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19th October 2011
Don't ask me 'Why?'
Ever noticed how, at a certain stage in their development, a child's favourite word is 'Why?' It seems to prefix just about everything they say - 'Why did he do that? Why can't I have that? Why does a cake rise? Why do I have to get dressed?'
To be on the receiving end of the constant stream of 'Why?' is not always easy. But, as adults we encourage children to ask as many 'Why?' questions as they can. Particularly, because the 'Why?' question is so fundamental to our development. It demonstrates curiosity and a yearning to understand how things work and, assists us as we begin to make meaning of what is happening within us and around us. 'Why?' is often the first word we use to articulate our curiosity about the complex workings of relationship.
In its purest form 'Why?' is a fabulous question. Yet increasingly I notice, for many adults, this tiny three letter word is experienced as threatening, invasive, blaming and combative. As a result the response to it is one of defence, attack, anger, panic and/or fear. What's fascinating is it seems to be happening in any number of contexts i.e. intimate relationships, employer/employee, between friends and colleagues as well as customers and staff members.
The most distressing part - no matter the context, the result is always the same – disconnection!
Eliminate 'Why?' and restore connection
Neuroscience clearly shows that for humans to connect there needs to be a level of safety within the relationship – even in brief encounters such as those between a customer and a staff member. To feel safe we need to know we are not under attack and, that what we have to say is accepted as a valid reflection of our personal experience. Safety, even in the briefest of encounters, can be established through a smile, a kind word, open body language and a neutral tone. It can just as easily be destroyed by using that little word 'Why?'
It would seem that if we want a positive outcome to any conversation then it would be helpful to eliminate the word 'Why?'
What to do when you want to ask 'Why?'
This does not mean you have to stop being curious. Quite the opposite – I want to encourage you to be even more curious. In fact be curious enough to ask yourself 'How can I ask my question in a way that establishes safety, promotes openness and restores connection?'
By asking this question you are giving yourself permission to pay attention to the relationship and the impact your actions and words have on the relationship. When making such a shift it is often useful to use the following steps:-
Gain permission to ask questionsOne of the most powerful tools for developing safety and restoring connection is asking permission to gather more information. So, before you rush into asking any questions at all (even if they aren't 'Why?' questions) ask permission. This can be done very simply by saying 'It would be really valuable for me to know more about that. Would it be ok if I asked a few questions?' It keeps the conversation relational as it:-
- Acknowledges the other person may be in flow of a particular thought whih your question may interrupt
- It offers the other person the opportunity to check whether it would be ok for you to ask questions and whether they are ready and open to receiving them: and
- It demonstates your unerstanding that your questions wil require someting of the other question
Identify what drives your questionIf you find yourself wanting to ask the question 'Why?' then stop and ask yourself what is driving the question. While the word 'Why?' comes from a thinking place, there is usually an emotion sitting behind it. Try to identify the emotion connected to the 'Why?' This will give you insight into what is driving your question. Quite often we ask a 'Why?' question because we have an opinion about what the other person is saying and we want to gather evidence to prove why we are right and they are wrong. I would also encourage you to ask yourself 'Is my question going to increase connection or create disconnection?' If it is to increase connection then go onto the next step. If it is to increase disconnection then become really curious about why you want to disconnect by taking some time out to think about what is really driving your need to disconnect.
Change the focus of your questionNext step is to use your curiosity to ask your question in a more exploratory and open manner. One of my favourite ways to do this is to say 'I'm really interested in what you are saying. Would you be open to telling me more about that?' This makes it crystal clear that I am interested in what they are saying and that I need more information. The key point is that it does it in a way that is inviting and promotes safety for the other to share and exchange ideas and thought with you.
Ask a different questionIf you choose to eliminate 'Why?' then you may want to replace it with one of five key words: 'How', 'What', 'Where', 'Who', and 'When'. All of these words can be added to the end of the sentence shared in the point above. For example 'I'm really interested in what you are saying. Would you be open to telling me more about what your thinking was around that?' This would be a more open and safe way of asking 'Why were you thinking that?'
In my experience, this simple shift really does help establish safety, promote openness and restore connection – but it requires practice – and lots of it. It requires you pay attention to your language, shift your focus from 'I want to know something' to 'what impact will my question have on our ability to reach a positive outcome for both of us.'
If you found this entry useful, and you would like to explore how we might work together, then just click here.
Theme: Communication
Theme: Leadership
Theme: Marriage
Theme: Neurobiology
Theme: Parenting
Theme: Relationships


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I seriously wonder if my grandfather
bombed Kurt Vonnegut in Dresden
as he sat hunkered in his eponymous
slaughterhouse numbered no.5
a prisoner of war and still not yet a writer
it's at best an academic question, I grant you
because although my father's father flew
as a bomb aimer with the RAF Pathfinders
his job on the eve of Valentine's Day 1945
was to lay down flares over key targets
so as to guide those who followed to the
precise points they were to offload their
incendiary payloads onto a civilian population
thus the firestorm was orchestrated and
25,000 killed, too many bodies to bury
and a hell on Earth achieved of which I never
— unlike in Vonnegut's celebrated novel —
heard my grandfather once tell.
Thanks are due to Dina, a fellow blogger here at WordPress, who has been helping me track the themes of flight and Kurt Vonnegut's writing in some of my more recent poems. Her excellent writing and blog can be found here. Enjoy!

subset: commoncrawl


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Engaresero Foundation
Founded: 2015
Engaresero Foundation promotes projects, organizations and persons worldwide that
- help to improve the living conditions and economic development of disadvantaged people,
- serve the observance of human rights and
- the protection of flora and fauna.
Grant applications
Engaresero Foundation does not accept grant applications.
Advisory Board
- Dr. Ueli Schälchli (President)
- Johannes Abegg
- Sara Schälchli


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Hope you are settling into the New Year nicely. After a busy December I need to give my vocals a rest and have decided to take it easy this month. Don't despair, I do have few gigs lined up... I couldn't go an entire month without singing at all.
This week I'm performing at The Glass House, New Malden; that's Friday 8th January. I've been making adjustments to my live set-up so I'm REALLY excited about giving my gear a test-drive. The sound's gonna be punchier and clearer so, even if it's just to enjoy the sweet new tones of my speakers, it's worth coming down :P
Other public gigs this month include: -
Saturday 16th January - Back at The Glass House for a second stint
Saturday 30th January - The North Star, Chessington following their recent refurbishment. It's a great pub and is always busy so this gig is not to be missed.
As I'm resting up for the majority of this month I've taken the opportunity to delve into my archives and pull out a video that to date has never been released ..... :(
So why am I releasing it now?!?!? Because it was recorded in the summer, warm with clear blue skies and quite frankly... we could do with a little sunshine right now. Please enjoy the video, I give you the gift of SUN :D ....... You might need to wrap up warm to watch it though!
Click the image below to view the video


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Personalized Milestone Birthday Paper Cups 16oz
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Raise a toast to a special birthday year with 16oz Personalized Milestone Birthday Paper Cups! These white paper cups are perfect for serving hot beverages such as coffee or tea at their milestone birthday party. The solid white background provides a great foundation for your custom message. Browse fonts, designs, and print color options, then customize the text to display his or her name, initials, milestone age, or a birthday message either on one side or both sides of the 16oz cup. Whether they're turning 13 or 100, custom birthday paper cups add personality to their milestone birthday celebration.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Return Policy:
Personalized items ship separately and require 5 business days of processing time. Expedited shipping does not affect the standard 5 day processing period. Personalized items may not be returned or exchanged.
*Font options may vary by design.


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Cindy's oldest daughter is turning 12 years old this week. Oh my god! I've known her since she was 4 years old: this makes me feel so old.
Anyways, with Cindy's suggestion I decided to make A. earrings to match a bracelet I re-knotted for Cindy and her two daughters.
I hope A. likes it!
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text: I am switching to Bronze plan for more data-unlimited- but limited to 70GB/month--go figure. It took 8 weeks to get the new modem and after all that could not get past step 6 of the install which is the activation. After many hours with support, were they figured out my account wasn't provisioning correctly for the new modem they decided I needed a technician to come out and bring a new modem and install it. My cell phone dropped this call, so when I called back the new support person (sounded like off shore call center) took awhile to get caught back up on the details, and stated I was going to be charged $95 for them to come out. What the hell, I'm canceling this order and maybe my service. They shouldn't even try to charge me for something that is obviously a Viasat problem.


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Marilyn Ertz
The Funeral Mass for Marilyn Ertz, 94, will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, Burlington, Iowa. Fr. Marty Goetz will be he celebrant. Special music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. in Prugh's Chapel. A memorial has been established for St. Paul Catholic Church. Condolences may be left at www.prughfuneralservice.com.


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When I explain to Wes that these four are coming for a visit, sometimes I will shorten it to Nana & Papa. Because the whole thing is a mouth full. Wes is always quick to correct that it's "NanaPapaAuntMaggie&Evelyn" and it gets all mashed together like that. They are a unit and no name can be excluded. Those four came to visit us four a few weekends ago.
It was hot but still a nice enough day to get outside. This is the "Ant House," one of Wes's favorite digging places on our street. Wes could dig to the center of the Earth. Have I mentioned that before? I think I may have. It is named the "Ant House" because you can often find ants there, just like we did on this day.
Another favorite digging place. I think in the fall it was called "The Castle" but may be nameless now.
It was very cute to watch them trace each other and then spot the random arms or other body parts in the middle of those tracings.
As close to an on the ground cousin picture as we will probably get these days. (Past cousin pictures here and here and here.)
Nana's turn!
I had been hearing great things about an ice cream shop in Clifton, VA. So I thought it would be fun to take everyone there. We had a nice dinner followed by a visit to a train car.
Wes and Evelyn really wanted to find a way in!
My mom asked Wes where he was driving. "Kansas City!" Luckily for him we are headed there later this month! Although not by train, even though he keeps making that request.
We had started to leave the train car when lucky us! A real train rolled on by!
Clifton is a very cute little town. The Main Street here is very small, but it's so cute! I can't wait to go back!
Totally missed that the train was not for climbing! Sean saved us on that one.
We finished our night with really great ice cream! Such a great visit and a fun little night out in Clifton. I had wanted to get a group picture but that did not happen. Another time, hopefully.


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Jessica Lange Talks Fondly About Ex Sam Shepard in Interview Published Hours Before News of His Death Broke
Jessica Lange unwittingly paid tribute to her ex Sam Shepard on the day the world learned of his death
Jessica Lange unwittingly paid tribute to her ex Sam Shepard on the day the world learned of his death.
The actress, 68, appears on the August/September cover of AARP The Magazine where she looks back on her illustrious career and colorful life.
And when asked about her partner of almost three decades, Lange alluded to their hardships amidst their great love for each other.
"I wouldn't call Sammy easygoing and funny, but everybody has their dark side, and he always does it with a sense of humor," she said of the late star.
Shepard's theater representative confirmed to PEOPLE that Shepard passed away at his home in Kentucky on Thursday, July 27, from complications from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The actor's battle with ALS was not publicly known. He was with his family at the time of his death.
Shepard with Lange and their two kids, Hannah and Sam (right)
The two started dating in 1982 before splitting in 2009. They had two kids, Hannah, 31, and Samuel, 30, and lived in Lange's Minnesota hometown while the kids grew up.
Shepard is survived by his two sisters, Sandy and Roxanne Rogers, and his three children: Jesse Mojo, 47, from his marriage to O-Lan Jones, as well as Hannah and Samuel.


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South Africa have let go of their father. The former president died last night following months of ill health and years away from the public limelight. He'd been suffering from a recurring lung illness. The health of Mandela had deteriorated recently, becoming critical earlier in the year. The announcement of his passing was made shortly before 22:00 GMT by current South African President, Jacob Zuma.
The South African people have warmed to Mandela like a part of a family given the dedication and passion he projected to create an equal 20th Century South Africa. For much of his life he was surrounded by controversy. He was denounced by right-wing critics to be a terrorist and communist sympathiser, but despite this he still brought about a cultural change to South Africa and the world, challenging institutionalised racism, bringing an end to the Apartheid.
Twenty Seven years in jail for the man who attempted to sabotage and overthrow the South African government in the 1960's, his trial was the beginning of what became an internationally acclaimed political legacy. As international countries called for his release and those who were jailed alongside him, when he was released in 1990 he became the African National Congress (ANC) President. He was voted as president and led the path for multi-racial elections. Not agreeing to take up a second term, Mandela became an Elder Statesman and focussed on charitable work in tackling world poverty and HIV/Aids.
There hasn't been a person on social media who hasn't paid tribute to the battles that Mandela has fought. An incredible show of warmth and love for a man who did good for a nation and the world. Flags around the world fly at half mast, whilst global leaders and heads of state, including HM The Queen, have paid emotional tributes to the most respected statesman there has been.
The death of the 95 year old is tinged with sadness amongst the overwhelming celebration of his life; his two youngest daughters learnt of the death during a premiere of a film that marked the life of their father. His final struggles had been so closely documented by the world's media but there have been incredible signs of courage and strength during the difficult time. There is no other person who comes close to leaving a legacy like Nelson Mandela, a man who has evidently been categorically respected and well loved.
A Nobel Peace Prize winner, amongst 250 other awards, Mandela was and still will be held in the highest respect within South Africa and around the globe. A humble yet powerful and persuasive man, he will always be known as the father of the nation.


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Roll Top Day Hiker Pack
The Roll-Top Day-Hiker is our handy little travel companion we reach to every day wether that be a day in the studio, weeks on the road or as flight hand luggage this humble little hold-all does it... All.
Simple, light, smart. Designed to be stowed small when not in use, designed to be tough for a life on the road.
Roll Top Day Hiker
Roll top closure, 15inch lap top sleeve, Padded straps and base.
- 15 Inch Laptop Sleeve with padded base for drop impact.
- YKK pocket ZIP
- Padded Straps.
- Adjustable buckle closure.
- 20L capacity


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If you are interested in Volunteering in school, then please contact the school office for further information. Please see the handbook below for an overview of volunteering in school.
A full Disclosure and Barring Service check will be completed before you can volunteer and we will discuss with you a suitable year group/s dependent on your availability.


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At Alliance Manchester Business School we know the value of working together.
We collaborate with business, governments, think tanks and charities across the world to solve the big challenges of today, and tomorrow.
How can we work together?
Original thinking applied.
Commission research from our world-leading experts to inform your business strategy, innovate or boost your efficiency.
Email email@example.com to find out how >>
Knowledge Exchange
Innovate and grow your business.
Take part in one of our knowledge exchange schemes to access expert knowledge across a broad range of sectors.
Take the next step >>
Strategic Talent Partnerships
Get the competitive edge.
Access expert resources, student talent and research insight to help you future-proof your success.
Speak to us to find out how >>
Global Academic Partnerships
As a business school with six international hubs, we also partner with some of the best global institutions to extend the reach of our award-winning programmes and research.
Our key partners include Renmin University and Tongji University in China; FGV in Brazil; Kelley School of Business in the US and Singapore Institute of Management.
Find out more >>
Patsy Kane, Executive Head, Education and Leadership Trust
"Just one day of mentoring with AMBS was extremely valuable - the students were bubbling with enthusiasm and it opened their minds to new opportunities. Since working with the business school I have seen a marked improvement in the students' approach to work and their confidence in and outside of the classroom."


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Contact Us
PLEASE NOTE: I have begun maternity leave and am no longer taking custom orders, everything we have available for sale is already listed on this website. No alterations will be made to the products for sale on the website. Our website will remain open for the duration of my maternity leave, with the exception of a holiday break over the Christmas period.
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Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to allergy: asthma, food allergy
an abnormal reaction of the body to an allergen, manifested by runny nose, skin rash, wheezing, etc.; hypersensitivity to the reintroduction of an allergen
n. pl. al·ler·gies
1. A condition in which exposure to a substance, such as pollen, latex, animal dander, or a particular food or drug, causes an overreaction by the immune system that results in symptoms such as sneezing, itching, rash, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.
2. Informal An adverse sentiment; antipathy: an allergy to cocktail parties.
[German Allergie : Greek allos, other; see allo- + Greek ergon, action; see werg- in Indo-European roots.]
n, pl -gies
1. (Pathology) a hypersensitivity to a substance that causes the body to react to any contact with that substance. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen
2. informal aversion: he has an allergy to studying.
[C20: from German Allergie (indicating a changed reaction), from Greek allos other + ergon activity]
al•ler•gy(ˈæl ər dʒi)
n., pl. -gies.
1. an overreaction of the immune system to a previously encountered, ordinarily harmless substance, resulting in skin rash, swelling of mucous membranes, sneezing or wheezing, or other abnormal conditions.
2. Informal. a strong dislike or aversion: an allergy to hard work.
A condition in which exposure to a particular substance or environmental influence, such as pollen, certain foods, or sunlight, causes an abnormal physiological reaction. The reaction may include difficulty in breathing, sneezing, skin rashes, and in severe cases, shock or death.
Did You Know? Feeling miserable because of an allergic reaction? Perhaps you can find some comfort in the knowledge that the misery is an unhappy side effect of your immune system trying to protect you. The immune system recognizes that a particular substance, called an allergen (for example, dust, mold, or pollen), might be dangerous. Antibodies, special molecules whose job is to round up the invaders, charge into action. The immune system, however, can overreact, causing some people to be so sensitive to these outside substances that they develop unpleasant symptoms, such as rashes, runny noses, or even serious illness. People with severe symptoms can get a series of allergy shots that prevent or lessen the allergic reaction by training the immune system to accept the allergen. Oddly enough, many people develop allergies after repeated exposures to an allergen. The difference is that controlled, small exposures through shots prompt the immune system to grow accustomed to the allergen, while accidental, large exposures provoke the allergic reaction.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
|allergy - hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity
food allergy - allergic reaction to a substance ingested in food
atopic allergy, atopy, immediate allergy, type I allergic reaction - an allergic reaction that becomes apparent in a sensitized person only minutes after contact
delayed allergy, type IV allergic reaction - an allergic reaction that becomes apparent only hours after contact
hypersensitivity reaction - an inappropriate and excessive reaction to an allergen (as pollen or dust or animal hair or certain foods); severity ranges from mild allergy to severe systemic reactions leading to anaphylactic shock
1. sensitivity, reaction, susceptibility, antipathy, hypersensitivity, sensitiveness Food allergies result in many and varied symptoms.
2. (with to) (Informal) dislike of, hatred of, hostility to or towards, aversion to, loathing of, disgust of, antipathy towards, animosity towards, displeasure of, antagonism towards, distaste of, enmity towards, opposition towards, repugnance of, disinclination towards I developed an allergy to the company of couples.
حَسَّاسِيَّةحَسَاسِيَّة الجِسْم
sự dị ứng
allergy[ˈælərdʒi] n → allergie f
to have an allergy to sth → être allergique à qch food allergy
n → Allergie f → (to gegen); he seems to have an allergy to work (hum) → er scheint gegen Arbeit allergisch zu sein
allergy[ˈælədʒɪ] n → allergia
allergy(ˈӕlədʒi) – plural ˈallergies – noun
an unusual sensitiveness of the body which causes certain people to be affected in a bad way by something usually harmless. The rash on her face is caused by an allergy to grass. allergie حَسَاسِيَّة الجِسْم алергия alergia alergie die Allergie allergi αλλεργίαalergia allergia آلرژی؛ حساسیت allergia allergieאלרגיה एलर्जी, प्रत्यूर्जता alergija allergia alergi, kepekaan ofnæmi allergia アレルギー 알레르기 alergija alerģija allergi allergieallergiuczulenie حساسیت alergia. alergie аллергия alergia alergija alergija allergi อาการแพ้; โรคภูมิแพ้ alerji 過敏症 алергія; підвищена чутливість dị ứng 过敏症allergic (-ˈləː-) adjective
(with to) affected in a bad way by (certain) things. He is allergic to certain flowers. allergies مُصاب بِالحَسَاسِيَّة لِ алергичен alérgico alergický allergisch allergisk αλλεργικόςalérgico allergiline دارای حساسیت به allerginen allergique אָלֶרגִי एलर्जी होना alergijski allergiás alergi, peka með ofnæmi, ofnæmis- allergico アレルギーの 알레르기 체질을 가진 alergiškas alerģisks alah allergischallergiskuczulony حساسیتی alérgico alergic аллергический alergický alergičen alergičan allergisk แพ้; ที่ทำให้เกิดอาการแพ้ alerjik 過敏的 алергічний الٹا اثر، رد عمل dị ứng 过敏性的
allergy→ حَسَّاسِيَّة alergie allergi Allergie αλλεργία alergia allergia allergie alergija allergia アレルギー 알레르기 allergie allergi uczulenie alergia аллергия allergi อาการแพ้ alerji sự dị ứng 过敏症
n. alergia;
delayed ___ → reacción alérgica retardada.


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Today, I have the great pleasure of welcoming her back to Get Lost In A Story as my BEST OF THE WEST guest. We'll be featuring her new release, TEXAS TALL.
She's giving away 3 signed copies, so be sure to enter the drawing!
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Meet Kaki
a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Terry Fielden Published in Illinois ASBO UPDATE Magazine
Terry Fielden, ICI's Director of K-12 Education, was recently published in the Illinois ASBO Fall 2016 Update magazine:
Let's Make a Deal: RFP Best Practices
Download a copy of his article and learn best practices in:
- Developing an Effective RFP
- Creating Selection Criteria
- Selecting the Right Partner
There is no shortage of opinions as to the aspects of a good Request for Proposal (RFP). The real challenge is devoting the time necessary to develop the RFP with enough detail to yield the desired result. Sufficient planning and forethought are always valued by administration and help to achieve the board's vision of success and achievement. The Planning and Construction Professional Development Committee (PDC) presented the final draft of a construction management RFP at the 2016 Illinois ASBO Annual Conference. Three construction management firms participated in the presentation revealing three distinct mindsets on the best solution. The biggest debate that took place was over the format of categorization: either an RFP or an RFQ. The primary difference between the two formats is the presentation of fees for the service. An RFP specifies that a fee must be submitted; an RFQ is strictly qualifications-based and no fees are included.


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It doesn't get more "natural" than this!
So, if you have been wondering where soap nuts come from, and/or how they are harvested and processed: this video is for you! No chemicals, no toxic by-products, no factories, no pollution. They are simply a green, sustainable resource brought to you directly by Mother Nature – and mankind at work.
Thanks to some very good folks in Nepal, this excellent video is now available. Note that it shows the soap nuts being de-seeded! De-seeding is a vital part of the processing (and easily seen as the most labor intensive part). Now you may see with your own eyes, why soap nuts WITH SEEDS are sold so cheaply. – Twice the weight, and virtually half the hand work!
The specific techniques and methods shown in this video vary from country to country, village to village, merchant to merchant, exporter to exporter, etc. These soap nuts are being harvested and processed for a Nepalese exporter. It's noteworthy to point out that the berries are weighed and then sold by the harvesters and processors to the exporter. i.e., No Fair Trade issues. This exporter has also acquired Ecocert certification. Ecocert is the organic certifying agency for both Nepal and India (the primary countries of origin for soap berries).
IMPORTANT: Only Certified USDA Organic "Handlers" within the USA are permitted to process, sort, and package soap nuts for resale. Only such Handlers may rightfully display the Official USDA Certified Organic Seal. (This is a commonly violated law, so if in doubt, ask for the seller's copy of their official "Handlers" certification.)
Enjoy the video!
Video Courtesy of:
Discover Nepal Exports Ltd.
Discover Nepal Adventure Ltd.
Global Packers and Movers Ltd.
Director: Sushil Mainali Cameraman: Narayan PrasainSpecial Thanks:
Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources (ANSAB)
For MANY important "TIPS" before purchasing Soap Nuts, please read:


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Leesburg, VAHome Menu
Mayor & Council
The Town of Leesburg operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The Town Council is the legislative body of the Town and is empowered by the Town Charter to make Town policy. The Council is composed of a Mayor and six Council Members elected at large on a non-partisan basis.
Current Council Members
Mayor Kelly Burk (term expires December 31, 2020)
Vice Mayor Fernando "Marty" Martinez (term expires on December 31, 2022)
Council Member Ron Campbell (term expires on December 31, 2020)
Council Member Thomas S. Dunn, II (term expires on December 31, 2020)
Council Member Suzanne Fox (term expires on December 31, 2022)
Council Member Neil Steinberg (term expires on December 31, 2022)
Council Member Joshua Thiel (term expires on December 31, 2020)
Letters to the Town Council may be mailed to 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, or faxed to (703) 771-2727. Alternatively, you can contact the entire Town Council by email at email@example.com. Please be aware that correspondence sent by or to the Leesburg Town Council is subject to Virginia's Freedom of Information Act.
Council Meetings
The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Government Center, 25 West Market Street. The Council meets in work session at 7:00 p.m. on Mondays preceding regular Tuesday meetings. Meetings are conducted according to the Council's adopted Rules of Procedure.
The public is welcome to attend the meetings. Council meetings can be seen live on Leesburg's Government Access Channel, Comcast Channel 67 and Verizon Channel 35, or by webcast. Webcasts are archived on this website and may be viewed on demand.
Participation by public-spirited citizens on Town boards and commissions is vital to the success of the Town government. Individuals interested in applying for a vacancy on one of our boards, commissions or committees should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Clerk of Council.
Council Elections
Town elections are held every two years, in November of even-numbered years. The next Town Council elections will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Mayor is elected for a two-year term. The remaining six Town Council members are elected for four-year staggered terms. During each election cycle, the Mayor and three Council members are elected. All Town Council members are elected at large.
Information about voter registration, polling places, and for prospective candidates, is available on the Loudoun County Voter Registration and Elections webpage.


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CNET : The Mac is now popular enough to attract major attention from the bad guys. That number, which came from Russian antivirus company Dr. Web earlier this week, was confirmed today by security firm Kaspersky. More than 98 percent of the affected computers were running Mac OS X, the firm said..
I don't know if it has anything to do, but Flash needs to die! I don't understand why every site on the planet is still not using HTML 5.


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International Trade Law and the Nature of State
Our world is nothing but a huge marketplace. It is a place where trade laws govern and direct the consumer through various arrangements. Nonetheless, to understand the intricacies of the law, it necessary that we look for the expert to impart the knowledge. Ari Afilalo is one such expert. His knowledge of international trade renowned worldwide.
International trade initiated in the fourteenth century and since then it has evolved in numerous ways. What began with silk and spices from China, progressed to the commodities. With globalization, commodities transformed into services and the world became a global village. To improve and improvise the limitations of the trade, it is necessary to improve and improvise the trade laws constantly.
The New Global Trading Order
Professor of Law at Rutgers-Camden School of Law, Afilalo has given his life to teach the global trade scenario and work towards the betterment of the society. His latest book, The New Global Trading Order: The Evolving State and the Future of Trade gives his unique insight into the world of trading. The new globe trade order tells about various discrepancies that have changed the physiognomy of global trade. With his expertise and knowledge, Ari Afilalo suggests not only strong but effective practical measures that can change the course of global trade.
Ari Afilalo based theories for his research on these major subjects:
- International Trade
- International Business Transactions
- European Union Laws
Relationship Between International Trade Laws & the State
Interconnected with a common aim, these three subjects aim to explore the relationship between the international trade laws and the nature of State. Ari Afilalo's new book also focuses on the same working relationship. He also explores the form of the trade order since the postmodern era and adds his insights to the various regulatory frameworks and numerous current institutions that need to be changed or supplemented. Similar to this concept, Ari Afilalo also examines the relationship between the constitutional law of the country (State) and the international law and how they can co-exist better. He argues that the norms that shape the State should also shape the international trade law so that there is a minimum friction between the two. You can read in detail about the relationship between the state and the international trade law in Ari Afilalo's book – The New Global Trading Order.


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I'm a fan of Marks and Spencers' Baby Clothing, mainly because the design and the quality is so good. They are more expensive than the supermarket clothes, there's no denying that, but if you want something smart for an occasion, or something that's going to last repeated washes then these clothes are fab. The good news is that baby clothes at M&S have become a little more affordable with this voucher code. You can get £5 off when you spend £35 on Baby Wear by entering the voucher code SAVE5BABY4 at the checkout.
Click here for Baby Clothing @ Marks and Spencer*
- Discount: £5 off babywear
- Minimum Spend: £35
- Expires: 22/03/15
- Code: SAVE5BABY4
You can an awful lot of clothing for the £30 if you choose from the essentials range, the multipacks, or the starter sets, and the prices are pretty reasonable even before the discount on some of these. In case you were wondering Baby Wear covers birth to 2 years of age, so you can use this code to top up on first toddler clothes as well as for the younger babies. There are some beautiful sets that would make lovely New Baby gifts as well.
Thanks to andywedge @ HUKD


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Bone health has been a growing concern for people with HIV, since studies have indicated that HIVers experience higher than expected rates of osteopenia (bone mineral density lower than normal) and osteoporosis (bone mineral density very low, with heightened risk of fractures). A 2012 review from Johns Hopkins researchers, for example, concluded that the "increasing prevalence of osteoporosis in HIV-infected persons translates into a higher risk of fracture, likely leading to excess morbidity and mortality as the HIV-infected population ages."
The Johns Hopkins study urged more attention to Vitamin D deficiency and supplementation as one way to counter these HIV-related bone issues. But we think it's also worth looking at recent Canadian research, not focused especially on people with HIV, but with some striking findings about the value of multiple supplements to support healthy bone mineral density levels. The supplements investigated included vitamin D(3), vitamin K(2), strontium, magnesium and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), all chosen because of previous evidence about their benefit to bone health. Following a year-long study of patients with varying levels of bone loss, the Canadian researchers determined that this supplement regimen was as effective as a class of drugs often prescribed for osteoporosis (bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax or Boniva). And, they found that the combination of supplements was even effective for people who had failed to benefit from the prescription osteoporosis drugs.
We hope to see further study of supplement combinations for bone loss in people with HIV. It's an acknowledged problem as HIVers get older, and if there's a potential way to lower this health risk over the long run, let's take a serious look at it!
Note: NYBC stocks Jarrow's Bone Up or Ultra Bone Up, plus Max DHA or EPA-DHA Balance, which provide most of the micronutrients in the Canadian study (missing is the Strontium, but NYBC hopes to have a recommendation for that in the near future).
Visit the NYBC website for more information:
The Johns Hopkins study: Walker Harris V, Brown TT. Bone loss in the HIV-infected patient: evidence, clinical implications, and treatment strategies. J Infect Dis. 2012 Jun;205 Suppl 3:S391-8. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis199.
The Canadian study: Genuis SJ, Bouchard TP. Combination of Micronutrients for Bone (COMB) Study: bone density after micronutrient intervention. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:354151. doi: 10.1155/2012/354151.


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So, my doctor says I'm suffering from stress. Surprised? No, me neither. I have a full time job, with plenty of pressure and not enough resources, and two small children. Oh, and there's still a hole in the house roof…
I had a telephone appointment with a counsellor yesterday, and she asked me to explain my life to her. At the end of it, she said 'I'm a bit stuck here'… Not a terribly reassuring thing to hear a therapist say, especially down the telephone, which clearly isn't a long term solution. I do now have five sessions face to face with someone else and we'll see how that goes.
One of the things she asked me was what in life I could stop doing. Anything that I could give up, which would give me more time to just 'be' instead of being on the perpetual treadmill of 'doing'. A lot of the causes of stress in my life at the moment are externally driven, things I cannot change. The truth is that I cannot afford to reduce my hours at work, and I clearly cannot hand over my kids to someone else until they start sleeping through the night, so really, the only things I can give up are those things I do for myself. The things I do to keep a bit of me around, the me that isn't an employee or a mother, but just me. I'm not about to do that, because those are the things that help me retain my sanity, albeit on a very loose thread.
I could, however, give up my 35:35 Challenge. I've come to realise that I am pretty unlikely to get to complete 35 new things before June, unless there is a flurry of activity soon. It's hard to find the time in amongst all the other things that need doing every day, or every week. After a bit of thought, what I've decided to do, rather than giving it up, is to stop putting pressure on myself to complete it. So what if I only do twenty new things in the year? That's still a good handful of new experiences, new people, new places. The journey is what counts, not whether I make the numbers ( I have enough budget management to do as it is!).
So, a relaxing, then, of the Challenge. Not an abandonment. I do still have things in the pipeline that I will continue to do. Some of them I will be writing about very soon. And there is still my 'Bucket List'. A more important list of things I really, really want to do before I drop off my perch, which I wrote ages ago and then ignored, like somehow it was going to just happen all by itself. So, there's the rest of my life to think about that, rather than just the time to my next birthday.
But what I need to do now is find some better coping mechanisms. The last thing I want is for my children (who let's be truthful, are often the cause of my stress, as well as my happiness) to suffer because I am exhausted, anxious, weepy or snappy. I've started taking a better, more objective look at myself and what I'm doing every day. My crutches have been occasional drinking, way too much sugar, and getting into bed or slumping in front of the TV instead of to the gym or out in the fresh air. I also need to tidy the house, as the sheer amount of things we have in it sometimes feels as though the walls are closing in. In her wonderful book and website "The Happiness Project", Gretchen Rubin understands that outer calm creates inner happiness, and I agree with her, so I need to tackle the clutter!
I don't think it's a generalisation too far to say that working mums (or dads) put themselves at the bottom of a long list of people, but once you burn out, then you are not helping yourself or them. So, time for a bit of self-help, alongside the counselling. Better nutrition, that will give me more, longer sustained energy; getting some exercise; a massage. Taking some time for me, to find a bit of calm and peace on that treadmill.
If there are any stress management things you do, that you think would help me out, do let me know. I know I'm not the only one out there who juggles a lot in life, so it would be brilliant to hear how you manage it!


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SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL: Never take a medication without first consulting and getting permission from your MD.
Medicina Mexico knows that keeping your customers happy, secure and safe is more important than making money and will always result in repeat customers.
By checking your online account, you will see your current and prior orders including your Order Number and
any and all payments received.
Because our staff is so busy processing orders from all over the world 24/7, we were forced to make some tough decisions.
We are no longer taking phone calls, nor are we updating or adding shipping information into our web servers.
We do answer all emails within 5 hours and that will never stop.
All order are shipped within 48 hours of receipt of funds unless we are out of stock on a medicine and in those cases, we are now
informing our customers of orders by email. Please do not send an email asking if your order has shipped
or requesting a tracking number. as we are too busy packaging and shipping new orders. In short, we will
not answer you unless your order is late by 30 days.
If we took the time to look up this information for all our customers, then nothing would be shipped on time.
Please NOTE: Funds received without an order number are placed into our SUSPENSE ACCOUNT until we can determine the correct owner and order number. To avoid this, please always send an email to: email@example.com along with your order number and the fact that you made a payment.
The UNITED STATES and some other countries require a prescription on all medication sold from Mexico. They further require documentation in
English and an invoice of all medicines sold for customs. For these countries,
Medicina Mexico is now delivering your medicines to Dr. Isaac Reyes, MD (Ced. Federal 644884) (Ced. Estatal 1537-02/05)
along with the required documentation including documentation on each medication sold in English is from Wolters Kluwer.
Dr. Reyes upon receipt of your medication will issue a prescription and provide for shipping pursuant to your order.
If for any reason, Dr. Reyes fails to issue a prescription for a specific medication, then you will receive a refund or credit.
Medicina Mexico is required under Mexican law to retain the original prescription issued by Dr. Reyes.
Licensed pharmacies in Mexico are only allowed to sell medications, either brands or generics, from an approved pharmaceutical which has passed testing and has subsequently been authorized by the Mexican Government.
If you look on the left-hand side of any of our web pages at (About US) you will see our licenses, permits and our Regulatory Body.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Our email address is: email@example.com or email@example.com
Brand Name: Ceclor
Generic name: Cefaclor
Why is Ceclor prescribed? Ceclor, a cephalosporin antibiotic, is used in the treatment of ear, nose, throat, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin infections caused by specific bacteria, including staph, strep, and E. coli. Uses include treatment of sore or strep throat, pneumonia, and tonsillitis. Ceclor CD, an extended release form of the drug, is also used for flare-ups of chronic bronchitis. Most important fact about Ceclor: If you are allergic to either penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics in any form, consult your doctor before taking Ceclor. There is a possibility that you are allergic to both types of medication; and if a reaction occurs, it could be extremely severe. If you take the drug and feel signs of a reaction, seek medical attention immediately. Ceclor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Please consult your physician before taking any medication.


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Photo: Courtesy of eOne Films
writers/Directors: Tony Jaa & Panna Rittikrai (Ong Bak 2: The Beginning)
Cast: Tony Jaa, Deaw Chupong Changpung, Pechthai Wongkomlao, Nirut Srijanya, Pimrata Deajodom
Thailand, 2010
Reason to see: It's Tony Jaa, which is reason enough to see anything!
I'm a big fan of Tony Jaa and the first Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, and although I wasn't as keep on the historical set sequel/prequel Ong Bak 2: The Beginning I still had a lot of fun watching it on the closing night of TIFF back in 2009. Nothing like seeing these kinds of films with a crowd, especially the fight scenes which made me a little sad to see this the third film go straight to DVD, but I was still really happy to get a chance to see it.
Ong Bak 3 chronologically follows Ong Bak 2: The Beginning and continues the journey of the Tien (Tony Jaa) in a historical setting. I'm a big fan of martial arts films, although sometimes I forget how has they can be exploring and depicting things like unlawful imprisonment, corrupt leaders, people living in fear all of which we have here. Of course that's a great opportunity for a hero story, which we also have here. It's also a really strong personal & spiritual journey story of the character of Tien, which I'm enjoyed a fair amount, but I'm not sure it will always connect with the pacing that non-stop action audience expect.
I enjoyed the spiritual elements of the film, and there is also strong fantasy and mythic tone taken with them portraying characters and ideas that feel way beyond the ordinary, one of which is Sanga, played by Deaw Chupong Changpung, who is a dark spirit type character. We also get our comic relief from Men (Petchthai Wongkomlao) and love interest Pim (Pimrata Deajodom), whom showcases Khon, a stylized form of Thai dance which was another really interesting element to the film.
It seems unfair to criticize a martial arts film for too strong a story, and this one was much clearer & tighter than Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, but I think the action is really what people are looking for and I'll be curious to hear if the spiritual element resonate with others. But it also does have great action as well, although mostly as book ends to the film, they are still spectacular fight sequences and had me glued to the screen. At points I wondered "How did they do that?", and from watching the behind the scenes it looks like mostly.. they just DID it. Now that's amazing.
DVD Extras:
- B-Roll (14 minutes) b-roll including fight choreography & preparation, cast & crew watching playback, fighting, dancing, make-up preparation and footage of working with the elephants (no subtitles).
- 6 Interviews, subtitled in English. I really enjoyed the Tony Jaa and Pimrata Deajodom interviews, as well as the inclusion in several interviews of a very direct to camera message to the audience on why they should see or what they will enjoy about the film, which is really cute. The individual interviews include: actor/co-director Tony Jaa (10 minutes) including discussing the differences in his character from Ong Bak 2 and Ong Bak 3, the journey of his character in this film, the inspiration to bring Khon to the big screen, the creation of Nat-ta-yut, the inclusion of ideas of Buddhism and Brahmanism in the film. Action Director & co-director Panna Rittikrai (5 minutes) on differences from previous Ong Bak films, the decision to make it different, it's connection to Ong Bak 2, and the representation of Thai culture in the film and how Ong Bak 3 is the last film in the series. Actor Deaw Chupong Changpung (4 minutes) on the character of Sanga, his aggressive nature, the length and intensity of working on the action sequences, the preparation and make up, working with an impressive Thai cast and working with Tony Jaa. Actor Petchthai Wongkomlao (3 minutes) on his character Men and his role in the film as the humour and in relation to the character of Tien, on working with Tony Jaa, the martial arts style used in the film. Actor Nirut Srijanya (3 minutes) on his character of Master Bua in relation to the character of Tien and Tien's journey in the film, discussing Khon, the relationship and differences of the three films. Actor Pimrata Deajodom (4 minutes) on her character of Pim, in terms of and relationship with Tien, working with Tony Jaa, as well as discussing Khon practice and the challenges of filming.
- Trailer
Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it to fans of martial arts films
Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews
© Shannon Ridler, 2011
Photo: Tony Jaa as Tien in Ong Bak 3. Courtesy of eOne Films.
Photo: Tony Jaa as Tien in Ong Bak 3. Courtesy of eOne Films.
Photo: Ong Bak 3, Courtesy of eOne Films.


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Empty Clip (Akron Series in Poetry) (Paperback)
University of Akron Press, 9781629220994, 64pp.
Publication Date: April 23, 2018
List Price: 15.95*
* Individual store prices may vary.
About the Author
Emilia Phillips is the author of two other poetry collections from the University of Akron Press, Signaletics (2013) and Groundspeed (2016), and three chapbooks. Her poems and lyric essays appear widely in literary publications including Agni, Boston Review, Ploughshares, Poetry, and elsewhere. She's an assistant professor in the MFA Writing Program and the Department of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.


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Parmesan Cheese Pencils: Sharpen Your Way into Better Salads
Instead of grating your Parmigiano-Reggiano, try sharpening them.
German advertising agency Kolle Rebbe rolled out these parmesan cheese pencils for food coop The Deli Garage, which sells hand-made artisanal delicatessen food in ingenious and artful packaging. Available in three different flavors (truffle, pesto, and chili, all found where the graphite ought to be in a normal pencil), Kolle Rebbe molds the king of cheese into oversized cylindrical pencils that can easily be sharpened as you would the wooden kind.
This clever packaging reinvents the parmesan from a nondescript block you might easily pass over in the supermarket to a delightful, hands-on experience. It includes the calorie count relative to the length of the pencil used, as well as recommendations on how much to use for certain recipes. Produced in a limited batch of 500 sets, these quirky parmesan cheese pencils unfortunately ran out in as little as two weeks.


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Jadis <3's Rick '17
Perhaps the biggest news of the evening was that Rick Grimes was not naked inside that shipping container.
I probably should have started with the spoiler warning. Sorry.
[Editor's Note: This recap will obviously go into detail about last night's episode of The Walking Dead, so there are going to be a ton of spoilers. Final warning!]
This is a recap, so let's begin with what happened, which, truthfully, felt like not a hell of a lot.
I know, I was disappointed that Rick still had his undies, too. The entirety of the internet thought the Scavengers had left him naked inside that shipping container-turned-sauna. But Jadis more than made up for this snafu when she required that Rick pose for her (without the underwear) as part of their new bargain.
It felt most problematic, again, only speaking in terms of logical progression, that Jadis decides to make a new deal with Rick, after denying him several times already, and her earlier betrayal. What has changed? Sure, Rick managed to beat up a few of her Garbagemen (that's what her henchmen are called, no?) and get the better of another one of their trash heap walker pets, but he's already done that before. In fact, if this were to follow pattern, she'd change her mind, agree to Rick's deal, and then, ultimately, betray him again. Has Rick demonstrated he's more likely to win this time around? Not to them, no, Polaroids or not.
The Eugene developments didn't really transcend anything more than his facial expressions expanding beyond neutrality and cowardice to include a kind of hideous anger. Yes, he tells off Gabriel in no uncertain terms, but he doesn't then smother him with a pillow. And yes, he seems to commit more than ever to his current predicament and to Negan by formulating multiple plans to save the Saviors (and concurrently not aid Rick and gang). However, when he has the opportunity to out Dwight to Negan, he gets cold feet again.
This is pure Eugene doing Eugene to stay alive. Some of you might argue that Dwight presents him with a clear choice: do nothing, and the Saviors lose, Rick wins. And Eugene (twice) chooses to do something. For whatever reason, he believes his current situation to be the favorable one. Maybe because his former friends know just how deep his cowardice goes, or possibly because he feels so valued now. Obviously, this is Negan manipulation at its best, but Eugene, as smart as he claims to be, doesn't see this.
Ultimately, Eugene does prove his worth and, presumably, increase his standing with Negan, by helping the Saviors to extricate themselves from their dire predicament (as Rick discovers at the episodes conclusion). Thus, our 90-minute, mid-season finale is now set up, with both sides out in the open and able to fight once more. Team Rick, as determined as ever, and now seemingly bolstered by the Scavengers' ranks, and the Saviors, now presumably incredibly pissed off as they've lost lots of people and their home.
AMC pulled major view-bait with the promise of a must-see moment that everyone will be talking about after the episode, but we'll have to wait and see. Unless we get the long-promised, as yet delivered ALL OUT WAR, I'm not sure this first half-season can be saved (no matter how many Saviors they throw at it).
'Time for After' did have one thing going for it though, almost through and through, and that was its cinematography. There were a number of shots relying on high-contrast situations between light and shadow that seemed to utilize natural light (or great approximation of such). For a slow-paced, non-revaltory story, great execution on production is essential to keep keen (or slightly disenchanted) viewers interested. Kudos for that.
But did anyone else notice the flaws with the shot on the roof that featured both Dwight and Eugene? That looked incredibly fake--and I suspect it had something to do with the fact that they wanted both actors in focus, simultaneously, at different depths of field, while keeping the background out of focus. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but it looked like some bad green screening / chromakeying gone wrong there. It's such a small thing to leave to be picked over that it's not worth not getting right.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What forms of payment are accepted?
Most major credit cards, postal money orders and cashiers checks.
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This is a judgement call, however most carriers will accept some household goods. But in 1998 the Department of Transportation ruled that you may NOT load any items in a vehicle on auto carriers. All trucks are occasionally subject to inspection, which involves unloading the vehicles off the truck and items in the vehicle maybe left behind.
Auto carriers are not licensed to carry house goods or personal items, these goods and items are not covered by the carriers insurance. Any damage to your vehicle due to household goods shifting or breaking is also not covered. Personal belongings left in the vehicle, are shipped strictly at the owners risk .Carriers will not inventory any belongings left in the vehicle and will assume no responsibility.
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As with most transport services, a deposit is generally required when placing an order .Deposits range from 10-25 % of the total shipping fee. The balance will be due upon delivery.
Most auto transport companies accept cash, certified checks, and postal money orders.
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Your car is insured for the Blue Book value the entire time it is on the truck. Clearly listed on your Shipping Order, Agreement and Bill of Lading are occurrences not covered. At the time of pick-up, a condition report is filled out and signed by both the person turning the car over and the truck driver and you are given a copy.
Upon delivery of your vehicle, this same report is presented. You should compare the condition of the vehicle to the report thoroughly at that time. If you feel damage has occurred to your vehicle during delivery, you must note it on the report before you sign it and the driver leaves. Damage done in transit does not relieve the shipper of paying for transport service performed. Claims will be handled by the vehicle carrier.
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Justice Not On City's To Do List
How many city officials does it take to screw in a light bulb?
The joke crossed my mind after reporting on a mom from Sterling thrown behind bars on a Denver warrant intended for a suspect who is seven years younger and 90 pounds lighter.
It has festered since other victims have come forward after also being snatched erroneously and thrown in jail. Those include a student forced to spend eight days behind bars answering to the name of another man, a retiree mistaken for a suspect who was long dead and a black man locked up on a white man's warrant.
Safety officials pledged to fix their policies. And city brass promised to mend their ways.
"We are committed to preventing this type of situation from happening again," Mayor John Hickenlooper said in January.
Because nine months after the latest batch of victims sued over the screw-ups, the city hasn't bothered to clear some of their names from the criminal database. Piling recklessness upon recklessness, Denver still hasn't set the record straight.
"It pisses me off beyond words," says Christina FourHorn, the Sterling mom who had no record before her wrongful arrest. She worries her license as a certified nurse assistant is at risk because of the city's mistake. "My name is on that database because the city messed up. They should have fixed it already."
Consider this. If your wallet were stolen and the culprit used your ID when arrested for another crime, Denver would offer the servicesof a victim's advocate to clean up your erroneous criminal records.
But when the city's own police or sheriff's deputies mess up your identity, you're likely to get no help disentangling your name from the true suspect's nor wiping their mistake off your rap sheet.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation database shows the names of at least three mistaken-identity victims as aliases for the real suspects, and at least four still with criminal records stemming from the errors.
"There are inaccuracies in there, no question about it," says CBI's Lance Clem, noting that it's Denver's responsibility to provide accurate and complete records.
"We have to look at what the process is," responds Hickenlooper spokesman Eric Brown. "Is it CBI who removes it or Denver who removes it?"
"Each of these cases is different," adds city Attorney David Fine.
CBI's database is the key source for employers and landlords doing background checks. Police officers refer to it when deciding who to arrest.


text: Nathan Waddell speaks about Wyndham Lewis at the Royal Academy of Arts On Friday 13 July 2018, Dr Nathan Waddell spoke at the Royal Academy of Arts about Wyndham Lewis's rejected 1938 portrait of TS Eliot. Part publicity stunt, part sincere tribute, the portrait tells us as much about Eliot's significance as about Lewis's impishness. In his talk, Nathan explored these elements of the work in view of Lewis's relationship with Eliot and his other portraits of the period. Lewis's 1938 portrait of Eliot is one of the most important works he ever produced. A highly successful painting, it nevertheless failed to convince the Selection Committee of the 1938 Summer Exhibition - with the result that it wasn't shown in that Exhibition, leading to a substantial amount of free publicity for Lewis; unwelcome attention for the Royal Academy (including the resignation of one of its members, Augustus John); some awkwardness for Eliot; and more exposure of the portrait itself than would probably have been the case had it simply been accepted to begin with. Nathan's talk explored how Lewis didn't like what he thought the Royal Academy stood for and explored how Lewis's career depended in some measure on the Academy's usefulness to him as a rival. Lewis needed the Royal Academy to prove the true extent of his own self-professed talents, just as the Royal Academy needed Lewis to prove its seemingly measured response to his boasting and game-playing. Lewis didn't treat the rejection of the Eliot portrait simply as an opportunity for self-aggrandisement. His criticisms of the Royal Academy were cogent and had substance. Yet Lewis knew what he was doing, and he knew that bad publicity is better than none. Nathan concluded by suggesting that Lewis may have painted Eliot not only because Lewis wanted to monumentalize a friend and highly esteemed peer, but also because Lewis wanted to see if modernist culture more broadly might have reached a moment of 'official' recognition. Behind Lewis's disappointment at the Royal Academy may have been a double frustration: at his own lack of acceptance, and, obliquely, at Eliot's, at least as he took shape in the painting. The frustration may have been because Lewis knew that acceptance at the Royal Academy would mean the end of a certain kind of avant-garde radicalism. A recording of the talk will be available shortly. Nathan Waddell is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English Literature at the University of Birmingham and a Co-Director of the Centre for Modernist Cultures. He is the author and co-editor of several books, including Modern John Buchan (2009), Modernist Nowheres (2012), Utopianism, Modernism, and Literature in the Twentieth Century (2013), and Wyndham Lewis: A Critical Guide (2015).


text: YouTube is now trending online money making source of this era, YouTube produced many super stars over the glob like BB Ki Vines and CarryMinaty. They become rich in few months just showing up their talents. This category is based on the strategies which will helps you to double your output like double your income that's why named as YouTube Doubler


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The agriculture programme aims to support the women to grow sufficient food to both feed their families and yield an excess that can be sold at local markets to generate income. The goals are to increase production sustainably and to improve marketing. Different strategies are pursued to achieve these goals. Training is key and includes agriculture production best practices such as planning; vegetable farming; food processing and preservation; pesticide, disease and weed control; compost and irrigation.
Additional training in business skills, marketing and financial management is given. The underlying approach that guides the programme is that of "agro-ecological farming". Other strategies include building the capacity of a farmers' association, improving marketing, facilitating the provision of agricultural infrastructure, and the like.


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OPPO, a Taiwanese technology firm that has released several smartphones and other smart devices, announced that the OPPO A83 was launched in China.
The showcase for the devices shows a similar design choice (rounded corners, lack of a home button, etc). The only major and annoying difference is the absence of a fingerprint scanner in the A83. The company opted to use Face Unlock which has been a technology riddled with issues in recent times and many companies have been laughed at over how easy it is to overcome. However, the company claims that with this feature it takes 0.18 seconds to unlock the phone making it one of the fastest unlocking times of any smartphones. The company also stated that it
The phone comes with a metal back panel as opposed to plastic, has rounded corners and edges to make the phone easier and smoother to handle.
The device comes with a 5.7-inch HD+ display, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. It also comes with a 2.5GHZ octa-core processor which is likely to be HelioP23 by the company would not reveal the brand type of the processor.
The rear camera is 13MP but the company claims that it has the ability to shoot up to 50MP by "stitching several shots together" which is interesting but needs to be tested. In addition, the front-facing camera comes in at about 8MP with as the company has dubbed "AI beauty mode" which is like real-time photoshop.
The phone comes with a 3,180 mAh battery and comes in at a price of $214. The official online OPPO shop is available for pre-orders with sales starting from December 29. If you are to pre-order, you will get a pair of QY7 Bluetooth headphones for free.


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By Paul Ciocoiu for Southeast European Times*
Elena Gheorghe will represent Romania at the Eurovision semifinal in Moscow in May with the song "The Balkan Girls" after winning the national competition against 11 other acts on January 31.
The jury and the public gave her 22 points total, with their votes having equal weight in the final decision. Romania came in 20th in last year's competition in Belgrade, a position that compels this year's representative to sing first in the semifinals.
"It is the most beautiful moment of my life; my heart stopped with happiness," Gheorghe said immediately after word of her victory. Among her rivals in the May 10 to 16 competition in the Russian capital will be French singer Patricia Kaas.
"The Balkan Girls" owes its melody and lyrics to Laurentiu Duta, the lead singer and founder of the pop band 3 Sud-Est. Gheorghe will go on a promotion tour in Germany before heading to Russia and will work with experts from state TV to improve her choreography and wardrobe. She sang with the Latino band Mandinga before embarking on a solo career.
Romania historically has not fared well at Eurovision. In 2005, Luminita Anghel and the band Sistem came in third, the best showing so far.
The next year, Romania's representative -- Mihai Traistariu -- slipped down one notch to fourth place, although his song "Tornero" soon became a hit across Europe. Romania's worst performance was in 1998, when its entry took 22nd place.
Previous nationwide contests in Romania almost inevitably sank into controversy and scandals, with critics taking potshots at the jury for imposing its unilateral choice regardless of the viewers' say. Last year, cynics said a nativist-minded jury picked Nico and Vlad Mirita to represent Romania, since a Swedish band, Biondo, had appeared likely to win. Foreign groups can compete in Romania's Eurovision selection process.
This year was not completely free of controversy. Gheorghe won the most points from the jury but polled second among the public. Irate hackers posted offensive messages on her web site the next day, apparently frustrated that their favourite band, Blaxie Girls, had lost.


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'blizzard'.
Found 1 result
overwatch Overwatch , Diablo 3 and HotS
Akira posted a topic in Other GamesHi i do play other games, most of the time i tend to focus on Overwatch, diablo 3, HotS, but if other AAA titles are launched i like to play them. If any of you want to play some Overwatch sent me a PM and ill give you my battletag. BTW im on the Eu servers'.


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You know, I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody listened. And then I began talking about niggers, and they stomped the floor.
Ford's political ambitions have caused him to take a variety of socially conservative positions that he is now racing to disavow. The most morally pernicious of these was his effort to position himself as the most anti-gay of the anti-gay politicians that infect the American political system. It's probable that Ford really didn't have a problem with gay marriage. But, as Coates writes:
In the 1950s and 1960s, Alabama had in its midst men who knew segregation was a reeking abomination, but embraced it because it allowed them to fix a road in their hometown, build a clinic in the underserved backwoods, or just hook a friend up for a job. Or maybe it was just power--who can tell?
From my perspective, motive is irrelevant. (There's usually a good reason to do evil. That's the nature of evil.) It takes a particular kind of cowardice to throw people's lives aside and bow to the mutually destructive curse of discrimination. I can believe Harold Ford was never actually against gay marriage, and was more concerned with good schools and good roads. But then when he said "constitutional amendment," they stomped the floor.


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Controversial self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is in judicial custody in the alleged sexual assault case of a minor, today moved a bail application in the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur.
The hearing on the petition is scheduled on Monday, one of Asaram's counsels said.
Last week a lower court had rejected the bail plea of 72-year old Asaram, who was arrested on September 1 from his Indore ashram.
His aide Shiva, who is considered as a key witness in the case, is also under judicial custody.
Police is now looking forward to the other three co-accused – Shilpi, Sharad Chandra and a cook of the self-styled godman – to wrap up investigation and filing chargesheet in the case.
The district and session court rejected the anticipatory bail moved by Shilpi, the warden of the Chhindwara-based ashram in Madhya Pradesh, yesterday.
The 16-year-old girl had lodged a complaint with the police on August 20, accusing Asaram of sexually assaulting her at his Jodhpur ashram.
(Source: IANS)


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MSI laptop making a tapping noise, any help?
It's coming from the top left, it was fine until I turned it on this morning, can I just ignore the sound or is it something serious, here is the video of the sound boosted in audio https://youtu.be/fMTAUkBKaQA
There maybe two possibilities of this tapping sound, maybe it comes from the hard drive or from the processor's fan. We suggest you two steps below. Please follow them one by one and let us know.
Step1: Clean your laptop's fan from the went using AIR BLOWER.
Step2: Check your system drive using check disk. Right-click on the c: drive and then click on properties and got to tools tabs and click on "check" button. After that reboot your computer. If your hard drive have some normal issue, this check disk will fixit itself. See the below screenshot.
Please let us know if doesn't fix the issue after that.


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**Hello blog friends! I had such huge intentions of writing so many more letters in the month of June, but some health issues got in my way. I'll be sharing a little more about that later, but for now, here is one last letter to one of my favorites! Thanks for hanging in there with me!**
Dear Tiffany,
I thought this letter would be one of my easiest to write, but it turns out when you have so many things to say, it often is difficult to know how to say them.
You are my person.
You are the one I love to laugh with, the one I love to sit and do nothing with, and the one I feel comfortable sharing my frustrations, worries, and vulnerabilities with.
You are the one that encourages me, makes me laugh at myself, and makes me feel like a normal mama on my most impatient days.
You inspire me in how you raise your littles. You are patient, creative, and full of life with them!
I love spending lazy, long mornings talking over hot coffee piled high with whipped cream. I love dreaming and creating with you.
I've been indebted with gratitude when you have cried with me during some of my most difficult days, and I have been blessed beyond measure to laugh so hard with you that it hurts. I thank Jesus often for the gift He gave me in your friendship.
Here's to many more years of laughs, stories, and cups of coffee!


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How to Buy Hatchimals, Nintendo NES, and Apple Airpods Even Though They're Sold Out
You don't have to pay a fortune on eBay.
This article originally appeared on Money.
For weeks, desperate shoppers have been frustrated by the way two of the 2016 holiday season's hottest gifts—Hatchimals and Nintendo NES Classic—have been sold out at every turn. Lately, Apple Airpods have joined the ranks of extremely popular, impossible-to-find holiday gift items. Apple finally began accepting online orders for the much-hyped wireless earbuds this week, but the limited quantity available for delivery by December 24 was unsurprisingly sold out almost immediately.
It is the season or miracles, however, so don't give up hope. With a little luck and strategy, there are still plenty of ways to pick up these must-have holiday purchases, perhaps even without getting gouged. Here's what you need to know.
Undeniably the "it" toy for the 2016 holiday season, Hatchimals have been virtually sold out since early November. Because demand for the furry, interactive toys that hatch out of eggs has far outpaced supply, prices for Hatchimals have soared on eBay and other resale sites. To avoid disappointing kids with their hearts set on Hatchimals, buyers have regularly been paying three or four times higher than the toy's original $50-$60 retail price.
But biting the bullet and paying through the nose is not the only way to get your hands on Hatchimals. Over the past two weeks, fresh batches of Hatchimals have popped up around the country in Toys R Us, Target, and Walmart stores. And yes, they've been selling for normal retail prices, as low as $48.88 at Walmart.
Stores are expected to keep putting a sprinkling of new Hatchimals on shelves over the next week or so, but, understandably, the toys are generally snatched up by shoppers the moment they're available. To increase the odds that you'll get your hands on a Hatchimal, talk to the manager at your local store and ask for tips for snagging one for your kid. By all means, present your sob story and play up your customer loyalty to see if the manager can hook you up with some special assistance. Also, take note that Toys R Us specifically reached out to MONEY to say that stores nationwide will have new Hatchimals supplies ready when they open at 6 a.m. for special holiday hours on Saturday, December 17.
As for online shopping options, you can sign up for alerts from services like Brick Seek and Hatchimals Locator, but they only track inventory among e-retail operations—and they've been completely sold out for weeks. Of course, there's always eBay too. The resale market is prone to pricing fluctuation, but as of Wednesday the "Buy It Now" and final bid prices for auctions show that Hatchimals have been selling for under $150 apiece. That's significantly cheaper than the $200-$250 asking prices from third-party sellers listing Hatchimals at Amazon Marketplace and Walmart.com.
Finally, if you're feeling lucky, enter the contest being hosted by Spin Master, the maker of Hatchimals. The company is giving away one of the toys daily through December 20.
Nintendo NES Classic Edition
Like Hatchimals, the throwback Nintendo Entertainment System gaming console has been nearly impossible to buy at the normal $60 list price in stores and at retailer websites. That's left shoppers with seemingly few places to turn other than eBay or Amazon Marketplace, where prices are generally $200 and up.
There are some other options, however. Amazon recently rolled out a special promotion selling the Nintendo NES at normal price, but with two catches—only members of its Prime Now service are eligible, and only in a few select cities, including Atlanta, Miami, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. As a bonus, the Prime Now purchase comes with delivery in a lightning fast two hours after ordering.
Meanwhile, Best Buy reports that stores around the country will have "limited quantities" of the Nintendo NES in stock on Tuesday, December 20. The old-school gaming consoles will not be available via Best Buy's website, and will be sold in stores on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it's wise to arrive at your local store before it opens on Tuesday.
Apple Airpods
The latest edition to the 2016 holiday season's must-have-can't-find wish list is Apple Airpods, a wireless version of its popular earbuds that were introduced to the public in September and finally went on sale this week. The Apple Store and Best Buybegan accepting online orders for the $160 wireless earbuds on Monday, and the initial batch sold out almost immediately. Shoppers can still order Airpods online, but the problem for gift givers is that they won't be shipped until sometime in January or even later.
If you need to get your hands on Airpods sooner—like, oh, before December 25—make plans to head to a physical Apple Store next week. Apple says Airpods will begin arriving in its stores (and those of some select partners) during the week before Christmas. Again, it's worth chatting up your local store manager to see if he or she can share more specific details to help you track down a pair.
As you'd expect, the timing of Apple Airpods becoming available for order in extremely limited supply is working out perfectly for opportunistic resellers. Ebay sellers who are lucky enough to have Airpods in the days before Christmas are asking "Buy It Now" prices of $350 and up for orders arriving by December 24, and Airpods auctions are ending with final bids in excess of $300 per pair.


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Heroic Marvel Television Lineup Unveils at New York Comic Con
Marvel Television and ReedPOP are making New York Comic Con super exciting for Marvel fans this year with a heroic lineup of action-packed exclusive panels and screenings! Read more »
ReedPOP Announces Paris Comic Con!
With another successful New York Comic Con wrapping up this weekend, its time to look to what the future of pop culture conventions. ReedPOP, the world's largest producer of pop culture events, is continuing to export its particular brand around the globe with the launch of its first Comic Con in Europe. Read more »
NYCC Eastern Championships of Cosplay
Do you have an awesome costume you planned on wearing to New York Comic Con? You could win big by battling it out with cosplay veterans, former champions and amateurs alike for a shot at the NYCC Eastern Championship Crown and over $10,000 in cash and prizes! Read more »
Books and Pop Culture Collide at ReedPOP's BookCon
ReedPOP, the world's largest producer of pop culture events, is adding another one to the pile of experimental events with the launch of BookCon -- a one-of-a-kind interactive experience where books and pop-culture collide. Read more »


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Letter from the Editor: Jordan Sapir
As, we sit and soak in the summer sun — oh wait, I forgot, we live in Munich. We think about the total of warm summer days this year and round that off to a grand total of 12, but who's counting.
This summer's weather may not have you pulling out your straw hats and flipflops, but that doesn't stop the city from being full of activities and adventure.
This month Über Moms are celebrating all the reasons they have to fall in love with Munich. After all is said and done this city does have much more to offer than not so fab weather, pretzels and Oktoberfest.
Join us for the months of August and September as we give you the 30 reasons why we love Munich.
In this month's newsletter, Monika Bock, gives us an insiders guide on healthy spots to grab a bite in the city. Life coach and essential oil guru Julie Leonard gives us the reasons she fell in love with Munich. Über working mom Georgia Chapman makes it easy for us to find water play playgrounds with her list of the top water playgrounds in the city. Our beauty expert and local makeup artist, Noleen Sliney, gives us her expert tips on 6 beauty stores to try in Munich.
We're also so lucky to have some insight from our local mom and scientist Pia Johansson who's contributing while on maternity leave. Pia tells us all about all the lovely places to visit on the outskirts of Munich. Lastly, working mom lawyer and political advocate Yasmin Mang fills us in on where to get some down time in this city.
We hope that we can show you just how great this city is, remind you of why you came here and give you some new reasons to stay, because we are all Über the Moon für Munich.


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Late last week, I opened a gift of hand-dyed, handspun cashmere yarn. Elizabeth DeHority thought perhaps that I could knit something before Michael's baby arrives. She has always had a ridiculous (and uterly unreasonable) faith in my creative ability. I found the idea preposterous. But I remembered three years ago, when knitting was new to me and miraculously, I knit so many shrugs I might have lost count. So, I cast on. The reality is that my skills haven't progressed much in the last three years and those shrugs might be the only thing in which I have any degree of confidence. another tidbit? I knit most of those shrugs in medical waiting rooms that year. Turns out this year finds me waiting for doctors again. (Patrick is improving; thanks for your sweet concern.) Another pink shrug it is. I love those shrugs and this yarn is extraordinary and knitting is the perfect thing to do while one waits.
Will I finish before the baby girl arrives? I have no earthly idea. I do know that I can sort of see the potential for sitting and knitting and waiting amidst the bluebells in the next couple of weeks and that idea has all kinds of appeal. This waiting is so strange to me--to know that a baby is coming and to have absolutely nothing tangible to do while I wait is sort of crazy. All offers to help nest have been firmly declined. All my usual third trimester go-tos: stocking freezers, cleaning house, assembling baby equipment, long walks, pelvic rocks, packing bags, more pelvic rocks, midwife appointments, and bottomless glasses of water--none of those are in the grandmother realm this time (though I suppose it couldn't hurt me to clean my house and to take a long walk with a bottle of water;-). The one thing in my baby prep habits that remains is to pray hard--incessantly really--the way that I prayed myself into labor when every one of my babies was waiting to push its way into my arms. And so, that's what I do. Pray and pray and pray. This is uncharted territory for all of us, but prayers for pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum? Those are woven in wide ribbons through the fiber of my soul. Those I know.
I put aside the baby sewing a bit. This baby has everything she needs for those first few days. I think I have time to sew. And, frankly, I have a house full of children for whom some more utilitarian sewing is necessary. Dance competition season is upon us and I'm gathering ill-fitting costumes from nearly every class in the studio. There is much to be tucked and tacked and I'm really happy to do it. In the course of taking from a child a costume that doesn't work at all and making it something he or she is comfortable in and happy to wear, I usually get to know that child a bit. And I really, really like that. I like putting names to faces and being the friendly fingers that make an uncomfortable wardrobe situation a bit better.
And, it's not just my girls who need sewing. My boys have found ways to bring things to my attention, too. Please know that little mending item has not been sitting there since November. He found an out of date notepad. The task was dispatched the very same day.
I've been reading John Paul II this week, getting ready to celebrate his canonization, and honestly, looking at old, familiar words through eyes grown a little older and a perspective shifted just slightly from where it was when I was a young mom and he was a father on earth. I'm so grateful for the great cloud of witnesses, so glad to draw upon the wisdom and the grace and the faith of the people God gave me to love as I was learning about motherhood. We've suffered losses in the last year, tremendous losses of godly friends and influences. I'm surprised about how difficult it has been to come back to this place and to write again. I know well that revisiting grief over and over again in this space is not what I am called to do, but there have been more days than I ever imagined when I've just had nothing else to say. Much the way that birth transforms us--changes us every time--so, too does death. Every time.
There is no doubt that for our family this will forever be the season where death and birth walked hand in hand. It is much too soon for me to know what that means.
Tell me what your needles are busy doing. What you're reading in these last weeks of Lent?