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WEST POINT — Two Army veterans were honored for their service, one posthumously, in a medal ceremony at West Point Friday.
WEST POINT — Two Army veterans were honored for their service, one posthumously, in a medal ceremony at West Point Friday.
Spc. Joshua Evans was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received while serving in Iraq in 2006. Evans has made Monroe his home, along with his wife Danielle and 5-year-old daughter Savannah, since leaving the service.
Pvt. 2nd Class David Michael Barry, who died at age 61 in 2010 in El Paso, Texas, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and other medals for his service in Vietnam. Relatives who live in Stormville in Dutchess County were among those accepting the medals on his behalf.
The ceremony was organized by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring.
Barry's nephew, John Curzio, spoke of his uncle, who was affected deeply by his combat experiences. Like other returning Vietnam veterans, he was not made to feel particularly welcome when he came home. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and became estranged from his family.
"I never had the chance to know my uncle," Curzio said. Speaking to media afterward, Curzio said, "I think he would have really appreciated this (ceremony)."
The Bronze Star is awarded for either combat heroism or for meritorious service. Barry's separation papers indicated he had earned the award, but the records detailing the circumstances were lost along the way, possibly in Vietnam. Barry never talked about his time in the service, and like many others in the armed services, he never received the medal while he was alive.
Maloney said while the details remain "a mystery ... We know David did something heroic under very difficult circumstances."
As for the PTSD and other struggles Barry faced after leaving the service, Maloney said, "We need to remain committed to helping our heroes when they come home."
Evans was wounded while on patrol on Nov. 22, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated nearby.
"It sounded like a pop," said Evans. The next thing he knew, "I was (thrown) 40 feet from where I was standing."
Evans suffered a punctured eardrum as well as cuts and bruises, and was unconscious for a while. His spine was dislocated, and to this day he has two rods and six screws in his spine.
Evans offered some poignant comments on the mixed blessings of receiving the Purple Heart, which is given to those who are wounded or killed in combat. And he knows he's one of the luckier ones.
"I have a beautiful daughter, a loving wife," said Evans. "I get to be here. There are other people who aren't."


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Once anti-grav got cheap, it got really cheap. That's when some social reformer types came up with what they called the Elevate Plan. They'd stop crime by using anti-grav to fly the slums right out of the city — which sounds great if you don't have to live in the freezing wind 100 percent of the time.
Alex Andreev is a Russian concept designer and art director in Saint Petersburg. You can see more of his gorgeous, surreal work on his website.

subset: commoncrawl


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Whew! We have survived our first big holiday of the summer and it was wonderful. 36 of 42 sites were full. We had a great group in from the Pueblo area. We had rain, sun, wind, calm, cold, warm, more wind, more rain, snow up a little higher, more sun, etc… And you know what? It didn't put a damper on the weekend. All the campers had their outings and gatherings and seemed to have a great time. Denny and Dale put on a great pancake feed for the group yesterday morning. I can't tell you what a big help Dale has been to us. It has been wonderful having him here.
I also began my fundraiser for Friends of Namakkal by displaying my Camping Quilt and started the raffle on Sunday. Great response all ready. I will be taking donations until Aug 4 and then will take the money to Denver during the Swinging for AIDS Golf tournament. Speaking of AIDS. I watched a wonderful movie last night about the early years when the AIDS virus was just beginning. It's called the "The Normal Heart". It's a tear jerker, but you can see how far the medical community has come dealing with that virus.
Another new endeavor we are doing is making and selling ice. Who knew how popular that was this weekend. I couldn't keep up. Now I'm trying to make a bunch of bags to keep up with the demand. It's a great little machine. Makes 50 pounds a day. Newair brand.
We had a great bonfire on Sunday night and everyone had fun roasting marshmallows. There's a photo of the quilt. Also another Baby Camper update. It continues to evolve into a very cute camper.
Tomorrow I'm going to be posting updated photos of the children that many of you have helped support over the years since my trip to India. It's very rewarding to see how well they our doing.
Time to get back to work.


text:
- Main Menu
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Leon Nicholas Kalas
|Barebrush Provenance
27 Mar 2008
Curator: Zoran Crnkovic
Salmagundi Club
Click on a date in the
Barebrush Provenance above
to see the art in the calendar.
Contemplating Portality by Leon Nicholas Kalas
Title: Contemplating Portality
Desc: Although I am a figurative oil painter, I also experiment in photography and use my photographs to create my paintings. This photographs has also been painted by me in oil.
Please visit: www.leonkalas.com
Media: Photograph
Size: 11in x 14in
Price Range: Fine Art $100-$500
In calendar: Yes


text:
Photography Classes in Oxford MI
Are you looking to learn about photography in Oxford MI? Whether you are a beginner, hobbyist, or professional, the most effective way to improve your photography technique is through hands-on training with skilled instructors.
Michigan has many recognized and accredited photography schools. Subjects taught in photography classes include lighting, exposure and composition, posing and unposing, portrait capture, and other photography fundamentals. Being an expert photographer can result in a lifelong hobby or a booming professional career.
There are numerous Photography Classes in Oxford MI:
- Oxford Photography 101
- Oxford Digital Photography Classes
- Oxford Nature Photography Classes
- Oxford Editorial Photography Classes
- Oxford Studio Photography Classes
Oxford MI Photography Classes
Oakland University
2200 North Squirrel Road
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48309-4401
Phone: (248) 370-2100
11.63 miles away
Oakland Community College
2480 Opdyke Rd
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304-2266
Phone: (248) 341-2000
17.02 miles away
Cranbrook Academy of Art
39221 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
Phone: (248) 645-3300
18.27 miles away
The Art Institute of Michigan
28125 Cabot Drive Suite 120
Novi, Michigan 48377-2985
Phone: (248) 675-3800
26.54 miles away
Mott Community College
1401 E Court St
Flint, Michigan 48503-2089
Phone: (810) 762-0200
26.79 miles away
College for Creative Studies
201 E Kirby
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Phone: (313) 664-7400
33.84 miles away
Henry Ford Community College
5101 Evergreen Rd
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-1495
Phone: (313) 845-9600
35.76 miles away
Washtenaw Community College
4800 E Huron River Dr
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-4800
Phone: (734) 973-3543
46.22 miles away


text:
Artistik Galerie Glasses from all around the world are offered at the online optical superstore. Find Womens, Mens, Black and more Artistik Galerie Glasses online for sale in our vast selection of eyewear. Over thousands of styles are available to choose from. You can find the perfect pair to complement your facial features and style. Save time, money, and order frames conveniently from the touch of your mobile device or keyboard, or give us a call any time of the day for assistance. Our live eyewear experts are here to serve you. If you have seen a cheaper price on Artistik Galerie Glasses please let us know using the Price match request form. Free shipping is available, 30 day returns and doctor verified prescription glasses are what to expect when buying your frames from the online optical superstore, since 1999.Share this Url: https://www.gooptic.com/artistik-galerie-glasses
Exquisite coloring processes, combined with a fit and finished details take this collection to a new a level. Artistik Galerie was designed to satisfy comfort, fit, design, and finish requirements of those that truly enjoy what they wear on their face. This fine brand may be found in our brands list under eyeglasses brands, and A Brands


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Rewiew II - When Witches Sleeps
Historical romance whose theme pointed out by the author seeks to rescue and value the contribution of women in the development of Western history. Set in the year 1491, it plunges into the depths of the Inquisition with a subtlety of images and a refinement in the use of vintage language, well dosed and rich in stylistic nuances.
The plot well arranged by the author develops like a natural strategy, where the protagonist tries to fulfill well defined goals and also seeks, to reach practical objectives, mainly when its target approaches and is reached.
Then everything will be fulfilled for her, without letting the feelings and emotional involvements or even manifestations of physical and material imprisonment interfere in the steps to succeed in her search and conquest trajectory.
It is, therefore, a work whose didactics introduces the reader into the realm of magic, using a refined literary language and accessible to any layman in the subject. For those who already have some type of mystical initiation the narrative discourse is familiar and direct, it is as it is said in the popular: it speaks the same language.
A mixture of suspense, drama and tragedy makes the reader stand as if standing in front of a movie screen where there is no interruption between one scene and another. Such is the fictional work written by Carlos Costa (França).
A mixture of fantastic cinema and medieval literature, which captures the reader and leads him on a historical journey whose scenario of persecution of female human potential is described through a cast of women considered "abnormal" by developing the sensory capacity, becoming a constant threat to the status quo of the Catholic Church.
The construction of the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient character of the Goddess can be considered as a deconstructive tactic of the Western Jewish-Christian model centered on the male figure, dominating and centralizing.
The author seeks to establish a more harmonious environment by placing the priest next to the mother superior, assigning them an arduous task of doing justice to women and children victims of a situation of adversity and unquestionable confrontation of authority.
The narrator, or rather the omniscient narrator of the novel When witches sleep, surprises the most naive reader by constructing a peculiar scene in which he shows a very subtle ability to describe a sexual act in its outer and inner details.
Not conformed to the detailed description of a female homosexual relationship, narrative introduces the masculine element with its highest degree of virility without causing any kind of estrangement to the reader. Sexual intercourse with three would not nullify the spiritual presence of a fourth person, the count, who in the traditional Catholic model should be the only one to marry his countess.
Another touching scene refers to the practice of necrophilia by some guardian soldiers from the cells where the women accused of witchcraft were found. The underworld of the Inquisition would not go unnoticed and the author sought to describe it, putting to the highest degree his laborious artistic ability and his technical mastery to overcome a crudely serious reality of human persecution, which afflicted and still afflicts and troubled in the twenty-first century, through from a simple romanesque reading, where historical facts are recreated and presented to the reader with argumentative mastery and artistic sensibility.
When sorceresses sleep, it is a book whose literary profile can be recommended to historians, anthropologists, analysts, scholars, and especially initiates who wish to delve deeper into the subject. I read it, I liked it and I recommend it.
When the Witches Sleep - Carlos Costa (França)
Publisher April, 2009
Marcos Santana


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As some Florida Keys residents return to their devastated islands Tuesday, 15 million Floridians are learning when they'll finally get power back.
All customers who lost electricity on the eastern side of the state will likely have power restored by the end of this weekend, Florida Power & Light said Tuesday.
An FPL official told reporters at a Broward County news conference that of the 790,000 customers in that county who lost power, 330,000 had their electricity restored Tuesday.
The company is focusing its efforts first on schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. Gas stations and restaurants are next on the plan, the official said.
Customers on the west coast of Florida, where Hurricane Irma made its final landfall, will likely have power restored by September 22, the company has said.
It's a long wait for those sifting through what's left of their homes in the oppressive heat, bombarded by high humidity and relentless mosquitoes.
But residents like William Rose have bigger concerns. Rose still can't reach his family on the Florida Keys, where about a quarter of the islands' houses are annihilated.
He's not sure whether his mother, stepdad, grandmother and aunt survived Irma's wrath.
"I have no idea, but I'm trying to stay positive," Rose said.
In affected areas with a weak phone connection? Get the text-only version of top stories
Before the Keys lost cellphone service, Rose received a text from his mother, who chose not to evacuate.
"This is terrible. I will never do this again," the text read. "I'm so glad you got out."
Mass destruction in the Keys
Two days after Irma made landfall on Cudjoe Key, authorities and residents were finally able to reach some of the Florida Keys on Tuesday.
What they found was devastating: Based on initial estimates, 25% of the houses on the chain of islands have been destroyed, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday. Another 65% suffered major damage.
"Basically, every house in the Keys was impacted some way," FEMA Administrator Brock Long said.
It's still not clear how many casualties Irma caused on the Keys. Transportation officials are trying to determine whether bridges between the islands can withstand any weight.
The Florida Department of Transportation is repairing two sections of road that were washed away by Irma -- one at mile marker 37 and the other at mile marker 75 -- but believe they will finish later Tuesday.
Darwin Tabacco, who stayed on Big Pine Key during Irma, is one of the fortunate residents. Both he and his house survived.
"A lot of people lost everything," he said Tuesday morning. "There's homes blown off the stilts. There's power lines down all over the place. Trees completely uprooted. People's businesses flooded. Septic fields flooding. It's just terrible."
15 million people without power -- just in Florida
Massive power outages are crippling much of the Southeast on Tuesday. Among the hardest hit by Irma:
Florida: About 15 million people are without power across the state, Christopher Krebs of the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.
Georgia: More than 1.3 million customers -- which includes households and businesses -- are in the dark, according to Georgia Power and Georgia EMC.
South Carolina: 161,000 customers lost power, according to Duke Energy and SCE&G.
North Carolina: More than 62,000 customers don't have electricity, according to Duke Energy.
Alabama: More than 20,000 customers lost electricity, Alabama Power said Tuesday.
9 states impacted
Irma, which stretched 650 miles from east to west, has pummeled at least nine states -- deluging city streets, uprooting trees and destroying homes along the way.
At least eight storm-related deaths have already been reported, according to local officials:
Florida had three deaths. A 51-year-old man was electrocuted by a downed power line in Winter Park. A driver died in a crash on State Road 417. And another person died in Miami-Dade County from carbon monoxide poisoning after using a generator indoors.
Georgia had three deaths. A 62-year-old man who was on his roof was killed in Worth County, which experienced wind gusts of 69 mph. Another man was killed in Sandy Springs when a tree fell on his house. And a woman was killed when a tree struck her vehicle in Cumming.
South Carolina had two deaths. A 57-year-old man was struck by a falling tree limb during the storm. State emergency officials said a driver with a Florida license plate also died from the storm, but did not give further details.
Florida governor: Returning home may be dangerous
Beyond the Keys, Floridians were anxious to return and see how their homes weathered the storm. But officials urged patience.
"Check with local officials before returning home to make sure you can safely do so," Gov. Rick Scott said Monday.
"Don't think just because this thing passed, you can run home. We've got downed power lines all across the state. We've got roads that are impassible still across the state. We've got debris all over the state."
Flights, hospitals will be back online
While the Keys have an exhaustive recovery ahead, signs of normalcy will pop up Tuesday elsewhere in Florida.
Many of Florida's airports are scheduled to reopen with limited operations Tuesday.
And Florida Hospital, a health provider in the state, said it plans to reopen many of its impacted facilities on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mammoth flooding
Even a weakened Irma engulfed cities as far north as Charleston, South Carolina, on Tuesday.
"I really didn't expect it to become this bad here," Charleston resident Mike Stusnick said Tuesday. "It came in really fast last night. ... We were just praying that it didn't come all the way into the house, and it didn't."
Jacksonville, Florida -- the largest city by area in the contiguous United States -- is still trying to recover from record-breaking storm surge and flooding on Monday.
More than 300 people have been rescued in Jacksonville, the governor said Tuesday.
"So many areas that you thought wouldn't flood, flooded," Scott said.
Irma's deadly trail -- and questions about climate change
Before slamming into the United States, Irma hit Cuba late Friday as a Category 5 hurricane. Irma killed 36 people in the Caribbean before heading to the United States.
Hurricane Irma victims need your help
This is the first year on record that the continental United States has had two Category 4 hurricane landfalls in the same year. Last month, Hurricane Harvey devastated much of coastal Texas and killed more than 70 people.
At a news conference Tuesday, both the FEMA administrator and acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke avoided explicitly answering questions about whether Washington needs to focus more on climate change after Harvey and Irma.
Instead, Long and Duke stressed the need for preparedness and resiliency.
Gov. Inslee: Global warming 'likely' strengthened Harvey and Irma


text:
Comprehensive Rental Solutions tailored to suit varied customer requirements ensures Nass Commercial stays faithful to its mission of being a Turnkey industrial solutions provider.
With a long term exposure into contracting activities in construction and other Turnkey projects through our sister organization has help us gear up and understand the requirement of the market and tailor our services to the market requirements. Quality equipment with highly qualified professionals in the service team help us achieve the USP of On-time, right equipment operating to the highest efficiency. Share your requirement with us and count on us to provide you a tailor made solution matching your requirement.
Service Provided at present: Generators, Tower light and Auxiliary support equipment.


text:
Dr. Amy Morgan
I graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989 and moved to Minnesota the day after graduation. I am the owner of the practice and am privileged to be working with such a caring and knowledgeable staff. I am also fortunate to have the support of fabulous clients who make our jobs fun and interesting.
I have lived in Andover since 1989 with my husband and two daughters as well as several dogs and cats. In my spare time, I read, swim, motorcycle, and enjoy movies and dinner out whenever I can.
Dr. Lisa Johnson
I graduated from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995. I have been working part-time at Oak Grove Animal Hospital since June 2007. I enjoy working with such a wonderful staff. I share my home with one dog, one cat, a guinea pig, and a toad. My daughters occupy my time outside of work.
Dr. Kaija Youngner
I grew up on a hobby farm in Cambridge, MN and graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011. I have loved animals my entire life, and I feel so fortunate to be working at a practice with such amazing staff and absolutely fantastic clients and patients. My household includes my husband, two crazy dogs, a mischievous cat, and two children. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, camping, reading, and hiking.
Dr. Melissa Powers
I am originally from northern California. I completed my undergraduate studies at The University of Hawaii in Hilo and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Pre-Veterinary Medicine and a Bachelors of Arts and Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I worked as an Agriculture Specialist for USDA at The San Francisco International Airport where I met my husband, Jeff. Together we moved to Minnesota so I could pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian.
I attended The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and was awarded my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. After graduating, I worked as an Associate Veterinarian at Summers Ridge Veterinary Clinic, in Janesville Minnesota. My professional interests include, dermatology, soft tissue surgery and animal behavior.
My husband and I have a baby girl, named Jillian. We share our home with two dogs, Hank and Lolly, and two Cats, Daphne and Gus. We aspire to be world travelers. Some of our favorite destinations include South Africa, France and Greece. During our free time we enjoy hiking and camping, playing board games and reading science fiction novels.
Kadie, Certified Veterinary Technician
I graduated from Minnesota School of Business in 2012 with a degree in Veterinary Technology. I started as an intern at Oak Grove Animal Hospital and I was fortunate enough to join the team after completion of my internship. Outside of work, I stay busy with my energetic little boy, family and friends!
Megan, Certified Veterinary Technician
I graduated from Ridgewater College where I received my certification as a veterinary technician. I worked for 13 years at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center in the ICU. I was fortunate enough to join the Oak Grove Animal staff in March of 2012. I am grateful to all the clients, patients and staff who make my job so enjoyable.
Mimi, Veterinary Technician
I graduated from Minnesota School of Business in 2012 with a degree in Veterinary Technology. I started at Oak Grove Animal Hospital in 2013. I have a very hyperactive Jack Russell mix (Admiral Toot) who keeps me busy. Outside of work, I enjoy participating in sports, longboarding, cooking, and spending time with my family.
Mariah, Certified Veterinary Technician
I graduated from Minnesota School of Business in 2014 with a degree in Veterinary Technology. This is my first job as a Veterinary Technician and I am very fortunate to have joined the team at Oak Grove Animal Hospital. I am looking forward to getting to know more of the wonderful clients and their pets!
Amanda, Certified Veterinary Technician
In 2012 I graduated from the University of Minnesota with my Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and a minor in biology. I graduated from Minnesota School of Business in 2015 with a degree in Veterinary Technology. I started out as an intern at Oak Grove and was lucky enough to be able to join as a technician! In my free time I enjoy running, biking and playing hockey. I have two Mini Australian Shepherds, Finn and Indy, and two old cats.


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The head of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party, Pier Luigi Bersani, has dismissed former premier Silvio Berlusconi's latest turnaround to drop out of the election race.
Berlusconi offered not to run if Prime Minister Mario Monti stepped in to head the centre-right coalition.
Bersani also appeared to be behind Monti's involvement in Italian politics:
"I have said to Prime Minister Monti directly and I have also said publicly, I hold it absolutely necessary that this figure must continue to have a role in our country"
As Italy continues to be engulfed in political uncertainty, Bersani has backed Monti in parlilament but stopped short of offering him support for re-election.
Ignazio La Russa is a MP and served as Minister of Defence Silvio Berlusconi's fourth cabinet.
"Never again with a government of technocrats and never again with a government with the Left. I wait to see whether Monti really declares himself ready to lead a Centre-Right government. Then we'll talk about it."
But despite the internal wranglings, it's the world markets and other European leaders that Italy really needs to get along with.
Monti was given much of the credit for restoring the country's financial credibility. Investors remain less impressed with Berlusconi.


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Hi everyone! I am over on the A2Z Scraplets Blog here today to share some last minute inspiration for this month's A2Z Scraplets challenge. Have you entered yet? You can view the details here.
The challenge this month was set by the fabulous Belinda and is a quote challenge. The quote to use is "You Brighten Up My Day".
For my layout I have used some fabulous bright Echo Park Papers along with some white cardstock and Dylusions Ink Splatters.
The A2Z Scraplets I have used on this layout is the fabulous Starburst 2 – Large which comes in 2 pieces. I have used this piece so many times and I still have so many more ideas to use it.
For this layout I have trimmed the starburst inner piece to create random length banner looking starbursts. To decorate I have used a sponge and very roughly added some thin White Gesso followed by 3 different shades of PanPastel Colours. I started on the edgesWhite, then the middle with Diarylide Tint, followed by Diarylide Yellow in the very centre. Each time I added a darker colour, I have swept th Sofft Sponge outwards to create the gorgeous Gradual tone. To finish it off I have sprayed some Fixative and Laquer over the top.
You can checkout the Large Starburst 2 Shape on the A2Z Scraplets website here.
Don't forget to head on over to the April Challenge here and enter before Midnight on the 30th April!
Also don't forget to head on over to my Giveaway Blog Post here to enter to win!
Until next time, happy scrapping!


text: TEMPISH, a Czech company that makes a variety of high-quality skates, skateboards and other sporting equipment, has chosen to partner with Centre of Relief and Development of Diaconia ECCB to support communities in need. We share the same goal: to help people in need stand on their own. Tempish is donating $0.12 from every purchase of their inline skates to support one of Diaconia´s projects.


text: Allan Jean-Baptiste (New York) joined KKR in 2016 and is a member of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications industry team within KKR's Private Equity platform. He focuses primarily on growth equity TMT investments in the Americas. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Jean-Baptiste was with CapitalG (formerly Google Capital), where he focused on software and consumer internet investments globally. Previously, he was also a member of the Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Jean-Baptiste holds an A.B with honors in Economics from Harvard University.


text:
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's soccer associate head coach Mike Calise was named the Mid-Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the organization announced.
Promoted to associate head coach on Oct. 3, 2013, Mike Calise wrapped up his sixth total season with the Crimson in 2013. Calise rejoined the women's soccer staff as an assistant coach in March 2010 after previously serving in Cambridge during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Calise helped Harvard to its 11th Ivy League title this season, wrapping its conference slate with a perfect 7-0 record for the first time since 1999. Margaret Purce was named the Ivy League Rookie and Player of the Year, as well as a unanimous selection to the Ancient Eight first team. Senior captain Peyton Johnson (unanimous) and sophomore Haley Washburn also earned first team accolades, headlining seven total Crimson student-athletes to garner conference honors.


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I've been burned by string-typed selectors in the past so I was happy to find this excellent post regarding the new Swift 2.2 #selector functionality and creating extensions of Selector to allow syntax sugar 🍧🍪🍰🍭🍦.
Check it out here!
I've been burned by string-typed selectors in the past so I was happy to find this excellent post regarding the new Swift 2.2 #selector functionality and creating extensions of Selector to allow syntax sugar 🍧🍪🍰🍭🍦.
Check it out here!
Xcode is quite the beast and intimidating with its very detailed functionality. These are some really great tips/keyboard shortcuts to help speed up and/or access some really useful functions of Xcode. Also don't miss some bonus tips in the first comment of the article.
As my blog makes clear, I'm all about clean code and following best practices.1 Example: I always need to delete extra spaces between closing braces in my code. It must look perfect. 🙈
Prolific Interactive created a github repository that outlines their style guide for all of its Swift codebase. Great best practices. I align with most of what's included, so take a look!
How I refactored my app's Settings screen code to be much more flexible and readable, while unlocking a more complicated TableView at the same time! Win-Win!
I stumbled upon this amazing post by Frédéric Adda over at Nova Era called Structure Your UITableView Better with Structs and Enums in Swift as I was searching for a way to refactor the Settings page in my app, BB Links, to make it easier to add in new settings options anywhere, or change around any items/sections, without needing to manually worry about the section and row index numbers.
The linked post above explains how you can use enums and structs to replace the indexes for section and rows–it's really cool!!! 😎 Exactly what I was looking for! Below is my implementation of it for my app's Settings screen, and I took this concept even further later on in so I could easily have different Dynamic Prototype Cells! 😱
With this change, I can move any item to any section and change the order of sections and items all within a couple of seconds! To do that with section and row indexes requires a bunch of index changes which can get confusing to keep track of.
Here's how I set it up in my app, first implementing the enums and structs, as Frédéric's article suggested:
private enum SectionType { case Account case Other } private enum Item { case ManageAccounts case ActiveAccount case DefaultCountry case AboutMe case Donate case RateApp case ShareApp } private struct Section { var type: SectionType var items: [Item] }
First, I created the
SectionType enum which represents the different sections I want to have in the Settings screen. I have an Account section and Other.
Next, I create the Item enum which contains all of the different tableView rows I have in the Settings screen.
Lastly, a Section struct is created which is identified as containing a
SectionType enum and an array of
Item enums.
Once those three components were set up, the next step was to create an instance of an array of
Section structs, which will hold the various sections in the Settings screen.
class SettingsViewController: UIViewController { private var sections = [Section]() ... }
In the
viewDidLoad() method, I assign the items that belong in each section:
override func viewDidLoad() { super.viewDidLoad() // Setup sections/rows for table sections = [ Section(type: .Account, items: [.ManageAccounts, .ActiveAccount, .DefaultCountry]), Section(type: .Other, items: [.AboutMe, .Donate, .RateApp, .ShareApp]) ] ... }
Account section contains the
ActiveAccount and
DefaultCountry tableview rows, and the
Other section contains the remaining four rows.
Next up…the
UITableViewDataSource implementation which I have as an extension to my
SettingsViewController class.
// MARK: - UITableViewDataSource extension SettingsViewController: UITableViewDataSource { func numberOfSectionsInTableView(tableView: UITableView) -> Int { return sections.count } func tableView(tableView: UITableView, numberOfRowsInSection section: Int) -> Int { return sections[section].items.count } func tableView(tableView: UITableView, titleForHeaderInSection section: Int) -> String? { switch sections[section].type { case .Account: return "Account" case .Other: return nil } } ... }
tableView:numberOfSectionsInTableView:, you just return the count of your sections array, which will be 2 as it contains my two
Section structs.
tableView:numberOfRowsInSection:, return the count of items in each section, and for
tableView:titleForHeaderInSection:, I setup a switch statement to switch through the types, returning the name for each section. (For
Other, I just wanted it to be blank, so I didn't return a title).
Before I show how I used these enums and structs to help me easily implement three different dynamic protoypes, here's how I implemented the
UITableViewDelegate methods:
// MARK: - UITableViewDelegate Methods extension SettingsViewController: UITableViewDelegate { // Goes to product detail when cell tapped func tableView(tableView: UITableView, didSelectRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) { switch sections[indexPath.section].items[indexPath.row] { case .ManageAccounts: performSegueWithIdentifier("ManageCoachIDs", sender: self) case .ActiveAccount: performSegueWithIdentifier("DefaultCoachID", sender: self) case .DefaultCountry: performSegueWithIdentifier("DefaultCustomerCountry", sender: self) case .AboutMe: performSegueWithIdentifier("About", sender: self) case .Donate: performSegueWithIdentifier("Donate", sender: self) case .RateApp: rateApp() case .ShareApp: shareAppFrom(indexPath) } tableView.deselectRowAtIndexPath(indexPath, animated: true) } }
I just switch between the section and row using the sections array, and perform my segues or functions for each Item. It's all very clear what is what thanks to the
Item enum setup earlier! I love it! ❤ Without this setup, you'd just have combinations of sections and row index numbers and you'd need to keep track of which is which with comments. And don't even think it would be simple to switch them around. With the way this is setup, it really doesn't matter which order you put the case Items…it's all handled by the way you place them in your section variable up in the
viewDidLoad()! Brilliant! 🙌
For the final part, I'll show how I easily implemented my three dynamic prototype cells, which are just a simple Basic Cell, a Subtitle Cell and Right Detail Cell (setup as such in the storyboard with appropriate cell identifiers):
Here's how my storyboard is setup:
And implementation of
func tableView(tableView: UITableView, cellForRowAtIndexPath indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> UITableViewCell { // Setup a cellIdentifer string to store the cell reuse identifier you want to use for each row. var cellIdentifier: String // Switch through each row and set the appropriate cell reuse identifier switch sections[indexPath.section].items[indexPath.row] { case .ManageAccounts, .AboutMe, .Donate: cellIdentifier = "BasicCell" case .RateApp, .ShareApp: cellIdentifier = "SubtitleCell" case .ActiveAccount, .DefaultCountry: cellIdentifier = "RightDetailCell" } // Populate your cell reuse identifier into the cell let cell = tableView.dequeueReusableCellWithIdentifier(cellIdentifier, forIndexPath: indexPath) // Switch through each cell, and implement the labels/setup for each row // The order of the cases is irrelevant! switch sections[indexPath.section].items[indexPath.row] { case .ManageAccounts: cell.textLabel?.text = "Manage Coach IDs" case .ActiveAccount: cell.textLabel?.text = "Active Coach ID" let coachID = dataModel.getActiveCoachID() if coachID != "" { cell.detailTextLabel?.text = coachID } else { cell.detailTextLabel?.text = "" } case .DefaultCountry: cell.textLabel?.text = "Default Country" cell.detailTextLabel?.text = dataModel.getDefaultCountry() case .AboutMe: cell.textLabel?.text = "About the Developer 💪🤓" case .Donate: cell.textLabel?.text = "☕☕☕?" case .RateApp: cell.textLabel?.text = "Rate BB Links ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" if let reviewCount = reviewCount { cell.detailTextLabel?.text = "\(reviewCount) people have rated this version" UIView.animateWithDuration(0.3, animations: { cell.detailTextLabel?.alpha = 1.0 }) } else { cell.detailTextLabel?.text = " " cell.detailTextLabel?.alpha = 0.0 } cell.accessoryType = .None case .ShareApp: cell.textLabel?.text = "Share BB Links 🗣👥" cell.detailTextLabel?.text = "Know a coach who would love this app?" cell.accessoryType = .None } // Return the cell return cell }
I love the way this worked because it's clear exactly which row I'm working with, and I can quickly change the cell type by moving around the row Item where the cellIdentifier variable string is set in the first switch statement and changing its cell implementation details! So. Much. Clearer! 🙌
With all of this setup the way it is, adding new sections or rows is a cinch! I could totally rearrange this tableView to look completely different switching a couple of lines of code. The normal way would be way more difficult.
Here's the finished result in-app:
It's now setup for quick modifications in the future! 🎉
If you ask me, enumified tableViews with dynamic prototype cells rock! 😎
Here's a quick little demo of how my app works!
radex.io has an excellent explanation of when you should AND shouldn't use 'guard' in Swift. 🙌
'Guard' has quickly become one of my favourite way to help simplify my code by getting rid of lots of pyramids of doom! If if if 🙅.
guard !array.isEmpty else { return }
replaces the need to do an if statement around the entire code block that relies on the array not being empty and just returns from the function as soon as it finds an empty array without executing any further code in the function! 🎉
Make sure to check it out and try guard out in your code!
When coming from an Object-Oriented Programming language like ObjC, inheritance is often used to share code between multiple classes. But that solution is not always the best, and have some issues.
In today's article, we'll see how Swift's Protocol Extensions and their usage as "Mixins" can change the deal.
via Mixins over Inheritance – Crunchy Development.
Check this amazing post out! Some really epic examples to show the power of Mixins (protocol extensions). ❤ it.


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17:00 - 18:00
Web applications and specifically Single Page Applications leverage the power of our computers and give a fast, fluent experience to users who have a strong wifi connection. But a huge proportion of web activity is done on mobile devices, which require different capabilities, such as minimizing data usage and power consumption. Native mobile applications also introduce additional features to engage the users, such as notifications. But they lack some of the features web applications have. Today's technology and rapid browsers' advancement allow us to enjoy the best of both worlds. We can write web applications with a native mobile app look and feel. We can run these applications on desktop browsers and enjoy the features introduced by native mobile apps. In this talk Shmuela will present the wonderful world of possibilities with Progressive Web Applications, and how Angular helps you to enter this world.


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I have been using Juice Beauty products – the Blemish Clearing Cleanser, Blemish Clearing Serum and the Oil-Free Moisturizer – since early January. My initial review of the product was good but questioned whether one needed to spend so much money on a brand with results comparable to other, less expensive brands. Prior to using Juice Beauty, I was (and still am) a fan of Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin and returned to this product after exhausting my bottle of Blemish Clearing Cleanser.
There was a difference within hours. A not so good difference. I
developed an outbreak of tiny bumps that extended from my chin to my left cheek. I realize that sometimes it takes a while for one's skin to adjust to beauty routine changes. However, I never experienced an outbreak when I switched to Juice Beauty. Hmmm, that got me thinking. One, Juice Beauty make actually be the real deal, a truly organic cleansing system. As gentle as Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin is, it still shocked my skin. And two, sometimes you have to pay the price for the results you want. Not only had I noticed how clear Juice Beauty was making my complexion, but others had noticed as well.
So, looks like I'm headed to the Juice Beauty website to order another bottle of Blemish Clearing Cleanser. I still have a fair amount of the Blemish Clearing Serum and Oi Free Moisturizer. It is, for me, an expensive product, but it is well worth the money if you want clear skin.


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They are Singaporean geeks aspiring to be the next Amazon for South East Asia. Pearlblue Technologies started in 2014, from a 200 sqm warehouse in Kaki Bukit (Eunos warehouse complex) to a 2000sqm warehouse in 3006 Ubi Rd 1 today. They are authorized brand partners for major brands and looking to bring in more brands in future.
Through a complete redesign of their website, Iluma Design has helped Pearlblue Tech to penetrate the e-commerce sector, successfully announcing and expanding their presence online.


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So five days between now and Sunday for which I should have a couple of goodies in store for my readers. Prior to that let's go through five of my motivational tips to keep you involved in some sort of exercise or another.
We're only going to be fit and healthy if we make fitness part of our enduring culture and not consider it a chore. That's why it is important to enjoy getting or keeping fit. This may be easy for some because it is something they naturally take to but for others it is a lot harder. So for starters, choose something you enjoy; this is why Zumba is so popular becuase of the enjoyment factor.
In Zumba you get to move a lot and sweat a lot. It is probably better than some forms of cardio that people are doing due to the use of multi-planar movement, making it good for mobility as well. And what's more, there is no shortage of classes wherever you go, at least in the UK anyway. I mean let's face it you may find it harder to locate a class in Saudi Arabia lol.
However, this alone quite simply isn't hardcore enough. To really zap the fat and keep it off then you have to be engaging in some sort of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Not going too much into detail so this is a rundown of what HIIT is
Anyway, doing this by yourself is very difficult and requires so much discipline. Hence, you need to find a way to do this in a fun setting so look no further than Spinning. An intense cardio session where there is a range of intensities, perfect for firing up the metabolism.
Above all it is fun and people are turning to it becuase it makes cardio that much more interesting. I got into shape by doing daily cardio sessions on the rower for 30 minutes every morning and believe me it was hard and required so much discipline. Now I teach spin and cardio is so much more worthwhile (getting paid for it helps btw 🙂 ).
So find a way to make your workout more fun. Group exercise is a great way to do that. Zumba on a lighter level and spinning on a more intense level but walking the dog may be a more appropriate step for you depending on your current state of fitness. The aim is to make it part of you that you want to do.


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This column first appeared in the Friday Am All Month Edition, March 2016
I remember 1967. I consider myself a centennial baby (well, toddler, to be more precise). I remember Expo 67; the sights, the sounds, the spirit.
In 1967, Canada turned 100 and its premiere event was Expo 67 in Montreal. It was Tomorrowland, not the Disney theme park, but the nation. We were a land of youth, optimisim and innovation. Montreal was dressed in its finest modernity and the whole world noticed. It's still thought to be one of the most successful world expos breaking records for attendance. And it almost didn't happen.
The world expo had been planned for Moscow but for reasons we won't detail here, they bailed and we got the job. Thank goodness for us. On a personal note, thank goodness for me. My fondness of all things Expo 67 and Canadian Centennial likely shaped my choice of career in design and publishing. I'm particularly proud of my little stash of Centennial memorabilia including, among other things, cufflinks and shot glasses. It's my most favourite brand. Eleven beautifully coloured triangles representing 10 provinces and the North West Territories shaped into an elegant and modern maple leaf; classic visual storytelling that stands the test of time. We should all be so lucky.
It's nearly fifty years later and we get yet another chance to celebrate. I'm grateful to Mayor and Council for appointing me as the chair of the City of Salmon Arm's Canada 150 sub committee. Our goal is to prepare and inspire the community to embrace the opportunity. Through collaboration and cooperation, all individuals and groups can come to the table to share ideas, plans and resources. There are already a great number of projects in the planning stage including special editions of well-loved community events from the Children's Festival, and Quilters Guild to the Fall Fair and the Shuswap District Arts Council. 2017 will also mark the 25th Anniversary of Roots and Blues and the opening of the Montebello Building at Haney Heritage Park. The work is well underway. But there's room for more, for everyone and for a few surprises.
At our last meeting, we brainstormed the elements of a birthday party. The invitation, the cake, the food, the card, the games, the party, the loot bags, the gift, and most importantly, as my mom would be quick to remind me, the thank you. Everyone at the table has embraced the once in a half-century opportunity to celebrate, be it neighbourhood BBQs (the four fire halls were suggested as ideal locations), art installations, ferocious flag displays, a giant birthday card, random dispensing of cup cakes, well, you get the idea. It's time to have some fun. And further, it's time to have such fun that members of other communities might make a visit here just to see what all the fun is about. It seems at this point in time, we're the only community in the region taking this collaborative approach to the festivities.
Towards the end of the meeting, we turned our focus to the legacy piece. A party is fun and all but while birthdays are about looking back, honouring our past and our good fortune, their real power is about looking ahead and laying the ground work for the future. In fifty years from now, what will our sesquicentennial babies be sharing with their peers? Ironically, that lesson comes from 1967; youth, optimism and innovation. Of course, those words mean different things now but the spirit is the same.
Join in. There's room for us all. That is the best Canadian legacy of all. Please save the date for the next Canada 150 Meeting on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at City Hall in Room 100 at 2:30 p.m.
I'll be the one in the red and white Canada jacket.


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The Leather Archives & Museum, a cultural center in Chicago devoted to preserving the history of alternative sexuality, wants your help documenting sexual practices that are not widely discussed. Do you enjoy giving or receiving a little pain during sex, such as spanking, biting, or scratching? Do you fantasize about being overpowered or overpowering your partner, including using ropes, handcuffs, or other restraints? Do you role-play during sex? We want to learn about your experiences through an interview.
We are seeking interviewees whose sex life includes various "alternative" practices. Interviewees who do NOT often participate in adult sexuality workshops, sex parties, or educational meetups are especially encouraged to respond.
We respect your privacy. Anything you tell us will be kept under an anonymous name, if you prefer, or your real name only if you are comfortable with such disclosure. Interviews will be recorded and stored at the Chicago location of the Leather Archives & Museum. They are not being collected for a specific purpose at this time, but may be used for future museum exhibits and will be made available to researchers and scholars who use the museum's collections for study.
Interviews may be conducted in any way that makes you feel comfortable – by email, phone, an online voice service such as Skype, or even in person if you happen to live in Chicago. Again, we completely respect your privacy; if you get in touch, we will gladly work with you to figure out how to keep you feeling safe and comfortable throughout our discussions. Whether you have just started looking into this kind of sexuality, or have been exploring for years, please consider getting in touch with us.
The point person for this project is Clarisse Thorn, who can be reached by email at [ clarisse at leatherarchives dot org ]. You can also leave her a voice message if you call the Leather Archives at 773.761.9200.


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Influencing organisational policy and practice
Case study
Case study
Case study taken from the Start Network Impact Report 2016.
Location: UK, Africa and Asia
Project: Age and disability capacity (ADCAP) and Linking preparedness, response and resilience (LPRR)
Background: Through these two projects, Christian Aid has broadened its policy and practice for fragile settings (vulnerable areas of instability and insecurity, often following a period of conflict), moving from a primary focus on gender to wider social inclusion and resilience. It acknowledges that marginalised groups are more vulnerable in these situations and that empowering and engaging them helps to build resilience within the community as a whole.
Impact: Christian Aid's Gender Justice Strategy was refreshed to include a wider focus and now covers other inclusion criteria, including resilience. Christian Aid has set up a new, global inclusion working group and two new inclusion posts in Africa and Asia and is training staff to ensure that inclusion is covered in practice as well in policy. They are also trialling the 'resilience in fragile settings' approach beyond the LPRR project, including a programme in the Honduras and Myanmar (Burma), and included it in the recently funded Irish Aid Humanitarian Programme Plan 2017–19 in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and South Sudan.
This focus on inclusion has fed into the updated organisation Resilience Framework launched in March 2016 and is also being integrated into Christian Aid's commitment to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHSA).
Implications of the impact: Christian Aid has been influenced by other DEPP projects, such as ADCAP, and has changed both its policy and practice at a global and regional level.
Read more in the Start Network Impact Report 2016.
Keep reading:
Launch of wellbeing cluster aims to prioritise wellbeing support for aid workers


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MEG went all out fun as the fashion and lifestyle brand recently threw a victory party in Republiq Super Club last October 8, 2013 that celebrated 3 big achievements – another big and fab issue for MEG magazine styling a double cover with the beautiful actress Shaina Magdayao and I Am Meg TV host Maxene Magalona; I Am Meg TV Season 2 trending for three consecutive weeks, and; the new bold look of the ultimate website for bold, young women – iammeg.ph.
I Am Meg TV Season 1 winner Julz Savard righteously hosted the event, en epitome of a true MEG girl. One Mega Group publisher Dan Mejia supplied the night's welcoming remarks quickly followed by One Mega Group's Digital Product Manager Erben Pilapil introducing the new look of iammeg.ph and how the site is now fully social and interactive.
Of course the event wouldn't be complete without acknowledging the magazine, crafted by Deputy Editor Wyatt Ong who shared her experience creating the issue. MEG has led the lives of young Filipinas into a better and more fun lifestyle, and for the October issue it's Shaina Magdayao and Maxene Magalona for a double cover treat. Maxene, who was there to be acknowledged, talked about her MEG magazine experience and how proud she was growing up with the glossy since her cover 11 years ago. Similarly, 10 years and 4 covers later, Shaina surely showed everyone how she started from being a MEG baby to growing up to be a MEG lady!
Under the helm of TV100 head Michael Carandang, I Am Meg TV, now on its 2nd season is stronger than ever as the first 3 episodes trended on social media and generated a milestone in viewership rating.
MEG started the second part of the program with the powerful girl DJ duo The Zombettes with hot DJ supermodels Sanya Smith and Ornusa Cadness on deck. The event couldn't have been more fun with the MEG team and I Am Meg ladies joining the energetic crowd dancing the night away, being the bold, young women that they all are.
href="https://miguelalomajan.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/sophie-menor-and-fashion-designer-jeffrey-rogador.jpg"> Sophie Menor and Fashion Designer Jeffrey Rogador[/caption]
MEG would like to thank their sponsors: Lay Bare Waxing Salon, Himalaya Herbals, Systema Tooth and Gum Care, Oilily, Kojie San, Etude House, and the official venue partner Republiq Club.
Catch I Am Meg Season 2 with hosts Maxene Magalona and Julz Savard on ETC every Saturday at 7pm, with replays every Sunday at 10am.
Fashion Ate The Lawyer


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I usually go for the opaque footless tights — just plain black — with whatever outfit I'm wearing, whether it be brown or navy or all black. However, when I'm feeling a bit frisky, I like the fishnet footless tights. All of the ones I wear are footless: I just can't bear the idea of wearing anything resembling a stirrup again. I haven't tried any patterned ones yet, like footless tights with skull prints or ones with sheer horizontal stripes, but something tells me I'd love them. And I hate to admit it, but they do keep me a lot warmer. Wearing them with a nice pair of boots is certainly fashionable, but all I know is that I will never step into a potato-sack-sized shirt again. I don't care if Katie Holmes is doing it!
What about you? Have leggings been making your inner child a bit nauseous? Or do you love the new trend?


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Central America travel covers numerous places where visitors want to spend their whole lives and enjoy the natural habitat in its best state. Due to the fact people flying to the Southern American regions from Australia, have a lot of things in their mind that make them feel great when they go out for South America holidays.
There are various things and activities that make everything exciting and special even if you know nothing about the atmosphere and the location. Rather the only thing that excites the people most is the unseen place or places where they are going and the expectations that are very high in their minds.
In order to excite and create a fabulous feel, tourists love to go out for Galapagos Islands Tours and arctic cruises which have been the best kind of variation you can see after a long humid holidays at the equatorial region.
There could be many ways you can enjoy and have lots of fun even if you are not sure what you can do and where to find most exciting places to let you enjoy. You can explore great opportunities while on your way to the local destinations during the Cuba Travel, central American tours and also when you are leaving for Galapagos Tours for your first time Galapagos Cruise in your central America tours.
Nothing to worry about even if you are going for the first time or are not able to find wonderful places and options, you may enjoy the places in the following manner:
Search for the South America tours and see if there are any options available for you. After finding one option of two, you may explore further and see if the places have some festivity or any special event that you can enjoy. If you are lucky enough to find such an opportunity you might be able to make things turn into your favor.
Secondly, you can keep your destinations short distanced to make sure you can spend time with your family and save time that you may waste during the travel.


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April 19, 2018
Follow @Medisca
Montreal, QC, April 19th, 2018 – MEDISCA, the industry leader in providing high quality compounding solutions and services to pharmacists worldwide, announced today that it will host the first-ever World Congress of Compounding on October 27-28, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. The conference is sponsored by MEDISCA and its global partners, MEDISCA Network and LP3 Network, and will feature renowned speakers from across the personalized healthcare industry.
"Through the World Congress of Compounding, MEDISCA is striving to create a conducive environment to exchange ideas, generate innovative solutions that improve the lives of patients, and promote growth within the personalized medicine industry," said Antonio Dos Santos, President of MEDISCA. "We are matching expertise with passion in a way that hasn't been done before."
As an international industry conference, the World Congress of Compounding will bring together top-level speakers, key health leaders, and decision makers. The event will present new business solutions and present opportunities for healthcare professionals around the world. Each session will promote comprehensive coverage of significant therapeutic plan research topics including Hormone Restoration Therapy, Pain Management, Veterinary Medicine and regulatory updates.
Daniel Kraft, M.D., Founder and Chair of Exponential Medicine (a program which studies the potential of new technologies in biomedicine and healthcare) will serve as the keynote speaker. With over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, biomedical research, and healthcare innovation, Dr. Kraft will explore the impact of rapidly developing technologies on the way we address major medical care challenges such as the aging population, the fragmentation of care, and the variation in clinical practice.
Additional featured speakers include: Aaron Lopez, Political Consultant, Political Capital; Christine Roussel, Assistant Director of Pharmacy at Doylestown Hospital; Franziska Scharpf, Owner of the compounding pharmacy Apotheke Scharpf in Sonthofen, Germany; Jeffery A. Johnson, Pharmacist and 30-year Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; Quinton Didyk, Pharmacist, Owner of The Compounding Pharmacy of Manitoba; Vanessa Pinheiro, Consultant for MEDISCA Network's Technical Support Services Department; Vassilios Papadopoulos, Dean of USC School of Pharmacy and Zahra Mehdizadeh Kashi, Founder & CEO of Kashi Clinical Laboratories.
For more information about the World Congress of Compounding or to register visit www.compoundingcongress.com.
MEDISCA is the leader in providing turnkey solutions to the pharmaceutical compounding industry and allied health care professionals worldwide. Through its global partners, LP3 Network and MEDISCA Network, MEDISCA is committed to being a complete resource for prescribers, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians engaged in personalized medicine by offering educational trainings, products, and support. Founded in 1989, the company has locations in Canada, the United States and Australia, optimizing its service to the international market. For more information about MEDISCA, please visit www.medisca.com and follow us on Twitter at @medisca.
Antonio Dos Santos
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ACRY Mission Project
CALL TO ACTION!! At the National ACRY Convention this past Labor Day Weekend, the ACRY proposed a Mission Project in order to help the IOCC replenish their supplies of Health Kits and Emergency Clean-Up Buckets. In this Sunday's bulletin you will find the following checklists to assist you in helping us with this project. Please keep these lists handy and try to donate what you are able to this project. We will also be asking the youth of our parish to help assemble the health kits as the donated items are brought to the church basement.


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Mezuzah - Short lines "ש"
$43.00 $86.00
Materials: Gray Concrete / White Concrete, Epoxy, 3M Double Sided Tape.
HAND MADE. Colors of concrete and filling may vary.
This Mezuzah comes in 2 sizes:
SMALL: Suitable for a maximum 6cm scroll.
Item dimensions: W 1 1/4" x L 5/8 " x H 3 5/8" / W 3.2 cm x L 1.7cm x H 9.2cm
(Item code: M10 /M10W)
MEDIUM: Suitable for a maximum 12cm scroll.
Item dimensions: W 1 1/4" x L 5/8 " x H 6" / W 3.2cm x L 1.7cm x H 15cm
(Item code: M5 / M5W)
To add a Kosher scroll click here.
Photo credit: www.contemporaryjudaica.co.uk
Back To Judaica Previous Product Next Product


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HEIGHTS ARTS HOSTS ENTICING, A SWEET & SPARKLING SUMMER PARTY ON July 15, 2017
FOR RELEASE: June, 2017
First annual benefit for the arts honors business leader and activist Steve Presser
Cleveland Heights, OH: Nonprofit Heights Arts announces its first Enticing benefit, to be held Saturday, July 15 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. in a penthouse and glass cube overlooking downtown Cleveland.
Guests will be treated to 360-degree views of the city's twinkling skyline, while enjoying signature creations by some of Northeast Ohio's most celebrated pastry chefs, bakers and chocolatiers, including: Coquette Patisserie, fire food and drink, Fluffy Duck Cafe, Luna Bakery, Mitchell's Fine Chocolates, On the Rise Artisan Breads & Pastries, The Stone Oven, and Zoss the Swiss Baker.
A selection of champagne and sparkling wines from Gust Gallucci, along the lively gypsy jazz of Moustache Yourself and a silent auction to benefit Heights Arts' mission, rounds out the main event portion of the evening from 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Guests attending the 6:30-8:00 p.m. VIP portion of the evening, prior to the main event, will also enjoy a special musical performance by Time Canvas, with accompanying small plates by Bob Sferra of Culinary Creations and wine by CLE Urban Winery.
Heights Arts executive director Rachel Bernstein wants Enticing, the organization's first big benefit, to be a very special, collaborative event, reflective of Heights Arts' own culture and work; "Something that has a special feel above and beyond a typical benefit—the kind of event that people look forward to every year because of its unique and creative nature."
In keeping with Enticing's creative theme, the honoree for the evening is Steve Presser, business leader, arts activist, and owner of Big Fun on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. For decades, Steve has been one of the city's leading "characters," yet he also has a long history of serious dedication to his community. Steve has volunteered to help the public schools through Reaching Heights, spearheaded the Coventry Special Improvement District along with restaurateur Tommy Fello, and became a founding board member of Heights Arts in 2000, serving on its board repeatedly since then. "We are thrilled to have Steve Presser as our honoree," notes Rachel Bernstein. "His unwavering support of Heights Arts over the years is a big reason why we have been able to continue our work in the community."
Benefit tickets for the Enticing main event from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. may be reserved through the Heights Arts gallery at 2175 Lee Road, online at www.heightsarts.org, or by phone 216-371-3457. Tickets for the earlier VIP portion of the party are sold out, however Heights Arts is maintaining a waitlist.
For further details, visit heightsarts.org/enticing.
Contact: Marketing


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I cannot deny the fact that vegemite is one of Australia's most legendary brands. Just take a look at Miley Cyrus' tattoo tribute for his Aussie fiancé, Liam Hemsworth!
Australians adore its distinctive taste, but most foreigners are apprehensive to try it. The gravity of its popularity can be seen in figures. About 80% of Australian households have VEGEMITE in their pantries. This is why more than 22 million jars of VEGEMITE are produced each year. Isn't that overwhelming?
With its broad prevalence, you must try vegemite at least once in your life. It is hard to escape it! Say out of pure love, you introduced different Philippine dishes to your Aussie lover. He or she introduced you with this iconic spread in return. Let us be honest! You will have a hard time to gulp it in at first. And, you will probably display similar reactions as these adorable children:
Interestingly, none of the kids would recommend eating it. Why did they dislike the spread so much? Is it because of what is inside the vegemite?
On the bottle, it is labelled as "Concentrated Yeast Extract". That does not sound appetizing! But, it sounds really nutritious.
vegemite's ingredients have not changed since it emerged in 1923. Although the manufacturers cannot share the recipe, all they can say is that it is a rich source of B vitamins. The B vitamins (i.e., Thiamin B1, Riboflavin B2, Niacin B3, and Folate) will help ignite the energy that you will need for the day. Vitality is its main niche!
It is always a good idea to relish the humble beginnings of popular brands. In the case of VEGEMITE, its story spans nearly a century. Fred Walker Company (known as Kraft Food Company today) hired a chemist to create a nutritious spread in 1922. After several laboratory tests, renowned Dr. Cyril Callister developed a tasty spreadable paste. The company labelled it as "Pure Vegetable Extract". A year after, VEGEMITE graced the shelves of many grocery shops.
The turning point of the spread's popularity came about during World War II. WWII Armed Forces kept buying the spread in bulk due to its claim of nutritional value. Once the war has ended, VEGEMITE became a part of Australia's significant history and its beaming heart.
There is a reason behind the fact that millions of VEGEMITE jars are distributed every year. It is because there is no other spread that is nutritious, flavorful, and historical. It has been linked not only to Australia's past but to its future. How so? Well, Aussie children are raised to eat VEGEMITE as early aged 1-3.
Most Aussies will tell you to add a light layer of butter over your VEGEMITE toast or crackers. Aside from that, this concentrated spread can be consumed in many ways. These creative ways include:
Vegemite toast with scrambled eggs
Cheese and Vegemite crackers
Vegemite toast with sliced avocado on top
May this spread make its way to your own heart too!


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My little girl is growing up so very fast. On the one hand I want to keep her small, on the other I'm in awe of each milestone and watching her personality blossom. She isn't really talking much yet. She tries, but sometimes a lot of the words come out sounding the same, or are just sounds. I was worried about her not speaking much yet. Her brother set the bar high for speech. He spoke well quite soon and articulates his thoughts quite beautifully for his age. A couple of weeks ago I had a light bulb moment. Since Elijah is in play school now, we are trying to teach him to speak Afrikaans as well and therefore Gabby is not only exposed to English, but Afrikaans too. This might explain why she is taking a little bit longer to start speaking. Also, every child is different. It is quite clear that she understands us very well as she follows instructions and "answers" questions.
She has been doing the cutest things of late. She has started shrugging her shoulders when she doesn't know something. It is too adorable. The other day she was in the kitchen with her dad and I was busy getting ready for work in my room. I sneezed (rather loudly, as I do) and she came running into the room, looked at me and said "Bwess" and ran off again. Huge heart melt moment right there!
At 23 months old she is still breastfed. While the snide remarks, disapproval and judgement from other people intensifies as she gets older, I am still grateful for this amazing mothering tool. I can't tell you how much easier things are with her than they were with Elijah. Yes, they are different children, but I find breastfeeding invaluable in situations that would have worked well with him too. Recently Gabby went through a phase where she would start throwing a tantrum and latching her on would instantaneously soothe her and put a stop to it. With Elijah we would pretty much have to wait it out and just make sure that he doesn't hurt himself while he was having his meltdown. If Gabby hurts herself latching her on also immediately soothes and comforts her. With Elijah it took ages and while a dummy was sometimes helpful, it didn't always work. Breastfeeding works every.single.time. It also makes a great in between snack before dinner, instead of her reaching for a cookie, sweet or bread to fill the gap. Gabby is not a fussy eater at all, however her brother is full of nonsense when it comes to food. My friend Arkwife has noticed the same with her breastfed child vs. the one that wasn't. I like to think that the two are related. One word Gabby has started using (a lot) is "boop" – read BOOB. Yup. She now asks for it. I have often heard people say "Once they are old enough to ask for it, they should no longer be breastfeeding." While I respect the choices of others, their opinions don't pay my bills. I actually had the guts to say this to someone who criticized me for still breastfeeding and acted disgusted that I still do, stating repeatedly it was "time to stop". I am non confrontational and often don't defend myself, back down or pretend not to be phased. I simply stated "Just let me know which one of my bills you are going to pay with your opinion" and she left it right there. It works. You should try it!
After my post about discipline, Natalie sent me a message on Facebook with information she has put together about discipline and what works for her. I had an aha! moment when she mentioned a reward chart. I remembered that we had used a reward chart for Elijah when we were potty training him and he really loved it. Once he was potty trained the chart was forgotten. We bought a magnetic white board and I split up the days of the week and areas that he could earn a magnet for. Currently on our board are areas we need to focus on: brushing teeth, playing with his sister, eating supper, picking up toys and listening. I drew a small picture for each category so that he can identify them himself. When we got home on the second day I showed him the categories he could potentially earn for and he really made a concerted effort to earn his magnets. I still have to figure out what we will reward him with at the end of the week if he does well. I think we might resort to money sometimes as he really seems to love money! So much so that he will carry around money in his hand at all times if he has any. One night he fell asleep with money in his hand and slept for over an hour with it tight in his grasp and then eventually let go. He is still very small, so I think we can start off with a small denomination like R 5.00. Perhaps this will also open up opportunities to teach him about saving, etc in the future. This is a very new development in our relationship and I am hoping that we can continue motivate him with the reward chart.
Last Friday Elijah went for an open day at his new school. We have enrolled him in the same primary school I attended. He absolutely LOVED it. So much so that he did not want to go back to his old school on Monday. The prospectus came home with him and there are a number of worrying things in there. There are a few things expected of him that he is not able to do yet. They want him to be able to write his name, know a contact number and our address. All things that we will need to cram into him for the remainder of the year and hopefully he'll be ready next year. There are a few other things we need to focus on, but he is a bright boy and I'm sure we can get him to master everything before he goes to his new school. I am quite excited about him going. His previous school disappointed us in a few areas and I'll be glad to have him move on. Hopefully he will be happy and flourish there.


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Fortunately (for me), last week was a tad bit slower at the Twitter feed. Before getting into the main topics, I would like to direct you towards a nice round-up of Arthurian links at the Senchus website, as well as an article via Medievalists.net on Arthur of Dalriada. Also, if you want to read primary source material in the original manuscript form, then visit this awesome site on paleography. And now to the main event…
Oh Staffordshire Hoard, how I love thee! Even though finding a hoard isn't always a good thing, with the new Staffordshire Hoard site (read a news release about the new site) and the photography of the Hoard items such as the beautiful pectoral cross it's hard to not love you. And reading papers from Staffordshire Hoard Symposium makes you all the more fascinating. But we shouldn't forget about Sutton Hoo, which even has its own blog and will soon hold an exhibition with a replica of the burial chamber – no Anglo-Saxon crosses there, I bet! While the Staffordshire and Sutton Hoo finds are great, we shouldn't overlook other places, such as a Saxon site at Springhead in Kent.
While the work of Anglo-Saxon goldsmiths and blacksmiths was exceptional, even pieces like this bead necklace, which Anglo-Saxon women apparently wore quite a bit, are astounding. Well, by Anglo-Saxon women I of course exclude nuns. Monasticism and the like seems, after all, to have been relatively popular given the number of monasteries spread throughout early medieval Britain. Little wonder, given the violence as evidenced directly by cranial trauma at cemetery and less-so by monstrosity in Old English and Old Icelandic literature (if you wish to read the literature in the original language, you'll need to know the main features of Old English and grammatical points like Class 4 Strong Verbs). But getting back to a more historical view, download a podcast on Aethelred the Unready and consult the podcast bibliography if you wish to consult some scholarly resources.
Most readers of this blog likely know about the Viking age in Caithness and Orkney (if not, then consider purchasing The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings). But I bet most people don't know that in Orkney there are even Viking mice! I wonder if the Viking mice wear those famous horned Viking helmets? And is death an erotic pleasure journey for the mice as it appears to have been for the men? Is the color green symbolic to Viking mice? That last point I doubt – I do think they prefer red (just ask Mickey Mouse).
Back in Scandinavia, there is a modern question about the future of Swedish archeology. Regardless the future, the present of Scandinavian archeology has yielded new finds on itinerant kings. And from a mythical point-of-view, there seems to be a correlation between the Odinic tradition and Syrian and Indian mythologies.
One link has already been given for (Anglo-Saxon) crosses above, and now I have some more links for you, whether you want them or not. The theme of fate in early Irish texts indicates that the Irish have long been strong believers in the supernatural. It comes as little wonder then that they invested time and energy in the design of their crosses. Attend an Irish high crosses exhibition and take a look at the Cross of Cong to see what I mean.
Ireland, however, isn't the only Celtic land to have crosses. Cornwall is full of Cornish Celtic crosses. In fact, more generally Cornwall has a wealth of ancient sites, and you can get into touch with Celtic Cornwall through the organization Gorseth Kernow. If you really wish to get a feel for the Celtic side of Cornwall, perhaps the best way to do so is by learning the Cornish language. It might be interesting, first of all, to learn a bit about the Cornish language in medieval times.
Scotland too certainly isn't short on its share of historical sites. Don't believe me? Check out then the Glenmorangie Early Historic Scotland Project and an article on 13th century castles. Likewise, Scotland has plenty of its own crosses, many created by the Picts, who are well-known for their practice of tattooing which to this day influences modern tattooing. Anyway, you can see some of the splendid Pictish stones at St Vigeans Pictish Stones Museum (note that to visit now requires pre-booking). If you like the Pictish stones, then you might also fancy attending an upcoming Pictish throne exhibition. Before going to the exhibition, considering reading up a bit with an article on Scotland's dark ages and a short post on Picts, and by visiting an old internet site on Picts.
Lastly, I don't know if this is funny, sad, or what-have-you, but read one author's accusation that the Welsh language made him miss the train. Do you agree or disagree with his arguments? I leave you to form your own opinion.


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Casper van Dien plays Army Sargent Tom Holloway. His partner and best friend is his bomb sniffing dog Conner. They go through a lot together so when Tom is ready to retire he returns home to his family with Conner in tow. Unfortunately his daughter Tara, played by Casper's real life daughter Grace, isn't all that pleased to have a new family member. She really missed her dad for all those years he was away and she naturally wants him all to herself now. Seeing him spending his time with Conner instead fills her with jealousy. Tom can see the anxiety his daughter is experiencing so he decides to take her and Conner on a camping trip to help them bond closer together and possibly even learn a little about teamwork. Unfortunately once in the mountains an unexpected occurrence leads to a danger filled adventure that tests the three campers. Written byCSJ
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No one cares that you are carrying. No one is looking. No one will notice. They are modern Zombies! They are too busy with their very important lives. They have their noses buried in IPads, Kindles and phones. They wear ear buds that silence the world around them and they wander aimlessly without the slightest hint of awareness. The only people looking are other people carrying and as one of those, I can honestly say
that since carrying began, I have yet to positively identify someone who was carrying. I completely believe that if I wore a black shirt, black slacks, black holster and a black gun, I could open carry and it would be sometime before someone noticed.
Relax, do your due diligence and you will be fine. For everyone else? Situational awareness is a beautiful thing.
I respect LEO the same way I respect Fireman, Military etc., Those people look in the mirror in the morning and say "Today I will put my life on the line for a stranger."
That is noble and the stuff of legends. But when you abuse those you are supposed to be serving, all that goodwill is lost in the wind.
If an LEO doesn't like the job or can't handle the vagaries of the job, then they should find another. In the end, that's all it is... a job. I like most of the LEO I know, they are good people - make no mistake. But that being said, the whole "there are a lot of good cops out there" doesn't work for me.
Like everyone else who is pro Second Amendment, I am frustrated and aggravated every time I see that stupid No Guns sign. But here is the thing... if the Knucklehead who owns the joint doesn't want
I would love to see someone open a Concealed Carry Education seminar that traveled to businesses or groups of business people to give them the lowdown, the facts, the studies of those who Conceal Carry and how the law pertains to them (I'm sure many are acting on bad information) and include a study of the dollars lost through "signing" their place of business, show them the error of their ways, so to speak. But beyond that?
I'm one of those people who was raised to take personal responsibility for my decisions and my actions. If I don't want to disarm, then I don't go into a business that is posted with the No Guns sign. If I don't want to slip and fall, I don't go where the sign says it's wet and slippery. And if I should happen to decide that the risk of my actions is acceptable to me, and then I am injured, you won't find me looking around for someone else to blame. One of the core arguments for Concealed Carry is that we, as a group, are responsible people. We get angry and frustrated with others intolerance of our lifestyle and Rights. Yet we are intolerant of private businesses who have the right to post. I just don't understand that line of thinking.
I have no trouble with most things people say as long as there isn't any malicious intent. And to be honest, I don't much care if anyone is offended. Using the word offended doesn't give us some magic power to curb other peoples thoughts and words.
But if I am going to be called something derogatory, I prefer "Cotton-headed ninny muggins."
As far as fighting anti-gunners is concerned - Vigilance is the key. They will never stop. They will never cease looking for a new angle to chip away at our Constitutional Rights.
The TSA has 47,000 agents. How many terrorists have they caught? ZERO. How many agents have been terminated for theft? 400. Total cost of TSA so far? 7.5 Billion. Lets cut that first.
Social Security? Find some way to start fazing it out, moving to private accounts. I don't need the Government to tell me how much money I should save, or if I should save. Why? Because I'm responsible for myself and my retirement, not the Government.
DEA? One trillion spent on the drug war since the mid sixties... How is that working out for you? Prohibition doesn't work - Alcohol, drugs, guns. You'd think people would understand that by now Legalize all drugs and you don't need the DEA... Sayanara.
And thanks, but I will decide where my money goes. Not the Government. If anyone wants to give their money to schooling, knock yourself out. If I want to give mine to St Judes? Thanks but that's my decision. I'll decide whats important for my money. No more bailouts. No more funding of other Countries. Enough of taking my money and sending it where you want it to go.
I love how I may be considered greedy or a bad guy because a I don't want to pay for higher education (or any other gubmint programs), but those who want to reach into my pocket, take the money that I worked for and give it to a charity they think is important, consider themselves to be a giving and noble person with higher moral standards than I.
I definitely think Government needs to get out of education. With the government guaranteeing
loans, the schools are able to raise their rates. What do they care if the student can't pay when they know the taxpayer will cough up the money. It's guaranteed, free money! (Read that as taxpayer.) When there are no guarantees, the students will either go to a smaller college, causing four year colleges to lower their rates to entice students to attend, or students will stop going to four year colleges and do two years at a junior college before moving up to the big leagues, again, dropping costs.
Or they won't go to school at all and maybe take up a trade - and as the saying goes, "the world needs ditch diggers too."
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Sputniknews – 16/4/17
French presidential hopeful Francois Fillon has come up with a plan to help religious minorities in the Middle East to fight discrimination.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — French presidential candidate Francois Fillon suggested 12 measures to help religious minorities in the Middle East, stressing the necessity to exclude mentions of religious affiliation from IDs, among other proposals.
"Apply pressure so that civic rights may be fully realized in the Middle East around two tangible measures: putting an end to mentioning of religion in ID papers, the establishment of effective measures to fight the discrimination against Christians and members of minorities within civil service," the statement, posted on Fillon's website on Saturday, said
Fillon also suggested decriminalizing conversion of Muslims to any other religion and promoting the freedom to choose religion for children of mixed couples. The center-right candidate advocated support of francophone educational institutions in the region, many of which are run by religious communities.
Fillon said on his Twitter that he visited a Coptic Orthodox Church in Chatenay-Malabry, a suburb of Paris, on the eve of Easter, stressing that the adherents of this confession suffered from the "barbarism of Islamic State [Daesh, banned in Russia]."
On April 9, powerful explosions hit Coptic churches in Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria, with Daesh claiming responsibility. The blast in Alexandria claimed at least 18 lives, the one in Tanta left at least 30 dead.


text: LN'19 | Session VIII Share: Name: LN'19 | Session VIII Date: May 8, 2019 Time: 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM PDT Website: Leadership Novato Program Event Description: LEADERSHIP NOVATO SESSION V Thank you for your interest in the upcoming Leadership Session. We are excited about our program but this particular session date is still being finalized. If you have immediate questions about this session, please contact Victoria Worch (415) 897.1164 x349 or at firstname.lastname@example.com To Current Calendar Date/Time Information: 8-8:30 Networking / Breakfast (optional) 8:30 -12:15 pm Presentations and Past Alumni Mingle: Where to take your leadership Contact Information: Victoria Worch Send an Email Fees/Admission: Available for Leadership Novato Students Class of 2019 Only Are you interested in joining the Class of 2020? Contact the Novato Chamber Set a Reminder: Enter your email address below to receive a reminder message. -- Select Days Before Event -- 1 Day 2 Days 3 Days 1 Week To Current Calendar Business Directory Events Calendar Hot Deals Job Postings Contact Us Weather


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Review: AlunaGeorge - 'Body Music'
opinion byPETER TABAKIS
If you have even the mildest interest in the music of AlunaGeorge – since you're reading this review, that's probably something of an understatement – chances are you know the following two facts: 1) AlunaGeorge is a UK duo which consists of Aluna Francis, who sings, and George Reid, who provides instrumentation and produces their songs, and 2) The duo (Francis, particularly) very much adores 90s R&B. The second fact has dominated the duo's narrative to such a degree that you'd expect them to be a revivalist act, in the way Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings pitch-perfectly channel the soul sound of the 70s. They're not – quite the opposite, actually. And lest you think all this talk is just the usual internet echo-chamber hype, oh no, it's right there in the opening paragraph of the press release for the duo's first-rate debut album Body Music:
Do you remember a time, not so long ago, when pop music felt strange? Alliances of visionary producers and charismatic singers spawned a series of songs that were as radical as they were catchy: hits like Destiny's Child's "Say My Name," Aaliyah's "Try Again" and Tweet's "Oops (Oh My)." It was great, wasn't it? AlunaGeorge thought so too. Now, when the Top 40 has never been more homogenous, they want to shake things up again.
Granted, nothing in those five sentences explicitly states that AlunaGeorge are slavish devotees to a bygone style of music. But the implication is that their music is at the least backward looking. Well, yeah, but only in the sense that AlunaGeorge's songs share the ebullient novelty characterized by the classic singles the press release cites. That's what also sets AlunaGeorge apart from Purity Ring – on the surface, one of their closest peers – another singer/producer electronic duo who are more interested in (sometimes dark) ambient prettiness than approximating pop music. AlunaGeorge, on the other hand, aim at pure pop immediacy; their music begs to be loved outside the hermetic confines of the blogosphere. Reid's machine-made flourishes proudly distinguish Body Music's songs from the insipid residents that usually sit atop Billboard's Hot 100. And yet, Francis' vocal melodies are ready-made to blast from open car windows.
When Aluna Francis and George Reid first met in 2009, he was playing guitar for a proggy-rock band and she was a singer in an electro-pop group. They've been releasing songs as AlunaGeorge ever since, but it was the 2011 single "You Know You Like It" that brought real attention to their collaboration. One of Body Music's many highlights, that mid-tempo, slinky come-on of a track showcases the duo's essential sound, which they both expand and deepen on their debut.
AlunaGeorge hew to a consistent template on Body Music: Francis provides instantly alluring vocals and enormous pop choruses, and Reid lays down a panoply of ever-shifting, frenetic electronic sounds, skittering beats, and booming bass thumps. Body Music's fourteen tracks alternately strut ("Attracting Flies," "Bad Idea," "Just a Touch," "Lost and Found"), slow to jam-tempo ("Outlines," "Friends to Lovers," the title track), and sway to-and-fro ("Your Drums, Your Love" "Diver," "Best Be Believing") so regularly that the album never succumbs to tedium or the dreaded pop-album bloat.
As the voice of AlunaGeorge, Francis should be the star of Body Music. And she often is, with her vocals and lyrics shifting between petal and thorn. Her kewpie-doll voice may have a limited range, but she can scuff its sheen and drop into an angered low register enough to suit the needs of a song. Lyrically, Francis is at her best when dissatisfied – for example, is there a better way of calling bullshit on a lover than "everything you exhale is attracting flies?"
Francis and Reid may be equally talented, but he does the heavy lifting on Body Music. When Francis' melodies drift into the humdrum (mostly on the mid-tempo numbers), Reid saves the song with impressive studio cartwheels. But when she dominates a track, such as on "Just a Touch," he knows enough to retreat into background.
Though Body Music contains only one true misfire (the immediately forgettable "Kaleidoscope Love"), the album's strongest tracks glow so bright that fine songs such as "Diver," "Lost and Found" and "Bad Idea" can get lost in their shadow, at least on early listens. Of the album's excellent singles, the walloping and breathless "Attracting Flies" is the clear standout. Still, my two favorite songs are (as of yet) non-singles. The sighing, lovelorn album opener "Outlines" proves Francis can deliver a remarkable slow jam (in contrast to lesser late-album cuts "Body Music" and "Friends to Lovers"). On "Just a Touch," Francis plants her head in the sand to convince herself to remain with a cheating lover ("Baby I don't want to know…tell me the next time."). The contrast between her heartbreaking lyrics and delivery, and Reid's buoyant, streamlined instrumentals amaze the old fashioned way, without studio pyrotechnics.
Body Music concludes with a delightful, if utterly unnecessary, "bonus" take on Montell Jordan's terrific single "This is How We Do It." In a recent interview with NPR, George Reid explained why the duo covered the song in the first place:
[We] were doing some festivals last year, and this year we're doing loads of them — this is all without us having an album out — so we're expecting a lot of people to listen to an awful lot of songs that they've never heard before. It was a case of having something that people would recognize in our set.
AlunaGeorge can rest assured that the days of needing an eighteen-year old song to thrill an audience are now long behind them. Their Body Music will surely suffice. [B+]


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FAIR School Crystal is a Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource School which serves students in grades 5-8. As a public magnet lottery school, families inside and outside District 281 can apply to join our program.
FAIR, which was conveyed to Robbinsdale Area Schools in 2015, is the result of imaginative educational conception and innovative architectural design.
The school is housed on two campuses: FAIR Pilgrim Lane serves our primary students (grades K-4) and FAIR Crystal serves our secondary students (grades 5-8).
2019-20 Student Handbook
Attendance Line
FAIR School Crystal: 763-971-4510
FAIR Pilgrim Lane: 763-504-8410
School Hours
Students at Robbinsdale Middle School, Plymouth Middle School and FAIR have a new place to hang out after school. The Source is a place for those who love sports, art, games, or gadgetry stuff like robots and computers. Maybe your thing is meeting new people and trying new things, we've got that. We'll have space for you to finish your homework and space for you to test out your imagination. And, we might have to try out this new game, they call it dodge ball, or something like that. We'll also find some creative ways to make a difference. You just never know who might need a hand. Join us at The Source – get plugged in. View the Parent Handbook for The Source.
Schedule: Registration is on a first come, first serve basis with a completely flexible schedule. Select the days you plan to attend.
Cost: The Source is a free program.
Want to register? Click here.
3915 Adair Ave. N., Crystal MN, 55422
Phone 763-971-4500
Fax 763-971-4531
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