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Chapter 272: He Whose Fist is Bigger is Right
In the end, they even made it look like they were the victims, asking Xiao Chen and Liu Suifeng for an explanation. If the two were unable to give an appropriate explanation, then they would take action. This was simply the logic of robbers, not in the least humane at all, there was no sense of reason.
However, Xiao Chen already learned to not hold any hopes for being able to use reason to settle problems in this world. Human lives were like ants in his world, he whose fist is larger is right.
At this moment, the Shi Clan had the larger fist, hence, they were in the right. The experienced cultivators surrounding them stood there silently without saying anything. No one spoke up for Xiao Chen and Liu Suifeng. This was a classic example of this world.
Xiao Chen had an incredibly calm expression as he enunciated every word clearly, "I injured Shi Feng. If you want to attack then just go ahead. As long as you are not afraid of inviting a disaster onto your Shi Clan, by all means come and fight!"
It was easy to live in this world. However, not many people would be able to live with dignity.
Xiao Chen was always of the opinion that the brilliance of a cultivator does not have to be revealed. However, they must have spirit. Regardless of the circumstances, this spirit cannot disappear.
This was the principle of not being arrogant but having pride.
If Xiao Chen lowered himself to explain and apologize, given the position of the Heavenly Saber Pavilion, the Shi Clan would not dare to do anything to the two of them.
However, if that happened, a precedent would be set and it will happen a second time. Eventually, they would lose their spirit as cultivators.
Once a cultivator's brilliance lost its spirit, no matter how high his talent used to be, he would never climb to the peak of cultivation.
At this moment, Xiao Chen did not cover up any of his brilliance. His aura was very bright and blazing, revealing a killing intent. His entire being was like a treasured saber being unsheathed.
This 'treasured saber' was extremely sharp. It pierced through the barrier of air and shaved away at their spirits.
Suddenly, boundless clouds started churning in the sky. There were rumbles coming from the sky; the might of thunder had been formed.
"What's going on? Why did the sky become so dark?"
Suddenly, the surrounding cultivators discovered that the dark clouds above had already blocked out the sun. The sky instantly became gloomy.
"This is the state of thunder. I did not expect this fellow had comprehended the state of thunder to such a deep level at such a young age. He is already able to make use of the might of thunder."
"This is the mark of a state in Small Perfection. I had once seen this from an Inferior Grade Martial King. Without a certain level of comprehension abilities, one would never be able to comprehend this."
"However, even with his Small Perfection state of thunder, he is still not a match for the Shi Clan's fourth elder. This old man already reached the peak of Martial Saint many years ago. Although he is not a Martial King, it is rare for anyone in the Martial Saint realm to be his match."
When the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder saw Xiao Chen with his surging aura, he felt that this was a matter that he could no longer withdraw from.
As for dealing with the younger generations of the various powers, the older generation had a tacit understanding with each other. As long as no one ended up dying, they would not make a move.
The Shi Clan did not originally plan to make a move. However, they heard that Shi Feng was cast out onto the streets from Liushang Pavilion from the Heavenly Saber Pavilion.
As one of the three noble clans, the Shi Clan Head felt ashamed. If this news spread out, it would badly damage the reputation of the Shi Clan in Xihe City.
Hence, he allowed the fourth elder to lead a group of people to deal with this. This matter would have been settled as long as Xiao Chen was willing to admit to his mistakes and apologize.
However, the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder had not expected Xiao Chen's character to be so unyielding. He was not willing to explain the matter at all and challenged him in front of everyone. This made moving forward or backward difficult for him, he did not know what to do.
After a while, the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder knew that if he took a step back, they would be truly humiliated.
The Shi Clan's Fourth Elder made up his mind and said in a cold voice, "Just an insignificant junior and yet you dare to speak such savage words. You truly do not know the heights of heavens. I shall discipline you today."
The Fourth Elder waved his hands and drew his sword. Then he sent a sharp sword Qi at Xiao Chen. This sword Qi was much sharper than ordinary sword Qi. It quietly sliced the air like it was water.
A crackle of thunder resounded in the air. Xiao Chen had similarly sent out a purple saber Qi formed from lightning at the sword Qi the Fourth Elder sent out.
The sword Qi and saber Qi clashed. Neither gave way and they pushed against each other intensely. The state of thunder Xiao Chen infused into the saber Qi flickered with resplendent electricity, giving off 'zi zi' noises.
By relying on the advantage of the state, Xiao Chen's saber Qi was able to force a draw with the sword Qi that was practiced to the limits.
The Shi Clan's Fourth Elder was mildly startled. He smiled and said, "Before a state reaches Great Perfection, it is only an unorthodox method. I will take you down within ten moves!"
After the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder spoke, he took a step forward. He swung his sword upward and sharp spikes protruded out of the ground and headed for Xiao Chen.
Each sharp spike was two meters long and was incredibly sharp. If it struck Xiao Chen, even if he was not severely injured, his skin would be shredded. The speed of the stone spikes was very fast. In the blink of an eye, it had arrived before Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen noticed the height of the stone spikes, they were only about two meters tall. Although the stone spikes had extended for a long distance, if he used the Azure Dragon Cloud Soaring Art, he would be able to leap across them easily.
Xiao Chen pushed his feet off the ground and soared into the air. He scattered the state of thunder and launched himself at the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder.
When the Fourth Elder saw Xiao Chen in the air, he revealed a pleased smile. He said, "I knew you would definitely leap into the air and not choose to retreat."
"Pu ci! Pu ci!"
The moment the Fourth Elder spoke, the stone spikes on the ground came out and launched themselves at Xiao Chen. They were very fast, almost at the speed of sound and they gave off a loud howl as they flew.
Xiao Chen was startled, he had not expected such a change. There was no time to think, he shouted and the illusion of a mountain appeared above before merging into his saber.
"Lonely Peak's Fatal Blow!"
Xiao Che hacked out and a spinning energy was launched into the air. It was like there was a real mountain falling from the sky with a lot of force.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
There was a loud sound and the stone spikes in the air were all hacked into pieces. The stone fragments flew around and fell to the ground like rain.
A figure with a sword pierced through the rain of stone. Everywhere he passed, the stones were shattered into powder, filling the sky with dust.
Xiao Chen's eyes were very sharp. When he saw the dust filling the air, the Lunar Shadow Saber pierced out like lightning.
It seemed like the Lunar Shadow Saber had struck a hard rock. When Xiao Chen pierced out, he was rebounded with a lot of force. He immediately lost his balance in the air as he fell toward the ground rapidly.
The Fourth Elder's voice came from the dust. He laughed coldly and said, "My Martial Spirit has already reached Great Perfection. It's a fool's dream if you want to break my defense with your weak state of thunder.
"Rock Splitting Arrow!"
The Fourth Elder shouted and countless cyan rock lines spread throughout his sword. In the next instant, all the lines gathered at the tip of the sword.
There was a loud explosion. A huge cyan whirlpool appeared at the sword tip. From the center of the whirlpool, a cyan rock flew out as a sharpened arrow. It then flew rapidly at the falling Xiao Chen.
"Chi! Chi! Chi!"
As the arrow pierced through the air, it gave off piercing sonic booms. The explosions in the air created many fluctuations. Many ripples appeared in the air like the surface of water.
Xiao Chen slowly descended and watched the cyan arrow. His expression was as calm as before.
"Everlasting Startling Cloud!"
Xiao Chen circulated his Essence and used the state of clouds. After a while, large patches of clouds drifted around Xiao Chen.
"Boom!" A crackle of thunder resounded. A tiny thread of purple saber Qi parted the layers of clouds, flying very quickly at the cyan arrow.
The fine thread moved in a flash like a multicolored light. It was so fast that it seemed unreal.
The next moment was very calm, nothing happened at all. The cyan arrow the Fourth Elder sent out was still making piercing sonic booms in the air as it flew at Xiao Chen. It looked like it would soon hit Xiao Chen, who had already landed.
The Fourth Elder snorted and said, "I thought you were some powerful character. You are just merely so-so. Even if I killed you, the Heavenly Saber Pavilion will not make a move for you."
As the surrounding cultivators watched the cyan arrow draw closer, they all thought it was very unfortunate.
At this point in time, Xiao Chen no longer had any way to flee. He could only defend passively against the full powered strike of this peak Martial Saint.
This was something even a Martial King would not dare clash against. No matter how strong Xiao Chen was, as an Inferior Grade Martial Saint, it would be foolish to try and block this move; it was simply impossible.
The cyan arrow was already less than a meter away from Xiao Chen's face. The wind from the arrow caused Xiao Chen's hair to be blown back.
Xiao Chen raised the Lunar Shadow Saber in his hand and shouted, "Explode!"
The purple thread that had originally disappeared suddenly reappeared. The instant Xiao Chen spoke, the fine thread expanded out like a screen of water.
The cyan arrow in front of him exploded and filled the air with stone fragments, vanishing from the air.
At the end of the fine thread was the Shi Clan's Fourth Elder who was in the air. He had not expected that Xiao Chen would have such a move.
"Pu ci!"
The Fourth Elder vomited a mouthful of blood. The clothes in front of his chest were blasted to oblivion. There was a tiny hole in the cyan rock that covered his entire body. Blood was flowing out from the hole unceasingly.
Although the wound was small, the electricity on it was strangely strong. It gave off 'zi zi' sounds, preventing the wound from healing.
Purple electricity moved around chaotically in the air. Occasionally, some of it would fall on the ground and explode, creating a deep pit.
Xiao Chen stomped on the ground, his body unharmed. He waved his hand and all the remnant electricity in the air gathered at his palm.
The gathered electricity turned into a purple ball of electric fire that burned very fiercely. After that, Xiao Chen threw the ball that the Fourth Elder.
The Fourth Elder was injured and could not dodge in time. He could only toss aside his sword and make a circle with his hands. A cyan whirlpool was condensed.
When the electric fire met the whirlpool, it gave off a resounding sound. A strange energy came from the whirlpool and sucked in the horrifying electric fire.
The Fourth Elder dispersed the whirlpool in his hands before falling to the ground with a pale complexion. Blood kept spurting out of the wound in his chest.
"Damn it! I underestimated this kid's state of thunder. If I used a little more Essence, I would have been able to block that earlier attack." The Fourth Elder said to himself, feeling very hateful.
Chapter end


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A classic T bar buckle fastening shoe in white leather. It has punched leather detail on the front of the shoe, a classic stitch down styling onto the rubber sole unit. A leather lining and insole ensure a comfortable fit. A Startrite classic.
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Empowering People
Empowering People
By Randy Lewis and Joe Tillman
Don't look now but there's more to the cottage industry that's corporate social responsibility reporting (CSR) than just setting recycling, reduced energy usage and other related sustainability goals.
What about sustaining the brand? And what about social responsibility beyond the environment—to your workforce, your partners and the community?
When the sustainability revolution took shape in the early part of the last decade, for many distribution centers and warehouses the focus was on how to be green—without costing a lot of money. Recycling plans were implemented to properly dispose of waste, light bulbs were changed to energy efficient LEDs, or facilities layouts were altered to reduce travel times by battery powered forklifts. For many companies it was driving environmental initiatives that had a direct impact on their ROI (return on investment).
Over the years several reports have found that favorable sustainability perception has been more positively correlated with companies that show strong elements of social sustainability as part of their "way of doing business" rather than a single-minded focus on environmental sustainability.[1]
However, few companies focused on the people part and helping them be the best they can be. That was until 2007, when Walgreens opened its distribution center in Anderson, South Carolina with a goal to employ more than 40 percent of the workforce there with disabled people.
The overall goal of CSR is to embrace responsibility for a company's actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the community, customers, environment, employees, and shareholders. In essence, CSR is a guide to what the company stands for and will uphold for its customers.
While CSR was a term first coined in the 1960s and early 1970s, its popularity in the industry did not expand until the late 1990s. It was during the 1990s that the focus on environmental stewardship started taking shape in the supply chain area.
Distribution and warehousing are not industries that many first think about when considering how to solve the world's problems. But, several companies are changing that view: Walgreens, Lowe's, Best Buy and Toys R' Us, to name a few.
While 2007 does not seem so long ago, in terms of CSR's evolution and development it's practically the dark ages, which is why Walgreen's approach for its new DC was ground-breaking and worthy of note.
Walgreens takes a five-pronged approach to social responsibility, giving equal weight to community, environmental sustainability, diversity, supplier diversity and disability inclusion.
On the supplier diversity front, many companies such as Apple, Xerox and P&G have supplier diversity programs, but Walgreens actually issued an annual report[2] on that specific subject in 2010. The company says Supplier Diversity, "isn't just good business; it's good for business. When Walgreens began its supplier diversity initiative, the goal was to increase the purchase of goods and services (also known as "spend") from diverse and small businesses. This objective has grown into a winning initiative that is strengthening not only Walgreens business, but the communities represented by diverse business owners."
Walgreens says its goal is to spend at least $1 billion annually with diverse suppliers. For example, the Community Corner program, which began in 2010 featuring African-American suppliers in 1,180 stores generated a 12 percent increase across the total chain in sales among its 17 featured products, and an estimated 42,000 consumer baskets contained at least one of those featured products. Sales of those products increased by about 9 to 43 percent year-over-year.
Walgreens is a passionate and driving force in the warehousing industry on social sustainability issues, particularly with its disability inclusion program. It is ensuring the company's social responsibility vision, and especially the best practices learned from their hiring program that was implemented in the Anderson South Carolina DC (Distribution Center) in 2007, is being replicated by others in the warehousing and distribution space.
The $175 million, 700,000-squarefoot facility, employs about 335 workers, 47 percent of whom have a physical or cognitive disability like autism or mental retardation. The program is about giving people a chance to prove themselves. People with disabilities die a death of 1,000 cuts. The unkindest cut is the belief that people with disabilities cannot do the job.
Since 2007, Walgreens has spread the program to other DCs and warehouses in its network. Then in 2012, Walgreens moved from the backroom of warehouses to the storefront by developing a program to hire people with disabilities to work in the more than 8,000 Walgreens stores across the United States.
In addition, companies such as Lowe's, Best Buy and others have journeyed to Walgreens' Anderson South Carolina DC to learn how to implement and lead a disability inclusion program in their warehouses. Lowe's has been one of Walgreens greatest partners in developing and leading the change that is now occurring in the distribution and warehousing industry – a true focus on improving the lives of their employees and community.
However, with the ever-changing landscape of leadership in companies those are passionately driving social initiatives and the fact that CSR is still going through growing pains, who will take up the social responsibility banner with the same drive and passion? Who will keep alive the social part of social responsibility?
It could be the younger generation of professionals in the supply chain industry as they rise through the ranks into positions of influence. Generation Y, also known as the Millennial Generation—basically those born from the latter 1970s or from the early 1980s to the early 2000s—apparently see business playing a major role on societal development.
In 2011, a Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu survey "Business Society – Millennial Survey 2011[3]" found that 92 percent of millennials believe that a company's success should be measured by more than profit, and more than 50 percent said they think businesses would have a greater impact than any other societal segment—including government—on solving the world's biggest challenges.
The Harvard Business Review Stat, which showcased the survey said: "In a survey of more than 1,000 of its employees born after 1981, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu found that when respondents were asked to name three terms that encapsulate the purpose of business, 51 percent cited societal development and only 39 percent cited profit."
For fans of CSR, those are some heartening numbers.
[box type="shadow" ]Randy Lewis is past senior vice president of Supply Chain and Logistics for Walgreens in Deerfield, Illinois. He was responsible for the design and operation of Walgreens supply chain network including operations, engineering, IT systems, and inventory management. In addition to imports, Lewis oversaw Walgreens' domestic network of fifteen automated distribution centers and one of the U.S.'s largest private fleets to supply its 7,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.[/box]
[box type="shadow" ]Joe Tillman is a senior researcher with Supply Chain Visions, a boutique consulting firm specializing in supply chain management. His keen interest in all thing supply chain and his high-energy approach to life find him authoring articles for industry publications, a blog "The New Generation" for DC Velocity magazine, a subject matter expert for APQC–a not for profit benchmarking organization–and speaking at numerous industry events. Joe is the lead co-author to the Warehousing Education and Research Council's influential annual benchmarking study, "DC Measures." He is certified in transportation and logistics by AST&L and SCOR-Professional certified by the Supply Chain Council. As a practitioner, Joe has extensive operational experience in import and regional distribution centers while working for Wal-Mart Logistics. He has an in depth understanding and knowledge of order management and fulfillment techniques.[/box]
[1] See "Perception Versus Reality in Sustainability Performance," (Dec. 2012), available at http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/articles/perception-versus-reality-sustainability-performance?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=research&utm_campaign=dec20
The article cites this study by brandlogic and CRD Analytics, "Learn from the Leaders: 2012 Sustainability Leadership Report," available at http://www.sustainabilityleadershipreport.com/
Also see the The Hartman Group's 2007 study, "Sustainability from a Consumer Perspective," available at http://www.fmi.org/docs/sustainability/hartman_group_sustainability_fmi_task_forceBEFD066AFCD9.pdf?sfvrsn=2
[2] Walgreens Annual Report "Nurturing the Business of Diversity" (2010). Report available at http://www.walgreens.com/images/pdfs/sr/Walgreens_Diversity_AR_2010_FINAL.pdf
[3] Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu "Business Society – Millennial Survey 2011" (2011). Report available for download at http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/about/business-society/7db3b035c93d4310VgnVCM2000001b56f00aRCRD.htm?id=gx_tw_130212_1505


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"Is there anything else about you that i should know?" How to answer this interview question ©
This video gives answer to the frequently asked interview question "Is there anything else about you that i should know?". Any prospective job seeker can get an idea about how to answer this interview question by listening to this video. This is probably the perfect way to answer and handle this question in a job interview. nnWhat do they want to hear? nnYou might not think you have anything else left to say—but you'd better have! This is your chance—on a silver platter—to close the sale. You'd be a fool to walk away from it. nnDevelop a short answer to this question, one that plays upon your strengths, accomplishments, skills, and areas of knowledge. nnFor example: n"Mr. Krueger, I think we've covered everything. But I want to re-emphasize the key strengths that I would bring to this position. nn• Experience. The job I'm currently in is quite similar to this one, and I would be excited by the chance to apply what I've learned at WidgetLand to working for your company. nn• Management skills. I run a department almost equal in size to this one. I'm a fair and effective supervisor. nn• A record of success. I've won two prestigious industry awards. I would bring that creativity here. nn• Enthusiasm. I am very excited about the prospect of working with you here at Trikadekaphobia. When do you expect to make a decision? nnThis type of answer should underline the points that you have been trying to make throughout the entire interview. By ending with a question, you ask Mr. Krueger to take some action. This is an effective selling technique that should give you a good indication of your chances of getting the job. nnVariations n nWhy should I hire you? nn nIf you were me, would you hire you? nnSubscribe to our Channel atnhttp://www.youtube.com/theinterviewskillsnnFollow us on our Official Facebook Fanpage atnhttp://www.facebook.com/theinterviewskillsnnLink to this videonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRBMMLn-ajI
LicenseDefault YouTube License


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A little planning and precaution always goes a long way in the success of a project and the life of your equipment.
For any given job, a gunite contractor and its crew will have, as a very minimum, to operate and maintain a gunite machine, a material nozzle and hose, water hose, air compressor and an air hose.
A good part of maintenance on new and used machines will involve regularly oiling various part of your equipment and replacing certain parts over time. That's just the reality of operating heavy equipment! Another good thing to remember is that every part of the machine that touches material flowing through it will wear out the fastest. So let's see what some of these are.
If you have a bowl-type gunite machine, you will eventually have to replace the wear plate, the wear pad and material outlet. But before you get to that point, you will need to oil the pockets of the bowl after having cleaned it first after each job so that you don't get material accumulation. If you have a steel bowl, you will need to use a hammer and something like a chisel to dislodge dried leftover material. If you have a steel/poly bowl, flip it on its belly and pound it all over using a rubber mallet then chip any small pieces left, after every job.
Over time, the wear plate will also start to degrade. How can you tell? Grooves will be showing up on the plate and/or in the pocket surfaces which can affect the rotation of the plate. When this happens, you should have a company resurface the plate.
Another part that will also show sign of deterioration is the wear pad due to its contact with the material. Don't wait to replace it because it will cause faster wearing out of the wear plate if left damaged. It will also affect the quality of the air flow into the system.
DON'T: Tighten the hold clamp to try to extend the life of the wear!
DO: Replace the wear pad as soon as it shows signs of slight deterioration.
There is also a piece of felt that protects the wear plate from the bottom of the hopper that should be lubricated until it becomes flexible and seal. No need to take anything apart to reach the felt, just use the holes in the hopper to do the lubricating. Having well oiled seals will prevent dust from escaping and create a safer work environment for your crew.
DON'T: Ignore an accumulation of dust next to your gunite machine. This is a sign that something is not working properly and needs to be checked.
DO: Replace the felt piece with a new one.
What about the air motor? The air lines comes with a filter and lubricator. Without the filter, the air that goes into the motor wouldn't be clean and the lubricator puts a small amount of oil into the air. Both are required for the motor to function properly. As with all filters, you will need to check it to see whether or not they need to be replaced. Make sure to regularly inspect and adjust the oil level of the air lubricator.
Most gunite machines are connected to a gear box which will also need to be oiled. Some models come with an exhaust chamber that needs to be emptied out on a daily basis. The idea is to remove anything that could end up in the hopper base and could prevent rotation in the feed bowl.
DON'T: ever reach inside the hopper with your hands or arms while the air line is connected because the agitator could be moving.
DO: Connect an extra exhaust hose to the machine to bring down even more the level of dust on the job site.
What about hose accessories and nozzle maintenance?
The one more important piece to take care of in a nozzle is the water ring, usually made of brass or aluminum. You must inspect the tiny holes in the ring before starting any job and make sure there is nothing clogging them from a previous job. When cleaning the holes is no longer possible it is time to replace the ring.
DO: coat the water ring with some oil for extra protection
DON'T: ever drill holes in the water ring if the original holes are no longer working.
To eliminate any potential defects which cannot be seen by visual examination or in order to determine certain characteristics of the hose while it is under internal pressure, we suggest you conduct non-Destructive Hose Pressure Tests.
If you are looking for a great gunite machine for your next job, give us a call at 503-281-2105 and we can help you find a perfect fit.


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My friend Andy Rutledge runs a weekly video podcast called The Design Pro Show in which he talks through his take -- as a 'Design Professional' (in quotes because it's a thing) -- on a number of subjects; from 'Process', to the latest show yesterday 'On Compromise'.
Yesterday Andy asked for thoughts over Twitter:
Where in your work have you found benefits in compromise?
As you'd expect, opinion was polarised. Andy Budd perhaps encapsulated how I feel:
If you compromise on nothing, you're a dictator. A lack of compromise weakens the chance of discovering that you could actually be wrong.
And Oliver Reichenstein today:
Web design is engineering. Engineering is all about making the right compromises. Case closed.
My thoughts are this: design is an exercise in considered compromise.
Firstly, let me define what I mean by compromise. I mean reaching a mutually agreeable decision based on subjective demands, conditions or variables otherwise unaccounted for.
The type of design I do is, ultimately, about people. Designing websites for people means you need to try and understand how they will behave on the website you're designing, and people are complicated things. Commercial design means doing work for money. Stakeholders are also people (yes, they are), and are subject to the same complicated thought processes as the rest of us with the added commercial complexity of generally knowing their business (and sometimes their audience) better than you do.
Throughout a design process a myriad of potential conditions may present data that results in a compromise; a point in time where you need to course-correct to take into account new information. My understanding is that a designer will take this information and steer the ship whilst still producing an optimum solution. This is through no fault of the designer or the process. New information can surface at any time throughout a process; for example, user interviewing or usability testing may bring to light information that fundamentally changes an approach. This has happened to me on numerous occasions.
If you're unable, or unwilling, to take on-board this new data -- to course-correct -- to compromise what you thought was the right thing, this is will result in a compromise to the design solution. Because you're ignoring critical information. Your desire to not compromise will actually compromise the end-result. Ironically.
Someone who knew a lot about uncompromising systems was Bruce Lee. As you may know, Bruce Lee was an martial artist film star in the 60s and 70s. He was also a philosophy major and had a deep interest in understanding the physiological and psychological effects of combat. He had a deep interest in challenging the traditional martial arts styles of the time: Shotokan Karate, Taekwondo, Judo etc. despite training in a traditional style himself: Wing Chun. His problem was they are not grounded in reality. They exist as a system devoid of adapting to external data. This, of course, can be particular damaging when faced with an opponent. You rely on the system to provide you with the right tools, rather than adapting and accepting the fluid dynamics of a combat situation.
Design is like this.
Adhering to an inflexible system, that is incapable of reacting to new external data, or the fluid dynamics of a complicated project, generally results in failure. This is why methodologies such as Agile exist: they are designed to effectively accommodate change.
My experience in design is that there's a lot of grey. Nothing is ever cut and dry. People are complicated. Perception and behaviour is difficult to account for, and using a design process that welcomes new data, can course-correct effectively, is a process every designer should be working to create.


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Nearly 1,500 degrees will be conferred Saturday
June 23, 2010
KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University will grant degrees to nearly 1,500 students during two commencement ceremonies Saturday, June 26, in Miller Auditorium.
WMU President John M. Dunn will preside over the ceremonies, during which WMU will confer 1,491 degrees: 936 at the bachelor's level, 525 at the master's level and 30 at the doctoral level.
The University conducts formal graduation exercises in December, April and June, although WMU students also may graduate in August. Bachelor's and master's degree recipients who graduate in August are reflected in June's graduation statistics, and they have the option of participating in June's commencement ceremonies.
Doctoral degree recipients who graduate in August are reflected in December's graduation statistics, and they have the option of participating in December's commencement ceremonies.
The June 2010 commencement ceremonies will feature music by Dr. Karl Schrock, University organist. The national anthem and the alma mater will be sung by WMU's chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity, conducted by Jack Bertrand. The day's graduates will be welcomed as new alumni by Richard D. Bailey II, president of the WMU Alumni Association.
Tickets are required for guests to attend commencement, and each participating student is eligible to receive up to six guest tickets. Should there be extra tickets, students who are participating in one of the exercises may request up to two more tickets on a first-come, first-served basis from the Miller Auditorium box office beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, June 25.
After all ticketed guests have been seated in Miller, any remaining open seats will be offered to those without tickets. Guests without tickets may also view the commencement ceremonies live on a large screen in Brown Hall, which is adjacent to Miller.
Both of the June ceremonies will be broadcast live on Channel 5 of EduCABLE, the University's cable television system, and throughout the Kalamazoo area on Public Media Network Channel 22 by the Charter Communications commercial cable system.
A live webcast of the ceremonies will be available online to a limited number of people the day of graduation. Those planning to view the webcast will need to install Windows Media Player on their computers.
The University's TotalTech store will be providing professional recordings of the ceremonies in DVD and VHS formats. The recordings will cost $25 each, plus shipping and formatting fees if any, and may be ordered by mail or calling (269) 387-3930.
In addition, a professional photographer will take pictures of each graduating student. Color proofs will be sent to the students, but purchase of prints is optional.
Visit wmich.edu/commencement for complete graduation information, including how to obtain tickets, recordings and student photos. A final list of June 2010 graduates will be distributed to hometown newspapers in late summer or early fall.
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Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, firstname.lastname@example.com
WMU News


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We will be using OnArrival and Event in a Box for our annual meeting in October. Is there anyone in the Nashville TN area that has used or will be using OnArrival and event in a box?I am interested in seeing this process in action.My boss is not sure how it all works.Any comments appreciated.ThanksPenny WiggsTennessee Hospital firstname.lastname@example.com
Hi Penny - We had Cvent provide a video demo for us because we needed to see how the programs worked live, as well. It's a little hard because the process is actually so quick for an attendee to check in, that you can go through a demo very quickly. Our account rep provided us with several videos and materials, as well. I would recommend reaching out to your Cvent rep and asking for some videos/links to share with your boss. Hope this helps!


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1701 Garretson Lane, Yakima, WA 98908 Phone: 509-571-1449 Tue-Sun: 11am to 7pm
Need some Girl Time? Ladies Night offers a chance for ladies only to get some range time in along with some target practice mixed with thrills, fun and prizes. It's a BLAST!
Basic Handgun II will start off where we left off in Handgun I. Students will learn about proper reload techniques (Speed and Tactical), Malfunction Clearances, and operating the firearm with both their Strong and Support hand only. Live Fire drills to increase confidence and speed will be practiced.
Handgun Level II (2 Hours)
Handgun Level I, or Ladies/General Concealment I
*Registering for a class constitutes an agreement to attend the class in which you enroll. After your class enrollment tuition payments are not refundable, but those funds may be applied to a future class with at least one week's advanced notification. Emergencies are handled on a case-by-case basis. Call with questions 509-571-1449 between 10a.m. and 6p.m. Tuesday-Saturday or email firstname.lastname@example.com
©2020 The Range LLC in Yakima, Washington. All rights reserved.


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DUI Arrest
Sponsored By
Low Bond For Suspect In DUI Arrest That Yielded Arsenal Of Weapons, Bulletproof Vest & Knife With Swastika A DUI arrest in Miami Beach led police to discover an arsenal of weapons inside a man's vehicle early Thursday morning.
Phelps Suspended Six Months After DUI ArrestMichael Phelps' comeback took a major hit on Monday, with USA Swimming suspending the 18-time Olympic champion for six months and forcing him to withdraw from next year's world championships.
Broward Judge Lynn Rosenthal Arrested For DUIFor the third time in six months, a Broward County judge has been arrested for DUI.
Photographer Claims Bieber Bodyguard Injured HimThe night Justin Bieber was arrested for alleged DUI on South Beach in January, his body guard also allegedly injured a photographer at a Subway restaurant.
Alonzo Mourning's Wife Arrested For DUIThe wife of former Miami Heat superstar Alonzo Mourning was arrested early Friday morning near Old Cutler Road and San Servano Avenue on a single charge of driving under the influence.
Flo Rida Avoids Jail Time In DUI ArrestSouth Florida rapper Flo Rida has entered into a deal on his DUI charge that will net him no jail time.


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Denise Van Outen says she was the first to sign up to the UK version of The Masked Singer.
The presenter, 45, was unmasked as Fox on last weekend's show having kept what she was doing secret from her whole family, including her daughter.
Three finalists – Octopus, Hedgehog and Queen Bee – will battle it out in the finale of the ITV programme.
Van Outen told Good Morning Britain: "I can't wait to find out who is going to win."
She went on to give her predictions for the finalists, saying Queen Bee could be Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix or even Ariana Grande.
And Hedgehog could be actor Luke Evans, while Charlotte Church or Katherine Jenkins could be behind the Octopus mask, she suggested.
Van Outen added that she signed up instantly.
"I watched the Australian version so I knew how it gripped viewers. I think I was probably the first to say yes to it. It's really nice as a performer… that they're not going to rip you to shreds."


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Wednesday, Sept. 26, Magistrate Deborah Domine swore in four community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused and neglected children.
Family and friends gathered in the Elkhart County Courthouse to watch Casilda Chenier, Carla Weldy, Malinda Wobrock and Janelle Clements take an oath promising to advocate for the best interest of the child.
The newly appointed CASA volunteers join over 90 other dedicated community members who have been trained and are advocating for foster children in the county's juvenile court system. As officers of the court, they ensure that the children's needs are recognized, and best interests are considered both in the courtroom and in the community.
CASA volunteers are asked to meet with the child regularly and are authorized to interview people in the child's life such as social workers, attorneys and teachers. They attend court hearings with the child and report their findings to the judge.
"Our volunteers pledge to stay with each child until the case is closed, and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home," said Justin Allen, director of the Elkhart County CASA Program. "The advocate is often the only consistent adult presence in the child's life."
With many children waiting for a CASA volunteer, many more advocates are still needed. There are no prerequisites for becoming a CASA volunteer other than being at least 21 years of age, clearing an extensive background screening and successfully completing 34 hours of training.
The next advocate training session for Elkhart County begins in February of 2019. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CASA volunteer and the rewards that come along with serving as the voice of a child, please contact Justin Allen at 574-522-1998 ext. 225 or visit our website at www.capselkhart.org/programs/casa


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Early morning view of Hyatt Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Early morning view of Hyatt Lane, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
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Photo Puzzles are an ideal gift for any occasion
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Enjoy your favourite drink from a custom printed gift mug. Our mugs are printed with your choice of image
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Archive quality photographic print in a durable wipe clean mouse mat with non slip backing. Works with all computer mice.


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Tablet S
PlayStation Suite-exclusive content inbound
Compatible Android devices will soon benefit from "content which has been newly created for the PlayStation Suite and PlayStation Store", Sony Mobile chief marketing officer Steve Walker announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012.
Tablet S headlines
Sony Tablet S RRP drops to $500
Sony has cut the price of the Tablet S in the US by $100 just three months after launch. the PlayStation-branded tablet, which was recently updated with support for Dual Shock controllers, is now priced at $400 for the 16GB version and $500 for the 32GB model. The tablet sports a Tegra chip, is Android […]
Dual Shock support added to Sony Tablet S
Engadget reports the latest Japanese firmware update for Sony's Tablet S added support for the PlayStation 3's Dual Shock controllers. The controller apparently works wirelessly after initial, wired ste up and works with PlayStation Suite certified titles. Japanese gamers have been provided with a free game to celebrate the addition. The Tablet P has not […]


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When you see someone suffering, and there is nothing you can do to help them out of their misery, most times you will try to comfort them with consoling words.
In those cases, the right words are difficult to find, and many times we end up saying the wrong ones even when our intention was good.
We have talked many times about the advantages and blessings of silence, how important it is to keep quiet when there is risk to hurt someone else.
But as everything else in this Life, there are always two sides for everything and falling in its extremes is extremely easy.
Too much of anything can do a lot of harm. Continue reading


text: Start Your Application Need to submit a Northern Oklahoma College Application? Apply Here. Email Start your application and let us know how to contact you. First name * Email Address * Last name * Phone Number * What semester do you plan on starting? * Fall Spring Summer Is this your first year attending college? * First Year Freshman Transfer Student Do you have you high school diploma or GED? * High School Diploma GED Neither Have you taken the ACT? * Yes No Have you taken the SAT? * Yes No Are you a US citizen? * Yes No If a US citizen, select home state. - Select Province/State - Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Nova Scotia Northwest Territories Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon ==================== Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming


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By James Ranson, Jul 02, 2015, 16:08 • 2 minute reading
R744.com is pleased to announce its first African Partner, Commercial Refrigeration Services Ltd. is based in Johannesburg and is currently the only manufacturer of CO2 heat pumps and chillers in Africa.
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Jul 02, 2015, 16:08
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Description For Syngonium Pixie Plant With Self Watering Pot
How to grow Syngonium PixiePlant Description: Syngonium Pixie is an indoor ornamental foliage creeper, suitable for small pots & trellises. It is a small plant, featuring heart shaped leaves with white-green variegation. Syngonium Pixie is most suitable for green walls, hanging baskets, terrariums, bottle gardens, dish gardens & other tabletop miniature gardening use.
Botanical Name: Syngonium podophyllum
Plant type: Ornamental foliage plant, indoor plant, ground cover plant.
Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen.
Growth Habit: Perennial creeper/climber.
Growth Rate: Quick growing plant.
Average Landscape Size: Syngonium Pixie should be planted at a distance of 1.5 x 1.5 ft for ground cover.
How to care for Syngonium PixieSoil: Syngonium Pixie is not very fussy and particular about soil. It can be grown in well drained sandy soil or coco peat.
Pot Size: Plant Syngonium Pixie in a 8 to 12 inch round pot.
Potting/Transplanting: Transplant the Syngonium Pixie saplings in a container along with root-ball of the original soil. Carefully place the plant in the middle of the pot & cover the roots completely with the remaining soil.
Repotting: Change the pot every year. Use bigger sized pot each time you repot the plant.
Sunlight: Syngonium Pixie can grow in full shade (indoors) or partial sunlight (outdoors). Direct sunlight will burn the foliage & stunt the growth of the plant.
Water: Syngonium Pixie must be kept well watered throughout. Maintain the soil evenly moist, but allow it to dry out between watering sessions.
Fertiliser: Add rich compost/ leaf mould & well rotten cow dung while potting the Syngonium Pixie plant.
Temperature: Syngonium Pixie prefers pleasant warm temperatures. Its minimum temperature requirements are 15 degrees Celsius.
Humidity: Syngonium Pixie likes hot & humid climate.
Pruning: Train the Syngonium Pixie climber to grow in desired direction & shape by cutting off the unwanted growth.
Propagation: Propagating Syngonium Pixie is easy from cuttings. The plants root from nodes wherever they touch the ground. Plantlets can be easily split from the base.
Companion Plants: Ferns, Dracaena, Aralia, Spathiphyllum, Rhoeo.
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|Water Schedule
|Every alternate day
|Heart shaped, whitish variegated leaves
|Design Use
|grown in fancy indoor pots, baskets
|Ideal Location
|Suitable for terrarium, hanging baskets in living rooms
|Product Weight
|750 g
|Plant Height
|approx. 4 inch
|Plant Spread
|3 to 4 inch
|Pot Height
|4 inch
Customer Reviews
- Excellent value Review by Chaitali
Value Quality Price


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Talk about getting kicked while you're down. Already, the biodiesel industry has seen its margins squeezed since petroleum prices plummeted last fall. Now, the news coming out of Brussels earlier this week is that the European Union plans to slap punitive tariffs on imports of U.S. biodiesel for six months. The $400-$500 per ton duty will make U.S. biodiesel less attractive in the European market at a time when U.S. manufacturers need all the buyers they can get.
So, how bad off is the industry? Banking-sector, or government-bailout bad? Maybe. As the economy slumped last year, demand for diesel dropped with it. That sent the price of petroleum diesel and biodiesel down so low that manufacturers now can barely cover production costs, let alone capital costs. And profits? Forget it: "The pressure is really to a point that biodiesel processing using canola oil or soy oil is unprofitable these days," said David Woodburn, an analyst with investment bank ThinkEquity Partners. "The revenue you get per gallon of soy biodiesel in most cases isn't enough to cover the cost of feedstock plus processing."
Seattle-based Imperium Renewables has felt the pain of the industry. The biodiesel refiner has canceled its planned initial public offering, laid off employees, and halted plans to build a biodiesel plant in Hawaii.
The so-called crush spread provides insight. It's the difference between the price of soy oil, what manufacturers process into biodiesel, and the going price for the fuel on the market. In November last year, with the industry already under pressure, that spread was at 81 cents per gallon. By late February, it had sunk 30 percent to 56 cents per gallon.
The blender's subsidy is at the heart of the EU's punitive tariff. The subsidy gives a $1 per gallon tax credit to outfits that blend biodiesel into petroleum diesel usually in quantities between 1 percent and 10 percent. The EU governing body argues, rightly, that it gives U.S. biodiesel exporters an unfair advantage. While this subsidy no doubt has helped the U.S. biodiesel industry, it's mainly been a boon for blenders, who market the fuel. They may pass some of that subsidy benefit back to manufacturers, but not all of it.
So U.S. biodiesel manufacturers have done the only thing they could: slow production. Rick Kment, a biofuels analyst with market researcher DTN, said U.S. biodiesel production is down to between 25 percent and 30 percent of capacity. A large portion of the plants aren't standalone biodiesel producers — they also crush the soy beans to produce the oil. Instead of continuing the refining process to biodiesel, they sell the oil off midstream to the food industry, Mr. Kment said. That helps explain why there haven't been as many plants shuttered as some might anticipate, given the industry's pain.
The industry will continue to struggle as long as petroleum prices remain low and feedstock prices high. But that hasn't stopped die-hard biodiesel supporters from believing in the industry. "Biodiesel is a movement now," said Steve Bash, the founder of California-based Sacramento Biofuels Network, which buys biodiesel in bulk for its 250 members. "It's about a perception of choices. And in the long run, it's inevitable that we'll need choices beyond petroleum." In the near-term, biodiesel producers will benefit from the renewable fuel standard that requires 1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel be sold annually in the U.S. by 2012, from 500 million gallons this year. So producers might not be as bad off as Wall Street financial firms, but they're still not a pretty sight to behold.


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The distillery opened in March 2014 and has seen more than 1 million visitors since that time. At the distillery, visitors are able to taste all nine flavors of Sugarlands Shine, tour the still house, listen to live Americana, country, and bluegrass music, and book outdoor excursions— among other things.
The distillery is located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a popular travel destination near the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gatlinburg's numerous distilleries and wineries make it a sought after location for spirits enthusiasts. Sugarlands Distilling Co. is currently ranked as the #2 destination in Gatlinburg on TripAdvisor, second only to the national park.
As of October 26, 2015, Sugarlands Distilling Co. received 2,052 five-star reviews making it the most highly rated distillery experience in the U.S., according to the website. Only Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland had more five-star reviews internationally, at the time.
Sugarlands Distilling Co. currently distributes its moonshine in 19 states in the U.S. Recently, the company announced an ambitious whiskey project that seeks to create several types of traditional and modern whiskey offerings.
The company partnered earlier this year with Lost Spirits Technology in California in an attempt to create a rye whiskey by using an advanced aging reactor called THEA One. The reactor is capable of replicating the chemical make up and taste profile of a 20-year-old rye whiskey in just six to eight days.
For more information, please visit www.sugarlandsdistilling.com visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/


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It's strawberry season again, and conveniently enough, strawberries are an excellent choice for the home garden and one of the easiest fruit crops to grow. Go through these tips to grow succulent strawberries, and you will have a full grown strawberry garden in no time!
RELATED: How to Start An Heirloom Strawberry Patch With Your Kids
PREP SOIL: Begin tilling aged manure into your garden soil about one month before you plant your strawberries.
THINK AHEAD: Make sure you plant the right variety of strawberry for your climate and garden size.
TIMING: You can begin planting as soon as the danger of frost is past in the spring.
ROOM TO GROW: Strawberries are sprawling plants, so make sure you allow for growing space between each plant.
GIVE 'EM SUN: Make sure your garden will get direct sunlight for at least six to nine hours a day.
BEAT WEED DEMONS: Weeding is very important in the first month of planting.
PATCH MANAGEMENT: Strawberries will produce the first year, but if you pick the blossoms to discourage fruiting, you will have a larger harvest in the second year.
WATERING: Strawberries have a shallow root system so regular watering is a must. Adding mulch around the plants can help keep in moisture so they don't dry out as quickly.
NAP TIME: When growing season is over, cut the plants down to 1 inch and cover with pine straw. Remove this in early spring after the danger of frost has passed. This will help prevent damage to your plants over the winter season.
This article was originally published in the NEW PIONEER ™ Summer 2015 issue. Subscription is available in print and digital editions here.
14 Fire Safety Tips For Seniors
In case of emergency, it might be good to know these fire safety tips.
by Real World Survivor Editor / Jun 8, 2015


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We took the metro to the Belleville station and headed towards rue Denoyer, a little street that has been taken over by Parisian grafitti artists. We discovered it last fall when we took a walk with a fellow Our Paris Forum poster and he introduced us to this vibrant area. We were there around 11am and the street was a lot less busy than when we were there last year, so Den was able to take lots of pictures at his leisure. Some of the art is really interesting and it's very expressive.
Upon leaving the market, we strolled to Place Maurice Chevalier and then made our way toward Parc Belleville, from where you can get fantastic views of Paris down below, including a little landmark you may recognize.
Before we left this morning, I had called Le Baratin to see if they had space for us for lunch. We had gone last year and so enjoyed our meal, we knew we wanted to go back. Luckily they were able to squeeze us in and so we got to enjoy Raquel Carera's wonderfully earthy cooking. She is from Argentina and has made this tiny restaurant far from the center of Paris into a "go to" place. They have a great value lunch menu ~ 3 course for 18 euros. Den had a little square of a veggie that resembles spinach but I can't remember what it's called. I had a white bean soup for entree. Den had pork with very creamy mashed potatoes and I had a red tuna stew which was fantastic ~ the tuna was still rare in the middle, just the way I like it. Apple crumble and a cheese course completed the meal and we stumbled out very full and happy!
We had eaten lunch here last fall (gee, this sounds familiar, see a few paragraphs above, lol) and really wanted to try dinner this time. I had made reservations before leaving Canada and we saw them turn away at least 5 couples while we were there. The chef serves a market driven menu and there are no choices to be made beyond your wine choice. 4 courses for 33 euros (and remember that this includes all taxes and service in Europe) is wonderful value for the delicious meal we savoured. The wall is lined with wine bottles and they are available at cost plus a 7 euro corkage fee.
We started with a tomato gazpacho which is served in 2 stages. Your bowl comes with the dry ingredients at the bottom and you ladle the broth from a tureen served at your table. Everything was so fresh and light, with the crunchy vegetables, croutons and lardons providing a great contrast to the cool tomato soup.
We enjoyed 2 more delicious courses ~ a brie served with a quennelle of stewed apples and a raspberry mousse full of little crunchy bits of chocolate. 3 and a half hours after we sat down for dinner, we stumbled out of Les Papilles, very full and very content. We walked slowly home, enjoying the streets still full of people out taking advantage of a beautiful fall evening in Paris. Home by midnight and no plans the next day besides a lunch reservation at 1pm meant we could enjoy a good nights sleep.


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Well, here are some facts that you will not hear on CNN.
- Nationally, only about 3% of homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments
- Mortgage rates are about 5.375% for a 30 year fixed mortgage (but that changes all the time. Check with Ray Cruz at BofA for the current rate 202-438-9700)
- Locally, houses are selling on average for 91.2% of their list price
- Locally, it is taking an average of 116 days to sell a house. Houses in good condition and priced properly are selling in much less time
Using national real estate statistics to determine the performance of the Washington, DC Metro area is sort of like using the statistics of the entire MLB to determine the kind of player Derek Jeeter is. Or using the test scores of an entire school district to learn about one child's performance. Thanks anyway, Gerri Willis, but you're not telling me anything useful or even slightly meaningful when you tell me national statistics.
It is true that some parts of the country have been hammered but DC isn't one of those areas. If you browse the listings that have sold in the past 3 months you will have a hard time finding examples of people losing their shirts on the sale of their home. Here are some examples in the Bethesda area:
5717 Roosevelt Street sold on 12 June 2003 for $699,000. The owners put in a new kitchen and updated the family room, powder room, and master bath in 2004. They sold it on 11 Sept 2008 for $1,005,000.
4977 Battery Lane #1-920 sold on 22 June 2004 for $366,450. The owner sold this condo on 28 July 2008 for $485,000. They made $118,550 in only 4 years.
105 South Brook Lane sold in 1998 for $290,000. It sold again on 7 August 2002 for $538,500 and again on 6 Oct 2008 for $650,000. In ten years three owners shared profits of $360,000.
9803 De Paul Drive sold in 1998 for $240,000. The owners took great care of the house and put in a new kitchen in the 10 years they lived there. They sold it on 15 Sept 2008 for $699,900. It was on the market for 66 days. They made almost $460,000 in 10 years.
If you bought at the peak of the market in 2005 or 2006 you might not be able to sell for a profit right now, but hang in there. As these examples show, if you can wait until 2010 or 2011 you will more than likely be satisfied with the return on your investment.
If you've been hesitant to jump into this market here are a few more things you need to know:
- Banks are lending for mortgages to anyone with average credit, with a steady job who can afford the payments. You do not need to have excellent credit
- You need as little as 3% down to buy a home
- You can have your pick of the nicest houses in the best condition
- You will be buying at (or very near) the bottom of the market
Coming soon... examples of people who bought in 2000 and sold in 2005 - the bottom of the market buyer who sold at the top.


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Dr. Gun is a Bay Area native and received his bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from Santa Clara University. After graduating, he worked eight years in the hi-tech industry before changing careers and moving into health and fitness. Transitioning to personal training, Gun led clients to significant achievements in weight loss, sports performance, and general wellness. Dr. Gun then decided to take another step forward and pursue chiropractic in order to better treat injuries and postural alignment. His mission is to help people move better, stand taller, and enhance their quality of life.
Dr. Gun graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic West with Magna Cum Laude honors. He also earned the Presidential Scholar Award and was nominated for Clinical Excellence. Prior to graduation, Gun was selected for two incredible internships treating Division I athletes at Saint Mary's College and treating military veterans at VA Palo Alto Hospital. He is trained in several chiropractic techniques (Diversified, Gonstead, Thompson Drop, SOT), myofascial release therapy, corrective exercise, and injury rehabilitation.
Dr. Gun has additional training in:
- NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Functional Range Release & Conditioning
- Selective Functional Movement Assessment & Screen
Outside the office, Gun is a full-time husband and father of two mischievous daughters. He loves sports, martial arts, weightlifting, and is continuously learning about the human body and movement mechanics.


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The first lesson without a doubt is getting to know your students. This is probably a "duh," but I wanted to include it just in case (wink, wink). Knowing students means not only their interests, but also what motivates them, how they receive feedback, things that anger them. Below are a few of my favorite resources to use to get to know your students.
When students feel valued as individuals and connected to a community, it provides the framework for a strong classroom culture. A safe and nurturing classroom is something that is intentionally built and maintained by the classroom teacher. From rules and procedures, to the classroom layout and student pairings... EVERYTHING BUILDS (or destroys) CLASSROOM CULTURE. Below are a few resources to assist with building relationships and creating a safe class.
Personal relationships with students take time...and consistency. A lack of consistency creates a slippery slope when it comes to building trust filled relationships with students. Students have to know teacher expectations and these have to be followed through every time...without fail. I tend to think of my relationships with students as flowers... they need consistent sunlight and water.
The final thing you OUGHTA KNOW is that building relationships is hard and time consuming. The most difficult thing in my experience was that many of students have many different layers of protection around who they were, which makes it difficult to open up. I own the times when I stopped trying (please don't judge me). That said, hindsight is a gift. Looking back, I've built stronger skin and have changed my orientation towards relationship building. This can be summed up in one of my favorite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quotes, "The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in the moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."As it relates to relationships, I believe that enduring through adversity and humbling myself in service of my kids and community is what has enabled me to build strong relationships and networks.


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Suzan-Lori Parks in Person: Interviews and Commentaries240
This collection of interviews offers unprecedented insight into the plays and creative works of Suzan-Lori Parks, as well as being an important commentary on contemporary theater and playwriting, from jazz and opera to politics and cultural memory.
Suzan-Lori Parks in Person contains 18 interviews, some previously untranscribed or specially undertaken for this book, plus commentaries on her work by major directors and critics, including Liz Diamond, Richard Foreman, Bonnie Metzgar and Beth Schachter. These contributions combine to honor the first African American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize in drama, and explore her ideas about theater, history, race, and gender.
Material from a wide range of sources chronologically charts Parks's career from the 1990s to the present. This is a major collection with immediate relevance to students of American/African-American theater, literature and culture. Parks's engaging voice is brought to the fore, making the book essential for undergraduates as well as scholars.
Product Details
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|Product dimensions:
|6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)
About the Author
Philip C. Kolin is the University Distinguished Professor in the College of Arts and Letters at The University of Southern Mississippi. He has published more than 40 books and 200 articles and is the editor of the Southern Quarterly.
Harvey Young is an Associate Professor of Theatre at Northwestern University. His books include Theatre & Race (2013) and Embodying Black Experience (2010).
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
PART I: Interviews
Theater's Vibrant New Voice (1992)
Patti Hartigan
Is Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks the Voice of the Future? (1993)
Erika Munk
Suzan-Lori Parks (1994)
Han Ong
Alien Nation (1994)
Michele Pearce
Making History (1996)
Tom Sellar
For Posterior's Sake (1996)
Una Chaudhuri
Adrienne Kennedy (1996)
Suzan-Lori Parks
Interview with Suzan-Lori Parks (1996)
Shelby Jiggetts
Love and War Seen in Black and White (1997)
Ronni Gordon
Suzan-Lori Parks (1999)
David Savran
An Interview with Suzan-Lori Parks at Cal Arts (2000)
Lisa Colletta
A Better Mirror (2000)
Kathy Sova
Mythology, History, Family, Performance (2001)
Rick DesRochers
A Moment with…Suzan-Lori Parks, playwright (2003)
John Marshall
Interview with Suzan-Lori Parks and Bonnie Metzgar (2006)
Joseph Roach
It's an Oberammergau Thing (2007)
Kevin J. Wetmore
An Interview with Suzan-Lori Parks (2010)
Shawn-Marie Garrett
Conversation with Suzan-Lori Parks (2011)
Dave Steakley
PART II: Commentaries
Remarks on Parks I (2004)
Jonathan Kalb, Robert Brustein, Shawn-Marie Garrett, Mark Robinson, Alisa Solomon
Remarks on Parks II (2004)
Jonathan Kalb, Richard Foreman, Liz Diamond, Leah C. Gardiner, Bill Walters
The Birth of The Death of the Last Black Man: Recollections of the First Staging (2013)
Beth Schachter
An Interview with Liz Diamond (2013)
Philip C. Kolin
Bonnie Metzgar on Suzan-Lori Parks (2013)
Harvey Young
What People are Saying About This
'Will definitely fill a wide and gaping lacuna in this field of theatre scholarship.' - Dr Alison Forsythe, University of Aberystwyth, UK
'This volume will be essential reading for anyone interested in American Drama.' - Soyica Colbert, Dartmouth College, UK


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Merrill Lynch cuts 2007 Asian airlines operating profit forecast by 5 percent
Hong Kong (Thomson Financial) - Merrill Lynch has cut its 2007
operating profit forecast on Asian airline operators by 5 percent following
a 25 percent surge in jet fuel costs over the last three months.
While average crude oil prices in the first nine months of 2007 were lower than last year, the recent sharp increase in oil prices made fuel prices almost 30 US dollars a barrel higher than the fourth quarter of 2006, Merrill Lynch analysts said in a research note.
Operating profits at various Asian airlines grew 70 percent in the nine months ended September.
Airlines in China, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan are at a disadvantage compared with their peers as their fuel surcharges are set by their regulators, the brokerage said.
"The level of surcharge in these territories remains well below those airlines based in Southeast Asia and Australia who are generally free to adjust their levels when they wish," said Merrill Lynch analysts Paul Dewberry and YingYing Hou.
The brokerage has reduced its operating profit forecast for China Southern Airlines, the nation's largest carrier by fleet size, by 11 percent to 1.19 billion yuan.
It has reduced Cathay Pacific Airways' operating profit forecast by 7 percent to 6.78 billion Hong Kong dollars.
However, it has increased its operating profit forecast on Air China by 5 percent to 4.13 billion yuan and China Eastern Airlines by 11 percent to 271 million yuan due to better oil price hedging.
Merrill Lynch uses International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to make their calculations, while mainland companies use Chinese Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
The broking house has also lowered its 2008 operating profit estimates for Asian airlines by 10 percent as it expects oil prices to average 90 US dollars a barrel next year.
Merrill Lynch has a "sell" rating on Air China and China Eastern Airlines as its views both companies as overvalued due to expectations of a possible industry restructure.
China Southern has been rated "neutral" as its valuation is viewed as being more attractive, while Cathay Pacific has been rated a "sell" on its higher exposure to the cargo sector.
On Thursday, China Southern shares were placed in a trading halt on the stock exchange with no reason provided for the suspension.
It followed the carrier's announcement that its third quarter net profit rose 49 percent to 1.88 billion yuan as rapid economic growth on the mainland boosted demand for travel.
China Southern was among the most heavily traded stocks in Hong Kong Wednesday, rising 4.5 percent after it said it had ordered 10 Airbus A330-200 aircraft to be delivered between March 2009 and August 2010.
Air China, the nation's largest international carrier, was up 12 cents or 1 percent at 11.88 dollars.
China Eastern Airlines rose 30 cents or 3.6 percent to 8.61 dollars.


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30+ Awesome Photoshop Actions for Photographers
Photoshop actions are powerful and great time saver when it comes to batch photo processing. Adobe Photoshop comes with a default set of actions pre-installed that could give you a pretty good idea how thing works. In this post, we want to show you a list of free and premium Useful Photoshop Actions For Photo Enhancements. So let's go to the list and Enjoy!
You may also like:
- 20+ New Photoshop Tutorials to Learn Manipulation, Tips & Tricks
- 20+ Great Photoshop Actions for Designers & Photographers
- Most Lovely Photoshop Actions for Your Photo Styling
Pixel Explosion Photoshop Action
Add pixel explosion effects to your images with this cool 1-click Photoshop action. The result contains easy to edit layers with all the styles intact so that you can customize the appearance.
HDR Oil Painting Action
This action set has been developed for photographers and graphic designers. Everything is very straight forward. I have tried to make the item as very easy to use.
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Just one click make your photos Blast style.
30 Duotone Action Bundle
Spice up your images with these 30 unique Photoshop effects.
BEAUTY PS Actions SUPER BUNDLE
Very complete beauty and portrait retouching PS actions collection, aimed at busy studio and stock photographers, portrait, school and family photographers. I've been using them for quite some time now, for quick yet professional retouching on bulk orders and stock images. The result is always natural and very hi-end. Can't live without it!
Cool Fade: Free Photoshop Action
This free Photoshop action will give your photos a nice faded and desaturated effect. It works in Photoshop CS3 and newer versions (not compatible with Photoshop Elements).
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Easily give your photos a nice film-like appearance with this free action. The effect is subtle, but adds a nice touch. It works in Photoshop CS3 and newer versions (not compatible with Photoshop Elements).
HDR Action
This action is built to remove the digital grey (lack of contrast or true black) that comes with HDR photography (or normal images could use this as well as a one click fix). When combining many photos to extend the dynamic range, the contrast curve can become very flat and even reverse.
30 Retro Vintage Photoshop Actions
This great action set will transform a photo of a perfectly innocent scenario into a different world. It's amazing what some shadows can do. Symufa is giving 30 Premium Retro Vintage Photoshop Actions Photography Editing for free for you, these effects are beautiful. Must try!
Adobe Photoshop Actions Free
Split Vintage Action
This action is designed to add a Split Vintage effect to your photos. This Action will work with every photo you use. But, I recommend you to use high resolution photos, if you wanna achieve high quality results.
Watercolor Photoshop Action
Watercolor Action turns your photo into realistic watercolor picture. Action perfect works with portraits or other photos. Action contains 10 pre-made color options and 10 color FX. Save hours of work with this action. After action finish the work you get a well-organized and structured file with the many layers, folders and settings to improve the final result. Action perfectly work on Mac and PC.
Poster Comic Photoshop Action
DualMaster Duotone Photoshop Action
DualMaster creates Duotone effects on your pictures in an instant. Fastest working photoshop action that uses the default features of Photoshop and so should be working from CS2+.
Inked Photoshop Actions
Add Inked FX to your photo with a few clicks using Photoshop Actions.
Frosted Ice Photoshop Actions
Add frosted effect to your text by using our photoshop actions.
Hurricane Photoshop Action CS2+
Hand Drawing Photoshop Action
Free High Contrast Photoshop Actions
5 Free Pastel Color Photoshop Actions
Pastel color effects are typically used in portrait and wedding photography. With these Photoshop actions by SparkleStock, you can add these beautiful effects with just one click. They're easy to use and fast.
QuickFeel – Free Photoshop Actions
QuickFeel is a package of 4 different free Photoshop Actions that will give your image a quick feeling effects: Dramatic, Soft Tone, Glamour, andDreamy. Available in .atn Photoshop Actions format that easy to install and apply (instructions included in the download package).
Double Exposure Photoshop Action
The final result is editable, you can adjust the effect however you think it fit your style. This free action comes up with additional 4 different filters to choose, Enjoy!
Free Food Photoshop Actions For Broma Bakery
This set of free food Photoshop actions includes four clean, non-destructive effects. Morning Light, Perspective, Garnish, and Linen. With each you can quickly adjust exposure, lighting, color, and contrast. These come in handy when you are trying to bring out the detail and color in your food photography.
Free Light Leak Photoshop Actions from Sivioco
Creating the perfect light leak or lomo effect in Photoshop is quite the challenge. Especially because you don't always have the time to adjust your settings and make the leak look just right.
Free Intensity Photoshop Action
Portrait Art
This awesome Photoshop action will help you to convert your portrait photos into creative abstract art. You can create endless compositions playing with watercolor splatters and color choises.
Dream Lights Photoshop Action
3-in-1 Water Reflection Photoshop Action
Apply realistic reflections to your images with just a click. 3 premium reflection actions include – Rippled Reflection, Calm Reflection and Pebble Ripple Reflection. Works on any size of images. Easy to change water tint color. Its super easy to use and save yourself hours of work. Tweak settings to match your style.
Customizable Colorful Actions
Customizable Adobe Photoshop Actions for Amateur and Professonal Fashion, Portrait, Wedding Photographers.
Paradise – Photoshop Actions
20 Professional photoshop actions, fully editable and named for easy use. As results can vary from image to image the actions were tested on various types of photography to ensure full quality.
Painting Art | Photoshop Actions
Painting Art | Photoshop Actions Is a product of photoshop actions. transform ordinary images into such a charming painting water.
Mike Moloney July 16, 2016


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More basket quilts!
Pieced and Appliqued Baskets
1850 - 1860
Isn't this unusual? I don't think I've ever seen a basket quilt done in orange!
This is where I found it:
* * * * * * *Blue and White Baskets
92 x 76
This one is just wonderful. The fabrics used are some I wish I could find in reproductions today. The quilting is amazing done on a 5/8 x 5/8 grid!
There are more pictures here and are very worth seeing:
* * * * * * *Red Baskets and Bird
Possibly New York or Pennsylvania
75 x 86
I've never seen a basket quilt like this. The alternate blocks make it look like a woven coverlet to me. And the solitary bird just off center - I wonder if there's a story there?
This is the source:
* * * * * * *Folk Art Flowers and Baskets
74 x 82
Isn't this one interesting? The information says it's from 1850.
You can see more here:
* * * * * * *
Red Baskets with Appliqué Border
Late 1800's
84 x 96
This one struck me because of the appliqué border. You'll notice that the vine is not consistent in color all the way around. Fading? In any case, it's cheerful!
You can see more here:
Thanks for joining us for our tour of Basket Quilts!
Happy Quilting!
- I am not a quilt historian. I simply enjoy finding interesting quilts and sharing them with you!
- The quilt images on this post were sourced from Pinterest, unless otherwise noted, and are linked to their origin whenever possible.


text: Looking for a hostel in Pedro Ruiz Gallo? Look no further, all the good deals in Pedro Ruiz Gallo are on Dorms.com. Like thousands of other people every month, book your hostel securely at the best price in all neighbourhoods of Pedro Ruiz Gallo. On this site, you can easily find a hostel downtown, in a trendy neighbourhood; a hostel in the student- university district, close to bus or train stations, airports or major attractions of Pedro Ruiz Gallo.


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This post is a response to an article written by Reverend John Armstrong that rebutted my original post entitled Should We Arm Our Churches?
Over the last couple of months, I have been told by Christians that I had "better watch out" with what I am saying, that I need to "be careful" or that I "need to be more sensitive." Even more, I have had Christians tell me that I am "dangerous," and that my positions on nonviolence, in general, and guns in churches, specifically are "dangerous" and "divisive."
Let me first say that just because I hold a different view on Christian nonviolence and guns in the church, and have initiated a conversation about the issue, does not make me insensitive, dangerous, or divisive. Conversations such as these are absolutely necessary, lest the Church become a self-reinforcing, homogeneous, echo-chamber, which I am afraid is largely becoming the case.
I do find it curious though, that the one who is taking the words and life of Jesus, Paul, the Apostles, the Early Church Fathers, and the pre-Constantinian Early Church seriously and at face-value around the issue of nonviolence, is the one regarded as out-of-line and divisive. One might think that those who stray from, or explain away, the words of Jesus, the New Testament writings, and the Early Church ought to be regarded as the unorthodox position. For the weight of evidence in support of Christian nonviolence far outweighs the opposing, unorthodox position of Christian violence.
When the actual words of Jesus implores his followers to "love [their] enemies," that ought to be sufficient. For there is no greater enemy than oneattempting to kill or inflict harm. And it is exactly that enemy the follower of Jesus is instructed to love.
The Dictionary of New Testament Theology says the word enemy, which is the Greek word exthrós, is "a person resolved to inflict harm." In other words, as followers of Jesus, we are instructed to be of such heart that we will love a person who is resolved to inflict harm upon us.
When one chooses to find gray areas in this, I wonder how one then determines who is one's enemy and who is not. Even more, what words of Jesus, the author and perfecter of this faith, specify who is to be regarded as an enemy and who isn't? There are not any distinctions to be made. An enemy is an enemy. And Jesus told his followers to love them. That certainly does not mean one ought not try to escape or think of other creative ways to preempt or diffuse the situation, but a follower of Jesus ought to love the enemy.
Even more, when Jesus tells his followers to not resist an evil-doer, which in Greek is mé anthistémi hé ponéros, it literally means "do not take a stand against, oppose, resist an evil man who injures you." Jesus understands quite clearly what he is asking of his followers. And the Early Church understood quite clearly what Jesus meant. When violence comes upon a gathering of those who follow Jesus, it quite literally means for us to not stand up against it or oppose it or resist it.
So when one says that a Christian should "speak where Scripture speaks," there then is no other choice than to say boldly that a follower of Jesus must love his enemy. Hard stop. And by virtue of this single declaration of Christ, one need not labor to recite all the other words of Jesus that support this one single verse.
Additionally, the argument that a Christian ought only "speak where Scripture speaks" misses the entire heart of the Gospel. For if that is the basis by which a follower of Jesus must move forth in the world, then one must be pro-slavery, pro-human cloning, pro-pornography, pro-illegal drugs and so forth.
But of course this is ludicrous.
The Spirit of God births within us a love that allows us to speak to contemporary issues and work toward peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and a restorative (not retributive) means of justice. So while guns did not exist in the first century, one need only ask, "Since we share the same Spirit as Jesus Christ, would Jesus carry a gun to kill an enemy, even if it is done in self-defense or on behalf of another?" From the words and life of Jesus, I only find that we ought not kill an enemy. But you, as a follower of Jesus, can read his words in the Gospels and answer that for yourself.
Many Christians take the peaceable non-violence and enemy-love of Jesus to be only his divine calling and something divorced from his followers in the present. However, we never read Jesus saying, "This is my calling alone. It is not for you."
Every single word of Jesus indicates that we, as his followers, have the exact same calling as Christ. So where would one find evidence of Jesus making peaceable non-violence and enemy-love his unique calling and something separate from the calling of his followers? There is absolutely no evidence for it. In fact, the evidence points significantly to the opposite. To follow Jesus is to follow the narrow way. To follow Jesus is to pick up one's own cross daily. To follow Jesus means to turn away from all supposed worldly wisdom. To follow Jesus means one will be reviled and hated for their radical love and grace. To follow Jesus will mean one's life because we no longer live in enmity with others, we no longer repay evil for evil. As followers of Jesus, our only disposition is love. And that may make me naive, stupid, crazy, radical, and divisive, but I take the enemy-loving words of Jesus at face value, just like his disciples and the Early Church.
Because when one considers that eleven of the twelve disciples died at the hands of an enemy, one must wonder why they did not self-defend. Or, when the Apostle Paul was killed at the hands of an enemy, why he did not self-defend. Or, why the Early Church was killed regularly at the hands of their enemies, but did not self-defend. The answer is that they practiced a peaceful non-violence rooted in the radical, enemy-love of Christ. And they believed others would see this radical love of Christ and be drawn to it.
Peace always…
Read More
Should We Arm Our Churches, Part 1
Should We Arm Our Churches, Part 2


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when the promised land isint all promising
It was a journey reminiscent of the Israelites leaving Egypt for the Promised Land.
On that dusty September afternoon, last year, residents like Ruth Njeri left their mud hovels in the sprawling Kibera slum, and took a 20-minute ride to their 'paradise', where more than 300 little palaces awaited them.
The relocation was the first in the slum, and part of a series of slum upgrading projects in the country that are hoped to phase out informal settlements.
The Kibera high-rise flats dwarf some of the shacks residents moved from. Photo: Evans Habil/Standard
Although months have passed since that exciting afternoon for Njeri and dozens others who left their shacks for high-rise flats, an aura of nostalgia still hangs thickly over the new estate.
Njeri's nostalgia has nothing to do with the surroundings of her former home, which was often awash with rivulets of sewage, rubbish heaps and muddy alleys. It is the camaraderie she once shared with her neighbours in the slum, that she misses most.
"I miss my old friends," she says.
Sharing house
For Njeri, life in the new flats has been smooth but coupled with the challenges of adjusting to an 'unfriendly' environment.
The married woman, in her mid 30s, says she is yet to get used to sharing a house with people she can hardly get along with.
Njeri isn't alone in the predicament. Other residents also find it hard to live with what they describe as 'unfriendly housemates', with whom they have to share facilities like kitchen and bathrooms.
Besides unfriendly housemates, a closer look at the flats reveal a life that is different from the once rosy picture etched onto the minds of the occupants earlier on. More than six months down the line, some flats are yet to be supplied with electricity… Read more


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If you're a mother then you already know that having children is the most bittersweet experience which you will ever have the pleasure of embracing in your life. By this, I mean every single step of the way from the very day our dear children are born we find ourselves constantly looking forward to the next step, the next milestone, the next new thing they will do tomorrow. Yet at the same time, every time we reach that unspoken tomorrow we find ourselves wondering when did time pass by so quickly? When did our little baby grow so big? We find ourselves almost wishing we could have the 'before' days, just for a few moments more.
Sometimes specific moments or milestones can be a shock factor, for me as a mother, last week was one of these moments…my little baby (or better said toddler) started nursery this month. On his first day there, I found myself wondering when did the past 14 months fly by? I still see him as the little 3.45kg newborn as I hold him in my arms everyday, I normally find myself wishing these sleepless nights will end soon, that soon I'll have time for myself, but I found his first day of nursery changed all this. I found myself wanting to cherish every moment with my little love, the diapers, the sleepless nights, the breastfeeding…because one day he'll grow up, spread his wings and fly out of our little nest in which we've raised him in. One day I won't hear his cries or his laughter filling the empty spaces of my house, soon he'll grow and won't leave toys lying around for me to trip over and nearly break a bone every time. Soon he'll grow into a beautiful child that won't demand to be breastfed whilst I'm trying to do something important, he'll be too big and tall for me to carry around the supermarket whilst trying simultaneously to push the massive trolley of shopping around at the same time, even if I would wish to do so. So without pushing boundaries into 'spoiling' your child, take 5 mins from the housework to simply hold, smell and kiss your baby as you breastfeed him in the last few months, carry her around the supermarket for a few minutes when she wants to be in your arms, cuddle him in your bed and fall asleep with him curled up into your arms, just one day all of this won't be possible. You won't be able to hold your 30 year old son or daughter in your lap and have them sleep on you, however ridiculous it sounds, it almost sounds just as ridiculous to not do these things whilst they're so tiny and small! So don't let all these other mothers who swear that they do everything so 'correctly' have an impact on the upbringing which you give your child, we can rest assured that even these 'perfect' mothers have their own guilty pleasures too! And by the way, who invented the 'correct' way of motherhood anyways? Correct to me, is doing what is correct for my child – and that is doing what makes us all happy within boundaries so that our days can pass by in harmony…
I've learnt to cherish all these moments and every second of them, because one day we will grow old, and we will have so much time to ourselves we won't know what to do with it. In those days we will find ourselves wishing back those baby days, so let's live, love, laugh, cry and curse (in our heads), cherish every great moment as well as every hard moment that comes with being a mother. As in the end when we look retrospectively, it's been an awesome journey through motherhood, that will never end, but it is oh so worth it!
To end it, here is my little baby, and wish to all of you for a happy International Women's Day/Mothers Day to all you beautiful mothers around the globe!


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Sometimes we are convinced that this baby is going to be my problem child! He can be a tricky little bugger! Yesterday evening I realized that no fetal movement had been felt after about 10:30 in the morning at the dentist. So another call to the Ob was made. They had us go to the hospital for a non-stress test. Of course it took forever to get there because I had no Idea how long we would be there and had to be sure everything was in order for Emma to make it to school in the morning. We weren't too worried about getting there quick as the nurse at the OB office was very calm on the phone and told me to get ready then head up. They called ahead so the hospital would be expecting me. After we got Emma in order we pack my and the babies bags in the car and headed in.
After it taking so long to get ready it has come to my attention that I need to have a bag packed for Emma and waiting just in case. So that is now on the to-do list. a good friend of mine is actually going to babysit her here at home and help take care of our zoo too. The cats and lizard would be okay for a day or two but not our Tico. He can't handle us taking a trip to the local grocery store. He has some anxiety issues as well as the need to go outside to do his doggie business I do recommend the Thundershirt if you have an anxious dog. It helps him a ton and keeps us from having to medicate him. But for just in case instances I should have a bag ready for Emma.
So we get to the Labor and delivery floor and they are packed. It was a huge day for babies in our town I guess. The nurses said it was non stop and they did not have any room available for us. no biggie. We chilled in the waiting room for a bit and I took the time to text a few people to give them the heads up on where we were and why and all that fun stuff. It didn't take too long to get into a room. They took me back but made Pat stay in the waiting room while they got me ready. I always think that is so weird. If I have to get into a gown I am perfectly fine if he sees it. He did have to see me in my birthday suit to get into this predicament in the first place!
Within ten minutes of getting hooked up the baby started to move, and boy did he move. I swear he was trying to make a fool of me! So we did counts for a bit, they checked for contractions and then sent us on our merry way. On discharge the doctor suggested that I put a belt or bandage around my belly if I don't feel him. Maybe the pressure around my big old belly made him want to move. So if we ever deal with lack of fetal movement I will try that first I guess.
So it was a pain in the butt but at least everything is good and we have another day where we kept him in!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!