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It's okay to make mistakes.
I think, people, everyday, everywhere, are often too hard on themselves for making mistakes. We often find ourselves striving for perfection, with very little room for acceptable error. In my opinion, perfection is an unachievable standard designed to create emotional suffering.
My Take On Perfection
Perfection is an illusion, because nothing in the natural world is flawless. You might see symmetry and order all around you, (half the time, it's your brain filling in gaps to help you make sense of things), but look a little closer, and you will notice slight variations that make everything unique and different- not 100% perfect.
Perfection can be difficult to obtain, not only because it is an illusion, but also because perfection is nothing more than a matter of opinion. My idea of perfection is probably different from your idea of perfection. Unfortunately, differences in opinions, can lead to criticism, and I think that is why striving for perfection can be so destructive.
My OCD Brain – The Perfectionist
My OCD brain is a perfectionist, but I am not.
I don't have a need to strive for perfection; mostly, because I accept chaos, I don't believe in perfection, and I enjoy being an odd-ball. But, my Fight or Flight Response System seems to gauge danger based on the assumption of perfection. One slight difference from the so-called norm and my Fight or Flight Response System's alarm is sounding off, triggering anxiety, and forcing my OCD brain to respond the only way it knows how- with OCD.
Of course, my OCD is a bully and it tries to use perfection against me to create self-doubt. I make one tiny mistake and my OCD brain is all over it! It just won't let it go; especially, if other people address and criticize my mistakes- my OCD is all over that! I end up dwelling on my mistakes. Of course, I naturally feel bad whenever I make a mistake, but my OCD brain will try to make me feel as if I am the worst person on the planet. From there, I begin to doubt myself. "I am not good enough. I always make mistakes. I can't do anything right, etc. etc." And, sure enough, that can lead to catastrophic thinking: "If I try, I will fail, and something bad might happen if I fail." A destructive thinking cycle.
Mistakes Are Okay, Everyone Makes Them
Everyone makes mistakes! The wisest of all wise minds have made mistakes. The greatest of all great minds have made mistakes. Making mistakes are crucial to learning! Also, it's kind of a human thing to do.
Although some mistakes come with consequences, one of the many reasons many of us don't like making mistakes, they are also important in teaching us life lessons to help us grow and become better versions of ourselves. Don't be mistaken though, for that mistakes can lead to wonderful discoveries! Have you ever heard of silly putty!
10 Ways to overcome our emotions after making a mistake
- Own your mistakes. Acknowledge, apologize, and accept, that you made a mistake and if the mistake can be fixed, do your best to fix it.
- Forgive yourself!
- Learn from your mistakes. Every mistake is a lesson to be learned.
- Understand that everyone makes mistakes- you're not alone!
- Accept that nobody is perfect, even those who may criticize you for your mistakes- they've made mistakes too.
- Mistakes are bad decisions due to poor judgement or lack of knowledge, usually not because of purposeful evil intentions.
- Mistakes do not define failure. Allow your mistakes to encourage you to strive for success. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try, again!"
- Laugh about it! We all make silly embarrassing mistakes time from time. The best thing to do, is just to laugh them off and move on.
- Accept that not all mistakes can be forgiven or fixed – that's just Life.
- Good people make mistakes too!
Mistakes Are Forgivable
In my opinion, mistakes are forgivable, just not everyone has the ability to forgive.
Forgiveness can be difficult, especially, when the heart strings are pulled too tight. Emotions make forgiveness tough for everyone. But, the most important part, is forgiving yourself for your own mistakes.
Forgiving yourself first, may open the door for others to follow and express forgiveness too. However, in order to forgive yourself, you must accept that others may not forgive you. It's tough to forgive yourself, especially, if those who are not willing to forgive, are making you feel bad for the mistakes you have made.
If you made a mistake that caused emotional pain to another, acknowledge and apologize for your mistake(s), understand their point of view, offer to correct your mistake(s), accept the consequences, and forgive yourself.
Forgiving yourself allows you to move on, when others can't. If the other person cannot forgive you for making a mistake, even after you have apologized and fixed (or tried to fix) your mistake, the problem is out of your hands. Sometimes we end up dwelling on our own mistakes, because other people don't (or can't) let go.
Forgive But You Do Not Have To Forget
The inability to forgive, creates grudges and I am not a fan of grudges. Personally, I just don't have the time and energy to hold onto a grudge. I am a type of person who forgives and forgets.
I forgive myself for making mistakes and I forgive others who make mistakes. Mistakes just happen and thus, to me, I don't think mistakes are a big deal. I mean, of course some mistakes can be major problems, but I strongly believe with a little teamwork, all honest mistakes can be fixed. Like, instead of criticizing someone for making an honest mistake, why not just try to help them (work together) to fix their mistake? Makes it much easier for everyone to move on without holding onto a grudge.
But, again, there are some people who are just forever- grudge holders. There is nothing you can do or say to make up for your mistakes. And, you know what, that is totally fine!
Grudge-holders are hanging onto emotions attached to past actions. This is something they need to work out on their own. I once advised a friend of mine (who openly acknowledges being a "Major Grudge Holder"), that it is completely okay to never forget, but for the sake of their own emotions, they should at least forgive.
What is Forgiveness- Greater Good Magazine
The act of forgiveness is for you, not the person asking for forgiveness. In my opinion, forgiveness doesn't mean the actions of others are okay. Forgiveness is, more or less, accepting that such unfortunate actions had occurred, allowing you to move past your own emotions (anger, hurt, embarrassment, or whatever). However, you certainly do not have to forget.
Smile, Breathe, and Dust Yourself Off
The next time you make an honest mistake- smile, breathe, and dust yourself off. Everything is going to be okay! Everyone makes mistakes! It's all part of being human!
Check out this interesting link below about conquering fears by making mistakes on purpose!
Why You Should Make Mistakes On Purpose – Psychology Today
Do you think forgiveness is easy or difficult? Why?


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Jazz musician Dave Sereny emulates Paul Simon with his new single "Come Here Baby" where he reminisces about his past relationships back drop with jazz grooves. The incorporation of different styles of jazz reminds me of Paul Simon style and vocal tone.
This is a beautifully crafted song with heart-felt romantic lyrics that make you want to sing along and hit repeat, repeat, repeat, Think cold day, fireplace going, snuggled in a blanket, reading a good book – that's "Come Here Baby"! The relaxing energy that Sereny brings is not only straight forward jazz but it's been infused with influences from soul and rock.
From signature-like Paul Simon vocals to amazing melodic guitar licks similar to Santana, Sereny really wants us to enjoy his song just as much as he did when he was writing, composing, singing and playing his electric guitar on this track; the same is the case with the whole album, not just this track.
Make sure to check out the full album on Spotify here Be sure to check his website and Twitter for all your updates and questions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Orson Scott Card is pretty famous, so he doesn't fit the Dead Houseplants mandate, but I figured the YA fantasy audience may not be so familiar to him, since most of his work is adult sci-fi. He's an accomplished storyteller with an amazing imagination; I always feel in good hands when I begin one of his stories, and he's full of mind-bending concepts and plot-twists. If you haven't read Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, I highly recommend them.
But just when we're settling in for the classic fantasy journey of discovery, there's a chapter from the point of view of a character in a spaceship, about to make the first-ever jump into a fold in space-time. It's a strange juxtaposition, but it's fascinating to follow the two plot lines and slowly figure out how they're connected. Rigg travels from the edge to the centre of his civilization, getting involved in plots and politics and figuring out who he really is and what this ability of his can accomplish. The story in the spaceship has less action and takes up less time, but it's full of crazy ideas from physics that end up being essential to understanding Rigg and his world. The plot comes to a satisfying end but it's clear the story isn't over; I am very curious to find out what happens next.
The North family lived on a compound in a sheltered valley in western Virginia, and most of them never went to town, for it was a matter of some shame that gods should now be forced to buy supplies and sell crops just like common people.
Danny North is a typical fantasy hero: born into a family of mages but with no apparent power of his own. Of course, he ends up having the most feared and coveted power of them all (you can guess, but I'm not going to give it away), and he has to run away from his family to stop them from killing him or exploiting him. In the meantime, someone long asleep on Westil is awakened. Dah dah dah dom. Danny goes through a bit of an anti-hero journey as he tries to figure out how to use his power and stay alive, and the mysterious character of Wad gets caught up in royal politics on Westil.
Of the two books, I think I liked Pathfinder best, but that may be because I read it first. When I picked up The Lost Gate what I really wanted was more about Rigg and his planet instead of absorbing a whole nother cosmology. The planet of Westil is complex and interesting and I wasn't paying quite enough attention to it. I have mixed feelings about Danny and Rigg as main characters: Rigg is a more appealing person, because of his confidence, whereas Danny seems almost whiney, but I think Danny has more long-term potential; it's amusing to watch Rigg learn to manipulate the people around him, but after a while his arrogant know-it-allness becomes annoying.
I still recommend both books: Pathfinder if you cross over easily between sci-fi and fantasy, and The Lost Gate if you want more magic. But you might want to wait and see which sequel is going to come out first before you decide!
(I'll have to wait until I reread them to make a food analogy; it's been too long and I've lost their flavour.)


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The University of California, Los Angeles, Ethnomusicology Archive collection contains audiovisual material (moving images and audio) from the 1940s to 2010s. A majority of the collection contains filmed footage and recorded audio of ethnic musical groups in California and around the world. Subjects include African American music, folk music, and music created by California inmates.
1630 Schoenberg Music Bldg, Los Angeles, CA 90095


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Best e-Fax App for iPhone
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Who actually sends a fax these days?
I recently had to fax in receipts and a form related to a reimbursement claim with Amex. They don't take email. Snail mail is too much of a lain and takes too long.
Apparently there are some old school outdated people (mostly banks and other legal-related organizations and companies) who still require you to fax things in.
I already use ScanBot as my doc scanner app of choice on my iPhone. It creates amazing "scan" docs in PDF format on the fly. Now I just needed to find a fax app to send my forms and paperwork in.
After hunting and trying out a bunch of apps over the last year, my go-to Fax App is now iFax.
It has a super easy interface and is intuitive to use. You can add a cover page or not. Sending a fax is simple. It is cheap too. $.0.99 for the first 4 pages.
Now, if you wanted to RECEIVE A FAX, then that's a different story. They have monthly subscriptions for picking out personal fax number from a selection of prefixes.
Pricing isn't great, but to be honest all the competitors are about the same. One monthly fee.
I haven't found a pay by fax alternative for inbound so far. Do you know of one for inbound faxing?


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On Saturday the 26th, I traveled to the nearby Black Horse Tavern, run by Mr. S. Bradford, to take my ease, do some gaming and have a few drinks.
The notice upon the board reads thus:
Hold fast to that which is good.
THE Subscriber having met with great encouragement in the
town of Nashville, which has induced him to move to that
large new brick house below the market house
At the Sign of the
BLACK HORSE, or, TRAVELLER'S HALL,
where he has opened a house of private entertainment for gentle-
men and ladies, it being completely calculated to entertain those
that may please to give him a call. — His accommodations are
fine, stables are furnished with every thing for the comfort of
horses as they are dirt floors which will not stock or swell horses
legs and prevent them from travelling.
Genteel boarders, per week, 2 Dol. 50 Ct.
Board and lodging, do. 3 Dol. 50 Ct.
Horse, do. 3 Dol. 50 Ct.
Horse, 24 hours, 62 1-2 Ct.
Lodging, per night, 12 1-2 Ct.
The attention which will be given to serve the public will no
doubt be much in favor.
June 7, 1808.
I arrived at Five in the evening and to my surprise and delight who should I discover but Miss Waterman on a visit from New York! As it turns out, Mr, Hegwood's health is poor, and it has been recommended that they move him to a warmer climate. They sent Miss Waterman along first in an attempt to secure lodging here in this very region. She and her servant were currently lodged in the Black Horse at the rate of 3 Dollars and 50 Cts. per week while they sought out a new home for the Hegwoods.
Miss Waterman and I at 'Shut The Box' whilst the Tavern Keeper looks on.
I was able to entice Miss Waterman into a few friendly games at the gaming table. "Shut the Box" was played several times, as well as One long game of "Beggar my Neighbor" in which I narrowly managed to win against both Miss Waterman and the Tavern Keep.
The Tavern Keep also taught me how to play a game of cards called 'Punt' at which I lost Six Dollars and Fifty Cts. It was a difficult game to learn wherein the number three card is high and the number four is low, quite confusing.
Perhaps I ought to send a note to Miss Waterman and volunteer my services, not only to Mr. Hegwood as Doctor, but also to the family in aiding their search for a new home?
A portrait made by Mr. Glidden of those in attendance at the
Black Horse Tavern on the evening of the 26th.


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Address of business: 1014 Livingston Ave., Suite 103, North Brunswick
Type of business: Personal, semi-personal and group fitness training, applied functional science, neuromuscular massage therapy, active release therapy
Principal: Michael Rizk
How long in business: Eight years
Number of employees: Four
Telephone number: 732-249-9000
Web site: http://www.afitsolution.com/Fitness_Solutions/Welcome.html
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
By JARED KALTWASSER
and BOB MAKIN
Michael Rizk wasn't always a fitness expert.
After playing just about every sport he could as a youth growing up in the township, Rizk went on to become a car salesman and soon found himself significantly overweight. He said the relatively sedentary job duties and a lack of exercise outside of work dragged him down.
"I became a statistic like everybody else," he said.
But then Rizk joined a local gym at the urging of a classmate. In nine months, he dropped from 240 pounds to 190 and soon was teaching the fitness classes.
"I had never given it much thought prior to that, but then I left the auto industry and became a trainer," he said. "A year later, I started Fitness Solutions."
Rizk initially went to his clients' homes for training sessions, but he soon tired of the constant travel. In 2004, the business relocated to an office shared with a physical therapist, and in 2005, the business opened up in its current location at 1014 Livingston Ave.
During his time sharing space with the physical therapy practice, Rizk's future wife, Laraine, joined the business. She now works as a part-time trainer, teaches a spinning class at a local gym, and looks after the couple's 2-year-old son, Jackson.
Rizk's brand of fitness is not based on bulging biceps and repetitive motions. His workout space has a large open floor plan, plus select exercise equipment, such as a treadmill, elliptical machine, rower and SPIN bikes. But much of the work is done with kettlebells, which looks like a cannon ball with a handle on top.
"We like having room to move freely and not feeling confined to seated machine exercises," Rizk said. "So many Americans sit for eight to 12 hours per day as it is. I don't see the benefit of taking part in a program that prides itself on more sitting, while locked into the ranges of motion that a machine defines. We have infinite ways of moving our bodies, and we help our clients explore their abilities, which improve their movement threshold. In turn, we enhance performance, prevent injury and allow for recovery and restoration. This is what we feel a training and conditioning program should do for someone."
Rizk said he focuses on three-dimensional workouts, which utilize not only front-to-back movement but also side-to-side and rotational movements.
He said in the real world, people don't lift things the way they might dumbbells, but instead do multiple motions at the same time, such as reaching down to pick something up while holding a child.
"We move three-dimensionally on a daily basis," Rizk said. "Just because most of us don't realize it, doesn't mean we shouldn't condition our bodies that way. Additionally, training should be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and should have a timeline. We believe training just to train leads to boredom and a sense of feeling unsure. We strongly believe training should have specificity that meets the demands of our lifestyle.
"If you are a mother who needs to get around the house while holding a child on one side of your body, then your training should reflect your environment," he continued. "Think about it, would biceps curls or performing a squat, lunge or deadlift with an uneven load have a better functional carryover into that mother's lifestyle? I'm not saying there is anything wrong with biceps curls, but at the end of the day, I want to do what will be best for my specific client."
In recent years, Rizk has enhanced his personal education, becoming a flexibility specialist, performance enhancement specialist, a soft tissue and massage therapist and most recently a fellow of applied functional science. That study of the interconnected and chain reaction nature of the human body emphasizes three-dimensional biomechanics within successful movement environments.
Applied functional science, he said, gave him an in-depth understanding of human movement. Instead of simply training people with exercise or treating symptoms with massage therapy, he now can work to address the underlying concerns that are causing chronic pain. For instance, he said, knee pain doesn't necessarily reflect a problem with the knee. It could be any number of other joints in the body.
"If you were the knee joint, and you were hurting, where would you look to see who's hurting you and who can help you?," Rizk said. "I would look down to my ankle and up to my hip for starters and work from there. If the knee has to do more, then the ankle or hip may be doing less, and you're going to end up getting pain.Your performance goes down and then you can't exercise because your knee hurts."
The business also has a registered dietician on staff, Georgie Fear. They have developed a health-first, lifestyle-based nutrition program that focuses on providing their clients with the knowledge to make informed decisions for the rest of their lives.
"Many programs are so structured, which can be good if you are going to do that program forever," Rizk said. "We found that once people stop their 'programs,' they fall back to their old familiar ways because the program hasn't taught them how to do it on their own."
Fitness Solutions recently started offering 60 monthly group classes in addition to private training.
"We acknowledged our country is experiencing an economic crisis, and we wanted to devise a strategy to get people moving properly under professional guidance without breaking the bank," Rizk said. "We know we will not train anyone forever. Our desire is to create a system of training that empowers people with the knowledge of movement, helps them appreciate their individual starting point and how to build a long term health and fitness plan that will condition them for life."
By the end of January, Rizk said, most people will have lost commitment to their New Year's resolutions to exercise. To help them stay on track, he is offering one month of free group conditioning or one week of free private training for a three-month commitment.
Jared Kaltwasser: 732-565-7263; email@example.com
Bob Makin: 732-565-7319; email@example.com; http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/fightingforlife; http://www.youtube.com/Fighting4LifeMYCJ


text:
As of January 1, 2016, Gapers Block has ceased publication. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions over the past 12-plus years. ✶
Thursday, August 13
In A/C, LaShawn Williams interviews LisaRaye, South Side native and star of TV One's "LisaRaye: The Real McCoy," about her childhood in Chicago, her reality show and life after being the first lady of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
GB T-Shirt $12
I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15


text: Written by Odessa Coleman. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ Personally my favourite library to go to is the Devonport library based in Auckland, New Zealand. The staff there are really warm and have been working there for years. The building itself is spacious and modern yet it feels very cosy and welcoming….


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The next round of appointments to the Charity Commission's board should "actively seek to recruit people from a wide range of demographic characteristics", the House of Lords Select Committee on Charities has recommended.
In its report, the committee says it recognises there are difficulties for the regulator in securing a diverse board, but it "cannot expect to hold the sector to a higher standard than it is able to achieve itself".
It says: "We recommend that the commission is mindful of the example it sets to the sector and that when filling future vacancies it explicitly seeks to recruit individuals with a range of skills, charity experiences and demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, ethnicity and geography.
"We expect to see the results of this approach in the next set of board appointments."
Appointments to the regulator's board are made by the government, but at one of the committee's evidence hearings the Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock suggested to William Shawcross, chair of the commission, that his board was "a fairly right-wing, upper middle-class, white, middle-aged group of people from the south-east of England".
Shawcross said at the time that the suggestion was "grossly unfair" and subsequently said in a letter to the committee that he felt the statement amounted to a personal attack.
The committee's report notes that it heard evidence during its inquiry from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, which called for a greater role for parliament in how the board is appointed and an independent chair with cross-party support, and the chief executives body Acevo, which said the appointments process was "opaque and undemocratic".
A Charity Commission spokesman said the regulator was committed to continuing to improving diversity throughout the commission, and said its board had until recently included women from BAME backgrounds.
"Diversity is an important issue for the commission and charities to consider," he said. "Indeed, it is an issue across government, parliament and in wider society.
"Appointments to the board will be made by Department for Culture, Media & Sport ministers, but when vacancies are next advertised we will ask DCMS to allow us to work with a specialist recruiter with expertise in recruiting a diverse range of candidates."
Commission 'must take care in public communications'
The report says that the commission "must take care in its public communications to ensure that it retains the confidence of the public and the charity sector".
It says the committee heard concerns from charities about the Charity Commission's initial guidance on campaigning during the EU referendum, which had been interpreted as restricting their ability to speak on the issue.
The report says that, although the guidance was subsequently revised, "it clearly created a negative impression in the sector in relation to their freedom to comment and advocate on relevant issues".
The report says that any new regulation or guidance should recognise that advocacy is an important and legitimate part of charities' role and set this out in "clear and unambiguous language".
It says: "Just as charities must be judicious in their activities in order to remain politically impartial, the Charity Commission must take care in its public communications to ensure that it retains the confidence of the public and the charity sector."
The charity leaders body Acevo said in a statment that it welcomed the committee's affirmation that a healthy society is dependent on robust charity campaigning. It added that it was further encouraged by the observations that the Charity Commission should be "mindful of the need to support charity" and "to be representative of the sector it regulates".


text:
The best headphones for home and portable use.
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See more: Read our on-ear headphone buying guide.
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text:
Update on totals
Sunday was a warm, beautiful day to check on all the purple martins (all 96) The colony behind the nature center at Hammonasset currently has a combination of 125 eggs and chicks (approximately 22 chicks and 103 eggs) This colony is actually experienced 2 stressors in the last 2 years, last year the housing units needed to be moved so the new Nature Center construction could begin. Martins DO NOT like their houses moved, even a few feet. Many did not nest last year because of this. This year construction recently began in close proximity to the martin's housing. The workers are aware of the birds, but we anticipate some disruption to them despite everyone's best efforts.
The second colony at Chase Pond at Hammo currently has 166 egg/chicks.11 chicks and 155 eggs. Each colony has the same capacity for nests.
Lots of perils lie ahead for the birds, a run of cool, rainy weather can cause devastating losses. Martins need to catch flying insects to feed their young. A prolonged period of rain means no flying insects. Predators also impact the total hatch. There are predator guards to protect from snakes and ground threats but yesterday we watched the Nature Center's resident hawk circle and land very close to the martins and there are many other threats...so let's all hope for the best!
We have eggs!
Although we begin the season by putting some nesting material in each box, it is up to the martins to add additional material and form it into their cupped shaped nest. When they are ready to lay their eggs, green leaves are added. Why they add the green leaves is a mystery. At Hammo they tend to add bayberry leaves but other martins add apple, or pear, oak or whatever seems to be available.
Bayberry leaves are highly aromatic and one of the theories is that the leaves help in pest control but the leaves may help reduce the temperature of the nest, the humidity of the nest, or help make the nest bowl easier to clean. If you want to read more about that I've included a link below.
All about the eggs - The typical martin nest has between 5-7 eggs, with 5 being the average. Subadult females lay between 3-5 eggs. The eggs are laid early in the morning over the course of several days. A cold spell can interrupt the laying process for a day or two or even limit the number of eggs in a clutch.
The incubation period for the martins is tricky to figure...the timing of the hatch begins the next to the last egg is laid and continues for 14-16 days. During this time the female transfers heat to the egg through the featherless spot on her belly called the "brood patch". This was created when hormones caused the feathers in that area to molt and the blood vessels increase. The female periodically rotates the eggs so that all areas of the eggs benefit from the warmth of this patch. Males will also sit on the eggs, but they do not help with the incubation, just help prevent heat and moisture loss and guard against predation.
June 2016


text:
In this Episode Ryan, Will and Will tackle issue #6 of Secret Empire which features the return (temporarily) of the Incredible Hulk. The guys also discuss the newest Dark Days One-Shot, The Casting. Is more revealed about the Dark Multiverse or are there just more questions? The guys answer that question and more. The War of Jokes and Riddles is another event currently going on in Batman and the Will's discuss whether or not it has been interesting so far. Also in this episode the gang discuss some of their favorite Image Comics books because this year is their 25th anniversary. Enjoy!
Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
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text:
With the change in my hormones after going through menopause, I have found it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This lovely herbal tea blend has solved at least the issue not being able to fall asleep. Each of the ingredients in this vegan herbal blend are caffeine and gluten free.
The herbal tea contains 100% organic ingredients, including chamomile, cinnamon, peppermint, red raspberry leaf and valerian root. Each of these ingredients has been chosen because of their relaxation and/or sleep promoting properties. To brew, Place 1 teaspoonful of tea in infuser or cup. Pour hot, but not boiling, water on tea and let steep for at least 3-5 minutes. I don't mind a stronger brew, so I will generally start drinking my tea after about 10 minutes and will leave the infuser in the cup until I'm almost done with the tea.
I find the mild flavor of this herbal tea quite nice & drink the tea as is, without any additions. I have found that drinking this tea within an hour of going to sleep has greatly helped me to sleep more deeply and for loner periods of time.
A nice free gift is included with the purchase of this tea. You will receive a doubled-sided plastic measuring spoon. One side of the spoon measures 1 teaspoon and the other side measures 1 tablespoon. The measuring spoon contains two tiny magnets. I keep my spoon conveniently placed on the side of my refrigerator.


text:
Main bank for Illinois' medical marijuana industry is pulling out, leaving some operators to deal in cash
The main bank serving Illinois medical marijuana companies is pulling out of the industry, leaving operators with few options other than dealing in cash.
Bank of Springfield sent a letter to its cannabis clients late last month informing them that their accounts will be closed May 21. The decision is tied to the reversal of an Obama-era policy that discouraged prosecution of those operating under state marijuana laws.
The move is a setback for the industry, which remains a pilot program more than two years after medical cannabis became legal in Illinois. Strict regulations and other obstacles have added challenges to running cannabis companies and kept patient numbers too low for some operators to recoup their investments.
Taking away the bank accounts medical marijuana companies use to pay their employees, vendors and the government is another hurdle. It also eliminates some of the legitimacy and traceability of transactions that banking added to the industry, which had $8.5 million in retail sales statewide in February, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"This is the closest we've been to being without banks in Illinois in this industry … which isn't good," said Ross Morreale, co-founder of Ataraxia, which owns a cultivation facility in southern Illinois and co-owns three dispensaries. "It makes everything more difficult."
There are other financial institutions around the state that work with the cannabis industry, but not many. Companies that relied solely on Bank of Springfield or are unable to find another bank might have to start operating exclusively in cash.
PharmaCann, which operates two cultivation centers and four dispensaries, banked with Bank of Springfield, said Jeremy Unruh, the company's director of public and regulatory policy. The company has another bank in Illinois to fall back on, Unruh said, but some dispensaries and cultivators likely won't have other options.
"For the industry at large, it's a real kind of punch in the gut," he said. "If you're a dispensary, you need to pay for a wholesale product, and you don't have a bank. How do you do it? That transaction might have to be in cash."
The marijuana industry has run up against the banking issue for years.
The drug remains illegal at the federal level, and banks hesitate to get involved since their federal regulators could look at a cannabis company's bank account and see drug money. In Colorado, which made recreational pot legal in 2012, there have been news reports of marijuana companies paying bills with duffel bags full of cash.
Some banks that did wade into the industry took guidance from an Obama-era Department of Justice memo that discouraged prosecution, but the waters they operated in got murkier when the Justice Department rescinded the guidance in January.
Bank of Springfield informed its cannabis clients in mid-January that it was reviewing its relationships with businesses in the industry. After review, the bank decided to pull out, according to the March letter obtained by the Tribune.
Medical marijuana operators in Illinois hoped they would be unaffected by the Justice Department's decision since other protections remain in place that prohibit the department from spending federal money to prevent states from implementing medical marijuana laws. Those protections didn't provide "enough comfort" for Bank of Springfield to continue working with the industry, bank spokesman Andrew Mack said.
"The bank's stance is that protecting their customers is paramount," he said. "The Bank of Springfield will not jeopardize any of their customers by working with businesses that operate in the legal gray zone."
The now-withdrawn Justice Department memo had indicated that if careful compliance was followed, banks would not be prosecuted, Mack added. "The trend had been toward more clarity, and that clarity has gone away."
Mack declined to disclose how many clients Bank of Springfield worked with in Illinois' medical marijuana industry.
Losing the main bank for the state's medical cannabis operators is a setback, but it won't bring down the industry.
Dealing in cash is doable, it just adds security issues and logistical headaches, said David Knapp, co-founder of Mount Prospect dispensary New Age Care. High banking fees pushed him to start operating solely with cash two years ago.


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This page may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.
It's a whole new world for shopping. Gone are the days when the only way to get what you want was to brave the weather to go to the local department or specialty store only to stumble through the front door of your home laden with packages (and with aching feet) a few hours later!
And, thanks to franchising, it's always the same old stuff.
Of course, hitting the pavement is still necessary to some extent, but here's some ideas for online shopping websites that have some unique offerings, and can save you the gas (or bus fare!).
Amazon was originally mostly associated with selling books, but nowadays you can purchase almost anything. Case in point, I just typed "toilet paper" into Amazon's search bar and not one, not two, but upwards of seven different brands were offered! There are almost 400 million products to choose from, so the chances of finding something suitable are very high! Their website is really user friendly too.
Amazon also offers a feature called Amazon Prime which, for about 10 bucks a month, offers free 2-day shipping, free streaming of TV and Video, free downloading of Kindle books and more.
Shipping: Aside from Amazon Prime, Amazon generally offers two different shipping options, standard and expedited.
Gift cards: Gift cards are available in both actual card and eCard options.
Etsy is a marketplace of vendors from all across the globe. All of the offerings are creative, crafty or vintage in nature, and all are handmade. In fact, you cannot be an Etsy vendor unless your items are handmade.
Etsy offers a wide variety of unique or personalized items that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Another great thing about Etsy is that you can message the vendors directly in case you want additional information.
One of the drawbacks of Etsy though is that vendors often have "ready to ship" dates. Since items are handmade, they may not be in stock. This means that you will have to add this time onto your shipping, so the wait to get the item into your hands could be lengthier.
Shipping: Shipping times and costs vary, depending on which country the item is coming from.
Gift Cards: Etsy eCards are available in many different designs, but they are not accepted by every Etsy vendor.
Redbubble.com is a really cool site; particularly if you like art. It works on the premise that artists submit their designs to Rebbubble and they put them on various products like, clothing, electronic device cases, home decor and more.
This is a great place to find original, unique and fun gifts, and if you fall in love with a design, there is any number of products that you can get it on. This is especially great for home decor themes.
Shipping: Shipping times and costs vary depending on country but generally both standard and express options are offered. Sometimes shipping times may be longer if you are purchasing multiple items, because they may be coming from different manufacturing centres.
Gift Cards: Called "Gift Certificates" and, yes, they have 'em (electronic only)!
This is why I'm broke is a website that finds cool and unique stuff to buy all over the Internet and displays it in one place. Silly, practical, ridiculously expensive and everything in between. The website itself is just plain fun to browse through.
Some notable items include a Harry Potter cookbook, a public toilet survival kit or an infrared keyboard, plus tons and tons of gaming stuff.
If you are looking for a unique gift though, this is it … on steroids!
Shipping: When you click on an item, you are redirected to the page of the vendor that sells it so shipping could be different for everything depending on what each particular vendor offers.
Gift Cards: Nada from the website itself, but many of the items come from Amazon, and you can get them there.
I ❤ Zazzle. Really, I do. Again, if it is the unique gift you are after, you'll find it here. Zazzle is the personalization king; you can absolutely personalize anything in your home with the help of Zazzle, including your bathmat! They also have beautiful phone cases with any design you can imagine including a large selection of watercolour and famous art print designs.
Zazzle works with brands too, so if your the person you are buying for is a Justice League connoisseur, you can find something they will love!
Another nice thing is that Zazzle has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you have any problem with your purchase, they'll take it back. I don't normally like to mention this, because it sounds like blah, blah, blah, buy here, but I purchased an item from Zazzle once that I wanted to return, and they bent over backwards to make sure I was happy, and I find that to be rare nowadays!
Shipping: Shipping options are expedited, standard and slow, with standard and expedited offering tracking. You can ship directly to your recipient too, and they'll take the price information off of the invoice.
Gift Cards: Gift cards are available in eCard format and can be sent with a personal message; you also get to choose the design.
Ebates is a great site if you want to save and earn money. All you have to do is sign up for an Ebates account and shop at all your favourite stores. In return, Ebates gives you a percentage of your purchase as a cash back. Almost every store you can imagine (or that you already shop at) is included.
Also, if you refer a friend, and they sign up, you get a bonus ($25 for one friend on the .com site and $35 for two friends on the .ca site). That's not bad!
Shipping: Varies by individual store.
Gift cards: None for eBates, but you can purchase them for different stores, AND you earn cash back on them!
Bonanza is an online marketplace that offers top brands in almost every category you can imagine. There is a unique art and collectible section as well that offers antique and vintage offerings at decent prices.
Bonanza also offers a PayPal payment plan on items over $99. So if you can't pay it all at once, you can take your time.
Shipping: Varies by individual vendor, but many are free.
Gift Cards: None available for the marketplace itself.
Ebay is a very unique site that has been around a long time, and of course, it has millions of offerings from different sellers. The nice thing about eBay is that if you are looking for something obscure or something that is no longer offered by the original vendor, you can often find it on eBay (and sometimes brand new too!).
Ebay offers the option of purchasing the item for a set price, or bidding on an item within a set timeframe, and if you win the bid, you may get the item at a lower price.
Shipping: Varies by individual vendor.
Gift Cards: Yes! In actual card mode.


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Bearing Introduction. INA GNE30-KRR-B bearing motion industries in Moldova are widely used in industrial drive, agriculture, compressors, motors and generators, construction, industrial fan, industrial transmission and other fields.


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Electricians San Jose
WCI Electric is a trusted Electrical Contractor in San Jose Ca that offers quality commercial electrical services and industrial electrical services in San Jose / Santa Clara / Campbell / Sunnyvale / Cupertino / Los Gatos / Saratoga. Our team at WCI Electric is passionate about providing you the best services and experience possible. Our San Jose Electricians are licensed and will be able to quickly and efficiently assess your electrical needs which resort to little down.
WCI Electric provides complete lighting maintenance and lighting replacement services for commercial, industrial, educational and sporting facilities. Offering the latest in energy efficient technology, and lighting options for indoor and outdoor applications, we can brighten your facility, gym, conference center, and office / retail space with the best options for your building. Using fully trained electricians and the right equipment to maintain your lighting needs, WCI Electric is the right choice for your lighting maintenance contractor.
WCI Eletric electricians can also installs E-MON D-MON Energy Management systems / Electric sub metering to monitor, Manage, and reduce electricity cost. Use E-MON D-MON meters to track usage in your facilities – Retail Malls – multi-store locations – Multi –tenant locations Etc. The use of E-MON D-MON sub meters eliminates arbitrary power allocation and unfair fees to low-power consumers. Sub meters provide accurate data and usage information on time intervals or snapshots, allowing for power consumption determination down to the tenant, circuit, or piece of equipment. Managers can monitor HVAC system usage and performance during after-hours for allocating and recovering costs from tenants
Is your business, store, office or workplace safe? If you're not certain, contact WCI Electric. Our skilled Commercial electricians can help protect your property, livelihood, data and company records, not to mention your employees and customers. Much of the potential danger to your business location typically has to do with electricity and electrical wiring. Lack of lighting and other basic electrically-powered security can also be a problem. Installing, inspecting, upgrading and repairing electrical systems is our specialty at WCI Electric. Chances are your company can't function without its computers. To avoid tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses, WCI Electric electricians can install a dedicated circuit breaker that only controls your computer systems. – Data center – Server racks – equipment and more. We specialize in all your electrical needs. Including – Commercial lighting installs – Parking lot repairs – Warehouse lighting – LED lighting – Lighting Controls -Tenant Improvements – Remodels – New Construction – Data room power – Dedicated circuits -Electrical wiring – Electrical installations – EV charging stations – Retail electrician – Restaurant Electrician – Medical equipment hook up – Cubical power – Electrical panels – Commercial wiring – Panel –Panel repairs – Service calls – Troubleshooting and emergency repairs.
Let us help you keep your business up and running. As a family owned and operated company, WCI Electric understands the difference that quality customer service can make. WCI Electric is committed to complete client satisfaction and provide each project with quality workmanship and attentive services. WCI Electric also works to complete all projects on time and within budget to ensure that our clients are completely satisfied with our electrical services. We encourage you to compare our quality and services with any other Electrical Contractor in the area because we are confident we'll win hands down.


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Young Archie competition
Budding artists between the ages of 5 and 18 were invited to submit a portrait for the Art Gallery of NSW's inaugural Young Archie competition, as part of our family-focused activities for the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2013 exhibition.
The portrait was to be of 'a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and plays a significant role in your life'.
There are four age categories: 5-8, 9-12, 13-15 and 16-18. The competition was judged by artist Ben Quilty, Archibald Prize winner in 2011 and now a Gallery trustee, and Victoria Collings, the Gallery's senior coordinator of education and family programs, based on merit and originality.
Five finalists from each category are on display at the Gallery as well as here on the Gallery website. Artworks that received an honourable mention are only displayed online. One winner was chosen in each category.
Each finalist receives an ANZ money box and Archibald 13 catalogue. Each winner receives a $100 ANZ Visa Debit card, an art pack from Faber-Castell and a family pass to the upcoming Sydney moderns exhibition at the Gallery as well as an ANZ money box and Archibald 13 catalogue.
Explore the Young Archies
View winners, finalists and honourable mentions from this and other years in our prizes database.


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Photos from the 2018 Progressive International Motorcycle Show... posted in 2017??? I've fallen so far behind blogging that I'm now time traveling to get ahead. In reality, the show just moved up due to Minneapolis hosting the Super Bowl this year. The bike that caught my eye when I first walked in was this Indian with airplane sidecar.
Yes, it's ridiculous, but the craftsmanship is outstanding... some might say riveting.
Speaking of Indian, they had their drool-worthy FTR1200 on display. Social media was quick to point out how I had confused this bike with their FTR750 and/or their actual race bike. Oh well, I deleted the post. Next time they should just put a sign on it.
Speaking of flat track, here's Harley's bike next to an Indian for green screen photos. Was the Indian deliberately placed in front of the Harley for realism or was it just my camera angle? Hmmmmm.
When I think flat track, I don't think BMW but check this out:
To wrap up the Indian bikes, here's a polished Scout (I appreciate all the polishing work, but still think the Scout's motor design is ugly).
Keino does incredible metalwork and this is his take on a Scout. To me it looks like a superhero or a robot.
More photos tomorrow!


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No hand motions for this version. My hope is that the children enjoy singing it, but more importantly, that they feel the powerful message in the words as they do.
To download free SHEET MUSIC click HERE
To download an mp3 FILE of PIANO ONLY click HERE
To download an mp3 FILE of CHILDREN SINGING click HERE


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Find Feeder Tool
To locate and navigate the feeders and subfeeders in your map, use the Find Feeder tool. This tool replaces the Select By Feeder tool in Feeder Manager 1.0. It searches for FeederName and FeederIDs for both sources and subsources.
You must add it to a toolbar:
- Click Customize > Customize Mode.
- On the Commands tab, type Find Feeder into the Show commands containing field.
- Drag the Find Feeder command to a toolbar.IMPORTANT:
Note that if you reset the toolbar to which you added the Find Feeder tool, you cannot re-add the Find Feeder tool to any toolbar until you restart ArcMap.
You can use only a single instance of the Find Feeder tool.
Before using the Find Feeder tool, ensure that your electric geometric network is active in the Utility Network Analyst toolbar:
- Click Customize > Toolbars > Utility Network Analyst.
- Select your electric geometric network from the drop-down menu.
- In the Find Feeder tool, begin typing the name of
a feeder into the search bar. A list of existing feeders appears and
shortens as your search becomes more specific.TIP: The information displayed is determined by model names configured on the geodatabase. For a Source, the tool displays the fields from the CircuitSource table that have the FeederName and FeederId field model names. For a Subsource, the tool displays fields from the CircuitSourceId table that have the CircuitSourceId and FeederName field model names.
- When the desired feeder is located, either click it or press the down arrow until it is highlighted, then press enter. This brings up the other analytical tools.
When you select a feeder from the list of search results, click Show Feeder Highlight to highlight it on the map via a graphic layer. The highlighting respects reference scale settings, if you have specified any. The highlighting disappears only when you click the tool again or close the Find Feeder tool.
Highlighting behaves differently depending on whether the Find Feeder tool displays an ultimate source or a subsource:
When the Find Feeder tool displays an ultimate source, highlighting includes all subsources, down to the service point.
When the tool displays a subsource, highlighting stops at but includes the next subsource. That is, the tool highlights the original subsource, downstream features, and next level subsources.
Note that when using the Find Feeder tool, de-energized subsources return only themselves. Similarly, de-energized subsources can only be visualized when zooming to extent.
It's important to remember that subsources feed, but do not energize, downstream features. Subsources themselves must be energized in order for the Find Feeder tool to discover them.
Find Feeder commands
These commands are relevant to each of the tabs in the Find Feeder tool.
Select All Features to select all the features that belong to that feeder. When you select all features for a subsource, the selection includes the subsource shown in the Find Feeder tool and any subsource that lies immediately downstream. This command respects the interactive selection method setting in the Selection menu.
Highlight Source to draw a graphic over the feeder's source. Highlighting respects reference scale settings, if you have specified any.
Zoom To Source to zoom to the location of the feeder's source or subsource. This command respects the Zoom To Buffer Size settings in the ArcFM Options menu.
Zoom To Extent to zoom to the full extent of the feeder. The full extent shows every feature with that Feeder ID or Subsource ID. Its highlighting also respects reference scale settings.
Show Feeder Highlight to toggle the drawing of a graphic over the feeder. Highlighting respects reference scale settings, if you have specified any. Enabling feeder highlighting will disable flow direction graphics. The Find Feeder Tool symbology is configurable for color through the Trace Results Options. It respects both Simple and Advanced tracing color set for edges.
Calculate Flow Direction to toggle the placement of directional arrows along the feeder that represent direction of flow. Enabling flow direction will disable feeder highlighting. The Find Feeder Tool symbology is configurable for color through the Trace Results Options. It respects both Simple and Advanced tracing color set for edges.
Stats tab
This tab shows certain feeder data as it exists at the time of finding the feeder. Edits that affect these feeder data made while a feeder is displayed in the tool are not immediately reflected here. To refresh the data on the Stats tab (e.g., after making an edit to something that affects these data) you must collapse and expand the Find Feeder tool, then click the Stats tab again.
Service points: Displays the total number of service points belonging to the current feeder.
Phase load breakdown: The phase load (kVa) by phase, as well as the total kVa for all phases.
Total length: The total length of conductors in the current feeder, in map units.
Tie Devices tab
The Tie Devices tab identifies the feeders and subsources on the other side of each listed tie device. You can click on the underlined feeder to explore it using the Find Feeder tool.
The feeders on the other side of the tie devices are labeled by Feeder ID. If there is no Feeder ID, they are labeled by Feeder Name. If there is no Feeder Name, they are labeled by Object ID.
The tie device is labeled according to the device's primary display field or ObjectID.
You can zoom to each tie device in the list. This button respects ArcFM's Zoom To Buffer Size setting.
Use the Toggle Tie Device Symbols to better visualize tie devices. This draws a graphic over the tie devices of the feeder currently displayed by the Find Feeder tool. This command respects reference scale settings.
Find Feeder settings
The Find Feeder tool respects the Trace task result color setting in the ArcFM Electric Trace Options. Use this to change the highlight color when using Show Feeder Highlight or Calculate Flow Direction in the Find Feeder tool.
If you are zoomed to the extent of the feeder before you adjust this option, you must again use the Zoom to Extent button to see the new color in the map.


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Blog Archives
Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups white granulated sugar (I prefer unrefined cane sugar)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup plain soy milk or almond milk (I use Almond)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 cups mashed banana, from about 4 large very ripe bananas
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
(Tip: You can add vegan chocolate chips to turn this sweet bread into a desert bread)
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a 9″x 5″ loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugars, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and cider vinegar and let stand for 2 minutes. Add the mashed banana, oil, and vanilla extract, whisking until well combined. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing until just combined (do not over mix!). Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Allow the bread to cool on a wire cooling rack for 20 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Yield: Makes 1 9″x 5″ loaf


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The event starts off on Friday night September 25th with the "parade" (technically a cruise). It's a great way to see the lineup of classic cars (see the video from last year). Look for Abe Lincoln in the lead car!
Saturday is the big day with activities, including live bands and great food lasting until the late evening (11am-10pm). And of course, the 1000+ cars will be out in full force. At the Travel Expo, you'll likely see Route 66 favorite Whispering Joe singing and performing on his guitar for the crowd. Chances are yours truly will sit in with him for "Wild Thing" by the Troggs. The old rock-n-roller in me occasionally needs a venue to vent (I mean sing).
Sunday this year will be special. There will be a special award for restored police car, in honor of the late Martin Milner, who just passed away recently. Milner was the star of the tv shows "Route 66" and "Adam 12," and he was a featured guest at the first Mother Road Festival in 2002.
So make your plans for September 25-27 in downtown Springfield for the International Mother Road Festival - see you there! -Geoff Ladd
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Saturday, June 15, 2013
Moving From the Sidelines to Active Participant
I had big plans for this weekend. And by big, I mean HUGE. The weatherman has been warning of endless wind and rain, huge accumulations of water and even flooding in areas. So, I have three books lined up, a full tin of coffee and time to write. I was planning on recharging my energy by cocooning into my little writing corner and reading with caffeinated joy for hours on end.
It's not how this day has gone down. I think it all started with a new-to-us trampoline that arrived in our backyard yesterday afternoon. It's huge and sturdy - one of those old school trampolines we had when men were men and safety nets weren't invented yet. The kind we held sleepovers on and put soapy water on despite the trampolines tilted angle on a steep backyard hillside. A few launches into the typical west coast bark mulch and cedar shrubs did little more than spur us on to go higher with just an angry red rash for our efforts.
So, this morning, in a downpour, Jason and I were daring our boys to go outside and jump in the rain and enjoy the new trampoline. They barely rolled their eyes at us nevermind disengaging from the couch attached to their backsides. I took it upon myself to encourage them by going out there myself and having a few celebratory jumps in the torrential rain. They remain unmoved but I have to say, it was energizing for me. I'm still maintaining that our back neighbour was not coming out to watch me, I believe he was checking the rising water level in his backyard. At least, that's what his worried expression told me.
So, after breakfast, the boys and Jason went to see the new Superman movie. I passed on the obligatory invitation they gave me and decided to spend the afternoon as planned, caffeinated and creatively cocooned. A simple glance at Twitter (curse you technology) reminded me that it was Pride Week here in Saskatoon. It's been niggling at me all week to somehow show support for the gay community, particularly those who are searching for equal rights in marriage. I simply haven't been able to put it out of my mind that we are living in an era in which two people, committed to each other as a family unit, are unable to be given the rights to each others' lives and deaths in an equal manner as heterosexual couples. It just doesn't sit well with me. I don't think it's about the word "marriage" or whether being gay is a choice or any other rhetoric. I think it's about human rights and equality. Anyways, I guess at best, I was thinking that putting something "pride friendly" on my facebook was going to be about as actively supportive as I was going to get today, given the weather.
So, I proceeded to make myself probably the greatest grilled cheese sandwich of all time. (If I do say so myself…and I do.) Two thick slabs of sourdough, cream cheese, cheddar and feta melted together? Mmm and mmm. And if you think that I was energized on an empty stomach jumping on a wet trampoline, you have no concept of what that grilled cheese did to me. In fact, as I sat enjoying the beauty that was the sandwich of the century, I flipped through my messages and saw a map of the pride parade route. Hmmmph, I thought, with my mouth full of glorious goodness, I could at least put on my wellies and slicker and go stand and cheer on the parade? Never underestimate the motivational power of a killer sandwich.
Isn't that the least I could do? So…checking that I still had time, and I did, I proceeded to put on my rain gear, grabbed an umbrella and headed out to stand supportively on the side of the road, cheering on the parade.
When I arrived near where they were marshalling the parade, I walked along the still stationary parade of people looking for my friend, Cathy, and the AIDS Saskatoon float. I was just walking along when the parade started to move and so I walked a little faster and caught up with the float and asked where Cathy was. They told me that she wasn't walking, she was manning the booth back at the center. So, I went to step out to the sidewalk and suddenly the inner dialogue ensued. This isn't complete but it will give you some idea of the craziness that I'm challenged with internally on a day to day basis when I start stepping out of the cocoon plans.
"I could just walk with these guys, it doesn't mean I'm super activist gay." (whatever that is…I'm just reporting what is happening in my brain, peeps.)
"What if I get on the news or the front page of the newspaper?"
"What will my boss think"
"What will my husband think!"
"What will my ____________ (insert any known associate here from dental assistant to my grade 2 summer camp counsellor) think?"
"Why do I care what people think?"
"Isn't this where Jesus would be?"
"Isn't this much more actively loving than standing on the sidelines?"
"Isn't this the sort of thing I would want to be caught doing on a rainy, windy Saturday?"
"Why are gay men ALWAYS so freaking attractive and well dressed?"
(Again, just reporting the facts….not going to justify where my mind went!"
So, about a block into the walk and chatting with a couple women around me, I started to really just enjoy myself. I mean, how could you not surrounded by rainbow coloured EVERYTHING on a day that was doing it's best to invert every umbrella and render it useless? And, how is it NOT love when you see couples of every race, gender and description just enjoying each others company, whether sitting in lawn chairs on the back of trailer or skipping hand in hand in multicoloured wigs?
See, this past week, I listened to a sermon that centered around Jesus' miracles and the fact that he was accessible and lived in proximity to those that needed His help. I felt some cosmic finger (that looked eerily like my Grade 5 teacher's) pointing at my conscience when I heard the comment that in our culture, "success leads to the suburbs". I don't wear my suburban culture too proudly on the best of days. I find it challenging when I hear things about the culture that allows us to drive into our garages and close the doors behind us and not engage with those around us unless we choose to.
Well, today I chose to. Partly because of proximity…I mean, I was there anyway, right? And why sit on the sidewalk and cheer on a parade when you can actively participate? While I'm not saying that my participation changed a single thing for those around me who are struggling for rights and recognition on an equal footing…it changed things for me. Because on the way home, the things rattling around my brain were things like:
"I can't wait to tell J and the boys what I did today while they were at the movies."
"I totally should have dragged ___________ along. (insert your name here).
"I hope Graham and Craig went home and said they were surprised to meet some suburban wife who walked with them for a while in the parade."
"I need to get out more."
But most of all, I hope that when I look back on today, I will see it as a starting point, when the challenge to "love not with words, but with actions and in truth…" began to be a daily reality in my life.
Friday, June 14, 2013
...and this....
So, one of the beautiful things about technology is waking up to a message from across the globe. While I was sleeping, Jason was working the night shift, and the rain poured down across the prairies, our dear Kristal was in the home of my friends, Dorothea and her children in Mulenga. I had told her to ask one of the care workers, Reuben, how Dorothea and her kids were getting along. I also wanted to know about the baby that Dorothea had been pregnant with when I last visited her in March. Reuben told Kristal his heart couldn't rest until she met this family. So, Reuben took Kristal and they visited Dorothea and her little ones on my behalf. Kristal said she was all smiles, I can just see her. She's the most beautiful woman who should be on the pages of a magazine, not in a shanty town scraping for an existence. But that's my idea of fair...skewed as it is.
I woke up to this. This is Jesse. He's the newest member of a family that literally fills my thoughts daily. He's Eva's newest little brother and joins Natasha, Joshua and Calibo. He's gorgeous and overdressed (as all little African babies tend to be) and sweaty and here. I can't wait for my next visit to this little home. I miss them every single day.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
This little conversation made my day. And made me cry. And miss the kids we love so much in Zambia. Particularly this little sweetheart.
Kristal: Do you know Shelly?
Peggy: Head Nod
Kristal: Who is Shelly?
Peggy: Msungu
Kristal: Does she come to visit you?
Peggy: Head Nod
Kristal: Where is she?
Peggy: She stays in Luyansha.
Ah, if only Peggy...if only. I would come see you everyday if I lived just down the road, my girl.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Borrowed Words
I'm short on words these days. My heart feels more than a little tired. I have spent my moments thinking of and planning ways to get back to where I think my heart lives when it's not right here in the midst of Jason and the boys. Be aware, travellers, that if you give your heart to others far away, there is less of it to bring home. You have to figure out how to nurture it on two continents, as I do mine. It's changed me which means it has changed my life in many ways. Where I work. What I read. What I hear when the news is on in the background. Who I see when I'm in a crowded grocery store on a weekend. In changing me, it's both sharpened and softened my personality, my character and my ability to sit passively. I may sit for long periods in quiet, contemplation but it's not passivity. I will speak up but do my best not to speak out of turn. I will speak on behalf of others hopefully more than on my own behalf. There's loneliness that is involved in these changes. There's an urgency in things I do that wasn't there before but there's also a restfulness that won't indulge in busyness for the sake of being busy. I'm not sure what I feel is self-pity but there is a mournful nature to my thoughts when I think of my blissful ignorance.
I'm going to borrow words. Applicable but not mine.
I'm going to borrow words. Applicable but not mine.
Much that may one day be possible can already be prepared by the solitary individual, and built with his own hands which make fewer mistakes. Therefore love your solitude and bear the pain of it without self-pity. The distance you feel from those around you should trouble you no more than your distance from the farthest stars. be glad that you are growing, and realize that you cannot take anyone with you: be gentle with those who stay behind. Be confident and calm before them, and don't torment them with your doubts or distress them with your ambitions which they wouldn't be able to comprehend. Find in a true and simple way what you have in common with them, which does not need to change when you yourself change and change again. When you see them, love life in a from that is not your own, and be kind to all the people who are afraid of their aloneness
-Love the Solitude.
Worpswede, July 16, 1903
Letters to a young poet
Worpswede, July 16, 1903
Letters to a young poet
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About us
About the paper
The Gatton, Lockyer and Brisbane Valley Star is a community newspaper covering the rich Lockyer and Brisbane Valleys. It has enjoyed wide acceptance as the "local" paper in the area since 1956.
Over the years 'the Star' has become the accepted voice for the local area.
As a community newspaper the Star covers a variety of events, be it the induction of school captains (there are more than 50 schools in our coverage area), shows, festivals, council meetings, farming, local business, local industry through to the major issues concerning out region.
The Star is a free and part paid weekly community newspaper averaging 56 pages and circulating to more than 20,700 homes or 26,000 readers from Withcott in the West to Walloon in the East, Toogoolawah in the North and Mt Sylvia in the South.
The Star publishes special reports and supplements focusing on rural and agriculture, farming alternatives, housing features, motoring information, entertainment, trades people and business people profiles.
The classifieds in the Star, including births, deaths, engagements, marriages as well as the for sale or wanted columns, are as well read as the editorial content and is an indication as to the way the community feels and relies on the Star as their communication vehicle across the Lockyer and Brisbane Valley areas.
As the leading local newspaper covering the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council and the western townships of the Ipswich Council area, the Star is located in the heart of one of the richest and most fertile agricultural regions in Australia. Read by 76 per cent of residents in its distribution area, the Star is undoubtedly the major source of news, sport, property, entertainment and retail information in Gatton and surrounding communities.
The circulation of the paper covers the towns and districts of: Blacksoil, Blenheim, Coominya, Esk, Fernvale, Forest Hill, Gatton, Glamorgon Vale, Glenmore Grove, Grandchester, Grantham, Haigslea, Harlin, Hatton Vale, Helidon, Laidley, Lawes, Linville, Lowood, Marburg, Minden, Ma Ma Creek, Mulgowie, Murphy's Creek, Plainland, Rosewood, Tarampa, Thagoona, Toogoolawah, Walloon and Withcott.
The first edition of the Gatton Star hit the streets on September 28 1956.
The newspaper was started by a group which had just started a number of other "Star" newspapers in other areas, including the Downs Star in Toowoomba.
The newspaper was delivered free on Friday to 3000 homes in the Gatton and Laidley Shires and had drop-off points as far away as Lowood, Marburg and Grandchester.
Over the years the Star's base grew strongly in the Lowood-Fernvale area the newspaper advanced to what it is today.
In 1993 the Star's circulation grew to include the towns of Rosewood and Walloon. Then in 2003 the Star started to circulate into Esk and Toogoolawah as a paid newspaper.
Each week the Star brings readers a chronicle of events and a random coverage of stories, news and happenings from across the Lockyer and Brisbane Valleys.


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WPF Application Quality Guide v.0.3 Released!
On Friday, we released the third preliminary version of the "WPF Application Quality Guide", adding a section 3 new sections: a suggested reading roadmap, a section on globalization and localization testing and a section on manual testing and record and replay.
The guide is available here. You can also download it as a Word document.
As always, please send us suggestions both on the content and on the organization of the document. You can post feedback directly here or send it to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Boureima Wankoye
Boureima Wankoye is president of Achats Service International (ASI) - a company which has proven to be an excellent example of a private sector initiative in environmental protection.
ASI introduced and encouraged the mass plantation of bum arabic for export to Europe in the drylands of Niger, which has not only helped rehabilitate degraded land in these areas, it has also provided a profitable, income-generating activity for its inhabitants. It has thus tackled both adverse weather and land conditions as well as poverty, marking a breakthrough in sustainable development in drylands, where the world's poorest reside. Its activities have proven that innovative, profit-making solutions to environmental problems are feasible even in the poorest agricultural and economic conditions, and with modest capital.
The plantation of 1,200 hectares of gum arabic in the drylands of Niger by ASI has greatly contributed to environmental rehabilitaiton and the eradicatin of poverty in these areas. It has provided a source of income for more than 6,000 rural families, rehabilitated degraded land through afforestation, helped preserve almost extinct animal species, and created value for African agricultural products in the world market. It has also drawn attention to the value of gum arabic, which requires little water and no fertilizer and can be used for commercial purposes such as soft drinks, cosmetics and civil aviation, as a specimen for profit-generating agricultural production in dryland rural areas.
ASI's example has paved the way for the establishment of other such enterprises in drylands throughout the country and round the region.


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Editor Paul Proulx collaborates with director Keegan Wilcox from The Corner Store, on this 3-minute film for Innocean and KIA. In the spot, KIA has fun demonstrating the natural abilities of its range of vehicles. Each of the segments in the 3-minute film will also screen as standalone pieces.
Brand: KIA
Title: Natural Habitat
Agency: Innocean
Executive Creative Director: Ian MacKellar
Associate Creative Director and Art Director: Arron Isaac
Copywriter: Kurtis Martin
Associate Creative Director: Mirko Greenwood
Producer: Alina Prussky
Production Company: The Corner Store
Executive Producer: Jennie Montford
Director: Keegan Wilcox
Director of Photography: Christopher Mably
Editing Facility: Rooster Post Production
Editor: Paul Proulx
Assistant Editor: Colin Murdock
Colour: Alter Ego
Colourist: Wade Odlum
Finishing: Fort York VFX
Lead Flame Artist: Andrew Rolfe
Audio House: Pirate
Executive Producer: Joanne Uyeyama


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Referral Line: 484-628-HELP
Reading Hospital: 484-628-8000
Toll Free: 1-866-988-4377
Reading Hospital
Request an Appointment
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Tower Health is re-opening safely for your health. Visit our re-opening page to learn more.
Internal Medicine Residency FAQs | Reading Health System
Home > Academics > Residency Programs > Internal Medicine > Frequently Asked Questions
Our residents receive specialized attention and training to prepare them for any future position in medicine or its specialties. We are fortunate to attract residents whose performance compares well with the best graduates in the country.
The full-time faculty still love the science and practice of internal medicine and transmit their enthusiasm in daily interactions with residents. The environment is one of collaboration, where thinking out loud and admitting what you don't know is appreciated as the first step in the pursuit of excellence.
The effort to provide our patients the best science in a compassionate way is the central motivator, around which real learning occurs. Reading is a place where people get to know you and support you through a challenging time, one you will remember fondly for many years to come.
Reading is conveniently located just 50 minutes from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City, yet it clearly maintains its small town charm. Downtown West Reading is dotted with boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses while major retail outlets are just a stone's throw away. A plethora of affordable housing options
A plethora of affordable housing options are available, including hospital-owned Delta Apartments at a subsidized rate. Reading has been relatively unaffected by the housing crunch experienced by other areas so purchasing a home is still a viable option for those who choose to do so. There are many exciting cultural, athletic and artistic venues to sample in the Reading.
There's so much happening that you can't help but maintain an active lifestyle. Enjoy our museums or catch a show at the Center for the Performing Arts. If you wish, you can listen to some live cool Jazz while enjoying local cuisine. There is something for everyone whether you are a minor league baseball, basketball, football or hockey enthusiast or like to explore nature.
Reading Hospital's Internal Medicine training program seeks the highest qualified candidates, regardless of origin of medical training. Competitive candidates will have demonstrated outstanding performance during their medical school training, based upon transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Successful completion of USMLE 1 and 2, with scores of at least 220, and successful completion of USMLE 2 Clinical are also required. Successful completion of the USMLE 3 exam supports the application but is not required. We do not consider those with multiple attempts on any step exam.
Some clinical experience in the United States, or comparable medical system is highly preferred. At least one letter of recommendation, reflecting this experience, would also support the candidate's application. Extra postgraduate learning experiences, including public health school training, is viewed positively, as is demonstration of significant skills in clinical or basic science research. Summary information describing the nature of the research experience should be transmitted in the personal statement and resume.
A letter of support from the research supervisor, describing the applicant's potential in clinical or basic science research is desirable.
The Program seeks candidates with a strong interest in being part of a collaborative, humanistic academic environment.
The hospital supports J-1 and H-1 Visas.
The hospital does not have a graduation year cutoff in evaluating applicants.
The Reading Hospital Internal Medicine program seeks highly qualified candidates from colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
Our program is dually certified through the AOA and the ABIM. The Internal Medicine Osteopathic Residency is fully integrated with ACGME and ACOI requirements.
The minimum requirements for an interview include demonstrating outstanding performance during medical school training, successful completion (on first attempts) of USMLE 1 and 2 (minimum of 220) or COMLEX 1 and 2 (minimum 490). We do not consider those with multiple attempts on any step exam.
You can also email us if you have a specific question that you would like us to answer.
For more information about the Reading Hospital Residency Programs or to find out how to apply for a program email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.