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Jenna's American Sex Star is an adult pay-per-view reality television series hosted by Jenna Jameson on Playboy TV.
In each episode, four contestants compete in a series of sexual performances for the judges and viewers then vote for their favorite performer on Playboy.com. Winners win an exclusive contract with Jameson's movie studio ClubJenna.
Season 1 judges included Christy Canyon, Ron Jeremy, and Jim Powers. Season 2 judges included Jim Powers, Jenna Lewis, and Jay Grdina. The judges will eliminate two contestants and then viewers will vote for who should move on to the finals. Playboy TV's Andrea Lowell appears on season 2 as the Envelope presenter when girls are to be eliminated, or winners announced.
Season 1 winner, Brea Bennett announced in an August 2007 interview that she had left Club Jenna. Season 2 winner, Roxy Jezel, stopped working with Club Jenna after one year, and stated that she planned to retire in August 2009.


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Who we are
Our website address is: https://minedhash.com
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subset: commoncrawl


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A fine performance by Gaz Singh stood out against a crowd of excellent showings throughout the Khalsa ranks as his side progressed into the fourth round of the FA Vase.
Singh's two goals were the highlight, but he was also the architect of skipper Tes Robinson's second half goal which put his side 3-1 ahead early in the second half.
On a misty day and a heavy pitch, Khalsa twice wrestled themselves into a position of strength only to concede and give the home side hope before James McGrady made the final, decisive say deep into injury time.


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Eter hotel is located in the center of the city, within walking distance of all major sites, shopping, dining and entertainment.
Stylish and comfortable accommodation perfect for both business and leisure travelers.
It is open 24 hours, it has 19 rooms all well equipped with free Wifi in all rooms, room service 24/7.
All rooms have a mini bar, cable tv and an equipped bathroom.
A shopping mall is close by with all the best fashion names.
Conferences and seminars can be organised at you request.
We can always make reservations in any of the local restaurants, cafes, clubs or book tickets for sport events and transportation.
There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, sports centres nearby. The Fortress is a 5 minute walk as is Park Cair and Recreational Center Cair.
Organized field trips can be arranged for all the historical sites- Mediana, Fortress, Skull tower, Cegar, concentration camp etc. For the young there are many discotheques, cafes, movies, theatres etc.v


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There are many ,,best places for hiking in Romania" ; we've done thousands of hikes all over Romania but there are always some that stick in your mind, no matter what.
A hike in Romania, tough or medium, which offers some amazing landscapes, adrenaline, and the feeling of accomplishment, is always perfect.
Our top 3, our favorite places for hiking are in more remote areas, like Buila Vanturarita National Park, Trascau Mountains, Retezat National Park.


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As Vince pointed out earlier, Bobby and Peter Farrelly are trying desperately to climb back to the top of the Hollywood comedy mountain after plummeting to a snowy grave somewhere around 2003. The first step in returning to glory is apparently their Three Stooges project and the second step is a sequel to Dumb and Dumber, which was a huge success 17 years ago.
The plan is to give Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd the Rocky V treatment and pretend like it never existed. Judging by the $40 million it made at the box office in 2003, that won't be too hard. So how serious are the Farrelly brothers? They're getting the band back together.
Now, things are heating up. The original Dumb and Dumber, made on a $16 million budget, grossed nearly $250 million worldwide. They could have done this a long time ago, but New Line unwisely went forward with Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. Original producers Charles B. Wessler, Brad Krevoy and Steve Stabler will be back as producers, as will the Farrelly's longtime Conundrum Entertainment partner Bradley Thomas.
(Via Deadline)
Before anyone gets too excited, the new Dumb and Dumber, which Jim Carrey has also said is happening, will be written by Sean Anders and John Morris, who just wrapped up Adam Sandler's I Hate You, Dad*, which means they could be under the Happy Madison spell, in which case they'll need to be deloused and treated to comedy therapy first.
As for casting, the Farrellys should stick to the original film's formula and have Harry and Lloyd fighting over an attractive redhead. Maybe Emma Stone is available.
*Co-stars include Susan Sarandon, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Will Forte, Milo Ventimiglia, Ian Ziering, Todd Bridges, Vanilla Ice, Dan Patrick, Tony Orlando, Alan Thicke as himself, and only Blake Clark of the Happy Madison crew is listed, so it's up in the air. However, Leighton Meester and Sarandon's smoking hot daughter Eva Amurri are also in it, and they are wonderful.


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Added - May 16, 2017
Featuring - Sarina Havok
Witness Sarina Havok's secret sweet side as she kindly waits in bed with her summer dress, texting her friends what's about to happen... she turns around to tease with her sweet milky body and sliding her fingers in her panties to touch her soft cock, make it hard and release that juicy white load for us on a clear hotel plate...wanna see?
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Full Moon Silver Coin
In a world filled with pizza it seems like there's never enough of it! Enter the permanent-pan pizza coin! Inedible, as hard as solid copper and topped with only the most finely detailed, cold-pressed ingredients delivered straight to your doorstep. Longer than 1-hour delivery guaranteed! This pizza coin is minted in our knuckle press and left unsliced. The wavy rack lines on the bottom crust are smooth and make for an excellent worry coin surface.
This coin weighs in at 32g, is 1.58" (40mm) around, and takes 90 tons to mint. That's the same weight as 180,000 16oz bags of cheese!
Want to share the love? Check out our breakable "Pizzas of Eight" version, single Mini Pizza Box and all other Pizza Coin options with the link below.
Original pizza coin artwork was designed by Michael Shantz, engraved by Woody Maringer. Learn more about our artists.
Though it looks tasty, don't eat this pizza!
Coins are struck one at a time in the USA using antique machinery and traditional coining techniques. A colorful description is included with history and facts about the coin.
Note—Each order comes packed with a handwritten envelope straight from Shire Post Mint. We will make this out to whomever is on the SHIPPING ADDRESS. If you are giving this as a gift and would like a different name on the envelope, please include the recipient's name in the Special Instructions field as you complete your order.
This is such a simple, yet clever concept. Excellently brought to life, as always, by SPM. It really does look good enough to eat! (Almost...)
The tiny, tiny pizza box is a clever touch, despite being (inevitably) a little fiddly to put together.
Like the Moon coins, this has lots of potential for variations - I'm definitely already tempted by the "sliced" breakable version.
Such a cool coin! Really solid and feels great in the hand. The skull mushrooms are great detail! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the menu/facts.
Supreme Pizza Coin with Tiny Pizza Box
This is a great coin. I already bought 3 of them. The weight is good and the packaging is top notch. And the price is great for gifting. Just waiting for the deep dish to come back in stock. Highly recommend
Great little coin. I love PIZZA. and so do my siblings. I loved giving them each a pizza gift and of course one for my son and myself. LOVE this coin. Only thing that would make it even better....is if you offered a solid silver pizza. I'd buy one in a heart beat. And like everyone ....I love the pizza box too. Happy that its not greasy:)


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- Biomedical Research (2014) Volume 25, Issue 2
Yoga improves quality of life and functional capacity in heart failure patients.Bandi Hari Krishna1, Pravati Pal1*, Pal G K1,3, Balachander J2, Jayasettiaseelon E3, Sreekanth Y2, Sridhar M G4 and Gaur G S1
1Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
2Department of Cardiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
3Advanced Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research (ACYTER), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India
4Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry. India
Accepted date: January 04 2014
In patients with either systolic or diastolic heart failure (HF), the symptoms of the disease limits the functional capacity. Yoga combines structured physical and breathing techniques and meditation to stimulate sense of well being. Despite yoga's widespread appeal, there are limited data on whether the addition of yoga improves functional capacity or quality of life in patients with HF. The present study was conducted in 98 HF patients, who were randomly divided into two groups; yoga group (YG) (n=44) receiving standard medical therapy plus yoga therapy for 12 weeks and control group (CG) (n=48) receiving only standard medical therapy. Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire (MLWHFQ) and 6 minutes walk test (6MWT) was used to assess the quality of life and functional capacity. At the end of 12 weeks period, MLWHFQ-total was reduced by 45.0% in YG and 9.1% in CG; MLWHFQ-physical dimension was reduced by 46.4% in YG and 3.9% in CG; MLWHFQemotional dimension was reduced by 65.7% in YG and 6.6% in CG; and 6MWT distance improved by 66.2% in YG and 12.4% in CG. The results of this study demonstrates that 12 week yoga therapy enhances the improvement in functional capacity and quality of life in stable heart failure (NYHA I & II) patients receiving standard medical therapy.
Yoga therapy, Functional capacity, Heart failure, Quality of life
Over the past decade, HF has become more prevalent [1] and one of the most common chronic illnesses of modern times, with a major clinical and economic impact on society [2,3]. The symptoms of HF significantly reduces the quality of life (QoL) among those who live with this disease [4]. In patients with either systolic or diastolic HF, the symptoms of the disease limits the functional capacity [5]. Previous studies have supported interventions aimed at treating the symptoms of HF, improving QoL, and overall health related outcomes [6].
Yoga is comprised of a rich treasure of physical and psychological techniques that can be effectively used to promote physical and mental well-being. Yoga as an ancient traditional method of lifestyle modification finds roots in the early civilizations of the central Asian regions of different countries. In India, it flourished and evolved as a vibrant way of life and spiritual practice [7]. Yoga combines structured physical and breathing techniques and meditation to arouse sense of well being. Although exact mechanisms of therapeutic potential of yoga remains hypothetical, a variety of beneficial effects for patients with cardiovascular diseases are reported. For example, studies have demonstrated an improvement in psychological well-being and even regression of atherosclerosis when combined with dietary and other lifestyle modifications [8,9]. In spite of yoga's widespread appeal, there are limited data on whether the addition of yoga improves functional capacity or QoL in patients with HF [10]. The clinical application of the previous studies were limited by lack of control groups and by the varied style, intensity, and duration of the yoga therapy. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 12 week yoga therapy in addition to standard medical therapy on QoL and functional capacity in patients with HF (NYHA I & II).
Setting and Patients
Patients were recruited from the cardiology outpatient department of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India. Initially, nine hundred and forty two HF patients were interviewed regarding their participation in this study, out of which seven hundred and forty eight patients did not meet the inclusion criteria and sixty-four patients declined to participate. Patients with systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, having ejection fraction of 30-50%, patients who satisfied the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I-II, those who were able to walk without assistance and had been on stable medical therapy were included for the study. Patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who were unable to attend yoga sessions, those with orthopedic impediments to yoga, those who had undergone hospitalization within the last three months, and those suffering from myocardial infarction or recurrent angina within the last six months were excluded from the study. The study was approved by the institute ethics committee. One hundred and thirty patients were recruited and randomized into two groups; control group (CG) (n=65) receiving standard medical therapy and yoga group (YG) (n=65) receiving standard medical therapy plus yoga therapy. Forty-four patients in YG and forty eight patients in CG completed the study.
Yoga Protocol
Yoga sessions were conducted at ACYTER, JIPMER, in the vicinity of the department of cardiology. Yoga therapy was designed in consultation with a cardiologist who is experienced in this form of therapy and research in conjunction with a yoga therapist having expertise in cardiac rehabilitation. Each session lasted around 60 minutes. After two weeks of participation in monitored sessions, YG patients practiced the same for three days under our direct supervision and three days at their home for a total duration of 12 weeks.
Modifications were made on an individual basis, according to each participant's specific medical or orthopedic limitations. Chairs were used for those who were unable to stand up directly from the floor and the wall was used as a support during the standing-balance postures. Pranayama breathing exercises (breath awareness training) consisted of deep inhalation and exhalation in a 1:1 ratio, without breath retention. Inhalation was taught to commence with sequential involvement of the abdomen, lower chest, and then, the upper chest, and the same sequence was performed in reverse, during exhalation. Meditation and relaxation practice were performed in a supine or seated position according to the participant's comfort level and preference.
Baseline and clinical characteristics
Age, gender, height and weight were recorded for all the subjects. The medical chart was reviewed for clinical characteristics, such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease, NYHA classification and ejection fraction.
Measurement of functional capacity
Functional capacity was measured by using 6 minutes walk test (6MWT). The 6MWT was conducted according to a standard protocol [11], using an internal hallway with the 100-feet distance marked by colored tape on the floor. The participants were informed that the purpose of the test was to see how far one can walk in six minutes. They were then instructed to walk from one end to the other end of the hallway at their own pace, in order to cover as much distance as possible. Each minute, the participants were encouraged with the standard statements "You are doing well" or "Keep up the good work", but not with any other phrases. Participants were allowed to stop and rest during the six- minutes test period, but were instructed to resume walking as soon as they were able to do so.
A mechanical lap counter was used to count the number of laps completed, and an electronic timer with a buzzer that sounded when six- minutes test period was over. Before the walk started and at the end of the 6-min walk, participants were shown a modified Borg dyspnea scale [12] printed on a card and were asked to indicate their present degree of shortness of breath. The dyspnea scale had markings from zero (nothing at all) to ten (very, very severe). At the end of the walk, they were asked if they had experienced any of the following specific symptoms: dyspnea, chest pain, light-headedness, leg pain, or any other symptoms.
Measurement of quality of life
Quality of life was measured with the MLWHFQ. This disease-specific questionnaire is the most widely used and validated assessment of QoL in patients with HF. The MLWHFQ-total is composed of 21 questions addressing the i) physical dimension (MLWHFD-PD) (Q.no: 2,3,4,5,6,7,12,13), ii) emotional dimension (MLWHFDED) (Q.no: 17,18,19,20,21) and iii) the symptoms of HF. Recent studies have shown this questionnaire to be responsive to changes in quality of life in patients with chronic HF [13]. The participants completed the questionnaire at enrollment and again at the end of the study.
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were conducted utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 19 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 19.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Descriptive statistics were run for means and standard deviations for continuous variables. The data were examined for normality. Two tailed paired t - test was used for normally distributed data to compare the differences in a group before and after 12 weeks period. Independent t test was used to compare the differences between two groups. Mann - Whitney U - test was used for skewed data to compare the differences before and after 12 weeks period within a group and between the groups. The null hypothesis was rejected at p<0.05.
Physiological characteristics of the study participants are presented in Table 1. Before commencement of yoga therapy, there was no significant difference in any of the parameters when compared between yoga group and control group. However, all the parameters (MLWHFQ-T, MLWHFQ-PD, MLWHFQ-ED and 6MWT) were significantly different (p< 0.01) when compared before and after 12 weeks period in the yoga group as well as in the control group as depicted in Table 2.
Fig 1. shows the percentage change in Qol scores at the end of 12 week in each group. MLWHFQ-T was reduced by 45.0% in YG and 9.2% in CG; MLWHFQ- - ED was reduced 65.7% in YG and 6.6% in CG. Fig 2. shows the percentage change in 6MWT distance, which improved by 12.4% in CG and 66.2% in YG.
Regardless of significant advances in pharmacological and clinical management of HF, patients continue to experience considerable symptoms, deterioration of functional capacity, poor QoL [4], frequent HF exacerbations and hospitalizations [14,15]. The present study is unique in that there were no registered clinical trials with standard yoga therapy and adequate sample size examining the effect of yoga on functional capacity and QoL.
The results of this study demonstrate that the addition of a supervised 12 week yoga therapy in addition to standard medical treatment of HF leads to an imoprovement in functional capacity and QoL in HF patients. Mechanisms by which yoga might have improved the QoL and functional capacity are speculative at this time. In addition to haemodynamic dysfunction, an increased neurohumoral activation via the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system has been implicated in the progression of HF [16]. Indeed, drugs such as betablockers and ACE-I/ARB that block this neurohumoral activation, lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality in patients with HF [17,18].
Combination of yoga postures with breathing exercises and meditation attenuates sympathetic activation and could lead to a decrease in ventricular filling pressures [19]. In addition to allowing for a predominance of the parasympathetic state, yoga may also promote effective extraction of oxygen by peripheral tissues. When muscle is stretched, the oxygen consumtion increases. Study that examined the health-related aspects of yoga found that 8 week yoga training increased muscular strength by 31%, muscular endurance by 57%, flexibility by 88%, oxygen uptake by 7% and reduced cardiovascular risk in healthy adults [9]. This data seem to support the findings of the current study that showed 66.2% increase in functional capacity in yoga group compared to only 12.4% increase in control group.
In addition to the proposed mechanism of yoga's ability to attenuate the derangements of the autonomic nervous system, and thereby improving symptoms, yoga postures, relaxation and breathing practices may retard the pathogenic mechanisms involved in HF, and its promotional effect on psychological well-being may aid as well. In this study, answers to the well validated MLWHFQ indicated that the patients who participated in yoga perceived it to be beneficial and statistical significance was observed for total scores (MLWHFQ-T), physical scores (MLWHFQ-PD) and emotional scores (MLWHFQ-ED).
In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that a 12 week yoga therapy in addition to standard medical therapy improves functional capacity and quality of life in patients with stable heart failure (NYHA I & II). The improvement in functional capacity and quality of life may translate into a lower mortality rate. The clinical implication is that moderate physical activity in the form of yoga asana, pranama and relaxation may be recommended in conjuction with standard pharmacological therapy in patients with HF (NYHA I & II).
We greatly acknowledge the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, for giving JRF under AORC component of INSPIRE fellowship. We extend our sincere thanks to Director, JIPMER, for providing partial funding through intramural research grant and Programme Director, ACYTER, JIPMER for providing laboratory facilities and yoga therapy.
- Adams KF Jr. New epidemiologic perspectives concerning mild-to-moderate heart failure. Am J Med. 2001; 110 Suppl 7A: 6S-13S.
- Adams KF Jr, Zannad F. Clinical definition and epidemiology of advanced heart failure. Am Heart J. 1998; 135(6 Pt 2 Su): S204-215.
- Masoudi FA, Baillie CA, Wang Y, Bradford WD, Steiner JF, Havranek EP, et al. The complexity and cost of drug regimens of older patients hospitalized with heart failure in the United States, 1998-2001. Arch Intern Med. 2005; 165(18): 2069-2076.
- Azevedo A, Bettencourt P, Alvelos M, Martins E, Abreu-Lima C, Hense H-W, et al. Health-related quality of life and stages of heart failure. Int J Cardiol. 2008; 129(2): 238-244.
- Smart N, Haluska B, Leano R, Case C, Mottram PM, Marwick TH. Determinants of functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure: role of filling pressure and systolic and diastolic function. Am Heart J. 2005; 149(1): 152-158.
- Walke LM, Byers AL, Gallo WT, Endrass J, Fried TR. The association of symptoms with health outcomes in chronically ill adults. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007; 33(1): 58-66.
- Jayasinghe SR. Yoga in cardiac health (a review). Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil Off J Eur Soc Cardiol Work Groups Epidemiol Prev Card Rehabil Exerc Physiol. 2004; 11(5): 369-375.
- Ornish D, Brown SE, Scherwitz LW, Billings JH, Armstrong WT, Ports TA, et al. Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease? The Lifestyle Heart Trial. Lancet. 1990; 336(8708): 129-133.
- Tran MD, Holly RG, Lashbrook J, Amsterdam EA. Effects of Hatha Yoga Practice on the Health-Related Aspects of Physical Fitness. Prev Cardiol. 2001; 4(4): 165-170.
- Pullen PR, Nagamia SH, Mehta PK, Thompson WR, Benardot D, Hammoud R, et al. Effects of yoga on inflammation and exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure. J Card Fail. 2008;14(5): 407-413.
- Butland RJ, Pang J, Gross ER, Woodcock AA, Geddes DM. Two-, six-, and 12-minute walking tests in respiratory disease. Br Med J Clin Res Ed. 1982; 284: 1607-1608.
- Wilson RC, Jones PW. A comparison of the visual analogue scale and modified Borg scale for the measurement of dyspnoea during exercise. Clin Sci Lond Engl 1989; 76(3): 277-282.
- Kubo SH, Gollub S, Bourge R, Rahko P, Cobb F, Jessup M, et al. Beneficial effects of pimobendan on exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with heart failure. Results of a multicenter trial. The Pimobendan Multicenter Research Group. Circulation. 1992; 85(3): 942-949.
- Zannad F, Briancon S, Juilliere Y, Mertes PM, Villemot JP, Alla F, et al. Incidence, clinical and etiologic features, and outcomes of advanced chronic heart failure: the EPICAL Study. Epidémiologie de l'Insuffisance Cardiaque Avancée en Lorraine. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999; 33(3): 734-742.
- Perlman LV, Ferguson S, Bergum K, Hammarsten JF. Preception of congestive heart failure: social and emotional factors. Ann Intern Med 1971; 75: 1-7.
- Sigurdsson A, Swedberg K. The role of neurohormonal activation in chronic heart failure and postmyocardial infarction. Am Heart J 1996; 132(1 Pt 2 Su): 229-234.
- Abdulla J, Pogue J, Abildstrøm SZ, Køber L, Christensen E, Pfeffer MA, et al. Effect of angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibition on functional class in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction--a metaanalysis. Eur J Heart Fail. 2006; 8(1): 90-96.
- Abdulla J, Køber L, Christensen E, Torp-Pedersen C. Effect of beta-blocker therapy on functional status in patients with heart failure--a meta-analysis. Eur J Heart Fail 2006; 8(5): 522-531.
- Pullen PR, Thompson WR, Benardot D, Brandon LJ, Mehta PK, Rifai L, et al. Benefits of yoga for African American heart failure patients. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010; 42(4): 651-657.


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OK, you know the drill. We're kicking 2020 (yes, 2020!) off with a bang as I put forth another entry in our ongoing See Now, Buy Now series, featuring one standout product to shop right now. In the case of today's post, well, we're telling you all about one of the best winter jackets, a pleasingly rugged, cozy and versatile Faherty Brand sherpa jacket that also doubles as a shirt — and a stylish layer in its own right, at that. This Sherpa Lined Wool CPO from Faherty Brand takes its cues from all the right areas — namely, it's inspired by and named after the warm, classic Chief Petty Officer coats (hence, CPO) worn in the field. It's one of the most rugged jackets you can buy, yet it retains the classic Faherty Brand aesthetic — laidback, easygoing and yet functional and rugged. Of course, the specs are what really sets this thing apart — as one would expect.
SHOP: The Faherty Brand Sherpa-Lined CPO Jacket
Firsst of all, there's the high-pile fleece lining for extra comfort — that makes this a worthwhile layer to pair up with your favorite henley or a rugged thermal shirt in equal measure. Heck, you can even wear it atop another Faherty Brand shirt for an added layer (quite literally) of perfectly rugged style. The sleeves of this Sherpa Lined Wool CPO from Faherty Brand are also lined with nylon, an added touch that delivers even more comfort. Heck, from the sounds of it, the Sherpa Lined Wool CPO might be as comfortable as wearing, well, a blanket (as Faherty so wisely says). And as if you needed it, the Vintage Blue Plaid pattern is a fun way to shake things up through the doldrums of winter. So, there's no more time to waste — snag your new favorite jacket right now.
SHOP: The Faherty Brand Sherpa-Lined CPO Jacket


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About Us
Our Field Technicians
All around the country we have team members who are the hands and feet of what we do. They are often the face the customer sees and builds a relationship with.
Distribution Center Team
With four warehouses around the country, we can ship UPS ground deliveries next day to 99% of the US population. It sounds simple, but there are dedicated men and women who wake up early and stay late to make sure our customers get the right supplies, on time.
Help Desk Team
In several of our largest engagements, our staff acts as an extension of our client's IT Help Desk. Tickets and calls are routed to our team in St. Charles and they trouble shoot, diagnose, and dispatch printer problems all over the world.
Our Leadership
Ben Harris
Ben Harris enjoyed a 15 year career in corporate sales, selling and implementing large contracts to Fortune 500 companies around the country. In 2006, he decided to begin a new journey, leaving the big office and tie to start up his own firm. After years of sweat, struggle, and perseverance, Harris Technologies has become a recognized leader in their space. Ben now spends his time working more on the business than in it, and speaking at various industry conferences. As a dynamic leader and visionary, he continues to passionately create an environment where talented people come to work, play and serve. Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, volunteering at his parish, and fishing with his loyal, furry companion Lucy.
Tony Grasso
Tony has been a leader in corporate sales for over 20 years. Ben and Tony worked together back in 1994 at Wallace Computer Services and maintained a close friendship ever since. Tony joined the team in 2014 to take over the sales leadership role and has begun to assemble a team of industry heavy weights. Tony balances his work life with his addictions to Cardinal baseball, Arsenal soccer, and coaching/cheering with his wife Jen for their three children's sports and theatre events.
Donna Culver
Vice President Finance & Operations
Donna Culver worked as a CPA at various firms before joining Harris Technologies in 2008. Donna lives a few houses up from Ben and they got to know each other over the years of little league baseball, swim meets and neighborhood get togethers. Donna's main focus is on the finances of the organization. Our purchasing and admin team also reports up to her. When she is not warning Ben of the risks of business transactions, or vetting merger/acquisition targets, Donna loves to travel and spend time relaxing with her five kids and extended family.
Mark Pilkenton
Vice President of Technologies
Mark started his career in IT at Chevron Texaco in Houston, Texas. He moved to St. Louis in 2004 to follow a calling to serve as the Youth Minister at Holy Infant Church in Ballwin, MO. That ministry is where he met Ben who joined as an adult volunteer there. Mark was hired in 2010 at Harris Technologies, working various sales and IT positions. He was promoted to the VP of Managed Services in 2015 and has a team that runs all of the company's software applications and solutions for their most demanding contracts. Shortly thereafter, we changed the title to encompass a wide range of solutions crafting; Vice President of Technologies. Mark and his wife Melanie spend most of their days chasing after five beautiful children. Mark is an avid backpacker, musician, and microbrew master.
Jim Heffernan
Vice President of Sales
Jim has been in the print industry over 30 years including roles as a business owner and 12 years at HP launching the national Managed Print Services practice. In 2015, Jim joined Harris because of the unique business model. Possessing a very tenured perspective on the industry, Jim saw Harris's ability to address gaps in MPS program offerings and the opportunity to deliver to select customers a program and account management experience not available from manufacturers or copier dealers. When not sitting with customers or analyzing print data, Jim enjoys spending time with his JoAnn, his wife of 40+ years and Ginger, their King Charles Cavalier.
What We're Passionate About
Our People
Our employees are more than just workers, they are family. We don't just share work calendars, we share in each others hopes and fears and dreams. It's our goal to have a place, full of wickedly talented people, who love what they do, and have fun doing it. No matter how much we grow, we will never take ourselves too seriously. We don't apologize for outwardly living out our faith or making our families a priority over work. You might walk into our offices and see someone wearing a horse head mask in the conference room, but when it comes down to executing for customers, we are tenaciously all business. Work doesn't have to suck. We all came from places where we dreaded Sunday nights because Monday was coming. We will never let that happen here. If you are tired of having work drain you rather than fulfill you, and you've got the chops to hang with the big dogs, don't send your resume – just stop by.
Our Clients
We do business with some of the most recognized companies in the world. Every vertical market or government agency is struck with the similar need for support in reducing their print. We aren't selling hardware that we drop off and say good bye. Our customers are customers for life. We get to know them and they get to know us. They become more than just an invoice to us. They are part of our story. They share in our goals and we share in theirs. Remember when business was done between people who actually liked each other? Stop arm wrestling with your suppliers and turn it into a fist bump.
Our Company
This company was started with humble beginnings in a basement playroom converted to a makeshift office. The black board walls that once had scribbles and drawings from toddlers, now covered with words of encouragement and goals, written in chalk from family and friends. Although that seems like a long time ago, we will never forget where we came from and what it took to get here.
Our Community
This company was and continues to be driven by our beliefs and our passion for serving. We recognize that there is a difference between success and significance. Every team member knows that we are not just trying to kill it to line our own pockets. Our ability to serve the community around affixes our efforts to a higher calling. We've started a private foundation, taking a portion of the company's profits and redirecting it toward outreach programs. We have monthly service projects that we offer our employees to do together during paid company time.


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For a second time, Whirlpool Corp. has sweetened the pot in a bid to purchase rival Maytag Corp., submitting a $20-per-share binding offer worth $1.62 billion plus assumed debt.
"Our binding offer reflects both the value we see in the combination of Whirlpool and Maytag and the confidence we have in the ultimate receipt of regulatory approval for the transaction," Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool's chairman, president and chief executive, said in a written statement.
The bid, a $2-per-share premium to Whirlpool's latest offer, was presented one day before its deadline to make a firm proposal. Both companies had agreed on the cutoff date.
Whirlpool, based in Benton Harbor, about 85 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, said it would pay half of the new purchase price in cash and half in stock. The company would assume $977 million in debt as part of the deal, for a total transaction of $2.6 billion.
Maytag spokesman John Daggett confirmed that the Newton, Iowa-based company received the proposal but declined to comment further.
Whirlpool's offer was 43 percent higher than an initial bid of $14 per share, or about $1.13 billion, submitted by the investment group Triton Acquisition Holding Co. Maytag's board accepted that all-cash offer on May 19 and shareholders are scheduled to vote on it on Aug. 19.
Whirlpool said its bid will expire the next day. The offer includes a commitment to pay a "reverse breakup fee" of $120 million if regulators do not approve the combination, along with $15 million to retain Maytag's employees.
Whirlpool also agreed to pay a $40 million termination fee that Maytag would owe Triton if the investment group's bid was rejected.
A telephone message seeking comment was left at the New York office of Triton spokesman Jeffrey Taufield.
Whirlpool has "put enough money on the table, they think, to pre-empt further bidding" by other interested parties, said Kevin O'Mara, a New York attorney who specializes in corporate mergers.
"They're clearly looking to get this acquisition done," he said.
Whirlpool initially submitted a tentative offer of $17 per share, or $1.35 billion, on July 17 that was contingent upon the company being given full access to Maytag's financial information. Three days later, it increased the tentative offer to $18 per share, or $1.43 billion.
Maytag, the nation's third-largest appliance maker, agreed July 26 to open its books to No. 1 Whirlpool. The two companies agreed that Whirlpool had until Tuesday to submit a firm offer.
In its proposal letter to Maytag officials, Whirlpool said its binding offer would "provide your shareholders (with) substantially greater value" when compared with Triton's bid.
"We believe we have addressed in every manner the concerns we understood the Maytag board to have had with a potential combination with Whirlpool," the letter said. "Most importantly, we are providing a tremendous economic package of benefits to Maytag and its shareholders, and one that we believe would be strongly welcomed and supported by your shareholders."


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Fianna Fáil T.D for Mayo Lisa Chambers has called on the Minister and the HSE to immediately address the ever increasing wait times for women needing to see a Gynaecologist
Speaking on the matter Deputy Chambers said "Figures from the National Treatment Purchase fund show that almost 30,000 women are waiting for an out-patient appointment to see a gynaecologist, an increase of 43% since 2014,"
"Over 5,000 of these women are waiting over a year. This is completely unacceptable, especially in cases where patients are waiting for a diagnosis or further procedures," she said.
"An example of this is a patient suffering from the chronic disease Endometriosis. This disease can be debilitating in some cases and severely impacts on a person's quality of life; not only their physical health but also their mental health. It typically requires numerous visits and surgery before a diagnosis is made. Patients suffering with Endometriosis are living in chronic pain daily and this is only progressed due to the lack of specialists in this area and in some cases waiting up to a year to see a consultant," she said.
"This is only one of the many women's health issues that specialist gynaecologist deal with, there are an array of other illnesses, including but not limited to; incontinence, problems with pregnancy, and potential cancer symptoms." She stated.
"A breakdown of hospitals with the highest waiting lists for a gynaecology appointment shows 3,838 are waiting in the Rotunda Hospital, 3,130 at Tallaght Hospital with over 2,500 waiting at the Coombe Women and Children's Hospital," she said.
"Galway University Hospital has 1,882 waiting with nearly 300 patients waiting in Mayo. However, it is important to note that it is not just women from the Dublin area on waiting lists in the Dublin hospitals, women from all over the Country including Mayo are on waiting lists to see specialists at these hospitals," she continued.
"Ireland has the third highest fertility rate in the EU but less than half of the EU average number of specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology" she stated.
"Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) have pointed out that almost one in five permanent consultant posts in the public health service are either unfilled or filled by temporary appointments. This is not an acceptable health system or standard of care for a first world Country; we should not have a situation where 20% of our consultant posts are vacant," she stated.
"The waiting lists have been growing every year and they will continue to grow until the Minister and the HSE get real about the situation," she said.
"I want to commend the Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) for their campaign 'Care Can't Wait' and for sharing their experiences of hospital waiting lists to see a consultant in this Country and the drastic impact that has on patients, across all sectors," she stated.
"We need to do better in this Country. I am calling on the Government to address the shortage in consultants across the board with a matter of urgency. People should be able to access timely and adequate care, anything less than that is unacceptable," she concluded.


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Botanical Art Worldwide: America's Flora
Botanical Art Worldwide: America's Flora
May 4 - October 15, 2018
Conservatory Gallery
Opening in May of 2018, the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) in collaboration with the United States Botanic Garden will present a juried exhibition of artworks of native plants, staged in the U.S. Botanic Garden's gallery space. The exhibition includes 46 original contemporary botanical artworks, juried from a field of over 200 entries. Slated to remain on view at the U.S. Botanic Garden through October 2018, the exhibition will then travel through the end of 2019.
- SEPT 3-9: Judy Thomas -- colored pencil, graphite (plants to draw: Nepenthes, Brighamia, Heliconia)
- SEPT 10-16: Paula Blair -- watercolor, graphite, colored pencil (plants to draw: succulent or orchid)
- SEPT 24-30: Molly Hoopes -- watercolor on hot press paper
- OCT 1-7: Elena Maza Borkland -- watercolor or colored pencil (plants to draw: black cotton (Gossypia nigra), orchids, Medinilla) See photos
- OCT 8-14: Vicki Malone -- colored pencil, graphite
- Joe Bailey (plant drawn: Trichocentrum "Ollie Palmer" orchid) See photos
- Anne Clippinger (plant drawn: Solanum aethiopicum) See photos
- Cynthia McCormick (plant drawn: Sarracenia leucophylla 'Tarnok') See photos
- Sue Fierston (plant drawn: Anemone x hybrida 'September Charm') See photos
We celebrated the Worldwide Day of Botanical Art on May 18 with three programs for visitors to join in this day. See photos in this online album.
- Lecture: Botanical Art Worldwide: 6 Continents, 25 Countries, 1 Worldwide Project
- Meet the Artists: Botanical Art Worldwide: America's Flora
- Behind-the-Scenes: Botanical Art Worldwide: America's Flora
Learn more about the international exhibit >>


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Humpback whale spotted in Hudson near GW Bridge
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — A humpback whale was spotted swimming up the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge on Friday — the farthest north a whale has been seen in the waterway in recent memory, according to a local group that catalogs marine mammals.
The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police tweeted a photo of a whale breaching the surface of the Hudson just south of the on Friday afternoon. Helicopter footage also showed the whale breaching.
"This is the first time it's been documented and there's no one else keeping these kinds of records," said Paul Sieswerda, founder of Gotham Whale Watch, a group of "citizen scientists" who catalog marine mammals in New York.
Sieswerda was concerned that the whale could be hit by a ship in the congested Hudson.
Evidence points to great white shark nursery off N.J.
"We're hoping the whale is in good shape and is just chasing fish," he said.
The number of whales swimming around New York Harbor and off the Jersey Shore has increased significantly in recent years.
Conservationists have credited cleaner waters for the increase. Less sewage, street runoff and industrial discharges affect the bottom of the food chain, allowing plankton to flourish closer to shore. That in turn provides a food source for small bait fish like menhaden. And whales love to eat menhaden.
The presence of more whales has drawn thousands onto whale-watching boats hoping to see the mammals gliding through the ocean and perhaps even glimpse a humpback leaping out of the water. It has also prompted authorities to warn boaters, fearing whales are coming too close to shore.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and New York environmental officials issued alerts to boaters to slow down and watch out for whales following three strikes along the Eastern Seaboard in 2013, including one in May in which a cruise ship dragged a 55-foot finback into the Hudson River.


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Emergency Closing Procedures
The District's emergency closing procedures are used when schools are experiencing significant inclement weather or other situations that require an interruption to the normal school day.
District Procedures
The decision to have school or close on days of inclement weather has always been challenging, but it will be easier this year. Decisions will be made that secure the safety of students and staff who would have been in school, while still recognizing our responsibility to conduct school as scheduled whenever possible.
Communicating with Families
We will carefully consider all factors when bad weather is occurring or predicted, and student and staff safety will be the major priority in developing our response. Keeping schools open or closing them are major decisions when faced with weather conditions that could affect travel or the safety of students and staff. Keeping school open is not about financial considerations but about our commitment to educate our students.
Emergency Closure Scenarios
There are three different scenarios that can be involved in a decision to close schools during an emergency:


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Trinity School of Medicine has always prided itself on the strength and ambition of its students. So many future physicians come our way looking for something new; whether that's a unique learning environment built on support and a strong relationship with the faculty, a curriculum with an emphasis on clinical skills and service to patients, or just a true opportunity to live up to their potential.
In this latest edition of our alumni spotlight, meet Dr. Jennifer Young. Read about attending Trinity, the opportunities and perspectives she gained from her time there, and what brought her from Hamilton, Ontario to Ohio's Cleveland Clinic as an interventional radiologist fellow.


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- 1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 1/3 cups warm water (100° to 110°)
- 3 1/2 cups bread flour, divided
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 cup (4 ounces) grated fresh pecorino Romano cheese
- Cooking spray
- 2 tablespoons ground semolina
Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Add 1/2 cup flour to yeast mixture, stirring with a whisk. Let stand 30 minutes. Add remaining 3 cups flour, olive oil, black pepper, salt, and red pepper; stir until soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); cover and let rest 10 minutes. Knead in half of cheese; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Knead in remaining cheese. Place dough in large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down. Roll dough into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle on lightly floured surface. Preheat oven to 450°.Sprinkle 1 tablespoon semolina onto each of 2 baking sheets. Cut dough in half lengthwise to form 2 (12 x 4-inch) rectangles. Cut each rectangle crosswise into 12 (1-inch-wide) strips. Working with 1 strip at a time (cover remaining dough to prevent drying), gently roll each strip into a 15-inch-long rope. Place rope on prepared pan, and repeat procedure with remaining strips, placing 12 on each pan. Cover and let dough rise 20 minutes. Uncover dough; bake each pan at 450° for 12 minutes. Remove breadsticks from pans; cool completely on wire racks. Makes 24 breadsticks.
With black and red pepper, these breadsticks pack some heat. If you don?t have semolina, you can use cornmeal.
Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox!


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My name is attorney Greg Abney. I opened my Montgomery County law firm as a solo practice because I have seen firsthand how important it is to have a close working relationship with every client.
Personal, Affordable Representation In South-Central Maryland
I am family law attorney Greg Abney, and I believe the only way lawyers can be truly effective is to work with each person one-on-one, as an individual — not as just another case file. I also believe in keeping my office overhead as low as possible to make my hourly fees as affordable as possible. To help with costs, I accept most uncontested divorce cases on a cost-effective, flat-fee basis.
From my office in Rockville, I handle family law cases throughout Montgomery County, Howard County, Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County and Washington County, Maryland.
If you are looking for an experienced attorney, call my Rockville office at 301-850-4972 to arrange a consultation with me in-office.
I'm Here When
You Need Me
The advantage of hiring a solo attorney is that you get the benefit of direct and personal access. When you call, I will respond as quickly as possible, I will meet with you face-to-face, and you won't have to worry about how your case is progressing.
Whether your case involves divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence or any other family law matter, I promise to keep you educated about the process and in control of making informed decisions to protect your rights and your future.
What Do Our Clients Say?
"Mr. Abney is an excellent lawyer. He went way beyond what I was expecting him to do. He was very personable and treated me like a friend (not a case)."


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Fathom in high definition. Fathom ("starring Raquel 39-22-33 Welch," as the trailer voice boldly declares) is one of the more entertaining female-driven spy films of the era. While journeyman TV director Leslie Martinson (Mission: Impossible) doesn't aim as high from an artistic standpoint as Modesty's Joseph Losey did, he concocts a far superior film thanks to a fairly straightforward and, crucially, coherent plot, a charming, indefatigable leading lady, and lots of game supporting turns from the likes of Tom Adams (The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World), Ronald Fraser (Sebastian), Richard Briers, Greta Chi (Coffin from Hong Kong), Anthony Franciosa (Matt Helm) and Blaise's Clive Revill in a stupendous, scene-stealing turn as the villainous Serapkin. That's not to say that Lorenzo Semple, Jr.'s (Never Say Never Again, 3 Days of the Condor) script (which is extremely loosely based on Larry Forrester's considerably grittier novel) doesn't eventually devolve into expositional voiceover over endless shots of a small airplane flying above European scenery, but it's got enough great setpieces to make up for that in spades. Modesty Blaise turned out to boast quite a few extras. Sadly there aren't that many announced for Fathom, but at least it will include a commentary track by film historians David Del Valle and Steve Peros and a trailer gallery (presumably including the one I quoted above). I really hope it also ends up having a gallery of promotional imagery, because Welch's bikini inspired a number for fantastic posters for this film (including the Japanese one they cribbed for this disc cover).
Kino's Fathom Blu-ray hits shelves October 25 with a suggested retail price of $29.95, but you can currently pre-order it on Amazon for just about half of that.
Aug 29, 2016
Fathom Comes to Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber
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Success is about thriving,
not just surviving
It's not scraping by on four hours sleep and five cups of coffee or being too tired to spend time with your family. It's not being too burnt-out to enjoy a holiday. Or breaking your body through high-intensity training to work off last night's dinner.
Mastering your health and fitness isn't about going to war with your body and mind. It's about helping you create the peace you deserve.
Where it began:
Goal Master Fitness began with our founder, Paul Harter. Paul was a partner in a major international law firm. Paul was a big success.
However, like so many successful people, he was paying the price. He was overweight, exhausted and stressed out both in the office and at home.
He knew he had to take back control. So, at age 45, he embraced exercise and good nutrition, and never looked back. His career thrived as never before. He became strong, vital and happy, in the office and at home, every day.
Paul retired from the full-time practice of law to establish Goal Master. He wanted to share his passion for living better with others who struggle to find the time and motivation in their busy lives. Paul wanted to create something that really worked. Based on facts and the individual. That's why he brought the best team of coaches, nutritionists and scientists together to create a comprehensive health and fitness solution for busy people.
We use individual assessments, testing and data to help you reach your goals. We're your partners. We'll curate a plan tailored to you and be at your side throughout the journey. We'll meet your needs no matter your starting point and match your pace to get to the finish together.
Strive, thrive, repeat.
Meet The Team
Don has been the Head of Coaching at Goal Master since its inception, having previously worked for over a decade as a personal trainer at every level of the fitness industry. In 2012, fed up with the pseudoscience and misinformation that dominates health and fitness, Don reinvented himself as an evidence based, science literate coach. Since then, he has immersed himself in the most reliable, scientifically accurate information on nutrition, training and the coaching of habit change. He specialises in helping busy professionals create realistic and sustainable health focused lifestyles and has coached people from all over the world to life changing results.
As Head of Coaching, Don leads the creation and evolution of Goal Master's training, nutrition and habit-change systems and the recruitment and leadership of its team of coaches.
You might not know about Don: Away from fitness, Don is quite the film buff, has a keen interest in philosophy and has a golden retriever called Oscar; named after Wilde himself.
Tim holds a BSc in Food and Human Nutrition from Newcastle University, as well as a diploma in Sports Nutrition from the International Olympic Committee. He was a member of the Great Britain rowing team, and continues to row competitively, as well as to coach athletes on their nutrition and performance. With a passion for health and fitness, and as well as working as one of our expert nutritionists, Tim is part of our management team with a focus on business development and client care as our Head of Client Relations.
Steve is a certified nutritionist through the International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN). He has been working with clients to help them look and feel better for over 10 years, with great results. Steve has experience working with athletes on the world stage, as well as general population.
Having always had an appetite for science, Steve loves to combine working with people and geeking out on nutrition. He enjoys helping others reach their goals through easy to follow and completely personalised nutrition recommendations and training plans. Steve is committed to evidence based nutrition and is constantly updating his knowledge with the latest research.
What you might not know about Steve: He was the drummer in the band 'Hard-Fi', touring the world and achieving top 10 hits
Paul worked as a partner in a major international law firm. At age 60, he retired from his law practice and founded Goal Master to pursue his passion for helping professionals lead fitter, leaner, healthier and happier lives.
In 2018, he complemented his degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School with a diploma in Fitness Instruction and Personal Training (REPs levels 2 and 3) from Active IQ, Fitness and Nutrition Coach from the European Institute of Fitness and the American College of Sports Medicine and Fitness Entrepreneur from the Institute of Leadership Management He is currently obtaining his nutritionist qualification from MNU.
You might not know about Paul: Paul is an avid traveler. He speaks a few languages (in addition to English). He is super proud of his daughters.
With 10 years experience practising as a Performance Nutritionist, Warren has supported elite professional athletes from a multitude of sports including Premiership and Championship Football, International, Premiership and Super League Rugby, and Olympic and Commonwealth games athletes. Concurrently, Warren completed a PhD in 2017 while publishing peer reviewed research papers and book chapters about performance nutrition, with 13 publications to date.
Working in an elite sporting environment while actively engaging in research gives Warren a unique skillset, combining knowledge of the latest literature with the ability to explain complex information to athletes and the general public in an easily understandable manner. Warren also guest lectures at universities across the UK and Ireland, sharing his knowledge and experiences from research to the world of professional sport.
You might not know about Warren: Warren loves to attend music events and festivals, especially in warm, sunny climates for extra Vitamin D. He is also the founder of Hytro.
Alan has been a qualified personal trainer since 2009. He spent five years as a competitive bodybuilder, competing a total of 15 times.
Alan is among the most highly educated and experienced professionals in the fitness industry. He spent several years as a tutor with the European Institute of Fitness, educating hundreds of personal trainers. He has deep expertise in the nutrition field, and is currently pursuing his certification as a nutritionist with the International Society of Sports Nutrition, one of the world's leading nutrition educational organisation.
You might not know about Alan: In his spare time, Alan climbs mountains and looks after his growing young family.
James launched his career in the fitness industry in 2002. He worked as a trainer specialising in injury rehabilitation at Aspire, the National Training Centre for Spinal Injuries at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. He worked for six years at the largest health club on the South Coast, creating their flagship nutrition and lifestyle course called Fat Loss Mastery.
James specialises in working with over 50s. His passionate and personable coaching style has helped even the most hardened exercise-phobes embrace and enjoy the process of keeping fit and healthy.
You might not know about James: James loves going to live music events and festivals.
Raj, a chartered accountant, worked in financial services both in industry and as a management consultant for 15 years. With degrees from the University of Southampton and University of Warwick, he worked in the City of London for Barclays, Bank of England, PA Consulting and Bank of New York Mellon, among other firms.
After completing his own 12-week body transformation programme in 2018, Raj decided to combine his business skills and entrepreneurial spirit with his passion for health and fitness by joining Goal Master as its CEO and executive director.
You might not know about Raj: Raj recently climbed Kilimanjaro.
Contact Us
Contact our Support and Client Team
Need to get in touch with the team?
Want to hear more about our programmes?
Work in HR and interested in Goal Master for your company?


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Dame Fiona Caldicott
National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care and former Principal of Somerville College, Oxford
Join us as we introduce you, a new or soon to be leader in emergency care, to the challenges of health leadership.
We will meet educational gaps in training and enhance your knowledge of several skill areas of management, including training, finance, team building and collaboration with professional groups within and outside the Emergency Department.
This event will be relevant to trainees, allied professions and existing consultants and clinical leads. It will be a unique opportunity to meet and network with current leaders and seminal high profile figures in health leadership.
By attending, you will:
We assure you that you will leave better prepared for the non-clinical career challenges ahead.
We would like to thank our exhibitor(s):
Radiometer Limited
Please note that none of the companies listed have had any influence or involvement over the agenda, content or organisation of this meeting.
Join in the conversation online
Follow us on Twitter: @RoySocMed
National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care and former Principal of Somerville College, Oxford
Professor in Leadership at Henley Business School
David is internationally renowned in the fields of health leadership and communication and is known for several seminal pieces of work on the medical consultation and health education.
Consultant Emergency Physician, Musgrove Park Hospital and National Clinical Advisor NHS England
President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine
Dr Andy Lockyer, Consultant, Emergency Medicine and Prehospital Emergency Medicine, UK Emergency Medical Team Doctor, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Great Western Air Ambulance, UK Emergency Medical Team
Dr Lucy Ellis, Chief Registrar Emergency Medicine, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Clifford Mann, National Clinical Director, Urgent and Emergency Care, Musgrove Park Hospital and National Clinical Advisor NHS England
Dr Katherine Henderson, President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine
Mrs Helen Bishop, Head of Nursing, Specialist Services, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust
Mr Tom Harley, Divisional Finance Manager, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Dan Magnus, Clinical Lead and Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Dr James Ray, Emergency Medicine Physician, Regional Urgent and Emergency Care Lead London NHS England, NHS 111 Oxfordshire
Dr Larry Fitton, Emergency Medicine Physician, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and President Emergency Medicine Section, Royal Society of Medicine
Dr David Pendleton, Professor in Leadership, Henley Business School
Ms Lucy Parsons, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals Bristol
Dame Fiona Caldicott, National Data Guardian, Health and Social Care
Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole St, Marylebone, London, W1G 0AE, United Kingdom
Please note this event has been cancelled.


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Shortly after announcing the premiere date for The Mindy Project's upcoming fourth season, the cast of the Fox-turned-Hulu comedy assembled at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills to drop hints about what's ahead.
"We always thought it was funny that an OB/GYN would have an accidental pregnancy," Mindy Kaling explained, adding that "the episodes about what to do with the baby have brought out really funny sides of Mindy and Danny's personalities."
Noted executive producer Matt Warburton, Mindy's "sort of at square one once the baby pops out."
Hulu also screened a brief sneak peek of the fourth season, promising a massive culture clash as Danny gets to know Mindy's family — like when Mr. Lahiri convinces Danny that he's going to cut off his hand as punishment for knocking up his daughter. Reporters also got a first look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Mindy's dream husband. ("These chips are terrible," Mindy says, to which Gordon-Levitt's character responds, "Those are seashells, babe.")
Speaking of Gordon-Levitt, Kaling said his Sliding Doors-inspired episode came about because a "supernatural" story would be a fun way to kick off the show's Hulu run.
"We explore what it would be like if she'd never fallen in love with Danny," Kaling said. "He plays a reality TV producer who's best friends with Andy Cohen. He's the man of Mindy's dreams, his apartment's in Gramercy Park. … It was very fun to use him as a character who seems ideal, but then goes in a very surprising direction."
Danny, meanwhile, ends up with Freida Pinto. (Revealed Kaling, "I say to her, 'Oh, Freida Pinto, people always tell me we look alike. Do people tell you that?' And she responds, 'I don't know because you're not famous.'")
Additional reveals from the panel:
* Beth Grant (Beverly) assured reporters, "They have promised me sex" this season. Fingers crossed!
* Mindy and Danny will have very "different" approaches to the birthing process.
* Garrett Dillahunt's character will take over for Mindy when she goes on maternity leave.
* There's a road trip episode with Danny and Morgan in Season 4, which Kaling described as "very fun and very play-like," as well as a "disaster."
Your hopes for The Mindy Project's upcoming fourth season? Drop 'em in a comment below.


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It's a creative combination: senior level equine veterinarians, motorbikes, continuing education, and charity. But that succinctly sums up the major elements of the fifth annual Vets with Horsepower Tour, which kicks off on June 22 at the Royal Veterinary College South Mimms Campus in Hertfordshire. Freedom Health is proud to once again sponsor Vets with Horsepower in 2015.
While previous year's events have included multiple weeks and stops throughout many European countries, the 2015 Vets with Horsepower Tour is a short but jam-packed ride around the UK and Ireland. Daily continuing professional development talks for veterinarians, as well as sessions for horse owners, cover topics ranging from new treatments for sarcoids, to limb deformities and lameness, to acupuncture. And they include amusingly named session titles such as:
- "You need sinusitis like you need a hole in the head: when to drill holes and when to pull teeth" by Dr. John Burford (for veterinarians).
- "The problem with long nerves: roaring horses and galloping giraffes" by Dr. Caroline Hahn (for veterinarians).
- "Gastric ulcers: a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach" by Dr. Jenny Croft (for owners).
- "Melanomas: a grey area" by Professor Derek Knottenbelt (for owners).
Each stop at various locations throughout the UK and Ireland includes a day-long event with an 8-9 session tract for vets and another for owners. The speakers will motorbike between each venue. Visit the Vets with Horsepower CPD Facebook page for a Tour itinerary, complete list of topics, and speakers.
About Vets with Horsepower CPD & Charitable Giving
Vets with Horsepower is the brainchild of Professor Derek Knottenbelt, OBE, BVM&S, DVMS, DipECEIM, MRCVS, of the University of Glasgow (Scotland). The tour is ultimately a fundraising event with all proceeds donated towards a charitable equine-related cause. For the second year, Vets with Horsepower is donating money raised to the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust to equip the facility that last year's event helped to build.
Freedom Health is once again pleased and honored to sponsor the Vets with Horsepower Tour as they work to further equine health education and to improve quality of life for working animals in Gambia.
A Word From Founder Professor Derek Knottenbelt
Regarding the upcoming 2015 tour, Professor Knottenbelt shares:
"The Vets with Horsepower team is embarking upon its latest adventure between 22 June 2015 and 27 June 2015. This tour is a 'blast' around the United Kingdom and Ireland and sets out to provide high quality continuing professional development for practicing veterinarians and also for horse owners. The two concurrent programs provide a unique opportunity for both owners and vets to get up-to-date information on some advanced, and some less advanced but no less interesting, conditions affecting the horse.
"The Horsepower project relies heavily upon the goodwill and support from sponsors and from the attendees. We are extremely grateful to Freedom Health for their ongoing and continued support. This support illustrates absolutely that the company cares deeply about the horse and about the wider world and clearly has a positive non-commercial attitude towards the Horsepower ideals. Freedom Health is one of the original sponsors and they are one of a few commercial organizations that has supported every one of the Horsepower projects so far.
"We believe that those people who support us as a profession and the Horsepower project as a concept should be those people that we support in return."
Follow the 2015 Vets with Horsepower Tour on Facebook
Learn about Vets with Horsepower and follow Tour updates on the Vets with Horsepower CDP Facebook page.


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Danburite Facet / Faceting Information
Color: Colorless, pink, wine-yellow and brownish.
Moh's Hardness: 7
Refractive Index: 1.63-1.636
Critical Angle: 37.84°
Specific Gravity: 3.0
Cleavage: Imperfect
Fracture: Uneven, conchoidal
Dispersion: .017
Heat Sensitivity: Yes in my experience
Birefringence (double refraction): Weak (.006)
Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic
Treatments: Generally none, sometimes can be irradiated.
What I prefer to polishing with: 8,000 pre-polish 50,000 polish with Zinc laps (scored)
Jeff's Comments: Cuts and polishes pretty easily, and can be a little tough to polish sometimes. It seems to grab diamonds and can scratch. Watch the heat when dopping.
Design Notes: About any designs will work well. I like deep designs because the color(s) are usually on the light side
Design Links: White Asterism – This is great for clear rough if you have a piece that will work.


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It's National Gum Care Month! Is your smile supported by strong, healthy gums? With gum disease now linked to larger health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and dementia, keeping your gums in excellent condition is critical for your overall well-being.
For gums that glow, make sure these key practices are part of your dental routine:
Always brush along the gum line in short back-and-forth strokes to loosen plaque build-up
Floss against the shape of each tooth to dislodge food particles swept into the gum line
Try an oral irrigator instead of toothpicks to be gentler when removing stubborn foods
Use an anti-microbial mouthwash after brushing and flossing to minimize oral bacteria
Schedule twice-yearly professional cleanings to tackle hardened build-up and hard-to-reach areas
To schedule a consultation and exam, call 952-449-9494.


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Have you ever had to start over at square one? It's one of the most frustrating things there are. After you've done the work and made progress, something happens and you have to start over. I've had to do that in life, with dreams God has given me, with work and in relationships. I don't have many pet peeves, but doing work I've already done is one of mine. It's redundant, but I've learned to not look at what I'm having to do over. Instead I focus on the outcome. The work is worth the payoff in the end.
After Isaac inherited all of Abraham's wealth and land, people became jealous and didn't like him. They poured dirt into the wells that Abraham had dug and forced him to leave that area. Genesis 26:17-18 says, "So Isaac left. He camped in the valley of Gerar and settled down there. Isaac dug again the wells which were dug in the days of his father Abraham but had been clogged up by the Philistines after Abraham's death. And he renamed them, using the original names his father had given them" (MSG).
I'm sure Isaac was frustrated, but he did the work anyway. I believe that's what you and I need to think about today. You may be frustrated at how clogged up life is at the moment. You may feel like you're at square one with the dreams God planted in you. Don't quit or give up. Do the work with gladness and push forward. There is a reward and times of refreshing coming, but you're going to have to do the work. It may require sacrificing other things, spending more time in prayer, reading the Bible or fasting, but God's rewards for you are on the other side of your obedience. Pick up a shovel and start digging.
Photo by Nastya Kvokka on Unsplash


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Here's a couple of terms for you to digest for a moment: jargon and argot.
They both describe a similar concept. The gist of both definitions is they're a customized vocabulary used by a subset of the population that have a particular meaning to that subset. Trade vocabularies, if you will. The IT world is full of jargon. I've spent entire days subnetting IP addresses or instantiating classes. A delegate in programming is damn sight different from a delegate in politics.
The key difference between jargon and argot is their intended use. Jargon is just a customized vocabulary that evolves. Argot is a custom vocabulary meant to exclude outsiders from understanding the meanings. I picked up the idea of argot from an Intercultural Comm class I took when I working on my Master's degree. Outside of academia, I haven't heard it used much. Subnets and classes are perfect examples of jargon. Lolspeak is a pretty good example of argot.
Interestingly, if you stop and think about it, most jargon eventually evolves into argot, sometimes accidentally sometimes intentionally. It's doubtful that Lolspeak was intentionally designed to make it difficult for outsiders to understand since it originated with people texting on phones with limited keyboards, but it's the closest example I can come up with.
The martial arts world is no different. We have terms that we use that aren't even necessarily interchangeable between systems. A wheel kick in Kenpo is a hook kick in Jeet Kun Do and a roundhouse kick in Muay Thai. There are, to be sure, subtle differences in how those kicks are executed between various systems but the basic concept of a kick that hits from the side remains the same.
So then, and this is where the writing part comes in. Most people in the world are not versed in martial arts terms and even those of us who grew up on Kung Fu Theater might have some problems interpreting the various nuances.
This was one of the problems I found when I was writing Henchmen. It's got a fair amount of martial arts in it because you're supposed to write what you know (I know Kenpo) but I wanted to make it understandable. Whether or not I was successful is open to interpretation, but it did force me to think about how I described things. In my Kenpo school I can say "Darkness" and everyone who has learned that technique can do it. Perfect example of argot.
So, let's break it down and see if we can take a somewhat common Kenpo technique and make it work in a fiction environment. I chose Thundering Hammers, largely because it's an easy enough technique to understand but has just enough built in argot to make it a little weird. It's also one of the few Kenpo techniques that most schools seem to use to some degree or another.
As a side note, and this is just a personal defense thing: the hammer fist is a very effective tool for striking without worrying about things like breaking your fist.
We'll start with a technical description (essentially my own notes from I learned it for my green belt, lo those many years ago).
Thundering Hammers: Green belt chart
Attack: The opponent is attacking with a right punch, right foot lead, stepping in and punching at the same time.
Defense: As we step forward into the attack move slightly to the left to slip past the incoming punch and execute left inward block to deflect the opponent's fist. This should place us nearly hip to hip with the attacker. From this position, execute a right rising hammer fist using the top of the fist to strike the opponent's groin. It's imperative that this strike be powerful; drive it with legs and hips. Expectation: this will stop the attacker's forward movement and cause him/her to collapse at the knees and start to bend forward at the waist. From here, the right foot slides back and to the left as we adjust our position to continue the attack. Execute a downward hammer fist with our right hand to the opponent's clavicle, furthering their bend at the knees. The left hand now executes a left downward hammer fist to the kidney. This should pull the opponent's head back up slightly. The left foot now steps back and slightly to the right to prepare our position for next strike. The right hand executes a back knuckle to the back of the opponent's head, forcing their head toward the ground. Before the opponent can fall, the right hand executes an upward palm strike to the opponent's face. Target is the probably the nose or some other soft target. The right hand now forms a claw. The left foot shuffles back slightly and as we move backward we use our momentum to pull the opponent – using the claw hand – forward and further off balance.
End result: If all goes well, the opponent will be incapacitated and face down on the ground.
Further responses: It's technically possible to kick the opponent in the head, but it would probably be overkill. Cover out and escape.
Yee haw. That's some excitement right there. For a bit more of a visual example, check this Youtube video. AKKA's Thundering Hammers is slightly different, but this is close enough for jazz and government work. The video gives a pretty good example of body positioning and where the strikes will land, even if it's not spot on with what we teach.
So, now you've got the technical description of the technique and a basic understanding of what to expect. From a pure learning perspective, you're probably ready to practice on a partner. Don't try it immediately on an opponent, it's nigh impossible to learn something to that level from a video a text description.
Still, it's not exactly what I'd call compelling writing. We need dynamism if we're going to have some action and adventure here, so let's try to put it into fiction:
A cold rage burned in Chan's mind. With every taunt Rory threw at him, Chan's desire to hurt the other man grew. The fight had gone on too long, he'd spent too much time in snake mode, playing with his food and picking at Rory's weaknesses. It was time to unleash the monkey.
Rory's smirking face was an example of everything that was wrong with this place; all the lies, all the pain, all the death. Chan longed to charge forward, but the monkey was patient. Wait, it whispered, wait for him to come to you. Fight where you want to fight, not where he wants to fight.
Time slowed as a deadly calm rolled over Chan. A slight twitch from Rory telegraphed the fast right hand. The man was going to step in and strike, covering the distance and smashing Chan's face in one neat move. Chan steps slightly to the left, slipping the attack, and put up a right hand to block. As he stopped next to Rory, Chan's fist shot forward from his waist straight into the man's groin. The man in black howled a scream of pain familiar to everyone that's had his testicles smashed.
They wind up right next to each other, shoulder to sagging shoulder. The monkey begged Chan to press on, to finish the fight once and for all. A simple movement of his right foot changes his position as the master raised a fist ready to beat down the beast. Chan's deep southern growl echoed the names of everyone Rory had hurt in his mad quest for power over this realm.
"Amanda," he snarled as his right hand hammered Rory's clavicle. Rory's body drooped forward.
"Nelson," Chan growled as his left hand slammed into Rory's kidney. The other man's back straightened from the pain.
"Kevin!" Chan yelled and slammed the back of his fist into the back of the beast's head. As Rory's face hastened to meet the floor, Chan decided it wasn't done yet. His hand, still moving after smashing Rory's head kept moving down before suddenly changing direction and opening. Chan's palm slammed into Rory's nose.
Rory collapsed, Chan's hand on his shattered nose the only thing holding him upright. With one final bit of rage, Chan's fingers closed into a claw. "Alyssa," he growled. Chan stepped back and pulled on Rory's face. His strong fingers ripped canals into the other man's face as he pulled him forward by the face.
There was blood under Chan's finger nails as he watched the Beast of Aluna fall face-forward into the ground. Not ready to be fooled again, Chan stepped back, ready to continue pummeling the man if he so much as moved. Rory's head bounced once on the hot pavement before the man lay prone and still.
Okay, so it's a rough draft, but you've got to admit, it's a hell of lot more interesting than the technical description. Hopefully, it's easy enough to understand, too.
Now, just so we don't wind up taking ourselves too seriously, let's hear Master Ken's (another Albuquerque guy!) take on Kenpo.
Take it away, Master Ken.


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Faith Guitars has announced that its new Nomad short-scale guitars, unveiled at this year's NAMM show in California, are now available in UK stores.
The mini versions of popular Faith Saturn and Neptune models are designed for players who frequently travel with their guitar, and use solid tonewoods in keeping with the entire Faith range.
Official product information follows:
With a scale length of 590mm, these small-scale models are exceptionally comfortable to play and very simple to transport, yet retain proper string tension and tuning.
The (FDNMG) Nomad Mini-Neptune is a scaled-down version of the popular baby-jumbo Neptune shape and features solid mahogany top, back and sides with a satin finish. Likewise, the (FDS) Nomad Mini-Saturn is the smaller brother of Faith's incredibly popular square-shouldered dreadnought Saturn series. This features a solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides, again with a satin finish.
Both guitars are equipped with a CnR3 proprietary preamp and pickup system that offers a 3 band EQ, a fully featured tuner with digital VU display and a phase button to help combat on-stage feedback. Faith Nomad guitars are small powerhouses designed especially for use on the road and are supplied complete with a Faith 'Nomad' branded gigbag.
Pricing and availability
The Nomad Mini-Saturn and Mini-Neptune retail for £429 and £439 respectively and are available to order from Barnes and Mullins. For more information, please visit www.bandm.co.uk


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Eurozone suspends Greek debt relief over Christmas bonus for pensioners
Greece's European creditors have halted the country's debt relief deal after Athens proposed a one-off payout to pensioners which contradicts Brussels' austerity demands.
The sides are struggling to agree on the latest review of Greece's rescue plan of €86 billion. Last week they agreed on a short-term debt relief deal under which Athens must reduce its public debt by 20 percent of GDP by 2060.
Three days later Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras promised 1.6 million pensioners a Christmas bonus of between €300 and €800. He said the government would spend €617 million in one-off benefits for low-income pensioners ahead of Christmas because Greece had exceeded its 2016 primary surplus target.
The PM also suspended a planned increase in sales tax for the eastern Aegean islands which had received scores of refugees from the Middle East and elsewhere.
"The institutions have concluded that the actions of the Greek government appear to not be in line with our agreements," said Eurogroup spokesman Jeroen Dijsselbloem, adding "no unanimity now for implementing short-term debt measures."
Athens will hold a parliamentary vote on the pension payments on Thursday to rally domestic support.
"When we exceed targets and revenue by sticking to the program, we will not seek anyone's permission to give this money to those who need it most," Tsipras said.
He added the country's creditors "should respect the Greek people who had made enormous sacrifices in the name of Europe."
"We have carried the weight of the refugee crisis. In the name of Europe we have, in recent years, implemented an extremely harsh policy of austerity," said the prime minister.
READ MORE: Athens passes new austerity measures to get rescue loans from EU
The Greek people and particularly pensioners have vehemently opposed the unpopular austerity measures introduced by the government under the terms of the 2015 deal with creditors.
The reforms include tax hikes, pension cuts, as well as the privatization of public assets. Greece is also obliged to bring in a primary budget surplus to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2018.


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Cheerio my dears! If you are a fan of the delightfully macabre Edgar Allan Poe, then today's books are sure to have you quivering with excitement! Recently we managed to get our paws on some books that have been on our TBR list for a while and just as we suspected, they were a hit with the shelf-denizens AND the mini-fleshlings!
I speak of the Edgar series of books, part of the Babylit range by Jennifer Adams, that introduces the tiniest of fleshlings to literary classics. While most of this range are in the form of primers, the Edgar series bumps things up a bit, with more text, a story loosely based on the originals and a gorgeous pair of protagonists that you can't help but fall in love with….and of course, recreate in yarnful glory.
The first book in the series is Edgar Gets Ready for Bed, inspired by Poe's famous poem, The Raven. Following on from this we have Edgar and the Tattle-Tale Heart and most recently, Edgar and the Fall of the Tree House of Usher…I'm pretty sure you can guess the titles of the poems upon which these last two are based.
Sadly for us, our library only had the second two books in the series, so we're still hanging out to read about Edgar and getting ready for bed ("Nevermore!") but the second two books were hugely enjoyable. The older mini-fleshling particularly loved the Tree House of Usher with its initial "No Girls Allowed" theme, while the younger mini-fleshling enjoyed seeing Lenore (Edgar's younger sister) finally receive the recognition that she deserved.
Even if you haven't read the original poems (in which camp I fully admit to sitting), the stories stand well in their own right. For those who are more familiar with Poe's work however, you will find plenty of motifs in both the text and Ron Stucki's darling illustrations. The books are available in paperback and hardback as well as board book (our favourite!) formats, so there will be a perfect edition for mini-fleshlings of any age. We'd definitely recommend Poe fans and Poe fans-to-be check these out (either with your eyes, or from the library – we did both!) at your earliest convenience!
Now, on to the crochet pattern! I will admit that this pattern may have a few small errors in it, as I tried to render Edgar's head and body in one single piece, rather than attaching a beak separately. The pattern is written in US crochet terms because that's how I learned first.
What you will need:
Black yarn
Small amount of white yarn
3.5mm crochet hook
Stitch marker
Pipe cleaners or thin wire
Yarn needle
Head, beak and body
Using black yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 6 sc in the ring
- 2sc in each sc around (12)
- *2sc in the next sc, sc* repeat x 6 (18)
- Sc in the next 6 sc; 2sc in the next 6 sc; sc in the next 6 sc (24)
- Sc in the next 8 sc; ch 1, turn (8)
- Repeat round 4 (8)
- Repeat round 4 (8)
- Sc in next 8 sc, then continue in the round sc in the next 16 sc (24)
- Sc2tog; sc in the next 4sc; sc2tog, ch 1, turn (6)
- Sc in next 6 sc, ch 1 turn (6)
- Repeat round 9 (6)
- Sc in next 6 sc, then continue in the round sc in the next 14 sc (20)
- Sc2tog, sc in the next 2 sc, Sc2tog, ch 1, turn (4)
- Sc in the next 4 sc, ch1, turn (4)
- Repeat round 13 (4)
- Sc2tog, sc2tog, ch1, turn (2)
- Sc in the next 2 sc, ch 1, turn 90 degrees (2)
- Sc down the edge of the beak and continue with 1 sc in each sc and back up the beak, back to the point of the beak
- Repeat round 17
- Repeat round 17
- Repeat round 17
- . Sc in the next 8 sc (place a stitch marker here!), sc in the next 18 sc, SKIP the stitches that make up the beak, slip stitch in the sc with the stitch marker. Stuff the head a little here if you wish. (26)
- 2sc in the SAME sc, sc in the next st; *2sc in next sc, sc in the next sc* repeat 5 times (27)
- *2sc in the next st, sc in the next sc* repeat 6 times (41)
- Sc in each sc around (41)
- Repeat round 24
- Repeat round 24
- Repeat round 24
- Repeat round 24
- *Sc2tog, sc in the next sc* repeat 6 times (27)
- *Sc2tog, sc in the next sc* repeat 6 times (18)
- *Sc2tog, sc in the next sc* repeat 6 times (12)
- Stuff the body and head here.
- Sc2tog repeat 6 times (6)
- Sc around (6)
- Fasten off leaving a long tail. Using the yarn needle, weave the tail through the last round of sc, pull tight, knot and snip remaining tail off.
Finishing the beak
Using the yarn needle and black yarn, whip stitch the open stitches at the bottom of the beak together. Tie off and snip remaining yarn away.
Using black yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 6 sc in the ring.
- Sc in each sc around (6)
- Repeat round 1 eight more times
- Flatten the tail, fasten off leaving a long tail and attach to the back of Edgar's body at a jaunty angle.
Wings (Make 2)
Using black yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 6 sc in the ring.
- 2sc in each sc around (12)
- Repeat round 1, three more times
- Flatten, and sc across the opening
- *Ch 6, sl st in the next sc* repeat 3 times
- Fasten off and attach to Edgar's body, with chains facing tail.
Eyes (make 2)
Using white yarn, make a magic ring and crochet 6sc in the ring. Sl st into the first sc. Close the ring tight, fasten off and stitch onto Edgar's face. Use black yarn to embroider pupils.
Using two short strands of black yarn, surface slip stitch to the top of Edgar's head. Knot and pull tight.
Legs (Make 2)
Cut your pipe cleaner or wire into two short sections of about 1.5cm.
Using black yarn, ch 1, sc over the pipe cleaner until your pipe cleaner is covered in sc stitches.
Ch 6, attach to the final sc on the pipe cleaner with a sl st. Repeat twice more.
Fasten off and attach leg to Edgar's body firmly.
I hope that these instructions are easy enough to follow. Of course, if you'd like to make a little Lenore to keep Edgar company (as well as to keep a beady eye on him!) you can follow the pattern above and just add a small bow to the head.
Until we meet again, I am,
Yours in yarn,
Mad Martha


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New from the health technology brand Withings, the Activité Pop is a sportier version of their Activité normal smartwatch. Like its predecessor, the Pop smartwatch resembles a traditional timepiece, though the PVD-coated case and silicone strap make this effort more youthful and budget-friendly than the original French design. The resulting piece is not so finely crafted but actually looks like a watch that an average person would wear outside on a jog.
The wristwatch has a two-hand movement and an extra analog dial representing the wearer's daily activity. The design comes packaged as a monochrome accessory in one of three colors: black, blue, or sand. The style item can then be customized with bright straps in shades of teal, orange, and mulberry.
As a fitness tracker, the Activité Pop delivers on all the expected features. The water-resistant watch records steps, laps, and distance as one walks, runs, and swims. In quieter moments, the watch also detects light and deep sleeping patterns and functions as a silent vibration alarm.
The device connects with the user's smartphone over Bluetooth and offers detailed reports and social competitions via the accompanying app. Unlike most smartwatches, which usually need to be charged every night, this piece of wearable technology comes with a button cell battery that lasts eight months. Now available for pre-order, the Activité Pop is priced at $150 and set for wide release in March.


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The Parker Pen Ingenuity Makes You Want To Handwrite Everything, All The Time
It's hardly a newsflash to say Parker pens are some of the best out there. Our matching Sonnet ballpoint and fountain pens reside in a small Waterford Crystal vase on our desk, you know, just to be a bit chichi. (The rest of the scene involves sweatpants, slippers and bangs pinned back.) Now there's a new Parker pen that has ensured our fountain pen will probably serve as a decoration from now on, and Mr. Ballpoint will be used only to sign checks so as to make sure it marks the duplicate below. The Ingenuity has taken all the best bits of from the four main modes of writing (calling it 5th technology) and applied them in one gorgeous pen. It has the look of a fountain pen (love) and writes like a fluid porous point, with the ease of a ballpoint, all while being as smooth as a rollerball.
While we can try to describe the feeling of writing with this until the cows come home, you really have no idea what it's like unless you try it. It's the kind of pen that makes us want to sit down and write something… anything. The refill cartridge is simple and clean to change, and you have a choice of several chic finishes. We went for the black lacquer with gold trim, but are now having fantasies about the comfort level of the metal and rubber with gold or silver trim.
We like to say a lot of things are genius but really this time Parker beat us to the punch. And rightly so.
The Classic Standard is $160 going up $190 at Parkerpen.com