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Since January 6, I have been teaching from the comfort of our home office, wearing yoga pants and T-shirts, 13 year old Chester the golden retriever at my feet. Monday we return to the school building. This is Return to the Building #4, and if I'm going to be honest, I'm losing enthusiasm for all the back and forth.
I don't disagree with any of the moves to remote or in-person learning that my school has made. In fact, when many schools last year were providing both in-person and remote learning in stereo, my school was strictly virtual, which at that period of the Covid-19 pandemic seemed prudent. Our school serves mostly low income families of color who reside in Detroit, one of the hardest hit communities and populations. Staying remote for the 2020-2021 school year protected not only our staff, but our students. In fact, most of our families were thankful to be remote during that period; most of our staff was, too.
However, our physical safety came at a cost. Many of our students (and students across the nation) suffered academically, emotionally, and socially during that first year and a half of the pandemic, whether they were in school or remote. Some would argue that large swaths of the population aged 18 and under (and many above that age) have suffered a trauma or even PTSD as a result of the pandemic, depending on the individual hardships they faced in terms of finances, food supply, family illness, and death. Being remote for the whole year meant that while our students were struggling through this very difficult time, we had limited access to them and a limited ability to provide supports such as social work, academic accommodations, food, and all the structure that students experience while in the physical school building.
Return #1 Last fall, when we determined to start the year fully in-person, our staff was fully on board. Of course we wanted our students back. We had access to vaccinations, we would all be wearing masks, and we would be taking all other CDC recommended precautions. Please, we said, bring the students back! And, back they came. Of course, they returned as though they'd been learning from home for a year and a half. Some came in loud and unruly. Some came in timidly, avoiding eye contact. Some came in carrying a palpable anxiety that sometimes gushed out in exclamations like, "I can't be sitting so close to all these people!" We, nevertheless, stayed the course, providing structure, academics, and a return to routine. Day by day, week by week, we could see the students settling in, getting comfortable, returning to more typical teenaged behavior, beginning to engage in classroom activities, beginning to trust that we were "getting back to normal".
Alas, in October, several staff tested positive — too many staff to cover with substitutes — so we had to move to remote learning for two weeks. We loaded our cars with ancillary screens and materials and changed into sweatpants and baseball caps. We logged into zoom rooms, were greeted by black boxes labelled with student names, and began screen sharing, communicating through the chat feature, and trying to incentivize attendance and participation.
Return #2 When the coast was clear, we lugged all our stuff back to the building and once again greeted our students. It had been a short break, one in which many students opted for a full vacation from academia. At this return, we jumped right back in, and students had to choose whether they were going to make up missed work, or just join the program already in progress. They settled in fairly quickly, but we continued to have a revolving door of students and staff coming and going due to Covid exposure or sickness. Nevertheless, we managed to pull off a Homecoming dance and a spirit week before we were once again sent home in early December.
It's all become a blur, to tell you the truth. My students were writing college essays, I know that, and I was simultaneously keeping all my teacher plates spinning while also managing a gazillion family December birthdays and preparing for Christmas. To be honest, it was a blessing to be at home — to sleep a half an hour longer in the morning, to not have to drive, to receive packages when they were delivered, and to spend my days with Chester at my feet. Again, many students opted to start their Christmas vacation early, but some logged in each day and completed their assignments on time. All of us were pleased to take a two-week break for the holiday.
Return #3 Around Christmas the Omicron variant of Covid was spreading widely. By New Year's Day, the buzz among educators was will we go back or not? Detroit Public Schools announced that they would delay their start for a couple of days to assess the situation and prepare a plan. Ann Arbor also delayed and then made a virtual start. It seemed prudent to proceed with caution since the case numbers were growing quickly, however, our leadership made the decision to start in person. Our students, like all students, do best when they are in the building. We had already been virtual for most of December; we really wanted to see if we could make in-person learning work.
We started on Monday with a professional development day. Tuesday was quite cold when we teachers took our stations at our doors, ready to go. Students arrived, but attendance was low. It wasn't really a surprise. Many of our families had expressed concern about returning given the rise in cases and chose to keep their students at home. We came to school on Wednesday and Thursday, too, and then the decision was made, due to low in-person attendance and a high number of teachers who were calling off due to exposure, positive cases, or their own children needing to learn from home — we would return to virtual instruction that first Friday in January.
Cue the carrying of screens and materials to our cars.
We've been virtual for the remainder of January. We finished the first semester in the Zoom Room. Thanks to our incredible attendance team, our overall attendance in this virtual space was high — I'd say over 75% which is remarkable in our context. Engagement, of course, was everywhere across the spectrum. A few students showed up, turned on their cameras, and even unmuted to participate. Others joined faithfully off screen, contributed via the chat, and completed all of their assignments. Some attended sporadically. Some merely logged in and went back to sleep. Some never joined at all.
On Friday, I taught my last class of the semester, finalized my grades, and clicked submit. I loaded my laptop into a bag, prepared new seating charts for semester 2, tidied my home desk from three weeks' worth of debris, and started wrapping my mind around heading back into the building.
Return #4 I have mixed emotions. I am happy I will get to see my students — the ones who faithfully logged on throughout January and the ones who I haven't heard a peep out of since December. I'm encouraged that I will get to be with my colleagues — sitting at home alone in front of a screen for three weeks isn't my idea of community. I am excited for the opportunity we have to finish the school year in person — Please, God, let it be so.
Also, I am tired. I am tired of the transitions. I am tired of the uncertainty. I am tired of re-setting expectations for my students every time we come back to the building — Stow your phones, put your mask over your nose and mouth, bring your laptop charged and ready to go, show up, opt in, work hard, and finish strong.
And, after a month (plus most of December) with our aging Chester, who has recently been on the decline, I am apprehensive about putting him in his crate, walking away, counting on his walker to visit midday, and only seeing him again in the late afternoon.
But overall, I am determined. I am determined, with all my complex emotions, to get up at 5 o'clock tomorrow morning, to prepare for my day, to put on professional clothing, to comb my hair, to warm up my vehicle, to drive twenty-eight miles, to lug my gear back into my classroom, to plug in all my devices, to project my Google slides on the screen, to play a little music, to stand at my door, and to welcome my students back.
I'm guessing they have complicated emotions, too. I'm not sure what they are, but perhaps we'll start tomorrow with a little space to come together, to share, and to sit in the complexity together.
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain youPsalm 55:22


text: 31 different minerals plus trace elements and vitamins work to produce optimum skeletal growth as well as correct feather formation. Forte will work to increase the performance of canaries, parakeets, pigeons, and other aviary birds. It can also be used for the prevention and treatment of a deficiency of trace elements in young and developed birds. It is the optimum supplement to Quiko rearing food (see Quiko supplements).

subset: commoncrawl


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"I see the design through my eye teeth… I keep my eyes closed when I work because I see the design in the darkness said Denise Lajimodiere, (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) of her work in birch bark biting or 'mazinibakajige' which means marks upon the bark." M. A. Pember, ICTMN
Excerpt: Healing Through the Art of Birch Bark Biting, by Mary A. Pember, ICTMN
"Birch bark biting was a pre-contact method of creating designs for beading or quillwork according to Lajimodiere. Mazinibakajige died out in my tribe until I began doing it about eight years ago, she said.
She carefully separated the layers of bark, almost holding her breath as she peeled the delicate onion-skin-like layers so they don't tear. She folded a layer of bark into a triangle and began to bite a design with her eyeteeth. Biting quickly, sounding [like] a chipmunk chewing through wood, she creates elaborate flowers, dragonflies and turtles. She held the finished work up to a lamp so the design could shine through.
You tube: Dale Kakkak talks with Denise Lajimodiere who was teaching Birch Bark Biting at the 3rd Nagaajiwanaang (Fond du Lac) Language Camp. Denise demonstrates how to prepare the bark and how create the design you want.
Lajimodiere, an assistant professor at North Dakota State University School of Education as well as a poet, sells her designs as earrings, wall hangings and other forms.
Lajimodiere was recently selected for a six-month Minnesota Historical Society Native Artist-in-Residence. With the award funds she plans on visiting the National Museum of the American Indian NMAI's Archive Center in Suitland, Maryland to see the ancient mazinibakajige held there.
She hopes to travel to Maine to meet other "biters" and hopefully inspire a conference or symposium that will begin a resurgence of the art."
"It's very healing and requires a great deal of patience. The bark is harvested in the spring and does no harm to the tree. The tree heals itself right back up."~ Denise Lajimodiere~


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MolecularWare Announces $2.5 Million Financing; Financing led by Aspen Investment Group
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2001-- MolecularWare Inc., a bioinformatics company, announced today that it has closed on a "Series A" $2.5 million financing from several funding sources, led by the Aspen Investment Group with offices in the U.S. and Europe.
MolecularWare will use these proceeds to continue the commercialization of its DigitalGENOME(TM) suite of software products that streamline the capture and analysis of mission-critical data from high-throughput research platforms. The company will also continue to develop next-generation software.
"This capital enables the acceleration of product enhancement and development, along with the acquisition of additional customers and key personnel," said Richard P. Kivel, chief executive office of MolecularWare. "We are confident that, with the impressive customer list that we have assembled to date, including the Whitehead Institute at MIT, the prestigious Riken University for Genome Research in Japan, and the University of Tskuba, our DigitalGENOME software will soon become a must-have tool in research laboratories around the world."
DigitalGENOME enables effective management of the staggering flow of information from genomics- and proteomics-related research. This breakthrough software allows scientists to receive massive quantities of data from various heterogeneous high-throughput instruments (such as liquid handling robots, microarraying robots, and microarray scanners) that have traditionally been next-to-impossible to capture automatically.
MolecularWare was founded to create a new bioinformatics standard that effectively manages the transition of large amounts of information. The Company's mission is to create software that forges an easy-to-access link between the biotechnology researchers and the data generated from complex experiments taking place around the world. Drug-discovery research is an important lead market for the Company's products due to aggressive adoption of cutting-edge automated research. MolecularWare's software will make the subsequent integration of workflow management and knowledge management possible in the advancing new era of molecular medicine, where the objective is to have the ability to transform vast amounts of information into diagnostic strategies that predict and prevent disease.
MolecularWare is actively building multiple distribution channels and selling its products through hardware vendors to accelerate market penetration of its DigitalGENOME(TM) suite of products. In 1999, the Company was the recipient of the prestigious "MIT $50K Entrepreneurship Competition Award." The Company's investors include the venture-capital firm Aspen Investment Group.


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Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
|Return to Top
Acquired IF-R Jean Segura, OF-R Mitch Haniger, and LHP Zac Curtis from Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for SS-S Ketel Marte and RHP Taijuan Walker. [11/23]
Speculation around the 2017 offseason was that pitching would be at even more of a premium than usual with Rich Hill entering the offseason as the best free agent starter available. So far we've seen Bartolo Colon, R.A. Dickey, Charlie Morton, and Andrew Cashner sign contracts that seemed to confirm this speculation.
The Mariners used this market to swap Taijuan Walker, a 24-year-old former phenom with four years of team control remaining, for one of the most productive hitters in the league last year in Jean Segura. Walker has a wide range of potential outcomes in 2017, with significant upside should he regain even some of his stuff and velocity from a few years back, but with a not-insignificant injury history. They used him to address a current area of need at shortstop.
One concern is that when you trade for need, you are limiting the supply of trade partners and, in theory, driving down the price of what you're selling. Consequently, it's probably fair to wonder what the Mariners could have gotten for Walker if they were willing to trade him for the highest possible return instead for a shortstop and leadoff hitter. The issue with doing so, though, is that the highest possible return for Walker likely comes in the form of prospects and the Mariners—86-game winners in 2016 that fell three games short of the Wild Card—are looking to compete in 2017.
When we consider this competitive window, Segura's age-26 and age-27 seasons (his final two arbitration years) might have been the best return available for Walker. The larger concern for the Mariners is the extent of Segura's productivity over the next two seasons. He's coming off a career-year after changing teams and positions; in 2016, Segura played 142 games at second base and 21 games at shortstop after having played only shortstop in his first four seasons. His value as a defender has greatly decreased from back-to-back 22 FRAA seasons in 2013 and 2014, to just 5.7 FRAA last season, which is to say that the Mariners are betting on the offensive gains Segura made last season with the Diamondbacks.
This jibes with GM Jerry Dipoto's comments on the trade, saying: "I feel like we're acquiring one of the premium leadoff hitters in the game. … Last season was a real coming-out party for Jean. We saw his true talent come through."
Dipoto's words are not surprising given his actions, but do we think Segura is the premier leadoff hitter he was last season? If he can carry over his 46.6 percent swing rate from last year–which was back down to career norms after ballooning to 53.2 percent in 2015–as well as his career-high BABIP of .353, then his chances of repeating will be pretty good. However, while the swing rate looks repeatable because of a career-low chase rate, it probably is not wise to bet on a BABIP repeat. Even with some regression, Segura would still be an upgrade over Marte and anyone else they were batting out of the leadoff spot last season.
However, given that a) Segura will be moving back to shortstop full time, and b) the chances that his approach slips should he start pressing due to a regressed BABIP, it's fair to worry whether the gains provided by Segura and Hanigan will be enough to be worth selling low on Walker, which comes with the added cost of needing to further bolster the back end of a rotation which currently has Ariel Miranda and Nate Karns in the four and five spots. —Jeff Quinton
Assume what you will about big changes in the offing under Arizona's new regime, but understand plainly that an ownership directive against coiffed brunette curls remains clearly and firmly in place. First Dave Stewart came for Dansby Swanson's 70-grade mane, and now as his first order of business Mike Hazen has come for Zac Curtis. The left-hander's mop remains raw, to be sure, with fly-away density that comes unhinged in the face of even modest humidity. But his is a powerful mop, with rich, luxurious volume that, once tamed by the hands of a big league-caliber beautician, could very well play to plus at maturity. It won't play for Ken Kendrick, though, and the well-headed among us must take note.
Underneath the delicious shag is a skull that houses a quality pitching brain. Curtis doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he's got guile and deception aplenty. The fastball is average velocity-wise, but can play up as an above-average pitch thanks to a tough pick-up and flashes of quality run. A slider in the 83-84 band shows late vertical action with limited horizontal jump, making it something of a curiosity given Curtis' lower arm slot. He'll also bring a change to the table, though it is a below-average pitch with limited velocity separation and general utility. Despite a ghastly showing in his 21-game debut for the Snakes, he does flirt with some command projection as well, albeit in spite of some length in the arm swing and stiffness at foot strike.
Curtis works more north-south than east-west, and he'll live dangerously in the zone if and when a batter cracks his illusory motion. Relievers with average stuff don't tend to wear fly-ball profiles all that well, and the long ball may be a persistent issue for Curtis. Still, he creates uncomfortable at-bats for left-handed hitters, and because of that he has the chance to carve out a nice little career for himself working situationally. —Wilson Karaman
As an organization the Diamondbacks have approximately 11 million should-be corner outfielders clogging their depth chart, and enough of them are right-handed that it apparently made the soon-to-be 26-year-old Hanigan an expendable asset. There's plenty of intrigue to Haniger's profile, however. He's a disciple of Bobby Tewksbary–notable for overhauling Josh Donaldson's swing among others–who boasts raw power that is at least above average, and mechanical evolution has allowed him to bring it into games with greater consistency. The swing-and-miss isn't excessive for a hitter with his pop, and he'll show maturity in keeping his aggressiveness at the dish reasonably confined to in-zone offerings.
He has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching throughout his fairly lengthy tour of the upper minors, which gives him a nice platoon baseline. Defensively, he was a step or two slow for center field in the couple looks I caught at Visalia back in the day, though there was enough athleticism and decisiveness in his routes to where I could squint and see him developing adequacy there. If it doesn't work, the arm strength is more than adequate for right. There's some "late bloomer" potential here, and even if he doesn't quite hit well enough to hold down an everyday gig the defensive versatility and right-handed pop give him plenty of opportunity to carve out a productive big-league role. —Wilson Karaman
Fantasy Impact
Jean Segura
There should have already been some level of regression in power accounted for with Segura, who is extremely unlikely to have another 20-homer season. Even with that said, the move from Chase Field to Safeco, while not as drastic as it used to be and as most assume it still is, will result in fewer homers and fewer triples. The lazy analysis is that he should be expected to be less aggressive on the basepaths as well, but we also don't know what kind of manager Torey Lovullo would have been anyway. Segura finished last season as the no. 2 fantasy shortstop, and even with expectations around 10-12 homers and 25 steals, the odds of him remaining a top-seven fantasy shortstop are pretty good. —Bret Sayre
Mitch Haniger
Seattle's current starting corner outfielders (Ben Gamel and Seth Smith) are both left-handed, so Haniger has a good chance to start the season in the majors and see some run as a platoon bat. Sure, the scenery is a downgrade, but playing time is playing time and Safeco isn't death on right-handed power anymore. —Bret Sayre
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart
|Return to Top
Acquired SS-S Ketel Marte and RHP Taijuan Walker from Seattle Mariners in exchange for IF-R Jean Segura, CF-R Mitch Haniger, and LHP Zac Curtis. [11/23]
The outgoing Diamondbacks regime left the current one with some less-than-ideal circumstances: Shelby Miller instead of Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte, and Aaron Blair; Zack Greinke instead of $206 million; Yamsany Tomas instead of $68.5 million; Tony La Russa; the new uniforms.
With that said, new GM Mike Hazen did inherit a roster with Paul Goldshmidt, A.J. Pollock, Zack Greinke, and Mike Ferrin, along with other productive players such as Jake Lamb, Jean Segura, David Peralta, and Robbie Ray. While there are certainly good players on the roster, the Diamondbacks won only 69 games last season, albeit after losing Pollock for almost the entire year right before Opening Day. The new regime faced an interesting decision: Would they build on the major-league roster they had or would they begin to tear it down?
If you were looking for a definitive answer to this question, then you're out of luck as this trade does not provide one. It does indicate, however, that the new Diamondbacks regime will work more like other modern front offices (whether for good or bad) in that it places value on years of player control and, seemingly, on more predictive measures of performance. This means the Diamondbacks thought that now was the time they could get the largest return for Segura, coming off a career-year. Secondly, the Diamondbacks were able to turn two years of Segura and six years of Hanigan into four and five years of Walker and Marte, respectively.
Whether you think the Diamonfbacks got the best possible return for Segura will depend on your projection for Walker and, to a much lesser extent, Marte. As to whether collecting players like Walker is sound strategy for a team like the Diamondbacks, there is some potentially telling history from Hazen's time with the Red Sox, where he was a member of the front office from 2006-2016. In recent years, the Red Sox have acquired young (sometimes more young-ish), previously heralded pitchers in Rick Porcello, Wade Miley, and Joe Kelly. They went 1-for-3, but Porcello hitting his upside last year made the racket as a whole profitable.
So while it's easy to point out Walker's diminished stuff, results, and injuries, and then point to his median projection and say that he likely will not be worth a ton, this misses the point. The Diamondbacks likely acquired Walker for his higher-end projections, knowing that there's a good chance they will miss. They did so because unlikely projections still carry value and they often carry a lot of value. Sure, we could argue that every pitcher's upside carries a lot of value, but this trade indicates that the Diamondbacks either like the odds of Walker's upside hitting more than other pitchers or that his upside carries more value than that of other pitchers.
Will we now see the Diamondbacks begin to collect such players in exchange for shorter-term assets until their team's play dictates a more obvious strategy for the front office? Given the current construct of their major-league roster and minor-league system, that would be a pretty keen strategy. —Jeff Quinton
Fantasy Impact
Taijuan Walker
It's tough to say that Walker hasn't been a disappointment up to this point after being one of the top fantasy pitching prospects in baseball a couple of years ago. Then again, that probably says more about fantasy pitching prospects than it does Walker. His stuff isn't quite as crisp as it was before we were seeing it every fifth day, and he still hasn't thrown 170 innings in a season. With that said, we've seen it in flashes—his two best starts in 2016 netted him Game Scores of 92 and 87, respectively. We can play the "if he can harness it" game all we want, but that's not the smart move. Playing in Chase Field negates the positive of moving to the NL, as Walker doesn't do a great job of keeping the ball on the ground (as you'd expect based on his reliance on his four-seamer), so expecting his strikeouts to tick up into the 150-160 range seems reasonable, but expecting his ERA to settle over 4.00 again also does. All in, that makes him a nice SP4 to gamble on with his combination of good-enough current performance and ability to jump if he can harness it. Damn it, I'm sorry. —Bret Sayre
Ketel Marte
More was expected out of Marte in 2016, as he stumbled through an injury-laden and down season. He found himself hitting out of the nine-spot the vast majority of the time and looked less like a future good Erick Aybar and more like a future meh Erick Aybar. With this trade, though, the Diamondbacks are committing to making him their shortstop and Chase Field is a place that really supports Marte's ability to spray the ball around, including into the gaps. He's pretty unlikely to reach double-digit homers even with the park upgrade, but still carries the upside of being a .300 hitter with 25-30 steals. That's not too different from the player he's replacing, there's just more risk here. I like Marte a lot as a sneaky shortstop play with top-10 upside. —Bret Sayre
We already knew that Owings wasn't likely to hold a ton of fantasy value heading into 2017, but he at least had gotten back on the map by not embarrassing himself like he did in 2015. That said, Marte is likely to be a fixture at the six in Arizona now, and Owings doesn't have the bat to carry a job at second base. He also won't have an A.J. Pollock injury (yet) to get him additional time in center field. He'll enter next season as back-end NL-only option, mostly because of his flexibility. —Bret Sayre
Rubby De La Rosa/Robbie Ray/Patrick Corbin/Braden Shipley
We can pretty safely say that barring injury Zack Greinke, Archie Bradley, and Taijuan Walker will have rotation spots heading into the spring. We can mostly say the same for Shelby Miller, at least to start, since the Diamondbacks are very unlikely to just shelve him in Triple-A forever, even if his performance warrants it. That leaves two, and possibly three, of this trio on the outside looking in at the rotation. Personally, I still believe in Corbin the most of this group long term, but given how he looked in relief toward the end of last season, he's probably the most likely to be in the bullpen this year. —Bret Sayre
Thank you for reading
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Leaving rainy England behind them, some of the MotoGP have headed to Aragon and the Motorland circuit, which is hosting a two-day test session. The image posted by Alex Rins on Instagram shows a sun-drenched track, with the weather looking generally good for tomorrow too, though there is a chance of a thunderstorm.
Suzuki and KTM, with no limits thanks to their concessions, will be on track with their official riders both today and tomorrow. They will share the track with the factory Yamaha today, Valentino and Vinales hoping to test some new parts from Japan, and with the Ducati Pramac team of Petrucci and Miller.
Tomorrow the factory Ducati machines will be out on track with Dovizioso and Lorenzo.
This is the last private test of the season.


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Posted by Brian Callahan on October 11, 2017, 7:44 pm, in reply to "Auction #133 open for bidding"
Carl and Mary, interesting auction, with some neat items. I have put the direct link below. The auction is always available also from the auction tab at www.pgcaglassclub.com AUCTION direct LINK
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Auction #133 open for bidding - Carl and Mary October 10, 2017, 12:52 pm
Re: Auction #133 open for bidding - Brian Callahan October 11, 2017, 7:44 pm
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This CD available asan MP3 download for
The 12 Songs
1. Turn to Luke
Parody of "Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy
2. No One Likes You
Parody of "No One Like You" by The Scorpions
3. Works
Parody of "Words" by Missing Persons
4. Don't Tell Me We're Lucky
Parody of "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" by Night Ranger
5. Thankfully
Parody of "Faithfully" by Journey
6. Pick It Up
Parody of "Lick It Up" by KISS
7. Born in the Jewish Faith
Parody of "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
8. Boys Are Scary
Parody of "Voices Carry" by 'Til Tuesday
9. Expected to Love
Parody of "Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer
10. Dweebs
Parody of "Dreams" by Van Halen
11. You Give Up on Bad Days
Parody of "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi
12. Talk Daily to Me
Parody of "Talk Dirty to Me" by Poison
From Hair to Eternity
We love clever hair salon names. Some of our favorites include Hairway to Heaven, The Hairport, The Tortoise and the Hair, and Curl Up and Dye. If you comb the Net (the internet, not the hair net), you'll find that all those names have multiple mentions at various venues.
Consequently, when we titled this disc From Hair to Eternity, we supposed some salon had selected it sooner. We're musicians, not beauticians, but the place where we played our first concert (and nearly 50 of our first 100) was once a hair salon. That concert was back in '92, which seems like an eternity ago.
This CD spoofs songs spanning from '81-'87 — a hairy time in rock history — from New Wave to Glam Metal, with mullets in the middle. That's quite a quantity of coiffures of questionable quality. Hairstyles change, and even permanents aren't permanent, but eternity is. And that's where we're all headed.
Jesus said the hairs on your head are numbered (Matt. 10:30, Luke 12:7), so God cares about even the smallest details of your existence, both in the "hair and now" and the "hairafter." Talk daily to Him. Find a Bible and pick it up. That'll help you brush up for eternity.


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Pattersons Kitchens
We have a reputation, and it's one we're very proud of. It's a reputation our family run business has gained over 20 years by offering our customers the highest quality, both in products and service.
When looking for a kitchen, whether you've got a contemporary eye and love to keep up with the latest trends, or are more of traditionalist at heart, we have the expertise to find a solution that will fit your lifestyle and your budget. And with our three showrooms in Lifford, L'Derry, and Dun Laoghaire you'll see that what we offer more than any other is choice. Our attention to detail is carried through all that we do from kitchen revamps when you want to breathe new life back into your home, to a brand new kitchen designed specifically for you.


text: Nikki Reed (or Rosalie from Twilight) was at an event the other day promoting the upcoming release of the final Twilight installment, and we happened to like what she was wearing. It seemed pretty simple and oh so chic. You may notice that it's very similar to Leelee's look we posted a couple of months ago, but Nikki's here is a little more amped. She's got a bit of an edgier pencil in what appears to be leather (by Robert Rodriguez) paired with a basic striped tee. We thought in general that it was some good, simple inspiration.


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While we wait for the 2020 MLB season to get underway, it's time to take a closer look at players who could one day be on opening day rosters. For the next month or two, we'll be examining each team's farm system, which will contain several prospects that will either one day be contributors for them, or could be used to acquire impact major leaguers.
Since we'll be going in alphabetical order by city, our eleventh farm system overview will be of the Houston Astros. We'll rank their top ten prospects, discuss some of their other notable minor leaguers, and then analyze the overall state of the farm system.
#1: RHP Forrest Whitley
Age: 22
Height: 6'7″ Weight: 195 lbs
Drafted: 17th Overall- 2016
Fastball: 70 Breaking Ball: 62.5 Third Pitch: 65 Command: 50
Overall Grade: 58.375
Ever since he was drafted out of high school with the 17th overall pick in the draft, Forrest Whitley has been regarded as one of the premier pitching prospects in the sport. However, since dominating in 2017, he's dealt with several roadblocks, and because of that, his major-league trajectory has been slightly deterred. In 2018, he only pitched in 26.1 innings, as he served a 50-game suspension for violating the Minor League drug program, and also dealt with multiple injuries. Then, in 2019, he dealt with shoulder fatigue, and also suffered major regression with his command. Usually known as an adequate strike-thrower, the 22-year-old was a free-pass machine last year, and even worse, saw a downtick with the quality of his pitching arsenal. Now, when your fastball sits in the upper 90s with plenty of life, and you can pair it with multiple elite-spin power breaking balls and a deadly changeup, then your chances of being a high-end starting pitcher are extremely high. Therefore, despite a rough past couple of seasons, I'm still high on Whitley's prospects, as he still has time to develop, and is a true power pitcher. He may not be ready for the majors this year, which was the initial expectation, but Houston can still bank on him being a front-line starter in the future.
#2: SS Freudis Nova
Age: 20
Height: 6'1″ Weight: 180 lbs
Signed: July 2, 2016
Hit: 50 Power: 55 Field: 50 Arm: 60 Speed: 60
Overall Grade: 53
After testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), Freudis Nova ended up not signing with the Marlins in the 2016 international period for $2.5 million, and instead, received a much smaller $1.2 million from Houston. With the way the 20-year-old is developing right now, that may turn out to be an absolute blessing for the Astros. Nova's offensive upside is tremendous, as per MLB Pipeline, "grades very well in Houston's strength, speed, and conditioning", in addition to exit velocity; he should hit for plenty of power as he continues to mature. Now, his plate discipline remains a work in progress, so his on-base skills leave a lot to be desired, but nevertheless, he's got time to refine his approach. Defensively, his athleticism and elite arm strength project well at either shortstop or third base, so in the future, I could see him performing well in that area. Right now, Nova remains a project with a very unpolished skillset, but in the future, I believe he can be an all-around contributor for the Astros.
#3: RHP Jairo Solis
Age: 20
Height: 6'2″ Weight: 160 lbs
Signed: July 2, 2016
Fastball: 60 Breaking Ball: 60 Third Pitch: 50 Command: 47.5
Overall Grade: 52.75
The 2016 international signing period was a critical one for the Astros, as they not only signed Nova, but Venezuelan right-hander Jairo Solis as well. Solis missed the entire 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the end of the 2018 season, but still has a strong outlook moving forward. Despite the fact that his body hasn't filled out yet (only 160 pounds), his fastball already sits in the mid-90s, and could peak near 100 MPH if his recovery goes as planned. As for the rest of his arsenal, his breaking ball and changeup both have a great chance to be wipeout pitches in the future, and if that's the class, he'll have the three-pitch mix needed to be a starting pitcher at the next level. If there's one major concern with Solis, it's his command, as he hasn't posted great walk rates and needs to develop more of a feel for pitching, but like Nova, he has plenty of time to develop.
#4: RHP Tyler Ivey
Age: 23
Height: 6'4″ Weight: 195 lbs
Drafted: 3rd Round- 2017
Fastball: 55 Breaking Ball: 57.5 Third Pitch: 50 Command: 50
Overall Grade: 52.375
Tyler Ivey's violent mechanics will concern some scouts, but still, there's a lot to like with the former third-round pick. His fastball works well up in the zone, and he's done well to improve his curveball, which would explain his strong strikeout rates; his slider and changeup also should be at least average pitches. Therefore, he isn't your prototypical prospect in terms of delivery, but does every pitcher have to be? After all, he's got a solid frame and displayed command and durability so far in the minors, so he isn't guaranteed to be a reliever. Even if he does, his ability to miss bats will allow him to be a high-leverage option, but still, I have faith he can remain in the rotation, even if he initially comes up as a reliever. For the Astros, that could be as soon as this season, though he'll look to prove himself once again in Double-A and/or Triple-A.
#5: RHP Brandon Bielak
Age: 23
Height: 6'1″ Weight: 210 lbs
Drafted: 11th Round- 2017
Fastball: 55 Breaking Ball: 55 Third Pitch: 52.5 Command: 50
Overall Grade: 52.25
The Astros' previous regime, led by former general manager Jeff Luhnow, was notorious for finding value in the draft where others couldn't. Ivey was a third-round pick, and in that same 2017 draft, they got an absolute steal by drafting Brandon Bielak in the 11th round. He isn't the type of pitcher that will blow you away, but he generates great spin rates with his fastball, and he complements it tremendously with a circle-changeup and two solid breaking balls. That fastball is perhaps his most intriguing pitch, as it allows him to miss more bats than it should since it only sits in the low 90s, and that should definitely work well at the big-league level. Plus, although his command slightly regressed in 2019, it's at least average, so at the very least, he has average to above-average tools across the board. Similar to Ivey, I expect Bielak to contribute for the Astros at some point in this season, as even if he doesn't have the highest ceiling, he looks destined to be a serviceable #3 or #4 starting pitcher in the near future.
#6: C Korey Lee
Age: 21
Height: 6'2″ Weight: 205 lbs
Drafted: 32nd Overall- 2019
Hit: 45 Power: 55 Field: 50 Arm: 60 Speed: 42.5
Overall Grade: 51.25
When the Astros selected catcher Korey Lee with the 32nd overall pick in the 2019 draft, it was slightly shocking, as he had been considered a fringe top 100 prospect in that draft class by most outlets. Still, catchers are always critical assets to have, and it's not as though Lee is a poor prospect by any means. The University of California product has terrific raw power, which plays up to his strength, leverage, and bat speed. Plus, he's got a strong arm, and with more experience behind the plate, he should be able to finetune his defense enough to be at least average there. The main wildcard with the 21-year-old has to be his on-base skills, as he's shown the ability to draw walks, but still, his overall pure hitting ability is in question. I'd like to see more consistency on both sides of the ball before I anoint Lee as the Astros' catcher of the future, but still, he's got lots of potential, and at the very least, he should be a low-end everyday player at the position.
#7: LHP Cionel Perez
Age: 23
Height: 5'11" Weight: 170 lbs
Signed: July 2, 2016
Fastball: 57.5 Breaking Ball: 60 Third Pitch: 45 Command: 45
Overall Grade: 50.375
With two good breaking balls and a mid-90s fastball, there's a reason why Cionel Perez has been a well-known prospect for the Astros since he was signed by the team in 2016. However, since being signed, the 23-year-old hasn't shown enough glimpses of potential, which is very concerning. Not only has his changeup feel and command not developed at all, but he doesn't even generate strikeouts at the consistent rate that you'd expect; with that lack of command and a notable injury history, he's probably a reliever in the Astros' eyes. However, he doesn't have the "blow you away" pitching arsenal to dominate in that role, and for that reason, I'd still prefer for him to be a starter, as he actually has fared better starting out games than coming out of the bullpen. His past pedigree was too strong for me to completely dismiss, but this will certainly be a huge season for the Cuban left-hander.
#8: RHP Rogelio Armenteros
Age: 25
Height: 6'1″ Weight: 215 lbs
Signed: September 15th, 2014
Fastball: 47.5 Breaking Ball: 50 Third Pitch: 60 Command: 50
Overall Grade: 50.375
With a fastball that barely reaches 90 MPH, Rogelio Armenteros won't blow any opposing hitters away, but that doesn't mean he can't be effective. The 25-year-old has managed to strike out opposing batters at all levels, and that speaks to his elite changeup and deception. In 18 innings pitched in the majors last season (two starts, three relief appearances), he fared well with a 4.04 xFIP and 9.00 K/9, so he definitely showed he can at least be somewhat reliable at the big-league level. It's hard to rest easy when he's pitching given his very minuscule margin for effort, but it hasn't come back to bite him yet, and because of that, he should be at least a decent back-of-the-rotation starter/swingman pitcher for the Astros this season, and in the future.
#9: RHP Bryan Abreu
Age: 22
Height: 6'1″ Weight: 204 lbs
Drafted: November 11, 2013
Fastball: 55 Breaking Ball: 65 Third Pitch: 42.5 Command: 45
Overall Grade: 50.25
After signing with the Astros in 2013, Bryan Abreu spent four years in Rookie Ball, but has quickly ascended through the minor leagues since then, and even made his major league debut out of the bullpen last season. With two deadly breaking balls and a mid 90s fastball, the 22-year-old has the ability to generate whiffs with ease, which is his clear strength. After all, he doesn't have any sort of changeup or command refinement, so he's going to be a reliever, which isn't as valuable. Yet, when you're projected to strike out batters at a 10.81 K/9 clip from STEAMER, it's clear that you'll have a spot in a major-league bullpen for several years; I expect Abreu to be a critical part of the Astros' bullpen this season.
#10: RHP Christian Javier
Age: 22
Height: 6'1″ Weight: 204 lbs
Signed: June 8, 2015
Fastball: 55 Breaking Ball: 55 Third Pitch: 47.5 Command: 45
Overall Grade: 49.25
The Astros clearly have a type when it comes to international pitchers; they love to target prospects who possess strikeout ability, but have major work to do in terms of developing their command. Christian Javier fits that bill; the 22-year-old generates tremendous spin rates with his fastball and breaking ball, but at the moment, that's all he brings to the table. He's posted great strikeout rates in the minors, but that has come with poor walk rates, and when it's all said and done, he'll most likely be a reliever. After appearing in Triple-A last season, that means he's knocking on the door of a major-league call-up, so he may be more of an instant contributor than a long-term building block, but still, there's a lot to like about his outlook as a full-time reliever. He and Abreu will be critical for a team that has seen their reliever depth dwindle this offseason.
Best of the Rest
- Ronnie Dawson is an intriguing outfield prospect with a good build, strong raw power, and decent walk rates, but currently, that's all he brings to the table in terms of his tools.
- Luis Santana is an old-school type of second baseman, standing at 5'8″ with a stocky frame and terrific pure hitting ability, but he's very limited besides that
Farm System Overview
The Astros' farm system isn't where it once was, but that's not entirely their fault; they've seen prospects like Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker graduate recently. However, they did trade much of their prospect depth to acquire Zack Greinke and most of his large contract, and with the team without their top-two picks for the next two years due to the sign-stealing scandal, they're not likely to bring in many more prospects here. That is, unless the new regime, led by James Click, manuevers their way around it, which he's already doing; they've reached an agreement with Cuban outfield prospect Pedro Leon. Plus, they also have plenty of young stars already on the roster, so their future is still bright, even if they don't have the ammunition to make any more win-now trades, and are a little more reliant on their high-end prospects to contribute.


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As well as meeting with our Swiss clients, our base in Geneva allows us to represent international clients before the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. And with attorneys in neighbouring France, Germany and Italy, we're able to represent those clients in any of the three official languages of Switzerland, as well as in English if they prefer.
If you'd like to speak with us about the IP support services we provide in Switzerland, please contact Guido Zerbi (+39 (0) 2 87 39 85 50 or firstname.lastname@example.com) or Rick De Zeeuw (+33 (0) 4 97 21 52 00, or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com).
Office information
Rue Du Commerce 4
1204 Geneva
Keep up to date with the latest news and legal updates, or learn more about protecting your intellectual property


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We're a family-friendly, locally-owned practice here in League City that kids love and parents trust, and we'd like to show you how we take the absolute best care of your little ones.
Why Pediatric Eye Care Matters
Every parent wants the best for their children — socially, developmentally, and throughout their lives — and children rely on their vision a great deal while they're growing and learning. If they can't see the world around them clearly, they can struggle to read, write, perform athletically, or even socialize.
Children can develop vision issues such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism at an early age. They're also at greater risk for certain eye conditions, such as strabismus (crossed eyes) and amblyopia ("lazy eye"). We offer children's glasses for patients as young as three years old, and all-ages eye disease treatment, to make sure your children see clearly during these critical years.
How Often to Have
Pediatric Eye Exams
How often your children need to have an eye exam depends on their age. We start with infant eye exams at as young as six months old, because that's the approximate age at which eyes can work together to focus on objects, and your baby will begin to use their eyesight more in exploring the world around them.
From that point, you'll want to make sure they're hitting certain developmental milestones — your eye doctor will determine an appropriate exam schedule for your child's needs. Starting around age six and through adolescence, we highly recommend an annual eye exam to maintain good eye health.
Glasses & Sunglasses
for Children
The answer to your child's vision needs is often simply the right pair of glasses. We really enjoy working with children, and our opticians do an excellent job of getting them pumped up about finding a pair of glasses that not only fit and correct their vision, but that they'll love and wear without hesitation.
To us, the most important place to start is the glasses' fit, but to your child, it's how they'll look every day. We keep children engaged throughout the process with child-friendly tools like iPads, and offer many different colors and shapes to help them find a pair just for them.
Contact Lenses for Children
For children old enough to benefit from contact lenses, we offer contact lens examinations and fittings. Contact lenses do require some responsibility, so we take time during their initial fittings to teach them how to put in and take out their lenses, as well as clean and care for them.
Ortho-K & Myopia Control
A type of specialty contact lens that works particularly well for children with myopia is Ortho-K, short for orthokeratology. Ortho-K lenses are worn while a patient sleeps, and gently reshape the cornea throughout the night. This creates better vision during the day, and can slow or stop the progression of myopia.
Our League City
Pediatric Eye Doctors
At Elite Vision Care, each and every one of our friendly staff understands the importance of pediatric eye care, and how clear eyesight can help children develop healthily and lead happier lives. We take pride in setting up our pediatric patients for success through quality eye care — by using child-friendly optometric technology, taking the time to illustrate the benefits of corrective eyewear and clear vision, and helping children feel good about coming to the eye doctor.
Click here to learn more about our incredible team.
Schedule a Pediatric Eye Exam
The earlier we start the eye care journey with children, the better their results! Come bring the whole family to Elite Vision Care and see the difference we can make in you and your children's lives.
We make it easy to schedule an appointment online, and we're open six days a week to make our care as accessible to you as possible, so plan your visit to Elite Vision Care today!
Contact Us


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Union-backed state Senate president stares down his toughest foe: a union
New Jersey's teachers union, a kingmaker in state politics, now is spending millions trying to unmake a king.
The New Jersey Education Association has put more than $4.5 million into the campaign to unseat state Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, a Gloucester County Democrat and ironworkers union leader whom the teachers union endorsed in his most recent run for office. The race in Sweeney's Third District, a Democratic-leaning area that nonetheless backed President Donald Trump in last year's election, is on track to be the most expensive legislative contest in New Jersey history with some $16.6 million in total spending, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
It pits one of the state's most powerful politicians against the biggest-spending interest group in New Jersey in a race that upends Democratic politics. The New Jersey Education Association, whose endorsed candidates have won in more than 85 percent of legislative contests since 2001, is backing Republican Fran Grenier, who chairs the Salem County Republican Party and supported Trump in last year's election.
The 200,000-member union endorsed Sweeney in 2013 but turned against the Senate president after he reversed course last year on a ballot measure to mandate more funding for pensions for public employees including teachers. Sweeney said at the time that he pulled the $20 billion pension measure from the ballot because it likely would have failed and jeopardized plans to secure more funding for transportation projects.
Now the union is coming after Sweeney with force rarely, if ever, seen in a legislative contest. And in doing so, it's risking its own political capital by taking on a powerful Democratic incumbent rather than spending more money backing its preferred candidates in other races.
Some 86 percent of total spending by the union's political action committee, Garden State Forward, has been in the Sweeney/Grenier race, according to the Election Law Enforcement Commission. The ads attack Sweeney as a "Douple Dippin' Pension Padder" who has voted dozens of times to raise taxes.
POLITICS:Garrett grilled over past opposition to Export-Import Bank, which he now wants to lead
NJ ELECTIONS:N.J. elections: Murphy and Guadagno take different paths to get out the vote
PAYOUTS:North Jersey owes $273 million in retirement payouts
"We have worked really hard in this race, because we know we're up against a very well-financed machine that's prepared to defend that seat," New Jersey Education Association spokesman Steve Baker said. "Anybody who betrays the values of working people on things like collective bargaining is going to have a hard time earning the support of our members."
Sweeney, who backed cuts to pension and other benefits in a 2011 bill signed by Gov. Chris Christie, said the union is trying to cow other legislators.
"This is beyond me," he said. "They're sending a message to the entire Legislature that if you do what Sweeney did, we're coming after you like we did to him."
The union's gamble could backfire.
"If the NJEA loses, certainly they will be in the doghouse, certainly in the Senate and quite possibly in the Assembly," said Ben Dworkin, who heads the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University.
Sweeney, in a phone interview, said nothing to disabuse that notion.
"They're going to have to figure out how to move forward with me" if he wins, Sweeney said. "It's not about me moving forward with them."
Grenier, for his part, acknowledged that polls show him as the underdog but said voters are warming to his message of rejecting Trenton insiders, cutting waste in government and fully funding public education. He said he and the New Jersey Education Association agree on that and reducing the role of standardized testing, while he said he would fight to maintain pensions for current retirees.
"I'm aligned with them on most issues, but I'm still a Republican who is fiscally conservative," Grenier said. "I want to see our debt reduced so that we can get a better (credit) rating and provide more essential services, including public education."
The New Jersey Education Association was the state's biggest political spender by a ratio of more than 2 to 1 between 1999 and 2013, according to a 2014 report by the Election Law Enforcement Commission. In all, labor unions accounted for six of the top 10 spenders.
In New Jersey, which has the seventh-highest percentage of union members in the U.S., Sweeney is supported by the AFL-CIO and several smaller labor organizations. The pro-Sweeney New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow, which is funded by several trade unions, trails only the teachers' union in spending in this year's races with nearly $4 million. Unions representing state workers, such as Communications Workers of America, have been largely on the sidelines.
Despite its deep pockets and nearly 7-to-1 win-loss ratio in legislative contests, the New Jersey Education Association has lost other high-profile battles. The union unsuccessfully tried to unseat then-Senate President John Lynch in 1991 after the Democrat supported caps on teacher salaries. The union also tangled with then-Gov. Jim Florio in 1990 over the Democrat's plan to increase state aid to poorer school districts.
Baker said union members aren't afraid to take a tough stand and will work with Sweeney if he's reelected.
"We don't always pick the easy race," Baker said. "Our members are very careful to pick the right person."


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Good Friday morning my stamping friends and welcome to my Fun Fold Friday. How was everyone's week? It's been a beautiful warm week here. Does anyone have plans for the weekend? I'll be at work between both jobs all weekend.
Today's card I made on my Facebook Live video on Wednesday. If you were able to join me or watched the replay, thank you. If you'd like to watch my video and stamp along, the measurements are below along with the links to my Facebook page and my YouTube channel. Here's my card for today.
I used the new Stampin' Up! Turtle Friends Bundle for my fun fold card along with the In The Wild Designer Series Paper.
I started by scoring and folding the Soft Succulent card base at 1/2″, 1 1/2″, 3″ & 4″. I adhered a panel of In The Wild DSP to the top section of the card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. I adhered a piece of Tear & Tape Adhesive to the 1/2″ fold. I folded the panel up on the 3″ fold line and folded the 1/2″ fold under and adhered it to the back of the card base.
I scored and folded the smaller panel of Soft Succulent cardstock at 1/2″ & 1 1/2″. I adhered a piece of Tear & Tape Adhesive to the 1/2″ fold, I lined up the bottom of the panel with the card base, folded the card base flat and adhered the small panel to the larger panel. I adhered another panel of In The Wild DSP to the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.
On a panel of Basic White cardstock I first cut the 2nd largest die from the Hippo & Friends Dies. I stamped the grass image from the Stampin' Up! Turtle Friends Photopolymer Stamp Set on the bottom of the die cut piece in Mint Macaron Ink. I stamped the streamers image from the Turtle Friends stamp set on the top of the die cut panel in Blackberry Bliss, Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya and Polished Pink Ink. I stamped the large turtle image from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Evening Evergreen Ink on the Basic White panel. I stamped the shell image from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Soft Succulent Ink, stamping off once, inside the turtle shell. I stamped the sentiment from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Evening Evergreen Ink over the shell image. I punched the turtle out using the Turtle Punch. I colored the turtles body using my Soft Succulent Stampin' Blends Markers. I stamped the hat image from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Blackberry Bliss Ink and colored it in using my Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya and Polished Pink Stampin' Blends Markers. I fussy cut the hat using my Paper Snips and adhered it to the turtle using a Stampin' Dimensionals to hold it from the back. I adhered the turtle to the die cut using Stampin' Dimensionals. I die cut panel to the card front using Multipurpose Liquid Glue just on the bottom section. I added a few 2021-2023 In-Color Jewels (which I forgot to add when I was live), to the card front.
On a panel of Basic White cardstock I stamped the grass image from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Mint Macaron Ink along the bottom of the panel and colored it in using my Mint Macaron Stampin' Blends Markers. I stamped the 2 small turtle images from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Evening Evergreen Ink on the bottom of the panel and colored their bodies in using my Soft Succulent Stampin' Blends Markers. I stamped the shell image in Soft Succulent Ink. I stamped the sentiments from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Evening Evergreen Ink towards the top of the panel. I stamped the streamer image in Blackberry Bliss, Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya and Polished Pink Ink along the top of the panel. I adhered the Basic White panel to an Evening Evergreen mat using Stampin' Seal and then to the back of the card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.
To finish my card I decorated a Basic White Medium Envelope. I stamped the grass image from the Turtle Friends stamp set in Mint Macaron Ink on the bottom front of the envelope. I stamped the large turtle image in Evening Evergreen Ink and the shell image in Soft Succulent Ink. I stamped the birthday hat on the turtle in Blackberry Bliss Ink. I colored the image in using my Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya, Polished Pink and Soft Succulent Stampin' Blends Markers. I adhered a panel of In The Wild DSP to the envelope flap.
Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I hope you liked my card and will give it a try. The list of measurements are below if you'd like to stamp along while watching the video. You can watch my video on my Facebook page Here.
You can also view the video on my YouTube channel Here. Happy Stamping!!
If you need any stamping supplies, I'd love to be your Demonstrator. Just click HERE to go directly to my online store or drop me an email if you have any questions.
Use this host code when you order $50 or greater and receive a free gift from me! If your order is over $150, please do not use this code, but you'll still get the free gift. The free gift is your choice of any 1 item valued up to $10.00 from the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog or the January-June 2021 Mini Catalog! For any orders $50 or more I will also send you my monthly class tutorials. Click HERE or go to my Customer Rewards for more details and to see what this months tutorials are.
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Happy Stamping, Karen!
Stampin' Up! Join + Promotion May 4-31
May is a fabulous time to join Stampin' Up! because you'll get even MORE FREE products in your customizable Starter Kit! From May 4–31, you will get
$125 USD $155 worth of products for only $99 + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin' Up!!
- New demonstrators who purchase their Starter Kit between May 4 and May 31 will be able to redeem $155 of Starter Kit eligible products for $99.
- New demonstrators who submit their Independent Demonstrator Agreement (IDA) before May 4 or after May 31 will not be eligible for this offer.
- A new demonstrator can select any eligible Stampin' Up! products up to the stated value.
- The Starter Kit also includes business resources like catalogs, brochures, order forms, and postcards at no additional charge.
- The Starter Kit also includes a FREE past Paper Pumpkin kit.
- The Starter Kit promotion begins May 4.
- Deadline to purchase the Starter Kit and receive the extra $30 in free products: May 31, 2021 at 11:50 PM (MT).
In addition to the amazing added value to the Starter Kit, when you join Stampin' Up! you get to be a part of our amazing community of crafters! Plus, you get to enjoy sharing simple and fun crafting experiences with others, early access to products, and exclusive access to training events! Demonstrators also get at least a 20% discount on all of the products that they purchase and there is no requirement to sell to anyone. There is no risk and no penalty if you decide that being a Demonstrator isn't right for you. With this great deal, there is no reason not to join in May!!
If you have any questions about joining or being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, please drop me a note at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you want to read more about becoming a Demonstrator and the benefits of joining, head over to my Stampin' Up! page HERE. I'd LOVE to have you on my team!!
Expressions In Color
Subscribe May11 – June 10
Dream and discover In Color! With the Expressions In Color Paper Pumpkin Kit, you'll be introduced to our intriguing collection of In Colors for 2021–2023—and, you'll find a familiar shade from our 2020–2022 In Color selection. This month's ink-credible kit contains enough elements to create nine cards—and coordinating envelopes—including ink-stained paper pieces, an exclusive stamp set, and not one, but two Classic Stampin' Spots! And, it all comes in a cute, colorful, and collectible box.
What are In Colors, anyway? In Colors consist of a limited-edition collection of colors. We come up with a new collection every year, and we release it around the same time as the release of our annual catalog! In each In Color collection, we'll offer ink, paper, markers, and more. The catch? They're only available to purchase for a period of two years, so stock up on your favorite In Color supplies while you can!
With the Expressions In Color kit, you can explore and experiment with our 2020–2022 and 2021–2023 In Color collections. Make a splash with awe-inspiring, ink-stained artistry!
- Kit contains enough supplies to create 9 cards—3 each of 3 designs—and coordinating envelopes. This all-inclusive kit includes printed card bases, die-cut paper pieces, embellishments, adhesive, and more!
- Card size: 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ (10.8 x 14 cm)
- Envelope size: 4-1/2″ x 5-3/4″ (11.4 x 14.6 cm)
- Coordinating colors: Bumblebee, Evening Evergreen, Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink
- As always, this month's kit features an exclusive stamp set. But, this month's kit also includes not one, but two Classic Stampin' Spots!
- Comes in a cute, colorful, and collectible box.
- Coordinates with products from the Expressions in Ink Suite (US | CA) (item #155459).
Subscribe to the June 2021 Paper Pumpkin Kit—Expressions In Color—between 11 May and 10 June at paperpumpkin.com!
Note: Supplies may be limited toward the end of the subscription period.
Stampin' Up! Connect, Craft & Collect $25 Stampin' Rewards Bonus May 4 – June 14!!
From May 4 – June 14, 2021, qualifying Stampin' Up! orders and parties over $250 will receive $25 in BONUS Stampin' Rewards! YAY for more free goodies to kick off a new catalog!!
Stampin' Rewards can be spent on any merchandise in either of the current catalogs, including the host exclusive items on pages 170-171 in the new Annual Catalog and page 88 in the January-June Mini Catalog!
- Workshop orders, customer orders, and online orders all qualify for the extra $25 in Stampin' Rewards if they reach the $250 level.
- The order must reach the qualifying amount of $250 in merchandise prior to shipping and tax.
- The extra $25 rewards are only valid once per order no matter how high the order total.
- Starter Kit orders do not qualify for this promotion.
- Stampin' Rewards can not be used on a 50% off item.
- Deadline to submit an order and receive the extra $25 in free Stampin' Rewards: June 14, 2021 at 11:50 PM (MT).
If you have any questions or would like me to set up a host code for you to see if you can collect $250 in orders for yourself, please drop me a note at firstname.lastname@example.com. I'll be happy to do that for you!
Looking For The BEST Deal???
Join during May AND then place an order of $250+!! You can "double dip" and get $30 additional free merchandise with your Starter Kit AND $25 extra in host cash to spend when you place orders of $250+ before June 14!!
If you have any questions, drop me a note at email@example.com.
I still have a couple openings for my Online Host Club Starting June 1st.
If you are interested in joining in, please send me a note to email@example.com by May 20th
Does your Wish List and 2021-2022 Annual Catalog look like mine that just about every page is marked? Do you want it all and don't want to spend a lot of money all at once? An Online Host Club might just be the perfect solution for you. This is the perfect way to build up your Stampin' Up! supplies a little at a time and receive host benefits too. Click Here for details on joining my Online Host Club.
Card stock cuts for this project:
- Basic White Cardstock 5 1/2″ X 4″ (artwork), 4″ X 4 1/4″ (back panel)
- Evening Evergreen Cardstock 4 1/8″ X 4 3/8″ (back panel mat)
- Soft Succulent Cardstock 4 1/4′ X 8 1/2″ (card base scored and folded as listed above), 2 1/2″ X 4 1/4″ (card front scored and folded as listed above)
- In The Wild Designer Series Paper 4 1/8″ X 4 3/8″ (card front panel), 2 5/8″ x 2 3/8″ (card front panel), 2 1/2″ X 6″ (envelope flap)
Product List


text: As part of the Lawson Products and Kent Automotive new representative training kits, I developed many training manuals and reference documents. One of the most important is the Shop Solutions assortment catalogs, which show some of the most popular product assortments the company provides. These catalogs were designed to present […] New Hire Training Toolkit Campaign Materials8 Apr, 2015 in Multichannel Campaigns / Uncategorized tagged ad / advertising / creative / design / graphic / marketing / Mobile / Print / promotion / web by Daniel Johnathon Brokamp


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Jeep Cherokee Near Columbia SC
- 0 Vehicles
* The advertised price does not include sales tax, vehicle registration fees, other fees required by law, finance charges and any documentation charges. An administration fee, up to $199, may be added to the price of the vehicle.
* Images, prices, and options shown, including vehicle color, trim, options, pricing and other specifications are subject to availability, incentive offerings, current pricing and credit worthiness.
Purchase A New Jeep Cherokee Near Columbia with Wilson Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
The new Jeep Cherokee is a class act thanks to its first-class features. You'll never get tired of driving this SUV daily, thanks to its exceptional handling, driving dynamics, and attention-grabbing design. Buyers will have the option of choosing from a myriad of trim levels. Some of the models will come in the Limited, Freedom, 80th Anniversary Edition, Trailhawk, and High Altitude. The options are endless, but there's much more to explore.
Performance & Capability
First things first, the new Jeep Cherokee will provide the right balance of power and strength. In addition to that, good fuel efficiency is also on the menu. Jeep offers multiple four-wheel-drive systems, which will vary per trim choice. Selec-Terrain Management is on board as it will provide numerous drive modes to match your environment. Electronic Stability Control, high air intakes, and exceptional maneuverability are all part of its grand agenda.
Underneath the hood sits a 3.2-liter engine that can tow 4,500 pounds. This particular V6 produces 271 ponies and 239 pound-feet. The available 2.0-liter engine has been turbocharged to generate 270 ponies. Up to 31 mpg on the highway can be expected. There's also a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine that provides a driving range of up to 474 miles-perfect for constant commuting from Lugoff to Rock Hill, SC.
Advanced safety features are built-in, including Lane Departure Warning, rain-sensing wipers, and Blind Spot Monitoring. Other safety features included are advanced airbags, a reinforced steel frame, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Forward Collision Warning. Premium materials are found in the cabin, which hosts seating for five people. The new Jeep Cherokee doesn't stop there as this SUV hosts internet access via 4G LTE Wi-Fi in which seven devices can simultaneously pair. Remote Engine Start, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are waiting to be explored.
Visit Wilson Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Columbia, SC Today!
Whether you're in Blythewood or Lexington, SC, the time is now to get behind the wheel of this hot machine by visiting Wilson Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Columbia, SC.
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Upgrade Program
Interactively section the model into components to reduce the loss of detail. Gives you the option of using any mannequin as a sculpting brush. We use cookies to boost and personalize your expertise. If you accept you agree to our full cookie coverage. Sorry, our virus scanner detected that this file is not safe to download. Sorry, we're nonetheless checking this file's contents to verify it's secure to obtain.
I'll present an update if it fails to continue to work nicely. Users should hyperlink their mobile phone to their PC in PC settings or through Your Phone app from the Microsoft Store.
Users will obtain an app from Microsoft which they must obtain to their cell phone and observe the setup prompts. Windows Autopilot transforms a brand-new system into a enterprise-ready and cloud-managed state, with out IT needing to touch the system.
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In developed nations such as the US, U.K., and Australia, the term "printing money" is misleading, primarily because at its heart, money is not a physical thing. In addition, (the reality of) inflation always has to do with spending – not the mere existence of money, nor its creation by the government. (Inflation also has to do with the prices paid by the issuer.)
This post can also serve as a unique introduction to Modern Money Theory, or MMT.
These resources were created by Activist #MMT, the podcast (Twitter, Facebook, web; please consider becoming a monthly patron). This post was last updated January 11, 2021.
Disclaimer: I have studied MMT since February of 2018. I'm not an economist or academic, and I don't speak for the MMT project. The information in this post is my best understanding, but I don't assert it to be perfectly accurate. In order to ensure accuracy, you should rely on the expert sources linked throughout. If you have feedback to improve this post, please get in touch.
The federal government doesn't "print money." It issues currency. (To be less precisely accurate but still reasonable, it creates money.) It does this by making numbers in accounting entries bigger, and when it collects revenue via taxation or bond sales, it reduces those same numbers. It "expands and contracts balance sheets."
This is how all federal revenue and spending works, and has always worked – ever since the first dollar was issued, long ago. This is the case regarding funding federal programs, selling and repurchasing government bonds, quantitative easing (QE), etc. There are no exceptions. Here's former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, at the height of the Great Financial Crisis, speaking at around the eight-minute mark in this video:
It's not tax money. We simply use the computer to mark up the size of the account they have at the Fed[eral Reserve].
("Mark up" = "make a number bigger.")
Here is the full abstract from a 1998 paper by Stephanie Kelton, the author of the 2020 book The Deficit Myth:
This paper investigates the commonly held belief that government spending is normally financed through a combination of taxes and bond sales. The argument is a technical one and requires a detailed analysis of reserve accounting at the central bank. After carefully considering the complexities of reserve accounting, it is argued that the proceeds from taxation and bond sales are technically incapable of financing government spending and that modern governments actually finance all of their spending through the direct creation of high-powered money. The analysis carries significant implications for fiscal as well as monetary policy.
Physical money is only created (actually printed or minted) in response to citizens explicitly requesting it from a bank teller or ATM. When that happens, some of those accounting entries are exchanged for bills or coins. Before that point, all government spending is purely electronic entries on accounting ledgers – essentially, tally marks. Physical money can even be thought of as a bank statement printed on metal or a green piece of paper.
Projecting a physicality onto federal money is plainly incorrect and highly mIsleading. It is misleading especially because it implies scarcity. It also evokes historic hyperinflationary episodes that have little-to-no relevance to modern developed economies (except, perhaps, to serve as vaguely scary boogeymen).
Money is not scarce. Real resources are scarce, but not money. Banks and the government create and destroy money (expand and contract their balance sheets) every second of every day. (You may think that's a bad thing, which is fine, but it is the reality.) Money is scarce to us as currency users, of course, but not to the issuer. We – obviously – primarily use their money. There's no money to use until they give it to us. If the United States government were overthrown and stopped existing (unless the new government chose to honor them) all US dollars would instantaneously become worthless.
[Here's how banks create money (audio), and how governments create money (audio).]
Inflationary pressures are caused by spending outpacing productive capacity – spending, not money. Imagine the government (actually) printed $100 trillion in physical bills, put the bills into a suitcase, put the suitcase into a rocket, and then shot the rocket to the moon. It would obviously not cause inflation. The same is true with money invested or otherwise not spent. Only spending money can cause inflation. Therefore, the idea that "creating money causes inflation" is simply not true. If production can be ramped up to meet that new spending, or money can be taxed away (or invested or otherwise not spent) to reduce it, then it won't be inflationary. Most believe inflation the Boogeyman to be reality. Inflation in reality is very different.
[As a brief aside, while the dollar being the world's reserve currency does indeed provide benefits to the United States, it doesn't change much about what's written in this post. Everything in it is equally true for the United States (the current reserve currency); the United Kingdom (the former reserve currency); and Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and etc. (which have never been the reserve currency).]
MMT describes how our monetary system actually, currently, already, and has always worked – both on and off the gold standard. To say "MMT people want even more [printing to outpace production]" (as in the above tweet-screenshot) is something made up by someone who doesn't understand, or has been misled by someone who doesn't understand.
MMT absolutely does demonstrate that many things are possible to do safely, as laid out in these four resource and inflationary impact studies: Medicare For All, a truly bold Green New Deal, canceling all student debt, and the MMT-designed federal jobs guarantee. These things are not just "safe" and highly beneficial to the economy – but also desperately needed by millions. That said, the MMT project itself recommends three things , and three things only.
Unfortunately, too many people say – with supreme confidence – various terrible things they believe MMT to be, do, or say. Quite often, they're just making stuff up (or believing someone else who's making stuff up). MMT is defined by exactly one thing: the economists who have developed MMT over the past quarter century, primarily as documented in the hundreds of academic papers in these repositories. What people say online, whether in comments, posts, documentaries, or even papers by mainstream economists, is of no consequence – unless they can confirm it with a citation from one of the MMT papers above (or statements, posts, and etc. from the authors).
Here is my collection of MMT resources which is a gateway to that body of work, geared towards the layperson.
✌, ❤, and #MMT 🦉
An early version of this post can be found in this twitter thread and was inspired by this tweet and tag by Franco of Franc Analysis.
Top image: From Foto-Rabe on Pixabay (license)


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July 4, 2012 at 12pm to September 30, 2012 at 4pm – High Point Farm For adults who want to improve your balance, suppleness, confidence and connection with your horse in the saddle. Improve your seat Learn how to really "feel" your horse Be more secure in the saddl… Organized by Anne Gage | Type: private, lessons
July 21, 2012 all day – Miller Park A full day of equine event including horse breed displays, horse demonstrations; retail and food vendors gallore, a dog agility show, Battle of the Bands, farmers market and horse parade. Late after… Organized by andrea | Type: free, equine, event