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Being a parent to autistic child is challenging but their love does miracles. Every child and every case is special and unique. Of course, parents have already surfed the Internet and other resources, including books, phone apps to help them … Continue reading
Tag Archives: autism schools new york
How seasons influence the risk of developing autism in children?
Winter is a magical season… We usually wait for the holiday and for the presents, no matter how old we are. We start to believe in all good things, believe that this season will be special, our dreams will come … Continue reading
Taking anti-depressants during pregnancy provokes ASD
Pregnancy is a beautiful and stressful time for every woman. As we are all unique, our bodies and psychology react to this condition in a unique way. Moms know that alcohol, Tylenol, viral infections can influence on the fetuses' development … Continue reading
Toys for Children with Autism
Toys can have a very positive impact on the development of children with autism spectrum syndrome. Choosing the right toys that will entertain your child and at the same time encourage development could be challenging. Toys are a big part of the development program at the Shema Kolainu- Hear Our Voices.
Keep in mind that ability of the child is more important than age recommendation when you are choosing toys for kids with autism. Simple toys like puzzles and mazes will help your child to focus on completing tasks and will bring a sense of achievement. Any type of painting or drawing will be great because working with tools will help improve your child's motor skills. Board games could be amazing entertainment for the whole family and it will improve the social skills of a child.
Besides regular toys, you can choose from a variety of electronic resources, apps and DVDs that are designed for children with special needs. Shema Kolainu- Hear Our Voices School use iPad apps such as Buddy Bear app and PlayHome.
Model Me Kids, www.modelmekids.
Generally any toys would be extremely helpful with connection, improvement of social skills and overall development.
For original story, please click here.
Co-op Helps Children with Autism Get iPads
For parents of children with autism, the iPad has been a godsend. And now, thanks to the help of an electric cooperative, anIndianaschool has been able to get several of the devices to help students with autism learn. Continue reading
Divorce and Autism
A study presented in 2010 by Dr. Brian Freedman of the Kennedy Krieger Institute found there was no increase in divorce rates for parents who have a child with autism. According to their research, "64% of children with autism lived with married or adoptive parents compared to a rate of 65% for children with no autism diagnosis". Continue reading
New Autism Treatment Delivery Method: Robot Boy
Technology is a key area of development for autism treatment. Entrepreneurs at Arlington-based Hanson Robokind aren't just writing software; they've created a new platform to deliver computer based lessons: His name is 'Zeno', a 27-inch life like talking robot and it set to be a game-changer in the world of treatment for mid and higher functioning children with autism. Continue reading
City Hall Rally to Save Autism Funding 2012
On Tuesday, April 24, New York City Council Member Mark S. Weprin invited Council Members, service providers, and families of children with autism to a rally on the steps of City Hall, in an effort to urge the New York City Council to continue funding for its citywide autism initiative. Continue reading
Responding to a Child's Autism Diagnosis
Listen to adults with autism. It may be hard to imagine your child with autism as an adult who could offer advice about autism to others, and many parents dismiss adults with autism for that reason. But adults with autism were once children and they went through many of the same things that your child will go through. Reading their writing or meeting them in person will be enormously calming, because it will allow you to imagine a future for your child with autism. Dr Stephen Shore was diagnosed with autism when he was two and a half and now regularly gives workshops at Shema Kolainu – Hear Our Voices for parents and professionals drawing on his experiences growing up with autism. Continue reading
Researchers, Educators and Policymakers Meet in Jerusalem to Combat Escalating Crisis
ICare4Autism conference call for posters from students in autism research
On August 1-2, 2012, more than 1,500 leaders in autism research, educationand policy from every continent will gather in Jerusalem, Israel, for ICare4Autism's 2012 International Conference, "Autism: A Global Perspective".
Dr.Joshua Weinstein, CEO & Founder indicated that the, "Conference will highlight groundbreaking research into the causes and treatments of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and serve as a catalyst for powerful new collaborations to tackle the global autism crisis".
Students from around the world are invited to present their autism research at a poster session. One poster will be selected by the review committee to receive a scholarship to attend the Conference. The scholarship will cover travel, hotel accommodations and conference registration fee. The scholarship winner will also be invited to participate on one of the Conference panels. The Poster Session consists of physical displays (aka posters) of information shown during a 60-90 minute session, with presenters standing by their poster reporting empirical research and pilot projects for future research. Attendees have the opportunity to speak with the presenters about their work.
Dame Stephanie Shirley, The British Government's Founding Ambassador for Philanthropy, and Chairman of the Shirley Foundation, will deliver the Keynote Address and The First Lady of Panama Mrs. Marta Linares de Martinelli will be giving opening remarks.
They will be joined by distinguished researchers and practitioners from more than 20 countries who will unveil their latest biomedical discoveries andeducational innovations. Attendees will tour the campus where ICare4Autism will open the world's first Global Autism Research and Education Center in 2015.


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You are here
Survey: One Month After Launch, Over Half of U.S. Neurologists Prescribe Tecfidera (Dimethyl Fumarate) for Their MS Patients
BioTrends Research Group, a research and advisory firm specializing in biopharmaceutical issues, finds that, despite being the third oral disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to launch in the U.S. multiple sclerosis (MS) market, 53% of surveyed U.S. neurologists have prescribed Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate, Biogen Idec) to at least one of their MS patients after only 1 month on the market. This rate for Tecfidera surpasses that for Gilenya (fingolimod, Novartis) (19%), the first-to-market oral DMT, and Aubagio (teriflunomide, Genzyme) (16%), the second-to-market oral DMT, at the same stage of product launch.
Data from the recently published report suggest that this impressive physician trial rate is likely to continue to grow over the coming months, with nearly all surveyed neurologists anticipating at least some Tecfidera prescribing among their DMT-treated patients with relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) over the next 6 months. Coupled with this expansion in prescriber base, the Tecfidera patient share among DMT-treated RRMS patients is anticipated to increase significantly from 2% to 15%, beating that projected for Aubagio (4%) and Gilenya (6%) by November 2013.
The report points out that, given the previous dominance of injectable DMTs in the MS market, it is not surprising that neurologists identify Tecfidera's oral formulation as being one of its main advantages, similar to the attitudes observed with the launches of Aubagio and Gilenya. However, the report finds that early Tecfidera trial and uptake may be driven more by neurologists' comfort with Tecfidera's safety profile and positive efficacy perceptions — together with the low monitoring burden required with Tecfidera treatment, especially compared with other oral DMTs — than by its mode of administration.
Nevertheless, the report also suggests that the upward trend in Tecfidera prescribing may be hampered by managed care issues, with neurologists recalling that up to one-quarter of Tecfidera prescriptions required proof of failure on a previous DMT despite the fact that Tecfidera's label does not include any line restrictions. During interviews, a subset of Tecfidera prescribers expressed frustration in the time taken for patients to receive the drug, with neurologists suggesting that delays may be due, in part, to preauthorization requirements with managed care companies.
Source: BioTrends Research Group; July 11, 2013.

subset: commoncrawl


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We're happy when you're happy
If you would like to post your own feedback from your stay with us, visit our Facebook page Here are some comments guests have left in our guest book on the houseboat. I have just selected a few, you can read through the rest when you stay.
" Lovely hosts, very welcoming, beautiful peaceful location, luxury rooms, bountiful breakfast. A very nice way to spend a relaxing weekend" S&N Jan 2019
"We needed rest and tranquility ... we got it and then some! Thank you (again!) for such a wonderful experience" S&S Dec 2018
"An amazing transformation of a boat into a wonderful place to stay! Beautiful view in the morning across the marsh. We swam and walkerd the Mersea Coast and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Superb breakfast too. S&A Oct 2018
"The best B&B ever! Thank you both for being such wonderful hosts. Mojo is just amazing, we loved it, one night not enough, we will be back" J&G Sept 2018
"Wonderful place, Maureen, John and Jenksie excellent hosts. Breakfast was wondersul and views fabulous. Thank you for the most relaxing breakfast ever, we hope to return" M&H July 2018
"What a fabulous place to stay! Mojo is fantastic and Maureen and John the perfect hosts. Best breakfast ever, an amazing find, we will definately be back" S&M June 2018
"Fabulous location, great hosts, I loved the bed! The dog is incredible and so friendly!" D&F Aug 2017
"We certainly got our 'Mojo' back. A beautiful houseboat, thoroughly enjoyed our stay. A peaceful oasis in a world that gets madder by the day. Lovely people, lovely dog, lovely food - what more could you want" R&P Aug 2017
"Everything you could want for a perfect holiday - thoughtfully provided down to the utmost detail. Outstanding and quirky decoration, comfy bed and sofas, appreciated the unlimited tea and coffee (and chocy bics) fridge and DVDs. Lovely hosts (all three of them) and best breakfast ever." F&S July 2017
"We've had a lovely stay and feel totally spoilt! Thank you." N&L Feb 2017
"what a wonderful way to spend our wedding anniversary, far and away the best place we have ever been to celebrate... Great food and great hospitality, we will be back" G&D Aug 2015
"Jaw dropping beautiful boat .. it oozes chill out and relax .. the right balance of attentiveness and still giving you your own space. The breakfast and fresh bread are the best in Mersea. Thanks guys how I envy your home" M&R April 2014
MoJo Houseboat Bed and Breakfast
MoJo Houseboat
Coast Road
West Mersea
Telephone: 01206 382308
Mobile: 07796 271773
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
All major credit and debit cards accepted


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Shiu Ling Po,
AIA International, Hong Kong (Video edited by Azri Bahari)
Prior to joining the insurance industry, Ling Po pursued an academic career in psychology. He graduated from the University of California with a PhD in Cognitive Psychology, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan, before he joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong as an assistant professor in 1996 and worked up the ranks to become associate dean of the Faculty of Education, and the director of two postgraduate diploma/degree programmes.
Since leaving the world of academia to become an insurance agent in July 2017, he achieved Million Dollar Round Table in just five months of joining the industry, was promoted to assistant unit manager at the beginning of 2018, and then to new unit manager in July. By the end of 2018, he achieved Top of the Table (TOT).
While working diligently on personal production, he also embarked on agency building. Besides his own core team, he has also helped one of his agency to build her team. The two teams together produced more than US$400,000 FYC in the second half of 2018, one TOT, and three MDRTs.
While a lot of people consider joining the insurance industry a drastic move from academia, he views it as a continuity in his career development because he feels there are many similarities between an insurance agency leader and a professor. To develop newly recruited agents into successful agents and competent agency managers is like mentoring students but perhaps even more difficult, he said.
Appearing as a guest speaker at recruitment talks, he is seen as a role model for people who, while successful in their current positions, are looking for breakthroughs. He has also been asked to be a mentor for students of his former university, and as a speaker at career talks for post-secondary school students who are eager to learn about insurance and financial planning.
He frequently taps into his university network to bring in different professionals, including medical doctors, lawyers, certified accountants, and private bankers to be guest speakers at in-house seminars. There is no better way to enhance the professional image of financial planners than to equip them with solid knowledge in various fields of finance and business.
Check out what judges have to say about the Awards in this video: http://bit.ly/AANjudges2019
The 4th Asia Trusted Life Agents & Advisers Awards was made possible by organisers Asia Insurance Review and Asia Advisers Network, co-organiser LIMRA, and strategic partner AIA. Winners were selected in an independently-audited judging process. More information on the Awards and winners can be found here.
Subscribe to our newsletter to be kept informed of the launch of the next Awards here.
Check out the other winners here:
Insurance Agency Leader of The Year 2019 - Wave Chow
Executive Champion of the Year 2019 – Sara Lamsam
Young Executive of the Year 2019 - Sabrina Ong
by AAN team | 01 Apr 2020
by Sharon Zhong | 30 Mar 2020
by AAN team | 23 Mar 2020
by AAN team | 18 Mar 2020
by Benjamin Ang | 12 Mar 2020
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by Andrew Yeager
Transhumanism is the movement that awaits a revolutionary breakthrough in technology where a human personality is uploaded into a robotic body so that the human might live beyond bodily death.
Such a goal might seem too absurd and far-fetched. But transhumanism has its champions in the world of technology. Ray Kurzweil, a high profile transhumanist who joined Google as director of Engineering in 2013, is optimistic that man will completely meld with machines to achieve "technological singularity" and the age of partially robotic transhumans by 2045. Kurzweil predicts a new civilization–call it a social utopia–in which the lines that divide human and machine, reality and virtual reality, will be blurred. Humanity will achieve immortality through a kind of disembodied robotic existence.[1]
How can it happen?
Transhumanists see the brain as a machine. The brain is like a computer, and the mind is like an operating system on a machine that run on bits of "information" stored on our neural structures. If man is merely machine, then why can't a person's "information"— his thoughts, emotions and personality—simply be uploaded onto another machine? Much of the ideas behind transhumanism are predicated upon advances in artificial intelligence, a field where computers are developed to "think" and process information just like human beings.
Hollywood is jumping on the bandwagon, popularizing the dreams of transhumanism. In the movie "Transcendence," (2014) Johnny Depp plays Dr. Will Caster, a leading scientist in the field of artificial intelligence. He is also the target of anti-technology terrorists. The terrorists do him a favor by mortally wounding him and giving him the chance to be the subject of his own experiments with the help of his assistants and his wife. Will Caster's body dies, but he lives on as a virtual personality. This is the telos, the goal, of transhumanism.
Understanding the goals
To understand transhumanism, we need to have a firm grasp on postmodernism, the prevailing philosophy of our age. Postmodernism operates from an atheistic worldview and sees human beings as merely the chance products of evolutionary development. Humanity is malleable and subjective, always evolving and changing. There is nothing permanent about humanity. Human beings are nothing more than social constructs, the sum total of our subjective experiences. [2]
Because of this philosophy of the body, postmodernism sees no ethical problem with augmenting our bodies. If we don't like the bodies we were born with, our bodily characteristics can be changed. The field of bio-engineering gives parents the ability to shop for preferred genetic traits for their children. Human cloning, artificial wombs and genetically engineered populations are all possibilities on the technological horizon. Transgenderism is humanity's triumph over "male and female he created them" (Gen. 1:27; Mattt. 19:4). Our bodies might have once constrained us. But postmodernism heralds the triumph over the limitations of our creaturely existence.
It is interesting how postmodernism shares the same beliefs and goals of the ancient heresy called gnosticism. Gnosticism sees the body as the prison-house of the soul. With gnosticism, the goal of life is to escape the body and be translated to a higher spiritual plane of existence beyond creaturely-ness. The body is merely a stubborn obstacle to be overcome. Transhumanism takes one giant leap beyond mere cosmetic adjustments to the body. It seeks a humanity that is unembodied, unencumbered by the limitations of our mortality. Like gnosticism, transhumanism seeks a body-less humanity.
What does this mean for Christians?
Why has the transhumanist movement gained such traction in intellectual circles? Because theist or atheist, we are fundamentally religious creatures. The notion that life ends at death might be intellectually satisfying, but such a hopeless belief can never satisfy our souls. Even atheists crave religion, crave an eschatology, crave a hope for a future. Transhumanism provides such a hope.
Transhumanism substitutes faith in technology for faith in God. If we don't believe the story of the God who conquered death for us, transhumanism holds onto the hope that we can conquer death ourselves. But that hope is an illusion. The dream of uploading one's mind onto a robot to achieve immortality is the mere fantasy of individuals looking for comfort that they will never find apart from the Gospel.
If transhumanism shares anything with Christianity, it is the belief that death is an enemy to be defeated. What transhumanism doesn't share with Christianity is the belief that death is an enemy that has been defeated at the grave of Jesus Christ.
And that is precisely the answer Christianity should give to the religion of transhumanism—the true Gospel of the Resurrection. The transhumanists are on a search for an immortality, but that search is futile, as futile as our first parents who searched for life apart from God but found only death. But the futile endeavors of man are not futile to God. What man seeks to do, God has done. The Son of God has defeated death for us. Christ is risen, and our future resurrection with Him on the Last Day is secure (1 Corinthians 15). On the Last Day, what is mortal shall put on immortality, and we shall live with remade bodies in a remade earth for all eternity.
In view of the Gospel of the bodily resurrection from the dead, who needs the body-less humanity of transhumanism? Christianity proclaims an eternal future with a body—a real, human, creaturely body—immortal, restored and re-created in the image of the New Man, Jesus Christ, free of sin and death, to live with God forever.
In view of the Gospel promise, the dream of humans without bodies, of our minds being uploaded into robots so as to live forever, seems less like a dream, and more like a nightmare.
The Rev. Andrew T. Yeager is pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Garrett, Ind.
[1] Edward Feser, "Kurzweil's Phantasms," First Things, (April 2013).
[2] Brent Waters. From Human to Posthuman: Christian Theology and Technology in a Postmodern World. Ashgate Publishing, 2006.


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Cheesy Potato Fondant Cups
Serves 2-3
Preparation time 25 Minutes
Cooking time 6-7 Minutes
Potato - 3 no.
Cheddar Cheese - 30 gms
Parsley - 2 gms
Hot Sauce - 1 tbsp
Butter - 20 gms
Cream - 20 ml
Garlic - 2 cloves
1. Wash whole potatoes with skin and cut in half.
2. Scoop out the potato halves using a spoon.
3. Boil the scooped out potato till soft and slightly overcooked.
4. Place the potato cups on a baking tray, drizzle some olive oil , salt and pepper and bake at 180 degrees.
5. In a blender, add the boiled potatoes with butter and cream and blend till creamy and soft.
6. In a saucepan melt some butter and add the potato puree to it.
7. Set the seasoning of the potato and add the cheese to it along with some cream and mix using a whisk.
8. At the bottom of the potato cups add some hot sauce.
9. Pipe the potato puree into the cooked potato cups and serve.
10. Garnish with chopped spring onion and fried garlic.
Products Used
More recipes to try
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A Mediterranean dip/spread made out of chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Always a hit at game days.Read more
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fredag 19. september 2008
Finanskrisen i USA, kort forklart
Hver gang markedene har hatt problemer har Bush-administrasjonen pöst paa med mer (skatteletter), billigere (rentesenkninger), lettere tilgjengelig (deregulering) kreditt, i forsök paa aa stimulere til investeringer og forbruk.
Det blir litt som av prinsipp bare aa svinge til höyre.
Eller som aa möte enhver hump i veien med aa presse enda mer paa gassen.
Resultatet: Den plutselige erkjennelsen av at markedet er oversvömmet med raatne laan - at folk, kort sagt, har laant over evne.
Jens L. Seip
Vil väre tilgjengelig om kort tid.
tirsdag 9. september 2008
The Schopenhauer Experience - lister etc
På CrapTV er TSEs musikkvideo 'The face of love' avspilt 322 ganger (anslagsvis no. 300 av 1000 videoer).
På My Space er TSE ialt avspilt 2,479 ganger (tilgjengelig nå: Atomic, Herfra til ingensteder, En knott i havet, Hey thou Tartu remix). Profilen vist 3,659 ganger.
På NRK Urørt er TSE ialt avspilt 88 ganger, nedlastet 556 ganger (Wille 279, Noizette 277).
Ny sikkerhetssituasjon?
Her er hele talen, i engelsk språkdrakt (fra presidentens pressekontor):
Dear Chairman of the Riigikogu,
honourable members of the Estonian Parliament,
Prime Minister and members of the Government,
I am pleased to perform my honourable duty as the President of the Republic of Estonia and open the first session of the 2008 autumn season of the 11th composition of the Riigikogu.
As I do this, I am also wishing that you will have the wisdom and determination expected of statesmen. But this time, I would also like to emphasise the ability to look into the future and, most of all, responsibility.
I wish you the same foresight and decisiveness displayed by Estonian politicians 20 and 90 years ago, when they took advantage of the possibilities that became available to Estonia in the changed international situation.
My ladies and gentlemen.
We are facing a changed international situation today as well. We are living in a completely different Europe since 8 August 2008.
I do not know what to do with the Europe that until now was based on the understanding of Immanuel Kant of 'eternal peace', that if we are all democratic countries, then there is no place for aggression; that negotiations resolve everything. Just like things have been in the European Union for fifty years.
Instead, we feel like we have returned to Thomas Hobbes' world of a merciless struggle for existence governed by the principle described by Thucydides in the History of the Peloponnesian War: The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.
We do not yet understand the whole essence, extent and consequences of these changes. We are still getting to know this new environment. We are just starting to find answers to the questions about the meaning of the changed security paradigm for Europe.
The most important thing we have to acknowledge is that the security environment where the Republic of Estonia was restored in 1991 – where we have been building and reforming this state, become members of the European Union and NATO – this security environment exists no more.
We do not need to feel unreasonably unsecure about our future. I assure you that the efforts Estonia has made in 17 years and our membership in the European Union and NATO guarantees sufficient security for the independence of Estonia in the changed security situation as well.
Regardless of this, Estonia has to find effective countermeasures that allow us to spread possible new risks.
Our respected Parliament.
The changes around us keep getting faster, more constant and, most importantly, mainly global. They affect the whole world with a strength never seen before. For example, this is what has happened in economics.
Few of us could imagine the extent of the backlash for the economies of the world and Estonia a few years ago. We did not know the extent to which economic growth had slowed down or its impact on the state budget.
Now we know what it is like. We know that the recent habit of planning the state's politics in the conditions of 10 percent economic growth is no good in the current conditions. Instead, we have to figure out whether our economy will grow by 0 or 2 percent or whether it will even decrease; how and when our economy will start growing at a pace characteristic of developed countries; and, most of all – which sources new growth can be derived from.
It is our responsibility to maintain and develop the state of Estonia, to secure the preservation of our people and culture. Considering the dramatic change in the security situation in Europe, Estonia has to contribute to the international reliability of Estonia, the internal and external security of Estonia.
The state of Estonia cannot be built and its security cannot be guaranteed by the principle that we spend in good times and save in bad ones. Collecting and using the tax money of the state must be reasonable and justified every year. Being economical both on the levels of home and state is a basically correct and necessary principle of financial policy. But each choice must correspond to the needs of Estonia tomorrow and in ten years' time.
Therefore, we have to look further than the promises we gave at election time, the interests of political parties and the coalition agreement. Lift your eyes and look further. Believe me, your electorate expects you to be wise and responsible. No election promises should be kept at the cost of weakening internal security or decreasing the ability of national defence. A state that cannot perform the main task set by its people – to defend its population when necessary – is not a real state.
Honourable members of the Riigikogu.
We have to acknowledge the area that we must deal with or we will leave ourselves hostage to risks and evil intentions.
I consider energy security one of the most important areas of security for Estonia. It is a subject that has been widely discussed in Europe, and also in Estonia, for some time now. We have to clearly define the essence of energy security for Estonia.
We have to know the interests of Estonia in the area of energy today and in the future. We have to find a solution to the energy needs of Estonia in a manner that saves the environment and guarantees the security and independence of our state.
The security of Estonia, especially in the area of energy, will not be born in a vacuum. Complete self-supply and isolation from the rest of the world cannot be a goal in itself. Neither is it possible. We have to find long-term and reliable partners and to get from discussions to decisions.
We have to use our advantages, smallness and flexibility as an advantage and find solutions in new technologies.
The energy security of Estonia expects us to make decisions and requests answers: In what extent and from which reactor will Estonia soon be receiving nuclear power? What investments do we need in the renewable energy sector and what new connections to the energy systems of the Nordic countries are required? How do we increase the energy efficiency of our economy, how do we learn to waste less?
I believe that the answers to the energy security questions of Estonia must be given in this hall. This is why I urge you to discuss this issue as soon as possible as a question of national importance. Failure to answer them means that we will considerably reduce the choices of Estonia in the future.
Secondly, our financial security – introduction of the euro in Estonia is an inseparable part of this. It has not been discussed most recently due to our quickly increasing inflation. However, it does not mean that we could let one of our major goals fall off the political radar of Estonia.
Creating the conditions required for the introduction of the euro mainly means a reasonable economic policy. It means that our budget must remain under strict control in complicated times as well, because it is the only way we can curb the current rise in the cost of living ourselves.
Transition to the euro will reduce several risks according to the security logic. The euro will end all malicious speculations about the death and destruction of the kroon's exchange rate. The positive impact of joining the euro itself could temporarily increase the economy of the joining country by a couple of percentage points of the GDP.
The serious problems on the global money market or the increasing commodity prices are more than just economic indicators. They are very real concerns when we buy food, fill the fuel tanks of our cars with petrol or make the increased repayments of our home loans.
There is not much we can do to influence oil prices and this is something we have to understand. But we can influence the values and the readiness with which we try to conquer our economic difficulties. The wisdom of making the right decisions means increasing our financial security today.
Thirdly, our security is guaranteed by the common future of all the different nationalities living in Estonia. We need rational discussions, not emotions or force. Communication and involvement are the only things that help us overcome the barriers standing between ethnic and cultural identities in Estonia.
Fortunately, we have understood in a little more than a year that a thousand-odd rioters of different nationalities and citizenships do not give anyone the right to assess the loyalty of a nationality or culture to the Republic of Estonia. Everyone who treasures Estonia as their home today has the right to partake in our common opportunities, our joys and concerns, our common future as a democratic state based on the rule of law in Europe.
I believe that the Riigikogu understand their central role in resolving these issues. Stop treating integration as an orphan, contribute to discussions and together we will find the ways to support our civil society and a dialogue. Once we start talking to each other without interference and with open minds about an Estonia that belongs to all people who live here, we will some day be able to discuss our different pasts.
Honourable Riigikogu,
Please allow me to briefly talk about the debate from last spring about the role and the future of the Riigikogu. Many progressive ideas were offered in the course of the debate and there will be more in autumn.
Unfortunately, the subject of senior state officers has been the most predominant in public discussions. Your work group has offered freezing the salaries that are tied to the Estonian average on the level of 2008 as a solution.
One thing is clear: The Riigikogu can change the salaries of the President of the Republic, members of the Government, judges, the Auditor General and the Chancellor of Justice that are tied to the average salary. The Riigikogu is the only one that can changes the basis for calculating these salaries and other remuneration. I welcome this initiative and hope that the new laws will be quickly and smoothly processed.
However, I still have to quote section 75 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, which says: The remuneration of members of the Riigikogu and restrictions on the receipt of other employment income shall be provided by law, which may be amended for the next membership of the Riigikogu. If the parliament starts making decisions that do not comply with the Constitution under populist pressure, hoping that the president would have to reject them anyway, then it means shifting the responsibility to someone else.
Honourable Riigikogu – now is not the time to shift responsibility. Now is the time to be responsible.
Honourable Riigikogu, good people of Estonia.
The independence of Estonia endures on the basis of democracy, a state based on the rule of law and civil society. These are our true pillars of freedom that we have to make higher and stronger every day.
I was not elected president and you were not elected members of the Riigikogu provided that we stick to the promises we gave before the elections at any cost, even when the circumstances have changed. To the contrary. The people have trusted us to make decisions on behalf of the state and the people in situations that nobody could imagine before the elections. This is what we need a parliament for. We do not have the right to confuse election promises, ruling and responsibility.
Almost one hundred thousand people gathered at the Tallinn Song Festival Ground in the night of 19 August to take part in a big concert. Tens of thousands of our people did not go and clean our forests and roadside ditches at the start of May because they had nothing better to do on a beautiful spring day.
The people, your electorate, are not interested in the small victories and losses that are important for politicians, which are celebrated or cursed in your blogs and statements. Such purposeful infliction of pain that under the false name of 'political discussion' is also working its way into the serious media clouds the vision and diverts our thoughts from the important issues to pointless squabbling.
People who elect parties and read the papers draw their own conclusions from such squabbles, vicious attacks and taunts. And they do not decide to elect another party or look for a better newspaper. No, they show their attitude by contemplating whether they will bother to elect at all. And whether they will even buy any papers in the future.
The things people in Estonia do are driven by their concern about the state we created together. They care about their fellow citizens and the environment they live in. They love Estonia and believe in a better future. And sometimes it seems to them that the people who sit here in this hall do not share their concerns and their care, their faith and love. Show them at your future sessions that this is not the case.
I wish everyone strength in justifying the trust that has been placed in us.
Thank you for your attention.
tirsdag 2. september 2008
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1. The Statistician's Guide to Utopia: The Future of Growth 79 visninger
2. Umwelt ethics 78 visninger
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Caramelized Onion & Chard Pizza Recipe
We absolutely love pizza in our house. As a matter of fact, there is no other take out food that we order more than pizza. We have 5 kiddos that love it. This caramelized onion & chard pizza recipe is the best of both worlds.
Comfort food
What is better than sitting on the couch watching a good movie with some of your favorite food? Nothing!
We are all trying to be healthy, but it is hard to have movie night and eat a salad. Those nights we want comfort food!
Can't we be healthy while having comfort food? Yes! Pizza is one of the best comfort foods. Can pizza be healthy?
Healthy Options
There are literally thousands of combinations of pizza toppings already. Pepperoni, Cheese, Sausage and the classic list continues.
Those options are comfortable to us because we know them.
Caramelized Onion & Chard Pizza Recipe
Are there healthy options when it comes to pizza toppings? I believe so! We have found one combination that our whole family loves. There is just something about the caramelization on the onions paired with the chard.
This is one of our favorite pizza combinations now. When the kiddos love it, it is definitely a winner!
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ¼ pounds onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt
- freshly ground pepper
- ½ pound chard, stemmed, leaves washed
- 1 14-inch pizza crust (1/2 batch pizza dough)
- ¾ cup ricotta (6 ounces)
- 2 ounces Parmesan, grated 1/2 cup, tightly packed
- 1 egg yolk
- Thirty minutes before baking the pizza, preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender and just beginning to color, about 10 minutes. Add the thyme, garlic and a generous pinch of salt. Turn the heat to low, cover and cook another 10 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown and very sweet and soft. Remove from the heat.
- While the onions are cooking, stem and wash the chard leaves, and bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Fill a medium bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the chard. Blanch for one to two minutes, just until the leaves are tender, and transfer to the ice water. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Alternatively, steam the chard for two to three minutes until wilted, and rinse with cold water. Chop the chard medium-fine.
- Roll out the dough, oil a 14-inch pizza pan and dust with cornmeal or semolina. Place the dough on the pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg yolk, Parmesan and chard. Spread over the pizza dough in an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border around the rim. Spread the onions over the ricotta mixture.
- Place in the hot oven, and bake 10 to 15 minutes until the crust and bits of the onion are nicely browned. Remove from the heat, and serve hot or warm.
Do you order or eat the same old kind of pizza? Always cheese or supreme? There are a world of options out there for you to try. Give this pizza recipe a try!
If you like this Caramelized Onion & Chard pizza recipe, please share it on social media and with friends. For all the latest recipes, container gardening tips and growing guides subscribe to our newsletter in sidebar.
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Pickled cucumber
|Side Dishes & Condiments
|Special Consideration:
|Quick and Easy
My activity for the day…
Jorge swiped a cucumber slice before I bottled it. He raved about it, so it must be good. I want it to mature in the bottle for a while, to absorb the flavours.
* 6 or 7 small cucumbers
* 1 large onion
* 4 teaspoons of salt
* 2 tablespoons of water
* 1 cup of sugar
* 1/2 cup of cider vinegar
* 1 teaspoon of dried dill
Prepare the Cucumbers
Start by peeling the cucumbers, and then cut them in half lengthwise. Using the tip of a spoon you can easily scoop out the seeds. Now we cut the cucumbers into smaller slices. You also need to cut the onion into small slices.
Soak the Vegetables
Next, put the cucumbers, the onion, the salt, and the water in a large bowl. Make sure it is not an aluminum bowl, because that will react negatively with the acid. Let this mixture stand for about two hours. Then, drain off the liquid but do not rinse the cucumbers and onion.
Add in Ingredients
Put the vegetables back in the bowl and add the sugar, vinegar and dill. Let this stand until the sugar has dissolved completely. You will want to give it a stir from time to time. There should now be plenty of liquid in the bowl covering up the cucumber and the onion.
Storing Pickles
Put this mixture into freezer safe containers. Leave about an inch of empty space in the top of the container. Put these in the freezer, where they will keep for a long time. When you are ready to eat the pickles, you can thaw them either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Enjoy!


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Brownie and Pearl are in trouble! They were having a great time racing around the house until—oops—they knocked the radio off the table. Someone is NOT happy about their little accident. Luckily these plucky pals have a clever and sweet Brownie-and-Pearl style solution to make good on their mishap. With their simple stories, bold, graphic illustrations, and pitch-perfect moments of humor, the books in Cynthia Rylant's acclaimed Brownie & Pearl series are a wonderful choice for babies, emerging readers, and everyone in between.
Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Visit her at CynthiaRylant.com.
Brian Biggs is the author and illustrator of many books for kids, including the Tinyville Town books, the New York Times bestselling Frank Einstein series (written by Jon Scieszka), Everything Goes, and Bike & Trike by Elizabeth Verdick. Brian has worked as an art director, graphic designer, and animator for interactivity and multimedia projects. His illustrations have appeared in magazines, newspapers, advertising, posters, toys, and puzzles. He works in an old garage. Visit him at MrBiggs.com.
Browse Related Books
"In this charming life lesson, Brownie has traded her flip-flops for green tennis shoes. While running through the house, she and Pearl knock the radio off the table and it lies broken on the floor…. As in other books in the series, Biggs's boldly colored digital cartoon illustrations dramatize the action described in Rylant's simple text and give readers the opportunity to be a part of Brownie's contemporary world. A satisfying story for pre- and emerging readers." —School Library Journal, August 2012
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Lately I've been reading a lot of pieces on work and blogging. The New York Times talks about how blogs aid in job search (Before Applying, Check Out the Blogs), in which I noticed the following statement:
Ms. [Gretchen, a Microsoft recruiter] Ledgard said she also kept a file of interesting bloggers and read them regularly, expecting that some will become job candidatesKeeping all the interesting people on file but waiting for them to contact you about jobs? That's an interesting approach... a sort of passive-aggressive headhunting.
Also, this is late, but I just checked out the case study of "Glove Girl" in the article "A Blogger in Their Midst", from the September 2003 Harvard Business Review - my office has a subscription, so I looked up an old issue. (Link to a summary of the article, from the author's own blog.) The interesting dilemma I find is that workers who blog can often be off-message and somewhat slapdash - and yet that makes them believable and credible as authorities on the industry and on the firm and its products, since they're not in lockstep with PR. It'll be interesting to see how firms and nonprofit organisations adapt to blogging. As the line between work and personal life continues to blur, will these organisations adopt the (thus-far) benevolent approach of Microsoft? Will they use it as a way to get feedback? Or does staying on message trump all that?
back to dsng.net - the daryl sng blog


text: Training 10 things your coach often says... and what they really mean Tri coaches have a rich lexicon of terms, which say one thing yet mean another, in order to mix a bit of encouragement in their ear-bashing, says Martyn Brunt. Here then, for your education, are ten things your coach says and what they really mean when they say them Posted: 14 December 2016by Martyn Brunt Tweet Shortly after I took up triathlon I acquired that lethal combination of having no discernible talent yet believing I was the dog's b*****ks. However it wasn't long before my failure to win Kona (or indeed get within 50 places of qualifying) began to challenge this notion so I decided to seek professional help in the form of a coach. Several years later and despite everything they put me through I am still with the same coach, suggesting I might be suffering from some kind of Stockholm Syndrome. And these days I have not one but TWO coaches to torment me, the other being my swimming club coach who makes me sick so often in the mornings I've nicknamed him "Pregnancy" and who has lungs like a two-year-old dolphin and a voice that is the perfect accompaniment to my tinnitus. In fairness coaches have a tough job because they have to walk a fine line between telling you the truth that you have all the fitness of a potato and the athletic grace of a dyspraxic hippo, while needing to give you the crumb of hope that this will change one day... 1. "Well tried" = "You failed" 2. "This is the last rep" = "There are ten more reps" 3. "We're going to keep the pace nice and steady today" = "You're not going to be able to walk tomorrow" 4. "Let's try and pick up the pace on this next set" = "I can't even find anything neutral, let alone positive, to say about how slowly you are going" 5. "Keep your cadence high" = "I've seen kebabs in chip shop windows going round faster than your legs" 6. "Don't forget your technique when you get tired" = "I actually though you were drowning on that last rep and your breathing sounds like an asthma clinic" 7. "You have lots of potential" = "You're lazy and you're making me look bad" 8. "Where do you think you can improve?" = "Your performance in that race moved me in a way that I thought only a chicken vindaloo could" 9. "Of course I'll send you the set to do on your own" = "If you want any more details of my sessions you'll have to take me to the Supreme Court" 10. "Recovery session tomorrow" = "I will break you" And finally, and perhaps most importantly, three things we all say to our coaches, and what we really mean… 1. "Thanks coach" = "I hate you" 2. "That was a tough session" = "I hope you die in a fire" 3. "I think I must be coming down with something" = "I had five pints of Tenants Extra last night" More by Martyn 12 of the best race-day excuses Tri tosh translator: 10 things triathletes say - and what they really mean 21 baffling things about triathlon How to brag on social media without meaning to... 10 reasons why you should never, ever, date a triathlete... 5 ways triathlon transforms your life... 10 reasons why you should never do an Ironman... Post a comment Daily deals from top retailers We'd love you to add a comment! Please login or take half a minute to register as a free member


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This week's blog comes from the wonderful Sophie. Sophie first joined us back in 2015 and has since had, at least, 3 photoshoots that are all makeover based. Our favourite shoot was when she brought us an entire tray of Krispy Kreme donuts… It turns out that we are easily bribed. Anyway – over to Sophie!
Our aim is to get as many men and women to be bold by embracing a photoshoot at Firefly Photography at our studios in either Derby or Lichfield. We have so many shapes sizes & styles come through our studio doors and it's time to show those who are too scared to pick up the phone that they can do it too (and we're rather lovely to talk to!). To arrange a FREE, no obligation, chat by phone about what photoshoot we can offer you simply enter your details below and a member of the Firefly team will be in touch. #BeBoldBeYou Experiences are priced at £59. Our bookings team are available Wednesday through to Saturday from 10am until 5pm except for Saturdays when we close at 4pm.


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VetPet Box x CD - How to Stay Catwalk Ready
Make every day a catwalk with the 'How to Stay Catwalk Ready' #ChoupettesDiaryXVetPetBox. All models know it's important to not only maintain a healthy weight but also a shiny coat while dressing your best. From toys that help you stay lean to breath-freshing water additives, your feline is sure to look their best while walking the runway or the sidewalk with the goodies you'll receive in this luxe living VetPet Box.
VetPet Box is a veterinarian owned and operated subscription box service for pet owners. The 'How to Keep Your Cool While Jet Setting' box will be curated by a team of veterinarians and filled with items custom tailored to the box's theme.
- US and Canada: Estimated delivery between 3-7 business days
- International: Varies by Country
Please visit our Partner Refund and Return policy page HERE.


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Past event – Celebrate the spirit of Ramadan at BurJuman
23 May, 2017
BurJuman invites you to experience the Spirit of Ramadan. Throughout the month, the entire mall will be decorated with beautiful Ramadan-themed elements to mark the occasion. Visit us to experience the traditional Arabian culture at the brightly coloured Ramadan display and break your fast with coffee and dates every day after Iftar.
Every night during Ramadan, from 7pm to 10pm, visitors can enjoy a series of family friendly activities.


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The booths this year were laid out very nicely.
Some shots of Austin from the hotel. The Primal Escape atop the 5 story parking garage.
Thursday night cocktail party to kick off the event.
Will Bennett, Ben Greenfield, and Jonathan Bailor at the party.
Keith and Michelle Norris with their opening speeches.
Dangerously Hardcore John Kiefer speaking on carbohydrates.
Panel on Building Bridges to others in the real food community.
Robb Wolf having a little fun in his presentation.
Sean Croxton as moderator of the "Ask the Paleo Experts" panel. Nora Gedgaudes, Dr. Terry Wahls, Dallas Hartwig, Chris Kresser, and Dr. Parsley.
Primal Play class me carrying Ben Greenfield his wife Jessa is beside us.
Darryl Edwards showing his incredible strength against Will Bennett and another big guy during the primal play class.
Rafe Kelley in the blue shirt was the instructor of the Evolve, move, and play class.
One of the best and most popular presentations of the event was the Mark and Robb Show. An open forum to ask these top experts in the Primal/Paleo field any question. Abel James of the Fat Burning Man Show was the moderator.
Saturday night at Brazos on the second floor dining area for the charity dinner. Which featured an incredible paleo menu, catered by Pink Avocado, to benefit a wonderful cause the Urban Roots Austin.
Unfortunately the dinner was the last event for me. I didn't stay for the presentations on Sunday. I had 2 and a half days of great fellowship with people from the Paleo/Primal tribe. I can't wait until next year.


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Knowing their pirouettes from their plié was (kind of) the order of the day for children we support and their families as they took part in an exciting dance session last month.
Celebrating what children can do is the basis for dance sessions created by the Flamingo Chicks CIC, who came to TouchBase Glasgow and delivered four accessible and inclusive dance workshops for all ages and all abilities. Story-telling, music and sensory props were just some of the methods and resources used to introduce familes to dance.
Participants aged between three and 60 enjoyed activities aimed at families, which gave them the opportunity to participate together, something that many others take for granted.
Flamingo Chicks aim to give disabled and ill children the same range of opportunities, and a culture of integrated social and well-being activity, where everyone works together as equals. Their classes include those undergoing treatment for cancer, children who are visually impaired, those with autism, cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome or other needs.
While the children explore movement their parents and carers benefit from a vital support network.
Sense Scotland's Family Advisory worker April Walker said: "Children, young people and adults living with disabilities don't often get the chance to participate in dance sessions. As well as offering a new and fun experience everyone was encouraged to be sociable with one another.
"Having fully integrated sessions also enables families to participate in something together. Often activities are divided by ability, so it was great for everyone to take part.
"It was social, fun and enjoyable and everyone wanted to come back and do it again."
On the day 29 children with physical and learning disabilities, sensory impairments and complex communication needs, and aged between two and 15 took part in the sessions.
One parent said: "I really loved the class. It was friendly and engaging."
One five-year-old said simply: "We loved it."
As well as being great fun the session helped children with physical wellbeing like body awareness, muscle strength and balance, with participants trying out ballet moves for the first time.


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Mitt Romney was right. Corporations are "people" – at least in the sense that they have many of the same rights and obligations as individuals. Corporations (and other business entities) can enter into contracts, incur debt, sue and be sued. Business entities cannot, however, act on their own behalf. Determining who has the power and authority to act for and ...Read More »
Home » Tag Archives: Corporations
Tag Archives: Corporations
LLCs have April 15 deadline for submitting annual reports
The new year brought a bit of extra work for Mississippi limited liability companies. For the first time, LLCs based in the state must file annual reports with the Secretary of State's office by April 15 Don't stress over it, though. All the state wants is an update on your address, executives and officers. No fee is charged for domestic ...Read More »


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Jean Wall
Standards, styles and falls are White with a faint Purple halo on the standards, and band on the falls. The falls are veined yellow at the hafts. Beards Purple near white at tip.
Irises are hardy and easy to grow providing instructions are followed correctly. Full instructions are provided with each order or you can read more on our Planting Irises page
Plants are dispatched by post between April and October each year. The delivery charge is based on the number of plants purchased and the delivery destination.


text: Scott Bestul - October 03, 2011 Calling All Bucks: The Art & Science of Whitetail Calling The challenge got him. The massive Kansas 8-point had heard everything before that; the deep tending grunt, the meshing and clacking of tines, even the deep, multi-syllabic growl. He was interested, no doubt, taking long seconds to stare my way and process the racket in his grey matter. But his mulling sessions were short, like a used car dealer considering an offer, then tossing it to the curb.The buck was about to slip away, and I knew it was time for more drastic measures.So I reached into my pack, found a plastic tube with a little bellows, and snort-wheezed at him. He slammed to a stop, again. But this time something had changed. Not back-hair-bristling dramatic, but a demeanor shift that was clear. The old man had been called out, and he wasn't shirking a dare. When the dark-bodied giant squared up to my stand I whispered, "Gotcha." The buck was coming. I'd like to report that his antlers are now resting above my desk, but a 3-year old buck -- no slouch of a whitetail, even by Kansas standards -- came in from behind me to confront my dream deer, turning what should have been a slam-dunk into a mini-turf war that resulted in me not shooting anything. My camo is faded enough that stuff like that doesn't bother me like it once did. And now, these many months later, I am content with this: I had an in-your-face encounter with the biggest 8-point whitetail I might ever see, and I enjoyed that adrenalin buzz because I was toting deer calls.Whitetail calling is a mysterious business. Fifteen years ago, the few hunters who believed in calling deer argued about which grunt call had the right tone. Now we have doe bleats, bawls and bellows to add to the confusing mix of buck grunts, roars and wheezes. And just to keep things interesting, we have hunters -- some highly successful at that -- who still don't believe in calling to deer at all.So I guess calling has come a long way since I started deer hunting. And while we know much more than we did even a few years ago, successful deer calling remains equal parts science and art.THE RUT'S THE THING It's hard to picture Mark Drury in the timber without a call of some kind. The M.A.D. Calls founder put his stamp on the industry with his turkey yelping prowess, then demonstrated his versatility by using whitetail vocalizations to kill some monster bucks on video. Drury calls throughout the fall but insists the rut is when bucks are most responsive. "I picture the rut as a bell-shaped curve, with the apex hitting about mid-November," he says. "My calling efforts mirror that curve. I call sparingly early, increase the intensity as breeding activity heats up, and taper down as the post-rut kicks in."Drury has introduced some ground-breaking deer calls to the market, including the "Growl" which imitates the guttural, drawn-out and aggressive vocalization of a mature buck. This year, M.A.D. will take the concept further when it debuts the "Hyper Growl," a call that increases the intensity of the growl, but ups the ante with improved snort-wheezing and other sounds. "The design of the call incorporates what we call an 'HV tube' which mimics the mouth and nose of a whitetail," Drury says. "You can snort-wheeze and growl at the same time, which is a vocalization that our call designer Jason Nolz documented when listening to wild, mature deer. The Hyper Growl also allows the hunter to imitate the heavy breathing sound made by a buck chasing a doe or running through the timber. You can make any mature buck sound we know about with this call, and because of its design, you cannot over-blow the reed and make it freeze up." Drury used a prototype of the Hyper Growl to kill two of his largest bucks to date, "Chiquita" in 2009 and "Treat" just last fall.Still, the expert insists that calling is no magic bean for luring in mature whitetails. "As a rule, I believe in calling sparingly to deer," Drury says. "I like to call to deer I can see. This allows me to judge the buck's mood and body language and determine if he's vulnerable to calling, or if I should leave him alone and try him another time. If a buck isn't in the proper mood, he can be spooked by calling."Drury says his three top scenarios for that response are when he sees a single buck cruising purposefully for a doe, any time he sees multiple bucks together, and in the aftermath of a buck fight.PRE- AND POST-RUT CALLINGOf course, many hunting seasons occur outside the frenetic activity of the rut. But if you keep your calls stowed during these periods, you're making a huge mistake. I've called in bucks from the first day of the season (mid-September in my home state of Minnesota) to the last (January in some of the states I hunt). As an example, just a couple of seasons ago I rattled in a buck in mid-September. I knew my stand was within hearing distance of the bedding area, and just before prime time I grabbed my rattling antlers and started tickling them. After a pause, I grunted softly a few times, then resumed rattling for a minute. I was reaching to hang the horns on a branch when I heard a deer approaching. It was a good buck, but not the "target" deer I had in mind. Still, he totally bought the sparring bachelor group scenario I'd tried to mimic. The pretty 10-point lingered by my stand, looking for the fight, when I heard yet another buck approach. This slightly smaller buck wandered in for the same reasons and, after he spotted the first buck, decided if there wasn't a sparring session happening, he'd start one. The two bucks clacked antlers for over 20 minutes.Even monster bucks can be coaxed in with early-season calling. My friend Doug was hunting the opening morning of Wisconsin archery season a few years back, fully intent on shooting a doe for two reasons -- empty freezer space, and an Earn-A-Buck tag he wanted filled before the rut. Doug heard deer moving in a nearby thicket, but quickly realized they were on a trail that was not in bow range. Pulling a "can" style call and a doe-bleat reed call from his jacket, Doug started working them with soft bleats and bawls, attempting to kick-start some curiosity.It worked almost too well. After hearing Doug's first bleats, a doe in the group answered, and over the next few minutes my friend held a conversation, with the real doe trumping Doug's efforts in volume and intensity. Slowly, the doe, followed by another doe and three fawns, headed toward Doug's stand. But before he could manage a shot, Doug heard another deer approaching quickly. Turning his head in that direction, my friend spotted a gorgeous, 160-class whitetail. Clearly curious about the conversation, the buck had wandered in to check things out. Though the buck stopped well within bow range, Doug -- who was required to tag and register a doe first -- had to ignore the opportunity to focus on the doe. When she finally presented a shot, my friend sent an arrow over her back and the entire herd exploded from sight. Doug considered extensive psycho-therapy sessions, but he eventually recovered on his own.Will early-season bleating sessions consistently produce mature bucks? Of course not, but these anecdotes illustrate the social and communicative nature of whitetails. They also hammer home the need to be fluent in deer-speak regardless of the calendar month.No one understands this better than Jason Nolz, who brought the initial concept and design of the Hyper Growl to the folks at M.A.D. But that aggressive, rut-oriented call wasn't Nolz's first foray into whitetail mimicry."I also invented and helped Hunter's Specialties bring to market a call they named 'The Cruncher,' which imitates the sound of a feeding deer," he says. "That call was the result of simply being in the woods, watching and listening to deer. One evening I watched a deer eating hickory nuts, and the crunching and munching went on for at least two minutes. But even more impressive to me was the effect those sounds had on nearby deer. It not only attracted them but calmed and relaxed them."Nolz is convinced such sounds tap deep into a whitetail's psyche and, when reproduced by hunters, bring amazing results."In my mind, it's the ultimate stimulus-response relationship," he says. "From the time they're fawns, deer associate the sounds of their mother feeding with not only food, but safety and security. It's the perfect early-season call, and I've used it to relax deer that are spooky."FINAL THOUGHTSThe actual sounds produced by a deer call -- the grunts, wheezes, bleats and, yes, even the crunches -- represent the "science" aspect of calling deer. How, when, and where calls are used is the "art" of the deal. Sometimes, knowing when not to call is as important as the hunter's ability with the instrument itself. "I've heard many, many hunters tell stories about a buck headed their way, and then they decide to grunt or call," Nolz says. "Why throw that card on the table when you don't need it?Experts like Drury and Nolz call under the right conditions, to a deer that's in the right mood, from a setup that virtually ensures the buck will not sense them and become alarmed.Every once in awhile, even a dim bulb like me -- someone who's read the playbook and wiggled into the right property -- can mimic their success. Of course I'd have loved to tag that giant Kansas bruiser mentioned at the beginning of this story. But I've got whitetail calling to thank for that awesome memory! GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing. Sign Me Up


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$669.99 $ 1,009.99* You are saving $ 340.00 (34%)
Our large & luxuriously modern Jovanni Sectional is the perfect sofa to get cozy, and will be an excellent addition to any family- or living room. Upholstered in plush microfiber, Jovanni features a relaxing, right-facing chaise and dainty, modern legs. Available in true-to-detail Art Deco jewel tones, Jovanni will easily spruce up your home, office or private practice!
OVERALL DIMENSIONS (H x W x D): 36" x 99" x 54"
COMPOSITION: Brush Microfiber
ASSEMBLY: Light assembly required. Legs need to be screwed into base.
PLEASE NOTE: True color may vary based on your monitor settings.
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