text:
Is It Finally Time To Buy Stock Market Vol?
Authored by Kevin Muir via The Macro Tourist blog,
"You're such an idiot," one of my new hedge fund manager reader friends wrote me the other day. "You spent the last couple of years warning about the possibility all of this Central Bank monetary madness causing a huge rip higher in risk assets. And here we are, it is finally here, and instead of taking a victory lap, you are monkeying around trying to fade the rally by buying Nasdaq put spreads. You're incorrigible"
Yeah, my pal is right. If I am being honest, this is my biggest weakness. Too often I am contrarian to the point of my own detriment. I have never been good at riding an overly popular trade to its fullest.
It was easy for me to trade stocks from the long side when everyone was scared about the next crash. Yet now that most everyone has abandoned their fear, I find it almost impossible to stay long as they push it higher and higher.
And to be truthful, for a fleeting moment last week, I felt like I might do the impossible, and catch the top in the stock market. After grinding higher for the past week during the Chinese Communist Party Congress meeting, as Beijing was wrapping up, stocks finally looked like they were ready to sell off.
Yet after two poor trading days mid-week, Thursday after the bell; Amazon, Google and Microsoft released their earnings and sparked one of the biggest Nasdaq rallies of the past decade.
But the really interesting part? The rally was extremely narrow. Here is a chart of the Nasdaq 100 daily performance compared to the Nasdaq 100 equal-weighted index.
I didn't come up with the idea for this chart. Instead I stumbled upon the stat in a market commentary, but couldn't find the actual chart. So I thought it needed to be created as, in the history of the Nasdaq 100 equal-weighted index, the NDX has never outperformed by as much as Friday's 2.8% face ripper.
Now don't worry. I will not become some bitter short seller that just sits in a bathrobe screaming at kids to get off his lawn. Yet I must admit to being thankful that I expressed my short side trading stab using cheap options instead of outright futures.
And before I go any further, I should have known better. The Market Gods were bound to reign down their vengeance as, the previous week, Reformed Broker's Josh Brown's article "Just own the damn the Robots" took an awful amount of flack (some of that from yours truly – "The Winners of the New World Redux").
It was the famous speculator Bernard Baruch who said, "the main purpose of the stock market is to make fools of as many men as possible." Although this quote should probably be updated to include women, it is just as relevant today as it was decades ago.
It should be no surprise that given the huge pushback to Josh's article, the Market Gods' next move would be to make fools out of all of Josh's critics and send the FANG stocks screaming higher.
Now don't mistake my comments as a belief this investing theme should be embraced. The boat still is extremely crowded, and there is no way I could bring myself to chase the robots, the Nasdaq, or any stock market up here into this euphoria. I am a trader that believes this mad scramble into equities is long-in-the-tooth. But I can't resist pointing out how, the greater the pushback, the greater the chance the writer is on to something.
Narrow, narrow, narrow
Back to the narrowness of this rally. I stumbled upon this great post by a more quantitative driven twitterer, SJD10304, Steve Deppe, the author of the Charts & Sheets blog.
It seems to me that Steve is acutely aware that this thread is data mining at its worse, and that he posted it as somewhat facetiously, but it's interesting nonetheless.
The $SPXA50 that Steve is referring to is the percentage of stocks within the S&P500 that are above the 50-day SMA (simple moving average). Since 2002 there have been 237 weekly declines of more than 10% for this indicator, but only 5 occurrences also coincided with the actual S&P 500 closing higher.
What do you think the results of those 5 occurrences look like?
Look at the column "SPX FWD 1 Week Return." That's the S&P 500 return after these conditions were met. Although in 2002 there were a couple of positive results, the last three have been big losers, with the 2008 instance being especially painful.
Don't go out and sell spooz with both fists because of this stat. I am not showing it to justify a short position. I am posting it to show the unusual aspect of the current environment.
Amazon will destroy us all
A few months back, when Amazon announced they were buying Whole Foods, the rest of the grocers were crushed.
At the time, one of my longtime readers, Jonathan Carey (and a terrific source for what is happening on the ground in San Francisco), emailed me to say;
"I have figured out how this bull market ends: Amazon announces it is going to enter each industry – and then every stock sells off."
Jonathan's comment made me laugh, and I saved it for a time like now when Amazon's dominance seemed particularly unstoppable. And I guess this plays into Josh Brown's just-own-the-damn-robots piece. The winners of the new era economy are crushing everyone else. Whether it is Amazon, Google or Facebook, these new titans are destroying existing businesses, and it is increasingly becoming a winner-take-all economy.
So it really shouldn't be any surprise that the breadth of the stock market rally is becoming more and more narrow. After all, the winners are becoming a smaller and smaller group.
This summer I noticed that ProShares filed a prospectus for an ETF that went long online retailers (ie:AMZN) while shorting traditional bricks and mortar stores.
I wondered if the Amazon / Whole Foods announcement, combined with the filing of this ETF, might coincide in the top of this trend. Obviously, we need more than just a filing to mark the top. I can't wait for this ETF product to trade, as I suspect by the time there is enough demand to float an ETF, it will be all-baked-in.
Monetary madness
Up until now, this post has been filled mostly with recounts about what has happened, with little insight into what might happen. And although I am not changing my tune that the US stock market is overbought and ripe for a surprise correction, I am adding a trade to my arsenal.
There is no doubt that Friday's action was wild. And even though it ripped against me, I will take that sort of action any day when compared to the previous month, which consisted mostly of days dripping higher.
Something changed in the character of trading last week. Starting towards the end of the Chinese Congress Party meeting on Tuesday, financial asset volatility stopped declining, and picked up.
And although I am bearish on the near term stock market action, I concede there is a chance that this giant-f'd'-up-monetary experiment that Central Banks have embarked on, gets away on them. They have stuck an ungodly amount of monetary stimulus into the financial system over the past decade. A declining velocity of money has muted the effects, but there will reach a point when it finally lights, and the effects will be unprecedented.
A good trader never says never, so I am keeping an open mind to the possibility this overbought rally just gets more and more overbought. After all, the rules have gone out the window when they pumped trillions of dollars into the financial system. When some pundit tells you they know for certain how this will affect markets, ignore them – they are full of shit. The truth is that no one knows how this madness will end because it has never been done before.
But that doesn't mean there aren't ways to take advantage of this situation.
Finally time to buy vol
Now I am about to recommend a long volatility trade, and before you label me some perma-bear that thinks the monster VIX short position will end in a 2008 debacle – read this – The VIX Article No One Will Like.
I am not buying volatility because of positioning. Although I do acknowledge the large speculative VIX future short position, that is not the driving reason behind my trade.
Too many investors are stuck with this weird belief that HIGHER STOCKS = LOWER VOLATILITY. This is simply not true. Granted there is a tendency for the stock market to take the stairs up, and the elevator down. This is why stock returns and volatility are often inversely correlated. But it is not written in stone.
In a melt-up scenario, it is very possible that stocks become more volatile, not less. Volatility represents the variability of prices. In a run-away market, prices will zip around like Friday more and more, not less.
Just look at the 1999 dotcom period.
From 1990-1995 realized volatility declined, but then when stocks took off in 1996 in the crazy DotCom bubble mania, vol went along for the ride.
So yeah, I know there are a bunch of perma-bears recommending long volatility for an end-of-the-world trade, but ignore them. You don't need to be a doomsdayer to be a vol bull.
Don't get me wrong, I still think many risks are being overlooked by over-enthusiastic stock bulls. The winding down of Central Bank monetary stimulus, the recent Chinese policy change regarding financial asset prices, the constantly flattening yield curve, the monster short VIX futures position – all of these indicators are screaming danger. But everyone knows those reasons, and I am not adding any value harping on all the risks the market has been ignoring for the past few months. Yet that's not why I think volatility is a great buy. Volatility is a great buy because the market is stretched, and these sorts of moves don't end by markets quietly rolling over. And neither can they simply grind higher forever. Risks of an epic melt-up make vol just as appealing as risks of a crash.
This trade is difficult to structure. The steep curve in VIX futures market makes holding a long volatility trade pricey.
And before you email me telling me that implieds are still expensive versus realized, don't bother. I know.
But the key word there is "realized." There is no doubt that past volatility has been moronically low. I am predicting an increase in realized volatility going forward. I get it – so is the rest of the market. Yet I think it could happen in an upward move just as easily as downward decline.
I don't want to get into a complicated option discussion. There are a million of different ways to play this. The important part is that the end of the short volatility trade is probably over. If we get my anticipated correction, vol probably goes bid. If the stock market continues to accelerate higher, vol also probably goes bid. Either way, I think volatility is set to rise. I actually feel more confident about that call than my prediction that the next-move-is-down for the stock market.
The post Is It Finally Time To Buy Stock Market Vol? appeared first on crude-oil.news.


text:
Agnes Szavay defended her title in Budapest today by defeating Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-4 in the final. Szavay was the 7th seed. Szavay defeated Schnyder in last year's final, also.
Timea Bacsinszky and Tathiana Garbin won the doubles title, defeating top seeds Sorana Cirstea and Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-3. Bacsinszky and Garbin were seeded 2nd.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly has a lot on his plate as head coach of the Fighting Irish this spring. He needs to make a decision between Malik Zaire and Deshone Kizer. He needs to plug some key holes on defense (so long Sheldon Day, Joe Schmidt, Jaylon Smith). He needs to figure out if he has the right players on the field to keep the offense moving (adios Will Fuller and C.J. Prosise). Rest assured though, Kelly is feeling optimistic about his program as the spring starts to draw to a close.
Kelly sat down for an interview with Jac Collinsworth (you may know his father, Chris) to discuss new contributors, his quarterback competition and more ahead of the spring game in South Bend coming up this weekend (12:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network on Saturday)


text:
Balabolka 188.8.131.52 reviewDownload
The program converts text to speech and WAV/MP3 files.
Balabolka 1.12 is speech software developed by Ilya Morozov.
The program converts text to speech. All computer voices installed on your system are available to Balabolka. The on-screen text can be saved as a WAV or MP3 file. The program can read the clipboard content, view the text from DOC, RTF, PDF and HTML files, customize font and background colour, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys.
This speech software is freeware, which means you can download and use Balabolka 1.12 absolutely free. There's no need to buy the product. Balabolka 1.12 supports different languages (including English, German, Russian). It works with Windows 98/XP/Vista.
We have tested Balabolka 1.12 for spyware and adware modules. The software is absolutely safe to install.
Our website has thoroughly tested audio & multimedia product Balabolka 1.12, written the review and uploaded installation file (1270K) to our fast server.
Downloading Balabolka 1.12 will take minute if you use fast ADSL connection.
Balabolka 220.127.116.11 keywords text to speech voice clipboard rate pitch read save file sapi


text:
The Perfect Job
Imagine interviewing for a job with a leader who hand-picked you and gave you a chance for who you are not in spite of who you are or worse who the community or your enemies say you are. This leader will give you great and valuable promises of your time with the company if you decide to take the job. This leader promises to always be available to you, no matter what and would never abandon you because he will look at you as part of his family. You potential leader promises you will become more and more secure in your position with this company because he will share all he has with you in a consistent and devoted manner. You are promised you can be absolutely certain that when you need wisdom you can ask and you will receive it because this leader makes sure you have a direct line of access to him. He guarantees the granddaddy of open door policies.
It is promised that you can be certain that when you make mistakes, understanding and compassion will be guaranteed and will not brought up again, as long as you recognize and humbly admit your misstep. This leader will constantly remind you that he is in this game with you, side by side, working toward the common goal. He knows that you are no longer the person you were and he sees the new creation you will become. Your leader vows uncompromising trust and will give you the honor of carrying on the company message. This is guaranteed because the leader promises to bestow you with the tools you need to do so. He knows that you can deliver the message with love and self-discipline because he will personally and powerfully teach you the right way. This one of a kind leader promises you will become as one with him and you and he will work side by side to obtain the company goals. He will help you to do whatever it is he is asking of you. You are promised the job is yours for eternity, there will be no lay-offs, or pay cuts. You are promised a solid and certain future once you accept the job.
Indeed, a dream job. A job with all the support, education and perks you could ever want. A job that you cannot afford to pass up because it will change your life.
Replace the words your leader with God. This is what we are promised as heirs of Christ. This is (in part) who we are in Christ. I took these promises from the scripture list I posted yesterday just because I wanted to apply it to my life in a way that I could easily connect with. It makes me smile.
……………………and so I ride


text:
This item is currently out of stock.
displayLeaseInfo : false
This stand keeps your beloved media devices and accessories organized and protected. A total of six shelves fit all of your media components, including a movie player, cable box, stereo system, gaming consoles, DVDs and more. Glass doors protect your items from dust and dirt. The stand will also give the room a boost with its gorgeous distressed gray oak woodgrain finish with brown undertones and accenting pewter knobs. Made of sturdy laminated MDF, particle board and tempered glass, the TV console stands supports TVs up to 70".
Click here for assembly instructions.
General Disclaimer: Orders placed for Ship to Home on biglots.com may be delayed due to circumstances involving the coronavirus. We apologize in advance if your shipment is affected, and appreciate your understanding. Additionally, we have suspended all in-home Big! Delivery service. Our drivers WILL deliver to the front door, side door, or garage door, but WILL NOT bring items inside the home or into the garage. Also, due to certain state and local regulation changes, some furniture deliveries may be delayed. Thanks for your understanding.
We aim to provide accurate product information, however some information presented is provided by a 3rd party and is subject to changeSee our disclaimer.
We aim to provide accurate product information, however some information presented is provided by a 3rd party and is subject to changeSee our disclaimer.
- Keep your favorite media devices and equipment organized
- Includes 4 - adjustable, 2 - fixed shelves for customized storage and 4 - glass doors
- TV console holds flat-panel TVs up to 70" with a maximum weight of 120 lbs.
- Two adults are recommended for proper assembly
- Distressed gray oak woodgrain finish with brown undertones is paired with pewter knobs for a striking design
- Made of laminated MDF, particle board and tempered glass
- Model number: 1784096PCOM
- 19.5"L x 65.04"W x 32.24"H
- Material: Glass, paper, particle board, engineered wood
- Product weight: 149.6 lbs.
- Assembly required
California Customer WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including formaldehyde (gas), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to : www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Return Policy
This item has a special return policy.
This item has a special return policy.
If you wish to return your online order, please visit your order history to start the return process. If you have any issues, contact our Customer Care Support Center at 1-866-BIG-LOTS (244-5687) for assistance with making your return. Please be prepared to provide your order number and email address, or your rewards number, so that we may better assist you.
For return terms, see our full Returns Policy.
For return terms, see our full Returns Policy.
Already own this item? Share your thoughts,we value your opinion.
Be The First To Write A Review


text:
Substance Abuse Resources in Ohio
It is more important now than ever to raise awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, while also providing quality resources to those seeking treatment.
In the spirit of lending a helping hand to Ohio families and anyone seeking help, listed is a new local resources. https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/local-rehab-resources/ohio/
The new section allows visitors to find valuable information on drug misuse and rehabilitation centers in their area. Resources include locations of local Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery meetings, as well as phone numbers for The Recovery Village, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and poison control center hotlines.
The hope is to help raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol & drugs and how to get help.
Thanks so much!
Carlos Davila
Awareness Advocate
The Recovery Village® | an Advanced Recovery Systems Brand


text:
Years skating or derby DOB: April 2013
Number: 120
Position: Blocker
Proudest derby related achievement: Jamming for the first time!
Best rock out song: Baby Got Back
Other sports participated in: Does marching band count?
Favorite color: Purple
Occupation: Designer
Favorite animals: All!
Pets: Cat – Mr. Charles Lickens ("Charlie")
Favorite quote: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Baby Got Bash
Years skating or derby DOB: April 2013


text:
Warning: Last items in stock!
In stock
Our flip-flops are in foam, light and very comfortable to wear all day long...
With their white logo Issab and Black colour soles, they are Unisex and are coming in 4 different colours Royal Blue - Orange - Black and Red.
Two sizes available (French 36-39 and 40-44)
100% Foam and polyester
White Logo Issab - Diameter 5cm
2 Sizes (french 36-39 and 40-44)
To preserve your Logo longer - Avoid water contact
International Deliveries – Please Read our Terms and Conditions to know Prices by Country.
Availability date:


text:
Summer Sale! Up to 40% Off Cookware & Accessories. Save now.
The filter in your vacuum is used to purify and trap the smallest of harmful particles you may be suctioning up. It will then filter the air that's pushed out, making it harmless and saving you from any allergic reactions.
It's recommended you change your filters twice a year, or when they become visible soiled to maintain the life of your vacuum.
How do I find my product number (PNC)?
In Stock
In Stock
In Stock
Standard delivery is £2.99 for each order.
Orders will be delivered in 3-5 working days via Royal Mail.
Items that are shown as out of stock at the time of purchase may take up to 28 days to be delivered.
Next Day delivery is £6.99 for each order.
Only items shown as "IN STOCK" are eligible for Next Day delivery.
Orders need to be placed before 12 pm on a weekday (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays) to be delivered the next working day.
Orders placed after 12 pm on a Friday will be delivered the following Tuesday.


text:
I don't know why I haven't kept up with the blog regularly as of late. It's so often my lifeline as well as my very important connection of each of you, but lately there's so much life happening that I get in bed and crash. Okay, if I'm being really honest, I get in bed, turn on Netflix, completely zone out, then crash. What I'm trying to say, is that I miss you. I miss you, and I have a quick "how my baby changed my life" story to share. Then, it's time to crash… Netflix is already streaming in the background.
Luna, my love, my angel child… she has truly tested me in every way this week. I had my first "Stop what you are doing and come home and save me NOW" text to Husband. I needed/need a break from her desperately. I love the kid with every fiber of my being, but for God's sake child, I need to breathe and maybe even sleep past 5am. Anyways, as I attempted to give her dinner tonight she once again showed me just how well she can act as though she is starving while simultaneously gagging at everything I tried to feed her.
She screamed, knocked the spoon out of my hand, threw her food to the dog, kicked, tried to climb out of her high chair and then begged for more food when I took it away. Finally, I just stopped. I stared at her and said, "Fine. Don't eat. Just scream. I'll eat it." So, I sat and started eating the delicious dinner I made for her. She stared back and for a while we sat in silence. I thought, what the hell am I doing wrong this week? She thought Why the hell aren't you feeding me cheddar bunnies? Or, so I assume.
She gave up screaming, looked at me a while and started happily babbling. Her babbles made me forget how annoying she was just 30 seconds ago. "I love you, you know. Even though, you are driving me crazy, I love you with my whole heart," I told her, because it's true and because I feel the need to tell her this very often. She started babbling back and we began a game of "try to say what Mommy says". My new favorite game. So, I tried getting her to say "I love you."
I slowly said, "I" and she very excitedly said "eye!" and pointed to her eye. Yay! She is finally learning her body parts! Now, I was excited and said "nose", and she touched her nose. Then, I said "lips" and she reached for my lips. Then, I said "ears" and she grabbed her ear. This was the first time she found all four and it was certainly a moment for celebration. We clapped and cheered and said more words and then…THEN she very happily ate the rest of her dinner.
By the time she finished eating I had tears in my eyes. I, as I so often do, found myself just staring at this little miracle that has become my whole life. This little baby that is growing and changing and learning so much so fast. How does this tiny little being make me want to pull my hair out and runaway to Mexico and thirty seconds later make me melt into a puddle of Mommy mush, weeping over her adorable baby?
I think that is the summary of parenthood. They steal our sanity and hearts constantly. They are killing us and giving us life everyday. They are the one and only beings that can toss our made-from-scratch dinner to the floor, yell at us for cheese crackers and make us completely forget it ever happened with one little wet sloppy kiss (or by simply pointing to their eye). They can bring us to tears of frustration to tears of joy in a matter of seconds.
Our love for them is unconditional.
Good thing too. Otherwise, I'd have given up on nap time ages ago.
Plus, they're pretty darn cute.


text:
Countdown to Vegas
I normally post only my latest glam, beauty, and fashion shoots on this blog; in fact I do have one experimental shoot not yet posted, but I'll save that for next week. This week I'm going to take a little behind-the-curtain detour and look at where I'm going next!
It's January, so it's time to start the countdown for my annual trip to WPPI in Las Vegas, which means spending more time getting ready, less time shooting, and finally leaving Calgary for a week of fun, learning, and adventure. WPPI is a great place to see what's happening in the photo industry, and it's not just for 'wedding' photographers, since a lot of brides also want boudoir-style shoots as well. I don't really like the term 'boudoir' to describe what I'd like be providing my clients – but I'll get to that later.
Going to Vegas isn't a warm weather vacation, either; in fact it's so unusually warm here in Calgary that the two cities are about the same temperature this week. It's so warm here that I snuck out before dawn today to snap the colors in the clouds:
With so much going on in December it wasn't until the Christmas break (a week of street photography in Vancouver) that I had time to step back from day-to-day concerns and consider where I'd like to take my style and my business. So much has happened in a month that it would be impossible to ignore it all.
I met with Rockie Lee, a photographer in Vancouver that's just written a book about developing more unique photographic styles, and we chatted for hours about it. He's also a "don't call it boudoir" boudoir photographer – looking at his portfolio I think you'll see what I mean. He is gifted, but he's constantly working hard to keep refining his 'look', so his message is pretty relevant to me. And his energy and enthusiasm are infectious! If you're in the lower mainland and looking for a photographer, stop looking and call Rockie. Seriously.
I also took some time to evaluate where I'm at. For starters, I need to turn all the dials up on my business; how often I shoot, what I charge, and the level of what I produce. The good news is that I can see a path forward now, which I couldn't before. If you're a photographer, check out Dane Sanders; he's a photographer and author from California that can really help to put the puzzle pieces together.
The first dial I have to turn up is the frequency of shooting; the effect of working in a creative frame of mind more often that working on non-creative elements of the business has a positive, measurable effect on my work. I can do this by outsourcing a few more of the mundane administrative tasks, and possibly rent a permanent studio… I find my work surroundings really influence my mood and behaviours… if I don't feel like I'm at work, then I don't do work. Studio space is expensive (like $25k – $50k a year), so this also is going to play a part in the business plan.
The next dial I have to turn up is price. Doing client work is more expensive than you'd think; certainly more expensive than personal work, where you can negotiate all kinds of compromises with yourself to stay on budget but still get what your after. By raising my prices a bit I won't be stuck worrying about shoot expenses when I should be thinking creatively. The biggest new expense for me is going to be adding a bit of video to the mix.
The last dial I have to turn up to 11 is image quality and style. If I've nailed the first two, then I know from experience that part of this, the creativity, happens naturally for me. What isn't natural for an artist is thinking creatively about business and the style or 'feel' of who I am and what I'm putting out there – but I think I have that licked now too.
The final part of the plan involves some gear purchases. I'm really happy with my gear as it is – photographically it's great – but I can't shoot video with it. And video is going to be a really important part of the new product offerings! I'm not intending to move to full time / full length videography, but rather use moving images as part of the photographic story telling process. Besides, I don't like the word 'video', it just sounds tacky and cheap. Moving images sounds sooo much nicer! My current gear does allow me to shoot very short clips in HD, but processing is a chore – but after seeing the results mixed in with still images, it's pretty cool. So offering a mix of still and moving images – a 'video portfolio' – is going to be on the menu for models and actors.
Lastly, I have to start 'getting the brand out there'. I don't talk much about 'AfterExposure' (or Amazing Expressions, for my wedding work.) as a brand; in fact I don't like talking about marketing, branding, or even doing advertising. The name 'AfterExposure' originally had nothing to do with models being after more exposure; exposure was being used as a photographic term. But the name stuck, and I'm too lazy to go back 5 years and re-watermark all those pre-Lightroom images with another name. For the moment it works, and I'll continue to use it for working with models and 'industry' shoots. I've also started to work with the process for refining my style that Rockie suggests in his book, as a longer term personal project, so I'll still be doing creative/experimental trade shoots with models who are interested.
But for 'civilian' work – ie clients that aren't interested in modelling or the unknowns of an experimental shoot, I need to do something under a different banner. A new name; a new style, and a new, unique product offering. I've toyed with a few names that match a few markets; 'Dames and Daggers' for the Pin-Up & Hot Rod crowd; and variations of "Notorious/Decadent" for the more clean lines of a modern, non-retro style. Great ideas… but different styles… so I need something unique, and something that will last as my style evolves. And the new style and product doesn't really fit either of those names, in fact I don't think it's ever really been done in a big way before, so I'm pretty excited about it!
Then I realized that I should use my own name (I've had my name registered for a while on the interwebs). It's unique, and I'm kinda attached to it. So look for the new product offerings soon; by the time I get back from Vegas I should be able to post some fresh new samples of what I'm going to be offering. It's going to be awesome!
It also addresses head-on one of the constant struggles that working with digital has – the selling of digital media – and the loss of future print sales, the negative effect on the value of the art, and the perception of the photographer and what they deliver. Photographers aren't always publicly chatty on this topic, but it boils down to traditional business models that are built on the idea of selling both the artists time (the session fee) and prints (the physical art itself) to stay in business. Photographers who 'give away' their digital files, but are otherwise operating in a traditional way, are cutting their own throats. Some photographers sell digital files priced in a range that offsets the loss of print sales, but the issue here is that clients often have these digital files printed at low cost, and at low quality at places like Costco or WalMart. This is exactly how a photographer who cares about their craft doesn't want their work produced and displayed!
But what about moving images? They don't fit the model of physical art, they have to be delivered digitally! They key difference here is that at HD resolutions as a DVD or mpeg file the images don't lend themselves to client printing after delivery. I can still offer wall art and books, and in fact I can reduce the prices of the physical products because because the primary product is the digital media, and most of the time to get the images ready (editing and retouching) is already costed into the digital media production. Look for pricing on these packages soon!


text:
Buddhist temple in Battambang, Cambodia
Battambang Resort, Battambang
- Abundant fruit gardens
- Bikes to borrow
Battambang Resort is in a lovely situation outside of the town, surrounded by rice fields. The warm hospitality from the staff, along with the hotel's pleasant grounds, have made this one of the most popular places to stay in and around Battambang.
Guestrooms are simple, clean and comfortable with plenty of amenities that will make you feel right at home, such as tea and coffee making facilities and a fridge. Thankfully, all the rooms are air-conditioned, too. Many of the rooms have serene views over the gardens or the hotel's lake.
The resort has peaceful and fragrant gardens to enjoy and the chef grows ingredients including mangos, bananas, coconut, mint, lemongrass, rocket and basil. The gardens are dotted with hammocks for guests to laze around in, if you don't feel like lounging by the hotel's enticing saltwater pool. For something a little unusual, complimentary pedalos are available on the lake. When you're ready to explore, the Battambang Resort provides free city bikes and free transport to and from Battambang town.
You can dine poolside, or in the hotel's upstairs restaurant. The menu features both Asian and western food and barbeques can be arranged on request.
This peaceful hotel offers a quiet retreat out of town. It's handy for visiting Battambang's top sights, but perfect if you want the activities of a bigger resort during downtime.
Other places to stay in Battambang
A boutique hotel with an impressively curated collection of antiques and art.


text:
How to Decorate With White Slipcovered Sofas
White interiors are often inherently elegant. White slipcovered sofas are a perfect inspiration for a shabby chic design, as slipcovered upholstery is a hallmark of this decorating style. By choosing ruffled-edge slipcovers and adding several additional feminine layers of design, ranging from elegant lighting to distressed furniture, a romantic and elegant decor is possible for homeowners who enjoy a clean, white and vintage-inspired environment. The use of a primarily monochromatic color scheme with touches of pink, blue and green creates a living room, family room or reading nook with shabby chic style.
Color Palette
Create a warm, monochromatic color scheme by using different values of white. Accentuate the white slipcovered sofa by painting the walls a soft, cream color. Apply a fresh coat of gloss, white paint to drab mouldings to make them visually stand out against the cream walls. Paint the ceiling a cream hue that is one or two values away from the paint selection strip wall choice. Use a shabby chic decor of the entire space, by bringing in additional tones of baby pinks, blues and greens in accessory items for a romantic room decor to enhance any slipcovered white sofa.
Distressed Furniture
Add vintage, weathered furniture pieces to the white decor. Highlight the white slipcovered sofa by incorporating additional white furniture in the room. Shop vintage shops and thrift stores for items with curved lines for a feminine appeal to the space. Paint them all in a shade of white, to make them visually relate to one another, and gently sand the edges for a time-worn look. Apply a final faux finish process to the wood, by taking a damp cloth with antique solution and wiping it on and off the finish to create a distressed look. Add glass knobs or other vintage-inspired hardware to complete the furniture pieces.
Elegant Lighting
Use vintage-inspired lighting to accentuate the shabby chic look. Hang a large, crystal chandelier from the ceiling to add height to the room. Take mercury glass-based lamps, and top them with fabric lampshades covered with cream-colored silk roses that have been applied with a glue gun. Position crystal candlestick sconces with crystal drops on either side of a painting or mirror. Add above the white slipcovered sofa wall for a touch of light to the seating area. Display a grouping of white candles on a heat-resistant white plate, and place them on a mirrored tray on a coffee table for a soft glow to the entire room.
Time-Worn Accessories
Accent the feminine design with vintage-themed decorative accessories. Hang a white-framed, antique mirror on a wall in the space to reflect light. Add several baby pink, ruffled pillows, and display them on the white slipcovered sofa. Place a grouping of three, silver-plated, black and white photographs on a side table. Roses are often a quintessential motif in shabby chic rooms, so add a large, pink-hued rose painting on the wall above the sofa to emphasize it as the focal area of the space. Complete the decor with a fresh bouquet of pink roses in a silver vase. Set on the coffee table for a final touch to the romantic design of the room.


text:
The start of better crops
01947 840666
Your cart
£ 0.00
Vegetable Seeds
Giant Onion Kelsae
Aubergines Seeds
Bean Seeds Dwarf French
Bean Seeds Climbing French
Bean Seeds Runner
Bean Seeds Broad
Beetroot Long Types
Beetroot - Round types
Borecole or Curly Kale
Broccoli Spring Sprouting Types
Brussel Sprout Seeds
Cabbage Savoy Types
Cabbage Spring Types
Cabbage January King Types
Cabbage Red Types
Cabbage Dutch White Types
Cabbage Giant Types
Cabbage Autumn Green Types
Carrot Nantes and Kuroda Types
Carrots Long Types
Cauliflower Summer and Autumn Types
Cauliflower Winter and Spring Heading Types
Calabrese or Summer Broccoli Types
Celeriac Seeds To Grow for Roast Celeriac
Celery Seed For Gardeners
Courgette Seeds for courgettes recipes,courgette growing
Cucumber Greenhouse Types
Tomato Greenhouse Types
Florence Fennel, Herb Fennel Seeds
Kohi Rabi Seeds
Lettuce Seeds
Marrow Seeds, Giant Marrow Seeds
Parsley Curly Leafed Seeds
Peas and Mangetot - Sugar Pea
Radish Seeds
Onion Small Types
Spinach Perpetual Leaf Beet Seeds
Summer Green Cabbage Seeds
Sweet Corn Seeds
Peppers Sweet Types
Parsnips Seeds
Leek Seeds
Giant Onion
Grass Seeds
Grass Seed For Paddocks and Racehorse Gallops
Grass Seeds For Landscaping Areas
Grass Seeds For Lawns
Grass Seeds For Sports Areas
Grass Seeds For Turf Production
Wildflower Seeds
Colour Splash Amenity Flower Seed
Wildflower Seed Mixtures
Plant Propagation
Grow Tents
Grow Lights
Biological Control Predators
CO.2 Controllers
Contactor/Timer Switches
Fans and Cooling
Greenhouse Heaters
Growing Booklets
Growing Media
Heat Mats and Thermostat
Jiffy Plugs and Trays
Plant Health
Pots and Containers
ROOT!T Natural Rooting Sponges and Trays
Rope Ratchet for Hanging Your Lights
Tree Seeds
Conifer Seed
Tree Seeds
Vegetable Plants
Onion Seedlings For The Exhibition Grower
Pot Leeks & Blanch Leek Seedlings For Exhibition
Fosters Seeds Online Store
Your Cart
Continue Shopping
Pot Leek Plants - Amelia - 12 Unrooted Pips
(Code: AM_POT1)
£ 30.00
PRICE IS FOR 12 Pips sent
out in October.
New Pot Leek Amelia bred by Keith Foster, breeder of the Yorkshire Blue, Yorkshire Green and Yorkshire Giant. Championship winning Pot Leeks.
in 2016 and we're very happy with how they grew. Bred from the same parentage as the iconic Joe Jones and
Yorkshire Green Pot Leeks .
This pot leek, like all other Pot Leeks, need to be grown very cool, a heat mat set at just 15c is perfectly adequate , no lights and no air heating ,grow them in a cold greenhouse during winter on the heat mat., plant in raised beds around April that have just an overhead cover to keep the rain off. If planting in a tunnel , it must be very well ventilated, Pot Leeks are very hardy and thrive when grown cool. Too many growers force their Pot Leeks in warm greenhouses with lights, consequently they are usually over the top by July! Pot Leek Amelia grown as advised will produce quality leeks that will stay short .
Read our Growblog on full culture on Pot Leeks
Terms and Conditions
Shipping options
Privacy and Cookies
Contact Us
Copyright © 2003 - 2019 - exhibition-seeds
e-Commerce Website by Oxatis


text:
The goal of this project was to make a Sous Vide machine. This Sous Vide is temperature-controlled cooking method. It requires to place ingredients in a sealed environment while being cooked under water. The food is cooked by sealing it in a vacuum sealed bag then placing that bag in a water bath. The water bath is then heated to a specific temperature, typically the temperature at which the food becomes safe to eat, especially important when meat is begin cooked. The typical temperature range is 60-90 deg C depending on the type of food. It is then left in the water bath for a long period of time until the food reaches the temperature of the water bath.
The project wasn't successful because we weren't able to communicate with the temperature sensor. Unfortunately we couldn't find a library for the temperature sensor to communicate with the A3BU. (Instructor note to future teams searching for a project idea: consider adding 1-Wire code to the A3BU. You will learn a ton about timers) Other than that the project went well and we used a manual temperature sensor to make all the necessary readings and finish the project.


text:
Since its publication in 1988, The Addictive Personality has helped people understand the process of addiction. Now, through this second edition, author Craig Nakken brings new depth and dimension to our understanding of how an individual becomes an addict. Going beyond the definition that limits dependency to the realm of alcohol and other drugs, Nakken uncovers the common denominator of all addiction and describes how the process is progressive.
Through research and practical experience, Nakken sheds new light on:
The author examines how addictions start, how society pushes people toward addiction, and what happens inside those who become addicted. This new edition will help anyone seeking a better understanding of the addictive process and its impact on our lives.
Craig Nakken, M.S.W. a certified chemical dependency practitioner, is a lecturer at the Rutgers School of Alcohol Studies and the Florida School of Addictions. A worker in the field of addictions for more than 25 years, Nakken has a private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota and lectures nationally and internationally on topics related to addiction studies.
Read the introduction to and chapter one of: Addictive Personality. This file is in PDF format.
1-800-328-9000 (USA and Canada)
Office hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.(CT)
© 1949-2019 Hazelden, All rights reserved.
Get to Know Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Addiction Treatment
Resell Our Products
Let Us Help You
Contact Us
Mail-in Order Form
Hazelden Locations
Product Training
Manuscript Submission
Event Calendar
eProducts and Services
Mobile MORE® Field Guide to Life
Mobile Apps
FIT Online Professional Education
Partners Program
Hazelden Webinars
Earn CE Hours Online
Bookstore Home


text:
VIDEO: The Constitution Is Pretty Clear — It's 'We, The People,' Not 'It, The Money'
We all know how the Founders wanted lawmaking to work — but lately, the democratic process has been upended by a flood of Big Money. From our friends at unPAC, here's how a bill(ionaire) becomes a law(maker)…and what we can do to take back our democracy!
LOL Campaign Finance
Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis are out with a new movie that looks like it will be a hilarious skewer of the modern political campaign. The Campaign, out on August 10, gets one thing a bit too right — campaign finance. Watch this clip…so funny because it's so true.
For-Profit College Recruiter: Goal Was To "Demoralize Potential Applicants" And Get "Asses In Classes"
Yesterday at Sen. Tom Harkin's press conference on the release of his new report on the predatory nature of the for-profit college industry, one of the most illuminating testimonies came not from the senator or his colleagues, but from a former active and knowing participant in the abusive system. Laura Brozek worked for ITT Technical
Continue Reading >>>
GM, Walgreens Dump ALEC; Organization Meets In Salt Lake City Amid Protests
Two more major companies have joined the exodus of corporations, organizations, and politicians fleeing the American Legislative Exchange Council, the corporate front group responsible for pushing Stand Your Ground and voter ID laws in states across the country. Yesterday, General Motors and Walgreens confirmed that they will no longer continue their membership in ALEC, according
Continue Reading >>>
Whitehouse At Senate Judiciary Hearing: If We Can Ask Soldiers To Go To Afghanistan, We Can Ask The Koch Brothers To 'Put Up With Some Impolite Blogging'
On Tuesday, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee held a hearing called "Taking Back Our Democracy," examining special interests' increasing grip on American politics and policy, especially focusing on the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. Two panels of witnesses, including both current lawmakers and activists, testified to a friendly panel of Democratic senators (no Republicans appeared to
Continue Reading >>>
LINKS: DISCLOSE Act Fails — Again — In The Senate
Politico: DISCLOSE Act fails again in Senate Senate Democrats on Monday lost another attempt to pass legislation forcing donors of groups that bankroll most election ads to be revealed. But Democrats, led by New York Sen. Charles Schumer, pledged to hold the Senate floor hostage and continue the debate well into the night. The DISCLOSE Act,
Continue Reading >>>
United Republic Searches For Citizen Reporter To Cover Money In Politics At 2012 Conventions
United Republic, which sponsors Republic Report, has partnered up with Link TV to send one citizen reporter to the 2012 Republican and Democratic national conventions in Tampa and Charlotte on August 29 and September 3. The chosen citizen reporter will be a volunteer who will report on the conventions through the lens of money in
Continue Reading >>>
LINKS: Expose The Fat Cats
iWatch: Vote set for quixotic bill that would reveal attack ad funders A bill designed to reveal the donors behind anonymously funded political attack ads is scheduled to hit the floor of the Senate Monday — however, the legislation has virtually no chance of passing, and even if it did pass, it still wouldn't go
Continue Reading >>>


text:
TOUCHBIN NEXT-40L Matt Steel
The newly designed lid of the Touch Bin New opens at the lightest touch, quietly and smoothly. It really is seriously easy to open, change the bin liners and clean.
Ease of use
• One-tone coloured bin. Body and the lid have the same colour
• Improved 'Soft-Touch' opening and closing system - even easier and lighter operation than before
• Space saving - flat rear shape fits closely to the wall
• Removable stainless steel lid unit - bin liners easy to change
• Special ventilation holes in the inner bucket prevent vacuum when removing the filled bin liner
• Made of durable corrosion-resistant materials
• Sturdy carrying handle
• Plastic protective bottom rim prevents damage to the floor
• Capacity 40 litres
• Height 72.7 cm
• Width 43.5 cm
• Depth 30.2 cm


text:
taylor will graduate soon from Jacksonville High School! she is completely gorgeous and such a sweetheart of a girl ~ she has a certain grace about her. i think you'll see in her pictures! her demeanor is so sweet and you just want to be happy when you are around her! i've known her mom and dad for almost forever and it's not surprising that they have such great kids!
i've heard through the grapevine that she'll be attending Mizzou this fall! how awesome is that!! she'll be amazing wherever she is and whatever she does! she also has a little sis coming to my camera soon! I can't wait!
good luck taylor!


text: Download Corporate Branding and Identity Mockups Free PSD. With this set of Corporate Branding and Identity Mockups psd Impress your clients showcasing your work in the best way possible. In this Corporate Branding & Identity Mockups set you will find a lot more mockup combinations are possible. All the objects are grouped allowing you to move them around and organize them as you want. However you are free to use this Free PSD in your personal and commercial projects. Anyway, hope this will help you benefit your project as well. Enjoy!


text:
More than 2,000 workers who helped build the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel from 2006 to 2008 will each get part of over $8 million in unpaid prevailing wages.
California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su announced Monday that $8,072,273 in unpaid prevailing wages has been collected on behalf of the 2,051 workers who built the hotel.
The workers, employed by prime contractor Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and 172 subcontractors during construction of the 1,190-room hotel, will receive the full prevailing wages they earned on the public works project.
Christine Baker, director of the state's Department of Industrial Relations, determined that the project was a public work because it was paid for out of public funds due to a $46.5 million rent credit provided by the Port of San Diego, which leased the land to the hotel owner.
"This office will vigorously enforce prevailing wage law to collect all of the wages owed to workers," Su said in a news release. "Prevailing wage laws help ensure that public dollars are used to fund quality construction and good jobs that can support families in California."
The San Diego Superior Court issued a writ of mandate on Feb. 3, 2010 reversing the determination of Baker and finding the project was not a public work. The California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District reversed the trial court and affirmed the decision of Baker on July 26, 2011.
Hensel Phelps Construction Co. and the Labor Commissioner then negotiated the amount of wages due to the workers. All 2,051 workers will receive the full prevailing wages they earned on this project. They performed every aspect of construction, from foundation drilling to concrete pouring to steel erection to landscaping.
Hensel Phelps will pay a third-party administrator to process payments to the workers. The prime contractor will also pay an additional $400,000 to the Labor Commissioner as reimbursement for investigative costs.
Greg Siggins, a spokesman for the Department of Industrial Relations, said the money was collected and deposited on June 10 and workers should expect to receive their share in 60-90 days.
Phone calls to Colorado-based Hensel Phelps for comment were not returned.
9404 Genesee Ave. Ste., 140
San Diego, CA 92037
All contents herein copyright San Diego Source ® 1994-2020


text:
Page Contents
What is Numbness In Big Toe?
Numbness in big toe can mean a number of reasons. Usually, we feel the numbness after a long day or when we wake up in the morning. The big toes are usually affected when illness occurs, which is why we need to take care of our feet in general. The numbness of the big toe would vary from one person to another.
Others would complain of "pins and needles" sensation while others have accompanying tingling sensation. It is important that one should assess the toes as the sensations are felt. Somehow, source of the numbness may be from an outside factor.
Causes of Numbness In Big Toe
Numbness in the big toe is basically a symptom from a disease process. Some conditions which were not diagnosed earlier or have been progressing without the knowledge of the patient can arise to such manifestation especially when the blood circulation and nerves are involved. Other than that, disorders provide a big role in inducing numbness in the big toe. This can be a serious disorder or diseases which were not properly managed or it can be a result from physical factors such as the following:
Circulation problem
This is a great factor in contributing numbness of the big toe. When there is a problem in the circulation such as simple constriction of blood vessels in the feet, tingling sensations would most likely be experienced by the patient.
This may not only be localized but can also affect the whole feet itself. Position can also add to triggering numbness such as standing in a long period of time, sitting in a cross-legged manner and in standing or sitting in an awkward, uncomfortable position can lead to numbness.
Nerve compression
Nerve compression can either be from an injury/trauma or from prolonged stationary positioning of the feet. This should be taken with immediate medical attention in order to avoid worsening of the sensation.
Peripheral neuropathy
A damaged blood vessel in the big toe can result to peripheral neuropathy. This condition arises when our blood vessels are damaged that eventually affects the nerves. This is a common complication from chronic smoking and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. When not treated, the numbness will be an initial sign for nerve damage and can lead permanent loss of the affected limb.
Chronic diabetes and peripheral numbness are correlated disorders. Diabetes can result to numbness due to fact that nerve damage has been incurred because of improper management. In diabetes, it is common that the lower limbs are the areas with less sensation because of peripheral neuropathy and from less blood circulation.
The choice of footwear is highly influential in numbness of toes and feet. There are many types of shoes that can possibly result to discomfort. Uncomfortable shoes are obviously the source of the unwanted sensation. The toes can be the direct recipient of the discomfort when wearing uncomfortable shoes. Numbness in the big toe is result from circulation problems or basically constriction because of tight shoes, even loose shoes. These ill-fitting shoes can induce trauma which shouldn't be worn to avoid untoward results.
Gouty arthritis
This is a common cause for numbness of the toe. The big toe is a common area of affectation when gout has become uncontrolled. When uric acid levels have become high and undermanaged, a podagra may develop. This podagra is a manifestation of gout which can be very debilitating in discomfort as it's the collection of gout crystals in the big toe. Eventually, its effect on the big toe is numbness and swelling.
This is a result of wearing shoes which do not fit well. This can be easily identified as there is displacement of the toe thus resulting to pain and discomfort. Eventually, as the pain sensation intensifies, numbness would result. Bunions should not be left untreated for this can only worsen the lateral displacement of the toe.
This has been linked to numbness in the big toe. Most obese people have less blood supply to their feet.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
This is considered as a cause for its nerve-related condition. When there is deficiency in this vitamin, possible neural damaging may occur. As a result, symptoms shall arise such as numbness and tingling sensation of the big toe.
This is a rare condition that can result to numbness of the big toe. Sciatica is considered a big nerve of the body which when damaged, may result to eventual numbness of the toes.
Treatment For Numbness In Big Toe
Treatment for numbness in big toe is directed to the cause. As numbness is a manifestation of a certain condition, treating its source is the main aim in the treatment plan. The following are some interventions, in general, made for numbness in big toe:
Find the source or cause of the symptom and treat them. In circulation problems, one can avoid numbness by choosing proper footwear which is basically one factor for initiating development of constriction. Avoid sitting and standing in a long period of time. From time to time, changing one's position is necessary to avoid untoward results. Somehow, nerve compression cannot be avoided especially when an unprecedented injury has occurred.
But other causes of nerve compression when prolonged stationary positioning is avoided. Diabetes and peripheral neuropathy come together and can be avoided at the same time. Proper treatment for diabetes should be done and followed all the way. Another causative condition, gout, can be managed easily when treatment regimen is followed.
Proper diet such as avoiding rich in purine foods can avoid uric acid crystal formation thus avoiding the flare up of symptoms. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be treated with supplementation which the doctor can readily prescribe.
Orthotic device
An orthotic device has been developed in treating possible cause of numbness of the big toe, including bunions. This can take some pressure off from the affected nerve thus return of normal sensation in the area can be attained after this treatment.
- http://www.livestrong.com/
article/299995-numbness-in- the-tip-of-the-big-toe/
- http://www.diabetesdaily.com/
forum/neuropathy/1868-slight- numbness-big-toe
- http://www.yogawiz.com/blog/
home-remedies/big-toe- numbness-causes-tingling.html


text:
The Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability is partnering with Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development (HAND) and Habitat for Humanity on Ramp Up, a grant program through the State of Indiana.
To apply, we must gather information about the need. If you or someone you know would benefit from a ramp for accessibility into your home, please complete this form and a representative from HAND will contact you with more details.
A representative from HAND will be in touch shortly to further discuss eligibility.
This field is not part of the form submission.
* indicates a required field


text: Patients General Information Cancer Three of the most common cancers (prostate, bladder and testis) fall within the remit of urologists. The overall management of patients with urological cancers is very much a team effort involving urologists, radiologists, oncologists, specialist nurses and other allied professionals forming multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to work together in designated cancer centres. Prostate cancer Prostate cancer has shown a steady increase in recent years. It is now the second commonest cancer in men over 50, and the commonest cause of death from cancer in this age group. Not before time, prostate cancer is beginning to receive media attention which is attracting more money for research. Earlier diagnosis of the disease, with complete removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy), innovative forms of radiotherapy (brachytherapy) and new approaches such as high-intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) are beginning to have a major impact on the disease. To see more detailed information about suspected prostate cancer, please click here. Bladder cancer Bladder cancer commonly causes blood in the urine - an alarming symptom which means that patients usually seek advice early. The urologist's ability to pass a small flexible cystoscope into the bladder in a clinic or day surgery unit makes for rapid diagnosis as well as allowing simple follow-up of bladder tumours. The treatment of these growths, and those affecting the kidney, is usually surgical removal by the urologist, sometimes followed by other forms of treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Read more about bladder cancer from the websites Action Bladder Cancer UK and Fight Bladder Cancer. Testicular cancer Testicular cancer is the commonest cancer in men between 20 and 50 years of age. Its management is a shining example of the development of successful treatment following lengthy and complex clinical trials. For most men with testicular cancer, surgery followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy will provide a cure, even if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. For more detailed information about suspected testicular cancer, please click here. Patients COVID-19: Information for PatientsFind a SurgeonGeneral InformationCancerPaediatricsStone Disease Patient Advisory SectionGlossary"I think I might have..."Blood in the semen (haematospermia) Blood in the urine (haematuria) Erectile dysfunction (impotence) Fertility problems Incontinence of urine Kidney stones Male menopause (androgen deficiency in the ageing male) Premature ejaculation Prostate symptoms (bladder outlet obstruction) Raised PSA Testicle missing Testicular lump Tight foreskin (phimosis) Urinary infection (adult) Urinary infection (child) "I'm told I need..."Bladder Procedures Fertility & Infertility Procedures Kidney & Adrenal Procedures Miscellaneous Procedures Penis Procedures Prostate Procedures Retroperitoneum Procedures Stone Procedures Testis & Scrotal Procedures Transplantation & Dialysis Procedures Ureter Procedures Urethra Procedures Surgical Outcomes AuditsInterpretation of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsHow We Do Risk AnalysisGrading of Surgical ComplicationsPrivacy Notice for BAUS AuditsCystectomyAbout the AuditSummary & Timescales of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsNephrectomyAbout the AuditSummary & Timescale of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsPercutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL)About the AuditSummary & Timescale of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsRadical ProstatectomyAbout the AuditSummary & Timescales of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsStress Urinary IncontinenceAbout the AuditSummary & Timescale of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsUrethroplastyAbout the AuditSummary & Timescale of the DataUnderstanding the GraphsVaginal Mesh ComplicationsYour Patient Journey Print this page Email to a friend Add to My Links Save as PDF Give feedback


text:
Whether looking for a pattern or making your own, there are slipcover styles to favor any chair. What does a slipcover do? It protects upholstery and can conceal the seat and or back of any chair. Slipcovers also are a great alternative to reupholstering chairs since they can be removed for cleaning. They also can completely transform the look of chairs to accompany a change … [Read more...]
You are here: Home / Archives for chair slipcovers


text:
Since moving to Kuwait, I've been updating my blog regularly. I started blogging because I wanted to have a systematic archive of my life and experiences.
Since the move, I wanted to write more about my experiences as an American in the Middle East. I've gotten some great supporters/readers of my blog and I never thought other people would be interested in reading about my life, but it's a pretty great experience!
Blogging has taught me many things.
1. I've started to look at my day introspectively
At the end of the day when I sit down in front of my laptop, I think about my day and what happened, what I did, what I should have done, what I did do, etc. It's kind of like therapy, except for free! I sit and reflect on my thoughts and then try to put it into words, but it's harder than it seems. I haven't seriously written since my high school creative writing days, but I'm up for the challenge. I want to become a better writer, and I hope this blog will enable me to do that.
2. I share my feelings more
The Husband jokingly calls me cold-hearted… I have feelings, but I am careful of when/where to show it. I've always been the type to smile my way through everything. In this blog, I have tried to be more open about my feelings, but it is tough. I struggle with sharing my feelings on my blog because I wonder, how open should I be? This is not an anonymous blog, and I don't want to hurt others or put myself into a "compromising" situation. Another thought that runs through my head, is "what will people think".. this is where I have to remind myself… (Yes I do talk to myself and give myself pep talks) "This blog is about you, you should write what you want, don't care about other people" I'm trying to find a balance on what and how much I should share about my life.
3. My creative outlet
This is my creative outlet for writing! I want to be able to write more than just about cooking and traveling, I want to take it to the next level.. but I am not sure how. This blog has enabled me to meet some interesting people! It's exciting to see a different set of people who are put into similar surroundings and read their stories.
4. Patience
I am not a patient person. I am your typical Type A results oriented impatient person! I always have a plan or goal in mind and I get irritated when others don't understand my sense of urgency or the value of time. Ya great person to be living in the Middle East! Things here are mostly relaxed, your meetings never start on time, people do not understand what the term "sense of urgency" is. Tasks and lists make me happy! I think I've eased up on this in my personal life, but I'm still pretty crazy about it for my
professional life. OK, I just went on a tangent regarding my personality and things that irritate me..that's another post in itself! Having a blog really has taught me to be more patient. In order to write, I've learned that I need patience and also I need to be calm. Usually I have a million things running through my head and so it's hard for me to focus and write, but I have learned that I get better results when I am able to clear my mind.
I'm excited to continue my blog journey and share my thoughts and experiences with you.


text:
Alexa Kelly
Actress, director, teacher, producer, and loves it all.
New York, New York USA
* Where do you look for inspiration?
Mostly from theatre. I love to go to the National Theatre in London, because I find the shows to be very innovative and exciting in their ideas.
* What's your favorite…
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Also, I love everything that Elizabeth George has written.
BRAVE HEART is one of them.
line from a play
"It's been a while, and what a while it's been" FROM CHAOS THEORY, by Anuvab Pal
Al Green, Annie Lennox
pop culture guilty pleasure
playing Scrabble and other board games
red wine
* What play or production changed your life?
The original OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR
* Is there anything you still dream of doing?
Directing on the main stage of a big regional theatre with a good budget and someone else producing!
* I feel most like myself when I am directing or coaching acting.
* What is your best escape?
Lying in the sunshine
* What's the one thing nobody knows about you?
I wish I could fix all the problems in the world, and make all people live in harmony.
Alexa Kelly trained at Central Drama School, and has worked in theatre ever since. Taught and directed regionally and in NYC, universities from FSU to U of M. Founder of Harlem Summer Shakespeare. Artistic Director for Pulse Ensemble Theatre, NYC, for 22 years.


text:
President-elect Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that he would cancel Boeing's contract to build a new presidential aircraft to replace the aging Reagan-era model that currently shuttles the president around the world, inaccurately citing "out of control" costs of more than $4 billion in a tweet.
Trump began his onslaught against Boeing at 8:52 a.m., tweeting "Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!"
The tweet came 22 minutes after The Chicago Tribune posted a story in which the Boeing CEO voiced concerns about Trump's views on trade. The president-elect then descended to the lobby of the Manhattan skyscraper that bears his name to reiterate his case.
U.S. & World
"The plane is totally out of control," Trump told reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower, deeming the deal "ridiculous."
"I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money."
But Trump's tweet was factually incorrect. The U.S. Air Force contract is for a pair of Boeing 747 jets, not one, to replace the two variants of the aircraft that are in rotation. Boeing has not yet been awarded the money to build the proposed replacements.
"We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the president of the United States," Boeing responded to Trump Tuesday in a statement.
The Government Accountability Office, the government's auditing arm, in March of this year estimated total program costs at more than $3.2 billion between the 2010 and 2020 federal budget years. Separately, Defense Department and Air Force officials say the overall cost of two new aircrafts, including development, construction and future maintenance, could cost at least $4 billion.
The government has contracted with Boeing to build two new planes, which would go into service around 2024. That means Trump might never fly on the aircraft, which carry U.S. presidents around the globe.
"We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer," the company added.
The Air Force has pressed for a faster schedule, saying the aging current Boeing 747s are becoming too expensive to repair and keep in good flying shape.
The current aircrafts that the president uses for the bulk of his foreign and domestic travel are getting older and breaking down more often, officials say. The planes were built in the 1980s and began flying in the early 1990s. One took President Barack Obama on a trip to MacDill Air Force in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday.
Air Force One, the distinctive blue-and-white plane with the U.S. flag on its tail and the presidential seal, is basically a flying office for the president, complete with sophisticated communications, military and other capabilities. Safety of the president is paramount, and the government started the process to replace the aging aircraft with younger versions that take advantage of the most-up-to-date advances in technology.
Air Force One is unlike most aircraft. It can be refueled in the air and, with an unlimited range, can take the president wherever he needs to go. Its electrical systems are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and the plane has advanced secure communications equipment that will allow it to function as mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States, according to the White House.
The president and most of those who travel with him aboard Air Force One enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, including a suite for the president with an office and a conference room. A medical suite that can function as an operating room, in an emergency, and a doctor is always on board. The plane has quarters for those who regularly accompany the president on trips, including White House staff, Secret Service agents, traveling journalists and other guests. Trump generally does not allow the press on his own plane.
Boeing shares dipped in pre-market trading after Trump's tweet, creating what amounted to a paper loss of around $1.5 billion in the company's market value. But shareholders who held onto the stock didn't end up losing anything from the knee-jerk reaction, as the stock actually rose in regular market trading.
Trump had tweeted in 2013 that he owned Boeing stock, but a spokesman said Tuesday he sold all of his stock holdings in June. That sale was not publicized by the campaign at the time, and aides did not reveal how much cash it might have generated.
If Trump had held onto his stock portfolio, he would have been required to repeatedly file reports with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. A 2012 update of the Ethics in Government Act obliges presidents and other senior government officials to report such transactions.
Trump now uses his own plane, a Boeing 757, which he has outfitted with white leather and gold, a large flat-screen television and a bedroom. But as president it is expected that he would travel aboard the Air Force jet.
Not long after his first appearance, Trump returned to the lobby with Masayoshi Son, the CEO of SoftBank, a massive telecommunications company that counts Sprint among its holdings. Trump pointed proudly to Son's commitment to invest $50 billion in the United States, which Trump said could create 50,000 jobs.
Trump — who also tweeted the deal — shook Son's hand and posed for photos, reveling as he had last week when he toured a Carrier plant in Indiana where he said he had instigated an agreement that will preserve about 1,000 jobs the appliance maker had planned to move to Mexico.


text:
Everyone shall have an equal opportunity for employment and advancement based on ability, necessary qualifications and fitness for work irrespective of sex, age, marital status, civil partnership, sexual orientation, colour, race, creed, religion or national or ethnic origin.
CGI gives full and fair consideration to all applications for employment from disabled persons having regard to particular aptitudes and abilities, continuing where possible the employment of staff who become disabled.
We have a grievance procedure for complaints about discriminatory conduct, and a harassment policy for any complaints related to sexual or racial harassment. We want staff to feel able to raise such grievances without fear of penalty, unless it's untrue or made in bad faith.
We ask applicants and staff to complete a form detailing their sex, race, ethnic origin and any disabilities, but we guarantee that this form will only be used to monitor the effectiveness of our equal opportunities policy.
We are committed to recruiting women, students, those with disabilities and other historically under-represented groups. We ensure that all organisational policies, pay, hours of work, training, performance review schemes, disciplinary or other procedures and benefits are designed to promote equal opportunity and provide protection for all members.
We have a Women's and a Capability network where we encourage our members to support and learn from each other and from people outside the organisation. CGI is committed to being a disability confident organisation.


text:
In the wake of the Clone Wars, anyone who stumbled across a battle droid was understandably paranoid. After all, you never knew exactly when those droids might decide to exact a belated measure of revenge. Battle droids, however, were never as scary as assassin droids like the IG-88.
Immediately upon its initial activation (we're once again in "Legends" territory here), the IG-88 killed its human creators. Then he duplicated his programming into three identical droids, which set out on a quest to rid the universe of their organic overlords.
On the side, they took up bounty hunting. Darth Vader hired IG-88 to capture Han Solo's Millennium Falcon, which had proven more elusive than Vader expected. Their efforts to nab the Falcon failed, but IG-88 attempted to follow his real cause by uploading his programming into the Death Star, which he hoped to use as a beacon to call all droids in the universe to arms in a massive revolt.
Fortunately for humans and their carbon-based brethren, the Rebels blew up the Death Star just in time, saving creatures everywhere from the evils of the Empire ... and IG-88, too.


text:
Many times in life, you come across certain individuals who persistently commit sins and do not seek the forgiveness of Allah, they believe with full certainty that they will not receive His mercy and consequently choose to increase in evil deeds. This is a grave mistake and misunderstanding. Allah assures us in the Quran that no matter what sin we commit, He subhanahu wa ta'ala will forgive. For example, most of us grew up knowing that shirk (associating partners in worship with Allah) is an unforgivable sin, we don't actually know that it is only unforgivable if we die having commited shirk without repenting, if we commit even this sin, Allah can forgive us as long as we repent.
"And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; – and none can forgive sins but Allah – and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know." (3:135)
During this month especially, it is paramount that we constantly repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness. There are numerous ways in which we can do that, feom simply uttering words of forgiveness on our tongues, to praying two.
Shaddad bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul-Istighfar) is to say: `Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana `abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, a`udhu bika min sharri ma sana`tu, abu'u laka bini`matika `alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta. (O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).' He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah." [Al-Bukhari].
Throughout the year we all fall short and drown in sins, constantly disobeying our Creator and transgressing the limits of Islam. If He has blessed you to witness another ramadhan, He is giving you the opportunity to repent, seize it! Know with full certainty that Allah swt is full of Mercy and Compassion towards His servants, life is short and we must use our time wisely to grow towards Him. Allah swt knows that we are a people who sin, so do not feel shy to repent to your Creator. Do not allow shaytan to delude you into thinking that Allah swt will not forgive you as this is simply not true, and remember to always keep this hadith in mind:
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! If you do not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah will certainly forgive them." [Bukhari]
Now, the same way we love that Allah should forgive us, we must also get into the habbit of forgiving others. Humans are imperfect by nature, we all fall into mistakes, to look past somebody's mistake and to forgive them is something very noble and important to do. It is a gift only a few possess.
Forgiving someone can be very difficult to do when you are fuming with anger. It can be that this person has hurt you in a profound and unimaginable way through words or actions. Perhaps this invidual has been abusive. Nonetheless, life is too short to not forgive. In our lives, surely we've made mistakes, and do we not appreciate it when people accept our apologies? It is also important to take into consideration that by forgiving someone, even if they're not concerned by your act of forgiveness, you are actually helping yourself. To hold grudges and sustain ressentment hurts nobody else but you, we know this from our religion, but it is also something emphasized by psychologist. To forgive is to heal your wound by yourself, not depending on someone to do it for you. So in shaa Allah (by the will of Allah) let us strive to forgive one another and accept that we are all flawed and can commit mistakes. Let us also strive to repent to our Lord and often as possible, especially before the inevitable comes.