text:
How Eating Organic Helps with The F4L Divas Fat Loss
There are certain words that leave little to the imagination and certain words that can trigger ten different people in ten very different ways. Certain words used to describe food can be vague such as ?natural?. When was the last time you ate something labeled ?unnatural?, ?fake?, or ?alternative?? Now, organic on the other hand will get your wheels turning immediately because of the price.
This is where I find some confusion can come in. I find that people tend to know that organic food and produce will cost more than non organic food or produce, but they don?t necessarily understand why. The added cost to organic food is the cost to reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, and food additives within the specific item. Which means that if you are not eating organic or the highest quality of food or produce as much as possible, then you will be exposed to pesticides, fertilizer, and food additives. Why is this a concern for us as Fit 4 Life Divas?
Our livers have two primary functions. One, to metabolize our energy stores and two, to detoxify any substances within our blood that our body cannot use (such as pesticides, fertilizer, and food additives). You can think of your liver as the fork in the road where energy is either burned for fuel or stored as fat. If your liver is backed up with traffic in the form of toxins your body cannot use, then your liver will not only store your energy as fat, but it will also package those toxins within your fat cells!
So as an F4L Diva you are going to approach food the same way you approach everything else in life that you truly value. You can?t eat poorly and look amazing, lean, and youthful anymore then you can eat great quality and feel sluggish, tired, and constipated (the fiber alone should assist with the last one). If I never tell you anything else let me tell you this; all of the benefits of exercise, lifestyle, and supplementation are magnified exponentially WHEN you eat whole food that is clean, allergen free, and preferably organic. Your body can easily process, digest, and eliminate this type of food quickly which allows your body to get back to burning fat that much sooner. This is one of the many reasons the F4L Diva Slim Down and other programs are designed around organic food!


text:
Wanted to be sure that we wouldn't get charged as money is tight. Will see about engineer and report what he says.
you need to get engineer to fix the noise problem on your line
if you look a t dslchecker results you posted you have fibre available to yo with estimated down speed 78/55mb and up of 20/10mb alternatively if you don't want fibre then you could upgrade to adsl2 which estimates a down speed of 17mb and up of about 1mb
All the online checkers said I couldn't get above an 8mb package in my area. How would I go about getting this Fibre?
was the dslchecker results from entering your phone number? if so then phone 0800800030 and they will help
If we upgrade to fibre would it eliminate the need for an engineer to come out to sort the noise on the line.
there is no way of knowing if the problem is on copper from exchange to cabinet or cabinet to home. if it is the latter which is most likely then moving to FTTC will not help as you still use the copper from cabinet to your home
So getting an engineer visit for the noise problem first would be better than going straight for the upgrade.
Yes get connection fixed first then decide way you want to go after that

subset: commoncrawl


text: |The Skidmore College Department of Mathematics and Statistics seeks a qualified full-time visiting assistant professor of mathematics and statistics for a two year position for the 2019-2021 academic years. Duties include teaching 18 credit hours per year (approximately 5 courses per year) plus office hours and light departmental service. Courses will include introductory and/or advanced core undergraduate mathematics topics. We seek candidates who will contribute to our ongoing efforts to engage and support students from diverse backgrounds. Skidmore College is a liberal arts institution located in upstate New York with approximately 300 full time faculty and 2,500 students, of whom 23% are students of color, 14% are first generation college students, and 11% are from outside of the United States. We encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups and individuals who will contribute to an increasingly diverse campus community. Review of applications begins immediately will continue until the position is filled. PhD in Mathematics or a related field To be considered for this position, please fill out an online application and attach the following documents: cover letter and CV. All documents must be attached through the application system. If you encounter difficulty, please contact Human Resources at: email@example.com or 518 580.5800. https://careers.skidmore.edu/postings/2826


text:
Hey guys! And welcome to my stop on the tour! I am so happy to be part this tour because I absolutely adored this book (and you can read my gushing review down below)! Also, make sure you scroll all the way down for the giveaway! Thank you for stopping by!
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Series: The Danaan Trilogy #1
Author: Laura Howard
Publication date: April 30th 2013
Published by: Laura Howard
Source: For review for blog tour
Add it to your Goodreads shelf
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
Oh man, this book...AMAZING! It was just so beautifully written!


text:
The Brother's Tourist Home, Alappuzha is surrounded by spectacular scenery and the guest rooms overlook Kerala's natural beauty. The location of Brother's Tourist Home is near the M.C. Hospital Junction. It is a heritage home, gracefully decorated amidst greenery.
Dining at Brother's Tourist Home is sumptuous with the best local food. The food is best in quality and cooked in traditional methods. This hotel is very close to the major attractions in Alleppey. The hosts arranges for fishing, boating trips and other fun at the backwaters. Houseboat trips, backwater tours, motorboat booking, Ayurvedic massages, tourist information and canoing travel guidance are also organized from this hotel. Reception desk round the clock, laundry service, parking lot, currency exchange are some of the facilities at Brother's Tourist Home.
Brother's Tourist Home, Alappuzha is a budget hotel and a perfect retreat for the travelers who seek a tranquil place to spend the vacations.
Last Updated on 05 May 2011


text:
Good Fences Around The World
|Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, April 27, 2017
And for Thankful Thursday
|Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, May 15, 2017
For more fence photos, visit Good Fences Around The World: Click Here!
Let us know why you are thankful today, visit Thankful Thursday: Click Here!
NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.


text:
- Podcast
- Growing Up Bronx
- Fitness
- Military Stories
- Reviews
- Blogs
- Creative Works
- About
- Connect
You know what frightens me? Not Hurricane Sandy, not the potential for a world ending apocalyptic event, not a zombie takeover. No, none of those things frighten me. What frightens me is that this place was here, has been here, and I could have never known about it! Can you imagine a life, living a life, only 2 train stops away, and NOT KNOWING ABOUT THIS PLACE! It's sinful, sacrilegious, blasphemy!
Thankfully though, my wife had a craving for sushi after watching a Japanese show on tv. She knew of this place from when it was at a different location and followed them over here. Yesterday was my first time attending this restaurant, but I tell you what, it definitely will not be my last!
One of the first things I examine when going to a sushi place is the staff, are they Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, etc. Being Japanese in a Japanese restaurant is usually a good sign. That's not to say that other races can't make good sushi, but come on, who are we kidding? No one does Japanese as good as Japanese people do.
As always, I had to try out the spicy tuna roll, along with the spider roll. I also had a miso soup, seaweed salad, ginger ale and red bean ice cream. First things first, the tuna roll was heavenly, absolutely to die for. The portion of tuna to rice was immaculate. Visually it looked like they were being cheap with the tuna, but when you ate the roll it felt perfect inside your mouth, the level of spice, the level of rice to tuna, even the avocado which I usually remove flowed in perfect harmony together. The spider roll was also quite good, but the spicy tuna roll was the hero for me. The seaweed salad is the thin green kind, you know, the one with sesame seeds and stuff, yeah, that's the one I actually like. The miso soup was "real" miso soup, quite yummy.
The service was what one would expect from a Japanese restaurant, very attentive, kind, and patient. Even when trying to order a sushi roll without any sushi in it for my son. LOL. Great place, I very much look forward to eating here again! Top of the line Japanese restaurant at a reasonable price. On that note, some specialty rolls can be a bit pricey, but it's well worth it. My wife had a yellowtail roll that was really good. Dessert was quite good as well, that red bean ice cream was just right. The soda was good, didn't taste watered down or gross as can be the case with soda at restaurants.
This is as close to perfection you will get to in a meal, and to find this gem so close to home is awesome. I can't wait to eat here again.
**Addendum** How could I forgot the awesome 80's Japanese music that they were playing! Oh man, I love this place!


text:
Chip and Joanna Gaines Are Launching a Line at Target
The collection hits stores November 5th.
The beloved retail store recently announced the addition of over a dozen new brands and today made the big announcement about yet another collab coming to stores this fall. On November 5th, Chip and Joanna Gaines' collection—Hearth & Hand with Magnolia—will debut in Target stores with over 300 home and lifestyle products in the line.
The first product launch will include tabletop items in Chip and Jo's signature farmhouse aesthetic and in Target's affordable price range (most of them will be under $30!)—perfect for the impending holiday season. Think organic dinnerware in soft, earthy shades, modern flatware that will mix right in with your existing pieces, and special accent items to add a finishing touch to your decor.
"We've always dreamed of working with a retailer to create a collection that could reach more people at a more affordable price point," Joanna said in a press release. "Coming together with Target not only allows us to design beautiful pieces for people all over the country, it allows us to help communities in a bigger way than we could have ever imagined." This collection will not only help beautify your space, but will have a greater impact on those in need. Magnolia's first charitable partner will be Target House at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to help redesign the hospital's dining space.
RELATED: That Target Run Is About to Get a Lot Cheaper
Best of all, this is an ongoing partnership, so you can expect to find more from the duo in months and years to come. Check out their video announcement here.


text: The infernal series of Jason sequels may be getting exhausted, and who better to refresh the insanity than Michael Bay, director of such ridiculously outsized thrillers as Armageddon and Transformers? It's not clear whether Bay himself will direct this, but his production company is reviving the franchise. Appropriately, he's already hired the writers of 2003's Freddy Vs. Jason. (Hollywood Reporter via Reuters)


text:
CAMP PENDLETON -(CA)- More than 700 Marine families at Camp Pendleton received free back-to-school supplies, clothes and shoes over the weekend, courtesy of area chapters of the Assistance League, a national nonprofit organization.
For several hours Saturday and Sunday, families, assisted by personal shoppers, made the rounds at the San Onofre Community Center at the Marine base, selecting notebooks, pens, paper, hygiene kits with toothbrushes and toothpaste, and two complete school outfits for boys and girls from kindergarten to 12th grade. Goods worth about $75,000 were distributed.
"It's brilliant; the families are so grateful," said former British Royal Marine Anthony Kay of Oceanside, now a U.S. Marine Corps community-service recreational assistant at Camp Pendleton. "The organization, with time slots and appointments, makes everything run smoothly."
Ann Steinhilper, Assistance League of Capistrano Valley chapter chairwoman for Camp Pendleton, said six other chapters also participated to make this year's back-to-school event the biggest since it began five years ago. The Laguna Beach, Saddleback Valley, Temecula Valley, Rancho San Dieguito, North Coast San Diego and Inland North Coast (San Diego) chapters joined Capistrano Valley, each working about 50 hours over two weeks to assemble the project. Steinhilper said each chapter was responsible for selecting, purchasing and delivering goods to the Community Center, using money raised throughout the year at fundraisers and donation drives, as well as through grants for nonprofits.
Shaylee Wallace, 13, of Oceanside welcomed the effort with a big smile, saying what a help the new clothes would be this school year.
Danielle Kidder, 12, attended with her father, Marine Staff Sgt. Warren Kidder of the 7th Engineer Support Battalion. She said she was happy with the two new tops she got, especially a bright purple sweat shirt.
Sheri Burns, a Marine Corps community-service worker who has a son in the Marines, said there's no doubt the event raises the spirits of Marine families and expresses how the surrounding community appreciates what the Marines do for their country.
"It's just a good thing to do, and giving things is another way for people to say 'Thank you' to the families of the deployed Marines," Burns said. "It really helps out."


text:
- Font:
- +
- -
TOKYO — With an Asia rollout announced Tuesday, Hewlett-Packard Co. becomes the first major PC maker to offer desktop computer lines running the open-source Linux operating system.
The move by H-P, the world's largest PC maker, with about 17 percent market share, could be a threat to Microsoft Corp., maker of the market-dominating Windows operating system.
Linux is posed to become an especially strong competitor to Windows in Asia.
Japanese, South Korean and Chinese officials have expressed concerns about becoming too dependent on Windows — especially in the government sector — and are exploring alternatives. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)
H-P said its Linux PCs would be targeted at "emerging markets, where Windows PCs are not used so widely."
Linux is an open-source operating system, meaning its source code is freely distributed, though various companies sell Linux-based distributions tailored to specific tasks and markets.
The H-P computers will use a Linux distribution from Turbolinux and will include the OpenOffice.org 1.1 suite of office productivity software. OpenOffice is designed to be compatible with Microsoft Office.
Turbolinux said its Linux system will be offered on H-P computers in 12 Asian locations: China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
More PC makers may follow
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper, a major business daily, reported Tuesday that sales of the H-P Linux PCs will begin in June and shipments could reach 1 million units in the first year.
H-P's move may prompt other PC makers to follow suit, since prices of Linux PCs are expected to be lower than those of Windows PCs.
Other computer companies, including Dell Inc., do offer some Linux PCs, but most, including IBM Corp., have far more aggressively pushed Linux-based computer servers for businesses.
Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft has other problems in Asia, including an investigation by Japan's fair trade watchdog on suspicion of monopoly law violations.
Agents from the trade commission raided Microsoft's Japanese offices Feb. 26, looking for evidence that the company attached improperly restrictive conditions on its software deals with computer makers.
© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Area residents will be able to purchase packaged alcoholic beverages an hour earlier on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in Montgomery this year as a result of action taken by the village board Monday evening.
The board voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the village's liquor code that allows for retailers holding licenses to sell packaged alcoholic beverages to begin sales at 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. on a "Sunday upon the occasion that a holiday falls on a Sunday," according to a memo prepared by the village's attorneys.
The upcoming Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve holidays fit the amendment's definition of a Sunday holiday.
The board's action was prompted by a request from Binny's Beverage Depot, which operates a store in the Ogden Hill shopping center at Routes 30 and 34 in the village.
When questioned by board members, Laura Julien, an attorney for the village, said the amendment would affect businesses that hold class A, B or C liquor licenses.
In addition to Binny's, Police Chief Daniel Meyers said the amendment would also apply to the two Walgreens stores in the village and Walmart.
A representative for Binny's told the board that his firm made its request because it anticipates busy days for sales on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. He noted that at some of the firm's stores customers are "lined up out the door" prior to opening on holidays.
Referring to the Montgomery store, he said, "If we are not open, that just means the customers are going to go to Plainfield or Naperville and I don't think that is what Montgomery wants."
In approving the amendment, the board also agreed to a suggestion by Village President Matt Brolley to review the current 10 a.m. Sunday opening time for retailers holding packaged liquor licenses.
Brolley noted that since the village already allows liquor sales to start at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning when there is no holiday, "it kind of begs the question: why not 9 a.m?"
Board member Stan Bond thanked the Binny's representative for locating the store in the village.
"It's very clean store and it's a great addition [to Montgomery]," Bond said.
"It's been a lot of fun and business keeps ticking up since we opened a little over a year ago, which is a great sign," the Binny's representative said. "We've had an incredible response from the community and we are looking forward to seeing the business grow."
In other business:
• The board voiced unanimous support for a conceptual plan to locate a self-storage facility on a 3.4-acre site along the west side of Orchard Road, immediately south of the Orchard Road Animal Hospital. A Commonwealth Edison substation borders the site to the south.
• The board continued a public hearing on the proposed 468-unit Montgomery Place apartment complex until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 8. No one attended Monday's hearing to comment on the development, which is proposed for construction on the north side of Route 30 at Goodwin Drive, just east of the Oswego Public Library District's Montgomery Campus Library.


text:
Hey, Jeb, Ted, Rand, Marco, Bobby, Chris and the dozen or more others I'm forgetting, here's something to write on your bathroom mirror in 2015 and beyond: The "P" in POTUS stands for "President," not "Pundit."
I understand that the Seinfeldian faux-holiday Festivus is behind us, but I want to get at least this one grievance in for next year a bit early. Republicans have a tendency to tell, not show. They feel the need to explain why they are saying something, rather than work at simply saying what they need to say convincingly. I call it "reading your stage direction."
The first
My favorite example came a year earlier, when former Ku Klux Klansman
Rather than express his no doubt sincere disgust for
The low point of
And it's not just the candidates. The
The same goes for optimism. If you want to be the next
I've heard nearly every 2016 wannabe tell conservative audiences about the importance of optimism.
One of the main reasons Republicans read their stage direction, I think, is that they see politics as a game. And, as a game, they don't take it as seriously as those who see politics as an obsession or even a religion.
This speaks well of them as human beings because it suggests that, unlike a lot of liberal Democrats, they don't think politics -- and by extension government -- is everything and all-important. That's a trait I want in a president. But it's a real problem in a presidential candidate.
So please, more show, less tell.
Comment by clicking here.
Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and editor-at-large of National Review Online.


text:
Originally Posted by Hugh Jorgan
Comparing the photos on the thread it goes to show that a house like the state it was in can be saved. The house is now in a beautiful condition.
Yes it is, but it survives due to one specific fact - The original architect was well known for specifying materials to the highest specifications. This property; like all his other large properties used only hardwoods in its interior construction, thus there was very little woodworm and rot to be found in the building's interior. Having a relatively sound roof on, kept the interior relatively dry and thus prevented the otherwise inevitable decay due to damp induced rot. A lucky house, but many are full of rotting softwoods and way past redemption. In my late 20's, me and my builder mate looked at many abandoned large houses with a view to him converting to flats. On average one out of every five was a do able proposition, the rest were far to far gone to be profitable under the monetary restraints fifty years ago. Today they would have all been converted and not demolished eventually. Sad really, but occupancy under WW2 conditions put paid to many fine houses.


text:
Section 20 Damages Curtailed for Local Authorities
Court of Appeal rules that local authorities do not need to positively obtain fully informed and fair parental consent before accommodating children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 and any such failure will not render them liable for human rights damages
The Court of Appeal (Leveson, McFarlane & Burnett LJJ) has today delivered an important judgment ([2017] EWCA CIV 26) on the duties placed on local authorities by section 20 of the Children Act 1989 towards parents, reversing the lower Court's judgment and finding that it was not bound by its own previous decisions on the issue.
On 5 July 2007, all 8 of the Claimants' children were removed by the police under a police protection order and placed with Hackney who arranged foster care. The Claimants were arrested on suspicion of child abuse and neglect, and released on bail. The conditions of bail were that no unsupervised contact was allowed with any of the children. In practice, visits were undertaken with the presence of social workers. On the following day, the Claimants signed a written section 20 agreement, consenting to continued accommodation and fostering provided by Hackney. Within days, the Claimants had instructed solicitors who wrote to Hackney giving notice that consent was revoked with effect from 23 July 2007. However the Claimants did not make any applications to vary the bail conditions which were eventually removed in September 2007. The children were returned to their parents after a period of approximately 9 weeks in care.
The Claimants thereafter initiated internal complaints, and a subsequent complaint to the LGO, claiming that Hackney had not obtained their consent fairly or informed them of their rights to remove their children. The LGO complaint concluded in April 2013 and the HR claim was issued in July 2013, some 5 years out of time. The High Court ruled that the consent of the parents had not been obtained fairly, and awarded each parent damages of £10,000 for the period of separation. The Court relied heavily on guidelines given by the Family Division in Coventry City Council v C [2013] EWHC 2190 (Fam), where the Court stated that every social worker must be satisfied that the person giving consent has capacity to do so, and that even if the person does not lack capacity that the social worker must be satisfied that the consent is fully informed (meaning that the parent must understand the consequences of giving consent, the range of choices available, the consequences of refusal and of giving consent, and must be in possession of all the facts and issues material to the giving of consent), fair and proportionate, and where possible parents must obtain legal advice before consenting.
Hackney appealed the decision on the basis that there is no requirement in the statute itself to obtain fully informed and fair consent, since the parent only has the right to object and remove the child. Hackney had exercised its duty under section 20(1) as the parents were "prevented" from providing accommodation, and the section states that parents may only object if they are "willing and able" to provide or arrange accommodation. In the present case, the Claimants' objection did not discharge Hackney's duty because they were not "able" to provide accommodation by reason of the bail conditions. Hackney also argued the limitation period should not be extended for long periods to allow dispute resolutions procedures to conclude, and that the amount of damages was in event excessive for the period of separation.
The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, holding that Hackney had a duty to accommodate the children and objection from parents who are not able to provide accommodation does not prevent the exercise of this duty. The Court held that it was not bound by its previous decisions and held that whilst the guidance of the Family Division is good practice and should be followed, there is no requirement in the statute to positively obtain fair and informed consent and therefore failure to do so will not give rise to a damages claim.
The Court held that it did not need to determine the other issues, but stated that it would not have extended limitation for the period in this case so as to allow the conclusion of the extra-judicial complaints, and would not have awarded anything nearing £10,000 in damages.
Ali Reza Sinai was instructed by Hackney's Legal Department and represented the local authority at first instance and in the Court of Appeal.


text:
If you're a 1L approaching the end of your first semester of law school, and you're anything like I was, you're probably starting to wonder: What are these exams I keep hearing about? How do I prepare for them? How do I succeed on them? Will I be okay?
As to the last one, the answer is definitely: yes. You're fine! As for the other questions, read on…
Q: What is a law school exam like?
A: Obviously, there's so single format to law school exams. Some professors have multiple-choice sections (which seem very unlike law school, but are excellent preparation for the bar exam), others like to ask open-ended questions about legal theory or policy; some ask several short questions and others ask one long one. But one thing that almost every law school exam will contain is some sort of issue spotter.
Q: Ok, then, what's an issue spotter?
A: An issue spotter is generally a long, convoluted pattern of facts which raises – and tests your ability to identify and analyze – lots of tricky legal questions. The typical law school exam will give you one of these fact patterns and ask you to do something relatively generic, like write a memo analyzing the possible legal arguments, or advise the parties of potential legal claims. Your job is to find the issues which are raised, and to say something intelligible (or even intelligent!) about them.
Q: Sounds like reading a case for class – understand the facts and then draw some legal conclusions, right?
A: Yes and no. The processes required – getting a grip on the facts and then fitting what you know about the law to those facts – are very similar to what you've been doing while preparing cases for class. You'll also need the ability to see potential arguments on both sides of the facts, which reading opinions and dissents has no doubt prepared you to do. What's different on an exam, however, is the sheer quantity of facts and issues presented – which must generally be resolved in a very brief period of time. Imagine 10 regular cases rolled into one mega-case, and you'll have a decent idea of your task!
Q: Ok, so how can I prepare?
A: Law school classes prepare you in a general sense, but what you need to do to succeed on an issue-spotter is very different. Instead of diving deep into one particular factual dispute or legal point, you need to touch on many different points in a way that is both thorough and efficient. Classes require depth; exams require breadth. I have two suggestions for preparing.
The first suggestion is to start looking at actual law school exams. Many law schools have archives of professors' past exams, so I'd start by looking at your actual professors' exams if you can. Try to get a sense of the types of questions your professors ask – in my experience, the format of exams varies little over time – and try your best to answer a few of the questions! Your answers won't be much good, yet: you probably haven't started synthesizing, and you haven't even learned all the issues yet! But you have to start somewhere… and learning (or re-learning) legal concepts later will be much more memorable if you can actually understand where those concepts might come into play. If you can find a model answer to the exam – try an outline bank, if your school has one -- and compare your answer to it, that's even better.
Second, start synthesizing. You have (I hope) learned much more so far in law school than you can use on the exam, so it's time to start condensing. Reduce each case, opinion, doctrine, or set of facts to a single sentence that you can pull out on an exam – you won't need much more than that -- and organize those sentences in a very short study guide. Concision, concision, concision. When you're trying to analyze several pages of facts under time pressure on an exam, you'll thank me!
Q: Isn't it a little early to get started preparing?
A: No way! Time in law school is always scarce, but as you get closer to the exam – and likely more efficient at reading cases for class – you should start to think more and more about exam preparation. Keep looking at practice exams until you start to see trends, then block off time to take a few full exams. Try outlining others. Taking the exam for real will be stressful enough, so you want to feel as comfortable as possible.
Q: Is this really a good way to test what I have learned this year?
A: That's a great question. Probably not – there's much more to being a good lawyer than being able to take an exam! At the same time, an issue spotter presents a great opportunity to showcase all you've learned… and the facts can sometimes be fun too. So, prepare well, take deep breaths, see your exams as an opportunity to demonstrate all you've learned, and go spot those issues!
For more reading on law school for incoming law students, check out these posts: 6 Essential Law School Cases: a 1L's Guide, What is Constitutional Law, How the LSAT Will Help You With Law School. Looking to work with a law school tutor? Feel free to get in touch! Cambridge Coaching offers private in-person legal studies tutoring in New York City and Boston, and online tutoring around the world.


text:
NCBA Attorney Exchange Headed to Portugal
The next NCBA Attorney Exchange has been scheduled and the destination is Portugal.
Dates for the excursion are April 17-29, 2015. The application deadline is Feb. 20, and the delegation will be selected on or before Feb. 28.
Since its inception in 2006, the NCBA Attorney Exchange program has been coordinated by the International Law & Practice Section. Participation is welcomed and encouraged from all members of the bar association.
During the exchange, the NCBA delegation will be staying in Lisbon and Porto, liaise with leading legal experts in Portugal's private bar and public sectors, visit with high-ranking legal officials, earn 12-15 hours of NCBA CLE, visit memorable places, and eat wonderful meals. Roughly 60% of your time will be spent in CLE programs and at venues selected to learn more about the Portuguese approach to the practice of law.
The goal of the Attorney Exchange Program, as noted in its statement of purpose, "is to gain a better understanding of the laws, legal systems, people and culture of other countries; to share and exchange legal knowledge and experience; and to foster goodwill among attorneys of the world."
The first Attorney Exchange Program international visit took place in 2006 when an NCBA delegation traveled to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Outbound excursions have also been conducted to Argentina (2008), Turkey (2010) and Lithuania and Latvia (2012).
Inbound excursions have been conducted by legal professionals from Argentina (2009) and Lithuania (2013).
Click here to access the application, which contains a wealth of information regarding the program itself and the role of delegates.
Questions should be directed to Linda Markus Daniels via email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
ART STUFF on a train # 30: 'Late Light in Venice'
November 26, 2013
Bill Culbert at New Zealand
Perhaps I should have gone to the Venice Biennale's opening week, but I went instead during the last few days in late November. True, quite a bit has closed by then, but there's still more than enough art to fill a long weekend – and you can look back at what the critics decided, and disagree. Two of my favourites were little-noticed large scale transformative installations which related rather closely to each other. Both made the most of not being on the main sites – so they were harder to find, but integrated more fully with the city. The essence of Venice is water meets light meets history, so there's a certain logic to featuring fluorescent tubes in 18th century palazzos overlooking canals. Long-underrated veteran Bill Culbert lit up the eight connected spaces of New Zealand's Front Door Out Back. Cupboards, tables and wardrobes were energised by being literally pierced by light, and in one room opening on to a canal-side terrace, the light seemed to have washed in with the floating detritus to form an everyday epiphany – though one which could also be read as a city jostling too close to the water. Pedro Cabrita Reis wasn't Portugal's official artist, but that didn't stop his 'collateral event' a remote whisper being a highlight. The atmosphere was quite different, blending the work into the space rather than bringing the world so explicitly in. Reis set up a sort of double intersection, as the outlines of alternative rooms made by light cut through the palazzo's dividing walls; and the artificial light cut through the natural light streaming in at the windows. It's a pity on this evidence that Dan Flavin never had a solo show at the Biennale…
Pedro Cabrita Reis
ART STUFF on a train # 29: 'The Lights Staying Off"
November 19, 2013
Creed, Martin. Work No. 227: The lights going on and off 2000 – previous installation at the Tate
Tate Britain has just purchased and is reshowing Martin Creed's Work No. 227: The lights going on and off. This might have felt familiar enough to pay deserve minimum attention, but for two factors. First, the room was closed off as the installation wasn't working – or, should I say, only half of it was working – the 'off' half. Five seconds on, five seconds off: how hard can it be? Apparently there was more to it than a blown bulb: attendants explained that they'd been entertained by daily visits from electricians seeking to correct an overheating problem. Second, Tate has just paid around £100,000 for the work. What has it got for that? Not, I suppose, the right to turn their lights on and off, but the right to attribute doing so to Creed. That brings in the essence of his work: a poignant desire to avoid mistakes by avoiding decisions. A door won't be open or closed, balloons will half-fill a space, a drawing will last till the ink runs dry. Maurizio Cattelan, in 2004, thought Work No. 227 'looked like a mood swing' with its 'ability to compress happiness and anxiety within one single gesture. Lights go on, lights go off – sunshine and rain, and then back to beginning to repeat endlessly.' Is it worth the money? First I think so, then I think not.
Creed, Martin. Work No. 227: The lights going on and off, 2000
ART STUFF on a train # 28: 'Obsessive? Me?'
November 12, 2013
Peter Dreher: 'Every Day is a Good Day (#1329)', detail – oil on Canvas, 25x20cm
Plenty of artists do pretty much the same thing most days. Normally that's just the making of art – Frank Auerbach is famous for going to the studio every day of every year. Sometimes the output is also obsessive, when it tends to be a way of recording and meditating on the passage of time: the two obvious examples are On Kawara's ongoing litany of date paintings, and Roman Opulka's spending much of 1965 to his death in 2011 painting the numbers from 1 – 5607249. Those projects both incorporate time's passage: the calendar moves on, the numbers get bigger. Opulka also increased the proportion of white in each canvas, and had hoped to reach an all-white 7777777. The German Peter Dreher (born 1932) is different, even though he's been painting the same empty glass tumbler in the same conditions on a near-daily basis since 1974. There are 5,000 so far, and a sample of 144 (along with other work) can be seen at the Milton Keynes Gallery to 24 November. His USP is more a strategy of non-development. The subject is just the impulse for the activity, which Dreher considers to be exercises in abstract mark-making, albeit they always turn out to depict his glass. Hence the Zen title for the whole series 'Every Day is a Good Day', and hence Dreher's statement that he 'wouldn't be all that upset if they were to disappear.' Turns out he isn't obsessive at all.
ART STUFF on a train # 27: 'Look, No Canvas'
November 5, 2013
Jonathan Gabb: 'reverse sequence: on black (purple, rose, orange, green, red, cyan, indigo, violet)', 2013
What's a painting? The obvious answer is paint on canvas, or maybe better some kind of liquid which dries onto some kind of ground. But it's possible to make something best considered a painting without using any liquid: take DJ Simpson's router in MDF works or Sergei Jensen's carpet pieces. Else liquid may be used without a ground, as in Lynda Benglis' poured latex painting/sculptures or Piers Secunda's objects and wall-hung reliefs formed entirely from industrial paint: he even uses paint to make the bolts which hold them in place. Glenn Brown has made paint-sculptures which push Auerbach's portraits all the way to 3D, as well as flat photo-realist depictions of their thick impasto.One could add Eduardo Costa, Analia Saban, Paul Desborough and Wang Yuyang. So there's a definite tradition behind the practice of emerging artist Jonathan Gabb, currently showing (to 16th Nov, with an artist's talk on this Thurs, 7th) at A Brooks Art on Hoxton Street, an attractively adventurous and characterful artist-run space which occupies a former Victorian florist's. Gabb's bright work suits that lineage, as does the show's title, 'Opera Rose', which is actually a type of electric pink acrylic paint. Gabb applies paint to rigid plastic sheets, allows it to dry, then strips it off to form ribbons which he hangs to seize space with pure colour.
Jonathan Gabb: 'pink angel capturing the light', 2013
ART STUFF on a train # 26: 'Sex and Excess'
October 29, 2013
Allen Jones: Chair, 1969
How much is more than enough? Allen Jones' still somewhat notorious invitation to sit on a woman (Chair, 1969) sold for close on £1m last year. The acrylic on fibreglass in leather piece is an edition of six, and hardly a rare sighting. Overload was surely reached during October, though: I've seen it at Tate Britain (to demonstrate, as part of 'Art Under Attack', how well it's been restored after an acid assault), at the Barbican (a good fit for the mostly predictable 'Pop Art Design'), in Christie's first exhibition in the former Haunch of Venison space ('When Britain Went Pop!') and in Luxembourg & Dayan's booth at Frieze Masters. In the latter two its almost-as-notorious siblings, Table and Hat Stand, accompanied Chair.They still get a strong reaction. I'm pretty sure it's the sex, not the art, which generates that, though a case can be concocted for Jones' trio as the pop art equivalent of Richard Artschwager's sculptures which pretend to be furniture, their apparent female submissiveness offset by the way they invade the viewer's space. There's nothing wrong with sex, of course, but you need to go to British Museum's magnificent Shunga show (to 5th Jan) to see a more even balance of effect between it and art.
Katsukawa Shuncho, 1780
ART STUFF on a train # 25: 'When Photos are Paintings and Paintings are Photos'
October 22, 2013
Visitors to the Max Wigram gallery often assume that James White's still lives from hotel rooms and the interiors of boats (to 9 Nov), are black and white photographs. There's the exacting and somewhat forensic grey-scale reproduction of glass and mirrored surfaces; a snapshot casualness to the choice of items and their composition; and a run-off of white as if a contact sheet has been cropped. Some future show should contrast these works with White's photographs, which – even though they originate from his archive of source material for the paintings – look more like paintings than the paintings made from them. This results from their unnaturalistic colour and dominant use of a stylised 'lens flare' after-effect, sometimes set against solarised backgrounds.
The paintings, it seems, edit out the obviously painterly effects which the photographs are printed to exaggerate. Back at the paintings, that said, closer examination does show the brushwork on the unusual material of Plexiglas; an objecthood more typical of paintings is emphasised by the double layer of birch board on which they are set in Perspex box frames; and that white band starts to feel more like a way of revealing the nature of the ground – or even, it being placed where a signature might be expected, a jocular way of signing the work 'White'. And it's in the back-and-forths – between painting and photograph, between throwaway and exacting, between pointlessness and point – that the interest of White's work lies.
ART STUFF on a train # 24: 'The Correct Use of Gum'
October 15, 2013
Alex Hoda: Schliere (Streak), 2012, Michelangelo marble – 160 x 74 x 28 cm
Alex Hoda's show at Edel Assanti (to 26 Oct) features marble sculptures of chewing gum. That fuses two well-established tropes: blowing something small up big to make us look at it differently, which Claes Oldenburg was first to exploit systematically; and using precious material – and the labour of production – to elevate the worth of something casual or valueless, which, for example, Sue Collis does particularly subtly. Jeff Koons' balloon dogs or Urs Fischer's giant aluminium versions of squeezed lumps of clay offer combined approaches. What's more, the art use of chewing gum is pretty-much a tradition of its own. Alina Szapocznikow's 1971 series of 'Photosculptures' monumentalise pieces which she chewed. Adam McEwen has used wads on canvas to refer to the bombing of German cities in WWII, contrasting the understanding of gum-chewing child and gum-arranging man. Hannah Wilke dotted herself with vulval chewing gum 'wounds'. Dan Colen has made enough 'paintings' with gum that he has an established process: 'I pay people to chew the gum. Students get 50 cents for each piece. Then we take the gum and make it dirty with street shit. I want it to be both elegant and real'. Which leaves us with the question: has Hoda taken established tropes in fresh directions, or is just an ersatz follower of others? The visceral impact of a five foot-tall gob of marble gum spat straight on the wall certainly feels like something new.
ART STUFF on a train # 23: 'One Thing on Top of Another'
October 8, 2013
Life: it's just one thing on top of another. And some sense of that is captured in two shows – within 200 yards – which come at the imagistic equivalent from opposite directions. The first applies then strips away layers away to reveal what's hidden; the second over-determines the layes then selects which ones to emphasise. A ten year retrospective at Gimpel Fils (to 11 Oct) reprises how Hannah Maybank covers her canvases with variously-coloured acrylic over latex, then peels them partially back to reveal landscapes in which the curl of the surface operates both sculpturally – as shadows, branches, leaves – and metaphorically: where else do you find the past, but hidden beneath the present? At Hamiltons (to 1 Nov), the Swedish photographer Jacob Felländer gives us fifteen views out of the same window in New York. That may sound unpromising, but these are big, multiple photographs made by the slowed winding of an analogue camera, and Felländer has added paint and charcoal to bring selected aspects of the negatives to the surface, rather as you might heighten the pentimento of first thoughts covered over yet still visible in a painting. If space can drift over time, Felländer had wondered, thinking of the movement of continents, then could he capture time drifting over space? That one thing on top of another can have its attractions.
Jacob Felländer: Pentimento Study #6 (detail view), 2013
Jacob Felländer: Pentimento Study #6 (detail view), 2013
ART STUFF on a plane # 22: 'The Big Three in Amsterdam'
October 1, 2013
What exactly is gained by confronting great art in typical museum conditions? The usual hierarchy of fame applies at the Rijksmuseum, leading to a permanent ruckus around Rembrandt and Vermeer. Plenty want themselves photographed in front of The Nightwatch in the established manner of tourists concentrating on proving in future where they were in the past, rather than experiencing the present moment. More mysteriously, perhaps, many want their own straight photos of the work, which will be unfocused, ill-lit and partial up against what's readily available on-line. The Mona Lisa, of course, tops the fame rankings, so you see it at such a distance behind its bullet-proof glass in the Louvre that it's harder at first than at second hand to assess the plausibility of the theory that it's a self-portrait in drag. Back in Amsterdam, most of the vast Rijksmuseum is stunning, but few bother, for example, with the Adriaan Coorte's side-roomed set of meditations on particularised fruits: yet surely many would be drawn in – just as with Vermeer – to their peculiarly modern intensity. Maybe what's sought isn't the art, but a connection with its maker. What better, then, if you're in Amsterdam, where – though he lived there for just one of his 37 years – van Gogh's aura is taken to reside, than to see all the paintings in a 3D film sequence? You're pretty much in the room with him, and no-one else will be standing in the way…
* Trip courtesy www.holland.com , www.artsholland.com and the Movenpick Hotel, Amsterdam
Poster advertising van Gogh in 3D
ART STUFF on a train # 21: 'Pierdom'
September 24, 2013
* Trip courtesy www.holland.com , www.artsholland.com and the Movenpick Hotel, Amsterdam
Poster advertising van Gogh in 3D
ART STUFF on a train # 21: 'Pierdom'
September 24, 2013
I do like a good typology. They have a fascination of their own, whether they're art or not. Plenty have looked to be art as well since the prime example of the Bechers, who brought a rigorously consistent formality to their black and white shots of industrial structures: consistent angles, slightly overcast conditions, no human traces, taken from a ladder or platform. Yet there's an alternative, seen in Simon Roberts' just-published book Pierdom (and linked exhibition at the Flowers Gallery to 12th October) showing all 58 British seaside pleasure piers and the sites of some of the similar number lost since their 1910 peak. Roberts varies the angle, distance, extent of surroundings shown and role of people so that the individual geographical and social contexts of the piers are given full scope rather than being subsumed into regularity. That works in its different way, and suits the subjects' wide range of current vibrancy, from community and tourist hubs to ruined husks. The consistency is in their Victorian engineering: boards over light gothic ironwork on screw piling. The collection also drew me pleasurably into recalling which I'd actually seen – starting with Hastings, where I grew up, the pier shown in its recent, seriously fire-damaged state. Maybe I should declare an interest, but actually I could think of better ways of spending £12m on my home town than reconstructing the pier.
Hastings Pier, 2011
Hastings Pier, 2011
Most days art Critic Paul Carey-Kent spends hours on the train, traveling between his home in Southampton and his day job in Surrey. Could he, we asked, jot down whatever came into his head?


text:
Are you looking for a broker who does more than just send a renewal notice once a year?
Insurance House, the preferred partner of Landscape Queensland, are committed to providing their LQ Member clients with the tools they need to identify and understand the various risks their landscaping activities can be exposed too.
More than just a broker, Insurance House are your professional support team; dedicated to helping LQ members grow their business with confidence.
"Our Insurance House brokers proactively spend time with us to understand our business and identify any potential risks. In our opinion they easily go above and beyond to meet our business needs. We would be happy to recommend Insurance House to anyone who is looking for brokers that go that extra mile."
Alan Morris Penfolds Projects Pty Ltd
Benefits to LQ members who choose Insurance House:
• Insurance covers designed specifically for Queensland landscapers
• The chance to save money with competitive premiums
• Highest standard of service bound by an Insurance House / LQ Members Service Charter
The Insurance House LQ Members Package includes:
• Public Liability
• Professional Indemnity
• Tools of Trade
• Personal Accident and Sickness or Income Protection
In addition, members are able to access:
• Contract Works (annual floater and single risk policies)
• Mobile plant, motor vehicles and fleet policies
• Workers Compensation consulting
• Risk Management consulting
• Contract reviews
• 24/7 claims handling with access to online reporting unique to Insurance House
To speak with our Specialist Broker, Amy Morrison please contact 07 3228 7608 or email email@example.com


text: Incredible Estate home nestled in sought after Trussville with the award winning Private Trussville School System. Totally updated home with hard wood and travertine flooring as well as tile ... This well cared for... full brick beauty boast 4 large bedrooms with the master on the main huge updated master bath with extra large whirlpool tub and separate tumble marble bath. Walk into a formal foyer and formal living room as well as formal dinning room. The den is extra large with gas log fireplace- right off the den is the sunroom that over looks the private fenced in yard.The kitchen and breakfast room are adjacent to the den and sunroom... the kitchen has been completely updated with all new stainless steel appliances. 3 large bedrooms upstairs & office. The basement is huge with workshop & room to park 4 cars. Sprinkler system & custom cast iron railing on the front porch really breathtaking.


text:
Wowcher are a "deal a day" site that pride themselves on offering their customers huge savings on a range of products and services. They use the power of group/bulk buying to get unbeatable deals on the best stuff to do, see, visit, eat and buy in a variety of cities in the UK and Ireland. Wowcher currently has roughly 10 million members.
We were recently approached by Wowcher as they were looking to kit out their staff at their head offices with brand new hoodies. They only had one requirement – the hoodies must be a bright and vibrant shade of pink, to match their logo. We immediately thought of the AWDis Zoodie, which is available in a range of vibrant colours, including hot pink. Wowcher loved the look of the hoodies and made an order of 300, all complete with the Wowcher logo printed on the front and the back.
Wowcher let us know they had received their hoodies on time and we were pleased to hear that they were delighted with the hoodies and their printed logo. They even sent us a photo of their staff looking very bright in their pink hoodies!


text:
Chronicle of the Warwick Meetinghouse Common
Chronicle of the Meetinghouse Common, Warwick, Mass. 1760-2003 by Charles L. Brown, June 2003
The Common laid out in 1760 predates the town. This outlines and incorporates works of other historians relative to the Common. A survey map, news clips of events, tree plantings are included. Mr. Brown notes that the year 2010 marks its 250th anniversary, hopes for a plaque to honor.
Year (or year range):1763-2003
Approximate era:2001-
Donated by:Charles L. Brown
Donation date:2003-06-01


text:
Sunglasses haven't changed much over the years – UV-blocking lenses and plastic frames have pretty much been the standard. Thanks Kickstarter, we at least get to see something a little different, even if it never actually comes to fruition.
This pair of sunglasses from Grein foregoes plastic for bamboo. That bamboo is also UV-protected thanks to a special sealant, which should prevent the bamboo from damage or discoloration from frequent use. Protecting your eyes will be TAC lenses, which Grein claims is the future of sunglasses lenses. TAC lenses, according to Grein, are cheaper to produce and perform better than poly-carbonate lenses.
It's not exactly reinventing the wheel, but if you dig the bamboo look, you can always throw a little coin Grein's way on their Kickstarter page.


text:
National Monument
Grand Portage
Grand Portage, MN
Travel into the past to discover the present. Explore the partnership of the Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the North American fur trade and the NPS today. Follow pathways into a distant time. Experience the sights and smells of a bustling depot reconstructed in its exact location. Hear the beat of the drum echo over Gichigami - Lake Superior.
National River and Recreation Area
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, MN
In the middle of a bustling urban setting, this 72 mile river park offers quiet stretches for fishing, boating and canoeing, birdwatching, bicycling, and hiking. And there are plenty of visitor centers and trails that highlight the fascinating human history of the Mississippi River. This a great place to start your exploration of this important river.
National Scenic Trail
North Country
Seven States-New York to North Dakota MI,MN,ND,NY,OH,PA,VT,WI
Come to the North Country. Trek the hills and valleys. Stand on the shores of lakes & streams from glaciers 10,000 years before. Clear-flowing water, red/gold of autumn, a fairyland of snow, open prairies, and distant horizons paint the land. Historic sites along the way tell how America settled and grew as a nation. From North Dakota to New York (and soon Vermont), adventure is never far away.
National Monument
Pipestone, MN
For countless generations, American Indians have quarried the red pipestone found at this site. These grounds are sacred to many people because the pipestone quarried here is carved into pipes used for prayer. Many believe that the pipe's smoke carries one's prayer to the Great Spirit. The traditions of quarrying and pipemaking continue here today.
National Scenic Riverway
Saint Croix
Saint Croix Falls, WI,MN
Grab your paddle and your longing for adventure and head to the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers! Together they form the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, offering over 200 miles of clean water that glides and rushes through a forested landscape. Paddle, boat, fish, and camp among this wild and scenic beauty. Hiking and historic towns also beckon, if you can bear to leave the cool water.
National Park
International Falls, Kabetogama, Ash River, and Crane Lake, MN
Voyageurs is a maze of interconnected water highways. Plan ahead before coming to this water-based park by bringing your own watercraft, reserving a watercraft, or taking a park ranger boat tour.
By The Numbers
- 5 National Parks
- 1,195,454 Visitors to National Parks
- $91,100,000 Economic Benefit from National Park Tourism »
- $1,700,342,999 of Rehabilitation Projects Stimulated by Tax Incentives (since 1995) »
- $74,911,270 of Land & Water Conservation Fund Appropriated for Projects (since 1965) »
- $38,470,595 in Historic Preservation Grants (since 1969) »
- 45 Certified Local Governments »
- 90 Community Conservation & Recreation Projects (since 1987) »
- 508 Acres Transferred by Federal Lands to Parks for Local Parks and Recreation (since 1948) »
- 70,396 Hours Donated by Volunteers »
- 1 Wild & Scenic Rivers Managed by NPS »
- 1 National Trails Managed by NPS »
- 1,704 National Register of Historic Places Listings »
- 25 National Historic Landmarks »
- 8 National Natural Landmarks »
- 583 Places Recorded by Heritage Documentation Programs »
- 564,160 Objects in National Park Museum Collections »
- 523 Archeological Sites in National Parks »
- 10 Threatened & Endangered Species in National Parks »
- 2 Teaching with Historic Places Lesson Plans »
- 3 Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries »
- Print the summary »
These numbers are just a sample of the National Park Service's work. Figures are for the fiscal year that ended 9/30/2018.


text:
Changes related to "Unreal Software English Wiki:Privacy policy"
From Unreal Software English Wiki
This is a list of changes made recently to pages linked from a specified page (or to members of a specified category). Pages on your watchlist are bold.
No changes on linked pages during the given period.


text:
Feel free to leave your feedback on this page. Any positive feedback is welcome!
Lili Says:
September 30th, 2011 at 07:40
What a great experience it was to fly with just me and my partner (and Peter!) watching the sun go down. I wanted something out of the ordinary for Joseph's birthday and I am so glad I chose to do this, we both had a great time. It was an amazing experience and Peter you made us feel comfortable and safe throughout the flight. I have recommended this service to all my friends as it
really is something really enjoyable and unique.
Thanks again
Peter Says:
April 24th, 2013 at 02:45
I just wanted to send you a quick note to say that my daughter Caitlin and I had a scenic flight over Adelaide with Swiftair yesterday (her first time in the air) and it was fantastic. Our pilot, Angus, was friendly and professional. We'll certainly be recommending your service.
All the best,


text:
Weddings & Vikings
A short time ago, two of my good friends got married. This week they are off on their honeymoon. For those who know Scott and Jennifer, this comes as no surprise, even a blind man could see how crazy there are for each other.
As I sat in my 3 piece suit waiting for the bride the enter, my thoughts turned to the most obvious thing to think about at a wedding, Is it an open bar? Then after that, I thought the next obvious thing, Vikings. (I'm sure anyone in the SCA often thinks about Vikings.)
I wondered if I had giving them my Viking wedding pitch? Maybe by posting my idea here, I can convince one of my readers to one day have a Viking wedding.
What is a Viking wedding? I'm glad you asked, To answer that, I have to cover how the tradition of having a "best" man came about. There was a time not so long ago, when raiding weddings and stealing brides to ransom them back was a lucrative business model.
I'm sure you can imagine somewhere in 750 AD a Viking standing near a large boulder, where he had carved out his newly thought up business proposal while he was trying to convince his friends to crowdfund it. His plan was a simple one, and the runes on the bolder spelled it out plainly:
Step 1. Steal Bride
Step 2.
Step 3. Profit.
And thus a new era of stealing brides from weddings for fun and profit ensued.
This venture wasn't received by standing aside and letting hordes make off with loved ones (or sheep). So a counter was devised where Grooms hired the Best fighter in town, or the Best Man they could afford to stand next them at the altar, to shut down any attempts to abscond with the bride.
Tell me this isn't the perfect setup for an SCA wedding. We already have the chain shirts!
With that I will present, "The big wedding idea" ™
As the bride and groom are about to say "I do," a band of Vikings busts into the back of the church/hall/other place. They shout some sort of taunt, "We are here for gold. I'm sure we will fetch a ransom for you. Stay where you are if you value your life". The Groom dons a helmet, draws a sword, and says "You'll have to go through me", Then, the bride pops on her helm, yells "Not if I get them first" and charges out to meet the intruders. Together side by side, the Groom and Bride beat back a horde of Vikings. Proving that love really is an unstoppable force, before returning the altar to exchange their vows.
Bonus points if:
- Bridesmaids also join the fray.
- Non-SCA attendees do not know that this is going to happen.
- The priest asks, "If anyone objects let them speak now" while the Bride and Groom are still holding their weapons.
If anyone would like to help in making this happen, please contact me.
For my newlywed friends, and really everyone else, remember that the joy in life comes from the little things: the smiles in the morning as the sun is just starting creep through the curtains, the sharing of a extra tasty cupcake or funny video you found. It's those "I just saw (or did) something amazing, and I've barely been able to wait to tell you about it" moments that make all the difference in the world. It's sharing those little pieces of you, that combine with the little pieces of them that will combine to make something better over time.
I wish a lifetime of joy, smiles and tasty gluten free cupcakes for Jennifer and Scott.
Tags: april fools, inspiration, story, vikings, wedding, wife
5 Comments
Gebhard – I saw a YouTube video in the last two years where something like that happened at a wedding. Not Viking, but definitely cosplay involving the groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the bride-to-be joined in the fight at the end. It was really epic. Of course, my Google-fu is failing me right now, but if I see it again, I'll share.
I found it! The YouTube video's title is "OFFICIAL Epic Wedding Ceremony Battle (Batman, Iron Man & More)"
That is an absolutely AMAZING IDEA!! Sadly … I'm a good 10 years too late to make use of it. *chuckles* Maybe if my husband and I have a renewal of our vows…..?
Geb….seriously! Seriously how did I miss this post!
Secondly……WHY DIDN'T WE DO THIS!!!!!!!
You are awesome brother and I love your face!


text:
It was so so hard to narrow down which pictures to share because Jessica did the perfect job of capturing every single detail and every time I look through all the photos I feel like I am completely reliving that night and feeling every emotion all over again and it is the best feeling on the planet remembering that night with such detail. Seriously, by far the best day of my life! Atticus came on June 18th at 3:35am and he weighed in at 9 pounds 5 ounces! I went to my 40 week doc appt. the day before and he stripped my membranes for the third time. The week before when I had them stripped I ended up going to the hospital because I was having a lot of bleeding (sorry if some of this is TMI, this is a birth story after all) and it ended up being nothing serious, just a ruptured blood vessel in my cervix but my doctor told me this time if I had any bleeding at all to go straight to the hospital. So when I noticed bleeding I headed to the hospital again just to be safe and again it ended up being nothing serious but because my doctor is freaking awesome, he kept me there and decided it was best to induce me anyways, which thank HEAVENS he did because I don't think that baby would have come out til the following week when I had my original induction date set up and he would have been about a pound heavier, and lets be honest, no woman should have to birth a 10 pound baby! (sorry to my mom and David's mom 🙂 we were both 10 pound babies)
They got me going on pitocin and broke my water and when I started feeling contractions and when they got worse and worse I asked if I could get my epidural and soon after I was in literal heaven. I mean seriously, those things are so great. I was telling David they need to give you an epidural at the spa and then just let you lay in a hammock and get a facial haha because I have literally never felt so relaxed and so awesome before. BUT then hours later when it was getting close to push time I could feel my contractions and I could feel the pressure of the head coming out and started to really freak out. I was so so so scared and luckily David was there to calm me down and was so great but I was pretty dang nervous. Then I began pushing and pushing… I felt like my eyes were going to pop out of their sockets because I was pushing so hard. It was also horribly quiet in the room and I didn't like that so I asked my sister to put on the Hall & Oats Pandora station and that kind of calmed me down, weirdly. I pushed for about an hour and towards the end I was really feeling everything it felt like. The nurse kept saying "feeling pressure is normal" and I was thinking, oh no sister, this is NOT just pressure. I know it would have been worse without the epidural but I was sure feeling a TON of pain. Then my doctor came in and I pushed for about 20 more minutes, which were the most painful, and then he said he needed to give me an episiotomy and I really started to freak out because I knew I would feel it, and I did. Then a couple more pushes and he was out – it was the strangest/coolest sensation feeling him slide out of me. Then I got to watch David cut the embellical cord and all the nurses and my mom and sister were saying how big he was! They let me hold him for a minute which was the most amazing feeling ever. Then the nurse had to take him away to clean him up and weigh him – my mom, sister, and David were all watching him get weighed and I was sitting there getting stitched up and it felt like eternity sitting there waiting to hold my baby again. Finally I got to hold him and I have never felt so much love in my entire life – for the baby and for David – it just doesn't get better than that.
We switched hospital rooms and got a more comfortable bed and I got to nurse Atticus for the first time which was so so unbelievably amazing. I can't even explain how much I love getting to nurse him.. the first time it was so instinctive for him to do it and I felt like we instantly had this amazing connection and it felt so special. Its my favorite thing to do and I feel so blessed that I get to have that time with him. (side note: I know not everyone can breast feed or some choose not to, I think any mom can have a special bond when feeding no matter how you feed and all moms know what is best for themselves and their baby, this is just my personal experience!)
We stayed a couple nights at the hospital and now we are home and loving every single second with this guy. We were cracking up because at first we were changing him shortly after I would nurse (we have since learned to wait a little longer haha) and right when we would open his diaper he would start peeing and poop would start squirting out, and I am talking it SQUIRTS, far! Haha and we just were dying laughing because somehow we thought it was kind of adorable and so funny. But we are just in heaven cuddling with him all day long, admiring all his little expressions, and having lazy days just the three of us. Four of us if you count Chauncey 🙂 Chaunce has kind of been in denial that he doesn't get all the attention now and actually doesn't pay much attention to Atticus which has been really nice. He will come over and look at him but then just goes back to his bone – I am glad he is giving us space right now when he is so little but I am excited for them to be little buds one day.
So happy one week to our baby Atticus!! I sure love every second of being your mom 🙂
**All photos by Jessica Janae Photography


text:
Belgium travel destinations and blog | Holidays to Europe
It may be small in size but Belgium offers loads of things for the visitor to see and do. Most travellers head to the capital Brussels and well-known destinations like Bruges and Ghent, but away from the regular tourist trail there are lots of towns and villages that you should consider including in your European itinerary. You'll find plenty of travel inspiration in the articles below.
- Details
- Written by Guest Contributor Chelsea Ball of Euro Travel Coach
As the seat of the European Union and home of the NATO headquarters, Brussels is known worldwide as a centre of European politics but the city has much more to offer than just parliament buildings and bustling bureaucrats. Visitors to the Belgian capital will be greeted with fascinating history, delightful museums, delicious food, and of course, plenty of excellent beer.
- Details
- Written by Guest Contributor Pilar
A lot of things can be said about Bruges, Belgium. 'Fairytale' and 'charming' are words that come to mind. Apart from its reputation as one of the prettiest cities in Europe, the size of the historic center of Bruges (known as Brugge in French) is one of the biggest appeals for visitors.
- Details
- Written by Guest Contributor Alison
Belgium is a little country often overlooked on European travel itineraries. When tourists visit at all, it is major centres like Brussels and Antwerp or charming, UNESCO-listed Bruges that they head for. But Belgium deserves to be on your European bucket list in its own right.


text:
Download the latest maps and FDS files for your GPS Device: iGO Europe 2016. The maps are provided by HERE the biggest (and probably the best) map provider in the world.
Seems like this is the last map the iGO will release in 2016. Hence we do not except any newer maps this year.
Download iGO Europe 2016 Q2 maps
Alternate link (Torrent)
Dowload FDS files (Optional)
Here is what FDS files are:
As the Vehicles are getting better and safer, HERE a company co-owned by Audi, BMW and Daimler made these curve alert files, with FDS extension.
On modern cars, these files modify the car`s powertrain, lightning curve, suspension and alerts car about the road autonomy. In conclusion, on regular GPS devices, YOU DON`T NEED THESE FILES. In adtition, he files are required only on GPS systems installed in cars.


text:
Happy Holiday greetings, friends! Tuesday is here and Wednesday is on the horizon. There's a slight crispness in the air and only the calendar will give away that the end of November is here.
These are the days when warm comfort food is especially nice. Take home one of Kandy's pho soup kits to twinkle your toes — soooo easy, you can have it ready in minutes! Or get comfortable with a creamy plate of white beans & sausage that Frankie's made. The Boba Tea girls will be there with tasty herbed chicken dumplings and their sinfully delicious lemon blondies, boba tea blends and hot chocolate! There will be fresh veggies from Mr. Houston and Double K Farm fresh eggs. Now, that's a crispy Wednesday in November!!!
Dancing into December, Saturday will dawn with the same spark as today and the tents will be raised, and laughter added and then the smell of a wood fire as Fikret Kazan and Isabella's traveling pizza oven start baking gourmet pizzas for your sampling (and even some for bringing home).
There's just something about December and chestnuts roasting by an open fire (yes, Mr. Pete is back!) that gives way to Christmas cravings — sorta like storing up goodies for the long hard winter to come 🙂 Well, storeroom, here I come!
Mauricio's designer sugar cookies will, I'm sure, soon be sporting holiday decor and gingerbread men and ladies will join the cookie parade. Melt into Pam's creamy buttermilk tarts (Tessier Gourmet) in luscious flavors of cranberry almond, traditional, chocolate, coconut and more. Mauthe's decadent cheesecake!! Do I really need to say anymore? I can see your mouth is starting to water and you're trying to decide whether you'll get the family or the personal size.
And then you find yourself at Windfield Farms and Suzie's incredible selection of muffins — cranberry, chocolate, blueberry, Morning Glory and end with her delicious raspberry crumble. Pace yourself; there are still 4 weeks left to the year. There will be time to indulge in Frankie's fruity peach or blueberry cobblers, sweet apple tarts, lemon drop or blueberry breads or one of her coconut or chocolate cakes, complete with a generous frosting.
Happy Flour Bakery is adding their own version of sweetness in with shortbread, oat cakes, fruit breads, and scones—the raspberry chocolate chip were delightful and the pumpkin ones were awesome. Can't wait to try other flavors. They will have gift baskets available, too, plus tins of fudge (milk chocolate with Bailey's or Jameson Whisky, mist chocolate swirl, dark chocolate with Bailey's espresso creme). Betty Rue's gluten free muffins (blueberry or pumpkin) are absolutely amazing as are her dazzlingly delicious donuts and cookies (chocolate crinkle, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chocolate chip and more).
More gift giving opportunity (that's if they make it through the weekend) on Norma Jean's table with her lovely carrot bread, delicious banana bread, and wow-it-can't-possibly-be zucchini bread! Jennifer's Bear Creek macaroons will adorn the season and your tummy! Those tasty little morsels have morphed from ghosts and pumpkins to turkeys to possibly snowmen and Santas.
And while we're at it, let's not forget jams and jellies. Althee has that magnificent Monkey Butter which would be a delightful addition to a warming breakfast of oatmeal or a peanut butter sammie (for that matter so would her apple pie jam). Of course, it would be equally tasty simply on a spoon… Not to be forgotten, Robin's Rockin' pepper jellies are ever so wonderful as a delicate coating over cream cheese just waiting for a cracker, and even though it's a little too chilly for ice cream, pineapple rum, peach bourbon, or cranberry pecan are awesome on plain ole vanilla. No worries, a warm coverlet will take the chill away until the sweet heat from the jelly takes over.
Holidays are special whether your family has a formal setting, dressed to the nines, or they are more slap-it-on-a-paper-plate and find a place to sit kind of family. And, our Covington Farmers' Market is special, too. Here you'll find goodness at every turn – savory or sweet – and it wouldn't be the same without you. Hope to see you there!
Lots of love,
Charlene LeJeune
Abundant Life Kitchen
The Covington Farmers' Market is open each Wednesday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire and every Saturday from 8a.m. to 12p.m. on the side lawn of the Covington Police Station, 609 N. Columbia St. Call (985) 892-1873 for information or visit www.covingtonfarmersmarket.org
Follow these topics: Featured Posts, Healthy Living, Local Events, Shop Local, This Week at the Farmer's Market


text:
Two close associates of former Foreign Minister, Avigdor Leiberman, and senior officials in the ministry were recently involved in a secret investigation by the police over unsanctioned trips abroad.
The covert investigation is examining information that reached the police after Leiberman's resignation from the ministry due to an ongoing trial against him. Leiberman is accused of fraud and breach of trust in connection to the appointment of Ze'ev Ben Aryeh as ambassador to Latvia.
Leiberman's trial, which began two months ago at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, is scheduled to resume on Thursday, when the prosecutor's witnesses will take the stand. Leiberman himself is scheduled to testify in two weeks.
The prosecutor in the case, attorney Michal Sibal-Dalal from the economic department of the Prosecutor's Office, announced Tuesday that the findings of the new investigation have been transferred to Leiberman's attorneys. The new affair is not directly connected to the Ben Aryeh affair, but the police and Prosecutor's Office made a point of sharing the findings to the defense team in order to prevent future claims involving witnesses due to testify in the Ben Arye affair.
In December, 2012, after Leiberman resigned from the government and ministry and following the Attorney General's announcement of the indictment against him, information concerning irregular activity on behalf of Leiberman's associates in the ministry and abroad was passed to the investigators.
The ensuing investigation by the National Fraud Unit was carried out following approval by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and State Prosecutor Moshe Lador.
The unit began a covert investigation, collecting evidence from ministry computers and senior officials that were involved in approving trips abroad, often without checking their true aim, and in contrast to ministry procedures.
The basic details of the investigation emerged on Tuesday when the head of Lieberman's staff, Sharon Shalom - who is expected to return to his post soon and serve under Benjamin Netanyahu in his capacity as caretaker Foreign Minister - was called for questioning. Limor Shalal, one of Lieberman's advisers, was also called for questioning. Shalom was asked about trips to Paris and New York, while Shala was asked about a trip to Rome. Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassadors to Italy and Sweden were also interviewed for their versions of the events.
The information was also put forward to Danny Ayalon, the central witness in the case against Lieberman, who is due to testify next week as the last prosecution witness.
According to police and the Prosecutor's Office, it was imperative that the defense receive information concerning the affair the moment Ayalon became involved in the investigation, in order to prevent future claims - before the verdict or in the case of an appeal - that important evidence was being withheld. Ben Aryeh, who was convicted following a plea bargain, is due to testify on Thursday, as is the former general supervisor of the ministry, Victor Harel.
The former general director of the ministry, Yossi Gal, is due to testify next week, along with the ambassador to Thailand, Shimon Roded, and the general consul to Atlanta, Ofer Aviran (in a written affidavit).
Due to the resumption of the trial, the police and Prosecutor's Office have decided to complete the investigation of the current affair and issue their conclusions and recommendations in a later date.


text:
Packers And Movers Patna
The most important point that must be born in mind while packing things is that the packing should be done in such a way that it can be easily undone whenever required. This is going to save a lot of time when dealing with unpacking. All packers and movers operating from Patna are skilled in their task and have all the required materials needed for packing of goods and household items.
Get Relocated anywhere in INDIA and Abroad with Real Specialists...
It is also going to be good if you maintained a comprehensive list of all the items that were packed in different boxes. This is again going to help a lot when unpacking things.
But the most important point is to maintain a good inventory of good packing material. When all you need is some good packing material, you can get from over the internet at quite an economical rate. The internet has become a wonderful market for cheap and effective solutions to most of our problems. Of course, you must also know how to use them effectively and in the proper places. When used in the proper place at the proper time, packing material can always give excellent results like protection against damage from undue hitches and bumps.


text:
He just sweetly simply said " Jom saya bawak sayang pi makan dalam hutan"
Haaa? What hutan? Thought Mr Asben was joking.
The journey to that hutan took us through a vast yellowish nice scenery paddy field, an eerie view of late day in hutan kelapa sawit and passed a very quiet rubber trees estate.
Aiiyoo memang hutan dah ni..
At the very end of the road, we reached a small jetty area with fishing boats scattered around the river bank.
Ahhh.. a very nice view indeed..and Hadiff was really excited with all the kapal bot.
We eagerly approached the compound, to satisfy our curiosity on what this area has to offer.
There was a small wooden stall just near the river.
"Takkan kedai ni kot", I said to myself.
but looking further up, we saw a floating restaurant, buoying with the river current...floating..(I mean really floating!) with no walkway (wooden walkway, not sure what is the right name for that) connecting from the restaurant to the river bank.
We had to use a boat, which owned by owner of the restaurant.
This is his first kapal bot real experience.
Hadiff care nothing on his safety which is our utmost nightmare.
He has shown to us his next level of bravery self exclaiming as nothing to fear if relates to water.
He reaaaaaaaaaally loves water and makes us wonder if we should send him to swimming class as early as possible.
Hahh enough with this karangan..don't know why so sudden I am writing like writing a novel..bluekk!
Enjoy the edited/non edited photos we managed to capture.
My eksyen pic with the fish caught earlier by the owner's son.
Luckily I had my sling so that handling 2 kids was much easier.
The ladies were curious about my ring sling.
It looked like I was doing the babywearing demo.
The Menu.We had a delicious finger licking crab chilli, oyster d'bayu and udang celup tepung.
Hadiff kusyuk tengok Mr Crab dan ikan buntal.
We will come back.
Hadiff on the boat ride back to the jetty.
He had insufficient dose of kapal bot and wanting more.
The restaurant is not like those 5 stars expensive floating restaurant.
The menu offered there is similar to what we can find in a tom yum restaurant.
The price is affordable..I mean like a normal range in any road side restaurant.
But the best thing is..all the seafood are FRESH. Nothing is fresher when they caught it alive from the river based on your order.


text: How organizations (governments, private corporations, and non-profit organizations) are affected by the social, technological, and cultural environments in which they operate. Emphasis on how United States and Japanese cultures generate different modes of organization and differing environmental facilitators and obstacles. Competitive strategies (for example, mergers and takeovers) and the impact of technology on organizational structures (for example, the rapid diffusion of information technology). Research paper required, using either quantitative evidence or a case study approach. Instructor: Gao or staff


text:
A class-action suit has been filed against FORBA Holdings, LLC, several related companies, and as-yet-unnamed dentists who have operated "Small Smiles Dental Centers" and similar clinics in 23 states [1]. FORBA's current owners, in turn, are suing the previous owners of the chain, claiming that during the sales process, they misrepresented the company's assets and potential liabilities [2].
FORBA's suit charges that the original owners did not disclose that they were facing government scrutiny or that the intense pressure to increase production "could lead to overtreatment, substandard quality of care, poor charting, and improper payment that could lead to requests for repayment, denial of claims, and fines and penalties." It also states that the original owners have failed to honor contract provisions to indemnify FORBA for expenses arising from acts or omissions before the sale took place [2].
This article traces the origin of the clinics and the enormous harm they did to the children they treated.
Company History
FORBA operates the largest chain of dental clinics that serve chilldren on Medicaid. According to its lawsuit suit, the Small Smiles Dental Centers trace their roots to a clinic in Pueblo, Colorado founded in 1928 by Dr. Bruno DeRose. Bruno's son Edward J. DeRose joined the clinic in 1961, and in 1970, the clinic began treating children covered by Medicaid. In the mid-1990s, Edward DeRose, his son Dr. Michael DeRose, and other family members opened additional Small Smiles Centers in Colorado and New Mexico, focusing on providing dental care to children on Medicaid. In 2001, Michael, Edward, Edward's son Danny E. DeRose (not a dentist), Michael's uncle Dr. Adolph R. Padula, and Dr. William A. Mueller formed FORBA to manage the existing clinic and additional Small Smiles Centers throughout the country. (FORBA stands for "For Better Access.") The number of such centers grew steadily from 12 in 2002 to 50 by September 2006. Over the years, the clinic chain appears to have included at least 80 corporate entities, including at least one for each facility and a maze of corporations that represented the interests of the owners and managers of the chain.
In June 2006, FORBA's current owners agreed to buy the company for ten times its annual estimated pre-tax income. This led the original owners to exert intense pressure on the individual clinic operators to increase production levels. The eventual purchase price, set in September 2006, was more than $400 million, of which Danny DeRose received $80 million and Edward DeRose, Michael DeRose, Mueller, and Padula each received $58 million [2].
Cruel and Unethical Treatment
|Investigative reports have demonstrated that many of the children who visited FORBA's clinics both before and after the sale were horribly mistreated. The problem was brought to light in March 2008 by WJLA-TV's Roberta Baskin, who was permitted to film a child undergoing treatment at a Small Smiles clinic in Maryland. Her report shows a 4-year-old boy—who is restrained in a "papoose board"—writhing and screaming in pain while undergoing treatment that he doesn't need. It also shows how the clinic staff members were preoccupied with making money [3]. ABC-TV's "20/20" aired additional findings in March 2009 [4]. These graphic reports show how children were unnecessarily restrained, inadequately anesthetized, and subjected to unnecessary procedures, including multiple tooth removal and tooth capping, that left them psychologically traumatized as well as physically and cosmetically damaged. Two children shown in the "20/20" report had 16 pulpotomies ("baby root canals") performed at one sitting.
Government Actions
FORBA's management and some of the dentists who directed individual clinics have been the target of legal and regulatory actions:
- In 2004, Edward and Michael DeRose were disciplined by the Dental Board of Colorado, which ordered them to stop employing and/or aiding and abetting in the practice of dentistry by persons not licensed to practice dentistry in the State of Colorado [5,6].
- In April 2005, Michael DeRose and Letitia Ballance, D.D.S. entered into consent orders with the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners under which they agreed not to contest allegations that dentists employed and trained by Medical Dental Centers (MDC) had performed excessive treatment on seven pediatric patients by performing pulpotomies and placing stainless steel crowns when they were not warranted or supported by x-rays or appropriate diagnostic documentation [7,8]. Ballance's license was suspended for 180 days, to be followed by 3 years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $5,850 for the costs associated with the disciplinary proceedings. The Board also disciplined seven dentists who had worked for MDC: Christopher Ballanger, Heather Berkheimer, Erron Brady, John Lyons, Lori Petree, Michelle Wilkerson, and Jeffrey Zieziula.
- In 2006, David Douglas Gardner, D.D.S. pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and served a short prison sentence. Press reports indicate that while directing the Small Smiles office in Rochester, New York, he caused the submission of Medicaid claims that falsely represented that he filled the teeth of dozens of young patients [9]. After his conviction, he repaid about $444,000 and surrendered his dental license.
- In April 2008, DeRose and Balance, without admitting fault, agreed to pay $10,050,000 to settle potential civil liability for submitting claims for services that were not medically necessary, reflected substandard care, and lacked informed consent [10]. The conduct at issue occurred from 2001-2003, during which DeRose and Ballance operated dental clinics in North Carolina under the names Smile Starters and Carolina Dental Center—later renamed Medicaid Dental Center (MDC). The United States and the state of North Carolina charged that DeRose, Ballance, and MDC were liable under the federal False Claims Act for submitting claims for reimbursement for (a) performing unnecessary pulpotomies. (b) placing stainless steel crowns that were not medically necessary, and failing to obtain informed consent for their procedures and services. The settlement required MDC to reimburse the government for the amount deemed wrongfully billed to the Medicaid Program and to pay substantial penalties representing more than twice the amount that MDC allegedly received improperly from North Carolina Medicaid [11].
- In 2009, to avoid disciplinary proceedings in Colorado based on his previous actions in North Carolina, Michael DeRose signed a stipulation under which his Colorado dental license was permanently inactivated [12].
- In January 2010, FORBA settled a similar action by the Justice Department and several states by agreeing to pay $24 million to settle three False Claim Act suits by former-employees in which the Government had intervened. [13,14]. Immediately afterward, the New York State Medicaid Inspector General announced that FORBA had agreed to pay an additional $2.3 million to settle audit findings in its Rochester and Syracuse offices [15].
- One of the False Claim Act suits was filed in 2007 by Deborah McDaniel, who worked briefly as a dental assistant at a clinic in Maryland. The Government version of her complaint described the heart of the scam this way:
At the beginning of her employment with Small Smiles, Relator McDaniel attended a training session sponsored by her employer and FORBA in Pueblo, Colorado. One of the subjects of this training session was the Defendants' policy called �conversion." "Conversion" was the term used by Defendants to describe their attempt to convert their routine care Medicaid-eligible patients to patients receiving procedures beyond routine check-ups and cleanings, even if these procedures were not medically necessary. During the course of her employment, Relator McDaniel was instructed that it was the Defendants' policy to �convert" all patients requiring simple cleanings and check-ups into patients requiring extensive and more expensive additional procedures such as pulpotomies, the dental process of removing pulp from the pulp chambers of the teeth, and the implant of steel crowns. Relator McDaniel learned during the course of her employment that Defendant Small Smiles would perform pulpotomies, and then place steel crowns over the teeth instead of installing simple fillings, which is the usual procedure, to obtain additional and more expensive grounds to bill Medicaid. Training concerning this company policy on "conversion" was provided in Pueblo, Colorado by FORBA employees [16]
The Class-Action Complaint
In 2009, a class-action suit was filed in Ohio against FORBA Holdings, LLC, several related companies, and as-yet-unnamed dentists who have operated clinics in 23 states [17]. The complaint (amended in January 2010) charges:
- The defendants conspired to perform unnecessary procedures and use unnecessary physical restraints upon children in order to fraudulently obtain extra compensation.
- At least 300,000 children may have been treated improperly.
- Medicaid-eligible children would have an appointment for a routine check-up and cleaning with Defendants' clinics. They would be given x-rays, a cleaning and then the dentist would evaluate the child's mouth.
- The x-rays were often unnecessary, taken incorrectly, taken by employees not licensed to operate the x-ray machine, and/or unreadable or even blank.
- Parents/guardians were then brought to a consultation room where they were told that their child needed extensive work including, pulpotomies and steel crowns.
- Parents were pressured to sign consent forms immediately so that the extensive procedures could be done the same day as the initial consultation. Defendants thought that if the patients left the building, the might obtain a second opinion about the need for additional procedures and might not return.
- FORBA also encouraged its clinics to use of a "papoose board" to immobilize the children, regardless of whether or not restraint was necessary.
- Parents were not permitted to observe their children's' treatment.
- FORBA's clinics were ordered to clean the children as much as possible before sending them back to their parents, including washing their clothes so that the parents would not find out that the children had urinated or vomited on themselves.
Moriarty Leyendecker, which represents about 550 vicitms, has filed several suits, and many more are likely to arise in the future.
"Under New Management"
The Small Smiles Web site, while not mentioning any of the above problems, states that since 2006, "company leaders have also encouraged a culture of compliance that sets high standards and encourages feedback from employees and parents." [18] Curiously, however, the Keystone Marion Youth Center, which was managed by several of FORBA's officers, is facing a False Claims Act initiated by former employees in Virginia. The suit alleges that the company provided substandard care to adolescents in violation of federal and state Medicaid requirements, falsified records to cover up serious violations, and filed false Medicaid claims [19,20].
The Bottom Line
The pattern of cruelty, greed, fraud, and unprofessional conduct described in this article is almost beyond belief. I am puzzled that few of the dentists involved have been disciplined by their state licensing boards. Perhaps more will be as lawsuits by the victims move forward.
Additional Information
- Dentist the Menace blog, operated by Debbie Hagan, contains a wealth of additional information.
- Class action complaint. Parnell v. FORBA Holdings, LLC; FORBA Services, Inc; Small Smiles Holding Co., LLC; Small Smiles of Toledo LLC; et al. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Case No. 3:10-cv-00172-JGC, filed Jan 25, 2010.
- Amended complaint. FORBA Holdings, LLC V. v LICSAC, LLC, DeRose Management LLC, LICSAC NY, LLC, Danny E. DeRose, Edward J. DeRose, Michael A. DeRose, Michael W. Roumph; Richard R. Lane, William A. Mueller, Adolph R. Padula, and Padula Family Partnership, LLP. U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Civil Action No. 09-cv-02305-CMA-MJW, filed Jan 22, 2010.
- Small Smiles investigation. WJLA-TV, March 18, 2008.
- The littlest patients. ABC-TV, March 9, 2009.
- Cease and desist order. Case No 2004-000132 (Michael DeRose). Before the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners, March 29, 2004.
- Cease and desist order. Case No 2004-000131 (Edward DeRose). Before the Colorado State Board of Dental Examiners, March 29, 2004.
- Consent order. In the matter of Michael A. DeRose, D.D.S. Before the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, Dec 12, 2005.
- Consent order. In the matter of Letitia L. Ballance, D.D.S. Before the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners, Dec 8, 2005.
- Former Irondequoit dentist pleads guilty of bilking Medicaid. Rochester Daily Record, May 19, 2006.
- North Carolina dental services chain pays $10 million to resolve false claims allegation. USDOJ press release, April 9, 2009.
- Settlement agreement, March 28, 2008
- Stipulation and final agency order. In the matter of the disciplinary proceeding regarding the license to practice dentistry in the State of Colorado of Michael DeRose, D.D.S., license number 5133. June 8, 2009.
- National dental management company pays $24 million to resolve fraud allegations. USDOJ news release, Jan 20, 2010.
- Civil settlement agreement between FORBA Holdings and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jan 15, 2010.
- New York State Medicaid Inspector General announces oversight agreement with FORBA Dental. OMIG investigation led to quality-of-care initiatives. N.Y. Medicare Inspector General press release, Jan 21, 2010.
- Complaint. USA ex. rel Deborah McDaniel v. FORBA Holdings LLC and Small Smiles of Langley Park, PC. U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Civil action No. 07cv3416, Filed Dec 21, 2007.
- Class action complaint. Parnell et el. v FORBA Holdings LLC et al. U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Case No, 3:10-cv-00172-JGC, filed Jan 25, 2010.
- Compliance: Effective stewardship of public resources. Small Smiles Dental Centers Web site, accessed Feb 9, 2010.
- Complaint. U.S.A. et al. v. Universal Health Services, Inc, Keystone Marion LLC, Keystone Education and Youth Services, LLC, all d/b/a Keystone Marion Youth Center. U.S. District Court for the Western Division of Virginia, Abingdon Division, Civil Action No. 1:01cv00054, filed June 14, 2007.
- United States intervenes in False Claims Act suit against Virginia Medicaid providers. USDOJ news release, Nov 4, 2009.
This article was revised on August 23, 2011.