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The Cobweb Bride Kickstarter
The short version: Cobweb Bride is a novel that must be written. You've been waiting for it for a long time. I'm out of time and resources (and I am being eaten by hungry cats). Now, with Kickstarter and your help, I will finish the book, and publish it myself in beautiful hardcover, paperback and ebook editions—all designed and created entirely by me. You will get to read it, and you will get rare or unique (one-of-a-kind) wonderful swag (while I will buy cat food). Everybody will be happy! For the amazing details, continue reading the full story…
Hello, friends! I am Vera Nazarian, writer, artist, creator of wonder.
You might know me as the author of the humorous mash-up parody Mansfield Park and Mummies, the first novel of my Supernatural Jane Austen Series. Or maybe you've run into one of my inspirational quotes that are all over the internet, originally posted on my creativity blog Inspired.Us and recently collected in The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration.
Maybe you're a fan of my arabesque "collage" novel Dreams of the Compass Rose, or the cult classic epic fantasy Lords of Rainbow about an unrequited love in a world without color (yes, it's the original "fifty shades of grey," literally).
Yet again, you might remember me for the strange mythic stories in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress anthologies. Or possibly, you've read my snarky pop culture essays on various TV shows and entertainment subjects such as True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, and Charmed, in various Smart Pop anthologies.
It doesn't matter! We've probably "met" already, in one way or another. Now, let me share my project with you.
The Project—Cobweb Bride
Many are called... She alone can save the world, and become Death's Bride.
A few years ago, I started work on a major new dark fantasy project—Cobweb Bride, the first book of Death's Cobwebs.
The premise—what if death suddenly stopped all around the world, and people and all living things continued being conscious and "alive," in pain and in denial, suspended in a strange undead state, even if they were mortally wounded?
What if you killed someone and then fell in love with them?
COBWEB BRIDE (Death's Cobwebs, Book One) is a history-flavored fantasy novel with romantic elements of the Persephone myth, about Death's ultimatum to the world.
In an alternate Renaissance world, somewhere in an imaginary "pocket" of Europe called the Kingdom of Lethe, Death comes, in the form of a grim Spaniard, to claim his Bride. Until she is found, in a single time-stopping moment all dying stops. There is no relief for the mortally wounded and the terminally ill…
While kings and emperors send expeditions to search for a suitable Bride for Death, armies of the undead wage an endless war… A black knight roams the forest at the command of his undead father… Spies and political treacheries abound at the imperial Silver Court…. Murdered lovers find themselves locked in the realm of the living…
And one small village girl, Percy—an unwanted, ungainly middle daughter—is faced with the responsibility of granting her dying grandmother the desperate release she needs.
As a result, Percy joins the crowds of other young women of the land in a desperate quest to Death's own mysterious holding in the deepest forests of the North…
And everyone is trying to stop her.
* * *
When I began writing this book, I already had several novels and numerous shorter works in print; was nominated for the Nebula Award twice and translated into eight languages.
Things were going great with Cobweb Bride. However, at around the halfway point, somewhere near 60,000 words, I had to stop writing the book.
You see, my life had suddenly become a Series of Unfortunate Events.
And I mean Unfortunate Events that would put Lemony Snicket to shame and give the Biblical Job a run for his shekels. Things like foreclosure and loss of home, bankruptcy, auto accident, business losses, death in the family, cancer, a cross-country move from the West Coast to the East, passing of several beloved companion animals, and my own recent major surgery while uninsured. All of this rained on my head like the plagues of Egypt. And all of it happened over the course of the last six years, just as the economy crashed.
Now, I'm no special snowflake. I continued working hard, as things fell apart around me. But it was impossible to work on the longer, more intricate projects such as this one, on spec (without getting paid upfront), and the bills were piling up.
And so, regretfully, I allowed Cobweb Bride to gather even more unintended cobwebs. I set it aside to do other publishing work, to write shorter books with faster or more reliable payouts, to write stories, essays, articles. I also published other people's books through my own independent small press Norilana Books, and put my own work on the backburner.
But now, I am ready to resume the project of my heart—with your generous help.
Why No Video Intro?
Two very good reasons:
1) My antiquated computer equipment is falling apart.
2) I am still not quite up to it, after last month's major surgery and complications.
Besides, do you really need to see yet another hapless writer speaking with a quivering voice and staring into a somewhat grainy laptop webcam, while attempting to hold up her books and your prize swag for show and tell, inadvertently dropping books on top of cats, bending down to pick books up but somehow lifting cats instead, dropping said cats on top of other books, bending down again to crawl under desk and chair, and as the whole thing comes crashing down, finding herself on the floor, tangled in wires and ignominy… Ahem! Squint your eyes, and there you have it, you've "seen" the video.
But—if you really must hear my voice, why not listen to it here, lifted in song?
Why Kickstarter?
With your help, Kickstarter will pay for every part of the book creation and production process, and the physical materials, goods, and services required for its completion.
It will pay for all the steps of book production, including:
- Editing.
- Copyediting / proofreading.
- Special formatting for various paper and e-book editions.
- Interior text layout and design.
- Cover art final design.
- Short run printing of Advance Reading Copies (ARCs).
- Packing and shipping of ARC review copies to the major trades.
- Lightning Source printer setup fees.
- Lightning Source annual catalog fee.
- Global distribution to the US, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia.
- ISBNs for all three editions.
- Bowker Books-In-Print listing.
- US Library of Congress Copyright Registration.
- Promotional expenses such as paid ads.
- Any other incurred expenses.
It will also pay for the cost of goods and materials that comprise your gifts and prizes—the exclusive swag and merchandize—and its packaging and shipping to you (domestic and international), in gratitude for your support.
What You Get—the Swag and Hot Prizes
Below are just some of the reward items that will be offered to you at various levels of participation.
(Note: in case you simply want to make a pure donation, you can decline any and all rewards for every reward level of donation—don't worry, you are not stuck with gifts you don't want...)
- Mentions and heartfelt acknowledgements, on the Cobweb Bride website, and inside the book itself, in all its editions.
- Ebooks galore—in various formats—of all my other books, including:
- Lords of Rainbow
- Dreams of the Compass Rose
- Salt of the Air, with introduction by Gene Wolfe
- The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration
- The Clock King and the Queen of the Hourglass
- Mayhem at Grant-Williams High (YA)
- The Duke in His Castle
- After the Sundial
- Mansfield Park and Mummies
- Northanger Abbey and Angels and Dragons
- Pride and Platypus
- Rare, limited edition buttons.
- Rare, limited edition pencils, including one very special signed hand-made pencil.
- Autographed trade hardcover and trade paperback editions of Cobweb Bride when it comes out.
- Autographed trade paperback and hardcover editions of my various other books.
- Extremely rare, autographed, gold-seal embossed, first edition hardcovers of my other novels.
- Glossy fine printer cardstock limited edition collector greeting cards with the full color reproduction of my original oil painting "Pegasus," signed on the back by me. Did I mention I am an award-winning artist?
- "The Midnight Fountain" — an original one-of-a-kind oil painting by me, on special 16" x 20" oval canvas. This one is a collector's dream.
- Other very special items to be announced if we exceed our goal!
What Comes Next?
Should this Kickstarter reach my goal, I will proceed to write the book, aiming for a January 31, 2013 completion deadline.
Then comes the week cool-off period, followed by editing, proofreading, interior text layout, final art and cover design and layout, and other details of book production, including PDF file distillation, file upload, book setup at the printer, ISBN and standard registration with Bowker Books-in-Print, the Library of Congress Copyright Registration, dedicated website updates, and the short-run edition printing of Advance Reading Copies (ARCs) for major trades.
My goal is to have the book available for sale in trade hardcover, trade paperback, and multi-format ebook editions by July, 2013, from Norilana Books.
I want to point out an interesting tidbit—I am one of a very small number of individuals in this industry who can single-handedly perform every step of the book production process. As an experienced writer and editor, I can process text at a professional level. As an award-wining artist, I have created hundreds of professional book covers for Norilana Books and others, some of which have been reprinted in other sources and even used as TV show props by the BBC. As a high tech professional (my day job for the previous two decades), I handle all the computer and technical aspects of file manipulation, production, website work and even promotion and marketing.
And in the happy event that this Kickstarter exceeds the $5,000 goal, I am going to extend the original project goal to the writing of book two (tentative title, Cobweb Empire) and even—with your continued amazing help—book three of the trilogy (tentative title, Cobweb Forest). And, if it goes even better, then I might even upgrade my business software, get an ergonomic work chair, and maybe upgrade some of my PC equipment so that next time there will be a video (with cats).
But it all depends on YOUR incredible and unrelenting support!
And when it comes down to it (although every dollar helps) if you simply help out by spreading the word about this project, you will make a wonderful true difference!
With all my heart... thank you!
Q: Isn't this the premise of Torchwood: Miracle Day?
A: Yes and no. I am pretty certain mine came first, before T:MD was aired, filmed, or even conceived. Also, mine is a historical-flavored fantasy, set in a world reminiscent of 17th century Europe, as opposed to contemporary science fiction. Finally, since ideas are not copyrighted, it's the execution that matters. Besides, stories of and variations on "death taking a holiday" go way back. Cobweb Bride is simply my personal take on a classic trope.
Q: Are those cats really eating you alive?
A: Yes.
Funding period
- (30 days)


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About Brotherhood
broth•er•hood (bruth/r/hood) n.
1. the condition or quality of being a brother or brothers.
2. the quality of being brotherly, fellowship.
3. all those engaged in or sharing a common interest or quality.
4. the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality
toward one another regardless of differences.
Brotherhood's primary focus lies in three areas – supporting religious events, assisting Social Action initiatives, and planning events that promote fun and fellowship among our members.
Many of the ushers at Saturday morning services, at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and at High Holy Day services are Brotherhood members. They volunteer their time to ensure that these religious events go smoothly. In addition, we conduct an annual Brotherhood Shabbat service each May. The service highlights the role of males in the Jewish family.
We are also a proud member of the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB), which allows us to financially support religious and social action activities regionally, nationally, and internationally. One NFTB program of note donates books about Judaism to colleges and provides campus speakers who lecture on Judaism – an extremely important activity on campuses where there are no, or very few, Jewish students or faculty members. Every month, Brotherhood provides tzedakah to a worthy organization or individual.
We are planning a broad range of activities designed to appeal to not only Brotherhood members but the entire family. We believe we have a terrific lineup of programs, in which we know you will want to participate. We welcome all men of Temple Jeremiah to support Brotherhood and participate in our activities. We hope to make Brotherhood better than ever. We appreciate your support.
– John Maeglin
Past Brotherhood President
Brotherhood provides a unique opportunity for the men of Temple Jeremiah to express and fulfill their social and service-oriented goals. To get more involved contact Bruce Zimmerman, Brotherhood President, at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Ernie Bloch Memorial Tzedakah Fund
Brotherhood has established a collection fund in memory of long-time member Ernie Bloch. Your generous donations to the Ernie Bloch Tzedakah Box in the temple lobby go to a variety of worthwhile organizations.
The next time you are at temple, please give generously to the Ernie Bloch Tzedakah Box in the lobby. Dedicated to the memory of long-time congregant Ernie Bloch and his lifetime commitment to tzedakah. The box provides donations to an array of charitable causes.
As noted on the box, "…do what is just and right in the land." – Jeremiah 33:15

subset: commoncrawl


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If You Are a Foodie, You'll Love This History of Ginger – Just Don't Ask Where it Came From
by AW Thomas Jr.
Next to the King of Spices, Black Pepper, Ginger is perhaps the most frequently used, widest spread and overall most successful of all the spices.
Interestingly, for such a common food, we have no idea where it actually originated.
Black pepper was first discovered, and is still grown, in the mountains of Southern India. Cloves are claimed by the Spice Islands and Zanzibar. But no one knows where exactly ginger first appeared.
Farmers Have Become Ginger's "Wing Man"
Wild ginger, as it might have been found by some lucky caveman or woman – or maybe a Neanderthal – tending their small plot of veggies, no longer exists. It has been grown by humans for so long that it no longer produces seeds and has become totally dependent upon man to continue.
By the way, corn is another plant that is in a similar situation. It totally depends upon man to open its seed pods (the ears) and spread the seeds. If man stopped shucking and shelling the kernels, it has been estimated that corn would be extinct inside of three years.
Ginger is propagated by splitting the root. This is the reason that it is so hard to determine exactly where it started from.
Historic Evidence in Languages
Six thousand years ago the Austronesians, who lived around the area that is today Southern China, migrated westward. Eventually, over several thousand years, they populated vast areas all around the Indian Ocean as far south as Madagascar.
Through "linguistic detective work," we know that this movement took place and we also know that one of the things they took with them on the journey was ginger. The word "ginger" is remarkably similar in the many languages of the lands around the crescent bordering the Indian Ocean.
The Spice of the Common Person
Part of what made ginger so widespread was the fact that it never became a superstar in the spice world.
While the holds of the early Arab and later European trading ships would be full of black pepper or cloves, up top the sailors would have ginger growing in wooden troughs for their own use.
Ginger was, and still is, eaten to aid indigestion, help circulation and prevent scurvy. It also just tastes good – something a sailor on a years-long sea voyage would especially appreciate.
Naturally, as some of them decided to leave the ship and settle in these foreign lands, they took their ginger with them. And unlike many spices, ginger will grow almost anywhere.
And it has.
I hope you enjoyed those facts. I am AW Thomas. I'm a chef. And I love hot foods and spicy cooking.
If you do too, check out my new website all about Kitchen Spice Racks and the way cool Magnetic Spice Rack.
There is more to them than you think and choosing the right design for your kitchen and your style of cooking can turn a dreaded task into a daily pleasure.
Okay, maybe that's a bit much – but really, what do you expect from someone who just wrote about the history of ginger?
Visit http://kitchenspicerack.org/, won't you.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=AW_Thomas_Jr.


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The entire Moms For Marijuana Board of Directors resigned in protest of both Serra Frank's refusal to turn over financial records requested by the board, and Shuman's subsequent takeover after taking Frank under her financial wing. Moms For Marijuana's Lindsey Rinehart, in November, announced on these pages that "I Will No Longer Be Silent About Cheryl Shuman," and then Moms For Marijuana Assistant Executive Director Candace R. Junkin in December told her story of what happened, also right here on the pages of Toke Signals.
Despite repeated claims during the midst of brouhaha which followed Shuman's power play — through which she used the weak link in the chain, Moms founder Serra Frank, as a means of seizing control of the organization — Cheryl insisted that she was "only helping Serra" by providing financial assistance and advice. She denied she had any designs on "taking over" the organization, and a few poor credulous souls might even have bought it.
But the inevitable word finally came down in a Friday press release headlined "World's Largest Women's Marijuana Organization Moms for Marijuana Appoints Mother-Daughter Team – Cheryl and Aimee Shuman As New Executive Director and Deputy Director," so apparently Cheryl wanted to go ahead and nail down a line of succession, as well.
The press release, which describes Cheryl and Aimee as "the vibrant mother-daughter team," tells us that "Cheryl Shuman will take the role of Executive Director, bringing her 25 years of public relations, media, product branding, and business development to the blossoming non-profit organization."
Outgoing Executive Director Serra Frank reportedly at least got another nice outfit and a facial beauty treatment out of the deal, paid for by Cheryl on a visit this month to Shuman in Beverly Hills, after having already "won" one similar "Queen for a Day" trip at Shuman's expense, back when she handed over control. She reportedly got a new dress and a hairdo, that time."Cheryl and Aimee have accomplished so much extraordinary progress in cannabis reform, world wide, reaching millions of parents through the utilization of mainstream media," Frank claims in a press release from Shuman. "It was an easy decision."
"Everything I have ever seen them do has been historic and monumental in cannabis reform," Frank claimed, raising the interesting academic question of whether anyone knows of anything Aimee Shuman has actually done, let alone anything historic and monumental in cannabis reform.
"Together, they will lead the Executive Direction of Moms for Marijuana into the future," Frank assures us (you'll have to imagine her wearing her nice new outfit from Shuman while she says it).
"I've known Serra for many years now and have always been inspired by her vision and dedication to moms and parents around the world," said Shuman, who installed herself as executive director due to Frank's "departure." "I am honored by the opportunity to join such a dynamic and ambitious organization, with such a clear and focused mission — improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable, women and children."
Frank will retain a ceremonial position as "Founding Director" of Moms For Marijuana, also known as being put out to pasture.Aimee Shuman, for her part, was quick to focus on the financial aspects of suddenly being in control of a worldwide organization with a media presence and thousands of members. "After all, women buy 85 percent of all household and consumer products, according to Adweek," Aimee said. "As an entrepreneur, it's exciting to be on the ground floor of the cutting edge of making news and witnessing the convergence of celebrity and cannabis culture."
How far Moms For Marijuana has drifted… from housewives to "celebrity culture" in Beverly Hills, eh? Ah, well. OK, then. Shiny new media-friendly image, and stuff. That's fine.
But you see where this is going, don't you? Cheryl Shuman goes around Hollywood pitching a "reality show based on a vibrant mother/daughter team leading Moms For Marijuana" in 10… 9… 8…"The right leadership is everything," Frank said. (Am I the only one who can barely make my way through the thick irony here?) "Working with Cheryl and Aimee these past few years, it was evident immediately that it was a perfect fit in terms of values, integrity and personality.
"The addition of Aimee and Cheryl Shuman on our team elevates Mom's [sic] stature, adding prestige and thus creating a positive 'halo' around the organization," Frank said. (Oh my God, I'm dying over here. Really? A fuckin' halo? That's rich.)
Shuman, whose website has been repeatedly taken down by Anonymous this month, was ironically chosen for a "Special Activist of the Year Award" at Seattle Hempfest 2013. Just prior to the festival in August, she tittered all over Facebook about "a little bird" telling her she was going to get "some kind of award" at Hempfest, and sure enough she did, in a smarmy Main Stage ceremony with Hempfest director Vivian McPeak, second-in-command John Davis, and would-be media figure, the always-eager-to-smooch-ass Rectal Russ Belville.
But strangely enough, Hempfest seemed to quickly get "buyer's remorse" after awarding Shuman, and all references to the award were scrubbed from the Hempfest website after the Moms For Marijuana scandal broke late in 2013. It's now all but impossible to find any mention online of what had been a highly touted award — the only one of its kind ever awarded by Hempfest, we think, at least, since Hempfest apparently just doesn't wanna talk about it, anymore.
"I really, really try not to hate ANYONE," Candace Junkin told Toke Signals. "Not anyone. I try to find good in everyone and I even tried to find it in Cheryl. But I can honestly and ashamedly say, I ABHOR that woman."
"I didn't understand the depth of her depravity until it was too late," Junkin told us. "If I knew then the things that I know now, Cheryl Shuman would NEVER have been a part of Moms For Marijuana."
"I feel like if it weren't for her, Serra and I could have fixed it all," Candace told me.


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It's grilling season and Grillocracy wants to give you a taste of Alabama's best 'Que with Full Moon BBQ's Ultimate Flavor Pack!
This BBQ box comes loaded with Full Moon's Southern Seasoning, Famous Chow Chow, Award Winning BBQ Sauce and highly sought after Alabama White Sauce (see full details below).
The gift pack includes:
Alabama White Sauce: Creamy and smooth with an unexpected bold flavor, Alabama's White Sauce has the perfect touch of heat to turn up your taste buds. This savory secret sauce makes it the perfect pairing with pork, chicken and turkey, or the surprising complement for salads and vegetables.
Full Moon BBQ Sauce: Full Moon's Award-Winning Southern style BBQ sauce is tangy with a sweet heat that adds the perfect final layer of flavor to quality meats.
Chow-Chow: Full Moon's Chow-Chow is a spicy, sweet, all-natural relish that is a staple in Southern kitchens. Chow-Chow offers BBQ lovers a crunchy, zing alternative to the traditional topping.
Southern Seasoning: Shake on this sweet, smoky and bold blend of spices to seal in the natural juices of true Alabama BBQ.
About Full Moon Bar-B-Que
Full Moon has a long, delicious history of great Southern-style 'que made in the time-honored, traditional way, with quality meats cooked low and slow over a hickory wood-fired pit and spiced with a mouthwatering, award-winning bar-b-que sauce.
Full Moon Bar-B-Que has been in operation since 1986. The Maluff brothers, David and Joe, have grown the business while continuing a family-owned tradition that caters to folks who know great 'que from the rest. The wood smoke from every Full Moon restaurant's fire pit shows the Birmingham-born brothers' commitment to top-notch bar-b-que. At the same time, they satisfy a variety of tastes with fresh salads, hand-breaded chicken tenders, farm-raised catfish, Buffalo-style wings and overstuffed baked potatoes.
From the famous Full Moon chow-chow to the baked-fresh-daily Half Moon cookies, Full Moon BBQ makes sure to use the freshest ingredients in their homemade selections. Most importantly, it's all served with a healthy helping of true Southern hospitality. You can dine in, get it to go or take advantage of Full Moon's catering and portable BBQ pits. However you choose, Full Moon will have you beaming!"


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OUT NOW! Monty Python FAQ, Brian Cogan's latest book, co-written with Jeff Massey and Chris Barsanti, explores the wonderful, silly world of the revolutionary British comedy troupe.
"This book is truly aimed at the fan of the series, and is absolutely hysterical from start to finish! It is almost like having the troup break down their background, and history for you, in their unique comical way. The FAQ squad has gotten it PERFECTLY right!"


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30 days of thanksgiving, volume 6 (the final edition)/
See post #1, post #2, post #3, post #4 and post #5 (the book edition).
I would say that all good things must come to end, but as a follower of Jesus, I simply do not believe that to be true.
Quite the contrary, actually. I hold hope in my heart, instead, that every glimpse of light and grace in this crazy world is a shadow of something that will be fully restored one day. This earth will one day be our heaven. Creation will stop its groaning. And every bit of evil, every nasty thing that tries our souls, will one day give way to a gracious ruler and King.
Even now, glimpses of heaven breaking through on earth happen daily. We pray "Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." And then we leave our homes and, through the power of Jesus in us, we build the Kingdom now, right here, wherever we are planted. We are bearers of light, reflections of hope. This is my surest reason for gratitude: this is where God is present in all of this. The broken relationships, tattered dreams, losses and monotony. There is a Redeemer, and even now he is in the process of renewing all things. The old can be made new; the Resurrection of a Jewish carpenter-God-man showed us it is true.
And now, to practice the discipline of the giving of thanks:
- First Thanksgivings. This year, a few of our new friends from Brazil, students at a local university, joined us for their first Thanksgiving. They were introduced to pumpkin for the first time, they pulled up chairs at the family table, they found home while they are experiencing homesickness. And whatever blessing they received by joining in with the Burden clan, we received back in being a part of their first U.S. Thanksgiving. David and I are blessed over and over again each time we meet up, laughing about the absurdities of the English language. This is part of the family God makes, and we are grateful.
- Thankful friends. Your comments on this series have cheered my heart and renewed my hope that together sharing our gratitude makes a tremendous difference. Here is just a sampling:
It doesn't get easier to wait as we naturally hope for quick and easy answers; but it helps to know God is totally involved in the waiting and has a plan that encompasses the inevitable, complex realities. -Laurna
Inspired by what many celebrate on Nov. 1, I am thankful for the great number of "saints", those canonized and those unknown to anyone today, those powerful and those humble, who have preceded us in serving God's mission in the world. -Scott
Grateful that God redeems what we believe to be lost, gifts us with what we do not deserve, and graciously right-sizes us time and time again. -Heather
I am so grateful for my family. I love them so much more than words could ever describe. I am also grateful that through all of my life's choices, God has always been there waiting patiently for me. -Connie
Thankful for: my husband's health ( he just had an appendectomy), cooler weather, the ocean breeze, a quiet morning with my bible, podcasts by wise Christian women, a bursting avocado tree, spilled milk, women in my writing community like YOU, Thomas the Train, friendly neighbors who have embraced us with open arms. I could go on and on and on. There is so much to be thankful for! -Lesley
I'm grateful for the fact that second chances are always before us, wide-open doors we can walk through with just a tiny bit of intention. What a grace in this world of grief! -Heather
I'm grateful for Edith...a high school Sunday school teacher who taught me that the face of joy sometimes wears black lace-up shoes. I'm grateful for a God whose love does not expect our perfection but instead has covered every sin, every shortcoming, every failing with his sufficiency on our behalf, and brings good things out of even the most devastating losses of this world. -Shelly
Your final chance: for what are you most grateful for on this day?


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We just had the opportunity to stage two awesome homes in the Echo Park/Silverlake area of LA. Both homes are in great neighborhoods with off-the-charts walkability scores — we're talking right up the street from majorly cute restaurants, shops, galleries and cafes. Got to use a lot of vintage pieces in each home and even test drive some of our newly-upcycled stuff …
We found the Mid Century modern sofa on craigslist for only $100 (!) and had the cushions reupholstered in a vintage-y nubby orange fabric by Victor at House of a Thousand Fabrics in nearby Atwater Village.
The Navajo fabric wingchair was also a "rescue mission." The sad floral chair was found on the street and given a new life. We love the Navajo fabric, sourced at Mood in LA.
The faux bamboo headboard came from a fab vintage store in LA's Garvanza district. We bought a set of two, painted one black and we're using the other one as-is in another staging — but will paint it black sooon. Can't wait to put these babies together in a room with a nightstand and lamp between them!
We put one of our vintage peacock chairs in the master bedroom, pairing it with a small vintage side table.
In the Echo Park house, we went with a more upscale look — a little less funky and a lot more elegant. The arc lamp was a prize we won in a Lamps Plus giveaway :) And the zebra print cowhide rug was found on craigslist. The cocktail table and Moroccan tray table are antiques.
In the detached studio space, an Airbnb just waiting to happen. We used modular sectional sofa pieces to create just the right configuration and added a Nelson bench repro, "Barce-clona" chairs in crisp white leather, a modern credenza and a graphic cowhide rug underneath it all. Framed textured paper from Swain's Art Supplies in Glendale adds to the gallery vibe.


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For NYLT to be effective, we need your help.
The program is adult run and youth led. Adult staffers make every effort to allow youth staff to be completely in charge of the program. Adults do have a role in providing oversight, maintaining a safe environment, and giving essential feedback to youth leadership during their development weekends to ensure following the syllabus and learning objectives in their entirety. If you have an interest in joining our adult staff, and participating in the program in any capacity, please contact us at email@example.com.
Currently we have openings for training: Adult ASM's for program, logistics, quarter master duties, photographic and video services, and other roles as designated by the Course Coordinator and Course Director.


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Ningbo Shuangdun Tarpaulin Trade Co.,Ltd
500d Black Truck Fabric,Black Truck Fabric,Coated Tarps Sheet
|Payment Type:
|L/C,T/T,Western Union
|Min. Order:
|5000 Square Meter
|Delivery Time:
|25 Days
Model No.: TB-1037
Material: 100% Polyester
Applications: Transportation Textiles
Type: Tarpaulin
Style: PVC Coated
Pattern: Plain
Structure: Fabric Form
Packaging: Roll
Productivity: 20,000T per year
Brand: Shuangdun
Transportation: Ocean,Air
Place of Origin: China
Supply Ability: 19,000T
Certificate: ISO9001, CE, GSG, IAF, CTI
HS Code: 5903109090
Port: Ningbo,Shanghai,Qingdao
Truck Tarpaulin PVC Coated Waterproof Fabric
We have wide range of tarpaulin. We have various fabrics for making the tarpaulin like as HDPE, PVC & cotton. We have tarpaulin in various weights. We can make the tarpaulin as per your size. We have best machines and best craftsmen for making the tarpaulins.
Material: 100% Polyester
Color: Any color
Size: Custom Size
Weight: 200-2400gsm
Width: Max 5m
Thickness: 0.2-2mm
MOQ: 5000sqm
Features: High strength, high density, UV resistant, waterproof, dust resistant, rot proof, mildew resistant, sunshade protect, anti-fungal, tear resistant, wind protection, etc.
Producting Line
Our Advantage
1. More than 20 years experience.
2. 500 individual production team, 20,000T one year, 25 days' delivery time.
3. 20 quality inspections, 0.01% defective percentage.
4. Superior after-sales service, our response in 24 hours.
Truck cover, Hay Cover, Sandpit Cover, Boat Cover, Pallet Cover, sport field cover, Machine Cover
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25 days after receiving the pre-payment
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CBU is here to help you succeed. That is the reason we partnered with the International Centre for English Academic Preparation (ICEAP). It is designed to offer English Academic Preparation (EAP) courses to international students who want to go to CBU but have not yet achieved the required TOEFL/IELTS test scores.
ICEAP allows students to familiarize themselves with the academic atmosphere of CBU, so they can quickly fit into campus life, make friends with other students and be better prepared for their academic studies while also taking the ICEAP language enhancement program. Once the EAP program has been successfully completed, qualified students can enter the undergraduate or graduate programs to which they have been conditionally accepted at CBU without writing a language test or needing to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores.
English Language Training:
Students who successfully complete one of these programs are deemed to have met Cape Breton University's English language proficiency requirement without further testing required. There is a separate application process for admission to each of these institutions and their websites should be consulted for more information.
Applicants who meet Cape Breton University's academic requirements but are not able to demonstrate English language proficiency at the time of application may be offered a conditional admission. With an offer of conditional admission you can apply for your study permit (visa). However, until you have met the English language proficiency requirement you may not begin your university level studies.
- International Centre of English for Academic Preparation (ICEAP) located in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. www.iceap.ca


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We must have a speech from a minister
Posted by Simon Parke, 05 March 2018, 10.07am
It's 1941, and Noel Coward is disillusioned with the ministerial speeches on offer.
It's clearly from another time; and it clearly isn't.
We must have a speech from a minister.
We must have a speech from the minister
It's what we've been trained to expect
We're faced with defeat and despair and disaster
We couldn't be losing our colonies faster
We know we haven't the guns to defend
The 'Mermaid' at Rye or the pier at Southend
You have no idea how we've grown to depend
In hours of crisis
On whacking great slices
Of verbal evasion and dissimulation
A nice governmental appeal to the Nation
We'd listen to gladly with awe and respect
We know that the moment is sinister
And what we've been earnestly trained to expect
When such moments we reach
It's a lovely long speech
(Not a comment or chat
About this, about that)
But a really long speech
An extremely long speech
An ambiguous speech from a minister.
We must have a speech from a minister
We don't mind a bit who it is
As long as we get that drab lack of conviction
The dismal, self-conscious inadequate diction.
We find Mr Churchill a trifle uncouth
His ill-represented passion for telling the truth
His 'Eye for an Eye' his 'Tooth for a Tooth'
Is violent, too snappy
We'd be far more happy
With some old Appeasers inert peroration
We'd give ourselves up to complete resignation
Refusing to worry or get in a frizz
We know that the moment is sinister
We've already said we don't mind who it is
We'll fight on the beach
For a really long speech
(Not a breezy address
Or a post-script on Hess)
But a lovely long speech
A supremely long speech
An embarrassing speech from a minister.
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A brief life


text:
Wouldn't these charming recipe boxes make great gifts?
The recipe cards come in a hinged lucite box.
(6.5"W x 4"D x 5"H)
Its lid has a tray that holds cards for easy viewing and you can personalize with a monogram!
or what about these flat notecards that come with coordinating envelopes?
or personalized wall art that is already matted and framed?
or calling cards for individuals or families?
To check out all of Jack and Lulu's precious nick-nacks featured in their online boutique, click here.
until next time,


text:
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Meet your fellow owners in our Owners Clubs
Infiniti FX50 / FX35 Prices Paid and Buying Experience
Does anyone know if there are any deals on 2011 FX35 going on? Has anyone bought one recently? Please share if there is any hidden deals?0
tywebb1973 Posts: 82I got a great price quote on an 11 with premium package but when I told them I was going to lease, they told me they can't use th manufacturer's rebate to the dealer....... only can use on a purchase.
That seems highly suspect to me.0
m6user Posts: 3,181Happens all the time with Infiniti and probably other manufacturers. Sometimes they have a rebate only for leases, sometimes a purchase only or sometimes deals on both leasr or purchase. Depends on what they want to push at the time. Not suspect at all.0
Mind sharing what was the quote and where you are? I am in MA0
Fx50 2012 lease terms 39 months, 15K miles-money factor .00124 and residual value 49%.0
dinoman Posts: 565k off MSRP is all they are willing to go. Less than 10% off. Anyone doing better?0
don't settle for anything more than $300-500 over invoice (if you want to be generous). Unless you are shopping for some hot car with limited production there is really no reason to pay much over the invoice.
come prepared, know your numbers and state your terms
if they say no, turn away and leave and go to the next dealership
talk directly to a manager, don't waste your time with salespeople
get per approval for financing before you shop for the car
Good luck!
FYI: I paid $37,900 for FX35 AWD in 2009 and still think I overpaid $500-6000
makarka Posts: 8I've paid 44,500 + fees + tax for 2012 FX35 AWD with premium package, splash guards, and cargo net and first aid kit. MSRP is 50,505. Is this a good price?0
looks like you paid about $2k under invoice
I do not know what is the current situation with dealer incentives and rebates, however this is not a bad deal0
cwa318 Posts: 71Looking to lease a FX35 RWD. Has anyone negotiated a price on these lately? Looking at a RWD model with premium and touring package. There seems to be a number of these around as I have just started to look in my area which is west central Florida. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks0
sewellgsm Posts: 775$2000 dealer cash OR $1000 w/ Special APR (1.9% for 66 months, etc)
If you lease and own an Infiniti - you get a $1000 Loyalty Rebate (above incentives do NOT apply on lease).
With all the attention on the JX, Infiniti should step up and help the old FX out!!0
Is there any new incentives in June? I really want the FX35, but the dealers seem to insist on selling it at $1000 over invoice.0
fantasyleo Posts: 5Is this forum dead? or no one buys FX anymore? :surprise:0
flzz Posts: 19Sleepybubba,
Check the past monitors on this forum. I bought new Fx35 in Dec. 2007 (08) model and this forum was a huge help. Email some of the folks who've posted info earlier and see if you can reignite! I wish you luck as I would buy again if something happened to mine.
sallier Posts: 16Is there another forum where FX (especially 35's) are being discussed? Am looking for used - possibly 010, 011. Troubles? Costs for repairs? etc0
obsidian7 Posts: 2I've got an '09 with 48K miles - runs great with no major issues. Have only had to bring into the dealer twice: 1) when transmission kicked out of gear into neutral while on highway - turned out to be a software upgrade (done at no cost) and it hasn't happened since; and 2) to get new batteries for the remotes-they only charged me $11 to replace both. I do all my regular mntc at Valvoline - use synthetic oil only. The 40K dealer overhaul is a waste of $$- the only thing non-dealer shops can't do is replace the hepa filters - who cares? Would totally recommend the FX - I don't think any car out there offers the same combination of performance/utility/reliability. I also like the grill better than the more generic one on the 37's, which Infiiniti has standardized on all models. Paddle shifters make it super fun to drive. Am looking forward to next version, which looks to be the QX70 under the new Infiniti naming scheme.0
alessiocesar Posts: 21Hello,
I'm looking to buy a 2013 new FX50 but see very little information here, no one is buying these cars anymore?
The car I'm looking at is fully loaded and would love to learn from others experiences.
The current incentives are not that great, wonder if I should wait a bit more.
You are right, the FX50 is a niche car, with relatively few buyers. I love mine, and had an 09 FX35 beforehand. You can get a 50 for several thousands off of MSRP, but the supply is not great. If you are picky about colors, you may have to wait or search for a dealer trade.
The 50 is a nice step up in performance over the 35, and I would imagine the 37. The gears seem to shift easier, and the car will fly if you punch the gas. The tech package and brake assist are must haves for me, just in case! No problems with my 35 thru 44k miles, and my 50 has no issues at 22k miles. Good luck!!
BTW, check infiniti scene and infiniti fx owners forum for more opinions by owners.0


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International List of Scale Model Related Web Sites
General Interest/Manufacturer
Total of 548 sites, now showing 141 to 150.
Essenbach, Bayern, Germany
fine and accurate Laser printed decals for airlines of all around the world.
On Mark International - Precision Die Cast Replicas
Tulsa, Ok, United States
On Mark International, Inc. has been in business since 1985 and is one of the largest producers of short run licensed custom imprint collectibles. Collection Armour , Model Power, Gearbox, Corgi, First Gear, Spec Cast, Ertl Premium and others.
Smoky Mountain Model Building & Supply
Somerville, Nj, United States
Dedicated WEB focusing upon Contest Quality and/or Museum Quality dioramas, Out-of-Production Collectable Craftsman kits, Scratchbuilding Supplies, Weathering Products, & Unique Modeling Tools for all Scales N, Nn3, HO, HOn3, HOn30, S, Sn3, Sn30, O,
Model Masters Inc.
Soul, South Korea
Builder of precision scale models by fine quality brass for retailers & individual collectors from different industries.
Aedes Ars - Reproduction of Monument Kits
Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain
Construction kits to reproduce stone monuments and buildings with real stone (clay) bricks. Our catalogue includes arch bridges, roman churches, medieval castles, towers, lighthouses, town gates, farms, windmills, refuges and all their spare parts.
Black Army Modells
Sopron, -, Hungary
Black Army Modells is a Hungarian company producing resin figure busts and resin figures in 200mm, 1/35th, 1/48th, and 1/72nd scale. We produce limited series and master sculpts too.
EUREKA XXL- Model Accessories
Ilawa, Poland
Main lines of Eureka XXL's products are copper towing cables with resin eyelets in 1/72nd and 1/35th scales. All cables are designed especially for the most popular and most important WWII and modern tanks and AFVs. Company founded in 1998.
Oilfield and Gas Models
Taylors, Sc, United States
John H. Martin Company provides high quality models for the oil and gas drilling industry. Our models are custom built 100% in America. We can provide offshore oilfield drilling platform models, land drill rig models, oil refineries and more.
Bare-Metal Foil Co.
Farmington Hills, Mi, United States
Bare-Metal Foil is the perfect detailing foil for model A/C and for trim on cars and trucks. Bare-Metal carries resin, mold materials, decals, panel scriber, and much more. We serve individuals, hobby shops and hobby distributors.
Modelling Timbers
Fleetwood, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Fine woods for the discerning model maker. UK based. Only the best quality woods supplied mostly from sustainable forests. Traditional model boats a speciality. 1:12 scale working rigging blocks. Hand made fenders.
Page: << Prev Page 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next Page >>


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Sliced Bread Magazine is pleased to announce that it is partnering with the Study Abroad Office here at the University of Chicago to co-sponsor the Travel Writing Prize! This is a travel writing contest for all U of C study abroad students to participate in and an excuse to record your memories about your travels.
Over $350.00 in prizes are available! The winning submissions will be featured in a special section of the 2008-2009 Sliced Bread Magazine coming out in May as well as in publications by the Study Abroad Office. Make your mark as the first generation of U of C students to showcase their travel writing!
For more information on deadlines and how to submit, please visit Why We Travel.


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Businesses that support ARC
Click on the name of each company below to visit their website and learn more about them.
Amy Jo's Boutique >
An innovative mobile shopping boutique that donates a percentage of sales to ARC.
Amy's Something Special >
A one-of-a-kind store tucked away in the Olde Sanibel Shoppes. A percentage of store sales is donated to ARC.
SandBar Photography >
Creating Life as Art in the studio or on location. Beach Photography, families, pets, children, babies, maternity, newborns, high school seniors, engagement! SandBar Photography is a proud sponsor of ARC's Pet Photo Calendar Contest!
Arthur Printing >
Arthur Printing is pivotal in helping ARC put together their Pet Photo Calendar. Thank you, Arthur Printing for your support of ARC.
Specialized Veterinary Services >
Specialized Veterinary Services is a 24/7 animal emergency center staffed with seven, full-time board-certified veterinary specialists for your pets surgical or diagnostic needs. SVS has a licensed veterinarian on staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the event your animal has an emergency, requires an overnight stay or needs critical care.
All American Printing/Sign-a-Rama of North Fort Myers >
All American Printing has been a steady supporter of ARC for years and donated the cost of printing the newsletter.
Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry >
Offers a vast collection of unique designs specializing in 14kt. gold sea life and Sanibel Island nature themed jewelry accented with diamonds.
Coral Veterinary Clinic >
Coral Veterinary Clinic was founded in 1965 and has been an accredited American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) member since 1973. With locations in Fort Myers and Sanibel, Coral Veterinary Clinic is committed to providing the highest quality and friendly veterinary care to the pets of Lee County and the Lee Island Coast area
Lily & Company >
Lily & Co. is Sanibel's first jewelry gallery, offering couture jewelry lines and fine art at one location.
PETCO Foundation >
PETCO Foundation is a stanch supporter of ARC's mission and programs, PETCO Foundation supports efforts to protect and re-home orphaned pets in need.
Bonney Leckie, Realtor/GRI; Century 21 -Selling Paradise >
As a full-time professional committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction, I will give your transaction 100% of my energy and attention and give you the outstanding, personalized service you deserve. A portion of my professional fee in every real estate transaction supports Animal Refuge Center, Inc. To contact Bonney Leckie call 239-699-5197.
Pet Point Animal Management System >
We were keeping all of our pet records and shelter information in file folders which was difficult to keep efficiently. Now we use PetPoint, and it has made our record keeping process so much easier, accurate and efficient. PetPoint is definitely an excellent shelter management program. We highly recommend it! We also appreciate the automatic feed from Petango for our Happy Tails adoption section.
Arthrex, Inc. >
Arthrex Inc. is a global medical device company and leader in new product development and medical education in orthopaedics. With a corporate mission of helping surgeons treat their patients better, Arthrex has pioneered the field of arthroscopy and developed more than 8,500 innovative products and surgical procedures to advance minimally invasive orthopaedics worldwide. Arthrex furthers ARC's mission by being the Presenting Sponsor of our annual Starlight Auction.
Bauer Construction Group >
Bauer Construction Group AKA Premier Aluminum has a vision for coastal lifestyle living from thirty years of homebuilding experience. A percentage of sales from Bauer Construction and Premier Aluminum is donated to ARC.
Chiquita Animal Hospital >
Chiquita Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital whose mission is to provide the highest standard of veterinary care for companion pets. Chiquita Animal Hospital has provided Cape Coral compassionate veterinary care and pet services since 1980.


text:
La Vie Boheme
Despite posting a fiveawesomegirls video six hours ago that never processed, I had a fantastic night. I was part of the HPA conference call live on ustream because I've recently been announced as the new Hufflepuff head of house! I am so freaking excited to get more involved with the HPA.
My personal favorite moment was when I suddenly decided that it was a good idea to start singing songs from Rent because Evanna Lynch mentioned that she loves it. She asked me to keep going once I stopped and then she sang along with me. I felt pretty freaking cool. Evanna is awesome.
So now my video is reuploading and I'm hoping that I don't have to stay up too late waiting for it to process. Thanks, YouTube.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
geeking out,
10 comments:
- lindsey said...
Congrats, Miss Hufflepuff.
Oh, by the way, I loved your ELO cover that you posted today. You don't know me, and I don't really know you, but I do think that we could be BFFL.
- April 22, 2009 at 12:25 AM
- Anonymous said...
Awesome - congrats!! =)
- April 22, 2009 at 5:03 AM
- hayleyghoover said...
:) Your life is so great.
- April 22, 2009 at 8:00 AM
- Larangutang said...
Congrats on Head of Hufflepuff! :]
- April 22, 2009 at 8:45 PM
- Anonymous said...
Keep blogging Lauren, we love you!
- April 23, 2009 at 12:01 AM
- Callidora said...
Congrats on being Head of Hufflepuff! That is so cool, Lauren :o)
- April 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
- greenlillies said...
i wish you would blog more often. i miss your stories.
- April 26, 2009 at 9:52 PM
- Lauren said...
Aw, thanks, greenlillies. :)
I'm trying to blog as often as I can, but I've been really busy finishing up the semester. I am currently 11 papers and two exams away from summer. Woo! I'll try to update tomorrow.
- April 26, 2009 at 11:51 PM
- Kira902k said...
so awesome that you're the new hufflepuff head of house. =D
and that you got to talk to evanna lynch!
- April 27, 2009 at 8:57 AM
- Kelly said...
Congrat!! I'm working on starting a HPA chapter in LA!!
- April 30, 2009 at 3:54 AM


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Los Indios Tabajaras Always In My Heart Numbered Limited Edition K2 HD Import CD
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Playing in Rio de Janeiro, the two brothers from northern Brazil found success as Natalicio and Antenor Lima - dressing in ceremonial Indian costumes. Using classical guitars and playing transcriptions of classical violin and piano works, they were soon playing all over South America. The Original Indians of "Maria Elena" Fame, Los Indios Tabajaras with Always in My Heart. This pair of brothers, members of the Tabajara tribe of northern Brazil, were one of the most unlikely successes of the space age pop era. Nearly 20 years after they first began recording professionally and in the midst of the twist craze, they had a Top 10 pop hit with their cover of "Maria Elena," a Mexican folk tune first popularized in the U.S. by Jimmy Dorsey.
These two young Indians with their unique mellow guitar style are true virtuosos.
The duo performed & recorded beginning as early as 1943. In 1964, they released Always In My Heart which made the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Their fluent playing caught the ear of Chet Atkins and recorded an instrumental album together, along with Floyd Cramer. They also recorded with Don Gibson including the song Oh Lonesome Me.
Numbered, Limited Edition
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Antenor Moreyra Lima (Mucapere)
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1. Always In My Heart
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| Cities feeding people
|Foreword: Urban agriculture is already feeding cities
Irene Tinker
Urban agriculture (UA) is wrongly considered an oxymoron. Despite its critical role in producing food for city dwellers around the world, urban food production has largely been ignored by scholars and agricultural planners; government officials and policymakers at best dismiss the activity as peripheral and at worst burn crops and evict farmers, claiming that urban farms are not only unsightly but also promote pollution and illness. Contradicting this image, recent studies document the commercial value of food produced in the urban area while underscoring the importance of urban farming as a survival strategy among the urban poor, especially women heads of households.
The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), with its enviable perspicacity, became the first major international agency to recognize the importance of urban food production. In 1983, the urban section of IDRC under Yue-man Yeung funded a study of six urban centres in Kenya to be carried out by the Mazingira Institute of Nairobi. Additional studies and scholars have been supported over the last decade until the weight of reports and awareness of problems with urban food security has at last brought the issue to the forefront of IDRC's agenda. In the spring of 1993, IDRC organized two events designed to propel this policy concern to a wider audience: a policy and planning conference at the Ottawa headquarters and panels at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association for African Studies (CAAS), held in Toronto.
The decision to organize panels at the CAAS conference with its theme of "Urban and Community Development" was logical. Africa south of the Sahara is the only part of the world where per-capita food production has fallen during the past decade. Inadequate rural food supplies are exacerbated by pressures of structural adjustment that reduce urban employment; the fall in prices of export crops both encourages urban migration and reduces the government's ability to purchase food stocks due to inadequate foreign exchange earnings. World food emergency supplies are currently under stress as demand grows as a result of widespread famine and war. Changing consumption patterns in the cities provide opportunities for commercial growing of foods not typically grown in rural areas, particularly vegetables. Together, these trends help explain the expansion of urban food production throughout the region.
The CAAS panels brought together scholars studying UA in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Tanzania, and Uganda to discuss their research. The studies done by Axumite Egziabher in Addis Ababa, Camillus Sawio in Dar es Salaam, and Daniel Maxwell in Kampala are based on their doctoral dissertations. Each focuses on a particular aspect of UA. Egziabher completed an intensive study of a cooperative that is growing vegetables commercially. Sawio collected data on socioeconomic characteristics of urban farmers in both squatter and legal residential areas. Maxwell is particularly concerned with the interplay of land rights, size and location of the farms, type of food produced, and characteristics of the farmers. The research in both Kenya and Mali, which emphasized the interrelationships of urban food production and cooking fuel, were funded by IDRC through the Mazingira Institute in Nairobi and the ENDA Energie (Environnement et developpement du Tiers-Monde) in Dakar and carried out by a team.
For a contrasting practical view, an official of the Organization of Collective Cooperatives in Zimbabwe was invited to discuss real-time issues of UA in his country. To provide an international perspective, papers on Bolivia and China were also presented. The four papers on East Africa are presented in this publication; policy aspects of the studies on Mali, Bolivia, and East Asia are included in the proceedings of the Ottawa meeting (Mougeot and Masse 1993).
Taken together, this research challenges the assumptions of economic-development theorists, marxist and modernists, who see UA as the inappropriate retention of peasant culture in cities and confidently predict its disappearance. A similar debate over informal-sector enterprises raged during the 1970s and eventually resulted in a new set of policies to support and improve small and medium enterprises in this sector. Excluded from this debate were most family or individual entrepreneurial activity, whether craft or agricultural production or street vending. This exclusion resulted from the focus on employment in the informal sector that was the major concern of the first major funder of these studies, the International Labour Organization (ILO). Current research has recognized individual and family entrepreneurial activity as an important part of the informal sector; the development community has initiated separate support programs for these microenterprises. It is time that UA becomes recognized as an important part of the urban informal sector because it provides income, or income-substituting food, to a significant number of urban residents.
The papers also challenge development planners who perceive a dichotomy between rural and urban, between agriculture and cities, and so assign food production solely to rural areas. In reality, animals as well as vegetable gardens have long been characteristic of urban life. For example, a recently published study on microlivestock by the United States National Research Council identifies species suitable for raising in the house or in a confined space. Urban squatters are given free seeds to grow protein-rich legume vines on their huts. Even in industrialized countries, gardens are flourishing. In New York City, gardens grow where urban wastelands existed a few years ago: the South Bronx herb gardens supply gourmet restaurants in Manhattan. The owner of Kona Kai Farms in a commercial area of Berkeley, California, claims an income of 0.25 million USD on less than 0.4 ha of land; his salad greens, herbs, and edible flowers are marketed as far away as Hong Kong. Apartment residents in St Petersburg are countering the collapse of food systems in Russia by growing vegetables in rooftop gardens. [For more information on these examples, see the special issue of Hunger Notes on "Urban food production: neglected resource for food and jobs" edited by Irene Tinker (available for 5 USD from the World Hunger Education Service, PO Box 29056, Washington, DC 20017, USA). I Theory needs to catch up to practice; the concept of continuum needs to replace the idea of dichotomy, with a focus on the types of food and animals that are adaptable to the urban or pert-urban landscape.


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Pregnancy PUPPPS Rash: Essential Tips For Coping.
Labels: health · Posted by Wag Doll
If you found this article through a search, then you're probably pregnant, congratulations!...and suffering from Pupps, in which case you have my utmost sympathy.
Or you may have a loved one who is suffering with Pupps, in which case you have my sympathy too, as watching someone you love go through this condition is heart-breaking.
I'd like to use my blog today to highlight a pregnancy condition that most people have never heard of, is rarely spoken about and that the medical community in the most part are totally uninformed.
Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (Puppps)
...is the unwieldy medical name for the intense, excruciating itching and burning of the skin that can happen in pregnancy. This hives like condition is also know as PEP (Polymorphic Eruption of Pregnancy) in the
Read on for more information, my daughter's experience and those all important tips for coping and hopefully curing your Pupps
Adult Braces Update: Week 8, Success & Setback.
Labels: braces · Posted by Wag Doll
Just a quick post about my latest vlog entry, my 8 week braces update.
I'm super happy to report that for the first time in my adult life my two front upper teeth are uncrossed, and sat next to each other... Yay!
These stubborn teeth have rested moving until my dentist installed an elastic chain on my last visit, and that seemed to get them moving. I woke up two days ago and suddenly they wasn't an overlap...cue big cheesy grin! There is still some straightening up to do but I'm very happy so far.
Now I'm not sure if this is connected, but the following day, the pesky back bracket came off again. This is the same metal bracket that came off a couple of weeks ago...and I accidentally swallowed it!
To be fair to the poor bracket, it sits next to the 3 tooth bridge which isn't suitable for brackets, so I feel like it's taking a lot of strain without any neighbouring brackets to help out. It's currently dangling about in my mouth, still attached to the elastic chain, eeek.
But this is just a temporary set back and I'm sure my lovely dentist will install a new one, and off I go again. So, with that in mind I'd better go ring the dental clinic...see you next time lovelies!
Adult Braces Update: My Teeth Have Gone Yellow!
Labels: braces · Posted by Wag Doll
Just a quick video diary update on my Six Month Smile braces journey. If you remember from my last update I accidentally swallowed a metal brace bracket! Well panic over, I visited the orthodontist for a temporary repair the following day, and had my usual appointment 3 days later where the bracket was replaced. Fingers crossed the drama is over, let's just say the rogue bracket must have made it's way through even though I didn't notice it LOL!
In addition, my dentist changed my upper brace wire for a thicker one to get things moving. My lower teeth have seen some really good progress, but my upper teeth are being a little lazy, probably because of that damn bridge.
But I also spoke to my dentist about an issue that's been bothering me.
My teeth have gone really yellow!
Since having the braces installed, within the space of 48 hours my teeth had discoloured to the point they now match the dreaded bridge. I didn't want to sound vain asking the dentist about something so trivial, but it's the yellowing that's bothering me more than wearing the braces. I don't mind people knowing I'm wearing braces, I don't like the idea that people think I'm not cleaning my teeth.
Every article and post I read on the subject pointed to a gradual discolouring from food and drink. But my teeth went yellow very quickly, within 2 days or so of having the braces installed. And at that point I was still struggling to eat anything, living on a diet of mashed potato and porridge. I've been quite obsessive about avoiding staining foods, and cleaning my teeth after every meal, so I doubt that's the cause.
I also have a friend who's been wearing braces for just over a year and she's had the same issue, she was told it was the fluoride used to prepare the teeth. My own dentist said it's residual adhesive from gluing the brackets to the tooth surface. And that makes sense as my teeth feel slightly rougher than normal.
Unfortunately there's not much that can be done for it until the brackets are removed, then it can be buffed away. So unless anyone knows differently I'm stuck with the yellow teeth...for now. I suspect most people I speak to don't even notice it, in fact most haven't even noticed I'm wearing braces LOL!
I'd love guys to watch my latest vlog instalment and let me know what you think, or if you have any questions then ask away and I'll do my very best to answer them! x
Oops, I Swallowed My Metal Braces Bracket! Video Diary Update.
Labels: braces · Posted by Wag Doll
It's been an eventful weekend here on the braces front, I accidentally ate one of my metal brace brackets eeek!
I've been wearing my Six Month Smile adult braces for 2 weeks now and it was all going surprisingly well...famous last words! Last night a cheeky late night snack of cheese on toast caught me out and one of my back brackets came loose. Before I could react I'd swallowed the little critter. Late night on a Bank Holiday weekend and there's not much chance of getting hold of the dentist, so I had to Google if I'd committed a fatal error.... Luckily it seems it's a fairly common mishap in the early weeks and if you let nature takes it's course, the offending bracket should work it's own way out, if you know what I mean!
Check out my unscheduled video diary entry, and I'll do an update once I've visited the dentist later this week, that's if I'm still alive to tell the tale!
I GOT BRACES! My Six Month Smile Video Diary: Day 1
Labels: braces · Posted by Wag Doll
Hi my lovelies,
So last Friday I finally took the plunge and got fitted with adult clear ceramic braces!
|Say cheese!
|Check out the much hated 3 tooth bridge.
So to document my progress I'll be doing a regular video diary...vlog...video blog....whatever the heck you call it. It's easier for you to see what's going on in a video.
It makes me laugh to see this. Seriously, how hyped am I? Just too excited after being at the dentist and finally getting the braces after years of debating. If you want to see me looking a little nervous....aka 'shaking like a leaf'... then check out the previous video where I'm sat outside the dental clinic.
I have to say the braces feel enormous to me, like they arrive 5 minutes before I do! Yet most people took a while to even notice and some didn't realise at all until I pointed them out. Not sure if that's because the braces are pretty much invisible, or if we really don't take that much notice of each other.
So get used to seeing some highly unflattering tooth photos of me as I'll be posting regular updates to let you know of my progress, any problems I encounter and to give any hints and tips I come across.
Thanks for reading and watching!
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text: Protesters accused soldiers clearing the square of using excessive force [EPA] The Egyptian army has forcefully removed protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square, after dozens of men armed with rocks attacked several hundred pro-reform campaigners. Officers fired warning shots in the air to break up the two sides on Wednesday and scores were arrested. The flow of traffic through the square was cut off but has since been restored. "We were attacked by the army and plainclothes thugs destroying the tents and beating up everyone," Salma Said, one of the pro-reform campaigners, said. "I was very shocked seeing the army coming with sticks, beating everyone and destroying tents over people's heads." Activists said they had caught one man who said he had been paid to attack the protesters. "I saw two people injured in the head, carried away by people," Ahmed Fathy, a witness, said. Amnesty International, a London-based human rights group, condemned the army's "heavy-handed actions" in clearing the square of protesters. "It is absolutely unacceptable that the army should participate in violently breaking up the peaceful protests", Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said. "The Supreme Military Council has the duty to uphold the right to peaceful protest. "We have spoken to eyewitnesses who have told us that the army allowed thugs to attack protesters with sticks and swords, the same practice that was used under former president [Hosni] Mubarak. "It appears that the Armed Forces are simply continuing the same old tactics of repression." Tense situation Small groups of activists had continued to gather in Tahrir Square after Hosni Mubarak, the former president, was toppled on February 11. Numbers have climbed on Fridays when activists have called for bigger participation to keep up pressure on the country's leaders for political reform. In another development, clashes that broke out late on Tuesday night when a Muslim mob attacked thousands of Coptic Christians protesting against the burning of a Cairo church have left at least 13 people dead and about 140 wounded, officials said. The Muslims torched the church amid an escalation of tensions over a love affair between a Muslim and a Copt that set off a violent feud between the couple's families. The officials said all 13 fatalities, at least six of them Coptic Christians, died of bullet wounds. There is a long history of animosity between Copts and Muslims in Egypt, though there have been recent signs of a rapprochement following a deadly New Year's Day bombing of a church in Alexandria. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Politics Middle East Egypt


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Annie Staninec.
2015. self-released.
Review by Alexa Peters.
On her new self-titled album, Annie Staninec displays her diverse bag of fiddle tricks and then some. From the Celtic "March to Kinsale" to the Cajun "Planté Dans La Porte De Ma Maison" Annie's displays a rich knowledge of traditional music and its idiosyncratic subgenres. I am especially taken aback by Annie's tone: bright, but full as a teeming glass of whiskey. That touch, along with the sort of ornamentations found on "Sinner's Waltz," absolutely takes your breath away. And then you discover her voice! I love her no-frills vocal harmonies with Kathy Kallick on "Man of Constant Sorrow", and how the band–Larry Cohea (banjo), John Kael (mandolin), and Cary Black (bass)–seem to teeter on a balance beam in the back. There is mastery in it all: the tug of the mandolin and pull of the banjo, those soaring vocals. All in all, Staninec's solo project is the perfect display of her musicality and astonishing diversity, all accrued from an early age. At only 25, she is a more seasoned player than many twice that, and this album showcases her talent beautifully.
Pick up Annie Staninec's new album on CDBABY.


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By Sara Brown
To be candid, I have been studiously avoiding addressing the emissions software debacle at Volkswagon for weeks now. But with today's coverage in the Wall Street Journal of yesterday's congressional hearing on the matter, I think there is an important lesson hidden in the subtext, which has the potential to impact the larger Internet of Things marketplace and the many talented people behind it.
Here's what the Head of Volkswagon Group of Americas, Michael Horn told the congressional panel:
"To my understanding this was not a corporate decision. This was something individuals did."
While there is little doubt that individuals were involved — in fact three from VW's engineering team have already been dismissed — I suspect something bigger is at play: corporate culture.
My experience with many companies across the M2M and IoT space, as well as the larger technology marketplace, has exposed me to all kinds of corporate cultures — from the buttoned up formality of IBM in the 90s to the a ADHD-like agility of startups both then and today. I've seen cultures that encouraged shirking and those that encouraged innovation. I've seen cultures that foster an almost unhealthy devotion and those that leave employees emotionally battered. One thing I've learned along the way — corporate culture drives the behavior of individuals inside the company, good or bad.
Mr. Horn later responded to questions by conceding that the actions of the aforementioned individuals may have been prompted by, "pressure in the system to get resolutions and also in conjunction with cost pressure as well."
Those of you who know me, know I'm happy to endure pressure when it comes to doing what's right; but I'm not shy to stand up to the kind of pressure Horn is describing when it means doing something unethical. Perhaps this is the true shortcoming of the individuals at whom Horn is pointing the finger.
The Internet of Things marketplace is moving fast. It encompasses countless mission and even life-critical applications. Here's my challenge to the individuals with a stake in this growing ecosystem: focus on doing the next right thing, above the pressure. It may cost you something along the way — but it will likely save you being fed to the wolves when the s#*t hits the fan.


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Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore mocked "whiny" Democrats for not having the spine or courage to fight Republicans for a public option on health care. Mimicking a whiny voice for Democrats, Moore said he "admired" Republicans because at least they had "the courage of their convictions":
I can't stand listening to whiny Democrats say, 'we shouldn't even do it because it won't pass anyways.' That's not how the Republicans think. You know, you've got to admire Republicans. They have the courage of their convictions. They put it right out there. When they want to do something, they do it. They don't go, 'oh, I don't know. I don't know if we should invade Iraq. People might not like that.' They don't care. They just do it. What is wrong with our side of the aisle? Where is the spine, where is the courage? 'They might filibuster.' Really? Let them filibuster. I'd like to see that.
Calling support for the public option "absolutely make or break," Moore warned Democrats that he would help efforts to oust from office any who backed away from supporting real reform:
We're going to start in the primaries. Any Democrat that gets in the way of true reform, reform that has to include the public option, we are going to campaign against them in the primary. We're going to try to find people to run against them. They are not going to get away with this.
Send us tips! Write us at firstname.lastname@example.com if you see any newsworthy or notable TV moments. Read more about our media monitoring project here and click here to join the Media Monitors team.


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Response and Resistance: Multiple Strategies Addressing State Violence against LGBTQ Youth
- Andrea Ritchie from The Urban Justice Center
- Jared Ringer from The Anti-Violence Project
- Karina Claudio from Make the Road's Globe Program
- Chelsea Johnson-Long from The Audre Lorde Project's Safe Outside the System Program
- Professor Joanne Rees, Adjunct Professor of Social Work, NYU Silver School of Social Work and Smith College
Discussion Questions:
* What are the forces of systemic violence, structural racism, and unique inequities that impact LGBTQ youth?
* What are the modes of resistance that the LGBTQ community and their allies utilize to combat these injustices?
* How can policy makers and service providers support these modes of resistance?
Friday, November 5, 2010
5:30 – 7:30
The Puck Building, Rudin Forum
295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
RSVP & Info: http://wagner.nyu.edu/events
Event Sponsored by NYU Wagner's Stonewall Policy Alliance, Students for Criminal Justice Reform, Alliance of Latino and Latin American Students, and Wagner Intersectionality Studies


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The newcomer sees her place in the palace as a chance to contact her aristocratic roots. Given the gigantic buzz around the movie, it's the present front runner according to many. In the majority of categories, nominees are dependent on the members of that particular category. It's really hard to predict the Oscar nominees annually beforehand. The Academy Award for the best picture was presented since 1929 and is among the most famous. The new category is among three significant changes that were accepted by the Academy's board of governors, with the debut of the popular film category meaning that films that are popular with audiences, but not critics, are now more inclined to be recognized at the yearly awards bash.
See whether you can remember when the movies released by yourself. The movie is created by Chamathka Piers below the banner of Cine pro Lanka International. Movies from the start of the year would like you to remember them too!
As the nights draw in and the temperatures begin to plummet here in the united kingdom, a lot of us start to consider escaping to warmer climes. Having said this, Women's Day is a celebration that may not be restricted to a specific day and it is for us to be certain that we honor and celebrate womanhood throughout the year. The perfect place to start is with earlier awards shows like the Golden Globes and SAG. In many places, you will be in a position to see the event live, but in a few locations, the broadcast could possibly be taped from an earlier recording. Along with the real Oscars awards ceremony, there's additionally a pre-show event that is going to be airing 90 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. Besides that, the show appears to be confined to the creative arts. It would be useful to hear a show from The Rising and maybe a European 1985 Born in the united states show.
The movie is all about six strangers that are sent invites to get involved in an Escape Room (thus the title), where they need to address clues to find the secret to leave the room. Netflix films might open in a couple theaters, but they're primarily just shunted onto the business's streaming support. The movie features actor Christian Babels, who's famous for his function in Die Beautiful", as the primary star. Normally, there is a single film each day.
From the sound of things, the movie is also likely to be a shoo-in for a number of technical categories. It is a Rom-Com which is very rare for Clint Eastwood. The very first film showed the world you could have a thriving R-rated superhero film. Regardless of the story being set in the 1970s, it's a really timely and appropriate film that has something to say about the condition of the world these days, which aids its case.
The value of new and advanced movies has never been higher. Among the biggest changes is the debut of a totally new category to celebrate achievement in popular film. The problem of diversity in director roles is solely depending on the executives of each business. There's still reason to hope. Pretty ironic if you want my opinion. With the beginning of a new decade, the large, important work flooded in. The art of appropriate democracy and ethos of appropriate campaigning has died quite a long time ago.


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To expand on Dr. Willett's quote from my last blog, we've often heard that fat is bad. Simple as that. However, this is not true and is never what the science showed, but was rather a tragic oversimplification of the science. Saturated fat was the culprit contributing to increased disease and mortality. But other fats, such as mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, were, and still are, shown to be healthy for you. Importantly, I am not saying these fats are "not as bad" for you. I am saying they are in fact healthy for you. Like a fruit or a vegetable, they actually contribute in many ways to health and longevity. Such fats play integral roles in regulating cholesterol, protecting nerves, building hormones, controlling blood clotting, and more. Without diving too deep into the literature on fats, it is worth noting that the reputable Nurses' Health Study has shown that replacing 5% of total calories as saturated fat with unsaturated fat reduces the risk of heart attack or death from heart disease by 40%. This is no small reduction! Also, in the Seven Countries study from long ago, the country with the lowest rate of heart disease (Crete) had the highest average total fat intake, mostly from olive oil. This is because not all fats are created equal. There are good fats and bad fats. Saturated and trans-fats are the bad ones, so avoid them when you can!
To help you at the grocery store, I have provided a list below that includes the most common sources of good and bad fats. This list also appears in Dr. Willett's book, which I described a couple blogs ago. Some of these items are probably obvious, while others may be surprising.
Good Fat (Poly- and Mono-Unsaturated Fat)
- Peanuts, cashews, peanut butter, and most other nuts
- Avocadoes, corn, soybeans, and olives
- Olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, and corn oil
- Fish
Bad Fat (Saturated Fat)
- · Whole milk, butter, cheese, and ice cream
- Red meat
- Chocolate
- Coconuts, coconut milk, and coconut oil
Bad Fat (Tans-Fat)
*Mostly banned now, but may still pop up in restaurants from the following sources.
*Mostly banned now, but may still pop up in restaurants from the following sources.
- · Most margarines
- Vegetable shortenings and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
- Deep fried chips and French fried
- Many fast foods and commercial baked goods
While often favored for its multi-purpose uses ranging from cosmetics to cooking, note that coconut oil is actually lumped into the "bad fat" category next to cheese, butter, and red meat. So while they may be fine to apply as skin or hair cosmetics, from a dietary standpoint most coconut products are major sources of saturated fat and therefore should be eaten sparingly. An exception is coconut water sold at the store. Most of these drinks have been processed to remove the fat. Though if you're unsure, you can always check the nutrition label on the back of the product.
A word on fat-free products
It is important to realize that most non-fat products maintain good flavor by simply replacing fats with sugars. And this is not necessarily a good thing. It fact, it is often bad. First, you may be replacing good fats with empty sugars calories, as is often the case with non-fat salad dressing where healthy oils have been replaced with nutritionally deprived sugars. In other cases, such as milk and cheese, low- or fat-free options make sense. Second, non-fat products, while lower in fat, often contain the same or more in total calories. And importantly, carbohydrates (sugars) increase weight just as effectively as fats. Third, eating refined sugar leads to insulin spikes in the blood that don't occur when eating fat. Finally, eating non-fat products can have the unintended effect of making the consumer think they can eat more of that product, since it's fat free, ultimately resulting in higher calorie intake and weight gain. So be careful when you choose "fat-free."
If you found this article informative, please support me by joining my blog! Simply click the "join this site" button at the top right of the page, log in using your Yahoo, Google, or Twitter account, and click "follow publicly." Thanks!!
Shahir Masri, M.S.


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The Associated Press is trying to find out if the Cash for Clunkers program is working.
In the era of "transparency," it's having a hard time getting any help from the Obama administration.
According to the AP, the Department of Transportation reports it's "too busy" to provide information that car dealers are providing to it about the program.
But from what little data has been released, it appears it's been a gold mine… for "foreign" car companies:
The limited information shows most buyers are not picking Ford, Chrysler or General Motors vehicles, and six of the top 10 vehicles purchased are Honda, Toyota and Hyundai. The Associated Press has sought release of the data since last week. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday the government would release it.
It's true that many of the popular models are made in the U.S., but the Prius — one of the popular cars in this deal — isn't one of them. It's only made in Japan.
The Honda Accord, on the other hand, is made in Marysville, Ohio. The V6 model comes from Alabama. Seventy-six percent of Hondas sold in the United States are made in the U.S.
So far, the Ford Focus is the top-selling vehicle under the government's program. It's made in Wayne, Michigan.
But not all fuel efficient car models are benefiting from the program. Sales of the Chevy Cobalt, GM's most fuel efficient car, tanked in July.


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Allison & Charles {Downtown Austin Wedding}
Allison and Charlie's big day was a beautiful downtown affair filled with so many belly laughs. They both came from such kind and caring families and it was so special to be a part of them starting their own!
Venues: St. Mary's Cathedral and The Driskill


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PROVIDENCE – Dr. Osama Hamdy, medical director of Joslin Diabetes Center's obesity clinical program, calls diabetes a "global health crisis" wreaking havoc on an individual's eyes, kidneys, feet, nerves, heart, reflexes, etc., and reducing one's longevity. "I usually say [diabetes] is like termites; you don't see it, but, in reality, it affects every single organ in the body," said Hamdy, who also directs the inpatient diabetes program at Joslin, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and who served as the keynote speaker at the Rhode Island Business Group on Health's "Summit on Diabetes Prevention," which was held Jan. 20 at the Providence Marriott Downtown.
Across the country – and in Rhode Island – the situation is dire. Every year, approximately 69,000 Rhode Islanders are diagnosed with diabetes; currently, approximately 108,000 Rhode Islanders have diabetes, only some of whom know their diagnosis. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that diabetes has an approximately $1.1 billion annual impact in Rhode Island – an estimated $800 million was spent in 2012 on direct medical expenses for diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes, and another $300 million was spent in 2012 on indirect costs from lost productivity due to diabetes. Further, CDC data show that medical costs for people with diagnosed diabetes incur an average of 2.3 times the medical expenses of their non-diabetic peers. Approximately 43 percent of employees in Rhode Island diagnosed with diabetes are responsible for an estimated 87,000 work days lost due to diabetes in any single year.
"After Joslin enrolled prediabetic patients several years ago in a randomized clinical trial to prevent Type 2 diabetes and followed their progress for several years, we were shocked by the results," said Hamdy. Lifestyle changes – consume less fat and fewer calories, exercise at least 150 minutes a week and maintain a loss of 7 percent of body weight – led to a 58 percent risk reduction in developing diabetes, while taking Metformin, an oral diabetes medicine, achieved a 31 percent risk reduction.
Discovering that group intervention and social interaction, engagement with a health coach and regular follow-up helped ensure compliance with nutrition and exercise lifestyle changes, Joslin developed Why WAIT, a program offering those resources that earned an American Diabetes Association award in 2015. Why WAIT is expensive, Hamdy acknowledged, and not easily accessed by people across the country.
Enter Healthimation, a Boston-based company that licensed the Why WAIT program from Joslin to offer individuals the program's key elements via a mobile phone app. Available in multiple languages, the app includes an avatar named Lena, online learning, personalized schedules, customized food and fitness choices, and access to a human coach.
An individual consumer's subscription cost for the app is $50 a month for the first three months, with a monthly maintenance fee thereafter, said Healthimation Chief Executive Officer Alaina Adams. As for employers and health insurers, Healthimation, whose board president is Hamdy, seeks to create "win-win" scenarios to share in those companies' financial successes derived from the progress employees and insureds make to improve their health. "We'll talk to them about some shared business model [for the cost]," said Adams, who expects to release news soon of some major companies' interest in the Healthimation app.
The app, which will continue to evolve and offer new features, is convenient and simple to use, said Adams. "We're pushing the envelope in integrating with wearable technologies and GPS," by recommending nearby restaurants and grocery stores with healthy food choices and offering incentives and discounts. The Why WAIT program can integrate with employees' electronic medical records and help drive down health care costs, asserted Adams.
Healthimation, which hired individuals from the video game industry, is one of 31 entities, chosen from more than 430 applicants, named to the first digital health startup cohort established by MassChallenge, a technology accelerator in Boston. Healthimation and other participants in the PULSE@MassChallenge initiative will work in MassChallenge's innovation lab for six months, receive advice and counsel from Boston-area advisers and compete for more than $100,000 in awards.
"The statistics on diabetes are shocking [and] unacceptable… 80 percent of Type 2 diabetes is preventable," Robin Bouvier, co-chair of the RIBGH Health & Productivity Committee, said at the summit. "We're not seeing the public outcry the way we have with tobacco. … [Diabetes] is killing our workforce and driving down results in Rhode Island and across the country." Obesity – closely correlated with diabetes – has supplanted tobacco as the number one cause of preventable death.
With approximately one in 11 people in the country having diabetes – more than 29 million –diabetes is the most common disease in U.S. hospitals, Hamdy said. Noting that obesity and diabetes is on the rise, he attributed the genesis of this growing problem to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid from the 1980s, which pushed carbohydrate consumption.