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Getting to Did! (Coming Out in February 2009)
We're closing in on the publication of my next book. "Getting to Did! How to Get Rid of Your Big BUT and Live a Life without Regret." Working on getting the cover done and final editing.
For your reading enjoyment, I am including the introduction below. There will be more information in the weeks to come. Keep your eyes open for pre-publication ordering specials.
Sam' Crumbling World
Sam's world was crumbling. Have you been there? Are you there? Are you afraid you are going there? Then you know how Sam felt. Not that his world had ever really been that big or that stable. But it had been his. It had been comfortable. Had been. Now it was collapsing.
Sam was 49. He had been semi-happily married to Susan for 25 of those years. His oldest son, Sam Jr. was 23 and a recent graduate from Sam's alma mater. Sarah, the lone female, was 20. Scott was 17 and would be starting his senior year in high school in just a few months. The youngest, Sid, was 14 and going into the eighth grade.
Seven months ago, Sam was at the top of his world. A few years earlier, he had been promoted to Vice President of Sales in the company that had pursued him as a salesman when he was 32. He and Susan had finally bought that bigger home. Since Sam had been given a company car, he bought Susan the Lexus she always wanted. Things were good. But then Sam's company was sold. The buyer wanted to keep several workers in Sam's company, but wanted to rely on her own management team. Sam no longer fit. She let Sam go the week after Christmas.
He was given a decent severance package, promised a good recommendation and then politely escorted with his box of office paraphernalia off company property, where he called Susan to pick him up because he was no longer allowed to use the company car. She handled the news relatively well. Sam cried for a week.
For months he called it his worst Christmas present ever. However, in years to come he called it his best.
Realizing Susan's income, supplemented by the severance package and their meager savings, could support their lifestyle for about a year, he started looking for another job. "Really," he thought, "I don't know why I've been so depressed. I'm highly qualified. I have a Bachelors degree in business and marketing and a Masters in accounting. I've worked for the same company for 17 years. My track record is good. Who wouldn't want to hire me?"
Sam, however, learned that "overqualified" was the politically correct and lawsuit safe euphemism for "too old." None of the companies to which he applied wanted 49-year-olds with good track records. They were too busy head hunting 32-year-olds with promising futures.
Though he was only halfway through his severance package, Sam felt he was at the end of his rope. As he often did when particularly stressed and depressed, he manicured his lawn. Keeping his yard "green and pristine," as he called it, was about the only joy he had. It gave him time alone to think, provided a sense of accomplishment and, if nothing else, hid from the neighbors the turmoil going on inside the house.
He had just finished and was sitting down on his back deck with a glass of ice water, when his neighbor, Dave, came around the corner of the house and said, "Hey Sam. How's the job hunt going?"
"Great Dave, just great. You trying to pour salt in the wounds?"
"Still no luck, huh? Keep trying. Something is bound to come up."
"I hope so, but I'm beginning to doubt it. Right now, however, I'm more ticked at Scott," Sam unloaded.
"What? I thought Scott was the good kid."
"He is, but we've been fighting a lot lately. He's going to be a senior this year and I've been on him to get his application in to the ols alma mater. But he keeps putting it off. I told him if he keeps waiting, it'll be too late and he'll be stuck going to the local community college. Do you know what he said?" Without giving Dave time to answer, Sam continued, "He said, 'So? I'm not sure I want to go to your alma mater anyway.'" Sam gave an exasperated "you know how dumb kids can be sometimes look" to Dave, but Dave didn't respond.
Sam simply continued talking, "I told him I was only looking out for his own good. He needed to go to a good school, study hard, make good grades and then he could get a good secure job and provide for his family. You know what he said then?" Sam plunged on, "He said, 'You mean like you?' Talk about kicking a guy when he's down."
"Well, Sam, he does have a bit of a point. It's hard to take that kind of advice from a guy whose good secure job has left him so insecure."
Sam, his eyes wide, spluttered, "Well… yeah, I know. But I just want what's best for him. My dad went to that school and so did his dad. It's done all of us well. I mean, didn't you want Dave Jr. to go to your alma mater?"
"I guess I might have, if I had one. But, I never went to college. Don't get me wrong, I wanted Dave Jr. to go. I thought that was important, and I told him so. But I didn't think it was so important he should sacrifice what he thought was important."
Sam sat in stunned silence for a moment. Dave the most successful men he knew didn't even go to college? How could that happen? He owned several restaurants and a few apartment buildings. In fact, it had always amazed Sam that Dave lived in his neighborhood, when surely he could have afforded something much more. Dave and his wife Deborah always looked happy. In fact, despite their having been married over 40 years, Sam always had the impression they were newlyweds. He chalked that up to no longer having kids at home. On top of that, he had heard Dave's kids were also pretty successful.
"You never went to college?" Sam questioned, words tumbling out in gusts. "How on earth have you done so well? Did you get a big inheritance? I could sure use one." Sam slouched back in his chair.
Dave smiled slightly. "I guess you might say I got a big inheritance, but not the kind you're thinking of. I consider my dad one of the most successful men to have ever lived, but he never had much money. There were some things he always DID however. He always DID his best. He always DID what he enjoyed. And he always DID take care of us. He died while I was still in high school." Dave paused, looked up and smiled again as though he had just relived some great moment. Then he continued, "He DID leave me a legacy of knowing how to get things done. That's why I'm successful. That's why I was able to start my first restaurant when I was 25 and then invest in several franchises over the years. That's why I was able to get into real estate investing. That's why I was able to quit working for money in my 40s."
"Yeah, I coulda started my own business, but I was newly married and I needed the benefits, you know what I mean?"
"Sure, I know," Dave responded. He continued after a brief pause, "Exactly what are those benefits doing for you now, Sam?"
"Well, I shoulda handled my money more wisely, but my wife and kids were always wanting more and I wanted to give them the best. You know, I wanted them to have what I never got."
"How much longer are you going to be able to do that, Sam?"
"Come on, Dave, I woulda got a job by now, but all those companies want young guys. I feel like I'm in my prime. Fifty is the new thirty, you know, but they think I should be put out to pasture. I wish I had done things differently, but hindsight is 20/20. I'll just have to live with my regrets. Right now I just need a job."
Dave fixed Sam with a hard gaze. He paused for a moment as if measuring the words in his mind before letting them slip out of his mouth. "Sam, if you want my advice, you need to get rid of your big BUT."
"What?!" Sam squawked nearly spilling his drink as he jumped forward in his chair. "You…you think my weight is holding me back?"
"Wrong 'butt,' pal. You're filled with COULDAS, SHOULDAS and WOULDAS. Then you cap them all off with a big BUT. That's why you've got so many regrets. You need to turn those into CANS, SHALLS, WILLS and DID. That was the inheritance my dad left me. He taught me to get rid of my big BUT, to reach my potential, getting past COULDA, SHOULDA and WOULDA and get things done. Or as I call it, GET TO DID. That's what's helped me be successful. That's what's helped me live a life without regrets."
"Wow…I think," Sam said, scratching his head. "I don't have any idea what you're talking about. Sounds like some kind of crazy PMA stuff we used to get from the home office."
Dave responded, "No, it's not just PMA and you probably do know what I'm talking about. You just don't realize it. You can't possibly have been as successful at sales as you have been without following some of the principles I like to share with people. You just don't realize how they apply to everything in life, even trying to make ends meet after losing your job. Somebody told me that Plato said all learning is really remembering. I don't really know what he meant by that. But I've found that when someone passes on a true principle to me, I really already knew it in my gut, I just needed someone to formulate it into words to give it power in my life.
"I've been watching you and hurting for you, Sam. I normally wait until someone asks me for advice to give it, but we've been friends for a while and I'd like to ask you to trust me and let me give you some real help. In the end, if you think it's crazy and my friends and I are just flukes or flakes, you can go back to hunting for a job your way."
Sam crossed his arms and cocked his head to one side. "So you think you could help me by GETTING TO…what was it you said?"
"GETTING TO DID. No, I COULD not. I steer clear of the COULDAS. Rather, I CAN, I SHALL and I WILL. In fact, consider it DID."
Sam's face said it all; he didn't get it. "Dave, what you just said didn't make a lick of sense to me."
"Of course not. You don't know the tools yet. But if you'll let me give you just a few opportunities to talk with my YES MEN and me, you'll understand all of it."
"YES MEN? I already don't like the sound of this. I've never liked those kind of people."
"That's because you're thinking about a completely different kind of YES MEN than I am. But again, that'll be something you learn when you talk with my friends. How 'bout it?"
"Alright, Dave. This sounds crazy, but I think you must know what you're talking about. I mean, I guess it can't hurt," Sam gave a weak laugh, "When do we start? I only have about six months to get things on track or it's foreclosure and dog food time."
"Let's start in the morning. I'm already having coffee with one of my advisors then. I call him my TRAINER. I've stayed in touch with him for years because he helps me turn my COULDA into CAN. I'll let him know you're coming. I CAN get him to clear some time for you and let him teach you the first step on the journey to DID. Meet me in my driveway at 5:45."
God, the Love (an excerpt)
Walks with God
Getting our Bearings
"God is love."
The Romans had cupid and Venus. The Greeks had Eros and Aphrodite. The Etruscans had Alpan, Turan and Uni. The Mesopotamians had Ishtar. The Canaanites had Anath. The Norse had Astrild, Freya and Sjofn. The Egyptians had Qadesh and Qetesh.
In one way or another, each of these gods and goddesses were connected to love by the people who believed in them. Their special province was love. However, the gods and goddesses themselves may not always be very loving. They were like all the gods and goddesses of the pagans–fickle; their devotion had to be won by some merit of the men and women who called on them.
That is not our God. When John said, "God is love," he didn't mean God had some special province oer love or some special attachment to those who love. He meant God is love. God's very nature is love.
No doubt, this boggles our minds. The God who is a consuming fire, is also love. The God who brings judgment on sinners, loves those very sinners. We struggle to see how both can be true at the same time. Let's not struggle, let us merely accept what God says of Himself. However, this should really not be all that difficult to understand. In fact, it is very much like our parenting. I love my children very much. I imagine if you have children, you love them too. However, we discipline our children for their own good and when they rebel, we punish them. Why then is it so hard to understand our heavenly Father is at the same time a consuming fire and love?
John's point was to explain why God loves us. The pagan gods and goddesses loved their devotees because they were pretty, rich, smart or had offered good enough sacrifices. Jehovah God, however, love us because He is love, because love is His very nature. Some parents love their children when they do well in school, when they are good at sports, when they are pretty or when they act just like the parent. But not our Heavenly Father. He loves us because He is love.
No matter our looks, wealth, health, strength, physical prowess or even holiness, God loves us. No doubt, God will not accept us if we sin without repentance. He will punish us because He is a consuming fire if we rebel, but all the while He loves us. We know that because I John 4:9 says God sent His Son so we might live through Him. Romans 5:6-8 says God sent His Son while we were ungodly, sinful enemies.
He did not accept us while sinfully rebellious. He did not just save us in our sins. He is a consuming fire. He couldn't abide with that. However, He is also love. Therefore, though we were rebellious, He sent His Son that we might have the means of salvation. That is love. Can you imagine providing the very means by which everyone who has ever hurt, betrayed or victimized you can be forgiven? That is God's love.
This is the God we adore. The creating ruler/judge who is a consuming fire is also love. Therefore, despite our rebellion He provided a way of escape from our rebellion so we might be saved and enjoy the benefits of His love.
Hand in Hand
If we are going to walk hand in hand with the God who is love, we need to remember that love. We need to remember God has displayed His love in no uncertain terms.
Sadly, too many Christians have been turned from God by the devil's lies. Satan wants us to believe God doesn't love us. One way of accomplishing this is to make us suffer. Job is one extreme example. Satan was sure if God moved the hedges of safety, Job would curse God. We can argue about whether or not Job ever sinned within the book; we can't, however argue with the fact that Job never cursed God and up to the end, Job knew his salvation came from God. he knew who was His redeemer. he continued to hope in God even at his lowest.
Paul addressed this issue in Romans 8:35-39:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. for I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This passage recognizes that Christians will face distress, persecution, famine and danger. We will get sick. Our loved ones get sick. We may get fired from our jobs. We may get hurt in accidents. We may get cancer, diabetes, heart disease. We may endure strokes, heart attacks and car wrecks. Enemies will attack us. Friends will betray us. Even our brethren will let us down. Satan has one goal in all this. He wants us to doubt God's love. He wants us to get upset with God and turn our back on Him.
We need to remember God has already shown His love and nothing else will change that. God doesn't have to heal our cancer to show His love for us. He doesn't have to steer our car away from a wreck to say He loves us. he doesn't have to find us a job when we first ask to demonstrate His love. He sent His Son to die for us while we were undeserving sinners. What more could He do to say, "I love you"?
Do not let Satan block your view of Jesus on the cross. He will try. No matter what you face, look to Jesus. I believe this is one of the reasons the Bible indicates we should take the Lord's Supper every first day of the week. We need the constant reminder. God loves me this much. He loved me so much he shed His own Son's blood on the cross. He offered up His own Son's flesh as a sacrifice.
If we are going to walk hand in hand with God, we need to envision Jesus on that cross every day. We must not let Satan hinder that vision.
Yes, Sam, You Need Some YES MEN
In Getting to Did: How to Lose Your Big "But" and Live a Life without Regret, my upcoming book, Sam's world craters, leaving him unemployed and foundering as he tries to find a job. Enter Dave, Sam's successful neighbor. Dave introduces Sam to three friends who help him get rid of his big "but" and turn his couldas into cans, his shouldas into shalls and his wouldas into wills. Check out what Dave's COACH taught Sam about Making the PLAY and how you just can't do that without "Yes Men." I know, sounds odd. But check out this excerpt and let me know what you think.
Sam said, "Okay, I get the PASSION, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, and ACCEPTING NO EXCUSES. But what is up with this YES MEN thing? I've always hated that."
The COACH responded, "Yeah, Dave told me you were already upset about that one. The normal connotation of YES MEN is dreadful. We don't want people who just always say, 'Yes,' even when they disagree in order to get on our good side. That, however, is not what I mean by YES MEN. We want people who will challenge our thinking and expand our vision.
"These YES MEN are people with whom you surround yourself to encourage you and hold you accountable. They are the people who tell you, 'YES, you CAN,' when you are thinking, 'No, I can't.' They tell you, 'YES, you SHALL,' when you are thinking, 'No, I shall not.' They tell you, 'YES, you WILL,' when you are thinking, 'No, I won't.'
"Your YES MEN are your accountability partners. Dave and I get together regularly along with the TRAINER and the PROFESSOR to act as each other's YES MEN. Further, we get together with many of the other people we have helped along the way.
"I hope you don't think it'll be a cake walk from this point on. I can't tell you how many people I've had this conversation with who end up settling for mediocrity in their lives. They don't step up to the plate. When you talk to them today, they've just grown their big ol' BUTS back again. Without fail, each one started back into their old habits of COULDA, SHOULDA and WOULDA by neglecting their relationship with their YES MEN.
"As you pick out your YES MEN, don't pick out the ones we often think of as YES MEN, the ones afraid to state their convictions and disagree when it's necessary. They won't help you. Pick the ones who'll push you. Pick the ones who'll force you to get up when you have fallen. Pick the ones who'll question you and make you clarify your vision and your course of action. Pick the ones who'll ACCEPT NO EXCUSES. But make sure to pick out YES MEN who are willing to say 'YES, you CAN,' even when no one else has before.
"When you have established your council of YES MEN, be completely open and honest with them. Let them know your plans, dreams and visions. Let them know the obstacles you see and the struggles you face. Let them know your fears. Then listen respectfully to their advice. Remember, it's just that, advice. You SHOULD still be you and you must make your final choices. Good YES MEN will ACCEPT NO EXCUSES from you, not even, 'I did what you YES MEN said I SHOULD.'
"Here are the benefits of YES MEN. First, two heads are better than one. Even with all of your INSIGHT into your work and life, it's still hard to read the label when you're inside the bottle. It's always good to get advice and counsel from others with differing perspectives.
"Second, you'll be surprised how often your network of YES MEN can actually help you with your projects in practical ways by connecting you with others or with needed resources. For instance, when I first started working with this high school, you may remember the team had maintained a losing record for several years. The school board had cut the budget. We were in desperate need of new equipment and didn't have the funds."
"Oh yeah, I remember that," Sam said. "I remember little Sam complaining about some of the outdated and dilapidated equipment. One of the local sporting goods stores stepped in and made some donations didn't it?"
"That's right. What you don't know is those donations came because I laid out my troubles to my YES MEN council. The TRAINER had a connection with the upper crust at that store. Dave had an accountant friend who explained the tax advantages of making such a donation. Voilà, our equipment issues were resolved.
"The third benefit from YES MEN is they help pick you up when you fall down. Before I moved here, I had an experience so devastating I was ready to throw in the towel. I had made a few mistakes in my first head coaching job. Instead of letting me learn from them and grow, one of my assistant coaches, a man I thought was a friend, went behind my back to get me ousted so he could have the job. It was my introduction to another aspect I hate about this job—school politics. I was down and the ref had counted to 9. That was when Dave really came into my life. He had been my landlord for a few years. One day he was just checking out his property and struck up a conversation with me. I guess I needed someone to talk to because I just opened up to him like he was my best friend. He taught me about GETTING TO DID and ever since he has acted as my YES MAN, picked me up and helped me move on. I'm just going to tell you, you can't replace that or manufacture it on your own.
"Fourth, maybe I think this because I'm such a people person, but life is just more fun when you're sharing it with others. Your council of YES MEN gives you people to laugh and cry with. It gives you people to support and people who support you. It gives you people who will pat you on your back when you do well and kick you in the backside when you slack off. It just makes life more interesting and more fun.
"Finally, when it's time to do battle and go toe to toe with the ones who'll try to knock you down and keep you from reaching your goals, your YES MEN provide you with support and strength you WILL never have alone.
"My game is a game of YES MEN. I have yet to see the one man football team. No PLAY in my game is ever made by a single player. I never let my team forget that. We have to support each other, defend each other and bust heads for each other. In the end, I'm convinced there've been some games we won simply because we 'YES we CANned' each other through it.


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Wednesday August 05, 2020
Site-seeing in Rovaniemi
A ride from city centre to Santa Claus Village and back for only €20. Call us at +358 4510 26112 Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Turku University student wins Int´l 3MT Competition
Published : 03 Jun 2018, 03:00
DF Report
Doctoral Candidate Khalil Shahramian from the Institute of Dentistry of the University of Turku won the Three Minute Thesis competition for European universities, said a press release issued by the university.
Shahramian and three other doctoral candidates competed to win the 3MT Competition at the Annual Conference of Coimbra Group in Salamanca on 1 June.
Three Minute Thesis is an academic competition created by the Australian University of Queensland. In the competition, the doctoral candidate summarises the essence of their research in three minutes with the help of a single PowerPoint slide.
Khalil Shahramian presented an improved method of attaching a new tooth to replace a missing one, which is being developed in the University of Turku. In his presentation, titled Bioactive Coatings to Improve Implant-Gum Relationships & Soft Tissue Attachment Issues, he talks about his research which aims at building better tooth implants.
"It has been a great honour to represent the University of Turku in this competition. We've had a great team putting this presentation together: the University of Turku, Institute of Dentistry, Dean, professors, all the supporters. And, especially, my best friend Tarek Omran, who won the Three Minute Thesis competition of the University of Turku last year. He gave me a lot of tips and instructions and he was also at Salamanca cheering me on," Shahramian said.
The winners of the national competitions competed with their video presentations for making it to the Coimbra Group finals. The representatives of each participating university voted for their favourites from among the 21 national winners to compete in the final.
Shahramian competed alongside Jason Mario Dydynski from the University of Tartu, Nicola Seitz from the University of Würzburg, and Konstantina Theofanoupoulou from the University of Barcelona. The final was held at the Annual Conference of Coimbra Group in Salamanca, Spain, on 1 June 2018.

subset: commoncrawl


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Organic produce
In HER support of organic farming, Laura Stewart (Letters, 29 March) omitted common organic claims of better health.
A meta-analysis of 1.3 million women over a nine-year period in the UK, published recently in the British Journal of Cancer, indicated that continual consumption of organic food (compared to other produce) had no effect on any cancer rates – except for a slightly higher rate of breast cancer and slightly lower one of lymphoma. Breast cancer is ten times more common than lymphoma.
The composition of organic food is no different to conventional produce. Farmers using integrated pest management (linking environment and farming), for example, view their farm holistically and accept slight reductions in yield, while examination indicates that their wildlife maintenance is as good as any organic farm.
Finally, experiments at Rothamsted Research Station have shown that conventional and organic fields release equal amounts of polluting nitrate into the water supply. Organic does not survive proper scrutiny.
Prof Tony Trewavas
Scientific Alliance Scotland


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The Cowper Street venue will celebrate the milestone in August with five parties in five days.
The events will run on consecutive nights from Wednesday August 17th, through Sunday August 21st. The first night is given over to Belgian duo 2ManyDJs, before a Bandulu Records crew—Novelist, Kahn & Neek and AJ Tracey—take over on Thursday the 18th. On Friday Oneman's 13-week residency continues with a Mount Kimbie DJ set and a TBA guest, while Saturday sees DJ Harvey playing the third in a run of four shows at XOYO. The final night, Sunday the 21st, is headed up by Northern Irish acts Bicep and Space Dimension Controller.
Tickets are available here on RA.


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So the researchers in question are recruiting volunteers for a study on anger at God. I'm not signing up for that-- I'm not even *not* angry at "God", because I don't subscribe to one of the big three Western religions. The "atheists" that did sign up were undoubtedly the ones that were really interested in God. Duh.
Selection bias + popular narrative = media sensation. See also: every Science Times story on sex and gender.
It seems that more religious people are less likely to feel angry at God and more likely to see his intentions as well-meaning, Exline's research found. [emphasis mine]
Sure, uh-huh.
Just like with people in your life, you can respect and feel anger toward God at the same time. And you can move toward forgiveness by reframing the way you view the negative event: Perhaps God was not responsible for it or that he acted in that way for a reason [emphasis mine]
Perhaps. Or definitely not, in the case of my fellow atheists. :headdesk:
CNN also recommends that you read about how "Atheists are not so smart after all." Because CNN is an asshole. It's a story about atheists scoring better than average on some quiz about religion. I know.
[A screen capture of CNN's website, listing five articles "We recommend", including the aforementioned article on atheists not being so smart, and as a bonus: "Memo to Women: Please stop faking!"]


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OK Magazine: The Latest News on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Condition
January 14, 2011- Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been in recovery since she was shot in the head on Saturday by accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner at a Safeway store in Tucson. The good news is that she's been making huge progress since then, and doctors at University Medical Center remain optimistic about her ongoing recovery.
The New York Times reports that Giffords' doctors say she can now keep her eyes open for up to 15 minutes at a time, and can move her legs and hands. She is still using a tube to help her breathe, as a precautionary measure, although she is able to breathe on her own.
While doctors call her progress "a major leap forward," Giffords' condition remains critical.
A Regular Guy's Thoughts on the Arizona Shootings
An appeal for sanity:
CBS News: Giffords' Husband Opens Up About Wife's Progress
Januray 14, 2011- In his first interview since Saturday's shooting in Tucson, Arizona, Mark Kelly, the husband of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, opened up on Thursday about his wife's recent medical progress. He said Giffords' breathing tube could be removed as early as Friday.
Kelly, who spoke with CNN's Sanjay Gupta, said Giffords continued to make significant medical progress - though her future remains uncertain.
"I do think about her neurological function, and it is just too early to tell what that will be," Kelly told CNN.
Giffords was shot in the head in the Tucson, Arizona shootings that killed 6 and injured 14. She remains in critical condition, though doctors have expressed optimism about her progress.
Jared Loughner's Videos
Understanding that people are interested in seeing these, we have decided to post them. Unfortunately, linking to his videos would most likely be playing into his hands. Rather than reward unbalanced criminality by driving up Jared Loughner's view count, the videos posted here are re-posts from a third party's YouTube channel.
Posted on YouTube: December 15, 2010
No Ordinary Cross Hairs
-by Karen Dolan
Christina Taylor Green might well have made the world a better place someday. According to reports, Christina had just been elected to her elementary school's Student Council. Her neighbor brought her along to Rep. Gifford's community event in the corner Safeway parking lot. He thought it would be of interest to this young, budding public servant.
Nine years old, a ballerina, a ball-player, a student councilmember and a beloved daughter, Christina Taylor Green was felled by a would-be assasin's bullet.
Fox News: Trawling for Assassins
Obama vs Fox
-By Frank Schaeffer
October 21, 2009- President Obama is getting criticism for going after Fox News. I fault the White House too: for not going far enough. The real issue is not Fox's right wing "bias." The real issue is that FOX News seems to be trawling for assassins. Here's the letter White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs should write. Or maybe it should come from the head of United States Secret Service.
Dear Rupert Murdoch, since you are responsible for what is on Fox News I have a question for you: Do you ever wonder how you'll be remembered by Americans and the world (not to mention your children) if someone takes a shot at President Obama, and when asked why they did it, quotes the misinformation spouted by Fox News as their "reason?"


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BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top economic planner has approved a railway project linking the city of Yinchuan with Huinong District in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with a total investment of 12.87 billion yuan (1.93 billion U.S. dollars).
Spanning 100.6 km, the high-speed railway will have four stops and a top-speed of 250 kph, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
The project, which will take four years to complete, is expected to increase development and boost the local economy, the commission said.
China spent 801 billion yuan on railway projects and put 3,038 km of new tracks into operation in 2017, exceeding its annual targets of 800 billion yuan of investment and 2,100 km of new lines, according to the China Railway Corporation.
By the end of 2017, China reached 127,000 km of railway lines in operation, with high-speed railway rising to 25,000 km, from 22,000 km at the end of 2016.


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July 6, 2010
Completed: Jaguar II Zwei
So I finally finished my first resin kit. I made a ton of mistakes, but in the end was worth it. I went into it knowing I was going to make mistakes, so it was primarily to learn and make my next model a little better. I experimented with magnets as well (the shoulders are magnetized as opposed to glued)
I dry brushed at the end with black, rust and yellow, but as you can tell in the pics, I went a bit crazy with yellow on the left arm :P
I know I could have touched up a few things, but I don't really want to re-paint, I am too excited to start my next kit! This one was a mere stepping stone haha.
Dry brushed this stuff on.
The casting quality of this kit was pretty poor, so it was hard to work with, and because the parts were so small, clean-up was hard to do as well. But overall, it was a fantastic experience and I feel the model is at least somewhat presentable!
As always, C&C are welcome!
Update: I'm going to add some decals to it, so stay tuned!
Posted by Major Williams on 7/06/2010
Tags: finished, jaguar zwei, resin
3 comments:
Man, that came out really good! Where did you take the photo to get such a white background? I can tell it's slightly out of focus but on top of your coke mirror, the mech looks really really clean against the clean white. I'm diggin' the orange band, too.ReplyDelete
Just slung a sheet out and used two light sources to light up the model. Always a recipe for success :DReplyDelete
pretty good, thou i feel in some places it could have used a bit more sanding. Looking forward to your next kit :)ReplyDelete
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Sunday, September 17, 2006
On being a polling subject
George Gallup was the father of modern political research.
I got polled tonight. This isn't unusual -- we get polling calls to this household quite often. Certainly at least once an election cycle, usually more than once.
Since most people complain they have never been polled, I have to wonder why. I think there are several factors to lead to my getting a lot of these calls.
Foremost, I'm willing to talk to pollsters and market researchers. I'm curious about them. Hell, I've even once filled out one of those Arbitron rating radio diaries, though none of the alternative and NPR stations I listen to are even covered in the ratings. I suspect the willingness to answer questions at all makes me a desirable call and gets me in calling pools, given that more and more people won't respond to surveys.
Second, I am a reliable voter. I always cast a ballot. So, to gauge election opinon, I'm in the group you do need to measure -- just as I am in the last group that any candidate should bother to target with persuasion calls.
(Neither of the factors above should lead to inclusion in a polling pool according to most descriptions of randomized selection methodology, but I am convinced they do.)
Thirdly, I answer my landline in the evening. That's more and more a rarity, like landlines themselves.
Finally, I suspect we have an inordinate number of polls here in San Francisco. In particular, local political consultants have proved that they can both win and defeat local ballot measures if they have the right attitudinal data about down-ballot voters. Campaigns know they need that information and they pay to get it.
As in many polling calls I get, the interviewer tonight was only marginally up to the job. This one could at least read the script and sounded as if she had heard of the subject matter, a school bond measure. She didn't have to ask me my favorable or unfavorable opinion of local politicians. These questions usually trip up the interviewers since they've seldom been taught how to pronounce any of the names. Pollsters, listen up: Interviewers who can't even pretend they know what they are talking about drive down response rates. Who wants to talk to someone who seems not to understand what you are saying?
I sometimes wonder whether I can rightly participate in these polls since I work in politics. I answer the qualifying questions honestly: No, I am not an officeholder, don't currently work for one, nor do I work in media. I do teach community groups how to survive and thrive in the electoral arena, but that is too rare a vocation to be caught by most questions.
As far as I could make out, tonight's poll aimed to find effective counter arguments to a proposed $450 million school bond to be issued to pay for building improvements, replacement of portable classrooms, upgrading bathrooms, and other worthy infrastructure improvements. Sounds good, but there are powerful arguments against it, including that we, the voters, authorized borrowing for similar projects only five years ago and that the school system has a less then stellar record of fiscal controls. If opponents throw enough money at a smart campaign, I suspect they may keep the measure from getting the 55 percent it would require to pass.
Polling me didn't help them much. I'm exactly the demographic they presumably hope to sway: an older white homeowner with no kids in school. But I listened to the arguments and will still vote for it. Sure, the schools are inefficient, but they are made worse by being continually strapped for basic amenities. It will be interesting to see what sort of persuasion mail I get over the next few weeks. I wonder which of the opposing arguments polled best?
Posted by janinsanfran at 11:55 PM
Labels: campaigns
1 comment:
- Civic Center said...
I'm also one of the last dinosaurs with a landline rather than a cell and my response to all polling, whether political or otherwise, is simple: "Are you offering a gift for my time?" If not, I ask them to get off my f---ing landline.
- Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:31:00 PM
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Tom Bashe is an associate broker at Coldwell Banker Residential, a full service Real Estate Brokerage specializing in Residential Real Estate Sales in Southern California. He began his career in real estate prior to graduating high school and was a licensed real estate agent before he received his high school diploma. In 2006, at the ripe old age of 21, Tom became one of the youngest Real Estate Brokers in the industry. In the 11 years since, his team has successfully sold hundreds of properties ranging in price from just over $50,000 to just under $5,000,000. He specializes in selling Single Family dwellings, condos, townhomes, multifamily dwellings, land and estates.
An iconic piece of architectural history, designed by Howard Lapham. Believed to be one of the largest mid-century homes in Palm Springs. Offering 9BR, 12BA, indoor and outdoor pools, a 60 ft long LR with walls of Fleetwood sliders opening to a covered patio cooled by micro-mist, and a commercially-equipped kitchen. Architectural details include cantilevered roofs, poured terrazzo floors, walled and gated entry, and abundant access to the outdoors in true Lapham style. The owner, a fashion designer known for her use of color, has created one of the boldest, most transcendent interiors in the desert. When day turns to night and the hues of twilight take over, the home takes on a whole new identity as the desert heat and breezes sway the palms and orchid trees while interior spaces come alive for an evening dinner party, conversations and music by the fireplace, or a raucous night of cards in the parlor. The lush and luxe grounds lend an exotic backdrop to this important home.
Check out this 4 bed, 4.5 bath Movie Colony home that features high ceilings, multiple entertaining areas, and a west-facing backyard with pool, spa and mountain views! Across the street from community tennis courts and Ruth Hardy Park and just blocks to downtown! Freshly renovated kitchen with quartz counters, stainless appliances, and a walk-in pantry opens to the family room and casual dining area as well as connects to the formal dining and living areas that open to the pool/spa. Master Suite has high ceilings, fireplace, views, access to the pool/spa, and a private bath with dual sinks, dual walk-in closets, walk-in shower and separate soaking tub. Junior Ensuites Two and Three also have high ceilings, views to the east and private baths. On the other side of the house is Junior Ensuite Four which offers views, access to the pool/spa and a private bath. Powder bath, inside laundry room and attached three car garage with motorized driveway gate. No HOA fees either!
Just steps from Downton Palm Springs and situated in the highly desired Movie Colony neighborhood, this five-bedroom, six-bath gated estate has been rebuilt for today's desert lifestyle. Upon entering the gates and past the fountain, one is immediately struck by the craftsmanship and materials as they enter the Italian front door. Welcomed with Quartz stone and warm French oak floors, along with a monolithic double-sided stone fireplace, creates intimacy yet openness. Large entertaining areas, bar, island and magnificent chef's kitchen with innovative wine cellar magically rising from the kitchen floor are only the beginning. Massive stacking glass sliders open from the living area to create an inviting outdoor room. Ample patio spaces with mountain views feature separate outdoor kitchen, bar, pool, spa and fire-lit waterfall. A detached casita with living room, bedroom and bathroom opens to the pool. Plentiful yard space is perfect for gardens, orchards, grape vines and more...
Imagine pulling up to this custom home, featuring clean lines & modern design, knowing it's your own private desert oasis created for relaxing, entertaining & enjoying desert life to the fullest. Built with the utmost attention to detail & the highest level of quality. Enjoy walls of glass that open up to create a seamless transition between indoors & outdoors, leading you to a private backyard oasis. We live for our mountain views and you'll enjoy them here while lounging poolside, or gathered around the fire-pit with cocktails and watching the sun set. Can a kitchen be sexy? YES IT CAN! Sleek state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen to cook up a meal, indoors or out! Two large en-suite bedrooms consisting of one spectacular master with spacious closets & spa like bathroom. Two additional private guest suites bring together this incredible resort compound. Loaded with amenities for 21st century comforts, and located just blocks from shopping, dining and entertaining in downtown P.S. Come Play
Located in iconic Movie Colony this beautiful home offers a large open floor plan in a private oasis like setting. With over 4000 square feet, this home is great for entertaining and has plenty of room for a large crowd with a formal living area and 3 large bedrooms. The large kitchen is a delight sure to please any cook. The oasis like setting in the back yard is amazing with a beautiful outdoor kitchen and conversation area, perfect for any gathering. The casita adjacent to the patio is wonderful for extra guests or an office. The backyard offers a private park like setting with a sparkling pool with a sundeck, swim up bar area and beach entry, hot tub and mature landscaping including citrus trees. Within walking distance to Downtown Palm Springs and right across the street From Ruth Hardy Park. This home is ready for you to move in and make your mark. Don't miss this beauty, it won't last!
Tucked away at the end of the road, walled & very private, this 1953 2BD + Den architectural charmer is the quintessence of classic Palm Springs indoor/outdoor living. Across the street from iconic Hollywood costume designer Edith Head's old home, it's situated on a large, lushly landscaped lot w/a plethora of fruit trees & dazzling unobstructed mountain views. Polished wood beamed ceilings impress upon entering, w/a soaring ceiling above the living room, multiplying the light that sweeps in through sliders, clerestory windows, & a corner of glass. The Master has glass sliders on two sides, allowing an enticing view of the pool & verdant yard. A guest room is roomy and bright. Both baths and kitchen are in original, excellent condition with updated flooring. A built-in reading nook with upholstered banquette adds whimsy to the hallway.This secret hideaway w/it's sparkling pool and spa is only minutes from art, shopping, & restaurants in the Uptown & Downtown districts.
The Movie Colony is a residential neighborhood that is reflective of a period when many stars lived here and owned homes. Back in the 1950's, movie contracts included the stipulation that actors lived close to the shooting site, so many made their homes in this area.
There are about 170 homes in this community which is located close to the Old Las Palmas neighborhood as well as downtown Palm Springs. You'll see a combination of mid-century modern, Spanish, and California ranch style architecture. Many of the homes are hidden by tall walls and landscaping; most were built in the period from 1940 through 2000.
There are many parks in this area including Ruth Hardy Park which has courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball as well as play areas and picnic tables. Residents enjoy bringing their dogs here. You can also walk or jog at the Wellness Park which has a fourth mile loop and five exercise stations. Spiritual healing can be found among its four gardens; meditation garden, healing garden, memorial garden, and fragrance garden.
Homes in the Movie Colony feature luxurious amenities like original fireplaces, designer chandeliers, terra cotta floors, media rooms, and adobe kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances. Many garages have extra storage space and there is often room for RV parking. The private yards have barbecue cooking islands and covered patios that look out over shimmering pools. This neighborhood is served by the Palm Springs Unified School District with assigned schools Raymond Cree Middle School and Palm Springs High as well as highly ranked Katherine Finchy Elementary.
The Movie Colony has many historic points including the El Mirador Hotel which is now the Desert Regional Medical Center. The hotel attracted Hollywood elite with 165 luxury rooms. It has been a hospital since it was converted during World War II. Among the many famous residents in The Movie Colony were Bob and Delores Hope who lived here until their deaths. Bob died in 2003 at the age of 100 and Delores passed in 2011 at the age of 102.
980 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262-0119
(760) 416-6000
* Data courtesy of Greatschools.org


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Day 310 FEEL GOOD Challenge
Everyone of us has an opinion about something/everything. Opinions stimulate an emotional response from you and offer a vibrational frequency to the universe. In other words your opinion is a point of attraction that will attract other like frequencies. Before offering an opinion or even pondering an opinion notice the quality of it; will it help or hinder?
What are 5 FEELINGS you choose to feel today that invokes a helpful opinion?
Add your words below. Share with others and have them add too. This will spread the vibration around the world!
Here are mine: allowing, win-win, optimism, possibilities, stimulation.


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The beauty of blogging is the interactiveness and the ability to share ideas. In the spirit of this blogging-connectedness, I invite you to join me in helping one another in learning ways to do things better for the planet and for ourselves.
Bi-weekly, I will be posting a "doing things better" challenge- it may be something simple that you are already doing, or something that may take more effort- but the idea is to focus on one challenge at a time and give each other ideas and tips on how to incorporate greener living into our lives.
Just like we've learned over time to rely on disposable containers or take for granted we have a seemingly unlimited supply of cheap fuel, we now can learn to be efficient and conscientious in all of our activities and choices.
And the best part is, you don't have to do it alone. Together we can do more than we could alone. And that's what it's all about: coming together to make BIG and GOOD changes!
So here is the first challenge: Join the Tap Movement
Do you remember there was a time when it seemed preposterous to buy water? If you were thirsty you went to the faucet. Well, sometime between then and now, we were convinced that tap water is for doing dishes and bottled water is for drinking. The irony is, the bottled water we are buying is usually filtered tap water anyway. And worse, we are now paying money for a product that takes 1.5 million barrels of fossil fuels to manufacture and transport and wastes 3-5 liters of water for every liter bottled! And the bottles themselves, we have recently learned, leach chemicals into the water...the water that we are paying extra money for in order to be healthy. Where does the irony end? Well, not there.
The end result of bottled water- the empty bottle - ends up in landfills or incinerators, where the chemicals in the plastic get us again by leaching into our water supply and air. Only 20% of the 30 million disposable water bottles used every day are recycled- and the caps never are. Sometimes I ponder the waste of just the small caps alone, and how many of them are produced and tossed a day- and that alone is enough to make me run for the tap!
So that is your first challenge- to pledge to not buy bottled water again and instead drink filtered tap water and use a stainless steel bottle away from home. This may take some planning, but once you assess your water intake and get used to refilling your bottles before you head out, you will be a pro. And a sleek stainless steel water bottle is the hottest new accessory (that may just be my opinion, but I know I am not alone in thinking that).
Now, all filters are not created equal. Brands like Brita and Pur are two popular ones that remove chlorine and will make your water taste better, but if you want one that removes a wide range of contaminants we recommend a carbon filter system.
Our favorite is Multi-Pure water filters and they come in a variety of systems from counter top, under the counter, and whole house.
Ok- so let's bring the good old days back and get reacquainted with your tap!
And if you already have implemented this green habit into your life, then your challenge for the next two weeks is to think of someone you can convince to join the tap movement with you!


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Another California Court Says Meal Breaks Must Be Provided, Not Ensured
Topics: Class Actions, Court Decisions, Wage & Hour Issues
As California employers continue to await the California Supreme Court's decision in Brinker regarding the extent of an employer's obligation to "provide" mealbreaks to employees, another court has decided the issue favorably for employers. In Flores v. Lamps Plus, Inc., a California court of appeal held that class certification was properly denied in a case alleging meal and rest break violations on behalf of a putative class of some 2,600 employees across the state. Citing to numerous federal cases, the court held that California law does not require employers to ensure meal breaks are taken, but rather requires employers to provide employees the opportunity to take them. Based on this standard, the court held that individual issues predominated as to why any particular employee may have missed meal and/or rest breaks. As such, class treatment was inappropriate. The court similarly held that class treatment was inappropriate for the plaintiffs' other claims, including failure to provide accurate wage statements, off the clock work, and failure to timely pay wages on termination of employment.
The court also held that a stay of the proceedings (including ruling on class certification) was properly denied, nothwithstanding the pendency of the Brinker decision before the California Supreme Court. The Lamps Plus case is another positive case for employers as we continue to await a definitive determination on meal break requirements from the state's high court.


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If you take a look at the things I own, you can immediately identify the absence of a backpack. But why on earth I didn't have one? It was a very interesting story because I used to be backpack-only type of guy — well that was when I was in grade school until college.
The last backpack I owned was this red Nike backpack (which I dug out of the bowels of my closet for picture's sake. It literally has cobwebs on the bottom):
It was what I used to carry because I also had everyday training and it was very easy on the shoulders for the weight was pretty much distributed evenly. Unfortunately, when I was on my way back to UP for training with the squad and as I passed by Philcoa, a little, dirty girl stood in front of me and grab my legs. I was of course taken aback and was trying to get out of her embrace. A few seconds after when I was about to pay the jeepney back to Aldaba Hall, I've noticed that the front pocket was open. It felt like being doused with cold water because upon first sight, I knew right away that my cellphone (a Nokia 3230) was stolen. That was my bat signal to curse the backpack for eternity and I have gotten a big, slouchy messenger bag from American Boulevard in SM North a day after.
(Screencap from the movie 'Hairspray')
Years went by and I still wasn't convinced that I needed a backpack. I forever associated it to being prone to stealing because a person is definitely blind when you have the bag at your back. However, when I first saw Tracy (Nikki Blonsky) carrying the leather satchel backpack in the opening sequence of Hairspray, I realized that it might have been time to reconsider having one. I think the one in the movie is similar to the type of bags that Cambridge Satchel does, and I highly doubt if they did not issue a backpack-type. But as I was already disenchanted by the price of a Cambridge Satchel, I was just confronted with the idea of having even just one backpack.
As the old adage goes: NEVER SAY NEVER. First of all, I've said before that I'm already growing out of my monogram phase. But can you resist something that suddenly comes up without a warning (i.e. a good deal) for an insanely significant fraction of the retail price? When the Louis Vuitton Montsouris GM backpack was initially released, it was sold at US$ 1,300. I see that a lot of online sellers selling it at an average of US$ 500 (and Luxury Exchange even sold one for US$ 910!) Can you fault me for getting it in a snap because the seller offered it to me for an extremely reasonable price? 😉 I bet you would even beat me to it if you can!
(Photo from Fashionphile)
My knowledge of Louis Vuitton, albeit limited, is sufficient, especially when it comes to monogram canvas and epi leather. However, I will not assume that I know a lot so even when I was inspecting the bag, I was secretly Google-ing "Montsouris GM" because I was not really sure if the style in that size was made. The initial search results was of Kanye West carrying the same bag from Fashionphile. Okay so the style do exist, but I needed to inspect every hardware, date code and heatstamp to make sure that everything was okay.
I still cannot believe that I got a good deal for this bag! Of course, it was not perfect, with minor issues such as that 'stain' near the heatstamp by the back, and I had to clean some parts of the canvas with a damp cloth, but nevertheless it was in excellent condition. What bothers me the most, however, was the amount of vachetta the bag has, especially at the bottom. I never owned anything that has this much vachetta, and I'm afraid that it might get ruined under my clumsy hands.
I'm only 5'6″ and the bag doesn't look small, so that's a good thing. But Mon and I agree that he's going to use it for our trip back to Seoul. (Yes, I can't stop talking about our Seoul trip because I'm extremely excited!) As much as I want to use it there, I'd just stick with a messenger because I'll be most comfortable with it than this bag that I'm still not used to. =)


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The best repair services always value urgency in fixing HP office printers, but they know that it's not just about speed. When you have connected with Printer Repair Centre in Sydney and have visited their HP repair centre, you will see other vital factors experts consider too.
This is because professional printer repair services assure clients of quality results, and speed alone isn't enough.
What other factors help deliver high-quality and speedy HP printer repair services
Find a reliable printer repair if you need urgent service, and you can surely notice these factors they keep for speedy work:
A team of printer repair experts
If you want something to be done right away, get an expert to do the job. Sounds basic, but any reliable printer repair service knows it.
Thus, whilst looking for a service to trust, inquire about the experts they have. Ask about the average length of time they have worked on various printers and inquire about the specific problem your printer is having.
You know you can trust them if they can provide definite solutions to your problem, especially after checking your device.
Complete set of tools and replacement parts
The best HP printer repair service, like Printer Repair Centre, always has a set of tools and a wide selection of replacement parts for your specific needs. If you have visited their HP repair centre, you probably notice that they have parts for various HP makes and models.
It wouldn't be a problem if you have a laser, compact, large format, or other types of HP printers, since they are prepared to fix them right away. And that's because having a complete set of tools and parts means they don't have to find them somewhere else.
Thus, they can provide seamless services for your printer, fixing it without any delay.
Ability to handle various printer problems
Reliable printer repairs don't simply mean a full team of experts, but these specialists should also proficiently handle all problems affecting all HP machines as well. Remember that different models of HP printers could have different technical problems, and many issues require specified solutions only professionals could provide.
When the problem and its solution is immediately recognised, experts can seamlessly proceed with the repair process. That could let them quickly finish the work for you.
Aside from fast repair, they should also assure quality results afterwards. This means you don't need to avail their services again and again because of faulty work, thus avoiding another big hassle that could drag your operations for a long time.
Great offers for multiple printer repairs
When you have visited their HP repair centre, you will see that Printer Repair Centre offers favourable deals you can avail for multiple repairs. If you have two or more printers that require attention, for example, this could restore your machines on a lower cost than having them repaired one by one.
That could fix your problematic printers much faster as well.
Speedy HP printer repairs don't simply mean fast service, but these involve a few factors for quality results as well. Visit https://printer-repairs.com.au/printer-repairs/hp/ and see what a reliable repair centre could do for your HP office printers.


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Twister Display has been the leader in portable, interactive amusement games and attractions for over 30 years, and the Easy Dunker has been the best-selling, professionally built dunk tank in the world. We also manufacture a wide selection of exciting interactive attractions such as: Golf Challenge, Quarterback Toss, Froggy Fly Fling, Cow Milking Contest, Kiddie Striker, Money Machines, and Duck Pond. If it is a Twister Display product, you can be assured it is easy to set up, take down, and store. Best of all, they are loads of fun and great moneymakers!
"I purchased my Twister Display Easy Dunker with window over 5 years ago and it is still in operation and making me a ton of profits. In just little over a year, it virtually paid for itself and it seems like the gift that keeps giving. Over the years, it has remained in excellent condition and still has a high resale value. Other companies do not compare to the quality and customer service you receive when you are a part of the Twister Display family. Keep dunking and thanks."
Jimmy Knight
Owner, Bounce 2 The Top LLC
Owner, Bounce 2 The Top LLC


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If you're the type of gambler who loves the adrenaline rush that comes with playing on the edge of your seat, Blackjack is definitely your game. That's because unlike slots where you can literally sit back and do nothing, in Blackjack you control the action right from the get go. If you're a beginner, don't sweat it. We're here to walk you through the process.
Blackjack is a game of decisions, so as long as you know what to do and when to do it, you'll be an Ace. Your goal is to get as close to 21 without going over. Landing on 21 will lead to a win (or a push if the dealer has the same hand). But you can also win with a low hand like 12. That's because the dealer loses if he goes over 21 too. Luckily, he's bound by a strict set of rules and doesn't get to make decisions. You, on the other hand, do.
The first decision you'll need to make is how much to bet. That's fairly easy. Bet $5. Bet $50. It's your call.
Once you place your bet, you'll receive two cards, both of which are face up. The dealer will also have two cards, but only one of his cards is face up. Now here is where your next decision comes into play. You can choose to:
1) Stand
2) Hit
3) Split
4) Double down
Standing means that you don't want to see any more cards. That's the end of your decision-making.
Hitting means that you want another card. If you get another card without busting, you'll have to decide whether to hit again. At that point, hitting will be your only option.
Splitting means that you want to take your 2-card hand and create two separate hands, each of which will receive an additional card. You'll be asked to make a decision all over again for both hands.
And doubling down is like hitting, only in this case you'll double your bet and receive just one card. It's a final decision, just like standing, because you won't have the option to do anything else after you receive your next card.
When your decision-making has ended, the dealer will turn over his card and reveal his hand. He'll hit if he's holding 16 or lower, stand if he's holding 17 or higher (soft 17, meaning a 17 hand that has an Ace, usually means that the dealer will hit at most casinos).
Whoever is closer to 21 wins. Of course, you won't necessarily be in the game by the time the dealer flips over his other card. If one of your decisions caused you to go over 21, that's called a bust and you're out of the game. But if you're still in it, it's you versus the dealer.
That's our basic Blackjack lesson for beginners. Remember, knowing which hand to split, stand, double down, or hit on can make a world of difference. For more info on that, see one of our Blackjack strategy articles, we have tips for everyone: from the first time players to seasoned master of the game.


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Tour de France: Thermal cameras to be used against 'mechanical doping'
Thermal cameras will be used at this year's Tour de France to prevent riders hiding motors in their bikes.
The first proven case of such practice, known as 'mechanical doping', saw Belgium's Femke van den Driessche banned for six years in April.
The cameras will be portable and can be operated from the back of a motorcycle or the edge of the road.
They will be used in addition to a magnetic resonance system that screens bikes at the start and finish lines.
Cycling's governing body the UCI had defended that method of detection after TV station France 2 and Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claimed their own thermal imaging picked up five hidden motors at two races this year.
Read more: Can you really 'dope' a bicycle?
France's minister of state for sport Thierry Braillard said even a stopped motor could be detected by the new cameras, developed by the Atomic Energy Commission at the request of the government.
"With this technology, which has been approved by the UCI and by the Tour de France, those who want to cheat will be taking very very big risks," he added.
"It's a complement to what the UCI has been doing."
Reigning champion Chris Froome will lead Team Sky for the 103rd edition of cycling's most prestigious race, held from 2-24 July.
Froome will be supported by Welsh riders Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe, who will be the road captain in the nine-strong team, while fellow Briton Ian Stannard is also named.
Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/36640870


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Berean Prison Ministries was founded by brothers Edward and Paul Meister in 1996. It is a classified Organization exempt from Federal and State income taxes under Section 501(c) of the code.
Those chaplaincies are responsible for the Youth Farm and the Juvenile Detention Facility of Peoria County. We also have the chaplaincy at the Sheridan Illinois State Prison. Monthly Bible studies are hosted at the State of Illinois Department of Corrections prisons at Dwight, Lincoln, Statesville and Canton.
Berean Prison Ministries is currently in the prisons of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. Permission was also given by the Romanian government to hold services and Bible studies in all of their prisons.
Berean Prison Ministries sends out 2,000 Bibles a month to inmates in jails and prisons in 47 of our States along with a Bible study course program. This course consists of 50 elementary and 50 intermediate lessons and a certificate is awarded as each entire course is completed. Currently, we are grading approximately 100,000 lessons per year in the English language coming from as far away as Hawaii and about 12,000 lessons per year in Spanish.
Our ministry has a food, clothing and medicine program. We distribute many loads of these items to those less fortunate in Africa, Mexico, Russia, Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras and Granada. For example, last year we sent 200 bicycles to Mexico.
Our purpose is to provide everyone the opportunity to learn of God's promise of their eternal salvation through His Word.


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Yannick Noah, born May 18, 1960 is best remembered for winning the French Open in 1983 and as a highly successful captain of France's Davis Cup and Fed Cup teams. During his tennis career, which spanned almost two decades, Noah captured a total of 23 singles titles and 16 doubles titles, reaching a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3 (in July 1986) and attaining the World No. 1 doubles ranking the following month.
Born in the North of France, Noah is the son of a Cameroonian soccer player, Zacharie Noah, and his French wife Marie-Claire. After a sports injury in 1963, Noah's father returned to Africa with his family. There Yannick made his debut in tennis and soon showed an amazing talent that eventually brought him to the French Tennis Federation's training center in Nice in 1971, after Black-American tennis legend Arthur Ashe discovered him while he was playing a tournament in Africa. Six years later Yannick Noah won his first victory in the Wimbledon junior category and became professional the next year.
By 1980 Noah was ranked the Number One player in France after a series of Grand Prix titles and impressive showings in Grand Slam tournaments. Negative press regarding his confession of smoking hashish periodically—as well as his charge that other athletes used stronger drugs to improve their play—undermined his confidence.
He struggled the next year, but his form returned when he won the French Open in 1983. Suddenly a French celebrity, Noah moved to New York to avoid the harrowing publicity in France. He recuperated from injuries and the loss of his grandfather, a village chief who was murdered during a political coup in Cameroon, playing infrequently in 1984. Strengthened by his rest, Noah won the Italian Open in 1985. Although he reached the finals of many tournaments in the intervening years and was ranked fifth in the world in 1987, Noah failed to win the more prestigious titles, including another French Open.
Marital woes and injury plagued Noah during the late 1980s. Wed to Swedish model Cecilia Rodhe in 1984, Noah divorced her three years later after the births of his son, Joachim, and daughter, Tara. He suffered many defeats, including his loss to John McEnroe in the second round of the 1989 Davis Cup. Noah divulged about McEnroe in the New York Times, "He played very, very well. What can I say? It was very difficult. My knees were fine. I don't even have that excuse."
Despite his athletic prowess, Noah did not advance beyond the quarterfinals in Grand Slam tournaments throughout most of the 1980s. The New York Times stated in 1989, "Yannick Noah has always entertained tennis fans with his flamboyant style of play. His physical ability on sky-high overheads, diving volleys and thunderous serves has always made him stand out on the court. But he has been a bit of an enigma in his years on the circuit." In the U.S. Open that same year, Noah, ranked 23rd in the world, was defeated by Boris Becker in yet another quarterfinal.
His malady of seesawing in and out of retirement at the end of the 1980s afflicted Noah into the 1990s. His coach, Dennis Rolston, predicted that if Noah did not improve his training regimen and confront his ambivalence toward the game, he would reach a crisis decision. Noah continued playing, though, capturing the title of captain of the French Davis Cup team the next year.
In his debut as captain of France's Davis Cup team, Noah startled the tennis world when he announced on November 28, 1991, that he would play only if another team member was injured. A defending champion who played in the Davis Cup final in Grenoble in 1982 and the Davis Cup quarterfinal in San Diego in 1989, Noah selected Guy Forget and Henri Leconte to lead the team. He explained in the New York Times, "The emotions are still there, but I don't feel like I'm the one who must hold the racquet. I believe the players we have are good enough to win." Under Noah's tutelage, Guy Forget spurred the team to take the Davis Cup on December 1, 1991, when he defeated Pete Sampras three sets to one. With great emotion, Noah joined the team on the courts of Lyon, France, when they celebrated their victory.
After viewing television reports of disturbances between security officers and antiapartheid demonstrators at the world doubles championships in Johannesburg, South Africa, Noah made news again in 1991 when he decided to boycott tennis matches in that country. Although South Africa had just been allowed re-entry into international sports at the beginning of the decade, Noah was quoted by Jet as saying, "Frankly, I can't see myself going there as a player or as captain of France's Davis Cup team. I would have the feeling of being used."
Noah was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005. He remains France's highest ranked player since the introduction of rankings in 1973.
Since retiring from playing tennis, Noah has developed a career as a popular singer, performing throughout Europe. He began his music career in 1991 with the album Black or What, featuring the popular track "Saga Africa," which he made the stadium sing with his players after the famous Davis Cup final win. In 1993, he released the album Urban Tribu with the successful single "Get on Back," followed by the album Zam Zam in 1998.
With the encouragement of his manager Jean-Pierre Weiller, his musical career got a great boost in 2000 with his self-titled 4th album Yannick Noah, written by Erick Benzi and Robert Goldman. The single "Simon Papa Tara" written by Robert Goldman. The album also contained songs by Bob Marley and the group Téléphone. In 2003, Noah released Pokhara that sold 1,295,000 copies in France.
In October 2006, the album Charango was a major hit, selling 1,275,000 copies in France and culminating in a one-year tour to promote the album. French radio played the singles "Donne-moi une vie" and "Aux arbres citoyens" from the album extensively.
In 2005, Noah performed at Bob Geldof's Live 8 concert, a fundraiser aimed at alleviating poverty in Africa.
On July 21, 2009, Noah made his U.S. live debut, headlining a concert in front of a packed house at the popular free outdoor performing arts festival in New York City, Central Park SummerStage. The performance was part of France's global music celebration Fête de la Musique.
In 2010, Yannick made a comeback with the release of Frontières, his eighth album, containing the single "Angela", a tribute to Angela Davis. It also contained a duet with Aṣa in "Hello". On September 25 2010, he filled the Stade de France for an exceptional concert that was attended by close to 80,000 spectators.
Noah is also very active in charity work, having created 'les Enfants de la Terre' in 1988 with his mother and also 'Fête le Mur', a tennis association for underprivileged children.


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ARTICLE SYNOPSIS...How good is Manulife Financial?
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ARTICLE SYNOPSIS...The chart has established a large symmetrical pattern affording trading opportunities as this pattern tries to build and resolve.
AUTHOR:�Gary GrosschadlDATE:�JAN�2003
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College is a time of excitement for many young adults. There are so many new people to meet and new experiences to be a part. However, it can also be an extremely nerve-wracking time owing to being away from home for the first time as well as the responsibility that living on your own can cultivate.
Dogs are a great way of allaying such fears and anxiety. Having a constant companion of a dog has long been advocated by a mental health specialist as a way to reduce stress, and so they can be a good addition to any dorm room for that very reason. It is therefore not as crazy an idea as it sounds to have a dog whilst in college.
That's not to say that it is not without its difficulties. Dogs themselves are a responsibility and need love and attention to remain healthy and fit. Young adults are more than capable of providing such an environment, even in college, but they have to be willing to take their dog on walks and out for loo breaks at regular intervals.
There are, however, some breeds that are better suited to being a College dog than others. Here, we look at a number of types that are cut out for life as a college student and will thrive in that environment – as well as helping their owners thrive too.
Pomeranians are great dog breeds for College students in a number of respects. Primarily, they do not suffer from separation anxiety, should you be studying on a course that means that you are out of your room for long periods of time every day. Whilst they have lots of energy, they are more than happy in their own company, especially if they are given toys to play with whilst you are out.
Their long hair does need regular upkeep which entails brushing, grooming and bathing. Brushing their coats is the primary need to keep tangles and matting at bay as skin infections can occur if a knot gets too big. This is perhaps the only high maintenance requirement for a Pomeranian who will love it when you take him on a walk or are simply in the room researching a project or essay.
Plus, they are perhaps one of the most handsome dog breeds out there that will garner constant compliments from onlookers owing to their fluffy, thick coats.
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu was originally bred in China, purely for companionship. In that respect, that is the ideal pet to have whilst at College. Particularly, if you consider their diminutive size. They are small enough to be kept in a dorm room and they would charm any roommate too owing to their fun-loving and affectionate nature.
They are little balls of joy and so will win over any small dog naysayers. That being said, like the Pomeranian, their coat does require a little upkeep, but given their small stature, it does not take long and you will love spending the regular one on one time with them. Plus, given their gentle nature, grooming them is never a chore or a fight against time until they get fed up of being in one place all the time.
Above all, these friendly little canines do not require daily long walks nor constant attention from their owners – though they will love both. This helps to make them a good option for College students looking for a pet.
Related Post: 10 Best Companion Dogs
Whippets are a great choice for a College dog as they are not only small, they require minimal grooming owing to their short coats. Plus, despite the high speeds that these runners can achieve, they need very little walking, presumably because they expend so much energy so quickly on any walks that they are taken on. It is thought that they really only require 20 minutes walking a day, so College students with time intensive courses on their hands would do well to look at this agile little pooch.
They originally were bred for poaching, but they are now great companions as they are obedient and exceedingly loving. They are friendly as well as happy in small spaces like a dorm room. They certainly do not need a huge back garden to run around in. They are affectionate and friendly toward strangers and kids alike.
They are also very easy to train to owe to being intelligent, but they wonderfully are not known for barking, even as a puppy. This is a great characteristic if you are living in a dorm. They can live for 15 years so they will be able to graduate with you and accompany any College student on through their adult years.
Basset Hound
A Basset Hound has very low exercise requirements and needs very little walking, though, like all dogs, they will obviously love being taken outside on a discovery adventure. This helps make them a good option to look into if you are thinking about buying a dog to go to college. Those that want a Basset Hound will do best to start training young to ensure that your hound does not run off when let off the lead or bark when it is inappropriate.
Other advantages to adopting a Basset Hound is that they are a small to medium sized dog so that they will happily live in a dorm room as they do not need a great deal of space, especially given their low energy levels. You won't have to fear coming back to a destroyed room that has been chewed upside down by one of these pooches. Their boredom levels make them ideal to be left alone, though they would obviously love a toy to play with like any dog.
Mainly, however, a Basset Hound's best characteristic is its very kind nature. They are affectionate to family, fantastic around children as well as other dogs and are friendly towards strangers so that owners can be confident about taking them around campus without any worries.
Related Post: Best Dog Breeds for Seniors
Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are one of the better breeds at being left alone. They are great companion dogs and though they were initially bred to be a pit fighter, they are one of the most loving dogs out there. They love kids, are friendly towards other dogs and are even happy to be approached by strangers.
One of their other main advantages is their trainability. They are intelligent and can be taught simple commands quickly which is imperative if you are taking your dog across a busy campus at any time.
They do need a fair amount of exercise, but they are small enough to stomach living in a cramped dorm room – somewhere that they will be happy to expend their energy in any games that their owner wants to play.
They are exceedingly charming by default and are often loved by even the most reluctant advocate of dogs.
Tips For If You Want To Take A Dog To College
Before buying a dog for college, or simply taking one that you already own with you, it is important to remember the drawbacks that a student lifestyle has for a dog. Small living quarters are more common than bigger spaces with gardens where they can leave to roam free. Plus, some courses are incredibly time intensive with owners having to be out of the home for hours on end. Plus, College is also a great time to socialize and make friends so that the needs and requirements of dogs can sometimes take a back seat.
Other than buying a dog that can handle your living and working arrangements, there are a number of things that owners can do to make their dog's lives that little bit easier and happier. In doing so, owners also put their own minds at ease and relieve any guilt that dog owners often feel when leaving their dogs alone for any period of time.
Make Them Feel Safe
For starters, you can make them feel safe by giving them a dedicated spot in your room – preferably in a crate. Crates are not cages and dogs will not view them as such. Instead, it will be their safe space that they can retreat to should the noise in a dorm get too much at times. Plus, they enjoy sleeping in their safe space which can help diminish anxiety that either occurs from separation from their owners or otherwise.
Give Them Entertainment
Even the best behaved, most placid dogs can be guilty of destructive behavior sometimes, especially if they are left alone for any great stretch of time. College students that have labor-intensive courses will, therefore, do well to leave their pets with toys and chewies that will keep them entertained when they are left alone on their own. This will keep them from gnawing away on furniture legs and shoes, or any other inanimate object that they find and decide to use as a source of entertainment.
Related Post: Creating the Perfect Dog Playdate: What You Need to Know
Look Into Technology
Finally, there is a wealth of technology these days that can be used to help alleviate any separation anxiety that dogs can feel. Cameras and microphones can be used to comfort dogs when you are out of your room for a long period of time.
- The 7 Best Dog Breeds For College Students, Study Breaks
- 13 Dog Breeds Ideal for Apartments, Vetstreet
- The 10 Best Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds For College Kids, Odyssey


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All about Planet Earth for your smartphone, your iPhone or any phone.Also known as World. It is the third planet of solar system and is characterized by having liquid water, mass and atmosphere with oxygen. Animation of terrestrial globes and maps.
Animated gifs and animations of Planet Earth to share on social networks, download or send to other phones for Whatsapp, Line or Skype. The Earth is one of the planets in the solar system. In it, different species such as humans, animals and plants live. Performs two main movements for solar orbit: rotation (about its axis) and translation (around the sun). This planet is usually represented with a globe or map. From space, you can see that planet Earth is composed of a large tract of land and water, you can also see the clouds. The layers that form the inside of the planet are the inner core, outer core, mantle, upper mantle and crust. Here you can find images of the topography, movements and characteristics of the Earth.


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Lucky Strike "Night Full of Fear" Halloween
Event info
The Fall season is finally upon us – pumpkin spice latte's, the changing colors of the leaves, the cool evening breeze, and of course – Halloween! If you've ever enjoyed partying during HalloWeekend in the local Boston area, then you may be well versed in the plethora of options there are. With so many events taking place during Halloween, make sure to be where the action is. This year's "Night Full of Fear" at Lucky Strike is undoubtedly a top ranking event in Fenway. A live DJ, costume contest and zombie's galore will be in attendance. With up to 70,000 square feet of party space, this massive complex is uniquely designed to host multiple events at once or one ginormous Halloween event! One night only Halloween themed cocktails and mixed drinks will be on deck for all those who are truly in the spirit of horror. On Saturday October 31st, take part in Lucky Strike Social's "Night Full of Fear" starting at 8PM and let the fright commence!
purchase Tickets
Lucky Strike "Night Full of Fear" Halloween


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July 12-14, 2016
Moscone Center
San Fransisco, CA
Discover Renishaw's encoder technologies at booth #1667!
Renshaw offers a comprehensive range of advanced encoders used by OEMs around the world for exact positioning, highest reliability, and superior performance-to-cost value. A variety of different encoder technologies provide machine designers with proven solutions to difficult applications. Three encoder technologies —optical, magnetic and laser interferometer—all are engineered to deliver non-contact, friction-free operation, exceptional ease of installation, space savings, and application flexibility.
For more information on Renishaw products go to www.renishaw.com.


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St. Philip was born in Bethsaida, Galilee. He may have been a disciple of John the Baptist and is mentioned as one of the Apostles in the lists of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and in Acts. Aside from the lists, he is mentioned only in John's Gospel in the New Testament. He was called by Jesus Himself and brought Nathanael to Christ. Philip was present at the miracle of the loaves and fishes, when he engaged in a brief dialogue with the Lord, and was the Apostle approached by the Hellenistic Jews from Bethsaida to introduce them to Jesus. Just before the Passion, Jesus answered Philip's request to show them the Father, but no further mention of Philip is made in the New Testament beyond his listing among the Apostles awaiting the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. According to tradition he preached in Greece and was crucified upside down at Hierapolis under Emperor Domitian.
St. James the Less, the author of the first catholic Epistle (that is, addressed to the Church generally), was the son of Alphaeus (also known as Cleophas). His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord. The Apostle held a distinguished position in the early Christian community of Jerusalem. St. Paul tells us he was a witness of the Resurrection of Christ; he is also a "pillar" of the Church, whom St. Paul consulted about the Gospel. According to tradition, he was the first Bishop of Jerusalem, and was at the Council of Jerusalem about the year 50. St. James was martyred for the Faith by the Jews in the Spring of the year 62. He was held in great respect by everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, which earned him the of "James the Just."
O Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth and the life; that, following the steps of thy holy Apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James, we may steadfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.


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A Tradition of Excellence. A Legacy of Caring.
More than 25 million Americans suffer from uncomfortable and unsightly varicose
veins. The Vein Center at The Heart, Lung and Vascular Surgeons of Wheeling Hospital
now offers non-surgical treatment that safe, virtually painless and requires little-to-no
The VenaCure EVLT laser vein treatment procedure uses laser energy to achieve proven
results without the discomfort and lengthy recovery experienced through the surgical
option of legation and vein stripping. The entire procedure takes about 1 hour and,
depending on the severity of your condition, may be covered by your insurance. (Call
your provider for more information.)
Varicose veins can develop through a combination of weakened vein walls and faulty
valves. Under a variety of circumstances, normally toned, elastic vein walls can
become weak and allow the recirculating blood that should be moving toward your
heart to flow backward. One-way valves in these veins – which open and enable blood
to flow through on its way upward, then close to stop blood from flowing backward
– can also fail to function properly. This allows blood to pool and pressure to
build up, which further weakens and subsequently damages the veins, causing them
to become twisted, enlarged and painful. Up to 40 percent of women and 25 percent
of men are affected by this condition.
Simply put, a laser is a highly concentrated beam of light. Medical lasers work
by delivering this light energy to the targeted tissue with extreme precision, so
as not to affect the surrounding tissue. Lasers have proven their safety and effectiveness
through years of use in all types of medical procedures, from eye surgery to dermatology.
In the hands of skilled physicians, such as those at The Vein Center, lasers offer
far less risk for complications than conventional surgery.
In laser vein treatment, a thin fiber is inserted into the damaged vein. A laser
light is emitted through the fiber, delivering just the right amount of energy.
The targeted tissue reacts with the light energy, causing the vein to close and
seal shut. The veins that are closed off are superficial veins that handle less
than 5 percent of your blood flow. The blood is automatically routed to other veins.
The entire laser procedure typically lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour, and requires
only a local anesthetic. While you may feel an unfamiliar sensation, it is not painful.
This part of the procedure takes literally just a few minutes. Your physician will
encourage you to walk immediately after the procedure, and you can resume normal
activity the same day. Ask your physician when it is safe to resume rigorous activities.
Some patients may experience temporary soreness, which can be treated effectively
with over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain relievers, and should subside within the
first five days.
After treatment, the appearance of the abnormal vein is instantly improved with
minimal-to-no scarring. There may be some slight swelling and minimal bruising around
the treatment site. However, once that subsides, you will see a significant difference
in the appearance of your legs. For those patients who don't experience these small
side effects, the results are obvious right away.
Published clinical studies show that the laser procedure has a 95 percent initial
success rate with excellent long-term results. Veins that are treated are very unlikely
to become varicose again.
Dr. Victor Maevsky, a cardiothoracic surgeon, previously was employed in the Department
of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester.
He received his medical degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in
Grenada, British West Indies. After completing his residency at St. Barnabas Medical
Center at in Livingston, N.J., Maevsky served a cardiothoracic fellowship at Strong
Memorial Hospital. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery, and has made
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was a member of a missionary surgery team at Hospital of Sacred Heart in Milot,
Melissa Glauser has worked with Dr. Rahbar since 2006. She has a bachelor's degree
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a master's degree in physician assistant studies with a specialization in cardiovascular
thoracic medicine from the University of Nebraska. She is certified by the National
Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
The Vein Center is conveniently located at 1021 Mount de Chantal Road, just down
the street from Wheeling Hospital's main campus. For more information, call 304-243-1000.
More information on the VenaCure EVLT technology is available at


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Mar 24, 2009 | ISBN 9780553588224
"David Robbins writes with an assured narrative tone, never producing a jarring sentence or a clumsy piece of dialogue. His story is laced with authenticity and utter realism. Food for thought on every fascinating page. A born stylist, The Betrayal Game unfolds with vivid velocity to an explosive end with a clever surprise. Don't spoil it by reading the last few pages first."—Steve Berry, author of The Alexandria Link, The Templar Legacy, The Third Secret and The Romanov Prophecy
"David L. Robbins aims his unique lens at one of the most riveting and contentious subjects in American history—the attempted overthrow of Fidel Castro. With style and pace, Robbins spins an eminently believable tale of the intricate plots and desperate operatives pitched against the spread of communism. A triumph."—Kyle Mills, author of Darkness Falls and The Second Horseman
"The action is exciting and the pace furious"—Baltimore Sun
'This is heart-racing fare with a neat, and unexpected final twist…. What especially distinguishes the story is its protagonist, Dr. Mikhal Lammeck, an authority on assassination."—Richmond Times Dispatch