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Are you suffering with Headache, Sinus Pressure and Pain, Stuffiness, Post Nasal Drip?
What causes these miserable sinus symptoms?
Your sinuses are hollow areas in your skull and are located behind your forehead, cheeks, nose and eyes. These sinus spaces are lined with mucous membranes that help moisten your nasal passages and trap and remove things like bacteria and allergens that you inhale. Healthy sinuses open into your nasal cavity and allow air to circulate and the mucus to drain normally to remove the harmful substances.
Sinusitis occurs when swelling and inflammation of your sinus tissues blocks the airflow and drainage. The blockage causes pressure and pain as mucus backs up into your sinuses. You begin to have a persistent headache and nasal congestion. Your ears can feel full, your sense of smell can be affected, and even your upper teeth can become painful. Postnasal drip can cause a sore throat and cough.
And then, without normal air circulation and drainage, a stagnant environment develops in the blocked sinuses where bacteria can grow, cause a sinus infection and even more misery with unpleasant greenish-yellow discharge, fatigue, and possibly fever.
What can you do about sinusitis?
Sinusitis responds in different ways for different people. Most people start with over-the-counter medications and home remedies. If that fails, the sinus sufferer probably visits a doctor for antibiotics. Symptoms of acute sinusitis typically resolve within 30 days. Recurrent sinusitis occurs when you have multiple acute episodes in a year's time.
Chronic sinusitis lasts longer than 3 months and does not resolve with typical medical treatments. You suffer. At this point, you should see a board-certified Ear Nose & Throat specialist (Otolaryngologist), like Dr. Michael Riesberg, for evaluation. Based on your history, exam and current symptoms, Dr. Riesberg can recommend additional diagnostics as needed, like a CT scan, and the most appropriate treatment.
Historically, the only treatment options left for patients with chronic sinusitis were invasive, rigorous surgical procedures that removed bone and tissue to open sinus passages. The patient faced a hospital visit and expense, post-op discomfort, facial bruising and bleeding, and a weeks-long recovery period.
Dr. Michael Riesberg is one of the only Ear Nose & Throat specialists in the region to offer the breakthrough, in-office procedure called Balloon Sinus Dilation (balloon sinuplasty). This advanced, minimally invasive treatment solves the problem of chronic sinusitis at the source. Balloon Sinus Dilation is safe, long-lasting and is done in the comfort and convenience of our office with minimal anesthesia. It allows you to go home after the procedure as soon as you are comfortable. Many patients enjoy immediate relief from sinusitis symptoms and can resume regular activities the very next day.Learn More About Balloon Sinus Dilation
These are the words our sinus patients love to hear from our friendly and welcoming team. When you're in pain, you don't need the added agony of waiting days or weeks for a solution. We make it easy to schedule an appointment and receive the care you deserve. If you or a loved one suffers from sinus pain and pressure, Dr. Riesberg and our professional staff want to restore your quality of life at Riesberg Institute, Pensacola's ear nose and throat destination.
Are Your Sinus Symptoms Making You Miserable?
Is what you thought was just a cold still hanging on? Did those antibiotics not solve your sinus pressure and drainage? Your symptoms might be due to something more than a cold. You might be struggling with Chronic Sinusitis.
Riesberg Sinus Center – Serving Pensacola & Northwest FloridaLearn More About Balloon Sinus Dilation
- Weiss RL, Church CA, et al. Long-term outcome analysis of balloon catheter sinusotomy: two-year follow up. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008; 139:S38-S46.
- http://www.balloonsinuplasty.com/learn-about-sinusitis/treatment-options
- Soler ZM, Rosenbloom JS, Skarada D, Gutman M, Hoy MJ, Nguyen SA. Prospective, multicenter evaluation of balloon sinus dilation for treatment of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhino, 2016.
- https://www.entellusmedical.com/healthconditions/sinusitis
- Cutler J, Bikhazi N, Light J, Truitt T, Schwartz M. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2013 Sep-Oct;27(5):416-22. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3970. Epub 2013 Aug 5.
- Bikhazi N, Light J, Schwartz M, Truitt T, Cutler J, REMODEL Study Investigators. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):323-9. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2014.28.4064. Epub 2014 May 12
- Levine et al. Multicenter Registry of Balloon Catheter Sinusotomy Outcomes for 1,036 Patients, Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 2008, Vol. 117, pp. 263-270
- Gould J; Alexander I; Tomkin E; Brodner D. In-office, multisinus balloon dilation: 1-Year outcomes from a prospective, multicenter, open label trial. American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):156-63. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2014.28.4043. Epub 2014 Feb 14.
- Karanfilov B, et al. Office-Based balloon sinus dilation: a prospective, multicenter study of 203 patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol; Nov 2012 Epub.
- http://www.sinussurgeryoptions.com/content/frequently-asked-questions


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An author who wrote a book on China's one-child policy was having some serious difficult finding a Chinese language publisher for her book in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, so she decided to make it available for free online instead
You can pick up a Chinese language copy of "One Child: The Story of China's Most Radical Experiment" by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Mei Fong here. She is asking that readers support the translation by donating a bit to her Patreon page.
The work is an in depth look at the history, failings and consequences of China's one-child policy, which was abolished last year in favor of a two-child policy, but not before contributing greatly to China's gender gap, along with some of its most infamous human rights abuses such as forced abortions and sterilizations.
"At present, everything comes out of my own pockets," Fong told Quartz. "I tried to get the book published in China, since that is the audience most affected by the topic I write about, but I was turned down. I did not think it was that sensitive anymore, since they amended the policy, yet obviously it still is, so nobody would publish the translation. We tried through Hong Kong, but the situation there has gotten so hard that I did not find a publisher either. Taiwan is a different issue, as it remains quite difficult to get publishers interested in books about China there."
Considering its critical content, it's not surprising that Fong had difficulty finding a publisher. Currently, the publishing industry in Hong Kong is more than a little skittish following this year's mystery of the missing booksellers. Almost a year later, four out of the five Hong Kong booksellers still remain in the mainland.
"We were interested in the book, but could not even cover costs. Recently custom officials at the border between Hong Kong and China have started confiscating books in great numbers, which means people who used to come here to buy books do not do so anymore," an anonymous publisher told Quartz.
Fong herself concealed her intentions to offer the book free online until the last minute. She said she is worried that at any moment, it will be blocked by the Great Firewall.
"If they do not like it, eventually they will block it, so I hope to reach as many readers as possible before that," she said.
Of course, if you can't read Chinese, then you can simply buy the book in English. Also, you can check out this talk that Fong gave at the USC U.S.-China Institute.
[Images & Video via USC U.S.-China Institute]
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Most of us in the UK have woken up to snow at some point over the last week or so, with temperatures dropping well below freezing. Roads have been blocked, trains cancelled and airports shut, whilst many schools throughout the UK have been closed. But spare a thought for the pupils attending school in Oymyakon, Siberia, they have to wait for the needle to drop below -52°C before they get sent home from school, and even worse, they only built an inside toilet last year! Average temperatures are usually a comparatively mild -45°C so; perhaps they have just learnt to cope better in the snow than we have here in the UK.
The unfortunate inhabitants of Altnaharra in the most northern reaches of Scotland have broken the record so far in 2010 for the coldest temperatures in the UK, with a bone tingling -22.3°C recorded recently.
Whilst Altnaharra in Scotland has recorded the lowest UK temperatures this year, they do not hold the record for the coldest ever, this honour goes to Braemar, slightly to the south east, where in January 1982, the thermostat dropped to -27.2°C!
To some of us that is simply too cold to even think about, but for others, it's positively mild. The record for the lowest temperature ever recorded on earth for an inhabited area was in Vostok, Antarctica, in 1983 when temperatures were recorded at a staggering -89.2°C! Amazingly, Vostok and the nearby South Pole receive very little in the way of snowfall, but they do have to put up with 80 days a year of total darkness due to their unique geographical location.
The record for the coldest city on earth goes to Yakutsk in Russia which has recorded temperatures of -64.4°C and is where when the River Lena freezes, it's actually possible to drive your car over it; however it prides itself in the fact that both the city's airports hardly ever have to close.
The coldest temperature ever recorded in North America is at Snag, Yukon in Canada, the temperature dropped to -63.9°C in 1947, however as the mercury in the thermometer once froze, this may well have been beaten at some time. Breath vapour trails hung in the air for several minutes and the freezing silence was so eerie you could actually hear dogs barking and people talking four miles away!
Stanley in Idaho sits at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains and despite summer temperatures often hitting 30°C, in winter they plummet to -47°C, showing a massive difference in annual temperatures.
Another record breaker for freezing temperatures is International Falls in Minnesota where the temperature drops to the same in Celsius as it does in Fahrenheit; -40°C is the only point on the scale where the two temperatures coincide.
Probably the warmest lowest temperature (if that makes sense) happened in Singapore, where temperatures once dropped as low as 19.4°C, yes 19.4, no minus sign! Due to its location on the equator, this is the coldest ever recorded in the country – lucky them! That's a staggering 110° higher than poor Vostok!
So as you scrape the ice from your windscreen again in the morning, or nip to the nice warm toilet in your centrally heated school. Spare a thought for those slightly less fortunate than yourself, for those who wake up to sub zero temperatures nearly all year round, and even for those who live in Singapore, as they may go through life and never witness the sheer icy beauty that overwhelms us when the snow sets in.


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After what appeared to be a strong start to 2007 holiday shopping, retailers are hoping customers will keep buying in a season some forecasters say will be the weakest in five years.
Shoppers had been pulling back in recent months amid a challenging economy, and the big worry is that after the big spending spree this past weekend, they will retreat and return to malls only for last-minute shopping.
Stores and malls attracted bigger-than-expected crowds as early as midnight for discounted flat-panel TVs, digital cameras and toys on Friday. Strong sales continued through Saturday, according to a research group that tracks total sales at retail outlets across the country.
The biggest draw was electronics, benefiting consumer electronics chains like Best Buy Co. and discounters such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp. Popular-priced department stores including J.C. Penney Co. and Kohl�s Corp. drew in crowds with deals. Toy stores like Toys ��R�� Us Inc. fared well too. Still, apparel sales appeared to be mixed at mall-based clothing stores, though a cold weather snap helped spur sales of outerwear and other winter-related items.
��This was a really good start. ... There seemed to be a lot of pent-up demand,�� said Bill Martin, co-founder of ShopperTrak RCT Corp., which tracks total sales at more than 50,000 retail outlets. ShopperTrak reported Sunday that sales on Friday and Saturday combined rose 7.2 percent to $16.4 billion from the same two-day period a year ago.
Total sales on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, rose 8.3 percent to $10.3 billion from the same day a year ago. Martin had expected increases no greater than 5 percent for Friday.
But Frederick Crawford, managing director at AlixPartners, a turnaround consultant, said people are buying more selectively this season.
��People had their list, and they were very specific in what they were looking for,�� he said.
According to a survey of about 2,400 shoppers conducted by the National Retail Federation, the amount of money that consumers spent on average on gifts this past weekend slipped to $347.44, down 3.5 percent from last year. Retailers made up for the lower average expenditures with increased traffic.
Consumers were looking for bargains.
��The bargains are better this year, a lot better,�� said Theresa Calib of Houston, who was at the local Greenspoint mall Saturday. ��We always know what we want to get, and we get it.�� She bought two pairs of shoes at Foot Locker Inc.�s two for $89 sale.
Many retailers, including Sears Holdings Corp., discounted products like electronics that they knew shoppers wanted. Analysts say frustrations were high among shoppers who couldn�t get their hands on limited deals at many stores.
Janet Kim, 18, of Fairfax, Va., came out Friday to purchase a stereo for her iPod that usually retails at $150 but was on sale for $60. Kim said she first went to a Best Buy outlet store in Leesburg, Va., about 3 a.m. but found large crowds following that store�s midnight opening.
��The line was too long and we couldn�t even get parking,�� she said.
Sears Holdings spokeswoman Gail Lavielle said shopper turnout Friday was better than a year ago, and customer flow was steady throughout the weekend. Both Kmart and Sears sold a significant inventory of flat-panel TVs. Other hot items were Global Positioning System receivers, game consoles like the hard-to-find Nintendo Wii, and digital cameras.
Toys ��R�� Us chairman and CEO Jerry Storch said the toy seller drew a strong turnout Friday for its 101 early morning specials and was pleased with traffic on Saturday and Sunday.
Popular items included anything related to The Walt Disney Co.�s hot franchises ��Hannah Montana�� and ��High School Musical,�� video games and consoles, an interactive parrot from Hasbro Inc., and radio-controlled helicopters and planes.
J.C. Penney reported a ��strong performance across all merchandise categories,�� including fine jewelry, outerwear and young men�s and children�s assortments.
Meanwhile, comScore Inc., an Internet research company, reported a 22 percent rise in online sales on the day after Thanksgiving versus a year ago.
But some shoppers are cutting back.
John Muller of Clifton, N.J., who was standing outside Macy�s Herald Square in New York city on Sunday, estimates he�ll spend about $500 this year, half as much as a year ago, because of higher expenses and worries about the economy.
��We are mostly buying for the kids,�� said Muller, who has two children, ages 3 and 7.
Retailers need shoppers to keep up the pace
After what appeared to be a strong start to 2007 holiday shopping, retailers are hoping customers will keep buying in a season some forecasters say will be the weakest in five years.


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Everybody poops, as the saying goes—and sometimes, it sticks around for millions of years.
Such fossilized feces—called coprolites—can often help scientists determine what an ancient critter ate.
Take the giant ground sloth, whose poop (pictured below) revealed a diet of leaves, bark, and twigs, according to the Smithsonian Institution, which recently featured the dung in the their "weekly peek" at museum collections.
Giant ground sloth dung
Photo courtesy Chip Clark, Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
The hundred thousand-year-old poop (now on display at the National Museum of Natural History) was collected by Smithsonian curator Remington Kellogg in 1941 in the Grand Canyon. Giant ground sloths, relatives of living tree sloths, used their huge claws to grasp tree climbs and scrape bark off trees about 2.58 million years ago.
In addition to unearthing clues about a creature's diet, ancient poop can give us other clues about the past.
In 2009, for instance, scientists announced the discovery of the oldest human hair—found in a piece of hyena poop. Researchers discovered the rock-hard dung near South Africa's Sterkfontein caves, where many early human ancestor fossils have been found.
The white, round fossil turds were found embedded in sediments 195,000 to 257,000 years old, we reported.
What's more, 14,300-year-old fossilized human feces found in Oregon provided scientists with the earliest evidence of people in North America, according to a 2008 study.
That coprolite "looks like a hardened clump of brown mud of a, uh, familiar shape," David Wolman wrote for National Geographic News.
As Wolman pointed out, coprolites are ideal objects for archaeologists to research, since studying other remains, such as bones, can be controversial.
"In contrast, no one takes offense to examining stool samples, which are filled with cellular material shed by the harsh environment of the colon," Wolman wrote.
As University of Oregon archaeologist Dennis Jenkins said in the story, "You don't think of it, but you're leaving behind genetic signatures every morning."
Also see:
Dino Dung: Paleontology's Next Frontier?
Giant Bird Poop Provides Glimpse of Pre-Human New Zealand Landscape
Check out more weird coverage on National Geographic News.


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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) – Five Dallas police officers have been fired after facing disciplinary hearings. Two of those officers are also facing criminal charges for allegedly repeatedly entering false information on arrest reports, giving false testimony in court and entering a home without permission. Former officers Randolph Allen Dillon and Jon Llewellyn are charged with Tampering with Evidence and Aggravated Perjury. The third degree felony charges carry a possibility of two to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The Dallas County District Attorney's office says it will dismiss 60 drug cases directly linked to these officers. Additional cases involving these officers will be reviewed by the Public Integrity Division. Both officers were hired in April 2009 and assigned to the Southwest Division.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown terminated three other officers for various infractions including public intoxication, criminal trespass and abuse of city equipment.
- Officer Richard Adams was terminated for two incidents. Internal Affairs concluded that in October 2011, Adams refused to leave a private club at the request of management after a verbal and physical altercation with another club goer. According to police, Adams was involved in multiple physical altercations that evening with fellow customers and off duty police officers. In February 2012, Adams was given a Criminal Trespass warning when he was told to leave the property and tried to return in a separate entrance. Adams was hired in March 2009 and was assigned to the South Central Division.
- Officer Joshua Vaughan is accused of using a city equipment for personal reasons between June 2011 and March 2012. DPD also concluded that Vaughan allowed a wanted individual to stay with him before and after that person was arrested for a felony charge. Vaughan was hired in November 2009 and was assigned to the North Central Division.
- Officer Lawrence Jamme failed three alcohol breath tests in June 2012 when he reported to the pistol range for his qualification tests. Police say he was also arrested in July 2012 for public intoxication in Pantego and involved in an accident in May 2012 after he had been drinking, which he failed to report. Jamme was hired in January 2009 and was assigned to the Central Division.
An additional two officers were suspended, including Lt. Regina Smith, the widow of a slain officer, who produced a hip-hop website featuring provocative video, photos and comments. She received a five day suspension handed down by Assistant Chief Cynthia S. Villarreal.
However, Smith's attorney, Chris Livingston, is criticizing Dallas Police Chief David Brown for tweets he sent out prior to the disciplinary hearings.
Friday morning, Chief Brown tweeted he had a tough day ahead and was "not looking forward to the decisions I will have to make on some officers careers." He sent out a second tweet requesting songs about the blues.
Livingston says Chief Brown was referring to all the disciplinary hearings for the seven officers and suggests the tweets indicated the Chief already had his mind made up.
"He basically said he was going to terminate them. He had already made his decision, without even hearing from those officers. That's completely unprofessional," said Livingston. "It was dismissive and basically flippant the way that he was basically dealing with the lives of these officers."
Officer Sonya Killebrew was also suspended for allegedly hitting her child with a laptop computer cord leaving marks on his arms and legs. She failed to alert DPD that she was the subject of an Emergency Protective Order was issued on behalf of the child as a result of those injuries. Her suspension will be 30 days.
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- DISD Approves School Security Upgrades
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It's an annual tradition: Just prior to Thanksgiving, the President of the United States is presented with a turkey during a Rose Garden ceremony. After the requisite jokes, the president "pardons" the bird. The spin has already begun.
The turkey has committed no crime. What it has received, in fact, is a presidentially ordained career change after being diverted from its typical destination of a dinner plate. According to the White House, the bird enjoys one hour's free range in the Rose Garden; it also enjoys face-time with the President and a gaggle of media before "retiring" to do whatever caged birds do.
This event is hardly about saving turkeys, despite its folksy appeal or its intent to show our leader as a latter-day St. Francis of Assisi. The whole spectacle is produced with the help of Big Turkey: the National Turkey Federation, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group for large-scale turkey growers. Those growers, the federation proudly declares, have magnanimously given presidents turkeys for nearly six decades. The NTF picks the farm and supplies the photo-op bird (and its back-up). Big Turkey representatives are on hand at the ceremony to provide any needed avian management -- and also to get some good PR photos.
When not helping the president pardon a bird or two, the NTF openly boasts of promoting the sale (and death) of 256 million turkeys a year.
For years, the two spared White House birds were relocated to a replica farm in Northern Virginia with the alarming name of Frying Pan Park. But in 2003, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals began a campaign reporting that three former White House turkeys at Frying Pan were living in "substandard conditions." (PETA claimed the birds were confined to a "tiny barren shed" with "nothing to eat or peck at. They were listless and their plumage was disheveled and discolored.... It was cold, and they were shivering.")
The park cried "foul," but in 2005, Frying Pan was off the menu for White House turkeys. And private industry heard the call.
Last year's pardoned turkeys, who were nicknamed "Marshmallow" and "Yam" and who were unable to fly very far themselves, snagged first-class seats on a United Airlines flight to Los Angeles, courtesy of Disney. Thus indebted, the pair served as co-grand marshals for Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day parade. They later settled down for a life of ersatz naturalism at the theme park.
The NTF has dismissed PETA's protest, telling the media last year that the switch of turkey-retirement facilities was to make the birds available to a "broader cross-section of the nation." Contacted by telephone, an NTF spokesperson confirmed that this year's pardoned birds are once again off to spend the holidays with Mickey and Minnie.
The artificial cheeriness of Disneyland may beat the gloom around the White House, where the holidays don't seem to matter so much anymore.
The Bush White House Web site formerly hosted a robust, interactive Thanksgiving page. Contents ranged from glad tidings from the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives crew to tips from the house chef ("I don't know any way to 'repair' a burned turkey") and suggestions from citizens. "Rather than a traditional cornbread stuffing, we use chopped-up turkey corndogs," one correspondent wrote. "I am confident this is something the President may enjoy."
Gourmands could note that the Bushes didn't go for the industrially raised, water-added, half-frozen bowling ball of poultry; last year's menu at Crawford Ranch offered "herbed, stuffed free-range turkey."
Today, the lame-duck White House has scaled back its turkey propaganda. Its site now offers only boilerplate background material and this year's "help name the turkeys" survey. I've cast my vote for the idiotic malapropism "Corn" and "Copia," though I suspect "Flyer" and "Fryer" will win. "Ben" and "Franklin," good luck.
Pity the poor turkey, which once had a shot at being the proud symbol of our shiny new democracy. Ol' Ben Franklin himself thought the turkey a "much more respectable bird" than the bald eagle. Now, the unwitting White House turkey, and its stage-managed photo-op, is just another Beltway tragicomedy involving resource mismanagement, industry insiders and selective truths. Not to mention first-class airfare comped by a conservative mega-corporation.
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I did know God well enough to know that He loved me, that I mattered to Him, that He would not mislead or betray me. But my gut responses to Nathan's death were colored by a little thing called shame. Actually, shame is not little at all and seldom innocuous enough to be called a thing. More like a living breathing entity that has haunted me for most of my life. It is Shame with a capital S.
I met Shame when I was very young. But I did not know his name. I did not even know he was separate from me. Many years later, at the age of 24, I found this quote in a book I was reading:
A pervasive sense of shame is the ongoing premise that one is fundamentally bad, inadequate, defective, unworthy, or not fully valid as a human being.
--Merle Fossum
After all the work I had done and all the healing God had brought about during my early 20s, the revelation of such a deep layer of brokenness left me questioning whether I had made any progress at all. It felt as if my need for healing was now even greater than when my journey began. And the truth of the matter was this: I did not know who I was apart from my Shame. The only "me" I knew was fundamentally bad, inadequate, defective, not fully valid as a human being. If those things were not me at all, then who was I? What would happen if I threw out all the lies Shame had told me? Would I find that the real me was even worse than I thought? Was I brave enough and strong enough to find out? Well, no. And yes.
I may not have been brave enough but God had certainly deemed me strong enough. I picked up a copy of the book Shame and Grace: Healing the Shame We Don't Deserve by Lewis B. Smedes and began laboring through it much the way I labored through Philip Yancey's book on prayer. Never before had I read a book that so closely mirrored what I felt about myself. I found myself underlining and taking notes on every page. The first half of the book dealt with the intricacies of Shame. I learned that, surprisingly, there is a healthy form of Shame—shame with a lowercase "s," I suppose. As Smedes writes:
Only a very noble being can feel shame. The reason is simple: A creature meant to be a little less than God is likely to feel a deep dissatisfaction with herself if she falls a notch below the splendid human being she is meant to be. If we never feel shame, we may have lost contact with the person we most truly are. If we still feel the pain, it is because we are healthy enough to feel uncomfortable with being less than we ought to be and less than we want to be. This is healthy shame.It is this shame that calls us back to our true selves, the people we were created to be apart from this fallen world. It reminds us of who God means us to be and the ways in which we are not living up to that calling. And it is healthy shame that pushes us to grow and change and move ever so slightly closer to the image of our Creator. This shame is actually a gift.
Although the Shame that shadowed me for most of my life may have begun as healthy shame, it quickly became anything but healthy. Smedes has this to say about unhealthy Shame:
It is a false shame because the feeling has no basis in reality. It is unhealthy shame because it saps our creative powers and kills our joy. It is a shame we do not deserve because we are not as bad as our feelings tell us we are.Unhealthy Shame is not a call back to our true selves at all—it is a condemnation from our false self. This false version of ourselves is constructed out of all the "ideals" placed on us by others. It is the person we "should" be, according to the voices of secular culture, religion without grace, and parents who do not accept us. These three forces, individually and collectively, convince us that in order to be acceptable human beings we must live up to their expectations of us. Culture tells us that to be acceptable we must be beautiful, thin, smart, wealthy, powerful, successful, etc., etc. Grace-less religion tells us we are acceptable when we do everything that is commanded and nothing that is forbidden. Un-accepting parents tell us we will be acceptable only if we do whatever they expect of us. Falling short in any or all of this, we are left with only one conclusion: We are unacceptable human beings. And we are ashamed of how greatly we fall short of being the persons we have been told we must be.
This unhealthy Shame "is about our very selves—not about some bad thing we did or said but about what we are. It tells us that we are unworthy. Totally. It is not as if a few seams in the garment of our selves need stitching; the whole fabric is frayed. We feel that we are unacceptable. And to feel that is a life-wearying heaviness."
A life-wearying heaviness, indeed. A heaviness that I carried for nearly two decades. There was no one thing that caused my Shame. It was more like a perfect storm. My personality and my spiritual gifting, the abuse and its aftermath, my experiences growing up in the church, the dynamics of my family—all of this created an ideal atmosphere to foster the growth of Shame. By the time Shame's identity became known to me, I had been weighed down for so many years I no longer knew where Shame ended and I began. And I certainly didn't know how to be free from it.
As I moved into the second half of Shame and Grace, I realized there was no way to escape Shame. The only way to be free from it was to heal it, and my healing could only be found through Grace. For me, Grace had always been just another word in the Christian vocabulary. It had no real meaning to me, at least nothing tangible. I had a vague sense that it was important to my faith, maybe even essential, but I couldn't have told you why. Smedes defines Grace this way:
- We experience grace as pardon: We are forgiven for wrongs we have done. Pardoning grace is the answer to guilt.
- We experience grace as acceptance: We are reunited with God and our true selves, accepted, cradled, held, affirmed, and loved. Accepting grace is the answer to shame.
- We experience grace as power: It provides a spiritual energy to shed the heaviness of shame and, in the lightness of grace, move toward the true self God means us to be.
- We experience grace as gratitude: It gives us a sense for the gift of life, a sense of wonder and sometimes elation at the lavish generosity of God.
Lurking behind the grip of Shame is the crippling fear of rejection. The knowledge that we are unacceptable human beings is made unbearable by the great possibility that we will be abandoned by those we most need to love us. The promise of Grace is that we are accepted without the possibility of rejection, that nothing we do and nothing we are can ever make God abandon us. And to a girl who had lived her life with the ever-present, deep-seated fear of rejection, such unconditional acceptance seemed far too good to be true.
As if this acceptance wasn't hard enough to believe, Grace takes it one step further. Grace tells me that I am worthy of the acceptance it offers. How can this be? Aren't I, like all of us, just a sinful wretch deserving of God's wrath and unworthy of the Grace He offers? Well, yes. And no.
I am a sinner and, because of that, I deserve God's wrath. But I am also a human being, created in the image of God and created with infinite worth. Grace tells me I am worthy of being redeemed from my sin, worthy of being loved by my Creator, and worthy of being accepted without the possibility of rejection.
Accepted. Worthy. Loved.
I desperately wanted to believe everything Grace was telling me. And I wanted that belief to change me, heal me, set me free. But I had reached an impasse. I understood that Shame and I were separate. I understood that my only hope of healing was found in this mysterious thing called Grace. I understood that Grace accepted me completely. I even understood, at least on some level, that Grace accepted me both in spite of my un-deservedness and because of my worthiness. But I did not understand how to accept the acceptance of Grace.
Thus, after finishing the book, I put the matter aside and hoped that someday, somehow I would find a way to heal. But thankfully, and not surprisingly, my healing wasn't up to me. The One who began this work of Grace was not finished with me yet. Neither was Shame. But I'll let you guess Who had the last word.


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University of Moratuwa Department of Mechanical Engineering currently undertakes four short courses (professional development programmes for engineers) aiming to address specific needs, in which engineers in the industry seek to enhance their specialised knowledge. The courses are designed to provide significant practical exposure, which goes in line with present industrial needs with most updated technologies.
Short courses


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Listings in Optometry, Whale Watching and Real Estate
Deception Pass Tours, Inc.-Terica Ginther
in Whale Watching, Wildlife Tours, Oak Harbor Rotary Club
Learn about Deception Pass, the Bridge and surrounding area on this amazing tour aboard the Island Whaler. Hourly tours leave daily from April 1-October 1.
Anacortes, Washington 98221
United States
Windermere North Cascades Real Estate - Becky Elde
in Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club, Real Estate
I am a Realtor and have worked in Skagit County since 1995. I do Commercial Real Estate and Residential Real Estate. I'm involved with Rotary, The Chamber of Commerce, my church and local and state Realtor associations.
520 Cook Road
Sedro Woolley, Washington 98284
United States
Everett Optometry Clinic, PS - Dr. James D. Schrader, OD
in Health and Medicine, Everett Rotary Club, Optometry, Eye Care
Everett Optometry Clinic is a premier eye care facility located in Everett, Washington. Our office and eye doctors are dedicated to providing excellence in patient care, clinical education, and optical services.
3700 Colby Avenue
Everett, Washington 98201
United States
Fax: 425-259-3895
Re Max Performance Realty - Jack Klinkhammer
in White Rock Rotary Club, Real Estate
Listing and sale of real estate; mainly residential, industrial and land. I can refer to other agents throughout North America,
11925 80th. Ave.
Delta, British Columbia V4C 1Y1
Fax: 604-597-7771


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Leaving Koror, within in minutes you reach The Rock Islands' Nikko Bay. (Most equipment providers will require you take transportation from Koror to Nikko.) The bay is home to one of Palau's most treasured coral forests and one of Palau's top kayaking and snorkeling spots. Protected by its natural barrier reef and sheer walls, for centuries Nikko's corals have avoided competing against the savages of nature's forces. As a consequence, snorkelers are treated to ancient corals that have grown to amazing heights, shapes and types. Kayakers are offered excursions through siphon tunnels, caves and arches. Going with an experienced guide may make a good vacation into a great vacation.
A short distance away, kayakers enter other world class snorkeling adventures in Palau, the Lettuce Coral Wall and Rembrandt's Cove. The overhanging trees and vegetation shelter the shallow waters of the wall and the cove. Combined with the protection of calm waters, these areas have turned into pristine environments for a diversity of coral to flourish and serve as a reef fish nursery. Without the protected shade, the shallow waters would overheat and, thus, create an inhospitable environment for the coral to exist.
Continuing on, Disney Lake is just a short paddle away. Accessible through a tunnel at low tide or by scaling the limestone (wait for the tide) from Nikko Bay, you will enter the crystal azur waters and a place of Technicolor truly fitting its namesake, Walt Disney. You will see corals of amazing shapes and kinds and more stunning assortment of colors. Some places there it looks like little assortments coral dwarfs from The Seven Dwarfs.
Fitting of its name, entering Cathedral Cave seems to have the same sort of awing experience as entering one of the great European Gothic churches. Rather than man, Mother Nature takes the credit for this creation. Like the Gothic churches, the entrance into the cave is graceful and grand. Passing through a shallow tunnel at low tide you will enter a grand cavern, a cavern large enough to hold a whole congregation of kayakers. This cathedral is adorned with stalactites gracefully having the ceiling.
As a place of one of the most veracious WWII battles, Palau offers great a tour through the ghosts of the past. The German Lighthouse is a legacy of Palau's history through its foreign control. The century old lighthouse sits atop the highest peak of the Rock Islands. Its name is a legacy to Palau's German possession. Germany eventually ceded control of Palau to the Japanese. Japanese imperialism and expansionism used the Pacific Islands as stepping-stones and military fortresses and backstops in their ever ending desire to expand their supply lines and access to natural resources, particularly oil.
The legacy of the war is still felt on Palau. Many Palauans believe the ghosts of Japanese soldiers still haunt the German Lighthouse rock. The island serves as the combination of a natural and man-made history of the war. The climb from the water to the German Lighthouse peak traverses an old road that today exists an old trail, overgrown with tropical vegetation. Along the way you will see the residue of history with cannon and their barrels, pill boxes and the quarters that housed the Japanese soldiers.
With a gentle ocean current, placid azure water collects at Soft Coral Arch becoming the perfect host environment for coral growth. Like so many of Palau's great snorkeling and scuba diving spots, the Soft Coral Arch's plankton rich waters and coral become home to a plethora schools of yellow bar fusiliers, lion fish, black and scissor tails, juvenile harlequin sweet lips and angle fish, trigger fish and coral damselfish.
Kayaking to Long Lake offers a full day of adventure. Accessing the lake through a long meandering, crystal clear mangrove covered channel, you experience Palau's life above the water line with the calls of tropical birds and the flora of ferns and moss accenting the rocks and tropical growth. Ancient plants like cycads are not seen anywhere else in Palau. You may even see a leafless orchid. The lake is home to two types of rays. The aptly named Einstein's Gardens is home to thousands of the colorful brain corals. With the nutrient rich waters where coral flourishes there are usually tons of fish. Einstein's won't disappoint you. Save time for Garemediu Reef. Here a Japanese Zero rests almost fully intact in about 6 feet of water.
One of the most memorable days of kayaking in Palau will be the trip to Ngerchong Island. After reaching shore and taking a short hike, you arrive at Jellyfish Lake. Jellyfish This is an amazing experience of swimming with millions of stingless jellies. Read here. While you are on the island make sure to visit Giant Clam Beach. Here you will find dozens of 500 pound clams stacked upon each other.
The Ngemelis Island is home to some of Palau's greatest scuba diving sites. Near the Big Drop Off (one of Jacques Cousteau's top dive sites) and the German Channel is another great snorkeling area called Turtle Cove. For a hundred or so yards from shore the water is waste deep. All of the sudden you will reach one of Palau great sheer walls. The water make a sheer drop from waste deep to around 1,000 feet. Like the other near dive sites, Turtle Cove is home to Palau's famous pelagics: grey reef and white tip sharks patrol the reefs edge, an occasional leopard shark can be caught resting, moorish idols, pyramid butterflyfish, yellow fusiliers and assortment of angel fish. Oh, and you may even see a few turtles.
Click here to return to Kayaking and Snorkeling's Main Page.
Click here to see Other things you need to know for kayaking and snorkeling in Palau.


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After spending the last 11 years developing an international reputation for cutting-edge stem cell research at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Sheng Ding has relocated his laboratory to the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco.
About a dozen research assistants have moved with the 35-year-old chemical biologist, who was awarded millions of dollars in research grants during his time at Scripps.
In the last four years, Ding received $6.4 million in funding from the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which hands out taxpayer-backed grants to stem cell scientists in the state.
His departure two weeks ago also marked a loss for the region's biotechnology hub, where he helped start two companies focused on turning the body's master cells into research tools and treatments for diseases.
Ding's most noted work has focused on solving one of the biggest challenges facing the field — making the versatile building blocks of tissue from reprogrammed adult skin cells without using viruses to insert genes that could later lead to cancer or other mutations.
A paper published in 2009 by a team led by Ding described a new reprogramming process that used special proteins and compounds to produce so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, which have emerged as a preferred alternative to stem cells grown from human embryos.
The work demonstrated one of Ding's much admired traits — an ability to simultaneously and gracefully navigate the worlds of chemistry and biology.
"There are few people who are trained as chemists who have developed the experience and knowledge in biology as well and can bridge that," said Deepak Srivastava, director of Gladstone's cardiovascular disease program.
Ding, who was born in Beijing, arrived at Scripps in 2000 as a doctoral candidate in chemistry after receiving an undergraduate chemistry degree from the California Institute of Technology.
He completed his Ph.D. in 2003 and became an assistant professor at Scripps the following year.
Ding said the relocation to Gladstone will allow him to focus on applying his basic research discoveries to therapeutic applications.
"I felt it was probably time for me to do something new," he said.
Like Scripps, Gladstone is an independent nonprofit research center focused on basic science. However, there are a few important differences.
While Scripps' faculty works across a wide range of scientific areas, Gladstone researchers focus on three specific categories: cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions and virology and immunology. That focus helps Gladstone scientists fulfill their mission of directly affecting the health of people.
Scripps employs 541 faculty members who work out of 16 research buildings at campuses in La Jolla and Palm Beach County, Fla. Gladstone's scientific staff numbers 300 in a single building.
In San Francisco, Ding's new office sits a few doors down from space occupied by Shinya Yamanaka, the world renowned researcher who first created induced pluripotent stem cells in 2006.
Jeanne Loring, a Scripps stem cell researcher, said her former colleague could benefit from the more intimate surroundings.
"He'll get a lot of attention, and he'll (be with) senior researchers who are really interested in his work," she said.
Meanwhile, Scripps has other scientists working on induced pluripotent stem cells who will continue to enhance the work of their colleagues at the La Jolla institute, she said.
A spokeswoman for Scripps referred questions about Ding's move to the researcher and Gladstone.
Ding said he also hopes to team up with researchers at the nearby University of California San Francisco and entrepreneurs who work in the region's expansive biotechnology hub.
"The Bay Area has a diverse and broad platform for scientific interactions," he said. "I will be very interested in exploring new collaborators and opportunities."


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Ain't nothing better than giving a handmade gift. And I'm not only saying this because I'm a maker of handmade things, but because it's true. The effort and love and time dedicated to making a handmade gift is palpable.
Ok, that was a little dramatic. But true, although, I was watching Frasier while I made these, and eating those sugar cookies with the frosting. SO good. Anyway, Rocio asked me to make something for our good friend Bri's birthday. We thought gloves would be a good idea. I was excited to make these because I have been wanting to try my hand at a glove pattern for honestly about 2 years now, but just keep getting side tracked. I searched on Ravelry and found this pattern by Robyn Fleming. The gauge was a little different than Robyn's pattern because I used Vanna's Choice yarn (the only choice! haha). I heart Vanna's Choice. It's super soft and there are amazing colors to choose from. Anyway, my chain was 30 stitches in length instead of Robyn's 25. I made a few changes as I saw fit, but overall it was a great pattern for glove-making beginners like myself. I hope Bri likes the gloves (and doesn't see this blog entry before she receives them in the mail)!


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Historians Politely Remind Nation To Check What's Happened In Past Before Making Any Big Decisions
Trying to avoid repeating bad things we did in the past is a good idea, historians say.
WASHINGTON—With the United States facing a daunting array of problems at home and abroad, leading historians courteously reminded the nation Thursday that when making tough choices, it never hurts to stop a moment, take a look at similar situations from the past, and then think about whether the decisions people made back then were good or bad.
According to the historians, by looking at things that have already happened, Americans can learn a lot about which actions made things better versus which actions made things worse, and can then plan their own actions accordingly.
"In the coming weeks and months, people will have to make some really important decisions about some really important issues," Columbia University historian Douglas R. Collins said during a press conference, speaking very slowly and clearly so the nation could follow his words. "And one thing we can do, before making a choice that has permanent consequences for our entire civilization, is check real quick first to see if human beings have ever done anything like it previously, and see if turned out to be a good idea or not."


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If you are like most people, your eyes will glaze over when words like "the Privacy Act" and "credit reporting changes" are mentioned. While the subject can be as dry as toast, your credit report will play a vital role in your ability to own your own home, buy your dream car, or obtain a credit card to take on your overseas holiday… and suddenly it's not so boring anymore!
Posts Tagged 'Debt Consolidation'
Credit Reporting Changes Effective 12 March 2014
Posted by Katrina Parrington on March 11, 2014
Posted in Elders Home Loans - Alice Springs | Tagged: Debt Consolidation, Elders Home Loans, Elders Home Loans - Alice Springs, Elders Home Loans NT, Finance, Home Loans, Katrina Parrington, mortgages, Refinance | Comments Off on Credit Reporting Changes Effective 12 March 2014
How To Get A Roof Over Your Head
Posted by Katrina Parrington on January 26, 2010
THE housing shortage has made it tougher than ever to get into the real estate market. And then there's the matter of finance. Alice Springs mortgage broker Katrina Parrington speaks to Daniel Burdon about getting your finances ready to climb into the market when the opportunity does arise.
DREAMS of buying a house all start with savings.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged: Debt Consolidation, Lenders Mortgage Insurance, Security Guarantee | Comments Off on How To Get A Roof Over Your Head


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Boot Camp is our proven business strategy workshop designed to get EntreLeadership businesses ready to hit the ground running! Take a day away from distractions to huddle up with a handful of like-minded business owners at our headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and hit the white boards! This one-day workshop will take you through a series of exercises in order to create a clear, outlined strategy for reaching— and even exceeding—your new EntreLeadership goals.


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*World Class Driving Range *Practice Balls *Putting / Chipping area *King Cobra Rental Clubs *Golf Carts *In Celebration of Golf Pro Shop *Restaurant *Lodging *Blaisdell Performance Systems School *PGA lessons available thru Pro Shop *World renowned LPGA professionals Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, both included in Golf Magazine's exclusive Top 100 instructors list, offer private instruction, personalized coaching and coaching seminars. *A Recognized Member of the Tournament Club Concept
The Legacy Golf Resort
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Host your events at the beautiful 280 acre Legacy Golf Resort!
Additional Info
- Phone: 602-305-5550
- Website: http://www.legacygolfphoenix.com/
- City: Phoenix
- State: AZ


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Reward Offered for Information Leading to the Arrest of Phillip Leron Miller
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Phillip Leron Miller. Miller is wanted in connection with his alleged involvement in the murder of a man on April 20, 2017. Miller allegedly shot the man multiple times in an apartment in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. On May 11, 2017, a federal arrest warrant was issued after Miller was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Miller has ties to Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park, and Columbia Heights, Minnesota, as well as Chicago, Illinois.
The FBI and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office are searching for Miller, who is considered armed and dangerous.
Miller is described as follows:
- Sex: Male
- Height: 5'6" to 5'7"
- Weight: 143 to 155 lbs
- Hair: Black, worn in dreadlocks
- Eyes: Brown
- Dates of birth used: July 31, 1975 and August 31, 1975
- Marks/tattoos: Miller has a gold bottom tooth and tattoos on his left and right arms; a naked woman on his left forearm; a wizard on his right forearm and on his right hand.
If you have information, or know a person who has relevant information about Miller, please contact the FBI at (763) 569-8000 or the Anoka County Sherriff's Office at (763) 323-5000.


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Yippee 2 new coffees and the first from 2 returning origins that we've been missing for a while! Oh hiiiiii Brazil and Guatemala!
Guatemala El Bosque Amatitlan Washed Red Bourbon
Toffee, green apple, white grape
In the cup expect a chocolate covered toffee, green apple and a hint of white grape. With every sip you'll enjoy the smooth mouthfeel and there's a delicate white wine finish.
Brazil Carmo Estate Pulped Natural Yellow Bourbon
Caramel, toffee, hazelnut
In the cup this celebrates everything that's good about Brazilian pulped naturals - caramel, toffee, hazelnut, medium body and a chewy aftertaste.


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this book is great for young girls who are just discovering there body it helps them understand there body and thats something about there body is going to change i got this book for my youngest daughter when she started to disover her body i recommend that all paernts with a daughter get this book for them to help them understand there body better it also helps if your a single dad and don't really want to explain whats going on with there body
lovely book for younger girls it helped me a lot too
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In 2006, three forces the U.S National Committee For Byzantine Studies (USNCBS), the Canadian Committee of Byzantists (CCB) and the Byzantine Studies Conference (BSC) joined together to form the Byzantine Studies Association of North America, Inc. (BSANA).
The Byzantine Conference started in 1975 now meets every year in October or November in a different city every year. The primary purpose is to discuss and present new research regarding the Byzantine Empire or The Eastern Roman Empire (circa 330-1453 AD). Graduate students attend the conference and discuss their latest research. Research can include but not be limited to art, architecture, archaeology, history, philology, literature, theology, liturgy and church history, numismatics and sigillography, history of medicine, and law.
This website is dedicated to those who are not experts in the study of Byzantinology but are interested in learning more about their culture and history. We plan on presenting the latest research in a variety of fields. If you have any suggestions please feel free to contact us.


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The Department of Homeland Security spied daily on rallies in Detroit and Lansing over the emergency manager, wages for teachers and city workers, inadequate transportation and rising poverty during the peak of the Occupy Wall Street movement, the Motor City Muckraker has learned from records stamped confidential.
Federal Protective Service officials in Detroit sent daily briefings to Washington D.C. on protests in places such as Lansing, the Ambassador Bridge, city hall, Bank of America and several state and federal buildings in downtown Detroit, according to records confirmed by federal authorities.
Concerns were raised over peaceful protests against Gov. Rick Snyder for appointing emergency managers in Michigan cities and school districts. The protests were peaceful and law-abiding, the unnamed officials said in a briefing to headquarters.
The feds also monitored teacher and city unions, transportation advocates, anti-poverty activists and Occupy demonstrators – all of whom were peaceful, the report states. But feds still spied, keeping track 0f strategies, meetings, media presence and even the weather.
According to the records, many protestors were angry with Snyder for taking over the finances of cash-strapped cities. They claim there has been "overt action to subvert our democracy and our system of representative government," the undercover federal official wrote.
In October 2011, feds kept close tabs on Grand Circus Park as more than 200 protestors set up tents during the height of the Occupy movement. Despite the peaceful gatherings, federal authorities considered breaking up the demonstrators.
"We are not making any decision right now to move them out as of yet," the official wrote. "However I have been tasked with coming up with an exit strategy."
Two federal officials went undercover to spy on Occupy protesters and others during a rally in Lansing from Oct. 15-17. Records identify the officials only as Burdett and Argillander.
Again, no problems were reported.
The records focused mostly on 2011, so it's unclear when the surveillance ended, if ever.
Demonstrations have been breaking out daily since last week's arrival of Detroit's new emergency manager, Kevyn Orr.
Stay tuned for updates as we talk to federal authorities, protesters and free-speech lawyers.
Got tips or suggestions? Contact Steve at email@example.com.
Steve Neavling, who lives on the city's east side, is an investigative journalist, a freelance reporter for Reuters and former city hall reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Neavling explores corruption, Detroit's unsung heroes and the underbelly of an oft-misunderstood city.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for many more daily updates, investigations, photos and videos of the Motor City.
Steve Neavling
Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.


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|Courtesy of Touretteshero
"Biscuit wave."
"Pony cunts."
Suddenly, Jess Thom looks sheepish. That last phrase was unplanned.
Language is slippery and in Backstage In Biscuit Land we are led by a loose tongue. Well, that's not quite accurate. Our guide is neurological because the artist behind the show has Tourette's Syndrome. With physical and verbal tics, Jess Thom cannot always control what she says and how she moves. The result: she says biscuit, hedgehog, and cats a lot. But she is also a creative font of phrases, words, and juxtapositions that make you laugh and think.
The show is unrestrained and lively. Devised and performed by Jess Thom and Jess Mabel Jones, Jess Thom is the host with her trusty sidekick Chopin (Jess Mabel Jones). It has the high-kick energy of a kids morning show and the wacky props to go along with that (all the items on stage were generated by Jess's tics at one point in time or another--a loaf of Steve, a dinosaur balloon, ducks in costumes, an anvil with the word "Dinner" written on it). They sing slightly dirty songs, play fake game shows, encourage the audience to do the "biscuit wave" and embrace a sense of play. Ultimately, Backstage in Biscuit Land is an unusual personal monologue that drifts into almost non-stop improv as Jess's verbal tics provide frequent misdirection.
She may be trying to tell you serious and important things when her tics insert their mischief. Yet, they don't derail the storytelling or the evening. That's the point. She embraces these asides and she harnesses them to make this a story about life with Tourette's but also about what happens when we try to isolate and segregate the unexpected from the planned. Her going off script creates joy, laughter, and pleasure. Why don't we allow our theater spaces the same kind of flexible attitude?
Her message of inclusivity springs from a painful episode Thom experienced at the theater in 2011 where she was asked at intermission if she wouldn't mind moving to the sound booth at a show because other patrons were threatening to leave because of her tics.
At this point in the show, when she tells us this uncomfortable story, she has already charmed us with her word play. She's created genuine warmth with Chopin in their goofy, vaudeville doubles-act. Then she hits us with a tale of segregation and isolation. She lightens the mood immediately after but the work has been done. She's gotten under our skin. We must confront the question of who's experience we are giving primacy to in theater spaces.
Thom is an advocate for the "relaxed performance" which means the rules of theater etiquette are loosened. She lives and demonstrates what a relaxed atmosphere can create. In the audience at her show last night, a baby cooed, people ticced, and there were bursts of robust laughter (and no audience policing or tsking that followed). In relaxed performance, audiences members are permitted to get up and move around. Everyone is welcome (and as I spoke to Thom about a few months ago, the "relaxed" label allows anyone to fit under its umbrella). No one is self-conscious about the things that "uptight" performances tend to frown upon.
In a time where there seems to be a relentless effort to get audiences to conform to some unwritten rulebook of what is "proper," Thom gives everyone a space to make the evening their own and no one misses the strict rules for a moment (and you get a cookie!). For Thom, this flexibility is a necessity, but she makes us think about all the people we are excluding when we do not also make this a priority for all.


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By Teachers, For Teachers
Money skills are an important part of navigating through life, and as teachers, it is up to us to find fun ways to teach our students these import skills. Starting in kindergarten, students can learn the basics of money with recognition and value skills of coins. As they continue through the grades, they can learn higher amount of money and how to use them. Here are a few classroom activities about money for grades 1 through 4.
For this activity, the money skills are literally in the bag! Place an assortment of play money at the math learning center, along with a student-labeled paper lunch bag. On the paper bag, randomly write down five different amounts of money. Keep the labeled bags at the learning center so students can easily search for their name and find their bag when it's their turn to go to that center.
When a student is at the math center he chooses, then circles one of the money amounts, then must match that amount with the play money. He must fill his bag with the matching amount. Students at the center take turns switching bags and checking that they match. If the amount inside the bag matches with amount circled, the student checking the bag places an X over that amount. If the money doesn't match, the money is placed back into the center. This continues until all five amounts on the paper bag have an X on them.
What's more fun than clipping coupons? Your students will get a kick out of this math skills activity. Bring in a variety of coupons for students to search through and clip out. Allow students to choose two coupons to write a creative math problem. Students must create a story about their trip to the supermarket and they must include the following: The price of each item, how much money he/she has spent, as well as how much they have saved with their coupon. They must also include the proper calculations for their math problem.
If you're looking for a fun hands-on money skills game, this is it. Divide students into small groups, about four to a group works well. Give each group a bag of coins, paper and a pencil, a bowl, and a piece of tape. Students must adhere the tape to the floor and take about five steps back (how far back depends on the student's age) and then place the bowl on the floor. To play, one student sits by the bowl and is the "counter," while the other students stand behind the tape and are the "tossers." Students take turns tossing coins into the bowl. If the coin lands in the bowl, the counter adds the value to their count. Each group continues playing until they reach the desired amount set by the teacher. Then, a new counter is picked and play continues.
Students will love shopping and selling while learning valuable money skills during this garage sale-type activity. Ask students to bring in a few items that they would like to part with. Then, as a class, decide upon how much each item will sell for. Have students create fun price tags to place on the items. Once the items are labeled, tagged, and in place, set up a play cash register and let students shop. Give each student a small bag of play money and allow them to take turns shopping for an item. You can designate a student to be at the cash register or you can be. This is a great activity to for students to understand the value of money.
This is another great money skills activity for your learning center. At the center, place a divided tray (a plastic tray like a vegetable tray with the circle in the middle) and on that tray, label each section penny, nickel, dime, quarter. Then, place all of the coins in the middle circle and have students sort money into the appropriate sections on the tray.
Money skills are an essential component in any math curriculum. You can use the subject of money as a strategy to reinforce basic math in a more interesting and engaging way. In the meantime, you will be teaching your students necessary skills that they will use the rest of their lives.
What are you favorite math skills activities and games? Do you have any that you would like to share? Please leave your ideas in the comment section below, we would love to hear your thoughts!
Janelle Cox is an education writer who uses her experience and knowledge to provide creative and original writing in the field of education. Janelle holds a master's of science in education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She is also the elementary education expert for About.com, as well as a contributing writer to TeachHUB.com and TeachHUB Magazine. You can follow her at Twitter @Empoweringk6ed, on Facebook at Empowering K6 Educators, or visit her website at Empoweringk6educators.


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Emily Hanrahan
Emily is a junior at Samford University where she studies Music and Worship. She is a Micah Fellow, an honors student with a service internship, a member of the Samford A Cappella choir, and a member of Samford's disability rights advocacy club. Emily grew up attending Dawson, and was an active member of the youth leadership team as well as a Chapel Choir officer. Emily interns at both Dawson and Cathedral Church of the Advent. She works with the Thursday morning service for Birmingham's homeless community as well as mission and outreach coordination for the Advent. At Dawson, Emily serves as the children's choir intern under Hailey Pepper, and is responsible for set up, resources, and other various tasks for the Collide children's choirs. She also has worked as an instructor for the Dawson Music Academy's summer music camp. In her free time she enjoys finding, playing, and singing new music, hanging out with friends, and looking at pictures of her dog, Jackson.


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Is It A Good Idea To Pay Someone To Do My Homework?
Academic honesty is a feature that is harder to maintain than ever. Previous generations would not have been able to access content generation companies or freelance writers as easily as this one can. In addition, payments methods online make the transfer of funds from a student in one location to a freelancer in another so easy that children can do it.
Knowing how easy it is to get someone else to complete an assignment on your behalf begs the question, should you engage in such acts? The following questions should help you decide:
Are you usually a very good student?
If you are, paying someone to do your homework may just free up some of your time allowing you to work on something more important or urgent. A good example of this is when you have an unexpected injury that makes the completion of assignments on your own near impossible but an extension will not be granted. Conversely, bad students who pay others to do their assignments run the risk of becoming even worse at their school work. This can become a vicious cycle in which the student is forever dependent.
Is the assignment very important?
Sometimes you will find yourself given an assignment that is of very little use to you but your teacher treats it as if you must complete it or suffer consequences. These can be hired out to others. If you have an assignment that can make a difference in your ability to complete a job in the future to expected standards, do that one yourself. You will regret any attempts you make to subvert the system in that case and you will make your actions easier to detect.
Are the consequences of discovery dire?
In some schools an act of plagiarism may lead to a punishment that is the equivalent of a symbolic tap on the wrist. Others will expel you outright or blacklist you academically. You need to understand the risks you run when you engage in activities such as these. If you are comfortable with the potential fall out, go ahead but if the idea of being outed gives you the shivers, do not bother doing what you have considered.
The act of completing homework is one that should usually completed by the relevant student. Hiring out this action should be a last resort rather than a first choice. Make sure this dynamic remains.


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NEW YORK (AP) Freshman forward Marek Dolezaj scored a career-high 20 points and Syracuse won an Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament game for the first time, beating Wake Forest 73-64 on Tuesday night.
Tyus Battle had 18 points and Paschal Chukwu added 14 points and nine rebounds as all five starters scored in double figures for the 11th-seeded Orange (20-12), hoping an impressive performance in Brooklyn will get them off the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse had plenty of New York City success in the Big East Tournament over the years but had been 0-3 in ACC postseason play since changing conferences. Next up, the Orange play Wednesday night against 12th-ranked and sixth-seeded North Carolina, the defending national champion.
Bryant Crawford scored 22 points for No. 14 seed Wake Forest (11-20), which lost its final three games of the season and seven of its last nine. Normally dangerous from long range, the Demon Deacons finished 6 for 29 (20.7 percent) on 3-pointers. >> Read more
Copyright 2018 by the Associated Press


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Zorinsky Building Amenities
For parking options in downtown Omaha, please visit the Omaha parking page.
You can also reach the Zorinsky Building via the downtown circulator service. The rush hour and lunchtime service operate on five-minute frequency with a one-way 25-cent fare. For more information, call 402-341-0800 or visit the Metro Area Transit website.
Childcare center operated by Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Contact: 402-221-7750 or email email@example.com
The Edward Zorinsky Child Development Center offers a National Association for the Education of Young Children-accredited child care program at the Zorinsky building. The center serves 76 children from newborn to preschool ages. The on-site early childhood program emphasizes high quality staff, parent, and child interactions in a physical environment designed to the highest quality safety and security requirements.
Health Services
The Federal Occupational Health Unit is available to active federal employees. The Health Unit is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with the exception of federal holidays. Services provided include clinical services with first aid and emergency response, physical exams, immunizations, cholesterol testing, lactation support and other health screens. Services vary by agency. Please contact the Health Unit for services covered by your agency at 402-221-3645.


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Ralph Lauren presented the Fall 2017 Fashion Show in a unique immersive experience on Tuesday, September 12th at Ralph's Garage in Bedford, New York. Set against the backdrop of one of the world's most esteemed automotive collections, the event invited guests into a world driven by Ralph Lauren's passion for automobiles and classic, enduring style.
"My cars have always been an inspiration to me. I see them as moving art. My women's collection for Fall 2017 connects the elements of the speed, style and beauty of these handcrafted vehicles with the very modern, yet timeless spirit of the clothes. There is a sleekness, an innate sexiness and power to shapes sculpted out of high-tech patent leathers and high gloss silks," said Ralph Lauren.
Complementing the spirit of the modern, timeless woman and the sleek designs of the automotive collection, Men's Purple Label was shown alongside the women's runway collection.
"To heighten the experience, men wearing looks from my Purple Label Collection will join the women on a runway lined with my cars in the pristine environment of my garage. This will create the ultimate expression of style and luxury for the woman and man of today," said Ralph Lauren.
Continuing on the success of his past two runway-to-retail collections, all looks from the show were instantly accessible to consumers globally as Ralph Lauren continues to lead the evolution of the consumer shopping experience. Taking accessibility a step further, select accessories, including the Houndstooth Celia Pump and the RL Bucket Bag, were made available for purchase before they walked the runway.
Items from the Fall 2017 collection were immediately available on Ralphlauren.com and in global flagship stores, including New York, Beverly Hills, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai and through top retail partners including Saks Fifth Avenue, Moda Operandi, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
The experience was also made available to consumers worldwide through a live stream on Ralph Lauren's global social media platforms and on RalphLauren.com. A 'Road to Runway' social experience during the 24-hours prior to the show took place on Instagram Stories, giving consumers an exclusive look at the making of.
Following the show, guests were invited to an intimate, seated dinner at the garage and were served a menu inspired by The Polo Bar, in a true expression of the world of Ralph Lauren.


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TOKYO, March 31, Kyodo
Radiation fears have prevented authorities from collecting as many as 1,000 bodies of victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami from within the 20-kilometer-radius evacuation zone around the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, police sources said Thursday.
One of the sources said bodies had been ''exposed to high levels of radiation after death.'' The view was supported by the detection Sunday of elevated levels of radiation on a body found in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, about 5 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The authorities are now considering how to collect the bodies, given fears that police officers, doctors and bereaved families may be exposed to radiation in retrieving the radiation-exposed bodies or at morgues, according to the sources.
They initially planned to inspect the bodies after transporting them outside the evacuation zone, but the plan is being reconsidered due to the concerns over exposure.
Local residents have been forced to leave the zone since the current nuclear crisis began unfolding at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. plant, which is leaking radioactive materials as its cooling systems for its reactors and nuclear spent-fuel pools have been knocked out by the disaster.
Even after the bodies are handed over to the victims' families, cremating them could spread plumes containing radioactive materials, while burying the victims could contaminate the soil around them, according to the sources.
The authorities are considering decontaminating and inspecting the bodies where they are found. But the sources said that cleansing decomposing bodies could damage them further.
Victims can be identified through DNA analysis of nail samples, but even then considerable time and effort must be taken to decontaminate the samples, according to experts.


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Affordable programs are available for North Canton Ohio which effectively control insects, diseases, and fertilize the trees and shrubs at your home or business.
North Canton Ohio Tree & Shrub Care
Our tree and shrub care programs are both affordable and effectively control insects and diseases in the North Canton community. We have a certified Arborist on staff and decades of experience dealing with Tree & Shrub care as professionals. Several programs and treatments are available to keep your trees and shrubs healthy.
Insect Control
Insects and pests can do a lot of unwanted damage to the trees and shrubs in your yard. Our North Canton lawn service can provide a program that will control these unwanted pests and prevent damage to your landscapes. Insects we can control include:
- Emerald Ash Borer – This one pest has put our Ash trees in serious danger but if treated soon enough, we can reduce the damage and possibly save your Ash Tree.
- Aphids – small insects that feed off your tree and shrub foliage, literally sucking the life out of your landscapes.
- Borers – type of bug that bores right into the trunks and limbs of trees and shrubs.
- Japanese Beetles – these are the adult form of the grubs that attack the foliage on your trees and shrubs causing damage everywhere they are present.
- Mites – very common plant pest that is hard to see with the naked eye but can create enough damage to kill your shrubs.
Landscape Disease Control
Both disease and fungi are a large and common problem in the North Canton Ohio area. Certain weather conditions produce ideal environments for disease to spread.
Fortunately, we can control disease effectively with a program that includes commonly, 2 applications per year. Disease we can control include Anthracnose, Phytophthora, Scorch, Verticillium Wilt, and Powdery Mildew.
Tree & Shrub Fertilization
ShrubPart of our disease and insect control program is to supplement your trees and shrubs with deep-root fertilization. Fertilizing your landscape will help it recover from and prevent stress caused by disease or insects. We use a deep root injection that provides nutrients all year long.


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Sale - All Toys
Many of our toys, like our Rampant Rabbits, are exclusive to Ann Summers. We also stock toys from some of the best manufacturers in the world, like Rocks Off, LELO and We Vibe. We have silicone, real-feel and glass dildos, as well as male toys, anal toys, and a wide range of adult toys that are perfect for couples. Shop our toy sale and bag yourself a discount toy – all the pleasure, guilt free.


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When working with components in the Stress Analysis Environment, there is a tendency for new users to take the converted contacts that form the intended 'perfect world' geometry, which often result in some very 'kind' results. The reality is that the 'real world' is never quite that nice, and nothing ever fits together that well. Today, I'd like to ask you to think carefully about what will happen when forces are appled, and use that to your advantage when applying constraints, contacts, and forces.
Automatic Contacts
Inventor offers the ability to create contact pairs automatically by converting the existing assembly constraints. In the original release of the Stress Analysis environment, this worked very poorly, however I have found it quite effective in 2013. The downside to these is that Inventor will use the default contact (in the simulation setup) to guide the conversion. In almost every case, one type of contact is NOT SUFFICIENT. Some adjustments need to be made.
I this example, we have an INVAR rod, and a hand actuated clamp that holds the rod's support legs. The clamp's job is to act as a simple low stress holder to keep the legs from flopping about. Notice the gaps circled in Figure 1 above. These are allowances for hard rubber pads that will keep the bracket from scratching the rod, and allow additional friction.
Reviewing the other images, you should notice that a downward force has been applied to the aft, upper edge of the plate, representing the effect of a 200 pound man standing on the bracket. I wanted to prove that while many scenarios with basic bonded constraints are (barely) tolerant of this treatment, I suggest the reality is otherwise. The reason for the difference is in the simulation setup.
When any force is applied to the bracket, some form of take-up is going to be made at the rubber pads. This will show up in the form of compression. Eventually the gap will be reduced to nil and the aluminum bracket will meet the (really expensive) aluminum rod. Additionally, not only will the gap compress to nil, but because of the compression on one side or another, the bracket will rotate, and two sets of edges will meet the rod.
Additional contacts need to be added to keep the reduce the assembly DOF to 0, at the point where the bracket comes to rest on the bar. If we add a bonded constraint to the front or rear of the bar, the constraint will convert all the force into moment at the joint and show completely erroneous and overly stable results. That is why I like Shrink Fit for situations like this.
Adjust the Contacts
I this example I used Sliding/No Separation as the default contact method. All the constraints were converted to Sliding/No Separation. What I want to do is edit certain contacts as needed.
Add 2 sets of Shrink Fit/Sliding contacts to the upper, forward edges of the clamp jaw where it will meet the forward surfaces of the bar.
In Figure 3 notice the highlighted features: 1) the edge of the clamp and 2) the surface of the bar.
Next, add 2 sets of Shrink Fit/No Sliding to the rear SURFACES of the bar, where it will inevitably meet the bottom EDGE of the clamp. I need the components to remain in place here without a bonded contact.
The Shrink Fit/No Sliding contact is like a Sliding contact, with infinite friction.
Last I need to adjust 2 sets of Sliding/No Separation that lie between the inner surfaces of the clamp jaw and the outer surfaces of the bar. I will change these to Separation/No Sliding.
What this will accomplish is to allow the bar jaws to stretch outward under the strain. If we leave the constraints with the 'No Separation' option in place, the jaws will never leave the bar.
Notice in the image below how the bracket has rotated after the new contacts were applied. Remember, there is no motion is a static analysis. We need to guide the setup to how the problem should be measured.
If you look at the relation of the force with the bracket, you can see the new contacts much more closely relate to the inevitable rotation point.
In this example the jaws displaced 0.029 inches over approximately 0.75 inches of length. This indicates that the bracket would not open enough to permit the bar to slip free. HOWEVER…
The Safety Factor is reported to be absolutely insufficient, and indicates that permanent deformation will occur at all contact points.
Based on the lack of permanent deformation in the remainder of the bracket edges, it is possible that the bracket may not slip free under the strain, but will be permanently twisted at the top edge, ruining the bracket.
Closing Thoughts
One thing to keep in mind is that we often have an expectation of what will occur, and that we are simply trying to prove or disprove a theory. Review that expectation thoroughly, and ensure that you are preparing your simulation properly.
Similar evaluations with differing bonded faces and edges were attempted, delivering an array of results, in some cases exceeding a safety factor of 1. None of those are consistent with the expectations of how the bracket will shift and the how a great portion of the stress will be directed at a very small, aluminum feature.


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Call us today in Southampton on: 07748 483639
Massage Therapy
The initial consultation will involve a full case history to understand how the symptoms started and what makes them change. We will discuss your medical background, including any medication, medical conditions and previous injuries.
After evaluating your history we will look at your posture and carry out a physical examination allowing us to form a diagnosis and treatment plan. This will include muscle, joint, ligament and neurological testing. During this process, we will need to see the alignment of your body. We recommend you wear shorts and sports training tops for easy assessment. Toweling techniques will be used to make you feel comfortable.
After you assessment, we will explain why the problem occurred and ensure that the rehabilitation programme will prevent your symptoms from returning. We will educate you about your injury, this is one of the most important stages in the process to manage your symptoms and build self reliance. You will take an active part in the rehabilitation to improve treatment outcomes and reduce fear and anxiety about your injury.
Our aim is to allow you to 'enjoying living an active life'.
Treatments are always carried out following your consent after you have been informed of the treatment that is going to be administered.
Although sometimes treatments can be painful, we try to limit any discomfort without reducing the effectiveness of your treatment. Levels of pain will be monitored by YOUR level of pain perception.
The treatment that we provide include:
- Manual Therapy of the spine and peripheral joints using Maitlands and Mulligans techniques. This will reduce joint pain and improve movement patterns of the joints.
- Remedial Massage: Used as a method of treating injury to reduce muscle pain, spasm and help joints articulate correctly. Massage is often used for soft tissue pain and trauma.
- Sports Massage is used to help sports people prepare, maintain and recover from strenuous exercise regimes. Sports massage can also effectively release soft tissue tension from non sporting individuals through office based stress and posture problems.
- Trigger Point Therapy: Relieving knots that can cause muscle pain and refer pain to other parts of the body.
- Ultra Sound and Electrotherapy modalities: For soft tissue injury.
- Posture analysis: Looking at the alignment of different body parts to understand the cause of your symptoms.
- Gait and biomechanical analysis: during walking, running and sport specific activity.
- Stretching: PNF, static and dynamic techniques to improve range of motion and posture alignment.
- Strengthening: Core stability assessment using bio feedback devices. Use of Core Stability programmes that are proven to reduce back pain and protect your limbs from further injury. Neuromuscular training to re-establish coordination and muscle firing patterns following injury.
Sport and Occupation Specific Rehabilitation: Understanding the requirements of your job, sport and lifestyle will help tailor a specific programme based around YOU.


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Amnesty's Digital Product Roadmap
When we launched the new amnesty.org.uk in November 2013 we knew it would never be truly finished. The old cycle of building a website leaving it for five years and building another one had been smashed.
This site represents a constantly evolving platform. Every part of the website from the CMS, hosting environment, design and content is always being tweaked, enhanced, updated and experimented with to meet the evolving needs of our users and the organisation.
Since launch we have released nearly 300 tweaks and enhancements. But what we needed was a plan for big pieces the big pieces of functionality and content that we wanted to bring to the site. And that plan need to be as agile as the site itself.
Working with Adrian Gans we re-imagined our approach to planning and what we came up with was the Amnesty Digital Product Roadmap.
Amnesty Digital Product Roadmap
The Digital Product Roadmap features individual products, sorted into four lanes and prioritised into three time categories, Next, Now and Later. Two products from each lane are worked on simultaneously and as one product is moved into done another product from the lane is moved from Next to Now.
Look at this presentation for more details of how it works:
The roadmap itself is installed on a giant glass board on the wall so anyone in the building can come and view it.
Having a physical version of it also helps us use it. It is a daily reminder of what we are doing and makes it easy as a group to huddle round and prioritise or discuss products.
Give us your feedback
You can help shape the future of our website and digital presences by letting us know what you would like to see us work on. If there is a feature or an improvement you'd like to see just fill out the form below.
Our blogs are written by Amnesty International staff, volunteers and other interested individuals, to encourage debate around human rights issues. They do not necessarily represent the views of Amnesty International.


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Jul 9, 2015|
Read about the Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia from our travel guru Adam Haynie.
In a continent with so many world-famous destinations – Rio de Janeiro, Machu Picchu, the Galapagos, Patagonia, and so much more – Bolivia often falls under the radar for travelers. What people don't realize is that Bolivia offers a wide variety of sights, destinations, and culture, making it a fantastic addition for any trip to South America. Consider adding the Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia to your travel plans for the ultimate Bolivian adventure.
1. La Paz – Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia
La Paz is the highest capital in the world; it sits in the Altiplano of the Andes at an elevation of just under 12,000 feet. With such an altitude, I recommend taking it easy upon arrival in order to acclimate. Once rested and acclimated, be sure to take a city tour and visit the famous Witches' Market and Moon Valley. For the adventurers out there, the Death Road Biking tour is an amazing 40 mile bike ride (almost all downhill) with dramatic cliff-sides and viewpoints along the way. For more travel tips on La Paz, read our blog post on the Top 5 Things to do in La Paz.
2. Lake Titicaca Cruise – Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia
Just a short drive from La Paz is Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titicaca sits on the border between Bolivia and Peru. This is a fantastic destination that offers unique opportunities to experience a whole new culture. Highlights include visiting Uros floating islands and man-made reed islands, where people still live today! The catamaran cruise offers a fantastic opportunity to travel between La Paz and Puno, Peru – offering a chance to travel throughout the lake along the way. This is a great way to combine a scenic and natural gateway trip with Machu Picchu! Lake Titicaca was easily one of my favorite places to visit in Bolivia. Read more about our combining Peru and Bolivia tours here.
3. Potosi – Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia
Potosi is a quaint town in Southern Bolivia and is the ideal destination to experience Bolivian culture and history. Since it was once a major supplier of silver for the Spanish empire, Potosi still has many old, but active mines. In fact, machinery and new mining technology still has not yet reached the miners. Be sure to take a short tour of a mine, where you can talk with miners and pay homage to El Tio (the devil of the mine). To feel like a real Bolivian miner, sip on the local 192 proof alcohol – the miner's drink of choice – and chew on some coca leaves. Don't be surprised if they offer you sticks of dynamite! This is truly a unique, once in a lifetime experience. Check out this Bolivian Tour combining Potosi, Uyuni & La Paz for tour ideas.
4. Noel Kempff Park –Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia
Outside of Santa Cruz, this park is one of the most advantageous areas to visit wildlife and natural beauty in South America. This is not the easiest park to get to, it take time and a good dose of healthy adventure to reach the park from Santa Cruz. Noel Kempff Park is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to over 2700 plant species, 600 birds, and 130 mammals. With luck, you'll have a chance to see giant river otters, pink river dolphins, pumas, jaguars, and so much more. You'll also be in a stunning setting with waterfalls, plateaus, and lagoons, with plenty of great opportunities for hiking and swimming. For any traveler with some extra time in Bolivia, be sure to consider a visit to the Noel Kempff Park.
5. Uyuni Salt Flats – Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia
Last but most certainly not least and perhaps my absolute favorite place to visit in all of Bolivia, if not in all of South America, is the Uyuni Salt flats tour. Starting in Uyuni, this tour takes you through some of the most beautiful, remote landscapes in the Altiplano. Visit the train graveyard and salt factories, and then see the expansive salt flats for phenomenal photo opportunities. Take a walk on the banks of the red lagoon and spend a night in a hotel made entirely from salt! At then end of the tour you'll return to Uyuni with some of the most spectacular photos to share with your friends and family. Read more about customizable Uyuni Tours in Bolivia. After your Bolivia tour, I recommend continuing your trip to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, the driest desert in the world. Check out how easy it is to combine La Paz and the Atacama Desert. If you'd like to start planning a trip to South America and see the Top 5 Places to Visit in Bolivia, simply fill out the form below or contact us directly at 800-747-4540. Our travel consultants can put together a customized South America tour itinerary for you. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Will be played on Thursday September 10th at 2pm.
1. Madeley CC A v Madeley CC B at SinclairBC.
2. Bylet A v SJ Bayley B at Albrighton BC
Could the host clubs please ensure that their club is open.
Hunstman of Little Wenlock Charity Shield Semi-Finalsposted 22 Jul 2015, 08:41 by John Palmer [ updated 22 Jul 2015, 08:41 ]


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Well party people I am somewhat back. I know it has been a while since I posted and so much has happen.
PLEASE STOP THE E-MAILS I have not been deported. I am tired of my mom calling me just to make sure the INS has not picked me up. (LOL)
So, what have I been upto the last few weeks. Well for starters I have not been updating my blog.
The Misses, Baby ASCII and I finally moved into our new home. Is not the mansion just yet but is getting their. I slowly starting to have some time for my side projects and with a bigger house and a loft dedicated for my projects I hope to get more done this time around.
Well this was just a short post to let people know I am alive. Feel free to e-mail me if you miss me that much.
– EnJoY
See Typos?
Be my grammar cop.
E-mail me the corrections at [firstname.lastname@example.com]
To get an explanation about my typos Read Here.
Also, if you see broken images please let me know.


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It's been a crazy 24 hours for Ravens safety Ed Reed.
On Monday afternoon, the NFL suspended him for one game for his third illegal hit against a defenseless player in three season. On Tuesday afternoon, former NFL assistant coach Ted Cottrell reduced the suspension to a $50,000 fine.
Said Cottrell in the letter to Reed: "I have determined that your actions were egregious and warrant significant discipline. However, I do not believe that your actions were so egregious as to subject you to a one-game suspension without pay. P layer safety is the league's primary concern in the formation of playing rules and all players are expected to adhere to those rules or face disciplinary action. I hope in the future you will focus on ensuring that your play conforms to the rules."
In the interim, the appeal was filed and the hearing was held and the decision was made quickly enough to allow Reed to miss not a single snap of practice.
The speed with which everything transpired makes us wonder whether the NFL simply wanted to get the attention of players by issuing the suspension, with every expectation that the suspension would be overturned. Reed's name recognition and lack of reputation as a big hitter helped send the message; the dramatically expedited appeal process ensured that Reed and the Ravens would suffer no competitive disadvantage.
Of course, Reed still loses $50,000. But that's a lot less than the $423,000 game check he would have lost.
As a result, Reed will be available to face the Chargers on Sunday. And the appeal process, which many players regard as futile, worked.