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The Bachelor Recap, Nick Viall Episode 1: Hello, Ladies! Goodbye, Ladies!
The Bachelor is back! Nick Viall, a three-season veteran, led last season of Bachelor in Paradise in DVOA by mixing it up with his rival Josh and demonstrating more humor than any of his fellow contestants. Vegas currently has his odds of ending the season...with a proposal...hang on, this isn't right.
The Bachelor is back! After spending a season of Bachelor in Paradise maneuvering in the shadows to claim the ultimate prize, we watched Nick Viall shock the people of Sayulita by spurning the affections of his would-be suitor, Jennifer. Were the emotions real, or was it all a ploy to maintain his claim to the title of The Bachelor? White ravens have announced the arrival of winter, so his schemes must bear fruit soon if he hopes to...consolidate power...no, no, that's not right either.
The Bachelor is back! Nick Viall has finished runner-up on two seasons of America's favorite polyamorous dating competition, most recently breaking down in tears while ending a brief, spring break-esque relationship in Sayulita, Mexico. It's hard to imagine he's fully recovered from such a traumatic experience in such a short time, but he's nonetheless thrown caution to the wind and put very little on the line to be ABC's 21st Bachelor.
That's more like it!
119 days have passed since the airing of Bachelor in Paradise's Season 3 finale. I'm clearly a little rusty at recapping a show like this, and I'll forgive you for being rusty at watching it. If I recall, Step 1 is to grab a drink, Step 2 is to pull up the Questionably Qualified Drinking Game, and Step 3 is to suspend your disbelief. All set? Here we go!
Introducing The Bachelor
Chris Harrison's voiceover describes Nick as the most controversial Bachelor of all time, which is difficult to believe after Juan Pablo's run. We recap Nick's history on the franchise, including the worst look he's chosen for national television:
Seriously, even this one from what looks like high school is better:
He gets some advice from his younger sister, which is cute, and he says all the right things about seriously looking for love before finishing with the phrase "I'm going to give America a happy ending" and giggling. Knucks, Nick.
Unfortunately, his combination of goofiness and sarcasm won't hold up over the course of a whole season as the Bachelor. He'll probably just end up looking like a jerk, but let's enjoy it while we can!
Sean Lowe, Chris Soules, and Ben Higgins (the last three non-Juan Pablo Bachelors; seriously, he was the worst) give Nick some advice over whiskey. They take a few jabs at each other and advise Nick to be himself before toasting and sending him on his way. Cheers!
The Bachelor Contestants
Every journey begins with a single step, and for every Bachelor, that step is meeting too many women to possibly remember in a barrage of brief, awkward interactions. Let's see who's here to win the key to Nick's fantasy suite, a consistent string of franchise appearances down the road, and a chance to be briefly engaged before calling it off. That's a big risk for people with occupations like "aspiring dolphin trainer", so you know they're serious! Let's see what we can learn from their solo introductions:
Rachel is an attorney from Dallas, so I'm already impressed
Danielle is a small business owner who dresses in scandalous scrubs in her time off.
Vanessa is a special needs teacher from Montreal who speaks three languages. You're about to be seriously underwhelmed with your competition, Vanessa.
Josephine is a nursing student who likes her cats and talks to sea lions. Everyone knows a Josephine, right?
Raven is from Arkansas, where she owns a fashion boutique. She comes across as exceptionally Southern.
Corrine lives with her family in Miami, which is a bad start. She also refers to herself in the third person and has a nanny. Like, she's cared for by a nanny, I think. She's at the top of the list for the scary-crazy contestant of the season, which means she'll make it at least halfway through the season before she alienates all of the other women and is sunk by their collective hatred.
Alexis, our aspiring dolphin trainer, really likes dolphins. Her family warns her not to talk about dolphins too much.
Danielle is a neonatal nurse, so I don't have any jokes...
Oh, wait! Taking care of a 36-year old, three-time Bachelor franchise contestant? I bet she's never seen a baby this needy! Zing!
Taylor is a mental health counselor who rollerblades(!) with a helmet on(!!), so do with that what you will.
Elizabeth (Liz) is from Las Vegas, and met Nick in early 2016 at Jade and Tanner's wedding, where they did what single wedding guests do: drink a lot of alcohol and spend the night with someone. Knucks to them both.
At the end of the night, Nick asked for her number, but Liz refused because she was worried he was just trying to be nice. I can't speak for all men, but we don't often risk humiliation for the sake of appearing nice. Either she's wildly insecure or she didn't want to give it to him. Or both. But she's here now!
The Bachelor Contestants Arrive
Nick meets Chris Harrison on the driveway of the Bachelor Mansion and reviews his failures until the ladies' limo pulls up. First out is Danielle, who basically seals up a rose with her dress:
Elizabeth charges out of the limo with a strong Texas drawl and Rachel continues the trend of oddly normal introductions before Christen, a wedding videographer, does a small fan dancing routine. She comes across as tipsy, nervous, and overwhelmed by the occasion, in a way that is more weird than cute. Luckily for her, Taylor leads by telling Nick her friends warned her that he's "a piece of s***." We all know how endearing it is to hear someone say their friends hate you!
Kristina, Angela, Lauren, Michelle, Dominique, and Ida Marie follow, behaving like normal human beings. Olivia gives him an eskimo kiss (they touch noses) before Sarah literally runs up to Nick, in a way that is much more cute than weird. She's like the bizarro Christen. One of the Jasmines brings Neil Lane along to display some engagement rings, Hailey makes a joke about not wearing underwear, and Astrid describes her breasts in German. This is all an appetizer for Liz, who doesn't provide her name; Nick definitely recognizes her but wisely avoids names altogether. Chris Harrison leaves him to figure it out on his own, and Nick turns around to face the next limo.
Corinne is first out, and conceals her crazy well. She's a wily one, it seems, but the crazies always crack under the "pressure" of this show. Vanessa speaks French and Danielle gives him a bottle of maple syrup, which she allows/forces him to sample from her finger. She was shaking from anxiety, a crash diet, or both, but I thought it was a good introduction! I guess I'm a big fan of maple syrup, though...
Raven cheers on the Razorbacks (or maybe just pigs in general?) Jaimi says she "has balls" before revealing her nose ring, Briana listens to his heart with a stethoscope, and Susannah gives him a beard massage. I don't have the genes to grow a beard worth massaging, but I'll check with some friends on that move's efficacy. Logan, as Nick is your blondepelganger, what say you?
Josephine arrives with a hot dog in a book...which they eat from both ends simultaneously...yep, we've reached that point.
Brittany pulls on a glove and instructs Nick to turn around and bend over, but the camera cuts away. I wanted to see where that was going! How far did she go with the bit? If no one called it off, would she have conducted an examination right there? I need to know!
No time for questions, because the contestants are straight pouring out of the limousine at this point, nearly all in red dresses. As you can imagine, this sort of homogeneity makes those wearing red very uneasy. I'd probably tell Kat or anyone else in real life to brush it off, because red is a popular color and no one will notice. On this show, though? Competing with 29 other women for one man's attention? Yeah, could be damaging if you don't stand out in other ways. Whitney joins the red dress society, and Lacey follows suit (dress?), but on a camel making a hump joke. Well played, Lacey! Knucks to you!
Alexis ignores her family's advice, leading with an attempted dolphin joke and wearing what I think is a shark suit. They're probably easier to find than dolphin suits, but maybe some modifications were in order. This is a shark, right?
The ladies all say shark. She's our frontrunner for harmless-crazy, especially after issuing some dolphin calls once inside the house.
After a montage of the ladies talking up Nick among themselves, he joins them in the Bachelor Mansion and is greeted by Jasmine G. offering him a glass of whiskey. Knucks to you, Jasmine G.!
It's easy to assume he'll be looking for a drink, and you've either watched enough of him on TV to know what he usually drinks or guessed well. Either way, it's an easy way to make a good impression.
Nick gives a speech, we toast, and it's off to the speed round! Rachel is first for one-on-one time and makes a strong first impression by comfortably conversing about sports, families, and occupations.
As Nick starts to relax in his conversations, Chris Harrison enters with the First Impression Rose to ratchet up the tension. Conversation slows, sideways glances begin darting, and new drinks are poured. Corinne gives Nick a bag of tokens, then circles back to interrupt Vanessa soon after. Not wanting to waste time, Corinne goes right in and secures the first snog of the season. This, of course, sets off a chain of panic in the house as the other contestants debate the merits of kissing too soon or too late; the only thing they agree on is that Corinne is bad.
Nick is repeatedly interrupted as every woman tries to make an impression until Nick pulls a move I've only ever speculated about: he asks Jasmine G. to give him some time to finish a conversation. Unfortunately, she begins crying after gracefully removing herself from the situation. Meanwhile, Alexis the shark wades into the pool and starts making dolphin calls.
Nick bites the bullet and gives it to her straight, explaining that her costume is a shark and not a dolphin. She seems to brush it off, but definitely doesn't go as far as agreeing with him.
Liz gets some one-on-one time, wherein Nick reveals that he remembers her and the whole having sex thing. He also remembers being shot down when he asked for her number. This is not going well for Liz, and before she can turn it around, he's stolen away again.
Taylor doubles down on her friend's criticism of Nick, and Danielle shares his Wisconsin heritage. Nothing to see here, folks.
Nick goes inside to pick up the First Impression Rose and gives it to...Rachel! We'll see if it holds up over the course of the season, but he seems to have gone steak over sizzle on this first rose. Not that Rachel doesn't look great, because of course she does; they all do! Just that she seems to back it up with substance. I think that analogy worked. Anyway, with the First Impression Rose given out, Chris Harrison apparates and spirits Nick away to await his suitors at the Rose Ceremony.
This Week's Winners: Rachel, Vanessa, Danielle L, Christen, Astrid, Corinne, Elizabeth W, Jasmine G (I told you the drink was a good idea!), Raven, Kristina, Danielle M, Sarah, Josephine, Lacey, Taylor, Alexis the shark, Hailey, Whitney, Dominique, Jaimi, Brittany, and Liz.
Sent back to Real Life: Angela, Briana, Ida Marie, Jasmine B, Lauren, Michelle, Olivia, and Susannah.
This episode tallied 38 drinks according to the QQ Bachelor Drinking Game. Not a fast start, but that isn't unusual for the season premiere, and there's a reason we tweak the rules from time to time. Feel free to follow us on Facebook for new content, and we'll see you next week!


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New Day Michigan Vision Day
SUNDAY 3/26 at 3:30 PM
Dinner at 5:45 PM
at bair lake bible camp
12500 Prang St, Jones, MI 49061
one hour southwest of kalamazoo
Vine & Vandalia Campuses will have normal service times this weekend; Nichols ONLY ONE SERVICE at 10 AM to accommodate travel to Bair Lake Bible Camp.
Where are we going to be as a church in 3 years? How do we effectively reach our community? How do we release people into their ministry? How do I fit into the vision at New Day?
If you want to know the answers to the questions, you need to be at the New Day Vision Day. Come celebrate what we've done, and get the vision for what is to come.
Sunday afternoon March 26th, all three Michigan Campuses will come together for the first time, at Bair Lake Bible Camp, starting promptly at 3:30 PM (come early enough to get your kids checked in), including dinner for everyone at 5:45 PM.
Listen to the messages from Pastor Cameron given at Vision Day at the player on the right.
Coming Soon!

subset: commoncrawl


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Graceful Hands Foundation will offer you a lifetime opportunity to help the organisation here in Ghana (West Africa). If you are at least a young adult 20 years of age and have gained some experience in the teaching and learning field already, you can gracefully apply for one of our internship positions. We offer the luxury of living in Accra – Ghana, aside from the fact that you will receive professional insights of the Ghanaian culture. Our capable staff will make sure that you feel at home, especially in the early stages of your stay here in Ghana.
Graceful Hands Foundation accepts both local and foreign volunteers to assist in its school and other programs. If you are interested and want more information on the internship program, kindly contact us.
i. Recruit donors
Ask family, friends and acquaintances whether they like to become a donor and receive a nice gift.
ii. Recruit sponsors for school children
Ask family, friends and acquaintances to sponsor a school child who hails from a marginalized home. For any amount you donate, you put a smile on the face of these marginalized children.
Your individual contribution can make a substantial difference no matter how modest the sum may appear.
In order to attract sponsors who are willing to contribute in the building costs, we ought to raise a substantial portion of the needed funds by ourselves.
Our Foundation is looking for financial support of construction costs of the Graceful Hands Academy. The funds are needed solely for educational materials, equipment for the workshops and machinery for agricultural purposes.
Any modest amount will be of a good support:
- as a donor, with an annual donation
- on a regular basis: monthly, quarterly or annually
- a one time contribution
Local Donations
Kindly walk in to any TIGO Office or Agent, or any bank providing TIGO mobile money transfer and deposit money into the following User Account:
User Name: Mr. Abraham N. K. Quartey
Foreign Donations
You can contact or call us on +233570740121 for special arrangements.
Thank you.
"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples"
Mother Teresa


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This OIL kills cancer cells more effectively than chemotherapy!
The cannabis or cannabinoid oil can kill cancer cells.
When an 8 month old infant was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, the baby's father did something unique and amazing.
In a normal circumstance, the infant could have undergone a chemotherapy treatment but the baby's father started applying CANNABIS OIL to his child's pacifier.
"My youngest patient at the age of only 8 months had an extremely enormous centrally positioned and untreatable brain cancer. They were applying cannabinoid oil on infant's pacifier two times a day and increasing its dose…And just within two months, we could notice a dramatic reduction- sufficient for the pediatric oncologist to allow them to not pursue traditional therapy," Dr. Courtney said
And within a matter of only two months, with the help of cannabis oil, the tumor shrank and did not require the chemo treatment at all.


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Ferret empowers your research by summarizing/enriching articles and providing full-text search on your reading history.
All info at a glance
A publication might be on topic. But is it on point? Ferret integrates with many popular scientific databases and services, so you can easily judge the scientific impact of any publication. If an article scores low, perhaps you shouldn't read it all the way through. If it has no mentions or peer reviews at all, it may not even be worth your time.
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Time Machine
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Timeline & Search
Ferret remembers every article you visit. Just do your research. Ferret works quietly in the background, hanging on to every word. Then dive into your reading history with full-text search for keywords or metadata. Ferret lines up all matching articles and links them together.


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Discussion in 'Wanted' started by yenrod, 13 Aug 2007.
Ideally new or un-used !
Email or P'Msg myself..
Thanks Lee
I have an EA50 in 130x10deg if that's near enough?
Thanks for the offer man BUT I've a 130mm also...which I'm trying to sell..
Thanks for thought !
got a 105mm you can have for a tenner?
140 ?
Like this one?
In which case have one - not new but ok.
Contact me on this email address and I'll send it
martin.s2(nospamremovethis)@btconnect.com (I won't reply - too busy so*ding about with C/Chat!)
Separate names with a comma.


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Blood Builder®
Shown in a clinical study to increase iron levels without side effects†*
- Form: Tablet
- Serving Size: 1
- Number of Servings: 30
Sale Price: $15.72
In Stock
MegaFood Blood Builder is one of our top-selling products for a reason: it's clinically shown to increase iron levels and reduce fatigue without common gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or constipation (there, we said it!).† * We make it with nourishing, whole foods, like beets and organic oranges, plus folic acid and B12 for healthy red blood cell production, and vitamin C to support iron absorption.* Oh, and did we tell you it's safe to take on an empty stomach? If building your blood without missing a beet (see what we did there?) sounds up your alley, this is the product for you.*
- One of our top-selling products!
- Blood Builder was shown in an 8-week clinical trial to increase iron levels in individuals with low iron without causing nausea or constipation*
- Delivers a gentle and effective 26 mg of FoodState® Iron per serving*
- Includes folic acid and B12 which help maintain healthy red blood cell production*
- Safe for menstruating women, teenage girls, pregnant women, vegans and vegetarians, athletes, and recent blood donors, all of whom are at increased risk of being low in iron*
- Combats fatigue and improves energy levels*
- Crafted using our Slo-Food Process™ with FoodState® Beet Root and FoodState® Vitamin C with organic oranges
- Gentle enough to take on an empty stomach
- Also available in convenient mini tablets
- Note: Consumers should consult with their healthcare practitioners for advice regarding specific health conditions and recommended solutions
This MegaFood product is made with real food sourced from our trusted family farm partners, wholesome nutritional yeast and added nutrients. Each vitamin or mineral is paired with an ideal whole food using our unique process to deliver guaranteed potency and the benefit of health-promoting compounds present in the whole food itself. See how they are made. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.
We believe that the most nutritious food comes from healthy soils and valued farmers. Our goal is to work with farmers who share our commitment to organic and regenerative agriculture. Learn more.
Suggested Use
1 tablet daily. May be taken anytime throughout the day, even on an empty stomach.
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
†Study Details at BloodBuilder.com.
Warning: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under six. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
Certified B Corporation®
Certified B Corporations are leaders of a global movement to use business as a force for good™. We meet the highest standards of overall social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability—aspiring to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
Non-GMO Project
Everyone has a right to know what is in their food—and a right to food made right. That's why we support third party Non-GMO verifiers like the Non-GMO Project. Because of GMOs are linked to health and environmental concerns, and we believe nature got it right the first time.
Glyphosate Residue Free
Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the US. But it also may kill our soil, and healthy gut bacteria. We are the first supplement brand to have its entire line of products certified Glyphosate Residue Free* by The Detox Project, an independent research and certification organization that works with independent, third-party laboratories to test for glyphosate and the glyphosate metabolite AMPA.*
Tested for 125+ Pesticides & Herbicides
Please contact us if you're interested in seeing a complete list of what we test for.
Certified Gluten Free
We use the FDA-approved R5 ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay) method to test for gliadin, one of the main proteins in the gluten molecule. NSF Gluten-Free certified products must test at 15 ppm or less and those with our internal Gluten-Free seal must test at less than 20 ppm Gluten. We test both high-risk raw materials and the final products, and were the first dietary supplements to have been certified gluten free by NSF.
Our Vegan products are certified by Vegan Action. The Vegan seal is on products that are free of any animal-derived raw materials, and is suitable for those who follow a vegan diet.
Certified Kosher
To uphold our commitment to purity and quality, we have become one of the first whole food supplement product lines certified kosher by OK Kosher Certification, the most respected symbol of kosher approval worldwide.
Dairy and Soy Free
All products with this seal are tested to contain 5 ppm or less of milk proteins and 5 ppm or less of soy proteins.
*Based on government limit of detection protocols.


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Rich and silky hot chocolate with salted caramel flavor
The best thing about winter? Coming inside and warming up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate! This hot chocolate powder is not only rich and silky, it's also vegan and organic. This tasty mix combines dark cocoa powder and salted caramel for a delicious treat full of antioxidants. It's made with all-natural, high-quality ingredients without any fillers or binders. It dissolves easily in hot dairy-free milk or water. Add approx. 1 Tbsp to 250ml of hot milk alternative or water, stir and enjoy.
About COCO
COCO Hot Chocolate is an independent, Canadian-owned and operated business based in beautiful British Columbia. They strive to create quite possibly the best hot chocolate in the world, using organic cocoa, organic raw cacao, and blending it with luxurious organic ingredients.


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Friday, June 26, 2009
Robot & Rico Covers 1-4
I've been busy on a few projects recently. The biggest one being the Robot & Rico picture books.
These are the covers to the first 4 books, I'm currently working on the next 4 of them. These are beginning reader books geared towards boys. Robot & Rico are friends that do fun stuff together and run into a few problems along the way.
Hopefully I'll be able to post some spreads from these books soon.
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Sometimes we face an enemy within ourselves that has the goal of keeping us from succeeding in life in all aspects including spiritual growth. The enemy is our own lack of self-confidence and self-esteem. It is like having someone constantly whispering in our ear words of discouragement and negativity. I think we all face such an enemy every day within ourselves, just some of us have learned to ignore it or rise above its tactics. Even though we are individuals and have both self-realization and freewill we are also a biological computer of sorts. We are influenced greatly by our knowledge, wisdom and experiences we have had during our lifetime. This is where the enemy within finds its weapons and fuel, it seeks out our mistakes, regrets and weaknesses from our past. The only way to overcome that is to realize you have grown beyond those things and that you have learned from them as well.
Making mistakes is all part of the learning process, we are supposed to fail so we can learn , grow and move on to the next lesson of life. We are not supposed to hold on to our failure and make it a driving force within our lives. The enemy within is but the side of ourselves that never grew up and out of the sorrow and regret we had from our past failures. We need to learn to forgive ourselves for past mistakes and learn from them so we do not repeat them in the present or future. Put our past behind us but remember the lessons learned within it. Live not in the past for it exists no more, live not in the future for it has not yet come to pass. Live within the here and now, be the most you can be and embrace the present for it is where life is lived.
Yesterday is dead and gone, Tomorrow is but a dream yet to be realized and today is where the two meet. Today is the place and time we are meant to live in.
Ray Barbier
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- Revolution Bitly #6 (johnettasamone.wordpress.com)
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- 2 Chronicles 19, 20; Revelation 8; Zechariah 4; John 7 (66books.wordpress.com)


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WIN a Physicians Formula Organic Wear Blush./
Physicians Formula wants to introduce you to their new Organic Wear line by giving away 1,000 of it's brand new Organic Wear Blush.
Simply log onto Physicians Formula today at 12:00 PM EST, to enter to win a free Organic Wear Blush. The winners will receive an email with a printable coupon that they can bring to any participating Physicians Formula mass market and drugstore retailers to select their Organic Wear Blush shade and will then walk out of the store with a free blush.
Let us know if you win!


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To get the most out of my time I try to find ways to make my workflow faster. It's always helpful to have a good support team in the background.
Not all the listed applications are only for workflow. Some are helpful apps to make your computer more interesting. Below is a list of six great applications for Mac OS and one for Windows.
Here is a quirky little application that is a breath of fresh air. MinimizeAll is a Mac app that sits in your Menu Bar. With two clicks you can automatically minimize all windows back into your Dock. Giving you a clutter free view of your Desktop and screen.
The app is helpful, but not perfect. The Menu Bar icon is orange and sticks out on the screen. It takes two-clicks to get to the "minimize all" command. It would be more intuitive with one-click and adding a right-click for the menu.
Paula is a brilliant app you hardly notice is there. Paula is an automatic "Fn" presser. When you work on a laptop for example, keys like F1, F2 etc. - are auto mapped to features like screen brightness or volume.
If you hold Fn you can use their normal commands for the application you're in. In an application like Cinema 4D pressing 'Fn' that often could get frustrating.
Set up the Applications and 'Fn' state for any application inside Paula. Then forget it's even there. I think it's helpful for working on the go with my laptop.
This one I'll admit doesn't do much for workflow. But is a beautiful way to change up your desktop images.
The developers run the website Unsplash - which showcases incredible pictures every day. Irvue pulls those pictures right to your desktop. Install it and change your Preferences for the 'update frequency' of new desktop images.
The app has tons of other preferences, including choosing a channel or types of pictures you like. I've had no bugs using it at all - so give it two thumbs up. It's free, gives you curated desktop photos and is bug free.
Astropad is a wonderful app for your iPad and computer. It's not quite a Wacom Cintiq, but paired with the Apple Pencil it's a solid budget Cintiq.
Astropad pairs with your computer via WiFi or Thunderbolt. Once connected Astropad will mirror your computer screen to your iPad. I've found the Thunderbolt performs best.
Astropad works best with an Apple Pencil or another stylus that has pressure sensitivity. Then the pressure information can transfer to your computer. Instead of spending for a pricey Wacom this app is a phenomenal budget tablet interface ... if you already own an iPad.
As a person who works almost solely on a computer my eyes and hands are important. Almost a month ago I started having blurry vision and eye pain. I realized it was because I was squinting at a computer screen 12+ hours a day. Luckily I found the app f.lux.
f.lux automatically dims your screen with color hues appropriate for the "darkness" or time of day. The white become a little more warm and eye strain immediately disappears. This kind of application is not ideal for Color Grading or video work. But for general computer it's been great.
There are a bunch of settings you can tweak for your schedule. Options like Movie Mode and a crazy version called "Darkroom" which I'll leave as a surprise.
If you've never used Wunderlist, download it now. The app is that good and I use it everyday. Wunderlist is a simple and clean note/list app with Cloud syncing. It's' available across all devices too. I use it mainly to jot down project notes or tool ideas on my phone. Then when I sit down on my computer the notes are there.
I've tried many other list apps and Wunderlist is the best. It's unobtrusive, simple to use and has careful attention to details. You can set Reminders or Due Dates for your list items as well as create Folders and additional item notes.


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Learn more about the history of Sudan, the causes of the war,
religious freedom, the current humanitarian situation and the peace process:
There are currently 14 million refugees in the world. Learn more
about who refugees are, why they've had to flee their homes and
the organizations that work to support refugees internationally:
Since September 11th, the number of refugees admitted to the U.S.
has slowed dramatically. Learn more about the U.S. Refugee Program,
refugee related policy issues before Congress, the 12 agencies
contracted by the U.S government to support refugees and what you
can do to support them:
The many themes raised by Lost Boys of Sudan can be rich topics for classroom exploration. Explore these themes and learn about how teachers have used the film.
Click to download the Entire Educational Study Guide [766K pdf] for Lost Boys of Sudan. The study guide includes sample classroom lesson ideas [293K pdf] collected from several middle school, high school , and college instructors who have successfully used the documentary in their classrooms. The lesson ideas [293K pdf] provide creative approaches for sharing the story of the "Lost Boys" and refugee stories in your classes. The Study-guide also contains nine thematic essays [492K pdf] by leading journalists and scholars working in fields related to issues that arise in the documentary. These essays provide valuable background material on the civil war in Sudan, the current crisis in Sudan's Darfur region, information on refugees and refugee resettlement in the United States, and much more.
Click to download the Classroom Lesson Ideas Only [293K pdf]. These lesson ideas were collected from several high school teachers and college professors who have successfully used the documentary in their classrooms.
Click to download the Thematic Essays Only [492K pdf]. These thematic essays have been prepared by leading journalists and scholars working in fields related to issues that arise in the documentary.
Click here to download a list of books and films [54K pdf] that further explore the themes raised in Lost Boys of Sudan.
Go here to download the PBS⁄ POV Discussion Guide for Lost Boys of Sudan. The Discussion Guide contains background information on Sudan as well as ideas for how to set-up screenings of the film and panel discussions in your hometown. You will also find here helpful information about how to lead a meaningful and civil conversation about the themes raised by the film.
Visit the websites below for additional lesson plan ideas focusing on Sudan, human rights, refugee and immigration issues.
How Are Peter and Santino and the Other Lost Boys Now?
Santino Majok Chuor has left the factory night shift and Texas and recently relocated to San Jose, CA. He has enrolled full-time in community college with a generous scholarship from one of the film's viewers. Santino did successfully pass his drivers test. Since coming to the U.S., he has discovered that siblings he had not heard from for many years are still alive and living in other African refugee camps.With Santino's financial support, one of his brothers has gathered the family and is working to take them back to their home village in Yirol. Santino has traveled a great deal with the film participating in media interviews, school screenings and panel discussions in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Indianapolis and Dallas.
Peter Nyarol Dut graduated from Olathe East High School in June of 2003. He is currently a student at Green Mountain College in Vermont with a full scholarship. Along with his studies, Peter is happily playing basketball again. Since the film's release Peter has participated in meetings with the Congressional Refugee and Human Rights Caucuses, the State Department's Bureau of Population, Migration and Refugees, the Kansas State Board of Education and CARE.
The Lost Boys Group The "Lost Boys" group was resettled all across the U.S. there are Sudanese youth in nearly every state. Some of the largest groups are in Phoenix, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Chicago, Salt Lake, Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Kansas City, Richmond, Nashville and Louisville. The "Lost Boys" are strong individuals rather than a homogenous group, so it is impossible to give an update on them all. But as a whole the group is doing well, connecting more with their communities and finding the educational opportunities they are so focused on. Two of the young men who worked with us as translators on the film have enrolled this fall at the prestigious universities, Stanford and American. They are among many Sudanese youth finding academic success. Unfortunately, the successes are accompanied by heart-breaking stories of "Lost Boys" who have been victims of violence in the U.S. The "Lost Boys" are survivors and we are convinced that they will make the most of the opportunities America has to offer them and in the process make this a better country.
Why Did You Want to Make This Film?
The Lost Boys story appealed to us for a number of reasons. As filmmakers
that like to work in long form observational documentary, we are constantly
looking around the world for stories that can be told visually, that have a lot
of layers to them and compelling characters. This just screamed out visual
storytelling, it's a classic filmic journey tale, the story touches on a
whole range of themes, the "Lost Boys" are engaging and articulate and the
list just went on.
We saw the film as a way to tell the story of an underreported civil war in Sudan, an important international story. But we also felt like through the eyes of these young men coming to our country, it would be a unique way to look at ourselves and reveal this crazy modern world we've created in the U.S. The newcomer story is so central to who we are as a country. We all know the classic story of immigration in the United States. The myth is that the boat comes in to Ellis Island or to San Francisco Bay. The coasts have communities of immigrants, our big cities have Chinatowns and Little Italys and Japantowns. But the story of immigration in this new century is very much planes landing in small towns and medium-sized cities all over the country. That is exactly what happened to the Lost Boys group, they are living all across the U.S. in nearly every state. We hope that viewers will get a real sense of what it means for us to be a land of immigrants. Who are Americans today? What does that mean? And we feel like the Lost Boys story really reveals that.
Why Didn't the Lost Boys Get More Help in the U.S.?
There are 10 agencies that are officially subcontracted by the U.S. government's Refugee Program to resettle refugees. Their mandate is to provide basic services to newly arrived refugees such as airport reception, housing for at least one month, household goods and clothing, assistance with applications for medical and cash assistance, referrals to English language courses and job placement services. Their initial period of providing assistance is 90-days, though many agencies work with their refugee clients for much longer and offer many more programs, but the goal is to make refugees self-sufficient. The agencies work with very small staff and tight budgets, receiving only a portion of their funding from the federal government. In our experience the most successful resettlement agencies are the ones that know how to connect with the communities they are working in. Many agencies collaborate with universities and church groups and have mentor programs to help facilitate personal connections and help refugees find education and quality employment opportunities. During our time with the "Lost Boys" we came to understand that the single most helpful thing for a newcomer to this country is a friend, someone to help them navigate their new life. Some immigrants and refugees arrive and have a strong immigrant network to plug into, others like the "Lost Boys" have very few personal connections.
How Did You Choose Peter and Santino?
When we arrived in the Kakuma Kenya refugee camp, the UNHCR staff had provided us with a list of 100 young men that would be flying out the following Sunday. We set out with that list to find the young men who would be the main characters of the film. We spoke with 80 of the 100 young men on the list. We had a few criteria: we wanted at least two guys in one location in case one of them decided part way through that they didn't want to be part of the film; we wanted to follow guys going somewhere in the middle of the country as we felt that was more representative of the "Lost Boys" experience and modern refugee resettlement in general; we were looking for youth whose English level was pretty strong so that they would be more likely to interact with Americans, but most importantly we were looking for strong, interesting individuals. And we found that in Peter Dut and Santino Chuor. Peter and Santino stood out to us from the beginning. Peter impressed us with his energy, practicality and focus, Santino with his warmth and sensitivity. They struck us as two very distinct individuals who would approach life in America differently. They also seemed like two people we would enjoy spending the next year of our life with, and they were.
Where Did They Get the Name Lost Boys?
The name "Lost Boys of Sudan" was given to the group of Southern Sudanese youth, by United Nations aid workers who were monitoring their flight from Sudan. The name stuck and though the youth are no longer "lost" or "boys" it is how the youth often refer to themselves. For some it is a badge of honor. They commonly say we are "lost" from our parents, but we were never lost from God or each other.
What About the Girls?
When thousands of children fled civil war in Sudan in the late 1980's the group was predominately boys. Of the 3,800 "lost boys" that were resettled in the U.S. less than 100 were girls. There are several reasons for this. When villages were attacked, the men will killed first with women and girls often being taken captive. Many of the boys in Dinka culture spend time away from the village in cattle camps, they would return to find their families killed and villages destroyed. Others were encouraged by their elders to flee instead of being captured and forced to become soldiers. But there were girls among the boys fleeing the war. Once the youth were settled into the UN refugee camp the girls were placed with Sudanese families, while the boys stayed on their own. Once it became time to identify the girls who were part of the original "Lost Boys" group, Kakuma camp had grown to know be home to 80,000 refugees. It was difficult to identify who the 'lost girls" were, compounded by the fact that girls are valuable in Dinka culture as they bring a bride prize and families that had taken the girls in were often not eager to have the girls sent to the U.S.
How Old Are Peter and Santino?
Peter and Santino are in their early 20's. Many of the "Lost Boys" genuinely don't know their ages for a series of reasons. First an individual birth date is not given the same importance in their culture as it is in the U.S. Additionally, birth records were not kept in most of the villages where the boys were born. Since many of the youth lost their parents when they were very young, they didn't have anyone to keep track of their birthdate. When the group arrived at the UN refugee camps, they were assigned ages, the aid workers made their best guess at the youth's ages and assigned them all the birthdate of January 1st, with whatever corresponding year seemed appropriate.
What Was the Hardest Part of Making the Film?
The most challenging part of making Lost Boys of Sudan, beyond the usual filmmaking struggles of fundraising, permissions and distribution, was not being able to be the friends that Peter and Santino so desperately needed. As filmmakers trying to give an honest portrayal of the struggle to start life in a new, strange country, we had to keep a certain degree of distance from and intervene in their lives as little as possible. It wasn't an easy thing to do. It was so tempting to just help the guys find good jobs, sign up for community college and make new friends and discuss with them the breadth of who we are as a country. We knew if we did that, we would make life for Peter and Santino better, but not come away with a film that could help people all across the U.S. understand the challenges of being a newcomer to America. We explained that to Peter and Santino during production, but there were many days where seemingly simple things weighed heavily on them and that was hard to watch. Happily, now that the film is finished we can have a real friendship with Peter and Santino and offer them some of the help we had to hold back on. We are so gratified to see that the film does motivate people to extend themselves to newcomers.
Were Peter and Santino Paid To Be in the Film?
No, Peter and Santino were not paid to participate in the film. Like journalists, it is not customary for documentary filmmakers to pay their subjects. Peter and Santino signed on because they felt that their story was an important one to share, that the world needed to know how Sudan was suffering and understood that their story was representative of not only the "Lost Boys" group, but refugees and immigrants more broadly. They have had a range of interesting travel and educational experiences with the film from Capitol Hill to Hollywood and everything in between. Through speaking engagements they have made some good personal contacts who have been generous helping them with their education. But both Peter and Santino are still working very long hours and struggling to put themselves through school. One way the film has benefited the "Lost Boys" group in general is that groups across the country have used the film for fundraisers and several thousand dollars has been raised for the IRC's National Lost Boys Education Fund, though much more is needed to make a real impact for the nearly 4,000 "Lost Boys and Girls" in the U.S. Click here for more information on the National Lost Boys Education Fund.
Why Didn't the Lost Boys Feel More Connection with African Americans?
There is not a simple answer to that question. There is a whole range of experience and opinion among the "Lost Boys" group. We saw that while we were filming and made sure that was honestly represented in the film. One of the things that came up consistently was the Sudanese youth's searching for what their identity in America would be. Including some of the critical and potentially hurtful statements some of the youth made about their impressions of African Americans was not something we took lightly, especially as white filmmakers. But our goal was to be faithful to the experience of the young men we were following. Unfortunately, the "Lost Boys" arrived with some of their own preconceived ideas about who we are as Americans. While we were in the camp, several of the young men we spoke with asked us if it was true that all black men in America were in jail. It was a sad realization for us of just how powerfully stereotypes travel. The "Lost Boys" we spent most of our time with in Houston had pretty insulated lives during their first year and were slow to make personal connections with native-born Americans. Without that personal connection ideas are slow to change. One of the happy things we've experienced with the film is how quickly the "Lost Boys" abandon their stereotypes when they are able to get to know people on a personal level. Many African Americans have commented to us at screenings that they feel like the black community has let these guys down, our take on that is that most people let newcomers down. In what can often be an alienating modern America, many of us don't take the time to greet our neighbors let alone get to know refugees.
Will They Go Back?
Officially, refugees can become permanent residents after a year and apply for citizenship after five years. Every "Lost Boy" has a different answer to the question of whether they'll go back to Sudan. Some say they will go back as soon as there is peace. Others say that they left Sudan so long ago and have no family to go back to. Most of the youth say that they will return, but not for good, the U.S. is their home now and they recognize that they have opportunities here that will enable them to support their family and their country.
Is What Is Happening in Darfur Related to the Lost Boys Story?
The government-sponsored militia attacks that destroyed the "Lost Boys" families and villages and forced them to flee Sudan is a near carbon copy of the firebombing, raping, and plunder of Darfur— today considered the world's worst current humanitarian crisis. Again government-backed Janjaweed militia are devastating villages. There are of course differences. While both populations are ethnically African, the people of the South are predominantly Christian and Animist while the people of Darfur are mainly Muslim. But the similarities are strong and again there is a whole generation of children enduring unimaginable horrors and losing their families and their childhoods to war.
What Can I Do to Help?
There are numerous ways to get involved. You can donate to the Lost Boys Education Fund to help support the youth's pursuit of education. You can volunteer to be a mentor to a newly arriving refugee. You can help build awareness and advocate for an end to the crisis in Darfur. Visit the Take Action page to learn more about effective steps you can take to make a difference.


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street sighting : urban nature
Here come more photos from my walks around Montpellier. I adore to spot little bits of urban nature, may it be a (so called, because for me there are none) weeds, growing vigorously through the sad pavements, or may it be in gardens that I discreetly have a peek to, through open gates ...
These, above, are the most recent, taken two days ago. Don't you love to see how people tend their gardens (or courtyards) ? Or is it just me LOL
Colors, shapes, textures, so much to be inspired by ... That's why I love to capture them quickly with my phone. Most of them get overlooked ... and that's a pity !
Wishing you a great day. Summer's here (boo !), after the rainiest month of May (yay !). Just to give you an idea, the temps just went from 17,5°C (63,5°F) at 9am to 22,3°C (72,1°F) at 10am (so in one hour only !) .... ugh. But for once, everything's green instead of being like straw already !


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Additional money for Disclosure Pilot Programs & Studies
President Obama included an addtional $250 million in his 2012 budget proposal for malpractice alternatives – and disclosure pilot programs will be considered for this grant money.
Last year, AHRQ handed out $25 million in grant dollars, and several disclosure pilot programs & studies were funded. Already, positive data and papers generated by this funding is being shared with the public.
Obviously, it's a long way to go before the 2012 budget will be finalized, but this is an encouraging sign.
– Doug


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|The Completed High Chair
Deja Vu all over again! One of the interesting side effects of writing this blog is that several of my posts have been read by people with a similar or, in this case, the exact piece of furniture. These customers then contact me, often with questions, or in some cases, to restore one just like the one that I did for another customer.
One of these reoccurring themes in my work was a high chair made in the style of furniture made by Lambert Hitchcock. These "Hitchcock High Chairs" were made in the 20th century (I am guessing around 1970). All of the examples I have worked on are maple with black paint on the majority of the chair. The crest rail is stenciled in the manner of Hitchcock chairs of the 19th century. I have yet to work on a white painted version, but they do exist.
I do not know if it was the 1970's incarnation of the Hitchcock Chair Company that made these chairs or if they were made by another company. I do know that in most cases, I can restore them and people from far and wide are contacting me to do so. So without further adieu, I bring you the third Hitchcock high chair to grace my shop.
I only got one photo of the chair as it came into the shop, and it was only a photo of the seat. The finish had peeled off of the unpainted portion of the seat and tray.
The process of restoration can be read in the links below to my earlier posts. The only thing we did differently was to finish the natural portions without staining them, which looked quite nice!
Hitchcock High Chair No.1:
Hitchcock High Chair No.2:
If anyone is looking for one of these chairs, I have one that I would love to sell. It needs a bit of work, but I can do that. Please feel free to email or call me at 703-727-5691 if you are interested!


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2018 Digital Health Panel: Is Digital Health at an Inflection Point?
A packed session in the Colonial Room at the J.P.Morgan Healthcare Conference heard a panel of scientists, investors and entrepreneurs moderated by Lloyd B.Minor M.D., Dean, Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Stanford University School of Medicine (we hope to add panel members' names later), discuss the emerging technology of digital health. The interest appeared much greater than in previous year maybe because IT, cellular capabilities and software has moved to a stage that makes advances more feasible for development. The healthcare system is exploding with information and data that must be integrated but the tools are slow to keep pace except in large hospital and medical group IT systems.
Members of the panel thought that maybe one reason a major product has not been introduced was because : a "physician inventor" type or retired "wealthy google type" did not have an interdisciplinary team with expanded capabilities to bring a product to market.
About $35B has been invested in early stage start-ups over the past 5 years but progress has been slow.
Here are some takeaways from the session:
- There is a need to bring all the sources of healthcare and disease information together to empower the consumer/patient.
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes should be the initial focus but all data sources such as epidemiology, test results and therapies cannot be easily integrated.
- The objective is to empower patients with new tools to bring commitment and engagement but not necessarily result in behavioral change which would be difficult.
- EHR (electronic health records) are becoming widely used but can be time-consuming and a tough task for primary care physicians. Primary care physicians are overloaded with admin tasks.But how do you get data out of the EHR for diseases analysis ?
- Interpretation of real-time test results from medical devices can be simplified and made more accurate with advanced software such as machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Applications mentioned were EKGs, diabetic retinopathy, and imaging data.
- Many other applications come to mind where "direct to consumer" testing and feedback can be executed and cardio-apps on a cellular device are already in development.
- An application that has been suggested from other sources is for "wellness" that could focus consumers on individual health issues.
Panelists: Sundeep Bhan
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Prognos
Jessica L. Mega, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer, Verily Life Sciences
Hemant Taneja
Managing Director, General Catalyst
Glen Tullman
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Livongo


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I have sold a property at 217 6888 SOUTHPOINT DR in Burnaby.
Beautiful, modern and elegant 1 bedroom condo in a sought-after Cortina, well-built low-rise complex located in one of South Burnaby's best master-planned communities. This south-east facing unit is filled with abundance of natural light and features gourmet kitchen with gas stove, luxury granite countertops with a breakfast bar, stainless steel appliances; open-concept floor plan boasting dining room, spacious living room with a cozy fireplace, master bedroom with designer paint accent wall and cheater ensuite. Charming and spacious balcony offers enough room to relax in a chair and to enjoy your very own outdoor garden. Tastefully updated with laminate flooring and designer paint, this condo also features insuite laundry and comes with a secure parking stall and a large storage locker. This newer, meticulously maintained complex is in excellent condition. Fantastic, very central location in a quiet neighbourhood, surrounded by parks and urban trails, yet within just a few minutes' walk to Edmonds Skytrain station, Highgate shopping mall and a short drive to Metrotown Shopping Centre. High-rated Taylor Park Elementary school, Kim's Mart Asian Grocery Store, daycare and children's playground are all within 2 min walk. Byrne Creek Secondary is 3 blocks away. Easy access to highways, and just 22 min to Downtown Vancouver by Skytrain. You will love living here, call today to view!


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What can I immediately do to help make my family healthier?
This is an excellent question and one I hear a lot. Every parent wants a healthy child.
So today I'm going to talk about three major red flags ingredients that you should get out of your kitchen immediately. You can find these in the ingredient label on most package items. I can't stress enough the importance of reading food labels. If you want to learn more on how to read an ingredients label, check this out.
Top 3 Red Flag Ingredients To Get Out Of Your Family's Diet
What are red flag ingredients? Red flag ingredients are a warning of very poor quality food. If you see this ingredient on a label, I guarantee you the food is processed junk. So, if one of these three ingredients are anywhere on the label, put it back on the shelf. You and your little one should never eat this food.
1.) High Fructose Corn Syrup - HFCS
Why? In America, we are consuming huge doses of sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup. The manufacturers love it because it's sweeter and cheaper than regular sugar. And you can bet that HFCS is in about every processed food and sugar-sweetened drink.
"As part of the chemical process used to make high fructose corn syrup, the glucose and fructose — which are naturally bound together — become separated. This allows the fructose to mainline directly into your liver, which turns on a factory of fat production in your liver called lipogenesis. This leads to fatty liver, the most common disease in America today, affecting 90 million Americans. This, in turn, leads to diabesity — pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes." - Mark Hyman M.D.
Some researchers believe that HFCS increases blood fats (triglycerides) more than the same amount of table sugar.
What's alarming is that the chemicals used to manufactor the HFCS ends up in our food. It's been discovered that HFCS contains contaminates like mercury. YIKES! And the FDA does not regulate how much contaminates may or may not be in HFCS.
I'll never forget when I was traveling to South Africa one year and I sat next to the scientist who discovered that HFCS shuts down the mechanism in your brain for up to 5 hours that tells you that you're full. So you end up consuming more food then you need. I was in total shock. Believe me… that was the day I started reading labels for HFCS and avoiding it.
For natural sweetness, I prefer to stick with grade B maple syrup, medjool dates, fruit, black strap molasses or raw honey.
2.) Hydrogenated oils (Trans Fat) or what I like to call ... FAKE FAT
Why? First of all the human brain is the fattest organ in the body and consists of about 60 percent fat. Believe me… you don't want a brain, nervous system or the cells in your body made from fake fats. Your body needs healthy fats to function properly.
Hydrogenated oil is a red flag ingredient because it is a man-made (synthetic) fat. Hydrogenated oil (Trans Fat) is labeled as shortening or partially hydrogenated, or hydrogenated mono- and diglycerides, or DATEM. These are mainly found in processed foods. Consider these the BAD FATS!
Here's what my favorite pediatrician, Dr Sears has to say about Trans Fats…
" Here's a summary of what literature has said about the problems of hydrogenated fats and trans fats:
- Hydrogenated fats act biochemically in the body like saturated fats.
- Trans fats can elevate blood cholesterol levels, similar to the cholesterol-raising effects of saturated fats.
- Trans fats raise the levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol.
- Trans fats reduce levels of HDL cholesterol, the good cholesterol. Raising the bad cholesterol and lowering the good cholesterol in the blood spells double trouble.
- Trans fats have been shown to decrease the body's ability to produce natural anti- inflammatory prostaglandins.
- Eating a diet high in nutritionally worthless hydrogenated fats may lessen a person's daily intake of other fats, especially essential fatty acids that are important for growth and function of vital organs, such as the brain. This is a concern especially in children and frequent fast food consumers whose daily diet is high in processed and deep fat-fried foods and snacks.
- Trans fatty acids may be linked to other health problems as well, including decreased testosterone, abnormal sperm production, and prostate disease in men; obesity, immune system depression, and diabetes.
- Trans fats or hydrogenated fats may interfere with the ability of the cells of the body to metabolize the fats that are good for you. This may damage cell membranes of vital structures, such as the brain and nerve cells."
In a nutshell… hydrogenated oil – trans fats clog up your system. So stay away from it.
FYI – do not trust the "No Trans Fat" label on the front of your favorite foods. This can be very misleading. Remember, the truth lies in the ingredients label. These nasty oils are probably right there in fine print.
Some examples of healthy fats – first cold pressed olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, butter from grass fed – pastured cows, grass fed beef, ghee, wild caught Alaskan salmon and raw nuts and seeds.
3.) Food Dyes
Why? Artificial colors are made from a petroleum by-product that alters colors of food to make it more visually appealing.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, certain behavioral issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity (ADHD) have been officially linked to consumption of food dyes. They have also been linked to insomnia and learning disabilities in children.
Did you know that over the last 50 years the use of chemical food dyes has increased by 500%! Bright colors are often added to kid's foods so it will make the macaroni and cheese look cheesier and the juice drink look yummier. It's in adult food too. Can you believe it's even in toothpaste and medicine! Crazy right!
Always look at the ingredients label. If it says dye # ___ (for example Red Dye # 40), put the product down and choose a better one.
To learn more about food dyes, checkout my blog post, Could This Be the Reason for Your Child's Bad Behavior or Learning Disability?
For natural dyes – Check out this brand… India Tree Natural Decorating Colors: Food coloring, Individual Colored Sprinkles, Rainbow Sprinkles, Round Rainbow Sprinkles
Check this out!
Check out my 3 year old Happy Meal.
Yes... It sat on my shelf for 5 years total. Processed food at it finest!
Below are the ingredients to a Mc Donald's Hamburger. Let's check out if there is anything suspicious...... Yep! I have made it easy for you to spot.
- Red = Red Flag ingredients.
- Yellow = other ingredients to avoid because it's made from a GMO source or fed GMO corn, a not so good for you preservative or is suspect like "natural flavors".
* This isn't including the soda or the french fries.
So now you can see why it's so important to read food labels!
Fun game time
This is a great game to play with your child. Explain to them the 3 bad ingredients you're looking for. You will be going through your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator. Read the ingredients labels on all your packaged foods and look for:
1.) High fructose corn syrup or fructose or corn syrup.
2.) Hydrogenated oil, partially hydrogenated oil, or shortening.
3.) Any ingredient that has a #, like red dye #40.
If you find one or all of those ingredients... get rid of them. You can donate them as long as the package isn't opened.
Congratulations – you just got rid of very poor quality food. And made you and your family healthier.


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So many things hold bloggers bound, and prevent them from making success.
Some of these obstacles aren't as visible as you may think, but life sure has its friction. You've got to work hard, concentrate on the core things that matters to you and be ready to fight.
As a full time blogger, I discovered 5 fears that stops bloggers. Fear is one of the reasons why people give up, when success seems to delay. In fact, at one point in your life, fear must have gotten a hold of you, and denied you of the multiple benefits of starting your online business.
According to Patric Chan, an internet business coach and speaker, he defined FEAR as:
- F = False
- E = Evidence
- A = Appearing
- R = Real
That means, Fear isn't a big factor and an obstacle to achieving success. It's a false evidence, that appers real. It means that Fear doesn't really exist, we actually fashioned it in our minds, it's abstract and can only be felt.
But you can be free from Fear, knowing it does not exist.
Having said that, here are 5 fears that keeps most bloggers from making money. As you read along, be open minded, answers are provided within the lines. Enjoy it.!
1. Fear Of Criticism
Are you afraid of being criticised? This happens when you don't trust you innate potentials to deliver on what you promise. But be rest assured, criticism will definitely come. No matter the excellence at which you deliver your blog posts, some readers aren't going to embrace it.
There are difficult people in the blogosphere. If the fear of criticism is keeping you bound, I suggest you sit down and write your priorities down and make it clear.
This way, you would be able to work according to plan. Each week, determine how many blog posts you would write, the topic you should dwell on and the exact readers to target. Don't write for everyone, you'll surely fail – look for a specific group of people in your niche and write for them.
2. Fear Of Leadership
The Fear of leadership is what keeps bloggers from making decisions. We all know that leaders are decision makers, they influence every project and ensure the end result is pleasant. As a blogger, you are the CEO of your blogging company.
People who have the Fear of Leadership, always give excuses why they are not moving ahead. Have you been complaining lately? If you've, you need to check it thoroughly, it seems you're running away from responsibilities.
It's time you encourage yourself, knowing you can make it. No one is going to promote your blog for you, but you. Stand as a leader and take the right steps no matter what others think.
3. Fear Of Not Making Money
This sounds rather funny but it's the truth. The fear of not making money right now, could be the reason why most bloggers give up. When I started marketing online, off course, I was advised to start promoting affiliate products, I never made any single dime. I could recall the first day, when I saw a $23.53 commission in my merchant account, it was like a million dollar lottery.
You don't have to be afraid of what others would say, when you fail to make money. Some internet marketers actually ignored their parent's advice, of securing a safe and high paying job, for internet marketing. Their thoughts are: What would happen if I fail to make money? Will my parents still accept me back?
You may not understand what this fear could lead to. So, stop being afraid of tomorrow, whether you'll make money or not. Off course, if you are doing the right thing, you would definitely make money. But if you're on the wrong track, make a turn around right now and head on to the best route.
4. Fear Of Financial Security
Have you been thinking if blogging is going to secure your life?
Can you really get financial security by merely blogging? To answer these questions, let's consider what financial security is.
To be financially secured, means you don't lack money. You've the money you need to pay your bills, for as long as you retire. If you ask 10 people what financial security means, they would all give 10 different answers. So, it's not in the amount of money you earn, but how much of it you keep and invest.
Having cleared that, the fear of attaining freedom financially can be a hindering factor to blogging success. But that shouldn't scare you. I know several bloggers who are making 6-figures from a single blog. One of such person is shoemoney.com. It takes time to get a blog off the ground, but whe you do that, it floats like a life-bouy.
Annihilate the fear of financial security, look towards the sky and invest whatever income you earn today. Seek the advice of an investment expert. Learn investment and multiply your portfolio. Success is sure.
5. Fear Of Pleasing Google
Everyone wants to please Google these days. If you ask me, I think it's the surest way to fail as a blogger. Google is powerful and a proper web page optimization can land us on the first page, driving free organic and targeted traffic easily.
But when you focus all your blogging activities to please Google, you are bound to fail. Why? It's because, Google as a company has a mandate to deliver quality and relevant searches to her users. As an upcoming blogger, you can't possibly outrank authority blogs in your niche.
Whatever your niche maybe, gardening, real estate, web hosting etc, you could get traffic from other sources. While growing my review blog that features sitter city coupons and 6pm discount promos, I made proper use of social media like Twitter and that has brought me much success.
What happens when Google decides to shut down her search engine?
Will your business and blog still be found by targeted prospects? If your sole traffic generator is organic searches, I suggest you diversify into social media like stumbleupon.com.
Don't let these unrealistic Fears hold you down. You've all it takes to make success in life, business and career. Be yourself, explore your creative ability and soar to the sky.


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The city has delayed plans to move some 500 foster children from institutions to family settings after foster care agencies complained that the moves were poorly planned and rushed, according to foster care agencies, children's law guardians, and the city's Administration for Children's Services (ACS). In the past two years, some children were sent to relatives who couldn't care for them, some were sent from one institution to another, and still others were discharged from care to live on their own before they were ready, foster care providers say. In addition, some children were sent to foster parents who had not yet been trained, the providers say and the city acknowledges.
"Some moves happened very quickly. Speed became important as opposed to accuracy," says Irwin Moss, director of social work at Leake and Watts' residential campus, which was the campus from which about 130 children moved over the last 18 months. "Some [kids] went to situations that weren't the best. Many went to independent living before they were ready." One young woman, Brandy Allen, 19, told Child Welfare Watch she was sent from Leake and Watts' campus to a group home while ACS was authorizing another home for her to live in. The group home did not have a bed for her to sleep on, Allen says. Instead of sleeping on a couch, she went to a friend's house, she says.
The Administration for Children's Services acknowledges there have been problems in the city's plan to move 1,000 children from institutions in the 21-month period that ended June 2009. ACS Deputy Commissioner Lorraine Stephens says about 500 children were moved by the end of June, but the agency delayed the timeline for moving the remaining 500 children after it received complaints from foster care providers. ACS now hopes to reach its goal by June 2010, a year later than anticipated, Stephens says. She says ACS is working more closely with foster care agencies and children's law guardians to make plans for which children will move and where. "I think how we included providers in the discussion has changed," she says.
The plan to move children out of institutions, including residential treatment centers and group homes, is part of a wider effort by the city to keep more children in family settings. A growing body of research suggests young people fare better living in families than in group care. Of the over 16,400 kids in foster care, about 2,100 now live in institutions. That's a reduction of 2,200 children in institutional care since 2003, when more than 4,300 New York City foster children lived in group care.
While almost all child welfare practitioners agree with efforts to keep children out of group care whenever possible, some say the plan was driven by ACS's desire to reduce the number of institutional foster care beds rather than by the individual needs of children.
Only six of 16 children who were moved from Green Chimneys, a foster care provider in Brewster, N.Y., found stable family placements, says Debbie MacCarry, compliance and risk manager for the agency. Two ended up in psychiatric hospitals. Two others went home, but ended up back at Green Chimney's campus after that did not work out, and eventually moved to another group living situation, she says. Many of the children had serious mental health issues.
Moving children to homes that are tenuous sets them up for the trauma that results from a failed placement, she says. "Failing for them is re-traumatizing them, sometimes causing a subsequent hospitalization," says MacCarry. Lawyers representing children in foster care say more recent moves have been less chaotic. "They aren't closing placements with the same kind of blind urgency that seemed to drive the process when it first started," says Betsy Kramer, director of policy and special litigation at Lawyers for Children.
"They also seem to be concentrating on replacing smaller numbers of children at a time, which is a huge improvement on the massive wave of bed reductions that happened in the beginning, this smaller scale makes it much easier to really focus on the young people, what their options are, and where they should go. The process has not been without problems, but it has definitely improved."


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A cozy den and roaming space for every tiger.
And that's just the beginning of our goal. In addition to the basics of food and shelter, we have grand plans for further enrichment for our animal community - pools, toys, and so on. Our goal is that every tiger looking at our brochure will want to move into our facility during their golden years... right before they eat the brochure.
You can help us in our mission via multiple methods, be it spending Amazon's money every time you purchase on amazon.com (please, spend Amazon's money!), signing up for a generous donation, or providing long-term support for our animals with recurring donations.
To give you an idea of our costs:
- $10 - feeds one tiger for one day
- $60 - feeds one tiger for one week
- $120 - provides vitamin supplements for five tigers for one month
- $250 - provides trash service and composting supplies for our facility for one month
- $500 - provides materials to build one wooden deck for one tiger enclosure
- $1,000 - provides materials to build one concrete den box for a tiger that will stand the test of time
Simply go to smile.amazon.com and sign up! The link previous should get you started with Wildlife Companions. If for some reason that doesn't work, just navigate to https://smile.amazon.com. Your first time it will ask you to choose a charity, simply enter "Wildlife Companions" in the search bar and submit. If you find Wildlife Companions listed in Suisun City, CA, that's us! Now every time you purchase through smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates 0.5% of the value of the purchase price of your order to us, and it costs you nothing. Feel good and help a tiger for no cost to you!
One-Time Donation
Clicking the button below will take you to Paypal's site, where you can make a one-time donation to Wildlife Companions. Thank you for helping our animals!
Recurring Donations
Recurring donations really help us provide ongoing care for our animals. Any amount helps - please accept our heartfelt thanks for your contribution.
Make your donation safely and easily with Paypal!
Clicking the button below will take you to a page where you to donate to Wildlife Companions via Stripe.
Wildlife Companions is a 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation. Receipts will be issued to your shipping address for contributions of $250 or more as per IRS code. We encourage you to please consult your tax advisor for more information on the deductibility of your donation.


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HIMSS' Trump presidency predictions: No complete ACA repeal, telehealth, cybersecurity
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but also to keep some of its most popular components. So it's still to be seen just how his campaign promises will play out, said Samantha Burch, senior director of Congressional Affairs at HIMSS, during a call discussing health policy impact of the 2016 election.
Given that the election took a lot of people by surprise, with many presuming that Hillary Clinton would win, there are a lot of unknowns and much still to be determined, Burch explained.
The repeal of the ACA, of course, is something "the new president will want to put into place in the beginning," said Tom Leary, vice president of government relations at HIMSS.
"However, it would take one to two years to fully implement," he said.
"Republicans don't want to pull the rug out from 20 million Americans who have purchased insurance," Leary added. "Time will be needed to hear comments from the public."
[Commentary: Trump must respect the value of health IT as U.S. President]
While Trump told 60 Minutes that he'd be interested in retaining a few pieces of the ACA items, such as pre-existing conditions, he has made it clear that he wants to shift to tax credits and expand health savings accounts.
But Leary said the interest in full repeal from Republican Congress members remains high.
All is not doom-and-gloom, however, Burch predicted – especially with regard to health IT.
Technology will have "plenty of airtime in Congress," as technology is seen as an enabler for advancing value, she said. Further, the new White House administration will have a heightened awareness on interoperability.
Cybersecurity and infrastructure, along with an expansion of telehealth should also be part of Trump's agenda, Leary explained.
As healthcare moves from volume to value-based care, HIMSS does not expect that vision to change course under Trump, he said. The new administration is expected to embrace health IT innovations to support better care delivery models.
"We anticipate that he will be pushing for more telehealth inclusions," Leary said. "Telehealth is a real opportunity for both jobs and efficiency in care delivery."
Along the same lines, Leary said, "health IT could be major piece of Trump economic stimulus agenda."
There's also a strong indication precision medicine will remain a front priority issue, Leary said. While the program may be called something else, making data more readily accessible for precise clinical diagnoses will remain in the forefront.
Twitter: @JessieFDavis
Email the writer: email@example.com


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Midtown Scholar Bookstore presents a musical performance from John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall!
John Terlazzo & Voices in the Hall sing Original Songs evocative of Arthur Rimbaud, William Blake, the Surrealists and the Beat Poets. Often compared to Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison & Bruce Cockburn, this trio's music has been described as "Modern Surrealist Gypsy Folk Rock", "Marc Chagall gone aural", "Leonard Cohen meets Rumi" and (their most recent favorite) "Too exotic for WalMart" (!!!)


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About Us
What we do
Established over 200 years ago, De La Rue work with governments, central banks and commercial organisations around the globe in three core areas:
Cash Supply Chain, producing banknotes; Citizen Identity including passports and identity management; and Product Authentication protecting brands and fighting counterfeiting.
Our Mission
To provide governments and commercial organisations with products and services that underpin the integrity of trade, personal identity and the movement of goods.
Operating in the fundamental areas of cash supply chain, citizen identity and product authentication needs, De La Rue applies vital values to the way in which we do business and the impact this has on our customers.
Our Purpose
"To enable every citizen to participate securely in the global economy"
We support customers around the world in managing every part of the cash supply chain. De La Rue design, integrate, manufacture and deliver banknotes, banknote paper, polymer and security features to ensure currencies are secured against the threat of counterfeit and fraud.
Our integrated banknote solutions provide governments, central banks and state manufacturing with control over the production, circulation, management and destruction of banknotes, and an in-depth understanding of how cash moves around their economy.
Case study
Bank of England banknotes case study
De La Rue works as the Bank of England's strategic partner through every stage of the production chain - from design to integration of security components through to the printing of the final high specification notes. Our new-design fiver upholds the heritage and global standing of the British currency and ensures inherent security. The result is a next-generation technical solution produced on polymer.
De La Rue create high quality passports and identity solutions for our customers all over the world, allowing citizens to belong to and participate in society. We offer an award-winning design service and a wide range of security features.
In addition to providing the physical product, we have created a bespoke, single and complete identity management data and insight solution.
Case study
Rwanda eID
eGovernment identity solutions play a vital part in helping states to create a better future and more effective service delivery for their citizens. De La Rue is working with the government of Rwanda to create and implement a multi-functional smart eID card, providing Rwandans with a trusted and secure system for proving their identity and getting access to government services.
We create and deliver bespoke authentication and traceability solutions used in a wide variety of government and commercial applications. From secure physical identifiers in the form of tax stamps and product authentication labels to digital software solutions, De La Rue is helping to protect against counterfeit and illicit trade, securing revenue and safeguarding reputation.
Case study
Microsoft Ceritificate of Authenticity case study
Proving the legitimacy of products is a key challenge for businesses faced with ever more sophisticated counterfeiting operations. De La Rue works with Microsoft to ensure customers get the genuine product through the creation of secure label designs combining attractive visuals with state-of-the-art security features. Once a label is in circulation, we support Microsoft in tracking it around the world - helping maintain product integrity.
Our Business
Our customers are governments, central banks, businesses and state print works. Here's how we create value for them - and for our shareholders.
We offer cutting-edge technology and products, and best-in-class design. And to make sure you keep on benefitting from our innovation, we're committed to investing in research and development.
We combine operational expertise, world-class manufacturing and our secure logistics network to give you high-quality, cost-efficient products and a service you know you can rely on.
By continuing to innovate and deliver, we enjoy steady growth which means we can develop and extend the services we offer to new and existing customers.


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Subscribe To Parker Posey To Guest Star In New Girl Season 2 Premiere Updates
I've already subscribed
Hot off her brief but fantastic guest spot in two back-to-back episodes of this season's Louie, Parker Posey doesn't appear to be done with the small screen yet. Word is, she's set to guest star in another series, this time on network television. The question is, will she force any of the men in this show into a dress?
TVLine is reporting that Posey (Dazed and Confused) is set to take over the guest role originally set to be played by Leslie Mann in New Girl's upcoming second season premiere, which will air on September 25. Schmidt's penis cast is coming off, which is obviously cause for celebration. Posey will be playing a "shot girl" at the party.
The part was originally set to be played by Knocked Up's Leslie Mann, but apparently, she had to bow out due to a scheduling conflict. As disappointing as it is that we won't see Mann in the role, Posey is a great choice, as she's proven to add her own kind of quirkiness to roles, and New Girl is certainly nothing if not brimming with quirk. It should be interesting to see what she does with the part.
In addition to playing the role of book store worker Liz in the two-part Louie episode "Daddy's Girlfriend, Posey's recent credits include a few episodes of The Good Wife and Showtime's The Big C. She also appeared in an episode of Parks and Recreation last year. So, while things might not have worked out for The REturn of Jezebel James, in which she starred, she seems to be doing well for herself in guest spots.


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July 17 Book Marketing Matters Newsletter
Discounted display opportunities with July deadlines. Also in this issue you will also discover more tips from the top book-marketing experts (Brian Jud, John Kremer, Guy Achtzehn and more) as well as legal advice, information to help you create a good cover design and run your publishing business. Find proven ways for performing on TV and radio show, all this and more from the top people in their fields in the publishing business.
Volume 16, Issue 15 July 17 2017.pdf
Volume 16, Issue 15 July 17 2017.pdf


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Autoswitching Voltage Converter | 50 - 2000 Watts
Autoswitching Voltage Converter | 50 - 2000 Watts
Autoswitching 50 to 2000 Watt Voltage Converter enables your non-electronic heating appliances rated between 50 and 2000 watts to run on foreign electricity systems that have 220-260 volts. (In the USA we run on a lower voltage system of 110-130 volts).
If you are traveling overseas with a device that is not dual voltage then you will need a voltage converter or transformer.
Autoswitching Voltage Converter Model VCAB
The VCAB combines a 50 watt transformer and a 2000 watt solid state converter into one unit. Automatic load sensing allows use with 110-120 volt electronic and motorized appliances that require 50 watts or less and with NON-ELECTRONIC heating appliances.
Auto-switching Converter Features:
- Automatic load sensing
- Electronic 50 Watts Max
- Non-electronic 2000 Watts Max
- Weight: 1 lb.
- Dimensions: 3 3/4"H x 2 1/2"W x 2 1/4"D
- Input: 220-240VAC 50 Hz
- Output: 110-120VAC 50 Hz
- Model VCAB
Use with electronic and motorized devices such as:
- Battery Chargers
- Camcorders
- CD/MP3 Players
- Cell Phones
- Contact Lens Disinfectors
- Digital Cameras
- Electric Shavers
- Oral Hygiene Devices
- Radios
- Sound Machines
Use ONLY with NON-ELECTRONIC heating appliances* such as:
- Beverage Heaters
- Clothes Steamers
- Coffee Makers
- Electric Blankets
- Food/Bottle Warmers
- Hair Dryers
- Hair Roller Sets
- Heating Pads
- Hot Plates
- Incandescent Lamps
- Irons
Overload Protection
If an overload condition occurs your converter will automatically shut off, protecting the converter and your appliance. To restart, simply unplug the converter and allow to cool, then plug back in. There are no fuses to replace.
* Do not use Model VCAB with electronically controlled heating appliances including: Coffee Makers, Irons, Electric Blankets, Hair Straighteners, etc., that use digital timing/temperature control circuits or have Auto Start or Auto Shut-off features.
**IMPORTANT: An additional European adaptor plug, type "B"(PBC-1), is required to fit recessed sockets found in most countries in Continental Europe.
NOTE: The model VCAB is not designed for continuous use and should be removed from the electrical outlet when not in use.
About Dual Voltage
When traveling with appliances it is important to know whether your appliance is dual voltage. If it is not dual voltage you will need either a converter or a transformer when traveling.
This video show you how to check to make sure your appliance is dual voltage.
Typically cell phones, cameras, tablets and laptops are dual voltage and do not need a converter.
Usually hair dryers, curling irons, battery chargers, hair straighteners, electronic razors and electronic toothbrushes not dual voltage. These appliances will need either a converter or a transformer. It is important to check the label for each of your appliances that you will be traveling with.
The United States runs on about 120 volts electricity while many other countries run on 220 volts electricity or higher. Without a converter or transformer you can burn out your appliance.
Recessed European Outlets
IMPORTANT: If you are using a voltage converter and are traveling in a country that uses recessed electrical outlets you will need to carry a Continental Europe Non Grounded two round pin plug, even if the converter has these round pins built in.
Learn More About Dual Voltage Appliances by reading Going In Style's Blog


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Branson Web Execs – Inexpensive design involving one on one session within the Southwest Missouri and premium web site design companies worldwide. Whether it is an ecommerce system, portfolio, wordpress, informational web site design, or SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING internet design, our agency has you lined. Though net design has a reasonably recent history, it can be linked to different areas similar to graphic design.
If you are freelancing by yourself, it is not the identical as working as an internet designer for an organization. Now that we've covered the basics, let's summarize the key variations between an online host and an online writer. This will assist you further refine your web site layout, navigation, and design to higher meet the wants of your audience. Do not do the factor where you write a website online without spending a dime just so you can begin a portfolio. Thus, it's useful for Google to launch a Bootstrap or a nicely-assisted CSS framework for the fabric design. Or perhaps, you like a enterprise card that has the data and emblem design laid out vertically.
With our crew of onshore technical support, net design and net growth, we're capable of provide a top quality service that's 100{12a5656e2d9fa36a39e7f6fc88cfd2f9356ffb7b34e6c47a431db74196481df4} owned and operated in Australia. One of my targets is to be able to write content material and do internet pages – probably specializing in real property, since I'm a licensed Florida agent. Restrict Your Coloration Scheme: To simplify your internet design, it's best to give a while to yourself and select a coloration that matches your objective and look interesting, which are a magnet for your buyer rather than distracting them. Based in 2004, EFUSION TECHNOLOGY is a number one Singapore company in providing in-house web design companies, eCommerce website improvement, content management programs (CMS), and EDM. You will have the skills to create a web site your self but for many utilizing an expert internet design company is a useful possibility.
That being said, it is best to perceive that the above talked about net design mistakes can stop you and your customers from reaching the goals you've gotten set. For those who're new to web design – go ahead and check out our fundamentals section where our experienced pros put together a whole lot of articles and step-by-step tutorials filled with sensible data. Graphic design companies may be like their work – extra creative in their strategy to all issues, including recruitment). It appears they've gone backwards once more and identical to utilizing FrontPage required FrontPage extensions to be installed, VS for web design requires asp. If the company has been in existence for some time they should be capable of present some references.


text: Hey, there is a very cool show happening August 31, 2015 in LA, that our pal and BEHAVIOR OF BROADUS co-director and choreographer, Ken Roht, created with our pal and BROADUS musical director John Ballinger! And it has lots of BROADUS cast members in it too. And it's lots of fun. Treat yourself to some entertainment and help the show get to New York. Go to Orphean Circus for info and tix.


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Welcome to Design Therapy Inc (formerly known as Rattan Plus Home & Patio).
We have been family owned & operated in the Comox Valley for 35 years. We specialize in indoor & outdoor patio furniture. With several catalogues and custom order options including reclaimed wood furniture, patio furniture, bedding, rugs, clocks, accessories & unique home decor, we are your one stop shop for all your decorating needs.
As local business owners, we work hard to carry as many local products as possible including those hand crafted in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC) and North America. We offer custom ordering options, over 1000 bedding combinations and a variety of eco-friendly products including bamboo bedding.
Our customers come from Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Campbell River, Parksville, Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton & beyond. We love that people will travel all this way to find unique gift and home decor items for their space.
Todd & Jenny LOVE being small business owners as it allows them to offer services not available at the big box stores such as custom ordering & complimentary furniture delivery. With over 150 fabric choices on selected furniture and several catalogues to custom order from, our 5000 sq ft showroom has something for everyone. Walk into our bright, stylish and friendly furniture showroom and discover the beauty of your new home.
"I love this store! It was the first store I went to after moving here and I where I felt so welcomed into the Comox Valley. The owners (Todd and Jenny Deters) took the time to get to know us and to tell us about so many great things in our new community. They are always happy to see us whether it's in their store or somewhere around town. I look forward to visiting the store because it has the "small town" feel and service with all of the items you would expect to find in the big city…and they have amazing, personable staff who never pressure you. They carry beautiful products in every price range and they promote local artisans and crafters. Some of my most favourite pieces in our home have been found in their store. They promote our community and they "walk the walk" by working hard, volunteering and getting involved in the community in many, many different ways. They have inspired us to also get involved and to explore everything there is to offer in the Comox Valley. And for all of these reasons this store continues to be a "must stop" for the frequent visitors we have. Do yourself a favour and stop in! ❤" ~ Patty


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Last week, the big news was that the Obama administration had unveiled a new Environmental Protection Agency regulation to cut carbon emissions from United States power plants 30 percent by 2030.
But E.P.A. legislation aside, it has already been a banner year for climate news. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report confirmed once again that human-caused global warming is proceeding rapidly. Last month, scientists reported the irreversible disintegration of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and, closer to home, the National Climate Assessment asserted that the United States is already falling victim to severe, global warming-related droughts.
In light of this, a new series from The New York Times called The Big Fix will examine potential solutions to climate change. In the first installment, Justin Gillis examines a worldwide experiment that may create economic incentives for companies to invest in emission-control projects. One such project takes Wisconsin dairy cows and extracts power from their excrement, which is paid for by California. See how that works in this slideshow.
For latecomers to the global warming discussion, a new digital Flipboard called Temperature Rising showcases some of the Times's best climate coverage to date. Once you're all caught up, the Opinion section's DotEarth blog offers continuous, breaking climate news and occasional analyses — did you know, for example, that Americans take the term "global warming" far more seriously than "climate change"?
For a big-picture policy perspective, delivered in less than 2 minutes, the Times Minute crew offers "The Politics of Obama's Climate Move." And for a more personal climate story, watch Vanishing Island, a video profile of one small Louisiana town that is already preparing for rising sea levels.
On Twitter, @TheCaucus recently featured an open forum with the Times energy and environmental policy reporter Coral Davenport, who fielded questions about the new E.P.A. regulations. Join in on the broader climate discussion by tweeting @NYTimes and @NYTimesScience.