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All the same risk management strategies that made sense pre-Riegel still make sense. For life science firms engaged in medical product outsourcing though, supply chain management becomes even more vital. Those firms outsourcing manufacturing of components or products—or who outsource manufacturing—can and should undertake these risk management steps:
1. Have due diligence. Carefully investigate and continually re-evaluate business partners and suppliers. This applies whether a company outsources or receives outsourced jobs.
At multiple points, conduct visits—perhaps unannounced—and independent product testing at various stages of the production process. Verify that the business partner makes products in accordance with the proper specifications and with the quality of materials specified. If faced with a product liability claim, plaintiff attorneys will scrutinize this in microscopic detail.
2. Require that your "partner" carry liability insurance coverage. Man-date contractually that each party procure its own product liability protection from reputable insurance providers. Further, insist that each be listed on each other's insurance policy.
Outsourcing does not mean go without insurance coverage. Do not "go bare" because the business partner has coverage. Both partners need their own policies. Some reasons:
• The partner's insurance policy may have inadequate limits (e.g., a $2 million claim versus a $1 million insurance policy).
• He/she may have coverage with an insurer that has weak financials (e.g., a rating downgrade by A.M. Best).
• The claims-paying ability of the partner's insurer is suspect (e.g., insurer flirts with insolvency).
• The claim service of the partner's carrier is sub-par (losses are slow to get assigned or your adjuster is a recording on a toll-free number).
• The partner's insurance company has no business relationship with you and won't look out for your interests if a claim arises (other insurer assigns you a jackleg attorney to save money).
There are many reasons why you should not feel fully protected just because your partner has his/her own insurance. Also, your business partner might produce for you a document called a Certificate of Insurance. That is fine, but device firms must be wary of bogus or out-of-date insurance certificates or business partners who cancel policies as soon as manufacturing starts.
3. Create dispute resolution mechanisms before a claim or controversy. What if, say, an infusion pump claim arises and one party thinks the culprit is a manufacturing defect, but the other party thinks it received flawed specifications? What if each company points the finger at the other when a patient is hurt, and an expensive bodily injury claim arises? These are not purely theoretical concerns. When a deal is done, handshakes and high-fives abound. Later, when a claim surfaces or a product firestorm hits, the atmosphere can be very different. Even promising marriages take place against the backdrop of "prenup" agreements. (Just ask Paul McCartney or Madonna.) Get your prenup in place when outsourcing medical device manufacturing.
Draft in advance a written dispute resolution mechanism. Also, due to the difficulties of litigating against some foreign companies, have agreements require arbitration of any disputes flowing from the relationship. When it comes to prenups for medical device businesses, it's better to have them and not need them than to need it and not have it.
4. Regularly review product instructions with qualified legal counsel. Craft and draft thorough warnings to ensure that consumers and users are properly told how to use devices and are warned of any product hazards. Get warnings, packaging, labels and ads screened in advance by an attorney who specializes in product liability; this is a subspecialty. Seek references in the medical device field, and ask counsel if he or she is credentialed to analyze product warnings from a litigation mitigation standpoint.
5. Keep your regulatory "house" in order. Know your FDA regulatory and reporting obligations. Not only know them, but follow them to the letter. Regulatory "baggage" such as recalls, medical device reports, warning letters, etc. will be grist for the trial lawyers' mill. Attorneys can and will scour the Internet to see if you have any regulatory sanctions. Having them does not sink your product liability defense, but—depending on the nature of the "baggage" —it may be an albatross that hinders the defense of a defect claim.
6. Prepare contingency plans for product meltdowns. "Dig your well before you're thirsty." Implement procedures and prepare response plans to handle obligations timely and efficiently in the event of recalls or litigation. Do crisis simulations such as:
• "The FDA just shut down our Ohio manufacturing plant. What will we do?"
• "Two hospitals have reported three patient deaths associated with our device. What's next?"
• "We just got a class action lawsuit in California. What is our first step?"
• "Our product was just skewered on the TV news show 'Dateline.' 'What do we do now?"
Identify, play out and rehearse responses in various scenarios. Be ready to marshal resources to retrieve products or respond to lawsuits in an organized and cost-effective way if a product problem develops.
Medical device outsourcing companies cannot control what they cannot control. Instead, they must focus on those factors in their business environment that they can influence. Given the shifting sands of political changes, judicial uncertainty and legislative reform, medical product outsourcers are best off investing in the "basics" of building strong risk management and safety programs.


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DJ Premier ruffled some feathers earlier this year when he listed his top 25 albums of 2010. He's made another list, this time for his favorite producers of all-time.
"Definitely [gotta name] James Brown," Premier told DJ Vlad. "Just the way he commanded his band and when I was a kid, it was called soul music. When James Brown came around, it was called funk. To create funk, not everybody could do funky stuff…Marley Marl is the ultimate hip-hop producer to me. He's the James Brown of hip-hop to me. No one did it like him. Mantronix. He always had the newest drum machines first and he always mastered how to work it."
"Rick Rubin, definitely," Premier added. "[He's there] just starting Def Jam to begin with. Number two, [he's] a white dude, Jewish dude, loving ghetto culture and making it bang…I gotta say Dr. Dre — Dre reminds me of what I do. He does albums and albums and albums. And I know he has a bigger team now but — Dr. Dre, he can do it, still, on his own."
Watch the full video below:

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, today, Friday, our gracious host, Gollum asked all of her participants to post about our Foodie Friday disasters. I think this is one theme I can rise to the occasion each time. LOL
For a recipe that called for cornmeal muffins, I used grits instead. Well, now they are petrified grits muffins! They are hard!!!
Here are the cakey sugar cookies... It was a pain getting them off the pan!
The extra that no one else wanted and practically got hollowed out from getting off the pan! LOL
Michael, thank you for hosting and to those who visited, you all so rock!!! What was your foodie disaster this week?
TABLESCAPING IDEA: ("Brain is saying yellow not grits, yellow...) Don't let mistakes bother you just find an alternative. Then set the table using your successful recipe (just like I did with my "honey wheat muffins with sausage on TT's post) as the main centerpiece!


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Your company can pay voluntary advance tax for the tax year 2016. This can continually be paid throughout the year to avoid being charged an outstanding tax surcharge at the end of the year. The amount of prepaid taxes can be calculated by multiplying your anticipated income in 2016 by 22% (Danish corporation tax rate).
You can report and pay the tax online at: skat.dk/tastselverhverv .
Always remember to report before you pay the tax otherwise you risk that your payment will be returned.
For 2016 deadlines for payments are:
- by 21 March 2016
- by 21 November 2016
- by 1 February 2017
If you pay too much tax on account, you get the excess back with an allowance for the final settlement of the annual tax due.
You can read more about voluntary advance payment of Danish corporation tax at: skat.dk/selskaber. You can find the Danish tax rates and thresholds at: skat.dk/satser.
If you have any questions please contact us.


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alright trying to setup ssl now, when i use manual mode for certbot on domain server.wptguild.com and place the acme challenge i now get a connection fetch error :S
"connection refused"
alright trying to setup ssl now, when i use manual mode for certbot on domain server.wptguild.com and place the acme challenge i now get a connection fetch error :S
"connection refused"
Checking your raw ip - https://check-your-website.server-daten.de/?q=126.96.36.199
|• http://18.104.22.168/ 188.8.131.52
|ConnectFailure - Unable to connect to the remote server
|• https://220.127.116.11/ 188.8.131.52
|ConnectFailure - Unable to connect to the remote server
Looks like a blocking firewall.
Same with the port 6060 - https://check-your-website.server-daten.de/?q=220.127.116.11%3A6060
oh server is down right now doing some stuff
okay managed to get cert etc from certbot now… started a https server listening on 5050 with the credentials, but when i try to connect with wss://server.wptguild.com:5050 i get a timeout
Are you sure? https://crt.sh/?q=wptguild.com
that server is not using a valid certificate
I don't, I get
HTTP/1.1 101 Switching Protocols
can you check if its valid now?
the cert should be issued to server.wptguild.com
note that these certs where generated by certbot and i moved them from my raspberry pi to my actual desktop for testing before i deploy the server on my raspberry hence the port change from 6060 to 5050
and my client is running with force https if thats of any importance
it is.
% curl --include \
--no-buffer \
--header "Connection: Upgrade" \
--header "Upgrade: websocket" \
--header "Host: server.wptguild.com:5050" \
--header "Origin: https://wptguild.com" \
--header "Sec-WebSocket-Key: SGVsbG8sIHdvcmxkIQ==" \
--header "Sec-WebSocket-Version: 13" \
HTTP/1.1 101 Switching Protocols
Upgrade: websocket
Connection: Upgrade
Sec-WebSocket-Accept: qGEgH3En71di5rrssAZTmtRTyFk=
Origin: https://wptguild.com
Warning: Binary output can mess up your terminal. Use "--output -" to tell
Warning: curl to output it to your terminal anyway, or consider "--output
Warning: <FILE>" to save to a file.
so you have no issues going on wptguild.com with https now?
because im getting timeouts, both in chrome and firefox…
this is the error i get: connector.js:6 WebSocket connection to 'wss://server.wptguild.com:5050/' failed: Error in connection establishment: net::ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT
i can see in my server logs that one successfully managed to get userlist from server… And https is forced by my client host so https seems to work, no idea how that person managed to get it working though
okay im going insane, people on my world of warcraft guild can apperently access the site with https without any issue but I cant
had TWO separate ppl connect to it without issues and https working :S
is this because the server is running from the same IP that im trying to access it through?
THIS IS INSANITY, i have multiple guild members logging on without any problems, with HTTPS
BUT I, the host, CANNOT CONNECT… i get timeouts


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Testicular Cancer: 7 Questions for Your Doctor
With testicular cancer, most men can choose their treatments and how those treatments are delivered. Asking your doctor the following questions can help you sort it all out.
You've been diagnosed with testicular cancer, so now what? Here are some questions to consider asking your doctor.
1. How do you know I have testicular cancer?
You should have one or two types of tests that show primary cancer in the testicles and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Blood work looks for increases in hormones produced by some cancer cells: alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotrophin (which can produce breast development), and lactate dehydrogenase. Although the presence of these hormones indicates cancer, the absence does not rule it out.
Your doctor should explain why he has ruled out other possible problems, including torsion (twisted testicles), orchitis (inflamed testicles), and benign cysts.
2. What type of cancer is it? What stage is it? How does stage dictate treatment?
There are two main types of testicular cancer — slow-growing seminoma and quick-growing non-seminoma — and three main stages. These will affect the type of treatment, but at all stages the testicle will be removed; that surgery is called an orchidectomy.
- Stage I. This stage describes a primary testicular tumor, which after removal will be examined to find out the type of cancer (seminoma or non-seminoma). For most non-seminomas, orchidectomy is followed by observation with blood tests and scans. A seminoma may need chemotherapy and perhaps radiotherapy.
- Stage II. The cancer has spread to abdominal lymph nodes, which can be removed using a surgery called retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). Chemotherapy and perhaps radiotherapy may also be needed.
- Stage III. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body; chemotherapy is always used.
3. What does treatment involve?
Doug Bank, president and editor of the Testicular Cancer Resource Center, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer at age 26, says, "It's important to ask about the pluses and minuses of each treatment, including long-term effects and what could happen if you don't get treatment."
- Orchidectomy. An orchidectomy removes the affected testicle; it is a quick operation performed through a groin incision. If RPLND is required, it is carried out with either an abdominal incision or by laparoscopic surgery. With this surgery, a small videoscope is inserted into the body. Doctors can operate without leaving a large scar.
- Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a drug cocktail used to kill cancerous cells, and is generally done on an outpatient basis. It is usually given after surgery is performed unless your cancer has spread to other parts of the body, in which case it may be given before surgery.
- Radiotherapy. This treatment is only used for seminomas, with treatment being directed to the affected areas.
4. Will I be able to have sex again? Will I look normal?
Testicle removal should not adversely affect your sex life. Says Jonny Imerman, founder of the online cancer support service Imerman Angels, who had testicular cancer when he was 26, "For me, it's the same, and ejaculating doesn't feel or look any different."
That said, any treatment can cause changes in sexual functioning, but refinements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have reduced these problems. Also, psychological factors can play a role in sexual functioning. This normal reaction can be helped with sexual counseling. If RPLND is carried out using nerve-sparing surgery, the only change in physical functioning may be retrograde ejaculation. In this situation, the ejaculate goes into the bladder and released through urination.
Another thing to consider is chemotherapy: During chemo, the drugs can get into the ejaculate, so you should use a condom so as not to expose your partner to them.
If testosterone levels drop because of treatment, hormone replacement therapy can be given.
As for how you'll look, for most men, the scrotal sac is preserved and doesn't look much different. But an implant is an option, during or after an orchidectomy.
5. Will the treatment make me infertile? What are my options if I want to start a family?
"Any treatment has the potential to impact a man's fertility," says Stephen Boorjian, MD, assistant professor in urologic oncology and a surgeon at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. But for most men, surgery to remove one testicle does not do so.
But that's the surgery: Around 50 percent of men who've had chemotherapy or radiotherapy will become permanently infertile, depending on the therapy's type and duration. However, for the rest fertility is possible even during therapy; it may also resume around six months after chemotherapy, and two years after radiotherapy. Because sperm may be damaged before this point, it's a good idea to use birth control.
Since there is no way to predict who will be made infertile by cancer treatment, you should ask about banking sperm.
6. Do I need to see a specialist?
While many urologists are experienced in orchidectomy, a specialist who is trained in nerve-sparing techniques is needed for RPLND. Also, because it is rare, make sure your oncologist has experience treating testicular cancer. Get a referral or have your oncologist consult with a specialist.
7. What is my prognosis?
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for men with localized testicular cancer is 99 percent; for those with lymph node involvement, it's 96 percent. Even if it has spread, about 72 percent of testicular cancer patients will survive.
Chemotherapy at a young age is linked to an increased risk of heart disease later on. Dr. Boorjian advises that you go for regular health checkups and follow a "heart-healthy" diet.


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Have you ever felt the need to be more aware of the present moment, to be more calm or more focused? Most people today have trouble fully focusing on moment-to-moment experience. We are either anxious about what the future might bring or we dwell on the past, ruminating on what we could have done or what might have been. We don't have enough mind space for pure awareness of the present, with all these thoughts of the past or future – thoughts that are either pleasant or unpleasant. We are often unable to regulate and manage our emotions and are thus overcome by anger, passion, fear etc., especially and ironically in situations that require us to be more calm and balanced. We are also easily distracted by the intrusive technologies that we've come to depend on. This mind, oh this monkey mind – we often want one thing and our mind seems to want something else entirely. Haven't you ever mused that if only you could rein in your mind and take control of its behavioural patterns, you could do so much more with your life? On those occasions when you experienced complete concentration and focused on a task, fully immersed, oblivious to all the external noise; when you were in "the zone", "in flow", with no internal chatter about anything else, didn't you wish you could experience that always? Simply put, we could become much better versions of our current selves, we could be everything we ever aspired to be… if only we could understand the mind and train it to do our bidding.
If you relate even partly to this, you certainly aren't alone. Mindlessness is fast pervading into all strata of society. Especially urban and supposedly progressive society. There is nothing particularly wrong with you from the standpoint of conventional medicine or primary healthcare. You are not going to be diagnosed with any illnesses or conditions unless you have symptoms that are severely debilitating or if your anxiety and stress are manifesting as psychosomatic ailments (physical symptoms or ailments that stem from or are exacerbated by psychological factors). You represent the majority and are considered "normal" on all counts. Yet you know deep inside that this is not how you should be living; this is not how it was all intended. You could be so much more. Your life could have so much more focus, meaning and purpose.
What can you do to break this endless cycle of mindless living – of waking up, moving frenetically through the day, fretting about tomorrow and not ever living fully in the present? Well, you could train yourself to be more "mindful". But what does that even mean? What is mindfulness? – Simply put, it is the art of living in the present moment – with complete awareness of the here and now, with a clear and calm mind, free of negativity, completely focused on what you are engaged in through moment to moment experience. It is freedom. Freedom from the shackles of the past and the burdens of the future. If you think about it, you can only ever live in the present moment, so you might as well get it right and give it full attention. The past is gone forever and the future is yet to reveal itself. So live in the present and enjoy this beautiful gift of life fully.
Sound great? Hang on a minute though! Mindfulness is certainly not about throwing your hands up and hiding from the "real" world. When we say live in the present moment, we don't mean that you should make no plans for the future or fail to acknowledge experience. That's not it at all. Make all the plans and preparations necessary to fulfill all your life goals. Don't stop living. By living in a state of pure mindfulness you can live a full, happy life today and still plan for a successful tomorrow. Mindfulness is about being fully engaged, bringing all your mental faculties, knowledge, abilities and even compassion and love into everything you do and every person you engage with, with an open mind. Mindfulness is often defined as non-judgemental awareness – that means being fully aware of the present moment, as it is, without your mind tainting your perception and experience of it in anyway; without your mind distracting you from fully experiencing the moment by spewing out incessant peripheral chatter. To illustrate – you can plan without living in anxiety about whether those plans will see fruition. You can work towards your deadlines without fretting about whether you'll ever be able to meet them. You can fail at something and learn from it, without disappointment or shame weighing you down. You can pay attention to what someone is saying or doing without immediately judging him or her. You can succeed and enjoy your moment of success without being unnecessarily attached to it. Mindfulness helps you fully engage with the world, yet not be overly attached or averse to it. In a world where everything is in constant flux, this is wise way to live.
It all sounds easier said than done, doesn't it? So how does one become more mindful? Or shall we say less mindless? Various meditation techniques have been used by mankind through the ages (the earliest known records of meditation date back to 1500 BCE). These techniques have been used by our ancestors to train their mind to be more present, calm and balanced; to attain what one might now consider highly enhanced levels of concentration, clarity, focus and insight into themselves, into their mind and deeper realities. Insight into how to live a life of meaning and purpose – what many of us severely lack but are very keen to find. Science has caught up with this ancient wisdom today, mindfulness is now an exciting area of research. Not only is there evidence that mindfulness has the aforementioned benefits in the mental realm, but it is also known to have a cascading effect on overall well-being, improving cardiovascular health, enhancing immunity, reducing inflammation and slowing the effects of ageing. With these ancient meditative techniques and present day science coming together nicely, it appears that humans could well be on the cusp of a revolution, a new frontier in well-being and overall progress as a species.
Join our mindfulness workshops and meditation classes to explore and delve deeper into this exciting space and to equip yourself with the tools and techniques that will allow you to lead a fuller, more enriching, meaningful and purposeful life.


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Hong Kong stand-up comedian Matina has recently gone viral on social media with her jokes about her straightforward speaking daughter. In this one hour show she will recap her one woman show from 2016 while she was pregnant with her 2nd kid. In addition, she will share some of the funniest moments that happened in her life since. You will laugh and probably cry, because you feel her pain too!
Fanpage: www. facebook.com/matinaleung.comedian
Suitable for all parents, or age 8 and above.
Show is in Cantonese.
Show duration: 1 hour
同日同地,以$360 (原價$400) 睇多場騷,笑完再笑!


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You can add a cost (to the practice) and a billable rate for each of your practice users. This will then allow you to view total cost and billable rate when users record time on Jobs and tasks.
- Open Settings > Users
- Choose the user you want to edit
- You have the option to add a 'Cost per hour' and a 'Billable rate per hour'.
Click Save at the top of the page when you're done.
- If you open an active Job where time has been recorded, and click on the Time tab, you will now be able to view the Cost and Billable rate for each time item:
Practice managers will also be able to view Cost and Billable rate on the total Recorded time view accessible from the Work menu:


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Sponge Cake
Sponge Cake
Introduction :
One can enjoy tea with Sponge Cake
Ingredients :
Take 200 gms powdered sugar
Add 200 gms butter
Add 200 gms maida (flour)
Add 5 eggs
Add 2 tsp baking powder
Add 1 tsp vanilla essence
Cream butter and sugar together.
use eggs one at a time and beat well. use vanilla essence.
Sieve the baking powder and maida (flour) together and add it to the creamed mixture.
Pour the batter into a greased and floured cake tin and bake at 180 C for about 15-20 minutes.


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I'm always really frugal at SAFF, because I know how easy it can be to spend a lot of money really quickly, so I usually stick to a skein or two of something pretty. This year, I decided to splurge a bit and buy a sweater's worth of something a bit nicer, that I couldn't find at any of the yarn stores in town. I settled on Miss Babs Heartland worsted, and I'm so excited to knit with it! I got enough to make a colorwork yolked sweater, probably Sundottir.
It's so squishy and soft, and I love that purple - I'm behaving myself for the moment, and not touching it, but it's beckoning to me. My plan is to start the sweater in January, hopefully as another KAL with my pal Jesse!
In other news, I'm hoping to have a finished project to show you this weekend - it's been a while since I've posted one of those!


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R&R Enterprises
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Discover more about our planet with the Earth from Space video programme. In this special edition, Anssi Pekkarinen from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization joins the show to discuss how satellites assist in forest management.


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© Lucas Allen
"It's no secret that I'm a Japanophile," says John deBary. He has studied the language since middle school and briefly lived in Kyoto. Many of the main ingredients in this drink come from East Asia: sake, shochu (a clear distilled spirit) and a little sour yuzu juice, from the Japanese citrus fruit. Slideshow: Reinvented Classic Cocktails
How to Make It
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the remaining ingredients and shake well. Strain into a chilled coupe.
Sweet, thick cane syrup is available at Whole Foods and cocktailkingdom.com.


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by Lauren McCauley
The amount of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere is now officially off the charts as the planet last week breached the 410 parts per million (ppm) milestone for the first time in human history.
"It's a new atmosphere that humanity will have to contend with, one that's trapping more heat and causing the climate to change at a quickening rate," wrote Climate Central's Brian Kahn. "Carbon dioxide hasn't reached that height in millions of years."
The milestone was recorded Tuesday at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii by the Keeling Curve, a program of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California San Diego. Since the planet reached the dangerous new normal of 400 ppm last year, scientists have warned that the accelerated rate at which concentrations of CO2 are rising means that humanity is marching further and further past the symbolic red line towards climate chaos.
What's more, the recording was taken before carbon levels are expected to reach their annual peak, meaning they could soon notch even higher.
But despite the unprecedented threat, climate action has ground to a halt in the United States under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, forcing campaigners and concerned citizens to take to the streets in droves to prompt the government to do something to address the threat of planetary devastation.
Saturday's March for Science saw tens of thousands of people rally in Washington, D.C. and across the world to send a message to the Trump administration that governance should be based on research and facts—not ideology.
Speaking at the march in San Diego, Ralph Keeling, director of the CO2 program at Scripps whose father founded the Keeling Curve, gave an impassioned speech on why legislators need to abandon the partisan effort to stymie environmental legislation, declaring: "The climate change debate has been over for decades."
Now, infused by the energy of the March for Science, campaigners are gearing up for next weekend's Peoples Climate March with a week of action that centers on creating a just transition away from fossil fuels.
"The Peoples Climate March is the next step for the March for Science, a call to get more engaged in our political system, to confront power, and to demand solutions," explained May Boeve, executive director of 350.org.
"The demands we will put forward—respect for Indigenous peoples, investments in communities on the front lines of the climate crisis, transitioning from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean energy economy that works for all, and more," Boeve continued, "highlight the intersections between our different struggles, and the common solutions we can work for together."
Dubbed "From Truth to Justice: Earth Day to May Day 2017," the more than 50 events in the lead-up to Saturday will include strategy sessions, a massive youth convergence, the introduction of a 100 percent Clean Energy Bill in Congress, and non-violent direct actions.
On Friday, activists will form "Mother Earth's red line" on the Capitol lawn to symbolize the multiple lines that must not be crossed by corporations and governments in the increasingly severe climate crisis, organizers said.
"This is about strength in unity; diverse groups of people are coming together like never before and are creating a red line of protection against capitalism, militarism, and racism," said Kandi Mossett, Indigenous energy and climate campaign organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network, one of the group's organizing the direct action. "We are here to push for solutions like Indigenous rights, divestment, and renewable energy as we continue to fight for a just transition away from a fossil fuel based economy."
not looking good. 410 ppm in just a little over a year is not looking good for our overall health of the planet. i applaud and encourage every effort to ween us off our fossil fuel addiction, and to strengthen human rights, i stipulate that we have seriously fucked ourselves up. very soon, sooner than we think, AGW will demonstrate our follies. the suffering has not even started. and then what/who will the people blame?
Hi, Richard. Been thinking about you. I'll try to fire off an email this afternoon. Anyway, yes, it will be a mess. It already is, some places. Who will "the people" blame? Which people? Trump voters? People who are living on islands off India that are already being submerged? I'm sure there will be riots and wars and all sorts of nasty things besides straight ahead starvation in our futures ...
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August 2020
Recent Posts
- Harry Gruyaert
- People are such dumb fucks
- With the Noose Around My Neck 165
- Funny how everyone in the world besides Trump and his enablers (I'm looking at you, Republican party, right wing media, and the fanatic 40%) know that he's a buffoon and a failure
- And in darkness you find colors: photographs By Elisabetta Zavoli (reposted from The Cut) {Why I love photography part 1000000001}
- A Perfect Headline: "Tucker Carlson Rallies to Demon Sperm Doc's Defense: 'SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED'"
- Got this one right
- Trump's New Favorite COVID Doctor Believes in Alien DNA, Demon Sperm, and Hydroxychloroquine. [Is Trump even the least bit reality-based?] [By the way, Madonna bought into this batshit pediatrician's claims as well. How many others?]
- from Albarran Cabrera's Des Oiseaus
- RIP Peter Green


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Gamania's Hero 108 to arrive in US, Europe gaming markets this March
Legends from the Chinese history will soon rush on to your gaming screen, thanks to Gamania Digital Entertainment. The online games creator based in Taiwan is all set to roll out its new Hero 108, an in-house developed animation based on ancient Chinese legends. The launch is likely to happen this March in the US and Europe. This apart, the company is also planning an online game version in these two markets during the second quarter of 2010.
With the new game titles coming up, Gamania is expected to gain more acceptance in the west where gaming companies are foreseeing an added boom. The digital entertainment major will have its work cut out when the company brass readies Gamania's roadmap for 2010. Gamania is expected to push up its business operation with a focus on overseas markets.
As part of the plan, Gamania will be offering five to seven in-house developed online games in major markets around the world. The success will depend on how Hero 108 strikes a chord with US and European gaming enthusiasts. The company which has set up operating subsidiaries in China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, will soon be adopting a licensing model for other overseas markets.
(Via DigiTimes)


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Makes it possible to duplicate a widget so it can be used more than once (i.e. in two different sidebars or two times in the same sidebar). This plugin is using the internal widget support of WordPress 2.2 and above. If you plan to use this plugin with WordPress 2.1 or below you have to download version 1.0.2 of the plugin. Version 1.0.2 and below require the Sidebar Widgets plugin from Automattic.
Free Download: Download this wp-plugin


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Recycled Be More Chill Joggers Lounge Set
60% Off Everything*
$32.00 $80.00
Recycled Be More Chill Joggers Lounge Set
60% Off Everything*
$32.00 $80.00
Color: cream
US Size: Please select
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Procastination is key. The sweater comes in a recycled ribbed fabric and features a relaxed silhouette, crew neckline, and drop sleeves. The matching joggers feature a high-waisted, relaxed silhouette, fitted cuffs, and elasticized, drawstring waist with tie closure.
Size Chart
Not sure about your size? We've got you. Click below for the size chart.
Shipping and Returns
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Get your goods with super easy shipping!
Shipping option Shipping times Shipping cost USA Express Shipping 5-6 business days $11.99 per order USA Standard Shipping 9-11 business days $9.99 per order Europe and International Shipping Europe Up to 8 business days. International 5-14 business days $9.99 per order
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Returns info
Returns from the USA are EASY, FAST, TRACKABLE & COST EFFECTIVE!
We're bummed things didn't work out for you, but here's the good news: you get 60 days to return your items starting from the day you receive your dispatch email.
Click here to view our full Returns Policy.


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According to Sam Weinman of the The Journal News, Stephen Valiquette would love nothing more than to be a New York Ranger next season. Sam recently asked Valley about it:
Just how much does Valiquette like being a Ranger? This is how he described it to me:
The staff is the best in the league. It's the best facility. The best plane. The best food on the plane. The best workout facilities. The best coaches. There isn't one negative aspect of being a New York Ranger. The quality of life is great here.
In other words, he's pretty miserable.
I wonder where Valiquette ranks on Slats' list of players to re-sign.


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Trump becomes a taxing issue for Democrats
One of the issues that has simmered since President Trump descended the escalator after announcing he candidacy has been the question of his tax returns.
Before delving into that issue, allow me to make my own opinion clear. I do not believe that any candidate for public office should be required to reveal their tax returns … period. I have not come to this opinion because of Trump.
I have long advised my candidate clients to firmly reject the all-but-certain requests from the press, public interest groups, and opposing candidates. – And then move on, letting the public make of it what they will. A definitive statement will cut the legs out from under that story – a couple of days of coverage, maybe even negative, and then it is over.
To equivocate is the worst thing to do. When I was communications director in the campaign of Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer, he took my advice and firmly stated that he saw no reason to release his returns.
Case closed. BUT, a week or so later, in a television interview, he said he would consider releasing them. From that point until election day, he was dogged by requests for the returns. Incidentally, he lost his reelection bid.
Trump has done a bit of the same. He should have said "no," and pointed to the extensive financial information he was required to disclose. Instead, he said he would do so pending the conclusion of any audits. Consequently, the issue rolls on and on and on.
My opposition to release tax returns is because, in our system of government and personal freedom, a person's tax returns are held to be among the most private of private information. It is a crime to reveal them – even for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
There are exceptions, they can be obtained by investigators if they are pertinent to the alleged crime, but even then, they cannot be publicly revealed unless there is an indictment and a trial.
There is that obscure law that enables the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee to request the returns of any citizen, but even then, there can be objections which would take months, if not years, to resolve. Even if they are acquired by the
Appropriations committee, they are not allowed to be made public – although you can rest assured that the leakers will be working overtime.
If you look over the history of the many candidates who have freely released their returns, it becomes abundantly clear that they have served little to no public interest. There were stories about candidates whose charitable or church contributions seemed a bit paltry in view of their wealth, but that was about it.
Former IRS Agent Larry Yukovich may be correct when he said, "For those Americans who are interested in seeing President Trump's tax returns, I, as a former IRS agent, would like to explain that the end result of their requests really will have no meaning."
Make no mistake. This gambit to acquire the Trump tax returns is nothing more than political noise. Democrats are appealing to a level of public paranoia by suggesting – without probable cause – that there are awful things about Trump to be revealed. It is a political fishing expedition masquerading as an oversight investigation.
So, what about that law that enables the chairman of the Appropriations Committee to see the returns of ANY citizen. We can expect that Trump's lawyers will be making a case to the IRS not to release the returns. There is also some vagueness as to who has the authority to release them. Some say it is the Director of the IRS, but the law says "the Secretary," which would mean the Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
If the IRS refuses, the Democrats will go to court. If the IRS says they will release the returns to Congress, you can bet that Trump's attorneys will go to court. Either way it means that the case likely wind up in the Supreme Court.
Democrats are assuming that the high Court will have to decide to release the returns or not. BUT, there is another option. The
Trump lawyers could file a constitutional case challenging the law itself. The Court could rule that the old law enabling the
Appropriations Committee chairman to obtain the returns of any citizen is … unconstitutional – violating a citizen's right to privacy.
That would be, in my judgment, the best outcome of all.
In any case, it seems it would be quite a while before the question is settled. So, don't expect to see those returns any time soon.
So, there 'tis.


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Donald Trump in 1994 ripped into Barry Manilow because Barry did not want to sing at a political event and have it seem like he was endorsing Governor Whitman. Trump had done the booking and replaced him with Paul Anka.
So Trump was interviewed about this and he ripped into Manilow using profanities. It seems all that survived of that interview is a screenshot. Marla Maples looks shocked.
Here is a Barry Manilow video, my favorite song of his. Weekend in New England.
Who doesn't love Barry? Seems Trump is the only one in the world. Reason 1 zillion and three why no one should vote for him.
I need to see this video of Trump..


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DES MOINES, Iowa — Everyone else might be sick of the snow, but Sleepy Hollow can't get enough of it. The sledding and tubing park in Des Moines is staying open until next weekend.
"Last year, we barely, I don't even think we made the first of March. All the snow was just gone, we couldn't, there was nothing we could do. We didn't have any natural snowfall," Sleepy Hollow Winter Operations Manager Sam Lorton said.
But this year, with the record-breaking amount of snow, Sleepy Hollow only had to make snow at the beginning of the season.
Even though meteorologists at WHO forecast lots of rain this week, Sleepy Hollow said they only need about two feet of snow to operate, and they have several eight to 10-foot snow piles they can use to replenish the hills.
"When we make snow or we get a lot of snow, we push them into piles because a pile will last longer than if it's just spread over the ground. So you can take three, four, five, six inches and turn it into a very substantial pile and if we get a lot of rain … that pile will still be there. If we need it we can get into it," Lorton said.
Sleepy Hollow is open Sunday March 10 from noon to 7 p.m. It will be open next weekend on March 16 and 17 from noon to 6 p.m. before they close for the season.


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and get our June/July issue for FREE!click here
Quiz - Which fictional school is made for you?
Are you a Hogwarts girl? Are you straight outta Pretty Little Liars? Take our quiz to find out which big- (or small-) screen academy is perfect for you. Now, about those uniforms…
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MBA >> Colleges >> Coimbatore >>
SKCET - Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology
About us:
Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore was established in 1998. In a short time span it has grown in size and stature and has present more than 2515 students are studying in 6 branches of B.E., B.Tech., M.E., MCA, M.Sc (Software Engineering), M.Sc (Computer Technology), MBA, B.Sc. Information Technology and B.Sc Computer Technology. To meet the rise in the student's strength, the faculty strength has also risen to 175. There is a good team of supporting staff to assist the departmental work. The college has already carved a niche amongst the public,...
Advice from Alumni
Amit Kumar, Sr Manager Marketing And Events


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What is AESC?
The Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications program (AESC) is in the UNL Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC).
We now have an AESC Minor!
If you want a minor that will really be noticed by prospective employers, this is it!
Explore Our Program
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication is a versatile major that combines communications skills with science so you'll be ready for many career options.
Platte Basin Timelapse
AESC faculty member, Michael Forsberg, uses the power of photography and storytelling to show the Platte River Basin in motion. The Platte Basin Timelapse project follows the Platte River Basin through the lenses of time-lapse cameras placed along the river's 900 miles.
Professor Forsberg teaches Digital Imaging and Storytelling in Agriculture and Natural Resources.View the Project"Follow the Water" Documentary
Strategic Discussions for Nebraska, "Nebraska's Advantage: Productive Agriculture and Bountiful Natural Resources"
Strategic Discussions for Nebraska is a publication produced with the assistance of students enrolled in ALEC 480, the capstone course for AESC students. Students interview UNL faculty researchers, then write stories for the publication based on those interviews.
The goal is to explain scientific research clearly and accurately so a general audience can understand and trust the information.
History of AESC
Communicating agricultural information to Nebraskans was first mentioned in 1887. It's even more important today – and that is why Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications exists. It's different now, but communicating for the public good remains the same.Read About Our History


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Barton, Adam Edward and Beattie, Michael and Bertram, Iain Alexander and Borissov, Guennadi and Bouhova-Thacker, Evelina Vassileva and Dearnaley, William and Fox, Harald and Grimm, Kathryn Ann Tschann and Henderson, Robert Charles William and Hughes, Gareth and Jones, Roger William Lewis and Kartvelishvili, Vakhtang and Long, Robin Eamonn and Love, Peter Allan and Muenstermann, Daniel Matthias Alfred and Parker, Adam Jackson and Skinner, Malcolm and Smizanska, Maria and Walder, James William and Wharton, Andy (2017) Studies of Zγ production in association with a high-mass dijet system in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV with the ATLAS detector. Journal of High Energy Physics, 2017 (7). ISSN 1029-8479Full text not available from this repository.
The production of a Z boson and a photon in association with a high-mass dijet system is studied using 20.2 fb−1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy of √s=8 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector in 2012 at the Large Hadron Collider. Final states with a photon and a Z boson decaying into a pair of either electrons, muons, or neutrinos are analysed. Electroweak and total pp → Zγjj cross-sections are extracted in two fiducial regions with different sensitivities to electroweak production processes. Quartic couplings of vector bosons are studied in regions of phase space with an enhanced contribution from pure electroweak production, sensitive to vector-boson scattering processes VV → Zγ. No deviations from Standard Model predictions are observed and constraints are placed on anomalous couplings parameterized by higher-dimensional operators using effective field theory.


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Calcasieu SO Issues Flood Plans
With Toledo Bend effectively doubling the runoff today from the reservoir and threatening to flood in the Sabine River Valley, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office has taken the initiative to consider and issue a Flood Plan for area residents should high water become a real problem in the next couple of days.
According to Sheriff Tony Mancuso, the department will stage high water vehicles and boats on both sides of the river in different areas of the parish. The department will continuously monitor the flooding situation and if necessary man-up even more to meet any rescue or other flooding demands.
If you find yourself trapped, or in trouble needing or wanting evacuation due to the flooding call the Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office (CPSO) 337-491-3700. If you feel your life or others lives are in immediate emergency danger, call 911.


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Finishes On Skirting Boards And Architraves
Posted by Skirting World on 14th Sep 2018
Finishes On Skirting Boards And Architraves
Most of you will know by now the importance of a skirting board or architrave. Skirting boards protect the walls from damage and can help make your home stand out. The architraves do a similar role but, this time they help to make your doors stand out.
These days however, many different profile designs exist with new opportunities for homeowners to finally make their house a home. Simply put, most people can now live in peace, knowing they do not have to stick with the same old average look.
However, there's another part to the story. You see while people can make their houses look they way they've always wanted, the finishing of the skirting boards hasn't changed all that much.
Not only are most skirting boards painted white which is the norm, they are also finished in white gloss paint. The gloss allows both the skirting and architrave to shine and enhances their look. While this is a nice gesture, most people don't know of the other finishes that can be applied to skirting boards or architrave.
To start with, lets go over the common aspects of what most people will receive when they get either their skirting boards or architraves.
Unprimed finish refers to a piece of skirting board or architraves which are uncoated and unpainted. Essentially, these are pieces of wood which have a profile and nothing else.
Now, unprimed is only beneficial in two ways; One, it allows for quicker creation and delivery times if you were to order one of these online. Two, if you know how to paint skirting or architrave already, this can save you some money if you wish to do it yourself. You may also do this if you wish to do it in a finish that's different from gloss paint.
Otherwise, unprimed finishes are not recommended as it can take more time to get the items fitted within the home and most people will have to pay extra for a builder to paint and fix the boards in the home. All of this explains why a good chunk of the public will lean towards primed finish rather than unprimed.
Primed finish refers to a piece of skirting or architrave getting coated in white paint. This allows for a much smoother finish than an unprimed piece and will protect it from certain elements such as dust and dampness. A primed finish will also allow it to be ready for its final finish once fitted into any home.
This eliminates the need to buy an unprimed piece as these will need two coats and a final coat before fitting to a wall. This explains why primed finishes are more popular. They take a little longer to produce however, the convince they bring to customers more than makes up for it.
As mentioned before, although the primed finish is beneficial, it's not the end of the process. Now let's into the different finishes that can be applied.
White Gloss
This is the default paint which most skirting boards and architraves will receive. Gloss paint allows for a shining effect which helps makes the boards look more attractive and professional looking. The paint has other advantages too.
Its dust and moisture resistance thus minor spills and dust will not spoil the look or finish of the boards. This allows for people to clean their skirting without too much worry.
Gloss paint is cheap as its everywhere, readily available and even if you scrub your skirting boards, it will not come off easily. White gloss paint will work best on white skirting boards or architraves.
Satin finish is a little different compared to white gloss. The process is the same, two coats of primed finish but, once the final finish is ready, this paint is more water based than the gloss finish. It also gives more texture than the gloss finish and has a velvet look to it. This can really benefit some of the more detailed designs such as the London skirting board as it will give the profile added texture and detail to an already detailed skirting board.
The Satin is quite common in homes in the UK. This means replacement paint is not a problem and is quite cheap to buy. Although Satin has a more interesting look than normal gloss paint, it's not as resilient; Its more prone to scratches and its not as dust or moisture resistant. It also isn't as cheap but, if you want a different finish and are careful, the Satin finish might be one to consider.
Eggshell finish is quite interesting. Again, like the other two finishes, the eggshell has two coats applied in the same way as the other two paints. However, the difference this time is once applied the skirting and architraves will now have a matte-type look to them. Because of this, the shine or gloss look will be gone. Homeowners are starting to love this look as it allows the boards to blend in with the surrounding environment & still look the part.
The other benefits include the chance to repaint the skirting should the old paint start to fade. You can do this with the other finishes, but these will degrade as you continually repaint them. The eggshell will allow you to paint over it and will allow the new finish to be presented in all its goodness. While eggshell isn't very common now, if it keeps getting recommended, soon it could be everywhere, just like the gloss paint.
So, there you have it, these are some of the more common finishes that can be applied to a skirting board or architraves. Just a few more can be done too, such as adding a new colour to the skirting boards or architraves. This further will allow users to create the environment and atmosphere they desire. Ultimately however, this is still limited so the finishes as explained above will be most used by customers.
Hopefully this blog has helped you discover something new or helped you decided whether to go unprimed or primed & the paint you use to give your skirting and architrave the life they deserve. Until next time, we will see you in our next blog.


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Went to the Y last night to swim. Still feeling kind of stuffy, and I really, really didn't want to go. Really wanted just to sit at the house and do taxes.
(OK, so that was a bald-faced lie)
But I didn't want to swim.
Went anyway, jumped in a free lane (amazing how it's packed when open swim opens up at 7:30PM, and is almost completely empty by 8:30, even though there's another hour to go. I made it through about four laps, and almost ran into the wall, 'cause as I got to the end, I took a breath, twisted my head to sight the wall to gauge a turn, and there was a pair of legs there.
Flopped up, saw the rest of the woman they were attached to, blushed 'cause I might have been staring while trying to catch my breath and acknowledge we were going to be sharing the lane. She nodded, apologized, and let me get a quarter length on her before she started.
Pshew – talk about distracting. She was fast – big, smooth strokes, good kicks – everything I wasn't. Great to swim with, 'cause she got me really pushing, trying to keep up.
Anyway, another lane opened after I'd done about 1000 yards, and she left. Made a deal with myself that I'd do another 500 and call it quits. Did the 10 laps, got ready to get out of the pool, and noticed the guy in the lane next to me was chatting up the lifeguard and the woman kind of killing time in the first lane. So, we talked for a while. The guy does at least 4 sets of 2500 yards each week, and has been for years. Looks great. This swimming stuff works.
The woman killing time reminded me a lot of myself – younger kids, trying to really get into shape for the first time in her life, but not really knowing how. I told her that jumping in was the best way to go, and pushed the bike (got the standard "But I've got a car, why would I want to ride a bike?" answer). But, she was enthusiastic, so she'll probably be back.
All that yakkin' got me inspired to do another 10 laps to round out the 2K for the day.


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Trackpad and Keyboard stopped working; Can do a SMC reset though
Everything was working perfectly until two weeks ago, I went to a event which was taking place in the open and I had to open my Macbook where it was dusty and sunny. My Mac was in my bag all the time, and so it's also possible that it might have endured some movement.
Now, around 5 days ago, I opened my Mac and all of a sudden I can't move the trackpad and can't type in my password because the keyboard doesn't work. So, I didn't use the Mac at the event any more.
I came back from the event two days ago and tried resetting SMC which worked, but resetting NVRAM and PRAM didn't work, same with boot options (pressing Shift for Safe mode etc.). Connecting an external keyboard worked, but resetting NVRAM using the external keyboard and booting into safe mode didn't solve the issue.
Can anyone tell me what the issue could be? Please let me know if I should give any other information.
Edit: (4/3/2019)
Here is the CoconutBattery screenshot. Having said that, let me mention the following points:
1) My original charger's cable connector became loose (the part which connects to the macbook) and I had to hold it up for charging. Soon, it stopped working, signalling an issue in the cable. So, I bought a replacement charger by FUGEN instead of the original charger 1.5 years ago. This could have led to an issue in the battery, as you say.
2) Around 1 month ago I started receiving a message to Service the battery (like this: https://goo.gl/images/urW2EY). It's not showing now, though. My battery life has deteriorated considerably too, running 3-4 hours at max on full charge, and rapidly discharging even in normal use.
Ist dies eine gute Frage?
At this point I think you need to look at your original MagSafe charger following this Apple T/N:
Apple Portables: Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters
And smash up that FUGEN charger as its messed up your system! Gen a REAL MagSafe charger your system requires. The troubleshooting guide has a link to them.
● OEM MagSafe Chargers vs Cheap Imposters: Teardown for Truth
● Don't Replace Your MacBook Charger With a Cheap Knockoff
● Lacking safety features, cheap MacBook chargers create big sparks


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The property comprises a two storey end terraced unit of brick construction. The ground floor provides banking hall accommodation with first floor ancillary. There is free parking outside the property. Tenure The property is held on an FRI lease expiring August 2022. Rent A passing rent of £39,000 per annum. Rates We are verbally informed by the Local Rating Authority that the current Rateable Value of the shop is £29,085 and the rates payable are £14,455 pa. The UBR for 2016/2017 is 49.7p. Interested parties are advised to make their own enquiries with the Local Authority for verification purposes.Less
Location Description
The subject property is approximately 18.4 miles from Tunbridge Wells. Retail in Tenterden is focused on the High Street where the subject property is situated. There are a number of national and independent retailers situated in close proximity to the property including Laura Ashley, Holland & Barrett, Costa Coffee, Waterstones, WH Smith and a number of National Banks. A street traders plan is on the reverse of these particulars identifying the location.
Sizes and Measurements
Total Size1,984sqft
Sales Area1,345sqft
Sales Width36 ft 6 in
Shop Depth41 ft 11 in
Floors Available
Ground Floor
DetailsRetail Ground Floor
Available fromNow
First Floor
Available fromImmediately
Lease Information & Charges
Lease typeAssignment
For rent£39,000/pa
Rateable Value£29,085.00
Business Rates£14,455/pa
- Former Bank Premises
- Assignment Available


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Barbados joins UN regional agreement on Marine Pollution
Kingston, Jamaica. July 25, 2019. The Cartagena Convention Secretariat, based in Kingston, Jamaica, is pleased to announce that on June 29, 2019 the Government of Barbados acceded to its Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS).
Barbados becomes the 15th Contracting Party in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) to ratify this agreement.
The Coordinator of the Secretariat, Dr. Lorna Inniss, welcomed this move by the Government of Barbados.
"In the delivery of sustainable development, we are heartened by the strong commitment to pollution reduction among Member States of the Wider Caribbean Region, most recently, Barbados," she stated.
Dr. Inniss further added that, "there is much for us to accomplish together, beyond the important banning of Styrofoam and single-use plastics; most notably, the overall reduction of the use of disposables, sensible alternatives to plastic, and gradual transition to a circular economy, and we are pleased that Barbados has joined us on this journey."
Barbados was one of the earliest countries to formalize their commitment to the protection of the Caribbean Sea, having ratified the Cartagena Convention and the Oil Spills Protocol in May 1985. The third Protocol, concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (Biodiversity or SPAW Protocol), was subsequently endorsed in October 2002.
Programme Officer with responsibility for the Pollution or LBS Protocol, Mr. Christopher Corbin, was also pleased with this latest ratification.
"This achievement was as a result of several years of close collaboration between the Secretariat and the Government of Barbados," he noted. Mr. Corbin also particularly acknowledged the technical leadership of the Environmental Protection Department.
This collaboration between the Secretariat and Barbados has strengthened over the years through partnerships with the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, among others.
The Government has received financial and technical support through projects such as the Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (IWCAM), the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW), and more recently, the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management (IWEco), all funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Barbados has been actively involved in decision-making fora of the Cartagena Convention, having served as Rapporteur of the 15th Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention recently held in Roatan, Honduras in June 2019, and is a member of the Convention's governing Bureau of Contracting Parties for 2019-2020.
What is the significance of this ratification to the regional agenda on marine pollution?
The Cartagena Convention is the only legal instrument of its kind in the region to protect and develop its marine and coastal resources.
The Convention and the Protocol on Pollution set regional priorities to address marine pollution of the Caribbean Sea, an effort which is dependent on the cooperation and commitment of all territories and States in the region.
The accession of the LBS Protocol by all 28 countries in the Wider Caribbean will support a more hopeful and sustainable future for peoples in the region.
By ratifying this Pollution agreement, Barbados has pledged its political commitment to implement measures to reduce and control marine pollution from all land-based sources and activities within its territory.
The recent ban announced by the Government of Barbados to prohibit the importation, sale or use of single-use plastics, which takes full effect on January 1, 2020, is a strong and commendable signal of the government's stance towards marine environmental protection and the implementation of the pollution agreement.
UNEP, working through the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, will continue to assist regional governments to meet their obligations under this Pollution Agreement. This includes providing technical guidance for determining levels of marine pollution, establishing standards for safe effluent discharges into the Caribbean Sea, developing and implementing pollution prevention projects, as well as providing assistance with identifying and sourcing new funding opportunities.
The Secretariat looks forward to the ratification of the Pollution (LBS) Protocol by all countries in the Wider Caribbean Region.
Disclaimer: *This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.


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It is being reported that the Orioles want Addison Russell and more for Manny Machado.
@georgeofman of WBBM News Radio says that the Orioles want Addison Russell to be apart of a packaged deal. Baltimore is currently looking at Alzolay, De La Cruz, Little, Lang, and Albertos. It is unclear if Ian Happ is also a possibility in a trade for Machado. If I am the Cubs I would be very cautious about trading some of these players. I believe that Lang, De La Cruz, and Alzolay have the chance to be very good MLB players one day.
We will keep you updated with the latest trade deadline on our twitter @1N2W_.


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Matt Martz weighs in with his 2010 World Cup insider betting guide and World Cup 2010 Preview for Slovakia. We will also have game by game Free World Cup soccer predictions and more.
2010 World Cup Team Previews: Slovakia
May 14, 2010 by Cappers Picks
Filed Under: Soccer Tagged With: 2010 Slovakia betting odds, Group f lines, group f odds, Slovakia betting, Slovakia FIFA Ranking, Slovakia future odds, Slovakia Gambling Lines, Slovakia lines, Slovakia Odds to win world cup, Slovakia props, Slovakia soccer odds, Slovakia Team Preview, Slovakia world cup schedule, South Africa, wager on world cup, World Cup, WORLD CUP 2010 Lines, WORLD CUP 2010 Odds, world cup preview, WORLD CUP tournament gambling, world cup wagering


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D.J.Fluker was at best a RT but a solid one at least. Then, Manti Te'O makes a good WILB for the 3-4 where he can be shielded by playing weakside. Then, Keenan Allen is like an Anquan Boldin waiting to happen, IMO, tough in traffic and runs routes well like a Boldin/Wayne.
Both Te'O and Allen were great values where Tom Telesco got them.
Chargers, with another O-line pick, might be back in the race again and the AFC West might have 2 teams with winning records - Broncos and Chargers. Chiefs might flirt with .500 too.


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Further Thoughts on James Dwyer and Dental Insurance
Let's start with what we know when it comes to dental insurance and patients.
First, the dental patient doesn't really care if the dentist gets paid fairly or makes a different living. That's the dentist's problem, not theirs.
Second, dental insurance companies are out to make a profit. And thus they benefit from under-utilization. Paying more for a treatment code, or for more patients being treated, doesn't work. Neither does encouraging people to take care of their teeth. All this either lowers profits or requires increased premiums. So what would seem to be the point of dental coverage––to get people to see a dentist and get treated––contradicts the business model it is managed through. But even when there is less utilization, these companies generally don't lower premiums, but rather increase them every year. That is, unless they do what Washington Dental Service did, which was cut payments to dentists so they could lower their premiums to businesses. These institutions are tax-exempt, but make no mistake, they are motivated by profit. So dentists get to absorb the shock.
Third, for as long as I've worked in dentistry (since 1986), up until five years ago, the general trend, indeed the goal, was for dentists to gradually move their practices to full-fee-for-service, and not be a provider for any dental plan. This came to a screeching halt in 2007, and has reversed itself continuously. More and more practices are adding plans, for the simple reason that people are not spending money on their dental care like they used to. The days when every month one or two patients would borrow against their home to do a full set of veneers or extensive implants are over. Practices have had to adapt, accepting more plans, and in so doing have handed more power to the dental insurance companies. And with this you get the arrogance exemplified in CEO James Dwyer's remarks (see my previous blog on those, as well as Gary Takac's call for Dwyer's resignation.)
So the simple question is, do we want to go the way of general medicine, which is to say, let insurance companies call the tune? For physicians, it is the insurance companies who determine the treatment, the fees and even the allowed medications. If the doctor or the patient disagrees with that determination, then the patient has to pay out of his own pocket. And because 95% of physicians' income comes from insurance, the average income for general physicians is now lower than that of general dentists. What's more, it is virtually impossible for a general physician to double or triple his income from the average level, while it is quite possible for most dentists to do so. And everyone expects physicians' income to continue to decline. How's that going to play out?
I think this problem needs attention right now, before control is fully surrendered to insurance companies, or before the government steps in to make sure that everyone in America has some sort of dental care, regardless of whether it provides a living income for a dentist who has a facility, leases, loans and employees to reckon with on a monthly basis.
And, as other people in this blog have mentioned, it's not financially bearable for a dentist to drop the insurance provider when that company tries to cut their payments. But in my mind that's what your state dental society is for. When Delta or any other company decides it's time to do an across-the-board fee cut, then there ought to be an immediate call by the society for their entire constituency to drop that carrier the next month. They don't need everyone to comply; if 40% do, then the insurance company gets hit right where they care most–the profit end of their revenue. It should be a swift, resounding and unequivocal response. And my guess is after one or two states do it, and the results are proven, then an even greater number of dentists will join in the protest. And the insurance companies will fall back into line.
Along with this response by the societies, there should also be a unified message sent out to each dentist's patients as to why this is happening. They should let all their patients know that the insurance company, in an effort to increase their profits, is paying less for the same services, and thus limiting care to the patients. (In Washington, it was the insurance company who seized the opportunity, and communicated with the patients when a dentist stopped being a provider because of the fee cut, and recommended the patient move to a different dentist who accepted the plan, and even provided a list. Outrageous behavior, unless of course you're in business to make money, not provide dental care.)
This response by the society is only step one. The next step is to take a hard look at how dental insurance is provided. We live in a world where data can move instantaneously and simply between entities. Why do we even need a middle man to provide discounts on some dental services for a business's employees? In three months I could get five 20-year-olds to write a program that lets any business choose from a menu of services, calculate the premium, allow the employees to choose a dentist and get care, and subsequently the dental practice can file the claim and have the money in their account the next day.
Certainly there are regulations to follow, but does an enormous profit for an intermediary organization benefit anyone but that organization? I don't think so. I say let them all work somewhere else where they don't have a negative impact on the overall health of Americans.
One last point. Dentistry in many ways is different from general medicine. There are millions of people in this country who will never be able to get high-end dentistry. For example, we all know that implants are the ideal solution to missing teeth. But this quite simply will never be insured, because eventually everyone will need them. A quadruple bypass surgery is incredibly expensive, but not everyone is going to need one, so the cost gets spread over a thousand other people. But as the population continues to live longer, most people are likely to lose some or most of their teeth. Either they can afford implants or they can wear dentures. But it is not reasonable to imagine an insurance plan that provides virtually everyone with implants. We need a wiser, more balanced solution that does not emulate health insurance.
Sometimes you can't just modify business models. They become antiquated, or fail to serve their original purpose, diverging from their mission to one that is more self-serving, (like Congress!) and we need to abandon them and start over. Why not create a brilliant, modern solution that helps the greatest number of people, and is the envy of the entire world?
I'm open to your thoughts, and I will do my damnedest to get them in front of the right people.
Post Script: I have been told that the FTC views any such action by dental societies to be illegal boycotting, and precedent has been set. Sounds like the wrong lobbyists got to the right ears (and pockets) to me, but if that really is the case, then dental societies are virtually powerless in this situation, until that precedent is challenged. The Washington State Dental Association spent many hours and legal dollars trying to deal with this within the parameters of the FTC ruling, so other avenues may be more appropriate. I'm not sure that the FTC could have much say about dentists using Twitter to say that they are personally dropping the insurance plan. I'm not fond of laws or precedents that protect corporations to the detriment of individual citizens, and I can't accept that boycotting of a company by anyone or any group can be considered illegal. But I'm no lawyer, so the pathway through this is not clear to me.
Posted on May 30, 2012, in dental insurance, Dentistry, Practice Management and tagged dental insurance, dental practice management, dental practice marketing, dentistry. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
Excellent post and points made here, Fred. Keep the message going.
The dental society making a move like you propose is considered a violation of anti-trust laws and price fixing — why the insurance companies can directly compare accepted and billed fees between the companies and not be called on the same law violation is beyond comprehension.
However, something done privately by concerned citizens, who also happen to be dentists, is not a violation. Problem is, it is hard to get that kind of thing started.
Exactly, Cletus.
Yeah… first, it's against the law for dental associations or even a coffee-klatch of dentists to discuss (collude) dropping a plan en masse.
Secondly, even if it wasn't illegal (in a big way), the spinally-deficient dental associations don't even have the testicular fortitude to arrive at a consensus on whether Jeffrey Dahmer was a bad man. Seriously… they don't. And, that's why membership is declining precipitously.
The Association has no interest in supporting the profession. It is a political organization that licks the government hands in hopes of gaining favor in a sort of Stockholm Syndrome fashion.
Awesome post, Fred! Really good stuff.
I think that Cletus is right. However, if this stuff spreads, it will be a lot easier to convince people to become nonpar.
McCarren-Ferguson Act is where much of the trouble started. I believe that there has been some movement in Congress recently to create legislation that will remove healthcare from this act. Can not site at this moment but should be able to find something in recent ADA publications.
Bob, you are right. the McCarran-Ferguson Act of 1945 is out. However, even though the demise of the insurer-friendly law threatens the unfair collaborative habits of National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) members, that doesn't mean that the FTC will suddenly permit officials of the not-for-profit ADA to sponsor boycotts against Delta Dental, and another sleazy non-profit I personally despise, BCBS of Texas.
It's well known that when ADA officials speak honestly about insurers' unfairness to dentists, insurers often file complaints with the FTC. Even if unfounded, federal investigations are a strong disincentive for vetted ADA officials to exercise free speech. There are some rights dentists give up when they volunteer to serve.
Here's the good part: Now that the 66 year old M-F has finally died, anyone, including ADA officials, can file FTC complaints against NADP members. At least that's something.
I find this post extremely informative and an eye opener but part of its reality makes me sick to my stomach. I've been a member of the ASDA and the ADA since the freshman year of dental school. I make it a point to pay the voluntary contributions of the "American Dental Political Action Committee" and the "District of Columbia Dental Political Action Committee" every year; I think that goes to the ADA lobbying on Capitol, a mere 4 miles from me. I've been wondering though what difference that makes nowadays. I don't feel I have enough mental stamina to take a lead on these things but I'd love to see someone do it.
I have worked for dentists for thirty plus years and still do. The last twelve years have been in the Pacific North West in the front office doing insurance billing for an ultra conservative (treatment-wise) general dentist in a small community. He has been in practice for nearly forty years and is well loved by his patients.
Until June of 2011 his only dental insurance company affiliation was as a participating provider for Delta Dental, Washington Dental Service. (The FFS status), and accepted all Veterans Administration Pts.
Due to the poor economy and several new dentists in the immediate vicinity who were contracted PPOs with WDS, United Concordia and Government Employees Health Association, we were losing (particularly new Pts.) to the dentists that accepted the PPO plans.
In an effort to continue to provide conservative treatment to our Pts. and stay in practice at the same time the doctor decided to contract with several PPO plans so that our Pts. could financially manage their dental care without changing dentists.
Due to our inexperience in such matters we did not realize that we were now a PPO for every Delta plan in the western hemisphere and every "leased insurance company" by GEHA which includes Met Life, Cigna, Ameritas and on and on….. without these additional contracts in writing.
To be a contracted PPO for these insurance companies has become as essential as having a telephone in the front office to have a viable practice.
But we are possibly losing the practice to the approximate thirty percent write offs and Pts choosing not to do Tx. their insurance won't cover.
I thought dental (or any) insurance was an agreement between an insurance company and its insured.
How is it legal that the dentist can't make a living any more and the insurance companies thrive?
Something has gone terribly wrong.


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Clarets striker hopes to have 'wing man' back for Barnsley visit
Sam Vokes is taking the positives into this weekend's 'War of the Roses' at Turf Moor following Burnley's 0-0 draw against Watford at Turf Moor in midweek.
The Clarets are looking to extend their impressive nine-month unbeaten home league record in the second of two home games in five days against Barnsley on Saturday.
And The Welsh international believes his prolific 25-goal partnership with Danny Ings, who could hopefully return from injury, will give the Clarets the cutting edge.
Vokes said: "I think we'll look at the positives that we've only lost one in 14, and hopefully we can extend it and keep the unbeaten record at home going.
"We have got a lot of confidence within the camp and that's why we're at this end of the table.
"I think we were the more dominant side on Tuesday night and to come away without getting on the score sheet, especially personally, was very frustrating.
"But we got ourselves into some great positions out wide. We got the ball in and around the box creating some great play throughout the game.
"We just didn't have that cutting edge, but we can take the positives from that and into tomorrow's game.
"Myself and Danny have worked well together so far this season and it will be a good bonus to have him back at the weekend, if he is fit.
The Clarets know that victory over Micky Mellon's side could carry them back to the Championship summit, after slipping to third in midweek.
And Vokes believes three points could prove the perfect catalyst with a heavy workload to come for Sean Dyche's small squad over the festive period.
He added: "Barnsley went to Brighton on Tuesday and beat them, but we have to go out as we have been doing and prove we deserve the win.
"Saturday's game is another important one and it's going to be a tough game, but if we can stand ourselves in good stead for the festive period it will do us well.
"We want to get a big win before going into some big games in the next couple of weeks, so it'll be nice to start it at the Turf."
Story by Alexander Brown


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Chicago, IL: On Saturday 26th December, the Pakistanis in Chicago- led by the Members of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) – had gathered in her remembrance on her 8th death anniversary at Ali BBQ Restaurant Devon Ave.
As Pakistan's 11th prime minister, Bhutto was the first woman to ever lead a Muslim country. Benazir was assassinated Dec 27, 2007 while leaving a campaign rally in Rawalpindi for the PPP at Liaquat National Bagh in the run-up to the January 2008 parliamentary elections.
A large number of PPP supporters traveled long distances to pay tributes to the Benazir. A large number of Women also pay tributes to the first Muslim Prime minister.
A larger number of the party workers including Illinois PPP leaders, PPP President Illinois Mirza Nusrat Hussain, General Secretary Eijaz Khan and others attended special prayers held for the eternal peace of the departed soul. They paid rich tributes to the Benazir for her sacrifice of life for democracy in the country.
The Program started off with well talented Emcee Tauseef Siddique. Program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Qari Syed Abdan Ullah. Syed Qasar Naqvi presented some poetry lines especially to pay tributes to Benazir. In the opening speech PTI Chicago leader Saleem Moti paid a glowing tribute to the late Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir and enlightened the gathering on her life devoted to the service of the people of Pakistan. Shaheed Benazir had sacrificed her life to restore democracy in Pakistan, he said. He spiritedly claimed that a dictator was forced to go only because of the success of the movement launched by the PPP under the leadership of the late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The other speakers included, Tasleem Raja, Bushra Khan, Amir Shah, Raja Yaqoob, Anwar Ali Roomi, Dr. Wasi Ullah Khan, PPP Organizer Chaudhary Abdul Karim, PPP General Secretary Aijaz Khan, PPP President Illinois Mirza Nusrat Hussain
All of the Speakers described Benazir Bhutto as a brave leader. "Braving all odds stacked on her way, she fought two dictators and played a significant role in the ouster of the two and restoration of democracy in the country.
Speakers also said that Benazir was a symbol of unity of the federation of Pakistan and her assassination was a great loss to Pakistan and its people. In his presidential speech PPP President Illinois Mirza Nusrat Hussain thanked all for finding time to attend and gracing the occasion and paid rich tributes to Benazir Bhutto.
At the end prayers were offered for the departed soul of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by Raja Muhammed Yaqoob. After the end of prayers dinner was served.
Source: Syed Ullah
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Colors in Descent by Nicholas Trandahl
They had once been young lovers, but now they were no longer young. During the summer their twenties had both given way to their thirties, a fresh new decade that was yellowed and antiqued, matured from the pastel gloss of the prior ten years. No, they were young no longer, but they hadn't noticed it yet.
The man and the woman walked into the autumnal heart of the Apple Creek Forest on a Saturday morning. The day was pregnant with promise and the warm-hued leaves of the oaks, birches and maples shivered in delight at the passing of the pair. Outfitted for autumn, they wore warm sweaters, boots and beanies. The woman wore black tights and the man wore jeans. The man's eyes, a yellowed brown, glittered in the amber rise of the sun and his full brown beard took on a reddish sheen in the rich light. He carried a small backpack. Twin black braids descended from either side of the woman's beanie, and in the cold morning air of mid-October her breath could be seen escaping in ethereal plumes.
The pair walked side by side, but at times they followed one another. The hike of the two was an ever-changing, mercurial thing, and it was a route they'd taken so often and had known so well that their conversation was never impeded with discussion of their surroundings. They only rarely lifted their eyes from their trudging hiking boots, and when they did it was usually to gaze into the familiar face of their significant other to listen or to laugh. Apple Creek Forest was a second home to them, an arboraceous abode that served them as a frequent escape from their small town lives in the community of Appleham, the town itself a quiet idyllic place in Franklin County on the southwest edge of the forest.
When the coldness of the October morning stirred into a more tolerable autumn crispness with the crowning of the sun, the couple had reached a small forest glade in the depths of the wood. A small pond darkened the heart of the little dell, and within the center of the pond was a protrusion of stone. Fallen leaves of oaken umber, maple scarlet and birch amber were heaped in the sylvan basin and they floated in strange primeval formations upon the surface of the water.
"Are you ready to have a bite?" inquired the man, stepping to the edge of the pool and dropping his pack from his shoulder.
His inquiry went unanswered immediately as the woman breathed in and out audibly from the hike. She nodded with a slight smile. "Sure."
They both sat next to one another on a fallen log next to the pool, an old oak log topped in a crunchy frosting of fallen leaves and its long sides peppered in pale shelf mushrooms. He took off his beanie and messed up his short brown hair that was slightly damp from the hike and the heat of the headwear. As he rummaged through the pack for their lunch and something to drink, the woman said quite softly, "I just love this place."
"Me too," he answered, still rummaging. "It's our place after all."
She looked across the pool and then up in the patch of azure sky that loomed over the glade. A nostalgic smile spilled out across her lovely face, rosy-cheeked from the brisk autumn hike, and she asked, "Do you remember what those old guys told us when we first moved to Appleham and started hiking in here? They told us that there used to be a woman in the woods that sang magic songs."
He snorted through his nose and grinned as he pulled two bottles of water, a couple of ham and swiss sandwiches, and some plastic bags of sliced apples lathered in cinnamon and honey from the backpack. "Sure. I remember."
"I think that made me love this place more. I hate that there's no more magic in the world. Do you think there ever was?"
"What, like wizards and elves? Like Tolkien stuff?"
She smirked and shook her head as she took her lunch from the gentle hands of her lover, and responded, "Not really. But don't you feel like this place has power? Some sort of ancient power?"
"Yeah," he replied before taking a bite of his sandwich. "We've discussed that before, remember?"
She shrugged, reaching into the bag and munching on the glazed apples. Her fingertips were sticky and golden and she absently sucked the sweet honey from them. "Sometimes," she began, "I feel like we've discussed all there is to discuss. Do you ever feel like that?"
The man raised an eyebrow in inquiry and returned, "That sounds grim. What do you mean?"
"Well, we're thirty now. We're so much older than we were."
She continued with a melancholy that the man had gotten more and more used to over the years, "It's over, honey. Our twenties are over. And they passed without any fanfare or fireworks. Were we supposed to feel something? Did we miss something important?"
"I feel something. I feel older."
"Are you okay with that?" she asked concernedly. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for thirty. We were having so much fun in our twenties."
The man washed a bite of sandwich down with a swallow of cool water, and replied with a grin, "Well, sweetie, thirty is here whether you're ready or not. Time has a habit of advancing against our will. And of course we had fun in our twenties, but we still are having fun. Aren't we? We're still working and going hiking every weekend. We still travel. In fact we travel more now because we can afford it a little easier. We're going to keep having fun. I promise."
She sighed and leaned into the broad-shouldered form of her lover. He put an arm around her and held her against him as they finished their lunch. Finally she said quietly, "I love you so much."
In response he kissed the top of the head against his shoulder. The trees around them quietly rattled their limbs in a crisp October breeze. As moments continued to relentlessly pass more leaves were plucked from their homes in the boughs of the trees. The leaves fluttered down towards the forest floor to be forgotten and crumple away into loam. But the colors sure were beautiful during their descent.
Nicholas Trandahl is an author of poetry and fiction, currently residing in northeast Wyoming. He has two daughters and is engaged to be married. His passion for literature is fueled by his fondness for the literary works of Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Cheever, James Salter, Raymond Carver, and Virginia Woolf. He was born in 1984.