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The Interface Upgrade Project has it down to three vendors, finalists who've made it to the last round after an extensive evaluation process. What's left now is for the project team to put questions to the finalists, ascertaining technical specifics about how their products can integrate with existing systems. After that, the project team will make a decision.
Project manager Carl was too busy to set up the meetings himself, so he asked team lead Arul to do it. Right away, Arul found arranging the meetings was more complicated than he'd expected because critical team members were scheduled to be away at client sites and, although one of the vendors is local, the others have to travel in for the meeting, so more lead time is needed than the schedule allowed for. Arul has his hands full finding conference rooms, making sure everyone who needs to be there will actually be there, and putting together an agenda for the vendors in advance, including the questions they'll need to answer.
Days into the assignment, as Arul awaits confirmation from the vendors about the new dates he's proposed, project manager Carl, impatient as he often is, independently sends emails to each vendor.
Hi – Our final review meeting with you is the first week in October. You have received a document with the questions your tech specialists will be asked, the specifics about how we can integrate your product into our environment. Make sure the people you send to us can answer these questions and others that may arise.
Arul is surprised when Carl's note is forwarded back to him from the vendors with questions: Is Carl handling this now? Have you sent us a document with questions? We haven't seen it. Is the meeting now back to the first week in October? Or is it still the second? Are the names and job titles of the people we proposed sending not satisfactory?
This isn't the first time Carl has asked someone to do something and then taken it over himself. Arul, quite annoyed with Carl (once again!), replies to the vendor's emails and cc's Carl.
Sorry for the confusion. Please continue to work with me on these arrangements. As you know, the meeting is now scheduled for the second week in October, not the first. The document with questions goes out tomorrow morning. The team you proposed sending is fine. We look forward to meeting you all in person.
This is a small but not uncommon example of both a communication problem and a problem with delegation. In this case, no one was confused for long because the vendors had the good sense to ask. But what if, instead, the vendors had notified their teams of the change in dates and they, meantime, had booked something else? What if the vendors responded to Carl, leaving Arul out of the loop, complaining about not having received the document in question, accusing Carl's company of providing an advantage to the competition whom, they assumed, already had the document.
You can see how this could go south in a number of ways, and on a larger scale it could be costly, both in time and money.
Bottom line: If you ask someone to do something, leave it with them to do it. If you're wondering how it's going, ask them. Don't ask anyone else, and don't take it over and start doing it yourself. If the person you've asked isn't doing to your satisfaction, tell them so, and be specific. This needs to happen faster. You forgot to notify senior management. Or whatever the specifics are. Give them a chance to fix it.
If it's an emergency and you can't wait, explicitly take it back and reassign it or do it yourself. But don't just jump in and start messing around — even if you think you could fix everything in an instant. That's probably not how it's going to end up.
Flat vs. "Tall" Organizations
Some organizations have a "chain of command" to communicate through. In this case, Arul would have been the first line of defense, then Carl, then Carl's boss, and the further "up" the chain of command you go, the less likely the details are to be correct (e.g., when Carl forgot the meeting had been moved out a week).
But some organizations don't have this kind of communication protocol. Flat organizations have fewer levels of management than "tall" ones, which have many managers and layers of management. In tall organizations, it's more customary to follow a chain of command through the task owner to his boss to her boss and so on, following unwritten rules about who talks with whom. Whereas in flat organizations, a lot of communication happens horizontally — that is, people text, Skype, Slack, email, and meet with anyone, regardless of their "level" in the organization.
Does that mean the Carl/Arul problem only happens in tall organizations?
No. Neither the traditional "chain of command" method of communicating nor the open horizontal communication of flat organizations would make much difference in this case because the communication problem between Arul and Carl — and the vendors and the project team — is about ownership. Arul owns the responsibility, and Carl usurped his authority. Whether he did so intentionally, I guess we'll never know, but regardless of Carl's motive, that's what it's about, appearing to assume responsibility for a work assignment he'd already delegated.
When someone owns a problem or an assignment — it's been delegated to them, and they're underway with it — they own it until it's done, cancelled, or explicitly re-assigned to someone else. The person who owns the assignment also owns the communication about its status, progress, obstacles, triumphs and tribulations, and that applies equally whether lines of communication are open across all levels, as in flat organizations, or whether communication follows a chain of command protocol.
Why does someone usurp authority from someone else? There are plenty of answers to that, and some of them are noble and kind.
For example, maybe they don't know intervening is a problem. When someone is new to delegation, they're more likely to lack clarity about how delegating should work, even if they've been delegated to before. Suddenly they're trying to make sure things they've delegated are progressing, are on track, because they know ultimately the responsibility rolls uphill, and suddenly they find themselves uphill.
And maybe they honestly thought their help would be appreciated, not resented. They didn't anticipate the confusion they were causing, or even see the confusion that resulted.
Another reason someone might hold too tightly onto a responsibility is that it was theirs in the first place and they were forced to delegate it. That means they'll have a bigger than usual stake in the outcome and they're probably going to hover over the person who's got it now.
I realize that's not how most people who've had their authority usurped see things. Like Arul, most people get annoyed, and when a manager does it repeatedly, it damages relationships. Why? Because those of us who've had our responsibility meddled with feel that our ability to do the job is in question, and if there's one thing we guard pretty carefully it's our reputation. A manager who snatches back a responsibility that we thought we were handling just fine becomes, in our mind, an adversary.
And then there's the reason we usually ascribe to the problem of the meddlesome manager trying to seize our authority: they're power mongers trying to swing their weight around and make us look bad. Yeah, maybe. I worked for someone like that once, and it was her consistent pattern to do this. But in all the managers I've had in my career, she was the only one on a power trip. The others who've been problematic delegaters have done so for reasons that are understandable.
So if you're in a position to delegate to others, watch out for the line between helping and meddling, and try not to cross it. And if you're being meddled with, maybe you could forward this article along with a note saying how much you enjoyed reading it and maybe they would too.
Susan de la Vergne is a writer and communication instructor who worked in software development and Information Technology leadership for a very long time. Susan is the author of Engineers on Stage: Presentation Skills for Technical Professionals. Find more of her Cogent Communicator columns here.


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Life/Spiritual Coaching
I spend two years of my life working on myself not realizing that this journey would change my life forever. During these two years, I learned how to really understand life and love in a way I never thought it was possible. I have always loved the idea of exchanging services, so I am extremely excited to have joined this wonderful community. Looking forward to meeting many of you :)
Training & Qualifications
I am a massage therapist who doesn't practice massage, but have use massage therapy to help others understand life and love in a deeper level. Thanks to massage therapy, I was allowed to change my life in a very positive way and now more than ever, would love to share all these experiences and practices with others, so they can too have a more joyful life, no exceptions.
I am a spiritual helper for Neale D. Walsch, author of "Conversations With God" bestseller books on his website CWGhelpoutreach.com
Here people from all over the world gets together in order to find some love or guidance in life. I do believe that my experience in my own life and the experiences with people from all over the world would allow me to help many more people closer to me :)
I can't truly wait to be of service to whoever is ready to take an extra step in life in order to enjoy it.
Sending love and light to everyone :)
Availability & Preferences
I have an open schedule, message me and we can arrange a time that would work with your schedule :)

subset: commoncrawl


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As of April 2017, 44.2 million Americans bear $1.41 trillion in United States student loans. Student loans have recently surpassed US credit card debt by approximately $620 billion. Average student loans for graduates in the state of Virginia amounted to
Smith's Invisible Hand Continues To Push Used-Car Prices Downward
Adam Smith's teachings from a Wealth of Nations continue to provide a basis for determining the price of goods. The father of economics believed that suppliers and demanders, acting in their own self-interest, ultimately determine the price of a good
Increasing Income for Low Income Families
The last time the federal minimum wage was raised was in 2009 to $7.25 per hour. Since then minimum wage has lost 30% of its value in real terms. As inflation has occurred, minimum wage has remained stagnant thus contributing
Youth Football Participation on NFL Future
The number of children playing football has increased within the past year according to data collected by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. A total of 1.23 million youth ages 6-12 played tackle football in 2015 (an increase of 1.15%
Engel Curve for RGDP Per Capita against US Gasoline Consumption
For my SAS regression, I chose the following variables: RGDP per Capita (RGDP per capita) stated in dollar terms Overall United States gasoline consumption (overall gas consumption) stated in thousand barrels Consumer Price Index (CPI Index) Average nominal price of


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Corporate MusicPacks
A beautiful new car. An exquisite new phone. A remarkable new computer. This feel good, new age inspired piece of music lifts the spirit and warms the heart. The track delicately yet triumphantly blends emotional piano, strings, brass, percussion, and tasteful synths. Let's go shopping!
luxurious cutting edge marvel wonder hope excitement cheerful building mounting growing climbing reaching powerful comforting heroic magical marvelous pristine
Ad campaign, corporation, industrial, promotional, commercial, advertisement, Lexus, BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Chevrolet, Porsche, Tesla, Lincoln, Mercury, KIA, Subaru, Ford, Yanni, John Tesh, training, endurance, news, story, triumphant, triumphal, returning home, reunion, reuniting, spending, must have, new product, automobile, sparkling, fantastic, marvelous, corporate, new age, easy listening, soft, smooth Medium 108 Instrumental
Contra-bass, Cello, Computer, Cymbals, Glockenspiel, Horns, Piano, Sampler, Synthesizer, Viola, Violin, Bass Drum, Keyboard
Adventurous, Alluring, Anticipating, Beautiful, Bold, Brave, Building, Climactic, Comforting, Confident, Determined, Driving, Elated, Epic, Grand, Happy, Heartwarming, Heroic, Positive, Uplifting
Family / Children, Infomercial, Nature, News / Energize, Radio Production, Section / Credits, Slow Motion, Soundscape, Sports / Cardio, Sports / Competition
A luxury product by Jeff Whitcher


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This Superlative Mix is a diverse set of 20 props (10 smiles and 10 whiskers), including the following:- The Tease (smile with tongue)- The Cachinnate (smile with teeth)- The Inquisitor (mustache and monocle) in black- 4 Coquettes (smile) in red and pink- 4 Flirts (puckered smile) in red and pink- 6 black mustaches- 1 brown mustache- 1 gray mustache- 1 white mustache
Some styles and color shades may vary.Dimensions: approx. 2.25" to 5" wide.
Stick options: 8" wooden dowels 8" steel rods (recommended)
Plastic • Durable • Sanitary • 3D • Handmade in America


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Join John Dickinson of Motionworks.net as he takes an introductory look at
Sapphire's Aurora effect in Adobe After Effects. Aurora can simulate Northern
and Southern Lights, but is also a versatile tool for creating lighting
effects and other organic elements. John will guide you through the parameters
of Aurora, and demonstrate how to create a beautiful close up of moving
flames. Be sure to visit genarts.com to learn more about Sapphire plug-ins for
Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Blackmagic
Davinci Resolve, Autodesk Flame, Nuke by The Foundry, and many more!
No videos found.


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Estelle »
Original Soundtrack From Season 1 Of "Empire" (Album Stream)
The first season of Empire has been a huge success pulling in numbers that have not been achieved since an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" in 2009. Timbaland and his protégé Jim Beanz serve asRead More »
Estelle – True Romance (Album Stream)
The time has finally come as London musicican Estelle delivers her 4th studio album to date titled, 'True Romance'. Although rather quiet as of late the artist unleashes a variety of records on theRead More »
Estelle – Something Good (Official Video)
Estelle releases the official video for her "Something Good" video off her upcoming True Romance album. The new album drops on November 4th. Checkout Estelle new interview with HHS1987 belowRead More »
Estelle – Something Good
Estelle releases a new single titled "Something Good" off her upcoming True Romance album. Her new album drops on November 4th. Estelle talks about her new album and more with HHS1987 belowRead More »
Estelle Reveals Her 'True Romance' Album Cover & Track List
Grammy award winning artist, Estelle, reveals the official artwork adn tracklist for her new album, True Romance. The new project will release on November 4th. If you pre-order the album now you will receiveRead More »
Cam'ron – Let The Show Begin Ft. Estelle & Couzin Bang (Official Video)
Cam'ron manages to bring Estelle to the local house party hosted by his Couzin Bang in his "Let The Show Begin" video. Make sure you purchase his First of The Month projects, Vol 1.Read More »
Estelle – Conqueror
Taken from her True Romance LP dropping November 4th, Estelle returns with a fresh new single entitled 'Conqueror'. Stream her brand new record below!Read More »
Estelle Talks New Single, "No Makeup/No Filter" Campaign, 'True Romance' & More With HHS1987 (Video)
It takes a lot to break into the U.S. pop culture consciousness. Fans in The States can be notoriously hard to win over and even harder to keep when it comes to new acts,Read More »


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Inspiring your Team to
of us whether employed with a company or running our own business ventures (except
of course a sole proprietorship) in some form or the other are working with
teams at our work place. For every person who we call the "Boss", he
or she will have subordinates working for them.
is one thing to have expertise in something and do that extremely successfully
ourselves and quite another to delegate and have done by people working for us.
This is because every individual's motivation is not the same and to get others
of varying motivation and energy levels to execute a task as one envisions it
is no easy task. The success of any organization hinges on how well we harness
individual team members into a tightly welded team producing at its peak. It
may mean the difference between a successful enterprise and one that is not.
inspire a team to greatness requires not just managerial skills but more critically
leadership skills. A team needs an individual that they can look up to and be
motivated to follow. Sadly, the experience is more often that we have managers
heading teams but not exhibiting leadership skills.
Leadership is a skill
set completely different from that of a manager although the expectation is
that a manager is also a leader.
Ignite your Calling in
Your calling is as unique as your DNA!
We always talk about and revere omnipresent,
"cult status" brands like Apple, Coca Cola, and McDonald's, which
touch our lives every waking moment. These brands are instantly recognizable,
carry phenomenal value and more importantly are uniquely distinctive.
Have we ever stopped to think that the God Almighty
also created an equally if not more powerful "brand" unique from
everybody else Including Apple, Coca Cola etc. - YOU!
Yes, YOU, Ladies & Gentlemen. I would go as far
as to say that Apple, Coca Cola had to actually go and register their brands to
call it their own!!! In contrast, YOU were sent down to this Earth with the God
Almighty's Pre-Approved Brand!!! (anyone who has been sold any kind of Credit
Card and that should include all of us with a pre-approval will know what I am
talking about) and remember this pre-approval is unique too - being the
Almighty's, it HAS NO VALIDITY PERIOD!! (unlike a Credit Card).
So, that is why your calling is as unique as your
Would you then not want to learn more about this
unique "brand" that is you? Would you not want to ignite that mysterious
and latent element that is your "calling"?
For, at the end of the day, since God sent us down
on this earth with our own personal brand he meant for us to do something with
Did we do anything with it?
Ignite your calling is all about finding out what we
did with it. Did we even realize we were supposed to do something with it or
for that matter what that calling actually is.
Stay with me on this fascinating journey into the
Discovery of Our Brand and our calling!
It, NOW!
Have a Zen Mind!
The first decade of the new millennium has sealed it as the
decade of "The Learning Revolution" thanks primarily to the all-conquering
juggernaut known as the Internet. The explosion of every kind of information
that is now available on the web has meant that learning is just a click
away. Or is it really?
Research into the workings of the brain and indeed the mind has
conclusively proved that brain and mind power potential are similar among all
human beings. This is the equivalent of "creating a level playing field" in the
business world. All of a sudden, every human being has been vested (in
almost a supernatural way) with an infinite capacity to learn, and imbibe.
The only condition or qualification, for want of a better expression, is
the presence of a positive mind-set towards such learning.
But this has brought in its wake two major and diametrically
opposite problems:
The Confusion of Choices and
The Expertise Trap!
While on the one hand, the literal barrage of information - some
dangerously dubious - from every conceivable point of view has meant that we
have to carefully sift through before we reach the truth, on the other hand it
has led to what we can only call the "know-it-all syndrome" or the
Expertise Trap.
Enter the powerful principle of the Zen Mind.
A Zen Mind is the
quintessential Beginner's mind, a mind OPEN to possibilities and a mind, which
refuses to profess expertise in anything...a mind ready to absorb and imbibe!
Join us in this
exploration into what a "Zen mind" can do to your ability to assimilate and apply
without any limitations.
Be a Jack-of-all-Trades
& the Da Vinci of today!
ago, the much clichéd expression: A Jack of All Trades is Master of None! ruled
the roost. The thought process seemed to suggest that you should not be
"knowledgeable" in more than one area and you should strive to be an
expert in one thing!
even in this age of the explosion of the Internet and the overload of information,
that may appear to be the only choice.
whether it is in the context of creativity or effectiveness in a business or on
the job, consider for a moment that we are expected to wear multiple hats in
the course of these endeavors. There are no self-contained silos any more and
cross-pollination and alliances are the order of the day.
this scenario, being a generalist and being multi functional is a huge
advantage. In fact, this is a pre-requisite to being creative; as I shall
go on to prove.
great person past or present epitomized this "Jack of all Trades and Master of
All" tag than the incomparable genius of the Renaissance Era - Leonardo Da
with seemingly supernatural talents Da Vinci, considered one of the greatest
Painters of all time, was a master exponent of Art, Architecture, Astronomy,
Astrology, Aeronautics, Physiology, Psychology and numerous other fields of
Da Vinci through his
own life achievements emphasized that the brain and the mind are utilized to
their fullest extent when we pursue, absorb and then apply knowledge gleaned
from multifarious disciplines beyond what is just work related. His Seven principles
of creativity are the Holy Grail of any yardstick of creative ability and
So, join me in this
rather "out of the box" exploration into broadening our horizons of knowledge in
our quest to be the modern day Da Vinci! I can promise to ignite insight that
will leave you stunned!
Discovering the Creative
Every one of us is a potential Einstein waiting to be
Wow! That is profound…. and yes, shocking!
Every human being has the inherent capacity to learn and be
infinitely creative. All it requires
is an attitude and belief system, beginning with belief in the person who
stares back at you every morning from the mirror!
Quickly ask yourself: were you ever aware that in terms of
capacity of the mind, you are on par with Einstein!
If you were, my heartiest congratulations!
For those who were or are not aware, there is no cause for
despair! Indeed, you are among the majority who has no inkling as to what they
are capable of. And that should make this journey absolutely enthralling. Skeptical,
maybe, but enthralling nonetheless!
It is a myth that creativity is the domain of only a few gifted
individuals. This is primarily
because of how we define creativity and also how much we underestimate our own
ability to be creative.
It is my intention
that with specific insight into understanding the unique working of our
miraculous mind and the incomparable brain, we begin to discover the creativity
that is inherently present in all of us.
Goal Setting insight to
setting as a personal development activity is now so prevalent that there is an
entire industry worth billions of dollars that purveys this through various products
and services.
however many times utilize goal setting in rather restricted ways and for
merely materialistic acquisition. Don't get me wrong, by any stretch of imagination,
it is not bad to yearn for and set goals for materialistic acquisition.
I am emphasizing though is that this pursuit of materialistic acquisition falls
short of something that is far more valuable, fulfilling and complete. I
would say this is the difference between setting "success" as a goal
as opposed to, say, "happiness".
attainment of happiness as a goal brings with it success, however, not necessarily
vice versa.
So, Ladies &
Gentlemen, come with me on this journey. I assure you setting happiness as a
goal and the achievement of that will bring in it's wake everlasting elements
like peace of mind, contentment etc that eventually money cannot buy!
Web Hosting powered by Network Solutions®


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Three-way tie atop Straits Area Conference
SAULT STE. MARIE — The Straits Area Conference is all tied up again.
St. Ignace thumped SAC leader Sault High 61-41 in boys basketball Friday night, leaving three teams tied for first place in the league.
Curtis St. Louis scored 25 points for the Saints (9-6 overall, 6-2 SAC), who are tied with the Blue Devils and Cheboygan Chiefs for first in the conference with two games remaining.
"This is a huge win for us," St. Ignace coach Doug Ingalls said. "We don't have to hope for help any more, and we just have to take care of our own games in the conference. We still have three conference games on the road, so it's not going to be easy. But we've put ourselves in a much better position."
The Saints led 27-24 at halftime and outscored the Blue Devils 21-9 in the third quarter. St. Louis repeatedly beat defenders to the basket and scored 11 of his points in the third quarter.
"We knew we needed this game to have a chance at the conference," St. Louis said. "We've been working on our zone offense. I was trying to penetrate the lane and then their zone defense would collapse on me, so we were getting some kick-outs for open shots."
See STRAITS, page 10A
It was a matchup of two teams who have gone through many ups and downs this season. Sault High (9-6, 6-2) has beaten teams such as the U.P.'s No. 1 ranked Marquette Redmen. But the Blue Devils skidded to their second loss of the week, and were coming off a 73-65 setback at Pickford.
"St. Ignace seemed to want it more than we did," Sault High coach Bill Schomberg said. "We're struggling and just not getting it done defensively or offensively right now. We're in one of those late-season funks, and we just have to pick our heads up and pull out of it.
"The conference is still a focus for us, but right now we just want to win a game," Schomberg said. "We've had some good wins this season. We just have to go back to practice and work hard, and start executing in games what we've worked on."
The Saints were coming off a 58-37 loss against Brimley earlier in the week. But just like back in December, the Saints showed they are a tough matchup for the Blue Devils.
"Three nights ago, the way we played I didn't want to put anybody on the court," Ingalls said. "Tonight I didn't want to take anybody off the court. Everybody played well. When we subbed, the guys we put in seemed to play even better than the ones we took out.
"It's nice to have another game in the same week and have a chance to bouce right back from a tough loss," Ingalls said. "We played 40 points better tonight than we did two nights ago."
Kurt King contributed nine points and nine rebounds, while Tyler Snyder had 10 points and seven steals and Gage Kreski scored nine points for the Saints.
Ray'Shon Anderson scored 10 points, Terrence Fuller had eight points and 10 rebounds, while Frank Bailey had seven points for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils played without Michael James, who has an ankle injury.
Sault High visits Alpena Monday. St. Ignace visits Newberry on Feb. 15.
ST. IGNACE — Kreski 9, Sage 2, St. Louis 25, Danielson 6, King 9, Snyder 10. FT: 14-21; F: 19; 3PFG: 1 (Snyder 1).
SAULT STE. MARIE — Root 3, Ray'Shon Anderson 10, Ray'Nell Anderson 2, Bailey 7, Fuller 8, Eilola 5, Krupa 3, Monck 3. FT: 13-20; F: 19; 3PFG: 4 (Ray'Shon Anderson 2, Bailey 1, Krupa 1).


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The Writer's Voice
The Writer's Voice: A workbook for writers in Africa by Dorian Haarhoff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A book about writing and encouraging people to write. I've read or looked at quite a number of these over the last few years, and you can find lots of advice for aspiring writers on the Web as well. I glance at a few of them when they appear in my Twitter feed, but there is a remarkable sameness about them all. I suspect that the writers of advice for writers have read very little other than books of advice to writers, and rehash it in blog articles and the like. I think if any aspiring writers took that advice seriously, all novels would be boring and formulaic, and eventually no one would read fiction anymore.
This one is somewhat different. For a start it is written for people in Southern Africa, and it is urging people who wouldn't normally think of writing to tell their stories. I think that is a laudable aim. The convoluted history of Southern Africa over the last 70 years is a story that needs to be told if we are to make sense of it and of our lives, and it needs to be told from many different viewpoints.
So it lacks the usual advice on how to start your novel in the middle of things, with startling and violent events, and let the explanation of them percolate through afterwards. It also is a bit thin on practical advice on how to prepare your manuscript for publication and send it to a publisher. Perhaps that is wise, because such information easily becomes dated.
So much of the book is motivational, where to find your inspiration. And there are many different ways and places to find inspiration, so most readers of the book will find at least a few that may inspire them. Many of them are designed for use in a group, and so they won't appeal to the solitary reader of the book.
One of the motivational stories he gives is of the writer's genius. The Romans believed in the idea of a genius. The genius, a personal spirit, arrived at birth. And it carried a person's full potential. He offers this quote:
The genius was considered a birthright, but it had to be nourished in order to survive… the ancient Roman was expected to make a birthday sacrifice to his or her genius. If one served one's genius well during life, the genius became a lar, or household god, after one's death. If one neglected one's potential the genius became a spook, a troublesome spirit who plagues the living (Dove 1995:17).
The myth is not so far removed from some African belief systems. I believe we are born with a writer's genius, a writer's potential. For those of us who are literate, this belief contains a challenge which John Irving the novelist, calls 'the necessary strict toiling with the language.'
I quite liked that, but I would be inclined to use it in a different way — to incororporate a genius into my story, rather than use it as an inspiration for a story.
View all my reviews


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Book 2: Riding Hard
Grant Campbell, famous trick rider from Riverbend, Texas, thought it was over with Christina, the love of his life. But a chance encounter might give him a second shot at happiness.Things are changing in Riverbend, though. that threaten to take Christina away from him forever.
Christina Farrell has tried to move on after her breakup with Grant, the hot Texas cowboy who stole her peace of mind the day he walked into her bar and gave her his sinful smile. But every reminder of him tells her it's not over in her heart. Christina realizes she'll never forget him until she makes some changes in her life, but before she can, a reconnection with Grant alters everything for her in an unexpected way.


text: July 1, 2021 How to Find and Book Affordable Hotels Online With the advent of the internet and the many different travel websites, it has become easier than ever to find and book reasonable hotel rooms right from your computer. A simple search engine can show hundreds of websites for travelers to compare rooms and rates, as well as reviews of hotels and amenities on offer. It is important for the traveler to have a small list of what he or she definitely needs in a room, be it bed size, smoking or non-smoking, mini-fridge or kitchenette, or other hotel amenities such as a swimming pool or gym. Travelers must also be flexible in terms of staying. As per your convenient, you can also book two bedroom hotel suite in Carpinteria at https://www.carpinteriaexpress.com/accomodations/studio-suites-two-beds Holidays and weekends tend to book early, so fewer rooms are available. Depending on the website the traveler uses, one can either bid for a room by entering the highest price you paid or book a hotel room directly through the website. The traveler should ensure that he or she has checked all the details again, including the date of travel, the location and of course the agreed price. Travelers should also read the fine print of the contract before making a final booking. It contains important information about cancellations and late arrivals. In some hotels, rooms can be resold to other guests if passengers arrive an hour late. In this case, it is important to get the phone number of the hotel and the reservation agent's agency. Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+


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La Porta Santa – The Holy Door
The meaning of the Holy Door
The Holy Door is the sealed door of a basilica that is opened during Holy Years, more commonly known as Jubilee years. It symbolizes the journey towards conversion and consolidates the mediation of the Church in the salvation of the faithful. It is founded upon the words of Jesus, who spoke of himself: "I am the gate: Whoever enters through me will be saved." (John's Gospel).
How long has the Holy Door existed?
The Holy Door is linked to the Jubilee: an important event in the Catholic tradition, introduced in 1300 as a year in which a pilgrimage to Rome was to be made and charitable works performed. But no Holy Door was crossed on that occasion: the first documented crossing dates back to the 1423 Jubilee, when the Holy Door at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran was opened. Only after 1500 Holy Doors in the Roman Basilicas of Saint Peter, Saint Paul outside the Walls and Saint Mary Major were installed, as well as in Santa Maria di Collemaggio and Assunta di Atri in Italy, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain and the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in the city of Quebec, Canada.
The quintessential Holy Door is that of the Basilica of Saint Peter.
The Holy Door can be found in the atrium, the last one on the right of the five entrance doors.
Created in bronze by Vico Consorti for the Jubilee in 1950, it has a fifteenth century ancestral style. It has a series of 16 panels depicting biblical stories, and 36 plates with pontifical crests. Twenty-nine of these depict the crests of the popes who have celebrated ordinary jubilees from 1300 until today, three remember the three extraordinary jubilees after 1900 and 7 are empty for future jubilees.
Above the door, two epigraphs are crowned with a shell - symbol of the pilgrim - and the papal coat of arms with the keys: the first Jubilee was proclaimed on 22 February, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, guardian of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
A solemn ritual: the opening and closing of the Holy Door
The opening ceremony was instituted by Pope Alexander VI Borgia in the 1500 Jubilee (for which the Pietà was realized). Using a hammer made of precious metal, the Pope knocked three times on the protective wall in front of him and crossed the threshold.
At the end of the Jubilee the door was barricaded and remained so until 1975, when Pope Paul VI decided to remove the barricade, leaving the door for all to see.
Saint John Paul II and the new millennium
For the Jubilee of 2000, an unprecedented number of pilgrims crossed the Holy Door: 25 million (in 1983 the number was 10 million). A curious fact: the twentieth century was tangibly left in the past when the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev appeared in St. Peter's Square during a Jubilee event.
Pope Francis and the "global' Holy Door
In the Jubilee called by Pope Francis, cathedrals and shrines throughout the world had Holy Doors, allowing 900 million pilgrims to obtain indulgence without having to come to Rome. However, more than 20 million people came to Rome, including tourists who were enthusiastic about being part of this collective spiritual event.


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When I first started volunteering for Raptor Watch Week ("RWW") in 2001, there were no Fun & Games booths, no Arts & Crafts sessions, no face-painting or temporary tattoo booths, no grandstand with an emcee and performers, and no massive merchandise and snack stalls. Imagine that!
In 2001, the ballroom and gazebo of Ilham Resort weren't even constructed yet, and I don't recall there being a fence around the Resort grounds, or an adventure playground facing Ilham's front entrance, or a properly built-up entrance to the Lighthouse trail. There was a big tree with a rope swing, which provided us with a great deal of entertainment when we weren't counting birds. Imagine that!
In 2001, all we had were 2 tents: 1 for MNS membership registration, which also doubled up as the tent where merchandise was sold (t-shirts in only 3 or 4 designs, and a few standard bird field guides) and another with exhibition boards giving you information on bird migration, resident raptors and migratory raptors. There were probably no more than 20 volunteers, almost all of them keen birders, and the visitors who came for the event probably numbered no more than 100. Imagine that!
I am now in my 8th year as a Raptor Watch volunteer and I can say that RWW is one of the Malaysian Nature Society's greatest success stories. 20 years ago, only the scientific community was interested in the phenomenon of spring raptor migration. Only scientists and ornithologists realised that Tanjung Tuan is a stopover point for exhausted birds of prey on their way back to China and Siberia, being the closest landmass from Sumatra, across the Straits of Malacca.
Then, in the 1990s, Tanjung Tuan faced the threat of development. The state government had intended to convert the forested area into beach resorts. The Malaysian Nature Society had to get sufficient public support for our cause to lobby for the conservation of Tanjung Tuan, not only for the Raptors, but also for the surrounding marine life and forest growth.
And so the Malaysian Nature Society swung into action, and today raptor migration is no longer an esoteric phenomenon witnessed only by birders, but a massive, public eco-event covered by all the papers and even some international nature publications. The state government and state tourism ministry are supportive of our efforts, as they realise that it is an event with enormous eco-tourism potential. We now have rows upon rows of tents offering everything from jungle walk sessions and nature books to ice cream and batik painting. We now have busloads of schoolchildren who know a fair bit about thermals (i.e. hot air columns), bird migratory patterns and bird breeding grounds. Baby, we've come a long way.
RWW is traditionally held on the first weekend of March, being the peak period for raptor flight through the area. However, this year it was postponed until 15th and 16th March, due to the General Elections being scheduled on the 1st weekend. This year, Loretta, Eugene and Hui-Min are in the organising committee, and I, being over-committed and over-committee'd enough, decided to focus on Green Living's outreach activities.
The volunteer briefing was conducted on Friday night at the event grounds by Loretta and Andrew. We then checked into our rooms at PD Marina, which have thankfully been cleaned, unlike the previous years.
We assembled at Ilham on 0700 hours Saturday to set up our respective booths. Somehow, the level of commitment of this year's volunteers was rather dismal. The volunteers assigned to my booth never did turn up, so it was just Horng Yih and I holding the Green Living fort. Still, thanks to key volunteers such as Lillian, Passu, Eugene, Hui-Min, Dr. Kana and Hafidz, everything went swimmingly and we made sure that the visitors were well-looked after. There were educational talks, documentaries, jungle and marine walks and fun activities galore to keep everyone occupied while waiting for the raptors to arrive.
Since I had only one other volunteer for Green Living, we had to scrap the 3R crafts and focus instead on only 3 main activities, namely, the 3R Game, the Climate Change Action Survey and the sale of pre-loved books, apart from offering green living advice and coordinating a recycling programme. Horng Yih is a sterling volunteer with a great personality, and I was very glad of his company. Thanks to his help, we sold over RM300 worth of used books.
We were given a volunteer appreciation dinner on Saturday night, and it was made all the more enjoyable because it was outdoors. Over dinner, they guys and I discussed walking up to the lighthouse at 2200 hours, to try to spot insects and night birds. Armed with a pansy little torch that we borrowed off one of our nature guides, Horng Yih, Bushcraft John, Hafidz and I walked up to the lighthouse after dinner. The forest canopy wasn't thick and once our eyes got accustomed to the dim light, we discovered that we didn't need the torch at all. John searched for spiders and arthropods while I kept an eye out for bats and Buffy Fish Owls, which I've seen before in the same area.
The lighthouse is breathtaking at night and I am so very glad we came. There was a cool breeze blowing and the coconut leaves rustled in the wind. Behind the lighthouse, on the cliff overlooking the sea, we could see fishing trawlers and what I guess are border patrol boats.
Our usually responsible John had a moment of insanity and proceeded to send out an SOS signal to the boats. I made him stop because it is a criminal offence and could put the boats to danger and inconvenience. Moreover, we were in a high security area, which increased the likelihood of getting caught. We saw a light flashing back at us at regular intervals and presumed that a boat had seen John's distress signals, so we started arguing with each other over whether the boat had been there all this while or whether it had approached the lighthouse upon spotting our distress signals.
While we were arguing, Horng Yih, who has sharp eyesight, pointed out: "You do realise that you guys are arguing about a buoy, right?" And so we were! It was one of those moored buoys with a warning light, and we laughed at the silliness of it all. We searched for more insects and arthropods as we waited for another friend, Adi, to arrive, and then we walked back to Ilham together before driving back to PD Marina.
Sunday, 16th March, was Vegan Eugene's birthday, and I managed to get big-hearted, brilliant Serina and Mohala to buy him a cake the night before from Secret Recipe, because I didn't think we'd manage to get him a pukka cake out in the boondocks here otherwise. We hid the cake in its box under the Green Living table and got everyone to sign the card. We had to get Eugene to come over right before his speakers (of the professional-human-qualified-to-speak-on-specific-topics variety, not of the sound amplifier variety) arrived, so Lillian duly made an announcement and all the volunteers, led by Eugene, repaired to the Green Living table where the sorry-looking half-melted mango cake sat looking for all in the world like a ski slope with a candle on top, after we have inadvertently dropped the cake box. The birthday song was duly sung and Serina and I massacred the cake for distribution. Thankfully, it tasted way better than it looked (by then). We had to get back on duty even with our hands full of cake and I had my work cut out trying to find volunteers to replace me so I could participate in the Lighthouse Run.
Around 1100 hours, Lillian announced the winners of the Charity Draw and I found that I had won a Nestle hamper, much to everyone's delight because they knew I would share it with them. The hamper was taken apart and shared out with the volunteers at my table.
I skipped lunch so I could run at 1445 hours in the Lighthouse Run. Cindy decided at the last minute to sign up for the Run in the Women's Open category, with baby in tow, despite her sore throat. Another lady, Nur, had to run in jeans as she didn't bring her running shorts. As my trainers have fallen apart, I would be running in Converse sneakers with very worn out soles with holes in the bottom. At the rate things were going, the Women's Open category should have been renamed the Fruits and Nuts Run.
I pretty much lurched, staggered and wheezed my way to the Lighthouse and down again, lagging way behind the first runner, a schoolgirl in proper running gear who obviously came to win the loot galore and not to learn more about the natural history of Tanjung Tuan. And by gum, she was fast! She was halfway down the hill when I was still on my way up. I came in second in the Run and Nur came in third but Cindy was nowhere to be seen.
We had the prize presentation ceremony at 1600 hours and I went up to receive my prize of a RM200 Timberland voucher. I finally found Cindy watching a documentary with her husband and baby in the auditorium and insisted that she accepted half my prize. She kept declining, but I said that we won together and she deserved it as much as I did, because she gave me a drink of water at the base of the lighthouse to ease my wheezing. I told her it would make me very happy if she would take it, and she finally accepted the vouchers.
Raptor Watch Week 2008 came to a close at 1700 hours Sunday, and the volunteers got down to tidy the place up. It was while I was sorting out litter for recycling that Cindy tried to make me take the vouchers back, but I laughed and said they were hers now, and not mine to take. By virtue of our participation in addition to all the work we had put in as volunteers, we are all winners, and essentially equals, and I wanted the division of the prize vouchers to reflect that.
There was still a lot of work to do even though the other volunteers had left, and so I decided to stay behind to help out on Monday, with the HQ staff Lini and Laila. Had a seafood dinner in town that night before going back to our apartment in Ilham to drink beer on the veranda. There were fruit bats outside, which is commonplace enough not to necessitate my bringing it to the attention of the others, but imagine my dismay when a large Buffy Fish Owl flew past me and I was the only one to witness it! Finally went back inside when the mosquitoes got too much for me to handle.
On Monday morning, we had to reorganise and repack everything in the storage tent while waiting for the truck to arrive. The volunteers this year had made a pig's ear of the whole affair, and office supplies, apples, electrical cords and filled-up membership forms lay in a jumble in the storage tent. Things were far more orderly last year when Mohala was still in charge, plus there was less pilfering of leftover canned drinks and freebies.
Bala, the truck driver, arrived around noon and loaded the truck with our help. Laila and Lini went rode up in front of the truck with the driver, while I went back so I could sell our recyclables off at the buyback centre near Eagle Ranch on our way home. It came as a blow to me when I discovered over 10 kilos of aluminium cans that I had scrupulously collected, rinsed and crushed had been stolen from the back of my 4x4.
I suspect that the cans were stolen by the Resort staff, as the pickup was parked in their premises, and were still there this morning. What added to my disappointment was that I had given over 12 kilos of cans that I had painstakingly bagged up on Saturday to the housekeeping staff, because they had asked for it. The proceeds from Sunday's collection of cans were meant to go into Green Living's kitty.
Serina tried to cheer me up by persuading me that the cans could have been taken by someone in real need, and the extra money could have been of real help to him or her. I found comfort in that idea, and also in the thought that at least all the cans would be recycled in the end, and not landfilled or incinerated. But then again, they could have asked me for the cans, and I would have given it to someone who had asked and was in real need.
Anyway, we managed to sell the plastic bottles and paper to the buyback centre for a paltry sum, and were soon on our way back to KL. Raptor Watch 2008 has taught me 2 things that I will do differently in 2009:
1. Either lock up the recyclables in the Battletank, or sell them at the end of each day at the buyback centre so I would not have to find a place to store them overnight.
2. Serve on the RWW Committee next year and help to draw up a Volunteers' Code of Conduct and provide a screening, training and pep talk session for all volunteers to ensure that we get quality volunteers who perform and deliver and act as ambassadors for the Malaysian Nature Society.
It's a sad state of affairs when people sign up as volunteers only because they are enticed by the prospect of a paid holiday, freebies and the bragging rights of having volunteered with the Malaysian Nature Society. If there are any volunteers reading this, I want you to ask yourselves, in all honesty:
1. "Have I left people in a better state?"
Have you assisted MNS staff and veteran volunteers with diligence and goodwill? Did you try to shirk work and make yourself unobtrusive and invisible when there were boxes to be carried, stereo systems and tents to be put up, booths to be manned and visitors to be ushered and assisted? Were you courteous and helpful to visitors? Did you help anyone learn something positive about the environment, the Malaysian Nature Society and raptor migration? Did you give or speak cheerfully, or were you sullen and uncooperative? Did you treat visitors and customers as mere nuisances who hindered you from sitting around gossiping with your friends? Did you utter the words "I don't know" or "That's not my job" when your words should have been "Let's see what we can do"?
2. "Have I left the environment in a better state?"
Did you leave litter behind, even if on tables and in tents, as opposed to along the jungle trails or on the beach? Did you pick up all the litter you see, or did you think "That's not my problem"? Did you contribute to noise and light pollution that could affect wildlife? Did you go against the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by making unnecessary purchases, or purchases with excessive packaging? In the course of jungle and marine walks, did you take, damage or touch anything that is not yours to touch? Did you condone destructive behaviour such as the catching of crabs and other small fauna by not politely stopping the perpetrators, or did you instead feel it wasn't any of your business?
RWW 2008 photos taken by MNS member Zaim:
Nature Guides with their faces painted in animal totem designs.
Mangrove forest ecology.


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Polariscopes are one of our most useful instruments. They come in a wide variety of prices and qualities. A new Gem Instrument's polariscope costs close to $400 with shipping. The simplest polariscope is made by laying a $1 filter on top of a flashlight and hand holding another above it. This is awkward, but it works.
Hanneman Polariscope
I learned on a Hanneman polariscope, which is as basic as they come. Rather than having its own light source, it comes with a small mirror that reflects light up through a polarizing filter. A bolt holds another filter by its corner, which swivels for ADR testing. All the text books say that you have to rotate the filter, not swivel it to one side, but I found that the technique worked.
The Hanneman polariscope uses a loupe that is mounted directly above the top filter. I found this awkward to use and relied primarily on an Optivisor for magnification. I learned that high magnification is not necessary and that a smaller depth of field is actually a handicap.
I resurrected my Hanneman polariscope for this photograph. The original support was much longer, giving you more room between the filters for your…


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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after a car crash involving two vehicles early Sunday.
According to a Lincoln Police accident report, the 45-year-old Williams" blood-alcohol level was at least 0.15, twice the legal limit of 0.08, and the report showed he had two prior DUI convictions. The crash occurred about 1:50 a.m. a few blocks from Memorial Stadium in downtown.
Nebraska athletic spokesman Keith Mann says the department is aware of the incident, but officials declined to comment until they gather more information.
Williams remained in Lancaster County Jail late Sunday afternoon and has a court appearance scheduled Monday.
Williams" arrest came on the weekend five-star receiver recruit Joseph Lewis of Los Angeles was on campus for a visit.


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DIGITAL DOWNLOADThis hand drawn heart design is perfect for cardmaking, décor & signs, apparel, scrapbooking, laser & paper cutting, and more!The ZIP file includes one design with two versions (Outline only and fill):2 JPEG2 SVG2 PNG - With a transparent background2 EPSLICENSE INFORMATIONThis design is okay to use for both personal and commercial use. The files and design CAN'T be redistributed for sale or for free. However, you may sell items you created with this design. DIYvinci retains ownership of the copyright. Credit is not required, but we'd love to see what you created! Have questions? Contact us at Etsy.com/shop/DIYvinci or at www.DIYvinci.com.This design CAN NOT be used to create stencils that are sold for profit.
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A personal road blocker
mariogrip Administrators last edited by
As you may or may not have seen, i have been a bit offline last week. This was due to one of my close family member got into hospital with an serious infection, it was so bad that he got picked up by the ambulance. And since I'm living in the same house and is really close to this person, this has not been an easy week for me. This is the reason why i have been gone, but with all this said, hes now back home and in much better shape, he is still recovering but overall doing fine. and I'm slowly getting back to everything.
Thanks everyone!
A Former User last edited by
Wishing him a speedy recovery.
advocatux last edited by advocatux
@mariogrip I'm glad that that relative is getting better. I hope (s)he recovers completely soon.
Also, don't forget to take care of yourself too
malditobastardo last edited by malditobastardo
My best wishes for you and your family (relatives) Marius, take care of yourself and your people. They always comes first.
Lakotaubp last edited by
Same here. All the best.
Best wishes for you and the family. We are thinking of you.
A Former User last edited by
Good of you to take care of him, i'm sure he takes great comfort in knowing you are there for him
@mariogrip All the best wishes to you and your family. The Community needs you in the best shape to move the project further and further but remember that life and family always come first.
@mariogrip All the best for you an your family. Take all the time you need for your beloved ones and for yourself - nothing is more important!


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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studying imaging findings of non–acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), we hypothesized that the imaging presentation has changed with the increasing incidence of PCNSL and is related to clinical factors (eg, time to diagnosis and the patient's being diagnosed alive or at postmortem examination).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chart and histologic reviews of patients recorded as having PCNSL during 1989–2003 in the Norwegian Cancer Registry identified 98 patients with non-AIDS PCNSL; 75 had available imaging. CT and MR images from the first diagnostic work-up after onset of symptoms but before histologic diagnosis were reviewed.
RESULTS: CT and/or MR imaging in the 75 patients revealed no lesion in 10 (13%), a single focal lesion in 34 (45%), multiple focal lesions in 26 (35%), and disseminated lesions in 5 (7%) patients. All together, we identified 103 focal lesions (single/multiple): 63% in white matter, 56% abutting the ventricular surface, and 43% in the frontal lobes); 100% (102/102 lesions evaluated with contrast) showed contrast enhancement. The median time from imaging to diagnosis for patients with no, single, multiple, or disseminated lesions was 32, 3, 5, and 3 weeks, respectively (P = .01). Patients with no or disseminated lesions were more often diagnosed at postmortem examination (P = .06). Imaging findings were practically unchanged during the consecutive 5-year periods.
CONCLUSIONS: White matter periventricular contrast-enhancing single or multiple focal lesions were typical of non-AIDS PCNSL. No or disseminated lesions heightened the risk of delayed or postmortem diagnosis. Although the incidence of non-AIDS PCNSL has increased, its presentation at imaging remains unchanged.
The incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) has been reported to have increased in the last decades1–4; the incidence rates of PCNSL in Norway have also increased during 1989–2003.5 PCNSL represents 2%–6% of all primary brain tumors2,6,7 and 1%–2% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas.3,5,8 Brain biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis.9–11 Therapeutic advances due to systemic chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy have been reported with median survival times of ≤33–60 months,12,13 and young age and good performance status are favorable prognostic factors.5,12,14,15
Early diagnosis is crucial for proper management of PCNSL and is more likely if tumor is observed on imaging.16 Visible tumor on imaging is essential to ensure an early brain biopsy and histologic diagnosis. In immunocompetent patients with PCNSL, unenhanced CT typically reveals hyper- or isoattenuated lesions.8,9,17–19 Most lesions are hypo- or isointense at unenhanced T1-weighted MR imaging and hyper- or isointense on T2-weighted imaging,8,9,17–20 and most lesions show marked contrast enhancement both at CT and MR imaging.8,9,17–22 However, these findings do not clearly differentiate PCNSL from other neoplasms (eg, metastases, malignant gliomas, meningiomas) or nonneoplastic diseases (eg, multiple sclerosis, stroke, pyogenic abscess). Perfusion-weighted MR imaging, proton MR spectroscopy, and fluorodeoxyglucose–positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET) reportedly may aid in distinguishing PCNSL from other lesions,19,23–25 but the role of these newer imaging methods in the diagnosis of PCNSL is not yet fully established.
Imaging findings in PCNSL have mostly been investigated in single- or multicenter studies.15,17,18,21,22,26–29 To our knowledge, the present study is the first population-based study focusing on imaging findings in PCNSL and the first exploring changes in such findings with time. Improved CT and MR imaging have been suggested to explain some of the observed increase in incidence of PCNSL,30 and changes in imaging techniques have been shown to affect the detection rate and imaging findings of brain metastases.31 Thus, we hypothesized that the imaging presentation of PCNSL has changed with increasing incidence and advancing imaging technology. We also hypothesized that the imaging findings of PCNSL are related to clinical factors such as time to diagnosis or to the patient being diagnosed either alive or at postmortem examination. The aim of the study was to describe the following: 1) findings on CT and MR imaging at presentation of non–acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) PCNSL in Norway during 1989–2003, 2) potential relations between such findings and clinical factors, and 3) possible changes in such imaging findings during the time period studied.
Materials and Methods
The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics, the Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, and the Data Inspectorate approved this retrospective study and waived informed consent. In Norway (population, 4.2 million in 1989 and 4.6 million in 2003), there is mandatory cancer reporting to the Norwegian Cancer Registry, making the registration especially comprehensive. A list of all patients diagnosed with PCNSL in Norway from January 1, 1989, to December 31, 2003, was obtained from this national registry (n = 180). Clinical features, histologic diagnosis, radiologic findings, and medical treatment and outcome were registered. For the purpose of this study, histopathologic material, available in 103 of 104 patients having conclusive or possible non-AIDS PCNSL as a primary histologic diagnosis, was reviewed by 1 neuropathologist. Histopathologic material from a hospital managing 38 of the 103 patients was also reviewed by their local neuropathologist.
Following chart review (n = 180) and pathologic review (n = 103), we included 98 patients with histologically verified non-AIDS PCNSL. Their pathologic review was based on review of biopsy and/or postmortem material (n = 96) or cytology (n = 2). The material was reclassified according to the current WHO classification (2001).32 Supplementary immunohistochemical and histochemical staining techniques (Giemsa stain, periodic-acid-Schiff, and reticulin stain) were performed when required to confirm the diagnosis and reclassify the lymphomas. As a minimum, the following antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry: CD20, CD79a, CD3, and Ki-67. A total of 82 of 180 patients were excluded due to AIDS-related PCNSL (n = 23), incorrect registration of PCNSL (n = 41) (extracerebral lymphomas, extradural intraspinal lymphomas, and other malignancies), or lack of histologic verification (n = 18). None of the included patients (n = 98) had signs of systemic lymphoma at initial diagnostic work-up with chest x-ray (performed in 94 patients, 96%), chest CT (n = 54, 55%), abdominal sonography and/or CT (n = 85, 87%), bone marrow biopsy (n = 67, 68%), or at postmortem examination (n = 27, 28%).
All available CT and MR brain images of the included patients (n = 98) were compiled from treating hospitals and radiology departments. First CT and/or first MR imaging (no more than 2 months apart) performed at presentation before histologic diagnosis were reviewed. Hospitals in Norway are obliged to store radiologic material for only 10 years; thus, fewer patients had relevant images available for review during 1989–1993 (42%, 8/19) compared with 1994–1998 (87%, 33/38) and 1999–2003 (83%, 34/41). Among patients with relevant images available, 67% (50/75) had images stored on film and 33% (25/75, patients diagnosed during 1995–2003) had images stored in a PACS System. The films were collected and scanned. Images stored in PACS were compiled on CDs. All scans and CD images were imported into a digital imaging research archive.
All together, 75 patients (35 male, 40 female) 13–83 years of age (mean, 64 years; median, 67 years) had primary imaging of the brain available for review and constituted the study sample. Four of these patients (5%) had received immunosuppressive medication for medical conditions (ulcerative colitis, renal transplantation, rheumatoid arthritis, and Wegener granulomatosis) before the first symptom attributable to PCNSL.
Of the 75 patients in the study sample, 68 (91%) had contrast-enhanced imaging (including noncontrast series in 58 patients), whereas 7 (9%) had noncontrast series only. CT images were reviewed in 66 of the 75 patients (both contrast and noncontrast series in 46, only contrast series in 9, and only noncontrast series in 11). MR images were reviewed in 52 of the 75 patients (T1-weighted contrast and noncontrast series in 47, only noncontrast series in 3, only contrast series in 2; T2-weighed series in 48; fluid-attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR] in 11); in 43 of the 75 patients, both CT and MR images were reviewed. For patients with both CT and MR images (n = 43), median (mean, range) time from the first imaging technique (CT in 39 patients, MR imaging in 4 patients) to the second imaging technique was 4 (8, 0–36) days. Median (mean, range) time was 6 (14, 0–206) weeks from first symptom to first imaging and 3(10, 0–125) weeks from first imaging to histologic diagnosis. Time of histologic diagnosis was the date of the diagnostic procedure (open biopsy, stereotactic or endoscopic biopsy, and cytology of CSF in 38 [51%], 24 [32%], and 2 [3%] patients, respectively) that led to histologic diagnosis or death in cases diagnosed postmortem (in 11% [15%] patients).
A neuroradiologist with 25 years' experience and a general radiologist with 8 years' experience reviewed all CT and MR images in consensus by using a standardized registration form for each technique and having primary imaging reports available. They characterized any lesions (numbers, size, location, margins, edema, mass effect, hemorrhage, attenuation/signal intensities relative to gray/white matter, and contrast enhancement) with the following findings: no lesion, single focal lesion, multiple focal lesions (a countable number), or disseminated lesions (ie, innumerable irregularly margined confluent lesions affecting multiple regions of the brain). Lesions abutting the ventricular/ependymal surfaces were noted as periventricular. Contrast enhancement was characterized for intensity (mild/pronounced), enhancement pattern (predominantly homogeneous/inhomogeneous), the presence of ringlike enhancement, and the existence of diffuse meningeal enhancement. Isolated diffuse white matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted series without detectable lesions on unenhanced or enhanced T1-weighed MR imaging series or both were considered "no lesion." For patients having an imaging report available (n = 71), the agreement between reported and revised findings (at review) was very good (κ = 0.83) for no/single/multiple/disseminated lesions and perfect (100%, κ = 1.0) for no lesion/lesion (single, multiple, or disseminated).
Imaging findings were evaluated separately for CT (n = 66) and MR imaging (n = 52) (on-line Tables 1 and 2). We further composed a dataset intended to reflect findings at CT and/or MR imaging in the whole sample (n = 75). For this dataset, findings at MR imaging were used when available. If MR imaging was performed without contrast series (n = 3) or after steroid treatment (n = 19) (which might have influenced imaging findings), findings at contrast-enhanced CT (before steroid treatment) were used instead. In 6 patients (of 75), only post-steroid treatment (median duration, 4.5 days; range, 2–13 days) imaging was available. These patients had undergone imaging before steroid treatment, but the images were unavailable for review (n = 5) or were unenhanced CT images only (n = 1).
Statistical Analyses
Possible associations between imaging findings and clinical variables were examined by using the Fisher exact test for dichotomous variables and the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. The Mantel-Haenszel exact test was applied to analyze time trends in dichotomous variables for the 5-year periods 1989–1993, 1994–1998, and 1999–2003. The nonparametric linear trend Jonckheere-Terpstra test analyzed time trends in continuous variables (number and size of lesions, time from first symptom to imaging, and time from imaging to histologic diagnosis). All P values in the analyses were 2-sided. The analyses were performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Version 14.0 (SPSS, Chicago, Ill).
Imaging Findings
The findings at review of first CT and/or MR images obtained after the onset of first symptoms attributable to PCNSL ranged from no lesion (13% of patients) to a single focal lesion (45%), multiple focal lesions (35%), and disseminated lesions (7%) (on-line Table 1, Figs 1–3). Lesions were most common in the frontal lobe (49% of patients) and the basal ganglia (32%, on-line Table 1). Concomitant hemorrhage in tumor was observed in 8% of the patients; one of these patients had tumor in a large chronic subdural hematoma (Fig 4A)—the hematoma had been diagnosed at CT 5 years earlier. The remainder had a small hemorrhage identified at noncontrast T1-weighted MR imaging (Fig 4B). Of the focal lesions (n = 103), 63% had white matter location only, 56% abutted the ventricular wall, 58% had sharp margins, and 77% were surrounded by edema (on-line Table 2). Of focal lesions imaged with contrast series (n = 102), all enhanced; 13% showed ringlike enhancement (on-line Table 2 and Figs 1D and 2A).
On noncontrast CT, 63% (48/76) of lesions were homogeneous and 100% (76/76) were iso- or hyperattenuated relative to white matter. None of the lesions showed calcifications. At noncontrast T1-weighted MR imaging, 99% (64/65) of lesions were hypo- or isointense relative to white matter and 96% (67/70) were iso- or hyperintense relative to white matter at T2-weighted imaging.
All patients with disseminated lesions (n = 5) had involvement of the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and basal ganglia (Fig 3), and all had lesions bordering the ventricles and lesions with pronounced enhancement (inhomogeneous in 3 patients). Notably, edema and mass effect were mild or absent in all these patients.
Among 10 patients with no lesion at first imaging (contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 3, contrast-enhanced CT in 2, and noncontrast CT only in 5), findings in 5 were normal and 5 had findings of cerebral atrophy, old infarction, subdural hematoma (Fig 4A), hydrocephalus, and diffuse white matter disease (Fig 5), respectively (on-line Table 3). Eight of the 10 patients underwent renewed imaging. Follow-up studies 20–35 weeks later in 6 patients (contrast-enhanced CT in 4 and contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 2) identified multiple lesions in 3, a single lesion in 2, and meningeal contrast-enhancement in 1, leading to histologic diagnosis before death. In 2 patients, renewed imaging (plain CT in 1 and contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 1) 12–57 weeks later added no new findings (on-line Table 3).
At primary imaging, diffuse meningeal contrast-enhancement occurred in none of the patients having undergone contrast-enhanced CT (55 patients) or MR imaging (49 patients).
Imaging Findings in Relation to Clinical Factors
Whether the diagnosis was established while the patient was alive tended to differ among patients with no, single, multiple, and disseminated lesions (P = .06, on-line Table 4). Only 60% of the patients with disseminated lesions and 70% of the patients with no detectable lesion were diagnosed while alive versus 94% and 85% of those with single and multiple lesions, respectively (on-line Table 4). Symptoms were similar in patients with no, single, multiple, and disseminated lesions (on-line Table 4).
Median time from imaging to histologic diagnosis was longer for patients with no lesion on imaging (32 weeks versus 3, 5, and 3 weeks for patients with single, multiple, and disseminated lesions, respectively; P = .01, on-line Table 4).
Open (n = 35), stereotactic (n = 21), or endoscopic biopsy (n = 3) was performed in 59 of the 65 patients with lesions (single/multiple/disseminated) at first imaging. The biopsy tended to be more often nondiagnostic in patients with multiple lesions (P = .06, on-line Table 4). Steroid treatment before biopsy was not more frequent among these patients (on-line Table 4). The nondiagnostic biopsies (n = 9) were open biopsies (n = 4) and stereotactic biopsies (n = 5). Due to pathologic findings at renewed imaging, 7 of the 10 patients with no focal lesion at primary imaging had an open biopsy (n = 4), stereotactic biopsy (n = 2), or cytology of spinal fluid (n = 1) performed; these were all diagnostic.
Ringlike enhancement was significantly associated with immunosuppression; 3 of 4 (75%) immunocompromised patients had lesions with ringlike enhancement versus 6 of 71 (8%) immunocompetent patients (P = .01).
Time Trends
The relative proportions of patients with no, single, multiple, or disseminated lesions at CT and/or MR imaging did not change significantly with time (on-line Table 4). The lesions had smaller median diameters during the last 5-year period (22 versus 30 mm during each of the 2 preceding 5-year periods; Jonckheere-Terpstra test for linear trend, P = .048). For all other variables regarding location, margins, edema, mass effect, and contrast enhancement of lesions (variables listed in on-line Tables 1 and 2), no significant time trends were observed (P > .05).
This population-based study confirmed that typical imaging findings of PCNSL are single or multiple focal contrast-enhancing lesions in periventricular white matter.8,9,15,17–22,26–29,33 It further showed that no or disseminated lesions tended to make early histologic diagnosis less likely. Imaging findings in non-AIDS PCNSL remained largely unchanged with time. These results might well apply to patients presenting with PCNSL at a radiology department in a standard clinical setting because the study was population-based and included patients diagnosed after death.
Our hypothesis of changing imaging findings with time was not confirmed, except for lesion size. We observed a smaller diameter of the lesions during the last time period; this might be related to increased use of MR imaging and improved CT imaging aiding in the detection of smaller lesions. Other imaging findings were mainly unchanged. Similarly, despite the increasing incidence of non-AIDS PCNSL in Norway during 1989–2003, the histologic characteristics of non-AIDS PCNSL in Norway during this period were also unchanged.5
To our knowledge, no former study of PCNSL has documented a relation between imaging findings and time to diagnosis or the patient's being diagnosed while alive or at postmortem examination. In the current study, patients with no lesion on imaging experienced a longer time to diagnosis of PCNSL and patients with no or disseminated lesions tended to be less likely to receive the diagnosis while alive. Although not formerly reported in PCNSL, delayed diagnosis following "negative" findings on imaging has been documented in other malignancies.34
As many as 10 (13%) of 75 patients had no lesions at first imaging (on-line Table 3). These patients most likely had PCNSL at the time of the initial scanning, though this cannot be unequivocally proved. All (except 1 with headache for >3 years) were formerly healthy and were imaged due to new symptoms. Five of the 10 patients underwent noncontrast CT only at first imaging. Thus, relevant lesions might easily have been overlooked, and additional contrast series might have added valuable information. However, negative findings on CT with contrast do not exclude PCNSL.8,19 Five patients had no lesion at contrast-enhanced imaging; at renewed imaging, all except 1 of these had focal lesions or meningeal enhancement that eventually led to the diagnosis of PCNSL (on-line Table 3). Early renewed imaging may prevent diagnostic delay.
Five patients with no lesion had initial findings indicating abnormalities other than PCNSL (on-line Table 3). One of these patients had a chronic subdural hematoma, which was evacuated due to rapidly progressing tetraparesis. Postmortem examination 10 days later revealed peripheral T-cell lymphoma both within the hematoma and in central parts of the brain but no signs of systemic lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of PCNSL within a chronic subdural hematoma. In another patient with no lesion, first imaging revealed extensive diffuse white matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted and FLAIR images, with normal findings on noncontrast and contrast-enhanced T1-weighed MR images (on-line Table 3, Fig 5), which is also a rare presentation of PCNSL.35 Postmortem examination showed intravascular B-cell lymphoma; when exclusively involving the small vessels of the brain, this is an extremely rare subtype of PCNSL36,37 that mimics vasculitis, encephalitis, or multiple sclerosis on imaging.37
Disseminated lesions are a well-known atypical presentation of PCNSL,18,27 but it was more prevalent in our study than formerly reported (7% versus 1%–3%)28,38 and might have been even more prevalent at histologic examination. In 1 series, biopsy and postmortem material showed diffuse meningeal or periventricular involvement in 24%.39 Compared with postmortem examination findings, MR imaging seems to underestimate the tumor burden of PCNSL.40
Hemorrhagic lesions, another atypical finding in PCNSL, also occurred more often in our study than in some materials (in 8% versus 2%–4% of patients).18,41 Small intratumoral hemorrhages were most common (prevalence, 7%; Fig 4); this was also the case in a smaller study33 in which small hemorrhages occurred in 4 (21%) of 19 lesions.
We found enhancement in all single and multiple focal lesions examined with contrast series; other studies15,28,29 showed enhancement in 97%–99%. Ring enhancement, which could represent central necrosis, occurred in more than 50% of lesions in AIDS-related PCNSL,38 but in only 4%–11% of lesions (13% in our study) in non-AIDS PCNSL.22,28 Our study confirmed that lesions are most frequent in the frontal lobes.15,17,26,28
The tendency of fewer diagnostic first biopsies in patients with multiple lesions is difficult to explain. Steroid treatment can cause nondiagnostic biopsies9 but was not more frequent in patients with multiple lesions (on-line Table 4). Also, patients with single-versus-multiple focal lesions had similar-sized lesions biopsied (median largest diameter, 37 versus 36 mm; P = .32) and similar modes of biopsy (open, stereotactic, endoscopic; P = .23).
One limitation to our study is that only 42% of patients from 1989 to 1993 had images reviewed. Yet, the results for 1994–1998 and 1999–2003 should be representative, because images were reviewed in 87% and 83% of the patients, respectively. Also, results for time trends were largely unchanged in an analysis restricted to the 2 last time periods. This and the stable imaging findings over time in the entire study make it unlikely that unavailable images have substantially biased our results on imaging findings.
To ensure early detection and biopsy of lesions in suspected PCNSL, first imaging should include contrast-enhanced MR imaging. In the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, contrast-enhanced MR imaging is considered the gold standard for imaging of brain tumors.42 Perfusion-weighted MR imaging, proton MR spectroscopy, and FDG-PET seem promising in distinguishing PCNSL from other lesions19,23–25 and may aid in supplementary imaging when available. However, the role of these new imaging methods in the diagnosis of PCNSL is not fully established; unless the diagnosis is indicated by CSF cytology, biopsy should be performed without delay on the basis of adequate traditional imaging when PCNSL is suspected.9–11
In this population-based study, non-AIDS PCNSL typically presented with contrast-enhancing single (45%) or multiple (35%) focal lesions. No or disseminated lesions (20%) resulted in later histopathologic diagnosis. The first imaging should include a contrast-enhanced MR imaging series to ensure early diagnosis of PCNSL. Early renewed imaging should be considered when first imaging findings are negative and symptoms persist. In the era of increasing incidence of non-AIDS PCNSL, its features on imaging remain unchanged.
We thank all the institutions that made possible the review of the medical records, histologic material, and radiologic examinations and David Scheie, MD, for his contribution to the histopathologic review.
indicates article with supplemental on-line tables.
- Received May 26, 2008.
- Accepted after revision November 11, 2008.
- Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology


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Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, located at 110 W. Main Street, already stands out compared to other hair salons in Carmel. The tattooed stylists are more "punk rock" than "pageant queen" in their appearance. One of the owners is a musician/manager who has worked with bands such as Korn, Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and Sublime.
But now Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is looking for another way to stand out in its field. The salon has applied for a beer/wine license and will begin serving those alcoholic beverages free of charge to guests.
"it just makes our customers feel special and makes the entire visit an experience," said co-owner and stylist Tanya Foster.
Foster said if you travel to Los Angeles, it's common to have a glass of champagne while shopping or getting your hair cut or styled. In California, a license isn't required but in Indiana a business can't serve alcohol without a license, even if they give away the product.
Like many other salons, Foster said her business was giving wine to customers not knowing that it wasn't allowed. The staff never got in trouble, but she wanted to be "by the book" so the business applied for the license, which is expected to go into effect March 8. Foster said they will never charge for drinks but they do monitor consumption.
It's all about of making the customers feel comfortable, Foster said. She said her staff knows how to cut and style hair, but first and foremost they know how to take care of people.
"We're a group of misfits, tattooed, totally out there people that learned to incredibly professional and treat people well so anybody whether it's a hair dresser or a client when they walk through this door they feel like they fit in here," she said.
Nine years ago, Foster, 48, founded the first location of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in Fishers along with musician Mike "Cheez" Brown and business guru Megan Crahan. Another location opened at 96th Street and Meridian Street but when that lease was up they decided to move up to Carmel about a year ago this May. In April 2015, a location in Fullerton, Calif. was opened with a business partnership with Ajay Popoff, lead singer of the band Lit. Another location is likely for Westfield in the next year.
"It's overflow," Foster said. "We are starting to outgrow each location. Although we will probably open a location in Fountain Square."


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Not JUST for the Grill:The Benefits of Charcoal
Author: Denise K. James
Experimenting with our beauty routines is one of life's most sincere pleasures, at least for women. Remember when we were 12 or 13 years old, trying on purple nail polish at a sleepover or wiping a garish shade off our eyelids, then laughing and starting over? I do, too, which is why I signed up for experimenting with charcoal, one of the "newcomers" to many beauty lineups.
First, I should probably admit that I maintain quite a low-maintenance beauty regime. I usually wash my face with a plain Dove soap bar and use whatever moisturizer is handy. (Though I'll probably have to change this soon, because, you know, aging and all.)
So anyway, I bought a bar of charcoal soap in my friendly neighborhood skincare aisle. I took it home, tore it out of the box and marveled over the pitch-black soap bar, which fit perfectly in my hand and smelled fresh and pepperminty. I wet it, started lathering it between my hands, and it felt…strange. It was little more slippery than regular soap, if that makes sense. Nevertheless, I put it on my face.
Long before the days of fancy modern grills, my family used a modest charcoal grill to cook hamburgers and hotdogs during summer meals, just as many other families did. True, I wasn't old enough to wear makeup back then, but I never thought I would see the day when charcoal would show up as a popular ingredient in so many masks, gels and cleansers. But charcoal has caught on, ladies. And, like many other beauty products, the devotion often starts by hearing about it from someone else—a book, a friend or trusted beauty expert. Hunter Gilbert Ray, a South Carolina native, jumped on the bandwagon after reading about it.
"I started using charcoal about one year ago, after Dave Asprey, the guy who founded the Bulletproof Diet, suggested it in his book," she explained.
"While I was in graduate school, I lived with four other women," added Caitlin Chewning Williams, another Southern belle who swears by charcoal. "So you can only imagine the scores of beauty products crowding the bathroom counter! One of my roommates had a charcoal mask. I snuck some of it to try for myself, and I've been hooked ever since."
The charcoal incorporated in skincare products (not to be confused with activated charcoal, which mostly comes in a capsule form) is lauded for its purifying properties. In other words, it supposedly cleans out pores and makes them shrink.
"My daily skincare routine includes an acne gel cleanser and then a charcoal mask, which I apply to the t-zone of my face, where it's most oily," explained Ashley Burleson Campbell, a beauty consultant and former makeup artist. "The mask helps absorb oil and debris from my pores and reduce them in size. Using the mask after the shower is highly effective, because the heat helps open the pores as well."
But do women who start adding charcoal to their routines feel that the benefit of having one more product outweighs the hassle or expense?
Absolutely, according to Williams, who said that her skin is dramatically better since she started using charcoal three years ago. "My skin has definitely improved," she said. "My pores are so much smaller and my pimples clear up much faster. I wear a decent amount of makeup daily, and I like knowing that my pores are getting a deeper cleaning."
Yep, she said the magic word: pimple. According to raving fans, charcoal can help clear up zits in addition to deep cleaning and shrinking your pores. Acne is not a fun experience for anyone, and most who suffer from it will agree anything that helps is a keeper.
"As I have grown older, I have had the privilege of acquiring cystic acne breakouts," Ray said. "It happens about one or two times each month and is really painful and embarrassing. When I have a breakout, I use coconut charcoal to spot treat. I break open a capsule, mix it with a tiny bit of water and dab it on. It looks terrible, but it helps."
Are there people who shouldn't use charcoal on their faces? The ladies I spoke to were reluctant to say; they think of it as a miracle product and would sooner recommend it heartily than caution anyone.
"I would definitely recommend charcoal," Williams said. "My pores are so much smaller. But if you have very sensitive skin, you might want to try the product on a small area first."
"I would recommend charcoal to anyone," Ray added. "It's a natural alternative to topical acne treatment and is much better for your body than chemicals."
Campbell pointed out that ladies with drier skin might not love charcoal quite so much, but she didn't say a charcoal bar or mask would do harm.
"I recommend charcoal for anyone, but especially someone with oil or pore issues," she explained. "Someone with dry skin and no pore issues probably wouldn't find this product as effective."
Interestingly, charcoal has other purposes besides making our skin bump-free and luminous. Ray, for example, often imbibes charcoal by mouth after a night of not-so-healthy snacks. "I take it orally when I have unhealthy food, because it removes the toxins and heavy metals from my body," she said.
"My sister-in-law swears by charcoal for whitening her teeth," Williams mused. "Her teeth are gorgeous, and all she uses are active charcoal pills!"
I know you are wondering how my own experiment with the charcoal soap bar turned out. After I lathered it up and spread it on my skin (relieved to find that it created regular white foam, even though the bar was dark), I rinsed it off like I would any other soap. Then I patted my face dry and looked in the mirror. My skin looked immaculately clean, but it felt a little squeaky. So I dabbed on a little bit of the avocado oil I use when my skin is feeling dry. Problem solved.
Will I continue to use charcoal beauty products on my own skin? Because my face isn't oily and I don't break out much, it's probably not as useful to me as it might be to some.
Actually, I'm thinking I might try the charcoal capsules next, even though feeling great despite eating junk food and sporting white teeth despite drinking coffee sound too good to be true. I'll report back.
Recommended Products
Caitlin: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, $25 at Sephora.com
Ashley: Clinique's Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask, $25 at Clinique.com
Hunter: Bulletproof Upgraded Coconut Charcoal Capsules, 90 count, $22 at Amazon.com
Denise: Bioré Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar, $6 at Target.com
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