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Knee Effusion – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Pain. Osteoarthritis knee pain usually occurs while the joint is bearing weight, so the pain typically subsides with rest; some patients suffer severe pain, while others report no discomfort. Even if one knee is much larger than the other one pain is not guaranteed.
Cold Self Care Center Remedies And Checklist
Symptom: Use home remedies if: Seek medical help if: Home Remedies: Runny Nose facial pain • Stop smoking • Use salt water drops as directed problem or a liver of kidney disease Warnings
Pancreatitis – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
The most common symptoms of pancreatitis are severe upper abdominal burning pain radiating to the back, Fatty liver. NASH; Vascular. Budd-Chiari syndrome; Hepatic veno-occlusive disease; Portal hypertension; Nutmeg liver; Alcoholic liver disease; Liver failure.
Why Is Abdominal Health Important? What Causes Abdominal pain?
Help for Abdominal pain Many herbal and homeopathic remedies have been formulated with specific eat away from home often or find it difficult to get some cases, these side effects have proved fatal – as was seen in the liver toxicity
A Series Of Fact Sheets Written By Experts In The Field Of …
HCSP FACT SHEETa series of fact sheets written by experts in the field of liver disease There are some home remedies you can try. Talk to your medical pain. Do not exceed recommended dosages. • Infuse sage and chamomile in water.
Aspirins as a temporary pain-reliever with good results in some many HOME REMEDIES have been tested and used with some degree of effectiveness. Listed below are 50 OLD-HOME-FOLK REMEDIES that 46. Mr. D. believes cod liver oil is the best old time remedy for joints. 47.
Homeopathic Remedies Checklist – Home Remedies | Herbal …
Homeopathic Remedies Checklist Formal Name Uses Common Name: Aconite Formal Name: Bone Pain – Deep, gnawing, Pneumonia that chiefly affects the right lung and possibly liver problems. Common Name: China Formal Name:
"101 Simple Home Remedies To Beat Your Arthritis Pain"
"101 Simple Home Remedies To Beat Your Arthritis Pain liver and repair tissue damage. 69. Horsetail capsules contain silica, which is good for connective tissue. 8 70. Bamboo extract also contains silica. 71. Borage seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil, nut oil,
Natural Home Remedies
Natural Home Remedies tryayurveda.com Page 1 of 92 Table of Contents Liver Diseases .. 56 Malaria • For quick pain relief • To build immunity • To fight infections
47 Simple Herbal Remedies – Your Healthier Home Products
liver secretions. It is also the herb of choice for appendicitis. Will also help relieve rheumatic pain as well as pain and inflammation of phlebitis. tried other "home remedies." If you haven't yet tried "Urtication," it might be
The Cure
Let us see how some of the home remedies can help us in relieving pain and cure the disease we come across in our everyday living . OIL PULLING Dr. Med. Karch, Liver & Nerves. Who can practice this Oil Pulling can be practiced by all from the age of 5 years onward s for any
Natural Help For Enlarged Uterus – Remedies4 – Collection Of …
● Abdominal pain ● Pelvic pain ● Chasteberry also helps the liver to process and excrete estrogen. Alternative Healing Academy – Distance Learning Home Study Courses for Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Anatomy and Physiology and Color and Crysta
Encyclopedia Of home remedies For Better Life
Home Remedies Example 2: Did you know that you can make a natural Home Remedy. Kiss Menstrual Pain and PMS Symptoms Good Bye forever Severe liver damage has also been reported with the use of this drug. What
Natural Remedies For Common Health Conditions
Arteries, kidney problems, liver problems and stress. Therefore, I have For topical pain relief try: Capsaicin gel, Tei Fu oils. Internally for pain try: Feverfew, prostate remedies include: K-C, Cat's Claw Combination (Una de Gato),
Bowel Obstruction – Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
In large bowel obstruction the pain is felt lower in the abdomen and the spasms last longer. Fatty liver. NASH; Vascular. Budd-Chiari syndrome; Hepatic veno-occlusive disease; Portal hypertension; Nutmeg liver; Alcoholic liver disease; Liver failure.


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Balneario La Hermida
Balneario La Hermida
Contact details
Carretera La Hermida a Potes s/n
39580 Hermida, La, Peñarrubia, Cantabria (Cantabria)
Tel.:+34 609248344
Tel.:+34 942733625
The mineral and medicinal waters of La Hermida's three springs were already being used for therapeutic purposes in the mid-17th century. In 1840, it was an important point of reference in classic spa therapy, and this prestige was more firmly established in 1880 with the construction of the Gran Hotel, the church and new galleries in the spa. Abandoned after the Spanish Civil War, it was completely rebuilt between 2003 and 2006. It is located in the middle of the La Hermida gorge, at the entrance to the Picos de Europa National Park.
- Therapeutic treatments: Rheumatic complaints, Skin complaints
- Techniques: Bath, Manual massage, Mists, Parafangos, Pressure jet, Sauna, Showers, Steam room
- More techniques:
- Characteristics of the water: Chloride-containing, Sodium-rich
- Complementary techniques:

subset: commoncrawl


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Walking under the Milky Way
I escaped to the country this past week. It was a quiet affair, just hanging out with an old pal who was housesitting for her boss. As I drove south and west of London, through the average speed camera quagmires, the fields became more golden and the signs for fresh strawberries more frequent. The hedgerows grew taller as the lanes dwindle from two, to one, to single track with far too few passing places. And so it went, small hills and hollows and valleys with fields and the odd splash of native woodland. It was beautiful, but very tame; tempered; there might not be many people in this part of the country, but this part of the country was certainly shaped by people… and had been for at least four thousand years. You might get lost in one of the wee woodlands, but more likely than not you'd find yourself on a quiet road flagging down a newish Range Rover and asking for a lift. There's something about it that seems like pretend outdoors. It's probably why I like Scotland so much; there's a little bit more wild in their wilderness.
The house was beautiful. Converted farm buildings with a pool and two fish ponds. It was a lived-in place; two eager dogs managed to fill it in spite of their diminutive size. Light seemed a theme, with skylights throughout to allow the sun to pour in at every opportunity. The pool was long; meant to be swum in, rather than a neglected badge of prosperity.
We fed the fish and the dogs and then opened a bottle of fizz and a couple of packets of crisps. The golden hour came and the waning sun gave the surrounding fields a new intensity of rich lustre. My pal smoked as we finished our bubbles. The dogs chased something in the high grass next to the fish pond. Birds hovered above the stacks of baled hay in the fields in the distance. The hills rolled so gently that England seemed a comfy duvet of green and gold.
We took the younger dog and walked down to the pub at the bottom of the hill. The path down ran between two bare fields, their fruits of harvest already reaped and stacked in large piles. I brought my camera - the light was good. In the duvet fold at the bottom of the hill sat the village, tucked in cozily, before it all rose again on the other side. Closer to the town the trees rose up around us; a woodland tunnel. The path got steeper, and the dog pulled the lead harder because she quite liked going to the pub.
The pub just looked like someone's house. There was a 'no dogs allowed' sign in the bar so we grabbed a picnic table outside. We drank beer. The night was cool. We talked about whatever; she asked me about writing. I answered what I could. The nice lady called us when our table was ready. It turned out one of the dining areas was just fine for dogs. We both had the pie of the day: chicken, ham, and leek. It wasn't one of those individual tins with a bit of filo on top, either, but a proper massive slice of pie surrounded by a butter short crust pastry. The chips were good too. The veg sides were a bit meh, but that's what veg sides are in proper pubs. There was a couple there with an old greyhound. They'd come up from Salisbury. He was quite portly, with thick glasses, nursing a glass of red wine. She was tall, thin, and on the water. They gave my pal a full rundown of all to do when she went to Salisbury.
There are no street lights in this part of the world. We walked back by the light of my phone, up the woodland tunnel back towards the house. I looked up at the stars and cutting diagonal through the centre of the night sky, like a great pale brush stroke, was the Milky Way. I pointed it out to my pal. We talked about the stars; being able to see them. I remembered the first time my dad told me we were actually part of the galaxy - that all the talk of outer space and the stars related directly to us, as we lived there in our corner of the Milky Way. I was only 5. I don't know how to articulate how I viewed the world before that startling revelation. Space; the universe; galaxies; they all seemed something that happened somewhere else. A different plane of existence. It was one of the most important and revelatory experiences of my childhood. "Dad, how far away is the galaxy?" "Son, we're in a galaxy; it's called the Milky Way."
All at once it made everything seem bigger; closer; almost touch-able. He went on to describe our place in the solar system relative to our place in the galaxy.
I spouted out a version of this story for my pal and she had one of her own. I'd turned off the light of my phone and we stood there, staring up and saying wow a lot.


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Something I thoroughly enjoy is engaging with and learning from clients. Jeremy has just started a business called Silicon Flight Academy and their goal is to train kids how to fly multicopters responsibly. He's in the process of partnering with some schools in the NJ area as a part of the STEM program.
We had a couple of goals for this shoot. First, Jeremy wanted some updated profile images to use on LinkedIn. Here are a few of my favorites:
Next, we wanted to feature some images that show a little of what some of the multicopters (drones) look like. We wanted to show some really small ones and some that are a little larger. In addition, he had some FPV gear (headset) to help demonstrate what it would look like to be in an open space piloting a drone. He's knowledgable and passionate about this subject and I plan on taking advantage of his proximity to me to learn more as I also explore what its like to fly drones.
I look forward to our next meet-up.


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Review and Details on Work at Home Customer Service Jobs with Teleperformance
Teleperfomance is a company that specializes in handling customer service for a variety of different companies and they need people who are willing to help them out.
While I have not personally worked for Teleperformance, I have spoken to people who have and all things considered, they have the experience to be fairly positive. One of the first things everyone I spoke to mentioned was that all the people they worked for were wonderful and that Teleperfomance did a great job of creating a comfortable, work at home environment.
The Application Process
Applying to work at Teleperformance is surprising easily and can be done entirely online. All you have to do is answer each of the questions posed to you. If the Teleperformance team likes you application and can find a place for you, they'll welcome you to the team and start your training program for their work at home customer service jobs.
The Training
Many of the people I spoke to while gathering information about Teleperformance weren't as positive about the training program as I would have liked. Most reported that while the training program does cover the basics, it really didn't prepare them for the situations they encountered once they started working with customers. One person said that the training program wasn't sufficient enough to prepare them for a surprise performance test and that the low score they received on this test was the reason the company provided for letting them go.
The Pay
While I was unable to find out exactly how Teleperformance handles the pay scale, the people I spoke to were quick to point out that the company was very good about paying in a timely fashion. They were equally quick to point out that when they sat down and worked out the numbers, the amount of money they were paid came out to about the same amount as the national minimum wage, which really isn't enough for anyone to actually live on.
Based on the data I've been able to put together, I'm comfortable saying that Teleperformance is a legit work opportunity. One of the things I really liked about this company was that it was willing to work with contractors from all over the world, instead of limiting itself to a very small pool of workers from select countries. But considering how little they pay, it shouldn't be your main nest egg, though I do think it might be a great place to start out if you're interested in gaining insight to work at home customer service jobs and experience which would then make you eligible to apply for work at similar companies that have a higher pay scale.
Learn more at: http://www.teleperformanceusa.com/en-us/our-solutions/work-at-home


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They're in training to save lives, but medical interns sometimes threaten them: Lack of sleep from very long hospital shifts can make young doctors behind the wheel as dangerous as drunks, researchers found.
Doctors in training were more than twice as likely to get in a car crash while driving home after working 24 hours or longer, compared with when they worked shorter shifts, according to a study by Harvard Medical School researchers.
The study also found that after extended shifts young doctors were about six times more likely to report a near-miss accident and that they sometimes fell asleep while driving.
Marathon shifts
"A lot of the lay public doesn't realize that twice a week most young doctors in this country are forced by hospitals to work these marathon shifts of 30 hours in a row," said senior researcher Dr. Charles A. Czeisler, professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School and head of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
The study, reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, was done by some of the same Harvard Medical School researchers who just last fall reported that sleep-deprived doctors made one-third more medical errors during their many long shifts, compared with shorter ones.
The new study included monthly surveys the researchers collected from 2,737 first-year interns in hospitals around the country from April 2002 through May 2003. More than two-thirds of the drowsy doctors drove home from work.
The data, including police accident reports, showed that each extended work shift per month increased chances of a car crash by 16 percent while commuting home and raised the risk of any crash by 9 percent.
The researchers found the doctors worked on-call shifts averaging 32 hours in which they were lucky to grab a few hours' sleep, and about half worked from 81 to 140 hours per week.
Similar to drunk drivers
An accompanying editorial by traffic safety consultant C. Dennis Wylie of Santa Barbara, Calif., noted the increased accident risk for interns after an extended work shift roughly corresponds to the impairment of a driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.06 to 0.09 percent. The legal limit is 0.08 for drivers in most states.
In July 2003, just after this study concluded, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education set standards limiting interns' duty hours.
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They now are limited to 80 hours per week and no more than three on-call shifts a week, both averaged over four weeks. Interns can work up to 24 straight hours, plus up to six additional hours for educational activities, and must get one day off per week on average.
"Residents are doing more work in less time with less help," said Dr. David Leach, the council's executive director. "We are absolutely convinced we moved in the right direction, and the study validates that, but we still don't think we've got it absolutely right."
Leach said hospitals have been shifting more patient care to newly hired physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
'A public health threat'
Czeisler said there's been some improvement, but the biggest danger — marathon shifts — hasn't been addressed.
"This is a group of individuals that are dedicating their lives to public health, and unfortunately, as a result of the schedules they're forced to keep, they become a public health threat when they hit the road," said Darrel Drobnich, spokesman for the National Sleep Foundation. "The policy of long schedules needs to be reconsidered."
He said the dangers of drowsy driving led New Jersey — the first state to introduce roadside bumpy strips to jar dozing drivers — to make driving while fatigued a crime in fatal crashes. New York, Massachusetts, Maryland and Michigan have similar laws pending.
Drobnich said federal data indicate fatigue-related crashes cause 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year. Surveys by his group consistently find half of Americans have driven drowsy and one in five have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once in the prior year.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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6 Most Beautiful Chubby Nigerian Girls I Know
When I mean chubby i dont mean FAT. I mean Someone with A sexy type of Thick Body. With lots of Flesh sha.
I've recently seen girls of all types way back since high school, The Skinny, The Chubby & The Fat. And I've also Differentiated them according to how they look.
I know most people see having Weight as something offensive or bad, But actually there is a kinda big people that look so sexy & Dope.
So ive decided to Compile a list Of Some Beautiful Chubby Girls that ive seen and also spent time with.
NOTE: You Might have seen other chubby good-looking girls on your own, This is my own list. Dont take it personal, its on my own point of view.
Olawunmi Okeray Also known as DJ lambo is a Female DJ in nigeria currently signed by the Music Giant CHOCOLATE CITY. she is a native of Ogun state. Dj lambo happens to be chubby & beautiful with A nice face and perfect body shape too. ive seen her once in a concert show at port Harcourt Nigeria where she was hired. i didt get to talk to her tho.
(Photo: Alimasunya Divine)
Alimasunya Divine whose nickname is Divy kym is the last Born of Dr & Dr (Mrs) Alimasunya who were my family doctor way back when my dad was still alive.
Her siblings who are much older than her are still beautiful, But the fact that she's got weight at the same time beautiful really trills me.
(Photo: Chidinma Egbule)
i meet chidinma at my final year way back in high school. she was big but wasn't looking that Dope during high school. she turned Hot Immediately After our final exams. She Looks innocent tho But you wont believe what she can say.
(Photo: Anthony Gifted)
Gifted is more of a FASHIONISTA. She is a make up artist & a beautiful girl. She didt have much weight when i first meet her tho, but after her High school she went BOOOOOM LOL. Well it wasn't a bad one at all, as you can see she tends to be one of the most beautiful on this list.
(Photo: Ofume Sharon)
Sharon got much weight tho, Seems more bigger than the rest LOL. At the same time shes beautiful with a nice body. I know her for about 7 years past now and it seems she's lost more weight than before.
(Photo: Oburotha Jennifer)
The last but not the least here is Oburotha Jennifer. This girl was my seat mate back then in high school. She is a beautiful & nice looking girl for real. i couldnt figure this out until the school authority introduced the wearing of track suit on fridays for sport activities. which simply means both girls & boys had to put on pants (Trousers). You know what that means man *wink*.
I know some people here will be like: Haaa Chris na Only Big people Dey that your high school??? LOL....Omor na so i see am oo.
Abeg if you were expecting full photos im Sorry to disappoint you
Abeg drop comments if you feel like.


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Arsene Wenger expects Jack Wilshere to stay at Arsenal but warns midfielder he faces a battle for game time
England international was loaned out to Bournemouth last season but is back in London recovering from a fractured leg
JACK WILSHERE faces a massive fight to force his way back into Arsene Wenger's plans.
The England midfielder was loaned out to Bournemouth last season but is back at Arsenal recovering from a fractured leg.
Gunners boss Wenger said: "When he returns, he won't be far from practising with the team.
"He has to work hard to come back and fight for a place in the team."
But Wenger believes Wilshere, 25, will still be at the Emirates for the forthcoming campaign.
He added: "I think Jack will be with Arsenal next season, yes."
Meanwhile, Wilshere's Gunners team-mate Alex Iwobi has revealed how England failed in a last-ditch bid to stop him playing for Nigeria.
The 21-year-old represented the Three Lions at youth level before he decided in 2015 to play international football for the country of his birth.
He said: "As I was about to play my first match for Nigeria, Roy Hodgson was in contact with Arsenal saying 'We'd like him to get involved with the Under-21s'.
"But my mind was made up. It's my decision."
Iwobi is looking to play more for Arsenal this term and hopes to match the form he showed in his breakthrough season two years ago.
He insisted: "I have a point to prove."
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog


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New Lightroom 2 Presets: Focus Beauty Builder
Something new – a Lightroom preset you can use to build other presets! This is a radical new concept in how we think about develop presets in Lightroom. This system is based on the commonly accepted "Golden Rule of Thirds" that will help you to produce better photographs within Lightroom.
I've included a number of sample presets which show you just how powerful and flexible this system is. It is designed for Professionals who want to develop the best photos in the least amount of time. Also, serious amateurs will love the practically unlimited combination of presets you can build – once you understand the system. There's a wealth of information and samples on the following page.
What is Focus Beauty Builder?
Well it's not like any other Lightroom preset you've ever seen before. It makes a leap forward in how we think of using presets in Lightroom. Focus Beauty is a tool that allows you to quickly build professional grade Lightroom presets – in essence, it is a preset used to build presets!
The concept behind Focus Beauty is the important principle of the "Golden Rule of Thirds". Have a look at the grid on the left. It takes an imaginary photo and divides it into a sectional grid, three by three. As a general rule, subjects placed in one of the areas where the grid lines intersect, or line up with one of the lines, (horizon for example) are known to make the photo more pleasing to the eye. History has shown that the best artistic works have followed, and are in fact – the founding basis of this principle.
Focus Beauty takes this one step further by providing you a tool to build on this principle. By judiciously using the localized adjustment tools in Lightroom you can further enhance and draw your viewer's attention into these "Golden" sections of your photo. After coming up with the concept, I started playing with the core preset and discovered that it has great potential in building a variety of other Lightroom presets.
The Core Presets
Basically, there are 5 core presets (all based on the first one).
- Focus – Center
- Focus – Top Left
- Focus – Top Right
- Focus – Bottom Left
- Focus – Bottom Right
and additionally 6 modifying presets, one of which can be stacked on top of the core preset.
- Focus – Enhancer White (+1)
- Focus – Enhancer White (+2)
- Focus – Enhancer White (+3)
- Focus – Enhancer Black (+1)
- Focus – Enhancer Black (+2)
- Focus – Enhancer Black (+3)
After having built the core presets, I had to develop some sample presets because the core presets don't do anything by themselves. They are a template to be used in the building of other presets. So here's a small sampling of presets I've already built with FBB.
Focus Beauty Sample Presets
Just a quick note to these samples. All images shown here are generated entirely in Lightroom 2.1. Nothing was modified or enhanced in Photoshop. All sample presets demonstrated here were created with Focus Beauty Builder (FBB) and are included in the collection available for download.
Based on BW-Color (Center) + Enhancer White (+2)
In this example we see the use of the BW-Color preset to isolate or Focus on this little girl's face. The Enhancer White preset was stacked on top to give the white border effect.
BW-Color (Center) + Enhancer Black (+1)
A simple application (without modification) of the BW-Color preset. Combined with the Enhancer Black preset gives this image a unique look. This sort of look is not normally possible with Lightroom.
Based on Isolation (Center) + Enhancer Black (+1)
In this example we see the use of the Isolation preset. Built into the Isolation preset is a bit of background blurring to enhance the effect. The Enhancer Black preset was stacked on top to give the black border effect.
Based on Isolation (TR – Top Right)
This effect is created using the Isolation (TR) preset. It was modified slightly to better match the positioning of the flowers. This is a relatively easy task that is outlined below. This sort of effect is well suited to WEB design or Ad copy layout where you'd like a strong foreground element but require a muted background for text.
Ring of Color (BL – Bottom Left)
In this sample, I wanted to show the flexibility of the preset builder. Here you see the blending of colors in different areas of the photo combined with B&W and sharpness effects. Another wild example of this technique can be seen in the Alien effect further down.
Based on Soft Focus (Center)
Naturally there has to be a preset for giving the dreamy, glamor look. You can't see it in these thumbnails but the eyes are sharply in focus while the remainder of the photo gets that soft look treatment.
Based on Color Strip (Center)
Want to have just the middle of the photo in color – no problem. Naturally, simple landscape effects (dark sky, colored sky) are also very easy to do.
Based on BW-Color SOFT (BL – Bottom Left)
Another use of the BW-Color in the lower left of a photo. The additional parameters can be fine-tuned to match the photo.
Soft Focus (TR – Top Right)
Another example using the Soft Focus preset. You'll also notice I took advantage of the fact that I already had a couple of adjustment filters in place and darkened up a couple of trouble spots. The net result gives the photo much more appeal.
Isolation (Center) + Enhancer White (+3)
Here the Isolation preset brings focus to the middle of the flower while throwing the rest of the photo into a darkened soft focus effect. The Enhancer White preset was stacked on top to achieve the white border.
BW-Color HC (High Contrast)
This is definitely one of my favorites! Using the BW-Color HC or High Contrast preset makes for a striking effect. Keep in mind, if you really wanted to punch up the color in the flower you can dial up the Vibrancy and Saturation of the photo. The rest of the photo will maintain the high contrast B&W look.
Alien Hangover
I had a lot of fun coming up with this preset. I took the base preset (Focus – Center) and played with the sliders in each quadrant of the preset. I didn't touch Exposure and Brightness so I wouldn't get any bright or dark patches. Once parameters were set, I tweaked and fine-tuned, flipped gradients and lots more to come up with this preset. I've tested it on a lot of photos and in at least 75% of the ones tested, came up with some amazing results. It's another example of the wide variety of presets you can dream up with Focus Beauty Builder!
Instructional Videos
In order to get the full benefit of this preset you should watch one or both of the following videos. They will show you how to install the presets (for those who don't already know) and offer important tips for working with Focus Beauty Builder.
- Installing Presets in Lightroom 2 – this is for those people that haven't done this before. It also gives you some tips for preset folder management and backing up your presets.
- Advanced Graduated Filter in Lightroom 2 – this video shows advanced tips on using the graduated filter and color picker. I've had people comment on this site that they thought they knew everything about the graduated filter – but even they learned a few things. (highly recommended viewing to those wanting to build presets with Focus Beauty Builder)
Tips for using Focus Beauty Builder
Some people are going to be happy just using the sample presets that I've built (that's cool). I will be building more as time permits. For those of you who want to work with the FBB to build new presets – this is the section for you.
The basic premise of this preset is simple – you have a subject in your photograph that you'd like to emphasize in some fashion. For some this means throwing a portion of the photo out of focus, darkening the background/foreground, the possibilities are endless. With the Focus Beauty Presets you can achieve an unlimited number of possibilities to achieve that goal.
Here's some general usage tips.
- Should you find yourself not able to select a given pin, temporarily select a different pin and then select the pin you want to modify.
- When expanding the range of the gradient, hold down the ALT key so that the center of the pin does not move.
- When modifying a given preset, select the preset that most closely matches the location of the subject in your photo.
- Grab the center of the pin and drag it away or towards your subject.
- When you save your new preset make sure you have only the Graduated Filters box checked (all others should be off)
- I find it works best when you work the corners or the flat edges then switch to the other group – this way you won't run into pins you can't select.
Special Limited Time Offer
As you can imagine I have invested a considerable amount of time in developing my concept into the form you see here. I am making the Focus Beauty Builder collection available for download for a limited time – for free!
Two things I ask for in return is that you do not upload this collection to another site offering presets for download. You may freely include this (link) in your own WEB site or Blog that will give others the opportunity to download it here.
I would also ask that anyone who uses this preset (or one of the many samples) comes back and writes a comment here telling us about your experiences with it's use. If you end up building your own presets based on this one, why not share it with others by providing a link to the new preset. I fully intend on building more sample presets based on the comments I receive here on this site – so don't be shy, let's hear your ideas and comments.
Focus Beauty allows you to enhance your photos by bringing Focus to your subject matter.
Download Here
Here's what's included in the Focus Beauty Builder collection;
- Core Presets – 5 (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- Enhancer Presets – 3 each of Black & White in steps of +1,+2,+3
- All Reset Preset – so you can back out all your changes
- Sample Presets – 28 including the following;
- Isolation Presets (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- Soft Focus Presets (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- BW-Color Presets (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- BW-Color SOFT Presets (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- BW-Hi-Contrast Presets (Center, Top Left, Top Right, Bottom Left, Bottom Right)
- Color Ring (Bottom Left – Sample)
- Color Stripe (Center – Sample)
- Alien Hangover – just for fun
By clicking on the following link you agree that you will not upload this preset to other sites or host it on your own site (a link to this site is however encouraged). Focus Beauty Builder (FBB) collection cannot be sold or offered for sale. Naturally, presets you build with FBB can be freely distributed as you wish. Since it is being offered for free, I do expect you to mention or link to this site!
Download Focus Beauty Builder Collection
|Focus Beauty Collection
|23. November 2008
|56,729 times.
Have fun!


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The Light Gold Moto 360 Smartwatch is now available for customers to pre-order online from O2 - the only high street store to stock the exclusive colour.
The stunning stainless steel with a light gold colour finish smartwatch and has the look of traditional wristwatch, with the round face and 18mm band giving a comfortable and familiar fit whilst showcasing cutting edge tech.
Those who pre-order before 10pm on 20 April will receive their Light Gold Moto 360 from 21 April, before it becomes available to buy from O2 stores on 23 April.
The Moto 360 is now available in Light Gold for £249.99. To find out more information and to pre-order, visit http://o2.uk/Moto360Gold.


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Estate Management
The death of a loved one is very difficult to bear.
Given the emotional toll, it is common during times of grief to make financial decisions that you may later regret.
We have advised clients through difficult times to ensure they can grieve without the added worry and confusion around what financial steps to take.
Maybe your partner managed the finances and your first question is "where do I start?" The first step is to seek assistance.
A good financial adviser will not just 'take over' but rather work with you to ensure you are empowered to take control.
Furthermore, through our ongoing Financial Management Service, we ensure our clients Estate Plan provides control and certainty, the right asset to the right person at the right time.
We are located in Carlton, Melbourne VIC, however have clients all over Australia and overseas.
Contact us on Ph: (03) 9349 1525 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
First things first, let us ease the stress during Probate
- we can communicate with the solicitor and accountant
- we can liaise with bank managers, real estate agents, fund managers and even hold family meetings
- we can review the Will and clarify the legal jargon
- we will be here at each step of the process - reviewing what you have - what needs to be done and when.
Our role is to allow you the time grieve whilst we take care of the administration.
The Estate has been finalised, what next?
We now make things clearer for you and ensure all is in order:
- what assets and liabilities do you now have?
- how are you going to meet your cashflow in the most tax efficient manner?
- what are the tax implications of selling investments (including shares and property)?
- how best to maximise the inheritance - maybe superannuation is most suitable or maybe it isn't?
- make sure your own Will and Powers of Attorney are in order.
Hear from our client Teresa, who has bravely shared her story in the hope that others seek assistance:


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Technical Capabilities
Giving you the competitive edge through customized ingredient innovation
Cargill Malt is ready to help you maximize the quality and consistency of your current products, as well as develop new products and brand extensions to meet your customer's needs. We bring our broad ingredient knowledge and application expertise to problem solve and innovate throughout the entire supply chain, from seed to final product. Not only are we part of Cargill's global R&D network, but we have four dedicated pilot malting facilities, two pilot brewing facilities, and two beverage application centers, all of which we can utilize to help you reach your goals.
Rapid delivery of new and innovative concepts, prototypes and formulations
Through collaboration with our technical experts, you can benefit from Cargill's rapid delivery of concepts, mock-ups, and prototypes for customer projects and consumer testing -- all tailored to your specific needs. Our applications expertise allows us to differentiate products with new formulations and commercial support. We can then validate feasibility for you through concept verification and consumer acceptance testing. We offer custom support for your specific project from initial idea generation all the way to commercialization.
One example of our product development work is a recent project with a global customer to develop and commercialize a gluten-free beer within a 10-month timeframe. We are also helping our food and beverage customers generate new, innovative products by leveraging the unique benefits of sprouted grains. Allow Cargill Malt to help you turn your ideas and customer insight into market-leading, revenue-generating products.
Improving the quality of your product
As our customer and partner, you have access to advanced research, solution development and technical expertise that can extend your reach and enhance your own team's capabilities. We work closely with your team to find root-cause corrective actions to issues causing you and your customers pain. Whether you seek flavor stability, improved efficiency in your process, or increased consistency in your end-product, we can assist in finding what is causing the issue, and offering solutions to fix it permanently. Allow us to put our experts to work on your toughest problems.
For example, Cargill has eliminated beer haze and gushing issues for customers in Europe. We worked with an Asian customer to develop and commercialize barley varieties in Canada that generate better beer flavor stability. In South America, Cargill tightened up an inefficient brewing process. Recently, we worked with one of our Brazilian customers to identify the root-cause of an invisible beer haze issue, and implement corrective action to address it.
Every day, around the globe, we work with our customers to solve problems, meet challenges and uncover new opportunities.
Some Cargill products are only approved for use in certain geographies, end uses, and/or at certain usage levels. It is the customer's responsibility to determine, for a particular geography, that (i) the Cargill product, its use and usage levels, (ii) the customer's product and its use, and (iii) any claims made about the customer's product, all comply with applicable laws and regulations.


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Lloyd's Register: LRQA Norway [ Change ]
Compliments, complaints and feedback
At LR, we are passionate about what we do, and we understand what's at stake for your business. We work hard to apply our expertise to make your management systems more efficient and effective. This is why we are one of the world's most trusted management system assessment companies providing assurance. Whilst every effort is taken to meet the high standards expected of us sometimes things can still go wrong. When this occurs we need to be informed so that every effort can be made to put things right and prevent further shortcomings in the future.
We are always pleased to receive positive comments, it helps us promote best practice in the organisation. If you wish to register a compliment, please use this online form.
If you are an LR client and have found some concerns with any part of the service you have received from LR, then please follow the complaints procedure as explained in the PDF document below.
Information note - The LR Management Systems Complaints & Appeals process
If your complaint is with a company who is an LR client then you must first contact the company in question and follow their complaints procedure. If you have done this already and are not happy with the response from our client, then please contact us and detail your concerns.
Complete this online form if you have a complaint about any part of the service that has been delivered by LR or about one of our approved companies.


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For Pete's Sake
Unbelievable lateral play helps Arkansas beat Mississippi 53-52
If you tried to tell someone about this play, they'd think you were making it up or at the very least embellishing.
Arkansas won 53-52 in overtime at Mississippi thanks to a play that never, ever should have worked.
The Razorbacks faced a 4th and 25 and converted on an unbelievable lateral:
Craziest 4th & 25 ever https://t.co/ulIY3m0aHP— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) November 8, 2015
Naturally, Arkansas scored a touchdown after that. Instead of kicking an extra point that would have prolonged the game, the Razorbacks went for the two-point conversion and was stopped. However, there was a facemask penalty.
Given a second chance, this is how the Razorbacks won:
WHAT A CALL. Arkansas not waiting around for more OT. They want the win NOW. https://t.co/Ga5hdKYGHd— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) November 8, 2015
Before all that went down, here was the craziest tweet from Saturday:
Asking us to kick the Arkansas QB out of the stadium is not a legit reason to dial 911. #ARKvsMISS— Oxford Police Dept (@OxfordPolice) November 7, 2015
Pete Grathoff: 816-234-4330, @pgrathoff


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The president immediately used the pictures to press for greater Afghan sovereignty, saying the only way to stop a repeat of such "painful experiences" was for his forces to take control of their own country.
American officials have ordered a full investigation after the release of graphic pictures showing men from the 82nd Airborne Division, together with members of the Afghan police, smiling for the camera while posing with corpses.
A total of 18 pictures, taken in 2010, were passed to the Los Angeles Times by an anonymous soldier, who said he wanted to illustrate what he called a breakdown in leadership and discipline.
"It is such a disgusting act to take photos with body parts and then share it with others," Mr Karzai said in a statement.
The incident is the latest in a string of embarrassments to befall American forces in the country.
In January, United States Marines were found to have made a video of themselves urinating on the corpses of Taliban killed in battle.
A month later copies of the Koran were inadvertently burned at an American airbase, triggering weeklong riots that left 30 dead, hundreds wounded and led to the reprisal killing of six Americans.
Last month a US soldier went on a shooting rampage in which he is accused of killing 17 civilian villagers.
Mr Karzai's statement said: "The only way to put an end to such painful experiences is through an accelerated and full transition of security responsibilities to Afghan forces." American defence officials anxious that the photographs might provoke revenge attacks reportedly spent weeks trying to dissuade the paper from publishing them.
The newspaper published two of the photographs, one of which showed soldiers holding up the severed legs of a bomber and giving a thumbs-up sign. The second picture showed a paratrooper posing with what appeared to be the hand of a corpse resting on his shoulder.
There was a concerted effort to condemn the photographs once they had been released.
Ryan Crocker, American ambassador, called them "morally repugnant", while the Pentagon called the soldiers' conduct "inhuman" and the White House said their behaviour was "reprehensible".
By Thursday lunchtime however, Afghanistan had yet to see much angry reaction.
Members of parliament suggested that the reaction would be more muted than instances where the Koran had been desecrated, or civilians had been killed.
Hafiz Mansour, a member from Panjshir, told AP: "It is different from an American soldier going and killing children, or Americans burning Holy Korans.
"These issues and the suicide bombers are completely different. I don't think there will be big protests."
Mohammad Naim Lalai Hamidzai, a member from Kandahar, added that there was little sympathy for suicide bombers such as those seen in the pictures.
The photographs were taken on two separate occasions. The first was in February 2010 when soldiers were called to a police station in Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, following a suicide bombing.
A few months later the same platoon went to the morgue in Qalat after three insurgents accidentally blew themselves up while preparing a roadside bomb. On both visits the soldiers were supposed to get fingerprints of the dead for a database being maintained by US forces.
The incidents happened during a year-long deployment of the 3,500 strong 82nd Airborne's 4th Brigade Combat Team, which is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During the deployment it lost 35 men, including at least 23 to suicide bombers or improvised explosive devices.
The whistle-blowing soldier said those in the photographs had felt "satisfied" to discover Taliban killed by their own bombs, and the pictures were distributed among other servicemen. He told the Los Angeles Times: "Their buddies had been blown up by IEDs so they sort of just celebrated."
US officials said most of the soldiers in the photographs had been identified.


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Y'all, TODAY is Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.
If you know me AT ALL, you know this might as well be my birthday. Sure, I have a thing for s'mores, but there is only one dessert that lives in my heart and that dessert is the chocolate chip cookie. It is my favorite food. Period.
When I was pregnant with Griffin, my blood pressure spiked in the last couple days of my pregnancy. My midwife made it very simple for me. No sugar. No salt. Vegetables and lean meat. Luckily, my blood pressure went down but life without chocolate chip cookies (ESPECIALLY when you are nine months pregnant!) is not really life. Obviously, Griffin agreed because he arrived only a few days after I started the diet.
I gave birth to my firstborn child. I kissed his sweet face and then I said one thing.
"I want a chocolate chip cookie."
When we completed the Whole30, I felt great. I felt free of sugar and processed food. And yet...the last night of the 30 days I walked into my kitchen and made myself the most perfect, most delicious chocolate chip cookie of all time and felt even better.
My preferred chocolate chip cookie recipe after YEARS of research is Jacques Torres' Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe adapted by the New York Times.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from Jacques Torres
Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours' chilling
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons
(8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
Sea salt.
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.
Is this recipe ridiculous? YES. But is it the best? YES!
In a pinch, you can make a skillet cookie. If you're feeling healthy, you can make these paleo chocolate chip cookies, which I also love.
Just celebrate Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! Because if chocolate chip cookies aren't worth celebrating, NOTHING IS.


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when i found out that my aunt was having a baby, i was curious and asked what the name was. as it turns out, she named her baby girl Pipaya Evans! Yikes!
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Bad Baby Names.


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'Unreal:' 3-year-old girl celebrating birthday struck by car and killed near 84th and Marion
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WITI) -- A three-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle at her own birthday party near 84th and Marion Saturday afternoon, August 6th -- and later died at the hospital. Her family is devastated. They carried on with her birthday party, because they said it's what she would have wanted.
"It's just still unreal to me that this happened," said Jaylen Handy, Jayda's father.
SEE ALSO: Tesla's autopilot credited with helping save driver's life
Handy was heartbroken as he held onto a cake he'll never be able to give to his little girl.
"She was just here preparing for her party all morning," said Jaylen Handy.
Three-year-old Jayda Handy died Saturday afternoon after being transported to Children's Hospital.
See more from this heartbreaking story:
See Gallery
The little girl was getting ready to celebrate when she saw her grandfather arrive for her birthday party.
"She saw her granddad. She ran over there," said Jaylen Handy.
Police say she ran through traffic near 84th and Marion, when she was struck by a vehicle.
"He was flying through here and, you know, he hit her," said Jaylen Handy.
Jayda Handy was rushed to Children's Hospital -- where she later died.
"Everybody is going to miss her. She had an impact on everybody," Jaylen Handy said.
Family members and friends gathered in the park across the street, celebrating the life of a little girl.
"Everybody was here for a happy gathering and it turned into this," said Jaylen Handy.
A day that was meant to be filled with smiles, turned into a day to remember a young life taken suddenly.
"She was just a happy baby. Always happy. Always happy. Everybody loved her," said Jaylen Handy.
Family members said all week, Jayda had been singing "Happy Birthday" -- and that's what made this so sad.
Police said the driver was legally operating the vehicle. No citations are expected.
A GoFundMe.com account has been set up to help pay funeral costs. CLICK HERE to make a donation.


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These may well be the most exciting months of the year. From New Year soirees to music festivals and all the weddings in between, all the good stuff seem to be winter fixtures, leading right up to February. With a mood of celebrations in the air, you are ready and dressed up for every festive moment. But have you giving your accessories a thought? At élanstreet, we finish every ensemble with baubles and always look for ways to break the clutter. Here are our style notes of the season's chicest and most unconventional festive jewellery trends.
Maangtika & Headgears
The new hair jewel is nothing like what your grandmother and mother wore. Get a sleek chain maang-tika or a sleek headgear to update the old ornament with new patterns and designs. The trick is to choose a light and elegant design, nothing too flashy or heavy. The right one will cover you from music festivals to New Year madness.
Delicate neckpieces
While the last few seasons have been all about statement bling, the emphasis has now shifted to more dainty darlings. Minimal necklaces don't scream for attention, yet an edgy pattern will always turn heads. Layer a few pieces to make for a statement look that goes perfectly with a dress or a saree.
Haathphool & Hand Harness
Nothing beats the essential charm of a watch, but hand ornaments definitely top the season's must-have list. Balancing rock and chic, these pieces suit varied ensembles, from lehengas to cocktail tuxedos. Hand harnesses are naturally statement pieces, but you can start with a subtle pattern.
Traditional bangles
Dig into your heirloom treasures because a kangan is all it takes to update an ensemble for any festive occasion. Unexpectedly flattering with Western wear and fusion outfits, opt for contemporary bracelets with fringe details and new metals, or even colourful pom-poms for a bohemian vibe.
Our cheapest addition to the list! Add a single bud in your braid for a romantic look or pick a floral crown for maximal impact. Fresh blooms are the easiest pick to channel some flower power, but may wither under harsh lights or on a long day. For such times, replace the blossoms with a floral hair accessory.
So, here was your guide to all the major jewellery trends of the year. You will be covered till spring dawns. Stay tuned for more style trends coming up soon.
Images: Amrita Singh; Asos; BaubleBar; Etsy; Pinterest; Pipa Bella; Ruban; The Big Fat Indian Wedding.


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Hi there,
I wanted to pick the forum's brain a little.
I need to get some suspension work and some ECU work done on my car that is outside my ability (or time available to learn).
I would love to find a shop or mechanic that I could pay to do the work but I don't know of anyone in the LA area.
Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? My alternative would be to see if I could ship the car back to Birkin (but just shipping the car there and back looks close to $2K. I'd rather put that money in the car if I could)
All suggestions gratefully received!


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The summer theatre season gets off to a boisterous start with The Addams Family, the first of this year's musical productions from Cabrillo Stage.
Although it seems odd to apply words like "lively" and "exuberant" to characters so famous for their morbidity and ghoulishness, you can expect to have an, er, spirited time at this handsomely produced, enormously good-hearted, family-friendly show.
|Crook and Saucedo: darkly funny
The classic TV sitcom from the 1960s, and a couple of more recent theatrical films, have kept these characters in the public eye since then, but the writers here cook up an original storyline that mostly takes its cues from the cartoons.
Director Bobby Marchessault gets us in the mood right off, inviting us to feast our eyes on William "Skip" Epperson's splendid proscenium arch decorated with skulls, dagger-shaped supports, and cobwebs above a row of headstones.
Fittingly enough, the show begins in a graveyard, where the entire Addams clan — led by proud patriarch, Gomez (Adam Saucedo) and his slinky wife, Morticia (a seductively deadpan Danielle Crook) — arrives for its annual celebration of the dear departed.
Calling forth various ghosts of Addamses past, from different eras (a flapper, a conquistador, etc.) they all sing a funny paean to their ghoulish life in "When You're An Addams." (These silvery-grey ghosts, called Ancestors, in cheeky but elaborate historical costumes by Chiara Cola, also serve as chorus line and stagehands throughout the rest of the show.)
|Wednesday, Gomez, as Chas Addams drew them
Filloux makes droll teen angst out of her struggle to reconcile the joys of love with the family credo of gloom. The problem is, her boyfriend, Lucas (Ryland Gordon), is "normal."
But, of course, the point of the show is observing the Addamses at play. John G. Bridges all but steals the show as a delightfully sweet and goofy Uncle Fester. (Fasten your seatbelts for the funky, yet utterly beguiling bit of stagecraft when he flies up to cavort with the moon.)
t's a running gag that Wednesday routinely tortures kid brother, Pugsley (Michael Navarro), on a rack — and how much he loves it. Deborah McArthur can't do much with the underwritten part of screechy, witchy Grandma.
|Astin as Gomez: Latin lover
Lippa's songs are consistently clever, and the book is very funny. ("Wednesday's growing up," sighs Gomez. "She'll be Thursday before you know it!")
I'm pretty sure the concept of Gomez as a Latin lover originated with the delightful John Astin in the TV show (ably continued by Raul Julia in the movies) — beginning with that name.
(In Addams' cartoons, the characters are unnamed. If the patriarch, as drawn, resembles anybody, it's Peter Lorre, or, possibly, the Hunchback of Notre Dame.)
But whatever the character's origins, Saucedo plays Gomez with gusto, geniality, and a terrific singing voice. He couldn't be any better.
(Read more in this week's Good Times.)


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Shouldn't he have? The late Eugene Walter interviews Carolyn Haines/
EFW: Thank you for coming over, darling. Rufus has been pining for Rome and been a bit under the weather. Let's go in the cat-free room, shall we? We can talk a little bit and then have lunch. Would you like a little aperitif?
CH: Eugene, the last time you offered aperitifs to me at lunch I ended up drunk and drooling on my knees. But a small glass of port would be lovely. After all, it is Mobile, the county seat of sweet lunacy. How can I decline?
EFW: I'm a triple Sagittarius . . . and so happy to be so . . . Sun, Moon, Ascendant. And what are you? I was born in 1521 – but I'm a different age every day – so why not transcend time and space; I understand you're fond of ghosts. What sign are you?
CH: I'm a Taurus through and through. From my hard head to me flat feet. And I have the ability to see ghosts. Not all the time, mind you, but enough to tell you I have a solid heart or else I'd have felt the big one.
EFW: When you first wrote Touched, I heard you fell into a coma and channeled the book, as told to you by a spirit who'd lived in 1926. Is that true?
CH: It was the strangest event. I had the opening in my head. Young Mattie has made taffy for a birthday party and she starts out in her long, ugly dress in the hot sun. The taffy begins to melt…and suddenly, I was no longer conscious of sitting at the computer writing. I saw the whole book unfold as this feminine voice told me the story, word for word. I merely transcribed. It was extraordinary!
EFW: Were you offered a book contract at a New York launch party by a publisher who overheard you telling an off-color story about a Semmes cowboy?
CH: I can neither confirm nor deny that story. I can only tell you the drinks were stiff and I had a bevy of women in little black dresses impressed with the wit and accomplishments of our native Semmes cowboys. The New Yorkers were enthralled with tales of lingerie parties on horseback. I did distribute several phone numbers, and I heard there was a special shuttle from Georgetown to Kennedy airport.
EFW: I do want to compliment you on having published over 70 books in various genres. Do you have a favorite book? A favorite character?
CH: I write in a lot of genres, as you noted—and encouraged me to do. I took a page from your book, Eugene, and decided not to be pushed into a pigeonhole. I write the stories I love. Sarah Booth Delaney, my sleuth, is great fun to write, but I also love the darker tales. I love giving people a good chill. It's part of my heritage, I suppose. My grandmother and mother were terrific storytellers and the ghost story was their favorite.
EFW: As you know, I love cats—dear Rufus and Fanny Dryer and all the others. How many cats do you have? I heard you sleep with a black cat on your head to encourage dark thoughts.
CH: I have nine cats, one for each day and three for Sunday. Coal Shaft, my black kitty, has the magical ability to clear my subconscious. When he sleeps on my head, my brain is free to venture into dark places. But of course, I could be lying. The subconscious is a tricky place, and I am a professional liar.
EFW: Just yesterday I heard somewhat say what a great teacher you are. You are the Fiction Coordinator at the University of South Alabama, right? What is your approach to teaching fiction?
CH: While the art and craft of writing is vitally important, of equal importance is understanding the business side of publishing and making contacts. I've worked with almost every major house in New York for the past three decades. I've also stepped into the world of e-publishing, because it is the future. I try to teach my students to sculpt fascinating characters with a forward moving story, all bundled together with their own, wonderful style.
EFW: I appreciate your writing Moments With Eugene. I think you captured me lovingly in one of my reincarnations. It's one my favorite things ever written about me. And I love your cookbook. What a wonderful thing you did to found the Good Fortune Farm Refuge – a 501c3 organization that offers basic vet care to low-income families through a Banfield Charitable Trust grant. Do you think there is a special place in heaven just for cats?
CH: I believe cats rule Heaven. The Egyptians got it right. And we can't mention Moments with Eugene without Rebecca Barrett, who co-authored the book. As to the cookbook, Bone-a-fied Delicious, Recipes from Zinnia's Finest Chefs, you know I had to include some of your recipes too. No cookbook with a focus on the South would be complete without several Eugene Walter recipes.
EFW: It pleases me that you are on the advisory council for Negative Capability Press / Journal. I was on the Board of that journal since I returned to Mobile until my most recent demise.
CH: I'm incredibly flattered to be included on the advisory board. For decades, Sue Brannan Walker has published the most incredible voices in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. We have big plans ahead for future issues. I'd be willing to serve as your scribe, Eugene, if you wanted to channel a story or poem to me. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you. You are greatly missed by your friends, sir.


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I have noticed that many people from my home country has gone to US grad school after their masters although most people in US go to grad school right after bachelors. So can these students who have already done their bachelors skip some first year classes or have they just wasted one or two years of their lives?
Also Im wondering, is it easier to get into top tier grad school after masters degree? Atleast you have more time to do research before application but is there any other advances compared to bacherlos degree applicant when applying? What selection committee usually think about people who apply with masters instead of bachelors?


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Happy Friday, friends! Now that the Summer season has just about played out, as evidenced by the sudden arrival of Fall type temperatures, I thought I would reminisce a little by looking back on some of the great times I've enjoyed the past several months. Today's image is one of those early morning shots just after the magical blue hour and was taken in Massanutten Virginia, just off of the Blue Ridge mountains. Had a blast while in that area. ;-)
A big THANK YOU to everyone for visiting and sharing your thoughts this week. Enjoy the weekend and get out there and capture some memories.
Camera: Nikon D5000
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm
Processing: HDR Efex Pro -Photoshop CS5 – Photo Tools 2.6


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Bank of Tennessee was originally opened in downtown Kingsport TN in 1974 after the owner of Carter County Bank saw a view to expansion in the Tri-Cities area. In 2013 the two banks merged. The bank has now acquired 20 offices from which they operate but still are totally committed to their public and the community they are serving in. The bank is 98% locally owned and 100% of the bank`s decisions are made locally. It`s a fact that looking after those who look after the bank has create the strength and financial dynamism that has produced stable growth since the bank began. A development into online banking for customers has meant that the user of these accounts is able to be more involved on a regular basis with what happens to their money and when it happens. With a computer or mobile device customers can be even more a part of the bank.
How To Log In
Step 1 – If a user wants to login they need to go to the bank`s Homepage and look for `Online Banking` at the top right of the page. Here they need to enter their `Username` and then click `Login`.
Forgotten User ID/Password
Step 1 – If the user is unable to locate their login details they will be required to contact the bank. They can do this by visiting their `Bank Branch` or they can if they prefer telephone on 1 (866) 378-9500.
How To Enroll
Step 1 – If the user would like to enroll they will be required to contact the bank. They can do this by visiting their `Bank Branch` or they can if they prefer telephone on 1 (866) 378-9500.


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Richard Pinel combines his role as Fellow and Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge with a freelance career as a concert organist. Prior to this he was, for nearly eight years, the Assistant Director of Music at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and a visiting music tutor at Eton College.
On the move!
Richard has just been appointed Director of Music at Jesus College, Cambridge.


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Mothers Day 2016
- posted in: Uncategorized
Sunday the 8th of May
Mothers Day is a very busy service at The Railway Hotel.
We welcome small or large group bookings for lunch or dinner but Bookings are Essential.
No forced set menus or spends.
Full a la carte menu available plus a $25 Roast special available until sold out.
Kitchen is open all day 12pm – 9.30pm. Perfect for late lunches or early dinners.
BOOK ONLINE HERE or call us on 96905092 to arrange your family booking.


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Lawnswood Business Park
Gladstone House, Redvers Close, Lawnswood Business Park. Leeds. LS16 6QY
Tel: 0113 274 4937 E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Discover more about your coffee...
18th September | Red Bean Lawnswood | 10am - 3:30pm
Red Bean at Lawnswood Business Park - Leeds.
Welcome to Red Bean Coffee @ Lawnswood – we are finally open and looking forward to welcoming you to our brand new coffee shop and meeting space in Gladstone House.
Our lovely team are looking forward to welcoming you in to try some of our amazing coffee, sweet treats, snacks, cold drinks and a range of hot and cold food.
Breakfast - start the day the right way, whether it be porridge and a coffee whilst checking your emails or a hot sandwich to go. Sweet treats and snacks – from flapjacks to popcorn, caramel slices to crisps, we have a wide range of healthy and more indulgent treats available all day long.
Lunch – we will always have a range of healthy and tasty grab & go lunch rolls, sandwiches, wraps, as well as salads, pasta salads, fresh fruit pots and hot paninis - all available to enjoy in one of our comfy chairs or take back to your desk. Keep your eye out for specials and soups too.
Meeting Space - within the coffee shop we have created four bespoke meeting spaces for your convenience. Each one comes with a different theme, seating, and decoration, and each one offers privacy, comfort and, above all our wonderful coffee, snacks, and food conveniently close by. Come and have a look for yourself.
Opening Hours – 7.30am until 3.30pm Monday to Friday. (but if we are in earlier setting up please come in - the machine is always on!)
What's more, we cater for a variety of dietary requirements, with a range of different milks plus vegan and vegetarian options available.
Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday 7:30am - 3:30pm
Interested in a after hours meeting booking, function or hire
of one of our spaces then please ask…..
Call Aimee on 0113 274 4937
Leeds LS16 6QY
Come and see us.......
for coffee, cold drinks, breakfast, lunch or for a meeting in one of our themed meeting spaces.....or just come and say Hi!
Coming Soon - meeting ordering online - but for now - you can simply email us on email@example.com or call us on 0113 274 4937.


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Writing Wisdom Wednesday
Carina Sitkus
It's here, not as "pretty" as usual, but definitely "better late than never."
Enjoy your quotes, courtesy of Writing Wisdom Wednesday:
Today is definitely a day when I feel like I have nothing to say (because my work brain has tired out my writing brain)... but at least it's quote day. You'd be surprised at the amazing stuff you can write when you think you are having a sucky day. If you have my luck, it's the stuff people enjoy the most. Go figure. It's like anything else. People like you when you're not trying so hard.
Get it? Do you get it?? :)
If you liked this post, consider forwarding it to a friend!
Stay connected:


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by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(Container Gardening For You)
Names of flowers: A = Scaveola, B = Licorice Plant, C = Clematis
Scaveola and licorice plant (Helycrhisum) fill this unusual, large grouping of containers.
Trailing down from the edge, blue Clematis. A container like this will thrive in a sunny area of your garden.
Clematis is a large plant genus. The hybrid varieties are very popular as climbing vines, but they can also be used in containers.
There are three varieties of garden clematis, according to their pruning needs: class 1, 2, and 3.
Class 1 flower on old wood, they are the earliest bloomers and they require very little pruning, except to remove old wood that has no leaves.
Class 2 bloom on old and new wood. Blooms in early summer. They are the easiest to prune. You can either remove old wood, or cut it down to one foot every few years.
Class 3 bloom later in the summer. They bloom on new wood only. They can be pruned hard after they are done blooming.
Clematis enjoys full sun, but their roots need to be shaded, either by placing mulch, rocks or by adding plants around it. This container provides just that, by combining clematis with two sun loving annuals, blue scaveola and licorice plant.
A container like this one will benefit from fertilizing every once a month or so. It is important to keep the potting mix moist, so water accordingly.
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Creode interview: Building a team, developing a culture
We've written about getting the most from email marketing before and it's still one of the most important channels for any online marketer. As consumer responses to email change and with GDPR about to hit, it's about time to refresh your memory on how to get the best from this channel.
Campaign Monitor have put together this useful infographic, which provides a quick reminder of best practice. For more detailed information about how to get the most from your email marketing check out this guide from MailChimp.


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Wednesday 18th November, 6pm - 8pm
Local history and community groups talks
Cheese, wine, tea and coffee refreshments
Did you know that Maryhill is named after a person called Mary Hill? Find out more by joining us for an evening of talks and refreshments at Maryhill Burgh Halls.
Local historians will reveal the dynamic history of Maryhill while local community groups will tell us how they promote and preserve the area's rich heritage. You can even get involved in preserving Maryhill's heritage by joining the groups who will be running information stalls throughout the evening.
This event is free. Donations to Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust are welcome at the event.
Tickets are available on Eventbrite:
Adults over the age of 18 are welcome.
Young people under the age of 18 are welcome, accompanied by a supervising adult over the age of 18.
Full disabled access is available in the Burgh Halls.
Limited on street parking is available.
For more information, please call 08458601878 or email: email@example.com
Maryhill Burgh Halls, 10-24 Gairbraid Avenue, Glasgow, G20 8YE


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Enedina Martinez, a future medical student at Columbia University in New York, utilized OWLv2 to help herself prepare for exams and the MCAT®.
As a busy biochemistry major, who also works, Enedina was in need of resources to help her learn General Chemistry efficiently—without having to seek tutoring from her instructor.
OWLv2 for General Chemistry
OWLv2 allowed Enedina to practice as much as she wanted and watch animations to better grasp concepts, get immediate feedback on errors and be confident in her readiness for class exams and the MCAT®.
Uncover the secrets to OWLv2 and how Enedina Martinez found success and self-confidence in her studying.


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The new novel from Laurie King, The Murder of Mary Russell, is the latest in her long-running series of mysteries starring sleuth and scholar Mary Russell and her much older and somewhat better-known husband, Sherlock Holmes. The book's title is cheekily intended to give heart palpitations to fans who've been enjoying this series since it began in 1994.
Holmes and Russell first meet in 1879 in the pages of King's novel "The Beekeeper's Apprentice," when a teenage Mary Russell, living with an aunt in rural Sussex, encounters a 50-something Holmes who's retired from his London life as the world's only unofficial consulting detective and has taken up a more peaceful country life. The two quickly recognize each other as kindred spirits, and the winning quirkiness of the whole series of books is typified by the fact that there's no sentimental blossoming of romance: The pair basically reason themselves into love with each other.
They marry, and a string of adventures ensues, seemingly culminating in this latest one, with its ominous title. The year is now 1925, and the peace of the Holmes residence in Sussex is broken one day when Mary Russell is interrupted from her gardening by the arrival of a man looking for her elderly housekeeper, Clara Hudson, and claiming to be her son. And since he makes this claim with a pistol pointed at her heart, it naturally gets Mary's attention.
Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories will know Mrs. Hudson as the redoubtable landlady of 221b Baker Street. In those stories, she lays out breakfast, carries in tea, and huffily disapproves of the band of street-boys Holmes refers to as his "Irregulars." In Doyle's world, she's the quintessential background figure. In "The Murder of Mary Russell," the man calling himself Samuel Hudson and claiming to be her son taunts Mary with this very characterization. "Butter wouldn't melt in the old lady's mouth," he sneers. "How many years has she been washing your dishes and tidying your messes, and you without a clue what's under your nose?"
Leaping narrative energy has always been a hallmark of this series, and it reaches something of a peak in this latest volume. King stops everything at the point of Samuel Hudson's gun and then daringly splits her story into three parallel paths. Mrs. Hudson returns to the Sussex cottage and finds Mary gone, large, fresh blood stains on the floor, and a token left behind that makes her certain that her past has come back to haunt her. Mary Russell, staring into the barrel of her visitor's gun, feverishly tries to understand what's happening and how to survive it, and Sherlock Holmes, encountering what looks like the murder scene of his beloved wife, overcomes his feelings of panic and brings his famous powers of detection to bear in unraveling the mystery of what happened in his home.
King so deftly shifts between these three narrative strands – the peril of Mary Russell, the investigation of Sherlock Holmes, and the surprising personal history of the woman who now calls herself Clara Hudson – that despite the fact that half the book is taken up in relating background, the lean momentum of the story never falters. Instead, the three stories braid together and reinforce each other's dramatic urgency (as Holmes laconically observes at one point, "Delay is a time-honoured means of building tension").
It's a stunning prolonged feat of storytelling, and it succeeds in making "The Murder of Mary Russell" the best installment so far in an excellent series, and its centerpiece is the fascinating life history King gives to that familiar fixture, Mrs. Hudson, a woman who likes to keep "her view of the world unimpeded." In her segments of the novel, readers are taken back to the struggling girlhood of Clarissa Hudson and given a fast-paced account of the evil and violence that originally brought her into contact with a young man named Sherlock Holmes and linked their lives together for the following half-century. In contention with a heroine at gunpoint and one of the world's most popular fictional detectives investigating his most personal case, this extended backstory of a supporting character should immediately irritate and bore the reader, and yet, happily, this never comes close to happening.
Instead, the story of Mrs. Hudson will change the way even the most steadfast Holmes fans see this familiar character. And even in the midst of the book's tension, King manages to work in some of the signature dry wit that makes this series so delightful ("One thing Clara Hudson had learned from the past forty-five years was that any catastrophe could be softened by tea").
"The Murder of Mary Russell" dispenses its secrets at carefully-controlled intervals right up to its very last pages. It will please the fans King has already earned over the last two decades, and, since it wears its own past so lightly, it will make plenty of new fans as well.


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Hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines and tour firms are all now typical and enthusiastic participants in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales tradition, offering discounts, perks, bonuses and some offbeat travel deals. If you are wondering about what package to get, you can try receiving packages which can be composed of hotel reservations, airfares, and some also offer absolutely free breakfast and other freebies and for you to be in a position to save cash, you just have to examine the costs of distinctive internet websites and on the web travel agencies so you can save a lot of cash.
Travel Agency, as the name implies functions as an agent, that is to say, promoting travel items and services on behalf of a supplier. On the web Travel Agencies also play an instrumental part in reserving you a getaway with the premiere cruise ship organizations and guiding you the finest segment to travel primarily based on your chosen part of the year through which you want to travel. You just have to look closely and search for a lot of websites that can offer you you wonderful discounts.
A travel agency sells solutions like airlines, auto rentals, cruise line, hotels, railways, sightseeing tours and package holidays that combine many items. One particular can really effectively cut the costs of airfares with affordable offers and the saved dollars can be used on other factors. Due to the fact the dawn of industrial aviation in the early 20th century, travel agencies have enjoyed a rise in the tourism business enterprise. The beauty of India is not describable in words and you can feel it only if you travel it.


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(for those who missed the Cephalopod Appreciation Society Meeting last night, here's a rough transcript of my presentation)
So, as you might have caught on by now, Octopuses have three hearts. Two Ancillary, or branchial hearts that pump blood through each of the two gills, and one Main or systemic heart that pumps blood through the body. Something to do with the blood being copper based and the transportation of oxygen. I was explaining this three heart fact to a friend who came back with the question: do all three hearts beat at the same time? an excellent question indeed. So I turned to the nearest marine biologist and asked: do all three of the octopus' hearts beat at the same time? and their response was, I don't know.
Ok. So I decided to do some research on my own, to see if the hearts open and close in tandem, or in sync, or in not in any pattern at all. And here's what I observed.
So this Octopus walks into a bar. She finds herself a seat at a table and starts writing. The Main Heart, it's wide open; she loves writing. Ancillary Heart 1, also open; there's a trivia game going on and she knows some of the answers. But Ancillary Heart 2, we observe, is closed. Closed in like, a piece of paper folded over kind of way. She's meeting an octopus there, it's a date but not a date date, she's not sure what the other person has to say about it, is kinda excited kinda not excited about it.
Then we observe a shift in the surrounding marine life make up. A fellow Octopus Friend, Octopus Friend A, swims into the bar. A is for acquaintance, Our Octopus can't remember his name but has had friendly conversations with him in the co-op check out line, has taken a vehicle in to his shop to get looked at. Our Octo's three hearts, 1 Main and 2 Ancillaries, remain open/open/a little less closed, respectively. Octopus Friend A doesn't see her, swims out of the bar checking his phone, only to return moments later with Octopus Friend B in tote. And then a fascinating shift occurs, upon seeing Octopus Friend B, Our Octo's hearts opens all the way, only to snap shut on all three counts. The fact of them (Our Octopus and Octopus Friend B) being friends for years overshadowed by the more recent-ish fact that the Octo's ex-crush decided that cephalopods weren't her thing but then opted to date Octopus Friend B two minutes later. a queer situation indeed that, while having lost its sting with the passage of time, still, a full year later, echoes in Our Octo's mantle cavity.
We observe Our Octo's second right arm reaching in to said mantle cavity to shrug the heavy blanket of un-ease off the Main Heart, using soothing caresses and logic. Main Heart opens, albeit a little begrudgingly. Ancillary Heart 1 takes the high road/bigger picture approach and graciously opens with a sing songy 'Namaste, Sister', Ancillary Heart 2, muscles fatiguing with mulish effort, holds its death grip of a closed fist. Our Octopus dips her head down and continues to write.
The tide is slowly going out.
And then, a new situation. The expected Octopus Non Date Date swims in, a big ole grin on her face that Our Octopus can't help but return. Main Heart and Ancillary Heart 1 swell, and harmlessly flutter half closed, like blankets pulled up in a flush of modesty, and then slowly and in tandem, with the rhythm of the ocean of conversation, they both bloom to full open, Main Heart remembering that a. establishing good boundaries is a functioning part of her cephalopod instinct inventory, b. eventho octopuses are evolutionarily predisposed to be solitary, it's ok to spend some time getting to know a new octo, especially since their den is two doors down from your own den, and Ancillary Heart 1 thinking that, this is nice, my bed is nice, conversation is nice, Octopus Non Date Date is nice, my other friends are nice, this bar is nice, sleep is nice. Unlike other octopuses, Our Octopus is diurnal.
Meanwhile, Ancillary Heart 2, it can be observed, momentarily ditching the self defeating relationship grievance tune, opts to remain closed, but a different kind of closed, one that can best be described as 'cringey', a certain kind of tension born of not being totally clear about this Octopus Non Date Date while on a date with her new For Real Octopus Date Date, a communication misstep due partially to the fact that Octo Non Date Date got scheduled in the half beat before the octopus friend date became new For Real Octopus Date Date so soon ago. For the record, this disclosure was accompanied by an impressive display of flurried 8 arm back pedaling. Both Main Heart and Ancillary Heart 1 look over at Ancillary Heart 2 with compassion and silent knowing. Yes, they too, would rather be hanging out with new For Real Octopus Date Date, but for now let's be present with Octopus Date Non Date, yeah?
The tide's pull, it is steady.
And soon we see Our Octopus making her exit. And it is here that we observe the final shift. Swimming down the lit up evening streets, having left her Octopus Friend A, Octopus Friend B, Octopus Non Date Date to their own devices, Our Octopus reflects on her greater environment and place in the world. thoughts drift between noting the pleasantly cool temperature, deciding on which late night snack to prepare upon returning to her den, thinking on the intertidal interactions that just transpired, all the sands of memory that got kicked up in the process, then settling on thinking on New For Real Octopus Date Date, the short amount of history between them, the vast sea of potential that stretches out before them.
In response, Ancillary Heart 1 bursts open so wide, it's practically inside out beside itself.
Ancillary Heart 2, forms the tightest of tightly closed tight knots, curled up in the bitter shadow of previous relationship hardships.
As for the main heart, and if it's open or closed, well, it seems further observation is in order.


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Recording Project Request
If you are interested in having the music department help you with a recording project please fill out the following form. Once submitted Jeffrey Crabtree will contact you about the status of your request.
Guidelines for Submission:
- Officer approval required prior to submission, include their name below
- Allow ample time for project development and scheduling. 3-6 months for creative recording projects is recommended
- Include as many project details as possible below
- Please note that there are extra internal review processes for recordings for distribution
- You can help expedite the process by filling out THQ's Recording Request Form, click here to view and download.
- The recording studio at DHQ is used for Salvation Army projects only
Please note that due to our summer music conservatory program we will not be able to complete projects from April 15th - September 1st.


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A month ago I collaborated with a few artists to shoot a small sample for my upcoming film going to camera next year, Skinned. I was so pleased with the results of the sample that I decided to work with the footage further to produce a self-contained short film, Pellicle. Pellicle is currently in post-production with a planned release for early 2012. In the meantime, check out the official one-sheet for the film below!
'Skinned' - Sample Test Shoot
This past weekend, a handful of talented & creative individuals and I teamed up to put together a small sample for my next short film, Skinned. The sample was requested on behalf of The Canada Council for the Arts as part of their Production Grant application for Film & Video Artists. While Skinned shares a tonal and thematic quality to my past works, the execution is incredibly different, and as such, The Canada Council for the Arts encouraged I send along a sample with my application.
Over two days, with the assistance of Tyler Williams, Meghan McCabe, Christina Spina and Melissa Ciardullo, not only did we come away with a something that works perfectly as a sample, but what resulted went well above and beyond that. So much so, that in the next few weeks I'll be working further with the footage shot in the hopes of developing it into a self-contained short film.
I can't thank the aforementioned individuals enough, and a special thanks to Razvan Anton and Edward Lee for generously donating their cameras to the shoot. Here's to hoping the Council sees some potential in the sample and the project and takes a chance on this film, which if given the right financial backing, could really be something incredible to behold.
Check out two non-spoilerish screen grabs from the sample test below! More to come!
Skinned is a performance-driven, dramatic short film that depicts the beginning, middle and end of a relationship. Naked, a man and woman stand on opposing sides of a room. Their lean and seemingly perfect bodies soon entangle and intertwine harmoniously to keep warm in their cold and sterile environment. But soon, resistance builds, and struggle ensues. The painful process of disconnection gives way as they begin pulling apart from one another, moving more frantically with every push and pull. Their bodies contort in feverish movements, escalating to a crescendo with both beings tearing one another apart - literally. As layers of skin are peeled off their bodies, they expose the less than perfect muscle and being that rests beneath the skin, seeing in one another their true selves for the first time.
'Inside' Featured as part of the NSI Online Short Film Festival!
This week NSI Online Short Film Festival is officially featuring what is admitedly one of my most ambitious short films to date, Inside.Read More
'Inside' Screens in Competition at Lago Film Fest!
I'm happy to announce that Inside will be making its Italian festival premiere later this month at Lago Film Fest!Read More
'X+Y' Featured and playing on NSI Online Short Film Festival!
NSI Online Short Film Festival is officially featuring X+Y, the experimental film created by Razvan Anton and my self.Read More


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Motherhood, grieving, and that trampoline sequence; the actor sheds some light on Nora Durst at the beginning of Season 3.
HBO: How is Nora different in Season 3?
Carrie Coon: Season 2 Nora is very hopeful. She cobbled together a new family and moved to a new town. She has the opportunity for a new beginning, and there's a lightness in her at the top of [Season] 2. Unfortunately, in [Season] 3 we discover very quickly she's seemed to have lost someone again, and it's obvious she is operating under a veneer and obscuring her feelings from Kevin. Likewise, Kevin is keeping some of his new coping mechanisms a secret from Nora.
HBO: What does that mean for their relationship?
Carrie Coon: In a relationship founded in honesty, this is untenable. We're not sure if they are going to be able to withstand this trial. Pushing Kevin away is what facilitates the possibility of an opportunity that she's deeply skeptical of, but also, obsessed with discovering if it's real — the opportunity to see her children again is too tempting to resist.
HBO: How important is being a mother to Nora?
Carrie Coon: When Nora Durst's family disappears, her identity as a wife and a mother does too. Suddenly she's none of those things. What that opens is the possibility for ultimate freedom. Nora could walk away from that life and be anything she wants; but she doesn't. Nora reclaiming motherhood again and again is her grasping for steady ground; that's an identity she understands — and if she doesn't hold on to "grieving woman," "mother," "DSD [Department of Sudden Departures] Investigator," then she has to really consider the nature of identity itself. That's a huge question to take on, and I don't think she has the resources to do that right now. It's much easier for her to cling to motherhood than to go very deep philosophically into that possibility of having no self-identity. But the tension of the possibility of walking away from her old life always exists in Nora.
HBO: In Episode 2, why is Nora so bothered by the Pillar Man's wife claiming he departed?
Carrie Coon: Nora is doggedly in the pursuit of truth. She's not objective about that, and viewers can certainly pinpoint times where she's been contradictory or dishonest — but we like to believe we're being honest with ourselves. The human brain is really great at evasion, we avoid rational examination of our own motivations. We justify everything we do.
Nora's children and husband did depart; that is her territory to claim. To have someone falsely claiming is offensive to her: You do not get to claim that emotional territory because it does not belong to you, and you can't actually understand what it feels like to have that experience. The experience of losing someone in thin air — that is an itch, to put it mildly, you can't scratch. Nora's fiercely protective of that experience: People who don't understand it shouldn't be able to talk about it.
HBO: Do you think the show presents the grieving process in a unique way?
Carrie Coon: Even though you could argue the premise of the show is somewhat supernatural, the grief in it feels very truthful to me. [Series co-creator] Damon [Lindelof] seems to understand that grief is not a linear process. We don't move through levels of grief one by one, check them off and then go forward to the next, we actually move in and out of them suddenly, gradually, unexpectedly over time. It's a fascinating process.
Damon is skilled at writing women as full human-beings, whenever he thrusts Nora back into sadness, anger or some kind of elation, he's always putting [me] in that position to tell the story more fully. It's never just an exercise in indulgence. Often times, I think women are asked to cry for the sake of crying, to move the plot along or whatever it is. Or because their circumstances are just that black and white. But Nora's circumstances are never black and white. There is always more ambiguity in a Damon Lindelof show, and I think that's why the picture of grief feels much more real.
HBO: How has Nora and Erika's relationship changed since the interview scene in "Lens"?
Carrie Coon: I have always loved Regina King as an actor and I was so gratified to have the opportunity to work with her. I love that at the end of that scene [in "Lens"] it's antagonistic, and yet there is also a grudging respect. There are very few people in the show that have been able to stand up against Nora, and Regina's character, Erika, is one of them. That respect opens up space for a friendship to develop, because Erika demonstrates compassion, intuition and understanding. Nora always thinks she has the answer to the question, and in that scene in "Lens," we see she doesn't. There's something she can learn from Erika.
Then we have this time jump, and it was unexpected to me that the writers would choose to develop a friendship between Nora and Erika, but it made so much sense. We rarely have seen Nora take the opportunity to open up to someone, be vulnerable and ask for help. [In "Don't Be Ridiculous"] that's a real, genuine vulnerability we get in Nora. I think it's really exciting to see a female friendship that developed off screen and see the fruits of it on the show. And I feel like it's really grounded in reality. You can understand why these two smart women would gravitate to each other, especially after Erika has also lost a child. Erika dignifies Nora's experience.
HBO: Let's talk about the moment on the trampoline.
Carrie Coon: I love this, because so often you see grief dealt with emotionally or intellectually. But one of the things I know from my studies as an actor is how we hold our trauma in our bodies. Depression actually hurts, physically. This is such a beautiful, graceful note about moving through grief. It's also really great as an actor to be asked to use your body. It helps you ground a performance.
HBO: Did you have "Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)" playing while you jumped?
Carrie Coon: We did have the music playing. It was great fun. It was one of those days: "Is this really my job?"
More from "Don't Be Ridiculous"
- Unraveling Episode 2 (and That Trampoline Scene)
- "Don't Be Ridiculous" Script Excerpt
- Illustrating The Leftovers: Hail to the Chief (Garvey)
Also: See What's Coming Up in "Crazy Whitefella Thinking"
Watch new episodes of The Leftovers Sunday nights at 9 pm on HBO.