states.
Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon, a Democrat, had specifically asked the federal government to allow financial assistance, in the form of tax credits, for people buying insurance outside the state's troubled exchange. Other states running their own exchanges, including Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and Minnesota, have also experienced technical difficulties, creating political problems for their governors.
The Obama administration's decision came as a surprise because the Affordable Care Act is clear: Federal subsidies are available only to people who enroll in a "qualified health plan" through an exchange.
But some of the online state exchanges have not been working well enough to determine if people are eligible for coverage, one of the basic functions of an exchange. The exchanges are competitive marketplaces where consumers are supposed to be able to shop for insurance, enroll and get financial assistance to help pay premiums.
"We recognize that some states have experienced difficulties in processing automated eligibility determinations and enrollments," said Aaron K. Albright, a spokesman for the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "We released guidance providing options to marketplaces to ensure eligible consumers have access to financial assistance."
The new policy applies to people who — because of "technical issues" — were stymied in trying to buy insurance through an online exchange and signed up for a health plan outside the marketplace. They will now be allowed to sign up for coverage in the exchange and get federal subsidies "on a retroactive basis," going back to the date on which they first enrolled in a health plan outside the exchange.
Representative Joe Pitts, Republican of Pennsylvania and the chairman of the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health, expressed disbelief at the latest policy change.
"The administration is blatantly ignoring the law, paying subsidies to plans outside of exchanges," Mr. Pitts said. "The unilateral delays and changes have been rampant."
Until now, people who bought insurance outside an exchange were not eligible for subsidies.
Under the new policy, insurers may have to give refunds or credits to reimburse consumers for some of the money they spent on insurance premiums and co-payments before getting subsidies.
The subsidies can greatly reduce the cost of coverage. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that four-fifths of people buying insurance through exchanges will qualify for subsidies, with the government spending an average of $4,700 for each "subsidized enrollee" this year.
Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, said that by offering subsidies for insurance purchased outside an exchange, the Obama administration was avoiding a huge potential legal liability.
"People could have gone to court to obtain benefits denied without due process of law, because of a breakdown in government eligibility systems, and a judge would probably have ordered retroactive relief," Ms. Rosenbaum said. "The federal government is voluntarily providing equitable relief that a court would have given."
Mr. Kitzhaber thanked the administration, saying its action would "ensure that Oregonians who enrolled in health plans outside of our insurance exchange would still be able to claim tax credits that are a key benefit of the Affordable Care Act."
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Maryland's health secretary and chairman of its insurance exchange, said he was studying the new federal policy to see if it could be used in Maryland. Many "logistical details" would need to be worked out, he said.
The health law fix this week comes after the administration delayed the requirement for larger employers to offer coverage to employees; extended the deadline for people to sign up for coverage starting on Jan. 1; delayed the opening of online marketplaces for small businesses; and asked insurers to extend individual health care policies that had been canceled for not complying with the new federal law.
Source: New York Times, February 28, 2014


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Cumming, Forsyth County, From $200s-$300s Avalon Series
From $300s-$400s Brighton Series
Conservation Community (Forsyth/Cumming) Including Resort Style Pool, Clubhouse and Tennis Courts on a 12 Acre Lake!
LakeHaven is our brand new and beautiful Conservation Community located in Forsyth County strategically and pristinely surrounding a stellar 12-acre lake less than a half mile off GA 20 in Cumming.
Up to half of the LakeHaven community is comprised of green spaces, open spaces, natural areas and walking trails, along with Sharp Signature resort-style amenities (pool and tennis) overlooking the incredible community lake.
Homes will range from the high $200's to the mid $300's in our Avalon Series and mid $300's to high $400's in our Brighton Series. Exciting, new and updated floor plans with timeless and classic Sharp elevations.
Sharp Residential is proud to offer over 300 home sites with scenic views (many on the lake) located in beautiful Cumming, GA just north of Post Road on Tribble Road with immediate access to Hwy 20 and GA 400.
Visit our Sales Counselors Rebecka and Carol at our new decorated model today.
Available Homes in LakeHaven
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
Cumming GA 30028
LakeHaven Home Plans
LakeHaven features these home plans to choose from. Various options can be selected at certain stages of the buying process. Information, pricing, and available options subject to change without notice.
Please contact onsite counselor for more details.
Avalon SeriesFrom the high $200's to the mid $300's
Brighton SeriesFrom the mid $300's to the high $500's
LakeHaven Site Plan
Find Out More About LakeHaven
Sales Office Hours:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM on Saturdays
1:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Sundays
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Monday - Friday
LakeHaven3980 Tribble Rd
Cumming, GA 30028
Phone: 678-315-2551
Sales Counselor
Sales Counselor


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CALL US! (647) 367-8721 or (403) 713-0177
Regular Price:CAD$79.99
These are high quality 9004 / HB1 replacement bulbs. These bulbs are replacements for any non-factory installed HID in 9004/ HB1 headlight housings. These bulbs feature a halogen highbeam for vehicles in compliance with Canadian Daytime Running Lights on the highbeam at half wattage.
We do also carry Factory OEM replacement HID Bulbs .
Our 9004 / HB1 replacement bulbs come in 35 watt and 55 watt varieties. Please select the wattage of your current bulbs to ensure compatibility. (If unsure of current ballast specification, select our 55w backwards-compatible bulbs which also work with 35w ballasts.) We also carry these bulbs in complete 35W HID Kits and 55w HID Kits.
* Required Fields
HID Colour, DIY Installation
About Us
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Contact us
Call us: (647) 367-8721 or (403)713-0177
Copyright AbsoltuteHID 2018. All Rights Reserved. By using our site you agree to our Terms. All vehicle makes, models and images are used for identification purposes only and are trademarked by their respective owner(s).


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Join the list now to receive 10% off your first online purchase!
Breaking in Period
Our shoes are designed for total comfort. They may feel snug at first, but please allow a breaking in period to allow our foot bed to gradually compress and conform to your foot, as well as for the leather or suede upper to adapt to your foot's contours. The more you wear them, the more comfortable they get. When choosing our shearling lined styles, or if you're in between sizes, it's recommended to select one size up for an ideal fit.
Without a universal footwear size chart that is shared between all footwear brands, the best and ideal way to measure your shoe size is using a ruler that has a CM marker. Place this ruler up against a wall, place your foot on top of it while having your heel against the same wall. The CM that is shown from your longest toe, should be the most accurate sizing of your foot. Using this CM you can easily convert to the corresponding EU size.


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Friday I mentioned Anne Sullivan, the spectacular teacher who helped transform the world of Helen Keller. Anne said, "People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved." So true!
In this post I want to share some of the hidden "steps" taken by Scott Bradley, a great servant in the life of Spanish River Church. Scott and Diane, who came to SRC in 2002 when their daughter Sky was an infant, are moving to Seattle to be near family in this season of their lives.
The entire Bradley family serves Christ, but I wanted to highlight Scott's involvement today. I asked Scott to share his story with me. Here is some of what he said:
We moved to Florida in July, 2002, when Sky was two weeks old. I had retired from my career to be a stay-at-home dad and was looking for a church home where I could continue to serve His children while shepherding my family. We found SRC in August, and moved into the community the next July.
Diane and I both worked in the nursery after a few weeks. Later, I began to teach third grade Sunday School weekly--and have continued to do so for 12 consecutive years (this is my 34th year overall). I have also taught in R.A.P. briefly, and am frequently the large group lesson teacher. I am sad that Memorial weekend will be my last message.
During the first few years of teaching Sunday School, I observed that the system that Children's Ministry used to track attendance was inadequate and volunteered to update it. It took hundreds of evening hours over a couple of years, but we built a database that served their needs for many years. It is still used for some functions today.
I was nominated to be a deacon and served in that capacity. During that time I rewrote the deacon database from an electronic card file to a full featured benevolence system, including counselor reimbursement. I updated the deacon handbook and, as chair the third year, I made several changes that I believe continue today. I met some life-long friends through the diaconate, and got involved with some in a men's group, which I have led faithfully for seven or eight years.
When Sky was three and we registered her for school, I volunteered to serve one day a week. I was thinking of assisting a third grade math or computer teacher. Instead, I was asked to assist in a middle school robotics elective. We started a competitive robotics team and I am completing my tenth season as a co-coach. We have taken our teams to State nine times. Our team members are taught to boldly profess their faith in a context that generally frowns on religion. The few years we were allowed to host a qualifying tournament brought 100 students and 300 spectators onto our campus to witness a place that makes faith relevant. I love it.
By Sky's second year at SRCS, I became aware that many kids did not have prayer support at home. Prayer is very visible in every classroom, but not in every home. There was a group of four or five moms that met regularly to pray for the students; the vision God gave me was that we pray with the students and model prayer. We now have over 100 parents praying in the classroom each month, regular drop in prayer, and monthly prayer coffee with a devotion led by school leadership. I guided SRCS to our first Prayer Walk and See You At The Pole a few years ago. This year the number of students praying around the flag was huge, and the number of parents joining their kids for the Prayer Walk amazing.
Scott, Diane, and Sky have also taken an annual family mission trip to Nicaragua where Diane volunteers her medical expertise and Scott, Sky and others serve in a variety of ways. As he relayed his story, Scott told me,
One of the reasons Paul tells the Thessalonian Christians "to esteem them very highly in love because of their work," is because of the way the servants of Christ labored among them. Paul knew that those servants, like Anne Sullivan, like Scott, often labored unnoticed, or better, noticed only by God. There was a time to give public recognition.
I am incredibly grateful for and to Scott, Diane, and Sky. I appreciate their "labors of love" and their constant servant spirit. I also appreciate how they stand as great representatives of a church full of servants; each one so much more than "just a volunteer."
As I reflect on Scott's story, here a few lessons I've learned:
- Remember why we serve: God has been good to us.
Scott told me, "I was convicted of my sinfulness and led to the Lord at 27 ... and immediately felt called to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so they could know Him their whole life."
- Take inventory of how God has equipped you to serve.
"God has uniquely prepared me for every ministry in which he has called me to serve," Scott said. Indeed, God has gifted each of us to serve (1 Peter 4:10). It only makes sense that we take inventory of our gifts and experiences in order to serve Him better.
- You don't need a license to serve.
It was just a matter of weeks before Scott and Diane began to serve. That action is a great reminder that we don't need a license, specialized training, or years of experience to volunteer. There are many places to get started. Click here to discover some of them at SRC.
- Say "Yes" to opportunities to serve.
Scott said, "I have learned not to seek opportunities but trust him to bring service opportunities to me. I almost always say 'yes' and He provides the time and resources. I lack nothing because I've given mine away." We can serve resting in the fact that God knows us and will provide for us as we do what he calls us to do.
Thanks Scott. Thanks for your faithful service. God's church is better and we are grateful. You're a living embodiment of God's words through Peter.
Today we will be recognizing and celebrating all those who serve at Spanish River. Volunteer Appreciation Sunday is our opportunity to say Thanks and to "esteem highly" the hundreds of people at SRC who use the best of their time, talents, and treasures to honor Christ by serving others. Each one is so much more than "just a volunteer." Join us for one service at 10:45 a.m. It is going to be fantastic! Click here for more details.


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Most investor pitches I see claim year 5 revenues of $50m to $100m, so putting in just that piece of information is not going to convince investors, you just sound like everyone else. What you need to make believable is why you are going to hit that target. Showing an incredibly complicated Excel model ("look, we did our homework") is not going to get you there either. So the top line number is not convincing, nor is the detailed model, what works? The napkin.
When a modeling economics, I usually go brought a cycle. Start with a very simple calculation that gets to a ballpark answer, and is easy to follow and verify. Then, go I to incredible detail in an Excel model, understanding why I do, or do not get close to my initial ballpark. After the rock solid model is finished and bug free, it is time to simplify down to the level, of that very first ballpark number.
Simplification is not simple. You need to pick which drivers of your business are the most important, you need to decide which factors to show, which ones to hide. Your challenge is to stay close to values that are linked to everyday reality, not accounting. Messages per user per month, price per message instead of $m depreciation.
With all this preparation, you are now able to let your potential investor write her own ballpark or napkin calculation of the company's potential. You provide her with the basic framework, what are the 6 numbers you need to multiply in order to get to your $75m in year 5. She might not agree with all the numbers, but you gave her a framework to which to apply her own estimates. Getting the point estimate right is not important, agreeing on the order of magnitude, and the way how to get there, is.
There is also psychology involved here. Your numbers are likely to be outrageous, but can you defend them using more or less realistic inputs? Are you open to input and change your calculation? Again, discussing the financials is another way to figure you out as a CEO. Are you a sane person to work with on a day–to–day basis?
Everyone understands that you basically made up the numbers for your business forecast and their credibility might not be as high as an investment analyst forecasting next quarter's earnings of IBM. Still there is something that will completely kill the credibility of your analysis: lack of consistency.
If you use 2 different sales numbers on 2 different pages it is a red flag that you might not be on top of your material. Even if the footnote says that the number on page 34 includes VAT and the number on page 22 does not.
Calculation errors are the same, if an investor starts checking your math on every page in the presentation, she will not be paying attention to what you have to say. When the final version of the presentation is ready, take out the calculator and check every page carefully, even if you copied data straight from Excel. Look for typos, or funny rounding errors and correct them manually.
You probably noticed that we have not discussed data from market research agencies to support your financial forecast. I consider them a data point, but not the most important input for your business plan. Almost all markets discussed by IDC or Gartner are a $billion, and most of the time have a far too broad scope for a new startup. There is one useful thing about these forecasts though, they provide a good categorization for technology markets. So now you can say "where a in the so and so business". On the other hand, I have seen startups that had great difficulty explaining what they do because a VC could not put them in an IDC box.
So in short, explain your business' economics in a simple human language.


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|Happy Father's Day to us :-)
|...and to us :-)
No really, I tend to go underground around Father's Day. One of those holidays that makes me all envious and weepy and all around bitey. My father had amazing potential but it all got lost underneath the crushing heaviness of addiction. My father memories are chock full of broken promises and empty bottles. My stepfather actually told me the week after he married my mother that he didn't want another kid and had no intention of taking on the father role. Looking back, I was Timesboy's age at the time, and I can see with a wide-eyed clarity how crushing that was to a kid. Quite sure when I open that Pandora's box someday in therapy, there will not be enough kleenex boxes to mop up the tears.
And then I watch my kids struggle with navigating the challenges of their relationship with he-who-must-not-be-named. Heartbreaking, but nothing I can do. All I can do is love em, and have faith that they are stronger than the hurt. They have fifty percent of my DNA, so I have strong faith in this.
That being said, I should not have gone underground on Father's Day. I probably also should not have told the grocery store manager that I hate Father's Day and to suck it when he kept talking about Father's Day as I bought my berries and milk. I should not have gone underground. I should have praised the single mamas who wear two hats, being mom and dad every day. I should have taken the day to be thankful for all of the fathers out there who are doing their job. I should have lifted up the men who step into the daddy shoes when the biological daddies fail to. I should have given love to the ones who pay the bills for kids who aren't theirs, even as the 'real' daddies cry broke when they aren't. I should have given kudos to the family friends who step up, the uncles and the male figures who act as dads when they are not. These guys, the ones who don't have to show up, they are the ones that I should have been concentrating on. My kids are surrounded by men who step up to the plate every day, and I hope they are soaking in the love and the lessons from these men. These guys deserve the cards and the ties and the six-packs of beer. Every day, not just Father's Day.
Happy Late Father's Day to all of the good ones. Peace and love and microbrews and bad ties. XOXO


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Product Description
Video about Perfect Exposure
Michael explains why you need to read this book.
Perfect Exposure
Exposure is the deceptively simple concept at the very heart of photography. It has always been a subject of fascination to aspiring amateurs and professional photographers alike. Recent developments in digital technology have transformed the ways in which exposures can be manipulated, and this in turn has forced photographers to think about what they can achieve by understanding the variables of aperture, ISO and time.
In Perfect Exposure Michael Freeman takes you through this difficult and fast moving area with a lucid and accessible method, using unique workflow illustrations, histograms and clear, visual examples to explore the subject and enable you to shoot with confidence.
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The Benefits of Babywearing
Social conditioning has led parents to believe that if a baby is held or carried frequently they will be spoiled, clingy or demanding
Modern research and ancient tradition reveals the opposite!
Babies worn in slings are less clingy and tend to initiate separation much earlier than babies less frequently held. The close proximity of the baby enables parents to respond to 'non-crying' signals, which results in less frustration and stress so much less crying – 40 to 50% less compared to unworn babies!
Babywearing calms the fussiest of babies whether due to a higher-needs personality, aiding good digestion by easing the symptoms of colic and reflux, and promoting better and deeper sleep.
Babywearing promotes an intimate connection between parent and baby.
Babywearing allows parents the freedom to go about their normal daily routine while allowing their child to be at the center of activity instead of the center of attention, providing the physical and psychological benefits of a sense of security, emotional contentment, and the building of a solid sense of self-esteem.
Babywearing is an amazing tool to give all the support to your baby's optimal MEPS development and it has several benefits for mothers as well.
What is MEPS?
It is the acronym of Mental – Emotional – Physical – Social Development.
(more details coming soon on this)
For even more information, please read:
The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff. Reading, Mass.: Addison Wesley, 1985.Creative Parenting by William Sears, M.D. Montreal: Optimum Publishing International, 1992.
Mothering and Fathering by Tine Thevenin. Garden City Park, New York: Avery Publishing Group, Inc., 1993.
Hunziker, U. A. and Barr, R, G. (1986). Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 77, 641-8.
Anisfeld, E., Casper, V., Noyzce, M. and Cunningham, N. (1990). Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Development, 61, 1617-1627.
Babywearing – The Benefits and the Beauty of this Ancient Tradition
by Maria Blois, M.D.; Hale Publishing L.P. 1712 N Forest St. Amarillo, TX 79106-7017


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- Gentleman (PSY)
- Somebody (15&)
If this is your first time seeing Ga-In (the girl in Psy's video), she is part of the Brown Eyed Girls and most of the dance is from Abracadabra. Check out their other music videos because they are awesomesauce.
Gentleman (PSY)
Ugh. I had high hopes for Psy and was really hoping the MV for Gentleman wouldn't fulfill expectations that he's a 'one trick pony' but nope.
Yes, I'm going to compare it to Gangnam Style because it was made to be GS 2.0, with the hopes of replicating GS's success. You can't possibly ignore the context when critiquing the decisions of the producers and concept people. I think there were better extensions of Psy's image and better ways to keep the hype of his name going. There were also better qualities of GS that contributed to its viral quality that they could've used.
Honestly? The MV was just alright. The tone was a huge 180 from Psy's playful, effortless image in GS and the satire (I hope it's satire) was not thought through or executed very well (there was maybe 10% material that called attention to the fact it was ironic and 90% was not).
People not watching carefully for the irony (which is most people) can very easily read the MV as 'Psy being a hip-thrusting asshole' and that is not good for image management.
- The song structure imitates GS too closely, especially the climax =_= and I have no idea what Psy's trying to get at with the lyrics either. All of Psy's previous releases tended to have some sort of message or irony where the lyrics contrasted with the MV, but this one feels more like he just decided to insert as much (hashtag) 'swag' as possible and most of it was him straight-lacedly demonstrating the obnoxiousness of the lyrics
- Groan at the Gangnam Style references. We get it. It's really not helping his case against allegations of 'one trick pony' (a song more along the lines of Right Now would be amazing in progressing GS's playful, 'be ridiculous!' vibe but also standing as its own song)
- I was pretty disappointed they basically chose to recycle the Abracadabra dance + poor man's horse dance. Abracadabra had already been done three years ago...I'm sad it'll probably be associated more with Gentleman by international audiences than the original song. The movements are also hard to replicate for the public (how do they keep hip thrusting when turning?) and a key factor in GS's success was that everyone could do the dance. Nevertheless, hopefully this means more international attention on Ga-In and the Brown Eyed Girls because they are awesome and they make really good music videos.
- I love anything featuring Yoo Jae Suk and Hongchul's hipthrusting though, not even gonna lie. The first group dance scene was great (Haha is killing it!) and there were a couple of great dance moments
- I liked the opening with Psy just randomly Abracadabra-ing in the formal clothes shop with that repetitive beat. It gets too much for the entire song, but the opening and the utter contrast between the formality of the old man with the goatee and Psy being...Psy was nicely done
- Most of the humour in this video just doesn't appeal to me, especially the ones aimed towards all the women - it's juvenile, gross at points and at the expense of other people, without a lot of the surreal, upbeat ridiculousness of GS to smooth things over. The satire, this time around, was more cynical and with a bit more 'bite', but I don't think it was executed thoroughly enough so it came across more as a gratuitous opportunity to act rudely. I get that some people might find it amusing but my reaction was more ಠ_ಠ???? than anything
- Ga-In kind of saved the video? She really wasn't utilised very well, but she owns all the scenes she appears in (that smize). I really REALLY hope she'll get a Hyuna-ish spin-off called 'Lady' or something where she gets back at Psy and the other guys with all the humiliated girls. I would watch the heck out of that
Somebody (15&)
I actually like this a lot - it's funky, playful with a touch of retro that instantly marks it as a JYP release. It wasn't as artistic as Lee Hi's Rose (which was stunning and a great progression for her image - did YG's good concept artists all get tied up working on this instead of Psy's?) but it was a great MV to cement the style of the duo.
- Of course JYP would be in the MV. Then again, would he be JYP if he didn't? This was kind of cute though, in a...weird way.
- It's a coherent concept, though shamelessly pandering to K-Pop Star audiences. There's still a disconnect between the lyrics (about love) and the concept of the music video though. Unless they all fell in love with the girl in the white suit which...hey, why not? But yeah, not sure if that's the message they wanted to impart through the song
- I like most of the styling, especially the black, white and yellow outfits. It was a smart choice to go with bold prints and bright colours. I'm not sure the SUPER COLOURFUL sets (especially the 'audition' set with the random green and orange stripes) were the best idea though because they detracted from the outfits of the performers
- I love the way the two girls' voices work together. Warm and full, but not too mature-sounding. Great sound.


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Doug Keller Yoga Teacher Training & Workshops
November 2015 at Dragonfly Yoga
Click Here > To Sign Up
Doug Keller trains yoga teachers world-wide, setting forth a new paradigm for training, particularly in the area of therapeutics and healing. Doug offers solid teaching and insight into the anatomy and workings of the human body in relation to yoga, and into the possibilities for healing through yoga. Dragonfly Yoga is honored to host Doug for special teacher training workshop and classes
Doug Keller Yoga Training Retreat
November 6 - 8
Open to the public and all styles of yoga teaching and teacher training
- 1p – 5p Scoliosis Workshop
- 7p – 9 Philosophy: the roots of the classical tradition of yoga — from the Upanishads to the Bhagavad-Gita
- 9a – 12n: the Bhagavad-Gita vs Patanjali: the question of the yogi in community, and the yogi seeking aloneness
- 2p – 5p: the Hatha Yoga tradition: a reformed tantric approach to life and practice
- 9a – 12n: Tantra and the Contemporary Evolution of Yoga
Classical Tradition:
Through lecture and discussion, which will make use of presentation slides, I will present the key ideas that have played a formative role in the evolving yoga tradition, from the Upanishads onward. They will be set in the context of each historical period and its interests, with primary emphasis on seminal ideas from the Upanishads as well as the Bhagavad-Gita and more accurate context for Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. But the main emphasis will be on the contributions of the hatha yoga and tantra traditions, and their relevance to how we practice today. Included will be a consideration of the evolution of Modern Yoga, from the 19th century onward. This will not simply be an historical presentation: we will be contemplating the role and relevance of these inspirations in our own practice and life.
What are the learning objectives of the class?
A grasp of and ability to verbalize and discuss the primary ideas of the yoga tradition, as well as a clear grasp of their historical context and original meaning and relevance to the concerns of the time in which they arose. This includes a grasp of the concepts and goals of yoga practice, including those of the Modern era. Overall, we will seek a grasp of the richness and variety of the tradition(s) of yoga, from which we can draw inspiration for our own practice.
New Light on the Hatha Yoga Tradition
The hatha yoga tradition — and its connections to the Kashmir Shaivism and Sri Vidya traditions of tantra — introduced a startlingly new perspective on yoga, contrasting with the purely meditation-based yoga(s) that preceded it. Recent scholarship (beyond just exploration of the recent European roots of asana practice) has shed new light on the richness of this tradition, which has been glossed over for centuries because of negative perceptions of its practitioners.
We will explore the confluence of two rivers in the tradition — the outer discipline-oriented 'munis' whose long tradition of physical asana was incorporated into the yoga, and the inner-oriented 'nathas' (from Gorakshanatha, the founder) onward, whose reform of the tantra of the time brought laya yoga as well as emerging concepts such as the granthis and chakras into the mix. How this relationship is expressed in the main texts (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita) will be explored, as well as the role of the earlier texts in setting up the new paradigm. This relationship concerns how 'hatha' and 'laya' (and other forms of practice) are brought together in relation to 'raja' yoga, and what practices these entail. We will also look at how hatha yoga changes over the centuries from a purely tantric practice to a Vedantic perspective — and what that came to mean in practice.
This discussion promises to be enlightening and inspiring, as well as equipping one to better discuss the roots of yoga as we practice it — particularly in relation to modern debates of the Hindu 'ownership' of yoga as rooted in the Vedas. We will look at how many of the terms and concepts of hatha yoga were appropriated in the last couple of centuries, while the 'tantric' and physical aspects of the practice were denigrated in favor of Patanjali Yoga; and how the very concept of 'Raja' yoga was transformed to suit modern prejudices.
The end result of the historical process is a lot of confusion for modern practitioners — a confusion that we can now begin to untangle. There is much within hatha yoga to be explored from a contemporary perspective on body, mind and emotion which is just waiting to be unfolded!
Those interested in attending can sign up for the full teacher training, the full weekend, or individual sessions for the weekend.
Click Here > To Sign Up
Doug Keller Bio:
Doug Keller, ERYT500
I came to teach hatha yoga by way of the yoga of meditation and years of academic study of philosophy, both eastern and western. In my studies of philosophy at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown and in my graduate work at Fordham University, I gravitated toward the senior Jesuit scholars whose excellence, openminded intellectual zeal, spiritual fervor and personal integrity inspired me to dig deeply into my own studies, particularly of the classical philosophers and Christian mystics, and treat them as a personal journey of discovery.
As I completed my coursework for my PhD and taught at several colleges, I was increasingly aware that I was looking for more than philosophical ideas and systems — I was looking for the experience itself that the mystics were talking about.
At the time I was finishing my coursework, I met the meditation master Swami Muktananda during his last tour of the west, and he gave me the connection, the practice, the awakening and the understanding I was seeking. With that, it was up to me to step through the door he had opened, not through concepts and theories, but through yoga.
I halted my academic career just short of writing my thesis, and went to India in 1986 to practice yoga at his ashram and to offer my service. I spent a total of 7 years in the Ganeshpuri ashram, Gurudev Siddha Peeth, and 14 years of service overall in Siddha Yoga ashrams in the US and abroad, studying and practicing yoga, working in the kitchen and gardens, and teaching hatha yoga.
It was during my time in Ganeshpuri that I met John Friend while he was yet an Iyengar teacher who had come to study in Pune. We struck up a friendship and I was able to practice with him when I came back to the states, study further with him, and assist in his classes, workshops and trainings for the next few years.
The time of my growth in the practice of hatha yoga was divided between individual practice at the ashram in India, and opportunities to study with teachers and expand during time spent at the ashram in New York state. There I was able to study with other teachers and in a number of styles — but principally with Kevin Gardiner, who is a certified senior level Iyengar teacher.
Kevin was the most influential to me in my growth, because of his deep insight into anatomy and physiology, his facility with precise instruction and demonstration, and the integrity with which he stays true to his chosen tradition, exploring its depth while exercising his own very individual and discriminating intellect, manifesting the heart of a yogi in his practice and teaching.
Yet because my own path was more closely tied to Siddha Yoga at the time, I was more deeply involved in the development of the Anusara system. John Friend shared with me the evolution of his thinking based principally upon the alignment teachings of the Iyengar system, and his synthesis of those teachings eventually manifested as the Anusara style of yoga he founded in 1997.
I was one of the first teachers certified as an Anusara teacher by John Friend, and taught in the Anusara style for over 7 years. At his suggestion, early on I wrote Anusara Yoga: Hatha Yoga in the Anusara Style, and continued to develop that book until Mr. Friend chose to consolidate his authority over the system and discouraged its further use among teachers seeking certification in his style.
Eventually I was forced to give up my certification in that style, which freed me to further deepen my study and understanding of the therapeutic aspects of yoga as well as well as explore the yoga tradition as a whole outside of the confines of the Anusara system.
In addition to teaching the postural practice of hatha yoga as well as pranayama and meditation, I have chosen as my focus the realm of Yoga as Therapy, which is an evolving field that promises to be a vital part of the future of yoga.
The expansion of yoga beyond the practices taught in more ancient times is, to me, an expression of the freedom at the heart of yoga and of consciousness itself. This freedom was described in tantric philosophy as not simply 'liberation' or 'moksha,' but 'Swatantrya' — the freedom of Consciousness to expand and create through its own inspiration. Yoga as an expression of this is not bound to antiquity, but inherently contains the inspiration to evolve for the sake of the good.
I found the essence of this inspiration to be expressed by Swami Muktananda, who first initiated my journey into yoga: 'God dwells within you, as you, for you. See God in yourself and in each other.' All knowledge and experience is illuminated by that presence and source of inspiration.
I choose the word 'Swatantrya,' the yoga of one's own inner expansion and awakening, not to establish yet another 'style' of yoga, but to express the essence and character of what yoga promises to be.
Yoga concerns our own relationship to the Self from whom we came. It is deeply personal, experiential, and ultimately unmediated by any system of conceptual thought. The teachings of yoga simply provide us with the introduction to our own Self.
Philosophy provides the contemplation and focus that help us to aim more deeply into the experience.
In the end, the 'breakthrough' we experience is what the Christian mystic Meister Eckhart described as the breakthrough into our own heart, where the Divine most fully dwells. This is the teaching I want to share, along with the practices and means offered by yoga to support that inward journey.
I travel nationally and internationally offering workshops and teacher trainings. I've traveled from one end of the United States to the other, and my international travels have included teacher trainings in Europe as well as Asia. My home base is at the Health Advantage Yoga Center in Herndon, Virginia, near Dulles outside of Washington D.C., where I teach upper level classes.