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Archive for July 2010
Amazon Kindle – Joe Sangl's Books Are Now Available!
Many of you have asked for this, so I am PUMPED to announce that my first two books are now available via the Amazon Kindle – the wireless ebook Reader.
Here are the links to the "Kindle"-version of my books:
I'm PUMPED because this is yet another way that we can reach more people with our crusade "to help others accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances."
For those of you (like me) who still like the "analog" version of books, you can buy physical copies of any of our resources via our STORE – including our latest offering the DVD-based 6 Week I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. Group Study.
The Mutual Fund Series: Franklin Templeton Investments
This is a continuation of The Mutual Fund Series here on JosephSangl.com.
During each part of this weekly series, we will be looking at a specific mutual fund company.
Today's company is Franklin Templeton Investments.
Franklin Templeton is a global organization known for frugal and conservative investment management. The company is based in San Mateo, CA and serves in more than 150 countries with offices in over 30 countries. They currently manage $586.8 billion in investments and the number of investments is continually growing.
What I Like About Franklin Templeton Investments
- Stable History – Franklin Templeton was founded in 1947 and for 63 years it has maintained stability and success.
- Diversification – Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds offers 11 types of mutual funds for investors: International, Global, Growth, Value, Blended, Hybrid, Sector, Asset Allocation, Fixed Income, Tax Free Income, and Money Funds.
- Globalization – Franklin Templeton has offices in countries representing 84% of the World's GDP and the company is the second-largest cross-border fund manager.
- Strong Capital Management – Franklin Templeton has been given strong credit ratings with a stable outlook from both Standard & Poor's (AA- / A-1+) and Moody's (A1 / P-1). The company's dividend has also increased every year since 1981.
- Variety of Products and Services– Not only does Franklin Templeton offer mutual funds, they also offer 529 College Plans, Coverdell ESA's, IRA's (Roth and Traditional), and multiple online financial tools.
- Easy Transfers – If an investor has a change in their investing objective, they can easily transfer from one fund to another, with little or no cost.
What I Would Like To See Improved
- Minimum Investment Required – Franklin Templeton's minimum investment required is $1,000, which is lower than the previously mentioned Vanguard and Fidelity, yet it is still four times higher than a mutual fund from American Funds.
- Charges and Fees – Franklin Templeton offers very few no-load mutual funds (shares sold without commissions or sales charges). About 82.4% of funds are load mutual funds and about 17.6% are no-load funds. A no-load mutual fund usually outperforms front-end load (when fees are charged at the time of purchase) and back-end load (when fees are charged at the time the mutual fund is sold) mutual funds.
Franklin Templeton Mutual Funds I Own
I do not currently own any Franklin Templeton mutual funds.
Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund To Look At
- Franklin Growth Fund [Ticker: FKGRX] – The Franklin Growth Fund primarily invests' in common stocks, across a variety of industries. This fund has net assets of $2.4 billion with an annual fee expense ratio of 1.00% and an average annual return of 9.92% since inception.
Read about other mutual fund companies
NOTE: Clemson student Anna Briscoe, a senior majoring in Economics with a minor in Financial Management has been so gracious to research and write the majority of this post.
Top 10 Visited Posts At JosephSangl.com
I was looking over the visitor stats using Google Analytics the other day, and I thought it might be interesting to share the Top 10 Visited Posts for JosephSangl.com since January 2010.
- SERIES: How Do I Budget
- USA Today Snapshot – 4/30/2010 – Why Many Are B-R-O-K-E
- Eliminate Budget-Crushing Expenses
- SERIES: Eliminate The Mortgage
- I Am Passionate About Helping
- SERIES: How To Pay Off Debt
- Funny Money YouTube Video
- Budget Spending Money
- SERIES: Setting Financial Goals
- Miracle On The Way
And I will throw in my FAVORITE post of the year – when I announced the arrival of Keaton Joseph Sangl – who arrived on February 6th – a whole ten years after big sister Melea brightened our world with her arrival!
How Often Do You Update Your Budget?
The most important action that helped me achieve financial freedom was preparing an INCOME – OUTGO = EXACTLY ZERO budget.
The simple act of sitting down with my bride and planning our spending for the upcoming month is what allowed us to become debt-free in just 14 months and has allowed us to fund tons of dreams like giving a ton of money away and saving money for college, retirement, and vacations.
Every single time that we sit down with an individual or couple in a financial counseling appointment, we work with them to prepare a budget. For most, it is the first time in their lives that they have planned their spending out to the very last dollar. When I meet with many of the counselees a few months later, I discover that they have failed to prepare another budget since the time that they left our last meeting – and, guess what, they have not been able to maximize their money.
It makes me want to ask the AWESOME readers of JosephSangl.com these two questions:
- How often do you prepare/update your spending plan?
- How well is your plan working?
Let the conversation begin!
The Mutual Fund Series: Oppenheimer Funds
This is a continuation of The Mutual Fund Series here on JosephSangl.com.
During each part of this weekly series, we will be looking at a specific mutual fund company.
Today's company is Oppenheimer Funds.
Oppenheimer Funds is an asset management company with headquarters in New York, NY, with $255 billion of currently managed assets. Founded in 1960, Oppenheimer Funds was affiliated with the brokerage firm Oppenheimer & Company, Inc. However, Oppenheimer Funds is now owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Mass Mutual) and has no corporate ties to Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. or Oppenheimer Capital.
What I Like About Oppenheimer Funds
- Diversification – Oppenheimer Funds offer 12 types of mutual funds for investors: global, growth, large growth, value, quantitative, portfolio solutions, taxable bond, municipal bond, specialty, money market, cash reserves and institutional. However, Oppenheimer Funds has become well-known for their niche with bond funds in the mutual bond market.
- Variety of Products and Services – Oppenheimer Funds offer other products and services, such as IRA's (Roth and Traditional), 403(b), 401(k), 529 college plans, and Coverdell ESA's.
- Award Winning Website – www.oppenheimerfunds.com was designated as Excellent by DALBAR in 2009 for the websites functionality and usability.
What I Would Like To See Improved
- Minimum Investment Required – The minimum investment for OppenheimerFunds is $1000, which is the same as Franklin Templeton: not as high as some mutual funds, but you could find it lower elsewhere.
- Front-End Load Funds – Many of Oppenheimer Funds' top rated mutual funds by Morningstar carry large front-end loads of 3.50% to 5.75%, which will start off your investment with a 3.50% to 5.75% LOSS! Even worse, only 8.7% of Oppenheimer Funds' assets are no-load funds.
- Fund Performance – Oppenheimer Funds owns several five-star and four-star mutual funds as of February 2009, which are excellent ratings; however, the company's municipal and taxable bond funds have recently experienced poor performance.
Oppenheimer Mutual Funds I Own
I do not currently own any Oppenheimer mutual funds.
Oppenheimer Mutual Fund To Look At
- Oppenheimer Equity Fund Inc. [Ticker: OEQAX] – This mutual fund's inception date was October 2, 1947 with a focus on investments in medium to large-capitalization companies. The fund has assets of $1.62 billion, an average annual return of 9.54% since inception, and an expense ratio of 1.03%.
Read about other mutual fund companies
NOTE: Clemson student Anna Briscoe, a senior majoring in Economics with a minor in Financial Management has been so gracious to research and write the majority of this post.


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Members of My Builder

subset: commoncrawl


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Safeguard Your Network Security
Dedicated IT security solutions offer a fast and effective response to cybersecurity attacks. With a multi-layered security platform in place, your business data and application environment will effectively defend itself against cyberattacks. And, if a cyberattack were to compromise any part of your network security, this layered protection would rapidly contain the cybersecurity threat. Whether it's your company's web, email, network, cloud or remote systems and devices; well-planned and well-implemented IT security services will safeguard your data, users and networks.
Next-Generation Firewalls
Safeguard your organisation from the next big breach through Cisco Firepower Next-Generation Firewall (NGRW). Offering a diverse set of capabilities to automatically prevent and safeguard your organisation along with visibility into and control over users, applications, devices, threats and vulnerabilities in your network. With a variety of next-generation products at offer, Kytec recommend, implement, and support your business needs to deploy a solution that's right for you.
Email & Web Security
Protect your organisations users from email and web threats by deploying a multilayer approach to security, a robust layer of defense against ransomware, malware and phishing attacks. Cisco Web Security Appliance (WAS), powered by Cisco Talos protects you by automatically blocking risky sites and testing unknown sites. Enhance Office 365 with Cisco Email Security and Cisco Advanced Malware Protection.
Advanced Malware Protection (AMP)
Build your organisation on exceptional web security intelligence and automated malware data analysis. Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) is an integrated enterprise-class protection solution providing real-time visibility across the attack continuum: before, during, and after an attack.
Integrate AMP with your Cisco Web Security solution to give you advanced threat capabilities alongside traditional features.
Cisco Umbrella
Providing security from the cloud, Cisco Umbrella provides a feature rich security platform that provides protection from malware and other threats for clients on and off the corporate network. A simple to deploy solution, Cisco Umbrella is a go-to for Kytec when a customer is looking for increased visilibty and protection across their network with an extremely low time to value.
Cisco StealthWatch
Cisco Stealwatch leverages machine learning to detect East-West anomolies in the data centre to detect emerging threats and protect against data exfiltration. As experts in the Security and Data Centre architectures, Kytec are perfectly positioned to deliver for customers looking for next-generation levels of security within their data centre.
Multi Factor Authentication (Cisco DUO)
Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) is a necessity to deliver on legislative data privacy requirements.


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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) � National forecasts for this winter didn't leave Horry County hay farmer and cattle rancher Jerry Strickland with much Christmas cheer.
Strickland is dismayed with the forecast that calls for the drought gripping much of South Carolina and the Southeast to continue through March.
"It's been terrible. Any way you look at it, it's been terrible," said Strickland, whose family has been in farming for 100 years. "It's a real bleak outlook for farmers and ranchers."
Strickland's hay fields yielded about only 30 percent of a normal crop. His creek dried up and cattle thinned as the drought worsened through 2007.
The U.S. Drought Monitor has more than 45 percent of the state in its most serious drought designation of exceptional. The worst conditions are roughly north and west of a line from Aiken to just north of Columbia to Dillon.
A year ago, only the far northwest corner of the state was reporting abnormally dry conditions, the lowest level of drought reported by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Every major reporting site in the state was at least 10 inches below normal for yearly rainfall as of Monday. Greer was 21.19 inches below normal rain and 11 inches under its 2006 total, while Columbia was 18.51 inches below normal for 2007 and 13 inches below its rainfall total for last year.
North Myrtle Beach was 12.69 inches below normal for 2007, while Florence was 11.03 inches below normal and Charleston was 10.14 off its yearly pace.
National forecasters predict much of the state should receive at least a half-inch of rain by the end of the week. But the winter precipitation outlook released earlier this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was much more bleak, calling for below normal precipitation for most of the Southeast.
And a dry winter means things will go downhill much quicker when warmer weather returns, said Tim Armstrong, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wilmington, N.C.
"If we go into the spring dry, it can get really nasty going into summer," Armstrong said.
As the Christmas season draws to a close, Strickland is facing a major decision. He may have to cut his heard of 300 cattle down to as few as 60.
He has one more thing he is asking everyone to do. "Pray," Strickland said. "The next couple weeks will tell the tale."
Drought 2007 comes to a close in South Carolina
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) � National forecasts for this winter didn't leave Horry County hay farmer and cattle rancher Jerry Strickland with much Christmas cheer.


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Monday, April 4, 2011
Contact: Paul Chesser, [email protected]
Today American Tradition Institute's Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard, based upon evidence that the state's law violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Commerce Clause reserves the regulation of interstate commerce to the federal government.
Specifically ATI's complaint argues that because the state mandate provides economic benefits to Colorado's renewable electricity generators that are not available to out-of-state power generators, and because the state imposes burdens on interstate electricity generators that are not balanced by the benefits to Colorado and its citizens, that the RES violates the Commerce Clause. The complaint also states that the law promotes renewable sources and discriminates against lower cost, more reliable energy generation from out of state suppliers, which is unconstitutional.
"Colorado's renewable energy standards impose a burden on the interstate market for wholesale electricity," said Kent Holsinger of Holsinger Law, LLC, ATI's Denver-based counsel for the case. "Among other things, these state mandates discriminate against out-of-state electrical generation—no matter the source. This runs counter to the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution."
The heart of the lawsuit addresses both the uneconomical and environmentally harmful nature of wind-generated energy. In addition to higher costs than traditional generating sources, wind energy creates more pollution because it requires coal or natural gas as backup generation when the wind either does not blow, or when it blows too hard and causes systems to shut off.
"Research shows that when wind energy is on the electrical grid, operators must use more coal and gas generation to keep the electrical power in balance," said David Schnare, Esq. Ph.D., director of ATI's Environmental Law Center. "This forces coal and gas plants to 'cycle' up and down to keep pace with when wind varies, which is extremely inefficient and dirty. Hard observations show that this cycling of coal and gas plants causes more air pollution and greenhouse gases than if wind was not connected to the grid."
Also, Colorado residents do not realize how badly the RES statute affects their pocketbooks. William Yeatman, an energy policy analyst for the Competitiveness Enterprise Institute and ATI's electricity rate expert, explained, "Unfortunately for Coloradans, their ratepayer protections are illusionary. The true RES costs are obfuscated with accounting gimmicks."
The RES case is the ATI Environmental Law Center's first lawsuit. ATI and the ELC were established for true environmental protection, while also guarding the rights of humankind to access and utilize natural resources responsibly, and recognizing the need to weigh costs and benefits.
"This case against Colorado's RES is part of our effort to restore sanity to environmental policy in the states," said Paul Chesser, ATI's executive director. "Combined with our economic analysis, this lawsuit will highlight one example where we expect to make the appearance of environmental responsibility match reality."


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Winter Circus Queen dies at 107
Issued on: Modified:
Rosa Bouglione, pioneer of traditional French circus and patron of Paris's Cirque d'Hiver (Winter Circus) has passed away at 107.
Rosa Bouglione, the star matriarch and celebrity darling of France's legendary Bouglione circus family, has died aged 107, her relatives announced Monday.
"Right up to August 26 she remained the uncontested queen of the circus," a family statement said.
She reigned over the Cirque d'Hiver (Winter Circus) in the heart of the French capital "for nearly a century," after her husband Joseph and his three brothers bought the venue in 1934, the statement added.
"Madame Rosa received the greatest stars and welcomed the greatest international artists to this temple of the circus," which has a capacity of 1,500.
In her extraordinary life story published in 2011, Bouglione told of how she was married in a lion's den.
Born in a horse-drawn caravan to a family of performers in Belgium on December 21, 1910, under the name Rosalie Van Been, she died Sunday in Paris at her home close to the Cirque d'Hiver.
"Five generations, covering 55 children, great and great, great grandchildren will say adieu to their emblematic grandmother who has bequeathed them a love of the circus," the statement said.
The public will be able to pay their respects before the coffin at the famed Cirque d'Hiver on Wednesday ahead of a funeral mass during the afternoon.
Rosa will be buried alongside "all the members of the dynasty" at the cemetery in Lizy-sur-Ourcq, near the River Marne northwest of Paris, the family said.
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Palm Tree
Like crackling icicles,
your brittle sword-branches
rattle in the small breezes
of thick warm nights . . .
Maybe even our real names, in a way, are pseudonyms.
In 1937, during her final attempt to circumnavigate the world at its equator, Amelia Earhart spent eight days in Miami to repair her Lockheed Electra. This last "stunt," as she called it, would be a test of grit and hubris, something never before done by woman or man. One month later, 22,000 miles into the trip, she would disappear.
Mythological and yet resolutely human, Earhart was a feminist whose heart beat for humanity, however estranged she was from a normal, terrestrial life. This story is about two little-known things about her: her time in Miami, and her poetry.
In 1921, Earhart was a yet-to-be adored aviator when she submitted four poems to Poetry magazine under the pseudonym of Emil A. Harte. One of them was about her newly discovered passion for flying. Harriet Monroe, the founder of the esteemed journal, wrote back to "Mr. Harte," saying the poems were "unusually promising." But, she added, they were "not quite—as yet." As in, all of them were rejected.
Earhart was both unusual and promising from a young age. Born in 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, in a Gothic mansion, she was the progeny of Puritans and pioneers, and her defiance was a precocious trait. When sledding down Kansan hills, boys in her town would ride lying down while girls were supposed to assume a more "ladylike" pose, but Amelia, perhaps recognizing the aerodynamic advantage, disregarded the gender norm. This may have saved her life: one day, while catching speed down a hill, she realized she was fast approaching a man with a horse-drawn junk cart, but plucky Amelia was able to zip just barely between the horse's legs (as she told it). Had she been upright, her head would have met the horse's ribs.
Earhart's family, of means and Victorian tendencies, moved around a lot. Her father struggled with alcoholism, and young Amelia, who was raised much by her grandparents, is described variously as a loner, frail yet daring, and a tomboy. Muriel, her sister, said the two of them were taught at home for a period of time, during which, she describes, "We omitted geography almost entirely from our studies, but we reveled in poetry far beyond our years." Later, Amelia was sent to an all-female finishing school in Philadelphia, where she was meant to learn the rites and graces of high society. She was kicked out for walking on the roof in her nightgown.
(Published in the Miami Rail, March 2016)


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Far from "profit being the only currency that counts" in today's Britain, there are growing numbers of people who are driven not by profit, but by a mission, a set of values, a cause. What a contrast they would make with someone like Paul (fired this week) who chose Big Issue vendors' poor selling technique as the thing that makes him most angry. Drive, ambition, passion, and personality are not confined to the commercial world and it's high time this was represented more widely in our mass media.
Nick Temple
School for Social Entrepreneurs, London
Candidates may well epitomise certain attitudes today. It doesn't mean millions of viewers admire them. We only enjoy seeing the humourless, ill-educated, vain, venal, grasping, ruthless, backstabbing bastards get their comeuppance.
Hugo Cranston
In comparing The Apprentice to Blair's Britain, Jonathan Freedland forgot one crucial aspect of the programme - it is a poor imitation of a US show.
Mark Harms
Clara Vale, Tyne and Wear


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Used BMW 1 Series cars for sale
We currently have 110 in stock
There are 7 trims of 1 Series manufactured by BMW in our current stock
Featured used BMW 1 SeriesBrowse All
BMW 1 Series Hatchback
BMW 1 Series Hatchback
BMW 1 Series Hatchback Special Edition
M140i Shadow Edition
BMW 1 Series Hatchback
Our stock of used BMW 1 Series come in a range of gearbox and fuel type options and are currently located at the below sites
If you're looking for a nearly new or used BMW 1 Series, at Motorpoint we're sure to have a model for you in our range. In our listings, you can find an array of quality second-hand BMW 1 Series cars which can be suited to everything from city driving, to use as a family car and even as a smart and professional business vehicle. What's best about our range of used and nearly new BMW 1 Series cars, is that they come with a variety of features that are sure to accommodate any driving preferences you may have.
To find your preferred BMW 1 Series, make the most of our helpful search tools. These let you filter our collection by features like transmission, colour, mileage, trim level and more, quickly finding the right model for you.
You can also simply take a look through our selection and choose a model that interests you. Our dealerships can also offer finance options and part-exchange on this range.
Watch Ken Gibson's video review of the BMW 1 Series above or read the full review here.


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During my senior year at Agnes Scott College, the Career Center hosted a Halloween Career Costume Party. The idea was to create a costume depicting yourself in your ideal career, with some humor and/or horror thrown in.
As an astrophysics and math major, I was tempted to dress as a mad professor with a lab coat, an Einstein-esque hairdo, and some soot from an apparent explosion.
But when I stopped to consider what my *ideal* future self would be doing, I had to drop the cliche and find a more creative way to reveal my inner dream: Continue reading


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Our People
Tarik Shaheen, M.D.
Founder and CEO
Dr. Shaheen is a board-certified psychiatrist with specialized fellowship training in treating children, adolescents and their families. He founded Iris Telehealth with the goal of providing a more patient-friendly telehealth company that is able to quickly adapt to an organization's needs. With more than 10 years of experience and training at the University of Virginia in telepsychiatry, Dr. Shaheen has learned the ins and outs of how to give great care via telemedicine and how important building relationships between partners is to delivering that care. Leading Iris Telehealth, he is able to enjoy his clinical role just as much as his administrative one!
Adam Hemmen
Adam brings an outside perspective to Iris Telehealth and is focused on the day-to-day operations of our company. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Business Administration, with focus on International Business and Leadership Studies. Prior to working for Iris, Adam specialized in helping small to midsized businesses develop strategic growth plans. He has held a variety of positions from consulting to sales and marketing and also owned and operated a chain of frozen yogurt stores. According to Adam, it was delicious. He has a knack for business and a love for telemedicine. When Adam is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, and quoting random Seinfeld lines.
Tom Milam, M.D., M.Div.
Medical Director
Dr. Tom Milam manages our team of clinicians and guides them in telemedicine and industry best practices. He received his undergraduate degree from WVU in Anthropology, graduating summa cum laude, and received his M.D. from the University of Virginia. His residency training in psychiatry took place at Duke and UVA. Dr. Milam has served in a leadership role throughout his psychiatric career and spearheaded the telepsychiatry initiative at his previous hospital. Dr. Milam is also an ordained Episcopalian priest, and got his Master of Divinity Degree from Yale. He is a fan of various sports and traveling with his wife and four children. In his free time he enjoys DIY projects, "honey-do" lists, and driving his convertible sports car.
Ed DeLeon
Ed is a number crunching machine who focuses on all things finance and accounting for Iris Telehealth. His professional background includes banking at JP Morgan and the NY Fed before taking his corporate finance experience to high-growth ventures. A graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in economics, he joined the Cubs and Bears fandoms during his time in the Windy City. He's a Texas native who's enjoyed living in big cities such as NYC and LA. Ed is an active person who loves participating in sports of all kinds — tennis, cycling, basketball, golf, you name it! When he's not being uber athletic, he's probably playing with his adorable dog Zeke.
Emily Furnari, Ph.D.
Vice President of Operations
Emily has the wonderful talent of maintaining the proper balance between being creative and critical at all times. She received her bachelor's degree at Syracuse University and then went on to complete her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Virginia. She is an expert in implementation and process improvement. She coordinates all of our telemedicine programs with partners, serving as a main point of contact through the implementation process. She also manages our internal information systems and heads-up our in-house training programs. She is our chief web developer and maintains our website. She also helps to supervise our marketing team in growing our social media and web presence. Possibly the hardest worker we know, Emily and her arsenal of skills provide a wonderful asset to helping Iris grow!
Carisa Raucci, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Operations
Carisa makes sure Iris delivers awesome service by being the liaison between our healthcare partners and the clinicians that work within each agency. She received her bachelor's degree at Trinity University and then went on to complete her Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in Health Behavior and Health Education. Dr. Raucci also received her MSEd in Athletic Training from Baylor University and has lectured extensively in the topics of mTBI among physicians and athletic trainers. In her spare time, Carisa enjoys house renovations, gardening, reading, traveling, and trying new foods. She roots for the New York Yankees and the San Antonio Spurs. She's the oldest of seven, and her best friend is her 11-year-old black lab named Halo.
Dana Foltz
Clinical Hiring Manager
Dana is focused on the recruitment of quality mental health professionals as well as the placement and implementation of these clinicians across the country. She graduated from Kansas State University with a dual degree in Life Sciences and Psychology. Prior to working for Iris, Dana worked in medical sales for a startup medical device company as well as for a large pharmaceutical company with a focus on psychiatry. She is passionate about being a part of the solution to help under served areas of our communities gain quality mental health access. When Dana is not working, she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband and volunteering for various non-profits within her community. She also helps with the day-to-day chores at the Foltz Family Farm which includes 11 chickens, 3 goats, 2 cats and a dog.
Ted Bryant, M.S.
Clinical Operations and IT Manager
Ted brings an insane understanding of all things tech to the Iris team as our resident technology guru. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.A. in Communications and English, and he continued his education there to get an MS in Engineering (Telecommunications). He decided to follow a lifelong passion for teaching and got his second Master's in Education at the University of Arizona. He has a variety of professional experience, ranging from working at AT&T to network engineering to operational management to being a teacher for high school sophomores. Ted loves the outdoors, and can probably be found hiking, biking, or playing soccer. He's a self-proclaimed nerd who is a fan of dark beers and Dairy Queen M&M Blizzards.
Annalissa Brodersen, PHD
Clinical Operations Manager
Annalissa graduated with her B.S. in Sociology from Iowa State University and her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Iris Telehealth, she served as Research Project Manager on two federally funded research grants as well as a Site and Technical Support Manager for student enrichment programs at the University of Virginia. In her free time Annalissa enjoys rock climbing, running, and doing yoga.


text: Ladies, it's time to pour one out: We've learned the unfortunate news today that Playgirl is shuttering its print publication. The brand will live on through the internet, mainly through videos and pictorials, but not much editorial. To be fair, this will probably only really come as a disappointment to 13-year-old kids who like to secretly look at pictures of penises in the back of the bookstore/newsstand. But still. [Mediabistro]


text: Stories Low-wage workers' huge show of strength Melissa Harris-Perry McDonald's plan may be tough for franchises Melissa Harris-Perry McDonald's wage hike leaves out 750K workers Why McDonald's wage hike falls so short All In McDonald's raises wages but many will miss... Krystal Clear How low-wage workers are winning Rachel Maddow Warren pushes Democrats to compete on issues Unionize McDonald's Tamron Hall PA restaurant pays employees $15 per hour Rachel Maddow Target hikes minimum wages, joins a growing c Target to lift minimum wage Rachel Maddow Jeb Bush makes the case against the federal m Melissa Harris-Perry Wage fight in Seattle reaches new heights All In Corporations raising pay for low-wage workers Hardball Gov. Dannel Malloy Plays Hardball Three Cents Three Cents Caring for the elderly but living in poverty Rachel Maddow More retailers boosting U.S. wages Kudos to Walmart workers! Here's what happens when Walmart does good A boost for the tipped minimum wage New group joins push for higher wages The Ed Show Walmart's admission of guilt Rachel Maddow Wal-Mart makes a move on wages Pages< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 … 21 > See all stories Search


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MCHB Knowledge Base
Within the field of Maternal and Child Health, the PPC (and several other MCHB –funded training programs) focus on a subset of MCH, "Children with Special Healthcare Needs" (CSHCN).
Self Reflection
Self-reflection is the process of examining the impact of personal values, beliefs, styles of communication, and experiences.
Ethics and Professionalism
Ethical behavior and professionalism include conduct congruent with generally accepted moral principles and values and with professional guidelines based on those principles and values.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is the ability to identify an issue, dilemma, or problem; frame it as a specific question; explore and evaluate information relevant to the question; and integrate the information into development of a resolution.


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Scary and tremendously sad...really nothing else to say.
Click here to read.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Plastic Nightmare
Scary and tremendously sad...really nothing else to say.
Posted by Jen Sall at 11:13 AM
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
If you are creative and you know it clap your hands...
You are not clapping...So what?
Sign up, pay $12, get a disposable camera in the mail, and a self addressed, postage paid box to send back your masterpieces. They do everything else & your photos will be featured in a big gallery show put on by Art House.
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:42 AM
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Spray Glue
Spray Glue is GRREAAT! See for yourself (click here)
Posted by Jen Sall at 11:46 AM
Green Denver Museum of Contemporary Art
Posted by Jen Sall at 9:41 AM
3D for U2 & Me
While in Houston a few weeks ago, my friend mentioned taking her kids to a 3D version of Meet the Robinsons.
To read more about this new technology click here
Posted by Jen Sall at 9:06 AM
Friday, May 25, 2007
Weekend Haps
With a few of these I am stating the obvious - OH WELL
Friday - Open Wall - BMOCA 7p-10p
Saturday - Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert with Trace Bundy Chautauqua Auditorium 7p
This & Every Sunday - FREE YOGA at 9:30a by the Studio of the Month @ Lululemon
Monday - Bolder Boulder (duh)
Monday - Black & Bluegrass Memorial Day BBQ at the Gold Hill Inn
New movies - Waitress & Away from Her (both directors have interesting stories)
All weekend Boulder Creek Festival - click here for schedule of events
Wish I was heading back to Harbour Island!! Pic above.
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:03 AM
Thursday, May 24, 2007
EBoost 50% Offer
A little while ago I wrote about EBOOST (all the C of Emergen-C plus lots of B vitamins). I hear its great for energy and hangovers.
Eboost is offering my readers 50% + shipping through the end of May. When checking out in the promotion code enter FRIENDS for the discount.
Posted by Jen Sall at 12:17 PM
Iconic Eye Candy
Posted by Jen Sall at 12:11 PM
Glassy Goodness
Ronni Kappos jewelry is made of vintage German glass, silk and silver. The vintage glass beads were produced in the 20's & 30's in German glassworks in the Sudetenland region of Bohemia.
Posted by Jen Sall at 7:57 AM
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Ginger & Smart
While I can't vouch (but I would be happy to product sample) for quality or fit. I can say this Sydney, AZ clothing and accessory line is gorgeous!!!
Posted by Jen Sall at 10:15 AM
Monday, May 21, 2007
Never ending
I can't say enough about Etsy. I am constantly finding amazing, affordable art, jewelry, etc.
Posted by Jen Sall at 11:19 AM
Rob Walker - author of the Consumed column in the NyTimes and of the great blog Murketing first brought this to my attention.
Don't mess with our chocolate
Long story short...
"U.S. Chocolate Industry are supporting a change in the basic formula of chocolate, by allowing the use of vegetable fat substitutes in place of cocoa butter. In our opinion, these changes will adversely affect the eating, physical and nutritional qualities of chocolate, begging the question: What consumer benefit is associated with implementing such change?"
My response - NOTHING!
Posted by Jen Sall at 10:38 AM
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Quick weekend
*Colorado Colfax Marathon (probably don't want to run it w/o some training...)
*3rd Fridays on Santa Fe in Denver
*Dj Greyboy at Fox Theater
*Always good peeps and music at Trilogy
* New movies including Fay Grim with Park Posey directed by Hal Hartley (a terrific combo!)
* And Year of the Dog - starring Molly Shannon ( this is not a comedy!)
Tuesday - Deepak Chopra @ Boulder Theater.
Posted by Jen Sall at 6:49 PM
Your Specialbike
Specialbike a UK based company. They strip down an old bike, clean it up and make a beautiful new ride!!
Now we need a US location...
Posted by Jen Sall at 9:30 AM
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Rachel Ortas
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:42 AM
Doodle, scribble, sketch
I am a huge doodler and list maker who is drawn to the visual.
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:30 AM
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Green & Funkin
Daniel Moyer designs and builds furniture. He uses small-mill locally harvested hardwood to create the furniture. He had a lot of wood scraps from the biz so came FunkinFunction longboards .
I don't skate and don't intend but these boards are cool even for the non-skater.
I love the name, the logo and the lines. They have that old school vibe - I bet they ride pretty darn nice too....
Posted by Jen Sall at 2:12 PM
You photo - they book
Do you have stacks of photos in boxes?
Consider Bobbooks - you provide the photos and text and they produce a beautifully bound (Swiss-made) hardcover book to display your work!
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:47 AM
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sarah McGuire
Sarah McGuire is a Chicago based silversmith, modern influences with a touch of nature.
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:37 AM
Friday, May 11, 2007
CU graduation is today so you might want to avoid downtown over the weekend.
A couple of events that may be graduates + their families free
- Boulder Adventure Film Fest at The Dairy and Boulder Theater
- Second Fridays at Joy Engine works by Scot Lefavor
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:05 AM
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
For the Dogs
If you own (the guardian) a dog or cat next time you are in the market for a new bed, leash or virtually anything pet-oriented consider Georgesf.com.
Posted by Jen Sall at 11:50 AM
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Kiosk is a COOL online/brick & mortar shop in Soho, NY.
Kiosk - sells a range of products from all over the world, one country at a time. The featured country will change approximately every four to five months. You can sign up to be emailed to see when the products/country change.
Here are some items from the recent shop - licorice rolling paper, chalk and an eco-fire log!
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:49 AM
Anna Wolf
After viewing Anna Wolf's photography on her website (click here) or blog (click here) you may be experiencing a bit of a deja vu' - she has shot for countless publications.
The photography is very captivating but I really love her little books (see below or click here).
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:24 AM
Monday, May 7, 2007
Lela Rose
I am on a posting frenzy this am....
Posted by Jen Sall at 10:51 AM
Daily Juice
Vital Juice Daily: a daily email for all things healthy.
*Fitness *Healing *Nutrition *Beauty *Green Living *Do Good
Give it a try....click here to sign up
Posted by Jen Sall at 10:33 AM
Joom on Etsy
Sure, there are other websites like Etsy but for whatever reason it is the one I visit. I have purchased numerous items from all over the world via Etsy and its been safe & hassle-free.
Posted by Jen Sall at 8:48 AM


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Learning Photography – How to pick the best Course?
Learning photography has not been accepted it's now. It's because the arrival of photography and also the present easy ease of access from the photo taking medium. Another primary reason is it's significantly less expensive than it was once! Yet with this particular revolutionary development, a lot of questions have come to light by what is the easiest method to really learn photography.
Numerous web based course have made an appearance, in addition to courses at private schools and an array of degree courses at universites and colleges. So, it isn't surprising the newbie has trouble selecting which course might be satisfactory.
Why Would you like to Learn Photography?
First, it is necessary you choose just what you're searching for cellular learning photography. If you're just searching to enhance your photography like a hobby, and curently have an active career or family existence, you very well may just need to be checking-out many online internet sites offering photography tips and tutorials.
But, if you're searching to really obtain a degree, your criteria is going to be quite different. Possibly at this time I ought to mention private schools that provide photography courses. Using these, I recommend some caution, as numerous are costly and don't always match the candidates expectation. An easy online look for reviews by former students thus remains always essential, for me.
Where degree classes are concerned, you need to really understand the level and experience with your future teachers. That one factor will govern 3 to 4 many years of your existence, as well as in theory, your photo taking career.
I'd the great fortune of getting a functional professional of three decades teaching me, and that he what food was in a stage in the existence where he desired to spread his understanding to another generation. So, make certain you learn more about the teachers from former students, or even the faculty where possible.
Your Course Content Needs
Rather of just choosing to do photography like a career generally, it might be easier to decide in which you feel your primary interests is within photography. After that you can make certain the amount course you're selecting offers that like a strong area of the course.
There are various types of photographers, for example: photojournalists, professional wedding photographers, commercial photographers (products and stock photography) and fashion photographers, to mention however a couple of. It's not necessary to choose one always before gaining experience, but choosing your current market is essential so that you can create a valid course choice.
For instance, Brooks Institute gives students a choice to specialize later within their degree course, either in advertising photography, commercial photography or portraiture.
Whichever type of photography learning you select, web based classes or perhaps a degree course, make certain you research it fully so that you can not finish up disappointed. The last point: Photography could make for any varied and exciting career, but regardless of what you select, personal motivation is definitely essential and will also be required for a effective career. Best of luck.


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Tamara trained at the University of Queensland, graduating with First Class Honours in 2001, when she joined the Kawana Dental team. She took a further training sabbatical period of 3 years teaching at Sydney University before the Sunshine Coast called her home again.
She is a member of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons and enjoys all aspects of dentistry. She is renowned as an exceptionally caring and gentle dentist and is passionate about ensuring children get the right start with positive dental experiences. She is especially understanding with those who are anxious about the dentist and loves nothing more than helping people achieve their best smile.
Being a mum is one her most rewarding roles and spending time with children Piper and Harry and husband Murray (also a Kawana Dental dentist) is one of her favourite pastimes.
Tamara loves the outdoors, camping, running, canoeing and playing on SUPs. She has recently started piano lessons and is an avid reader of novels – as well as impossibly complex dental journals.
Tamara is a talented and invaluable member of our Sunshine Coast dental team.
Dr Tamara and her amazing assistant Nina


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The weirdest thing just happened. A San Jose police helicopter circled our neighborhood, broadcasting a message that they're looking for a missing 10 year old boy. It's 9:30pm at night, so I'm guessing it's something serious. I can't find any more info about what's happening.
I just hope the boy's ok.


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2019 Ballot Results.pdf 2018 Ballot Results.pdf
Desert Aire Reserve Study 2016.pdf - This Reserve Study meets the requirements of the Washington Homeowner's Association Act, and was prepared by a Reserve Study Professional.
Governing Documents:
Articles of Incorporation - Document creating the Desert Aire Owners Association
2019 By-Laws.pdf - Rules governing how we operate as an Owners Association
2019 Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions.pdf - Agreements which property owners commit to live by in the community
2019 Architectural Regulations.pdf- Regulations for the construction and/or renovation of structures, landscaping and the upkeep of all areas within the community.
Water Policy Manual July 2017.pdf - Definitions, policies and procedures that govern the potable water source within the Rural Village of Desert Aire.
Investment Committee Rules 2019.pdf - Policies and procedures that govern the Desert Aire Investment Committee.
- 2019 Architectural Committee Application - Application for approval of the construction, moving and/or renovation of structures within Desert Aire
- Violation Report Form
- Homeowners Guide To Septic Systems - Recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency for the use and care of septic systems, including operation, maintenance, and failing prevention.
Recreation Facility Policies, Rules, and Agreements:
- Recreational Facility Rules.pdf
- 2020 Recreational Facility Enrollment Form.pdf
- Guest List Rules.pdf
- Registered Guest Agreement.pdf
- Excess Guest Application
- Columbia Room Rental Agreement.pdf
- Desert Aire Room Rental Agreement.pdf
- Banquet Permit - Washington Liquor Control Board website to obtain permits for alcohol consumption; required for any person(s) or organization wishing to use space in a Desert Aire facility where alcohol will be served.
High Water Bill Relief Request - Request form to alleviate high water bills caused by leaks
Landlord & Rental Information Form - This form is used to keep the office informed about the current renters at each address.
Watermaster Notices and Information
- Annual Water Quality Report: CCR Report 2019.pdf
- Water Use Efficiency Report: WUE Report 2018.pdf
Airport Lease and Regulations.pdf - Agreement and regulations governing the Desert Aire Airport
Airport Lease with Amendments.pdf - Modification and extension of the above agreement governing the operation and use of Desert Aire Airport
ACH Form - Authorizes Desert Aire to withdrawl your outstanding balance from the bank account provided. Also allows you to charge to your Desert Aire account.
Site Address Application.pdf - Grant County form to acquire an Emergency Marker.
Shoreline Access Paths.pdf - Link to Shoreline Access Paths within Desert Aire


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Mental health treatment for people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire is expected to cost the NHS more than £10m within two years of the tragedy.
The Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust said it had spent £4.1m on mental health services in the last financial year.
About 700 adults and children are currently being treated.
The trust predicts it will spend £6.5m more in the year to April 2019.
Extra money to help those affected by the fire, which killed 72 people, was given to the trust by NHS England.
About 2,400 survivors and bereaved families have been screened to decide whether or not they need further treatment for mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), doctors said.
A centre and team set up specifically to help people affected by the fire is fully operational.
The predicted increase in costs in its second year is a result of taking on additional staff, the team's clinical lead said.
Speaking from the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service at St Charles' hospital, a mile from the charred remains of the west London tower block, Dr Alastair Bailey said the demand for services has been "huge".
"There are many, many people that are in a great deal of distress in the local community – adults and children," he said.
Those who lived in the tower block and inside the cordon are the priority, but the service can be accessed by anyone who feels affected by the fire, regardless of where they live.
Dr Bailey said many people are now seeking help because trauma triggers such as the ongoing public inquiry and the upcoming first anniversary of the fire are causing distress.
While PTSD is a common issue faced by survivors of the blaze, others have experienced anxiety and depression following the death of a loved one, NHS trust figures show.
You may be also interested in:
"Obviously grief is a very normal reaction following the loss of a loved one, but the circumstances surrounding Grenfell fire are anything but normal," he said.
He added that psychological therapy is not the only way to help survivors, and that people's housing situation and the public inquiry were other important factors affecting their wellbeing.
But he said some people have not yet sought help from the NHS because of various "barriers", which sometimes include culture or religion.
"For some people it's taken a long time to get past a barrier around feelings of shame, or stigma, or other concerns that they have about coming forward and accessing help," he said.


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23 Nov The Perfect Length
First things first…
Before you start wondering what on earth has dropped into your inbox, no, this is not a Viagra advert. We're talking video.
What is the perfect length for your business' video marketing content?
The easiest answer to this question is actually very simple. The shorter the better. If you can say what you need to say in order to entice an action from your viewer in 10 seconds then why take 20? Statistics show that the longer the video, the least likely somebody is to watch it in its entirety. With more than 80% of people willing to watch a 30 second video, but a drop to 60% willing to watch a 3 minute video, the aim should always be to keep it short.
So, what is the right length for your videos?
Well, from our own experience and our research we have worked out the perfect length for each of the video types you are most likely to produce.
Product/Service Launch
45-90 seconds is long enough to make your crowd be interested in what your product does and get a sense of feeling how it works. don't try to show all the features, just highlight the cool ones and make it look simple.
Creative Advert
15- 60 seconds will do for a more traditional video advertisement. If you are using YouTube to advertise then the shorter the better as most people will skip your ad if it drags on too long.
60 – 120 seconds is the range you want to be hitting for testimonial videos. Unlike adverts, viewers will give them a little more time as they should already have an interest in your product/service and viewing a testimonial will aid their decision to act.
The shorter the better. But stick to our handy guide and you shouldn't go wrong. The less you can say about your business and gauge interest, the better your chance of success.
I hope this helps 😉


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If our culture survives long enough for Devo to get its due, the HBO biopic will open with a hectic re-creation of the May 4, 1970, Kent State University shootings, in which the Ohio National Guard killed four anti-war protesters. Then: Cut to an artists' loft, where a couple of Kent State students are whipping up the kind of savvy spectacle then unknown to pop culture (but for a Peter Sellers movie or two) while their hippie friends look on and shake their heads in pity.
At this point, the typical year-2020 viewer will be asking himself--or rather the Wikipedia-brand implant in his shoulder--Did people really dance and sing like robots in chemical protection suits with flower pots on their heads as a response to the Kent State shootings?
Devo did. And in so doing, leaders Jerry Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh prefigured post-punk half a decade before the likes of Gang of Four ever thought to mock industrial society with a dance beat. A quarter-century and a Swiffer commercial later, Devo has come out of its fitful semi-retirement to play Dallas for the first time since 1990.
Devo performs at the Fair Park band shell on Friday, August 18, with the Psychedelic Furs and When in Rome.
According to Casale, it was the Kent State victims, two of whom he knew personally, that vaulted him and Mothersbaugh into the grim future and prompted the two friends to start a band, along with original lead guitarist Bob Lewis. "Until then, I was of my time and more influenced by the prevailing hippie spirit," says Casale from his home in Santa Monica, California. "That just snapped me. It was no more Mr. Nice Guy after that."
But Devo didn't play protest music, exactly. "It was distilled and abstracted from a direct political response, because that will get you nowhere," explains Casale, who may have been derailed from his professorial track by the shootings but can still lecture. "You can see that today, the ineffectiveness of protests and how the 24/7 news cycles can just completely control the masses' perception of who's protesting: Dismiss it, bracket it, label it, get rid of its power."
In contrast to Neil Young's sanctimonious "Ohio," Devo portrayed brutality with music that evoked machines and stupidity with lyrics that were, well, stupid. And this was all under the banner of de-evolution, a theory they borrowed from fringe anthropology but developed into a simple philosophy: Things get worse. "Monkey men all in business suit, teachers and critics all dance the poot," Mothersbaugh sang in "Jocko Homo." Casale went a few flights lower on the food chain in "I'm a Potato": "De-evolution, self-execution, I'm a potato and I'm soooo hip."
Devolutionists though they may have been, Casale and Mothersbaugh were also further ahead of their time than is often acknowledged. Take for example "Mechanical Man" or "Jocko Homo"; both were conceived before punk (as we're taught to know it) existed but made implicit connections between body and machine, guitar and synthesizer, much like the English post-punk bands that would later toss punk's rage into the irony bin.
Why it is that Devo preceded Wire and Gang of Four, but is taken less seriously than those bands, is not the greatest mystery of pop cultural history. The short answer is that despite being dedicated enough to its craft to attract studio maestro Brian Eno to produce its '78 debut, Devo was really, really silly, as the world would discover with 1980's massive radio hit "Whip It." That song's concept may have been the modern obsession with control, but the execution was proudly goofy and mind-devouringly infectious.
"We kind of made a decision to embrace the infantile that's in everybody," says Casale. "Whenever people said, 'God, that's so stupid, I can't believe you're gonna do that in front of people,' that would only encourage us. You think it's stupid? Well, you're gonna get more of it, then."
The other explanation for the seeming credibility gap between Devo and its less colorful English counterparts is that Devo was vigorously commercial. The band both embraced and satirized consumer culture, running its own line of merch (including prosthetic pompadours) and making the brashest videos of MTV's formative years. And by 1982's Oh, No! It's Devo, Mothersbaugh's synth experimentation had attained a sleekness that fit right in next to conceptual lightweights such as the Human League.
Always near the dividing line between art and commerce, the two would eventually drift to the other side: Mothersbaugh, who mainly scores films these days, has contributed theme songs to kids' shows such as Rugrats, while Casale has directed music videos for bands such as Foo Fighters and A Perfect Circle, along with tons of commercials.
This intimacy with commerce has afforded Devo the opportunity to "sell out" its legacy with an unusual degree of collusion. When Disney approached the band about retooling its music for kids, for example, Casale assumed the reins and produced the audio and video content of Dev2.0, a giddy Devo tribute band made up of tweeners, for an audience of 4-to-8-year-olds. Much harder to miss, though, is the Swiffer commercial, featuring a woman jerking around the living room to the slightly altered tones of "Whip It." Devo re-recorded the song but had nothing else to do with the ad, which Casale critiques like a director, rather than an artist who's just seen his band's most famous song co-opted in the name of state-of-the-art housecleaning: "It's just aesthetically offensive," he says. "It's got everything a commercial that turns people off has."
While "Swiff It" (or this current tour's affiliation with a tequila sponsor) may contribute to the perception of Devo as a VH1 artifact or mere novelty, the band's influence hasn't been lost on successive generations of younger artists. In interviews and musical tributes, Weezer, Soundgarden and Mr. Bungle have all testified to the impact of Devo.
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The Matches, a young band from Oakland, California, has an upcoming album, Decomposer, that's markedly influenced by Devo. "They were clearly ahead of their time," says Matches singer Shawn Harris. "I'm attracted to their legacy because they're so self-aware of their contradictions, allowing them to--I don't know--write the theme songs to cartoons without losing any credibility."
"I would give my right hand to have as much credibility as Devo," says Epitaph-label kingpin and Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz, who co-produced the Matches album. "I love that band. I think they changed music. Their work with Brian Eno was revolutionary."
For his part, Casale--who has a new solo project due September 12 under the handle Jihad Jerry and the Evildoers--seems less concerned with his legacy than the mounting evidence of de-evolution. "We see a planet full of psychos and stupid people running the show," he says. "Meanwhile, global warming is real, the oceans are literally dying, there's rampant new bacteria that's been dormant for a half a billion years and we're killing, destroying, wasting the lives of thousands of innocent people."
It's enough to put in perspective an infamous summer day 36 years ago. "What I went through and what everybody went through then was kindergarten compared to the world we live in today," he says. "When I ask audiences, 'Who thinks de-evolution is real?,' I get a huge scream."


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Column: Contours of Culture
Leisure Suits Us
On Josef Pieper's Leisure, the Basis of Culture
by Ken Myers
At present count, there are 255 books in my library with the word "culture" in the title. The shortest title is Culture, by sociologist Chris Jenks. The longest is Richard Olson's Science Deified and Science Defied: The Historical Significance of Science in Western Culture, from the Bronze Age to the Beginnings of the Modern Era, ca. 3500 b.c. to ca. a.d. 1640. There are books about Consumer Culture, Convenience Culture, and Corporate Culture. There are several studies of Youth Culture and only one of Grown-Up Culture. There are reflections on the Culture of Technology, the Culture of Displacement, the Culture of Criticism, the Culture of Complaint, the Culture of Cynicism, the Culture of Narcissism, and the Culture of Celebrity (all of which may actually be in the same realm).
Other titles reference Doubting Culture, Therapeutic Culture, Extroverted Culture, Decadent Culture, and Divorce Culture. A book about Amish Culture sits not far from a volume on Rapid-Fire Culture. I didn't count all the books with the variant "cultural" in the title, but the breadth and variety continues on that list as well.
In compiling this list, I saw a number of titles beckoning me to read them for the first time, a few that I've read repeatedly, and some that have profoundly shaped my thinking and writing about culture. Terry Eagleton's The Idea of Culture does a good job at explaining why the word "culture" is one of the most complicated in the English language (second only to "nature"). I've discussed T. S. Eliot's Christianity and Culture in this column before; consideration of its arguments should be mandatory for any Christian conversation about culture. So should the reading of Josef Pieper's slender volume Leisure, the Basis of Culture.
Originally published in 1952, the book contains two essays, each written in the form of a lecture and given in Bonn in 1947: the title essay (the original German title was "Musse und Kult," "Leisure and Worship") and another piece called "The Philosophical Act." The first edition of Leisure, the Basis of Culture featured an introduction by T. S. Eliot, in which the poet lamented a certain sickness in philosophy that Pieper's work might help cure: "his influence should be in the direction of restoring philosophy to a place of importance for every educated person who thinks. . . . He restores to their position in philosophy what common sense obstinately tells us ought to be found there: insight and wisdom."
Calm & Attentiveness
Pieper was obviously concerned that postwar Western culture was becoming preoccupied with work, guided by a very dehumanizing understanding of the place of work in human life. Communist countries were allegedly workers' paradises, while capitalists (according to Max Weber) lived in order to work. Pieper acknowledged to his 1947 German audience that the devastation of the previous years meant that there was indeed a lot of work to be done. But he reminded them of the insight of Aristotle—taken up within the Christian contemplative tradition—that "we work in order to have leisure."
But "leisure" in that older framework was not idleness or the killing of time (a revealing metaphor). Pieper reminds us that the Greek word for leisure is skole, from which (through Latin) we get our word "school." In the classical and premodern Christian understanding, idleness "is the source of many faults, and among others of that deep-seated lack of calm which makes leisure impossible."
Leisure requires calm because it is marked by attentiveness: "leisure is a receptive attitude of mind, a contemplative attitude, and it is not only the occasion but also the capacity for steeping oneself in the whole of creation." In Pieper's view, the purpose of education is not to prepare us for the world of work, but to enable us to be true people of leisure. If life is more than work, then education is far more than vocational or professional training.
A functionary is trained. Training is defined as being concerned with some one side or aspect of man, with regard to some special subjects. Education concerns the whole man; an educated man is a man with a point of view from which he takes in the whole world. Education concerns the whole man, man capax universi, capable of grasping the totality of existing things.
Rooted in Worship
Leisure involves attentiveness to all things, and education enables some understanding of the whole of things. Culture, for Pieper, is similarly comprehensive:
Culture . . . is the quintessence of all the natural goods of the world, of those gifts and qualities which, while belonging to man, lie beyond the immediate sphere of his needs and wants. All that is good in this sense, all man's gifts and faculties, are not necessarily useful in a practical way; though there is no denying that they belong to a truly human life, not strictly speaking necessary, even though he could not do without them.
The paradox in that last sentence points to Pieper's Christian confidence that Man does not live by bread alone, that what makes us fully human is rooted in what St. Paul calls the things that are above, on which our minds are to be set and in light of which our lives are to be lived.
The last section of Pieper's essay on leisure connects culture with worship. "Cut off from the worship of the divine, leisure becomes laziness and work inhuman." Holidays are not really experienced except as holy days, just as culture is confused without the cultus of divine worship. Pieper's remarkable little book suggests that there's a deep truth in regarding worship as a "leisure activity," though not in the way that term is now conventionally used. Since liturgy is work, and leisure eschews idleness, the Sabbath rest is surely activating. •
Ken Myers is the host and producer of the Mars Hill Audio Journal. Formerly an arts editor with National Public Radio, he also served as editor of Eternity, the Evangelical monthly magazine, and This World, the quarterly predecessor to First Things. He also serves as music director at All Saints Anglican Church in Ivy, Virginia. He is a contributing editor for Touchstone.


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I hesitated about doing this award because I don't feel quite qualified enough to, I guess–who cares about blogging advice from a small-time blogger like me, right? But I have a goal to do each and every award and tag I've been tagged or nominated for–I would feel too guilty if I skipped over this one the way I planned to. It was nearly a month ago when I was nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by the super sweet, super cute: Jo@Hello It's Jo! Thank you so much for the nomination, Jo. ❤
The Rules:
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog
- Give a brief story of how your blog started
- Share two pieces of advice to new bloggers
- Choose 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to
- Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them, providing a link to the post you created
How My Blog Started:
I really don't know how my blog started. 3 months ago I decided I wanted to write on a public blog everyday and it isn't like I haven't decided that I wanted to blog everyday before. I've more than once attempted the 365 day blog challenge but the one major difference was that I did not want one person to read what I was writing. Every time I started writing, in the past, one of my "friends" found out some way or another so I'd stop writing the posts all together. Now, I don't care who's behind their screen reading this. I'm ready and confident enough to share everything (that I please) with anyone who's willing to listen/read. 🙂 I started with a blog challenge that I scrolled through Pinterest and found after less than an hour of browsing. I chose a basic "get to know me" type challenge (if you're interested and don't wanna go scrolling around my whole blog trying to find it, here's a link to my first challenge I conquered on my blog: click here) I have discovered so many beautiful and creative authors in the WordPress community that I wanted to continue reading about and learning from. I'm always searching for and finding even more people to read about and learn from.
Two Pieces of Advice I Have For New Bloggers:
- Don't try to be like everyone else, seriously, please do not. It is always so nauseatingly obvious. Just because someone else has a ton of followers and they run their blog a certain way (and I know you'll feel the pressure to) do NOT change the plans and posts you have stowed away for your blog. It's always hard for me to completely engage in your writing when you aren't exactly passionate about what it is that you're writing. Honestly, I bet you will all feel the lack of passion in this post right now because I've never had the need to offer my advice on blogging…sorry if this post is extra hard for you to finish reading. I hope you know you never have to!! Move on, I won't blame you, I promise!
- Support. Support. Support. If you love someone's post, press that like star!!! Send them an encouraging comment that's personal enough to let them know you've actually read their content. Imagine that feeling you get when someone leaves a thoughtful comment on your post–don't you want to give someone else that feeling with a few simple words of your own?? Even if I don't get support back from the blogs I really like, I'll never unfollow them–if I take pleasure in reading someone's blog, I continue to read all of their posts and I'll still comment if I relate or especially enjoyed a piece of it–even if they act like I am annoying them, lol. If they ignore ALL of my comments, and don't even like them–I will probably eventually unfollow because I actually start to get irritated when I see them on my reader and find all of their words annoying. I stop wanting to read what they put out. Maybe it's a personal thing? LOL. Another piece of advice I would give you though is, don't take it personally. Everyone blogs differently. 🙂 I'm just too sensitive for my own good, ha.
My Nominees:
YOU! If you read this, you have to do it now. Just kidding. Only if you want to. Don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know if you do do this award–I'd really love to read your answers.


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The Middle Class ProletariatThe middle classes could become a revolutionary class, taking the role envisaged for the proletariat by Marx. The globalization of labour markets and reducing levels of national welfare provision and employment could reduce peoples' attachment to particular states. The growing gap between themselves and a small number of highly visible super-rich individuals might fuel disillusion with meritocracy, while the growing urban under-classes are likely to pose an increasing threat to social order and stability, as the burden of acquired debt and the failure of pension provision begins to bite. Faced by these twin challenges, the world's middle-classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest.
As police face continued criticism for failing to control the march, the Observer has learned that defence firms are working closely with UK armed forces and contemplating a "militarisation" strategy to counter the threat of civil disorder.
The trade group representing the military and security industry says firms are in negotiation with senior officers over possible orders for armoured vehicles, body scanners and better surveillance equipment.
The move coincides with government-backed attempts to introduce the use of unmanned spy drones throughout UK airspace, facilitating an expansion of covert surveillance that could provide intelligence on future demonstrations.
Derek Marshall, of the trade body Aerospace, Defence and Security (ADS), said that such drones could eventually replace police helicopters.
He added that military manufacturers had discussed police procurement policies with the government, as forces look to counter an identified threat of civil disobedience from political extremists.
Meanwhile police sources say they have detected an increase in the criminal intentions of political extremists and are monitoring "extreme leftwing activity" in light of last week's student protest.
The office of the National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism (NCDE) said it was feeding information to Scotland Yard's National Public Order Intelligence Unit, which holds a database of protest groups. NCDE, which in turn works closely with the Confidential Intelligence Unit that monitors political groups throughout the UK, said it had already recorded a rise in politically motivated disorder.
The police even shut down a web site -- which sort of backfired somewhat, what with the Internet being the way it is for now -- but it's very important everyone remembers that censorship only takes place in China or Iran, and probably Somalia too. That'd never happen here.
It might be fascism, but is it still a 'conspiracy theory'?


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We bought two new home equipment earlier than doing some other transforming. Kitchen Planning Tip: You may wish to create two kitchen ground plans – one of your existing kitchen and considered one of your new kitchen design. Discover TELEVISION listings for This Outdated Home and Ask This Previous Home in your space. Cupboards: The cupboards we use are manufactured by Aristokraft®, Timberlake®, Decora®, Medallion®, and Schrock®.
Frosted cabinets are nice for a more modern element, whereas painted cabinets make for a nice however inexpensive contact. The common price of a kitchen rework in Aurora is roughly $10,500 to $27,600. From DIY ideas to hiring a professional, our design recommendation and how-to concepts inform you the whole lot it's worthwhile to find out about planning a kitchen remodel.
You even have the choice to refinish your home equipment if they're outdated or want that stainless-steel look to increase your kitchen appeal. A Design Workshop stool from ABC Carpet & House and a Sprint & Albert rug enhance the kitchen. (Ask your countertop installer to make the shelves.) Add trendy metal brackets for support and to repeat the metallic tones discovered within the appliances, hardware, and faucet.
Use only one drawer, and conceal it behind a wood panel so that it blends with the cabinetry. This house owner and architect used the recessed space contained in the partitions so as to add shelving. To maximize your return on investment, follow these seven methods to keep you on finances and enable you make smart selections.
Switching out the stainless steel sink that came with the house for an apron-front porcelain one boosts the room's attraction. Check out our gallery of kitchen makeover and transform concepts to get the inspiration that you must create the kitchen of your goals.


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District 16
State Board Director
Elected in 2012
George Wherry operates a family livestock, sheep and cattle farm. Previously, he was a coal miner for 28 years.
He has been a Pennsylvania Farm Bureau member since 1975, serving as county board president as well as on the county board of directors.
He is a graduate of Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences and has a B.S. degree in animal husbandry.
He and his wife are the proud parents of six children, five girls and one boy. Mrs. Wherry is now deceased.
He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers Association and an American Sheep Industry member.


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The "Amherst" was shown in the Pequegnat 1928 catalogue. Shown are two versions of the same clock. One with the catalogued crown piece and the second without the crown.
Both have 8 day time and strike movements, however the one with the crown strikes on a pair of tuned rods, the other strikes on a single rod.
Both clocks measure 16 3/4 wide and is 7 inches deep. The clock with crown is 11 1/2 inches tall and the one with no crown is 10 1/2 inches tall.
It's a nice clock that's hard to find and even harder to find with the crown missing and the single rod.
The "Brampton" is also seen with these two differing styles.
Amherst - Back
Amherst - Label
Amherst - Movement
Amherst - No Crown
Amherst - No Crown - Label
Amherst - No Crown - Movement
Copyright © 2006 Skip Kerr. All Rights reserved.


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Aug 07, 2015
Blogging is one of the most critical elements of your content marketing strategy. Startups have found that blogging increases traffic much more than paid advertisements. 70% of people learn about a company from blog articles instead of advertisements. With that said, it is very important that you focus on increasing the quality of your blog. Among the top 100 blogs, here are some statistics that you want to know for your next blog post idea:


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Patients & Families
Easier Healthcare, Designed Entirely For You.
At Overlake Medical Center, nothing should get in between you and your health.
Patients & Families
Whether you are a patient at Overlake or are here visiting a friend or relative, we have many amenities and services to make your visit more comfortable. From our beautiful fish tanks and comfortable family waiting areas to our gift gallery and dining services, you will find Overlake to be a place where the environment adds to the healing process.
For inpatients with serious or chronic illnesses, our palliative care team is available to help with pain and symptom management. In addition to comfort, families and patients also have access to pastoral care to help give you emotional or spiritual support you may need.
Before visiting Overlake, please read about parking on campus.
Once you arrive, you will be able to find services such as the Walgreens on-site pharmacy where you can fill a prescription or purchase a get well card and a quick snack.
See our visitors' guide for details about visiting Overlake.
Patient Experience
Patient care, safety and service are Overlake's priorities for achieving our mission of compassionate care for every life we touch. With any compliments or complaints about your care, you may ask to speak with the manager / director of the unit or department you are visiting to share your feedback.
If you feel as if your concerns have not been resolved, please contact the Overlake patient experience team at 425.688.5191 or firstname.lastname@example.com. All concerns are taken seriously. We will review your comments and take steps to resolve the issue.
You also have the right to contact the Department of Health at 1.800.633.6828 and / or the Joint Commission at 1.800.994.6610 to report any concerns or register complaints.
Clothing Donations for Patients in Need
As part of Overlake Medical Center's mission to offer compassionate care for every life we touch, at times we find our patients need assistance in the form of new or gently-used clothing items. These items are particularly helpful for patients discharged from our emergency department whose clothes were soiled by their injuries, or were damaged in the process of treating the condition that brought them to the emergency room.
Thanks to the generosity of the community, we are fully stocked with clothing and footwear at this time. If you have further questions or would like more information, please contact email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Patient & Family Advisory Council (PFAC)
What is a PFAC?
A Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) partners patients and families with members of the healthcare team to provide guidance on how to improve the patient and family experience. As part of this PFAC process, patients and families are invited to serve on hospital committees to ensure the consumer's point of view, perspective and experience are not only heard, but also integrated into the service and quality improvements that ensure high-quality, customer-centered care. Through their unique perspectives, patient and families give input on issues that impact care, ensuring the next patient or family member's journey is easier.
Overlake Medical Center's PFAC
Overlake's Patient & Family Advisory Council was launched in 2015 as a board-mandated initiative. While other hospitals sponsor and run their PFAC program in a variety of ways, PFAC is hosted at Overlake by the Patient Experience Department.
Our Program's Objectives Are Threefold:
- Support "exceptional patient care and a superior patient experience," which to us means encouraging a culture where patient and family-centered care (PFCC) is a solid, dependable foundation in all we do.
- Facilitate the inclusion of patients and families as central partners of their own care team.
- Represent and advocate for the patient voice in decisions and future direction of Overlake.
The group works towards these objectives by listening to patient and family needs and by educating employee liaisons on the Council, so they can serve as champions for patient and family centered care enterprise-wide. It also works by integrating our Advisors onto Overlake care and operations committees so the patient voice is present in meetings where planning conversations happen and where decisions are made about the design, delivery and evaluation of health care.
Our PFAC Members Adhere to the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care Four Principles:
- Dignity and Respect. Health care practitioners listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care.
- Information Sharing. Health care practitioners communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful. Patients and families receive timely, complete and accurate information in order to effectively participate in care and decision-making.
- Participation. Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose.
- Collaboration. Patients, families, health care practitioners and leaders collaborate in policy and program development, implementation and evaluation, in healthcare facility design, and in professional education, as well as in the delivery of care.
Ideal Patient Family Advisor (PFA) Candidates Possess the Following Attributes:
- Ability to share insights and information about health care experiences in ways others can learn.
- See beyond their personal experiences.
- Show concern for more than one issue or agenda.
- Listen well.
- Respect the perspectives of others and share empathy.
- Speak comfortably in a group with candor.
- Interact well with people of many different styles and backgrounds.
- Work in partnership with others for the betterment of Overlake and the Eastside community.
Requirements to Become a PFA:
All Overlake Medical Center, volunteers are required to complete the required onboarding process prior to beginning their role as a Patient and Family Advisor.
Onboarding includes:
- Submit online volunteer application
- Phone interview with our Volunteer Resource Specialist
- Attend in-person interview with Patient Experience
- Background check and health requirements
- Attend Volunteer Services Group Orientation
- Meet with the Program Manager of Patient Experience to begin PFAC onboarding
For general questions about Overlake Medical Center's PFAC, please contact Stephanie Hamrick, Community Engagement Manager at firstname.lastname@example.com.
For questions about becoming a Patient Family Advisor, please contact Brenda Epstein, Volunteer Resource Specialist at firstname.lastname@example.com. Notice.


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Today we learned a Ford Mustang owner blamed a squirrel for the latest documented example of Mustang fuckery. Sure, guy! Sure. Squirrels and digital tire gauges, they'll do it every time.
Now, I will say that I love animals, and when a squirrel runs into the road, I do try to avoid them generally—if I can do so safely. I'm not a monster. But hey, if it's gotta be you or something else... maybe make sure it's you. Reader CalBearsFan99 chimes in with a practical rule.
I would say there's a lot of small dogs and cats I could eat in one sitting, depending on my hunger level and the barbecue sauce situation (no, I wouldn't actually do that, calm down before you tweet at me because we're just talking size hypotheticals here), so maybe scratch them off the list.
But squirrels? Well, sometimes bad things happen.
Makes sense.


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Morning, Sammylou here and today I am sharing a quick make using the I Love You Sew download.
I've made a Valentines' themed card (It is the month of love after all!) but I have to say that I just love this download and it works splendidly for all occasions.
This month to celebrate the month of Love, all love themed downloads are just £1.00 so get on over to the site and grab yourself a bargain.
This download is an absolute must have.
I'll see you later on in the month with another make.


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It was now time for Sony to show off what it had in store. With what was in my opinion a lack lustre performance from Microsoft earlier in the day this was the opportunity for Sony to show them how to put on a conference to remember. And boy did they deliver.
After Jack Tretton finally left the stage after buttering up the crowd telling them how PlayStation fans are the best; he handed over to a couple of guys from Quantic Dream. The studio responsible for Heavy Rain. They went onto reveal their latest title, Beyond: Two Souls.
This is a unique psychological action thriller featuring Academy Award nominee, Ellen Page in the lead role. Experience the incredible life of a person who possesses extraordinary powers through a connection with an invisible entity. Watch as your actions and decisions determine her fate and face incredible emotional challenges never before seen in a video game.
Next it was time to show off some live game play footage of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Cross platform live footage that is. Two players were using PlayStation 3 controllers. The other two were playing the game on PSVITA. The game still looks very Super Smash Bros but isn't imitation the best form of flattery? It does look a lot of fun and the demonstration showed off how you build up power moves to unleash on your opponents. The aim of the game is to score the most points before the timer runs out. Nathan Drake and the Big Daddy from Bioshock were also revealed as playable characters. The most enlightening part about this presentation was that the PSVITA can be used as an advanced controller for the PlayStation 3. This is clearly an attempt to compete with Nintendo's Wii U Game Pad.
It was then announced that PS1 classics from the PlayStation store would now be playable on PSVITA. Also PlayStation Plus will be offering more content each month to its subscribers.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified was announced for PSVITA. There was no video feature, instead the promise that there would be more information in the coming months. It was boasted that it would feature an online multiplayer component.
Also revealed for PSVITA was Assassin's Creed: Liberation.
The game is due for release this coming October and will also be available as part of a bundle featuring the game, a 4GB memory card and a Crystal White PSVITA.
Ubisoft then went on to wow the audience further by presenting game play footage for Assassin's Creed III which features naval warfare. Now take a look at this video and prepare to be excited about this franchise again.
They then went on to reveal that Far Cry 3 will feature an objective based multiplayer mode that can be played in up to four player co-op. It doesn't appear that co-op will feature in the main story, that remains a single player experience.
Wonderbook was the next announcement. Wonderbook is an interactive story book experience aimed primarily at young children. Using a combination of the PlayStation Eye, Move and Augmented reality tech you will see your book come to life on the screen. This clearly has some strong support as the first book announced to be released for it is called "The Book of Spells" which has been written by J.K. Rowling especially for this experience. In the game you learn about what each spell does and how to cast them. Admittedly I felt this presentation went on far too long but it is nice to see there is something being produced for the kids. I think this will live or die depending on the price points and the promise that there will be many more books for it in the future.
HTC were revealed to be a smart phone partner for mobile gaming and Sony produced games will be playable on their handsets.
The final two features of the show featured game play footage for the highly anticipated God Of War: Ascension and The Last of Us and I'm afraid that I just cant find the words to describe them and give them justice. So sit back and enjoy the footage.
Overall this was a very strong conference for Sony and has got me excited for the titles that are coming in the near future.
Tags: Assassins Creed 3, Assassins Creed Liberation, Beyond: Two Souls, call of duty: Black ops declassified, E3, God of War: Ascension, htc, jack tretton, PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale, PSVita, Sony, The last of us, Ubisoft, wonderbook


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Spring is finally here along with spring cleaning, spring weddings, and winter holiday proposals! With your wedding comes a rare opportunity for other people to buy things you need off of a registry! And the 2014 decorating forecast calls for bold hues, modern accents, and trendy patterns. During this time we all crave something fresh and new and what better way to celebrate the warmer weather than with a few changes to your decorating scenery? If you are looking for amazing tips to brighten your world, look no further! Home Improvement Expert Eli Mechlovitz, owner of GlassTileStore.com, has the scoop on quick and easy ways to spruce up your home décor for spring.
Create a fresh and unique atmosphere in your home with Eli's simple tips:
Hot Spring Trend #1: Pop of Color! Nothing says fresh like a burst of color and this year's hues will not disappoint. What's on the wheel? Gorgeous orchid, sky blue (think Lupita Nyong'o's dreamy Oscar's dress), spicy peach, mint green and bold, turquoise blue. Add any one of these lovely colors with a coat of fresh paint, a dazzling flower display or sumptuous bedroom linens; the sky blue is the limit!
Hot Spring Trend #2: Mid-Century Simplicity Spring is the perfect time to lighten up and saying goodbye to heavy accessories and home accents are no exception. From the airy feel of an acrylic chair to the clean lines of a contemporary vase, this decorating throw back is the wave of the future! Have traditional tastes? No problem! Just a few accents can really make a difference. Combing thrift stores and antique shops is a fun way to add this trend on a budget.
Hot Spring Trend #3: Statement Light Fixtures If you're ready to change the entire look of your room but don't know where to begin, start with the focal point. More often than not it's the light fixture that sets the tone for the entire space and this year, they are on trend. Just let your taste and budget guide you; cool lighting doesn't have to be expensive and since they are this year's décor-style front runner; many styles abound!
Hot Spring Trend #4: Bold, Graphic Patterns Easy does it is the key to nailing this daring trend! Whether it's a new accent rug or a few smartly arranged throw pillows; geometric patterns, animal prints and busy florals are the key to adding visual interest to any tired living space.
Hot Spring Trend #5: Metallics Bold bronze, shimmering silver and glistening gold; these are the accents that will completely transform a room form drab to glam! An ornate mirror will add drama to any space, but it's especially beautiful in the dining room. Add glistening candles to enhance the mood and remember, it's ok to mix metals; just like you would your jewelry.
Tips provided by Eli Mechlovitz, home improvement/design expert and owner of Glasstilestore.com offering beautiful bathroom wall tiles, kitchen backsplash tiles, and swimming pool tiling options to help you put your design ideas into practice.
The Charlotte Wedding Examiner is your local resource for all things wedding going on in the Queen city. Do you want to read more? Click the 'Subscribe' button under my name to receive e-mail alerts when I publish new articles. You can also follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/laurendomm or e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Successfully complete one of the following tasks to get a trophy:
- Bookworm (Bronze): Spend at least 4 seconds on each page of the 'how to play' section.
- Clean hands (Silver): Kill 100 enemies using the environment or traps.
- Flyswatter (Bronze): Defeat the boss in Act 3.
- Gold medalist (Gold): Earn gold medals on all levels.
- Gotta learn them all (Bronze): Perform all the different combo finishers.
- Legendary Hero (Bronze): Reach the max level.
- Mutual benefit (Silver): Complete all levels in multiplayer.
- Pesky carts (Silver): Avoid the minecarts in the Mine level.
- The bigger they are... (Bronze): Defeat the boss in Act 1.
- Untouchable (Silver): Complete a level without taking any damage from enemies.
- Vengeance is mine (Bronze): Defeat the boss in Act 2.
- You and what army? (Bronze): Defeat the boss in Act 4.
The following trophies require the "Jungle Hunt" bonus downloadable content:
- Bad omen (Silver): Complete all levels in the Jungle Hunt DLC without destroying any voodoo dolls.
- Extreme rafting (Gold): Avoid all obstacles during the raft ride.
- Pool party (Bronze): Jump into the piranha pool next to the boss.
- Swimming instructor (Silver): Throw 10 enemies into the Naruvu River.
- The remedy (Silver): Defeat the boss in Act 5.


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Di Pipe Gaskets- WRAS approved rubber gaskets are suitable for use in TYTON JOINT DI (Ductile iron) pipeline, fittings and valves.
We provide an extremely reliable flexible joint and feature:
• WRAS and BSEN - 681 Approved PUSH-ON Tyton Gaskets for C.I & D.I. Pipes
• WRAS approved rubber gaskets are Extremely strong and efficient flexible joint
• Di pipe gaskets are Suitable for 'in the ground' or 'above ground' applications
• Di pipe gaskets are Manufactured from EPDM rubber providing improved performance over traditional natural rubber
• High resistance to water, ozone, heat, sewerage, chloramines, UV, and abrasion
• Joints can be deflected and permit axial movement to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction
Size Range: DN80 – DN1000
Relevant Standard: IS:5382


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Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group is pleased to announce our merger with Sisson & Sisson, The Elder Law Firm, to create the Elder Law Group at Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group. With this merger, Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group is now the largest and most experienced Elder Law firm in Idaho.
Peter C. Sisson, former principal of Sisson & Sisson, The Elder Law Firm, will head this practice area. His practice emphasizes a comprehensive approach to the issues seniors face as they age—anticipating and providing legal services as their circumstances and health care needs change. Pete is a board-certified elder law attorney and board-certified estate planning law specialist.
Please contact Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group at (208) 639-7799 or visit www.idahoelderlaw.com to learn more about Peter and our elder law service offerings.


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A kitten showed up on a family's doorstep for food. After roaming the neighborhood all her life, she decided it was time for a change.
Ariel Heath
Four little kittens appeared outside Ariel Heath's home a few months ago. They were drinking water from a dog bowl without a cat mother in sight. "They heard us and ran back off the property behind our fence and into some brush," Ariel told Love Meow.
She asked her neighbors about the kittens but no one had seen them or knew anything about them. She began leaving food out, hoping they would return.
"I never saw them eat but the food was always gone within half an hour."
Ariel Heath
A few days later, the family heard meowing coming from their backdoor. It was the runt of the litter, who came for food all by herself. "She was still quite skittish and ran back if you moved too quickly."
Ariel placed the food by the fence and sat in the yard to wait for the kitten. "I would meow and she would come slowly, sneaking under the fence to eat. She was alone now, and her siblings were nowhere to be seen."
Ariel Heath
"After awhile she would come in my yard and eat the food near me as long as I was still. It was a long process as she was pretty wild."
The kitten visited their yard several times a day for food and started moving to the window to peek in and let the family know that she had arrived.
"Eventually, she trusted me enough to eat right from my hand and let me pet her."
Ariel Heath
It was then they knew the kitten had accepted them, and they made her a permanent part of their family.
"We named our kitten Billy not knowing she was a young lady. I took her to the vet. She was a very healthy girl for being outdoors her whole life. We got her spayed, vaccinated and dewormed so she wouldn't be repeating the cycle around the neighborhood."
Ariel Heath
The sweet kitten quickly bonded with Ariel's son and would play with him when they were out in the yard together.
She would wait by the door and greet him as he walked home from school every day.
(Scroll down for video)
Ariel Heath
At first, Billy didn't feel comfortable staying indoors, but their rescued dog took her under her wing and offered to be her cuddle buddy.
"She had won over our dog and the two of them began having cuddle sessions of their own," Ariel told Love Meow.
Ariel Heath
Billy learned to enjoy living inside the house, started using the litter boxes and even grew to love snuggles and lap time with her humans.
"Despite their differences, they wait together for their human to walk home from school."
Ariel Heath
"She came right to our backdoor, demanding more chicken. She's an inside spoiled girl now."
Ariel Heath
The family never expected getting a cat, let alone being chosen by a little stray kitten.
"She is the cat we didn't know we needed," Ariel said.
Ariel Heath
Watch video: stray kitty then and now.
stray kitten shows up on family's porch – then and now
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Related story: Stray Cat Walks Up to Rescuer and Leads Her to Her Kittens Who Need Help