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Spider-Man vs. Spider-Man (Pop Culture Smash)
By: Alexander "River" Gatensby
Back in 1962, a legend was born. A young man was bitten by a spider in a lab, and his life was flipped, turned upside-down. Peter Parker, a 15-year old kid gained the power to climb walls, and the proportional strength of a spider, and most importantly the power to blow our freaking minds with how awesome he is. Now, obviously this didn't happen in real life (except for the blowing of said minds); Spider-man is the creation of writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. He's a fictional comic book hero from the golden age of comic books.
Over the years, Spidey has changed quite a bit, but still maintained a pretty steady status as one of Marvel's flagship characters, and one of the first Marvel characters to appear in a big-budget film adaptation. Since the early 2000's 3 different film actors have played the character on the big screen. We decided to have an office viewing of some of the best Spider-Man films, to see which web-slinger people like most, because as we all know, whenever more than one person plays a character, there is always a debate on who portrayed the role best. Knowing this, I took it upon myself to figure out who truly is the best Spider-Man (based on their portrayal of the character and their movies overall).
Needless to say, please make sure you have seen all of the Spider-man movies before reading this if you care at all about spoilers
I grew up with Spider-man, so this debate is pretty personal to me. I was obsessed. I used to get up at 6:30 in the morning to watch the 1960's cartoon because it aired on the family channel. I spent hours every week playing the Spider-man 2 video game, swinging my way through New-York. Most relevantly to this topic, I have been to every Spider-man movie in theatres since Spider-man 3! Now that I've tried to validate my knowledge a little let's get into the debate.
If you're new to this, here's how it works: I'll give my opinion on each actor's portrayal of the character (and points on their movies in general), mixed in with a community view to make it fair. Then in the end, count up the votes on who likes what Spider-man.
As I mentioned before, there are 3 actors for Spider-Man, the first of which being Tobey Maguire. I have to say, I do have a little bit of bias towards Maguire's version of Spidey, just because I grew up with those movies. He captured the character of Peter Parker very well, as sort-of a geeky outcast to his peers, and a bit reclusive. He played Spider-Man in 3 movies, (two of which were good).
- One of the most important elements to Spider-man's character is his trouble with balancing his personal and love-life, with super-hero work. He can never have a normal life, because he has a responsibility to help those in need. Tobey Maguire captures this almost perfectly, especially in the second film.
- Peter's love interest, Mary-Jane, is played by Kirsten Dunst. Every one of their interactions is like an awkward staring contest with words here and there.
- A comment that I heard frequently while we were watching Spider-man 2 is that these movies are literally just Peter Parker staring at his friends. I do hear this a lot about Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man, and I have ignored it up to this point, but I have to admit that it is a bit ridiculous.
- Another thing to note, is that the Spider-Man costume in this movie is amazing. It looks reminiscent of the comic books, and stays consistent across all three films
- One obvious letdown of this rendition of Spider-Man is the third movie with Venom. Tobey Maguire's acting in that movie was less than spectacular. I watched the movie in theatres, and liked it as a kid, but growing up I've started to skip it every time I feel like going on a Spider-Man binge. The Venom symbiote is supposed to make him stronger and fuel his anger, not make him an emo street dancer.
- I have heard some criticisms on his age compared to the characters age, and I feel like it is only fair to mention that, but I don't really see the issue there. He looks enough like a college student to pas as a good web-slinger, but again; it was only fair to mention that.
Next up is Andrew Garfield. They really changed it up with "The Amazing Spider-Man". In this duo of movies Spider-Man isn't really the geeky teen we've grown to know, but a smart hipster skater guy who gets bullied occasionally. These movies adopted kind-of a darker tone as well.
- He was good in the costume, and his costume was good. He played the classic traits of Spider-Man well, what with the joking and such.
- Emma stone rocks the role of Gwen Stacy, Peter's love interest.
- While he may have played well with the costume on, his portrayal of Peter Parker was off. He was aggressive, depressive, and all-around a disappointing version (only my opinion, I know there are tonnes of Amazing Spider-Man fans)
- Curt Connors (the Lizard) is a great villain. I was very excited about his inclusion in the movie. He is one of Spidey's first villains; a wonderful inclusion for the big screen and Rhys Ifans rocked the roll.
- Having watched the Amazing Spider-Man 2 again recently, I have to say it was a bit hard to follow. They tried to juggle too many different plot points (such as Peter and Gwen's relationship, and Peter's parents). It seems like each point comes out of nowhere at random moments throughout the movie. It's really hard to connect with the character when the movies are so all over the place.
- One thing that was good about Garfield's movies though, is that his costume in number 2 was on point! It looked pretty much exactly like it should have. It was almost like they pulled it straight from the comics.
- My personal opinions aside, a lot of people loved those two movies. I think people like the love story between Peter and Gwen Stacey. The way they went about it was interesting.
Last but not least, I would like to introduce Tom Holland to the race. Tom is the newest Spider-man, having played the character in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, and 2017's Spider-man Homecoming.
- Holland plays a younger spider-man, 15 years old to be exact, which is accurate to the original age of when peter became Spider-man.
- He nailed both sides of the character: Spider-Man and Peter Parker, which can't necessarily be said about the other two actors. Homecoming really tackled the classic Peter Parker struggle of getting his personal life tangled with his super-hero life, and not being able to really "have a life".
- His movie ties into the Marvel universe as a whole. This may not relevant to his acting, but it's cool to have a Spider-Man who can hang out with Iron man and Captain America.
- One of the things that sucks about Holland's movie though is that a bunch of the supporting characters were changed. I don't think it was necessary.
- Spider-man Home-coming deals with the whole "With great power comes great responsibility" in a whole new way. Instead of having Uncle Ben deliver this information. Peter gets to learn all of this on his own, with some assistance from Tony Stark.
- Spider-Man's suit was filled with Stark tech. I don't personally have a problem with it, but a lot of people wanted Spidey to stay away from tech-based super-suits. I guess people mostly have a problem with it because he didn't even create the suit himself, which is how it usually is.
- I heard the point that Tony Stark basically replaces Uncle Ben as the father figure role. I didn't really get that out of the movie when I watched it, but whatever I guess. People take out different things from movies.
After watching all of the movies with the Shakat Team, and taking in a community vote from social media, we have our result! Overall the votes added up came to:
Tom Holland: 43.4%
Andrew Garfield: 9.4%
Tobey Maguire: 41.5%
Deadpool: 5.7% (I threw him into the vote for fun)
It seems as though Tom Holland has won! Spider-Man: Homecoming, is still fresh in our minds, so it only makes sense that he would win people over. Not only is his character the right age, but he plays both sides of Peter and Spider-Man perfectly. It is a good thing that people like him, because he is our Spider-Man for the foreseeable future. I have to say though, Tobey Maguire was a really close second which makes me very happy.
But there you have, it Tom Holland is Yukon's pick for the best Spider-man actor!
If you want to see some of the folks we talked to, there is a wonderful video Skyler Isaac and Alexander "River" Gatensby worked on together. Check it out:


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A hospital is supposed to be a place of healing, where patients go to be made better. When you or a loved one is in the hospital for a surgical procedure, you expect you will be treated properly and not exposed to any unnecessary danger. However, there is a growing epidemic of bacterial infections, injuring more than 500,000 surgical patients each year. Almost all of these infections could have been prevented with proper hygiene, following standard procedures and avoiding dangerous medical equipment.
What causes hospital-acquired and surgical site infections?
The direct cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), including surgical site infections (SSIs), is bacteria. When bacteria enter your body through a surgical incision, they multiply and release toxins that damage your body's cells. Sometimes your body's immune system fights off the infection, but sometimes it does not.
How dangerous are these infections?
It depends. If you catch strep throat from someone in a hospital, that technically would be a hospital-acquired infection, or HAI. However, some truly deadly bacteria are known for causing HAIs, and one such killer, MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), is on the rise in the United States. MRSA cannot be cured with normal antibiotics because it has developed a resistance to their effects.
Surgical site infections are especially dangerous because the surgical incision allows bacteria greater access to your body and vital organs. Internal SSIs can lead to septicemia, organ failure, low blood pressure, and even death.
Can SSIs be prevented?
Yes, SSIs are preventable. Proper cleanliness and sanitation procedures are standard practice in all U.S. medical facilities, and doctors and nurses strive to keep their hospitals and offices as germ-free as possible. However, sometimes mistakes are made and infections can occur.
There is some evidence that contaminated Forced Air Warming systems used in operating rooms nationwide cause wound contamination and may increase the risk of SSIs, which they were designed to prevent. When rising, dirty hot air escapes from the devices and interferes with the Laminar Flow system that blows purified air over the surgical site. Bacteria can be deposited into the incision site. Even worse, many of the hot air blowers are internally contaminated with germs and blow millions of germ-sized particles in the operating room each hour.
What are my legal options in the case of a SSI?
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to sue the hospital or forced-air warming manufacturer for your injury. The experienced injury lawyers of Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P in Houston will help you build your legal case and recover compensation you deserve if you have acquired a serious infection due to negligence.
To schedule a free consultation with our Houston medical injury lawyers, please contact Kennedy Hodges, L.L.P today.

subset: commoncrawl


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This summer has brought back a lot of memories from the summer before my little sister was born (1987). The summer I learned to swim because we spent — at least in my child's memory — virtually every day at the "big lake" (Lake Michigan) trying to stay cool by staying wet. The summer we had bonfires and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows on what seemed like a weekly basis, carrying coolers and beach towels up over the dunes in tatty tennis shoes to avoid burning the soles of our feet in the scorching hot sand.
My dad — who in another life must have been a DJ — was the one who provided the boom box and mix tapes (yes: tapes) for these long afternoons at the water's edge, and this album is one that I will always associate with summertime, heat, sand, and the smell of food cooking on the grill.
Here's one of my favorite songs from said album.
The latest heat wave broke last night and we're supposed to have a more manageable weekend ahead of us — hopefully I'll have enough brain cells left to complete all the half-finished book reviews I've got in my queue. Stay tuned!
What are your favorite songs of summer?


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Black and White photography
Why would you make black and white pictures today? Is this time over? In the first days of photography, black and white was the only option available. Some even took colored pencils at that time to add color to black and white photos as an artistic expression! How does Black and White picture fare today?
Those of you that are making Black and White pictures are working hard! Today's digital cameras create only color picture, same for the smart phones. Yes there are options to create in-camera black and white picture but the result is often ugly and uninspiring. Why is this?
From Yesterday to now, Black and White Photography
The Black and White negative film used in the past (and still available today) where less sensitive than today's cameras. Picture had naturally more contrast because of the limited dynamic range of these films. This limited dynamic range created pitch black and pure white. Today's sensors are quite better and the great, in-camera, picture of the past are muddy grey! No more pitch black and pure white in these pictures.
Moreover, these films were prone to create noise. Noise was evenly and randomly distributed across the whole image. This created an interesting look that is not part of today's pictures. Noise helps. It removes reality from the picture. As such, it is a way to express ourselves.
Why would we do Black and White photography today?
Black and white picture is not what it used to be. This being said, should you consider doing Black and White picture today? My response is a definitive yes! Here are the benefits of black and white pictures:
- Less distractions;
Color is distracting. We are attracted to warm colors over cold colors. Warm or intense colors are distracting. By eliminating color, we eliminate some distractions. The scene is simpler to compose. The subject gains all the attention. This is the purpose of publishing a picture, getting and retaining the attention of the viewer on the subject.
- Simplification;
It is easier to make a picture that is simple in Black and White. By simplifying the picture, we communicate better and more intensely with the viewer. This picture of the Watermill taken in Terrebonne is a good example of simplification. The watermill seems to be a rock going through time.
- Guiding the eye;
The subject is the key to your image. You want to help the viewer find the subject and hopefully have the subject be the focal point of the image. In Black and white this is easier. A dark subject on a light background or vice-versa will help the subject stand-out and keep the attention.
You can also try High Key or Low Key techniques. By putting a light subject on a light background you will create curiosity. Look at these images on 500px they are quite stunning in terms of simplicity and communicate strongly!
- Emotion;
A scene could be more dramatic and intense in Black and White and generate emotion. This included picture of the Montreal Port with the Montreal City building in the background is a good example. The city is rather dark and gloomy and surrounded by a light sky and almost white frozen water at its base. In the foreground, the frozen black ice with all the cracks really conveys cold feelings. By putting the horizon line in the top quarter of the frame, the City is farther away and more isolated. This loneliness intensifies the cold feeling.
Post-processing is mandatory with black and white picture.
In order for your picture to convey this intense look, try these tips and techniques:
- Increase contrast! A black and white picture needs some pitch black and pure white. In Lightroom look at the black and white slider and make sure you use the whole available range of tone;
- Try out the luminance slider associated with each color. By varying the luminance you could help isolate the subject. A blue sky could become very dramatic by lowering the luminance of the blue color;
- Don't forget the temperature slider. This might seems strange but moving this slider will impact the distribution of tone and could make the picture more interesting;
- Noise, the enemy of color, is your friend now! In fact, high noise in a picture is a reason for converting a picture to black and white. Add noise to your picture and see if the overall look is improved. Remember, removing reality from a picture increase the artistic impression conveyed by the picture;
- A black and white picture is not complete until you darken the edge. Adding a vignette help direct the eyes of the viewer to the subject;
Remember that less is better when going through these post-processing tips.
Great black and white picture are easier to do than it seems when you try these techniques. Since most pictures are published in colors, your B&W Pictures will help you stand out, be seen and remembered.
I use Lightroom and Nik Silver eFex Pro or onOne Software Perfect Black and White for my Black and White Post Processing. You can get a 30 days evaluation version of these softwares by following these links.
I can't wait to see your B&W picture. Just leave a comment with a link to your picture and I will give you my honest opinion.


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GENEVA (Reuters) - About 20,000 Tamils from across Europe are expected to protest in Geneva on Friday at Sri Lanka's military offensive against Tamil rebels, the United Nations said on Thursday.
Police in the Swiss city, which is home to the U.N. European headquarters and to many Tamil immigrants, said 200 buses from across Europe were expected to bring protesters in.
Demonstrators were expected to wind through Geneva in the afternoon and then rally in the public square in front of the U.N.'s Palais des Nations complex, where Tamils held smaller protests in past weeks as fighting intensified in Sri Lanka.
A Tamil man in his mid-20s killed himself by pouring gasoline on his body and setting himself alight during one demonstration last week.
One organiser said at least 10,000 Tamils were travelling from Britain, joining others from Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway and the Netherlands.
U.N. staff in Geneva said they had been told to go home from mid-day. Security was being tightened at the Palais des Nations, where 1,600 people work, a U.N. statement said.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have fought for a quarter century for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka's northeast, but an army offensive has now cornered them in a small wedge of jungle.
The government formally abandoned a six-year-old Norwegian- brokered ceasefire a year ago.
John Holmes, the top U.N. humanitarian official, urged rebels and the government on Thursday to protect civilians. Around 36,000 have fled the war zone to government-run camps.


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In the recent Costa Mesa regional in a pairs game I picked up
Partner opened bid and made 6♦
4 days later in the Sunday Swiss I held
Partner bid Hearts over a ♠ opener so 5♦ bid and made
I have never held a ten card solid suit before and I had 2 in 4 days.
I was wondering how often other people have had this come up.
How does this violate our Community Guidelines?
Benefits include:
Plus... it's free!


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New album, book coming from Cody Simpson
Australian teen-pop star Cody Simpson will release Surfers Paradise, his second full-length album July 16. He'll also publish an autobiography, Welcome To Paradise: My Journey, through HarperCollins in October.
The 16-year-old singer has already released the album's first single, Pretty Brown Eyes, and recently posted a video for another track called Awake All Night to YouTube.
"Surfers Paradise is basically the most famous area on the Gold Coast of Australia, where I am from," Simpson, whose parents were both national-champion swimmers, says in a press release. "I think this album really represents that piece of me, my lifestyle, and where I come from. When making my first album Paradise, it was sort of a journey to find myself as a young adult and artist. With Surfers Paradise the entire process felt more natural and comfortable, like being back home. I wanted to share that feeling with my fans."
Simpson beings a 36-date tour May 30 in Jacksonville, Fla. Ryan Beatty and Before You Exit will open.


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|Kenwood Office
8250 Kenwood Crossing Way
Cincinnati, OH 45236
(513) 948-8444
| West Chester Office
7777 University Drive, Suite D
West Chester, OH 45069
(513) 948-8444
An online resource center providing you with additional helpful information.
View the KidsDoc Symptom Checker from HealthyChildren.org
A bad breakout can be traumatic and inconvenient at any age. Almost everyone suffers from some form of acne at some point, and the hormonal changes that occur during puberty make teenagers especially susceptible to blemishes. Acne affects everyone differently, from a few scattered pimples that eventually clear up on their own to inflammation that leads to painful swelling and redness.
The important thing to remember is that acne is a normal part of life. Knowing how to deal with breakouts when they happen can help to prevent scarring, as well as the social anxiety that can make acne sufferers want to stay home and hide until the skin clears up!
Acne Breakouts - What You Need to Know
Some forms of acne are worse than others. Your Cincinnati pediatricians at Mid-City Pediatrics treat young patients suffering from acne. They also offer tips on the best methods for maintaining clear skin and preventing pimples and blemishes.
Clear Skin Facts and Myths
Contrary to popular belief (and well meaning grandmothers everywhere), habits like eating chocolate or poor hygiene do not cause or make acne worse. While eating a healthy diet and staying active are important factors to maintaining overall health, acne results from hormonal changes and the over-production of sebum (oil).
When excess oil from the sebaceous glands mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, it can block hair follicles, leading to small breakouts - and, in some cases, to the inflammation that causes more severe redness and painful swelling.
For the more severe cases, Mid-City Pediatrics recommends making an appointment for treatment. While popping a pimple might be tempting and seem like a good short term solution, the best option is to see a skin care professional to avoid scarring. Over-the-counter treatments with salicylic acid can help to calm irritation between visits to the dermatologist or pediatrician.
To learn more about acne treatment and prevention, call Mid-City Pediatrics today at (513) 948-8444 in Kenwood or (513) 948-8444 in West Chester. Let your Cincinnati pediatricians help your teen maintain clear, healthy skin.
Kenwood Office
(513) 948-8444
West Chester Office
(513) 948-8444
Messages left through the website will be answered by the end of the next business day. If you have an urgent matter, call the office at
513-948-8444. If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.


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Please make a point if you haven't already to read this excellent post by Ashlyyleia of "Mental Health @ Home" – This is such a valuable and informative piece on Mental Health worksheets at home.
Even if seeing a therapist isn't part of your mental illness treatment plan (as is currently the case for me), it can still be useful to do some of this kind of work on your own. There are some great online resources out there to help you do just that. In this post I've included links to some sites that have some practical worksheets and workbooks. Some of them will make the most sense if you have some background knowledge about the type of therapy, but many are pretty self-explanatory. Of course the downside of working on these on your own is that you don't get the objective feedback that a therapist is able to give, but they can still be useful.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based treatment used for a variety of different mental illnesses. A key element of CBT is identifying evidence to challenge distorted…
View original post 362 more words


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This Device Measures Your Breathing to See If You're Stressed Out
Is that big interview stressing you out? A new wearable may be able to tell you how to fix that.
Spire is a device that measures your breathing rhythms to deduce stress levels, its website says. It then provides suggestions on how to combat those stress symptoms, such as taking deep breaths. Spire clips onto a belt or shirt and tracks movement and corresponding breaths, which it then sends to your smartphone. A Spire app then sends the data to the cloud for analysis.
"Spire does not try to remove all your stress," the website reads. "It tries to help you manage it effectively and keep it in balance."
The wearable clip-on will cost $149.99, but discounts are available to early buyers.
Currently, the device is only supported on iPhone, but an Android version is in the works. The product is available for pre-sale and will begin shipping in September.


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Russia counting cost of sanctions
Russia is counting the potential cost of Western sanctions targeting its key energy and finance sectors, with its central bank promising to support lenders hit with penalties.
The US and European Union announced a raft of new penalties that would limit the trade of arms and technology that can be used in the oil industry and for military purposes. The EU also put its capital markets off limits for Russian state-owned banks.
The hope is to make the penalties, which had until recently mainly targeted Russian individuals, more biting economically for Russia.
Amid concerns about the potential impact on Russia's financial stability, the central bank announced it would "take adequate measures" to support the targeted banks. It did not give further details.
The reaction in the stock markets in Moscow was mixed, as investors had sold off shares in Russian companies for the past two weeks after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed over east Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. Western officials accuse Russia-backed separatists of bringing down the plane with a missile supplied by Moscow.
Reports last week that the new, tougher sanctions were due had also caused markets to tumble for days ahead of their formal announcement.
On Wednesday, the MICEX benchmark index was up 2%, mainly thanks to a rise in shares in companies that were spared sanctions. Shares in VTB Bank, Russia's second largest and one of the sanctions targets, were down 0.9%.
Analysts warn that with most large state-owned banks cut off from Western funding, the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia's growth could be severe. US officials said that roughly 30% of Russia's banking sector assets would now be constrained by sanctions.
The International Monetary Fund already slashed Russia's growth forecast for this year to nearly zero, down from 1.3% last year, and the US says more than 100 billion US dollars in capital is expected to flow out of the country.
"Russia's actions in Ukraine and the sanctions that we've already imposed have made a weak Russian economy even weaker," US president Barack Obama said.
It remained uncertain whether the tougher penalties will have any impact on Russia's actions in Ukraine and it is not clear what further actions the US and Europe were willing to take if the situation remains unchanged. In the nearly two weeks since the Malaysia Airlines plane was felled in eastern Ukraine, Russia appears to have deepened its engagement in the conflict, with the US and its potallies saying that Russia was building up troops and weaponry along its border with Ukraine.
Europe has a far stronger economic relationship with Russia than the US does, and until this week European Union leaders had been reluctant to impose harsh penalties - in part out of fear of harming their own economies.
EU President Herman Van Rompuy and the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said the sanctions sent a "strong warning" that Russia's destabilisation of Ukraine could not be tolerated.
"When the violence created spirals out of control and leads to the killing of almost 300 innocent civilians in their flight from the Netherlands to Malaysia, the situation requires urgent and determined response," the two top EU officials said in a statement.
The new EU sanctions put the 28-nation bloc on par with earlier sector sanctions announced by the US and in some cases may even exceed the American penalties.
Obama said coordinating the actions will ensure that the sanctions "will have an even bigger bite".
Despite the West's escalation of its actions against Russia, Obama said the US and Europe are not entering into Soviet-era stand-off with Russia.
"It's not a new Cold War," he said in response to a reporter's question.
German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier pressed for a diplomatic effort to calm the situation in Ukraine, saying "sanctions alone are not a policy, so we must continue to seek opportunities to defuse the conflict politically".
A meeting planned in Minsk this week between the contact group and representatives from eastern Ukraine "must agree steps on the road to a cease-fire," Steinmeier said in a statement.
He renewed a call on all sides to allow unrestricted access to the Malaysia Airlines crash site. "It is intolerable that, two weeks after the crash, it is still not possible to bury with dignity the dead who remain at the crash site," he said.
Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he was focused on the Malaysia Airlines disaster and was not considering ratcheting up sanctions against Russia.
"I'm not saying that we might not at some point in the future move further. But at the moment, our focus is not on sanctions; our focus is on bringing home our dead as quickly as we humanly can," Abbott told reporters.
The United States and European leaders said they are prepared to intensify sanctions against Russia unless it moves to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine.
The Group of Seven world leaders said in a statement that Russia has not changed course despite the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet. They are calling the downing a watershed and say it should have led Russia to stop the flow of weapons and militants from Russia into Ukraine.
The leaders say they have "grave concern" about Russia's actions. They say if Russia chooses de-escalation, the sanctions will be removed, but will otherwise be stepped up.
An official European Union document shows three long-time Putin cronies are among eight people who have been hit with new EU sanctions.
The European Union measures announced yesterday were the first to target members of the Russian president's inner circle.
Among those sanctioned are Arkady Rotenberg, Mr Putin's former judo sparring partner and a major shareholder of Giprotransmost, which received a public contract to conduct a study on building a bridge from Russia to Crimea, which Russia annexed unilaterally in April.
Also targeted by the EU is Yuri Kovalchuk, a long-time Putin acquaintance identified by the EU as co-founder of a cooperative society bringing together influential individuals around Russia's president. He is the chairman of Bank Rossiya, which has opened branches in Crimea since its annexation.
PA Media


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and Receive Complimentary E-Books of Previous Editions
The International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction (IJMHCI) brings together a comprehensive collection of research articles from international experts on the design, evaluation, and use of innovative handheld, mobile, and wearable technologies. This journal will also consider issues associated with the social and/or organizational impacts of such technologies. Emerging theories, methods, and interaction designs are included and complemented with case studies, which demonstrate the practical application of these new ideas.
Mobile devices are one of the most accessible, transformative technologies that we have created, and they have had a rapid worldwide impact. Thus, a journal dedicated to the study of how they are used, how we perceive them, what systems we envisage creating, supporting or supplementing with them, and how they are altering our perceptions of communication, computation, interaction, and technology is both timely and interesting.
The International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction is a very valuable asset for researchers working in the mobile area. Before this journal came into existence, relevant references were scattered across so many journals and conferences that it was difficult to ensure that one had the best and most recent. That problem has thankfully been solved!
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit their original empirical research articles 5,000–7,000 words in length. Interested authors must consult the journal's guidelines for manuscript submissions at http://www.igi-global.com/publish/contributor-resources/before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted articles will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis by no fewer than 3 members of the journal's Editorial Review Board and 1 Associate Editor. Final decision regarding acceptance/revision/rejection will be based on the reviews received from the reviewers and at the sole discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
When submitting your manuscript for initial review, please do NOT remove figures from the file and ignore any error messages that leaving figures in situ may generate. Removal of images is only needed upon successful acceptance of a manuscript.


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The Miami Dolphins seemed like the perfect fit for Matt Flynn seeing as he's spent plenty of time working with Joe Philbin while in Green Bay but the team ultimately chose to refrain from meeting his asking price and now he'll be playing in Seattle for the foreseeable future.
So, what's next for the Dolphins.
Alex Smith met with the team today but Matt Maiocco of the CSN Bay Area reports that sources have informed him that the Dolphins are not expected to offer him a contract. Smith finds himself in a precarious situation after turning down a reasonable three-year deal worth $24 million from the 49ers.
David Garrard will visit with the team later in the week so he could be an option but you'd have to think that a 34 year old quarterback coming off of a back injury isn't going to be their best option.
Matt Moore is currently under contract for a reasonable price and was able to put together a respectable season for them so I'm sure they're comfortable keeping him in the mix.
As we mentioned earlier, it's seems like the Dolphins are ready to address the position in the draft and the most likely target is Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill. Miami would have to be willing to use their #8 overall pick on him but at this point he could very well be their best available option. Mike Sherman coached him in college and he has the physical tools to be a decent quarterback. The only concern with him is the amount of playing he's had at the position. Miami would have to consider him a developmental prospect which is why it would make sense to keep Moore available.
Other players that they could target in the draft would include: Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler or Kirk Cousins.


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18 September 2012
The hydraulic yoke is adjustable, allowing installers to change the wind turbine nacelle's centre of gravity to an exact angle when mounting the nacelle on the tower. The device increases safety, reduces risk and lowers operational costs, says Fyns Kran Udstyr, which is exhibiting at Husum this week.
"The hydraulic yoke for wind turbine nacelles not only helps to improve working conditions and to enhance safety, but it also helps to save time while erecting wind turbines", Torben Kofoed, the company's sales manager says.
The hydraulic nacelle yoke is CE-approved, and fulfills multiple standards and legislation requirements for safety and risk management. It has been developed and perfected during the past 15 years. To date Fyns Kran Udstyr has supplied more than 100 nacelle yokes leading wind turbine manufacturers around the world.
See the hydraulic nacelle yoke in action here, while it is being tested to 150% of its capacity, or take a peek via YouTube.
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Wind power


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In just a few more hours I will be a mother to a one month old! I believe she is trying to stay up for this monumental occasion. So far we have gone 6 hours without sleep. We finally got to go to a Baby Love class held at our birthing center! Granted T cried the entire time and peed down my entire shirt- remind me why I didn't bring a change of clothes knowing I would be massaging my naked baby? We did a little bit of massage and a little meditation, and got to meet a lot of new mommies and slightly more experienced mommies. It was wonderful, even with the pee! She is currently being rocked by her daddy and staring at me in the dim light with big I'm-never-going-to-sleep eyes. It's a beautiful sight.
In the words of my mother, you get the baby that you need.


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About Texas Children's HospitalTexas Children's Health Plan (TCHP) is the largest Texas Medicaid managed care organization, and is part of the Texas Children's healthcare system. Founded in 1996, TCHP is the nation's first health maintenance organization (HMO) created just for children and pregnant women. Our plan is also the largest combined STAR/CHIP Managed Care Organization in the Harris County service area. Currently the Health Plan serves more than 450,000 members across three service areas (Harris, Jefferson, North East). Members of the plan receive care from our network of more than 4,000 primary care physicians, 8,000 specialists, and 110 hospitals. They can also receive care at The Center for Children and Women, a patient and family-centered medical home with two convenient locations for TCHP members who can have all their medical needs met in one place, receiving multiple services the same day. TCHP is a recognized leader at encouraging holistic care that empowers families to live healthier lives. To join our community of 13,000 dedicated team members, visit www.texaschildrenspeople.org for career opportunities. You can also learn more about our amazing culture at www.infinitepassion.org
We are searching for a Certified Medical Assistant – someone who works well in a fast-paced setting. In this position, you will provide patient care and excellent customer service in the hospital health care setting and assist in the coordination of flow and provider schedules.
Think you've got what it takes?
Responsibilities :


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Microderm MD$299
What on earth is Microdermabrasion? And is it painful?
Looking for an at home skin treatment option so you can improve the appearance of:
- Fine lines and wrinkles.
- Acne or other scars.
- Skin conditions and blemishes.
- Blackhead or large unsightly pores.
- Sun damaged skin, age or liver spots
- Dull uneven skin tone and texture or rough skin on your hands and feet?
Well I was super curious about microdermabrasion after hearing about it from a friend and heard some great things about Microderm MD. So I did some research and checked out a whole bunch of Microderm MD reviews before finally making my purchase and checking it out!
Microderm MD Reviews – What Is Microderm MD?
Microderm MD is an at home microdermabrasion machine. Microdermabrasion is essentially a mechanically aided powerful exfoliation that helps to improve the appearance of your skin by reducing the appearance of blemishes and damaged skin and by smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike dermabrasion which needs to be preformed by doctors and is pretty painful, microdermabrasion is almost completely painless and can be done by you at home. Sounds great?
So How Exactly Does Microderm MD Work?
This was one of my big questions before I purchased Microderm MD. How exactly does Microderm work?
Well this machine works through a combination of diamond tipped exfoliation and suction. So the diamond tip works away at dead skin cells and dirt while the suction then collects this debris to give your skin that healthy glow we are all after! Since the outer layer of skin is removed the new healthy skin can shine through. The suction also increases blood flow to the skin which helps you to rebuild elastin and collagen for younger looking skin.
Microderm MD comes with an automatic option function. This gives you instructions on how to use the machine on your face, which part of the face to use first etc. And adjusts the suction power depending on the sensitivity of the part of the face you are working on. So softer suction for the eye area and a little harder suction for the cheeks and nose. Just turn it on, follow the prompts and listen for the beep to move on to the next area of your face.
Satisfaction 30 Day Guarantee
Microderm MD is made by Trophy Skin. It comes with a 30 day satisfaction money back guarantee. So this means that within 30 days you are not happy with the product, you can return it for a refund. This really takes the risk out of the purchase.
3 Year Warranty
Microderm MD also has an industry leading 3 year warranty. So if anything goes wrong with your Microderm MD, it can be repaired under warranty.
Free Shipping
Microderm MD are currently offering free shipping. This was not previously available. You needed to pay extra for shipping. So some good news here.
What I Don't Like About Microderm MD
There are a couple of things that I didn't like about Microderm MD. Firstly, it's a little pricey. To purchase the Microderm MD in a one-time payment it costs $299. However they do have payment plans or a 30 day trial where you can try out the product for 30 days for $24.95 so you can really try out whether this product is for you and if you don't love it you can return it without having to ever pay for the full machine.
Also it will take some time to really get rid of deep wrinkles. Fine lines and wrinkles are easily improved with the Microderm MD, however from the Microderm MD reviews I have read it seems like Microderm MD would not be a quick fix for those deeper wrinkles so it may take more time and you might want to combine this treatment with a powerful anti-wrinkle cream.
What I Like About Microderm MD
Well the number 1 thing I liked about Microderm MD was the way it made my skin feel and look. Super soft which is awesome. But here are some other things I really like about it from my experience and other Microderm MD reviews:
- I love how easy it is to use, just wash your face, run a 10 minute automatic session where the machine runs through exactly what you need to do. Wash your face again and apply your favorite moisturizer. Way easier and cheaper than going to a spa for a treatment!
- It was really gentle on my skin and didn't leave it feeling dry or irritated. Yet it was still effective.
- That it is effective for such a range of skin concerns not only an anti-aging treatment.
- And I also love that it comes with a 30 day trial for only $24.95 (free shipping). Who doesn't like to try a product first risk free! Especially before coming up with a $299 investment!
- Payment plans available.
Where To Buy Microderm MD
Where to buy MicrodermMD? Well although you can buy the Microderm MD on amazon and a couple of other sites, the only place where you can get the 30 day trial is on the official Microderm MD website.
So if you are interested in the Microderm MD but are not sure whether you are ready to make the $299 investment, then the 30 day trial for $24.95 is a great way to test it out first and make sure that its going to be worth the money for you! Or they also have payment plans and offer free shipping for all these options.
If you're not into it, you get to return the product, it's a no risk option to be able to give microdermabrasion a go in the comfort of your own home.


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Applications have opened for the John Hume and Thomas P. O'Neill Chair in Peace based at the University of Ulster's Magee campus, it was confirmed today (9th July 2014).
The international peace and reconciliation Chair was established in honour of the two peacemakers and builds on the work of the University's International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE), The Transitional Justice Institute and the UNESCO Centre which all work on the peace building both locally and internationally.
The International Fund for Ireland provided £1.4 million towards the Chair and its goals of actively consolidating peace locally, and globally while contributing to the research and teaching agenda of INCORE. Following the appointment of the new Chair, the University will be creating two PhD Scholarships – the International Fund for Ireland Scholarship, over a period of 6 years.
University of Ulster Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett said:
"The John Hume and Thomas P. O'Neill Chair in Peace is a full-time permanent academic position that honours both men's significant contributions to peace, and their unique friendship. It will play a pivotal role in overseeing a new INCORE peace initiative, which will help to develop the next generation of peacemakers from around the world.
"The university is deeply proud of the contribution we have made to peace locally and internationally. The Chair in Peace will further build on our global network of peace builders and reputation for excellence in peace and conflict studies."
Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, Dr Adrian Johnston, said:
"The John Hume and Thomas P. O'Neill Chair in Peace is very close to the International Fund for Ireland and the peacebuilding goals that we stand for. John Hume and Thomas P. O'Neill were monumental in creating the conditions for a political settlement and championed Ireland's fledging Peace Process at the highest levels during our darkest days.
"The position is a fitting tribute that honours their vision and amplifies the lessons of local and international peace-making efforts. We are proud to support the John Hume and Thomas P. O'Neill Chair in Peace and wish the applicants every success in competing for this unique and important position."
The Chair in Peace honours Nobel prize winner John Hume, who played a pivotal role in the peace process in Northern Ireland, and Thomas P. O'Neill who, as Speaker of the House of Representatives, was a major force for enlisting the United States in advancing peace in Northern Ireland. The two men worked together as colleagues and friends.
To find out more or to apply visit the University of Ulster website at www.ulster.ac.uk/jobs
For further information about our funding programmes, or for information on how to apply for funding, please contact the person(s) or organisation(s) identifed at the end of the relevant programme summary in the areas of activity section.
International Fund for Ireland
Seatem House
28-32 Alfred St.
+44 (0)28 9031 2884


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Thank you for visiting my website!
There is no reason for us to suffer or to be unhappy.
I hope you will learn to change your mind about health.
Good health and true joy awaits all those who will.
I wish you peace, joy and most of all … good health!


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Engagement of Children and Young People
The Children and Young People's Health Outcome Forum report made it clear that children, young people and their families should be included in any decisions about delivery and development of the care they receive. This was recognised by the PiP Board and at the 2013 Annual Conference.
Engaging Children & Young People in Service Development
Following the Annual Conference, this event was held on 28th March 2014
The aims of the event were to:
- hear the experiences of young people: how can they influence our work?
- build confidence in professionals in engaging with children and young people
- explore how we embed the concept into organisations and influence our Senior Leaders
- share examples of good practice
- develop supportive networks for those engaged in this work
This was an immensely successful day, mainly due to the involvement of the young people - eight 'Health Champions' from Shropshire and three students from the Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy (OSSMA) in Stoke on Trent.
There were several presentations:
Kath Evans (Head of Patient Experience for Maternity, Neonates and Children and Young People) reminded participants that the 'rights' of children and young people are enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - which the UK signed up to in 1991.
Her presentation demonstrated that there is a lot of good practice taking place in many areas. However, she challenged delegates to question their practice and ensure that we all challenge the culture of our respective organisations, particularly in ensuring that the voice of C&YP are heard at Board level.
Professor Rod Thomson (Director of Public Health, Shropshire) and Ann Hartley (Lead Member for Children's Services, Shropshire Council), stressed the importance of ensuring that an organisation's leadership is fully engaged in this work. School Councils and members of the Youth Parliament are representative and democratic and therefore good vehicles for involving young people.
Then there was a Quiz..
The Health Champions from Shropshire had developed a quiz -'Are you smarter than a 10 year old?' (based on the TV programme of the same name). The questions were based on the young people's different experiences of using our health services. This was highly interactive and involved a lot of audience participation! It also left much room for thought.
The young people had also developed a number of Top Tips to be taken into consideration when working with them:
- Always introduce yourself and say what your role is: 'hashtag hello my name is' (Dr Kate Granger's campaign)
- Explain what you are doing to a young person and why
- Don't talk down to a young person / don't patronise them
- DUA! Don't use acronyms
- If you need to use specialist language please explain it
- Don't treat us as if we are a rag doll --‐ we have feelings and value our personal space
- Don't make us feel small --‐ believe what we are saying
- Don't make us feel guilty
- Talk to us as well as our parent or carer and make our parent or carer feel valued. They're frightened too and we worry about them
- Make us feel safe
- Listen. Don't keep making us repeat ourselves
- Try not to give us conflicting advice
- Be aware of our feelings
- It's OK to say you don't know something or to apologise
- Don't be the bad apple; be the good example and be proud!
Although a lot of good practice is currently taking place, it is clear that further work could be done. During the course of the day, several delegates said that they had been inspired and motivated to do more, but some people commented that they would now change how they take things forward.
One delegate said: "I feel really inspired and it reminds me of the reasons we all work with children & young people in the first place."
Progress since the event:
- Delegates who attended the event have been asked to feedback how work is progressing in their respective organisations (We worked with some of the young people to design a questionnaire to gather this information, using Survey Monkey)
- In liaision with the Young Health Champions Project Manager from Shropshire CCG, we are exploring the opportunities to re-create and video the interactive quiz that the young people developed, so that it can be shared as an example of 'good practice'
- Progress was reported at the Board meeting held on 16th July 2014.
- Progress and outcomes were presented at the 2014 Annual Conference on 21st October. Certificates of Recognition were given to four Trusts - in recognition of the work undertaken in Engaging with children & young people in health service provision (since attending the event):
- Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt NHS Foundation Trust
- The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
"PiP has a lot of credibility amongst paediatricians and health care professionals. Working in collaboration, members have consistently established clinical networks in a number of speciality areas."
"I have worked closely with PiP over a number of years, and their work has been highly influential in developing networks, both nationally and regionally".
"….the upskilling was excellent. The master classes covered the management of children's acute care and everyday health problems..."
"PiP has raised the profile of Child Sexual Abuse across the region, encouraging, training and supporting clinicians to work in this sensitive and challenging area..."
"The Paediatric Anaesthetic Network (PAN) provides a great forum for discussion and sharing problems and ideas with like-minded people working in different hospitals."
"Tēnā koutou - greetings from New Zealand...the approach PiP has adopted in the development of clinical networks....has helped inform initiatives now implemented in New Zealand's child & youth health sector".
"I can trust the PiP 'Brand' to deliver high quality education".
Thank you for that amazing Workshop! I gained such a lot of invaluable knowledge' (attended Cerebral Palsy & Spasticity study day - November 2018)
PiP just goes from strength to strength – well done & sincere thanks for all your leadership particularly in bringing people together & nurturing collaboration, its sincerely valued, PiP remains a 'bright spot' on the national landscape (November 2018)
I'm writing to thank everyone in PIP for their excellent guidelines, study days, senior nurse support and above all professional friendship. My career is now taking me overseas but your philosophy will be going with me - and a copy of the PIP clinical guidelines book!
Many thanks for the invitation to present. It was a really informative and thought-provoking conference and I'm happy to have been able to contribute. Also a very well organised event too!
The event was well put together and it was a privilege to be part of the special day.


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Michael Bloomberg's hand-picked head lobbyist for anti-gun group Moms Demand attempted to smear me as a racist because in my video for the NRA I said:
"If a mom puts a gun to the face of a home invading thug and makes him run for his life, the story gets buried. But if she's unarmed and murdered, the cameras will be at the scene before the police."
You see, mothers who defend themselves and their children are the bad guys because, according to Moms Demand, there is greater virtue in allowing your family to be harmed than defending them. Yes, all criminals are thugs and so are the heads of anti-gun groups who push to disarm moms like me thus making us more susceptible to harm. Does Watts agree with her boss's recorded remark from earlier this year that black Americans are responsible for "95% of the country's crimes?" From my piece published in February:
Via the Washington Times:
Bloomberg claimed that 95 percent of murders fall into a specific category: male, minority and between the ages of 15 and 25. Cities need to get guns out of this group's hands and keep them alive, he said.
Criminals don't follow laws. The larger government grows the fewer opportunities for those who live under it. Bloomberg feels this is a blessing, not a burden that contributes to desperate people doing desperate things for money or to escape their reality. Disarming minorities for their own good? The KKK would agree with him. This was the logic behind the first federally-backed gun grab at Wounded Knee. It was the rationale used by white Democrats to prevent free black men and women from exercising their Second Amendment rights during Reconstruction. If you want to know who is the oppressed simply look at who is disarmed.
Additionally, Bloomberg can't do math.
To Bloomberg's credit, there is a 93% statistic on murder but it describes the percentage of black Americans killed by other black Americans. The Bureau of Justice Statistics's report states that 93% of black murder victims were killed by other black individuals. It is not a number that nationally represents the number of murders as a whole:
Nearly half of the nation's murder victims in 2005 were black, and the number of black men who were slain is on the rise.
A majority of the black murder victims were relatively young — between 17 and 29, the Justice Department said in a study released Thursday.
The department's Bureau of Justice Statistics report offers a snapshot of racial disparities among violent crime victims. Black people represented an estimated 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2005, the latest data available, but were the victims of 49 percent of all murders and 15 percent of rapes, assaults and other nonfatal violent crimes nationwide.
Most of the black murder victims — 93 percent — were killed by other black people, the study found. About 85 percent of white victims were slain by other white people.
No, 95% of murders are not young black men.
I assume that Bloomberg's Everytown anti-gun group and its subsidiaries, Moms Demand and Mayors Against Illegal Guns, and Watts herself endorse this remark because they have absolutely refused repeated opportunities to condemn it.
Moms Demand has also refused repeated requests to support safety efforts with Project Child Safe.
Watts's has blocked me and every media person who has genuine questions about the troubling background and objectives of these groups, instead, choosing to attack people on Twitter from behind a block. Watts has carried on an online tantrum about my ad for days now.
Her group has confirmed that they do carry and they send their armed security to harass and step on anyone who asks questions and responds to press releases.
This group has shown us what they're really all about. Believe them.


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Will only hand over user details under Court Order (I can hear the sign-ups as we speak).
So the deal between the BPI and six of our largest ISPs yesterday turned our comments section red hot with many of you (rightfully) frustrated, disappointed and just plain furious. This should put something of a smile back on your face…
Be Unlimited, which is fast becoming something of a people's champion, has stepped into the breach to proclaim it has politely declined the BPI's membership offer and will not be divulging any user details unless instructed directly by legal court order. Here's what Oli White, Be's Head of Marketing, had to say:
"Be welcomes today's announcement form the BPI that ISPs should engage in communicating the issue of illegal file-sharing to their customers. As Be grows its member base we are getting an increasing number of requests from 3rd parties for information about members who they believe have infringed their copyright or other intellectual property rights. Be has a policy of making it clear to our members of how Be deals with these requests."
"Where a content owner (like a record label or a games company) approaches Be and requests the details of a member because of an alleged copyright infringement we will not supply this information direct to the requester unless they have a Court Order. To keep members informed of what's going on in most circumstances we will try to contact the member in question to make them aware that we have had a request from the rights holder."
"Under circumstances when a Court Order is served on Be, which requires us to supply information about member activity, we will comply with the Order and pass the relevant contact information to the rights holder (and in accordance with our Privacy and cookie policy). In this case under most circumstance we will not inform the member that this has occurred as this may compromise the investigation related to the Court Order."
Can't say fairer than that: protect the customer to the max and forewarn them of BPI investigation up until the point the law forbids them. How will the BPI react? Well, issuing thousands of individual court orders may seem like a powerful way to get its point across but in reality doing it (and getting each approved) is a laborious and time consuming process so the appeal is likely to wane quickly. Instead expect the BPI to come back at Be a few months down the line. Before that it will hope to gather the momentum to make its proposals harder to ignore.
Simultaneously expect thousands of customers to switch over to Be while waving two fingers (one if you're American, but UK based) in the direction of BSkyB, BT Retail, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Tiscali and Virgin Media.
Kudos Be, kudos.


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The "iPod," was retrofitted from an eight-foot tall, ten-foot wide survival device previously used in protests to prevent Arctic drilling.
"Apple's executives have thus far ignored the hundreds of thousands of people asking them to use their influence for good by building a cloud powered by renewable energy," Greenpeace USA Executive Director Phil Radford said. "As Apple's customers, we love our iPhones and iPads, but we don't want to use an iCloud fueled by the smog of dirty coal pollution."
With the iPod broadcasting audio messages from supporters, four activists dressed as fully functional iPhones with TV screens as torsos arrived to display messages from supporters on Twitter and Facebook to the company's employees as they entered the campus. The previous night, activists projected tweets, photos and messages from Clean Our Cloud supporters onto a wall of the headquarters.
Over 215,000 people have signed the Clean Our Cloud petition asking Apple to power its iCloud with clean energy since Greenpeace International launched its campaign last month.
Greenpeace International's recent report, "How Clean is Your Cloud?" evaluated fourteen IT companies based on key elements needed to build a clean cloud, including the electricity supply chain of over 80 data centres (1). The report found that Google and Yahoo are showing commitment to clean energy while Apple, Amazon and Microsoft rely on outdated coal and nuclear energy to deliver their clouds.
Apple has made a limited investment in renewable energy to provide a part of the current power for its data centre in North Carolina, but as the facility expands and outgrows this supply, more and more electricity will be provided by coal-fired power plants from Duke Energy. (2)
"For a company known for its innovation, Apple is being left in the dust by companies like Facebook, Google and Yahoo, all of whom have taken steps and adopted policies to ensure that their clouds are increasingly powered by clean energy," Greenpeace International IT Analyst Casey Harrell said.
Cupertino: David Pomerantz, Greenpeace International Media Officer, dpomeran[at]greenpeace.org, +001-914-584-9054
Cupertino: Gary Cook, Greenpeace International Senior Policy Analyst, gacook[at]greenpeace.org, +001-202-297-2370
Cupertino: Molly Dorozenski, Greenpeace USA Media Director, mdorozen[at]greenpeace.org
Cupertino: Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International IT Analyst, casey.harrell[at]greenpeace.org, +001-415-307-3382
Photos: available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09/sets/72157629442797226/. For high-resolution photos, contact Alex Yallop, ayallop[at]greenpeace.org, +31 (0) 624 94 19 65
Broadcast video clipreel: contact Julie Konop,
To follow the action, follow #cleancloud on Twitter, and visit http://www.facebook.com/CleanOurCloud on Facebook.
Notes to Editor:
1. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Climate-Reports/How-Clean-is-Your-Cloud/
2. http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/apple-come-clean-about-your-coal-problem-then/blog/40221/


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This week was one of the most contentious since the "What is connectivism" debate back in week one. The week one forum had 159 posts, and as of 31 Oct, the post "Power and Auto-Subscribe" has generated 108 posts. It all started one day when Stephen decided to play Zeus and sign everyone up for the weeks' forum to see what would happen. Then all hell broke loose. Lurkers were complaining they were suddenly being flooded by forum emails. I actually wondered why I was getting emails without having to go through the tedious effort of having to sign up each week (and often forgetting to do that until Tuesday, thus missing out on a lot of early week discussion). I actually appreciated this "god-like" course administrator action. It turns out I am a minority. And guess what? When Stephen shut off the email notifications at Wed noon, I forgot to turn it on and did not pick up on the lack of traffic until Thursday. Here's why I like email notification.
Most people want to sign up for things that they actually have the time to pay attention to. If they don't have the time, they would rather relegate message traffic to their RSS feed or just drop in on the website. I have a notoriously bad memory (since the arrival of Bradley Shoebottom release v1.0 (6 years old) and v2.0 (3.5 years old)) and I forget to go to websites to check status. I actually appreciate being notified some thing has "changed" via my one piece of technology that I can handle: my email.
I learned that the majority of "users' of this course preferred a very egalitarian method of accessing the information. They do not like to have information "pushed" to them; they would rather pull it from the network or connect to it on their own terms. The majority of people in the forum would appear to be non-credit participants. Now, there are some credit participants who use RSS and some who drop in on the forums daily without using RSS or email. It would be interesting to find out what their access preferences are. But I would not want to send out a survey and be accused of spamming anyone! Thus, I would not find out what users are truly like. I could only make some assumption of notification methodology based on forum sign-ups.
As an information architect for my day job, I routinely talk to users like the participants in this course, to find out how people use information. I would discern there are 2 administrative statuses: credit and non-credit. There are also those who have certain technology platform alerting preferences: Email and RSS. Then there are those that do not care for alerts. In my day job, I would then attempt to determine how many users are in each category so as to determine how important each feature was for a new tool implementation. It turns out I would need to be considerate of all types of access (Feeders (email/RSS) and non-feeders. As a course instructor, this puts me in a dilemma: how do I ensure that the participants get the information they need initially. Perhaps everyone is signed up to News or Administration Forum that only sends out messages on occasion (Thanks Lisa for that idea!) about significant changes in the course (assignment due dates) or changes in class times or cancellations. (This is not different than the system demonstrators welcome message when you sing up for a service) Everyone should get this kind of broadcast to ensure no one is left wondering, where the instructor in the UStream session only to discover it is moved up an hour. Broadcast via RSS, Email and The Daily would seem to be a legitimate notification effort, similar to doing community announcement via radio, TV, and the print medium. (I really should have signed up to the RSS feed and I would not have missed that session as my email on my profile is my home email which I do not monitor during the day).
For my day job, I use SharePoint (by Microsoft) as the Content Management system and Intranet. It sends me daily emails about changes to documents and sites where I am a project participant. Our SharePoint is also integrated with Microsoft Project, so when I am given a task, update my hours on a task, or get a new task, I get emails telling me I have work to do, even before I get the email form the Project Manager telling me what the task is, who I will work with, and what I need to get done. So I am used to lots of emails, but would like some things to be reduced into a Dashboard that I could consult about static things that have not changed.
My evening job as a lecturer fro RMC sees my using Desire2Learn's LMS to run my online courses. Interestingly, that system does not have either an email or RSS notification system implemented, instead relying on the student to regularly log on to see what is going on in the course. In my professional experience, a very user unfriendly what of ensuring students keep abreast of the course. Even though I post changes to the course homepage, I can't be sure everyone has seen it, so I have to send out email alerts letting them no of a change and to read the details on the course homepage. Many students do not use RSS (Military types) and some do not even have military email that they need to check because of their job function (private in the infantry)!
So to summarize, I work in a complex information environment. Each environment has to be judge for its uniqueness. Each has to way the pros and cons of how communication needs to happen between instructor and students or project manager and worker. What works for RMC (or does not as I have pointed out) does not work for CCK08, because there are different users and different tools being used. So the authority of the instructor has become a negotiation between various parties as they try to figure out what works for each course or organization. As the Elluminate and Ustream discussions pointed out, the authority has to be "given" by the participants, and reasonable. Failure to consider the users (students) will result in no one in the classroom. That being said, the user also has the responsibility of have to constantly "redefine" or interpret the operating parameters of the learning environment (course objects, assignments, technology being used), with an understanding of the communication model needed to ensure success. (However success is to be defined.)
Well, I've rambled on long enough and its Friday night, kids in bed (only one piece of candy after trick or treating) and only one beer in me. Luckily this post comes at the end of the week, so most CCK)8 participants will not likely ever be forced to read through my tedious "real-life" examples of how to design communications systems that aren't either an authoritarian Goebbels's propaganda blaster or a grass roots telephone pole notice system.
See ya in the forum.
Tags: CCK08


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Deep Blues Blend
This blend boasts the smooth, sweet body of Sumatran beans , perfectly complimented by the mellow acidity and nutty undertones of Peruvian beans. This unique roast is full bodied and deep flavored while still maintaining a sweet undertone.
100% Fairtrade & Organic Coffee
All new look for 2019 and beyond! Same great coffee, with some new additions. Check out our new seasonal blends; as well as new single origin offerings too!


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i'm not sure how many people out there own a helio (v-tech pda), but aaron ardiri just sent word that liberty, the palm os-based game boy emulator, is now available for the helio. check it out here. i've found the helio on sale for as much as $159, but i've heard that there are rebates and that it's selling for much less, too. i've also learned that it has been discontinued, so get them while they're hot. check out pdabuzz.com/vtech to talk with other helio owners and see what software is out there for this device. too bad it has been discontinued–i thought for sure that a linux-based one would ship or at least that some developers would code linux for it. oh well. anybody find one cheap?
user comments 15 comment(s)
|too bad? (2:37pm est fri apr 27 2001)
it's not too bad that it was discontinued. if you read any of the threads over at pdabuzz, you'll find countless complaints about support and software bugs. the thing was a mistake to begin with, and vtech screwed the people over by releasing it in the first place. it was a mercy killing. – by tuttle
|device could have been more (7:16pm est fri apr 27 2001)
the device could have been more than what it turned out. it has the potential to be a good pda, fast cpu, voice recoding et al – its just that developers didn't support the device :( it is very similar to palm, however, the user base is just not there – which is part of the reason for its demise :( i did what i did for fun, to explore other pda's – at the time, it was a cool thing. i was sorry to see it get discontinued but one developer cannot save a platform – by ardiri
|so when… (1:48pm est mon apr 30 2001)
…is that ardiri doofus going to release the first helio virus, like he did for the palm? – by mignar
|helio (7:22pm est mon oct 01 2001)
you can get the helio at comp usa for $120 – by pushy
|i like my helio!!! (8:33pm est tue dec 25 2001)
i just got a helio and i rather like it! i don't see what tuttle is talking about, at all. of course maybe thats something to do with my using it for personal information and usage in general rather than for work and business. whatever though, i just say i really love this thing and i cant believe that anybody would talk so about hating it!!! – by nikki
|helio (12:05am est thu dec 27 2001)
i got one too my first pda and i defy anyone to say anything about i paid 50 pound'd for it,whatcha gonna say about something that cheap "it works". – by dz
|helio (2:25pm est fri dec 28 2001)
i bought mine for ten and i have to say its a steal! – by cheyenne
|at least its a change (4:30pm est sun feb 10 2002)
i think that the helio is more designed for teens. its the only pda i saw that has a voice recorder. it's also fun o write basic programs on it. – by ????
|yup, picked one up for $10 (6:39pm est thu mar 14 2002)
and two demo models for $3 each (no cradles or software…)
just waiting for a workable linux distro for it…
|this sucks (5:08pm est fri mar 15 2002)
your web page is shit and it sucks ha ha ha – by the ones
|helio (10:16am est wed apr 03 2002)
u freaks but where can i buy a helio in england – by mr g
|v-tech helio (5:19am est tue apr 09 2002)
i personally wouldnt call myself a geek but i thought i should comment on how i find the helio a cheap and easy option to buy rather than buying the more expensive pda's that are on the market today. i payed �49 thats uk pounds -stirling. not too bad as i use it for work and play.i prefer iit over a bulky diary anyday. – by johnty
|you must open your minds (4:31am est wed may 08 2002)
i have tons of software for the helio i even play music from it the speaker is extremely loud when you record from external sources plus i have every game boy tittle ever released on my helio you this is some real futuristic shit i believe ignorant people who are not real techies were not ready for it the damn thing even lets you view jpegs and bitmaps with a crazy zoom and invert function its years ahead of its timed in a simple way and it outdoes palms by recording and playing audio without any additional hardware —-this is coming from a pocket pc owner — but i love my helio – by kid brolyk
|helio (4:15pm est sat jul 27 2002)
i got a blue one for 50 dollars at staples, with a 2 year warranty. it worked great but then the screen cracked and i had to send it back. now i got my new one (the second for me) back from vtech but it is pink! and since it was discontinued i can't get a new one. but color dosen't matter… right? – by john
|i like my helio (5:24pm est tue aug 13 2002)
i like my helio. does anyone know where i can find spades for helio?????
– by gina


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Category Archives: News
Distinguished Real Estate Designation Impacts Asset Value of RAFCO Managed Properties
Distinguished Real Estate Designation Impacts Asset Value of RAFCO Managed Properties FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12/8/16 RAFCO has earned the Accredited Management Organization (AMO) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the only recognition of excellence given … Continue reading
RAFCO Plays Role in Keeping Big Business and Top Talent in STL
We've always been looking at new ways to define space, to make it more friendly and more conducive to the new generation while at the same time promoting sustainability, maximizing efficiencies and enhancing productivity. The goal is to attract big business … Continue reading
Rafco Properties Wins Business Marketing Association- Targeted Advertising and Marketing Award (TAM)
St. Louis October 9, 2014 – Clayton-based Rafco Properties (Rafco) was recently recognized by the Business Marketing Association (BMA) at their annual Targeted Advertising and Marketing (TAM) awards event held at The Chase Park Plaza. Rafco received a "Gold" TAM … Continue reading
Work Hard-Play Hard!
The Rafco Team took a little time to mix it up with other Clayton companies at the Clayton Chamber of Commerce 2014 Bowling Bash. The Rafco Team showed up at Tropicana Lanes in their custom team shirts "Exceptional is How … Continue reading
Rafco Wins TAM Awards
Rafco Properties won two big marketing awards at the 2013 TAM Awards Event held on September 17th at the Chase Park Plaza. A Best in Category Award (highest honor) for "Rafco Re-branded Communication Elements" and a Gold Award (second highest … Continue reading
Rafco & KONE Share Technology Insights at BOMA Conference
An engaged audience gained some real-world understanding about BAS technology integration through case studies at the BOMA 2013 Every Building Conference at the San Diego Convention Center this past Monday. Tobias Rafael, Rafco Properties President, and Larry Wash, Executive VP … Continue reading
Rafco Speaks at BOMA National Conference
Rafco Properties' president, Tobias Rafael, will be speaking along with Larry Wash, CEO of KONE Americas at the national BOMA 2013 Every Building Conference in San Diego. The topic "Real-Time Data and Technology Drive Efficiency" will be presented in a … Continue reading


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MSU Extension Directory
An alphabetic index of departments, offices, and services.
Searchable directories for student, faculty and staff contact information for the Montana University System and the State of Montana.
Contact List
Frequently requested MSU contacts.
Ask Us Information Center
The student run Ask Us Information Center strives to provide accurate information about campus and community events.
Department Mailing Addresses
Post office box numbers for departments.
Other Resources
Calendar of Events, Academic Term Calendar, Registration Deadlines and Campus Map.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Contact MSU Extension.


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entering the gates
at the library
closer this time
the grounds
the paparazzi and the subjects
Glad that you were able to let us have a glimpse of Harvard. Perhaps dreaming is one thing that doesn't need a plane ticket and a passport.ReplyDelete
true. it was awesome i hope it's not a one-time opportunity :)Delete
This should be entitled Pre-nup at Harvard. hehe The photos were good.ReplyDelete
hahaha... or post-nup. thanks my brother the paparazzi would be glad to know that.Delete
lovely photos! i want to visit harvard too heheReplyDelete
thank you! it was a surprise trip that i'm glad we took.Delete
Your comment will appear after the blog author has published it.
Thank you for sharing your view. :)


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You are Invited to our "Back to the 80's"
Annual Orofino Chamber of Commerce AUCTION
May 4, 2018 6:00 p.m.
Best Western Lodge at River's Edge
- Full Dinner
- Silent Auction
- Games
- Oral Auction
- Door Prize
- Raffle Drawings
- Head's and Tails
- Prizes for Best Dressed
Many exciting Auction items and games. Get your tickets early as seating is limited.
Tickets are $40 per person which includes catered dinner by Dining on the Edge, dessert by Ronatta's and a complimentary beverage.
Only 175 tickets will be sold and you will be entered into a drawing for $500 CASH if you purchase your ticket before April 15, 2018, so don't wait, now's the time!
Tickets are available at the Orofino Chamber of Commerce, P1FCU, Banner Bank and LCCU.
Proceeds benefit Orofino, its citizens and businesses through the operations of the Orofino Chamber of Commerce!
Event Sponsors:
- US Bank
- Clearwater County Land & Title Company
- Les Schwab Tires
- Orofino Body Shop, Inc.


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LWL Shines at Tradeshow
As part of Linkletter's Welding Ltd.'s ongoing commitment to the community and our youth, we participated in the recent tradeshow highlighting local businesses and their efforts to involve young entrepreneurs in our community. Our booth at the Credit Union Place tradeshow was manned by these local young people.
They had a lot of fun, learned a great deal and did a super job!
Linkletter's Welding Ltd. on Parade
In support of the Summerside Lobster Carnival, LWL entered a float in the annual parade which highlighted local businesses, charities, community groups and service clubs.
The theme of the parade was youth and building young entrepenuers in our community so it was a natural fit for us.
All involved had a great time despite the rain.


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Excerpts from "A Beautiful Day"
Andrew Hill, Piano; Scott Colley, Bass; Nasheet Waits, Drums; Aaron Stewart, Tenor Saxophone; John Savage, Alto Saxophone; Marty Ehrlich, Alto Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute; Greg Tardy, Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet; J.D. Parron, Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet; Ron Horton, Dave Ballou, Laurie Frink and Bruce Stallins Trumpets, Charlie Gordon, Joe Fiedler and Mike Fahn; Trombones; Jose D'Avila, Tuba
Solo Piano Performance
From Queen Elizabeth Hall, London UK
Part One (6.16min 5.7MB)
Part Two (14.4min 12.9MB)
Part Three (6.06min 5.6MB)
Part Four (5.00min 4.5MB)
Part Five (10.54min 9.0MB)
Excerpts from Classic Recordings
(7:25min) from Spiral 1975
"Invitation" is a duet by Andrew Hill and Lee Kontiz.
Venture Inward
(3.07min 2.8MB) from Grass Roots 1968
featuring: Lee Morgan, trumpet; Booker Ervin, tenor sax; Andrew Hill piano; Ron Carter, bass; Freddie Waits, drums.
(3.07min 2.8MB) from Point of Departure 1964
featuring: Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Eric Dolphy, alto sax, flute & bass clarinet; Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Andrew Hill piano; Richard Davis, bass; Anthony Williams, drums.
(3.07min 2.7MB) from Black Fire 1963
featuring: Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Andrew Hill piano; Richard Davis, bass; Roy Haynes, drums.
Email | Top-Left Photo by James Payne, Website By Ben Azzara © 2000-2011


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Katy Perry announced the release of her new song, "Rise," that will be used during the 2016 Rio Games. Her newest song will be used during the NBC network's coverage of the Summer Games. Perry is not a newcomer to contributing work for the Olympics. Her hit song, "Roar," was used as the "cut-to-commercial" song for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The new song was just released yesterday, and her new video hit the streets today for fans to check out and is included below for you to check out before its time to start binge watching the 2016 Rio Olympics schedule.
"Rise" Video Delivers
The official video is tailored to be in the fashion of the training regime seen in the classic Rocky movies, but it is tailored to other countries in addition to the United States It includes various inspirational lyrics about beating the odds and overcoming doubt. It also has various voice overs from past Olympic Games play-by-plays. The uplifting video comes at a good time as the organizers of the Rio Games work to overcome a number of large obstacles to include the poor economy, the Zika virus, and various other scandals such as the city's only anti-doping lab being suspended. Although there have been a number of athletes to pull out of the Games, there are no planned delays or interruptions to the 2016 Olympic games schedule. If you would like to check out the specific schedule for your favorite event during the Olympics, we have a grunch of them posted here for you to enjoy.


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There's all kinds of information out there when it comes to getting fit. Unfortunately, some of the advice amount to no more than lies or well-intended but misleading information. However, if you're serious about getting in shape
The Higher Intensity the Better
Lots of books, magazines, or health sites advise you to undergo a low intensity regimen so you can "burn more calories". This is one of the biggest myths spread around so much that it's gospel. Let's think realistically for a moment, how can walking real fast burn more calories than running for the same amount of time? The low intensity myth is based on the fact that you can burn more calories the more oxygen is available. However, we're not talking about total calories but calorie burning efficiency.
The more intense your cardiovascular workout the more calories you burn and the more weight you'll lose. I think so many people give up on physical fitness programs because they're dumbed down to think they shouldn't push themselves too much. They get trapped in the doldrums, not seeing results, losing motivation and then quitting.
Go for an Hour
Another common health tip is "you should do at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise". This is true but most people interpret it as "let's not do anymore than 30 minutes." Sure, it's true that over-training can lead to fatigue and injury but do you honestly think the human body is so weak that it can't stand any more than 30 minutes a day? The body can take much more punishment than you think. You need to be aware of your body but the fact is most people haven't really exercised enough in their lives to really know their limits.
You Have Not Reached Your Limit
The first day of getting back in shape is always hell. My heart feels like it's bursting and my legs feel like they're about to give. I'm drained and sore after the session. It happens when you haven't exercised intensely for the last couple of months. So what do I do the next day when I'm so sore that I can barely hobble around the house? I go back and do it again. Rinse and repeat the day after.
Sure, there's a lingering soreness in my body and everyday I say to myself, "I need some rest". However, I still manage to crank out the same amount of calories if not more and even up the intensity. Did you know that people usually max out at 70% of their strength? There's some kind of psychological limit that kicks in and forces you to think you've reached your limit. It seems our mind tries to keep a reserve of strength that's only mobilized for a real crisis. We've all heard the crazy stories of mothers lifting cars to save their children from being crushed or similar.
A lot of times when you workout hard, the first half turns out to be the hardest mentally and physically. Then the "second wind" kicks in and you cruise to your finish. Any good athlete has a good coach to thank. That's because we need someone to constantly remove the mental limits we impose on ourselves. You don't need a coach for a typical exercise program but any time you think you reached a limit just tell your brain, "stop lying to me" and focus on doing more. It works every time.
Forget Three Times a Week, How about Every Day!
Yeah, over-training is bad for your health. It leads to injury and lack of motivation and everything else that's bad. It also takes way more than your typical workout to over train. For most casual workouts over-training is an impossibility. It's something you worry about if you're training like a professional athlete 24/7. It's true that after an extended period of high-intensity exercise, the body accumulates all kinds of aches and pains that need to be healed with rest. Exercise is a controlled way to destroy body tissue such as muscles so they get rebuilt stronger. You don't get an injury overnight. It happens after an extended period of stress. The more you exercise the more you get tuned in to what kinds of pains you can ignore and which ones to heed.
Why Punish Yourself?
There's all kinds of reasons you want to punish yourself. Maybe you don't want to do it forever but if you spend a couple months on a high intensity program the benefits will last you a lifetime. It's always easy to regain previous fitness levels but pushing past that to new heights and increasing your athletic capacity always takes extra effort. If you really want quick results just go all out but not crazy. The experience of doing a high-intensity regimen will give you new levels of confidence and even help you hang on to your sanity if you do a lot of desk work.


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Smart AudioBook Player – An Overview
The app is designed specially for playing audio books.
Assumed that you have audiobooks and already copied them to your phone.
First 30 days Full version. Later – Basic version.
+ Chromecast support.
+ Playback speed control.
+ Classification of books (new, started, finished).
+ Download cover from the Internet.
+ List of characters. You can manually create a list of characters to easier follow the story.
+ Automatic pause in case you fall asleep. To continue playback just shake your phone.
+ Playback history.
+ Application Widget. Allows you to control the player from the home screen.
+ By specifying a root folder containing all your audiobook, you can exclude your folders which contains music and other audio files.
+ You don't have to finish one book to start another. The progress is saved independently for all books.
To purchase (restore after reinstalling) full version press:
menu–Help–Version tab
Phone must be connected to the Internet.
Full version cost is $2.
Many thanks to people who left comments and suggestions.
If you have something that doesn't work please write an email instead of leaving a comment.
Version with old icon:
+ Added support of "webm" files.
+ Fixed issue when Chromecast didn't work on some phones.
+ Removed recently added unnecessary permission.
+ Added Chromecast support.
If you have any issues – please write to firstname.lastname@example.com
If you don't use this feature – you can hide Chromecast button in:
menu–Settings–Full version settings–Chromecast button


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Continuing the theatrical theme of my last post, if you're still looking for a Christmas show with a Japanese twist, I can thoroughly recommend Siro-A at the Leicester Square Theatre. It's usually billed as 'Japan's answer to the Blue Man Group', which isn't a lot of help if you don't know much about the Blue Man Group. So here's a guide to what you can expect from Siro-A's 'technodelic' show.
Siro-A are a group of six young men who met at school in Sendai. They combine dance, mime and puppetry with technology to create odd, surprising and sometimes very funny effects. It's a spectacular show that features video projection, light animation and lasers combined with live performance, all delivered to a pounding electro beat. It's fast, witty and totally crazy.
There's a bit of audience participation too, but nothing to worry about. They invite people to have their photos taken and then use the photos in the show, so you're not expected to get up on stage with them. The show lasts for just over an hour, so it's short enough and action packed enough to keep the attention of kids in the audience.
Since they first appeared in London last year, after winning the Spirit of the Fringe award at the Edinburgh Festival, they've become regulars at Hyper Japan where their signature outfits of tall hats that make them look like walking cigarettes are easy to spot.
But it's the creative way that the performers interact with projections, playing games with balls that aren't there and dancing with huge rainbow projections, that give the show its special flavour. It's fun, mind-bending stuff and a great way to get a break from the pressures of Christmas shopping.
Siro-A are at the Leicester Square Theatre until 11th January, with two shows a day, at 4 pm and 7 pm, over the Christmas period. Ticket prices vary depending on the performance, but are generally £15 for adults and £10 for children.
If you want to get a taste of what they're like, take a look at their YouTube channel.


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About Me
- Piper
- I am a 33-year-old wife, sister, daughter, friend, law school graduate, CFer, lifelong student of public service, blog writer, patient, Sagittarius, reader, Top chef fan, double-lung transplant recipient (twice!), and dog owner living in Colorado's beautiful Mile High City. I love all things colorful, funny, inspiring, or needlessly sarcastic. I share my city with about 2,500,000 other remarkable people, share my disease with 70,000 other beautiful souls, share my life with some unbelievable family and friends, and share my apartment with one very handsome guy and one really fat mutt with a kick-butt personality. We make it work.
About This Blog:
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Blog Archive
- ▼ 2013 (30)
- ► 2012 (36)
- ► 2011 (42)
- ► 2010 (117)
- ► 2009 (105)
Links/Blogs about CF and Transplant
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Transplant: The Fairy Tale
I've struggled a little with how to begin a blog after so long (nearly 2 months) of total, selfish absence on my part. I do know I want to say a sincere thanks to all those who emailed/messaged/commented to check in on me. I'm so grateful to be a part of this community, and I do promise to be a little better going forward on the blogging front -- or at least to try. And to make it up to y'all, I thought maybe I'd tell you a little story. So settle in, grab the popcorn, and get cozy, and I'll tell you the (mostly) true story of Transplant: The Fairy Tale.
Once upon a time there was a totally drop-dead beautiful young woman named, um, well let's call her Pipperella. Pipperella was smart, sassy, fun, kind, warm, loving, and just all around awesome*, and Pipperella had been blessed with a very wonderful life.
*As an aside, she was also incredibly humble. Always.
Now Pipperella also happened to be born with a couple of funny, mutated genes that sometimes made that very wonderful life a little more complicated. One day her wizard doctor told her that those pesky little genes meant that she needed to consult the special wizard doctors a few floors up to see if they could magically help her breathe again. These special wizard doctors told Pipperella that they could indeed help her, but that she would have to wait for a brave, unknown donor prince or princess to come along first. Then the wizard doctors would put the young woman into a deep, dark sleep and work a special spell to see if the amazing donor prince/ess could be just the right match for our beautiful heroine. They also explained that, in exchange for this wonderful magic, Pipperella would have to do some "amazing things" for the rest of her life to help keep the amazing donor prince/ess happy and keep the magic working. They explained that it would be a long journey with lots of bread crumbs dropped along the way and plenty of witches and goblins and trolls (oh, my!) hiding in the shadows. And they also said that they were pretty sure it would be worth it, because this is, after all, some really damn special magic.
And so she accepted the journey. And she decided to blog it.
It's been over 2.5 years since my amazing Donor Bob saved my life. In that time, I have travelled home to Colorado, I have worked toward a cure, I have met new people, I have tried new things, I have (almost) achieved a new degree, and I have LIVED. And, of course, I have blogged -- sometimes more than others. I'd apologize for that last part there, but I also know that this is a community of people who totally get it. And by "get it" I mean that you all get that life is a balance -- between body and mind, between public and private, and between taking the time to share our stories and taking the time to live them.
In the past 6 months or so I have been receiving treatment for a variety of "fun" little ailments ranging from the Rejection That Would Not Quit (But Finally Did) and The Tunneled Dialysis Cath From Hell of 2012 and the current Pneumonia That Will Not Quit (Yet) of 2013. And, if we're being honest here (and we always are), I have to admit that a few of these little buggers have proven to be some pretty nasty trolls hiding out under my transplant bridge. I'm currently back on IVs and trying hard to "rest" and "take it easy" so that I can hopefully regain some of the lung function I've misplaced along the journey. I'm also trying, truth be told, to grapple with the fact that just a few weeks ago I was able to run and take huge deep breaths and sing at the top of my lungs if I wanted to and now I'm breathing a little harder and spending my time waiting for the aztreonam to finish infusing. It's not a fun plot twist, even if I am totally confident that it's just a temporary one. I waited an awful long time for my magic spell, guys, and I'm frustrated that some of my goblins keep on rearing their ugly heads. I mean, sure, I know I'll slay this dragon, and the next (and the one after that), whatever it might look like, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy the fighting.
But that's the funny thing about fairy tales: there's always some question about what to do with your happily ever after. Real lives don't stop when the last page is turned, after all, and real people are always going to have some residual issues after they eat a poisoned apple. My current self is a testament to the stories I've lived through, with Pipperella's determined attitude toward her disease to help me fight my monsters and Prince Donor Bob's sweet spirit reminding me of the importance of patience -- because truly great things can come to those who wait. And somewhere in the middle of all of that, between the stubborn and the kind, is where the real magic happens.
And we lived happily ever after.
3 comments:
- AnonymousFebruary 16, 2013 at 6:44 PM
You are a fighter and more important you have been an inspiration to those with C.F. as well as their care givers.Your struggles in deed have been difficult, and I always said God share the pain evenly.My daughter has cystic fibrosis and I watch her at times struggle.Like you and numerous others she goes on with life.Someone once told me "It doesn't get darker than midnight"I know it seems easy for me to say but I have lived by it and try to encourage my daughter to do the.ReplyDelete
With the powers that be and your courage I hope that your struggles are over soon
What a moving post, Piper. You are an inspiration to so many of us in the CF community. That magic will indeed keep finding you. <3ReplyDelete
Piper, this is a wonderful and moving testament to both your writing ability and your strength of spirit. Thank you for sharing with us. Bob is indeed your fairy tale donor prince and you are every bit the smart and beautiful princess worth saving. Fight on, sweet cyster.ReplyDelete