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by Mike Williamson
(Mansfield, TX, USA)
Best slow smoked brisket in North Texas. We also have the best Pulled Pork, Smoked Turkey Legs, Cheeseburgers, Chicken Tenders, Tex Mex Dishes, and Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich. We cater and have a full line of concession items from breakfast to dinner and everything in between. Call me at 817-917-4648 or visit us on the web at www.1chuckwagoncafe.com.
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Why have pet bad breath and teeth?
It could be your pets teeth. Tooth and gum problems are the most common medical condition in pets and can be the cause of many other health problems if untreated.
What causes bad breath in pets? What are some causes of pet bad breath and teeth?
The most common cause of bad breath in pets is tartar buildup surrounding the teeth.Small particles of food remain in the mouth after eating. These particles decompose creating conditions where oral bacteria thrive. The bacteria grow to form plaque - a combination of bacteria, mineral and decomposed food. It is the plaque and associated oral infections that give the pets breath the unpleasant odor.Plaque also clings to the base of teeth causing the gums to become inflamed and recede. Inflamed gums leak blood serum that combines with and increases the amount of plaque. This plaque or calculus is visible as a hard yellowish coating on the outer base of the teeth.Pets with this condition rarely eat less.
Early in the disease, the plaque is no more than a thin brown or yellow coating on the sides of the teeth. It is most noticeable on the outer surface of the larger molar teeth. In severe cases the margins where teeth and gums meet become highly inflamed and bleed when they are touched.
The problem of pet bad breath are most severe in toy and smaller breed dogs and in purebred cats. Maltese have the highest rate of tooth and gum disease of all breeds.
This buildup of calculus causes the gum margins to recede past the tooth enamel exposing the softer material that covers the tooth roots. Dentine is much more porous and rougher than enamel and holds infection in place. Once dentine is exposed periodic tooth care must be done more frequently and the teeth are eventually lost. For this reason, tooth care and good dental hygiene needs to begin early.
Other causes of bad breath in dogs and many other pets
Young pets that are in the process of loosing their baby teeth often drool and have "pet bad breath". Sometimes this is accompanied by fever. Brushing the pets' mouth with diluted baking soda solution gives them relief and minimizes the odor.
In older pets, disease of the kidneys and liver often affect the mouth. These pets are often thin and frail. When it is suspected that a pet with bad breath has major organ failure, a diagnostic liver enzyme levels as well as blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, and kidney function should be checked.
Pets with organ damage require extra special care when tending to their teeth. Anesthesia during a dental must be administered lightly and with special care. Often I place these pets on antibiotics after I clean their teeth as well as on special diets engineered to help failing organs.
When young cats have strong breath odor and dental disease, they are screened for feline leukemia as well as feline immunodifficiency disease (feline aids). If they are negative for these diseases, they often have resorptive dental disease in which deep cavities form in many teeth simultaneously for no apparent reason. In resorptive dental disease, the roots of the canine teeth are often exposed. Often incisor teeth in these cats drop out for no apparent reason. It is unclear if these cats are born with soft susceptible teeth or if another undescribed form of dental disease is present. Cleaning the teeth of cats with resorptive dental disease is not very effective. Eventually, these teeth need to be extracted. When this is done these cats go on to lead happy and healthy lives.
Problems associated with tooth and gum disease
Just as kidney and liver disease can lead to dental disease; dental disease can lead to disease of the kidney and liver.
Tartar accumulation around the teeth allows harmful bacteria to grow. These bacteria occasionally break loose and enter the pets circulation system. Once in the blood stream, they lodge in crevices with the kidneys and liver and on the valves of the heart. Liver inflammation as well as scarred, poorly functioning kidneys are the result of bacteria lodging in these organs. When the heart valves are attacked by bacteria they shrink and scar, causing blood to flow in the wrong direction. This is why it is common for dogs and cats with severe dental disease to have heart murmurs. It is not unusual for these murmurs to go away once the pets dental problems are treated.
Dogs and cats with chronic dental problems often drool. This wetness and the infection associated with tooth infections may cause the lips and the skin folds surrounding the lips to become inflamed. Once the teeth are cleaned these problems go away.
Treatment of Bad Breath in Dogs and Other Pets

subset: commoncrawl


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We will start our excursion by paying a visit to Maria's traditional Wood Oven Bakery. There we can have a nice breakfast and taste all the delicious products she bakes. And yes… some raki is always in order.
• Secondly, we will visit Axos village where a resident, Mr. George, makes spectacular huge wooden sculptures by using departed tree pieces from all over the island. It is remarkable that one will be able to see here a three-meter sculpture of Hercules killing Nemea. The artist is inspired by the history and the traditions of our island. After all, art was always very significant to Cretan history.
• Our next stop will be an antiquated monastery, St. George of Discouri so as to embrace our religious customs. It is considered one of the oldest monasteries of Crete. The abbey of Dioscouri reminds us a small fortress as it was built at the last period of the Venetian domination; at that time an invasion of the Turkish army was likely to happen and the Venetians were building fortresses all around the island. At the monastery besides the central temple and the eminent picture of St. Georgios, the chambers of nuns and the marvellously decorated guest house, the visitors could also visit the museum of the abbey and admire the heirlooms.
• As we continue our trip we will stop in a Cheese Workshop at Livadia, where we are going to taste some of the most famous Cretan cheese such as Gruyere, Feta and Mizithra. As an important source of proteins of high biological quality, cheese plays a central role in the Cretan diet. The Cretan diet is an impressively balanced diet of natural products that offer exactly what the human needs to remain healthy. Recent scientific studies associate dairy products with the prevention and treatment of breast and prostate cancer!
• Our next stop is the highlight of our Eco trip. We will hike near to the top of Psiloritis, the highest mountain of Crete, which is also of great historically importance. The mountain chain of Idi, also known as Psiloritis, unveils all the beauty of Crete under its snow-capped peaks. The White Mountains in the West, mount Dikti in the East, the plain of Messara, the Asteroussia mountains and the Libyan Sea in the South, Heraklion and Rethymno in the North. In the Doric atmosphere of this rugged land, proud, dashing and strong men are bred to farm for a living and search for the real meaning of life in the simplicity and wisdom of nature – more specifically to "Mitato" where we will meet a Shepard in his house. We will enjoy fresh local lamp, charcoaled in the oldest traditional way "ofto". A unique experience to remember!
• Last but not least, our guests will have the chance to have a coffee at "forgotten" small village.
What is included in this tour
Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- English or French speaking guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Entrance fees of wooden museum
- Full Lunch
- A lot of Raki…
- Photos taken on tour are sent electronically via e-mail
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
Whats not included in this tour.
Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
- Gratuities (optional)
- Additional food and drinks
- Museum Entrance 3€
- Monastery Entrance 1€
All Year
Every Monday and Sunday
West Rethymno, Crete
8 hours
08:30 – 09:30
-If a tour is cancelled due to few participants or bad weather conditions, the company will refund 100% of made payments.
Children 2-12 years old: 20%
Tour Reviews
There are no reviews yet.


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Described by Ford Chief Designer Joel Piaskowski as a "beautiful horizontal bullet", the Ford Mustang Convertible is an expression of pure driving freedom. Perfectly proportioned from every angle, a flowing beltline wraps around the cabin opening to define it. An entirely new folding mechanism enables the roof to fold away in seconds, deep into the body to maintain the car's streamline appearance and aerodynamics. And a subtle 'kick-up' on the boot helps create down force, bringing the car's power and torque to life through its rear-wheel drive. Roof up or roof down, the Ford Mustang is sure to leave a lasting impression, wherever you take it


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Harry M. was a U.S. Marine, a civilian police officer and a staff sergeant with the U.S. Army National Guard. He served numerous combat tours, including a violent stretch in Ramadi as a sniper team leader in 2005, tasked with capturing or killing high-value targets.
He had retired from the service to his home in New Jersey, when two of his sons, Josh and James, told him they were planning a trip to Kurdistan to join the fight against ISIS terrorists. The 49-year-old divorced dad knew he had to go with them.
" 'We want to join with Peshmerga and we want to confront ISIS on our terms,' " Harry said his sons told him. "I've got over 20 years experience and I thought to myself, 'I got two boys going, there is no way they are going without me.'"
Josh, 29, is Harry's oldest son. Tall, handsome and built like a linebacker, he was a U.S. Marine machine gunner, serving two tours in Afghanistan, one of them during the surge in Anbar province. On his left arm is a tattoo of a skull and crossbones -- but the crossbones are .50 caliber machine guns.
"I don't even watch the news anymore because I can't imagine what those people are going through" Josh said about the Iraqis who must deal with ISIS on a daily basis.
"At one point, you had the entire U.S. military protecting them, and then they were gone. And then another group of guys, ISIS, came in and just started slaughtering them by the thousands. And there is nowhere to run. I couldn't imagine that. And I sit at home. The war drew down. The war technically ended for conventional warfare, which put me and my brother basically out of a job. I'm still able to fight and the opportunity arose ... James lit the fire ... and I'm going. That's it. I need to help out."
James, 23, is the baby of the bunch, the only member of the family with blue eyes. He also served two tours in Afghanistan as an infantryman and registered for college when he got home. But James said he still had a burning desire to serve, and wanted to gain experience as a combat cameraman. So nearly a year ago, he started planning a trip to Kurdistan in northern Iraq to document the fight. After months of discussions with his brother and father, the mission evolved. They decided they'd all go together and film what they could, but their new goal was to help defeat some of the most dangerous and ruthless men on the planet.
"If the military, conventional forces were going, we'd go with them," James said. "We'd sign back up, no problem. But they're not. And that's what it comes down to. They're not and we're capable and we're going."
Related video:
The family members asked Fox News to withhold their last names for security reasons, but the men said they're not worried about getting in legal trouble, since they're not breaking any laws in the U.S. or in Kurdistan, where they will register with the Regional Government and be deployed under the direction of KRG military leaders.
The U.S. State Department wouldn't comment specifically on the family's trip,but said it's aware that American citizens have joined groups to fight against ISIS. The department said the efforts by those citizens is "neither in support of nor part of U.S. efforts in the region," warning that "travel to Iraq and Syria remains very dangerous."
In other words, the U.S. government doesn't endorse it, but also doesn't forbid it.
James, his brother and his father flew to the Middle East the same evening they spoke to Fox News.
"Hey, I know how to survive in combat," James said. "We are going to contribute on our level. My brother is a heavy machine gunner, my dad is a sniper, I was a rifleman ... we are going to bring that together and present that to the Kurds and aid them in whatever way possible."
"ISIS has threatened our nation and us individually. They came out and said every military member needs to watch out because we are coming for you. We are Marines. We are going to bring the fight to them."
Josh spoke of the importance of the trio's mission
"Every day we're not there, people are dying. I know I can make a difference, I know he can make a difference and I know he can," said Josh, gesturing to his father and brother. "And us together? We're a formidable team. Every day that I'm not there is a day lost."
The men admit the rest of their family and loved ones aren't happy they're leaving and are concerned for their safety. They say they're fully aware of the dangers involved and are willing to risk their lives for the cause. But they also insist they will not be captured and wind up in a prisoner's cage or execution video. They will die on their own terms, if it comes to that, they said, by putting a gun to their own head.
"Worst-case scenario is one or two of us being killed," Harry said. "And we would be fools to think that may not happen. We know that from being deployed. We have already accepted death and we've done everything we can to take care of our loved ones in case that happened."
Josh chimed in, his stare hardened.
"I will not be captured," he said. "I will not. I've seen the videos. Warfare is warfare. When you accept it, it actually becomes very easy. You just go in there and you fight to live. You never go into a gun fight or any type of fight with the expectation you are going to lose."
James added: "Obviously, losing my brother or my father would be terrible, devastating. But this is the life we live. We are warriors."
Josh nodded at the sentiment and said the reason for the mission was clear.
"I don't think we ever questioned why," he said. "I've never one time looked at my brother and asked 'why are you doing this?' It's unspoken."
James agreed.
"Yeah, I mean we celebrate the fights we are in, you know?" he said. "That's just how we do it."
Finally, before they finished packing their bags, the men were asked if they had a message for America.
"I think one thing that is important is try not to get wrapped around the edges of why we are doing this," Harry said. "Try to understand that there are men in this country who are willing to go one step beyond and confront whatever threat is there, whether here at home or overseas. I love my country, I love the ability to debate, I love the ability to worship as I want, I love the ability to pursue happiness and I'm willing to put my life on the line, not just for this country but for complete strangers."
James said he wanted people to understand the family was joining the fight for the right reasons
"I want them to know that we are not out for bloodlust," he said. "We are out there to protect and serve, and not just serving the United States, but people, humanity. Being a good person. We have the capabilities to protect others and that is what we are about."
Said Josh: "I'm an American and this is what we do."
"This is what I do. We are the one percent [who serve] and that doesn't go away. That is driven. Don't hate on that. My intent is to make my brothers who wear the uniform proud of me again and continue to bring havoc to the enemy and protect my family. The foundation of who we are as a people, as a family, as Americans is to protect the ones that can't be protected."
As of Tuesday afternoon, Harry and his sons are already in Iraq, in an undisclosed location, in the process of linking up with Peshmerga soldiers under the direction of the Kurdish Regional Government. Their trip is being partially funded by donations to Humanitarian Defense Abroad, a 501C3 non-profit organization run by another former Marine, Lu Lobello, who has helped dozens of former service members carry out similar missions.
He said the family's mission is "a way to break through this administration's failed foreign policy and make a difference in the hearts and minds of the people we consider our best allies on the ground in that region: the Kurds."
Lobello called such trips the antithesis of PTSD.
"We represent post-traumatic growth," Lobello said. "We are leaders, not broken down vets in need of medical attention. We just need the ability to continue fighting to make the world a better place."
-- Rick Leventhal currently serves as New York-based senior correspondent for Fox News Channel (FNC). He joined the network as a correspondent in 1997.


text: Share: Comments Print August 5, 2013 at 1:13 PM Baseball suspensions: What do they really mean? Posted by Don Shelton Monday's long-awaited (but still astonishing) suspensions handed down in Major League Baseball make me wonder what baseball fans think it all means. Here are two polls asking your opinion, one on the overall impact and another specifically on the future of the Mariners' Jesus Montero. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times' Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at email@example.com or email@example.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print. Comments


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Six-Principle Baptist Church
Main Navigation
Home Page
Prayer Request
Contact Us
We have been doing weddings for over 10 years and strive to to help you have one of the best days of your lives. Please feel free to contact us either by email or by phone for prices and availability. 208-722-8011
. Weddings are done by an Ordained member of the Clergy who truly enjoys doing weddings and has fun doing them. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you and have a great and Blessed day.
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Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel... Located along Dagatan Boulevard, Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel and Restaurant is a lovely bed and breakfast perfect for all types of travelers seeking comfortable accommodations while exploring San Pablo City in Laguna.
Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel and Restaurant is an excellent choice for hosting various gatherings whether social or corporate events as it provides extensive facilities through their conference hall and Cafe Bulwagan, its in-house restaurant. Cafe Bulwagan serves delectable local and international cuisines catered to satisfy guests' cravings. Moreover, Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel and Restaurant prides itself with quality service and warm accommodating staff designed to appease guests.
All 10 well-appointed rooms in this lovely hotel are arranged to give guests a calm and serene stay. Room facilities include air-conditioning, TV with cable programming, mini refrigerator, and a private toilet and bath with hot and cold shower. Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel and Restaurant also provides complimentary breakfast. WiFi Internet is accessible on both private rooms and common areas of the hotel.
Tahanan ni Aling Meding is approximately an hour and a half drive away from Manila. It is 76.5 km away from the Ninoy International Airport.
Being strategically situated along Dagatan Boulevard, Tahanan ni Aling Meding Hotel and Restaurant is near energetic environment and various dining and recreational selections. Guests seeking exploration in this unconventional tourist destination may swing by the infamous seven lakes of San Pablo City where they can lounge in the calmness of the water while enjoying a perfectly cool day by the lake.
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Checking Windows Firewall Status from Nagios using NSClient++
I recently logged into a Windows 2008 R2 server to turn off the built-in Windows Firewall – I was debugging a new service, and the clients couldn't see it – only to discover the firewall was already off.
It then occurred to me that other servers might also have the firewall off. Sure enough, there were … [Read more…]


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Q&A: 5 Frequently Asked Digital Marketing Questions
Digital marketing is always evolving. From paid search to email marketing, we understand that no matter if you are new to it or a have been doing it for a while, you will always have pertinent questions.
Where do start? What are the best practices? What will work for my business? The questions can go on and on. That is why we have compiled a list and answered the top five digital marketing questions that business owners may have.
Q: Should I run a Pay-Per-Click Campaign?
A: Pay-per-click campaigns (PPC) can be very helpful. However, deciding whether or not you want to run a PPC campaign for your business should depend on your goals.
Are you interested in getting click-throughs to your website that generate revenue? Is your main focus to gain exposure for your brand or product? Do you want to increase your social media following and engagement? These results are all possible with PPC, however, you need to pinpoint the goal that you want to achieve first to determine if a PPC campaign is right for your brand.
With your goal in mind, you will then be able to decide whether a social PPC campaign or a paid search PPC campaign will align better for your business' goal. For instance, if you're looking to gain more followers, social media PPC would be the better option for you.
On the other hand, if you want to reach your target audience while they are searching online, search PPC would be a good focus for your business. This is especially true for companies that provide a local service like carpet cleaning and want to drive online searchers to their website.
Whichever option you choose, start small and then review the data afterward before running a full campaign.
Q: If I create a business blog, how often should I blog?
A: Blogging can do wonders for your business online. Through blogging, your website's search ranking increases and your site can be found by search engines like Google and Bing. When blogging about FAQs or subjects related to your product and services, you also position your company as an industry leader. So to answer the question at hand, blog as often you can.
The great thing about having a company blog is that you determine the frequency. You don't have to blog every day, however, try to stay on a consistent schedule. The last thing you want is to gain a blog following and then lose them because you did not publish blogs as frequently as you once did. To help prevent this from occurring, try creating a content calendar. This will help you plan the topics you will blog about as well as the days you will publish each blog. A content calendar will also help hold you accountable so you're less inclined to have long breaks in between blogs.
Q: Which social media platforms should I use?
A: This will solely depend on the platform that your customers and target audience frequent the most. However, Facebook has become known as the social media platform that every business can utilize so that it a good place to start. From there, add other social media platforms to your list only if they make sense for your business. For example, Pinterest is a great platform for creative industries like home builders. If you are a home builder, creating a Pinterest profile might be beneficial for posting before and after images that will be shared with the masses and increase your marketing reach. The same goes for Instagram since it is a visual platform. As for Twitter, it is great for publishing links to blog articles and short form educational information.
Q: On social media, how much of my own content should I use vs. curated content?
A: The main purpose of having business social media pages are to provide information and engage with your followers. While you can still engage with your followers by reposting content from national publications and brands, you're only helping their digital marketing efforts. To help with your company's branding, follow the 80/20 rule. This involves posting your own branded content 80% of the time and curated content the other 20% of the time. This helps you provide fresh content to your audience while still leaving you some time to create it.
Q: How do I keep my emails out of the spam folder?
A: The spam folder is definitely a place you want to avoid. To do so, there are some email marketing blunders that you should not commit like:
- Using the word "FREE" throughout the body of your email
- Using punctuations in your subject line
All of the actions above can result in sophisticated spam filters catching your emails before they even land in the inbox of your recipients.
Digital marketing can be overwhelming. And as a business owner, you may still have questions. That's why we're here!
Do you have specific questions about various digital marketing tactics? Our digital marketing experts at Belo Media Group are happy to answer them. Write your questions below or contact us.


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Wisconsin QSO Party 2013!
March 10, 2013 – 1800Z to 0100Z March 11
(1:00PM CDT to 8:00PM CDT on Sunday, March 10)
The first day of Daylight Savings Time!
The 2013 Wisconsin QSO Party is scheduled for Sunday March 10 starting at 1 PM local time. All the necessary information is on the WARAC club website:
The Club room could be opened if members request it in advance.
73 and GL


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further adventures in culinary exploits! { soup stock & moroccan lemons }
awhile back, we had an epic day of food preservation. on that glorious day, we tackled 3 projects, two of which i'll attempt to recall below { with pictures! }. the first, and by far the looooongest was making a giant—6 quart— batch of soup stock. at any given meal time, the spousal unit and i will save any vegetable scraps, peels, stems, etc. and put them in our freezer bag for future stock exploits, usually ending up with a good old fashioned vegetable stock. but this THIS was a special batch: we were making *duck* stock! we had picked up approx. a pound of duck bones from our awesome, ethical, locally-sourced butcher and got the ball rolling by roasting them in the oven.
<— there they are, all laid out on a cookie sheet. roasting the bones helps brings out the flavor and begins the softening process on the marrow inside, making the marrow easier to extract during the broth-ing { now a word } process. bone marrow stocks are super rich in flavour, and full of excellent nutrients! after about 20 minutes, they were good to go into the giant stock pot of doom, and were joined by the aforementioned veggie scraps { onion, carrot peel, broccoli stems, asparagus "butts", and mushroom stems }, as well as fresh chunks of carrot & parsnips, a couple of cheese rinds for creaminess, a combo of fresh and dried herbs { thyme from our mini-herb garden, rosemary from the same, bay leaf, white peppercorns, szechuan peppercorns, applewood smoked salt and fresh sage }. here is what the simmering pot looked like —–>
after a LITERAL two days of simmering over a supper low heat, we strained out the desecrated duck carcass and all the remaining veggies and spices, let it all cool, and portioned it into both 3 cup and 2 cup amounts. those freezer baggies are now living happily in our freezer, awaiting future use!!!
the second project tackled were moroccan lemons { aka salt-preserved lemons }. these are super easy to make, are shelf-stable and make an excellent condiment to chicken dishes, or can be used in salted lemonade { which is waaaaay yummier than it sounds }. at its most basic, all that is needed are lemons and salt. we opted to use{ organic } meyer lemons because they are a little bit sweeter and more flavourful . first, parboil the lemons for a minute or two to help bring out the juiciness. then, we cut them into 8 wedges and started to jam them into a pre-sterilized jar { see previous post on how easy that is/ the importance of doing so }, layering the lemons with salt and the spices of our choice. to keep a more "moroccan" profile, we used a whole cinnamon stick, cloves, coriander, a bayleaf and a few green peppercorns, making sure to really squish out the juices of the lemons. the spousal unit is looking forward to trying them thinly sliced on pizza!
Posted on 11 May, 2013, in FOOD! and tagged #foodporn, canning, creativity, food, inspired, projects, storing up, sustainable. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.


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by Humaira
After spending two oppressive weeks in Saudi Arabia, where the sky was hidden behind a grey haze, the air was filled with sand and the piety police (official or self appointed) made me overly paranoid—landing in Kabul was like stepping into the free world.
Boys being boys
The clear blue sky welcomed my plane as it landed at the newly refurbished Kabul airport. A jetway met the plane door ushering us directly into the terminal—not the norm in this part of the world. The customs official was polite and speedy and Kabul's fresh air was a welcome reprieve to my asthmatic lungs.
Kabul mountain range
Once safely tucked into my cousin's white Toyota, we caught up on family, current events and Kabul security— he assured me Kabul is very safe. I didn't tell him that the US State Department travel alert said differently.
In the short car ride to his house I noted the number of women roaming Kabul streets without a burka. Having spent two weeks in Saudi Arabia, where women were covered from head to toe, the Kabul scene stood out.
Beautiful women of Kabul
Near Kabul University, young girls sporting skinny jeans and long tunics walked with locked arms, sporting small thin head-scarves that barely covered their stylish hairdos.
How could this be the same city where Farkhunda was brutally murdered three weeks earlier while a mob cheered on the killers?
Martyred Farkhunda
Kabul is cleaner and more orderly than my last trip three years ago, but it felt more dangerous. The checkpoints with machine gun toting policemen peeking into cars made me feel I was in a city preparing for siege.
Despite the fragility of the city, I found a unity in people's reflection on Farkhunda's killing, uncommon for Afghans. Everyone I met—man, woman and child—recounted where they were when they heard about Farkhunda's brutal beating. Everyone I met, renunciated Farkhunda's killing with shame and horror. Everyone I met, said they will not allow something like this to happen again. It's not often people are satisfied with the police under such circumstance but surprisingly, many feel the government has done a good job of identifying and arresting the criminals. Now they wait for real justice, the verdicts of the trials.
Shahed Shamshayray Mosque where Farkhunda was accused of burning the Quran
The Kabul city officials have honored Farkhunda by naming the square near Shahid Shamsharay Wali Mosque—where she was murdered—Farkhunda Square.
"Martyred Farkhunda Square"
Several hundred yards down the road from the mosque, a banner asking for justice, hangs where Farkhunda's savagely beaten body was dropped into the dry Kabul riverbed before it was burnt to a crisp. A man has put up a red poster stating "My martyred sister Farkhunda" with a poem in her honor. Men and women stop to pray and tie shreds of colorful fabric commemorating Farkhunda's martyrdom.
Farkhunda's memorial
Farkunda's legend grows with stories appearing on Afghan social media—in one recount, her father recounts that when she was ten, Farkhunda dreamt that in seventeen years she would die a brutal death.
Forty nine people were arrested. On Wednesday May 5th, four were sentenced to death by hanging, eight were sentenced to 16 years in jail and 18 were set free due to a lack of evidence. The court is adjourned until Saturday. The remaining 19 suspects are policemen—we wait for the new Afghan government to showcase the rule of law and justice in the verdicts for the indictment of police officer who stood by for the the duration of two hours when Farkhunda was beaten, run over by a car, dropped into Kabul riverbed and burnt. The result of this trial will set the course for the future of Afghan women's rights, gender equality and humane treatment.
My trip highlight was meeting these delightful children in Kabul, I want them to enjoy the same rights and educational opportunities as my daughters. I left my heart with them.


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It seems like every year scammers are coming up with new tricks to try and steal the public's hard earned cash. With technology constantly changing, the ability to deceive the masses has become an easier task to pull off. According to the IRS, since 2013, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration became aware of close to four thousand tax scam victims – totaling more than $20 million in loses.
The IRS says while scammers used to target a specific demographic(like he elderly, new immigrants and those who don't speak English), they are now looking to exploit anyone.
A new tactic scammers are using is altering your telephone's caller ID to appear part of the IRS or another government agency. Scammers will also use fake names, titles and badge numbers. With the abundance of information found online, scammers can even find your name, address and other details about your life to make the call sound official. They have also been known to copy official IRS letterhead and use them in email or regular mail. But it doesn't stop there as one con includes using a real IRS address to make the scheme seem realistic.
The common factor in all these scams is playing on fear. Scammers will attempt to scare you into reacting without thinking through what's happening or verifying if what they are saying is true.
The BBB advises the public to be aware of these telling signs of a scam.
Demand payment over the phone, or threatening law enforcement involvement. The IRS will never demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill. Neither will they have you arrested for not paying.
Require a specific payment method. Scammers most commonly ask for a prepaid credit card as a payment method. Tracing the money can be difficult for law enforcement and it doesn't require the victim's bank account.
Ask for credit card or debit card information. Never get out this sensitive information over the phone. Instead, you can find out if you owe taxes by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
If you know you don't owe taxes you can report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. Additionally, if you've been targeted you can contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their "FTC Complaint Assistant" at FTC.gov. Be sure to add "IRS Telephone Scam" to the comments of your complaint.


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In this series, we're telling the stories of what the Kimberly-Clark mill closure means for workers and for Everett, which has been defined by mills for more than a century.
Like many people, Troy Woodard got his first job at the mill because his father worked there.
It was a summer job during college. When a job didn't materialize after graduation, the mill came calling.
It was good, honest work with a decent paycheck.
For seven years, he ran the equipment and inspected Viva paper towels as they came shooting off the line: making sure the printing was correct, the packaging straight and the towels clean.
If there was a problem, he picked up a phone and heard his voice booming across the factory: "Paging a mechanic."
Later, Woodard worked as a maintenance mechanic, squeezing into and under the great, grinding machines that turned wood chips into the slush that would become paper.
He liked the tactileness of the job and the puzzle of figuring out how to fix a tough problem. He liked working with tools.
What he enjoyed most in his years was making the workplace safer. That was his last role at the mill.
He's now temporarily employed helping his fellow coworkers find other work.
When that's through, he'll have to find his own future. He has a wife and kids to support. He hopes to work in occupational safety and he hopes to stay local.


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"Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants." -- John Gardner
Monday, September 22, 2014
This I Believe
For the past several months, I've been lucky to be part of the Central Virginia Writers' Project. At our two-week seminar this summer, we were asked to write our own versions of a "This I Believe" essay. Not only did this assignment give me a chance to distill some of my own beliefs about why what I do in the classroom matters, my eleventh grade team had already decided to use this prompt as our beginning essay assignment. So, I had a ready-made piece to share with my students as I asked them to share their own beliefs, and here it is for you all:
I believe we have messed up just about everything we can when it comes to public education in the United States. We expect students to learn without showing them what great magic learning can work in their own lives and the lives of others. We expect students to learn for the sake of the economy and not for the sake of themselves, and then we berate them for being so selfish as to skip class or not do their homework.
There is still some magic in elementary school. A dear friend of mine recently inspired her students to design and build their own butterfly garden when they can research, write, and sit in awe of creatures they've helped to save.
But the magic is seeping out of the walls of our secondary schools. Students are expected to sit still for forty-five minutes, take notes in the preferred method du jour, dutifully pass tests, and move on to the next subject when the bell rings. If they are lucky, they might get two bathroom passes a semester and a few teachers who have decided not to ride the wave of standardized test hysteria.
I believe that if we trust teachers to design project-based assessments, we will have a picture of where our students are succeeding and where they need more help. I believe if we paid teachers a wage commensurate to the many hours we work above our contracts, we wouldn't have a shortage of bright, dedicated professionals who are respected by students, their parents, and their communities. I believe if teachers had smaller caseloads, students would receive more meaningful instruction. I believe if we created a ladder for teachers to grow professionally without leaving the classroom, we would see fewer than half of all teachers leave in their first five years of teaching.
I believe if we increased the minimum wage, we would increase student learning. I believe if showed students learning to read and read well means they could visit the moon or the ocean or the next Odyssey of the Mind field trip, we would have millions more finish college. I believe if we put students in small groups according to their interests and not any perceived ability level and turned them loose on a project, they'd learn more than they ever would in any Advanced Placement or college prep class.
I believe in the promise of public education to incorporate us all to a cause higher than ourselves. I believe our schools can be places where students delve deep into a topic and come out better learners, citizens, and people, for the experience.
Posted by Maggie at 10:43 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: writing, writing workshop
Monday, September 15, 2014
Beating Burnout - Part Three
Have you ever heard of the April Sours? I hadn't until this year when I got them big time. A blog post I shared then helped me shake them off and realize there are a lot of manageable things I can do to make my classroom and place of joy where meaningful learning takes place. These are some of my plans:
1. Move to a room with windows. - For some reason, schools built in the 70's tend to be big on the interior classrooms without windows. For the first time in my teaching career, I'm going to be able to see natural light all day every day! I know this sort of dramatic shift isn't possible for everyone, but shaking up your space might help you get new perspective.
2. Read, Read, Read - This summer I revisited a lot of my teaching bibles to remind myself of the skills I want to my students to acquire. Planning oral history projects with a social justice component have gotten me excited for the work we'll be doing. I've also revisited some texts such as Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities to remind myself of why teaching matters.
3. Accept That School Can Be Fun - In our work-obsessed culture, we are often content to ask why something should be fun. Learning is work, after all. But it doesn't have to take place in a drab environment designed to suck the creativity out of every human in the room. I'm doing a serious makeover of my new digs: comfy couches for reading, tables for collaborative learning, and a class pet. I'm watching a friend's bunny while she returns to graduate school and my students are going to help.
Teacher friends, what are you doing to make this year your best yet? Non-teacher friends, what do you value about your work? How do you make your workspace a space where you're happy?
Monday, September 8, 2014
Burnout and Back Again - Part Two
Since I started graduate school, I'd never considered a career outside of education. I've been interested in jobs outside of the classroom. Moving into administration provides the only meaningful promotion in schools. Policy work has a sexiness about it while also providing an avenue to have more of a voice in the educational policies that I think make a difference in students' lives but can't implement within my classroom. But I never considered that I'd leave education.
Last year, however, I found myself thinking about leaving. I wondered a lot about other kinds of jobs I could have to attack poverty in our country. I wondered a lot about the kinds of jobs I could have where I went home at the end of the day and that was it -- maybe a few e-mails here and there but not a stack of grading.
I never applied anywhere, but I did talk. A lot. I had coffee with my professors from grad school; I talked to other teachers to find out what they'd done to overcome similar slumps. A meeting with my awesome principal helped things click.
I confessed to her that I was burnt out. You are? She replied in a tone of voice she might use if she were mildly surprised to learn I was getting over a cold or reading an okay book. I felt like I'd made this big confession: I'm not happy teaching and that's a problem because I have always been happy teaching. Her response really helped me chill out. And once I did, she reminded me of just how many health issues I experienced in the last year.
I doubt that my principal was the first person to remind me that this school year was full of bike accidents, shingles, and a bunch of other things I'd rather not list on my blog. But at that moment, my thick skull finally got it: my life outside of the classroom matters more than I have ever realized. I've spent these last three years riding the teaching high of the first magical moments in the classroom and figuring out how to recapture them. I've picked up every yoga class I could, tried to organize my time efficiently, read all the articles on life-work balance. But I've had it all backwards. I've been treating my work life and my home life and my friend life as separate entities. In reality, they're all facets of my life life.
My readers are pretty smart, so you all probably figured this out before I did. Thanks for sticking with me to this point. I know I've rambled a lot, but it seemed important to me to tell this story: how I went from loving teaching from the very first day to pushing myself through the day. I started blogging about teaching to show what really happens in our classrooms. To show my work. And this year, my work was to get through the day and figure out how to have better ones for my students.
Posted by Maggie at 11:00 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Burnout Series - Part One
Last year was been tough for me. I got engaged and then married. I had an amazing group of talented and creative students. I began work with an innovative and invested administrative team. But I sure did struggle.
During the worst times, I felt like I was checked out of school. I was doing the bare minimum to take care of my students and finding very little joy in my work. I'd spend my lunch period browsing blogs on line rather than doing the things that used to make me feel invigorated such as reading up on education research or taking a walk outside to clear my head and get ready for the next class.
From almost the very beginning of the year, my grading load felt next to impossible. Figuring out ways to mitigate that really helped me, and I started feeling better. But the joy I'd had in my first two years of teaching dissipated, and I didn't know how to get it back. I used to come home every evening from school exhausted and impassioned and with a "teacher high" from the sense of wonder I felt at being a part of students growing and learning every day.
In addition to my joy, I also lost a lot of my anger at watching really bad reform policies. I couldn't muster the same sort of logic and statistical analysis when I saw another cheap, easy, and poorly-designed standardized test coming down the pike. As you all probably noticed, I stopped blogging about ways to craft meaningful and rigorous assessment.
No one event or student or situation drove me to this malaise. My students were just as wonderful. Our administration was really supporting innovative ideas. I was just going through something that happens too many teachers: burnout.
This isn't meant to be a sob story. I'll give away the ending here: I got better and some specific things helped. In the next few days, I want to share what worked for me and find out what's worked (or not) for those of you who teach or have ever been able to work through burnout at a stressful and demanding job. I think teachers don't talk enough about what's happening in our classrooms -- the good and the bad. And the whole point of this blog is to change the conversation around teaching.
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Once you bring your baby home, there is a lot you have to juggle around. Checking your baby's dental hygiene is probably not on your list yet.
Seeing your baby's first few teeth is one of the most awaited moments for you as a mother. But of late, have you noticed any discoloration in those little milk teeth of your baby's? Are you worried your baby's teeth look stained and not white?
If you feel your answers to the above are in the affirmative, this article will help soothe your worries.
How Will I Understand If My Baby Teeth Discolored?
Your baby's teeth are supposed to be white in color. In some cases, your baby's teeth may also be white to yellowish white color. Both the conditions are normal. When your baby's teeth are of any other color than these two, it may be a case of teeth discoloration. This discoloration can change the color of your baby's entire tooth. It can also appear as spots on the tooth or as lines in the enamel of the tooth.
What Causes Discoloration Of Baby Teeth?
There are a number of reasons that can cause discoloration in your baby's teeth. Here are some of the main reasons behind discolored baby teeth:
1. Illness During Infancy Or During Early Childhood:
Illness or conditions such as high fever at the time of teething, incorrect nutrition and any kind of infection at the time of teething, Down syndrome or congenital syphilis can lead to discoloration in your baby's teeth.
[ Read: Baby Teeth Care ]
2. Imbalance In The Tooth Enamel:
Sometimes, a pregnant or nursing mother is administered tetracycline for certain medical reasons. In some cases, it is also administered to infants or very young babies. This can lead to hypoplasia, which is a condition where the enamel of your baby's teeth is irregular or insufficient.
3. Poor Quality Of Tooth Enamel:
The enamel of your baby's tooth may not be of a good quality. This condition is known as hypocalcification. This could be due to various factors like genetic reasons, due to extensive deposits of plaque or due to over sucking on citrus fruits.
4. Discoloration In The Tooth Enamel:
A condition known as amelogenesis imperfect can lead to your baby's tooth enamel being discolored or thin. This is mostly an inherited birth defect(1).
5. Non Calcification Of Tooth Enamel And Dentin:
Your baby may have experienced a vitamin D deficiency while the teeth are developing. This can cause the enamel of your baby's teeth and the dentin to not get hardened by mineral deposit. It could result in a condition known as enamel and dentin hypoplasia that can also lead to discoloration in your baby's teeth(2).
6. Jaundice At The Time Of Birth:
In case your baby developed jaundice at the time or right after birth, it could lead to a greenish tint in the teeth.
7. Too Much Fluoride:
You may have been mixing your baby's powdered or liquid concentrated formula with water that is fluoridated. This can increase the chance of your baby developing a condition known as enamel fluorosis. In this condition, your baby will have light white marks or streaks on the teeth(3).
8. Injury To Your Baby's Gums Or Teeth:
An injury to your baby's gums or teeth can cause something known as dental trauma. This can lead to discoloration in your baby's teeth and it may have purplish, pinkish or a greyish tint.
9. Medication:
There are certain medications and vitamin supplements that contain iron. Sometimes, these may cause a dark stain on your baby's teeth(4). Use of drugs like antibiotics (tetracycline) by the mother can cause discoloration in breastfeeding babies.
10. Not Brushing Properly Or Infrequent Brushing:
You may think your baby is still too young to brush, but infrequent or improper brushing can also cause tooth discoloration . Schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist as soon as your baby is a year old(5).
[ Read: How To Brush Baby Teeth]
Discoloration of baby teeth can leave you worried, but it is not something that cannot be treated in time. Remember to instill dental hygiene in your baby from an early age. Shun the practice of letting your baby sleep with the milk bottle. Clean your baby's gums and teeth daily, even before teething begins. Once those first pearls are out, make a visit to your baby's dentist.
How have you been taking care of your baby's teeth? Did you notice your baby teeth discoloration? What did you do about it? Share your tips and experiences here with other moms.
Recommended Articles:
- When Do Babies Get Their First Teeth – Everything You Need To Know
- 6 Effective Ways To Treat Sore Gums In Babies
- 13 Signs Of Baby Teething Along With Symptoms And Remedies
- 10 Best Teething Toys For Your Baby


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Trip Cost:
Pacific Lionfish in the Caribbean are a fast moving, voracious invasive species that immediately threaten the reef system as we know it. Lionfish in the Caribbean have no natural predators, and can decimate the population of small fish on a reef by as much as 80% in just a few short months! This trip will be one of a series of trips Atlantic Edge is sponsoring aimed at analyzing and controlling the Lionfish problem in the Bahamas.
4 nights lodging at the Orange Hill Beach Inn (double occupancy)
3 days of 2 Tank Morning Boat Dives
3 days of 2 Tanks Afternoon Boat Dives
Free Nitrox on all dives
Tanks & weights,
Lionfish hunting equipment
Hotel gratuities and service Fees


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There are many techniques for measuring the value of a company. Corporate success is quantified using parameters influenced by different aspects of performance. A company's market penetration is one of these numbers that offers useful information about the entity's past success. But market penetration also provides clues about potential future success. The mathematics behind market analysis can be quite complex, but the concept is relatively simple. It is possible to quickly understand what a high market penetration means.
Market penetration refers to the portion of products sold in a particular category or sector by one company in relation to all products sold by all companies in that business. This is often related to brand name recognition, but a company with high market penetration may not necessarily have strong brand name recognition. Any market can by analyzed using market penetration quantifiers. The "market penetration index" is calculated in different ways depending on the application, and is based on the market penetration.
McDonald's is an example of a company with high market penetration. In the fast-food sector, McDonald's sells a large portion of all the products consumed. The company also enjoys strong brand name recognition due to this high market penetration, as nearly everyone in the world has heard of McDonald's. By contrast, computer chip manufacturer AMD is Intel's main competitor. Both enjoy high market penetration, but computer buyers may have never heard of AMD, thus it does not enjoy strong brand name recognition. Even free products can be measured this way. The Web "browser wars" are based on the market penetrations of Internet Explorer, Firefox and other browsing programs.
Market Penetration Formula
Market penetration, also referred to as "market share," and the "market penetration index," are both calculated using simple ratio formulas. Market share is simply the total number of products sold to consumers by one company divided by the total sold by all companies. If a company sells one product out of a total of 10 sold to the public, it has a market penetration or market share of 10 percent. In the case of the browser wars, if Internet Explorer has a 67 percent market penetration, this means that approximately two-thirds of all the browsers in use worldwide are Internet Explorer.
Market Penetration Index for Sectors
The market penetration index can mean different things. At the sector level, it analyzes overall current demand by the public for a particular type of product, rather than a particular brand of product. The index then compares this number to the potential future demand for a product. A new product on the market may have had little success so far; however, there may be a large population that could ultimately benefit from the product. The low current demand divided by the potential future demand results in a small market penetration index. This low number suggests room for considerable growth.
A high market penetration index means that the public is fairly saturated with a particular type of product that is usually provided by many manufacturers. As there is not much room for growth, competition between companies becomes fierce as they compete for the few remaining customers. Prices often drop as a result.
Market Penetration Index for Companies
Some companies use a different calculation and interpretation for the market penetration index. Rather than analyzing overall consumer demand for their sector, they study their success in comparison to their competitors. But rather than focus on the raw market share, they compare their performance with the average performance of competitors. This is common in hotels, where the market penetration index studies an individual hotel's occupancy compared to the average occupancy rates of all other hotels in a particular area. A high reading indicates the hotel is performing better than most others.
Photo Credits
- Stock Market image by Paul Heasman from Fotolia.com


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eBay Items:
Various items from Gundam Converge #12
Completed Kits: All have a caveat that they are prone to paint chipping.
HGAW Gundam X (least likely for paint to chip, but shield would need to be repainted) $20
HG 00 Raiser (custom scheme) $20
The prices don't include shipping and I am open to shipping internationally or local pickup in the NYC area. I might eventually put some of these on eBay but for now you can contact me at my email (email@example.com) or PM me at the gunpla sub reddit (http://www.reddit.com/r/gunpla).


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Gilmore says unions must be given space to consider deal
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin speaks to the media outside Lansdowne House in Ballsbridge Dublin this morning after agreement was reached on a new public sector pay deal. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill/The Irish Times
Agreement has been reached between the Government and the country's public service unions on cutting €1 billion off the public sector pay bill.
Despite four major trade unions walking out of negotiations at the 11th hour, agreement was reached after marathon all night talks in Dublin.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions said the deal, which has yet to be put to union members, would ensure public servants are less worse off than would have been the case if the Government had instead legislated for across-the-board pay cuts.
The deal, which runs until 2016, will replace the current Croke Park agreement, which was due to expire in 2014.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said political parties should stand back from the public sector pay process while proposals for a new deal are put to a ballot of workers.
"I think all of us should now respect the fact that trade unions have to consider the outcome of these negotiations and the members of trade unions will have to reflect and make their decisions in the course of ballots," Mr Gilmore said this afternoon. "I have always believed…that it is best if political parties stand back from that process and give to the people who work in our public services the respect and space in order to make a decision."
Mr Gilmore was speaking after the country's largest trade union Siptu warned the deal could still be rejected by union members. "I'm satisfied the proposal is the best one that could be achieved through negotiation," said Siptu president Jack O'Connor. "But industrial action is not off the cards. The majority of union members may decide to reject this proposal."
Under the terms of the deal, high earning public sector staff face pay cuts of between 5.5 per and 10 per cent. Pay cuts of 5.5 per cent will be introduced for staff earning over €65,000. The scale of pay cuts will be increased on a gradual basis, with those earning over €185,000 facing a 10 per cent cut.
Premium rates for staff working on a Sunday will be set at 1.75 times normal pay rather than double time. Public servants will also be asked to work longer hours and have their overtime payments reduced.
Staff earning more than €65,000 face a three-year freeze on increments, while those earning up to €35,000 will have a three-month freeze. Those earning between €35,000 and €65,000 will face two three-month freezes in the course of the agreement.
Staff at the top of their incremental pay scale will be asked to contribute either six days annual leave, the cash value of these holidays or the cash value of one increment on their scale.
Broken economy
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin arrived at Lansdowne House in Dublin shortly before 7am to deal with final elements of a the deal. Mr Howlin said proposals which "meet the targets we set out" have been sent to the unions.
"I understand how difficult this whole process has been for trade unions," he told reporters after the deal was struck. "We are asking people to make another contribution to fixing our broken economy."
Mr Howlin said the deal on the table was complex but when read people would see it was constructed in a way to impact on everybody in a fair way.
"No individual sector of the public service is in any way targeted," he said. "Everybody is asked to make a fair contribution and I've made it clear this will be the last contribution people will be asked to make."
Congress, the umbrella group for trade unions, also welcomed the deal. "We have achieved far more through negotiation than we could have hoped to gain through protests," said Shay Cody, the chair of the public services committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Impact said the deal ensured that there would be no compulsory redundancies in the public service, but that higher paid workers would accept pay cuts.
Savings of €1bn sought
The public service unions who yesterday walked out of the talks have vowed to vigorously oppose any move by the Government to introduce legislation to cut the earnings of their members.
The Government's plans to secure savings of €1 billion on its pay and pensions bill by renegotiating the current deal for its staff ran into serious difficulties last night when four trade unions left the process.
The unions who walked out were the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) and Unite.
Several weeks ago two organisations representing gardaí left the process which is aimed at reaching an extension to the current Croke Park agreement. The Psychiatric Nurses Association had never become involved in the process.
Other unions representing workers in the public service remain in discussions with Government representatives.
However, the developments last night mean that unions and associations representing 80,000 public service staff are outside the talks – leaving open the prospect that the Government may have to introduce legislation to secure savings in the areas where these personnel work.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny had warned that in the absence of an agreement the Government would introduce legislation to secure the saving of €1 billion over the coming three years. The Government wants to save €300 million this year.
The INMO and the IMO both said last night they would resist any move by the Government to impose cuts to their members earnings by passing new legislation. INMO general secretary Liam Doran said: "Let us be quite clear. If the Government moves to legislate then we in turn will move to mobilise with every means at our disposal to oppose the adoption of legislation that will reduce the income that a nurse or midwife receives for working at weekends or an evening which they are required to do to maintain a 24/7 service."
Strength of feeling
The IMO's director of industrial relations, Steve Tweed, said the Government should not underestimate the strength of feeling that workers in the health sector feel towards the proposed cuts and should not underestimate the resistance to the imposition of pay reductions on its members.
The CPSU said its representatives were left with no choice but to leave on foot of "a series of draconian proposals from Government representatives which are designed to have a huge impact on the working lives and wages of 12,000 members countrywide".
Unite said the scale of the cuts would be hardest felt by those on low salaries.
A spokesman for the Garda Representative Association said: "We were never in talks. We were in a twilight meeting on the outside of the talks. We're not affiliated to Congress and as it stands we have yet to hear from the official side about any change. "As far as our members are concerned we are still in Croke Park."
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association, whose members will see up to 10 per cent pay cuts, said it will be "even harder to recruit and retain highly specialised, internationally mobile hospital consultants".
Government sources said the departure of the unions was regrettable but not surprising given they had had set out their positions from the start that they would not move on proposals to cut the pay bill.


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I was at a blogger conference this weekend and leading up to the event and when I got there, I felt myself feeling like I wasn't doing enough – not working hard enough, not spending enough hours, etc. I wasn't growing like other bloggers and should spend even more hours dedicated to that growth. I just wasn't enough.
How many of you have felt that way? Don't we all at some point? For most of our society, being driven and pulling extra hours at work is celebrated. You are passionate, committed, successful… If you aren't killing yourself over your job, you aren't working hard enough it seems.
Then, I sat there Saturday morning listening to Kristen from Dine and Dish and I was reminded of why work can't be my only priority. I left teaching to become healthier and happier, and I am. I can't replace the stress of teaching with the stress of my business. Not only will my body suffer, but my creativity and passion for this blog will suffer, too. Yes, work is a priority and important to me, but so is my husband, my family, my friends and, most importantly, myself.
Yes. I said it. I may not always act like it but I am my most important priority. You are your most important priority. If we do not take care of ourselves, everything else falls apart and yet we feel guilty the moment we do something for ourselves. We call it selfish or self-centered when really it is healing, a smart investment, a needed refresher. We need to change the language we use and realized it is okay to make ourselves a priority.
In fact, when I do, not only am I happier and healthier, but I am actually more successful at work because I have the energy and creativity to be so.
I am making a commitment to myself and I think you should, too. I am finding ways to create "Me Moments". While some of these moments might involve a walk after work or a movie night with Bryan, most of them are solely about me. What I enjoy. What I like to do. So here are some ideas for creating me moments. I hope you will be inspired to create your own list and start investing in yourself – even if it's only for 5 minutes.
Before we get to those tips though, you might want to pause a moment and enter this giveaway!! Because winning a prize would be an awesome way to kick off a Me Moment.
Häagen Dazs #ArtisanFlavors Contest
Schedule Your Me Moment
If you live by your schedule, why wouldn't you schedule in time for yourself? It allows you to see it as a priority and for your family to do the same. Maybe scheduling it means a set time – a manicure appointment, a baby sitter coming over, etc. Maybe it just means putting "20 minutes of reading during nap time" or a walk after dinner. Schedule it the way it makes sense to you but make sure you have a written reminder that you are important.


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7th Circuit Appeals Court Opinion: Lilly found to have wrongly terminated disability benefits
In the
United States Court of Appeals
For the Seventh Circuit
No. 16-2314
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. No. 1:13-cv-01103-WTL-TAB — William T. Lawrence, Judge.
Before POSNER, MANION, and HAMILTON, Circuit Judges. POSNER, Circuit Judge. This case is about fibromyalgia, "a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, diffuse tenderness, and a number of other symptoms. The word 'fibromyalgia' comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek [terms] for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). … [F]ibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person's ability to carry on daily activities. … Scientists estimate that fibrom- Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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yalgia affects 5 million Americans age 18 or older." National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, "Questions and Answers about Fibromyalgia," July 2014, www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Fibromyalgia/default.asp (visited May 16, 2017, as were the other websites cited in this opinion). "'Chronic' means that the pain lasts a long time— at least 3 months or longer. Many people experience fibromyalgia pain for years before being diagnosed. 'Widespread' means that it is felt all over, in both the upper and lower parts of the body. However, many people with fibromyalgia feel their pain in specific areas of their body, such as in their shoulder or neck. And 'Tenderness' means that even a small amount of pressure can cause a lot of pain." Lyrica, "Fibromyalgia [Frequently Asked Questions]," www.lyrica.com/ frequently-asked-questions#fibromyalgia. As further explained by the Mayo Clinic, "Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia than are men. Many people who have fibromyalgia also have tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression." Mayo Clinic, "Fibromyalgia," www.mayoclinic. org/diseases-conditions/fibromyalgia/home/ovc-20317786 (emphasis added). Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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There used to be considerable skepticism that fibromyalgia was a real disease. No more. See, besides the websites already cited, Anne Underwood, "The Long Search for Fibromyalgia Support," New York Times, Sept. 23, 2009, www.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-fibromyalgiaess. html; and Valencia Higuera, "Fibromyalgia: Real or Imagined?," Healthline Newsletter, Aug. 17, 2016, www. healthline.com/health/fibromyalgia-real-or-imagined. And finally the American College of Rheumatology offers the following harrowing description of the disease: "Fibromyalgia is a neurologic chronic health condition that causes pain all over the body and other symptoms. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia that patients most often have are: Tenderness to touch or pressure affecting muscles and sometimes joints or even the skin. Severe fatigue. Sleep problems (waking up unrefreshed). Problems with memory or thinking clearly. Some patients also may have: Depression or anxiety. Migraine or tension headaches. Digestive problems: irritable bowel syndrome (commonly called IBS) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (often referred to as GERD). Irritable or overactive bladder. Pelvic pain. Temporomandibular disorder—often called TMJ (a set of symptoms including face or jaw pain, jaw clicking, and ringing in the ears)." American College of Rheumatology, "Fibromyalgia," www. rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Cond itions/Fibromyalgia. Eli Lilly and Company is a global pharmaceutical corporation headquartered in Indianapolis. And it is familiar with fibromyalgia because it markets a drug called Cymbalta (a trade name for Duloxetine) for treating the disease. It has retained an expert on fibromyalgia, Dr. Daniel Clauw of the Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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University of Michigan, a physician and professor of rheumatology, to advise it on the disease, and he has pointed out that many persons afflicted with fibromyalgia "end up needing to stop working because of this condition" and that the disease "is not only very common but is typically also very disabling." So much for background; now for the case: Cathleen Kennedy, the plaintiff, was hired by Lilly in 1982 and rose rapidly, eventually becoming an executive director in the company's human resources division, with a monthly salary of $25,011. But at the beginning of 2008 she was forced to quit work because of disabling symptoms of fibromyalgia. As a participant in the company's Extended Disability Benefits plan, she requested benefits upon ceasing to work, and effective May 1, 2009, was approved for monthly benefits of $18,972.44. Three and a half years later, however, her benefits were terminated, precipitating this suit by her against Lilly's self-funded Extended Disability Plan based on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq., which so far as pertains to this case sets minimum standards for voluntarily established health and pension plans in private industry. See Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. Glenn, 554 U.S. 105, 115 (2008). Lilly's disability plan has discretion to deny claims that it deems not to meet its standard, but a reviewing court will overturn a denial of benefits if the plan's decision is unreasonable. Edwards v. Briggs & Stratton Retirement Plan, 639 F.3d 355, 360 (7th Cir. 2011). The plan states that an employee has a "disability" if unable "to engage, for remuneration or profit, in any occupation commensurate with the Employee's education, training, Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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and experience." Kennedy's benefits were revoked by Lilly's Employee Benefits Committee (the administrator of the plan), on the ground that her fibromyalgia was not disabling. The district judge granted summary judgment in favor of Ms. Kennedy and awarded her $537,843.81 in past benefits (benefits she should have received but did not) and prejudgment interest, and in addition the judge ordered Lilly to reinstate Kennedy's disability benefits retroactive to December 2012 and resume the payment of her monthly benefits. Lilly based its unsuccessful case in the district court on evidence presented by a number of doctors (oddly not including Dr. Clauw), but the evidence turned out to be a hodgepodge. For example, Lilly sent Kennedy to be examined by a Dr. Schriber in Dayton, Ohio, more than 100 miles from Kennedy's home in Indianapolis. The doctor conducted a physical exam of her that lasted all of five minutes. He testified that the "American College of Rheumatology does not consider fibromyalgia to be disabling on a long-term basis." That, as we know from our earlier quotation from the ACR is false; and Lilly itself appears not to have relied on Dr. Schriber's opinion in its decision to terminate Kennedy's benefits. A psychiatrist named Dr. Osman advised Lilly that Kennedy "from a psychiatric standpoint … has no restrictions or limitations," but based this on her having been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder rather than with fibromyalgia, a disease about which as a psychiatrist he could not be expected to offer an authoritative opinion; apparently he offered no opinion. Another psychiatrist, Dr. Goldman, opined similarly. And a urologist, Dr. Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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Davi, after reviewing Kennedy's medical records, told Lilly that she was not disabled from working "from a urology perspective," which Kennedy does not dispute and in any event seems irrelevant. Kennedy's general internist, Dr. Condit, testified that she's permanently disabled, basing this opinion on his diagnoses of her nonarticular rheumatism (musculoskeletal aches and pains not traceable to joints), fibromyalgia, sleep disorder, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, restless leg syndrome, and her symptoms of pain and fatigue. Dr. Condit retired and Dr. Steven Neucks became Kennedy's treating rheumatologist. He testified to her "pain, poor quality sleep, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating," remarked that "because of her fibromyalgia and degenerative arthritis, as well as her underlying discomfort, I do not think that she can work a regular work schedule," and added that he "thought [that] at [her] last visit [to him] her function level had declined slightly and that her anxiety was significantly worse." And he commended her for her "consistency and lack of attempt to over dramatize her limitations," adding that "is I believe, suggestive of forthright presentation." Dr. Dayton Payne, reviewing Ms. Kennedy's disability claim but not examining her, opined that she was able to return to her past job, while acknowledging mention in the medical record of fatigue, irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, diffuse tenderness, and tender points. Dr. Payne appears not to have credited these symptoms, saying that "all of the laboratory data in this file are normal." But as the district judge pointed out, it is error to demand laboratory data to credit the symp- Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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toms of fibromyalgia—the crucial symptoms, pain and fatigue, won't appear on laboratory tests. Hawkins v. First Union Corp. Long-Term Disability Plan, 326 F.3d 914, 919 (7th Cir. 2003). Another doctor hired by the company, Dr. Dikranian, a rheumatologist, reviewed Kennedy's medical records and expressed skepticism about whether she had fibromyalgia at all. But as with Dr. Schriber even Lilly seems not to have credited Dr. Dikranian's evaluation. The company's Employee Benefits Committee didn't mention his conclusions in its decision, and is represented by Lilly as having grudgingly "acknowledged that Kennedy does have fibromyalgia and that fibromyalgia has caused her "some restrictions and limitations" (emphasis added). All deficiencies in its evidence to one side, Lilly has failed to indicate what job or kind of job, and at what level, Kennedy would be capable of performing if the company is permitted to cancel her benefits. Dr. Neucks opined that Kennedy "could do [only] a low stress, non-high cognitive functioning job at about 30 hours a week," which equals six hours a day. Neucks further opined that she would experience "flares" that would prevent her from working for one or two days a month, further shrinking her job prospects and presumably her salary. "Fibromyalgia is ... characterized by chronic, widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive impairments, poor sleep, and mood difficulties. … These symptoms ... appear to undergo periods of exacerbation or worsening, often colloquially referred to as 'flares' by patients and their health care providers." Ann Vincent et al., "Fibromyalgia Flares: A Qualitative Analysis," 17 Pain Medicine 463 (2016), Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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http://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article-lookup/doi/ 10.1111/pme.12676. Ms. Kennedy was informed by a liaison to the Employee Benefits Committee that if she could work 20 hours per week as a secretary she would not be considered disabled. Yet in its written decision the Committee said only that Kennedy could work in "various non-executive positions in compensation, benefits, and other human resources fields," which is both vague and inconsistent with the medical evidence. If Dr. Neucks is correct about the flares (and there is no evidence that he's not), Kennedy wouldn't be able to work any regular schedule. Another questionable aspect of Lilly's case is the company's conflict of interest, by reason of its being both the initial adjudicator of an employee's benefits claim (via Lilly's Employee Benefits Committee) and the payor of those benefits. See Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. v. Glenn, supra, 554 U.S. at 108. By cutting off Kennedy's benefits the company has saved itself about $2.5 million. Big as Lilly is, that's not a trivial loss. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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MANION, Circuit Judge, dissenting. Cathleen Kennedy challenges her plan administrator's decision to terminate her benefits under an ERISA disability plan. Under the plan, Kennedy is entitled to benefits if she is unable to perform "any occupation consistent with [her] education, training, and experience" because of illness or injury treated by a physician. The plan contains discretionary language, meaning we can overturn the administrator's decision only if it was arbitrary and capricious. Mote v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 502 F.3d 601, 606 (7th Cir. 2007). Nevertheless, the court sets it aside. Because I conclude that the administrator's decision was within the bounds of reasonableness, I would sustain it. Therefore, I respectfully dissent. Where ERISA disability plans contain language granting the plan administrator discretionary authority, our power to set aside the administrator's decision is substantially limited. We may "overturn the administrator's decision only where there is an absence of reasoning to support it." Jackman Financial Corp. v. Humana Ins. Co., 641 F.3d 860, 864 (7th Cir. 2011). We are not to substitute our judgment for that of the administrator so long as the administrator has made "an informed judgment and articulate[d] an explanation for it that is satisfactory in light of the relevant facts." Herman v. Cent. States, Se. & Sw. Areas Pension Fund, 423 F.3d 684, 692 (7th Cir. 2005) (quoting Carr v. Gates Health Care Plan, 195 F.3d 292, 294 (7th Cir. 1999)). In other words, the decision must stand unless it is "downright unreasonable." Id. (quoting Carr, 195 F.3d at 294). This is not a rubber stamp, but it is quite deferential. See id. at 693. The administrator's decision in this case contains sufficient evidence to sustain it under that standard. With respect Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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to limitations caused by fibromyalgia (the main dispute here), the administrator relied on reports from Drs. Neucks and Condit, both of whom were Kennedy's treating rheumatologist at one point, as well as a record review by Dr. Payne. In 2010, Dr. Neucks concluded that Kennedy had "average fibromyalgia," with relatively high functioning and normal movement. He said that Kennedy could work a lower‐stress job for about 30 hours per week with some limitations, but that her condition did not preclude the performance of any job. In 2012, once Dr. Neucks had replaced Dr. Condit as treating rheumatologist, he indicated once again that Kennedy could not perform her old job because of its high stress and cognitive demands. In 2013, he opined that Kennedy could not work a regular schedule or perform high‐stress activities. He never stated that Kennedy was totally disabled from doing any work.1 After a record review, Dr. Payne concluded that Kennedy's medical records did not support restrictions or limitations on 1 The court thinks that the "any occupation" standard is too harsh. It finds unfair that Kennedy might have to take a part‐time position or a job below her pay grade and forego disability benefits (which she, quite rationally, probably doesn't want to do given the significant sum she receives in benefits each month). But it's not our place to rewrite the language of the plan, and the administrator has discretion to interpret it. Moreover, the court faults the administrator for its failure to indicate which jobs Kennedy could do with her restrictions. Of course, the administrator did say that she could potentially do "various non‐executive positions in compensation, benefits, and other human resources fields." The court says this is both vague and inconsistent with the medical evidence. However, as I explain throughout the dissent, the conclusion that Kennedy could perform in a lower‐stress position (with some accommodations for flare‐ups) is a reasonable interpretation of the evidence. Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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activities. The court says that Dr. Payne erred by requiring laboratory data to confirm Kennedy's diagnosis of fibromyalgia, but that's not quite right. He acknowledged the diagnosis, but his relevant conclusion was about Kennedy's functional limitations. While the amount of pain someone experiences is entirely subjective, "how much an individual's degree of pain or fatigue limits [her] functional abilities ... can be objectively measured." Williams v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 509 F.3d 317, 322 (7th Cir. 2007); see also Boardman v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 337 F.3d 9, 17 n.5 (1st Cir. 2003) ("While the diagnoses of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia may not lend themselves to objective clinical findings, the physical limitations imposed by the symptoms of such illnesses do lend themselves to objective analysis."). Social Security administrative law judges make these determinations every day in cases where claimants report pain but can still do some work. In short, it was not improper for the administrator to rely on Dr. Payne's conclusion that Kennedy's medical records did not support functional limitations, irrespective of the diagnosis of fibromyalgia. There was also other evidence apart from the doctors that indicated Kennedy could work in some occupations. She selfreported in a questionnaire to Anthem that she exercised often (and Dr. Neucks reported in 2010 that Kennedy could jog three miles). And, speaking of Social Security, that Administration found that Kennedy was not disabled under a similar standard to "any occupation" on February 13, 2012. We have upheld an administrator's decision to deny benefits in several cases despite a contrary Social Security decision, so the administrator in this case should have been entitled to rely in part on a negative Social Security finding. See, e.g., Mote, 502 F.3d at 610; Black v. Long Term Disability Ins., 582 F.3d 738, 748 Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12
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(7th Cir. 2009). That is especially true when the Social Security decision bolsters other competent evidence on the record.2 Nobody disputes that Kennedy has fibromyalgia. Yet, most people with fibromyalgia can work. Hawkins v. First Union Corp. Long‐Term Disability Plan, 326 F.3d 914, 916 (7th Cir. 2003). I cannot agree that the administrator's determination that Kennedy is one of those still able to work was arbitrary and capricious. "Although others reviewing [Kennedy's] medical condition in the first instance may reasonably conclude that she is disabled ... our standard of review in this matter is deferential, and we [should not] say that [the administrator's] determination was unreasonable." Black, 582 F.3d at 748. The record contains sufficient evidence to uphold the decision. Therefore, I would reverse the judgment of the district court. I respectfully dissent. 2 The court also references the administrator's conflict of interest. We have held that conflicts of interest for self‐funded ERISA plans "may act as a tiebreaker in finding that the determination was arbitrary and capricious" depending on the circumstances of the case. Black, 582 F.3d at 748 (citing Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Glenn, 554 U.S. 105, 118 (2008)). But in Black, we rejected the employee's argument that a conflict of interest required the administrator to give more weight to a positive Social Security determination. Id. Here, we have a negative Social Security finding and other evidence by which the administrator could have rationally found that Kennedy is not disabled. The self‐funded nature of the plan does not override that deferential standard of review. Case: 16-2314 Document: 40 Filed: 05/18/2017 Pages: 12


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How To Make Use Of Goods Resource In Forge Of Empires Game
The most common resource that you will use in the game of Forge Of Empires is Goods. These are available in the Goods Building, and there are around 70 kinds of Goods that you can use in the game. You can spend Goods on several occasions. That's why some people desperately need to use our Forge Of Empire Cheats Some of the uses of Goods are mentioned below.
Trading is the most important aspect of the game. As purchasing every single product from the Goods store is difficult, so players trade these Goods. All those goods that are not easy or cheap to acquire can be traded. You can even join a Guild to perform several trades with other players.
Once you join a Guild, you be able to perform the Fair Trading system. In this system, Goods are traded evenly, which is based on the production costs of the goods that are involved. It is up to each player, if he wants to make use of the Fair Trade system or Free Market Trading system.
Negotiating With Provinces:
Instead of fighting for a province, some players can make use of certain Goods to negotiate with a province. It depends on the owner of the province to demand the number of items it requires. The demand can be a minimum of one product or a maximum of four products. These demands will depend on the difficulty level of acquiring a province.
You can research for numerous technologies in the game. These technologies are required for unlocking buildings, units, infrastructures, guilds, etc. Researching in the game is vital because when a player researches a technology of a higher age, he will progress to that age.
There are different amount of technologies that are available to be unlocked in each age. For instance, the Bronze Age has 22 technologies whereas the Contemporary Era has 18 technologies. The amount of Coins, Supplies, and Goods required to complete the technologies also varies. To know more about the technologies that have been researched and the ones that are left to be researched, you can check them through the Tech-Tree. The Tech-Tree is a visual representation of your progress through the various Ages.
Constructing Great Buildings:
Great Buildings are special buildings that are built by players as they provide powerful benefits. At each Age, you will come across two Great Buildings. Each of these Buildings has unique bonuses, space required to build it, as well as graphics. Conventional Buildings require Coins and Resources to build but Great Buildings need Goods and Blueprints too.
Goods Buildings:
Goods are created in the Goods Buildings and they can be unlocked through Research and Technology. It is very costly to build a Goods Buildings. Moreover, you will require loads of people to work there as employees. To use a Goods Building, you will require Coins and Supplies.
Depending on your current Age, you can get a Goods Package as a reward. Goods Package can be earned through treasure hunts, completing certain quests, purchasing them with Diamonds, conquering certain provinces, and producing them in some special buildings.