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Cylance Pro Cycling Left the Ladies Tour of Norway with strong results and looking to build on that success in Sweden at the next round of the UCI Women's WorldTour, the Crescent Vårgårda Road Race and Team Time Trial. The course for the road race suited the classic specialists with four gravel sections and many short climbs, the gravel sections would play a role in defining the race for the peloton.
The 141 kilometers of the race included four 11km laps around Vårgårda followed by a larger 53km loop which featured the gravel sections and another four laps around Vårgårda before the finish. At the completion of the first four local laps the peloton had a deficit of 1:30 on a solo Cervelo-Bigla rider, Nicole Hanselmann. Her lead grew out to over 2 minutes on the bigger loop.
At the second of the gravel sections the peloton was able to bring the solo leader back in, however, once the group was all back together attacks came one after another with Boels-Dolmans patrolling the front. The grave sections proved to animate the race with the peloton seeing splits due to crashes often. Heading into the final gravel section attacks off the front caused a split in the peloton which allowed nine riders to escape off the front. Our leader for the race, Carmen Small, suffered an untimely crash just as the leaders pulled away. "I crashed, but I'm okay," added Carmen. "The girls did a great job of getting me back; Doris Schweizer was a motor on the front."
The nine leaders would maintain a 45" gap heading int the four local circuits, however their lead didn't grow much larger as the break was not keen to work together. Several bridge attempts from the field including from our Sheyla Gutiérrez would prove unsuccessful. On final lap the field split into several groups allowing leaders to hold onto a 30" gap, enough to stay away for the victory; local fan favorite Emila Fahlin of Ale-Cipollini took the top step on the podium, our Carmen Small finished 13th and Sheyla Gutiérrez placed 15th.
"I'm really happy because it was a hard WT race," added Sheyla. "We had bad luck with the crash of Carmen and the flat from Rachele in the worst moment, but we were there. It's a pitty we couldn't be in the right move, but we tried to bridge to catch them but finally we only could be fighting for the sprint and we arrived with strength enough for it [Carmen placed second in the field sprint]. Next week more!"
Crescent Vårgårda Road Race Results:
Rnk Rider Team Time
1 FAHLIN Emilia Alé Cipollini 3:35:31
2 LEPISTÖ Lotta Cervélo-Bigla Pro Cycling st
3 BLAAK Chantal Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team st
13 SMALL Carmen Cylance Pro Cycling 0:48
15 GUTIÉRREZ Sheyla Cylance Pro Cycling st
52 RATTO Rossella Cylance Pro Cycling st
79 SCHWEIZER Doris Cylance Pro Cycling 4:43
Team places 8th in Crescent Vårgårda Team Time Trial
The Cylance Pro Cycling Team piloted their Cannondale Shiv machines to an 8th place performance in the Crescent Vårgårda TTT. United States Time Trial Champion, Carmen Small, led the squad to another strong performance, improving on their effort in the TTT at the Amgen Tour of California. With only the World Team Time Trial Championships in Doha, Qatar remaining on the calendar in the discipline, team director Manel Lacambra was pleased with the team's improvement; "I'm very proud of my girls, they did a great job today," he added.
"I am very proud of the effort that the team did in the team time trial," added Alison Tetrick. "Everyone was motivated to do their best and give everything to the overall result. A team time trial is a beautiful discipline because it is a purely team driven race. I am continually inspired by this team and their motivation. We had fun introducing Rachele to her first TTT, and it was a WWT race nonetheless! Our young team is consistently developing and delivering."
The Team Time Trial World Championships will take place in Doha, Qatar on October 9th over a 40km course starting in the Lusail Sports Complex and finishing in The Pearl Qatar.
Crescent Vårgårda Team Time Trial Results:
Pos. Team Time DelaySpeed
1 Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team 51:43 49.307
2 Cervélo-Bigla Pro Cycling 52:19 0:36 48.742
3 Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team 52:59 1:16 48.128
8 Cylance Pro Cycling 54:40 2:57 46.646


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Ramsey County Attorney John Choi is taking an unprecedented approach to tackling child sex trafficking: He plans to take a civil statute designed primarily to protect kids from neglectful parents and use it to file no-contact orders between alleged perpetrators and their juvenile victims.
Some advocates are hailing the new effort as creative and proactive, while critics warn of possible civil liberties violations. It's unclear how many cases could be affected by the strategy, which will roll out next year if Choi's proposed 2014 budget is approved. The budget allows for the addition of one full-time attorney and one full-time clerk to his Child Protection Unit.
"It's really hard to help these children, these victims," Choi said. "There's a whole host of challenges."
Sex trafficking of juveniles has taken center stage locally and nationally in recent months. In July, Ramsey County tried three men for allegedly trafficking vulnerable girls as young as 15, getting convictions for two defendants and a deadlocked jury for a third. The FBI announced that same month that authorities arrested two suspects in St. Paul, one in Minneapolis and one in Anoka County as part of a nationwide child sex trafficking sweep that led to the arrest of 152 alleged pimps and the recovery of 106 juveniles.
Data from the Minnesota State Court Administrator's Office shows that charges for first-degree sex trafficking of someone under 18 increased statewide from 22 charges in 2003 to 48 in 2012. Across Minnesota, 22 charges have been filed so far this year, with Ramsey County filing six charges and Hennepin County filing the most: nine.
Choi said there are undoubtedly more victims whose cases fall to the wayside because there isn't enough evidence to pursue criminal charges. That's why he intends to pursue civil injunctions using Minnesota statute 260C.335.
Lower threshold of proof
Chuck Samuelson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, is concerned that people could be obliquely convicted.
"It's a backdoor approach to convictions," Samuelson said. "Shame on him for using civil law to get what he can't get with criminal law. This right now is a politically popular thing to do, and the trouble is, civil liberties are almost never popular because they are the protection of the minority."
Criminal charges must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, while civil cases have a lower threshold of proof, requiring a preponderance of evidence. Choi's plan is to file injunctions against people suspected of trafficking or exploiting victims under age 18. Prosecutors will have to present evidence in hopes of convincing a judge to grant a no-contact or stay-away order, which will vary in length depending on the case. Theoretically, Choi said, his office could seek an order between a suspect and all juveniles, not just the victim. (Stay-away orders are typically used to ban someone from a place or location.)
"We'll be following the applicable rules and statutes, and we ultimately have to prove the case," Choi said. "I don't see any of those [civil liberties] issues at all."
Criminal charges will always be pursued when possible, he added.
Choi used injunctions before
The strategy takes a page from domestic abuse cases, where prosecutors can seek a no-contact order between suspects and victims. Choi also used civil injunctions in his previous role as St. Paul city attorney to ban three different gangs from two city festivals in 2009.
The gang injunctions were a first for Minnesota but had been used elsewhere in the country. Local and national advocates said using civil injunctions against alleged traffickers appears to be a first.
"I think it's very creative and innovative," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children in Alexandria, Va. "It deserves an opportunity to work."
Choi's intent is to use it for victims who are admitted to the county's Runaway Intervention Project (RIP), and who want an injunction. Sexually abused runaways are referred for a medical assessment and those who qualify receive intensive services, including home and school visits by a nurse, and individualized case management that could last up to a year.
Runaways are vulnerable
Although reliable statistics are difficult to come by, advocates say that runaways are vulnerable to sexual exploitation. RIP reports that between November 2005 and June 2013, the program screened 2,577 cases. About 96 percent of the cases were girls, and 4 percent boys. The average age of runaways screened was 14, and 560 cases reported being sexually exploited, raped or having suffered incest. (Some cases could involve multiple categories of exploitation.)
Breaking Free, a Minnesota nonprofit that works with victims of trafficking and prostitution, served 466 victims and survivors in the past fiscal year, 145 of whom were between ages 16 and 21, said Noelle Volin, the group's staff attorney and director of policy.
Sometimes it may be too difficult for youth to participate in the process of charging a trafficker criminally, said Laurel Edinburgh, a nurse practitioner at Children's Hospitals and Clinics in St. Paul who helped develop RIP.
A tool to protect children
"I think we need some tool to keep [alleged perpetrators] away," Edinburgh said. "We're not going to be able to help [victims] if they have ongoing contact with their trafficker."
The civil statute is "written quite broadly" to protect juveniles from parents or other adults who harm them, accommodating Choi's strategy, said Ted Sampsell-Jones, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law.
But there is still a gray area, some say.
"The pseudo-criminal tone, even though this is a civil proceeding, casts kind of a serious civil liberties question on it," said Eileen Scallen, associate dean at the UCLA School of Law. "It's a very hard balance. "
One concern Samuelson has is that violating a no-contact order is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail. Depending on the case and the suspect's history, a violation could be elevated to a gross misdemeanor or felony.
"You're putting them in jail for a criminal offense," Samuelson said, "but it's a wink, wink, nudge, nudge."
Staff writer Nicole Norfleet contributed to this report.
Twitter: @ChaoStrib

subset: commoncrawl


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Taser diversifies its arsenal | Proto-RoboCop: The iconic maker of stun-guns aims to take policing into cyberspace.
YOU know you have made it when the name of your firm mutates into a verb, as with Google and Hoover. A recent addition to this select group is Taser International. To be "tasered" is to be briefly paralysed by an electrically charged dart fired from one of the firm's stun guns, usually by police seeking to pacify someone without resort to firearms.
Schumpeter | Womenomics: Feminist management theorists are flirting with some dangerous arguments.
The recent financial crisis proved that the sort of qualities that men pride themselves on, such as risk-taking and bare-knuckle competition, can lead to disaster. Lehman Brothers would never have happened if it had been Lehman Sisters


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I am proud of caring about other people – and I know you are too.
But do we, as a result of having been abused, have to toughen up, guard our heart, stop being giving and trusting and shut down to ourselves, life and others in order to be safe?
The great news is I don't believe we have to … and in today's Thriver TV episode I am going to take you through a step-by-step journey today, to show you how you can be an awesome, beautiful, giving person AND be safe …. not just from narcissists, but also safeguarded against being taken for granted by anyone ever again.
Today's episode is all about being a beautiful, kind-hearted person who will never get taken down by a narcissist again – The Quantum Way.
Meaning you don't have to go into contraction and defenses trapping all your fear and pain inside you – which is not just intensely painful but also means a continuation of the depression, anxiety and emotional pain that you are suffering.
Or … that you have to pull back in life, dim down, hide out and give up all human connection to avoid ever getting hurt again – therefore ceasing to engage in life.
Do we have to give up being a GOOD person, because there are so many BAD people in the world?
Can we still be GOOD and keep the BAD out?
Absolutely we can – like the beautiful boundary boss we all have the right and power to be!
Discover these 6 life-changing steps today about how to be the AMAZING loved and lovable person you are, who will NEVER get narcissistically abused or taken for granted again.
Access the 4 Part Video Wellness Workshop by Dr Christiane Northrup.
This is one of the most important messages for sensitive, loving people to get right – being able to have a great life ourselves as well as help generate that for others in HEALTHY ways.
Otherwise, would our life be worth living, if we had to stop being who we really are?
I don't think it would, and that is why I passionately wanted to talk about this topic with you today!
As always, I look forward to answering your comments and questions below.
Latest posts by Melanie Tonia Evans (see all)
- You Can't Heal What You're Afraid To Feel - August 19, 2019
- Narcissistic Abuse Is A Journey… But It Doesn't Take As Long As You Think - August 16, 2019
- What Happens When Narcissists Get Old? - August 13, 2019


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|Find the best surf spots
Monday February 19 2007 02:00:00 PM
Session's Rate:
Wind Strength: Light
Nb waves ridden: 10
Length of the surf session: 120 min
Surfboard ridden: 6'4
Waves height: 1.0m-1.5m / 3ft-5ft
Waves Quality:
- Ordinary
- Fun
- Bumpy
Waves Shape:
- Multipeaks
Haaaa, It's not my best session but I wanted so much to go to surf after 15 days without any session than it was nearly heaven!
The waves were mushy and there was a lot of current. But I caught around 10 waves, pretty long even they were not very hollow
Created: Monday February 19 2007 05:32:22 PM
Modified: Monday February 19 2007 05:38:27 PM
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text: © facebook.com/proreccowaterpolo1913 11 Nov European Men's Super Cup in Sori By: Tim Hartog Men, Champions League, Euro Cup The 2015 European Men's Super Cup match will be played in Sori. Here home team and Champions League winners Pro Recco will host last season's Euro Cup victors Posillipo on Wednesday 25 November in an all-Italian battle. The sides already have met in the domestic Serie A1 championship 4th round where Recco rolled past the Naples based opponents 13-2. Pro Recco topped Primorje 8-7 in the Champions League final last season in Barcelona while Posillipo edged fellow Naples based rivals Acquachiara by just a single-goal in the Euro Cup finals (6-6, 10-11). LEN Men's European Super Cup Sori (ITA) Wednesday, 25 November: Pro Recco (ITA) vs. CN Posillipo (ITA) Previous winners: 2014 - CN Atletic-Barceloneta (ESP) 2013 - Red Star Belgrade (SRB) 2012 - Pro Recco (ITA) 2011 - Partizan Raiffeisen Belgrade (SRB) 2010 - Pro Recco (ITA) 2009 - VK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 2008 - Pro Recco (ITA) 2007 - Pro Recco (ITA) 2006 - Jug CO Dubrovnik (CRO) 2005 - CN Posillipo (ITA) 2004 - Honvéd (HUN) 2003 - Pro Recco (ITA) 2002 - Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)


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Gift tags
Gift tags
Category: Accessories
Tags: Christmas, festive season, gifting, SCOUTS South Africa, tags
Add the Scouting touch to your gifts this festive season with this unique SCOUTS South Africa gift tag!
Available in packets of 5, either in black & white or full colour.
Designed and drawn by Jana Lorenz
Copyright: SCOUTS South Africa
Related Products
Round Leather Woggle
Woggle made out of brown leather
SSA Neckwarmer
SCOUTS SA has brought back the popular SSA branded neck scarf/neck warmer. This time around they are locally manufactured in South Africa.
A must have for all who are adventurous at heart!
Cubs 100 Badge
10L Dry Stream Bag
Whether you're on foot, on your bike or in your kayak, your gear is always safely stowed. Dry bags are often
used during sailing, canoeing, rafting, fishing, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. These dry bags are lightweight and durable.
Cub Workbook
This one of a kind Cub Workbook was specifically made for our children in Cubbing! With bright and beautiful illustrations designed for SCOUTS South Africa, place to take notes and sign off on completed advancements, this book is a MUST have for all!
DIY Friendship Bracelets
Be a friend, share the gift of Scouting!
What better way to share friendship than by gifting one of SCOUTS SA's "DIY Friendship Bracelet Kits" to friends in Scouting, in school, at work or in your neighborhood?
They come in all the Scouting colours! Yellow and purple for Cubs, green and purple for Scouts, red and purple for Rovers and white and purple for all adults, supporters and volunteers.
Cub Badge Book
Want to keep track of the badges you acquire? Like the idea of your Akela signing off and links to additional resources when completing a badge? Then this Cub Badge Book is the perfect book for you!
SCOUTS SA Embroidered Unisex Golf Shirt
The 2017 SCOUTS SA golf shirts add style to comfort and no casual Scouting wardrobe is complete without one!


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Whatever the flaws, it sings in my mind as a shining moment: when we played Tchaikovsky's Sixth, the ''Pathetique,'' that symphony of fire and roses. We are a small college orchestra, around 50, give or take absences and lapses - a gangling group of laid-back students. In the rear stands drift a few faculty - like my husband and me (on the viola) and a brilliant mathematician, a double bass, who waves off any little discrepancies in intonation as ''details, details.''
Some of us are very good and some are bow crossers. All of us spend our working hours elsewhere. But beneath the nonchalance and jokes, we are passionate about our music, practicing hungrily in odd corners of our lives, hoping for that beautiful sound, aspiring to the living melody.
The previous year we had endured an English composer for conductor - a pale, paunchy aesthete, cherishing ailments and given to Western cowboy dress. But this year we had our own conductor back from his sabbatical of wood-gathering for his stoves and studying Donizetti manuscripts in Sicily. Music is built into his mind; he understands our limitations and can inspire us beyond them. And we were playing the ''Pathetique,'' something we knew, although vaguely - and loved.
''You can't play it by ear,'' he cautioned with a glint of determination. And so we found. Those moments of ringing melody had to be earned with pages and pages of black runs galloping in defiance of faltering technique.
Grudgingly we extended our practicing. My kitchen hovered near chaos with dirty dishes stacking unsteadily, and students concentrated more tightly on term papers, cutting down on the verbiage, as we scraped for the extra time. And still the strong, flowing lines of the movements eluded us.
At the dress rehearsal, the ''ringers'' playing timpani and percussion moved in like an invading army, rattling us and crowding our stands. The double bass muttered wonderingly, ''I never knew I was so exposed,'' as he launched on his opening solo. The bassoon cracked when he followed, fracturing the haunting phrase.
''Could we go back to S,'' begged the lead French horn. ''I blew it.''
''Well, I didn't,'' said his standmate.
''Of course you didn't - you don't play there. I do, and I blew it,'' came the swift retort.
''Oh.'' Very soft.
The first oboe didn't show. The second oboe, halfway through the third movement, looked at me with the mute appeal of a stricken cow. ''Where are you?'' And I, plowing grimly through a three-page run of triplets, could only mutter, ''A long ways between 'F' and 'G.' ''
Somewhere along the line, my husband whispered in my ear, ''I believe you played that F sharp a little flat.''
We went home very late, worn out and discouraged, and I was resigned to hoping simply for no personal dishonor. Before the concert, we assembled in unaccustomed dark respectability - black suits, long dresses, no flaming ties or dirty socks. The practice room echoed with runs repeated endlessly as those feckless youngsters rehearsed with every ounce of concentration.
In the hall, the audience gathered, expecting disaster. We knew - we had told them - but still they came. And slowly we filed on stage, expectant and tense as the lights dimmed and the stage lit up. A's were anxiously sounded and the conductor appeared, contained and strangely detached in elegant tux and lilac ruffled shirt.
A moment he waited, steeling our resolution, and slowly the basses began, whispering out of nothing, sounding the intimation from the sorrowing wonder to joy, soaring precariously. Our breath held - we had done it. And then the second movement, the delicate drifting hesitation of the 5/4 dance, as though the sparkle must dim and only the lovely melody linger on. We rested, gathering our strength, and whirled into the storming majesty and passion of the third, building power and tumult to the resounding commitment of the explosive last chord. Finally, the fourth, mourning prayer, with its tender mercy and grieving acceptance of loss, broken briefly by a flowering of fire and then the slow, slow dying down to the basses that began the wonder of this beauty and now drift off into the unknown with fragile hope.
We had been lifted to a moment of insight and skill beyond us, with the music towering above, singing as though at heaven's gates until at last it faded to poignant silence. The audience sat hushed, not a breath stirring, before the excited applause.


text:
Lest We Forget (November 2017)
- Posted on
- By dandelion KIDS
- Posted in lest we forget, nov 11, november 11, poppies, remembrance, remembrance day, thankful, ww1, ww2
- 0
It's not easy explaining Remembrance Day to children.
Remembrance Day is not an easy topic for parents to explain to their children. We don't have the answers as to what the best approach is, but we hope that by providing you with a list of resources on our blog this month, you can look into different methods in which to approach the topic if you so choose to.
8 Things You Can Do for Remembrance Day (CBC )
The Poppy Story (Youtube)
Remembrance Day Activities (DLTK's Crafts for Kids)
How to Talk to Your Kids about Remembrance Day (Huffington Post)
Explaining Remembrance Day to Children is a Challenge (Globe and Mail)
Remembrance Day: Facts and Information (Primary Facts)
How to Explain Remembrance Day to Kids (Today's Parent)
Please take the time to be thankful for the country in which we live and for those that sacrificed and helped us achieve and build it. Be grateful that we are able to make choices, believe in what we want to and raise our children in ways that we feel are fit. We often forget that we have such freedom and peace; some countries can only dream of such luxuries.


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Maybe you don't want to take it all with you. Maybe you don't want to take any of it with you. We will sell it for you. We'll pack what you do want and advertise the rest.And they will come!.We have a large database of people known to shop estate sales. We'll stage it, price it and sell it and will get you top dollar. Think what you're discarding isn't of value? Think again.Remember: "One man's junk is another man's treasure."The proceeds from your sale might even pay for your move.We will travel anywhere you would like us to! We cover ALL of NC and SC! We do estate sales out of state as well!Contact us for all the details on Bellingers' estate sales and to find out how you turn what you no longer want into cash in your pocket. For a complete listing of our services, visit our About Us Page.
Also visit our website at www.bellingersmoving.net
Can't wait to see you at our sale. Setup was 3136.
Want to let the company know how they're doing? Feel free to leave feedback!


text: Fresh First Here at Wawa, we believe in simplifying our customers' lives — and satisfying your appetites! We use only the freshest ingredients to offer you quality and satisfaction you can count on every time you enjoy our foods. Whether it's time for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or somewhere in between, you're sure to find something to suit your appetite. Our stores offer a large selection of fresh foods, available Built-to-Order® just the way you like or Ready-to-Go when you're in a hurry. Can't find what you're looking for? You can always count on Wawa's friendly customer service associates to help with whatever you need — morning, noon, and night. Built-to-Order Want bacon on that breakfast burrito? How about ketchup on your Cheesesteak Shorti? Even add a hot soup or side to round off your meal. Most of our food offerings are available Built-to-Order at the touchscreen. Mix and match tons of delicious ingredients to design your perfect meal, guaranteed to be freshly made and quickly served by our customer service associates. Ready-to-Go Looking for something substantial to eat and easy to grab without compromising quality? Our selection of Ready-to-Go foods are prepared ahead of time, packaged for freshness, conveniently located, and available round-the-clock. Try one of our famous Sizzli breakfast sandwiches or a stuffed pretzel, or visit the Express Case for salads, wraps, fresh fruits and more. Product and participation may vary by store.


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Interested in being a DSHS Cheerleader?
If you are considering trying out for the 2018-2019 Dublin Scioto Cheeleading Squad please read the expectations below. All expectations are non-negotiable.
1. To be a member of the Dublin Scioto Cheerleading program you must be enrolled at Dublin Scioto High School.
2. Being a member of the team is a privilege. All members will be held to the highest standards as athletes, students and ambassadors of the school. Requirements include following the Athletic Code, passing (5) academic classes, maintaining a 2.0 GPA, and following all school rules. Academics do come first, but athletics are a choice. If you are unable to attend practices and maintain good grades simultaneously then you will need to remove yourself from the team to focus on your grades.
3. Members are expected to purchase items such as shoes, bows, greenies, practice outfit, socks, team bag and other items necessary for the complete uniform.
4. Fundraising is required of all members. Events such as kids camp and car washes are MANDATORY team events.
5. Attendance is MANDATORY at all scheduled practices, games and team events. August practice (8/1 - 8/10) is required for ALL team members with the exception of any member in a fall Scioto sport. In season practices will be 3-5 days a week. Football games are once a week, basketball games are 2-3 times a week. The football schedule is already on the calendar. Family vacations are NOT an excuse to miss practice or games. If you plan to try out for Basketball cheerleading be aware there ARE games over winter break. If you cannot attend August practice and/or have conflicts with games or practices you might not be able to tryout for a squad. Club sports and/or all-star cheerleading are also NOT acceptable excuses. If you will miss more than one game you cannot tryout for that season.
6. Dublin Scioto Cheerleaders are Athletes. We will be stretching and conditioning at EVERY practice. Be prepared to work hard to improve your skills every practice.
7. Together we're stronger. All team members will be held to the same standards and high expectations from the coaches. Failure to follow the above expectations will result in consequences and possible removal from the team.
8. As coaches we are all in on helping every member of the team become the best they can be! We are looking for student athletes who are committed to being leaders and constantly pushing themselves and their teammates to improve. If you want to be a part of our team and can follow the above expectations please come tryout!
Tryout information is in the post below! Go Irish!
Comments are closed.


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Unit 302 has many unique features and upgraded finishes; this unit was recently renovated and is the perfect retreat for couples, families and friends looking for a place that includes all the comforts of home at the coast. Unit 302 is the ONLY UNIT at Gulf Shores that offers a truly PRIVATE Master Bedroom with beautiful views of the Gulf. The room offers a king sized bed and large ensuite Bathroom. The unit also offers tile floors throughout, an additional private Bedroom and Bathroom, hidden Bunk Beds for the kids, laptop for guest use and so much more!
Kitchen: Recently remodeled with beautiful granite counter tops, solid knotty alder cabinets, views of the beach, and new deluxe appliances. Bar hosts 4 barstools for dining at counter while marble and wrought iron dining table hosts 4 guests. Equipped with all the comforts of home so you can stay in and prepare a gourmet meal if you choose.
Living Room: Features leather couch with dual integrated recliners and a queen sized sleeper. Large flat screen TV is wall mounted to give you the best views of the beach! Also, features new window coverings and hosts entrance to balcony.
Master Bedroom: Unique feature of Unit 302, only unit with a truly PRIVATE Master Bedroom with gorgeous views of the Gulf! Room features beautiful wood tile floors, locking doors and floor to ceiling windows with room darkening shades and ensuite Master Bathroom.
Master Bathroom: Larger than most Master Bathrooms in complex, attached access from the Master Bedroom.
Second Bedroom: Features a Queen sized bed, flat screen TV with DVD, beautiful wood tile floors, locking doors and private entrance to the second full bathroom.
Second Bathroom: Connects to Second Bedroom and also has access to hall. Great lighting and option of shower or bath.
Bunk Beds: Great for additional sleeping area and added fun for kids! These are easily hidden by sliding doors when not in use.
Balcony: Incredible view of the beach from your 27 foot private balcony. Beautiful Polywood furniture includes; 6 bar height chairs and 2 tables which allow you to see over the railing into the sand and surf. Great for early morning coffee or a dinner on the patio.


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Wood Studio
Durham, North Carolina
Frank Harmon, Robert Wagner, Aaron Brumo and Michael Beaman
Our client was a professor emeritus, a pioneer in biomechanics and the analysis of structure in nature, and passionate about art. When he is not analyzing natural structure, he enjoys wood sculpting and watercolor painting. In 1999, he asked us to design a studio on a wooded hillside next to his home. It had to accommodate both of his artistic endeavors: it had to allow for maneuvering one-ton logs and provide natural light for his watercolors. And since his own artwork bears the mark of bush and chisel, he wanted his studio to express the craft of construction.
This was both an unusual and didactic project. For this design-build project, our team members, including architectural interns, worked on the site. Designing at the place of construction was an educational experience, allowing the interns to integrate details into the overall form. Helping build the project themselves gave the interns a valuable, hands-on lesson in the process of construction.
2000 AIA NC Honor Award
2001 Wood Design and Build Magazine International Award
2002 AIA NC Honor Award
2003 AIA NC Honor Award
2003 AIA SAR Honor Award


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LUNE Hair Pin
LUNE Hair Pin
Handmade from bronze + sterling silver mounting. Available in: turquoise, marble or black onyx.
Stamped on the sterling silver back with our CN signature.
Approximately 4.5"L x .5"W
Looking for a how-to for wearing hair pins? See how we wear them in our Journal.
© 2016 Christina Nicole. All rights reserved.


text:
In 1953, to celebrate President Dwight D. Eisenhower's first birthday in the White House, a group of businessmen
founded an international leader exchange program to honor his devotion to world peace.
Led by Thomas B. McCabe, then-CEO of Scott Paper and former Federal Reserve Chairman, they created a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization, governed by a board of trustees whose members included presidents of IBM, B.F. Goodrich, Chairman of G.E., a governor, U.S. Cabinet Secretary, U.S. delegate to the U.N. and 7 university or college presidents. Ten years later, the president described the program as "possibly the most splendid birthday present I have ever received."
In 1976, as the U.S. celebrated its bicentennial, 101 Fellows from 56 countries convened in San Francisco for EF's First World Forum. Impressed by the loyalty and engagement of the previous Fellows, EF trustees named five international Fellows to the board, and since that time, there have always been trustees who are also Fellows. In 1977, in a move that greatly strengthened the program's leadership, EF appointed President Gerald R. Ford as its president. He would later serve, from 1980 to 1986, as chairman of the board.
THE CAPITAL FUND DRIVE SURPASSED ITS GOAL AND EF CELEBRATED THE CENTENNIAL OF PRESIDENT EISENHOWER'S BIRTH AT ITS SECOND WORLD FORUM IN PHILADELPHIA, where Over 200 Fellows from 63 countries enjoyed four days of reminiscing and substantive discussions.
This enthusiastic response inspired 11 more countries (from Ireland to Indonesia) to host EF gatherings over the next 18 years. In 1990, legislation sponsored by Senator Bob Dole and Representative Pat Roberts established a permanent endowment to honor President Eisenhower, under which EF would receive the yearly interest earned on a $7.5 million federal trust fund.
A Single Nation Program for Poland in 1991 and a Single Nation Program for then-Czechoslovakia the next year, along with the addition of Bulgaria and Romania to the list of active countries, quickly established EF's strong presence in the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. In 1994, after South Africa elected its first truly democratic government, EF ran a South Africa Single Nation Program for nine Fellows drawn from that country's major ethnic groups and geographical areas. Later in the decade, the personal efforts of President George H. W. Bush, then EF chairman, enabled two programs for China, reflecting that country's size and growing influence. As the century ended, EF was planning programs for Russia and India.
One innovation brought sharper focus to the USA Program. In 1999, a distinguished committee in North Carolina's Research Triangle region launched EF's first Regional Initiative, whereby Fellows from the region would travel abroad and later, after their fellowships, host international Fellows visiting the area.
Each year's program now included at least two seminars where fellows met and shared experiences. EF continued to measure the impact of its first decade on eisenhower fellows around the world.
Yearly newsletters and three international conferences with previous fellows (Geneva, Istanbul, Buenos Aires) strengthened the bonds among old friends and created new linkages. A second Ford Foundation grant in 1967 encouraged EF to experiment with larger programs, increasing the number of Fellows per year to forty-three. EF also began receiving contracts from other exchange organizations to administer their programs.
Much of the tumult of the late 1960s unfolded before the Fellows' eyes as they traveled throughout the U.S.
Much of the tumult of the late 1960s unfolded before the Fellows' eyes as they traveled throughout the U.S.
The trustees launched a five-year capital fund drive, the first in EF history, and they directed the staff to expand the program's size and scope. The first initiative was to add a second program each year to complement EF's signature Multi-Nation Program, which granted only one fellowship to each participating country. In the fall of 1986, six Fellows from the Philippines inaugurated the first Single Nation Program. In 1989 the USA Fellow Program resumed after a 26-year hiatus, leading EF to commit to three programs and 50 Fellows a year.
With the chairmanships of Henry Kissinger and later General Colin Powell, EF's sixth decade brought significant developments, including growing the FELLOW network & strengthening international & usa programs.
The success of the North Carolina initiative prompted EF to organize further initiatives in Pennsylvania, New England and St. Louis. USA Fellows can choose their fellowship destination from a list of almost 40 countries on six continents. While the Multi-Nation Program continued, regional programs (four for Asia, and one each for Latin America and the Middle East) also reflected an emphasis on international linkages, as did two Common Interest Programs: "Challenges in Urbanization" (2007) and "Fueling Growth" (2009).
Since the late 1990s, EF has given high priority to the support of an active network of Fellows. An online Directory of Fellows and news on the EF website augmented the usefulness of the network, and overseas conferences in Singapore, Istanbul, Dublin, Malaysia, Brazil, and France reinforced a sense of common identity and purpose. Fellow Associations have been established in 40 countries to foster a sense of EF pride and generate substantive activities. In 2008, the Eisenhower Day of Fellowship was initiated to renew the fellowship experience, increase the impact and visibility of Eisenhower Fellowships, and commemorate the founding of the organization.
In the fall of 2010, EF sponsored its first Women's Leadership Program, bringing together 19 distinguished women from around the world, and five from the U.S., commencing with the Leadership & Innovation Conference in Philadelphia. Other dynamic gatherings of Eisenhower Fellows and guests included "New Asia Rising" in Bali, Indonesia, "Rapid Change Rapid Challenge" in North Carolina, USA, and "South Asia on the Move" in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as well as two UnConferences (the first in Boston, second in St. Louis).
In 2012, the USA Program brought back national recruitment efforts. In September 2014, EF hosted its first Innovation Program.
In 2012, the USA Program brought back national recruitment efforts. In September 2014, EF hosted its first Innovation Program.


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BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — Veteran cycling journalist John Wilcockson, the editor at large of Peloton Magazine, was recently recognized by the International Association of Cycling Journalists with the Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Cycling Journalism Award.
Wilcockson was one of the first English-language journalists to cover the European peloton and has covered more than 40 editions of the Tour de France.
"With his crisp writing style, excellent reporting skills, and eye for detail, John introduced the thrilling world of European road racing to generations of English-speaking readers who were hungry to know more about the sport. Before the internet, smartphones and GPS, John was often sought out to provide historical details, statistics and information, or simply how to find the fastest way to the start of a race," the AIJC said.
Wilcockson is the former editor of Winning and VeloNews and has contributed to many other leading English-language publications. He is the author of 12 books, including 23 Days in July, one of ESPN's Top 10 Sports Books of the Year.
The AIJC also has voted to give its annual award for the most media-friendly rider in professional cycling to Colombia's Esteban Chaves of the Orica-Bike Exchange team. The AIJC created the award in 2015 to "recognize those in the sport that make a special effort to work with and respect their independent role in professional cycling."
Chaves finished second at the 2016 Giro d'Italia, third at the Vuelta a España and won the end-of-season Il Lombardia race.
"It is good that a talented Grand Tour rider like Esteban Chaves understands the importance of a having good relation with the media. This prize is also for his Orica-BikeExchange team who helped develop an excellent working relationship with the media throughout the 2016 season," said AIJC's president, Raymond Kerckhoffs.
The AIJC was created in 1976 to unite journalists from different media and different nations covering professional cycling. The organization's mission is to work with the UCI, race organizers, teams and riders to develop and sustain a professional working relationship and the correct reporting of the sport on a worldwide basis.


text: The hawo hpl 300 BMS / 500 BMS is appropriate for every type of thermoplastic film. Using the integrated cutting facility the film length is adaptable to the sterile good. Due to the impulse sealing process, the hawo hpl 300 / 500 BMS is ready for immediate use — and additionally cost-effective due to use of tubular film.


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Consumer Reviews of EVCON furnaces
Popularity:#64 of 93 brands of furnaces
24% of customers recommend
Very Satisfied
Somewhat Satisfied
Somewhat Unsatisfied
Very Unsatisfied
What are the 10 Best Furnaces?
Read more about EVCON furnaces
Read reviews of other Furnace brands
Reviews by Series
Date created: 2017-10-02 Name: Tim Buck
Location: South Dakota
Satisfaction Rating:
Put in new 12-26-2012. This included new Evcon 3 ton ac unit. Installers were here every spring to get ac to work and every fall to get furnace to work. Replaced Gas Valve, Induction Motor, Flame Sensor, Orifice, burners. Was getting set to replace burners again, but the installer decided to remove furnace and ac unit on 9-28-2017 and left me empty handed after returning my full cost of it. I'm now looking for a whole new system. Fought this Evcon system for 4 years 9 months!
Date created: 2017-06-12 Name: Scott
Location: Appleton, WI
Satisfaction Rating:
"Best Bang for the Buck"
The product was simple to work on. The best bang for the buck. Looked at many other units and was very satisfied with the Evcon. The supply house was very helpful in showing me the different type of furnaces and I went with Evcon and would do it again. Thank you
Date created: 2014-04-03 Name: M Flick
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Satisfaction Rating:
"To anyone that has a bad experience with the Evcon Furnace"
I am a installer of these Evcon furnaces for years was glad to see not one of my customers had a bad taste for these Evcon furnaces. Maybe it is because the furnace will only perform as good as the installer that put it in. I saw that one person said if he takes the access door off it run good. Do you know why? Because the furnace is getting the air it needs to operate with. Whoever installed it did one of two things: 1. they did not run a combustion vent pipe out to bring air into the furnace; or 2. not the right size of pipe. If you do not have a large open space where the furnace is located you have to run the 2nd pipe some installer just want the money and have no pride in their work; It is not the furnace it is that your installer is lazy or doesn't know what he is doing. It's the truth.
Date created: 2012-01-04 Name: Randy L
Location: Toledo, OH
Years owned: 2
Satisfaction Rating:
"Looking for info on warranty???"
Model dgaa070bdtb I cannot find any warranty info on this model. I bought a mobile home with this model and have had some issues come up. The original installer is nice and will to work on it, but says not covered by any warranties. Only two years old, I would think there should be some coverage. Anyone have any information?
Date created: 2011-12-11 Name: N Trilling
Location: Pensacola, FL
Years owned: 5
Satisfaction Rating:
"Bad furnace"
I bought my furnace in March of 2006. My furnace worked fine for 4 years and 11 months. I turned it on in February, and nothing happened. I have had the original installer out to check it numerous times. He has replaced the circuit board twice, the air blower motor once, fiddled with the regulator numerous times, and I still do not have heat. They now want to replace a gas control valve, but they are not sure that that will fix the problem.
Date created: 2011-09-16 Name: Elaine Gesegnet 716-478-6842
Location: Lockport NY
Years owned: 5
Satisfaction Rating:
"I would never buy again"
I would never buy or rent or walk by this company or the installer again. This has been the biggest rip off of my life. They and the installer saw a good catch. I think I was ripped off and have had a yearly service call not by original installer. I do not think this unit was probably not even new and I was taken. The cover to unit does not even fit correctly and just lies against. I also think that one day I will either fry due to it or be over come by carbon. I live in a mobile park and the installer's name is Bennett heating and cooling, he was brought up on charges by another park fool that was also taken. I turned him into Better Business Bureau but that is all. I don't know how to check to see if I got what I paid for even.
Date created: 2011-02-26 Name: J. Morrison
Location: Sherwood, MI
Satisfaction Rating:
I have an Evcon furnace which has had multiple problems with the limit switch and other issues. This furnace was new and bought approximately 4 years ago and installed by a licensed and insured HVAC professional. The error codes are three blinking red lights and four blinking red lights. I have had several parts replaced. What has seemed to make the problems stop is to remove the access panel. This is not recommended and not safe, but the furnace works in this configuration.
Date created: 2011-01-23 Name: sherry giampino
Location: avenel. n.j.
Satisfaction Rating:
I just bought the evcon furnace and have nothing but problems. I had to replace the motor, computer board and the pressure switch. My neighbor has the same furnace with the same problems. This furnace is a nightmare.
Date created: 2011-01-23 Name: Sherry Giampino
Location: Avenel, N.J.
Satisfaction Rating:
"Difective furnace"
I had nothing but problems with my new furnace. So far I had to replace the motor, computer board and I need to get a new pressure switch. I lost days at work & my electric bill has ran up high because I had no heat for days in the 20 degree weather and had to use an electric heater. My neighbor has the same furnace, with the same problems.She also had to replace parts in her new furnace. I have been very unsatisfied and live in fear that my furnace is going to not work again.. It has been a nightmare with this furnace..
Date created: 2011-01-02 Name: Katherine Igarta
Location: Reno Nevada
Satisfaction Rating:
" not sure what you mean by title"
I had this furnace installed just 2 years ago and already the switch was replaced a year ago at a cost of $222.00 I live in the high desert so no need for heat throughout the summer months. I got up thi smorning and the heat had gone off again. Took the cover off and the switch had malfunctioned again. Paid to have it checked and it was working fine until I turned the thermostat down by 3 degrees and it went off again. If it is goingot cost me over $200 every year this furnace is crap. I hada Coleman for over 25 years and got this one and in 2 years two problems. I should not have to pay for faulty equipment
The opinions expressed in these reviews are the opinions of consumers that submitted reviews to FurnaceCompare.com. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of FurnaceCompare.com.


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Get Unplugged this Summer with AMF
Summer is in full swing and I am steady looking for fun, affordable, activities for the family to participate in. My youngest has been spending a lot of time in front of the TV playing videos games. But it's time out for that! Time to get out of the house and get moving!
As I have mention earlier, I'm on a frugal quest to find cheap ways to entertain my family. One way to save money is AMF's new and improved Summer Unplugged and Summer Pass.
The AMF Summer Pass is a program that lets kids bowl for free all Summer long. You get 2 free games per day, every day. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! You do have to pay for your own shoes though. I've heard that they run about two bucks.
Just register here. There are no coupons to print, just present your membership card. You can also add additional games for $1.49.
Plus, adults can join in on the fun too. Pay $34.95 for 2 games per day for up to three guest ages 16 and up. And yes, you have to pay for your own shoes too.
My family and I did this program a few years back but we didn't understand that we had to pay for shoes, so it didn't feel free. But hey, two dollars per kid really isn't a bad deal. I'll have to add this to my frugal list of things to do.
How are you and your family beating boredom this Summer? When was the last time you an your family went bowling?
Disclosure: By writing about AMF program, I am eligible for a prize drawing from One2One network. All opinions stated in this post are my own.
By Stacie Raye
Labels: AMF Summer Pass, Bowling, Deals/Freebies, family time, summer activities
2 comments
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Watch karma work its magic in this hilarious video
We all have that smug prankster friend who means well but seems to live for making the rest of us look bad. Whether its beating us in a round of knockout, pushing us into a pond for laughs, driving really fast for attention, or showing off impressive tricks and skills, this person lives for the limelight. We love them, but sometimes we just wish we could take the ego-maniacs down a peg.
Apparently we don't need to. Karma takes care of that task for us. This new trending video by "FailArmy," a leader in funny fail videos compilations, shows just how good karma is at doing its job. These pranksters are slipping on ice, falling off their bikes, and even getting chased by the cops.
These boasters are getting a taste of their own medicine. Look who's laughing now! Don't worry though, they're still being rewarded their moment in the spotlight. Obviously there's no such thing as bad publicity, amiright?
Which dose of karma is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
More from AOL.com:
These #foodintheair Instagram pictures have our mouths watering!
These musical Vine enthusiasts are singing and strumming their way to our hearts
A texting bromance starring Nat Wolff and John Green


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A slate bed pool table built to commercial standards but designed with the family home in mind. The Classic Slimline has a compact shallow design making it a convenient and non-intrusive table even in small games rooms.
The design is modern and streamlined. The MDF frame has been styled with straight lines and solid construction making at a very durable table ideal for frequent use. The shallow frame is only 9 inches deep giving it a compact and aesthetically pleasing appearance in any home.
With the classic slimline pool table you'll find all the key features you'd expect from a high end commercial design including aluminium edging for added durability, professional quality pocket rubbers and corner covers in polished chrome.
The Classic Slimline pool table boasts a range of features including:
|• Sleek & modern styled freeplay slate bed table
|• Unique style with a deluxe ergonomic top rail
|• Stylish cabinet finished with an aluminium edging
|• Specialised rubber pockets and refined chrome coloured corner caps
|• Free commercial accessories
We have recently refurbished our Hamilton showroom to be an even better experience. Here you'll find Scotland's largest collection of pool and snooker tables just a short drive from Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Visit our Showroom
Home Pool Tables
105 Bothwell Road
Showroom Opening Hours:
Mon to Sat: 9am - 4.30pm
We keep a wide variety of tables available to view covering a range of styles and price ranges. Our friendly staff can run through all of the options helping you choose the table that's right for you.
Buying a pool table can seem like a daunting experience. These are high value luxury items which occupy a central role in a rooms décor. We find that our customers receive a better experience and are much happier with their purchase after they have spoken to one of our pool table experts. So visit our new improved showroom today for a full guide around our extensive stock.
Too far from our showroom to drop in? Not a problem. Give us a call on 0800 917 8802 our sales team will guide you through the purchasing process using examples from our website.


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In this always-on era, businesses need to see around corners to anticipate and respond rapidly to potential and emerging crises.
Weber Shandwick's crisis and issues management team helps clients across Scotland and Europe develop a culture of preparedness to effectively manage any situation and protect their brand and reputation through crisis communications.
To ensure you are as prepared as possible, we develop crisis plans, provide training and run crisis simulation exercises that include our proprietary social crisis simulator, Firebell, which creates an authentic, real-time experience of being attacked across social media channels. We also prepare leaders to handle tough questions from the media, legislative committees, investor meetings, employee gatherings and other challenging situations.
If a crisis breaks, we are on call 24/7 to provide expert counsel and practical support to help you respond rapidly to any issue, from the most dramatic disasters to complex litigation. We'll then work closely with your communications teams during the post-crisis recovery phase.
We provide counsel to companies to help them prepare for and respond to a wide range of crises, including:
- Local and multi-country product issues, such as recalls and market exits
- Labour relations, including negotiations, strikes, unionisation campaigns, integrations and plant closures
- Major litigation and government investigations, especially intellectual property, competition, discrimination, fraud and international disputes
- Environmental, health and safety issues, including sourcing and supply chain issues and natural and man-made disasters
- Financial situations, including M&A, bankruptcies and restructurings
- Executive issues, including management changes, compensation issues, departures and wrongdoing
- Digital issues, such as data loss, online campaigns and hacking.
To read more about our work in this field, and how we can help you, download our full guide on Weber Shandwick crisis management.


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Watch Metallica Soundcheck, Rehearse, Work Out Their Issues, Get Scared by Bee
There's a new video posted on Metallica's official website, featuring a bit of very cool behind-the-scenes footage. The half-hour clip begins with the band's soundcheck from its recent date in Helsinki, Finland. Next up is some work in the band's backstage tuning room, and here's where things get tense and scary, and a little funny.
The band rehearses a song and there's a moment where James Hetfield makes a maybe-joking, maybe-serious dig at Lars Ulrich about doing drum fills that are too long. Lars looks irritated, but calmly suggests to James that if he turns sideways at that part of the song so that Lars can see his neck -- meaning the neck of the guitar -- that will enable Lars to play accordingly. James jokingly sticks out his own neck and grins, and the moment of tension passes.
Longtime Metallica fans who remember the band's work-it-out-in-therapy documentary Some Kind of Monster will appreciate the long years of struggle it's taken the band members to get to this laidback place with each other. The tuning footage ends after an episode involving a wasp, bumblebee or yellowjacket -- no one seems to be sure which it is -- which is swatted, chased, captured and ultimately freed.
Last up on the video is some killer footage of "Enter Sandman" from the Helsinki show.
The video is the latest offering from the media section of Metallica.com.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio


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Dates: May 17 - 19, 2016
Location: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Bilger Hall Room 150
Registration: Deadline is May 3rd. Register here
Details: The Hawai'i Native Seed Conference brings together conservationists, horticulturalists, researchers, and others working with seeds of native Hawaiian plants, in order to share knowledge with each other and receive training from visiting experts. The theme for 2016 is "Seed Dormancy and Germination" and will feature a workshop with Carol and Jerry Baskin of the University of Kentucky, authors of the authoritative 2014 book Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination.


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radon testing
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Simon Air Quality
Air Quality Professional in OttawaSimon Air Quality is a service based company that focuses on indoor air quality and everything that pertains to indoor air quality - contaminants, toxins, pollution, emissions, VOCs, allergens, gases, etc. At Simon Air Quality, we have the tools and equipment required to accurately and efficiently examine indoor environments to find the cause of poor air quality. Radon measurement and radon mitigation can be done for anyone concerned about the radon concentration in their home.


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25 famous women on the best advice they've ever given -- or received
This week, the Cut is talking advice — the good, the bad, the weird, and the pieces of it you really wish you'd taken. Here, 25 smart women share their most valuable tidbits.
Greta Gerwig: "Don't drink all the drinks just because they're free!"
Julia Stiles: "Comparison is the thief of joy."
Mindy Kaling: "My mom always said, 'You should judge your relationship not by how a guy makes you feel when you're with him, but by how he makes you feel when you're not with him.'"
Kelly Ripa: "Somebody's negativity dumped on you is a bigger commentary on how they feel about themselves than you. Jessica Seinfeld taught me that."
Susan Sarandon: "You can always forgive yourself or apologize for things you do, but you can't ever work through things you wish you'd done and you didn't."
Judy Greer: "My mom told me not to sh*t where you eat, which a lot of people say, but when your mom says that to you as you're packing up your car to go away to college, it really sticks."
Rosie Perez: "My aunt used to say, 'Rosie, I'm so depressed, but tomorrow's another fuckin' day, eh?'"
Helen Mirren: "My headmistress told me not to be afraid of being afraid."
Jill Soloway: "Speak! It's a revolution for women to have voices."
Ali Wentworth: "Don't worry about working out until it's more about preventing death and less about what you look like."
Gayle King: "Maya Angelou said, 'When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.'"
Sandra Oh: "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. I've got to tell you, that's serviced me so many times. It's big-picture thinking."
Liv Tyler: "Make eye contact, stop to really look someone in the eye. My grandmother taught me that."
Marilyn Minter: "Make envy your enemy."
Robin Roberts: "Don't play a supporting role in your own life."
Tavi Gevinson: "'Don't date anyone you wouldn't want to be,' from the writer Kate Bornstein."
Ava DuVernay: "Oprah told me that everything that happens to you is not happening to you, it's happening for you."
Dana Delany: "Trust your instincts — but the caveat is you don't usually know what those are until you're much older."
Sandra Bernhard: "When I was starting off, my mentor Paul Mooney said, 'Bernhard, shed your skin.' In other words, get closer to who you really are as a performer. But I think it's good advice for people in life."
Veronica Roth: "My mom used to tell me, 'Other people are not thinking about you as much as you are.'"
Laverne Cox: "I think for trans folks, the struggle is, even as we want to transition and be better versions of ourselves, we have to love who we are today."
Rene Russo: "You have to maneuver in this world. You have to look at another person and go, 'What is it they need?' You can use that to ultimately get what you want."
Chita Rivera: "Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, with grace and humility. Be a sponge — and absorb and learn."
Marin Ireland: "Fail better. Try again, fail again, fail better."
Aidy Bryant: Just chill 'til you die, pretty much."
Reporting by Diane Gordon, Soo Youn, Kylie Gilbert, Kat Ward, Trupti Rami, Kara Warner, Bennett Marcus, Suzanne Weinstock Klein, Stephanie Eckardt, Valentina Valentini, Fawnia Soo Hoo, Claire Landsbaum, Katie Van Syckle, and Jennifer Vineyard.


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Booklets & Posters
3131 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star award-winning Wynn Las Vegas sets the standard as one of the top luxury destinations in Las Vegas. Whether the purpose of the visit is a Vegas-style romp or a relaxing retreat, Wynn Las Vegas has a multitude of entertainment
options, activities and amenities to transport guests' worlds away from their everyday. Casual elegance defines the environment of the 2,716 guestrooms and suites, all equipped with advanced technologies and a panoramic view of the Las Vegas cityscape. Signature
restaurants bring the dining experience to a new level of distinction, while the nightclubs provide an unparalleled, vibrant energy. Wynn Las Vegas offers its guests an array of amenities and indulgences, including private lagoons and waterfalls, an exclusive
shopping promenade featuring renowned designers, a tranquil spa and salon, and expansive meeting rooms and facilities.
Hotel requires a credit/debit card authorization upon check-in for incidentals, this will place a hold on your funds. If you don't provide a credit/debit card, a cash deposit is required upon check-in for incidentals.
Individuals attending a convention cannot book this property for their stay. If found attending a convention, guests may be subject to higher room rates upon arrival.
A mandatory hotel-imposed fee is charged and collected by the hotel either at check-in or check-out for all reservations.
Resort and Panoramic View room categories will receive the following inclusions:
•Access to the fitness center for 2 people per day
•In-room internet access (4 devices per room)
•Unlimited local, domestic long distance and toll free calls
Tower Suite, Wynn Tower Suite Parlor, & Wynn Tower Suite Salon room categories will receive the following inclusions:
•Wi-Fi Internet access for unlimited devices
•Two (2) Wynn Fitness Center passes per day
•Unlimited local and domestic long distance calls
•VIP Line Pass to Wynn and Encore nightclubs with tickets purchased directly from Concierge
•VIP Line Pass to The Buffet for up to four (4) guests
•Guaranteed best available show tickets when purchased through Encore or Wynn Concierge
The above list may not be comprehensive. Mandatory hotel-imposed fees may not include tax and are subject to change. The hotel can provide current fee and inclusions when you check-in.
Room taxes are included in vacation price.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
Bedding: 1 king bed
Occupancy limits - 3 adults, 2 children, 3 total. A rollaway must be requested with an additional 3rd person occupancy.All guests at this property will be charged as adults regardless of age.
The Wynn Resort room offers a 640-square-foot retreat. The room features natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows and is accented by an array of contemporary furnishings and fabrics. The room's remote-controlled lighting and drapery and room service messaging
are the pinnacle of guest convenience and privacy. Bathroom features a soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower, private toilet, his and her sinks, bath amenities, and LCD TV. Additional amenities include a dining table and chairs, couch, ottoman, pillow-top
Wynn Dream bed with 100% egyptian cotton linens, flat-screen LCD HDTV, high-speed Internet access and cordless phone.
Room requests are not guaranteed, even when you book a room type that states the bedding in it. Bedding is based on availability upon check-in.
Bedding: 2 double beds
Occupancy limits - 4 adults, 3 children, 4 total. All guests at this property will be charged as adults regardless of age.
Occupancy limits - 2 adults, 1 child, 2 total. All guests at this property will be charged as adults regardless of age.
These 640-square-foot rooms offer all the amenities of the Wynn Rooms and feature panoramic views of the Wynn gardens or the Las Vegas Strip from the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows with bedside mobile phone charging outlets.. These rooms are located
on the top 30 floors.
Occupancy limits - 3 adults, 1 child, 4 total. All guests at this property will be charged as adults regardless of age.
1 king bed
Occupancy limits - 2 adults, 1 child, 2 total
All guests at this property will be charged as adults regardless of age.
This 640-square-foot room is located in the Tower Suites portion of the hotel and features wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathroom features a soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower, private toilet, his and her sinks, bath amenities, and
LCD TV. Additional amenities include a dining table and chairs, couch, ottoman, pillow-top Wynn Dream bed, and 100% Egyptian cotton linens.
All suites and rooms in the Tower Suites are accessed through a private, gated entry with VIP check-in at the exclusive Tower Suites Lobby with convenient access to a terrace and private pools.
Room requests are not guaranteed. They are based on availability upon check-in.
These 1,280-square-foot suites feature views of the Wynn gardens or the Strip through the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows. These suites feel like a posh apartment, as they feature a separate bedroom and living room. Room includes a foyer with backlit
mahogany, granite wet bar, separate powder room, and artwork replicas from Wynn Collection of Masters. The bathroom features a soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower, private toilet, his and her sinks, bath amenities, and LCD TV. Additional amenities
include a dining table and chairs, couch, ottoman, in-room entertainment system, pillow-top Wynn Dream bed, and 100% Egyptian cotton linens.
These 1,816-square-foot suites boast views of the sparkling Las Vegas Strip from the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows. These suites offer a foyer with private massage room, expansive living room with dining alcove, wet bar, and powder room. Marble
covers every surface in the enormous bathroom, complete with soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower, private toilet, his and her sinks, bath amenities, and LCD TV. Additional amenities include a dining table and chairs, couch, ottoman, plasma HD TV with
DVD entertainment system, pillow-top Wynn Dream bed, and 100% Egyptian cotton linens.
Room requests are not guaranteed. They are based on availability upon check-in.
Costa Di Mare - Mediterranean seafood and Italian cuisine with house-made pastas and over forty varieties of fresh fish and shellfish flown in daily from Italy's coastal waters.
Lakeside - Overlooking the Lake of Dreams, Lakeside showcases wood-oven roasted lobster and ocean-fresh fish. Prime-aged steaks and succulent smoked prime rib of beef round out the bill of fare.
Wing Lei - The only Asian restaurant in North America to have received a coveted Michelin Star, Wing Lei showcases sumptuous Chinese cuisine--a mix of Cantonese, Shanghai, and Szechuan cooking styles.
SW Steakhouse - SW Steakhouse offers dining indoors and out on the picturesque patio by the Lake of Dreams. The finest cuts of aged beef highlight the menu.
Tableau - Impeccably prepared modern American cuisine graces the menu at Tableau, the signature restaurant nestled inside Wynn's Forbes Five-Star-honored Tower Suites.
Mizumi - Dive into the best of land and sea with extensive à la carte menu of eclectic Japanese creations. You can even indulge in the classic sushi and sashimi bar.
Allegro - Offers classic Italian-American favorites made from the freshest ingredients.
The Buffet - Fifteen live-action cooking stations and the freshest ingredients elevate all-you-can-eat into a gourmet experience.
La Cave - At this intimate food-and wine hideaway, the selection includes tapas/small plates, charcuterie, fine wines, craft beers, and premium spirits.
Among the many other dining choices: the Terrace Pointe Café, with terraced seating overlooking the pool and gardens; and Red 8, featuring Southeast Asian favorites. All restaurants offer vegan options.
Wynn Las Vegas features 2 spacious resort pools and a European-style bathing pool. One level up, guests staying in the Tower Suites enjoy exclusive access to 2 quieter pools and food service from Tableau. Guests also have access to pools at Encore as well.
For the ultimate in luxury lounging, reserve a private cabana.
Swimming pools may be closed for winter months (Nov - Mar) due to weather or maintenance.
Pools are heated in the winter for year round access.
The Wynn Spa- The Forbes Five-Star–rated Spa and Salon features 45 treatment rooms for massage, facials, hydrotherapy, and more; separate sides for women and men; plunge pools; relaxation rooms with flat-screen TVs and fireplaces; and a unisex Zen garden
with lush greenery and natural sunlight. The signature Good Luck Ritual is based on the elements of Feng Shui. Among the many other treatments: the Mimosa Lemongrass Body Polish, the Radiance Facial, the Gentleman's Facial, the Couples Retreat, and the Tibetan
Blissful Sleep Ritual. The spa also offers a full-service salon and an upscale barber shop. Massage, manicures, and pedicures are available at the poolside spa cabana.
At Eastside lounge in Encore,you can sip an alluring cocktail while appreciating the stunning views of the Encore resort pool. It's here that you'll also discover one of the most enchanting performances that our resort has to offer.
Discover a world where dreams swim in the air and dance on water. "Le Rêve - The Dream" is a unique entertainment experience which features aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography, and artistic athleticism. Live music and elaborate special effects immerse
the audience in a world of fantasy, adventure, and intrigue.
One of the thrills of Wynn Las Vegas is its incredible array of exclusive shopping boutiques. The repertoire of retailers includes Brioni, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Graff, Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Givenchy. The Esplanade at
Encore is a selection of fresh offerings. The collection of boutiques brings new stores to the retail experience. The distinguished Hermès and the eternally classic CHANEL and watches from Rolex and Watches of Switzerland.
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificateWe will provide you with financial protection for any package holidays you buy from us that do not include travel by air by way of a bond held by ABTA. For further information visit the ABTA website www.abta.com. Our ATOL licence number is 2853 and our ABTA Membership number is V000XThe combination of travel services offered to you is a package within the meaning of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations. Therefore, you will benefit from all EU rights applying to packages. Funway Holidays International will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole. Additionally as required by law, Funway Holidays International has protection in place to refund your payments, and where transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event that it becomes insolvent. More information on key rights under Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/madeView Terms & Conditions.


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I love giving gifts to people and watching them unwrap something that I've specifically chosen for them. It's a passion that I've always had. The anticipation of watching their faces light up when they open one of my gifts is something that I love. I can spend hours in shops deciding on that perfect colour or item.
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Thousands of years ago in Egypt and China a healing technique using the hands in reflex areas was used. It was introduced to the US in 1913 by Dr. William Fitzgerald, an ear, nose and throat specialist, and Dr. Edwin Bowers. Eunice Ingham, a nurse and physiotherapist, modified the technique in the 1930s and 1940s, which is now called "zone therapy" and is the main technique used today in the US. People who practice reflexology must be certified according to the laws of their state. In Ohio, the certification for reflexology is the same as a person practicing massage.
Reflexology is an alternative medicine, which a person applies pressure to specific areas of the feet, hands or ears using thumb, finger and hand techniques. It is not used to diagnose or cure health disorders. The philosophy behind reflexology is that the hands & feet mirror all the organs, glands & parts of the body. The pressure prompts change to the related part of the body and helps stimulate healing to that area. It is similar to acupuncture, but no needles are used.
The major benefit of reflexology is the reduction of stress because the hands and feet help set the tension level for the rest of the body. As the hands and feet relax during a reflexology treatment, the rest of the body relaxes as well. Therefore, any stress related conditions like headaches, migraines, constipation, sleep issues, etc. improve after a treatment.
Other benefits include the following:
- Reduces many pains/ills in the body
- Increases energy and motivation
- Improves circulation and digestion
- Enhances mental clarity and focus
- Increases recovery time after surgery and cancer treatments
- Helps with detoxification of the body
- Encourages overall healing within the body
If you have a stressful job, currently feeling stress in your personal life or both, reflexology will help. Research has shown that many health issues begin with stress. By having regular reflexology sessions during stressful times in your life, your body will handle the stress better because it brings your body back into balance and helps the body heal itself.
Seeds of Wellness offers reflexology once a month. Call Seeds of Wellness or go to our News webpage to learn more. To learn more about our regular services, please see our Services webpage.


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Our Roots
See how a family's vision and a passion for nutrition, turned into a thriving local hangout spot in West Linn, Oregon. Renew Juice Co. sprouted its roots into the community upon seeing a need for healthy yet quick options, for those that are on-the-go. Learn more about the faces and vision behind the brand...
Our products
We offer quick and fresh options - matcha bombs are a fave - Açai Bowls, Pitaya Bowls, Smoothies, Fresh Pressed Juice, Wellness Shots and overall wellness. at Renew, we do our best to offer the highest of quality ingredients by sourcing locally fresh ingredients when possible.


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Magic is in the air once more for "Harry Potter" fans.
Scholastic SCHL, +5.60% and author J.K. Rowling's digital arm Pottermore announced today that the upcoming "Harry Potter" stage production, "Harry Potter & the Cursed Child Parts I & II," will be published as a script book on July 31. It will be available as a "special rehearsal edition" at 12:01 am, retailing for $29.99 in hardcover or as an ebook for $14.99 via Pottermore.
The book arrives the day after the world premiere of the stage production at London's Palace Theatre on July 30.


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Private Residence, New York
Located on the top floor of one of New York's prime residential buildings, the design of this luxurious apartment exemplifies modern detailing and quality execution. The three bedroom three bathroom apartment enjoys breathtaking views of Central Park. The project team included Studio Arthur Casas of Sao Paulo / NY as design architect.


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A few years after leaving a career in publishing, I decided to start writing. When I look back, my earliest editing project—self-publishing a small collection in university—was also a writing experience. Things, it seems, have a way of coming full circle. If you'd like to read any of these stories, just drop me a line.
Fiction › Excerpts
All In
From the center of the room, I heard the riffle of cards. I shook my head. Baldy looked at me with surprise.
"It's empty," I said, handing him the tub. A white vapor stream from the dry-ice inside escaped through a crack in the lid and slid down the side like an evaporating snake.
Baldy set the tub under the desk with the other containers, then flipped to the last page of my stapled paperwork. "Everyone here is lung cancer," he commented.
Published in June 2008 in Weird Tales and podcast on The Drabblecast. Nominated for an Aurora Award.
It was featureless, smooth, black, but giving no reflection. He touched it. Starbursts danced across his eyes. What had first appeared as fireworks had resolved into geometries. He lay his palm against the black surface and closed his eyes. Circles, triangles, and rectangles—retinal negatives—ordered themselves, searching according to some logic. A pattern of circles and dots hit on a childish outline of a face: a loop enclosing two bright specks and an oval mouth. The mouth flattened and turned up its corners in a smile.
Published in the July 2010 issue of Apex Magazine and anthologized in Descended from Darkness: Vol II from Apex Book Company.
Dead Regret
"Yeah," Tony said. "He's a foreigner, we think."
"He's a stuck up prig, is what he is," Gus said. "Didn't want to shake my hand."
"You should have slugged him," Jo said. She propped her elbows on the counter, leaning in.
"I almost did, Jo. I almost did."
Broadcast in May 2014 on the Crime City Central podcast (Episode 94). Have a listen.
Open Mic
He sat on the stool, and we all glanced away. I waved for Lee to come clear my lunch and bring my beer. The man said something. Then he raised his glasses to find the switch on the mic. It thudded alert, and he leaned his lips against it and repeated himself in a deep George Carlin voice. "Have you ever wanted to kill your wife?" he said.
The Angel Job
Julian hurried beside him on the way to the street corner. He grabbed Gus's arm. "It's the language of angels!"
"Geez, Julian!" He switched his coffee to the other hand. "I don't know what you mean. 'The language of angels.' That doesn't help me."
"It's Edward Kelly. I did some research. He worked for the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague. This is four hundred years ago. He was an alchemist. He could talk to angels."
The Mayan Eclipse
Lightning flooded the room. A figure stood by the tub. An overexposed negative, it was gone before it was there. It was the priest from the bowl. He wore a triangular skirt and bands on his biceps. His hands were raised above a mask crowned with feathers. In the tub behind lay Jacinto. Thunder cracked. In the figure's up-stretched hands, lightning glinted from a sharp triangular blade.
The Nora Iterations
Her hair was black, her face and make-up air-brushed, a concession he assumed to ease the rendering demands on his lenses. The park was wet with the leftovers of a spring shower, and even though she was immune to the lingering threat of rain, she had dressed appropriately in a past-era car coat, her owner's logo discretely pinned to the lapel.
"How old are you?" he asked.
"You don't mean my apparent age, do you?"
"No," he said. Her apparent age was a prim early thirties. "When did ... when were you created?"
My Wife Is Not a Spy
My wife is not a spy. She does have top secret clearance and, at times, I have first learned about an incident at work on our walk to the grocery store, out of range of the bugs it was best to assume were in the apartment.
A guest blog entry for Jeff Vandermeer at Ecstatic Days.


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Monday, July 4, 2011
Bylaw Enforcement Officers Overzealous In Sunnybrook Park?
Boyce is a licensed dog walker and complies by the rules: He makes sure each dog has a licence around its neck, keeps them on a leash until they reach the fenced-in area and doesn't walk more than six at a time. But he's one of several professional dog walkers who say they're being "harassed" by overzealous officers who camp out in unmarked vehicles near the North York off-leash park up to five days a week, sometimes taking cover in the woods to try to catch them violating the rules. "People are afraid to come here now because they're afraid they'll get hassled," said Lori Clubley, who has been walking dogs for seven years. "It seems like they're after you — like you're a criminal and you're doing something wrong. We're not criminals."
Jeffrey Reffo, who prominently displays his dog walker licence when he's out on the job, was stopped by the same officer twice in one hour — once on his way into the park and again on the way out. "I thought, 'Did you hope a dog's tag fell off so you could give me a ticket?' It's gone above and beyond what is reasonable," Reffo said.
However, the city department that enforces the bylaws says officers are not encouraged to camouflage themselves in the woods and catch dog walkers off guard. "Absolutely not. I can assure you that is not our practice," said Elizabeth Glibbery, manager of Animal Services. "We don't like to issue fines. Our mandate is to educate the public about off-leash park areas and rules in general regarding animals. We're not catching the public as a surprise."
But dog owner John Cole said that was not his experience when his docile Norfolk terrier Teddy snuck out of the enclosed dog park. Cole had enlisted his dog-walker friend Reffo to keep an eye on the 16-pound pup while he jogged 12 metres to the parking lot to get some water from his car. He said the "food-obsessed" dog slipped under the fence while an officer was checking its tags — and he was slapped with a $360 fine. "It was so ridiculous. She coerced him under the fence — and boom, she gave me a ticket," Cole claimed. Read more at www.thestar.com.
Posted by ADMIN at 1:34 PM
Labels: News (Citywide)


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This color came together two elements – air and water. It symbolizes the harmony and creates a sense of space. The interiors in a turquoise color always look very elegant and expensive. Turquoise color in interior relieves fatigue, provides a positive mood and inspires confidence.
Turquoise colour goes well with blue, yellow, white, black and purple colours.
Turquoise bathroom
Turquoise color is one of the most suitable colors for the bathroom. It represents purity and healing, helps to relax. It is important to remember that the turquoise color is cold, so most advantageously it will look in combination with white and bright accents that will make it warmer.
Turquoise kitchen
Turquoise color is too cold for kitchen. It would be difficult to tune to a family dinner. Turquoise color does not awaken a sense of appetite. Use this color only in the details, or paint one wall.
Turquoise bedroom
Turquoise color is one of the most soothing and relaxing colors in color therapy . He has a strong sedative effect and helps to relieve fatigue. The combination of these properties makes it an excellent choice for bedrooms.
I would like to provide options such color combinations: classic combination of turquoise and white, turquoise bedroom with beige, orange or yellow colours, and an extravagant mix of turquoise and black (brown).
Turquoise color in the kids room
Just as in the case of the kitchen, turquoise color is too cold for the kids room. You apply turquoise color in combination with bright colors such as yellow or orange.


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Every once in a while (or sometimes daily), I do something that makes me laugh out loud. Like the time I flipped on the lights to walk into our closet one night. Here's the deal...it was pitch black in our room and the closet door was a large mirror. So, the light came on in the closet, and it was just enough to show my own reflection in the mirrored door. All i saw was some big ugly guy reaching up at me (again, just my reflection as I was reaching for the door), and for some reason I wasn't expecting to see myself. Well, it scared the monkey-poo right out of me and I screamed like a little sissy and woke Kendra up in the process. Even now as I think about it, it makes me chuckle. What a dope.
I was going through some pictures on
computer this weekend and I found something else about myself that makes me laugh. Check out the photo below taken of me and my best friend, Eric. Now, I'm not commenting at all about him (although I think if that shirt ever touches the ground, he is supposed to burn it) and I don't need anyone leaving comments and saying that I'm ripping on my best friend. This guy is one of the few people in life that I truly love. It's just that this picture is so "not like us." When do I ever wear overalls and a fire red tee shirt? And since when do I hang out with my "star spangled buddy?" Of course we had a reason at the time...but even with a reason...I still laugh whenever I see this picture.
O Say Can You See Us?


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I've already shared my Rule of Thirds tip (link to that post). As I implied in that one, there's more to composition than getting something "in the crosshairs." Here are a few things that can help every photo you take be just a little more interesting.
Step in closer--one of the biggest things people tell me they don't like about their pictures is that after a few years it can be hard to tell who's who. They're talking about the big, group shots we're all tempted to take at family reunions, etc. Instead of that, try getting smaller groups and don't stand 15 feet away so you can get their shoes--get in close. Get just their heads, or head and shoulders. If you've been watching television or magazines lately you will notice that it's not always necessary to take the whole face. I actually don't recommend this technique unless you have lots of time to practice it but it demonstrates that recording the outfit people are wearing and the shoes they have on generally isn't necessary.
Diagonals--add interest to your photo by having a clear diagonal for the eye to follow. I have no idea why this works--I'm sure it has something to do with psychology or something, but if you are photographing a path through the woods, see if you can stand in a location where the path will move from top right to bottom left (or the other way around). As you think about this, you'll find lots of opportunities to let this work for you--an exterior staircase with a rail is something I like. If it fits what you're doing, go for it. A children's slide in a park--rides at a carnival--even the diagonal piece of lumber that helps hold the barn door together--all of these are diagonals that can work for you.
Odd numbers--it's a "rule" in many areas of our lives. To add interest to a group of pictures on the wall--use an odd number of them. When arranging flowers, if you have something you really want to stand out, use one, three, etc., as long as it's an odd number. On a house, an even number of windows at the front of the house works because there is a door in the middle to make the arrangement have an odd number of "entrances." Take advantage of this when taking photos.
Uncluttered backgrounds--if you want someone or something to really stand out, keep the background as uncluttered as possible. I don't mean they should stand against a white wall, but to have one person standing in front of a crowd of 100 isn't going to make the one person stand out. If you're outdoors, the picture on the beach or the grass of the park, even in front of a fountain (as long as the fountain's water doesn't appear to be sprouting from your subject's head) are all just fine. Sometimes you can't pull it off--don't worry, get what you can and keep it in mind for the next time.
There are always going to be exceptions to every "rule." Don't feel you have to all of this every time. Perhaps you want a photo of your daughter dressed in her ballet costume and you're in a room full of audience members--no problem. Your daughter will still stand out, even though the background is full of people. Always remember, the first rule of photography is to have fun.


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IDOL OF BONE Cover Reveal Puzzle and Giveaway - Day 6/
It was a deliberate act of mental vandalism. Like a round moonnut shell with the meat hollowed out and its sweet milk drained, her head was empty. Nothing remained but a lingering dream of warmth and the heady perfume of petals drifting under an endless indigo night. But there was one thing she was certain of: the world had not been this white or this cold when she died.
For the moment, this was her most pressing concern. The sea of whiteness that predominated in every direction, from the heavy clouds above her head to the damp ground beneath her huddled form, was as cold as ice.


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Author: Frank Adam
Date: November 2005
Click. Click. Click. The rat's paw repeatedly taps the lever in front of it. Click. Click. Click. Each lever strike produces a surge of pleasure in the animal's brain; every "click" is a hit of cocaine in this animal-style drug addiction.
But why subject a rat to a self-administered intracranial supply of cocaine? What does a "high" rat have to tell science? In the above case, the rat is providing invaluable data concerning an enormous societal crisis: that of drug addiction.
Costing the nation more than $143 billion annually, according to the National Office of Drug Control, substance abuse truly ranks as one of the most expensive dilemmas of modern America.
Despite the deadly grasp a drug can have upon a person, many drug abusers endeavor to break the cycle of addiction and return to a normal life. This is not an easy process, though. Many drugs cause physiological changes to occur in the brain that result in permanent damage to the user. Furthermore, the potential for relapse is unfortunately very high; exposure to settings the user associates with the drug is particularly hazardous to relapses. A study in Los Angeles found that 22% of women and 32% of men recovering from drug abuse are likely to relapse within six months.
But hope exists for those trying to reclaim their lives. Neuroscientists are continually expanding our knowledge of the inner workings of the brain and how drugs hijack the normal functions of the mind. Using animal models, researchers have peered deep into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying drug addiction. Additionally, researchers are spotlighting various functions of the brain, such as memory and emotion, as targets for addiction therapy.
Perhaps most exciting is the latest research concerning methods to combat relapse. John Marshall of the University of California at Irvine and Jonathon Lee of Cambridge University have both found a way to block the reinforcing memories that formerly drug-addicted rats associate with their drug. Ultimately, these researchers are working within rat neurons to erase memories of drug abuse so that reformed rat-addicts can return to a (rat) normal lifestyle. But first, how are memories normally stored in the brain; and, how might someone modulate this process?
Models of Memory
There are some truly nutty structures in the brain. For instance, most people don't know they have a seahorse swimming around inside their head. That's right; Giulio Cesare Aranzi, an ancient anatomist, saw a brain structure that he called the hippocampus, or seahorse in Greek, due to its remarkable resemblance to the animal. Another example is the amygdala (sounds like a Star Wars character), a small group of cells near the front of the hippocampus that share its circuitry. This little aquatic creature and its sidekick are part of a larger grouping known as the Limbic System, a central memory and emotion processor in the brain.
Learning and memory may be one of the most interesting and complex topics in neuroscience. How can a group of cells recall facts, faces, names, places, and skills all accessible on demand? This fundamental question in neuroscience has no simple answer. However, neuroscientists and psychologists have constructed many theories and models to describe the forms and functions of memory.
What one usually considers memory such as active recall of facts is only one small subset of what neuroscientists and psychologists broadly consider memory. A variety of different cognitive functions, some unconscious, constitute a recall of stored information and are thus considered "memory."
For instance, when you hop on your bike to cruise down the road, you're utilizing a form of memory that codes for actions. You don't have to think about it your body remembers how. Another example of memory, though a simplified form, is that of habituation; here an animal experiences repetitive exposure to something in its environment, perhaps a noise or a flash of light, which eventually leads the animal to ignore this cue.
However, the form of memory affecting drug addiction is conditioning. This form of learning and memory, first demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov, is ubiquitous within the animal kingdom and often guides unconscious actions.
Experiments have shown that when memories are first acquired they must undergo an active process in the brain known as consolidation. Here, the brain synthesizes new proteins and makes new neural connections to cement the memory. When memory is later retrieved, it enters a moldable state that leaves it open to change. To make sure the memory is properly stored again, the brain must reconsolidate the memory. This process of reconsolidation has led both Marshall and Lee to wonder: is it possible to completely disrupt the proper storage of a memory by interrupting reconsolidation?
The Forgotten Memories
Marshall and Lee are using rats to find an answer. In their experiments, they inject the psychoactive drug cocaine into a rat's veins or brain while giving it an environmental cue that the rat will associate with the pleasure of the drug. For example, Marshall placed a rat in a chamber with one area demarcated by a distinctive checkered pattern. Initially, the animal showed no preference for any particular area of the chamber; however, this changed. Marshall gave the rat drug injections only in the checkered area, and soon the animal associated the checkered patterns with the pleasure of the drug and would voluntarily move to this area of the cage even without drug injections.
Figure 3. Conditioned place preference chamber without test animal. Image Courtesy: Addiction Science Network.
Once the rats have associated the checkered room with the drugs, the only way to break the association is to disrupt the memory's reconsolidation.
Lee attempted this by disrupting the protein synthesis processes that occur during memory reconsolidation. In his experiments, Lee injected an addicted rat's amygdala with a substance that blocks an important molecule in reconsolidation. His rats, which previously associated light with cocaine, ceased associating the two. But it's not that the rat simply "forgot:"
"The memory that linked the light with cocaine was unable to direct or influence behavior following the disruption of its reconsolidation," says Lee.
Similarly, Marshall has disrupted proteins, called ERKs, involved in drug-memory reconsolidation by injecting substances into the nucleus acumbens, a hotspot for addiction in the pleasure circuits of the brain. Again, it was as though the animals completely forgot their preference for a particular cage location - and the forgetfulness lasted for the whole 2 weeks that researchers observed them.
"Memories responsible for relapse in drug addicts may be similarly disrupted by a therapeutic agent targeting ERK or related proteins," says Marshall.
"We need to investigate whether [reconsolidation disruption] is applicable to old and strong drug memories," says Lee. Also, he hopes to move in the direction of a human therapy for drug addiction: "We need to identify a suitable drug treatment that can be used to disrupt memory reconsolidation when administered systemically.without side-effects."
Though these exciting results will aid addiction recovery, the prospect of altering one's memory with a simple pill is frightening. The power to change the past as we know it is a burdensome responsibility that scientists do not take lightly. Both legal and ethical issues arise when one's memory can permanently be changed.
The President's Council on Bioethics, in an October 2002 report, made a succinct summary of the issue at hand, closing with a potent prescript: ".the development of powers over the workings of memory for one purpose - perhaps laudable or justifiable - may open the door to other kinds of modifications that are more ambiguous, dangerous, or dehumanizing.[these powers] only challenge us to proceed wisely and with eyes open, so that we avoid the worst outcomes of our new bio-technical powers and realize the best."
Still, the future is looking brighter, both for recovering addicts and society as a whole as treatments for drug addiction are on the horizon in neuroscience. Through drug-associated memory disruption, addicts attempting to return to a normal life may find this road a little easier to tread. And the benefit to the nation of fewer drug users, less drug traffic, and a reduction in drug-related accidents will be truly invaluable. However, consider the true warrior in this battle, the one who deserves so much credit, for without the laboratory rat, none of this fascinating work would have been possible: cheers to the rats!