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Homes in the South of England are now worth over £150,000 more on average than houses in the North according to new research.
Homes in the South of England are now worth over £150,000 more on average than houses in the North according to new research.
The difference in the rate of growth has brought the North/South property divide to a new record high following the exponential growth of the South, where market value has been consistently growing faster than the North for the past 6 years.
The latest monthly index from Nationwide Building Society, found that houses throughout the South West, South East, East Anglia, London and the commuter belt have increased in value by 8% annually.
Conversely, growth in the North and the Midlands has been at a much slower rate, an average increase of just 1% over the same period.
A spokesman for Nationwide said: "In cash terms, the gap in average prices between the South and the North of England is at a record high, exceeding £150,000 for the first time, with average prices in the South now twice as high as those in the North."
The value of London property continues to accelerate beyond the rest of the UK with annual growth of 10.6% - an average house price of £443,399. Conversely, the typical price for a house in the North of England is £123,345 – more than three and half times less than the cost of the average London property.
Whilst there has been continued growth in the housing market, the report also stressed that rate at which house prices have increased has slowed. According to Nationwide, UK property prices have grown by 0.5% over the course of September, adding to a year-on-year increase of 3.8% from September 2014.
Update: Following the announcement of increased Stamp Duty charges in the 2015 Autumn Statement, the North/South divide in house prices is likely to be more important in the development of the UK housing market in the coming months.
The Chancellor George Osborne has announced that buy-to-let purchasers will be accountable for an additional 3% Stamp Duty charge from the beginning of April in 2016. Using the average house prices listed above, the Stamp Duty difference will affect buy-to-let purchases as follows:
This means that projects such as Grattan House, which sits below the new threshold, as well as Leighton Hall and Studio 8 at Regent House, which is within the lowest bracket of Stamp Duty charges will act as an alternative to more expensive developments in the South.


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Yay, Lia Slater is one hot and sexy writer. Oh and her books are sexy-riffic too.
She's offering WereSlave, book 1 in the WereLegends series for FREE. Yippee.
Lia Slater thinks the world would be a better place if everyone read romance novels. There's so much to learn from the storylines. Love. Loyalty. Confidence. Passion. Desire. Conflicts would be resolved with happy endings. And, of course, the sex would be mind-boggling.
Lia is well on her way to helping the world become a better place by writing steamy romance with heart-throbbing emotion.
She would love to hear from her readers. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Or visit her at:www.liaslater.blogspot.comor www.twitter.com/liaslater
Reviews (Look at 'em, can you say awesomesauce?)5 Angels "Wereslave is a fabulous heart wrenching paranormal read that sizzles." --fallenangelreviews.com/2010/April/sonya-wereslave.htm
5 Stars -- "Were Slave by Lia Slater is a sensuous journey that you will fall in love with." --twolipsreviews.com/
5 Raven Divas and a Recommended Read - "This author is a delight to read, no matter which order you choose to read her books." Tamara, reviewer --theblackravensreviews.blogspot.com
5 Tombstone Review from Bitten by Books: "This is a seducing tale."--bittenbybooks.com
WereSlave by Lia Slater
An erotic paranormal romance.
Book One in the Were Legends Series.
As the Queen of Paqualette, Nayla is forbidden to have a husband or a human lover. Her life is a lonely and disciplined existence, so when she's given the opportunity to choose a Were from her dungeon as her sex slave, she takes a chance. Werewolves, she knows, are nothing but senseless monsters, but after the one she selects to be her WereSlave turns out to be more of a man than she's ever known, she must question her beliefs.
As the alpha leader, Mace is responsible for his pack. He'll do anything to keep them alive, even give into the Queen's sexual demands. But not unless he's in control. Turning his enticing captor into the submissive is the only way to show her he's more man than she realizes. Falling in love is out of the question, but so is leaving her behind.
Warning: This story contains sexy shape-shifters, steamy m/f/m menage scene, mild bondage, graphic language, anal sex, and sizzling sex scenes.
This book is not only free for you kindleophiles, but for pretty much everyone. Here are some links to get it for all your reading devices. (I, ah, I only have three different ones.)
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/WereSlave-Were-Legends-Book-ebook/dp/B0034KC3RQ/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wereslave-lia-slater/1020150234?ean=9781419924323
Ellora's Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-8042-wereslave-free.aspx
All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-wereslavewerelegendsbookone-419559-140.html
Sony: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/slater-lia/wereslave/_/R-400000000000000197539
Thanks to Lia for being an @365FreeEbooks author.

subset: commoncrawl


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Having been invited to your girlfriend's Bachelorette party becomes stressful instantly because now it's about deciding what to gift them. There are so many things that go on in our mind when we think of giving a gift……. Will they like it? Will they use it? Is this their favorite color? And so much more. Ultimately we just end up sitting back and getting more stressed than ever
We have your back, listing our fav Bachelorette gifts for your #Bff:
1)Personalized Infinity Heart Pendant: Now now, we are all as extra as Poo and we are our own favorite! Gift your friend a Personalized Infinity Heart Pendant with their name on it. The gold color makes it versatile enough to be worn with and they will love it as much as we do
2) Meryl Earrings: A good pair of black earrings is something every woman loves, Gift your girlfriend our Meryl Earrings. You can never go wrong with a classic black after all
3)Bride Tribe Karma Bangles: Your Vibe attracts your tribe! Indeed it does, and you need the world to know that you are a part of the Girl gang. Get yourself and your Friends the Bride Tribe Karma Bangles and tWIN!
4)Reverse Droplet Earrings: The stunning Reverse Droplet earrings will sweep anyone off their feet alongside solving their accessorizing woes for the Bachelorette party. Perfect present!
5)Slider Charm/ Classic Charm Bracelets : We have a charm to match every personality. Quirky, elegant, Fun loving or sophisticated. Match your friends personality as you customize our Slider Charm Bracelet or our Classic Charm Bracelets
Good jewelry is a girl's best friend, and with these gifting ideas there's no way you would go wrong!
Add to your cart: https://bit.ly/2GWAAN7


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(published by Lulu Books and Highroad Books in 2010)
The second Chameleons, Inc. novel, in which the female detectives are hired to find out who wants a respected financial journalist dead - and why. In doing so, they uncover a far- reaching plot to disrupt the world's business and financial institutions!
Chameleons To The Rescue is available from the following online retailers (just click on the retailer logo links below):
Keywords: John Lavernoich, Chameleons To The Rescue
Updated 2/28/2019


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Elegant Comfort Silky Soft Complete Set Includes Bed Sheet Set with Double Sided Storage Pockets
Select a Color
Select your options to be notified when it's back in stock
Select your options to be notified when it's back in stock
Elegant Comfort Silky Soft Complete Set Includes Bed Sheet Set with Double Sided Storage Pockets
Key Features
- Wrinkle Resistant
- Hypoallergenic
Product Description
Experience a fabulous night's rest with our Elegant Comfort® Hi-Loft Luxury Bed-in-a-bag comforter set! Bed-in-Bag Comforter set includes Bed Sheet Set with Double Sided Storage Pockets on the Fitted Sheet! You can put your glasses, remote controls, cell phones, IPADs, medicines, reading books, pens, or napkins if you ever get sniffles. Pintuck design with double-needle sewn thru construction eliminates shifting for evenly distributed warmth. Filled with 100% Hypoallergenic fiber for superior loft and all year-round comfort. All-season Bed in a Bag comforter set is cozier, softer and loftier! Ultra-soft, microfiber down-alternative shell and filling provides cozy yet breathable warmth and it's machine-washable! Luxury Pintuck design with Double-Needle stitching prevents the filling from shifting and bunching. Unlike other down-alternative comforters and blankets, better than down pampers you with the softness, loft, warmth and breathability of down in hypoallergenic, easy-care microfiber.
- Twin/Twin XL Size Luxury 6-Piece Set Dimensions: (1) Comforter: 66" X 96" - (1) Bed Skirt: 39" X 75" - (1) Pillow Shams: 20"X 26" - (1) Flat Sheet: 90" X 102 - (1) Fitted Sheet: 39" X 80" - (1) Pillowcases: 20"X 30" - Fits for both Twin Size and Twin XL Size Beds. Also vailable in 8-Piece King-California King and Full-Queen sizes.
- # Pieces In Set: 6
- Features: Wrinkle Resistant, Hypoallergenic
- Bed Skirt Drop: 14 In
- Bed Size: Twin
- Bedding Measurements: 96 Width/Inches, 66 Length/Inches
- Bedding Fiber Content: 100% Polyester
- Sham Fiber Content: 100% Polyester
- Decor Styles: Modern, Luxury + Glam
- Sham Care: Machine Wash
- Bedding Care: Machine Wash
- Country of Origin: Imported
Helpful Guides
Shipping & Returns
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Shop with confidence. Read our full, common sense


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Finance Insider is Business Insider's summary of the top stories of the past 24 hours.
To sign up, scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Get updates in your inbox," or click here.
This time it's for real.
In a stunning result, the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned. Global markets are in chaos. The party is over.
Wall Street banks are having a trading bonanza. The pound is still getting clobbered. Gold is soaring.
Here are the headlines:
- Britain is broken beyond repair — and the worst is yet to come.
- The greatest thinker in British history pinpointed the characteristic that just drove the English to Brexit.
- Here's how Wall Street's bosses are reacting to Brexit.
- VAROUFAKIS: Brexit means that the 'EU's disintegration is now running at full speed.'
- Donald Trump just took a surreal post-Brexit victory lap.
- Bill Gross likened Brexit to a storyline from Downton Abbey.
- Publicis CEO Maurice Lévy on Brexit: I was stunned to the point that it felt 'as if I had no legs.'
- Here's what the UK is asking Google after the Brexit.
- Brexit has everyone scared of a recession.
- The UK's 'Leave' vote has thrown a massive US-EU trade deal into turmoil.
- This is how half of Britain feels right now.
- Basically, Brexit was a tantrum — what should we do about it?
There are implications for the US and Asia. Figuring out the Fed's next move just got a whole lot easier, for example. And Brexit will cause widespread contagion in Asia, according to Nomura.
On a lighter note, here's 30 things every New Yorker should do this summer.


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2021 Toyota Camry Release Date, Model, Price
2021 Toyota Camry Release Date, Model, Price – A new 2021 Toyota Camry is on its way quickly around really eye-catching is apparently and also essential capabilities. One important thing that will be outstanding when it comes to this approach motor vehicle could be the true innovative fashion. Which in turn, along with various great


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Upcycling never tasted so good, with our Cinnamon & Oats extras now in a crunchy cluster you can enjoy by the handful. Same seed blends, same amazing flavors, but as an even more snackable, pourable, or toppable treat.
- 88 Acres Seed Blend (Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Ground Flax Seeds)
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Better snacks are made with better ingredients. Learn more
Order Includes:
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We built our Bakery in the heart of Boston's inner-city to drive job creation and opportunity in our community. The snacks we make are crafted with care by our incredible bakery team, who take pride in making food that you can trust.


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- Published: Tuesday, May 29, 2018 12:00 PM
State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey) recently submitted the folowing op ed:
Could someone please explain to me how, in 2018, in America, we could on one hand have the country rushing to make even more money off athletes thanks to the Supreme Court's ruling on sports betting, while on the other hand NFL owners strip those very athletes of their First Amendment rights and tell them to shut up and get back to work.
Is this what we've become in Trump's America?
While you enjoy watching these players risk life and limb every weekend, people who look just like them are disproportionately victimized by poverty, police, politics and just about every other aspect of society.
The real problem is not these athletes taking a knee, but race relations and classism in America. When people of color speak out and want to have a discussion to better their condition, a deaf ear is turned. Simply put, America wants blacks and minorities to suffer in silence. Get out of line and lose your job.
Think about it.
When professional players run afoul of the law, they are scoffed at and told they should be role models and community leaders. They're told to be better.
But heaven help the player who dares speak his mind about what's really going on in the community. When that happens, they are scorned, mocked and told to get back to work because no one care what they think.
That NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the 32 owners chose to tell players in a majority black league that they can't protest injustice is unacceptable on so many levels. Not one of those owners is black. Neither is Roger Goodell. It smacks of plantation politics and no one should tolerate it.
The league never consulted with the players' union about this change in policy. It's supposed to be a partnership, not a dictatorship. I am appalled and embarrassed as a former NFL player to be associated with a league that would treat its players as second-class citizens and so brazenly attempt to remove their constitutional rights.
Ten years ago, I watched a black man become president of the United States in a moment that gave us all hope. America was changing, we were told. We were fool enough to believe it was real.
Now we're stuck with a president who spews vile, racist tweets and whose rhetoric and policies seek to send this country back to the 1950s if not further. In case you forgot, those weren't good times for people of color.
Trump doesn't care about problems in our community. Rather than actually try to solve a problem and make American better, he makes things worse. He wraps himself in the flag and accuses anyone who disagrees of being unpatriotic.
It's mindboggling that Trump gets away with it.
I'm stunned that Goodell and the NFL owners now feed this cynical frenzy.
We can't continue to sweep problems under the rug and pretend that injustices never happened or we've somehow magically moved on. We haven't. Slavery happened. Lynching happened. Jim Crow happened. Segregated schools happened. Police brutality still happens. Social injustice runs rampant across our country.
If you want NFL players to stop kneeling, take a moment to try to understand why they are kneeling. They're not trying to insult your patriotism or ruin your Sunday sports viewing. They're trying to make you aware of something.
That something is a very serious problem regarding race relations in America.
We need to talk about these things. We need to figure out how to do something about these things. That's what players are trying to tell us.
If you want NFL players to stop kneeling, the first step is to start listening. You might be surprised at what you hear, and you might then want to join us in trying to do something about it.
-- Napoleon Harris III is a former NFL player and currently serves in the Illinois State Senate.


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Why the dishwasher is leaking water?
1. The dishwasher is leaking water.
1. The leakage might be out of the door.
2. The leakage might be in the bottom of the machine.
3. If the machine is leaking even when the machine is OFF.
How to fix
1. Make sure that the unit is leveled properly; this will prevent the door from sealing properly which will result in leaking.
2. Make sure that ONLY AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER DETERGENT is used.
3. Check to see if drain hose and inlet hose connection is loose or damaged.
4. It could be leaking from the inlet hose, check the inlet connection for leaks.


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Dinosaur War v1.0.2 Apk | 15 MB | Mediafire
Requires Android:2.0 and up
Dinosaur War brings you back to the most fierce prehistoric battles!
Dark force overwhelmed the lost land, destroying the homeland where men and dinosaurs have lived in harmony for so long. Survivors are determined to unite with dinosaur allies and expel the evil off the land.
– Build mines, pastures, stone quarries to prepare resources;
– A variety of dinosaurs and ancient beasts wait for your recruitment;
– Build Prey Fences, Terror Swamps, etc, to accommodate and recruit troops;
– Win battles to obtain equipment strengthening your power;
– Choose your weapons and armor to get equipped before fighting;
– Jurassic Shop provides extra options of equipment for you;
– Use crystals smartly to accelerate production, resurrect dead soldiers, etc.;
– Increase population limit with decorations;
– Log in often to win gold eggs;
– Complete daily goals to win extra rewards;
– Challenge other players online at Arena to improve your troop force.
– Watch out "Overpower Rules" in central base.


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You can print your own wristbands. LaserBand® wristbands offered by My1Stop.com are easy to print wristbands that offer affordable, compatible, durable and flexible benefits. Here's what we like about printable wristbands;
Printable wristbands are affordable. Unlike costly pre-printed wristbands, stock wristbands are inexpensive because you can order just one carton and do the printing yourself.
Printable wristbands are compatible with Standard Registers' SMARTworks® and Patient LinkUp® software. Re-supplying with LaserBand® lowers your costs and delivery times while giving you a better – jam-free product.
LaserBand® printable wristbands are durable because of their self-laminating feature. The clear coating provided with self-laminating wristbands, protects the information you print from moisture and abrasion. A must have benefit for most health care applications.
Printable wristbands are flexible. LaserBand® in particular is available in 5 different printable wristband formats, including a single wristband with 4 to 28 service labels, depending on the format. That's flexibility.
When you're ready to see just affordable, compatible, durable and flexible our LaserBand® printable wristbands are, just let me know. I'll have a free set of samples on their way to you in just 24 hours. Of course, you can order anytime – online or through customer service.


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You are able to check the balance on your own California Pizza Kitchen Gift Card using the choices presented below. Before you decide to look at your card balance, make sure you have your own card number readily available. You can even have to scratch the pin number or entry code exactly where appropriate.
All queries relating to your gift card balance needs to be aimed towards the service provider that given the gift card.
To check balance online click here.
You can also check out the card balance in store.
Phone 1-888-351-2594 FREE


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The Disappearance of Edward Dickins
A young man who behaves and thinks like an old lady, looks back on life. A thoughtful, surreal look at age and accomplishment, filmed in the Southern Hebrides.
- Year
- 2000
- Type of film
- Shorts
- Director
- Alf Lawrie
- Dir
- Alf Lawrie
- DoP
- Dirk J. Nel.
- Cast
- Andy Stanton.
Production status
Please let us know if we need to make any amendments to this Film entry mailing us directly at
Last updated 24th June 2005


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Music lens for Ubuntu 11.04 only
This is a music lens written for use in Ubuntu 11.04. For the project for the music lens included in Ubuntu 11.10, see https:/
Unity Music Lens uses Zeitgeist to search for music played on your computer and displays it in a Unity Lens. As such, it requires Banshee's Zeitgeist Data Provider to be installed and active for it to be able to find music played.
There's a PPA with the lens in it at https:/
Project information
- Maintainer:
- Mark Tully
- Driver:
- Mark Tully
- Licence:
- GNU GPL v2
View full history Series and milestones
trunk series is the current focus of development.
All code Code
- Version control system:
- Bazaar
- Programming languages:
- Python
All bugs Latest bugs reported
Bug #1281640: Obscene content in music search results
Reported on 2014-03-04
Bug #1202097: Wrongly show "0" (zero) when the song has no number
Reported on 2013-07-17
Bug #1132895: in-dash payments: Change Payment method points to u1/account not pay/accounts
Reported on 2013-02-25
Bug #1132893: in-dash payments: All errors are reported as wrong password
Reported on 2013-02-25
Bug #1093001: Music lens previews displays wrong duration of music tracks
Reported on 2012-12-21


text:
The Bosch Connected World event in Berlin is an industry invitation-only gathering. It's fast-becoming a sought-after Internet of Things (IoT) prediction machine and this year's proved no different with the announcement of Bosch's IoT private cloud solution. Kit Fordson spoke with Dr Rainer Kallenbach, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Bosch Software Innovations, to get more insight.
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Threading Services conforming to the highest API specifications
We are proudly licensed to API-Spec. Q1, API-Spec. 7 and API-Spec. 5CT. With a complete line of regularly calibrated API Gages, we offer in-house zinc and manganese phosphating, Shot and Bead Blasting, Stress Relieving, and Copper Plating. With so many services in-house, you are only dealing with one supplier! This allows for improved communication, pricing, and lead time.
Delivering Industry Standard VAM Threading Services
Apollo is partnered with VAM Services and holds premium thread licenses for the following threads:
VAM TOP® – The most widely used Threaded and Coupled premium connection. It has become the standard for OCTG premium threads over the years.
VAM TOP® HC – (High Compression) Premium connection which has been designed with the main features of the VAM TOP® product line.
VAM TOP® HT – (High Torque) Premium connection which has been designed with the main features of the VAM TOP® product line.
VAM® FJL – (Flush Joint Liner) 100% inside and outside flush integral connection providing maximum clearance with optimum strength for liners, moderate depth casing, and tight-hole tubing strings.
VAM® SLIJ-II – Gas tight expanded box premium connection combining maximum external and internal pressure resistance with increased compression.
All threads are machined and 100% inspected in full accordance with VAM Specifications. Thread Protectors are stocked in-house and Vallourec owned master gages are rented long term for quick turn-arounds. Along with phosphate coating and blasting, Apollo Machine is the only company in Canada to be certified by VAM for Immersion Copper Plating.
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We have experience in threading many different components in a wide range of materials including:
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- Blast Joints
We are constantly investing in threading equipment, personnel and our premium license network. Please let us know what current premium threads you are using as we are always open to working with you to ensure your premium threading requirements are met.


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Pretty in Pink - great shade for many skin colors
Perfect bride, mother of the bride, bridesmaid or mother of the Quinceanera girl dress. A fun "Barbie doll" vibe.
Make an entrance in this gorgeous dress. Classic prom styling, sweetheart neckline and top pleats. Look beautiful, feel even better.
Online only or click & collect in U.K., Germany, Canada, U.S.
The fit of the YAS collection differs to our standard LTS fit. Please refer to the YAS size guide before selecting your size.
Length: Maxi, 144.0cm (57.0")
Sleeve Length: Sleeveless
100% Polyester
Dry Clean Only
Perfect bride, mother of the bride, bridesmaid or mother of the Quinceanera girl dress. A fun "Barbie doll" vibe.
Lovely dress, but it's just not the right colour, it';s not like the photo but more a brighter darker pink! Sadly it's going back....
Super schönes Kleid, für meine Größe von 1,85m könnte es noch ein bisschen länger sein
I eyed up this dress for a long time until it went on sale and then I bought the navy. Five stars for value - on sale. It is well-made. I consider it true to size however I can see what other reviewers are talking about with the roomy bodice. My bust is a 34D/34DD, the dress stays up for me without a bra however it may be more comfortable adding a strapless bra underneath. It's lovely and flowy and I can't wait to wear it out to the theatre. I'm 5'11", wearing heels it's still long enough.
Ein rund um tolles Kleid. Es ist elegant aber nicht aufdringlich. Habe es als Trauzeugin getragen und es passte hervorragend zum Anlass. Wieso keine komplette Punktzahl: Die Naht am Beginn des Reißverschlusses war etwas locker.
I loved the fabric and colour of this dress. It flows nice but my only complaint is the built in bra is too large for the size of this dress. I am going to have to use gel breast inserts and lots of tape and hope for the best! The dress is too pretty to return it for another style so I am going to go for it and hope for the best. Truly a lovely dress with an economical price! Bravo!
This dress really is outstanding, especially at the sale price. Lovely bodice (very elegant detail). Bought this for my daughter, stunning dress.
Although this dress was a lot of hassle to actually get, once I did, I was very happy. The other reviews are correct that the bust is large, and I would say that it is designed for those with an hourglass shape. I am 4 months pregnant so I wasn't worried about the bust area, but luckily the Y.A.S sizing guide is spot on for this dress. Overall it is a beautiful dress and highly recommended. (Especially since it is on sale!)
Love the dress! Fabric is very rich looking and lovely. The outside layer of fabric flows around inside bodice of dress very well. Had a wee bit of trouble with zipper but as long as you have a second pair of hands to help you, it ended up being ok once zipped. I am not very large in the bust so I have to use some gel inserts but most women may not have that issue. All in all I am so very thrilled with the dress and the web site. Good quality at a very reasonable price! Bravo!❤
Lovely in the pics but when I unwrapped it I just kept thinking "this is such a lovely dress for a bridesmaid". Also came up 2 inches too small. My size is pretty consistent with LTS but this was not at all true to size
It's beautiful but I agree with the reviewer that mentioned how large the cup size is. However, it is possible to compensate with padding I suspect; my issue is that my usual size 14 had about 3" extra space in the bodice. I could turn it around front to back without undoing the zip! Have reordered a 12 but am wondering if that's going to be big too.... Gorgeous dress though - I chose the pink.
This is a gorgeous, beautifully made dress. The inner construction is top quality. Has a built-in bra, and boning. It is small through the ribs, I wear a 10, and ordered a 10. If I were not built as thinly through the ribcage as I am, I could not have worn it. Fabric is lovely and airy, while the bodice and waist area are substantial in structure. You will be thrilled to wear this dress, and you WILL make a head-turning entrance, at any age.
Beautiful dress but if you are less than a C cup very gapey. Not worn it out yet but have bought a load of tape to ensure that I don't have an embarrassing moment. Shame!
Beautiful long, long evening dress. The pink colour was too vivid for my liking, but the Navy was a keeper. Only issue was that the zip is very flimsy for the dress and wasn't easy to do up where it joins the bodice to the main part of the dress, made me nervous as I felt if I pulled it hard it would have broken. Dress got a lot of compliments and great for the price. Size was spot on
The dress is so elegant and beautiful just like the picture shows!! So disappointed, had to return it runs small wish Y.A.S. made it in a 14.


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Simple Pleasure's Peppermint Twist Hand & Body Cream
It gets to Christmas time and of course I have to crack this out. Simple Pleasure's Peppermint Twist Hand & Body Cream has been my favorite moisturiser for years. I first purchased this from Tk Maxx for just £3.99 (RRP $2.99 over in the states) in the winter of 2009 and have been using it on and off ever since. Three years later it's the first thing I reach for after washing my hands - and this is coming for a self-confessed moisturiser addict!
It smells devine and lasts absoloutely forever (this is only my second tube !) and is the perfect pamper gift this Christmas season. A great gift idea would be to make a hamper with some ripped tissue paper and maybe a few festive Lush bath bombs for the bestie and having a pamper night in together watching Christmas films in your PJs.
Simple Pleasures have a whole range of products such as Gingerbread (another festive treat I'd recommend!), Pink Sugar and Candy Swirl Hand & Body Cream to but I know it can be a little hard to get hold of in the UK so I'd definitely keep an eye out for it on eBAY. I recently purchased a batch of about eight for £20 because I never wanted to be without it!


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In this article, I will warn you about the biggest dangers linked to buying and using a "saltless or salt free water softener".
Now let's face it, the appeal of getting a saltless water softener makes complete sense. I don't imagine there is anyone that likes the idea of buying or hauling around large bags of softener salt.
Enter the "no salt water softener", the answer to all our problems. But "no-salt" really? Salt is essential to the softening process as oxygen is to keeping human beings alive.
So how exactly do you remove salt from the equation? Does it do as good a job as traditional water softeners?
I am asked about the quality of no salt or saltless water softeners all the time so let's go ahead and get some answers.
What Is A Salt Free Water Softener?
They are normally called "descalers or "water conditioners". The idea is to dissolve pre-existing calcium scales while also reducing the chances of new ones forming. Since they don't use salt (the active ingredient for water softening), they only reduce and delay the effects of hard water.
Facts (& DANGERS) About "Salt Free Water Softeners"
- The name is slightly deceiving because a "water softener" is a machine that removes hard water by definition. However, a saltless water softener does not completely remove water hardness. (Read: Water Softener: Secrets Only A Handful Of People Know).
- Salt free water softeners are sometimes designed to look like regular water softeners. However, they can only reduce odor, sediment and perhaps some chemicals like chlorine. Yes, these devices can greatly improve the quality of your drinking water. But it will not create the "soft water" you're expecting.
- Technologies that are incorrectly marketed as a salt free water softener can prevent scale build up but wont give you soft water. So if your main concern is preventing hard water from "scaling" then this is a good option for you. For instance, if you want to use it to prevent hard water damage to expensive equipment.
- Companies can sometimes call a "salt free water softener" a "descaler" or "water conditioner".
- Some companies will call a water softener "salt free" because it uses potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride (salt). Yes, it is true that this version of "saltless water softeners" WILL REMOVE hard water minerals. But be careful because potassium is about 5x more expensive than regular softener salt and about 30% less efficient!
- If you have severe hard water issues then the only appliance that will 100% effectively protect your plumbing, expensive appliances, clothes, hair and skin is a traditional water softener machine that uses salt like one of my favorites, the Nuvo.
Salt Based Vs. Salt Free Water Softener?
Salt based water softeners will completely eliminate hard water. This will leave you with a more "slick" feeling in your water. You will notice the soap creating more bubbles etc.
The reason soft water has a "clean feeling" is because of all the removed minerals that are no longer present to dry your skin.
Salt Free Water Softener
Salt Based Water Softener
|A salt free water softener will lightly descale your pipes and reduce the "hard" minerals present in your water.
|Salt based water softeners will completely eliminate hard water. This will leave you with a more "slick" feeling in your water. You will notice that soap creates more bubbles etc.
|The salt free water softener captures some of the minerals by creating "hardness crystals". However, the crystals won't stick to the surface so there is less scale build up.
|The reason soft water has a "clean feeling" is because of all the removed minerals. In other words, they are not present to dry your skin.
|You may get brighter looking clothes after laundry and see less soap usage.
|Soft water makes bright colors keep better in your clothes.
Benefits of Using A Salt Free Water Softener
- One of the biggest benefits you get from a saltless water softener is that it is maintenance free.
- It is also a chemical free alternative to using a salt-based water softener.
- A salt free water softener will very often use no electricity, create no waste water and, of course you won't need to continuously buy softener salt. All of this saves you a lot of money in the long run.
- Saltless softeners are much cheaper than buying a full water softener.
- Ideal if you simply want to maintain expensive equipment. E.g. you are a dentist and rent your space. So can't tamper too much with plumbing to install a water softener but need to keep scale away from your expensive equipment.
- If you only have mild hard water and want a hassle free option to keep your pipes descaled and make your appliances last longer, the saltless water softener is perfect for you.
The Best Saltless Water Softener
The table below compares the best "saltless water softeners" currently available. I have carefully selected the best options based on performance, price and customer experience.
|Best Features
|Price Range
|Aquios FS-220 Salt Free Water Softener and Filtration System
|- Softens and filters.
- Cartridges are easy to replace.
- Compact design.
- Removes existing scale in your pipes
|Eddy Electronic Water Descaler
|- Reduces lime scale.
- Easy installation.
- Emulates softened water.
- 12 month 100%
- Money-Back Guarantee + Lifetime Repair or Replace warranty.
|Aquasana 1,000,000 Gallon Whole House Water Filter with Salt-Free Softener
|- Exceeds NSF standards by removing 97% of chlorine for up to 1,000,000 gallons
- Salt-free water softener is proven to reduce scale.
- Does not require electricity, drainage, or back flushing.
|Fountainhead Water Systems - Water Softener Conditioner
|- Steel cover.
- 4.5 L capacity with 15 GPM.
|nuvoH2O Studio Complete Salt-Free Water Softening System
|- Capacity: about 25,000 gallons (average annual water usage of household of 2).
- Uses 10-inch salt-free replacement cartridges.


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50ft Women Mentoring
50ft Women is a not-for-profit cross-industry mentoring programme for young women in the workplace. We facilitate thoughtful, supportive and productive mentoring relationships between inspirational senior professionals and talented young women in their first years of work. The 50ft Women programme includes formal mentoring training for senior-level professionals, one-to-one mentoring sessions and regular whole-group events to equip mentees with the necessary skills, confidence and networks they need to succeed. 50ft Women mentoring provides the time and space needed to understand an industry, build professional support networks, sharpen career goals, plot paths, allay fears and build confidence.
The scheme is financially supported by our consultancy work. To help organisations attract, promote and retain female talent we offer bespoke in-house training sessions for mentors and mentees, organisational research and assessment, access to network events and workshops, online resources and support forums, internal scheme management and impact evaluation.
The next round of mentoring starts in January 2015. If you would like to get involved as a mentor or as a mentee, please email info[at]counterpoint.uk.com
Project news
50ft Women confidence workshop
Take a deep breath', 'just do it' and, slightly more to the point, 'do or die', are some of the mantras we left with...
50ft Women Confidence Workshop
When: 10th of September, from 5.30pm (for a 6pm start) until 8pm Where: Pearson, 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL 50ft Women is a women's mentoring scheme...
Education, education, education!
Kirstie Allsopp's misguided advice to girls to ditch the degree You may have noticed something of a storm in a media-stirred teacup recently. Kirstie...


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Mangaka: Afro
Status: Ongoing (currently 4 volumes)
My rating: 4.5 of 5
Rin loves solo camping, and even though she's only in high school, she's already made numerous camping trips on her own. The quiet, the beauty of the scenery, the delicious camp food . . . it's all quite enchanting. On one camping trip, Rin encounters another student, Nadeshiko, who is about as bubbly and enthusiastic as Rin is calm and collected. Yet the two quickly form a fast–if unusual–friendship, texting back and forth, trading camping advice, and sending pictures of places they've gone. Sometimes they even go camping together with Nadeshiko's outdoor club from school, which is fun too, if a different sort of fun from the camping to which Rin is accustomed.
Laid-Back Camp is a very unusual but charming manga. It's very chill–the "laid-back" in the title is quite appropriate. There's a seinen flavor to the story, even though the main characters are all high-school girls. And it's a very cute, fun story revolving around Rin and Nadeshiko in their separate camping-related endeavors (Rin's solo camping trips to fabulous locales, Nadeshiko's goofing around with her school club, shopping trips to camping supply stores, and group camping trips) while also developing the unusual friendship between these two. The other side of this manga is that it is, in fact, a camping manga. Which doesn't mean you have to like camping or be interested in it to enjoy the story; it's cute and fun either way. But if you are interested, the manga actually provides a lot of information–comparing camping supplies based on cost and utility, describing various sorts of campsites, even going over camp-friendly recipes. It's pretty cool, giving lots of info without obnoxiously overriding the story. I've really enjoyed reading Laid-Back Camp and look forward to reading future volumes of it.


text: OverviewThis new edition presents cutting-edge Services Marketing concepts and techniques in an Australian and Asia-Pacific context. The newly restructured strategic marketing framework provides instructors with maximum flexibility in teaching while guiding students into the competitive world of services marketing. Updated case studies demonstrate the latest concepts in services marketing within an even broader range of service applications in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific and the rest of the world.


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August 1, 2017
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Can you believe we're already preparing for the 2017-2018 Religious Education Program here in our Parish? Not only is it a new year, it is a new year with our new pastor, Father Joseph Elston. The program will continue to be offered on Sunday mornings. Each Sunday, our program begins with the 10:00 a.m. Family Mass in our church, followed by formal instruction from 11:00 a.m. until noon in the Monsignor John J. Bendik Pastoral Center. All students and their families are encouraged to attend and celebrate the 10:00 a.m. Mass together. Attendance at Sunday Mass is an essential part of our faith. Children's Liturgy of the Word for Pre-K to grade 2 is offered during this Mass and is a wonderful way for the children to better understand the Scriptures on their level.
Classes for students in grades K-7 will begin on Sunday, September 10, 2017. Students in grade 2 will prepare for First Holy Communion on May 6, 2018. As was stated in our letter last year, First Holy Communion is a two-year program and, as such, our grade 1 students will be included in many of the activities associated with the preparation of this sacrament so that they will be better prepared and looking forward to receiving Jesus. Students in grade 7 will begin their two-year preparation for Confirmation.
Enclosed is a registration form for 2017-2018. Please return this form in an envelope, along with your registration fee, by dropping it in the collection basket or bringing/mailing it to the Parish Office. Please make checks payable to SJE Parish Community. We encourage you to pre-register at this time. Your prompt response is critical for the final preparations of our program. You will receive our 2017-2018 Religious Education Calendar the first day of class.
If registered by the August 27th deadline, the fee for this year is $20 per child or $50 for three or more children. After August 27th, the late registration fee is $25 per child or $55 for three or more children. Registration fees cover some of the costs of books, supplies and our beautiful retreats. If the fees prove to be a burden for your family, please contact Sister Kieran Williams, IHM, at the Parish Office at 570-654-0053. (Please note that fees for the Sacramental Program of Confirmation are additional and will be discussed at a parent meeting.)
We depend on many dedicated volunteers for the success of our program. If you would like to volunteer for the Children's Liturgy of the Word, Catechist, Substitute, Aide, Hall Monitor, or if you need further assistance, please contact Sister Kieran at the phone number listed above. We are so grateful for your continued love, prayers and support of our Religious Education Program.
We ask for your prayers for us as we begin a new chapter in the continuation of our Religious Formation Program, and be assured of our prayers for you and your family especially as you prepare for the beginning of this new school year.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Joseph P. Elston Sr. Kieran Williams, IHM
Pastor Pastoral Associate


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at 3:00pm - 8:00pm
We're back!
Seattle's favorite record show returns!
The Big Dig Record Show
Sat. November 14th
3-7pm $3
Early Entry at 1pm $10
Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar
1508 11th Ave.
Seattle, WA
20 handpicked record dealers from the NW and beyond selling quality records of all sizes and shapes (round mostly).
From punk to funk, jazz to hip hop, soul to metal and everything in between.
DJ sets all day from local vinyl aficionados.
Nilson Diaz / Toronto Canada
Mayibe / Los Angeles C
Cesar Sanchez / Seattle ))) And Many More ))
Full bar with ID
All Ages and family friendly, bring the kids and get their collections going too!
See you there!Big Dig ReThecord Show


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NORML Chapters Hope to Bring Marijuana Discussion To Congressional Town Hall Meetings
NORML Chapters around the country are currently organizing efforts to engage their representatives on the issue of marijuana law reform during the upcoming congressional recess where members of the House and Senate will host town hall meetings in their districts. In addition to providing unique opportunities for face-to-face interactions with congressional representatives, town hall meetings provide our volunteers the chance to promote NORML's message of ending the federal prohibition of marijuana to an audience of politically engaged voters.
With the help of Town Hall Project, a nonprofit organization that's focused on empowering constituents across the country to have face-to-face conversations with their elected representatives, we have identified almost a dozen town hall meetings taking place in cities with strong NORML representation. To take advantage, NORML leadership is focused on mobilizing our supporters to ask specific questions and encourage their representatives to support legislation that will: protect consumers and businesses in legal marijuana states, expand access to medical marijuana for veterans, stop civil forfeiture and end the federal prohibition of marijuana.
Below is a list of town hall meetings that NORML Chapters will be targeting. We will continue to update the list as new town hall meetings are announced:
(Updated: 8/14/2017)
Rep. Ruben Kihuen (Democrat, NV-4)
Tuesday Aug 1, 2017 at 09:00 AM
Walnut Community Center
3075 N Walnut Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89115
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Republican, CA-48)
Tuesday Aug 1, 2017 at 6:30 PM
Aliso Niguel High School Gym
28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL-1)
Thursday August 3 2017 at 3:00 PM
Gulf Shores City Hall
1905 W 1st St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Rep. Steve Cohen (Democrat, TN-9)
Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Memphis College of Art
1930 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Rep. Will Hurd (Republican, TX-23)
Sunday August 6, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Horizon City Dairy Queen
800 N Zaragoza Rd, El Paso, TX 79907
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (Democrat, NC-1)
Tuesday August 8, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Bertie High School
716 US-13, Windsor, NC 27983
Rep. Donald Norcross (Democrat, NJ-1)
Wednesday August 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM
Carmen Tilelli Community Center
820 Mercer St, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Rep. Glenn Thompson (Republican, PA-5)
Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 8:00 PM
100 Innovation Blvd, University Park, PA 16802
Rep. Adam Smith (Democrat, WA-9)
Saturday August 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Foster High School Performing Arts Center
4242 S 144th St, Tukwila, WA 98168
Derek Kilmer (Democrat, WA-6)
Sunday August 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Aberdeen High School Auditorium
410 N G St, Aberdeen, WA 98520
Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, CA-20)
Monday August 14, 2017 at 6:00 PM
California State University Monterey Bay World Theater
5260 6th Ave, Seaside, CA 93955
Senator Maria Cantwell (Democrat, Senate)
Tuesday August 15, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Gonzaga University, Cataldo Hall, The Boone Room
502 E Boone Ave, Spokane, WA 99258
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (Republican, NC-9)
Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Cleveland Community College – Mildred Keeter Auditorium
137 S Post Rd, Shelby, NC 28152
Rep. Gary Palmer (Republican, AL-6)
Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 6:30 PM
North Highlands Baptist Church
4851 15th Street Rd, Hueytown, AL 35023
Rep. David Scott (Democrat, GA-13)
Saturday August 19, 2017 at 09:00 AM
Mundy's Mill High School
9652 Fayetteville Rd, Jonesboro, GA 30238
Rep. Trent Franks (Republican, AZ-8)
Tuesday August 22, 2017 at 7:00 AM
The Colonnade
19116 N Colonnade Way, Surprise, AZ 85374
Rep. Tom Rice (Republican, SC-7)
Chapin Memorial Library Meeting Room
Tuesday August 22, 2017 at 10:00 AM
400 14th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Rep. Bradley Byrne (Republican, AL-1)
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 3:00 PM
John L. LeFlore Magnet High School,
700 Donald St, Mobile, AL 36617
Rep. Danny K. Davis (Democrat, IL-7)
Thursday August 24, 2017 at 7:00 AM
Oak Park Village Hall
123 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302
Rep. Rodney Davis (Republican, IL-13)
Friday August 25, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Litchfield City Hall
120 E Ryder St, Litchfield, IL 62056
Rep. Ami Bera (Democrat, CA-7)
Tuesday August 29, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Folsom Public Library
411 Stafford St, Folsom, CA 95630
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (Republican WI-5)
Saturday September 9, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Elm Grove Village Park
13600 Juneau Blvd, Elm Grove, WI 53122
To support these efforts, NORML has prepared a guide to town hall meetings, as well as a list of questions specific to each representative. If you would like to participate or want a copy of either document, please email email@example.com.
Posted in : ACTIVISM, Advocacy, Citizen Lobbyists, Community Organizing, Grassroots, NORML Chapters
23 responses to "NORML Chapters Hope to Bring Marijuana Discussion To Congressional Town Hall Meetings"
August 8, 2017
I'd like to know why there isn't one for the triad. Greensboro,High Point and Winston Salem. I really would like to know if there's going to be a meeting in the up coming months..
I guess it's up to you to agitate for such a meeting, meanwhile what brazen bravery it'll be to challenge Big 2Whackgo right in their namesake home town. Well for sure a trillion more bucxks have been spent advertising the Winston/Salem $igarettes than any town of that name.
All of the Marijuana seized by drug raids and border patrol should be donated to medical marijuana clinics across the US.
The consumer outlet can still make money and the consumer personally can get it free or at a drastically reduced price.
Sympathizing with your dream but for sure the tobacckgo-funded Repub lawpassers are also trying to shut down the medical marijuana clinics and want all captured weed pitilessly destroyed.
I'm not sure I like the idea of incentiving the ceizure of more cannabis for any reason whatsoever. If we were talking about kidneys I don't think anyone would make that suggestion, and as far as I'm concerned I have a right to my own cannabis no less than I have a right to my own kidnies.
In any event, good for you for fostering discussion and being involved in this movement. We're all brothers and sisters in this fight and I hope we can strengthen one another's ideas.
I like the strategy. In the face of injustice, without a strategy, it is easy to move from apathy and indifference, right through activism, and straight into the jaws of despair.
Expressing yourself is a good thing; but actually making yourself heard is another trick altogether!
If I may say so, well done all!
Too bad Rep. Will Hurd is too early before Slayer performs in Albuquerque or I'da been all over that.
I love getting stoned in New Mexico.
On another note, I dont usually watch cable cuz it sucks but Im on vacation (again) in Rockport and I happened upon the one and only channel that was worth a $#!+:
"Adam Ruins Everything" covers the failed drug war then segueys into failed private prisons.
"Failed drug war" and "failed private prisons" makes for good slogans but you know very well the point is they "succeeded" in making a ton of money for a few rich oligarchs.
Ok, Mexweed, how do you like "Made-to-fail"?
You got me going, I found the answer, "Made to fear!" The prohibition and crackdown smears Fear all over the populative unconscious and when Johnnie tries a toke this implanted Fear is what then emerges as "paranoia" in the cannabinoidal uprush of emotion and memory which otherwise should have brought creativity and inventions.
I enjoyed your linked video. Wish that shows like that were listed on my local PBS station.
My mom, who's still alive, is from that late '30s, '40s generation. And it took forever to convince her that legalization would actually eventually lower pot use, and seriously wound the cartels. The notion wasn't intuitive to her, thanks I'm sure to the steady propaganda drumbeat she endured during those decades, as well as the next several decades.
The assholes did a good job in their propagandizing. I'm sure Goebbels would've been proud.
PS–you're right about NM being a good place to get high. The mountains are always a great place. It'll be even better if they decriminalize and even legalize here! I'm counting the days until Susanna Martinez is outta office.
Thanks Bud,
We have to remind ourselves that whats important, inspiring or influencing on us may not have the same effect on others. In many ways we are products of the information we consumed during our teenage years, a subject I highlight in the IQ blog from watching Morgan Freeman yelling "it kills ya brain cells" slapping a joint out of "sloppy slavenly" boy's mouth in the movie "Lean on Me." Its so important that older generations in public… and parents in the privacy of home…. provide a better role model for our youth as responsible marijuana consumers by showing support for lab-tested, clean, state legalized marijuana.
Where are the Reps for Illinois, we need town hall meetings in our communities all over the state.
Also in Iowa, every time I send the letters from norml to our Congress I get the same negative 'ITS A SCHEDULE 1DRUG AND VERY BAD!" Also I'd like to know how to get it on the ballot in Iowa because they didn't include that!
Also in Iowa, every time I send the letters from norml to our Congress I get the same negative 'ITS A SCHEDULE 1DRUG AND VERY BAD!" Also I'd like to know how to get it on the ballot so we can vote it in because they didn't include that!
Representative Joe Moody introduced HB334 to decriminalize marijuana in Texas just a few days ago late during the special session;
But Im not seeing a link on the Texas NORML site. I know Jax is busy flying back and forth to DC meeting with Federal legislators. Anyway we can help get a legislative link going?
Moody Chairs the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee meaning he can assure this bill gets heard in committee even though it was introduced late.
Follow up: The medical financing bill already passed through the Special Session in Texas. It appears that the House did not qualify the marijuana bills as "germain."
Mmj would create millions in revenue for the state budget and its not "germain" to the medical budget?
Update-update for Texas:
(Copied from Heather Fazio, MPP)
Chairman Joe Moody's House Bill 334 would replace criminal penalties for marijuana possession with a simple ticket. This proposal would allow at least three opportunities for an individual to avoid arrest, jail time, and a criminal record for the possession of up to one ounce.
Today, the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee will discuss the bill and consider testimony. You can watch online now.
Do you have personal or professional experience with our state's current marijuana laws? If so, please consider sharing it with the committee.
Submit informal written testimony via email to the committee clerk, Rachel Wetzel:
1) Attaching a PDF file to your email is best. Try to keep it to one page, including all your contact information.
2) The title of your file and subject of your email should be as follows: "First and Last Name — Supporting HB 334"
During the regular session, this version of Chairman Moody's civil penalties bill passed out of committee and was scheduled for a vote in the Texas House. Unfortunately, the clock ran out before representatives could cast their votes. Tomorrow's hearing offers us an opportunity to keep this important issue alive and on the table for discussion.
Thank you for your support. Please share this email with friends or family members who might be interested.
I contacted Heather about a mailer daemon and found it was a typo:
Its "Wetsel" with an "s" not a "z"
Final update:
The Special Session has closed today… but only after the Texas legislature was given a chance to rewrite the district maps. While it is discouraging that no marijuana legislation was reformed, more encouraging judicial decisions were made:
"In a unanimous decision Tuesday, a three-judge panel in San Antonio ruled that Congressional Districts 27 and 35 violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act. The judges found that Hispanic voters in Congressional District 27, represented by U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, were "intentionally deprived of their opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice."
This means that State Republicans are on call in Texas over marijuana policy like never before. Not only could Blake lose his seat in next year's elections, (A threat that had Republican Rep. Will Hurd answering marijuana questions in Town Halls with sweat on his brow)… but the threat of Judicial oversight on redistricting the voting maps is REAL now that the Special Session is over and the Republican dominated Texas legislature just gave their right to draw the district voting maps to three latino Democratic Judges out of San Antonio.
This means that Texas will vote on decriminalization and/or medical marijuana in 2019.
How about getting busy in Kansas. No NORML here and it still seems we have to stay under the radar. No choice but to buy whatever is available on the streets.
What can we do in GA?


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Mr. Hays is currently the Director of Area Operations for the 18 Wendy's restaurants MUY Hamburger Partners L.L.C. acquired in Dec. 2012. Mr. Hays has 35 years in the Wendy's system, joining the Wendy's family as a crew member at the Baylor Wendy's owned by the Jor-Lo Company in June 1978. Mr. Hays held various positions with Jor-Lo and was promoted to Director of Operations for their five locations in July of 1988. Under Hays's direction three units were added, and in 1993 they received the both the Western Region Wendy Award and the Western Region Sparkle award for their Killeen, Tx. location. Jor-Lo's eight locations were sold to CTW, L.L.C., in December 1997. Mr. Hays joined CTW as their Director of Operations and led the development of ten additional locations between 1997 and 2006. Again, under Mr. Hays's leadership, CTW received the 2008 Western Region Wendy Award and the Baylor location was the 2008, Western Region Sparkle winner, recognized as one of the fourteen best restaurants in the Wendy's system .
Along the way Mr. Hays was promoted to Vice President of Operations and then finally President and CEO of CTW, L.L.C., the position he held when CTW was acquired by Muy Hamburger Partners in December 2012.


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Publication Date
Publication Details
Erbas, Y., Ceuelmans, E., Koval, P. & Kuppens, P. (2015). The role of valence focus and appraisal overlap in emotion differentiation. Emotion,15(3), 373-382. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000039
Emotion differentiation refers to the level of specificity with which people distinguish between their emotional states and is considered to play an important role for psychological well-being. Yet, not much is known about what characterizes people high or low in emotion differentiation and what underlies these differences. In 2 studies involving experience sampling (Studies 1–2) and lab based (Study 2) methods, we investigated how emotion differentiation is related to individual differences in valence focus and the overlap in appraisal patterns between emotions. In line with expectations, results showed that high levels of both positive and negative emotion differentiation are related to lower levels of valence focus and lower levels of appraisal overlap between emotions. These findings suggest that individuals who are low in emotion differentiation mainly emphasize the valence aspect of emotions while individuals who are high in emotion differentiation make stronger distinctions between emotions in terms of their underlying appraisal profiles.
School of Psychology
Document Type
Journal Article
Access Rights
ERA Access
Access may be restricted.


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outubro 2014 vol. 1 num. 1 - 13th International Symposium on Multiscale, Multifunctional and Functionally Graded Materials
Abstract - Open Access.
Effect of Passivation on the Electrical Properties of Au/ Hg3In2Te6 Schottky Contact
Li, Yapeng; Fu, Li; Wang, Xiaozhen; Sun, Jie;
N type Hg3In2Te6 (short for MIT) single crystal is a new candidate semiconductor material for the fabrication of near-infrared photodetectors. Contact properties of MIT/metal were very important for the performance and reliability of MIT photodetectors. In this paper, the surfaces states of MIT wafers were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before and after H2O2 passivation. Moreover, the electrical characteristics of Au/MIT contacts were examined by currentvoltage ( I-V ) measurement. As a result, the binding energies of Te 3d 3/2, TeO2, TeO3 and In 3d 3/2 were 583 eV, 576.4 eV, 586.6 eV and 444.5 eV respectively, which didn't changed after H2O2 passivation. However, the binding energy of Hg 4f increased about 0.15 eV and that of O 1s decreased about 0.18 eV after H2O2 passivation. Furthermore, the peak shape of O 1s turned symmetrical, which indicated the chemical states of O became stabilize on the MIT surface. Meanwhile, Te2- from MIT surface layer changed into Te0 and the HgO formed on the MIT surface after H2O2 passivation according to the following Formulas.
Palavras-chave: Hg3In2Te6, Schottky contact, H2O2 passivation, XPS test, I-V measurement,
Referências bibliográficas
Como citar:
Li, Yapeng; Fu, Li; Wang, Xiaozhen; Sun, Jie; "Effect of Passivation on the Electrical Properties of Au/ Hg3In2Te6 Schottky Contact", p. 77 . In: Proceedings of the 13th International Symposium on Multiscale, Multifunctional and Functionally Graded Materials [=Blucher Material Science Proceedings, v.1, n.1].
São Paulo: Blucher,
últimos 30 dias | último ano | desde a publicação


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Come join us for a FREE all-day hands on event designed to help show girls how amazing and interesting STEM areas can be! Middle and High school girls will learn how important STEM can be in people's lives, how to program in Scratch or HTML, and how to create an online profile. The girls can even drive robots around!
This all-day event will be held at Walton High School (1590 Bill Murdock Road) on Saturday, October 14th from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Lunch is included. Registration is limited, so please reserve your space TODAY at https://tinyurl.com/


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On raising a son on the autism spectrum, progressive politics, pop culture, and coffee addiction.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Spreading the iPod love
If you've ever run into Bud and me when we were out and about - at the grocery store, at the doctor's office, at the library, anywhere that might be dysregulating for Bud - in other words, just about anywhere - you've probably seen Bud with earphones on his ears and an iPod in his hand. Even if you only know us through the entries on this blog, you may have noticed how often Bud's iPod makes an appearance. There are actually several different posts devoted to it. In fact, Bud's iPod is such an important tool - so critical to his ability to navigate the world - that when he lost his iPod before Christmas and I had to order a new one, I found myself thinking that the cost should be covered by insurance. It's that instrumental.
I was not surprised, then, to read Jess' open letter to Steve Jobs, in which she let him know how important her daughter Kendall's iPod has been for her.
But I was surprised by her follow-up post.
Jess has teamed up with the Boston-area Autism Alliance of MetroWest to collect working iPods from people who have upgraded to newer models and put them into the hands of children and adults with autism who would otherwise not have them.
Please go here and read about the project. And if you have an old iPod that you're not using, please pack it up and send it along.
You will truly be making a difference.
4 comments:
- Random said...
I got my first mp3 player (not an iPod) shortly after my diagnosis with Asperger's Syndrome, after reading a post on your blog about Bud's relationship with his iPod.
It. Has. Been. Brilliant.
I used it to tune out the noisy university environment around me; I used it when I got to class early and everyone else was talking; I used it when I had to walk from one place to the next. Eventually, it died of overuse, as did its successor. I'm now on my third mp3 player (and have moved on to graduate school, where I use it in the lab to help me focus and tune out bothersome noises and other people).
So... Jess may thank Steve Jobs for the iPod, but I thank you for suggesting it to me.
And I strongly support the project. Will they take non-iPod mp3 players? I have two small ones I can share.
- January 12, 2010 1:05 AM
- jess said...
Thank you so much for sharing this!!
And Random - we will happily accept all portable music devices in working order. Please include whatever is necessary to charge the players as the only chargers we currently have are the macs.
Thanks so much!!!
- January 12, 2010 6:35 AM
- Dani G said...
Fabulous! I'm reposting this for sure!!
- January 12, 2010 5:35 PM
- MI Dawn said...
Just catching up with things, and think this is a great idea. Unfortunately, no iPods around here. However, my college-age child put Jess's post up as her current status on FB so I'll keep an eye and see if they get any responses. Child thinks the idea is wonderful, and if we find her lost iPod we will certainly send it on.
- January 13, 2010 7:05 PM


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Bzzt Bzzzt! Bzzt Bzzzt!
|Why can't the alarm just be quiet???
I have yet to perfect the art of the nap. Screw the REM sleep cycle. I understand how it works, but it doesn't adjust to the actual time I fall asleep. Not when I go to bed, but when I zonk out! So quantity matters at this point! Well it's 8:38. In the PM! I haven't napped this late since I was in college on a Friday or Saturday evening, when I was planning on being out all night. Well, this wasn't much different, but importantly so in one special manner: I was going to run. All night. And all day. And all night again if necessary.
I'd probably end up feeling as "good" as I would after a night out in college :).
This race, the END-SURE (Extreme North Dakota Sandhills Ultra Run Experience) 100 miler (160km) would start on Friday evening at 11pm. My major concern here was sleep deprivation. I knew I could run the distance. I knew the course well, as I've run the 50K and 100K versions before and have trained here a could 5-6 times. Temperatures were going to be below freezing throughout the night, but I've run all winter long in -30 to -20 degree weather and know what that feels like. The course went over relentless rolling sandhills in the cold North Dakota prairie, which never really invited a comfortable rhythm.
My preparation for this unique night had started two days prior (in regards to sleep, I've run for longer than that :) ). To the dismay of my family and colleagues I went cold turkey off caffeine, and was likely grumpy due to it (hope it wasn't too severe), but this way it would have much bigger kick during the race if I felt sleepy, which was pretty much a guarantee. Also, I took the day off from work, so that I wouldn't take a 8 hour office day into the race. I rather was able to sleep in until 10am, in order to get off my regular sleep cycle.
After I finished packing, I met my wife at Pizza Ranch for lunch and loaded up on carbs as much as seemed reasonable (as in: A LOT!). I went to pick up my father-in-law, who once again was going to be my crew chief and we took the interstate north for the next 4 hours.
|Freezing temps...HA! (pre-race attitude)
Our last pre-race intel session included driving the gravel road section that I would encounter in the second half of the race. It's much easier for me to mentally prep for a race if I know where to take a turn, where hills are going to be and anything else that may surprise me in an energy-depleted state.
Bill and I grabbed some quick dinner at a local dive bar/restaurant and got to our hotel by 6:30pm. By 6:32pm I was asleep, trying to get one up on the night ahead of me.
We're at 8:38pm, just over two hours until race start. I call my wife and daughter and pretend it's early in the morning. Even though I'm 100% aware that it isn't, it somehow seems to help. I maintained that mindset throughout the night and never got really tired. It always felt like early morning.
|Losing dexterity in my fingers and getting chapped lips!
Should've brought my chap stick from Bare Bear Butter!
This wind was cutting the temps down into the teens. My dexterity in my fingers was questionable before the gun even went off. This didn't necessarily put me in the highest level of confidence, but it did increase my pace of getting ready. The RD (race director) had let on that he would start the race early if everyone was accounted for and ready.
At 10:50pm he gave us the pretty low key "Go." and off we went. Nothing else was on my mind. Such clarity and freedom is a rare beauty to experience when you have nothing to worry about (other than 100 miles ahead of you) and get to do something that you love.
Within minutes I was all alone in the prairie of North Dakota in the dark of night. It was cloudy and thus the only light guiding my way came from my head torch. Without, I'd literally be lost. Luckily, I had a second one in my backpack, just in case. Ducking in and out of trees in this area I could feel the massive power of the wind.
|race start; it was darker than this though :)
The hours and miles flew by. I kept an easy pace, kept up on nutrition and got to the aid station at ~25 miles in, woke up the attending aid station captain ( :) ), who happened to be the RD, loaded up on fluids and gels and bounced back into the night. An uneventful nine miles later (unless you count the riveting Myths and Legends podcast about Beowulf that kept me engaged) I came to the highway intersection and met Bill for the first time. Luckily he had gotten my text from an hour earlier. I was running smooth, but also sweated a good chunk. No surprise here, but it was below freezing, and I wanted to prevent any issue in regards to hypothermia if I could. A quick change of shirts, and I was back on the trail. The next six miles should go fairly smoothly and at a quick race at it virtually had no elevation change. All runnable. That is if you can see where you are going. My headlamp had been running for a good six hours already and my eyes had adjusted accordingly, but I kept taking wrong turns and back-tracking as I no longer could find trail markers. I don't know how, but somehow I could tell the trail from the cow paths by the density of rock pebbles in it's path. Not sure that it was a visual trick played on my mind, but it somehow kept getting me to the next marker. According to my GPS watch I was within a couple of miles of the west trail head, where the next aid station would be, but I had lost my way. I used my second head torch, provided by Spheres Gears, and spotlighted the prairie. I made out another marker, but it was in the wrong direction. I could see the headlights of the cars in the aid station and took the liberty to head towards those across the grasslands. Luckily, within a couple of minutes I stumbled back onto the trail and was able to find out my way again. Bill and aid station attendant Grant were excited to see me and the reciprocal effect took place within me. Every aid station or spectator always gives me another boost. I once again changed shirts and headed back out.
As a side note: the next day learned the the intrinsical value of a real crew chief. At the aid station , Grant suggested to Bill to cook bacon and eggs for me prior to my arrival. Bill just said: "He won't eat it. He won't want to "deal" ( "deal" means "poop" if you didn't catch that) with that on the trail. He'll stick to gels and liquids. If your father in law knows your pooping habits, he's either too close to you or the perfect crew chief :). (Check if you are a runner and make your own distinction :).
Just to clarify, at any other point, Bacon and Eggs on a trail head is the most amazing thing you can offer!...Just not during a 100 miler.
Within minutes I was on my own. The clouds had lifted and I was in awe of the beautiful sky and gazed into the stars. Out on the prairie, you don't just see the big dipper and Orion. If you know where to look you may just catch a glimpse of the milky way. It's an awe-inspiring sight. I was awoken out of my star gazing trance by the yipping of coyotes. Not just a lonely male in the distance that I am used to when I run the gravel roads close to home. This was a pack. Lots of them. Close by too. I always thought I could take one or two if necessary (in the way that we all overestimate our own abilities, but this would probably not be a good encounter). What to do? Run on of course. I joked to myself that I should just pop my head phones back in and then I couldn't hear them! My wife's voice popped into my head and rather convincingly... uhh... changed my mind :). I'm quite lucky for her reasoning! I still listened to my podcasts, but over loud speaker. The animals would be able to hear me coming from far away and likely scurry off. (They did, luckily, or I was too fast for them, HA!).
The sun came up and it was one of the most beautiful sights I had seen in a long time. A sunrise is special, but witnessing it from deep darkness, gradual rise into the full bloom is phenomenal. During the procedure I kept moving. I got places to be if you understand. It took a double check on my side to see another runner in the distance. Not a surprise, this was a race after all, but this runner moving the same way as I was. Since I was in the lead, this was rather surprising. I tried whistling, but my lips were ice cold and couldn't form the right shape. Good timing to discover this. I picked up the pace to catch up and noticed that once again I had lost dexterity of my fingers. Whoa, it must be colder out than I noticed. I had struggled eating my gels and they had turned mostly solid in the freezing temps, but that all dawned on me only now. Trying to wash down my latest "solid" gel resulted in the discovery that my drinking hose, attached to my water reservoir in my backpack froze solid as well. Ok, I'm out of fluids, good thing the sun is coming up soon.
|45 miles into a race; before sunrise; at 14F/-10C
|Realizing my water hose was frozen...
So the sun was up. I felt like I started running just a little while ago (it helps when you mentally think you started running in the early morning and not at 10:50pm the night before and the night gives nothing away in the way of time progression). Their message gave me a huge lift and I decided to turn on some tunes. I also don't do this in Ultras. I do in the last few miles of a marathon or at 5K and 10Ks. It just felt right. Getting into a slow trot I realized that I was just about 50 miles (80km) into the race and my body and mind felt like I just started running. I can't describe how amazing that feeling is! I credit it mostly to my great training this year, where for the first time I averaged 50 miles a week for 9-10 weeks straight (never before a single training week over 50 miles!). My friend and coach Kyle Kranz smartly built up this training regimen over the last 6 months and I am overly excited for the next couple of years as we transitioned into more complex and increased training. A smart coach helps you improve and stay healthy (no running injury in a couple of years; coincidentally since I started working with him).
|Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! ... in gel form though ...ugh!
I was now taking in caffeinated gels as the lack of sleep started to get to me. It wasn't too bad, my body clock to reset with the sunrise, but even during a regular day I have a cup (or gallon) of coffee to kick it off.
I had slowed down again. I felt like this day was going to be long. I thought about my max goal of finishing in 20 hours and really thought it was in jeopardy. I had over 40 miles to go and thought that I kept slowing down. After a couple rather steep hills I was on the gravel sections that we drove just the day before. I knew it wasn't too bad from here and I picked up my pace. I kept clicking mile after a mile and my music selection had restarted a third time (my storage space isn't big enough for Ultras, perhaps a worthwhile gift in the future! HINT HINT). The only downside were some rather big
|Running, per the Oxford dictionary definition
I started doing the math. I had a real shot at breaking 20 hours if I didn't slow down. Just keep steady. No biggy. Just over 20 miles to go. Not EVEN (yikes) a marathon to go.
I tried diving into every single lyric and beat of my running playlist. All selected just for this reason.
Nelly's "Heart of a Champion" "only five more!" (miles in my head; thanks Brittany!for the suggestion)
Alex Clare's "Too Close" ...mentally too close to slow down... (Thanks Jake! )
Justin Timberlake's "Can't stop the feeling" (just an upbeat tune I dance to with my two year old :). I kept telling myself that it's called "Leiana's song"!)
I got the end of the gravel road section and mentally prepped for the rest of the race. My last words to Bill were "Maybe...If all goes well...I'll break 20...(as in hours).
My mood picked up severely only three minutes later. I entered the trail at mile marker 8(ish). I had thought it'd be at mile 10. This gave me the confidence of having won 2 miles! I followed all markers! No short cutting!
That boost told me that 20 hours wasn't just possible, but that I really should be getting it. All of the sudden the music meant even more, despite being on it's 5th loop or so, and I picked up my pace. Only a handful of miles until the Middle Trail head where I would see Bill for the last time. I felt amazing. With the cars in sight, I knew I only had about a half marathon to go and realized that I don't have any blisters, cramps or other issues.
I heard the cheering from some runners from the 25K/50K race at this point and it truly sustained me for the next 10 miles or so. They had encounter a tough patch in their day, but they still gathered up the energy to cheer me on and tried to get me to the finish line. That's the special community in ultra running that I love. You're out for an entire day, but you give/get the energy you can during the few seconds of encounter that you have!
NOW, I was in race mode. I knew no one was behind me. I wanted a decent time. A good time. A personal best to be honest.
I told myself:" Take everything the course gives you". I hiked the uphills (a welcomed break, but still high HR), ran the flats hard (as much as you can after 85+ miles/136+ km) and sprinted the downhills to make up time.
My body held up. I couldn't believe it. My only other 100 mile (160km) experience ended in me walking the last 10 miles (160km); if not longer. This time I could go longer. And I would!
I "picked off "50K" runners that had hit the wall. This has happened to me a few times before, but it felt great setting small incremental goals to run up to each and every runner. I kept picking up my pace and wanted to END-SURE (pun intended!) that I wouldn't have too much left in the tank.
I wasn't afraid of 20 hours anymore. I was running fast. As in: a half marathon, not a 100 miler. Not sure where this came from, but I took it. I flirted with sub 18 at this point, but the last 3 miles were littered with ice puddles, which really represented more as smaller ponds to be honest. The first few I skated/ skidded/ slid across. The last five I crushed though by truly dunking and soaking my feet in
|Running high mixed with caffeine!
Two more runners down and I could make out the camp ground in the distance. I dropped every regard for self-preservation and took my stride into a sprint. Leaving the trail and headed onto the last quarter mile on the gravel road I face-timed my wife and let her join in on this experience. I crossed the finish line at a course record 18:11h with Bill cheering me on and me being in disbelief that I was able to finish this strong. Instead of challenging 20 hours, I flirted with sub 18 hours over only 20 miles or so.
|Whatever you eat, it's a calorie deficit! Dig in!
|Not sure how exactly, but lucky pacing and
decent training sure helped!
Big thanks to Bill, my crew chief, Kyle, my coach, and Christina and Leiana as my constant inspiration of getting out every single day and doing what I love.


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One of journalism's problems is the unexamined preference for private statements over public ones: https://t.co/BCFuohMtZY— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) October 21, 2016
Ezra Klein discussing the real Mitt Romney after the election in 2012 --
When Romney thinks he's behind closed doors and he's just telling other people like him how politics really works, the picture he paints is so ugly as to be bordering on dystopic. It's not just about class, but about worth, and legitimacy. His voters are worth something to the economy -- they're producers -- and they respond to legitimate appeals about how to best manage the country. The Democrats' voters are drags on the economy -- moochers -- and they respond to crass pay-offs. Romney doesn't voice these opinions in public. He knows better. But so did the voters. That's what you see in the overwhelming rejection Romney suffered among African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and young voters. They sensed that Romney fundamentally didn't respect them and their role in the economy, and they were right.
So even if Klein says the focus on private statements didn't matter because the voters knew it anyway, his logic then falls apart because he can only say in retrospect what the voters knew because of the revelation of the private statements. The underlying issue here is the New Pundit Lacuna in having a theory of how the public filters information and which statements they choose to believe. Hence in Vox land, Romney's private statements were the real Romney, but the public Clinton statements are the real Clinton.


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Ok, I have had some time so here are some photos from my trip thus far.
This is the everything I brought with me! (except for Jake in the background..)
The plane overseas was pretty big.
The eye of London from the taxi.
"Porridge" with honey, and hot cocoa in the airport in London.
Mine and Jana's room.
Breakfast made by our host mom, Elba. Toasted croissants with jam and nutella, lemon muffin, oranges, and green tea. It's really nice being practically waited on for every meal!
A lot of the following pictures are from around Granada, we had a lot of time to walk around and explore today.
This is the main Cathedral in Granada, it is huge! It is just down the street from our host home.
This is one of the buildings of the language center, where my classes will be.
Churros con chocolate, a Spanish favorite!
It was a pretty good day today. We were extremely busy though. Jana and I are starting to feel a little overwhelmed because we have to work so hard for every little thing we do, because the language is still difficult for us. It will get better as we go, it is just a lot to soak in right away.
Tomorrow we have our placement exam, which will determine what level of courses we will be taking. I really hope to do well because it would be nice to take some of the higher level courses. We will find out our scores tomorrow afternoon.
Anyway, I'm going to bed so I can get a good night's rest before the tests tomorrow.
Hasta luego.


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By Colin Leys and Stewart Player
"It's been twenty years in the planning. I think they'll do it."
The words are those of Eamonn Butler, director of the free market think tank, The Adam Smith Institute.
The question he was answering was whether, after the UK coalition government's Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS would become a franchise. Not a public health service anymore, but a badge denoting that competing providers had met minimum care standards.
Butler's words provide inadvertent confirmation of the authors' contention of a plot against the NHS. Conservative and Labour governments have through step by step measures brought it closer and closer to privatisation, to a collection of competing, separate businesses.
Now the wrapping has been peeled away.
Privatisation itself is not a plot. What constitutes a plot is the attempt to achieve under the cover of lulling phrases like "modernisation" and "a patient-led NHS".
"Since 2000, if not earlier, successive governments have been pursuing a policy for the NHS that the electorate hasn't voted for and doesn't want," the authors say.
Here is one of the authors speaking:
Now with the government's promised changes to their health bill, the Adam Smith Institute doesn't want it either. It has disowned the changes The government has also been attacked from the Right by the former Labour Health minister, Alan Milburn, who claims their plans mean the largest nationalisation since the NHS was created in 1948
In such circumstances, it's advisable to take a step back and look at what is happening in a historical perspective. Here, very roughly, is the story of the last 20 years.
Before 1991 the NHS was funded through block of funding through district health authorities. Hospitals received an annual lump sum on the basis of an assessment of their residents' health needs. GPs referred patients to the NHS hospitals and consultants they judged medically appropriate.
This, significantly, is the system that, post-devolution, Scotland and Wales have reverted to. They are like ghosts from the past and create an fascinating, real-life controlled experiment. But more on that later.
In 1991, under John Major's Conservative government, came the internal market. For the first time health care was "bought" by purchasers (health authorities at that time) from suppliers (such as hospitals). Although the private sector wasn't involved yet, theoretically, contracts could be placed with anybody.
But it wasn't yet a real market. Contracts were not legally binding and hospitals would not be allowed to go bust. "The needs of patients could still be seen as more important than the bottom line," Leys and Player say. "This had to change."
In 1997 Labour was elected. After 2000 there was a huge, one third, increase in NHS funding. There were large salary rises for GPs and consultants. But alongside all that, was a deliberate, concerted effort to get private companies to deliver NHS treatment. Regardless of the results on patients, which were not assessed, or the cost, which was a lot more expensive.
A "Commercial Directorate" was established in the Department of Health, under a Texan businessman, to get private companies to do NHS work. Prices were established for every treatment.
Private surgical centres, called Independent Sector Treatment Centres, were established for low risk operations like cataract surgery. They were paid significantly higher prices than NHS treatment centres received, and paid for the number of treatments contracted for, not whether they were carried out or not. Conveniently, the Department of Health did not collect data on the result of their operations on NHS patients.
The justification was the private centres provided additional capacity for a stretched NHS. But after a while they were allowed to use NHS staff, which made nonsense of the original reason.
Hospitals had to become Foundation Trusts. This meant they could go bust. Their contracts became legally enforceable. Although non-profit, they resembled private corporations under a chief executive and board. They had to be financially self-sustaining and make a surplus.
Under a new type of contract, corporations employing doctors on a salary took over some GP practices. For example Atlos Origin Healthcare, which is employed by the government to tell the sick they are fit for work, took over a GP practice in East London. Though running it proved too much of a strain.
"Polyclinics", aimed at bringing together GPs and non-life threatening work from A&E, were created. Of the first 140, one third were run by private companies or joint ventures with private companies.
By 2009 there were 149 private hospitals, 'treatment centres' and clinics treating NHS patients and using the NHS logo.
This was the state of play when the Tory/Lib Dem health and social care bill, was published. At that point, the authors say, the plan to privatise the NHS no longer had to be concealed.
The result will be a market for specialist, hospital care, with public-funded foundation trust hospitals competing for patients with private companies.
Commissioners, now clinical commissioning groups, will have to offer patients a choice of providers, and fix a price at a level large enough for companies can make a profit.
Even if price competition is ruled out, hospitals will close because they will be financially undermined by private companies.
Private providers cannot do anything but "cherry pick" the easiest and cheapest to perform services because they don't have the infrastructure to provide expensive but essential services like A&E.
As the authors show, under the price system introduced by the last government, hospitals cross-subsidise difficult and expensive services, such as intensive care, with the money they make from easier and cheaper procedures.
If private companies take the easier services, like knee replacements, because they are the only procedures they are able to do, public hospitals will be financially crippled as a vital source of income is taken away. But it will be tragic and predictable consequence of the twenty year plan to introduce a market into health care.
English NHS hospitals now – foundation trusts – have to be financially self-sustaining. If they can't make a surplus, they will have to close. Or be taken over, very possibly by a private company.
The NHS will become a "low-risk playground for healthcare corporations".
What is almost comically ironic is when the coalition government insists they have no choice but to cut £200 billion from public spending in four years they are pursuing a health policy that will vastly increase costs to the taxpayer.
As the Adam Smith Institute says every pound spent on bureaucracy is a pound less for patient care. But, contrary to propaganda, the private sector is the greatest creator of bureaucracy.
The paradox we will look at in part two, is that the NHS, a system where nobody knew the cost of anything, is far less expensive than a market system where the price of everything is measured.


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