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I am an academic economist at the University of York. I hold a BSc in Economics from METU, Ankara Turkey and MSc in Economics from the University of Warwick. I completed my PhD at York and have taught at various institutions, including University of Durham, METU, and University of York where I currently hold a Chair in Economics.
My main research interests are macroeconomics, political economy and international finance. More specifically my research has focussed on currency and financial crises, monetary policy, politics and policy making and more recently macroprudential policy and fiscal austerity.


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Notable Results
Andy Payne and Todd Ramsey Resolve a Case Regarding an Unstable SUV and Defective Tire
On I-35 between Austin and Dallas, PayneMitchell's client's rear tire shredded off the wheel of her SUV. The tire was notorious for its defects. And unfortunately, once her tire came apart, her SUV became uncontrollable. PayneMitchell proved the defects with the tire, and used the defendant's on testing to reveal the instability problems with the SUV. Their efforts resulted in a huge confidential settlement.

subset: commoncrawl


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2 days ago I was excited to be invited back to Tune in Tokyo's monthly event they host at Royal/T Cafe. This time, the theme was "Akihabara Winter Wonderland," which included having guests dress up in Cosplay costumes from anime, manga, video games, or just winter-themed!
I had a blast dressing up as Santa's little helper and hanging out with the great people who work and visited the event!There were about 300 guests in attendance that night partying in the holiday spirit! It was great!
I didn't take too many photos but you can see lots more here!


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Firefox has the most bugs and the fastest fixes
From the 'if it's broke fix it' files:
According to a new report from Security vendor Secunia on vulnerabilities in 2008, Mozilla's Firefox web browser topped the list at 115 reported issues. In comparison, Apple Safari had 32, Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) had 31 and Opera had 30.
Simply counting vulnerabilities alone - does not make one browser less secure than another. Rather how fast a browser vendor is able to fix issues and not leave users exposed to risk is something that could define a more or less secure browser
According to Secunia's analysis, for vulnerabilities that were disclosed without or prior to vendor notification, Mozilla was significantly faster that Microsoft. Mozilla has a low of 15 days to a high of 86 days until such non-vendor disclosed issues were fixed. On the other hand Microsoft had a low of 78 days with a high of 294 days.


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2018-19 NAIA Division I Basketball Player of the Week (January 22, 2019)
Kansas City, Mo. – Malachi Hoosein of Vanguard (Calif.) has been named the NAIA National Men's Basketball Division I Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Hoosein was nominated for his performances during the week of Jan. 14-20 and was selected out of a pool of conference award winners.
Player of the Week
Malachi Hoosein, Vanguard (Calif.)
Sr., Guard, Norwalk, Calif.
- Moved into seventh all-time in Vanguard scoring history and became leading three-point shooter with 215 career threes.
- Weekly Stats:
- Shot over 56 percent from behind the arc in two games
- Two double-doubles with 10 rebounds in each game of the week
- Led Lions from three-point range in wins over No. 5 The Master's (Calif.) and No. 19 Hope International (Calif.)
Nominees: Tim Coleman, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Tonzell Handy, Tougaloo (Miss.) ; Breiman Alexander, Oklahoma Panhandle State ; Nate Rigmaiden, Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) ; Lyle Hexom, Peru State (Neb.) ; Cedric Boone, Montana Western ; Ravion Henry, Stillman (Ala.) ; Deven Dorsett, Life (Ga.)
2018-19 Division I Men's Basketball Composite Award Winners
Week 1 (December 05): Jonathan Green, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
Week 2 (December 12): Dakota Quinn, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
Week 3 (January 02): Keith Phillips, William Jessup (Calif.)
Week 4 (January 09): Ravion Henry, Stillman (Ala.)
Week 5 (January 16): J.J. Culver, Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Week 6 (January 23): Malachi Hoosein, Vanguard (Calif.)
Make sure to download the Experience NAIA Championship App for updated news and information for the 2019 NAIA Division I and II Basketball Championships! Download the app HERE!


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Anticipatory Success through action is a method to keep our dreams foremost in our vision. Dreaming, though vital to success is only half of the success equation. We must vividly see our dreams; sincerely believe we are deserving and take the action required to make our dreams a reality.
Focusing on successful outcomes cause us to act differently. We move forward, confident that we are equipped to deal with the challenges in order to persevere; a Powertude™ word...
Anticipation brings a unity of purpose between dreaming, wishing and hoping; it's the force that motivates us to Go Out and Reach For It!
"Success in Pre-Paid Legal" By Paul J. Meyer and Kevin Rhea


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Assessment System Design and Evaluation
Assessment systems only provide meaningful results if they are valid for the purpose for which they are being used. Validity is not determined by a number or by a single study or single type of study. Several pieces of evidence must be taken together to provide support for a valid assessment system. For state and local clients that wish to develop or evaluate and improve their assessment systems, edCount offers a variety of services designed to result in meaningful, actionable information for the stakeholders in the system.
edCount assists state and local clients and partners to design and implement comprehensive assessment systems that embed tests within a larger framework involving instruction, assessment design, administration, scoring, reporting, and use. We assist our clients to develop strategies that are comprehensive and serve the needs of students, teachers, administrators, schools, and districts. We help our partners to interpret evaluation results and consider an appropriate course of action – sometimes the evaluation marks the beginning of the questioning process, rather than the end.


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Wide receiver Chuck Jacobs, whose season ended in the exhibition opener with a knee injury, became the third 49ers player to be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.
Jacobs, running back Kendall Hunter and rookie guard Fou Fonoti each had to pass through waivers, per NFL rules before the final cuts, in order for the 49ers to open space on their 90-man roster. Like the others, Jacobs was not claimed.
Teams are not allowed to release injured players without compensation through the duration of their injuries. Jacobs, Hunter and Fonoti each sustained knee injuries that will keep them sidelined for the entire season.
Hunter will earn his full salary of $645,000 for the season. Jacobs and Fonoti have split contracts. They would have earned $420,000 apiece had they made the 49ers' 53-man roster. Because they will spend the season on IR, they will collect the split contract salary of $303,000 apiece.
[RELATED: What's the risk in waiving Hunter?]
Through the final cuts, only the top 51 players on each team count against the salary cap. The 49ers are currently $9.99 million under the cap.
After Aug. 30, every player under contract (including injured reserve, non-football injury, physically unable to perform, and practice squad) counts against the cap.
Jacobs, Hunter and Fonoti will combine to account for $1.25 million of the 49ers' salary-cap space.


text: Paneer Makhani is a classic, widely popular north Indian dish. Paneer is low on carbohydrates and has rich protein, phosphorus, vitamins, minerals, and calcium content. The sauce i.e. the makhani gravy is made up of tomatoes (puree), garlic, ginger, milk cream, butter and Indian herbs (masala) to make it extremely aromatic. This dish comes with (ingredients for) Jeera Rice.


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I realise I have quite an adequate amount of beauty trash to talk about monthly, so if time allows, I'd like to do it monthly this year. Let's hope it works.
Skin Care >>>
Kanebo - Lip Fresh
Basically a lip make up remover. Non-oily but effective. Lips look like they are ready to be reapplied with lipsticks unlike other oilier removers. Not necessary though, as you can take off your long-wearing lip colour using any other methods you desire.
Do I recommend? No. Unless you have no access to any dual-phase removers or micellar water, but this.
Charlotte Tilbury - Take It All Off
The second thing I used up in my Advent Calendar. Good but not superior than the other similar price range (e.g. Lancome, Helena Rubinstein) , or lower price range (e.g. Clinique, L'Oreal, Maybelline) alternatives.
Do I recommend? Only if you must get it from this brand, or fancy the 'pump' dispenser.
Fresca - Cleanse Me!
This is a Japanese brand occasionally featured in magazines where models share their personal favourites. I quite like this cleansing milk. However, the majority of the products smell of strong strawberry or fruit shakes, which can be repulsive to some.
Do I recommend? Yes.
ReVive - Gel Cleanser
My least favourite item I've ever tried from this brand. Smells horribly alcoholic, this is a thick gel that foams up moderately, but doesn't do anything to the skin. Borderline drying on me, too. If you like foaming gels, go drugstore and just pick up any tube, should be better than this.
Do I recommend? No.
ReVive - Balancing Toner
Balancing indeed, refreshing and pleasant, too, but not spectacular.
Do I recommend? No. Spend on their creams or serums if you want to splurge.
Cosmetic Skin Solutions - Hydrating B5 Serum
Not bad, but if I'm to repurchase a B5 serum, I don't know where to get this brand from.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Unlike the dual-phase make up remover, this is pretty unique and worth the hype. I genuinely enjoy using this. It is a clay that brightens, tightens, clears slightly and hydrates the skin. Not only is a clay-based mask that doesn't dry the crap out of my skin difficult to find, but this is also easy to wash off, a big added bonus to me (as I often hesitate to put on masks that are hard to take off). This 15 ml lasted me 5 applications so I think the price for the full size is justified.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Smells supreme, feels supreme on the skin, and skin looks supremely brightened after applying this. Didn't notice significant long-term lightening of freckles or overall change, but it is a pleasure to use. Not very into whitening or brightening at the moment, but when I'm in the market for a serum, I'll consider this.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Like the GlamGlow original (the only other product I've tried from them), this has funky bits and pieces in the mask. Quite fun to use but I didn't notice much difference.
Do I recommend? Maybe?
Sheet Mask >>>
These I don't recommend:
Dr. Althea - Water Glow Aqua Ampoule Mask
Very heavily fragranced, other than that, an 'okay' mask.
Quality 1st - Premium (brand website: http://www.q1st.jp/)
This is one of the first mask brands to bring out multiple sheets in one bag. This purple one is in old packaging and came free with magazine. It has a gauze sheet texture, and has yeast extract amongst other ingredients to brighten skin. It did leave a silky oil residue, leaving skin moisturised but not too greasy.
Ludeya - Rejuvenating Moisturing Bio Cellulose Mask
Very old and I don't think they make this anymore?
Lishan - Horse Oil Face Mask
Very mediocre thick old-fashioned sheet texture. Cutting was meh. The liquid smells soft and nice and consistency is runny and light. Leaving skin hydrating but also quite nourished and moisturised. Nice but not spectacular.
I recommend these:
The Saem - Gel Science Anti-Aging
I think they may not make this anymore, but this is one of the best gel masks I've tried. The fit, the wear, and the effect is amazing.
Utena - Premium Puresa Ceramide (green)
Current favourite Japanese sheet mask. The sheet is normal cotton sheet but the serum is a luxurious gel-lotion that moisturises and plumps the skin. A genuine treat to throw on, and it's very affordable and reasonable for what it is. Already recently purchased the blue (Collagen) and waiting to get the pink one (Hyaluronic Acid?).
Regen Cos - 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask Whitening
The top and bottom parts are totally different texture. Fun to use and I can feel the lift from the lower half.
Dr. Althea - Essential Skin Conditioner Silk Mask
A great light hydrating mask. The silk type is thin and liquid is light. Very refreshing and pleasant.
Make Up >>>
Addiction - Tinted Moisturizer #03
A very beautiful natural skin finish, coverage is pretty high as a TM, if layered it can almost be a medium foundation. Colour match is great, but I'll wait till I re-visit Japan to get myself a tube (or decide which base make up to buy from Addiction; I'm eyeing their Skin Care Foundation and many others, too).
Do I recommend? Yes. Absolutely.
Nars - Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer #Finland
Good colour for me in Winter (quite fair). Slightly more matte or satin once blended into the skin. Light coverage as expected, but the finish is lovely. I probably won't repurchase though as there are so many TM or BB CC DD to try out there.Do I recommend? Yes.
Body >>>
Nivea - Skin Conditioner
Do I recommend? Yes.
Sai-Sei - Natural Sponge
Just because it came in a set with the shower gel.
Patummas Herbs - Body Scrub
Smells horrible. It is a powder-clay type you mix with water to activate. Makes shower extra messy and really, it didn't work.
Do I recommend? NO.
L'Erbolario - Ibisco Bagnoschiuma Shower Gel
Smells delicious and washes nicely. L'Erbolario is considerably marked up here so I am reluctant to repurchase locally.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Sai-Sei - Mineral Refresh Bath & Shower Gel
BEAUTIFUL. I wish it is still available. I got this a while back from Space NK in order to qualify for free shipping. Don't think they carry this brand anymore.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Body >>>
Indigo Wild - Zum Mist Aromatherapy Room & Body Mist #Frankincense & Myrrh
(Link) *iHerb links used are affiliated*
Smells strongly oriental and remarkable. Not for the girly girls, but great if you like warm heavy wood scents or manly fragrances. This is just a mini size I got in a kit - which seems to be unavailable now?
Do I recommend? Yes.
Nuxe - Huile Prodigieuse
Lovely. It is indeed a 'dry oil' which leaves skin nourished, delicious-smelling but not greasy. I collected many minis of this through out the year. They don't even do mini in this bottle anymore. I need to go through my stash and then get a full size one. I mainly use this on my arms and legs, not that much my face or hair.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Suisse Programme - Intensive Hand and Nail Treatment
A great green tea scent refreshing hand cream. Light but really moisturises my hands. It comes out pink, which is a little weird when I first started using as it is distinctly green tea (usually associated with green colour?). Available in Sasa.
Do I recommend? Yes.
Elemis - Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust
Not bad. I guess I can benefit from it so I use it up. Have a full size going in my bathroom now.
Do I recommend? Maybe. I don't see much difference yet.
Shiseido Ferzea - Repair Veil Body Milk
It is a special edition and not available for sale gift that came with the hand cream. The Shiseido Repair Veil hand cream is quite popular in Japanese drugstores.
Do I recommend? Yes. (but don't think it can be purchased?)
Not a big fan. I much prefer other body oils for my belly, aka stretch marks, or body, aka extreme snake-skin dryness. I use it up because it is one of the pricier oils I have. For my belly, I prefer this chocolate treat (Link) or coconut heaven (Link). For my body I am liking this almond sweetness (Link) a lot.
Do I recommend? No.
Supplements >>>
Wyeth Materna - Prenatal/Postpartum
Have to do it until end of this year probably?
Royal Medic - CS4 Cordyceps Capsules
Mr. A's. Almost if not already done with all the bottles.
Rexona Men - Fresh 48H Xtracool
Mr. A prefers Gatsby > Adidas > Rexona.
Nordic Naturals - Prenatal DHA (Link)
Also a staple until probably end of 2016.
What may I repurchase?
Charlotte Tilbury - Goddess Skin Clay Mask
Cle de Peau Beaute - Brightening Serum Supreme
Utena - Premium Puresa
Addiction - Tinted Moisturizer
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Beautiful wishes,
Lazy silly Jacq :")
Beautiful wishes,
Lazy silly Jacq :")


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A disappointing steak, Norwegian coastline and the North Cape, Honningsvåg: Home to gale-force winds, Bouncing Bird Safari, North Cape Midnight Sun Show, World's shortest walking excursion, Help leaving the dock
Yesterday (July 10), we cruised off the northwest coast of Norway. It was actually quite pleasant, with partly cloudy skies, calm seas, and temperatures in the mid-50's. Steve posted some pictures yesterday while we still have Internet service. We will be out of range of the INMARSAT satellites and MTN service, due to the low angle of the receiver on the ship and our high latitude, starting on Sunday and likely through Thursday of next week. We should still be able to post stuff about Honningsvåg, Murmansk and Hammerfest, so don't worry if you don't hear from us for a while!!
Tuesday night (July 9) we had dinner in the Polo Grill, the specialty restaurant steakhouse on Nautica. We both ordered the 7-oz filet and started off with soups. I had the lobster bisque, which was excellent, and Steve had a passable clam chowder. However, the entrees took a long, long time to get to us (we were at a shared table for six and three of them had to get the whole Maine lobster). By the time we got our steak and waited for the staff to shell the lobsters, our steak was lukewarm and dry. We decided not to complain and ask for another one, as they seemed to be somewhat chaotic getting orders done and we didn't want to wait longer. In contrast, my Jacques Pepin NY strip steak in the regular old Grand Dining Room the other night was perfect. Well, it is time to fill out the mid-cruise comment cards, so we will note our disappointment. The food in every other venue has been consistently good to excellent.
Our ship is under the command of Captain Hansen; he is from the Faroe Islands and is very youthful-looking and is really sweet with his fractured English, but he does have a lot of good information. He steered our ship close to the base of the dramatic cliffs at the North Cape (Nordkapp). Our final sail-in to Honningsvåg was spectacular as we maneuvered into the narrow bay, did a nearly full turn and pulled into the dock.
The North Cape is on the same island as Honningsvåg (the island is called Magerøya). We had a private tour for 14 of us that departed 7:30 pm; everyone was dressed in many layers, but the cold, biting gale-force wind was challenging and we had occasional rain and sleet showers all evening. We all piled into a nice little mini-bus with our wonderful guide Ronald. Our first destination was the tiny fishing village of Gjesvaer, where we boarded a small vessel for a journey to the some islands nearby that are home to millions of birds, including arctic terns, puffins, kittiwakes, black-backed gulls, razorbills, guillemots, shags, cormorants, and sea eagles, to name a few. We descended into a lower seating area and were told to put on thermal suits. After experiencing the slippery deck at the dock, I decided to play it safe and stay inside, so I did not don a suit. We headed out of the village and had a "fun", very bouncy ride out to the islands.
Steve went out on deck with his camera and hung on for dear life. I sat on a bench in the mid-deck area, but was soon offered the second pilot's seat on the bridge deck (awesome). Our captain and guide was very nice and quite knowledgeable and his red-haired teen-aged son was the crew hand. We cruised back and forth and saw literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of birds; the seas were littered with cute, tiny puffins who scattered as we approached. We also some sea eagles and many of the other birds noted in the list above. After about an hour, we headed back to the dock. Walking back to mini-bus, we passed a drying rack for cod (nice aroma!).
We boarded the bus and took the highland route to the North Cape. On our way, we stopped at a Sami camp; the Samis are the indigenous people of the Arctic regions of Norway, Finland and Russia and used to be known as Lapplanders. The Sami herder at the camp was dressed in full costume, standing next to a beautiful white reindeer who got upset when he ran out of dried lichen to eat. We also saw several herds of reindeer in the area. We arrived at the North Cape at 11:00 pm and were told to meet the bus at 12:30 am. This beautiful facility was jam-packed with loads of tour buses, apparently from land tours, as we were the only cruise ship in Honningsvåg (at least until today). The North Cape center charges 240 NOK for a car entry, which is about $45. We ventured out first to the viewpoint; I got about 3/4 of the way there and gave up, feeling like the howling wind was going to knock me down. It was cloudy and the intermittent rain came in sideways, sometimes mixed with snow. We went into the facility and found a seat at the restaurant right by the windows. Steve grabbed two Ringnes beers and a dessert (about $40) and we watched people going out on the cliff top fighting the winds. This large place also has a cinema, a massive gift shop and a museum that includes information about the Allied convoys to and from Murmansk in WWII. The battle of the North Cape took place in this area in December, 1943, resulting in a devastating loss for the Germans. I honestly can't fathom what the weather would have been like, seeing how miserable it was here in mid-July. Honningsvåg was one of the many towns in this area that had a forced evacuation at the end of WWII. All the people were ordered to suddenly leave with what they could carry on their backs. As the Germans retreated, they torched towns, businesses, boats, churches and homes, leaving complete devastation in their wake. How sporting of them..
As we sat in the restaurant, we noticed that the clouds were getting lighter. Lo and behold, just before midnight, the sun emerged, resulting in cheers from the visitors and a mad dash to the doors to get photos. Steve got some great shots, I watched from inside, then we bought a cheap ($8) magnet to hold up our refrigerator. Just before we left, the sun appeared again, even more beautifully, and the crazy rush outside occurred one more time.
Our drive back got us to the dock at about 1:00 am, where we fought the gale-force winds to get to the gangplank. We enjoyed our tour, however, and are in awe of the hardy people that actually live year-round in this scenic, but godforsaken place with miserable weather. We slept in a little late, then contemplated going out for a stroll around the town. We bundled up, headed down the gangplank, then walked almost all the way down the dock with the frigid wind nearly lifting us off our feet (I almost lost my cane several times). We looked at each other, and immediately turned around and fought our way back to the gangplank and re-boarded. Apparently, we didn't miss anything, except for a few crapola emporiums, an Ice Bar that charged a small fortune to go in to have a non-alcoholic drink (you needed a second mortgage to get a real drink), and a few quaint fishing facilities.
The time came for our departure. The Captain actually got help from a local rescue boat group that had a large supply ship, which roped up on the starboard side and helped us break free from the dock in the high winds. Otherwise, our departure would have been delayed three hours until a tug service showed up. Folks who saw the Seabourn Pride arrive this morning said that they had great difficulty docking, having to try several times. However, the Hurtigruten ferry seemed to cruise right in. Hmmm – pays to cruise these waters regularly. What an experience!! This is certainly not a deck cruise, although we did eat lunch outside at Waves Grill, which is quite sheltered.
Tonight, we are cruising east towards Murmansk in the Barents Sea. We have to set our clocks forward TWO hours tonight to Russian time (bizarre). Tomorrow will be the general scrum with the passport approvals before going on our ship excursion. Quite honestly, this has been a very, very interesting cruise so far (and not too tiring).
Stay tuned…


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I wanted to walk around the world. I fell short of that by 6 years and many tens of thousands of kilometers, after starting in Harrogate, UK, and stopping in Pitesti, Romania.
I've been thinking on and off the last four years about whether or not to keep writing here and what would I write in this first post. Yes, four years of thinking about oneself and the world around. I won't expose it all in this article. I cannot. It would be a very long piece. This is the first part of it, so there's more coming.
How could I explain myself for having stopped walking and all, how could I describe it – like I would have to apologize or feel ashamed – is something that I caught myself thinking about a lot of times. Thing is, I ain't gonna do any of that now or ever.
What I will do though, is share how I stopped walking and what happened ever since.
A lot of people ask me if I prepared a lot before walking, like going to marathons or stuff. I can but smile, because I know why I stopped, and it had nothing to do with my body. Before starting to walk, once I came to the idea of doing so, I only took two practice walks around Harrogate in the Yorkshire Dales. Physically, I encountered no surprise limitations of my body, apart from natural effects of fatigue from actually pushing it to walk a lot, sometimes even 100 km in a day. Which is why I took long breaks at points.
But preparing mentally for what was about to come is something that if I would have done, it would have been entirely stupid, for it would for sure have kept me away from all the beauty of possibilities to explore, it would have kept me away from myself. Maybe I would be walking still. However, let's just say I was taken by surprise in the sense that there were moments when I was doubting my sanity, especially towards the end of the 10 months. And there still are such moments. Not as often as when I was walking, but they are still there, like a nice token of my walking. That is one of my fridge magnets. I don't mind these moments (pun intended), as I came around to find them a good measure of myself and a useful counterpoint to have at hand – yes, doubting, questioning – especially when I am getting too much of myself.
I was running away from it all. Then it was more than enough.
I remember my walk experience as amazing as I remember it cruel. I said many times I would stop walking once I would die or fall in love. The latter did happen, but there is an underlining to it. Another important reason for why I stopped walking is the feeling that it wasn't my walk anymore. The more I was into it, the more I was changing from the person that started walking. That is what I treasure about it, the change it brought me.
I began walking when the life until then brought me to what I now see as a desperate point of wanting to escape the reality of having to deal with disappointment from loved ones, may them be friends or significant others. I felt humiliated and could not stand it anymore. Yes, I was running away, I wanted to shut my eyes – actually to open them to other things that I knew this world has for me. What walking offered me though was much more. The more time I spent walking, the more time I had for myself and my thoughts. I was cleaning, I was making order, I was arranging and re-arranging, adjusting and coming to terms with how others happened to me and with how I happened to them. All the while enjoying the liberty of traveling with no end in sight.
What being alone does to your brain
I was constructing myself. Every day, each kilometer. There are intimacies of that time, when I was walking alone, that I still cannot put in words nor completely share. I was on pills or high or drunk many times in those 10 months, but never when walking. And it was while walking that I had the most intense moments of bliss and feeling connected to this world in a way in which when I think of now, I am still fascinated by it.
I cannot express the beauty of the world as I saw it then, I can only crave for it. I saw a world with no borders. On this I will get back in another article. It's still mind-boggling to me what solitude and the chance of silence, of not having to speak to someone, does to one's (my) brain. Once I managed to make something out of the mess that I was, I changed. Or so I think. But I sure changed from the one that started to walk. That became more and more obvious to me, so much to the point that I realized that I don't need to walk anymore. I could not bear to keep being alone walking and having these intense moments just for myself all the while as my life changed so much already. And while I enjoyed all the attention – I must say, it was cool, but limiting in a way (people generally asking questions about the past and about money and whatnot), I knew I wanted to stop.
From a walking cliché to another
Having the chance to shut up and to think so much – I really cannot stress this aspect enough! – started to do things to me. From day to day, from second to second, from thought to thought, I had but me to question everything about the way I think and about the way I see the world and others. I became addicted and it served me well until I became aware that it wasn't stopping when I was not walking. And then, the kind of change I was beginning to experience was only circumstantial. For me, for others, I was a walking cliché: the traveling spiritual type for almost all, the hippie of today for many, the strong just doing it person for others, the obvious choice for a one night stand for some, a hypocrite for a few, including me.
I could not have that anymore, I saw myself reacting pavlovian to the outside while actually knowing that I am not there anymore. It was easy and it was hard to do. I enjoyed it and hated it, to the point when I began to notice I was dedoubling: the one for others and the one that I came to know. I wanted to be at peace with myself, with my faults and with my hopes. I wasn't helping the world in any way that I liked. Moreover, I fell in love head over heels with the person I am happy to have shared my life with ever since.
I am as wise and as stupid as you think of me
I still appreciate change, especially when it is favourable. I still enjoy being alone, thinking, thinking, thinking. That constant stream of thoughts that started on my walk is still flowing and it is growing stronger and faster. Sometimes I lose, sometimes I find myself in it. In a way I am still walking. Sometimes I share it, sometimes I share it wrong or too much. And while I know this might be seen as yet another article advocating the solution to all worlds problems, this realization cannot stop me from sharing.
Knowing this sounds like a lot like me, me, me, it is also about us, about how and what we communicate. I am no visionary or whatever. But I do feel a lot of alienation in this world. I see the happiest of people crumbling down in fragments of despair over things that could have been easily avoided. I see people going around wearing masks, hiding, lying, cheating, all because they cannot say openly what it is that they want and stand by that, openly. I've been one of them. I still am sometimes. As I see it, this reaches deep within our society as a whole. It is this difference between what we actually think and want and how we misrepresent that at the external pressure of how we are expected to be that causes a lot of harm around here. Ever felt trapped at a job, with a person or with a group? Take it from a dysfunctioning relationship or a shitty job to sexual oppression and unexpressed desires, add lack of education and genuine honest information sources and it is easy to see the kind of fraud the world seems to be at times. And to think that people engage in wars because sometimes they cannot come to terms with each others, that is truly sad.
The story continues and that is nice
It is important to know what you want. It is also important to know how what you want might affect others, from close ones to society at large. And then to follow through or not. That is why it is important to just shut up sometimes and think it through. Give yourself time and take it easy. Doubt, question. Like this, one can be kind and honest to oneself and others. Me? I am still struggling with it at points, but that is ok. I still have time.
Since I stopped walking, I lived in Hamburg for three years and recently moved to Lisbon. Me and Fritzi wanted more sun. We travelled like addicts and continue to do so, and there are tons of stories and photos yet to be shared. We have intense conversations about everything, from the latest internet cat sensation to the effect of religion on society, from how was your day? to the degree to which people might find different technologies as intrusive. We are highly critical of each other and of the world. We like to think we are normal and there is nothing at all wrong with us. But that is not always the case.


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You may remember, dear readers, that I mentioned an idea for a collar necklace in one of my past posts. Well, I made one! I've had this little guy done for a few weeks, but just haven't had the time or inspiration to post him until now.
I have a couple more in the works for the shoppe, but at the moment they're on hold while I finish a custom softie order. In the meantime, I'm giving this guy away! ( The necklace pictured is the prototype; you'll receive a new necklace made from the same fabrics. )
the contest rules are as follows:
1. Leave a comment, telling me your favorite color to wear = 1 entry
2. Become a fan on facebook and/or leave me a comment there! = 1 entry
3. Become a new follower of my blog and let me know via a comment = 1 entry
To sum it up: each person can submit up to 3 separate entries! The contest will run through the end of the month, at which time I will throw all of your names into a hat and blindly pick one! You'll be notified via email or facebook message, so if you don't leave a message on facebook, please include your email address with your comment here. Otherwise I will have no way to reach you, and the prize will go to the next name chosen from the hat.
Thanks to all & good luck! :)


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Tag: Rogelios Noris.
Hit-Fest In Bradenton; Curve Pitchers Throw A Shutout
Friday night's action:
Altoona Curve 2, Akron Aeros 0
Three Curve pitchers combined to throw a 3-hit shutout of the Aeros. Starter Mike Colla had to work around runners on base in 5 of his 6 innings, but he held the Aeros scoreless and earned his second win. He scattered 3 hits, 2 walks, and one hit batter over those innings. The only inning in which Akron had 2 runners on base was the 3rd, when Colla walked two. Anthony Claggett also gave up two walks in the 8th, after a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th, but he did not allow a hit or a run. Noah Krol picked up his 9th Save with three quick ground outs in the 9th.
The Curve posted 11 hits, but scored only two runs (8 runners left on base). In the bottom of the 1st, with two outs, LF Quincy Latimore looped a single into right field, then scored from first on SS Jordy Mercer's ringing double into center field. C Tony Sanchez singled and DH Kris Watts doubled in the 2nd inning, but Sanchez was out at the plate on the throw in from left field. The Curve added an unearned run in the 3rd. 2B Brock Holt led off the inning with a strikeout, but he reached first when strike three was a wild pitch. Holt stole second base, then scored when the Akron center fielder made an error on Mercer's ball.
The Curve put runners on base in each inning after that, but could not bring any of them around to score. Sanchez and 1B Miles Durham both singled in the 4th inning, and that was the only inning after the 3rd when the Curve had two runners on base. CF Starling Marte singled twice, Watts singled, and Mercer doubled again.
Baker and Noris Help Welker With An Afternoon Win
As expected, the Pirates have called up righty�Jeff Karstens from Indianapolis to help them with their pitching woes. �Karstens will have to be added to the 40-man roster -- he was removed from it back in November. �Over the past few weeks, Karstens had made 4 relief appearances for the Indy Indians, �for a total of 11 innings, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 15 hits. �He also made one start, last Thursday, and pitched 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits.
In order to make room, Rule 5 Draft pick OF John Raynor has been designated for assignment. �If Raynor clears waivers, he will have to be offered back to the Marlins. �The Pirates are hoping they can work out a deal to keep him, like they did for Evan Meek a couple of years ago.
One late morning/early afternoon game today:
West Virginia Power 6, �Kannapolis Intimidators 1 (box)
The Power won the series over Kannapolis 3 games to one with today's early-bird win. �Gabriel Alvarado made the start for the Power, and pitched 4 solid innings, allowing one run on 3 hits and 2 walks. �The run he gave up was a lead-off homer to Kannapolis RF Nicholas Ciolli, to begin the 2nd inning. �Alvarado worked around a base runner in each inning, but did not allow any of those batters to score. �He struck out one and erased one of the runners with a double play. �Ciolli had another hit off Alvarado in the 4th, and a third hit off Zach Foster in the 8th, accounting for 3 of Kannapolis' 4 hits.
The Power answered the run in the bottom of the 2nd with 3 runs on 3 doubles in the top of the 3rd. �CF Evan Chambers walked with one out, and moved to third base when LF David Rubinstein doubled. �3B Jesus Brito brought Chambers in with a sacrifice fly. �Back-to-back doubles by 1B Aaron Baker and DH Rogelios Noris plated two more runs, giving the Power a 3-1 lead.
The Power were quiet over the next four innings, getting only one hit -- a single by Aaron Baker, who was then caught stealing second base. �In the 8th, they utilized singles and errors instead of doubles to do their scoring. �With one out, Rubinstein and Brito both singled, and when the Kannapolis centerfielder made a fielding error, Rubinstein was able to make it all the way around to score. �Brito was left on second base, and a wild pitch moved him up to third. �Baker singled next, scoring Brito, and another fielding error, this one in left field, put Baker on third base. �Noris lifted a sacrifice fly, and Baker came in with the third run of the inning. �Power up, 6-1.
Duke Welker relieved Alvarado for the 5th inning. �He walked three and struck out three (S,W,W, S,W,S), but gave up no hits or runs. �In the eyes of the official scorer, that earned him his first win of the season. �Maurice Bankston pitched the next two innings and allowed only a walk. �Zach Foster gave up a walk and Ciolli's third hit in the 8th, but left both runners on base, then retired the side in order to finish up the 9th.


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It's A Rough Road [P3]
It's been a spree of writing! No really, it has been. I have a ton of like drafts on Google right now… It's sad, but hey… I am being productive at the same time, so it's a win win situation. Continuing the trend of this series, I have been testing my stream of the PS4 for Destiny, and other various games. I'm still having some difficulty of the quality on my PC. I'm not sure if it's my PC specs, or the settings with XSplit, but I'm still tinkering around. I'm having a lot of fun just messing around with it, and I can really see myself doing this as a daily thing.
The repeating question in my head is… "What kind of streamer do I want to be?". That's a pretty broad question, and I've touched on this before but like… I figure I can be like my favorite streamers I watch now. Comedic, informative, etc etc. I tend to be okay at explaining things to people, I did a fairly decent jobs at explaining raids in World Of Warcraft when I was a raid leader, and I like to think I was pretty decent at it. I can always incorporate that into my streaming style. Most important though is that I need to be myself. I don't want to fake my way to viewers, or be someone I am not. I need to be who I am, and that's that. That's a pretty scary thought though, being myself.
So, I know exactly what I will be streaming on my PS4, so then it comes down to once I figure all my PC settings out, what exactly do I stream? Well, I play a lot of Hearthstone, and with the upcoming game I will announce at a later time, what then? Well, of course we always have The Secret World and such. I like to keep my "Playing" games to a min. I don't want to playing 5 different MMOs at the same time, it devalues all of them. I keep on thinking to myself just hold off on the PC streaming until the later date, and focus on streaming console games. It's all fine and dandy if I do that, but like… I want to stream all the games I play, you know?
I guess it all comes down to my preferences and such. I have a lot of time to think and overall develop my stream style, my schedule, and etc. I don't plan on making any money off of this, I don't plan on having a ton of viewers as well. This is really just to get my reviews more content, rather than writing it all down. Don't get me wrong, if I gain some viewers that's awesome, I would surely love that! The core of this though, is really to expand my reviews into more than just writing. I have this book, it's a notebook you could say it's my own review journal, of ideas and such I have that I want to jot down, for future reference.
I can't tell you how big this notebook really is, and how full it is… I would be kind of ashamed. Literally it's filled with games I want to review, how I should go about it, and etc. This "journal" has really helped my writing style grow and mature into what it is now. Okay, I know I have bad sentence structures, I use a TON of commas but it's not like… Put into one huge paragraph, and no pauses. It's readable dang it! I've came a long way, a really long way when I first started. I write down what I don't like writing about, and what I do like writing about. Certain aspects of the game I should focus on more, etc etc.
I think my biggest problem with all of this right now is sticking to a game. It's kind of like the problem I have in World of Warcraft, "Hello, my name is Josh, and I'm an alt whore". I can't stick to something for so long. As it stands now, ESO, and SWTOR are my current longest reviewed game. I've come back to SWTOR more times than I can remember, because it's just so good. Well, if it's that good what's the problem? Well, I feel a lot of pressure when reviewing a game. When I feel pressured, as in life I tend to drift away from the problem, until I fill it's void with something else, I.E MMO Hopping.
How do we fix this problem? I don't know really, force myself? I kind of did that with SWTOR. I forced myself to play it, and it kind of worked for a little while, but it didn't settle… Alas, I still have a want to come back to it, but then about two months or even less the problem repeats itself. I don't think there is an exact cure, until I find that "Right" game. If there is such a one. Maybe in due time. I think another huge problem is that I over hype myself, and the game.
Let's discuss that before I wrap this all up once and for all! If we Google the definition of Hype we get… extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion. We as players tend to over hype games when we know very little about it, or after we seen a two minute in-game clip. That's just who we are. We want the game we see, and like what we see to be the best there ever will be. Of course with that comes huge problems, let downs, etc etc. "Oh my god, we hyped this game so much, but it sucks, how could they do such a horrible job!" Etc etc.
I kind of do that in my game I over hype myself in the game, by saying "Holy crap, it's so good, it can only get better right?" Wrong, I do the complete opposite of what I saying. Instead of keeping the energy of what I am saying, the game will just fall off as it normally does, and as always… I'm left with the hype syndrome. I'm causing the self destruction of the game I call fun. It's a sad and lonely world. You think I would learn my lesson after doing it over and over. Of course, I don't, because I want to believe that this game can live up to the hype I am presenting it with.
Going back to a point of… Is there such a cure for this? Maybe if I learn some patience or something, and stop stressing out over small things like that. I believe it's more of a personal issue than anything else… Maybe one day I'll go back to SWTOR, or ESO, or whatever game. Until then I am focusing on two games, and a third unannounced game. I hope you've enjoyed this read of my personal things. I think I'll do this every once in awhile to let you all have some insight on what goes down in my thought process. I've enjoyed letting you all in my odd world. Thank you for reading for the past couple of years, and here is to many more years to come. Cheers!


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Have you seen the Drugs & Health Blog for teens? It has all the latest information on drug and addiction research and news, and you can comment on what's written. Check it out at https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/
Fast Facts about Brain and Addiction
Drug addiction is a complex illness characterized by intense, and, at times, uncontrollable drug craving, along with compulsive drug seeking and use that continue even in the face of devastating consequences. While the path to drug addiction begins with the voluntary act of taking drugs, over time a person can lose control over their ability to stop using. If you or someone you know has a problem with drugs, this page has step by step guides that can help: http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment.
It takes time to recover from addiction—not only for the brain to re-adjust, but to make lifestyle changes to avoid drugs. Think how hard it is for people trying to lose weight—they try different diets, exercise for a while, and lose a few pounds only to gain them back…until they can make lasting changes to keep the weight off. Same with quitting drugs—it may take several rounds of treatment before it sticks.
Research shows that brain development continues well into a person's twenties. Alcohol and drugs can affect this development, and contribute to a range of problems.
Want to learn more about the science of addiction? Check out our booklet Drugs, Brains and Behavior- The Science of Addiction at http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-abuse-addiction
People unable to stop using drugs can be helped with counseling ("talk therapy") where they can learn to change their behavior. There are medications that can be added to the treatment plan for some drugs (including tobacco, alcohol, heroin, or pain pills). Treatment varies for each person, depending on the type of drug(s) being abused and the person's specific situation. For a Step-by-Step Guide on how to find the right treatment, check out: http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment.
Repeated drug use can reset the brain's pleasure meter, so that without the drug, you feel hopeless and sad. Eventually, everyday fun stuff like spending time with friends or playing with your dog doesn't make you happy anymore.
Contrary to common belief, drugs are chemicals. They invade the brain and interfere with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information.
When you go to college you will experience a lot of changes in your life. Even though you are moving on to new and exciting things it can be stressful. It is important to continue to take care of yourself. If you are receiving mental health or substance abuse treatment now, be sure to find out where and how to continue treatment when you get to college. The college counseling office is a good place to start, or check with an advisor. You can call them and arrange to visit them before you start school.
Like playing games? Try out these games and videos that explore what happens to the brain and body when drugs are used: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/videos-and-games
Addiction is a brain disease, and treatment is hard work, but it can work. We see it every day. http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment
Some people think becoming addicted to a drug is just a character flaw, but it's not. The first time people use drugs, it's usually a conscious decision. But once people become addicted, they are dealing with a difficult brain disease.
Striking changes happen to your brain during your teen years. Learn more about these changes: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-teen-brain-still-under-construction/index.shtml#pub1
Although we know what happens to the brain when someone becomes addicted, we canrsquo;t predict how many times a person must use a drug before becoming addicted. A person's genes and the environment each play a role. We are all different and unpredictable so any use is risky.
If you are in high school and you are receiving treatment for drug problems—it is important to continue treatment after high school—whether you are in college or working.
Fast Facts about Alcohol
The minimum legal drinking age in all states in the U.S. is 21.
It takes teens fewer drinks than adults to feel the same effects. Kids who drink alcohol are not only breaking the law, but they also risking dangerous and sudden consequences, such as alcohol poisoning.
People ages 12 to 20 drink about 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. That's why companies that sell alcohol make ads that appeal to young people. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/UnderageDrinking/UnderageFact.htm
Alcohol is the drug of choice for American kids—more kids drink than smoke cigarettes or do other drugs. We have alcohol experts here today—so ask a question about it!
Each year in the United States, about 5,000 young people under age 21 die as a result of drinking. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/UnderageDrinking/UnderageFact.htm
Binge drinking means drinking so much within about 2 hours that the amount of alcohol in your blood (also called blood alcohol concentration or BAC) reaches 0.08g/dL, which is considered legally intoxicated.
Each year in the United States, about 1,900 kids under age 21 die from alcohol-related car crashes. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/UnderageDrinking/UnderageFact.htm
All states have 'zero-tolerance" laws, which make it illegal for anyone under age 21 to drive after drinking any alcohol.
Research indicates that alcohol use during the teenage years could interfere with normal adolescent brain development and increase the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.
Underage drinking contributes to many problems, including injuries, sexual assaults, and even deaths.
2 out of 5 15-year-olds report that they have had at least 1 drink in their lives.
24% of 11th graders say they have been in a car when the driver has been impaired by alcohol or drugs.
In 2012, about 9.3 million people ages 12–20 (24.3 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month (24.7 percent of males and 24 percent of females).
Fast Facts about Marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. Short-term effects of marijuana use include euphoria, distorted perceptions, memory impairment, and difficulty thinking and solving problems.
Research shows that about 1 in 6 of those who start marijuana use as a teen will become addicted.
Longtime marijuana users report being less satisfied with their lives, experiencing memory and relationship problems, poor mental and physical health, lower salaries and less career success.
Marijuana affects skills required for safe driving—alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time. So it's not safe to drive high or to ride with someone who's been smoking.
Research shows that drivers on marijuana have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and problems responding to signals and sounds. Learn more about the effects of different drugs here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/mom/
Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana's negative effects on attention, memory and learning can last for days and sometimes weeks—especially if you smoke often.
Research shows that about 9% of users become addicted to marijuana, but this number increases to about 17% among those who start young, and 25 to 50% among daily users. Ask our scientists about marijuana and addiction.
Compared with their peers who don't smoke, students who smoke marijuana tend to get lower graders and are more likely to drop out of high school. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/marijuana-use-can-lower-your-grades
Long-term marijuana users trying to quit can have withdrawal symptoms including: irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving, making it even harder to quit.
Did you know that if you use marijuana regularly as a teen, your IQ level could actually drop as an adult—even if you stop using it? Read about it on the NIDA Web site: http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/directors-page/messages-director/2012/09/marijuanas-lasting-effects-brain.
A common myth is that marijuana is harmless. But research has shown that it affects learning and memory, which can affect your schoolwork; coordination and judgment, which affects your ability to drive and play sports; and can be addictive.
Studies have shown a connection between regular marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, a very serious mental illness.
NIDA's 2014 Monitoring the Future Survey showed that about 12% of 8th graders, 27 % of 10th graders, and 35 % of 12th graders had used marijuana at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Congratulations to all the other teens making healthy choices!
Fast Facts about Opiates
Did you know that opioid painkillers act on the same sites in the brain as heroin? This is one reason why they can be so dangerous when abused. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-pain-medications-opioids
Fast Facts about Tobacco, Nicotine, & Vaping (E-Cigarettes)
While e-cigarettes are often promoted as safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes, which deliver nicotine by burning tobacco, little is actually known yet about the health risks of using these devices. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes
Each day in the United States more than 3,200 young people under age 18 smoke their first cigarette, and more than 700 youth under age 18 become daily cigarette smokers. That's way too many.
If you know someone who has recently quit smoking or is trying to quit, you can share these facts with them: http://www.fda.gov/tobaccoproducts/publichealthscienceresearch/default.htm. Above all, be sure to let them know you're proud of their decision to become smoke-free.
More than 1,300 people die each day in the United States because of cigarette use—that is nearly 1 person every minute.
A menthol cigarette is still a cigarette—complete with all the chemicals and addictiveness of any other tobacco product. Flavoring isn't going to make it any safer. In fact, research shows that menthol cigarettes may be more addictive than non-menthol cigarettes and could make it even harder for smokers to quit.
A study in 2014 showed that the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is high among teens. In the past month, about 9% of 8th graders, 16% of 10th graders, and 17% of 12th graders had used e-cigarettes. Ask our scientists about e-cigarettes.
Although some believe that hookah (water pipe) is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it still delivers the addictive drug nicotine and is at least as toxic as cigarette smoking. In fact, research shows that hookah smokers may absorb even more of the toxins found in cigarette smoke because a 1-hour hookah session involves inhaling 100–200 times the volume of smoke from a single cigarette.
More than 49,000 non-smokers in the U.S. die every year from heart disease and lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.
Each day in the United States, nearly 1,300 youth under age 18 use smokeless tobacco for the first time (including chewing tobacco or snuff). Our health experts are online now—ask them what this does to your mouth!
Of those teenagers who smoked an e-cigarette in the past month, about 64% of 8th graders, 70% of 10th graders, and 80% of 12th graders had also used regular cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco at some point in their lives. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/tobacco-nicotine-e-cigarettes
There's nothing sweet about tobacco and your health. Flavors like strawberry and grape can mask the harshness of cigars, cigarillos and little cigars, but don't be fooled! The flavoring doesn't make them less harmful. All of these products can lead to nicotine addiction and contain toxic, cancer-causing chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Learn more here: [link removed]
Nicotine addiction can be very powerful. 3 out of 4 teens who think they will stop smoking in a few years don't!
On average, every cigarette takes 11 minutes off your life. Smokers die at least 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.
Many young people, especially girls and young women, believe that smoking can help them lose weight. But studies show that's not true—young people who smoke are not thinner than those who don't.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and cigarette smoking is responsible for nearly 90% of those deaths.
Did you know that nearly 9 out of 10 high school students don't smoke? That's a record low. So even if it seems like everyone around you smokes, it's important to recognize that smoking is actually not the norm.
Even smoking just a little bit opens the door to addiction and smoking-related diseases. In fact, research shows that even just a few cigarettes now and then can lead to cravings and other symptoms of addiction in some teens.
How do you add even more chemicals to a cigarette? Light it. Many of the dangerous chemicals in cigarette smoke are formed through the chemical reactions that occur as the cigarette burns. Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals—many of those are toxic, and more than 70 have been linked to cancer.
Fast Facts about Mental Illnesses
Many people who attempt suicide tell someone first. Listen, be respectful, and don't leave them alone. Try to get your loved one to seek immediate help from their doctor, nearest hospital emergency room or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Learn more about the warning signs here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-a-major-preventable-mental-health-problem-fact-sheet/index.shtml.
People with mental illnesses are not "crazy" or "psycho." Mental illnesses are real and can be treated. They are not something a person can just snap out of. A lot of people do not get help because they are embarrassed or afraid someone will make fun of them. Get the help you or a friend need here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml
Sadly, more than 30,000 people die each year by suicide. Suicide is consistently the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.
No matter what problems you're dealing with, help is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You'll be connected to a trained counselor. All calls are confidential and free. http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Did you know that mental illnesses are brain disorders? There are differences in the structure and the way the brain functions in people with a mental illness. Causes of most mental illnesses are not currently known, but the best evidence suggests a combination of influences such as biological, environmental, and social factors. Researchers are trying to find out the exact causes.
Evidence shows that mental disorders often begin in youth: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2012/survey-finds-more-evidence-that-mental-disorders-often-begin-in-youth.shtml
Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress. It can help us deal with a tense situation, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it can help us cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling condition. Learn more: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml#pub9
11% of teens will have a depressive disorder by age 18. Depression is a serious illness. Girls are more likely than boys to experience depression. Teens who are depressed may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative or grouchy, or feel misunderstood. Learn more about depression: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
Fast Facts about Heroin
Regular heroin users develop a tolerance to the drug. This means their "high" gets less and less strong, and more and more heroin is needed to achieve the same effect. But—taking more heroin increases the risk of addiction and overdose. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/heroin
Heroin often contains toxic contaminants or additives that can clog blood vessels when injected leading to the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain, causing permanent damage to vital organs.
Fast Facts about Inhalants
Inhalants prevent the necessary oxygen from reaching the brain, which can damage brain cells. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/inhalants
Some common household products used as inhalants to get high can have permanent effects including: hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, bone marrow damage, and possibly death from heart failure or suffocation.
Long-term inhalant use results in nerve cells not being able to do their job, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions like walking, bending, and talking.
Younger teens are more prone to experimenting with inhalants that seem like harmless common products. A study in 2014 showed that about 5% of 8th graders, 3% of 10th graders, and 2% of 12th graders had abused inhalants at least once in the past year.
Inhalants are among the first drugs that preteens or teens abuse. In fact, they are one of the few types of substances that are abused more by younger teens than older ones. Inhalant abuse, if continued, can become chronic and continue into adulthood.
Fast Facts about Prescription Drugs
Opioids (such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin), central nervous system depressants (like Xanax or Valium), and stimulants (such as Ritalin and Adderall) are the most commonly abused prescription drugs.
Many people think that abusing prescription drugs is safer than abusing illicit drugs like heroin because the manufacturing of prescription drugs is regulated or because they are prescribed by doctors. But that doesn't mean these drugs are safe for someone other than the person with the prescription to use.
Teens abuse prescription drugs for a number of reasons, including to get high, to treat pain, or because they think it will help them with school work. Explore what happens when teen use prescription drugs here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/peerx/choose-your-path/
Taking prescription drugs unless they are prescribed for you IS drug abuse. Prescription drug abuse includes taking a controlled medication (like pain pills or ADHD drugs) without a prescription, in a way other than prescribed, or to get "high."
Did you know that more people die from overdoses from prescription painkillers (like Vicodin and Oxycontin) than die from heroin and cocaine combined?
Research tells us that most teens who abuse prescription drugs get them from friends or relatives and to a lesser degree from their own prescriptions. Is this a problem at your school? Ask our scientists about Adderall and other commonly abuse prescription drugs, such as Ritalin, Xanax, and Vicodin.
Fast Facts about Methamphetamine (Meth)
A 2014 study found that fewer than 1% of 8th and 10th graders, and only 1% of 12th graders had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. That means about 99% of students don't use methamphetamine. Learn more about meth, cocaine, and other stimulants here: https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts
Fast Facts about Viral Infections (HIV, Hepatitis) and Drug Use
Drug abuse by any method (not just injection) can put a person at risk for contracting HIV. Drug and alcohol intoxication affect the way a person makes decisions and can lead to unsafe sexual practices, which puts them at risk for getting HIV or transmitting it to someone else.
Abusing any type of mind-altering drug can affect judgment and inhibition and can put you at greater risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). To learn the link between drug abuse and HIV, check out: http://hiv.drugabuse.gov.
Fast Facts about MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly)
High levels of ecstasy in the blood stream can be life-threatening; they increase the risk of seizures and affect the heart's ability to maintain its normal rhythms.
Call it "Molly," MDMA or Ecstasy—teens are using it less. In 2001 just over 6%, of 10th graders were using it, but last year, only about 2% were using it.
Researchers have seen memory loss among regular users of MDMA.
Some people who use MDMA (Ecstasy) might feel so alert and "hyper" that they could keep dancing at a club for hours at a time and lose their sense of time. However, others can experience anxiety, agitation, faintness, sweating, or chills.
Ecstasy ("X" or MDMA) changes the body in many ways. It even interferes with the body's temperature regulation, which leads to dangerous overheating, called hypothermia. This can lead to serious heart and kidney problems—or even death. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/mdma-ecstasy-or-molly
Fast Facts about Eating Disorders
Eating disorders often appear during the teen years. They are marked by extremes. Common types include anorexia (extremely restricted eating); bulimia nervosa (compulsive forced vomiting or laxative use to compensate for over-eating), or binge-eating (severe uncontrolled overeating). They are real, treatable medical illnesses, and nothing to be ashamed of. Ask for help if you think you might have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders often appear during the teen years. They are marked by extremes. Common types include anorexia (extremely restricted eating); bulimia nervosa (compulsive forced vomiting or laxative use to compensate for over-eating), or binge-eating (severe uncontrolled overeating). They are real, treatable medical illnesses, and nothing to be ashamed of. Ask for help if you think you might have an eating disorder.
If you have severe distress or concern about body weight or shape, you might have an eating disorder. The media's obsession with extremely thin models and celebrities can contribute to unhealthy weight goals among girls. The National Institute of Mental Health has supported studies showing that challenging this super thin ideal can reduce the onset of eating disorders. Learn more about eating disorders here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml
Fast Facts about Cocaine
The high from snorting cocaine is brief—from 5-30 minutes. So to stay high, a cocaine user has to take the drug again and again. This is why cocaine is sometimes abused in binges—taken repeatedly within a short period of time, at dangerously higher doses each time.
Fast Facts about Stimulants
In 2014, almost 7% of high school seniors used the stimulant Adderall (often prescribed for ADHD) for non-medical reasons.
Stimulants like cocaine cause the body's blood vessels to narrow, constricting the flow of blood, which forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. The heart may work so hard that it temporarily loses its natural rhythm. This is why there have been many cases of people dying suddenly from heart attacks after using cocaine.
Some people take prescription stimulants without a prescription of their own thinking the drugs will make them "smarter" on a test. However, no clear evidence exists for improving performance in people who do not have ADHD. Some research suggests that stimulants may actually dampen creative thinking. Although more studies are needed, current research shows this does not work.
Stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin are often prescribed for ADHD. When taken properly, with a doctor's prescription, they are safe. But because prescription stimulants act on the same brain systems as cocaine, they can put people at risk for negative health effects, including addiction and overdose, if not taken properly. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/prescription-stimulant-medications-amphetamines
Fast Facts about Cough and Cold Medicine (DXM and Codeine Syrup)
Some teens think cough medicine that can be bought at a drug store without a prescription is safer to abuse than illegal drugs. But to get high, they need to take high doses, which can be dangerous. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/cough-and-cold-medicine-dxm-and-codeine-syrup
Fast Facts about Spice
Sometimes called "synthetic marijuana," K2/Spice is marketed as a "safe" alternative to marijuana, but in fact, it is a very different drug. In 2014, just under 6% of seniors were using it, which is significantly lower than 8% reported last year and 11% in 2012. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/spice
Fast Facts about Salvia
Salvia (Salvia divinorum), an herb in the mint family found in southern Mexico, changes the chemistry in the brain, causing hallucinations (seeing something that seems real but isn't). The effects can be very intense and frightening. Fewer than 2% of 12th graders used salvia last year, compared to over 3% in 2013. https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/salvia


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With the launch of Acrobat Online (acrobat.com), Adobe officially entered the web office space that is currently dominated by companies like Google, Zoho and to some extent Microsoft (Office Live Workspace).
Acrobat.com is a free online suite of several useful applications and is targeted towards individuals and small businesses. Let's look at each of the Acrobat.com components in more detail and their relative pros & cons.
Adobe Buzzword (word processor) – You may have written documents in your web browser using Google Docs but Adobe's Buzzword application is a class apart. The interface is extremely intuitive and beautiful; you can place images anywhere in the document and surrounding text automatically flows around the images.
Buzzword also lets you work on the same document with multiple authors and it tracks the current status of each author – whether he or she is editing the document or just reading the document.
Adobe ConnectNow – This is a screen sharing application that lets you conduct virtual meetings or training sessions with remote members of the team from the comfort of your computer – that means no traffic jams and travel costs.
Adobe ConnectNow works like this – you get a unique web address that you can email to other members of the team (3 is the limit per meeting). Once your remote team logs in using their own computer, you can start a screen sharing session and whatever is on your screen will get displayed on everyone else's screen. This is also useful if you want to deliver a PowerPoint presentation on the web.
The service support voice chat and video conferencing so you each of you can see each other as well provided you have a web cam. The available whiteboard can be used to annotate important discussions and the drawings can also be saved for later reference.
Adobe MyFiles – This is like an online hard drive where you can store documents and images. Microsoft offers something similar in the form of Windows Live SkyDrive and Google is also rumoured to be working on a similar solution though we don't have details.
With Adobe MyFiles, you get 5 GB of free storage space and files stored inside MyFiles can be shared with anyone in the world who has an email address. You may want to use this service for sending large email attachments – just upload the file to Adobe MyFiles and send the link via email. The downside is that you cannot upload audio or video files so don't cancel that SkyDrive account yet.
CreatePDF – As the name suggests, this service lets you convert documents and images to PDF files in the browser but this one got me least excited for one simple reason – you can only convert 5 documents / images to PDF and then this features gets disabled. Am not sure why Adobe decided to put this limit when there are so many web services (e.g., Zamzar, Google Docs) that let you make unlimited conversions.
To get started, all you need is a web browser with Flash and a free Adobe ID at acrobat.com. Supports Firefox and IE on Windows


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Women charged over mass brawl in Limerick estate
SIX women were granted bail after they were charged in connection with a mass brawl in a residential area of the city which erupted in the middle of the day.
The six, who range in age from 21 to 52 are each accused of committing violent disorder at Byrne Avenue, Prospect on June 11, last.
Dozens of people, including women and young children witnessed the violent incident, which is alleged to have happened at around 12.30 in the afternoon.
The defendants are Caroline Shannon, aged 47, of Lenihan Avenue; her sister Deirdre Clohessy, aged 43, of Lenihan Avenue; her daughter, Teresa O'Neill, aged 28, of Lenihan Avenue, Elaine Casey, aged 52, of Hyde Road, her daughters Amanda Casey, aged 27, of Byrne Avenue and Leanne Casey, aged 22,of Hyde Road.
Leanne Casey is also charged with using a metal poker stand as a weapon during the incident, which the court heard was witnessed by gardai.
Limerick Court was told the brawl erupted a short time after Teresa O'Neill was attacked on Lenihan Avenue and that when gardai arrived they had to physically separate the six defendants.
It is alleged the incident is connected to a feud which has erupted between two factions in the Prospect area in recent months, which gardai believe has escalated "out of control".
A number of other incidents are also under investigation.
During a contested bail application it was alleged that Leanne Casey and Teresa O'Neill were the main instigators of the brawl, which lasted for several minutes before gardai arrived.
All six defendants were granted bail by Judge Eugene O'Kelly subject to strict conditions.
They were ordered not to have contact with members of the opposing faction and to sign on daily at Roxboro Road garda station.
Four of the six were also ordered to obey a curfew.
Directions are being sought from the DPP and the six defendants are due to appear in court again on separate dates next month.


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Beginning July 1, new federal student loan borrowers may qualify for income-based payments of no more than 10 percent of their discretionary income and be eligible for loan forgiveness after 20 years of repayment. To determine which IBR formula to use, the calculator asks borrowers to indicate whether they have an outstanding balance on federal student loans issued prior to July 1, 2014.
Borrowers can obtain loan repayment estimates for Standard, Graduated and Extended repayment options by simply providing their loan balances and the interest rates on their loans. Borrowers must provide additional information to obtain estimates for Income-Based, Income-Contingent and Pay As You Earn repayment options, as well as for Consolidation loans. http://calculator.usafunds.org/
The USA Funds Student Loan Repayment Calculator provides monthly payment, payment term, interest cost and total loan cost estimates in a single calculator for all repayment options available to borrowers of Federal Family Education Loan Program loans and Direct Loans. The calculator also displays a repayment schedule, showing the month-by-month pay down of a borrower's loan balance.
The Student Loan Repayment Calculator includes extensive instructions and definitions of key terms used throughout the calculator, as well as links to the National Student Loan Data System Student Access site — to help borrowers retrieve their loan information — and a table of federal student loan interest rates.
USA Funds provides the Student Loan Repayment Calculator as a free resource to assist federal student loan borrowers.


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For an hour and a half, Skip Wick had been trying to stay upright on a chunk of ice in Lake Superior's 8-foot swells.
The 80-year-old ice angler, stranded on the lake Saturday after big waves undermined the ice in Saxon Harbor east of Ashland, knew his options were limited.
"As I was standing there, the ice kept breaking up," said Wick, a retired shop teacher from Hurley, Wis. "There was a big roar, like a jet going over, and here would come a wave."
The roar was the sound of the waves, later estimated by Ashland firefighters at 8 to 12 feet, lifting and grinding chunks of ice as far as Wick could see. The chunk he was on was about as long and wide as a car, he said.
As it turned out, Wick and fishing partner Mike Popko of Saxon, Wis., were plucked off their respective ice pans after a harrowing two hours by the Ashland Fire Department using an air boat, or wind sled, called an Ice Angel.
"Those were the worst conditions I have ever been in for an ice rescue," said Lt. Tom Walters of the Ashland Fire Department.
Popko, riding a chunk of ice 30 yards away from Wick during the ordeal, feared the worst.
"It was awful," said Popko, 61. "It was like a bowl of Jell-O with all this busted-up ice. He (Wick) and I would be in troughs between the waves, and we couldn't see each other. ... I really didn't think I was going to make it."
Walters said it was surprising Wick and Popko could remain on their ice chunks.
"How they were able to maintain their balance going that high up in the air and back down is beyond me," Walters said.
The day had begun like many for the 50 to 75 ice anglers fishing on 12-inch-thick ice out of Saxon Harbor near the Michigan state line. Then, without warning or big wind, the ice began to fracture, Wick said. He was about 500 yards from shore, he said.
"The first crack was to the north," he said. "The second one went through my tent."
These were fine cracks, Wick said, giving the ice the appearance of a puzzle.
The wind was not blowing hard at that time, Wick said. But a front was moving into the area and the waves may have been pushed by winds farther down the lake.
When he saw the cracks form, Wick yelled to his son, Richard Wick, also of Hurley, and grandson Cal Wick, 8, fishing nearby. They threw all of their fishing gear into a 12-foot boat they had towed onto the ice on a trailer behind a snowmobile. But as they and other anglers headed for shore, the swells began to further fracture the ice.
The trailer's wheels became lodged in a crack between ice chunks, so Richard and Cal continued to shore on the snowmobile. Skip Wick and Popko kept moving toward shore, jumping from one ice chunk to another.
"We got to the point we couldn't go from cake to cake," Popko said.
The ice ahead of them had broken into pieces too small to support them. Other anglers, who hadn't been fishing as far out as Wick and his companions, were able to reach shore safely.
From that point, and for almost two more hours, Wick and Popko were alone on their respective floes. They couldn't communicate over the gnashing and grinding of the ice. They both managed to stay dry and warm, but the ride was terrifying.
"I looked at the situation and thought, 'Am I going to drown or get crushed to death?' " Popko said. "When a wave would crest, the chunks would separate. Then, in the troughs, one big chunk would crash into another one. It would about knock you on your rear end."
Wick had been on ice floes four or five times previously in his life.
"This isn't my first rodeo," he said.
But all of those had been clean breakaways. He would just get in his boat or canoe, which he'd brought along for just that purpose, and row or paddle back to landfast ice.
On one occasion, he had to paddle a floe back to solid ice using only his ice chisel, he said.
But this was different, because waves were pushing all of the broken ice toward shore.
Reflecting on the incident, Popko thinks the men made a mistake.
"We should never have left the boat," he said.
Wick recalls feeling "isolated" on his ice chunk and realizing he was on his own. He knew nobody on shore could get a boat or snowmobile out to them on that heaving ice.
"I had no control over my survival," he said. "(But) I was never fearful. I was hoping I would be rescued by something. A chopper (helicopter) was my number-one thought."
Firefighters from Ashland, the only fire department in the area with a wind sled, received the rescue call at 12:50 p.m. and then had to drive about half an hour to Saxon Harbor, Walters said.
"It was nearly a white-out," Walters said. "You could hardly see the piers out there."
He and his crew of three launched their 20-plus-foot airboat, powered by a single large fan, and began venturing out to Popko and Wick, whom they could see from shore.
"I gotta be honest with you," Walters said. "My whole crew, we were pretty worried. We didn't know that the craft could handle that situation. We had never had it in water like that."
Bouncing across the ice chunks, the firefighters reached the men in about 10 minutes, Walters estimated. They threw a weighted rope to the men, first Popko and then Wick. In each case, the watercraft was then able to get close enough that the men could clamber aboard. They reached shore about 2:30 p.m.
Both Wick and Popko expressed their gratitude for the firefighters' efforts.
Now Wick just wants to get his boat, and his fishing gear, back. He has been to the lake nearly every day since the incident and has seen the boat bobbing on the ice at least once, he said. He planned to contact a pilot to see if the boat could be located from the air.
The Iron County Sheriff's Department has not received charges yet for the rescue from the Ashland Fire Department. If charges are received, they will be forwarded to the Iron County Board to see if Wick and Popko will be charged for the rescue, according to a Sheriff's Department spokesman.
Wick said Saturday's incident will not change his practice of ice-fishing on Lake Superior, which he's been doing for almost 60 years. Popko was less sure about that.
"My wife said, 'You gotta promise never to go out there again,' " he said. "But fishing is one of my favorite pastimes."


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In preparation for the launch of Australia's own CIO Executive Council I travelled to the US on a fact-finding mission to review operations since the first council was established there 12 months ago. The founder and driver of the US Council is Mark Hall, who has created one of the most successful and inspirational peer-to-peer organizations in the world.
The US Council has more than 250 members including the CIOs of FedEx, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Pilkington. While there I attended a council conference on CIO leadership, "Developing the right stuff" and liaised on some of the other issues being covered which included disaster recovery and business continuity, electronic mail records, IT staffing recommendations, open source strategy, and IT leadership and governance.
It isn't just the US driving the agenda, executive councils are being established in the UK, Canada, Scandinavia, Germany, Israel, Brazil, China, Japan and Italy.
To local CIOs who participate in the Australian CIO Council, this international presence is a great collective power and means we get the opportunity to leverage international expertise through our peer-to-peer and instant messaging capabilities.
Members will have access to teleconferences, steering committees and task forces to improve skills as an IT leader.
Our ability to drive successful projects has never been more critical; we need access to our peers to get independent advice that doesn't include vendors. We can achieve this by working with peers and sharing what we regard as true life experiences that can be transformed into deliverables allowing us to deliver on time and within budget.
The Executive Council is in the process of establishing an advisory board that will lead different committees within the council to assist members. The launch of the Executive Council of Australia will be in late July 2005. For information, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
Con Colovos is executive director of the CIO Executive Council of Australia


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This 1 desire is the ultimate cause of all your pain and suffering and you don't even know what it is
What is that desire? I had a moment of clarity when I was reading about the myth of romantic "soul mates". What started out as only applicable to romantic relationships suddenly became relatable to all relationships. Then it became apparent to me that this desire not only affected all relationships but it affected your behavior. Yes, yours. The desire was staring me in the face for how many years and only tonight did I fully see it and unmask it. The desire that is the ultimate cause of your pain and suffering is this: The desire to be served.
Like all truth, it really is that simple. Your desire to be served is why you have all the problems you have in your marriage, in your business, in your personal life and in your academic life. It is this desire that fosters an attitude of entitlement and it transforms you into someone who is easily offended. How so? Because you filter all things through the lens of "ME". You are so preoccupied with being served that you neglect being the servant; the server. This relates to warrior culture and history immensely.
Many of you will be shocked to learn that true definition of the word "Samurai" does not mean "Warrior." It literally translates as "One who serves." Ponder the significance of this for a moment. Ok, maybe a few moments, then continue reading.
For a warrior, there is only one way to live: as a servant; as one who is not concerned with being served. This attitude is starkly contrasted with the attitude we see prominently on display by many people today. The whole world revolves around them and their concerns. They are hell-bent on being worshiped (celebrity idolatry) and on BEING SERVED. Is this you?
A very famous man once said, "If any man would gain his life, let him first lose it." He also once said something that I have paraphrased thusly: "If any man shall receive, let him first give." Do you see what the focus is here? It is on serving. The servant is the one who gives something away. The servant is the one who lays down his life for others. That is the life of a warrior. That is the life of the True Warrior.
Purge yourself of the desire to be served. How? By serving others. Personally, I serve God first, family and friends second. I cannot tell you how to live. You must make your choice.
However, if you are tired of feeling empty, unfulfilled, alone, unappreciated and unloved than I have the remedy: Fill someone else first. Be there for someone else first. Appreciate someone else first. Love someone else first. And live like the True Warrior and let go of the need to be served. Lose your life in service and by doing so, gain the greatest life you could ever gain.
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Welcome to the Anatomy of a Warrior Blog!
Alexander Lanshe
National Speaker, author, blogger, and life-long student of warrior arts and science.
October 2018


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Lifelong learning is important for everyone, but it is especially crucial for doctors to earn continuing medical education credits. Doctors perform actions and make decisions that affect the health — and sometimes even the survival — of their patients. It is essential, therefore, that their medical education is kept current. Ongoing education and professional development can help ensure that doctors are aware of the latest advancements and expertise on procedures, treatments, and therapies, allowing them to provide quality care to patients.
Whether a resident or a practicing doctor with years of experience, a doctor can enhance his or her knowledge base, professional credibility and performance through continuing medical education (CME). Doctors can choose from various formats to complete their CME credits, depending on needs and availability. CME modules may be available in any of the following formats: live activities, online learning, print learning, or journal reviews of current breaking medical news and events. Print learning includes items such as workbooks and training manuals; journals may be print or online resources.
In some cases, doctors must complete their continuing medical education credits as hands-on activities, particularly if mastery of a new technique is part of the learning unit. Other times, online courses and exams can be sufficient to fulfill CME requirements. When available, computer-based training and online medical education can provide more convenient, flexible means for busy medical professionals to acquire mandatory credits and training.
On-site, live activities for continuing medical education credits may include a variety of hands-on training exercises. For instance, worldwide events including acts of war and terrorism, and devastating natural disasters, have led to mass casualty and disaster life support training for medical professionals. Other live training for CME credits includes demonstration of mastery in surgical preparation and procedures, new delivery of care techniques for specific conditions, and strategic life-saving maneuvers.
CME credits earned via computer-based training or online medical education modules are convenient for doctors currently practicing, who have very busy schedules. Modules are available for numerous topics and categories, covering every relevant area of a doctor's individual practice. Some CME modules vary based on specific local, regional or national regulations. Other modules cover particular specialty practices, such as alternative medicine, bioterrorism, critical care, infectious diseases, medical ethics, and neurology.
It is important for doctors to ascertain whether their chosen medical education program has the approval and accreditation of their respective country's governing medical association, such as the American Medical Association (AMA) in the US or the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME). Alternatively, programs offering continuing medical education credits may receive accreditation from the International Academy for Continuing Medical Education (IACME). Confirming that their program has legitimate accreditation ensures doctors that the time and effort spent will in fact count as CME credits.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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The United Nations Office for Partnerships serves as a gateway for partnership opportunities with the United Nations family. It promotes new collaborations and alliances in furtherance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and provides support to new initiatives of the Secretary-General.
UNOP provides Partnership Advisory Services and Outreach to a variety of entities, as well as managing the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), established by the Secretary-General in March 1998 to serve as the interface in the partnership between the UN system and the UN Foundation, and the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), established by the Secretary- General in July 2005 to support democratization throughout the world. The Office, headed by Mr. Amir Dossal, reports to the Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro.
The Third Fortune Forum Summit took place to support the UN Millennium Development Goals
3 March 2009, London
The Fortune Forum Summit was held on 3 March 2009 at The Dorchester Hotel in London. The event marked the launch of the Mehta/Mirrlees (MM) Initiative, developed by Nobel Prize-winning economist, Sir James Mirrlees, and Renu Mehta, MM sets out to raise an additional $75 billion dollars across the G8 countries from voluntary donations for international development projects aimed at meeting the UN MDGs. The Summit also took the occasion to honour Mr. Ted Turner, founder of CNN and the UN Foundation.
The Fortune Forum was founded in 2006 by Renu Mehta with the aim of identifying and convening a new generation of philanthropists: individuals of extreme wealth and influence, to invest their time and money to address the world's most serious social and environmental issues. It works closely with the UN Office for Partnerships as well as with the UN Millennium Campaign Office to support the UN in achieving the MDGs. For further information, please visit the Fortune Forum website: www.fortuneforum.org.