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Peter Mach Joins the Gigantic Team
Gigantic Idea Studio is proud to introduce our newest Associate, Peter Mach. Originally from Pennsylvania, Peter lived in the Bay Area for four years. Prior to joining the Gigantic team, Peter worked for Code REDD, an environmental nonprofit based in Mill Valley, focused on preserving forests, protect wildlife, empowering people and reducing emissions. As Assistant Director, Peter led the organization's flagship program, Stand For Trees, an innovative grassroots campaign that empowers individuals to take action against forest loss, the number one cause of species extinction and a contributor to climate change.
Before moving to the Bay Area, Peter lived in Washington, DC, and worked at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) on forestry policy and legality issues. EIA is a pioneer in undercover investigations to expose environmental crime around the world. Peter contributed to these efforts and promoted the Forest Legality Initiative, a multi-stakeholder initiative working to reduce illegal logging by increasing awareness and supporting legally sourced timber and forest products. This work took Peter to five continents in just two years.
Peter holds a dual graduate degree from Colorado State University, where he studied how industry, non-profits and government agencies can collaborate to find solutions to environmental challenges. As part of his thesis, he examined responsible fishing policies in Chiapas, Mexico. He also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and domestically as an AmeriCorps Team Leader in Alaska.
Peter first became passionate about the natural world growing up in central Pennsylvania, where he earned his B.A. in Media Studies from Pennsylvania State University. Building on all his experiences and learnings to date, Peter is interested in—and good at—finding solutions at the nexus of conservation and livelihoods, in particular around the complexities of climate change. He looks forward to bringing his skills to the Gigantic team. Outside of his time at Gigantic, Peter can be found riding his bicycle in the Marin Headlands, on his kayak or otherwise enjoying life in the Bay Area.
"Selling" No-Waste Holiday Gifts with Fun and Connection
I've got a guilty secret to share. To retreat from the past year's stressful news cycle, I've been watching Christmas movies on the weekends, on a cable channel that is running them marathon-style, non-stop until Christmas. Last Sunday, while watching Return to Christmas Creek, I was heartened to see that a prominent theme was the rejection of material gift giving during the holidays. The story's main character, a busy professional named Amelia, is told by her boss that her shopping app, designed to easily buy gifts online, is missing the true spirit of Christmas: personal connection. He rejects funding it and Amelia is devastated.
We were thinking of this very theme as we developed a video ad to promote waste-free gift giving with Santa Clara County Recycling and Waste Reduction Division. Our video also celebrates experience and connection over things. Gifts that provide experiences create memories—and while stuff ends up in the landfill, memories last a lifetime:
At the end of her journey of self-reflection, Amelia revamps her shopping app to include ways to help those in need, and because this is happening in movie-land, it is celebrated and funded and everyone gets their happy ending! (Oh, and she reunites her family and finds true love in the process of course!).
In order to help people give Zero Waste gifts of experience, we created a list of great gift ideas on SCC's website. For a real-life version of Amelia's app, or if you're thinking of starting or promoting a registry, try out SoKind. The site allows anyone to collect non-material, homemade and charitable gift ideas in one place to share with friends and family.
Best wishes for a fun-filled, waste-free holiday season from the entire Gigantic team!
Plastic Free July, Take 2: Lessons for Behavior Change Campaigns
I just completed my second Plastic-Free July! This is a worldwide event that draws attention to the enormous, and enormously damaging, place that single-use plastic holds in our daily life.
While a single person's actions may not seem to make much impact on the 8,000,000 tons of plastic that enter the ocean each year, we've got to start somewhere! And, it is possible to draw some lessons from the month-long discipline to help us think about behavior change.
Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good
As with any behavior change, it's important not to punish yourself – or your target audience – if /when you fall off the wagon. I searched and searched for a non-plastic toothpaste tube, to no avail. I finally found a glass jar of toothpaste in a homeopathic shop. Yes, it had a plastic lid, but I decided the compromise was acceptable. And I got used to the taste!
In our campaigns, we avoid showing super heroes – because the behavior change we are after doesn't require super powers to do the right thing. "Regular" people can make a big difference. We steer clear of messages like "Can you get all your waste for the year into a peanut butter jar? No? What's wrong with you?" Instead, we try to make the desired behavior attractive and achievable.
Boundaries Bring Freedom
Supermarket shopping gets a whole lot faster when single-use plastics are off limits. Entire aisles of cookies, chips and crackers are forbidden to the plastic avoider. How relaxing! I can avoid temptation and adhere to good plastic-free consumption and nutrition habits at the same time.
Freedom is an important value in the American psyche, and is one that environmental campaigns may be able to take more advantage of. Taking a restriction (reducing use of plastic or pesticide or water, for example) and reframing it as freedom can be an effective behavior change message.
Think Before You…Do, Buy, Cook, Toss!
One of the most important benefits of going plastic-free is a growing awareness of how often we cruise through life on auto-pilot. Going plastic-free means remembering every time to say, "No straw, please," "Please use my reusable cup," or "Can I get that wrapped in paper, not plastic?"
In behavior change campaigns, we look for ways to ingrain a new behavior, to create a body memory out of increased mindfulness. Several of our campaigns here at Gigantic now emphasize the the intelligence of our community members. "You're smart about other things in your life, why not be smart about recycling?"
While I have not been able to stay completely plastic free, the search for alternatives to plastic is starting to become a comfortable behavior, and is making me more aware of things I take for granted. Carrying my work into my life, and vice versa, is very rewarding.
One Size Does NOT Fit All: Tailoring Effective Environmental Outreach
Wouldn't it be great if there were a magic brochure template? Something that we could just pour your content into and, voila! outreach campaign launched. Just stick it in the mail and all will be well. We wish effective environmental behavior change worked like that, but, unfortunately, one "size" of outreach plan, not matter how magical, does not work for all. Each situation is different and requires a custom approach that takes into account the problem, the environment (cultural, social, political, and yes, natural) and the desired and feasible solution.
The Gigantic team's presentation at the 2018 California Resource Recovery Association Conference gave examples of outreach campaigns that provided tailored approaches to the challenge at hand. Outreach aimed at "everyone" will effectively reach no one. If you want to maximize impact, do your research and start with the best "low hanging fruit" — this will provide immediate results and data for future phases.
Choosing the Right Style for THAT Guy
Kas described our work with a concerned citizens' coalition in Marin County with a mission of reducing the use of environmental toxins – pesticides – by county residents. The group's call to action was to encourage the uptake of Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM) to replace toxic chemicals. IPM requires knowledge, planning, special tools, and yes, awareness to become a workable solution. Our survey indicated that the people most likely to use chemical pesticides were males who valued speed and effectiveness over safety. See the presentation below to see how we targeted THAT guy to raise awareness of this smart, if challenging, alternative.
Butting in on Cigarette Butt Litter
Meghan presented two litter-reduction case studies that highlighted the challenge when the desired environmental solution – providing a safe and easy way to dispose properly of cigarette butts – clashes with the public health solution – discouraging smoking by not providing ashtrays at transit shelters. No easy answers there!
Finding A Well-Cut Solution
Nancy presented on Gigantic's ongoing work with the City of San Rafael to understand and address the very specific needs of a district of the city where illegal dumping had become a big and expensive problem. What at first seemed like a simple brochure need turned into a research project to understand the real barriers that this low-income, high-density community experienced when faced with what to do with a bulky item that was no longer needed.
Here is the CRRA presentation covering the above topics. Please let us know if you have questions or would like to talk about how we can custom-tailor an outreach campaign for you.
Sunnyvale's FoodCycle Branding and Video — A CAPIO Award Winner!
Sunnyvale's "FoodCycle" program is unique in the Bay Area. It truly "recycles" food into a new product—animal feed! The food scraps are collected using a split garbage/food scrap cart, and sent to a facility for processing. Using the garbage cart is a clear departure from nearby cities that collect food scraps in the yard trimmings cart to create compost. To address the many public concerns with this major change, the City needed clear and engaging marketing tools – including a video:
The Gigantic team structured the video around a behavioral process: How do people deal with food scraps? When do they make them? The information is broken down into clear steps:
1) Preparing the collection pail with accepted liners,
2) Showing when and how food waste is created,
3) Detailing what kinds of food scraps are accepted and
4) How to dispose of the kitchen waste in the new curbside cart.
This approach differs from other food scrap outreach that emphasizes what kinds of food are accepted. Instead, the model "FoodCycles" in situations when food waste is generated: cooking/prepping food, cleaning up after meals, and cleaning old leftovers out of the fridge.
We're proud to say that the video won the Epic Award of Distinction in its category at the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) annual awards competition in April 2018.
Gail: Entrepreneur with Idealism
Often in the course of our work we are lucky enough to run into local residents who embody the environmental attitudes that we cherish. Often those people are exemplary in other ways, as well. The Gigantic team met Gail Lillian on a photo shoot for recycling and composting in the food service industry. Her business—Liba Falafel in Uptown Oakland—was the perfect backdrop. Not only is her shop bright and beautifully decorated, it also models a lot of the best practices we wanted to show: reusable cups and silverware for "eat in" customers, color-coded bins in the kitchen and even custom-made signage with actual materials displayed above the restaurant's self-bussing station.
What motivates her to be so mindful about waste? Gail doesn't think it's a big deal. "I just like things in their proper place. Isn't what I do pretty standard nowadays? Also, restaurants have so much more compostable
waste than other industries—we should be models on how to separate it."
When she sees the need, Gail also advocates for the community outside of work, be it as a certified mediator, or in her role on the City of Oakland's task force for commercially sexually exploited children. Does it help to be a restaurateur? Gail thinks yes: "In my experience, chefs are seen as semi-celebrities. Sometimes that helps your voice get listened to, and we should use our voices for things we believe in."
Thanks, Gail, for making Oakland such an inspiring place to be!
Facebook Changes…Panic Time?
It has always been a challenge for mission-driven Brand Pages, such as public agencies, to reach and grow their followers on Facebook. In January Facebook announced they are "changing the News Feed to prioritize posts from friends, family members and groups over posts from publishers and brands." The stated reason is to promote a more fulfilling experience with the channel and discourage "passive scrolling" without engagement. The change will favor posts that elicit comments, rather than passive consumption or "likes." ("Favoring" means that posts will show to more people.)
One impetus for the decision is recent negative press about Facebook, including hosting fake news and being purposely designed to foster addictive behaviors and to keep fans "hooked" on the channel. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has stated his personal commitment to leading these changes, thanks to a new view of his creation's strengths and weaknesses.
How Will Facebook Algorithm Changes Affect Me?
Organizational Facebook pages are reaching just a tiny fraction of their followers with each post. Even before the latest changes, organic reach for Facebook Pages was plummeting, from nearly 100% of fans in 2007 to less than 2% today.
Some immediate predictions include:
- People will spend less time (but supposedly higher quality time) on Facebook.
- Posts may become more "shocking" with the goal of eliciting reactions.
- Comments will be prized, and the longer the better.
Note: this announcement includes no changes to the advertising model, which many critics point to as the fount of toxicity.
What Can I Do?
What is a page manager to do? Like the stock market, it's probably best to keep calm and carry on, rather than trying to overhaul strategy with every change. There are widely varying predictions of the result of this latest action.
Gigantic recommends to all clients:
- Continue posting high quality, relevant content.
- Consider making posts more conversational in style and asking for feedback and responses, including encouraging people to tag your organization.
- Focus on quality of posts more than quantity; this becomes even more true with the renewed emphasis on posts that promote conversation.
- Monitor your posts and respond to comments promptly, using a consistent "voice" for your page.
- Be prepared for decreased reach of videos, which had been highly favored by the Facebook algorithm. (Facebook's reasoning is that videos promote passive consumption rather than active dialogue.) Consider incorporating calls for reaction and encouraging dialogue about your video posts.
- Continue to incorporate ads and boosted posts to increase your messages' reach.
- Be a good neighbor: Share and tag other organizations' content in your posts, as long as they are relevant to you.
- Don't Panic!
As always, Gigantic Idea Studio is happy to discuss your social media strategy and make recommendations to enhance your environmental outreach.
Make Those Green New Year's Resolutions Last
Here at Gigantic we often advocate to make public commitments or pledges a part of an environmental behavior change campaign. New Year's resolutions are a great example of behavior change efforts (even though 80% of them are discarded by February!) The most effective resolutions are made publicly, have specific goals, and are realistic and simple. Going public means you are more likely to keep your resolutions, so, with that in mind, here are some of the Gigantic team's 2018 resolutions:
Lisa will be trying a new approach to reducing the large amounts of food waste related to raising her 11-year old son, Jackson. On most days of the current school year, he returned home with an entire lunch uneaten. Applying barriers and benefits research, she talked to Jackson about why it was happening. Barriers included forgetting—he was playing with friends instead of eating—and not finding the food appetizing after it sat in his lunchbox for 3 hours. "Like all moms I worry if my child is eating enough. But the waste is troubling me. In 2018 I'm going to let Jackson choose to purchase the school lunch if he is hungry. We gave him a watch with an alarm to remind him to eat. And to address my worry, I'll send along a non-perishable snack in case of emergency." A pilot test run demonstrated that Jackson chose the school lunch every day, so the new year is already looking food-waste free!
Kas is back in the saddle this year – bike saddle that is. She starts training in January for the AIDS/LifeCycle; she will ride her bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles during the first week of June. Kas often spots litter and illegal dumping on her Bay Area training rides. Sometimes cyclists themselves are the cause of litter with items that fall out of their overstuffed jersey pockets or, worst of all, those cyclists who purposely discard wrappers along the way. Kas pledges to pick up what trash she can and/or report illegal dumping through the See Click Fix app on her phone… and if by chance she can catch up to someone who has littered, she will take a moment to "educate" them on the finer points of leaving nature better than when they found it.
Stef continues her efforts to create a backyard wildlife refuge, in spite of some setbacks in 2017, including relentless weeds and an infestation by some very hungry, non-native caterpillars that killed all 18 bush lupines. "After countless hours of weeding and hand cramps from spraying infested plants with soapy water, the promise of a quick fix with pesticides looked pretty darn tempting," she admits. But fearing the pain of cognitive dissonance if she were to use chemicals in her all-eco yard, Stef pledged to apply more elbow grease instead. She'll put down her third layer of sheet-mulching and is set to crowd out weeds with low-water, bee-feeding, bird-harboring California natives early this spring.
Nancy is keeping the same resolution that she has (more or less!) successfully kept for the last 3 years. She resolves to pick up and properly discard at least 1 piece of plastic trash on every dog walk. Moxie the Pugwiler likes her exercise, so Nancy takes her out around 500 times a year – that's over 500 pieces of plastic removed from San Francisco's Sunnyside neighborhood annually. Unfortunately, there is no problem with finding the trash. "I often try to pick up the trash in a place where others see me doing it," says Nancy, "It's my attempt to norm litter pickups, to help people see the problem as everyone's problem and a solution that we all can own."
Nicole feels inspired by her work on the StopFoodWaste.org campaign to try to waste less by using a shopping list based on the meals she plans to eat each week. Though it's hard to plan ahead with a busy and spontaneous schedule, it will help her save food and money, and not feel so guilty when feeding that slimy kale to her backyard worms, though it's better than the landfill. "Food waste is a big problem in America, but there are a lot of helpful tips and tools to plan, store and use up extra food and leftovers," says Nicole, "It also helps to eat before going shopping!"
We wish everyone a Happy New Year and pledge to work with you for a cleaner, greener 2018. Please let us know if we can help with your environmental behavior change campaigns.
We Salute Darrell: Burner, Booth Builder, Earth Booster
A very enjoyable aspect of our work here at Gigantic is that we often team up with artists who bring their creativity and skills to bear for environmental behavior change.
One such collaborator is Darrell Hunger, an industrial designer with a passion for applying his creativity to solve environmental problems. A hard-to-find hybrid of nuts-n-bolts pragmatism and artistic vision, Darrell has been instrumental to many of the interactive displays and games we've designed for our clients over the past years. For the City of Oakland's "test your cart smarts" event booth, Darrell turned curbside carts into a life-size sort game, complete with fake moldy peaches and carefully sauce-smeared take-out containers as "game pieces."
Most recently, Darrell helped us build a game for StopWaste to help people learn the best way to store fruits and veggies, so they stay fresher longer and there's less food waste. Looking a bit like a doll's kitchen, the game lets players open cabinets and a fridge and peek under empty bowls sitting on the counter to find images of the foods they're tasked to "store." From tiny hinges to mini door handles and a sturdy collapsible stand for the game, Darrell helped us think through the design and put it all together.
With such a unique skill set, it's not a surprise Darrell is a regular at Burning Man, specifically a member of the Earth Guardians, Burning Man's environmental crew. They are the ones in charge of enforcing the organization's "Leave No Trace" (LNT) policy—essentially returning Black Rock Desert to its natural state each year, as if the weeklong, crazy circus of 70,000 revelers never happened. And it's serious business, not an esoteric goal: LNT is a requirement written into the Special Event Permit and contract Burning Man has with Nevada's Bureau of Land Management.
For the Earth Guardians, this means recruiting, training and overseeing an army of volunteers who check on camps to make sure no gray water or automotive fluids are leaking on the desert floor, keeping people out of the hot springs, and collecting MOOP—or "Matter Out Of Place" as defined by Burning Man. This truly means anything that wasn't originally part of Black Rock Desert, no matter how small, including beads and feathers broken loose from costumes, tiny litter pieces, wood chips and even the ash from cigarettes. To make the tedious un-MOOPing at least a bit more pleasant, volunteers get "MOOP bags" to collect the debris, sewn out of old jeans and ties months before the event by Darrell and his crew. But the Earth Guardians may already face another challenge: "Micro MOOP" such as body glitter and other particles that even the most diligent unMOOPing can't retrieve.
Lucky for Burners (and the rest of the world) Darrell is a master of reuse and waste prevention, and shares his skills and knowledge widely. At this year's Burning Man, his repair workshop "Glue, screw, patch: How to fix things that break, are worn or want to be repurposed" was a huge hit. In his typical hands-on style, Darrell showed participants the best uses of glues, screws, splints and other repair tools, and fixed broken objects brought to the class. Way to go Darrell!
Sez Who? Picking the Right Messenger for Environmental Outreach
As we work on environmental behavior change campaigns, we spend a lot of time crafting the perfect look and wording – to get the message right. Choosing the right messenger for that message is essential for its success. The Gigantic team's presentation at the 2017 California Resource Recovery Association Conference covered several aspects of thinking about the best messenger.
Sometimes a public agency's message can be strengthened and find traction when delivered in a different voice. The messenger's "personality" can take several forms and can be delivered live, in print and digitally:
Mascots have the power to attract and engage people and make them care about issues such as recycling, waste or water quality. Creating and implementing a mascot messenger takes planning, patience and creativity. We presented examples of recent environmental mascots and talked about the process for creating, naming, scripting and distributing a mascot.
A message is easier to accept if the viewer identifies with the person delivering the message. Our presentation touched on how to evoke thoughts like "Well, if she can do it, so can I" or "I want to be more like that person" in an environmental campaign, by recruiting community members to deliver the message.
Social Media
It's easy to treat social media like another advertising channel for promoting your organization's events and campaigns. But social media can be so much more than a digital bulletin board. We looked at ways to establish a personality on social media that doesn't just tell folks what to do, but that interacts, observes, and participates in the broader online community. One excellent example is Baltimore's Mr. Trash Wheel, who demonstrates best practices for tone and engagement.
Here is the CRRA presentation covering the above topics. Please let us know if you have questions or would like to talk about how the right messenger can work for you.


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Deploying Workflows with Elastic Beanstalk
You can use Elastic Beanstalk to deploy and run your AWS Flow Framework for Ruby workflows, activities and workers. This topic will lead you through the procedure to do so, using the example provided in Hello World.
This example assumes that you meet the following prerequisites:
- Ruby and the AWS Flow Framework for Ruby (at least version 2.4.0) are installed as described in Setting Up.
- Your AWS credentials are configured as described in Providing AWS Credentials.
Creating a workflow application that can be deployed and run on Elastic Beanstalk is similar to creating a local application with aws-flow-utils.
To create the application:
Open a command-line window and use aws-flow-utils to create an application skeleton, specifying
-c ebto create an Elastic Beanstalk-compatible application. You also need to set the region to run the EC2 instances in, using the
aws-flow-utils -n HelloBeanstalk -c eb -r us-west-2
This will create a project in the
HelloBeanstalkdirectory in the path where you ran aws-flow-utils, and will output a 1-Click URL that you can use to create your Elastic Beanstalk application. It will look something like this:
--- Your AWS Flow Framework for Ruby application will be located at: /path/to/HelloBeanstalk/ AWS Elastic Beanstalk 1-Click URL: http://console.aws.amazon.com/elasticbeanstalk/?region=... ---
Save the generated URL—you will use it to configure your application.
The project directory will contain the following directories and files:
HelloBeanstalk |-- Gemfile |-- config.ru |-- flow | |-- activities.rb | `-- workflows.rb `-- worker.json
In the
flow/activities.rbfile, add the following code:
class HelloWorld def hello(input) "Hello #{input[:name]}!" end end
Create a .zip archive of the
HelloBeanstalkdirectory in a way that is supported by your operating system. On Linux, Unix or OS X systems, you can type:
zip -r HelloBeanstalk.zip HelloBeanstalk
That's all you need in order to create your workflow application. Now you can deploy it with Elastic Beanstalk.
The 1-Click URL that was printed to the screen as output when you ran aws-flow-utils will be used now to configure your application on the Elastic Beanstalk console so that you can deploy it.
To configure your application on the AWS Elastic Beanstalk console:
Sign in to the AWS Management Console, and follow the 1-Click URL provided in the output of the aws-flow-utils command. The URL will bring you to Elastic Beanstalk's Create New Application page, pre-configured for your application.
Enter an optional Description and click Next.
On the Environment Type page, choose Web Server for the Environment tier option.
Ensure that the Predefined Configuration is Ruby, and click Next.
On the Application Version page, choose Upload your own, and click Browse..., choosing the
HelloBeanstalk.zipfile that you created earlier.
Click Next to proceed to the Environment Information page. There are no options that need to be set on this page.
Click Next to proceed to the Additional Resources page. Again, there are no options that need to be set on this page.
Click Next to proceed to the Configuration Details page.
On the Configuration Details page, choose an EC2 key pair, or open a new browser window and configure one now, using the IAM Console.
Choose an Instance Profile that has access to Amazon EC2, Elastic Beanstalk, and Amazon SWF.
Click Next to proceed to the Environment Tags page. You can leave the tags empty.
Click Next to proceed to the Review page.
Review your application's settings, and click Launch to begin creating your deployment.
Elastic Beanstalk will take some time to fully launch your application. When it is ready, you'll see Health of your Elastic Beanstalk deployment turn to a green circle:
Your workflow is now deployed!
Lastly, you need to start a workflow execution so that your workers receive tasks to process.
To start a workflow execution:
Open a command-line window and create a local script (call it
starter.rb). Add the following code:
require 'aws/decider' AWS::Flow::start("HelloWorld.hello", { name: "AWS Flow Framework!" })
Run the script using Ruby:
ruby starter.rb
This will begin executing the
hello activity on your Elastic Beanstalk-deployed application.

subset: commoncrawl


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- 自行组装
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- 包含眼镜部件
客戶留言 (27) 检视全部
9.7 / 10
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FG6894 Muse Cromwell Resin/casting is good with some minor seams Parts fit looks good , nice metal etched glasses. Thanks Sen
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This is my second unit of Muse Cromwell, well I must give it less rating than last one. Most of the pieces were nice, but you can clearly see the difference, some tabs were a bit annoying to remove. My main concern is that the inside and outside part of the skirt was smeared with some glue or resin due to the skirt being too thin in some parts, this stuff is quite hard so I will have to use the dremel to smooth it out. Other than that everything is ok!
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text: Mohsen Nasir Staff Physician Cleveland Clinic United Arab Emirates Biography Research Interest × Biography Mohsen Nasir, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Medical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Nasir was on faculty at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, where he was active in teaching medical students and residents rotating in allergy. He has participated in clinical trials involving patients with primary immunodeficiencies and hereditary angioedema. Dr. Nasir is board certified in both internal medicine and allergy/immunology and a member of both the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. His specialty interests include allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, atopic dermatitis, hereditary angioedema and chronic hives. Close × Research Interest Immunology, Allergy, Asthma Close Giulio F. Tarro President Foundation T. & L. de Beaumont Bonelli for cancer research Italy Biography Research Interest × Biography Giulio Tarro graduated from Medicine School, Naples University (1962). Research Associate, Division of Virology and Cancer Research, Children's Hospital (1965-1968), Assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics, College Medicine (1968-1969), Cincinnati University, Ohio. Oncological Virology Professor, Naples University (1972-1985). Chief Division Virology (1973-2003), Head Department Diagnostic Laboratories, (2003-2006). D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006 -. Since 2007 Chairman Committee of Biotechnologies and VirusSphere, World Academy Biomedical Technologies, UNESCO, Adjunct Professor Department Biology, Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia, recipient of the Sbarro Health Research Organization lifetime achievement award (2010). His researches have been concerned with the characterization of specific virus-induced tumour antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in human cancer. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infant deaths in Naples and of tumor liberated protein as a tumor associated antigen, 55 kilodalton protein overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas. Close × Research Interest Clinical and laboratory applied, Virology basic and diagnostic, Viral Oncology, Immunology clinical practice,Vaccines. Close Mohamad Miqdady Physician Sheikh Khalifa Hospital UAE Biography Research Interest × Biography Dr. Mohamad Miqdady is American Board certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. He is the Division Chief, Ped. GI, Hepatology & Nutrition Division at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in UAE. Also an Adjunct Staff at Cleveland Clinic, Ohio USA. Dr. Miqdady completed his Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX, USA. He held the position of Assistant Professor at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Jordan for six years prior joining SKMC. Main research interests include feeding difficulties, picky eating, obesity, procedural sedation, allergic GI disorders and celiac disease. He has several publications and authored few book chapters including www.uptodate.com On the Editorial Board of few journals including Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Close × Research Interest Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition Close


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Central/Katy FWY Store & Gunsmith
Carter's Country Central / Katy Fwy
8927 Katy Freeway Houston, TX 77024
Between Goode Company BBQ and Saltgrass Steakhouse on the Katy Freeway. Convenient parking in our own lot directly in front of our building. Easy access from I – 10 east or west. Same location since 1974.
Hours of Operation
See What You've Been Missing
Full-time gunsmith on duty 5 days a week offering repair, rebluing, muzzle brakes and barrel threading, etc. We also offer "while you wait" services including scope mounting, swivel installation and Modern sporting rifle (AR-15) accessory installation. We can also send guns to our shooting range for sight ins and have them back within 5 days or less.
Ten full and one part-time employees, 3 of which have been with the company over 30 years, one over 20 and 2 over 14 years. Many years of shooting, hunting and outdoor experience in the United States and Africa.
Being located on Interstate 10 headed out of Houston makes this location a great place to stop and get all of your last minute hunting needs as well as browse magnificent collection of whitetail trophies, many included in the book "Big Rack" the staff has 100 years of service and sales knowledge so someone will definitely have the answer to your question. Hundreds of guns and 1000's of rounds of ammunition in stock and ready for your purchase. All of your shooting, cleaning and reloading items on hand


text: Super porn gallery where you will have to wait for one naked ass. Sexy amateur asses presented by sexy babes. Erotic photos packed with sexy buttocks of young ladies will improve your mood. Juicy sexies that belong to teen chicks will surely put you in a good mood. Photos of the buttocks of these naughty amateur girls will make a huge impression on you. No wonder, because these narrow pussies are terribly exciting. Natural naked buttocks are something beautiful for the masculine eye. So do not wait any longer, stick in here to look at the nice ass!


text: Originally created for residential estates in Palm Beach, Florida in the 1930's, we have reproduced this series of pots called Watts Pots (also known as Florida Pots). This is the largest of the Low Profile collection, cast in cement with optional drainage hole and our White Wash finish. Perfect for interior and exterior use planted with orchids as well as any other plant. Frost resistant. Generally in stock, check for availability.


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The Public Health / Health Care Delivery SIG was formed to improve the collaboration of scientists and health care professionals from a range of disciplines who share common specialized interests.
Mission statement: To bring together AASLD members with shared interests in health services research and practice, including: disease prevention and public health, access to care, population-based disease management, improving quality of health care delivery, health economics and health policy.
Goals and Objectives
- Cultivate professional relationships between members with shared interests in the above topics.
- Maintain a program for education of fellows and members on clinical aspects of population management and quality improvement, as well as health services research methods.
- Establish a point of contact within the AASLD for partnerships with other organizations on health services topics of mutual interest. Examples include collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control on public health initiatives in liver disease, or partnership with the American Gastroenterology Association to promote liver disease quality measures via CMS/PQRS.
Watch the video recording [MP4] from their recent business meeting to learn what their focus will be in 2019.
Communications Subcommittee
- Chair: Elliot B. Tapper, MD
- Member: Donald M. Jensen, MD, FAASLD
- Member: Nicholas Lim, MD
- Member: Jag Chhatwal, PhD
- Member: Vivian Ortiz, MD
- Member: Russell Rosenblatt, MD
- Member: Lauren Feld, MD
Education Subcommittee
- Chair: VACANT
- Member: Costas H. Kefalas, MD, MMM
- Member: Omar Massoud, MD, PhD, FAASLD
- Member: Rony Ghaoui, MD
- Member: Anna Christina Lacson Dela Cruz, MD
- Member: Nneka Ufere, MD
- Member: Kelly Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP
- Member: Amrita Narang, MD
Global Outreach Subcommittee
- Chair: Sumeet K. Asrani, MD MSc
- Member: Sripriya Balasubramanian, MD
- Member: Jen-Jung Pan, MD, PhD, FAASLD
- Member: Omar Y. Mousa, MD
- Member: Naveed Janjua, MD, MSc, DPH
- Member: Kali Zhou, MD
- Member: Kenneth D. Rothstein, MD, FAASLD
Membership and Mentorship Subcommittee
- Chair: Karn Wijarnpreecha, MD
- Member: Souvik Sarkar, MD, PhD
- Member: Robert J. Wong, MD
- Member: Nicole Kim, MD, MPH


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Lindis Pass summit gets webcam
A webcam has been fixed in place on another Southern mountain pass, allowing motorists to check road conditions before they travel.
The new webcam, on the northern side of Lindis Pass on State Highway 8, was installed by Downer Group and the NZ Transport Agency at a cost of $110,000.
The pass is an important link for tourist traffic between Christchurch and Queenstown but can be affected by ice and snow. At an altitude of 965m, it is the highest point on the South Island's state highway network.
The webcam will help motorists and also allow traffic controllers and maintenance crews to monitor the highway.
NZTA coastal Otago contract maintenance manager Nick Rodger said the camera could pan, tilt and zoom.
A similar webcam was installed at the top of the Crown Range (altitude 1076m) by the MetService last year.
The Lindis Pass webcam can be found on the NZTA website.


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HARARE – Our reporter Mugove Tafirenyika (MT) caught up with Charlton Hwende (CH) who is vying for the Chegutu West Constituency seat against Zanu PF's Dexter Nduna.
MT: Who is Charlton Hwende?
CH: I am 38 years old, married with three children.
I am currently a member of the MDC national executive responsible for Mashonaland West Province.
I am a Christian who believes in God because he is the one governing this world.
I'm a very strong willed, cool and confident person and always prepared to listen to the opinions of others as long as my rights to life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness and that of others are not violated.
Charlton is someone who loves challenges in life.
I am a hard worker, responsible, serious person and I work best under pressure because without pressure and without expectation I won't strive for enthusiasm!
MT: You are the MDC Mashonaland West national representative which position I guess goes with big responsibilities. We have heard about factionalism which has resulted in the suspension of some provincial members, how has the party dealt with these challenges ahead of elections on July 31?
CH. The leadership in the province is united behind our leader Dr Richard Morgan Tsvangirai.
We only hear of factions in Zanu PF and not in the MDC.
There are no factions in the party and what you are referring to are challenges that are synonymous with any democratic movement such as ours and we have since overcome that.
MT: Soon after your election as the party's candidate for Chegutu West Constituency in the primary elections there were howls: "Rigged election!" What role did Nelson Chamisa play in your victory? We hear the two of you are close buddies.
CH: Wherever there is a competition, there is always a winner and a loser and there will always be howls which are consistent with the discomfort associated with losing.
I had many votes and I won both the election and results. I have known Chamisa for over two decades and to me he is not a friend but my brother and my leader.
Only the people of Chegutu had a role in the elections and they played that role by electing me as their candidate for Parliament.
MT: Talking about your candidature. You are contesting Chegutu West against Zanu PF's Dexter Nduna, what new things have been missing in the constituency that you intend to improve on should you be elected?
CH: There are a lot of things that Chegutu is lagging in and I will spend the whole day talking about them.
I will just narrow them to three.
Firstly, Chegutu is still far in terms of road network infrastructure.
I will work tirelessly with the responsible ministry to ensure an upgrade of the road network.
Secondly, I will ensure that clean, running water is piped to all households and electricity is extended to most houses without.
My other port of call will be information technology.
Chegutu needs a technology centre because technology is the key to development.
Acquiring advanced technologies helped pull China and India out of the economic quagmire that they found themselves in and we believe Chegutu can draw lessons from the Asian technological revolution.
MT: What legislative agenda for your constituency should Zimbabweans look forward to in the next Parliament?
CH: In Parliament, my goal is to represent Chegutu West with distinction by striving to use the chambers of the Zimbabwe House of Assembly to prepare a new path for our country.
My energy will be focused on enshrining certain bedrock principles that are indispensable to peace and progress in a pluralistic society like ours which principles will be drawn from the overall main MDC manifesto upholding the principle of constitutionalism from the level of the constituency politics, the principle of democracy that ensures that people in my constituency are free to engage and constructively, criticise their leaders for the good of Chegutu.
I will push to ensure that as public office holders, there are mechanisms to ensure that we are accountable to our people as well as encouraging reconciliation and building bridges given the current polarisation of our society.
I will also work hard to elevate our House of Assembly to a chamber of sober reflection, gentle persuasion, robust analysis and essential compromise.
No nation can know lasting peace or progress until its public officials are fully accountable to the people and to law.
Hence, we must wage a peaceful revolution for the supremacy of law in all aspects of the Zimbabwean polity.
I intend to be one of the arrowheads of this peaceful revolution.
MT: What are your chances against Nduna whom we hear has a lot of financial resources against the backdrop of alleged underperformance by your fellow comrade and would be predecessor Takalani Matibe during his term?
CH: I am confident that I am going to win Chegutu West.
The people of Chegutu do not want to go back to Zanu PF. I am convinced that they know that voting for Zanu PF will be going backwards because that is now a party of yesteryear.
The main MDC is the party of the future. Nduna might have money yes, but his money is not going to bring bread on the table.
His money is not going to bring dinner on the table, his money is not going to create employment for the people.
His money is not going to help step Chegutu into the future.
His money is there to buy free beers for votes. There's no future in his money.
MT: Being a member of the national executive in your party representing your province, what can you say are your targets in a province widely regarded as President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF stronghold and what are your chances in the presidential election?
CH: We are targeting all constituencies.
Mashonaland West has been diluted by change and people that it cannot be regarded as their stronghold anymore.
Tsvangirai will have a sweep through in this liberated province in the presidential election.
These days people are not easily fooled by money.
People want to be represented by someone who can bring real change to their livelihoods, someone who can better communities.
All these heavyweights have financial muscle yes, but they do not represent the people.
They do not represent what people want.
People want change and Ignatius Chombo for example, does not represent change.
He represents stagnation and personal aggrandisement. He and others you mentioned failed their constituencies a long time ago and thus they are past their sale by dates.
MT: What lessons have you learnt from your flirtation with student activism that you think helped you be the politician you are today?
CH: Actually it is not just that, but the human rights infringements, widespread poverty, economic dependence on other states, unstable government, high rate of unemployment, disease coupled with a government that has become clueless to these challenges have helped me be the politician I am today.
Student activism was just a stepping stone.
It widened my eyes to the vastness of our problems and provided fertile grounds for my involvement.
MT: Your last words to the people out there.
CH: Either within or outside of the House of Assembly, I shall not mortgage my conscience for filthy lucre and earthly possession.
Girding my loins with truth, I will strive for that which is noble and of good report before God and in the court of history.
I am counting on my leaders and friends for prayers and intellectual inputs to wage a successful campaign.
I am the man for the job for Chegutu West.
May God crown our efforts with resounding success.


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Women's Musto Ana Striped Polo Shirt
Product Code: 022362
- Description+
The Women's Musto Ana Striped Polo Shirt is perfect for those casual days this season and beyond, featuring a stylish striped design you are sure to love. The Ana Striped Polo has been crafted from 100% polyester for a durability design, finished with a mesh inner short for an added touch of comfort and breathability. This polo is perfect for teaming with jeans, chinos or shorts, while the Musto branding gives you the mark of Musto quality and style.
- Features +
- 100% Polyester
- 100% Polyester Mesh Inner Short
- Stripe design, contrasting stripe to the lower body
- Ribbed collar
- Button placket
- Musto branding
- Delivery & Returns +
We offer FREE UK economy delivery on any order over £35 containing at least one full price item. Standard UK delivery is charged from £3.95 and Express delivery (next working day) from £8.95. International delivery rates vary depending on the weight of items ordered and the delivery service chosen. Total delivery costs are displayed below when items are selected and also on the basket page. Default prices shown are for UK delivery, please select alternative delivery destinations on the basket page or login to your account to see relevant international prices.
Select the size and colour (above) to view currently available delivery options for this product.
Express - Next working day delivery (order before 3pm) Standard - Delivery within 5 working days Economy - Delivery within 7 working days
Our satisfaction guarantee enables you to return any unsuitable items to us for exchange or refund within 28 days of receipt. If possible we would prefer discounted or sale items to be returned within 7 days of receipt.
Please see our returns policy for further details.


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Natural Resource Curse and Economic Growth
Contributing Factors to the Natural Resource Curse: Socialization, Poor Governance, Rent Seeking and the Dutch Disease
Many African countries face a resource dependence problem. More specifically, Africa is shown to be "most distinctive in terms of natural resource dependence." (Collier, 2008, p. 222) Part of the logic for such a dependency lies in the population-land ratio, according to which the latter is distinctively higher than the former. (Collins, 2008, p. 222) As such, the focus of policy becomes the land and the resources it contains within it, as opposed to the populace. Moreover, "for various reasons, Africa has not managed to break into the global market for manufactures." (Collier, 2008, p. 222) One of the crucial features of developing countries is a successful manufacturing sector: the inability to develop this sector in favor of the reliance on natural resources can be considered part of the reason for its lack of growth, and even decline. The result of such dependence is a clear lack of revenue diversification - governments exploit natural resources and sell them to individuals or big companies in order to make profit. Those big companies or individuals make huge profit, but citizens cannot make money. The viewpoint is thus one of short-term profit, as opposed to a long term economic and political ideology with a decisively ethical character.
Such reliance is directly correlated to the ubiquity of conflicts in the form of civil wars within Africa. Africa has the most civil conflict in the world, and half of these conflicts are classified as civil war (Ross, 2001). According to Ross, there are two main reasons as to why natural resources engender civil war: growth reduction and the increase of poverty. (2003, p. 18) Citing studies from the World Bank, the author underscores that states which rely on the natural resources of the mining sector find that their GDP per capita fell. (Ross, 2003, p. 20) The focus on natural resources correlates to high poverty. For Ross, therefore, "resource-rich governments do an unusually poor job of providing education and health care for their citizens." (2003, p. 20) The logic behind this correlation can be phrased as the priority of land over people in these government ideologies: the value of the land is directly disproportionate to the value of the people. The general neglect of the citizenry suggests that such governance views the populace as only a means to the country's presupposed real value which is its natural resources. From such a hierarchy of values, it is clear, following Ross, why poverty is engendered. The money garnered from natural resources is not re-invested into the populace of the country; it is rather re-invested in the natural resource, thus creating a vicious circle. As Ross notes, "it is not surprising that people are more likely to rise up against their government when their economic predicament is bad and getting worse. Rebel groups find it easer to recruit new members when poverty and unemployment are widespread, since the prospect of combat and looting seems more attractive by comparison." (2003, p. 21) Specific examples are clear, as many African countries, such as Congo, Angola, and Liberia have had civil wars linked to resource dependence from 1990 to 2002 (Ross, 2003, p. 18).
Africa is one of the poorest regions in the world. Those countries with abundant natural resources usually hardly provide enough education and health care to their citizens. According to Ross (2003), trends show that high reliance on natural resource exports can lead to high poverty rate. Moreover, among the world's top twenty most natural resource dependence countries index, twelve of those countries are classified as "highly indebted poor countries" (Ross 2003). Additionally, Ross (2003) finds that the child mortality rates of those poorest countries are higher than other nations. In these countries, the mortality rate of children under the age of five went up 12.7% during the past decade. The higher child mortality rate today, the less people develop the country tomorrow. Therefore, the way of decreasing mortality rate is to change the economic disadvantage and avoid natural resource dependence.
The emphasis on natural resources and the general neglect of the populace that occurs in concert suggests that the primary cause of this correlation is poor management. In other words, the policy makers who are complicit in decision-making concerning how to utilize natural resources are content with the thesis that the natural resources are enough. Why this is not enough is made clear by the aforementioned poverty and conflicts of civil war.
However, it is germane to underscore that such poor management is not the result of a general incompetence. Rather, it is a conscious decision. One of the clear symptoms of the latter is corruption. According to Mbaku, "corruption provides incumbent leaders an incentive to resist change – especially institutional reforms that could cancel their privileges and make it more difficult for them to extract extra-legal income from the economy – and cling on to power at all costs." (2007, p. ix-x) The psychology of corruption is thus comparable to a selfish decision so as to maintain hegemony. Moreover, this corruption is widespread. Corruption in Africa costs almost $148 billion dollars every year, holding back development and restraining investment. For example, in Cameroon, patients cannot go to the hospital and get treatments without putting money into the doctor's pocket. Also, if students want to pass tests in Zambia, they need to bribe teachers first (BBC News). Corruption thus consists of two main societal aspects: it is detrimental to the people, while it consolidates the power of the hegemonic class. It can thus be said that in these governments there exists a certain socialization of corruption, in which the latter becomes the normative framework for the carrying out of relations. According to Smith (2007), within the African natural resource exporting countries, governments usually absorb revenues instead of making contributions to society. In 2001, nearly $1,000,000 billion dollars disappeared from the government revenue account of an African country without explanation. (Smith, 2007)
Accordingly, the investigation into the logic behind the natural resource curse concomitantly calls for an examination of the socialization of corruption, in the sense of the latter's omnipresence. While this is, of course, not exclusively an African issue, (Mbaku, 2007, p. ix) its prominence in Africa serves as an index of poor management – the natural resource problem is consistent with problems of corrupt forms of government, as the riches natural resources generate are used to maintain hegemony, as opposed to engendering civil change. Less account transparency is an excuse for governance, helping them hide corruption. Increasing governments' accountability is an efficient way to solve the corruption problem and help countries distance themselves from natural resource curse.
A significant aspect of such poor governance is precisely that it creates the aforementioned vicious circle, which creates a "self-reinforcing cycle of poor governance." (Gupta et al., 2006, p. 37) That is to say, insofar as the government is viewed as corrupt, challenges to government hegemony become less plausible in the eyes of the populace: poor governance is accepted as a fact of life: "citizens demand less and less from their government as their demands go unmet and their expectations diminish." (Gupta et al., 2006, p. 37) Accordingly, a certain culture of corruption and poor governance becomes endemic in these cases. At the same time, however, what makes the maintenance of this circle possible is the reliance on natural resources – the control of these resources in the hands of the few, i.e., the elite, means a concomitant separation of the populace from the benefits of these same resources. Natural resources become an effective means by which to continue and perpetuate poor governance.
The movement away from the latter would thus consist in a simultaneous re-appropriation of natural resources, so as to engender resource diversification. In other words, the primacy of natural resources must in effect be used to minimize this same primacy. However, this calls for a new form of socialization of natural resources, firstly in a political sense, which means that societies are precisely not highly stratified, i.e., oligarchy, and secondly, in an economic sense, whereby relations between public and private holding of such resources are radically re-thought, so as to find a socialization process that realizes the aim of resource diversification. The control of natural resources by government sources is insufficient, insofar as these governments are corrupt. Hence, a more radical form of socialization is required, in which government is merely a managing tool of these resources, not intending to perpetuate the status quo of government, but rather aiming to create alternatives through a more diverse social and revenue structure.
Such a lack of diversity is demonstrated in the phenomenon of rent-seeking. Fischer notes that the concept of rent-seeking remains diffusive in the academic literature (2006, p. 22), to the point that "there are other expressions and concepts like directly unproductive activities, soft budget constraints or corruption, which are either used as a synonym, subset or related but different aspect of rent-seeking." (2006, p. 22) Nevertheless, for Fischer, rent-seeking is most equitable with a notion of "profit-seeking." (2006, p. 22) In relation to natural resources, therefore, the curse of the latter precisely lies in a profit based approach to these same resources, although a profit that is the profit of the few: rent-seeking occurs when some individuals and companies seek their own profit without making productive contribution to society.


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Crafting press releases with Prowly is like building Lego objects. To create a whole new piece of writing, you must add different types of elements together in order to ultimately give life to a visually consistent and interesting piece of content. We've examined which press release elements are most commonly used by Prowly users. Find out for yourself, which popular functions and those less frequently used we've presented in the context of the upcoming changes to our Story Creator.
#1 Paragraph
It will hardly come as a surprise to anyone that the most frequently added element is… the paragraph. It constitutes the building block of almost every press release, although we're well aware that more and more users "read" with their eyes.
#2 Gallery & Image
#3 Subheading A, Subheading B
#4 Quote
#5 Annotation
Your press release will also benefit from…
Social media content (Facebook, Instagram, Tweet, YouTube, Vimeo, GIF)
Smart links (Custom URL)
Middle hero video & middle hero image (Full-width video, Full-width image)
Divider & CTA button
The new Story Creator will keep what's good and popular and allow you to add new elements (check out the full list of functions here). The mechanics of certain actions will also change. But before we implement the changes, we will present them in a more interactive form, e.g., during webinars or in the form of videos, so if this topic is something you'd be interested in, stay tuned! Remember, you can still test <link> our new solutions before their release!


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If you're in the market for a furnace upgrade, understanding what makes a furnace fuel efficient and what that means to you in terms of savings will help you choose the right furnace for your home.
AFUE rating
The AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, is the standard measure of a furnace's efficiency. The Department of Energy set the minimum AFUE rating at 78 percent in 1992, requiring that all systems convert at least 78 percent of fuel into heat. The AFUE rating is posted on every furnace, usually on the yellow EnergyGuide label. Most manufacturers tout their furnaces as high efficiency, but according to the DOE, high efficiency models are those that have an AFUE rating of 90 percent or more, while mid-efficiency are those rated between 80 to 83 percent. The highest AFUE rating is 98.2 percent.
Cost and savings
The higher the AFUE rating, the more expensive the furnace, but the cost of the furnace is generally recouped in energy savings. The factors that determine the amount of savings and how quickly payback is achieved include the price of the new system, the climate of northwest Arkansas, the cost of energy in your area, the efficiency difference between your old furnace and your new one, and whether your new system qualifies for a tax credit. Furnace dealers can calculate your savings for several different models to help you determine which system is most cost-effective for you.
Choosing the right model for your home
Considerations to keep in mind as you shop for a furnace upgrade include the size of your home, what kind of system will be compatible with existing ductwork and the cost of the system versus the savings you will realize. The size of the furnace is the most important factor in choosing an energy-efficient system. A qualified technician will help you determine the right size of furnace using energy-loss calculations based on the size of your home and various features, such as window area and insulation.
For more expert advice on choosing a furnace upgrade, contact the pros at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We proudly serve homeowners throughout the northwest Arkansas area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace upgrades and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock


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Price: $65.00
Inscription: CD/DVD Display with custom plaque
Seller Id: CD
Here is a 16" by 13" glassed in frame with your original CD or DVD with the CD insert cover. Also included is the custom wording plaque with a mini CD on the plaque. Once you have ordered the display, you can send us the wording for the plaque, and if you want us to add the insert cover, send it to us by email on a jpg or PNG file. We will add this for you. Also, their is a clip attached to the display where you can easily open the back of the frame and snap in the original CD. View more info
By: Mini Guitar Award Trophy in Shadow Box or CD Display with Custom Plaque
Price: $84.95
Inscription: Mini Guitar Award Trophy in Shadow Box or CD Displ
Seller Id: guitar
Here is a 13" by 13" and 1 1/2" thick, glassed in shadow box frame that includes a real looking 10" mini guitar, customized "Presented To" type plaque and a space below the plaque for a photograph, company logo or original CD. If you want to add a CD, we'll attach a CD clip so that you can easily snap in your CD. See the photos for different samples. View more info


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Well this is my first real post regarding something I have made. I have not placed an order from the new SU! catalog and with the huge retired list, I only have a limited number of active stamp sets! I have a wish list now that is way too long that I have to prioritize. Anyway, I wanted to show a card I made for Thank you cards from my son's 2nd birthday (still can't believe he is 2 already!) that was back in March. It uses a swirl technique that was kinda fun to try. It uses current stamp sets (oh boogers...I used a retired wheel on it to get the swirl pattern...oh well)...okay almost all current stamp sets. Hope you like it!
The Engineering Details
Stamp Sets: By Land, Twinkle Wheel
Ink: Ruby Red, More Mustard, Basic Black
Paper: Ruby Red, More Mustard, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories: None


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Small Punch Hole Plastic Bag PSD Mockup
Now we are going to provide you a Free Plastic Bag Mockup that is awesome for your brands that will multiply the attractions of people to get attach to you. As usual, get the desire presentation via smart-object layer. This graphic object is made with the smart and creative concept and with the marvelous blend of colors that will make you more happy and force you to utilize in your wonderful graphical creations.


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Tag Archives: Gingrich
Romney's Weakness in Red and Purple States
My post the other day about the poll showing Rick Santorum ahead of both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, and Obama ahead of Romney, in North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, and Florida needs some refinement. If we eliminate the states which … Continue reading
How Well Would Santorum Do Without Gingrich?
There have been, and will be, increasing calls for Newt Gingrich to drop out of the race, with the assumption that he cannot win the nomination, and that he has been siphoning votes and delegates from Rick Santorum and keeping … Continue reading
Will Newt Romney Kill The GOP?
Indulge me a bit as we talk about some inside baseball related to the current GOP primary race. Newt Gingrich ran a cash-poor political campaign until December of last year, when a big donor named Sheldon Adelson gave $11 million … Continue reading
Did Romney Force Elderly Jews, Holocaust Survivors To Eat Non-Kosher Food?
First the accusation was that Mitt Romney eliminated the serving of kosher food in Jewish nursing homes. Alana Goodman begins this narrative: During the weekend, the New York Post reported that Mitt Romney vetoed a bill to help fund kosher food … Continue reading
January 26 GOP Florida Debate Recap: "It's Not Worth Getting Angry About" Edition
The music and lead-in to this debate were reminiscent of the lead-ins to the NFL play-off games. And indeed, since there will be not be another 2012 GOP debate for another month (or possibly ever), this debate took on the … Continue reading
DNC Pouring Money Into Florida to Defeat Romney, Support Gingrich
According to the Orlando Sentinel: Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has an unlikely ally this week in his Florida primary battle against Mitt Romney: the Democratic National Committee. The Democrats are targeting Mitt Romney as if he were already the … Continue reading


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An Honest Conversation About Hip Hop Podcast : Episode 5 "The Jay-Z Episode (Pre 4:44)"
|Posted by Twenty1K on July 9, 2017 at 11:50 AM
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The Jay Z Conversation Part 1 : For this episode of "An Honest Conversation About Hip Hop"...Read Full Post »
The Casey Crew Podcast Episode 25 (Audio)
|Posted by Twenty1K on April 6, 2017 at 9:40 AM
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DJ Envy and Gia had a trying week with their daughter, London being very sick and they tell the story about Envy being overprotective in the hospital. They weigh in on a listener's concerns about her boyfriend's family being racist and Envy does not hold back. The argument of the week is about Gia feeling thatRead Full Post »
I'll Name This Podcast Later Episode 106 (Audio)
|Posted by Twenty1K on April 5, 2017 at 9:55 PM
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Read Full Post »
Drink Champs Podcast : Kid Capri, Tony Touch and A$AP Ferg (Video)
|Posted by Twenty1K on April 5, 2017 at 9:10 AM
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N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN are the Drink Champs. In this episode the guys sit down with Kid Capri, Tony Touch and A$AP Ferg. They discuss their careers, the mixtape game, some hilarious stories and so much more! Check it out below.
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Drink Champs "Episode 71 w/ ASAP Ferg, Tony Touch & Kid Capri" (Audio)
|Posted by Twenty1K on March 31, 2017 at 9:30 PM
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In this episode of Drink Champs, DJ EFN and N.O.R.E sit down with Kid Capri, Tony Touch and ASAP Ferg to discuss their careers, mixtapes and share some hilarious stories. Listen to it HERE.


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Queensland balloon artist invited to join world-record attempt in Singapore
Sunshine Coast balloon artist Matt Russell has twisted, pulled and squeaked balloons for clients of all ages for more than a decade, but he is cranking that up a notch in a world-record attempt in Singapore next month.
Mr Russell was one of 50 artists from 12 countries invited to attend the four-day event, which will use more than 500,000 balloons to create an artwork.
He said it would be under the creative guidance of "spectacular" balloon artist Tan Lily, but the theme would be kept under wraps.
"She'll tell us once we get there … she made this [creation] and it had four different-sized balloons inside to get the shape of a fish going from its head down to its tail."
Mr Russell said she was known for the "double stuffed" technique with a balloon inside a balloon to create different shapes to the standard round balloon.
"I am pretty chuffed to be invited to be involved," he said.
"It's not something Australia has ever seen before, so it's exciting to have the chance to travel and be part of the experience."
Fellow balloon artist Maureen Egan from Sydney has also been invited.
Becoming the balloon man
Trained in graphic design, Mr Russell turned to balloons as a career option when he could not get work in the field in which he had trained.
"It's a hard career to get an actual job on the Sunshine Coast, and the balloons let me have that creative side to design for clients and make their event or party shine."
While he liked balloons as a child, the lightbulb moment for a career opportunity was not switched on until he was 21.
And after 11 years, he has not looked back, but admits the profession has raised some eyebrows.
He started out in the party section of a major chain store and quickly saw a business opportunity.
"You can only fit a certain amount of balloons in an everyday car and I knew there was a bit of a niche on the coast that it would build up to being a fulltime job," he said.
Initially Mr Russell expected the work to target parties and special events, but over the decade it has branched into the corporate sector, which now accounts for most of his income.
"Taking it from concept to completion and seeing the finished job, 11 years later it still amazes me," he said.
"It's transforming a room from this plain, boring room that looks like every other function that's in there to creating something that's individual for each client, and them just looking at it and walking in and going 'Wow'.
"It's definitely gone into the corporate world, which is not where I imagined it in the beginning."
Balloons and opportunities
Mr Russell has won four awards at the annual World Balloon Convention, and continues to learn new skills and techniques from others around the world.
"I look at the different techniques and what's cost effective … some techniques can be so time-consuming that if you had to charge the client, they're not going to pay for it, so I adapt what I've learnt," he said.
While the profession may seem a little obscure, Mr Russell said it fitted within his artistic family.
His mother is a dressmaker, his sister a florist and his grandfather an artist.
"I've found my niche that I can actually create with," he said.
"It's given me a lot of opportunities in life that I would never have had.
"I've got some amazing friends from all over the world. Without balloons I would never have had those opportunities."
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Beds : 6
Bath : 2
Type : Duplex
Size : 3004 sq ft
Year : 1946
Lot Size: 39x135
Property Tax: 3614
Wonderfully bright North Buffalo double w/ open floor plan
MattQuag.com™ Your source for real estate information and services.
Copyright © 2019 All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated.


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Thompson's Station Moving Resources
Here Are Some Great Resources To Help You Get Acclimated To Thompson' Station
All My Sons Moving & Storage can take help with all
aspects of your move to Thompson's Station. These Thompson's Station moving
resources will help you get settled in your new community after your friendly Thompson's
Station movers finish your move.
The Thompson's Station website is an excellent resource to find the services and events offered by the local government
The Wilimson County of Commerce works with the community to spur economic success and drive commercial growth. The Chamber supports large corporations and small businesses like your local Lascassas moving company, All My Sons Moving & Storage.
Thompson's Station has its own elementary and middle schools school and belongs to the Williamson County School District


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Jail Is Corrosive To A Young Man's Mind
But a tailored mindfulness program may negate the negative impact of imprisonment. A just-published study finds significant declines in several key areas of cognitive functioning among teenage boys who are doing time. Given that most prisoners eventually return to society, and ex-cons with poor reasoning ability and/or impulse control are unlikely to go straight, this could have widespread negative effects. ——————————————- "This study provides even more support for the use of alternative methods of punishment, such as drug courts and restorative justice courts," the researchers write. "Keeping youth out of the system, and protecting them when they are most emotionally and cognitively susceptible to the negative effects of incarceration, may well be... Learn More
The Role of Mindfulness in Effective and Ethical Lawyering
"No," I replied almost 20 years ago, when the managing partner asked me to arrange an eight-week mindfulness training program for our lawyers. I was a litigator and the partner in charge of attorney training at a large Boston law firm, and I did not want my colleagues to think we were crazy. Fortunately, my forward-thinking managing partner won this standoff, and over 75 partners and associates had an opportunity to learn and practice mindfulness together. Fast forward to 2017, and you will find a growing number of law firms turning to mindfulness training as a foundation for professional excellence. My original "No" is now an emphatic "YES" as I... Learn More
Judge Kristi Harrington On Why Every Lawyer Can Benefit From Practicing Yoga
The judge has helpful advice for lawyers on the importance of maintaining their well-being and setting boundaries. The question that I struggle with on a daily basis is how do I get everything that I need to get done in the day done well and practice self-care? It's constantly, for me, looking ahead and saying "What can I get done that is truly important? What can I either delegate or cut out in order to carve time?" We all know if we don't put it on the calendar, it's not going to get done. Click here to continue reading this article by Jeena Cho in Above the Law.
Washington Prison Inmates to Teach Mindfulness to Others Behind Bars
Four Washington state prison inmates are making history by becoming the first inmates certified to teach Path of Freedom, an emotional intelligence program based on mindfulness meditation. As certified trainers the four are starting to teach the 12-week curriculum to other men behind bars. The Path of Freedom program was developed by the Massachusetts-based Prison Mindfulness Institute. These enthusiastic and dedicated men are venturing into uncharted territory. Path of Freedom has been taken into prisons across the U.S. and Europe for many years, but only by outside volunteers who pay for and complete a six-week online training course. Click here to continue reading this article by Tenzin Gache for Northwest Dharma Association.
Correctional Officer Suicide Rate Rivals That Of Vietnam Vets
Far too often society focuses on the lives of those behind bars, and rarely on those who work inside correctional facilities. Prison is a tough place not only for inmates, but also for those who dedicate their lives to working in correctional facilities. Correctional officers (COs) and other corrections professionals face numerous health risks due to the high stress nature of their jobs and environments, risks than can impact their families as well. The high stress working conditions in corrections can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among COs – at a rate much higher than for people in other careers. The rate of PTSD and suicide among correctional officers... Learn More
Mindfulness training to help first responders deal with opioid crisis
"When repeatedly exposed to people who are overdosing, especially those who have repeated overdoses, we're facing cynicism, and some of the older law enforcement officers expressed a kind of detachment from both work and personal lives," Brumage said. "They just became so cynical over time. They weren't as effective as they could have been — either professionally or personally." Click here to read the full article by Erin Beck in the Charleston Gazette-Mail.
How Would an Ethical Officer React?
…Senior Cpl. Joshua Merkel, the class's defensive-tactics instructor, talked to the recruits about how their bodies might respond to stressful situations. "When stress and adrenaline hit, we get tunnel vision, where our scope of vision narrows, and we get auditory exclusion, where we don't hear as well," he explained. He worked with them on deep breathing, yoga and other techniques for tuning into their environment. "From Day 1, I asked them to notice all the subtle things, like people's energies and their body language," Merkel said, including "observing sounds — not just hearing them but observing what things sound like — and what you smell." Click here to read the... Learn More
Wellness program for first responders tackles secondhand trauma
As part of an effort to reduce secondhand trauma among first responders in Central Florida, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office will host a three-day mindfulness program. Click here to continue reading this article by Bianca Padro Ocasio in the Orlando Sentinel.
The Passing of Police Captain & Dharma Teacher Cheri Maples
We join so many others in mourning the tragic loss of a great Dharma teacher and friend to so many. Cheri Maples made unique contributions to mindful justice field, as a former police captain and ordained teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh's lineage, who trained numerous law enforcement and other public safety professionals in mindfulness through her organization, the Center for Mindfulness & Justice. Cheri and her work are irreplaceable, and at the same time she has opened the way for many to follow in her footsteps bringing the healing and transformative power of mindfulness and compassion to our public safety professionals. Fleet Maull, PhD, Founder Center for Mindfulness in Corrections &... Learn More
Australian Law Firm To Introduce A Mental Health And Wellbeing Initiative
Illawarra law firm RMB Lawyers is introducing a new initiative to improve the mental health and wellbeing of its lawyers. The century old business with a presence in Wollongong, the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven and Sydney knows that in the fast-paced world of law dealing with high stakes and tackling heavy workloads can have a significant impact on lawyer's mental wellbeing. Industry statistics reveal that one-in-three lawyers will suffer some form of stress, depression, anxiety or burnout. RMB Lawyers is tackling the issue head on by ensuring a supportive workplace environment. It is incorporating a new initiative designed to assist lawyers in managing the mental impact the profession can have. In fact RMB is... Learn More


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Russian professional diver Vitaly Bazarov, who lives in Dahab, Egypt, spotted a weird sculpture of a donkey situated right at the bottom of the Red Sea.
As seen in the video, filmed by the diver in November, the statue looks like it has been under water for a long time. Several fish of different sizes can be seen swimming around the donkey's figure, all covered in countless numbers of crustaceans and seaweed.
But what surprised the diver and Internet users most of all was a relatively new trilby hat that was hanging on the animal's ear.


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Coalition seeks to weather AV rows
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have insisted the coalition will weather increasingly bitter clashes over electoral reform as the campaign entered its final stretch.
But the Prime Minister also risked inflaming tensions by repeating claims that switching to the Alternative Vote (AV) could require expensive counting machines - a suggestion dismissed as a "lie" by Lib Dems.
Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne lambasted the Tory leadership for making "outrageous" personal attacks on Mr Clegg.
The interventions came with Labour leader Ed Miliband already seemingly positioning himself for what polls predict will be a resounding No verdict on Thursday.
Mr Miliband complained that Mr Clegg had been a "massive hindrance" to the Yes campaign, and even questioned why the referendum was being given such priority given the country's other issues.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the Deputy Prime Minister conceded it was proving difficult to persuade people to "move with the times". But Mr Clegg said the royal wedding had been taking much of the public's attention, and it was too early to start a "post-mortem" of the campaign.
"A lot of people probably haven't quite focused on it yet. I think there is a lot to play for between now and Thursday," he insisted.
Despite previously condemning those behind the No campaign as a "right-wing clique", the Liberal Democrat leader said he did not want to "personalise" the issue. But he accused opponents of trying to "sow confusion" and peddling "ludicrous bilge". "Those who want to argue against change will try to amplify the fears," he added.
Appearing on the same programme, Mr Cameron said the Government would keep working together constructively regardless of the outcome.
"We are doing that already," he said. "We had a very successful Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, we will be having another Cabinet meeting this Tuesday. The business of government goes on."


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Hi, I'm Ant Smith And I Have A Small Penis
Hi, I'm Ant Smith and I have a small penis
Monday 17th March 2014 10:55pm
I have a tiny cock
Like a crooked little finger
Everybody else's dick
Is inevitably bigger
If six inch as an average
Can truly be believed
Someone here in this room
Is twice the size of me
If you can do your algebra
Already you will know
Four inches is the maximum
My dick will ever go
For the engineers among you
I'll express my ratio
My little one inch wonder
Up to four times it can grow
My pubes are even longer
They make a comfy nest
With a little acorn sat
Upon the very crest
Rummage in my fly and
Wish that I were blessed
Searching frantically
I recover just the head
Get a little piss drip
Up on my finger tip
There's absolutely nothing there
For me to get a grip
If I sit to pee I must
Be wary of my jet
The angle of my dangle means
My trousers may get wet
He's got a little willy, a tiny baby dick
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
He's got a little willy, a tiny baby dick
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
I wank it with one finger
If you really want to know
And no I can't imagine
The feeling of deep throat
When I look down I can still
Clearly see my toes
But my little willy hides
Beneath my belly folds
Sometimes it is inverted
Even when it isn't cold
Like a little turtle
Inside of me it goes
Girls they like to tell me
It' such a cute surprise
Until I have to tell them I
Left the condom stuck inside
I'm hung like Mickey Mouse
I'm glad now to admit
For the greater pain exists
In propagating myths
According to the internet
Real men have massive dicks
And you are next to useless
If you're 'only' average
So if you're sat with five or six then
Feel the relief
You no longer have to hide it
In shame and misery
For I'm the living proof you've got
Way more than you need
For even with four inches
My, girl's in love with me
He's got a little willy, a tiny baby dick
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
He's got a little willy, a tiny baby dick
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
But at least he's got the balls, to admit to it!
Whilst it is fortunately true in some respects that penis size doesn't matter, almost 50% of men suffer some degree of penis size anxiety - in this sense at least, it matters. There's plenty of re-assurance on offer, in terms of enlightened family or friends or survey statistics. But of course, most men with such concerns can't discuss them, and find reasons why the various assurances are invalid. No matter what is said, a man will always feed the anxiety. Assurances are hardly heard as he squirms in an embarrassment, only hoping the conversation will soon be over. Abstract facts simply wash off, because he REALLY DOES have a small penis. 99% of men with such anxiety have perfectly normal dicks. But when they hear this, every single one thinks 'I must be in the other 1%'. And it is in our nature to hold exceptional memories. It takes a hundred reassurances for one of them to stick, but only one perceived shortcoming to send you back to the start.
So by all accounts this city is packed with men worrying wrongly about their perfectly reasonable six inch dicks.
For some, it becomes debilitating. The psychological obsession is so strong that they develop all manner of inappropriate behaviours.Something in our culture keeps a lot of men destabilised in this way. Is that a surprise? Blame the porn industry, or whatever, but it is secrecy that always has the greatest power to create fear and subjugate people.
Of course, some well-endowed men are the opposite, flopping their meat out at any opportunity. Or taking jobs in porn which we know gives us a skewed visual history of dick size. The more the smaller guys with anxiety shy and hide away, the more skewed this view becomes. It's a vicious circle. It can only be broken by normalising our view of dicks - not by publishing abstract data, but rather by being prepared to be open, honest, and non-judgemental about dick size.
Of course it would be easy for a guy with a normal, or even a large dick, to say that.
But if a guy with just about 4 inches, at best, stands up and says 'compare with me', then the vast majority of men (98.8%) are going to feel all the better. As will the guy with 4 inches, since we'll have reduced the overall perception of common dick size.
So I came to the conclusion that rather than my anxiety being justified (which, even though I am small, it isn't) my anxiety was adding to the problem. I was making it easier to believe that cocks don't REALLY come this small - leaving all those guys with 5 and 6 inches weeping needlessly.
And reinforcing their vulnerability, only increases my own.
Not that I am debilitated by a body dysmorphic illness. But my anxiety over my dick size is a companion in my life that visits me at least daily. Whether having a wank, or a piss, or casually confronted by an obvious bulge on the tube, a voice would say 'you inadequate little bitch'. Certainly my obsessive personality had ample fuel to distract me from life and redirect my energies down self-destructive routes. As well as the lost energy, there's the danger that at some point, in some way, this inner destructive submissiveness would bring me ruin.
So I did what it is best to do with all half buried truths. I set it free.
But rather than simply boring the world with another AA style proclamation ("Hi, I'm Ant Smith and I have a small penis") I tried to turn the draining negative energy into a creative, positive outlet - with my Poem.
As soon as I finished it I knew I had crafted exactly what I wanted to say. But I was seriously uncertain if I could ever let it see the light of day. I've made passing remarks on cock size in other works, skirting round the issue. It was clear to me that this was a poem that had been writing itself for a long time. It felt like an important piece. And I thought about my other work. The keen embarrassment that I had put my wife through with lyrics such as 'Spunky'. I realised immediately that a selective truth is no truth at all. That if I was to maintain my credentials as an artist, I could not bury this piece.
Of course I thought about my wife. Would she be embarrassed by my performing this? What would she think people would think of her for marrying such a man. But our discussion together didn't even touch on that, because I believe she understands the 'necessity within me'. And it is pretty clear that she loves me and my dick. Not despite my dick. In fact, it is only because my dull brain has started realise her assurances are true that I've even arrived at this point. For a man who used to get undressed in the dark, I've come a long way. Being able to write and perform this poem is, at least partially, a testament to my wife's love. How can I keep hating my crappy little dick when she loves it so?
Finally, I thought how important IS this piece. I did a google search for 'small dick poem' - 48m results but they quickly descended into a mire of Small Penis Humiliation porn links. I read a dozen or so poems on the subject. Most were derogatory pieces written by women with their own reasons. The remainder, bar one, could most kindly be called erotica. Just one other piece was written in celebration of cock, but not necessarily of and by an underendowed guy. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples out there but from a quick search, I think an honest and truly funny piece about a small cocked guy is certainly called for.
So I think this piece is socially important, important to my integrity, important to my marriage, largely novel and above all TOO DAMN FUCKING FUNNY.
I've never before questioned a poem so deeply. I'm glad to realise I take my work so seriously. I am resolved to perform this piece. I'm fascinated now to know the effect it may have. There may even be another blog post in it...
About the piece
For once I admit, this poem is autobiographical. I rarely say that about my writing, because it's rarely strictly true. I mostly write about the abstract 'human condition'. Certainly tinted and coloured by the things I have seen and the people I have met but my poems are usually dressed up in imagined worlds and characters.
But a piece like this cannot work in the abstract. To achieve its aims the audience has to be certain that the poet is discussing exactly what he personally packs inside his own pants, so that the invited comparison is as real as it can be. This is why the last line of the poem changes to state 'a short dick man like me'.
It is also why the poem as a whole is autobiographical. All of the stated issues relate to true events. The reality of living with a small penis is crucial to creating the liberating attitude. Yeah, sometimes it's a struggle to pee and no way do condoms fit like a glove. I have to recognise those facts in order to say, 'So fuck?' And so fuck is what I mean. These are things that effect only me and my wife. For others they're funny drunken conversations. No more no less. What matters to me is that my little guy has found a loving home. Certainly more so than many of much greater stature. I'm not sure I yet totally believe that size doesn't matter, but with my wife by my side I'm happy to make that my next obsessive mantra.


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I sit on the ledge staring down
At the lights of the billboards
Of women in fancy lingerie,
The cars driving steadily past
Like they're on a production line,
Their driver lulled into
A false sense of conditional security
By the pantomime life society has encaged us in.
And I sit here, feeling so real
I can't even bear to let myself think,
Because when I ask myself
What this all means, I don't have an answer,
I used to have an answer.
The pavement serenades me,
Promising it'll never let me go,
Romanticising the steel grip of finality,
But I'm not sure death means anything either,
I just want to feel something
For the sake of knowing that I'm alive,
And that somebody actually cares
That I'm still miraculously here.
© Richela Rosales Maroto 2019