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Torbay residents affected by dementia are invited to meet new people at a community club to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2016.
Weekly social club
Supported by Sanctuary Housing, the Chelston Action Group (CAG) has teamed up with Torbay's Purple Angel dementia campaign to launch a weekly social club offering local residents the opportunity to interact with their community.
Taking place at St Peters Centre, Chelston, Torquay, every Wednesday from 10am-2pm, attendees will be able to take part in a range of social activities, learn more about dementia and find out what's going on in their neighbourhood.
In addition, the club will hold drop-in surgeries where local people can meet and chat to representatives from Torbay organisations such as the police and council.
Purple Angel
The club is just one part of the Purple Angel dementia campaign, which aims to work with Torbay residents to turn their town into a dementia-friendly community, and has received support from locations all over the world.
"Offer meaningful services to Torbay residents"
Amanda Martin from CAG, which won the Partnership Award at Sanctuary's Torbay Community Star Awards earlier this year, said: "We work across the local area to offer meaningful services to Torbay residents, and Dementia Awareness Week has given us a fantastic opportunity to promote the social club. Anyone living with or affected by dementia is welcome to come along."
"Friendly, informal get-together"
Sanctuary's neighbourhood partnerships officer, Lynne Roberts, added: "It's important to us to invest in community-led projects like this social club that address the needs of our residents, and I'd encourage all local people to drop in for a friendly, informal get-together with their neighbours."
Dementia Awareness Week 2016 runs from 15-21 May and is led by the Alzheimer's Society, aimed at increasing understanding of dementia, raising awareness of the condition and the support that the organisation offers.


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If you are not completely satisfied with your Sigma order, simply call or email us at the contact information listed below within 30 days from the date of purchase to receive a full refund.* Our customer service representatives are available from 9:00am-5:00pm PST Monday-Friday. If we are unavailable to take your call, or reply immediately to your email, please allow 24 business hours to get back with you on your request.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (800) 413-6164

subset: commoncrawl


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Good Evening Stamper Friends,
Well, another year and no trick or treater, oh well more candy for me!!!
Today I started a very big project and it was not a stamping project either! I started peeling the border off from the living room walls. Wednesday I will be painting the ceiling and then on to the walls. Wish me Luck!!!
Since I had no time to stamp tonight I just pulled out some Halloween cards from swaps:
Designed by: Elizabeth Knehans
Well, it's off to bed soon, thanks for stopping by and see you all tomorrow!


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Two years ago, a young man referred to as the "Berlin patient" threw AIDS researchers and specialists for a loop.
The patient, who had been recently infected with HIV, experienced ongoing problems with the antiretroviral medications he was taking. He started and stopped his therapy twice. Much to the surprise of researchers, he reverted completely to being HIV-negative status.
Excited by the possibilities this isolated case presented, Italian and US researchers designed a study based on the Berlin patient, hoping to discover how one can trick one's own immune system into kicking in again, by stopping and starting (called pulsing) combination drug therapies.
According to the medical journal The Lancet, the researchers concluded that "control of HIV infection may require several STIs in some patients and may not be successful in others."
STIs are Structured Treatment Interruptions, nicknamed drug holidays. And whether they ultimately provide complete freedom from medication or not, they're not just a flavour-of-the-month treatment option.
A study released in June by the US National Institutes Of Health condones "pulsed antiretroviral therapy as an approach to decreasing toxicity." That's good news, considering the elevated liver functions, peripheral neuropathy and metabolic complications (including unusual distribution of fat throughout the body) that often result from continued use of HIV drug therapies. The bottom line is that the more toxic a drug becomes, the more likely it is that its ability to decrease mortality and morbidity will be outweighed by its negative effects on the rest of the body.
In fact, in other areas of medicine such as oncology and rheumatology, "intermittent or cyclical treatment is a standard care for managing the use of some effective, but highly toxic treatments," according to the Journal Of Natural Medicine. As well, who wants to be permanently enslaved to any drug regime?
I met Mary (not her real name) through the support group Voices Of Positive Women. She has recently finished her second drug holiday.
"My health was okay before going off my meds. I just wanted a change, to get away from it," Mary says. She adds that going off her meds was "just like a vacation."
Despite the temporary sense of freedom, Mary's doesn't expect to be bidding adieu to her antiretroviral drug therapy anytime soon.
"I had blood work done when I went off them in May. I had blood work done again in August. My viral load went up to 38,000, while before, it was undetectable. My CD4 had gone up to 700 in May. In August it had gone down to 300 after three months. I knew I had to go back on."
The AIDS Committee Of Toronto referred me to Greg (also a pseudonym). He's only a few weeks into his first drug holiday. He has several reasons for taking a meds break, but the first thing he mentions is the change in his face.
"I lost a lot of fat under my eyes. I see a lot of people [taking the cocktail] who have that face. Also, I was getting exhausted after three years of taking the drugs. Even though I was on the Cadillac of cocktails [just twice a day, with or without food], I was having trouble swallowing."
Greg was also dispirited by the effect of the meds on his libido.
"When I first started [on antiretroviral medication] I told my doctor, 'I think this is a conspiracy.' My sex drive had gone way down."
Even Viagra was of limited help. "I would get these hard-ons, but couldn't come when I wanted to." And the unreliability of his erections was having an effect on his self-esteem.
"The condom would fall off," he says. "When that happens, you become insecure about your performance. You end up feeling a lot of negativity."
After only one week of his drug holiday, Greg says that he wakes up in the morning "with outrageous hard-ons."
Greg doesn't expect dramatic results from his first drug holiday. However, he does hope that his face will reclaim its usual contours.
"If you nip it in the bud, it won't get as bad as some others. Hopefully, I'll go back on more invigorated."
Greg and Mary both have few expectations from Structured Treatment Interruptions. Which is appropriate, considering that the research is still in its infancy. Most studies are still relatively uncontrolled and carried out for short periods of time.
And the possibility of drug regimes designed specifically with treatment interruptions in mind remains an exciting one that has yet to be addressed.
Healthier drug holidays
Breaking away from the HIV cocktail
Two years ago, a young man referred to as the "Berlin patient" threw AIDS researchers and specialists for a loop.


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Mission Impossible? Custom Engineered Solutions at the Dock
What types of challenges does your company face at your loading dock? Are building imperfections or structural defects preventing you from making necessary improvements? Whatever the problem, Applied Handling's expert team of sales representatives, engineers and suppliers work together to present the best solution. Call us today at 1-800-837-8020.
April's Featured Solution
A local University came to Applied Handling with unique problem. Due to low dock height and inability to dig an approach well, servicing different size truck trailers seemed impossible. The solution; Custom Engineered Dockhouse by Dockzilla® paired with RiteHite's scissor lift leveler.
Project Captain: Mike Blazaitis
Equipment Manufacturers: Rite-Hite® and Dockzilla®
Product Descriptions and Specifications:
Rite-Hite Elevating Dock Lift Assembly – LRL 96L 96W (5000lb)440-480/3/60 Power – 20′ Std Usable Pendant Cable
- Lift to be mounted to concrete
- 8′ x 8′ platform
- 5000 # capacity
- Handrails
- Remote power unit (mounted inside)
- 460v 3-phase
- 18″ x 84″ lip front and back.
DockHouse by Dockzilla (Custom for 24″ dock height and scissor lift)
- (2) Dock House Assembly- 8×8 SCISSORS LIFT
- 24″ dock height
- Opening at trailer to accommodate 10′ wide x 10′ tall dock door Includes:
- Framework to mount scissors lift
- Solid sidewalls to eliminate pinch point
- Adjustable base plates
- (2) side wall weldments
- Front Door frame
- Roof weldment
- Steel Faced 4″ projection x 20″ tall dock bumpers


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Bath Brushes & Accessories
Bath Brushes & Accessories
Our Bathe IN BED range, with products designed to enhance the rituals of bathing.
Our bath accessories include a range of handmade bath brushes and other utility items by Swedish manufacturers, Iris Hantverk. Iris Hantverk have been producing beautifully crafted and durable brushes & wooden products for over a century. Using only natural materials such as oak, maple, and horsehair, the entire range is made by the visually impaired in Sweden.


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London Network: EU Referendum Debate Tuesday, 24 May, The Royal College of Physicians, 7pm
On 23 June, the country will settle a question that has sat close to the surface of British politics for a generation: should the UK remain within the European Union, or leave the organisation and go it alone. Both sides insist that the outcome of the vote will settle the matter of Britain's EU membership for the foreseeable future. Alumni of the University of Manchester sit at the heart of the debate – with influencers in the world of politics, business and media adding their voice on both sides – and now we are inviting you to join us for an evening of debate with some of these key players.
Join us on Tuesday, 24 May 2016 at 7pm for welcome drinks and canapes, to be followed at 8pm by a debate chaired by Sky News' Ian King. The event will take place at The Royal College of Physicians' meeting rooms, close to Great Portland Street station, and will close with an opportunity for further networking at 9.30pm.
Ian will joined by be key influencers from the world of politics, business and academia:
Dinesh Dhamija – Founder, ebookers.com and Copper Beech Group Nick Finegold – Founder & Executive Chairman, Curation Corporation Andrew Russell – Professor of Politics, The University of Manchester Graham Stringer – Member of Parliament, Blackley and Broughton One further panellist will be confirmed shortly – be sure to follow us on Twitter for more details as they become available.
Alumni of The University of Manchester are invited to join these key players for an evening of informed debate.
As we expect demand for this event to be high we will also be live streaming the debate and hope that many alumni who are not able to be with us in person will be able to join us online and make their voices heard through our social media channels. You can register to be notified of further details of the online event below, or by following us on Twitter, where we will be facilitating questions from users and sharing details of the stream using the hashtag #McrEUref.
We expect this event to sell out very quickly. You are welcome to bring one guest with you.
To book a place and further information please click here >>


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Given that the Odroid-XU4 is completely software compatible with the Odroid-XU3 (according to Hardkernel), and given that I've seen versions of LibreELEC available for the C2, I'm wondering if a version of LibreELEC is going to be made for the XU4 / XU3? I've not had much luck finding anything, official or otherwise for it either in the forums or on the web in general.
Ideas? Solutions?


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4 out of 10
10 out of 10
9 out of 10
40 minutes
At a regional location
Open file
"What was the most difficult set back in your life and how did you overcome it?" Report Response
"How do you unwind from a stressful week?" Report Response
"What type of people do you easily work with and what type of person do you have a hard time working with?" Report Response
"What role does research have on dentistry and is it important?" Report Response
"From your observations, what is the general trend of dentistry?" Report Response
"SDN, relaxed" Report Response
"The atmosphere. The campus is amazing and Columbus is a great city (especially greek town- not fraternity/sorority). They may not have the latest equipment at every cubical, but they have rotations in which you use the lastest equipment." Report Response
"Nothing" Report Response
"I wish I had known that it would be the coolest place, I would have gone there for undergrad." Report Response
"It is laid back. They obviously have questions they are supposed to ask everybody, but they also tailor it to your profile. At the end they said I did a fantastic job, so it was a positive experience." Report Response
8 out of 10
Out of state
2-3 hours
10 out of 10
10 out of 10
10 out of 10
10 out of 10
Browse all Questions & Responses


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Klim Mojave Jersey 2016
Save 0% Off MSRP
Product Details
The KLIM Mojave Jersey is right at home in the KLIM Mojave Series as the perfect fully-ventilated off-road jersey. Designed specifically for aggressive riders in the hottest desert and mountain environments across the globe who demand the best in high-airflow performance. Sporting a full mesh chassis, the Mojave Jersey doesn't sacrifice durability for comfort and has been strategically constructed to resist abrasion.


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Have you ever felt like someone is avoiding you?
Not returning your texts or phone calls?
Not really making eye contact when you see them in person?
Usually this feeling is just a perception we have – often no one is avoiding us at all, it just feels that way. But then there are times when this kind of thing rises to a different level. And the exclusion becomes intentional. Sometimes someone may actually be trying to avoid you . . . or they don't want to talk to you for some reason. Perhaps there has been a relationship break down and the feelings you have of being out of the loop are not just in your imagination but they are very real and someone may be going out of his or her way to ostracize you.
It's a horrible feeling. And I imagine we have all been there.
Of course, on a larger scale, this kind of avoidance tactic can impact entire groups and classes of people. Race or economic status, cultural and religious differences can be factors in one group of people avoiding another. It seems like each generation has a particular segment of the population that gets shunned by those who give in to fear and envy and hatred.
In Jesus' day it was the Samaritans.
The Samaritans were a group of people whom the Jews – very proud of being God's chosen ones – considered unclean and ungodly and sinful. The Samaritans had combined the Jewish tradition with some of the religious practices of their pagan neighbors. They had intermarried with other nationalities and they even worshipped and offered sacrifices not at the temple in Jerusalem, but at a different location in Samaria. The Jews and Samaritans had a history of animosity and hatred. They were arch enemies.
The center of Jewish religion and culture was in Judea (2) – in the southern part of Palestine. This is where the law-abiding, tradition-observing Jews lived. (3) These were the godly, (4) righteous ones who married the right people and made their pilgrimages to Jerusalem 3 times year, (5). The Samaritans lived north of them. (6)
Now here is the interesting thing . . . And it would almost be humorous if it weren't so tragic and destructive . . . the Jews did ANYTHING to avoid Samaria. In fact, if a God-fearing Jew in Jerusalem wanted to go fishing up north on the Sea of Galilee, he would go EAST this way (7), cross the Jordan River (8) then head north on the other side of the Jordan, THEN (9) cross over when the coast was clear (10) and arrive at the lake having taken a detour that added about 25 miles and another day of travel to his trip. But at least he could say he avoided the Samaritans. (11)
Today in our Gospel we find Jesus in Judea near Jerusalem. He is going to Galilee. And I can just picture his disciples grabbing their walking staffs and heading down the well-worn road east through Jericho to cross the Jordan River like they've done every other time they made this journey. Because they have lived their whole lives avoiding Samaria and the "ungodly," "sinful" people who live there. And then I imagine Jesus with his sights directly north, taking the first steps on a road much less traveled. Because THIS was Jesus' route. (12)
It probably doesn't surprise you that Jesus would do this. That he would not be afraid to go through Samaria. He has only love and compassion in his heart and there is someone there in the town of Sychar – a woman getting water at a well. And he intends to see her and sit with her and visit with her and offer her something only he can give – eternal life.
There are plenty of reasons he SHOULD have avoided this encounter. At least according to the prevailing wisdom. It was in the heart of Samaria at the foot of the scandalous Mount Gerezim where the Samaritans had their renegade temple. To speak publicly with ANY woman in the middle of the day on the outskirts of town was considered unseemly and inappropriate for ANY man. Much less for a Rabbi. And this woman, not only a Samaritan, was a woman with a complicated and shameful past.
Every reasonable voice would say to Jesus: "Avoid this. Consider what this looks like, Jesus. Don't cause offense to your own people! Take the safe route."
This is how our minds work. We are no different from those nice, respectable Judean Jews who knew how to navigate around unpleasantries and protect liabilities. But that's not Jesus' way. That is not the Gospel way. This is not the way that brings life and healing. And Jesus will not avoid the ones God loves. He will not look away when faced with difficult and awkward encounters. In fact, his entire presence on human soil was precisely for this: to love sinners, to give his life for the ungodly and to reconcile God's enemies to himself.
Paul reminds us of this in our Second Reading for today! He writes:
(13) Christ died for the UNGODLY.
(14) While we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us.
(15) When we were God's ENEMIES, we were reconciled to him
You know the way the Jews had arbitrarily defined the Samaritans? That's actually who WE are if we are honest with ourselves!
We've got our own scandalous and renegade things that defy God.
We've lived life our own way and on our own terms.
Who are we kidding? There was plenty of reasons God should have avoided sending his one and only Son.
So maybe we should not be so afraid and judgmental of our enemies . . . or so squeamish around the ungodly . . . or so disapproving of the sinner.
Because, in fact, that's who WE were when God loved us and claimed us and said "that's mine." He saw us for who we really are and he didn't flinch, but headed straight for the cross. He had his eyes on us – and he desires this encounter with us today. Here around this table he desires to make a personal connection with us. He is not ashamed of who we are. He knows our past and our present reality and understands how complicated life can be. And he will meet us here in our own little Samaria. Because his heart is full of love and compassion and he wants to be with us.
And he has a gift to offer – one that only he can give: acceptance for who we are, forgiveness for what we have been and LIFE: refreshing, overflowing and eternal.


text: Divine bitch Siouxsie Q humiliating her slave boy in sploshing mess Для плеера требуется установить Flash Player Summer is coming round the bend and latex-clad Siouxsie Q decides to tan by the pool. From behind the bushes she catches him, AGAIN– that simpering, perverted peeping tom: the pool boy. Today she will make him her slave. Siouxsie begins the poolside punishment by making him worship her beautiful feet and luxurious legs, then throws the pathetic perv over her knee and delivers a humiliating OTK spanking. She then ties him up and grinds her beautiful cunt on his worthless face, getting herself nice and wet to fuck his pathetic asshole with a strap-on. Pool boy's cock is absolutely not allowed to cum; Siouxsie uses it to get her cunt off then throws both it and its owner into the pool for a messy jello-sploshing session, ending with one semen covered, disgraced slave. And a daquiri for Siouxsie!


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Drink Atlantic Cocktail Festival presents
Wine in Cocktails: Educational look into the importance of wine and fortified wine in cocktails.
sponsored by Martini Vermouth and Benjamin Bridge
Thu, Jun 6, 2019 from 12pm - 1:15pm
- 19+
This event has passed.
Fortified wines are a key component to a complex cocktail. This seminar will dive into the history, production and best uses by smelling and tasting your way through this broad category. Join 3 of Halifax's Professional Sommeliers as they highlight some of the most celebrated fortified wines from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Nova Scotia.
Mark Bradbury
Jeffrey Van Horne
Nicole Raufeisen


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We are a primarily Mixed Ultimate Frisbee team based in Birmingham, UK. Formed in 2012 we have quickly grown into a strong club that is competing at the highest levels, but with a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where we want everyone to improve and get what they want from the club.
We're always on the lookout for new players and the pages and links here hopefully have all the information you need – but if there's anything else you want to know, please don't hesitate to get in touch.


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Five reasons for optimism about the future of ebooks ☺
There's a lot of tsoris in the publishing community right now over ebooks. Much of it has something to do with THAT COMPANY WITH THE WEBSITE THAT SELLS ALL THE THINGS, how THAT COMPANY has a…
This article is technically on "five reasons for optimism about the future of ebooks" but, really, mostly I'm just sitting over here squeeing about the idea of EPUB3.
Because, seriously. EPUB is basically HTML rendered in a special browser (the so-called e-reader). And yet its feature-set is, like, lagging ten or fifteen years behind easy. EPUB is currently in its awkward Comic Sans and rotating flaming skull GIFs phase. It'll be very, very interesting to see where it goes over the next few years.


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Monday, March 16, 2009
Nerve Deafness
Nerve Deafness
When I was diagnosed with my hearing loss, my parents were told that I had "nerve deafness." Lately that term has puzzled me because I can hear sounds with the help of hearing aids. How can something be wrong with my "nerve" if I can hear voices and sounds around me? I wear the strongest aids on the market and currently wear Widex digital hearing aids. I've assumed that the doctors, audiologists, and speech therapists that I've had knew what they were talking about and just accepted that diagnosis. I've grown up believing that there was no cure for nerve deafness and never really thought there was anything else out there that could help me except my hearing aids. But, that doesn't seem to be the case at all. "Nerve deafness" can be a major misnomer because it incorrectly implies that damage is to the auditory nerve and not the cilia (hair cells) in the cochlea, which is responsible for much of a person's hearing loss. In reality, the term "nerve deafness" has been around for the last fifty years or so. Until modern medicine, those of us who grew up in the 1950's and beyond are usually given this term if doctors could not find a cause of deafness. In another words, it was a "one name fits all."
I'm beginning to understand that there are several different types of hearing loss. One type is conductive, meaning that the sound comes into the ear but does not get to the cochlea or auditory nerve. That indicates that something is wrong with one or some of the bones in the middle ear. In most cases it is usually the stapes bone which has become stiff, calcified, or hardened and will not move. And when it is not moving, it is not transmitting the sound to the cochlea and auditory nerve. That is what is considered a conductive hearing loss. The cochlea and auditory nerve are usually in fine shape. I noticed on my papers from the doctor and insurance company that I have been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss. Which means the sound IS coming into my ear, gets through those three little bones of the middle ear and gets transmitted to the cochlea. But it is not getting to the auditory nerve very well because there is a problem in the cochlea. The cilia (hair cells) in the cochlea are dead or the fluid in the cochlea isn't there or there is something else wrong in that part of the ear. This explains why so many people are labeled with "nerve deafness" because the sounds are REALLY coming into the ear but are not being transmitted like they should to the auditory nerve. That is why I had to do the balance test back in May to determine if I had any fluid in my ear. And I did! This is where the CI comes in. My implant is specially designed to mimic the functions of the human ear like natural hearing. There will be a 22 channel electrode inserted in my cochlea and it is specially designed to protect the delicate walls of the cochlea.
One might ask how a cochlear implant is different from a hearing aid. Hearing aids only amplify sound. No matter how loud the sound the hearing aid produces, it does not provide clarity. That is why I've had so much trouble with amplifiers, speakerphones, loud noises and loud people. I've always tried to explain that "louder" is not always better. I have a severe to profound hearing loss and my ears cannot process the information that they are receiving because sound is still going through the damaged part. A cochlear implant does not make sounds louder. Instead, it bypasses the damaged part of the ear and sends the sound directly to the auditory (hearing) nerve. How cool is that???!!!
I am realizing that some people who qualify for a CI think might that there is no point in pursuing it any further because they have "nerve deafness." But the testing that I've had done has actually shown that I'm missing hair cells in my cochlea. If Mom was still here, I'm sure she would be pleased and tickled pink to know that I haven't given up on the possibility of being able to hear the sounds that have been denied to me all of my life. I have thought about her a lot lately and wished she was here to share this experience with me. I hope to be able to help other people like Susan has helped me. We all need someone to give us that "little push" and hold our hand during the journey. God is so good. He is bigger than any obstacle in my path and knows exactly what I need at the right time. His timing is so perfect!
6 comments:
Hey Laurie! I tried to leave a comment and it disappeared. Don't you hate it when it does that? (groan)
I meet so many people in my HLAA chapter or at Fidos For Freedom who have been told they have "nerve deafness" like it's a death sentence for their hearing. So many times it is indeed sensorineural hearing loss and a CI can actually help them!
May I use your post in an upcoming newsletter for HLAA-Frederick County? It comes out again at the end of April. I'd love to share your story with our readers. Let me know!
- March 16, 2009 10:09 AM
- Laurie said...
Hello Denise,
I have met so many wonderful people "just like me" through my CI and hearing loss journey. Who knew?
Yes, you may share my story and post! I think it is so important to get this information out there.
Take care and be blessed. Laurie
- March 16, 2009 10:56 AM
Thanks Laurie!
- March 16, 2009 4:09 PM
- Marines said...
Hello Laurie,
I came across your blog as I was trying to figure out was profound hearing loss really meant. My son, Jacob is hard of hearing and up until today I thought he was mild and moderate bilateral and it turns out it is profound in one ear. I found this out in our first IEP meeting for pre-school... God always knows when we need an encouraging word and your blog was JUST what I needed. Thank you!
- August 25, 2011 8:21 PM
- coco said...
Hi Laurie,
My big sister was diagnosed as having 'nerve deafness' when she was about 13. The school did a routine hearing test, which they repeated several times as they couldn't beleive that it was possible for a child who was so deaf to have remained undiagnosed for so long. Our parents were not exactly the nurturing types though so it doesn't surprise me. My poor sis, was constantly being yelled at for staring at the teacher when she was being told off, as they thought she was being insolent. She was however trying to work out why she was being told off ! She has gradually lost more hearing as the years have gone by and struggles with her two digital hearing aids. Her balance has always been awful. I wonder if she might be a candidate for CI ? Thanks very much for posting your story, it's certainly worth looking into!
- February 26, 2012 8:17 AM
Hi Laurie =)
I really appreciate your post on this. I was born in 1956 and sometime during infancy had scarlet fever. The doctors told my parents the hearing loss in my right ear was likely caused from that. They did surgery when I was 9yrs old to remove scar tissue. The hope was that it would improve the hearing loss, but it really didn't. My parents were told that the hearing loss that remained was nerve deafness and nothing could be done about it. Several years ago, since I became an adult, I went to a specialist and was told the same thing. According to their tests, I hear some high pitched sounds, but for all intents and purposes, I am deaf in my right ear. Again, I was told nothing could be done, that it was nerve deafness, and the only type of hearing aid that would even work at all for me is the type that you wear on both ears and sound is somehow pulled from the hearing ear (I tested higher than normal hearing in my left ear)and gave you the "feeling" that you were hearing out of both ears, even though, in reality, you were not. Recently we heard about CI and I have also heard about the Baha system. Are you familiar with the Baha system at all? After all of these years of being told there were no options for me, it appears there are finally options! I'm just an appointment away from finding out what my particular options are. Thank you, so much, again. =)
- March 09, 2012 7:49 PM


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There are no reviews yet.
This stylish dress will bring some light to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.
This product will be made to order and given as a gift to a Rohingya refugee.
You will be emailed a photo of the gift after it has been delivered.
Note: The exact model may vary slightly in material and style.
A small amount of the profit will be given to the Rohingya women's sewing co-operative. Most of the profit will be given to the Rohingya woman who made the item.
Out of stock
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Men's Ministries
Equipped to Lead
A one-year training program for men 18 and older, to become equipped to lead in their homes and in the church.
Beginning in January of each calendar year.
Sign ups close in December of the year prior.
Four quarterly meetings a year.
Contact Russ Gaar for more information.
Men's Fellowship
A monthly men's meet-up complete with breakfast and time in the Word.
The second Saturday of every month at 7:00am in the Student Ministry Building
Men's Friday Morning Bible Study
A weekly Bible study for men that is led by our lead pastor, Russ Gaar. Friday mornings at 6:00am in the Student Ministry Building


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For Full Doctor Testimonials Click Here to Visit SanjayCPatel.com
Life transforming! Dr. Rajnikant Patel, MD, FACP (Houston, TX, USA)
"I have personally attended Sanjay's yoga and meditation sessions. They are life transforming. He is experienced, learned and articulate. I've been to various teachers, but Sanjay has a fine blend of knowledge from mainstream medical studies and ancient wisdom. Highly recommended. His powerful stress reduction meditation has changed my life." Dr. Rajnikant Patel, MD, FACP (Houston, TX, USA)
I strongly recommend Mr. Sanjay Patel - Dr. Mahesh R. Dave, M.D. (Houston, TX, USA)
"I learned yoga from Mr. Sanjay Patel when I attended his yoga sessions with other students in India. I also attended his teaching sessions in the USA in 2004. He taught the asana, forms of pranayamas and meditation based on Patanjali Yoga in a highly skilled manner to novice and experienced alike." Dr. Mahesh R. Dave, M.D. (Houston, TX, USA)
I am so blessed that I had this great opportunity - Avani Thakkar, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, The Menninger Clinic (Houston, Texas Area, USA)
"Meeting, Mr. Patel individually and learning about two strongest aspects of yoga: meditation and pranayama (breathing exercise) has impacted my nursing practice in the most positive direction." Avani Thakkar, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, The Menninger Clinic (Houston, Texas Area, USA)
I really recommend it
"I love yoga and especially meditation. Now after getting Swami ji's world class yoga teacher certification I am enthusiastic to start teaching yoga. My friends are very impressed with this highest level certification." Rajesh Kulkarni (Previously Maharashtra, India. Now San Antonio, TX, USA)
Tripled my students!
"I already have yoga certification from another organization. But now I think I paid too much for it (4300 pounds), when I saw this website for true yogis. But I still purchased Sanjay's certification because I'm vegan and don't smoke or drink and it is an additional qualification that I can show to my students. I am very proud of it. Now I feel like a real Indian yogini!" Sarah Morgan (London, UK)
Very authentic yet easy
"I learned yoga at home from my friend and I can do most of the asanas and pranayamas. But because I did not attend formal classes, they are not certifying me although I know everything. It is waste of time and money to attend classes I don't need. But Sanjay ji's online certification helped me a lot. Yoga certification online via video by expert monks such as Sanjay makes sense in this day and age of internet. Thank you and namaste Sanjay." Urvashi Jain (Delhi, India)
My dream has come true!
"When I saw other people teaching yoga, I always dreamed of teaching too. But the certification classes are too expensive. But now I got one of the best certification in the world from Sanjay ji and already I have 23 people joined in my classes! Thank you Sanjay ji." Shreya Mehta (Uttar Pradesh, India)
True value for money
"I have a very flexible body so luckily it was easy for me to learn yoga. But how to get certified? I wanted to teach but nobody would certify. They all insist I come and learn from them for 6 months. That's not possible. But my sister told me about Right Yoga (Now Yoga Miracle) and online certification from learned Sanjay ji who was sadhu for 20 years. For just Rs 699 I got certified and got so many bonus yoga videos and books! Thanks Sanjay you are true saint." Amit Sharma (Chandigarh, India)
5 stars!
"Yoga belongs to India. I learned yoga from my father. But I felt awkward to get certified by westerners. I don't mean to be arrogant but shouldn't Indians be leading the way and certifying around the world? That is one of the main reasons I liked to get certified by Sanjay who was also a monk and is still very religious and scientific at same time. I feel proud to get certified by him. Now I have more than 75 students who are very impressed by him and also want to get certified by him. Sanjay ji, you're a rock star, man!" Suchit Sundarajan (Telangana, India)
So many new students are signing up
"This is the highest and most economical yoga teacher certification for self-taught yoga buffs. I'm glad somebody recognized that millions of people in India have learned yoga at home from my mother without going to yoga classes and we have practiced our whole lives. Why should we have to pay for classes and yoga schools to get certified??? Sanjay ji realizes this issue and has offered us certifcation at very reasonal cost (almost free you can say). Thank you Swami ji. Btw I already have more than 100 students :)" Rekha Vatsal (Gujarat, India)
I feel so confident and proud
"Everyone is very impressed to see my yoga certification from monk Sanjay ji. I feel very proud to show it to my new customers. I am opening my own yoga center very soon." Saluni Natrajan (West Bengal, India)
Highest quality - no doubt
"I have a private yoga business and teach at people's homes. This certification is a no brainer for anyone who wants to grow their yoga business and profile. Great value for money and good for your yogi image. My business is growing!" John Gates (New York, USA)
Amazing and enlightening
I didn't realize what enlightenment means until I met Sanjay. I got an exhilarating glimpse of it! I have met many yoga teachers but I think Sanjay is the real thing. Not surprising really, considering he was a monk for more than 20 years. I really recommend him to everybody. He is so unassuming, humble, and respectful of all faiths and people - even atheists! God bless. Joanne Rodrigos (Madrid, Spain)


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Photos of giant snakes being held by multiple people can bring a sense of wonder to those who have seen the photographs. People would wonder how many animals have fallen prey to these beasts. There are many vintage photos of giant snakes in the Philippines. The earliest ones can trace its origins from the first years of the 20th century during the American occupation. These gigantic beasts ruled the lush jungles of the Philippines and terrorized natives in their wake.
There are many accounts written by American researchers about the thriving population of giant reticulated pythons deep in the Philippine jungles. The earliest undated photo shows 8 people(3 uniformed US Army men and 5 Filipinos) holding a skinned giant boa constrictor that grew 29 feet and 7 inches in length!
His research did not succeed if not for the cooperation of the Agta tribe. He frequently scouted with the tribesmen to face the pythons and they managed to capture large specimens that exceeded the normal length of the python. One snake grew for over 25 feet and it was held by many locals.
Mr. Thomas Headland interviewed the locals about how the snakes behaved on their natural habitat, he felt disturbed by what he heard from the locals. It turned out that the snakes terrorized their villages and in one tragic twist of fate, a tribe member was swallowed whole by a large reticulated python. He also found out that smaller reticulated pythons attack the villagers when they go on a hunt for food or pick wild fruits deep in the jungle.
Colored and black and white photographs of Mr.Thomas Headland along with the Agta tribe proved that the forests were once ruled by giant pythons. It is a widely accepted fact that a large population of snakes is a sign of a balanced ecosystem. The pythons installed themselves at the top of the food chain. Being unchallenged by other predators, the snakes reached lengths that people once thought to be nearly impossible.
The widespread deforestation of the Philippines depleted the population of these giant snakes. Being a sign of a healthy ecosystem, they died out together with their former enclaves. Will these giant snakes just be a memory of yesterday? Only time will tell.
Written by Joen R. Orde, Lucis Philippines contributor.
Images: Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, io9 - Gizmodo


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Grumpy's Tips To Remove Closet Odors
I hate when I walk into my closet and get a nasty whiff of stuffy odors. The closet stores all the clothing I ware and I refuse to believe that it's my wrinkly butt causing these scents. In actuality, stuff odors are common because there is little circulating air in a small space. Here are some tips to keep your closet smelling clean.
Old Grumpy's Quick Solution
- Clean & organize your closet space
- Remove laundry baskets and shoes from the closet
- Freshen the air with activated bamboo charcoal bags
- Add fragrance to the space with recycled dryer sheets
- Sprinkle baking soda on the closet floor before vacuuming
Prevention Tips
Closets are small areas filled with clothing, boxes, and shoes. This should be obvious, but many dummies don't think that the first step is to clean out the closet! Get rid of the source of odor and there is a good chance you just solved the issue.
Clear and organize your closet to give breathing room to the space. Vacuum the floor and dust off the walls and surfaces like you would in any other room. If you have cardboard boxes it's probably best to switch to plastic units to minimize moisture absorption.
Shoes will likely be your number one cause of odor. People wash their clothing but ignore their shoes. Clean your shoes often by wiping them inside and out. If they are washer safe you could periodically place them in a wash cycle. If you have shoes that you no longer wear then get rid of them. I personally keep a shoe rack by my front door since fresh air comes in every time I open the door.
Don't throw your dirty laundry in the closet. Use a laundry bin and make sure you do laundry before it overflows.
Grumpy Says: "It should be obvious to clean out the closet as the first step."
Odor Eliminator Solutions
The simplest solution is to recycle the Dryer Sheets that you use during a laundry cycle. Used sheets typically have enough fragrance to keep small areas smelling fresh. Place the sheets in drawers or in-between layers of stacked clothing. This solution helps to amplify your laundry scent instead of conflicting with it.
Another simple trick is to spray perfume or cologne on tissue paper or cotton balls. I would not recommend spritzing directly on the clothing since it can be overpowering. Place the tissue paper in-between clothing and cotton balls along dresser drawers or the corners of the closet.
Since excess humidity can be the first cause of musty smells, my next recommendation is a moisture absorber that also leaves a pleasant scent in the air. This stuff lasts for a couple months and is amazing to see it filled with water pulled from the air. If only I could keep water trapped in my body.
Vinegar is my tried and true natural method of cleaning and deodorizing around my home. The initial scent may be strong for some but it will absorb and neutralize stuffy closet odors. Fill a bowl with vinegar and leave it on the closet floor overnight. Remove it the following day but leave the door open for a few hours for air circulation.
Coffee grounds work just as well at absorbing and neutralizing stuffy closet odors. Place unbrewed coffee grounds into a bowl and place on the closet floor overnight. You could leave the grounds in a corner for a week or so if you choose. Coffee works especially well at absorbing smoke odors.
My favorite recommendation is to use Activated Bamboo Charcoal. This stuff is great for absorbing impurity odors from the air. Just keep in mind that it can take a week to remove stubborn smells but it lasts a long time. You can place the bags in dresser drawers or just place them anywhere in the closet. I place bags inside the shoes I used the most often to absorb the most consternated odors.
Baking Soda is a universal solution for removing odors from small spaces and absorbing excess moisture. Place a box of baking soda in a hidden but safe spot where you won't risk spilling it. It works great to sprinkle a bit inside your shoes or in laundry baskets. You can sprinkle a little on the carpet before vacuuming.
Grumpy Says: "Baking Soda is a universal solution for removing odors from small spaces and absorbing excess moisture."


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This week's blog post includes: FLTA CyberSecurity Road Show(s), the most common issues you address with buyers.
One of the best things about our affiliation with Old Republic is the access to training videos on a variety of topics. I just reviewed the training video on Cyber-Security and while it was not as riveting as an episode of Big Little Lies or Game of Thrones, it was pretty darn compelling. It is SO EASY for the bad guys to fool you and either get you to disclose your password or download a virus, worm or malware. So here are some ideas I will share with you so that you, too, can BE A SECURITY HERO!
A Security Hero is someone who makes security-minded decisions every single day, all day long. And the place to start is with your password. Passwords are the key to staying secure. Attributes of a strong password:
Other things a Security Hero can do: Have a "no click" policy in your work flow. Incentivize your staff to think two, three or four times before they click on any link or attachment that they are not 100% certain is legitimate. I think our technology geeks should come up with something comparable to car airbags that would deploy if you even start to click on a link or attachment; somehow your mouse would sense this and KABAM…….you would be forced to give that click a second thought. Just an idea…..
FLTA CyberSecurity Road Show(s). FLTA's CyberSecurity Committee takes its responsibilities seriously and has organized three seminars to help agents stay up to date on how they can protect themselves and their customers/clients. Registrants will have the opportunity to hear from experienced professionals and consultants covering cyber exposure, basics to cyber fraud, overview on building a cyber policy and understanding cyber regulatory compliance. Here are the dates/locations:
Link to register: www.flta.org/CyberRoadShow
Different topic. I am interested in gathering info about the ways Fund Members serve their buyer clients. This might help me create some messaging around the value that you bring to a closing. So…….email me here email@example.com with the 5 most common issues you address with buyers. Examples:
Let me know how we can help you.
Melissa Jay Murphy
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
This blog is your source for important updates and recent changes that are impacting the Real Estate industry in Florida. Check back often for the most up-to-date news and information.
Checks, Laws & Limits 08/23/2019
Be a Security Hero 08/08/2019
Good Day for Reminders & No Hurricanes 07/24/2019
Fireworks, Priorities and Updates: What's... 07/03/2019
Beware the Scams: Warnings to Heed... 06/12/2019
Apologies and Updates: 2019 Legislation... 06/05/2019
E-Closing DT Launching at Assembly & NAR... 03/28/2019
Important DFS 3rd Party Fees & Miami-Dade... 02/28/2019
Breaking News: DFS Guidance Reposted 02/14/2019
Breaking News: DFS Guidance Removed 02/13/2019
DFS & CFBP Guidance Available but Not... 02/08/2019
There is a lot to talk about so let's get... 01/25/2019
New Year. New Issues. 01/10/2019
National Association of Realtors & Federal... 12/27/2018
RESPA Compliance For the Holidays: Don't... 12/06/2018


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Listing Price
Property Description
This property is an amazing home to live in and also comes with a secondary unit! Two separate sheds, wonderfully landscaped backyard with LED Lights, a gazebo, patio, water fountain, BBQ cooking area, and even hammocks to relax in. Beautiful mature Aspen, Elm, and Pine trees throughout the property. Custom redecorated interior with a gorgeous kitchen with slow closing drawers. Master bath has his/her sinks and a custom shower. Home is located near Hospital, Hiking trails, UCCS, shopping centers and near I 25. Two homes for the price of 1! Beautiful ranch home in North End, with a separate fully functional unit which can be either Mother in Law Suite or a rental. The main property is custom upgraded and designed. New windows and blinds, each room has spacious closets. 9 Ft ceilings throughout the house and custom wood flooring. Master bath has custom his/hers sinks and custom shower. Kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite counters, high cabinets & slow closing drawers with a Lazy Susan included. Eat breakfast in the kitchen bar or dining area & enjoy the surrounding nature! Backyard boasts with high fully mature Elm, Aspen, and Spruce pine trees. With 2 separate sheds, a custom BBQ grilling area, gazebo, water fountain and lights throughout this backyard is a gem! Home is conveniently located near a hospital, UCCS, I25, hiking trails, parks, and shopping centers. This property is move in ready with income potential ready to go! Live in the city but enjoy your privacy and Pikes Peak views! This home is really a must see! The secondary unit has a current renter.
Total SqFt
Lot SqFt


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Mr. Huang Zhaojin, 73, Detained and Tortured in a Brainwashing Center for Nearly Three Months
(Minghui.org) Mr. Huang Zhaojin, a 73-year-old Falun Gong practitioner, was illegally arrested in September 2013 and detained in a brainwashing center in Jianghan District for 77 days. He was deprived of sleep, starved, verbally abused, and tortured. The police tried to force him to write a statement promising to quit practicing Falun Gong.
Mr. Huang said, "Jianghan official Qu Shen instructed the police to torture me. They didn't stop even after my legs swelled up and I got dizzy. They did their utmost to torture me. I almost died."
The following is Mr. Huang's account of what happened to him:
I was distributing Falun Gong informational materials near a vegetable market on the morning of September 27, 2013, when some community security officers grabbed me and reported me to the police.
Officers from Hanzhong Police Station took me to their interrogation room and put me in shackles for hours. They also took 500 yuan in cash from me and twisted and injured my left thumb.
Torture re-enactment: Handcuffed and shackled
Under orders from Qu Shen, head of the Jianghan District Political and Legal Affairs Committee, the police took me to a brainwashing center in the Jianghan District, where I was detained for 77 days. I was pressured to write the three statements and threatened that I would not be allowed to return home if I didn't.
Because I refused to write them, they stopped giving me water to drink or warm water to wash with. I had to shower in cold water, which caused me to cough badly.
Sun Jun from the Manchun Police Station tried to make me take medicine, but I refused. So he called in a few security guards and people from the 610 Office to pin me down on a chair. They pried my mouth open with a spoon and force-fed me unknown drugs. They injured my upper palate.
Sun Jun once put my meal on the table and asked me in front of a number of people from the 610 Office, "Tell us, do you think this food is from the Communist Party or your Master? If you say it's from your Master, we will throw it away. If you say it's from the Communist Party, then you can eat it."
I pushed the bowl aside. Sun started to yell at me me, and he carried on for two hours (he was obviously drunk). I didn't say anything.
He asked me if I was against the Communist Party. I told him I wasn't. He then asked me why I encouraged people to quit the Party and its affiliated organizations. I told him it was to save people. He then asked me who I had saved. I said, "Whoever listens to me clarify the truth can be saved, including you and everyone present here. It's your choice. I'm only trying to help."
Sun Jun and the others didn't give me enough to eat between October 23 and November 22. They starved me for an entire month and said, "We'll starve you to death if you don't write the statements."
They also refused to give me drinking water. When I was thirsty and asked the "helpers" for water, Deng, (also from the 610 Office) saw it. He rushed over, poured the water out, and swore at me. Later, they deliberately turned off the water supply in my room.
One night after 10:00 p.m., Sun and Deng walked into my room. Sun was drunk again and started in on me, "This is my territory. If you don't do what I say, I can let you die..." He verbally abused me for two hours before he finally left.
I felt dizzy from lack of food and was so weak that I could hardly stand up. Nevertheless, the 610 Office staff forced me to sit on a chair and listen to slanderous recordings all day long, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. This went on for eight days in a row. I had to report to use the toilet, and Deng accused me of pretending I was ill.
A section head from the Procuratorate told the security guards to carry me from the bed and make me sit in a chair. They also tried to take my blood pressure every day. When I didn't cooperate, the deputy head of Huapolu Primary School twisted my hand.
Qu Shen also ordered the security guards to keep watch on me around the clock. The head of the security guards said to me, "They have linked our wages to you Falun Gong. If you don't 'transform,' we four won't get paid. So from now on I will make sure you don't get any sleep!"
On the evening of November 21, the head of the security team and three of his team members tried to make me write the guarantee statements again, saying I wouldn't be allowed to sleep unless I did.
The next evening, they came again to pressure me to write the statements. I refused again. Leader Guo ordered the other three to hold me down on a chair. One grabbed my left arm, another held my right hand, and put a pen in my hand. They held the pen and my thumb and index fingers together and wrote many slanderous sentences against our Master on the paper. (My finger was pierced and bled in the process.)
I became dizzy. Zhou, one of the guards, shouted, "If you still refuse to write it, we'll get someone to break your fingers with a wire-cutter." Team leader Guo also told Zhou to take my hand and slap my own face repeatedly.


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Lem Lem
Annie Sloan has teamed up with Oxfam with her brand new colour, Lem Lem. Every pot of Lem Lem sold will raise vital funds for Oxfam, helping people beat poverty worldwide.
Annie's inspiration for this colour came from the soft green of the fields of alliums that she saw when visiting Oxfam's Ethiopian Seed Project earlier this year. The plants are grown by women farmers supported by Oxfam.
The name Lem Lem means 'to flourish' in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia. It's a word than Annie overhead the women farmers say, and thought it was the perfect name for the new colour because it represents hope, just like the Oxfam's Seed Project.
Chalk Paint™ is a unique decorative paint developed by Annie Sloan, made specifically for painting furniture, painting floors, and for giving walls a completely matt, velvety finish.
Chalk Paint™ sticks to just about any surface... wood, concrete, metal, matt plastic, earthenware and much more, inside and outside the home. It dries fast too so you can add second or third coats quickly, and start enjoying your revitalised walls, floors and furniture sooner. Gorgeous results have never been so simple and straightforward.


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Victoria Bridge
2012 | Cambridge, New Zealand | Waipa District Council
The Project
Victoria Bridge is a historically significant listed structure spanning the Waikato River. It is over 100 years old and still used daily by large amounts of traffic. The bridge abutments were in urgent need of stabilisation.
The Issues
Significant potential for traffic disruption as the bridge is in downtown Cambridge. Potential of negative impact on the river and surroundings.
Technical and safety challenges working on steep slopes high over the Waikato river.
Our Response
We designed and constructed retaining beam structures and installed over 1.5 km of soil nail anchors then meshed and shotcreted the abutment slopes. We communicated actively with local residents to ensure their cooperation.


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Retirement May Be the Perfect Time to Pursue Your Dreams
In the past several years, there has been a change in attitudes about retirement from people nearing age 65. With the realities of the current economy and longer lifespans, more senior citizens are choosing to continue working.Read more
Exercise May Protect the Brain From Alzheimer's
A most recent study by a group of researchers found that regular exercise could help prevent Alzheimer's. According to Dr. Nathan Johnson, the leader of the University of Kentucky research study team, said people who exercise frequently often have reduced arterial stiffness, a condition that comes with aging. It shows being physically active improves blood flow to the brain and helps protect it from dementia and Alzheimer's especially for those who have inactive lifestyles.Read more
Senior Citizens Taking Control of Their Own Personal Safety
Senior Citizens are taking control of their own personal safety with demand for gun sales and firearm training increasing in record numbers. It is apparent that seniors are concerned about their safety and are looking to protect themselves after seeing home invasions and robberies targeting the elderly on the rise.Read more
Healthcare Technology Can Be Beneficial For Seniors
While many senior citizens are often resistant to new technologies, it's becoming increasing apparent that technology can be a valuable asset for the elderly and for family members that want to check in on loved ones.Read more
Why the Presidential Candidates Aren't Talking About Social Security and Medicare
As the Presidential campaigns of the Republican and Democratic candidates unfold, seniors have growing concerns over why the candidates seem to distance themselves from dealing with the future of Social Security and Medicare.Read more
Older Americans Renewed
Major Fight Escalating Over Medicare's Payment Plan for Cancer Drugs
A brand new Medicare pilot proposal that tests ways physicians pay for chemotherapy, and other drugs has sparked outrage among cancer doctors who are demanding the Obama Administration reconsider or scrap the plan.Read more
"File and Suspend" Strategy is Soon to Expire
If you're married and have reached full retirement age, now may be the time to file for Social Security benefits. As of April 30 a popular filing strategy for married couples will be going away. The "file and suspend" strategy was a loophole that allowed married couples to claim more Social Security benefits over their lifetimes.Read more
The ABC's of Prescription Drug Buying - Always Be Careful!
As a consumer, you have a lot of choice when it comes to obtaining prescription drugs. But all prescription drug users, especially seniors, should be aware of the dangers that exist out there.Read more
Social Security: Where the Candidates Stand
The recent Presidential debates between the candidates have been pretty heated at times. With accusations made and insults being tossed about, it sometimes can be hard to tell where the candidates real stand on the issue.Read more


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Our Goal
Our goal with arts engagement is to open the doors of the National Theatre School to as many people as possible.
Through various courses, workshops, and programs, we hope to give different communities access to the resources and expertise developed at NTS over the past 60 years. We see it as our responsibility to connect with all those who have an interest in the performing arts.
Our Engagement
We believe diversity and accessibility are critical to our society and art. With that in mind, we support everyone's right to an artistic experience. We are committed to ensuring a better representation of diversity in our courses and to making our resources accessible to as many people as possible. That's why we encourage people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, and ethnicities, as well as Indigenous people, people with lived experiences, and people of colour, to register for our programs.
The Pedagogy
The National Theatre School offers everyone the opportunity to explore theatre as a form of artistic expression and as an instrument for personal and social change.
We seek to address the initial question: how to begin? It's the starting point to every artistic project, every creation, regardless of whether it's in acting, writing, or technical design. We will support you as you work towards different milestones in your artistic journey.
It's important to us that the learning be linked to a project that allows participants to make use of the skills that they acquire at NTS. They will then always be able to apply those skills to future activities, artistic or otherwise.
Artistic engagement is evolving and we are very enthusiastic about the future directions of our community programs!
We are grateful for the incredible work of the artists who have taught with us, and we thank you for your participation and enthusiasm over the past two years. A thousand thanks!
That said, we will not be presenting public workshops this year, other than the community choir. If you have a group who would like to arrange a workshop-visit at NTS, please contact the Artistic Engagement office: 514-842-7954 #132.
Theatre Engaging Communities (TEC)
Through the Theatre Engaging Communities (TEC) program, NTS supports its students and recent graduates by financing some of their artistic projects produced outside of the School (up to $5,000). This program combines the pursuit of artistic excellence with the determination to strengthen theatre's social impact.
Students and recent NTS graduates (up to 5 years after graduation) may apply for for a grant to produce or perform art projects outside of the School if these projects demonstrate social or community involvement.
There are two types of grants
- type 1: project including some elements of community involvement (maximum amount requested $2,500)
- type 2: a community-engagement-centered project that benefits its targeted community (maximum request $5,000)
The distinction between the two types of grants allows for the encouragement of different types of projects, while at the same time funding projects that demonstrate stronger and measurable community relevance.Apply now!
TEC Application form
NTS Community Choir
A choir built for fun! If you've never sung in a choir before or don't read music, that's okay! No prior experience necessary. Simply bring your enthusiasm, your joy and your laughter. We'll take care of the rest.
Nuit Rouge
Since 2019, the arts engagement team has facilitated Nuit Rouge, an evening of performances and storytelling by the Indigenous artists of NTS (from the professional training programs and the artistic residencies).
For its second edition in 2020, Nuit Rougetook the shape of UTESSIT.


text: Brandon has 16 years of experience as a teacher and leader in STEM Education. Brandon became an Education Specialist with NASA in 2009. Brandon is responsible for designing and conducting professional development workshops for pre-service, in-service, & informal educators and collaborating with state and local education agencies in the Johnson region of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, South Dakota, & North Dakota. Brandon earned a BS in Middle Grades Education with an emphasis in science and social studies and an MS in Educational Leadership & Administration with certifications for Principal and Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to joining NASA Education, Brandon spent 9 years in Kentucky as a classroom science teacher in grades 5-9, a 21st CCLC Academic Specialist, a K-12 Principal for Cornerstone Christian Academy, and an Adjunct Elementary Science Education Professor for Midway College.


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The most valuable Japan shopping information for you!
Seven Park Ario Kashiwa
Around Tokyo > Around Tokyo Others
Smile Park
They can do anything! They can become anything! Hugging bright future!
To protect what is really important we start the tale of Pretty Cures!
※Watching is free
※The content, place and time of the event may change depending on the weather and traffic conditions of the day. hank you in advance for the understanding.


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A bullet casing fired from Gaza
Several Sderot structures and vehicles were hit by machinegun fire from the Gaza Strip Monday evening, which triggered a Code Red alarm in Sderot and nearby communities in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. No casualties were reported.
The machinegun shooting came in the wake of several tense days in the border region, that saw several infiltration attempts by Palestinians followed by IDF retaliatory attacks.
Earlier Monday, the IDF arrested two Palestinian terrorists attempting to cross the security fence in the northern strip.
The Palestinians were found with knives, bolt cutters and an incendiary material on their person. The Israeli soldiers came under fire while the terrorists were being chased. No Israeli casualties were reported and the forces returned fire, killing at least one member of Hamas's military wing while wounding another moderately.
It was reported Sunday that a drone, which infiltrated Israel about a week ago and landed near the fence in the northern strip, was examined by IDF forces and found to have been carrying explosives—but the device failed to detonate.
In another incident, also from Sunday, the army fired tank shells towards an observation post in southern Gaza in retaliation to a charge placed near the fence and secreted away inside bolt cutters.
The IDF's strike killed three terrorists belonging to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with the army girding itself for a possible revenge action.
See all talkbacks "Gaza machinegun fire hits Sderot vehicles, buildings; Code Red alarm triggered"


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Chenot Palace Weggis Health Wellness Hotel / Davide Macullo Architects
The true beauty oder Ähnlichebuilt place is verhältnisgleich to the positive influence it has on people. When we wonder why we feel so good non…place, so 'at home', it is because its dimensions, proportions and tensions have been designed for us.
Chenot Palace Weggis, located in one of the most beautiful and historic places in Switzerland, overlooking Salzlake Lucerne, framed by the Alps, is designed for menschenfreundlich well-being. What the hotel offers is continuous sense of feeling good, being at ease. It is this sense we give to our architecture by understanding it as a link between the DNA oder Ähnlicheplace and its future.
Constructed between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2020, this flagship project extends over 20'000 sqm and includes the addition oder Ähnlichenew timber guest room block, a state-of-the-art medical spa and wellness area and the renovation of existing hotel buildings.
The view of the charming turn-of-the-century hotel from the lake remains unchanged from before the new development; the new guest room building has been sine temporeback above the entrance and its volumes staggered in such a way that it is not ever fully visible.
The spa volume is covered with gardens and on arrival there only hint of spaces that might lie inside is across a series of bonsai courtyards. The timber cladding of the new guest rooms, spa and pool area plays a game of shadows and creates a material landscape embedded in the green gardens while the uniting of the old hotel buildings with the new elements is a synthesis of architectural language with simplicity in materials to ensure that the senses are not overwhelmed.
The language of the new adopts the symbolic traits of the historical buildings, recalling the proportions and character of the vernacular, expressed non…contemporary way, combining the organic with the geometric, all in chromatic harmony. The complex comprises 97 hotel rooms, of which 52 are in pre-existing buildings and 45 in the new timber construction.
.(tagsToTranslate)Projects(t)Built Projects(t)Selected Projects(t)Hospitality Architecture(t)Hotels(t)Healthcare Architecture(t)Wellbeing(t)Refurbishment(t)Extension(t)On Facebook(t)Weggis(t)Switzerland


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This skin fortifying oil acts as a catalyst to help boost the performance of other skincare products and deliver superior results. It quickly penetrates the epidermal layers to significantly improve skin moisture levels and boost radiance. Essential fatty acids and antioxidants improve the health and condition of the skin.
Ideal For: All skin types
Size: 0.5 OZ. / 15ml
How to Use
Use in the morning and at night. Apply 2-3 drops directly to cleansed skin or mix with your preferred serum or moisturizer.
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Myristyl Nicotinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Strobile, Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Seed Oil, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Propylmethylmethoxybenzofuran


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STRATEGIC SKILLS: decision quality, intellectual horsepower, learning on the fly, problem solving
Decision maker. We might all make thousands of decisions in a day, but we all know "decision maker" is a title reserved for high ranking people with power and authority to call the shots. The CEO, the President, your mom. Competency in solving problems, learning on the fly, and making quality decisions are what gets you there.
I'm tagging all of these articles #67 (for the 67 competencies we'll be exploring together). You'll find a #67 linking to the complete listing of all the articles at both the beginning and end of each installment.
Disclaimer: Remember, I don't have the official Lominger documentation for this, nor am I a licensed consultant. These articles are merely my personal, high level exploration of the 67 Lominger competencies in name only, as listed all over the internet, and should not be construed as being the intellectual property of or otherwise endorsed by Korn/Ferry.
We make thousands of decisions every single day. From the moment we decide to hit the snooze button (or not, you uber-productive types) to the minute we decide it's time to rack out for the night, our days are filled with decisions. Some are almost invisible – should I grab 4th gear or go straight to 5th? Some are more frustrating than they need to be – what should we do for dinner tonight? And some are straight out of the First World Problems Daily – the internet is down, so now what do I do?
These are all fairly easy decisions to make. But how often do we make complex decisions?
- Should I quit my job?
- Should we buy this house?
- Should we make this competency stuff free or charge $1 per download?
- Should I get the $4,000 Gen 2.5 Pajero this summer, or save for the $15,000 Delica next year?
No doubt you've got some questions like this of your own. And let's not forget the granddaddy of them all – what do I want to do with my life? We've already established our day jobs really only account for about half our experiences and we need to figure out creative ways to get our gearhead experiences on our resumes. How should I do that? This sort of stuff is what I consider complex.
I'm putting a lot of time into these competency articles because I want GBXM to help us all put more of our personal power to the ground, so to speak. We spend 5 days a week wishing the weekend would hurry up and get here. You know that's another way of saying we're wishing 70% of our waking lives would hurry up and pass us by? That's what I want to change – in my own life, too.
Today, we're going to talk about making complex decisions – decision quality, intellectual horsepower, learning on the fly, and problem solving. I say "we" because I hope if this subject interested you enough to click a link, you'll want to leave a comment or get in touch so we can discuss specific examples or something like that. This series is literally me thinking about the Lominger competencies based on my own gearhead experiences. Adding your comments only makes this more useful for all of us.
As I was drafting up the outline for this piece, I started noticing some trends.
- define the problem
- avoid biases (aka: backfire effect)
- tap others/experts for feedback (aka: you)
- don't let emotions trip you up (aka: be logical)
- consider multiple possible solutions (divergent ideation)
- avoid "analysis paralysis" (come up with plan, stick with it)
Today we're thinking about how we make the best possible solution given the fully defined problem and an understanding of the real, root cause and effect.
How would you describe decision quality? Is it picking the right option for the here and now, or the longer term, character building experiences because you didn't know then what you know now? Admittedly, it's a bit challenging for me to even write about! Again, this whole series is something of a personal journey I'm trying to share with the gearheads of the world, so let's try framing this as something we want others to see in us.
Googling around a bit (yes – I'm researching this stuff), I get the sense this competency is all about being recognized for making decisions which, more often than not, prove to be the right choice at the right time. Quality decision makers are known for quickly analyzing situations, then making calls based on experience and personal judgment. They're also sought out by others who want their advice.
What I find interesting, here, is how long term vision and goals can ultimately determine the quality of the decision. For example, let's say I offer you a choice between the following:
- a completely modified vehicle of your choice valued at US$20,000, built/maintained by someone else
- US$20,000 to buy/build/maintain the same vehicle yourself
Which option is the RIGHT choice? Option 1 gets you the wheels ready to roll, but you don't get the experience of building the machine. Option 2 gets you the wheels – eventually – but you have to put in a lot of hard work to gain the experience of building and caring for the thing yourself. A simpler way to put this same example is how we can all – financial means notwithstanding – buy a car tonight that will get us to work tomorrow or spend less than half the amount and fix the one we've got over the next couple weeks if we're willing to bum rides.
Sound familiar? Fast, right, cheap – pick any two. There's no escaping compromise. Every decision we make comes with opportunity cost. Given the choice between A and B, we give up on B when when we choose A, right? Now, I'm a firm believer in always looking for ways to replace OR with AND, but it's not always possible. In any case, it's clear we need a detailed vision of what we're after to drive quality decision making. If you don't know where you're going, how can you choose the right path to get there?
This brings me to intellectual horsepower. What the hell is "intellectual horsepower," anyway? One of the neat, and yet slightly scary things about exploring these competencies publicly is looking into some of them and realizing I'm thinking about my own weaknesses.
Intellectual horsepower, I'll be honest, has been the butt of most of my Lominger sarcasm since I first heard of it. You know I'm big on using metaphor to help us all understand new ideas in terms we already understand, but I struggle with defining this one. GBXM is all about helping gearheads transfer more of their own horsepower to the ground – just like an actual gearbox, get it? Best I can define this one, if horsepower is the ability to do work, then intellectual horsepower must be the ability to do intellectual work.
If you're strong in this area, people probably think you're pretty sharp. If you're intelligent, able to pick up new ideas and concepts fairly easily, and agile enough to pivot (change course without losing your position) in a new direction toward your goals, you're probably doing alright.
We're all emotional creatures, but how often do we really separate our emotions from fact when faced with challenges? Looking at the numbers, we know we're actually better off keeping our current wheels than buying new ones, but we buy that new machines because we want it. Know what I mean?
Anyone who's read Stephen Covey's business classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People will recall the 4 quadrant graph for breaking things down into important, non-important, urgent, and non-urgent. For those who aren't, I've included an image.
Life comes at us fast. With so many things competing for our attention these days, we need this idea more than ever. Our first priority should be those things which are both urgent and important – the daily driver won't start, or the daily driver is on fire. After that, it's those things which are important, but not urgent – the daily driver will need a new battery pretty soon, and it might be a good idea to invest in one of those small fire extinguishers.
Maybe this is the crux of intellectual horsepower – knowing the difference and acting on it in the moment. "Sorry, My daily driver just caught fire. I'm not going to be able to help you pick a turbo to take advantage of that smoking 50% off deal before the deadline tonight." (aka: urgent, but not important) Likewise the ability to tell what's neither urgent nor important, eg; catching up on House of Cards on Netflix.
I firmly believe part of this one is expanding our horizons. Sure, we all roll our eyes and downplay the value of various other automotive cliques from time to time, but which do you think is more ignorant – slamming a car so low it has to be partially disassembled to pull in and out of parking lots, or talking shit on strangers who do that over the internet simply because you're unwilling to talk to them and hear them talk about the automotive art form as passionately as you do quarter mile ETs and dyno slips?
My life has been forever changed because I built a couple motors and helped install a few others. I've no problem with driving a US$2,000 Pajero to work every day (without AC, in Phoenix, by the way), partly because I know I've put more than that into the head alone on previous daily drivers. Do I still have any of those hot parts I was – and remain – so proud of? Nope.
The $1700 race head is gone, along with the Crower cams, Megasquirt EMS, and all the little titanium bits. But those experiences will always be with me. They changed me. First time you fire a new engine you assembled with your own hands, you become a different person. There's no turning back at that point. You've passed the big test. Everything else mechanical on the vehicle is secondary.
Just like all those thousands of dollars in mods I sold for pennies on the dollar – seriously, I spent like $5,000 building that engine, only to sell it for $800 and a running stocker – the experience of leaving your home country to hang out with other gearheads, some of which might not even speak your language, is an experience on par with building your first engine. The experience is the most valuable part of the deal. It expands your horizons.
Quality decision making requires separating opinion from fact. It requires an open mind to new ideas which can often be alien on the surface, looking for common ground. It's about considering all the facts before rushing to a solution – or judgment. Have you ever heard of backfire effect?
I first learned about backfire effect from an article on You Are Not So Smart. Basically, we like to think we're super rational and will change our beliefs when faced with new information, but the opposite is actually true. Faced with evidence contrary to our beliefs, our beliefs tend to get stronger. Calling all strawmen. Want to see it in action?
- A new scientific report proves, without a doubt, mankind is accelerating climate change.
- A new law is issued which states abortion is not a form of birth control.
- Electric, self-driving cars will be cheaper, safer, and better.
Chances are, regardless of your political beliefs, you disagreed with one of those. Sure, I've no evidence for any of them, but that feeling you just got – probably similar to the one I got thinking them up – is your signal that backfire effect is taking place.
Did you feel your "bullshit meter" start going off? Would you go (have you gone) after the source of the report, looking for loopholes or reasons to discredit the organization behind it instead of consider the evidence they present? Should abortion be 100% free and unrestricted – even to those too lazy to bother with a condom? What's the real reason you despise self-driving EVs?
See what I mean? Separating opinion from fact. Not so much walking away from our beliefs, but how much better off are we when we can spot ourselves slipping into defensive positions? Making quality decisions requires us to be more self-aware, more mindful, more present in the moment. Considering we barely have time to make decisions these days, let alone pause to reflect on the outcomes, it's important we come up with systems to learn on the fly.
Do you learn quickly from new problems? How well do you handle them? I tend to freak out a bit. Ever stick your finger in an electric outlet or touch a hot burner on the stove? We learned on the fly in those situations, didn't we! Not every learning opportunity is so obvious – or painful – but I wonder if there isn't always a little stress involved.
The rally car comes into the first service of the day. There's oily residue all over the rear, passenger side wheel well. We've determined the remote reservoir shock is leaking at the bottom. The bolt is loose. Our service checklist doesn't say anything specific about checking the shocks for leaks, but we've got 30 minutes to come up with a solution before we start incurring time penalties. What do we do?
Having been in this situation a couple years ago at the Prescott Rally, crewing for Kris and Christine Marciniak, I can tell you we quickly reallocated team resources in the moment. Dan and Kris got the wrenches and crawled under the car to try a few ideas while I continued working through the rest of the service checklist – ie; the rest of the car. We got the shock buttoned back up and the car back out on their minute. All was well.
You can imagine our collective surprise when the leak was back at the next service, some two-plus hours of Kris' being smooth and not lifting on dozens of miles of primitive roads. I mean, the car regularly gets airborne and here we were with a brand new, expensive, remote reservoir shock pissing oil all over the place. This time, we checked the shock first, then I went right to work on the checklist while Kris and Dan resumed troubleshooting.
Long story short, we'd end up trying – in vain – to refill the shock with a modified turkey baster and plastic medicine syringe in the hotel parking lot around midnight that night. The idea being it would still beat an old, stock Dodge Neon strut, and would at least preserve some of the car's balance. We just didn't want to run it dry and destroy it.
We were learning on the fly. Looking back now, it was ridiculous, but in the moment, we were on a very tight timetable and had to brainstorm possible solutions, pick the most realistic one given the circumstances, and put it to the test on challenging rally stages. I'm sure you've run into similar challenges in your own automotive life.
Sometimes, it takes a little experimentation to uncover the root cause of a problem. Do I need to rebuild my carburettor or just adjust the dashpot? I could turn the dashpot adjustment screw all the way clockwise and see what – if any – effect it has on the engine. Likewise, I could turn it all the way counter-clockwise and see what happens. If the engine runs better, I can be fairly confident the cause of my irritating, random high idle was turning the wrong screw to adjust idle speed when the throttle cable was simply too tight. If not, I'm after another cause.
When making decisions, we need to keep an eye out for those root causes, A good place to start is looking for patterns. Patterns help us narrow our focus, accelerating our problem solving efforts. Faced with a new challenge, we often reflect back on past experiences without even thinking about it. Ever spend hours – days, even – chasing an electrical gremlin? How long did it take you to rule that issue out next time something similar came up?
A lot of this is simply being mindful – awareness of the experience right here, right now. We make thousands of decisions every day, but most of them happen on auto-pilot. This means it can be all too easy to let emotions get the best of us, spending minutes with the hammer when a few seconds with a toothpick would get the job done.
Looking back, we gearheads have had plenty of opportunities to learn. From installing our first mods to attending our firsts events, we can confidently say these experiences were opportunities. But they were not without their challenges, too. I had several opportunities to work on engines in my own vehicles, after all, but each time, these were also challenges.
- How am I going to get this done before I have to go back to work?
- What am I going to miss out on because of this thing this time?
- Who can I count on to help make this happen quickly?
- Where am I going to get the money for this?
Let's be clear, these could all be considered problems, too. Sitting on the side of the road waiting for a flatbed on Friday afternoon last time I lost the engine in the Pajero, I can assure, you, I wasn't excited about the "opportunity" to rebuild the engine over the weekend. I even spent a couple hours that night browsing dealership websites looking for a base model, econobox replacement. (Mitsubishi Mirage or iMiEV, ideally.)
The Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, said, "This too shall pass." I've always found comfort in that. Doesn't matter how much things suck right now. It's going to pass. And if it doesn't, as Confucius said, "It does not matter how slow you go so long as you do not stop." One foot in front of the other, you're going to be somewhere else. Being mindful in the moment means we take smarter steps and come out better on the other side.
When things seem too challenging, it can't hurt to try breaking it down into smaller pieces. When your engine turns – but doesn't start – what do you do? You break it down. I need fuel, compression, spark.
Then you start with the simplest tests of each area. Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key? Do you have fuel at the rail? If you disconnect a spark plug wire, can you jump a spark with a screwdriver? And so on and so forth. This is a perfect example of breaking a problem down into smaller pieces. And we've all been there.
A little trick, when I find myself struggling with a problem, I try reframing it as a challenge. We've already got everything inside us to achieve our dreams. It's all a question of applying ourselves to those ends. A couple months ago, my mortgage broker was asking for some info on my 401K retirement plan and I couldn't find it. Considering it was required to close the loan on our first house and we were trying to close before the end of the month, this was a real problem.
I reframed things in my mind, calling it a challenge. Instead of approaching it from a "I can't do this" perspective, now I was working from a "I've got to slow down and figure this one out" point of view. It wasn't easy, but I ended up finding the info required, hidden deep within several less-than-intuitive drop-down menus on the website.
Again, we've already got everything inside us to achieve our dreams. I know that sounds corny, but it's at the center of what we're exploring, here, with this series. Are there any limits to what you can google? How many communities are you involved with these days? How much can you ask them that isn't specifically related to the main goal of the forum? What's that off-topic section for, if not for discussing other topics? It's for reaching out to others who might have insight into other topics.
We all start somewhere. I'm hoping this series helps us all get something special started. This might be a good time to mention the importance of balancing perfection with action. Remember, we are what we do. I'd even go so far as to point out I don't think these long-ass articles are perfect by any means at this point, but I promised GBXM would do more to help gearheads build high performance machines and lives. I have to do this. I want to do this.
The point of this article isn't to say we need to make sure our decisions are perfect, but that we're after a decent ratio over time. Consider this article food for thought, maybe a few ideas to keep in mind next time you find yourself face to face with a nasty problem. (And, if any of these articles help you out, please let me know!)
Are we talking about making quality decisions or solving problems? Maybe they're one and the same. Maybe they're not, but go hand-in-hand. You can't solve a problem without making a decision, after all. Becoming a "decision maker" requires a solid track record of making good decisions, decisions which, obviously, solve problems for others. Your employer wants you to solve problems for the business. Your customer wants you to solve problems for him.
One of the gearheads I respect the most, Michael Rodarte, once posed the question, "How come there's time and money to do it over, but not to do it right the first time?" A few years ago, Michael was flying a desk for an investment firm – and hating every minute of it. Today, he's building race cars professionally – and loving it. He, his wife, and toddler moved back into his mom's house, paid off all their debt, and then put a sizeable down payment on their next house to reduce their monthly expenses to the point where he could afford the pay cut to change careers. This is effective problem solving. This is isolating and addressing the root cause.
You can read his whole story from 2013 in issue1.04.
It's all about honest analysis of the situation. It's looking beyond the obvious in pursuit of understanding WHY things are the way they are. When we accurately define the challenge, we come up with more accurate solutions. How? By leaving the Jump to Conclusions Mat in the closet.
All those decisions we make every day. Thousands of them. They're all important in their own way, but we can't take our ability to solve problems for granted. When problems arise, we can empower ourselves by reframing them as challenges.
Start by defining the challenge. Look for hidden problems beyond the obvious and seek to address the root cause wherever possible. Don't just stop at the first answer or let yourself get stuck on what worked last time. Sure, consider what worked last time – patterns and all that save us time – but don't paint yourself into a corner as a one-trick-pony!
If we can catch backfire effect in action, we can take a step back, making sure our own personal biases aren't blinding us from alternate ideas and solutions. In the end, we want to be known for having a solid track record of mostly successes. We want to be the people others turn to for help because they know we can help them solve their problems.
Who knows. If we step up our game in these areas, maybe one of us will become CEO or president. Probably not your mom, though. That would be really weird.
What would you add to these thoughts on making quality decisions?
[ featured image: Tony Harrison, Flickr CC ]
[ QA: Ben Watts, Flickr CC ]
[ NSX: Casey Boyle, Flick CC ]
[ Breakdown: Ahmed Mahin Fayaz, Flickr CC ]
[ Opportunity: Miguelb, Flickr CC ]


text: Game & Nature Reserves Game & Nature Reserves Mulan Mountain Scenic Area is located in Huangpi District of Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province, boasting of Mulan eight scenic spots nationwide. East Lake is a large lake within the city limits of Wuhan, China, and the largest urban lake in China. Wuhan's East Lake covers an area of 88 square kilometers. It is one of the 5A tourist zones of China, and admits over a million people yearly. Wuhan Botanical Garden, or WBG, located in Wuhan, Hubei, China, has a collection of more than 4000 species of flora. WBG has a regular program to educate and create awareness about plant life and biodiversity amongst the general public.


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WASHINGTON – President Bush huddled with his war Cabinet at Camp David yesterday and, amid stunning TV video of the "shock and awe" blitz over Baghdad, repeated that allied forces are making "every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm."
"Iraqi officials have placed troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for the dictator's army," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
"I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm."
He said "decisive force" is the only way to keep the war short, but, as reports of speedy allied advances poured in from the battlefields, Bush again warned that the war "could be longer and more difficult than some have predicted."
The White House released a photo of Bush with his war Cabinet at the presidential retreat, but also noted that he's taking time to exercise – as if to convey the image of a steady leader with confidence in the military men running the war.
The war Cabinet met from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., and the photo released by the White House showed Bush sitting between Chief-of-Staff Andy Card and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.
In a prominent spot sat Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who served under Bush's dad as well, and who for decades has warned of the dangers posed by Saddam Hussein. He is a leading advocate of the idea that Iraq can become a beacon for democracy.
'Hey, Bro: I just want you to know that Mom, Chris, me and the rest of the family are thinking of you. We love and miss you. Keep your head up and stay strong. Duck when you need to and fire when you have to. Love, Sis'
– Stephanie Moise, Forest Hills, N.Y.


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KNIGHTS INN OWNERS received an early Christmas present from the brand's new owner, Red Lion Hotels Corp., at the company's annual conference in Las Vegas last week. It was a new logo, part of a planned refresh for Knights Inn that some owners say is absolutely needed.
RLH Corp. acquired Knights Inn from Wyndham Hotel Group in May, and since that time a panel of owners and company executives have been working on the new look. The new logo retains the castle turret of the old design but in a cleaner, simpler style with a K inset. RLH Corp. plans to officially announce the new logo after the first of the year, so attendees of the conference in Las Vegas got an exclusive glimpse.
The response was at least gratitude for the effort.
"Anything is better than the old one," said Amish Patel, CHO for AMP Hospitality Management in Palm Harbor, Florida. "I wouldn't say it's the most beautiful creation, but it's a creation nonetheless."
But the logo is just one of several changes for Knights Inn that have already taken place since the move from Wyndham, and which are planned for the future. It starts with communication with the franchisees, said RLH Corp. Chief Operating Officer Gary Sims.
That requires more than just sending an e-mail
"Communication is about two-way conversations, it's about dialogue," Sims said. "Communication is about feedback. Without that two-way dialogue, nothing gets accomplished."
So far, that's what Dan Patel, Knights Inn owner from Gallipolis, Ohio, has seen from the company.
"They're good about getting back to you," he said. "It's frustrating when you just have a phone number and you have to leave a message."
RLH Corp. now has two people overseeing feedback from Knights Inn owners, he said.
Under Wyndham Knights Inn had been neglected, said Nancy Patel, owner of a Knights Inn in Corpus Christi, Texas, and a member of the brand's owner advisory board. So far, though, she thinks the brand will turn around under RLH Corp.
"It's not going to happen overnight," she said. "I feel like they can really do something with this brand."
But the brand cannot move forward without owners, and some are resisting the change. Instead, Amish and Nancy Patel say, they must embrace it.
"We are communicating with our members on a one on one basis to help them understand," Nancy Patel said.
RLH Corp.'s access to the digital market place is "the hugest thing RLH Corp. can bring to Knights Inn," Nancy Patel said. The new owners' partnership with Expedia is one example. Nancy Patel said the company needs to get onboard with online markets, but that also frightens some owners, though. "They don't want to move with the pace of what's going on in the outside word.
The important thing is to establish consistency, Nancy Patel said. RLH Corp. has taken one step in that direction with a new sheet design for guest beds. However, some owners have been concerned about the new style's primarily white color scheme, considering the fact that many of their guests are workers doing dirty, outside jobs.
"But they tested it," Nancy Patel said, adding that the tests found the sheets do not require excessive laundering.
Also, Amish Patel said, they gave owners two options.
"All the major brands, everybody is going to the same scheme," he said.
Still, Amish and Nancy Patel said they know some owners who just don't want to invest in the new designs. That may lead to some reductions and both owners believe about 10 to 15 percent of current Knights Inn hotels will be dropped from the system for not keeping up.
"If you don't want to spend the money, we have may have to part ways," Amish Patel said.
Currently there is a big market for economy brand hotels, Nancy Patel said, but there's going to be heartache for the first 18 months or so. At least RLH Corp. has been responsive to the owners' concerns.
"We did talk about some things and they did implement some of them," she said.
At the same time, Amish Patel said, they didn't ram anything down the owners' throats. "As long as they can provide what they promised, everybody will be happy," he said. "Now they have to become true hoteliers, not just hotel owners."
RLH Corp. also is offering some financial assistance for owners who need help funding the signage upgrades, as well as reduced monthly fees during ramp up. However, the real key is that all owners must learn to take pride in their property and have passion about ownership.
Nancy Patel recently completed a $1 million renovation to her hotel and was recognized for her effort during the conference.
Amish Patel said he's been through several similar transitions, so he understands that there are always growing pains. "There is a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.